Precious Promises the Portion of Overcomers, Sermon 7
SERMON VII.
REV. III. 21.
To him that Overcometh, will I grant to ſit with me in my Throne, even as I alſo Overcame, and am ſet down with my Father in his Throne.
THis is the laſt, though not the leaſt, of thoſe Seven Promiſes made to Overcomers in this and the former Chapter. It is directed to the Angel of the Church of Laodicea, verſ. 14. This Angel ſome think was Archippus, who had declined from his firſt life and activity in the work of the Miniſtry; Hence the Apoſtle Paul bad ſome ſay to Archippus, Take heed to thy ſelf, and to thy miniſtry that thou haſt received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it, Col. 4.17. Laodicea was a City nigh to the Colloſians, and the Church planted there ſeems more corrupt than any of the other: In ſome there is much commended, and ſomething reprehended; In others nothing reproved, but much commended: Here much reproved, nothing of commendation. The ſum of the Epiſtle is to diſcover her Sins, and perſwade to repentance: The ſins were two,
1. A deteſtable neutrality in their Chriſtian profeſſion, at the 15 verſe, Thou art neither cold nor hot; as if he had ſaid, thou art indifferently affected, neither eager for the truth, nor an open Enemy to it; Neither a zealous profeſſor, nor a profeſſed Enemy to Religion; but a neuter, halting betwen two, as they, 1 Kings 18.21.
2. Pride and ſelf-conceit, in the 17 verſe, Thou ſayeſt I am rich, and encreaſed with goods, and have need of nothing, &c. as if he had ſaid, Thou doſt boaſt as if thou wert rich in all manner of ſpiritual Grace, that nothing need be added to that perfection thou haſt attained, when thou vaunteſt thus, being ignorant of thine own lamentable ſtate, not knowing that thou art poor, and beggarly; yet poor and proud like a beggar boaſting of wealth; ſo true of her was that of Solomon, There is that maketh himſelf rich, and yet hath nothing, Prov. 13.7.
And ſome think that the reaſon why no fault was mentioned in ſome Churches, was not becauſe there was no imperfection in them, but to ſhew how much the Lord favoureth humble modeſty; and nothing commended in Laodicea, not becauſe there was nothing good among them, but to ſhew how much the Lord diſliketh a luke-warm temper, and a proud vain-glorious diſpoſition. Theſe were her ſins; Now Chriſt perſwades to repentance by many arguments.
1. From his own Omniſcience, verſe 15. I know thy works, that thou art neither hot nor cold; as if he had ſaid, though thou beeſt careleſs, yet I care; though thou takeſt no notice, yet I do; I obſerve what temper thou art of, and how doubly thou dealeſt by me.
2. By an argument drawn from the loathſomneſs of this ſin, verſe 16. Becauſe thou art neither cold nor hot, I will ſpew thee out of my mouth: Though they might think it were nothing to deal thus deceitfully with God, they might account it a piece of wiſdom to be thus moderate, as ſome call it; But I have other thoughts of it, it is a filthy abominable ſin, I will ſpue thee out of my mouth for it, if thou beeſt not zealous and repent: a plain expreſſion, intimating the loathſomneſs of it; as we ſpit at that which is loathſom to our Stomach, ſo does the Lord by this declare how much he abhors this ſin in our Religion.
3. From the preſent inconvenience it brought upon her; verſe 17. It brings them into a miſerable condition; They had a ſeeming ſhew to be rich, and wife, and happy, and full, when they were poor, and blind, and wretched, and naked. A ſhew of Religion makes men think they are in a good eſtate, and want nothing; but becauſe it is but a ſhew, they are indeed the more indigent and neceſſitous.
4. From the riches of his own Grace, verſe 18. I counſel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou maiſt be rich, &c. Would men come off in good earneſt to Jeſus Chriſt, and cleave to him in faithfulneſs they need not make ſuch poor ſhifts as they do; they need not make ſuch formal counterfeit ſhews as they do: to bear up their heads in the world, he would enrich them to purpoſe; they need not be aſhamed to walk in the midſt of their Enemies who wait to ſee their ſhame, he would cloath them effectually:
5. From an inſinuating motion; if they will not, he muſt take another courſe with them: if they will not come home willingly, he muſt fetch them home with a rod; As many as I love, I rebuke and chaſten, be zealous therefore and repent, ver. 19. as if he had ſaid, if there be no other remedy, though he dearly loved them, yet he muſt rebuke and chaſten them; therefore as they would avoid this chaſtiſement, let them be more zealous.
6. From his own importunity, the longing deſire he had to do good to their Souls; Behold I ſtand at the door and knock, &c. verſ. 20. as if he had ſaid, How fain would I bleſs your Souls with real bleſſings? How fain would I make over my grace and love to you, but you deprive your ſelves of it by your Hypocriſy, and Neutrality? Behold, I come once more to your doors, and ſtand and knock, if any man will open to me, I will come in, and ſup with him, and he with me.
7. From the great honour and dignity he would raiſe thoſe up to that overcome theſe predominant evils: This is laid down in the Text; the ſum of which take in this propoſition.
Doct. That as Chriſt overcame, and ſate down with his Father on his Throne; ſo all Overcomers ſhall fit down with Chriſt in his Throne. Here are three parts,
1. That Chriſt overcame.
2. Having ſo done, he ſate down in his Fathers Throne.
3. All Overcomers ſhall ſit down with him on his Throne.
Bra. 1. Chriſt overcame; It is he that ſpeaks theſe words in the Text, I overcame. All he encountred with, he got Victory over. He grapled with Satan and overcame him; He ouercame him, ſays the Scripture, that had the power of death, that is, the Devil, Heb. 2.14. This Seed of the Woman hath broke that Serpents head, Gen. 3.15. The head is the place of policy in man, of power in other creatures. Chriſt hath got all the power and policy of Satan, and cruſhed it under his feet. The Apoſtle ſaith, Coloſ. 2.14. He ſpoiled Principalities and Powers; That is, the whole Hoſt of Hell, with all their train of Attillery were utterly diveſted of all their deſtroying power; He overcame ſin; coming in the likeneſs of ſinful fleſh, condemned ſin in the fleſh, Rom. 8.3. ſo that it cannot condemn any in Chriſt, Rom. 8.1. He overcame them by bearing them away, as the word ſignifies, 1 Pet. 2.24. An alluſion to the ceremony of the Scape-goat, over whoſe head were confeſſed the ſins of the Children of Iſrael, and the Goat let go into the Wilderneſs, Levit. 16.21, 22. This ſhadowed Chriſt upon whom God laid the iniquities of all his people, who ſo bare them as to bear them away. One ſin ſunk the Angels that kept not their firſt eſtate into their preſent miſery, and they can never overcome it; yet Chriſt hath ſubdued all the iniquities of his people, and caſt them into the depth of the Sea, Mich. 7.19. He overcame the world; I have overcome the world, ſays he, John 16 33. He overcame the good things of the world by being dead to them; when they ſought to make him a King, he withdrew himſelf. He overcame the evil things thereof by the invincible courage and patience of his life, for he meekly endured the contradictions of ſinners againſt himſelf: and by the victorious power of his death, when he ſeemed to be overcome, but did never conquer more eminently than by it and the conſequences of it. He hath overcome the juſtice and wrath of God, by giving ſatisfaction; out of Chriſt it hath a dreadful quarrel and implacable controverſy; and Believers are often under fears of theſe, but Chriſts blood hath made it their friend: In Chriſt God ſits with a Rainbow round about his Throne, Rev. 4.3. When God ſmelt a ſweet ſavour of reſt from Noahs Sacrifice, he promiſed never to drown the world again; and as a token he would be mindful of his Covenant, he put his Rain-bow in the Clouds: So in Chriſt there is a Rain-bow about Gods Throne; his Bench of Judicature is turned into a Throne of Grace. Chriſt overcame the. Law by fulfilling it; He obeyed the precepts of it; Though he was the Lawmaker, yet he was made under the Law, Gal. 4. He was circumciſed and ſo became a debtor to do the whole Law, which he perfectly fulfilled, and is in that ſenſe the end of the Law for righteouſneſs to every one that believeth, Rom. 10.4. He endured the penalties of it alſo, by ſubmitting to the curſe of it, Gal. 3.13. Chriſt redeemed us from the curſe of the Law, being made a curſe for us. To be under the Law is a ſtate full of danger and terror; Believers many times fear it will put in a black bill of indictment againſt them; but Chriſts blood hath blotted out the hand-writings againſt them: They are not under the Law as to its envenomed curſes, and intollerable penalties. The Law it ſelf to every true Believer, is non-ſuited, as one faith well, by the death of the Law-maker: He overcame alſo death and the grave; Not ſo deſtroyed it that Believers ſhall not dye; but unſtinged it, that it ſhall not deſtroy eternally. Hence the Apoſtles triumphant foreign, O death where is thy ſting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Cor. 15.55, 57. When a Bee hath faſtned her ſting in a mans fleſh and ſo loſt it, ſhe ever after (they ſay) turns a Drone. Death once faſtned its ſting in Chriſt who overcame the venom of it, and ever ſince it hath been like a Drone; it may hum and affright, but not really hurt a true Believer. Death is very ſtrong, it overcomes the mighty Monarchs and Potentates of the Earth, and and none can ſtand before it; yet Chriſt overcame it even upon its own ground; It got him into the priſon of the grave, but could not keep him there, it was not poſſible for him to be holden by it, Acts 2.24. And though it is the laſt Enemy that ſhall be deſtroyed, yet Death ſhall he ſwallowed up of Victory, 1 Cor. 15.26.54. Thus we ſee, that Chriſt overcame the Enemies, either by reconciling them, or disarming them; either by making them friends, or leaving them impotent Enemies.
Bra. 2. After he had thus overcome, he ſate down with his Father in his Throne; The Text is expreſs for it: This is variouſly expreſſed in the Scripture; He is ſometimes ſaid to ſit at the right hand of the Throne of the Majeſty in the Heavens, Heb. 8.1. Sometimes to ſit on the right hand of God, Mark 16. All amounts to the ſame purpoſe. Four things are implied in it:
1. It notes Dignity: Superiors ſit, when Inferiors ſtand; The ancient of days, is ſaid, to ſit, Dan. 7.9. And God is deſcribed ſitting upon a Throne, Rev. 7.15. Thus Chriſt ſate down in his Fathers Throne, that is, he was advanced to great honour: The Angels never arrived to ſuch honour; To which of all the Angels did God ever ſay, ſit thou on my right hand? Heb. 1.13 .The very interrogation implies a negation, he never ſpake thus to any of them. It was great honour Solomon did his Mother, to cauſe her to ſit down at his right hand, 1 Kings 2.19. But Chriſt is raiſed to greater Dignity; for the Lord ſaid unto my Lord, ſit thou on my right hand, till thine Enemies be made thy foot-ſtool, Pſ. 110.1. To ſuch a height of honour is he advanced, that God hath charged all the Angels to worſhip him, Heb. 1.6. At firſt made lower than the Angels, now above them.
2. It imports Authority: Thou ſateſt in the Throne judging right, ſays the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 9.4. Thus God hath highly exalted Chriſt to be the judge of all the world; A throne he ſhall have in the Clouds, and he that once came to be judged, ſhall come the ſecond time to judge: The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment to the Son, that all men ſhould honour the Son, as they honour the Father, John 5.22, 23. And to ſhew his Authority, 'tis ſaid, to him every knee ſhall bow, Phil. 2. All things in Heaven, in Earth, and under the Earth, that is, Angels, Men, and Devils are ſubject to the Name and Authority of the Lord Jeſus: And every tongue ſhall confeſs that Jeſus Chriſt is Lord to the glory of God the Father, Phil. 2.8, 9, 10. The Devils and wicked men ſhall at laſt be forced to acknowledg the Authority of Chriſt, and to ſay as Julian the Apoſtate did, Viciſti Galilee, O Galilean, thou haſt overcome me; and all Saints and holy Angels ſhall with one conſent acknowledg and own him as the Lord, and as their Lord; And all this to the glory of God the Father, which foreign, though it ſignifies the great end of Chriſt's exaltation, viz. the glory of God, yet ſome underſtand by it, that Jeſus Chriſt is exalted to the ſame Authority and Glory with the Father in Heaven, being now ſet down with him in his Throne, at his right hand.
3. It implies a ſettled continuance of Chriſt in this Honour and Authority; 'Tis ſaid that Joſephs Bow abode, or as ſome read, ſate in ſtrength, Gen. 49.24. As ſtanding is a poſture that ſhews a man ready to go this way or that way, ſo a ſedentary geſture notes continuance or abiding: Though man being in honour continued not, Pſal. 49. ult. Adam being in honour lodged not; whence ſome conjecture, Adam fell in the very day he was created; And though our days on the earth are as a ſhadow, and there is none abiding, 1 Chron. 29.15. Yet the ſecond Adam abides and continues in the Fathers Throne for ever.
4. It signifies Chriſt's reſting from all his Travels, Labours, Services, and Sufferings: As after much Labour a man ſits down and reſteth himſelf, even ſo Chriſt having finiſhed the work his Father gave him to do, a ceſſation from all troublesome Labours followed, and he ſhall know them no more. After Gods works of Creation were finiſhed, he reſted on the ſeventh day, Gen. 2.2. Thus alſo, when Chriſt had accompliſhed the works put into his hand, He entred into reſt, and ceaſed from his own works, as God did from his, Heb. 4.10. Some carry theſe words of Believers, they are ceaſed from ſins, who are entred into heavenly reſt; others, that Believers are ceaſed from all ſufferings and ſorrows, being once in glory; All this is true, yet ſome take it for Chriſt his Reſt from all his labours and troubles; Though here he was a man of ſorrows, and acquainted with grief, yet being exalted to ſit with his Father in his Throne, is ceaſed from theſe for ever.
Bran. 3. Overcomers ſhall ſit down with Chriſt on his Throne; ſo ſaith the Text; An alluſion, ſay ſome, to the practice of thoſe Eaſtern Kings, whoſe Thrones were made large and capacious after the manner of a Couch; ſo that beſides the Kings place, others whom the King would honour might ſit down with him in the ſame Throne: what this Throne of Chriſt is, there are various conjectures; The Kingdom of Grace ſay ſome; we are made Kings and Prieſts, and reign on the Earth, Rev. 5.10. That is, have Dominion over Sin, Satan, and the World; But this is Chriſt ſitting on the Throne of our Conſciences, rather than our ſitting with Chriſt in his Throne, ſay others, who therefore will have it meant of his Throne in Heaven: But there Chriſt hath no Kingdom diſtinct from the Father, for having once ended that great tranſaction of the laſt judgment, he ſhall deliver up the Kingdom to his Father, and God ſhall be all in all, Cor. 15.24.28. Not that then Chriſt ſhall lay aſide his humane nature, as ſome have thought; but that his preſent mediatory Kingdom ſhall give place to the eſſential Kingdom of the God-head; God ſhall he all in all; not perſonally foreign, but eſſentially, foreign, the Divine being, the Father, Son, and Spirit, ſhall be all in all, that is, communicate himſelf to the glorified Church, without the intervention of Ordinances and Creatures, and alſo without the proper and immediate exerciſe of the Office of the Mediator: For when the difference between God and the Creature is compleatly made up, what formal need will there be of a Mediator? For we cannot make a Mediator of one, nor of thoſe that are made one; It is an Apoſtolical maxim, A Mediator is not of one, Gal. 3.20. But if any ſay, how then is the Kingdom of Chriſt everlaſting? I anſwer, this doth not at all hinder it, for he hath victory over all the Kingdoms of the world, all the four Monarchies being fully conquered by him, Dan. 7. and the Goſpel of his Kingdom is vertually everlaſting, Rev. 14.6. And Believers by vertue of it, ſhall poſſeſs everlaſting glory: neither ſhall this reſignation of the Kingdom be any diminution to his glory; for the ſong in Heaven will be, Worthy is the Lamb that was ſlain, to receive Power, and Riches, and Wiſdom, and Strength, and Honour, and Glory, and Bleſſing, &c. Rev 5.11, 12. Others underſtand this Text, of a Temporal and Viſible Throne and Kingdom to be erected in this World before the laſt Judgment. If theſe words, ſaith an excellent Divine, Do not intimate a reigning time for Chriſt's Church on earth, I do not at all underſtand them; Whether there ſhall be a perſonal continuance of Chriſt on earth for a Thouſand Years, as ſome hold, is very hard to be proved from the Scripture: Yet that there will be a glorious time for the Church on Earth, before the end of all things, is very clear. The 60 Chapter of Eſay ſpeaks it fully, thoſe Promiſes wait for the full accompliſhment: Great ſhall he the day of Jezreel, Hoſ. 2. ult. This is the world to come, as ſome judge, mentioned, Heb. 2.5. Then ſhall Knowledg abound and cover the Earth, as the Waters do the Sea. Some obſerve, that the Girdle was about the Loins, Ezek. 23.15. But then about the Paps, Rev. 1.13. to ſignifie how Knowledg ſhall riſe higher in the laſt, than former Ages of the World: Then will Holineſs encreaſe, All the Pots in the Lords Houſe ſhall be holy, and Holineſs written on the Bells of the Horſes, Zech. laſt. Then there will be an end of differences amongſt God's people; Now Ephraim is againſt Manaſſeh, and Manaſſeh againſt Ephraim, and both againſt Judah; but then the the Lord ſhall be one, and his Name one: Then will come down the new Heavens and the new Earth, wherein ſhall dwell Righteouſneſs. Now men ſay, Quod libet, licet; Sic volo, ſic jubeo; but then Judges as at the firſt, and Counſellors as at the beginning; Kings Nurſing Fathers, &c. Juſtice ſhall run down as Waters, and Righteouſneſs as a mighty Stream; then ſhall Antichriſt's Throne be utterly broken; That implacable Enemy ſhall fall and riſe no more: And then will the Kingdom of Chriſt be enlarged, The Kingdoms of this world ſhall become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Chriſt, Rev. 11.15. The Kingdom of Chriſt ſhall be more obſervable and viſible than ever. We are not to expect a Kingdom, de novo, but the encreaſe and enlargement of that already extant: And though the Glory of his Kingdom is eclipſed, yet it will be rendred conſpicuous to all, when he ſhall not Reign in a corner, but over the whole World: God hath ſet his King long ſince upon his holy Hill of Sion, all Power in Heaven and Earth was given to him at his Reſurrection; ſo that Chriſt hath been in his Throne many hundred years, yet it ſhall grow and prevail, till all implacable Oppoſers be put down, and his Kingdom appear in its Beauty in this world; though it will not be of the world, neither will the Saints have worldly Troubles, nor worldly Joys, but ſhall have Heavenly Thrones; I mean their Thrones ſhall be in Heaven upon Earth: Then ſhall Overcomers know better than now they can apprehend, how great the Mercy here promiſed is, to ſit with Chriſt in his Throne. If any ask, why Chriſt will thus priviledge them, the Anſwer is, from his free Grant; ſo ſaies the Text, To him that Overcometh will I grant: Nothing more free than a Grant from a King. All this Charter contained in theſe ſeven Promiſes, is from the Royal Grant of the King of Saints. Not for the Battles they have fought, not for the Victories they have gotten; but all flow from the Fountain of Free-Grace: All that was done well, was done by his aſſiſtance. So then it will not be their Merit, but his Mercy; not of Debt, but of Grace; when they are ſate down in his Throne with him, they will and muſt cry, Grace, Grace. The Ʋſes follow.
Ʋſe 1. If theſe things be thus, Then let us all examine whether we be in the number of thoſe that ſhall inherit the good of this, and all the Promiſes we have heard of: If any ſay, How ſhall we come to an aſſured Intereſt in them? The Anſwer is, All depends upon our being victorious, they are all entailed upon Overcomers. Let us then to ſecure our Title to the one, clear the truth of our being in the number of the other, by diſcerning the ſoundneſs of our Regeneration; for the Apoſtle ſaith, Whatſoever is born of God overcometh the world, 1 Joh. 5.4. and all that is in the world; the God of the world, the Men of the world, and the Luſts of the world: without this work wrought in us, any of our Enemies will ruine us. When the Sons of Sceva thought to prevail, by adjuring the evil Spirit by the Name of Jeſus, whom Paul Preached; the Spirit anſwered them, Jeſus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye? And the men in whom the evil Spirit was, leaped upon them and overcame them, ſo that they fled naked and wounded, Acts 19.14, 15, 16. As if he had ſaid, I know Jeſus to be the Son of God, and Paul to be the Servant of God; the one may command me, the other may in his Name compel me, but who are ye? Have you the Power, Grace, and Spirit of Jeſus or Paul? He knowing they wanted this, overcame them; And ſo will Satan conquer all unregenerate ones. Let us then be looking diligently to our ſelves, leſt we fail of this Grace of God; All depends upon it as to Victory. O let us take heed leſt our New-birth prove a falſe Conception, leſt Ephraim-like we be unwiſe Sons, that ſtay long in the place of breaking forth of Children, Hof. 13.13. Many throws and pangs ſome have, Convictions tending to Converſion; yet they go away, and the Soul not born of God. Many go on in a way of Profeſſion all their days, and yet are not New-born; are not in the Spiritual Genealogy. And what do an Hundred Cyphers ſignifie without a Figure? Juſt nothing. To the ſame reckoning will all our external Religion come, without the New-birth: Above all things let us be careful leſt we be deceived herein. And truely he had need be as wiſe as Solomon, to find out the true Mother. Three or four things there are that deceive People;
1. They have been convinced of Sin in a Legal way, and much troubled, and therefore hope they are born of God; But this is many a mans miſtake to reſt in them; They are troubled for Sin under the Word or Rod, yet ſin again. The Children of Iſrael, when God ſlew them, then they ſought him, and they returned and enquired early after God: Nevertheleſs, they flattered him with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue: For their heart was not right with him, neither were they ſtedfaſt in his Covenant, Pſal. 78.34, 36, 37.
2. Some miſtake in the point of good diſpoſition; They are well-enclined men, good-natured and hopeful men; but was not Chriſt's words to ſuch an one, Joh. 3.3. Verily I ſay unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot ſee the Kingdom of God? Why did Chriſt put him in mind of this? Why, becauſe he was a well-enclined and diſpoſed man, and did reſt too much upon it; therefore Chriſt tells him where his danger lay.
3. Some plant the bottom of their Chriſtianity upon Forms, in things that are but the husk, the Varniſh and Plaiſtering of Religion: They think it enough to go to an Ordinance, to keep their Church, to be Baptized, to come to the Lord's Table, to be able to give an account of the Lord's Prayer, Creed, and Ten Commandments; to ſuch I may ſay, as Chriſt did to the Phariſees, Theſe things you ought to have done, but not leave the other undone. God did appoint theſe things, that men ſhould have a Form of Godlineſs; but we muſt not take the Skin for the Body, nor the Shadow for Subſtance; For in Chriſt Jeſus neither Circumciſion avails any thing, nor uncircumciſion, but a new creature, Galat. 6.15. Think not to ſay within your ſelves, We have Abraham to our Father: Do not think, that becauſe you are educated in the Proteſtant Religion, under the means of Grace, that therefore you are born of God. If any ſhall ask, How ſhall I diſcern my new Birth? I anſwer,
1. If your greateſt work be to get the old Adam diſſolved in your hearts, to get a proud heart to ſtoop, and the old Nature changed, this is to obtain the whole in ſome ſenſe.
2. If this Heart aſcribe all to God, and nothing to our ſelves; we are God's Workmanſhip, what is Paul, what is Apollo, but Miniſters by whom ye believed, 1 Cor. 3. It was God in the Ordinance that did the work. They that cry up men and means, and forget to magnifie the Free Grace of God, ſhew it is not right.
3. It makes us of a compaſſionate Temper to them that are out of the way of God: Be gentle and meek unto all men, for we our ſelves alſo were ſometimes fooliſh, diſobedient, deceived, ſerving divers Luſts and Pleaſures, Tit. 3.2, 3.
4. We ſhall find an indelible Memory is imprinted upon this work: Not that all men can ſay what was the Time, Place, Sermon, when, where, and by which this work was done; for many are brought up under Godly Parents, and free from all ſcandalous Sins; this work ſteals in upon ſome ſuch, they know not when nor how: But they can ſay, Such they were in the times of their Unregeneracy, ſo fooliſh and ignorant, ſo oppoſite and averſe to what is good, ſo careleſs and regardleſs of God and their Souls; but now, through Grace, they ſee and are aſhamed of their former Blindneſs; they are reconciled in ſome meaſure, both in Judgment and Affections to that, and to thoſe that are good: They deſire to mind chiefly the one thing needful. God may ſanctifie ſome even from the Womb, but there is ſomething daily to be put away in all that are Regenerate; and though they cannot tell the firſt time, yet they can ſay it is often done; they do not turn to God once, but more and more, they have a great deal to do ſtill.
4. There is always going with it a Spirit of Prayer, it begins and ends with Abba, Father. Prayer is the firſt thing in a Chriſtian, and the laſt thing; Becauſe ye are Sons, he hath ſent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father, Galat. 4.6. None of God's Children are ſtill-born, Behold he prays, ſaies Chriſt of Paul, Act. 9.11.
Let us by ſuch things as thoſe try our Regeneration; If we find we are indeed born of God, we overcome; and Overcomers inherit theſe Promiſes: Thus much in General. More particularly; If the War be rightly managed, we may be ſure we ſhall prevail and conquer all our Enemies: As for inſtance,
1. If all our Faculties in their rank and file do fight againſt them: The Scripture tells us, The Stars in their Courſes fought againſt Siſera, Judg. 5.20. Do the ſeveral Faculties of our Souls in their place and order wage war againſt Sin? In unſound hearts one Faculty fights againſt a Luſt, another contends for it; Herod's Conſcience fought againſt the motion Herodias made of cutting off John Baptiſt's Head, his Affections ran counter to his Conſcience; this was no true Spiritual War: When both are againſt it, that Soul will be a Conqueror in the end.
2. If the War continues; Fire and Water will fight when they meet, and can never be reconciled; the Fleſh luſteth againſt the Spirit, and the Spirit againſt the Fleſh, and theſe two are contrary each to other. Contraries will ever be contending; If our Combat be thus managed, it is a good ſign God will in due time give us Victory.
Let ſuch encourge themſelves in expectation of it: Let none ſay, The Canaanite is ſtill in the Land, and who may call himſelf an Overcomer? So long as it does, Gravitare, lye hard and heavy upon thee, as a thing out of its proper place, and make thee cry out as Paul, O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver me, thou art an Overcomer in God's account. To this purpoſe, the Original word in all theſe Texts before us is very obſervable, it is foreign and foreign: Not to him that Overcometh, as we read it; but to him that is Overcoming, to him that is Praying, Striving, Wreſtling, Fighting againſt theſe Enemies, to him that is in an Overcoming Poſture; though the Enemy be not quite out of the field, to him ſhall theſe great Comforts in the Promiſes be given by Jeſus Chriſt. If there be a Nolle peccatum, a bent of heart againſt Corruption and Temptation, thou perſueſt them to Death, and wouldſt be glad of an utter extirpation of them, then God accepts the Will for the Deed, and reckons thee a Conqueror. Though the Damſel under the Law was abuſed, yet if ſhe made the utmoſt reſiſtance ſhe was able, and cried out, and there was none to help her, ſhe was accounted Innocent and Guiltleſs; becauſe ſhe was forced, and not free and voluntary in it. Whatſoever is born of God Overcometh; it's not ſaid , Whoſoever, but Whatſoever: The perſon may be in particular Battles worſted by the Enemy, yet the principle is a Conqueror in the end, and will prevail; for it never yields, but makes implacable Oppoſition: cries out to Heaven for help, and is on this account eſteemed an Overcomer. And therefore though we are ſtill aſſaulted, yet it is that we may be exerciſed, that we may ſtand upon our Guard, and watch and pray continually; we muſt keep our Armour upon us, and not be ſecure, for then the Enemy gets advantage againſt us: Our Enemies are like to that famous General Marcellus, of whom it is ſaid, he was never quiet, Nec Victor, nec victus; neither a Conqueror, nor Conquered: Let it be enough to know, they are, and ſhall be ſubdued effectually in due time. Above all things deſpair not of Victory, when we find them turbulent and rebellious. Many Creatures ſtruggle moſt when dying; The Devil rageth moſt when he is about to be caſt out, Mark 9.15, 16. No Believer ſo overcomes here, as to ſay, He ſhall meet with no further Aſſaults. Our contendings are not to empty a Pit, that is more eaſily done; but to dry up a Spring and Fountain, which is very difficult, if poſſible, in this caſe; but Corruption will be bubbling, and Temptations ſpringing. And though a man hath overcome a Fit of Sickneſs, yet he cannot ſay he ſhall never be ſick again; for he may have further Diſtempers, and be ſick again even of the ſame Diſtemper; yea, and be brought low by it. So I may ſay here, A Believer, after he hath gotten a particular Victory over his Enemies, yet cannot ſay, I ſhall never be aſſaulted again by this or that Luſt or Temptation; For that may be, and thou be brought low thereby: Be not ſecure, but watchful. But here lies the great Comfort, though a man may be under the ſame Affliction, that he hath formerly been recovered from, yea, and dye of it alſo; yet I may aſſure all true Believers, That their Sickneſs is not unto Death, as Chriſt ſaid of Lazarus; It may bring them low, but never to hurt them by the Second Death. You cannot ſay as Alexander, Veni, vidi, vici; I came, I ſaw, I overcame; but you may he exerciſed by theſe Enemies all your Life, and ſome have had the ſharpeſt Combat in their dying hours; yet always true Believers go off Conquerors. We read of a great Victory obtained by Iſrael over the Syrians, yet at the return of the year the Syrians made another Invaſion, though it was to their utter Overthrow, 1 King. 20. Your Spiritual Enemies are like the Syrians, though they be often baffled, yet they will renew their Aſſaults. But as Joſhua made his Captains ſet their feet upon the necks of thoſe Kings, Joſh. 10.24. So will Chriſt, your Captain and Champion, who hath already won the Field, cauſe you to tread down the wicked, wicked Luſts, wicked Men, and Satan that wicked one, As aſhes under the ſoles of your feet, Mal. 4.3.
Let us all labour to be Overcoming, that we may get Chriſt's Grant, to ſit with him in his Throne; Vincenti dabitur: Look to get a principle of true Faith, this is the Victory whereby we Overcome, even our Faith; if we fail of the truth of this Grace, our enemies will utterly ruine us Inſtead of ſitting with Chriſt in his Throne, we ſhall be thrown out by Chriſt upon the Dunghil, and the Devil will everlaſtingly triumph over us. What will not men venture upon for Thrones and Kingdoms? Shall not a place in Chriſt's own Throne animate us to this holy War?
To Conclude, You that are true Believers, you have begun to be Victorious, Go on Conquering and to Conquer. To this end,
1. Beware of Diviſions; Divide & Impera, Divide and Rule. An Army divided is eaſily routed. Our Diviſions give our Enemies great advantage, as we have ſeen by ſad Experience. It was ſaid of old, Dum ſinguli pugnant, omnes vincuntur; whilſt they fought ſingle, they were all Overcome. Union is our ſtrength, O that at length Chriſtians would ſtudy to joyn Hearts and Hands againſt the Enemies. It was good Policy in Joab, when he ſaw the Enemy had beſet them before and behind, he ſaid to his Brother, If the Syrians he too ſtrong for me, then thou ſhalt help me; but if the Children of Ammon be too ſtrong for thee, then I will come and help thee, 2 Sam. 10.11. So ſhould Chriſtians ſay to each other, If Corruptions be too ſtrong for us, you ſhall come and help us; and if Temptations be too ſtrong for you, we will come and help you: This would much weaken the hands of our Enemies, and make us more and more Victorious.
2. Give Chriſt the glory of every Victory, and he will give us to go on yet Conquering and to Conquer. I have read of a Victory called Victoria Hallelujetica; it was on this occaſion, The Saxons here in England being to engage the Britains, the Leader of the Britains having his Army in Dales and Valleys, ordered them to cry Hallelujah; which they did, and through the Eccho of the Voice in the Valleys, the Enemy apprehended the number to be more than they were, and through fear fled. Let Heaven and Earth ring again with the Eccho of your Praiſes for the beginnings of Victory, and the Enemy will flee before you.
3. Above all, Go out againſt them, as David did againſt Goliah, in the Name of the Lord. Auſtin being troubled he long fought againſt a Corruption & could not overcome it, thought he heard a Voice ſaying to him, In te ſtas, & non ſtas; Thou ſtandeſt in thy ſelf, and therefore thou ſtandeſt not: Say with the Pſalmiſt, I will go in the ſtrength of the Lord, I will make mention of thy Righteouſneſs only, Pſal. 71.16. David with a Sling and a Stone, acting Faith in the Name of God, prevailed againſt the Enemy; but Adam though without ſin, ſtanding in himſelf, was Overcome. Believers, you have a good Second, a ſtrong Champion, Jeſus Chriſt, God hath laid Help upon this Mighty One: Rely on him alone, that through him you may have Victory, and ſo inherit theſe Promiſes. And if theſe be not enough, 'tis ſaid, Rev. 21.7. He that Overcometh, ſhall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he ſhall be my Son.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Lougher, Precious Promises the Portion of Overcomers (1681)