One-Hundred Forty-Five Sermons Upon John 17, Sermon 50
SERMON L. Of Christs tender care of all his People in the greateſt of their dangers and afflictions.
JOH. 17.11.
And now I am no more in the world, but theſe are in the world, and I come to thee.
THis Eleventh Verſe begins a new and ſpecial Reaſon why Chriſt is to be heard in his Praier for his Diſciples; Whereas the former Arguments ſome of them were taken from the perſon of the Father, ſome from the perſon of the Apoſtles themſelves, ſome from the Perſon of Chriſt.
In this Verſe the Perſon of the Apoſtles and Chriſt are conjoyned together, Now the efficacy and force of the Argument lieth,
1. From the Condition of Chriſt.
2. From the Condition of the Apostles.
The preſent condition of Chriſt is deſcribed thus, I am no more in the world.
2. Of the Apoſtles, But theſe are in the world.
Let us explain the words that relate to Chriſts condition, and then ſee the pith of the Argument.
For the firſt,
Chriſt may be ſaid to be in the world two waies,
Either 1. Inviſibly in reſpect of his divine nature and operations; Thus Chriſt cannot go out of the world no more then God, who is every where, and in this ſence he told his Diſciples, he would be with them to the end of the world, Mat. 26.
Or 2. Viſibly and corporally in reſpect of his humane nature, and thus he was to be with them no more, ſo that this is a ſtrong place againſt, Tranſubſtantiation and Conſubſtantiation, Though they would gladly evade the dint of it.
But why doth Chriſt ſay I am no more in the world in the preſent tenſe, ſeeing while and when he ſaid it, he was in the world?
I anſwer. This Apoſtle (as is obſerved by the Learned) of all doth moſt abound with Hebraiſms, and with them it's ordinary to uſe a participle of the preſent tenſe for the future, as might be ſhewed; And beſides our Saviour was very ſhortly to go out of the world by his ſufferings; and it's ordinary with all to ſpeak of a thing as done which is immediately to be done, as Heb. 11. Abraham is ſaid by faith to offer up his Son Iſaac, when yet he did not offer him up, but was prepared for to do it immediately.
Laſtly, Obſerve the difference between being in the world and of the world; When our Saviour ſaith, I am no more in the world, it ſuppoſeth he had been in it, but now he never was of the world, as he ſaith, v. 16. For to be of the world is to partake of the wickedneſſe and ungodlineſſe which reigneth there, The whole world lieth in wickedneſſe; And therefore Chriſt could not be of the world in this ſence; For the Apoſtles after their call, neither any converted perſons are thus of the world, though they be in it locally.
The words thus explained, Conſider the efficacy of Chriſts argument, I pray for theſe, and commend them to thy care and protection, becauſe I am going out of the world; I ſhall not be corporally preſent with them, I was a comfort to them, and preſerver of them, but now I commend them to thy hands; Thus we ſee the admirable care and love Chriſt ſhewed to his Diſciples, he ſeems to be more mindeful of them then his own ſelf; All his thoughts about his own ſufferings did not ſo affect him, but that ſtill he could remember his own Diſciples, that it may go well with them.
Doct. The greater the dangers are Chriſts people are in the greater is Chriſts care of them.Obſ. That the greater the dangers are Chriſts people are kept in, the greater is Chriſts care and love to them; It was likely to be worſe with the Diſciples then ever, therefore it's ſaid, their hearts were troubled, Joh. 14. when he ſpake of leaving of them, for what can the Chickens do when the hen is killed; What can the Sheep do when the Shepherd is ſmitten; Now becauſe they were fallen into ſuch a condition our Saviour doth in amore ſpecial manner commend their Eſtate to God, we do not reade that formerly he did in ſuch a peculiar manner give them up to God, becauſe their danger and temptations were not ſo great as were likely to be; This is a Truth worthy of all acceptation by the godly; They are diſmaied when they ſee their afflictions riſe higher, never conſidering that the love and care that Chriſt hath to them doth alſo encreaſe, Ioh. 13.1. when Chriſt ſaw the time of his departure was come, having loved his own, he loved them to the end, more then ever he diſcovered his love, partly by condeſcending to waſh their feet, and partly by inſtituting the Sacrament as a remembrance of his death for them; So that as they ſay of all motions, they are ſwifteſt towards the end; Thus Chriſt loving his Diſciples from his heart, upon pure grounds, he loved them moſt of all at his latter end, as the clock runs faſteſt at the laſt ſtroak; But it's good to open this Box of Oyntment that the ſweet ſmell thereof may comfort and refreſh us.
I. If God remove ſome mercies he makes a ſupply of others.And firſt, Chriſt never cals his people to any danger and temptations but as he removeth ſome mercies from them, ſo he makes a ſupply otherwiſe; If they are in greater ſtreights and difficulties then before, So if they do obſerve they ſhall finde ſome mercies they had not before; Chriſt will not let thee be a loſer by any thing he doth to thee; Neither will he be in thy debt, if he takes away any mercy, he will recompence it otherwiſe; So that ſtill his love is as great if not greater; See this notably Joh. 14.1, 2, 3. Let not your hearts be troubled, viz. at the ſad things I have told you of my departure, and the rage of the world, For I go away to prepare a manſion place for you; It's expedient I ſhould go away, you ſhall not be the worſe for it; Therefore v. 18. I will not leave you comfortleſſe or Orphans, I will ſend the Spirit of God to comfort you and abide with you; Thus you ſee, though Chriſt removed his corporal preſence from them, yet he gave them a ſpirituall preſence; If then the Spirit of God can be a Comforter to ſupply the room of Chriſts corporal preſence, how much more of a husband or father, If God take any of theſe away, pray that he would ſend his Spirit the Comforter, and if that can be better then Chriſts bodily preſence, much more then than ten thouſand Fathers or Husbands; Oh then let not the Children of God deject themſelves, either with the condition they are in, or they fear may be in; If ſuch and ſuch things fall out, what would become of me? Oh remember it's Chriſts way when he takes away one mercy to make it up otherwiſe again.
Secondly, Chriſts love and care appeareth in that if he call to greater dangers and afflictions, he will then give more ſtrength then ever to bear them, If he greate… …gers … then … ſtren…and more comfort then ever even to rejoyce in them: If then thy afflictions are more then ever what art thou the worſe? If thy ſtrength be greater then ever; God will not lay a Giants burthen upon a childes back; But if he prepare a Giants burthen for thee, he will enable thee with a Giants ſtrength; Thus theſe Apoſtles becauſe they were to encounter with the rage and madneſſe of the whole world; Therefore did the Spirit of God come in an extraordinary manner upon them; They were commanded to ſtay at Jeruſalem till they were endowed with power from above, Luk. 24.49. Thus before alſo, when our Saviour told them, They ſhould be hated before Kings and Governours for his Names ſake, he addeth, It ſhall be given them in that day to know what to ſpeak, in that day; Oh then when thy dejected heart ſaith, What ſhall I do if the Lord bring this and that ſad trouble upon me! If this or that temptation come upon me, it will grinde me to powder; Oh remember it ſhall be given thee in that day: If with Job he deprive thee of thy Eſtate, and Goods, and Children at once, it ſhall be given thee in that day to bear it; Do not then meaſure or compare a great affliction with that little ſtrength thou haſt at preſent; No, if God make the waters to encreaſe, he will provide an Ark for thee, the Apoſtles could not work miracles when they would, as they could not caſt out ſome kinde of devils, but when they were called to it, and their miraculous faith was increated then they could do it; Thus it is here, If God ſhould give thee no more faith, no more patience, no more heavenly-mindedneſſe then thou haſt at the preſent; Thou wert never able to bear ſuch mountains and loads of trouble that happily God may bring on thee, but God proportions thy ſtrengtht to …hy afflictions, as our Saviour ſaid, Mat. 9.17. New Wine is not put into old bottles, They muſt not faſt while the Bridegroom was with them, but the time was coming when they ſhould faſt; As God encreaſeth their ſtrength ſo he doth alſo their comfort, he gives them more joy and conſolation then they ever had, as the Diſciples had the Comforter promiſed them after his departure, and accordingly we reade that under all the perſecutions and miſeries they endured, they were filled with joy, and they went away rejoycing, ſo true is that of the Apoſtle 2 Cor. 1.4. Who comforteth us in all our Tribulations, that as our ſufferings abound ſo our conſolations alſo abound; This we ſee abundantly fulfilled in all the holy Martyrs and Confeſſors, was not their dungeon a Paradiſe to them? Were not live Coals beds of Roſes? Did they not rejoyce and ſing Pſalms? Now how came all this about? The more their miſeries were, the more were Gods mercies; Chriſt that gave them but drops before, doth now bid them drink the whole cup of praiſe and Thankſ-giving; Now they are taken up to the Mount of Transfiguration, They have not only cluſters but the Vine it ſelf; Conſolations abound now, when never it may be before.
Thirdly,III. Chriſts care of his appears in the dangers themſelves. The Lord Chriſt his care is ſeen even in the dangers and afflictions themſelves, and that divers waies.
1. In not ſuffering them to be but when there is a neceſſity, you are afflicted if need be, 1 Pet. 1.6. That word is full of conſolation, The… no affliction, no triall, but thou didſt need it, conſidering thy corruption …hy dulneſſe, thy earthlineſſe, there was a neceſſity to have ſome affliction fall upon thee, to humble thee, and to make thee more enlivened; Hence afflictions are compared to the cutting off the luxurious branches of the Vine, Joh. 15. which is neceſſary; Froſts and cold have their neceſſity, and both mans body and the ground needs that as well as the Summer; This made David ſay, Out of very Faithfulneſſe thou haſt afflicted me, Pſa. 119.75. And hence afflictions are attributed to Gods Love, Whom he loveth he chaſteneth, Rev. 3. and all becauſe the people of God could not be ſo fruitful and active if they were not thus chaſtened, So then here is Chriſts care, there ſhall not be any trouble but when neceſſary.
2. As he wiſely ordereth them to be, ſo his great care and love is ſeen in the time and ſeaſon when they are inflicted; Afflictions will not in every ſeaſon do good, no more then the cutting down of trees, or pruning of them is at any time to be done: The Patient may dye by the unſeaſonable letting of bloud; Therefore Chriſt ſheweth his great care and love to take the opportune ſeaſon, to afflict and to exerciſe thee; As God would not have mercy upon Epaphroditus preſently, but he lets him lie in danger, it being thereby better both for him, and Paul was thereby much afflicted; Paul had the buffetings of Satan which did greatly humble him, but when was the time; after his Revelations; And therefore that then it might not puff him above meaſure, It was that he had thoſe Thorns in his ſide; ſo that Chriſt doth not onelyonly regard the neceſſity but the fit time and ſeaſon of all thy Troubles: Even as Chriſt himſelf came in the fulneſſe of time, ſo doe all his chaſtiſements, if they ſhould come ſooner or later, they would not do that good; Paul praieth thrice, yet could not remove thoſe ſtrong Temptations, 1 Co. 12.
3. His love and care is ſeen in the nature and kinde of the affliction and trouble: There are calamities of all ſorts; Now as it's not all kinde of Phyſick that is for every diſeaſe, ſo neither all kinde of calamities that are fit for every ſinne; Hezekiah gloried proudly in the Treaſures he had, and therefore God cauſed an Enemy to come and ſpoil him of them, he might ſee by the afflictions what his ſinne was, David was too inordinately affected to Abſalom and Adonijah, and they became rebels to him and ſore afflictions; Oh it's a great matter to obſerve the wiſedom and goodneſſe of God in ordering that kinde of affliction rather for thee then another, Thou waſt not thankful to God for thy health, or ſerviceable to him, therefore he afflicts thee with ſickneſſe: The people of Iſrael were weary of Gods Service, therefore God delivered them up to evil Lords and Maſters, that they ſhould know what another ſervice meant; One Godly man lieth under one affliction and another under another: Now if one had that which another hath he could never bear it, it would be more then death to him, ſo that the wiſedome and love of Chriſt is to be admired in all, ſay, this very kinde of affliction, and at this time comes from the love and care of Chriſt.
4. As the kinde ſo the continuance God will not let it abide any longer then it doth his work, Theſe horſe-leeches ſhall ſuck no longer, then the corrupt bloud laſteth; The devil ſhall throw ſome of you into priſon ten daies, Rev. 2.10. See there how God orders it firſt it's but ſome of them, and then into priſon, there is the kinde, for ten daies there is the continuance, which made the Pſalmiſt ſay, The rod of the wicked ſhall not alwaies reſt upon the back of the Righteous; Pſal. 125.3. It's true the people of God have many times thought their deliverance too long, Will the Lord caſt off for ever? Hath he forgotten to be gracious? Thus they expoſtulate and complain, but God at another time s… …he would haſten it in due time, Iſa. 60.22. and he cals it but a moment, …rein he had hid his face from them, Iſa. 54.7. although it was ſeventy years; So that the fleſh ſaith one thing and the Spirit of God another; Know then that thy exerciſe is for a continued or appointed time, God hath ſet bounds to theſe waters, and therefore be not diſcouraged under them.
Laſtly, The care and love of Chriſt is ſeen in working out a way, and making an eſcape from th…m, when it's for their good and his glory; There hath no temptation befallen you but out of which he will make a way to eſcape, 1 Cor. 10 13. The Lord knoweth how to deliver thoſe that are his: The Artificer knoweth when to take his Gold out of the Fire, The wiſe Phyſician knoweth when there is bloud let out enough: Thus much more doth God know when thy afflictions have done the Errand he ſent them about; The Wiſedom of God alſo can finde out a way to ſave thee out of them; For he that could finde out a way to ſave thee from ſinne and hell, much rathar can he finde out a way to deliver thee from this or that temptation.
In the fourth general place,IV. Chriſts care in ſanctifying the troubles that they may be for ſpiritual benefit. Chriſts care and love is ſeen in ſanctifying and fitting thy troubles that they ſhall be for thy ſpiritual benefit; Whatſoever may be done to thy eſtate or life, yet nothing ſhall hurt the ſoul: Thus the Prophet, This is the fruit of Iacobs trouble to purge away his ſinne, Iſaiah 27.9. and Rom. 8. All things work to the good of them whom God loveth: Chriſt that hath ſo loved thee would never let this or that come upon thee, did he not intend to turn it for thy ſpirituall good? This made David ſay, Before he was afflicted he went aſtray, Pſal. 119. And when both theſe go together, Afflictions and Sanctification, David cals it a Bleſſedneſſe, not a miſery, Bleſſed is the man whom thou chaſteneſt, and teacheſt thy way, Pſal. 94 12. If God teacheth thee by thy afflictions the bitterneſſe of ſinne, the duty of Faith and weanedneſſe of Spirit from the world; Oh it's a bleſſed ſickneſſe, a bleſſed loſſe, Thank God that ever he laid his hand upon thee, Though it ſeemed grievous to fleſh, and thou wert apt to be impatient, yet nothing under Heaven was better for thee; Not that we are to pray for afflictions; It's diſputed whether we may or no, but we may not, becauſe they are an evil, and ſo no fit object of our deſires, and in themſelves they do no good unleſſe ſanctified, but if the Lord chaſtiſe us we are to ſubmit, and therefore when Jeremiah praieth, Jer 10 21. Correct me but not in thy wrath, It's a conceſſion or ſubmiſſion: Lord, if thou wilt correct me, and it cannot be otherwiſe, then do it with much mercy and love; Do not then make thy afflictions an argument of Gods withdrawing or leaving of thee, but rather of love to thee; Chriſt loves his Diſciples dearly, yet not ſo as to keep them from dangers, he will let them be in the world, and put them to hardſhip, only he will then take the more care of them: But the godly heart doth make this ordinary Objection.
It's true in thoſe troubles which are for Chriſts cauſe, as the Apoſtles were, It is no wonder if Chriſt take ſuch ſpecial care of his, if he account all the troubles and loſſes they have upon his ſcore, if he ſay to them as Abiathar the Prieſt, I was the occaſion of all the Prieſts bloud, therefore ſtay with me, thou ſhalt be as I am, and I as thou art, but my troubles and afflictions are the fruit of my ſin, It's not for Chriſts Name but want of love to Chriſt, it is my dulneſſe and lukewarmneſſe that hath brought anger upon me: To this conſider,
1. It cannot be denied but that there is a great difference between thoſe afflictions that are exploratory, which are to draw out the graces of the godly, and to encreaſe their glory which comforted one Martyr, who ſaid, he thanked God, though he had ſins, yet it was not for his ſins but his duties they put him to death, and thoſe which are caſtigatory for ſome ſinne committed, yet even ſuch are not to caſt away all comfort, becauſe though there is not ſo much, yet there is great cauſe of joy even to ſuch, if humbled and ſenſible of ſinne under Gods hand, for
1. Though it be bitter becauſe it's for ſin, yet it's comfortable to feel thy ſin, and to repent of it; Oh then though thou mourneſt becauſe thy ſinne hath brought this on thee, yet rejoyce becauſe thou haſt an heart to repent of it; The true penitent de peccato dolet & de dolore gaudet; So that the brokenneſſe and tenderneſſe of heart is an evident teſtimony of thy ground to rejoyce.
2. Conſider thy voluntary accepting of thy afflictions and judging thy ſelf for them, maketh all thy afflictions to be a kinde of Martyrdome: It's required we ſhould accept of the puniſhment of our ſinne, Levit. 26.41. And 1 Cor. 11. We are to judge our ſelves, 2 Cor. 7. The Corinthians repenting had a holy revenge upon themſelves; Now when we do thus kiſſe the Rod, and willingly accept of this affliction, It's a kinde of Martyrdom, It is for Gods cauſe, and out of love to him, that thou doſt with patience endure it.
3. Thou haſt the chiefeſt ground of comfort, which ever Christs Sufferers have, though not that particular they have; For the Martyrs did not rejoyce in their Sufferings as matter of merit, and as that which was equal to Eternal Glory; No, They could not but finde many Imperfections, even in thoſe noble undertakings, And therefore deſired pardon even for their very dying for Chriſt, that they had no ſuch perfect faith and patience as they ought: It was therefore Chriſt and his Sufferings adminiſtred them all their comforts, and this thou maiſt take though thy ſinnes have cauſed thy afflictions.
Ʋſe of Inſtruction, what Treaſures of comfort the Godly have, With what triumph and joy they might live even in the greateſt afflictions, if beleeving this; But oh our leanneſſe, our leanneſſe, whence come all thoſe dejections, thoſe outcries? I fear this and that may undo me, but becauſe Faith doth not preſent Chriſt with his open arms ready to preſerve them, well is beleeving called Eating of Chriſts fleſh, and Drinking his bloud, Joh. 6. For as a man though he have never ſo much dainties, yet if he eat not, they do him no good, ſo it is here, Though Chriſt have never ſo much love and pity towards thee, yet if thou beleeve not this, it helpeth thee not.
Ʋſe 2. of woe to the wicked that are caſt out of all his care, let the devil tempt them, let ſin overcome them, let hell devour them, yet Chriſt hath not taken them into his ſpecial favour.