The Royal Presence, Text
The Royal Preſence, OR Gods Tabernacle with Men.
JOHN XIV. XXIII.
Jeſus anſwered, and ſaid unto him; If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our Abode with him.
THE Departure of Jeſus Chriſt unto his Father, from whoſe boſome he came into the World, was very ſadly reſented by his Diſciples; whoſe mixt paſſions produce a very great diſturbance, and trouble upon their Spirits.
The inward Anxiety, and unconcealed grief of the Diſciples, move the Bowels of their more affectionate Lord, to pitty their caſe, and provide for their relief, and gives them inſtructions how to expreſſe their love unto him in his abſence, not ſo much in carrying bluber'd eyes, and heavy hearts, as by remembring, and obſerving the Councels, and Inſtructions that he had give to them, while he was preſent with them; So that this whole Chapter is fill'd up with Counſels, and Comforts, Directions, and Conſolations.
Firſt, Directions and Counſels, eſpecially in the 1, 13, 15. verſes.
1 Faith.Firſt, To the exerciſe of Faith, verſe 1. Ye believe in God, believe alſo in me. And this is the life, even a life of Faith, which we muſt live, till we come to enjoyment of Chriſt, by which we fetch comforts in all troubles, and ſtrength againſt all tentations from Jeſus Chriſt.
2. Prayer.Secondly, To the duty of Prayer, verſ. 13. which is the proper duty of an afflicted State, as Jam. 5.13. Is any afflicted? let hi… pray. By prayer the Soul empties his complaints into Gods boſome, and finds eaſe, by telling him of all the trouble and grief that attends his ſtate; Prayer hath that Divine excellency, that like a Heavenly Charm, it ſpeaks away trouble, and ſpeaks in comfort; as 'tis ſaid of Hannah 1 Sam. 1.18. She prayed, and went away, and did eat, and her Countenance was no more ſad; And thus our prayers alwayes ſpeed, when they be made by the help of the Spirit, and offered up to God in the name of Chriſt, 13, 14. verſes. Whatſoever you ſhall ask the Father in my name, that you ſhall receive.
3. Obedience.Thirdly, To Obedience, in the 15 verſ. to do the work committed to them; If yee love me, keep my Commandements. You cannot better expreſſe your love to me, then in keeping my words; Nor is there a more certain way for men to find comfort, than this; 3 Pr…. 17.by keeping his Commands, for then, though they cannot enjoy his perſon, yet they ſhall not miſſe his promiſe.
Secondly, The Conſolations which he gives them in the 2 verſ. &c. the 16 verſ. &c. and 23 verſ. &c.
1. The place to which he goes.Firſt, In the 2, 3, 4, verſes, &c. From the place whether he was going, To his Father, and their Father, his Home, and their Home; whence he did intend to come again to them. So that his going from them, was but a Receſſe, or withdrawing for a time, untill he came, for in the 3 verſ. I will come again, and receive you to my ſelf, rendred in the Greek. aGr. foreign in the preſentenſe.I come again, in the preſentenſe, to intimate the certainty of his coming to them again, as if he were already come; which in the 28 verſ. of this Chapter, Chriſt tells them, ſhould be matter of great Joy to them. If yee loved me, yee would rejoyce, becauſe I ſaid, I go unto the Father.
The promiſe of his Spirit the Comforter.Secondly, From the 16 v. The promiſe of the Spirit, which ſhall ſupply his abſence, ſuch a Spirit, as ſhall teach them, comfort them, and be …ead of all to them, give them ſuch Joy, Courage, and …, as the world can neither give, nor take away, 27 verſ. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, &c.
The abode of God and Chriſt with them.Thirdly, In the 23. verſe, in the Text, We will come, and makeour abode with him, while you keep my words; which is the great promiſe here.
If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
The words of the Text are an anſwer to the queſtion of Judas, (not Iſcariot) Lord how is it, that thou wilt manifeſt thy ſelf unto us, and not unto the world? Jeſus Chriſt gives the anſwer. If a man love me, he will keep my words, &c. To him the promiſe is made, That the Father will love him, They love him that keep his words, and to theſe he hath ſaid, he will manifeſt his love to them, and make his abode with them; In which words there are three parts conſiderable.
Parts of the Text. 3.First, A Suppoſition. If a man love me, he &c.
Secondly, A Poſition. Which is the effect of that love. He will keep my words.
Thirdly, A Promiſe. Which is twofold.
Firſt, Of the Fathers love. My Father will love him.
Secondly, The Co-habitation of the Father and Son with ſuch a perſon. We will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
The Obſervations that I intend to inſiſt upon, are two;
Doct. 2 Firſt, That it is the duty and ſpecial property of them that love Jeſus Chriſt in ſincerity, to keep the words of Chriſt.
Secondly, That God and Chriſt will make their abode with them that keep his words.
Firſt, Of the firſt of theſe, That it is the duty and ſpecial property of them that love Jeſus Chriſt in ſincerity, to keep the words of Christ.
If any man love me, he will keep my words, he will do my will, walk in my wayes, treaſure up my truths and Counſells.
This Doctrine requires three things to be ſpoken to in their order.
Firſt, That Jeſus Chriſt muſt be truly loved.
Secondly, What it is to keep his words.
Thirdly, Why it is both the duty and property of them that love him, to keep his words.
Firſt, That Jeſus Chriſt muſt be truly loved; there is ſuch an indiſpenſible neceſſity of this, that the Apoſtle ſayes 1 Cor. 16.22. If any man love not the Lord Jeſus, let him be Anathema Maranatha, let him be curſed.
But becauſe every one pretends highly to love Jeſus Christ, and but few that love him indeed, I ſhall ſhew two things more briefly;
Firſt, Who he is that truly loves him.
Secondly, Why we ſhould all truly love him.
Firſt, Who he is that truly loves Chriſt.
Firſt, He truly loves Jeſus Chriſt, who upon the diſcovery, and tender of Jeſus Chriſt in the Goſpel, as King, Prieſt, and Prophet, can willingly deny all for him; as the Merchant, Mat. 13.45.46. ſold all that he had for the goodly Pearl. And ſo Paul, Phil. 3.8. accounts all Dung, his parts, his righteouſneſs by the Law, his greateſt excellencies; He loves Chriſt in Deed, and not in Shew only, who can leave the world, his deareſt luſts, his beſt righteouſneſs for Chriſt.
This is a true conjugal love, Pſal. 45.10. Hearken O daughter, and confider, and encline thine ear, forget alſo thine own people, &c. When Chriſt ſees that we have ſuch a love to him, that we will part with all for him, then he ſees a beauty in us that delights him.
Secondly, He truly loves Jeſus Chriſt, who having received him, will rather loſe all, than part with him again; who accounts Jeſus Chriſt better than his beſt things, as he ſayes in Mat. 10.37. He that loves Father or Mother more than me, is not worthy of me, &c. therefore ſayes the Spouſe, Cant. 8.6. Set me as a ſeal upon thine heart, as a ſeal upon thine arm: let me be ſo united to thee, that I may never be ſever'd from thee. It is a very hard leſſon, and an irkſom duty for the beſt of men, to part with friends, liberty, peace, life; all theſe, or either of theſe ſweet mercies; but to part with Chriſt, nothing can perſwade, or enforce the Soul that truly loves him; that's a thought more cruel than the Grave, witneſs the holy Martyrs, a whole cloud of witneſſes; that notable and eminent Galeacius, Marqueſs of V…, &c.
Thirdly, He that truly loves Jeſus Chriſt, takes abundance of delight in Communion with him. No pleaſure like the kiſſes of his mouth, no ſweetneſs like that of his boſom, all his wayes are peace, and his paths pleaſantneſſe; Chriſt makes every condition Comfortable, there is no comfort of life, but in that little enjoyment of Chriſt, that the Soul hath in his life, 'tis Communion with Chriſt, converſe with him, that is all my comfort and pleaſure in the world. O how doth the Spouſe take care that he be not diſturbed, in Cant. 2.7. I charge you, O yee daughters of Jeruſalem, by the Roes, and by the Hinds of the field, that ye ſtirr not up, nor awake my Love, till he pleaſe. The words are an alluſion, to one that would not have her Friend diſturbed, and ſpeaks to her Companions, and charges them by all that is dear and pleaſant to them, not to break the reſt of her beſt Beloved, and ſhews the wonderful delight the Soul takes in Communion with Jeſus Chriſt; and the ſpecial care that it alwayes hath, that no Tentation break in, nor corruption break out, to interrupt that ſweet Communion, or occaſion Chriſts departure, who will not for any profit, commit any ſin, or cauſe Jeſus Chriſt to depart from him.
Fourthly, He that truly loves Jeſus Chriſt, having loſt the ſight of him, is never ſatisfied, till he come to the reenjoyment of him, is alwayes at loſſe, and is never quiet, till he enters into a freſh acquaintance and communion with him, as in that of Joſeph and Mary, they having loſt their Son, went ſeeking till they found him; So Cant. 3.1,2,3. &c. By night on my Bed, I ſought him whom my Soul loveth, I ſought him, but I found him not, I will riſe now and go about the City, in the Streets, and in the broad wayes, &c. I ſaid to the Watchmen, Saw ye him whom my Soul loveth? &c. By all which, is expreſſed the ſedulous care and induſtry of a living Soul ſeeking after Chriſt.
Firſt, By night in her bed. Jeſus Chriſt hath her bed thoughts, (i.) in her Cloſet and private duties, of Prayer, ſerious Meditations, Spiritual Ejaculations, and ſecret ſelf Examinations; in all theſe the Soul enquires. As one that loves the World, by night his Meditation is of the World; ſo the man of pleaſures, and honours, is purſuing his luſts in the night ſeaſon; The wicked man is contriving miſchief upon his bed. So the Soul that loves Chriſt, his thoughts are ſtill at work after Chriſt.
Secondly, I will riſe now and go about the City, &c. (i.) I will betake my ſelf to all publick Ordinances, and ſhew more zeal and life in my duties, and in theſe will I make enquiry.
Thirdly, I asked the watch-men, (i.) the Miniſters of the Goſpel, which are or ſhould be as faithful watch-men, that watch for our Souls, and be able to ſpeak a word in ſeaſon, &c. So nothing will ſatisfie the Soul that truly loves Chriſt without him; and no means ſhall be neglected till ſhe enjoy Him.
Secondly, Why muſt he be thus beloved?
Reaſon. 1 Firſt, Becauſe he is lovely, altogether lovely.
Firſt, Lovely in his life, obſerving all the will of God; there was a wonderful beauty upon him, if we behold, and can underſtand, that hidden glory of an untainted Holineſſe, and exact conformity to the will of God.
Secondly, Lovely in his death, never more lovely and amiable to the believing Sinner, then when he was moſt deſpicable in the eyes of Rebellious Sinners. O then, he appears moſt beautiful and deſireable, when he hangs on the Croſſe, there making our Peace, procuring our Pardon, obtaining Life and Glory for us, by that ſhameful death.
Thirdly, Lovely in all his Graces, each Grace a matchleſſe Jewel. Rocks of Diamonds, Mountains of Pearl, not worthy to be mentioned with the leaſt of his Excellencies; If he put but a little of this Grace upon any Soul, though he be never ſo vile, cloath'd with corruption; as in Ezek. 16. from the 9. to the 16 verſ. yet may be made beautiful by his Comelineſſe.
Fourthly, Lovely in all his Ordinances, in which the more immediate ſight the Soul hath of him, the more he is taken with his Beauty; No wonder he is call'd in Hag. 2.7. the deſire of all Nations.
Reaſon. 2 Secondly, Becauſe of his deſerving love; we loved him, becauſe he firſt loved us.
Conſider in his love, theſe four particulars.
Firſt, He laid down his life for us, ſuch a Love, will deſerve love, and life too; Joh. 15.13. Greater Love, hath no man, then this, that a man lay down his life for his friend.
Secondly, He lives now in Heaven for us, 7 Heb. 25. He ever liveth, to make interceſſion for them. He is there minding our neceſſities, agitating our affairs; by his ſitting there, we have Liberty of comming thither; by his ſitting there in glory, we have our ſtanding here in Grace.
Thirdly, He accounts that as done to himſelf, that is done to them, that are his, Zach. 2.8. He that toucheth you, toucheth the Apple of his eye, and Mat. 10.40,41,42. &c. He that receiveth you, receiveth me, and ſo he ſaid to Saul, Acts 9.4. why perſecuteſt thou me? when he was with Commiſſion from the High Prieſt, dragging the poor Profeſſors of Jeſus Chriſt to the Priſon.
Fourthly, He longs to have us with him. Joh. 17.24. Father I will that where I am, there they may be alſo, to behold my Glory. He is not (q. d.) ſatisfied without their company; and is alwayes imparting his moſt ſecret Counſels to them, Joh. 15.16. Henceforth I call you not Servants, for the Servant knoweth not what his Lord doth, but I have called you Friends, for all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you.
Reaſon. 3 Thirdly, Becauſe otherwiſe we ſhall not regard his words; which is intimated in the Text, If we love him, we ſhall keep his Words, but if we love him not, we will not keep his Words; It is want of love to Chriſt, that is the cauſe of the abounding of every ſin, for if we did love him, we ſhould keep his Commands, which is the ſecond particular.
Secondly, What is it to keep the words of Chriſt?
Firſt, There is a Natural and Mental keeping of the words of Christ; and ſo we muſt keep them, that is, Remember his Words, his promiſes, Counſels, and Appointments.
The Memory is mans Storehouſe, or Cabinet, that ſhould be kept Sacred for the Truths of Chriſt; So the Diſciples kept the word of Chriſt, when they remembred his ſayings; and David Pſal. 119.93. J will never forget thy Precepts, for by them thou haſt quickned me, (i.) I will keep thy Precepts; for what we forget, we loſe, and what we remember, we keep; And thus, as Friends take pleaſure to look ſometimes on the Love-tokens of their abſent Friends. So may we have ſingular comfort and refreſhment, to ſee the Heart of Chriſt in the Counſels, Promiſes, and Appointments left with us.
Secondly, There is an Evangelical and Practical keeping of the words of Chriſt. When we do believe promiſes, and obey commands; Promiſes not believed, and Precepts not obeyed, are as water ſpilt on the earth, beſides the veſſel that ſhould receive it, Heb. 4.2. but when they are believed, they be as liquor put into the veſſel for its proper uſe. Hence ſaies Chriſt, Luke 11.28. Bleſſed are they that hear the word of God and keep it. Then we keep the words of Chriſt, when we believe his promiſes, obſerve his precepts in all our converſation, and walk by his appointments and inſtitutions in all our duties.
Thirdly, Why 'tis their property and duty that love Jeſus Chriſt to keep his words.
Reaſon. 1 Firſt, Becauſe true love is comprehenſive; He that love Chriſt truly loves all that is his; He that loves him that begat, loves him alſo that is begotten: The nearer any thing is to Chriſt, the better it is beloved; and then we love the word when we keep it, as a ſpecial pledge of his love; To have his word, and a heart to keep it, is a double bleſſing; and indeed, ſuch a gift as the word of Christ is, is worthy to be loved for it ſelf, and kept for the givers ſake.
Reaſon. 2 Secondly, Becauſe true love is Operative, 'tis the principle of Goſpel obedience, 2 Cor. 5.14. The love of Chriſt conſtraineth us. Where there is the diſpoſition of a Son, there will be obedience to the Fathers commands; ſo where there is a ſpiritual love to Chriſt, it will ſet the ſoul on work, and quicken it to keep the words of Chriſt, as is ſaid of Faith, Shew me thy Faith by thy works. So ſhew thy love to Chriſt by thy works; as Faith without works is dead, ſo is love without obedience.
Reaſon. 3 Thirdly, Becauſe keeping the words of Chriſt gives the cleareſt and ſureſt teſtimony of the truth of our love to Jeſus Christ. Probatio delectationis eſt exhibitio operis; Greg. Hom.Obedience is the moſt lively teſtification of love, as Chriſt ſaid to Peter, Loveſt thou me? &c. ſhew it in this, in doing thy duty; Feed my ſheep. So Chriſt tells us in the Text, Where the fire of love is in the breaſt, there the flame of duty and ſervice is in the hands. Joh, 15.14. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatſoever I command you. In the 1 Joh. 5.3. In this is the love of God, that we keep his Commandments.
Uſe. 1 Uſe 1. For Exhortation.
Firſt, To a mental keeping of the words of Chriſt, according to that word, Heb. 2.1. We ought therefore to give the more diligent heed, to the things which we have received, leſt at any time we let them ſlip. And that we may not forget, but keep in our memories the words of Chriſt.
Firſt conſider, That all the promiſes and counſells, which Jeſus Chriſt hath made known to us, are not only for preſent, but for future uſe, Iſa. 42.23. Hearken and hear for the time to come. We ſhould hear as if we were to hear no more. The Cordial which hath ſome time revived us, muſt not be laid aſide, leſt for want of it another time, we faint quite away. The reaſon why they were ready to faint under afflictions, Heb. 13.5. was, becauſe they had forgotten the exhortation, which ſpeaketh to them as to Sons. For this cauſe Jeſus Chriſt often bids his Diſciples remember the word he had ſpoken to them, and knowing their frailty, promiſes his ſpirit, Joh. 14.26. and that (ſayes he) foreign, ſhall bring to your remembrance.
Secondly conſider, Not to remember the words of Chriſt, is a ſad ſign of our diſ-eſteem of Jeſus Chriſt. We uſually remember Precepts, Counſels, and Sayings, according to the authority which the perſon hath with us, from whence they come. It is a very great diſhonour to Jeſus Chriſt, when we ſhall caſt his words behind our backs. Did we honour Jeſus Chriſt as our King, Lord, and Lawgiver, we ſhould be more careful to remember what he hath ſpoken to us. We often blame our heads, as if the fault lay only there, that we do not remember the words of Chriſt, when indeed the fault lies moſt in the hearts, that we have not more love and eſteem of Chriſt there.
Thirdly, The time will come, when we ſhall dearly repent every truth forgotten, that we did not endeavour to ſeal inſtruction upon our hearts.
Firſt, When God ſhall with-hold inſtruction from us, becauſe we have refuſed it; the time may come, when as Amos 8.12. Men ſhall run to and fro, and ſeek the word of the Lord, and ſhall not find it; and then we ſhall ſee the worth of the word, that now we prize not.
Secondly, When God ſhall call us to an account for all the Sermons, and Inſtructions we have received, as he will certainly do; though we forget, yet he will remember, and he will ask how we have kept, and improved the Word he hath ſpoken to us.
To help us in keeping, or remembring the words of Chriſt.
Directions. Firſt, Let your hearts be affected with the worth and excellency of the word, that it is more precious than Gold or Silver: and then we ſhall keep it as choice treaſure. That which a man prizeth, he will keep in ſafe cuſtody, and have often in his eyes, as David ſayes of the word, Pſal. 119.97. O how I love thy Law, it is my meditation all the day long. It a man account the word as his treaſure, he will not forget it, as Jerem. 2.32. Can a Maid forget her Ornaments, or a Bride her Attires? This they forget not; Yet becauſe we account not the word as excellent and neceſſary as theſe, therefore it follows, Yet my people have forgotten me dayes without number.
Secondly. Apply every word of Chriſt to your own ſouls, though men will not keep what is anothers, yet uſually they keep what is their own; while men carve away the word to others, as if it concern'd them not, 'tis no marvel if they keep it not, but if we accounted every word as ſpoken to us, and our portion, we ſhould hear and keep it. Men remember the news which concerns themſelves. We ſhould hear Chriſt ſpeaking, as Job 5.27. Hear thou this, know it for thy good.
Thirdly, Meditate often upon what you have received, as Mary pondered the ſayings which ſhe heard, in her heart The way to keep any thing ſafe, is to have a conſtant eye upon it. Meditation is the Souls ſerious retiring into it ſelf, to take a view of all that of God, that is laid up within it ſelf.
Fourthly, Haſten to do all that you have heard and learned, Pſal. 119.60. It is ſaid by David, I made haſt and prolonged not the time to keep his Commandments. A man will not eaſily forget his Trade; ſo if we daily obey commands, and believe promiſes, we cannot eaſily forget the commands and promiſes given to us: which laſt direction leads to the ſecond exhortation.
Exh. 2 Secondly, It may exhort us to keep the words of Chriſt with an Evangelical and Practical keeping. Keep the word as a man keeps his Rule or the Souldier keeps his Weapon; let not the word depart from thee, and do not thou depart from it, by forſaking the appointments and commands of Chriſt.
Firſt, conſider, That if we do not keep the words of Chriſt, by obeying, and a ſuitable walking, we do but in vain pretend love to Jeſus Chriſt, as they that had no more of Chriſt, but to call him Lord, (Mat. 7.21.) Not every one that ſaith unto me, Lord, Lord, ſhall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, &c. So, not every one that ſayes he loves me, but he that doth my word, he is my friend.
Secondly, conſider what a ſin it is to pretend love to Chriſt, and not ſo truly to love him, as to keep his words; 'tis Hypocriſie; they be Chriſt's falſe friends, an open enemy is leſs dangerous than they, Ezek. 33.31. They hear thy words, but they will not do them, their heart goes after their covetouſneſs; They be falſe to themſelves, and delude their own ſouls with a bare profeſſion and hearing, Jam. 1.22. Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own ſouls.
Secondly, conſider what judgement they incurre, and who can tell how great it is? 'tis call'd a beating with more ſtripes, when the leaſt ſtripe from that hand can break the loynes, Luke 12.47. He that knoweth his Maſters will, and doth it not, ſhall be beaten with many ſtripes.
Secondly conſider, This is the cleareſt evidence of our intereſt in Chriſt, of his love to us, that we keep his Commandments. By this we know that we have him as our Chriſt, when we do not only love him as a Jeſus, a Saviour, but obey him as a Lord, and follow his Law. When God ſhall write his Law in our hearts, Is not this an evidence that Chriſt is ours?
Thirdly, Great and many are the encouragements which he hath promiſed to them that keep his words. There be many bleſſings in the word, but they only have the bleſſings for theirs, who keep his word, Jam. 1.15. Whoſo looketh into the perfect Law of Liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man ſhall be bleſſed in his deed; he ſhall ask what he will, and have it, Joh. 15.7. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask what you will, and it ſhall be done unto you.
Direct. That we may do the words of Chriſt.
Firſt, Let it be the aim and intentions of our ſouls, when we come to hear, to turn hearing into doing. Say as Paul did, Acts 9.6. Lord what wilt thou have me to do? and Cornelius, Acts 10.33. Now therefore are we all here preſent before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
Secondly, Beg of God to give you ſuch a heart, that you may not only ſay, as the people in a good humour, once to Moſes; All that thou ſhalt ſpeak unto us, that will we obſerve and do; but find your hearts ſuch as in Deut. 5.29. O that there were ſuch an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my Commandments always, &c. It is he by whom the word is made (as James hath it)… Jam. … 1. foreign. engraffed. foreign, A fruit-bearing word. Begin all your hearing with prayers, and conclude them with prayers, becauſe 'tis of the greateſt concernment.
Uſe. 2 Laſtly, A uſe of comfort.
Firſt, If we keep this word, the word will keep us. It will keep us in the worſt of times, yea at all times, Pro. 6.22. When thou goeſt, it ſhall lead thee; when thou ſleepeſt it ſhall keep thee; and when thou awakeſt, it ſhall talk with thee. If you keep his Commands, his Commands will keep you; If you keep his Promiſes, his Promiſes will bring you to Glory.
Secondly, If we keep his word, we ſhall not want preſent comforts. The preſent gratuities which we have from Chriſt, ſhould be enough to encourage us, if there were no future reward, Pſal. 19. In keeping of them there is great reward.1 Tim. 4. …. verſe.
Thirdly, Jeſus Chriſt hath promiſed a bleſſedneſs to ſuch perſons; they be a bleſſed people, Rev. 1.3. Bleſſed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this Prophecy, and keep thoſe things which are written therein; and ſo in Luke 11.28. Bleſſed are they, &c. and with the beſt of bleſſings doth be crown them in the Text, My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and will make our abode with him; which is the ſecond obſervation.
Obſ. 2 God and Chriſt will make their abode with them that keep his word.
In which Obſervation, we ſhall take notice of theſe three particulars.
Firſt, How God and Chriſt do make their abode with them that keep his word.
Secondly, Why God and Chriſt will make their abode with ſuch.
Thirdly, What an excellent bleſſing it is to have God and Chriſt abiding with us.
Firſt, How God and Chriſt do make their abode with them that keep his word; in which theſe three particulars muſt be ſhown.
1. How God abides with his People.
2. How Jeſus Chriſt abides with them.
3. How both God and Chriſt will make their abode with them that keep his word.
Firſt, How God, the firſt Perſon in the Trinity, is ſaid to make his abode with them that keep his word.
And this will be two wayes ſeen.
Firſt, It is not here to be underſtood of his common or general preſence, as he is the infinite God, and being Omnipreſent, fills Heaven and Earth: for ſo he abides with all the works of his hands; yea, ſo he is with them that fear him not.
Secondly, It is here properly underſtood of Gods abode by way of ſpecial preſence, as he is a gracious Father; there fore Jeſus Chriſt doth firſt expreſs the Fathers love, and then his abode, as the product and fruit of his love, My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, &c. He will come and abide with his, as a God in Covenant with them, therefore hath he put it into a promiſe, in the 2. Cor. 6.16. I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they ſhall be my people.
Secondly, How Jeſus Chriſt will make his abode with them that keep his word? which will be ſhown alſo, Firſt, Negatively. Secondly, Affirmatively.
Firſt Negatively, It is not to be underſtood of a carnal or corporeal preſence of Chriſt (as the Papiſt imagine) as if the fleſh of Chriſt could be in all places, whom the Heavens muſt contain till the time of reſtitution of all things: for ſaies the Apoſtle, 2. Cor. 5.16. acknowledging, If he had known Chriſt after the fleſh, yet ſo, he knows him no more.
Secondly, Affirmatively, He makes abode with his people after a ſpiritual manner, God the Father makes his abode with his Servants, as a Father to them; Jeſus Chriſt abides with them, as the Head of his Church, as it is in Ephe. 5.23. He is the Head of his Church, and the Saviour of his Body. God abides with us in Chriſt, Jeſus Chriſt abides with us by his Spirit.
Corn … lap.A learned Author ſhews four ways of Chriſts abode with Believers.
1. Politicè ut Rex in Regno, As a King in his Kingdom; and ſo he gives Laws as the only Head, and King of his Church: protects them, and order all their affairs.
2. Oeconomicè, ut Puter in Dome, As a Father in his Houſe; and ſo he takes care, and makes proviſion for his people, as a Father doth for his Family.
3. Ethicè, ut ratio in homine, As reaſon in a man, which is the light that directs man in all his actions; ſo Jeſus Chriſt directs and leads his people.
4. Phiſice, us Anima in Corpore, As the Soul in the Body, which animates and acts the whole man, without which the Body is a dead, and liveleſs Trunck; ſo Jeſus Chriſt doth quicken our ſoules, by whom we have ſpiritual life.
And that he is the Head of his Church, and thus abides with them,
First conſider, He hath all grace and life in him; John 5.26. As the Father hath life in himſelf, ſo hath he given to the Son, to have life in himſelf; therefore the Pſalmiſt ſaies, Pſal. 36.9. With thee is the Well of life, and in thy light, ſhall we ſee light.
Secondly, From him is all grace and life conveyed out unto us, John 1.16. of his fulneſs have we all received, and grace for grace. Yea, whatſoever we receive from the Spirit of God, we have from him originally, as in John 16.15. For he ſhall take of mine and ſhew it unto you.
Thirdly, How God and Chriſt are both ſaid to make their abode with them that keep his word. And this I ſhall ſhew to be three wayes.
Firſt, by their ſpecial Providence and Inſpection with them, and ſo we may ſee them in ſeveral Scriptures, abiding with them, as in Zach. 1.8,9,10. verſes, there's Jeſus Chriſt among the …, which repreſent the Church, and in Revel. 1.13. He is there in the midſt of his Golden Candleſticks, and David tells us of his experience of Gods preſence with him, Pſal. 73.23. I am continually with thee, thou upholdeſt me with thy right hand, and the Apoſtle Paul, 2 Tim. 4.17. The Lord stood by me; indeed the eyes of the Lord are upon the Righteous, and he hath ſaid, he will not leave them.
Secondly, They make their abode with them in the Goſpel, and Goſpel Ordinances, where theſe be continued in their power and purity, there the Tabernacle of God is among men, and when theſe are taken away, I-chabod, the Glory is departed; We may ſay God hath forſaken us. As the Ark was a Tipe, and Token of God; ſpecial preſence with the Jews, ſo the Goſpel, and Goſpel Ordinances, are a ſignal, Token of Gods abode with us, for in theſe we may ſee him, in theſe, we may enjoy him, by theſe, we may be made like to him, as in the 2 Cor. 3.18. But we all with open face, behold as in a Glaſſe the Glory of God, and are changed into the ſame Image, from Glory to Glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Thirdly, They make their abode with them in the Spirit, which proceeds from the Father, and the Son; So they may both be ſaid truly to abide with us, while we have the Spirit, the Comforter, which proceeds from the Father, and the Son, as a pledge of their Love, Joh. 15.20. When the Comforter is come, whom I will ſend unto you, from the Father, I will ſend him ſayes Chriſt, even the Spirit of truth, which foreign, which proceeds from the Father, there is an foreign, a Proceſſion of the Holy Ghoſt, from the Father, and the Son, to the People that keep his word; and thus Believers are ſaid to hold fellowſhip with the Father, and the Son, in the 1 Epiſt. of John 13. It is by the Spirit we are drawn; being drawn, we come; being come we are enabled to walk with God and Chriſt: It is this Spirit that doth all for us. As in the Ecche, The Ayre being moved by the voice, returns the ſame ſound by its own motion; So in all our Communion with God and Chriſt; the Soul being moved by the Spirit, returns anſwer, by vertue of the Spirits motion in us; Come, ſayes the Spirit, I come ſayes the Soul, being taught by the ſame Spirit.
All the works wrought on the Souls of men, in order to Salvation, are wrought of God and Chriſt in us, but by the Spirit; As in theſe three ſpecial particulars.
Firſt, By the Spirit they inſtruct and teach; The Spirit is an enlightning Spirit, a Spirit of Judgement, and of burning. The Spirit reveals the Counſels of God, the great Miſteries of the Kingdom; Leads into all truth, makes men wiſe to Salvation.
Secondly, By this Spirit they quicken & comfort the Souls of men, Rom. 5.5. It is by the Spirit that the Love of God is ſhed abroad in our hearts. Our cold and frozen Spirits are warmed and made fit for action, and by this Spirit, we are awaken'd; Hence the Church prayes, for the breathings of this Spirit, Cant. 4.16. Awake, O North-wind, and come thou South, blow upon my Garden, that the Spices thereof may flow out.
Thirdly, By this Spirit they do ſtrengthen, and eſtabliſh the hearts of men in the wayes of Holineſſe, thus they are made ſtrong in the Lord, and in the power of his might; ſtrong to reſiſt tentations, ſtrong to ſuppeſſe corruptions; ſtrong to perform duties, by this Spirit they are carryed through all difficulties; by this Spirit their Infirmities are healed;Rom. 8.26. they are made to perſevere, and kept ſtedfaſt, and unmoveable, alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord; and Sealed up to the day of Redemption.
Thus God and Chriſt do make their abode with them that keep the words of Chriſt, till they come to make an everlaſting abode with them in Heaven.
And according to the workings of this Spirit more or leſſe in the hearts of men, God is ſaid to be preſent, or abſent from his people.
Reaſons. Secondly, The Reaſons why God and Chriſt will make their abode with them that keep his words.
Reaſ. 1 Firſt, Becauſe of their ſpecial Love to, and Care of them that keep his words. Indeed all the Care of God, in concerning his people, that he hath in the World, therefore in the Second Commandement, he is ſaid to ſhew mercy to thouſands of them that fear him, and keep his Commandements, that do not caſt his word behind their backs, and forſaking his Appointments, follow their own Inventions; So that if we faithfully keep his word, he will abide with us in our work; And this is the Great Reaſon in the Text, My Father will Love him; Not but that he Loves his Elect from Eternity, but he will manifeſt his Love to them, and therefore he will make his abode with them, as the People of his Love; for in Deut. 32.9. The Lords Portion is his People, and Jacob is the Lot of his Inheritance, and in Mal. 3.17. they are called his Jewels, and men will abide with their Treaſure.
Reaſ. 2 Secondly, Becauſe of the near Relation that is between God and Christ, and them that keep his word. That is a very full place of Scripture for this purpoſe, Mat. 12.50. Whoſoever ſhall do the will of my Father which is in Heaven, the ſame is my Brother, and Siſter, and Mother. What nearer Relation can there be than this? So near are they to Jeſus Chriſt, that keep his word, obſerve his will, and be true and faithful to his Appointments; and ſure ſuch near Relations will deſire Cohabitation on both ſides.
Firſt, God and Chriſt are ſaid to ſtand Related in a Paternal Relation.
Secondly, They are ſaid to ſtand Related in a Conjugal Relation.
Firſt, God and Chriſt ſtand in a Paternal Relation to his People.
Firſt, God is their Father, and they are his Sons and Daughters; And this the Church doth acknowledge in Iſai. 63.16. Doubtleſs thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Iſrael acknowledge us not, thou O Lord art our Father, &c. And with this the Lord comforted mourning Zion, Iſai. 49.14,15. But Zion ſaid, The Lord hath forſaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. But God ſayes, Can a Woman forget her ſucking Child, that ſhe ſhould not have Compaſſion on the Son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet I will not forget thee. Behold I have graven thee on the palms of my Hands, &c. My abode is with thee.
Secondly, Jeſus Christ is their Father, Iſai. 9.6. The everlaſting Father. Therefore he promiſeth his Diſciples in this, 14. Joh. 18. I will not leave you, foreign, Orphans, or Fatherleſſe Children. He is the moſt affectionate tender hearted Father, Tam Pater nemo, tam pius nemo: None ſo good, none ſuch a Father as he, (… Tertul.)
Secondly, God and Chriſt ſtand related to them that keep his word, in a Conjugal relation; and God hath ſaid a ſpecial command of co-habitation upon perſons in this relation, The man muſt dwell with his own Wife.
Firſt, God is related as a Husband, And will not God dwell with his People, whom he hath eſpouſed to himſelf? I have betrothed thee unto me for ever, (Hoſea 2.19.) Yea I will betroth thee unto me in righteouſneſs, and in judgement, and in loving kindneſs, and in mercies; I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulneſs. And in Iſai. 54.5,6. For thy Maker is thy Husband, &c. For the Lord hath called thee as a Woman forſaken, &c.
Secondly, Jeſus Chriſt is the Husband of his People, as we ſee in the whole Book of Canticles. And ſo in Ephe. 5. from the 29. Verſe to the end of the Chapter. Now where ſhall God and Chriſt make their abode, but with their eſpouſed Ones? Doth Jeſus Chriſt delight to lodge any where more than with the Wife of his boſome?
Reaſ. 3 Thirdly, Becauſe of Gods faithful Covenant, he will make his abode with them that keep his word. If we keep the word of his Patience, he will keep the word of his Promiſe, Revel. 3.10. Becauſe thou haſt kept the word of my Patience, I alſo will keep thee, from the hour of temptation, which ſhall come on all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. It is called a word of Patience, becauſe it teacheth patience, and eſpecially becauſe it requires it in all them that will obſerve it. And this is Gods's Covenant. Now, what is the Covenant? Jerem. 32.40. And I will make an everlaſting Covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they ſhall not depart from me; and ſuch a ſure and infallible promiſe of abode, can never be violated by a God-keeping Covenant; God may hide for a moment, turn away in a little wrath from his people (Iſa. 54.8.9.10.11.) but with great mercy will he gather them, and ſhew them everlaſting kindneſs; Yea, his Promiſe ſhall be as the waters of Noah, that as the waters of the great Deluge ſhall never cover the world any more, ſo he will never forſake his people utterly. It ſhall be more poſſible for the Mountains to depart, and the Hills to be removed, than that he ſhould finally depart from His. The frame of the world may be diſordered, but the frame of Gods heart towards his People, can never be changed. When the men of the world think God hath forſaken them, he is near to them, and cannot caſt off his people; He may ſometimes give them up for their ſinnes into the enemies hands, but cannot give them away: this gave the Church that confidence, in Micah 7.8. Rejoyce not againſt me, O mine Enemy; when I fall, I ſhall ariſe, when I ſit in darkneſs, the Lord ſhall be a light unto me. And this did bear the head of the New-Teſtament-Saints above water, 2 Cor. 4.8.9. We are troubled on every ſide, yet not diſtreſſed; we are perplexed, but not in diſpair; perſecuted, but not forſaken; caſt down, but not deſtroyed. And whence is it, that Diſtreſs doth not follow Troubles? Despair our Perplexities? Deſertion our Perſecutions? Deſtruction our ſad Dejections? ſure it is, becauſe God is faithful, alwayes with us, and will not ſuffer us to be tempted above what we are able to bear, &c.1 Cor. 10.13.
Partic. 3 Thirdly, What a ſpecial bleſſing it is, to a perſon, or people, to have God and Chriſt to make their abode with them.
The excellency and deſirableneſs of this abode of God and Chriſt with Believers, may be ſeen in theſe three particulars.
Firſt, It is better than all outward mercies, and earthly bleſſings.
Secondly, This will more than ſupply the want or abſence of all other comforts.
Thirdly, All our happineſs doth lye in this, Gods preſence with us.
Conſ. 1 Firſt, The abode of God and Chriſt with a ſoul, is better than all outward mercies, or earthly bleſſings whatſoever. God was wont to tell his people heretofore, as in Deut. 28. That if they would keep his Commandments, they ſhould be bleſſed in their basket, and in their ſtore; that he would give them peace, the fat heritage of Jacob, and to ride upon the high places; all goodly mercies: But now he doth encourage them by a bleſſing of far greater worth, I will love you, I will make mine abode with you. It is ſo high and tranſcendent a favour, That Moſes preferr'd it, before that goodly Land of promiſe, Canaan, the Land flowing with Milk and Hony, as appears by that paſſage in Exod. 33.15. If thy preſence go not with me, carry us not up hence. Though Canaan be never ſo deſirable a good Land, Yet rather let me abide in this vaſt-howling Wilderneſſe with God, then go without thy preſence thither. A Wilderneſſe Condition with God in the Tent, is better then all Pleaſures and Honours without God in the Palace. Hence David in the midſt of all his Royal Pompe, and Greatneſſe, deſired this, as the Complement and Perfection of all, Pſal. 101.1.2. O when wilt thou come unto me.
Conſider theſe two particulars.
Firſt, That there is not beauty, nor deſirableneſſe in the faireſt outward proſperity, if God and Chriſt do not make their abode with us. If we have all the world, and cannot ſee the abode of God and Chriſt on our Tabernacle, in their ſpecial Providence, in Soul refreſhing Ordinances, or by the Comforting Spirit; We may look on all, and ſay as Hiram did of the Cities Solomon gave him, they be Cabul, Dirty things. 1 Kings 9.13.If we cannot find God and Chriſt thus with us, in the midſt of our Glory, The Glory is departed.
Secondly, Conſider, There is no miſery, nor unhappineſſe in the worſt afflictions, if God and Chriſt be there; in the Furnace there is no Death; in Captivity, no Darkneſſe; in Priſon, no Sadneſſe; in Death, no Hell. Jeſus Chriſt tells us, he will not leave us Comfortleſſe; he never told us we ſhould not meet with Tribulations, but ſayes, In the world we ſhall have Tribulation, and as ſurely, that in him, we ſhall have Conſolation. His people may be in the world Friendleſſe, Harbourleſſe, Pennyleſſe, but he aſſures them, they ſhall never be Comfortleſſe.
Partic. 2 Secondly, This abode of God and Chriſt with his people, will more then ſupply the want or abſence of all other things. Jeſus Chriſt, when he would throughly encourage his Diſciples againſt all the hardſhips, and diſcouraging fears, they might meet withall after his departure, gives them this one precious Cordial, or Catholicon, in Mat. 28.20. Loe I am with you alway, even unto the end of the World, when you are caſt out of the Synagogues, had before Magiſtrates and Rulers for my name ſake, Scourged, Hated, Impriſoned; for all theſe things ſhall they do unto you, Let this comfort you; Loe, I am with you alway, to the end of the World.
Indeed, This abode of God and Chriſt with his people, is every thing to the Soul, which we may ſee in theſe three particulars.
Firſt, Their preſence is a Sanctuary, and ſure Hide-ing place.
Secondly, It is a ſure Light and Guide to them.
Thirdly, It is a Store-houſe and Treaſury of all Proviſions.
Firſt, The abode or preſence of God and Chriſt, is inſtead of a Sanctuary, or ſure hideing place; as Pſal. 84.11. For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield, &c. and in Iſai. 8.13. ſayes the Prophet, Sanctifie the Lord God of Hoſts, and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread, and he ſhall be for a Sanctuary: Do you ſet God before you, and he will ſet himſelf by you; and where the great God goes, there goes a Guard of Angels, Pſal. 34.7. His Wings be a Covert, and his hand a Canopy, with which he hides from the Storm, and from Rain.
And that he is a mighty Saviour.
Firſt, Conſider his Omnipotency; He can do whatever pleaſeth him; He can make the worm Jacob to threſh Mountains, and the Mountains to become a plague before Jerubbabel; Zach. 4.7. All the Nations of the Earth are but as a drop of the Bucket, or duſt of the Ballance, compared with him; and all hearts are in his hands; Therefore ſayes the Prophet, in Iſai. 26.4. Truſt in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah, is everlaſting ſtrength, or the Rock of ages. He is no broken Reed, but that ſtrength in which we may Confide; As David ſayes, Pſal. 46.1,2,3. Si fractus illabitur Orbis, If the World be diſſolved, God is our refuge and ſtrength, &c. therefore we will not fear, though the Earth be removed, and though the Mountains be carried into the midſt of the Sea, &c.
Secon…ly, Conſider his imme…tability; We have ſtanding Comfort in the unchangeableneſſe of this God, Mal. 3.6. I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye Sons of Jacob are not conſumed. And for this we have the experience of David, Pſal. 9.10. They that know thy name, will put their truſt in thee, for thou (Lord) haſt not forſaken them that ſeek thee, and the Churches experience, Iſai. 63.9. he bear them, and he carried them all the daies of old. This great and unchangeable Saviour, ſaves his people, theſe four wayes.
Firſt, He will ſave and preſerve from Evils, and will be a Chamber of ſafety when the Indignation is abroad, to hide from the ſtorm; Ezek. 11.6. Yet will I be to them as a little Sanctuary in the Countries where they ſhall come, I will be with thee; is Gods great Promiſe, and his Peoples Security; it was Joſhua's Guard, and Jeremiah's Braſen-Wall.
Secondly, He will ſave his people in afflictions; as he did the three Children in the burning Fornace, thus he delivers in ſix troubles, and alſo in ſeven; as 'tis promiſed in Iſai. 43.2,3. When thou paſſeſt thorough the waters I will be with thee and thorow the Rivers, they ſhall not overflow thee; When thou walkeſt thorow the fire, thou ſhalt not be burnt, neither ſhall the flame kindle upon thee, For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy one of Iſrael, thy Saviour. Job's experience is an everlaſting proof of this, that when the Lead is Conſumed, the Gold is preſerved in the Fornace.
Thirdly, He will ſave or deliver out of afflictions, 1 Cor. 10, 13. In the midſt of all temptations, he will make a way for us to eſcape them, Many are the troubles of the Righteous, but the Lord delivereth them out of all. He is Emmanuel, God with us; Our Redeemer from Hell, and from Trouble.
Fourthly, He will ſave by afflictions, and by the evils they meet withall; Prov. 29.15. The Rod and Reproof give wiſdom; and as David ſayes, It was good for me that I was afflicted. All things ſhall work for good, 2 Cor. 4.7. Theſe afflictions work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory. The Veſſel is uſually covered with Dirt by the Clenſers hand, that it may ſhine with the more brightneſs; So by afflictions God makes us partakers of his Holineſs.
Afflictions and outward evils, come alike to all, but with much different effect; All men fall into afflictions, Good and Bad, but as the Iſraelites, and the Egyptians went both into the Red Sea, and the one was drowned, and the other paſſed throrough to Canaan: So the Righteous and the Wicked fall under Calamity, the one ſinks through unbelief, and the other paſſes thorough ſafety, and by Faith and Patience comes to inherit the promiſe.
Secondly, The Abode or Preſence of God and Chriſt with Believers, is inſtead of a ſure Guide and Light unto them; They can never want a Guide, who have God with them. As the Pillar of a Cloud by day, and of Fire by night, was unto Iſrael in all their March, The ſame and more is God to his People, in all their Pilgrimage.
Conſider three things.
Firſt, Conſider, that Man cannot be without this Guide; The beſt of men have very great need of the preſence of God to lead them; that they be not miſ-led, and that they don't faint in the way, What can the Sheep do without a Shepheard? Such is God to his, Pſal. 23.1. without Gods abode with us, 'tis as Children without a Father, and none to direct them, and ſo left to run themſelves into miſchief; What is the World without a Sun? Jer. 10.23. The way of man is not in himſelf, it is not in man that walketh to direct his ſteps.
Secondly, Conſider, that 'tis our great wiſdom to commit our way to the guidance of this God and Chriſt; Every wiſe man will commit his way to God, and not move a ſtep without him; as Moſes in the Conduct of Iſrael, would not move a foot without God. That was a good Petition, or rather Reſolution of David, in Pſal. 73.24. Thou ſhalt guide me with thy Counſel, and afterward receive me to Glory. I am reſolved to be guided by Gods Counſel, and an excellent and imitable practiſe of Iſaac, in Gen. 26.24,25. that where he had met God at Beer-ſheba, and where God had bleſſed him, There he pitched his Tent; So we ſhould move as God leads.
Thirdly, Conſider, That if God undertake to Guide us, we ſhall not miſcarry, he will certainly bring us ſa…e to Heaven. Our feet may be almoſt gone, but ſhall not be altogether gone, Pſal. 73.2. My feet were almoſt gone, my ſteps had well nigh ſlipt. So it may be with the choiceſt of Gods Servants; but in the 23 verſe, Nevertheleſſe I am continually with thee; thou haſt holden me by my right hand.
The more dark and dangerous the times be, the more we ſhould deſire Gods abode with us; the nearer a night of trouble or of death is to us, the more earneſtly beg his ſtay, as the two Diſciples, Luke 24.29. They conſtrained Chriſt, ſaying, abide with us, for it is towards Evening, and the day is far ſpent.
Thirdly, The abode or preſence of God and Chriſt with his people, is inſtead of a Treaſury and Store-houſe of all Proviſions. Where Jeſus Chriſt is, and where God makes his abode, there is a Spring head of comforts, that cannot be drawn dry, Iſa. 33.16. Bread ſhall be given them, and their waters ſhall be ſure, who have God with them; So was God to Iſrael, Deut. 29.5.6. He fed Iſrael in the wilderneſs forty years, their clothes did not wax old. You have not eaten bread, neither have you drunk wine, or ſtrong drink, that ye might know that I am the Lord your God.
Conſider three particulars here.
Firſt, Conſider God is ſuch a ſtore, that he is alwayes full; He hath an Antarchy in himſelf, and ſaies to his creatures, as in Pſal. 81.10. Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it, ask what you will, and there 'tis to be had. There be full Treaſures, of temporal and ſpiritual good things with them, with whom God and Chriſt do make their abode. As the Ark of God brought all kind of bleſſings to the houſe of Obed-edom, ſo when God comes, he brings all things; Deus meus, & omnia; My God, and all things. When Jeſus Chriſt came to Zacheus, he tells him, This day is Salvation come to thine houſe; that is, both temporal and ſpiritual preſervations and deliverances; Salvation doth conſiſt in the total abſence of all evil, and in the preſence and poſſeſſion of all good.
Secondly, God and Chriſt have left with us the promiſes of the Covenant to live upon, till we come to the inheritance of the purchaſed Poſſeſſion: Theſe be like the Widows Cruſe, that never fails; this like the Manna, will not be with-held while we be in the wilderneſs, till we come into Canaan, to feed on the fruits of that Land, Heb. 13.5. That's a ſure Promiſe, in which we may by faith ſee preſent ſupplies, I will never leave thee, nor forſake thee; and in Phil. 4.19. we may poſſeſſe in that Promiſe whatever we want; My God ſhall ſupply all your need, according to his riches in glory, by Chriſt Jeſus.
Thirdly, God hath given us his Son, and Jeſus Chriſt hath given us himſelf, as an enſuing pledge of all mercies contained in the promiſes, Rom. 8.32. He that ſpared not his own Son, but gave him for us, how ſhall he not with him alſo freely give us all things; He that hath not ſpared his Son, will not with-hold any mercies; he that hath given us the beſt of bleſſings, will not with-hold ſmaller mercies: He doth alway tell his people, as in 2 Cor. 12.9. My grace is ſufficient for you.
Thirdly, The abode of God and Chriſt with Believers, is their Heaven upon Earth. All our happineſs is in the abode of God and Chriſt with us.
Firſt, Conſider it is a wonderful mercy of the great God, that by his common Providence, he is with the works of his hands, which is mans ſafety; and David admires at this, Pſal. 8.4. Lord what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the Son of man, that thou viſiteſt him?
Secondly, Conſider it is a mercy of the greateſt worth, and to be for ever admired, that God and Chriſt do not only viſit us by common Providence and Inſpection, as his creatures, but make their abode with us, as with children and friends; O this is our glory; God doth not come with a ſhort viſit, for a day, for a few days, but makes an everlaſting abode. The Church complained when ſhe thought God was departed, becauſe he had been with them, and made ſo ſhort a ſtay, Jer. 14.8. Why ſhouldſt thou be as a ſtranger in the Land, and as a way-faring man, that turneth aſide to tarry for a night, &c. but when ſhe remembred the Covenant of eternal abode, ſhe comforts her ſelf, in the 9. verſe. Yet thou O Lord art in the midſt of us. To be ever with the Lord, is all we can hope for, and it is mans contemplative happineſſe, to converſe in his thoughts with that Glory.
Firſt, Conſider Jeſus Christ hath promiſed this, as our great Glory, and full reward; I will take you to my ſelf, they ſhall behold my glory. 17. Joh. verſe 24.1 Epiſt. Joh. 3.2. We ſhall be like him, … we ſhall ſee him as he is.
Secondly, This abode with God and Chriſt, is the higheſt option, and aim of all the people of God. This was Pauls preſſings, in Phil. 3. That he might attain to the reſurrection of the dead, (i.) the ſtate of them that are riſen, and with God and Chriſt; Therefore reſolves after a long debate with himſelf, Phil. 1.21. To be with Chriſt, is beſt of all, and David in Pſal. 73. at the latter end, profeſſes, He had none in Heaven but God, and there was none upon earth that he deſired in compariſon of him.
Uſe 1 Uſe. Firſt, of Lamentation, and laments three ſorts of perſons.
Firſt, Let us lament ſuch as be without God and Chriſt in the world, all ignorant and ungodly perſons; yea, this is the ſad caſe of all the Sons of Adam, ever ſince he ſinned, and loſt communion with his God; They be brought forth into the world, with their backs upon God, and with Gods face againſt them: What was Cain's grief? how was his heart hurried into a world of inconceivable diſtempers, and diſtracting thoughts? when he muſt be turn'd out of Gods preſence, from the enjoyment of God in his Ordinances, Gen. 4.14. Behold, thou haſt driven me out this day, (ſaies poor Cain,) from the face of the earth, (but this is as nothing) and from thy face ſhall I be hid, (and now where is my comfort and ſafety?) it ſhall come to paſſe, that every one that findeth me, ſhall ſlay me. Such perſons be as Lambs in a large place, Hoſ. 4.16. Without a Keeper in their moſt plentiful state; What hope have ſuch to eſcape Hell and Deſtruction?
Conſider theſe two particulars.
Firſt, Conſider it is a very ſad caſe, when God and Chriſt withdraw, or depart but for a moment; 'tis a ſad, and intolerable moment, as we ſee in the complaint of Chriſt, when God withdrew himſelf from him; My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? and in the example of David, Aſaph and Heman, in Pſal. 77. and Pſal. 88. and the whole Church laments in Jer. 14.8.
Secondly, Conſider if God and Chriſt do never come to make their abode with us here, we are never like to make our abode with them hereafter; and then it were better we had never been born, Pſal. 73.27. They that are far from thee, ſhall periſh. And this is Hell, to be ſeparated from God and Chriſt, 2 Theſ. 1.8.9. They, (i.) the wicked ſhall be puniſhed with everlaſting deſtruction, from the preſence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. It is Heaven where-ever God is in his ſpecial abode, and that is Hell where He is not preſent in his mercy and grace.
Secondly, Uſe of Lamentation.
Let us lament over a worſe ſort of men, and they be ſuch as in Job. 21.14. That ſay to God, depart from us, for we deſire not the knowledge of thy wayes; That refuſe the word of Chriſt, and be weary of God and his Ordinances, and ſo reject God. as if one houſe could not hold them both; as the peoin Iſa. 30.10.11. Who ſay to the Seers, ſee not; and to the Prophets, prophecy not, &c. Cauſe the Holy one to ceaſe from before us. They that ſtop the mouths of them that ſpeak the word of Chriſt, or turn away their ears from harkening to that which is ſpoken, ſay in effect, Let God be gone, let Chriſt depart from us.
Firſt, Conſider what an evil frame of ſpirit it is, for men to refuſe the preſence of God. Was there ever wickedneſs like this? that the great God ſhould be as an unbidden gueſt with his own creatures, and have no better entertainment than Chriſt with the Gaderens, who beſought him to depart out of their Coaſt, yea, which is far worſe, rejected, as Chriſt was by the poſſeſſed in the Goſpel, Mat. 8.29. What have we to do with thee? art thou come to torment us before the time?
Secondly, Conſider it will be a very terrible day, when God and Chriſt depart from ſuch perſons. God threatens it as a ſore judgement upon Jeruſalem, Jer. 6.8. Be thou inſtructed O Jeruſalem, leſt my Soul depart from thee; When God departs, in comes all Judgements, for it follows in the Text, Leſt I make thee deſolate; Deſolation comes as ſoon as God is gone, yea, ſaies the Lord, Hoſ. 9.12. Woe to them, when I depart from them. And though he depart from ſuch by removing his Counſells, Goſpel, and Ordinances: He will ſtill be with them in judgement; when he is far from their Affections, he will be nigh to their Conſciences, then he will ſhew his terrour, and his wrath; and then they ſhall find, that as there is not a ſweeter promiſe than this, I will never leave thee nor forſake thee; ſo not a more terrible judgement than this, I will not love thee, nor abide with thee.
Thirdly, Uſe of Lamentation.
Let us lament our ſelves, who have had God and Chriſt making their abode with us for many years in their ſpecial Providence, Gospel Ordinances, &c. Yet we have not improved ſo glorious a Preſence, ſo rich a mercy: eſpecially we have cauſe to lament this four-fold neglect.
Firſt, That we have ſo little acquainted our ſelves with God and Chriſt, ſo little prized and obſerved their Preſence with us, that we have learn'd no more of God and Chriſt, but are yet ſtrangers to them; ſo that Jeſus Chriſt may ſay to us, as in Joh. 14.9. Have I been ſo long time with you, and yet haſt thou not known me, Philip; ſo he may ſay to us, Have I been ſo long time with you in my Providences, Ordinances, and by my Spirit, and yet have you not known my Goodneſs, my Faithfulneſs, my Name, my Laws and Ordinances? Sure it is with moſt of us, as with Jacob, Gen. 28.15.16. The Lord was with him, and he was in his Dream, and when he awaked, he ſaid, Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not. So God hath been with us, but we have been in a dream, or in a ſleep all this while; but when God ſhall awaken us, we ſhall ſay with him, God was in this place, and we knew it not.
Secondly, We may lament our ſelves that we have ſo little conformed to God and Chriſt. God hath been with us, but we have refuſed his company, as Ephe. 2.12. And had our converſation as without God, and without Chriſt in the world; O when God and Chriſt ſhall depart from us, it will be a heart-breaking to us, and we ſhall dearly repent the leaſt miſcarriages.
Thirdly, We may lament, that we have not lived more upon God and Chriſt, to truſt in them, and depend upon them for life and Salvation, and made him our Counſellour, Guide, and Strength, and lived upon his All-ſufficiency; we have not made them our Sanctuary, our Treaſury, our Happineſs, though they have been with us, in whom are all things. Yet have we lived at ſo poor a rate (as to our ſpiritual comforts) as if we had been under the Hypocrit's Curſe, Job 20.22. In the fulneſs of his ſufficiency he is in ſtraits, Or guilty of that vanity mentioned in Eccle. 6.2. To have Riches and Honours. &c. and not a heart to uſe them. To have a God and Chriſt, in whom are all Riches and Honours, and have had no Faith to uſe them for our comfort, we have even ſtarved our ſelves at the fulleſt Table, and Spring-head of plenty.
Fourthly, We may lament our ſelves, that we have not taken more pleaſure in the enjoyment of God and Chriſt in the Goſpel, and Goſpel Ordinances; accounting all Company and delights, ſolitarineſſe, in compariſon of the joy and comfort that is in the abode of God and Chriſt; eſpecially, when God expects we ſhould rejoyce in him, and hath promiſed to abode with ſuch, Iſai. 64.5. Thou meeteſt him that rejoyceth, and worketh Righteouſneſſe, and remembreth thee in thy wayes.
Uſe. 2 Two Uſes of Exhortation.
1. To get the Preſence of God and Chriſt with us.
2. To endeavour to keep God and Chriſt abiding with us.
The firſt Uſe of Exhortation.
Let us be Exhorted above all deſires, to deſire Gods preſence; and above all getting, Get God and Chriſt to make their abode with you. O with what Ardency and heat of deſire, doth David expreſſe himſelf; Pſal. 27.4. One thing have I deſired of the Lord, that will I ſeek after, that I may dwell in the houſe of the Lord all the dayes of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his Temple; and ſo in Pſal. 42.1,2. As the Hart pants after the water brooks, ſo panteth my Soul after thee O God, My Soul thirſteth for God, when ſhall I come and appear before God? O when wilt thou come unto me? and in a multitude of ſuch like Pathetick breathings after God.
And that we may the more earneſtly deſire this mercy, the abode of God and Chriſt with us; Conſider three particulars.
Firſt, Conſider, the preſence of God and Chriſt, is the ſpecial favour and honour that God beſtows only upon his own people. By this was Iſrael diſtinguiſhed from all the world, Exod. 33.16. My preſence ſhall go with thee, and in the laſt verſe of the laſt Chapter of Ezekiel. It is the Church only that is call'd Jehovah Shammah. The Lord is there her Founder, Preſerver, and Governour.
Secondly, Conſider, that they that have God and Chriſt with them, dwell continually at the Fountain Head of Conſolations, as David ſayes, Pſal. 23. I ſhall want nothing, The Lord is my ſhepheard, My Cup runs over. Surely Goodneſſe and Mercy ſhall follow me all the daies of my life. This Fountain keeps our Ciſternes full; our Channels run ſhallow ſometimes, but never are they dryed up; Hoſ. 14.5. I will be as the Dew unto Iſrael; He ſhall grow as the Lillie, and caſt forth his roots as Lebanon, they ſhall grow up as the Lillie, beautiful and fair, and as the Cedar, well rooted and eſtabliſhed; He that hath the Sun, hath Light, He that hath the Well, muſt needs have Water; Ille poſſidet omnia, qui poſſidet poſſidentem omnia; He hath all things, who hath him from whom all things come.
Thirdly, Conſider, that when all Comforts leave us, God will not; when Friends forſake, and Riches profit not, in the evil day, God is a preſent help in time of trouble, and loves to ſhew himſelf in Dubiis & Arduis, in the greateſt difficulties, and on the Mount of ſtraits. Jeſus Chriſt ſayes truly to us, what Peter ſaid raſhly to him; Though all forſake thee, yet will not I.
Object. Object. I have found God and Chriſt, gone from me, ſayes the Soul, when I have had need of him.
Anſw. Anſwer, Firſt, That God and Chriſt may and do ſometimes hide their faces from their deareſt Friends.
Secondly, Though God and Chriſt do ſometimes withdraw from us, yet every interruption of Communion, is not a ſeparation; The Sun doth not ceaſe to be, when it ceaſeth to ſhine. Grace may ſuſpend its acting, but doth not looſe its being, God will not finally forſake his People.
Thirdly, God hath very many Gracious ends, why he ſometimes withdraws; And they are alway in mercy to his people, ſad providences, producing ſweet effects.
Direct. Directions and helps, how to get the preſence of God and Chriſt with us.
Firſt, Repent and humble your ſelves, becauſe of all your ſins, that you have at any time rejected the Counſels of God, and refuſed Grace and Mercy, and neglected Opportunities, of doing you Souls good, and drawing near to God; Repentance and Reſolution against Sin, come like John Baptiſt, to prepare a way, and a place, for God and Christ to come to, and make their abode in. Of the Hearts and Houſes of Impenitent Sinners, we may well ſay God is not there. The way to have God to turn in unto us; is to turn away from ſin, as Ephraim, Jer. 31.18,19,20. He bemoaned himſelf, and repented, and God came to him as to his dear Son, and to his pleaſant Child.
Secondly, Believe in Jeſus Chriſt, and by faith get an intereſt in him; It is by faith only that we give entertainment to Jeſus Chriſt; It is by Jeſus Chriſt alone, that God and Man come together. No man hath ſeen the Father at any time, but the Son, and he to whom he doth reveal him, and he that hath the Son, hath the Father, Rom. 5.1. Being juſtified by faith, we have peace with God.
Thirdly, Own Jeſus Chriſt in all his Offices, as your King, Prieſt, and Prophet.
Firſt, As your King, Let him have the Soveraignty of your Souls, that he may rule over you. If Chriſt be your King, God will be your Father; God loves to come, where Chriſt hath his Throne.
Secondly, As your Prieſt, That his Righteouſneſſe may give you the advantage of Communion with God; without which we cannot come near to him, and he will not come near to us.
Thirdly, As your Prophet, That he may ſhew you the way; If his Spirit be your Guide, and his Word your Rule, you may be ſure his Promiſes ſhall be your Portion, even this Promiſe in the Text, They will come to you, and make their abode with you, even God and Chriſt.
Dir. 4 Fourthly, Seek earneſtly after God and Chriſt, in the uſe of all appointed means, till you come to ſee, and enjoy their preſence with you.
Here ſhall be ſhewn theſe two particulars.
1. Where we may ſeek God and Chriſt.
2. How, or after what manner we muſt ſeek them.
Firſt, Where we may ſeek after God and Chriſt?
Firſt, We may find them in the works of Creation; theſe will repreſent God and Chriſt unto us, the Power and Wiſdome of God and Chriſt, by whom the World was made; In omnire aspectabili quaedam extant veſtigia Dei; In all the viſible creatures, there be ſome prints of the inviſible God; ſo that he which lives altogether without God, muſt needs be foreign, without excuſe, having God ſo near to him.
Secondly, We may find them in the Word, 2 Cor. 4.6. The glory of God ſhines there in the face of Jeſus Chriſt, and to them that are converſant in the Word, God hath promiſed to reveal himſelf, Iſa. 66.2. To this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. And the Apoſtle gives this direction, Rom. 10.6.7. Say not in thine heart, who ſhall aſcend into Heaven? that is to bring Chriſt down from above; or, who ſhall deſcend into the deep? that is to bring up Chriſt again from the dead. But what ſaith it? The word is night thee, even in the mouth, and in thy heart; that is, the word of faith which we preach.
Thirdly, We may find them in Prayer, Jam. 4.8. Draw night to God, and he will draw nigh to you. If you will be ſtrangers to the duty of Prayer, to the Throne of Grace, God will be a ſtranger to you; he hath promiſed to draw nigh to them, that draw nigh to him; and ſo in Exod. 20.24. In all places where I record my Name, I will come unto thee, and I will bleſſe thee.
Fourthly, We may find them in our Communion with the People of God. Where two or three are met together in my Name, there will I be (ſaies Chriſt) in the midſt of them. Therefore Jeſus Chriſt directs us to go up by the foot-ſteps of the Flock; and they enquire wiſely, Cant. 6.1. that ſay to the Church of Chriſt, Whither is thy beloved gone, that we may ſeek him with thee? and when the two Diſciples went to Emmaus, communing of Chriſt, He came and joyned himſelf with them.
Secondly, How, or after what manner we muſt ſeek God and Chriſt.
Take theſe four following Directions.
Firſt, Affect your ſelves with the worth and excellency of this preſence of God and Chriſt; carry a high eſteem of them in your hearts; think with your ſelves, how ſafely they are Immured; how Encaſtled and Provided for, who have God and Chriſt with them; as the Prophet ſaid to his ſervant, There is more for them, than can be againſt them, Iſai. 33.16. their place of defence, is the Munition of Rocks, &c. O what ſweetneſs and ſatisfaction have they within, with whom God and Chriſt abides… as the Spouſe doth expreſs it, Cant. 1.3. Becauſe of the ſavour of thy good Ointments, thy Name is as Ointment poured forth, therefore do the Virgins love thee. Thy Name of Mercy, Wiſdom, and Faithfulneſſe; how doth this refreſh their hearts, that have the preſence of God and Chriſt? O ſweetneſs and ſatisfaction beyond expreſſion! and then conclude, Sitantus; quarentibus … quantus poſſidentibus; If he be ſo good to them that ſeek him, how good is he to them that enjoy him.
Secondly, Labour to affect your ſouls with the great want and need that you have of the preſence of God and Chriſt; while men think in their hearts, they can be well enough without God and Chriſt, they will never ſeek after them, but ſay, as in Jer. 2.31. We are Lords, we will come no more unto thee, (i.) We have ſtrength enough of our own, we need no more of thy ſupport; and thus David brings in the wicked, priding themſelves, in Pſal. 10.4. The wicked through the pride of his countenance (as in the original, through the pride of his Noſe) will not ſeek after God. God is not in all his thoughts, when theſe proud Laodician Spirits will not ſock, the poor, hungry, deſolate ſoul, that ſees a need of God and Chriſt, find them.
Thirdly, Quicken your ſelves to much diligence in ſeeking: The Prophet complains, No man ſtirreth up himſelf to ſeek the Lord. It is a buſineſſe of the greateſt concernment, and moſt not be attended with a cold indifferency, but as one ſet on by a true love, and where that is, Non quie… …, ſed quer… …, Love will he reſtleſſ in the pur… of the thing, or perſon beloved. See with what heat men ſeek the world, with much more heat ſeek God and Chriſt. We muſt do as the woman that had loſt her Groat; ſhe lights a Candle, ſweeps the Houſe, ſeeks diligently; ſo we muſt ſet up the light of the Word, and to work with the … of a ſerious repentance, and thorough …ation, and diligently enquir… Thus David with a very vigilant eye, ſeeks him whom his ſoul loved, Pſal. 130.4.5. I will not give reſt to mine eyes, nor ſlumber to my eye lids, till I have found out a pl… for God, &c.
Laſtly, Reſolve with your ſelves never to give over, till you come to the perfect and full enjoyment of them; As Job ſaid, I … all the dayes of my appointed time. So do you ſeek all the days of your appointed time. If we would find God and Chriſt, we muſt ſeek all the dayes of our lives. They that will find what they ſeek, muſt ſeek till they find; As God in the Creation, did not reſt till he had made Man, ſo Man ſhould not reſt till he hath found God; And as in the Redemption, Jeſus Chriſt did never ceaſe ſeeking, till he had found all the loſt ſheep of the Houſe of Iſrael; ſo we ſhould never give over, till we have made God and Chriſt our own.
This ſhould be the work of our lives, and upon this work I muſt leave you.
For now I muſt tell you, That (perhaps) you may not ſee my face, or bear my voice any more in this place; yet not out of any peeviſh humour, or diſaffection to the preſent Authority of the Kingdom (I call God and Man to witneſs this day) it being my own Practice and Counſel to you all, To Fear GOD, and Honour the KING; but rather a real diſatisfaction in ſome particulars impoſed, to which, (notwithſtanding all endeavours to that purpoſe) my conſcience cannot yet be eſpouſed. Wherefore, I hope, in this, and in all my abode with you, I may ſay (without oſtentation) with the Apoſtle in the 2 Cor. 1.12. Our rejoycing is this, The teſtimony of a good Conſcience, that in ſimplicity, and godly ſincerity, we have had our converſation in the world, eſpecially to you words; And as he ſaid in Acts 20.26.27. So, I take you to record this day, that I have endeavoured to be pure from the blood of all men; for I have not ſhunned to declare to you, the whole counſel of God, both by my Life and Doctrine; becauſe I knew this very well, that (as one ſayes,) S… loqu…is vita, non oratia; that the Preachers life, is the moſt lively preaching.
I ſhall only adde this (my Friends) That though my lips be ſealed up, that I may not ſpeak from God to you, yet I ſhall not ceaſe to ſpeak to God for you, as ever I have done; And though I cannot have you in my eye, yet I ſhall lodge you in my heart; And asking nothing of you, but your Prayers, ſhall hope to meet you daily at the Throne of Grace, and that at laſt we may enjoy one another in Heaven.
And becauſe they ſay, The word of a Dying man wake the deepeſt impreſſion, before I am altogether Civilly dead, I ſhall give you one Exhortation more.
Exh. 2 Secondly, Let it be your endeavour to keep God and Chriſt with you, that they may make their abode with your hearts and houſes, that whatever you loſe, you may not be undone.
In the General.
Firſt, Take heed you do not ſlight or abuſe his Providences.
Secondly, Do not Deſpiſe or neglect his Ordinances.
Thirdly, Be ſure you do not grieve his Spirit.
Secondly, Obſerve more particularly theſe ten directions, which I would leave with you.
That God and Chriſt may make their conſtant abode with you.
Firſt, Endeavour to pleaſe God and Chriſt, and to walk as the Gospel commands, In all well-pleaſing. And for this purpoſe, Obſerve theſe three Rules.
Firſt, Entertain God and Chriſt like themſelves. Now they are come to you, ſay as Solomon did of his Temple, which he had prepared for his God; The Heaven of Heavens cannot contain thee, much leſſe, this poor Tent; ſo, with the moſt humble frame of ſpirit, admire his greatneſſe, and infinite condeſcention, for he is the King of Glory; as in Pſal. 24. And ſo give him ſuitable entertainment, for he will dwell with the humble and contrite ſpirit. If Elizabeth wonder'd at the viſit which Mary gave her, with a whence is it that the Mother of my Lord is come unto me? then admire that the Lord himſelf ſhould come, not only to viſit your hearts, but to make ſuch a gracious abode with you; And as the Centurion ſaid to Chriſt in the Goſpel, I am not worthy that thou ſhouldst come under my Roof. So acknowledge your unworthineſſe of ſo rich and unparalleld a grace, that God and Chriſt ſhould come in unto you, to abide with you!
Secondly, Wait upon God and Chriſt with all readineſſe of mind, to obſerve every intimation of the Will of God; to you. Stand alwayes ready, as Servants wait upon the hand of their Maſter, ſaying in your hearts, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? or, what wilt thou have me to ſuffer? It is the frame and poſture which Chriſt commends to his Diſciples, Luke 12.35. Let your loyns be girded about, and your lights burning, to do his will, as it is done in Heaven.
Thirdly, Take pleaſure and delight in the company and ſociety of God and Chriſt, above all the pleaſures in the world. Do nothing, without firſt calling God and Chriſt into the action. Remember this in Theſe four caſes especially.
Firſt, Pray God and Chriſt along with you into all your ſpiritual duties, that you may be ſure to perform them all according to the mind of God. None knows better what will pleaſe God, than himſelf; don't enquire ſo much what others ſay, but what God appoints; 'tis not what this or that man ſayes, how we muſt ſerve God, but what God ſayes himſelf; as Aguſtine ſaid to the Manichee, in another caſe, Nec egote, nec tu me, ſed ambo audiamus Apoſtolum; So hear what God and Chriſt ſay to us, as to the performance of all our duties: If we will entertain God and Chriſt, and have their company, we muſt ſet before them ſuch ſavoury meat as they like, leſt we be like them (Mat 15.9.) of whom Chriſt ſayes, In vain do they worſhip me, &c. and our ſervice be like theirs, of which the Lord ſaid, Who hath required theſe things at your hands? O what was that great evil the people were guilty of, for which there comes that heavy judgement, Pſal. 78.60. He forſook the Tabernacle of Shiloh, the Tent which he placed among them. Sure it was ſome great guilt, in the former verſes we find it to be their Hypocriſie, Apoſtacy, and Idolatry, any taint of this kind, will make the jealous God forſake our ſolemn meetings.
Secondly, Pray God and Chriſt into all your Civil affairs The Greeks foreign with God in their entrance upon every work, was a commendable practiſe. It is reported of Publius Scipio the Roman, that he would alway go firſt to the Capitol, and then to the Senate; So we ſhould begin our Civil Imployments with Spiritual duties; And do as Abrahams Servant, when he was to take a wife for his Maſters Son, he took God along with him; and thus to abide with God, is to have God to abide with us. Therefore ſayes the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 7.20 Let every man abide in the ſame calling, wherein he was called, and in the 24 verſe, Brethren let every man wherein he is called, therein abide with God, And God will abide with him.
Thirdly, Pray God and Chriſt to your Tables at your eating and drinking, For man doth not live by bread onelyonly. If theſe be Gueſts at your Tables, you muſt needs have Cheer enough; there's more ſweetneſſe in a morſel with them, then in all dainties without them; And then you may be ſure alſo, your Tables ſhall not become a Snare unto you. Theophraſtus reports of the Heathens, that they did firſt foreign, and then foreign, they did firſt Sacrifice and then Kill, lay on their meat, entertain and eat. And it is the Apostles rule, ſeeing all things come of God through Christ, That God and Chriſt ſhould not be Unbidden Gueſts; but as in 1 Cor. 10.31. Whether you eat or drink, or whatſoever ye do, do all to the Glory of God.
Fourthly, Pray. God and Chriſt along with you in Morning when you riſe, and at Evening when you lie down; viſit him Morning by Morning and Evening by Evening; this is the way to have a Proſperous day, and a Safe night; David took this courſe, Pſal 4.8. I will both lay me down, and take my reſt, for thou Lord, only makeſt me dwell in ſafety; and this gave Jacob ſuch a pleaſant Dream, Gen. 28. that having God with him, he was an night within view of Heaven.
Dir. 2 Secondly, Love God and Chriſt above all, and then God and Chriſt will not depart from you; For He ſhews mercy to Thouſands of them that love him, and hath made over Himſelf, and Heaven, and All, to them that love him. It is reported of Ignatius, that his Love was ſuch to God and Chriſt, that he had the name of Chriſt, Cordi ej…s inſc…iptum; Graven upon his heart. It is ſuch a Heart-love that He requires; for He is a jealous God, and will have all our Love.
If we Love any thing better;
Firſt, It will ſteal away our Hearts from God; And
Secondly, It will take off the Heart of God from us; ſo that God and Chriſt will ſet themſelves againſt us.
Dir. 3 Thirdly, If we would have God and Chriſt to make their conſtant abode with us, Delight in the Society and Fellowſhip of the People of God, with whom they dwell; Never be aſhamed to converſe with them, whom God and Chriſt do own for theirs. The Apoſtles argument why we ſhould entertain Strangers, in Heb. 13.2. (becauſe thereby ſome have entertained Angels unawares) is but mean and inconſiderable to this Reaſon, why we ſhould entertain and own the Saints of God; for thereby we are ſure to entertain Chriſt; as in Mat. 25.40. For this cauſe the Gibeonites made a League with Iſrael; For we have heard that God is with you. And there is a promiſe in Zech. 8.23. That Ten men out of all Languages ſhall take hold of the ſkirt of a Jew, ſaying, we will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you, Mal. 3.16. They that feared the Lord, ſpake often one to another, and the Lord hearkned, and heard it, &c. He was with them, and indeed, God dwells in the Tabernacles of the Righteous.
Dir. 4 Fourthly, If we would have the conſtant abode of God and Chriſt with us, Let us keep our ſelves clean from Sin, our Hearts pure, Conſciences undefiled, and as the Apoſtle ſayes, voyd of Offence towards God, and towards Men, very careful not to Sin againſt God; and very circumſpect not to Sin againſt Man; that this may be our Comfort, that the world muſt needs ſay of us, as they did of Daniel, that they could find nothing againſt him; ſave in the Law of his God, as in Daniel 6.5. Whatever others doe, beware of Sin. Say as Joſhuah, I and my Houſe will ſerve the Lord. Watch againſt Sin; Chuſe any Suffering, rather then the leaſt Sin.
Conſider in that choice two particulars.
Firſt, Conſider in all your ſufferings, God will be with you, but in any of your Sins, he will not abode with you; as in the example of Iſrael, Exod. 32.23. When the Calf was got into the Camp, God forſakes the Hoaſt of Iſrael; When Saul forſook the Lord, the Spirit of the Lord forſook him. That was an excellent Saying of Azariah the Son of Obed, in the 2 Chron. 15.2. and Oh that all England could hear it! Hear thou me Aſa, and all Judah, The Lord is with you, while you be with him; If you ſeek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forſake him, he will forſake you.
Secondly, Conſider, 'Tis an Act of high preſumption, reflecting much upon the Purity and Holyneſſe of God, for … to imagine that God will own, and proſper them with his Preſence, while they go on to do wickedly, in their Whoredomes, Drunkeneſſe, Blaſphemy, and all manner of Prophaneſſe; which God can no more own, then diſown himſelf. So they fooliſhly promiſed themſelves Peace, Deut. 29.19. though they walk in the imagination of their Hearts, and add Drunkenneſſe to Thirſt; But the Lord will not ſpare, but his Anger and Jealouſie ſhall ſm…ak againſt them, till he hath brought them down from their high Mount of a Sinful and Carnal Confidence. Therefore the Prophet reproves that wicked people, Mich. 3.11. where the Judges, the Prieſts, and the Prophets were corrupted. Yet they ſay, Is not the Lord among us, none evil can come upon us, Therefore ſhall Zion be plowed as a Field, &c. as Abner ſaid to Joab, This will prove an evil thing, and a bitter in the latter end; as Galen ſayes of Meats, Quae dulcia ſunt facile in bilem & amaritudinem convertuntur; Sweet meats generate Choller and Corrupt matter; So Sin that is a ſweet morſel now, will be Shame, Death, and Hell at laſt.
Dir. 5 Fifthly, With an humble acknowledgment of former Barrenneſſe, under Gods gracious preſence with you, reſolve and endeavour to be more fruitful. God never left his Vineyard, and pull'd up the Hedge, and commanded the Rain not to fall upon it, in Iſai. 5. till it became Barren, or did bear corrupt fruit. The exil'd Confeſſors in Queen Maries dayes, confeſſed that (as Urſin ſayes in the Preface to his Catechiſme) the cauſe of their preſent ſuffering, was their former Barrenneſſe and Unprofitableneſſe under the Goſpel; and a ſad example of this is Jeruſalem, over whom Chriſt laments. O Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem, thou, &c. if thou hadſt known in this thy day, &c. but now they are hid from thine eyes; and when once a people grow up to this heighth to reject the Goſpel, then expect ſome fearful Judgement. Read the laſt Chapter of Chronicles, the Second Book, and at the 16 verſe, and then you will ſee, when the wrath of God is like to break out upon a People without a remedy.
Dir. 6 Sixthly, If you would have the continual abode of God and Chriſt with you; Let God have all your Thoughts, let Him be your meditation; this is the way to have the beſt Company when you be alone; David would meditate of him day and night, and profeſſed the meditation of him, ſhould be ſweet to him.
Here conſider two particulars.
Firſt, Conſider, that no Place, State, or Condition, can hinder the Soul of this way of ſecret Communion with God and Christ; This priviledge could not be denyed to a benighted Jacob, to an Impriſoned Jeremiah, to an Exil…d John in Patmos; by this (ſaies Jerom) Solitudo fit Paradiſas, a man may turn a Wilderneſs into a Paradiſe; and therefore we read in Cant. 11.12. how the Spouſe invites Chriſt to go with her, as Iſaac did into the Fields to meditate, Come let's go into the Fields, and lodge in the Villages.
Secondly, Conſider, In theſe ſecret ſilent viſits of the Soul, God and Chriſt do take abundance of delight; Our Night thoughts, our Field thoughts, our Cloſet thoughts. are very welcom to Them; yea, when we can do no more but think of God, our very thoughts ſhall be an accepted ſervice, Cant. 2.13. He loveth the Fig-tree, that putteth forth her green Figs. The ripe fruit is in the …d; ſo holy endeavours in pure breathings and deſires, God accepts, when our Infirmity, or the Iniquity of the Times may be ſuch, that we can do no more.
Direct. 7 Seventhly, If we will have God and Chriſt to make their conſtant abode with us, then let us walk humbly with God. He that beholds the proud afar off, will be nigh to them that humble their ſouls under his mighty hand, Iſa. 57.15. Thus ſaies the high and lofty one, that inhabits Eternity, whoſe Name is Holy; I dwell in the High and Holy place, with him alſo, that is of an humble and contrite ſpirit.
God hath two Heavens in which he dwells.
Firſt, His Glory dwells in the high and holy place, in Heaven above.
Secondly, His Grace dwells in the humble and lowly ſpirit. Here will I dwell, ſaies God.
Dir. 8 Eighthly, If you would have the conſtant abode of God and Chriſt with you, be ſure to look to your hearts, that you walk in your uprightneſs; be true to the Word of God, be true to your profeſſion. There is not in the world a more lively repreſentation and Image of God, than the heart of the upright; therefore God loves ſo much, when he hath drawn his likeneſs upon them to walk with them; therefore David reſolves, Pſal 101.2. I will walk in the midſt of mine houſe with a perfect heart; O when wilt thou come unto me? This was the comfort of the Apoſtle, that in ſimplicity, and godly ſincerity, he had his converſation in the world; God will be with ſuch, and ſuch ſhall be with God, Pſal. 37.37. Mark the perfect man, behold the upright, the end of that man is peace; And thus God appointed Abraham to walk, that he might be with him a God in Covenant, Gen 17. Walk before me, be thou perfect; and gives him this encouragement, I am God All-ſufficient: Gods All ſufficiency being ſufficient to keep the Soul upright, being rightly improved.
There be two things which uſually Bias the Soul away from God, and makes it warp from its holy principles, 1. The Frowns. 2. The Flatteries of the world.
Againſt both which, there is a ſufficient remedy in the All-ſufficient God.
Firſt, That which often perverts the Soul from the truth, is the fear of troubles and wants; If I keep my integrity, (ſaies the Soul) I ſhall be Undone, I ſhall Loſe my eſtate, Embroyl my ſelf in many Troubles; perhaps a Priſon, Exile, or Death comes next. But what force is there in this Tentation? If we hear on the other hand, God ſaying, if thou wilt be upright, fear no troubles, no wants, I am a God All-ſufficient, as in Job 22.25. to the end of the Chapter, The Almighty ſhall be thy defence (then fear no force) thou ſhalt have plenty of Silver, thou ſhalt gather Gold as duſt, and the Gold of Ophir, as the ſtones of the Brooks, Then fear no wants.
Secondly, There is another thing in the world that hath a very great influence upon the ſpirit of a man, to pervert him, and turn him from his integrity; and that is The hopes of preferment, and greatneſs of the world; But this is but a poor bait, if we look upon the All-ſufficiency of God: Doth the World promiſe thee Riches? God will out-bid the world, and gives Eternal Riches. Will the World give Pleaſures? God will give better; with him is fulneſs of joy, and pleaſures for evermore. Will the World give Gold? God will give Diamonds. Will the World give all its Glory? God will give thee the Glory of a better World, rather than that ſhall be a ſnare unto thee.
Dir. 9 Ninthly, Pray much, pray continually; God will be in the hearts and houſes of his Praying people, when he hath a Curſe in ſtore for Prayerleſs Families, in Jerem. 10. the laſt verſe.
Firſt, That God will abide with you, and the Kingdom in his Goſpel, and pure Ordinances; that you may dwell in Beth-el, and not in Berl-aven, a houſe of vanity and grief. Pray that God will not remove his Candleſtick from you, nor utterly extinguiſh the light of the Kingdom.
Secondly, Pray, and I ſhall pray with you, that God will give you a faithful Paſtour after his own heart, not according to your hearts, that he may teach you by his Doctrine and his Life too; A faithful Teacher, to go in, and out before you; to ſhew you the Word of the Lord; One that may be among you, as it was ſaid of Athanaſius, that he was Magnes & Adamas.
1. Magnes, As a Load-ſtone, to draw your Souls with a gentle hand, and melting heart, from your ſins Heaven-ward.
2. Adamas, As an Adamant, of an invincible courage and zeal againſt all ſin and prophaneſs; one that will not ſpare Sin. That he may ſave your Souls.
Pray that God would give you a Star, a Star out of his right hand, not a Churliſh Orion, that brings a Cold, Barren, and Cloudy Winter. but a Benevolent and Friendly Pleiades, that there may be many Sons brought into God, and your Souls may find a continual Spring, and that you may be as Trees of Gods own planting, and may flouriſh in the Courts of the houſe of our God, and may bring forth more fruit in old age.
Dir. 10 Tenthly, and Laſtly, If you would have the conſtant abode of God and Chriſt with you, Conform, Conform univerſally, and fully to the Goſpel of Chriſt, Conſent and Aſſent Unfeignedly, to all the Truths and Doctrines thereof, that you may walk worthy of God, and all that Grace which hath been revealed to you: for Chriſt hath ſaid, If a man keep his Word, the Father will love him, and both Father and Son, will come to him, and make their abode with him. Wherefore I ſhall conclude this Exhortation with that of the Apostle, in Philippians 1.2.7. Only Let your converſation be ſuch as becometh the Goſpel of Chriſt, that whether I come and ſee you, or elſe be abſent from you, I may hear of your affairs, that ye ſtand faſt in one ſpirit, with one mind, ſtriving together for the faith of the Gospel.
And ſo ſhut up all with that in Acts 20.32.
And now Brethren, I commend you to God, and to the Word of his Grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an Inheritance among all them which are Sanctified.
FINIS.
End of the text · Philip Lamb, The Royal Presence (1662)