The Promises, Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
Comforts against our daily infirmities.
HItherto of the consolations against the temptations of Sathan. There remaine two other distresses of the Spirit. 1. The one arising from the sence of daily infirmities. 2. The other from the feare of falling away, and losing of what we hauehave.
1 For the first, there are many waies, by which a Christian may fence his heart against the discouragements that arise from the sence of daily infirmities.
And these promises are Two sorts of promises.of two sorts: For they are eyther such as giuegive vsus arguments of consolation in themselues, or such as withall remoue the obiections are wont to arise in our hearts vponupon some particular consideration of the manner of the infirmities in vsus:
By infirmities, I meane What is meant by infirmities.defects, Ignorance, Indisposition, Feare, Discouragements, Forgetfulnes, Omissions, Distractions, Particular falls through frailty, some kinds of euill thoughts, Dulnesse, Vncheerefulnesse, Doubts, and the euill of our good workes.
The arguments of Consolation The comforts raised from the consideratiō.are:
1 There are differences Of thy age in Christ.in the degrees of the age of Christ in vsus: Some Christians are but weake, young ones, lambs, babes, new formed, and GOD knowes it, and lookes for no more from such, then what agrees to their age: He is a compassionate Father, that doth not require the same power of gifts in a weake Christian, which he lookes for in a strong.
2 It should much ease 2 Of thy condition now vnderunder grace.vsus to remember, that wee are not vnderunder the Law, but vnderunder Grace, Rom. 6. 14. Wee are deliuered from the rigor of the Law, God now doth not expect perfection from vsus, nor accounts vsus as transgressors, because we are imperfect, but hath receiued vsus to the benefit of the new couenant: In which, perfection is onelyonly required in Christ, and vprightnesse
3 Wee may bee very 3. Of the fruitfulnesse may be in a weak Christian.weake in strength & power of gifts, and yet very fruitfull: we may do much good while we are in the infancy of Grace, which the comparison of the vine (to which the godly are resembled) shewes. The vine is not the strongest of Trees, and yet is more fruitfull in pleasing fruit, then many other trees, not of the field only, but of the garden also. Now the godly are likened to the vine, Esay 27. 2. to shew, that al their weaknesse notwithstanding, they may bee aboundant in pleasing fruite.
4 The goodnes of Gods Of the goodnes of Gods nature: for he isnature should much incourage and comfort vsus herein: and so if we consider foure praises in the nature of God.
First, he is gracious: he stands not vponupon desert, 1 Gracious.we may buy of him without money, hee can louelove vsus for his owne sake, though wee be able no way to plead our owne merits, Esay 55. 1. 2. 3.
Secondly, hee is mercifull, 2 Mercifull.yea mercy pleaseth him, it is no trouble to him to shew mercy, but he delighteth in it, Mic. 7. 18.
Thirdly, hee is slow to anger, Infirmities will 3 Slow to anger.not prouoke him to wrath; hee can delight in vsus still, though wee hauehave many wants and weakenesses, Ps. 103.
Fourthly, he is ready to forgiue; if by our too 4 Ready to forgiue.much carelesnesse and frequency in offending, he be not vrged to displeasure, yet hee is quickly pacified; a few praiers and teares in the confession of our faults, will turne away all his displeasure, so as he will remember our iniquities no more, Ps. 103.
5 The Lord will strengthen Of the hope of strength andhis owne worke in vsus by his Spirit, and though Grace bee but in the bud, yet his blessing shall be vponupon our buds, and he wil make vsus grow as the willowes planted by the water-courses: the hope of increase should stay vsus against the present sense of weakenesse, Esay, 44. 2. 3. 4.
6 There are many Of many things in Christ: asthings comfortable to be thought vponupon in Christ.
For first, he makes account 1 His opinion of vsus.to finde vsus sicke, and sinners, hee doth not expect to finde vsus righteous altogether: Hee came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance, Mark. 2. 17.
Secondly, wee hauehave such an High Priest, as 2 His compassion.knowes how to have compassion vponupon those that are out of the way: he is touched with our infirmities, hee doth rather pitty vsus, then hate vsus for our weakenesses, Hebr. 4. 15.
Thirdly, his intercession 3 His intercession.couers our infirmities. If any man sinne, we hauehave an Aduocate, euen Iesus Christ the righteous, who is the propitiation for our sinnes. Hee takes an order in Heauen, that God shall not bee turned away from vsus, hee makes daily intercession for vsus.
Fourthly, his bloud will powerfully cleanse 4 His bloud.our Consciences from the deadnesse which is in our workes, Heb. 9. 14.
Fiftly, hee is the Lord our righteousnesse, and 5 The imputation of his righteousnes.that is his name by which he wil be called, Ierem. 23. 6. His perfect righteousnes is as truly ours, as if wee had performed it our selues: so as although we be most vnperfect in our selues, yet in Christ God can finde no fault in vsus, nor see any transgression: Though our sanctification be spotted, yet our iustification hath no blemish in it.
7 The helps God hath The helpe of the Ministery.affoorded vsus in his Ministers, may bee some ease vntounto vsus: though for weaknesse we be but lambs, yet God hath prouided for vsus; he hath giuen vsus shepheards to feede vsus, and giuen them a charge to looke to his Lambes, as well as his sheepe. The Church is compared to a nurse with brests, and wee hauehave a promise to sucke out of the brests of his consolations Ierem. 23. 4. Esay 66. 11. 12. 13. Iohn 21. 19.
8 We should especially Of diuers particular fauours God hath assured vsus of.bee refreshed with the consideration of diuers particular fauours, GOD hath assured vsus of in his word, as
First, that hee will not deal with vsus after our sins, nor reward vsus after our iniquities, Psal. 103.
Secondly, that hee will spare vsus, as a man spareth his sonne that serueth him. No father can shew compassion like to that which God will bee bound to shew to his children, Mal. 3. 17.
Thirdly, that the smoaking flaxe shall not bee quenched, and the bruised reede shall not be broken; though grace were in vsus but like the heat in the week of the candle when the light is out, yet God hath taken order that it shall not be extinguished, Esay 42. 3.
Fourthly, that in all times of need we shal hauehave accesse vntounto the Throne of Grace, and obtaine a supply of all our wants; so as we may go boldly to aske what we need, in the name of Christ, and it shall bee giuen vsus, Heb. 4. vlt.
Fiftly, that hee will accept of our desires, and our will to do his seruice, shall be taken for the deed, so as he will reckon of so much good to be done by vsus, as wee desired and endeuoured to doe: our workes are as good as wee desired to hauehave them to be. The preparations of our hearts are reckned with God as great things, Esay 55. 1. Ierem. 30. 2. 2. Cor. 8. 12.
Sixtly, that in all his dealing with vsus, he will vse vsus in all compassion with a tender respect of our weakenesse. Our weeping and supplication shall bee accepted before him, and he will cause vsus to walke in a straight way, in which wee shall not stumble, Ier. 31. 9. In all our afflictions he is afflicted. In louelove, in care, in pitty hee will redeeme vsus, and carry vsus as in the daies of old, Esay 63. 9. As he hath borne vsus from the wombe, so will hee bee the same still vntounto old age, euen vntounto the gray haires. Hee will carry vsus in the armes of his compassion: Hee hath made vsus, hee will beare, euen hee will carry, and will deliuer vsus, Esay 46. 3. 4. He will gather the Lambes with his armes, and carry them in his bosom, & gently lead those that are with young, Esay 40.
Seuenthly, that he will supply al our necessities out of the riches of his glory, Phil. 4. 19.
Eightly, that he wil passe by our meere frailties, and take no notice of the errors of our liues, that arise from meer infirmities; there is no God like vntounto him for passing by transgressions, Mic. 7. 18.
Ninthly, That hee will strengthen vsus, and make vsus grow in the gifts bestowed vponupon vsus: The Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. Ioel. 3. 16. He giueth power to the faint, and to them that hauehave no might, hee increaseth strength: they that wait vponupon the Lord, shal renew their strength, Esay 40. 29. 31. He wil be as the dew to his people. They shall grow as the Lilly, and cast foorth their rootes, as Lebanon. Their branches shall spread, and their beauty be as the Oliue tree, and their smell as Lebanon. They shall reuiue as the corne, and grow as the vine, Hosh. 14. 5. 6. 7.
And to assure all this, God would hauehave vsus to know that he hath married vsus vntounto himselfe, and holds himselfe tied in the couenant of marriage with all kindnesse and faithfulnes, to take the care & charge of vsus for euer, Hosh. 2. 19.
9 To conclude this first sort of promises, what knowest thou what GOD Of what God may bring thee to.may bring thee vntounto, notwithstanding thy weakenesse? He can make thee to multiply as the bud of the field. Hee can make thee increase and waxe great. Hee can make thee attaine vntounto excellent ornaments, Ezech. 10. 7. Since thou art the branch of his planting, the worke of his hand, he may greatly glorifie himselfe in thee, so as thy little one may be as a thousand, & thy small one as a strong Nation, God can performe it in his due time, Esay 60. 21 22. Though thou hauehave but a little strength, God hath set before thee such an open dore, as no man can shut: and God can make thee stand in the louelove of the trueth, without denying his name when the hower of temptation comes vponupon the world, & many of greater vnderstanding fall, Reu. 3. 8. 9. 10.
Hitherto of the principall consolations in the case of infirmities.