Scripture Light the Most Sure Light, Sermon 17

Scripture Light the Most Sure Light · Sermon 17

p. 285A LIFTING UP In caſe of Unſerviceableneſs.

Sermon XI.

PSALM, 42.11.

Why art thou caſt down, O my Soul? and why art thou diſquieted within me? &c.

Inſtance 8 SOmetimes the Diſcouragements of the Saints, do ariſe, From their Employments, Work, and Service.

Either they are not called forth to work for God, as they do deſire; or they do want abilities, and skill to work; or they have no ſucceſs in their work. O! ſaies one, I am a poor, unuſeful, and unſerviceable Creature: God hath done much for me, but I do nothing for God: others are uſed, and employed for God; but as for me, I am caſt by as an uſeleſs Veſſel, in whom God hath no pleaſure; and therefore I am thus diſcouraged, have I not juſt cauſe and reaſon now?

p. 286Anſw. 1 No: For, is Family Work and Service nothing? is Relation Work nothing? There is a Three-fold Sweat, ſaies Luther; Political Sweat; Eccleſiaſtical Sweat; and Domeſtical Sweat: A man may ſweat at Family Work; and it is a great betruſhment, to be betruſted with the Work of a Family: and this Work you are betruſted with.

Anſw. 2 Is it nothing for a man to be truſted with the Work of his Chriſtian Station? The whol Body of Chriſt, is divided into many Members, every Member in the Body hath a work ſuitable unto it: the Eye doth not hear, as the Ear d…th; nor the Ear ſee, as the Eye doth; but every Member worketh, according to that S…ation which it hath in the Body: So, ye being one Body, are many Members, ſaith the Apoſtle; and all Members have not the ſame Office. Look therefore, as the Station is, which ye have in the Body of Chriſt, ſuch is the Work that ye are betruſted with.

Anſw. 3 And is it nothing, for a man to be employed in comforting, relieving, and ſupporting others? This is ſo great a Service, that the very Angels are employed therein,quaſi Angelus ſibi munus conſolandi miſeros tanquam glorioſius percipiat, munus autem objurgandi impios tanquam minus nobile, hominibus remittat. Cajetan. Ac ſi Angeli proniores eſſent ad laborantem conſolandum quam ad gratulandum triumphanti. Mendoza in 1 Sam. Cap. 1. Sect. 6. as in a work moſt ſuitable to them: For, when the Lord would ſtir up, and provoke the Children of Iſrael to repent, he ſent a Prophet to them; Judges, 6. ver. 7.8. But when he would comfort, ſtrengthen, and encourage Gideon, he doth not employ that Prophet therein, but he ſends an Angel to him, ſaying, ver. 12. The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of Valor. And if ye look into the Story of the New Teſtament, ye ſhal find, That when Chriſt was on Mount Thabor, in his Transfiguration, then the Angels are not ſaid to attend upon him; but when he was ſweating in the Garden, then the Angels came and comforted, and miniſtred to him; Why? Becauſe this is Angelical work, to comfort, relieve, and ſupport others in the time of diſtreſs. Now, are you not truſted with this Work? How many poor, drooping, tempted, and deſerted ſouls are there, whom you may go and adminiſter to? And is this no Work at all?

Object. 1 But there is a Generation Work, a Work of ſpecial employment, which God doth truſt others with; as for me, I have none of this Work to do; I am a poor, uſeleſs, and unſerviceable perſon, one that God doth not uſe at all; and therefore I am thus diſcouraged: for is it not a very great mercy, to be uſed, and employed for God in the world?

Anſw. 1 Yes, It is a very great mercy, and bleſſing (I confeſs) to be uſed in any Work, or Service for God. This was Moſes his Commendation, That he was the Servant of God; Moſes, the Servant of the Lord, is dead. And in this Title, David gloried more, than that he was King of Iſrael, Pſal. 18. A Pſalm of David, the Servant of the Lord: He doth not ſay, A Pſalm of David, the King of p. 287Iſrael. Thus Paul, Peter, James, and Jude, do Entitle their Epiſtles: Paul, a Servant of Chriſt; and Peter, a Servant of Chriſt; and James, a Servant of Chriſt; and Jude, a Servant of Chriſt. Yea, and Chriſt himſelf doth glory in this Title of Gods Servant: and the Father glories in Chriſt upon this account:Matth. 12.13. Zach. 3.8.Matt 12:13Zech 3:8 Behold my Se…vant, whom I have choſen. My Servant the Branch. So that a great Priviledg it is, to be Gods Servant, uſed, and employed for him.

Anſw. 2 The more Serviceable a man is to God, the more he doth honor God; and the more he honors God, the more he honors himſelf. Honor eſt in honorante. Thoſe that ſtand before, and wait on Kings and Princes, honor themſelves in honoring their Maſters. So, in honoring God, a man honors himſelf; yea, and thereby God doth put h…nor on him: for what is honor? but Teſtimonium▪ de alicujus excellentia, Teſtifying of anothers Excellency; and the more I teſtifie of any Excellency in a man, the more I honor him. Now, when God doth betruſt a man with his Work, he teſtifies of an excellency in him: The Lord hath counted me faithful, and put me into his Work, ſaith Paul: yea, the greateſt greatneſs in this world, is to wait upon the great God: Therefore, faith our Savior of John the Baptiſt, Am…ngſt them that are born of women, there hath not riſen a greater than he, Matth. 11.11. And if ye look into Gen. 1. ye ſhal find, That the Moon is c…lled one of the two great Lights, ver. 16. And God made two great Lights, the greater to rule the day, and the leſſer to rule the night. But though the Moon is ſaid to be leſſer than the Sun, yet it is ſaid, to be one of the two grea… Lights: And why ſo? are there not other Stars greater than the Moon? Yes: but becauſe the Moon is the moſt influential, and ſerviceable to the world, therefore it is ſaid, to be greater than others. So that in …ods account, the more ſervice we do in the world, the greater we are, and the more honorable in Gods Eyes.

Anſw. 3 Thereby alſo, we are kept from the dint of Temptations; idleneſs breeds Temptation: Our Vacation is the Devils Term;Homines nihil agendo male diſcunt agere. otium eſt vivi hominis ſepultura. Sen. when we are leaſt at work for God, then is Satan moſt at work about us. By doing nothing, men learn to do evil: yea, Idleneſs is the burying of a living man.

Anſw. 4 Great and good Employment, is the Mercy promiſed. That can hardly be a ſmal mercy, which the great God doth promiſe; promiſed Mercies, are the ſwee…eſt Mercies. Now th… Lord promiſeth, Eſay, 58.18. That if thou draw out thy ſoul to the hungry, &c. The Lord ſhall guide thee continually; and they that ſhall be of thee, ſhal build the old waſt places: thou ſhalt raiſe up the Foundations of many Generations, and thou ſhalt be called the Repairer of the Breaches, the Reſtorer of Paths to dwell in. Here p. 288is Employment, and Betruſtment promiſed.

Anſw. 5 The more uſeful, and ſerviceable a man is to God, the more apt and ready God wil be, to pardon his failings; not only the failings of his preſent employment, but of the other part of his life alſo. What a great failing was that in Rahab, to ſay, the Spyes were gone, when ſhe had hid them in the top of her houſe: yet the Lord pardoned this failing to her; Why? Becauſe ſhe beleeved, and was uſeful, and ſerviceable unto Gods great deſign in that her day. And if ye look into Numb. … ye ſhall find, That though Aaron and Miriam, were both engaged in the ſame ſin and evil, of envying and murmuring againſt Moſes, yet the Lord ſpa…ed Aaron, when he ſtrook Miriam with a Leproſie. But why (ſaith Abulenſis) was not Aaron ſmitten with the Leproſie as well as Miriam? what, becauſe he was not ſo deeply in the Tranſgreſſion as ſhe was? No; for verſe 1. it's ſaid, Then ſpake Aaron and Miriam; not as if ſhe were put on by him: Or becauſe that Aaron confeſſed his ſin, as ſhe did not? No, for ſo did Miriam alſo, for ſhe was a good woman: Or becauſe that God owed Aaron a puniſhment till afterwards?foreign. Chryſoſtom. Hom. 3. ad Colloſ. No, for that appears not by the Text; but he was the High-Prieſt, and if he had been ſmitten with Leproſie, it would have brought his Miniſtry under ſome contempt, the Work of the Lord would have ceaſed for a time alſo, and though he failed in this thing, yet he was otherwiſe, a very uſeful and ſerviceable man; and God would ſhew his aptneſs and readineſs to pardon ſuch, rather than others.

Anſw. 6 If a man be employed for God in any ſpecial Service and Work, the Lord will not only pardon his failings; but if he be faithful in his Work, God will bleſs him, and ſet a Character of Love and Favor upon him. What a Character of Love did the Lord ſet on Caleb and Joſhua: Of all men in Scripture, it's ſaid of Caleb, that he followed the Lord fully; and this Character God himſelf did ſet upon him, Numb. 15.24. But my Servant Caleb, becauſe he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, &c. But why did God own, and dignifie Caleb thus? Even becauſe he was faithful in that Work, Service, and Employment which God did call him to.

Anſw. 7 Yea, The Serviceable man, is the only man who doth live, and ſpeak when he is dead; I mean for God: Some are very active and ſerviceable for the Devil; whilſt they live, they write and print wanton filthy Books; and they ſpeak while they are dead, but it is ſtill for Satan. Others are very active and ſerviceable for God, while they live, they write and print works of Faith, and Holineſs; and they alſo ſpeak when they are dead: as it's ſaid of Abel, Who being dead, yet ſpeaketh; but how doth he ſpeak now? The Apoſtle tels us, Heb. 11. by Faith, By which foreign, It relates p. 289unto foreign, Faith. Well, but what caſt of Faith did he do? He offered a more excellent Sacrifice than his Elder Brother, which was the work and Service of his day: So that the Serviceable man, is the only man who doth ſpeak when h… is dead. Surely therfore, it is a very great Priviledg, and Mercy, to be uſed, and employed for God in his Work and Service. Yet if God will not uſe me, why ſhould I be diſcouraged, or complain? Is not God free? and may not he employ whom he pleaſeth? Shall the poor Potſheard ſay unto him, why doeſt thou lay me by? What if God will croſs hands, and lay his right hand on anothers head, and his left hand on mine? Shall I think to direct and order the hands of Gods Providence, as Joſeph would have altered Jacobs? I… not his Work his own? and may not he put it out unto whom he pleaſe? and if I complain thereof, is not this my pride? Proud men ſcorn their own employment, and envy at others. It's a mercy indeed to be employed for God; yet if God will not truſt me with his Service, as I deſire, why ſhould I be diſcouraged? Yet I may be Gods Servant. For,

1Firſt: The Service of God is two-fold: Somtimes it is taken for ſome ſpecial Employment, which a man is called forth unto: And ſomtimes it is taken for our ordinary Obedience unto Gods Commandements. In the firſt ſence, it is uſed often in Numb. 4. and frequently in the old Teſtament called, The Service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. So in the new Teſtament alſo, Rom. 15.31. That my Service may be accepted. In the ſecond ſence, it is uſed, Rom. 12.1. Which is your reaſonable Service: So alſo, Revel. 2.19. I know thy work, Charity, and Service. This latter Service, is the ſaving Service, that Service, whereby in ſpecial manner we are called Gods Servants: and in that reſpect we may be ſerviceable to God, though not in the former.

2Secondly: As for the Service of ſpecial Employment, that is alſo various: Somtimes God doth cal a man to one kind of Service, ſomtimes to another. He hath ſeveral waies of employment; he employed Moſes one way, in giving out the Law; and h… employed Ezra another way, in reſtoring of the Law: Both were employed, but their Employments were very different. In 1 Sam. 30. we read, that when David fought againſt the Amalek…tes, to recover his Wives, and ſubſtance, ſome of his men ſtayed and tarri…d by the Stuff, to preſerve that; and ſaith David, verſe 24. As his part is, that goeth down to the Battel; ſo ſhall his part be, that tarryeth by the Stuff, they ſhall part alike. Now it may be, you are one of thoſe that ſtay by Chriſts Stuff, being employed in ſome lower and meaner Service; Chriſt hath a care of you; and though you ſtay at home, yet you, even you ſhall have part in the Spoyl, as well as thoſe whoſe work and employment is more honorable.

p. 2903Thirdly: Yea, though God do lay me by for the preſent, yet he may uſe me afterward: God did make uſe of Joſeph, but he firſt laid him by; God did make uſe of Moſes, but he firſt laid him by; God did make uſe of David, but did he not firſt lay him by?Quidam eundem putant. Emman. Sa. Alp. Salmeron, in Acts, 1. Vide Tranſl. Syriac. in Acts 15.22.Acts 15:22 And if Barnabas, the Companion of Paul, were the ſame perſon with Barſabas (as ſome do verily beleeve (though the Syriack Tranſlation is plainly againſt it) becauſe the Name of bo…h was Joſes, or Joſeph, as appears by comparing Acts, 1.23. with Acts, 4.36. And becauſe this Joſes, was not called Barnabas from the beginning, but named Barnabas by the Apoſtles, Acts, 4.46.) If, I ſay, Barnabas were the ſame with Barſabas, then it appears plainly, that God doth not alwaies lay a man by, to uſe him no more; for what abundance of ſervice Barnabas did, the Book of the Acts doth declare; yet he was firſt laid by in the choyce that was between him and Matthew, for the lot fell on Matthew; yet Barnabas is ſent out afterwards by the Church, Acts, 11.22. and by God himſelf, Acts, 13.2. and much Service he did do for God: So that though God do lay me by for the preſent, yet he may uſe me afterwards.

4Fourthly: And if a man may be employed for God in ſome ſpecial Service, yet may go to Hell when all is done; and a man may not be employed, and yet go to Heaven afterward: then why ſhould you be diſcouraged, becauſe you are not ſo employed? Now what think ye of thoſe which ye read of in Matth. 7. they ſay at the laſt day, Lord, Lord, have we not propheſied in thy Name, caſt out Devils in thy Name, and done many wonderful works in thy Name? Works, and great works, and many, and wonderful, they did, and all in the Name of Chriſt; yet he wil ſay to them, Depart from me, for I never knew you; or I know you not. Yea, did not our Savior Chriſt ſay concerning Judas, I have choſen twelve, and one of you is a Devil? A Devil, yet an Apoſtle; what greater Work, Service, or Employment, than the Work of an Apoſtle? yet poſſibly a man may be an Apoſtle in regard of Employment, and a very Devil in regard of Life. On the other ſide, how many good and gracious men are there in the world, who were never uſed, or called forth unto any ſpecial Service, ſuch as are now in Heaven, and ſhal be ſo unto al Eternity? What then, though you be not employed, or uſed as others are; yet ſurely you have no juſt cauſe or reaſon to be diſcouraged in this reſpect.

5Fiftly: And if it be the property of a good man to rejoyce in the Service of others; then why ſhould you be diſcouraged, becauſe others are employed, and you not? A Godly man doth mourn for anothers ſin, as wel as for his own, becauſe he mourns for ſin as ſin, and as a diſhonor unto God: So he rejoyces in the p. 291Service of another, as wel as in his own, becau e he rejoyces in the work it ſelf, and …ec…uſe God is honored. You would have Gods Cart to be driven through your Gate, Why? is it not becauſe you may have ſome Toll thereby? Paul ſaid, However, Chriſt is preached, and therefore I rejoyce; and if Chriſts work be done, whoſe hands …oever the work comes through, why ſhould you not rejoyce? And if it be, our Duty to rejoyce, then ſurely you have no Scripture ground and reaſon for your Diſcouragement in this regard.

Object. 2 But I am not diſcouraged, becauſe I do want Employment, or Service; I have more work lies upon my Shop-board, than I can turn my hand unto: but I have a great deal of work to do, and I have no skil to do it: O! I want Abilities, I want Sufficiencies, I do want Endowments; therefore I am thus diſcouraged, and have I not cauſe and reaſon now?

Anſw. 1 No: For Gods greateſt Works, are not alwaies done by the greateſt Parts, and moſt choyce Abilities. G…deon did a great Work for God in his Generation, yet ſaith he, Judg. 6.15. O my Lord, wherewith ſhall I ſave Iſrael? behold my Family is poor in Manaſſeth, and I am leaſt in my Fathers Houſe: As if he ſhould ſay, if this great work be done, it muſt be done by ſome ſtrong and potent Family, or P…rſon; but as for me, I am the leaſt in my Fathers Houſe, and my Fathers Houſe is the leaſt in Manaſſeh; yet ſaith the Lord to him, I will be with thee, and thou ſhalt ſmite Midian as one man. I have read in Scripture, that the People have been too many, and the means too ſtrong for God to work by; but I never read that it was too ſmal, or weak for God to work by: God ſaith, Who hath deſpiſed the day of ſmal things? And if he wil not have us to deſpiſe the day of his ſmal things, ſurely he wil not deſpiſe the day of our ſmal things. Did not the weakneſs of the Apoſtles, overcome the ſtrength of al the world? Who doth not ſee what weighty Buildings God hath ſomtimes laid upon our Laths? He is able to make as great a hole with his Needle, as with our Bodkin.

Anſw. 2 Our beſt Abilities for Gods Work, are from the breathings of the Spirit of God. Water is weak in it ſelf, but when the Wind blows upon it, how ſtrong is it. So, if the Spirit of God breath upon us, we are ſtrong, though in our ſelves as weak as water: Not by might, nor by ſtrength, but by the Spirit of the Lord, ſaith Zachariah. And if ye look upon that great Service of the re-building of the Temple, when they came out of Babylon, ye ſhal find, That ſo long as they went forth in the ſtrength of outward Powers, the Command of Cyrus, and the like, they were much hindred, and the Enemies then cauſed the Work of the Lord to ceaſe; but when the Lord ſtirred up the Spirit of Haggai, Zechariah, Zerubbabel, p. 292and others to build, then they went on, and proſpered; Why? Becauſe they went forth in the ſtrength of the Spirit of the Lord; not in the ſtrength of mans Command, or of their own Abilities.

Anſw. 3 Though the Work of the Lord, be carried on, not by Might, nor by Strength, but by the Spirit; yet this Spirit doth not alwaies breath and work alike: Chriſt ſent out his Diſciples for to preach, to caſt out Devils, and by the Spirit of the Lord, they did preach, and caſt out the Devils; yet they had not then received ſo great a meaſure of t…e Spirit as afterwards, when he breathed on them, ſaying, Receive ye the Holy Ghoſt; yea, and though he did thus breath upon them when he left them, yet they did not then receive in ſo great a meaſure of the Spirit, as afterwards; for they were ſtill to wait for the Promiſe, that is, the Spirit, Acts, 1. ſo that though God wil carry on his own Work by his own Strength, and by his own Spirit, yet the aſſiſtance thereof, is not alwaies alike; ſomtimes it is more, and ſomtimes it is leſs; even where it fals in truth and power.

Anſw. 4 But though the Spirit doth not alwaies work alike, yet if God cal you to any Work or Service, you ſhal have ſo much aſſiſtance as is needful for you; only you muſt know, that Dabitur in hora, it ſhall be given in that hour, it ſhal not …e cold and ſtale by you; but when you come to uſe it, then it ſhal be given out unto you, more or leſs, but ſufficient. Before Moſes came to his work, he complained of want of Abilities, his ſtammering Tongue, and want of El…quence, &c. but when he was warm at his work, and was engaged in it, then we read of no ſuch Complaints: Gods Call, is our Wal and Strength. Go in this thy might, ſaith God to Gideon; and what Might was that? the verſe tels you, it was the might of his Call; for ſaies the Lord in the next words, Have not I ſent thee? Judges, 6.14. Our Might then, is in Gods Call, not in our own Abilities; and a little warm aſſiſtance, is better than much cold and ſtale ability.

Object. 3 But I fear the Lord hath not called me to this Work, but that I am an Intruder into the Work of the Lord, becauſe I do want Abilities.

Anſw. 1 Nay: But if the Lord do ſomtimes cal a man firſt, and doth furniſh him with Abilities afterward, then you have no reaſon to make ſuch Concluſions. Now ye know how it was with Saul; God did firſt call him, and then he gave him another Spirit; he had not that other ruling Spirit, before he was called to rule, but after. So the Apoſtles were firſt called to their Office, and then Chriſt did furniſh them with Abilities, Who hath made us able, or meet Miniſters, not of the Letter, &c. When were they made meet, or able? what! before they were called! No, but afterwards. p. 293Gods Call is not like to mans, mans Call doth alwaies preſuppoſe abilities, Gods Call doth ſomtimes bring them.

Anſw. 2 And if Gods Porters, whom he hath ſet to keep the door of Opportunity, do judg you able, then are you to reſt in their Judgment; A large, and effectual door is opened, ſaies Paul. God hath a door, wh…ch when he calls a man to work, he doth then open to him: this Door is kept by certain Porters, whom God hath appointed to keep the ſame, and if they judg, that you have abilities, then are you to reſt, and acquieſce therein; for though I am to judg of mine own Grace, and not another; yet others are to judg of my Gifts and Abilities, and not my ſelf. Some wil judg o… their own Gifts, and of others Graces; this is evil, but in reference to work, and external Service, others are to judg of mine Abilities, and not my ſelf; as I am to judg of mine internal Grace, and not another. Accordingly, Luther counſelled Spalatinus, who having many ſad thoughts of leaving his Miniſtry: This is, ſaith Luther to him, a Diabolical Temptation, and you know not now, why you are afflicted with it; we which are Spectators, know it better, therefore you ought rather to truſt us, than your ſelf, who in the Lord, before the Lord, yea, the Lord by us, doth exhort you to go on in your Work, unto which he hath called you. So ſay I now to you, you doubt of your Call, becauſe you do want abilities; but do thoſe Porters judg you able, who are ſet to judg? then are you in this caſe, rather to reſt in their Judgment, than in your own. Now Gods Porters have judged you meet for his Work, and have opened the door of Opportunity to you; and therefore you have no reaſon to be thus diſcouraged in this reſpect; only remember this, That the weaker your Legs are, the faſter you muſt hold on the hand of free Grace.

Object. 4 O! but I fear that I am not called to this Work, but that I am an Intruder, becauſe I meet with ſo many difficulties in my way.

Anſw. 1 Do you meet with Difficulties in your way? What vertue, or vertuous Action is there, but hath ſome ſtone upon it? Nulla Virtus ſine lapide; there is no vertue, but hath ſome ſtone or other that is rouled upon it: As Chriſt himſelf had a ſtone rouled on him, ſo every Work of Chriſt, and Truth of Chriſt, and way of Chriſt, hath one ſtone or other that is rouled upon it. Yet ye muſt know, that there is a Pearl lying under that Stone, and the heavier the ſtone is, the more precious is the Pearl; the harder the Nut, and Shell is to crack, the ſweeter is the Kernel;Niſi ipſe elevaſſet lapidem non inventa fui… ſ…b eo haec margarita. H…b. Proverb. and in due time Chriſt wil ſend his Angel to roul away the ſtone from your Work, and his Service, and that before you are aware: When the Women ſaid (as being at a ſtand, and not knowing what to do) Who ſhall roul away the ſtone? Then did the Angel come, and rouled p. 294it away for them, before they were aware of it. Peter had the Brazen Gates opened for him, when he came to them; they did not ſtand open before, but when he came at them, then did they open to him: And if you go on in your way, and work which God doth lead you to, the Brazen Gates which are now ſhut againſt you, ſhal then open to you; if, I ſay, you go on in your work in way of Faith, as following the Conduct of the Lord.

Anſw. 2 And if Gods cleereſt Call to a work, have alwaies been followed with the greateſt difficulties, then have you no reaſon to queſtion your Call in regard of Difficulties. Now I pray tel me, when Moſes went to bring the Children of Iſrael out of Egypt, had not he a cleer Call for that? yet what abundance of difficulties did he meet with in his way to …t? And when the Jews came out of Babylon, did they not meet with many Difficulties? Some at their coming out? ſome in their way? ſome at the building of the Temple? yet had they not a Call, and a cleer Call thereunto? Without al doubt they had Surely then, you m…y have a Call, and a cleer Call to your Work and Service, yet you may meet with many difficul…ies in your way, and therefore have no reaſon to be diſcouraged in this reſpect.

Object. 5 But I am not troubled, afflicted, or diſcouraged in regard of my Call; for I am perſwaded that God hath called me to his work and Service: But I am moſt unſerviceable, I do not do that work and Service which I am called unto; I lie like a dry log, or chip, in the family and place where I live: O! I am moſt unſerviceable, and therefore I am thus diſcouraged.

Anſw. That's ill indeed; for every good, and gracious man, is a ſerviceable man, more or leſs, he is ſerviceable in his Place and Condition: Oneſimus before converted, was unprofitable; but being converted, now profitable, ſaies the Apoſtle. A good man in Scripture, is compared to thoſe things that are moſt profitable: Is the wicked compared to the green Bay-tree, which doth bring forth no Fruit? the g…dly is compared to the Olive Tree, which is all profitable, the Fruit profitable, the Leaves, Bark, and the Tree profitable: Is a wicked man compared to the Goat? a good man is compared to the Sheep, and what is in a Sheep not profitable? its Fleſh is profitable, its Wool profitable, its Skin is profitable, yea, its very dung is profitable: and ſuch a Sheep was Paul, nothing in Paul not profitable and ſerviceable: will ye inſtance in his Jewiſh and Natural Priviledges? he makes uſe of them, Phil. 3. to advance the righteouſneſs and knowledg of Chriſt, yea, All theſe (ſaies he) I count as dung and droſs in regard of Chriſt. Wil ye inſtance in his Converſion to Chriſt? he doth make uſe of p. 295that to convert others, and to eſtabliſh others,Acts, 17.28. foreign. Aratus. 1 Cor. 15.33. foreign. Menander. 1 Tit. 12. foreign. Epimenides.1 Cor 15:33 by frequent telling the ſtory of it to others. Wil ye inſtance in his Parts, Gifts, and Learning? he makes uſe of his Hebrew ſomtimes, ſomtimes of his knowledg in the Heathen Poets, ſomtimes of his knowledg in the Roman Cuſtoms. Wil ye inſtance in his friendſhip, acquaintance, and intereſt in men? th…t he makes uſe of wi…h Philemon, from Chriſt, in the caſe of Oneſimus. Will ye inſtance in his Afflictions? he doth make uſe of them to perſwade his People to their Duty; I Paul, a Priſoner of Chriſt, do beſeech you, &c. Will ye inſtance in his Temptations? he doth make uſe of them, and tels the Corinths, how he was buffered by Satan. Wil ye inſtance in his Sins? he doth improve them alſo for the Advancement of Gods Grace, I was a Blaſphemer, &c. ſaith he, but I obtained mercy. Thus ye ſee there was nothing in Paul not profitable, he was all over ſerviceable, and profitable; and if ye be one of theſe Sheep, you will be ſerviceable and profitable in your Place and Condition, more or leſs. I remember the Speech of a Martyr when he came to die, and to be burnt for Chriſt, O! ſaid he, Thus long have I grown in the Orchard of Chriſt, and have born ſome Fruit, though not much, yet ſome; and now that I grow old, and dry, and can bear Fruit no longer, ſhal I be taken and thrown into the Chimney to make a fire for the warming of others: what a great mercy and bleſſing is this? Ye know what Solomon ſaith, Whatever thou findeſt in thine hand to do, do it with all thy might: and what Jeremiah ſai…h, Curſed is he that doth the Work of the Lord negligently. Art thou therefore, unprofitable, unſerviceable? then have you cauſe to be humbled. Yet even in this reſpect, you are not to be caſt down, or diſcouraged. For, Either you are unſerviceable, becauſe you want abil…es, or becauſe ye want wil, and heart thereunto: If you ſay yo… …t Abilities, I have ſpoken to that already: If you ſay you are unwilling, and do want heart thereunto, then why do you thus complain? He that complains of his own unſerviceableneſs, is no… unwilling to ſerve the Lord: But you complain, and ſay, O! I am moſt unſerviceable, therefore you are willing, and have an heart to ſerve; and if you can ſpeak in truth with Samuel, and ſay, Speak Lord, for thy Servant is ready to obey, then you are not unwilling to ſerve the Lord. Now cannot you ſay thus in truth? Yes, through Grace, I am able to ſay, Speak Lord, for thy Servant is ready to obey. Surely then you are not unwilling, this your unſerviceableneſs doth not ariſe only from your unwillingnes, and want of heart; and therefore you have no juſt reaſon to be diſcouraged in this reſpect.

Object. 6 But this is not the matter which doth pinch with me; for according to my poor Abilities, I have labored, and have been truly p. 296willing to ſerve the Lord in my Generation; but I labor, work, and take pains, and all in vain; I labor, and have no ſucceſs in my labor; I work, and have no ſucceſs in work; I ſerve, and have no ſucceſs in my Service; and therefore I am thus diſcouraged, have I not cauſe and reaſon now?

Anſw. 1 No: For poſſibly you may be miſtaken in the matter of ſucceſs, you may have good and great ſucceſs, and not know thereof. There is a time when the Seed doth lie dead under the clods; and ſaith our Savior, Ʋnleſs the Seed dies, it abides alone. Should the Husband-man complain in this time, that he hath no ſucceſs in his ſowing? If the Devil do oppoſe by the World without, and aſſault you with Temptations within, it argues that there is good ſucceſs, though you know it not. Now, don't the World oppoſe you? and don't the Devil aſſault you with Temptations, diſcouraging you for want of ſucceſs? Yes that he doth; then there is ſome good ſucceſs, though for the preſent it be hidden from your Eyes. This is a certain ſign, ſaid Luther to Spalatinus, That your Work is neither ungrateful to God, nor unprofitable to the Church, in that you are troubled with theſe Temptations; for if it were unpleaſing to God, you would rather long after it, as they do that run before they be ſent. Whereas Satan, when he finds ſuch as are truly ſent by God, and pleaſing to him, he makes them a weary of their work, by theſe, and the like Temptations.

Anſw. 2 And if Gods own deareſt Children have ſomtimes labored, or toyled al their night, or day, and have caught nothing, then no new thing doth befal you, in caſe you want ſucceſs. Now ye know, and have read how it was with Noah, an hundred and twenty yeers he preached to the old World, and not one ſoul was ſaved, but his ow… …ily, eight perſons in the Ark. Did not Jeremiah alſo toyl in his day and night? and what did he catch? Read what he ſaies, Jer. 6.29. The Bellows are burnt, the Lead is conſumed of the fire the Founder melteth in vain; for the wicked are not plucked away▪ Reprobate Silver ſhall men call them. Yea, doth not Chriſt himſelf ſay,Cogitent ſibi hanc cauſam cum Chriſto communem eſſe. Calvin. Eſai. 49. I have labored in vain, I have ſpent my ſtrength for naught? And do you think to fare better in this caſe than Noah, Jeremiah, Chriſt himſelf? I confeſs the want of ſucceſs in our work, is a great Temptation, even one of the greateſt Temptations; yet if God will have me lay out my ſtrength in vain, why ſhould I be diſcouraged? The good Phyſitian doth not loſe his Fee, though the Patient die, nor ſhal you loſe your Reward▪ though ye have no ſucceſs.

Object. 7 Yet this is not the thing which doth trouble me; for I acknowledg that I have been entruſted with many Services, and God hath called me to them; I have been willing thereunto, and have p. 297had ſome good ſucceſs, but when I look into the Scripture, I find that ſome have been employed in way of Judgment, as Nebuchadnezzar; others in way of Mercy, as Nehemiah, &c. Some again have been employed in way of mercy to others, as Cyrus, and Judas, but not in Love and Mercy to themſelves: Others have been employed in way of Mercy to themſelves, and others too, as Paul, and Peter, &c. Now I fear, that either I have been employed in away of Judgment, or that I have not been employed in a way of Love and Mercy to my ſelf, but for others; and therefore I am thus diſcouraged and caſt down, have I not juſt cauſe and reaſon now?

Anſw. No: For if God have employed you, and truſted you in his Service, in a way of Love and mercy to your ſelf, as wel as to others, then you have no reaſon to be diſcouraged in this reſpect. Now, when doth God employ a man in a way of Love and Mercy to himſelf, as wel as for others good?

1When a mans heart is thereby drawn out with Love to God: That which ends in Love, comes from Love; that which ends in your Love to God, came from Gods Love to you. So in outward Bleſſings; if they end in your Love to God, then they came from Gods Love to you; So in the matter of Afflictions, if I do love God the more by them, then did they come from Gods Love to me. So alſo in the matter of Employments; if you do love God by them, and they do end in your love to God, then they came from Gods Love to you.

2When God doth employ a man in his Service, in a way of Love and Mercy to him, then he doth more or leſs acquaint him with his deſign therein; and if God do acquaint me with his deſign in his Work, then he doth employ me in a way of Love to me. He employed the Aſſyrian as a Rod in his hand, to ſcourge the People of Iſrael; but they knew not Gods Deſign, they went on upon their own deſign: therefore ſaith the Prophet Iſaiah, in the Name of the Lord, Cap. 10.6. I will ſend him againſt an Hypocritical Nation, howbeit he meaneth not ſo; neither doth his heart think ſo: But it is in his heart to deſtroy Nations, not a few. The Lord employed Peter to open a door to the Gentiles in the Converſion of Cornelius, and though he knew not Gods deſign at the firſt, yet he did fully know it afterwards; for ſaies he, and the reſt, Now hath God alſo to the Gentiles, granted Repentance unto Life.

3When a man is employed in a way of ſpecial Love to his own ſoul, he hath high thoughts of his Employment, but low thoughts of his own actings under it; therefore ſaid John the Baptiſt, I indeed baptize you with Water; but there is one comes after me, he ſhall baptize with the Holy Ghoſt, and with fire, whoſe ſhoo-latchet p. 298I am unworthy to unlooſe. But though the Employment of Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, was good and honorable, yet they had low thoughts thereof, and high thoughts of their own actings, Numb. 16.3. for ſaid they to Moſes, and Aaron, Ye take too much upon you, ſeeing all the Congregation are holy: as if they ſhould ſay, we are as good as you: Why ſo? even becauſe they were not employed in MercieMercy to their own ſouls, but for others good.

4He that is employed, and uſed in a way of Love and Mercy, is very tender of the Name of God, and doth ſo act and work as the Name of God may not ſuffer, or be defiled by him. Thus it was with Ezra, though the Enemy lay in his way to Judea, yet he would not ask a Convoy of the King; for ſaies he, I was aſhamed to require of the King a Band of Soldiers, Ezra, 8.and Horſ-men, to help us againſt the Enemy in the way, becauſe we had ſpoken to the King, ſaying, the hand of our God is upon all them for good that ſeek him, and his wrath is againſt all them that forſake him. Now Ezra was a good man, a man that God did call forth to this Employment, not only out of Love to others, but to himſelf; and thus did he act for God, being more careful of Gods Name in the work, than of their own ſafety.

5When a man is employed in a way of Love and mercy to his own ſoul alſo, then he doth grow in Grace whilſt he is ex…rciſing of his Gift. A man that exerciſeth a Gift for the good of others only, grows in Parts, and in Pride alſo: But a good man grows in Experience, and ſo he doth grow in Faith; he meets with difficulties, and deliverances, ſo he doth grow in Faith; God diſcovers himſelf to him in the way, ſo he ſtil grows in Faith, Love, and Holineſs: God gives him a Promiſe when he ſends him forth (as he did give …o Joſhua, Chap. 1.) this he looks much upon, and goes forth in the ſtrength of, and ſo as he uſes his Gift in his work, he doth grow in g…ace thereby; but the other doth not.

6He makes no great ou…ward bargain of Gods Service, neither doth he labor to pocket up much for himſelf. God employed Moſes in a great Work, but where do you read of any great Eſtate that he got for himſelf? We read of Joſhua, That when he had brought the Children of Iſrael into Canaan, and divided the Land by Lot to them, then when he had ſerved others, in the laſt place he did ſerve himſelf, and that in no great matter. What did Nehemiah get by his Service? not as the former Governors did, Why? Becauſe he feared the Lord. So then, if a man be employed in way of Love and Mercy to himſelf, he doth not make his Employment a ſhooing-horn to his own Preferment: 'Tis enough for me, my Maſters work is done, ſaith he; neither doth God uſe to pay them al their wages here, whom he employes in merciemercy to themſelves. p. 299But as the Merchant, if he have to deal with a ſtranger for a leſs Commodity, he paies him down preſently; but if with a friend for ſome great priced Commodity, he takes time, and doth not pay down his money preſently. So, if God have to do with a ſtranger, as Nebuchadnezzar, he wil pay him wages preſently; but if God deals with a friend, whom he employes in mercy to himſelf, then he doth put off his ful payment til afterwards.

7He doth Gods work without any great noiſe or notice of himſelf, like Chriſt; He lifts not up his voyce in the ſtreet: and as the Angels in Ezek. 1. His hands are under his wings; he hath four hands to work with, but they are not ſeen, they are under his wings: Let your Light ſo ſhine before men (ſaies Chriſt) that they may ſee your good works, not your ſelves, and glorifie your Father, not your ſelves. As it is with the Fiſher, ſo with him; he ſhews the bait, but hides himſelf; he holds forth the word of Truth, but not himſelf; though he have four hands to work with, yet they are all under his wings, hidden; but ſaies Jehu, Come and ſee my zeal for the Lord of Hoſts. This is another difference.

8If God do uſe and Employ a man in a way of Love and Mercy to himſelf, he is willing to be uſed, and contented to be laid by, and to … more. Another man is not ſo, if he have been uſed … …ng, he thinks he muſt be uſed in other things, and … cannot b…ar it that God ſhould lay him by, and uſe ano…. Thus i… was with S…ul, he could not be conte… … ſhould uſe David. But when God told Eli, that he …, and his Houſe by, he anſwered, Good is the Word of … Lord; for he was a good man, and one whom God had …ſed … Love and MercieMercy to him…elf, and ſo when God had done wi…h him, he was con…ent there…th.

9He th…t is …red and e…ployed in way of Love and MercieMercy to himſelf, wil do the Work o… the Lo…dfully, though he do his own works by halfs. Caleb did his own work by half…, and the Work of God …ully; for he was uſed in Mercy to himſelf and others. Jehu did the Work of the Lord by halfs, and his own work fully; for though he was u…ed in Mercy to ſome, and Judgment to others, yet not in Love to himſelf.

10When God doth uſe a man in a way of Judgment, he hath ordinarily more skil at pulling down, and deſtroying what is mans, than in ſetting up, and building what is Gods. But when God doth uſe him in a way of Love and Mercy to his own ſoul, he hath a dexterity in, and a heart to the ſetting up of what is Gods; witneſs Jehu on the one hand, and Nehemiah on the oth…r hand. How is it therefore with thee? Haſt thou a skil at pulling down what is mans, and no skil, nor heart, to ſet up what is Gods? p. 300Haſt thou been employed, and uſed in Gods Service, and have you done your own work fully, and Gods work by halfs? Art thou not contented to be laid by, and that God ſhould uſe another? Doeſt thou make a noiſe in the work, and thy hands not under thy wings? Haſt thou made a goodly outward Bargain of the Lords Work? and his Service as a ſhooing-horn to thine own ends? Haſt thou not grown in Experience, Faith, and Holineſs by this work? but in Pride rather? Haſt thou not been very tender of the Name of God in thy Service? nor been acquainted with Gods Deſign? nor thine heart drawn out the more to love the Lord? Then ſurely God hath not uſed or employed thee in Love and Mercy to thine own ſoul: But if thine heart have been drawn out with Love to God by thy very Service, and Employments, and thou haſt been in ſome meaſure acquainted with Gods Deſign in that Service, and haſt been very tender of the Name of God, and more willing to hazard thy ſelf, than to defile his Name, and haſt grown in Grace by the exerciſe of thy Gifts, and haſt made no Bargain of the Lords Service, but haſt had thy hands under thy wings, and haſt not done Gods Work by halfs, and now after all, art contented that God ſhall lay thee by, and make uſe of others; then ſurely the Lord hath uſed and employed thee in a way of Love and MercieMercy to thine own Soul; and therefore why ſhould'ſt thou be diſcouraged in this reſpect? Certainly you have no juſt cauſe, or true reaſon for it.

Queſt. But ſuppoſe that the Lord either ſhall not uſe me in his Service, or if he do, that difficulties and oppoſitions preſs in upon me, or that I meet with no ſucceſs in my work according to my deſire, what ſhall I do, that I may be able to bear up my heart againſt all diſcouragements in this kind?

Anſw. 1 Firſt: In caſe, that God do not cal you forth to any work, or ſpecial Employment; Then,

1Conſider that you have now the more time to mind your own ſoul, and to attend to your own Condition. Some are ſo employed, that they have not time enough to pray, read, meditate, examine their own hearts, and to look into their own Condition: yea, though a mans work do lie in the Miniſtry, 'tis poſſible that he may ſo mind his publick work, as to neglect his private. But now, if thou haſt no publick Employment or Service, then you have the more time for to ſpend upon your own ſoul, the more time to converſe with the Lord in private, and to look into your own Condition.

2And if you be not called forth to work, and yet are willing to work, you ſhal be paid for that work and ſervice which you never did: As ſome men ſhal be puniſhed for thoſe ſins which they did never commit in the groſs act, becauſe they were willing, and had p. 301a deſire to commit the ſame: ſo ſome ſhal be paid for that work and ſervice for God, which they never did perform, becauſe they were willing to have done the ſame. Now, is it not a great mercy to be paid for that work which I never did? Such is the Priviledg of al thoſe that are not called to Service, and yet are willing to it.

Anſw. 2 Secondly: In caſe, That you are employed in Gods Work and Service, and difficulties preſs in upon you; Then,

1Conſider, That the greater the Difficultie is, the greater ſhall your Obedience be in carrying on the Work; and the more you do follow after Dutie, and redeem it from the hand of Difficulty, the greater ſhall your Comfort and reward be, when all is done.

2And the more that any Service, Work, or Dutie, is oppreſſed with difficultie, the more aſſiſtance may you expect from God; his aſſiſtance, help, and income, is given out much, according to the difficulties which we do meet withal. If the difficulties be ſmal, then his aſſiſtance is leſs; if the difficulties be great, then is his aſſiſtance greater. Now what matter what the difficulties are, ſo long as my aſſiſtance is ſuitable? This is Gods way with his, he doth proportion his aſſiſtance unto our impediments: and therefore if your difficulties be great, and more than ordinary, then may you look for great, and more than ordinary aſſiſtance: O! what a Comfort is this!

Anſw. 3 Thirdly: In caſe that you work, and ſerve, and toil, and do take nothing, having no ſucceſs, or not ſo comfortable as you deſire; Then,

1Conſider this, That the leſs ſucceſs you have, the more are you free from envy: It's an hard thing for a man that works not, not to envy him that works; and for him that hath no ſucceſs, not to envy him that hath great ſucceſs: of all men in the world, the ſucceſsful man is the moſt envied. The Heathens had this Notion amongſt them, which they applied to their gods; and therefore when Polycrates, King, or rather Tyrant of Samos, proſpered ſo abundantly in al that he undertook, Amaſis the King of Egypt, his Friend, and Confederate, wrote thus to him:foreign &c. Herodotus. That thou doeſt well, and prosper, is no ſmal joy to me; but I muſt tell thee plainly, That theſe great, and overflowing Succeſſes, do not pleaſe me, who know full well the Nature of the gods, how envious they are: 'Tis my wiſh concerning my ſelf, and the like I wiſh for all my Friends; ſomtimes to proſper, and ſomtimes to miſcarry; and in this Viciſſitude rather to paſs my life, than without any alteration to prosper; for I never yet could hear of any who having thus prospered long, did not at the laſt, end in univerſal deſtruction. Which he imputed to the envy of their gods; for their p. 302gods were Devils; and indeed, what is the Reaſon that the ſucceſsful men in any kind are the moſt envied by the world; but becauſe the Devil (who is the envious one) doth provoke thereunto. Yet alwaies ſo it is,Fractus honos oneris, fructus honoris onus. That ſucceſs doth raiſe envy: Haſt thou therefore been at work, and haſt had no ſucceſs, then ſhal you be the more free from envy.

2Hereby alſo you are kept from that great Tentation of reſting on your own Labors: As we are very apt to reſt on our Duties, Sufferings, and Enjoyments; ſo we are very apt to reſt on our own Labors and Employments. That we may not reſt on our Duties, God doth ſomtimes ſuſpend our Duty, or our heart in it: that we may not reſt on our Spiritual Enjoyment, God doth ſomtimes ſuſpend that alſo. So here. What is the reaſon that God doth put the Sentence of Death upon our Employments, or doth ſuſpend their ſucceſs, but that we may be kept from reſting on our Labors? Were our Labors more ſucceſsful, we ſhould reſt more upon them, but by want of ſucceſs we are weaned from them. This is Comfort even in the want of Comfort.

Proprie autem dici non poteſt quod Chriſtus fruſtra laboravit ne quidem reſpectu Judaeorum tum quod Chriſtus omnium converſionem vere non intendit ſed tantum eorum quos efficaciter convertere voluit qui principaliter ſunt electi tum quod opus predicationis Chriſti apud eos qui non erant convertendi, uſ…m ſuum tamen habuit vel quod erat futurum hoc illis in teſtimonium in dic judicii vel quod ad conſolationem noſtram id fecit ut videlicet predicatores non nimium dolerent et animum abjicerent ſi ſemen ab illis projectum aliquando viderent in animis audientium non fructificare. Eſtius in Loc. Senſus igitur hoc loco ſic eſſe poterit; conſumpſi fruſtra vires &c. quaſi dicat; non eſt quod quiſquam exiſtimet id circo me fruſtra laboraſſe, quod non miſſus venerim, aut aliter atque oporteret rem tractarim in aliquove deliquerim, conditio (ſic enim ſignificat foreign) ſtudia et actiones omnes me (ſic ſignificat foreign) imo omnia mea a Deo meo a patre omnium Deo diſpoſi…a et ordinata fuere. Forerius in Eſai. c…p. 49.But in this caſe, Why ſhould not that comfort and ſupport us, which did comfort and ſupport Chriſt himſelf? Eſai. 49.2. ye read of his Call to his Work; The Lord hath called me from the Womb, from the bowels of my Mother he hath ment…on of my Name: Here's his cleer Call to work, ver. 2. ye have his Divine aſſiſtance, And he hath made my mouth like a ſharp Sword, in the ſhadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a poliſhed ſhaft in his quiver. Then verſe 4. ye have his want of ſucceſs expreſſed in many words: Then ſaid I, I have labored in vain: Is that all? No: I have spent my ſtrength for nought: But is that all? No: And in vain, again. Then at verſe 6. God the Father comforts him ag…inſt this di…couragement; And he ſaid, It is a light thing that … ſhouldſt be my Se…vant to raiſe up the Tribes of Jacob: I have given thee for a light to the Gentiles. Though thou haſt li…tle ſucceſs in this work amongſt the Jews, thou ſhalt have great ſucceſs in a greater. But wherein doth Chriſt comfort himſelf in this caſe of no ſucceſs in his work amongſt the Jews? That ye have in verſe 4. Surely my Judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God. Whatever Judgment men do make, it matters not much, for my Judgment is with the Lord, and my Work with my God. I have done the work which God gave me to do, and therein I have approved my ſelf unto God; and therefore though I have labored in vain, and ſpent my ſtrength for naught, yet I have Comfort in my work, for my Judgment is with the Lord, and my Work with my God; I have not loſt my Labor, for my Work is with God. And thus may you alſo comfort your ſelf in the want of ſucceſs; true, I have labored p. 303in vain as to others, but not in vain to my ſelf; I have loſt my labor as to others, but not as to my God; for my reward is with God, and though I have ſpent my ſtrength for nought in regard of men, yet my work is with my God; and in al this work I have approved my ſelf unto him; and therefore whatever the ſucceſs be, yet wil not I be diſcouraged▪ for my Judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.

And thus I have done with this Eighth Inſtance, whereby it doth appear that a good man hath no reaſon, or cauſe to be diſcouraged in regard of his Work, or Service, however it may fare with him therein.