The Scripture Directory for Church Officers and People, Exposition 2 · Part 2 · Section 1
The Qualifications or Characters of thoſe who do value and deſire Gods favour above all things elſe.
Having diſcuſſed what is comprehended in that expreſſion of Gods lifting up his countenance upon a man, I ſhall now proceed to give ſuch Qualifications or Characters, that are neceſſeary to ſuch who do earneſtly deſire Gods favour. And
Firſt, They are ſuch who have a deep and true ſenſe of the guilt of their ſinne; who are wounded in heart, and lye under their iniquities, as their greateſt burden. Such as have this foundation laid, they cannot have any reſt or quietneſſe; nothing can ſatisfie their ſouls, till God look graciouſly upon them. We ſee this in David, Pſal. 32. & 51. there, when he lay groaning under the weight of his ſinnes, and was ready to roar out becauſe of God anger; What is it that he ſo earneſtly begs for, but that ſinne may be covered, that joy might be reſtored to him? That God would take away thoſe ſinnes, which make ſuch a ſad diſtance between him and his ſoul. Now David had many earthly and worldly refuges to fly unto; he might have ſolaced himſelf with all kind of comforts; but nothing could quiet his heart, if he hath not Gods favour. As all the Starres, though they ſhine together, are not able to diſpell the darkneſſe of the night, it muſt be the light of the Sunne that can do that: Thus, it is not any creature, any comfort, any content from them, that can quiet and compoſe the troubled ſoul; it muſt be the light of Gods favour ſhining into their dark hearts. If therefore you a…k, What is the reaſon why ſo many crave earthly things, but as for this favour of God, they prize it not; they pray not, or wreſtle for it? The anſwer is, Moſt men are ſecure in their ſinnes; they have hardneſſe of heart, and a ſpiritual ſtupidity upon them. Hence it is, that they know not what ſtings are in ſinne; they know not what a wounded ſpir…t meanes: They have never been in the Whales belly, (as it were) nor in the deep waters of the ſoul, feeling themſelves ready to fall into Hell and damnation; therefore it is that they judge all is well enough. This full ſtomack needeth not the Honey-combe. On then, till ſinne be more bitter in thy conſcience, the favour of God cannot be eſteemed by thee!
Secondly, Such as eſteem the light of Gods countenance, are many times thoſe that are afflicted, perſecuted, and of great exerciſes in this world. For this is the wretched corruption of our natures, that while we can take any delight in the creature, we runne not out to God▪ While we can have but the light of a candle, we care not for the Sunne. Therefore it is, that God takes from us all our comforts. He removeth this mercy, and that mercy, that ſo we may ſeek after God. Thus God ſaith, Hoſ 5 15. he would go fr…m them, they ſhould not have the mercies they uſed to have: But to what end doth God this? That they may ſeek to him early in their affliction. As Children, while there is any day, they love to be playing and ſporting, and will not come home till the dark night drive them. Thoſe then that are often …ffl…cted and chaſ…ened, commonly ſuch do highly regard the face of God. Thus the Church of God (Pſal. 80.3.) being in great extremities, God feeding them with the bread of teares, and giving them teares to drink in great meaſure; yea, angry with their very Prayers: What doth it beſeech for in this great ſtraight? Verſe 3. Turn us again, and cauſe thy face to ſhine upon us, and we ſhall be ſaved. A… the Sun is moſt eſteemed after ſad, black, and gloomy weather: Thus is the favour of God moſt regarded, when we find troubles to compaſſe us about on every ſide. Hence it is, that thoſe whom God loveth, he often chaſtens. And nothing is more unhappy, then conſtant happineſſe; becauſe abundance and fulneſſe of outward mercies, doth take us from ſeeking the face of God. Let not then the godly mourn away under any chaſtiſements they lye under; for if theſe are ſo ſanctified, that thereby the favour of God is more indeared to thee, thereby thou canſt rejoyce in his preſence more, theſe are the greateſt mercies that can befall thee. And indeed, at ſuch times the light of Gods countenance is more neceſſary then ever. The leſſe of the creature, the more need to be filled with God.
Thirdly, Thoſe can only deſire the light of Gods countenance, that do renounce their own righteouſneſſe: That do not juſtifie themſelves, or put confidence in their own righteouſneſſe. Commonly there are none more ignor…nt and ſtupid about this glorious priviledge, then the civil, phariſaical and formal men, who placeth all their truſt, in the good works they do. Thoſe affections, and that hope, which ſhould be placed on God, they are apt to put upon their own ſeeming righteouſneſſe. Hence (Mat. 5.3.) our Saviour pronounceth thoſe bleſſed, that are poor in ſpirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven And the Virgin Mary magnifieth God in her Song, Luk. 1.53. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath ſent empty away. Not only the prophane man, who trampleth this Pearl under his feet, but even the formall civil man is a great ſtranger to this petition. This favour is wholly a ſtrange thing to him, and all becauſe he is full of himſelf: He makes his good heart, his good workes, a god, a ſaviour to him; and ſo no wonder if he ſeek not up to Heaven, and deſire light from thence. Yea, in godly men it is thus, that the more debaſed and ſelf emptyed they are, the more is their fellowſhip with God: The more do they place their happineſſe in beholding of him. As you ſee it was with Paul, Who laboured more then he? yet, Who undervaluing all his graces more then …e? And all this was, that Chriſt might be wholly exalted. Oh then know, that there is nothing doth ſo much bolt out this glorious light from ſhining into thee, as ſelf-confidence, as ſelf-righteouſneſſe. And this is the reaſon why God doth ſo many times withdraw his gracious preſence from his own Children, that they are in the dark, and cannot ſee any grace, and the leaſt ſpark of heavenly fire within themſelves; and all becauſe they are apt to be lifted up. They muſt have theſe thornes in the fleſh, elſe they would depend too much upon their own ſtrength, and their own graces. And when they have been thus humbled, then at laſt they come to eſteem Gods favour more then ever; as Paul's paſſengers, after a ſtormy black time, rejoyced to ſee the Sun, more then ever.
Fourthly, Such only can eſteem the light of Gods countenance, who are a spiritual and an heavenly people, who have the holy Image of God repaired in them. He that is of the earth, is earthly, and ſpeaks earthly things, (Joh. 3.) but he that is of Heaven, is heavenly. Such as we are in reſpect of our ſpiritual conſtitution, ſuch are our operations, and our inclinations. No wonder then, the natural man deſireth not the favour of God; for he is in a corrupt and ſinfull eſtate, and ſo can deſire nothing but what is ſuitable thereunto. Whereas on the otherſide, he that is made heavenly, he that hath an holy frame of heart, the motions of his ſoul aſcend upwards ſtill. As you ſee by David, How often doth he profeſſe the breathings, the longings and thirſtings of his ſoul after God? He cryeth aloud, that he hath nothing in Heaven and Earth, but God: He makes God his Portion, his Shepherd, his Refuge, his Hope, his all things unto him. Whence is David thus carried out to the favour of God, but becauſe of an heavenly heart within? There could not come ſuch ſweet fragrant ſmells, but becauſe his heart was like a ſpiritual Garden. You ſee all like, deſireth and delights in that which is like: And if a godly man love to ſee the face, and have the company of another godly man, how much more muſt he deſire God himſelf? Oh then, complain of that heavy, lumpiſh, earthly heart of thine! that doth not often ſay, My heart breaketh for the longing after God at all times. As the Hart deſireth the waters, ſo pants my ſoul after thee, O God. If thou complaineſt that thou haſt affections for every thing but God, thy heart is taken with every comfort but him: Oh, bewail this dull and ſinfull frame! Thou wanteſt heavenlyneſſe; Thy heart and converſation is not in Heaven.
Fifthly, Such only pray for the light of Gods countenance, as live by Faith, and are affected with things, as revealed by the Scripture. It's as impoſſible for a man▪ living wholly by ſenſe, and upon worldly Principles, to rejoyce in the favour of God, as a worm that crawleth on the ground, to delight in the Sunne. Faith is that noble grace, which is like Wings to the ſoul, to make it fly up to Heaven. We ſee it in Paul: What was that which ſo raiſed up his heart to Chriſt? What is that which made him to ſit with Chriſt in heavenly places? What is that which is the ſubſtance of things hoped for, to every Believer, but Faith? We are all lame cripples, till Faith heal us. And this is the reaſon why all worldly men have no more ſenſe of this divine Benefit, then the very bruit beaſts, becauſe they are wholly ſtrangers to the life of Faith. For it's not the bodily eye, that can ſee the face of God; neither hath God any bodily face or eyes, but theſe things are wholly ſpiritual. And therefore, as the deaf ear cannot be affected with melodious muſick; ſo neither can a natural heart diſcern of this light of Gods favour. Oh then, acquaint thy ſelf with Faith! This is a Proſpective-Glaſſe, that will diſcover ſuch Objects to thee, that of thy ſelf thou couldſt not apprehend. Faith makes us to behold the glory of Gods favour: We are ſtarke blind, till Faith open our eyes.
Sixthly, Such onl… can eſteem the favour of God, who have had the experience of the ſweetneſſe and excellency of it. A man that hath not taſted Honey, knoweth not how ſweet it is. Therefore David calls upon the men of the world, to taſte and ſee how good God is. If the natural man ever had any experimentall feeling of Gods favour, and his love, then he would quickly have another heart, be of another mind: Then he would ſell all to get this Pearl. But all the while men are unregenerate, they know no other good then that of the creature: It hath never entred into their hearts, to conceive what it is to have the face of God ſhine upon his people. Inſomuch, that all the invitations and allurements are in vain, untill God be pleaſed to come into the ſoul, and diſcover his ſweetneſſe, and conſolations to him. The experienced Chriſtian, that hath often drank of this Wine, ſtill remains thirſty, and deſirous after more. For whereas the having of earthly things doth ſatiate, and at laſt nauſeate a mans heart, ſo that he hath enough; in this heavenly enjoyment of God, he never hath enough, but the more he hath taſted of it, the more hungery he is ſtill: Alwaies praying with David, Oh, when will he come to me! When thoſe in the Canticles asked the Church, which was ſo raviſhed with Chriſt, preferring him above ten thouſand, What is thy beloved more then others? it was an Argument they had never ſeen him; they had never known him: If they had, they would have been enammoured with him, as well as the Church. And thus, when natural men wonder; ſaying, Why do theſe men thus pray, thus mourn, thus long after God? Why is it that they are never ſatisfied, but in him? It's a demonſtration, that this experimentall work hath never been upon thy heart: If it had, the ſpirit of Propheſie (as I may ſo ſay) would fall on thee alſo: Thou wouldſt admire the favour of God, as well as they.
Seventhly, Such only can deſire the light of Gods countenance, who have the Spirit of God working in them: It's that which maketh the ſoul go upwards. We being like that man, bowed down, that Chriſt healed, till the Spirit of God thus raiſe us up. The holy Ghoſt came down in fire, which denoteh the activty of it. When fire aſſimilateth any thing into it ſelf, it makes it aſcend upwards: And thus, when the Spirit of God converts and ſanctifieth a mans ſoul, it giveth it a contrary motion to what it had before. Then it made proviſion for the fleſh, then it minded earthly things; but now the Spirit of God hath raiſed it from the death of ſinne. That as you ſee it's the mighty power of God, which will make theſe bodies, that are now corruptible, heavy, and preſſing downwards, to be immortal, ſpiritual, and ſo agile, that they ſhall meet the Lord in the aire: Even theſe bodies will be ſo transformed, that they ſhall move in the air like Birds. No wonder then, if Gods Spirit is able ſo to work upon our hearts, that they ſhall be conſtantly inclining to God. And indeed, none are to reſt, till they find God thus mightily prevailing upon them. This excellent frame, may be given by the Spirit, and the Spirit is promiſed to ſuch as ask for it, Mat 6. Eſpecially, the Spirit of God, as adopting, enab…ling us to call God Father, rebuking legall ſlaviſh feares, and filling us with a filial and evangelical frame of heart.
Eighthly, Therefore another Property of ſuch, who do thus highly eſteem Gods favour, is, That they are diligent in Prayer, and fervent in approaches to God. Prayer is the aſcending of the heart to God, who is in Heaven. The eyes lifted up, argue what the heart ſhould be. Now Prayer is of this excellent advantage, if ſpiritually and fervently performed, that it carrieth up the ſoul to God, and thereby God alſo manifeſts his loving kindneſſe to his people. Even as Moſes, upon his Communion with God, had his face ſhine ſo gloriouſly, that the people could not behold it; and Chriſt himſelf, upon Prayer, had his countenance changed, that his face did ſhine like the Sunne, and his garments were white as ſnow. So that ſuch who eſteem of Gods favour, they are inſtant in Prayer. They perform that duty with watching and attending thereunto; which if ſo diſcharged, then many conſolations, many irradiations of his favour, are communicated to them. So that a man diligent in Prayer, is like the tree by the water ſide, whoſe leafe will never fade. Hence we have that encouragement, No man ſeeketh Gods face in vain: And no ſooner did God command this, but immediately David's heart yeelded to it, Pſal. 7.8. Thy face Lord will I ſeek. We cannot have it, without ſeeking for it; as that which is moſt precious, and a very infinite Treaſure. And withall, you ſee the encouragement, God beſpeaks it; he ſaith, Seek ye my face.
Laſtly, Such as prize the light of Gods countenance, they walk cloſely with God, and keep up ſtrict Communion with him. Slothfull and careleſſe walking, will never be bleſſed, with this glorious advantage. You read, the Church was but once careleſſe and negligent, when Chriſt proffered himſelf, and immediately Chriſt withdraweth: ſo that though ſhe runne up and down much perplexed, to ſee the face of her Beloved again, yet it coſt her dear, ere ſhe could obtain it. David began to have but ſome proud and preſumptuous thoughts, Pſal. 301.7. And God bid his face, and then he was troubled. You ſee, a little thing, a word, a thought may do it. Therefore thoſe, who deſire to enjoy it, they walk circumſpectly, leſt they ſhould do any thing, that may make him angry with them.
Ʋſe 1. Of Exhortation to Gods Children, To keep up a tender mollified heart; to take no reſt till the light of Gods countenance ſhine upon thee. Let not luſts, paſſions, or any thing be an eclipſe between this glorious Sunne and you. How can you live without this? May not the Devil come with ſeven more tormenting Devils then ever, if thou provoke God to withdraw his gracious preſence? To whom are woes? To whom are ſad terrours and perplexities of ſpirit? but to ſuch who cry out, God frowneth on them. Oh, they feel his anger conſuming of them!
Ʋſe 2. Of Admonition, to natural and unregenerate men, To know there is a better good then ever yet they taſted. Oh that thou couldſt deſire God, as thou doeſt wealth and pleaſures! Is not the pleaſant ſmiling face of ſome great Potentate, a reviving to thee? What endeavours for the favour of a great man, who yet is mortal? Will not this condemn thee at the Day of Judgment? Oh, how will the face of God be then eſteemed of!