Balm for Bleeding England and Ireland, Sermon 12
USEFULL INSTRVCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times.
COLOSS. 1.11.
Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longſuffering with joyfulneſſe.
EVery word in this Verſe, hath it not been a ſweet flower to ſmell to? the whole is a bundle of myrrhe. 'Tis a Verſe filled with the pantings of a precious ſpirit, which are, to be filled with God: to have all, of that which is indeed all: all ſoule ſtrength, all ſoule wealth, all might—all patience, all joy; all Chriſt in fellowſhip and fruition, to doe him all, cheerfull ſervice, as long as life laſts.
There is holy ambition in Chriſtianity: (i) to be greateſt in the Kingdome of God:*In the Kingdome of grace. to ſit on Chriſts right hand, as he ſits on his Fathers right hand; to have all power given unto us, to doe all workes well, which are aſſigned to us, as he did; the whole ſoule to lie in the boſom of Chriſt, and ſo to be all in all, and anſwerably all, unto all; all in point of power, patience, joy ability and cheerfulneſſe unto all duty.
O how good, a good heart would be! all good; all good in the worſt condition: grace would be abſolute, grace would have all grace, that all the world may ſee nothing in her but like her ſelfe, in the loweſt condition: a man in Chriſt, would be all in Chriſt; all unto Chriſt; outſide, inſide, whole man, whole man Chriſts with joy.
Things have their inſtinct: ſtones fall downward, and they fall as low as ever they can, to get to the very center if it poſſibly may be: ſo ſparkes fly upward, and they aſcend as high as ever they can, to get into their own Heaven if it may be. Eagles fly high, and come as neare the Sun as they can. Grace hath its inſtinct; it aſcends, and aſcends as high as ever it can; would come as neare the Sun as 'tis poſſible; 'twould be like him; 'twould ſhine in a darke World, in a darke night, in a deſolate condition gloriouſly, as he did. A Chriſtian would be all of that nature, of which hee is ſo little: hee would bee in all conditions himſelfe, above himſelfe; a Chriſtian in ſtate, when a man in no eſtate.
Things have their ſenſe. Senſes are greedy, they are never ſatisfied, they ſtil cry, give, give; the eye is not ſatisfied with ſeeing, nor the eare with hearing, nor the mouth with taſting: ſo grace, 't'as i'ts inſtinct; yea 'tas more: 't'as ſenſe: grace can ſee grace, grace can taſt grace, grace is ſweet to grace; the new man can ſavour the things of God. A Chriſt can deſire as hee taſtes; pantes, and Prayes, as he feeles; hee pants for flagons, he feeles drops ſo ſweet; for water brookes, he ſees little ſtreames ſo pleaſant. Gods children are very craving; the more receiving, the more craving; receptions are ſo ſweet, ſenſe is ſtill eged on: divine ſenſe, divinely exorbitant, never ſatisfied; it cries give, give all: all ſtrength, all patience, all joy. The crying of a babe, is after all that the breaſt will yield, yea, after all that both breaſts will yield; after all that a Saviour hath purchaſed, and made giveable:
Things have their reaſon: man moves ex judicio, he diſcourſeth worth, and ſo makes out: pearles are no lumber; ſilver and gold, no lumber, but treaſure, pure treaſure; I would I had my houſefull of theſe ſaith he. Reaſon hath found out, and pitcht upon worth, and this makes deſire mighty vaſt; the man would have all, 'tis ſo good, 'tis ſo precious, ſuch meere treaſure. The new man, is of the cleareſt reaſon, of all men; he diſcourſes worth at a greater height, then any man beſides, and ſo makes out. He lookes with a very piercing eye upon every thing; through Pearles, and through gold, though the hardeſt things to be pierced, and finds out exactly what they are, and calls them exactly as they are, corruptible things: grace only goes for Jewells with the new man; in theſe onelyonly no loſſe, no lumber; in theſe onelyonly no vanity, no vexation; in theſe, God; ſo much of theſe, ſo much of God … …heſe J…wels in my boſome, and a… … …ll Heaven there. Thus the new … …ſcourſeth worth at a mighty height, and makes a very exact judgement goe before, and then a very vaſt deſire and endeavour, anſwerably to follow after: give all, of that which is above all; of that which will make me above all, in the loweſt ſtate: give me all might, all patience, all joy.
Things have their rule, and ſo muſt be proſecuted. Things earthly have their bounds: things heavenly, none; neither poverty nor riches, when one prayes for earthly things: no poverty but riches, not ſome but all, when one prayes for Chriſt; this is the rule. The meaſure is no meaſure; the ſtint is all, all might, all patience, &c. All paines, all prayers, muſt al run out at this height, for all grace, or they will runne all too low, below their rule here in my Text.
Ʋſe. The World is damnably beſide this rule: examine your reach, what do you graſpe after? after what do you open your hands, and your mouths, wide? which way lies your ambition? your covetouſneſſe? to have all the World, or all Chriſt? to have much honour, much wealth, or much grace? to be an all within your ſelues, or to be an all in and unto Chriſt?
Fallen man is a greedy creature as Banckrupts uſually are; hee has loſt all and he is graſping for an all againe. Know your ſtate: 'tis wrong, 'tis wretched: obſerve the greedineſſe of your hearts, and which way it lies, or your ſoules will be loſt in an evill covetouſneſſe. Two things make up an evill covetouſneſſe, when a man deſires illicita ſimpliciter, or licita illicitè; Things forbidden in themſelves, or things forbidden ſo; to make nothing all; vanity, chiefe.*Earth, Heaven, Earth, all. You ſeeke great things to your ſelves, do you ſeeke great things for your ſoules? every man is graſping after much, after a little all: tell me, what is that all.
'Tis a loſt man, that obſerves not which way the ſtrength of his ſoule works, and ſpends it ſelfe. 'Tis horrible wickedneſſe, to let a mans ſtrength paſſe unnaturally from him; to let his precious ſoule, ſpend its reines in a bed of vanities. A mans ſoule waſtes it ſelfe unnaturally, when it workes greedily towards any thing but Chriſt, and grace. There is more done to this man, then hee will believe: 'tis a man let looſe to the Creature, for not taking pleaſure in GOD. When a man cannot finde enough in God to make him his all, God gives up that man to ſome luſt, to make nothing all: affection flies out ſtrongly, fearefully, now: behold a man ſick of love to a lie! a man that will kill himſelf with love to an Harlot!
'Tis one that beares his judgement already, conſcience wounds, kils this man dayly, for burying love in a dunghil; for proſtituting his glory to baſe Earth. God vexes this heart, as the expreſſion is Ezechiel the 32.9. I will vex the heart of many people, &c. God is a vexing God to the heart of an earthly man; he wakes ſleeps▪ eates, talks, laughs, with a ſad reſtleſſe ſoule: he ſleeps but his conſcience wakes: hee riſes, but his heart is downe: 'twould bee loaded with thick Clay, and 'tis loaded with a witneſſe: Ah Lord! has not he Earth enough, that cannot beare up his earthy heart, 'tis ſo heavy?
This ſoule is in a deepe Conſumption, farre gone from GOD; if any thing will fetch him back, 'twill be to conſider his folly, and how favour ſtil waites to bee gracious to him. All earthen Ciſternes are crackt: what folly is it to ſeeke for all, in that which will drop out all? Things cannot hold much, things ſhall not hold much, which you too much bend after. All is loſt, when the World is made all: Death is in the Pot, when you are taken with the Broth, the Birth-right is as good as actually gone, when affection is ſo ſtrong to Pottage. Ah Wretch! thou haſt loſt thy ſoule, to gaine the World.
If this wil not fetch back the Prodigall, this added, will; or nothing. Favour yet waites. A Soule that hath beene a great Traveller in the World, that hath gone through the vanity of the Creature, through ſtrength of deſire and curioſity, may returne to Chriſt and be welcome: 'twas the Prodigalls caſe; hee had ſpent all, waſted prime love, prime ſtrength, and then returned, and God accepted. 'Twas likewiſe Salomons caſe. Love turned at a low ebb, it met with Love. Inclinations of heart are deare to Chriſt. Smoaking flax is not troubleſome to his eyes; hee will ſtoop and blow it, to make it flame. Chriſt is taken with a ſinner, whenſoever hee beginnes to pant after him. Beſtow love upon Chriſt when you will, hee will meete you; or what Love you wil, hee wil out-Love you. Promiſe to your ſelves what you will in Chriſt, you ſhal finde it and more: make a God of Chriſt, you ſhal finde him ſo; make him al, and you ſhal finde him al; more then al the World beſide.
But take this Item along with you, A Soule in extremities cannot laſt long. Paſſion ſtrong to the Creature, will provoke much, and conſume ſpeedily; what is done therefore in point of remedy, muſt be done ſpeedily, or the Soule is loſt: a Soule a Fire to the Creature, muſt bee ſnacht as a Brand out of the Fire; 'twill ſuddenly bee conſumed elſe. A Soule poſting to Hell, wil quickly be there. Greedineſſe ſurfets; ſurfets make quick diſpatch; Death is at the doore, when the Soule is exorbitant; the Creature is now made a God, GOD will not now endure nor forbeare longer. Let exorbitant Soules thinke of this, and thinke what they have to doe, and doe it.
The End of the firſt Verſe.