One-Hundred Forty-Five Sermons Upon John 17, Sermon 33
SERMON XXXIII. The truly Godly man onelyonly is obedient to Gods Word: Or, The Great Character of a Christian.
JOH. 17.6.
And they have kept thy Word.
WE paſſe over the ſecond deſcription which is Gods giving of ſome of mankinde to Chriſt as a Mediatour, ſo that they are his truſt, and it lieth upon his faithfulneſſe to procure ſalvation for them, Only it's good to conſider that within ſix Verſes he doth thrice uſe this expreſſion, They are given him by the Father, for this laieth the Axe to the very root of Arminianiſm; It's not their free-will, nor their good improvement of the means of grace, but Gods gracious giving of them to Chriſt that makes them have an Intereſt in ſalvation, and the phraſe doth imply that there is a ſtint number and defined of ſuch; There cannot be more or leſſe, ſo that the Arminian Dagon muſt needs fall before this Ark, but this is ſpoken to already:
I therefore paſſe on to the effect of both theſe divine cauſes of our Salvation; There was you heard the efficient cauſe Gods Election, the meritorious cauſe Christ, and now we have the effect of theſe, which is by way of ſigne to deſcribe who they are that are the Lords, and thus given to Chriſt, for they being hidden cauſes, and every one apt to pretend to them; This is the differencing and evidencing mark, They keep the Word of God, So that by this we ſee who are truly and indeed given of God to Chriſt, even ſuch as keep his Word; He doth not ſay, that heareth it or remembers it, or that underſtands it, but that keeps it; The Scripture hath equivalent expreſſions to this, ſometimes John 8.31. it's called continuing in his Word, becauſe it's not enough for a while to cleave to it unleſſe we perſevere; The Scripture giveth ſad Inſtances of many that did not only hear but with joy for a ſeaſon did receive Chriſts Word, yet they did not hold it faſt to the end, they did not foreign as it is Mat. 13. againſt all oppoſition whatſoever; The contrary to this is in the ſame Chapter, v. 37. My Word hath no place in you; Our Saviour ſpeaks it there as the cauſe of all the wickedneſſe that the Jews committed, becauſe his Word had no room in their hearts, You ſeek to kill me becauſe my Word hath no place in you; This expreſſion ſeemeth to denote ſuch as are hardened and given up to a reprobate ſence, for the godly ſometimes may not underſtand or delight, and receive the Word, but that the Word ſhould at no time finde any place in a mans heart, that is the mark of an hardened ſinner, look to it then and tremble all you who have many years lived under the Word preached, and yet to this day it hath had no place in your hearts, This is the dreadful condition of many thouſand hearers, ſometimes this keeping of the Word is called hearing of the Word, as in the ſame Chapter, v. 43. Ye cannot hear my Word becauſe ye are not of God, where hearing the Antecedent is put for the conſequent obedience, and the reaſon is becauſe Faith and Obedience comes by hearing, and thoſe that delight and are ſwift to hear are commonly ſuch as are ready to obey: Again that which is here called keeping of the Word is in other places called keeping the Commandments, only this is more ſweet and kindly, for Word doth properly relate to him that is a Doctor or Teacher, Commandment to him that is a Law-giver; Now there is a great difference between the Imperious Soveraignty of a Law-giver and the benign condeſcention of a Teacher, but here we take it largely for all that God hath revealed to us, and our Saviour ſaith, they have kept the Fathers Word, not his, becauſe they looked upon Chriſt as the Mediatour ſent from God, and ſo received not his Word as the word of a man but as of God through and by him.
Doct.Obſ. That thoſe only can pleade a propriety and intereſt in God and Chriſt, who are careful to keep his Word; All others do but cry Peace, Peace to themſelves, when demnation is at hand; So that this truth will do for the preſent as Chriſt will do at the day of judgement, ſet the Goats on the left hand, and the ſheep on the right, It will be like the Fanne in Chriſts hand, it will winnow the chaff from the wheat; Let us therefore conſider how much is comprehended in this phraſe, to keep the Word of God.
What are the Ingredients of this duty?
And firſt, In that it's indefinitely ſpoken, They have kept thy Word, It's implied,
I.1. They had a diligent reſpect to the Whole Word of God, he doth not ſay, they have kept part or ſome particulars, but thy Word; Now the word of God hath theſe parts:
1. It's a word of doctrine to be underſtood and beleeved.
2. It's a word of commands to be obeyed.
3. It's a word of threatning to be humbled at.
And laſtly, It's a word of promiſe and conſolation to be rejoyced in, ſo that he who keeps the Word of God keeps all theſe parts of it.
1.1. There is the word of Doctrine to be underſtood and beleeved, and ſo to keep his word, is to abhorre all errours, all falſe doctrines, all unſound opinions, Thoſe that are Chriſts Diſciples are as tender about Gods truths as about his commands, as they would not willingly tranſgreſſe a command, ſo neither erre about the Truths of God; Hence Joh. 10. our Saviour doth at large ſhew the true character of his Sheep, They will not hear a ſtrangers voice, They will flee from a ſtranger, now who is a ſtranger? any one, though an Angel from heaven, that ſhall bring any thing that is contrary to the Scripture, whoſoever ſhall obtrude that to be beleeved as a truth which is not in the word of God, this man is a ſtranger, his doctrine is ſtrange doctrine, the ſheep of Chriſt will not hear it; Oh then let the Diſciples of Chriſt ſhew their truth and ſolidity of grace in this, that they dare not receive errours or hereſies; Oh what pity is it that thou who art tender about the commands of God wouldſt not commit a ſinne for a world, ſh…u…d…t be large and wanton in thy underſtanding about the Truths of God, Remember it's his word, and ſo thou art to keep ſound doctrine by a pure faith as well as his Commandments by upright obedience, and the reaſon is plain partly becauſe the ſame God commands both, There is his authority upon truths to be revealed as well as precepts to be obeyed; God commands the captivity of your underſtanding as well as of your affections, and partly becauſe the true doctrine of God only is inſtrumental to holineſſe, a man will never be godly by beleeving any errour, Joh. 19. Sanctifie them by thy Truth thy Word is Truth, ſo that as in the uſe of Superſtious cuſtomes, Popiſh Sacraments, a man can never receive true grace becauſe Gods promiſe and his efficacy will go only together, thus, the more errours thou beleeveſt, the more carnal thou wilt grow, God will never bleſſe a lie, chaffe and poiſon ſhall never be true and good nouriſhing meat.
2. There is the Word of his Commandments, and often the Scripture ſaith if ye love me keep my Commandments, and neither may there be any doubt,2. The word of his Commandements. but a true diſciple of Chriſt will be carefull herein, for how can he ſhew his Diſcipleſhip otherwiſe then by obedience to Gods precepts; It's a plain mocking of God outwardly to profeſſe that we take him for our God, that we acknowledge ſubjection to him, and yet diſobey his commands, ſo that this particular cuts off moſt hearers from being as yet at leaſt in the number of thoſe who can truly pleade a propriety in God, for doth not their conſtant courſe of life proclaim an open hoſtility againſt God; Is prophaneſſe, pride, luſts, and rioting the command of God? Hath the Lord commanded thee to lye, ſwear, and curſe? Are they not rather the luſts of the devil? Oh that men ſhould be ſo fooliſh and ſenceleſſe as to talk of God and Chriſt, and yet live in open diſobedience to them, D…dſt thou belong to God, ſuch would be thy love to him, yea, ſuch an heavenly nature wouldſt thou have, that Gods Law and thy heart would have a ſweet proportion and ſutableneſſe to one another, as David profeſſeth often, it was ſweeter then the honey and the honey comb; and Paul delighted in the Law of God; The Law of ſin in the unregenerate man doth not more pleaſe him then the Law of God doth the regenerate man; There is not a grievous burthen in it; The holineſſe and ſpirituality of Gods cammand is that which doth exceedingly aſſure him.
3. There is the word of th… eatning, and although in one ſence we are not to keep that, yet in another reſpect we are with trembling and fear to obſerve it;3. The Word threatning. Thus whatſoever God doth forbid, threatning it either with temporal or eternal judgements the godly have an holy awe of; They dare not diſpleaſe God, How can I do this and ſin againſt God? ſaith Joſeph; Thus Joſiah when the Law was read his heart did melt and tremble, and therefore how graciouſly did God take notice of that tender diſpoſition in him; It's a vain and erroneous conceit to think the threatnings do not belong to the godly, or that they muſt not with fear make uſe of them; For if ſo, why doth the Scripture propound threatnings even to the godly, and that very often, and who is there ſo godly that hath not the remainder of corruption in him, who needeth not fear, as a bridle to curb ſin in him, eſpecially when we ſee Adam though in the ſtate of Integrity, was yet threatned by God, if he did eat of the forbidden fruit? ſo that even then a threatning had its proper uſe to Adam though altogether holy.
Laſtly, There is the word of conſolation or promiſe, 4. The word of Conſolation.and that is worthy of all acceptation, as when a man takes a thing with both his hands; It's called embracing the Promiſes, Heb. 11. as gladly and chearfully as we do a dear Friend; Oh it's not enough in a dull cold manner to think and hear of the promiſe, but thou art to run and embrace it as one overjoyed, as Simeon did Chriſt in his arms, and then to think, thou even haſt enough; This is fiducial recumbency on Chriſt, a holy boldneſſe in God as a Father, and herein the people of God are many times to be blamed, you receive the true doctrine of God to beleeve it, his Commandments to obey them, his threatnings you tremble under, but the promiſes by ſtrong acts of faith you do not embrace, you do not take him for your Mediatour on whom you truſt in the midſt of all your infirmities and weakneſſes, yea, you rather doubt whether you may or no lay hold on the promiſe, you ſay of it as Peter to Chriſt, Depart from me for I am a ſinner; you think Chriſt would be angry with you as that woman thought If you touch the promiſe; Oh remember that the godly will keep the word of promiſe, receive that as well as the command; They know it's a ſin of an high nature to refuſe God comforting as well as commanding, yea in ſome reſpects it's worſe, for when you ſin againſt the command of God, you ſin againſt his Soverraignty, but when againſt his promiſes you ſin againſt his love and goodneſſe; That wherein he intends to get himſelf the greateſt glory by, oh then when Satan tempts and thy heart is cloudy, Thou puts off the promiſe, think how can I do this and ſin againſt God? If it were a command I could not refuſe it, and doth not the ſame God urge faith to the promiſe.
II. Becauſe it is Gods Word.2. To keep his word doth ſuppoſe that we keep it becauſe it's his Word, Becauſe that God commands it; For no actions are holy till the motive be holy that draweth them out, and this we told you, is the reaſon why our Saviour ſaith, They have kept thy Word, and not mine; They look upon him as the Mediatour ſent by God; Thus the Theſſalonians are commended becauſe they received the Word preached, Not as the word of man but as of God; This was the reaſon why God would not take the wiſe men of the world, but contemptible Inſtruments, by whom he wrought wonderful miracles, that ſo our faith might not be built on the abilities or the wiſedom of men; and hence it is that the Diſciples Matthew and others, who left all and followed Chriſt, did gloriouſly manifeſt their obedience to God as God; It may fall out that the ſame things which God commands we may do, as we ſee in Jehu, Judas, and others, but then not upon the grounds, that God commands them; The Phariſee was commanded to faſt and pray, but not for vain-glory and humane applauſe; Oh then if thou keep Gods Word look it be becauſe it's Gods Word, Let not any ſinful or corrupt ingredients of thy own mingle themſelvs, who wold not have thought that Judas for a long while kept Gods Word when he left all, wrought Miracles, and preached in the Name of Chriſt, but he had an eye to the bag alwaies▪ and that proved his undoing, This will be a good touchſtone to try thee.
3. He keeps Gods Word that receiveth it with his whole heart and ſoul; That thinketh it not enough to hear it,III. And receive it with the whole heart. to remember it, to write it or repeat it, but to have it implanted in his heart, and thereby to turn all his heart and affections into it; That he may be a living Bible, or the Word of God in lively practiſe, as the Apoſtle ſaith the Corinthians were his Epiſtle to be read and ſeen of all men, 2 Cor. 3.2. ſo ſhould you be the Bible to be read and ſeen of all men; This is powerfully to be preſſed on you; That you be even the Bible of God to be read and ſeen of men; This is the good and honeſt heart that retaineth the Word, for if the Word be ſuperficially received only, it will nor transform the whole man into its likeneſſe; The fire muſt have time, and then it will make even the hardeſt, coldeſt Iron like it; This is repreſented by the Parable of the Leven, Mat. 13.33. hid in three pecks of meal, There muſt be time ere the Leven can diffuſe it's power; David expreſſed this well when he aid, He had hid the Word of God in his heart, Pſa. 119.11. Oh then if thou wouldſt have this propriety in God, ſee how cloſe and inward this Word is received into thee; If it be the bread of life it's not enough to have it in the mouth, no, nor ſtomack, but it muſt be digeſted, and ſo made the very fleſh and bloud of a man.
4. They keep the Word of God who make it a rule for their lives, that order their converſation accordingly, for to hide it in the heart,IV. And make it a Rule for their lives. unleſſe it be with David, that you may not tranſgreſſe in your lives, is not yet to attain to the due end; If ye know theſe things happy are ye if ye do them; Many have Scripture in their hearts and memory but not in their lives; David made this uſe of it, when he ſaid, It was a Lamp and light to his feet, and then he exhorts the young man ſo to attend it, Pſa. 119 9. and thereby to clenſe his waies: The Apoſtle James cals it a glaſſe, Jam. 1.23. and then you make uſe of it aright▪ when you thereby waſh out all thoſe ſpots that are in thy life, and cureſt all thy wrinkles and deformities, look then to this, Doth the Word of God in thy minde and heart break out into thy life? Doth it take away the Leproſie there? certainly there is no other effectuall means but this; It's the Word if any thing will forewarn thee of ſin, neither mercies or afflictions, nor thy own reſolves and purpoſes, but the Word of God ſet home on the heart that can make an holy change and alteration.
5. Then we keep the word of God when we have an high and choice eſteem of it, V. They that keep Gods Word have a high eſteem of it.when we can take more delight in that becauſe of the ſpirituall effects of it, then in any worldly pleaſures or contents, as David doth ſo often profeſs and Job likewiſe, more then the honey or honeycomb, more then their appointed food; Now the choice eſteem of it muſt be.
1. For the ſpiritual effects of it, as David did, becauſe it did enlighten his minde, 1. For the ſpiritual effects of it.forewarn him of ſin, quicken him up to his duty, There may be a ſiniſter and corrupt end made of Gods Word, when we make it an argument only of diſpute, when we are diligent in it only to maintain opinions, in which ſence Luther ſaid, it was the Heretiques book, or when men reade it only for the Hiſtory of it, or thereby to make notions, and to draw out ſome pleaſing things to fancy; Alas the Word of God was not given for this, no more then Manna was given to ſatisfie curioſity, but to feed and nouriſh; Oh then take heed of ſpiritual wantoneſſe and luxury, to make the Bible the argument of thy opinions or notions, thereby to get applauſe and eſteem, No, thou are to prize it for the ſpiritual effects of it; That it cureth thee of thy blindeneſſe, ſpiritualizeth thee againſt thy carnality quickens thee againſt thy formality.
2. We are to prize it for the neceſſity of it, becauſe that containeth the words of eternal life, we cannot think a thought, or ſtep a ſtep,2. Becauſe it's ſo neceſſary. without the guidance of it; This is able to make thee wiſe to ſalvation, 2 Tim. 3.15. A man cannot have any wiſe thought or purpoſe towards heaven, but by this; This made Job as you heard prize it more then his neceſſary food, for the ſoul needeth this bread of life as much as the body doth material bread; If we ſet up any other principle to walk by but this, we run our ſelves into the mouth of hell.
3. For the uſefulneſſe of it, The Scripture is profitable for inſtruction, 3. And ſo uſefull.exhortation, and to make a man perfect for every good work, 2 Tim. 3. There is no ſin to be avoided, no duty to be done, but the Word of God will direct thee therein; There is no temptation ſo ſubtle but this will diſcover it; If at any time thou art unprepared and indiſpoſed for ſuch or ſuch a duty, thou haſt no heart to pray, no ſpirit to beleeve on the promiſe; Come to this and it will quicken thee, for it's eyeſalve to thy blindeneſſe; It's an hammer againſt thy corruptions, It's fire to conſume thy droſſe, It's oyl for thy wounds, It's a Catholicon, an univerſal Shop of all ſpiritual medicines; The rich man, the poor man, the husband, the wife, all may learn from hence what to do.
4. The preciouſneſſe and dignity of it;4. The Preciouſneſſe and dignity of it. The Word of God is full of heavenly and ſupernatural excellency, eſpecially the Goſpel, or the will of God revealed for the ſalvation of man, Oh how welcome muſt theſe glad tidings be to the troubled ſinner that hath received the ſentence of condemnation upon his ſoul, Chriſt with his benefits diſcovered are the onelyonly treaſure to a tender broken heart; The Scriptures they are the Mine wherein this treaſure is to be found; They are the Field wherein this pearl is hid, To you that beleeve Chriſt is precious, 1 Pet. 2.7. and it muſt needs be ſo, for he is the Mediatour between God and them, he hath fulneſſe for all their wants and neceſſities; He is made wiſedome, righteouſneſſe and ſanctification, 1 Cor. 1. It's not what they are but what Chriſt is.
VI. They keep the Word who perſevere in it notwithſtanding all temptations.Laſtly, They keep the Word who perſevere in it notwithſtanding all the temptations and difficulties; It's both againſt the fleſh and the devil for any man to keep Chriſts Word, and how many have begun well but at laſt have given over to their great deſtruction, Therefore John ſaith, If ye continue in my word, and Mat. 13. The good ground is ſaid to hold faſt the Word, foreign the word ſignifieth ſo to hold as that many are ſtriving to take it out of our hearts again, and they are ſaid to bring forth fruit in patience, becauſe there is great contrariety and oppoſition unto Gods Word, if poſſible, the fowls of the air will take away this ſeed as ſoon as it is ſown; The Apoſtle James ſpeaks of a forgetful hearer, Jam. 1.24. and therefore would have us abide looking into the glaſſe of the Word; Oh take we heed that we be not in the number of thoſe whoſe latter end is worſe then the beginning; Take heed it be not ſaid, They are turned out or gone from us, becauſe they were not of us.
Ʋſe of Inſtruction, what they may judge of themſelves who though living long under the means of grace finde the Word hath no place in their hearts, their lives, their converſation proclaim to all, that they care not for Gods Word, Oh what a ſad Symptome is this of thy obſtinate incurable condition, oh men to be mourned over as dead and buried in the grave of ſin! If ye were of God you would hear his Word; It's ſaid of many, they did not hear the Word of God becauſe it was of the Lord to deſtroy them; O take heed this be not true of thee.
Ʋſe of Exhortation to the godly, keep cloſe to Gods Word, let your thoughts, your affections, your actions be according to that, you never wound your conſciences, you never bring woe to your ſelves, you never are at a diſtance from God but when you go aſtray from this rule; Keep to this as in an Ark, be in all your relations by it, live by it, die by it, you are like a tree planted by the water-ſide, while attending to this, and if you keep the Word of God Gods Word will keep you. 1. In the hour of temptation that you ſin not. 2. At the hour of death that you ſink not; It will be a tree of life to you, that we through the Scriptures might have conſolation, The Word that was your rule will now be your comfort, it will ſpeak nothing but conſolation to thee, It will be more then all friends, all comforters whatſoever. 3. It is everlaſting, it will abide for ever, the conſolations of it will be eternal.