The Godly Mans Ark, Sermon 4
MEDITATE ON THE Promises. SERMON IV.
PSAL. 119. 92.
Unless thy Law had been my Delights, I should then have perished in mine Afflictions.
HEE that would improve the Promises, so as to make them Spiritual Bladders, to keep him from being drowned in the deep waters of Affliction, must not only make a Catalogue of the Promises, but hee must also,
2 Fixedly, and seriously meditate on them;We must not only make a Catalogue of the Promises, but meditate on them. first, hee must treasure up these Iewels in his heart, and then unlock them by meditation; first, hee must make his Nose-gay, and then smell of it. The Word of God (as I have said) is as a Garden full of excellent Promises, as so many choice flowers. And it is our duty to walk often in this Garden, to gather up all the flowers, that lye scattered in it, into several Nose-gayes, to binde them together (if I may so speake) with the threed of Faith, and then every day to smell of them. The Promises are the Saints Legacies left them by Christ in his last Will and Testament. The Saints are called the Heires of the Promises, Heb. 6. 17. And if they would bee filled full of joy in the day of their distresse, they must bee frequent in reading these Legacies: The Promises are (as it were) the breasts of God, full of the Milk of grace and comfort. And it is our duty to bee sucking out (by meditation) the milke of grace and comfort contained in them. That which the Prophet saith of the Church of Christ, may as truly bee said of the Promises of Christ. Rejoyce, O yee people of God, and bee glad all yee that have an interest in the Promises; Rejoyce for joy, all yee that are mourners in Sion, Isa. 66. 10, 11.that yee may sacke and bee satisfied with the …easts of their consolations, that yee may milke out, and bee delighted with the abundance of joy and comfort contained in them. The Promises are the Saints Aqua-vitae (as one calls them) the Saints Cordials, the Saints Planke to swim to Heaven upon, the Saints Fiery Chariot, to carry them up to Heaven. And the great reason why they walke so uncomfortably, so disconsolately, and so unbeleevingly, in the time of their tribulation, is because they do not smell of these …, they do not chew these Cordials, they do not read over these spiritual Legacies, they doe not by serious meditation and consideration, sucke out the comfort comprehended in them. For as fire will not warme us unlesse wee tarry at it, and a Bee cannot sucke out the ho…y that is in a flower, unless shee abide upon it; no more can any Childe of God receive supportation, and consolation from the Promises in the houre of temptation, unless hee seriously and solemnly ponder and meditate on them.
There is a double difference between a presumptuous sinner, and a poor, humble, distressed Childe of God.
1 A presumptuous sinner studieth nothing but the promising Word: The difference between a presumptuous sinner, and a true Childe of God in relation to the Promises.Hee sleights the commanding, and the threatning Word. The Word commands him to keep holy the Sabbath day, not to love the world, not to lust, but hee turnes a deaf ear to it. The Word threatneth to wound the hairy scalp of every one that goeth on in his wickednesse, but because God is patient and long-suffering, therefore hee regards it not. But as for the Promising word, hee snatcheth at it, hee doth not truly lay hold on it, but snatcheth at it, before it belongs to him, and Spider-like, sucks the poyson of sin out of it, and makes of it a Cradle to rock himself asleep in sinful courses. Because God hath promised, That whensoever a Sinner turnes from his sins which hee hath committed, hee shall surely live, and not dye, therefore hee delayes, and prorogues his turning from sin.
But now a poor, distressed, humble Christian, fails on the contrary part; hee pores upon the commanding and threatning Word, but never ponders the promising Word. God (saith hee) commands mee to love him with all my heart and soule, to wash my heart from iniquity, to love my enemies, to cut off my right hand, and to plucke out my right eye, &c. But I cannot performe these commands, therefore surely shall never bee saved. God (saith hee) hath threatned to curse every one that continueth not in every thing that is written in his Law to do it, and therefore surely I am accursed.Three observable things about the Promises. But hee never studies, nor ponders the promising Word, for if hee did, hee would quickly know three things for his everlasting comfort.
1 That there is nothing required by God in his Word as our duty, but God hath either promised to bestow it upon us as his gift, or the Saints have prayed to God for it as his gift. God commands us to love him, but hee hath promised to circumcise our hearts to love him, &c. Deut. 30. 6. God commands us to fear him, Ezek. 18. 31.to turn our selves from our transgressions, and to make our selves a new heart, and a new spirit. Ezek. 36. 26.But hee hath promised to give us a new heart, Jer. 32. 40and a new spirit, to put his fear in our hearts, Mic 7. 19.that wee shall never depart from him, Rom. 6. 14and to turn us from our evill wayes. The Saints of God also have prayed unto God for this, as the fruit of his free mercy, Ier. 31. 18. Lam▪ 5. 21. There is nothing commanded in the Covenant of works, but God hath promised in the Covenant of grace, in some measure to work it in us, for hee hath promised to work all our works in us, Isa. 26. 12.and to write his Law (not one Commandement of it only, but the whole Law) in our hearts, Jer. 31. 33.and to put it in our inward parts, Ezek. 36. 27.and to cause us to walk in his wayes.
2 That God under the Covenant of grace, will for Christs sake accept of less than hee requires in the Covenant of works. Hee requires perfection of degrees, but hee will accept of perfection of parts, hee requires us to live without sin, but hee will accept of our sincere endeavours to doe it. If there bee a willing minde, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that hee hath not, 2 Cor. 8. 12.
3 That though hee cannot in his owne person perform all that God commands, yet Iesus Christ as his Surety, and in his stead, hath fulfilled the Law for him, and that God will accept of Christs perfect, as a cover for his imperfect righteousnesse. That Christ hath redeemed him from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for him. That the Threatnings of the Law are Serpents without a sting, and that Christ hath taken away the power and force of them.
Did a broken-hearted, and wounded sinner ponder and meditate on these things, they would fill him full of joy and comfort. Hee would flye from the Covenant of Works, to the Covenant of Grace; from his owne unrighteousnesse, unto the righteousnesse of Christ; and from the commanding and threatning word, unto the promising word; hee would say, Lord! Thou commandest mee to walke in thy Statutes, and to keep thy Lawes; This I cannot do of my selfe, but thou hast promised to cause me to walke in thy ways, and to write thy Law in my heart. Domine da quod jubes, & jube quod vis Aust.Lord give me power to doe what thou commandest, and then command what thou wilt.
2 A presumptuous Sinner is alwayes studying the promising Word,The second difference. to bolster up himself in sin, but hee never studies his sins and iniquities, to repent for them, and from them. Hee meditates on the Promises to harden his heart in sin, but not at all on his sins to humble himself for them, and to turne from them.
But now on the contrary, A poore distressed Christian pores upon his iniquities and corruptions, but never mindes himself of the Promises, and this makes him live so dejectedly, and disconsolately. A wicked man studieth his Corruptions too little. A distressed Christian too much. If hee did study the Promises, as much as he doth his corruptions; hee would not walk so uncomfortably.
Wherefore if ever you would make the VVord of God a Conduit of comfort in the day of your distresse; you must not only meditate on the commanding and th…eating word, but on the premising VVord. The Commandements and threatnings must drive you to the Promises; you must not only study your corruptions to humble you, but also the Promises to comfort you. I doe not say, you must not study your corruptions, but you must joyn the study of the Promises together with them. If Abraham had minded only the deadnesse of Sarahs wombe, and of his own body, hee had never beleeved, &c. but hee was strong in Faith, and staggered not because hee considered not his owne body now dead, when hee was about an hundred years old, Rom 4. 19, 20, 21.nor the deadnesse of Sarahs wombe, but was fully perswaded, that what God had promised, hee was able to performe. If Sarah had considered only that shee was past age, shee would never have beleeved that shee should have a Childe, but she eyed the Promise, and judged him faithful, Heb. 11. 11who had promised, and that made her beleeve. If a Saint of God looks only downwards upon the deadnesse of his heart, and meditates only upon his sins and infirmities; hee will never bee comforted in the day of his distresse. But hee must also look upwards unto the Promises, seriously ponder, and fixedly study them, which will bee as strong Pillars to support him, and keep him from falling into despair; in the hour of tribulation.
Q. What are the Meditations which we must have in reference and relation to the Promises in the day of our distress?
Ans. I will rank them into nine particulars.
1 You must meditate upon the three great truths already mentioned,The first meditation about the Promises.
1 That God commands nothing as our duty, which he hath not promised, as his gift.
2 That God in the Covenant of grace, will accept of less than hee requires in the Covenant of works.
3 That if wee truly beleeve in Christ, God will accept of his righteousnesse, as a satisfaction for our unrighteousnesse.
2 You must meditate upon the excellency and preciousnesse of the Promises, The second Meditation, meditate on the preciousnesse of the Promises.they are called foreign, exceeding great and precious Promises; They are precious in five respects.
1 Because they cost a great price, 2 Pet. 1. 4 The Promises are precious in five respects. 2 Cor. 1. …0.(even the bloud of Christ) to purchase them. They are all made to us in Christ, and for Christ; they are in him yea, and in him Amen. The Covenant (which is the Pandecta and Cabinet of all the Promises) was sealed with his Bloud.
2 Because they assure us of great and precious things; they assure us of our interest in God, of our justification, reconciliation, adoption, sanctification, and glorification. Heaven it self is nothing else but the injoyment of the Promises, Heb. 6. 12. The Promises are Heaven folded up; Heaven is the Promise unfolded. For the Promises are nothing else but the eternal purposes of God towards his Children made manifest. The purposes of God are his concealed Promises; and the Promises are his revealed purposes. The Promises are the kisses of Iesus Christ, they discover his dear love, and when hee discovers to us our interest in them, then hee kisses us with the kisses of his mouth, and fills us with joy unspeakable and glorious. They are made by God, and they make over God to us, as our portion, and Christ as our Saviour, and the Spirit as our Sanctifier, and all good things, both here and hereafter as our inheritance, and therefore may well bee called exceeding great and precious Promises.
3 Because they put a price upon the New Testament; for wherein doth the New Testament exceed the Old, unless it be in this, because it is founded upon better Promises? Heb. 8. 6. and bringeth in a better hope, Hebrews 7. 19.
4 Because they put a price upon all the blessings of God. A little mercy reached out to us, as a fruit of a Promise, is more worth than a world of blessings comming to us meerly by way of providence. A man may receive blessings from God upon a double account, either ex largitate, or ex promisso, either by way of providence, or by way of Promise. 1 By way of Providence, Thus God gives the earth to the sons of men, Psal. 115. 16. Thus hee gave one hundred twenty and seven Provinces to Ahashuerus. Thus he sets up the basest of men to rule over Nations, Dan. 4. 17.
2 By way of Promise. Thus hee gives health, wealth, and all outward comforts unto his children. For godlinesse hath the Promise of this life, and that which is to come, 1 Tim. 4. 8. Now you must know that a little blessing coming to us, as a fruit of the Promise, is more worth than a thousand blessings comming to us, only by way of Providence. And therefore David saith, A little that the righteous man hath, is better than the riches of many wicked, Psalm 37. 16. And the reason is,
1 Because blessings given by vertue of a Promise, are signes of Gods special love, and come flowing to us from the same love with which God gives us Christ, they are the fruit of Covenant-love.
2 Because wee have them as blessings. A man may have a blessing, and yet not have it as a blessing. The Israelites had Quails sent them immediately from God, which was a blessing in it self, but was not sent to them as a blessing.Psal. …8, 30, 31 For while the meat was in their mouthes, the wrath of God came upon them. The wicked have blessings, but not as blessings, but as the Cup in Benjamins Sack, which proved a snare to him, rather than a mercy. But the godly have blessings as blessings: They have grace with them to improve them for Gods glory; they have not only the blessings, but a thankful heart for them, and a fruitful heart under them, which is a certaine signe that they have them as blessings.
3 Because they are pledges to them of better mercies, and beginnings of better. They are not merces, but arrha, not their wages, but an earnest of Heaven. Now a farthing given as an earnest of a thousand a year, is more worth than many pounds given as a reward. A wicked man hath outward blessings as his portion, his Heaven, his All; but a godly man that hath them by vertue of a Promise, hath them as a pledge of Heaven, and as a beginning of eternal mercies.
5 The Promises are precious, because they produc… great and precious effects. They are not only excellent in themselves, but are also very powerful and operative upon all beleevers. The Promises (as one saith) sealed by the Bloud of Christ, ratified by the Oath of God, testified by the Spirit of truth, delivered by the hand of mercy, and received by the hand of Faith, are operative words, and produce rare effects in the soul. They have
Power.
1 A Sanctifying
2 A Comforting
1 A soul-sanctifying Power. Therefore they are said to make us partakers of the Divine Nature, 2 Pet. 1. 4. I say, of the Divine Nature; not by the communication of the Divine Essence, but by participation of Divine Graces. Not in a Familistical sense (as if wee were Godded into God, and Christed into Christ) but in a spiritual sense; wee are by the Promises made partakers of the Divine Nature, that is, of the Divine Graces, by which wee are made like to God in holinesse. The Apostle tells us, that they have a power to cleanse us from all filthinesse, both of flesh and spirit, and to inable us to perfect holiness in his fear, 2 Cor. 7. 1.
2 A Comforting Power. They are able to comfort us in the worst of dayes, and dangers. O how precious is a Promise to a distressed Christian, in the hour of extreamity! The Sun is not more comfortable to a man in a dark dungeon, or food to a man ready to starve, or water to a man ready to dye for thirst. The Promises of God are alwayes precious, but never more precious than in times of misery and calamity; and therefore let us in such times especially meditate upon the preciousness of them.
3. You must meditate upon the freenesse of the Promises.The third Meditation, medi…ate on the freeness of the Promises. The Promises are the outward discoveries of Gods eternal love to his people. Now nothing moved God to enter into Covenant with them, and to ingage himself to them by Promise; and thereby to become their debtor, but his free love and mercy; and therefore they are said to bee given us of God, 2 Pet. 1. 4. whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises. God promiseth in his Word, not only to love us, but to love us freely, Hos. 14. 4. I will heal their back-sliding, and love them freely. The reason why God makes us his people, is not from any worth in us, but only because it pleaseth him so to do, 1 Sam. 12. 22. The Lord will not forsake his people for his great names sake, because it pleased the Lord to make you his people. The Lord Jesus Christ, who is the great and fundamental Promise, the root of the other Promises, is freely, tendred in the Gospel, and freely given, Ioh. 3. 16. God so loved the World, that hee gave his only begotten Son, &c, The four… Meditation. Meditate on the stability of the Promises.Revel. 22. 17. Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
4 You must meditate on the firmnesse, faithfulnesse, unchangeableness▪ and immutability of the Promises: they are the Promises of that God, who cannot deny himself. Promissae haec tua sunt Domine (saith Austin) & quis falli timet, cum promittit ipsa veritas; Heaven and earth shall passe away, but one jot or tittle of the VVord shall not passe. Mat. 5. 18There is no Promise which God hath made, though never so improbable, and impossible to flesh and bloud, but it shall come to passe in due time, whatsoever hee hath promised in his goodnesse, hee will perform by his power. God is not a man that hee should lye, neither the Son of man, that hee should repent: Hath hee said, and shall hee not doe it? or hath hee spoken, and shall hee not make it good? Numb. 23. 19. God hath promised that the same Bodies that dye, shall rise againe at the last day. This is incredible to Natural reason. The Stoicks and Epicures derided it, when it was preached by Paul, Acts 17. 32. But hath God said it, and shall he not doe it? Is the Lords hand shortned? Therefore Christ tells the Sadduces, Matth. 22. 27. You erre, not knowing the Scriptures, and the power of God. God is omnipotent, and therefore able to doe above what wee can ask or think: God hath promised at the Resurrection, to make our vile bodies like unto the glorious Body of Christ. This is impossible to Natural reason; but mark what the Apostle saith, Phil. 3. 21. Who shall change our vile bodies, and fashion them like unto his glorious Body, according to the working whereby hee is able even to subdue all things unto himself. God hath promised, that before the end of the World, there shall be a National conversion of the Iewes, that the Kingdomes of the world shall become the Kingdomes of our Lord and Saviour. Rom. 11 25, 26.And that Babylon shall fall. These are the Promises of God, who cannot lye;Rev. 11. 15 Faithful is hee, Rev. 18. 2who hath said it, who also will doe it, 1 Thes. 5. 24. though the things promised seeme impossible to men,Mat. 19. 26 yet with God all things are possible: Therefore the Apostle proves the future conversion of the Jewes by an Argument drawn from the power of God, Rom. 11. 23. God is able to graft them in again. The like is brought to prove the ruine of Antichrist, Rev. 18. 8. Her plagues shall come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine, and shee shall bee utterly burnt with fire, for strong is the Lord God, who judgeth her. The Promises are a firme Foundation to build our Salvation upon: An Anchor, both sure and stedfast. When David was taken by the Philistins, hee was so supported by the Promise of God, that hee did not fear what man could doe against him; therefore hee repeats it three times, Psal. 56. 3. 10. In God I will praise his VVord, in God I will praise his VVord, in God I will praise his Word▪ (that is, his Word of Promise) I will not fear what flesh can doe unto mee: the Scripture builds all the hope and comfort of a Christian upon the faithfulness of God, 1 Corinth. 1. 9. God is faithful, by whom, &c. 1 Thes. 5. 23, 24. 1 Corinth. 10. 13. God is faithful, who will not suffer you to bee tempted above that you are able, &c. 2 Thes. 3. 3. The Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, &c. Heb. 10. 23. for hee is faithful that promised. Memorable is that saying of David, Psalm 138. 2. For thou hast magnified thy VVord above all thy name: Which words are to bee understood (as David Kimhi, and our English Annotations say) Hysteron proteron, that is, thou hast by thy Word, (that is, by performing thy Word and Promises) Magnified thy name above all things, or as Ainsworth; Thy word of Promise in Christ, and thy faithfulness in performing of it, doth more exalt thy Name, than any thing by which thou art made known. O then let all the Saints of God, who are heirs of the Promises, meditate frequently upon the preciousness, freeness, firmness, unchangeableness, and immutability of them.
5 You must meditate upon the fulnesse and richness of the Promises.The fifth meditation, meditate on the richness of the Promises. The Promises are the Saints Magazine and spiritual Treasure; they are called the unsearchable riches of Christ, Ephes. 3. 6, 7. It is one of the greatest titles belonging to a Saint,Heb. 6: 17. to bee stiled an Heir of the Promises. That man who hath a right to all the Promises in the Bible,Qui habet habentem omnis, haber omnia. is the richest man in the world. For God is his (and hee that hath him that hath all things, hath all things) Christ is his (and Christ is all in all) the Spirit is his (and hee who hath the Spirit, hath all good things, as appears by comparing Mat. 7. 11. with Luke 11. 13. In the first it is said—How much more shall your Father in Heaven, give good things, &c. In the second, How much more shall your Heavenly Father give the holy Spirit, &c.) Grace, and Glory, and all outward good things are his. It is said of the Great Duke of Guise, that (though hee was poore, as to his present possessions) yet hee was the richest man in France, in Bills, Bonds, and Obligations, because hee had ingaged all the Noble-men in France unto himselfe, by preferring of them. A true and real Christian is the richest man in the World in Promises and Obligations, for hee hath the Great God ingaged by promise to bee his God, and the God of his. As Charles the first, commanded his Herald in a challenge to Francis the first, King of France, to proclaim him with all his titles, stiling him Emperour of Germany, King of Castile, Arragon, Naples, Sicily, &c. But Francis commanded his Herald to call him so often King of France, as the other had titles by all his Countries; implying, that France alone was more worth than all his Countries. So when a wicked man brags of his Lordships, and great possessions, when hee boasteth of his thousands a year, a childe of God may say, God is mine, God is mine, &c. I am richer than all the wicked men in the world.
6 You must meditate on the latitude and extension of the Promises.The sixth Meditation, meditate on the latitude and extension of the Promises. The Promises are the Saints Catholicon, and Panacea. There is no condition a Childe of God can bee in, but hee may finde, not onelyonly a Promise, but a suitable and seasonable Promise to comfort him in it. And herein especially consisteth the spiritual Excellency, and heavenly Wisdome of a Christian, not onelyonly to study the Promises in general, but to labour to finde out, and having found out, to meditate upon such kinde of Promises, which are most suitable, and most seasonable to the condition hee is in. As for example.
If thou art poor in estate, meditate on Psalm 34. 10. Matth. 6. 33. Heb. 13. 5.
If barren, and without children, meditate on Isa. 56. 5.
If persecuted for Christs sake, meditate on Matth. 5. 10. 1 Pet. 4. 12, 13, 14. Psal. …4. 12.
If sick, and under tormenting pains, meditate on Psal. 50. 15. Isa. 63. 9. Rom. 8. 28.
If reproached, slandered, and falsely accused, meditate on Mat. 10. 25. Mat. 5. 11, 12. Luke 6. 22, 23.
If Satan tempts thee, and thou art not able to resist him, meditate on Rom. 16. 20. 1 Cor. 10. 13. Gen. 3. 15. 1 Ioh. 3. 8.
If thy corruptions bee too strong for thee, meditate on Rom. 6. 14. Micah 7. 19.
If God hides his face from thee, and thou sittest in darkness, and seest no light, meditate on Isa. 50. 10. Isa. 54. 7, 8.
If ready to faint in waiting upon God, and in expecting the fulfilling of his Promises, meditate on Isa. 30. 18. Isa. 63. 3. Isa. 40. 28, 29, 30. Mal. 3. 1.
If ready to dye, and full of fears and doubts, meditate on 1 Cor. 15. 55, 56 57. Hos. 13. 14. Rev. 14. 13. 1 Cor. 3. 22, 23. 2 Cor. 5. 1, 8.
7 You must meditate on the variety of the Promises,The seventh Meditation, Meditate on the …ariety of …he Pro…ises. and their difference and distinction one from the other. The Promises are like unto the stars in the firmament.
1 For their multitude, they are very many. The Scripture is bespangled with Promises, as the Heavens are with stars. It were happy if the Saints would prove spiritual Astronomers, and make it their work to study the nature of these stars.
2 For their beauty, excellency, and influence. Every star is beautifull in its kinde, and very usefull and advantagious, so are the Promises. And as the stars are most comfortable in the darkness of the night, so are the Promises in the night of trouble and adversity.
3 And especially for their distinction and difference▪ For one star differeth from another in glory, 1 Cor. 15. 41. There is one glory of the Sun, another of the Moon, another of the Stars; So do the Promises differ exceedingly one from the other in beauty and excellency. Some are temporal, some spiritual, some of things that are eternal. Some are conditional, some absolute; some are Promises to those that have grace; some are Promises of grace; some are general, others particular. Some are Original, Fundamental, and Fountain-Promises (as the promise of Jesus Christ, of God being our God, and of the Holy Ghost.) Others are derivative, depending, and rivolet-promises, (as the promises of all outward comforts here, and of eternal life hereafter.) Now it is our duty to take notice of every ray of gold, to meditate upon all the Promises, both spiritual, temporal, and eternal, both conditional, and absolute, both of grace, and to grace, both general, and particular; but especially of the Original and Fundamental Promises, the Fountain Promises, from whence all others as so many streams and rivolets, are deduced and derived.
8 You must meditate on the usefulfulness, …he eight Meditati…n, medi…te on the …sefulness …f the …romises.and profitableness of the Promises. I have already shewed you, that they are the Conduits of grace, and comfort, that they have a soul-sanctifying, and a soul-comforting-power. Give mee leave to adde, That the Promises are,
1 The breathings of Divine love and affection.
2 The life and soul of Faith.
3 The Anchor of Hope.
4 The VVings of Prayer.
5 The Foundation of Industry.
6 The Rayes and Beams of the Son of Righteousness, and upon all these accounts are very usefull and advantagious.…he Pro…ses are … …eathings D…vine ….
1 They are the breathings of Divine love and affection. It is an Argument of Gods wonderful love to his children, that hee is pleased to enter into a Promise and Covenant to bee their God, and to give them Christ, and in Christ all blessings here, and hereafter. Wee read Gen. 17. 2, 3. when God told Abraham that hee would make a Covenant with him, hee fell on his face as astonished at so great a mercy, and as thankfully acknowledging the goodness of God towards him. The like wee read of David. When God by Nathan made a promise to him,2 Sam 7. 11, 18, 19. hee goes into Gods house, and prayes, Who am I, O Lord, and what is my house, that the Lord my God should do this! &c. The Promises are the Cabinets of the tender bowels of God, they contain the dear and tender love of God towards his elect children, God by promising makes himself a debtor to them. Now that God who is bound to none (no not to the Angels of Heaven) should enter into bonds, and binde himselfe to give grace and glory to his elect children, this is love above expression. And there is nothing moved God to do this (but as I have said) his free grace and mercy. For though God bee now bound out of justice and faithfulness to fulfill his Promises, yet nothing moved him to make these promises, but his love and mercy, as David saith of what God had promised to him, 2 Sam. 7. 21. According to thine own heart (ex mero motu voluntatis) and according to thy Word, not for any thing in mee, For what am I, O Lord! &c. Thus you see how the Promises are the breathings of Divine love and affection, and upon this account are very usefull and profitable. For love is loves loadstone; therefore the Apostle saith,Magnes amo…is amor. 1 Ioh. 4, 19. Wee love him, because hee loved us first. The sense of Gods love to us, will kindle a love in us to God. Even as the beams of the Sun reflecting upon a VVall, heats those that walk by the Wall. So the Beams of Gods love shining into our souls, warms our hearts with the love of God. The lov… of God constrains us, as saith Paul, 2 Cor. 5. 14. There is a compulsive and constraining power in love. What did not Iacob do for the love of Rachel? How was Mephibosheth affected with the love of David? 2 Sam. 9. 8. It is our duty to love those that hate us, but not to love those that love us, is more than heathenish and brutish▪
2 They are the life and soule of Faith. The Promises are the life and soul of Faith.Faith without a Promise to act upon, is as a body without a soul, as a dead flower which hath no beauty or sweetness in it; But Faith grounded upon the Promises, will inable a Christian to advance in all manner of holiness. What made Abraham forsake his Country, and his Fathers house, and go hee knew not whither? Nothing moved him to this, but because God had promised to make him a great Nation, and hee beleeved it. Of all graces, none so causal of holiness as the grace of Faith: It is a world overcoming, heart-purifying, life-sanctifying, wonder-working grace; and therefore the Promises must needs bee very usefull, because they are the life and soul of Faith.
3 They are the Anchor of Hope. The Proises are the anchor of Hope.Hope is called an Anchor of the soule, both sure, and stedfast. But the Promises are the Anchor of Hope.Heb. 6 9. All Hope of Heaven, which is not founded upon a Promise, is presumption, and not Hope. Presumption is when a man hopes to go to Heaven, upon no ground, or upon an insufficient ground. But true Hope is a Hope grounded upon a Scripture-Promise: And Hope bottomed upon Divine Promises, will mightily availe unto purity and holiness. Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob lived as pilgrims and strangers upon earth, because they looked and hoped for a City which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Heb. 11. 9, 10.The Old Testament Saints would not accept deliverance upon sinfull termes, Heb. 11.because they hoped for a better Resurrection. The Papists and Arminians are much mistaken in teaching, That the assurance of salvation is an enemy to godliness. The Scripture saith the quite contrary, 1 Ioh. 3. 3. Hee that hath this Hope purifieth himselfe, even as hee is pure. The true Hope of Heaven, will make us live heavenly.
4 They are the Wings of Prayer: Prayer is a Divine Cordial to convey grace from Heaven into our soules.The Promises are the wings of Prayer. It is a Key to unlock the bowels of mercy, which are in God. The best way to obtain holiness, is upon our knees; the best posture to fight against the Devil, is upon our knees; and therefore Prayer is not put as a part of our spiritual Armour, but added as that which must bee an ingredient in every part,Eph. 6. 18 and which will make every part effectual. But now the Promises are the Wings of Prayer. Prayer without a Promise, is as a Bird without VVings: Gen. 32. 12.And therefore wee read both of Iacob and Iehoshaphat, 2 Chron. 20. 8, 9.how they urged God in their prayers with his Promises. And certainly the Prayers of the Saints winged with divine promises, will quickly flye up to Heaven, and draw down grace and comfort into the… souls. And upon this account it is that the Promises are so useful to a Christian, because they are so helpfull in prayer. When wee pray, we… must urge God with his Promises, and say, Lord, Hast thou not said, Th… wilt circumcise our hearts to love the… thou wilt subdue our sinnes, thou wil… give the Spirit to those that aske it? Lord! Thou art faithfull, fulfill thes… thine own promises: And wee must remember this great Truth, That the Promises God makes to us, to mortifie… our sins for us, are greater helps against sin, than our promises to God to mortifie sin. Many men in the day of their distress vow and promise to leave sin, and fight against it in the strength of these promises, and in stead of conquering sin, are conquered by sin. But if wee fight against sin in the strength of Christ, and of his promises; if wee urge God in prayer with his owne Word, wee shall at last get victory over it. For hee hath said, That sin shall not have dominion over us, Rom. 6. 14.
5 They are the foundation of Indu…try. The Promises are the foundation of industry.The promises do not make men …azy and idle, as some scandalously say, … they are the ground of all true la…our and industry, therefore the Apostles perswade us from the consideration of the Promises,2 Cor 7. 1 unto the study of soul-purification,Heb. 13. 5. to have our conversation without covetousness;1 Cor. 10. 13, 4. to flee from Idolatry, 2 Cor. 6. 17, 18.and to separate our selves from sinfull communion. Divine promises are …reat incouragements unto spiritual di…gence.
Object. Though conditional Promi…es bee the foundation of industry (be…ause wee cannot have the thing promi…es, unless wee perform the conditions) yet absolute Promises (say some) are foundations of lasiness, and therefore they a firm there are no absolute Promises in Scripture.
Answ. Absolute Promises are made foundations of industry in Scripture, as well as Conditional: The Apostle exhorts us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling,Phil 2. 12, 13. because it is God … worketh in us both to will and to do, of hi… owne good pleasure. And the reason is, because God performeth nothing which hee promiseth, though never so absolutely, but in the diligent and conscientious use of the means on our part. God promiseth Ezek. 36. 26. to give us a new heart, and a new spirit, &c. but the… hee adds, vers. 37. I will yet … this, bee inquired of by the house of Israel.
6 They are the rayes and beams (as one saith) of Christ the Son of Righteousness, The Promises are the raies and beams of the Son of righteousness.in whom they are founded and established. As all the li…es in a Circumference, though never so distant,Dr. Reynolds on the sinfulness of sin carry a man to one and the same Center. So all the Promises carry us to Christ the Center. For the Promises are not made for any thing in us, nor have they any stability from us, but they are made in, and for Christ unto us, unto Christ in our behalf, and unto us, so far as we are Members of Christ. Now Jesus Christ is the ground of all soul-purification, soul-consolation, and soul-salvation; And therefore I may safely conclude, that the promises are most singularly usefull and advantagious. And that it is the duty of all those that desire to live holily and comfortably, to consider and ponder the profitableness and beneficialness of the Promises.
9 And lastly,The ninth Meditation, meditate on the necessity of getting an interest in the Promises. you must meditate on the great necessity that lyeth upon all men to get a Scripture-interest in the Promises. This I adde to awaken Christians to attend diligently to this Discourse about the Promises, and to shew them the necessity of minding and of studying them. For hee that hath no right to them is in a faithless, hopeless, comfortlesse, desperate, and damnable condition. All the happiness of a Christian both here and hereafter consisteth especially in his right and title to the promises. The Scripture tells us in express words, that hee that is a stranger from the Promise, Eph. 2. 12is without Christ, without God, without hope. Sad is the condition of that man, who hath no interest in God, nor in Christ, and who is without hope. And such is the condition of him who is a stranger to the Promises; for all hope of Heaven, which is not bottomed upon a promise, is presumption, and soul-delusion. All comfort and joy which is not grounded upon a promise, is soul-cousenage; and all Faith not anchored upon a Promise, is nothing else but flattery▪ and soul-mockery. Consider this you that are full of joy and comfort, and (as you say) relye upon Christ for salvation; Tell mee, what promise have you to build this Faith, this hope, this comfort upon? For there are thousands that flatter themselves into Hell by a false hope of Heaven; thousands which promise to themselves to goe to Heaven, but have no promise for it from God. Such were the five foolish Virgins; such was the Church of Laodicaea, such were they, Matth. 7. 24. Hos. 8. 2, 3. Micha 3. 10, 11. Remember this, and let it bee daily in your thoughts: you that have not true right to the Promises, your Faith is faction, your Hope is presumption, and your joy is delusion. To bee a stranger from the Promise, is to be without God, without Christ, and without Hope. So much for the second particular, viz. Meditate on the Promises.
The End of the fourth Sermon.