Directions and Instigations to the Duty of Prayer, Sermons · Sermon 9
SERMON IX.
Micah 6. 9.
The Lords voice cryeth unto the City, and the man of Wisdom shall see thy Name, hear ye the Rod, and who hath appointed it.
IT is not much though a Christian be put in a furnace hot seven times more then ordinary, if one in the form and likeness of the Son of man …alk up and down with him in the furnace. Is it …ot Christs presence which makes a wilderness …ike the garden of the Lord? Is it not Christs presence which makes afflictions pleasant? Is … not Christs presence which makes a crown of …horns a crown of joy? Is it not Christs pre…ence which makes heaven pleasant? And must … not be Christs presence that must make earth pleasant also? I confesse, disertion under the cross is one of the most sad and afflicting dispensations which a Christian can meet with: bu… however, ere long there will be a blessed exchange of cups; that in stead of the cup of bitterness, which is presented to a Christian t… drink (while he is here below) he shall have … cup of the eternal consolations that is above presented to him from the hand of the Lord.
I think a Christian may be poor in possession, but rich in hope. I think a Christian may no… have much, as to his sensible enjoyments, bu… may he not cast up his eyes unto the eterna… inheritance, and cry out, yonder is my portion, i… that land are my lines cast. There are these fou… things that I would say unto you before I com… to the words.
The first thing which I would have you taking notice of, is this, there are three thing… which a Christian may meet with which ar… unspeakable. First, sometimes a Christian may meet with an unspeakable sorrow so that he cannot make language of it, because of the anxiety of his heart, but is forced to cry out tha… word, my stroak is heavier then my groaning. Secondly, A Christian may meet with an unspeakable mercy, he may meet with such a mercy and token of love from the hand of the Lord, that i… he were put to it, he could not make languag… of it, he could say no more to the commendation of his mercy but this, What shall I sa… more? he hath spoken it, and himself hath done it.
Thirdly, A Christian may meet with an unspeakable joy, he may be brought to that cas… and condition that he cannot make language o… his joy, according to that word, 1 Pet. 1. 8 Believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and ful… of glory.
Secondly, I would have you taking notice of this, that it is exceeding much of the concernment of a Christian to believe and close with this truth, that there is not a grain weight of …ffliction in his cup, which infinit wisdom doth not think fit should be there, and which infinit love did not put there: To know and rest upon this, that infinit wisdom and infinit love was …t the mixing of the cup, (and his tender heart will carve no more out to us then we are able …o hear) this is an help to patience.
Thirdly, I would have you taking notice of this, I think there are some Christians that is forced to blesse God more for their crosses than for their mercies, & that they have been forced … their darkest nights to cry out, It is good for me that I have been afflicted.
There is this fourthly which I would have you taking notice of, that the crosse of a Christian, it hath two faces, an outward face, and … inward face, and the outward face of the …osse seems oftentimes the most unpleasant, …ut O if a Christian could win to see the inside of his crosse, He might sit down by the River of Babel, and there pen songs of praise to God, even praise for this that he hath been afflicted; O it is comfortable to the Christian that Christ hath gone to heaven by the way of the cross, that his blessed feet hath troden that way, and that his precious lips hath drunk of that cup.
But to come to the words, we told you, that there was five things in the words to be considered. First, that here was an excellent ex…ortation given to the people of Israel and Samariah, which in short is this, Hear the voice …f the rod, and who hath appointed it; and from this exhortation ye may take notice of these five things. First, That every cross and sad dispensation which a Christian meets with, it hath a voice and language in it, therefore sayes he hear the voice of the rod, as if he had said, take notice what the Rod sayes, and what it cals for from you. The second thing to take notice of from this command and exhortation is this, that it is the duty of a Christian to observe & give obedience unto what the Rod speaks a… cals for; therefore is the command given forth hear the voice of the rod. The third thing that we take notice of from this command is, that there is a great unwillingness in persons to hear what the Rod speaks, and therefore the command is put home, hear the voice of the rod. Fourthly take notice of this, that the voice of the Rod, and the voice of him that hath appointed it, are one and the same very thing therefore these two are knit together, hear the voice of the rod, and of him who hath appointed it. There is this lastly which we would have you taking notice of from this command and exhortation. It is a great point of spiritual widsom for a Christian to take up and hear the voice of the Rod, therefore it is said, the man of wisdom shall see thy Name. It is not every man that can take up what the Rod speaks, it is only the man that is indued with much heavenly wisdom from God.
Now as for the first thing that we spake from the words, viz. That every rod which a Christian meets with, it hath a voice in it. Before I speak to this, I would have you to take along these considerations.
First, It is a singular and most remarkable step …he good will of God, when he doth manifest the …eaning of a rod to a person or a people. Job …3. 16. He openeth the ears of men, and sealeth …heir instruction, which is brought in as a singu…ar favour from God, that is, he makes them …o know what the rod speaks, Elihu puts such … note of mercy upon this, that he thinks it … …p to delivery from the rod, He delivers the …oor from affliction, how is this, that he opens their …ars, and seals their instruction? it is, when God makes a person to take up the meaning of the Rod, for when he makes them to understand …he voice of the Rod, it is half a delivery from …he Rod, do you not know this, that when the …se of a disease is known it is half healed? So when the end that God hath in sending rods, is known and taken up, we may say it i… half …emoved.
Secondly, The Christians of old hath taken much pains to know the voice of the Rods that they meet with, as i… clear from, 2 Sam. 21. 1… where the land of Israel being three years under famine, David went and enquired the cause of that Rod, and it is likewise clear from Job. 7. 20. where Job is exceeding desirous to know why God set him up at a mark for his arrows, and that he was become a burden to himself.
Thirdly, We would have you to take notice of this, that it is exceeding anxious for a tender Christian to be under a silent Rod, to be under such a dispensation that he knows not the language of it, this is clear in Job 3. 23. where Job makes this the capestone of his sorrow, that his way was hid, that is, he knew not what was the reason of Gods contending with him after such a way, as likewise it is clear in Job 10, 2… where Job is put to propose that question to God, Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me?
The fourth Consideration, that we would have you taking along with you, is this, It … exceeding hard for a Christian to profite by a Rod till once he take up the meaning of it, and I shall give you these three grounds, why it is so hard for a Christian to profite by a Rod till he know the voice and meaning of it: First, Because it is hard for a Christian to win to submission to the Rod, till he know the voice of it, it is the knowledge of the meaning of the Rod that makes a Christian cry out, I was dumb and opened not my mouth: Secondly, Because as long as the meaning of the Rod is hid from a Christian, he knoweth not what remedy to go about to deliver himself from that Rod, but when he knoweth the reason of Gods contending with him, he hath a clear way before him how to win out from the crosse. Thirdly, This is the reason why a Christian cannot profite by the Rod till he know the voice and meaning of it; he cannot win to a solide closing with this …ruth, that God is in the Rod, till he win to …he knowledge of the voice of the Rod in some measure; there is nothing will help a Christian more to cry out, God is in the Rod, than this, his knowing the reason of Gods contending with him.
There is this fifth Consideration that we would propose, a Christian may be long under a Rod before he know the voice and language of it; we conceive this is clear in 2 Sam. 21. …, 2. where the land of Israel is under three years famine before David could take up the reason of Gods contending with them: It is not to be supposed but David had made frequent supplications to God for understanding the meaning of that Rod, and yet there are three years interveening before he can know it.
The last Consideration that we would propose unto you, When a Christian wins to take up the voice and language of the Rod, he ought not to delay, but presently go about and answer it, this is clear in the practice of David, when he knew the reason of Gods contending with him he immediately sets about to remove it. I confesse it is a fault amongst many, they are more desirous to have their crosses removed then to have their crosses sanctified unto them; some prayeth to have the bitterness out of the crosse, more than to have the bittenesse of … removed out of the crosse.
Now in speaking to the first thing in the words, viz. That every Rod and Dispensation of God hath a voice and language in it: I shall speak a little to these four things. First, How a Christian may win …o take up the meaning of the Rod in particular afflictions. Secondly, I would speak a little to some mistakes in taking up the voice and language of such a Rod and afflicting dispensation. Thirdly, I would speak to this, how a Christian may be helped to give obedience to the voice of the Rod. Fourthly, I shall speak a little to eight or nine special voices which the Rod oftentimes hath; As for the first of these, viz. how a Christian may win to take up the meaning of the Rod and sad Dispensation, I shall prescribe unto you these six wayes.
First, Be making serious application to the throne of grace, that God would give you light concerning such a Rod; This is remarkably clear in that instance in Gen. 25. 22. where Rebecca being under such a particular Rod, and she knew not Gods way in it, therefore she went and enquired of the Lord, and she received a particular and distinct answer to her case; and it is also clear in the practice of David, 2 Sam. 21. 1. Israel being under a Rod of famine, David went and enquired of the Lord concerning the meaning of it, and he met with a distinct answer: And this is likewise clear in Job. 10. 2. where Job being in the dark, concerning the meaning of the Rod, he desires that God would show him wherefore he contends with him. I will tell you seven sad cases which a Christian may be put to, of which Christ is an excellent resolver: The first case which a Christian may be put to, which Christ hath exceeding good skill to resolve, and it is that, Song 1. 7. Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flocks to rest at noon, &c. When a Christian knoweth not where Christ is feeding, to go to him, he will sweetly resolve that question, for ye may know this, a Christian may be brought to these two steps of disertion. First, Christ may be gone, and secondly, ye know not in all the world where to finde him, as in Joh. 20. 13. in that instance of Mary, and in Job 23. 3. Job hath not only lost God, but also he knoweth not where to finde him. The second case which Christ hath exceeding good skill to resolve, is this, Who is the Lord that I may believe in him? That case or question which the blind man was put to, Joh. 9. 36. O will not Christ sweetly resolve that question, Is there any person that hath this question, Who is Christ that I may believe in him? The third case or question which Christ hath exceeding good skill to resolve, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternall life? Is there any here that is put to that question? go to Christ, and he can sweetly solve it you. The fourth question which Christ can best resolve, is that question which Paul had, What wilt thou have me to do? The fifth case in which it is best to go to Christ to get it resolved, when a person is brought to this strait, I know not the mind of the Lord, go to God and humbly ask, O why am I thus? There is this sixth case, and it is Job 7. 20. I have sinned, and what shall I do to thee, O thou preserver of men? When thou art put to this case, Christ can answer it sweetly thus, Only acknowledge thy iniquity. The last case which Christ can sweetly resolve, is in the word before the Text, Wherewith shall I come before the Lord? If thou be put to this question, no answer can be given unto it but this, The sacrifices of the Lord are a broken a contrite heart. Now this is the first way how a Christian may win to know the voice and meaning of the Rod, even to make serious supplication to God that hee would make known to them his Name.
There is this second way, by which a Christian may win to know the voice and meaning of the Rod, if the Rod was timed to thee when thy heart was under much distance from God, that probably is the meaning of the Rod, It is good for thee to draw near to God; or if the Rod be timed unto a Christian when hee is much taken up in pursuit after the things of the world, and if thy Rod tryst thee when thou art under much formality in going about duties. then by all appearance that is the voice of the Rod to thee, to stir up thy self to take hold on God: So if a Christian would win to know the meaning of a Rod, let him compare his present frame with the timing of the Rod unto him.
The third way how a Christian may win to know the voice and meaning of the Rod, is by reflecting on the manner and circumstances of the Rod; for this is certain, the sins of a people or person may be engraven on the Rod in very legible letters, so that he that runs may read them: There are sometimes that the Rod doth preach our sins so plainly, that we need not to interpret it; this is clear, Judges 1. 6, 7. there is such a relation betwixt Adoni-bezek's judgement, and his sin, that he might read his judgements, as he did his sins in his stroak; saith he, Threescore and ten Kings having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table; as I have done, so God hath requited me, &c. For now was he taken prisoner, and his thumbs and great toes cut off: and it is clear from that word that Solomon hath, Prov. 21. 13. He that stoppeth his ear at the cry of the poor, he shall cry, and God shall not hear him. Zach. 7. 13. Therefore it is come to passe that as he cryed and they would not hear, so they cryed and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts: Where ye may see a divine proportion and analogy betwixt the Rod and the sin.
The fourth way how a Christian may win to know the voice and meaning of the Rod, and it is by observing what hath been the mind of the Lord, and what he called for from his people in Scripture, when they were put under such a Rod and anxious dispensation: Search what was Gods mind to the godly in Scripture under such a Rod, and by all appearance it is yet his mind in the same crosse, according to that general rule, Rom. 15. 4. For whatsoever things were written afore-time were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
The fifth way for a Christian to win to know the meaning of the Rod, is to be much in observing the circumstances of the Rod, there may be circumstances in a Rod by which a Christian may win to exceeding much light concerning what is the Lords mind by such a Rod: It is known the observing of the circumstances of a Rod will help a Christian to these three things. First, That such a Rod is from the hand of the Lord. Secondly, That God in the midst of wrath remembreth mercy. Thirdly, It will help a Christian to know the voice and language of the Rod, sometimes in the crosse it self, a Christian cannot read love, and yet in the circumstances of the crosse he may win to read very much love.
There is this sixth and last way how a Christian may win to the knowledge of the voice and meaning of the Rod, and it is to be considering that all the Rods and dispensations which a Christian meets with, hath one of these three ends. First, The Rod is either sent to a Christian that he may mortifie his predominant idols. Or, secondly, for exercise of his predominant grace. Or else thirdly, that he may be put to the exercise of that which ought to be his predominant duty: These are voices and languages of the crosse which a Christian meets with. And I would only by the way say these two things to you. First, It is easier to bear a Rod patiently which is for the tryal and exercise of our predominant grace, than to bear a Rod patiently which is for the mortifying of our predominant idols, there is no Rod which a Christian can bear worse, than the Rod which strikes at the root of his predominant idols; so a proud man he can bear any crosse better nor reproach, and a worldly minded man can bear any crosse better than poverty, so the cross which stands in direct opposition to our predominant idols, we have great difficulty to bring our hearts to a patient submission under it, are there not many that when their idols are stricken, they cry out with that man in Judg. 18. 24. They have taken away my gods, and what have I more? Is it not certain that when God strikes somtimes at the root of our predominant idols, we cry out with Jonah, That it is better for me to die, than to live? Though I may say, the crosse which we have least will to meet with, is ordinarly best for us: For (if so we may speak) our will and our well are seldom or never knit together; but precious Christ, his will and our well are oftentimes knit together. Secondly, I would say this by the way, There are ordinarily some Analogy betwixt our cross and our sin, if the Egyptians did kill all the male children of the Israelites by casting them into the River, God doth likewise kill all the first born into the land of Egypt, and if Nadab and Abih… offer strange fire upon Gods altar, he will consume them with fire from heaven; and if the Sodomites be taken up with the fire of lust, God will bring down fire from heaven and consume them.
Now the second thing which we promised to speak a little unto, was to some mistakes which Christians have concerning the meaning of the Rod.
And first, many thinks (indeed) the crosse speaks wrath when it speaks love, and some when they cannot read love in the hand of God, they think it is impossible to read love in his heart, some thinks that love and the Rod cannot be together at all: I say, God may never love a person more nor when he is correcting him. But first, I would say to a person under that mistake, we never know by any of these things whether love or hatred belongs to the person that is afflicted; For all things happen alike to all, as it happens to the fool, so happens it to the wise man, to the righteous even as to the wicked. Secondly, I would say this to the believer that is under this mistake, he reads wrong that reads wrath onelyonly upon the crosse, for it is certain, love is written in dark characters upon it, and the spirituall man he may read them: Hence it is Heb. 12. 5, 6. We are commanded to remember the exhortation th… speaks unto us, as unto sons: My son, despise not thou the chastnings of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him, for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
The second mistake concerning the meaning of the crosse, is, some thinks God can never answer their prayers so long as he is plag…ing them, according to that strange divinity, Job 9. 16. If I had called, and he had answered me, yet would I not believe that he had hearkned unto my voice. So this is the mistake, all the answer of their prayers are nothing, if God be contending with them.
The third great mistake concerning the meaning of the Rod, is when persons begins to dispute their interest when they meet with such a Rod and sad dispensation, and when they do not (indeed) see what is the reason of Gods contending with them: When he puts them in the furnace, presently to fit down and reject their confidence, and cast away their hope, this is certainly a great mistake of the meaning of the Rod.
The fourth great mistake of the voice and language of Gods threatning Rod, is for a person to think Religion but van…iy and an empty thing under the crosse, a Christian may be brought to this: Now I would not give a plack for godliness, it is nothing worth at all: as is clear from Psal. 73. 13. when he takes notice, He was plagued every morning, and the wicked was in prosperity about him, he cryes out▪ verily I have washed my hands in innocency, and cleansed my heart in vain: Yea, it is hard for a person not to cast at Religion when God is contending with him, O it is hard to have a great respect unto the wayes of godlinesse under the crosse.
There is this fifth mistake under the crosse, and it is to dispute the fellowship a Christian hath with God, according to that word of Gideon, Judges 6. 13. If the Lord be with us, how then is all this evil come upon us? The Christian will cry out, I cannot reconcile Gods heart and his hand; I cannot reconcile love in God, and his being with me, and this cross and Rod.
Now thirdly, I would speak a little to this, how a Christian may be helped to obey the voice of the Rod, and we conceive if you will take along these things with you, ye may be helped to obey what the rod cals for at your hands.
And first, then if the rod call for the mortifying of such a particular lust and idol, it is encumbent for you presently to sit down and bring up your hearts to a spiritual detestation of such an idol, that if God be punishing you for your idols, ye must subscribe a bill of divorce to them, and cry out, What have I any more to do with idols? and say to them, Get you hence, and cast them away to the moles and to the bats.
There is a second way or help how a Christian may win to the obedience of the voice of the Rod, and it is, if the voice of the rod be for the mortifying of such an idol, I intreat you sit down & study the disadvantages of such an idol, and study also what hazard there is by keeping thy soul constantly knit to it, that when the voice of the Rod is this to thee; O quite such an idol, or such a Delilah, thou must then study to know what it is to thy disadvantage to keep such an idol, and what it is to thy advantage to quite it: I confess there are some that their idols are mortified to their light before they be mortified to their affections; yea, there are some, they have a constrained mortification, their idols are mortified and die to them before they be mortified to their idols.
Thirdly, If the voice of the Rod be this, stir up such a grace, and be much in the exercise and practice of it; then I say, study to know that there is as much spiritual advantage in the real and spiritual exercise of such a grace, as ye can lose by all the Rods ye can meet with. Is it not certain that Job gained as much spirituall advantage by the exercise of his faith, and of his patience; yea, much more than in losing all the things which he lost? if a Christian once knew that his riches consisted in the exercise of his grace, there would not be a rod sent for the tryal and exercise of his grace, but he would take it chearfully in his arms.
The fourth way how a Christian may be helped to win to obey the voice of the rod, and it is, If the voice of the Rod be for the tryal of thy predominant grace, & for the exercise of it, then, I say, consider this, that the tryal and exercise of thy predominant grace by the Rod it shall have (if it be sanctified) a glorious and excellent issue and peace, it is the Rod that hath most noble advantages that is immediatly errected for the tryal of thy predominant grace.
The sixth way how a Christian may win to obey the voice of the Rod, and it is, If the voice of the rod be that thou should set about the exercise of such a duty, then endeavour seriously that all impediments and lets to that duty be laid aside; as if the crosse call for the exercise of faith, or if the cross call for the exercise of prayer, then I say, remove all things which may be impediments to hinder thee from the exercise thereof, or from the exercise of …aith: Leave (as it were) thy servants and thy asses at the foot of the mount, and go thou up and sacrifice all thy idols and lusts.
The seventh and last way how a Christian may be helped to win to obey the voice of the Rod, If the voice of the rod be to be much in the exercise of such a duty, then study to have the luster of that duty, and the beauty thereof commended unto thee. O but prayer is a thing which doth much good to us! I think this is the reason why God hath contended with many; he would make duties sweet to them, and he would make sin bitter.
Now the fourth thing that I shall speak a little unto, is to what ought to be a Christians duty while he is walking under a silent Rod, and knoweth not the voice of it; and I would give you these five di…ctions how a Christian should carry himself under a silent Rod.
First, he would know God to be just, though hee knoweth not for what he contends with him.
Secondly, he would be serious in making supplication to God, to know the distinct meaning of such a Rod; I confess sometimes we take the rod to be silent, because wee cannot hear the voice of it; but oftentimes the silence of the rod is from this, that wee know not the voice of it, and we hear it not though he speak to us in an …dible language, but if a Christian be under a silent Rod, it becomes him then to go to God with this, I have sinned, I will do so no more, shew me wherein I have offended.
There is this third direction which I would give to a Christian under a silent Rod, he would be serious to know what is the reason of Gods keeping up his mind from him in such a Rod; I say, when the rod is dark, and the crosse is silent, it is suitable then to say, What is the reason of this that God doth not let me understand the voice and language of the Rod? I confesse there may be sad things hinted at when God puts a Christian under dark and dumb crosses, however although it be so, I think it is good for us to be walking submissively in the dark, for hee will guide the blinde in the way that they know not; sometimes it is better for us to have dumb and silent crosses than to have a speaking crosse.
The fourth direction, The Christian would study to bring his heart to a tender and spirituall frame; for sometimes our not understanding the voice of the Rod, it is because we are no… spiritual.
Lastly, I would give this direction to the Christian who is under a dark and silent crosse, study at that time to have thy heart most united to Christ, for at that time thou is most ready to fall: O that is a time when the devil fishes most, because that is the Christians drumly water (so to speak) O it is known, the devil never gets any advantage over a Christian so much as when he knows not the meaning of the crosse! I confesse the devil will tell you a false meaning of a crosse, he can interpret the language of a crosse after another way th… God doth interpret it.
Now being to choose our discourse, I shall name these eight or nine Observations concerning the crosse, which I would have you taking notice of.
First, When a Christian doth first meet with a crosse, he may be patient and submissive under it, and yet if the threed of the affliction be spun out to any length, hee may turn impatient. I confesse it is not much the first day that the crosse meets with us to be patient; but let the crosse ly on us, then we will cry out, why is it that God deals thus with me? this i… clear in the practice of Job, when first he met with the crosse he could take it in his arms, and cry out, The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be His Name. But let the crosse ly a little while on Job, then he will cry out, I choose strangling and death rather than life: A green wound is half whole (as we use to speak) but let once our wound begin to feaster, then we will be impatient.
The second Observation which we would have you to take notice of concerning the crosse, There are five sorts of blasphemy which one that is under a crosse may fall into. First, He may fall into that blasphemy of calling God unjust, according to that word, Ezek. 18. 25. Yet yee say the way of the Lord is not equal, &c. The second sort of blasphemy is, when we call God unfaithful; according to that strange word, Jer. 15. 18. Wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail? O do wee not think that God is not half so good as his word under the crosse? The third sort of blasphemy is, when wee call God weak; there are sometimes we are brought to that, Is there no balm in Gilead? and is there no Physician there? my stroke is grievous, and my wound is incu…able. Sometimes when wee are under the crosse, we think it is above Gods power to set us free from it. The fourth sort of blasphemy which a man may have under the crosse, and that is, when he chargeth God with chang…blenesse, I think Christians under the …rosse, are like men first going to Sea, when …hey go first out from the Haven or by a Rock, they think that they are standing still, bu… the land beside them is moving, stirring; so when first we come under the erosse, we think God is changeable, but wee are still the same. The fifth sort of blasphemy which one may have under the crosse, and that is, when he chargeth God with forgetfulnesse; you know that forgetfulnesse is the property of an ingrate man and O if you call God ingrate or unthankfull you may call him any thing, I confesse, I thin… Christ forgets nothing of a Christian but hi… wrongs.
The third Observation concerning the cross… is this, It is a speaking evidence of the want of Son-like frame, if the crosse do hinder us in th… exercise of duties, I confesse little proficing u… der the crosse, speaks this much, that either w… are not sons, or have not a son-like frame, so these who are the Lords children, when folly bound to them, the Rod of correction drives away: there are many of us in our afflictio… are of Ahazs frame, we sin more and more … our afflictions.
The fourth Observation which I would gi… you concerning the cross, is this, there are fo… things which a Christian would take up conce… ning his crosse. First, He would take up … speakable wisdom in his crosse. Secondly, … would take up unspeakable love therei… Thirdly, He would take up unspeakable justi… and holinesse in his crosse: And fourthly, … would take up these great advantages that fl… eth to him from the spiritual use-making … his crosse. Some Christians, they can read w…dom, justice and holinesse on a crosse, befo… they can read love upon it, but however it good to take up all these four in the crosse…, and did dispensations which you meet with.
There is this fifthly which I would say concerning the crosse, there is not a crosse and sad dispensation which a Christian meets with but it is a gift and royal donation sent by the hand of Christ to him; there are some they look upon the promises as gifts, but I say to thee, thou must look upon thy crosses as gifts also, Philip. …. 29. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suf…r for his sake: And there are some likewise that look on their sensible enjoyments, but not … their crosses as gifts. I say if once a Christian win to know that the cross is a gift, he wol… …ikewise win to patience under the crosse.
The sixth Observation concerning the crosse, …ere are some peaceable fruits of righteous…esse that redounds to a Christian which is …ightly exercised under the crosse, Heb. 12. …1. Now no chastening for the present seems to be …, but grievous, neverthelesse it yeeldeth the …aceable fruits of righteousnesse unto them which … exercised thereby. I say sometimes the Rod … a Christian is like Aarons Rod, it will …ud …d blossome in a night and bring forth plea…t fruit.
The seventh Observation is, the most …re …joyments of a Christian are trysted to the …e of his being under the crosse, When was that Jacob saw the Angels of God descending … ascending upon that ladder? was it no… …hen he was forced to ly in the open field? …en was it that these three Children saw Christ …he likeness of the Son of man? was it not …hen they were in the furnace, when it was not seven time… …ore then ordinary? When was it that John g…t such a vision of God? was it not when he was the Isle of Patmos for the Testimony of Christ? When was it that Ezekiel saw the visions of God? was it not when he was sitting by the River Chebar in the land of his captivity? And when was it that Stephan saw the heavens open and saw Christ standing at the right hand of God? was it not when they were stoning him to death for the Testimonies of Jesus Christ? I say the most remarkable enjoyments of a Christian are trysted under the crosse: According to that word of the Psalmist, To the righteous there ariseth light in darknesse.
The eight Observation that we would propose concerning the crosse, Oftentimes God tristes joy to a Christian under the crosse, when a Christian is beginning to lose his hope, and all things (as it were) growing dark about him then doth sight arise unto him: According to that wonderfull and strange expression, Zech▪ 14. 7. At the Evening time it shall be light, whe… there is more appearance of darkness coming on Yea, even at that time it shall be light; Is … not certain, a Christian hath been sitting dow… at the midnight of his afflictions, crying ou… My hope and my strength is perished from th… Lord, and yet the Lord hath said to him eve… by his dispensations, thou art a lyar? have w… not sometimes been casting away our hope, a… the Lord hath loosed our bonds, and we hav… been as Peter when he was loosed from his pr… son, we have been as though we had seen a v… sion?
Lastly, I would say this to commend the cros… there are strange expressions in the Scripture that may make out to a Christian that the cross is not such a thing as many takes it to be. The first expression is in that word, James 1. 2. My brethren count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations. There are two things in that expression, which may make it strange. First, A Christian should count it all joy: It had not been so strange if he had said, count it joy or rejoyce when you are afflicted, but O that is strange! Count it all joy when you are afflicted. That which secondly makes it strange, Count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations, that is, rejoyce ay more and more when you meet with many crosses. There is this strange expression which may commend the crosse, and it is that word, Job 5. 17. Happy is the man whom God correcteth, &c. There is very much happinesse in such a lot and dispensation: Some of us thinks there is no people so cursed, as these who are afflicted; But I say, a Christians afflictions are no smal mercies and blessings. The third strange expression which may commend the crosse, Job 5. 22. At destruction and …amine shalt thou laugh, &c. Not to have a sad look (as it were) for all the crosses and afflictions that may come. The fourth strange expression which may commend the crosse, is that word, Rom. 5. 3. We glory in tribulation, &c. The last expression which may commend …t, and it is the glorious ends that waits upon these persons which is exercised under the crosse: According to that word, Jam. 1. 10. Blessed is the man that endureth temptations, for …hen he is tried, he shall have the crown of life, I say let a Christian comfort himself in this, That in … evils he will deliuer him, and in seven no… … shall come near him: Let a Christian be p… to …ever so much afflicton, let him comfo… himself with this, that his Saviour was put … walk up and down in the earth, and had … whereas to lay his head, and let him likewi… comfort himself with this, that the day is coming, when he shall enter into those glorious and excellent habitations; what is the cros… of Christians? Is there not much in heaven … comfort them against their crosses? I shall no… say much to presse Christian-submission und… the crosse! I think it is more suitable to be e… quiring after duty under a crosse, than to … enquiring how to escape out from under it? … is good to put all in Christs hand, concerni… the crosse, the manner of it, and the lengthni… … it, and also the outgate from under it. No… … … who is able to make all things work t… …ther for the best (even afflictions) unto h… …ople, we desire to give praise.
FINIS.
End of the text · Andrew Gray, Directions and Instigations to the Duty of Prayer (1669)