Trials and Triumphs that Accompany the Work of God, Sermon 1
Mark 5.35.
While he yet spake, there came from the Rulers of the Synagogues house certain, which said the Childe is dead, Why troublest thou the Master any further.
THere are three things that seem too wonderful for us, The first is, That a work should die in Christ's hand, who is the Prince of life, all whose Saints are lively, because in his hand, Deut. 33.3. The second thing that seems too wonderful for us, is, That death that does fall on Christ's work; cannot, by its strong bonds, detain the work, when Christ hath a mind to revive it, then the Earth shall no more cover his slain, his dead shall live and must arise, The faith of which makes his People sing in the dust.
The third thing that seems too wonderful for us, is, That all these deaths by his appointment hasten towards the reviving of his People: when he kills, reviving is within two days march to his People, Hos. 6.1, 2. After two days he will revive us again, and we shall live in his sight. All these three you may see in this instance, that my Text presents you with.
I shall, before I enter upon the words, premise these three things. First, While it's going very well with one Patient under cure, it may be going very sad, with another. The poor Woman being cured, she is dismissed in peace, and while he is speaking his word of dismission and confirmation to her; the news came that one of Christ's Patients is dead, his ways are various and past finding out, not to be disputed, but adored; Magnifie the work that Men see.
A second thing I would premise is this, That the Saints eminent enjoyments are ordinarily followed with eminent Tentations Iairus is admitted to Christ's company, sees what he had done, and heares what gracious words he had spoken to this poor Woman, and immediately while Christ spake, and he heard, Certain came, that tell him the Child is dead. It were good to be sober under the receipt of mercy, and in a calm Day to look out for a storm.
A third thing I would premise is this, That what is here written, it is written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the World are come, 1 Cor. 10.11. and these are ensamples unto us, so that, if in this Discourse, I shall be found to draw it as far as I can without doing violence to it, I exspect your pardon, that are willing to accept of admonition: As for others that cast him and his words, especially the word of the day, behind their backs, as he, so will I, suffer them, till the harvest, seeing the Lord is at hand. But let him that hath an ear hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches, and improve this to profit withall. So I come to the words themselves.
In which you have, first, the sad news of the Child's death, the Child is dead. Secondly, You have a sharp challenge, Why troublest thou the Master any further?
For the first, In it consider these three: First, the time when this news came, it was while Jesus was speaking, sad news in the midst of a sweet Sermon is both sudden, surprizing and astonishing. You may be richly edified by his Grace, and instantly winnowed by his providence, and yet the one tends as really to thy future advantage, as the other seems for the present to be sweet and pleasant to thee.
The second thing you have here is the Persons that bring the news, certain that came from Iairus his own house that undoubtedly knew the thing very well, there is no place left for disputing, or doubting the truth of the thing, besides that natural propensity in us, to close with sad news, and our frequent experiences, that tells us that such reports seldom fail. Our Lord sees it fit to order his People's Trials so, as they may be of great weight in themselves, and of great certainty unto those that are concerned in them.
The third thing is the Message it self, the Child is dead, O how killing! and yet it does not wound: what a violent storm, and yet it settles, not shakes the godly Man's faith; It was the better for this dead Child, that the Father had two lives, not only that Natural Life, but also that Spiritual Life whereby he was kept close to his duty, and unto Christ in the midst of his tentation. Thus much for clearing to you the first part of the words,
The second thing considerable in them, is the challenge, which in their deep sorrow and discouragement, upon what they had seen, they give to Iairus, Why trouble you the Master any further? Where, first, you may see their reverence and respect, they call him Master. Secondly, You have their mistake, viz. in that they thought that it was troublesome to Christ to be imploy'd about his work. Thirdly, That this was not only their thoughts now under the tentation, but that it had been their thoughts of this business all along, that Iairus would trouble himself, and the Master too, but to no purpose, and meerly out of a humour, not in any rational way: for the Child is dying, when he goes to Christ, and now is dead, after he has put him to much trouble about it. Thus much for clearing the second and last part of the words.
I shall only speak unto these three points of Doctrine. The first point is this, That a work happily begun and countenanced by Christ very much, may meet with many sad things, and fall under a cloud, before it come to a close.
The second Doctrine is this, That the Trials that attends Christ's work, makes many heart discoveries.
Thirdly, That all the deaths and tryals that befalls Christ's undertaking, are for his glory, or thus, glory grows out of them; they must pay this rent to him that is the Soveraign disposer of them.
I return to speak unto the first point of Doctrine. There is a happy begining here, as you may see from Vers. 22, 23, 24. and yet here the Child not only grows worse, but dies, the Child is dead: there is the cloud that passes over the concerns of Christ in this undertaking of his. The like you may see in many of our Masters undertakings, whether it relate to his publick work towards a Church or Nation in the general, or else to a particular work of grace, on particular Souls. For the first, you know that his delivering his People out of Egypt, had a good begining, yet came under many clouds, ere it came to a close.
The Lord at first appears to Moses, he speaks to him, he tells him he had seen the affliction of his People, and that he would come down, and save them, he sends him to treat with Pharaoh about this thing, he convinces many of the Enemies, that the Land suffered for their cruelty used to the People of God, and that this was the finger of God. This was a good begining, and yet the work grows worse, their bondage becomes heavier, than before; and truly it is ordinary that it is darkest before Day-break, and the shadows flee away. A second instance to prove this, is that of Ezra and Nehemiah. The Lord stirs up Authority to give encouragement to those that had any respect to the Temple at Jerusalem. And first, The King gives Commandment to them to go and build. Secondly, He provides them what things necessary for advancing of the building. Thirdly, He commands all his Subjects to advance the building, by contributing each to it, according to their capacities. Fourthly, The poor Heathen People, they willingly give in their help and concurrence; There's a good begining, yet you see within a little while, the haters of Zion mis-represents the work, calls the City a rebellious City, and so obtain an Order to cause them to desist from the work; This interruption was a darkning Cloud, that passed over the concerns of God at that time. And what shall I speak of Christ himself, they highly esteem him, they wonder at what he does, they will make him a King, and anon they crucifie him. And as it fared with the green Tree, so it fares with the dry. As to his particular work in souls, how is it like the Disciples going to Sea; it is very calm at the begining, for our Lord will not let some go to War in the first Year of their Marriage, but when they are going on, and making progress, the Winds rise, the Ship fills with Seas, and then they exspect nothing but death. And this Note, That such as are brought in to Him by his still Voice of the Gospel, and are drawn to him by his Cords of Love, do usually meet with some remarkable humbling dispensation, after that the Work is happily begun in them.
In Prosecution of this Point, I shall speak unto these Three Things.
First, I shall shew you what good beginings there may be at first undertaking of a work, or at our first putting a work in Christ's hand.
Secondly, I shall shew you that it may grow worse with this work, after all these good beginings: It may grow worse than ever it was before, The Child is dead.
Thirdly, Why is it that our Lord orders his concerns thus, that after they have had a good beginning, yet they grow worse, and die.
For the first of these, What is that good begining, that a work may have in a Church or Nation? For answer unto this, I say, First, It's a good begining when Persons concerned about this work, brings the work to Christ's Door; It's said they brought all their sick and diseased unto Christ, and truly the Disease is more than half cured, when it's laid at Christ's Feet, Rise, take up thy Bed and walk; may be Christ's next word to such a soul; It were good, if so it were with us: If we could trust him with his work in our souls, he would direct our thoughts, and in due time he would bring it to pass.
A second excellent thing, that is, a good begining, is this, when a Soul upon seeking in to Jesus, the Lord does finde him, He that findes me, findes life▪ and obtains favour of the Lord. Iairus findes Christ, when seeking him. It is that which galls a Cross, and breaks the Heart, when the Soul, under the perswasion, that help only is to be had in Him, cannot finde him, Job 23.3. O that I knew where to finde him, Vers. 8, 9. Behold I go forward, but he is not there, and backward but I cannot perceive him. On the left hand where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: So Song 5.6. I sought him, but I found him not; I called for him, but he made me no answer. But, O! how sweet is it when the Soul seeks him, and findes him, Luke 4.42. and when it findes him, it will not let him go, till it bring him unto its Mothers house. Song 3.4. So Iairus here seeks him, and findes him.
A third excellent begining, is this, when the Soul is earnest in its addresses to him, that is, much in intreaties, as Iairus was here, Vers. 23. and as that Man, Joh. 4.47. He besought him to come down very earnestly, as you may see, by doubling his request, Vers. 49. Our Lord never opens the Mouth to ask, and to ask earnestly, but he has an open heart to give in supplies; As s…eking is hopeful in it self, so when attended with ardency and zeal, its next neighbour to finding, when he is asked for of the House of Israel, then he accomplishes his promises.
A fourth excellent begining that is here, and it's very hopeful, is this Man's humility, it's said, He fell at his Feet, humility is the first step to exaltation, humble your selves under the mighty hand of God, and he will exalt you in due time: There is a two-fold capacity in this excellent grace, in order to the obtaining of mercies. First, It hides from storms, by keeping the Christian with a low Sail, like the lower shrubs, they don't meet with such a Wind as the tall Cedar. Secondly, It's that which has the promise, he saves all the meek of the Earth, the meek he teaches his judgements, the meek he teaches his way; but pride goeth before destruction.
A fifth excellent begining is this, There is faith in the case, if thou wilt but touch her, she shall be made whole, she shall live; It's sad that that faith that should be first at work in our imploying of Christ comes last: we exercise not faith for obtaining of strength to prevail with Christ, when we are very ready, at least for the fashion, to bring in faith in the close, to obtain the pardon of things both omitted and committed against the Lord. Note, whereever faith begins and puts work in Christ's hand, loving-kindness heals weaknesses, and crowns all with blessedness.
A sixth excellent begining, that you have here, is this, Christ welcomes Iairus, and willingly and readily undertakes the work. None more welcome to Christ, than the Man that comes to imploy him about his work; and there is nothing he more willingly undertakes, then work that belongs to his Office as Mediator; and there is no fear when Christ welcomes you, and undertakes all your works in you, and for you; come to him at mid-night, he is the friend at mid-night, that will open to you, and supply your wants.
A seventh excellent begining here, is this, That Christ gives Iairus a promise that he will cure the Child; Not that the Childe shall not grow worse, or die, but that die it, or not, he will cure it: Christ's promises always leave a latitude for his Power and Wisdom, to carry out the accomplishment thereof, as it seems most conducing to his Holy end and purpose.
An eighth excellent begining that is here is this, That Jesus Christ presently goes about it, he is on his way to Jairus his house, and truly it's a brave begining, when Christ is on his way to Jerusalem, and making haste, so that all the Disciples are made to cast their Garments, (Mat. 21.) and strows them in the way before their triumphing King, Buyers and Sellers, may look for, turned over Tables, and turning out at Doors, when Christ's haste makes Disciples cast their Cloaths; It's lovely to see Christ skipping over the Mountains like a Hinde, and like a Roe.
A ninth excellent begining here, is this, He gives a fresh proof of his Power and Virtue, in Curing the Woman with her Bloody Issue; This Jairus sees, for confirming of his faith, and truly it's a great ground of incouragement to thee, when thou sees as bad, as sick, and as hopeless sinners, as thou art, Cured by one touch of the Hem of Christ's Garment.
A tenth and last excellent begining, is this, That Jairus is kept at his duty, till his mercy comes; he never parts with Christ, till he performed the promise, nor does he challenge him for preferring of others, that accidentally met with him in the way; It's our safety to adhere to our duty, and when his People are tender and conscientious in doing their part, then Christ shall be found faithful in doing his, in his time, Isa. 60. last.
Thus much for the first thing propounded, which is the blessed begining that Jairus met with, when he came to Christ about his Daughter.
I come to the second thing propounded, to be spoken to, viz. that notwithstanding of all these excellent beginings, the Childe grows worse, and dies; Where First, take notice of this, that now Christ seems to break this bruised Reed, by doubling his burthen: before he was bowed down, as low as he could stoop, even to Christ's Feet, under the weight of a sick Childe; now he has a hopeless-like burthen of a dead Child. The Child is dead. And truly sometimes our Lord, when he intends to take off thy present burthen that thou casts over on him, he layes on thee another that is more pressing down, and sinking, that he may have the more mercy on thee.
Secondly, Now it seems the Poor Man's expectation is frustrated, he expected news of a Cure wrought by Christ, but now in the midst of his expectation, the Childe dies, and this is very sad, when the expectation of the poor Supplicant fails him, but it shall not be for ever; If it be of God, that saves the upright in heart, and grounded on a promise, as this is here.
Thirdly, Now it would seem, that, His great beseeching of Christ is in vain, as the People of the House judged, and it's a sad Death to the People of God, when all their Prayers seem to be slighted, and when providence gives a check to them all, what might some now say? but as in the 22. Psal. He trusted in God that he would deliver him; Let him do it now, seeing he delighted in him. Delays are not Denials, the Childe may die, and to thy sense all thy Prayers may die with it, but you shall finde your mistake in the close.
Fourthly, Upon the growing worse of of the work, and the Child's death, this is very sad, that now Christ is not so good as his word, he promised to cure the Childe, and now she is dead, what is now come of the promise, this providence seemeth to destroy it; Note this, many sad trials may fall out betwixt the giving of a promise, and the performance thereof: Isaac must be sacrificed, before the seed of Abraham be as the Sand of the Sea-shore for multitude.
Fifthly, There seems to be partiality▪ and unequal dealing in the case; In that one that is in no such hazard, and picks him up by the way side, without intreaties, or any such wrestlings, as he had about his daughter, should be cured instantly, and in the mean time his daughter dies. Grace may act in a way of soveraignty to some, and yet in the ordinary way of duty to others, they must be first whom he will have first, though Christ cure one that makes not half of the busling that thou makes; nor is not in such a dangerous case; yet you must not offend, but wait upon him, acknowledging this, that he may do with his own what he pleaseth, and improving his mercy to others, for strengthning thy faith about thy own cross, and thy deliverance out of it.
Sixthly, That now there is no probable ground of a delivery, the Childe is dead, nothing now can be done, all probable ways disappear. This Death hides the promise, hides Christ, hides the duty, and hides the former gracious works that Christ had done, and fills all the House with darkness, crying and confusion, only Jairus himself a Person most concerned, hath the least burthen of his hopeless case, because in his duty, and with Christ, and truly the more improbable things appear to be, we should adhere to Christ the more, and hold out peace, till we hear what Christ will say; and say the same thing with him, he will work next.
Seventhly, This is very sad that all the friends next to the work are under grievous mistakes, being thus clouded with this dispensation; they mistake, even then when Christ was near…st them, when their duty was most call'd for from their hand, and when the work was neerest the recovery. In violent Fevers oft-times Persons rave most when neerest to a cool, so is it often with the People of God, they sometimes never rave, and speaks more idly, than when their mercy is within sight of them. I shall name these few mistakes, that these certain Persons were guilty of.
First, They were guilty of this mistake, in that they looked on all Jairus Prayers, and Faith, that he had exercised in imploying of Christ, to be troublesome to Christ, you have been troubling all this time, as the words import, for why should they say, Trouble Him no further, if they had not thought it a trouble to Christ to be imployed as he was, truly we trouble Him by slighting Him, but never by praying to him, or believing in Him.
Secondly, They mistake in this, in that they judge the cause hopeless and helpless, The Childe is dead, there is no help, there is no hope, but dead it must be, there is no hopeing against hope here, this dispensation makes them all to stagger, they consider the death that is on the Childe, but does not consider who has undertaken the Cure, nor his promise about it, and therefore they thus mistake and faint.
A Third mistake is this, That they judg that Christ can do nothing now, the Child being dead, if there had been any life, he might have preserved it, but life being gone, he cannot recall it, this seems to be their very sentiments upon the whole; and this is a very great mistake, for most of our Lord's work is among the dead, he can as easily revive them, as he did create them: one word does both; oft-times he by death brings to life; by breaking down, builds up; and by wounding, he cures; so that it's neither in vain nor irrational, as this challenge imports, to imploy Christ about a dead cause, a dead heart, or a dead Childe. The reviving of such, God works oft-times with men. Thus much for the second thing propounded, viz. the growing worse of the case and cause, now undertaken by our Lord.
I come in the third place to the reasons; why our Lord suffers a death to fall on his own concerns, and things to grow worse upon his undertaking of them, and that after so good appearances at the begining.
The first Reason why our Lord suffers things to die, and grow worse, and that after they have had an excellent begining, is, that he may give them a proof of his wisdom and power, when all their wisdom and power is gone, so that they know not what to do, for lack of wisdom; and they cannot do what they know, for lack of power and strength: this Job acknowledges, Job 12.13. With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding. Oft-times the People of God are discouraged when they see both wisdom and power upon the other side, yet our Lord by some such experience like this that is in my Text, makes them see that there is wisdom and power both on their side, Isa. 31.2. Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, he will rise against the house of evil doers, he will shew them that he is so wise, that he knows how to advance his work by all the stops and deaths that it meets with, and how to inrich his People by impoverishing them, how to inlarge them by all their imprisonments, and how to give them meat out of their eaters; and he will give them a proof of his power in supporting them, when their crosses are sincking and discouraging; yea, sometimes our Lord smiles at the tryal of the innocent when it's most violent, because thereby an occasion is offered him, to make known his Wisdom and Power, in supporting and delivering of his People, and bringing them at last to a wealthy place: This is the first Reason.
The second Reason of the Point is this, when our Lord has happily begun his work in a Nation, City, or particular Soul, he suffers it to grow worse, and to die in appearance, to check and reprove Persons that are imployed, and concerned about that work. Now there are these five things that need a rebuke in Persons concerned in Christ's undertakings. The First is this, when his work prospers, and when he grants his people abundance of encouragement, then his People, they begin to exalt themselves, they forget the Apostle's Exhortation, Be not high minded, but fear, and so exalting themselves in Baal, they dye, this brings a death upon them, Hos. 13.1. It's a very ominous thing to the Church of God, when the Daughters of Jerusalem walk with out-stretched Neck, and play the wanton, till they provoke the Lord to kill them with thirst: I will slay her with thirst, she shall no more come at her Idols, Hos. 2. Why? because they had waxen proud and wanton against the Lord: So Psal. 78.61. They grow proud of external Ordinances, they look more to the Ark, than the God of the Ark: They glory in the Holy Mountain, and forget the God of it; Well, what does our Lord in this case? To check their Pride and Wantonness, He delivered His Strength into Captivity, and His Glory to the Enemies Hand. Secondly, He carries on His Work thus to check His People's carelessnesse and sloathfulnesse about the work, when they come first to imploy Christ, they use to intreat him greatly, and then our Lord gives them encouragement, but so soon as they get a little of this Opium, this sleeping drink, they fall presently careless, and indifferent, and laye by the work: whereupon the Lord suffers a death to fall upon his People, and sends them the dreadful alaraming newes, The Ark of God is taken, the Glory is departed from the Sanctuary, That by this death on his own work he may revive thy Prayers, increase thy tears, and double thy actings of faith that have been dead with thee this long time: Our Lord loves not to see Ministers sleeping, and Professors doting, when he is risen up to the prey; And therefore, though he had given us never so promising beginings, he will put a stop to his work, till he make thee that art the Minister or Professor, rise up and shine in thy duty, when he is risen up, and is shining in his Sanctuary, Hos, 5.15. In their affliction they will seek me early. Thirdly, It is to check their self-seeking, oft-times when we meet with encouragement in his way, we become selfish, and too much mind our own things, this provokes him to send a death on them, some hug their Children till they kill them, some are so taken up with their own things, that they leave Christ alone, Joh. 16. last. Thereupon is it that our Lord layes a death on that thing that thou loves more, seeks more, delights in more than thou does in him. It's ominous to his Work and People, when Persons intrusted with his glory, do mind their own things. If you do, our Master will check this in you, by bringing a death on the work, and on all your interest also, that you minded more than the work, which should have been your principal interest. Fourthly, To check our unbelief, oft-times we commit our work to him by faith, but we do not exercise this faith unto a patient waiting for the Lord, they that believe make not haste, that is, that keep faith in exercise about the work, but truly however there be some acts of faith put forth upon our first imploying of Christ, and the encouragement that he bestowes upon us, yet we don't keep up this excellent exercise of faith, and thereupon we, and the Childe, and all dies; O that we could mind these two words, viz. his first word, Mat. 11. Come unto me, &c. His last word, Joh. 15.4, 5. Abide in me. When we turn off from him, he turns out death, with a Commission to seize on all our glory, as a sufficient check to our unbelief that causes us thus to depart from him. Fifthly, He suffers a death on his work to check the carnality and earthly mindedness that may be found amongst Professors, which is the great cause of this untender walking and backsliding, that makes the Name of God to be blasphemed among the Heathen, Rom. 2.24. Tit. 2.5. So 2 Sam. 12.14. Thou hast given occasion to the Enemies of God to blaspheme; and to say of the Professors of this Generation; Loe, such a People are become like unto us. Now to vindicate his own name thus reproached and blasphemed, he causes a death to seize his work, and so sanctifies his Name in the sight of all the Nations, that are astonished at this; not knowing the thoughts of the Lord in all this. Thus much for the second Reason of the Point.
The Third Reason is this, That by these deaths on his own work, he may let them see how much he is provoked, when to correct and chastise them, he will give up his glory unto captivity: Let the Childe die, and foolish men do what they can to disswade the honest waiter on Christ from having any more to do with him; Trouble him no more, for all is in vain.
The Fourth Reason is this, Thereby our Lord raises the worth and esteem of his mercies in the hearts of his People; now he is gone, Did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way; they had but low thoughts of him while present, but so soon as he is gone, they begin to express their sense of the mercy they formerly injoyed, but now they are deprived of it. We usually never know the worth of a thing till it be dead, and then we would scratch them out of the Grave wherein they are buried, providing we might have them.
The Fifth Reason, why our Lord is pleased to permit a death to befall his undertaking, is to try his Peoples respect to their duty, and to try whether they will adhere to it, even then when in the way of it they meet both with sad dispensations and disappointments: you may hear this godly Man's practise speaking thus, when they tell him the Childe is dead; well, says he, be it so, Christ has promised to cure him, he has admitted me to wait on him; I have come thus far with him, and found a dead Childe, I will stay with him till I finde a living, for although there be a dead Child in the providence, yet there is a living Childe in the promise, I will hold that fast, as it's my duty, I say, it's promising then, when a Christian is close and tender in his duty, and our Lord loves this very much.
The Sixth and last Reason, is to make us the more tender of these things, when he revives them again; you see, after they have made a good progress, and Christ hath given great ground of hope, death may overtake them: The Childe dies. It's a desirable promise you have, Zeph. 3.10. They shall not glory any more, because of the Holy Mountain; We must neither undervalue, nor over-value his external concerns; true tenderness keeps off both extreams: And, if by under-valuing or over-valuing, you have provoked God, to permit deadning dispensations, to befall the Church of God, be sure now to be more tender in improving Gospel-ordinances, and a Gospel-Ministery than ever you have been.
I come now to the use of this point: If it be so, that a work undertaken by Christ, countenanced and owned by him, may come under a death; Then you need not think strange, if any such thing happen unto you, in your progress to Heaven, after you have been revived, and inlightned, and got the work in Christ's hand, there may a death pass upon you: This is no strange tentation, but what is common to men. Now, here I shall a little lay before you the hopefulness of your case, even then when it's helpless, as to you.
As to the hopefulness of our condition, though it's worse with us now, than it hath been: Consider, First, That it's hopeful, though for the present helpless, because we have brought it unto him, and put the work in his hand; Nay more, he hath taken it out of all our hands, as he did in the case in my Text; Did you not finde, that when you committed your way to the Lord, that then he brought it to pass?
Secondly, Was not this a hopeful begining, to see a People coming out of the fire, and from the Plague trembling, and melted down at Christ's Feet, then you spake trembling, and he exalted you, by sending forth from these flames, the cooling Waters of the Sanctuary, that run plentifully towards you, when the Gospel had a free passage, by the Indulgence of the Supreme Authority, for several Years.
Thirdly, There was this hopeful begining, viz. a Spirit of Grace and Supplication, poured out upon Ministers, and Professors, that made them beseech him greatly, then every place you sought him in, had this to testifie in your behalf, that you were there, and did greatly beseech him; O what a brave ground of confidence is this in your dealing with him, that sayes, Ask what you will, and it shall be given to you.
Fourthly, There was this hopeful begining, That upon your seeking of him, you did really finde him; sometimes, it's true, you have been put to a little more diligence, and pains, before you found him; but, is there none in all the Church that can say, I both sought, and found him not; And, I went a little further, and I found him whom my Soul loves: believe me, it's a hopeful begining, when you finde the Physician, and that giving you proofs, both of his ability and willingness to do your business for you.
Fifthly, There was this notable begining, when Christ Jesus sweetly welcom'd thee upon thy coming to him, and finding of him: Hath not Christ welcomed you by his great offers he hath made to you? He has offered you grace and glory at first word, and by his great promises for the future, I will never, never▪ never leave you, nor forsake you: Hath not he welcomed you, when he hath set you down before him? and he hath stood so to speak, serving you: No sooner have you come in to the Banquet of Wine, but our Lord hath got up, and served you with the finest of the Wheat, and with Honey from the Rock, thy fill. And is not this a good begining, and a Door of Hope, for the Travellers to Zion?
Sixthly, Was not faith in exercise, that if he would come and touch the Childe, it should live; and truly, it's an excellent begining, when faith hath the first word, does the first work, and turns back, and tells the humble Supplicant, that Mercy shall be built up for ever; Psal. 89.4. I had fainted, or I had done worse, if I had not believed. It's well with the People of God, when they have faith, to set against all the difficulties, and discouragements, that are in their way.
Seventhly, and lastly, Is not this a comfortable begining, that you have in some measure been kept at your duty, notwithstanding of all the growing difficulties and discouragements in your day, ye have not wickedly departed from his Commandments, nor refused the thing that pleaseth him, whether it be his pleasure that you should bear his Cross, or do him such, and so much service; Now, all these, and many more, doe witness how mercifully our Lord begins with you again, after he had purged you by the Pestilence, Fire, and Sword; But,
What do I here? The Childe is dead, it's worse with us than it was before: The Master hath been too long a coming, we must not any more make mention of the Lord, or of the Words of his Holiness; Let all go, as Agar to the Wilderness; with the small allowance allotted for them, and let them die there: Why, what is the matter? The Child is dead, the work is dead, and all is dead with it: And, here I would call you seriously to consider the cause of this, and mourn for it before the Lord, in so far as it's a culpable cause, and then adore it in so far as Soveraignty is to be seen in it; Have Ministers fallen dead, do they stagger, and grope as at Noon-day, are Ordinances dead, and is the Comforter that relieves the Soul far away from them, are Providences, Mercies, Crosses, &c. all dead; Why, Is there not a Cause?
And, First, Are not all of us found out of the dust, we have grown proud, and kicked at GOD's Ordinances and Judgments: We have forgot that the Root bears us, but not we it, and have said, We are Lords, we will come no more unto thee, Jer. 2.31. Now when a People thus provokes him, what can be done with them, but to bring them low by one sad death on them or another, that he may exalt them again in due time; Let a People shake off Humility, they thereby break the precious Box, wherein all the rest of the Graces are kept; break this, and fall proud, then instantly all the rest of your graces vanish unto smoke. Therefore my advice to you, is that which you have, Exod. 33.5. Behold, I come up suddenly, and in a moment, to consume you: Therefore put away your Ornaments, that I may know what to do unto you. No Man can tell what can be done with a proud People, except it be to destroy them; yea more, they can desire nothing from God, but what is destructive to them, either because of the curse, or because of their abuse of the same; Therefore be not proud least your bonds be made strong, least he cause darkness, and you stumble upon the high Mountains, when its black darkness, as the shadow of death, Jer. 13.15, 16.
Secondly, Is there not a death on that concernedness of Spirit, and seriousness that was amongst the Lord's People at the begining, where is that earnestness in your going about of duties; who amongst us does greatly intreat our Lord to go down, and heal our sick, or revive our dead? Are there not certain, that proceed from our hearts every day, and tells us, that our convictions are dead, that our conscience is almost dead, that the Power of Godliness is almost dead, if not altogether, and which is worst of all, do press us to give over duty, as a thing that is troublesome to the Master; and alas, it's because it's troublesome to us, and to this luke-warm and indifferent temper, that cannot endure painfull diligence in the ways of God.
Thirdly, At our begining, we sought and found him, but now what hath befallen us; May we not call out with Elisha, where is the Lord God of Elijah: And with Job, O that we knew where to finde him, or is it not worse; The Lord hath hid himself, and we are not troubled, our hearts doe not break, when we hear dead Ordinances, dead Providences, dead Hearts, dumb and silent Rods, calling thus, He hath forsaken his House, and made every one of us walk like blind Men, because of our iniquity, Zeph. 1.17. O that at length we could lay this to heart!
Fourthly, At the begining he sweetly entertain'd us, he spoke to us, and gave us promise, and told us that he was with us, while we were with him, but now the case is grown worse; we speak, but he makes us no answer, or then its a terrible answer we meet with: And which is worst of all, we are become so dead, that we either care not for his answering of us, or fear it not when it is by terrible things in his righteousness.
Fifthly, Did we not enter on our duty, with some measure of faith, that if he would but put to his hand to the wound, it should be healed, but ah, what do I hear? Trouble Him no more. This tells us that faith is gone, and that love is grown cold, is not faith scarce to be found, and hath not the love of many waxed cold? And, if so, Is it not worse with us, than it was? and shall we not dread and fear what may be the end thereof? Surely at best, such shall not be witnesses to his immediate act in reviving of the Childe.
Sixthly, and Lastly, The Day hath been when the People of God consulted their duty, and did keep close to it, as Jairus did, not regarding tentations and discouragements; but now have we not separated our hearts from him, and when we call for Ordinances, do we seek him with the heart? What should all these things do unto us, if we had them, seeing we fear not God, and are so careless of our duty.
A Second Use is this, To intreat you to take courage, mind the days of old, and how sweetly Christ welcomed you, when you came to him, mind his promise, there is life in it for a dead work; Remember he is on his way, wait for him, and what-ever be the tentation slight it, and keep close by Christ, till you see the end of the Lord in all this.
The last thing I shall recommend to you in the behalf of his dying work, shall be to call you to do what you can to strengthen what remains, Rev. 3.1. and to revive what is dead; Now there are these Six things, I would plead for at your hand: The First is, Attend it with a mournful eye, Zeph. 3. Mourn for the solemn Assemblies: If David did weep after the Beir of Abner, and if Phinea's Wife mourned for the departing glory, when it was vail'd over, and small; how much more should we weep for the departing of the glory of the second House, that is far more glorious; Let us write down Ichabod upon all our enjoyments, and re…use to be comforted, till the Ark be returned.
Secondly, Let us attend it with a lively faith, tha… he will revive it again, Psal. 138.7. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me, Hab. 3. Revive thy work in the midst of the years, Psal. 102. Exercise faith on this, that he will appear to build up Zion, and Mich. 7.8 9. Though I be i… darkness, yet the Lord will be a light unto me, and act as those that have the faith of this Resurrection, and reviving of his work, as Joseph did, Heb. 11.22.
Thirdly, Love it, though in the Grave, and stincking there. O for love to it! This would constrain you (1 Cor. 5.14.) to bear, indure, and do all things; Love thinks it can never do enough for Christ, and for his interests.
Fourthly, Be patient till the coming of the Lord, Jam. 5.8. 1 Thes. 1.3. 1 Co. 13.13. This is a fit attendant on the Grave of a dead work, till such a Resurrection, Act. 26 6, 7. Job 14.7.14. It's as the Angel that stood by Christ's S…pulchre, that sayes to you, Fear not, you seek Jesus, you wait on him, you shall meet with him at Galilee, as he promised to you.
Fifthly, Labour to keep them alive in the serious study and practise of holiness in thy private walk. They that kn…w the Lord shall do exploits, Dan. 11. And this is a noble exploit, when you can preserve Christ's interests, and the interest of holiness, alive, even then when all the outward concerns of both are dead; Holiness becomes thy House, O Lord, for ever, Psal. 93 last▪ for ever, under deaths and dangers: This does admirably beautifie the House of God.
Sixthly, Labour for a Christian Spirit, a Spirit of Zeal, not tainted with the fear of Men, nor satisfied with any thing that is only of private concernment, a shrinking low Spirit very much dishonours so great a Leader and Commander as Christ hath been unto us.
And to shut up this, There is (First) this that m…y encourage you to it, that Christ is most willing to engage an Advocate to plead the Cause, and vindicate the innocency and integrity of such a People, that are thus imployed about his dying work: 1 Sam. 2.30. Them that honour him he will honour: we should lay honour, and all at the stake, for honouring of him; and then expect the performance of that promise, Psal. 37.6. He shall bring forth thy righteousness, and thy judgment as the Noon-Day, So Isai. 51.22. Jer. 50.34.
Secondly, What ever cost or charges you are put to about this work, it makes all for your selves, and your best interest, Isai. 32.8. The liberal man deviseth liberal things, and by liberal things he stands. David he ingages to build God a House: Nay, says the Lord, I will build thee an House, he will render double unto thee thy loss, for Christ shall be gain, and thy gain and purchase thou makes in denying of Christ shall be loss, he that saveth his life shall lose it.
Thirdly, If thou wilt thus concern thy s…lf about this work, thou shalt have the most early discoveries of the reviving of this work: Zach. 2. Go tell this young Man the House shall be builded up; and you know Mary that was much concerned about a dead Christ, gets the first news of Christ's Resurrection.
Fourthly, Thou shalt be of all the most usefull and blessed Christian, and a blessing to others in thy Generation: The blessing… of him that are ready to perish, since the vision ceased, shall rest on thee, Job 29.13. Yo… shall be as the dew from the Lord, as showre on the grass that tarrieth not for man, Mic. 5 7 Though Ordinances dye, and all fail, y… you shall rejoyce in the Lord, Hab. 3.18. Thus much for the first thing propounded unto you.
The second thing that I observe here, is the effect, that this death produceth on the Friends of Jairus, it works manifold discoveries, they say to him, Why trouble you the Master any further?
The Doctrine is this, That the tryals and dark dispensations, that befalls the work of God, makes many discoveries, and does wonderfully lay open the hearts of the fainting friends of the work, Luke 24.21. The death that passed on the Prince of Life, did discover the hearts of the Disciples. But we trusted (said they) that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: And why do you not yet believe the same? O, say they because he is dead: What then? his death is the only way to restore the Kingdom, but this they were ignorant of: So Luk. 2.35. (Y…a a Sword shall pierce thorow thy own Soul also) that the thoughts of many may be discovered. Isai. 8.15. The tryals then did bring d…scoveries, and many of them shall stumble, Ps…l. 73.2. David's tryal did discover him, and Jer. 25.15, 16. They shall drink, and be mad, because of the Sword that I will send amongst them: The cross Providence of God makes them go mad.
Here, First, I shall shew you, why it is that such cross Providences …ove so discovering. Secondly, I sh…ll shew you, what it is that they do discover, viz. their manifold mistakes about the work. Thirdly, Why is it that ye do thus mistake?
For the First, Why is it so? I answer, First, Because thereunto they are appointed, Amos 9.9. I will sift the House of Judah: He permits them to fall out, for this end; as in Job's case, he permitted Satan to vex him, to discourage him; yea, he actually concurs in his own holy and spotless way, with the instruments imployed about these things, 2 Chro 32.31. But, God left him, to try him, that he might see what was in his heart.
Secondly, It is, Beeause then the work of God falls under sad censures from the enemies of it, because of which, a death on the work proves very discovering to the friends of it. Enemies ordinarily count it their interest, to expose his work to all the ignominy and contempt imaginable, that in the abomination thereof, a foundation may be laid for excusing and commending themselves, for delivering the World from such a burthen Thus they did with the green Tree, when they designed to put the Lord of Glo y to open shame, what Art had they to load him with all manner of ignominy, both before, and after his death: foretold by a Spirit of Prophesie, Psal. 22.6, 7, 8. And exactly fulfilled, Mat. 27.26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 37, 39, 41. And so they do with the dry Tree: 1 Cor. 4.9,— 13. They were esteemed as the filth sc…p…d o…f shoes, every one had some filth to cast upon them, Psal. 55.3. They cast iniquity …pon me, and with cruel rage they hate me. Now, I say, it is this in a part that makes tryals and deaths on the interest of Christ, be so discovering, for this causes many strange thoughts of heart to be under a dispensation, that imboldens Men to say, as Job 4 6. Is this thy fear, thy confidence, and the uprightness of thy way?
Thirdly, They prove discove ing, because of the dark providences themselves; If either you will consider their nature, being compared to fire, whose light and heat is very discovering, Zach. 13.9. Ye shall pass thorow the Fire, or if you will consider their measure, they are call'd perfect, and oft-times are such as begets admiration, and puts the upright Man to a stand, not knowing what to think or say, Job 17.8. or if you will consider their number, Psal. 130.1. Depths upon depths. Psal. 34. Many are the troubles of the righteous: Now, if one of these be discovering, how much more a compleat number of them, and in their perfection, as in our day. Now, if it may be so under tryals, it's no wonder they prove discovering.
Fourthly, They are discovering, because of the darkness that comes along with them: The People of God meeting with such an unexpected blow, as is here in my Text, they are in the dark about God's mind and wonders, What can be his design in doing or permitting such a thing? They are in the dark about this, whether it be in love or not, and whether with the heart of an Enemy, or of a Friend, they know not; but that he will kill, and never revive his work again; Mich. 4.12. But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel; for he shall gather them as sheaves unto the floor: Jer. 8.7. My People know not the judgements of the Lord.
Fifthly, This seems strange and proves discovering, when they look on the instruments and means that are imployed in bringing th… death on the work. And, First, they are th… worst of men, Psal. 79.1, 2, 3. The Heathe… are come into thine Inheritance, &c. Hab. 1.4, 13. Ezek. 7.24. & 21.31. Now think they, if God punish for sin, then he lets the greatest sinners escape, and permits them to devour the Man that is more righteous than he; which discovered the Psalmist, Psal. 73. Or, Secondly, they are Persons of neerest interest, Persons round about Jerusalem, Zach. 12.2. It's our Neighbours, Psal. 79. and render to our Neighbours, &c. Now this consideration makes strange thoughts rise in the heart, and proves very discovering, that friends to the work should prove such enemies to it, had it been an enemy I could bear it, Psal. 55.12, 13.
A Sixth thing that makes them so discovering, is, the difficulty of patience under them. If these men had patience, they might have waited till they see what Christ will do. Now he is come, but they being impatient, they discover themselves presently, and cry out, The Childe is dead; Why trouble you the Master any further? Remember therefore Christ's Exhortation, Luk. 21.19. In your patience possess your Soul.
Seventhly, and Lastly, This makes it very discovering, The consideration of the Saints interest in God, and in all the blessings of the New-Covenant, their former experiences of God's gracious dealing towards them, and their considence in God in their recourse to Him: All which you see here, as is clear from what I have said concerning this Man's reco…se to Christ at first. Now that our Lord should step over all these things, and give a blow to his own work, and let his own Patient die, it is very astonishing to a serious observer. Thus much for the Reasons, why this death is so discovering.
I come now to the Second Thing, which is this, What is it that is discovered in them by this death, that here they Preach?
For Answer to this, I shall name these Six mistakes, that by this tryal are discovered.
First, They mistake in that they do challenge Christ, as one that had out-stay'd his time, and that how-ever he knew well how to cure a Disease, yet he knew not the fit time, or may be mistaken about the season, and come too late to do any good, the Child is dead: Sir, You should have come sooner. Christ eve… comes in a good hour, and his time is bes… for us, and his work both; and how-eve… thou say, if Christ had been here, there ha… not been a Death on Ministers Ordinance… and Professors, yet it's for the advantage o… the Child, of the Father, and of all concerned in the Childe, that the Childe dies, and so it shall prove, as to our case in the issue.
Secondly, They look on Christ's delay, as disadvantageous to the work, and that is a sad mistake; for all that Christ does, is for the furtherance of the Gospel; let him kill James, and imprison Peter, let him stay two Days, till the Childe die, that is the readiest course, and the neerest way to your promised reviving: Therefore you would believe, that his delays to do what he hath promised, and you have prayed for, do advance his work, and not obstruct, or set it behind; for, that holds true in this case, Desiderio etiam celeritas in mora est; It is true The Captive exile hasteneth, Isa. 51.14. But hold, says the Lord, Vers. 15. I am the Lord that knows my own time, a red Sea cannot make me lose an hour of my appointed time, therefore we should construct all Christ's actings to the best of advantages, and when sense says the Master delays his coming, we should say he hasteth, when sense says he is breaking down, we should say he is building up.
Thirdly, They mistake in this, in that they judge Christ such a Person as can be troubled with imployment for the good of poor Creatures, or his own more neer and dear concerns: Whereas there is nothing he loves more, than to be imployed; Give me no rest, says he, Isa. 62.7. And this one thing Note, If any thing provoke him to be gone from us, and from these Nations, it is your not employing this Princely Mediator, that you may have your dead restored to life again, please him so far as to imploy him, honour him so far as to trust him with your dead, He shall make your dead live, and together with his dead Body they shall arise. If you will not make use of him, prepare to answer his complaint, Joh. 5.40. You will not come to me that ye may get life.
Fourthly, Their pride and mistake doe… appear in this, in that they judge it an irrational thing for the Father to pray, believe, … wait on Christ about this Childe, The Childe … dead, Why troublest thou the Master? Thi… Why imports that no Reason could be give… for what he did; there was some Reason t… imploy him, so long as there was any li… in the Childe, but now seeing she is dea… it's unreasonable that you should troub… the Master to come so far: Note, if Reas… will not go up to the Mount with you, lea… it at the foot of it, with Abraham's servant… and let Religion carry you up to the Hill … God, and there inable you to wait, till in the Mount of the Lord, it shall be seen.
Fifthly, They mistake in this, in that they think, that there is no help at all in Christ for reviving of the dead. It's true, might they say, he can do much, but I doubt much, if he can do any thing to a dead work. This is a most silencing thing, Ezek. 37.2, 3. Can these dry bones live? it almost, nay it altogether non-plusses the Prophet, and makes him say, Lord, thou knowest, for I know not; though therefore the work be both hopeless, and helpless to thee, and in its self, yet perswade thy self, he knows how to make dry bones live, and stand up before him. And therefore conclude nothing against thy imploying of him, but to the contrary, say, this is a work for Christ's hand, because dead, and none but he can restore to life again.
A Sixth and Last mistake, is this, That they refuse to imploy Christ for their part, and do what they can to hinder others from imploying of him: They not only slight Christ themselv…s, but they do what they can to take off Jairus from imploying Christ any more; and truly this is all the help that can be expected from discouraged Unbelievers: Not only are they useless themselves to a dead work, but are hinderers of others, so far as lies in their power; And, howbeit Men have their plausible pretences for this kind of deportment, yet our Lord will look on it, as a Hellish complement, if thou slight thy duty to his dead work, and let it die and stinck both, because thou art one that will not trouble him.
Thus much for the mistakes, that they were guilty of, and it is well, if we be not guilty of greater, as I might shew you, if I did not study brevity, and had resolved in this, to leave you to your silent Meditations about the same. It's to be feared we neither think right, nor speak right of Him.
And therefore in the Third Place, I come to shew the Reasons, why they, and we with them, do so mistake Ghrist in his working.
The First Reason is this, Our ignoranc… of the bounds that he hath set to all his stupendious acts of Providence in the Earth; whereof see, Jer. 9.24. Know me, that … am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness▪ judgment and righteousness in the Earth, fo… in these things I delight: Our Soveraign Lord hath set up these way-marks for directing us what to think and say, when his way upon Earth is hid, and in the deep waters, and his Foot steps none can see them; Let him kill, wound, cast down, or destroy, I am bound to say he is exercising loving-kindness, judgement and righteousness: And I will wait till he bring forth my righteousness, after he hath vindicate his own, that by our sins we have caused to be evil spoken of.
A Second Reason of their mistake, is, Their ignorance of Christ's Order and Method in the well ordered Covenant, which is this, to kill first, and then make alive, to raise a War, and then to create Peace in the Soul, to bring order out of all our confusions, and to inrich his People, by making them losers for a time: O! for hearts to admire this well ordered Covenant, wherein he hath ordered the death of the work, and the manner of it; the reviving of his work, and the method of it. It's an old sin, to limit the holy one of Israel; But, can you set bounds to the Sea? No more can you limit Him. If you set Briars and Thorns before Him, He will go thorow them.
A Third Reason, is, Our ignorance of our own need, and of what the work stands in need of, to make it the more glorious. Sometimes it's not the sickness of our friend, but the death of our friend that will awake us, and try our faith, which is more precious than finest gold: And sometimes, it's not our sickness and sores, but a death or at lest such a cross that causes thee to choose strangling, rather than life, that conduces to that glorious end, that is on our Lord's heart concerning thee, as is clear in Job's case, and you have seen his end: Now, I say, it's our ignorance of this, that makes us so mistake, and be ready with Agar, to put away the Childe, that we do not see his death, till this prudent Dealer, for his own exaltation, by his gracious providence refute our folly.
A Fourth Reason of our mistake, is, Our ignorance as to Christ's undertaking, and of the promise he gives us when we imploy H…m. I will go down, says he, and cure the Child, but he does not promise that the Childe shall not grow worse, or that it shall no… die; He promises he will build David … House, but he tells him, that if his Ch…ldren transgress, he will chastise them with the Rods of Men. We look to the firs… part of the promise, but not unto the second. We receive Christ's promise, and we put our own Comment upon it, that destroyes the Text; But, shall it be as thou wilt? No. This is another cause of our stumbling, and foolish mistake.
A Fifth Reason, is, Our not holding fast the Promise without staggering: Let all be dead, let Abraham be dead, and Sarah, as to the event of the promise, faithful Abraham considers not his own deadness, nor Sarah's either, but he considers the life that is in all his promises, and so believes, and gives glory unto God; David says, Psal. 56. In God, I will praise his word, I shall not be afraid what flesh can do unto me. And you see Jairus holds fast the promise, and this keeps him at his duty, when others stumbled, and did cast a stumbling block in his way.
A Sixth Reason, is, Their ignorance of the Person, now about the work, and that hath taken it in hand: They thought that he was like some ordinary Physicians, that hath their Opprobria Medicorum▪ and who, though they can cure some Diseases, yet as to the dead, they thought there was no cure for them; they have very poor and low thoughts of him, and this made them mistake: If they had remembred, that He can work, and none can let, and that there is nothing too hard for him; they should have answered their own challenge, and found there was Reason to trouble the Master (as they call it) more now, than ever before.
A Seventh, and Last Reason of their mistake, is this, Either they did not know, or now, being over-much affected with this sad providence, did not remember, and consider what cures he had wrought on others; They stare so on the Cross, that they loose both eyes, viz. the eye of sactified Reason, and the eye of quick-sighted Religion, and being thus blinded, it's no wonder they mistake; I wish we have not lost our eyes, our walking like blind Men, does dreadfully testifie against us: how comes it, that we have forgotten his wonderful works? What, hath he not done them? that we might set our hope on him, Psal. 78.7, 8. That they might set their hope on God: You are at a loss, that have not seen his works, or if you have, you have forgotten them, and so cannot improve them, whereupon you stumble at Noon-day, as in the dark.
Before I make any Application of this, I shall give you a wo…d of the Third Point, which I draw from the event, compared with this Pr…vidence; The Childe is cured, and great glory redounds to Christ by it, great joy and confirmation to Jairus, and great consternation, and astonishment to these that were so complementing, that if it had been their case, they would have troubled the Master no more about it.
The Doctrine is this, That what-ever deaths fall out on his work, as they make way for the brighter shining of his glory, so all tend to the advantage of the work, and of the friends that keep closest to it, as it is in Christ's hand.
I shall not insist on this, because I shall have occasion to speak to this, when I come to the reviving of our Lazarus; Only a word may be spoken here: First, To shew you, what are these pieces of glory, that shine in this issue from death.
Secondly, Shew you wherein the work was advantaged by this Method, that Christ did take, and then Apply it.
For the First, I shall only name these Six Pieces of Glory, that shine the brighter to us, because of the tryals, and deaths that God permits to come upon his own work: The first piece of glory that shines out of these tryals, is the glory of his wisdom: And, that, First, In wisely timeing of them, when his Peoples need calls most for such a dispensation. Secondly, In wisely ordering them, the Father's Cross is, First, to have a sick Childe, and then it dies: He lays on, First, the smaller tryal, and then the greater, and he does not lay them all on together, that should sinck us in a moment. Thirdly, In his wise and prudent way of governing us under them, Ephraim is as one that is used to tread out the Corn, and this he loves, but our wise Lord will have him to Plow, and be at harder work, Hos. 10.11.
Secondly, The second Piece of Glory that shines in this, is the Glory of his Power, his right hand sustains him when friends faint, and when enemies plot and act against him, his Bowe abides in its strength: Power can as easily revive the dead, as it can cure the most ordinary disease. Now his power is seen, First, In strengthning the faith of Jairus, that might have failed at the report of the death of his Daughter; and how conspicuous is his Power this Day, in bearing up his People under their tryals, and in strengthning their faith in the promise, may you not say his right Hand upholdeth you, and underneath are everlasting Arms. Secondly, This appears in this, in inabling Jairus to slight, and despise every tentation, that did meet him in the way; they come, and tell him, the Childe is dead, Why trouble you the Master? He waves the tentation▪ and adhears to his duty, waiting carefully on his Master, that had promised he would cure the Childe. Thirdly, In that he does help, when all hope fail'd: It's hopeless, there is no help for the Childe, yet he manifests his power, in doing that which they could not expect in reason, which they did not desire, and that which they did not believe he could do. It is easie for our Lord to overcome both our faith and fear.
Thirdly, The third Piece of Glory that shines out of this Providence, is, the Glory of his Justice, in correcting and chastising his own Children: The Child falls sick and dies, such may be the sins of his People, that to vindicate his justice and holiness, he will give up his strength into captivity, and his glory into the Enemies hands, Psal. 78. The jealousie of God is very great, and will not sit down with reflections on his honour: he for the vindicating of his justice, hath forsaken his house, and given the dearly beloved of his soul, to the will of his Enemies: This should make us fear and dread this Holy and Just God.
Fourthly, The fourth Piece of Glory that shines out of it, is the glory of his faithfulness, in performing his promise, notwithstanding of all the impediments that were in th… way. Joel 2. Strong is he that executeth his word, faithful is he that hath promised, and who will also do it; he promised he would cure this Child, and before he do it not, he works a mi…acle; Our Lord can never be strai…ned, he can easily over-come all difficulties, and discouragements that are in the way: Therefore let us hope in him, for neither his Saints weaknesses, nor Sinners scoffing, nor the difficulty of the case in hand; will hinder him, where his word of promise lies in pawn.
Fifthly, The fifth Piece of Glory that shines forth in it, is the Glory of his Grace: for Grace shines forth in all, both in his undertaking of it, in his carrying it on, and in his finishing of it: There was no Merit here at all, but Christ most freely undertakes it, and most freely accomplishes it.
Sixthly, The last Piece of Glory that shines out of it, is the Glory of his Soveraignty, in declaring that he hath the Keys of Death, and the command of it, and can untie its bonds and set its Prisoners free; O how blessed are the People whose God is the Lord; I say no more of this, only comfort your selves with these things, and don't construe his work so, as to make any one of these, clash with the rest of them; and look upon all, as sweetly conducing to the accomplishment of the promise, and the bringing about of his glorious designs.
I come to speak a word to the second.
Q. But wherein does this way of his, advantage his work?
A. First, In that this makes his work more trying: It tries the Father's faith more, it tries the faith of all his friends to purpose, when he lets a work die, or grow worse on their hand; It's a greater tryal to faith, to be lifting at a dead work, than when there is a little remainder of life in it, though faith triumphs most in difficult Cases.
Secondly, It hastens the work: For the Childe must die, before Christ come to do the work effectually: So, Joh. 11. He stays two days of purpose, that Lazarus might die, and thereby he hastens his great work that he designed, which was to make his Disciples believe the more in him.
Thirdly, It magnifies his work; when not only he cures the sick, but raises the dead to life again: This makes it a great work, he will let all die, that so we may be made to magnifie his work that Men see, Job. 36.24.
Fourthly, It's for the advantage of the work, in this respect, In that thereupon it appears so much the more to be the work of God; His Work is oft-times call'd the Devil's work, but that all may see it to be his, he suffers it to die, and he does that for it, that neither Devils nor Men can do; and makes them consess, that this is the Finger of God.
Fifthly, It advantages the Work, In that it makes it take a deeper impression on the heart, than if it were but one ordinary Cure of some ordinary Disease. Our God will do his work so, as it may make a lasting impression on the hearts of his People: And therefore die it must, and then he revives it.
Sixthly, It advantages the work, because Thereby he does discover the Enemies of the Work; and what is in their hearts against it: The two Witnesses must die, Rev. 11. that so our Lord may make a discovery what the wicked will do and say, Now when the two Witnesses, that perplexed them, are gone; Psal. 2. Let us break his bonds, and as for this Man we will not have him to ring over us; these be great Heart discoveries.
Seventhly, It advantages the Work, In silencing all the Enemies of it; Where is the Disputer now? Not one word in all their Heads: Till this end be, it can hardly be expected that our janglings shall be at an end: The cursings of Shimei, the railings of Rabsache, and the unbelieving disputings of Friends, shall at God's appearing, to build up Zion, vanish as the smoke, at the bright shining of the Sun.
Eighthly, In that it tends much to the confirmation of Jairus, who now sees that it's not a vain thing to seek him, that he is faithful that hath promised, and hath also done it.
Ninthly, and Lastly, It makes it a publick work, and of publick concernment to all about them, which otherways had lodged within their own Family. It shall be a rich advantage, when his appearing after all these deaths, shall be for the advantage of all the Nations, that shall behold his glory at his rising, and come bowing, and bending to him, and see, and say that he hath not done all this without a cause.
Now all I will do for Application of the two former Doctrines; shall be, First, To give you a word of caution: And, Secondly To give you a word of Direction, how to carry, as it becomes the Saints, under this or the like Dispensation.
For the First, I would Caution you against these Six Things.
First, Take need that your faith fail not, when the Wind and Seas begin to rage: It's not the raging of that roaring Lyon, nor the fury of the Oppressor, that indangers us so much as our fainting, Psal. 27.13. I had fainted unless I had believed: There is a sweet Elipsis in the words. I had done I know not what, I had fainted, I had been overcome by tentations, I had turned aside to the Flocks of Christ's companions, unless I had believed to see the loving-kindness of the Lord in the Land of the Living. It was … P…ter b… … …. Faith would … its King sitting o… …, Psal. 29.10. An… … Psal. 93.4. Th… … noise of many water… …, that if y… …, be will … … Psal. 29.11. And in … …, and all your te… … the blessing, and … … saith he deals with us, … if at any time you find a breach made upon you, upon tryal you may find that unbelief hath made the first breach, in at which his Fatherly anger comes against thee, and you may thank your unbelief for making a way to it. This is the first word of Caution.
A second word of Caution is this; However things grow worse with you in the way of duty, blame not your self for doing of it, you have enough to charge your self with, though you charge not your selves foolishly. And as it is not good to be overmuch righteous, so neither is it good to be overmuch wicked. Neither blame thy duty so, as to disown it, or cast it off, though others call it a troubling of the Master, yet you should not do so to. It's a token for good, in reference to the reviving of a dead work, when thou art found lively in the duties that it calls for at thy hand. There is not a sader tentation, and none more dangerous, than when the Devil, or thy own Heart takes thee off from the use of promising means. This is the second Caution.
A third word of Caution is this; Beware of having low & straitning thoughts of Christ, when thy Case is sadest: and see that you alter not your thoughts of him, as oft as he seems to alter his method and way of Providence towards you; Keep up honourable thoughts of him, believe he can do, and wait till you find that he will, His Spirit is not straitned, for your half faith, he will work a great Salvation, Mat. 8.2, 3. If thou canst. This Man doubts of his Power, and yet it does not hinder our Lord from curing him. We are all for our measures. If I could believe so, and so, then he would act, (and truly I wish more care were taken to add faith to faith) and yet I should rejoyce to see faith, as a grain of Mustard-seed, that says to this Mountain be removed, and it is so; our Lord is so liberal, that if he find true faith in his people, he works great deliverances for them, and by so doing increases their faith: Believest thou that he will do so, then cast by the instruments of the churl, and devise liberal things of him, and for him. This for the third Word of Caution.
A fourth word of Caution is this; Beware of closing with the tentation, till first thou bring it unto Christ. This good man will not hear the voice of the tentation, until Christ hath done, oft-times betwixt the time of our first imploying of Christ, and Christ's finishing the work, there falls out great tentations: Now we must take heed of them, put them in Christ's hand, and anon he shall silence them, and bring thee out of the many waters. This for the fourth word of Caution.
A fifth word of Caution is this; Never regard the temptation that would make thee cast off thy promised expectation. Jairus expects the Cure of his Daughter, because Christ had promised it: The tentation says, Give over thy foolish and irrational expectation, for the Child is dead; yet he holds fast the promise, and his expectation built upon it. May it not be said to us, Where is now your hope? Ah, we are drawn off from our expectation, and therefore do we so much shift about, to change our way. This for the fifth word of Caution.
A sixth and last word of Caution is this; Take heed least you judge it a trouble to Christ to imploy him about his own work. Though thou had nothing to put in Christ's hand, but a dead work brought hither to be buried in a dead Man's place; yet take courage, it's not troublesome to Christ: And it's your honour and happiness, that Christ calls you to anoint his dead work with your faith and love, with your tears and prayers; and, then invites you daily to bring it unto him, who by one word can revive it again; Therefore judge it not troublesome to him, neither let it be troublesome to thee to imploy him about it, or any thing else that concerns his glory, or his Churches welfare. Thus much for this Sixth word of Caution.
In the last place, I shall give you some few Directions, to help you how to behave your selves in your attending upon our Lord with a dead work on your heart.
The first Direction is this, As Christ does heartily welcome you; so you should heartily welcome him; come when he will, and as he pleases: Oft-times our first word to him, when he is come, puts him to the Door, or at least discovers new work for Christ, that he will do, before he do that which he principally came for, and which may be, to Answer thy Challenge, for coming too late, or to cure thy unbelief, that looks for nothing … you welco… … …l his Pr… … …. We … Lo…d. If …, the Angel …
… down to thee out of the present death thou art under, than if there had never been such a thing. Only mind your duty; and as Mary said to the Servants, Joh. 2.5. Speak never a word, but whatever he bids you do, do it; and all shall acknowledg that your wine that came last is the best. If before this you draw conclusions, and reflect on his work, and discourage your selves, then you must judg again, and rebuke thy foolish hast, and learn henceforth more sobriety, than to judg a work before it be done.
A third Direction is this, Hold fast the promise, and plead it, till the performance of it come; our Lord takes one Day to make a Promise, and another Day for the accomplishment of it; there may be seventy years betwixt the making of the promise, and the fulfilling of it, all these died in faith, not having receiv'd the promise, that is the thing promised, Heb. 11. end. Psal. 119. Remember the word thou said'st to thy Servant, whereupon thou caused him to hope: Iairus does so here, and is confirmed.
A fourth Direction is this, Look on all Providences as the accomplishment of the Promise, pro tanto, and in part. If it be a cross Providence, then read the promis… i… it, Psal. 98. I will chastise them with the Rods of Men, and if it be favourable, then see the promise, Isa. 54.4, 5. I have loved them with an everlasting love, and therefore with loving-kindness will I embrace them: There is a promise at the heart of every providence: Open up this Golden Cabinet, and therein you shall find the Coelestial Jewels of the Promises; and with our Saviour, say, This and that Promise is this Day fulfilled, and I think our Lord is hastning his work, because this Wheel of Providence runs fast about; O what hath God done for us in a little time.
The last word of Direction is this, That as our Lord designs His own Glory, and thy advantage, in all his Methods and Ways he takes: So you must be tender of his glory, and give unto Him the Glory that is due unto his Name: It's the height of Robery, to rob Him of his Glory: And therefore all I beg of thee, is, to render to Him according to his goodness, and make the best of all this thou can, for thy own advantage: To His Name be the Glory.
FINIS.