Gospel Conversation, Sermon 7
SERMON VII.
PHIL. 1. 27.
Only let your Converſation be as becomes the Goſpel of Chriſt.
WE have preached (you know) many Sermons upon this neceſſary and ſeaſonable Duty;April 12 1646. That as Chriſtians are to ſanctifie the Name of God in Worſhip: ſo in their Converſations: their lives and Converſations muſt be ſuch as becomes the Goſpel of Chriſt, [worthy] of the Goſpel of Chriſt, (for ſo I told you the word ſignified.) Now we are upon this great point.
What Converſation is that which becomes the Goſpel of Chriſt.
I'le only add one Scriptare more to the laſt thing I named, and then proceed.
That the revealing of the glory of Heaven in the Goſpel ſhould work mightily upon our hearts to labor for a Converſation ſutable thereunto. In Titus, 2. 11, 12, 13. For the grace of God (ſaith he, that's the Goſpel) that bringeth ſalvation, hath appeared to all men: (What doth it teach us?) That denying ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, we ſhould live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly in this preſent world. We have made uſe of this Scripture thus far already; but that which I quote it for, is the refference of this to the next words, Looking for that bleſſed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Savior Jeſus Chriſt. Here's a Scripture that if ever the Lord did enlighten us in the things of the Goſpel, that we have been brought to beleeve it's a Scripture that would mightily work upon our hearts to live godlily and holily: The grace of God that bringeth Salvation; what doth it teach us? Not to be licentious, and vain, and ſlight, and bold in our ſinful courſes; but teaching us that denying ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, we ſhould live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly in this preſent world. Mark, it is not enough to live ſoberly, not to be a drunkard, to live righteouſly, that is, not to wrong any body, many think that's enough: But mark, indeed the light of nature (as I told you) would teach us that; but now the grace of God that bringeth Salvation teacheth us more, To deny all ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, and to live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly, and that in this preſent world: though we live in the midſt of a wicked tempting world, yet to live godly. And what's the great argument in the Goſpel to cauſe us to live godly in this preſent world? Looking for the bleſſed hope: Oh we look for a bleſſed hope that the Goſpel reveals, Oh we did not underſtand this hope, this bleſſed hope till the Goſpel was preached to us; but ſince we apprehend a bleſſed hope, the holy Ghoſt hath raiſed in our hearts a bleſſed hope of glorious things: What glorious things? Looking for the bleſſed hope, and glorious appearing of the great God, and our Savior Jeſus Chriſt. We have ſome little glimps of the great God when we ſet forth to Sea, and launce into the deeps, we ſee the glory of the great God, who rideth upon the wings of the wind, and whom both the Winds and the Seas obey: Oh but we look for another manner of the glorious appearing of the great God than ever yet hath appeared. I beſeech you conſider of this text, God did never appear great and glorious in compariſon of what he will appear, and bleſſed are thoſe whoſe Converſations ſhall be ſuch, that can look upon the face of this great God with joy when He ſhall appear in glory; we look for this bleſſed hope, and then when this great God ſhall appear in His glory, then we ſhall have our bleſſed hope, and this teaches us to deny all ungodlineſs, and worldly luſts, the knowledge of this; Oh do you look to be ſaved? have you a bleſſed hope, and do you expect the appearing of the great God in glory? hath the Goſpel revealed theſe things unto you? O let this that the Goſpel reveals teach us to deny all ungodlineſs, and all worldy luſts, and to live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly in this preſent world.
But there are yet ſome other things that the Goſpel holds forth that are very remarkable, for the furtherance of our godly Converſation in this world, and if we would live as becomes the Goſpel, we muſt have a right underſtanding of theſe things, or elſe we ſhall never ſute our ſelves to the Goſpel, except we do therby apprehend theſe great points that are publiſhed to us in and by the Goſpel.
As now, this is a great point, That the Kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt is not of this world. The Goſpel holds forth this to us, that Jeſus Chriſt the Son of God, having taken our nature upon him, he is a great King, He hath a Kingdom, but He hath a Kingdom that is not of this world, neither is Chriſt of this world, nor His Kingdom of this world, nor the Saints, thoſe that are the Subjects of His Kingdom are not of this world; the right underſtanding of this would much help us in our Converſations, and a Converſation beſeeming this would much honor the Goſpel. Firſt, We ſhall ſhew how the Goſpel holds forth this, That the Kingdom of Chriſt is not in this world, mark thoſe Scriptures in John, 18. 36. Jeſus anſwered, My Kingdom is not of this world: if my Kingdom were of this world, then would my ſervants fight that I ſhould not be delivered to the Jews; but now is my Kingdom not from hence. Therefore (as if he ſhould ſay) you muſt not wonder or think much that I am thus apprehended, and delivered up to men, that they do with me what they pleaſe; though I be the great King of my Church appointed by my Father, yet my Kingdom is not of this world, and I came not hither for pomp and glory. The glory of Chriſt in His Kingdom, here is Spiritual. Indeed when this world ſhall be at an end, then Chriſt will appear gloriouſly, though the Scripture ſpeaks of a world hereafter wherein Chriſt ſhall appear gloriouſly, but whether perſonally or otherwiſe that we ſpeak not of: But that Chriſt ſhall appear a glorious King even in the world, not this world, but upon the earth, and yet the Scripture ſpeaks of that as another world, a new Heaven, and a new Earth, but for the preſent; for that that the Scripture cals this world, we muſt not expect a pompous and glorious Kingdom till ther ebe a new world, till there be new heavens, and a new earth, this the Goſpel holds forth. Whereas the people of the Jews they thought as ſoon as the Meſſias came, He preſently ſhould be an outward Monarch, in outward pomp and glory; no ſaith Chriſt, this world muſt paſs away firſt, I muſt come firſt and reign ſpiritually in another way, and for my Kingdom there is a time for the glory of it to appear when another world ſhall come, but while this world laſts, never expect any ſuch outward pomp and glory in the way of my Kingdom, I have a Kingdom indeed here in this world, but it is not of this world, I have a Kingdom wherein I reign ſpiritually in the hearts of my people, there I have ſet up my Throne, and therein I have writ my Laws by which I guide and order all things for their eternal ſalvation, but my Kingdom is not of this world: yea and he ſaith likewiſe in John, 8. 23. I am not of this world neither. And John, 15. 19. (for John that beloved Diſciple who lay in the boſom of Chriſt he knew much of the mind and heart of Chriſt, and was much inſtructed in this myſtery, and indeed none of thoſe that did converſe with Chriſt knew more of the boſom of Chriſt than John did) If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but becauſe ye are not of the world, but I have choſen you out of the world. So that as Chriſt is not of the world ſo the Saints are not of the world: in the 17. of John, 14. I have given them thy Word, and the world hath hated them, becauſe they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world▪ Mark, as I am not of the world, ſo they are not of the world: thus Scripture is cleer, that neither Chriſt nor his Kingdom is of this world; and therefore beleevers are not of this world. And hence then, what Converſation becomes this Goſpel of Chriſt? even a Converſation ſequeſtred from the things of this world, a Converſation that ſhall manifeſt the hearts being taken off and diſingaged from ſublunary comforts and accommodations, a Converſation which proves that the ſoul ſeeks not great things for its-ſelf here below, but is fully content with a morſel of bread and a cup of cold water, though others fare deliciouſly every day; ſo beleevers ſhould manifeſt in their Converſations that they do not much paſs or care how things go in this world, becauſe Chriſt is not of this world, and the Kingdom of Chriſt in which they make account their happineſs to be involved, that is not of the world, yea they are men redeemed from this preſent world; Gal. 1. 4. it is ſaid, That by Chriſt we came to be redeemed from this preſent evil world; (it's a very remarkable Scripture) who gave himſelf for our ſins; (to what end?) That he might deliver us from this preſent evil world, according to the will of God, and our Father. I beſeech you obſerve this text, Chriſt gave Himſelf to deliver us from our ſins, that we might not periſh eternally: And was that all? No, That He might deliver us from this preſent evil world; I do not know a more forcible text in all the Book of God to take off the hearts of thoſe that profeſs the Goſpel from the world, ſo as they ſhould not whine and murmur at the loſs of every little thing in the world, nor be ſolicitouſly careful for the things of this life, nor be offended though the men of the world prevail in the world, and have the upper hand, and carry things in a worldly way, let them go on in all their pagentry and greatneſs: but if thou beeſt one that belongſt to Chriſt, know that Chriſt hath laid down his life to purchaſe this for thee, to deliver thee from this world; Now, is Chriſt blood laid down to purchaſe this? and yet wilt thou have thy heart glewed to the ground, and wholly place thy contentment in the earth, and ſeek for thy happineſs here in the duſt? Oh get up thy heart then from all theſe things, and make it appear by thy Converſation that thou art one that by the vertue of the death of Jeſus Chriſt art delivered from this world, and therefore though thou haſt not ſuch a portion in worldly goods as other men have, never envy them, for Chriſt hath ranſomed you from the world, there's another kingdom that thou haſt thy portion and intereſt in, Chriſt hath made us Kings and Prieſts to his Father, and hath made us heirs and co-heirs of that Kingdom that His Father hath given Him, yea, and that He Himſelf hath purchaſed; and ſo you muſt in your Converſations make it appear, that you do ſee another kingdom beyond this kingdom of the world that you are made partakers of, wherein you ſhall reign with Chriſt for ever: now this Converſation doth beſeem the Goſpel. And therefore you ſhal find it in the 10th of Matth. about the 37. verſ. Chriſt ſhews what kind of Converſation He would have in thoſe that once come to beleeve in Him, (ſaith He) He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me: and he that loveth ſon or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me: And he that taketh not up his croſs and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life ſhall loſe it; and he that loſeth his life for my ſake, ſhall find it. Here he ſhews what it is that would make the ſoul worthy of Chriſt in a Goſpel ſenſe. If our hearts be taken off from father and mother, and thoſe comforts & relations that are the deareſt in the world, brother, or ſiſter, or ſon, or daughter; not to take off our natural affection, but to take off our hearts ſo, as they ſhould not be hinderances of us in ſpiritual things, that our main affections ſhould flow forth after ſpiritual things; then we come to be worthy of Chriſt: then the other converſation is unworthy of Chriſt. Didſt thou ever know the Lord Jeſus Chriſt and the way of His Kingdom? Then why is thy heart ſet upon the world as the hearts of other men that are ſtrangers to Jeſus Chriſt? In Eph. 5. 3. (when the Apoſtle ſpeaks of thoſe things that moſt men in the world are greedy after) But fornication, and all uncleaneſs, or covetouſneſs, let it not be once named among you, as becometh Saints. As if he ſhould ſay, Saints, thoſe that know Jeſus Chriſt, and the way of His Kingdom, for them to have their hearts either ſet upon bodily luſts, or covetouſneſs, the things of this world, it doth not becom them, it is not a Goſpel Converſation becoming Saints; a heart greedy of the things of this world, and wallowing in the luſts of this world, Oh 'tis unbeſeeming Saints! thoſe that do profeſs the Goſpel of Chriſt that ſhews unto us that the Kingdom of Chriſt is not of this world.
Again, Another great point that the Goſpel holds forth to us, is this, The great difference or the change that it makes in the eſtate of a man or woman when once it prevails with him: then the great difference is made in him, from what he was before, and from other men; this is held forth in the Goſpel and no where elſe: I ſay the wonderful change that the Goſpel makes in men when once it comes to work upon their hearts in the evidence and demonſtration of the Spirit, and the great difference between their eſtates before and what now is, and between them and other men; I put theſe two together,
Firſt, The great change that the Goſpel makes in the hearts of men from what there was before the Goſpel came. You know the Scripture in propheſying of the times of the Goſpel ſaith, That the Wolf ſhall eat with the Lamb, and the Lyon with the Kid, and the child ſhall play upon the very hole of the Aſp: the meaning is generally carried thus, that when the Goſpel comes it ſhall change the hearts of men ſo mightily, that though they were wolviſh before, and cruel; as if you ſhould ſee a Wolf changed into a Lamb, or as if you ſhould ſee a Lyon changed into a Kid, you would ſay, this were a mighty change; the Goſpel makes ſuch a change as this is, they that are in Chriſt are new creatures, it's a new Creation; ſuppoſe God ſhould make a new world, what a mighty thing were this! or a new Sun ſhould be created in the Firmament that never was before, how would we ſtand and wonder! Thoſe that are in Chriſt are new creatures, God puts forth a creating power upon them, 2 Cor. 5. Old things are paſſ'd away, all things are become new (you know the Apoſtle ſaith:) and the change that is made, it is called a new birth, Except you be born again, you cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, John, 3. If there were a new ſoul put into one, or if God ſhould infuſe a rational ſoul into a beaſt, here would be a mighty change; thou wert a beaſt before, but here is the ſoul of grace, there's a new birth when the Goſpel comes to prevail, and to enter in upon an heart, and it's call'd a new reſurrection; if there ſhould be a voice come from Heaven that ſhould open all the graves that you have here in the yard, and all the dead bodies ſhould ſtand up and live, what a mighty change would there be? Such a change doth the Goſpel make when it conquers a people; indeed the Goſpel may be preached and little change may be wrought, becauſe the power of the Goſpel prevails not with their hearts; but when it doth prevail in their hearts there is ſuch a ſtrange change.
Oh then, What Converſation become this? it muſt be a Converſation that doth hold forth to the world that there is ſuch a mighty change wrought in you: Now I appeal to you, you that make profeſſion of the Goſpel, you know what you have been heretofore, worldly, and baſe, and carnal, and ſenſual, and froward, and peeviſh, and prophane men, altogether unſavory before the Goſpel came to you; now you profeſs that God hath begun to work upon you by the Goſpel, What change hath it wrought in you? Can thoſe that live with you ſee your Converſations ſo changed as to make them ſtand and admire at the work of the Goſpel upon your hearts? the husband to ſtand and admire at the work of God upon the heart of the wife as if ſhe were another woman, and ſo the wife to admire at the grace of God upon the heart of the husband, as if he were another man; and ſo your children and ſervants not the ſame that heretofore they were? Oh what honour would this be to the Goſpel, that in places where it comes to be preached in power there might appear a change, that becomes the Goſpel of Chriſt? Certainly if your Converſations be not ſuch as holds forth a mighty change that God hath wrought in you, then it is not ſuch as becomes the Goſpel of Chriſt: It may be you are ſomewhat better than heretofore you have been, as not to be a common drunkard, you ſee that's deſpiſed by men; Who regards drunken fools, mad-men, very beaſts? Therfore you come to be of more underſtanding, that you will not be ſo prophane and laſcivious as you were wont to be, but live ſomewhat better. Oh but this change is not that change which holds forth the work of the Goſpel, for when the Goſpel prevails it makes the gre…teſt change that ever was made in the world, we may boldly aſcert this, that ſince the Creation of God in the firſt ſix daies, there was never ſuch a change made in the world as the Goſpel makes; and therefore a Converſation becoming the Goſpel, muſt be a Converſation that muſt be a changed Converſation, muſt be mightily different from what they were before: ſometimes we ſee it ſo through the mercy of God, that when men and women come to hear the Word in the cleerneſs and power of it to be revealed, they have ſuch changes, that al their friends ſtand wondring at them, What ſhall we have of you now! Oh ſuch have cauſe to anſwer and ſay, Bleſſed be God it is ſo, it is the Goſpel that hath made ſuch a change in me. I, this becomes the Goſpel, when it ſhall appear that your Converſation is ſo changed, ſo holy, and godly, and gracious now over it was before. But you whoſe lives are not better than they were before; before you made ſome profeſſion, only your profeſſion now is greater than it was before, but your lives no better, know, this is a Converſation that doth no way become the Goſpel of Chriſt, the Goſpel of Chriſt hath no honor by this Converſation of yours.
And then, The great difference that the Goſpel makes between one man and another. As now, thoſe that the Goſpel doth not prevail upon, the Scripture tels us, they are the children of wrath, they are dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, they are under the curſe of the Law, they are even enemies to God; this is the condition of al men before this Scepter of Chriſt conquers their hearts, children of wrath, enemies to God, dead in ſins, under the curſe. But now, when the Goſpel comes to prevail over mens hearts, then they come to be the Children of the living God, Heirs of Chriſt, Co-heirs with Him, they come to be partakers of the life of God, they encreaſe with the encreaſe of God, and their lives are hid with Chriſt in God, and they come to be reconciled to God, to be friends with God, to be at peace with God, and to inherit bleſſings: Oh the change that the Lord puts upon the heart and ſtate of the Saints when the Goſpel prevails! How high are they raiſed above other men? Therefore you muſt not make other men to be your example in your way, you muſt not think to live as the world lives, and to ſay, I do as other men do; the Goſpel makes a mighty difference between your eſtate and the ſtate of other men, therefore never look to what other men do, but conſider as God hath made a vaſt difference between you and other men, ſo let there be a great difference between your Converſation and the Converſation of other men. Now this meditation ſhould have a mighty deal of power to prevail upon the heart; I beleeve that I have ſuch and ſuch priviledges beyond other men, and I look for ſuch and ſuch mercies above others; now what things I look for beyond others, I muſt labor to be as much beyond them in holineſs of Converſation, as God hath made me beyond them in ſpiritual priviledges, and ſpiritual mercies; I think ſometimes I would not be in the condition of ſuch men as are in their natural eſtate for a world, nay I would not be one our in their eſtates if I might have ten thouſand worlds, for fear I ſhould die that hour, and then I ſhould be loſt for ever; Well, hath God made ſuch a difference? then let not my life be like theirs for one hour, nay for one moment. Oh this meditation (through Gods bleſſing) would mightily help us in our Converſation.
Our Converſation ſhould be ſuch as becomes the Ordinances of the Goſpel: The Word, and Sacraments, they have a great deal more in them than the Ordinances of the Law; but becauſe I ſpake of the Goſpels being higher than the Law heretofore, and theſe things may fall ſomething neer, yet had I time I would ſpeak a little concerning theſe, and ſhew how we are to hold forth a Converſation ſutable to them.
Our Converſations ſhould be ſutable to the power of the Goſpel: there is a great deal of power in the Goſpel; it's call'd the power of God unto ſalvation, in the 1. of the Rom. 16. The very light of the Goſpel it is a transforming light, it hath a mighty power in it, the Goſpel it's called, the Wiſdom of God, and the Power of God, 1 Cor. 1. 24. it brings a great deal of power with it to help men againſt ſtrong corruptions, to overcome violent temptations, to carry them through in any difficulties: Powerful corruptions, powerful temptations, powerful difficulties are overcome by the power of the Goſpel; and therefore it is ſaid by faith, that is, by faith in the Goſpel, we overcome the world; the Goſpel certainly doth not only ſtir in ſome men and women, ſome wiſhings, and wouldings and faint deſires, but it brings a power to transforme their hearts. to make a metamorphoſis there; when there comes the light of the Goſpel there comes the light of life together with it; as that Scripture in Heb. 10. 32. After ye were illuminated (that is, by the Goſpel) then he ſpeaks of their great ſufferings, they were willing to endure any thing for Chriſt; therefore a Converſation that becomes the Goſpel is ſuch an one as exemplarily demonſtrates the very power of godlineſs, that men and women ſhould not be alwaies learning and never come to the knowledg of the truth, not alwaies wiſhing and deſiring, and never come to any powerful reſolutions and determinations, for certainly where the Goſpel hath the upper hand in a ſoul it doth bring power, but I do not ſay it brings power ſo as to overcome all our luſts, ſo as there ſhould be no ſin remaining, for ſo long as we live we muſt be hungering after a further degree of righteouſneſs and ſanctification; but certainly when the Goſpel prevails there comes a great ſtrength; there's the ſtrength of Chriſt put forth, the Spirit of power (as the Apoſtle ſaith) We have not received the ſpirit of fear, but the Spirit of power, of love, and of a ſound mind: be not therefore aſhamed of the teſtimony of our Lord. As if Paul had ſaid to Timothy, it's true, you meet with many difficulties, but hath not the Goſpel given you a Spirit of power? There's ſpirit of power and reſolution when the Goſpel comes in. Timothy was a poor weakly, ſickly man in his body, and Paul himſelf had no bodily preſence with him, a poor contemptible man in regard of his bodily preſence, but he had a Spirit of power given him by the Goſpel; ſo we ſhould manifeſt a Spirit of power, that is as becomes the Goſpel of Chriſt.
Laſtly, The Goſpel of Chriſt is a glorious Goſpel. 1 Tim. 1. 11. it is call'd there by the title of a glorious Goſpel, According to the glorious Goſpel of the bleſſed God. Mark, what a title is here? the Goſpel is the glorious Goſpel of the bleſſed God, that is, the glory of all the Attributes of God doth appear in the Goſpel more brightly than they do appear in all the works that God hath made; There doth appear indeed a great deal of the glory of God in the Heavens, Earth, and Seas, and you have ſeen much of the glory of God there, but I appeal to you in this, Have you ſeen more of the glory of God in the Goſpel, than ever you did in all the works that God hath made? that were a good argument that you have had a true underſtanding of the Goſpel, and that the Spirit of God hath ſhined into your hearts, if you can ſay, Lord I have ſeen much of thy glory in thy Works, when I have been abroad in the mighty waters where Gods paths and foot-ſteps are, Oh the Seas they are thy glorious creatures, but thy Goſpel that's glorious beyond all, there do I ſee thine infinite wiſdom, and infinite power, and infinite juſtice, and infinite mercy, and infinite faithfulneſs, and the Lord knows that all the glory of the creatures hath been darkned in my eyes ſince the Lord hath ſhewed me the glory of His Goſpel, Can you ſay ſo? This is a good evidence that the Goſpel is a ſaving Goſpel to your ſouls, if you ſtand and admire at the glory of God in the Goſpel; Certainly there's none though never ſo weak in parts, yet if ſo be that God hath revealed Himſelf in the Goſpel to them, they ſee that which makes them ſtand and admire at God, and darkens all the world in their eyes; have you ſeen the Goſpel thus? then it is to you the glorious Goſpel of the bleſſed God: and in the 2 Cor. 4. 4. In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which beleeve not, leſt the light of the glorious Goſpel of Chriſt ſhould ſhine into them: Oh reade over this Scripture again and again, The God of this world hath blinded their minds. Mark, compare this Scriptrue with that I ſaid before of Chriſt, that His Kingdom is not of this world, but the Devil is called the God of this world, note this, he hath blinded the minds of them which beleeve not, if any which live under the Goſpel beleeve not, it is becauſe the Devil as he prevails in the world and by worldly things, by the pomp and vanity of the world he hoodwinks the eyes of thoſe which beleeve not, leſt the light of the glorious Goſpel of Chriſt who is the expreſs Image of God ſhould ſhine into them, Oh the Devil is loth that the gloriou Goſpel ſhould ſhine into the hearts of men; he is content that they ſhould come and hear the Goſpel, but he labors to keep off the light of the glorious Goſpel of Chriſt, that it ſhine not into them, for he know when once it hath ſhined into mens hearts, then all the glory of the world will be darkned in their eyes, and they will admire then at nothing but Chriſt; Oh none but Chriſt, none but Chriſt, Whom have I in Heaven but Chriſt? and there is none upon earth that I deſire in compariſon of my deareſt Saviour, who is the faireſt of ten thouſand; I never knew God before I ſaw him in the face of Jeſus Chriſt; and now I ſee God in the face of His Son, I ſee him in another way than ever I did; O the Goſpel is a glorious Goſpel, there is more of the glory of God in one ſentence of the Goſpel, than in all the Heavens and Earth beſide; this we may boldly aver. Now our Converſations muſt be as becomes the Goſpel, then there muſt be a glory in our Converſations, we muſt hold forth the Goſpel in our Converſations: therefor Profeſſors of the Goſpel they ſhould ſhine as lights in the world.
I beſeech you mark this one Note. I remember in the cloſe of all the laſt day, I ſhewed you, that the Saints and godly people are call'd, the glory of Jeſus Chriſt Himſelf; ſurely you that are Profeſſors of the Goſpel ſhould live ſo as to be the glory of the glorious Goſpel, and what manner of perſons ought we to be then? it's not enough that our Converſations be not defiled with the moſt filthy and abominable pollutions of the world, but our Converſations ſhould be ſuch as ſhould be a glory to the glorious Goſpel: Look in the Goſpel, there ſhine the Attributes of God in glory, ſo in our lives there ſhould be ſhining the glorious Attributes of God, that all that behold our Converſations may admire the Attributes of God ſhining in our lives, and glorifie our Heavenly Father. Certainly a child of God that keeps cloſe to God, and lives holily in his life, doth let out more of the glory of God ſhining before the world than the Sun in the Firmament; A Chriſtian that profeſſes the Goſpel, and doth walk anſwerably to the Goſpel, I ſay he is a more glorious creature in this world than the Sun in the Firmament; certainly if we do but conſider this, that we are appointed here in this world while we live, to hold forth the glory of the Goſpel, to make it to be a glorious Goſpel before all that we live among, it would cauſe another manner of Converſation than as yet we have.
But to wind up all in a few words of Application, more particularly (though all the way as I have gone I have labored to apply it) all that I ſhall ſay may be refer'd unto theſe two particulars.
Application.
And the firſt is, For the rebuking of thoſe whoſe Converſations are not as becomes the Goſpel.
I appeal to your conſciences, Do not your conſciences in hearing theſe things condemn you? If this be a Converſation becoming the Goſpel, O Lord, how far are we from honoring the Goſpel in our lives? for how do many of your Converſations diſgrace the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt? you put Jeſue Chriſt even to open ſhame by your Converſations; and ſuch as you are, are blots to profeſſion & ſtains to Religion, and the truth is, it had been better you had never bin born, if God doth not work upon your hearts in ſome meaſure before you die to recover the honor that you have taken away from this glorious Goſpel. Gal. 2. compare the 11. verſ. and the 14. together, and in the. 11. ver. you ſhall find Paul, when he did but ſee Peter to walk not as he ought to do, (ſaith he) I withſtood Peter to his face: What's the matter? You ſhall ſee the cauſe in the 14. verſe, (for ſaith he) He did not walk uprightly according to the truth of the Goſpel: In that one particular (it ſeems) Peter was blame-worthy, O how was Pauls ſpirit ſtir'd! I reſiſted him to his face ſaith he. Though Peter was a glorious Apoſtle, yet becauſe in that thing he did not walk according to the truth of the Goſpel, Paul reſiſted him to his face. And are there any that make profeſſion? and do you ſee that they walk not according to the truth of the Goſpel? Reſiſt them to their faces, though they be never ſo eminent, either in Church or Common-wealth, to be head and ſhoulders above others, yet theſe are to be reſiſted to their face. Oh the Goſpel was precious to the heart of Paul, and therfore he could not bear, no not a Peter, not to walk according to the truth of the Goſpel. Oh how many! how many are there among you that do not walk according to the truth of the Goſpel? Now the Lord cauſe your conſciences this day to reſiſt you to your faces, and to ſpeak in ſecret to you, and to convince you of the dreadful evil that you are guilty of: is ſuch a Converſation as you walk in ſuch as become the Goſpel? I remember I have read a ſtory, you ſhal find it in Richard the firſt, when he prevailed in warr, and took a Biſhop, the Biſhop of Bevoice, the Pope was angry, and ſends and expoſtulates with him, that he would preſume to meddle with one of his Sons, and impriſon him. The King ſent this anſwer again to the Pope: He takes the Habergion and other warlike inſtruments that the Biſhop had, and ſends them to the Pope with theſe words; See, Is this thy Sons Coat? is it fit for him to wear ſuch things as theſe? So I may ſay concerning many profeſſors, look upon their Converſations, and what is this the Coat? this the Converſation of the ſon of God? As that Richard the firſt, thought it ſuch an unbeſeeming thing for a Biſhop to have warlike inſtruments about him, and to be taken clad in armor. On 'tis an unbeſeeming thing for ſuch as profeſs the Goſpel of Chriſt, to have inſtruments of death about them, to have wicked Converſations, to live in wicked and ungodly waies, Oh! 'tis not Chriſts Livery, not the Coat of one that profeſſes godlineſs: Certainly there muſt be another manner of Converſation than this.
EXHORTATION.
And therefore to cloſe all in a word or two of Exhortation. Oh that God would move our hearts now by what we have heard, to labor to honor the glorious Goſpel that we do profeſs, O that that worthy Name (in Jam. 2. 7.) may not be blaſphemed by wicked men; Oh let not that worthy Name of God and Chriſt (which you profeſs) be blaſphemed for your ſakes, but walk worthy of that worthy Name of the Lord, and of his Chriſt, and of his Goſpel. My brethren, know that when you undertake the profeſſion of the Goſpel, you undertake a great matter; do not come to the profeſſion of the Goſpel and look upon it as if it were a ſlight matter; 'tis a great matter, the profeſſion of the Goſpel: In 1 Tim. 2. 10. it is a good Scripture for women, he ſpeaks of women, that they ſhould walk as thoſe that do profeſs godlineſs, ſuch ſhould preach the contents of the Goſpel in an Evangelical behavior before others, they ſhould therefore bring forth fruits worthy of repentance, or meet for repentance: Hath the Lord wrought upon your hearts, to chang your minds and turn your hearts to him? O then bring forth fruits worthy of repentance; that is, your Converſations muſt be worthy of the Goſpel, and that is fruit worthy of repentance: and in Acts, 26. 20. Works meet for repentance. Oh you ſay, you have repented you of your ſins: the word that is tranſlated there repentance; it is, change of mind: Oh hath God changed your mind? Then let there be works worthy of this change of mind.
And divers motives there ſhould have been named for the ſtirring up of your hearts to walk worthy of the Goſpel: O conſider what's this Goſpel you profeſs, the Scripture cals it as here the Goſpel of Chriſt: So the Goſpel of the grace of God, Act. 20. 24.
It's a Goſpel by which you are begotten, 1 Cor. 4. 15.
Thirdly, It's the Goſpel of your ſalvation, Epheſ. 1. 13.
And fourthly, It's an everlaſting Goſpel, Revel. 14. 6.
And then as you had it before, a glorious Goſpel.
Oh walk worthy of this Goſpel that you have got ſo much good by. I appeal to you any that have had the Goſpel working upon your hearts, Have not you got ſo much good by the Goſpel that you would not part withal for ten thouſand worlds? Oh then walk worthy of that Goſpel, ſeeing you have got ſo much good by it. And I beſeech you conſider that motive in the text, Only let your Converſation be as it becomes the Goſpel of Chriſt. [Only] as if the Apoſtle ſhould ſay, the Goſpel hath many things that darkens it, and many adverſaries that do oppoſe it, Oh but, Only let your Converſation be as it becomes the Goſpel; you need care for nothing that oppoſeth, ſo you walk worthy of the Goſpel, only let your Converſation, be as becomes the Goſpel. Now what a many enemies hath the Goſpel at this day? and what errors and diviſions are there to ecclipſe this Evangelical Sun? Why now, Only let your Converſation be as it becomes the Goſpel: That is, in theſe times wherein there is ſo much done againſt the Goſpel, as if the Apoſtle ſhould ſay, Let all Devils and wicked men do what they can they ſhall never prevail againſt the Goſpel, if your Converſations be as becomes the Goſpel; this is enough to ſtand out againſt all that is done againſt the Goſpel: Oh me thinks this argument ſhould be a prevailing argument. Oh! do not your hearts bleed when you hear what oppoſition is made againſt the glorious Goſpel of Chriſt that ſhould be ten thouſand times deerer than your lives? here's the way that the Goſpel ſhould ſtand againſt Hell, and the gates of Hell, all counſels of the enemy ſhall not prevail againſt the Goſpel, if your Converſations be as becomes the Goſpel, This will do it. And mark what Paul ſaith, he looks upon it as a thing thing dearer than his life, to walk ſo as might further the Goſpel, 1 Cor. 9. 12. We ſuffer all things (ſaith he) leſt we ſhould hinder the Goſpel of Chriſt: Mark, (as if he ſhould ſay) Oh 'tis more dear than our lives a thouſand times, we will do any thing, and ſuffer any thing; Oh the Apoſtles ſpirit was filled with the ſweetneſs of the Goſpel, he had found the good of it. And here in this Scripture he ſaith, Oh what ſhall I do? what ſhall I ſuffer that I may not hinder the Goſpel? Let them do any thing that poſſibly can be to me, or take what they will from me, I crave not, we ſuffer all things that the Goſpel may not be hindred.
Now you will neither do nor ſuffer for the Goſpel, you will not part with a baſe luſt that the Goſpel may not be hindred; one profeſſor being overtaken with an apparent ſin may do more hurt to the Goſpel than he can do good all his life, let him live as long as Methuſelah; that ſin of yours that is ſo dear to you, Will not you part with it? it will hinder the Goſpel, Oh wilt not thou part with thy ſin, when any temptation comes to ſin? Let every one of you that profeſs you love the Goſpel, but think thus, Oh but ſhall I not hinder the Goſpel if I liſten and yeild to this temptation? indeed this will bring me a great deal of comfort and content, and I ſhall get ſo much by it; Oh but will it not obſtruct the Goſpel? the very thought of this that it poſſibly may hinder the Goſpel, ſhould cauſe your hearts to riſe with indignation againſt that temptation, and caſt out that ſin; God forbid that I ſhould meddle with that ſin which wil hinder the Goſpel. And therefore in Act. 20, 24. the Apoſtle profeſſes, that his life is not dear to him, ſo be it he might but further the Goſpel: And in 1 Cor. 9. from the 12. verſ. to the 23. he profeſſes there, he would become all things to all men, he would be a ſervant to any man, and yeeld to all things that he could, ſo be it he might not ſin againſt God, to be never ſo vile in the eyes of men, and all that he might but further the Goſpel. Oh that it were but ſo in our hearts. We reade of an excellent commendations of one, in the 2 of Cor. 8. 18. That his praiſe is in the Goſpel in all the Churches. Oh this is an excellent thing, when it can be ſaid of a Profeſſor of Religion (it may be this man hath not any great commendation for parts, no but) his praiſe is in the Goſpel. As the Saints of God and all the Churches of God that knew him, they highly commended him, Why? Becauſe that the Goſpel is furthered by him, his praiſe is in the Goſpel: this we ſhould labor al of us what poſſibly we can. My brethren, what a mercy is it, that God ſhould account any thing that we do worthy of the Goſpel! Mark the Text, Why, can we poor worms do any thing worthy of the Goſpel? I but though you can do but little, God will account your endeavours even worthy of the Goſpel. John ſaith, that he was unworthy to looſe the latchet of Chriſts ſhoe, nor worthy to carry the ſhoe of Chriſt…: Then, are we ſuch as can walk worthy of the glorious Goſpel? Oh 'tis Gods infinit goodneſs that ſhal account us to be worthy of the Goſpel. The Apoſtles did not account themſelves worthy to ſuffer for the Goſpel, Acts, 5. 41. And ſhall God account us to do that which is worthy of his Goſpel? Oh this ſhould be a mighty encouragement to us, to walk worthy of the Goſpel. And there is an notable encouraging text, in Luke, 21. 36. Walk worthy of the Goſpel: And then you ſhall ſee what God will account you worthy of: Watch ye therefore, and pray alwaies, that ye may be accounted worthy to eſcape all theſe things that ſhall come to paſſe, and to ſtand before the Son of Man. Watch and Pray, be watchful in all your converſe, keep your communion with God cloſe: What will be the fruit of this? That ye may be accounted worthy to eſcape theſe things: that is, the many afflictions, dangers, and evils that ſhall come upon the world, you ſhall eſcape the evil of them at leaſt. And to ſtand before the Son of Man. Here's a notable Scripture to quicken up our hearts to walk conſcionably and ſtrictly in our Converſation, watch over your waies, ſtand upon your guard, and pray, that you may be accounted worthy to ſtand before the Son of Man: Why? Is there any that can ſtand before the Son of Man in glory? or that ſhal be accounted worthy to ſtand before Him? Yes, a godly and gracious man or woman that walks conſcionably in their Converſation, when the Son of Man ſhall come in his glory, they ſhal be able to ſtand before Him, and be accounted worthy. Oh then, let your Converſation be as becomes the Goſpel, and you ſhall be accounted by God, worthy to ſtand before the Son of Man. Jeſus Chriſt▪ He walks towards you as becomes a Mediator; yea Chriſt doth al things that are ſutable to His relations, as a Husband, as a Savior: Oh do you all things that are ſutable to your relations.
And for the cloſe of all, I beſeech you lay but to heart the great Deſign that God hath in the Goſpel, think thus with thy ſelf, Surely the Work of God in the Goſpel is a glorious Work: Well then: ſurely God hath ſome great Deſign that He drives on in the Goſpel. What is it? Let me labor to ſerve it whatſoever in me lieth. Now if you reade in the Goſpel you ſhall find that the Deſign that God hath, it is, To purchaſe to Himſelf, a peculiar people, zealous of good works: to promote holineſs and godlineſs, that we being redeemed from the hands of our enemies, might ſerve him in holineſs and righteouſneſs all the daies of our lives. This is the Deſign that God hath: I ſee that Mankind is fallen from me, and the people in the world are generally fallen into wickedneſs, the whole world lieth in wickedneſs, over head and ears in ſin; but I would have holineſs advanced, I would have my Image renewed, I would have a peculiar people that might live for ever to ſerve and worſhip me: Here's the Deſign of God: Oh let me now ſerve this deſign of God, and labor to do all that I can to ſerve, and honor, and bleſſe, and magnifie that God that hath wrought ſuch glorious things for us, as He hath wrought in the Goſpel. And as Chriſt ſaith in Mat. 3. when He came to be paptized of John, It becomes us to fulfill all righteouſneſs. Now ſhall the Lord Jeſus Chriſt Himſelf ſay thus, It becomes us to fulfill all righteouſneſs; ſurely then it becomes you to fulfil al righteouſneſs. Would you walk as becomes the Goſpel? Give up your hearts, ſtrength, and endeavors what poſſibly you can to fulfill all righteouſneſs, do not ſay, Why ſhould I do thus? and why need we be ſo forward and ſtrict? Oh remember the text; If any talk of too much ſtrictneſs, and too much forwardneſs; then anſwer thus; I heard in ſuch a place ſuch a Text opened and applied to me, that my Converſation muſt be as it becomes the Goſpel; and certainly let me do what I can, I cannot do ſo much but that the Goſpel will require ten thouſand times more than I can do, and therfore I do endeavor to walk as becoms the Goſpel: And I hear that Chriſt Himſelf ſaith, that it became Him to fulfil all righteouſneſs; And why ſhould not I walk as Chriſt Himſelf walked? O my life hath bin too vain heretofore, my heart hath been dead, and I have not been quickned up ſo as to walk worthy of the Goſpel; but for the time to come my care and endeavor above all things in the world, ſhall be, That I may honor this glorious GOSPEL of Jeſus Chriſt, from whom I do expect to have ſuch glorious things hereafter.
Conſider now what hath been ſaid, and the Lord give you underſtanding in theſe things, that you may be kept blameleſs unto the coming of our Lord JESUS CHRIST.