One-Hundred Forty-Five Sermons Upon John 17, Sermon 64
SERMON LXIV. Of the Manner of Chriſts keeping thoſe that are His. Of a four-fold Principle that is operative to the Preſervation of Believers: And of the excellent Effects of the lively Meditation of this Doctrine of being kept by Chriſt to Salvation.
JOHN 17.12.
Thoſe which thou haſt given me, I have kept, &c.
IN the former part of the verſe, you heard our Saviour expreſſing, that glorious priviledge of Protection and Preſervation of his Diſciples, and ſo all that were given him in the midſt of all dangers to eternal life. Now our Saviour amplifieth the fidelity and diligence he uſed in this cuſtody.
So that in the words we may obſerve Chriſts diligence and fidelity expreſſed, I have kept them.
2. The Subject, Whom thou haſt given me. This is the fift time our Saviour repeateth it, and therefore the more to be obſerved.
3. His fidelity in preſervation is illuſtrated by the ſigne or effect of it, None of them is periſhed.
4. He anſwers an Objection concerning Judas (granting that he periſhed) with a twofold reaſon, He was the ſon of perdition, and that the Scripture may be fulfilled.
All theſe particulars contain ſolid and ſubſtantial Divinity, both Doctrinal and Practical. They will ſerve to confute falſe Doctrines, and reprove wicked converſations. And
Firſt, Let us conſider the fidelity and diligence Chriſt uſeth, expreſſed in that word, I have kept them. This is a new and different Greek word from the former, which was foreign, but here it is foreign, which the Septuagint make often to anſwer the Hebrew word Shamar, which ſignifieth to keep with all diligence and circumſpection. In the New Teſtament, it's many times uſed of a corporal violent detaining in priſon, as foreign is, Act 12.4. Act. 23.35. Hence foreign is often for a priſon, Act. 16.23, 24, 27, 37, 40. and foreign is to hale to priſon, Act 22.19. but when it's applied in a ſpiritual ſenſe, it ſignifieth a diligent obſerving of a command, or more frequently, a carefull preſerving of our ſelves from ſinne, as Luke 12.15 1 John 5.21. And hence comes the Greek word foreign, Matth. 23.5. They made broad their phylacteries, called ſo, becauſe by them they were warned to take heed of ſinne: But in the Text it's uſed for protection and preſervation to everlaſting happineſs, as John 12.25. onelyonly we may obſerve the uſe of it in three places very fit to our matter in hand.
It's applied to Shepherds diligently watching to their ſheep, and that in the night time, Luke 2.8. and thus Homer uſeth it alſo; and hereby is repreſented that Chriſt is that chief Shepherd, which will keep his ſheep, though never ſo infirm or weak, that no danger ſhall befall them.
2. It's applied to the keeping of ſome precious thing depoſited in our hands, that we are betruſted with, 1 Tim. 6.20. and thus alſo all the godly are delivered to Chriſt as his charge, that none be loſt.
3. Laſtly, It's uſed of preſerving in a ſafe place in the midſt of dangers. Thus Noah is ſaid to be kept in the Ark, 2 Pet. 2.5. which is notably true in all the godly. The deluge of Gods wrath fals upon all the wicked of the world, and the godly are kept ſafe in Chriſt, as Noah was in the Ark, whereas then our Saviour doth ſo often inform his Diſciples, that he keepeth them. Obſerve▪
Obſerv. That Chriſts divine Protection of his people to eternal life is daily to be thought on and improved by them.That Chriſts divine protection and preſervation of his people to eternal life is daily to be thought on, and improved by them. They are not in a tranſient manner to apprehend it, but they are to keep this bleſſed truth in their hearts, till it inflame them. As it's not one ſhowr, but plentifull and conſtant droppings that go to the root of the Tree; ſo it's not a thought now and then about Chriſts keeping of thee ſafe for heaven will affect thee; but as Jacob to the Angel, ſo thou art to ſay, I will not let this truth go, till it bleſs me; and truly for this end it was, that our Saviour doth ſo often repeat [Thoſe thou haſt given me, and I have kept them] to confirm and increaſe the Diſciples faith, ſeeing they have ſo many ſtrong Anakims in the way to Canaan: Every man that looks only to his own ſtrength, and the dangers that are in the way, would bring up an ill report of Heaven, as thoſe Spies did of the Land of Canaan, ſaying, It's impoſſible for any man ever to come thither; and with the Diſciples to ſay, Who then can be ſaved? but with God nothing is impoſſible.
There is a four-fold principle, which is operative to the conſervation of the believers.To open this Doctrine, conſider, that there is a fourfold principle, which is operative to the conſervation of the believers.
Firſt, There is an inward vital and vivifical principle of grace abiding in the godly, which will never fail: Not but that of it ſelf, it would, as in Adam and Angels, but as God could confirm and eſtabliſh the grace of Angels, that it never ſhall periſh; ſo doth God that ſupernatural principle of holineſs put into his people,1. An inward vital and vivifical principle of grace abiding in them, which will never fail. 1 John 3.8. He that is born of God, he neither doth ſinne, or can ſinne, viz. ſo as to be given up wholly to it, and that becauſe the ſeed of God abideth in him. Though there be different thoughts about this ſeed, what it is, I do now ſuppoſe it to be that inward principle of ſupernatural life, from whence all gracious operations do flow. This God hath ſet in the heart and inward parts of his people never to be rooted out. Thus John 4 14. The believer is ſaid to have in him a well of water, ſpringing up to eternal life. Here is a fountain that cannot be dried up: Therefore it's ſaid, He ſhall never thirſt more, viz. with a thirſt of a total indigence and want: Even in the greateſt deficiencies and barrenneſs of Gods people, there hath been ſap in the root, when the branches ſeemed dead.
2. A daily help of grace quickning and corroborating the ſoul in all holineſs.A ſecond principle thus conſerving is, That daily help of grace quickning and corroborating the ſoul in all holineſſe. The former grace is permanent and habitual, this tranſien,t actual, and by way of motion. This latter doth compleat and actuate the former; For as it's not enough to have a naturall life, unleſſe there be a further concourſe of God, by which we actually move and ſtirre: So in our ſupernatural life, it's not enough to have that principle of life infuſed, but we are to receive the daily impreſſions, and powerfull quicknings of his holy Spirit; and this is to have both the foreign poſſe and the foreign operari, the will and the deed. Theſe are the two internal principles of our conſervation, for the Lord Chriſt doth not keep us immediately, but by means in a ſubordinate manner.
In the next place, there is a two-fold principle extrinſecal of our preſervation. And
The firſt is, Our Election, 3. Our Election.that is the fountain of all our perſeverance This is the firſt round in that ladder, by which we aſcend to Heaven, Rom. 8. It's from Predeſtination, that nothing can ſeparate us from the love of God in Chriſt. Rom. 11. It's Election hath obtained, that elected remnant ſhall never periſh; and thus in this prayer of our Saviours, all ſecurity of the godly, it's becauſe the Father had given them to Chriſt, viz. by Election, as the root and ſource of all their good; This is ſo cogent a truth, that many who hold a falling away from true grace, do yet maintain, That no Elect man can ever periſh finally, becauſe then God ſhould be fruſtrated of his purpoſe, and the counſel of man ſhould make void the counſell of God. This Election of God, is the vivificall cauſe of all Preſervation. As by this they were Called and Converted from a ſtate of ſinne, Election did bring them in; ſo the ſame Election, when they are Converted, doth protect and keep them, if they fall, doth raiſe and repair them, whereby they ſafely at laſt arrive at Eternity; ſo that their Perſeverance is not a merit, or reward of their former holineſſe, but it's a free gift of God, and an effect of Election, as their effectual Vocation was.
The ſecond externall Principle is, The Covenant and Promiſe of God made in Chriſt to the Godly: So that the Covenant of Grace being confirmed by Chriſts death, In whom the Promiſes are Yea and Amen, 2 Cor. 1.20. being among other glorious ends, to perpetuate and continue the work of Grace in them; it's impoſſible, that hell, or the world ſhould quite put them out of the way to Heaven, Jerem. 32.40. God there promiſeth an Everlaſting Covenant, a Covenant that ſhall abide for ever; And what is the Priviledge vouchſafed in that Deed of Gift? It's the putting his fear in their heart, that they ſhall not depart from him. You ſee by this notable place, That it's not we our ſelves, but God who keepeth us; and for this we have his Promiſe: So that the godly may triumph in an holy Confidence becauſe of it: Many other Promiſes that are branches of this Covenant, the Scripture declareth, which ſhould be ſweeter then the honey, and the honey-comb: For what can be more precious to hear, then that God will ſafely preſerve thee in the way to Heaven, ſo that no fraud or force without, nor any luſt or corruption within ſhall hinder thee of the Crown of Glory. Iſai. 40.29, 30, 31. He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaſeth ſtrength, &c. God in the verſe before is ſaid Himſelf not to faint, or to be weary: Though he created the Earth, and doth ſtill preſerve it, yet he is not weary, and becauſe he is thus, he will make his people ſo: They in themſelves may be fainting and weary, but he will renew ſtrength: And he illuſtrateth this from natural ſtrength, Though young men in their full ſtrength may be weary, yet theſe ſhall not. And again, he compareth their ſtrength to the Eagle that mounteth up with wings to the Heaven, and is not weary. Thus God will enable the godly ſoul: Though they runne, or walk, they ſhall not be weary; What a reviving place ſhould this be to the dead, dull, and languiſhing believer? Why do I lie groveling on the ground? Let me flie up to Heaven like an Eagle. We have alſo a remarkable Promiſe of Divine Protection, Iſai. 4.5, 6. where God by two ſimilitudes doth notably declare it, Firſt, by an alluſion to that wonderfull Preſervation of the people of Iſrael: It was not enough, that God had brought them out of Aegypt, they would have periſhed for all that, without his Protection; Therefore we may reade the Hiſtory, Exod. 13. how God created a directive Protection for them, both by day and night. In the day time, there was a Cloud and ſmoak, and a ſhining flaming fire by night. Thus God promiſeth he will do upon every dwelling-place in Zion, and upon her Aſſemblies; by theſe are figured the ſeveral Churches that are aſſembled to ſerve God, For upon all, the Glory ſhall be a defence; By Glory, is meant the Ark, which is here made a Type of Gods people, and they may be called Gods Glory, both becauſe they glory in God, and God is glorified by them: So that the meaning is, Look what care and defence God did once ſhow to the Iſraelites to preſerve them from periſhing in the Wilderneſſe, that they might be brought to Canaan; The ſame, not in a miraculous viſible way, but in a ſpirituall and inviſible manner will God do to his Church. The ſecond ſimilitude is from Shepherds, who in thoſe hot Countreys, did erect Tabernacles and Cottages for their flock, to defend them againſt the heat, and all other ſtorms; By this is ſignified, That God would create ſuch defence for his ſheep againſt all kinde of dangers and calamities, that they periſh not, therefore in all our extremities; We have four ſtrong pillars to bear us up.
The effects which a lively meditation of this preſervation will produce.In the next place, Let us take notice of the bleſſed effects, which a lively meditation on this preſervation will produce; It's worth the time to be improving this truth. For
Firſt, Hereby an holy boldneſſe and confidence will keep up our hearts againſt all dangers and diſcouragements. The people of God are ſubject to fainting and ſwouning fits; Their fears and cares make them feeble. Oh then what a cordiall and reviver will this truth be to us?Boldneſſe againſt all diſcouragements. Though I am weak and cannot preſerve my ſelf, yet I am in the arms of him that both can and will; a Childe in a Gyants arms is ſafe enough from falling: We ſee David in many Pſalms acknowledging his confidence and boldneſſe, even challenging all the world, Though the earth be removed into the ſea, and though an army of men ſhould encamp him round about, yet he would not be afraid, becauſe he truſted in God; and he often ſpeaks of Gods right-hand holding him up; Oh what a ſupport is that, Gods right-hand! There is more ſtrength in that, then in all the creatures combined together: So that if not onelyonly Devils, but all creatures elſe, good and bad, ſhould combine againſt thee, yet to Gods right-hand, they are but as tow to the fire. Thou canſt no more fall then God himſelf can be weary and faint. The Heathens ſaid of their feigned Atlas, whom they made to bear up the Heavens, that he muſt not ſo much as ſtoop, if he did, the Heavens would fall down immediately. To be ſure, if God for a moment onelyonly ſhould with-draw his arm, not only believers, but even the Angels in Heaven would fall into hell; if therefore thou didſt by faith reſt thy ſelf on this Protection, thy life would be a ſweet, gracious and compoſed life.
Secondly, The conſideration of Chriſts Protection would make us go out of our ſelves, and renounce all our own power. To truſt in the arm of fleſh for temporal deliverances, is great Idolatry; but to truſt in the duties or graces of the ſoul for ſpiritual mercies, is much more abominable Idolatry; for it's more peculiar and proper to God, and belongs to him as his onelyonly glory, to juſtifie and ſave us, then to defend and preſerve us corporally. This Preſervation then of us is the onelyonly thing to humble us, to put us in remembrance of our own impotency and ſinfulneſſe, Thoſe many promiſes to help thee, are ſo many demonſtrations of thy own infirmities. We are never nearer falling, then when we begin to truſt in our ſelves; When Peter ſaith, Though all men forſake thee, yet I will not, then is he moſt prepared to forſake and deny Chriſt: So that this Doctrine of Chriſts Protection is a ſelf-debaſing and ſelf-emptying truth, it makes us ſee our own poverty and nakedneſſe, and thereby flie ſolely to him.
Thirdly, The conſideration of this Preſervation will make us readily and willingly ſet upon all thoſe duties God cals us to. We will not ſhrink from them, ſaying, Oh they are too hard, too difficult! We cannot go through with them! What made the Iſraelites diſpond upon new dangers? but becauſe they remembred not the miraculous power of Gods preſence with them, they thought every thing great but God. Their enemies they looked upon as great enemies, but not on God as a great God. We ſee this ſinfull fear in Moſes alſo, How many excuſes did he pretend, that he might not be imployed in that embaſſage to Pharaoh, till Gods wrath was kindled at him? Therefore if we did with faith conſider Chriſts power, though our duties were great, though never ſo contrary to fleſh and bloud, yet in the name of God we would go out and do valiantly.
Fourthly, The powerfull meditation of this would prevent a thouſand doubts and fears that we uſually make about what may be. We do not remember our Saviours Rule, That ſufficient to the day is the evil thereof, and therefore we excruciate our ſelves with ſuppoſed future conditions, not conſidering, that as our neceſſities and infirmities ſhall abound: ſo Gods preſervation will: The godly man thinks, What if I ſhould be bereaved of ſuch ſenſible helps, an Husband, or ſome able friend, or my eſtate loſt? How ſhould I ſubſiſt with many children? Or how if I ſhould be called to Martyrdom, to be impriſoned, to loſe my life? Such is my weakneſs (ſaith the believer) that I fear I ſhould with Peter deny and forſwear, do any thing rather then endure extremity? Oh but whence are all the confuſions of thy ſoul, but becauſe we remember not Chriſts protection and preſence is with us!
Laſtly, The lively faith of this Protection will keep us in a carefull diligent walking in ſuch wayes, wherein God vouchſafeth his preſence. Work out your ſalvation (ſaith the Apoſtle) for it's God that worketh in you to will and do. Preſumption on Gods power breeds ſecurity and lazineſs; but faith in Gods power takes Gods way. Chriſt becauſe he depended on God, would not tempt God in unlawfull wayes.
Uſe of Thankfulneſs: Oh call upon thy ſoul to bleſs God for every moments preſervation! God kept thy heart, thy eyes, thy tongue to day, what ſhops and inſtruments of wickedneſs would they have been elſe? That thou goeſt not to bed, as if it were into an hell; That thou art not full of gaſhes and wounds by ſin; Bleſs God that hath kept thee cloſe to him.