Rejoicing in the Lord Jesus in All Cases and Conditions, Sermon 5
SERMON V.
Habakkuk 3.18.
Yet I will rejoyce in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my Salvation.
THe Propoſition was this,
Doct. That there is enough in Jeſus Chriſt alone for the Souls full rejoycing and triumph, whatſoever his ſtate and condition is in this world.
Now we propoſed;
Firſt, To give you ſeveral introductory particulars by way of premiſe.
Theſe we have diſpatched. And ſhall now proceed to conſider what are the grounds of a believers darkneſs about his intereſt.
2. It may be ſaid in the ſecond place, if there be ſuch ſolid and ſubſtantial grounds of joy in Chriſt Jeſus for the believing Soul, at all times, and in all conditions; what is the reaſon then that believers are ſo often in a dark, dubious, uncomfortable, ſhattered ſtate, that they are ſeldom able in any ſtedfaſtneſs of ſpirit to look up unto Chriſt Jeſus, and glory in him?
Anſ. 1. I anſwer; The darkneſs of the believers intereſt doth oft-times ariſe from a looking more unto ſuch things in the examination of himſelf, as argue the height of an intereſt, then to ſuch things as do diſcover the truth of an intereſt. They do fix upon ſuch things as are diſcoveries of a grown ſtate in Chriſt, when as they ſhould fix upon ſuch things as do diſcover an in-being in Chriſt; they propoſe to themſelves that corruption muſt be ſo and ſo brought under, and mortifying work muſt be carried on to ſuch a height, or elſe they can have no grounds of their intereſt in Chriſt; they propoſe to themſelves ſuch a meaſure of love, as muſt be flaming to Chriſt at all times, or elſe they think they have no love at all, they think they muſt have ſuch a meaſure of faith, as to believe without ſtaggering, or elſe they have no part in Chriſt. Now hereby they …o enſnare their own Spirits, and encreaſe their darkneſs. But you ſhould look more at ſuch things, as argue the truth of an intereſt, then at thoſe things that do argue the growth and improvement of that intereſt.
Secondly, Darkneſs of evidence doth oft-times ariſe from the believers viewing his wants, and overlooking his preſent receits. Jeſus Chriſt hath done a great deal for him, and hath given out a great deal to him, and hath made a wonderful change in him, he cannot deny it if he be put to it; but he overlooks all this, and conſiders his preſent wants, his weakneſſes, his ſhort comings, his failings, his ſmallneſs of ſtrength, his ſtaggering before a temptation, the uncertainty of his Spirit in his walking with God, and he bears the ſtreſs of his condition upon his preſent wants, not conſidering what Jeſus Chriſt hath already done, nor conſidering that the work is gradually carried on. Now Chriſtians if you would lay your ſelves fair for the Spirits Goſpel evidence in your ſouls, then you muſt take in the encouragements of your condition, as well as your diſcouragements, you muſt not only inſiſt upon your diſcouragements, but conſider alſo what Jeſus Chriſt hath done, and what a change he hath begun to work, and what have been the movings of your ſouls towards him, from divine influences upon your Spirits.
Thirdly, The darkneſs of evidence, or obſcurity of intereſt do oft-times ariſe from the prevailings of ſin in the heart, upon which Chriſt ſuſpends. Sin that rallies, that gathers head in the Soul, that preſſes forward, and the Soul gives way to the temptation, and is overcome, and upon it darkneſs does ariſe; this was Davids caſe, David was aſſured; ay, but ſin prevailing in his heart, drove him into the dark, that all the joys of the holy Spirit were for a time taken from him, 2 Sam. 12.7, 8, 9. And Nathan ſaid unto David, thou art the man, thus ſaith the Lord God of Iſrael, I anointed thee King over Iſrael, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul, &c. Wherefore haſt thou deſpiſed the commandment of the Lord to do evil in his ſight? I have done all this for thee ſaith the Lord, & thou haſt deſpiſed my commandment, and done evil in my ſight. So the Lord Jeſus ſpeaks unto the Soul: I have thus and thus manifeſted my ſelf to thee. I thought it not too much to take thee into communion with my ſelf; I thought it not too much to dandle thee upon my knee, and to give thee the aſſurance of all that I have done for thee: But thou haſt wickedly departed from me, and broken my Commandments, and it is juſt with the Lord now to ſuſpend; prevailings of ſin will cauſe a ſuſpenſe. You know that Abſolom upon his rebellion, was excluded for a while from his Fathers Houſe, he muſt not ſee his Fathers face: juſt thus it is with a Soul, when it hath turned aſide into ſome way of folly, after it hath provoked the Lord, the Lord he hides himſelf from him, he won't let him ſee his face, he muſt not come into his preſence to ſee him, and to rejoyce in the light of his countenance as formerly he had done. The prevailings of ſin after Grace do many times cauſe a ſuſpenſe.
Fourthly, Darkneſs of evidence is occaſioned from the Souls crediting the reports of Satan, that lead him to deny what Jeſus Chriſt hath done for him and in him, upon undenyable demonſtrations of the power of his Grace in his heart: Satan he will be alwaies putting the Soul forward to entertain hard thoughts of God, and will be making falſe reports in his heart, contrary unto the experiences that his Soul hath had; Now when the Soul will take up a report of Satan, againſt a clear and viſible demonſtration of grace upon the heart, and will joyn with Satan, and ſay, ay, this is true, there hath nothing paſt upon my Soul; Chriſt hath not loved me, Chriſt hath not taken me nigh unto himſelf, neither hath he in truth and reality done any thing yet for me, upon the Souls thus falling in with, and arguing upon the reports of Satan, does he help to darken his own ſtate, and to cloud his intereſt; Satan is indefatigably induſtrious to obſcure our intereſt, and to keep us in the dark. Now he will alwaies ſtand by you, and be alwaies ſpeaking to you, if he ſee that his teſtimony is once received and credited. Therefore beware how you hearken unto him, who is ever an enemy unto your intereſt, and unto your ſenſe of intereſt.
Fifthly, Darkneſs of evidence doth ariſe from our frequent neglects of the Spirit both in a way of duty, and alſo in a way of comfort; The Spirit of the Lord doth attend us, and he is calling of us up to obedience, and ſpurring of us forward to cloſer walking with God in obedience to his commands. Now when the Soul doth refuſe to comply with the Spirit, and doth not obſerve his voice, nor obey his commands, but is ſilent unto his earneſt motions in it, upon this is the Soul more and more darkned, for the Spirit does hereupon withdraw, when we refuſe his aids and aſſiſtances in the duties unto which we are called; he offers us his help to ſtand by us, and to lead us, and to ſtrengthen us, and we ſet by his help, and we will venture upon duties in our own ſtrength, not reſting upon him for ſtrength and power, and the Spirit is hereby provoked: Or, when we neglect him in a way of comfort; he would clear our condition to us, but we w…ll not believe what reports he makes in our hearts; he would ſettle us, and we will not be ſettled; he offers us conſolation, and we refuſe his conſolation, and yet complain of our darkneſs, Job 15.11. Are the conſolations of the Lord ſmall with thee? Why, the conſolations of the Lord are ſmall with many Souls; for they refuſe them, and they think they do well to refuſe the comforts that are offered them, and yet they mourn over their want of comfort; hereby they grieve the Spirit, and they wound the Spirit, and they quench the Spirit, and it is not like then that the Soul ſhould be aſſured. You have theſe expreſsions in Scripture, Epheſ. 4.30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are ſealed unto the day of Redemption. And 1 Theſ. 5.19. Quench not the Spirit. And Iſa. 63.10. But they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit, wherefore he was turned to be their enemy, &c. Why, my friends, this is often our caſe, we rebel againſt, and vex the holy Spirit of God, and he becomes our enemy, that is, he ceaſeth to comfort us, and he ceaſeth to ſettle us, and he ceaſeth to eſtabliſh us; he ceaſeth to fill us with joy and with comfort in and about our Intereſt.
Sixthly, Darkneſs of evidence doth oftentimes ariſe from, and is occaſioned by remiſneſs in holy duties, wherein God uſeth to manifeſt himſelf unto us: When we neglect our ſpiritual watch, and lie under, or act under the weight of ſpiritual ſloth, deadneſs of heart, careleſneſs and ſlightineſs of ſpirit in our waitings upon God. This was the Spouſes caſe, Cant. 5.3, 4. I have put off my Coat, how ſhall I put it on? I have waſhed my feet, how ſhall I defile them? My Beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him, Verſe 5. I aroſe to open to my Beloved, but my Beloved had withdrawn himſelf, Verſe 6. Acts of communion were not ceaſed: The Spouſe did not decline Duties and Ordinances, but grew remiſs and ſluggiſh, and ſlighty, and careleſs in the duties of communion: She had put off her Coat, and ſhe could not put it on. Her Beloved knocked, but ſhe could not open to him preſently; ſhe muſt make him wait a while, Here were ſome workings of heart, and ſome genuine affections in the Spouſe towards Chriſt, for ſhe ſaid, My Beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him: There were ſome movings of heart towards Chriſt; ay but ſhe moved ſlowly, and was careleſs in her ſpiritual frame, and behold ſhe looks, and her Beloved was gone: Here was a ſuſpenſe, and darkneſs grew upon her condition. My friends, this is often our caſe; we let the fire of the Altar of our hearts go out, and our affections they grow dead, and we loſe our ſpiritual fervency; we loſe the ſpiritual ſavour of communion with God in Ordinances of Communion, and Chriſt Jeſus withdraws. There is a ſuſpence of manifeſtations of favour and darkneſs encreaſeth.
Seventhly, Again, Darkneſs of evidence doth ſometimes ariſe from unkind and unworthy Jealouſies of the love of Chriſt's heart to us, notwithſtanding long ſtrivings with us. The Soul knows not how to believe that Jeſus Chriſt is in earneſt with him, when it comes unto his own particular caſe: then he entertains hard thoughts of Chriſt: O ſurely Chriſt doth not mean me, ſurely Chriſt is not in the way of Grace with me, although he cannot deny, being put to it upon a ſerious examination, but that there is a ſtrange alteration in his Soul; ay, but he is alwaies queſtioning of the truth of Chriſt in his way to him, not but that he believes that Chriſt is in good earneſt in the deſign, ay, but he doth not know how to believe that Chriſt Jeſus is really engaged in a deſign of love upon his heart; no, this he queſtions, he thinks that the propoſals that he makes, are not in good earneſt, that Jeſus Chriſt doth not mean him: That Jeſus Chriſt doth overlook and paſs by his Soul, and it is others that he is ſeeking after, and others that he is deſigning upon, and by theſe unworthy jealouſies he does provoke Jeſus Chriſt, and it is juſt with Chriſt to leave the Soul a while to its ſelf, that will not be perſuaded to have good thoughts of him.
8. Again, Darkneſs of evidence doth ſometimes ariſe from, and is occaſioned by our inconſiderateneſs of the preſent ſtate of our own hearts, and inadvertency to what hath paſt vponupon us: There is a work wrought in him; ay, but he hath not been ſo wiſe as to obſerve the motions of Chriſt Jeſus in his comings in, and in his dealings with him, he hath not kept an account of the goings of God with him, but hath been very remiſs in the obſerve of the ſtate of his heart, as he hath paſſed on in the way, following of Chriſt, and waiting upon him in ordinances, and hence he can make nothing of his condition, he cannot ſay that the work of Grace is ſo and ſo wrought in him, becauſe he hath not been obſervant to gather up what hath paſt upon his Spirit.
9. Again, Darkneſs of evidence doth ſometimes ariſe from an ungoſpel modeſty that dares not believe ſuch good things of its ſelf. There is a kind of ungoſpel modeſty that ſome Chriſtians do expreſs, wherein they would diſcover a great deal of unworthineſs in themſelves, and a great deal of lowlineſs of Spirit, but in it they do but deny what Jeſus Chriſt hath done, and wrong their own caſe; O to think that Jeſus Chriſt hath been dealing with them, and hath made powerful applications of his blood unto them; and hath united and reconciled them unto himſelf; O they cannot tell how to believe this of themſelves; an intereſt in Chriſt is a great thing, and a heart change is a mighty change: I dare not think, ſaies the Soul, that the Lord hath done this for me, who am ſo vile, and ſo unworthy, and thus the Soul ſtands & reaſons againſt all the experiences that he hath had of God, and denies the comforts of it.
10. Again, In the laſt place, Darkneſs of evidence doth ſometimes ariſe from peremptory concluſions of the iſſues of our ſtate upon the reports that ſenſe makes upon all inquiries. The reaſon of our darkneſs is becauſe we lay the ſtreſs of our condition upon ſenſe, and upon what we can ſeel in our ſelves, and not upon a naked venture upon Chriſt Jeſus; not upon a Goſpel throw upon Chriſt Jeſus; whatever be the iſſue, but the Soul goes to its feelings, and makes a judgment of its ſtate upon and from them; when he can find his heart warmed for Chriſt, when he can find his Spirit under any Goſpel enlargement for Chriſt, when he can find his Graces begin to grow and thrive, and when he can find ſpeedy returns made unto all his ſeekings after the Lord, then he concludes, now all is well; here is an intereſt, and behold the fruits of it: But now when the Souls Graces are alittle clouded, when he miſſes of that enlargement that ſometimes he hath experienced: And when he comes under ſome ſtraitneſs, and when Jeſus Chriſt is a while ſilent unto his prayers; why, then he concludes againſt himſelf; O here is no intereſt, why, if I were in Chriſt Jeſus, it would be otherwiſe with me, Chriſt would anſwer me, and Chriſt would enlarge me, and Chriſt would heighten and brighten my Graces, Chriſt would not leave me in ſuch an uncomfortable condition, he would fill me, and lift me up, and ſet me on high; O ſurely there is nothing of truth and reality that hath paſſed upon my Soul: Now Chriſtians, while you draw up peremptory concluſions of the iſſue of your ſtate, upon the reports of ſenſe in your hearts, you will never come to be ſetled, and eſtabliſhed, while you are in this world: concluſions drawn from changeable, mutable principles will never be relieving nor comforting to you. Well, theſe things briefly may ſuffice for the ſecond propoſal, what might be the grounds of a believers darkneſs in and about their intereſt and evidence.
Thirdly, We ſhall proceed unto the third particular, and that is this:
Qu. If it be thus, that Believers are often times in the dark in and about their Intereſt, and have not the evidence of their relation in Chriſt clear, what ſhould the Believer do in the interim until the Lord ſhall be pleaſed to diſcover and unfold himſelf to him, and ſeal and confirm all that he hath done for him, and beſtowed upon him?
Anſ. There are nine or ten particulars that I ſhall lay down here in way of Direction.
Firſt, In caſe of darkneſs of evidence, muck the root of faith: Or, if you will take it thus, ſtrengthen and double the direct act of faith, when you are not able to put forth a reflex act of Faith. There is a direct, and there is a reflex act of Faith; the direct act of Faith is an act of recumbence; it is an act of relyance upon Jeſus Chriſt; the reflex act of Faith is the Soul's glorying and triumphing in Chriſt Jeſus, that he hath made a cloſe with. Now Chriſtian, if thou haſt not the aſſuring act of Faith, then be ſure that you ſtrengthen Faith in its cloſing act, and in its believing act, wherein it reſts on Chriſt Jeſus alone; go oftener unto Chriſt, and there determine thy Soul, and reſolve ever to wait upon him, and to abide at his footſtool; the believing act of Faith, or the direct act of Faith, that I may call the firſt act, and the reflex act of Faith, I may call the ſecond act of Faith. Now Chriſtian, if you be not able to come up to the ſecond act of Faith, then be often repeating the firſt act of Faith; be often rolling your Souls upon Chriſt Jeſus, and by this means you may come to be aſſured; for the direct act of Faith hath a tendency in it to carry thee up unto a full aſſurance in Chriſt Jeſus, and therefore be often redoubling that act, thou doeſt not know how ſoon the joy of thy aſſurance may come in.
Secondly, Upon the darkneſs of evidence, take notice of, and rejoyce in the ſtrengthenings and upholdings of the Spirit, though for the preſent you are without the ſealings and enſurings of the Spirit. Why, let it not be a ſmall thing unto thee, that though thou art not comforted, and though thy Intereſt is not cleared, yet thou art kept waiting upon God. Who is it that upholds thee againſt all thy diſcouragements? Couldeſt thou hold out of thy ſelf? Couldeſt thou bear up when there ſeems to be no returns made? nothing but diſcouragements in thy way? Thou cryeſt again and again, and haſt no return, but a ſeeming repulſe; who is it (think you) that upholds you? doubtleſs it is the Spirit of the Lord: Who was it that upheld the Woman of Canaan, when Chriſt Jeſus did chide her, and ſeem'd to give her a repulſe? doubtleſs whilſt he ſeemed outwardly to diſcountenance her, he was ſecretly upholding and drawing her heart nearer to himſelf, or elſe ſhe had fainted. Now, if thou haſt had a heart to continue waiting upon God, and thy deſires and reſolutions are ſtill to follow the Lord, take notice of theſe upholds of the Spirit, and bleſs God for theſe, and it may be the Spirit in a little while may go on to aſſure thee.
Thirdly, Again, Upon the darkneſs of evidence, and want of aſſurance, labour to heighten true grace and holineſs: Strive to encreaſe & to grow in grace, for that will be more to thy advantage than to bend thy deſires wholly for comfort and for aſſurance. It is a greater mercy for God to give thee a new meaſure of grace, than to give thee a new degree of comfort. It is a higher priviledge. There is more in grace, than there is in comfort; for grace hath a more immediate tendency to God's glory, the other tends more immediately to thy ſatisfaction and joy. There is more in a little grace, than in a great deal of conſolation. Now it may be the Lord ſeeth that thou art not fit for comfort, nor yet fit for ſettlement, and for peace, and therefore he holds thee in the dark. Now the heightening of grace will fit thee for the enjoyment of an Evidence. The higher grace is in the heart, the more fair the Soul lies for an evidence; the more grace thou haſt, the more fit thou art for the joys and conſolations of the Holy Ghoſt: Therefore ſtrive to heighten grace and holineſs upon the want of an evidence.
Fourthly, Keep in thy way waiting upon the Lord, though the Anſwer is delayed. Thou art ſeeking to be aſſured, and thou art waiting for an evidence of thy Intereſt, and yet it doth not come. Well, hold on Chriſtian, and do not give over until the Anſwer is given in; He that believeth maketh not haſte: Wait quietly and patiently upon the Lord, preſſing after him, that he would remember his Word from Ordinance to Ordinance; but do not give over; know, that whilſt the Lord doth ſuſpend the evidence of your Intereſt, he calls you to abide in a waiting poſture, and therefore continue to watch and pray.
Fifthly, Diligently attend all diſcovering Ordinances, but bound your deſires after a ſenſe of Intereſt in waiting upon the Lord in the waies that he bath conſecrated for the diſpenſe. God hath been pleaſed to appoint many ordinances for us to wait upon him in, wherein he is pleaſed to make known himſelf. Sometimes he doth it in one ordinance, and ſometimes in another; ſometimes he will come in in prayer, and ſometimes in meditation, and ſometimes he will come in in preaching, and ſometimes in that great ſealing ordinance of the Goſpel, the Lords Supper. Now attend upon the Lord in all ſealing ordinances, but bound your deſires, (I pray mark) I ſay bound your deſires in the waies that the Lord hath conſecrated for the diſpenſe, do not expect that God ſhould work a miracle to confirm you, don't think that there muſt be a voice from Heaven to ſettle you, and ſatisfy you, don't look for ſome miraculous expreſſions or impreſſions upon you, but bound your deſires after the ſenſe of your intereſt in his own way; and that which makes me mention it, is this: That Satan doth ruſh many Souls upon this, they cannot believe an ordinary evidence, and a ſmall ſign won't ſerve them, but they muſt have ſome immediate appearance from Heaven; an immediate teſtimony from Heaven, in ſome miraculous way upon their Spirits, or elſe they cannot think that their ſtate is good; and the deſign of Satan here is to drive you into ſuch a way wherein you ſhall certainly meet with a diſappointment, and being under a diſappointment, then you may more eaſily, and more ſtrongly queſtion your ſtate. But we are not to expect revelations, nor miraculous operations, but to wait upon the Lord in his own conſecrated waies that he hath appointed for the diſpenſe of pardon, of peace and comfort, and an evidence of our intereſt.
Sixthly. Again, Look upon and rejoice in the dawnings of the day, when thou canſt not ſee the Sun in its noon day brightneſs; my meaning is, bleſs God for a little, let it be never ſo ſmall that he hath given to thee, and wear it with much thankfulneſs, though thou haſt not a full aſſurance of thy intereſt, yet bleſs God that thou haſt a liberty to follow Chriſt; thou haſt not a full ſight of thy ſtanding in Chriſt; ay, but bleſs God that thou haſt a liberty to cry after Chriſt, thou maiſt cry after Chriſt, though for the preſent thou canſt not rejoyce in Chriſt; well, if the Lord hath given thee a heart for this, thou ſhould'ſt magnify his name; let the work be never ſo ſmall that is in thy Soul, yet if thou beeſt in the way to Heaven, bleſs God for this. It is matter of comfort to thee in thy preſent ſtate (Chriſtian) that though thou haſt not yet aſſurance, yet thou art in the way to be aſſured, though thou haſt not yet a full evidence of thy intereſt, thou art in the way of following of Chriſt, & thou doſt not know how ſoon thou maiſt have the evidence of thy intereſt. It is a comfort to a Child to conſider, that though he is in ſome remoteneſs from his Fathers Houſe, yet he is in his way upon his journey to it: So Chriſtian, though thou haſt not all, yet thou art in the way to more, thou art in the way to be aſſured, and in the way to the full poſſeſſion of Chriſt; take notice of this, and bleſs God for it.
Seventhly, Prefer ſervice for Chriſt, before aſſurance in Chriſt, and eſteem duty for and towards Chriſt, before conſolation in Chriſt. It argues a very low and mercenary ſpirit to act only for, or towards the Lord upon the feelings of our intereſt in him, or only for the comforts that do attend a ſenſible intereſt in him; no, we muſt follow Chriſt wherever he goeth, and prefer ſervice for Chriſt before comfort in Chriſt, and reſolve to follow Chriſt, and to ſerve him, whether he do ſettle us, and comfort us or no: It is a very filial, genuine Spirit in a Child to ſay; well, let my Father give me a portion, or deny me a portion, yet I will ſerve him, though my Father diſinherit me, yet I will ſerve him; ſo the believer ſhould ſay, he ſhould prefer a command before a promiſe, and aſſiſtance for duty before incomes in duty. Now it may be Chriſtian, thou haſt failed here, therefore advance thy eſteem of the command, and advance the honour of duty and ſervice for Chriſt, and let theſe things be uppermoſt in thy heart, and in time the Lord may more fully appear to thee to ſettle thee, and to comfort thee whileſt thou art ſerving of him.
8. Again upon the riſing of new darkneſs, have recourſe unto the former experiences that thou haſt had of peace, joy, and comfort in believing: God it may be doth with-hold a new word, becauſe he would have thee go to the old word, that he hath ſpoken before, and God may withhold a new ſign, becauſe he would have thee go to the old ſign that he gave thee for a diſcovery before; now in preſent daies of darkneſs often reflect upon what formerly thou haſt enjoyed in order to thy hope and confidence, and make uſe of that. And then,
Ninthly, In the ninth place, Be you kind unto all the Lords mourners that are companions with you in darkneſs. I mean, learn to ſympathiſe with thoſe that want the light of Gods countenance. The Lord (it may be) in with-holding a ſenſe of intereſt, doth deſign to make thee more ſenſible of anothers condition in the dark, that thou mayeſt know how to ſympathiſe with him in his ſorrows and tribulations; ay, and to comfort others with the conſolation wherewith the Lord hath comforted thee. Therefore be you kind and affectionate unto thoſe that are companions with you in darkneſs, and pray with them, and pray over them, and expreſs the affections of your Souls to them in all your remembrance of them; and in a little while the Lord may come in for to lead you forth into the company of thoſe whoſe hearts are made to rejoice and be glad in the light of his countenance, and in the evidence of their own intereſt in Chriſt.