Christ the Way and the Truth and the Life, Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV. How to make use of Christ, as Truth, for comfort, when truth is oppressed and borne down.
THere is another difficulty, wherein beleeving souls will stand in need of Christ, as the Truth, to helpe them; and that is, when his work is overturned, his cause borne down, truth condemned, and enemies, in their opposition to his work, prospering in all their wicked attempts. This is a very trying dispensation, as we see it was to the holy penman of Psalme 73. for it made him to stagger, so that his feet were almost gone, and his steps had well nigh slipt: yea he was almost repenting of his being a godly person, saying vers. 13. ver…ly I have clansed my heart in vaine, & washed my hands in innocencie. It was something like this, which made Ieremie say Cap, 8: 18. when I would comfort my self against sorrow, my heart is faint in me. The harvest was past, and the summer was ended, and yet they were not saved. vers. 20. and they looked for peace, but no good came, and for a time of health, but behold trouble vers. 15. and this was fainting and vexatious. And what made Baruch, Ieremiah's faith full companion in tribulation, say, woe is me now; for the Lord hath added grief to my sorow, I fainted in my sighing, and I finde no rest▪ Ier. 45: 3. but this▪ that all things were turning upside down. God was breaking down that, which he had bui…; and plucking up that; which he had planted▪ Tribulation and suffering for a good cause, is even fainting to some; as the Apostle hinteth Ephes. 3: 13. when he sayes, wherefore I desire that yee fainte not, at my tribulation for you. And that which evinceth the danger of this dispensation, is the fainting and backsliding of many, in such a time of tryal▪ as sad experience too often cleareth.
Now the beleevers stay in this case, must be the rock of ages, Jesus, the Truth. It is He alone, who can keep streight and honest, in such a reeling time. So that a sight of Christ, as the Truth▪ in reference to the carrying on of Truth in the earth, and throughing his cause and work, will be the only support of a soul, shaken by such a piece of tryal.
But the question is, How should Beleevers make use of Christ, in such a time, to the end they may be keeped from fainting and succumbing in such a storme? To which I answere. That the faith and consideration of those particulars would helpe to establishment.
1. That Christ, in all this great work of redemption, and in every piece of it, is the Fathers servant. So is He frequently called, his servant Esai. 42: 1. & 49: 3, 5, 6. & 52: 13. & 53: 11. Zech. 3: 8. & therefore this work is a work intrusted to Him, & He standeth engadged as a servant, to be faithful to his trust. Moreover adde to this, that He hath a commission to perfect that work; and we need not doubt, but He, who is the Truth, will be true to his trust. Him hath God the Father sealed Iohn. 6: 27. & He oft tells us himself, that He is sent of the Father Iohn. 4: 34. & 5: 23, 24, 30, 36, 37. & 6: 38: 39. 40, 44, 57. & 8: 16, 18. & 12: 44, 45, 49. & 7: & 9: 4. & 10: 36. & 11: 42.
2. That while He was upon the earth, He finished that work, that was committed to Him to finish here, having purchased all that was to be bought by his blood, paying all the price that justice did ask Iohn. 17: 4. & 19: 30. By which price he hath purchased a people to himself Revel. 5: 9. Luk. 1: 68. So that His work, cause, and interest is a purchased work, bought with his blood.
3. That his resurrection and glorification is an undoubted proof of this, that justice is satisfied, and that the price is fully payed; and also that his exaltation at the Fathers right hand is a sure evidence & ground of hope, that He shall at last triumphe over all his enemies; and that his work of truth shall prosper. The Father said to Him Psal. 110: 1. Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies, thy foot stool. Being now highly exalted, he hath got a name above every name, that in his name every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confesse, that Iesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father Phil. 2. 9, 10, 11.
4. That the Father standeth engadged to make good to Him, all that was promised, and to give Him all that He purchased Esa. 53: 10, 11, 12. Christ, having now fulfilled his undertaking, by making his soul an offering for sin, and so satisfying justice, which is openly declared by his resurrection, admission to glory, as the Head of his elect, is to expect the accomplishment of what was conditioned unto Him. His work therefore on the earth must prosper: and the Father hath undertaken to see it prosper. Sure the faith of this would much support a poor soul, staggering at the thoughts of the prosperity of the wicked, and of their evil cause.
5. That Christ himself is now throughly furnished and inabled, for the carrying on of his work, over the belly of all adversaries, for all power in heaven and earth is given to Him Matth. 28: 18. and every knee must bow to Him. Phil. 2: 10. all judgment is committed unto Him Ioh. …: 22, 27. Angels, powers and authoritie are made subject unto Him 1 Pet. 3: 22. Yea all things are under Him Ephes. 1: 22. How then can his work miscarry? or who can hinder, that truth should not flourish in the earth?
6. That Christ is actually at work, imploying this power for the carrying forward of his designe, for the glory of the Father and for his own glory, and for the good of his poor people. The Father worketh by Him, and He by the Spirit, which is his great vicegerent, sent from the Father, and from Him, and his work is to glorify the Son, and shall receive of his, and show it unto us Iohn. 16: 14.
7, That Christ, upon many accounts, standeth engadged to perfect this work, which He hath begun and is about. His honour is engadged to go thorow, seing now He is fully furnished for it, and hath all the creation at his command. He must then perfect his work, as to the application, as well as He did perfect it, as to the purchase: His love to his Fathers & his own glory, & to his own peoples good and salvation may assure us, that He will not leave the work unperfected; and his power and furniture may give us full security, that no stope, which his work meeteth with, shall be able to hinder it.
8. That hence it is clear and manifest, that his wheel is in the midst of the wheels of men, and that therefore He is ordering all their motions and reelings to the best. His wheel keepeth an even pace and moveth equally & equably, in the midst of mens contrary motions.
9. And that therefore, all the eccentrick and irregular motions of devils and wicked men, being in His hand, and ordered by Him, cannot hinder but further His end; So that even enemies, while opposeing and seeking to destroy the cause and interest of Christ, that his name and truth should no more be mentioned, are promoveing his work. His wheel is the great wheel that ordereth all the lesser and subordinate wheels, whatever contrary motions they may have the one to the other, and all or many of them may seem to have to this great wheel. So that, do they what they will, the work of our Lord goeth on. Their opposition is setting his work forward, though they intend the contrary. However their faces look, they row to the port, He would be at. This is an undoubted truth, and confirmed in all ages, and yet is not firmly beleeved: and a truth it is, which, if beleeved, would do much to settle our staggering souls in a stormy day.
10, That at last, He shall come to be glorifyed in his saints 2 Thes. 1: 10▪ when He shall be revealed from heaven with all his mighty angels vers. 7. Then shall it be seen, whose shall counsel stand His or mens; and whose work shall prosper, His or Satans.
Cautions.
Yet let me adde a few words, for caution and direction here.
1. The consideration of those things mentioned should not make us slacken our diligence in prayer, and other duties: and when they are a right considered, they will rather prove a spurre and a goad in our side, to set us forward, than a bridle to hold us aback.
2. We would not think, that Christ's work and interest is going backward alwayes, when it seemeth so to us. Even when He is casting downe. what He hath built up; and plucking up, what He hath planted, his work is prospering, for all that is in order to the laying of a better foundation, and to the carrying on of a more glorious work; when He shall lay all the stones with faire colours, & the foundations with saphires, and make the windowes of crystal &c. Esai. 5 4: 11, 12.
3. Though his work be alwayes going on, and his truth prospering; yet we would not think that it will alwayes prosper alike, in our apprehensions; many times we judge by rules of our own making, and not by the rule of truth; and hence it is that we mistake oftentimes. We walk little by faith, and too much by sense; and hence we judge too much by sense, and so passe a wrong judgement, to his dishonour, and the sadning of our own hearts.
4. Nor would we think, that His Truth and interest is ruined and gone, because it is sore oppressed, in this or that particular place of the world; as if his work were not of an universal extent, and in all the churches. If his truth thrive and prosper in some other place of the world, shall we not say, that his kingdome is coming? Or shall we limite all his work and interest to one small part of the world?
5. We would not think the worse of his work, because it is carryed on with so many stops, and doth meet with so many Impediments in its way: We are not acquanted with the depths of his infinite wisdome and counsel: and so we see not what noble ends He hath before Him, in suffering those impediments to lie in the way of his chariot. We think He should ride so triumphantly all alongs, that none should once dar to cast the least block in his way: but we judge carnally, as unacquanted with the many noble and glorious designes, which He hath, in ordering matters. As Himself was for a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence; so will he have the way of the carrying on of his work prove, in his holy and spotlesse justice, a stumbling stone to many, that shall stumble thereat, and fall, and never rise any more.
6. We would beware to think, that Christ-hath forgotten his work, because He seemeth to take no notice of our prayers, which we are putting up, now and then for his work. He may be doing that, which we are desireing, in the general, and yet not let us know, that He is answering our prayers: & that for wise and holy ends, to keep us humble & diligent. He may seem to misregaird our suites, and yet be carrying on his work, and granting us our desires, upon the matter.
7. Hence we …ould beware of desponding, and growing heartlesse and fainte, when we see few owneing truth, Or standing upon Christ's side; for He needeth not mans help, to carry on his work, though He sometimes thinketh good to condescend so far, as to honour some to be instrumental in setting of it forward, who yet have nothing but as He giveth; let us not then think, that his work cannot prosper, because great ones and meane ones oppose it, and such as should stand for it and owne it, are few and fainting, without strength courage or Zeal.