Sermons Volume 2, Romans 8 · Sermon 34
SERMON XXXIV.
ROM. VII.26.
Likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
IN the Context you have several arguments to perswade to patience under affliction; those two that are of chief Consideration, are the hope of glory to come, and the help of the spirit for the present; this latter is in the Text.
In this Verse, 1. The help of the spirit is generally asserted. 2. The reason evidencing the necessity of that help.
2. The particular assistance: Where we have,
1. The Author.
2. The manner of the spirits assistance.
1. The help of the spirit is generally asserted: Likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities: By infirmities he meaneth afflictions, and the perturbations occasioned thereby, as fretting or fainting; or more generally any sinful infirmities, as ignorance, distrust, &c. For afflictions, see 2 Cor. 12.9, 10. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness; most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christs sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong: For sins, see Heb. 5.2, 3. Who can have compassion on the ignorant, on them that are out of the way, for that he himself also is compassed with infirmities; And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. The word for help is notable, foreign helpeth our infirmities, as Mark 9.24. Lord I believe, help my unbelief, help me against it; which we render, he helpeth also ▪ joineth in relieving; helpeth us under our infirmities: Goeth to the other end of the s…aff, and beareth a part of the burden with us. The word signifieth, To lift up a burden with another; In afflictions we are not alone, but we have the Holy Ghost as our Auxiliary Comforter, who strengtheneth and beareth us up, when we are weak and ready to sink under our burden.
2. The reason evincing the necessity of that help; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought. In which there is
1. Something intimated and implyed; That prayer is a greater stay in afflictions. James 5. If any among you be afflicted, let them pray. God doth afflict us, That we may swallow our griefs, but vent them in prayer. We have no other way to relieve our selves in any distress, but by serious addresses to God; This is the means appointed by God to procure comfort to the distressed mind, safety to those that are in danger, relief to them that are in want, strength to them that are in weakness; In short, The only means for obtaining good, and removing evil, whether temptations, dangers, enemies, sin, sorrows, fears, cares, poverty, shame, sickness; God is our only help against all these, and prayer is the means to obtain relief from him; yea, all grace and strength, and the greatest mercies that we desire and stand in need of.
2. That which is expressed, that we know not how to conceive our prayers aright, either as to Matter or Manner; 'Tis said of Zebedees Children, ye know not what ye ask, Matth. 20.22. and 'tis true of all others also; we often beg a mischief to our selves instead of a blessing. In those times they were subject to great persecutions, and therefore prayed for an exemption from them; which not happening according to desire, they were troubled: Therefore the Apostle telleth them, we know not what we should pray for as we ought; we know not what is absolutely best for us, till the spirit inlighten and direct us. There is a darkness and confusion in our minds; we consult with the flesh, and ask what is most easie, and what is most advantagious; The spirit of God knoweth what we most stand in need of, and is best for our turn, health, wealth, honour; or sickness, poverty, and disgrace. There is need of great consideration when we pray, more than good men commonly think of: That we may neither ask things unlawful, nor lawful things amiss, Jam. 4.2. we know not what spirit we are of, Luke 9.55. we count revenge, zeal; therefore the Holy Ghost doth instruct and direct our motions in prayer, 2 Cor. 12.8, 9.
3. The particular assistance we have from him, is mentioned; but the spirit maketh intercession for us, with groans which cannot be uttered: Where observe,
1. The Author of this help and assistance; The spirit it self maketh intercession for us: not that the spirit prayeth, but sets us a praying. As here the spirit is said to pray in us, so elsewhere we are said to pray in the Holy Ghost, Jude 20. he prayeth; As Solomon is said to build the Temple; he did not do the Carpenters or Masons work, but he directed how to build, found out workmen, and furnished them with money and materials. Neither doth the spirit make intercession for us as Christ doth, Rom. 8.34. who is at the right hand of God, and maketh intercession for us; presenting himself to God for u…; the drawing up of a petition is one thing, the presenting it in Court is another; The spirit as a Notary inditeth our requests, and as an Advocate presenteth them, and pleadeth them in Court.
2. The manner of his help and assistance, he stirreth up in us ardent groans in prayer, or worketh up our hearts to God, with desires expressed by sighs and groans; foreign may be rendered unuttered groans, as well as unutterable, and so some take it here; And indeed that way it beareth a good sense. That the vertue of true prayer, doth not consist in the number and artifice of words, as those that thought they should be heard for their vain bublings, and much speaking, Matth. 6.7. Alas, the greatest command and flow of words, is but babling, without these secret sighs and groans, which the lively motions of the spirit stirreth up in us. There may be this, without words; As Moses cryed unto the Lord, though he uttered no words, Exod. 14.15. or unutterable; Whatsoever proceedeth from a supernatural motion of the spirit▪ its fervour, and efficacy, and force, cannot be apprehended or expressed; 1 Pet. 1.8. Ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, and Phil. 4.7. The peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds. In short, the sum of all is this; we have no reasons to faint under afflictions, since there is help in prayer; and these prayers are not in vain, being excited by the spirit dwelling in us; we are ignorant, and he teacheth us what to pray for, and assisteth us by his holy inspirations: We are cold and backward, and he inflameth us and exciteth us to pray with fervour, and holy sighs and groans.
The points from this verse are three.
1. That the Holy spirit doth strengthen and bear us up in our weaknesses and troubles, that we may not faint under them.
2. That prayer is one special means, by which Gods holy spirit helps Gods children in their troubles and afflictions.
3. That the prayers of the godly come from Gods spirit.
For the first point, That the holy spirit doth strengthen and bear us up in our weaknesses and troubles, that we may not faint under them.
The sense of this Doctrine I shall give you in these four considerations.
1. That it is a great infirmity and weakness, if a Christian should faint in the day of trouble. The two extremes are, slighting and fainting: Heb. 12.5. My son, despise not the chastning of the Lord, nor faint under it. So Pro. 24.10. If thou faintest in the day of trouble, thy strength is small; partly, because there is so little reason for a Christians fainting, Who should be more undisturbed in the world than he, who hath God for his God. Christ for his Saviour, and the Spirit for his Comforter, and Heaven for his portion? Partly, because there is so much help from God; either he hath already obtained strength from God, which he doth not improve, or may obtain strength from God which he doth not seek after; God prayed unto, giveth deliverance or support, Psal. 138.3. In the day when I cryed, thou answerest me, and strengthnedst me with strength in my soul And partly, because of the mischiefs which follow this fainting. There is a two-fold fainting, first, there is a fainting which causeth great trouble, perplexity, and dejection of spirit, Heb. 12.3. Lest ye wax wears, and faint in your minds; Weariness is a lesser, fainting an …gher degree of deficiency: in weariness, the body requireth some rest or refreshment; when the active power is weakned, and the vital spirits and principles of motion dulled. But in fainting, the vital power is contracted, and retireth, and leaveth the outward parts, lifeless and sensless. When a man is wearied, his strength is abated; but when he fainteth, he is quite spent. These things by a metaphor are applyed to the soul or mind. A man is wearied, when the fortitude of his mind, or his spiritual strength is broken, or beginneth to abate, or his soul sets uneasie under sufferings; but when he sinketh under the burden of grievous, tedious, and long afflictions, then he is said to faint; The reasons or grounds of his comfort are quite spent. Now this is a great evil in a child of God; for the spirit of a man, or that natural courage that is in a reasonable Creature, will go far as to the sustaining of foreign evils, Prov. 18.14. The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; And 'tis supposed of a Christian, that his spirit is …ound, and whole, being possessed of the love of God; and therefore though his natural courage be spent, which goeth on probabilities, yet his faith and hope should not be spent, which goeth on certainties; nor be overmuch perplexed about worldly troubles, as if his mercy were clean gone, or his promise would fail; therefore a Christian should strive against this, Psal. 77.7, 8, 9, 10. Will the Lord cast off for ever? Will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? Doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? And I said, this is my infirmity; but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.
2. There is a fainting which causeth dej…ction, and falling off from God. Surely this worse becometh the children of God, Revel. 2.3. Thou hast born, and hast patience, and hast laboured, and hast not fainted. This maketh us cast off our profession and practice of godliness, and so cuts us off from all hope of reward; Gal. 6.9. Ye shall reap in due time, if ye faint not. 'Tis not taken there for some weariness, or remisness, or perplexity, which may befall Gods children, but a total defection: When troubles discourage us in our duty, 'tis a step towards it, and tendeth to Apostacy, which Christians should prevent in time. Heb. 12.12, 13. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, less that which is lame …e turned out of the way. We often begin to faint, and lag in Heavens way, being wearied and vexed with the oppositions of the carnal world, reproaching, threatning, and persecuting us; but when we begin to waver, we should look to it betimes, and rouze up our selves, that we may resolve to go and finish our race, and not lose the benefit of our former labours and sufferings.
2. Consideration, That in his weakness, if be we left to our selves, we cannot support our selves. This appeareth, partly because they that have but a light. Tincture of the spirit, give up at the first assault, Matt. 13.21. When tribulation ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. Offers of pardon of sins, and eternal life, affect them for a while, and ingage them in the profession of godliness; but when once it cometh to prove a costly business, they give it over presently; and partly, because the most resolved, if not duly possessed with a sense of their own weakness, soon miscarry, if not in whole, yet in part; witness Peter, Matth. 26.33, 34, 35. Christ had warned them that such afflictions should come, as the stoutest should stumble at them, and fall for a time; but Peter being conscious to himself of his own sincerity, could not believe such weakness to be in him; but God will soon confute confidence in our own strength, as the event of his fearful fall did evidently declare; partly, because they that seem to be most fortified, not only by Resolution, but strong Reasons, may yet overlook them in a time of Temptation. As Eliphaz told Job, Chap. 4.3, 4, 5. Behold, thou hast instructed many, and hast strengthened the weak hands; thy words have upholden him that was falling; and thou hast strengthened the seeble knees: But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled. 'Tis one thing to give counsel, and another to practice it; and there is a great deal of difference between tryal apprehended by our Judgement, and felt by our sense, John 12.27. Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I to this hour. When well, we easily give counsel to the sick: They that stand on shore, may direct others when strugling with a Tempest. And besides, we know many things habitually, which we cannot actually bring to remembrance, being overcome with the sense of present evils; and grace that seemeth strong out of tryal, is found weak in tryal, and faileth when we should most act it: and partly, because those that do not wholly despond, but are yet wrestling, are plainly convinced, that they cannot conquer by their own strength, Jer. 8.18. When I would comfort my self against my sorrow, my heart fainteth within me; The tediousness of present pressures doth so invade their spirits, that they find themselves much too weak to grapple with their troubles: They assay to do it, but find it too hard for them. Now after all these experiences of the Saints, Where is the man that will venture in his own strength, to compose his spirit, and overcome his own infirmities?
3. That when we cannot support our selves, through our weakness, the spirit helpeth us. We speak not of the necessity of the holy spirit to our regeneration, but confirmation: After grace received, worldly things set near and close to us, and the love of them is not so quite extinct in us, but that they have too great a command over our inclinations, and affections, that we cannot overcome our infirmities without the assistance of grace, which Christ dispenseth by his spirit: And 'tis not enough for us to stand upon our guard, and defend our selves, but we must implore the divine assistance, which is ingaged for us; Eph. 3.16. That he would grant unto you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might, by his spirit in the inner man. 1 Pet. 1.5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation. 1 Cor. 10.13. There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able; but will with the temptation also, make a way to escape. The spirit that inlightneth a Christian, fortifieth him; and the same grace which he sheddeth abroad in the soul, filleth us both with light and strength, and as a spirit of strength and counsel doth inable us to bear all the afflictions which otherwise would shake and weaken our resolutions for God and Heaven.
4. They that rouze up themselves, and use all means, are in a nearer capacity to receive influences from the spirit than others. For the Apostles word is, he helpeth also. We have been at the work, reasoning and pleading, but he maketh our thoughts effectual. Psal. 27.14. Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thy heart; wait I say on the Lord. If we do not exercise faith and hope, How can we look for the assistance of the Holy Ghost? If we give way to discouragement, we quit our own Comfort; But when we strive to take courage from the grounds of faith, 'tis followed with strength from God, to undergo the trouble. So Psal. 31.24. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. When we arm our selves with constancy and fortitude, there is no doubt of Gods seasonable relief; but if you, out of love of the ease and contentment of the flesh, give way to difficulties, and despond; How can you expect Gods assistance? You banish it from you.
1. USE, Is Comfort to the children of God; for the Lord is not a spectator only of our troubles, but an helper in our Conflicts: We are set forth as a spectacle to God, Men, and Angels, 1 Cor. 4.9. Therefore we should see how we acquit our selves: but our comfort is, that he is the strength of our souls, that we are ingaged in his Cause, and by his power and strength. God will not desert us, or deny to support us, unless we give him cause by our negligence and grievous sins; no, if you wait upon him, strength will be renewed to you, Isa. 46.31. They that wait on the Lord shall not faint, but renew their strength; in our weakness he maketh his strength and power to appear, and can inable his servants to do and endure any thing, rather than quit his cause; they shall have a new supply of strength, when they seem to be clean spent: And overcome all difficulties in the way to Heaven.
2 USE, Is direction. To ascribe our standing to the spirit. We are weak creatures of our selves, able to do nothing, but through the spirit of Christ, all things, Phil. 4.13. That is, go through all conditions; we owe all that we are, and all that we do to the holy spirit; We live by his presence, understand by his light, act by his power, suffer by the courage he inspireth into us. We are ingrateful to the holy spirit, if we ascribe that to our selves as authors, whereof we are scarce servants and Ministers. Paul more humbly acknowledges, 1 Cor. 15.10. But by the grace of God I am what I am.
3. USE, Is Exhortation. Let us not faint under our troubles: There are many considerations.
1. Sinners are not discouraged by every inconvenience occasioned by their sins, but can deny themselves for their lusts sake. And shall we be discouraged in Gods service? Every lesser inconvenience that befalleth us in the way of our duty, is taken notice of, but the great evils of sin are not regarded. When you see sin's Martyrs walk about the streets, or carried to their Execution, it should be a shame to Christians: Some whose flesh is mangled by their sin, impoverished by their sin, brought to publick shame by their sin, die for their sin; and are we so weak when we suffer for Christ?
2. Others have born for heavier burdens, and yet do not sink under them: The Lord Christ, Heb. 12.3. endured the Contradiction of sinners, and many of his precious servants Heb. 11.35. They accepted not deliverance, looking for a better resurrection. They might upon certain conditions, have been free from their cruel pains and Tortures: But these conditions were contrary to the law of God, therefore would not by indirect means get off their trouble; now shall we praise their Courage, and not imitate it? That is to be Christians in speculation.
3. God promiseth to moderate the afflictions, and sweeten the bitterness of them, lest we should faint, Isa. 57.16. I will not be wroth for ever, and contend always; for so the spirit should faint, and the soul which I have made. God hath great consideration of man… infirmity and weakness, and how unable they are to hold out under long and grievous troubles; Therefore he stayeth his hand, will not utterly dishearten and discourage his people. A good man will not over-burden his beast; if you be satisfied in the wisdom and faithfulness of Gods providential Government, you have no reason to faint, but keep up your dependance upon him.
4. When reason is tired, faith should supply its place, and we should hope against hope, Rom. 4.18 Faith can fetch water not only out of the Fountain, but out of the Rock; when other helps fail▪ then is a time for God to work.
5. Give vent to the ardour of your desires in prayer, Luke 18.1. Christ taught men to pray always, and not to faint. Keep up the suit, and it will come to an hearing-day ere it be long, Jonah 2.7. When my soul fainted within me, I remembred the Lord, and my prayer came unto thee into thy holy temple. When our infirmity cometh to a degree of faintness, then 'tis a time to be earnestly dealing with God.
6. What will you get by your fainting, but the creature of God? Heb. 3.1… Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you, an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. Murmuring for Prayer Lam. 3.39, 40. Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? let us search and try our ways, and turn to the Lord. Unlawful shifts for duty, Isa. 28.15. For we have made lies our refuge, and under falshood have we hid our selves. This is overmuch hast; will you chuse God for your enemy to escape the enmity of man? and perdition for salvation? Heb. 10.39 but be not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Will you run into hell for fear of burning?
7. The holy Spirit blesseth these co…siderations; and doth further comfort the Saints; partly, by shedding abroad the love of God in their hearts, Rom. 5.3, 4, 5. Gods smiles are infinitely able to counterballance the worlds frowns; and partly, by a clearer sight of their blessedness to come; remember your eternal blessings, and how far your afflictions prepare you for them. 2 Cor. 4.16, 17. For this cause we faint not; but though our outward man per…sh yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light afflictions which are but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. The greatest trouble cannot make void this hope, yea it doth prepare you for it, your Spiritual estate is bettered by them.
2. Doct. That prayer is one special means by which the Holy Spirit helpeth Gods children in their troubles and afflictions.
1. Troubles are sent for this end, not to drive us from God, but to draw us to him. Psal. 50.15. And call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorifie me. Trouble in its self is a part of the curse introduced by sin; when God seemeth angry, we have a liberty to apply our selves to him: In trouble we are apt to think God an enemy, and that he putteth the Old Covenant in suit against us; but then God expects most to hear from us.
2. Prayer is a special means to ease the heart of our burdensome cares and fears; Phil. 4 6 Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication, let your requests be made known unto God. When the wind is got into the Caverns of the earth, it causeth Earthquakes and terrible Convulsions, till it get a vent; we give vent to our troublesome and unquiet thoughts by prayer▪ when we lay our burden at Gods feet.
3. 'Tis a special means of acknowledging God as the fountain of our strength, and the Author of our blessings. First, As the fountain of our strength and support; we have it not in our selves, and therefore we seek it from God; he is able to keep us from falling; Therefore we pray to him, 1 Pet. 5.10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us to his eternal glory by Jesus Christ, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. Secondly, As the Authour of our deliverance, 2 Tim. 4.18. He shall deliver me from every evil work.
1. USE, Is to exhort us to prayer. First▪ He delights to give out blessings this way, Jer. 29.11, 12 For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall you call upon me▪ and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And Ezek. 36.37. Thus saith the Lord God, I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do them good. And our Lord Christ as Mediator, was to ask of the Father, Psal. 2.8. Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for an inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for a possession. Secondly, All mercies come the sweeter to us, as they increase our love to God, and trust in him, Psal. 116.1, 2. I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice, and my supplication, because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
2. USE, Is Information; If we would have the spirits help, let us pray; there we have most sensible feeling of his assistance; our strength lyeth most in asking; and when we are at a loss what to do, your hearts are more eased in prayer, than in any other work; every condition is sanctified, when it bringeth you nearer to God; if crosses bring us to the throne of Grace, they have done their work, your trouble is eased.
3. Doct. That the prayers of the godly come from Gods Spirit.
That the Spirit hath a great stroke in the prayers of the saints, is evident by many other Scriptures besides the text, as Jude 20. praying in the Holy Ghost; that is, by his motion, and inspiration. Look as we breathe out that air which we first suck in: so the prayer is first breathed into us, before breathed out by us; first inspired, before uttered; so Zech. 12.10. I will pour upon them a Spirit of grace and supplications; A Spirit of grace, will become a Spirit of supplications. Where he dwelleth in the heart, he discovereth himself mostly in prayer; so Gal. 4.6. Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father. The Spirits gracious operations are manifested, especially in fitting us for, and assisting us in the duty of prayer; affectionate and believing prayers, are ascribed unto him; God hath put forth the Spirit of his Son, crying, &c. Here I shall enquire,
1. In what manner the spirit concurreth to the prayers of the faithful.
2. What necessity there is of this help and assistance.
3. Caution against some abuses and mistakes of this doctrine. For the first.
1. These three things concur in Prayer, as different causes of the same effect: The spirit of a man, the new nature, and the Spirit of God. First, there is the Spirit of a man. For the Holy Ghost makes use of our understandings, for the actuating of our will and affections; the Spirit bloweth up the fire, tho it be our hearts that burn within us. Secondly, the new nature in a Christian, is more immediately and vigorously operative in Prayer, than in most other duties; and the exrcise of Faith, Love, and Hope in Prayer, doth flow from the Renewed Soul, as the proper inward and vital principle of these actions; so that we, and not the Spirit of God, are said to repent, believe, and pray. Well then, there is the heart of man, and the heart Renewed, and Sanctifyed; for the Spirit, as to his actual motions, doth not blow upon a dead coal. But then there is the Spirit of God, who createth, and preserveth these gracious habits in the Soul; and doth excite the Soul to act, and doth assist it in acting, according to them; as for instance, the natural spirit of man out of sel… love willeth and desireth its own good, and its own felicity in general, and is unwilling of destruction, and apparent misery, or whatever may …ccsion it. But then as we are renewed, this will to good is sanctified, that God is chosen as our portion and felicity; or as the principal good to be desired by us. Faith seeth that the favour and fruition of God in a blessed immortality, is our true happiness; and love desireth it above all things. And on the contrary, shunneth damnation, and the wrath of God, and sin, as sin, and all the apparent dangers of the Soul. Hope waiteth and expecteth the fruition of God; and the good things which leadeth to him accordingly we address our selves to God, and put forth, and act this Faith, Love, and Hope in Prayer; this our renewed Spirit doth; but the Holy Ghost himself, is the principal cause of all, who doth create this faith, love, and hope, and still preserve it, and order and actuate it. The Soul worketh powerfully and sweetly by an earnest motion and inclination towards God.