A Fathers Testament, Chapter 7
CAP. VII.
Where lies the Portion of Man?
THE Portion, or Inheritance of man, which makes him blessed, lies not so low as the highest creature. His Treasure is not buried in earth, but bagg'd up in Heaven, Luk. 12.33. Heaven indeed is his Store-house, but not his Portion. He that is infinitely higher than the Heavens, (Heb. 7.26.) he whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain, (2 Chron. 6.18.) he, and he alone is mans Inheritance. Man is the great Favourite of Heaven, and of the King of Heaven: and though he were made a little lower than the Angels, yet his Lord most highly advanced him, set the Crown upon his head, crowned him with glory, and honour (Psal. 8.5, 6.) and gave him dominion over the works of his hands. The gift was very great, but not proportionable to the love, or person, of the Giver. Therefore our gracious Lord, after he had bestowed all his creatures upon us to be our servants, gave us himself to be our Lord: (a gift fully, and only answerable to his love) Some service is more honourable than some command: A greater dignity to serve the King, than to command sheep. Whosoever hath tasted how good this Lord is, (Psal. 34.8.) counts all things dung, …nd loss in comparison of his service, Phil. 3.8. They prefer his livery, and the meanest place in his house before their Princely Robes, or any earthly honour? Psal. 84.10. Even in our Creation, when he gave himself to Adam, to be his Lord, he took Adam unto himself to be his Son, Luk. 3.38. therefore formed him after his own Image, Gen. 1.26. And to what higher dignity can the most vast ambition of the Creature aspire, than to be like his Creator, his Son, and Heir?
Now that our gracious Lord offers himself to be our Portion, himself frequently testifies. He often takes upon himself this title, the Portion of his people, Ier. 10.16. & 51.19. their exceeding great Reward, Gen. 15.1. And as frequently his people with glad hearts acknowledge, The Lord is the Portion of my inheritance; The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places, Psal. 16.5, 6. I have a goodly heritage. Thou art my …ortion, oh Lord, Psal. 119.57. Even in the deeps of bitter affliction (when they are drunken with Worm-wood) this upholds, and strongly props them up. The Lord is my Portion, saith my Soul, Lam. 3.15, 24. A portion so full, and sa…isfying, that (even here) the Saints utter…y reject all things in earth, or Heaven as any way accessary, or needful to make up any part of their happiness. Whom have I in Heaven but thee? and there is none in earth …hat I desire besides thee. My heart, and my flesh faileth, but God is the strength o… my heart, and my Portion for ever, Psal. 75.25, 26.
In this Portion lies all the the blessedness of man: which who can more fully assure us, than those blessed Saints, who (filled with his most blessed Spirit) out of their experience, and overflowing joy pour out abundantly such expressions? Blessed is the man whom thou chusest oh Lord, and causest him to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy house: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house even of thine holy Temple, Psal. 65.4. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house; they will ever be praising thee, Psal. 84.4. He is only blessed, and all Nations blessed in him only, Psal. 72.17. Nay himself (our Blessedness) teacheth us. Blessed is the man that hearet… me, watching daily at my gates, and waiting at the posts of my doors; for who so findeth me, findeth life, Prov. 8.34, 35.
Saints sometime, when either they are pressed down with afflictions, or newly lifted up from their earthly burthens, are ready to think, and say, Happy are the people who a… in such a case, (that is) whose garners a…full, whose sheep, grounds fruitful, no lead…ing into captivity, no complaining, &c. bu… they soon reclaim themselves, and upon better thoughts recant: yea, happy is the people who have the Lord for their God, Psal… 144.15.
This will be yet much more clearly manifested, if we look upon God, first as our ful… defence, Secondly, as our full reward. Thu… he Covenants to be unto us, Gen. 15.1. Psal… 84.11. For the first, God is a full, and entire defence to all those who are under hi… protection. They have indeed very many very strong, and subtile, (yet more malici…ous) enemies; some without, some within… but the Lord (their Shield) beareth off from them all their force, frustrateth all thei… spite, and turneth all their mischief to th… furtherance of his people, and confusion o… their enemies. Not an hair of them shall pe…rish, Luk. 21.17, 18. I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee wit… my right hand. Behold they that were incense… against thee shall be ashamed, they shall be as no…thing: As many as strive with thee shall perish… Isa. 41.10, 11. No weapon that is forme… against thee shall prosper; and every tongue tha… riseth against thee in judgement, thou shalt con…emn. This is the heritage of the Servants of …he Lord; and their righteousness is of me saith …he Lord, Isa. 54.17. See it in particulars…
All Adversaries exercise a double enmity, …ither hostile in assaulting, or civil in ac…using. Principalities, and Powers, wrastle …gainst us in a dangerous conflict, armed with …ery darts, and therefore we are charged with an whole armour of God, Ephes. 6.11, …2, 16. 2. They are importunate Accu…ers, Rev. 12.9, 10. Even when God himself …ad not only justified, but so highly commended his servant Iob, that shameless Spirit was not ashamed to tax him for an Hypocrite that served for hire, not love, Iob 1.8, 9, 10. 2. The World is an unreconcileable enemy, warring not only within us (by earthly lusts) Iam. 4.1. but without, persecuting, oppressing, and consuming, Psal. 119.61, 87, 157, 161. 2. Accusing also, and pleading against us by contradiction, slandering, mocking, &c. Psal. 119.23, 51, 69. Lastly, the Flesh warreth against our souls, (1 Pet. 2.11. Rom. 7.23.) and accuseth (Rom. 2.15.) Against all their assaults, all their weapons, and accusations, the Lord is our full protection.
In war there is a twofold defence, 1. Natural, in situation, as impassable Rocks, Mountains, Rivers, Coverts, or Shelters. 2. Artificial, made by hand; and some mor… distant, walls, towers, fortresses; and som… nearer, shields, and other armours. Th… Lord is all these unto his servants, 1. Moun…tains round about them, (Psal. 125.1, 2.… 2. The only Rock (2 Sam. 22.32.) 3. Broa… rivers, where no ship can pass, (Isa 33.21.) 4. A Covert, or hiding place, (Psal. 32.7 & 119.114.) 5. A Wall, and that of fire… (Zech. 2.5.) 6. A Tower, (Prov. 18.10.… 7. A Fortress, (Psal. 18.2.) 8. A Shield … (Prov. 30.5.) a compassing shield, (Psal… 5.12.) like the Cherubims flaming sword, turning every way for our protection. 9. Our Advocate (1 Ioh. 2.1.) to whom all the Saints confidently repair upon all occasions to plead their cause, (Psal. 35.1. & 119.124.) 10. Neither is he only our defensive, but offensive armour also, both Shield, and Sword, Deut. 33.29. He bears down our foes, and plagues them that hate us, Psa. 89.23. In a word he is our Foreward, he our Rereward, (Isa. 52.12.) compassing, and enclosing us with his Almighty arms, as with two invincible Armies.
This is his promise, and the deed fully answers it. Look upon it in some instances. The Lord Covenants with Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob to be their shield. They were few, Pilgrims in strange, and Heathen Coun…reys. What but this Almighty Shield could …ave given them protection? when it was in …e power of Labans hand to have hurt Jacob, …od held his hands, and lips also, Gen. 31.29. …hen he was not a little (nor without cause) …ighted, the Lord made his enemies more …fraid of him, than he of his enemies, Gen. …5.5. when he was to pass by Esau's Coun…ey, God gave him a royal convoy, two …mies of Angels to guard him, (Gen. 32.1, 2.) …elted into tears the bloody heart of his …alicious Brother, Gen. 33.4. In brief when …ey were a few, a very few in number, and …rangers, when they went from one Nation to …other People, he suffered no man to do them …rong, yea he repro…ed Kings for their sakes, …sal. 105.12, 13, 14. David was sometime … the paws of Bears, sometime in the jaws …f Lions, encounters Goliah, but is still safe …nder Gods hand, (1 Sam. 17.) Saul pursues …im, hunts him (1 Sam. 26.18, 20.) watches …im at his house, (1 Sam. 19.11.) com…asseth him about, (1 Sam. 23.26.) sur…rises him in a Cave, (1 Sam. 24.3.) but …ill he is safe under Gods wings. The whole …ountrey opposes one poor Prophet: Kings, …inces, Priests, People, all fight against him, …ut all cannot prevail: and what the reason? …am with thee saith the Lord to deliver thee, …er. 1.18, 19. They smite him, put him in the stocks, (Jer. 20.) they question him fo… his lise, (Ier. 26.) imprison him, (Ier. 32. search for him to kill him, (Ier. 36.) fli… him down into a miery, sinking, and stinking Dungeon, (Ier. 38.) but the Lord is wit… him in the stocks, in prison, in the dungeon his enemies are destroyed, and he delivered. Saints may be stoned, shipwrackt often, i… stripes above measure, in prisons frequent; … death oft, every where in perils, and yet saf… joyful, happy, 2 Cor. 11.23, &c. They ma… be as safe in a Lions Den, as in a Palac… Dan. 6. as cheerful in a burning Furnac… as in a Bed, Dan. 3. The truth is, we ma… have many changes, but he changes not, an… therefore we are not consumed, Mal. 3.6.
And because where so many, and so craf… Adversaries walk about to devour, (1 Pe… 5.8.) and prying into all advantages wa… upon all occasions to destroy us, we hav… need of a good watch to secure us; th… Lord himself sets the watch, (Psal. 141.3…. nay vouchsafeth (in his own person) wh… never slumbers, nor sleeps, to watch an… ward about us, (Psal. 121.3, 4.) and … countermining all their underminings, blow… up all their projects, impregnably fences ou… hearts, and keeps them in his peace whic… passeth understanding, Phil. 4.6, 7.
Object. But is this true? with our eye… we see them (in this World) subject not only to much evil, but often to death it self. Answ. 1. Know assuredly the promise is infallible, and general: No evil shall befall thee, Psal. 91.10, All shall work together for good, Rom. 8.28. 2. Many things are called, and counted evil by carnal men, nay by Saints in their mistaking weakness, which are good. Christs departure in the flesh seemed a great misery to the Apostles, but they were deceived, Iohn 16.6, 7. Even all Saints after their blubberd eyes are cleared, can see good in affliction, and Gods faithfulness in his chastisements, where they feared his wrath, and felt his displeasure, Psal. 119.71, 75. 3. Death is no evil where God hath given Christ to be our Life. Death is ours, (1 Cor. 3.22.) the gate to eternal rest, a sleep in the bosome of Christ, 1 Thes. 4.14. desired by Saints in a godly manner, (2 Cor. 5.2, 4. Phil. 1.23.) and envied us by wicked enemies, Numb. 23.10.
Object. 2. Nay they are not so fenced by their Shield, but that often they receive grievous wounds of spirit, so that they roar for very disquietness of heart, and are led captive by enemies, Psal. 38.5, 8. Rom. 7.23. Answ. 1. There are two sorts of wounds: some of friends, some of enemies; some killing, some healing. A Surgeon will wound, and lanch … sore; nay a Mother. These wounds are as that of Iason Pher…eus, whose enemy intended to kill, but cured him. 2. The Lord our heavenly Physician even by these wounds draineth our surrounding corruptions, and purgeth, our deadly, and hellish filthines…. Peter's fall broke the heart o… his self-conceit, and the stiff neck of his pride, but he lost not one Limb of the new man. Therefore Christ called it Winnowing, or sifting of Wheat, Luk. 22.31. The Corn falls on the Floar, but is cleansed from the chaff, and dross, and so made fit for use. And it is much to be observed that none have been more cleansed, than they who have most sinned. 4. This Captivity is but a… Iabins oppression of Israel; It forces to cry, who shall deliver me? (Compare Iudg. 4.3. with Rom. 7.24.) this cry affects the soul of our Saviour, (grieved for the misery of his Israel Judg. 10.16.) so God arises, scatters our enemies, and we are more than Conquerours in him that loved us, Rom. 8.37.
2. Secondly, As he is a full defence so is he an exceeding great reward; exceeding indeed not only the possibility of our deserving, but the uttermost reach of any created understanding. For as his love is incomprehensible, Eph. 3.19. so his greatness unsearchable, Psal. 145.3. He is only good, Matth. 9.17. abundant in goodness, Exod. 34.6. For as he is the only Fountain distilling all good into all Creatures: so is he an overflowing Ocean pouring out to men (not in drops but) streams his Rivers of living pleasures, and goodness. See Psal. 36.8, 9. They are abundantly satisfied with the fatness of his house, he makes them drink of the Rivers of his pleasures: for with him is the Fountain of life, and in his light we shall see light. Hence it is that his Servants wrapt, and even swallowed up in this torrent with admiration, and exclamation testifie. Oh how great (beyond expression, or comprehension) is thy goodness to them that fear thee, which thou hast wrought for them that trust in …hee, before the Sons of men? Psal. 31.19. Where can we turn our selves but we shall hear …very Creature ready to joyn in consort with …he Saints, and to sing? Thou crownest the year …ith goodness, and thy steps drop fatness: they …rop upon the pastures of the Wilderness, and …he little hills rejoice on every side. The …astures are cloathed with flocks, the Vallies …re covered with Corn, they shout for joy, …hey also sing, Psal. 65.11, 12, 13. How …numerable are the Creatures in the …eaven, Ayer, Earth, Water? and every one …f them proclaim his goodness, being in their Creation Very Good? Gen. 1.28.) and daily by his good Providence, feasted, and filled with good? Psal. 104.28. It is not in vain that Gods Spirit by the Psalmist compares our defence in God to a Shield, our reward to the Sun, Psal. 84.11. A Shield saves us by its own gashes; we cannot be wounded till our shield be pierced. He is afflicted in our affliction, Isa. 63.9. when men tear the faithful (as Psal. 35.15.) they scratch his eyes, Zech. 2.8. He is persecuted in his Members, Act. 9.4. All the wrongs all the stripes, scoffs, derisions, abuses fastened upon his people lite upon him. For he is the shield that bears off all. The Sun is the fountain of light: and not the Ayer only, and every sublunary creature, but even those Luminaries of Heaven have no other Tapers, but what they kindle at his fire. How freely, and plentifully doth that great Light shed his beams not only through the skies, and ayer, but down to the earth, and every earthly Creature; It gilds every weed, and dung-hill: and though it lends so bountifully to all, yet it is self still as full as ever. Such a reward is our Lord unto us. Seeing the… he is first infinitely great and all Nations nothing before him, and to him less than nothing, (Isa. 40.17.) and (secondly) infinitely, and incomprehensibly good, abundantly surrounding the most vast desires in his goodness, commanding us to open our mouths wide, that is, to enlarge our hearts in thirsting, our mouths in asking, and promises to fill them, (Psal. 81.10.) certainly they can want nothing, …o whom he is all things. And this is it which draws out the hearts of his servants to all thankfull acknowledgement: The Lord is my Shepheard, I shall not want: Surely mercy, and goodness shall follow me all dayes of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever, Psal. 23. It is altogether impossible for any Creature to think that God can be any such thing, which can possibly be better'd, or excell'd by any thing, as being a good without limits, which the more we know, and enjoy, the more we esteem and affect: It cannot therefore be denyed that the highest, and only happiness of man consists in the getting, and enjoying him. Hearken then to that sweet invitation of that so often before mentioned Philosopher, and Poet.
Boetius. Libr. 3. Metr. 10.
Come, hither come (poor Captives) you whose minds
…ith dust (cast in your eyes) Lust cheating blinds,
…nd to base earth with willing …etters binds:
Come weary souls, here re…t, here quiet bide,
Come, anchor, here's your Port, here safely ride:
Your guilt in this close Sanctuary hide.
Nor Golden Tagus, nor bright Hemus streams,
Nor India's s…lf, whose womb Sols hotter beams
Fill with rich seed, red, white, green glittering gems,
No sparkling Pearls your quenched snuff can tine:
The more ye cleave to their deceit…ul shine,
The more y' are buried in their Dungeon mine.
Their glistering rayes, which kindle fond desire,
Are earthly, and beget but …atuous fire;
Shine but in night: they rise, and set in mire.
But this Eternal Sun (whose splendour bright
Rules, quickens all, gives you both life, and light)
The eye that wistly views with fixed sight,
Will swear the Starrs, the Moon, the Sun it self is night.
But you will say, How shall we possibly meet? God is in Heaven we on earth, Eccles. 5.2. he of purer eyes than to behold evil, tha… cannot look upon iniquity (Hab. 1.13.) We all an unclean thing, and our righteousness a filthy rag, Isa. 64.6. He higher than the Heavens, Heb. 7.26. we as low as Hell. Observe therefore,