One-Hundred Forty-Five Sermons Upon John 17, Sermon 61
SERMON LXI. The great changes that even a Godly man is ſubject unto, in reſpect of the having and loſing thoſe Senſible ſupports, both outward and inward, which God at ſome times vouchſafeth to them: Alſo what thoſe ſenſible Enjoyments are, and why God doth ſo change the conditions of his People.
JOH. 17.12.
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy Name.
WE have diſpatched the prayer Chriſt put up for his Diſciples; We are now to conſider other reaſons and arguments he uſeth for his Petition. Our Saviour expreſſed many before the Petition, and ſome alſo after the Petition.
The words of the Text are brought in as a reaſon, why he prayed for them now ſo ſolemnly, and not before; becauſe formerly he had kept them in a viſible manner, by his corporall preſence with them, but now the manner of his preſence being ſhortly to be changed, he therefore commends them to God, as if he ſhould have ſaid, Holy Father, ever ſince they became my Diſciples, I took a ſpecial charge of them; the world was againſt them, they could not keep themſelves, and I came as a Mediator appointed by thee, to preſerve them to eternal life, which truſt I have faithfully diſcharged, and therefore ſeeing they have hitherto been kept, let them not periſh at laſt.
In this reaſon we may take notice 1. Of the Diſciples mercy vouchſafed to them, they were kept, this implieth their own inſufficiency and inability.
2. The efficient cauſe of this, I have kept them; wherein alſo is implied his fidelity and diligence in that truſt he took upon him as a Mediatour.
3. The manner how, In thy Name; which mercy is illuſtrated from the circumſtance of time, While I was with …em. 2. Of place, while I was with them in the world. Firſt of the circumſtance of time and place, While I was with them in the world, he ſpeaks, as if for the preſent he were not with them, but that is becauſe his departure was immediatly at hand. Now when our Saviour ſpeaks in this manner, while I was with them, I kept them,
1. You muſt not think as if Chriſt by his bodily leaving of them, did alſo ſpiritually leave them; No, this would contradict that promiſe, Mat. 28. where Chriſt ſaid, he would be with them to the end of the world: he did not change his preſence, but the manner of his preſence; it was before corporall and viſible, now ſpirituall and inviſible.
2. In that Chriſt ſaid, While I was with them, it's neceſſarily inferred, that Chriſt is not corporally preſent every where; that his body is not every where, though Chriſt be every where: That is true of Chriſt in the concrete, which cannot be verified of each nature. As his Divine nature did not ſuffer, ſo neither can his humane be every where.
3. By this expreſſion, ſaith Auſtin upon the place, we muſt not underſtand, as if there were a viciſſitude in the Fathers and Sons keeping of us; as if the Son had kept them a while, excluding the Father; and now the Father was to keep them, excluding the Sonne; but the Father kept them even while Chriſt kept them; and Chriſt will keep them after his departure, while the Father keeps them, but not in the ſame manner; before there was a corporal viſible keeping, but now ſpiritual.
4. We are to avoid the Socinian reaſon given, why Chriſt ſpeaks thus in the Text: It is (ſaith he) becauſe Chriſt had not yet obtained that power and ſoveraignty to keep them after an inviſible manner; for they ſay, Chriſt had not that Divine power and authority till it was given him after his reſurrection, then God gave him the univerſall dominion over all, (ſay they.) But our Saviour had ſufficiently before ſhewed, that what the Father did, he alſo did.
Laſtly, When Chriſt ſaith, Hitherto I have kept them in thy Name, attributing the power of keeping them to the Father, it is not as if he were not alſo God, but he ſpeaks here as Mediatour, as in the form of a ſervant, and an Embaſſadour doing all things in the Fathers Name. Hence in other places he ſaith, it's not his doctrine, but his Fathers; and ſo he ſeeketh not his own glory, but the Fathers. Thus much for explication. Whereas then our Saviour for a while was in a corporall, ſenſible manner with them, providing for them and protecting of them, but at laſt is to leave them to greater hardſhip, and ſtronger temptations, Obſerve,
Obſerv. That though God may afford his people for a while many comfortable ſupports, yet they muſt not look to enjoy them alwaies.That though God may afford his people for a while many comfortable and ſenſible ſupports, yet they muſt not look to enjoy them alwaies. As the childe muſt not think alwaies to hang on the breaſt, or to be dandled on the knee, ſo neither muſt Gods children alwaies think to have comforts, mercies, and whatſoever their ſouls deſire, but they muſt expect changes and ſeverall trials. Hence the Apoſtle ſaith, 1 Pet. 4.12. they are not to think any fiery triall ſtrange. The godly are to be prepared in the midſt of their mercies, that if God on a ſudden raiſe the clean contrary, this ſhould not ſeem a new or an hard thing to them. John 21.18. Chriſt tels Peter, when he was young, he went whither he would, but in his old age, another ſhould girt him and carry him whither he would not: In his younger years he had liberty and freedom, but in his old age he ſhould meet with bonds and impriſonments. Thus God ſaith to many, in thy younger years thou hadſt health, comforts, but afterwards thou ſhalt have diſeaſes, pains,What are thoſe viſible ſupports that God for a while may vouchſafe to his people. and many ſad afflictions. To open this Doctrine let us conſider, what thoſe viſible ſupports are that God for a while may vouchſafe to his people: And
1. They may have for a while many outward comforts and mercies. They may abound in wealth, in riches and honours, …o that they want nothing; they may have an heaven here, and then at laſt, God gathers black clouds, and ſo there are ſudden ſtorms and lightnings that ſpoil their ſun-ſhine day. It was thus with Job, he tels us in what plenty, honour and eaſe once he lived in, but God had made a ſad change upon him: Even as Jonah had got a gourd, whereby he defended himſelf from the ſcorching heat, and he began to think himſelf now very well, and preſently God prepared worms to devour this defence. Oh then, if there be any of Gods children on whom he thus ſmiles, they have riches when others are in the depth of poverty, they have plenty, when others are pinched with want, remember all thy wealth is but like a little duſt, if God breath on it, it is ſcattered away: All theſe things runne on a wheel, and that which is uppermoſt, may quickly be loweſt. As the Grecians ſay, There are no beggars, but their anceſtours have been Kings, and no Kings, but their anceſtours have been beggars; ſuch a change and mutation are all theſe earthly things ſubject unto.
2. Gods children may for a while enjoy many ſweet conſolations, and have good aſſurance of Gods love, and this is a ſpeciall ſenſible ſupport. When David hath no cauſe to complain that God hid his face from him, when he ſaid, his mountain was ſtrong, when he could bleſs God, becauſe he had forgiven his ſinnes, ſo that he could with heavenly boldneſs call him his Lord, and his God, all this while David was happy; but this fair weather doth not laſt alwaies, God hideth his face, and then he is troubled, then he crieth out, Why art thou caſt down and troubled within me, O my ſoul. It is a groſs error to ſay aſſurance cannot be loſt, yea we may loſe it by our careleſs and lazy walking, and God may deprive us of it for wiſe and holy ends: If then God gives thee theſe ſoul-ſenſible ſupports, that thou knoweſt and feeleſt his love upon thy ſoul, make much of this mercy, faith of evidence will not be alwaies: There will be a time when faith of adherence and dependance will be all in all.
3. Then have the people of God carnall and ſenſible ſupports, when they are preſerved from the outward malice and perſecutions of men, ſo that they live honoured and proſperous lives here below. Such a time Joſeph had at laſt, David, Mordecai, Eſther, and many others; yea we ſee in Ahabs daies, when there was ſuch an hot perſecution of Eliah the Prophet, and other godly Prophets, yet Obadiah a godly man, lived in great favour with Ahab, ſo that although the rage and malice of the world be prepared againſt every holy man, yet for a while they may be the worlds darlings, they may have the Kingdoms, the Powers, and the Honours of the world, ſo that we may ſometimes ſay in this reſpect, the ſervant is above his Maſter, Chriſts Diſciple above Chriſt; only let them know, there may come a time, and then God depriveth them of all theſe, for their honours, they have diſgrace, for their glory, reproach. It's much if God lets them have the good things of this life, and of the life to come.
4. They may have a calm and ſerene time in reſpect of ſoul-temptations and ſpirituall exerciſes. Paul had not alwaies theſe buffetings of Satan: Theſe ſpirituall temptations, whether entring from the blackneſs of our own hearts, or injected by Satan, are very terrible and bitter, they have made the godly weary of themſelves: Hence they are compared to darts, and fiery darts, Epheſ. 6.16. to ſhew how mortall and how piercing they are. Now although God may many times give his people a quiet, ſetled, compoſed ſpirit, yet this is not enduring, but the ſtorms do ariſe, the ſhip begins to ſink, and they cry out, that they periſh.
5. They may have the comfortable preſence and corporall direction of wiſe, holy and godly perſons, but at laſt God may take them away. Thus a godly people may have the miniſtry of a faithfull Paſtor, while he is with them, the flock is kept, no wolves have been able to get into the fold. Children and ſervants may have a godly Father and Maſter; wives, gracious and wiſe husbands, now theſe while they were enjoyed, were wonderfull ſupports. Hence Eliſha is called the horſemen and chariots of Iſrael. When Chryſoſtom was baniſhed, the people ſaid, The ſun might have been better taken out of the firmament. Thus God hath given his people many ſenſible ſupports by godly Magiſtrates, godly Miniſters, godly Fathers, godly Husbands, and while they had them all was well, as with the Diſciples while Chriſt was with them, but when the ſhepheard is ſmitten; when the pillars of the houſe are removed, oh then thy condition is a new condition, it requireth new graces, new ſtrength. While Iſmael is in his fathers houſe, he will do well enough, but when caſt out of doors, there is his difficulty. Oh then if God give any of theſe viſible ſupports to you, do not think to have them alwaies; God will put you to higher exerciſes; God by degrees brings up his people to more and more hardſhip. Deut. 32.12. God there compareth his dealing with the Iſraelites, to an Eagle fluttering over her neſt, and teaching her young ones to fly. They ſay the Eagle doth not preſently expell her young ones, but by degrees teacheth them hardſhip, and at laſt makes them live upon the prey they get themſelves. God put not his people immediatly upon warre with their enemies, but uſed them fourty years to hardſhip in the wilderneſs.
Reaſons why God ſometimes changes his peoples condition from better to worſe.The grounds of this change which God may make are eminent:
1. That we may live upon him more; that faith may be purely and exactly put forth. While we have our viſible ſupports, we cannot tell whether it be God or the creature, whether it be promiſe or ſenſe we live upon; therefore he will make thee renounce all creatures, that thou maieſt ſay, O Lord, it's not wealth, but thou in my wealth, it's not this or that mercy, but thou in the mercy, that my heart adheres unto. Whom have I in earth, or in heaven but thee, ſaith David. Oh this is admirable, when creature comforts and mercies hinder not the ſoul from God himſelf: when you uſe them as ladders to climb up to heaven, as Jacobs Chariot to carry you to God; when you can ſay in matter of love and affections, as the Samaritans in matter of faith, Now we believe, not for the womans ſake, but becauſe we have ſeen Chriſt himſelf. O Lord, I depend on thee, and live upon thee, not for my mercies ſake, not becauſe of this or that comfort and ſweetneſs, but becauſe of the infinite fulneſs that is in thy own ſelf: Or when thou canſt ſay as Paul in the matter of his doctrine, becauſe he had immediate revelation from Chriſt, therefore he ſaid the eminent pillars added nothing to him; ſo in matter of practice, becauſe thou haſt enjoyment of Gods fulneſſe, the moſt excellent creatures cannot adde to thy joy. Bleſſed is he that believeth and ſeeth not.
2. The Lord will remove ſenſible ſupports, That we may grow up in grace, and get more ſtrength therein every day. The Scripture tels us of babes and young children, as alſo of young ſtrong men, who have overcome the wicked one. Now if we were alwaies kept at the breaſt, or with milk, we ſhould never get maſculine ſtrength, Heb. 6. The Apoſtle blameth ſuch as ſtood ſtill in their firſt principles, and were not carried out to further perfection: God will not uſe his people alwaies to a tender and delicate way, they ſhall know Chriſtianity is a warfare. Hence Epheſ. 6. they are commanded to put on the whole armour of God; and can this ſtrength and heavenly fortitude be ever put forth, if God remove not all thy ſenſible comforts, and make thee grapple with great adverſaries? God will have Job at laſt go into the field and combate with Satan and all his temptations. The windes and ſtorms ſhaking the tree, make it root the faſter, and thus God by bringing thee into hardſhip, makes thee the more ſound and ſolid Chriſtian: So that though for the preſent thou haſt no ſpirituall adverſaries upon thee, yet lay not aſide this holy armour, as the people of Iſrael marched in the wilderneſs, in a warlike poſture, and their Camp exactly ordered, though for the preſent no enemy appeared.
3. God will bring changes upon thee, To teach thee more experimentall knowledge in all the waies of godlineſſe, as alſo of all the corruptions and deceitfull waies of Satan in every temptation. A man that hath been alwaies at home knoweth not what faſhions and cuſtoms are in remote Countries: Paul knew how to abound and how to want, he was acquainted with the graces and with the temptations of every eſtate: A Chriſtian is to grow in all ſpirituall wiſdom and knowledge. Now as a learned man by reading of all Authours, and the works of Heretiques, is able to ſpeak to every argument they have, can give account of every doctrine they maintain: Thus a Chriſtian removed from mercy to affliction, and from afflictions to mercy, is able to ſpeak to every doubt, to every temptation from his own experience.
4. The Lord will remove viſible ſupports, That we might be a ſpirituall people, prizing the light of Gods countenance, and eſteeming ſpirituall communion with him above all things. Thus Chriſt is no more corporally with his Diſciples, that they might the more partake of his Spirit in all the works thereof. It's very hard for a man not to account all his bleſſedneſſe he hath to be theſe outward comforts, but God will teach his people more excellent and heavenly leſſons; they ſhall know the remiſſion of ſinnes, the ſpirit of adoption, power againſt ſinne, are greater mercies, then if God ſhould give them ten thouſand worlds: But how can we come to this? never till our viſible props be removed; God will not rain this Manna till all our proviſion we have be ſpent: We cannot have the fatted Calfe, till we have left our husks.
Uſe of Inſtruction,Ʋſe. With what weaned and moderated affections we ſhould enjoy our preſent ſenſible mercies, look not to have them alwaies; God will make changes, and many turns in thy eſtate, yea it may be he will exerciſe thee with ſuch afflictions as thou never thoughteſt of, that thou ſhalt complain with Job, The time was he lived in proſperity, and had all honour and glory, but now he is brought to a dunghill ſcraping worms of his ulcerous body. The time hath been thou hadſt Aſſurance, Joy, Peace, but now God raiſed ſtorms and a very hell within thee: Oh then pray for that temper Paul was taught, To know how to abound, and how to want, how to have comforts, and how to have none. There are deluded people that ſay, they live above Ordinances, oh that we could live above creatures, above relations and conditions, having God for all.