Precious Promises the Portion of Overcomers, Sermon 4
SERMON IV.
REV. II. 26, 27, 28.
He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the Nations. And he ſhall rule them with a rod of Iron (as the Veſſels of a Potter ſhall they be broken to ſhivers) even as I received of my Father; And I will give him the Morning-ſtar.
HERE is another of thoſe gracious Promiſes Chriſt makes to the Overcomers, though directed to the Officers and Members of the Church in Thyatira, yet is written (as the other are) for the common benefit of theſe ſeven Churches, and of all others to the end of the World. This Thyatira was a City of Lydia, not far from Epheſus, called Thugateira, which doth ſignify a Daughter, as Mr. Brightman obſerves; for as a Daughter new-born is always growing in age and ſtature, till ſhe comes to full ripeneſs, ſo it was with this Church, which he therefore ſtiles, Growing Thyatira: The true Believers went on from faith to faith, and ſo conſequently conquering and to conquer, Not like languiſhing Epheſus, loſing their firſt lively affections, and abating of their former active Converſation, but making progreſs in their Chriſtian courſe, and their laſt works more than the firſt: The Church of Epheſus was commended for her firſt love and firſt works, and reproved for her declining from them; yea, threatned if ſhe did not return and recover them. David's firſt ways were moſt free from ſcandal, thence it is that Jehoſaphat is commended for walking in the firſt ways of David his Father, 2 Chron. 17.3. The love of too many that have been very hot is grown cold to God and his ways; But theſe are Sea-marks, recorded for our caution, not Landmarks ſet down for our Direction or Imitation. This of Thyatira is an excellent Copy for all the Churches of Chriſt to write after; Our laſt works ſhould be more than the firſt; our laſt Sabbath better Sanctified than the former; our laſt love to one another more than the firſt, our laſt prayer better than the former; our Faith, Humility, and all other graces and good things, better in the end than in the beginning. How ſad will our account be, if God ſhall find us declining in theſe things, and we doing worſe after twenty or forty years profeſsion, than in our firſt entrance into his ways? That we are leſs careful in keeping holy the Lords-day than at firſt? Then we would call the Sabbath a Delight, the holy of the Lord and honourable, and would not unneceſſarily run into worldly talk; but now little elſe is heard from us, and little difference by obſervers can be made between that Day and an ordinary Market or Fair-day. Is this to imitate Thyatira and not Epheſus rather? No wonder God threatens to pluck all up, and to remove his Goſpel from a declining and degenerating people. Oh that yet we might remember whence we are fallen, and repent and do our firſt works! Yea, let the laſt be more than the firſt: The example of God above all ſhould prevail with us; As the Governour of the Feaſt ſaid to Chriſt, Every man at the begining doth ſet forth good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worſe; but thou haſt kept the good wine till now, John 2.10. Gods firſt thoughts of love to us that are his people were very precious, his electing love; His following works in our effectual Calling into the ſtate of Grace, and preſerving us therein, notwithſtanding all the attempts of our Enemies, deſerves great admiration. But Heaven will be Heaven when all is done; His manifeſtations and communications there will be ſuch, as will force us to ſay, O Lord, thou haſt kept the beſt wine till the laſt? Thy firſt thoughts and works towards us and in us were wonderful, but yet the laſt are more than the firſt; How reaſonable is it then that we ſhould ſtrive to a conformity to the Lord our God in this particular, leſt we looſe the things we have wrought, and receive not a full reward? And that we may labour to get victory over all the evils growing upon us, let us conſider this promiſe in the Text now before us; the ſum of which take in this Propoſition:
Doctr. That Chriſt will give great power, and excellent glory unto Overcomers.
Here are 4. things to be ſpoken too.
1. Who are they that Overcome?
2. What is that great Power Chriſt will give them?
3. What is the Glory here promiſed?
4. The Reaſons of the Doctrine. Theſe will make way for the Uſe.
Queſt. 1. Who are or may be ſaid to be Overcomers?
Anſw. The Text gives a ſignificant anſwer to this Queſtion; He that keepeth Chriſts works unto the end. When it ſaith, He that overcometh, ſome will ask, who is he? How ſhall we know him? He addeth; and keepeth my Works unto the end, as exegetical of the former. Now theſe works of Chriſt are either ſuch as he commanded, or ſuch as he himſelf practiſed, leaving us an example that we ſhould follow his ſteps, perhaps both the one and the other, and both ſtand in direct opoſition to Jezebels wicked works, mentioned verſ. 20. This Jezebel is judged to be ſome great Princeſs, like that Jezebel who was the wife of King Ahab, mentioned, 1 King. 21. only with this difference, ſhe ſpoken of in Thyatira pretends to be a Propheteſs, and covers all her Wickedneſs under that cloak; the other more openly and boldly declared her Sin: Now he that keepeth Chriſt's works in oppoſition to theſe, is he that overcometh. He that keepeth thoſe works of Purity and Holineſs Chriſt hath commanded, and practiſed for our imitation; (for ſome things he did qua Deus, as he was God, which are for our Admiration, not for our Imitation; ſome things he did qua Mediator, in dying to reconcile God and man, in which we are not capable to imitate him) viz. That Meekneſs and Humility, which he requires us to learn of him, Mat. 11.29. The word foreign ſignifies one that is near the ground, thus was Chriſt; in all his Actions he expreſſed great Humility, and this not ſeemingly only, as the Biſhop that was asked, Viſne Epiſcopari? Anſwered, Nolo. Modeſtly ſhewing himſelf unwilling, when yet he had uſed all means to obtain it; but really, he declined earthly Promotions and Dignities, out of Humility of Spirit. Farther, Chriſt was much in Prayer, which work he did for our Imitation: Upon which one deſcants thus, Orat is qui non fecit peccatum? ſilet peccator? Orat Medicus? Ceſſat Aegrotus? Orat Judex? Silet Reus? Oh! Shall he that is Innocent Pray, and the Sinner be ſilent? Shall the Phyſician pray, and the Patient be ſilent? Shall the Judge pray, and the Guilty, condemned Malefactor, hold his peace? Again, Chriſt was compaſſionate to the Bodies and Souls of Men in Miſery, Mat. 9.36, 37, 38. He ſet them a praying for Labourers to be ſent into the Harveſt, and he himſelf went up and down Preaching the Goſpel of the Kingdom, and healing Bodily Diſeaſes: He was very zealous for the Worſhip of God, and againſt Superſtitious Innovations, The zeal of his Fathers houſe did eat him up, Joh. 2.17, He went through great Sufferings with much Patience; Oppreſſed and afflicted he was, yet opened not his mouth, Eſay 53.7. He was faithful to him that appointed him, Heb. 3.2. He did heartily and freely forgive the worſt of his Enemies, praying, Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. He was much grieved for the ſins of others, and wept over Jeruſalem. Theſe and many more works Chriſt did, that we might tread in his ſteps: A Chriſtian ſhould be, alter Chriſtus, another Chriſt.
He then that keepeth theſe works of Chriſt as the Apple of his Eye, which the leaſt duſt will offend, Prov. 7.2. Or as a man keeps his Treaſure, which he locks up in ſafety; or as a man keeps his Life, which he values above the world; or as an honeſt Traveller keeps his way, he would not go out of it willingly; and if he miſtakes, upon knowledg of it is troubled; thankful to him that better informs him, ſpeedily returns into his way, is more circumſpect to prevent wandering for the future, and mends his pace for the time he loſt. He that thus keeps the Works of Chriſt, and that to the end, to the end of the preſent Trial, yea, to the end of his Liſe, this is he that overcometh. That's the firſt.
Queſt. 2. What is that Power Chriſt here promiſes to give to Overcomers?
Anſw. Some think it extends only to the preſent Enemies of this Church of Thyatira, viz. Jezebel and her adherents; which although it hath much Comfort in it to the Members of that Church; Yet this Interpretation is too narrow: For the Text ſaies, He that overcometh, to him will I give Power over the Nations: a Term of a very large extent. Yea, to ſhew the largeneſs of the Power, it is ſaid to be the like Power to what Chriſt received of his Father. Now God the Father hath given Chriſt. Power over all fleſh, Joh. 17.2. And though Believers are not capable of having a Power every way equal with what Chriſt hath received; yet ſome ſhare in it or ſhadow of it, is here promiſed to be given them. Now Chriſt hath received foreign, which does import Rule and Authority. This is Threefold:
1. There is, Poteſtas Diſpoſitiva, a Right to order and diſpoſe all things and perſons in the Nations; which ſome call a Providential Power: on this account he is ſtiled King of Nations, Jer. 10.7. Becauſe he ruleth by his Power for ever, His eyes behold the Nations, Pſal. 66.7. He diſpoſeth of his Enemies, For he hath bought them, though they deny him, 2 Pet. 2.14. He gave the price of his Blood ſufficient for them, and hath Right to diſpoſe of them, and to expect ſervice from them: He hath this Power over his Friends, he hath received Gifts for them, though at preſent rebellious; yet he will ſubdue them to himſelf, that he may dwell in them, Pſal. 68.18. Power to turn them from Darkneſs to Light, and from the power of Satan to God, Act. 26. He hath the Key of David, he openeth and none can ſhut; and ſhutteth, and none can open, Rev. 3.7. called the Key of the houſe of David, Iſa. 22.22. that is, of the Church, as ſome interpret. A Similitude taken from thoſe that keep the Keys of a City, Caſtle, or Pallace, the Gates whereof cannot be opened without their leave and Order. Thus Chriſt had opened a Church-door in Philadelphia, verſ. 8. which no man can ſhut: There was an open door, though many adverſaries, 1 Cor. 16.9. He openeth the heart-door alſo, ſo opened he Lydia's heart, Acts, 16.14. He openeth the door of faith, as he did to thoſe Gentiles, Acts 14.31. He openeth the door of hope in the valley of Achor, Hoſ. 2.15. And makes the Soul that is filled with trouble and deſpairs to evade, to hope againſt hope; He openeth a door of deliverance from the greateſt dangers and extremities. A ſhadow of this power is promiſed to Overcomers, for by Faith and Prayer they engage the Power and Providence of Chriſt to work for them: Jacob had by prayers and tears, power over the Angel, viz. Chriſt, the great Angel of the Covenant, and prevailed; ſo that a ſtrange change was wrought in his Brother, who though he breath'd out threatnings and ſlaughter againſt Jacob, yet meeting together, Eſau embraced him ſo lovingly, contrary to his expectation, that he accepted it as a plain token of Gods preſence. Hence he ſaith, I have ſeen thy Face as though I had ſeen the face of God, Gen. 33.10. In his Brother's reconciled countenance he ſaw the gracious face of God ſmiling upon him: This Victory God granted to Jacob, as the fruit of his Wreſtling and Weeping in Prayer, ſuffering himſelf to be overcome by him, and ſubduing his Brother's rage and malice againſt him. David's Prayer prevailed with God to defeat Achitophel's evil Couſel, 2 Sam. 15.31. and 17.23. Stephen's Prayer prevailed for the Converſion of many of his Perſecutors: Faithful and fervent Prayers have made wonderful Turns in the Nations of the World, as might at large be ſhewed. While Moſes lifted up his praying and believing hand, Iſrael prevailed againſt Amalek, Exod. 17.11. when he let them down, Amalek prevailed, and the Iſraelites hands were enfeebled: where we ſee how dangerous it is to faint in Prayer, and how powerful Prayer is againſt the Power of Warlike Enemies. When Eſther and her people were ſolemnly engaged in this work, what a ſtrange Turn was made thereby? A great Turn there was upon the King's heart, he recalls all his Orders granted out for the deſtroying of the Jews, and the whole Plot was turned upon Haman's head, who contrived it againſt God's people: This way they have great Power over the Nations.
2. There is Poteſtas Legiſlativa, a Legiſlative, or Lawgiving Power, which Chriſt hath received of his Father: Thus he is ſtiled the Judge, the King, the Lawgiver to his people, Iſa. 33.22. There is one Lawgiver, ſaith St. James, Jam. 2.12. viz. Chriſt. Lycurgus, Solon, and others had Poteſtatem vitae & necis, Power of Life and Death; and many now there are who make and give Laws: yet there is but one Supreme and Abſolute Lawgiver, whoſe Will is the Rule of Juſtice, and this is Chriſt: none can give Laws that directly bind the the Conſcience, but he; 'Tis true, We are to ſubmit our ſelves to every Ordinance of man; but it is for the Lord's ſake, 1 Pet. 2.13. 'Tis God's command that lays an Obligation upon our Conſciences to obſerve man's; yet withal, if mens Laws be contrary to God's, though we muſt ſubmit unto, not reſiſt the Higher Powers, yet active Obedience muſt not be given. We are to obey God rather than men, ſaies the Apoſtle, Act. 4.19. For men to impoſe Laws upon the Conſcience, to be obſerved, ex intuitu voluntatis, upon the bare ſight of their Will, is to ſet themſelves down in the Throne of God, and ſpeaks the very Spirit of Antichriſt. Now a ſhadow of this Law-giving Power may be given by Chriſt to thoſe that overcome the Enemies, and live in the times of the Churches Exaltation upon the head of them all. When Chriſt was inveſted with all Power in Heaven and Earth, he ſaid to his Diſciples, Go ye and teach all Nations to obſerve whatſoever I have commanded, Mat. 28.19, 20. And when Chriſt ſhall have exalted the Mountain of his Houſe above all the Hills and Mountains of worldly Power and Glory, then ſhall the Law go forth from Sion, and the word of the Lord from Jeruſalem, and all Nations ſhall flow unto it. Behold here a ſhadow of this Lawgiving Power given to his Church, even as he received of his Father. All Nations ſhall either profeſſionally or really ſtand in an awful reſpect of, and to the Church, and bow to the Laws of Chriſt therein eſtabliſhed: for they primarily receive the Law from Chriſt's mouth, and ſecondarily from the Church.
There is, Poteſtas Diſtributiva; which is a Power to diſtribute Rewards and Puniſhments: This ſome call a Judiciary Power, a Power of judging all Nations, giving Eternal Live to Believers, and Eternal Death to all the world beſides. The Father judgeth no man, but hath cammitted all Judgment to the Son, Joh. 5.22. Before him ſhall be gathered all Nations, and he ſhall ſeparate them one from another, as a Shepherd divides his Sheep from the Goats, Mat. 24. As many Diviſions as now there are, all will then come under that one Diviſion, either Sheep or Goats, and will have their Judgment paſſed by Chriſt, to whom the Father hath given that Power. Such a Power over the Nations is here promiſed to Overcomers; Know ye not that the Saints ſhall judge the world, ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 6.2. Not Authoritatively and principally, not by pronouncing Sentence, this is peculiar to Chriſt; but they ſhall joyn with him in judging them at the Laſt Day, giving their conſent unto, and applauding his righteous Sentence. This ſeems here chiefly intended; for it is ſuch a Power, as whereby the Nations are broken, as the veſſels of a Potter are broken to ſhivers; ſo the Text expreſſeth: Now earthen Veſſels are eaſily and irrecoverably broken, eſpecially by an Iron Rod. Other Scriptures ſpeak the ſame, This honour have all his Saints, ſaies David, To execute the Judgment written, Pſal. 149.8. What Judgment, and where written? Some refer it to Enoch's Prophecy, mentioned by St. Jude v. 14, 15. Behold, the Lord cometh with ten Thouſands of his Saints, to execute judgment upon all, &c. To adjudge the wicked of the Nations to eternal Miſery. This dominion over the Nations ſhall the upright have in the Morning of the reſurrection, Pſal. 49.14.
Queſt. 3. What is that eminent Glory Chriſt here promiſeth to him that Overcometh?
Anſw. I will give him the Morning-ſtar, ſaies Chriſt. A ſweet and full promiſe; the ſum of it take in the following particulars:
1. Some underſtand it of Chriſt himſelf, who is ſtiled The bright and Morning-ſtar, Rev. 22.16. Thus he calls himſelf: The ſenſe then is, I will communicate my ſelf wholly to him, and make him conformable to me in glory; Always the proportion of the head and members obſerved: The Morning-ſtar is the moſt bright and ſhining of all the ſtars of Heaven, and communicates its light to the world; Chriſt excels all men and Angels, as far as the Morning-ſtar all the Stars of Heaven; and he communicates all Light of Grace and Glory to the world of Believers. He is ſtiled The Star of Jacob, Numb. 24.17. this notes his two Natures. A Star in its Original is from Heaven, which points at his Divine Nature, who is the Lord from Heaven, 1 Cor. 15. yet a Star of Jacob, as a man of the Poſterity of Jacob; ſo we muſt conceive him, both God and Man: And thus conſidered, He is full of Grace, and of his fulneſs do all Believers receive, even Grace for Grace. The Morning-ſtar diſpels the Nights darkneſs: When this Day-ſtar ariſes fully in our hearts, all miſts of Ignorance and Errour are diſpelled, wherein we were wrapped in our night of ſin and imperfect condition here.
2. It may intimate, that Chriſt will give him that overcomes a glorious Reſurrection at the Laſt-Day. The Prophet Daniel hints at this, They that turn many to Righteouſneſs ſhall ſhine as the brightneſs of the Firmament, even as the Stars, for ever and ever, Dan. 12.3. There will not be the ſame meaſure and degree of this; For as one Star differs from another in Glory, ſo it ſhall be in the Reſurrection, 1 Cor. 15.41. yet all will be adorned with reſplendent Luſtre and Brightneſs, far exceeding the beauty of the Stars; For then ſhall the Righteous ſhine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father, Mat. 13.43. Thoſe that have here lien among the pots ſmutched and ſullied, ſhall then outſhine the Sun in his ſtrength. Shine they ſhall in their Bodies, which ſhall be conformed to the moſt glorious body of Chriſt, Phil. 3.21. And in their Souls, thoſe Spirits of juſt men made perfect; and in their whole perſons, as the Spouſe of Chriſt; Ʋxor fulget radiis Mariti; ſhe ſhall ſhine with the Beams of his Beauty. A glimpſe of this Glory was ſeen in Moſes's Face, in Chriſt's Transfiguration, in Stephen's Countenance: But the full manifeſtation thereof is reſerved to the day of the Reſurrection.
3. It may imply, That the Overcomer ſhall have the next degree of Glory to Chriſt, as the Morning-Star is next the Sun; and is called, as ſome think, The Son of the Morning, Iſa.. 14.12. Becauſe it uſually appears in the Morning, a little before the Sun-riſing; as if it were by the Morning produced. Victorious Souls ſhall be very near to Chriſt in Place and Glory. When one requeſted her two Sons might ſit, the one at Chriſt's right hand, the other at his left, in his Kingdom. He anſwers, It ſhall be given to them for whom it is prepared of his Father. Among others, thoſe that have encountred great Troubles, and come off Conquerors, ſhall ſhare in this Honour; For upon this requeſt of the woman, Chriſt ſaid, Are ye able to drink of the Cup I am to drink of, and to be baptized with the Baptiſm I am to be Baptized with? Mat. 20.20. &c. Implying, they muſt come under a Baptiſm of Blood and Suffering, that would come to this Honour, to be ſo near to me as you deſire: This honour hath he reſerved to give to him that Overcometh. All the Saints ſhall be with him, but theſe ſo near to him, as the Morning-Star to the Sun.
4. This Phraſe may alſo intimate, that Chriſt will give the Firſt-fruits of Glory, Foretaſtes of Heaven, even whiles in this world, to aſſure of the full enjoyment in another. The Morning-ſtar is, Anteambulo Solis, the Suns Harbinger, and Fore-runner of a perfect Day. Chriſt will give ſuch as overcome Prelibations and Pledges of future Happineſs, aſſuring them, That their path ſhall be as the Light, that ſhineth more and more unto the perfect day, Prov. 4.18.
This Morning they will not exchange for the brighteſt Noon-day of worldly Glory, which ends in a Midnight of Trouble and Miſery; but their Morning-Light is in a full Sunſhine of Happineſs. Hence the Saints are ſaid to have received the firſt-fruits of the Spirit, Rom. 8.23. Though in regard of quantity, the Firſt-fruits under the Law, were but an handful in compariſon of the whole; yet in their ſignification, they were an evidence to them that they ſhould receive a good crop of the reſt: So the Graces and Comforts of the Spirit of God Believers have here, are not only ſweet to their apprehenſion for the preſent, but alſo in their reflection as to what is future; they are a pledg of the full Harveſt: Chriſt is ſaid to be The firſt-fruits of them that ſleep, 1 Cor. 15.20. Becauſe his Reſurrection was a forerunner of the Reſurrection of all his Members; ſo are the firſt fruits of the Spirit here, an aſſurance of a joyful Harveſt of Heavenly Felicity hereafter. The firſt beginnings of Spiritual Regeneration, are an earneſt of the whole crop of Salvation. And as it was ſaid of old, The Gleanings of Ephraim are better than the Vintage of Abiezer; ſo may I ſay in this matter, The firſt Fruits of Glory Believers receive here, are better than the greateſt harveſt of earthly contentments; becauſe a drop here is a ſure ſign of a River hereafter: the Morning-ſtar a certain forerunner of a glorious conſtellation in Heaven. To all which may be added, that,
5. This Phraſe implies, that Chriſt will clear the wronged innocency of Believers: As the Morning-Star brings light after a dark night, ſo after many falſe accuſations and uncharitable cenſures paſſed againſt them by the World, and Profeſſors alſo, God will bring forth their righteouſneſs as the light, and their judgment as the Noon-day, as the Scripture ſheweth, Pſal. 37.6. As the hope of the Morning-Star to uſher in the day, cauſeth us not to be offended with the darkneſs of the night, ſo ought Believers to truſt and wait upon God, knowing that he will clear their cauſe, and reſtore to them their right. When Zophar would encourage Job to liſten to his counſel, his agument is, Thine age ſhall be clearer than the Noon day, thou ſhalt ſhine forth as the morning, Job 11.17. Thou ſhalt overcome the darkneſs at preſent upon thee, thy innocency be revived, and comforts renewed. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the Morning, Pſal. 30.5. The morning is, as it were, the reviving time after the death of ſleep, and brings the light, the emblem of joy, after darkneſs; Thus will Chriſt cauſe the light of his peoples Innocency and Uprightneſs to riſe in obſcurity, and their darkneſs to be as the Noon day, Iſaiah, 58.10. As God can cauſe the Sun of wicked mens honour and proſperity to go down at noon, ſo he can and will cauſe the light of the Saints to riſe at midnight: As Haman is a notable example of the firſt, ſo Joſeph of the latter: Hamans glory and honour how quickly was it obſcured and eclipſed with clouds of diſgrace and ignominy? ſo the falſe accuſations which darkened Joſephs reputation vaniſhed as clouds before the Sun when he goeth forth in his night; There ſhall be a reſurrrection of names, as well as of perſons; A day when God will make up his jewels, Mal. 3.17. Then ſhall he take them up out of the dirt of reproaches and ſufferings, and make them clean; ſuch a vindication from all unjuſt imputations and aſperſions, as will give them light and gladneſs, joy and honour, Eſth. 8.16. By theſe things it is evident how eminent the glory is Chriſt promiſes to the Overcomer, when he ſaith he will give him the morning-ſtar. The Uſe follows.
Ʋſe 1. Behold here then the miſery of thoſe, who yielding themſelves ſervants to corruption, ſlaves to Satan, and Captives to the world, loſe their part in theſe great promiſes, and the contrary evils are their lot and portion; ſuch are all thoſe who inſtead of keeping Chriſt's works to the end, keep their ſinful and wicked works to the end; hold faſt deceit and hypocriſy to the end, retain their pride and worldlineſs to the end, keep their unclean, drunken, and profane works to the end; being thus entangled and overcome, and ſome after they ſeemed to have eſcaped and got victory over them, yet are again brought into bondage, their latter end will be worſe than their beginning, 2 Pet. 2.21. Becauſe they ſin againſt knowledge, and love darkneſs rather than light, becauſe their deeds are evil. Theſe may have power over Nations as civil Governours, ſo had Ahaſuerus, Belſhazzar and others; Alexander called the Conquerour, having ſubdued a great part of the world then inhabited, yet theſe were overcome by their luſts: It was true of them all what was ſaid of the laſt, vicit mundum, a ſe vero victus; He conquered the world but was overcome by himſelf: What could it profit to rule over men a while, and luſts ruled over them, unto their deſtruction? Theſe were alſo overcome by Divine Wrath and Juſtice. All the power men have, and Victories they get over men, will not ſecure them from being broken to ſhivers by Chriſts Iron rod, as a Potters Veſſel, fatally and irrecoverably ruined: Better is he that by the power of grace ruleth his Spirit, than he that taketh a City or ruleth over Kingdoms.
Fortior eſt qui ſe, quam qui fortiſſima vincit Maenia—
Such may have worldly grandeur, external Pomp and Splendour, and ſhine like Stars of the firſt magnitude, yet going on in a ſlate and courſe of ſin, are but wandering Stars, to whom is reſerved the blackneſs of darkneſs for ever, Jude 13. The Angels are ſtiled Morning-ſtars; the Morning-ſtars ſang together, that is, the Angels, as Expoſitors have it; The Angels rejoyced to ſee the Foundations of the Earth laid, yet ſome of them became Apoſtats, fallen Stars, being willingly overcome by ſin. Satan is called a fallen Star, Rev. 9.1. We read alſo of a great Star that fell from Heaven, called Wormwood, Rev. 8.10, 11. The Roman Emperour, ſay ſome, who ſhined brightly for a time, but was put down by the Goths; of whom the Prophet Iſaiah thus ſpeaks, How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, ſon of the Morning? How art thou cut down to the ground who didſt weaken the Nations? Iſaiah. 14.12. Sic tranſit gloria mundi; Though the wicked ſpring as the Graſs, and all the workers of Iniquity do flouriſh, it is that they ſhall be deſtroyed for ever, Pſal. 92.7. O! who would reſt or glory in outward enjoyments or endowments, when if the work of Faith and Holineſs be not wrought in us with power, if the Kingdom of God comes not into our ſouls with power, the ſinners in Sion will be afraid, fearfulneſs will ſurprize the Hypocrites, and the cry will be, who among us ſhall dwell with everlaſting burnings? Who ſhall dwell with devouring fire? Iſaiah 33.14. Thus will all who are here finally overcome by their yielding themſelves Servants unto Unrighteouſneſs and Iniquity; be everlaſtingly miſerable, and God juſtified in his proceedings; and his Juſtice and Wrath overcome them, when they are judged.
Ʋſe 2. This gives yet further matter of Comfort to Believers, to meditate upon the Power and Glory here promiſed to him that Overcometh: Here you are many times oppreſſed by the Powers of the Nations, therefore you ſhall have at length full Power over all Nations; Here you endure long and dark Nights of Temptation, Deſertion, and Affliction, yet yielded not to Satan and Sin, therefore the Morning-Star ſhall be given to you; And when Chriſt who is your life ſhall appear, you alſo ſhall appear with him in Glory, Col. 3.4. Faithful is he that hath promiſed, who alſo will do it. Mens Promiſes fail through want of Fidelity or Ability to perform them; Satan's Promiſes are made to deceive: but the words of Chriſt are true and faithful: He is Jehovah, who gives a being to them in their appointed time.
Ʋſe 3. Let all be perſwaded to wax more valiant in fight, and ſtrive to be Overcomers, that we may inherit the Power and Glory here ſet before us in this Text: What deſperate Deſigns will ſome venture upon in hopes of worldly Power and Glory? Chriſt knowing how tempting and taking theſe are with the Sons of Men, ſets theſe ſuitable Promiſes before them, to animate and encourage them to quit themſelves like Men in this holy War, and be ſtrong unto the Battle; and that they who are engaged and have begun well, may not be turned back, and give ground to the Enemy: To this end, could we overcome God, and get his Preſence, Influences, and Aſſiſtances, we ſhould overcome all others with eaſe. If God be for us, ſaies St. Paul, who can be againſt us? Rom. 8.31. 'Tis true, many are actually againſt us, all the Powers of Hell and Earth; But, Quis efficaciter? who can be againſt us to any purpoſe, ſo as to effect their Deſigns againſt us? If God take our part, we ſhall ſee our deſire upon them that hate us. Now there are two ways men prevail with God; that is, to ſpeak after the manner of men; he yields himſelf conquered, by the Reflection of their Graces, and the Importunity of their Prayers.
1. By the Reflection of their Graces; Turn away thine eyes from me, ſaies Chriſt to his Spouſe, for they have overcome me, Cant. 6.4. they have exceedingly wrought and won upon me, like that, Cant. 4.9. Thou haſt raviſhed my heart, My Siſter, my Spouſe, thou haſt raviſhed mine heart with one of thine eyes; Excordiaſti me, ſo ſome Gloſs, thou haſt unhearted me, thou haſt taken away my heart from me: An Alluſion to Lovers, who are overcome with the Beauty of thoſe whom they affect.
2. By the Importunity of their Prayers; One faith of prayer, Ligat Omnipotentem, Vincit Invincibilem: It overcomes him that is indeed Invincible; as Moſes, Jacob and others have had Experience; This is the beſt Victory, and the foundation of all other Victories: Make we him our Friend, by the exerciſe of Faith upon him, and fervent Prayer to him, and no matter who be our Enemy: It was once ſaid to Iſrael, Ye need not fight, for the Lord fighteth for you, Exod. 14.
But we are to fight, and not be terrified by our Adverſaries; For more are they that are with us, than they that are againſt us, 2 Kin. 6.16. Let us then prevail with the Almighty, and we are in ſome ſenſe almighty, and ſhall overcome all in his Strength, and have that Power over the Nations, and the Morning-Star here promiſed to him that Overcometh.