Four Useful Discourses, Sermon 3
Sermon III.
Luke 10. 6.
And if the Son of Peace be there, &c.
We Proceed,
NOw follows the Bleſſing upon thoſe that ſhall be Entertainers of the Goſpel, that are the Sons of Peace, Your Peace ſhall be upon them. That is, They ſhall have all the good of the Goſpel to be theirs: That's the meaning. For it was wont among the Jews to be the Expreſſion of all kind of Good: Peace be to you. By the Name of Peace, they did expreſs all good. So that your Peace ſhall abide upon them: That is, All the good of the Goſpel, that you carry to them ſhall be theirs: So then, from theſe words, from the Bleſſing that is upon the right Entertainers of the Goſpel, here you have theſe Four Points;
Firſt, That thoſe that Entertain the Goſpel, ſhall have the Peace of the Goſpel.
Secondly, That this is a great Mercy from God, and the Portion of the Sons of Peace, not only to have ſome ſudden Apprehenſions of the Excellency of the Goſpel; but to have the Good and the Bleſſing of the Goſpel to abide upon them, to reſt upon them: That's the Second. And then,
Thirdly, That thoſe that do Entertain the Goſpel, do bring a Bleſſing upon the places where they Live. For ſo, if you obſerve it, and look into the Words, you ſhall find that it is not ſaid, And if the Son of Peace be there, your Peace ſhall reſt upon him: But if the Son of Peace be there; that is, in the Houſe into which you come, your Peace ſhall reſt upon it: Upon the Houſe, upon the Place where the Son of Peace is. (So that that's the Third Point, where there is any that do Imbrace the Goſpel, ſuch a one doth bring a Bleſſing to the Place and the Family where he Lives.)
Fourthly, The Conſideration of the great good that a Miniſter of God ſhall bring unto a Place, in caſe he be Entertain'd, is a mighty Encouragement to them in their Miniſtry. Saith Chriſt, Go your way and Preach, perhaps you may meet with ſome Difficulties; but this is your Errand that you are ſent withal, to Preach the Peace of the Goſpel. And this is the great good that you ſhall bring to all thoſe that ſhall entertain your Meſſage: That if they be the Sons of peace, and entertain you, you ſhall be the Inſtrument to bring all the good of the Goſpel upon them. Theſe are the Four Doctrinal Points clearly in this Bleſſing, Your peace ſhall reſt upon them. It is the Second of theſe that I ſhall ſtick moſt on; the Firſt, I confeſs, is a large Point, that's this:
That whoſoever Entertains the Goſpel, ſhall have the Bleſſing of the Goſpel upon them, the peace of the Goſpel, Your peace ſhall be upon them. That which is here promiſed, you have promiſed almoſt in the ſame words in the ſame caſe, Mat. 10. 13. And if the Houſe be worthy, let your peace come upon it. If it be worthy. And in Gal. 6. 16. As many as walk according to this Rule, peace be upon him, and upon the Iſrael of God: That is, he that ſubmits to the Rule of the Goſpel, he ſhall have the peace of the Goſpel: The words in the Greek are, To this Canon: The Canon of the Goſpel, he ſhall have the peace of the Goſpel. As if Chriſt ſhould ſay, If there be any good in the Goſpel, if I have purchaſed any good by my Blood; they ſhall have that Good, and that Bleſſing. Now to Open what the Benefit and Bleſſing of the Peace of the Goſpel is, I confeſs, would be a large Argument: And becauſe I have elſe-where Opened the Doctrine of Reconciliation, the Doctrine of the Peace of the Goſpel; I ſhall for the preſent, here paſs very briefly over it, and give you a little of the Subſtance of it, and then paſs as ſoon as I can to the Second Point, where we ſhall ſpend the greateſt part of the time.
Your Peace ſhall be upon it: What's that? You ſhall have the Peace of the Goſpel. O this is an ineſtimable Bleſſing indeed! For the Peace of the Goſpel. It is,
Firſt, Peace with God Himſelf: Whereas if they did underſtand themſelves and know God, they would know that they are Enemies unto God, and that the Wrath of the Eternal God is out againſt them: But if they come but to entertain your Meſſage, they ſhall be Reconciled unto this Infinite God; the Wrath of the Infinite God ſhall be turn'd quite away from them, ſo as they ſhall never be in danger of any one Spark of the Wrath of God to come out againſt them, there ſhall be this Peace: Whereas before they were in ſuch a Condition, as if they knew themſelves and God, the Preſence of God would be terrible unto them. But if they entertain your Meſſage, they ſhall come to be able to look upon that God that was an Infinite provoked Deity, as a Friend; they ſhall look upon His Face with joy, they ſhall have free acceſs unto His Preſence, as Children unto the preſence of their Father: Whereas before they had cauſe to fear every moment ſome dreadful fruit of the Wrath of God, to purſue and ſink them. But now, whatſoever Judgments of God ſhall be abroad in the World, they ſhall be in a ſecure Condition; they ſhall be free from all, they ſhall be built upon the Rock; when Tempeſts and Storms ſhall be abroad to Sink others, they ſhall not be ſtirred, for they ſhall have peace with God.
Your Peace, that is, even peace with all Creatures; they ſhall have the bleſſing of that peace too: Whereas before, all the Creatures of God were as the Hoſts of God, His Armies ready prepared to Avenge the Quarrel of God upon them: Every Creature as it were crying unto God, Lord ſend me, Lord ſend me, that I may ſtrike this Sinner, that I may ſtrike this Blaſphemer, this unclean Wretch, and this prophane Wretch; and if God would but give Commiſſion to any one Creature, it would preſently be their Deſtruction: But upon their entertaining of your Meſſage, there ſhall be Peace between them and all Creatures, ſo as no Creature in all the World, ſhall ever be able to do them hurt. Though they ſhall Live in the midſt of an evil World, yet this ſhall be their Condition, That all good Creatures ſhall be made uſeful to them for good, and there is no evil Creature ſhall ever be able to do the leaſt evil to them.
And again, They ſhall have a peace of Conſcience, whereas before their Conſciences were ready to flie in their faces. And they, indeed, ſought many wayes and means to quiet their Conſciences, but could never get any true quiet of Conſcience. But upon their entertainment of your Meſſage, their Conſciences ſhall be pacified in the Blood of the Meſſiah; therefore bid them be of good comfort, their Conſciences ſhall be able to anſwer all Accuſations that can be laid againſt them. For ſo the Scripture tells us of the Anſwer of a good Conſcience, 1 Pet. 3. 21. Thus, Let the Devil, let Temptation, charge upon one that is reconcil'd to God what they can, A good Conſcience through the Reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt, is able to anſwer all Accuſations and Temptations. This ſhall be the Peace that ſhall be upon them.
And, Fourthly, The Word of God ſhall be at Peace with them. They ſhall have Intereſt in all the Promiſes that are in the Word of God, the whole Word ſhall ſpeak nothing but good unto them: Whereas before, the Word of God was full of Terror, and came againſt them as their Enemy; but now all that is in the Word, ſhall be Peace unto them, If the Son of Peace be there. This is the Peace that you ſhall bring upon them, Peace with God, and with the Creatures, and with their Conſciences, and with the Word. And then, O the Bleſſing that is upon all the Entertainers of the Goſpel. O the happy Condition that the Entertainers of the Goſpel are in. This, my Brethren, is the Reaſon why there are ſome that do prize the Goſpel, and their Hearts are ſo much upon it. Do not blame them, they find this good in it, They find the Bleſſing of the Goſpel upon them: And therefore though you feel not the ſweetneſs and good that there is in it, and ſo neglect it; their Souls feel it, and they bleſs themſelves in their God, and bleſs the Lord that ever they heard of the Goſpel. Certainly, There are many Thouſands this day in Heaven, Bleſſing God that ever they heard of the Goſpel, becauſe of the Bleſſings that they do partake of, by and through the Goſpel.
Object. You will ſay, I, but there are many that are the Sons of Peace, and the Entertainers of the Goſpel, and yet they do not feel the Bleſſing of this Peace; they are as much troubled as any are.
Anſw. To that I anſwer, They have certainly that which is the Matter for Peace, and their trouble comes for want of Underſtanding it: Others have Matter for Terror, and their peace comes for want of the knowledg of what Matter for Terror there is. It's true, they have not for the preſent the full ſenſe of this Bleſſing of peace, though they have that which will bring it at laſt. As for Inſtance, When the bluſtering Tempeſtuous Winds do ceaſe, the Waves of the Sea do not preſently ceaſe from their tumultuous Working, and Roaring, and Noiſe, and yet that which was the Cauſe of their Working, that's gone. So here, Thoſe who Entertain the Goſpel, they preſently upon the Entertaining of it, have the Tempeſt over; there is no more Tempeſt of the Wrath of God againſt them, but yet there may be ſome Trouble in their Spirits; but it will be allaid within a while, becauſe that which is the Reaſon of their Trouble, that certainly is over: And therefore a ſtrong Argument here you have to Entertain this bleſſed Goſpel, that is ſent among you. When you hear it Preached, you hear what it brings to you; it brings all the Good that Chriſt hath purchaſed with His Blood: This it offers to you. And can the World offer to you as much as this comes to? Can there be any thing to draw your Hearts away from it, that ſhall be Equal with this Good? Certainly, This is the Peace that is Infinitely above all Earthly things. What would not we do to purchaſe a good and ſure Peace here in the Kingdom? If we account a firm and ſure peace to be ſo ſweet, would not we be willing to lay down our Lives? Certainly, That Man or Woman cannot be accounted to be a good Member of a Common-wealth, that ſhould not be willing to lay down their Lives in ſuch times as theſe, to purchaſe a ſure and firm peace. But now, here the Goſpel preaches to you another manner of Bleſſing, than this outward Peace: The Goſpel holds forth unto you, that peace that was purchaſed to you by the Blood of the Son of God: It was ſuch a Peace that Chriſt thought his own Blood not too dear to lay down for the purchaſe of this peace of the Goſpel. It is that Peace that paſſes all underſtanding, a Soul peace, an Everlaſting peace; and therefore you ſhould come to hear the Goſpel, as the great Ordinance of God that is appointed by Him, to bring this Glorious peace unto your Souls. Do not come meerly to hear what a Man can ſay, or to hear the Gifts and Abilities of a Man, or to get a few new Notions, and the like: But when you come to attend upon the Goſpel, come, I ſay, unto it as the great Ordinance that is appointed by God, to bring peace to the Souls of thoſe, that He doth intend Eternal good unto: And this is to come in a right way and manner, to the Preaching of the Goſpel. This, I ſay, is to have a right underſtanding of what Good there is in the Goſpel. And if any of your Souls have had a peace before you have come to a right underſtanding of the Goſpel, know that all that peace is Naught, it will Undo you, you will never have any good by it. You have had peace in your own Spirits a great while, and you bleſs God that you are not troubled: How came you by that peace which you have had for theſe many years? You have gone on quietly, and the Terms between God and your Souls, have not troubled you. But I this day, in the Name of God demand of you, How came you to have this Peace? How came God and your Souls to be Friends? This I can tell you, That there was a time that every one of you were Enemies to God. If God hath Revealed any Truth in this Book, this is a certain Truth, That every one in this place, was an Enemy to God. Now then, how you have made up your peace, your had need look to it. Certainly, it muſt come by the Goſpel, or elſe it is a Deluſion: If ſo be that the Treaties between God and your Souls, were not the Treaties of the Goſpel; that is, the Goſpel Revealing the great Counſels of God unto you about this, and the Terms upon which He would be Reconciled; and then your Souls ſending up your Anſwer to God, how you would be willing to accept of thoſe Conditions, that are propounded in the Goſpel. I put this to your Souls, What Treaties hath there been between God and you? Have you found the Miniſtry of the Goſpel to be powerful upon you, and to bring this Peace into you? If it hath not come in this way, I ſay it is but a Deluſion, and the great Work of Reconciliation between God and your Souls, is to make up at this day.
But thus much for this Firſt Point.
But Secondly,Doct. 2 Your Peace ſhall reſt upon it. Shall reſt, that is, Whoſoever Entertains it, they ſhall not only have ſome ſudden Apprehenſions of thoſe Excellent things that you bring unto them, they ſhall not only have ſome flaſhie Comforts in thoſe things, and feel ſome preſent Sweetneſs in them; but the good and the Bleſſing of that bleſſed Doctrine of peace, it ſhall abide with them all the days of their lives, and to all Eternity. That's the meaning, Your Peace ſhall reſt upon them. So that this is our Point now, That ſuch as do Entertain the Goſpel. Now what the Entertainment is, that is, what it is to be a Son of Peace: That was a great part of our Work, the laſt Lords Day. But if you be ſuch Sons of Peace as was Opened to you, I ſay, the Lord will not only grant you preſent Apprehenſions of the Glorious things of the Goſpel, and ſome preſent Sweetneſs, but He will Cauſe the Bleſſing of it, and the good things of it to abide upon your Spirits, to continue there for your Eternal good. Many upon the firſt Hearing of the Meſſage of the Goſpel, upon the firſt Opening of that Bleſſed Doctrine, have their Hearts taken, and begin preſently to be ſtirr'd and affected; but we find by Experience, that many times all is but a meer flaſh, it all vaniſhes again. The good of the Goſpel they did apprehend, doth not abide upon them: As the ſtony ground, in Mat. 13. 20, 21. But he that received the Seed into ſtony places, the ſame is he that heareth the Word, and anon with joy receiveth it: Yet hath he not root in himſelf, but endureth for a while. He doth but continue a while, he received it in a little way, and that with joy: He hath ſome preſent taſte of the Sweetneſs of the Word, he takes it in with joy; but it doth not reſt upon him, it doth not abide in him: The Seed doth not lie there ſo long as to Fructifie, as to bring forth Fruit, but comes to nothing; as the Ears of Corn upon the Houſe top, they quickly are blaſted and come to nothing: Thus it is with many Hearers. There were ſome that were the High-way ground, and they were your ordinary Ignorant and prophane People; the Word took no Impreſſion upon them, but it was preſently taken away by the Fowls of the Air. But there were others that did ſeem to be affected with the Word of the Goſpel, to have it enter a little into their hearts, their Spirits were taken with ſudden Joy. O it is a bleſſed Goſpel that we hear, this is a bleſſed Miniſtry indeed that we enjoy: But mark, it was but for a while. The Seed of the Word, it did but abide a little while, it did not reſt in them. So in Luke 14. There upon the Preaching of Chriſt, the Text ſaith in ver. 15. That when one of them that ſat at Meat with him heard theſe things, he ſaid unto him, Bleſſed is he that ſhall eat Bread in the Kingdom of God. When Chriſt had been Preaching unto them about the things of the Kingdom of God, Mark, There were ſome of His Auditors, that were taken with His Preaching. O bleſſed is he that ſhall have Communion with theſe things. And yet you may obſerve by the very Words that follow after, the Parable that Chriſt uſes, that even thoſe that were thus affected and taken, were ſuch as prized their Oxen and Farms, and other things above the Goſpel, and have that Doom pronounc'd upon them, That thoſe men that were bidden, ſhould not taſte of the Supper. And ſo in John 5. 35. It is ſpoken concerning John, He was a burning and a ſhining Light, and ye were willing for a ſeaſon, to rejoyce in his Light. Mark, John was an admirable Preacher, he came as the Fore-runner of Chriſt, and Preached, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. John did open the Kingdom of Heaven unto his Hearers, and they were mightily taken with him: But now, Mark, what the Text ſaith, For a little time they did rejoyce in the Light, but they did not continue. And in John 8. There you have a notable place, concerning Chriſts Preaching unto the Jews, and Chriſt did Preach ſo, as did take their Heart in ſome meaſure, the Text ſaith, that ſome of them did believe, in ver. 13. As He ſpake thoſe words, many believed on Him. But, Mark, what Chriſt ſaith, in ver. 31. Then ſaid Jeſus to thoſe Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in my Word, then are ye My Diſciples indeed. Mark, Chriſt would not own them to be His Diſciples, though their Hearts were taken with what He Preached, but upon theſe Terms, If you continue in my Word: Which is all one, If the Word abide in you, and you abide in the Word, then are you my Diſciples. I beſeech you obſerve it: Chriſt doth not own a Man or Woman to be His Diſciple, meerly becauſe of ſome ſudden flaſhes of Affection, becauſe they are taken with the Word; and perhaps are Convinced by the Word, and ſtirred for a time: I ſay, Chriſt doth not own them to be Diſciples, except that His Word abide in them, and they abide in the Word. And in Gal. 4. you have a moſt excellent Text for this purpoſe: The Apoſtle ſhews there, that the Galatians were mightily taken with the Miniſtry of the Goſpel at firſt when Paul came among them, but it ſeems in great part it Vaniſhed from them, ver. 15. ſaith Paul, Where is then the Bleſſedneſs you ſpake of? For I bear you record, that if it had been poſſible, you would have plucked out your own Eyes, and have given them to me. The meaning is this, When the Goſpel came at firſt to be Preached among them, generally they cried out: O this Bleſſed Goſpel! O the Bleſſedneſs! O theſe bleſſed Truths that is come among us, ſuch Truths as we were not acquainted withal: O they are bleſſed Truths indeed. Mark, They were thus taken with the Truths of the Goſpel, when they were firſt Preached: But now, ſaith Paul, Where is the Bleſſedneſs ye ſpake of? Your Hearts are not now ſo taken with the Goſpel, as they were at firſt; now you ſeem to be taken off from it: Where is the Bleſſedneſs you ſpake of? I make no Queſtion, but many Miniſters in many Congregations, have Cauſe to make Uſe of theſe words of the Apoſtle, when God ſent them at firſt: The Hearts of People were taken with the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, but within a while they are off again. And well may their Miniſters ſay, Where is the Bleſſedneſs you ſpake of? The Peace of the Goſpel, it doth not abide upon them, but one thing or other takes it off from them. So in Heb. 6. There you read of ſome, that yet were not Sav'd by the Goſpel, or were not in a Condition (at leaſt for the preſent) to be Sav'd; yet they had a taſte of the Heavenly Gift: They did not only hear the Word and underſtand it, but they Had a taſte of the good Word of God. O they ſaid, It was the good Word of God. And, Mark, Of the Powers of the World to come: That is, of thoſe powerful Truths, of thoſe Truths that do concern the World to come, that were powerful Truths. For ſo, certainly, my Brethren, the Truths that do concern the World to come, as powerful Truths; they have a mighty deal of Power to work upon the Heart. And theſe had, not only the Apprehenſions, but a taſte of the Powers of the World to come; and yet it appears that they had not thoſe things that did accompany Salvation. Many other Scriptures might be ſhewed, that there are many that are Affected with the Goſpel, yea, they are Convinc'd, and they have ſome taſte of it; and their Spirits taken, yea, almoſt perſwaded (with him that we read of) almoſt perſwaded to become a Chriſtian; and yet for all this, this Mercy that is here promiſed to the Sons of Peace, is not their Portion: the peace of the Goſpel doth not reſt upon their Spirits. It is a Bleſſing beyond that which any Hypocrite in the World hath, to have this peace of the Goſpel, to reſt and abide upon his Spirit. That is,
Firſt, To be ſet up as a conſtant Light before the Soul, not to come as a meer flaſh of Lightning, ſuddenly come, and ſuddenly gone; but then it may be ſaid to reſt when the Lord ſets up thoſe glorious Truths of the Goſpel, as a conſtant Light before the Soul.
And Secondly, When as the Lord works thoſe Truths by Meditation upon the Heart, the Lord cauſes thoſe Truths to follow the Thoughts of the Mind, and ſo to work them upon the Heart; yea, into the Heart of the Thoughts of the Mind, when the Lord gives a conſtant real Taſte of thoſe Truths, and Savour of them; that though they be not alwayes Hearing of them, yet the Savour and Reliſh, doth abide in a conſtant way upon their Hearts, when the Lord cauſes thoſe Truths of the Goſpel to ſpread all over the Faculties of their Souls: that it is, as the Holy Ghoſt compares it in Scripture to Leven: The Kingdom of God is like unto Leven, which in a little time doth Leven the whole Lump. So when the Lord cauſes the Truths of the Goſpel not only to be in the Mind, in the Underſtanding, in the Conſcience, but to get into the Heart; to get into the Affections, and as it were to Leven (in a good ſenſe) the whole Soul by the Sweetneſs, and the Goodneſs, and the Excellency of thoſe Truths. Yea, when the Lord ſhall cauſe thoſe Truths to be dearly Rooted in the Heart, to take ſuch Root as Temptations, and Deducements, any Provocations without, ſhall never be able to take out thoſe Truths which are upon the Heart. When the Lord ſhall cauſe them to ſtick ſo faſt, to ſinck ſo deep into the Heart, let there come what will to take off the Heart from them, or take them out of the Heart, yet they ſhall never be able to take them out of the Heart. As a Martyr ſaid, ſaith he, You may take my Heart out of my Body, but you ſhall never take the Belief of theſe things out of my Heart. O the Bleſſing, and the Truths of the Goſpel did ſo reſt upon his Soul, and they had gotten ſo near into his Heart, that nothing in the World could take it off. Many People that are a little ſtirr'd upon the Hearing of the Goſpel, and they think it is good, and the Truths are Bleſſed Truths, and they had good Reſolutions; but perhaps when they come Home from Hearing of the Word, they ſhall have a Fellow-ſervant Jearing of them, or the Father or Mother Speaking againſt them; or the Huſband the Wife, or the Wife the Huſband, and ſo perhaps they come to loſe all thoſe Truths which formerly they were ſo taken with: But thoſe that are the Sons of Peace, they have the Peace of the Goſpel reſting upon them, as hath been Opened to you; and this is a very great Bleſſing of God. O this is a Mercy indeed, for the Lord to grant the Truths of the Goſpel, and the Good of it thus to reſt upon the Heart; that the Heart doth keep it as a Treaſure within it, it is a great Mercy.
Firſt, Becauſe it is a ſpecial Fruit of the Covenant of Grace; according to that Text in Jer. 31. where God promiſes as the Fruit of the Covenant, that he will Write His Law in their Inwards parts. Now, certainly, by the Law, it is not meant the Letter of the Ten Commandments: But when He ſaith, I will Write my Law, that is, My Will: The great Counſels of my Will. And the ſaving Truths of God are there meant by the Law. For when David Expreſſes his love to the Law, he means alſo the Soul-ſaving Truths, that are Revealed in the Word of God; and certainly there, becauſe it was in the time under the Law, the Language of the Holy Ghoſt was ſuitable to the Time. But certainly, It is meant in a more eſpecial manner, the Truths of the Goſpel: That look as the Law was Written in Adams Heart at firſt, ſo now thoſe that are received into the Covenant, have the Law of the Goſpel, and the Truths of that Written in their Hearts: That is, When ever they ſhall come to hear the Truths of the Goſpel Opened to them, they ſhall find as it were a Counterpain of the bleſſed Truths of the Goſpel in their Hearts.
Yea, further, To have the Word of the Goſpel in the Heart, and for the Heart to keep it. It is a very great and cloſe Mercy, a greater Mercy than to have Chriſt to be Born of the Body of a Woman, in Luke 11. 27. And it came to paſs as He ſpake theſe things, a certain Woman lift up her voice, and ſaid unto Him, Bleſſed is the Womb that Bare thee, and the Paps which thou haſt Sucked. But He ſaid, Yea, rather bleſſed are they which hear the Word of God, and keep it. Thoſe that when they have heard the Word of the Goſpel, and ſhall keep it in their Hearts, and not let it Vaniſh away from them, but keep it, I ſay, in their Power and Life upon their Hearts, they are rather Bleſſed, than the Womb was Bleſſed that Bare Jeſus Chriſt, or than the Paps were Bleſſed that gave Jeſus Chriſt Suck. I ſuppoſe there is no Woman here but would account her ſelf a bleſſed Woman, if her Womb had Porn Jeſus Chriſt, and if her Paps had given Jeſus Chriſt Suck: Now here is a greater Bleſſedneſs than this, for a Woman to hear the Word of the Goſpel Preached unto her, and to have this Word of the Goſpel to reſt in her Heart, and for her to keep it in her heart, in the Power and Life, and Efficacy of it; this Woman now hath a greater Bleſſing, than if ſhe had Born Jeſus Chriſt in her Womb. Surely, it is a great Bleſſing to have the bleſſed things of the Goſpel, to be kept in the Soul after the hearing of them.
And further, A great Mercy, becauſe there is ſuch a wonderful Power in the good things of the Goſpel, and therefore it muſt needs be a great Mercy to have thoſe things abide upon the Heart: They have ſuch a mighty power to work good upon the Heart, a mighty Convincing power they have, to Convince any Soul in the World. Let a Man or Woman be never ſo Wicked or Prophane, yet there are ſuch bleſſed Truth in the Goſpel, that is enough to Convince his Soul, I ſay, though it be never ſo vile, and to take his Heart: And we have little Cauſe to fear the working upon the Hearts of People only, if we could but procure this, that thoſe things that we Speak, might but abide upon their Hearts. If we were but ſure, that what we Deliver in the Name of God, would but abide upon their Spirits, we need not fear the working upon any Soul Living, let them be never ſo Vile; there is ſuch a mighty Power and Efficacy in thoſe bleſſed things of the Goſpel, when they come to be Revealed.
And ſo there is a mighty Comforting power, to Comfort the Soul with ſuch Conſolation, as is Infinitely above all Conſolation, that ever it was Acquainted withal before.
There is a mighty Power to reſiſt any Temptation. If the Truths of God were but kept in the Soul, we might make little of all Temptations in the World: The Devil could have little hope to prevail with any Temptations, if the Word of the Goſpel did but abide upon the Heart of a Man or Woman that doth hear it. This is the advantage that the Devil hath at any time, when one hath been hearing of the Word, if he knows that the Word is paſt from them, and it doth not abide; then he can come with Temptations, and makes no queſtion of prevailing. But if the Devil knows that thoſe Truths do abide and reſt upon the Soul, the Devil can have little hope to prevail: The Peace of God ſhall keep your Hearts? Fro Reſi, ſhall Guard your Hearts. It ſhall be as a Troop of Horſe, to keep you from Temptations, from the power and ſtrength of Temptations. You complain, and ſay, O that you would do better, but Temptations are ſo ſtrong, that they prevail upon you. Why are Temptations ſo ſtrong? It is becauſe thy Soul is not acquainted with the Bleſſed and Glorious things of the Goſpel; and the Power and Life of them doth not abide upon thy Spirit.
And likewiſe, the Truths of the Goſpel: O they have a mighty deal of Power to cleanſe your Hearts, 1 Pet. 2. 20. There you have mentioned the Power of the Knowledg of the Goſpel, when it abides in one that might be an Hypocrite, and therefore not of that Efficaſie that the true ſaving Knowledg is. Yet Obſerve, what is ſaid there, For if after they have eſcaped the Pollutions of the World, through the Knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. Now then, If that Knowledg have ſuch a cleanſing Power, O what Power then hath the true ſaving Power of the great things of the Goſpel, and the Glorious things of it, to Cleanſe the Heart.
Yea, If thoſe Truths do abide upon the Spirits, they have a Transforming power, they have a power to change the Heart into the ſame likeneſs: According to that Scripture, 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we all, with open face beholding as in a Glaſs, the Glory of the Lord, are changed into the ſame Image, from Glory to Glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Now this Goſpel of the Lord, is nothing elſe but the good things of the Goſpel: We behold them, and that as with open Face, as we do behold the Goſpel of the Lord. And what then? We are changed into the ſame Image. Oh! this is a Bleſſed abiding, it is a Bleſſed thing for the things of the Goſpel to reſt upon the Soul. Why? Becauſe they have ſuch a Power in them to Change the Heart, to Transform the Heart into the very Image of them, and the Truths of the Goſpel have the cleareſt Image of God upon them; the Glory of God is Imprinted upon the Truths of the Goſpel. Now that theſe ſhould reſt upon the Spirit, it muſt needs be a great Mercy.
Another is this, It is that which makes them indeed to be Saving: All thoſe Bleſſed things of the Goſpel that are Revealed, they never come to be Saving, until they come to reſt upon the Soul; to be got into the Heart, and there to dwell and reſt. Mark that Scripture, in James 1. 21. Wherefore lay a part all Filthineſs, and Superſtuity of Naughtineſs, and receive with Meekneſs the Ingraffed Word, which is able to ſave your Souls. Mark, Receive with Meekneſs the Word: But how? The Ingraffed Word, which is able to ſave your Souls. The Word of God can never ſave your Souls, till it comes to be an Ingraffed Word. Now theſe things I premiſe, to ſhew you the Excellency of this, that ſo I might have the more ground for an Exhortation by and by: To labour to keep the Word of God, I mean thoſe Truths of the Goſpel, that at any times comes to be diſcovered to you.
Now by way of Application,Appl. as brief as may be.
Firſt, In the Firſt place, Hence we ſee cauſe, the Miniſters of the Goſpel eſpecially, ſee cauſe bitterly to Lament the want of this in their Auditory ordinarily. It's true, There are few that are faithful Preachers of the Goſpel, but they do find that God doth at ſometime or other Convice Men, and ſomewhat ſtir their Hearts: O, but this is that that they have cauſe bitterly to complain of, that thoſe things that they deliver to them, that are the Precious and Glorious things of Jeſus Chriſt, yet though they ſtir them a little for the while, yet they do not reſt upon them. It was a Complaint of Chriſoſtom, ſaith he, We Miniſters are in a worſe Condition, than any Work-men whatſoever: Take a Carpenter, he comes and works, and leaves his Work over-night, and comes the next day and finds it where it was as he left it; his Work is no more forward, neither backward. Oh! But it is not ſo with us Preachers, for we come and work upon the Hearts of People, and we bring it into a reaſonable good forwardneſs, and we leave it one Night and come the next day; but woe to us, we find it not where we leave it: We work upon their Hearts one Lords Day, and it may be they go away with ſome Reſolutions, that they will break off their evil way, and they will attend to the Miniſtry of the Word; but before the next Lords Day, they are quite off again: They are got again into ſome wicked Company or other, and they begin to harden their Hearts againſt thoſe Bleſſed Truths; ſo that our Condition is worſe than any Work-mans whatſoever. But though it be a ſad Condition for the Miniſters of the Goſpel, yet know it is a ſadder Condition for your ſelves: You that heretofore have heard thoſe Bleſſed things of the Goſpel, and your Hearts have been taken with them, have they reſted upon you? I put this to you in the Name of God, I ſay, Hath the Peace of the Goſpel reſted upon your Hearts? It may be, ſome of you may know Two or Three years ago, God began to work upon you, you began to have ſome Enlightning of Jeſus Chriſt, and of the Kingdom of God; and you began to ſay, Bleſſed are thoſe that ſhall be partakers of thoſe things, but have theſe reſted upon you. Hath not the Miniſtry of the Goſpel been to ſome of you like a Ship, that when it is Sailing in the Water, it makes a great Impreſſion for the preſent, but let the Ship be gone and the Water is as ſmooth as ever it was? So many times, when the Miniſter comes and open the Bleſſed Truths of the Goſpel, they make a mighty Dent upon the Hearts of their Auditors; but within a little while their Hearts are like the Water: no man can ſee that ever there was an Impreſſion of any Truth upon their Hearts. Now know that this is a very ſad thing to have the Goſpel begin to Affect the Heart, but not to Reſt.
Firſt, Conſider, How vile is thy heart, it is an argument of ſtrong corruption that is in thy heart that the things of the Goſpel cannot ſtick there.
And Conſider, How vild it is, that wicked thoughts, vile baſe, unworthy, unclean, filthy thoughts can abide upon you. If the Devil dart in temptations they will abide and reſt, why when he darts them in over-night, he can find them in the morning; perhaps if you have ſome vain or unclean thoughts, you can role them up and down in your mind for half a night together; perhaps day after day, and night after night, baſe and filthy thoughts are rol'd up and down in your Spirits; theſe things can abide. Now what ſhall vile, filthy, ungodly thoughts reſt in your hearts and ſhall not the Bleſſed and Glorious Truths of Jeſus Chriſt and the things of the Kingdom of God reſt upon your hearts?
Yea, Conſider further, That it is a moſt dangerous thing for an eſſay of mercy to paſs away and to do no good, for mercy to come and as it were make a trial upon the heart, and then leave it and no good done; this is a ſad condition: It is not ſo dangerous while Men and Women are in ſuch an eſtate as the mercy of God hath not made an eſſay as it were upon them. But now, When the Grace of the Goſpel ſhall come to make an eſſay upon the heart, to make as it were a tryal upon the heart and to have the repulſe, this is a dangerous thing; for an offer of Gods Grace to be rejected is very ſad, to looſe one opportunity of Gods Mercy is a very ſad thing; how doſt thou know that ever they will come upon thy heart with that power that once they did, and therefore thy condition is very ſad.
And know further, That when the Lord begins to reveal to thee the things of the Goſpel, and thou putteſt them off; thoſe flaſhes of affection and conviction that thou haſt had will prove to be matter of terror of conſcience another day.
Some poor Soul may ſay, Then Lord what ſhall become of me, God knows this is my condition; I come many times to hear the word and I meet with thoſe truths that do mightily take my heart for the preſent, but the Lord knows all vaniſhes again: I think I could remember every thing that the Miniſter ſpeaks while I am hearing of them, but they go out again; I hear that this is the Bleſſing of God upon the Sons of Peace, that the Truths of the Goſpel ſhould abide upon their hearts and reſt there; O they do not reſt with me: Now and then they come to me, but they do not reſt with me.
Now for the Anſwer to this, Perhaps they may not reſt in thy memory, but yet if the Fruit and effect of them doth reſt in thy heart, thou haſt the Goſpel reſting in thy heart. As thus, Why perhaps the Water may paſs through a Veſſel, go quite through it and not ſtay; I, but yet there is ſo much Fruit of the paſſage of it thorow, as to keep the Veſſel ſweet: Though you cannot take up any Water from it, but it is all gone; yet I ſay it keeps the Veſſel ſweet: So I may ſay to thoſe that have the weakeſt memories, and yet the Lord hath wrought any degree of Grace, though thy memory be ſo weak that thou canſt not remember (I ſpeak this to thoſe that have weak memories naturally) and there is nothing that their Souls do more deſire then this; O that they might keep thoſe things that they hear, they would think themſelves the moſt happy Creatures in the world; if thoſe truths that ſometimes they hear might reſt upon them: I ſpeak to thoſe. Is it ſo with thy heart? Then though thou canſt not remember, yet if thoſe truths keep thy heart ſweet, they keep thy heart from filthy luſts that they do not abide in thy heart, thy heart is kept ſavory by them; if there be this effect abiding upon thy heart to keep it ſavory and ſweet, this Peace of the Goſpel may reſt with thee though thou canſt not remember particulars. A Man or Woman perhaps they cannot remember what Meat they ate a little while ſince, but they find themſelves nouriſhed by that Meat. So for the word of God, that is the food of thy Soul, though thou canſt not remember and give an account of ſuch and ſuch things thou do'ſt hear in the word, but yet do'ſt thou find that thou art nouriſhed by it; I ſay, the good things of the Goſpel then do reſt upon thy Soul.
Then if this be ſo great a Bleſſing, O that I could but convince you this day to go away with your hearts taken with this Bleſſing; O that all of you were convinc'd this day. We hear that it is not enough for us to have ſudden apprehenſions, when we hear the Bleſſed things of the Goſpel; but that that is indeed the bleſſing of God upon a Son of Peace, it is to have the good things of the Goſpel abide and reſt upon them. O then, that it might be ſo with us! O that the Lord would help us, that whatſoever we hear, we may not only be taken with the hearing of it, but that it might reſt upon our Hearts. I ſhall propound ſome Rules unto you.
Firſt, When you come, you muſt endeavour to bring ſoft Hearts, and tender Spirits: What Truths you do know, you muſt work upon your Hearts before you come, to labour to ſoften your Hearts. We know that the Truths of God are compared in Scripture to Nails, that are faſtened by the Miniſters of God in the Aſſemblies, Eccleſ. 12. 11. Now when you come to faſten a Nail or a Goad, if the thing be a Stone, you cannot faſten it: A Work-man if he would drive a Nail into a Wall, if he meet with a Flint, the Nail cannot enter, but there muſt be ſome thing that muſt yield to make it reſt: So you muſt labour to bring yielding and ſoft Hearts.
Secondly, When you come to hear, come ſo as to make account that now you come to attend upon God, and that while any Truth of the Goſpel is Revealing to you, God is coming nigh unto your Souls, in thoſe things that concern your Eternal good. If the Hearts of People did attend upon the Miniſtry of the Goſpel thus, that is, We are here, O Lord, in thy Preſence now, to hear what Thou haſt to Reveal unto us; and we believe that in this thine Ordinance, when Thou art making known any Truth of the Goſpel to us, Thou art coming nigh to our Souls in a matter that Concerns our Eternal good. If you did attend thus, certainly every Truth would get into your Hearts.
Thirdly, When you find the Truth beginning to work upon your Hearts, then Dart up ſome Ejaculations in your own Thoughts: Lord, ſet home this. So you may do, and not hinder your hearing: Lord, Thou beginneſt to ſtir my Heart, O Lord, keep my Heart in this frame. As we read of David, when as he ſaw the People in a good Frame, 1 Chron. 29. 18. ſaith he, O Lord God of Abraham, Iſaac, and of Iſrael our Fathers, keep this for ever in the Imagination of the Thoughts of the Heart of thy People. And the truth is, We would willingly Dart up ſuch a Prayer to God, if we knew how God did begin to ſtir you? But you know how God is communing with your Hearts, when you hear us ſpeaking to you, therefore do you your ſelves Dart up ſuch an Ejaculation to God: O Lord God, keep this Truth in the Thoughts of my Heart for ever.
A Fourth Rule is this, You muſt not truſt your own Hearts, never truſt to ſudden Affections and Reſolutions. This Text is moſt excellent for this purpoſe, Mark how David Prays, Keep this in the Thoughts of the Heart of thy People, and prepare their Hearts unto Thee. Why were they not prepared to God? Their Hearts were mightily up for God, and yet it appears that David would not take this ſcarce for a Preparation, but the Lord muſt ſtill work further and further. So when thou feeleſt thy Heart a little ſtirr'd, do not think that the work is preſently done, but pray to God to prepare thy Heart, and that He would go on with that Bleſſed work of His.
And then another Rule is this, Labour after thou art gone, to work the Truths upon thy Heart by Meditation, that ſo they may abide. Would you have a Salve that ſhould do good to an Affected Member? It is not only the laying of the Salve upon the Body, but to rub it that it may get in and ſupple the part. So when the Lord comes to preſent the Bleſſed Truths of the Goſpel to you, you muſt labour to rub them upon your Hearts by Meditation.
Another Rule is, Turn all that you hear into Prayer: That is, When you have heard any truth that hath taken and affected your Souls, get alone into your Cloſets, and before you go about any other Buſineſs, fall down before the Lord, and turn that which you have heard into Prayer; it were a good Rule for your Direction, and you will find an admirable benefit by this, you will find this to help your Memory much. Do but henceforward obſerve this Rule that now is tendered unto you as from the Lord, work the matter that you hear upon your Hearts by Prayer.
And further, Take heed of Temptations, keep a narrow Watch over your Hearts, take heed that ſome Temptations do not come ſecretly to ſteal away that bleſſed Truth that you have heard: For the Devil will labour, as I told you, the place is full of Angels, and ſo it is full of Devils too: The Devil is watching who it is that is ſtirred with the hearing of the Goſpel, and he preſently is labouring to draw out all the Power and Efficacy: Therefore watch againſt Temptations.
Another Rule will be this, Often call your Hearts unto an account, oftentimes be communing with your own Hearts in this manner: O my Soul, was there not ſuch a time that thou wert ſtirr'd and affected, when thou did'ſt hear ſuch and ſuch things? Why what is become of all thy Stirrings, and of all thoſe Reſolutions and Truths, that thou haſt heard? O my Soul, where are they? What haſt thou done with them? O, it would be of admirable Uſe, if you would take an account of your hearts.
But when Men and Women are ſtirr'd ſometimes, and go away and never call their Hearts to an account what is become of them; no marvel though the things of the Goſpel do not abide, but vaniſh all, and are as Water ſpilt upon the Ground.
And further, Take heed of ſecret ſins: Thou haſt no power to purge thy Heart, but thou may'ſt in great meaſure abandon the Acts of ſin. That Man or Woman that lives in a Secret ſin, I ſay, that Secret ſin will either Eat out the Truths that he hath heard, or the Truth will Eat out that ſin. Thou comeſt to hear the Word, and haſt many Bleſſed things Revealed to thee, I ſay, they will either Eat out thy Secret ſin, or thy Secret ſin will Eat out them: And which of the two do'ſt thou think, thou hadſt beſt be rid of?
And if thou wouldſt have them abide, turn all into Practice; that is, fall a Doing: Do not content thy ſelf with Affections and Reſolutions, but fall a Doing; and that doth mightily ſettle the Truth, when it comes once to be Practiſed. As now in a Temptation, the Temptation is not ſettled until the Devil hath got ſomething done according to the Temptation; and when ſomething is done, then the Temptation ſettles. So concerning the Truths of the Goſpel, a Man it may be hath ſome Reſolutions and Deſires, but till there be ſomewhat done, ſome Duties ſet upon, ſome Reformation in thy Way and Life, the Truth doth not ſettle; but the doing ſomewhat according to what thou do'ſt hear, that doth mightily ſettle the Truth upon thy Soul. O think thus, There is ſuch and ſuch a thing made known to me; O, it may do my Soul good for ever: And if you did but keep thoſe things that you hear, they would do your Souls good; they would do your Souls good in time of Affliction: If the Truths of the Goſpel did reſt upon your Hearts, they would Comfort you then. So it was with David, I had periſhed in mine Affliction, but thy Word did Comfort me. So if you would lay up that which you hear, when you come upon your Sick-beds, or in any Trouble, it would mightily help you and comfort you. O theſe Truths of the Goſpel, would be very good Companions when you are in your Journey, or in your Buſineſs, they would Commune with your Hearts: And, O what Comfort would they be unto your Souls? So we read in Prov. 6. 21. Bind them continually upon thine Heart. So I may ſay, What Truths of the Goſpel you hear, bind them continually upon thy Heart, and about thy Neck; when thou goeſt it ſhall Lead thee, when thou ſleepeſt it ſhall Keep thee, and when thou awakeſt it ſhall Talk with thee: When you awake in the Night ſeaſon, you Toſs up and down upon your Beds, and know not what to think upon; but had you kept the Truths of the Goſpel, they would Talk with you, yea, you might Converſe with Jeſus Chriſt even as you lie in your Beds.
And if they did reſt in your Hearts, then when Death did come they would be Comfortable, then they will be ſweet one day. Ask a Dying Soul, what Peace with God is worth? How many have lain upon their Sick and Death-Beds, and then remembred, O the ſweet Truths that once I heard, I would give a Thouſand Worlds I had them again. O that they did but come now at this time to my Heart, with as great a power as they did at ſuch a time. Now that you might have thoſe Bleſſed things of the Goſpel to Comfort your Hearts, keep them now.
And beſides, They will be a Means to make you to be very uſeful to others. What's the Reaſon why Men and Women, when they go to Viſit their Sick Neighbours, they are ſo Barren in their Conference, they ſay, How do you? And God comfort you; and ſo: I, but what have you of the Doctrine of Reconciliation with God, and the way of Attonement with God? What have you to help their troubled Conſciences, and to pacifie them? Can you bring unto them any Truths you have heard? You have Liv'd under the Miniſtry of the Goſpel a long time, what is become of them? If you had been a Child of Peace, then you would have been able to have carried theſe things unto your Sick Neighbours, and to have done a great deal of good unto them. But alas, You go with a barren Heart, and carry nothing at all: And why? Becauſe the Truths of the Goſpel have not abode with you. O how full ſhould our Hearts be with Jeſus Chriſt, if but one Truth, every Sermon we heard, did reſt in our Hearts.
And take but this one Meditation along with you, the Bleſſed things of the Peace of the Goſpel are ſuch, as if ever I be Sav'd, I muſt be Praiſing of the Name of God for unto all Eternity. Now ſhall I not Labour that they ſhould reſt upon my Heart here, ſeeing they muſt be the Matter that I muſt Bleſs the Name of God everlaſtingly for.
And thus (though I have paſt ſome things over) you have had the Subſtance of what I intended to Speak of: And that is, That thoſe that are the Sons of Peace, have this Bleſſing upon them: They have not only the ſudden apprehenſions and flaſhes of Affection, in being moved with the Glorious things of the Goſpel, but all the good things of the Goſpel abides and reſt upon them.