The Way of Life, Treatises 1 · Treatise 8
ZACH. 12.10.
And I will poure upon the house of David, &c.
THere yet remaines to be handled from these words, the three first Arguments propounded in the beginning, namely, the Author of this spirit of grace, the plentifull measure of it, and the persons on whom it is poured out. Of the first of these, the Giver of it, you have heard it opened, from 2 Tim. 2.15. whence you heard, that God is the Author and Giver of grace. And therefore come we to the other two, and from thence observe this Doctrine.
Doctrine. In the dayes of the Gospel, the Lord dispenseth a plentifull measure of grace, not onelyonly upon Ministers, but upon all sorts of Christians.
For so saith the Text, in that day the Lord will not only sprinkle the spirit drop by drop, but will pour it out in a plentifull measure; and pouring out implies not onelyonly extension upon many people, but intension also in a great measure upon those many persons.
And who are these persons? Not the house of Levi alone, but also upon the house of David, the bloud royall, and the Kings Courtiers, and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Citizens and Trades-men therein; yea, and in Jerusalem dwelt all sorts of people, of every Nation under heaven, Acts 2.4, 5. Reade this accomplished, Acts 2.17, 18. I will poure out my spirit upon all flesh; and in which place the Lord tells you, that he will not sprinkle, but poure out his spirit, and not on a few select persons, but upon all flesh, Jews and Gentiles. So Iohn 7.37, 38, 39. he that beleeveth in me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters: This he speaks of the Spirit, so that in the dayes of the New Testament, Running streames of the Spirit shall ever be flowing from a beleeving soule; he shall have a spring of grace in his soule, that shall ever be like a running river cleansing his heart and way, and making him fruitfull in all places, cooling and refreshing his owne and others soules with the experience of Gods favour to him in Christ.
Why now, rather then in former times?
Reas. 1 Taken from the different estate of the worship of God now, and that of the old Testament. Then the worship of God was dispensed, under vailes and shadowes, so as when the Law was delivered, Moses put a vaile upon his face, 2 Cor. 3.13, 14, 15. so as the people could not clearly see the Lord Jesus, nor the life nor power of him in any Ordinance then dispenced; he meanes the vaile of Ceremonies and shadows, but now the vaile is taken away, and we all behold the glory of the Lord with open face, ver. 17, 18. Shewing that by how much the more simply & plainly the Ordinances be dispenced, so much the more plainly do the people of God see Christ revealed in them; and ever where there is the lesse shadow, there is the more substance.
Reas. 2 Taken frō the different estate of the children of God now, and of thē in the old Testament. They were then the children of God, and heires of the Kingdome with us. But yet the heire while he is under age, is under Tutors and Governours; and Gal. 4.1. to 7. he speaks of God as a wise Father, he will not reveale himselfe freely and familiarly to his children, while they are under age, but when growne to age, he will freely communicate with them. Now thus the Apostle applies it, The Israel of God were under age, till the fulnesse of time came, and when Christ came, then was the fulnesse of the age of that Church, and then God sends forth the Spirit of Son into the hearts of his people: This is the spirit of adoption, whereby God acquaints you with his counsells, and betrusts you with a great part of his inheritance. Under the Law they had but a dark draught of the Image of Christ found in them; but now the fulnesse of time being come, God seeing his children fit to be betrusted with a larger measure of grace, he sends forth a spirit of grace into their hearts, and therefore they then called upon God, as God and Lord, and but seldome as Father. The Euangelicall Prophet Esay, indeed he sometimes saith, Doubtlesse thou art our Father, Esay 63.16. But scarcely shall you finde it throughout all the Psalmes; Father in the old Testament is a rare expression; but now scarce any of the poorest beleevers, but the name of Father is as ready with them, as if all were taught to say, Our Father, and Abba Father: Now the Father looks at us, as come to fulnesse of age. Moses was the Schoole-master to bring the Jews to Christ, and then God walked towards them with a reserved countenance, but now he dispenceth himself more freely.
Reas. 3 Taken from the different dispensation of Christ in the old Testament and in the new; he is called the Sunne of righteousnesse, Mal. 4.1, 2. And in the dayes of the old Testament, Christ was not then risen, and though they had the Moone and the Starres, yet it was dark, because the Sun was not yet risen. So the Apostle saith, 2 Pet. 1.19. but when Christ was borne, then the day spring from on high visited the people, Luke 1.78. Now as the day dawning brings in our light, more then all the glistering starres: so the Lord Jesus when he came into the world, the Church discerned more by him, then by all the Prophets that were before him; and yet after Christs ascension into heaven, when he was ascended to his full height, then the least of the Ministers of the Gospel, and professors of Christ, saw more of Christ, then any while he lived on the earth: And hence the Apostle fetches the abundant Revelation of Christ from his ascension, Acts. 2.33. he brings it as a reason to prove that the Disciples were not full of new wine; for it is said, I will poure out my spirit upon all flesh; and Christ being now exalted to the right hand of his Father, he hath shed forth his spirit, which you now see & hear. So then it is from the exaltation of Christ, that we come to have the spirit of grace poured upon us, and Christ himselfe expounds that place, Iohn 7.38, 39. after this sort, The holy Ghost was not yet given, because the Sonne was not yet glorified; when God had exalted Christ to the height, then he shed forth light and heat, as the Sun at noone day. The holy Ghost was not yet given: Why, was not all the Prophets inspired by the holy Ghost? 2 Pet. 1. last. Yes, but though they had the holy Ghost, yet in comparison of that measure which is now given, it was but crums; in comparison of that measure, the poorest beleevers ordinarily have in these dayes: God dispenseth not the spirit to rare and singular men, Priests and Prophets, and eminent Christians onelyonly; but now I will poure out my spirit upon Maids, and Young-men, upon all sorts of Christians.
Vse 1 It is a matter of just reproofe to any that now live in the dayes of the Gospel, that are at this day destitute of all the drops and sparks of the spirit of grace. These are dayes in which God hath said he will poure out his spirit upon Courtiers, upon busie Trades-men, &c. Now then consider what times we live in; shall rivers of grace flow from many poore Christians, and shall not one drop be sprinkled on our soules; A wicked man in the Land of uprightnesse, will not learn righteousnesse, Esay 26.10. It is the chiefest happinesse for men in these dayes to live under meanes of grace, yet a wicked man when all about him relish of uprightnesse, yet he will there doe wickedly, and all this is, because he will not behold the Majesty of the Lord, he thinks not that Christ is there; consider therefore any soule that cannot say, God hath sprinkled you at least with the first fruits of the spirit, there is a heavy curse lies upon you. Ezech. 47.11. The impure places thereof shall not be healed: the waters that flow from the Sanctuary are healing waters; the spirit of grace flowing from Christ, is healing water to heale his people; but such creatures as still live in sin, foaming out mire and dirt to their shame, that content themselves onelyonly with the blessings of this life, they are exposed to an everlasting barrennesse; so Esay 32.11, 13. as if he should say, Every soule upon whom the spirit of grace is not poured forth, there growes upon them nothing but briers and thornes. There is a double meaning of it, doe but observe the best fruits of a naturall carnall man, his best fruits are but as bryers and thornes. And again, the best comforts he hath in this Land, their trades, yoke-fellowes, &c. they are all but bryers and thorns, they choke good things in us; therefore let no soule content it selfe in sleighting the Spirit of God. What an uncomfortable thing it is, that so many trees of righteousnesse should grow on every side of us and we onelyonly barren and unfruitfull? Let this therefore be to us all an occasion of searching diligently, whether we have received the spirit of grace or no. Three sorts of things are said to be poured forth; water, Esay 44.3. oyle and fire, Esay 42.25. Observe then, if you have received the spirit, you have received it as water, as oyle, as fire; As water, cleansing you from all your filthinesse, Ezech. 36.25. and making of you fruitfull, Psal. 1.3. If thou hast received the spirit of grace like water, then thou hast received some such grace as cleanseth thy unclean heart, and thou beginnest to be fruitfull in the wayes of grace; Or if sometimes thou hast been scorched in thy conscience with the fiery wrath of God, and hast afterward found thy heart cooled with experience of Gods favour, this is like water: Or if like oyle, the spirit is poured out to heal and binde up thy wounds, and to make thy heart chearfull, Psal. 104.15. Luke 10.35. Grace makes the countenance shine, Eccles.8.1. God hath acquainted thee with his secret counsels, Acts 2.18. If God hath warmed thee with experience of his favours, and enlightened thee with the knowledge of his will, thou maist have comfort in thy condition; but if now thy heart be as unclean as ever, if no more fit to offer up to God spirituall sacrifices then ever, thou art not so much as sprinkled with the spirit of grace.
What shall I then (say you) now set my selfe about?
First, give diligent heed, and have a tender care to attend to the word of life; Come not to heare the voyce of a pleasant singer, Ezech. 33.31. but come to the glorious Gospel of Christ, as the ministration of the spirit, you receive the spirit by the hearing of faith preached, Gal. 3.2, 5. Romanes 10.17.
2. What ever known sins you have heretofore lived in, abandon them, and then God will poure out the riches of his mercy upon you, Esay 55.6, 7. & Prov. 1.22. When you heare a sin reproved, turn from it, and then he will poure out his spirit upon you.
3. Pray to the Father, and he will give you the holy Ghost, Luke 11.13. Now what a fearfull case is it, that a man should live in a Congregation where the spirit of grace is poured forth upon many, and yet wee never to begge such a blessing? but continue knocking, and you shall receive.
Vse 2 To exhort all the children of God to take heed of resting in the first fruits of the spirit, or of standing at a stay: for you live now in an age wherein God not only sprinkles his grace, but poures it out; Forget what is behinde, and endeavour after that which is before, Phi1. 3.13, 14. He laboured more then all the rest, and yet I count not that I have attained. How should we now be ready to think, had we but the grace of such a choyce one as Paul was, could we but be content in every state, could we but doe Gods will with joyfulnesse, and labour more then our brethren, might not we sit downe and kisse our hands, and blesse our selves, and have cause for ever to blesse God for this large portion of grace? But Paul knew where he lived, and so should we. We are to be thankfull for the least measure of grace, but not to rest satisfied with that estate we are come unto: Yea, what if a man could pray like a Saint, preach like an Angel, exceed all the Apostles of Christ; yet still he might set Christ before him for a pattern: we live now in an age, that the least Christian, after Christ his ascension, hath reason to see and know more then Iohn Baptist did.
For further encouragement hereunto, consider that place, Ezech. 47.3, 4, 5. It shewes you the marvailous efficacy of the spirit of Grace in the dayes of the Gospel: First a Christian wades in the rivers of God his grace up to the ankles, with some good frame of spirit; yet but weakly, for a man hath strength in his ankle bones, Acts 3. and yet may have but feeble knees, Heb. 12.12. So farre as you walk in the waters, so far are you healed; why then in the next place, he must wade till he come to the knees, goe a thousand Cubits, a mile further, and get more strength to pray, and to walk on in your callings with more power and strength.
Secondly, but yet a man that wades but to the knees, his loynes are not drenched, for nothing is healed but what is in the water. Now the affections of a man are placed in his loynes, God tries the reines; a man may have many unruly affections, though he be padling in the wayes of grace; he may walk on in some eavennesse, and yet have many distempered passions, and may have just cause to complaine of the rottennesse of his heart in the sight of God: why then, thou hast waded but to the knees, and it is a mercy that thou art come so farre; but yet the loynes want healing, why, wade a mile further then; the grace of God yet comes too shallow in us, our passions are yet unmortified, so as we know not how to grieve in measure, our wrath is vehement and immoderate, you must therefore wade untill the loynes bee girt with a golden girdle; wade an-end, & think all is not well untill you be so deep, & by this you may take a scantling, what measure of grace is poured out upon you. And if thou hast gone so farre, that God hath in some measure healed thy affections, that thou canst be angry and sin not, &c. it is well, and this we must attain to. But suppose the loyns should be in a good measure healed, yet there is more goes to it then all this; and yet when a man is come thus farre, he may laugh at all temptations, and blesse God in all changes: But yet goe another thousand Cubits, and then you shall swimme; there is such a measure of grace in which a man may swimme as fish in the water, with all readinesse and dexterity, gliding an-end, as if he had water enough to swimme in; such a Christian doth not creep or walk, but he runs the wayes of Gods Commandements; what ever he is to doe or to suffer he is ready for all, so every way drenched in grace, as let God turn him any way, he is never drawn dry.
Thus we see now what in these dayes God cals us to; we are now planted by the waters; in which some Christians wade to the ankles, (and be we thankfull for that) some can but creep as it were in the way of grace, and some it may be can walk on with some strength; some have yet gone deeper, till they be wholly drenched in grace, and this should we all labour after. But how may we attain to this large measure of grace?
First, consider the times you live in; we all behold the glory of God with open face, and are changed from glory to glory. First therefore look upon the Lord Iesus Christ with open face in his Ordinances as in a glasse; you would think it an excellent glasse, that a man could never look in it, but it shewed him a deformity, and would heale it; Now we may behold Christ in his Ordinances; which that we may doe, we must come to them with a trembling spirit. Observe, and you shall finde it true, you shall never heare the word with a trembling heart, but you will goe home with an humble heart, you goe a thousand paces that Sabhath, Esay 66.2. If we tremble, fearing we should heare unprofitably, or not sanctifie God in our hearts, such a look at Christ will heale a thousand distempers in such an heart. A bold impudent heart that comes into Gods presence will be dirty and unclean still: but God gives grace to the humble, 1 Pet. 5.5. Come in sense of your insufficiency to profit, and come in sense of the Majesty of the Lord Iesus, and you shall get a blessing.
2. Looke at God in his Ordinances with a beleeving eye; When a man sees Christ in his Ordinances, it will help him to mourne for all the defects and blemishes which the Gospel discovers to him, so it is in the Text. Looking at Christ with an eye of faith doth heale mightily, it so melts the heart with the sense of its owne feeblenesse, that it begins to change the hard and stony heart into mournefull teares: as they were healed by looking at the brasen Serpent, Numb. 21.8, 9. so we by mourning for Christ.
Thirdly, Looke at Christ, as the Lord that teacheth us to profit, Esay 48.17, 18. Oh that thou hadst hearkened unto me, then should thy peace have beene like a flowing River; had we looked at Christ as our Redeeemer, he would have undertaken to have taught us to profit, and then would the peace of our consciences and estates have beene abundant, and our sanctification had beene like the waves of the sea, and every wave greater then other, till there had beene neither banke nor bottome; such a looking at Christ would have changed us from one grace to another.
And yet for a second meanes, When you are thus taught of God, then goe on in your uprightnesse and cleannesse of heart in your whole conversation, so shall you wade deepe in the streams of grace, Ioh. 17.9. If therefore thou seest any uncleannesse in thy heart, abandon it, and resolve with full purpose of heart against it, hold on your way, and you will increase your strength, Prov. 10.29. so 2 Chron. 2.10. The Lord will shew himself strong to all that are upright before him. Gods eyes run to and fro in the Congregation, and he minds a very upright creature, and where hee espies such a soule, hee shewes himselfe strong with him, so Esay 40.31, 32.
Fruitfulnesse in growth, bring forth fruit in Christ, it may be a branch of the former; uprightnesse will draw you on to fruitfulnesse, Ioh. 15.2. In speciall wise looke to these.
First, have a speciall care to delight in Gods Sabbaths; if you count the Sabbaths precious, God will give you a delight in his house, Esay. 58.13, 14. Esay 26.4. to 7.
Secondly, have speciall respect to family duties; bee helpfull to children and servants, for that is a meanes to multiply Talents, Mat. 25.28, 29. This course Abraham tooke, Gen. 18.17, 18.
Thirdly, Be fruitfull in conversing with your brethren, counsell them, and stir them up to good wayes, and you shall find this will much increase strength in your selves. Barnabas was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost; How doth that appeare? Hee exhorted them with full purpose of heart to cleave unto the Lord, Acts 11.23, 24.
Fourthly, Be willing amongst other graces to grow in patience, and bee not put out of your patience; what ever discouragement you meet with, you will finde it a mighty helpe for growth in grace, Col. 1.10, 11. It will make you perfect and intire, lacking nothing, Iam. 1.4. Let not patience, by any thing be disturbed; any one act of patience when it is put to it, will set you a thousand paces forward. You therefore that would wade on in the paths of grace till you would swim therein, be sure to maintaine these graces lively in you.