Twenty-Four Sermons, Sermon 5
SERMON V.
October 8. 1695.
II CORINTH. I. xx.
For all the Promiſes of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the Glory of God by us.
IT is obſervable, that as none among the Apoſtles was more uſeful and ſerviceable than Paul to the Intereſt of Chrit, and the Souls of Men, ſo the Devil did eſpecially labour to ſtain his Gredit, and to blaſt his Minſtry; and and even little Things, taht had nothing of Evil in them, ſuch as common Charity would have excus'd in any other Perſon, were maliciouſly improv'd and perverted againſt him. We need to go no further than this very Chapter for an inſtance; there being an Imputation of Levity and falſhood caſt upon him, becauſe he had reſolved to come to this Church at Corinth, but did not. This was aggravated ſo far, as if he were one that ſaid, and unſaid, one that took no Care about the keeping of his Word, and that therefore no regard was to be had to any Thing that he delivered. In Oppoſition to this foul and groundleſs Charge, the Apoſtle makes an Apology and Defence for himſelf, ver. 17. Where he lets them know, that he was no ſuch fickle and unconſtand Man, as he was repreſented; for his Intention of coming to them was real, though he was providentially obſtructed in performing it. And on this occaſion he alſo tells them, that his whole Doctrine had been uniform, and conſiſtent with it ſelf at all Times, without any Variations, or Contradictions, ver. 18. The courſe of his Preaching among them, being like the great ſubject of it, Jeſus Chriſt, the Son of God, who is not Yea at one Time, and Nay at another, but fixedly and unchangeably the ſame for ever, ver. 19. Now, as a convincing Proof of this, he adds in the Words of the Text, For all the Promiſes of God in him, are Yea, &c.
In which Words we may conſider.
1. The Things ſpoken of Promiſes, foreign, which is very much a kin to foreign: The Goſpel ſtrictly taken, being indeed a Treaſury of bleſſed Promiſes, and Declarations of Grace.
2. The large Extent in which theſe Things are ſpoken of. [All] none excepted, but as many ſoever as there are, and of whatſoever kind they be, as Solomon ſaid, 1 Kings 8.56. There hath not failed one good Word, &c.
3. The Author of them. [God.] This ought to be eyed by us, becauſe the Infinite Power and immutable faithfulneſs of God are grand Encouragements to our ſteady Expectation, Rom. 4.21. Heb. 10.23.
4. The Stability of them. They are [Yea and Amen] here are two different Terms us'd to ſignifie the ſame Thing; the former of theſe is a Greek Word, and the latter Hebrew, as Gal. 4.6. Abba Father; the one is Hebrew, and the other Greek; intimating that both Jew and Gentile are concerned in theſe Things.
5. The Foundation of this Stability, [in him] i.e. in Chriſt, and to give it the greater Emphaſis and force, the Expreſſion is doubled, which Repititions are not unuſual in the Writings of this Apoſtle on the like occaſions, Eph. 1.10. All Things in Chriſt, even in him. Col. 1.20. By him to reconcile all Things, by him, I ſay, &c.
6. The End and Scope of all, [unto the Glory of God] that which is God's deſign in his gracious actual Vouchſafements, is the tendency of every Promiſe alſo, the magnifying and exalting of himſelf is ultimately aim'd at; and hereunto the Holineſs and Comfort of his Creature is but ſubordinate.
7. The Inſtruments or Means of bringing about this End, [by us] which may have a reſpect both to the Miniſters of Chriſt, whoſe Work it is to hold forth the Promiſes of God, and to all Believers, whoſe Duty 'tis to embrace and apply them; each of theſe contribute in their Place, and in their meaſure, to the advancing of the Glory of God.
Obſ. All Divine Promiſes are fully ratified in Jeſus Chriſt to the Glory of their Author. This is the Sum and Subſtance of the Text, which an Interpreter, one of a Thouſand, Calvin (though too meanly thought of, and vilely reflected on in this degenerate Age,) calls Sententia memorabilis, & unum ex proecipuis Fidei noſtrae capitibus; a memorable Sentence, and one of the chief Articles of our Faith. Here
I. Open ſomething of the Nature of Divine Promiſes.
II. Enquire into ſome of the Principal Kinds of them.
III. Shew, why they are ſaid to be ratified in Chriſt.
IV. How they tend to the Glory of God.
V. Uſe.
I. To open ſomething of the Nature of Divine Promiſes. In five Propoſitions.
1. The Promiſes of God are of a middle Nature, diſtinct from his Purpoſe and Performance. They come between the Decree, which is from Everlaſting, and the Execution of it, which is in Time. They are Significations of his Will, as a thing paſt, and fore-runners of the Event, as a Thing to come. When God promiſeth any Thing, it is before he does it, and after he hath determined it; we muſt ſuppoſe a praevious Reſolution, and we may expect a following Accompliſhment. A Promiſe is the unfolding of the Heart of God, the communicating and manifeſting of thoſe kind Thoughts which he thinks towards us, when he hath not yet fulfill'd them. It is impoſſible that God ſhould Promiſe any Thing, but what he hath rodain'd to be, and when it hath a real being, there is no need of any further Promiſe. God is willing firſt to reveal his Love to us in Word, and then in Act; that while the Bleſſing he intends to beſtow, is but in the Way to us, and at a diſtance from us, we may Live in the comfortable Proſpect of it. A Promiſe is a Tranſcript of God's Counſel, and a Pledge of the Thing it ſelf. What he hath purpoſed, he ſpeaks; and what he hath ſpoken, he cannot go back from.
2. The Promiſes of God argue much Condeſcenſion to us, but no Imperfection in him. God humbles himſelf, as it were, in making them, but he does not truly leſſen himſelf thereby. He ſtoops to the Infirmity of his Creatures, and yet the Honour of his own Majeſty is preſerv'd. In every Promiſe, 'tis true, that God makes himſelf a Debtor, but ſtill he remains our Infinite Superiour; for though the Promiſes be made to us, and for our Benefit, yet God does not owe any Thing to us, or for our ſake; the Debt is properly to himſelf, on the account of his own Fidelity, not to us on the account of Juſtice; therefore 'tis ſaid, That he abideth faithful, he cannot deny himſelf, 2 Tim. 2.13. 'Tis no debaſement of God to ſtand bound to his own Word, but 'tis below him to be under any Obligation to his Greature. We cannot demand or claim the fulfilling of any Promiſe, as if the denial of it would be an injury and wrong to us, but becauſe it would derogate from his Glory, and be unworthy of himſelf. This is what we have to faſten upon, and this hold is ſure enough.
3. The meer goodneſs of God is that which puts him upon promiſing. There was no Neceſſity of God's engaging himſelf to do any thing for us, though we were tyed to do our utmoſt for him; but his Engagements are Free and Voluntary, and ſpring from his own gracious Inclinations and Propenſions to us. God was at abſolute Liberty, whether he would enter into any ſuch Bond or not; ſuch a Liberty was eſſential to him as God; whereas a Creature muſt needs be under the Yoke, aſſoon as it hath any being. Every thing is due from us to God, whether we willingly oblige our ſelves to yield it to him or not; but there is nothing due from God to us, nor can we challenge the leaſt Thing more than he freely binds himſelf to. What God hath not promiſed, we cannot look for; and even that which he hath promiſed, muſt have been deſpair'd of alſo, if it had not been his good Pleaſure to make thoſe Promiſes; for he promiſeth becauſe he will.
4. The goodneſs of God in Conjunction with his faithfulneſs, is his influencing Motive to perform the Promiſes which he bath made, Pſalm 57.3. God ſhall ſend forth his Mercy and his Truth. Mic. 7.20. Thou wilt perform the Truth to Jacob, and the Mercy to Abraham. This lovely Pair of Attributes are a joynt Security to our Faith, that whatſoever God hath declared in his Word, ſhall be indeed accompliſht to us. The ſame Mercy which firſt moved God to expreſs ſuch kindneſs to us, is our warrant to believe that thoſe Expreſſions ſhall be made good to us, whatever ſeeming difficulties and impediments lye in the Way. Everlaſting Mercy is our mighty ſupport in this Caſe, which we are to ſet againſt the Diſcouragement of our daily Sina. Theſe are the moſt likely Evils to hinder and withhold our good Things from us; but theſe Obſtacles are remov'd by Grace, Pſalm 65.3. Iniquities prevail againſt me; (but there is a Remedy for this) as for our Tranſgreſſions, &c. Pſalm 65.3.
5. The Promiſes of God are given forth for Believers to live upon. While they are in this World, they are the Pilgrim's Staff, whereon he is to lean and reſt, as long as he paſſeth the Time of his ſojourning here. They are the Wells of Salvation, from which we are to draw Water in a dry and thirſty Land. The Life which we live in the Fleſh, is not a Life of Enjoyment, but a Life of Faith, and this is the Food which God hath provided for the maintaining of that Life. The Apoſtle ſays, We are ſaved by Hope, but Hope which is ſeen is not Hope, for what a Man ſeeth, why doth he yet Hope for? Rom. 8.24. Heaven is the Place and State of ſight, here we are but Expectants; there they are in Poſſeſſion, but the preſent World is deſign'd for the Exerciſe of Truſt. God is to be our Confidence on this ſide the Grave, and our Portion afterwards. Faith is the Subſtance of Things hoped for, Heb. 11.1. We are to look upon that as preſent, which is in it ſelf Future.
II. To enquire into ſome of the principal Kinds of Divine Promiſes. The Text ſpeaks of All, implying that they are manifold, and of divers ſorts: I ſhall take Notice only of what may be diſtributed under theſe ſix following Heads.
1. There are Promiſes which concern the Preſervation of the World in general, as well as others which reſpect the welfare of thoſe who are choſen out of the World, Iſa. 54.9. This is as the Waters of Noah unto me; for as I have ſworn, that the Waters of Noah ſhould no more go over the Earth; ſo have I ſworn that I would not be wroth with thee, &c. The Promiſe which God here refers to, is as ancient as the Floud; I will not again ſmite any more every living Thing, as I have done, Gen. 8.21. So, I will ſet my Bow in the Cloud, and it ſhall be for a token of a Covenant between me and the Earth, Chap. 9.13. This Promiſe of God is as a Fence or Bank to the World againſt a ſecond Deluge; but this hath its Ratification in Chriſt, for it was made upon God's ſmelling a ſweet Savour from Noah's Sacrifice, which was Typical of Chriſt; and the Rain-bow it ſelf ſeems to be a Figure of him alſo, Rev. 4.3.
2. There are Promiſes which relate to the Church of Chriſt, as an Holy Society, as well as others that concern particular Believers, Mat. 16.18. Ʋpon this Rock I will build my Church, and the Gates of Hell ſhall not prevail againſt it. Whether the Powers of Darkneſs acted by the Devil, or the Gates of Death and the Grave be here meant, it amounts to the ſame Senſe, the intendment of our Lord being plainly this, that he will have a Church in the World to the End of the World; it ſhall never totally periſh from the Earth, but be confirmed in ſpite of its greateſt Adverſaries, and ſurvive them all. This Promiſo, as it was utter'd by the Mouth of Chriſt, ſo it hath its Stability from him; for it becomes the Head to protect the Body, and to take Care that it be not deſtroy'd. He ſitting on the Throne is a ſafeguard to his People, dwelling on the Footſtool.
3. There are Promiſes which belong to the Poſterities of them that believe, as well as others to their Perſons; for God receives, and takes in not only them, but their, Acts 2.39. The Promiſe is to you and to your Children. This is not to be taken ſo univerſally, as if all the Children of Believers were the Children of Promiſe; we ſee the contrary often; many ſpiritual Men are afflicted with a carnal Seed; Grace is not tyed to a lineal deſcent in Religious Families, but only flows down where the Vein of Election runs. However the Promiſes are indefinitely laid down, and may accordingly be urg'd to God by his faithful ones, for thoſe that belong to them, Pſalm 112.2. The Generation of the Ʋpright ſhall be Bleſſed. This hath its Eſtabliſhment in Chriſt, for as he was ſent to Bleſs, ſo little Children particularly were bleſt by him.
4. There are Promiſes which have a Reference to Temporal Things, as well as others that refer to Spirituals and Eternals. This is ſuch a Diſtribution as the Apoſtle makes of them, 1 Tim. 4.8. Having the Promiſe of the Life which now is, and of that which is to come. Some Promiſes do more immediately concern the Body, others bear a Relation to the Soul; ſome reſpect Time, and others Eternity. Both ſorts have their Confirmation in Chriſt; only Temporal Promiſes are fulfilled with more Limitations and Reſtrictions, than the Spiritual are; becauſe Temporal good Things may not be always good for us, but when they are ſo, they ſhall be given. Yea, and in ſpiritual Caſes alſo, we muſt diſtinguiſh between what is indiſpenſibly neceſſary to Salvation, and what is not: For we may want ſome Degrees of Grace, and of Aſſurance, and yet the Promiſe may ſtand faſt.
5. There are Old Teſtament Promiſes, and New Teſtament Promiſes; which do not differ in regard of Matter (for they exhibite the ſame ſubſtantial Mercies) but only in regard of elder or newer Date. There were Promiſes which nouriſht the Faith of Believers before Chriſt's Time; Promiſes made unto the Father, which Chriſt was ſent to confirm, Rom. 15.8. Promiſes which kept the Church alive, till Chriſt appear'd, we have all theſe, with the Addition of many more; we have Line upon Line, Promiſe upon Promiſe, ſince the coming of Chriſt into the World; for the Riches of Mercy are now more plentifully made known, and the Diſcoveries of Grace abound under the Goſpel Diſpenſation; but all this freſh Edition of Promiſes as well as the other, are founded upon Chriſt.
6. There are Promiſes which have been perform'd already, ſome perfectly, other is Part; and there are Promiſes which yet remain to be performed. The promiſed Deliverance of Iſrael out of Egypt, and Babylon hath been accompliſht; the Calling of the Gentiles alſo accompliſht in ſome meaſure, and the Detection and begun Conſummation of Antichriſt; but there are ſtill to come many glorious Things, which are ſpoken of the City of God: The National Converſion of the Jews, a more eminent ſetting up of the Kingdom of Chriſt in the Kingdoms of the World, the repairing and beautifying of Sion beyond the Patterns of fromer Ages, the total and final overthrow of all her Enemies. As to every one of theſe, though yet only promiſed, we may apply that Voice from Heaven, Rev. 16.17. And ſay it is done. That which is Future is ſecur'd upon the ſame bottom, as that which is paſt, was. Every Word of Promiſe from God, whether fulfill'd or unfulfill'd, hath but one Center of Infallibility, viz. Jeſus Chriſt.
III. Why are Divine Promiſes ſaid to be ratified in Chriſt. Upon what accounts does the Apoſtle here pronounce them Yea and Amen in him?
Anſ. For theſe ſeven Reaſons.
1. Jeſus Chriſt acts the Part, and Office of a Witneſs on the behalf of God, who is the Perſon promiſing. God never left himſelf without a Witneſs, for the hath authorized and employed many, in the ſeveral Ages of the World, to bear their Teſtimony to him, and his Bleſſed Truths; but he hath eminently and emphatically given Chriſt to be a Witneſs, Iſa. 55.4. Who does incomparably and infinitely excel al others; for he is ſtiled the Amen, The faithful and true Witneſs, Rev. 3.14. Yea, he is the Truth it ſelf; John 14.6. He teſtifies what he hath ſeen and heard with the Father; an Eye-witneſs, and an Ear-witneſs, Chap. 3.32. An Honour which no Man could aſſume, but the Man Chriſt Jeſus who was in the beginning, and before the beginning with God, who was by him from Everlaſting, and know all that was in his Heart, when there was nothing utter'd by Word, or committed to Writing. He hath manifeſted the Fathers Counſels of Peace, and Commiſſioned his Servants to Report them. Rev. 22.6. He ſaid unto me, theſe ſayings are, &c.
2. Jeſus Chriſt is the Surety of that Covenant, wherein all the Promiſes are comprehended. So he is expreſly call'd, Surety of a better Teſtament, Heb. 7.22. Or better Covenant, which is eſtabliſhed upon better Promiſes, Chap. 8.6. He undertakes and engages for God, that all which he hath Promiſed ſhall be made good to us; he was that Angel of the Lord, that appear'd to Moſes in the burning Buſh, and ſaid to him, I am the God of thy Father, the God of Abraham, &c. Exod. 3.6. He ſpeaks in his Fathers Name, and as a Perſon concern'd to ſee the Contract perform'd. Now as this general Promiſe of God's being our God, is the ſumm of the New Covenant, ſo all particular Promiſes are included in this; for if God be our God, nothing cna be withheld by him, nothing can be wanting to us. And this new Covenant being Written (as it were) and Sealed with his Blood, we are not more ſure, that that Blood was really ſhed, then we are ſure that this Covenant will be punctually kept.
3. Jeſus Chriſt is the Perſon to whom the Promiſes are primarily made. As he is ſaid to be the Heir of all Things, Heb. 1.2. So is the firſt and chiefeſt Heir of Promiſe. The Promiſes were made to Abraham's Seed, which is Chriſt, Gal. 3.16. Many underſtand that Text of Chriſt Myſtical, but I ſee not why Chriſt Perſonal ſhould be ſhut out. However other Scriptures evince the ſame Thing, Tit. 1.2. In Hope of Eternal Life, which God that cannot Lye, hath Promiſed before the World began. We did not then exiſt our ſelves, therefore it muſt be promiſed to Chriſt on our behalf, as the ſecond Adam, the Head of the Election of Grace; for from him 'tis convey'd to us, and belongs to us, no otherwiſe than as we are one with him. Hence we read of the ſure Mercies of David, Iſa. 55.3. i.e. Of Chriſt, as the Apoſtle applies it, Acts 13.34. See likewiſe, Pſalm 89.3, 4. where David is to be underſtood in the ſame Senſe. On this account he is ſaid to receive of the Father the promiſe of the Holy Ghoſt for us, Acts 2.33. If God break Promiſe with us, he muſt be falſe to his Son.
4. Jeſus Chriſt is the firſt and main Thing promiſed. The moſt Ancient and Leading Promiſe had a direct Reference to him; The Seed of the Woman ſhall bruiſe the Serpents Head, Gen. 3.15. And when the Apoſtle had drawn up a Liſt of thoſe famous Worthies that Lived and Dyed, before Chriſt's Time, he ſays of them, Theſe all having obtained a good Report through Faith, receiv'd not the Promiſe, Heb. 11.39. There were ſeveral Promiſes which they did receive, and were poſſeſt of, but the Appearance of Chriſt in his incarnate State, which was the grand Promiſe; they liv'd not to ſee, but dyed in the belief of. Therefore when he came into the World, good Old Simeon, was ſo chearfully willing to leave it; Lord now letteſt thou thy Servant depart in Peace, &c. Luke 2.29. q. d. now I have ſeen the verifying of thy Word in this great Point, I have enough.
5. The Promiſe of Chriſt was a Pledge of the Performance of all other Promiſes. In the Time of Ahaz. one of the worſt of King's, Syria and Iſrael were Confederate againſt Judah, and God bids them not to fer nor be faint hearted, but reſt ſatisfied that they ſhould be deliver'd, and for their Encouragement, ſo as to put their promiſed Deliverance out all Doubt, he gives them a Sign; viz, Behold, a Virgin ſhall conceive, and bear a Son, and ſhall call his Name Emmanuel, Iſa. 7.14. If your Faith can overcome this difficulty, you cannot be tempted to call any thing elſe into Queſtion. God's Manifeſtation in Fleſh, and becoming Man, is the greateſt Thing, that can be lookt for: If this be done, nothing can be left undone. 'Tis impoſſible that any Promiſe ſhould be defeated, if this be accompliſht, as Rom. 8.32. How ſhall he not with him, &c.?
6. The Execution of all Promiſes depends upon Chriſt's Purchaſe. Whatever is promiſed by God, is performed to us for Chriſt's ſake, as the meritorious Cauſe of its actual Conation, Eph. 3.6. That the Gentiles ſhould be Fellow-heirs, and partakers of his Promiſe in Chriſt, by the Goſpel. The Goſpel is the means of our Participation of Divine Promiſes, but Chriſt himſelf is the Procurer of all the good Things held forth in them. We enjoy nothing, but what his valuable Sufferings give us a Right and Title to. 'Tis hy his Death that they who are called, receive the Promiſe of Eternal Inheritane, Heb. 9.15. Terefore the Covenant is ſtiled a Teſtament, which is of no Strength, nor can any of the Things bequeathed in it be demanded, except the Teſtator Dye, ver. 16.17. Though God be a free Promiſer with reſpect to us, yet all that is promiſed is deſerved for us by Chriſt.
7. All Promiſes iſſuing and proceeding from Love and Grace, muſt needs be ratified in Chriſt, and cannot without him. Promiſes are Expreſſions of Favour as threatnings are Revelations of Wrath. Now all the Favour which God ſhews to us, comes Streaming through Chriſt, 'tis the Love where with God hath loved him, which is in us; or exercis'd toward us, John 17.26. He is the firſt Object of Divine Love; the firſt begotten, and the firſt Beloved. The beloved, Eph. 1.6. If God ſhould look upon us out of him, we muſt be the Objects of his Hatred, and he could not ſpeak peaceably unto us. As Joſeph ſolemnly proteſted to his Brethren, concerning Benjamin, Gen. 43.3. You ſhall not ſee my Face, except your Brother be with you; ſo we could not have one Smile, or good Word, or Intimation of any kindneſs from God, unleſs we had Chriſt to recommend us.