Two Discourses, Section 15 – Application 4
§.
Let us conſider them, next, joyntly, that is, as they are in ſuch a manner wrought apart, ſo as to ſuit and match one the other, when brought together in that manner, as it muſt be ſaid of them. [For this thing hath God wrought us] Yea, and therein it is he hath appeared to be the great God.
For therein, even to wonderment, doth the Glory of God in his Works appear, and that he is wiſe in counſel, and wonderful in working, when he hath hiddenly contrived one thing for another, when as each are in themſelves, and apart glorious. It is ſaid by David of himſelf (and it is true of all men in their meaſure) Pſal. 139. 15. I was made in ſecret, and curiouſly wrought in the loweſt parts of the Earth; that is, in my Mother's Womb, as the context ſhews; which are termed the Lower parts of the Earth, as when Chriſt is ſaid, Eph. 4. to have deſcended into the lower part of the Earth; that is, to be conceived in the Womb of a Virgin; when a Child is born, a lump of fleſh, animated with a Soul, comes forth, curiouſly wrought, &c. but wrought, for what? in David's perſon (in which this was ſpoken) it was for a Kingdom, the ſupremeſt condition of enjoyments in this World. But in every other man (that is born) it is that he was curiouſly wrought, in a fitneſs and capacity to all things that are in this World, made and prepared exactly for it long afore it came into the World; you may ſee it in Adam (our firſt pattern) more lively. God was buſie for ſix dayes in making this World, the Angels all that while ſtood wondring with themſelves, to what end, or for whom all this was prepared. At Job. 36. 7.the end of the ſixth day, they ſaw God to ſet down into the World this little thing called Man; and then they ceaſed their wonderment, for they ſaw all this World (prepared aforehand) ſet in Man's heart, and all in Man curiouſly wrought and fitted for all things made in in this World, richly to enjoy, as 1 Tim. 6. 17. We may apply that in the text, to this, it appeared, That he that hath made Man for this ſelf-ſame thing is God; both works of wonder apart, and yet as fitted to each other: All wonderment exceeding—. I might much more enlarge upon the ſuiting of Chriſt the Head and Husband, and the Church his Body and Wife, wrought and growing up to him in all ages, both apart, ſecretly and hiddenly prepared, and each ſo glorious in themſelves, and yet put together. Let us defer our Admiration hereat until the latter day. Juſt thus it is in fitting the Soul for that glory: and again, that glory in Heaven for that Soul: God works the one for the other apart.—The very ſimilitude in the former verſes do import ſo much; He ſtyleth Glory in Heaven a being clothed upon, and Holineſs here he compares to an under-garment, which that of Glory is to be put over, or upon: There was never a curious Artiſt in making Garments that ever took meaſure of the proportions of an upper and under Garment, to fit the one to the other, as God hath in proportioning his work upon us here, and his preparation of Glory for each of us in the World to come: He hath took exact meaſure, and his Law is (that deſigned his own workings on both hands aforehand) that every man ſhall receive his own reward according to his own labour, 1 Cor. 3. 8.
Now the Artifice of God in both theſe lies in this, That each are hiddenly contrived apart, and yet ſo gloriouſly matcht as wrought one for the other; which is an argument as of two Artificers, the one in the Eaſt-Indies, the other in the Weſt; ſhould the one make the Caſe, the other make the Watch, unbeknown each to other, and both Workmanſhips of the higheſt curioſity in their kind, and when both brought together they exquiſitely fit the one the other.
§.
And what? Have I been telling you all this while an artificial pleaſant Story? Doth not this Scripture tell the very ſame? For a cloſe, do but now at laſt take a view and proſpect of our Apoſtle's whole Diſcourſe. The Round and Circle whereof begun at chap. 4. ver. 16. and endeth with my Text; and do you not find it ſpeak (to uſe the Text's Language) the very ſelf-ſame thing?
1. He tells us there of an inward Man renewed, whilſt the outward is a periſhing, to the end it may live and ſubſiſt alone, when the body is wholly diſſolved; (there he lays his Foundation) And is not this all one with what the Text ſayes? God works Us (theſe Souls) day by day: Even as the Child is curiouſly wrought in the Womb, to ſubſiſt of it ſelf alone in this World, ſo this inward Man in that other.
2. He then immediately ſubjoyns, v. 17. That all Afflictions (which are nothing elſe but the Periſhings of this outward Man) as alſo All things and diſpenſations elſe that do befal us, they are ſecretly, at work too, all that while; ſo ſet to work by God (who works the inner Man daily unto ſuch a meaſure of Grace) and theſe, to work, and by his Ordination procure a proportionable Weight, (for God works all theſe things in Weight and Meaſure) our light Affliction works for us a far more exceeding and eternal Weight of Glory,—as ſhall in a comely and in the exacteſt manner, anſwer and ſuit that curious Workmanſhip on the inward-man; and it is obſervable that the ſame Word for (working) is uſed in that verſe that is uſed in my Text: but yet theſe are but outwardly a work, as inferiour Artificers or Inſtruments: Therefore,
3. He further declares, verſe 1. of this Chapter, that God himſelf is at work about this Glory, who as the Maſter-workman, that hath the draught and platform of all afore him, drawn by his own deſigning, he viewing the inward work on us, the outward work of means and diſpenſations; and knows afore-hand what degree of holineſs to bring us ultimately unto, he according unto theſe, as patterns, is a framing a Building for us in Heaven, exactly ſuited to the working of all the other; which building he prepares and makes ready for this inner Man, to entertain it when the body is diſſolved: If our earthly Houſe were diſſolved, we have a Building of God, an Houſe not made with hands, of either Men or Means, or of our own Graces; but of God. But every Soul hath a State of Glory proportioned to all theſe, ready built for it againſt this time; even as Statues in Stone are framed and carved, to be ſet up in ſuch a curious Arch framed for them by the Builder. Now then,
4. Add but the Words of my Text, which is the cloſe of this his diſcourſe: And it opens all the Scene, He that wrought us for this ſelf-ſame thing, is God. The Apoſtle's Concluſion anſwers his beginning; he began in chap. 4. ver. 16. and the circle ends in my Text. And this is God, who is wiſe in working, and wonderful in counſel.
§.
But there is a third point yet remains.
Doctrine III.
That it is the intereſt and engagement of all Three Perſons to ſee to it, that a righteous ſeparate Soul be brought to Glory at diſſolution.
And this carries it yet higher, even to the higheſt, and gives the moſt ſuperabundant ſecurity and aſſurance of this thing that can be given, and ſuperadds above all the former.
But you will ask me, How I fetch this out of my Text? Thus:
1. You ſee here are Two Perſons expreſly named, God [the Father] namely, and the Spirit. That's a Rule, that where the name God, and then ſome beſides other of the Two Perſons, Chriſt or the Spirit, are mentioned therewith, as diſtinct; There God is put perſonally (not eſſentially only) to expreſs the Father. Now here the Spirit, or holy Ghoſt, is mentioned diſtinct from God; For it is ſaid, That this God hath given the Spirit; which alſo Chriſt ſo often ſpeaketh of the Father, as I need not inſiſt on it.
2. It is another Rule, that in any Scripture where Two Perſons are mentioned, as concurring in any thing, or matter; There the other Third Perſon alſo muſt be underſtood to have his ſpecial ſhare therein alſo; as when he wiſheth Grace and Peace from God the Father, and from Jeſus Chriſt; 'Tis certain the holy Ghoſt is as ſpecially underſtood; as indeed we find him in that Apoſtolical Bleſſing as diſtinctly ſpoken of, as the Father, or Chriſt. Thus it muſt be here, Chriſt muſt be taken in, who alſo in John is ſo often ſaid to give the Spirit, when the Father gives him, as it is ſaid here he hath, For this ſame thing.
But 3. You have even Chriſt alſo not far off intereſted in this ſelf-ſame thing, in the next verſe, and ver. 8. Abſence from the Lord, whilſt in the body, ver. 6. and preſent with the Lord, when ſeparate from the body, ver. 8. This Lord is Chriſt; the Phraſe of the New Teſtament concerning Chriſt runs in this ſtile, To be with Chriſt, This day with me—To be where I am, and ſee my Glory: So Chriſt. To be with Chriſt is beſt of all, and we ſhall be ever with the Lord. So Paul.
Uſe I.
Doth God work Us for this thing ere he brings us to it? What hath God wrought hitherto upon Thee or Thee, in order to this end? 'Tis a blunt queſtion, but the Text puts it in my mouth: How many Souls are there living in the profeſſion of Chriſtianity, that know not what this means, to have a work wrought on them (anew upon them) over and above what moral Honeſty (which was Nature's portion) and the common profeſſion of Chriſtianity adds thereunto, by cuſtom and meer Education. An honeſt Turk profeſſing alſo and obſerving the Principles of his Religion, upon the ground of his Education onelyonly (and a Religon every Man muſt have) will as ſoon go to Heaven as Thou; for all thy Religion is founded but upon the like Foundation that his is. I tell thee, that Chriſtian Religion is not a thing ſo cheap; nor Salvation by Chriſt at ſo low a rate. Thou muſt have a Work upon thy Soul ſuited unto all the Truths, thus profeſſed in the power and efficacy of them. They muſt enter thy Soul by a ſpiritual Faith and Frame, and mould it anew to a likeneſs to them. Carry home therefore the Caveat our Apoſtle hath put in ver. 3. If ſo be that being clothed, we be not founded naked of Grace and Holineſs wrought, and Chriſt's Righteouſneſs by ſpiritual efficacious Faith applied, (Faith in earneſt) bowing the Soul to be obedient unto Chriſt, as heartily and as honeſtly, as it expects Salvation by Chriſt, as without which thou wilt never be ſaved. This is our Religion; and when at death thy Soul (thy poor loneſome Soul) being ſtript of all things in this World; even the Body and all, ſhall come afore the great God, and Jeſus Chriſt, what will the enquiry be? as Mat. 22. 11. When the King came in to ſee the Gueſts, he ſaw a Man had not the Wedding-garment; he ſpied him out: And the Man was ſpeechleſs, ver. 12. Take him and bind him, (ſays he) and caſt him into utter darkneſs, ver. 13. The other that were clothed, were admitted unto the Marriage; and, (as the Pſalmiſt, the words of which are here alluded unto) She was brought unto the King (the very Title which in both theſe places is given to Chriſt: ſee ver. 11.) in Rayment of Needle-work, and this clothing is of God's working; and ſo my Text falls in with both: There is no admiſſion unto Chriſt without it—This the firſt Ʋſe.
Uſe II.
Hath God began to work this good work in thee? he will perfect it: whereof the Text gives this aſſurance, that he hath wrought it for this thing, that is, for this end, and God will not loſe his end: Beſides, he ſays he hath given earnest.
Uſe III.
Thou Saint, be content to live, for whilſt thou livest, thou art under God's working in order unto Glory. Value life; 'tis a ſeaſon of being wrought upon: And to be ſure, thou ſhalt live no longer, than whilſt God is ſome way or other a working this. What an advantage is it, that all thy ſins, occaſioned by living long, ſhall ſurely be forgiven, and nothing of thy ſcore be uncut off for thee, but all the Righteouſneſs that is wrought upon thee, and wrought by thee, (and therefore wrought by thee, becauſe upon thee; for, being wrought upon, we work, and all is Acti agimusrather, God hath wrought us, than that we have wrought) All thy righteouſneſs (I ſay) ſhall remain for ever. All the time 2 Cor. 9. 9.thou remaineſt in this life, thy Soul is ripening, or maturing for Glory.
How great a comfort is that? In explicating the Doctrinal part, I gave Inſtance of a Child in the Womb curiouſly Pſal. 139. 15.wrought all that time, in order to its living and ſubſiſting afterwards in this World. 'Tis a dark place, the Womb which the Child is wrought in; and it lives there in a ſtifled condition, it cannot breath, it takes nouriſhment but at the Navel, (a way invented and prepared of God meerly for that ſeaſon) it lies boiling, toſſing and tumbling, and ſleeping away the moſt of its time, and gives now and then a faint ſtirring, to ſhew it is ſtill alive; and it is a life ſcarſe worth the name of life: Well, but all this is a being wrought and fitted to live another, freer, and braver life in this Word. And this is your preſent caſe, your life is hid, it is to come; all that you find in this World, is but [that God hath wrought you for the ſelf-like thing] And if this Child we ſpeak of ſhould be forced out of the Womb afore the due time, it would have the more imperfect life in this World: So here, if you could ſuppoſe a Saint ſhould die afore the full birth of his Soul's being wrought on—Therefore be content to wait God's leiſure until your change ſhall come.
Uſe IV.
No matter what befals thee, ſo it works towards this end; let whatever be, ſo thou findeſt God to go on with this deſign, that he works upon thy Soul; be it upward, in communion with himſelf, or downward, in diſowning thy ſelf, thy vileneſs and corruptions, ſo it works. Thou haſt afflictions that break thy heart, (as reproach broke Chriſt's Heart, ſayes the Pſalmiſt in his name) no matter, ſo they work upon thy Soul. Know then, they are ſet awork by the hand that ſent them, to work a far exceeding weight Phil. 3.of Glory for thee: If by any means (ſays Paul) no matter what, ſo the work go on. A Carver comes with his Chiſſels, and cuts off this piece, and cuts in to that part of the Stone: No matter; a ſtately Statue bearing the Image of ſome Perſon of Honour, is to be ſet up for perpetuity, and is accordingly a framing: So though God carves his Image out of thy fleſh, no matter. Comfort thy ſelf, and think not much at any condition, whilſt (as St. Paul ſays) it turns to thy Salvation. Phil. 1.Election ſent thee not into this World to have a great Name (perhaps God will load it) nor to be rich, or to have Power, but to work thee for this ſelf-ſame thing; and if thou ſeeſt that Plough a going (though it makes deep furrows on thy back, yea heart) yet ſo, that this ſeed be ſown therein, rejoyce, for thou ſhalt bring thy ſheaves with thee. For my ſelf, ſo that I find Election purſuing its deſign, of making me holy, and bleſſing me with ſpiritual bleſſing in heavenly places, (as Eph. 1. 4.) I care not (I would not care) what befals me in this World.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Goodwin, Two Discourses (1693)