One-Hundred Forty-Five Sermons Upon John 17, Sermon 4
SERMON IV. Of Gods appointing an hour, a ſet time for the diſpenſing his Mercies and Judgements, in reference to particular Perſons, and his Church and Churches Enemies.
JOH. 17.1.
Father, the hour is come, glorifie thy Sonne, &c.
THE next Argument in order that is in this full and pithy praier of Chriſt, is from the time and ſeaſonableneſſe of the mercy he praied for, The hour is now come, God is to help now or never; If this opportunity be neglected, all other help will come too late; The word hour hath ſeverall ſignifications and applications in the Scripture, ſometimes it's taken properly for that meaſure of time we call an hour; Thus we have the firſt, the ſecond, and third hour; The learned diſpute about the diſtribution of a day into hours amongſt the Jews and the Romanes, but I paſſe it. 2. Hour is uſed for a ſhort but indefinite time, Joh. 4. you did for a ſeaſon (for an hour in the Greek) rejoice in his light, 3. It's uſed for thoſe things that are to be done in that hour or time, it doth not only ſignifie the menſura but the res menſurata, Mar. 14.35. Chriſt praied that hour may paſſe from him, viz. thoſe afflictions and that bitter ſuffering to be in ſuch a time. 4. Which is a very frequent and the moſt common uſe, it ſignifieth any particular ſet time, that is, a fit occaſion for the doing or ſuffering any thing; The peculiar time God hath appointed either for doing or ſuffering by his people is called the hour, and concerning Chriſt we reade of theſe hours attributed to him; Firſt, There was a peculiar time when he was to begin his Miracles, he lived ſome years privately ere he manifeſted himſelf, though when twelve years old he argued with the Doctors, but as the Tradition is, it was about thirty years of his age ere he undertook a publique Miniſtery, and did miracles; For as for thoſe Miracles in Popiſh Legends attributed to him while a childe, they are nothing but impudent lies: The firſt Miracle he ever wrought was at Cana in Galilee, Joh. 2.4. where becauſe his Mother was over-haſty for him, to do a Miracle he reproveth her, ſaying, My hour is not yet come; That time was not then come of manifeſting himſelf the Meſſias, though it was preſently after, for he did turn the water into wine immediatly. 2. Chriſt had an hour of ſuffering and paſſions, ſo that all the endeavours to take away his life could not prevail till that time came, yea, and Chriſt himſelf before his time came hid himſelf, and went from place to place to avoid death; whereas when that hour was come, he willingly gave up himſelf to be a Sacrifice. Joh. 7.30. They ſought to take him, but no man laid hands on him, becauſe his hour was not yet come, So Ioh. 8.20. Laſtly, There is the hour of his glorification upon his paſſions and ſufferings, and that is meant here, Father, the hour is come, glorifie thy Sonne; although indeed this hour may comprehend both his Sufferings and his glory.
Doct. That God in his wiſedom doth appoint times and ſeaſons both of his childrens afflictions and their mercies: They fall not out by chance,Doct. That God doth appoint times and ſeaſons for his great works. they come not at unawares, but God hath decreed the particular times and ſeasons, before which they cannot come, and in which time they are ſure to come: The time of Iſraels Captivity was ſeventy years, Though all the godly on earth had praied to God, there would not have been a ſhortning of that time; Again, when thoſe years were expired, all the power in the world could not ſtop or hinder their deliverance; Their very enemies procure it for them; Therefore that of the Pſalmiſt is very pertinent, Pſa. 102.13. The time to favour her, yea, the ſet time is come: Hence you have in the Prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, the determinate fixed times for the great troubles and great deliverances of the Church, though expreſſed obſcurely; A time and half time, as alſo ſo many daies putting daies for years.
Let us firſt conſider this as relating to Chriſt; and obſerve the ſpeciall times and hours God had appointed concerning him,I. In relation to Chriſt. and then treat of it more generally.
And 1. The time of Chriſts coming into the world was wholly determined by Gods wiſedom and his good pleaſure; Why Chriſt did not come ſooner or later, who is able to give any other reaſon but the good pleaſure of God? Hence it's called Rom. 5.6. a due time, and Gal. 4 6. the fulneſſe of time. There was no ſuch convenient time as that appointed by God, and it's obſerved as one reaſon, that then Chriſt came rather then at another time, becauſe the devils power was ſo great over men; We never reade in any age of ſo many poſſeſſed by devils as was while Chriſt abode upon the earth; If therefore the wiſe man obſerve a time appointed by God for every work and purpoſe under heaven, then muſt this much more be true concerning that great and maſterpeice of all Gods works: The ſending his Sonne into the world, our Saviour judged it a bleſſed thing to live in thoſe daies, and ſee thoſe times wherein Chriſt lived, doing the work of a Redeemer, Luk. 10.23, 24. It was Auſtins deſire to have ſeen Chriſt in the Fleſh, but though it was ſo happy a thing to have ſeen theſe things, therefore Simeon deſired to depart as having happineſſe enough when he had ſeen Chriſt the ſalvation of Iſrael, yet unleſſe alſo they did behold him with the eye of faith at the ſame time, they are ſo farre from being the more happy, that they were the more miſerable, as appeareth by what is ſaid to Chorazin and Bethſatha.
2. To take up what was hinted before, There was an hour and time for Chriſts diſcharging the work of a Prophet, and doing ſuch Miracles as might confirm him to be a Meſſias, as you heard, Joh. 2.4. and certainly in that Chriſt did not before publiſh himſelf to the world, but ſtaid till Gods call came, till the time appointed by him; This ſhould teach all, eſpecially thoſe that undertake a publike Miniſtery to follow his example in humility and modeſty; Chriſt himſelf though endowed with all wiſedom took not his own time, but Gods time; and Paul would not have a novice taken into the Miniſtry, leſt he ſhould be puft up with pride and fall into condemnation of the devil; 1 Tim. 3.6. We may juſtly wonder what Chriſt did all that time, as ſome have; What God did before he made the world, and although the Papiſts have feigned many things yet we muſt conclude he lived a private life, following the trade and profeſſion of his Father, which made them ſay, Is not this the Carpenters Sonne? Mar. 6.5. And it's good to obſerve how diligent our Saviour was, while he had this hour to work, I muſt work while I have day, the night cometh and none can work, Joh. 9 4. Thus we ſhould be like Bees gathering honey, while we have the Spring; get Manna in the morning while it falleth.
3. The third hour of Chriſt was the time of his ſufferings, concerning which he often ſaid, My hour is not yet come, and when it was come, he moſt readily yeelded himſelf; Now in this hour many things are obſervable, as
1. That all the power and policy that his enemies did uſe were not able to prevail over him till his hour came: Though he preached every day, and went up and down doing good, by all which his enemies were the more provoked againſt him, yet they were not able to take an hair from him, and how obſervable is that when ſome bid him depart, for Herod would kill him, Go ſaith he, and tell that fox, behold I do miracles, to day, and to morrow, and the third day I ſhall be perfected; Nevertheleſſe I muſt work to day and to morrow: The meaning is, that maugre all his malice and power▪ yet he ſhould do his work, and be preſerved till his hour did come, ſo that all endeavours, all counſels are fruſtrated which meet not with Gods appointed time, only Chriſt knew when his hour was, which God keepeth ſometimes ſecret from his people. Again
2. Obſerve the wiſedom and prudence of Chriſt when danger was come, becauſe then it was not his hour; Sometimes he departed ſecretly, and went from place to place to avoid the malice of his enemies, yea, his father and mother fled with him while a childe to eſcape death, This teacheth us, That it is our duty to preſerve our ſelves from ruine, when we have not a call or obligation thereunto; So the Prophets in Jezabels time were hid by many in a cave, and thoſe Noble Worthies recorded by the Apoſtle that fled and hid themſelves in caves and mountains, they are ſaid to do it by faith; It was not ſinfull fear but faith, ſo that we are diligently to conſider when it is our call, our duty, when God requireth of us, as the time and hour of our affliction, that we muſt loſe all for him, and in this we muſt not conſult with fleſh and bloud; for that ſaith as Peter to Chriſt, Maſter, ſave thy ſelf, who had that ſevere Rebuke, Get theee behinde me Satan. Then on the other ſide, when the time of Chriſts ſufferings did come, every thing brought it about; A Judas, a Diſciple of his own he betraieth him, and all his adverſaries do eaſily inſult over him, and then he doth not as before depart out of the way, no, but though be knew he was to ſuffer at Jeruſalem, yet he ſet his face to go thither, and though he could have commanded Legions of Angels to have reſcued him, and we reade that thoſe who come to ſurpriſe him fell down immediatly being ſtricken with his Majeſty, yet he will not deliver himſelf; No, though his enemies did with ſo much ſcorn bid him ſave himſelf, which teacheth us, that when the hour of our afflictions is come, when God manifeſtly diſcovers it muſt be the time of our trouble, that then we do with all patience and chearfulneſſe reſign our ſelves into his hands.
And thus much as it relates to Chriſt,II. Gods other diſpenſations. Now let us conſider of it in the generall, and we ſhall ſee how God hath hours and times either of anger, or mercy in the world.
As 1.1. A time is ſet for the Reformation of his Church. When the Church of God hath been greatly corrupted by all manner of vice and idolatry, ſo that there hath been an unclean Leproſie over the whole body, God oath appointed an hour, a time for its Reformation and purity, which ſhall certainly take effect, though all the world oppoſe it. Men can no more hinder it then the Sunne from breaking out of the Cloud, and oh how happy is it when ſuch a time comes, how wonderfully are m…ns hearts prepared to forſake all their former Idolatry and prophaneſſe? This you have notably Joh. 4.23. Our Saviour tels that ignorant ſuperſtitious woman, The hour is coming and now is, when the true worſhipers ſhall worſhip the Father in ſpirit and truth: This was in Chriſts time, he came as Malachy cap. 3. propheſied, to refine the Sons of Levi, and to be like the Fullers Sope: This was ſo terrible as that the Prophet crieth out, Who may abide the day of his coming? It was to the Phariſees and chief Prieſts as terrible as the day of Judgement: Well, though Chriſt goeth about to take away all that admired will-worſhip, which was then exalted; and this was ſo contrary to mens inclination and education, yet the hour cometh that they ſhall worſhip him in ſpirit and in truth: Thus it was at the firſt Reformation out of Popery, when Luther, though but one unarmed man, and a deſpicable Monk by his profeſſion, ſet himſelf againſt the torrent of all that Idolatry and corruption which reigned in Popery: Was it not as ridiculous as if a man had ſet his ſhoulder to ſome huge Mountain, thinking to remove it? It was ſo in all mens account, and therefore when Luther opened his Councels to one great Doctor, who did not approve of the Romiſh courſes, yet he bid him go into his Cell, and ſay, Lord have mercy upon us: As if the caſe were deſperate; Now although it was thus unlikely, yet we ſee how truth and purity did break forth to all mens amazement, and which aggravateth this, There had been many before Luthers time who witneſſed againſt the practices and doctrines of the Church of Rome, yet ſtill they were vanquiſhed till Luther came, and then no water could quench this fire; Now why was all this Gods power was as able to go along with Iohn Huſſe or Jerome of Prague as well as Luther? but now was Gods hour, now was his appointed time: Thus till Gods time came for the removing of all the Jewiſh Rites, they lay like that ſtone upon the Sepulchre, that the woman could not remove, yea, neither men or Angels could remove, and therefore it's called the time of Reformation, Heb. 9.10,
2. God in his juſt judgement lets wicked men have their hour:2. God lets wicked men have their time. That is an opportunity of expreſſing all their wickedneſſe and impiety, ſo that you would think God took no notice of the things done in the world, and was as ſome Philoſophers prophanely thought included within the circles of the heaven, and had given the earth to the Sonnes of men to do what they would: This our Saviour told his enemies, who conſulted and practiſed againſt him, Luk. 22.53. This is your hour and power of darkneſſe; Thus in the Revelation we ſee that Satan was let looſe for many years, and then he was bound up for many years, which denoteth that God by his juſt permiſſion did ſuffer Satan and his Inſtruments to prevail in the world; And when this hour of darkneſs is, all the praiers and all the tears of the godly ſhall not prevail till his time of deliverance come; And this we may finde even from the beginning of the world, ſince there was an Abel and a Cain, that God lets ſome wicked men have their hour, a power and ſeaſon to act their impieties, and yet Gods waies were alwaies juſt, when the cauſes were hid from us.
3. A ſet time for judgement.3. God hath appointed an hour or time for judgement to judge the whole world: To call all men to their accounts, that the counſels and thoughts of all mens hearts may be made manifeſt. This is an hour, a day, a ſet time, that the word of God doth often ſpeak of, preſſing every one to watch and pray leſt it take us in our ſinnes, Luk. 12, 12, 39, 49. &c. how large and admirable is our Saviour in telling us ſuch an hour is coming, and that it will come unawares, and that if any man knew at what hour of the night a Thief would come to rob and ſpoil, he would watch and prepare, how much rather now when this time is uncertain, and the matter is of ſuch everlaſting conſequence, ſhould we tremble and look to our ſelves? and for this end God hath left the knowledge of that day and hour ſecret from men and Angels, that every one might prepare themſelves: Oh how little do men think of this hour, our Saviour ſaith it will come upon moſt men, as the deluge did to thoſe that were eating, drinking, and making merry, or as a Snare to the Bird which is taken, while ſhe is skipping and hopping up and down. Look we then to our ſelves, Art thou in ſuch a condition, haſt thou ſo repented of thy ſinnes and made thy peace with God, that if this hour were to come immediatly thou couldſt think of it with joy, and go out with lamp and oil enough to meet the Bridegroom?
4. The hour of every mans death is ſet.4. God hath for every particular man appointed the time and hour of his death; When that fatall moment cometh, no ranſome can be given; No art nor skill can prolong it; I confeſſe this hath been greatly diſputed, whether a term be prefixed by God to every mans life, beyond which he cannot goe, but they muſt needs hold many abſurdities, that will tend groſly to the diſhonour of God, if it ſhould be granted that our daies are not appointed by God in this world, and the Scripture doth unqueſtionably aſſert it, Job 4.5. His daies are determined, the number of his moneths are with the…, thou haſt appointed his bounds which he cannot paſſe; This place is ſo clear that I need not mention more, and whereas the Scripture ſaith, Wicked men ſhall not live out half their daies, that is, in reſpect of ſecond cauſes, for they might if we do regard nature have lived long, but God for their wickedneſſe removeth them away, and whereas the Prophet told Hezekiah that …e muſt die, yet upon his praier, fifteen years are added; That was but a conditionall thre…ni…g, neither were thoſe fifteen years added to Gods decree, but in regard of Hezekiahs expectation, who upon the Prophets words looked for no other but preſent death; Neither doth this doctrine bring a Stoicall neceſſity, as if we need not eat or drink, for God hath appointed the means as well as the end; Even as Paul told thoſe in the Ship, Act. 27.31. with him, that none of them ſhould die,5. There is a remarkable ſet time of grace wherein God may be found. yet he bids them uſe the means, and ſome got planks and boards to get to the haven; We ſhould not make ſuch captious concluſions but with fear and patience, expect till this hour come.
5. The Scripture ſpeaks of a remarkable ſet time of grace, There is a time whileſt God may be found; There is a time wherein he holds out the Scepter of grace: The Fountain runneth, and there is an Ho, to every one that thirſteth, to come and drink freely of it, 2 Cor. 6.2. Behold, now is the accepted time, ſpeaking of that ſeaſon of grace God vouchſafed them, and Heb. 4. To day, if you will heare harden not your hearts: Hence Luk. 19.44. Chriſt doth ſo bitterly bewail Jeruſalem, Oh that thou hadſt known in this thy day, and that thou hadſt known the time of thy viſitation: This hour is of great conſequence, Jeruſalem had her hour, all the ſeverall Churches of Aſia had their hours, England, Sutton, every place where the Goſpel is preached, they have their hour: Oh that then you would learn of the Ant, that gathereth her meat in the Summer time, While you have the day of grace be buſie in praying, hearing, meditating, and treaſuring up the things that belong to your ſalvation; When the night cometh upon thee thou canſt not work, and it's but a day of grace that haſtens away, neither canſt thou with Joſhua bid this Sunne ſtand ſtill; Oh the bitterneſſe and terrour of ſoul that will be upon thee when thou ſhalt ſee this hour paſſed away, and thou haſt got no good; There is a ſet time for grace, and our Saviour he threatens to remove the Candleſtick when men walk unworthy of the light, Rev. 13.11, 12. The Apoſtle preſſeth this conſideration.
Laſtly, God hath appointed for his Church a ſet time of afflictions and troubles, 6. The times of the Churches troubles and deliverances are ſet.as alſo an appointed time of ſalvation and deliverance, which made Job ſay, that affliction riſeth not out of the duſt, and the Pſalmiſt, Promotion cometh not from the East or Weſt, Pſa. 65.6. As there are times of ſnow and rain, of winter and hard weather, ſo there are of calamities and exerciſes of the Church of God, Jer. 30.7. This is the time of Jacobs trouble. Rev. 3.10. It's called the hour of temptation, Rev. 2.10. Fear none of theſe things, thou ſhalt ſuffer, for the devil ſhall caſt ſome of you into priſon, and ye ſhall have tribulation ten daies, that is, a ſet, appointed, but a ſhort time: Thus you ſee God in his wiſedome doth appoint a dark black hour ſometimes for his people, and then afterwards he hath the time of their deliverance; The time to favour her, the ſet time is come, as Chriſt had the hour to ſuffer in, ſo he had the hour to be glorified in; So that by all theſe particulars concerning Chriſt, or the Church, or every beleever, you ſee there is no ſuch thing as blinde Fortune, or chance, nor is it according to the counſels and purpoſes of men, but the great God of heaven he appoints the hours and ſeaſons for all things, and they fall out accordingly.
Ʋſe of Admonition, Are the times and hours for all things appointed by God, and they may be divided either into the hours of his anger,Ʋſe. or the hours of his mercy, then labour we for the graces ſutable to ſuch hours; In the hours of anger ſet upon theſe duties.
1. Humble and debaſe thy ſelf in theſe daies; It's a time wherein God cals for mourning and weeping; As God doth every thing beautifull in his ſeaſon, ſo let thy graces be beautifull in ſeaſon, God complaineth that when he looked for mourning and ſackcloth, there was jollity and carnall mirth.
2. Under this dark hour be patient and ſubmitting to God, be not overhaſty before Gods hour cometh; We reade in the Scripture that the more extreme and deſperate his peoples caſe was, the greater was their hour of deliverance, Hab. 1. ſpeaks much to this.
3. The hour of Gods anger is farre ſhorter then the hour of his mercy, The night is not ſo long as the day, Iſa 54.7, 8. and Mat. 24. Chriſt ſpeaking of the calamity which ſhould fall on the Jews, he ſaith, For the Elects ſake thoſe daies ſhall he ſhortned, the meaning is, that whereas thoſe publique calamities might have been greatly prolonged, if we regard ſecond cauſes, God out of compaſſion to his people did ſhorten them.
Secondly, Are they the hours of grace and Gods mercy, then 1. Be thankfull to him, he might make it alwaies a day of blaſphemy, of reproach, and rebuke unto thee, but he cauſeth a comfortable day to ſhine upon thee, but
2. Do thou improve the day of grace and Gods mercy, Oh ſay, this is Gods hour, this is mine hour, what I will do for my ſoul, what I will lay up for Eternity muſt be now done or never; Oh remember it's but an hour, but a day, and this will quickly paſſe away: In what deſpair and torment will many wiſh for theſe hours again.