Exposition of Hosea 6, Exposition · Verse 2
VERSE. 2.
After two dayes hee will reviue vsus, and the third day he will rayſe vsus vp, and wee ſhall liue in his ſight.
IN theſe three verſes, we firſt obſerued theſe three ſpeciall points? Firſt, a moſt godly and chriſtian exhortation of the beleeuing Iewes, wherein they perſwade each other mutually to Returne vntounto the Lord. Secondly, the reaſons that they vſe the better to moue and induce one another to performe this duty of Repentance, the firſt drawn from the iuſtice of God in theſe words, He hath wounded vsus, Hee hath ſpoyled vsus: The ſecond, drawn from his mercy: Hee will beale vsus, hee will bind vsus vp. And becauſe this reaſon drawne from the mercy of God is a reaſon of all reaſons, yea, a moſt ſpeciall reaſon to moue any one to turne to God that hath any ſparke of grace; therfore the the holy Ghoſt doth amplifie this reaſon by two other circumſtances; the firſt, drawn from the ſhortneſſe of the time, wherein the Lord afflicts his people; it is but for a day or twaine, or at the moſt for three dayes, a ſhort time, the Lord will not alwayes be angry with his children, but howſoeuer, he ſhall chaſtice them for a time, it will bee but for a time, Heauineſſe may indure for a night, but ioy commeth in the morning.
The ſecond, taken from the greatneſſe of his deliuerance, that though he hath spoyled vsus, yet hee will Reuiue vsus, and though hee had grieuouſly wounded vsus, yet he will bind vp all the bleeding wounds of our ſoules, if we will patiently abide his leaſure.
The third ſpeciall point, is the fruit of true repentance, which are three: The firſt is, that if wee hauehave once beene ſpoyled of our owne righteouſneſſe, and wounded truely for our ſinnes, and beene healed, and wrapped vp by the mercifull hand of God, We ſhall then liue as in his preſence, in all holines and righteouſnes. Secondly, he will power into our hearts that knowledge which will bring vsus vntounto eternall life, to know his will, how hee is affected towards vsus: and this knowledge ſhal direct vsus to walke wiſely before his face, ſo that we ſhal deſire to grow in this knowledge, and ſtudy dayly to attaine to a greater meaſure of it: We ſhall endeuour our ſelues to know the Lord. And the third and laſt fruit of Repentance is, that if we will draw neare to God by true repentance, hee will draw neare to vsus, to comfort vsus; ſet out by two ſimilitudes, the firſt of them is in theſe words: The Lords comming is prepared as the morning: for indeed, many times it comes to paſſe in the Ver. 3 hearts of Gods children, that the ſenſe and feeling of Gods louelove and fauour is oftentimes extinguiſhed: as the comfortable heate and light of the Sunne is taken away by reaſon of ſome thicke cloud that doth paſſe betwixt the Sunne and the earth; ſo, many times we thinke that God forgets vsus, & hides himſelfe from vsus: but his comming to helpe vsus is prepared, and therefore moſt certaine. And he ſhall come as the morning, and therefore moſt comfortable: for as the bright beams and cleare countenance of the Sunne after a windy & boiſterous night, is very comfortable: Euen ſo, when after a cloudy night of affliction, wherein wee hauehave beene wounded and broken in our ſoules for our ſinnes: the bright beams of Gods mercy breaking then forth, ſhall bee moſt comfortable to glad and reioyce the ſoule of a poore ſinner: This then is the firſt fruit that ſhall follow our true conuerſion vntounto God, The Lords going foorth (to comfort vsus, and to deliuer vsus) is prepared, the Lord hath purpoſed it, and determined it of folde, that thoſe that repent and Returne vntounto him, ſhal find comfort and refreſhing.
The ſecond ſimilitude which ſheweth the ſecond fruit of repentance, ſheweth that the Lords comming ſhal not onelyonly bee comfortable, but alſo moſt effectuall, and moſt welcome vntounto the ſoule of this ſame poore ſinner, that as helpe and deliuerance in time of greatrſt danger is moſt welcome: So, when the Lord ſhall come with great and effectuall comfort, and bring helpe and deliuerance in time of greateſt affliction & danger. Oh then it will be moſt ſet by and eſteemed, and to aſſure the poore child of God of this comfort in time of need, the Prophet ſaith, that the Lord will come as the Raine, euen as the latter raine vntounto the earth: Now as moderate raine is welcome as at all times, ſo eſpecially in the heate of ſummer after a great and a long drought, when the earth is ſcorched with the heat of the Sunne, and beginnes to capper and gape for want of moiſture, then a gracious and ſweet ſhower is moſt welcome: Euen ſo, when a poore ſoule doth pant and breath vnderunder the burthen of his ſinnes, and is ſchorched with the burning heat of affliction: then if the Lord in mercy ſend a gracious raine, an heauenly ſhower of his bleſſed mercy in this heat of affliction, this would bee moſt welcome, this would bee moſt comfortable; and this doth the Lord promiſe and aſſure his Church and children if they will Returne vntounto him.
Of the exhortation wee hauehave ſpoke of before, as alſo of their reaſons; the firſt, drawne from his iuſtice, Hee hath wounded vsus, hee hath ſpoyled vsus. And the ſecond, drawne from his mercy, Hee will heale vsus, hee will bind vsus vp.
Now becauſe this reaſon or argument drawn from the meccy of God, is the chiefeſt of all other, as Paul teacheth when he ſayth,Rom. 12.1. I beſeech you brethren by the mercies of God: therefore the holy Ghoſt here amplifies this reaſon: firſt by the ſhortneſſe of time wherein the Lord afflicts his people, it is but for a day or two, a very ſhort moment, After two dayes, or at the moſt, in the third day, hee will come vntounto vsus, if we humble our ſelues vnderunder his mighty hand,
After two dayes. It is all one as if they ſhould hauehave ſaid, True it is, the Lord hath grieuouſly ſpoyled vsus for our ſinnes, and wounded vsus for our iniquities, ſo as his hand ſeemes grievous vntounto vsus: yea, let vsus breake off our ſinnes by repentance, and let vsus Returne againe vntounto him from whom we hauehave departed by our ſinnes, and the Lord will ſoon remoue his iudgements from vsus.
In this verſe note three things: firſt, the perſon from whom all helpe, comfort and deliuerance doth come, He.Verſe diuided.
Secondly, the circumſtance of time, in the which the Lord will deliuer vsus: After two dayes, or at the moſt, the third day.
Thirdly, the deliuerance it ſelfe with the ſeuerall fruits of it: He will reuiue vsus, Raiſe vsus vp, and wee ſhall liue in his ſight.
For the firſt of theſe which is the perſon from whom all helpe, comfort and deliuerance doth come, it is the Lord,The Perſon. for this is that the Church acknowledgeth here when they ſay, Hee will reuiue vsus, hee will rayſe vsus vp. It was hee that had wounded them and ſpoyled them, ſo they ſeeke onelyonly to him for helpe and deliuerance.
Doct. 1 Whoſe example may bee a notable preſident vntounto vsus in all miſery to direct vsus,In all our miſeries wee muſt flie vntounto God for deliuerance. vntounto whom we ſhould ſue for deliuerance, euen to the Lord, who, as it is hee alone that killeth, ſo it is hee alone that maketh aliue againe. And in the performance of this duety, the holy Seruants of God hauehave gone before vsus, who in the midſt of all their troubles and afflictions, hauehave euermore had recourſe vntounto God, as that of the Prophet Dauid ſo oft in the booke of the Pſalmes: Lord, how are my aduerſaries increaſed againſt mee? Pſal. 3.12.many ſay to my ſoule there is no helpe for him in his God, But thou O Lord art my Buckler. Pſal. 7.1.2.And againe, O Lord in thee hauehave I put my truſt, ſaue mee from them that perſecute me, 1. King. 17. Exod. 12. Deu. 32.39.and deliuer me. Who was it that ſent Manna to the Iſraelites when they wanted bread, but the Lord? Who was it that could giuegive water out of a ſtony rock, but the Lord? And who was it againe that could command the Rauens to feed his Prophet, but the Lord? And who was it that brought the people out of Egypt when they were ſo purſued by Pharaoh, euen to the red Sea, where through they paſſed ſafely when the Egyptians periſhed, but the Lord? This doth Moſes ſet downe,2. Kin. 19.3. Act. 12.1.2. Io 5.14, Dan. 9.17. at large when hee ſpeaketh in the perſon of God: Behold now, for I am hee, and there is no Gods with me, I kil & giuegive life, I wound and make whole, neither is there any that can deliuer out of my hand: This duty was practiſed of good King Ezechi…s when Ieruſalem was beſieged, and the Temple was in danger to be deſolated? What was the courſe that this godly King did take in this time of great calamity and miſery of the Church? ſurely, hee ſought vntounto the Lord, and prayed, ſaying:Io. 11.41. O Lord I beſeech th…e ſaue vsus out of his hand, that all the Kingdoms of the earth may know, that thou (O Lord) art onelyonly God. Beſides theſe plentifull examples, and the like whereof the Scriptures are full; wee hauehave the promiſe of God that hee will heare vsus, and deliuer vsus if we ſeeke onelyonly for helpe and deliuerance at his hands. As that place of the Pſalmiſt:Pſal. 50.15. Mat. 7.7. Pſal. 34.9. & 37.5. Call vponupon mee in the day of thy trouble and I will heare thee, and deliuer thee. And againe, Aske and you ſhall hauehave, Seeke and you ſhall find, Knocke and it ſhall be opened vntounto you. Oh what gracious and mercifull promiſes hath God made vntounto his Church and people, and all to make vsus to rely vponupon him? It is not tribulation, it is not afflictions that ſhall any whit hinder our bleſſedneſſe, the Lord hath promiſed to ſanctifie them all vntounto vsus, and that they ſhall worke for our good, they ſhall neuer depart from vsus, but they ſhall leaue a bleſſing behind them. Now let vsus come to the vſes of this Doctrine.
The Doctrine being thus cleared, that as all iudgements Vſe. 1 and afflictions come from God, ſo wee muſt ſeeke onelyonly to him for helpe and deliuerance; this ſerueth in the firſt place to condemne that horrible and diueliſh practiſe of many in theſe dayes and times wherein wee liue, that when the hand of God is vponupon them,Brand of a wicked man to reſort to Witches for health in time of diſtreſſe. and that the Lord doth ſtrike their bodies with long and tedious ſickneſſe, loſſe of Cattell, or the like, where they might ſee clearely the hand of God, and the finger of the Lord: What doe they, out by and by …nd out to ſome Cunning man (as they call them) of Cunning women, or rather indeed, vntounto the Deuill himſelfe, neuer looke vntounto the purpoſe & prouidence of God which ruleth and gouerneth all things from the higheſt to the loweſt in the world, without whoſe purpoſe and prouidence nothing could come to paſſe, no, not the leaſt ache in a mans little finger, as our Sauiour teacheth, The farthing Sparrow cannot light on the ground without the prouidence of your heauenly Father. Oh, what folly and madneſſe is this in men, that they ſhould thus forſake the Lord, & runne to the Deuill; ſurely, it is a note and a brand of a wicked man, for the child of God in the time of miſery and affliction doth euer turne vntounto God by true and vnfained repentance, and doth bring forth fruits worthy amendment of life, they beleeue in God and reſt vponupon him for comfort and deliuerance: But of this before.
Secondly, wee may obſerue hence the endleſſe Vſe. 2 goodneſſe of God towards his Church and people, that hee neuer leaueth them without comfort:Comfort to the godly, that hee is priuy to their miſeries, and will deliuer them. for if the Lord command vsus to ſeeke vntounto him in time of trouble and great diſtreſſe, ſurely, then the Lord will not ſend vsus away empty, not ſuffer vsus to depart away aſhamed: let our preſent care then bee to ſerue the Lord, and then wee ſhall hauehave our part and portion in this perogatiue, which all the wicked and vngodly wretches of the world come ſhort off: I called vponupon the Lord in trouble (ſayth the Prophet Dauid) and the Lord heard mee at large: Mat. 28.All other comforts come ſhort of this, that in time of Sickneſſe, Triall, Trouble, Aſſaults of Sathan, Temptation and houre of death, wee ſhall finde comfort if wee Returne vntounto him▪ Oh▪ bleſſed life, Oh happy condition, that God … leaue his comfortleſſe, but will bee thus with them … end of the world. So that no man can now … vaine to ſerue the Lord: Mal. 3.14.And what profit … … ping the commandement, herein wee ſee our Labour is not in vaine in the Lord, becauſe in the middeſt of all our troubles, miſeries and afflictions here,Rom. 8.37. We are more then Conquerours through him that hath loued vsus. Oh then let vsus goe vntounto God, and ſeeke euer for helpe and deliuerance at his hands: No Father is more ready and willing to heare his child, then the Lord is ready and neare at hand to heare vsus. Let vsus tread in the ſteps of Dauid, Ezechias, the Prophets and Apoſtles, and other holy men of God, who hauehave euer in their greateſt troubles reſorted vntounto the Lord for helpe and deliuerance. And howſoeuer the Papiſts may teach men to pray to Saints and Angels, to the Virgin Mary, and to Stockes and Stones, pretending therein humility, that they will not bee ſo bolde to come to God themſelues, but vſe the mediation of ſuch as are about him: Yet let vsus know, that Abraham, Iſaack and Iacob, Moſes and the Prophets were as humble men, yea, more humble then any Papiſt can be; yet their humility did no whit hinder their holy boldneſſe to come into Gods preſence, and to ſue to him for grace and fauour.
The ſecond generall obſeruation, is the circumſtance of time, in the which the Lord will deliuer vsus: After two dayes, and the third day hee will rayſe vsus vp. q. d. True it is the Lord hath grieuouſly ſpoyled vsus for our ſinnes, and wounded vsus for our iniquities: wee hauehave taſted and felt the powerfull hand of God vponupon vsus, there is no way to eſcape his iudgements, but to breake off our ſins by true and vnfained repentance, and … the Lord wil quickly remoue his iudgements … After two dayes, &c.Circumſtance of time.
… we gather, that the afflictions that are layd … children, are neyther very durable, for Doct. 2 … day or two; neyther altogether incurable or intollerable,Afflictions layde vponupon Gods children, are neyther durable, nor incurable. Eſay. 54.7.8. 2. Cor. 4.17. for God will raiſe vsus out of them all. This doth the Lord himſelfe make cleare vntounto vsus by his Prophet, when hee ſayth, For a little time hauehave I forſaken thee, but with great compaſſion will I gather thee: for a moment in mine anger hide I myſelfe from thee, for a little ſeaſon, but with euerlaſting mercy hauehave I had compaſſion on thee. The holy Apoſtle Saint Paul teacheth vsus that our light afflictions which laſt but for a moment, bring vntounto vsus a farre more excellent, euen an eternall weight of glory. Where note how the Apoſtle cals all our afflictions firſt light, Mat. 11.28.for Chriſts yoke is eaſie, and his burthen is light. And ſecondly, Momentany, laſting but a very ſhort time, a day or twaine as the Text ſayth here: Hereunto commeth the ſaying of the Pſalmiſt:Pſal. 30.5. Hee indureth but a while in his anger, and in his fauour is life: heauineſſe may indure for a night, 1. Cor. 10.13.but ioy commeth in the morning. Againe, They that ſow in teares, ſhall reape in ioy: So that the afflictions of Gods people laſt but from euening till morning,Heb. 12.2. from ſowing time till harueſt; and howſoeuer God maketh the wicked men his Rodde, Pſal. 37.74.yet the Rodde of the wicked ſhall not alwayes reſt vponupon the lotte of the righteous: Pſal. 125.3.Though the Lord appoint his children for a time to be afflicted, yet it ſhall bee but for a time,Heb. 18. Gen. 47.14. And which ſhall come, will come, and will not tarry. This point of Doctrine is further cleared by the example of Ioſeph, the Iſraelites in Egypt, of Dauid, of Daniel, and of many of the Saints and deare ſeruants of God,Exod. 12.41. who ſuffered ſhame, & indured the Croſſe; were ſome of them tryed by one iudgement and affliction, ſome by another, yet the Lord awaked at laſt, as a man out of ſleepe, and as a Gyant refreſhed with wine, & when the time of refreſhing came, they were deliuered. So that by this that hath been ſayd,Dan. 6.23. we may ſafely conclude of the truth of this point, that how … …he Lord may humble his Church and people … ſome Croſſe for a time, yet hee will neuer leaue them deſtitute of his helpe and comfort, but at laſt deliuer them out of all.
And the Reaſons are plaine: for firſt, the Lord is Reaſon. 1 priuy to our wants, and to our weakeneſſe, Hee knoweth whereof wee bee made, hee remembreth that wee are but duſt: What Father but will pitty the wants of his Child, and when it is ready to fall into danger, wil not helpe it? the Lord is more tender to his children, then any earthly Father can bee towards his child:Mat. 6.7.11 Now if yee which be euill, know to giuegive your children good things how much more will your heauenly Father? And therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, That God is faithfull, which will not ſuffer vsus to bee tempted aboue that wee are able, 1. Cor. 10.13.but will euen giuegive the iſſue with the Temptation, that wee may bee made able to beare it.
Secondly, his eares are alwayes open to the cries Reaſon. 2 of his Children, and he putteth their teares into a bottle of remembrance, hee is priuy to their wants, and he heares their cries: I hauehave ſeene, I hauehave ſurely ſeen (ſayth the Lord) the troubles of my people, I hauehave alſo heard their cries, and I will deliuer them: So long therefore as wee hauehave a voyce to call vponupon God, or a heart to ſigh and grone vntounto him, wee need not to doubt of our deliuerance: ſo that, whether wee conſider that the Lord is priuy to our wants or weakneſſe, and alwayes heares the prayers, yea, the ſighes and grones of his children; we need not any way to doubt, but that the Lord will put an end vntounto all our troubles heere. The vſes follow.
Seeing then that the Lord our God in afflicting Ʋſe. 1 vsus, layes no more vponupon vsus then wee ſhall bee able to beare, but in the middeſt of all our troubles, giues a bleſſing, and if wee ſeeke vntounto him, hee doth manifeſt his louelove in deliuering vsus. This may teach vsus all a profitable leſſon, namely, to poſſeſſe our ſoules with patience, and to wayte the Lords leaſure: for if we ſeeke to him by true repentance and hearty prayer; Hee that ſhall come and will come, Luke. 21.and will not tarry: This muſt be our comfort, that after two dayes, or at the moſt three dayes hee will viſite vsus, and rid vsus out of our trouble and affliction (if the Lord do ſee the ſame to be good for vsus:) And let vsus take heed that we fall not to murmur againſt God, to repine and grudge at his chaſtiſements, much leſſe to charge God of cruelty: no, he afflicts but with light affliction, and ſuch as bee but for a moment, a very ſhort time, and therefore let vsus runne to God, patiently endure his trials, kiſſe his rod, and his hand that ſmiteth vsus, ſeeing hee afflicts vsus for our good, and ſeeks onelyonly our reformation, comfort, and ſaluation.
Obiect. But here I know it will bee obiected, How can this be true, that the iudgements and afflictions of Gods Church and children are ſo ſhort, that God doth reuiue his children after two dayes, or at the third day at the moſt? Do we not ſee many good Chriſtians that are the deare children of God, hauehave grieuous afflictions, ſome ſicknes, ſome pouerty, ſome impriſonment, ſome exerciſed with the griefe of a wounded conſcience, and they pray earneſtly for remedy, yet the Lord doth ſtill continue them in their miſery; how then doth this ſtand, that afflictions laſt but a day or two, or ſome ſhort time?
An. True it is indeed, that the Lord oftentimes throweth his children into continuall miſeries and afflictions, Anſwere. continuall pouerty and ſickneſſe all their dayes, and the paine of a wounded conſcience and troubled ſpirit till their laſt end; yet it is for their good: for by this meanes, the Lord wil purge their corrupt & cankered hearts, to humble them throughly, and to exerciſe their faith and patience, to mortifie their carnall hearts, to make them more earneſt with God in praier, and by their continuall afflictions to preſerue and keepe them, and preuent them from manifold ſinnes and rebellions. And yet notwithſtanding, God heares his children in their miſeries, and forſakes them not, but in two dayes, or at the moſt in three dayes, that is, in a very ſhort time, ſends them comfort; though hee take not their afflictions away, yet he giues them that which is better for them. Our Sauiour Chriſt prayed vntounto his Father moſt earneſtly with cries and teares, to be freed from death,Heb. 5.7. And was heard in that hee feared. How was our Sauiour Chriſt heard in his Petition, praying to be freed from death, and yet hee muſt needes taſte of the bitter cuppe of death? Anſ. He was heard on this manner: firſt, in that hee was ſtrengthned, not onelyonly to beare and ſuffer the death vponupon the Croſſe, but to ouercome it, and to vanquiſh it, his Father ſent an Angell to comfort him, and afterward he was freed from the ſorrowes of death.
And ſo it is with the poore members of Chriſt, they be afflicted, they liue in ſorrow, in pouerty, in ſickneſſe, in griefe of mind: Well, the Lord he giues them patience to ſuffer this affliction, ſo as it is not tedious and grieuous vntounto them, and by his continuall afflicting of them he humbles them, and purges them of their cankered corruption, and ſtirres vp in them the feruency of prayer, makes them out of louelove with the world, and makes them more to hunger after his mercy, and to depend on his fatherly goodnes. And thus though men thinke God forgets vsus in our afflictions, yet hee doth remember vsus, and giues vsus that which is better for vsus, then if hee ſhould altogether remoue his correction. Iacob ſerued ſeuen yeers for Rahel, and it ſeemed vntounto him but a few dayes, becauſe hee loued her:Gen. 29.20. And ſurely, if we be perſwaded of the louelove of God, that though hee afflict vsus ſeuen times ſeuen yeares, wee ſhall thinke it but a ſhort time.
But the child of God oft complains, that they be afflicted not onelyonly with continuall pouerty and ſickneſſe, but that they bee tormented with griefe of Soule, and feele the heauy burthen of their ſinnes, and the anger of God againſt them for the ſame: yet remember what befell thy Lord and Maſter Ieſus Chriſt when hee went to execution, the cruell Iewes made him carry his owne Croſſe on his backe ſo long, till hee could carry it no longer hee was ſo faint; then behold, the Lord ſent a good Symon of Syren to carrie his Croſſe for him: So, art thou croſſed with affliction? is thy ſoule wounded with the griefe and ſmart of ſinne, and doeſt thou pant and breath vnderunder the heauy burthen of the Croſſe? remember what thy Sauiour ſayth vntounto thee: Come vntounto mee all yee that trauell and bee heauy laden, Mat. 11.28.and I will refreſh you: If thou canſt runne to Ieſus Chriſt in the middeſt of thy griefe and miſery by true repentance and earneſt prayer, then he will become a bleſſed Simon to beare thy Croſſe for thee, hee will put vnderunder his owne ſhoulder, hee will take thy ſinnes, and the anger of God, and beare them on his owne backe; and if wee can but fling our ſelues into the bleſſed Armes of his mercy, hee will giuegive euerlaſting reſt vntounto our ſoules.
And laſtly, whereas many of Gods children complaine,Lam. 1.12. as Ieremy, See if there were euer any ſorrow like my ſorrow; And as the Prophet Dauid complaines, Hath God forgotten to bee gracious, and hath hee ſhut vp his louing kindneſſe in displeaſure? Yet they muſt know and confeſſe, that God doth in a ſhort time comfort his children, and that his afflictions are neyther troubleſome nor tedious, for though they laſt for the ſpace of a mans life, what is a mans life, but a ſpanne long? and a thouſand yeares with God, are but as a day. Againe, when they bee paſt and gone, though they laſted many yeares, it ſeemes but a ſhort time. And what is twenty yeares affliction in compariſon of eternall ioy and happineſſe in heauen? who had not rather leade their liues in miſery here, then in eternall torment in Hell fire in the life to come?
Well, ſeeing the afflictions of Gods children bee Ʋſe. 2 but light and moment any, and laſt but for a few daies, wee muſt learne that leſſon which Saint Paul teacheth vsus, namely, to reioyce in affliction, knowing,Rom. 5.3. that affliction bringeth foorth patience; patience in ſuffering bringeth forth experience of Gods louelove and fauour; and experience, hope; and hope makes vsus reſt our ſelues wholly content to wayte the Lords leaſure; and were it not for this hope that God wil one day eaſe vsus, the hearts of Gods children would burſt in ſunder; and his hope makes vsus not aſhamed, ſeeing that ſuch is the louelove of God, that he neuer failes nor forſakes his children: Many indeed are our infirmities, feares, cares, ſorrowes and troubles heere, yet in the middeſt of them all wee muſt ſay with the Prophet:Pſal. 42.5. Why art thou caſt downe Oh my Soule, and why art thou diſquieted within mee? Wayte on God, for I will yet giuegive him thanks, he is my preſent helpe and my God: Let vsus not therfore deſpayre in the time of trouble,Rom. 16.20. The God of peace ſhall tread Sathan vnderunder your feet ſhortly, he is faithfull which hath promiſed. Affliction muſt bee our portion heere, wee muſt then get faith and patience into our ſoules, that ſo we may hold out vntounto the end.
The third generall obſeruation, is the deliuerance it ſelfe, with the ſeuerall fruits and benefites therof, in theſe words: Hee will reuiue vsus, hee will rayſe vsus vp, The deliuerance it ſelfe.and wee ſhall liue in his ſight; Eph. 2.1.which words are expounded by the Apoſtle Paul, when hee ſayth: Yee that were dead in trtſpaſſes and ſinnes hath hee quickned: Meaning thereby, that vntill ſuch time as wee are quickned, and that the Lord doth reuiue vsus by the grace of Regeneration, wee be no better then dead men, howſoeuer we walke and talke, heare and performe the actions of men; yet in reſpect of any ſpirituall life, or any ſpirituall actions, alas, wee are ſtarke dead till the Lord reuiue vsus: this being ſo, wee learne hence a twofold Doctrine: Firſt, that by nature we are all ſtarke dead in treſpaſſes and ſins: And ſecondly, that our Regeneration is as hardly wrought, as to raiſe vp a dead man, and to reſtore him againe to life.
Doct. 3 For the firſt of theſe, wee are taught heere, what we are by nature,All men by nature are dead, in reſpect of any ſpirituall life. namely, dead in treſpaſſes and ſinnes, ſin is the bane and death of our ſoules: for the Wages of ſinne is death: Death bringeth vsus into the full and abſolute power of the Deuill, that wee are all of vsus thus ſeruants vntounto ſinne: It is plain by the Apoſtles complaint:Eph. 2.1. Rom. 6.23. Rom. 7.14. Rom. 6.16. Gen. 2.17. I am carnall ſold vnderunder ſinne, and then vntounto whom ſoeuer wee giuegive our ſelues as ſeruants to obey, his ſeruants we are. Now that we are all by nature ſeruants vntounto ſin, and vntounto death, it cannot bee denied; for what was it that God ſayd vntounto Adam, In the day that thou eateſt thereof, thou ſhalt die the death: As ſoone as Adam had ſinned, preſently the ſentence tooke place, and Adam is now become the child of death, and eternall deſtruction became his portion; and this is the condition of all Adams poſterity; there is not the greateſt, the nobleſt, the wealthieſt, nor the fayreſt amongſt the ſonnes of men, but wee are thus bound till the Sonne make vsus free: Men are not onelyonly ſicke with ſinne, or wounded by ſinne, or halfe dead, but ſtarke dead, bereft of all ſpirituall ſenſe and motion: And this doth the Apoſtle moſt liuely & effectually ſet out vntounto vsus in another place, when he ſayth, Yee were once darknes, Eph. 5.8.but now are light in the Lord; He doth not ſay, we were in darkneſſe,Io. 3.6. for then perhaps wee might hauehave come of our ſelues into the light againe: But yee were darkneſſe: Darkneſſe it ſelfe, yea, nothing elſe but Darkneſſe: and hence againe is it, that naturall men are called Fleſh, not Fleſhly, but fleſh it ſelfe; and the wiſdom, that is,Rom. 8.7. the beſt part that can bee in a naturall man, what is it but Enmitie with God, it may bring a man to Hell, but it cannot lead him one inch nearer vntounto heauen: and therefore being thus ſtarke dead in ſinne, Alas, what can a dead man doe to helpe himſelfe? No more can a natural man moue ſo much as one finger to procure ſaluation to himſelfe; no, no, being dead in ſinne, we cannot ſo much as thinke one good thought; much leſſe hauehave wee free will of our ſelues to ſeeke for ſaluation, vntil ſuch time as the Lord hath reuiued vsus, and quickned vsus by the Spirit of grace. Lazarus in the Goſpell had layne dead foure dayes in the graue, ſo as hee beganne to rotte and to ſtinke; yet when our Sauiour Chriſt cryed with a loud voyce, Lazarus, Io. 11.come foorth, hee aroſe incontinently, and came and ſtood foorth: This is our caſe and condition, yea, the eſtate and condition of eueryevery ſoule in the world, we be ſtarke dead in treſpaſſes and ſinnes, nay, we lye rotting and putrifying in the graue of our ſinnes, and vntill Ieſus Chriſt by his ſpirit and loude voyce of the preaching of the Goſpell, which is the Word of life, ſhal breath within vsus the breath of life, and reuiue vsus poore ſoules, wee cannot moue ſo much as one little finger to the Kingdome of heauen.
This may ſerue in the firſt place to confute that erroneous Vſe. 1 Doctrine of the Papiſts, who ſay, that a man hath naturally Free-will in himſelfe, by vertue whereof hee can diſpoſe himſelfe to the worke of his regeneration,Condemnes the Doctrine of the Papiſts touching Free Will. whoſe opinion, if it were granted, then were the power of God leſſe ſeene in our ſecond birth, then in our firſt birth, which were iniurious to the Spirit of God ſo to thinke: for, what can a dead man do to his owne quickning and rayſing vp from the graue? can hee turne himſelfe, or any way fitte or prepare himſelfe to bee rayſed? ſurely no, it is altogether impoſſible, nay, let a dead man hauehave all the helpe that may be to bee Rayſed vp, yet vnleſſe the ſoule bee giuen vntounto him, all is in vaine; ſo fareth it with the naturall man, he can by no meanes diſpoſe himſelfe to any ſpirituall action or motion, vnleſſe ſome ſpirituall life be put into him: But what ſayeth the Aduerſary, he may giuegive his conſent to his quickning, though hee quicken not himſele: But ſay I, what conſent, call wee the conſent of a man that is dead; but not to ſtand vponupon their preſumptuous doctrine of Free wil, the which amongſt many other points of Popery maintained by them, hath lifted vp many ſo high amongſt them with this vaine opinion of their own worthineſſe, that they find not themſelues to ſtand in need for the Lord to lift them vp.
Then in the feare of God let eueryevery man and woman, Vſe. 2 and eueryevery mothers child, labour to ſee our miſery, to ſee our poore Soules how they lye rotting in ſinne, & let vsus,Serues to humble vsus in that wee are dead, till the Lord quicken vsus by his ſpirit. ſeeing wee bee as the poore Flyes in Winter ſtarke dead, not able to moue our little finger to heauen, pray vntounto the Lord, that hee would cauſe the bleſſed Sunne-ſhine of his Word and Goſpell to ſhine vponupon vsus, to warme our cold and benummed ſoules, to quicken our dead conſciences by the word of Life, and the bleſſed worke of his holy Spirit: for, ſo long as God doth not quicken vsus, nor reuiue vsus, alas, our ſoules be dead in ſinne, and this death is the next ſtep vntounto eternall death in the fire of Hell: And therefore their caſe is dangerous and miſerable which ſleepe & ſnort in ſin, & lye ſtarke dead in the graue of ſin, vntill it pleaſe the Lord to reuiue them by the preaching of the Goſpell, which is the Power of God vntounto Saluation, to Reuiue and to quicken our dead ſoules. This being ſo,Note. we ſee then it is no maruell though many that are preſent in the Aſſemblies of Gods people at the preaching of the Word, and yet reape no profite by it; the reaſon is, they are dead, now ſound a Trumpet in a dead mans eare and he heares it not: Euen ſo,Eſay. 58. let the Miniſter of Gods Word cry neuer ſo loude, & lift vp his voyce like a Trumpet, men are no more moued, eyther with the comforts of the Word, or with the threates of the Law, then the ſeates men ſit on, becauſe they are dead, till the Lord doe pleaſe to put life into them; And as for thoſe that hauehave eares to heare with profite and comfort, bleſſe God for it, and giuegive him the glory for ſo great a mercy; for certaine it is, by nature the condition of all men is alike, till the Lord hath wrought in vsus the worke of grace, and Reuiued vsus with the breath of life. Oh what cauſe then hath man by nature to ſwell with pride, or to bee lifted vp with any conceit at all of his owne worthineſſe, though they hauehave neuer ſo many excellent parts of nature, as wit, capacity, ſtrength, beauty, or outward gifts, as riches, honour, authority, &c. yet ſurely, men may ſee, that if they bee not Reuiued, if they bee not borne againe, tranſlated out of Adam, and ingrafted into Ieſus Chriſt; alas, they are but as a dead corps that is trimmed and ſtucke with ſo many goodly flowers; yea the due conſideration of that miſerable eſtate and condition in the which they are by nature, may cauſe them to droupe,Tit. 1.15. and to hang downe their heads, for by their owne filthineſſe and impuritie, all theſe their excellent ornaments are defiled, and become impure, for ſo ſayth the Apoſtle, To thoſe that are defiled is nothing pure, but euen their minds and conſciences are defiled. Oh, if this point were wel conſidered, how it would pull downe the pride of mans heart, and make men to haſten to come out of ſo fearefull an eſtate and condition.
Doct. 4 The ſecond point of Doctrine wee obſerue hence by the authority of this Text, is, that our regeneration is as hardly wrought,Regeneration a worke of new creation. Rom. 5.12. Rom. 6.23. as to rayſe vp a dead man, & to reſtore him againe to life, as hard a thing to ſaue a ſoule that is dead, as to giuegive life to one that hath a long time lyen rotting in the graue. Death is gone ouer all, ſayth the Apoſtle, and The wages of ſinne is death. And God told Adam, Gen. 2.17.that in that day that he ſhould eate of the forbidden fruit, Hee ſhould die the death. Now, in ſo much as wee hauehave all taken part with him in his diſobedience, wee muſt alſo partake with him in his puniſhment, and the puniſhment is Death, not death in reſpect of any being of the creature (as all wicked and vngodly ſinners might wiſh it were:) but Death, in reſpect of our eternall ſeparation from God, In whoſe preſence is life, and at whoſe right hand is pleaſure for euermore: This is our eſtate and condition by nature, vntill the Lord doe Reuiue vsus: and to Reuiue vsus, and quicken vsus, is as hard a matter, as to rayſe vp a dead man out of his graue. This doth the Prophet Dauid acknowledge, when he deſired of God, that he would Create in him a new heart. Pſal. 51.10.And ſurely, it is as great a matter to Create a new heart, as for the Lord againe to Create a new world; yea, and in ſome reſpects it may ſeeme harder, for in the Creation of the world, the Lord but ſpake the Word, and all was made, there was no hinderance, there was no oppoſition; but in the creation of the heart a new, there are many lets and hinderances; firſt, within a man, for eueryevery man by nature is an enemy vntounto his owne ſaluation, and the fleſh reſiſts this worke: beſides, the Deuil he labours by al means poſſible to hinder ſo bleſſed a worke. Beſides all this, it is a worke of great difficulty, not accompliſhed without great labour and paine, and therefore it is called in the Scripture, A Birth, a Death, a Circumciſion: now as no Birth, no Death, no cutting off the Fleſh can be without paine and ſorrow; no more can the conuerſion of a ſinner; the Infant is not deliuered out of the Mothers wombe without paine; and doeſt thou thinke (O man) to part with ſinne that is within thee, which was conceiued in the wombe with thee, and euer ſince hath been nouriſhed and brought vp with thee as a familiar companion, and not taſte of paine,Eph. 2.1. and heart ſmart in thy new birth? no aſſuredly, it will not be, but it will coſt thee much ſorrow, many a ſigh, and many a bitter teare before this work of grace be effectually wrought in thee. It is not in this caſe, as in producing the forms of many Natural things here below which are brought è potentia materiae, out of a capable proneneſſe of the thing it ſelfe, to receiue ſuch a forme: but in the worke of our Regeneration, God doth by his ſpirit deliuer the mind from blindneſſe and ignorance, the will from rebellion, the affections from diſorder, and all the powers and faculties of the ſoule from corruption, when man is altogether oppoſite thereto.
This Doctrine doth iuſtly condemne moſt men & Ʋſe. 1 women amongſt vsus; we think it is an eaſie matter to be a Chriſtian, and ſo be ſaued, that it is an eaſie maner to goe to Heauen, and many men who be ſtarke dead in ſinne, and bleſſe themſelues in their euill wayes, yet bluſh not to ſay, they hope to come to heauen as well as the beſt Preacher of them all: Oh poore ſoule, thou art but a dead man in the ſight of God, wounded at the heart with ſinne, and vnleſſe thou bee reuiued & quickned, and rayſed out of the graue of ſinne by the wonderfull worke of God, thou canſt not bee ſaued. Our Sauiour Chriſt being working of ſome great miracle, hee tels his Diſciples that they ſhould do greater works then that; namely, they ſhould ſaue mens ſoules, and that is farre greater then to ſaue and helpe the body. God created all things with his bare word, breathed into Adam the Breath of Life; Gen. 2. Io. 11.Our Sauiour Chriſt rayſed Lazarus with his word; but before hee can rayſe a Sinner out of the graue of ſinne, and put into vsus the breath of ſpirituall life, the Sonne of God muſt come from Heauen and ſuffer a moſt cruell and ſhamefull death,1. Cor. 1.21. Iohn. 17.17. euen the death vponupon the Croſſe before he can quicken and Reuiue vsus; and therefore it is not ſo eaſie a matter as moſt men take it to bee, to become a good Chriſtian: No, no, it is the hardeſt thing in the world to become a good Chriſtian, and ſo to be ſaued. And therefore ſeeing this is the eſtate & condition of vsus all; Oh how carefull ought wee to bee to vſe all good meanes that God hath appointed,Act. 15.9. to ſaue our ſoules, as namely, the Word preached, the Sacraments, Prayer, Meditations in the Law of God, ſeeing that by theſe meanes the Lord doth quicken and Reuiue our dead ſoules.Pſ. 119.
Ʋſe. 2 Secondly, wee are taught heere, that ſeeing we are all dead in Adam by nature, vntill ſuch time as the Lord doth quicken vsus, and Reuiue vsus; let no man then content himſelfe with this diueliſh conceit and perſwaſion, that hee can at his owne time and leaſure deliuer himſelfe from the bondage of ſinne and Sathan, as it is the corrupt thought of many, that though they hauehave beene the ſeruants of ſinne and of death, twentie or forty yeares together, yet they thinke that one Lord hauehave mercy vponupon me, will open the Heauen gates: but O thou vaine man, O thou vaine woman, Oh, ſee heere, that it is the Lord that muſt worke in thee this worke of grace, for by nature thou art Reprobate vntounto eueryevery good worke: And this new birth is not giuen to eueryevery one; No, no, onelyonly Gods children, who are carefull to vſe the meanes, as hearing the Word preached and taught, Sacrament, Prayer, &c. for, by theſe doth the Lord Reuiue vsus and quicken vsus, elſe we cannot thinke a good thought: and as the Lord muſt beginne grace in our hearts, ſo hee muſt continue it, and increaſe it; and therefore it is ſayd heere,Reu. 20.6. He ſhall rayſe vsus vp, and make vsus able to walke in the duties of pietie and religion, of faith and repentance, and ſincere obedience: Holy and bleſſed are they that hauehave part in the firſt Reſurrection, for, on them the ſecond Death hath no power. If then God hath begunne to Reuiue thee, & to Rayſe thee out of the graue of ſinne: Oh, then thou art bleſſed and happy, for thou mayeſt bee ſure that the ſecond death, that is, eternall death, ſhall hauehave no power ouer thee: but as for thoſe which are yet in the ſtate of Nature, vnregenerate, not Reuiued, not quickned by the life of grace; Alas, alas, they bee at the next dore to eternall death, And vnleſſe, they ſeeke vntounto the Lord by true and vnfained repentance, that hee may Reuiue their dead Soules, and Rayſe them vp from the graue of ſinne, they muſt needs periſh eternally: And therefore, vntill ſuch time as the Lord ſhall Reuiue vsus, and that wee ſhall feele the power of Chriſts death within vsus dye to ſinne, whatſoeuer the vaine and fooliſh perſwaſion of our hearts may be, yet we are in a moſt curſed and wretched eſtate and condition.
And in the third day hee will rayſe vsus vp,
Theſe words containe in them the ſecond degree of their deliuerance; where wee may ſee that there Doct. 5 bee degrees of our ſpirituall life;Regeneration begun, muſt be continued. As we ſee a child firſt learnes to ſtand alone, then to goe in the hands of the Nurſe, and after, comming to more ſtrength, to walke alone: So fareth it with Gods Children; Firſt, the Lord muſt Reuiue and quicken vsus, elſe we cannot thinke a good thought; and as the Lord muſt begin grace in our hearts, ſo hee muſt continue it, and increaſe it, and therefore it is ſayd heere: Hee ſhall raiſe vsus vp, and make vsus to walke in the duties of Piety and religion, of Faith, Repentance, and true obedience.
So that the point of Doctrine which wee are to obſerue, hence is this, that the worke of Regeneration begunne in vsus, muſt bee continued, and dayly more and more encreaſed; ſo as wee may feele the power of the Spirit dayly ſubduing ſinne in vsus,2. Cor. 7.1. & our naturall corruption and carnall affections that are ſo deepely rooted in vsus by nature. It is the exhortation of the bleſſed Apoſtle,Heb. 6.1. That wee cleanſe our ſelues from all filthineſſe of the Fleſh and Spirit, and grow vp vntounto full holineſſe in the feare of God. And the Author of the Epiſtle to the Hebrews exhorts men, not to ſatisfie them ſelues with the Principles of Religion, which hee calleth the Doctrine of the beginning of Chriſt, as though it were inough that they had made an entrance and a beginning, but that they bee ledde forward to Perfection. q. d. It is true, you hauehave begunne well, yet yee muſt thinke that it is not ſufficient, but there is a kind of perfection to bee aymed at. And Paul ſpeaking of the excellent eſtate of a Chriſtian,Phil. 3.13.14. ſayth, I count not my ſelfe that I hauehave attayned it: And yet Paul was wonderfully expert in the myſtery of Chriſt: But one thing I doe ſayth hee, I forget that which is behind, and I endeuour my ſelfe to that which is before, and follow hard towards the marke for the price of the higheſt calling of God in Chriſt Ieſus. 2. Tim. 3.13.It is noted as a brand of a wicked man, that hee waxeth worſe and worſe, Deu. 29, 19.and fals away dayly more from one extremity to another: adding Drunkennes to thirſt whereas, on the contrary part, It is a true note of the ſpirit of God in a man when they grow in grace, and are led nearer and nearer to perfection. And this ſame ſpirituall growth in grace and in godlines, is not in mans power by nature to performe, no more then the beginning thereof, as we heard before, but it is the proper worke of the holy Ghoſt:1. Theſſ. 5.23. The very God of peace ſanctifie you through out: It cannot come from our parents: For who can bring a cleane thing out of filthineſſe? Iob. 13. Iob. 1.16.but Of his fulneſſe wee all receiue grace for grace. It is a point no doubt, well knowne vntounto vsus in ſpeculation, that we are to goe on from one degree of ſactification to another, from one meaſure of grace to another: and therefore I forbeare any further to enlarge the point.
This may ſerue to reproue thoſe that thinke they hauehave got knowledge inough into their ſoules like the Vſe. 1 Church of Laodicea; Reu. 3.16.and are not aſhamed many times to cloake their owne neglect of holy duties, to ſay, that they know as much as the beſt Preacher of them all: And indeed, were it not ſo that men were ſo perſwaded, that for matters of religion they were forward inough, and had learned inough; It could not be that they ſhould make ſo little account of the means to bring them vntounto more perfection: How is it poſſible, that they ſhould not bee aſhamed of themſelues, to bee found out of Gods houſe on the Saboath day, and to make their chimney corners their Chappell of eaſe? And how could it bee, that they ſhould be now as ignorant in the grounds of Religion, as they were many yeares agoe? Alas, how can this holde good with this Text of Scripture, that thoſe that are once reuiued by God, and quickned by the Spirit of grace, that they are alſo Rayſed vp, that is, dayly more and more drawn away from the earth and earthly things, to Seeke thoſe things that are aboue? Oh, let vsus looke vntounto our owne wayes betimes, And turne our feet into his Teſtimonies. And when we perceiue in vsus any beginning or inclination to ſeeke after grace, reſolue with Dauid, to Runne the way of Gods commandements. Pſal. 119.Not to go forward, is to go backward in Religion; And howſoeuer the gift of Regeneration, the ſpirit of grace can neuer vtterly be extinguiſhed and loſt; yet when wee grow not in it, it is iuſt with God that wee ſhould loſe the comfort of that grace, and the feeling of that ioy wee were wont to finde in the ſame; and wee can neuer recouer it without much ſorrow and griefe of heart. Let vsus therefore remember that exhortation of the Holy Ghoſt: Hee that is holy, let him bee more holy; and not to content our ſelues with the beginning of grace,Reu. 22.11. but labour to goe on in grace, from one degree to another, till at laſt wee become perfect men in Chriſt Ieſus.
Ʋſe. 2 Secondly, wee are taught here, that if it bee ſo dangerous a thing not to goe forward in religion, what a fearefull ſinne muſt it needs be then, to grow backeward in holy things?Luk. 11.26. Their laſt eſtate (ſayth our Sauiour) ſhall bee worſe then the firſt. And againe, It had beene better for them not to hauehave knowne the way of righteouſneſſe, 2. Pet. 2.21.then after they hauehave known it, to turne away. The righteous are by Salomon compared to the Sunne that ſhineth more and more till it bee perfect day. Pro. 4.18.Ezec. 47.3.4.And the Prophet Ezechiel figures out the graces of God by waters flowing from the Sanctuary, which were at the firſt to the Ankles, Heb. 6.6.then to the Knees, then to the Loynes; and laſt, as a Riuer that could not bee paſſed ouer: ſo are the graces the which God beſtowes vponupon his children. And therefore on the contrary part, what is it but a feareful iudgement of God vponupon the ſoule of that man that doth decay in ſpirituall grace,1. Theſſ. 4.4. and a fearefull ſigne of Reprobation? for, They which hauehave beene once enlightned, and hauehave taſted of the gifts of Gods spirit, if they once fall backe, it is impoſſible they ſhould bee reuiued by repentance: Oh then,2. Pet. 3.18. let the exhortation of the Apoſtle be precious with vsus, That we encreaſe yet more and more, that wee grow in grace, and bee led Forward to perfection; that ſo wee may miniſter true comfort and reioycing vntounto our owne ſoules, that the Lord hath begun that good worke in vsus, that hee hath Reuiued vsus, euen becauſe hee hath Rayſed vsus vp, and that there is a ſpirituall growth of Gods graces in vsus.
And wee ſhall liue in his ſight.
THe third principall point in this Text, is the fruit of true Repentance, for,The fruit of true repentance. Mat. 12.33. Mat. 3.10. as our Sauiour Chriſt ſayth; EueryEvery tree is knowne by his fruit: And againe, EueryEvery tree that bringeth not foorth good fruit, is h…wen down, & caſt into the fire. Euen ſo, that Repentance which brings not foorth fruit in our life and conuerſation; namely, a reformation of the whole man to liue in the feare of God, and in the true knowledge of God, it is but a barren and fruitleſſe faith, a counterfeit and fained Repentance. And therefore, though thou profeſſe thy ſelfe a Chriſtian, and takeſt thy ſelfe to be the child of God, heareſt the Word, and receyueſt the Sacrament; yet if thou find not theſe fruits of faith and repentance, more or leſſe in thy heart and life, thou deceyueſt thine owne Soule; for it cannot be, that thoſe which truely beleeue in Chriſt, and repent vnfainedly, but they muſt needs lead holy liues in righteouſneſſe and true obedience.
And wee ſhall liue in his fight. Firſt, the Lord muſt quicken and Reuiue vsus, then wee ſhall liue: He muſt firſt rayſe vsus vp, elſe wee cannot Liue in his ſight: For indeed, wee are like vntounto trees, which ſeeme all the Winter time to be dead trees, without buddes, bloſſomes, leaues or fruit; but in the Spring time, they are warmed and reuiued through the heat of the Sun, and bring foorth fruit accordingly: Euen ſo, all the Winter, that is, the time of our remayning in the eſtate of nature: We are Dead in trespaſſes and ſinnes, & wee are ſo frozen in our ſinnes, that wee hauehave neyther budde nor bloſſome, neyther can we bring forth any fruit till ſuch time as Ieſus Chriſt warme out dead & benummed ſoules, & quicken vsus by the bleſſed beams of his grace and mercy. When as the dead bones of the man were put into the graue of the man of God, they reuiued: Euen ſo, when as Ieſus Chriſt ſhal but touch our dead hearts by the gracious working of his bleſſed Spirit, wee ſhall bee Reuiued, raiſed vp, and we ſhal liue in his ſight.
Wee ſhall liue in his ſight. Theſe words may be taken two wayes,Gods ſight, What? 1. Ʋel in fau… …, that is, in his fauour: Ʋel conspectu illius, that is, in his moſt bleſſed preſence; both of which Expoſitions be profitable and fitte for this place.
Firſt, Wee ſhall liue in his ſight, that is in his fauour, and in the bright Beames and Sunne-ſhine of Gods mercy,1. Gods fauour. for ſo are theſe words, Before his face, often taken in the Scriptures,Pſal. 31.22. as that of the Prophet Dauid, I ſayd in my haſte, I am caſt from thy preſence, or face. Againe,Pſal. 4.6. the ſame Prophet ſayth in another place: Many ſay, who will ſhew vsus any good? But Lord, lift thou vp the light of thy countenance vponupon vsus. So theſe words, Wee ſhal liue in thy ſight, that is, we ſhall liue in thy fauour, wheras, for our ſinnes thou haſt been iuſtly angry, and offended with vsus, and turned away thy louelove and fauour, and beene angry with vsus: Yet now, if we ſhall repent and turne vntounto thee, wee ſhall then finde thee gracious and mercifull vntounto vsus, and that thou wilt ſhew vsus thy louing and amiable countenance, now after the time that thou haſt plagued vsus.
Heere wee are taught what is the wofull fruit of Doct. 6 ſinne, namely,Godly by repentance, are brought into Gods fauour. to auert and turn away the louing countenance of the Lord from a man, and to caſt him out of his fauour. As alſo, what a wonderfull bleſſing we get and obtaine at Gods hands by true and vnfained repentance; namely, this, that we ſhall then liue in his ſight, that is, in his fauour, when wee ſhall enioy his louing fauour, his goodneſſe, and comfortable preſence. This Doctrine is cleare by the ſcope of the whole Scriptures, how that the godly by their hearty repentance, and Turning vntounto God, hauehave a gracious acceptance with God, and are receyued againe into fauour: Hee will not alwayes bee chiding, Pſal. 1 c 3.9.neyther keepeth hee his anger for euer. Indeed, hee ſheweth ſometimes his heauy countenance and his wrathfull diſpleaſure againſt ſinne and ſinners: but ſo ſoone as the ſinner is humbled, and Returns vntounto him by vnfained repentance, he receyueth him to mercy; the ſinne is pardoned, and the puniſhment remoued: When Dauid had ſinned in numbring the people,2. Sam. 24.17 1. Chr. 21.15. the Lord was moued to wrath againſt Dauid for this his ſinne, and ſent the peſtilence three daies in Iſrael, that many thouſands of the people dyed: But when Dauids heart ſmote him, and that he had confeſſed his ſinne, the Lord repented him of the euill, and ſayd vntounto the Angell, It is inough, let thy hand ceaſe: This is further confirmed by that generall proclamation of the Prophet Ezechiel, where hee ſayth:Ezez. 18.21.22. If the wicked will returne from the ſinnes hee hath committed, and keepe all my ſtatutes, and doe that which is lawfull and right, hee ſhall ſurely liue, and not die: All his tranſgreſſions that he hath committed, ſhall not bee mentioned vntounto him, but in the righteouſneſſe that hee hath done hee ſhall liue. This is further confirmed vntounto vsus by the example of the Prodigall ſonne, a true patterne of eueryevery penitent Sinner, when he had intertained within himſelfe this purpoſe of heart, to Returne againe to his Father, his Father preuented him with his louelove, he went out to meet him, and when he met him, ſuch was his ioy that hee fell on his necke, and kiſſed him. This Father of the Prodigall, is indeed God our Father, and his louelove and kindnes remembred in that Parable, is recorded for all poſterities to the end of the World, to aſſure them of Gods mercifull dealing towards thoſe that doe truely repent and turn vntounto him, that hee will receiue them againe into fauour, which is heere meant by The ſight of God, or his preſence. And the Prophet Dauid ſayth,Pſ. 16.11. In his preſence is life and fulneſſe of ioy and happineſſe for euermore. And thus wee ſee, that howſoeuer by our ſinnes we make a ſeparation betwixt God and vsus, and cauſe him to plague and puniſh vsus heere; yet, His mercy is ouer all his works, And vponupon our repentance hee will receiue vsus againe into fauour.
Reaſon. And the reaſon of this the mercifull dealing of God, is eſpecially for the comfort and reioycing of Gods poore people, that none to the end of the world ſhould deſpaire of obtaining mercy, for the mercy of God in Chriſt is aboue all his works; hee extendeth it to thouſands, it is infinite without meaſure. And the Lord is not content onelyonly to promiſe mercy and fauour vntounto penitent ſinners, but alſo confirmes vsus in the aſſurance of it, by the examples of his manifold mercies ſhewed to others before vsus: When we looke vponupon them, let our weakeneſſe bee ſtrengthned, and let vsus not thinke that the Lord will ſhut that dore of mercy vponupon vsus, ere wee repent, who hath opened the ſame to ſo many before vsus, Hee hath beene found of them that ſought him not, ſayth the Prophet,Hoſ. 11.4. and will he hide himſelfe from vsus, if forſaking our ſinnes, wee ſeeke him in Spirit and truth? His mercies ſhewed to others, muſt be vntounto vsus, Cords of LoueLove, to draw vsus amongſt the reſt vntounto him.
The Doctrine being thus cleared: Let vsus now come to the vſes of it.
Firſt, ſeeing there is mercy in ſtore for the Penitent, and howſoeuer by ſinne we deſerued vtterly to bee caſt out of Gods fauour, yet if wee can repent and Returne vntounto him, he will receiue vsus againe into fauour, And we ſhall liue in his ſight. It requireth of vsus ſpeedily to repent, and to Turne vntounto him, and not to deferre our repentance from day to day, leſt it come to paſſe, that our hearts be hardned through the deceitfulneſſe of ſin. As no ſinne is ſo great, but vponupon repentance it is pardonable: ſo, no ſinne is ſo ſmall, but without repentance it is able to plucke vsus downe to the bottome of Hell. Let vsus then take heed that wee abuſe not his goodneſſe, nor to take occaſion of liberty,Rom. 4.2. to turne his grace into wantonneſſe; for, wee doe not know how ſoone the threed of our fraile life will bee cut off, when there ſhall bee no place for Repentance, though with Eſau wee ſeeke the ſame with Teares. Heb. 12. Luk. 12.20. 1. Theſ. 5.3. Luk. 17.27.There was but a little time betweene Soule eate, drinke, &c. and Thou foole, this night will they fetch away thy ſoule from thee. And againe, the Apoſtle ſayth, When men ſhall ſay, peace, peace, then ſhall come vponupon them ſodaine deſtruction. The olde World neuer thought themſelues more ſecure, then when the floud came vponupon them:G 9.23. The morning was faire when Lot went out of Sodom, and yet before night were the Sodomites deſtroyed.Act. 12.23. Well was it with Herod when hee beganne his Oration, but before it was ended, the Angell of the Lord ſmote him that hee was eaten vp of wormes. Oh, let vsus lay theſe examples to heart: And whereas, wee hauehave by our ſinnes turned away the louing kindneſſe of God, and cauſed him to turne away his fauourable countenance from vsus, and hauehave drawne downe his heauy iudgements vponupon vsus;Now that the Lord hath denied vsus the deawes of heauen. Zach. 1.3. ſo as wee are caſt out of his ſight. Oh, let vsus labour to be reconciled to him againe, let vsus pray much and often, that hee would lift vp the Light of his countenance vponupon vsus, as in times paſt: Let vsus Turne from our ſinnes, and the Lord will Turne vntounto vsus. And this duty wee would the ſooner practiſe, if we could but conſider the wofull and miſerable eſtate in which wee ſtand, vntill ſuch time as wee bee reconciled to God. If a man were conuicted of high Treaſon againſt his Prince, & for the ſame were condemned to ſome cruell and ſhameful death, and that eueryevery moment of an houre hee expected the execution of it, who could expreſſe the griefe of heart of this man? What comfort could he take in wife or children, in lands, or goods, in meat, or muſicke? ſurely, nothing in the whole World could cheare his dead heart, ſaue onelyonly the pardon of the Prince: ſuch a Traytor is eueryevery impenitent ſinner, conuicted of hie Treaſon againſt the King of Heauen and earth, and he is within an ynch of death & hell, there wants nothing but the execution of Gods iudgements, which is ſure and certain to come, without repentance. Good Lord, who would not now labour for his peace with God, Before the decree come forth? Yet we are in the way, we may now make our peace with our Aduerſary: but if wee bee once arreſted by Gods Serieant, Death, and wee bee caſt into priſon, there is no departure to be hoped for, till wee hauehave payde the vtmoſt farthing.
Secondly, ſeeing it is ſo bleſſed a thing to enioy Vſe. 2 the fauour and comfortable preſence of God, To liue in his ſight: How ſhould this moue vsus to Turne to God, to auoyde all ſinne, and eueryevery euill way, and to take heed that wee doe nothing that may auert & turn away his louing countenance from vsus? If it be a matter of great honour to liue in the preſence of an earthly Prince, and to be in his fauour, how much more to be in the fauour of the Lord, to Liue for euer in his ſight, 1. Reg. 10.8.and to enioy his louelove & fauour? If the Queene of the South did truely pronounce Salomons ſeruants happy that ſtood in his ſight, and heard his wiſdome? Oh, how much more are they happy men and women that liue in Gods preſence, and be in high ſauour with the Almighty! Oh, that wee could labour for this priuiledge: Well, let vsus pray much and often, that the Lord would lift vp the light of his countenance vponupon vsus, and cauſe his face to ſhine vponupon vsus, that wee might draw neare vntounto his preſence by true repentance and holy obedience.
Thirdly, wee may hence conclude the bleſſed eſtate Ʋſe. 3 of all that liue in Gods fauour: Hee is counted happy in the world that hath the fauour of a Prince: indeed, they bring with them many Priviledges and preferments; but alas, they are but temporall, neither laſt they for euer: for they are moſt vnſtable and vncertaine, their honour in a moment of time is turned into diſhonour, their glory into ſhame and confuſion: Haman one day the happieſt man in a Kingdome next to the King; the next day the moſt wtetched;Heſt. 5.12. & 7.9. one day honoured, the next day hanged: Yea, it is the condition of the godly themſelues, as wee may ſee in Dauid, Who greater in Sauls Court then Dauid? made the Sonne in Law of the King, and Captaine of the Hoaſt; yet by and by diſgraced, degraded, and in perill of his life. But it is not ſo with God, for whome hee loueth once, he loueth euer: He doth not change, hee cannot lie, his gifts are without repentance. Oh then, let vsus ſeeke for his fauour aboue the fauour of Princes, and when wee hauehave it, make much of it, for the eſtate of that man is happy and bleſſed; hee is at peace with heauen and earth, with men and Angels, with himſelfe, and all others, with life and with death, and hath this comfort and aſſurance from the almighty, that nothing ſhall bee able to do him hurt.
Indeed, the child of God hath no promiſe to bee freed from trials and temptations, ſickneſſe, pouerty, and the like; but the child of God hath this promiſe, that theſe things ſhall neuer hurt him, the Lord will ſanctifie them to his children, and they ſhall bee ſure to leaue a bleſſing behind them. This is it which the Prophet Dauid handleth at large,Pſa. 91.1. &c. Who ſo dwelleth in the ſecret of the moſt high, ſhall abide in the ſhadow of the Almighty: Surely, hee ſhall deliuer thee from the ſnare of the Hunter, and from the noyſome peſtilence, &c. Not that the godly ſhall bee freed from all theſe calamities; but the meaning is, they ſhall not hurt the godly, but the Lord will euer giuegive them a ſanctified vſe of them, that they ſhall gaine more in the Spirit, then they can loſe in the Fleſh: ſo that wee ſee what a maruellous comfort it is that wee are at peace with God, that hee is our friend, and that he hath no controuerſie againſt vsus: for, if God were againſt vsus, who ſhould bee able to ſtand for vsus? but being iuſtified by faith, wee are at peace with God: Beſides that, wee are at peace with the elect Angels of God, with the children of God, with the creatures of God, and with himſelfe for, if a man were at peace with all the world, with men and Angels, and yet were at warre in himſelfe, that his owne ſinnes did muſter themſelues againſt him, hee ſhould then ſee what a bleſſing it is to hauehave a cleare conſcience: But he is at peace with himſelfe; ſo that the godly man alone that repents of his ſins, is hee alone that is the bleſſed man. Hee liues in Gods ſight.
Fourthly, and laſtly, ſeeing that he that repents & Turnes vntounto God, is hee alone That liues in Gods ſight, Vſe. 4 that is, in Gods fauour: Alas then, how fearefull and wretched is the eſtate and condition of all thoſe that are yet in their ſinnes, and are out of Gods fauour? Ah poore ſoules, they hauehave no reſt, they can looke for no peace; for both heauen, earth, and all creatures ſhall conſpire againſt them: And as it was ſayd of Iſmael, his hand ſhould bee againſt eueryevery man, & eueryevery mans hand againſt him: God is become their enemy, the Angels of God are armed to deſtroy them, and their owne conſciences conuince and condemne them; Heauen gates are ſhut againſt them, & Hel opens her mouth maruellous wide to ſwallow them: there is not any thing in the whole world that can truly and properly bee called a wicked mans, but hell and damnation, and this, one day ſhall ſure bee his portion. Marke then the difference betweene the child of God, and the wicked; the condition of the godly is many times in ſhew, miſerable to the outward appearance;2. Cor. 6.9. but yet in it ſelfe moſt bleſſed and happy: They are as vnknowne, and yet knowne: as dying, and behold they liue; as chaſtened and yet not killed; as ſorrowing, and yet alway reioyſing; as poore, and yet making many rich; as hauing nothing, and yet poſſeſſing all things. Whereas, on the other ſide, the eſtate and condition of the wicked, is in ſhew many times bleſſed and happy, whereas indeede and in trueth, it is in it ſelfe moſt deſperate, moſt wretched and miſerable: for if thoſe that Repent and Turne vntounto God, Liue in Gods ſight, & in his fauor; then thoſe that are yet in their ſins, are vnderunder Gods wrath & heauy diſpleaſure.
Wee ſhall liue in his ſight, or before his face; that is,Ʋel conſpectu illius. wee ſhall endeuour to leade holy liues and godlie conuerſations, euen as wee liued and ſtood before the eyes of the Lord himſelfe, denying all vngodlineſſe and worldly luſts, & liuing ſoberly, iuſtly, and godly in this preſent world.
Doct. This Phraſe, that wee muſt liue as in the preſence of God, ſhewes how wee muſt behaue ourſelues in this world;Godly liue as in Gods ſight. Gen. 5.12. Gen. 22.1. namely, that in all we doe, we muſt conſider, that wee bee euer in the bleſſed preſence of God: So it is ſayd, that Enoch walked with God, that is, in his whole life behaued himſelfe as in the preſence of God. So Gen. 22.1. I am God all-ſufficient, walke before mee, and bee thou perfect: And ſurely, it is a worthy fruite of true Repentance, and a ſound note of a man regenerate,Gen. 39. when as in all his waies hee walkes and liues as in the ſight of God. So did Dauid, I hauehave ſet God at my right hand, that I might not fall. It is a true note of him that repents truely, when hee doth walke as before the face of God, and is afraide to ſinne, becauſe he would not offend his God in whoſe preſence hee ſtands:Phil. 3.20. Our Conuerſation (ſayth the Apoſtle) is in heauen, from whence we looke for a Sauiour, euen the Lord Ieſus: Dauid makes this queſtion,Pſal. 15.1. Lord, who ſhall reſt in thy mountaine, that is, in heauen, not as Pilgrimes for a time, but as heyres for euer?Ver. 2. And God maketh this anſwere, Hee that walketh vprightly, and worketh righteouſneſſe; that is, hee that liueth holily heere, as in Gods preſence, he ſhall liue for euer; hee that loueth the face of God in his Church, ſhall one day ſee the face of God in his Kingdome: hee that profeſſeth the Goſpell, and is carefull of his wayes, not walking with a leg and a ſtumpe as they doe who ſeeme religious, and liue ill appearing righteous, and yet prophane, Hee ſhall ſtand before the Lord for euer, And indeede,Pſ. 24.3.4. though wee hauehave our beeing heere in this vayle of miſery, yet our conuerſation muſt bee in heauen: We are but Exiles heere in this world, our Country is heauen, We are Pilgrimes and Strangers heere, our home is heauen, therefore we muſt liue according to the lawes of our Country, euen as if wee were in the Kingdome of Heauen, where we be free Denizens. And as Pilgrimes behaue themſelues in an Inne, they ſtay not ſeuen or eight yeares, but a night or two, and ſo are gone: So muſt not wee ſettle our dwelling heere, where we are but Pilgrimes, but in heauen our dwelling place muſt our conuerſation bee; as if now we were in Heauen, and in the preſence of God. And as a ſtranger being farre from home, deſires to come to his owne houſe, thinks euer of his Wife and Children, and of his own land & liuing: So muſt we heere being in a ſtrange country, thinke of our home, deſire ſtill to ſee the face of God and of Chriſt our moſt bleſſed Redeemer, that ſo wee may liue in his bleſſed preſence.
Seeing this is a ſpeciall note of a man truely regenerate, and that hath truely repented, to behaue Ʋſe. 1 himſelfe as in the preſence of God, & as in his ſight: ſo as hee dares doe nothing that may offend the eyes of God. This ſhewes moſt plainely, that moſt men and women are farre from true repentance, and were neuer borne a new. Seeing many will make conſcience of ſin in the ſight of men, which yet make no bones to commit it in the ſight of God: What man is ſo ſhameleſſe to commit Adultery in the ſight of men? yet there bee many that feare not, nor bluſh not to commit it in the ſight of God: Saint Paul ſaith, They ſteale, commit Adulterie, and do all euill in the night: Alas,Phil. 4.5. night and day bee all alike to God, the Lord is at our elbowes, and therefore let vsus remember this, and as wee would not dare to commit any vnſeemely thing in the preſence of the King: ſo let vsus not dare to commit ſin in the preſence of God. Men will looke carefully to their behauiour, while they are in the preſence of the Prince or temporal Magiſtrate, though otherwiſe wicked and godleſſe men; yet in the preſence of the Prince they will abſtaine from euill: Oh that wee were as carefull to behaue our ſelues in the moſt glorious preſence of the great King of heauen and earth, who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords: Hee ſees all wee doe, heares our words, pierces into the ſecrets of our hearts: neyther can the leaſt though of ours eſcape the piercing eye of the Almighty: and therefore we ſhould labour to watch ouer al our works & words, yea, ouer the very thoughts of our hearts, that they may be ſincere, and ſuch as we need not be aſhamed of; for, bee wee wel aſſured, that wee ſhall giuegive account of the very thoughts of our hearts, yea, of eueryevery idle word; how much more of blaſphemous oathes and moſt monſtrous ſinnes. The theefe ſteales in the night, the drunkard is drunke in the night, and the filthy perſon commits his vncleanneſſe in the night, and they thinke they bee ſure, who ſees them? who can accuſe them? Oh, thy God ſees thee, thou ſtandeſt in his preſence, hee heares & ſees all thou doeſt: and though thou mayeſt keepe it cloſe from the eyes of men, yet thou canſt not hide it from the eyes of the Almighty, who wil one day call thee to an account for the ſame.