Fellowship with God, Sermon 8
SERMON VIII·
1 Joh. ….4.
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
ALL motions tend to rest and quietnesse, we see it daily in the motions below, and we believe it also of the circular revolutions of the Heavens above, that the…e is a day coming in which they shall cease, as having performed all they were appointed for; And as it is in things natural, so it is in things rational in a more eminent way, their desire…, affections, and actions, which are the motions, and stretches of the soul towards that it desires, and apprehends as good, tends of their own nature, and are directed by the very intention of the soul, to some rest and tranquillity, some joy and contentation of spirit. If other things that have no knowledge, have their center of rest, how much more must man, who is an understanding c…eature, have it by the ordination and appointment of God? But there is this wide difference in the point of capacity of happinesse, between man and other creatures, that they, whatsoever excellent vertues or properties they have, yet know them not themselves, and so can neither enjoy what excellency themselves have, nor have use of what is in others; for, to what purpose is it to shine forth, if there be no eye to see? What advantage hath …he Rose in its fragrancy, if it cannot smell it self? That which is not perceived, is as if it were not. And therefore it is an evident testimony that all these visible things were created, not for themselves, but for mans sake who knows them, can use them, and enjoy them: here is then the peculiar capacity that God hath given to man, to discern and know what he seeks, what he hath, …nd possesses, that so he may be able to enjoy it, or use it, according to the nature of it. This is a great point of Gods Image, and conformity with him, whose infinit blessednesse and joy …iseth from that pe…fect comprehension, and intuitive beholding of himself, and his own incomprehensible riches; So then, mans happiness or mise…y must depend upon this, both wh…t the soul fixeth upon, and what it apprehendeth to be in it; for, if that eternal and universal good, the all-fulnesse of God, be the center of the soul… desires and endeavours, and there be apprehended and discovered in God, that infinit excellency, and variety of delights, which nothing else can afford so much as a shadow of, then, there cannot but result from such a conjunction of the souls …prehension, suitable to the fulnesse of God, …nd of the excellency and goodnesse of God, suitable to the desires of the soul, such a rest and tranquillity, such joy and satisfaction, as cannot choose but make the soul infinitly happier then the enjoyment of any other thing could do.
This being the thing then, which all me…s desires naturally tend unto, this tranquillity and perfect satisfaction of the heart, being th…t which carries all mens hearts after it, and that which men seek for it self, and which they seek in all oth…r things; the great misery of man is, that he mistakes the way to it, and seeks it where it is not to be found. The generality of men, are so far degenerated both from the impression of a divine Majesty, and the sense of an immortal being within themse…ves, that they imagine to content, and ea…e their own hearts, in these outward, uncon…tant, perishing things, and so their life i… spent in catching at shadows, in …eeding on the wind, in labouring in the fire. There is nothing so plentifully satisfies our expectation…, as can quite the cost, and recompence the expences o… our labour, toil, grie…, and travel about it; there is nothing therefore but a continual, restlesse agitation of the heart, from one thing to …nother, and that in a round circling about, from one thing that now displeases or disappoint…, to thing… that were formerly loathed; as a sick man tu…ns him from one side to …nother, or changes bed… often, and at length retu…ns, expecting to find some ease where he lay at first. And it may be judged, that all circular motions are eternal, and so they can never be supposed to attain their end, that is rest and tranquillity; therefore a soul thus carried in a round, by the vain imaginations of his heart, is likely never to settle and find solid rest and peace. Nay, how is it possible that they c…n give that tranquillity and contentation to the heart and soul of man, that are so utterly in their natures disproportioned to it? both because they are only suited to the senses, and likewise, for that they are changeable. Now the soul is framed with a higher capacity, and can no more be satiated with visible things, then a man that is hungry can be satisfied with gold; and besides, it is immortal, and must have something to survive all the changes of time, and therefore is likely to rest no where but in that which hath eternal stability. Now though these things cannot truly fill the heart, yet they swell the belly, like the east wind, or like the prodigals husks, fill it with wind, which causeth many torments and distempers in the soul; and though they cannot give ease, yet they may be as thorns to prick and pierce a man through with many sorrows, as our Saviour speaks: so that there is no more wisdom or gain in this, then in gathering an armfull of thorns, and inclosing and preassing hard unto them, the more hardly and strongly we grip them, the more grievously they pierce us; or as if a man would fle… into a hedge of thorns in a tempest, the further he thrust into it, he is the wor… pricked; and that which he is fallen into, is worse then that he fleeth from. I am sure all your experiences giv… … harmonious testimony to this, that there is no solid, permanent, constant, and equable heart-joy and contentation in all the f…ncied and imaginary felicities that this world adores. There is nothing of these things, that is not lesser, and lower in actual possession, nor in the first apprehension of them affar off. Nothing in them answers either our desires or expectations; and therefore, in stead of peace and tranquillity, they breed more inward torment and disquiet, because of that nec…ssary and inevitable disappointment that …ttends them. Therefore th… Apostl… passeth all these things in silence, when he is to wri…e of purpose, to give a fulnesse of joy; for he know… that in them there is neither that joy, nor that fulnesse of joy he would wish for them; but it is other things he writes for this end.
Now indeed there hath been some wiser then others, that have their apprehension far above the rest of mankind, and have laboured to frame some rules and precepts to lead man into this true rest and tr…nquillity. And truly, in this they have done much to discover the vanity and madnesse of the common practice of men; and to draw man from sensible and outward thing…, to things invisible and spiritual; yet there is a defectivenesse in all the rules that natural reason can reach unto; there is some crookedness withall adhere… to them, which shews our departure from our original. There are many excellent discourse… of morality in Heathens W…tings, which may be very subservient to a Christian, …nd useful to the composing and settling of his mind, …midst all the fluctu…tions and uncertainties of this world: they may come well in as Subsidie… and Guards to a Christians heart, to preserve that peace and joy it hath from God, …nd keep out the ordinary tumultuous passions …hat disturb the most part of men: But here is the lamentable failing, that while they call … man off things without, as …dventitious, they lead him but in to his own spirit within, as if he could there find that rest in the very enjoyment of his poor miserable wretched self. but Christ Jesus calls us in to our own spirits, not to dwell there; …or O, what a loathsome and irksome habit…tion is a defiled heart, and a guilty conscience? but rather that finding nothing of that joy and refreshment within, we may then freely and fully fo…sake our selves, as well as the world without▪ and transport in to God in Christ, the only habitation of joy and delight, that being filled with anguish from the world, and from our selves, we may more willingly divorce from both, and agree to joyn unto Jesus Christ, and to imbrace him in our hearts, who is the only fountain of life and joy; who had no other errand and businesse from Heaven, but to rep…ir mans joy, as grievous a breach a… any in the Creation: … thing as much missed and sought after, as …ny thing, ye…, sought …ster in all things that are so…ght: Ioh. 15.11. These things I have spoken to you tha… your joy may be full. Therefore the Apostle propound… this as the end of his writing on thi… subject, the word of life, these things I write that your joy may be full, and the way to attain this fulness of joy, he expressed in the former verse, by fellowship with the Father and the Son.
That which mak…s all other things disproportioned to the soul of man, to give it this joy, is the extream unsuitablenesse between them; that the soul hath …n infinit c…pacity, and besides …n immortality of endur…nce, but they are condemned under impotency to supply that infinit void; and inconstancy by which they must needs pe…ish, and leave the soul without all comfort, and with more anxiety. But in these things written here, we find all things suited and proportioned to the very great exigence of the soul. There is a …tablenesse in them, because of their spiri…l n…ture, whereby they may close immediatly with thy spirit, other things are material, and corporeal, and what union, what fellowship can a spirit be supposed to have with them? they are extrinsick, advenient things, that never come to a nearer union with thy soul; and though they co…ld, they would debase thy soul, and not ex…lt it, because of a baser inferiour Nature. But these thing…, Iesus Christ, eternal life in him, these precious promises of the Gospel, these spiri…al priviledges of sonship, &c. these are of … more d… vin… n…ture, and by med…tation and … come to close with them: These are inward things, more near the soul that believes, then himself is to himself; and so he may alwayes carry them about in his …eart, which may be … spring of everlasting joy, this no m…n c…n take from him, Joh. 16 …2. For the ground …nd fountain is inward, seated without the …each o… all thes… vicissitude… and change…: The… a… they have … s…itablenesse, so they have a fulnesse in them, to creat fulnesse of joy▪ They are cordi…l… to the he…rt, things that are in …heir own nature refreshing to the soul, and ap… to b…ge… heart-joy. O…her thing… are not suitable to thi…, to produce any suc… inward …oul-comp…cency; the things that are from without, …ac… not so deep as the heart, they make their impressions rather on the outwa…d senses, to …ickle and please them, or the countenance, to put …ome pleasing sh…pe upon it: but the wise man pronoun…h all the…e joys that a…ise from external things▪ to be …upe…ficiall, only skin-deep, in the midst of laught…r the heart is sorrowful, and the end of that mirth is he…vinesse, Prov. 14.13. Ex…rema gaud… luctus occupat. There is no solid recreation to the soul, in its retired thoughts from all the delights of the senses: it is but like the pleasure of the itch, which no man es…eems pleasure. But besides, as the things of the Gospel affect the heart and soul, by bringing soul-merciemercy…, and treasures, as fo…given…sse of sin, hope of Heaven, &c. so there is a fulnesse in them, which may answerably fill all the corners of the heart with joy; there is an unexhaustednesse in these things, an universality in Christ, all in all, all the treasures of wisdom are in him: and may not this cause surely an …gh spring tide of joy. The heart is eased upon the lowest clear apprehension of Christ and the Gospel, it gives a hea…t-serenity and c…lmnesse to a troubled soul, that nothing else could do, yet to make up the fulnesse of joy, as well as the solidity of it; to extend the measure of it, as well as to beget the true q…ality of it; it is requisite …hat not only there be a f…lnesse in the object, that is full, superabundant, ample matter of rejoycing; but there must be a kind of fulnesse in the app…ehension, it must be rep…esented fully as it is, and the clouds of unbelief scattered; and then indeed, upon the full aspect of the Gospel, and Christ in it, there is a fulnesse of joy that flows in to the soul, as the Sea is filled upon the full aspect of the Moon. Oh, that we could believe this, that there is a fulnesse of joy here, and no where else; certainly this …lone being pondered and sunk into our hearts, would be a powe…f…l refo…mer in us, and among us; How would it carry mens hearts to a disgracing and despising all the things that are held in admiration by men? How would it turn the channel of mens judgments, opinions, affections, an… conversations? for certainly whithersoever the Tide of joy flows, thither the heart is carried, and it is that all men are seeking, though they take many contrary and diverse wayes, as their own fancy leads them. Now if once this were established in thy soul, that here is that truth …nd fulnesse of joy, which elsewhere is ignorantly and vainly …ought; would it not divert thy desires, and turn the current of thy affections and endeavour…, to …all into this Ocean of gladnesse and delight? Elsewhere there is neither true joy, nor full joy, nec verum nec plenum gaudium; there is no verity in it, it is but an external garb and sh…dow, and there is no plenty or fulnesse in it; it fills not the hand of the reaper, it satisfieth not his very hunger. But here, when a soul is possessed with Christ by faith, and dwelleth in God by love, there is both reality …nd plenty: all the dimensions of the heart may be filled up; Some allegorize upon the triangular composition of mans heart, that no orbicular thing, such as this world, can fill it exactly without vacuity, but only the blessed and holy Trinity. Truly we may conceive, this fulnesse of joy, excluding all the latent griefs of the heart, and filling up all the vacant corners, doth flow from that blessed fellowship of the Father and the Son. Now though these two be only mentioned, yet the Holy Ghost must not be excluded, for the Apostolick Prayer doth attribute chiefly our fellowship with God to the Spirit, so that it is the Spirit units our hearts, and associats them to God, that seems to correspond between him and us: So then there is such a fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, that leaves no vacuity in the heart, that fills all the dimensions and corners of it with peace and joy.
But add unto this, in the third place, that these things have not only a fulnesse, but withal a durablenesse; not only plenty, but besides, eternity and perpetuity, to correspond to the immortality of the soul; And this certainly is … great congruity, and so makes up much beauty and harmony; for what more incongruous and unsuitable, then for an immortal spirit to spend it self, and give up it self to that which is not▪ which must le…ve …t, whi… is mo…t…l, and …ading in its own nature, without whic…, it must continue infinitly longer then it can enjoy it? And what more comely, then for an immortal thing to …ssociat to eternal things, and …o derive it… joy from an eternal spring? For then, when all things vi…ible a…e done away, and things mortal abolished, then its joy none can take from it; because it t…kes its joy from that, which must survive all these changes. Suppose any thing could for the pre…ent give a fulness of joy, and absolute content to the heart, yet if we imagine that thing may be separated and disjoyned …rom the heart, and cease to be, certainly the ve…y expectation of such an ete…nal separation, would almost extinguish all the joy, and make it dry up of the fulnesse: For, may a soul think, What shall I do for ever when this Well dryes? Whence shall I draw water of joy? Out of what Well? But now, that fear is removed, and the soul need… not losse the swee…ness of the present enjoyment of God, through anxious foresight of the future, because he may know, th…t the perfect fulnesse that shall never ebb, is but coming, and the Sun is but ascending yet towards the Meridian, from whence he shall never go down, but stand fixed, to be the eternal wonder and delight of Angel… and men.
Now though it be true, that Christians here, have neither that plenty, nor that perpetuity of this joy, that the object of it gives ground for; though their hearts be often filled with g…iefs and sorrows, partly from outward, partly from inward evils and afflictions; yet certainly this ariseth but from the dark apprehension, dim belief, and slight consideration of these things that Christ spoke, and his Apos…les wrote unto us; We might, no question, keep ou… hearts in more peace and tranquillity, in all the commotions of the times, or alterations in our selves, if we did more stedfastly believe the Gospel, and keep mo…e constant fellowship with God. But however it be, there is radically a fulnesse of joy in every believers heart, that seed is sown, that shall one day be …ipe of fulnesse of joy, it is alwayes lying at the root, and reserved for them. O, let us lay these things to heart, which being laid to heart, and laid up in the heart, will fill it with this sweet fragrant perfume of peace and joy▪ They are written for this end, let us hear them for this end too, that our joy may be full. It i… true indeed, that this fulnesse of joy suits only the lise to come, when the vessel is both inl…rged …nd strengthned to contain it: Things that have strong spirits in them, must have strong n…w bottle…, such as our cr…zy mortal bodies are no…; therefore the Lord hath reserved the just fulnesse, the overflowings of this joy, for the time that the soul shall be purified from all sin, and the body delive…ed from all corruption: Because that s…n lurks in many corners of the heart now, therefore this joy cannot fill up the heart, and all the vacuities of it; for it is of so pure and heavenly a nature, that it will not compou…d an… inte…mingle wi…h sin, or sinful lusts; but when nothing of th…t remains in the heart, then it flows-in apace, and leaves no corner of the heart unsatisfied and unsupplied. I would have you, who get some tastes of this joy and peace by the way, not di…quieted and troubled, because it abides not to be ordin…y …ood; if you be set down again to your ordinary spare dyet of Mann… in the Wildernesse, and have not these fi…st f…uits and G…apes of Canaan often sent to you; think it n…t st…ange, …or the fulnesse which you …eek, you are not capable of here, but you sh…ll be c…pable of it hereafter. You ought with patience to wait …or that day, when your joy shall be fall, as Christ is full, full measure, heaped up, and running over, will he me… out unto you then: and this …hall be without the fear of any ebb or diminution of it for all eternity; neither shall this fulnesse, and cons…ant fulnesse, cloy the soul, or breed any satiety in it: there is fulnesse of joy without surfeit, without satiety; that which th…y hav…, they shall alwayes desire, and …hat which th…y desire, they shall alwayes have: everlasting desi…e, and everlasting delight, being married together in their …ulnesse. But yet so much is a…tainable h…re, …s may truly be called fulnesse, in regard of the world; The fulnesse of joy that …ll the pleasures of this earth can afford, is but sca…cety and want, to the inward fulnesse o… joy and contentation, …he poorest believers may have in God, reconciled in Christ. That which the wise man gives as the character of all earthly joy, …uits well, I said of laughter, it is mad, and of mirth, wh…t doth it? Eccl. 2.2. Truly it can…ot be supposed to be more …eal, then that which is the ground and spring of it. I… must be a perfunct…ious, superficial, and empty joy, that is derived and distil…ed from such vanities. Nay, there is a madnesse in it besides, for mens apprehensions to swell so excessively, towards poor, narrow, and limited things; it is a monster in reason, to put such value upon nothing, and make our selves glad upon our own dreams and …ancies; There is such a manifest abuse and violation of re…son in it, …hat it can be supposed to proceed …rom nothing but a distemper in men… hearts. But be…ides …his, there are two other characters of it given, Prov. 14.13. Even in l…ughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of that …rth is heavinesse. There is no pure earthly joy; for it hath alwayes a mixture of grief and sadnesse in the …oward retired closet of the heart; it is of such deadnesse and inefficacy, that it drives no… out of the heart all discontentments and anxieties; but is the most jovial man, that seem… to be transported with his delights, would but retire within, and examine his own conscien…e, …e would find those delights have but little power to affect his heart; he would find terrible and dreadful represent…tions there, that his joyes may well for a time darken them, bu… cannot drive them away: and then it is the ve…y natural law, and fatal necessity, th…t grief follows these joys at the heels, yea, is pe…petually attending them, to come in their place; God hath so conjoyned them together, and so disposed them, that mens j…y shall be mingled with grief, but their g…ief is pu…e and unmixed; and that he who draws up joy to him from the creatures, must draw g…ief and vexation in that same chain, inseparably annex…d to it by the wise ordination of God.
But there are joys of the Holy Ghost, arising from the intimati…n and app…ehension of th… Gospel, from the consideration …f the grace and goodnesse of God manifested in it, and the experience of that in the soul, which are of …nother stamp and nature. These indeed affect th… heart, and give the answer of a good con…ience, in th… blood of Christ, which is a continual feast; these drive out the bitter and dreadful apprehensions of sin and wrath; these sweeten and refr…sh th… soul in all wo…ldly afflictions and g…iefs: The heart of man kn…weth his own bitternesse, and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy, P…ov. 13.10. Indeed, the to…ments and perplexities of a troubled soul, are better felt by themselve…, t…en known by others, and so are the joys of th…t heart that …pprehends Jesus Christ, and peace p…rchased in him, they a…e such, as no man that is a stranger to such thing… in his experience can app…ehend. It is a joy u…speakable; O what un…peakable content gives it to the heart. And truly if you did not interpose the clouds of unbelief and sin between you and his shining countenance, there needed not be so often an Eclipse in the joys of believers; yet the day is coming that ye shall see him fully as he is, and nothing be interposed between you and him, and then your joy sh…ll be full, &c.