Two Oriental Pearls, Commentary
THE DIVISION OF THE TEXT
IN the words we ſhall particularly conſider theſe foure things 1. Who is this guider: The guider is GOD; Thou ſhalt guide. 2. Who is guided, it is David: Thou ſhalt guide me. 3. wherewith, with thy counſell, Thou ſhalt guide me with thy counſell. 4. Wherevnto, even vntounto glorie; And afterward thou ſhalt receiue me to Glorie: Of theſe in order.
THE FIRST PART. THE GVIDER.
HEE who is ſaid to guide, heere is the Lord the great Governour of the world: Hee is hee, who giues eyes to the blind and feete to the lame: He is he whoſeaIſa. 32.19. eyes are open vponupon all the wayes of the Sonnes of men: As thebExod. 14.19. Pillar of fire was Iſraels guide by night, and by day became a Pillar of a Clowd for their guard behind them, betweene them and the Egyptians, even ſo the LORD GOD is our guide & our guard; Our guid like a Pillar of fire in darkneſſe ſhewing vsus the way, our guard, like a Pillar of a clowd behind vsus hiding vsus from the cruell Pharao's, the enemies of our ſalvation.
All that is to bee required in a guide is in him in all perfection: In a good guide theſe foure things are chiefly required: 1. that hee ſee: 2. that hee be wiſe. 3. that hee bee willing. 4. that he be able to direct and goe before in the way.
1. As for the firſt, There is none that ſees ſo clearely as the Lord:Note. Iohn ſawe his eyes both bright and burningb.Revel. 1.14. as a flame of fire: He muſt ſee moſt clearely, who by his wordc.Pſal. 19.8. inlighteneth mans eyes: This was the Pſalmiſts reaſoningd.Pſal. 94.9. Hee that formed the eye ſhall he not ſee? All other guides are but like theſe Phariſees whom Chriſt callede.Mat. 23.16. Blind guides.
2. A guide had neede to be a wiſe man: Note.There bee many difficulties betweene vsus and heaven: As the people of God went thorowf.Exod. 15.22. a Wilderneſſe, before they could enter into Canaan, ſo muſt wee paſſeg.Act. 14.22, thorow many tribulations before that we can come to glory: There is no wiſedome but the wiſedome of GOD, which can lead vsus into that land of Righteouſneſſe.
3. As a guide muſt bee wiſe, ſo muſt hee bee willing: Note.The LORD is moſt willing to guide all wandering ſinners: His delight is to doe good to the Children of men: Hee will moſt lovingly ſay to a wearied ſinner, that which DAVID ſaith in the Pſalme,h.Pſal, 32.8. I will inſtruct thee, and teach thee in the way that thou ſhalt goe, and I will guide thee with mine eye.
4. As GOD is wiſe and willing, ſo is he able to make way vntounto his owne; whether it bee thorow fire or water, nothing can withſtand his power: In the firie fornace he made a way vntounto thei.Dan. 3.25. three Children: Thek.Exod. 14.21. red ſea hee divided for to make a paſſage for his owne Iſrael: Hee who made thel.2. King. 2.14. mantle of Elijah to divide the Iordan, that Eliſha might paſſe through: And Hee who can of am.Mark. 10.25. Camell make a threed for to paſſe thorow a needles eye, can eaſily guide his owne through all dangers and difficulties whatſoever, were it through then.Pſal. 23.4. Ʋalley of the ſhadow of death.
The doctrine I gather heere is,The doctrine. that the LORD is hee, who is the ſureſt guide in the world: Fleſh o.Pſal. 73.26.and heart may faile man, but the LORD never faileth. There bee no man ſo wiſe in guiding, but his wiſedome at laſt, likep.2. Sam. 17.14. Ahitophels Counſell may bee turned into folie, butq.1. Cor. 1.25. the folie of GOD is wiſer than all the wiſedome of men.
The vſe.The vſe: Let this ever bee a part of our prayer, that the LORD would be our guide. Note.He who guided the two kine tor.2. Sam 6.9. Bethſhemeſh, though they lowed for the louelove of their Calues, can eaſily find to vsus an outgate in the greateſt throng of all our temptations, and that vntounto the praiſe of the glory of his grace.
THE SECOND PART. WHO IS GVIDED.
NOW let vsus ſee whom the LORD is ſaid to guide heere: Thou ſhalt guide mee, ſaith the Seer. Note.Conſider and weigh well I pray you, how this great man of GOD, a Prophet, a Seer, truſteth not into his owne wits, but committeth himſelfe altogether to GODS guiding.
The doctrine.The doctrine I obſerue is, that weake is the wit of man: All men hauehave neede to bee guided by the LORD: If any hauehave neede of a guide, fooles hauehave neede: wee are all but fooles by nature: David in this Pſalme acknowledgeth his folly, So fooliſh, (ſaith hee,) was I and ignorant, I was a beaſt before thee.v. 22.
Note.While a man ſinneth, hee is like a man runne out of his wits, while hee repenteth, hee is like one returned to his wits againe: A man once out of his right wit can never know the way to returne vntounto it, vntill the LORD guide him home againe.
The vſe: The vſe.Let none of vsus all rely vponupon our owne wiſedome:ſ.Ier. 9.23. Let not the wiſe man glory in his wiſedome, nor the ſtrong man in his ſtrength. When David both a King and a Prophet, declareth that he hath neede to be guided, who is he who by his owne wiſedome can walket.2. Pet. 2.21. in the way of Righteouſneſſe? All men are ſinners: By ſinne a man is miſled from the right way.Note. Sinne maketh a man both like a PLANET, and a COMET, like a COMET in ſubſtance filthy, like a PLANET, in courſe ever wandring to and fro: All the wicked are but corruptible COMETS, and vnconſtant wandering PLANETS, which wander ſo farre from the LORD that the ſpirit of GOD hath giuen out this verdict againſt them,u.Pſal. 119.155 SALƲATION is farre from the wicked: All the wicked are but wandring creatures, who can never learne that laſt point of GODS counſell, which isx.Micah 6.8. to walke with their GOD.
Wee all naturally are blind like Moules, wee can not ſee ante pedes poſita, the things which are directly before vsus.Note. Our caſe ſpiritually is worſe than that of the Moule; for though it ſee not, it is moſt quicke in hearing: if it bee blind it is not deafe; the leaſt ſtirring of ones foot will giuegive it warning, and it will haſte it ſelfe to its owne ſtrength:Note. But wee all naturally are deprived of all our ſpirituall ſenſes: The eyes and eares of our Soules, are like the eyes and eares of idoles, whichy.Pſal. 135.16. hauehave eyes and ſee not, and eares and heare not: Wee are more deafe than thez.Pſal. 58.4. Adder, which is wilfully, deafe againſt the voice of the Charmer: Our eares are made heavy: Our eyes are Phariſaicall, full of beames: To every one of vsus may bee ſaid, as CHRIST ſaid to the Phariſee, Thou a.Math. 7.5.blind foole, caſt out firſt that beame that is in thine eye: The ſence of ſavoring is gone. While the word is preached, there is a b.2. Cor. 2.16.ſavour of life vntounto life: Where CHRIST thec.Cant. 2.…. Roſe of Sharon, and the Lilly of the Ʋalleys is preached, there may bee feltdEpheſ. 5.2. a ſweet ſmelling ſavour, like that coſtlye.Iohn. 12.3. Spikenard of Mary, which filled the houſe with a ſweet odour; but wee are naturally like theſe, who are ever amongſt odoure and dung, not able to find any ſavour at all: Our touching and our taſting is loſt: Thomas after hee hadf.Iohn. 20.29. touched, by grace hee beleived: By grace alſo theg.Math. 9.21. bloody woman in touching was healed: But all men by nature are like theſeh.Luke. 8.45. multitudes, which in the throng touched CHRIST, but were not touched with that vertue that came out of him. As for our taſting, none by nature cani.Heb. 5.14. taſte and ſee how good is the LORD: It is onelyonly by grace that wee hauehave our ſenſes exerciſed.
Note.Thus as yee ſee the Soule of man is naturally deprived of its fiue ſenſes, which are the fiue guides vnderunder GOD appointed, for to lead the Soule from grace to glory. Note.And which is the miſcheefe of all, not onelyonly are wee naturally deprived of all our fiue spirituall ſenſes, but alſo of that Commoun ſenſe, wherewith wee ſhould judge of the other ſenſes.
Note.The blind man by no ſenſe, but by commoun ſenſe can know that he is blind, and ſo of the deafe man: But if hee while hee is deafe and blind, hee think that hee heares & ſees, hee hath loſt his commoun ſenſe: This is the folie of man, while hee wants the ſpirituall ſenſes, hee knows not his wants:Note. This was the diſeaſe of Laodicea, ſhee ſaid that ſheek.Revel. 3.17. had neede of nothing; but GOD ſaid, that ſhee had loſt her commoun ſenſe, becauſe ſhee knew not that ſhee was wretched and miſerable, and poore and blind, and naked: To all ſuch the very wiſedome of GOD is foly, till GOD begin to guide them. Ʋnderſtands thou what thou readeth? ſaid Philip to that Enuch, reading the Prophecie of Iſaiah:l.Act. 8.31. How can I (ſaid he) except that ſome guide mee? So may … ſay to you all, Vnderſtand yee …hat is your duetie both to GOD …d man in this world? Know yee … way that leades to life eternall? …w can wee, (may yee well ſay,) …cept that GOD guide vsus?
Let vsus therefore never rely vponupon …y wiſedome of fleſh and blood, …r to bee guided thereby: The wiſ…me of fleſh is enimitie againſt GOD:
The wiſedome of GOD befooles it: Note.…ee who is wiſeſt in his owne eyes, … the greateſt foole in GOD his …ght. It is not the wiſedome of …is world, whereby the Church on …rth is guided, or hath her ſtan…ng: It is by him, who confundit …pientiam ſapientum, hathm.1. Cor. 1.20. made …liſh the wiſedome of this world.
His cuſtome is to make his wiſ…ome appeare in folie,Note. and to make …isn.2. Cor. 12.9. ſtrength to bee made perfect in … weakneſſe, as he manifeſted himſelfe …y fire in the midſt of water, while it …t was agreed vponupon by Elijah and Ba…ls Prieſts, thato.1. King 18.24. the GOD that ſhould …nſwere by fire ſhould be GOD.
THE THIRD PART. WHEREWITH GOD GVIDETH his Servant.
Ambroſ. Conſilium bonis datur, correctio errantibus.NOW in this third part of our Text, wee hauehave to conſidder wherewith the man of GODS heart deſireth to bee guided: It is with GODS counſell: Thou ſhalt guide me with thy counſell.
The counſell of God is by Zacharie called,p.Zach. 6.13. The counſell of peace; whereby man is counſelled to ſeeke Gods peace and man's peace, according to that of the Pſalme,q.Pſal. 34.14. ſeeke peace and follow after it. Note:GODS Counſell Booke is the Bible: our preachings tend all to this, that wee make you vnderſtand the counſell of God that yee may be guided thereby: That was a great word that St. Paul ſaid to the Elders at Miletum r.Act. 20.27.I hauehave not ſhunned to declare vntounto you all the counſell of God: our lyfe is a warrefare, and therefore wee hauehave great neede of Counſell; forſ.2. King 18.20. Counſell and ſtrength are for the warre.
Before I come to the doctrines:Facile pecunia conſumitur, conſilia exhauri neſciunt. … vsus conſidder how God giueth his …unſell vntounto his beloued ones: The …rd counſelleth man after two …aners eſpecialy, 1. outwardly, 2. in…rdly: outwardly the Lord letteth men know his minde after two maners, 1. By the workes of nature, which while a man of a ſanctified …ye ſeeth them ſo contriued & guided, …s is wonderfull, he receiueth counſell …hereby, to feare and reuerence ſo …reat a maieſtie:t.Rom. 1.20. The inviſible things …f God, ſaith Paul, are clearely ſeene, …eing vnderſtood by the things that …re made: Behold in the things that are made, wee hauehave a counſell, make…ng vsus to vnderſtand the inviſible …hings of our God, even his power & Godhead, 2. By the preaching of the word, the Lord guideth vsus as by his counſell.
Againe inwardly the Lord guides man, by the motions of his Spirit, which is effectuall in all the Children of election:Note. This Spirit hath diuers and very ſecret ſtirrings in the heart of man: whilesu.Revel. 3.20. hee knockes at the doore of our heartes, counſelling vsus to open and let him in: whiles he puteth his finger inx.Cant. 5.4. by the whole of the doore, letting drops of myrrhe fall downe vponupon the handle of the barre, which is a ſweete aſſureing counſell, for to make vsus ariſe out of the bed of our ſecuritie, for to ſeeke him and follow after him: ſometimes he counſells vsus to take in good part all the chaſtiſements of our God, from this hee is calledZIohn. 16.7. the comforter: ſometimes hee teacheth vsus to ſtand in awe to offend the LORD our GOD, from this is he calledaIſa. 11.2. the Spirit of the feare of the Lord: Againe while he counſeleth vsus to be holie, he is calledb.Rom. 1.4. the Spirit of holines: while he counſelleth vsus to louelove trueth, and flie from lies, he is calledc.1. Iohn. 4.6. the ſpirit of trueth: while hee quickeneth our dead Soules, he is calledd.Revel. 11.11. the ſpirit of lyfe: while he inlighteneth the mind with knowledge of things to come, hee is callede.Reuel. 19.10. the Spirit of prophecie: In a word becauſe hee maketh man of quick vnderſtanding? hee is calledf.Iſa. 11.3. the Spirit of wiſedome and of counſell: Becauſe when no coun…l is to be had, then he giueth coun…l, he is ſaid to beeg.Iſa. 28.29. wounderfull in …ounſell and excellent in working.
The Spirit of GOD guideth men alſo by dreames and viſions: Note.So by a dreame hee counſelled Pilats Wife to counſell her husband not to trouble …eſus:h.Mat. 27.19. when he was ſet downe on the …dgement ſeat, his wife ſent vntounto him, …ying, HaueHave nothing to doe with that …ſt man: for I hauehave ſuffered many …hings this day in a dreame becauſe of him: All this was from the counſell of God: I i.Pſal. 16.7.bleſſe the Lord, (ſaid David) who hath giuen mee counſell: my reines …lſo inſtruct mee in the night ſeaſon:
Note.While others are ſleeping the godly man hath a doctour in his reines guiding him with counſell, whereby hee may bee madek.2 Tim. 3.15. wiſe to Salvation.
The doctrine.The chiefe doctrine I obſerue heere, is, that the counſell of God is that whereby a man is guided on earth:
Counſell is mine and ſound wiſedome, I am vnderſtanding ſaith the LORD,l.Prov. 8.14.
The vſe, Hee that deſires to be well guided,The vſe. let him intreat the Lord earneſtly to guide him with his counſell, outwardly by his word, and inwardly by his Spirit: let vsus in all our affaires ever ſeeke counſell from the Lord: If wee ſeeke it, hee will not refuſe it:m.Ier. 33.2. Call vponupon mee, (ſaid he,) and I will anſwere thee and ſhewe the great and mightie things which thou knoweſt not: Note.If wee would bee guided by Gods counſell, let vsus firſt ſeeke earneſtly then.Iſa. 11.3. Spirit of counſell, and therafter let vsus carefully meditate night and day of that which is in the Bible, the BOOKE of COVNSEL:Note. That which theo.Exod. 13.21. PILLAR of FIRE was in the night to Iſrael, that is the counſell of GOD to all Iſraelites indeede, yea and more; for that PILLAR of FIRE could not make the blind to ſee; But the Counſell of GOD Meira Henaijm p.Pſal. 19.8.inlighteneth the eyes making wiſe the ſimple:Note. A wiſe man may giuegive a good counſell to a foole, but onelyonly GOD by his counſell can make a foole wiſe: ſeeing it is ſo, let vsus bee earneſt in all our difficulties to come & ſeeke the Lords counſell in his Church, in his counſell-houſe:Note. David could ne…er vnderſtand what GOD meaned i… …he proſperitie of the wicked, till … …ame to hisq.Pſal. 73.17. Sanctuary, his Coun… houſe, where he heard the wordes o… his Counſell made plaine.
Woe to him that will not bee counſelled by God his word:Note. This woe is very old:r,Iſa. 29.15. woe vntounto them, (…id Iſaiah,) that ſeeke deepe for …ide their counſels from the Lord: …eare him yet againe,ſ.Iſa. 30.1: woe to the …bellious Children that take counſell, …ut not of mee: Of all theſe that will …ot bee guided by GODS counſell, but walke in the counſels of their owne heart, is ſaid, that theyt:Ier: 7:24: goe backeward but not foreward: Note.Who …ver he bee that will not bee guided …y GODS counſell, the LORD ſhall …iue him ouer to a fooliſh counſeller, …ven to himſelfe: Of this we hauehave …he practiſe in the Pſalmeu:Pſal: 81:11: My …eople would not harken to my voice, and Iſrael would hauehave none of mee, that …s, they would not take my counſell: But what did enſue?x:Pſal: 81:12: So I gaue them vp vntounto their owne hearts luſt, and they walked in their owne counſels: That is they became their owne counſellers: Woe to that man, who dependeth vponupon his owne counſell.
It is written, that Iſraelly:Pſal: 106:13: would not waite for his counſell; But wha… followed vponupon that?v: 15: Hee ſent leanneſs into their ſoule: Becauſe theyz:Pſal: 106:43: provoked him by their counſell, hee brought them lowe for their iniquitie, till theya:Prover: 1:31: were filled with their owne devices.
Note.By this the trueth of the wiſe mans ſaying is cleare, The b:Prever: 12:5:counſels of the wicked are deceit, whereby they themſelues are deceiued, even then when they think moſt to deceiue both GOD and man. It was wiſely ſaid by Solomon, There c:Prover: 19:21:are many devices in a mans heart, nevertheleſſe, the counſell of the LORD▪ that ſhall ſtand: Yea ſaith the LORD, My d:Iſa: 46:10:counſell ſhall ſtand, and I will doe all my pleaſure. This is the counſell that will never faile. It is reported of a certaine godly man, that when ever hee came home to his houſe malecontent, hee cryed for GODS BOOKE of COVNSELL, ſay…,Note. GiueGive mee the BIBLE, for … …s the Booke that never failed …
… ſecond vſe:The 2 vſe. Let this bee a reproo…e for all theſe that are carele… of the counſell of GOD: Many … not heare it at all, as many Pa… to whom the BIBLE, GODS …NSELL BOOKE is cloſed, and …ed:Note. Others againe are like …hoboam, e:1: King: 12:9:who after that hee had …rd the wiſe mens counſell, would … bee guided by it, but would alſo …are what the young fooles could ſay.
Many will come to the Church … to heare GODS Counſell,Note. but after that they hauehave heard what GODS …ſedome hath ſpoken, they will alſo …ue eare, and heare what the world can …ye, what fleſh can perſwade, what …heir paſſions can ſpeak, what their rot…en luſts wold be at: As fooliſh Reheboamf:1: King 12:13: forſooke the old Mens counſell, and followed the folies of yong men; So many which bee old, and ſhould hauehave beene wiſe long ſince, forſake the counſell of GOD, the g:Dan: 7:9:Ancient of dayes, and follow the counſell of youth, even the folie of youth, not with ſtanding all the LORDS counſells: Of this the LORDS complaines in Ieremie,h:Ier: 32:33: They hauehave, (ſaid hee,) turned vntounto mee the backe, and not the face; though I taught them, riſing vp earely, yet they hauehave not hearkned for to receiue inſtruction. The moſt part of men are guided by the counſell, not of GOD, but of fleſh and blood, whoſe advice is, that they breake i:Hoſ: 4:2:out by ſwearing and lying, & committing adulterie, till blood touch blood: Fleſh and blood are but dead things:Note. Theſe who ſeeke counſell from them, are like theſe, who in their trouble had recourſe vntounto Wizards that peepe and mutter: Now what ſaith the LORD to ſuch? Should k:Iſa: 8:19:not a people ſeeke vntounto their GOD? for the living to the dead? No not; To the lawe and to the Teſtimonie: This is the LORDS COVNSELL-BOOKE: If any contemne this counſell,l:Iſa: 8:20: it is becauſe there is no murning in them; Note.That is, they are without all knowledge in the blacke night of ignorance, where they hauehave neuer ſeene the meaneſt light of grace, no no… ſo much as the leaſt glimmering of …ight, which appeareth at the dawin… or breake of day.
A man that is not godly hath many Counſellers, and they all tend vntounto his ruine:Note: The LORD our GOD taking a ſpeciall care of vsus, diſcharged vsus their counſell:m:Deut: 18:10: Let none, (ſaith hee,) bee found amongſt you that is a regarder of times, or a …arker of the flying of fowles, or a …harmer, v: 11:or that counſelleth with spirits, or that asketh counſell at the dead. Note:See wherevnto the folie of man carieth him, that from GOD his greateſt friend hee runneth away for to ſeeke counſell from ill ſpirits his greateſt enemies: And againe, what a brutiſh folie is this, that a living man ſhould runne to ſeeke counſell from the dead, who hauehave no counſell for themſelues? The wiſe man ſaid truely, There n:Eccleſ: 9:10:is no worke, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wiſedome in the graue: Note.That muſt be a ſlight COVNSELL-HOVSE, wherein is neither device, knowledge, or wiſedome. Woe vntounto them that hauehave an eare for GOD, and an other for Sathan, the World, and their owne corruptions: Woe vntounto them that ſeeke counſell, but not from the LORD, the LORD at laſt ſhall curſe all ſuc… counſels, and with the counſell of Ahitophell hee o:2 Sam: 15:31:ſhall turne them into fooliſhneſſe.
As for you Brethren and Siſters, when ever yee finde your ſelues in perplexitie or anguiſh, be not like theſe of whom it is ſaid in the Pſalmep:Pſal: 106:13 They waited not for his counſell: This is that wherewith good Moſes branded Iſrael in his heavenly ſong,q:Deut: 32:28: They were a nation voide of counſell: Note.Many are voide of GODS Counſell, who like Babylonr:Iſa: 47:14: are wearied in the multitude of their owne counſels: Note.Well are the counſels of the wicked called a multitude of counſels, for ſuch men hauehave no certaine reſolution, but are whilesſ:Iſa: 28:13: on this line and whiles on that line, now on this precept and then on that precept, heere a little and there a little, like that wandring Leuite, who did goe to ſojourne t:Iud: 17:9:where he might finde a place, …ing ſure of no place: Such in their …ingsu:Iſa: 28:13: goe, and fall backward, they … broken, and ſnared, and taken: …f Ieremie in a muddie mind,Note: while … fleſh did fret, ſaid vntounto GOD … wiſe counſellerx:Ier: 20:7: O LORD thou … deceiued mee, and I hauehave beene …eiued, O howe ſhall the wicked …e day curſe their Counſellers, the …ltitudes of their counſellers, Satan, …e fleſh, and the world, which are …t a companie of deceiuers, and a …ry knot of knaues.
Let vsus heere againe obſerue,The doctrine: that …eat is the prerogatiue of GODS …hildren:Note: They are all GODS: …ORDS of Counſell: He is indeede … LORD of counſell, that can take …ODS counſell: All the children … GOD hauehave this honour to bee of …ODS Counſell: for whom GOD …ides with his counſell, theſe hee …uts vponupon his counſell:y:Amos: 3:7: ſurely, (ſaith …mos,) the LORD GOD will doe …thing, but hee reuealeth his ſecrets …nto his ſervants the Prophets:: Note.Hee …hat is thez.Iam: 2:23: friend of GOD, as Abraham was, ſhall bee one of h… PRIVIE COVNSELL: wha… euer occurre, that is needefull to b… knowne ſhall not bee concealed fro… him.a:Gen: 18:17. ſhall I hide from Abraham th… thing which I doe? (ſaid the LORD)b:1: Cor: 2:16, wee hauehave the minde of CHRIS… (ſaid the Apoſtle:)Note. Behold how the LORD guides his owne, ſo wit… his Counſell, that in a maner hee putteth his minde into them.
The 1 vſe.The vſe: Let the children of GOD comfort themſelves with this, that what ever calamities ſhall befall vntounto them, the LORD ſhall guide them ſo with his counſell, that in all their temptations they ſhall come to a… happyc:1: Cor: 10:13 outgate: By his counſell he ſhall let him knowe how they ſhall come out of tribulation:Note. According to this, the Prophet Micah ſaid to the Church in her afflictiond:Micah: 4:9: now why doeſt thou cry out aloude? Is there no King in thee? Is thy counſeller periſhed? for pangs hauehave taken thee as a Woman in travell.
The 2 Vſe.Another vſe of this doctrine is this, ſeeing the LORD guides the Faithfull with his counſell, let vsus beware to giuegive …nſell or take counſell againſt ſuch … Counſeller: Note.Curſed are theſe and … their followers, of whom the P…lmiſt ſpeakese:Pſal: 83.3. they hauehave conſulted t…ether with one conſent: thy are con…erate againſt thee: Curſed alſo are …eſe that conſult againſt the well of …s Children, like theſe of whom it … ſaid, They f:Pſal: 83:3:hauehave taken craftie coun…l againſt thy people, and conſulted …ainſt thy hidden ones: * The …gyptians were neuer ſo fooliſh, as …hen they ſaid,g:Exod: 1:10: Come on, let vsus …ale wiſely.
The generall vſe of all is, that wee …e at all times earneſt in prayer, that …e LORD in all our buſineſſe would …ide vsus by his Counſell, and alſo …epe vsus from all ill Counſell:Note. The …ine of King Ahazia is imputed vn… this, that hee followed ill coun…ll:h:1: Chron. 22.30. Hee, (ſaith the ſcripture,) …alked in the wayes of the houſe of Ahab, for his mother was his coun…ller to doe wickedly. Bildad ſpeak…g of the wicked, (ſaith,) his i.Iob. 18, 7,owne …unſell ſhall caſt him downe: Happy then, and thriſe happie is hee, whom GOD in this lyfe guideth with hi… Counſell, for afterward he ſhall receiue him to glory: This laſt wee ſe… in the laſt part of our Text.
While my penne was heere, my deare Brother Mr. Robert Scot ſleept, Anno DOM. 1629. the 27. of Ianuar, on a Weddinſday, a litle before nine houres in the morning.
THE FOVRTH PART.
Afterward thou ſhalt receiue mee to glory,
THis is the laſt part of our Text, and this is the laſt of all GODS benefits:Note. This is GODS goodneſſe which crowneth all his othe… mercies, when he receiueth vsus to glory: when he hath done all the good that can bee done vntounto vsus in this lyfe, by beeing with vsus continualy, and by holding vsus by our right hand and guiding vsus by his counſell, all ends with this that he receiues vt to glory: … wee receiue grace, and after-ward … are receiued to glory. Theſe …ds of my Text are ſweete hony …des, And afterward thou ſhalt …iue mee to glory.
…eere wee hauehave to conſider two …gs, 1. the time of receiuing a man glory, it is, afterward, 2. what it …o bee receiued to glory.
The time of receiuing man to Glory.
THE time wherein GOD is ſaid to receiue a Soule to glory, … heere ſet downe in the word …FTERWARD: that is, after that …OD hath ledde mee with his coun…, he ſhall receiue mee to glory.
The doctrine which breefly I … ſerue heere, is,The doctrine: that it is the coun…l of GOD, which guideth to glory: …e way is grace, grace, from grace … grace: The end of all is glory:
This is, Note.the Sea whereinto all good …ngs end like riuers running to their …ther the Ocean, frō whence they came.
The vſe.The vſe. Hee who would be receiued to glory, let him bee ledd… with GOD his counſell: If thou refuſe to bee guided by his counſel… he ſhall refuſe to receiue thee to gloryk.Prov, 1, 24. Becauſe I hauehave called, (ſaid wiſedome,) and yee refuſed, I hauehave ſtretc… ed out my hand and no man regarde… &c.v, 26. And therefore I alſo will laug… at your calamitie, I will mocke wh… your feare commeth.
The doctrine.The other doctrine I obſerue heer… is, a doctrine of patience, for the… that are in affliction: After man… tribulations the LORD at laſt ſha… receiue them to glory.
The vſe.The vſe. What ever our affliction be, let vsus not be diſcouraged: The… are but for a time, yea the time i… ſhort, that done, afterward our GOD ſhall receiue vsus to glory: The Lor… ſhall free vsus then from all our woes. Though wee mourne now, yet afterward wee ſhall laugh, and GOD ſhal… wipe all tears from our eyes.
I intreat you Brethren to make vſus… of this vſe: how painefull ſoeve… your troubles bee, comfort you… ſelues with theſe moſt comfortable …: Afterward thou ſhalt receiue … …o glory: Note.This AFTERVVARD … faithfull mans high Tower and ſtro…eſt Hold: Hee ſtands vponupon the ho… of AFTERVVARD, like a beſ… man. The Faithfull Man is b…ged with many temptations, but … CASTELL of AFTERVVARD … never bee battered downe.
…gh l:Iob: 19.26.AFTER my skinne wormes … …oy this body, (ſaid Iob,) yet in … fleſh ſhall I ſee GOD: Note.That is a… …ppy deſtruction whereby we are b…ght vntounto the ſight of GOD: O le… …y bodie ſo bee deſtroyed, that m… Soule may ſee GOD, till AFTERVVARD both in fleſh and ſpirit I …ll ſee him, and none other for me: … m:1 Cor: 15:19:in this lyfe onelyonly wee hauehave hope … CHRIST, wee are of all men most …erable: All the comforts of the …dly are cheefly in AFTERVVARD.
This is the Martyres ſong in the …:Note. AFTERVVARD thou ſhalt receiue …e to Glory.
Learne all the way to the ſtrong …ld, where yee may be hidde when your enemies ſhall aſſault you.
Note.Looke ever vntounto AFTERVVARD. If thine enemie goe about to diſgrace thee and trouble thee, it may be thou ſmart for a ſpace, but it ſhall not be ſo for ever, for AFTERVVARD thou ſhalt bee received to glory: If thine enemies reproach thee, if the wicked deſpiſe thee, if thy fleſh faile thee, and if thy freinds forſake thee, GOD his helpe is in AFTERVVARD: Heere is thy comfort O man, AFTERVVARD the LORD ſhall receiue thee to glory: This is a ſalue for all ſores. Note.GOD his AFTERVVARD is like the laſt wine in that Banquet of Cana: At other Bankets in n,Iohn: 2:10.the beginning men did ſet foorth good wine, and when men had well drunke the worſt came laſt; but in CHRIST Banket the laſt was beſt: It is ſo of the life of all true Chriſtians: Many o.Pſal. 33:19:are the troubles of the Righteous, it is ſaid in a Pſalme, but AFTERVVARD it is ſaid The p.Pſal. 37.37.end of that man is peace.
This is the great difference betwixt the Saints of GOD and the wicked, They will liue together, and lye together inq.Luk. 17.34. one bed, yea; and in one …elly, in one houſe, in oneſ.Mat. 24.41. mill; … one ſhall bee taken, r.Gen. 25.22.and the o…r ſhall bee refuſed: They will be to…ether in the world: The wicked ſh…ll bee ſwiming in his wealth, while th… Godly man ſhall be wearied with …: Note.But tarry a litle, till the God… man come to his AFTERVVARD, and … wicked man to his, and then …ke choiſe on whoſe ſide yee will …: I t.Pſal. 37.35hauehave ſeene, (ſaid David,) … wicked in great power, and sprea…g himſelfe like a greene bay tree: … hold not an eare, but an eye wit…ſe: I hauehave ſeene him, ſaith hee, a braue …n; but what was the end and conclu…n of ſo faire a preface?v. 36. Yet hee …ſſed away, and loe hee was not:
O David what ſayeſt thou?Note. Loe …e was not: It may bee thou ſought …m not: Yea I ſought him, (ſaid Da…id,) but I could not find him: Be…old now his AFTERVVARD: Take vp …ow our greene bay tree: All is wi…hered like thatu.Iona. 4.7. Gourd of Ionah: …ut x.Pſal. 37.37.marke the perfect man, and be…old the vpright, for the end of that man is peace: Though for a ſpace the Godlyy.Pſal. 98.13 lye amongſt the Port AFTERVVARD they become as the wing… of a Doue covered with ſilver, an… her feathers with yellow gold.
Note.The wicked and the Godly i… this world, are like Corne & Chaff… in one Barne; but AFTERVVARD the fanne ſhall make ſuch a ſeparation, that they ſhall never meete againe.
Note.Betweene Dives and Lazarus on earth, there may be but a doore or a C…urt; O but tarry till AFTERVV RD, and behold a ZLuk. 16.16.great GVLF fixed, wherethrough was no paſſage at all, ne ther from aboue nor from below: T…ves in Hell lifting vp his eyes, did a.Luk. 16.23ſee Abraham a farre of: Theſe may well bee ſaid to bee farre of, who ſhall never meete againe: So ſoone as the Godly and wicked are come to their AFTERVVARD, they goe contrarie wayes: Theſe b.Math. 25.46.ſhall goe away to everlaſting puniſhment; but the righteous into life eternall.
If wee could looke to this AFTERVVARD in our diſtreſſes, it ſhould ſupport vsus wonderfully. A man that knowes where to get meate, will ſuffer …nger more patiently than hee that …owes not where to dine.Note. Let theſe who looke not for better AFTERVVARD, fr… in their preſent trouble: Preſent troubles are ſore, yea vnſupportable … theſe that looke for future woes.
The earneſt of damnation is feare…ll.Note. All the troubles of the wicked …ere, are the very earneſt of dam…tion: They cry to the wicked man, Aſſure thy ſelfe, the whole ſumme …all bee payed to thee at the terme.
But as for thee,Note. who can ſay to GOD, as is ſaid in the verſe before, … am continually with thee, the LORD ſhall hold thee by thy right hand, …ee ſhall guide thee with his coun…ell, and in the deſpight of all the …owers of hell, AFTERVVARD He …hall receiue thee to glory.
2. The receiving of man to Glory.
WEE hauehave heard of the time of his receiving; Now let vsus ſee wherevnto hee ſhall bee received, Thou, (ſaid hee,) ſhalt receiue mee to glory.
Note.In the Hebrew it is Cauod Tikacheni, that is, as Arias hath turned it, gloriam accipies me, thou ſhal… receiue mee glory: The words though in that expoſition they ſeeme to be difficile are of great weight: The wordes, Thou ſhalt receiue mee gl… ry, import ſuch a glory, that hee who ſhall bee glorified thereby ſhal… bee in a manner, glory it ſelfe when in the Goſpell, as in a glaſſe wee behold the glory of the LORD, wee arec.2. Cor. 3.18: changed into this ſame image from glory to glory; how much more ſhall wee all bee changed into glory, when in the Heavens with open face wee ſhall behold our GOD, not as in a glaſſe, or by repreſentation, but face to face, and that for euermore?
Note.The word glory in the originall, is Cauod, that is weighty: It is ſo called from its weightineſſe: To this the Apoſtle ſeemes to looke, when hee ſaith, thatd:2: Cor: 4.17. our light affliction, which is but for a moment, …keth for vsus a farre more exceed… and eternall weight of glory:
Such an euerlaſting PONDVS w…ight,Note. can no more be weighed in the heart of man; then a mil…ne or a mountaine can bee weighed … the little ſcale of a gold Ballance, … herein I pray you can an exceed…g weight bee contained? if it could …e contained, it ſhould not bee …ceeding: As it is infinite, exceeding …l dimenſions, ſo it is not ſubiect to …y circumſtance of time, for it is …ernall. Note.By this eternitie, the …ory of God is diſtinguiſhed from the …ory of the world, which is but …n evaniſhing ſhewe:e:1, Pet. 1:14. All fleſh is …raſſe: (ſaith the Apoſtle,) and all …he glory of man as the flower of the …raſſe: The graſſe withreth, ſo doeth …ll fleſh; and the flowre of the graſſe …aſſeth away, So doth all the glory …f man:Note. Nay the glory of man …s not ſo great as the glory of graſſe: This the Lord declared when preach…ng vponupon the lillies, hee ſaid, thatf:Mat: 6, 29: Solomon in all his glory was not one one of theſe: what are men and all their glory? and that of all ſtates i… g:Pſal: 62:9:ſurely men of low degree are vanitie, and men of high degree are a lye, to lay them vponupon a ballance they are altogether lighter than vanitie: Noted.All the glory of fleſh can no more bee called weightie, then a painted ma… can bee called a man: It is indeede ſome-what like vntounto it; but it hath nothing of its definition: It is but a painted glory, like a feaſt in print, wherein is no meate but reſemblances, figures, coloures; and repreſentations: Now let vsus proceede.
Afterwards thou ſhalt reeeiue mee to glory.
Note.GLory as yee ſee heere, is the reſting place of the Saints: There is no right reſt for a Soule, till it be received there; the place is called GLORY, becauſe GOD there manifeſteth his glory: There the eyes of thy Soule O man, ſhall ſee the thinges whichh:1: Cor: 2:9: eye never ſawe: There thine eares ſhall heare that which eare never heard: There bee ſuch things that co…d never enter into the heart of man.
This place is called ouri:Mat: 25:21 Masters joy, ak:Luk: 23:43: Paradiſe, or Garden of Pleaſures: Everlaſting l:Luk: 16:9:Tabernacles, a building m.2: Cor, 5:1:of GOD, & a houſe no… made with hands, it is alſo called GODS n.Heb: 3:11.rest, ſignified by that Canaan, which for that which it ſignifi…d was called his rest.
In the names of Heaven many comforts be infolded:The doctrine. If while we are …eere wee are croſſed and toſſed with much griefe and ſorrow, our Comfort is this,Math. 25:21: that Heaven is our o Masters joy: If wee loath & abhorre the filthie ſtink of ſinne, Heaven is ap:Luk: 23:43. …aradiſe, a Garden of Heavenly …owers, where is theq:Cant: 2:1: Roſe of Sa…n, and the Lillie of the Ʋalleyes: …here is the ſweet ſavour of GOD, … whom is the ſavour r:2: Cor: 2:16:of lyfe vn… lyfe, of the lyfe of grace vntounto …he lyfe of glory: If wee bee heere … lodged, aboue are prepared for …s theſe everlasting ſ:Luk: 16:9:tabernacles, …ven a building t:2: Cor: 5:1:of GOD, not made …ith hands: If wee bee wearied Pilgrims heere, there is an everlasting rest: If wee bee naked heere, there wee ſhall be arrayed u:Revel: 7:13:in white robes: If wee bee hungrie heere, there is thex.Revel: 22:2: Tree of lyfe: If wee bee thirſty heere, there is that pure, cleane, cleere, and Cristall River, whereof the streames make glad the Citie of GOD.1 Pſa: 46.4.
Heere let vsus obſerue diverſe vſes of this Doctrine, and that both for Comfort and for Counſell; for comfort wee hauehave both for the living and dying,
The 1 Vſe.This ſhould bee a chiefe comfort for the dying: Seeing there be ſuch commodities in that other world, wee ſhould deſire gladely to flit and remoue from this ſinfull world:y:2. Cor. 5:2: In this wee grone earneſtly, deſiring to be clothed vponupon with our houſe, which is from Heaven. While wee are at home in this body, wee are abſent from the Lord: Heere is meekle toile and turmoile, meekle ſhame and ſorrow, and which is the miſchiefe of all, heere is meekle ſinne and iniquitie, but there, is glory, joy, reſt, peace, andZPſal. 16.11. pleaſures for evermore. While I think on theſe thinges,a.Pſal. 42.2. my Soule thirſteth for GOD, even for the living GOD: O! When ſhall I come, and appeare before GOD? Note.Let all Godly men comfort themſelues with this againſt the feare of death,Note. after thatb.Iob. 14.14. the time of their changing is come, the LORD ſhall receiue them to glory.Note. The voice came from Heaven with a command to write, Write, (ſaid the Spirit to Iohn. What ſhall I write? ſaid Iohn Write, c.Revel. 14.13.Bleſſed are the Dead which die in the LORD, from hencefoorth, y…, ſaith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours: Such goe not away without good companie, …or as the Spirit ſaid to Iohn, their …orkes doe follow them: The hearing … this ſhould make all ſanctified …oules, ſay with the Apoſtle,d.Philip. 1.23. I de…e to bee diſſolved, and to bee with …HRIST, which is meekle better …or mee.
O what if there were a Coun…ey on earth,Note. which were ſuch a …nd of the Living, where death were diſcharged to come, where ſinne, ſickneſſe, ſorrow, hunger, cold, and nakedneſſe might get no entrie? O what multitudes would ſwarme thither: Two e.2. King. 5.17.Mules burden of that earth ſhould bee more precious than burdens of gold: All that a man hath, gladly will hee giuegive f.Iob. 2.4.it for his life: How meekle then ſhould wee thinke our ſelues obliged to GOD, who hath prepared a Countrey of glory for vsus, a Countrey where the Tree g.Revel. 22.2.of life groweth, where the indwellers ſhall liue in everlaſting happineſſe, which for greatneſſe can not enter into the heart of man: Oh that wee had faith to beleeue this, ſo ſhould wee not delight ſo much to wallow in the muddie mires of ſinful mortalitie. Oh that wee had faith to beleeue, ſo ſhould wee cry,h.Pſal. 55.7. O who will giuegive vsus the wings of a Doue, that wee might flie vp to that Palace ofi.Pſal. 16, 11. Pleaſures for evermore: The tongues of Angels can not expreſſe the leaſt glory that is there: St. Auguſtine hath a notable ſpeach concerning this.
Facilius poſſumus dicere quid non … vitâ aeternâ, quam quid ibi ſit, August.Non est ibi mors, luctus, laſſitudo, fa…s, ſitis, aeſtus, &c. Quid autem ib… …ſit vis noſſe? Haec nec oculus vidi… nec auris audivit, nec in cor hom…nis aſcendit: Si in cor hominis no… aſcendit, cor hominis illuc aſcendat.
…hat is: It is more eaſy to tell what … not, then what is, in eternall lyfe: … here is neither death, nor ſorrow, nor wearineſſe, nor hunger, nor thirſt, nor heat, &c. But wilt thou know what is there? That which eye hath not ſeene, nor eare heard, neither …th it aſcended into the heart of man: If it can not aſcend into the heart of man, let the heart of man …ſcend vntounto it.
Againe heere is a comfort for … living, that mourne for the dead.The 2 vſe.
It is naturall to mourne for the abſence of theſe whom wee hauehave lo…d heere.Note. When Eliſha ſawe Eli…, caught vp and caried away thorow the clowdes, hee cryed,k,2, King 2, 12, My …ather my father, the chariot of Iſraell, and the horſemen thereof: H… lamented ſore his abſence, but in th… was his great comfort; that he i… him received to glory: Yee who … fatherleſſe or motherleſſe,Note. Loo… not to the Church-yeard where yo… fathers and mothers are rotting … rotten; comfort your ſelues in th… GOD hath received them to glo… Yee once busbands and now w… dowes, remember your wiues wh… once were your glory, (The l,1, Cor. 11, 7,wom… is the glory of the man,) heere … your comfort, the LORD hath r… ceived them to glory: Likewiſe y… women, who nowe heavily regra… theſe, whoſe glory once yee wer… It was a great glory indeede f… them to hauehave ſuch ſubjects as yo… for this cauſe is the woman called t… glory of the man: Comfort your ſelue… with this, the glory of your hu… bands is greater now, they are r… ceived to glory: So is it of you… Children and deareſt friends, who ar… departed out of this lyfe, CHRIS… hath received them all to glory, whic… is the perfection of all the guifts of God A … …is doctrine ſerues for the com… …oth of the living,The 3 vſe. and of the …, ſo alſo it ſerues for counſell … living: The counſell is this, … theſe who are guided with Go… counſell, are afterward receiv… …o glory, ſtriue yee to be guided … this counſell: If yee deſire to be … after this life, if alſo yee deſire … …aue a comfort behind you to … that ſhall lament your abſence, … well ſo long as yee are heere, … we may comfort your mourners … this, that CHRIST hath recei… you to glory.
When a wicked man is dead,Note. I k…w not what to ſay to his ſpouſe: …n a wicked wyfe is dead, I know … what to ſay to her husband: what …uld I ſay to ſuch? Such hauehave alrea… …heir comforts in their boſome, that … or ſhe is well away: Such quie…ly …gh in their ſleeue, while for ſhame …nly they muſt ſeeme to mourne:
This is the juſt recompence of re…d, Note.that theſe who ſerue not GOD in …ir life, ſhall not bee lamented at …ir death.
They that ſerue not the LORD heere, let them goe, let them ſwelt in their ſweate, let them burne and boile, the world is well quite of them.Note. When the Scripture ſpeakes of that moſt vile traitour Iudas, it giveth him a diſdainfull Epitaph, thatm,Act, 1, 16, hee was guide to them that tooke IESVS: He would never be guided with CHRISTS counſell, and therefore now, like a miſchant traitour, he lyes hauing this Epitaph, which ſhall bee read ſo long as the world ſtands, Heere lyes the Traitour that was guide to them that tooke IESVS; at his death hee was not lamented: There was not one of the Apoſtles that ever ſaid once, Alas n,1, King, 13, 30.my brother.
A Prayer.Now GOD of his grace, ſo guide vsus all by his counſell, that AFTERVVARD he may receiue vsus to glory. Amen, Amen.
FINIS.
LAVRVS.
End of the text · Zacharie Boyd, Two Oriental Pearls (1629)