Balm for Bleeding England and Ireland, Sermon 2
USEFULL INSTRVCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times.
COLOSS. 1.11.
—With All might, &c. Or in all power.
THis is the next word to ſpeake of. All might, is him that is Almighty given into man, as full as man can hold; 'tis ſo much divine ſtrength extended, as to beare up to all duty, Almighty, is all that man can need, all that man can uſe beſtowed on him: 'tis ten Talents; 'tis ſtrength to hold forth all Gods Will, in all conditions, againſt all diſadvantages: 'tis humane capacity made vaſt, and filled with as much of God, as any deſigne on earth can require, for the well managing of it. Almightineſſe here, is not ſpoken in way of compariſon with God, but in way of full obedience to God; 'tis an expreſſion ſpoken in referrence to Gods Will, not in reference to Gods Perſon, and notes an ability to all that God commands, and not any equallity to any thing that God is: it notes ſuch a power in ſome ſimilitude, to be to what is enjoyned, as God is to any thing, able to it, and above it, though never ſo great.
Almightineſſe in God, cannot be fully expreſſed by man. Almightineſſe in a Chriſtian, hath ſo much of the Almighttineſſe of God in it, that this neither cannot be fully expreſſed. 'Tis the ſame power which made Chriſt Almighty, exceeding richly made knowne in a Chriſtian; no otherwiſe did the Apoſtle know how to expreſſe it.—that yee may know what is the exceeding greatneſſe of his power to us ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Chriſt, when he raiſed him from the dead, Epheſ. 1.19, 20.and ſet him at his owne right Hand in heavenly places, Almightineſſe in a Chriſtian, 'tis the exceeding great power of Chriſt made knowne exceedingly, whereby a great ſimilitude to Chriſt is made, in obeying him, as hee did obey his Father. Thus onelyonly the Apoſtle expreſſes this power, becauſe he knew not how more fully to reach it; therefore you may not expect a deeper fathoming of it from me: —and what is the exceeding greatneſſe of his power to us ward, &c. 'Tis an indefinite expreſſion, of an unmeaſurable thing: we muſt word it as well as we can, when things are too big for words.
3. Quedammodò omnipotens ad extraordinarie.Almightineſſe in a Chriſtian, 'tis one in ſtrength above ordinary worke; tis one all able to extraordnary duties; as able to hard, as to light worke: 'tis one able not onelyonly to impart the Goſpell, but his owne ſoule too, for the Goſpell.—So being affectionatly deſireous we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the Goſpell of God onelyonly, but alſo our owne ſoules. 1 Theſſ. 2.8. 'Tis one able to give his heart to God, and his life too; his affection to Chriſt, and his bloud too, with much willingneſſe. —So being affectionately deſirous we were willing, &c. Covetouſly or luſtfully deſirous, as the originall words ſignify, which notes the moſt taking and ſwaying heart-paſſion.
Almightineſſe in a Chriſtian, 'tis divine power extended and received to the utmoſt, as you have ſuch a Scripture phraſe; to the utmoſt of what God is communicable, and man capable; to the utmoſt of what an infinite God can give, and a finite nature can receive;foreign to the utmoſt of what is promiſed, and a Chriſtians calling can call for. Tis a Steven, one full of the Holy Ghoſt and of power; able to ſtand it out in a ſtorme of ſtones; to ſee Heaven in Hell. 'Tis a Shadrach a triumpher in the Almighty, in the face of fiery cruelty; a triumpher in an Almighty God, before the frowning face of an Almighty man: 'tis a man able to obey God Agendo & patiendo in perpetuum, to the utmoſt; to the laſt breath.Modus communicandi.
Almightineſſe in a Chriſtian 'tis the ſame in nature with that which was in Chriſt, whereby hee did all thoſe Almighty things for our ſaluation.Modus communicandi. The Apoſtle wiſhing this power to the Epheſians, ſayes 'tis that which wrought in Chriſt when hee raiſed him from the dead.—According to the working of his mighty power which wrought in Chriſt, when he raiſed him, &c. Epheſ. 1.19. Chriſt had his power by which hee did great things for us, by unction; ſo have we: hee by unction from his Father, we by unction from him. God anointed Ieſus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghoſt and with power. Acts 10.38. Chriſt hath his unction immediatly from the Father; we immediatly from the Son: 'tis he that moſt immeditatly gives the Holy Ghoſt to us. —Hee ſhall glorify me (ſaith Chriſt of the ſpirit) for he ſhall receive of [mine] and ſhall ſhew it unto you. The power the Holy Ghoſt gives, 'tis the power of Chriſt, the truth hee reveales, 'tis the truth of Chriſt; Whatſoever excellency he inſpires, 'tis the excellency of Chriſt, and to make ſimilitude to him.
1. Impertiendi diſcrimen.Chriſt had his unction according to his capacity; of infinite capacity, and therefore his power, the power of a God. All power of God in man, comes to but finite power, the Subject is capable of no more. Almightineſſe in a chriſtian is but finite power: infinite power working finitly, according to the capacity of the Subject.
Chriſt had a more full unction then we, being a vaſter continent; and he had a more free unction, that is, power more abſolutely conferred, and made over very perſonall to him. He had his power as the firſt Adam, wholly at his owne diſpoſe, ſo hee ſpake of it, and ſo hee wrought by it, I have power to lay downe my life, and J have power to take it up. He could doe this as of, and from himſelfe. The moſt Almighty Chriſtian cannot ſay thus, without blaſphemy. Infinite power workes in us, but not infinitely nor perſonally, as a thing wholly and altogether at our diſpoſe.
Ʋſe. Chriſtians, are yee Almighty men and women? 'Tis a ſeaſonable queſtion,; an Almighty ſtrength is comming againſt us. God is armed, deadly worke is in the Land, can yee ſuffer unto death? Our glory will be great quickly, or our ſhame, obedience to bloud and death is comming into uſe againe. Is my ſtrength the ſtrength of ſtones? Saith Iob. The ſtrength of ſtones and rockes, a kinde of Almightineſſe is like to be needed, all the ſtrength of God, to carry us out well; what power of God works in you?
Divine Juſtice is throughly awake, but ah Lord! we are not. Full executions working, full preparations aſleep; all will be ours with a wet finger; no Chriſtians, 'twill not; 'twill be with a wet heart too, wet with bloud, and 'tis well if not with the bloud of ſome of you. 'Tis a remarkable expreſſion that of the Prophet Ezek. When he had foretold ſad things, hee concludes thus. Then ſaid I ah Lord God, Ezek. 20. v. ult.they ſay of mee doth he not ſpeake parables? We are to many, as thoſe that preach our owne melancholly fancies, when we pleaſe not their fancies. I have often ſadly ſaid it, and with as much humility as I could, that England's merciemercy would be bloudy mercies; but I doubt what uſe was made of it. The Sword you now all ſee is drawen, when 'twill be put up again, what bleeding yet is behind, the Lord onelyonly knowes, 'twill be our wiſdome to get ſtrength for the worſt; All might, all the power of God working in us, to beare up under all that can come.
To have ſerv'd Chriſt with our hearts would have ſerv'd-turne very well, theſe foureſcore or theſe hundred yeeres paſt, but now twill not, it muſt be with our heart-bloud; what ſtrength and power have yee in your hearts to this? can you bleed out your ſoules in your Fields, in your Streets, at your Doo…es, in your Houſes, for Chriſt? Tell me all of you (I beſeech you) what ſtrength have you to this? I have but little, I have none: this is the generall vote. Such language in humility is good; but where 'tis ſo indeed, there 'tis ſad. Why how have you uſed your precious time? you have had many yeeres to fit for this one; many dayes of peace to fit for this day of War; many unbloudy dayes, to fit for this bloudy day. You have had a growing time; a time of full growth, for full ſervice, for any ſervice; this will be pleaded againſt you by Chriſt and conſcience better then I can doe; how will yee bee able to beare it?
The time is come that many will rue their loſſe of time; that ſloth will fall to ſlaying the very womb that hath long travel'd with her: hard worke, deadly hard worke will every day now, fall to him that never dream't on't, and many I feare will eternally die in manging a good cauſe. Ah Lord! this is ſad indeed, when a man ſhall loſe his life and his ſoule too, in a good cauſe; when a man ſhall make the greateſt loſſe, in the greateſt and braveſt worke of gaine, that can come into a mans hand. I like courage well, but diſlike a deſperate man as much; ſuch is every one that goes about deadly worke, and yet altogether unfit to die; under the command of the Devill, when he puts himſelfe under the command of man, for God.
The Divell is Almghty in ſome men, I would ſpeake a word to this. That which doth rule all in you, is your Almighty; by this you may know what power workes in you. What power is ſupreme in you, the power of light and truth, or the power of darkeneſſe and ſin? There is a ſtrong man, and there is a ſtronger man; the ſtronger man is the Almighty. Three things will cleare what power 'tis, that is Almighty in you. What are you in, 1. choiſe? What in, 2 purſuite? What in, 3. reſt? What a man chooſes, what a man proſecutes, what a man reſts in, that has all, is all; that's Almighty. You that chooſe ſin, proſecute ſin, reſt in ſin; ſinne, Satan is your almighty; your God: you are ſtrengthned with all might from Hell. The God of this World rules mightily in the children of diſobedience ſaith the Apoſtle. When ſinners are to ſin as children to a Father, doing what they doe very naturally, freely, conſtantly, contentedly, ah! lay this to heart, ſin is almighty.
Enlarge theſe things as you will in your ſelves, I can ſay onelyonly this, you are loſt men, if any thing be Almighty in you, but Chriſt. As you love your ſoules, conſider what power works in you, and by what ſtrength you are rul'd. You that have nothing but the ſtrength of ſinne and Satan in you, what will yee doe when deliberately put to it for Chriſt? you will deny him and blaſpheme him to his face; a man is, and neceſſarily muſt be, as the power that workes and rules in him: you may think this, and promiſe that, (the weakeſt Creatures are apteſt this way) but what ov…r-beares you now, wil quite undoe you in the day of tryall.
Theſe things, Chriſtians, I have ſpoken our of feare of ſome, but I hope well of the moſt of you; that an Almighty arme of God is under you, and an almighty ſpirit and power of God working in you: I would it were ſo with all. All of you may bee, what any of you are. Covet things that excell, and CHRIST will give you excellent things; an excelling ſtrength, All might. The moſt of Chriſt is beſt: the moſt of his power, the moſt of his truth, the moſt of his love, and the like; few hearts ſtrongly hang after this, therfore are miſerable in their little, of him that is all; al-might, and all joy, and joyes ſo to be, to that ſoule that pants after it.
All might comes in as all ſinne goes out; the Holy Ghoſt is our power, and hee dwells and workes as hee can get roome. Let Chriſt have all your affection, and you ſhall have all his power, to make you able to doe all that he ſhall call you to. A man is made to duty, as he ſtrongly loves; ſtrong deſires take and make Chriſt, and then Chriſt takes and makes the man ſtrong; as ſtrong as his worke to which hee hath ſuch a deſire.
God diſpenſeth himſelfe according to his owne will, and yet according to ours too. 'Tis the plague of moſt men, that they deſire but little of God: they are heart-enemies to all power that oppoſes their corrupt affections. The ſtrength of God to mortify what man loves, and God hates, will man ſeeke? or will God give without it? All might to overcome all, that overcomes the ſoule, what men deſire or thirſt after (this is talkt of)? therefore they very deſervedly die, under the power of their ſin, and in the weakeneſſe of their ſoules.
Grace in its meaſure (though not according to its being) is diſpens'd according to deſire in its meaſure; for 'tis but a prevenient capacity made by God, to hold ſo much, or ſo much of himſelfe: Chriſtians enlarge your deſires as Heaven, as the wicked are ſaid to enlarge their deſires as Hell. If you would have great things you muſt have great deſires. According to your affections will bee your fruitions; if you deſire flagons of power and love to ſtay you, you ſhall be ſo ſupported; if you pant after power, all power to beare you up, you ſhall be ſo borne up. Almightineſſe to action, ſprings out of almightineſſe in affection.
According to affection, and according to faith doth the power of God worke in man: Therefore is Steven ſaid to be a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghoſt; and elſe-where, full of faith and power, Acts 6.8. According to our faith, is our incorporation with that ſtrength, & power, which is indeed almighty; and according to a Chriſtians incorporation with this, is his derived almightineſſe. By faith the walles of Jerico fell: twas faith that made thoſe worthies, ſuch almighty ones. As the ſoule reſts upon the almighty, ſo is it almighty. I would yee would ſtudy nothing elſe but faith; all you have is in it. Every age calls to peculiar ſervice, this age calls for almighty Chriſtians; yee ſee the way to it, bleſſed are yee, if yee finde it: This bleſſedneſſe I will ſpeake of in a word or two and cloſe up this point.
An Almighty Chriſtian, 'tis a Mordecai; one ſet upon the Kings Horſe, cloathed with royall apparell, and a Haman holding his bridle. 'Tis a man over all, in God. 'Tis one cloathed with the Sun, having the Moone under his feete. 'Tis a Chriſtian with one foot on the Earth, and another on the Sea; trampling under foote corrupt doctrines, corrupt advantages, all that is unworthy of Chriſt, and will not goe along with the ſoule, to his everlaſting home.
An Almighty Chriſtian, 'tis one that moves in the higheſt Sphere, in caelo chryſtallino, in the chriſtall Heavens, as neare the Heaven of Heavens as may be. 'Tis one that waites for Chriſt from Heaven, more then for Heaven from Chriſt. 'Tis an Eagle, the King of Birds for ſight and ſtrength; hee can looke to the end of what God ſayes and does, and ſtand it out expecting that end: he can looke to a Canaan under a frown; behold life in death.
An Almighty Chriſtian can venture all upon an inviſible God; bind up all in one viſible word: hee can give an Iſaac to the dead; expect an Iſaac from the dead; believe that truth ſhall never die, who ever die or live. An Almighty Chriſtian can live and die with an Almighty Saviour: Chriſt alone is enough; Chriſt alone is all. Chriſt in poverty, is riches; Chriſt in death, is life; hee is in ſpirit ſtill according to him that he loves, and not according to what befalls him, that he loves. Hee is in affection according to the perſon of Chriſt, the imployment of Chriſt, and not according to accidentalia that attend him. My beloved [is] thus and thus, and therefore beloved. What Chriſt is in himſelfe takes; what may fall out, nothing. This Chriſtian is Chriſts liveli'ſt Emblem. Looke on mee (ſaith Gideon) and doe likewiſe. So doth hee, looke on Chriſt, and what Chriſt ſayes, hee ſayes; what Chriſt does, hee does, let all the World ſay and doe what they will. He can be baptized with the baptiſme wherewith Chriſt was baptized, though a bloudy baptiſme.
And Almighty ſoule on Earth, what will this ſoule bee in Heaven. One ſtrengthened with All might, is one prepared for all glory. Who can number the duſt of Jacob, or tell the fourth part of Iſrael? Who can number the Jewells of this Chriſtians Crowne? Or tell the fourth part of them; Thine is the Kingdome, [Power and Glory, &c. Power and Glory goe in a chaine with mutuall reſpect; as the one is, ſo the other. Looke how much of Chriſt here, ſo much of glory with him hereafter. As CHRIST is in any ſoule, ſo hee will bee glorious in that ſoule: So farre as hee reveales himſelfe in any ſoule, ſo farre hee abides and will for ever abide, and challenge honour fit for ſuch a vaſt being, when hee comes home. Hee now lives obſcurely, but hee will live in ſtate, according to his revenue, and Seate: Here is All power, here muſt bee all Glory, here are wide ſpacious roomes, they muſt have hangings ſuitable: I am all, in this all, I muſt have ſtate anſwerable. CHRIST glorifyes himſelfe in us, as hee reveales himſelfe in us. 'Tis often hinted, when much is enjoyed, what it will end in at the appearing of Chriſt; 'twill beſt ſpeake it ſelfe then. I can ſpeake no more of it now.
FINIS.