The Good of Early Obedience, Chapter 15
CHAP. XV.
Exhorts to thankfulneſs to God who inclined the heart to this Yoke. The wiſdom of taking up this Yoke manifeſted.
THE laſt uſe ſhall be of Exhortation: and I ſhall direct it to two ſorts of perſons.
1. To them that have taken up the yoke of Chriſt in their youth.
2. To ſuch as have never yet taken up the yoke of Chriſt to this day.
Exhortat.1. To them that have taken up the yoke of Chriſt in their youth; that have made it their work to mind Religion betimes; to remember their Creator in the dayes of their youth. There are three duties I would commend to ſuch, by way of direction.
Duty1. The firſt is thankfulneſs. Though this contributes nothing to God, yet it is that which he is delighted with. It ſhews the honeſty and integrity of the heart in aſcribing effects to their proper cauſes. Thankfulneſs diminiſhes the creature to himſelf, and magnifies God. It ſhews a man looks upon himſelf as nothing, and God as all. Therefore bleſs God and be thankful for this great mercy. Is there not a cauſe? For
1. How came you to take up Chriſts yoke? Rom. 6.17. Iſa. 26.13.Time was when ye were the ſervants of ſin, other Lords had dominion over you. Time was when you were ſlaves to luſt; How came you to take up the yoke of Chriſt? It was not natural; for by nature we are enemies to grace and holineſs. It was the fruit of the wiſdom of God impreſſed upon the Soul; it was he that gave thee counſel to make this choice; and therefore bleſs him. So David ſayes in the like caſe, I will bleſs the Lord who hath given me counſel. Pſa. 16.7. Counſel for what? to take the Lord for his Lord; and that implies taking up his yoke. O my ſoul thou haſt ſaid to the Lord, thou art my Lord, ver. …. thou art my Lord; that implies ſubjection; Thou haſt ſaid thou art my Lord, that implyes a Covenant reſignation. So that here he chooſes God for his portion and chief good, and for his higheſt Lord; and how he came to make this choice he tells you, ver. 7. It was the Lord that counſelled him to this; and therefore he reſolves the praiſe and glory ſhall be to him; I will bleſs the Lord who hath given me counſel. Go you and do likewiſe: bleſs the Lord who hath perſwaded and over power'd your hearts to cloſe with Chriſt. For no man comes to Chriſt except the Father draw him. Joh. 6.44.
2. It is the wiſeſt choice that ever you made to chooſe Chriſt for your Lord, and to put your ſelves under his yoke. It may be you think you choſe wiſely in other matters. In your yoke fellow, in your calling, in your dwelling, &c. but you never ſhewed ſuch wiſdom as in this. When Job asks, (Chap. 28.12.) where ſhall wiſdom be found, and where is the place of underſtanding? Job 28.14.15.21.and having told you where it is not, not in Silver and Gold; not in Voyages to Sea; Not to be purchaſed with all Riches; nor found in the land of the living; He tells you none know what, nor where true wiſdom is, but God, ver. 23. God underſtands the way thereof, and he knowes the place thereof: and it is he that directs us to it. ver. 28. Ʋnto man he ſaid, behold the fear of the Lord that is wiſdom, and to depart from evil is underſtanding. There is no man truly wiſe but he that fears God and keeps his Commandments.Eccleſ. 12.13. See wherein the wiſdom of this taking up Chriſts yoke is manifeſt in ſix particulars.
1. It is manifeſt in this, that the beſt and wiſeſt of men in all Ages have done it: they have rather choſen Obedience to Chriſt in the meaneſt ſervices, then to be found in complyance with luſt. What did David mean when he ſaid, I had rather be a door keeper in the houſe of my God, then to dwell in the Tents of wickedneſs? Pſal. 84.10. It was a wiſe preferring the meaneſt ſervice of Chriſt, before the greateſt pleaſures that wicked men enjoy. And what meant Moſes to refuſe to be called the ſon of Pharaohs Daughter, and to chooſe rather to ſuffer affliction with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon, eſteeming the reproaches of Chriſt greater riches than the treaſures of Egypt? Heb. 11.24, 25, 26.
What was the meaning of this, but only to ſhew that he preferred the worſt of Chriſts Yoke before the beſt of ſin? And what made the Apoſtles forſake all and follow Chriſt,Mat. 11.19. but to ſhew that wiſdom is juſtified of her children; and that they were ready to ſacrifice all for the ſervice of ſuch a Maſter? And what made thoſe primitive Martyrs (Heb. 11.) ſuffer ſuch mockings, ſcourgings, bonds, impriſonments, tortures, &c. but their faithfulneſs to Chriſt and his ways? And if the beſt in all Ages have taken up Chriſts yoke, then this makes the wiſdom of this practiſe manifeſt: Great reaſon therefore you ſhould bleſs God for, and give him the glory of your profeſſed ſubjection to Chriſt.
2. The wiſdom of taking up this yoke of Chriſt is evident in that it is ſuch a yoke, all the duties whereof commend themſelves to every mans choice. It was not ſo in the Precepts of the Old Covenant; a great part of thoſe Laws had little in them to commend them to a mans choice, (ſo long as their ſymbolical nature was not underſtood) ſave what the authority of God in commanding their obſervation gave to them. Circumciſion, legal waſhings, ſacrifices, &c. were but beggarly Elements when the command of God for their obſervation was taken off;Gal. 4.9. therefore the Apoſtle calls them a yoke of bondage, Gal. 5.1. Which ſhews that their obſervation of them was more becauſe God commanded them, than out of any intrinſecal goodneſs which was in them. They obeyed them, not out of love of the thing commanded, but out of love to that God who commanded them. But now the precepts of the Goſpel, and the things commanded there are deſireable for themſelves. If they had not been injoyned, to love God, to fear him, to worſhip him in Spirit, to be righteous, godly, ſober, chaſt, temperate; to be meek, patient, and contented, &c. theſe are amabilia pro ſe, lovely in themſelves, and tend to the peace and ſatisfaction of the mind; beſides their relation to a future happineſs. And there is no man that acts up to the dictates of a conſidering mind but would chooſe theſe things, though you ſhould ſuppoſe him under no expreſs command thereunto.
3. The wiſdom of taking up Chriſts yoke appears in this, that whatever your work is, your help is greater than your work, and your ſuccour greater than your ſervice. That which makes any duty difficult and burdenſome is, when it maſters our abilities for performance. Now this can't be ſaid of any work Chriſt calls us to; For as thy work is ſo ſhall thy ſtrength be. If God calls out one St. to greater ſervices than another, he will furniſh him with more ſtrength and help than another. I laboured more abundantly then they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 1 Cor. 15.10. His work was great, and his help was great. He abounded in labour, and God abounded in grace. He did more than all, and he recieved more than all. And if you would know what helps Chriſtians have in the way of obedience; They are theſe,
1. They have the help of the Ordinances of Chriſt; and it is a great power and ſtrength that is derived from them to the ſoul that ſits daily under them.Pro. 10.29 The way of the Lord is ſtrength to the upright. The Ordinances of Chriſt are not empty things: though they have no fulneſs of their own, yet they give out much from the Fountain; They go from ſtrength to ſtrength, How ſo? Every one of them in Sion appears before God. Pſal. 84.7.
2. They have the help of the prayers of all the Saints. For as the prayers of every Believer are directed to the good of all the Church of Chriſt; So the prayers of the whole are deſigned for the good of every member. There is a mutual traffick in Heaven by the prayers of Saints one for another; if one Believer be in temptations, in darkneſs, in ſufferings and troubles, All the Saints of God are wreſtling for his relief. So the Church did for Peter when in priſon, and their prayers did more to releaſe him, then all jaylers and fetters could do to detain him. Mark that of the Apoſtle 2 Cor. 1.10, 11. Who delivered us from ſo great a death; and doth deliver, in whom we truſt he will yet deliver us; you alſo helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift beſtowed upon us by the means of many perſons, thanks may be given by many on our behalf. The prayers of the Saints are greatly available one for another. We have many a mercy that we never prayed particularly for, but poſſibly it hath been the fruit of others prayers; and therefore the Apoſtle calls it a gift beſtowed upon us by the means of many perſons. Others ſow the ſeed, and we enter into their harveſt, and reap their labours. And this is one great part of that Communion of Saints which in our Creed we ſay that we believe.
3. They have a help greater than all this, and that is the help of Jeſus Chriſt: and he is the mighty helper. That is an excellent Scripture, could we believe it, and live upon it, Zech. 10.12. I will ſtrengthen them in the Lord, and they ſhall walk up and down in his name. What, or who can be too hard for ſuch as walk in the ways and worſhip of Chriſt with the ſtrength of Chriſt? Now the Lord Chriſt helps two ways.
(1.) By his powerful interceſſion▪ he is ever praying and pleading for you, Heb. 7.25.
(2.) By his Almighty Spirit▪ for how are your ſins mortified but by the Spirit? Rom. 8.13. And how are your hearts quickened in duty, but by the Spirit?Joh. 6.63. And how are you guided in the ways of God, but by the Spirit. Joh. 16.13. And how are you taught? but by the Spirit. 1 Joh. 2.27. And who upholds you in your courſe? but the Spirit. Pſal. 51.12. Beſides the grace the Spirit works in you at firſt, you have ſpiritual incomes and ſupplies of the Spirit daily. Phil. 1.19.
And is not the Believers help then greater than his work? now it was not ſo under the Law; there was great ſervice but little aſſiſtance: but now the Chriſtians help is greater then his work,Phil. 2.13. for it is God that works in you to will and to do. The works of Goſpel Obedience are more ſublime, more ſpiritual, and therefore more difficult than any of the works of the Law; but ſo far as we have Communion with the power and ſtrength of the Spirit to actuate and inable us, they are all eaſy and pleaſant. Goſpel duties may be difficult in reſpect of divine impoſition, but they are eaſy in regard of divine cooperation. The Father ſets the Child a Copy, and bids it write, the Child knows not how, but yet takes the Pen, and then the Father guides the hand, and the Child writes after the Copy. Lord, ſayes Auſtin, give what thou commandeſt, and then command what thou wilt.
4. The wiſdom of taking up Chriſts yoke appears in this, that under this yoke, though the weakneſs of your obedience is great, yet the truth of your obedience is accepted. God looks at truth in the inward parts, Pſal. 51.6. O the many weakneſſes that God paſſes by in his people, where he finds the heart and affection true to him; though there be much commanded, yet the leaſt you do is accepted. Were it not for this there could be no ſerving him. If thou Lord ſhouldſt mark iniquities who could ſtand? But there is forgiveneſs with thee that thou mayeſt be feared. Pſal. 130.3, 4. God will not take advantage of your fallings and infirmities. I will ſpare them as a man ſpares his ſon that ſerves him. Mal. 3.17.O what a ſweetneſs muſt this put into ſervice! how eaſie muſt it needs make the yoke of Chriſt, when the leaſt we do is accepted; as a handful of goats hair was for the Temple when it came from a willing heart. What reaſon therefore have we to bleſs the Lord that ever inclined our hearts to ſtoop to the yoke of Chriſt.
The wiſdom of taking up Chriſts yoke is evident in this, that herein true liberty conſiſts. This may ſeem a Paradox; for ſinners do therefore indulge themſelves in their luſts becauſe there is liberty: and they therefore refuſe Chriſts yoke becauſe it abridges their liberty; they cannot live as they liſt. Now you muſt know there is a twofold liberty.
1. A carnal liberty; wherein a corrupt baſe heart takes a latitude to it ſelf, to live and act according to its own vitious inclinations, without any reſtraint or controul. Indeed the yoke of Chriſt is an enemy to this liberty; and it were not worth the taking up if it ſhould not, for this liberty is only the licentiouſneſs of luſt, and no man ſuch a ſlave as he that is thus at liberty. He is a ſervant to corruption, 2 Pet. 2.19. Under the devils rule, led captive by him at his will, 1 Tim. 2.26. He is held in the chains of Hell, and will you call this liberty? are not the Saints at liberty in Heaven? and yet there is none of this liberty there? will ye call this liberty, to be loaded with the guilt of ſin? to be bound over to damnation? to be vexed daily with an accuſing Conſcience? to have all the threats of the word lye againſt thee? to have wrath hanging over thy head every moment? and God ready to throw thee into Hell? is this liberty when thou art in ſuch a dreadful caſe, that thou dareſt not think of dying for fear of hell and damnation? better be the veryeſt gally ſlave in the world then thus at liberty. But then
2. There is a Spiritual liberty, which is wrought out for us by Chriſt; the purchaſe of his blood: John 8.36. If the ſon make you free then are ye free indeed. And he that partakes of this liberty may well be ſaid to be free indeed, for he is freed from the curſe of the Law. Gal. 3.10. He is freed from the condemning power of ſin. Rom. 8.1. He is freed from the Spirit of Bondage. Rom. 8.15. And he is freed from the dominion of ſin. Rom. 6.14. And a man never enjoyes this liberty till he comes under the yoke of Chriſt; and is there not reaſon to bleſs God for drawing the heart to Chriſt?
6. The wiſdom of taking up Chriſts yoke appears in this, that the longer you are under it, the eaſier you will find it. I will make it out in three things.
1. The longer you wear it, the lighter it will be: it is not ſo in other matters. A little burden in tract of time is heavy, and the longer it lyes the heavyer it is, becauſe of a waſt of ſtrength by long bearing: but Chriſts burden the longer it is born the lighter it is, becauſe though the burden is not diminiſhed, yet your ſtrength is increaſed.Pſal. 84.7. Job 17.9. They go from ſtrength to ſtrength. He that hath clean hands ſhall grow ſtronger and ſtronger. And as ſpiritual ſtrength increaſes, ſo ſpiritual difficulties muſt needs abate.
2. The more progreſs you make in obedience, the greater teſtimony you ſhall have from conſcience of the uprightneſs of your hearts with God▪ and you can't imagine (unleſs you ever felt it) what peace this brings in, 2 Cor. 1.12. Nothing gives conſcience that advantage to witneſs aloud to our caſe, as godly ſincerity in our obedience to Chriſt.
3. Much obedience brings in much comfort. The more ſeed the more ſheaves; that Chriſtian is likeſt to injoy moſt comfort, that walks moſt cloſe with God in the way of obedience. He hath comfort in the moſt difficult duties, even in his ſufferings for Chriſt; and they are the moſt pinching part of his Yoke. And yet as the ſufferings of Chriſt abound in us, ſo our conſolation alſo aboundeth by Chriſt, 2 Cor. 1.5. And therefore Chriſt bids us rejoyce even in perſecution, Matth. 5.11, 12.
He hath comfort in the worſt of times, To the upright there ariſeth light in darkneſs, Pſal. 112.4. When the figtree doth not bloſſom, Hab. 3.18.yet then he can joy in the God of his ſalvation.