Christ Inviting Sinners to Come to Him for Rest, Treatise · Chapter 50
CHAP. L.
Five markes of true reſt in Chriſt. I. It is not but upon diſcovery of glorious things the ſoul knew not before. II. It comes upon the ſoul, ceaſing from its owne worke. III. It makes the beleever active for God. IIII. Reſt in thoſe things wherein Chriſt reſted. V. True Reſt wil abide the trial of the word.
YOU Wil ſay, Oh, that we did but know, that this was our reſt, that we did not preſume, but that we were ſure that the reſt that we have in Chriſt was a true reſt. Now I told you before, that there was a faith of adherence, that might bring reſt, though there were not a faith of evidence. But now, you wil ſay, if we might have both, a faith of evidence, as wel as a faith of adherence, it would ad much to our Reſt.
Now I wil help you to ſome notes, whereby you may come to examin, whether the Reſt you have is the glorious Reſt here ſpoken of, and two things I ſhal doe becauſe notwithſtanding al this glorious Reſt, many of Gods ſervants here in this world are under much trouble of ſpirit, I ſhal give further rules how to make uſe of the reſt that is to be had in Chriſt, and ſome rules likewiſe how to keep the reſt, when the Lord Chriſt gives you Reſt.
Firſt, For the evidences to know whether your Reſt be indeed the right Reſt that is in Chriſt.
Firſt, This Reſt in Chriſt, it can never be but upon great diſcovery of glorious things that the ſoul was not acquainted with before, many men go on and are quiet in their way and think that their reſt is Chriſts reſt, how wil that appeare that it is Chriſts Reſt? It wil appeare that they have had poor weake grounds to ſtand upon, only that which they have in a natural way, they live quietly among men, and the creatures doth not trouble them, and in a prudential way they are loath to trouble themſelves in their owne thoughts. But now, I appeal to thy ſoul, what diſcoveries haſt thou had of the glorious things of the covenant of Grace, and the covenant of life, in thoſe waies that God hath had in his eternal counſels to reconcile God and thy ſoul? What diſcoveries of Gods waies haſt thou had, to draw thy heart to Chriſt? Thy Reſt muſt come from theſe, theſe muſt be the meanes to bring thy ſoul to reſt, if thy Reſt come from blindneſs, Ignorance, and deadneſs of ſpirit, it is far from the true Reſt in Chriſt.
Secondly, The Reſt that the ſoul hath in Chriſt, it is that that the Apoſtle ſpeakes of in Heb. 14, It comes upon the ſoules ceaſing from its owne worke, as God ceaſed from his, verſe the 10. For he that is entred into his Reſt, he alſo hath ceaſed from his owne workes, as God did from his. As God did Reſt the ſeventh day from al his workes, he gives that note of the reſt in Chriſt. There remaines therefore a reſt to the people of God, for he that is entred into his reſt, he alſo hath ceaſed from his owne workes, as God ceaſed from his. He comepares the reſt that the ſoul hath in Chriſt, to Gods reſt upon the ſeventh day. Now ſaith he, as God ſeaſed from his work that he wrougt upon the ſixth day, & the ſeventh day he reſted, ſo whatſoever enters upon this reſt, he muſt ceaſe from his owne workes what is that? The work that a man workes for himſelf, as in his natural eſtate, every man in his natural eſtate doth not Gods work at al, but works his owne work. Now, ſaith he, look as God ceaſeth from his owne work, and then reſts, they that enter into this reſt muſt ceaſe from their owne workes, thoſe workes of ſin that they lived in, and wrought for themſelves, for their own endes, while they were in their natural eſtates; ſo that then examin this, haſt thou cea…ed from thy own works? doſt not thou work for thy ſelf in al thy waies? Art thou taken off from thy ſelf and al the creatures? It may be thou doſt ſome work, but materially it is nothing of Gods, thou prayeſt and makeſt profeſſion of religion, I but it is thy owne worke ſtil. But if thou beeſt entered into this reſt, thou muſt ceaſe from thine owne workes, not only from thoſe workes that are ſinful in themſelves, but thou muſt not worke for thy ſelf in the beſt things, thou muſt be taken off from thy ſelf in the beſt things, thou muſt work the works of God, and be emptied of thy ſelf, and then thy ſoul ſhal have reſt, That is both an evidence that thy reſt is true, and a meanes to bring reſt unto thy ſoul. Take heed that thy work be not thine owne work, when thou doſt any work, I am about ſuch and ſuch a work, I but is it my owne work or Gods work It is true, there was a time that al the work I did was for my ſelf, and then if there were any argument, whereby I could ſee that it was for my ſelf I could work, if it was for ſelf ends, if I had ſelf to be promoted I could work, this is the way of men in themſelves. But now when the ſoul hath entred into the reſt of Chriſt, he hath ceaſed from his owne workes, and therefore now though there be not ſtrong arguments and ends to perſwade me to doe a work, yet it is enough that it is the work of God, and God ſhal have praiſe in it, and I can work as earneſtly and and ſtrongly in the work as ever I did any worke for my ſelf,
Thirdly, Another note of the true reſt of the ſoul in Chriſt is this, The more reſt thou haſt in Chriſt, the more active thou art for God; the falſe reſt that the ſoul hath makes it dul, ſecure, ſluggiſh, and negligent: but now the true reſt that is in Chriſt, makes the ſoul mighty active, and ſtirring, maks it to do great things for God; never had that ability to do for God, as now when it hath had reſt from Chriſt, as now we know that many people are very active & ſtirring, when their conſcience is ſtirred, then they wil riſe early in the morning, and hear, and read, and pray, and mightily ſtir, when their conſcience is ſtirred, but if they have got any quiet and reſt to their ſpirits, they grow lazy, dul, and ſecure, and are leſs active in the places God hath ſet them in then before; but the ſoul that hath true reſt from Chriſt, is more active and lively in the work of God then before. As Archimedes ſaid, give me a place where I could reſt my ſelf on, and he thought then he could move the earth, ſo let the ſoul get but once the foot ſtopt upon Chriſt, ſo as he can have reſt in Chriſt, he can do more for God then ever he could before. And therefore I remember (and you may afterward by comparing find this note to be true) that whereas God commanded Moſes while they were going up and down in the wilderneſs and had no reſt, to make an altar for ſacrifice of ſuch a bigneſs, ſo many foot, in the ſtory you ſhal find that when Solomon came to make an Altar to God, he made it twice as big as Moſes in the time of their being in the wilderneſs. The two ſeveral places I cannot ſtand to look to, but you ſhal find this note to be true, that the altar of Solomon, was as big again as the altar of Moſes, Why? for they were then in a reſtleſs condition, went up and down, and were not at reſt, But now when they came to the Land of Canaan, there they had reſt, and there the altar is as big again; noting, that they ſhould offer as much ſacrifice again as they did before in the time when they were in the wilderneſs, in their reſtleſs condition. So, thy ſoul was once in the wilderneſs, hurried up and down, and then the altar for thy ſacrifice was bu… little, but when once God brings reſt to thy ſoul in Chriſt, thy altar ſhal be as big again, and thou ſhalt do as much more for God as thou didſt before▪
Fourthly, Another note of the true reſt in Chriſt is this, if ſo be that thou haſt this reſt, then that which is Chriſts reſt is thine, as thus. If thou haſt reſt in Chriſt then look what Chriſt hath reſt in, that is thy reſt too, as now. what is the reſt of Chriſt? Chriſt hath reſt eſpecially in three things, there are three things that are the reſt of Chriſt. Gods reſt in his Saints. His reſt in his Ordinances. And his reſt in his Sabbaths. Now thoſe that are partakers of true reſt for their Soules in Chriſt, look what Gods reſt is, thy reſt is. As now for the Saints the ſoul hath reſt in them, that is, thy ſoul hath content and reſt in them, in their company. Marke what is ſaid of them in Zepha. 3.17. Saith the Holy Ghoſt. The Lord thy God in the midſt of thee is mighty, he wil ſave, he wil rejoyce over thee with joy, he wil reſt in his Love, he wil joy over thee with ſinging. Is the ſociety and company of the ſaints a reſt to the, or rather a trouble to thee? Oh, to many, the company of the ſaints it is a trouble to them but when they get into their own company, amonſt their own Companions, then they have ſome Reſt,
And then for the ordinances, for that you have a text in the 132. Pſalm. and 14. Speaking of Zion. For the Lord hath Choſen Zion, he hath deſired it for his habitation, this is my reſt for ever, here wil I dwel, for I have deſired it. Oh, in Zion, in ordinances, in duties, in the worſhip that is tendered up to thee, here is my reſt for ever, and here is my delight, Lord let me have reſt this way, my ſpirit is never ſo much at reſt, as when I am in the duties of Gods worſhip, when I am exerciſed in Gods ordinances, here my ſoul is at reſt, what ever I have elſe, If I ſhould have peace again, and enjoy eſtate quietly, yet except I have Gods ordinances I cannot have reſt. Now doth thy ſoul enjoy more reſt in the ordinances then in any other way? then thy reſt is Chriſts reſt. And then for the ſabboth, you know what the ſcripture ſaith, what a ſabboth is, it is nothing but reſt, and is the ſaboth a day of Reſt unto thy ſoul? do not many people think the ſabboth day moſt troubleſome to them, eſpecially, if they be kept to holy duties, prayer, hearing the word, & the like: Suppoſe you be put to pray in your cloſet, & then to pray in your family, and to aske ſome queſtions to your ſervants & children, and then come to the publick, and there to ſanctifie the name of God, and then when you come home again, to examin your family, over what they have learned, and ſo prepare your ſelves again to the ordinance and ſo to ſpend your ſelf in prayer, and hearing, and excerciſing al the day, would not this be a wearineſs to many of you? And would not many of you ſay, as thoſe in Malachy, When wil the ſabboth be over? Men indeed count the ſabboth a reſt, Why? becauſe they ceaſe from working, and they put on fine cloths, and go abroad, and walk in the feilds and upon this they count the ſabboth a reſt, ſurely ſuch are not acquainted with the reſt that is in Chriſt; but if thy ſoul be acquainted with this reſt, then the ſabboth is but a tipe of that reſt, that thou ſhalt keep in the higheſt heavens, it is but a tipe unto thee, and a forerunner of that Glorious Reſt that thou ſhalt enjoy hereafter.
Fifthly, If thy ſoul have true reſt, it is ſuch reſt as wil abide examination of the word of God, though it doth touch to the quick, and the more the word doth touch to the quick, the more it comes to thy ſoul, the more reſt thy ſoul hath. In Heb. after the Holy Ghoſt had ſpoken of the reſt that is to the people of God, in 12. ſaith he. The word is quick, and powerful, and ſharper then any two edged ſword, peircing to the dividing a ſunder of Soul and ſpirit, and of the Joynts and Marrow, and is a diſcerner of the thoughts and intents of the Heart. As if he ſhould ſay, if you enter into the Reſt of Gods people, you ſhal have ſuch a reſt as wil abide the moſt narrow, and quickening ſearchings of the word of God, the word of God will ſearch you through and through, and your reſt ſhal be ſuch a reſt as wil abide the ſearch A reſt that comes by the word, the more the word ſearcheth, the more it increaſeth quickning, it ſearcheth between the marrow and the bones, and the more reſt a true gracious Heart finds.