A Practical Discourse of Gods Sovereignty, Part 6 · Section 9
The next thing, in courſe, is To conſider What improvment may be made of this Doctrine: Which, one would ſurely conclude, of very great uſefulneſs, ſince the Scriptures are ſo greatly concern'd about it.
In the General, it affords Matter of eminent Support to Believers; eſpecially in difficult Caſes: It alſo evinceth Matter of Duty, on the Believers part: And from the Examples forequoted, ſomthing of Direction in reference to both: Which I ſhall here put intermixedly together.
Firſt,Infer. I. Stand ſtill, and behold the Salvation of the Lord! And at the ſight of this great thing, Say in your hearts, with an holy Aſtoniſhment, What hath God wrought! Let your Souls be filled and inlarged with everlaſting admirings of that Grace (that Sovereign Grace) which has thus impregnably ſecur'd the Salvation of His Choſen; That no Manner of thing, whether with in them or without them, ſhall be able to hinder them of it: Even the Gates of hell ſhall not prevail againſt it: No, Not ſo much as one of the ſtakes thereof ſhall be Removed, and that for ever. Shaken you may be, and toſſed with tempeſt; but never Over-turn'd becauſe ye have an Eternal Root. Electing love is of that Sovereignty, That it Rules and Over-rules all in Heaven and Earth Chriſt Jeſus our Saviour and Lord; The Holy Ghoſt our Sanctifier Councellor and Comforter, in all that they have done, do, or will do, do ſtill purſue that ſcope: All Ordinances, Providences, Temptations, Afflictions, and whatever can be Named, (be it good, or be it bad, in it ſelf) Life, death, things preſent, and things to come, are all made Subſervient to the Decree of Election; And do all Worktogether, To compaſs and bring-about its Moſt glorious deſignment.
If the Courſe and Conduct of Common Providences were truly lined-out; It would yield an illuſtrious Proſpect: How much more the Conduct, Order, and End, of thoſe ſpecial Providences, which are proper to, and converſant about, Election! When all the peeces therof ſhall be brought-together and ſet-in-order, how beautifull will it be! Angels and Men ſhall ſhout for the Glory of it! Then 'twill be evident, God has done nothing in vain, or impertinent to your bleſſedneſs: That what ever hath befallen you here (however contr…ry to your preſent ſenſe and opinion of it) was d…ſpenſed in very faithfu…neſs to you. That if any of thoſe manifold (and ſeemingly Croſs) Occurrences, you have been exerciſed-with, had been omitted; it would have been a Blank in your ſtory, a blot in your Scutcheon of honour. When you ſhall ſee, What Contrivances have been againſt you; what Art, Subtilty, Malice, and Power, they were agitated-with; How unable you were to Fore ſee, prevent, avoid, or repell them; And how all the Attributes of God and His Providences, each one in its time and place, (which was always moſt ſeaſonable,) came-in to your Reſcue; Retorting on your adverſaries, and ſafeguarding you; yea, how that which was death in it ſelf, was made to work life in you; How amiable and admirable will the ſtory of it be! That when your faith was weak, the Lord did not withdraw from you; That when it was at its height and ſtrength, He then did for you above all you could believe or think; and through an unſpeakable Preaſs of Difficulties and Contradictions, He carried-on his work in you; even bearing you on Eagle's Wings, until He had brought you to Himſelf; How will you Magnifie His work, and Admire it then! Begin it Now.
Secondly,Infer. II. Let us ſtudy more the Knowledg and Contents of this Great truth, of Believers Invincible Perſeverance; the Riſe, Progreſs, and Tendency of it; and what advantages it yields us; which (indeed) are many and very conſiderable.
1. As it is a part of the Doctrine of Election; which teacheth That Nothing in us, but Grace and love in God, was the only Original Cauſe of our Salvation: The knowledge whereof will work in the Soul, an holy Ingenuity and love towards God, whom nothing offends but Sin. Simon anſwered right,Luke 7. 43. when he ſaid, He that had moſt forgiven him, would love moſt: Whence it follows, That he who believes the Free Remiſſion of all his ſins from firſt to laſt; muſt needs love God more than One who believes only the pardon of thoſe that are paſt, and that ſo, as that they may all be charged upon him agen: Or if not, That yet he may poſſibly periſh for thoſe to-come; perhaps in the laſt Moment of his life; For, he is not ſure (Nay, 'tis very doubtfull, if dependent on his own natural will) That Faith or Repentance ſhall be his laſt Act.
Now, This Grace of Love being the ſtrongeſt and moſt operative Principle; he that is led by it muſt act accordingly; that is,2 Cor. 4. 16. Vigorouſly, and without wearineſs, as Paul did. And Joſeph, having received large Tokens of God's love to him, and expecting more yet; argues againſt and (with an holy diſdain and ſleight of hand) puts-by the Temptation, How can I doe this, and ſin againſt God, who hath dealt, and will deal, ſo bountifully with me!
2. As it teacheth the ſoul to Depend upon God for its keeping, as having His Almighty Power abſolutely engaged for it: Whereas, if the efficacy and event of all that God doth for Me, ſhould depend upon ſomething to be done by Me, who am a frail Creature, and prone to Revolt; I ſhould ſtill be in fear, becauſe ſtill in danger of Falling, and loſing all at laſt: And this Fear, being an enfeebling paſſion, muſt needs render my Reſiſtance and all my endeavours, both irregular and weak: Whereas a Magnanimous and fearleſs ſpirit, who ſees himſelf Clothed with a Divine Power, ſhall have his Wits (as we ſay) more about him; to diſcern Dangers and Advantages; and conſequently, how to eſchew the one, and improve the other.
3. As it gives aſſurance, Our labour ſhall not be in vain: This made thoſe believing Hebrews to endure that great fight of afflictions, and to take joyfully the ſpoiling of their Goods; Heb. 10. 33, 34.becauſe they [knew] they had: in Heaven a better and more-enduring ſubſtance. All manner of Accompliſhments put-into-one, and made your own; would not ſo invincibly Steel your foreheads, and ſtrengthen your hearts, as, To be Sure of Succeſs, and to come off Conquerour: The Apoſtle therefore brings it in, as the higheſt encouragement in our Chriſtian Warfare, in Rom. 6. 14. and chap. 8. 37. And our bleſſed Lord Himſelf (who, of all others, had the hardeſt Chapter to Run-through;) It made His Face as a Flint, Iſa 50. 7.becauſe [He knew] He ſhould not be Confounded.
Thirdly,Infer. III. Make it one, and that a Mayn part of your buſineſs, to foyl and diſprove the Objections that are brought againſt this Doctrine: And your Neareſt way to it, is, Growing in Grace, 2 Pet. 3. 18. with chap. 1. from the 5th. verſe to the 10th.
1. Lay-aſide, and Caſt-away every weight, eſpecially the ſin that doth moſt eaſily beſet you; your boſom ſin, whatſoever it be;Iſa. 2. 20. 1 Theſ. 5. 5, 6 Caſt them to the Moles and to the Batts: They are not fit-Mates for Day-light Creatures: It is a Noble prize you Run-for; Therefore, Clogg not your ſelf with any thing that may hinder, or retard your pace.
2. Keep your ſelves in the Love of God: that is, keepup and maintain a ſpiritual ſenſe of His love to you, and a lively anſwer of holy affections towards Him. Whatever may tend to obſcure or leſſen your ſenſe of it, have nothing to doe with that unjuſt thing; keep your ſelf from Idols; let nothing have an intereſt in your love but God; and all things els, but in ſubordination and with reſpect to Him onelyonly.
3. Watch againſt the Beginnings and firſt Motions of ſin; Nip it in the bud; Abſtain from all appearance of evil; and walk not on the brink of your liberty. It is eaſier to keep-out an Invader than to Expell him being Entred; To keep-down a Rebel, and prevent his Riſing, than to Conquer him when he is up. Great and black Clouds have ſmall beginnings; the bigneſs of your hand (at firſt,) may riſe and ſpread, to cover the whole Heavens. Therefore, keep-off ſin at ſtaffs end.
4. Be diligent and induſtrious in it: Think not, becauſe it is God who performeth all things for you, that therefore you may ſit-ſtill, or be Remiſs in your duty; your Arms and Armour were not provided to Ruſt in your Tent. There may be (indeed) ſuch a Juncture in Providence, that it may be your duty (and ſo, your ſtrength) to ſit-ſtill; as was theirs at the Red-ſea:Exod. 14. 13. This is, when all farther Motion is ſhut-up to you; and then the Lord will doe His Work without you: But uſually, There is ſomething to be done on our part: Tho' the Lord would go-forth before David, and ſmite the Philiſtims; yet David muſt beſtir himſelf: This thing is conſtantly to be affirm'd,2 Sam. 5. 24. That they who have believed in God, be careful to maintain good Works; Tit. 3. 8. And do it the rather, To cut-off occaſion from them which deſire occaſion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we, 2 Cor. 11. 12.
5. Cleave to Jeſus Chriſt, and to Him only; and truſt not to your holding of him, but to His holding of you: This did David when he ſays,Pſal. 73. 23. Thou holdeſt me by my Right hand. Follow Him, as Men (whoſe dependence is upon it) follow the Court: Whiles following Him, you cannot do amiſs; nor want any good thing, whether for Councel, Strength, or Otherwiſe.
6. Forget what is behind, and preſs on towards perfection; That if poſſible, you might attain to the Reſurrection of the Dead; i. e. To be perfectly holy: Tho' Perfectneſs, in the perfection of it, is not attainable here; yet, the higher you aim, the higher ſhall your Attainment be; and the farther-off from loſing what you have. Keep the Mark ſtill in your eye, and ſhun whatever might intercept your Sight of it.
Theſe are ſome of the ways to make your Calling and Election ſure: And if ye do theſe things, ye ſhall prove this Doctrine to be true; And either Prevent or Retort thoſe Carnal and groundleſs Calumnies that are brought againſt it.
Fourthly, Infer. IV.Since there are ſuch Arguments for Believers Invincible Perſeverance; Let us all ſo demean our ſelves, That we may have them all ſtand on our ſide, for proof and evidence That we are of that happy Remnant, whom the Great God hath ſet-apart for himſelf; And whom He hath made and wrought for this ſelf ſame thing; And as it was His purpoſe, ſo let it be our Spirit and practice, to glorifie His Rich Grace.
1. If born of God, let us ſhew-forth the virtues of our Father; and bear our ſelves as His Children, both towards Him, and towards the World: Let us live upon Him, and live to Him; Rejoycing always before Him; firſt, for His Own bleſſedneſs, and then for our own as derived from His, and by Him reſerv'd in Heaven for us; And all, as deſigning to honour Him as our Father.
2. If we have Faith, let it appear by our Works: It muſt be ſome ſingular thing that muſt diſtinguiſh us from other Men: It is not profeſſion, Nor Words, Nor Actions neither (as to the Matter of them, and ſo farr as viſible to Men,) that will approve us Believers; but the Principle whence they grow, and the End they drive at; The Reſult of Abraham's faith was, To give Glory to God.
3. Let us carry our ſelves under all diſpenſations not only quietly but thankfully; and ſo as to Anſwer God▪s End: Walk humbly; Hate the thing that's evil; Have the World under your feet; Eſteem preciouſly of Chriſt; Honour His Ordinances; let every Grace have its perfect work; and Rejoyce in hopes of that glory, which all theſe things are preparatory to.
4. If One with Chriſt, and He our Mediator; Then let us walk as He walked; who held His own Will alwaies ſubject to His Father's; Reckoning it His Meat to do His Will, and to finiſh His Work: Let us alſo wait His Advice and Counſel in every buſineſs, and follow it; Commit our Cauſe to Him, and Intereſt Him in all our Concernments.
5. Apply our ſelves to every Attribute of God, according to the preſent occaſion; and dwell upon them, and leave them not, until we have the Grace and Help intended by them—They are all made over to the heirs of Salvation, to live upon: Let it not be ſaid, That in the midſt of our abundance we are in ſtreights!
6. If made for the Glory of God, Make-good your End: He is glorious in Holineſs, and by Holineſs onelyonly can you glorifie Him. Bear (therefore) on the forehead of your Deſigns and Converſation, that Royal Inſcription [Holineſs to the Lord:] By this, you will ſet-to your ſeal, That God is true; and approve your ſelves to be Children that will not lie. 'Twill alſo be of ſingular uſe and ſervice to your ſelves, as to that other End of your Being: That you have glorified God on the Earth, will be a ſubſtantial argument That He will glorifie you in the World to come.Joh. 17. 14. For, tho your perſonal Righteouſneſs be not your Title to the Heavenly Inheritance; yet your conſtant progreſſion in Holyneſs, will be your beſt evidence (next the immediate witneſsings of the Spirit) that you have a Title, and that your Title is good. Since, therfore, we were made for, and expect ſuch things,2 Pet. 3. 11. What manner of perſons ought we to be, in all holy converſation and Godlineſs!
7. If under the Covenant of Grace, let us reckon our ſelves ſtrengthened with all might, and hold to it, as having all our ſalvation in it; Both Keeping, Support, Recovery and Settlement, Grace and Glory. Not Minding ſo much how any thing looks or feels at preſent; but what is the End it tends-to; For if the End be good, the Means (as ſuch) cannot be otherwiſe. And truly, we cannot have a better evidence of our Intereſt in this Covenant,Iſa. 56. 4 & 6. than a total Devolving of our ſelves upon it.
And well it is for us, (who find in our Selves ſuch a proneneſs to backſlide,) That our Eternal condition doth not depend on our ſelves;2 Tim. 2. 19. but upon that foundation of God mentioned in Timothy; where the Apoſtle, ſpeaking of ſome who had made Ship-wreck of the faith, leſt true Believers ſhould faint in their minds, at the ſight and apprehenſion of it; he tells them, That Nevertheleſs (that is, Notwithſtanding this wofull backſliding of ſome, perhaps of eminent profeſſion, yet) the foundation of God ſtandeth ſure; q. d. They that are of this Foundation are ſure to be kept: And he firms it with this Seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His: He knows whom He hath Choſen, and concerning whom He hath Covenanted, That they ſhall not depart from Him; and therefore He will not let them go; (They ſhall be kept as thoſe Seaven thouſand were, from bowing the knee to Baal.) Adding this Caution withall, That every one which nameth the Name of the Lord, ſhould depart from iniquity; Which, as it is a Means of God's appointing, to keep from Apoſtacy; So, it ſhall be to them an evidence, That they are of that Foundation, and ſhall be kept. For, it being his ſcope, to Comfort believers againſt their Miſgivings, which ariſe from a ſenſe of their own weakneſs, and a like aptneſs in themſelves to Revolt; He needs muſt uſe an Argument ſuited to ſuch an End: And therefore, in ſaying [The foundation of God ſtandeth ſure;] He muſt intend, Believers ſtanding-ſure upon it: For, The ſtanding-ſure of the foundation, would be ſmall Comfort to us, if yet We might be blown off it, or ſink beſides it.
Does God take care for Sparrows? for Oxen? for Ravens? Much more for believing ſouls, who have Committed themſelves to His keeping. Let the Fowler do all he can, Not a ſparrow ſhall fall to the ground: you'l ſay, Without the Will of God, they cannot? And the Will of God is, That they ſhall not: (A thouſand may fall at his ſide, and ten thouſand at his right hand; Pſal. 91. 7.but it ſhall not come nigh him.) He that determin'd ſuch a ſparrow ſhall not fall; determin'd alſo, to keep him from that as would cauſe him to fall: And therefore, either the Fowler ſhall not find the Bird; or the Bird ſhall diſcern his approach, or ſmell the powder, and be gon: Or, if he ſhoot, he ſhall miſs his mark; Or if he hit, it ſhall light-on the feathers that will grow-agen; Or, on ſome fleſhy part, that may be lick'd whole; Or perhaps, it ſhall open an Ulcer that could not otherwiſe be Cured: A Believer's heel may be bruiſed, but his vital-parts are out of Reach, and therefore ſafe.
Fifthly,Infer. V. Let this Doctrine of Believer's invincible perſeverance in Faith and Holineſs, ſtrengthen your hearts againſt all ſorts of doubts and fears, which may ariſe from the preſence of Indwelling-Sin, with its frequent and ſturdy inſurrections; Since He that hath begun, Phil. 1. 6. 2 Theſ. 1. 11.will alſo perfect His Work with Power. Judge righteous Judgment: Of our ſelves (indeed) we cannot judge worſe than we deſerve; but of our ſtate, we may: Therefore, For help in this Caſe, Conſider.
1. That tho' the New Nature ſhall certainly expunge the old, at laſt; yet the Work is not perfected here: But, this for your preſent relief; That the Beſt Principle is ſtill predominant and getting ground, (how ever your preſent ſenſe may judge of it;) and the old party ſhall never recover its Waſting condition: For, the Kingdom of God once in the heart, will ſurely Work and ſpread it ſelf, till the whole lump is favoured by it. (To aſſure us of this, is the drift of divers Parables in the Goſpell.)Mat. 13, 31, 33. chap. 25. 29. To him that [hath] ſhall be given: He that [hath] life, ſhall have it more abundantly: As it was God who girded you with ſtrength, Joh. 10. 10. Pſ. 18. 32.ſo He will make your way perfect. Suppoſe, that Faith and Holineſs be at preſent, but as two little flocks of kids; And ſin (like the Syrians Army) fills the Countrey: Be not diſmayed; The king of Iſrael will cleer the Countrey of them: His ſpirit ſhall lift up a Standard againſt them; and though they comein like a floud, by Him ſhall their proud waves be ſtayed. The Lord ſays to you in this Caſe as He did to Jeremy; I have made thee an Iron Pillar and brazen Walls, againſt the whole land: They ſhall fight againſt thee, but they ſhall not prevail againſt thee: Jer. 1. 18, 19. Or as once to His People, concerning the Gyant Og; Fear him not, For I have delivered him into thy hand, with all his Army.
2. This Sickneſs is not unto death: The Conflict is not to weaken or deſtroy, but for the tryal and improvement of your faith and other Graces: The very tryal whereof is a precious thing,1 Pet. 1. 7. and ſhall be found ſo at laſt; both to the Glory of Him that tryes you, and yours who are tryed: Abraham, David, Job, and others, are pregnant examples of this; They came-forth like Gold; More pure, ſolid, and flexible. David indeed, tho' he held-faſt his confidence a great while; yet ſtill being purſued and Over-preſt, Every day involv'd in dangers anew; and having once admitted Carnal Reaſon to be of his Councel, he began to flagg in his faith, (I ſhall one day periſh,—and All men are lyars-) But it was in his haſte, Not conſidering the ſureneſs of an Abſolute Promiſe: He therefore (when he had better weighed it) confeſſes his fault, and Recovers from it: And his faith was improv'd by his tryal; For, being come agen-to it-ſelf, he comfortably concludes, That Goodneſs and Mercy ſhall follow him all the days of his life; and (Notwithſtanding his preſent exile) he ſhall dwell in the houſe of the Lord for ever.Pſ. 23 7.
3. Be it alwaies Remembred, That God reckon's of a man according to what his Mind is; And you ought ſo alſo to reckon of your ſelf: This was Paul's courſe, in Rom. 7. where he thus reaſoneth; Now, If I do that I would not; It is no more I that do it, Rom. 7. 20.but ſin that dwelleth in Me. Before Converſion it was Saul, but Now 'tis Sin. Believers may be led-captive (at-times) even after they have ſworn fealty to their true Lord; But ſtill they are His in their Mind, and that's their Mark. It is the ſame with that in John; Whoſoever is born of God, doth not Commit ſin; And, he cannot ſin, becauſe he is born of God: 1 Joh. 3. 9.i. e. He does not, nor he cannot ſin, as the Devil's children do; for their Wills are in it; (according to John. 8. 44, The luſts of your father [ye will do:] But, a Regenerate perſon, The evil he doth, he [Allows not:] And this is a ſtaying Conſideration, That if with our Mind we ſerve the law of God, Rom. 7. 25.it ſhall not Ruin us, that with our fleſh we ſerve the law of Sin.
But how ſhall I know it? If you be forced, you will Cryout; and if you Cry, it is a Rape; and ſhall not be charged to your accompt: ye have the Law for it, in Deut. 22. 25, 26, 27. So,Exod. 21, 13. with Deut. 19. 4, 6. he that kills a Man [againſt his Will] is not reckoned a Murtherer, Nor worthy of death; albeit, the Act it ſelf, be the ſame that another Man, whoſe will was in it, ſhall dyefor.
4. Believers are Trees of Righteouſneſs, and of the Lord's own planting; and therefore, they ſhall not fear when heat cometh. Jer. 17. 7 8.They have their Autumns (too often) and blighting Winds; (perhaps …n the Spring-time too) and alſo luxuriant branches and Suckers, proceeding from the Old ſtock; which rob the good Ones of their ſap, and make their fruit leſs both in bulk and beauty: But ſtill their ſubſtance is in them, and therefore they Revive, and flouriſh agen. And whiles thoſe Suckers are Nipt and Prun'd-off,Joh. 15. 2. the true Branches are preſerved and Cheriſhed; They ſhall bring-forth fruit in their old age. P…. 92. 14. 1 Joh. 3. 2, 9. chap. 2. 27. 2 ep. Joh. v. 2.They that are Now (i. e. Once; They that are Once) the Children of God, ſhall never be Otherwiſe: ſave only in a greater likeneſs to their Father And tho' their living on Him, and their likeneſs to Him, be very weakly; (eſpecially at times, as the Natural life of Infants is) yet, being born, they muſt be kept; And the Will and Care of their Father is,Eph. 4. 13. To Nurſe them up to a Perfect Man.
You 'I ſay, (perhaps) That never had any ſuch cauſe of Complaint as you; and poſſibly it may be ſo: To be ſure, you know not that They had: And thoſe you compare your ſelf with, have ſaid as much of themſelves; and they had the like Cauſe; (for our hearts are faſhion'd alike; OnelyOnly, each one beſt knows the plague of his own:) Agur, a Man of great Wiſdom and Holineſs, ſays of himſelf, That he was more brutiſh than any Man. Prov. 30. 2.But, ſuppoſe it be true, That Others corruptions have not broke-out as yours have done; yet May not this put your faith to a …tand; Much leſs Make you weary, Recoil, or to faint in your Minds: For, the ſame Grace that prevented them, can pardon you; and will if you caſt your ſelf upon it. Ye may (indeed) be allow'd to complain of your ſins; for, Nothing els have ye to complain of: Therfore, Complain and Cry-out as loud as you will,Rom. 7. 24. Oh wretched Man that I am! who ſhall deliver me from this body of death? But withall, Betake you to the ſame Refuge that he did,ver. 25. & abide by it; I thank God through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord! Here you may triumph over all, both Complaints and the Cauſes of them.
It muſt always be granted, That to Overcome Sin, Combin'd, Intrench'd, and fortifi'd, as it is; is a great Undertaking, and muſt be gon-through with; There is no Retreit to be ſounded, Nor Armour provided for your back; Every Mother's ſon muſt either kill or be kill'd in this Combate; There's no Compounding the Difference, Nor diſcharge in this Warfare, till the day be perfectly Won: But What a Recruit is there levied, and always ſtands ready, as a ſure Reſerve! viz. That though the Conflict be ſharp, the ſucceſs is ſure. In order whereto, (among…t other Rules and Articles of War,) bear in mind theſe few following:
1. Intangle not your ſelf; but ſhun and avoid whatever may prove a clog, or unfit you for duty.
2. Exerciſe yourſelf in things that will teach you to handle your Arms; and tending to Nouriſh your faith.
3. Stand on your Guard watchfully; that ye be not ſurpriſed by ſudden excurſions, or under pretence of friendſhip.
4. Arm your ſelf with the ſame Mind that was in Chriſt; ſet your face as a flint, and conclude, That ye ſhall not be confounded.
5. Submit to the place your General hath ſet you in. It muſt have been ſome bodie's lot, and why not yours? and the hotter it is, the more honourable.
6. Look that ye fight with proper weapons; which are onelyonly to be had at the Covenant of Grace, and the Croſs of Chriſt; And There they are never wanting: And be ſure, ye go not down to the Philiſtines, either to forge or ſharpen.
7. Fight not as one that beats the ayr; but as having (indeed) a ſturdy adverſary to deal-with; whom yet you are ſure to Overcome.
8. Look ſtill on your Captain, to obſerve what He ſays and Does, and do likewiſe: To take-up your Croſs, and endure hardſhip, are neceſſary accoutrements to a Soldier of Chriſt.
9. Wait on the Lord to Renew your Strength; who then beſtirrs Himſelf moſt, when your ſtrength is gon; Then He lays hold upon Shield and Buckler,Pſ. 35. 2. and ſtandsup for your help.
10. Laſtly, (and to Influence all) Mind the Lord of his Covenant; even Then, when (it may be) your ſelf think on it with trouble, as doubting your intereſt in it: Pray Him to remember it for you; and with the ſame Goodwill wherewith He made it: Beſeech Him to look-on His Bow in the Cloud, which Himſelf hath ſet there, as a ſure ſign between God and you; That tho' the skies be Red and lowring, The Clouds return after the Rain, and the Billows go-over your head; you ſhall not be deluged by them: By this it is, that ye are hedged-about, and walled-up to Heaven. Therefore, Stand not like Men in ſuſpenſe; as unreſolved to fall-on; or doubtful how to come-off; But On, On, the day's your Own; The Lord of Hoſts purſues them; And let all the Sons of God ſhout for joy.
Sixthly,Infer. VI. ſince Believers onelyonly are intereſſed in the Covenant, and that Faith is a Neceſſary Inſtrument which the Covenant wil not work without; & without which, you cannot work with it, Nor ſee your Intereſt in it; Look-well to your Faith: firſt, That it be of the right kind; (viz. ſuch as Renounces Self, & lives upon Grace;) And then, having found it ſuch, Be ſure ye keep it well, and improve it to the utmoſt. Two uſes, eſpecially, are to be made of it; (1) As your Shield, to ſupply the place of all other peeces of your Armour, when broken or looſe; as well as to ſafeguard them, when they are whole and Tite about you. If your helmet be out of the way, and fiery darts come pouring down; Hold up your Faith between your head and them; Faith is the trueſt quench-coal to the fire of hell. If your Sword be forgot, or laid-aſide, or wants an edge, &c. your Shield, if well applyed, will Retort your enemies weapons on his own Pate. (2) Faith is your ſpiritual Optick, which ſhews you things of Greateſt Moment; and Not Otherwiſe Viſible: Even Chariots and horſmen of Fire, are not diſcernible without it. If temptations from the World do indanger you; Turn your Faith that way, and through it view and conſider, how Shallow and ſhort-liv'd the pleaſures of it are; and how Momentany your ſufferings. Then look-at the World to come; The Glory of it, and your intereſt in it; And how much your Crown will be Brightened by the ſcowrings you have paſs'd-under here; and dwell on the contemplation of it. Bend not your eye ſo much on the peril or length of your paſſage, as on the long'd-for ſhore that lies beyond it; And reckon the Surges of that dreadfull gulph (which is yet betwixt you and It) but as ſo many ſtrokes to waft you Thither.Heb. 11. 26. This was the courſe that Moſes took, and Chriſt Himſelf: Nothing ſo blunts the edge of Satan's temptations,Chap. 12. 2. or the World's, as this Faith of God's Elect.
Therefore, ſee that you hold-faſt your Faith; Keep it as your life; (keep That, and it will keep you;) and let it not go until ye die. Then (indeed) it will leave you, becauſe then it will have done you all the ſervice it can; even the whole of what it was ordained-for. But, ſhall I ſay, That Faith will then be diſſolv'd and go-to-nothing? I would rather expreſs it as the Apoſtle doth the ſtate of the ſaints, that ſhall be found alive at Chriſt's coming,1 Theſ. 4. 17. [They ſhall not die, but they ſhall be changed.] Faith ſhall Then be turned into Sight, and we ſhall have the Real preſence, Full poſſeſſion, and Perfect immixed fruition, of that Bleſſedneſs we have believed and hoped-for.
7. Gather hence,Phil. 1. 23. both the Reaſon and Rationality of the Saints deſires to be diſſolv'd: They knew, that when this Earthly Tabernacle went-down,2 Cor. 5. 1, 2. they had a better, and more capacious building in Heaven. They alſo found, That ſpirits, whiles dwelling in Fleſh, are too-much ſtreightned and infirm, either to bear the Glory they were made-for, or to expreſs an anſwerable thankfulneſs for it: And for this they groned; Not to be unclothed, (as weary of their preſent ſtate) but to be Clothed-upon with their Houſe from Heaven.1 Joh. 3. 2. They were NOW the ſons of God; but what they ſhould be, (and fain would be-at) did not appear to them; Nor could, till the vail were Rent, which hung (as yet) twixt them and the Holy of Holies. Rom. 8. 23. 2 Cor. 1. 22. Eph. 1. 14. Rom. 8. 21.The firſt-fruits of the Spirit, (which were both an Earneſt and Foretaſt of future Glory) inſpired them with ſervent deſires of liberty; that glorious liberty which belong'd to them, as being the Sons of God. They had, by faith, laid-hold on Eternal life; This they had ſtill in their eye, and earneſtly purſued; And ſo intent they were upon it, that they even forgot what was behind, (tho very Memorable in its time.) The Much they had attain'd, they counted for Nothing, to what was coming; Nor reckon'd for any Coſt, to gain that ineſtimable Pearl, viz. The prize of the high Calling of God in Chriſt. Phil. 3. 14.This (they knew) was a thing too-big for Mortal ſenſes, tho as highly Refin'd and ſublimated, as capable of whiles Mortal: and therfore long'd for that day, when Immortality ſhould be their clothing. The love of God ſhed-abroad in their hearts, had given ſuch a Divine Tincture,Rom. 5 5. Cant. 5. 4. and ſo Transform'd and Wid'ned their ſouls; as nothing could ſatisfie, but that Immenſe Deep from whence it came.Coll. 3. 4. They knew, That when Chriſt their life ſhould appear, they ſhould ſee Him as He is; Not under ſhadows, as of old; Nor in a ſtate of humiliation, as when upon earth; nor, as ſince, under Memorials and Repreſenttations; but in His ſtate of glory: The ſight of which, would make them like himſelf; & till Then, they could not ſay, It is enough. They knew, that the very Quinteſſence of Heavenly beatitude, conſiſts in the viſion of God; and that Heaven it ſelf, with all that Innumerable company of Angels, and ſpirits of juſt Men made perfect, (tho' a very glorious and deſirable ſociety) would not ſatisfie Heaven-born Souls, if their Lord Himſelf were not there in His Glory. Hence thoſe holy exclamations and out-cries,Pſal. 73. 25. Pſal. 42. 2. Whom have I in Heaven but Thee! and When ſhall I come and appear before God! Good Jacob would go and ſee his Beloved afore he died; and Theſe would die, to go and ſee Theirs. This is the ſecond time that the Kingdom of Heaven ſuffers violence from the heirs of Salvation;Math. 11. 12. They know it is theirs; and that they were wrought for that ſelf ſame thing;2 Cor. 5. 5. and being theirs they might lawfully take it by force.
8.Infer. VIII. 2 Pet. 3. 12. (And for a cloſe of all) ye have ſeen what Paul and others did; Go you, and do likewiſe; Haſten to the day of God; and wait for it as they that watch for the Morning: 1. Affectionately, as a thing greatly deſirable, eſpecially after a dark and toilſom night: 2. Patiently and with Quietneſs; Not precipitating, but as knowing it will come, and that in the dueſt ſeaſon: 3. Attentively, as not willing to looſe the ſmalleſt ſound of your Maſter's feet: 4. With Diligence alſo and Preparedneſs; that neither Oyl nor Lighting may be to-ſeek when the Cry is made. Be always Ready, and Then Grone: Grone (I ſay) for that day of Glory, when life and Immortality ſhall be brought to light in Perfection: When your ſelf, with all the Elect of God, meeting in that Great and General Aſſembly, Heb. 12. 23.the Church of the firſt-born which are written in Heaven; may be intirely, vniverſally, and everlaſtingly taken-up in admiring Electing love, which ſo gloriouſly and happily ſhall have wrought all our works for us; and brought us to the ultimate End it deſigned us for; which was, To be ever, with the Lord; To ſee Him as He is; and to experiment the ſum of that great Petition, in the 17.Joh. 17. 21. Iohn:—That they may be One in us.
And in your way thither, Carry this aſſurance ſtill afore you; That the ſame hands which laid the Foundation, will alſo lay the Top-ſtone, and that with ſhoutings; And you ſhall lift-up to Eternity,Zach. 4. 7, 9. Deut. 33. 29. that loud and joyfull acclamation, Grace, Grace, unto it! Happy art thou, O Iſrael! who is like unto thee O People ſaved by the Lord, the ſhield of thine help, and the ſword of thine Excellency! 2 Sam. 22. 1 7.All thine enemies ſhall be found lyars unto thee, and thou ſhalt tread upon their high places! And (which is more than Angels and Men can utter beſides) GOD ſhall be all in All! 1 Cor. 15. 28.(To proclaim which, was the End of this work.) Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · Elisha Coles, A Practical Discourse of Gods Sovereignty (1673)