Christ the Way and the Truth and the Life, Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII. How Christ is to be made use of for life, in case of heartlesnesse and fainting, through discouragements.
THere is another evil and distemper, which beleevers are subject to, and that is a case of fainting through manifold discouragements, which make them so heartless, that they can do nothing; yea and to sit up, as if they were dead. The question then is. How such a soul shall make use of Christ, to the end it may be freed from that fit of fainting, and win over those discouragments: for satisfaction to which, we shall
1. Name some of those discouragements, which occasione this.
2. Show what Christ hath done, to remove all those discouragements.
3. Show how the soul should make use of Christ for life, in this case; and
4. Adde a few words of caution.
As to the first. There are several things, which may give occasion to this distemper; we shall name those few.
1. The sense of a strong, active, lively, and continually stirring body of death, and that not withstanding of meanes used to beare it down, and to kill it. This is very discourageing: for it made Paul cry out woes me miserable man, who shall deliver me from this body of death, Rom. 7: 24. It is a most discouraging thing, to be still fighting, and yet getting no ease, let be victory; to have to do with an enemie, that abides alwayes alike strong, fight and oppose as we will, yea not only is not weakned far lesse overcome, but that groweth in power and prevaileth. And this many times affecteth the heart of God's children, and causeth them to faint.
2. It may be the case of some, that they are assaulted with strange temptations of Satan, his buffettings, that are not usual. This made Paul cry out thrice, 2 Cor. 12. and if the Lord had not told him, that His grace was sufficient for him, what would he have done? Hence some of his cry out, in their complaint, was there ever any so tempted, so assaulted with the devil, as I am? Sure, this dispensation cannot but be much afflicting, sadning and discourageing.
3. The sense of the real weakness of grace under lively meanes, and notwithstanding of their serious and earnest desires, and endeavours after grouth in grace, cannot but disquiet and discourage them: for they may readily conclude, that all their paines and labour shall be in vaine, for any thing they can observe.
4. The want of sensible incomes of joy and comfort, is another fainting and discourageing dispensation; as the feeling of these is a heart-strengthening and most encourageing thing, which made David so earnestly cry for it Psal. 51: 8, 12. when a poor soul, that hath the testimony of its own conscience, that it hath been, in some measure of singleness of heart and honesty, seeking the face of God, for a good many yeers, and yet cannot say, that ever it knew what those incomes of joy and comfort meane, which some have tasted largely of, it cannot choose but be discouraged, and much cast down, as not knowing what to say of it self, or how to judge of its owne case.
5. The want of access in their addresses to God, is another heart-discouraging thing. They go about the duty of prayer, with that measure of earnestness and uprightness of heart, that they can win at, at least this is their aime and endeavour, and yet they meet with a fast-closed door: when they cry & shout, he shooteth out their prayer; as the Church complaineth Lament. 3: 8. This sure will affect them deeply, and cause their hearts sometimes to fainte.
6. The want of freedom and liberty in their addreses to God, is another thing, which causeth sorrow and fainting. They go to pray, but their tongue cleaveth to the roof of their mouth; they are straitned, and cannot get their hearts vented.
7. Outward persecution, that attendeth the way of godliness, and afflictions, that accompany such as live godly, is another discourageing thing, both to themselves, who are under afflictions; and to others, who heare it and see it; wherefore the Apostle desired earnestly, that the Ephesians should not faint at his tribulation, Cap. 3: 13.
8. The Lords sharpe and sore dispensations for sin, as toward David Psal. 51. or out of his Soveraignity for tryal and other ends, as toward Iob, is likewise a discourageing heart-breaking thing, and that which will make strong gyants to roare and fainte, and look upon themselves as dead men, as we see in these two eminent men of God.
As to the second thing. Christ is life to the beleever, in this case, in having done that which in reason may support, under all these discouragements, and having done so much for removing or weakening of these; yea and for carrying them over them all, which may be in a word cleared, as to each.
1. As for the body of death. Let it stirre in the beleever, as fast as it will, or can, it is already killed, & all that strugling is but like the strugling of a man in the pangs of death; for our old man is crucified with Christ, Rom. 6: 6. and the beleever is dead to sin, and risen legally with him, Col. 2: 11, 12. & 3: 3. But of this we spoke abundance above.
2. As to Satans troubling the poor beleever. Through Christ also he is a vanquished enemy. He hath overcome him that had the power of death, even the devil, Heb. 2: 14.
3. As for that felt weakness of grace. That is no ground of discouragement, so long as he liveth, who can make the lame to leep as an hart, and can make waters break out in the wildernesse, and streames in the desert. Esai. 35: 6, 7. and giveth power to the fainte, and to them that have no might increaseth strength: so that such as waite upon the Lord shall renew their strength, and they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint, Esai. 40: 29, 31. For in H…m are all the promises yea & amen, 2 Cor. 1: 20. So that they need not faint upon this account, nor be discouraged: for the work He hath begun, He will finish it, and He will quicken in the way, Psal. 119: 37.
4. As for the want of sensible incomes of joy and comfort: He hath promised to send the comforter, in his own good time, Iohn. 14: 26. & 15: 26. as one whom his mother comforteth, so will he comfort his, Esai. 66. 13. Joy and gladnesse is promised in the covenant, Ier. 31: 13. But further; though He keep up those influences of joy and comfort, He supporteth another way. The lively hope of heaven may bear up the heart, under all this want: for there shall the soul have fulnesse of joy and pleasures for ever more: no teares, nor sorrow there, Psal. 16: 11. Esa. 35: 10. & 51: 11.
5. As for the want of accesse in their prayers. They may possibly blame themselvs, for He hath by his merites opened the door; and is become (to speak so) master usher to the poor soul, to lead him, in to the Father, so that by him we have accesse, Ephes. 2: 18. yea boldnesse and accesse, through faith in Him Ephes. 3: 12. and He is our advocate 1. Iohn. 2: 1. and as our atturnay is gone to heaven before us; and there liveth for ever to make intercession Heb. 6: 20▪ & 7: 25. And what is there more to be done, to procure us accesse? or to move & encourage us to come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtaine mercy, and finde grace to helpe in time of need? Heb. 4: 14, 16.
6. As to that want of freedome and liberty in prayer: He helpeth that also: for He maketh the dumb to sing, Esa. 35: 6. and maketh the tongue of the stammerers to be ready to speak elegantly, Esai. 32: 4. He can enlairge the heart, and help the soul to pour-out its heart before God.
7. As to outward persecution: He can easily take that discouragement away, by giving the hundereth fold with it: by supporting under it, and bringing saife thorow it: when his presence is with them through fire and water, Esa. 43: 2. what can trouble them? and when he maketh their consolations abound, 2 Cor. 1: 5. what can discourage them? Have not his sung in the very fires? and rejoyced in all their afflictions? The resting of the Spirit of God and of glory, which Peter speaketh of, 1 Pet. 4: 14. is comfortable enough.
8. As for all those sharpe dispensations, mentioned in the last place: He, having taken the sting of all, even of death, away, by taking away sin, and purchased the blessing and love of the Father, having made reconciliation through his blood, all those dispensations flow from love, even such as seem sharpest, being inflicted for sin, as we see Heb. 12: 6. So that there is no cause here of fainting, or of being so discouraged, as to give over the matter. But for helpe in this case, there should be an use making of Jesus, as the Life; and that is
The third thing, which we shall speak a little to, viz How the soul should make use of Christ, as the Life, to the end it may be delivered from this fainting, occasioned through manifold discouragements,
1. The beleever in this case would minde the covenant of Redemption, wherein Christ hath promised, and so standeth obliged and engaged, to carry on his own through all discouragements, to the end; so that if any one beleever miscarry, Christ loseth more than they can lose: for the beleever can but lose his soul, but Christ shall lose his glory, and this is more worth, than all the souls that ever were created. And further, not only shall Christ lose his glory, as Redeemer; But the Father shall also lose his glory, in not making good his promise to Christ his Son: for by the same covenant, He standeth engaged to carry thorow all the seed, that Christ hath died for. And his appointing Christ to be his servant for this end, and chooseing Him from among all the folk▪ and his upholding of Him, concurring with him, delighting in Him, and promiseing that He shall bring forth judgment to the gentiles, and that, to victory, or to truth, speak out His engadgment to see all true beleevers brought home. See Esai. 42: 1, 2, 3▪ 4. Mat. 12: 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. Psal. 89: 19, 20, 21, 28, 29▪ 35, 36, 37. S…re, the faith of this would support the poor beleever, under all those discouragements.
2. They would minde likewise the covenant of Grace, wherein all things are contrived and laid downe, so as that the beleever may have abundant consolation and comfort, in all cases; and wherein there is enough to take away all cause of fainting & discouragement: as might fully be made to appeare, if any did questione it.
3. They would remember how richly Christ is furnished, with all qualifications, suiteing even that case, wherein they are like to be overwhelmed with discouragements: and could the beleever but think upon, and beleeve those three things, he might be keeped-up under all discouragements first. That Christ is a compassionate tender-hearted mediator, having bowels more tender, than the bowels of any mother; so that He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoaking flax Esai. 42: 3. He had compassion on the very bodies of the multitude, that followed him; and would not let them go away fasting, lest they should fainte in the way, Mat. 15: 32. Mark. 8: 3. and will He not have compassion on the soules of his followers, when like to faint through spiritual discouragements? Secondly. That He hath power and authority to command all things, that can serve to carray-on a poor beleever: for all power in Heaven and Earth is given to Him; all things are made subject to Him. Thirdly. That He hath a great readinesse and willingnesse, upon many accounts, to helpe his followers in their necessities. Sure, were these three firmly believed, the beleever could not …aint, having Christ, who is tender and loving & willing to helpe, and withall able to do what he will, to look to, and to run to, for supply.
4. They would take up Christ, under all his heart-strengthening, and soul comforting relations, as a tender Brother, a careful Shepherd, a fellowfeeling Highpriest, a loving Husband, a sympathizing Head, a life-communicating Root, an alsufficient King &c. any one of which is enough to beare up the head, and comfort the heart of a drouping, discouraged and fainting soul: much more may all of them yeeld strong consolation, to support & revive a soul, staggering and fainting, through discouragement. Oh! if wee could but rightly improve, and dwell upon the thoughts of these comforting and heart-quickening relations! our hearts would not fail us, so much as they do.
5. They would eye Him, as now in glory, who, as Head and Captaine of salvation, hath wreastled through, and overcome all difficulties and discouragments, that were in his way, and in name and behalf of all beleevers, that are his followers, and members of his body, is now possessed of glory, and thence draw an heart-comforting, and soul-strengthening conclusion, thus. Is He entered into glory as Head, than such a poor faint hearted, heart-brocken, discouraged worme, as I am, may at length come there, as a little bit of his body, especially since He said, that seing He liveth all his shall live also, Ioh. 14: 19.
6. They would remember how Christ, who was alwayes heard of his Father, Iohn. 11: 41, 42. did supplicat for this, as Mediator and Intercessor for his people Iohn. 17: 24. saying, Father, I will th… they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me, where I am, &c. May not the poor faint-hearted, believer, that is looking to Iesus, draw an heart-reviveing & soul encouraging conclusion out of this, & say. Though my prayers be shote out, and when I cry for reliefe under my discouragements, I get no hearing; but, on the contrary, my discouragements grow, and my heart fainteth the more; yet Christ alwayes was heard, and the Father will not say Him nay, why then may I not lift up my head in hope, and sing in the hope of the glory of God, … the midst of all my discouragements?
7. By faith they would cast all their discouragements, entanglements, and difficulties, as burdens, too heavy for their back, on Christ, and …eave them there with Him, who only can remove them; and withal resolve never to give over, but …o go forward in his strength, and thus become dayly …ronger and stronger in resolutions, purposes, desires and endeavours, when they can do no …ore.
8. They would look to Jesus, the author and …isher of faith, and set Him before them, as a copie …f courage, who, for the joy, that was set before Him▪ …dured the crosse, despiseing the shame, and en…red contradiction of sinners against himself Heb. 12: 2, 3. and this may prove a meane to keep us …om wearrying and fainting in our mindes, as the …postle hinteth there.
9. They would remember, that Christ, going …fore, as the Captaine of salvation, hath brocken …e yee to them, and the force and strength of all …ose discouragements, as we did lately show; so …at now they should be looked upon, as brocken & …owerlesse discouragements.
10. They would fix their eye by faith on Iesus, as …ly able to do their businesse, to beare up their …ad, to carry them thorow discouragements, to …ply cordials to their fainting hearts; and remaine …red in that posture and resolution, looking for …rengthening and encourageing-life from Him, & …om Him alone: and thus declare that 1. They …e unable in themselves to stand-out such storms of discouragements and to wreastle thorow such difficulties. 2. They beleeve, He is only able to beare them up, and carry them thorow, & make them to despise all those discouragements, which the Devil and their own evil hearts muster up against them. 3. That, come what will come, they will not quite the bargane, they will never recal or take back their subscription and consent to the covenant of grace, and to Christ as theirs, offered therein, though they should die, and die againe, by the way. 4. That they would faine be keeped-on in the way, and helped forward, without failing and fainting by the way. 5. That they cannot run▪ thorow hard wals, they cannot do impossibilities, they cannot break thorow such mighty discouragements. 6. That yet through Him, they can d… all things. 7. That He must helpe, or they … gone, and shall never win thorow all these difficulties and discouragements, but shall one day or other die by the hand of Saul. 8. That they wil… waite earnestly seeking helpe from Him, crying for it, and looking for it, and resolve never … give over, and if they be disappointed, … a… disappointed.
Now for the last particular. The word of ca… tion. Take these.
1. They would not think to be altogether … of fainting: for there is no perfection here, an… there is much flesh and corruption remaining, … that will occasion fainting.
2. Nor would they think to be free of all … causes and occasions of this fainting, viz the discouragements formerly mentioned, or the like for, if the devil can do any thing, he will work discouragements, both within and without. So that they would lay their resolution to meet with discouragaments: for few or none ever went to heaven, but they had many a storme in their face, and they must not think to have a way paved for themselves alone.
3. They would not pore too much, nor dwell too long and too much upon the thoughts of those discouragements: for that is Satans advantage, & tendeth to weaken themselves. But it were better to be looking beyond them, as Christ did Heb. 12: 2. when he had the crosse and the shame to wreastle with, He looked to the joy that was set before Him; and that made Him endure the crosse, and despise the shame: and as Moses did Heb. 11: 25, 26, 27. when he had afflictions, and the wrath of the King to wreastle against, He had respect unto the recompence of the reward, and so he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
4. They would remember, that as Christ hath tender bowells, and is full of compassion, and is both ready & able to helpe them, so is He wise, & knoweth how to let-out his mercies best. He is not like a foolish affectionat mother, that would hazarde the life of the childe, before she put the childe to any paine. He seeth what is best for his owne glory, and for their good, here and hereafter; & that He will do, with much tendernesse & readinesse.
5. They would look upon it, as no mean mercy, if, notwithstanding of all the discouragements; and stormes that blow in their face, they are helped to keep their face up the hill, & are fixed in this resolution, never willingly to turne their back upon the way of God; but to continue creeping forward, as they may, whatever stormes they meet with: yea upon this account, ought they heartily to blesse his name, and to rejoyce; for their hearts shall live that seek Him, Psal. 22: 26.
6. They would remember, for their encouragement, that as many have been helped thorow all discouragements, & have been brought home at length, so may they be brought thorow all those stormes, which now they wreastle with. It is the glory of the Mediator to bring his brocken, torne & sincking vessels saife to shore.
Now I come to a third case, & that is