One-Hundred Forty-Five Sermons Upon John 17, Sermon 81
SERMON LXXXI. Of Suffering for Chriſts Cauſe, And how it engageth God to take care of ſuch as ſo ſuffer; Alſo the Duty of Ministers about Preaching Gods Truth,
JOH. 17.14.
I have given them thy Word, and the world hath hated them, &c.
A Second Obſervation may be.
That when the People of God ſuffer not for any Faults of their own, Obſerv.but becauſe they own God, and profeſſe his Truth, This is a great obliging of God to take care of them; For our Saviours Petition is founded upon this equitable and juſt Conſideration, The world hateth them; But why? Not for any wickedneſſe or injuries they have done, but meerly becauſe they have beleeved in thy Word; If ſo be they had oppoſed and rejected the Word of God, and had ordered their lives according to the courſe of this world, They would have been the worlds darlings, all men would have ſpoken well of them, but now it was for Gods ſake, and his Goſpels ſake, that they were thus maligned, ſo that if we be hated in the world upon Chriſts account, and becauſe of Gods Intereſt we are ſure to have his ſpecial care and protection.
To open this doctrine Conſider theſe things.Concerning which Conſider,
Firſt, That it's poſſible for thoſe who acknowledge Chriſt to be hated and perſecuted in the world, not for their Chriſtianity, but for their other groſſe impieties, 1. It is poſſible Chriſtians may be hated not for their Chriſtianity but their groſs impieties.and if ſo, then they cannot take that joy, or expect that protection which God doth promiſe to his; Therefore the Apoſtle Peter ſpeaks excellently to this, 1 Pet. 4.14, 15, 16. where having ſhewed how happy, yea, and how g…orious a thing it is to be reproached for Chriſts Name, becauſe the Spirit of Glory reſteth upon them, The world ſcorneth and deſpiſeth them in their low eſtate, but the Spirit of Glory reſteth on them, he addeth a Caution, Let none of you ſuffer as a Murderer, as an evil doer, as a buſie body in other mens matters, but as a Chriſtian, that is, Let him look that he do not for any wickedneſſe of his juſtly procure civil puniſhments, but only let him keep to his Chriſtian profeſſion, and if that be all his fault, then let him not be aſhamed; Therefore he addeth, Let ſuch an one commit himſelf to God as to a faithful Creator: Why Creator? But becauſe God looketh upon ſuch Sufferers as his Creatures, it's becauſe of my Image ſhining in them, I cannot be a faithfull Creator and not take care of them, ſaith God; To this purpoſe our Saviour often, becauſe it's not the meer ſufferings but the cauſe and motive that is all in all; If ye be perſecuted for my Names ſake, and for Righteouſnoſſe ſake; This muſt be the ground elſe we cannot pleade the promiſe of aſſiſtance.
2. It is ordinary for them that ſuffer for Chriſt to be charged with divers crimes.2. As it's poſſible for a Chriſtian to ſuffer for his own iniquities, ſo nothing is more ordinary in the world, though a man do ſuffer meerly for Chriſts ſake, yet to charge other crimes upon him, and to pretend other grounds of their malice againſt ſuch then meer Chriſtianity: This is good to be obſerved, for if the Perſecutors ſay true there was never any holy man or faithful Servant of God ſuffered, but they made the condemnation juſt, and thought at leaſt ſome of them that they did God good ſervice, as our Saviour, Joh. 16.2. Were not the Prophets of old, whoſe bloud was ſhed by Jeruſalem? traduced as buſie-bodies, as Troublers of Iſrael, as publike enemies, and in Chriſts time; Though the Sun was not more free from ſpots then he from ſinne or any miſcarriage in his Miniſtry, yet what accuſations did they frame againſt him, and Joh. 8. It was not for the good works, they ſaid, they ſtoned him, but for his blaſphemies, So Joh. 18. If this man were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him to thee; The Martyrs alſo when ſo many thouſand of them died willingly for Chriſt, yet by their Enemies they were repreſented as the vileſt of men; So that as they did with their bodies, put them in Beaſts skins, that ſo Lyons might devour them more greedily; Thus they defamed them, and laid heavy crimes to their charge, that ſo they might have the more juſt ground to condemn them; So that when a Chriſtian ſuffers as a Chriſtian, and when as a buſie-body, muſt not be determined by their Enemies, nor by the greater part of the world, but by Gods Word, for they think all zeal againſt ſinne, raſhneſſe, and madneſſe, and all reproofs of wickedneſſe, a buſie-medling more then needs, Gods Word therefore muſt be the Star to direct in this.
3. Thoſe that ſuffer for blaſphemy may be ſo far ſeduced as to think they ſuffer for Chriſt.Thirdly, It muſt be alſo granted, That a man ſuffering for thoſe things, which are against Christ, which are palpably contrary to his Doctrine, yet may be ſo farre ſeduced as to think he ſuffers for Chriſt; This is ordinary with all heretikes, who have judged themſelves Martyrs, and made all their ſufferings to be for God; when yet they blaſpheme God; Doth not the Papiſt put his ſufferings upon Chriſts ſcore? Doth not every Heretique entitle God to his Cauſe? Do not the Socinians who yet with their whole might oppoſe the Deity of Chriſt, prerend great obedience so and adoration of him, as a conſtituted God? We grant then that men may be horribly deluded in their ſufferings; They may give their bodies to be burnt, and not have true and ſound Faith; They may be acted by an heretical ſpirit, and yet endure great miſeries, as the Circumcelliones out of a mad contempt of Death, would make men kill them: But theſe alſo have not Chriſts promiſes belonging to them, unleſſe it be Gods Word indeed, and truly ſo, for which the world hateth them, they are not within the Ark; It's true, Even ſuch who ſuffer in ſuch deluded waies, may have great comfort, may finde much conſolation within, but it's the devil that transformeth himſelf into an Angel of Light; It's ſuch comfort as mad men have that laugh and are pleaſed in the midſt of their miſery, for God will never give comfort but to his own Truths, The Spirit of God is not a Comforter, but where it firſt leadeth into the Truth; Indeed the confidence and comforts many have died with in their errours, have been a ſtumbling-block, but this is to be ignorant of Satans devices, and the potent operations of ſtrong deluſions upon mens ſouls.
4. The beſt Chriſtians that live have many infirmities cleaving to them.It cannot be denied but that even the beſt Chriſtians who are hated, and do ſuffer in the world, have yet many imperfections cleaving to them, and do diſcover many infirmities of the fleſh, ſo that as none can be perfect in love of God, or in any other grace, ſo neither in enduring the hatred of the world, oh how hard is that Rule of our Saviours, Mat. 5. when men revile to be patient, when men curſe to bleſſe, and to render all good for all evil? Theſe things do ſo tranſcend humane power, that many miſcarriages, ſeveral indiſcretions, and many carnal fears are apt to interweave themſelves; Now when the matter or cauſe of our ſufferings in Chriſts, and for his Name, and if the heart be mainly ſet for God and his honour, though ſubject to weakneſſes, ſuch may pleade Chriſts aſſiſtance for all that, neither may they fear, Chriſt will diſown them, becauſe of ſuch adhering infirmities; Do we not ſee the Scripture commending ſome as eminent, when yet at that very time there was ſome imperfection; Abrahams Faith ſo highly commended, Rom. 4. yet had ſome diffidence mixed with it; Jobs Patience ſo greatly exalted, yet had ſome impatience breaking out, God then takes not notice of thy weakneſſe but of thy Grace, and the godly ſufferer may comfort himſelf, that though he hath imperfections, yet it is not for them the world hateth him; As Bradſhaw that holy Martyr ſaid, Though he was a ſinner, and had many Infirmities, yet his Enemies did not put him to death for them, but for the quarrel of Chriſt, which he had eſpouſed, and the Truths of Chriſt which he preferred above his own life:
The Grounds of Gods endearment to protect ſuch as are hated for his Name ſake are
1. Gods propriety and intereſt in ſuch, It's not their lives or Liberties are aimed at ſo much as his Name, his Glory, his Truth; Now God cannot but love what is his own, and that infinitely; Therefore it hath alwaies been the Cuſtome of Gods people in their Praiers to make their trouble to be in reference to him; What wilt thou do for thy great Name? ſaid Joſhua, c. 7.9. And David, It's time to work, for men have made void thy Law; So it's thy Temple, thy Altars they have polluted, and hence God accounts all the malice and madneſſe of men diſcovered againſt his people as done to him, Saul, Saul, why perſecuteſt thou me? Act. 9 4. Could they do that to God which they do to his Name, they would; Therefore the people of God may ſtrongly and comfortably urge, that it's not their good, their peace is the quarrell, but becauſe of ſomething of God in them, as the Baſilisk hateth the picture of a man becauſe it hateth a man himſelf.
2. God hath put ſuch a naturall ſtorge into all Creatures, that what is their own they will defend; The Hen will ſave its own little ones and venture for them, The Mother will ſave her own childe: Now ſhall God put ſuch a property in all Creatures to ſave their own, to protect their own, and ſhall not God much more? Yea, God maketh his affections to be more tender then a mothers, ſuch may forget even her ſucking Infant, Iſa. 49.15. but God will not, yea, doth not God ſhew his care in providing for all Creatures, becauſe they are his Creatures, who feeds the young Ravens, who preſerveth the Sparrows Life, Is not all by Gods Providence? Oh then what ſpecal care will he ſhew to his ſpiritual Creature, which coſt farre more then even the natural Creature did: It would be a diſhonour to God if he ſhould not take care of ſuch; We ſee amongſt men it's counted matter of honour to remember them that have ſuffered for their ſakes; What ſaid David to the Prieſt that eſcaped Sauls ſword when ſo many were bloudily devoured by his Sword, I have been the Cauſe of their death, ſtay with me, and thou ſhalt fare as I fare; Thus will Chriſt ſay, I have been the cauſe of all thy reproaches and miſeries in the world, Stay with me, and I will protect you; To forſake a man that hath been undone to maintain thy cauſe, or thy credit, would be great diſhonour; And doth it not more belong to Gods honour that ſuch as have denied all their worldly comforts for him, that he ſhould regard them? What will not God ſuffer any to ſeek him in vain? and ſhall they ſuffer for him in vain? Beſides it would diſcourage all to ſtand for his Word, Should he forſake them, who would ſet out upon this ſpiritual Warre with the world upon his own charges? It's true, we are to ſay after all is done, We are unprofitable Servants, and when we have ſuffered here, we might ſuffer in hell hereafter, but Gods Grace and goodneſſe will not regard our merits, but his fidelity and promiſe.
Ʋſe of Direction to the people of God, to order their Converſation ſo wiſely and holily, that if poſſible the hatred of the world may be for their godlineſſe; Let them ſlander, reproach, and pretend what they will, yet do thou enjoy this comfort within; O Lord, it's for my obedience to thee; It's becauſe I own thy Commands, I dare not comply with the evil waies of the world; To be able to ſay as Chriſt, For which of my good works doſt thou ſtone me? For what is it that thou reproacheſt me? This is to ſhine as ſtars in a dark night: Dogs may bark at the Moon, but that ſtayeth not its courſe; Go on in the midſt of all the reproaches of the world, Let thy holy life torment them, let them be in a rage that they have nothing juſtly to charge thee with, and then ſay with Jerome, I thank God that I am worthy to be one whom the world hateth; We know the worlds oppoſition engageth Gods protection, and the Lord will account all that is done againſt thee as done againſt his own Majeſty.
The laſt Doctrine, In that Chriſt ſaith, He had declared or given Gods Word to his Diſciples.
Obſerv.Obſ. That the Miniſters duty is to deliver only Gods Truth to his hearers; Chriſt twice ſaith this, I have delivered thy words, and in another place, My Doctrine is not mine, but my Fathers which ſent me; Thus Paul 1 Cor. 11. That which I have received of the Lord deliver I unto you; We ſhould preach only Traditions in this ſence, not Popiſh unwritten Traditions, but that doctrine which we have received; Hence Paul ſo pathetically exhorts Timothy 1 Tim. 6.20. Keep that which is committed to thy Truſt, not that which he had invented, not that which came out of his own heart, but what was depoſited in his hands, Aurum accepiſti, aurum redde, Religion is not res ingonii but doctrinae: Now in this the Miniſters of God are to deliver,
1. His word, his Truth in oppoſition to what is the word of man, what is a lye and a falſhood; The falſe Prophets are often reproved for venting the Imaginations of their own hearts, and in the New Teſtament ſome are ſeverely taxed for bringing in damnable hereſies, 2 Pet. 2. Look we then, that what we build be gold and ſilver, not hay and ſtubble: That what we preach be Wheat and not Chaff, meat and not poiſon.
2. We are to deliver it purely, Some though they preach the Truth, yet they defile it by their additions, the Apoſtle Paul teſtifieth that he was not in the number of thoſe 1 Cor. 2.17. who corrupt the word of God, that uſe ſophiſticate and counterfeit waies to adulterate it as men do their wine and wares, but as of God and in the ſight of God, Oh what holy trembling and fear ſhould be upon us leſt our preaching ſhould be like N…buchadnezzars Image, ſome part of gold and ſilver, but the reſt of Iron and Clay.
3. They are to deliver it univerſally, as Paul ſaid, he had not withheld from them the whole counſell of God, Act. 20. 27. To ſpeak all that God commands, not to hide or withdraw any thing either for fear or flattery, The threatning part as well as the promiſing, to vent the Propheſie though it be the burden of the Lord.
4. They are to deliver it upon an holy end or motive; That the truth might be beleeved, the people edified; To preach Gods Word as it is our Opinion, our Intereſt, our advantage is ſinfull, yet how apt are we to regard a Truth as it is ours more then Gods.
Ʋſe of Exhortation to people, to receive the Word of God with adoration and reverence, how prone are people to entertain errors or corrupt Doctrines, To be more affected with the wit and words of men more then the authority and divine nature of the Word.