One-Hundred Forty-Five Sermons Upon John 17, Sermon 83
SERMON LXXXIII. The Application of the fore-going Obſervation, both to the Godly and the Wicked, tending to Encourage and Rejoyce the one under all their Sufferings, and Deterre and Reclaim the other from all their Oppoſitions.
JOHN 17.14.
And the World hath hated them, becauſe they are not of the World.
THe Worlds hatred (you have heard) to be the godly mans Portion, The one are Sheep, the other Wolves. I now proceed to ſhew, What is the Duty of Chriſts Diſciples under the worlds hatred? For it's no mean skill to take the poyſon from theſe enemies, and to make wholſom medicines of it, as Phyſicians do about Vipers; yea, it's one of the great miracles that Chriſt hath enabled all believers to perform. For we reade, when an Heathen ſuprized a Chriſtian, and beat him with much cruelty, and with great ſcorn asking him, What great wonder his Maſter Chriſt ever did? The believer replies, even this great miracle, That though you uſe me thus cruelly, I can heartily forgive you. What then was ſpoken to the Diſciples in an external, temporal manner, may be verified in a ſpiritual ſenſe, That they ſhall tread upon Serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it ſhall not hurt them.
The duty of Chriſts Diſciples under the worlds hatred.And firſt, Do the ungodly men of the world ſhoot their arrows againſt thee, Let this make thee examine thy ſelf, Whether there be not ſome ſinne thou art guilty of, that hereby God would humble thee for? The Hebrews call an enemy an obſerver, becauſe his malice puts him upon a diligent obſerving of all thy wayes, and therefore if there be any wickedneſſe, any failing, to be ſure, he will reminde thee of it, which made the Heathen ſay, That he who would be good needeth either a faithfull friend, or a better enemy. It may be then, thoſe ſins, thoſe failings, that no friends, no Sermons meet with, thy enemy may inform thee of: So that thou mayeſt ſay, thy enemy hath been the beſt friend in the world, yea his railing words have done thee more good then many Sermons; Not that they intend good, no more then the horſe-leech, but to ſatisfie their own luſts, only thou by heavenly wiſdome doſt turn their evil into good, but if ſo be that upon examination thou findeſt thy ſelf free; Yet
Secondly, Conſider, whether it be not for ſome other ſinnes, that ſuch men are made adverſaries againſt thee: For you muſt know, God hath a wiſe ordering of all mens hearts and tongues, even in reference to thee; and as David when Shimei railed on him, ſaid, 2 Sam. 16. The Lord hath bid him, So whatſoever wicked men do concerning thee, thou muſt ſay, The Lord hath bid him. Now though David was not guilty of thoſe ſins Shimei reviled him with; neither did the Lord bring him in diſtreſſe for his quarrel with Saul, as Shimei thought, yet David had other ſins, and other tranſgreſſions, for which he might be afflicted, and ſo looked upon Shimei as a ſcourge to humble him for them. Therefore ſay, Though the things laid to my charge be falſe, yet there are other failings, other infirmities that the world knoweth not of, which God ſtrikes at by this mans tongue, or rather the devil in that man.
Thirdly, Do wicked men hate thee? Take our Saviours rule, ſo contrary to fleſh and blood, Mat. 5.44. Love them that hate you, pray for them that perſecute you; and in other places, Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good, Rom. 12.21. This is that peculiar leſſon, which the Chriſtian Religion only teacheth. Neither Ariſtotle or Tully thought it a duty, but rather a ſimplicity not to be avenged upon enemies. But the Scripture is much in preſſing this duty, and that as a ſpecial ſign of grace, wherein we ſhall as children of God repreſent our heavenly Father, who makes the Sunne to ſhine upon the ungodly as well as the godly. All the wicked men of the world, they hate God as well as thee; and it's in his power to deſtroy them all, immediately in a moment to ſend them to hell; yet with what patience and loving kindneſs doth he bear ſuch adverſaries, he gives them food, raiment, and manifold preſervations; ſo Chriſt even when we were enemies died for us, which the Scripture makes a forcible argument for us to forgive others, This is a kinde of perfection to do ſo, Mat. 5. ult. Be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect; He cals this patience and forgiving diſpoſition a perfection; If then they rail, do thou bleſs; if they curſe, do thou pray, this is to pour living coals upon their head, as Rom. 12.10. which ſome underſtand in a good ſenſe, it will melt the man, as Saul was under Davids kindneſs, and as you ſee fire will at laſt melt iron, though never ſo tough; or others in an ill ſenſe, as if when thou haſt done thy duty, God will ſeverely puniſh them; This is the way to bring fire about their ears. Take heed therefore of private revengefull thoughts, theſe are unbeſeeming a Chriſtian, God makes this his Property, Vengeance is mine, Deut. 32.2. Although the Heathen could ſay, Revenge was ſweeter then honey; and ſo it is to a natural man, but it's farre ſweeter then honey to a gracious heart to be able to conquer his revengefull diſpoſition; private revenge is unlawfull, yet a ſeeking to the Magiſtrate for to puniſh offenders, or to obtain right, is a duty, onelyonly take heed of revengefull thoughts in the purſuing of it.
Fourthly, Doth the world hate thee for Chriſts ſake?Why the godly ſhould rejoyce when they are hated for Chriſts ſake. Then rejoyce and be exceeding glad, Mat. 5, 12. And that for ſeveral Reaſons,
1. As it followeth in that Text, Great is your reward in Heaven. The more vilified and debaſed here, the more glorified and honoured in Heaven: So that wicked men, while they think to do thee a miſchief, they are inſtrumentall to thy great glory. They make thee more happy, and more glorious; It's as if a man ſhould be angry with another, and in ſtead of ſtones he throw precious pearls and diamonds at him, which the man takes up and enriches himſelf with; or as if a man threw bread at a dog, in ſtead of being hurt by it, he is glad of it, and takes it up, and eats it. Thus it is with wicked men, their reproaches, their ſlanders and oppoſitions make thee more refined and bleſſed; all theſe will be like ſo many crowns of glory ſet upon thy head: As the waters did not drown the Ark, but lifted it up nearer to Heaven.
2. Rejoyce, becauſe hereby God honours and puts a glory upon thee, that thou ſhouldſt be one who ſhalt be reproached and vilified for him. Admire the goodneſſe of God herein, and ſay with David, I will be more vile ſtill. Thus the Apoſtles went away rejoycing, they were accounted worthy to ſuffer for Chriſts Name, Act. 5.41. Phil. 1.29. It's ſaid to be Gods gift to ſuffer for him; To you it is given. It's a priviledge and an honour to loſe any thing for Chriſts ſake; as Nazianzen ſaid, He was glad he had ſomething to looſe for Chriſts ſake: And ſo zealous were the primitive Chriſtians of the glory of Martyrdom, that many were ſo dejected becauſe God called them not to it, that they needed conſolatory letters to ſatisfie them. Though the world look upon them as diſgraced and miſerable, yet God honours thee, and this thou art to judge of, as the greateſt mercy and dignity that ever befell thee.
3. Rejoyce, becauſe God and Chriſt will hereby be indeared unto thee, and give thee larger ſupplies and proviſions of comfort. Nihil crus ſentit in ligno, quando animus eſt in Coelo, I will be with thee in the fire and water, ſaith God. Was not Peter ſinging of Pſalms in the priſon: Oh then know this is the time of Gods peculiar love, of his more mercifull approaches to thee, thy winter will be thy ſummer, thy outward troubles will be accompanied with the moſt inward joyes. This is Gods way, when the world moſt ſlanders and accuſeth, to give the believer ſtrongeſt evidences of his Juſtification within. The godly were moſt enlarged in ſoul, when they were ſhut into ſtraighteſt priſon, and they had moſt of a bright glorious Heaven, when they were plunged into a dark dungeon, thy incomes will be rich, when thy expences ſhall be great, the more men frown, the more will God ſmile on thee.
4. Rejoyce, becauſe hereby is a conformity to Chriſt, and to all the holy men that have gone before thee. So in Mat. 5.12. Rejoyce, becauſe ſo perſecuted they th… Prophets of old? and Rom. 8. it's made the effect of our Predeſtination, to b… conformable unto Chriſt in theſe afflictions, they are an effect of Predeſtination. Theſe troubles and reproaches God from all eternity appointed thee unto, as by which he would glorifie thee. They came from that ſpring of the great love of God, which he had toward thee before thou hadſt any being; ſo that hereby thou art made like to Chriſt, a glorious Diſciple doth not beſeem a crucified Saviour; neither rich and adorned members become an head crowned with thorns; How many have gloried in being like ſome great and famous men in the world? How much rather is this an honour to be reproached as Chriſt was, to be ſlandered as Chriſt was, the Diſciple muſt not expect to be above his Maſter.
5. Rejoyce, as having an opportunity of the exerciſe and increaſe of grace. The horſe neigheth at the battel and war-like ſounds, as being glad of the occaſion. A valiant man delights in the occaſions of his activity. The Pilot ſheweth his skill in times of danger and tempeſts. Know therefore that when the world hateth thee, God then cals thee out to a ſpiritual combate, thou art then become a ſpectacle to God, he beholds what excellent graces thou wilt ſhew forth, what faith, what patience, what fortitude, what heavenly-mindedneſſe. Now if ever there is a time to ſhew thy ſpiritual might and courage, yea here is not only an occaſion to put forth thy graces, but an opportunity to diſcover thy unfeigned love to God and Chriſt, to own Chriſt, when all the people would make him a King is no trial, but to ſtand to him, when they cried away with him, Crucifie him; this is a good evidence, God will then ſay, Now I know thou loveſt me, when theſe many waters the world throweth on, are not able to quench it, though father hate, though friends hate, though all hate, yet this doth not diſcourage thee in thy love of God; What a comfortable evidence is this of thy true grace: Nay, in ſome ſenſe thou doſt exceed the Angels in doing Gods will, for though they be zealous and active in obedience to God, yet they meet not with oppoſitions in their ſervice. They are not ſubject unto the reproaches and contempts of wicked men of the world, and therefore in this thou art more then an Angel.
Laſtly, Rejoyce, becauſe God might have left thee to be ſuch a malicious enemy to godlineſs, as thou ſeeſt they are. Every time thou heareſt, what ſlanders, what malicious words the wicked of the world vent againſt thee: O bleſs God, and ſay, I might have been left to ſuch a ſpirit, I was ſuch a devil my ſelf once, I opened my mouth againſt ſuch as fear God, as well as he! Oh bleſſed be God that hath changed my blackmore-skin, that hath given me another heart! when Paul met with wretched adverſaries, that blaſphemed him and the Goſpel, he preached: No doubt but he reflected upon himſelf, I was ſuch a mad blaſphemer once, I perſecuted the godly once, I delighted in cruel vexings of them heretofore; And now how great is Gods goodneſſe to me, that he hath had mercy on me; If thou bleſſeſt God that he made thee not a Serpent, a Toad, or that thou wert not a natural fool, or a mad man, How much rather, that he hath not given thee up to ſuch a vile malicious diſpoſition?
The next thing is to give Cautions and Arguments of admonition to the wicked, who thus hate Chriſt and his Diſciples.Cautions to the wicked. And
Firſt, Let them know it's a cauſleſs hatred, yea it's an hatred where the greateſt love and delight ſhould be. And that upon two grounds, For
1. They are ſuch who would bring them to everlaſting ſalvation, if they were not prejudiced, their exemplary life, is it not a light ſhining before you, that beholding their godly, holy and pure converſation, you may be thereby wone to glorifie God? The counſels, admonitions and ſpiritual help they would vouchſafe to thee, ſhould make thee prize them more then all outward comforts: Do ye love ſuch as can make you rich, preferre you to places of honour, ſupply your neceſſities? Oh how welcome ſhould ſuch be to you, that would give you many an helping lift to Heaven! Why then is thy hatred ſo cauſleſs? Is it becauſe they deſire thy ſalvation? Is it becauſe they pray for thee, they mourn in ſecret, for ſo David profeſſed, Rivers of waters ranne down his eyes, becauſe men kept not Gods Law? Wert thou not a ſtone and adamant theſe things would turn thy heart towards him?
2. They are ſuch for whoſe ſake thou enjoyeſt many bleſſings: It's becauſe of them the ſhip thou art in, is not drowned; God keepeth up the world, in reference to them, therefore the hedges are kept, becauſe of the Corn in the ground; The innocent deliver the Iſland; for Lot's ſake Sodom was ſpared a long ſeaſon. Theſe ſtand in the gap, when Gods overflowing tempeſt would carry all before it.
Secondly, Conſider that thou doſt not hurt them yea thou increaſeſt that which makes them ſo hatefull to thee. For by this means they walk more cloſely with God, they ſeparate themſelves from the world. It's a mercy to them, they have this hatred, otherwiſe they might comply too much, and enſnare their ſouls, and ſymbolize with mens wickedneſs: Now how abſurd is thy hatred, by that thou makeſt them more holy, and ſo advanceſt that which is ſo abominable to thee? Thou art to them as a fyle to the ruſty iron; thou art to them as Lazarus dogs tongues were to lick his ſores whole; thou art Gods ſcullion to wipe and keep his veſſel clean, who would not think thou ſhouldſt rather do, as that perſecutour, that would not let him die, ſaying, he envied him the honour of a Martyr? Thy very hatred ſhould make thee leave hating and oppoſing, becauſe hereby thou makeſt the godly man more glorious and happy.
Thirdly, Conſider hereby thou hurteſt thy ſelf, and not them; As the dog that bites the ſtone for rage, or a man that ſhoots an arrow at a brazen wall, and that recoileth back, and kils the Archer; thy hatred, thy curſings will fall back upon thy head; It's not the godly man only, but thy ſelf and thy own ſoul thou hateſt; See whether thoſe many curſes and miſeries thou haſt, be not the fruit of thy hatred, thou art a tormentor and troubler to thy ſelf; Though Achan troubled Iſrael, yet he troubled himſelf and his own houſe alſo.
Fourthly, Remember that it's a deviliſh thing, thou art more wicked then a man uſeth to be; Not to obey or yeeld thy ſelf up to godlineſſe is a grievous ſin, but to oppoſe is a deviliſh thing; Thou doſt the work of the devil if he were incarnate, he would ſpeak and do as thou doſt.
5. Remember the woful and heavy judgements which remarkably follow ſuch men, Who ever hardened himſelf againſt the Lord, and proſpered? This Chriſt meant when he ſaid, he that ſtumbled at this ſtone ſhould fall, but upon whom this ſtone ſhall fall, he ſhould be beaten in pieces; Chriſt will fall on ſuch that oppoſe him, and they ſhall not have the leaſt mercy.
Ʋſe.Ʋſe, Doth the world hate Gods people, then admire the goodneſs and power of God, that keeps up a poor Church in the midſt of ſuch violence, that preſerveth a few Lambs among ſo many Wolves, Bears and Lions in ſuch a Wilderneſſe as they are in; We juſtly admire Gods power in putting bounds to the ſea, that it overfloweth not the Land, much more admirable was that goodneſs of God in preſerving the Iſraelites when the waters were on every ſide; Oh how much more is God to be praiſed that keeps his people with any ſafety, any liberty, Should wicked men have their will, food, and raiment and life would be thought too good for thee.