Looking Unto Jesus, Book 5 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
SECT. I. Of the third year of Chriſts Miniſtry, and generally of his Actings in that year.
HItherto all was quiet; neither the Jews, nor the Samaritans, nor Galileans did as yet malign the Doctrine or Perſon of Jeſus Chriſt; but he preached with much peace on all hands till the beginning of this year. I ſhall not yet ſpeak his ſufferings; neither ſhall I ſpeak much of his doings: many things were done and ſpoken this year, which I muſt paſs, leaſt I be too prolix; only ſuch things as refer more principally to the main buſineſs of our ſouls Salvation, I ſhall touch in theſe particulars. As, 1. In the Ordination of the Apoſtles. 2. In his Reception of Sinners. 3. In the eaſineſs of his yoak, and the lightneſs of his burthen which he impoſeth on men.
SECT. II. Of Chriſts Ordination of his Apoſtles.
1. IN the Ordination of his Apoſtles, are many conſiderable things, the Evangeliſt Luke layes it down thus.Luke 6.12, 13. And it came to paſs in thoſe dayes that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God; and when it was day he called unto him his Diſciples, and of them he Choſe Twelve, whom alſo he named Apoſtles. Till now Chriſt taught alone, but becauſe after his Aſcenſion he muſt needs have a Miniſtry till the end of the world, in the firſt place he choſeth out ſome whom he would have on purpoſe to wait upon him all the time of his Miniſtry, till he was taken up into Heaven In this Election, or Ordination, here is firſt the perſon by whom they are Choſen, Jeſus Chriſt. 2. The place were they are choſen, viz. in a mountain. 3. The time when they were Choſen, after his watching and praying all night, and when it was day. 4. The company out of whom they were Choſen, they where his Diſciples, and out of them he makes this Election. 5. The number of them that were Choſen, they were Twelve, nor more, nor leſs. 6. The end to which they were choſen, it was to an Apoſtleſhip, he Choſe Twelve, whom he alſo named Apoſtles.
1. The perſon by whom they are Choſen is Jeſus Chriſt. They Choſe not themſelves, but were choſen of Chriſt; this call was immediate, and therefore moſt excellent; but now we look not after ſuch calls, and therefore I ſhall not inſiſt on that; only by the way, Miniſters of the Goſpel muſt be Miniſters of Chriſt, either immediately, or mediately called.
2. The place where they were choſen, it was on a mountain; mountainous places have their ſituation neareſt to Heaven; which ſhews that they were called to high and heavenly things: mountains are open and in view, which ſhews their Miniſtry muſt be publick; they cannot lye hid in a mountain, a City that is ſet upon a hill is expoſed to the view of all: Again, mountains are ſubject to Winds and Tempeſts, which ſhew their Callings muſt meet with many oppoſitions; and this occaſioned Chriſt to hold up their hearts with Cordials,Mat. 5.11, 12. Bleſſed are ye when men ſhall revile you, and perſecute you, and ſay all manner of evil againſt you falſly for my ſake—for ſo perſecuted they the Prophets which were before you. The Miniſters of Chriſt are ſure of oppoſition, the Diſciple is not above his Maſter, nor the ſervant above his Lord; if they have called the Maſter of the houſe Beelzebub, how much mo… ſhall they call them of his houſhold?
3. The time when they wer… choſen, when it was, and after he had continued all night in prayer to God; he goes not to Election, but firſt he watches, and prayes all the night before; this ſhews the ſingular care that Chriſt had in this great employment: what? to ſet men apart to witneſs his Name, and to publiſh to the world the Goſpel of Chriſt? this he would not do without much prayer.Matth. 14.23. Sometimes we find Chriſt praying alone, as elſewhere,Matth. 6.6. He went up into a mountain apart to pray; and here on this mountain without any of his Diſciples, or Domeſticks about him, he prayes alone; thus, When thou prayeſt enter into thy cloſet (ſaith Chriſt) and when thou haſt ſhut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in ſecret, and thy Father which ſeeth in ſecret ſhall reward thee openly. Sometimes we find Chriſt praying at night: In the daytime he was teaching in the Temple, Luke 21.37and at night he went out and abode in the Mount, that is called the mount of Olives: See Chriſt in the exerciſe of his double Office, he preacheth all day, and prayes all night; this Text tells us, He continued all night in prayer. Night prayers have their ſpecial, ſpiritual advantages. 1. It is a time fitter for compunction, and heart-contrition.Pſal. 6.6. All the night make I my bed to ſwim, I water my Couch with my Tears. As ſome things are by heat parched in the day, but cooled in the night; ſo many ſins contracted in the day, are ſeaſonably repented at night; night tears are as ſweet dews that cool the heat and pride of our ſpirits. 2. It is a time of ſilence and free from diſtraction; then all Tumults ceaſe, and in the ſecret of our ſouls we may ſilently go and ſpeak with our heavenly Father. In this reſpect we have a bleſſed example of Chriſt praying at night, and eſpecially now; O he was about the great work of ſending his Miniſters through all the world, and therefore now he ſpends all the night long in prayer to his Father; A great and extraordinary work is not to be ſet upon, without extraordinary prayer.
4. The company out of whom they are choſen, He called unto him his diſciples, and out of them he choſe twelve: A Diſciple of Chriſt is one thing, and an Apoſtle of Chriſt is another thing; thoſe were Chriſts Diſciples that embraced Chriſts Doctrine of Faith and Repentance; it was not material to the conſtituting of a Diſciple of Chriſt, whether they followed Chriſt as many did, or they returned to their own homes, as ſome others did. The man out of whom the Legions of devils was caſt,Luke 8.38, 39. beſought Chriſt that he might be with him, but Jeſus ſent him away, ſaying, return to thine own houſe, and ſhew how great things God hath done to thee. I make no queſtion but Chriſt at the Election of his Apoſtles had many Diſciples both waiting on him, and abſent from him; and out of them that waited on him his Apoſtles were choſen, Chriſts Miniſters ſhould be firſt Diſciples. O how unfit are any to take upon them the Miniſtry of Chriſt that were never yet the Diſciples of Chriſt? firſt the grace of God within us, and then muſt that grace of God be diſcovered by us.
5. The number of them that were choſen; they were Twelve: very propable it is that there was ſome peculiar reaſon in this account, the number (ſay ſome) was figured out to us in many particulars, as in the Twelve Patriarchs, Gen. 35.22. Exod. 15.21.in the Twelve Wells of Elim, in the Twelve precious ſtones on the breaſt of the Prieſt, in the Twelve Tribes of Iſrael, in the Twelve hours of the day; Chriſt tells them of ſitting on Twelve Thrones, and judging the Twelve Tribes of Iſrael; Mat. 19.28.but I delight not curiouſly to deſcant on theſe things. This I am ſure, that the doings of Chriſt were done in weight, meaſure, and number.
6. The end to which they were choſen, it was to an Apoſtleſhip (i.e.) that they might be Chriſts Legates to the Sons of men, that they might be ſent up and down the world to perſwade men to Salvation. The diſpenſers of Gods Word muſt look to their miſſion, they muſt not intrude upon ſo ſacred a buſineſs before they are ſent. Now this miſſion is either extraordinary by immediate inſtinct, and revelation from God, which is ever accompanied with immediate and infuſed gifts, and this was the caſe of the Apoſtles; or ordinary, by impoſition of hands and Eccleſiaſtical deſignation: and in this likewiſe is required fidelity, and ability. 1. Fidelity, it is required of Stewards, that a man be found faithful, that he defraud not Chriſt of his purchaſe, which is the ſouls of men, nor men of their price and priviledge, which is the blood of Chriſt; that he watch as a Seer, that he ſpeaks as an Oracle, that he feed as a Shepherd, that he labour as an Huſbandman, that he be inſtant in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon, to exhort, rebuke, inſtruct, to do the work of an Evangeliſt, to make full proof of his Miniſtry, becauſe he hath an account to make. 2. Ability both for right information of the conſciences of men, and for the ſeaſonable application of truth to particular Circumſtances, which is that which makes a wiſe builder. Ah! Who is ſufficient for theſe things? 2 Cor. 2 16.How ſhould we but deteſt the preſumption of thoſe men, who run before they be ſent, who leap from their manual trades into this ſacred and dreadful office, unto which heretofore the moſt learned and pious men have trembled to approach?
This may inform us of our duty: and this may inform you of your happineſs.Ʋſe. 1. Here's our duty; I mean ours of the Miniſtry, Chriſt ordained his Apoſtles to preach the Goſpel; and Paul's motto may be ours, Wo unto me, if I preach not the Goſpel: 1 Cor. 9.16.what though I preach the Goſpel, I have nothing to glory of, for a neceſſity is laid upon me. This day Chriſt ſent me on this errand,Mat. 10.7. Go preach, ſaying, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Surely the Lord hath put this meſſage into my mouth, Repent ſwearers, repent drunkards, repent ſinners, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand; Goſpel-diſcoveries are made every day, Chriſt is ariſing and ſhining in our Horizon more and more clearly, that great deſign of Gods love to our ſouls is manifeſted in every Sermon, on every Sabbath: is not this Goſpel-preaching? what is the Goſpel, but the Treaſure of Gods love in Chriſt opened to us? Oh it is a pleaſant work in this reſpect to be a Miniſter of the Goſpel to be alwayes ſearching into the Treaſures of love, and to make them known to poor ſouls for the gaining of them unto God. 2. Here is your Happineſs, Chriſt hath not erected any ſtanding Sanctuary, or City of refuge for men to fly to for their Salvation, but he hath appointed Ambaſſadors to carry this Treaſure unto mens houſes, where he invites them, and entreats them, and requires them, and commands them, and compels them to come in. Oh the unſearchable riches of Chriſt! 1. In reſpect of the Meſſengers, 2. In reſpect of their Meſſage.
1. In reſpect of the Meſſengers; they were firſt Apoſtles; now Miniſters, poor Earthen Veſſels. Had Chriſt himſelf come in his glorified body, attended with his Angels, it might in ſome meaſure have repreſented his Majeſty: but alas! how would this have dazled your weakneſs? or if Chriſt had made uſe of his Angels, as he did at his birth, to preach his Goſpel; had they continually come in ſtate and proclaimed Salvation to the Sons of men, this would have ſhewed more glory; but alas, how unſuitable had this been to your weak conditions? here then is the riches of his grace, that earthen veſſels ſhould carry this treaſure, that ſalvation ſhould come out of the mouths of ſinful creatures, that hearts ſhould be broken, ſouls ſhould believe, life ſhould be infuſed by the miniſterial breath of a weak worthleſs man;2 Cor. 4.7. We have this treaſure in earthen veſſels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us; Gods power is more Honoured this way, than if an Angel had come in perſon; it may be in that Caſe a ſinners Converſion would have been attributed to the power and Efficacy of the Angel; but to prevent this, and to preſerve the glory of his power and grace, Chriſt takes the Treaſure, and he puts it into Earthen Veſſels; it is in the Original veſſels of ſhell, as precious Pearls are found in Shells, ſo the Pearl is the Goſpel, and the Shell or Mother of Pearl are the Apoſtles and Paſtors; it is true, they are Veſſels of ſmall price, and ſubject to many knocks and falls, yet in them is the moſt excellent Treaſures of the Wiſdom of God, and of the Goſpel of Chriſt. And it is in them on purpoſe, that the excellency may reflect on God, and not on them.
2. In reſpect of the Meſſage; O the unſearchable riches of Chriſt! What is the meſſage of theſe men? what is the Treaſure they bring, but the Blood of Chriſt, the Promiſes of the Goſpel, the Word of Grace? I might ſum up all in one word, They bring unto men an invitation from heaven, to heaven; Obſerve it Chriſtians; the Goſpel is a meſſage, the Lord ſends his Son up and down, carries him from place to place; he is ſet forth before mens eyes, he comes, and ſtands, and calls, and Knocks at their doors, and beſeecheth them to be reconciled: O the free grace of God! O that mercy, pardon, preferment, eternal life and Salvation ſhould go a begging, and ſuing for acceptance! O the love of ſin, and madneſs of folly in wicked men, to Trample on ſuch Pearls, and to neglect ſo great Salvation when it is tendered unto them! O what a heavy charge will it be for men at the laſt day, to have the mercy of God, the humility of Chriſt, the entreaties of the Spirit, the proclamations of pardon, the approaches of Salvation, the dayes, the years, the ages of peace, the Miniſtry of the Word, the Book of God, the great Miſtery of Godlineſs, to riſe up in judgment, and to teſtifie againſt their ſouls? O the condeſcentions of Chriſt! who are ye, that the Lord ſhould ſend after you? what need hath God of you? ſuppoſe you ſhould go on in the wayes of death, and periſh everlaſtingly, what ſhall God loſe by it? Chriſt might ſay, If you will go on, go on and periſh; if you love ſin ſo well, take your pleaſure in it, and be damned evermore. Ah no, ſaith the mercy of God, and the mercy of Chriſt, before that be, meſſage after meſſage,Iſa. 28.10. Precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little. This was the deſign of Chriſts chuſing his Apoſtles, Go ye into all the world, Mark 16.15.and preach the Goſpel unto every Creature, that poor ſinners may turn from ſin, and be ſaved.
SECT. III. Of Chriſt's Reception of ſinners.
2. FOr Chriſt's Reception of ſinners; I cannot limit this only to one year of Chriſt's Miniſtry, but I ſhall only mention it this year. Now this will appear, 1. In the Doctrine of Chriſt. 2. In the Practiſe of Chriſt.
1. In his Doctrine, Chriſt layes it down expreſly,Mat. 11.28. Come unto me all ye that labour and are Heavy laden, and I will give you reſt. It is no more but come, and welcome. The Goſpel ſhuts none out of Heaven, but thoſe that by unbelief lock the door againſt their own ſouls. Again, All that the Father giveth me ſhall come unto me, John 6.37.and him that cometh unto me I will in no wiſe caſt out; here is laid down the full intent and purpoſe of God and Chriſt to pardon and receive ſinners; the Father is willing, and the Son is willing. 1. The Father is willing, This is the Fathers will which hath ſent me, John 6.39.that of all which he hath given me, I ſhould loſe none; the Father is engaged, in that firſt he ſent Chriſt on that errand, to receive ſinners. Secondly, in that he gave unto Chriſt all that he would have to be ſaved by Chriſt, with a charge to loſe none. Sinners were given to Chriſt by his Father as ſo many Jewels to look to, and to ſave. 2. The Son is willing, for he that cometh unto me (ſaith Chriſt) I will in no wiſe caſt out. Chriſt is ſo willing to receive ſinners, as that he ſets all his doors open, he keeps open houſe, and he caſts out none that will but come in; and why ſo?John 6.38. For I came down from heaven not to do mine own will, but the will of him that ſent me. 1. I came down from Heaven, it was a great journey from heaven to earth, and this great journey I undertook for no other purpoſe but to ſave ſinners. Great actions (as one ſayes well) muſt needs have great ends; now this was the greateſt thing that ever was done,Luke 19.10. that the Son of God ſhould come down from Heaven; and what was the end, but the Reception and Salvation of ſinners? For the Son of man is come to ſeek, and to ſave that which was loſt: had not Chriſt come down, ſinners could not have gone up into Heaven, and therefore that they might aſcend, he deſcends. 2. I come down from Heaven, not to do mine own will, Heb. 3.1, 2.but the will of him that ſent me; his Father had ſent him on purpoſe to receive, and to ſave ſinners; and to this purpoſe, he is called the Apoſtle of our profeſſion, — who was faithful to him that appointed him, as alſo Moſes was faithful in all his houſe: His Father could not ſend him on any errand, but he was ſure to do it; his Fathers miſſion was a ſtrong demonſtration, that Chriſt was willing to receive thoſe ſinners that would but come to him.
Again, Jeſus ſtood and cryed, ſaying, if any man thirſt, John 7.37.let him come unto me and drink: the very pith, heart, and marrow of the Goſpel is contained in theſe words: the occaſion of them was thus: on that laſt day of the Feaſt of Tabernacles, the Jews were wont with great ſolemnity to draw water out of the fountain of Siloam, at the foot of Mount Sion, and to bring it to the Altar, ſinging out of Iſaiah, Iſa. 12.3.With joy ſhall ye draw water out of the wells of Salvation; now Chriſt takes them at this Cuſtom, and recalls them from earthly to heavenly waters, alluding to that of Iſaiah, Iſa. 55.1, 3.Ho every one that thirſteth, come ye to the waters.—Incline your ears, and come unto me, and your ſouls ſhall live. The Father ſaith come, the Son ſaith come, the Spirit ſaith come, yea,Rev. 22.17. the Spirit and the Bride ſay come, and let him that heareth ſay come, and let him that is a thirſt come, and whoſoever will, let him drink of the water of life freely. All the time of Chriſts Miniſtry we ſee him tyring himſelf in going about from place to place, upon no other errand than this, to cry at the markets, Ho every one that thirſteth, come ye to the waters! if any ſinners love life, if any will go to heaven, let them come to me, and I will ſhew them the way to my Fathers boſom, and endear them to my Fathers heart.
Again, hither tend all thoſe Arguments of God and Chriſt, to draw ſouls to themſelves. Thus God draws, 1. From his equity, Hear now O houſe of Iſrael, Ezek. 18.25.is not my way equal? or are not your wayes unequal? q. d. I appeal to your very conſciences, is this equal, that ſinners ſhould go on in ſin, and Treſpaſs againſt him that is ſo willing to receive and ſave poor ſinners? 2. From our ruine, in caſe we go on in ſin,Ezek. 18.31. Caſt away from you all your Tranſgreſſions, whereby ye have Tranſgreſſed, and make you a new heart, and a new Spirit, for why will ye dye, O houſe of Iſrael? 3. From his own diſlike and diſpleaſure at our ruine, I have no pleaſure in the death of him that dyeth, Ver. 32.ſaith the Lord God, wherefore turn your ſouls, and live ye. 4. From his mercy and readineſs to pardon ſinners,Iſa. 55.7. Let the wicked forſake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Hoſ. 14.4. John 3.16.5. From the freeneſs of his love, I will love them freely, and God ſo loved the world, ſo fully, ſo fatherly, ſo freely, that he gave his only begotten Son, &c. and I will give unto him that is athirſt of the fountain of the water of life freely. 6. From the ſweetneſs of his Name,Rev. 21.6. Exod. 34.6, 7. Iſa. 48.18, 19. The Lord, the Lord, merciful and gracious, long-ſuffering and abundant in goodneſs and truth, keeping mercy for thouſands, forgiving iniquity, Tranſgreſſion and ſin. 7. From the benefits that would follow, O that thou hadſt hearkened to my commandments, then had thy peace been as a River, and thy righteouſneſs as the waves of the Sea; thy ſeed alſo had been as the Sand, and the off-ſpring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof. 8. From his Oath; As I live, ſaith the Lord, I deſire not the death of a ſinner, but rather that he ſhould turn from his wickedneſs and live: O happy creatures (ſaith Tertullian) for whom God ſwears! O unbelieving wretches, if we will not truſt God ſwearing!Ezek. 33.61. Ezek. 33.11. Mich. 6.3. Iſa. 5.4. Iſa. 5.3. 9. From his expoſtulations, Turn ye, turn ye from your evil wayes, for why will ye dye, O houſe of Iſrael?—O my people, what have I done to thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? teſtifie againſt me,—what could I have done more for my vineyard than I have done? wherefore, when I looked that it ſhould bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? Mich. 6.2.10. From his appeals, Judge now, O ye inhabitants of Judah and Jeruſalem—and hear O ye mountains the Lords controverſie: and ye ſtrong foundations of the earth, Deut. 5.29.for the Lord hath a controverſie with his people, and he will plead with Iſrael. 11. From his groans, Oh that there were ſuch an heart in them that they would fear me, and keep my commandments alwayes, Deut. 32.29.that it might be well with them, and their children for ever. And oh that they were wiſe, that they underſtood this, that they would conſider their latter end. 12.Hoſ. 11.8. From his loathneſs to give men up, How ſhall I give thee up, Ephraim? how ſhall I deliver thee O Iſrael? how ſhall I make thee as Admah? how ſhall I ſet thee as Zeboim? my heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. O the goodneſs of God!
And as God the Father, ſo God the Son draws Arguments to win ſouls to himſelf, 1. From his coming; it was the very purpoſe and deſign of his coming down from Heaven to receive ſinners,1 Tim. 1.15. This is a faithful ſaying (ſayes Paul) and worthy of all acceptation, that Chriſt Jeſus came into the world to ſave ſinners. 2. From his fair demeanour and behaviour towards ſinners; this was ſo open and notorious, that it was turned to his diſgrace and opprobry,Mat. 11.19. Behold a friend of Publicans and ſinners: And the Scribes and Phariſees murmured at him,Luke 5.30. and his Diſciples, ſaying, Why do ye eat and drink with Publicans and Sinners? 3. From his owning of ſinners, and anſwering for them in this reſpect,Luke 5.31, 32. And Jeſus anſwering ſaid unto them, they that are whole need not a Phyſitian, but they that are ſick; I came not to call the righteous but Sinners to repentance. 4. From his rejoycing at ſinners converſion: indeed we never read of Chriſts Laughter, and we ſeldom read of Chriſts joy; but when it is at any time recorded, it is at the Converſion of a poor ſoul; he had little elſe to comfort himſelf in, being a man of ſorrows: but in this he rejoyced exceedingly,Luke 10.21. In that hour Jeſus rejoyced in Spirit; it was in that hour when he ſaw an handſel of the fruit of his Diſciples Miniſtry, as an earneſt of the many thouſands that ſhould afterwards come in;John 11.15. And I am glad for your ſakes that I was not there (ſaid Chriſt when Lazarus was dead:) But why was he glad? It follows, to the intent ye might believe. He rejoyced if any of his got faith, a little more faith, more and more faith.Luke 19.41, 42. 5. From grief in caſe of ſinners not repenting; witneſs his tears over Jeruſalem, and thoſe ſpeeches of his; And when he was come near, he beheld the City, and wept over it, ſaying, if thou hadſt known, even thou at leaſt in this thy day the things which belong unto thy peace; but now they are hid from thine eyes? Look as it is with a man carrying to be buried, his wife weeps, his children weep, his friends weep, ſo our Saviour follows Jeruſalem to the grave, and when he can do no more for it, he rings out this doleful paſſing-bell,Mat. 23.37. O that thou hadſt known, &c. 6. From his wiſhes, groanings; O Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem, thou that killeſt the Prophets, and ſtoneſt them which are ſent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as an hen gathers her Chickens under her wings; and ye would not? In this Argument, before we paſs it, obſerve we the ſeveral paſſages; here's firſt, the groan; Oh! this Aſpiration argues a compaſſionate pang of grief; it ran to the very heart of Chriſt, that Jeruſalem had neglected their ſouls ſalvation, Oh Jeruſalem! Secondly, here's an ingemination, or a double calling on Jeruſalem, O Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem! the name doubled expreſſeth great affection in the ſpeaker, as when David doubled the name Abſolom, it is ſaid, the King was much moved, 2 Sam. 18.33.and ſo he cryed, O my Son Abſolom, my Son, my Son Abſolom; thirdly, here's the monſtrous ſin wherewith the Lord charges Jeruſalem, Thou that killeſt the Prophets, and ſtoneſt them which are ſent unto thee; Jeruſalem was the very ſlaughter-houſe of the Prophets, in ſo much that very few of the Prophets had been murthered elſewhere, and ſo comparatively Chriſt ſpeaks, it cannot be that a Prophet periſh out of Jeruſalem. Fourthly,Luke 13.33. here's Chriſts willingneſs to ſave Jeruſalem, which he diſcovers. 1. In his frequent applications to it, how often? q. d. not once, nor twice, nor thrice, but many and many a time have I come to Jeruſalem, and ſpoke to Jeruſalem, and wooed Jeruſalem, how often? 2. In the acting, exerciſing, and putting forth of his will, how often would I have gathered thy children together? The will of Chriſt was ſerious, though not abſolute; I know his divine will abſolutely conſidered could not have been reſiſted; but this was*There is voluntas abſoluta efficax, deceinens, & infalibiliter producens effectum volitum: & voluntas conditionata, revelata approbationis, ſimplicis complacentia. Auguſt. tract. 15. in John not his abſolute will, but only a will of divine complacency; and ſo he would not have the death of any, but that all ſhould live; or he ſpeaks here of his humane miniſterial will (ſay ſome) and not of his divine: many a Sermon had he preached, and many an Exhortation had he dropped, and every Sermon, every Exhortation proclaimed his willingneſs, I would, yea, that I would have gathered thy children together. 3. In reſemblance of his willingneſs, Chriſt would have gathered Jeruſalems children as the hen gathers her chickens under her wings; in the metaphor Chriſts care is admirably diſplayed. 1. As the hen with her wings covers the unfeathered chickens. 2. As the hen provides for their food, not eating her ſelf till they are filled. 3. As the hen defends her chickens from the ravenous birds, ſo that to blood ſhe will fight in their defence; ſo hath Chriſts care been for Jeruſalem. No bird (ſaith Auſtin) expreſſeth ſuch tender love to her young ones as the hen doth; no fowls ſo diſcover themſelves to be mothers, as hens do; other birds we know to be mothers, when we ſee them in their neſt, but no other way; only the hen diſcovers her ſelf to be a mother, when her chickens do not follow her; for then her feathers ſtand up, her wings hang down, ſhe clocketh mournfully, and goeth feebly; now in reſpect of this ſingular love, Chriſt compares himſelf to an hen; As an hen gathers her chickens, ſo would I have gathered Jeruſalem. 4. In that he adds ſo dolefully, but ye would not; I would, but ye would not; q. d. in me no care ſo great as to ſave your ſouls, in you no care ſo little as your ſouls Salvation; I ſtrove towards you in acts of love, and you ſtrove towards me in acts of ingratitude; I would have done you good, but you would not receive it; I would, yea how often would I? but ye would not.
2. Chriſts reception of ſinners appears yet more in his practiſe. How welcome were all ſorts of ſinners unto him? He caſts out none that acknowledged him for the Meſſiah, he turned none away that gave up their ſouls to be ſaved by him in his own way. This he manifeſts: 1. Parabolically. 2. Really.
1. Parabolically, eſpecially in thoſe three Parables, of the loſt Groat, and of the loſt Sheep, and of the loſt Son; I ſhall inſtance in this laſt,Luke 15.20. which may well ſerve for all the reſt.—When the Prodigal was yet afar off, his Father ſaw him, and had compaſſion on him, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kiſſed him. In theſe words, obſerve, 1. His Father ſees him before he ſees his Father; no ſooner a ſinner thinks of Heaven, but the Lord ſpies him and takes notice of him. 2. The Lord ſees him whiles he was yet a great way off; he was but in the beginning of his way: his Father might have let him alone till he had come quite home to his houſe, and it had been a ſingular mercy to have bid him welcome then; but he takes notice of him yet a great way off: ſinners may be far off from God in their own apprehenſions, and yet the Lord even then draws near, whiles thus they apprehend. 3. His Father had pity or compaſſion on him; the Lords bowels even yearn, and work, and ſtir within him at the ſight of his returning prodigals; when Ephraim had bemoaned himſelf, Thou haſt chaſtiſed me, and I was chaſtiſed, Jer. 31.18, 19 ver. 20.as a bullock unaccoſtomed to the yoak; why then cries God; Is Ephraim my dear ſon? is he a pleaſant child? for ſince I ſpake againſt him, I do earneſtly remember him ſtill; therefore my bowels are troubled for him, I will ſurely have mercy upon him ſaith the Lord.—4. His Father run: there is much in this: As, 1. It had been mercy though his Father had ſtood ſtill, till his Son had come. 2. What a mercy is this, that his Father will go, and give his Son the meeting? 3. But above all, oh what abundant mercy call we this, that the Father will not go, but run? If he would needs meet his Son, might he not have walked towards him in a ſoft ſlow pace? O no, if a ſinner will but come, or creep towards Chriſt, mercy will not go a foot-pace, but run to meet him; bowels full of mercy out-pace bowels pinched with hunger; Gods mercy is over all his works, and ſo it is over all our needs, and over all our ſins. 5. He ran, and fell on his neck; (i.e.) he hugged and embraced him; O wonder! who would not have been loth to have touched him? was he not in his loathſome ſtinking rags? ſmelt he not of the hogs and ſwine he lately kept? would not ſome dainty ſtomacks have been ready to have caſt all up upon ſuch embracements?Ezek. 16.6. we ſee mercy is not nice, When I paſſed by (ſaith God) I ſaw thee polluted in thy own blood, and I ſaid unto thee when thou waſt in thy blood, live; yea, I ſaid unto thee when thou waſt in thy blood, live; that very time of her blood, was the time of love; then the Lord ſpread his Spirit over her, and covered her nakedneſs, and ſwore unto her, Ver. 8.and entred into a Covenant with her, and ſhe became his. 6. He ran, and fell on his neck, and kiſſed him; who would have brooked a perſon in ſo filthy a pickle? what? kiſs thoſe lips that have been ſo lately lapping in the hogs trough? thoſe lips that had ſo often kiſſed thoſe baſe, and beggarly, and abominable Harlots? one would think he ſhould rather have kicked, than kiſſed him: there is a paſſage ſomewhat like this, and Eſau ran to meet Jacob, Gen. 33.4.and he embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kiſſed him; before he had thought to have killed him, but now he kiſſed him; its not to tell how dear the Father was to his Prodigal Son, when he ran, and fell on his neck, and embraced, and kiſſed him. The ſcope of the Parable is this, that Chriſt is willing and glad to receive ſinners:Ezek. 33.11. Turn ye, turn ye, from your evil wayes; for why will ye dye O houſe of Iſrael?
2. Chriſt manifeſts this willingneſs in his practice really; amongſt many inſtances I ſhall inſiſt only on one, a notable inſtance of this year: One of the Phariſees named Simon invited Chriſt to eat with him:Luke 36.37. into whoſe houſe when he had entred, a certain woman that was a ſinner abiding there in the City, heard of it; a widow ſhe was, and prompted by her wealth and youth to an intemperate life: ſhe came to Jeſus in the Phariſees houſe, and no ſooner come, but ſhe layes her burthen at Jeſus's feet, and preſents him with a broken heart,Ver. 38. and weeping eye, and an Alabaſter Box of Oyntment. She ſtood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to waſh his feet with her tears, and to wipe them with the hairs of her head; and ſhe kiſſed his feet, and Anointed them with Oyntment. 1. She ſtands at his feet, a ſign of her humility: O what a change! She that was before married to a Noble perſonage, a Native of the Town & Caſtle of Magdal, from whence ſhe had her name of Magdalen; and ſhe that now was a widow, and therefore took her liberty of pride and luſt, who ſo proud and vile as Mary Magdalen? at this time ſhe comes in remorſe and regret for her ſins, and throwing away her former pride, ſhe ſtoops, and waits, and humbly ſtands at Jeſus feet. 2. She ſtood at his feet behind him; a bluſhing ſign of faith; it comprehends in it a Tacite confeſſion of her Sins, ſhe knew her ſelf unworthy of Chriſts preſence; ſhe durſt not look him in the face, but believingly ſhe waits behind him: her ſhame ſpeaks her repentance; and her waiting on him, and not flying from him, beſpeaks her faith. 3. She ſtood at his feet behind him weeping, her grief burſt out in tears: ſhe heeds not the feaſt, or feaſter, though uſually they are accompanied with joy, and mirth, and muſick; and ſuch feaſts attended with ſuch vanities ſhe many a time had probably obſerved, yet now ſhe comes in trembling to this feaſt, and falling down before Chriſt, ſhe weeps, and weeps bitterly for her ſins. 4. She began to waſh his feet with tears; her tears were not feigned, but fruitful; ſhe wept a ſhower of tears; one conſidering her tears, cries it out, Terra rigat coelum, the very earth bedews heaven; her eyes that before were abuſed to luſt, are now fountains of tears; ſhe poures out a flood, great enough to waſh the feet of her bleſſed Jeſus; this was the manner of the Jews, to eat their meat lying down,John 13.23. and Leaning on their Elbows; or if many eat together, leaning in the boſoms of one another; thus at the Paſsover it is ſaid that there was leaning on Jeſus boſom one of his diſciples whom Jeſus loved; And in this poſture Jeſus ſitting or lying at meat, Mary had the convenience to weep on his feet, which he had caſt behind his fellow; and O how ſhe weeps a main! the Tears ſo Trickle, that ſhe begins to waſh Chriſts feet; ſhe not only waters them,Jer. 6.1. but waſhes them; that which Jeremy wiſhed, Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a Fountain of Tears! Mary fulfills; for her head is waters, and her eyes are fountains; Rivers of Tears run down her eyes; O ſhe had pierced Chriſt with her ſins, and now ſhe weeps over him whom ſhe had pierced; crying out as we may imagine, O my ſins! and O my Chriſt! O foul ſins! and O ſweet Jeſus! 5. She wipes his feet with the Hairs of her Head; her hair added to her beauty, ſometimes in curling rings, or in ſeemly ſheds, ſhe made it a ſnare for men; but now ſhe conſecrates it to her Lord, and makes it a Towel to wipe Chriſts feet withall: O here's a worthy fruit of ſerious repentance, the Apoſtle calls it an holy revenge. 6. She kiſſed his feet; 2 Cor. 7.11.in token of her new chioce, and new love, and new affection; her kiſſes had formerly been to wantons, but now ſhe beſtows them on the feet of Chriſt. 7. She anointed them with ointment; which expreſſion was ſo great an extaſie of love, and ſorrow, and adoration, that to anoint the feet of the greateſt Monarch was long unknown, and in all the pomps of Roman prodigality, it was never uſed till Otho taught it Nero. When Simon obſerved this ſinner ſo buſie in the expreſſes of her Religion, he thought within himſelf that Chriſt was no Prophet, that he did not know her to be a ſinner; for although the Jews Religion did permit harlots to live, and to enjoy the priviledges of the Nation, ſave that their oblations were refuſed; yet the Phariſees who pretended to a greater degree of ſanctity than others, would not admit them to civil uſages, or to the benefits of ordinary ſociety: and hence Simon made an objection within himſelf, which Jeſus knowing (for he underſtood his thoughts as well as words) firſt he makes her Appology, and then his own; the ſcope givign us to underſtand, that Chriſt was not of the ſame ſuperciliouſneſs with the Phariſees, but that repenting ſinners ſhould be welcome unto him;Ver. 47. Ver. 48. Ver. 50. Ʋſe. and this welcome he publiſheth firſt to Simon, Her ſins which are many are forgiven; and then to the woman, Thy ſins are forgiven thee, thy faith hath ſaved thee, go in peace.
I have been long in the proof: but a word of uſe, and I have done. What? is Chriſt moſt willing to receive ſinners? O then be exhorted! who would not come to Jeſus Chriſt? methinks now all ſinners of all ſorts ſhould ſay, though I have been a drunkard, a ſwearer, an unclean perſon, yet now I hear Chriſt is willing to receive ſinners, and therefore I will go to Jeſus Chriſt. This is my exhortation, O come unto Chriſt, come unto Chriſt! behold here in the name of the Lord I ſtand, and make invitation to poor ſinners; O will ye not come? how will ye anſwer it at the great day, when it ſhall be ſaid, the Lord Jeſus made a tender and offer of mercy to you, and you would not accept of it? Oh come to Chriſt, and believe on Chriſt; as Chriſt is willing to receive you, ſo be you willing to give up your ſouls to him; the motives to this I may lay down in theſe particulars.—
1. The Doctrine of Chriſt, Come unto me,— and him that cometh unto me, I will in no wiſe caſt out. All the arguments of God and Chriſt, of which you have heard, the practice of Chriſt whiles he was upon earth, and the heart of Chriſt now in Heaven; lay theſe together, and apply them to your own ſouls. Oh what work will they make!
2. The calls of God, and Chriſt; as they are frequent in Scriptures; conſider that Text, Ho, every one that thirſts, come ye to the waters! Iſa. 55.1. [Ho] he begins proclamation-wiſe; we uſually ſay, vocations, interjections ſpeak very affectionate motion towards the diſtreſſed; certainly Chriſt's love is a very affectionate love, he layes his mouth to the ears of thoſe that are ſpiritually deaf, and cryes aloud, Ho [every one] Chriſt invites all: As many as ye ſhall find, bid them to the Marriage, Matth 22.9. As the Heavens are general in their influence, not one graſs on the ground but 'tis bedewed; ſo are Chriſts invitations to his feaſt, not one man in the world but he is invited? Ho, every one that thirſteth] ſo the Apoſtle, Let him that is athirſt come, and whoſoever will, let him take the water of Life freely, Revel. 22.17. A thirſt and a will is one and the ſame, it is your will that makes up the match; if you will but ſit down at God's Table, if you will but have the honey-comb with the honey, if you will but drink his Wine with his milk, if you will drink, yea drink abundantly of the flaggons of the new wine of his Kingdom; why then come, Come ye to the waters; come unto me and drink. Chriſts arms are ſpread abroad to receive ſinners; he calls and knocks; and calls and waits; and calls and beſeeches; every word here hath ſo much ſweetneſs and dearneſs in it, as it plainly ſpeakes him free and willing to receive you, if you will but come.
3. The wooings of Chriſt to gain your hearts; conſider him bowing the Heavens, and coming down, and laying aſide his Robes of Majeſty, and putting on your filthy garments; conſider him going about from place to place, on no other errand, but to gain your hearts, and win your Souls; and whoever ſpake ſuch effectual words as Chriſt ſpake when he was upon the earth? who ever gave ſuch precious jewels to a Bride, as Chriſt gave to his Spouſe? whoever put on ſuch apparrel, as Chriſt did when he wooed his Church? the Prophet wonders at it; Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?—Wherefore art thou red in thine apparrel, Iſa. 63.1, 2.and thy garments like him that treadeth in the Wine Fat? Iſa. 63.1, 2. Whoever gave ſuch a love-token, as Chriſt gave when he laid down his Life? Oh conſider him living, or dying, and ſay, Never like Love to this. Ah poor ſinner, ſee your Jeſus hanging on the Croſs, dropping out his laſt blood, breathing out his laſt breath, ſtretching out his dying armes to incircle ſinners; and come, Oh come and throw your ſelves into his bleeding armes! away with all prejudicate opinions! who ſhall ſay, Chriſt is not willing to ſave him, and not blaſpheme eternal love? ſpeak truth; corrupt hearts ſpeak truth; ſay not Chriſt is unwilling, but you are unwilling; I would, but ye would not.
4. The weepings of Chriſt if he cannot prevaile. Thus we find him in the Goſpel expreſſing himſelf,Luke. 19.41. not only in words, but in tears. And when he was come near Jeruſalem, he beheld the City and wept over it, Luke 19.41. Chriſt coming to the City and ſeeing it, and foreſeeing the deſolation that ſhould come upon it, his bowels yearned within him towards the People, and he mourned ſecretly within himſelf. q. d. O Jeruſalem, thou haſt had many Prieſts to adviſe thee, and many Prophets to inſtruct thee in the wayes of life, but now thoſe dayes are gone and paſt; nay, the great Prophet of the World is come to woo thee, but yet thy heart is hardened, and thou wilt not receive the things belonging to thy peace, and therefore I will turn my preaching into mourning and ſighing. O that thou hadſt known, even thou, at leaſt in this thy day, the things belonging to thy peace—and then his heart even breaks, and he weeps again, but now are they hid from thine eyes! ſinners, ſuppoſe Chriſt ſhould come and weep over you, as he did over Jeruſalem, ſaying, O ye ſinful ſouls, had but you known, even you in this your day, the things belonging to your peace! and ſuppoſe that you ſhould ſee one tear trickling down after another; what? Chriſt to weep for you, over you? Methinks if you had hearts of ſtone, it ſhould melt your hearts; ſurely it is no light matter that makes Chriſt weep; Children weep often, but Wiſe-men ſeldome, yet here the wiſeſt of men weeps for them that would not weep for themſelves; O Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem.
SECT. IV. Of Chriſt's eaſie Yoak, and light Burthen.
3. FOr the eaſineſs of Chriſts Yoak, and the lightneſs of Chriſts burthen, Chriſt delivers it in theſe words, Take my Yoak upon you and learn of me,—for my Yoak is eaſie, Mat. 11.29, 30.and my Burthen is light. See the actings of Chriſt this year in reference to our ſouls health. 1. He commiſſionates his Apoſtles to call ſinners in. 2. He ſtands ready to receive them if they will but come in. 3. He ſweetens the way of Chriſtianity to them when they are come in. Many fears and jealouſies are in the hearts of men, of the difficulty, auſterity, and ſeverity of Chriſts inſtitutions; and therefore to remove that objection, he tells them plainly, there is no ſuch thing, but rather clean contrary, For my Yoak is eaſie, and my Burthen is light.
My Yoak (i.e.) my Commandments, ſo the Apoſtle John gives the interpretation, His Commandments are not grievous. 1 John 7.3.My Yoak is eaſie; (i.e.) my Commandments are without any inconvenience; the trouble of a Yoak is not the weight, but the uneaſineſs of it, and Chriſt ſpeaks ſutably, My Yoak is eaſie, and my Burthen (i.e.) my inſtitutions; the word primarily ſignifies the fraight or balaſt of a Ship, which cuts through the Waves, as if it had no burthen; and without which burthen there were no ſafety in the Ship: foreign, a ferendo, a burthen which either is laid upon the ſhoulder, or rather which is put into a Ship, that it may go ſteadily and ſafely. My Burthen is light, the Yoak of the Law was heard, and the Burthen of the Phariſees was heavy, but Chriſts Yoak is eaſie, and his Burthen is light, every way ſweet, and pleaſant.
Chriſtian Religion, and the practiſe of it, are full of ſweetneſs, eaſineſs, and pleaſantneſs; My Yoak is eaſie, and my Burthen is light.
The Prophets propheſying of this, ſay thus, Every Valley ſhall be exalted, and every Mountain and Hill ſhall be laid low; Iſa. 40.4.the crooked ſhall be made ſtraight, and the rough places plain; the meaning is, that the wayes of Chriſtianity ſhould be levelled and made even; and that all lets and impediments ſhould be removed out of the way; that ſo we might have a more eaſie and convenient paſſage unto Heaven; to the ſame purpoſe is that other propheſie,Iſa. 35.8. And an high-way (or cauſway) ſhall be there; and a way, a cauſway, and a way; (that is, a way caſt up) Iſa. 62.10. and it ſhall be called the way of holineſs, (or a way for the Saints of God, and not for the wicked, Matth. 7.14. The unclean ſhall not paſs over it, but it ſhall be for thoſe: (or he ſhall be with them, or be a guide unto them by his Word and Spirit, Iſa. 30.21.) The Wayfaring men though fools ſhall not erre therein; Chriſts way is ſo eaſie that the ſimpleſt ſo conducted by his Word and Spirit ſhall not miſs of it, The meek will he guide in Judgment, Pſal. 25.9.and the meek will he teach his way.
The Apoſtles are yet more clear; For this is the love of God, 1 John. 5.3. Rom. 8.2. Rom. 7.6.that we keep his Commandments, and his commandments are not grievous. And the Law of the Spirit of life in Chriſt Jeſus hath made me free from the Law of ſin and Death. And now are we delivered from the Law, that being dead wherein we were held, that we ſhould ſerve in newneſs of Spirit, and not in the oldneſs of the letter. Chriſt Jeſus came to break off from our necks thoſe two great yoaks, the one of Sin, by which we are kept in fetters and priſons; the other of Moſes Law, by which we are kept in pupillage and minority; and now Chriſt having taken off theſe two, he hath put on a third; he quits us of our burthen, but not of our duty; he hath changed the yoak of ſin, and the yoak of the Law ſtrictly taken, into the ſweetneſs of his Fatherly Regiment, whoſe very precepts carry part of their reward in hand, and aſſurance of Glory afterward.
The reaſons of the ſweetneſs, eaſineſs, and pleaſantneſs of Chriſtian Religion, and the practiſe of it, I ſhall reduce into theſe heads.
1. Chriſtian Religion is moſt rational. If we ſhould look into the beſt laws that the wiſeſt men in the World ever agreed upon, we ſhall find that Chriſt adopted the quinteſſence of them all into this one Law; the higheſt pitch of reaſon is but as a ſpark, a taper, a leſſer light, which is involved and ſwallowed up in the Body of this great light, that is made up by the Son of Righteouſneſs. Some obſerve that Chriſt's diſcipline is the Breviary of all the wiſdom of the Beſt men, and a fair copy and tranſcript of his Fathers wiſdom; there is nothing in the laws of Chriſtian Religion, but what is the perfective of our Spirits, rare expedient of obeying God, and of doing duty and benefit to all capacities and orders of men. Indeed the Greeks, whom the World admired for their humane wiſdom, accounted the Preaching of the Goſpel fooliſhneſs, and thereupon God blaſted their wiſdom, as it is written, I will deſtroy the wiſdom of the wiſe, and will bring to nothing the underſtanding of the Prudent, 1 Cor. 1.19.1 Cor. 1 19. the Goſpel may be as fooliſhneſs unto ſome, but unto them which are called—Chriſt the Power of God, 1 Cor. 1.24.and the wiſdom of God.
2. Chriſtian Religion hath leſs trouble and ſlavery in it than ſin, or any thing that is contrary to it; as for inſtance; he that propounds to himſelf to live a low, a pious, an humble and retired life, his main imployment is nothing but ſitting Religiouſly quiet, and undiſturbed with variety of impertinent affairs; but he that loves the world entertains athouſand buſineſſes, and every buſineſs hath a world of employments: how eaſie a thing is it to reſtore a pledg? but if a man means to defeat, or to cozen him that truſts him, what a world of arts muſt he uſe to make pretences? as firſt to delay, then to excuſe, then to object, then to intricate the buſineſs, then to quarrel; and all the way to palliate the crime, and to repreſent himſelf an honeſt man: the wayes of ſin are crooked, deſert, rocky, and uneven wayes: the Apocriphal Book of Solomon brings in ſuch men, as if in hell they were ſpeaking this language, We wearied our ſelves in the way of wickedneſs, Wiſd. 5.7.yea we have gone through deſerts, where there lay no way; but as for the way of the Lord we have not known it. Wicked men are in thraldom, but where the Spirit of the Lord is, 2 Cor. 3.17.there is freedom. O the pains, troubles, expences that men are at to ſerve their ſenſuality! ſee how the ambitious man riſeth early, and goes to bed late; ſee how he flatters, diſſembles, ſolicites to obtain nothing but a little wind, a puff, a breath of vain mens mouths! ſee how the covetous man toyls, as if he were tied in a gally by the leg with a chain to ſerve by rowing for ever; ſo I have heard, that Turks uſe ſome Chriſtians; but this is a thouſand times worſe ſervitude, for ſuch a one is in ſervitude to a more baſe Creature than a Turk, and he lies bound not only by the feet, but alſo by the hands eares, eyes, heart, and all; only the Chriſtian is at liberty; only Chriſtian Religion and the practiſe of it ſets men at liberty; If ye continue in my word, John. 8.31, 32(ſaith Chriſt) then are ye my diſciples indeed, and ye ſhall know the truth, and the truth ſhall make you free.
3. Chriſtian Religion is all compoſed of peace; her wayes are the wayes of pleaſantneſs, and all her paths are peace, Prov 17.3. Chriſt framed all his Laws in complyance of this deſign of peace; peace within, and peace at home, and peace abroad; 1. It holds forth a certain Heavenly peace, and tranquility within;Pſal. 119.165. Iſa. 57.20, 21. Great peace have they which love thy Law, and nothing ſhall offend them. But on the contrary; The wicked are like the troubled ſea when it cannot reſt, whoſe waters caſt up mire and dirt; there is no peace ſaith my God to the wicked: Pſal. 55.9.their paſſions were never yet mortified; and ſuch paſſions uſually range in wicked men as are moſt contrary, and demand contrary thimgs; the deſire of honour cries ſpend here, but the paſſion of avarice cries, hold thy hands; loſt cries, venture here; but pride ſaith, no ſuch thing, it may turn to thy diſhonor; anger cries, revenge thy ſelf here, but ambition ſayes, it's better to diſſemble. And here is fulfilled that of the Pſalmiſt, I have ſeen violence and ſtrife in the City; the vulgar renders it, I have ſeen iniquity and contradiction in the ſelf-ſame City: Firſt, Iniquity, for all the demands of theſe paſſions are unjuſt; And, 2. Contradiction, for one paſſion cries out againſt another. But now great peace have they that love thy Law; for by the aid of Chriſt and his Grace, their paſſions are in ſome ſort ſubdued: and they paſs on their life moſt ſweetly and calmly, without any perturbations much troubling their Spirits; they have that Peace which paſſeth all underſtanding, which the World can neither give nor taſte of, as Chriſt affirmeth.John. 14.27.
2. It holds forth peace at home; the Laws of Jeſus teach us how to bear with the infirmitives of our Relatives, and indeed whoſoever obeys the Laws of Jeſus Chriſt, he ſeeks with ſweetneſs to remedy all differences, he throws water upon a ſpark, he lives ſweetly with his Wife, affectionately with his Children, deſcreetly with his Servants; and they all look upon him as their Guardian, Friend, and Patron; but look upon an angry man, not ſubject to theſe Chriſtian Laws, and when he enters upon his threſhold, it it gives an alarm to his houſe, every little accident is the matter of a quarrel, and every quarrel diſcompoſes the peace of the houſe, and ſets it on fire, and no man can tell how far it may burn. O the ſweetneſs, eaſineſs, pleaſantneſs of Chriſtian Religion! where that is embraced and followed, the man is peaceable, and charitable, and juſt, and loving, and forbearing, and forgiving; and how ſhould there be but content in this bleſſed Family?
3. It holds out peace abroad, it commands all Offices of kindneſs, gentleneſs, love, meekneſs, humility, lowlineſs of mind towards others; and ſuch ſweet diſpoſitions are uſually received with fondneſs, and all the endearments of the neighbourhood; it preſcribes an auſtere, and yet a ſweet deportment; it commands all thoſe labours of love, as to relieve the ſtranger, to viſit the ſick, to waſh the feet of the poor; it ſends us upon charitable embaſſies, to unclean priſons, naſty dungeons, and in the cauſe of Chriſt to lay down our lives one for another; it teacheth us how to return good for evil, kindneſs for injuries, a ſoft anſwer for the rough words of an Enemy; Oh when I think of this, I cannot but think of him who ſaid, That either that this was not the Chriſtian Religion, or we were not Chriſtians. For my part I am eaſily perſwaded, that if we would but live according to the diſcipline of Chriſtian Religion, one of thoſe great plagues that vexeth the world (I mean the plague of war) would be no more; certainly this was one of the deſigns of Chriſtianity, that there ſhould be no wars, no jars, no diſcontents amongſt men; and if all men that are called Chriſtians, were indeed charitable, peaceable, juſt, loving, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, what ſweet peace ſhould we have? how would this world be an Image of Heaven, and of the ſociety of Saints and Angels above in Glory?
4. Chriſtian Religion affords to us all aſſiſtances both outward and inward. In ſome reſpects, I know the duties of Chriſtianity are hard and heavy; but whatſoever Chriſt hath impoſed as heavy and hard, he hath made it light in aids: I ſhall ſhew the helps in theſe particulars. As—
1. The holy Scriptures be our helps; this was the very ſcope and aim for which the ſacred Volume was ſent from Heaven, viz. that we might decline from evil, and do good, that we might die to old Adam, and live to Chriſt; that we might crucifie ſin, and follow Virtue; what are the Scriptures but the Regiſters of God's Will, the letters of God's Love to invite us to Grace, and to dehort us from vice? O the perſwaſion, directions and commands of God that we might become holy; and O the diſſwaſions diverſions, threatnings, and terrifying of God that we might fly prophaneneſs!
2. The Miniſters of Chriſt be our helps: thou haſt the Scriptures, but it may be thou canſt not read, or thou canſt not underſtand the ſence and meaning thereof; Chriſt therefore for thy help hath ſet up a miniſtry for the edifying of the Body of Chriſt. Eph. 4.12.Theſe are the watchmen over the houſe of Iſrael to cry like trumpets, and to blazon the ſins of the houſe of Iſrael; theſe are the ſuitors of God and Chriſt to ſpeak out his good will in thine ears;2 Cor. 5.20. they call, they cry, they wait, they woo, they Pray you in Chriſts ſtead, that you will be reconciled unto God.
3. The lives of Saints be our helps; we have not only Teachers in word, but the Saints in all Ages, as ſo many Stars, have given us light how to walk in the darkneſs of this life. The examples of the godly are very drawing, and much for our imitation, and therefore the Pſalmiſt bids us, Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, Pſal. 37.37.for the end of that man is peace. O it's a bleſſed help to a Chriſtan life to read over, much more to mark, and obſerve the holy and godly lives of the Saints of God; how doth their Zeal condemn our coldneſs, their diligence our negligence, their watching and prayer, our ſluggiſhneſs and indevotion? And how are they as ſpurs to quicken us forwards in our ſpiritual voyage towards Heaven?
4. Chriſts Ordinances be our helpers; as the Word, and Sacraments, and Prayer, and Meditation, and Conference, &c. What are they but Fountains of grace, conduits and conveyances of the blood of Chriſt? To what end were they inſtituted, but for the watering of our ſouls to the encreaſe of grace, and to the ſupplanting of ſin and vice, and all manner of evil?
5. The encouragements of reward be our helps. Now in the practiſe of Chriſtian Religion there is a double reward. 1. The reward of duty,Pſal. 19.11. In the keeping of thy Commandments there is great reward; he ſaith not, for keeping them, but in keeping them there is great reward, there is a grace, a beauty, an excellency in every gracious acting. 2. The reward according to the duty; to this exerciſe of Religion Chriſt hath annexed many ſweet and gracious Promiſes both for this life, and that to come; and theſe Promiſes may be uſed as helps; He had reſpect unto the recompence of reward. Heb. 11.26.To this purpoſe are the glorious things of Heaven ſet open before us, that we may have an eye to them, and be encouraged by them. So run that ye may obtain.1 Cor. 9.24.
6. The openings and diſcoveries of the pains of Hell are as helps to reſtrain us from ſin, and to keep us in the way to Chriſt. This, ſome call legal, but Chriſt in the Goſpel tells us of this; in the Goſpel we find a deſcription of hell-pains, ſet out by weeping, and wailing and gnaſhing of teeth; by a worm never dying, Matth. 8.12. Mark 9.44.and a fire never going out; Oh when I think of thoſe unquenchable flames, thoſe remedileſs torments, without hope of recovery, remiſſion, or mitigation; when I think of that privation and loſs of the ſight of Gods face, prepared only for thoſe that ſerve him in holineſs, how ſhould I but look about me, and prepare for my reckoning? Nay how eaſie ſhould I think any pains in compariſon? Some perſons in affrightment have been ſeen to carry burthens, and to leap ditches, and climb walls, which their natural power could never have done; and if we underſtood the ſadneſs of a curſed eternity, from which we are commanded to fly, and yet knew how near we are to it, and how likely to fall into it, if we continue in ſin, it would be able to create feares greater than a ſudden fire, or a mid-night alarm.
7. A principle of love (whereſoever it is planted) is our help; be the Yoak never ſo uneaſie, yet love will make it light;Can. 3.10. Solomon compares the eſtate of the Church to a chariot, and it is deſcribed to have Pillars of Silver, and a Bottom of Gold, and a Covering of Purple, the midſt thereof being paved with Love; a ſtrange expreſſion, that the midſt of a Chariot ſhould be paved with love; but 'tis plain, the Chariots wherein Chriſt carries his people up and down in the World, and brings them to himſelf, is ſuch a Chariot as the midſt thereof is paved with love; in this caſe if there were neither Heaven, nor Hell, yet a ſoul would be in the duties of Chriſtianity. I remember how Ivo, Biſhop of Chartres, meeting a grave Matron on the way with fire in one hand, and water in the other, he asked her what thoſe ſymboles meant? and what ſhe meant to do with her fire and water? ſhe anſwered, My purpoſe is with the fire to burn Paradiſe, and with the water to quench the flames of Hell, that men may ſerve God (ſaid ſhe) without the incentives of hope and fear, and purely for the love of God, and Jeſus Chriſt. Surely it was an high expreſſion; for my part I dare not ſeparate thoſe things which God hath joyned together; only this I ſay, that where true love is, there is an excellent help in our way Heaven-wards.
8. The Angels be our helps; They are miniſtring ſpirits, Heb. 1.14.ſent forth to miniſter for them who ſhall be heirs of Salvation, Heb. 1.14. and the kind of their miniſtration is excellently ſet forth by the Pſalmiſt, They ſhall keep thee in all thy wayes, they ſhall bear thee up in their hands, leaſt thou daſh thy foot againſt a ſtone, Pſal. 91.11, 12. in this place the Angels are compared to Nurſes that have a charge over weak Children to keep them and guard them; ſo the Angels do all the offices of a Nurſe, or Mother; they keep us, guard us, inſtruct us, admoniſh us, correct us, comfort us, preſerve us from evil, and provoke us to good.
9. The Motions, Inſpirations, bleſſed Influences of the Spirit of Chriſt be our helps; many a time the Spirit cries,Iſa. 30.21. and calls on our hearts, ſaying, This is the way walk therein: as the evil Spirit, or Devil in wicked men is continually moving, and inclining them to all evil thoughts, affections, and deſires; ſo the good Spirit of God in good men doth incline, and move them to good thoughts, good affections, good actions; and hence they are ſaid to be led by the Spirit; Rom. 8.14.there are indeed ſeveral acts of the Spirit, as ſometimes, there is a breathing or ſtirring; ſometimes a quickening, or enlivening; ſometimes a powerful effectual inclining, or bending of our hearts unto good things; now in ſome of theſe works the Spirit is moſt-what, for in the progreſs of ſanctification, we need a continual help, and influence, from Gods holy Spirit; and when we obey theſe conducts,Gal. 5.24. we are ſaid to walk in the Spirit; and as all theſe are helps in the wayes of Chriſtianity, ſo by theſe helps and aſſiſtance of Chriſt's Holy Spirit, Chriſtianity is made very eaſie unto us.
10. The Grace of God is our help; many feeling the ſtrength of corruption cry out with Paul, Rom. 7.24. Ver. 23. 2 Cor. 12.9.O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from this body of death? O I find a law in my members warring againſt the law of my mind; but they conſider not the comfortable ſaying of Chriſt to Paul, My grace is ſufficient for thee; by the aſſiſtance of grace Paul could do any thing; I can do all things through Chriſt that ſtrengtheneth me; Phil. 4.13. Rom. 8.37. Pſal. 119.32.yea, In all theſe things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us: the Pſalmiſt hath a notable expreſſion to this purpoſe, I will run the way of thy Commandments, when thou ſhalt enlarge my heart; this enlargement of heart was by the grace of God; grace is compared to oyl: as a dry purſe is ſoftned and enlarged by anointing it with Oyl, ſo the heart drawn together by ſin, is opened and enlarged by the pouring of grace into it; and if grace be preſent, then ſaith David, I will run the way of thy Commandments; not walk, but run; it is an alluſion to a Cart-Wheel, which crieth and complaineth under a ſmall burthen being dry, but when a little Oyl is put into it, it runs merrily, and without noiſe; and if David could ſay thus in his time, how much more ſhould we that live in theſe Goſpel-times, when grace in greater meaſure is effuſed, and poured out? by the grace of Chriſt (ſhould we ſay) we will walk, and run, and fly in the way of his Commandments.
Ʋſe.Well then, is Chriſtian Religion and the practice of it, full of ſweetneſs, eaſineſs, and pleaſantneſs? in the firſt place for conviction, this may take away the cavils of ſome men; what is ſaid in way of objection I ſhall reduce to theſe particulars.—
1. They object that Chriſt himſelf confeſſeth it to be a Yoak, and a burthen; but no that we anſwer with Chriſt, his Yoak is eaſie, and his Burthen is light. Certainly there are burthens which grieve not the bearers at all, as the burthen of feathers upon a Birds back; it is nothing grievous to her, but rather bears her up; and a burthen of Gold and Jewels upon a mans back (ſuppoſing it the reward of his portage, and the hire of his labour) it is nothing grievous to him, but rather cheers him up. Men, Brethren, and Fathers, if we will but come and cloſe with Chriſt, the Spirit is given to enable us, and Heaven is promiſed to encourage us; the one gives power, and the other ſtirs up our affections, and how then ſhould we complain of preſſure? O it is a ſweet burthen! ſweetned by his Grace, and ſweetned by his Spirit, and ſweetned by a principle of love, O how I love thy Law? Pſal. 119.97, 174. Pſal. 19.11.and ſweetned by a principle of delight, Thy Law is my delight; and ſweetned with a promiſe of reward, In the keeping of thy Commandments there is great reward.
2. They object; we feel no ſuch thing; you tell us of ſweetneſs, eaſineſs, pleaſantneſs;Mal. 1.13. Amos 8.5. but if we muſt ſpeak out our own experiences, O what a wearineſs is it?— when will the New-moon be gone, that we may ſell Corn? and the Sabbath, that we may ſet forth wheat? We feel a ſweetneſs in theſe preſent enjoyments of the World, but as for Holineſs, Grace, Religion, the Diſcipline of Chriſt, we wonder where the ſweetneſs is, we can find no ſuch ſecret golden Mines in theſe ſpiritual diggings.
I anſwer, 1. This indeed is the ſpeech of carnal and prophane men, they feel no ſweetneſs, eaſineſs, pleaſantneſs in Gods wayes; The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, 1 Cor. 2.14, 15.for they are fooliſhneſs unto him, neither can he know them, becauſe they are ſpiritually diſcerned: but he that is ſpiritual judgeth or diſcerneth all things. Poor ſouls! till God ſpeak to your hearts you cannot underſtand this hidden Manna: It is obſerved that God never ſent the pleaſant Manna unto Iſrael ſo long as their Flower and Bread of Aegypt laſted; ſo never will you taſt how good the Lord is, ſo long as you doat on ſin and vanity.
2. Though you feel not theſe things for the preſent, yet in time you may do; yea certainly if you belong to God, in time you will do; O but when? you will ſay, when? I anſwer, the firſt taſt of this ſweetneſs is uſually at the firſt taking of Chriſts yoak upon us; as Merchants deſire us to ſell their waters, are content in the firſt place to let you ſee, and handle, and taſt, thereby to induce you to buy: ſo Jeſus Chriſt willing (as it were) to part with Heaven, he is content in the firſt place to impart a certain taſt before hand, and to ſweeten the wayes of golineſs unto us; B…hold, Hoſ. 2.14.I will allure her (ſaith God) and bring her into the Wilderneſs, and ſpeak comfortably unto her. What is it that God means by alluring of his people? I anſwer, it contains theſe things. As,—
1. A diſcovery of the beauty of holineſs; when God firſt effectually calls the ſoul home to himſelf, he ſets open the beauty of his ſervice; naturally the heart is poſſeſſed with much prejudice againſt the wayes of Religion, Oh what a ſtrict rule is this to carnal men, to pull out their right eyes, to cut off their right hands, to hate Father, and Mother, and Wife, and Lands, and Life for the Name of Chriſt, to croſs their own deſires, to deny their own ſelves, to mortifie their earthly members, to follow the Lamb through evil report and good report, through afflictions, and perſecutions, and manifold temptations whitherſoever he goeth, to war with principalities, and powers, and ſpiritual wickedneſſes in high places? and hence it is that the Lord is forc'd to ſet forth the wayes of Chriſt as beautiful, even under croſſes and afflictions; thus when the watchman ſmote the Church, and wounded her, and took away her vail, yet ſhe ſtill acknowledged Chriſt (for whoſe ſake ſhe ſuffered) to be white and ruddy, Cant. 5.7, 10.the faireſt of ten thouſands. Chriſt ſets forth himſelf and his wayes in all the grace, and goodneſs, and beauty, and ſweetneſs, and lovelineſs that poſſibly may be; q. d. by theſe I will allure them that belong unto me.
2. An out-bidding of all the temptations of other Lovers; before Chriſt come, ſouls go a whoring from Chriſt, their hearts are allured by other lovers; the world, the fleſh, and the Devil come in, and they proffer Souls ſuch and ſuch contentments; but when Chriſt comes; he deals with ſouls in a more Powerful way, and he out-bids all their former lovers, q. d. Did their lovers proffer them comfort? I will bid more comfort; Did their lovers proffer gain? I will bid more gain; Did their lovers proffer honour and reſpect? I will out-bid them in that alſo. And indeed, then hath the Goſpel a true, and full, and gracious work upon the heart, when it yields to the proffers of the Goſpel, as finding that all that the World can bid is now out-bidden; you know, when one comes to offer ſo much for a commodity, and another out-bids him, he carries it away; ſo when the World, and luſt, and ſin proffer to the ſoul ſuch and ſuch contents, then comes Chriſt and out-bids all, and ſo the bargain is made up, and Chriſt carries the heart away; ſinners, it may be as yet you feel none of theſe things, but in time you may do, and in the mean time you ſee here is a word for it, Behold I will allure her, &c.
3. They object, the Saints themſelves feel no ſuch things, for ought appears to the World; whoſe ſpirits are more heavy and ſad? as it is ſaid of Chriſt himſelf, that he never laughed, and as David ſaid of himſelf, Why art thou caſt down O my ſoul, Pſal. 42.5.and why art thou diſquieted within me? So it may be ſaid of ſome Chriſtians, if they are ſtrict, that they are ſeldom merry, or pleaſant.—
But I anſwer—1. Chriſtians that keep indeed cloſe to the rule, are for the moſt part ſerious, and the word may ſuppoſe them, as ſad.
2. It may be they are not in their element, in the acts of Religion, and therefore they cannot expreſs their ſpiritual cheerfulneſs; a fiſh cannot delight it ſelf on the Earth, but when it is in the water; a Bird doth not ſing on the ground, but when it is got up into the air; Gods people cannot rejoyce in ſin, as drunkards and revellers do; but when their hearts are in Religious exerciſes, and in communion with God, they are merry and pleaſant.
3. It may be they are in ſuch company as may make them ſad: the men of the World object againſt Saints, that they are heavy, and ſowr, and melancholy men; but in the mean time they conſider not that their ſwearing, revelling, and diſhonouring of God hath made them ſo penſive. Why ſinners! your carriage grieves the very Spirit of God,Gen. 6.6. You grieve God at the heart, as it is expreſſed, Gen. 6.6. and therefore no wonder if the godly cannot rejoyce in your ſinful ſociety; you are the cauſe of their ſadneſs; but admit them once into the company and fellowſhip of the Saints, and they know how to be joyful.
4. If it be ſo, that uſually they are penſive and ſad, it is not becauſe of Religion, but becauſe they are not more Religious; becauſe they find ſo much want of godlineſs in their own hearts;Rom. 7.24. this was the cauſe of Pauls heavineſs, O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from this body of death? And yet know, that all theſe ſadneſſes are true preparatives to joy; and therefore in the very next words, the Apoſtle breakes out into that ſweet Doxology, I thank God, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. Never was true ſorrow for ſin, but it ended in rejoycings, and praiſes, and thankſgiving to God,
Why then be convinced; Ah deceived ſouls! ſay not that God is an hard Maſter, reaping where he ſowed not, and gathering where he ſtrawed not; ſay not that his wayes are tedious, and irkſome, and uncomfortable wayes; but rather taſte, and ſee, and try how good the Lord is; experience the truth of theſe words, My Yoak is eaſie, and my Burthen is light: What is lighter than that Burthen, which inſtead of burthening Chears up the party on which it is laid? Juſt like thoſe burthens of Cinnamon, that refreſh thoſe that carry them through the deep ſands of Arabia. An holy Divine once endeavouring to convince men of the ſweetneſs and pleaſantneſs of Gods wayes by his own experiences; I call H…aven and Earth to Record (ſaith he) that theſe things are truths of God; they are not notions, or conceits, but certain realities: Another flyes ſomewhat higher; If men would in earneſt (ſayes he) abandon the Devils ſervice, and give up their names to Chriſt in truth; and try, I dare aſſure them in the Word of Life and Truth, they would not exchange the ſaddeſt hour of all their life afterward, with the prime and flower of all their former ſenſual pleaſures, Prov. 3.17.might they have ten thouſand worlds to boot; her wayes are wayes of pleaſure, ſaith Solomon.
Ʋſe 2. Pſal. 1.1, 2. Pſal. 119.1. Pſal. 40.8.2. You that are ſo convinc'd, I beſeech you carry on the work of God ſweetly, comfortably, and with delight: the Pſalmiſt ſayes, Bleſſed is the man that delights in the Law of the Lord. And Bleſſed are the undefiled in the way, who walk chearfully in the Law of the Lord. And bleſſed is the man that delighteth greatly in his Law. And it is written upon the heart of Chriſt, I delight to do thy will O my God, yea they Law is within my heart; as God loves a cheerful giver, ſo a chearful ſerver; Come take my Yoak upon you, ſaith Chriſt, for my Yoak is eaſie; it is not an Iron Yoak of Bondage, but a Chain of heavenly Pearls to adorn your ſouls.
Queſt. 1 Oh, but how ſhould we carry on the Work, the Yoak, the Duty, the Practiſe of Piety, and of Religion pleaſantly? I anſwer.Anſw.
1. Be ſure to keep the heart right and upright within; let all we do be in ſincerity, and let all we are in reſpect of the inner man be at peace within; ſence and reaſon can tell us, that according to the tempter within, ſo there is the reliſhing of things without; he that acts in ſincerity, and hath peace within, can eaſily go through the duties that are required without, with joy and comfort.
2. Exerciſe ſaith in the work and office of the Holy Ghoſt; I mean that work and office to which the Holy Ghoſt is deſigned, by the Father, and the Son, both to help his people, and to be the Comforter of his people. 1. The holy Ghoſt is deſigned to help his people; Likewiſe the Spirit helpeth our infirmities; the word in the Original†foreign. John 14.26. and 15.26. doth properly imply ſuch an help,Rom. 8.26. as when another man of ſtrength and ability ſteppeth in, to ſuſtain the burthen that lyeth upon weak ſhoulders; why, this makes Chriſts Burthen light, we do not bear all the weight, for the holy Ghoſt puts under his ſhoulder. 2. The Holy Ghoſt is deſigned to comfort his People. Chriſt calls him the Spirit, the Comforter; becauſe he brings in a kind of ſpiritual joy, and ſpiritual comfort. Mark, it is not a natural, but a ſpiritual joy; Oh what a vaſt difference is there betwixt the comforts of a carnal heart, and the comforts of the godly? The one comes from a little meat, or drink, or creature vanity; but the other comes from the exerciſe of Faith, about the office of the Holy Ghoſt, who is deſigned to this work? ſurely here is the way to carry on duty ſweetly, and comfortably, and with delight (i.e.) to be in the exerciſe of faith on the work and office of the Holy Ghoſt, as he is our Helper and Comforter, 1 Pet. 2.9.1 Pet. 2.9.
3. Underſtand what is in Chriſtian Religion, and in the practiſe of it to cauſe delight. As.—
1. In every duty and gracious acting of it, there is more of the Glory of God, than in the whole frame of Heaven and Earth beſides; Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much Fruit, John. 15.8. Oh, if we but thus looked at the profeſſion and practice of Chriſtian Religion, we could not but take pleaſure in it.
2. In every duty and gracious acting of it, there is the ſeed of glory, and eternal life; ſometimes there breaks out in the very exerciſe of duty a joy in the Holy Ghoſt, a foretaſt of Glory; but howſoever there is the ſeed of Glory; and though the ſeed of Glory be not ſeen, but lye as it were under ground dead, and unſeen, yet in time it will ſpring up unto eternal life: why, thus look at the practice of Religion, and it will be ſweeter to us than Honey and the Honey-Comb, it will be more precious than Gold, yea than much fine Gold.
But how ſhould we know the difference betwixt the natural pleaſantneſs, and this Queſt. 2 ſpiritual pleaſantneſs in Religion? I know Chriſtians may put a luſtre upon the wayes of God by their natural pleaſantneſs, and chearfulneſs of ſpirit; but becauſe we ſpeak of a ſpiritual joy, and comfort, and not of a natural, wherein lies the difference? I anſwer.—
1. If it be a ſpiritual pleaſantneſs, it will be ſerious; I have ſaid of laughter it is mad, Anſw. Eccleſ. 2.2.and of mirth what doth it? There is much lightneſs and vanity in ſuch breakings out of natural pleaſantneſs, but in ſpiritual pleaſantneſs all is grave, and ſober, and exceeding ſerious.
2. If it be a ſpiritual pleaſantneſs, it can ſtand with repentance, and humiliation, and the fear of God, rejoyce with trembling, ſaith the Pſalmiſt;Pſal. 2.11. Pſal. 112.1. ſpiritual rejoycing may conſiſt with trembling: And bleſſed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his Commandments; the fear of God may conſiſt with theſe ſpiritual delights in the Commandments of God.
3. If it be ſpir…ual pleaſantneſs, it is our ſtrength; The joy of the Lord is our ſtrength, ſaith Nehemiah; Nehem. 8.10.nothing animates ſouls more in duties than joy doth; it carries on the ſoul more fully: it is as oyl that cauſeth the wheels of Chriſtian practiſe to go on more freely: we may be naturally pleaſant, and then coming to ſpiritual duties our hearts are dead; but if out pleaſantneſs be ſpiritual, our hearts will be ſtrengthened in the wayes of God.
4. If it be a ſpiritual pleaſantneſs, it will bear up the heart in want of all outward pleaſantneſs; Although the Fig-Tree ſhall not Bloſſome, neither ſhall fruit be in the Vines, Heb. 3.17, 18.the labour of the Olive ſhall fail, and the fields ſhall yield no meat, the Flock ſhall be cut off from the fold, and there ſhall be no herd in the ſtalls, yes I will rejoyce in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my ſalvation. When all is dark abroad in the World, the ſoul in this frame will rejoyce in God alone; on the contrary, the ſoul that hath only a natural pleaſantneſs of Spirit, when affliction comes, it is all amort, and down; I appeal to you that have the moſt delightful ſpirits, when you have friends, and means, and all you like, you are jocund and merry; but when affliction comes, how quickly are your ſpirits down? ſurely your pleaſantneſs is not ſpiritual, for if ſo, it would bear up your hearts joyful in affliction.
And now again the Paſſover, a Feaſt of the Jews was nigh: John 6.4.our Engliſh Annotations on theſe words can tell us, that this ſeems to be *So Aretius, and others.the third Paſſover after Chriſt's baptiſme. And therefore here I conclude the third year of Chriſt's Miniſtry; there is but one year more before Chriſts death, to which now I come, and to ſome paſſages therein, moſt obſervable in reference to our Souls ſalvation.