Spiritual Refining, Religious treatise · Section 12 · Sermon 118
SERMON CXVIII.
The Advantages the Godly have by Aſſurance: How it may be known from Preſumption; with Directions to the godly that want it.
2 PET. 2. 10.
Wherefore the rather (Brethren) give diligence to make your Calling and Election ſure.
THe poſſibility and duty of this Aſſurance hath been already declared and proved; as alſo the practicall objections againſt it, removed. I now come to ſhew the great advantage of this certainty. Where the godly heart hath this holy aſſurance and perſwaſion wrought by Gods Spirit, there it hath many helps which the tempted ſoul wanteth. It is therefore good to propound them to you, that ſo the profitableneſſe of it in heavens way, may excite you to ſeek it.
And firſt, Where there is certainty of this heavenly priviledge, there the ſoul is The advantages that the godly have by Aſſurance. 1.more inſlamed and inlarged to love God. It's an aſſertion againſt all reaſon and experience, which the Papiſts utter, That aſſurance of Gods love in us would breed contempt, ſecurity and neglect of God. For with all ingenuous natures (and ſuch the children of God are) the more perſwaſion of anothers love to them, the more they repay it with love again. The wife, the childe, the more they know they are beloved of husband or father, the more this inflames them. Love is fire, and fire turneth all things into fire. Thus David, when he could ſay, God had forgiven his iniquities, and healed his diſeaſes, in particular; Then bleſſe the Lord, O my ſoul, and all within me praiſe his holy Name, Pſal. 103. 1. Thus Paul in Rom. 8. 6. what puts him into thoſe extaticall raptures, and tranſcendent expreſſions about God and Chriſt, but the aſſurance that he was ſuch an one whom God had elected, called and juſtified? Oh then, know all the while thou haſt doubtings and ſervile fears upon thee, ſo long thy love to God is very imperfect and cold. The fear of God brings hatred and weariſom thoughts of God: And hence the Apoſtle ſheweth, that fear, viz. ſlaviſh, hath a torment with it; and that love caſteth out this tormenting fear, 1 John 4 18. Love to God as a gracious Father, would allay all thoſe tempeſtuous and ſwelling waves that are in the ſoul. Now this can never be done, but by ſome certainty that we are ſuch whom God loveth. Tranquillus Deus, tranquillat omnia; when we know God is pacified, then the ſoul is alſo pacified. As it's with the ſea, that is quiet as long as the air and windes from above are quiet and ſtill; ſo it is here; The ſoul, that is calm, comfortable and gracious, all the while it can by aſſurance enjoy Gods favour. Now if we cannot ſo vigorouſly love God, while we are without this certainty, how ſhould this provoke us to indeavour after it!
Secondly, Certainty of our calling and election will breed much ſpirituall ſtrength …and heavenly ability to all graces and duties, to go through all relations with much holineſſe and lively vigour. For fear which is the oppoſite to this, that makes weak hands, and feeble knees, that diſheartens, that ſaith, A lion is in the way: whereas the certainty of our good condition would put hope and life into us. The teſtimony of a good conſcience made Paul ſo active in the courſe of his Miniſtry, 2 Cor. 1. 12. Certainty breeds joy, and the joy of the Lord is our ſtrength, as Nehemiah ſaid, Nehem. 8. 10. Take a piece of timber full of moths and worms eating into it, and it's no waies ſtrong enough for any building. Grief is made rottenneſſe to the bones, which conſumes the ſeat of all our ſtrength: ſo ſpirituall dejections and ſinfull doubtings about the work of grace in us, they conſume the very heart, they deſtroy the very foundations. No man but a ſanctified man can have a good conſcience in a Scripture ſenſe; they may have a quiet conſcience, not accuſing them for groſſe ſins committed againſt the light of nature: But this is not a Scripture good conſcience; for that is freed not only from groſſe ſins, but heart-ſins, and ſoul-ſins, and it is ſprinkled with the bloud of Chriſt. And thus a good conſcience is a continuall feaſt. Oh then, this ſhould ſtir thee up for this holy certainty; thou wilt be farre more chearfull, more joyfull in the work of the Lord: Thou wilt be more fervent and zealous; thou wilt be as the ſun, like a giant running his race. We complain of our barrenneſs, of our weakneſs, of our ſlothfulneſs: What can be wings to us but this certainty of our gracious eſtate, This will be like the Spirit in Ezekiels Wheels. This will be like the winde that gathered the dry bones together. Oh then that the people of God would more matter this. Thou couldſt not be ſuch a lump of earth, if this breath of life were breathed into thee.
Thirdly, This certainty and aſſurance of grace, would exceedingly keep up the heart under all afflictions and outward miſeries. Had not Paul been aſſured of that 3.eternall weight of glory, he could not have judged theſe worldly miſeries light and eaſie. When David was in all that miſery, all outward hopes gone, He incouraged himſelf in his God, 1 Sam. 30. 6. His God, He knew God was his God, though he had loſt all things elſe. And thus Paul is more then a conquerour; and doth ſo highly challenge all troubles to hurt him if they can, becauſe he knoweth by Gods Spirit, that he is one called and choſen; and ſhall not this prevail with you? Is it not a miſerable thing to fear to be killed by men, and to be damned by God at the ſame time: To be impriſoned by men, and impriſoned in thy own conſcience, Oh what will provoke thee if not this? Alas! I am ſure of nothing, not of my life, not of my outward comforts, not of any outward injoyment, and wilt not thou then be ſure of grace within thee? Oh our vanity! when will we be wiſe? We labour for thoſe earthly things, which when we have, we cannot be ſure off, but not at all for grace. Is it not with many men, as with the bees, when all the ſummer they have laboured to fill their combs with hony, then comes the husbandman and burneth them, and takes their hony. So thou haſt a long while laboured to get up ſo much wealth, ſuch an eſtate, and then comes death, or ſome ſudden publique judgement, the ſword and warre, and that takes all thy hony from thee. Oh when we can be ſure of no outward thing we have, let us be ſure of inward grace.
Fourthly, This certainty of grace is a ſtrong and mighty buckler againſt all thoſe violent aſſaules and temptations, that the devil uſeth to exerciſe the godly with. His 4.temptations are, That they are hypocrites, that all the calamities which fall upon them are becauſe God is not reconciled with them, that they ſeek themſelves and not the glory of God. Now there is no ſuch brazen wall to repell all his darts, as the teſtimony and knowledge of the truth of grace in our hearts. This was the aqua vitae, that kept up Job. You know what fiery temptations he had, God ſeemed to be againſt him; godly friends judged him an hypocrite: The devil he aſſaults him; he ſaith, Doth Job ſerve God for nought? God hedgeth him in, and giveth him outward proſperity; no wonder then if Job ſerve God, Job 1. Theſe are ſtrong tempeſtuous windes, able to tear up the root of the ſtrongeſt oak; but yet he ſtands like an immoveable root; and all becauſe of that integrity and ſincerity which he knew to be in himſelf; he knew his aims and ends to be pure, he knew he ſerved God for Gods ſake. As this is of great conſequence to defend againſt the devils accuſations, ſo alſo againſt the calumnies and falſe clamours of the devils inſtruments. As the devil is foreign, The accuſér, ſo all wicked men do diabolize; they charge the generation of the godly for hypocrites, for diſſemblers, for painted ſepulchres; but the knowledge of their own uprightneſſe, and the graces of God in their ſoul, do abundantly fortifie them; whereas this is terrible to have other men condemning us, and God alſo, and our own conſciences condemning us.
Fifthly, This certainty is a ſpeciall means to breed contentation of minde, and a 5.thankfull, chearfull heart in every condition. As we told you, David in that great exigency of his, incouraged himſelf in his God: and in his Pſalms, that the Lord was his portion, and his inheritance: Now this could not be known, unleſſe he alſo were certain of his godlineſſe; for God is not the portion or inheritance of wicked men. And upon this it is, that he ſaith, God had put more joy into his heart, then they have, when wine and oil increaſeth, Pſal. 4. If therefore thou wouldſt have that happineſſe on earth, true contentation of ſpirit, it muſt be from the knowledge of thy grace, and ſenſe of Gods love in Chriſt, when thou canſt ſay, Soul, take thy ſpiritual eaſe and heavenly quiet, for here are many good things ſtored up for thee: This is to be a godly Dives indeed, a Dives in ſoul, and to fare deliciouſly, in a ſpiritual ſenſe, every day.
Laſtly, This certainty of grace is a ſure and speciall antidote againſt death in all 6.the fears of it. This makes the King of terrors, a King of all conſolations: For ſeeing that by grace we are the members of Chriſt, death hath no more ſting on us, then on Chriſt our head. And therefore the godly may in Chriſt triumph, O death where is thy ſting, O grave where is thy victory! 1 Cor. 15. 55. Theſe ſerpents may be handled, becauſe their ſtings are out. Let them howl and roar out at the approach of death, who know not whether God be their friend, or enemy, or rather may know he is their enemy; who have juſt cauſe to doubt, whether they are going to hell or heaven: Oh to ſuch, the very name and thought of death and judgement, muſt be full of amazement and terror: But to thoſe who are in a holy manner perſwaded of their intereſt in Chriſt, that perceive the ſure evidences of Gods grace in them; they may lift up their heads for their redemption draweth nigh: And indeed this ſhould much incite you, to ſeek after ſuch a ſupport at death. Hezekiah upon the ſentence of death paſſed on him, ſupported himſelf with this, 2 King. 20. 3. And what wilt thou do, when the hour of death approaches: here is no longer the comfort of thy riches, wife and children to be injoyed; here is no longer the company of thy friends and acquaintance to be retained. Oh then! when thou art to be ſure no longer of any earthly comfort, would it not be better then a world to thee to be ſure of heavenly comforts? Oh that you would be wiſe for your latter end. Do ſomething that may ſtand you in ſtead, when you are dying men, gaſping at the laſt. Drowning men uſe to catch hold on any thing. Oh dying and drowning men ſhould be ſure of a faſt hold to lean upon; Theſe are the advantages.How to know true certainty which is wrought by the Spirit, from the falſe perſwaſions of a mans own heart. 1.
But the godly heart may inquire, How ſhall I know this holy certainty and perſwaſion by Gods Spirit, from my own perſwaſion, from the ſelf-flattery that is in me? Are there not thouſands of people that call darkneſs light, and bitter ſweet? that conclude the truth and goodneſſe of their heart in all reſpects towards God. It's true it cannot be denied but that there are ſuch fooliſh dreamers, who dream of their fulneſſe when they are indeed empty; yet to a ſearching eye they may be quickly diſtinguiſhed.
For firſt, Holy certainty is kept up in all exerciſes of grace, and conſtant tender avoiding of all known ſin: but preſumption will agree with the practice of all theſe. He is confident of Gods love, of his own good heart; yet a notorious beaſt, a conſtant ſwearer, a conſtant liar, unjuſt in his dealing, luſtfull and voluptuous in his life. Oh theſe muſt needs be horſe-beetles that can live in ſuch dung; not Chriſts doves who delight in neat and ſweet places. What? thou hope in God? thou truſt thou haſt a good heart and a good conſcience when ſo much wickedneſſe is in thy life! This is impudent preſumption, and Gods eies are purer then to accept or love ſuch. Doth a man then think he hath grace in his heart, how carefull is he to practiſe all good known duties, and to avoid all known ſin.
Secondly, Preſumption is unwilling to be ſearched and tried. It flieth from the light, it cannot abide the touchſtone; but this holy certainty loveth a deep ſearch. 2.It is here as between the Heretique and the Orthodox man; Heretiques they are lucifugae Scripturarum, as Tertull, ſaid, The bats and owls that fly from the light. The thief hates the light, ſaith our Saviour, John. 2. 20. But the true doctrine, that deſireth to be tried and dived into. Then thus, where a true knowledge of grace is, that man crieth with David, Prove me, Lord, examine and try if there be any falſe way, Pſal. 26. 2. But where preſumption is, that would not have a cracked title, or a forged evidence brought before the Judge.
Thirdly, Preſumption beareth up a mans heart, till a man come to ſome great and extraordinary calamities, and then this bubble vaniſheth away. Its not truly rooted, 3.and ſo will not abide a violent ſtorm. They fall from preſumption into deſpair. But ſee how Job and David can go through the hardeſt brunts; though they be under many briars, yet theſe innocent ſheep loſe not their wooll. Droſs will melt in the fire, but gold will be the more refined. The winde makes chaff fly away, but leaveth the corn more purified. The righteous hath hope in his death, Prov. 14. 32. then when the preſumptuous mans hope doth moſt wither many times.
Fourthly, Preſumption is not oppoſed nor aſſaulted by the devil. Satan doth not tempt and labour to drive people out of it, but nouriſheth them in it. But out of 4.this holy certainty, the devils main ſcope is to drive them. You ſee he was not afraid to ſhoot out his fiery dart even at Chriſt himſelf, upon this, Whether he was the Son of God. And his ſtratagem was to make Job think, and condemn himſelf for an hypocrite. So that godly aſſurance is much oppoſed, both by the devil and the unbelieving heart of man; its hardly obtained, and hardly retained. But of preſumption we may ſay, as Iſaac did of his ſons counterfeit veniſon, how comeſt thou by it ſo quickly my ſon? How come you to be confident thus quickly, thus eaſily? This man-childe is born, and your ſoul hath not been in travell and pangs: this is not Gods way.
Fifthly, It is the ſure character of preſumption, that it divideth the means and the end. It hopes for ſuch priviledges, though it never do the duties: Now this is 5.not aſſurance, but a preſumptuous deluſion, whereas you ſee this text is, To give all diligence to make your calling ſure. Preſumption is like that charity James ſpeaks of, that giveth good words, bids the party go home and be warmed and cloathed, but doth not give any thing; and in this preſumption moſt men live: They hope for that end, the means whereof they are never converſant in. Should they tempt God about their naturall life (they will not eat and drink and think to live) all men would ſay it were horrible preſumption: but though they do it palpably about ſupernaturall life (they will neither repent or forsake ſin, or live holily) and yet hope Chriſt will be their Saviour. Though they do thus, yet men ſee not their own folly and madneſſe therein.
Sixthly, Preſumption is but a ſelf-deceiving, falſe logick that a man deceiveth himſelf with. Whereas you heard this certainty is a knowledge wrought by Gods 6.Spirit in us. The Apoſtle James ſaith, If any man ſeem to be religious and bridle not his tongue, foreign, he makes a falſe ſyllogiſme, James 1. 26. He takes non cauſa, procauſa; and indeed all preſumption is nothing but a falſe ſyllogiſme; a man takes that for a cauſe which is not a cauſe: or elſe it is an ignoration of the proper ſtate of the queſtion, that it is to be indeed godly, how much goeth to the nature of it.
Seventhly, The preſumptuous man is full of haughty arrogance and proud preferring 7.of himſelf, contemning and undervaluing others. Thus that Phariſee, Lord I thank thee that I am not as other men, &c. Whereas true aſſurance is accompanied with deep humility, and a pitifull reſpect to others, praying and mourning for others; Oh that their eies were opened; Oh that they were inriched with the grace of God, as they are. Humility and ſelf-emptineſſe is an inſeparable effect of godly aſſurance, and of precious eſteem with God. Minimum de ſe ſenſiſſe, tam magnum eſt quam maximas res feciſſe, The loweſt love, and the leaſt thoughts of our ſelves, is as great, as to have done the greateſt and moſt excellent things.
In the next place it may be queſtioned, What that godly perſon ſhould do, What a godly perſon ſhould do that wants Aſſurance.who hath not this aſſurance; though grace be in him, he knoweth it not, yea he thinketh the clean contrary. Even as Luke 24. 16. When Jeſus after his reſurrection appeared to the diſciples, though he drew nigh to them, and talked to them, yet ſaith the text, Their eies were holden, that they did not know him. So it is with many a gracious heart, Chriſt is ſpiritually in the ſoul, grace is preſent, yet he cannot feel this. Though the ſun of righteouſneſſe be in his heart, yet he walketh in darkneſſe.
Now to ſuch an one we ſay, Let him walk in a faith of adherence and dependance when he hath none of theſe evidences. This the Scripture cals truſting, relling, leaning and ſtaying of the ſoul upon God. David in many Pſalms hath only this plank to ſtand upon in the great Ocean: For this you muſt know, though aſſurance be a duty, and to be preſſed after, yet it is not the faith that juſtifieth. Thou maieſt belong to God, and have an intereſt in the promiſe, though thou feel no evidences of it. Who is he that feareth God, walking in darkneſſe and hath no light, let him ſtay himſelf upon God? Iſa. 50. 10. So then, if thou findeſt thy ſoul like a parched heath; thou goeſt bowed down, thinking thy ſelf a withered branch, a dried tree; conſider what is thy duty, what doth God require of thee? even a depending and waiting on him. And this dependance of faith is far more noble then the aſſurance of faith.
For firſt, In aſſurance, there I go on in holy duties, and love of God, becauſe The dependance of faith more noble then Aſſurance 1.of the ſenſible ſweetneſſe and delight that I have; but in dependance there I truſt in God, when I have no ſenſe or feeling: So then, as it is a greater act of love to God, when I love him though he afflicts me, though he bleſſeth me with no outward mercies; ſo it is a greater act of obedience to wait and depend on God, when I feel my own unworthineſſe and load of ſin, then when the goodneſſe of my heart is cleared up unto me.
Secondly, To depend and wait on God, though darkneſſe be in thy ſoul, argueth 2.thy faith more firm and ſtrong. As when the woman of Canaan would not give over, though Chriſt called her dog, yet this made her faith to appear great faith. It was an high expreſſion in Iob, Though he kill me I will truſt in him. Do not then give over thy conſtancy in holy duties, be not diſcouraged in waiting, on God for aſſurance, for he will at laſt cauſe the ſun to ariſe, and the dark night to fly away.
And thus I ſhall conclude this text, ſtill preſſing you to be upon more ſure and certain terms about your ſouls, then many are. God bid Hezekiah ſet his houſe in order before he died: Oh do thou ſet thy ſoul in order, caſt up all thy ſpirituall accounts. It is a wofull thing when thou art dying, then to cry out, Oh I know not what to do, live I muſt not, dy I dare not; every thing is in diſorder, there is nothing ſure about my ſoul. What do you think my beloved brethren? Are not theſe things the greateſt reaſon in the world we perſwade you to? How unexcuſable will ye be? when will ye go away and ſay, It is true indeed, we ſhould be upon ſure terms, It is an happy thing to be ſo, but the world, that hinders me, my luſts they hinder me. I tell you the conſideration of theſe things have ſo affected men heretofore, that they have gone and lived in cells, and holds of the earth; they have ſhut themſelves up in woods and wilderneſſes, that they duplicate page duplicate page might attend to this great matter the ſalvation of their ſouls. This indeed was their blinde zeal and indiſcreet forwardneſs, but it will certainly at the day of Judgement riſe up and condemn thy jollity, thy carnall ſecurity in a ſinfull way.