Remedy Against Trouble, Discourse · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
THere is yet one way more whereby Faith becomes ſuch an effectual Remedy againſt Touble, and that is, as we thereby have a view or proſpect of the other World, or of the Future ſtate. We thereby look to the things that are not ſeen, which are eternal. And if any ſhall ſay,2 Cor. 4.18. the word there uſed, doth not imply that he ſaw them, or had a view of them, but only that he made them his ſcope or aim: I anſwer, The word ſometimes ſignifies to mark or obſerve, as well as to conſider or have reſpect to.Rom. 16.17. Phil. 3.17. Heb. 11.27. And we do in a ſort ſee the things which we aim at: Moſes is ſaid to endure, as ſeeing him that is viſible; which implies not the manner of his enduring, but the ground of it; not as if he had ſeen him that is inviſible, but becauſe he ſaw him that is inviſible, or like one that ſaw the inviſible God.John 1.14. So as the glory of the only begotten Son of God, is a glory becoming ſuch an one. And if it be ſaid, there is a Contradiction in the terms, to ſee him that is Inviſible: I anſwer, It is an Elegancy uſed frequently in Scriptures, where a word in the ſame place is taken in different ſenſes, as to believe in hope, Rom. 4.18. 1 Tim. 5.6.againſt hope. And ſhe that liveth in pleaſure, is dead while ſhe lives. She lives Naturally, but is dead Spiritually. So God is inviſible to our bodily Eyes, but we ſee him by faith, which is the evidence of things not ſeen. Heb. 11.1.And if it be further objected, that Faith and Sight are oppoſed in Scripture; as, We walk by faith, and not by ſight. And in whom, 2 Cor. 5.7. 1 Pet. 1.8.tho now ye ſee him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unſpeakable, and full of glory. For this latter place, diſtinguiſh of ſeeing as before, and the ſenſe is plain; and for the former place, Faith is there oppoſed, either to the Viſion of God which we ſhall have in the Future ſtate, or to preſent ſenſe; implying that we ſhould govern our lives not by Senſe, or what we ſee, but by what we belive, or hereafter hope for. And the Apoſtle when he would ſet forth the virtue of Faith, and of what excellent uſe it is to ſupport Chriſtians under Trials and Sufferings; he grounds it upon this,Heb. 11.1. that it is the ſubſtance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not ſeen. It gives as it were a real and preſent ſubſiſtence to things that are yet but future, and ſo hoped for; and giveth us as full ſatisfaction concerning thoſe things which we do not ſee, as if we ſaw them clearly before our eyes. And theſe two things make that which is future to affect us more, and work more effectually upon us. We ſay indeed among men, that ſeeing is believing. And they have Proverbial Speeches in other Nations, like this of our own; There is ſo much deceit and falſhood to be found among men, that perſons will hardly believe till they ſee, or have ſufficient ground for it; and ſo will not venture much on uncertain hopes. But when we have to do with God that cannot lie, believing is ſeeing; that is, when we have his Word to ground our Faith upon, we are as ſure as if we ſaw with our eyes, or as if things were proved to us by a Mathematical Demonſtration; that is, by ſuch clear evidence as nothing can be objected againſt. But tho we look upon things as certain, they do not much affect us, if we look upon them as at a great diſtance of time: therefore wicked men relieve themſelves againſt the fear of future Evils, by looking upon them as at a great diſtance;Ezek. 12.27. Amos 6.3. or putting far away the evil day. We are likewiſe encouraged to patience by the near approach of the recompense of reward; becauſe he that ſhall come, will come, and will not tarry: Heb. 10.37. James 5.8, 9. Luke 21.28.The coming of the Lord draws nigh: The judge ſtands before the door. And our Saviour bids his Diſciples lift up their heads when their redemption draws nigh. If perſons were going to ſome places, and tired with the tediouſneſs of their Journey, and diſcouraged with the Difficulties and Dangers that they meet with in their way, queſtioning whether they ſhould find the way to it, or hold out till they come at it; ſhould come to the top of an Hill, and before they are aware, ſee the place that they are going to, a little before them, what Courage and Life would it preſently put into them? As Columbus that firſt diſcovered the Weſt Indies, when his men were ready to Mutiny, having been wearied with a Voyage of Sixty days over the Ocean, he perceiving the Clouds to look clearer, concluded that they were not far from Land; and ſo promiſed them to return, if they did not within three days diſcover Land, which they did before the end of the third day. So if we could get a ſight of the other World, as Moſes did of the Land of Cannan, on the top of Piſgah; Deut. 3.27.What Vigour and Life would it add to us, when we are ready to faint and be diſcouraged? Now Faith (according to the Deſcription given of it) ſerves us as a Teleſcope or Perſpective Glaſs, diſcovering to us the things which we ſee not, and making things ſeem near which are afar off. We thereby have as full certainty of the things of the other World, as if they were evidently ſet forth before your eyes, to uſe the Apoſtles words.Gal. 3.1. Yea, the things of eternity are hereby brought near to us, and ſeem to us as at hand, and thereby our Affections are much abated to the things of this World: The time being ſhort, and the faſhion of this World paſſing away, we may rejoice in the good things of it, as if we rejoiced not, and mourn for the evil things of it, as if we wept not; moderate both our Joy and Sorrow, the end of all things being at hand, and we being even ready to enter upon the borders of Eternity.1 Cor. 7.29, &c.
And that we may the better underſtand how Faith brings things nearer to us, or makes them ſeem at a leſs diſtance; let us conſider, that God being Eternal, and ſeeing all things at one ſingle view, one day is with him as a thouſand years, and a thouſand years as one day; and tho we are indeed finite Creatures, and meaſure Time by Succeſſion; yet taking a view of Eternity, and looking to the things that are Eternal, the things of this World are nothing compared therewith, and the time of this Life but as a moment in compariſon with the days of Eternity. We may obſerve, That Old men that have lived long in the World, make nothing of Seven years, yea, reckon Twenty years but a ſhort time; when Younger perſons look upon it as a long time. Thoſe that are of narrow minds, and conſider no more than what they have ſeen, and have never gone far from home, look upon Twenty or Thirty miles as a long way. But thoſe that have travelled to the Indies, or Thouſands of miles from home, reckon Twenty or Thirty Miles as nothing; yea, thoſe that have by the Study of Geography, or looking on Globes or Maps, obſerved the vaſt Compaſs of the World, would account ſo many Miles as a very ſmall matter; and a great Traveller would think himſelf as good as at home, if he were within ſo many Miles of it. So tho we were never taken up as Paul into the Third Heaven, yet the Deſcription which we have of it in the Scriptures, may ſink the things of this World quite below our Conſideration. Thoſe that write Deſcriptions of other Countries, give us an Account ordinarily of the Scituation of the Place, the Compaſs or Extent of it, the Nature of the Soil, the Commodities that it affords, the Healthfulneſs of the Air, the Genius or Temper of the People. But the Countries ſo deſcribed, are ſometimes found to be but imaginary Ʋtopia's, or meer Fancies: And others when we come to ſee them, fall far ſhort of the Deſcription which we had of them, and deceive our Expectations. But as we have by Faith a full Aſſurance of future Glory; the Scripture being no cunningly deviſed fable; 2 Pet. 1.16.ſo we are aſſured it will not deceive our Hopes, or fall ſhort of the Account which we have of it in the Scrpitures. As Luther would ſay, Chriſt and Heaven are not capable of an Hyperbole. For tho it is true, that may be ſaid of them which is falſe; yet their true and real Worth will exceed whatever the Tongue of Men and Angels can ſpeak of them. The report which the Queen of Sheba heard of the Glory and Wiſdom of Solomon in her own Country, exceeded her belief; but what ſhe found when ſhe came to ſee, far exceeded the Report;1 Kings 10.7, &c. The one half of it had not been told her. So glorious things are ſpoken of the City of God. Chriſt tells his Diſciples, There were many Manſions in his Fathers houſe, enow to receive not only the innumerable Company of Angels, but the General Aſſembly of that great multitude which no man can number, of all nations, and kindreds, Rev. 7.9. Pſalm 16.11.and people, and tongues: There is fulneſs of joy, and pleaſures for evermore. And it is not as ſome places, where there is plenty of all things, but the Air is bad, ſo as the Inhabitants are but ſhort-liv'd;Iſaiah 33.24. Rev. 21.4. but there the inhabitants ſhall not ſay they are ſick: There will be no death, nor ſorrow, nor crying, nor pain.
I will not take upon me to ſet forth particularly the greatneſs of this Glory; It being that which eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, nor hath entered into the heart of man. 1 Cor. 2.9.And that which God hath prepared, that he might therein ſhew the riches of his glory on the veſſels of mercy, which he hath afore prepared unto glory. Rom. 9.23.We muſt not conſider things abſolutely, but comparatively, and this will much alter our Account of them. Let us obſerve the Account which the Apoſtle gives of his own Sufferings, and his Fellow-Chriſtians; they were preſſed out of meaſure, above ſtrength, inſomuch that they deſpaired even of Life; and for his own part,Acts 20.23. bonds and afflictions did abide him wherever he went; and we have a particular Account of his Sufferings, 2 Cor. 11.23, &c. But when he comes to ſpeak of theſe things comparatively, ſee how he changes his ſtile in one of the higheſt ſtrains of Rhetorick that is to be found in Scripture, or any other Author. Theſe afflictions which in themſelves were ſo grievous, and did often return upon them, as the clouds return after the rain, were but light, and for a moment, 1 Cor. 4.17.compared with that far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, which they wrought for them; obſerve how he raiſes his ſtrain, he begins high, yet how many notes doth he riſe? Glory, a weight of glory, an exceeding weight of glory, a more exceeding weight of glory, a far more exceeding weight of glory; yea, once more, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; and tho the word Hyperbole be twice uſed in the Greek, there is no Hyperbole or Exceſs in the Apoſtle's Speech; he doth uſe the word again and again, to make an attempt at expreſſing the greatneſs of glory, as if it were accumulated or heaped up, yet he cannot thereby reach the thing it ſelf which he would expreſs: and tho there ſeems to be a Meioſis or diminution in the former part of the verſe, as if he did not juſtly rate the ſufferings of this life, he ſpeaks only of what they are comparatively,Num. 13.33. as the Iſraelites were but Graſhoppers compared with the Giants; we ſhould learn from ſuch language in Scriptures to Habituate our ſelves to lower and meaner thoughts of the things of this world, and higher thoughts of thoſe things of the world to come.Zech. 1.12. The Angels complain of the time wherein God had indignation againſt Jeruſalem, it was threeſcore and ten years, but when it is compared with the everlaſting kindneſs wherewith he hath mercy on his people, it is but a little wrath, and for a moment. Iſaiah 54.8.Children look but a little way before them, and it ſeems hard to them to be kept to their books, and to School-diſcipline, or to hard labour under a ſevere maſter; and they conſider only the preſent eaſe and pleaſure of others that are left to themſelves. But their wiſer parents look further, and conſider how ſhort a time they are at School, or at an Apprentiſhip, in compariſon with the reſt of their lives; what Preferments, what Riches many attain to by a good improvement of that time: and on the contrary, what Straits; what Miſeries, many are reduced to, that trifle away their younger years. But there is a far greater diſproportion betwixt the things of this life, and that which is to come, and as great a difference betwixt their duration and continuance.
Now by Faith we take a view of the things that are not ſeen, which are eternal, and are as ſure of them, as if we ſaw them; as if we were with Paul caught up into Paradiſe, 2 Cor. 12.4.to ſee the glory of Heaven, or as if we had ſome place opened to us to look into the Lake that burns with fire and brimſtone for evermore, as the Prophet had a place opened through the wall to ſee the Abominations that were done by the houſe of Iſrael: Ezek. 8.7, &c.Now while we do by Faith look to theſe things, and while we ſee the time of this life but as an handbreadth to Eternity; Pſalm 39.5. Rom. 8.18.we ſhall reckon the ſufferings of this preſent life, not worthy to be compared with the glory that ſhall be revealed in us, nor any way anſwerable to thoſe miſeries which poor ſinners muſt be tormented with night and day for ever and ever. Rev. 20.10.Therefore as in our ſpiritual combat we ſhould take to our ſelves Faith as a ſhield, to hold up againſt the fiery darts of the wicked; Epheſ. 6.16.ſo we ſhould take it to us as a Perſpective-glaſs, through the help of which we ſhall not only ſee afar off, beyond time to Eternity; but it will bring the things of the world to come nearer to us, and make them ſeem as at hand; for tho they be not really nearer, yet that diſtance of time which they are at from us, will ſeem as nothing, when we compare it with that Eternity which is beyond time, wherein we muſt be for ever happy or miſerable, according to what we propound to our ſelves as our chief end.
And let us but conſider what is the principle that all the world is acted by, what is the ſpring that moves the ſeveral wheels that are moving ſome one way and ſome another; or what is it that (as it is ſaid concerning Noah) doth comfort men concerning their work, and toil of their hands; but the hopes of future Advantages, Honour, Riches: for theſe the Soldier expoſes himſelf to a thouſand hardſhips and hazards: The Merchant leaves his Friends and Country, try, and commits himſelf to the waves, runs the riſque of ſuffering Shipwrack, being taken by Pyrates, and ſubjected to perpetual Slavery: And if we do run the like hazards for the profeſſion of Religion, which men ſeldom do; let us by this Perſpective look before us, not only to the recompence of Reward which will abundantly anſwer all our loſſes and ſufferings; but to the penalty that we ſhall incur if we do not by patient continuance in well-doing wait for Honour and Glory and Immortality, there being no middle place between Heaven and Hell.
And let us but conſider the difference betwixt our caſe and the caſe of thoſe that endure ſuch hardſhips, and run ſuch hazards for the things of this world. The Apoſtle ſets it forth in two things, borrowing a ſimilitude from things then in uſe amongſt them; one did ſtrive for a corruptible crown, 1 Cor. 9.25, 26.a Garland of Flowers or Lawrel: the other for a crown of Glory that fades not away. 1 Pet. 5.4.The one did run uncertainly, the other with more aſſurance of ſucceſs. So here there is no compariſon betwixt what we ſhall receive through Faith and Patience, and what men receive as the reward of their labours and ſufferings here in this world; either for the nature, or for the continuance of it, and we are at greater certainties about it. Here the race is not to the ſwift, Eccl. 9.11.nor the battel to the ſtrong, nor bread to the wiſe, nor riches to men of underſtanding, nor favour to men of skill; but time and chance happens to all. But if we be ſtedfaſt, unmoveable, abounding always in the Lord's work, we may know that our labour ſhall not be in vain in the Lord.1 Cor. 15.58.
I ſhould here conclude; but that as the Apoſtle would provoke the Jews to emulation by the Gentiles, ſo I would by a Heathen, Rom. 11.14.provoke Chriſtians to look by Faith to the things which are not ſeen, which are eternal. Seneca in the beginning of his Preface to his Natural Queſtions, ſhews, That as there is a difference betwixt Pholoſophy and other Arts, ſo there is a difference betwixt that part of Philoſophy which reſpects men, and that which reſpects God. This latter (he ſaith) is more high and ſprightly, and ſuppoſes ſomething greater and more beautiful, which Nature hath placed out of ſight; and unleſs he might be admitted to theſe things, he ſhould not think it worth the while to be born, or to take ſuch pains; and adds, O how contemptible a thing is man, if he do not raiſe up himſelf above human things! If an Heathen could ſpeak thus, what a ſhame is it for us that have the help of Divine Revelation, to fall under the reproach and cenſure of thoſe that mind earthly things? It is by faith alone that we can look to thoſe things out of ſight; let us thereby raiſe up our ſelves to take a view of the other World, both the good and evil things of it, and this will ſo raiſe and enlarge our minds, that we ſhall have meaner thoughts of the things of this life, and not concern our ſelves ſo far in the purſuit of the good things of the world, or in the avoiding the evil things of it, as thereby to be taken off from minding thoſe things that are above; or ſo as to run the hazard of falling ſhort of that reſt, which we have a promiſe left us of entring into.