A Glimpse of God, Part 10
A Diſcourſe of Gods immutability.
Malach. 3. 6. I am the Lord, I change not.
CHAP. I.
THis Chapter is a Prophecy of Chriſt's comming in the fleſh…, and to judgment, whoſe coming …s moſt deſirable to the Godly, but to the wicked moſt terrible.
In the firſt verſe he ſaith. Behold I ſend my Meſſenger.] that is, John Baptiſt, the forerunner of Chriſt: And the Lord whom ye ſeek. that is Chriſt, after whom the Godly did pant and breath? Come Lord Jeſus, Come quickly. Even the Meſſenger of the covenant] ſcil. Chriſt, becauſe in him God hath reconciled the world unto himſelf, and in him hath made a covenant of ſure and everlaſting peace with his elect.—Whom ye delight in] Chriſt was, is, and ſhall be the onelyonly joy and delight of all his choſen.
In the 2, 3, 4. Verſes he ſheweth the effect of his coming. The Prophet puts forth a queſtion: Who ſhall abide his coming? he gives the reaſon, becauſe Chriſt is a refining and purging fire to purge the godly, who are here compared to Gold, that can abide the fire: Chriſt will be a conſuming and devouring fire, to burn and devour all the wicked, that are not purged; the wicked are droſſe which conſumeth when the Gold is purified; when the Godly ſhall ſhine like ſtars in the firmament, the wicked ſhall burn like fi…ebrands in hell fire: Chriſt will be the glorious Saviour, and the terrible Judg. In verſe 5. he tells the wicked, in what manner Chriſt will come neer unto them. I will come neer to you judgment.] you think I am a God afar off; but I will be neer you, when I come to judgment: I will be a ſwift witneſſe againſt you▪ ] I will be a witneſs and a Judg againſt you, yea a ſwift one: you think I am ſlack in coming, but I ſhall come to you ſooner than you are aware of: there are ſix ſorts of perſons he threatens to come againſt, ſc. the ſorcerers, the adulterers, the falſe ſwearers, thoſe that oppreſs the hireling in his wages, the widow and the fatherleſs, and that turn aſide the ſtranger from his right, and thoſe that fear not God; he brings in this in the laſt place, becauſe the want of God's fear is the cauſe of all wickedneſs, and boldneſs in the practice of ſin.
Now for the confirmation of the certainty of this P…ophecy of his promiſes and threatnings, he draweth an argument from God's attribute; ſcil. his immutability, for I am God, and change not, &c. as if God had ſaid: Be perſwaded, that what I here promiſe to the Godly, and threaten to the wicked, ſhall undoubtedly come to paſs, becauſe I am God that change not, I am always the ſame, and ſo is my word always the ſame, my promiſes are immutable, my threatnings are immutable; that the rebellious ſons of Iſrael are not conſumed, it is not through your deſerts: but for my promiſe-ſake, made to your fathers, which ſtandeth firm and ſure: I am now and always gracious, merciful, long-ſuffering; therefore you ſons of Jacob are not conſumed; you have provoked me to puniſh and to deſtroy you with temporal and eternal deſtruction; I might have forſaken you as you have forſaken me, and cauſed my mercy to have departed from you, and that long ere now, as you have departed from me: I might have deſtroyed your fathers in many foregoing generations, becauſe they and you are departed from me, broken your covenant, caſt me your God off from you; but I have not caſt you away, and conſumed you with my curſes, becauſe I am the Lord and change not.
CHAP. II.
THe point here to be conſidered,Obſerv. is, That God is unchangeable. The Apoſtle proveth this. Jam. 1. 17. Saying, that with God there is no variableneſs nor ſhadow of turning; there he ſhews that God is the moſt indificient and unchangeable fountain and giver of every good thing; he is ſtill the ſame in the communication of his goodneſs: God is good, and hath done good, and manifeſted his bounty to men in all generations that are paſt; he is ſtill as good and bountifull, and doth do good, eſpecially to ſuch as are upright in heart; he is always the ſame, there is no variableneſs, no diminution, yea, there is not ſo much as a ſhaddow of change in him: far more free from any appearance of change, than the ſun from darkneſſe, or ſhaddow of darkneſſe: Heaven, Earth all creatures are liable to change they ſhall all be turned in and out, but God is the ſame Pſalm. 102. 26, 27, 28. Thou art God from Eternity to Eternity. Pſalm. 90. 2. So that phraſe, I AM THAT I AM, ſheweth the unchangeableneſſe of God.
In the proſecution of this, I will ſhew, what God's unchangeableneſſe is; wherein he is unchangeable, the reaſons of the point…, and anſwer ſome queſtions or objections, which ſeem to make againſt his unchangeableneſſe, then make uſe of it
To be abſolutely and ſimply unchangeable, requireth theſe Properties.
1. There muſt be no beginning: For all beginnings argue a change from a not being to a being; as when a creature is created, there is a change from a not being to a being: So in generation, that which was not a child, becomes a child; ſo in alteration: Now the Lord hath no beginning of his being, he is from everlaſting.
2. There muſt be no diſſolution, corruption, or alteration: Creatures are therefore changeable, becauſe the moſt noble of all are liable to annihilation. God can turn Angels into nothing, the ſons of men into deſtruction; heaven and earth ſhall wax old like a garment: but now there can be no diſſolution, corruption, or annihilation in God; Thou art God to everlaſting.
3. There muſt be no addition, nor diminution, nor increaſe, nor decreaſe; as we ſee in all creatures, they may be more perfect then they are; they that are glorified, may and do increaſe in knowledge. Creatures may become alſo leſs then they are, as among the Angels, ſome of glorious Angels became ugly Devils; of happy Angels, miſerable Devils; of pure Angels, unclean Spirits. So men may decreaſe and increaſe in knowledge and wiſdome, in all excellencies inward and outward: Righteous man is now become ſinful; he that knew much, is become ignorant. So all Creatures are liable to alteration, either to become better or worſe. But God is ſo perfect, that he cannot be better or worſe than he is; ſo good, that he cannot be better; ſo wiſe, that he cannot be more wiſe; ſo holy, that he cannot be more holy; he cannot increaſe in wiſdome and holineſs, &c. And though the Lord deriveth and communicateth his bounty and goodneſs to the Creatures, yet there is no diminution of it: we ſee many thouſand Stars derive their light from the Sun, yet the light of the Sun is no way diminiſhed.
CHAP. III.
MOreover, God is Immutable or unchangeable all theſe ways.
1. God is unchangeable in his Being: He is the ſame Being from everlaſting to everlaſting: I am that I am, I am the ſame Being now what I am; Before Abraham was I am, ſaith our Saviour, Joh. 8. 58. So God may ſay, Before Adam was, I am; before the foundations of the world, were I am: and when the foundations of the world ſhall be no more, God is the ſame Being.
2. God is unchangeable in all his glorious Perfections, and Properties or Attributes: his Almighty Power is unchangeable; his infinite Wiſdome is unchangeable; his Goodneſs, Mercy, Juſtice, All-ſufficiency are unchangeable; therefore his Love is ſaid to be an everlaſting love; his mercy endureth for ever, his goodneſs endureth continually.
3. God is unchangeable in his Decrees: Whatſoever God hath decreed, ſhall come to paſ accordingly all things ſhall be, and fall out. His Decree of Election is unalterable, 2 Tim. 2. 19. The foundation of the Lord ſtandeth ſure; that is, his Election ſtandeth ſure, compared to a foundation for the immutable firmneſs of it. Pilate could ſay, What I have written, I have written; he would not alter the inſcription on the Croſs upon the Jews intreaty: God much more can ſay, What I have written in my Book of Life, ſhall be written; what I have blotted out of my Book, I will have never to be altered. His Decrees are called his Counſels; The counſels of the Lord ſtand for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Pſal. 33. 11.
4. God is unchangeable in his Promiſes and Threatnings: What good things he hath promiſed to give to his choſen, all ſhall be made good; what evil he hath threatned to bring upon the impenitently wicked, all ſhall come to paſs. Balaam ſaid, God is not a man, that he ſhould lie; neither the ſon of man, that he ſhould repent, Numb. 23. 19. God is not a man, that he ſhould lie, that is, promiſe and not perform, falſifie, or go back from his word; threaten, and not put his threatnings in execution.
5. God is immutable in all his Affections: in his Love, in his Hatred; Whom he loveth, he loveth to the end; he loveth his Elect from everlaſting to everlaſting: Whom he hateth, he hateth to the end; the Damned are the immortal objects of his eternal hatred.
6. God is immutable in all his ſaving Gifts. Rom. 11. 29. The gifts and calling of God are without repentance. When God pardoneth, juſtifieth, ſanſtifieth, calleth, reconcileth any ſoul to himſelf, he never repenteth of ſo doing to any man, but what he doth ſhall ſtand inviolate.
CHAP. IV.
MAny Reaſons may be given to evidence to us, that God is unchangeable.
1. God is foreign, he is the Lord Jehovah, Reaſ. 1.hath being from himſelf, and not from any other cauſe: He is abſolutely independent, and dependeth upon no other: All creatures have received their being from him, and depend upon him; therefore God onelyonly is immutable, and all Creatures are changeable, and continue not in one ſtay: For the ground of change is, to have being, or any perfection from another, and always to be at the will and diſpoſing of him from whom they have what they have; as a Subjects honours and dignities are received from his Prince's favour, and are at the will and diſpoſing of his Prince; if he withdraw the influence of his favour, his dignities wither, and are taken from him. Thus all Creatures receiving their being from God, are at God's diſpoſing: if he ſpeak the word, Let a Creature be made thus and thus, it is ſo; if he ſay, Let that Creature be turned into deſtruction, it is deſtroyed: If God withdraw the influence of his favour and ſupportance from the Creatures, they cannot ſubſiſt for a moment, but ſuffer a pitiful change; but now, God depending upon no ſuperiour cauſe, not liable to the will, pleaſure, diſpoſing of a ſupreme power, abideth the ſame for ever, without the leaſt ſhadow of change.
2. God is Immutable, becauſe heReaſ. 2. is moſt ſimple, void of all compoſition: he is purus actus, a pure act; there is no paſſive power in him. All Creatures are therefore mutable, becauſe there is ſome compoſition in them. Man is obnoxious to diſſolution, becauſe compounded of a body and ſoul; his body liable to alteration and corruption, becauſe 'tis compounded of the elements. Even the Angels themſelves, and the Souls of Men, which are the moſt ſimple, yet are compounded, …x actu & potentia, ex ſubjecto & accidente; therefore are they liable both to alteration, as we ſee in Devils; and alſo to annihilation, for God can turn them into nothing again. But now in God there is no mixture, no compoſition; but whatſoever is in God, is God, is his Eſſence, therefore no alteration, or mutation can be in him.
3. Becauſe God comprehendeth inReaſ. 3. him all fulneſs of perfection; he is infinitely perfect, therefore he is immutable. There is a double alteration which the Creature is liable unto; there is
Alteratio perfectiva,
Alteratio corruptiva.
A perfective alteration,
A deſtructive alteration.
A Creature may alter from good to bad, from bad to worſe; ſo from bad to good, from good to better: There is no creature but is capable of more perfections then they have: Angels, though they have great perfections, yet may be more gradually perfect: but God being infinitely perfect, admits of no diminution nor increaſe; being infinitely wiſe, he cannot be wiſer; being infinitely good, he cannot be better: for if God ſhould thus change, then were he imperfect, and were not infinite: Now to ſay, that there may be a decreaſe of his perfections, then ſhould God become imperfect; and if God ſhould loſe ſome of his perfections, he might loſe more, then God ſhould be no God.
4. God is unchangeable in his Decrees,Reaſ. 4. Promiſes, and Threatnings, of which I touched before.
1. In his Decrees, becauſe God is omniſcient; ſo he foreſees all inconveniences, to prevent errour or miſtake; he cannot err, becauſe he infallibly foreknows all. Men may alter their Decrees, becauſe they are ignorant, and cannot foreſee inconveniences to prevent errors: but God foreſees all, without the leaſt error; therefore what he decreeth ſhall ſtand firm.
2. Becauſe God is omnipotent, therefore he can overcome all impediments that may hinder and fruſtrate the execution of his Decrees. Men are hindred in their decrees by ſome overpowering impediment, but who can reſiſt the omnipotent will of God?
He is unchangeable in his Promiſes and threatnings, becauſe he is able and faithful, true and juſt; therefore will not, nor cannot deny himſelf.
CHAP. V. Objections about God's Immutability anſwered.
NOw let us clear ſome Queſtions, or Objections touching God's unchangeableneſs.
If God be immutable, how is heObject. 1. then ſaid to repent? It is ſaid, that he repented that he made man on the earth, Gen. 6. 6. And upon the repentance of the Ninivites, it is ſaid, God repented of the evil that he had ſaid he would do unto them, and did it not. Jon. 3. 10.
Repentance is ſpoken of God for ourSol. 1. underſtandings ſake; when the Scripture ſaith, That God did repent of this or that thing, it ſpeaks of God after the manner of men for our learning.
2. God is ſaid to repent; not as if there were a change of mind in God, as when men repent; but when there is a change wrought in the creature, their change is his repentance. The deſtruction of the old World, is Gods repenting of making man upon the earth. The removing of plagues and curſes (the evils which he inflicts upon us) is Gods repentance of the evils he inflicteth: So the preventing of evils threatned, his bidding the Angel to put up his Sword drawn forth to deſtroy Jeruſalem, is Gods repentance of the evil: So then there is a double change, ſubjectiva, or in agente▪ objectiva, or in patiente: The change is altogether in the creature, the object and patient, not in God the agent.
If God be Immutable, how then isObject. 2. it ſaid, That God is ſometime angry with his people? and that ſometimes he is ſaid to rejoyce over them. Now he ſmiles upon them, and kiſſeth his Spouſe; anon he withdraws himſelf, and frowns upon her; this argues a change of affections.
We muſt diſtinguiſh between GodsSol. 1. love to us, and joy over us; and our apprehenſion of his love and joy, between his affection, and the ſenſe of his affection to us. Gods love is immutable, there's no decay in it; but there may be a decay and want of apprehenſion in us.
2. The change is in us, not in God; our looſe walking, or our falling into ſome ſin, is the cauſe of our want of the apprehenſion of his favour: Shall we ſay that the fire heateth not, or that the Sun ſhines not, when we ſtand behind a Wall in the ſhade? We ſay that God changeth, when as we remove further from God, and ſet up a ſin, like a partition Wall, between our ſouls, and the light of his countenance: So that as the Lord in another ſenſe ſpake to Iſrael, O Iſrael, thy deſtruction is of thy ſelf, Hoſ. 13. 9. But in me is thy help: May be ſpoken to all Chriſtians, that have not their former quickning and raviſhing apprehenſions of Gods favour in Chriſt; Oh thou mourning and diſconſolate ſoul! thy ſorrow, thy ſpiritual darkneſs is from thy ſelf; in me is thy comfort, and in my favour is light, without ſhadow of change▪ yet we are apt to conceive a mutation in God. As men in a Boat, do think the Trees and Banks on the ſhore do move, when the motion is in the Boat, and there's none in them: ſo we are apt to conceive a mutation in the immutable God, when the change is in us.
How is God immutable in his Word,Object. 3. Promiſes and Threatnings, when he threatens evil to perſons, and infl…cts it not; promiſeth mercy, and performs it not? As when he threatned▪ Hezekiah, that he ſhould dye, and not live, Iſa. 38. and to deſtroy Nineveh within 40 dayes, and did not; and bade Moſes to let him alone, that he might conſume the people.
Conſider, that in Promiſes or Threatnings,Sol. 1. though ſometime the condition be not expreſſed, yet it is alwayes implied. I… God did promiſe or threaten abſolutely without any condition, if he fulfilled not, he were mutable, and ſhould deny himſelf; but ſeeing he promiſeth upon condition, if not performed on our part, there is no change in God, he remains faithful to his Word: Do thou what he commandeth, God will make good what he promiſeth.
2. If it be a temporal Promiſe, we muſt conſider whether it be good for us: God doth conſider it; and if it be not good for thee, he gives thee another comfort inſtead of that; yet he is immutable, becauſe temporal promiſes have this condition implied, If they be good.
3. So again for Threatnings; they were with a condition of Repentance: If men repent not, he will ſhoot out the Arrows of his indignation; but if the wicked ſhall humble themſelves, and turn from their wicked wayes, they ſhall live. Nineveh had been deſtroyed, had not Nineveh repented. Iſrael had been conſumed, had not Moſes made interceſſion: So Hezekiah humbled himſelf before the Lord, and prayed; ſo that ſtill the change is in us, not in God; he abideth faithful in his promiſes and threatnings: Repent, and God will repent of the evil; but he that walketh contrary to God, God will walk contrary to him.
Gods Promiſes are mutable, ſo areObject. 4. his Threatnings, becauſe they depend upon a mutable condition in men; as men are, ſo God makes good both.
'Tis true, in reſpect of mans nature,Sol. will, judgment and ſenſe, mans Repentance or Impenitency (the condition of the promiſe) is annexed to a mutable thing; but neither his promiſes nor threatnings depend on us, but upon Gods immutable Decree: God makes good his promiſes to ſuch to whom he Decreeth, to give Repentance, Faith, and new Obedience; he executes his threatnings on ſuch who are in his juſt judgment given up to Impenitency.
CHAP. VI. Some Corollaries drawn from this point of God's Unchangeableneſs.
BEfore I make Application, I will draw ſome Inferences or Corollaries from this Doctrine.
1. If God be immutable, then allCoroll. 1. things are in God from Eternity moſt perfectly. God is ſo …ull of all good from Eternity, that to Eternity it is impoſſible there ſhould be any acceſs of more good in him. God is ſo immutably firmly good, that a diminution of his goodneſs is likewiſe impoſſible in a whole Eternity.
2. If God be immutable; thenCoroll. 2. though God make the World, and deſtroy the World, and turns things upſide down, that nothing continues in one ſtay; he governeth the World, puniſheth the wicked, bleſſeth the righteous, and brings forth innumerable events, yet God abideth the ſame; and whatſoever falls out, comes to paſs according to his immutable Decree.
3. If God be immutable, thenCoroll. 3. though the whole World ſhould be turned into nothing, all the Angels and men that ever were or ſhall be, ſhould be excluded from his glorious preſence, and be turned into deſtruction, yet God would be immutably happy and glorious; he being infinitely good, the whole good of the creature in compariſon of him is nothing.
CHAP. VII. The Uſes of this Doctrine of God's Unchangeableneſs.
1. HEre is an Uſe of AdmonitionƲſe 1. and Terrour to wicked men, in three things.
1. Hath God inflicted wrath upon wicked men in foregoing Ages? Hath God damned unclean Sodomites, judged Whoremongers and Adulterers, deſtroyed Drunkards in the very act, as Belſhazzar, and turned the Covetous into Hell? Then be admoniſhed and tremble, leſt the like condemnation betide thee for the like ſins; for God is immutably holy, and hates ſin in thee as in them immutably; he is juſt, and will inflict the like vengeance upon preſent impenitent ſinners, as upon former: as our Saviour ſaid to the Jews, Think ye, that the Galileans, whoſe blood Pilate mingled with the blood of the Sacrifices, Luk. 13.were greater ſinners than you? I tell you nay, except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh. Hath God caſt other ſinners into Hell for their wickedneſs, think ye they were greater ſinners than you? I tell you nay, except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh: For God is immutable in his hatred of ſin, and in his threatnings againſt it.
2. It ſhould admoniſh and inſtruct the wicked of the neceſſity of Repentance; either you muſt change, or God muſt change, but God changeth not; therefore either the profane Swearer, the beaſtly Drunkard muſt change their courſes, or be damned: Except they repent, they muſt likewiſe periſh.
3. It ſheweth the miſery of the Damned: God hates them, and his hatred is immutable; they are the ever living objects of his wrath, and of his hatred: If there were any probability or poſſibility of the alteration of their woful condition, the Damned might have ſome hope to be happy, and to get out of that fire: but the Damned being utterly rejected of God, become immutably impenitent; being immutably ſinful, they are immutably miſerable.
Sect. 2.
2. If God be immutable, then ſeeUſe 2. here the vaſt difference between God and all creatures, he only is unchangeable. Look upon our ſelves, we are in daily change; to day we are in health, to morrow ſick; to day perhaps we ſhine like Stars with outward Proſperity, anon covered with diſmal Adverſity. We change often in our purpoſes and reſolutions; to day we reſolve that this we will do, to morrow we are off the hinges: we are variable in our affections; to day we rejoyce, anon we mourn and weep; we are conſtant in nothing but inconſtancy. Look upon Friends, how inconſtant are they in love, kindneſs, help and aſſiſtance▪ to day they love, to morrow they hate; to day very helpful, to morrow miſerable comforters: Jobs Friends became his Adverſaries.
Look upon your ſtates and conditions, nothing continues in one ſtay, all ſublunary things, like the Moon, ſuffer their changes; but now God is abſolutely unchangeable, and is the ſame to Eternity; and if God be thine once, he is thine to Eternity: Let health be changed into ſickneſs, riche… into poverty, abundance into want, joy into ſorrow, love of Friends into hatred, God will be thy unchangeable health, riches, comfort, friend, thy unchangeable God. The Lord ſpeaketh thus to us. Ye ſons of Jacob, take me for your portion, I change not: Look over the World, do not ye ſee that riches change, but I change not; I am a rich God, and will make you immutably rich; your ſtates change, your lands and poſſeſſions go from one to another, but I the Lord am an immutable inheritance and poſſeſſion. Your friends change; your wives, husbands, children, kindred, your neareſt and deareſt relations are unconſtant and mutable, like Weather-cocks, every blaſt turns them about; but I the Lord am an unchangeable Father, an immutable huſband, a conſtant friend; and when thy natural change by death cometh, when all things muſt and ſhall change (for all together with life muſt and ſhall take their wings, and flee away with you) God then abideth the ſame for ever; why will not then the ſons of Jacob take him for their God?
Sect. 3.
3. We may learn hence the folly,Uſe 3. abſurdity, and unreaſonableneſs of all Backſliders, that in a ſtorm ſhake off the unchangeable God, in departing from his wayes. Let me reaſon with Apoſtates for God, tell me what you find in your God; that you leave him and his wayes? What is God become a barren Wilderneſs, a dry Heath, an exhauſted Fountain? What is God leſs good, leſs gracious, leſs merciful? Or what is God become like man, a Lyar, an unfaithful Friend, unfaithful in his promiſes, and will not do what he hath ſpoken? Is his countenance changed toward thee, as Haman obſerved in Ahaſueroſh? Canſt thou lay any, or all theſe to Gods charge? Why then doſt thou leave him, and change thy Maſter? Take the world, and thy luſts, and ſerve them, are theſe things better than God? Is the world more durable than God? then doſt thou make God a periſhing God: Speak what thou findeſt in God, I know thou canſt not belie ſo good a God. Oh what helliſh and damned madneſs poſſeſſeth thy brains, that thou art thus changed? Why changeſt thou thy zeal and forwardneſs in holy Duties, to coldneſs and deadneſs in Duties? Why art thou now ſo backward to the performance of them? Why haſt thou changed thy outward profeſſed Holineſs, into Looſeneſs, Diſſoluteneſs and Profaneneſs, wretched Apoſtate! Let me tell thee, thou changeſt the better for the worſe, and this is thy unhappy portion, that thou falleſt from the mercies of God, into the hands and vengeance of the ſame Unchangeable God.
Sect. 4.
4. If the Lord be Immutable, thenUſe 4. if Chriſtians find a change of comforts into ſorrows, of light into darkneſs, of ſpiritual agility into ſpiritual deadneſs, let them blame themſelves for theſe and the like changes: For ſure the hand of Joab is in theſe matters. There is ſomething in Iſrael is the cauſe that God goes not forth with their Armies, as the Scripture ſpeaketh, When Iſrael fell before the men of Ai. O Chriſtian, there is ſome change in thy courſe, or in thy heart, that thou doſt find ſuch a c…n…e of the ſenſible apprehenſions of Gods love and favour to thee: If thou art unconſtant in the ſtrictneſs of thy courſe and converſation, and giveſt thy corrupt ſelf, and carnal heart ſome eaſe, ſome liberty, and groweſt ſomewhat looſe in thy behaviour toward God, no marvel if in thy apprehenſions God ſeems as one that hath forgotten to be gracious and merciful, and unmindful of his old loving kindneſ God is the ſame, but thy unconſtant walking with God, occaſioneth ſuch a change in thy ſoul.
It is with Chriſtians, as the Papiſts ſuperſtitiouſly feign of ſouls in Purgatory; ſometime they ſay they are ſo ſcorched, that to cool themſelves, they leap out of fire, into lakes of cold water; then they freeze with cold, and from thence leap into the fire again; this is a Popiſh fable, we may moralize it thus; ſometimes while we are in this world, we are in one ſtate and condition, ſometime in another, and are changed into divers extreams. There are theſe two ſpecial cauſes of Chriſtians changes in ſpirituals.
1. Uneven, unconſtant walking with God, and before God, cauſeth an uneven and unconſtant apprehenſion of his love and favour; though he abide the ſame for ever; when thou walkeſt cloſe with God, keep thy heart cloſe to his wayes, and thou ſhalt alwayes behold the light of his countenance, and joy in it; but when thou doſt walk looſely and ſecurely, thy looſe walking cauſeth dimneſs, or no ſenſe and ſight of his love and favour; thou falleſt into a diſconſolate condition.
2. Some intervening luſt or ſin, cauſeth a change of thy ſenſe, and apprehenſion of Gods favour. The Sun alwayes ſhineth, there is no darkneſ yet when the earth is betwe…n us and the Sun, as at Midnight, or elſe the foggy vapours ariſe out of the earth, and are condenſed in ſome cloud, they hide the light of the Sun: So God is immutable, and with him there is no ſhadow of change, but when the World, or ſome foggy luſt ſhall intervene, and ſtand between God and us, then a Chriſtian ſits in diſmal darkneſs, beholds not the face of his gracious Father in Chriſt: And now the immutable Lord permits, and ſuffers ſuch a change in thee, that thou maiſt find out that change of thy heart or converſation, or the accurſed thing within thee; or, as we ſee when clouds cover the Sun, they are either diſpelled with blaſting winds, or diſſolved into rain, before we enjoy the warm beams of the Sun; ſo muſt Chriſtians either diſſolve theſe foggy miſts into tears of Repentance toward God, or God by ſome ſtormy affliction drives them away, that they may behold the light of his countenance again.
Sect. 5.
5. This may ſerve for Exhortation:Ʋſe 5. If God be Immutable, then repoſe all thy confidence in God; truſt him now and alwayes; for as he hath been, and is to thee, ſo he will be to thee unto Eternity. Hath God been gracious to thee in by-paſt conditions? Hath he delivered thee out of former Tribulations? Truſt God for the preſent, and for the future: Hath he not ſaid, I will never leave thee, nor forſake thee. The reaſon is, becauſe he changeth not; he hath been, and is now an immutable Buckler, Fortreſs, Tower, Rock of Defence; former experiences ſhould embolden thee the more to depend upon him, in preſent or in future ſtates and conditions, becauſe he is a God that changeth not: Are the like fears, difficulties, dangers upon thee now, remember the Lord is the ſame who changeth not, and he will give the like comforts, ſupport, deliverance, as formerly he did?
David did find a change of his conditions, but never found a change in God; but when he made him his truſt, he found God alwayes his Deliverer and C…mforter: Not only our experience, but whatſoever we find Recorded what God hath done for other Saints, may ſtrengthen our truſt in God. Put thou thy truſt in God, and he will do for thee as great things, becauſe he is the ſame God. Did he deliver Lot, he can deliver thee? Hath God pardoned others, he can pardon thee? and will do it, if thou repenteſt. There is no ſhadow of change in God, but he is immutably merciful and gracious. Brethren, take the Bible, read over the ſeveral paſſages of Gods Wiſdom, Grace, Mercy, Power, Goodneſs to his Children, and know whatſoever is written, is written for your learning and comfort, make ye the like uſe of God, who is alwayes the ſame, and changeth not: There is no condition can befall thee, but in this Paradiſe thou maiſt find an healing Herb, apply thou the ſame promiſes to thy ſelf.
Sect. 6.
6. If God be unchangeable in hisUſe 6. Decrees, Promiſes and Gifts, what Comfort doth it ſpeak to all the Godly? for being once made holy, you are immutably holy, and ſhall be immutably happy. Gods Immutability, is the Jachin and Boaz, the firm and inconcuſſible Pillars of our ſalvation; never ſhall a child of God fall away finally from God, becauſe his Eternal Election is an immutable Decree, ordaining thee to holineſs, to glory; his promiſes are unchangeable, Hath God ſpoken the word, it is the word of an immutable God, that hath ſaid, Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wiſe caſt off, Joh. 6. 37. Fear not, God will never caſt thee off: Hath God ſaid, That he will put his fear into thy heart, that thou ſhalt never depart from him? Fear not falling away, though a thouſand Devils ſuggeſt to thee, that thou wilt prove an Apoſtate, and wilt before death depart from God. Fear not, I ſay, thou jealous Chriſtian, God hath promiſed that thou ſhalt never depart from him. All the Devils in Hell, all the glory and miſeries in the world, all the luſts in thy heart ſhall never pull thee off from Gods hand, for every child of God is a precious Signet on Gods right hand. Gods promiſes are immutable, therefore thy ſtate of grace is unchangeable: The gifts and calling of God are without repentance. Art thou called from a ſtate of Nature to Grace, from ſin to Chriſt, thou art immutably called? Art thou juſtified, thou art immutably juſtified? Ye that are godly, take comfort in this, ye are eternally, immutably gracious and holy, and ſhall be immutably glorious and happy; though death change thee, yet the Lord our God changeth not; and at the Reſurrection day, thy corruption ſhall be changed into an immutable ſtate of immortality how unhappy, poor, miſerable, deſpicable ſoever you are for the preſent, ye ſhall be changed into an immutable ſtate of happineſs, becauſe the Lord our God is unchangeable.
Laſtly, If God be immutable, andUſe 7. change not, then endeavour to be like unto your God; our conſtancy, is our likeneſs to God's Immutability.
1. Be conſtant in thy Affections to God, maintain a burning love to him, maintain a vehement deſire after him; God likes not ebbs and flows in our Affections, he regards not blazing Affections, like Strawfires, that are quickly in, and quickly out. He loves thee to the end, John 13. 1. Do thou love him to the end; he rejoyceth over thee to the end, do thou rejoyce in the Lord alwayes, Phil. 4. 4.
2. Be conſtant and immutable in your Promiſes, Covenants, Reſolutions and Purpoſes which ye make to God: Oh never deny thy ſelf, and lye to thy God, in promiſing to be His, and then fall off, and ſerve thy luſts, far be it from thee.
3. Be conſtant and immutable in all thy Duties, and in a courſe of holineſ Pray continually, rejoyce evermore, in every thing give thanks. Hear the Word upon every occ…ſion, walk all the dayes of thy life in the fear of God; all things to thee are Mercy and Truth, let all thy wayes be Sincerity and Righteouſneſs. God will make thee immutably happy and glorious, if thou wilt be conſtant to him; as the old men ſaid to Rehoboam, concerning the Tribes of Iſrael, Be thou theirs to day, and they will be thine for ever. So ſay I to thee, Be thou the Lords to day, and he will be thine for ever.