One-Hundred Forty-Five Sermons Upon John 17, Sermon 3
SERMON III. Sheweth how prevalent the Praiers are that are poured out to God as a Father, And what diſpoſition and frame of heart this compellation Father may breed in every one that doth fervently pray to God.
JOH. 17.1.
Theſe things ſpake Jeſus, and lift up his eyes to heaven, and ſaid, Father, &c.
THE next thing in order to be treated of is Chriſts Praier it ſelf, and that is firſt in reference to himſelf, and therein we may conſider,
1. The matter of the Praier, Glorifie thy Son.
2. The Arguments to enforce this, for that is the beſt praier which is moſt argumentative; Many words without arguments is like a great body without nerves or ſinews. Now theſe arguments are ſeveral and ſtrong.
1. From the Relation he ſtands in to God, he is a Son, and God is his Father, Father, glorifie thy Sonne.
2. From the ſeaſonableneſſe of it, Now is the time, Tho hour is come.
3. From the finall cauſe, he deſireth not this glory for himſelf only, but he would be glorified that he might glorifie the Father. Every one of theſe Arguments doth deſerve at leaſt a Sermon to open the excellency of it, and
1. I ſhall begin with the relation expreſſed in that compellation Father; Now it is true God is the Father of Chriſt in a farre more tranſcendent way then he is ours, for that is a true Rule, quod Chriſtus naturâ, nos ſumus gratiâ, That which Chriſt hath by nature we have by grace; Chriſt therefore is Son to the Father, yet ſo that he is of the ſame nature with the Father, having all the properties of the Godhead with him, but we are Sonnes only by grace and adoption, and therefore cannot call God Father in that reſpect as Chriſt doth, yet becauſe a Father to both, and that we may improve this Title for comfort with him, our Saviour doth put theſe together in a moſt excellent manner, Joh. 10.17. I aſcend to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God; Go and tell my Brethren ſo: The Apoſtle admireth this, that he was not aſhamed to call them brethren, Heb. 2.11. and in this Praier how wonderfull are thoſe expreſſions, That they all may be one as thou Father art in me, and I in thee, that they alſo may be one in us; Let not therefore the great diſtance between us and Chriſt trouble us in this dear relation, for he is our Father as well as Chriſts, though not in the ſame manner. From this Argument further obſerve,
Doct. Thoſe praiers ſucceſſefull that are put up to God as a Father.That thoſe Praiers are ſucceſſefull and are ſure to ſpeed which are poured out to God as a Father. It's this Title, this relation that giveth life and efficacy to our praiers, Dulce nomen Patris, ſaid he, it works much both in the Father to move his bowels and in the Sonne to enlarge his affections and hopes; Although that Faith whereby Chriſt called God Father was not like that in us which we call juſtifying, in reſpect of that act, for Chriſt did not need juſtification for himſelf, becauſe there was no ſin found in him, yet as faith in the generall betokens a fiduciall dependance on God, and application of his favour, ſo Chriſt did with faith call God Father: Thus at other times we ſee Chriſt in his praiers uſing this compellation as the ground of his being heard, and having all his requeſts granted him, Luke 23.34▪46. Joh. 11.41. Joh. 12.27, 28. And that we may not think this Prerogative belongs only to him, our Saviour in that Directory of praier which he hath left, teacheth us to come unto him as unto a Father, and this is the faith we muſt pray in, elſe we are ſure to be ſent away empty. Hence Chriſt Mat. 6. and Mat. 7, 11. laieth all the ground of confidence and hope to ſpeed on this, becauſe he is our Father, an heavenly Father, farre above all earthly Fathers; Nemo tam Pater, as one in another caſe; I need not tell you that God is a Father, either by Creation, in which ſence Paul alloweth that of the Poet, We are his Offspring; for this it makes not any thing to confidence in Praier, for ſo the devils and wicked men had their being from God; But 2. He is a Father by grace, by adoption, and reconciliation through Chriſt; This is the relation that ſweetens all, This is that which makes us confident he cannot or will not deny any thing that is good to us; When the Prodigal Sonne came with this Title in his mouth, Father, To open this Conſider,I have ſinned, the bowels of the Father immediatly moved, and he runneth to meet him, Luk. 15.18.
1. All by nature are in a ſtate of enmity againſt God.Firſt, That every one by nature and through ſinne is in a ſtate of enmity againſt God; God is ſo farre from being a Father to ſuch, that he is a Judge and an adverſary to every wicked man, ſo that it is a very rare thing, and few there are who may call God Father; Is God the Father of Drunkards, adulterers, proud and prophane perſons? It's blaſphemy, and an high diſhonour to God to think ſo. No, the Scripture telleth us of another Father to ſuch, Ye âre of your Father the devil, Joh. 8.44. There are many may ſay, Our Father which art in hell, not which art in heaven; This I would preſſe upon you that you may not blaſpheme God by calling him Father, when you do the works of the devil; If children only and not dogs muſt eat the meat on the Table, much more muſt they only be taken into the Fathers boſome; The Scripture will inform you that none may preſume to take this excellent Title into his mouth, unleſſe he ſhew his filiall fear and obedience. Mal. 1.6. If I be a Father where is mine honour. 1 Pet. 1.15. If ye call on the Father, paſſe the time of your ſojourning here in fear; Hence it is reſolved by Auſtin, that none but a juſt and righteous man may pray the Lords Praier, becauſe God is not a Father to any but thoſe that walk holily; Oh that this might ſtrike to the very heart of every ungodly man, Thou hopeſt in thy praiers, and truſteſt in thy praiers, when yet thou haſt no right to call God thy Father; He owneth no ſuch enemies as thou art for his Sonne.
2. The ſtate of Sonſhip is purchaſed by Chriſt.Secondly, This ſweet relation of Sonſhip to God the Father is purchaſed at a dear rate by Chriſt; He ſhed his precious bloud that we might be put into ſo happy a relation; We that were afar off are made neer by him: Hence it is that Chriſt is the Elder brother, the Heir, and we made coheirs with him, ſo that we had nothing to do with God in any comfortable way, we could not have praied to him, but had been like the devil in hell, had not Chriſt purchaſed this ſure and comfortable condition for us; It coſts the mother much ere ſhe be mother of a childe; In ſorrow ſhe was to bring forth, but Chriſt was a man of greater ſorrow ere he could ſee his ſeed, and his ſoul be ſatisfied. Among Brethren what envy is there apt to be, yea, what murthers have been committed by one brother upon another, that they might ſolely enjoy the dignity and great eſtate. but how farre was Chriſt from this, who though only beloved of the Father, and heir to all glory, yet grudgeth not to take in others to a copartnerſhip, well then, This word Father, or to be able to call God Father coſt Chriſt dear, even more then to make a world, for there was but a word, here were great ſufferings.
Thirdly, To be able to call God Father is ſo great a matter that there needeth the Spirit of Adoption to move us thereunto, Gal. 4 6.3. We cannot call God Father but by the Spirit of Adoption. He hath ſent the Spirit of his Sonne into our hearts, crying Abba Father. Although it be eaſie for a preſumptuous ſelf-juſtifying man to call God Father, yet take the afflicted mourner for ſinne, who is ſenſible of the great diſhonour he puts upon God, it's the hardeſt thing in the world to think God is a Father to him, becauſe therefore it is ſo great a work, God ſends his Spirit into our hearts that enableth us to cry boldly, vehemently, and notwithſtanding all oppoſition, Abba, Father; Where then we would uſe this compellation with power and life, with ſucceſſe and heavenly advantage, there the Spirit of God muſt inflame the heart, there all our ſervile fears and tormenting doubts muſt be removed; Now who but the Spirit of God can command theſe windes and waves to be ſtill. There are groans and crys, great commotions of ſpirit ere the ſoul can be perſwaded of Gods fatherly love.
Theſe things premiſed,What frame of heart this compellation Father may breed in every childe of God. let us conſider in the next place what diſpoſition and frame of heart this compellation (Father) may breed in every one that doth fervently pray to God.
And 1. It cannot but raiſe up the heart to great confidence and hope to ſpeed; Indeed if we look to our ſelves, to our ſinnes, there is nothing but matter of deſpair, Who can think of himſelf, and not expect that anſwer, Depart, I know you not; But then when we conſider this gracious relation God putteth upon himſelf to be a Father, what humbled ſinner may then be afraid; O Lord, thou art not only a Lord, a mighty and great God, but a Father alſo, and upon this Title I pleade; Fathers uſe to lay up for children, if it were an earthly Father, Mat. 7. when the childe asketh bread, he would not give him a ſtone, and thou art an heavenly Father, how long then ſhall I ask for ſuch conſolation, pray againſt ſuch corruptions, and meet with the contrary, Is not this to give a ſtone for bread? If then God be a Father, if thou maiſt conclude on this, then expect every thing elſe; Now this is a great ſinne in the children of God, they doe not improve this relation; They do not think with themſelves, behold, I am a Father, I am a Mother, will my bowels let me deny my poor children (if afflicted) any thing that I can give them? why then ſhall I have ſuch low thoughts of God? He that giveth the father bowels, ſhall not he much more have bowels? If it be thus with a drop, ſhall it not be much more with the Fountain.
2. The meditation of this relation will cauſe fervency and zeal in our Petitions; The more confidence to ſpeed the more earneſtneſſe, as on the other ſide, where there is no hope there is fainting and languiſhing, he ſaid, Qui timidè rogat docet negare, we may ſay, Qui tepidè, It's the fervent praier of a righteous man that prevaileth much, and confidence quickens up to fervency. As men that are pulling any weight, the more they feel it coming, the more earneſt they are in pulling. This divine hope puts wings to the ſoul, addeth legges to its journey; Indeed a bold preſumption that God will vouchſafe him the matter of our requeſts is careleſſe of praier, becauſe that looketh for the end without the means, but an holy confidence that God will give us the good things we want, but by earneſt and fervent praier, that makes the godly ſoul more zealous and active, when we are ſure our labour is not in vain: As the Apoſtle encourageth to ſufferings, to wait and endure patiently, becauſe in due time they ſhall receive a recompence, if they faint not, Gal. 6.9. Oh then be afraid of thoſe cold and lukewarm formall duties thou art ſo often in; Theſe argue no faith, no hope in thee; It's a ſign thou doſt not much matter or regard the iſſue of thy Praiers, whether God grant them or not.
3. This Title in the lively improvement of it will cauſe a filiall reverence and humility, even as the childe doth his Father, as you heard; If I be a Father where is my honour? The good ingenious childe doth not abuſe his Fathers kindeneſſe, doth not contemne his favours, but conſider the great diſtance that is between him and his Father, that he is never able to ſatisfie his Father, for Ariſtotle ſaith; There cannot be any juſtice between a father and ſon, ſeeing therefore he hath all from him, he is in a reverentiall fear and honour of his father; Thus it is with thoſe who have the Spitit of Adoption, their fear is accompanied with their confidence; Their boldneſſe and hope doth not degenerate into ſecurity and contempt of God, and if at any time they grow wanton under his mercies, then as God is a Father to provide for us, ſo he is a Father to chaſten, as the Scripture ſpeaks often; Do not then give way to thy corruptions, do not eat too much of this honey till thou ſurfet, leſt God give Phyſick, leſt he chaſten thee and ſeem as if he were no Father, David upon ſecurity and other neglects, into what ſad darkneſſe is he caſt? He knoweth not how to call God, Father, he thinketh on God, and is troubled as he ſaith, Pſ. 77.5. God will deal with thee upon thy rebellion, as David with Abſalom, Command thee out of his ſight, and this will work upon thee as it did with Abſalom, who deſired to die rather then to be alwaies under ſuch diſpleaſure; and herein the people of God upon their ſinnes have a greater wound and deeper gaſh then the wicked have; It's againſt a Father they have ſinned, ſo mercifull and ſo gracious a Father, this paineth them at the very heart.
4. The Meditation of this Title will breed tranquillity and quietneſſe of ſpirit, free from all ſinful cares and diſtruſtful thoughts: I have a Father in heaven, and it is not my care, my counſell, my labour, can provide for me, but his goodneſſe meerly, Mat. 5.25, 26. Our Saviour doth there at large give heavenly Phyſick to kill theſe worms, theſe moths of cares that are ready to eat into us and devour us, and amongſt other helps this is one, Your heavenly Father knoweth what you have need of; As we ſee our little Children, then eat and drink, and take no care for their raiment, for their food, but go to their Parents, ſuch a quiet and compoſed frame of ſoul would God have all his Children have; If you call me Father, why do ye not commit all to my wiſedom, to my love; Can a childe order his affairs better for himſelf then his Father; Is it not well for the childe that it is not his wiſedom and care but his Father that he muſt truſt to, How quickly would he undoe all? Thus may God our heavenly Father ſay, Caſt your care and burden upon me, how quickly would you undo your ſelves, ruine your ſelves, if all were left to you, your happineſſe lieth in my wiſedome and love to you; Oh what a chearfull quiet heart would the due meditation of this cauſe in us! It's my Father in heaven that doth all things, that governeth the whole, that diſpenſeth all things; It's my Father in heaven that giveth life and motion to every thing, and therefore I need not be afraid; Know then that all thoſe gnawing worms of unbelief and fears upon thee, whereby thou makeſt thy ſelf an hell to thy ſelf, they come from want of this conſideration.
5. This Relation, if rightly conſidered, will put us upon holineſſe and an earneſt endeavour to reſemble and to be like him; A good childe loveth to imitate and conform to all thoſe lovely perfections that are in his Father, his endeavour is, that in him his Father may live, even while he is dead; Now the Scripture ſets forth Gods holineſſe as our Copy to write after, Be ye holy as I am holy, and that ye may be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect, Matth. 5.48. and He that hath this hope, viz. to be a Sonne of God, purifieth himſelf even as God is pure; Oh then let thoſe vile and leprous ſinners ſtand aloof off, They call God Father, where is thy Image or likeneſſe of him upon thee; Art thou pure as he is pure, holy as he is holy, Is thy will conformable to his will; To love and delight in thoſe things that God loveth and commands; The Scripture telleth us the godly are born of God, that his Image is reſtored in them, That they are partakers of the divine nature; Now let every one ſee upon what grounds he cals God Father, Is it not a meer lye and mockery? Doſt thou not delude thy own ſelf? If God be thy Father, wherein art thou like him? Art thou holy as he is? pure as he is? Certainly even in the godly this ſhould raiſe up their ſpirits to higher exerciſe of holineſſe; They ſhould conſider who is their Father, It is for them to ſhew better breeding, then to be proud, paſſionate, earthly and carnall, They are to be as Ignatius was called foreign Thoſe that bear God about with them, you may ſee the reſemblance of God in their lives; So then this Title and relation doth not only vouchſafe comfort but engage to much duty; None ſhould be ſo cheerful, and yet ſo holy and pure as they are.
6. This Relation of a Father will put us upon zeal for his glory and honour, a deſire to exalt and ſet him up every where, an holy impatiency to have his Name blaſphemed and his commands broken: What childe can endure to hear his Father ſpoken againſt, to have his name defamed, You ſee in Chriſt himſelf, the zeal of his Fathers houſe did eat him up, he could not endure to ſee the corruption and defilement of his Fathers worſhip, and thus it is with the Children of God, his honour is dear unto them; To ſee and hear the wickedneſſe and prophaneneſſe of others torments his righteous ſoul; This is againſt my Father, I have no patience when you thus diſhonour my Father; Oh this is an excellent ſigne, you look upon God as your Father, when you are thus affected for his glory, for his truth and worſhip; It's a known ſtory of that dumb Sonne, that never ſpake before, yet when he ſaw one going to kill his Father, cried out and forbad it; Thou that feeleſt no anger, or grief within thee when God is diſhonoured, doe thou doubt of thy childe-like diſpoſition.
Laſtly, The Meditation of God as a Father may wonderfully ſupport under all afflictions. They are the corrections of a Father, not the puniſhments of a Judge, and the Apoſtle argueth the great reaſonableneſſe of bearing Gods afflictions, ſeeing we endure the chaſtiſement of our Fathers according to the fleſh, Heb. 12.9, 10. where the Apoſtle ſhews that a good childe, though chaſtened by his Father; giveth reverence to him, why then ſhould not we rather obey God, who is the Father of ſpirits, and that from the end of God, he afflicts for our profit, and we live by theſe chaſtiſements; Hence it's the devils great temptation to imbitter this cup of affliction as much as he can; To let them think God is not their Father, and if he were a Father he would never lay ſuch a load upon them, and all this to ſtirre up impatience and diſcontent within them: Thus you ſee what mighty effects this conſideration of God as a Father ſhould produce in us,
In the next place conſider, Why this doth ſo prevail with God. And
1. Becauſe it's not a bare Title, Why the Title Father ſo much prevails with God.but accompanied with the reall love and bowels of a Father: God is not only called ſo, but is indeed a Father, yea, a Father above all earthly Fathers, yea, or mothers too, he takes more tenderneſſe upon him then they can have, Iſa. 49.15. when Zion ſadly complained The Lord had forſaken her, he tels her, Though a woman ſhould forget her ſucking childe, yet he would not; So then love is infinitely in God, his kindeneſſe is like himſelf beyond all thoughts and expreſſions, and if among men it be ſo unnaturall for a Father not to love his childe, can we think God will not love his? He that hath commanded us to love our enemies, and to forgive them ſeventy times ſeven in a day, will not he pardon his Children? Children are part of the Father, and therefore God viſiteth the ſinnes of Fathers ſometimes upon their Children, becauſe they are as one with the Father, and Chriſt praieth that the godly and his Father may be one.
2. It's for the glory and honour of God to hear them when they pray; What priviledges and mercies children have tends to the honour of a Father; Doth it not diſgrace a Father, when he is able, and yet letteth his Children be almoſt famiſhed, and be contemned in filthy rags, Oh we ſay, he doth not go like ſuch an ones Sonne, it's a diſgrace to his Father, ſo it is here, ſhould not the people of God be holy, comfortable, heavenly, and accepted of, this would be as if God did not own them.
Ʋſe.Ʋſe of Inſtruction, Concerning the happy eſtate of the godly, and the contrary of the wicked; That which is a comforting fire to one is a conſuming fire to the other; The godly have alwaies the Scepter held out to them, They may go to God as a Father and are ſure to be heard either ad voluntatem or ad ſanitatem; They may ſay, O Lord, if I did come to thee as an angry Judge, if I did draw nigh to thee as one provoked, as one whoſe ſins made a diviſion between me and thee, then I might be ſent comfortleſſe away, but I come to thee as a Father, a relation thou art not aſhamed off, and which thou wilt fullfill, though as yet the glory of God is not fully manifeſted, but as for the wicked what a thunderbolt is this to them, God is not their Father; Though they may call him ſo a thouſand times over, yet he is not, he is thy enemy, thy adverſary, what good things thou haſt cometh from him as the governour of the world, not as a Father.