Twenty-Four Sermons, Sermon 7
SERMON VII.
December 31. 1695.
PSALM LXXX. xvii, xviii. former Part.
Let thy Hand be upon the Man of thy right Hand, upon the Son of Man whom thou madeſt ſtrong for the Self.
18. So will not we go back from Thee: —
IT is moſt manifeſt from ſeveral Paſſages in this Pſalm, that it refers to a Time of great Diſtreſs and Deſolation in general, though what particular Time is here pointed at, is variouſly Conjectur'd, and indeed after all remains uncertain. There is one Requeſt for deliverance out of this calamitous Caſe, which is thrice Repeaed, ver. 3, 7, 19. in the former Part of which Requeſt, there is a kind of Gradation obſerv'd, every Time 'tis mention'd, Turn us again Oh God; turn us again Oh God of Hoſts; and turn us again Oh Lord God of Hoſts; but the latter Part is ſtill the ſame, and no difference made in the Repetiton; Cauſe thy Face to ſhine, and we ſhall be ſaved. But yet there is no Petition throughout the Pſalm, which is ſo remarkable, or that ſeems to carry ſuch an Evangelical Senſe in it, as that in the Text.
For Explication, there are Three Things to be enquir'd into.
1. Who is intended here by the Man of God's right Hand, and the Son of Man, &c? Some think, it ſignifies the People of the Jews, the whole Common-Wealth of Iſrael, who are ſometimes collectively ſpoken of, as one Man, and a ſingle Perſon; others take it for the Houſe of David, and Royal Family, or for the Stock and Tribe of Judah, out of which our Lord was to ſpring; but the Characters here given do much better agree to the Meſſiah himſelf, if we duly conſider them.
1. The Man of thy Right Hand. This imports one highly favoured and reſpected by God; as Benjamin, which is a Son of the right Hand, (and named, ver. 2.) was his Father's darling. The right Hand is a beloved Member, as is intimated by the Command to Cut it off, if it offend, Mat. 5.30. So is Chriſt peculiarly dear to God, his Delight and Joy from Everlaſting, and exalted to ſit at his Right Hand; a Place too great for any Creature, Pſalm 110.1.
2. The Son of Man. This is a Title moſt frequently given to Chriſt in the Goſpel, and in the Old Teſtament alſo, Dan. 7.13. I ſaw in the Night-Viſions, and behold one like the Son of Man, &c. Which denotes the Truth of Chriſt's Humane Nature, though he came not by ordinary Generation.
3. One made ſtrong by God for himſelf. As ver. 15. The Branch which thou madeſt ſtrong for thy ſelf. Now, as Chriſt is often call'd the Branch by the Prophets, ſo he was really furniſht and endued (as Mediator) with extraordinary Power to ſerve the great Purpoſes and Deſigns of God, ſuch as could have been accompliſhed by no other. And ſo it was foretold, that he ſhould be, Iſa. 41.10. I will ſtrengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right Hand of my Righteouſneſs.
2. What is meant by the Thing requeſted, let thy Hand be upon, &c. If we conſider ſome other Places where the like Phraſe is uſed, we ſhall find, it implies Influence, Protection and Support; as Ezra 8.31. The Hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the Hand of our Enemy, &c. Ezek. 3.14. I went in the heat of my Spirit, but the Hand of the Lord was ſtrong upon me; the Prophet being then under a mighty Divine Impreſſion, beyond what other common Perſons were, or even he himſelf at other Times.
3. How are we to underſtand the Connexion of this Petition with the following Words, ſo will not we go back from thee. It may be underſtood two Ways.
1. As it would oblige them to the yielding of ſtedfaſt. Obedience; it would lay them under a ſpecial Engagement never to Revolt any more, as they had done; if God would grant this Requeſt, it would be a moſt eminent Tye and Bond upon them to the moſt conſtant and faithful Service.
2. As it would enable them to yield ſuch Obedience. And this I conceive to be chiefly aimed at; if God would lay ſuch help upon Chriſt for them, they ſhould receive Power by that means to diſcharge their Duty to him better than ever heretofore; though they were very feeble and wavering, falſe and treacherous of themſelves, yet here would be a ſucceſsful Remedy.
Note 1. The Conſideration of Jeſus Chriſt is very fit and proper to Miniſter Comfort and Relief in the moſt afflicted Condition. That State of the Church which this Pſalm hath a Relation to, was very deplorable, but they encouraged themſelves by looking to the promiſed Saviour. When their Vineyard was burnt with Fire, and cut down, ver. 16. They had an Eye to him that was the true Vine, whom God exerciſes ſuch Care and Husbandry about, that his pleaſant and uſeful Fruit can never be deſtroy'd, John 15.1.
Note 2. It was the commendable Practice of the Church in the Old Teſtament Times to Pray for Chriſt: This was according to the Precept; Pſalm 72.15. Prayers ſhall be made for him continually. They pray'd for his Aſſiſtance in his Work, and for his actual Miſſion to perform it; that he might be ſent into the World, and that what he undertook might proſper in his Hand. Nor is the Duty now out of Date, of Praying for his ſecond Coming, for the Advancement of his Intereſt, and Enlargement of his Kingdom here below. But the main Scope of the Words, will lead us to another Point.
Obſ. The Strength of Chriſt is the great and immediate Security of Believers againſt Apoſtacy from God. Here,
I. Shew wherein lies the true Nature of this Apoſtacy.
II. Of what Concernment it is to Believers to be ſecur'd againſt it.
III. How is the Strength of Chriſt their Security in this Caſe.
IV. Why hath God order'd it ſo to be.
V. Uſe.
I. Wherein lies the true Nature of Apoſtacy from God. The very Expreſſion whereby the Holy Ghoſt does here deſcribe and ſet it forth, will, if duely weighed, give us ſome Light into it.
1. Every failure and defect in the Exerciſe of Grace, is not to be reckon'd as an Apoſtacy. There is a great Difference between ſpiritual Decaies and Languiſhings, and this going back from God. The Soul may faint and flag in the purſuit of God, and yet not be carried off ſo far, as to ſteer a contrary Courſe. As a Schiſm in the Body, 1 Cor. 12.25. Is much leſs than a Separation from the Body; a breach or diſunion in a Church, not ſo much as an abſolute Rent and dividing from a Church, ſo there may be Declenſions in our Obedience, and yet no declining from the Law, Pſalm 119.51. The Degrees of Grace may be remitted, when the actings of Grace are not deſtroyed; and the habits of Grace weakened, when they are not aboliſhed. As the Church of Epheſus did not ceaſe to Love, yea even in Sincerity, though charg'd with leaving her firſt Love, Rev. 2.4. Chriſt ſays, he had ſomewhat againſt her, which is a diminiſhing term, but he would have had much more againſt her, if inſtead of an abatement of Love, it had been turned into hatred. Theſe gradual Deficiencies and ſhrinkings of Grace, are truly humbling to us, and may iſſue worſe, if not carefully lookt after; we have Reaſon to lament them, and endeavour a ſpeedy Cure of them; but ſuch a revolting from God, as the Text ſpeaks of, if more than all this comes to.
2. Every poſitive Diſcovery of Corruption in the actual Commiſſion of Sin is not Apoſtacy. A Man may halt and ſlip, yea he may ſtumble, and fall, and yet not go back. He that reſolvedly holds on his way, may notwithſtanding oftentimes, through Ignorance or Infirmity turn aſide out of it, before he finiſhes his Courſe. A Believer may be led into Captivity to the Law of Sin, and yet never properly is brought under the Reigning Power of Sin, Rom. 6.14. compar'd with 7.23. To be violently ſeized by another as an Enemy, is a very diſtinct thing from ſubmitting to another's Dominion, as a Lord. A Subject may continue Loyal to his Rightful Prince, though the Arms of a wrongful Uſurper may for a Time prevail againſt him. A voluntary Transferring of my Allegiance, is much more than to be taken Priſoner by force. Rebellion is an aggravating Addition to Sin, Job 34.37. Now Apoſtatizing in Scripture is very frequently expreſt by Rebelling, Joſh. 22.29. God forbid that we ſhould Rebel againſt the Lord, and turn this Day from following the Lord, &c. Dan. 9.5. We have done wickedly and rebelled, by departing from thy Precepts, &c. Every Offence againſt a Law is not an Act of Treaſon, or Renunciation of the Soveraign Authority. All Sin is a Tranſgreſſion, but this Sin of backſliding is the great Tranſgreſſion.
3. Apoſtacy from God includes not only a Deviation in the Life, but an Alienation of the Heart. Not only a ſinful wandering, but a loving to wander, Jer. 14.10. Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their Feet. So long as the Heart is right with God, it cannot be ſaid that the Man goes back from him. An unwilling Departure, is not ſo much the Act of the regenerate Perſon, as of the Sin that dwelleth in him, Rom. 7.17. No outward Performance, good or bad, does denominate ſo much as the inward frame and working of the Spirit. A great many miſcarriages will be graciouſly overlookt in the viſible Walk and Converſation, when there is a cleaving to God with full Purpoſe of Soul. The Errors of a Man's way are far more pardonable, than erring in Heart. The Generation whom God was ſo much griev'd with, were a People that did err in their Hearts, Pſalm 95.10. Though there be no manifeſt or groſs backſliding in the Life, yet if there be a revolting and a rebellious Heart, there is the poyſonous Root of all Abomination. Here is Apoſtacy in the ſight of God, though not in the ſight of Men; as the Iſraelites in their Hearts turned back again into Egypt, when they were marching in the Wilderneſs, Acts 3.39. According as the Mind is eſtrang'd from God, or keeps cloſe to him, a Man is clear or guilty in this Caſe. Our Heart is not turned back, was the Church's Vindication, Pſalm 44.18.
4. Apoſtacy from God, is really an undoing of all the good which we have done. 'Tis a wicked Repentance quite contrary to the Grace of Repentance; as that is a Repentance from dead Works, ſo is this a Repentance from Works of a better ſort, Pſalm 36.3. He hath left off to be wiſe, and to do good. 'Tis a Perverſion to Evil after a ſeeming Converſion from it. The firſt Apoſtacy wherein all are involved, ſuppoſes the Creation of Man in a State of Uprightneſs; Every one is gone back, Pſalm 53.3. Therefore Adams Original Courſe was a walk with God. So here, the Apoſtacy whereof we ſpeak is a miſerable change for the worſe, after a plauſible. change (at leaſt) for the better. There can be no going back, but where a Man hath once run well; No looking back, but where a Man hath firſt ſet his Hand to the Plaugh, Luke 9. ult. 'Tis ending in the Fleſh, after we have begun in the Spirit; when our Faces have been towards Sion, and our doings framed to turn to God, this is a revoking and diſanulling of all, and driving towards Hell. 'Tis a Declaration of War, where we have pretended Friendſhip; 'tis a ſaying in Effect, the Time paſt ſufficeth us to have wrought the Will of God, and therefore now we will Work our own. In ſhort, 'tis no leſs than our pulling down all that we have built up, and a liſting of our ſelves in the Service of Sin and Satan, whom we have fought againſt.
II. Of what Concernment and Importance it is to Believers to be ſecur'd againſt ſuch Apoſtacy. This will appear from two Things; their Danger of Apoſtacy, and their Danger by it.
1. How much they are in Danger of it, viz. If left alone, and abandon'd to themſelves. There are Three Conſiderations which will ſufficiently ſhew the greatneſs of this hazard.
1. Grace in us is very weak. The Apoſtle does not ſay, be ſtrong in the Grace which is in thy ſelf, but in the Grace which is in Chriſt, 2 Tim. 2.1. That fulneſs of Grace, of which Chriſt is the ſubject, can never be leſſen'd, but thoſe meaſures of Grace which are communicated unto us, and lodg'd in us, might and would be loſt, if we were ſeparated from him. Borrowed Abilities will fail, if not continually recruited and ſupplied. All created inhaerent Holineſs, of it ſelf is a periſhable Thing; 'tis indeed made of God an abiding incorruptible Seed in Believers now, but 'tis not ſo in its own Nature. If it were, how could the Angels in Heaven, or Adam in Paradice have ever fallen? Grace is a good Treaſure in the Heart, but it wants Almightineſs to guard it; as there is no Worldling who thinks, that his Bags or Coffers can defend themſelves. Gracious Habits are the true Riches, but they lye open for Thieves to rob us of them; except God keep our Houſe after he hath furniſht it, Poverty will come upon us like an armed Man.
2. Corruption in us is very Active. We are very apt and ready to be drawn away by our own Luſt, James 1.14. There is Folly enough remaining in the wiſeſt and beſt of Men to pervert and miſlead them. He was no ordinary Saint, who complain'd of his being ſo fooliſh and ignorant; that he was as a Beaſt before God, Pſalm 73.22. There is ſtill too much Brute in him that hath attain'd to be more than a Man. None of us are ſo waſhed from our ſilthineſs, while we are in this World, but that the Reliques of a ſwiniſh Principle in our Natures would make us return to wallow in the Mire, if God did not keep us back. If we conſider how juſt Lot linger'd in going out of ſinful Sodom, we cannot but think, that he would have lookt behind him, as well as his Wife, except thoſe Inclinations had been reſtrain'd. Though our Hearts be Circumcis'd to Love God predominantly, there are vile Affections ſtirring in us ſtill, not very eaſie to be ſuppreſt. The Law in our Members is not like a dead Letter, but a lively Principle, which Wars againſt the Laws of our Minds.
3. The Temptations which come againſt us, are very numerous. Every Place, every Condition, every Employment, every Relation is full of them. 'Tis hard to avoid being aſſaulted by them, 'tis harder many Times to eſcape being overcome. Whereſoever we are, we find our ſelves, like the Prophet in Dathan, 2 Kings 6.14. Compaſs'd about with a great Hoſt. Every Friend of God hath many Adverſaries always beſieging him, and often ſolliciting and labouring to ſeduce him from his Obedience to God. When Solomon was Old (and when one would have Thought, he ſhould have been the more confirm'd in the pure Religion) his Wives (who were therein the Inſtruments of Satan) turned his Heart after other Gods, 1 Kings 11.4. The Devil manages his Point with ſo much ſubtilty, as even to make uſe ſometimes of ſincere miſtaken Chriſtians to Hand his Suggeſtions to us; as Acts 21.4. When Paul by a Divine impulſe was going up to Jeruſalem, there were ſome Diſciples who ſaid that he ſhould not go; through the Spirit they knew what he would ſuffer there if he went; and as carnal Men, they diſſuaded him from it. The Old Man within, and Old Serpent without us, make it very difficult to keep our Way.
2. How much danger they incur by Apoſtacy, if they ſhould be left to be guilty of it. Three Particulars will give us a ſufficient diſcovery of this.
1. They muſt needs at the preſent, loſe all comfortable Communion with God. How can they that go back from him, have any Enjoyment of him? How can they that go out from the Preſence of the Lord, ſuppoſe that his Preſence ſhould follow them in their degenerate Courſe? Muſt not he that turns his back upon God, acknowledge it the natural Fruit of his won Ways, if the Face of God be hid from him? The Lord is with you, while you be with him, 2 Chron. 15 2. But if we forſake our own Mercies, do we imagine, that they will not alſo forſake us? God's backſliding Children have ſadly Experienc't the Truth of this, by lying long under their Father's frowns; he hath ſuſpended the ſweet Manifeſtations of himſelf, and they have not known where to find him, even after they have come to themſelves again.
2. They can never ſee the Kingdom of God, unleſs they remember from whence they are gone back, and return and do their firſt Works. While a Man is in a Road of Apoſtacy, he is quite out of the Way to Heaven, and 'tis impoſſible ever to reach the End, without returning into the Way. None are further off from the Kingdom, then they that once ſeem'd to be the neareſt to it, and afterwards Revolt. None more hateful to God, than ſuch as have once expreſs'd much Love; as a Prince is moſt provoked by thoſe that firſt appear very zealouſly for him, and then turn maliciouſly againſt him. God hath ſaid, If any Man draw back, my Soul ſhall have no Pleaſure in him, Heb. 10.38. God will never endure ſuch an one to ſtand in his ſight, that dare to quit and renounce his Service, after the hath been for a ſeaſon employed in it.
3. If they come back to God again, (as undoubtedly they will, if evey they were truly Converted to him) it muſt be by very bitter and ſorrowful Repentance. With what Indignation does the Apoſtle ſpeak, 1 Cor. 6.15. Shall I take the Members of Chriſt, and make them the Members of an Harlot? And is there not as much Cauſe for the ſame Holy Indignation againſt a Man's ſelf, after he hath done ſo? The Caſe is the ſame as to all others Sin's of ſuch a kind, which are more than common Defilements. When backſliding Iſrael was about returning, The Voice of Weeping was heard upon their high Places, Jer. 3.21. How plentifully ſhould we ſow in Tears, when like thoſe Jews, we have been ſcattering our Ways to ſtrangers! How ſhould we ſit in the Duſt, go ſoftly, be covered with Confuſion, and lye down in our Shame, in the Senſe of what we have done, when we have done ſo wickedly! He that can paſs over a foul Apoſtacy with little remorſe and ſleight Humiliation, is under a Deluſion, if he think that God hath graciouſly receiv'd him.
III. How is the Strength of Chriſt our Security in this Caſe? Anſwer in five Things.
1. Omnipotence belongs to Chriſt, on the account of his Godhead, and this ſhall be exerted on the behalf of them that believe, as there is occaſion, Prov. 8.14. I have Strength. They are the Words of Chriſt, who is brought in ſpeaking under the Name of Wiſdom. It is not meant of any created, borrowed Strength, ſuch as Angels are ſaid to excel in, but infinite eſſential Strength; the Strength of God, for he is God. The mighty Angels are his, 2 Theſſ. 1.7. made and govern'd by him, to wait upon him, and Miniſter to him; but he himſelf hath a nobler and greater Character, The mighty God, Iſa. 9.6. Yea, the Almighty, Rev. 1.8. The Almighty Son of an Almighty Father, yet not another, but the ſame Almighty God; a diſtinct Perſon inveſted with all the glorious Properties of the ſame Nature. Here lies the Argument which Chriſt himſelf uſed, John 10.28. None ſhall pluck them out of the Father's Hand, becauſe he is greater than all; and conſequently none ſhall pluck them out of Chriſt's Hand, becauſe he and the Father are one. The Strength is equal, becauſe the Eſſence is undivided.
2. Chriſt was anointed with Power, as Mediator, the Improvement whereof is not to his own Advantage, but the Advantage of thoſe that believe in him. He that travail'd in the greatneſs of his Strength, declares himſelf Mighty to Save, Iſa. 63.1. Therefore we read of God's raiſing up an Horn of Salvation for us, Luke 1.69. An Horn intimates Strength; Chriſt is a mighty Saviour, and our Salvation is the End and Scope of his being ſo. He had a Spirit of might reſting upon him, Iſa. 11.2. Great and ſingular Abilities for his ſpecial Work communicated to him, and the Fruit of all redounds to us. Hence he is call'd Emmanuel, the ſtrong God with us, not only ſo in himſlef, but as our Redeemer; as 'tis ſaid in the Caſe of the Deliverance of the Jews from Babylon, which was figurative of a greater and more excellent Deliverance; their Redeemer is ſtrong, Jer. 50.34.
3. Chriſt hath deſtroy'd the Power of the Devil, by a Power Superiour. to him This is meant by his dividing the Spoil with the ſtrong, Iſa. 53.12. Snatching of poor Captive Souls as a Prey out of the Teeth of the Devourer, which being once reſcued, are never given up again. The Devil was the ſtrong Man armed, that kept his Palace, and his Goods were in Peace, but our Lord who was ſtronger than he, came upon him, and overcame him, and took from him all his Armour, wherein he truſted, Luke 11.21, 22. None but Chriſt the Prince of Life, was able to do ſuch Execution upon the Prince of this World, whoſe Slaves and Vaſſals we naturally are. But this being done, by Vertue of Chriſts Victory, we alſo ſhall be finally Victorious. Satan would have deſpis'd our utmoſt Oppoſition, if the Son of God had not foil'd him firſt; now we may deſpiſe his. Our Triumphant Friend hath left us a Conquer'd Enemy to deal with; ſo that through him ſtrengthening us, we may tread down Strength.
4. Chriſt by the matchleſs Efficacy, and Merit of his Blood hath purchas'd for us Confirming Grace, and the perpetual Preſence of the Spirit with us. Not only our acceſs into that Grace wherein we ſtand, but our ſtanding in that Grace whereinto we have Acceſs, is by Jeſus Chriſt, Rom. 5.2. He hath engag'd poſitively, that the Spirit ſhall not only be given to us, but abide and dwell with us, John 14.16, 17. And he hath engag'd for nothing, but what he hath effectually procur'd. The Sufferings of the beſt of Creatures are weak and worthleſs; but the Death of Chriſt is of ſuch Infinite force, as to make it impoſſible for any one whoſe Sins he hath dyed for, to dye in Sin, By one Offering he hath perfected for ever them, &c. Heb. 10.14. We have deſerv'd to fail of the Grace of God, he hath deſerv'd the Continuance of it; we deſerve to be as Chaff which the Wind drives away, Chriſt hath deſerved that we ſhould be as Mount Sion, which cannot be removed. His Blood is that which Anſwers all Things.
5. Chriſts prevailing Interceſſion ſecures to us the needful actual ſuccours of Grace, while we are here in this World. There is a great deal which depends upon this; Heb. 7.25. He is able to ſave to the uttermoſt ſuch as come to God by him, ſeeing he ever liveth to make Interceſſion for them. Chriſts Everlaſting Interceſſion is mention'd as the Reaſon of Chriſts Ability to ſave to the uttermoſt. Indeed all Chriſts Pleadings are irreſiſtible, God can deny him nothing which he asks; therefore he is called by the Name of Iſrael, Iſa. 49.3. A Name which was given to the Patriarch Jacob, upon the ſucceſs of his wreſtling with the Angel; for it may be more eminently applied to Chriſt, what was ſaid of him, That by his Strength he hath Power with God, Hoſ. 12.3. Chriſt produces his ſtrong Reaſons which the Father cannot but hearken to. So that if he Pray for Peter, that his Faith may not fail, it is impoſſible that it ſhould. If he Pray for our being kept, we cannot be loſt.