Rejoicing in the Lord Jesus in All Cases and Conditions, Sermon 2
SERMON II.
Habakkuk 3.18.
Yet I will rejoyce in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my Salvation.
THE words have been opened unto you, and we have given you this Propoſition from them; Doct. That there is enough in Chriſt alone for the Soul that is intereſted in him, to rejoyce in, whatſoever his caſe and condition is.
You need no more than Jeſus to make you bleſſed upon Earth; and there is enough in Jeſus to make you bleſſed for ever in Heaven; there is enough in Jeſus to make you happy in time, and enough in Jeſus to make you happy to eternity.
Now here for the Direction of your Faith in looking up to, and in dealing with Chriſt in a dark or low condition, we propoſed to conſider,
Firſt, What Jeſus Chriſt is: And here we told you, that
1. In the firſt place, He is glorious in his Perſon. I now proceed.
2. As he is glorious in his Perſon, ſo he is gracious in his Nature, full of grace, full of kindneſs, full of compaſſion both unto Saints and unto Sinners: He might have ap…eared glorious in his Perſon, and not gracious in his Nature. He might have appeared altogether terrible; a glorious Perſon, and yet ſurrounded with terrible Majeſty; but Jeſus Chriſt is as gracious in his Nature, as he is glorious in his Perſon; he is full of compaſſion unto the Sons of men; there is no harſhneſs, there is no bitterneſs in Chriſt Jeſus; there is nothing in him (my friends) that will diſcourage you; if you ſearch him never ſo narrowly, and if you look him through, there is nothing in him to diſcourage you, but he is full of love, and full of all encouragement: I do not mean that he is full of love only as he is God abſolutely conſidered. The Apoſtle ſays, That God is Love; he ſpeaks it of God the Father; and ſo as Chriſt Jeſus is God equal with the Father in the Divine Nature, it is applicable to the Second Perſon; but that is not all, but he is full of grace in his Nature, as he is clothed with our fleſh, and his Love it is alwaies an encouraging Love; it is alwaies a heart-caſing Love; it is alwaies a Soul-ſatisfying Love. You cannot find ſuch an Object upon Earth, nor ſuch an Object in Heaven, as Jeſus Chriſt is; that is, ſo full of compaſſion, and ſo full of grace as he is; and the greatneſs of his Love as a ground of Joy unto the believing Soul in all conditions, is ſuch as
Firſt, Does break through, and conquer all oppoſings.
Secondly, It heightens under all our ſorrows: And
Thirdly, It abides unmixed in all ſeaſons.
Firſt, His Love is ſuch, and ſo great, that it breaks through all oppoſings and forbiddings. Though there is nothing in Chriſt to diſcourage our Love to him, yet I muſt tell you, that there is enough in us to diſcourage Chriſt's Love to us; and indeed there is nothing elſe in us, but that which may forbid the Love of Jeſus Chriſt dealing with us: Now, whatſoever are the matters of diſcouragement in us, the Love of Jeſus breaks through them all; it ſticks at nothing: Let the heart be never ſo vile, let the ſinner in himſelf be never ſo loathſom; let his waies be never ſo contrary; let the principles upon which he acts be never ſo averſe, the Love of Jeſus Chriſt breaks through all. What is the ſtate of a ſinner when Chriſt Jeſus comes to viſit him? a vile, loathſom, filthy abominable ſtate: You have it ſet out in the 16th of Ezekiel, by all manner of ſtrange expreſſions, that ſhews the ſinner is in a very loathſom ſtate; in the 5th and 6th verſes; Thou layeſt in thy blood, ſaith he, and none Eye pitied thee. One caſts his Eye upon thee, and ſays, There is a loathſom Object, I will have nothing to do with him; another comes by, and caſts his Eye, There is a loathſom Creature, Who would come near ſuch a one? Thou wert caſt out, ſays he, to the loathing of thy perſon, but ſays Jeſus, I paſſed by thee, and it was a time of love. And in the 10th of Luke you may ſee it ſet out in a Parable of the Samaritan; one paſſed by a poor Creature that lay in his blood, and would have nothing to do with him; and another paſſes by, and would have nothing to do with him; but Jeſus the good Samaritan he paſſes by, and he pities him, and binds up his wounds, and heals him. You may ſee what forbiddings this Love of Chriſt marches through, Titus 3 3. For we our ſelves were ſometimes fooliſh, diſobedient, deceivers, ſerving divers luſts and pleaſures, living in malice, hateful, and hating one another. Good Lord! one would think, is it poſſible that ſuch a Soul as this ſhould be brought home, and loved by Jeſus Chriſt, that is in ſuch a ſtate, and have ſuch a heart, and walks in ſuch waies? But, ſays the Apoſtle, v. 4. After that the kindneſs and love of God our Saviour appeared, not by works of righteouſneſs, which we have done, but accoridng to his mercy he ſaved us, &c. And 1 Cor. 6.11. Such were ſome of you, but ye are waſhed, &c. Jeſus, he loves you notwithſtanding this, and continues to love you. Nay (my Friends) this is not all, but his love is ſuch as doth not only march through great oppoſings and forbiddings before grace, but high diſcouragements after grace; Why, what is the walk of the Soul after grace? Is it not very crooked, and very perverſe? Doth not he fall ſhort of the Rule? Doth not he offend God in every thing he doth? Is there not a great deal of unbelief? Is there not a great deal of pride, a great deal of carnality, and impatience, and paſſion, in your hearts after grace? Do not you ſtumble and fall in the Chriſtian walk every day? violate the Covenant of your graceſtate? break the Commandments of God? and yet notwithſtanding all, be continues to love you; in the 80th Pſalm. v. 30.31. Suppoſing, ſays God there, that my Children, my Redeemed Ones, that I have ſet my love upon, and viſited with my grace, that they will forſake my Law, and walk out of the way of my Commandments, that I have called them to walk in and charged them to abide in: Now the Love of Jeſus Chriſt keeps up through all; therefore ſays the Apoſtle, Neither life, nor death, &c. ſhall ſeparate us from the love of Chriſt, Rom. 8.38. The life of a Believer after grace is full of provocation; and it may be, he continues to provoke God as long as he lives: There are provocations and unkindneſſes in his way to the Lord all his life long, till he come to the end of his daies; and yet ſays the Apoſtle, Life ſhall not ſeparate. Now this is a great ground of rejoycing, that thou mayeſt look unto thy Jeſus, and ſee him alwaies loving of thee: Thy waies are very uneven and unconſtant; and thou canſt not keep in ſo good a frame as thou wouldeſt do, yet ſtill Jeſus loves thee: thou art full of wandrings, ſtill Jeſus loves thee; why, here's a love that marches through all oppoſings.
Secondly, It is a Love that heightens under all our ſorrows; I mean as to the communications and diſpenſes of it, or the actual and ſaving diſcoveries of it unto the Believer; it heightens under all our ſorrows, that the greater our troubles are, the more he loves; and the more pitiful our ſtate is, the more compaſſionate he is; he ſees a Believer it may be, lying under great diſtreſſes of body, or in great Agonies of ſpirit; why, this draws out his love, he loves thee more, he is the more pitiful, and the more compaſſionate to thee, as he ſees that thy ſtate is a ſorrowful ſtate, and thy condition a troubled condition; and indeed the Believer never hath ſuch diſcoveries and evidences of the love and kindneſs of God to him, as when he is in a low condition. Jeſus Chriſt, he did come, you know, into a wilderneſs, to walk with Iſrael; And let their troubles be never ſo many, Jeſus Chriſt would not leave them; but the greater their troubles were, the more was his love diſcovered, and the more did his faithfulneſs to them appear; and they never had ſuch an eminent and ſignal appearances of God with them, as when they were in their Wilderneſs Travels. Jacob a holy man, never had ſo much of God, nor never had ſuch a ſight of God, as when he was in a low condition, Gen. 28.15. Behold I am with thee, and I will keep thee in all places whither thou goeſt, and will bring thee again to this Land, and will not leave thee till I have done what I have ſpoken to thee of. And Gen. 31.42. Here the good man was in a great ſtrait; he was afraid that he ſhould be cut off; Ay but ſays he, The Lord, the God of Abraham, and the God of Iſaac, he it was that rebuked thee yeſternight. He did charge thee that thou ſhouldeſt ſpeak no hurt, no evil unto me. And when Iſrael, Exod. 3. came into a groaning captivity and bondage; when their bondage grew very great and unſufferable, then did the Lord wonderfully diſcover himſelf, v. 7. And the Lord ſaid, I have ſurely ſeen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry, by reaſon of their Task-maſters, and am come down to deliver them, &c. And Pſa. 34.16. The Eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his Ears are open to their cry. Here is a ſuppoſition of a condition that the Soul is in, or may be brought into, that makes it groan and cry; Well, for your comfort know, that then in a ſpecial manner is the Eye of the Lord upon you, and his Ear open to you. And Pſal. 56.18. Thou telleſt my wanderings, &c. Thou telleſt my flights; ſo ſome read it. I have never an enemy to purſue me but the Lord takes notice of it, and ſeeth whither the enemy hunts me and drives me; he takes notice of the fury of the oppreſſor that comes out againſt me: Thou telleſt my wanderings, and putteſt my tears in thy bottle. Every tear in a ſorrowful condition Jeſus Chriſt bottles up; he keeps it in remembrance; God's Peoples higheſt viſits of favour and grace; their choiceſt experiences, and the moſt comfortable manifeſtations that they have of God, have been when they have been in a low condition. In proſperity, there God many times lets the Soul walk more at liberty; ay, and he hath leſs of God in proſperity then in adverſity; there he is left to walk by his own light (as I may ſo ſay) and he bears up himſelf more upon his own comforts, he ſtands then (as it were) more upon his own legs, but in a weak condition, and in an afflicted ſtate, in a time of trouble, then is the Lord preſent, diſcovering himſelf more fully to him; and hence it is that the Saints have had their higheſt Joys in the priſon, and have been made to ſing in the flames. They have commended the ſharpeſt diſtreſs that ever they were brought into in this world to be ſuch as could never ſeparate Chriſt and their Souls: the love of your Jeſus is ſo great, that it will leap into a furnace to keep you company. It is ſuch as it will come into any ſtrait and hazard to ſupport and bear up your ſpirits; Lo, this is your friend & your comforter, that you have, O believer, to rejoyce in: Jeſus his heart is alwaies towards you, and the love of his heart it heightens under all your ſorrows; let darkneſs grow upon your ſtate, the light of his love will ſhine through it, and give you a light that you ſhall ſee your way: let your diſconſolations be never ſo many in the creature, the love of Jeſus Chriſt will countervail all, for if the creature be taken away, Jeſus Chriſt will be the more, and in the want of all things he will diſcover himſelf ſo, as ſhall anſwer all to your Souls.
3. As his love is ſuch as heightens under all our ſorrows, ſo it abides unmixed in all ſeaſons; as it is a love that cannot be diverted, ſo it is a love that cannot be adulterated, but it is alwaies a ſweet, alwaies a pure love; a heart eaſing, a ſoul pacifying, a ſoul rejoycing love, none can throw any bitterneſs into the love of Jeſus, but it is alwaies a pure, clear, Chryſtal love, that hath no mixture in it; it is not thus with the love of friends; the ſweeteſt, the beſt, the firmeſt friends that ever man had upon earth, there is ſome mixture in their love: They will ſometimes rejoyce your hearts, and ſometimes they will make your hearts ſad: loving friends may ſometimes frown, and be churliſh and unkind, and you may go to them with your hopes and expectations, and be diſappointed; you may ſoon weary out their love, and they may diſcover ſuch a mixture, that their hearts ſeem ſometimes to be alienated. But it is not thus with the Lord Jeſus, but his love is alwaies a pure, clear, ſoul ſatisfying love, there is light in him, and no darkneſs at all, there is ſweetneſs in him, and there is no bitterneſs at all. There are (as I ſaid before) things that may encourage you, but there is nothing that will diſcourage you in Jeſus, no not unto eternity: now believer this is thy friend, is not this a brother born for adverſity, look amongſt all thy friends upon earth, haſt thou ſuch a one? look into Heaven, are any of the Angels able to do for thee as Jeſus can? Who is there in Heaven or Earth that thy Soul can deſire in compariſon with Jeſus? he is glorious in his perſon, and he is gracious in his nature.
3. Jeſus is the exhibiter, revealer, and unfolder of all the fulneſs of the bleſſed and glorious Attributes of God in a ſalvation way; God is thy God in and through Jeſus Chriſt, and not otherwiſe, God abſolutely in himſelf dwells in light unacceſſable, and is a conſuming fire, we cannot make an approach to God as he is abſolutely conſidered, and live; but now in and through Jeſus Chriſt, God he is a God that may be ſpoken withal, and all his attributes, and the properties of his nature are ſavingly enjoyable. There is a great deal of the glory of God that was diſcovered in the works of Creation, there was the glory of his wiſdom, and the glory of his power, of his goodneſs, and of his ſoveraignty, theſe were diſcovered in the works of Creation, but as ſo exhibited they afre not ſaving, neither do they afford ſoul-ſaving relief to us, abſolutely conſidered in that primary exhibition that was made of them in the works of Creation; but now, in and through Jeſus Chriſt, there all the attributes of God they are ſaving, all the attributes of God they are comfortable and refreſhing. Adam when he was out of Chriſt, could not think of God, but it was a terrour to him: therefore as ſoon as ever he had ſinned, fear entered into his Spirit, and he hid himſelf; why? ſaies the Lord to Adam, what is the matter? O! ſaies he, I was afraid, and I hid my ſelf? Why ſo? O to conſider the greatneſs of God, and the wiſdom of God that was diſcovered in the Creation, and the power of God that was diſcovered in the Creation, and the ſoveraignty and dominion of God that was diſcovered in the Creation: and to think that he had no intereſt in this God, that he had provoked and grieved him, this was a terrour to him, and ſaies Adam, Lord I was afraid, and I hid my ſelf, ay, and all the attributes of God are enough to ſtrike terrour into the Soul that hath no intereſt in Jeſus, conſidered out of Jeſus, and they are not relieving. But now in and through Jeſus, all Gods attributes they are reconciled to, and engaged for the believer, and he may ſee that which may comfort him, and that which may ſatisfy him, 1 Cor. 1.24. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Chriſt the power of God and the wiſdom of God, as if he had ſaid, all the power of God that is ſaving, it is in and through Chriſt Jeſus, and all the wiſdom of God that is ſaving, is in and through Chriſt Jeſus, therefore in him it is ſaid are hid all the treaſures of wiſdom and knowledge, Col. 2.3. Now do but conſider the attributes of God apart, and you will find, that they are no way relieving out of Chriſt, but in Chriſt they are full of Grace, and they are all exhibited and revealed through him as ſaving.
1. As to the Juſtice of God. Why, the juſtice of God out of Chriſt, it is terrible, to conſider that God is a moſt exact, ſevere righteous God, that will give every one their due, and will mete out a portion to every one according to his deſert. This is moſt terrible, to conſider God out of Chriſt, & what may we expect, but as Pſ. 11.6. Ʋpon the wicked he ſhall rain ſnares, fire and brimſtone, and an horrible tempeſt; this ſhall be the portion of their cup: This will be the portion of all thoſe that God hath to do withal out of Chriſt. But now in Chriſt Jeſus this attribute is attoned, and all that wrath, and that juſtice, and that vengeance had to execute, is poured out upon Chriſt Jeſus; juſtice dealt with the Lord Jeſus in its utmoſt ſeverity, and received ſatisfaction in him and from him; ſo as now ſaies the Apoſtle in 1 John 1.9. If we confeſs our ſins, he is faithful and juſt to forgive us our ſins, &c. and ſo Rom. 3.26. To declare I ſay at this time his righteouſneſs, that he might be juſt, and the juſtifier of him that believeth in Jeſus: Why, juſtice hath nothing to ſay againſt thee, but it ſpeaks all for thee, becauſe God is a righteous God, therefore he will love thee: and therefore he will bleſs thee with all bleſſings, becauſe he hath received full ſatisfaction from Jeſus Chriſt thy ſurety.
2. Conſider ſecondly, the power of God out of Chriſt, and it is enough to fill thy heart with terrour, Ezek. 26.14. Can thy heart endure, or can thy hands be ſtrong in the day that I ſhall deal with thee ſaith the Lord, &c. Haſt thou a ſtrength to grapple with me, or canſt thou ſet thy foot againſt me? no verily, what are all the nations of the earth? they are leſs then a crawling worm before the foot of the great God, thou canſt not ſtand before it. But now in Chriſt Jeſus this Attribute is attoned too, and the mighty power of God is engaged to carry on, and to mannage a ſalvation deſign in thee. Therefore ſaies the Apoſtle, Eph. 1.19. That ye may know what is the exceeding greatneſs of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power: So as let the power of God be never ſo great, it is a power engaged for thee to manage and carry on ſalvation work in thee: whatever be the oppoſings that it meet with, either from thy own heart or from others.
Thirdly, If you conſider the Attribute of God's Wiſdom; It is not relieving out of Chriſt. That God is ſo infinitely wiſe, and ſo deep, the Soul may think all this is againſt me, and what is he now doing, but contriving new torments, and new Hells, that are more fierce and exquiſite for me? and ſurely there will be no end of theſe torments. But now in Chriſt Jeſus the Wiſdom of God is imployed in ſuch a deſign of Salvation, that the Angels are ſaid to pry into it; they are aſtoniſhed at the deſign that is brought to light by the Wiſdom of God.
Fourthly, If you conſider the Patience of God out of Chriſt; it is no way relieving. For, what will it advantage a Soul that God does bear with it a while, when under all, there is wrath treaſuring up for him againſt the day of wrath. Rom. 9.22. What if God willing to ſhew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-ſuffering the Veſſels of wrath fitted for deſtruction; So as the Patience of God is exerciſed in bearing with a ſinner a little while till he greaten his ſins: But God will come in upon him notwithſtanding all, though he bear a little while. But now in Chriſt Jeſus the Patience of God is reconciled, 2 Pet. 3.9. For the Lord is not ſlack concerning his Promiſes, as ſome men count ſlackneſs, but is long-ſuffering to us-ward, not willing that any ſhould periſh, but that all ſhould come to Repentance. Why, in Chriſt Jeſus God he is patient, and God he glorifies his Patience, that he might be known to be gracious.
Fifthly, The Love and Goodneſs of God out of Chriſt is not relieving; for 'tis at an end. The Soul may think, well, his love is at an end, he hath no more love for me; I am his enemy. Man, when he had ſinned, muſt turn out of Paradiſe; he muſt pack away and be gone. See my face no more, ſays God. But now in Chriſt Jeſus is the Love of God revealed, and the Goodneſs and Mercy of God revealed.
Sixthly, The Immenſity and Benignity of God, out of Chriſt, is not relieving. What though God may give thee a conſiderable portion in the world, he may fill thine hands with wealth, and thy houſe with treaſure, and fill thy cheſt with ſtore. But all this is given in anger and diſpleaſure; there is nothing of love in it; and thy fulneſs is but fitting thee for the ſlaughter. There is the Curſe of God upon all thy ſtore and plenty; this will not at all avail thee. But now in Chriſt Jeſus the Immenſity and Benignity of God is reconciled, and how doth it ſpeak out love and grace! God is an Immenſe God, and he gives out according to his own Immenſity. And what then are the gifts of his Love and Grace! they are ſuch as cannot be weighed; they are ſuch as cannot be meaſured; there is a height, and depth, and length, and breadth, in all his goodneſs that cannot be fathomed. And all this he is to the Soul through Chriſt. And
Seventhly, If you conſider his Eternity out of Chriſt; it is no way relieving. That God is my enemy, ſays the Soul, and is an everlaſting God; he will be my enemy for ever; and all that is in God will be engaged againſt me for ever; his Juſtice, his Wiſdom, and his Power, and all his Attributes will be engaged againſt me for ever: But now in Chriſt Jeſus, the Eternity of God is matter of great comfort to thee, becauſe he is an Eternal God, being thy God, he will be thy God for ever, thy dwelling place for ever, and thy portion for ever: he will never depart from thee: he will never leave thee: he will never ceaſe to be what he hath promiſed to be, becauſe he is an everlaſting God; and thus you may run over all the Attributes of God, the glory and the fulneſs of them is exhibited and unfolded, publiſhed and revealed by Chriſt Jeſus unto us; and hence it is that in Scripture ordinarily there is no great mention made of the mercy and kindneſs of God to ſinners, but through and with reſpect to Chriſt Jeſus, Eph. 1.3. Who hath bleſſed us with all ſpiritual bleſſings in heavenly places in Chriſt Jeſus. And hence is it ſaid, that we with open face behold the glory of God in the face of Jeſus Chriſt, 2. Cor. 3.8. and 2 Cor. 4.6. God who commanded the light to ſhine out of darkneſs hath ſhined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jeſus Chriſt; and hence is it that Jeſus Chriſt is ſaid to be the brightneſs of the Fathers glory, and the expreſs image of his Perſon, Heb. 1.3. So as here is another thing that is an abiding ground of joy and rejoycing for us in Chriſt Jeſus, he is the exhibiter, revealer, and unfolder of the fulneſs of all the bleſſed and glorious properties of Gods nature in a ſalvation way: hence when God comes to enter into Covenant with a believer, he doth not enter into Covenant with him abſolutely, but in and through Chriſt Jeſus; and hence is it that all the promiſes of the Covenant that are Gods gifts of grace to us, they are yea, and Amen, in Chriſt Jeſus; now do but conſider this, & you may ſee that Chriſt is one your Souls may take comfort in; conſider the glory of his Perſon as he is Mediator, and conſider the graciouſneſs of his nature as he is full of love, and conſider how he is the exhibiter and unfolder of the fulneſs of all the bleſſed and glorious Attributes of God in a ſaving way: And whatſoever diſcouragement Chriſtian thou haſt here below, look up to Jeſus, and thou mayeſt ſee encouragement; have you men that are engaged againſt you? look up to Jeſus, and you may ſee God in him engaged to be your God, Gods power engaged for you, Gods mercy, Gods name, and Gods glory, all engaged for you. Thus as to the firſt particular, what Jeſus Chriſt is.
2. We ſhall now proceed to ſpeak ſomething to the ſecond, and that is what this Jeſus hath; you have ſeen what he is, we will now conſider what he hath; and there are but two things that I ſhall glance upon under this head, that may be relieving to us in our looking up to Jeſus.
1. He hath an irreſiſtible power.
2. He hath an unexhauſtible treaſure.
1. Jeſus in whom we ſhould rejoyce at all times, hath an irreſiſtible power. A power over all fleſh, over all Creatures, over good Angels, and over bad Angels; a power over men, a power over every creature in the whole Creation of God, Col. 2.1. Ye are compleat in him, which is the head of all principalities and powers, and Mat. 28.18. All power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth; Jeſus Chriſt hath an abſolute dominion over all Creatures as he is God, and this is a dominion that he received, not by gift from the Father, but he hath it from the right of Creation, as he is with the Father God over all bleſſed for evermore. But there is a delegated power as I may ſo ſay, a power that is committed to Chriſt Jeſus by ſpecial grant from the Father as he is Mediator over the whole Creation of God, Eph. 1.21, 22. Far above all principalities and powers, and might, and dominions and every name that is named, not only in this world, but in that which is to come, and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church. Now Phil. 2.9, 10, 11. there you may ſee that he received this power from God, Wherefore God alſo hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, &c. and 1 Cor. 15.27. For he hath put all things under his feet, and Pſal. 8.6. Thou haſt made him to have dominion over the works of thine bands. Chriſt hath an univerſal power as Mediator over the whole Creation of God: Now that which is for thy comfort in it, is, in that this power is imployed and improved;
1. For the overcoming of all thine enemies. And
2. For the over-ruling and filling up of all thy wants.
1. This great and univerſal power that Chriſt hath received over all creatures is improved and imployed in the overcoming and binding of all enemies that are againſt thee; Let thine enemies be never ſo ſtrong, let the powers of men engage againſt a poor Soul; Jeſus Chriſt hath a power greater then them all, and will bind them at his pleaſure, and will take the prey out of the hands of the terrible; let Satan the Prince of darkneſs put in againſt a poor creature, he ſhall never be able to take him, and carry him Captive; for Jeſus Chriſt will ſecure him, becauſe greater is he that is in you, then he that is in the world, 1 John 4.4. He is greater than the Prince, the God of the world; now the great power that Jeſus Chriſt hath, is a power for you; Jeſus Chriſt he is inveſted with this power as he is Mediator. that he might over rule all the enemies of your ſtate, & vanquiſh them at his pleaſure, ſo as let them for a while tyrannize and vaunt it; yet they ſhall never be able to carry one poor believer to Hell, nor out of the dominion & power of Gods Grace; for all this power that Jeſus hath, he is intruſted withal for your ſecurity, And
2. For the over-ruling of all your wants in your ſtate. Jeſus Chriſt hath a power, and all power, that he might ſupply you in all your occaſions & neceſſities; it may be the poor believer is diſcouraged, he ſees but a little meal in the barrel, but a little Oil in the cruiſe, he ſees his ſtock begins to waſt, he thinks he ſpends upon the principal, and it will ſoon be all done, and how ſhall he live then; the water in the pitcher is almoſt out, and the cake that is baked is almoſt eaten, and the Soul begins to think now it muſt die; ay, but Chriſtian, this Jeſus hath an all-power to anſwer all thy wants; let thy neceſſities be never ſo many, do but conſider who it is that thou haſt to deal with, it is he that hath the fulneſs of the earth in his own poſſeſſion, Pſal. 50.12. If I were hungry, I would not tell it thee for the world is mine, and the fulneſs thereof, and Pſal. 89.11. The Heavens are thine, the Earth alſo is thine, and as for the world and the fulneſs thereof thou haſt founded it? whoſe is the world I pray? In whoſe hand is it? is it not in the hand of your Jeſus? Hath not a dominion over all creatures for you? his mediatory power is for you, to be improved for you, and to be imployed for you, ſo as let your neceſſities be what they will, they cannot be greater then your Jeſus hath a ſupply by him for, and is able to anſwer. You know the thouſands of Iſrael, were called to live 40 years in a howling wilderneſs, where there was no plowing nor ſowing, and yet behold they were alwaies ſupplied. They did but cry unto the Lord, when they ſeemed to be in want, and the Lord gave them bread from Heaven, and fleſh from Heaven, and he gave them water out of the Rocks, and the fulneſs of the earth is ſtill in his hand, Elijah was in a low condition, and did not know what to do, and God commands a Raven to feed him, and God commanded an Angel to be his Servant. All the Creatures they are in covenant for your good; I have made ſaith the Lord a Covenant for you with the Beaſts of the field, and with the Fowls of heaven, and with all Creatures. And if God does but command the quails to come, and feed the people of Iſrael, they ſhall do it; And if God do but command the Ravens to ſeed the Prophet, he ſhall not want; ſaies Chriſt, Mat. 16.9. do ye not yet underſtand, neither remember the 5 loaves of the 5 thouſand, and how many Baskets ye took up? They were in a little ſtrait, and reaſoned among themſelves: Why, ſaies Chriſt, have you forgotten how I fed ſo many thouſand with 5 loaves, and 2 fiſhes? and my arm is not ſhortned, my power is not leſſened. It is an abſolute power, an uncontroulable dominion that I have; therefore fear not Soul, do not weep over your empty bottle, do not weep over your loſt eſtate, do not weep over your paſt comforts, but look up to the, fulneſs of Jeſus; he hath enough for your relief, he can command of the fulneſs of the earth into your condition, and give it you by what hand he pleaſeth. And as he hath an uncontroulable power that can rebuke all your enemies, and make a ſupply to you in all your wants; So,
2. He hath an unexhauſtible treaſure; It hath pleaſed the Father to put his all-fulneſs of Grace into him, and make him Lord of all that Grace that is to be diſpenſed to believers in that known place, Col. 1.19. It hath pleaſed the Father that in him ſhould all fulneſs dwell. All Grace it comes from Chriſt, it is placed in him as the Fountain, and he hath the fulneſs of all Grace for your relief;
1. Ʋnto vital influences: And,
2. Ʋnto actual aſſiſtance.
1. He hath a fulneſs of all Grace unto vital influences; Therefore the ſecond Adam was made a quickning Spirit, as the Apoſtle tells us, 1 Cor. 15.45. he hath received life that he might give it unto others; the Son of God is ſaid to raiſe thoſe that were dead, he is a living ſpring of Grace that ſends vital Grace into our hearts. It is he that doth implant vital principles of Faith, of love, of patience, and of new obedience, and makes us new creatures to God, and cauſeth us to live before him; and this may be matter of encouragement to thoſe that are yet dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, thoſe that are yet void of Grace, and deſtitute of ſpiritual life; why Sirs, Jeſus Chriſt is a living Spring; Jeſus Chriſt is a quickning Spirit, and he gives life to thoſe that are dead, he is furniſhed with life by the Father to give life to dead Souls; let the dead ſinner then hope in Jeſus, and let him wait upon Jeſus, he that hath commanded thoſe that have been dead to live, can alſo command thy dead Soul to live, he hath ſtill life-power in him, and life-grace in him. And,
2. He hath all grace for actual aſſiſtance; he is the true Olive, that empties of his golden Oil into the hearts of believers; hence Chriſt ſaies, John 15.5. Without me you can do nothing. I am the Vine, and ye are the branches, or I am the Root, and ye are the Branches. Why, Jeſus Chriſt he is an influential root; he is a root full of ſap: and full of nouriſhment, and full of moiſture, that he does convey to believers for their ſpiritual growth and improvement; by his ſtrength it is that we are able to ſtand in a day of temptation, by his ſtrength it is that we are able to manage ſpiritual duties. O alaſs, a little duty would be too great for us, were it not for the ſtrength of Chriſt Jeſus, and a little of the grace of Chriſt Jeſus, will make a Soul wonderfully ſtrong, that he ſhall be able to do even to amazement, to bear and to ſuffer to aſtoniſhment. A little of the Grace of Chriſt, O now patient will it make the Soul under great afflictions, and how will it ſtrengthen a poor weak believer to hold on in the face of all difficulties! he ſhall be able to hold pace not only with the Footmen, but with the Horſemen, by the grace of Chriſt are we ſweetly, ſwiftly, and joyfully carried on in the ways of new obedience, hence is it that we are oft-times commended unto the grace of the Lord Jeſus in divers Epiſtles; I commend you ſaies the Apoſtle to the grace of the Lord Jeſus, and the grace of the Lord Jeſus be with you; and indeed there needs no more, becauſe there is enough for our ſupply at all times, and therefore when we are poor and weak, and empty, and low in our ſelves, we ſhould look up to Jeſus, Jeſus is alwaies full, we know not how to go through ſuch a duty, nor how to manage ſuch a condition, we have not grace for it, and we think we ſhall ſink and fail under diſcouragements; why Chriſtian, if indeed thou hadſt no more then what thou haſt in thy ſelf, thou mighteſt fear this, but keep thine Eye upon Jeſus, he is full, and filled for the ſupply of thee, and he will communicate according to thy neceſſities, we may therefore at all times, and upon all occaſions wait upon him.