The Comforts of Divine Love, Sermon 1
SERMON I.
ROM. VIII. 35, 36, 37, 38, 39.
Who ſhall ſeparate us from the Love of Chriſt? Shall tribulation, or diſtreſs, or perſecution, or famine, or nakedneſs, or peril, or ſword?
(As it is written, For thy ſake we are killed all the Day long; we are accounted as Sheep for the ſlaughter.)
Nay in all things we are more than Conquerors, through him that loved us.
For I am perſwaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things preſent, nor things to come,
Nor heighth, nor depth, nor any other Creature, ſhall be able to ſeparate us from the love of God, which is in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord.
MY laſt Diſcourſes to you, were an Explication of that great Command and Counſel of our Bleſſed Lord Jeſus; Of ſtriving to enter in at the ſtrait Gate. In my Directions to you for your regular purſuit of this important Charge, among other things I recommended to you the Apoſtle Paul's Preſcription, Gal. 5.16. Walk in the Spirit, and ye ſhall not fulfil the Luſt of the Fleſh.
It was my Purpoſe at this Time to have made a further Progreſs in that Matter, but having received an Intimation, that my dear Brother and Fellow. Labourer now Deceaſed; had found ſuch Comfort in his Meditations on this Scripture in his Proſpect of Death, that he expreſſed his Deſires, that his Funeral Sermon might be upon this Text: His pious Deſire (that others might …e comforted with the Comfort where with he was comforted of God) prevailed with me (though upon a ſhort Warning) to turn my Thoughts to this Scripture, and the rather, becauſe (your Hearts being ſoftned by this mournful Providence) the Truth contained i… this Text might poſſibly make the dee… er Impreſſion upon you.
I cannot let you into the full Underſtanding of the Apoſtles Triumphant Concluſion, except I lead you to the firſt Riſe and Head of it. In ver. 1. He give us the Conſequence of his former Doctrine, he had largely aſſerted and proved in the foregoing Chapters, That we are juſtified by Grace, and freed from the Law. From theſe Truths he lays down this comfortable Concluſion as moſt evident and certain. There is therefore now no Condemnation to them which are in Chriſt Jeſus. This Concluſion is full: No Condemnation, neither by God, nor Law, nor Conſcience; and it is univerſally true to all that are in Chriſt.
But becauſe this Concluſion is the Corner-ſtone, and muſt ſuſtain the weight of all the ſuperſtructure, he firſt limits it to thoſe that are in Chriſt, and explains what he means by giving them their true Character. They walk not after the Fleſh, but after the Spirit.
Next he proves his Aſſertion, by its Parts. 1. That there is no Condemnation to ſuch. This he argues in the Four following Verſes. His Argument is this, the condemning Law is ſuperſeded, he grants there was a Covenant of Works, which being broken, was to us a Law of Sin and Death. It charged us with Sin, and that dueneſs of the Curſe. But then he ſhows there is another Law (which he calls a Law of the Spirit of Life) that is a Covenant of Grace, promiſing Life, as alſo the Aſſiſtance of the Spirit: And this Law being a remedying Law ſets us free from the former.
2. The Limitation and Character of the Perſons to whom this Freedom is limited, he proves and explains in the following Verſes, ſhewing that it muſt be the natural Genius and Temper of thoſe that are in Chriſt, to mind the things of the Spirit; as thoſe that are after the Fleſh will naturally mind the things of the Fleſh, ver. 5.
From the great Love of God, and the ſure Foundation of it, he proceeds to make ſome Inferences, as 1. That then we are Debtors to God in point of Holineſs, ver. 12. and in ver. 31. He heaps up many Inferences of Conſolation.
1. That if God be thus engaged to be for us as our Father and Protector, none can be againſt us to our hurt.
2. He infers, that ſeeing God hath given us Chriſt, we may expect what ever ſhall be neceſſary for the Compleatment of our Happineſs.
3. He infers, that the malicious or erronious Accuſations of Men, are of no Conſideration, ver. 33. Who ſhall lay any thing to the Charge of Gods Elect? Becauſe, 1. There is no Tribunal but Gods, and if he acquit us, 'tis no matter who Condemns us. 2. Chriſt did all his Work of Redemption compleatly, ver. 34. Not only Dying, but Riſing again to make Interceſſion for us.
4. Hence he infers in a Triumphant Aſſurance, the impoſſibility of our Separation from the Love of God, ver. 35. Who ſhall ſeparate us from the Love of God? &c. That the Strength of this Inference may more fully appear, I ſhall diſtinctly Note theſe Particulars.
1. The Subject ſpoken of, The Love of God. Whether it be God's Love to us, or our Love to God is queſtioned; ſome think both are intended, and that it is impoſſible that it ſhould fail on either Part. But ſurely Gods Love to us is chiefly intended: For on our part in it ſelf it's too poſſible, that under ſuch Temptations our Love and Faith might fail. But the impoſſibility ariſeth from God's Will: He will not ſuffer our Love to fail. So that ultimately the not failing of our Love, is reſolved into Gods unchangeable Love. And beſide the Expreſſions of the laſt Verſe of this Chapter. The Love of God which is in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord, doth clearly Point at Gods Love to us.
2. The next thing aſſerted is our Non-Separation from this Love. The Word in the Greek foreign is the ſame Word that is uſed, Mat. 19.6. with reſpect to the Jewiſh Divorces. So that the meaning is, Though Gods Love may ſometime be hidden, yet there will never be a Divorce or Eternal Separation.
3. The Impoſſibility of this Separation appears in this Diſcourſe two Ways.
1. By an Enumeration of thoſe things that might ſeem poſſible to effect a Separation, but cannot; theſe the Apoſtle ranges into Two Claſſes. 1. No kind or degrees of Sufferings. Here he reckons up ſeveral hard things. Shall tribulation, diſtreſs, &c? 2. No outward Powers. Neither fear of Death, nor hope of Life, nor Devils, nor perſecuting Rulers, nor heighth of Advancement, nor depth of Ignominy and Reproaches; and leaſt any thing elſe ſhould be pretended, he adds, nor any other Creature, as an, &c. including all.
2. The Impoſſibility of this Separation is imply'd in his manner of ſpeaking by continued Interrogation, Who ſhall ſeparate? As alſo by his Aſſurance, I am perſwaded; foreign though it ſometime ſignifie no more than a Moral Perſwaſion, yet here it ſignifies undoubted Aſſurance, like the Phraſe in Rom. 14.14. and 2 Tim. 2.12. I know and am perſwaded.
The Doctrine I ſhall now draw out of theſe Words, is this;
The Conſideration of the Infiniteneſs and Ʋnchangeableneſs of God's Love, is ſufficient to guard our Hearts from all Affrightments, that may ariſe from all that may befal us in this World.
To make way for the Application of this Truth, I ſhall explain and prove theſe Three Things.
I. That God's Love to Elect Believers is Infinite.
II. That this Love of God is Ʋnchangeable.
III. That the Conſideration of Gods Infinite and Unchangeable Love, is a ſweet Cordial in all Diſtreſſes, and a Guard againſt all Affrightments of Fear, to all that are in Chriſt.
I. That God's Love to Elect Believers is Infinite, admirably Great. All Gods Attributes, even thoſe that are called Communicable (ſuch as his Power, Wiſdom, Juſtice, Love, &c.) are in God infinitely, eternally, and unchangeably. His Love therefore in Scripture is crowned with the Epithite [Great] His great Love wherewith he loved us, Eph. 2.4. His Love, his Power, his Underſtanding are commenſurate with his Infinite Greatneſs. Thus David argues, Pſalm 147.5. Great is our Lord, and of great Power: his Ʋnderſtanding is Infinite.
But that we might have a more eaſie Satisfaction and Apprehenſion of the Love of God, the Scripture commends the greatneſs of Gods Love to us, under Three Conſiderations.
The Firſt is by comparing the wonderful Greatneſs of God, with the Object of his Love. This Conſideration Holy David inſiſts on, Pſalm 113.4, 5. The Lord is high above all Nations, and his Glory above the Heavens: Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on High? That is, He is ſo great, that his merciful regard of the higheſt created Beings, Things in Heaven, much more of the lower World, Things on Earth, is ſo far below his glorious Greatneſs, that it is a kind of abaſement to him to behold them, ver. 6. He humbleth himſelf, to behold the Things that are in Heaven, and in the Earth. He humbleth himſelf to behold theſe things that are ſo far below him. That would be a ſtrange unaccountable Love, that ſhould make a great Prince ſet his Heart upon a Worm or Fly, to regard, feed and watch over it; and we are as mean if compared to an Infinite God. The Nations are as the drop of a Bucket, or the ſmall Duſt of the Ballance: They are counted to him as nothing, and if any thing can be lower, leſs than nothing, Iſa. 40.15, 17. The Inhabitants of the Earth, are but as Graſhoppers, ver. 22.
This Conſideration was David's Meditation in Pſalm 8. when his Thoughts were upon the Wing, mounting upward toward the excellent Glory of the Divine Majeſty, he almoſt looſeth the ſight of Man. What is Man? v. 4. At laſt his Contemplation carries him to an Admiration of Gods Love and Care over ſo low a Creature. What is Man? But oh how great is God's Love in being mindful of him, ſo as to viſit him! Which is further explained by Job 7.17. What is Man that thou ſhouldeſt magnifie him! That thou ſhouldeſt ſet thy Heart upon him! That thou ſhouldeſt viſit him every Morning! But if we ſhould place Man in an higher Degree, and conſider him as a Servant, yet ſtill Gods Love looſeth not its Luſtre, becauſe at beſt we are but unprofitable Servants, Luke 17.10. If we ſhould do all that we are commanded, we do but that which was our Duty to do, and which we owe to God upon the Right of Creation; yet we merit nothing. God hath no Advantage or Profit by our Service, Job 22.2, 3. Can a Man be profitable unto God? What gain is it to him that thou makeſt thy ways perfect.
If Man at beſt be ſo far below the Deſert of God's Love, How great will this Love appear, if we conſider Man as ſinful! Thus we are become Enemies, not only breakers of his Law, but oppoſite thereto, and withal were helpleſs, and could do nothing for our ſelves. Both theſe the Apoſtle takes Notice of, Rom. 5.6. as a tranſcendant Manifeſtation of God's Love; and ver. 8. God commendeth his Love to us.
2. The Scriptures ſet forth the greatneſs of Gods Love, by the great and wonderful Benefits beſtowed on us. We uſually meaſure Love by the Fruits of it. The Fruits of Gods Love cannot be numbred; particularly the Promiſes are ſo loaden with them, that they are juſtly called exceeding Great and Precious Promiſes. In the groſs, They are things that pertain unto Life and Godlineſs, 2 Pet. 1.3. All ſpiritual Bleſſings in heavenly Places, Eph. 1.3. The Bleſſings of this Life and that which is to come, 1 Tim. 4.8. All that is within the Circumference of Grace and Glory, Pſalm 84.11.
3. But above all Gods Love is magnified by the Method, which his Infinite Wiſdom pitched upon for the bringing about his Purpoſe of Love; this was the ſending Chriſt to Die for Sinners. This was ſuch an adorable Myſtery of Wiſdom and Love, that the Angels deſire to look into it. Chriſt himſelf ſpeaks of it as tranſcendant beyond Compariſon. God ſo loved the World, that he ſent his only begotten Son, &c. John 3.16. and in 1 John 4.9, 10. The Apoſtle repreſents it as the moſt glorious Publick Manifeſtation of Love. In this was manifeſted the Love of God towards us, becauſe that God ſent his only Son into the World. Herein is Love, &c.
II. The ſecond thing that I am to explain and prove, is, That this Love of God is Ʋnchangeable. It is frequently called an Everlaſting Love, Jer. 31.3. I have loved thee with an Everlaſting Love. His Mercy endureth for ever. Having loved his own, he loved them unto the end, John 13.1. And it muſt needs be ſo, if it be conſidered.
1. That Gods Nature is Unchangeable. God aſſerts it, Mal. 3.6. I am the Lord, I change not. Pſalm 102.25, 26. The Heavens and the Earth ſhall periſh, but thou ſhalt endure. Thou art the ſame, and thy Years ſhall have no end. James 1.17. With God is no variableneſs, neither ſhadow of Turning.
The Unchangeableneſs of Gods Nature is evident by the very Light of Reaſon. All that believe the Exiſtence of God, will yield, that Deus eſt ens neceſſarium & Independens. God is a neceſſary and Independant Being. That God is Self-exiſtent is an Original and Fundamental Idea, which we are to have of God. This Monſieur Abbadie proves in his Vindication of the Chriſtian Religion, Sect. 2. Cap. 2. And from this neceſſity of his Being, he deduceth his Immutability. For if God depend not upon any other Being, nor receive any thing from any other Being, his Eſſence cannot then be varied. And if his Nature is Unchangeable, his Will is alſo Unchangeable. It is true, God doth ſometime change his Promiſes and Threatnings, but his Purpoſes he changeth not. Mutat Sententiam ſed non Decretum. Men uſually change their declared Purpoſes, becauſe all Men are Liers, and ſo break their Promiſes; or they Promiſe without due Conſideration, and when any thing happens which they foreſaw not, they repent. But it cannot be thus with God. My Counſel ſhall ſtand, I have purpoſed it, I will alſo do it, Iſa. 49.10, 11. The Reaſon of this we have in Numb. 23.19. God is not a Man that he ſhould lie, neither the Son of Man, that he ſhould repent.
2. That Gods Love is Unchangeable will further appear, if we conſider that his Love is bottomed upon a certain Foundation, His own free Purpoſe, and Chriſts Purchaſe. This Reaſon the Apoſtle doth not obſcurely ſuggeſt in the Text, None can ſeparate us from Gods Love, becauſe it is a Love to us in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord. Had it been built upon the ſandy Foundation of our Merit, we might have feared the failure of it upon every miſcarriage or failure of Duty.
III. The Third Thing to be explained is, That the Conſideration of Gods Infinite and Unchangeable Love is a ſweet Cordial in all Diſtreſſes, and a Guard againſt all Affrightments of Fear to all thoſe that are in Chriſt. For,
1. Thoſe that are in Chriſt being reconciled and pardoned, may be aſſured, that however God may change his Countenance toward them, yet he will not change his Heart. He may be angry, but Anger and Love are conſiſtent. All Men may be convinced of this. Parents may be angry with their Children, and yet love them. It is true, that Parental Corrections will be grievous to ingenuous Children, they will mourn under them; and thus God's Anger will be an heavy Burden to his Children, as their Complaints and Sorrows do abundantly Witneſs. Yet God would have us to conſider his Love in his Rod, Heb. 12.6. Whom the Lord loveth he chaſteneth. To be without Chaſtiſement is an Evidence, that we are Baſtards, and not Sons. God may be angry but he never changeth his Love into hatred.
2. The greateſt outward Afflictions are ſo managed by God, that if we could duely obſerve his dealings with us, we might perceive his Love intermixed with the Laſhes of his Rod. All the while he manifeſts a fatherly Pity and Compaſſion. Fury is not in him. He hath a gentle Hand to the weak: He remembers their Mold and Faſhion. They have alſo ſecret Supports and ſeaſonable Deliverances.
3. All theſe Diſtreſſes are ſo far from ſeparating his Children from his Love that as he orders them, they Work together for their good. Their Graces are hereby exerciſed, encreaſed, and made bright, as your Veſſels are by ſcouring. So that their Diſtreſſes yield the peaceable Fruits of Righteouſneſs to thoſe that are exerciſed thereby, Heb. 12.11. They are hereby brought into nearer Communion with God; and at laſt, he lifts up the Light of his Countenance upon them, like clear ſhining after Rain.
4. It is further evident, that all outward Troubles cannot ſeparate them from the Love of God, becauſe he doth evidently ſtrengthen their Hearts under them, ſo that they prevail not to draw them off from God. This Argument the Apoſtle fixeth on a Demonſtration of what he had aſſerted, In all theſe things we are more than Conquerors. It's a glorious Victory to ſtand in an Evil Day, when Satan hath drawn up all his Forces againſt us: 'Tis a glorious Victory not only to eſcape without Loſs, but to gain by his Oppoſition; thus we out-ſhoot him in his own Bow. And all this, ſine Labore & Sudore, eaſily through Divine Aſſiſtance.
5. All theſe Troubles do not ſo much as render us leſs Lovely in Gods Eyes. God is not as Man; Men judge often by outward Appearance, Gods Children are often blackened with falſe Accuſations and Reproaches; but God will not judge them according to Men's Miſrepreſentations. You have a clear inſtance of it in that Scripture which hath been ſo much abuſed. He hath not beheld Iniquity in Jacob, neither hath be ſeen perverſneſs in Iſrael. The meaning is not, that the Omniſcient God doth not ſee, or that an Holy God cannot be angry at the Tranſgreſſions of his People. But thus we are to underſtand it. Balaam was upon a Deſign of curſing Iſrael, Balak would have repreſented them as a Company of Robbers, that came to deſtroy and invade a Country that was not their own, but being not able to prevail, he gives this for a Reaſon, That God would not judge of them as they had repreſented them, nor deal with them according to their Deſires and Condemnation.
6. The Conſideration of Gods Love, hath a Power in it to ſweeten our greateſt Afflictions, and to take out the ſting and venom out of the worſt of out Troubles. If we have Gods Love, we have more than all the World can give us, it will counter-ballance all Troubles, and make up all Loſſes of outward Comforts.
Having explained theſe three Thing, I ſhall conclude with ſome Applicatory Inferences ſuitable to the preſent mournful Occaſion. As,
1. If the Love of God be ſuch a Cordial and Guard, let it be our great endeavour to get an Intereſt in this Love. This is the one thing neceſſary. If any ask, How muſt this be done? I ſhall only tell them, they muſt ſeek to be in Chriſt. The firſt Application of this Love is made in Converſion, though Gods Purpoſe of loving was before. Yet we were Children of Wrath, till God by Converſion, and the new Birth tranſlate us from the Power of Darkneſs to the Kingdom of his Dear Son, then and not till then is Gods gracious Purpoſe brought into Act.
2. Let us adore, admire and meditate upon Gods Infinite Unchangeable Love. And this not only in General, but in a Particular Application of it to our ſelves, as the Apoſtle, Gal. 2.20. Who loved me, and gave himſelf for me.
3. 'Tis moſt natural to infer from Gods great Love to us, That it is our Duty, and ſhould be our Care, To walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleaſing, Col. 1.10.
4. If the Love of God be ſo great a Cordial and Guard againſt our Fears, we ſhould make uſe of it as ſuch, and oppoſe our Fears by the Conſideration of it. This was David's Shield and Buckler on all ſuch Occaſions, Pſalm 23.4. He reſolves againſt his greateſt Fears in a confident Reliance on Gods Love and Preſence. Though I walk through the Valley of the ſhadow of Death, I will fear no Evil, for thou art with me. Yea in Troubles that carry the appearance of Gods Chaſtiſements, he is relieved by the Apprehenſion of Gods Love, Pſalm 49.5, 15. Wherefore ſhould I fear in the Days of Evil, when the Iniquity of my heels ſhall compaſs me about. For God will redeem my Soul from the Power of the Grave.
5. Let us not mourn as thoſe that have no Hope, for the Death of Godly Perſons. They Die in Gods Love and Death is ſo far from ſeparating them from the Love of God; that it … Gods Porter to open the Door of Eternity to them, and ſo to give them a… immediate entrance into the full Enjoyment of his Love. When Death hath done its worſt, they that enter into Reſt go off with Triumph. O Death where is thy Sting? O Grave where is thy Victory?
6. This may be a Caution againſt the uſual Preſumptions of Men, who are apt to be too bold in interpreting Gods Providences in the Death of his Servants. They are too ſawcy and bold with God, when they take upon them to aſſign a Reaſon, why God takes any of his Servants out of the World, and ſo determine what Gods Deſign is in ſo doing.
It hath pleaſed God Almighty, and the All-wiſe Diſpoſer of all things to make another Breach upon us. 'Tis not long ſince he took Mr. Pell from us, and now he hath called home Mr. Manlove, both of them excellent Men, worthy Miniſters of the Goſpel, ſingularly (both of them) fitted with Abilities for their Work. They were ſucceſſively my Dear Brethren, and Fellow-Labourers in this Part of Gods Vineyard. It muſt be acknowledged, that it is a ſtroke to be lamented; and if we look upon the preſent Providence, we may have ſome Cauſe to fear, that when God is diſcharging his Servants from his Work, and paying them their Wages, That he may ſhortly break up his Houſe with us.
Let none rejoyce at it, nor ſay, Aha ſo would we have it. Neither ſhould others Deſpond: Who knows the end of the Lord? 'Tis eaſie for him to make up our loſs, if we ſubmiſſively wait for him. If his Love be unchangeable to ſingle Perſons, we may conclude it will be ſo to faithful Churches. There are I hope many of you that hear me, that can ſtand forth and Witneſs, that you have ſeen his Power and Glory in his Sanctuary: You have felt and taſted the Power and Goodneſs of God in your Converſion, quickning and Comforting in his Ordinances in this Place: And I hope, that Chriſt who delights to walk among his Golden Candleſticks, will not now ſeparate us from his Love, nor remove the Candleſtick out of its Place.