A Comment Upon Christs Last Prayer, Verse 26 · Doctrine 2
The Lord Chriſt extends the ſame Care at all times,Doct. to all his Servants, for their Eternal Good.
What he hath been, he is, and he wil be to the Faithful, in things which concern their Spiritual Happineſs. He deals variouſly, and diſpenſeth in a differing manner, the Comforts, and Conveniences of the things of this life. He advanceth me, leaves contempt upon another: one is wretched; another impoveriſhed; another ſpends his daies in health and peace, as Iſaac; another is under dayly preſſure, and tryals.
Becauſe al theſe things, though good in themſelves, yet they are under, and petty things, and therefore not good for every man. Diets are ever judged, and directed to men, according to their temper, and diſpoſition: That which is Cordial to one, as heating and nouriſhing Proviſions to ſuch as be weak, and languiſhing: i'ts hurtful to another, that is of a ful Body, and Feaveriſh diſtemper. Therefore the wiſe God, as a tender Father, and wiſe Phyſitian, he gives liberally to one, when he hold… another to a ſpare Diet. So God Diets his Servants according to their Spiritual Diſpoſition; they are not alike uſeful, and therefore he doth not in a like manner, and meaſure diſpenſe them.
But when it comes to Faith in God, Repentance from dead Works, and ſuch things as concern Gods Eternal Love, and ſo Eternal Life: there look what care God ſhewed in former times to his, he wil ſhew the like at al times to al, to provide for their Spiritual welfare.
Compare Gen. 28.15. with Hoſ. 12.2. He found him in Bethel, and there he ſpake with us. He ſpake to Jacob, who was dead and buried long before that Generation. But what he ſpake to him, he ſpake to al the Saints, Exod. 13.21, 22. He took not away the Pillar of the Cloud by day, no… the Pillar of Fi…e by night. A Type of Chriſt, who by night and day, in al the Conditions, and times of a mans Pilgrimage, vouchſafes his guiding, and ſaving preſence to his People. This alſo, the rock in the Wilderneſs typed our unto the Iſraelites, 2 Cor. 10.2. The Rock that followed, go whether they would, the Water out of the Rock followed them, and attended upon them for their dayly refreſhing So doth the Mercy, and Truth of the Lord, follow his al the daies of their lives, Pſal. 23.6. And it is the aim of the place, Heb. 13.8. Jeſus Chriſt yeſterday, and to day, and the ſame for ever, that is, in his ſaving, overſhadowing, guiding preſence to his Saints.
REASON.
1. His Love is the ſame, and that wil ſet him on work by the like care, and endeavor to provide for their welfare. If any thing without him, had been a moving Cauſe of this Care, and reſolute endeavor for their good, when that had altered or failed, this would have failed alſo. But his own Love, which only iſſues out of his own Bowels, and Boſom, made him do good at one time, and therefore to the ſame at al times, for it is the ſame, Jer. 31.3. With everlaſting Love, I have loved thee: therefore I have drawn thee, therefore called thee, therefore comforted thee, and wil continue ſo to do for ever, John 13. Having loved his own, he loved them to the end. In love, there is no lack of labor, pains, providence, to be unweariable, to further the good of that which is beloved.
2. The Engagement of our Savior, conſtrains him … point of Faithfulneſs, and Truth, which are laid to pawn, fully to accompliſh whatever he hath undertaken for ſuch, who are committed to his care, that at no time they do miſcarry. O…her Sheep I have, and thoſe I muſt bring, and they ſhall hear my Voyce. It was the Fathers Wil, that Chriſt ſhould loſe none that were given to him, John, 6.39. and it's Chriſts, All that thou haſt given me, I have kept, and loſt none of them, John, 17.12. So that he hath done the Wil of the Father, according to Compact and Agreement between them. Yea, it's Chriſts Wil, and Requeſt to the Father, when he left the World, That the Father would ſhelter them under the ſhadow of his Wings, John, 17.11. And now I am no more in the World; but theſe are in the World, and I come to thee, holy Father, keep through thine own Name, thoſe that thou haſt given me. It is the Wil of the Father which ſent Chriſt, that he ſhould keep al his at al times, that none ſhould miſcarry: It's the Wil of Chriſt, and his Requeſt to the Father, that he ſhould preſerve al the Faithful, that at no time, none ſhould
3. The Relation continues the ſame at al times, and the Intereſt the Saints have in our Savior; al his Wiſdom, Mercy, Merits, and kindneſs are theirs: and therefore they claim it, and ſo expect the benefit thereof at al times. The Spouſe may claim the conſtant care of her Husband to provide for her, and ſupply her neceſſities. The Child may look for the conſtant care of the Father to tender him in al his wants, as he hath done in any. So they plead, Iſa. 63.16. Though Abraham forget, yet thou art our Father. He cannot forget himſelf, and his Faithfulneſs.
USE, 1. Of Inſtruction.
It teacheth us that Heavenly Skil and Dexterity to gather in upon the goodneſs and kindneſs of the Lord Jeſus; and from the proof and experience of former Favors, to lay in a Reverſion of Bleſſing for future time. Lie at the catch, and take the advantage of the Lords gracious dealing with the ſoul. If we get but Gods Earneſt, fetch the whol Bargain by it. If the Work of Saving Grace, be an Engagement on Gods part, get one, and gain al. Paul is marvelous dextrous this way, to work upon the graciouſneſs, and Truth of God, 2 Cor. 1.10. He hath delivered, and doth; q. d. I have him ſure, I have got a Pawn, and earneſt Penny: And he will deliver. He hath delivered me from the mouth of the Lyon, and he wil deliver me from every evil work.
When Naomi. knew how Booz had acknowledged that Engagement to do the part of a Kinſman, and knew the truſt alſo, and ſincerity of the Man, ſhe thus concludes: Sit ſtil, my Daughter, until you know how the matter wil fal: For the man wil not be at reſt, until he hath finiſhed the thing this day, Ruth, 3. and laſt. So when thou haſt Evidence of any work of Gods free Grace upon thy Soul, and that he hath engaged himſelf thereby; ſit ſtil, the Lord Jeſus wil not reſt until he hath finiſhed the work of Converſion, Sanctification, and Salvation, which he hath begun.
So the Prophet learns the Saints to make Inferences, and Collections of Comfort unto themſelves, Pſal. 48.12, 13, 14. Go about Zion, tell the Towers, mark well her Bull-works, take ſerious Conſideration. This God is our God, and therefore collects, and wil be our God unto Death.
He hath humbled, and he wil humble us: he hath comforted, and he wil comfort us; he hath ſtrengthened, and he wil enliven us for ever; he hath taught us, when we did not know him, and he wil teach us ſtil, when we do ſeek unto him.
USE, 2.
It's a Ground of unſpeakable comfort, and ſweet repoſe to al thoſe, who have an intereſt in the Lord Chriſt, and are committed to his Charge. Thou art the dayly Care of Chriſt, therefore thou ſhould'ſt be dayly comforted. This was it, that fetched up the fainting heart of the Prophet, when he was at the loweſt Eb, and at the greateſt under in regard of himſelf, and al outward Comforts, Pſal. 40.17. I am poor, and needy; deſtitute of the ordinary Comforts, and the meaneſt Helps that might ſupply his famiſhing Condition, ſo that he was fainting, and dying away for want of relief: no man looked after him, or beſtowed a thought about him: Yet the Lord thinketh upon me; his Eye is over me, his heart is towards me, and care for my good.
Yet God is good to Iſrael, Pſal. 73.1. He begins to come to himſelf: he was ſinking in a fit of diſcouragement, ſeeing al things to go croſs, and il with him: yet God is good. The World is naught, yet God is good: my heart is naught, yet God is good.
It may be, thoſe that have moſt cauſe, and reaſon, and are moſt able, do not care for thee, or for thy good: thou doſt not, or through thy weakneſs, canſt not care for thy ſelf, when thou art over-whelmed with diſtreſſes, either ignorant, doubtful, or unable to put forth that Ability thou haſt, being under over-bearing preſſures: yet this may quiet, That he cares for thee, that can and wil help thee.
When my Father, and my Mother caſt me off, then the Lord takes me up; his Fatherly Mercy, his Bowels of more than Motherly Compaſſion, wil be inſtead of al, yea, better than al, Pſal. 27.10.
Nay, be it, that al helps are improved to the utmoſt, al thy skil and care laid out to the beſt advantage to provide for thy good: yet at ſome times, yea, many times, they are too ſhort, and ſcanted to procure thine own Comfort, either to prevent the evils that are approaching, or ſupply, or ſupport thine own infirmities that do hinder in a Chriſtian Courſe.
Quiet thine heart, though thy Contrivements fall ſhort; that which is under the Care of Chriſt, that cannot miſcarry. It's the ground which the Apoſtle gives of encouragement in a Chriſtian Courſe, and that when Duties grow moſt difficult, and the Spirit moſt hopeleſs in it ſelf ever to reach them, Heb. 13.7. Remember them who have the Rule over you, who have ſpoken unto you, the Word of the Lord, whoſe Faith follow, conſidering the end of their Converſation: Yea, it might he replied, There were able, and eminent Leaders, and Guides, their Experience long, their Graces glorious, their Abilities choyce; alas, there is no hope for us to keep pace with them, we are ſo weak, feeble, ſuch Babes and Novices, that cannot go alone hardly: it's a likely matter that we ſhould go after them. The Apoſtle ads, Jeſus Chriſt, yeſterday, and to day, and the ſame for ever, verſe 8. q. d. It was not of themſelves that they had any Grace or Abilities, but Jeſus Chriſt had al, and gave al: It was not in the power, and might of any parts they have received, whereby they were carried on-ward in the Work of Faith, either in doing, or in ſuffering the good, and acceptable Wil of the Lord; but it was in the Power of the Might of Jeſus whereby they were ſtrengthened therein. That Jeſus is yeſterday, and to day, and the ſame for ever; he did yeſterday ſtrengthen the Faith of Abraham, and David, and Paul; and he doth ſtrengthen his now, and he wil ſtrengthen his for ever: He hath taught, and doth teach, and wil teach for ever, the humble his Waies: He hath filled, he doth fil, and he wil fil for ever, the hungry and thirſty with good things, when they ſeek for his Mercy, Iſa. 27. He keeps his Vinyard, and the leaſt Graft in it, he keeps it night and day, and he waters it every moment; be therefore comforted every moment, thou who art preſerved, and watered every moment, by the good hand of Chriſt, and wilt be ſo for ever, Pſal. 142.4, 5, 7.
USE, 3. Of Direction.
It ſhews us whither to go for relief in our Spiritual Neceſſities: It's that which Nature ſuggeſts, and Reaſon perſwades unto: Al men wil be ſure to go thither, where they are ſure of ſpeed at al ſeaſons. That's only to the Lord Chriſt, who is a Faithful Savior, and a ſure Friend, 1 Pet. 5.7. Caſt all your care on him, for he careth for you. When al men are altogether Vanity, feeble, and falſe, you know not where to have them; off, and on, weak as water, and uncertain as the wind; now they favor, anon they frown; love to day, and hate to morrow; they are but broken Reeds, not only fail us, but pierce us alſo.
But with our Savior, is no ſhadow of change, you may know where to have him, and what to expect from him. Men both prize, and uſe the Medicine that hath a probatum eſt with it: It wil not fail to cure, and remove the Diſease; the Salve that wil not fail to heal. It's ſo with the healing Mercy, and Faithfulneſs of Chriſt: So the Pſalmiſt, They that know thy Name, they will truſt in thee; for thou never faileſt them, Pſal. 9.10. Mens care and kindneſs, is ſoon drawn dry, and ſpent, that they count it's enough to deny for future, becauſe they have formerly done a Favor. What! ſay we, I have dealt ſo, done ſo formerly, ye do not expect I ſhould do ſo alwaies. But it's otherwiſe with our Savior; he hath comforted, and he wil quicken; he hath taught thee in thy aberrations, and he wil teach thee ſtil.
Nay, Thou art ſo giddy, and un-ſtable, thou knoweſt not what to make of thy ſelf; ſo off, and on, feeble and falſe to thine own Soul, and thine own Comforts, and there is no hold of that unſteady, and giddy heart: now promiſing, and then altering; now reſolving, and then changing. If thou had'ſt truſted to thine own heart, thy Hope, and Comforts, and Confidence would have failed utterly.
But the Lord wil not ſuffer his Faithfulneſs to fail, notwithſtanding al thy provocations againſt him, departures from him, unkind dealings with him. Though thou haſt failed, and forfeited al his Favors, yet he wil not ſuffer his Faithfulneſs to fail. As he was in former, ſo he is ſtil for future times, and wil he the ſame for ever; he hath, and he wil, after the ſame manner, for ever comfort thee. Though thou beeſt Faithleſs to him, and thy own Soul, he wil be Faithful to his own Word, and to thy Comfort.
USE, 4 Exhortation.
As Chriſt is to you, O be you ſo to him again. He is enlarged for your Eternal Good, be you ſo for his Glory. He never laies aſide the care of your Comfort and welfare, never lay aſide the care of his Commands. O! miſerable would our lives be, if the Lord ſhould leave us at uncertainties. It's the dregs of the Vengeance, the higheſt pitch, and the perfection of the Plagues that God threatens, Deut. 28.65. The Lord ſhal give thee a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and ſorrow of mind, and thy life ſhal hang in doubt before thee, and thou ſhalt fear day and night, and ſhalt have no aſſurance of thy Life; In the morning thou ſhalt ſay, Would to God it were night, &c. for the fear of thy heart. If ſo for our temporal Lives and Comforts, what would it be, if our Eternal Happineſs, and Miſery of our Souls were at this paſs? Not when our Life, but our Salvation ſhal hang in doubt before us: Whether God wil comfort us, or for ever ruinate us? Whether the Lord wil once pity, or for ever forſake us? If he ſhould give us trembling of heart, failing of eyes, and ſorrow of mind, and we ſhould have no hold of Gods Favor or Aſſurance. I ſhal one day periſh, and look every day to have the Wrath of the Lord to come out againſt us, or elſe to leave us to our feebleneſs, and the malice of Satan, and that at laſt, God wil leave us utterly in the hands of Hel, how miſerable would this Condition be?
But God doth not, wil not deale thus with us: he comes to certainties with us; we may know there to have him. Yeſterday, and to day, and the ſame for ever. Oh let us be the ſame for ever to the Lord Jeſus. He hath given us two immutable things, that we might have ſtrong conſolation: let God know where to find us, what to make of us. Fickleneſs and Inſtability is moſt loathſom to the Eye and diſtaſtful to the heart of the Almighty. I would thou wert either Hot or Cold. Becauſe thou art luke-warm, I wil ſpue thee out of my Mouth. Rev. 3.15, 16. He that is profane he may be convinced and made better. He that is zealous is approved and pleaſing to the Spirit of God. But the luke-warm wil not be brought to ſee his evil, nor yet wil he like to be made better. Therefore God abominates him.
He is the Author and Finiſher of your faith: The bottom and the top-ſtone, He wil not leave you til he hath fulfilled al his goodneſs.
Leave not you, til you have perfected holineſs in his fear. 2 Cor. 7.1. He is at al times the ſame to thee. Be thou at al times the ſame to him. Not by …its, & ſtarts and aguiſh qualms, like the morning dew. Pſal. 62.8. Truſt in him at al times. I have loved him, and I will love him: I have feared him, and I wil fear him for ever. And when I ſay that, I ſay three things.
1. Make it the main end and Errand of thy life to ſuit Gods mind and do his ſervice. Let this be the maine ſtream that may carry al. As it was Gods wil to fend Chriſt: and Chriſts wil to accompliſh this. This is the wil of the Father that ſent me, that thoſe which he hath given me I ſhould looſe none. So let i… be thy wil alſo. It was Pauls, I paſs not, put nothing into the balance, let nothing come into compariſon nor competition, nay not into conſideration. That I may ſmaſh my Courſe with joy. Its my Meat and Drink ſaith he. Let …t be as thy daily Bread, as thy food; have no wil but this. So Barnabas perſwaded. Act. 13.23. To cleave to God with a decree of heart. Decree this, ſet it down, and determine this for a concluſion, that admits no exception or alteration. My God I muſt have, my god I wil have, his commands I have, and muſt and wil obey. Whether I ſhal have honor and credit: whether I ſhal pleaſe my ſelf, or carnal Reaſon or corrupt deſires, friends, or world, that I paſs not for I muſt pleaſe the Lord: That I ſet down for a decree.
2. Let al make way to this, and work for this.
So Chriſt with us. Al things work together for our good. So make our Sorrows our miſeries, our comforts, our peace, proſperity: whatever we have in the world beſides, make them al work together for this, to further our obedience. As the Marriner tacks about, uſeth Croſs winds, all, to further his voyage.
It was the Fathers wil, and Chriſts work, that he ſhould loſe none, and he did loſe none; he left Heaven, his Honor, his Life, nay the ſenſe of his Fathers Love: but he loſt not one of the pooreſt Saints: held them in his hand, God forſook him, he would not forſake them. Let the power of darkneſs pluck away eaſe, and peace, yea his life and al. My Soul it heavy unto the Death, Yet he would not ſuffer them notwithſtanding al their Malice, Wrath, Rage, Subtilty, to pluck one of his out of his hands.
So do thou. Loſe Credit, Comfort, Peace, Proſperity, yea thy Life; but loſe not one of Gods Commands, but obey it: not one Promiſe, but truſt in it: He hath kept thee at al times: Keep thou the word of his patience. Thou gaveſt them me, ſaith Chriſt, and I have kept them. So ſay thou; Thou gaveſt me theſe commands and I have obeyed them; theſe promiſes, and I have truſted in them. Not my wil, as Natural, ſaith Chriſt, to be preſerved, but thy wil, as God, that man may be redeemed: So ſay thou, not my wil, as Man, as Father, as Maſter, as Servant: not my wil which would have mine eaſe, and Profit, and Credit: But thy Wil be done.
3. Be unmovable in the Work of Chriſt.
So our Savior, though he ſuffer the power of Darkneſs to pluck a way his Honor, his happineſs and Life: yet he held his Children in his Armes, and would not ſuffer any to take them out of his hand. So deal thou in like manner; Let Devils and Men pluck away thy Credit, and diſhonor thee, thy Wealth, and impoveriſh thee; yet let them not pluck away any one of Gods commands of Chriſts Promiſes from thee. Chriſt put a neceſſity upon it, I muſt bring theſe ſheep: lay thou the like neceſſity upon thy Soul. It is a rule of Chriſt, I muſt obey it, Chriſt I muſt love, and fear, and follow. Do not retire, ſtrike Sail, turn back, nay do not ſtop in the way, but go on: Its not neceſſary to live, but to love Jeſus.
We have done with this Point from the connection of the words. We ſhal now proceed to the other part of that work, which our Savior profeſſeth and ingageth himſelf unto that he will further do, for time to come.
— I will make it known.
The profeſſion and reſolution of our Savior to provide for their further inlightening and inlargement in this knowledg, implies two things.
1. What the wants of the Saints are, as touching this knowledg.
2. What the care and ingagement of our Savior is to ſupply the ſame.
The firſt is here ſuppoſed, and that by neceſſary inference. For had they attended the ful meaſure of this knowledg, that need hath our Savior to make known more? if they had been perfect in the skilful underſtanding of that lecture, what need was there that our Savior ſhould be dayly learning and informing them?
Its plain therefore, though they had much of this knowledg, there was yet much wanting unto them, of which they had, as dayly need, ſo dayly uſe of.
Hence we have two Points of Doctrin.
1. There is much wanting in the ful knowledg of Gods Name in the moſt able Saints.
2. Chriſt lends dayly ſupply of knowledg to them, according to their dayly needs.