The Nature and Principles of Love, Sermon 3
PSAL. 92. 12.
The righteous ſhall flouriſh like the Palm-tree. He ſhall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon.
VVE ſee commonly that oppoſites, either perſons or things, being laid together, illuſtrate and ſet off one another. (To touch at no other things in this Pſalm) Here are two of the greateſt oppoſites in this world laid together, and they do wonderfully illuſtrate each other.
The oppoſites are, the Wicked and the Righteous. And indeed, thoſe two divide the whole world.
The ſtate of the wicked, is ſet down at the ſeventh Verſe, They may ſpring as the Graſs, they may flouriſh. But what's the iſſue of it? It is that they ſhall be deſtroyed for ever. They ſhall ſpring, but they ſhall ſpring▪ but like Graſs, which is Green for a while, and quickly withers.
Now the Righteous at this twelfth Verſe, (For I ſhall not enlarge further upon the ſtate of the wicked; but only to ſet off the ſtate of the Righteous.) The Righteous ſhall flouriſh too. But how? Not like the Graſs, but like the Palm-tree. And indeed, they ſhall abide for ever: whereas the wicked, they ſhall be deſtroyed for ever.
Who the Righteous are, I ſhall not ſtay to ſpeak of at large.
They are ſuch as are righteous in their ſtate, being in the righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt.
And they are ſuch as are righteous in their courſe, and in their life, walking anſwerably to ſuch a ſtate.
Theſe Righteous ones ſhall flouriſh. They ſhall not only Live and Continue, but they ſhall have a flouriſhing life. David ſaith, Mine enemies live, and are mighty. 'Tis true, they do ſo for a time, many times. The Righteous live, and they have a mightineſs too. For they flouriſh.
And how do they flouriſh? Not as the Graſs, but as the Palm-tree.
I ſhall only open that a little, and touch only upon one point, from the Paralel. They ſhall flouriſh as the Palm-tree.
The Palm-tree is an excellent tree, and the praiſes of God are often reſembled by it: Nay, they are ſaid in the Revelation to have Palms in their hands. And they are ſhadowed by the Palm-tree, in the Prophecy of Ezekiel, Chap. 40. 31. in the deſcription of the New Jeruſalem.
Now when it is ſaid, They ſhall flouriſh like a Palm-tree: We muſt conſider how the Palm-tree flouriſhes.
The Palm tree, (only to touch that) is the Date-tree, that's the Palm-tree. And ſo the Meeter, or Singing Pſalms expreſſes it. There it is rendred thus,
The Juſt ſhall flouriſh up on high,
As Date-trees bud and blow.
Now there are five things which are obſerved in the Date-tree, I ſhall name them all, but ſpeak only a little to one to carry on this point of the flouriſhing of the Righteous like the Palm-tree.
Firſt, The Date, or the Palm-tree grows in the pureſt ſoil: it will not grow in filthy places, in dungy places, but it loves a very pure ſoil. And thus the Righteous flouriſh: They flouriſh in a very pure ſoil: for they are planted in that which is the pureſt ſoil of all: They are planted in Chriſt: They grow in Chriſt; and they grow in the Church, which is a pure ſoil. They are planted in the houſe of God, as it follows in the Pſalm. Not in the world, the unclean and polluted world, which lyes in wickedneſs, and ſmells like a dunghill, but in the Garden of God. And,
Secondly, The Palm-tree is a Tree whoſe branches do ſhoot all upwards: there's none grow out of the ſide, as other Trees have. And thus the Righteous flouriſh as the Palm-tree: their affections are ſet upon things above: they grow up Heaven-ward. They do not ſhoot out their branches this way, or that way to the world, but all to Heaven. So it is while they act according to their ſtate.
Thirdly, The Palm-trees are thoſe Trees which are alwayes green: Green in Winter as well as in Summer. It doth not caſt its leaf, nor fade; as the expreſſion is in Pſal. 1. 3. The godly man is like a Tree planted by the Rivers of Water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his ſeaſon, His leaf alſo ſhall not wither. They hold up their profeſſion: they are green, not only in the Summer of proſperity, but in the very Winter of adverſity; and maintain their verdure, and their beauty in the hardeſt times.
Fourthly, The Palm-tree is a Tree that doth not only keep its greenneſs, the beauty of its leaves; but it is a Tree that is full of fruit; and that good fruit, pleaſant fruit, ſweet fruit. a kind of Cordial fruit, which you know the Date is. The Righteous have the greenneſs of a profeſſion: and beſides that, they have the fruitfulneſs of their Converſation; and 'tis pleaſant fruit, fruits of Righteouſneſs, fruits of Faith, fruits of Love, the fruits of the Spirit. They are fruitful Trees, ſuch a one as the Palm.
Fifthly, (Which I ſhall a little inſiſt upon.) They flouriſh like the Palm-tree. It is ſo far noted, that it is made an Emblem. The Palm-tree doth grow up, when it is moſt preſt down. When there are the heavieſt weights hung upon the Palm-tree, then the Palm-tree riſes up higheſt. It grows higheſt, when it is (as it were) kept down. Thus it is with the Righteous; they flouriſh like the Palm-tree: And that's the Note that I ſhall give you, and ſpeak a little to.
DOCT. That Righteous perſons, ſuch as are righteous in their ſtate, in a juſtified ſtate; and Righteous in their courſe, walking in holineſs, they do improve and grow under greateſt preſſures. When they meet with the greateſt preſſures in the world, they thrive and grow Heaven ward.
This only I ſhall ſpeak a little to. When the world would cruſh the Righteous, preſs them down to the earth, yea, preſs them down to Hell if they could, yet like the Palm-teee, they grow up more and more.
It is ſaid of the people of Iſrael, who were the Church of God in Exod. 1. that when Pharaoh put weights upon them, the weights of very heavy oppreſſion; when he ſet over them Task-maſters to afflict them with their burthens at ver. 11. it is ſaid ver. 12. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplyed and grew. This was juſt like the Palm-tree. Pharaoh burthened them, but they multiplyed and grew. And ſurely we are to underſtand this, not only of their multiplyplying in number, but of their multiplying in goodneſs too, or their increaſe in goodneſs: they multiplyed and grew (Doubtleſs there is that ſenſe in it) not only that they had a greater company, and more fruitful as to the production of perſons, but that they were more fruitful in their lives. And that's it which hath been ſaid of the Church at all times, when under preſſures and burthens. Saith One, They were bound, they were beaten, they were burnt, and yet they multiplyed and increaſed. And doubtleſs, it was with the twofold increaſe I ſpake of before. The more perſons were added to the Church; and thoſe perſons that were added, advanced more in wayes▪ of Grace, in wayes of Holineſs. And ſo that other ſaying of the Antients upon this very point; That the blood of the Martyrs was the ſeed of the Church. It was like ſeed indeed, and it brought forth, as the ſeed ſpoken of in Matth. 13. The good ſeed falling upon good ground, brought forth, in ſome thirty, in ſome ſixty, in ſome an hundred fold. This is flouriſhing like the Palm-tree. And that we find in Dan. 11. 35. And ſome of them of underſtanding ſhall fall. Shall fall! How? Shall fall into the hand, and under the hands of perſecuting Tyrants; they ſhall fall into trouble; like that in the Proverbs, The Righteous falleth ſeven times a day. That is, he falls often into trouble, yet God helps them up again. Now ſaith he, ſome of them of underſtanding; that is, of a ſpiritual underſtanding, of a holy underſtanding: they ſhall fall into afflictions: for them of underſtanding, we may explain it by Dan. 12. 10. None of the wicked ſhall underſtand, but the wiſe ſhall underſtand. The godly wiſe, they ſhall underſtand. Now of theſe men of underſtanding: Many ſhall fall: Well, what ſhall be the effect of it? To try them. That's the Firſt.
And not only ſo, but to purge, and to make them white. To purge out their corruptions, and to make their Graces very conſpicuous. You ſee the improvement they made of their afflictions and ſufferings for the truths of God: and that in Zach. 13. 9. teaches the ſame thing. I will bring the third part through the fire: through the fire of perſecution. And what, ſhall they be burnt there? No, ſaith he, I will refine them as Silver is refined, and will try them as Gold is tryed: and they ſhall call on my Name, and I will hear them, I will ſay, it is my people; and they ſhall ſay, The Lord is my God. Thus they ſhall grow up in the actings of their faith to an aſſurance. Faith ſhall come to an appropriating act; they ſhall ſay, The Lord is my God. And when? Even when I bring them through the fire. I will refine them ſo, that their faith ſhall be exceeding tranſparent: and they ſhall ſay, The Lord is my God. And we know what the Apoſtle Paul found by the ſufferings which befell him; and in him the Church of God, Phil. 1. 12. ſaith he, I would you ſhould underſtand, Brethren, that the thing which happened unto me—Why, what things were theſe that hapned to Paul? What was it ſome great preferment, (as we ſay) ſome great Benefice, ſome great honour? No, the things that befell him, were troubles and afflictions; Bonds, as he doth expreſs it in ver. 13. Now ſaith he, Theſe have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Goſpel. How, to the furtherance of the Goſpel? Why, becauſe perſons by this affliction upon me, which threatned them alſo; and 'tis like took hold of ſome of them: why, ſaith he, They waxed confident by my bonds, and are much more bold to ſpeak the Word without fear, ver. 14. They grew up like the Palm tree; they grew to a confidence. They were not only honeſt and faithful, but they were confident and bold. They had not only integrity for Chriſt, but a great increaſe of ſtrength for Chriſt; and all upon his ſufferings: They flouriſh like the Palm-tree. And that in Rom. 5. will reach it too: ſaith he, We glory in tribulation, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope. Why, tribulation did not hinder their Graces, but did further them. Tribulation did work patience. It ſeem's to be a very ſtrange ſting. Tribulation doth exerciſe patience indeed: But how? It did work patience, or make them more patient: for that's the meaning of it. Now it ſeems very ſtrange, yet thus it doth. And then Patience experience, and experience hope. Here's a flouriſhing, and a growing up in all Graces, even in a time of tribulation. And it's the ſame thing that we have too in 2 Cor. 4. 17. Our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. That is, it works us into a greater fitneſs for glory, the afflictions that are upon us. We grow more up into Heaven, more into glory. Our hope doth (as it were) riſe up into glory by our affliction: And this is flouriſhing like the Palm-tree. Affliction will make us the fitter for Heaven: they will make us better than we were, and ſo fitter for Heaven, fitter for glory. Grace improved is very near to glory. Thus we ſee how the Scripture holds out this thing, that the righteous flouriſh as the Palm-tree. They are bettered, and made fitter by their afflictions for glory.
I will give you an account in ſome grounds of it, why it is ſo, how it comes to paſs.
Firſt, The preſſures and weights that are upon the Righteous from the world, do wean them from the world, takes them off from the world. Why now the love of the world, and cleaving to the world, and deſires going after the world, are a mighty impediment to our growth in grace, to our flouriſhing in the world. You ſee what's ſaid in Matth. 13. the cares of the world, the pleaſures of the world, the deceitfulneſs of riches, choke the Word, and make it become altogether unfruitful. And truly the love of the world, and purſuit of worldly things, do exceedingly hinder grace in the fourth Ground, in thoſe that are truly godly, it is a great hindrance to them till they get their hearts mortified to the world, and weaned from the world. Now certainly the preſſures that we meet withal in the world, are an exceeding great means to take us off from the pleaſures of the world, and the profits of the world. We are mortified to the world: as Paul ſaith of the Croſs of Chriſt, Gal. 6. 14. God forbid that I ſhould glory in any thing ſave in the Croſs of Chriſt. What's the Croſs of Chriſt? Why, the ſufferings which I have for Chriſt, the weights which are laid upon me for Chriſts ſake. What was the effect of this? Why, whereby I am crucified unto the world, and the world unto me. Now when the ſoul is delivered from this world, this evil world, it muſt needs flouriſh up to the other world.
Secondly, By the afflictions and troubles we meet with in this world, we get much light, and grow into a clearer knowledge of thoſe things which makes for our increaſes Heaven-ward. It hath been antiently ſaid, That affliction gives underſtanding; and the School of the Croſs, is the School of light. Light comes in while we are in the School of the Croſs. And indeed there is a fourfold light doth come in to us while we are under the Croſs, and under ſufferings. A light,
Firſt, Which diſcovers more to us the vanity of the world, than ever we ſaw before, and the baſeneſs of the world, and the wickedneſs of the world: and this is a great advantage to us. And,
Secondly, A light to ſee more of of the Mind of God, and of the Word of God. So David in Pſal 119. 71. It was good for me that I have been afflicted, for thereby I have learned thy Statutes. Saith he, learned them? I have more of thy Statutes, and I have learned every Statute more. There hath come in a clearer light into my ſoul now by my afflictions. A ſtate of affliction is in it ſelf called in Scripture, A ſtate of Darkneſs: it is a time of darkneſs: and yet it is wonderful, that out of this Darkneſs there comes a light; a ſpiritual light: ſo that we ſee more of the Word of God, and of the wonderful things of the Law.
Thirdly, It muſt needs follow, that by affliction we have a clearer light to ſee the worth of grace, and of an intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt, what an excellent thing that is. And then,
Fourthly, A clearer light to ſee the excellency of Jeſus Chriſt himſelf. As of an Intereſt in Chriſt, ſo of the perſon of Chriſt, how glorious, how choice a one Jeſus Chriſt is. I do but touch this now: By affliction a light comes into the ſoul: Upon all theſe, or upon other accounts, we muſt needs improve Heaven-ward, and grow up like the Palm-tree. In 2 Pet. 3. 18. ſaith the Apoſtle, Grow in Grace. Why how ſhould we come to grow in grace? Why ſaith he, And in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. In proportion to our growth in the knowledge, in the true knowledge; I ſpeak not of a notional knowledge, a meer brain knowledge, but of an experimental knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt. As we increaſe in this knowledge, ſo we increaſe and grow in grace: and ſo of the reſt. As we grow in the knowledge of the vanity of the world: as we grow in the knowledge of the Word of God; as we grow in the knowledge of the worth of grace, and of an intereſt in Chriſt; as we grow in the knowledge of the excellency of the knowledge of the Perſon of Chriſt, ſo we muſt needs grow in grace. Now then, the Croſs and affliction giving us an advantage for all theſe things, you ſee the ground of it. And then,
Thirdly, The weights and preſſures which are upon theſe Palm-trees, upon the Righteous, they do draw them more into their own hearts, to converſe more at home, to ſearch themſelves more, to be acquainted more with their own boſomes, and this will make us flouriſh, and grow upwards: for indeed the reaſon why we grow up ſo little in acquaintance with Chriſt, lyes much in this, becauſe we grow ſo little in acquaintance with our ſelves. Now in an afflicted condition (if ever) the ſoul is upon its return to it ſelf. In Lam. 3. when the whole Church was in that ſad condition, under thoſe grievous weights of Captivity, and all manner of trouble they were in: ſay they, Let us ſearch and try our ſelves. Come, now let's go in to our ſelves; let us ſearch for our corruptions; ſearch for our luſts, which lye in the ſecret corners of our hearts; let us ſearch our ſelves, and let us ſearch how it is with us as to Grace; what faith we have, what love we have, what patience, and ſo of the reſt. Indeed, afflictions do put us upon this ſearch of our ſelves, to find out the ſtate of our graces; how it is with us, what condition they are in, how they fare. Now this the troubles we meet with in the world, give us an advantage for, and ſo an advantage of ſpiritual growth, of growing Heaven-ward, as the Palmtree. And then,
Fourthly, Theſe afflictions and preſſures we have from the world, drive us nearer to God. As to a more acquaintance with our ſelves, ſo to a more acquaintance with God, and more communion with Chriſt. They do (as it were) force us to Chriſt, when the world deals ſo unkindly with us. Many times when the world is kind to us, ſail with us, and flatters us, and huggs us, and embraces us, we begin to forget, and to ſlight communion with Jeſus Chriſt; and to ſay as they in Jer. 2. We are Lords, we will come no more at thee. It is ſpoken of the people of Iſrael, when they were in a very flouriſhing condition. I, but when they were ſlaves, and in captivity, and in a ſad condition, truly then they ſaw reaſon to come to Chriſt, to come to him by prayer. The very Mariners in Jonah, when they were in the ſtorm, every one went to his God. Iſa. 26. In their trouble they have viſited me. To be ſure I ſhall hear of them then, In their affliction they will ſeek me early. It is ſo in evil men, much more is it ſo in the righteous, and in thoſe that have walkt with God▪ If they have had a conſtant communion with God and Jeſus Chriſt in a time of peace and proſperity, ſurely in a time of preſſures they have much more communion with him. Now this muſt needs cauſe the ſoul to increaſe and flouriſh. For the nearer we are to God, the more we have of God, and receive impreſſions from him; as Moſes, when he was with God in the Mount, his face did ſhine. But in times of outward peace, and when all is well, O we are very ready to neglect communion with God.
Fifthly, Laſtly, While the righteous are under weights and preſtures, like a Palm-tree, they have a ſpecial promiſe of the preſence of God with them; and this is that which makes them flouriſh indeed. It is not our being in affliction, which will make us better, and make us grow Heaven-ward; but it is Chriſt being with us in affliction. It is Gods manifeſting himſelf to us in affliction which makes us grow, and flouriſh like a Palm-tree. Now I need not ſtay to tell you how many promiſes there are of the ſpecial preſence of God to his people while they are under the Croſs, that in Iſa. 43. 2. When thou paſſeſt through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the Rivers, they ſhall not overflow thee; when thou walkeſt through the fire thou ſhalt not be burnt, neither ſhall the flame kindle upon thee. I will be with thee. And truly the preſence of God with us, it is not only for this end (Though that be there expreſt) that we ſhall not be quite ſwallowed up, that the water ſhall not drown us, nor the fire conſume us; but that the fire and water ſhall not conſume us as to our ſoul ſtate. That we ſhall not ſuffer loſs or detriment in our ſpiritual ſtate, by being in the fire or water; but that we ſhall increaſe there, and grow there. So in 1 Pet. 4. 14. If ye be reproached for the Name of Chriſt, happy are ye; for the Spirit of Glory and of God reſteth on you. It doth not only come to you, and viſit you, but it reſts upon you. Now when the Spirit of God is, eſpecially when the Spirit of God reſts, and doth abide, there muſt needs be a growth, and an increaſe in our ſpiritual ſtate. But ſo it is, while we are under theſe afflicting diſpenſations, when the weights are upon us, we have promiſes of more of the preſence of God, and of the preſence of his Spirit, and of the reſting of his Spirit; and therefore we ſhall flouriſh, flouriſh ſpiritually, flouriſh in our inner man: That may ſerve for the clearing of the Point, That the Righteous flouriſh as the Palm-tree, under weights and preſſures.
Application. Firſt, This may confirm us in a twofold Scripture-truth.
Firſt, That there is no wiſdom, nor counſel againſt the Lord. That's a Scripture aſſertion, which receives a mighty confirmation by this point. Prov. 21. 30. This point doth mightily confirm it. Why, what's the Counſel, what's the purpoſe of the world, when they hang their weights upon the Palm-trees, upon the righteous, what's the meaning? You ſhall underſtand their meaning: when the firſt weights that we read of in the Scripture were ever hung upon theſe Palm-trees, in the place before quoted, Exod. 1. 10. Come on, ſaith he, Let us deal wiſely with them. The Wiſe man ſaith in the Proverbs, There is no wiſdom, nor counſel againſt the Lord. Well, ſaith he here, Let us deal wiſely with them. To what purpoſe? Why, ſaith he, Leſt they multiply. We will keep them down; keep them down, that their perſons multiply not; and we will keep them down too, that their Graces multiply not. Truly this is the deſign of the Counſels of men, in hanging their weights upon the Palm-trees; and ſo it hath been all along in the ſufferings of the Church. What hath been their wiſdoms? They thought by their ſufferings to keep down thoſe truths which they profeſt, which it may be they call'd Hereſie: As Paul ſaith, After the way which you call Hereſie, ſo worſhip I the God of my Fathers. Hereſies, they thought to ſuppreſs them as Errors and Hereſies.
And they thought again to diſcourage the profeſſors: yea, they thought not only to diſcourage them in matters of truth, of faith and worſhip; but they thought to turn them quite aſide; to make them renounce it, to forſake it, to apoſtatize, to backſlide, to deny the faith. This is the thing which they have had in their eye, in all the preſſures which they have laid upon the people of God from one time to another, to ſtrip them of their faith, and to ſtrip them of the truth; to break them in the things of God. Now I ſay, this is their Counſel. And mark what the Scripture ſaith, There is no wiſdom, nor counſel againſt the Lord. They thought to hinder them in all theſe things, to ſuppreſs the truth, to diſcourage the profeſſors of the truth, and to cauſe them to turn away, and to deny the truth. But they have fail'd in it: for they multiplyed; and the truth multiplyed; and they flouriſht more by the weights and burdens that were upon their backs. So that we may ſay in this caſe, as the Prophet Iſaiah, Chap. 44. 25. That the Lord turns the Counſels of the wicked hackward. Turneth wiſe men backward: that is, their wiſdom which they have been exerciſing, that hath produced a quite contrary effect to what they intended: they thought to hinder the truth; and they have been rather a furtherance to it, as Pauls word is in the firſt of the Philippians. Theſe things have hapned to the furtherance of the Goſpel, which they thought ſhould have ruined the Goſpel. And this indeed is ſo notorious, that the enemies of the Goſpel have been forced many times to acknowledge, and to confeſs it with grief, That the righteous have flouriſht like Palm-trees. In Exod. 1. 12. when it is ſaid, the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplyed and grew. And what follows? And they, that is, the Aegyptians, were grieved becauſe of the children of Iſrael. We ſee we cannot bring them down: their Counſels went quite backward. And you have the like in John 12. 19. The Phariſees when they had done all that they could to hinder the peoples receiving of Jeſus Chriſt, they ſaid among themſelves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? Behold, the world is gone after him. You ſee they were fain to make an acknowledgement of this thing their own ſelves. We have been labouring to ſtop the progreſs of this man, but we find it quite otherwiſe; we prevail nothing at all. Not only, not much, but nothing. And behold, the world is gone after him. He will get all the world ſhortly, they multiply ſo faſt. So that we ſee from this, the truth of the Scripture, that there is no Counſel againſt the Lord.
And it may give you a further confirmation by way of Inſtruction, concerning that great truth, in Rom. 8. 28. All things ſhall work together for good to them that ſerve God, and are the called according to his purpoſe. All things work together for good. What things? Troubles, afflictions, preſſures, burdens which are laid upon them, they work for good. Why, this is one of the greateſt goods that can be, to have grace flouriſh and grow. Faith and Humility, and Love to Jeſus Chriſt, if one increaſe in theſe things. What is worthy the name of good, in compariſon of an increaſe of theſe things. That's one thing we may take notice of from it.
Secondly, We ſhould be hence raiſed up in our hearts, to magnifie the power, wiſdom and goodneſs of God, who doth thus over-rule theſe things for his people: for certainly this doth declare the wonderful work of God. In Iſa. 28. where he hath a notable Allegory, and ſpeaks of the troubles and ſufferings of the faithful people of God: For all that that is ſpoken of the Plowman, and of the Threſher, and of the bruiſing of the Corn with threſhing Inſtruments, they do reſpect affliction and troubles which come upon the people of God, (as is clear.) But now, ſaith he, in the cloſe of that Chapter, This alſo cometh from the Lord of Hoſts, which is wonderful in counſel, and excellent in working. We may wonder at the counſel and wiſdom of God, who doth his people good by threſhing them, and bringing the wheel over them. Here are ſeveral ſorts of afflictions and ſufferings, ſome leſſer, and ſome greater. Now all this is but to ſeparate the good ſeed from the chaff, and to make it more fit for uſe: for while the Corn is in the ear, it is not fit for uſe, and we cannot make bread of it untill it be threſht. Now the Lord hath ſeveral wayes to do it. But ſaith he, This cometh forth from the Lord of Hoſts, which is wonderful in counſel, and excellent in working. Truly we may ſay, How wonderful is the counſel of the Lord! How excellent is his working, that he makes the Righteous to flouriſh like the Palm-tree; to grow upwards, by that which one would think ſhould bring them down! As when we ſee the Corn laid at, and threſht with a Flail, one would think there were great hurt intended to the Corn; but it is only to ſeparate it from the chaff, that it may appear in its own beauty and uſefulneſs. So the Lord hath a flail of tribulation, to ſeparate the Chaff from the Wheat. Thoſe acts of Providence towards Gods people, which ſeem to be for their hurt and undoing, when they are threſht as it were by the world, it is only to make them appear what they are. That which we find in Pſal. 69. 22. concerning the wicked, by that we may obſerve the wonderful difference, and dealings of God with the wicked, who flouriſh as the Graſs, and the righteous. David ſpeaks there of ſuch, and ſaith he, Let their table become a ſnare, and that which ſhould have been for their welfare, let it become a trap: that is, the Lord doth curſe their Comforts. By Table, he means the good things upon their table: when they have a full table, a plentiful table. And ſo all outward proſperity, ſaith he, it ſhall be a ſnare to them. And that which ſhould have been for their good: that is, that which in the nature of it is for their good, It ſhall be an occaſion for their falling: they ſhall grow more hardned by it, more proud by it, and more impenitent by it, and more ſtrangers to God by it. But now when the Lord ſpeaks of a righteous man, here the thing which was appointed for his ſnare, as the troubles and perſecutions which lye upon him in the world, ſhall be a table to him; his very ſnares ſhall be a table to his Inner man, where his Graces ſhall come and feed, and grow fat, and flouriſh, and increaſe. The things which the men of the world have deviſed for his falling, they ſhall be to him an occaſion of good. This is wonderful, and we are to bleſs the Lord for it, when we find ſuch effects of it: when we ſee it ſo in others, or have any experience of it in our ſelves, that our afflictions do not ſnare us, but are a table to our Graces. That's another thing, to give God the glory of it; for it is not in the nature of theſe things to do it. No, things would work quite otherwiſe, but that God is wonderful in his Counſels, and excellent in his workings towards his people: they would rather drive us from God, and deſtroy our graces.
Thirdly, Seeing it is ſo, that righteous ones do flouriſh as the Palm-tree, then when any weights of affliction, either perſonal or publick, or perſecution, or whatſoever are upon any of us, let us mind the purpoſe of God towards us. Let us not think that he comes to hurt us, but to make us grow and flouriſh like a Palm-tree. Let us mind this, and joyn with God in this Counſel, in laying ſuch things upon his people: Let us joyn with God, and promote the Counſel of God in our own hearts and lives, and in the hearts and lives of others, that they may be bettered by their ſufferings, and be encouraged by their ſufferings, to believe more in God, and more for God, than ever they were. God doth not intend us hurt, but good by it; and ſo we ſhould find it, if we were wiſe to joyn with him in his Purpoſes.
Fourthly, And then I would ſay yet further, This may be matter of Tryal to us. We may take a tryal of our ſelves, both as to the ſtate of our perſons, and as to the ſtate of our graces.
Firſt, As to the ſtate of our perſons: Why, how is it with us under ſufferings? Do we improve by them? Do we grow, do we flouriſh, though we have theſe weights upon us? Why, truly it is an argument and evidence that our ſtate is good: for a bad man is not made the better by the evils that are upon him. I know God may uſe afflictions to change a man; but unſound hearts, they that have been unſound and falſe in the profeſſion of the Goſpel, they do diſcover themſelves in ſuch a time, ſhew their rottenneſs, and their naughtineſs. And it is a very great queſtion, whether they that are not bettered by afflictions, were ever good. Though I would not ſpeak it to lay a trouble upon any. Our betterings ſometimes under afflictions, is not very dicernable, at leaſt at preſent. But I ſay, it may put us much upon a doubt▪ whether we, or any were ever really good, if we are not bettered by afflictions, and by tryals, and by the troubles that are upon us, and by our fears, and by our dangers.
And likewiſe, we may hence have a great tryal, as to the ſtate of our graces, whether our graces are in good plight, yea, or no. For indeed, if faith be down (and the like) we ſhall make little improvement of all our afflictions and croſſes. If love to Chriſt be down, we ſhall rather be upon the loſing ſide. But now if we find that we are increaſed, and are growing and flouriſhing in ſpirituals, when the weight and preſſure is upon us, it is an argument that our graces are in a good ſtate: and grace is in a good ſtate when it thrives, and thrives by ſuch means, as ſeem rather for the quenching of grace, and the hinderance of grace; and therefore truly we ſhould conſider our ſelves at this day: for certainly the Palm-trees are now with their weights upon them, and many have diſcovered themſelves ſadly as to their perſons, ſtates, and the ſtate of their graces, that they have very little love to, and faith in Jeſus Chriſt, becauſe they have not flouriſht in ſuch a day; but rather have declined, and withdrawn, and been aſhamed of what they have formerly been. And therefore let us remember that which the Apoſtle ſpeaks in Heb. 12. ſpeaking of afflictions, which are ſufferings for Chriſt, (that's taken in the Chapter) not only thoſe afflictions, which are fatherly chaſtiſements from the hand of God; but thoſe which are from men, for righteouſneſs ſake. Certainly that is the purpoſe of God; it is all for our profit. Therefore let us conſider, whether we profit, yea, or no. We have had Fathers of our fleſh which corrected us; and we gave them reverence: Shall we not much rather be in ſubjection to the Father of Spirits, and live? Submit to the will of God, if he will lay any tribulation upon us for his Name ſake; for he hath done all for our profit. What profit? For the profit of our purſes, and eſtates in this world? No, for a better profit than all that; for our profit, that we might be made partakers of his holineſs.
And truly that is another thing, with which I ſhall conclude. We ſay this, That we have no reaſon to be impatient under afflictions and perſecutions, under the troubles we meet with in this world for the Name of Chriſt. Why? for they are for our profit, for our growing; and that we may be made more partakers of the holineſs of God: That we may be better while we live, and fitter to dye, and to glorifie him both living and dying.
And thus I have only toucht theſe things, That the Righteous do flouriſh like the Palm-tree, with their weights and preſſures upon them.
FINIS.