Twenty-Four Sermons, Sermon 8
SERMON VIII.
January 14. 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 thy ſelf.
18. So will not we go back from Thee: —
IV. WHy hath God order'd it ſo, that Believers ſhould be ſecur'd againſt Apoſtacy by the Strength of Christ? The Reaſons of the Divine Will in this Caſe, may be ſuch as theſe Six following.
1. This agrees with God's general Deſign of heaping all the Glory poſſible upon Jeſus Christ. Never was ſuch Honour and Majeſty laid upon any Creature, nor was indeed fit to be laid upon any, as was laid upon Jeſus Chriſt. This was a Part of the Meſſage which the Angel brought to his Virgin-Mother, concerning the Son whom ſhe was to conceive and bear, He ſhall be great; Luke 1.32. He was that Son of Man, whom God reſolv'd peculiarly to magnifie, and advance above all, That all ſhould be beholden to him, and have their Dependance on him. I will ſet him on high, ſays God, Pſalm 91.14. He ſhall be the Head of my Family in Heaven and Earth; he ſhall be as the firt-born among many Brethren; I will give him an univerſal Preheminence, and put all Things in a State of neceſſary ſubjection: He ſhall be the Joſeph to whom every one's Sheaf ſhall bow down, and whom all in my Houſe ſhall be nouriſh'd by, and receive their ſubſiſtence from, This was the Glory which the Father determined from Everlaſting to give to Chriſt, to make him the unmovable Center of the whole Creation of God, Eph. 1.10 That in the diſpenſation of the fulneſs of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ; &c. that nothing ſhould be firm or ſteady but what is brought into him, The Tenure of all the Good that we enjoy, is therefore in Chriſt, In the Lord have Irighteouſneſs and Strength, Iſa. 45.24. What we have in Him, we hold by Him alone; What is given for his ſake, is ſecur'd by his means, that he may be every way glorious.
2. This ſuits with God's Deſign of Grace in our eternal Election; for we are choſen in Christ, Eph. 1.4. Therefore 'tis ſit that we ſhould be alſo preſerv'd in Christ, Jude 1. God's chuſing of us, is a giving of us to Chriſt; 'tis often expreſt ſo in Scripture; and therefore who ſo fit to be their Security, as he to whom they are given? Chriſt hath the Chriſt hath the Care of all whom the Father chuſes, and he is to give account of them at laſt. They are committed to him, and will be demanded from him, and therefore where ſhould ſtength be lodg'd for their ſupport and eſtabliſhment, ſo properly as with him? John. 6.39. This is the Father's Will who hath ſent me, that of all which he hath given me, I ſhould loſe nothing, but ſhould raiſe it up again, &c. to prevent their being finally loſt. God gives 'em to Chriſt; this is God's End and Aim; but how ſhall the Loſs be prevented, except we have Strength and Stability from Chriſt, whoſe Charge and Trust we are? That God's Foundation might stand ſure, he lays his own Son for a Foundation; Every Stone in the Building reſts upon Him, or elſe there would be no difference between them and thoſe that are out of the Building; for he muſt keep thoſe that are in it from dropping out. It would have been a vain thing to conſtitute Chriſt the Head of God's Elect, if God had not alſo appointed that the Elect by his Influence, ſhould be inviolably maintained to the very laſt.
3. 'Tis neceſſary that we ſhould be ſccur'd against Apostacy by the strength of Christ, becauſe he is the First and the Last in our Sanctification. He ſtiles himſelf the Beginning and the End, Rev. 21.6. So he is not only in himſelf, but with reſpect to the Work of Grace in us; He begins it, and compleats it, the Author and Finiſher of our faith, Heb. 12.2. i.e. The Firiſt Author and Finiſher of it. Now 'tis impoſſible that he ſhould be ſo, without being our Eſtabliſher and Preſerver all the time between. From the First to the Last we muſt be upheld by him, or elſe all that is wrought in us will quickly come to nothing. If he do not ſtrengthen his own work, it will be ſoon deſtroy'd tho' it be his own, Pſal. 68.28. Stengthen, O God, that which thou bast wrought for us. Another Hand is not able to preſerve what his Hand produces. The beſt Beginnings will have the worſt Endings, if any thing leſs than the Power of Chriſt have the Management of them. So that Chriſt will loſe the Glory of our begun Sanctification, unleſs he undertakes for our ſetled Confirmation; and he never will have the Honour of our perfected Sanctification, except he enables us to hold on in the way that we have enter'd.
4. 'Tis neceſſary that Chriſt ſhould ſecure us in our Way to Glory, becauſe 'tis his Buſineſs to receive us into the Poſſeſſion of that Glory at the cloſe of all. John 14.3. If I go and prepare a Place for you, I will come again, and receive you to my ſelf, &c. The Reception of departing Souls to Heaven at Death is the Act of Chriſt, and ſo is the Sentencing of them to an Eternal Abode in Heaven at the general Judgment. 2 Tim. 4.8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteouſneſs, which the Lord, the righteous Judge ſhall give me at that Day, &c. But who ſhall there be to wear this Crown, if Chriſt do not keep them in the way of Righteouſneſs, till that Day comes? Mat. 25.34. Then ſhall the King ſay unto them on the Right Hand, Come ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom, &c. But where will any ſuch Perſons be found, if abandon'd by Chriſt, while they are here in this World? This is to be the Portion of Chriſt's Sheep indeed, but the Wolf will have ſcatter'd them all, if he do not defend them, before that Time. There will be no Heirs to this Inheritance, unleſs he that bought it for them, take Care that they may not alienate it from themſelves.
5. The Wiſdom of God is hereby ſeen in a moſt ſhameful baffling of the Devil. Though all the Poſterity of the firſt Man are utterly weaken'd and diſabled by Sin, yet the Man Chriſt Jeſus is become a Fountain of ſpiritual Strength to his own Seed. The Devil Triumpht over the Old Adam, as having caſt down many wounded in the foiling of that one; but here is a ſecond Adam, aſſuming the very ſame Nature, that Triumphs over him, and helps us to Triumph alſo. Fleſh and Blood was conquer'd by him in Paradice, but here is a Partaker of Fleſh and Blood, that puts him to flight. Though Man alone could not grapple with him, but fell by his firſt aſſault, yet God-man hath bruis'd him under our Feet, and given us a firmer ſtanding. The Devil muſt now pull down the Banners which he had ſet up; becauſe his Head is broken by the Woman's Seed. One that once dwelt among us, in ſuch an Houſe of Clay as we do, hath deliver'd us from him, and fortified us againſt him. Though he gave us a Mortal blow in our firſt Parents, here's the Son of Man hath quicken'd us again, and is the Strength of our Life.
6. Believers could not have a better Security, than that whereof there hath been a viſible Experiment in the Perſon of Chriſt himſelf. His Strength is a tryed Strength; if it had not been enough for us, it had failed him; but if it ſuſtained him in ſo difficult a Work againſt ſo much Reſiſtance both from Earth and Hell, we cannot fear its falling ſhort. Chriſt had a Work upon his Hands, that all the Angels in Heaven could not have done; and yet he went through it. Chriſt was tempted in all Points like as we are, and a great deal more than we are, yet the Tempter could faſten nothing upon him. He never flinch't from what he undertook, but purſued his firſt Engagement, till all Things foretold concerning him had an End. Iſa. 50.5. The Lord God hath opened my Ear, and I was not Rebellious neither turned away back. He went on, though there was a Lion in his Way, the Roaring Lion, yea though God himſelf came forth with his drawn Sword of Juſtice, as an Adverſary againſt him, for our ſakes. This may give us the more Encouragement to believe, that he can and will keep us alſo from going back.
V. Ʋſe. Several Things are to be learnt as Truths, and urg'd as Duties from this Doct. Some Things for the informing of Judgment, and others for the directing of the Practice.
I. Information.
1. What a wretched Caſe muſt they be in, that are out of Chriſt? The Apoſtle calls them unſtable Souls, that are eaſily beguil'd; and how can they be otherwiſe? 2 Pet. 2.14. The Devil does with them as he will, carries them whither he pleaſes, for there can be nothing to hinder him, where the Power of Chriſt does not reſt upon their Perſons. Such as partake not of the Root, that do not derive a Vertue from thence, are like dead Branches, or wither'd Leaves, which may hang on for a Time, but will certainly be blown off by ſome Wind or other. Hypocrites that are in Chriſt by outward Profeſſion only, are like Meteors which glitter and blaze a while, but they are ſoon ſpent, and tumble to the ground; but the Stars in Chriſts Right Hand (Rev. 1.16.) cannot do ſo. They that belong to Chriſt, have their Preſervation from him, but 'tis no wonder to hear that all others miſcarry. Thoſe that thou gaveſt me, I have kept, and none of them is loſt, but the Son of Perdition, John 17.12. And this Son of Perdition, was none of them; not given in order to Salvation, but Apoſtleſhip. That goodneſs which Chriſt does not eſtabliſh, muſt needs be as a Morning Cloud; no Creature can eſcape a fall that ſtands upon its own Bottom. All counterfeit Graces, plauſible Duties, fair Shews, and falſe Joys, will vaniſh and come to nothing, becauſe the Perſons whoſe they are, are ſeparated from Chriſt, and have no Strength or Support by him.
2. This diſcovers the Reaſon of the Difference which there is oftentimes between one Believer and another. Their Strength is not in themſelves but in Chriſt, and from him it is variouſly communicated and diſpens'd, according as he ſees good. Hence it is that they who have obtain'd like precious Faith, are not equally ſtrong in Faith; and they that are riſen up to greater Attainments come ſhort ſometimes as to ſpiritual Acts. Some that have been beſt furniſht with the Habits of Grace, have at particular Seaſon been moſt defective in the very Exerciſe of Grace, and betray more than others of their own Corruption. Weaker Chriſtians have done better, in reſiſting of ſome Temptations, than ſuch as have been a great deal ſtronger. The Women that followed Chriſt (though the weaker Veſſels) denied not Chriſt, as Peter did, though a more eminent Diſciple; for though Chriſt pray'd, that his Faith might not fail, he did not Pray that he might not faulter. It was ſaid to the Church of Philadelphia, Thou haſt a little Strength, and haſt kept my Word, and haſt not denied my Name, Rev. 3.8. The weakeſt Chriſtians will ſtand with Chriſt help, and the ſtrongeſt cannot ſtand without it.
3. This ſhews how there comes to be ſuch a Difference and inequality in the ſame Believer at ſeveral Times. Sometimes he withſtands a greater Temptation, and at other Times is foil'd by a leſſer; becauſe no Man, not the beſt of Men prevails by his own Strength, but according as Strength is given out from Chriſt to ſuccour and aſſiſt him. One while David is got up ſo much above carnal fear, that nothing can ſhake him; he encourages himſelf in God, and concludes that he ſhall not be greatly moved, Pſalm 62.2. Yea, not moved at all, ver. 6. At another Time, he is ſo overwhelm'd with horror, ſo ſunk and diſpirited, as if there were no Providence to ſhield him, and therefore cries out for the Wings of a Dove, that he might fly away from the reach of his Enemies, Pſalm 55.5, 6. The ſame Soul follows hard after God, when his right Hand upholds it, Pſalm 63.8. Which afterwards flags, and is almoſt ready to give over following, when that right Hand is withdrawn.
4. This lays open the ground of the Devils Enmity againſt Chriſt, which hath been always moſt extream and implacable. He knows, that he ſhould eaſily compaſs his Ends upon Belivers, if Jeſus Chriſt did not ſtand in the Way. All the Powers of Darkneſs were furiouſly bent againſt the Perſon of Chriſt, becauſe the great Strength of all that belong to him, lies in him. If they could have conquer'd him, no Member of his could ever have ſtood againſt them. The Deſtruction of the Head would have been the Deſtruction of the whole Body; as when the Philiſtines ſaw that their Champion was dead, they all fled immediately, 1 Sam. 17.15. All God's Jewels and peculiar Treaſure are laid up and kept in the Hands of Chriſt, ſo that the ſubduing of him (if it had been poſſible) would have been the ſeizing of all at once. What an Exedrciſe hath Chriſt undergone for our ſakes, in bearing both the Wrath of God and the Rage of Hell, when he might have avoided both, if he had not deſign'd to be a Refuge, and Covert from both to us!
5. The State of thoſe that are in Chriſt is greatly amended and improved ſince the Fall, beyond what it was before. Never was better Tidings brought to the World, than that; behold I make all Things new. Men are given to change, and often change for the worſe; but God's Alterations are always to Advantage. The New Teſtament Diſpenſation mightily excels the Old; the latter Days will out-ſhine and out-do the former Times. Iſa. 60.17. For Braſs I will bring Gold, and for Iron I will bring Silver, and for Wood Braſs, and for Stones Iron. That which comes in the room of what is done away, is ſtill of a more valuable Kind. The ſecond Covenant is better than the firſt, the ſecond Adam more glorious than the firſt. Sinful Man reſtor'd, is in a better Condition, than innocent Man as he was Created. A poor Believer is ſtronger in Chriſt, than the holieſt Angels without Chriſt; for without Chriſt no Promiſes of Perſeverance, but in him there are, and ſuch as cannot be broken. He will not turn away from us, we ſhall not depart from him, Jer. 32.40.
6. 'Tis inexcuſable Folly for any one in the World to lean to his own Arm. As the Holy Ghoſt ſays, that Vain Man would be wiſe, i.e. 'tis an inſtance of his Vanity, that he will not be perſuaded to ceaſe from his own Wiſdom; ſo the Pride of our Hearts makes us very unwilling to ſuſpect our own Strength, or to caſt away all Confidence in it. This Pride does not only go before Deſtruction, but is the Cauſe of it; Man would be a God to himſelf, his own Saviour, and Defender, and in thinking himſelf ſo, he is his own Deſtroyer. Nothing does more effectually Ruine us, than the Conceit that we can recover or preſerve our ſelves from Ruine. It is ſuch kind of Preſumption which ſlaies its Ten Thouſands; if Men were more ſenſible of their own Infirmities, and diſtruſtful of their own Abilities, the Devils Kingdom would be empty in Compariſon of what it is. To imagine that we can do any Thing without Chriſt, is the way to undo the Work of God already done. If Adams perfect Holineſs was not permanent, while he was left alone, how ſhould ours be ſo, which is imperfect?
7. Everlaſting Strength muſt fail, before any true Believers can Everlaſtingly Miſcarry. I ſay, before any can; for if any one may periſh, all may; becauſe it is the ſame Strength which ſecures all. Unleſs the Lord's Hand be ſhortened, no Soul can ever be pluckt out of it. The Honour of Chriſt is concern'd and indeed engag'd to ſee every Child of God brought ſafe to Heaven; and therefore they may do well to conſider what Reproach they caſt upon Chriſt, who (by their Doctrines of Apoſtacy) make believers walk with him, (as one ſaid) like ſorry Dancers on a Rope, that are every Moment in danger of breaking their Necks. Is Jeſus Chriſt ſuch a ſtrong Helper, and yet may the Gates of Hell prevail againſt thoſe that are joyned to him? Hath he pawn'd his unchangeable Word, that the good Part ſhall not be taken away from thoſe that have once choſen it; Luke 10.42. And ſhall Men that turn the Goſpel upſide down, repreſent it as a doubtful uncertain Portion? Is Grace no better than common Gifts, and outward Bleſſings? That we may be totally diſpoſleſt of the one as well as the other? Nothing can more derogate from our Bleſſed Lord, or expoſe him worſe than this ſcandalous Opinion does, as a feeble incompetent Undertaker.
II. Exhortation.
1. Beware of falling from your own ſtedfaſtneſs, 2 Pet. 3.17. This is proper and pertinent Advice to thoſe whoſe Strength is in Chriſt, Goſpel-Principles breed an Holy, not a Carnal Security. Watchfulneſs and Diligence, Circumſpection and Caution, are neceſſary in our daily Walk; for they that lay theſe Things aſide, do thereby Declare that they have nothing to do with Chriſt, nor any Intereſt in the Priviledge I have been ſpeaking of. They are wofully miſtaken, who think that infallible Promiſes render all Exhortations fruitles: The Spirit of God teaches otherwiſe; 1 John 2.27, 28. Ye ſhall abide in him; and now, little Children, abide in him. How abſurd is it to ſuppoſe, that certainty of Perſeverance in Grace, ſhould make Men do ſuch Acts as are contrary to Grace, and deſtructive of it! Or that we ſhould therefore live in the neglect of Means, becauſe we are ſure to perſevere in the uſe of them! This is ſuch kind of Divinity, as the Devil's was, Mat. 4.6. He ſhall keep thee, therefore hazard thy his Angels ſhall bear thee up, therefore caſt thy ſelf down.
2. Be not utterly diſmayed, when Satan hath gotten any Advantage of you, through your ſinful Weakneſs. Be duely affected with, and ſuitably abaſed for, the leaſt Departure from God, but do not let go your hold of Chriſt, as if you were irrecoverable. Say not, as the Church in Captivity did, Lam. 3.18. My Strength and my Hope is periſhed from the Lerd. This is a very falſe and unjuſt Concluſion, not warranted by the Word of Grace, but a meer Artifice of the Devil. When he tempted you to Revolt, he would alſo urge you to deſpair of a return; but though you have complyed with him in the one, ſtand it out againſt him in the other, Pſalm 145.14. The Lord upholdeth all that fall, &c This ſeems a Paradox indeed, for how ſhould they fall, if he upholds them? Anſ. He upholds them ſo far, that they ſhall not utterly ſink, and he will take Care to raiſe them up again; do not reckon your ſelves deſtroy'd, tho' caſt down; The ranſomed of the Lord may be carried Captive into a Land of Enemies, but they ſhall return and come to Sion with Songs, and Everlaſting Joy upon their Heads, Iſa. 35.10.
3. Take heed of ſcornful or cenſorious deſpiſing of weaker Brethren. If he that deals to every Man his meaſure of ſpiritual Strength, hath afforded more to you, and leſs to ſome others in the World, do not lift up your ſelves above them. Boaſt not againſt the Branches (thoſe that are inferiour to thy ſelf) for thou beareſt not the Root, but the Root thee, Rom. 11.18. If Jeſus Chriſt were not more liberal to you, than to them, your Soul would be in their Soul's Caſe. Judge not thoſe who are upright in their Hearts, though they do err in leſſer Points; the Holy Ghoſt ſays, they ſhall be holden up, for God is able to make them ſtand, Chap. 14.4. Trample not upon them that are moſt bowed down with a Spirit of Infirmity. There is a reſpect to be paid to God's halting Jacob's, and his Lame Mephiboſheths. The greateſt and the leaſt of Saints are both depending Creatures, and therefore ſhould carry themſelves with all Modeſty and Meekneſs one towards another, He who eſtabliſheth us with you in Chriſt, is God, 2 Cor. 1.21.
4. Make no Promiſes of Perſeverance in your own Strength. Learn the contrary of the Pſalmiſt in the Text, who firſt makes his Requeſt, Let thy Hand be, &c. Then expreſſes his Reſolution, So will not we, &c. If we Vow continuance with Chriſt in all Temptations, and intend to pay what we Vow, we muſt not Account our ſelves capable of Payment without Aſſiſtance from Chriſt. No Man hath Grace enough to be his own Keeper, or to execute any Purpoſe of that ſort, unleſs he be ſtill receiving more Grace from Chriſt's Fulneſs. A Thing well reſolv'd, is half done; but we can never reſolve well, unleſs we do it in the Strength of Chriſt. Mic. 4.5. We will walk in the Name of the Lord our God for ever and ever. A Phraſe which does at once import two Things, that ſhould go together, attendance on God's Service, and reliance on his Power.
5. Look to your Faith, as the principal Grace, which contributes to your Eſtabliſhment. Iſa. 7.9. If you will not believe, ſurely you ſhall not be eſtabliſhed. The contrary is implyed, If you do believe, you ſurely ſhall be. The Scripture ſays more than once, That by Faith we ſtand, Rom. 11.20. 2 Cor. 1.24. Which is more than is any where ſaid of any other Grace, and the Reaſon is evident,
1. Becauſe Faith is the uniting Grace, and 'tis Ʋnion with Chriſt, which is the ground of our Safety.
2. 'Tis the receiving Grace; that whereby we do not only receive Chriſt himſelf, but all from Chriſt; and 'tis by Vertue of Strength receiv'd, that we are able to ſtand. This is the Grace whereby we do not only receive from Chriſt at firſt, but whereby we muſt be receiving from him all along; for we renew our Strength by waiting upon God, Iſa. 40. ult. Which is a Scripture-Phraſe for Faith and Patience together. It is the bleſſedneſs of thoſe whoſe Strength is in God, that their Strength is ſtill increaſing; they go from Strength to Strength, Pſalm 84.5, 7. But without Faith, there's no ſuch Bleſſedneſs to be had, the Unbeliever hath no Strength but what is in himſelf; a meer ſeeming Strength, and therefore a periſhing declining Strength; for from him that hath not, what he ſeems to have, ſhall be taken away.
6. Exerciſe Faith upon Chriſt eſpecially in Times of great Temptation and general Defection Never think to ſtand long, if you ſtand looſe from Chriſt; but keep your hold of him, and ſtick cloſe to him, and then you will be able to ſtand faſt, and having done all to ſtand, whatever aſſaults are made upon you, whatever Apoſtacies are committed by others, continue touching him, and Vertue will ſtill come out of him. Make your Neſt in this Rock, when the Devil blows with his Wind; when Paul was buffeted with the Meſſenger of Satan; he beſought the Lord that it might depart, and though that was not immediately granted, yet he had a very ſatisfactory Anſwer, My Grace is ſufficient for thee, my Strength, &c. 2 Cor. 12.7, 8, 9. If it be a Time wherein the Faith of many is Shipwrackt and overthrown, Holy Truſt in Chriſt will be an Anchor to the Soul, ſure and ſtedfaſt. When many of Chriſts Diſciples went back, and he put the Queſtion to them, Will you alſo go away? Peter cryes Lord to whom ſhall we go? (to whom beſides thee?) John 6.66, 67, 68.
7. Do not arrogate the Honour of your ſtanding in Chriſt, and abiding with Chriſt, in the leaſt meaſure to your ſelves. Let Chriſt have all the Glory of your ſetting out, and holding out; let him have it now, and let him have it at the Laſt. Aſcribe all to him, who is able to keep you from falling, who alone could do it, and hath done it, Jude 24.25. Chriſt is the Perſon there meant, for the Preſentation of Believers faultleſs in the great Day belongs to him. Say to him, Lord by thy Favour thou haſt made my Mountain to ſtand ſtrong, which elſe had been remov'd and carried away long ſince; thou haſt made me a Pillar in thy Temple, elſe I had waver'd and gone out again, as well as others. When you Live, and when you Dye, acknowledge this to your Redeemers Praiſe.