Practical Commentary of 1 Peter Volume 2, Commentary · Chapter 1 · Verse 17

Practical Commentary of 1 Peter Volume 2 · Commentary · Chapter 1 · Verse 17

p. 201Verses 19, 20, 21.

19. By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.

20. Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the Ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

21. The like figure whereunto, even Baptism, doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good Conscience towards God,) by the Resurrection of Iesus Christ.

THere is nothing that so much concerns a Christian to know as the excellency of Jesus Christ, his Person and Works, so that it is always pertinent to insist much on that Subject. The Apostle having spoken of this Spirit, or Divine Nature, and the power of it, raising him from the Dead, takes occasion to speak of another work of that Spirit, to wit, the emission and publishing of his Divine Doctrine, and that, not as a new thing following his Death, and Rising; but as the same in substance, by the same Spirit promulgate long before, even to the first Inhabitants of the World. Quickned by the Spirit, that is in our days, says the p. 202Apostle: but then long before that, by the same Spirit, he went and preached to the Spirits that were in Prison.

This place is somewhat obscure in it self, as it usually falls, but made more so, by the various fancies and contests of Interpreters, aiming or pretending to clear it, these I like never to make a noise of. That dream of the descent of Christs Soul into Hell, though they that are in it, think this place founds somewhat that way, yet it proves, being examined, no way sutable, cannot by the strongest wresting be drawn to fit their purpose: For (1.) That it was to preach that he went thither they are not willing to avow; though the end they give it, is as groundless and imaginary as this is. (2.) They would have his business to be with the Spirits of the Faithful deceased before his coming, here we see its with the disobedient. (3.) And his Spirit here is the same with the sense of the foregoing words, which means not his Soul, but his eternal Deity. (4.) nor is it the Spirits that were in Prison, as they read it, but the Spirits in Prison, which by the opposition of their former condition sometimes, or formerly disobedient, doth clearly speak their present condition, as the just consequent and fruit of their disobedience.

Other misinterpretations I mention not, taking it as agreeable to the whole strain of the Apostles words, **Thus I then thought, But do now apprehend another sense as probable, if not more, even that so much rejected by most Interpreters. The mission of the Spirit and Preaching of the Gospel by it, after his Resurrection; Preaching to sinners, and converting them according to the Prophe…y which he first fulfilled in Person, and after more a…ply in his Apostles. That Prophecy I mean Isa. 60. 1. The Spirit upon him, and it was sent from him on his Apostles to preach to Spirits in Prison, to preach liberty to those Captives, Captive Spirits; and therefore called Spirits in Prison to illustrate the thing the more, by opposition to that Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of liberty, setting them free; and this to shew the greater efficacy of Christs preaching than of Noahs, tho …e a signal preacher of righteousness, yet only himself and his Family, eight Persons, saved by him, but multitudes of all Nations by the Spirit and preaching of Christ in the Gospel, and that by the Seal of Baptism, and the Resurrection of Christ represented in the return from the water, and our dying with him by immersion, and that figure of Baptism like their Ark.Isa 60:1That Jesus Christ did before his appearing in the Flesh speak by his Spirit in his Servants to those of the foregoing Ages; yea the Antientest of them; declaring to them the way of life though rejected by the unbelief of the most part. This is interjected in the mentioning of Christs sufferings, p. 203and exaltment after them. And after all, the Apostle returns …to that again, and to exhortation, which he strengthens by it: But so as this discourse taken in, is pertinently adapted to the present Subject. The Apostles aim in it, we may conceive to be this, (his main scope being to encourage his Brethren in the faith of Christ, and way of holiness, against all opposition and hardship) so to instruct his Brethren in Christ's perpetual influence into his Church in all Ages, even before his Incarnation, as that they see withal, the great unbelief of the World; yea their opposing of Divine Truth and the small number of those that receive it, and so not be discouraged by the fewness of their number, and the hatred of the World, finding that Salvation in Jesus Christ dead and risen again, which the rest miss off by their own wilful refusal. And this very point he insists on clearly in the following Chap. ver. 3. 4. And those very ways of ungodliness there specified, which Believers renounce, was those that the World was guilty of in these days, and in which they were surprised by the flood, they Eat and Drank till the flood came upon them.

In the words of these three Verses we have three things 1. An assertion concerning the preaching of Christ, and the persons he preacht to. 2. The designment and d…scription of the time or age wherein that was, and p. 204the particular way of God's dealing with them. 3. The adapting or applying of the example to Christians. The first in these words which I take together, By thee which Spirit he went and preached to the Spirits in Prison, which sometime were disobedient.

In these words we have a Preacher and his hearers. Of the Preacher we shall find here; 1. His ability. 2. His activity in the use of it. His ability altogether singular and matchless; the very Spring of all abilities, the Spirit of wisdome himself being the co-eternal Son of God: That Spirit he preacht by, was it by which he raised himself from the dead, and without this Spirit there is no preaching; Now he was as our Apostle calls him, a Preacher of righteousness, but it was the power of this Spirit; for in him did this Spirit Preach. The Son is the wisdom of the Father, his Name is the Word: not only for that by him all things were created, as Iohn hath it, the Son that power, by which, as by the word of his mouth, all things were made, but the Word likewise as revealing him; declaring to us the counsel and will of God, therefore by the same Evangelist, in the same place, called that light that illuminates the World, without which Man called the lesser World, the intellectual World, were as the greater World without the Sun: and all that bring aright the Doctrine of saving wisdom, derive it necessarily from him; all Preachers draw from this Soveraign Preacher, as the Fountain of Divine light, as all the Stars receive their light from the Sun, and by that diffusing amongst them, it is not diminisht in the Sun, but only communicated to them, remaining still full and entire in it, as its source: so doth the Spirit flow from Christ in a particular degree unto those p. 205he sends forth in his name, and its in them that he preaches by the power and light of his Eternal Spirit.

Hither then must they all come that would be rightly supplyed and enabled for that work. It is impossible to speak duly of him in any measure, but by his Spirit; there must be particular access, and a receiving of instructions from him, and a transfusion of his Spirit into ours. Oh! were it thus with us, how sweet were it to speak of him. To be much in prayer, much dependance on him, and drawing from him would do much more in this, than reading and studying, seeking after arts and Tongues, and Common Knowledge: These not to be despised nor neglected. Reading good, Vtilis lectio, utilis eruditio, sed magis unctio necessaria, quippe quae sola docet de omnibus. Bern]and learning good, but above all anoynting necessary, that anoynting that teacheth all things. And you that are for your own interest be earnest with this Lord, this Fountain of Spirit, to let forth more of it upon his messengers in these times; you would receive back the fruit of it, were ye busie this way, you should find more life and refreshing sweetness in the word of life, how weak and worthless so ever they were that brought it, it should descend as sweet showers upon the Valleys and make them fruitful.

2. By this Spirit, its said here, he preacht, not only did he so in the Days of his abode on Earth, but in all times both before, and after, never left his Church altogether destitute of saving light, which he dispenced himself, and conveyed by the hands of his Servants therefore its said, he preacht, that this be no excuse for times after he is ascended into Heaven, no nor for times before he descended to the Earth in humane flesh, though he preached not then, nor does now in his flesh, p. 206yet by his Spirit he then preacht, and still doth, so according to what was chief in him, he was still present with his Church, and preaching in it, and is so to the end of the World. This his infinite Spirit being every where, yet 'tis said here by it he went and preached, signifying the remarkable clearness of his Administration that way, as when he appears eminently in any work of his own, or taking notice of our works, God is said to come down, so to those Cities, Gen. 11. Let us go down. So Exod. 3. 8. Thus here, so clearly did he admonish them by Noah, coming as it were himself on purpose to declare his Mind to them. And this word, I conceive, is the rather used to shew what equality there is in this; He came indeed visibly and dwelt amongst Men, when he became flesh, yet before that, he visited by his Spirit, he went by that and preached. And so in after times himself being ascended, and not having come visibly in his flesh to all, but to the Jews only: yet in the preaching of the Apostles to the Gentiles, as the great Apostle says of him, in this expression. Eph. 2. 17. He came and preached to you which were asar off; and this he continues to do in the ministry of his word: and therefore says he, he that despiseth you, despiseth me, &c.

Were this considered, it could not but procure far more respect to the word and more acceptance of it; Would you think that in his word Christ speaks by his eternal Spirit? yea, he comes, and preaches, addresses himself particularly to you in it, could you slight him thus and turn him off with daily refusals or delays at least? Think it is too long, you have so unworthily used so great a Lord, that brings unto you so great Salvation; that came once in so wonderful a way to p. 207work that Salvation for us in his flesh, and is still coming to offer it unto us by his Spirit, does himself preach to us, tells us what he undertook on our behalf, and how he hath performed all; and now nothing rests but that we receive him, and believe on him, and all is ours. But alas! from the most, the return is, that we have here, disobedience.

Sometimes disobedient.] Two things in the hearers by which they are charactared, their present condition, in the time the Apostle was speaking of them, and this by-past disposition when the Spirit of Christ was preaching to them; this latter went first in time, and was the cause of the other, Therefore of it first.

If you look to their visible subordinate Preacher a holy Man, and an able and diligent Preacher of righteousness, both in his Doctrine and in the tract of his life, which is the powerfullest preaching, it seems strange that he prevailed so little: But much more, if we look higher, this hight. as the Apostle points to us to look to, that Almighty Spirit of Christ that preacht to them; and yet they were disobedient. The word is, they were not perswaded, and it signifies both unbelief, and disobedience, and that very fitly: unbelief being in it self the grand disobedience, the mind not yielding to Divine Truth, and so the spring of all disobedience in affection and action. And this root of bitterness, this unbelief is deep …a…ened in our natural hearts, and without a change in them, a taking them to pieces they cannot be good; it is as a Tree firm rooted, cannot be pluckt up without loosening the ground round about it; and this accursed root brings forth fruit unto death; because the Word is not believed, the threats of the Law, and promises of the Gospel: therefore Men cleave unto their sins, and speak peace unto themselves, while they are under the Curse.

p. 208It may se…m very strange that the Gospel is so fruitless amongst us; yea, that neither word nor rod, both preaching aloud to us the Doctrine of Humiliation and Repentance, yet perswades any Man to return, or so much to turn inward, and question himself, to say, what have I done? But thus it will be, till the Spirit be poured from on high, to open and soften hearts. It is to be desired as much wanting in the Ministery of the Word, but were it there, that would not serve unless it were by a concurrent work within the Heart meeting the Word, and making the impressions of it there, for here we find the Spirit went and preacht, and yet the Spirits of the Hearers still unbelieving and disobedient, its a combined work of this Spirit in the Preacher and Hearers that makes it successful, otherwise it is but shouting in a dead man's ear, there must be something within, as one said in a like case.

To the Spirits in Prison.] That's now their Posture, and because he speaks of them as in that Posture, he calls them Spirits, for its their Spirits that are in that Prison. As likewise calls them Spirits, that the Spirit of Christ preacht to, because it is indeed that, that the preaching of the Word aims at, it hath to do with the Spirits of Men, is not content to be at their ear with a sound, but works on their Minds and Spirits some way, either to believe and receive, or to be hardened and sealed up to Judgement by it, which is for Rebels: If disobedience follow on the preaching of that word, the prison follows on that disobed…ence, and that Word which they would not be bound by to obedience, binds them over to that Prison, whence they shall never escape, nor be released for ever.

Take notice of it, and know that you are warned; you will not receive Salvation, offering, pressing it self upon you. You are every day in that way of disobedience, p. 209hastening to this perpetual Imprisonment.

Consider you now sit and hear this Word, so did these that are here spoken of; they had their time on Earth, and much patience used towards them, and though not to be swept away by a flood of Waters, yet daily carried on by the flood of …imes, 90 Psal. and mortality: And how soon you shall be on the other side set into Eternity, you know not. I beseech you, be yet wise; hearken to the offers yet made you, for in his name, I yet once again make a tender of Jesus Christ, and Salvation in him to all that will let go their sins, to lay hold on him. Oh! do not destroy your selves: you are in Prison, he proclaims you Liberty. Christ is still following us himself with treaties; Christ proclaims your liberty, and will you not accept of it;Clamans dictis, factis, morte, …ita, descens…, ascensu …lamans ut redeamus ad eum, Aug. think though you are pleased with your present Thraldom and Prison, it reserves you (if you come not forth) to this other Prison that shall not please you; these chains of spiritual darkness, in which you are, unless ye be freed, will deliver you up to the chains of everlasting darkness, wherein these hopeless Prisoners are kept to the Judgement of the Great day: But if you will receive Jesus Christ presently, upon that, Life, and Liberty, and Blessedness is made yours. If the Son make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

When once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah.] There are two main continuing wonders in the World, the bounty of God, and disloyalty of Man: and the succession of times is no other, but new additions of these two. One grand example is here set before us, an Oecumenical Example, as large as the whole World: much patience, and yet invincible disobedience. Here two things in the instance. The Lord's general dealing with the World of the Ungodly at that time. 2. His p. 210peculiar way with his own chosen; Noah and his Family: He waited patiently for all the rest; but he effectually saved them.

Obs. 1. The time designed thus, in the days of Noah. Many great and powerful Persons in these days that overtopt Noah (no doubt) in outward respects, as in their stature, the proud Giants, and they begot Children,Gen. 6.Gen 6 mighty men of old, men of renown, as the Text hath it: And yet as themselves perisht in the Flood, their Names are drown'd. They had their big Thoughts certainly, that their Houses, and their Names should continue, as the Psalmist speaks, Psal. 49. And yet they are sunk in perpetual Oblivion. And Noah's Name, who walkt in humble obedience you see in these most precious Records of God's own Book, still looks fresh, and smells sweet, and hath this honour, that the very Age of the World is markt with this Name, to be known by it, in the days of Noah. That which prophane ambitious Persons do idolatrously seek after, they are often remarkably disappointed of, would have their names memorable and famous, yet they rot, they are either buried with them, or remembred with disgrace, and rotting above Ground as Carcases un-innterr'd, and so are the more noisom, as little credit to them to be mentioned, as for Pilate that his name is in the Confession of Faith. But the name and remembrance of the righteous is still sweet and delightful: as the name of Abraham, the Father of the Faithful, and of Isaac, and Iacob; their names is embalmed indeed, that they cannot rot, embalm'd with God's own Name, [Eternal] that name wrapt about theirs, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob.

Thus Noah here mentioned, as preferr'd of God, and so in the Second Epistle, as a Preacher of Righteousness, and Heb. 11. among these worthies whose honour is that p. 211they believed; this is only a name, a small thing, not be mentioned in comparison of their other Priviledges, and especially of that venerable Life and Glory which they are Heirs to; and indeed it is a thing they regard very little, yet this we see, that even this advantage follows them, and flies from the vain ungodly that hunt and persue it.

The Lord's dealing with the wicked in those times before he swept them away by the Deluge, is in these two. 1. Long suffering, and withal clear warning; long suffering, Exod. 34. long forbearing to be angry, as the Hebrew Word is in his Name; which supposes a great provocation, and the continuance of it, and yet patience continuing, and in this appears the goodness of God, considering how hateful sin is to him, and how powerful he is to punish it, were it, if it pleased him, in one moment to cut off all the Ungodly, high and low, throughout the whole World; yet he bears, and forbears to punish. Oh! what a World of sin every day in Nations, in Cities and Villages; yea, in Families that he doth not strike with present Judgement, and not only forbears to punish, but multiplies his common mercies on them, Sun, and Rain, and fruitful Seasons.

Yea, there is so much of this that it falls under a gross misconstruction, yet he bears that too,Eccles. 8.Eccl 8 Because sentence against an evil work is not speedily executed; therefore the hearts of the Sons of Men is fully set in them to do evil. Because there is not so much as a word of it for the time (so the word is) this greatens, and fills the heart of Man, and makes it big to do evil. And not only is the Lord's long suffering mistaken by the Ungodly, but even by his own, that should understand him better, and know the true …ense of his ways: yet sometimes they p. 212are mis…ed in this point, beholding his forbearance of punishing the workers of iniquity, instead of magnifying his patience, they fall very near into questioning his Justice and Providence, Psal. 13. Ier. 12. Iob. 21. &c. Our narrow hasty spirits left to their own measures, take not in these larger views that would satisfie us in the ways of God, and forget the immense largeness of his wise designs, his deep reach from one Age to another, yea, from eternity to eternity; consider not how easily he can right himself in point of Justice, when he will,Nemo decoquit huic …reditori. that none can make escape from him, how loose soever their guard seem, and how great liberty soever appears in their present condition. 2. That as he can most easily, so he will most seasonably be known in executing Judgement, and that his Justice shall shine the brighter, by all that patience he hath used, by the Sun of Prosperity. 3. We think not how little that time is to him, that seems long to us, to whom a thousand years, are as one day; a long time of the Churches distress, and their Enemies Triumph, in these seventy years of the Babylonish Captivity, and yet in God's Language a moment, a small moment. However in the closure the Lord always clears himself, he is indeed long suffering and patient, but the impenitent abusers of his patience, pay interest for all the time of their forbearance, in the weight of Judgement when it comes upon them. But thus we see the Lord deals; thus he dealt with the World in the beginning, when all flesh had corrupted their way; yet, sayeth he, their days shall be one hundred and twenty yea…s.

Let us lea…n to curb and cool our brisk humours, towards even s…ubborn finners; be grieved at their sin, its our duty, but think it not strange, nor fret at it, that they continue to abuse the long suffering of God, and p. 213yet that he continues ever abused by suffering them; zeal is good, but as it springs from love if it be right, so its requi…ed by love, and carries the impressions of that love to God, and so a complacency in his way; liking it because it's his, and love to men, so as to be pleased with that waiting for them in possibility at least of their being reclaimed, knowing that however, if they return not, yet the Lord will not lose his own at their hands. Wilt thou, said these two fiery Disciples, that we call for fire, as Elias! Oh! but the Spirit of the Dove rested on him, that told them, they knew not what Spirit they were of; you speak of Elias, and you think you are of his Spirit in this motion: but you mistake your selves, that comes from another spirit than you imagine, instead of such sudden J…stice without you, look inward, and see whence that is; examine and correct within you.

When you are tempted to take ill that goodness and patience of God to sinners. Consider, 1. Can this be right, to differ from his mind in any thing; is it not our only Wisdom, and ever safe Rule to think as he thinks, and will as he wills? And, I pray you, does he not hate sin more than you do? is not his interest in punishing it deeper than yours? And if you be zealous for his interest, as you pretend, then be so with him, and in his way, for starting from that, sure you are wrong. 2. Consider, did he not wait for thee? what had become of thee, if long suffering had not subserv'd his purpose, of further mercy of free pardon to thee? and why will thou not always allow that to which thou art so much obliged? would'st thou have the Bridge cut because thou art so over? Sure thou wilt not own so gross a thought. Therefore esteem thy God still the more thou …eest of his long suffering to sinners, and p. 214learn for him, and with him, to bear and wait.

But this was not a dumb forbearance, such as may serve for a surprize? but continual teaching, and warning joyned with it, as before. We see they wanted not preaching of the choicest kind, he the Son of God by his Eternal Spirit, went and preached to them; it was his Truth in Noah's mouth, and with that we have a continued real Sermon, exprest in this Verse, while the Ark was preparing; that spoke God's mind, and every knock (as the usual Observation is) of the Hammers and Tools used in Building preach'd to them, threatning aloud designed Judgement, and Exhorting to prevent it; and therefore that word is added, that the long suffering of God waited or expected,foreign expected a believing of his Word, and returning from their wickedness, but we see no such thing followed; they took their own Course still, and therefore the Lord took his; they had polluted the Earth with their wickedness, now the Lord would have the cleansing by Repentance, that being denied, it must be another way by flood, and because they and their sins remained one, they would not part with them: therefore was one work made of both, they and their sins as inseparable must be cleansed away together.

Thus impenitency under much long suffering makes Judgement full and compleat. I attest you, hath not the Lord used much forbearance towards us? hath he not patiently spared us? and clearly warned us, and waited long for the Fruit of all? hath any thing been wanting? have not Temporal Mercies been multiplied on us? have not the Spiritual Riches of the Gospel been opened up to us?

And each of you for your selves, consider how its with you after so much long suffering of God, that none p. 215of you can deny, he hath used towards you, and so many gracious Invitations with that patience, have they gained your hearts? or do you still remain Servants to sin? still Strangers to him, and formal Worshipers? I beseech you think on it, what will be the issue of that course? Is it a light matter to you to die in your sins, and to have the wrath of God abiding on you, to have refused Christ so often; and that after you have been so often requested to receive Salvation, after the Lord hath followed you with intreaties, hath called to you so often, why will ye die? yet wilfully to perish, and withal to have all these come in and accuse you, and make your burden heavier, would you willingly die in this estate? if not, then think that yet he is waiting, if at length you will return, this one day more of his waiting you have, and of his speaking to you: and some that were here with you the last day are taken away since. Oh! that we were wise and would consider our latter end, tho' there were neither Sword or Pestilence near you, you must die, and for any thing you know, quickly: why wear you out the day of Grace, and those precious Seasons still; as uncertain of Christ, yea, as indiligent after him as you were long ago: as you love your Souls be more serious in their business, this was their undoing; they were all for present things, they eat and drank,Luk. 17. 27.Luke 17:27 they married in a continued course without ceasing, and without minding their after-estate, they were drowned in these things, and that drowned them in a Flood: Noah did eat and drink, but his main Work was in that time the preparing of the Ark. The necessities of this Life the Children of God are tied to, and fore't to bestow some time and pains on them; but the thing that takes up their Hearts, that which the bent of their p. 216Souls is set on, is their interest in Jesus Christ; and all your wise designs are but a pleasing madness, till this be chief with you. Others have had as much of God's patience, and as fair opportunity as you, whose Souls and Christ have never met, and now know, that they never shall; they had their time of worldly projects and enjoyment, as you now have, and followed them, as if they had been immortally to abide with them; but they are past away as a Shadow, and we are posting after them, and within a while shall lie down in the dust. Oh! how happy they whose hearts are not here trading with vanity and gathering vexation, but whose thoughts are on that blessed life above trouble; Certainly they that pass for fools within the World are the only Children of wisdom, that have renounced their lusts and their own wills, have yielded up themselves to Jesus, taken him for their King, and have their minds resting on him as their Salvation.

While the Ark was a preparing.] Obs. 1. The delay of the Lords determined Judgement on the ungodly, was indeed long-suffering towards them, but here was more in it to Noah, and his Family, the providing for their preservation, and till that was compleated for them, the rest were spared. Thus the very forbearance that the ungodly do enjoy, is usually involv'd with the interest of the godly, somthing of that readily goes into it, and so it is in a great part for their sakes, that the rest are both spared, and are furnisht with common mercies. The Saints are usually the scorn and contempt of others, yet are by that love the Lords carries towards them, the very Arches, Pillars of States,[Semen sanctum statumen terr…]. and Kingdoms, and Families where they are, yea of the World; the frame whereby its mainly continued in regard to them. Isa. 6. 13. But they p. 217that are ungrateful to the great Maker and Upholder of it, and regardless of him. What wonder they take no notice of the advantage they receive by the concernment of his Children in the World.

Here. 1. The Work. 2. The End of it. In the Work, preparing of the Ark, observe. 1. Gods appointment. 2. Noahs obedience.

The power of God was not tied to this, yet his Wisdom choosed it, he that steered the course of this Ark safely all that time, could have preserved those he designed it for, without it; But thus it pleases the Lord usually to mix his wonderfullest deliverances, with some selected means, exercising that way our obedience in their use, yet so as the singular power of his hand in them, whereon faith rests, doth clearly appear, doing by them what in a more natural way they could not possibly effect.

2. For the obedience of Noah, if we should insist on the difficulties both in this work, and in the way of their preservation by it, it would look the clearer and be found very remarkable; the length of the work, the great pains in providing materials; and consider we the opposition that likely he met with in it from the prophane about him, the mightier of them at least, the hatred and continual scoffs of all sorts, it required principles of an invincible resolution to go through with it. What (would they say) means this old dottard to do, whether this monstruous Voyage, and for that it spoke, as no doubt he told them their ruin and his safety, this would incense them so much the more; you look far before you, and what, shall we all perish and you alone escape? But through all the soveraign Command, and gracious promise of his God carried him; regarding their scoffs and threats as little p. 218in making the Ark, as he did afterwards the noise of the waters about it, when he was sitting safe within it. This his obedience, having indeed so boistrous winds to encounter, had need of a well fastened root, that it might stand and hold out against them all, and so it had. The Apostle St. Paul tells us that the root of it was,Heb. 11.Heb 11 by Faith being warned, he prepared an Ark; and there's no living, and lasting obedience, but what springs from that root: he believed what the Lord spake of his determin'd Judgement on the ungodly World, and from the belief of that arose that holy fear, which is expresly mention'd, as exciting him to this work. And he believed the Word of Promise, that the Lord spoke concerning his preservation by the Ark; and the belief of these two, carried him strongly on to the work, and through it, against all counter blasts and opposition, overcame his own doubtings and the wicked's mockings, still looking to him that was the Master, and Contriver of the Work.

Till we attain such a fixed view of our God, and firm perswasions of his Truth, and Power, and Goodness, it will never be right with us, there will be nothing but wavering and unsettledness in our Spirits, and in our ways; every little discouragement from within or without, that meets us, will be like to turn us over; we shall not walk in an even course, but still reeling and staggering, till Faith be set whole upon its own basis the proper Foundation of it; not set betwixt two, upon one strong prop and another that's rotten, that's the way to fall off; partly on God, and partly on creature helps and encouragements, or our own strength. Our only safe and happy way is, in humble obedience in his own strength to follow his appointments, without standing and questioning the matter, p. 219and to resign the conduct of all to his wisdom and love, to put the rudder of our life into his hand, to steer the course of it as seems him good, resting quietly on his Word of Promise for our safety. Lord whither thou wilt and which way thou wilt, be my guid and it sufficeth.

This absolute following of God, and trusting him with all, is markt as the true Character of Faith in Abraham, going after God from his Country not knowing, nor not asking, whither he went, secure upon his guid: and so in that other greater point of offering his Son, silenced all disputes about it, by that mighty conclusion of Faith, accounting that he was able to raise him from the dead. Thus here Noah, by Faith prepared the Ark, did not argue and question, how shall this be done, and if it were, how shall I get all the kinds of beasts gathered together to put into it, and how shall it be ended when we are shut in? No, but believed firmly that it should be finisht by him, and he saved by it, and he was not disappointed.

2. The end of this work was the saving of Noah, and his Family from the general Deluge, wherein all the rest perished.

Here it will be fit to consider the point of the preservation of the Godly in ordinary and common Caties, briefly in these Positions.

1. It is certain that the Children of God, as they are not exempted from the common universal Calamities, and Evils of this life that befal the rest of Men, so not from any particular kind of them, as it is appointed for them with all others once to dye: so we find them not priviledged from any kind of disease, or other way of death, not from falling by Sword, or by Pestilence, or in the …renzie of a Feaver, or any kind of sudden p. 220death: yea, when these or such like are on a Land by way of publick Judgement, the godly are not altogether exempt from them, but may fall in them with others; as we find Moses dying in the Wilderness with those he brought out of Egypt. Now though it was for a particular failing in the Wilderness, yet it evinces, that there is in this nothing prejudging their priviledges, nor contrary to the love of God towards them, and his Covenant with them.

2. The Promises made to the Godly of preservation from Common Judgments have their truth, and are made good in many of them so preserv'd, though they do hold not absolutely and universally, for they are ever to be understood in subordination to their highest good. But when they are preserved they ought to take it as a gracious accomplishment even of these promises to them, which the wicked, many of which do likewise escape, have no right to, but are preserved for after Judgment.

3. It is certain that the Curse and Sting is out of all those evils, incident to the godly with others in life and death, which makes the main difference though to the eye of the World invisible. And it may be observed that in these Common Judgements of Sword or Pestilence or other epidemick diseases a great part of those that are cut off are most of the wickedest, tho the Lord may send of those Arrows to some few of his own to call them home.

The full and clear distinction of the godly and wicked being reserved for their after Estate in Eternity, it needs not seem strange that in many things it appear not here: one thing above all others most grievous to the Child of God may take away the wonder of other things they suffer in common, that is the remainders p. 221of sin in them while they are in the flesh▪ though there is a Spirit in them above it, and contrary to it, which makes the difference: yet sometimes the too much likeness, especially in the prevailings of corruption, doth confuse the matter, not only to others eyes but their own.

4. Though the great distinction and severing be reserved to that great and solemn day, that shall clear all; yet the Lord is pleased in part more remarkably at sometimes to difference his own from the ungodly, in the execution of temporal Judgments, and to give these as preludes of that final and full Judgment. And this of Noah was one of the most eminent in that kind, being the most general Judgment that ever befel the World: or that shall till the last, and so the liveliest figure of it, it was by water, as the second shall be by fire, it was most congruous that it should resemble in this as the chief point, saving of righteous Noah and his Family from it, prefiguring the eternal Salvation of Believers, as our Apostle teacheth.

Wherein few, that is, eight persons were saved by water.] This great point of the fewness of those that are saved in the other greater Salvation as in this, I shall not now prosecute; only,

1. If so few, then the inquiry into our selves, whither we be of these few, would be more diligent, and followed more home than it is yet with the most of us: we are wary in our trifles, and only in this easily deceived, yea our own deceivers in this great point. Is not this folly far beyond what you usually say of some, penny wise and pound fool, to be wise for a moment and fools for eternity?

2. You that are indeed seeking the way of life, be not discouraged by your fewness, it hath always been p. 222so, you see here how few of the whole World, and is it not better to be of the few in the Ark than of the multitude in the waters? let them fret, as ordinarily they do, to see so few more diligent for Heaven, as no doubt they did of Noah, and this is it that galls them, that any should have higher names and surer hopes this way; what? are none but such as you going to Heaven, think you us all damned? what can we say, but there is a flood of wrath wasting many so, and certainly all that are out of the Ark shall perish in it.

3. This is that main truth that I would leave with you; look on Jesus Christ as the Ark, of whom this was a figure, and believe it, out of him there is nothing but certain destruction, a deluge of wrath all the World over out of Christ. Oh! it is our life, our only safety to be in him: But these things are not believed. Men think they believe them, and do not. Were it believed that we are under the Sentence of eternal death in our natural estate, and no escape but by removing out of our selves unto Christ, Oh! what thronging would there be to him, whereas, now he invites and calls, and how few are perswaded to come to him. Noah believes the Lord's word of Judgment against the World, believed his Promise made to him, and prepared an Ark; is it not a high sign of unbelief that there being an Ark of everlasting Salvation ready prepared to our hand, we will not so much as come to it? Will you be perswaded certainly that the Ark Door stands open; his offers are free, do but come and try if he will turn you away; no, he will not, him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out. And as there is such acceptance and sure preservation in him, there is as sure perishing without him, trust on what you, p. 223will, be you of a Giants stature as many were of them, to help you to climb up, as they would sure do when the Flood came on, to the highest Mountains and tallest Trees, yet it shall overtake you, make your best of your worldly advantages, or good parts, or civil righteousness, all shall prove poor shifts from the flood of wrath, which rises above all those, and drowns them; only the Ark of our Salvation is safe, think how gladly they would have been within the Ark, when they found Death without it, and now it was too late, how would many that now despise Christ, wish to honour him one Day. Men so long as they thought to be safe on the Earth, would never betake them to the Ark, would think it a Prison, and could Men find Salvation any where else, they would never come to Christ for it: this is, because they know not. But yet be it necessity let that drive thee in, and then being in him thou shalt find reason to love him for himself, besides the Salvation thou hast in him.

2. You that have fled into him for refuge, wrong him not so far as to question your safety, what though the floods of thy former guiltiness rise high, thine Ark shall still be above them, and the higher they rise the higher he shall rise, shall have the more glory in free justifying and saving thee, though thou find the remaining power of sin still within thee, yet it shall not sink thine Ark; there was in this Ark sin, yet they were saved from the flood; if thou doest believe, that puts thee in Christ, and he will bring thee safe through, without splitting or sinking.

3. As thou art bound to account thy self safe in him, so to admire that love that set thee there. Noah was a holy Man; but whence was both his p. 224holiness and preservation while the World perisht▪ but because he found favour, or free grace, as the word is, in the eyes of the Lord. And no doubt he did much contemplate this, being secure within, when the cries of the rest, drowning, were about him; thus think thou, seeing so few saved in this blessed Ark, wherein I am, in comparison of the multitudes that perish in the deluge, whence is this, why I chosen and so many about me left? why, but because it pleased him. But all is streight here, we have no hearts nor no time for ample thoughts of this love, till we be beyond time, then shall we admire, and praise without ceasing, and without wearying.