The Way of the Spirit in Bringing Souls to Christ, Sermons 1

The Way of the Spirit in Bringing Souls to Christ · Sermons 1

p. 17Christ doth all for the Best.

SERMON I.

JOHN 16.7, 8, 9, 10.

Nevertheleſs, I tell you the truth, It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will ſend him unto you.

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of Sin, and of Righteouſneſs, and of Judgment.

Of Sin, becauſe they believe not on me.

Of Righteouſneſs, becauſe I go to my Father, and ye ſee me no more.

OUr Lord Jeſus Chriſt is now about to leave the World and to go from his Diſciples and Servants; he doth indeavour before his Departure to ſtrengthen and eſtabliſh their hearts both againſt p. 18thoſe ſufferings they were like to meet withal, and alſo againſt that ſorrow that now their hearts were filled withall upon the hearing of his departing and going away from them.

As for their ſufferings you have that ſpoken to in the firſt 4 verſes, wherein he gives them a Reaſon why he ſpeaks to them concerning their Sufferings. Saith he, Theſe things have I ſpoken unto you, that you might not be offended. I tell you before hand of your Sufferings, that you may not be offended. What's that? Namely, that you may not be ſo ſtumbled when you meet with Sufferings more than you did expect, and ſo be ready to turn your backs upon the Goſpel, upon your Profeſſion. Theſe things have I ſpoken unto you; He had been ſpeaking in the laſt verſe of the former Chapter, of their meeting with Tribulation in the the world; And, ſaith Chriſt, Theſe things have I ſpoken unto you before-hand, that when they come you might not ſtumble and go back.

You ſee, Brethren, how tender Jeſus Chriſt is of his Diſciples and Servants, he would not have them to be offended, and therefore he tells them before-hand of their Sufferings, and that is the way to prevent Offences, and Stumblings, and fallings back from our Profeſſion by our Perſecutions and Sufferings, to underſtand and know before-hand what we are like to meet withall; and therefore, ſaith Chriſt, I tell you of theſe things before, that when they come to paſs, you m…y not be offended. And then he tells them mo… particularly what Sufferings they are like to m…et withall. And, ſaith he, You are like to meet with the higheſt and greateſt kind of Sufferings, Sufferings p. 19of the higheſt nature both from the Eccleſiaſtical and Civil State, the higheſt kind of Sufferings they poſſibly can inflict upon you, for, ſaith he, You ſhall be brought into their Eccleſiaſtical Courts, they ſhall Excommunicate and caſt you out of their Synagogues, and not only ſo, but you ſhall have the Cenſure of their Civil Courts, you ſhall have ſentence of death paſſed upon you, they ſhall put you to death, and think they do God good ſervice in ſo doing. Theſe things, ſaith he, you muſt look for.

And by the way, take notice of this, That Chriſt and his Servants are expoſed to the greateſt wrath, malice, indignation and hatred that this world can exerciſe on them. The higheſt kinds of evil and puniſhment that this world can infl ct upon them are all little enough; and then he gives the reaſon of it, why they ſhall thus inflict ſuch puniſhments on them, and put them to ſuch ſufferings, Verſe 3. Theſe things will they do, becauſe they have not known the Father nor me; It is from their ignorance of God and Chriſt. And truly ſo all Perſecutors, what they do againſt the Saints and People of God, it is from their ignorance of Chriſt; for did they know God and Chriſt, they would not ſo perſecute the Saints and Servants of Chriſt; but theſe things will they do, becauſe they have not known the Father nor me.

But then the Diſciples might ask Chriſt, Why did he not ſpeak of theſe things before, and tell them what ſufferings they were like to meet with? To that Chriſt anſwers them, Verſe 4. I ſaid not theſe things to you at the beginning, becauſe I was with you. They were not then ſo liabl… to Sufferings the time Chriſt was with them, all p. 20their hatred and malice was then let out againſt Chriſt himſelf, as long as Chriſt was perſonally preſent; ſo the Diſciples were free, Chriſt preſerved them: but now (ſaith he) I go away, now you ſhall be expoſed to all theſe things, and now I tell you of them, that you may be prepared, ſtrengthened and fortified againſt them.

But as then for their ſorrow about his going away, he tells them of his going away from them, that they ſhould be deprived of his perſonal preſence, from verſe 5. and ſo on; but now I go my way to him that ſent me. And now Chriſt doth in a very gentle manner blame his Diſciples that they did not enquire into the end and reaſon of his going away, I go my way to him that ſent me, and none of you ask me, Whither goeſt thou? If they had but enquired whither Chriſt was to go, and to what end he was to go away from them, their hearts would not have been ſo full of ſorrow, if they had underſtood whither he was going, namely that he was going to the Father; he was going to Heaven to be glorified there, and exalted there, to ſit at the right hand of God there, to have all power given into his own hand, to have power over all Creatures and things; None of you ask me, Whither goeſt thou? Had they enquired after that, had they underſtood that, they would not have been ſo full of ſorrow.

Objection.

But you will ſay, Did not ſome of the Diſciples ask him before, whither he went. John 13.36. Simon Peter ſaid unto him, Lord, whither goeſt thou? p. 21Jeſus anſwered, Whither I go you cannot follow me now, but you ſhall follow me hereafter — Lord, ſaith he, why cannot I follow thee now—? Why then doth Chriſt ſay here, none of you ask me whither goeſt thou? when Peter expreſly asked the Queſtion before.

Anſwer.

To this I anſwer, The Queſtion that Peter put to Chriſt whither he went, was not ſo much to underſtand his Exaltation and Glory, and the End of his going away, as out of preſidence of his own ſtrength and ability to follow Chriſt: but now Chriſts meaning is, when he ſaith, None of you ask me whither goeſt thou? that is, you do not underſtand the end of my going away from you, you do not know wherefore I go to my Father, and therefore Sorrow hath filled your hearts; and then he blames them for being ſo ſad and ſorrowful for his going away, Verſe 6. Becauſe I ſaid theſe things to you, Sorrow hath filled your hearts; if they had known that Chriſt was now going to the Father to be exalted at the right hand of God, they would not have been ſo ſorrowful: no ſaith Chriſt, John 14.28. If ye had loved me, ye would have rejoyced, becauſe I ſaid I go to the Father; for my Father is greater than I. Now obſerve and take notice of this, That it is diſpleaſing unto Chriſt to ſee any of his Diſciples and Servants to be immoderately ſorrowfull upon any account; though it was upon the account of his departing from them and their loſing his Preſence, yet notwithſtanding Chriſt would not have them immoderately ſorrowful, he blames them for it, and now ſayes he, becauſe I ſaid theſe things, to you, p. 22Sorrow hath filled your hearts. And further, he comes to lay down ſome Comforts and Antidotes againſt their Sorrow here in the Text, the 7th verſe, wherein by way of Comfort he tells them,

1. That it was expedient for them that he ſhould go away, It is expedient for you; not only expedient for me that I go to the Father to be exalted in Heaven, but it is expedient for you alſo, ſaith Chriſt, Expedient for you; That is one Ground of Comfort to allay their Sorrow. And not only ſo, But

2. He doth aſſert it and affirm it very confidently, he would have them fully perſwaded of it; Becauſe it was hard for them to believe that Chriſt ſhould leave them and go away from them, that they ſhould be deprived of his perſonal preſence; was there any thing harder for them to grapple with than that? could there be any thing more expedient for them than that he ſhould ſtay with tnem? but ſaith Chriſt, I tell you the Truth, it is expedient for you that I go away, You may be confident and perſwaded of it, nevertheleſs I tell you the Truth. And.

3. He doth further amplify this Comfort about his going away, by telling of them, What Benefit they would have by his going from them, Therefore that may ſuſtain and ſupport their Hearts and Spirits. Why? what ſhall they get by it? ſaith Chriſt, you ſhall have ſomething that ſhall be equivalent to my bodily preſence, you ſhall have that that is more expedient for you; you ſhall have the preſence of the Comforter the Holy-Ghoſt, and this he doth expreſs both negatively and affirmatively, If I go not away the Comforter p. 23will not come to you, but if I depart I will ſend him unto you: You ſhall be ſure to have the Comforter if I go away; when I come to ſit at the right hand of my Father, I will ſend the Comforter; and you cannot have the Comforter ſo fully now my preſence is with you as you ſhall have after I am aſcended up to Heaven to be glorified. And

4. He doth more particularly ſet out the Benefits they ſhall have by the preſence of the Comforter, and amongſt other things he ſaith the Comforter ſhall be with them to give them ſucceſs in their Miniſtry, ſhall make their Miniſtry effectual and powerful for to convince, To convince the World of Sin, of Righteouſneſs, and of Judgment.

Thus you ſee the Scope of theſe Words, they are ſpoken by Chriſt by way of Comfort to his Diſciples, whoſe hearts were filled with Sorrow at the hearing of his going away from them. Nevertheleſs I tell you the Truth, it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come, but if I depart I will ſend him unto you; and when he is come, he ſhall reprove the World of Sin, of Righteouſneſs, and of Judgment.

I have formerly (as you may remember) ſpoken concerning the glorious effects of the Goſpel from that Scripture Acts 26.18. Now here you have laid down the Cauſe whereby the Goſpel came to be ſo efficacious, and effectual, namely, by the preſence of the Comforter, by the aſſiſtance of the Holy Ghoſt with the Miniſtry of it. p. 24You may obſerve and take notice of it, That after Chriſts Aſcenſion into Heaven, immediately their Miniſtry was more powerfull and more effectual in one Sermon, than it was in all the time they were with Chriſt in his bodily preſence, three thouſand at one Clap were brought in by one Sermon, ſo powerful was the Holy Ghoſt with them in their Miniſtry. But briefly then, before I come to ſpeak to the eighth Verſe (which principally I aimed at in pitching upon this Scripture) I ſhall take up one Note or Obſervation, which may be of Uſe and Concernment to us, from the 7th verſe; and that is this, Doct. That it is a moſt certain Truth that it is expedient for the Diſciples and Servants of Chriſt ſometimes to be deprived of the neareſt and deareſt Comforts that they have in this World.

Brethren, the Preſence of Chriſt was the neareſt and deareſt Comfort that they had in this World, yet ſaith Chriſt, It is expedient for you that I go away from you, and that you be deprived of my bodily Preſence; and becauſe it was a hard thing for them to believe; what? to be deprived of his Preſence that was ſo dear to them: therefore he adds this, I tell you the Truth; it is true what I ſay, it is no Lye. Nevertheleſs, I tell you the Truth, it is expedient for you that I go away. It was expedient that Chriſt ſhould go away, and lay down his Life, that he ſhould riſe again from the dead, and aſcend into Heaven, and ſit on the right hand of God, and have all Power and Glory p. 25put into his hand, and therefore it was expedient for them, that they might enjoy all the Fruits of his Death, and Reſurrection, and Aſcenſion, and Glorification, and Exaltation; it was expedient for them in all theſe reſpects, but more particularly that they might have the Holy Ghoſt ſent down to them.

Me-thinks, Brethren, Jeſus Chriſt here comes to his Diſciples and ſpeaks to them as a tender-hearted Husband to his dear Wife, when he is about to undertake ſome great Journey, or ſome Voyage, to go away from her, ſhe is mourning and weeping, he comes and ſpeaks comfortably to her, and perſwades her to be of good chear, as if he ſhould ſay, My Deare, there is no Remedy, I muſt go away, I muſt take this Journey, there is no help for it, 'tis neceſſary, 'tis expedient, nay, and 'tis for thy ſake, it is to fetch in Comforts for thee, and neceſſaries for thee; it is expedient not only for me to finiſh my Buſineſs becauſe my occaſions and buſineſs call me abroad, but it is expedient for thee that I take this Voyage or Journey, 'tis for your Comfort; and be aſſured of it, that I will ſend to you ere long, thou ſhalt hear from me ere long, I will ſend One on purpoſe to comfort thee and refreſh thee in my abſence; and know this that I will not ſtay always from you, but will come in a ſhort time again. Thus Jeſus Chriſt ſpake to his Diſciples, when he was about to leave them, ſaith he, My occaſions call me to go away from you, and not only ſo, but it is expedient for you, it is for your Benefit and Advantage, and though I be perſonally abſent from you, yet I will ſend one unto you p. 26that ſhall ſupply my abſence, even the Comforter, and after a little ſhort time I will come again to you, I will not ſtay long from you; ſo he ſaith afterwards, Verſe 16. A little while and you ſhall not ſee me, and a little while and you ſhall ſee me, becauſe I go to the Father. And Verſe 22. Therefore now have you Sorrow; but I will ſee you again, and your hearts ſhall rejoyce: Within a little while I will come to you, I will make all the haſte I can to you. Thus Chriſt ſpeaks to his Diſciples and Servants to comfort their Hearts, being ſorrowfull upon his going away.

Brethren, Was there any thing, or could there be any thing that was nearer or dearer to the hearts of the Diſciples than the preſence of Chriſt? The preſence of Jeſus Chriſt was more to them than any Comforts of this World, more to them than their Eſtates and Callings, and Gain, and Trade, for you know they left their Ships and their Nets and Callings and all to follow Chriſt; nay Chriſt was more near and dear to them than their neareſt Relations that they had in the World, for 'tis ſaid, they left not only their Callings, their Trades and Ships and Nets, but they left their Fathers and away they went after Chriſt, yea they left all that ever they had, as Peter himſelf ſaith, Matthew 19.27, 28, 29. ſaith he, We have left all to follow thee; Not only their Callings, their Trade and Gains, not only their Parents and Relations, But we have left All to follow thee; Yea, Brethren, Jeſus Chriſt was more p. 27dear and precious to them than their very lives, for you know what Chriſt was ſpeaking to them about his going away, Mat. 26. and telling them that ſome of them would deny him, ſaith Peter, Though I dy with thee, I will not deny thee; ſaith he, I will dy firſt, I will loſe my life firſt, and 'tis ſaid all of them ſaid after the like manner; they loved Chriſt more than their very lives, and yet now you ſee what Chriſt ſaid to them, though his Preſence was ſo near and dear unto them, yet ſaith Chriſt, I tell you the Truth it is expedient for you that I go away, it is expedient for you that I leave you, though I be ſo near and dear unto you. So that here is the Point grounded upon theſe Words; That it is a moſt certain Truth, That it is expedient for the Diſciples and Servants of Chriſt ſometimes to be deprived of thoſe Comforts that ſeem to be neareſt and deareſt to them in this World, it is expedient for them—: The Word that is here tranſlated expedient, it ſignifieth moſt profitable, more profitable for you, or better for you; better for you that I go away, than that I ſtay with you; more Profitable for you, ſo the Word is ſometimes tranſlated, and ſo it properly ſignifieth, expedient, that is, profitable: ſo ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 Corinthians 6.12. All things are lawfull for me, but all things are not expedient. The Word is profitable, ſo it is in the Margin, All things are not profitable. So Chap. 10. in the laſt Verſe, ſaith the Apoſtle, Even as I pleaſe all Men in all things, not ſeeking mine own profit, but the profit of many that they may be ſaved, p. 28it is the ſame word, only tis there tranſlated profit, or profitable; 'tis expedient or profitable for you that I go away; and ſometimes 'tis tranſlated good or better, ſo Luke 17.2, 3. Saith Chriſt, It were better for him that a Mill-ſtone were hanged about his neck, and he caſt into the Sea, than that he ſhould offend one of theſe little ones; The word is, expedient. So again, Mat. 5.29, 30. Saith Chriſt, 'Tis better for you to go into Life maimed, with one Eye, or one Hand, than having both your Eyes and hands, to go into Hell. 'Tis better, the word is, expedient. So that here is the meaning of it; It is expedient for you that I go away, that is, 'tis moſt profitable for you, 'tis better for you that I go away from you, than that you do enjoy my perſonal preſence.

Now for the opening and handling of this Point and Truth, I ſhall briefly ſpeak to theſe three things.

1. Give you the Demonſtrations of it, by ſome particular Inſtances, That it is moſt expedient or profitable ſometimes for the Servants of Chriſt to be deprived of their neareſt and deareſt Comforts that they do enjoy. In which I ſhall give you ſome particulars.

2. I ſhall ſhew the Ground why, or whereupon It is ſo expedient or profitable for them to be deprived of their deareſt and neareſt Comforts they can enjoy in this World.

3. And then ſhew you this, That to enjoy the preſence of the Comforter, the Spirit of God, is more expedient for the Saints in this World, than to enjoy the perſonal preſence of Chriſt.

p. 29I ſhall not be able to go through this Point at this time; but for the

1. To give you ſome Demonſtrations by ſome particular Inſtances, That it is expedient for the Servants of Chriſt ſometimes to be deprived of their neareſt and deareſt Comforts that they have in this World.

I ſhall Inſtance now in ſome particulars. As,

1. It may be expedient for the Servants of Chriſt ſometimes to be deprived of their outward Eſtates in the World. Brethren, to have a competent meaſure of Eſtate in the World is a comfortable thing; Thoſe that have great Eſtates, do not know and underſtand the temptations of a poor eſtate; therefore, ſaith the holy man Agur, Pro. 30.9. though he would not be rich, yet, Lord give me not poverty. It is a great mercy to be comfortably provided for in the World, yet for all that it is moſt expedient ſometimes for the ſervants of Chriſt to be deprived of their outward Eſtates in the world. You know how it was with Job, it is ſaid, He was the richeſt man in all the Eaſt; he had ſeven thouſand Sheep, three thouſand Camels, a thouſand yoke of Oxen, five hundred ſhe-Aſſes, Job 10.3. yet it was expedient for Job to be deprived of all this Eſtate, all was taken from him ſuddenly, and it was expedient for him thus to be deprived. If his Cattel could have ſpoke they would have ſaid, as Chriſt to his Diſciples here; his Sheep would have ſaid, It is expedient for you, that we go away from you; his Oxen, his Camels and his Aſſes, all would have ſaid, It is expedient for you, for us to go away from you. We read, Heb. 10.34. That the Chriſtians in thoſe dayes were plundred of their p. 30Eſtates in this World, and it was expedient for them, becauſe God hath provided a better and more enduring ſubſtance for them. And therefore mark the expreſſion of the Apoſtle James, 1.10. Let the Brother of low degree rejoyce in that he is exalted; but the rich in that he is made low, becauſe 'tis expedient for him. That is one thing.

2. Let us inſtance in Outward Accommodations. As now, to be comfortably provided for in reſpect of Clothing, and in reſpect of an Habitation, and Dwelling-place. Brethren, theſe are great Comforts, to be left naked in the time of the Cold, to be without Clothing is a great Suffering, to be left without a Houſe and Habitation, to be driven by Enemies from our Houſes and Habitations, to be forced to flee up and down into the naked fields, 'tis a great Affliction: but it is a great Comfort and Bleſſing to be well provided for for Clothing and Habitation; I do not ſpeak in regard of gorgeous Apparrel, but for neceſſary and convenient Clothing; Let thy Garments be always white, ſaith Solomon; hanſome Clothing, cleanly Clothing, is a great mercy and comfort. Yet now ſometimes, it is expedient for the ſervants of Chriſt to be deprived of their Clothing, to be put to their ſhifts to get any raggs to cover their nakedneſs; you ſhall read, Heb. 11.37. how thoſe Worthies, of whom the World was not worthy, they wandred up and down in Sheep-skins and Goat-skins, being deſtitute, afflicted and tormented; They were deprived of their Clothing they could take up a skin that they found in the Wilderneſs, and were glad to make uſe of it to cover their Bodies; they were covered with Sheep-skins and Goat-skins. So for a Habitation, p. 31it is a comfortable thing to have a comfortable Habitation and Dwelling-place, to ſhelter them from the Weather; and therefore 'tis made as a gracious promiſe, Hoſea 11.11. That God's People ſhall dwell in their own Houſes. I tell you, if ſo be we had an enemy to come and drive us out of our Houſes and take poſſeſſion of our Habitations, whilſt we eſcape with our Lives, it would be a great affliction; but yet for all that, ſometimes it is moſt expedient for the Lords Servants to be deprived of their Habitations. Look into Heb. 11.38. You read of thoſe, of whom the World was not worthy, That they wandred in Deſarts, and Mountains, and Dens, and Caves of the Earth; they had no Houſes at all, that if they could find out a little hole in the Wilderneſs and Deſart, if they could find out a Cave, they would be glad to hide their heads there; the Lord ſaw it expedient for them that their Houſes and Habitations, and alſo their outward accommodations in regard of Cloathing, ſhould be taken from them.

3. To inſtance in our Liberties. Liberty, Brethren is a great bleſſing, it is a great mercy to have Liberty, that we are not in Enemies hands, that we are not clapt up in cloſe Priſons, that we are not in Chains; and thoſe that have had experience, what it is to be deprived of their Liberty, that have been clapt up in Priſon, they are better able to judge of it than we are, what a Mercy Liberty is; thoſe that are now in Priſon for their Conſciences, would prize their Liberty if they might injoy it. Well, but yet for all this, that Liberty is ſuch a great mercy and bleſſing, yet ſometimes it p. 32is moſt expedient for the ſervants of Chriſt to be deprived of their Liberty; 'Tis expedient for them that their Liberty go away; you know what Chriſt ſpake unto Peter, John 21.18. When thou was't young thou girdedſt thy ſelf, and wenteſt whither thou wouldeſt, thou hadſt thy Liberty: but verily, I ſay unto thee, When thou ſhalt be old thou ſhalt ſtretch forth thy hand and another ſhall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldeſt not. It was expedient for Peter to have his Liberty taken from him. Paul that eminent Apoſtle and Servant of Chriſt, that was ſo uſefull in his place and generation, yet it was expedient for Paul himſelf to be deprived of his Liberty; and therefore, if you obſerve it, the moſt of all his Epiſtles were written by him when he was in Priſon; Paul a Priſoner of Jeſus Chriſt; and if you look into the latter end of the Acts, he was there two years together in Priſon at Rome, though indeed he had a little more Liberty than ſome others now adays may have, he had a hired houſe for himſelf, he had a Keeper with him and a chain upon him, he could not go whither he would. And ſo it hath been the Lot and Portion of the precious Saints and Servants of Chriſt in thoſe Primitive times to be deprived of their Liberty, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Hebrews 11.26. They ſuffered reproaches and alſo impriſonment, ſo that it is expedient for the Servants of Chriſt ſometimes to be deprived of their Liberty.

p. 334. To inſtance in our Health and Strength, which is a great bleſſing; they that are ſick and continually exerciſed with weakneſſes, pains, aches and diſtempers; theſe can tell you, that health and ſtrength is a pretious mercy; When the Lord lays his Hand upon us but a little while, Eaſe is a great mercy, and Health and Strength is a great mercy, and ſo it is; but yet ſometimes it is expedient for the Servants of Chriſt to be deprived of their Health and Strength, that their Health and Strength go from them; you find it by frequent experience how the Saints and Servants of God have been deprived of their Health and Strength, and commonly many that are moſt eminent, they are exerciſed with Weakneſſes and Sickneſſes of Body. I remember the Apoſtle ſpeaks concerning Timothy, he was a young man, and yet for all that he had many infirmities, therefore he adviſes him, 1 Tim. 5.23. To drink no longer water, but a little wine, for his many and often infirmities. He had many and frequent infirmities of Body upon him, that it was expedient for him that his Health and Strength were taken away from him. I remember the Pſalmiſt hath a paſſage in Pſal. 73. the begining, ſaith he, ſpeaking of the wicked, Verſe 4. There is no bands in their Death, their Strength is firm, they are not in trouble as other men; They have their Strength, and Health, and Liberty, and their Bones are full of Marrow, and their Eyes ſtand out with fatneſs, and they have more than heart can wiſh.— But, ſaith he, As for me, I have infirmities upon me, I am chaſtiſed every Morning, as duly as the Sun riſes, every day, and all the day long I am afflicted. Brethren the Lord ſees that it is expedient p. 34ſometimes that his Servants ſhould be deprived of their Health and Strength.

5. To give another Inſtance, To inſtance in near Relations, as to enjoy the comfort of Yoke-fellows, to enjoy the comforts of Children, Chriſtian-friends and acquaintance, theſe are great Comforts and great Bleſſings. As I remember the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks, Pſal. 128.3, 4. He is ſpeaking what a mercy and bleſſing it is to enjoy Children, Thy Children ſhall be like Olive Plants round about thy Table; and thus ſhall the Man be bleſſed that feareth the Lord. And ſaith Solomon, Eccleſ. 9.9. Live joyfully with the Wife whom thou loveſt, all the days of the life of thy vanity. Theſe things are great Comforts; But yet it is expedient ſometimes for the Servants of Chriſt to be deprived of theſe Comforts, for Children to be deprived of Parents, and for Parents to be deprived of Children, which are accounted by Parents ſomtimes their deareſt Comforts in this World, yet God ſees it expedient for them ſometimes to be deprived of them by Death. Son of Man, ſaith God, to Ezech. 24.16. Behold, I will take away the deſire of thine Eyes with a ſtroke; that is, his Wife, and ſhe died in the evening. Sometimes ſome are taken away by ſome ſuddain accident, as all Jobs Children were, ſometimes they are deprived of them by Perſecution, they are made to forſake Father and Mother, Wife and Children, and all for Chriſt's ſake. We have forſaken all, ſaith Peter to Chriſt, Mat. 19. latter end. And ſometimes they are deprived of the Comforts of them by having their Affections from them, as Job complains of the Wife of his boſom, that ſhe was a ſtranger to him. And the Pſalmiſt, p. 35Pſal. 88.8. Said, Thou haſt put away my acquaintance far from me.— Brethren, it is expedient for us ſometimes to be deprived of theſe Comforts and Relations, and verily, if our Relations, that are taken away from us, if they could ſpeak when they are dead, Children would ſay to Parents, Father and Mother, It is expedient for you, that we go away. Though it be a dear Babe, yet, It is expedient for you, that I go away. Though it be an only Child, yet, It is expedient for you that I go away; And ſo for other Relations, ſtill remember this that it is expedient for the Servants of Chriſt ſometimes to be deprived of their neareſt and deareſt Relations. Chriſt was as near and dear to the Diſciples as any Relation in the World can be near and dear to us, yet ſaith Chriſt, It is expedient for you that I go away.

6. To inſtance in another thing, The Ordinances and Inſtitutions of the Lord. They are dear and pretious to the hearts of the Saints and Servants of God, they are pretious things, and ſhould be dear to every one of us. Saith Job, Chap. 12.12. I have eſteemed the words of his mouth more than my neceſſary food; He had rather loſe his meat and drink than miſs of the Word of God. And, ſaith David, Pſal. 122.1. I was glad when they ſaid unto me, Come, let us go up to the Houſe of the Lord. The Ordinances of the Lord, they are and ought to be dear unto all the Saints and Servants of God, yet for all that I may ſay, it is expedient ſometimes for the Servants of Chriſt to be deprived of the Ordinances of Chriſt. David found this by experience, he was deprived of the Ordinances, Pſal. 42.4. ſaith he, When I remember theſe things, I pour out p. 36my ſoul in me; for I had gone with the multitude; I went with them to the Houſe of God, with the voice of joy and praiſe; but now, ſaith he, My ſoul is caſt down; And ſo, Pſal. 63.1. ſaith he, I dwell in a dry and thirſty Land, where no water is. He meant where there are no Ordinances; He could not wait upon God in his Ordinances; It was expedient for David to be deprived of the Ordinances. I remember a paſſage of the Church, Cant. 3. ſaith ſhe, By night on my Bed, I ſought him whom my ſoul loveth, I ſought him, but I found him not. She could not find Chriſt, ſhe could not enjoy the Ordinances of Chriſt, nor Chriſt in the Ordinances; and truly this hath been, and may be the caſe of the dear Servants of Chriſt, to be deprived of the Ordinances, that are near and dear to them. Heb. 11.37, 38. You ſee there how thoſe of whom the world was not worthy, that they were glad to ſhift for their lives, to run up and down in Mountains, and Caves, and Dens of the Earth to hide themſelves, and ſo were deprived of Ordinances and Communion with Saints; and it was expedient for them.

7. To inſtance in another thing yet higher, 'Tis expedient ſometimes for the Saints and Servants of Chriſt to be deprived of Communion with Chriſt in holy Duties and Ordinances. I may ſay in this caſe (becauſe poſſibly it is not eaſy to be believed) as Chriſt ſaid to the Diſciples in the Text, Nevertheleſs, I tell you the truth, 'tis ſometimes expedient for the Saints and Servants of Chriſt to be deprived of Communion with Chriſt in his Ordidances, though this is moſt dear and precious to them. Exod. 20.24. ſaith God, In all places where p. 37my Name ſhall be recorded, thither will I come, and meet with my People, and bleſs them; that is, in his Ordinances, where his Name is recorded; and I ſay, ſometimes it is expedient even for the very Saints and Servants of Chriſt to be deprived of the preſence of Chriſt in his Ordinances, of Communion with Chriſt in his Ordinances, ſometimes not to ſee Chriſt, nor to meet with Chriſt in holy Duties and Ordinances. Cant. 3.1, 2, 3. By night on my Bed, ſaith the Spouſe, I ſought him whom my ſoul loveth, I ſought him, but I found him not; By night on my Bed I ſought him, I ſought him in the Ordinances, that is the Bed where Chriſt hath Communion with his Saints and Servants, yet ſaith the Spouſe, I ſought him on my Bed, but found him not. And I remember Job hath an expreſſion, Chap. 23.8, 9. Behold I go forward, but he is not there, and backward but I cannot perceive him, on the left hand where he doth work, but I cannot behold him; he hideth himſelf on the right hand that I cannot ſee him; Saith Job I went forward, and I went backward, I went from Ordinance to Ordinance, but I found him not. The Lord may ſee this expedient for his dear Servants and Children even to be deprived of Communion with himſelf, in his own Inſtitutions, which is hard to be believed, yet, nevertheleſs I tell you the Truth it is expedient for you that the Lord do with-hold his Preſence ſometimes from his own Ordinances to his own Servants. Yet once more.

8. Eightly and laſtly, which is ſtill yet higher, It may be expedient ſometimes for the Saints and Servants of Chriſt to be deprived of ſeeing the face p. 38of God, and enjoying the Senſe of Gods favour, which in Truth is the moſt deſirable thing in the World, it is e…en a Heaven upon Earth, a beginning of Heaven to ſee the face of God, and to enjoy the ſence of the favour and loving-kindneſs of God. Saith David, In thy favour is life; my life lay in that, nay ſaith he, Pſal. 63.3. Thy Loving-kindneſs is better than Life, and yet I tell you, ſometimes it is expedient for the Servants of God to be deprived even of the ſence of the favour and loving-kindneſs of God, ſometimes the Lord ſees it expedient for him to go away in that ſence; and therefore you find ſometimes how David complains, Pſal. 13.1, 2. How long O Lord, how long wilt thou hide thy face from mee? for ever? And ſo, Iſa. 14.8. For a little moment I hid my face from thee— It was expedient for them that God did with-hold or hide his face, or the ſenſe of his Loving-kindneſs from them. Nay, Brethren, ſhall I ſay further, if it were poſſible for a Saint to enjoy or to ſee the face of God in Heaven, as the Angels and Saints do, yet as long as they are upon the Earth, it is expedient ſometimes for them to be deprived of that too. You know Moſes was in the Mount with God, but it was expedient for Moſes to come down from the Mount again, ſo long as he was clothed with fleſh; it was expedient for Moſes to come out from the immediate Preſence of God. And you know what Paul ſaith; That he was wrapt up into the third Heavens, and ſaw things unlawfull and impoſſible to utter, yet it was expedient for Paul that he ſhould be deprived of p. 39ſeeing and enjoying that Viſion till he came to lay down the body.

And thus now you have ſeen the firſt thing propounded. The Demonſtrations of this Truth by ſome particular Inſtances, That it is expedient ſometimes for the Saints and Servants of Chriſt to be deprived of thoſe Comforts that are neareſt and deareſt to them in the World; as Chriſt tells his Diſciples here, Nevertheleſs I tell you the Truth, it is expedient for you that I go away, that they ſhould be deprived of his perſonal Preſence.

I had intended to have gone on further, to have made it appear to you by the grounds of it. There are five or ſix Grounds whereby it doth certainly appear that it is moſt expedient ſometimes for the Servants of Chriſt to be deprived of their neareſt and deareſt Comforts they have in the World, and then to come to the third thing, but I would not willingly treſpaſſe, only remember this, every one of you here before the Lord, We do not know how ſoon any of us may be deprived of thoſe things that are looked upon as our neareſt and deareſt Comforts, when it comes to be our lot; remember what Chriſt ſaith, It is expedient for you that I go away, it is expedient for you to be deprived of this and the other Comfort, of your Eſtates, of your Accomodations, Liberty, and Ordinances; and though now you may enjoy Communion with God, yet it may be expedient for you to be deprived of it; remember that. And if any of you be deprived of your near Relations, as Children,— p. 40remember what Chriſt hath here ſpoken, It is expedient for you that I go away, it is expedient for you that the Lord hath taken away ſuch a Child, ſuch a Son, or ſuch a Daughter; though it be an only Child, yet it is expedient for you that it be taken away. But I would not proceed any further at preſent.

p. 41SERMON II.

John. 16.7 Nevertheleſs, I tell you the truth, 'tis expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come; but if I depart, I will ſend him unto you.

OUR Lord Jeſus Chriſt, as you heard, is now comforting his Diſciples againſt his departure. Chriſt had caſt out a word, that he was to go away from them, and the word went to their very hearts, Becauſe I have ſaid theſe things unto you, ſorrow hath filled your hearts. Now Chriſt goes about (as I ſaid) to comfort them againſt their ſorrow upon his departure from them, and he gives this as a ground of Comfort to them; namely, That it was expedient for them that he ſhould go away from them. Expedient! they thought it was impoſſible; How could that be? What? To loſe the Bodily preſence of Chriſt, to be deprived of that! Yes, ſaith he, I tell you the truth, It is expedient for you that I go away. Why? How can it be expedient? It is expedient, Becauſe, if I go not away, the Comforter will not come; but if I depart, I will ſend him unto you; I will ſee that he ſhall come unto you: Therefore, ſaith he, It is expedient that I go away.

p. 42Doct. The Point or Truth propounded from hence was this,

That it is expedient ſometimes for the Diſciples and Servants of Jeſus Chriſt that their neareſt and deareſt Comforts that they have in this World, ſhould go away from them.

Jeſus Chriſt his preſence was moſt dear and precious to the Diſciples; there was nothing in the World more dear and precious to them, they would have laid down their lives for him, not only Peter ſaid ſo, but ſo ſaid all the Diſciples; now yet Chriſt told them, it was expedient for them that he ſhould go away. I gave you the Demonſtrations of this Point the laſt time. I inſtanced in 7 or 8 things, wherein it was ſometimes expedient for the Saints and Servants of Chriſt to be deprived of their neareſt and deareſt Comforts in this Life, which I ſhall not now mention, becauſe I would finiſh this Point at this time.

II

I ſhall now proceed to the ſecond thing propounded, which, is to give the Grounds and Reaſons of it, Why it is expedient for the Saints and Servants of Chriſt thus to be deprived ſometimes of their neareſt and deareſt Comforts in this World; This is a hard ſaying, the Diſciples were hard to believe it, that it could be expedient for them that Chriſt ſhould go away from them. And ſo for a Soul to be deprived of the Light of Gods Countenance, that they cannot meet with God in p. 43holy Duties and Ordinances, theſe are hard things to believe, that they can be expedient for them. Now to give you ſome Reaſons, why it is expedient ſometimes for the Saints and Servants of Chriſt to be deprived of their neareſt and deareſt Comforts in this World.

1. Though they cannot think ſo, yet notwithſtanding, Becauſe their Heavenly Father knows it to be expedient for them. Their heavenly Father, who is infinitely wiſe and infinitely loving towards them, he knows that thoſe things are expedient for them in this Life: you that are Parents, you know what is more expedient for your Children than they do themſelves; Alas! if Children were left to their own judgments, they would judge thoſe things expedient for them that are not expedient; they would judge it were better for them, to take their own liberty, and to do their own Wills, and that it were more expedient for them to be playing, than to go to School; ſo they would judge it expedient for them never to be put out to Apprenticeſhip, to be Servants, to go from their Fathers houſe; they think it were better for them to be always at home, under their Parents wing: but you that are Parents know what is more expedient for your Children than they do themſelves; and when they come to grow up then they will be ready to ſay, That their Fathers did judge better for them than they could have judged for themſelves; then they will ſay, If I had been left to mine own Judgment what was expedient for me then, I had not had this bringing up and Education that I have; nay then they may think that it p. 44was expedient for them, that they were ſometimes under the Rod. Truly Brethren, the Lord our Heavenly Father is infinitely wiſe, and loving to all his Children, he knows what is expedient for them better than they do. Chriſt knew that his going away from his Diſciples, was more expedient for them, than they themſelves could judge of it: ſo our heavenly Father knows that ſometimes it is beſt for us to be deprived of our neareſt and deareſt Relations in the World; your Heavenly Father knows that you have need of theſe things, and he knows that ſometimes you have need to be deprived of them. That is the firſt.

2. It is expedient ſometimes for the Saints and Servants of Chriſt to be deprived of their neareſt and deareſt Comforts; Becauſe ſometimes the Lord takes away one Comfort, and gives them that in ſtead of it that is far better for them. Therefore as Chriſt ſaith in the Text, it is expedient for you that I go away: why how can that be? It is more expedient for you, for you ſhall have the Holy Ghoſt, the Holy Spirit, I will ſend the Comforter to you, and that is better for you. He would give them the preſence of his Spirit in ſtead of his own bodily preſence, and that was better for them. Sometimes the Lord takes away one Comfort, and gives another inſtead of it, that is moſt expedient for us; as it is ſaid, he removed the former Covenant, and that was done away, that ſo he might bring in a New Covenant in the ſtead of it, which was far better; the Old was done away, to make way for the New. God took away the child from David, that was begotten p. 45in Adultery, and gave him a Solomon; ſo God deales ſometimes with his Children, he takes away ſometimes their outward Eſtates in the World, to give them a larger, an heavenly and ſpiritual Eſtate, to give them more of the true Riches; he takes away their outward Liberty, that they may have more ſpiritual Enlargment: thus many times the Lord deals with his Diſciples and Servants, he takes away one mercy from them, which they think to be moſt expedient, and gives them another, which he knows to be more expedient for them. Therefore I remember Joſeph ſaid to his Brethren, when he ſent from Egypt to them to come from the Land of Canaan, ſaith he, Leave your Stuff behind you; you ſhall have that that is better for you than your Stuff, for all the good of the Land of Egypt is before you. Thus the Lord makes an exchange, if he calls us to leave one Comfort, he intends to beſtow a better Comfort upon us; thus it was with theſe Diſciples. But,

3. Sometimes the Lord takes away our neareſt and deareſt Comforts we have in the World in way of Correction and Chaſtiſement; to correct and chaſtiſe his people for their wantonneſs, for their forgetfulneſs of him, for their ſitting looſe from him, and living even as it were without God in the World, when the Lord ſees that his Children do make a bad uſe of their Comforts and Mercies; the Lord is pleaſed to take them away from them; juſt as you that are Parents deal by your Children; if you ſee they go about to cut their fingers with the knife, you take away the knife from them; if they do waſte and p. 46deſtroy their meat, you take away their meat from them; thus the Lord deals with his Children; he ſees his Children grow wanton, and careleſs, and forgetfull of God, then the Lord is pleaſed to take his Rod and correct them, by taking away their Comforts that are neareſt and deareſt to them. As now again for Parents, you ſee Parents when their Children grow forgetful of them, and do not mind what they ſay to them, and do not regard their Commands, then their Parents will be ready to take away from them that which they know to be neareſt and deareſt to them, by way of Correction. Thus the Lord is pleaſed to deal with his own Children, if he ſee they be perverſe and diſobedient, and careleſs, and rebellious, — It is juſt with the Lord then, in a way of correction and Chaſtiſemnet, to take thoſe mercies from them that he ſees to be moſt near and dear to them: and the Lord doth it out of mercy and love to his Children, in depriving them of outward mercies, to deprive them of Health, and Strength, and Eſtate, and ſometimes of their near Relations, by way of Chaſtiſement, leſt they ſhould be condemned with the world; they would run upon their own ruine elſe, if the Lord let them alone. The Apoſtle gives the reaſon, 1 Cor. 11.32. why ſo many were ſick, and weak, and fallen aſleep, ſaith he, When ye are judged, ye are chaſtened of the Lord, that ye might not be condemned with the World. And ſo the Lord is pleaſed to deal with his own Children and Servants, he deprives them of their neareſt and deareſt Comforts in the World, by way of Chaſtiſement and Correction; therefore ſometimes he hides his face p. 47from them, and many times takes his Ordinances from them, and if they do enjoy Ordinances, he with-holds his gracious preſence from them, that they ſhall not ſee his Face in this and that Duty and Ordinance; and this the Lord doth by way of Chaſtiſement.

4. The Lord doth ſometimes deprive his Children of their neareſt and deareſt Comforts in this World, Becauſe he will bring them thereby to be pliable to his own Will, and train them up in a courſe of Obedience to his own Will. Look now, as Parents that they may train up their Children to be obedient to them in every thing, to be at their beck, ſometimes they will take away from them that which is neareſt and deareſt to them; Give me that thing, and I muſt have ſuch a thing, will a wiſe Father ſay ſometimes to a Child, to train him up in a way of Submiſſion to his Fathers will. So the Lord deals with his own Children, when he ſees we have this or that Comfort which is near or dear to us. Now that God may train us up to his own Will, and that we may learn ſubjection to his Will, the Lord calls for this Comfort and that mercy, that is ſo dear to us, that Yoke-fellow, and that Child, or whoever it be that is near and dear to us; the Lord doth ſometimes call it from us, and take it away, that we may learn to be ſubmiſſive to his Will; as it is ſaid concerning Chriſt, Heb. 5.8. That Chriſt learned Obedience by his Sufferings, and truly ſo when Chriſt came to drink the Cup that his Father put into his hand, ſaith he, The Cup which my Father hath given me, ſhall I not drink it? He learned Obedience by his p. 48Sufferings; and ſo the Lord may teach his Children Obedience by training them up in this way, to take away their neareſt and deareſt Comforts from them that they may come to be at the Lords will and word in every thing. And thus the Lord trained up Abraham, ſaith God to Abraham, I muſt have you to go out of your own Country, to leave your Friends and Relations behind, to go into a ſtrange place, and Abraham did ſo; And then when the Lord had given him an only and a beloved Son, ſaith God to him, Come I muſt take that Son from you, go and Sacrifice him your ſelf to me; thus God trained up Abraham to his foot (as it were) which is the expreſſion of the Holy Ghoſt, Iſa. 41.2. Abraham was brought to the foot of God, to the beck of God. Thus God deals with his Children, he trains them up to be ſubmiſſive to his own will, to his ordering, for every thing, therefore God will ſometimes take away this Comfort and that Comfort, though never ſo near and dear to us. That is the fourth Reaſon.

5. The Lord doth ſometimes deprive his Children of their neareſt and deareſt Comforts, That they may learn to fear before him, that they may ſtand in awe of him, as it is ſaid Pſal. 55.19. Becauſe they are in no change, therefore they fear not God, they meet with no changes, they have their wills, and they enjoy their Comforts here in the World; and becauſe they have no changes, therefore they fear not God. And truly the Lords own people are apt to grow ſecure in time of Proſperity when they meet with few changes, they are apt to grow ſecure. It was p. 49Davids caſe, Pſal. 30.5, 6, I ſaid in my proſperity I ſhall never be moved. And ſo I remember Job hath ſuch an expreſſion, Chap. 29.18. I ſaid I ſhall dye in my Neſt—; His neſt was feathered round about him, he was comfortably ſupplyed with all manner of Neceſſaries and comforts in this Life, and ſaith he, I began to grow ſecure, I ſaid I ſhould dye in my Neſt; And therefore the Lord is pleaſed to bring Changes upon his People, to awake them out of their ſecurity, to cauſe them more to fear God, and to acknowledge their dependance upon God, to fear that God, that is able to bring great Changes upon them, to fear him that is able to take away their neareſt and deareſt Comforts. Thus the Lord deals with his Children, to train and nurture them up in his fear.

6. And Laſtly. The Lord does ſometimes deal thus with his own Children, to deprive them of their neareſt and deareſt Comforts that they have in this Life, That ſo he may make them to look more after a Heavenly Inheritance, that ſhall never be taken from them; where there ſhall be no Changes, where they ſhall be paſt all fear of ever being deprived of any comfort they ſhall enjoy. Therefore 'tis ſaid of the Patriarchs, Heb. 11.14, 16. 'Tis ſaid in the 13th Verſe, They confeſſed, That they were Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth, for they that ſay ſuch things, declare plainly That they ſeek a Country but now they deſire a better Country, which is, an Heavenly — They are Strangers and Pilgrims in the World, they meet with great Changes in the World, and therefore ſay they, We are Strangers and Pilgrims; we are going to a Country p. 50where there ſhall be no change. So Heb. 10.34. The Apoſtle ſpeaks of thoſe that were exerciſed with changes, that they had their Eſtates taken away, and were plundred of all that they had, they made nothing of that; becauſe they had an eye to the recompence of reward, the inheritance of Heaven, and that made them look for a heavenly Country, becauſe then they ſhould be paſt all changes, there ſhould be no plundering there, no deprivation of any Comfort that they there ſhall enjoy, that is an Inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled, that fadeth not away; there ſhall be no changes throughout all Eternity. And thus now you have ſeen the Reaſons and Grounds of the Point, That it is expedient ſometimes for the Saints and Diſciples of Chriſt to be deprived of their neareſt and deareſt Comforts that they do enjoy in this World.

III.

1. But to come to the Third thing propounded, and that is, to ſhew, That the Enjoyment of the Comforter, the preſence of the Spirit is more expedient for the Saints and Diſciples of Chriſt, than to enjoy the bodily Preſence of Chriſt himſelf. For ſo Chriſt intimates here to his Diſciples, ſaith he, It is expedient for you that I go away, that you be deprived of my bodily Preſence, for then you ſhall have the Comforter, the Spirit; if I go not away the Comforter will not come; therefore it is more expedient for them to have the Preſence of the Spirit, than to enjoy the bodily Preſence of Chriſt.

Truly Brethren, as long as Chriſt was with p. 51them in the fleſh, they could not expect to have ſuch a communication of the Spirit, as they ſhould have when Chriſt was taken from them. When Chriſt was taken from them, when he aſcended up to Heaven, then the Spirit was to be given down; And that is given by the Holy Ghoſt, John 7.37, 38, 39. as a Reaſon, why the Spirit was not yet given to them: They had ſome drops of the Spirit, They had not the pouring out of the Spirit, becauſe, ſaith he, Verſe 39. Jeſus was not yet glorified; he had ſaid, verſe 38. That, he that believeth on me, out of his belly ſhall flow Rivers of living Water; but this he ſpake of the Spirit, which they that believe on him ſhould receive, for the Holy Ghoſt was not yet given, becauſe that Jeſus was not yet glorified. No, they could not expect the pourings out of the Spirit, till Jeſus Chriſt had left the World, and was gone into Heaven. For Brethren, when Jeſus Chriſt aſcended up to Heaven, then the Father made him welcome, and ſat him down at his own right hand in glory, he gave him the higheſt place of Dignity in Heaven, all power in Heaven and Earth was put into his Hands, and he gave him the Donation or Giving out of the Spirit, the giving out of the gifts of the Spirit; For ſaith the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 68.18. When he aſcended up on high, then he received the Spirit, and the gifts of the Spirit to be given out to his people; This is the Reward that God the Father gave to Chriſt, after his great labour and ſuffering in the World, aſſoon as ever he came into Heaven: God exalted him with this Exaltation, and then he gave him the fulneſs of the Spirit, to give out when he would, p. 52therefore aſſoon as Chriſt aſcended up to Heaven, preſently after there was an abundant pouring out of the Spirit, Acts 2. You know the Holy Ghoſt fell down upon the Diſciples like fiery cloven tongues, and then they ſpake with tongues, they were able to ſpeak in every mans Language; and then you ſee the Apoſtle Peter made a Speech to them that heard it, and wondred at it, Verſe 33. and ſaith he, This is the Fruit and Effect of Chriſts Aſcenſion into Heaven. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father, the Promiſe of the Holy Ghoſt, he hath ſhed forth this, which you now ſee and hear. Chriſt leaving the World, and being exalted in Heaven, he had this power to give out the Spirit, and ſaith he, this is the Fruit of it, He hath ſhed forth this, which you now ſee and hear; Therefore if Chriſt had not left the Diſcipies, then the Diſciples, and Servants, and Apoſtles of Jeſus Chriſt, had been deſtitute of the pourings out of the Spirit upon them. It is true indeed, it cannot be denyed but the enjoyment of Chriſts bodily preſence, was a moſt deſirable thing, very deſirable to enjoy the bodily preſence of Jeſus Chriſt, to ſee God in our fleſh. I remember Job did rejoyce in it, in the hopes of it, many hundreds and ſome thouſands of yeares beforehand, in the midſt of his great Troubles and Afflictions, Chap. 19.25, 26, 27. ſaith he, I know that my Redeemer liveth, and with theſe eyes I ſhall ſee him; And this was matter of Comfort to him many hundreds of years before hand, in the midſt of thoſe Sufferings and Troubles he met p. 53withall, that he ſhould ſee his Redeemer with his Eyes in the fleſh. And Brethren, the ſight of Chriſt in the fleſh, it is a ſight that is matter of Admiration to the very Angels in Heaven; God manifeſt in the fleſh, ſeen of Angels, it was to the Admiration of Angels, worth their looking upon, 1 Timothy 3.16. Great is the Myſtery of Godlineſs, God manifeſt in the Fleſh, juſtified in the Spirit, ſeen of Angels; it was a great ſight to the glorious Angels, they deſired to pry into that great Myſtery; and it was one of holy Auſtines wiſhes, he wiſhed the ſight of three things in this World, and this was the chiefeſt of all; he did deſire to ſee Rome in its glory; Paul in the Pulpit, and Chriſt in the fleſh. And Brethren, the ſight and enjoyment of the Preſence of Chriſt in our Nature will be one of the happy ſights in Heaven, it will be a great part of the glory and happineſs of the Saints in Heaven to ſee Jeſus Chriſt, therefore ſaith Chriſt, Father, I will that thoſe whom thou haſt given mee, may be with me, where I am, that they may behold my glory, John 17.24. So the Apoſtle John, 1. Epiſt. 3.2. When he ſhall appear, we ſhall be like him, for we ſhall ſee him as he is. I tell you it is a deſirable thing to ſee Jeſus Chriſt in the Fleſh, and yet this I may ſay, that it is poſſible for men and women to ſee Chriſt in the fleſh, and yet be never the better for it. You know when Jeſus Chriſt was in the World, the Jewes ſaw him, and were near unto him, and yet were never the better for him; We read that when Chriſt was ſent by Pilate to Herod, Herod rejoyced to ſee him, but he was never the better for that ſight; for he p. 54derided him, and mocked him, and ſent him away. You know Judas had a full Sight of Chriſt, he lived many years in the family with Chriſt, yet Judas was never the better for ſeeing and beholding the bodily preſence of Chriſt. The Reprobates, the wicked of the World, at the laſt day ſhall ſee Chriſt in his higheſt glory, but ſhall be never a whit the better. I remember 'tis ſaid, Mat. 14.30. That all the Tribes of the Earth ſhall ſee him, and mourn; they ſhall behold him in his glory, and yet mourn. What ſhall we ſay then? You ſee we may behold Jeſus Chriſt in the Fleſh, and yet be never the better, but now to enjoy the preſence of the Spirit here in this life, a Soul cannot enjoy that, but he ſhall be the better for it. It is true indeed, in Heaven, there the Saints ſhall enjoy the preſence of Chriſt, and the fulneſs of the Spirit too, but here in this life for the Saints to enjoy the preſence of the Spirit, it is more expedient for them, more profitable, more advantagious for them, than to enjoy the very perſonal preſence of Chriſt.

Now to give you a few Reaſons for it, to ſhew you wherein it is more profitable, more expedient to have the preſence of the Spirit, than to enjoy the very bodily preſence of Chriſt.

1. In regard that By enjoying the preſence of the Spirit they may have more reall Comfort than they could have by the enjoyment of the perſonal preſence of Chriſt. You ſhall ſee the Diſciples themſelves all the time that they did enjoy the perſonal preſence of Chriſt in the World, they had not that meaſure of joy and rejoycing as they had afterward, they had not that meaſure of Comfort p. 55and Conſolation all the time that Chriſt lived in the Earth, and converſed with them, as they had after Chriſt was taken away from them; then they had more real joy. Alas! before they were ſubject to griefs and troubles at every turn, when they came into danger then they were affrighted and troubled, when they were in a ſtorm at Sea, and were ready to ſink they cryed out and were afraid; but now after Chriſt was gone and aſcended, and the Spirit fell down upon them, you ſhall ſee then how full of joy and comfort and conſolation they were, and ſo Chriſt tells them before in this very Chapter, verſe 21. A Woman when ſhe is in travel hath ſorrow, becauſe her Hour is come, but aſſoon as ſhe is delivered ſhe rejoyceth: So it ſhall be with you, ſaith Chriſt; whileſt I am with you, you cannot have ſuch joy, and when you hear of my departure, ſorrow filleth your hearts, but when I am taken from you, and the Comforter is come, then you ſhall rejoyce; and therefore obſerve, when Chriſt ſpeaks of ſending the Spirit inſtead of his own bodily preſence, he expreſſeth it under the Notion of the Comforter, When the Comforter ſhall come: O then they ſhall have ſuch comforts, and conſolation, and joy, that they never had before; and ſo, John 14.16. I will pray the Father, and he ſhall give you another Comforter; and ſo, verſe 26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghoſt, whom the Father will ſend in my Name—. So Chap. 15.26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will ſend unto you from the Father—. Still when Chriſt ſpeaks of ſending the Spirit, he ſpeaks of ſending him under the Notion of a Comforter, which is to imply, that they ſhall p. 56have more true matter of Comfort, of joy and rejoycing, than ever they had before by his bodily preſence, and therefore ſaith the Apoſtle Paul, As our Tribulations abound for Chriſt, ſo our Conſolations alſo do ſuper-abound, and ſaith the Apoſtle again, Rom. 5.3. We glory in Tribulations, which is an high expreſſion. Before, upon every occaſion, they were afraid when they came into danger, but now, ſaith the Apoſtle, We glory in Tribulations, we joy and rejoyce in the higheſt degree of rejoycing. The Apoſtles, whileſt Chriſt lived, never had that fulneſs of Spiritual joy and conſolation as they had after Chriſt was gone, and the Spirit was ſent down from Heaven, and therefore that is one Reſpect why it is better to enjoy the preſence of the Spirit than the perſonal Preſence of Chriſt.

2. By having the Spirit, the Comforter, ſent down to them, thereby they come to have more Boldneſs and ſpiritual Courage than they had before. Alas! before how ready were they to be affrighted and ſcared at every turn, whileſt they had the preſence of Chriſt; you ſee how they were affrighted when Chriſt was apprehended, they all forſook him and fled; and when Peter would needs peep into the Judgment Hall, you ſee how he was diſmayed and afraid when a Maid ſpoke to him, and told him Thou art one of his Companions, and he denyed it and ſwore he never knew him, ſo timorous and fearful he was; but afterwards, he grew bold and couragious when the Spirit did deſcend upon him; ſee the Courage of Peter and the Apoſtles, Acts, 4. when they came before the Judgment Seat, Verſe. 8. And when they had p. 57ſet them in the midſt, they asked, By what power, or by what Name have you done this? then Peter filled with the Holy Ghoſt, ſaid unto them, Verſe 10. Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Iſrael, that by the Name of Jeſus Chriſt of Nazareth whom ye crucified, whom God raiſed from the dead, even by him doth this man ſtand here before you whole. This was a Spirit of Boldneſs. And Verſe 13. When they ſaw the Boldneſs of Peter and John — Now they had more Spiritual Boldneſs, Courage and Audacity than they had before, now the Spirit was poured down upon them. And Verſe 19. when they commanded them to ſpeak no more in the Name of Jeſus, Then Peter and John ſaid unto them, Whether it be right in the ſight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto God, judge ye: for we cannot but ſpeak the things which we have ſeen and heard. Thus by the plentiful effuſion of the Spirit they grew more ſpiritually bold.

3. When they were deprived of Chriſts perſonal preſence, then being indued with the Spirit, They had more Chriſtian ſtrength and power given to them than they had before, to act and do for Chriſt; Therefore then they were ſaid to be endued with power from on high, Luke 24.49. When Chriſt was about to aſcend up to Heaven he told them they ſhould be endued with Power from on high; Ay, the Spirit is a Spirit of power, 2 Tim. 1.7. God hath given to us not the Spirit of Fear, but of power, of love, and of a ſound mind; The Spirit of Power. When the Spirit falls down upon a perſon 'tis a Spirit of Power, that they ſhall be able to do and ſuffer for the Name of Chriſt very great things: they are now endued with power from p. 58above. Now Chriſt was gone and the Spirit come, therefore you ſee how they did act. They went up and down, and could preach every day from place to place, they travelled up and down to preach the Goſpel; and you ſhall ſee what great works they did, as great works as Chriſt himſelf did do when he was upon Earth, they raiſed up Tabitha from the dead, Acts 9. And it is ſaid, Acts 19. that the very ſhadow of Peter, and the Apoſtles paſſing by cured them that were ſick. We do not read of ſuch miracles when Chriſt was upon Earth; great power they had then; ſee what power Paul had to go through Sufferings, 2. Cor. 11.23, 24, 25. How he ſuffered abundantly, and ſaith he, I know that tribulations and ſufferings abide for me in every place, but none of theſe things move me, he was indued with power from on high: now ſaith he, I am able to do all things through Chriſt that ſtrengtheneth me, Philip. 4.13.

4. By having the Preſence of the Spirit with them after they were deprived of the bodily preſence of Chriſt, Then they had a more powerful gift and Spirit of prayer. Never ſuch a Spirit of Prayer all the time that Chriſt lived with them, then the Spirit of Prayer was poured down upon them, as it was propheſied, Zech. 12.10. I will pour out upon the houſe of Judah the Spirit of Grace and Supplication; now they were able to pray, to pour out their Souls abundantly to God in prayer: before, all the time that Chriſt was amongſt them, they were poor ſhallow weak Creatures, not able to pray, and therefore they came to Chriſt, Luke 11.2. Lord teach us to pray as John taught his Diſciples, they had not the Spirit of prayer then, p. 59in compariſon with what they had afterwards, therefore Chriſt was fain to dictate words to them as you do to your little Children, to ſay word after word after you; thus they came to Chriſt, Lord teach us to pray: but afterward when Chriſt was aſcended and left them, and the Spirit poured out upon them, then they were able to pour out their prayers upon every occaſion; although 'tis true, as Paul ſaith, Rom. 8. We know not how to pray as we ought, that is, we our ſelves left to our ſelves, but the Spirit within us helps our infirmities with ſighs and groans that cannot be uttered. The Apoſtles prayed ſo ſtrongly that they ſhook the very room where they were praying, Acts 4, 23. And being let go they went to their own Company, and reported all that the Chief Prieſts and Elders ſaid unto them, and when they heard that, they lift their voice to God with one accord, and mark Verſe 31. And when they had prayed, the place was ſhaken where they were aſſembled together. So Paul and Silas, Acts 16. 'tis ſaid, They prayed at Midnight and praiſed God, and the very foundation of the Priſon was ſhaken by their very Prayers; There was a mighty powerfull Spirit of Prayer that fell down upon them when Chriſt was gone from them: therefore in that reſpect alſo the preſence of the Spirit is more expedient for them than to enjoy the bodily preſence of Chriſt. And let me add one thing more.

5. It was more expedient for them to have the preſence of the Spirit, than to have the bodily preſence of Chriſt, becauſe by Enjoying the preſence of the Comforter, hereby they had more aſſiſtance and more powerfull ſucceſs in their work and labour p. 60in their Miniſtry, than ever they had before all the time they had the preſence of Chriſt; I ſay, Their Miniſtry was more powerful and effectual than ever it was before. 'Tis true, they went up and down and preached ſome particular times, but we do not read of any great matter was done, that many were converted by their Miniſtry all the time they lived with Chriſt; but now when Chriſt was gone, and the Spirit fell down upon them, Immediately you ſhall ſee, Acts 2. When Peter preached one Sermon, more were converted at that Sermon, than there was by all the Apoſtles preaching, that we read of, all the time they lived with Chriſt upon Earth, there were Three thouſand brought in at one Sermon. And afterwards, Chap. 20.21. 'Tis ſaid, There were many thouſand Believers brought in by the Miniſtry of the Apoſtles, becauſe the Spirit did aſſiſt them; There was a mighty effuſion of the Spirit, and a great ſucceſs upon their Labours and Endeavours. And ſo Chriſt here in the Text, to comfort his Diſciples about his departure, ſaith he, Nevertheleſs, I tell you the Truth, it is expedient for you that I go away. What then? Saith he, I will ſend the Comforter, and you ſhall find marvellous ſucceſs by the preſence of the Spirit in your Miniſtry; When he is come, He ſhall convince the World of Sin, of Righteouſneſs, and of Judgment.

By enjoying the preſence of the Spirit with them, they had mighty ſucceſs in their Miniſtry, in their Labours and Endeavours in the Work that Chriſt had called them to. Therefore, I ſay in theſe reſpects, it was more expedient for them to have the preſence of the Spirit, than Chriſt's Bodily p. 61preſence amongſt them. And thus now I have finiſhed this Point, as to the Explication, Proof and clearing of it. Now briefly to ſpeak ſomething by way of Application, and ſo to wind up all in three or four words.

Application 1. Then hence we are to be admoniſhed and warned to take heed, That our Hearts and Affections be not inordinately ſet upon any Creature-Comfort, though never ſo near and dear unto us: Becauſe they muſt be taken away from us, or we from them. If we had the Bodily preſence of Chriſt amongſt us, we are not to ſet our hearts inordinately upon him, meerly for his Bodily preſence, ſo as to have our Hearts, as it were, rent or torn aſunder for the want of his bodily preſence: So whatever Creature-Comfort we enjoy in this World, take heed that our Hearts and Affections be not inordinately ſet upon them, becauſe there will come a time when we muſt part, they muſt go from us, or we muſt go from them; as Chriſt told his Diſciples here, it is expedient for you that I go away: and this was that that did fill their hearts ſo with Sorrow, becauſe they were ſo inordinately ſet upon his bodily preſence. There are no Creature-Comforts that we can enjoy in this World but we muſt be taken from them, therefore it ſhould be our Wiſdom to have our hearts and affections ſet looſe from them: becauſe the cloſer we are glued to any Creature-Comfort, the greater rending and tearing there will be when we come to be deprived of it. Truth is, our hearts and affections are apt to cleave too cloſe to creature-comforts, as outward Relations, Husbands or Wives, Parents or Children, our hearts are apt to p. 62be glued too cloſe to them, to be inordinately ſet upon them; and therefore hence it comes to paſſe that it is ſo grievous to us to part with them, and that we are ſo inordinate in our ſorrow and grief, when the Lord ſaith, it is expedient for you that I take this or that Comfort from you: and therefore we ſhould do well to follow the Apoſtles Counſel and Admonition which he gives us, 1 Cor. 7.29, 30, 31. To uſe the World, as if we uſed it not, to enjoy as if we enjoyed not, to poſſeſſe as if we poſſeſſed not: for the faſhion of this World paſſeth away. It paſſeth away from us, and therefore let us take heed that our hearts and affections be not inordinately ſet upon any creature-comfort. Brethren, if we ſet our hearts upon any thing, let us ſet them upon thoſe things that ſhall never go away from us, and look after theſe things that ſhall abide with us, as to look after Union with Chriſt by faith, which ſhall never go away from us. To look after the pardon of ſin, and peace with God, reconciliation to God through the blood of Chriſt, which ſhall never go away from us, neither ſhall we go from them; therefore now let it be our care and buſineſs to chuſe the better part that ſhall never be taken away from us, chuſe Maries part, endeavour after the Communications of the Spirit, the Comforter, the Holy Ghoſt which ſhall abide with you for ever; but I ſay take heed that your hearts and affections be not inordinately ſet upon any creature-comfort, for then your ſorrow and grief will be the greater upon your parting with them, and it is expedient for you to part, either you from them or they from you, and you know not how ſoon. That is the firſt.

p. 632. Then, Hence we may ſee our great folly, in mourning and grieving immoderately for the parting from, or loſing and being deprived of, any Creature-Comfort, or Outward-Enjoyment. Here is our folly; Becauſe, poſſibly we mourn and grieve for that which is moſt expedient for us: And, Is not that folly? Though we do not know ſo much, yet the parting with this or that Relation, with this or that Child, or with all our Children, with this Husband, or that Wife, it may be moſt expedient for us. I ſay therefore, Take heed of grieving immoderately, or inordinately for it, becauſe it may be our great folly; it may be more expedient for us that they go away, than that they ſtay with us. And truly now it may be we grieve inordinately for the loſs of our Children, or ſuch a Child; We do not know what they might have proved if the Lord had lengthened out their lives to us, they might have proved the greateſt vexations that ever we met with in the World, though now it may be we cannot think ſo. We do not know how expedient it is; it may be more expedient for us that they go away; Therefore mourn not inordinately, but ſubmit to the holy Will of God, that knows what is more expedient for us, than we do our ſelves.

And ſo for our Eſtates; the Lord takes away our Eſtates from us, our Livelihood in the World, and brings us into a poor and low Eſtate and Condition; Well, do not mourn inordinately for the loſs of it; for it may be the more expedient for you to be deprived of your Eſtates, than to have them continued unto you; poſſibly you would have grown more carnal, p. 64more ſinfull, more profane, inſolent, vain, ſcornfull, more laſcivious, wanton and looſe; and ſo you might have run upon your own ruine and deſtruction if the Lord had left you to enjoy what you would have. Saith Solomon, Pro. 1.32. The proſperity of the wicked ſhall deſtroy him. The Lord doth ſometimes leave ſome to a proſperous eſtate, and it may be a means of their utter undoing. Therefore it may be more expedient for you that they go away; therefore let us not be inordinate in our grief and ſorrow for the loſs of any Creature-Comfort.

3. Then, Hereby we may ſee the fooliſhneſs and vanity of theſe apprehenſions that do ſometimes come into our mindes. O we are ready to think ſometimes, if we had lived when Chriſt was here in the fleſh, when Chriſt's bodily preſence was in the world, or if we could now ſee and enjoy the bodily preſence of Chriſt; O, we ſhould go to him upon all occaſions; O then we could go and worſhip him, and reverence him, and honour him, and adore him, and admire him. I tell you theſe are vain fancies and imaginations, for the injoyment of the preſence of the Spirit is more advantagious to us than the enjoyment of the bodily preſence of Chriſt could be, and if Chriſt were now in the world in our dayes, as he was before, it may be we could not tell how we might come to ſpeak to him, and ſee him, he might be at one end of the world, and we at the other; but now we have this advantage, we may go to Chriſt in any part of the World, and enjoy Communion with Chriſt, and ſpeak to Chriſt in Prayer in any place, and we may worſhip, reverence, honour and p. 65love Jeſus Chriſt, now he is in Heaven and Glory. It is ſaid of the Diſciples, Luke 24.51, 52. They returned to Jeruſalem with great joy, and were continually in the Temple, praiſing and bleſſing God.

I tell you we may worſhip, and reverence and honour Jeſus Chriſt, now he is in Heaven, as much as we could have done if he were bodily preſent with us. It is therefore a vain imagination to think, O if Chriſt were now preſent, what worſhip we would now give him, how we would adore him, and acquaint him with our Neceſſities at every turn. You may have as much acceſs to him now, as if he were in the World, and you may have more of the Spirit given to you now than you ſhould have then. And let me add this by the way, not to let your mindes go too much out about the perſonal preſence of Chriſt here on earth; I do not ſpeak to condemn that opinion That Chriſt ſhall perſonally reign upon Earth a thouſand years, which is the opinion of many godly and learned Men, and I would not ſpeak contradictorily to it, though for my own part I conceive Chriſt ſhall have a glorious Church upon Earth, and Reign upon Earth a thouſand Years too; Yet I muſt needs ſay, I do not apprehend as to his Bodily preſence. 'Tis true, indeed, Jeſus Chriſt ſhall come from Heaven at the day of Judgement, and appear perſonally in the Clouds; and if you obſerve it, you ſhall find when the holy Ghoſt, in Scripture, ſpeaks about the appearing of Chriſt, you ſhall find he ſpeaks of that appearing that ſhall be at the Day of Judgment: As, 1 Tim. 6.14. Saith the Apoſtle there, I charge you that you keep this Commandment without ſpot, p. 66untill the appearing of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Now what appearing is this? or when ſhall Chriſt appear? look 2 Epiſtle 4.1. I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who ſhall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing, and his Kingdom. When he ſhall come to Judgment, then he ſhall appear perſonally.

Objection.

But you will ſay, May he not appear for all that before in this World? and may he not come in his own perſon and live in the World before that?

Anſwer.

Truly, Brethren, I have no warrant for that, but rather to the contrary; for the Apoſtle ſaith, Heb. 9.28. ſpeaking of Chriſts coming to Judgment, To them that look for him ſhall he appear the ſecond time — So that his appearing to judge the World ſhall be his ſecond appearing, to you that look for him ſhall he appear the ſecond time. Now, when he was incarnate in the fleſh, then he appeared the firſt time, but he ſhall appear the ſecond time, that is, when he comes to judg the World: therefore, I ſay, I have no warrant for Chriſts being perſonally on Earth before the day of Judgment; only 'tis true, there ſhal be a glorious appearance of the power of the Spirit, & there ſhall be a glorious Church upon Earth a thouſand years, that I do believe; but for the perſonal appearance of Chriſt and his living perſonally in the World, I confeſs I have not ſuch grounds for that. But I p. 67would not trouble your heads about theſe things, neither would I have you trouble your Fancies much about them, but look after the enjoyment of the ſpiritual preſence of Chriſt, that will be more advantagious and expedient for you than the very perſonal preſence of Chriſt. That is the third word of Application. I have but one word more and that is this.

4. From hence now we may have a ſtrong Antidote and Cordial againſt all our ſorrows, griefs and troubles in parting with any creature-comfort, though it be our neareſt and deareſt comforts in this World. Know this, for your comfort and ſupport under all, that it is moſt expedient for you; this is the very cordial and ſupport and antidote, that Jeſus Chriſt himſelf preſcribed to his own Diſciples againſt their immoderate ſorrow; becauſe I have ſaid theſe things (ſaith he) ſorrow hath filled your hearts, in the Verſe before the Text, and now he comes to give them a cordial and andidote againſt it in the Text, Nevertheleſs, I tell you the Truth, it is expedient for you that I go away, Not for me only: It was expedient indeed for Chriſt himſelf to go away, that he might be advanced at the right hand of God, that he might be indued with the Spirit, and have all fulneſs of gifts to give out, it was expedient for him, but (ſaith he) I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you, and this he gives them as a cordial and antidote againſt their ſorrow, it is expedient for you that I go away; but they could not tell how to believe it, that it ſhould be expedient for them that he ſhould go away, therefore ſaith Chriſt, Nevertheleſs, I tell you the truth; it is expedient for p. 68you that I go away. Truly, Brethren, this is the very Cordial that Chriſt himſelf gave againſt immoderate ſorrow and grief of mind in parting with any creature-comfort in this World: remember, 'tis expedient for you, if the Lord call us to part with any thing that is near and dear to us, near and dear Yoke-Fellows, Husband or Wife, or an only Son, well, here is the Cordial and Antidote that Chriſt gave, know, ſaith he, That it is expedient for you that this near Comfort go away from you, it is for your advantage, profit, and benefit.

Brethren, I pray let me ask you this Queſtion, Do you think that any creature comfort that you enjoy in this World can be nearer and dearer to you than the perſonal preſence of Chriſt was to the Diſciples? Yet ſaith Chriſt, It is expedient for you that I go away; truly ſo I may ſay as to every Comfort that God takes from us, It is expedient for us that this comfort be taken from us. It may be you cannot ſee it now, but you may ſee it afterward, it is that which your heavenly Father knows to be expedient for you, and he is wiſer than we. This may be a Cordial and Antidote both for the time paſt, and for the time preſent and to come: the time paſt, when we call to remembrance, O the comfort that ſometimes we had, the comfortable enjoyment of ſuch a Relation, ſuch a Husband, or ſuch a Wife, or ſuch a Child, our hearts are ready to bleed afreſh at the remembrance of it. Now here is a Cordial and Antidote that Chriſt himſelf preſcribes, I tell you the truth, ſaith Chriſt, It is expedient for you. O I cannot tell how to think it can be expedient for p. 69me to loſe ſuch a Husband, ſuch a Wife, ſuch a Child; yea, ſaith Chriſt, I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that ſuch a comfort be taken away from you. So for the time preſent, if God take away a near Relation, or Wife, or ſuch a Child, remember that Chriſt hath ſaid, it is expedient for you that this Child ſhould go, that this Comfort, that this Relation ſhould go away from you.

And Brethren, if we do believe that it is expedient for us, why then ſhould we be exceſſive in our grief and ſorrow? I pray tell me, if a Phyſician come unto you, and by reaſon of your diſtemper preſcribe you ſome bitter Pill, or bitter Potion to take, or a ſtrong vomit, or he preſcribe a great deal of blood to be taken from you, theſe things are ſomewhat hard, but he tells you it is expedient for you, and you will yield to it, you will take the Vomit or Purge though never ſo grievous to you, you will take the Pill though never ſo bitter to you, and if he will draw ſo much blood from you, let him take it. So the Lord is pleaſed to deal as a wiſe Phyſician, he preſcribes ſometimes a bitter Pill for us to ſwallow down, O to loſe ſuch a Yoke-Fellow, or ſuch a Child, this is a ſtrong vomit, a bitter purge, this is like the drawing of a mans blood from his heart: but our heavenly Father knows what is moſt expedient for us, I tell you the Truth, ſaith Chriſt, it is expedient for you that I go away; it is expedient for you that I take ſo much blood from you, that I put you upon the ſwallowing of this bitter pill. And remember, and lay up this Antidote againſt a time of need, we know not how ſuddenly any of us p. 70here before the Lord may be called to part with our neareſt and deareſt Comforts, we know not how the Lord may deal with us: well, remember this Antidote, and lay it up for the time to come, remember and ſay, Well, it is expedient for me, that this and that Comfort be taken away from me; and you have heard the Reaſons. O remember theſe words of our Lord Jeſus, which he ſpake to his Diſciples to comfort them againſt their griefs and ſorrow for being deprived of the greateſt comfort they had in this World. Nevertheleſs, I tell you the Truth; it is expedient for you that I go away.