Sermons Preached Upon Several Occasions, Sermon 3
SERMON III.
GEN. 5. 24. And Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
I Have already conſidered two Propoſitions that did ariſe from ſome particular conſideration, before I came to the main; Firſt, In that Enoch is taken notice of above the reſt; here are ten Patriarchs ſpoken of in this Chapter, but it's ſaid of Enoch only, that he walked with God: they all walked with God, but he in a ſpecial manner. God hath ſome of his Servants in all Ages that walk more cloſe with him than others; that was the firſt Propoſition. And then Secondly, That the Lord takes ſpecial notice of ſuch: here's more notice taken of Enoch than of all the reſt, Enoch walked with God. And there is one particular more before I come to the main Obſervation,
And that is, The conſideration of the Time in which Enoch lived: It was in evil times; men began exceedingly to degenerate, the world began to grow exceeding wicked, and was filled with violence, and therefore it was that Enoch did breath out threatnings againſt them: he breathed out threatnings of Judgement againſt the men of his Generation, which the Apoſtle Jude doth apply to the men of that Age in which he lived, in Jude 14, 15. it's ſaid there (ſpeaking of the wickedneſs of his Generation) And Enoch the ſeventh from Adam, Propheſied of theſe, ſaying, Behold the Lord cometh with ten thouſand of his Saints, to execute Judgement upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard ſpeeches which ungodly ſinners have ſpoken againſt him: the Prophet it's very probable did Propheſie this againſt the men of his Generation, they being exceedingly corrupt; and the Apoſtle doth apply it unto the Age in which he lived, becauſe it was like unto the Age in which Enoch lived, which was very corrupt; ſo that you ſee (and it's very obſervable) that in the time in which Enoch lived, that Generation was very corrupt, yet he walked with God. It affords us this Propoſition to pitch upon, That
The Lord takes it exceeding kindly, when his people walk cloſely with him in evil times, it's the great commendation of the Saints then to walk cloſely with God: it was the commendation of the Church of Pergamus in Rev. 2. 13. I know thy works, and where thou dwelleſt, even where Satans ſeat is, and thou holdeſt faſt my name, and haſt not denied my Faith, even in thoſe daies wherein Antipas my faithful Martyr was ſlain, who was ſlain among you, where Satan dwelleth. This was the great commendation of that Church, that though ſhe dwelt where Satans ſeat was, in the midſt of wicked men where the Devil rules, where the Devil hath his Throne, yet there thou haſt not denied my Faith, but there thou holdeſt faſt my truth: this Chriſt took exceeding kindly. It was the great commendation of Job, that he was a perfect man, he was a perfect and upright man, though he dwelt in the Land of Ʋz; he was a man that dwelt in the Land of Ʋz, a perfect and upright man, he was upright in the midſt of a ſinful people: they were of the poſterity of Eſau that inhabited that place, a crooked Generation, and yet Job was an upright man amongſt them; that was his great commendation. It was the great commendation of Noah that he was a juſt man in an unjuſt world; it's ſaid, the whole earth was filled with violence in Noah's daies, and then Noah was a juſt and perfect man. It was the great commendation of Joſeph, that he feared the Lord amongſt the Egyptians, he dwelt amongſt thoſe that had not the fear of the Lord amongſt them, and yet he retained the fear of the Lord. And ſo it was the great commendation of David, that his ſpirit was carried after God, not only when he was in Jeruſalem, but when he was among the Heathen, when he was amongſt the Inhabitants of Meſhek, when he was in the Tents of Kedar, Woe is me, that I am to dwell with the Inhabitants of Meſhek, &c. and yet even then David's heart was carried after God, and that was David's great commendation. It was one of the glories and beauties of Chriſt himſelf, That he was holy and righteous in a ſinful world, As the Apple-tree in the midſt of the Trees in the Foreſt, ſo is my Beloved among the Sons, Cant. 2. 3. He was an Apple-tree in the midſt of wild Trees, when he was compaſſed about with Bryars, Thorns and Thiſtles, and Crab-trees, yet he continued a pleaſant Apple-tree, and brought forth delightful fruit to God and man. Now for the clearing of this Point, That the Lord takes it exceeding kindly, when his people walk cloſe with him in evil times,
I ſhall ſhew you, Firſt, What the evil times are; And then Secondly, What it is to walk with God in evil times. And Thirdly, Make it evident, that this is exceeding acceptable unto God, which will make way for the Application.
Firſt, If you enquire what thoſe evil times are in which cloſe walking with God is ſo exceeding acceptable?
1. Firſt, Times of General Apoſtaſie: times of great corruption, and of General Apoſtaſie from God, from the truth, and from the waies of God, and from the worſhip of God; when men ſhall loſe not only the power, but the very form of Godlineſs; when ſuch as ſeem to be like Stars, ſhall be ſwept down; and when moſt men are carried away with the ſtream of looſeneſs, it's an evil time, and then to walk with God is exceeding precious: Such was the time of Noah; in the time in which Noah lived the whole world was corrupt, and the whole earth was filled with violence; Ay, but then Noah walked with God in his Generation, and that was exceeding acceptable. And ſo again, we have other Inſtances of the like in Hoſ. 11. 12. It was the great commendation of Judah, that when the people of Iſrael had corrupted themſelves, when Iſrael had gone aſtray from God, from his worſhip, and from his truth, then Judah was found faithful with God, Ephraim has compaſſed me about with lies, and the houſe of Iſrael with deceit, but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the Saints; Judah ſtill holds faſt, or Judah leaves a witneſs to his God, bears witneſs to the truth of God, and is faithful to the Saints, faithful to the Prophets, and that was the great commendation of Judah, to be faithful at that time; in a time of general corruption: And ſo again in Mal. 3. 14. It was a very evil, a very corrupt time, and God took it exceeding kindly that his people did hold up for him: Ye have ſaid, it is in vain to ſerve the Lord, and what profit is it that we have kept his Ordinances, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord? and now we call the proud happy, yea they that work wickedneſs are ſet up, and they that tempt God are even delivered: but what follows? mark the 16 Verſe, Then they that feared the Lord ſpake often one to another, &c. The people were wofully corrupt, God had a few names there that he kept faithful to himſelf, they that feared the Lord even then, when the time was ſo evil, they ſpake often one to another, and a Book of remembrance was written.
2. Secondly, Times of ſore perſecution; times of perſecution are evil times, and then to walk with God is exceeding acceptable; ſuch was the time in which Elijah lived; it was a time of great perſecution, Jezebel had ſlain all the Lords Prophets, there was none in all the Land durſt appear for God, and therefore (he thought) he had been left alone, Lord they have ſlain thy Prophets, and left me alone: and yet Elijah ſtands up for God; there was none in all the Land durſt appear for God, and therefore Elijah thought he had been left alone, 1 King. 19. 14. And yet Elijah ſtood up for God, and with an undaunted ſpirit bare witneſs and ſtood up for God: this the Lord took exceeding kindly at Elijah's hand. What a gracious promiſe is made to the Church of Philadelphia, becauſe ſhe ſtood it out in evil times, Becauſe thou haſt kept the Word of my patience: Thou haſt kept my Word with patience, thou haſt kept my truth, notwithſtanding all the oppoſition thou haſt met with, that truth which was moſt oppoſed, that truth which was moſt perſecuted, that which was the truth of the times thou haſt kept, and thou haſt kept it with patience, notwithſtanding all thy ſuffering, notwithſtanding all oppoſition, Therefore I will keep thee in the hour of temptation that is coming upon the World.
3. Thirdly, Times of Temptation are evil times, and then to walk cloſely with God is acceptable: when Satan himſelf, or by his Inſtruments ſhall endeavour to beat ſouls from their ſtanding, when he ſhall endeavour to turn them aſide from God, then to hold faſt, is taken exceeding well. It is the great deſign of the Devil by himſelf, or wicked men, thus to ſtrike at Gods people; what do you get by your cloſe walking with God? Why, you get nothing but blows, nothing but ſtripes, and you are afflicted more than any; it was never worſe with you, than ſince you began to follow hard after God; this is Satans temptation, and now to hold faſt is very acceptable: thus it was with Job, Job 2. 9. the Devil tempted him by his wife, ſaies ſhe to him, Doſt thou ſtill retain thine Integrity? Curſe God and die. Doſt thou ſtill retain thy Integrity; what, wilt thou ſtill walk with God? What haſt thou got by walking with him? Thou ſeeſt how ſad a condition thou art brought into, I would never follow that God any longer, I would curſe him and die: it's a ſore temptation, but Job ſtill ſtands in his Integrity, Thou ſpeakeſt like one of the fooliſh women, ſhall we receive good at the hand of the Lord, and ſhall not we receive evil? Thou ſpeakeſt like one of the fooliſh women. But again,
4. Fourthly, Times of Affliction are times of trial, and then it's moſt acceptable for Saints to walk with God: Times of Affliction, when God ſeems to frown, and God ſtretches his hand out againſt his own people, for them yet to purſue after God in their ſpirits, this is very acceptable; to run to God when God ſeems to ſmite them, to run into his arms, when they ſee he is angry, to run under his ſhadow, when God ſeems to beat them ſore; Why, this is very pleaſing unto God: Thus it was with Job, though God ſtretcht out his hand againſt him, yet he would not ſtretch out his hand to iniquity, but ſtill he kept his integrity: he was in a ſad condition, he was ſtript naked of all he had in the world, as you read in Job 1. 21. and though God make him naked, he'll walk with God; though God lay him naked, deſtitute of all comforts, he bleſſes the name of God when all was taken from him, and it's ſaid, in all this Job ſinned not, nor charged God fooliſhly. That's the fourth evil time, in which walking with God is acceptable. But I ſhall ſpeak moſt to the firſt of theſe, becauſe that concerns Enoch moſt, viz. Times of General corruption, times of declining, times of Apoſtaſie, then to walk with God is exceeding acceptable.
Queſt. Then what is it to walk with God in corrupt times, or when do the ſervants of God walk with him in corrupt times?
Anſw. 1. I Anſwer, Firſt of all, when they embrace the truth of the times, thoſe truths that are moſt oppoſed, when they ſhall countenance thoſe truths that are moſt diſcountenanced, when they will not ſhut out the light, the truth that God holds forth in their Generation, though the truth coſt them dear, though they muſt buy it, though they ſuffer the loſs of all for the truth, though it coſt them the loſs of their comforts, the loſs of their good names, the loſs of their Friends, the loſs of Eſtate, yet it's the truth of Chriſt, and it's the truth of the times: When God ſhall thus cauſe his ſervants to embrace thoſe ſcorned, perſecuted, and oppoſed truths of the times in which they live (as every Age hath its ſpecial truth) wherein they are to walk with God in a corrupt Generation. But again▪
2. Secondly, To walk with God in a corrupt Generation, is to practiſe thoſe waies of holineſs, and righteouſneſs, and to ſhew forth thoſe graces which are moſt contrary to the wickedneſs of the times; this is walking with God in a corrupt time: I ſay, to practiſe thoſe waies of holineſs and righteouſneſs, and hold forth thoſe graces, which are contrary to the wickedneſs of the times: and therefore it was Job's great commendation, that he was upright, that he was an upright man in a crooked Generation, he lived amongſt a crooked people. And it was the great commendation of Noah that he practiſed righteouſneſs; it's ſaid, he was a juſt man when the world was moſt unjuſt, it's ſaid, The earth was filled with violence; there was no righteouſneſs in Noah's daies, and then Noah was a juſt man, he was a lover of juſtice and righteouſneſs, he was a follower of it, a pattern at that time when there was nothing but unjuſtneſs and violence in thoſe times: and thus to walk with God in a corrupt time is very pleaſing and acceptable. But again,
3. Thirdly, To walk with God in a corrupt time, is then, when the Servants of God ſhall ſtir up others to cleave cloſe to God at that time: this is part of their ſervice at ſuch time to endeavour to ſtrengthen, and to hold up the hands and the hearts of one another, in declining and ſinful times; you may remember the place before, Mal. 3. 16. Then they that feared the Lord ſpake often one to another; when the time was woefully corrupt, this was the ſervice of that Generation, then they that feared the Lord ſpake often one to another, they ſpake words of encouragement, to ſtrengthen one another, that they might not be diſmayed, that they might go on with boldneſs, in profeſſing the name and truth of Jeſus Chriſt, notwithſtanding all oppoſition.
4. Again, Fourthly, When the Saints ſhall Reſt upon the promiſes of God, which ſeem to be far off, this is part of their walking with God in an evil time: I ſay, then to act faith in the promiſes, which ſeem to be far off; when you ſee nothing but corruption nothing but darkneſs, yet even then to look to the promiſes of life, and holineſs, and grace, which ſhall be given out, and ſhall be fulfilled: when there is little or no knowledge of God, then to cloſe with the promiſe, that the earth ſhall be full of the knowledge of the Lord▪ as the waters cover the Sea; ſo the promiſe that God hath made to roul away the reproach of his ſervants, when they meet with nothing but reproaches from men, then to look upon the promiſe, that he'll roul away their reproach, and cauſe their righteouſneſs to break forth as the Sun at noon-day. That's another. Again,
5. Fifthly, When they ſhall Vindicate the Providences of God, though never ſo ſeemingly croſs unto promiſes, and ſo clear all diſpenſations of God, both to the righteous and the wicked; and though he ſuffer the righteous to be trodden under-foot, yet they ſhall then vindicate God in his diſpenſations, and ſay, That the Lord is good and righteous, and juſt, and there's no iniquity in him; there's a time a coming when he ſhall clear up this truth, and they ſhall diſcern between the righteous and the wicked; there's a time a coming when it ſhall be ſaid, Verily there is a reward for the righteous; there's a reward for the juſt of the earth: they ſhall vindicate the Providences of God in the face of the wicked, Behold the Lord cometh with ten thouſands of his Saints to execute Judgement upon all; there's a day of reckoning coming when the wicked ſhall pay for all; this he reſolves on; and this is a ſecond part of that ſervice, viz. what it is to walk with God in evil times, But,
3. Thirdly, It's exceeding pleaſing to God that his Servants (thus) ſhould walk and ſtick cloſe to him in evil times. I ſhall look no further than that of the Prophet Malachi, Mal. 4. 16. which we before ſpake of, Then they that feared the Lord ſpake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard, and then a Book of remembrance is ſet before them, for them that feared the Lord, and thought upon his Name; You may ſee the Lord is exceeding intent upon his ſervants that walk cloſe with him in evil times, he doth eye them, and his ear is towards them, he liſtens to every word they ſpeak, They that feared the Lord ſpake often one to another; and it's ſaid there, The Lord hearkened and heard: the Lord hearkened: he did as if a man ſhould liſten to hear what his ſervants ſhould ſay one unto another; they had other liſtners it's like in that evil time, the wicked hearkened and liſtned, that they might trap them; Ay, but God liſtens for another end, he hearkened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before them. There's another particular, which doth declare how acceptable it is to God that they walk before him in evil times, a book of remembrance is ſet before them while they ſpeak, God writes and takes notice of what they ſay, A book of remembrance, he writes a book of Chronicles that it may not be forgotten what they ſpake of God, and one to another: An alluſion to the cuſtom of Princes, that they had their books, in which they writ what any man did for them, what good ſervice they had done for the State; as Mordecai's good ſervice was written in a Book, the King calls for the book in which the ſervices of Mordecai were writ: ſo the Lord looks in his Book; a Book of remembrance was written. But again,
Further, A Book was written for them that feared the Lord, and thought upon his name; nothing that they did for God, and ſpake of God, and thought of God, there's nothing ſhall be loſt: it was an evil time; and it may be they durſt not ſpeak all their thoughts; yet, all their good thoughts were taken notice of by the Lord, they were not let go, but ſet down in his book, even their thoughts were written down: God will write them that they ſhall not be forgotten, Oh, I remember the kindneſs of thy youth, Jer. 2. 2. and the love of thy eſpouſal when thou followedſt me in the Wilderneſs: to follow God alone in a Wilderneſs, when there's little or no company, God takes this as a ſpecial reſpect and kindneſs.
But why does God take notice of his people in ſpecial, who walk moſt cloſe with him in evil times?
1. Firſt of all, I Anſwer briefly, It diſcovers that the very Life of God and Chriſt is in that ſoul, God rejoices in the Image of his Life, which he beholds in his Children: it's an argument that the Fiſh hath life when it ſwimms againſt the ſtream; the dead Fiſh, that's carried down the ſtream, it cannot make any reſiſtance: It's an Argument the life of Chriſt is in that ſoul that is enabled to walk with God in evil times, to go againſt the ſtream of corruption and looſeneſs.
2. Secondly, Again, As it is an Argument of Life, ſo it's an Argument of Strength; that ſoul hath got much ſtrength from God, that walks thus with God in evil times: It requires much ſtrength to ſwimm againſt the ſtream, a great ſtream; there are times of great oppoſition; the ſervants of God meet with much oppoſition from Satan and the World, then, then to walk with God when all the world almoſt goes contrary, to bear up with God then, doth diſcover the ſtrength of the ſoul which God is exceedingly delighted with.
3. Thirdly, Again, To walk with God in evil times, is an Argument of Sincerity: to do for God out of ſincerity; Job was ſincere, and ſtill retained his Integrity, notwithſtanding all the oppoſition that he met with; it doth diſcover that the ſoul hath a better principle; that ſoul that bears up with God in evil times▪ it hath a better principle than the men of the world; that he doth not walk by the Examples and Commands of men: it's not multitudes of men; this carries on falſe hearts, which oft fall in evil times; and therefore when God (notwithſtanding general corruptions) carries on the hearts of Gods people to ſtick cloſe to him, it's an Argument of much ſincerity, and ſincerity is that which God is exceedingly delighted in.
And therefore I ſhall conclude with a word or two of Application.
1. Ʋſe. Firſt of all, It lets us ſee how contrary the wicked are to the righteous: It's not a good time will make the wicked man good, as it's not wicked time that will make the righteous man evil; it's neither the time, place nor company that can change the nature of the wicked man: Saul retains his evil heart when he is in the midſt of the Prophets; though he be amongſt the Prophets, and Propheſie amongſt them, his heart is as evil as ever; but on the contrary, David retains a ſweet enjoyment and breathings after God, when his ſoul was amongſt the Heathen in the Tents of Kedar; the wicked man will not learn righteouſneſs in a Land of uprightneſs, let favour be ſhown to him: though he be in a Land of uprightneſs, he will not learn righteouſneſs; on the contrary, a gracious heart will not learn perverſeneſs, though he be in a Land of wickedneſs: For why? there's the ſeed of God in them, the ſeed of God ſhall preſerve them; and therefore, Oh what cauſe have wicked men to ſee and bewail their condition! it's not time, place, nor company can make them better: in a Land of uprightneſs they'l be evil. Oh that the Lord would cauſe them to bewail their ſinful natures, and ſo come unto Jeſus Chriſt, that ſo he may make their crooked natures ſtraight. And let the Saints be thankful unto God, for that principle of God that is in them, Oh what cauſe have you to rejoice in it, and to be thankful for it, that God hath put ſuch a ſeed of himſelf into you! that he hath made you partakers of his own divine nature, which all the corruption that is in the world cannot alter! All the ſalt water that is in the Sea can't make the live Fiſh ſalt, ſtill it retains its freſhneſs; and all the wickedneſs that is in wicked men, can't make the gracious heart wicked. I ſay, improve this that is of God in you, take heed that you be not carried down with the ſtream of corrupt times; but know the worſe that the times are, ſo much the better ſhould you (that are the people of God) be; you are ſet up as Lights in the night, you are as the ſtars in the Firmament (ſo ſhall the righteous ſhine one day) and you (as the ſtars) ſhould …ine brighteſt in the darkeſt night; God hath ſet you up for this very end, that ſo you may be as witneſſes in the world, that you may bear up his name in the world, that you may witneſs againſt the general corruption of the times, in which you live: God doth therefore ſet you up as Pillars of Braſs, on which he hath ſet his name, and his ſons name, and you are to bear it in the world; he hath ſet you to bear up his name, and he hath ſet you to bear up the earth, if it were not for the few that did walk with God in corrupt times, the earth would fall; remember then that God hath ſet you up for this very end; therefore don't ſuffer the name of God to fall through your looſe walking with God, and through your giving way to the evil of the times; it's ſpecial ſervice God hath for you to do, you are ſet here for this very end to bear up his name, it's the work, the ſervice in your Generation; and therefore know that God calls for it at your hands, Oh know, he expects that you ſhould embrace the truth of the times that are moſt oppoſed, perſecuted and caſt out, that you ſhould practiſe the contrary graces unto the wickedneſs of the times, that you ſhould ſtrengthen and encourage one another in the way and work of the Lord, that you ſhould reſt upon the Promiſes, that ſeem to bear up and clear the Providences of God, againſt the blaſphemies of the wicked, this God expects from you in evil times: and know, that if you don't walk cloſely with God it goes to his very heart, I ſay (you that are his people) it grieves the very heart of God when you go aſtray from him; ſaies Chriſt of the twelve Diſciples in Joh. 6. 67. Will ye alſo go away from me? It's ſaid, that there were many at that time that left Chriſt; well, he turns unto his Diſciples, and ſaies to them, Will ye alſo go away from me? But Peter ſaid, To whom ſhould we go? Thou haſt the words of eternal life; What, will you? if you ſhould go away, that would be a greater grief than all the reſt; you that have walked with me ſo long, what, will you turn aſide? It was the great commendation of Judah that ſhe was faithful with God, and he bids her ſo continue; Oh let not Judah turn aſide, in Hoſ. 4. 15. Though Iſrael play the Harlot, yet let not Judah offend: Though they play the Harlot, yet you that are my people, that have ſo long walked with me, and that have kept in my truth, Oh, have you a care, that you walk not with the multitude to do evil, and that you be not extravagant; it goes to the heart of God your Father, if you ſhould walk looſe and keep ill orders, this goes to the heart of God, it's more than if twenty ſtrangers ſhould do it, if you in the leaſt ſhould turn aſide; this is a wound from a Child, and the wound of ſuch goes to the heart of the Father: But on the contrary, know that the Lord is exceedingly delighted with your cloſe walking with him; you heard before in Mal. 3. 16. how God is delighted with the cloſe walking of the Saints, it's kindneſs that God will never forget, he will remember it to the laſt; in Luk. 22. 28. (to name no more) ſaies Chriſt, You are they that have continued with me in my temptations, Behold, I appoint unto you a Kingdom: this was kindly taken: they did not only follow Chriſt, but they continued with him when under temptation, and when he was perſecuted, you that continued with me in my temptation and tribulation, I appoint to you a Kingdom. The Lord ſaies of you, that are followers of him in evil times, that bear up againſt the ſtream, Theſe are they that have continued with me faithful, and I'le not forget them, thou haſt kept to me in the hour of my patience, and I'le keep thee in the hour of temptation that is coming upon the World.