Forty-Five Sermons Upon Psalm 130, Sermon 32
SERMON XXXII.
Pſalm 130. Verſ. 7. Let Iſrael hope in the Lord, for, &c.
FRom what is ſuppoſed in this Exhortation, and from the general ſcope thereof already ye have heard partly, that there will be a good account of all the exerciſes of the Saints, particularly of waiting on God; and partly, that it is an evidence of bleſſed exerciſes and iſſues, when the Saints are publick-minded, and communicative of what is betwixt God and them, for the edification and good of others. I came in the morning to ſpeak to the ſecond Head of Doctrine, to be gathered from this Exhortation, that is the duty recommended, to hope in the Lord. From which (without any large repetition) I propoſed to deduce two Notes. The firſt on which I brake in, was, That Faith and Hope are Graces that the Saints will conſtantly need, and which therefore they will conſtantly eſteem of, or at leaſt ſhould prize highly, for all the iſſues the Pſalmiſt himſelf, or the people of God, before or in the preſent Generation had gotten, he will have Faith and Hope in God looked on as conſtantly neceſſary. I deduced this firſt, in ſhewing how, many proofs of Gods help, attained to by Faith and Hope, ſhould be an engagement to praiſe God, by highly commending of theſe Graces. And 2. By ſhewing, that in the greateſt preſſures of Gods people, to get grace to believe more, is a bleſſed out-gate.
I proceed now to deduce the Point further; and in the third place, this preſſes the conſtant neceſſity of Faith and Hope, and our obligation to eſteem of them, that no iſſues, no deliveries or out-gates warrands us to lay them by, as if we had no more need of them. It is true (as it is 1 Cor. 13.) Love is the great Grace, becauſe of the longeſt continuance; and Faith and Hope will be laid by in the next life, as to the way of exerciſing them now, but that ſays not, that they will ever be unneceſſar to us, while we are here upon earth. David took a wrong meaſure, when Pſal. 30.6. He ſaid in his prosperity, he ſhould never be moved: Therefore when God hid his face, he was troubled. When the moſt glorious iſſues to be had here-away, are afforded, the Believer and hoper in God muſt make for new ſtorms, when he hath gotten a Harbour, he muſt look upon it but as a Creek, to take in new refreſhment, and he muſt weigh Anchor, and make to Sea again, and exerciſe his Faith and Hope.
4. If we conſider the relation that Faith and Hope have to Duty, it will diſcover the conſtant need that we have of them, and conſequently the eſteem that we ſhould have of them. The Fountain of all acceptable doing of duty is, by abiding in Chriſt, by abiding in him we bring forth fruit, Joh. 15. and we abide in him by Faith. The fountain of all our doing duty, is Faith and Hope; Therefore ſaith Paul, 1 Tim. 1.10. We both labour, and ſuffer reproach, becauſe we trust in the living God. Would a man have his heart purged from pollutions? It's faith that purifies the heart, Acts 15.9. Would a man go about any duty in Religion? he muſt draw his Furniture out of Chriſt by Faith. To go about duty with diſcouragement, is the way not only to render duty unacceptable, but to cut the throat of it: Not only a man muſt make uſe of Faith for furniture to do duty, but when duty is gone about, he hath work for Faith to renew his ſtrength to continue in it; and when he hath done his duty, and hath denyed himſelf, and in his beſt performances is humbled for the iniquity of his holy things, he hath need of Faith to ſit down under Chriſts ſhadow, to put it up in his hand, and to cloſe with imputed righteouſneſs. Thus ye ſee what need there is of Faith and Hope, in reſpect of the relation they have to duty.
And 5. There is conſtant need of Faith in relation to Senſe, and manifeſtations of comfort and love. A man that wants Senſe, and would be at it, the only right way is by believing, that he may ſee, by believing, that he may rejoyce with joy unſpeakable, and full of glory, 1 Pet. 1.8. Believing, that he may be ſealed with the holy Spirit of promiſe, Eph. 1.13. And when a man is win up to believing, and finds no ſenſible comfort, it's no call to caſt away his Faith, but he muſt cheriſh his Faith more, and yet more, till God be pleaſed to ſend Senſe: He muſt ſtill hold the grip of Faith, if he would have ſenſible manifeſtations flowing out rightly and ſolidly to him: Again when he hath gotten Senſe, he hath need of Faith ſtill to try Senſe, when he doubts of his comfort, whether it be a deluſion or not, and whether it be of God, or a lie in his right hand; it is by Faith, and the rule of Faith, by which he muſt examine and try that: So that when he is hugged in his Fathers boſome, there is need of Faith, walking by its rule, to aſſure him that he is not deluded. And yet further, when he hath gotten Senſe, and tryed it by the rule of Faith, he hath need of Faith ſtill; he muſt not obſerve Peters way, while he was on the Mount with Chriſt, Maſter (ſaith he) it is good to be here, if thou wilt, let us make three tabernacles, Mat. 17.4. But he muſt lay his account to come down again, he muſt not reckon, now I ſee, and it will never be dark again, now I have peace, and I ſhall have no more perplexity; but after a Sun-blink, he muſt come down from the Mount of ſenſible enjoyment, and meet with deſertion; and when he hath ſenſible manifeſtations, he muſt lay them at his Maſters feet, and be content to return to the Trade of Believing; Even as the Bride, Cant. 2.17. when there hath been much fair Weather betwixt the beloved and her; what ſays ſhe, Until the day break and the ſhadows flee away, turn my beloved, as if ſhe had ſaid, I look not upon this as my ordinary allowance within time, the day is not broken in time; The ſhadows are not fled away as yet, therefore I will ſubmit to it, that thou turn or flee, that thou withdraw, only on this condition, that when I need, thou wilt come ſwiftly unto me like a roe, or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether, or diviſion.
Thus ye ſee how in all caſes and lots, there is conſtant need of Faith and Hope, and that there ſhould be a conſtant eſteem of theſe Graces; all that I ſhall ſay from it by way of inference, ſhall be in the firſt place, to preſs you to ſtudy this neceſſity well, that ye may not miſtake, that ye may not be ſurprized, what ever ye may meet with, if ye have Faith and Hope, God will not let it ruſt, he will give you clouds to ſee thorow, dark nights of Diſpenſations to grapple with. And once fix your ſelf in the perſwaſion of the conſtant uſefulneſs and neceſſity of Faith and Hope, and it will help to break many ſnares and temptations, and particularly your fretting and petting, and the caſting away of your confidence. Let Faith be your one thing. O how cruel are they to themſelves, that weaken their confidence, and caſt away their eſteem of Faith and Hope? They conſider not the conſtant neceſſity of theſe Graces.
And 2dly. Particularly I would recommend to you, that (as I hinted in the forenoon) ye would take, grace to believe for an out gate. Do never complain that ye are ill-guided, ſo long as Faith keeps the Feet; that were the moderation and ſobriety becoming a Chriſtian Spirit, That whatever means for an iſſue be uſed, that it be a mans ſatisfaction to get grace to judge well of God, and of all his dealing; Paul counted it a great favour, 2 Cor. 4.1. That having received mercy, he fainted not; if folk knew what a woful life, want of delivery and iſſue joyned with unbelief makes, they would think them delivered folk, who get grace to believe, whoſe faith is not brangled; or though it be brangled, yet it is not put off the field. Ye that have advanced to believing, bleſs God for it, and follow it as your chiefeſt mercy.
And 3. I ſhall add as a conſequence of what I had in the Explication of the Point, that ye would learn to hold a looſe grip of all things that come to give Faith relief, when either ye meet with a temporary delivery from a difficulty, or with a ſun-blink of Conſolation coming to Faith as its poſt, and ſaying, ſit down and reſt you a while, hold a looſe grip of the one, and the other. It is but a fair blink in a Winter ſtormy day, and it will overcaſt again; Remember when ye have drawn your breath a little, ye muſt up, and make to your Faith and hope again, when ye have ſeen your Sun, he muſt be overclouded, and ye muſt wait on the Lord, who hides his Face from the houſe of Jacob, and through the clouds ye muſt look for him, Iſai. 8.17. And therefore, as ye would not caſt your Sun-blinks, becauſe they are not laſty (as many do) ſo ye muſt take heed, ye ſit not down upon them, like a tir'd body, ſet down to reſt him, he ſits not long, leaſt he grow ſtiff; The ſober mind is a fixt mind, he feeds with an eye to his journey, he takes his comfort, with an eye to the ſight, wherein he knows not how ſoon he may be engaged. So much for the firſt Note on the ſecond general Head of Doctrine, that the Saints will have conſtant need of Faith and Hope, and therefore ſhould highly eſteem of them.
The ſecond is, That if Faith and Hope be conſtantly neceſſary, then there is need for a conſtant warrand for believing and hoping in God; Now what is my warrand, the Pſalmiſts Exhortation to hope in the Lord, imports the conſtant will of God, concerning this, as a duty, even a conſtant warrand to believe and hope, without any reſtriction of time, lot, perſon, or condition, Let Iſrael hope, &c. The Obſervation then is clear, That it is allowed to the Saints at all times to believe and hope in God, at all times, whatever their lot or caſe be, or ſeem to ſay, there is no time wherein this duty wears out of faſhion, or the Command enjoyning it, wears out of date; whatever times paſs over them, or lots they fall under; it is a conſtant duty, and it is a ſin to neglect it; If ye ſpeak of Faith, for perſonal reconciliation, and the influence it hath on Duty, 1 Joh. 3.23. This is the commandment, that we ſhould believe on the Name of his Son Jeſus Chriſt; if ye reſpect Faith, as it is exerciſed about the various lots and times, that paſs over Gods people; it is a commanded duty at all times, Pſal. 62.8. Truſt in him at all times; there is no time wherein ye are diſpenſed with, not to truſt in him; yea, even theſe times wherein ye will need God for a refuge, and if I might inſiſt, I would let you ſee how Faith is a commanded duty in the moſt deſperat conditions and lots, Pſ. 46.1, 2, 3. God is our refuge, a very preſent help in time of trouble, Therefore we will not fear though the earth be removed, and though the mountains he carried into the midſt of the ſea, &c. The Believer in God thinks himſelf in a ſurer poſture, than the courſe of nature: The World may turn upſide down, but the Believer is then ſure, having God for a refuge and a preſent help Hab. 3.17. Though the fig-tree do not bloſsom, though no fruit be in the vine▪ &c. yet he finds warrand to believe, I will rejoyce in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my ſalvation, a fruit of Faith. Many would have been ready to ſay. What ſhould I do believing? if the tryal had come half that length, but come what will come, he finds ground to believe, Luke 8. A man comes to Chriſt with his ſick daughter, and ſhe is a dead daughter, ere he come to the houſe, and they ſay, thy daughter is dead, trouble not the Maſter. But what ſays Chriſt, verſe 50. Fear not, believe only, Faith hath a warrand, when trouble goes from ſickneſs to death, not to fear, but only to believe; David was tryed with formidable things, as Pſal. 56. Yet that takes not away his warrand to believe; Therefore verſe 3. He ſays, what time I am afraid, I will truſt in thee; my fear ſhall feed my confidence, and not drive me from it. Look on him again as a man, whoſe troubles and fears had confounded and run down; yet he looks not on himſelf as a man, that might quit Faith for all that, Pſ. 61.2. When I am at the ends of the Earth, ſays he, when my heart is overwhelmed, when I have perplexity like to make me ſwoun, when I am ſurcharged and laid by with them; yet from the ends of the Earth I will cry unto thee, (an act of Faith) when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I; my heart and my fleſh failing, ſhall not warrand me to caſt away my confidence, and the Acts reſulting thereon; and Job 3.5.14. Elihu ſays to Job, Although thou ſayeſt, thou ſhalt not ſee him, yet Judgment is before him; Therefore truſt thou in him, and that was Abraham's practice, who againſt hope, believed in hope, Rom. 4.18. when he could ſee no probability of the thing promiſed… it is in that caſe, in that Paroxiſm, the Believer is to truſt in God; ſo ye ſee the Point is clear, that Faith is the allowance of the Saints at all times, in all conditions; and Faith hath ſtill a warrand, to put forth it ſelf to exerciſe. The rich good will of God, the immutability of God and his promiſe, bottoms Faith in all times & conditions; it was a good word that David had, when the ſycophant Doeg came and told Saul of his coming to the houſe of Abimelech, and flew fourſcore five of the Prieſts; Why boaſteſt thou in miſchief, O mighty man, the goodneſs of God endureth continually; and ſeing it is ſo, Faith hath continual ground to go upon.
For Uſe, I would give you theſe three words from it, The firſt ſhall be to repreſent this as a mercy. 2. To preſs upon this ground conſtant believing and hoping in God, as a duty. And 3. To ſpeak a word to them that are troubled, becauſe they cannot get this Command conſtantly obeyed.
1. I wold repreſent this as a mercy that its thy duty, to believe & hope in God at all times, though I fear, I have but few to ſpeak to on this ſcore, few would ever venture an hair of their head on Faith, or on God, if they could get any other fend, ſo long as they could have any ſinful ſhift ou… of hell, (I had almoſt ſaid in hell) it is to no purpoſe to ſpeak to them of Faith; But are there any of you ſenſible of the ill of Unbelief, that when ye would ſit down and take a lift of your ſelf, or of your condition, or of anything that is dear to you, your unbelief and diſcouragement is like to break you; the diſcouragement of ſome, through the prevailing power of Unbelief, is ſo great, that they turn like dyvors, they dare as ſoon look on hell, as on all the perplexities that are in their caſe; I would ſay to ſuch, does thou in this caſe reſent it as a mercy, that thou knows it is thy duty to believe, and a ſin to give way to diſcouragement and unbelief: O bleſs God, thou may venture on Faith, which if thou had not, it is ſad to think, what thou would do next; I am now ſpeaking to them that have any thing to do betwixt God and their ſouls, though I fear there be few that have ado with what I am now upon; And O that I could lament over you, and that ye could lament over your ſelves! But are there any of you preſſed with your ſouls condition, and yet ye are too fool hardy in venturing upon unbelief and diſcouragement: One of two, either ye have never tryed theſe deep foords of diſcouragement and unbelief; or otherways ye are under a dreadful tentation; for of all the mercies next unto Chriſt, a ſoul that is cruſht with diſcouragement and unbelief, will think this the greateſt mercy, that it hath a warrand to believe; and if ye could bleſs him for that, who knows what it would produce? if ye would bleſs him, that ye know, ye have a command to believe, and that it is a ſin to miſbelieve, and give way to diſcouragement.
But 2. If it be a conſtant commanded duty to believe and hope, will ye conſtantly obey that command? Truſt in him at all times; Whatever ye read in your caſes or lots, or in the times, read this, never to caſt away your confidence, but to believe and hope in God. Thou will ſay, I have few motives to it; but on what account does thou forbear murther or theft, or any other groſs ſin? Is it becauſe thou wants temptations to them, or becauſe God hath forbidden them? and haſt thou not a command for believing? Thou muſt not abſtain believing, till thy faith be budded; but becauſe he has commanded, fall about it; Thou thinks thy Faith little worth, it is a blind gueſs, like the blind mans gropping for the wall. But ſhall I ſay. Faith in obedience to a Command, believing with the judgment againſt the ſtream of thy own inclination, is more acceptable to God, than if in thy believing, thou were ſailing before the wind; ye will ſay, ye preſs a command conſtantly to believe, but what ſhould I believe? I have no work for Faith but I have work enough for Diffidence and diſtruſt; I cannot ſtay now to deduce the Anſwer to this in particular inſtances, relating to ſeveral caſes and times: but (as I marked before on this ſubject) there are general foundations that cannot be moved, Catholick Cordials for every condition, and labour to believe theſe▪ when thou cannot dip on particulars: As 1. Believe at all times, and in all conditions, that thou art in God's hand, Remember that word, Mat. 14.27. It is I be not afraid, believe that all the world cannot pull thee out of his hand; thou mayeſt think thou art in frem'd handling, A meſſenger of Satan is ſent to buffet thee, a wicked man is ſent to oppreſs thee, but believe thou art ſtill in Gods hand. 2. Believe, that as thou art in God's hand, ſo he in whoſe hand thou art, doth all things well, that is his Motto in all his dealing, Mark 7.37. And he will not begin at thee, to give beguile to Truſters in him. 3. Believe, that his thoughts are not as your thoughts, neither, are his ways as your ways, Iſai. 55.8. And therefore although thou can ſee no outgate, yet he ſees it, and the way how to bring it about, and let him take his own way, and do not limit him to thy model. 4 Believe that he hath wiſdom, power & love, that thou may venture thy all upon, and that it cannot be ſo well, as when thou ventures it upon theſe. 5. Believe that he is God and not man, thou would have out-wearied the patience of men and angels, having had to do with them, but he is God and not man, with whom thou haſt to do. 6. Believe that all that he ſaith or doth to his people, or thee, …ver ſays, go a way. The ſcope of all, the ſound of all, he does or ſays, is come, and go not away; deſertions, tryals, ſcourges, or whatever elſe he ſends, ſays, come. 7. Believe, that many a diſappointment will he give to thy falſe and deceitful heart, when thou haſt ſaid, Wilt thou caſt off for ever? will he be favourable no more? is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promiſe fail for evermore? hath he forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger ſhut up his tender mercies? He will give theſe thoughts the lie, and make thee re-cant, and eat in that language with ſhame and repentance, and believe this, and ſay, I am treaſuring up matter of repentance and mourning for my ſelf, when God comes and calls me to an account for ſuch thoughts of him. 8. Believe, that God is concerned in thee and his people and intereſt, more than thou art, his ſtake is greater than thine; art thou come unto him? Thou art given to him and he will count for thee, and every one of his people; He that touches them, touches the apple of his eye. And remember that argument Joſhua hath, Joſh. 7.9. What wilt thou do unto thy great Name? Believe that, and it will put thy mind to reſt; theſe are foundations, and Catholick Cordials, that thou mayeſt truſt to at all times, and make uſe of in all caſes, when thou knows not how to put forth Faith, as to particulars; And O! what ſweet Cordials will flow out of them, for Faith and Hope to feed upon, in the darkeſt of diſpenſations.
But 3. If time would permit, a word would be ſpoken to them, that are troubled, becauſe they cannot get this Command of believing and hoping in God, conſtantly obeyed. Thou art convinced it is a commanded Duty, but thou cannot win at it; Unbelief makes a ſlave of thee, when thou would comfort thy ſelf againſt ſorrow, thy heart is faint within thee, thou would look through the Cloud, but thine Eyes are dim, that thou cannot ſee through it; thou that art ſo overpowered with Unbelief, look that it be thy weakneſs and not thy wilfulneſs; How ſhall I evidence that, will thou ſay? Here is a proof of it, mourn over that which thou cannot overcome; thou art overpowered with Unbelief, and cannot help it come, and ſit down before God, and cry, violence is done thee. Tentation and Unbelief prevails with thee, and thou cannot maſter them, but they overcome thee: lament that to God; if thou debate with Unbelief, it will turn like a Snow Ball, that grows the more, the more it be rolled; but mourning over it to God, is the beſt way to get it overcome: I thought to have deduced this at more length; and ſhewed you, it is an evidence of a bleſſed frame, to be mourning for Goſpel ſins, as well as for ſins againſt the Law; but the day being ſhort, I ſhall detain you no longer. God bleſs what ye have heard.