One-Hundred Forty-Five Sermons Upon John 17, Sermon 80
SERMON LXXX. That the Word of God preached and received, doth inrage the wicked world: And Reaſons thereof.
JOHN 17.14.
I have given them thy Word, and the world hath hated them, becauſe they are not of the world.
IN this 14th verſe our Saviour urgeth a ſpecial and powerfull reaſon, why God the Father ſhould in a peculiar manner keep them, which was hinted, verſ. 11. and that is, the worlds hatred of them: So that this Petition hath a great deal of equity and righteouſneſſe in it; They will be expoſed to the malice of the world, and that for thy cauſe, becauſe they have believed in thy Word. The world will be no preſerver or conſervator of them, therefore do thou keep them.
In the words therefore we have,
1. The Argument of the Petition, The world hateth them.
2: The Cauſes of this, which are two-fold,
1. Their Receiving of, and Obedience unto Gods Word.
2. Their Segregation or Separation from the world, the life and manners of it, which is amplified by the patern, or example thereof, Even as I am not of the world.
I ſhall take the Heads in their order. And
Firſt, The Cauſe of their hatred in the world, in thoſe words, I have given them thy Word, where by the antecedent is neceſſarily meant the conſequent, for Chriſts giving or preaching the Word of God, unleſſe they received and obeyed it, was not enough to procure hatred; Therefore they are both expreſſed verſ. 8. Chriſts giving them, and their receiving of the Word. For the Phariſees, and many enemies to Chriſt, who were of the world, and the greateſt part of thoſe that did oppoſe, did yet hear. The Goſpel was tendered to them, though they made themſelves unworthy thereof. And thus when the Orthodox ſay, That the pure preaching of the Word, is a note of the Church: By that they underſtand alſo a viſible, external accepting of it, otherwiſe the Word may be preached to Barbarians and Heathen, who may hear, but ſcorn and reject the Goſpel, and therefore cannot be a Church.
This then being ſuppoſed, we ſee the cauſe of the Apoſtles miſeries and oppoſitions in the world, not becauſe they were thieves, robbers, or ſeditious perſons. But becauſe they did imbrace the Doctrine of Chriſt, all the words of this reaſon are emphatical, foreign, I have delivered them, ſo that Chriſt herein doth faithfully diſcharge his duty, he did not neglect it. And
2. foreign, Given, or delivered them; which implieth, that the Apoſtles themſelves could never by their own ſtrength, have found out this heavenly Doctrine. There muſt be a revelation of …t from above, Chriſt muſt come from the boſome of the Father to give it unto them: They themſelves could not have invented it; No, though in ſtead of illiterate Fiſhermen, they had been the Grandees of knowledge, the Platoes and Ariſtotles of the world.
3. I have given them, foreign; He that is the true foreign, the Word of God, doth deliver Gods Word, and he ſaith not mine, but thine, partly, becauſe Chriſt in his mediatory adminiſtration referreth all to God, to the Father, My Doctrine is not mine, but his that ſent me, and I come to do my Fathers will; and partly, hereby to engage God the Father more, for being it was becauſe of his Word, and in reference to him, the more was he to preſerve them. From the words explained obſerve,
That the Word preached and received by people, Obſerv. That the Word preached and received by people, doth greatly enrage the wicked of the world.doth greatly enrage the wicked of the world. No other reaſon is here mentioned of the worlds hatred, but this. Who would think that the men preaching of ſo holy a Doctrine, and ſuch glad tidings of ſalvation, and men obeying it, not wronging, injuring, or troubling others, yet ſhould meet with ſo much oppoſition! But thus it hath been, and thus it will be. In Tertullian's time, To be a Chriſtian, was to be a Publicus hoſtis; and though, as that acute Father pleaded, The Chriſtians were no Albinians, or Barutians, ſuch as embroyled the Civil Eſtate with warres, yet becauſe they were Chriſtians, this was enough. The very name was a crime, and this made ſo many Fathers make ſuch excellent Apologies in their behalf. Of this oppoſition from the world, our Saviour informeth them, when he firſt gave them their Commiſſion to preach, They ſhould be hated of all men; Never any went about ſuch an unwelcome and unthankfull peece of ſervice, as they did; Therefore they were as ſheep amongst wolves; and whereas it might be thought, That the Apoſtles being men, though greatly aſſiſted by God, might miſcarry through ignorance, inconſiderate paſſion, &c. We ſhall finde it befell even Chriſt himſelf, that he in his Miniſtry, though he wrought ſuch wonderfull miracles, that might aſtoniſh them; yea though thoſe miracles were uſefull and profitable, not for curioſity, yet what reproaches, what ſlanders did they caſt on him, calling him a wine-bibber, a friend to ſinners, yea an Impoſture, one that had a devil? and never ceaſed, till at laſt they put him to death in the moſt ſcornfull and reproachfull manner.
Conſid. I To open this conſider, That God out of his great love to mens ſouls, hath appointed a Miniſtry and Officers in his Church, that ſhould be as Embaſſadours to intreat Reconciliation with God. But becauſe there could not be any commerce or communion between God, abſolutely conſidered, and man fallen, therefore the Lord Chriſt interpoſed and made peace; but that what he had merited and purchaſed, might effectually be applied to ſuch as ſhall be ſaved, among other inſtruments, he ſet up Officers in his Church, whoſe whole ſtudy and care, ſhould be to informe and reforme men. So that people do enjoy the Miniſters of God upon a two-fold ſpecial account.
Firſt, Gods great and ſpecial love to them, That God hath taken care to ſend ſuch, is more then the creating of a world for you, or vouchſafing all the temporal mercies you enjoy: Hence it's ſo often ſpoken of, 2 Chron. ult. and in other places, that God ſent his Prophets riſing up early. This is ſpoken as the great love of God to them. And then
Conſid. II The ſecond Foundation of the Miniſtry is Chriſts Death and Reſurrection, his Aſcending into Heaven, as Epheſ. 4.11. He gave ſome Apoſtles, ſome Paſtours and Teachers: Oh then, how ingratefull and wicked is the world, which doth no more regard this love of God, and purchaſe of Chriſt in the Miniſtry! Hence by the Prophet God promiſeth, That he would give them Paſtours after his own heart, Jer. 3.4. Though he feed them with the bread of adverſity, and drave them into corners, Iſai. 30.20, Hence when God threatens a people with his uttermoſt wrath, it is to remove the Candleſtick, and to make the Viſion ceaſe, and to make no Clouds to rain upon them. How much would people complain under a drought, and want of Rain, if for many years together there ſhould not be ſo much as a Cloud ſeen; But the gracious heart would think, the removing of Chriſts Miniſters not onelyonly the taking away of Clouds, but of the Sun and Stars in Heaven.
Secondly, God and Chriſt who are thus the cauſe of their Office, hath appointed them their worke, and endowed them with abilities thereunto. Their imployment is to publiſh the Word of God, which is two-fold,
1. The Word of the Law, to convince men of ſinne, to inform of duty, to make them ſenſible of their undone and damnable eſtate they are in. Thus they are firſt to be wiſe Phiſicians to detect and diſcover the diſeaſe, the danger and cauſe of it.
Then ſecondly, There is the Word of the Goſpel, which are the glad tidings of Gods favour, and Reconciliation with thoſe that are humble and contrite before him. This is to publiſh the acceptable year of Jubilee, to ſuch as were ſpiritually indebted, and under the thraldome of Gods wrath. This is a work in it ſelf abſolutely neceſſary; for what doth a ſinner more want then theſe two things, the Law in it's uſe, and the Goſpel in it's uſe. Men in their temporal neceſſities reſpect the Phyſicians, the Lawyers; but ſoul neceſſities are not apprehended; And as the neceſſity of it is ſo cogent, ſo the dignity and excellency is admirable. As the Soul and Heaven do farre exceed all earthly things, ſo doth this ſubject all other.
Conſid. III Therefore in the third place, God and Chriſt do juſtly expect, that the world ſhould with all gladneſſe and obedience receive theſe his Meſſengers. For ſhall God purpoſe ſo great love, and Chriſt at ſo dear a rate purchaſe ſuch Officers, and muſt not the world ſet open the doors to receive them? Shall not they cry, Bleſſed are the feet of ſuch as bring the glad tidings of the Goſpel? Are they not to be affected, as the Galatians once to Paul, To pull out their very eyes to ſerve him? Certainly, if David did ſo celebrate Gods goodneſſe in creating Heaven and Earth, and appointing the fowls of the air, and the beaſts of the field for mans uſe, much more ought we in this great matter of the Church.
Conſid. IV Yet in the fourth place, Though ſo much love be in this Inſtitution, and God expects ſo much thankefulneſſe and obedience, becauſe of it, it may make us tremble to ſee, how little entertainment their Office and work hath in the world. We ſpeak not in regard of their outward honour and eſteem: For as Paul ſaith, ſo ought we pray, men might do no evil, though we be accounted as reprebates, 2 Cor. ult. but we complain of the unſucceſſefulneſſe of it, in reſpect of the divine operations of it; We take up our Saviours complaint, That light is come into the world, and men love darkneſſe rather then light, John 3. Oh this is that which the Scripture doth ſo bitterly complain of▪ Who hath believed our report? and I told them the wonderfull or great and honourable things of my Law, and they accounted them a ſtrange thing, Pſal. 119. This ſad uſage in the world, made Paul cry out, That they were the off-ſcouring of the world, worſe then the duſt of the feet, and were made a ſpectacle to the world and Angels, 1 Cor. 4.9.
Conſid. V Fifthly, The Devil knowing the excellent end and uſe of this Office and worke, doth by himſelf, and all his inſtruments oppoſe it. He rageth, and the world rageth, when this work is ſet up: So that as when Chriſt ſent his Diſciples to preach, he ſaw Satan fall like lightning. Thus if it were in his power, he would have Chriſt and his Officers be thrown down. As they are to deſtroy his works, and diſpoſſeſs him, ſo he labours to do to them. It being thus thou, that in the Miniſtry we may ſee Gods great love, and mans great wickedneſſe.
Let us conſider the cauſe, why it ſhould thus ſtirre up the wrath of men,Why the preaching and receiving of the Word doth enrage wicked men. that they ſhould be moved like ſo many hornets. And
Firſt, This work of the Miniſtry is contrary to the Nature and inclination of the world. That as the Sunne is burdenſome to the Owl, and other night-birds, and ſweet ſmels to ſwiniſh creatures. Thus is the glorious Goſpel, and the precious favour thereof abominable to corrupt men: They can no more love godly and holy preaching, then fire and water can agree; therefore the more thy heart and tongue is ſet againſt it, the more thou diſcovereſt that hell, which is in the bottome of thy heart. Now the true preaching of the Word of God is contrary unto the world in theſe reſpects, 1. The very nature and frame of their hearts, admits not of Chriſts word, till regenerated. The old houſe muſt be pulled down even with the very foundation of it. Thus Jam. 1. God is ſaid to beget by his Word, and our Saviour here, Sanctifie them by thy truth. Now this is directly contrary to mans nature, to account all that he is, and all that he doth damnable, to judge every thing he hath done fit fuell for hell, ſo as to have no comfort in any thing he hath done. It was a myſtery to Nicodemus, a maſter of Iſrael, but it's not only a myſtery to natural men, it's that which they hated, they cannot abide; For Solomon ſaith, Every mans way is clean in his own eyes, Prov. 16.2. To come then to people, and tell them you are all out of the way to Heaven; There is nothing good in you, unleſſe you be new creatures, even all new, you cannot be ſaved; new hearts, new affections, new thoughts, Will not this be a two-edged ſword in their hearts? Shall they leave their former courſe? Shall not they ſpeed as well as others? This is a Doctrine not to be born, this is durus Sermo, when indeed they are duri auditores, and ſo let not the Word have that penetrating power it would.
2. As it's oppoſite to their natures, ſo to their lives and converſations, Epheſ. 2. Paul there deſcribes what kinde of men the Epheſians were, and that it might not be thought their peculiar wickedneſſe, he ſaith, They walked after the courſe of this world, and therefore Rom. 12. The command is not to be conformed to the faſhion of this world: Can fleſh and blood then endure, that the Miniſters of God ſhould damn to hell? The lives, the manners, the daily cuſtoms and practiſes, that generally men live in. When Moſes did but in a fair way reprove two Iſraelites, that were quarrelling, how frowardly did they anſwer, Who made thee a Judge over us? Exod. 2.14. And ſo the Sodomites to Lot, they judged it all Lordlineſs and domineering; and is not the ſame ſtubbornneſſe ſtill reigning every where? All reproofs, all denunciations out of Gods Word, are judged to be the pride, the lordlineſſe, or the malice of the Miniſter; Wonder not then if the faithfull preaching of Gods word, meeteth with ſuch violent oppoſition; for they perſwade a life, a way, directly contrary to what the world delights in.
3. It's oppoſite to that way of worſhip which men take up by natural reaſonings. The Prophets did not only reprove for morall impieties, but Idolatry and ſuperſtitious Worſhip, Who hath required theſe things at your hands? And our Saviour his Doctrine was ſalt to the Phariſees, it corroded and fretted their ſore hearts, he layeth the axe of his Miniſtry to the root of all their ſuperſtition, and proveth that to be abominable which they did ſo highly advance before men. Inſomuch that Chriſts firſt coming into the world, becauſe of his ſevere Doctrine and reprehenſions, is Mal. 3. deſcribed to be as terrible as the day of Judgement, Who ſhall abide the day of his coming? And why? Becauſe he ſhall ſit as a refiner to purge the houſe of Levi. Auſtin did much complain what a difficult matter it was, to take off people from their ſuperſtitions and vain cuſtoms, Veh tibi torrens moris humani, quis reſiſtet! Certainly, ſuch will ſay no leſſe to powerfull and faithfull Miniſters, then the devils to Chriſt, Why art thou come to torment us before our time?
Again fourthly, The preaching of the Word muſt be oppoſed, becauſe the powerfull obedience thereunto brings all calamity and perſecution. They ſhall be hated, as well as the word is hated. Now to be troubled, reproached and deſpiſed is contrary to mens temper, who loveth applauſe and glory. Hence ſome, though they are ſaid to believe, John 2. yet would not confeſſe Chriſt, becauſe they loved the praiſe of men more then of God: And our Saviour ſaith, How can ye beleeve who ſeek glory one of another? Pride and love to be eſteemed of in the world, doth diſdain all good preaching.
5. The Word preached meeteth with oppoſition, becauſe the inſtruments are men ſubject to infirmities, eſpecially if faithfull. So that though they do not hate them for their infirmities, yea the more prophane and diſſolute the Miniſter is, they like it the better; yet becauſe the Apoſtle ſaith, We have this treaſure in earthen veſſels, they are men and not Angels, therefore they quarrel and oppoſe Paul himſelf, though an Apoſtle, and giving mighty demonſtrations of Gods Spirit in him, yet he was deſpiſed, and ſlandered, though not ſo guilty of humane infirmities, and that becauſe he was faithfull, Am I become an enemy, becauſe I tell you the truth? Gal. 3. Oh this is it, becauſe we preach the truth, becauſe we meet with mens corruptions, and cannot bear ſin: This is that which raiſeth up malice.
Laſtly, The world hath not received the Spirit of God, and therefore all the glorious and wiſe things of Chriſt are but fooliſhneſſe and uſeleſſe to them. They have not that ſpiritual annointing, they are not taught of God. Hence it is that they rage and revile thoſe things they know not, or underſtand. Therefore till God give them eye-ſalve, and ſeeing eyes, no other thing can be expected.
Ʋſe.Ʋſe of Inſtruction. Wonder not if in all ages this be true, the Word is purely preached and obeyed by ſome, therefore the world hateth and rageth: For what, will a Tyger and a Wolf lay aſide their natures? Will the Devil ceaſe to be a Devil? But wo be to thoſe that make Chriſt the foundation-ſtone, to be a ſtone of ſtumbling and offence; Woe to thee that findeſt light made darkneſs, and life, death to thee.