Sermons, Part 8
SERMON VIII.
EPHES. 1. 8.
Wherein he hath abounded towards us in all Wisdom and Prudence.
IN the context the Apostle speaks of the Spiritual Blessings we have by Christ: he considers them under a threefold reference. 1. As they were appointed and prepared for Believers in God's Decree of Election. There was the first Stone laid towards this Building. 2. As they were purchased by Christ in the great and wonderful work of Redemption. 3. As conveyed and applyed to us in effectual calling, and so brought home to our Souls. In all these God gave evident proofs of the riches of his free Grace. For (1.) If he chuse us to be holy before the Foundations of the World; nothing anteceded his Love: not in us, for there was nothing in being then, we were not, and so could do nothing to deserve it: nor in that prospect and foresight which God had of Things; for he could foresee nothing, but what was the effect of his free Grace: not because Holy, but that we might be Holy and without blame before him in Love. (2.) Consider his purpose to bring about all this by Christ, still he shewed his free Grace. For when there was nothing to move him, much to hinder the design of his Grace, yet he found out a way to bring this about by Christ. (3.) In the effectual application to us who were ignorant, obstinate, unbelieving, his Grace doth more shine forth, that he would do all this for Creatures so much unworthy. Now in the Application God discovers two things. 1. His abundant Favour or the Riches of his Grace, vers. 7. That his Love, so long hid in his Decree, did afterwards overflow in the effects, to persons so averse and unworthy. 2. His excellent Wisdom in the Text. Wherein he hath abounded to us in all Wisdom and Prudence.
The only difficulty in the Words is, What is this Wisdom and Prudence spoken of? Whether it imply the Wisdom of God, or the Wisdom wrought in us by the Spirit in Conversion? Many Interpreters go for the last. The former, I suppose, is here meant, which is eminently discovered in the Mysteries of the Gospel. Rom. 11. 33. Oh the Depths of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledg of God! Surely it is not meant of Wisdom in us; for how little a portion have we of true and Heavenly Wisdom? Now the two words used; Wisdom noteth the sublimity of the Doctrine of the Gospel, and Prudence the usefulness of it. As Prov. 8. 12. I Wisdom dwell with Prudence, which sheweth there is some distinction between those words. It was Wisdom to find out a way of recovering lapsed Mankind, and it was Prudence to dispose it into so good and convenient order that it might be commodious for our acceptance. If any think it relateth to the effects wrought in us, I am not against it. Christ is Wisdom, 1. Cor. 1. 24. and made Wisdom to us, 1. Cor. 1. 30. These Asiaticks, to whom the Apostle wrote, gloried in their secular Wisdom and curious Arts: now the true Wisdom was found in the Mysteries of the Gospel.
Doct. That in the dispensation of Grace by Christ. God hath shewed great Wisdom and Prudence.
When his Grace overflowed to us, he shewed therein not only his Goodness but his Wisdom. Now though we can easily yeeld to this Assertion, yet to make it out needeth more skill. The manifold Wisdom of God is better seen to Angels than to us, Eph. 3. 10. They have more orderly understandings; whereas we are confused and dark. Yet to discover it to you in a few particulars, the Grace of the Redeemer may be considered three ways.
I. As to the purchase and impetration of it, by the Incarnation and Death of the Son of God.
II. The publication of it in the Gospel, or Covenant of Grace.
III. The Application of it to particular Believers. In all these God hath shewed great Wisdom.
I. As to the purchase and impetration of Grace by the Death and Incarnation of the Son of God.
1. There is Wisdom in this, that in our faln estate we should not come immediately to God without a Mediator and Reconciler. God is out of the reach of our commerse, being at such a distance from us, and variance with us. The wise Men of the World pitched on such a way, 1 Cor. 8. 5, 6. The Heathens saw so far that it was an uncomfortable thing to make their immediate approaches to their Supream God. But here is the true God, and the true Mediator. But to us there is but one God the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Iesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. One God the Father, from whom we derive all Graces, to whom we direct all Services: one Lord Iesus Christ, who conveyeth the Graces and Benefits to us, and returneth our Prayers and Acts of Obedience to God. This is a mighty relief to our thoughts: for the apprehensions of the pure God-head do amaze us and confound us, when we come to consider of that glorious and infinite Being. As heretofore, before they found out the use of the Compass, they only coasted, as loth to venture themselves in the great Ocean: So by Christ we come to God. He is the true Iacob's Ladder, Joh. 11. 50.
2. That this Mediator is God in our Nature. Therein the Wisdom of God appeared in crossing and counter-working Satan's design. Satan's great design was double; to dishonour God, and depress the Nature of Man. 1. To dishonour God to Man, by a false representation, as if he were envious of Man's Happiness. Gen. 3. 5. God doth know in the day that ye eat thereof, your Eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as Gods, knowing good and evil. His first Battery was against the Goodness of God, to weaken the esteem thereof. Now by the Incarnation of Christ, the Lord's Grace is wonderfully manifested: he is represented as lovely and amiable in our Eyes, not envying our Holiness and Happiness, but promoting it, and that at the most costly rate, and shewing love to Man above all his other Creatures. God is Love, 1 Joh. 4. 8. 'Tis eminently demonstrated to us in the Son of God assuming our Nature, and dying for us. Rom. 5. 8. When Christ was incarnate, Love was incarnate, Love walked up and down and healed all Sicknesses and Diseases, Love died, and Love hung on a Cross, Love was buried in the Grave. When that ill representation was suggested to us, it was necessary there should be some eminent demonstration of the Love of God to Man. Especially after we had made our selves liable to his Wrath, and were conscious to our selves that we had incurred his displeasure: and so it was necessary that we should have some notable discovery of his Philanthropy, or Love to Mankind. Many Believers are harrast with doubts and fears, and cannot come to be perswaded that God loves them. Herein is Love, and God commended his Love to us in that his Son died for us. 2. The next design of Satan was to depress the nature of Man, which in its innocence stood so near to God. Now that the humane nature so depressed and debased, by the malicious suggestion of the Tempter, should be so elevated and advanced, and set up so far above the Angelical Nature, and admitted to dwell with God in a personal Union, it is a mighty counter-working of Satan, and sheweth the great Wisdom of God. When he laboured to put God and us asunder; the Lord sent his, Son, who took the unity of our Nature into his own Person.
3. That being in our Nature he would set us a Pattern of Obedience by his Holy Life: for he lived by the same Laws that we are bound to live by. He imposed no Duty upon us but what he underwent himself, that he might be an Example of Holiness unto us; we learn of him Obedience to God at the dearest rates: contempt of the World, and contentation with a low and mean Estate, and to be lowly and meek in Heart, Mat. 11. 29. Now Man being so prone to imitation, it is the greatest effect of the Wisdom of God thus to oblige us: unless we would be utterly unlike him whom we own as our Lord, and from whom we have all our Hopes and Expectations.
4. That he should die the Death of the Cross to expiate our Sins, Gal. 3. 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law, being made a Curse for us, &c. Phil. 2 8. He humbled himself, and became obedient unto Death, even the death of the Cross. That the Justice of God might be eminently demonstrated, the Law-giver vindicated, and the breach that was made in the frame of Government repaired, and God might keep up his just Honour without prejudice to his Peoples Happiness; that he might be manifested to be Holy and an hater of Sin, and yet the Sinner saved from Destruction, Rom. 3. 25, 26. An absolute Pardon without satisfaction might have exposed God's Laws to contempt, as if the violation of them were not much to be stood upon: therefore God dispensed his Grace with all Wisdom and Prudence; would shew eminent Mercy, but withal a demonstration of his Justice and Holiness, that the World might still be kept in awe, and there might be a full Concord and Harmony between his Mercy and Justice.
5. That after his Death he should rise from the Dead and ascend into Heaven, to prove the reality of the Life to come, 1 Pet. 3. 21. Guilty Man is faln under the power and fear of Death, strangely haunted with doubts about the other World: therefore did Christ in our Nature arise from the Dead and ascend into Heaven, that he might give a visible demonstration of the Resurrection, and Life to come, which he had promised to us; and so encourage us, by a Life of Holiness and Patience in Sufferings, to follow after him into those Blessed Mansions. So that from first to last you see the Wisdom of God.
II. The Publication of it in the Gospel or Covenant of Grace. 'Tis ordered in all things, and sure, 2 Sam. 23. 5. The Messengers by whom it is published are not extraordinary ones, but Men of like Passion with our selves. The great thing in a Minister is love to Souls, Christ saith, he came not to be ministred unto, but to minister. In the Covenant of Grace, you see the Wisdom of God in two things. 1. The Priviledges offered. 2. The terms or Duties required.
1. In the Priviledges offered to us, which are Pardon and Life. In these Benefits Pardon and Life, there is due Provision made for the desires, necessities and wants of mankind. Pardon answereth the fears of the Guilty Creature; and Life, those desires of Happiness which are so natural to us, and therefore are the most powerful and inviting Motives to draw our Hearts to God.
(1.) The consciousness of God's displeasure, and the fear of his Wrath, should make offers of Pardon acceptable to us. When Sin entred into the World, Fear entred with Sin. The grand scruple which haunteth the guilty Creature, is how God shall be appeased, and the Controversy taken up between us and his Justice: Micah. 6. 6, 7. Wherewith shall he be appeased, and what shall I give for the Sin of my Soul? We fear Death and Punishment from a Holy and Just God, and this is the bottom cause of all our Troubles. Therefore till the forgiveness of Sin be procured for us, and represented to us upon commodious Terms, we know not how to get rid of this Bondage, the Justice of the Supream Governour of the World will be ever dreadful to us. These fears may be for a while stifled in Men, but they will ever and anon return upon us. Now let us admire the Wisdom of God, who hath provided such a suitable remedy to our Disease, as reconciliation and remission of Sins by Jesus Christ. And that God shewed himself so ready to pardon us, who are so obnoxious to his Wrath and vindictive Justice.
(2.) The other great Priviledg offered in the Covenant, is Eternal Life, which suiteth with those desires of Happiness which are so natural to us. Corrupt Nature is not against the offers of Felicity. We would have Immunity, Peace, Comfort, Glory; none would be against his own Benefit, but every one would be willing to be freed from the curse of the Law, and the Flames of Hell, and enjoy Happiness for evermore. Though we be unwilling to deny the Flesh, and renounce the Credit, Pleasure and Profit of Sin, and grow dead to the World and worldly things, yet never was there a Creature heard of that would not be happy; for there was never a Creature but loved himself. Now the Lord in his Covenant hath brought Life and Immortality to light; setled our Happiness, and the way to it: he promises that which we desire, to induce us to that which we are against. As we sweeten Pills to Children, that they may swallow them down the better; they love the Sugar, though they loath the Aloes. God would invite us to our duty by our Interest. He hath told us of an Happiness full sure and near, that he may draw us off from the false Happiness wherewith we are inchanted, and bring us into the way of Holiness, that we may look after this blessed Hope.
2dly. The Terms he hath required of us. The Terms are either for Entrance, or making Covenant with God; or Continuance, or keeping Covenant with God. For Entrance, Faith, and Repentance are required.
1. Faith in Christ. The World thinks Faith quits Reason, and introduceth fond Credulity. No; there is much of the Wisdom of God to be seen in it. For Faith hath a special aptitude and fitness for this Work: (1.) Partly in respect of God. For He having design'd to glorify his Mercy and free Grace, and to make our Salvation from first to last a meer Gift, and the Fruit of his Love to us; hath appointed Faith for the acceptance of this Gift. Rom. 4. 16. It is of Faith, that it might be by Grace. Faith and Grace go always together, and it is put in opposition to the Merit of Works, or the Strictness of the old Covenant. (2.) As it is fittest to own Christ the Redeemer, the Fountain of Life and Happiness, and our Head and Husband, whom we receive, and to whom we are united and married by Faith. (3.) With respect to the Promises of the Gospel, which offer to us an Happiness and Blessedness, spiritual, and for the most part future. Unseen things are properly Objects of Faith. Heb. 11. 1. Faith is the Substance of things hoped for, the Evidence of things not seen. (4.) It is fittest as to our future Obedience, that it may be comfortable and willing. Now we owning Christ in a way of Subjection and Dependance, and consenting to become his Disciples and Subjects, other Duties come on the more easily, 2 Cor. 8. 5.
2. For Repentance. This is the most lively and powerful Means of bringing Men to new Life and Blessedness. (1.) It is most for the Honour of God, that we should not be pardoned without submission, without confession of past Sin, and Resolution of future Obedience. Common Reason will tell us, that our Case is not compassionable while we are impenitent, and hold it out against God. Who will pity those in Misery, who are unwilling to come out of it? Besides, it would infringe the Honour of God's Law and Government, that one continuing in his Sins, and despising both the Curse of the Law, and the Grace of the Gospel, should be pardoned and saved. Repentance is often called a giving Glory to God, Mal. 2. 2. Ye will not lay it to Heart, and give Glory to my Name. Josh. 7. 19. My Son, give Glory to God, and make Confession to him. Rev. 16. 9. They repented not to give Glory to God. Repentance restoreth God's Honour to Him, as it acknowledges the Justice of his Laws. The self-condemning Sinner acknowledges that God may destroy him, and if he save him it is meer Mercy. (2.) The Duty of the Creature is best secured, and the penitent Person more bound to future Obedience; partly by the Vow it self, or the Bond of the holy Oath into which he is entred, and the Circumstances accompanying it, which surely induce a Hatred of Sin, and a Love of Holiness. There will be a hearty Consent to live in the Love, Obedience, and Service of our Creator, with a detestation of our former Ways. When we feel the smart of Sin, such a Sense of it will ever stick by us; and when we are in the deepest and freshest Sense of his pardoning Mercy; when we see at how dear rates he is pleased to have us, and upon what free terms to pardon all our Wrongs; we shall love much, Luk. 7. 47. Surely they that are brought back from the Gibbet, and the very Gates of Hell, by such an Act of pardoning Mercy, are most likely to remember the Vows of their Distress, and are more ingaged to love God, and please Him, than others are. (3.) It is most for the Comfort of the Creature, that a stated Course of recovering our selves into the Peace and Hope of the Gospel should be appointed to us, which may leave the greatest Sense upon our Consciences. Now what is likely to do so much as this apparent Change, whereby we renounce and utterly bewail our former Folly, and solemnly devote and give up our selves to God by Christ. Those things that are serious and advised leave a Notice and Impression upon the Soul. This is the most important Action of our Lives, the Setling of our Pardon and Eternal Interest. The Heart is hardly brought to this, to renounce what we dearly love; therefore it is usually rewarded with some notable Tasts of God's Love. Isa. 57. 15. God delights to revive the Hearts of his contrite Ones.
2. For Continuance in the new Covenant, and delightful Obedience unto God. The Remedy is not only suted to the Disease, but the Duty to the Reward. Our Duty is to know God, and to love Him; and our Reward is to see Him, and be like Him, 1 Ioh. 3. 2. There is a marvellous Sutableness between the End and Means, Holiness and Happiness, Conformity to God, and our Communion with Him; the Holiness required of us now, and the Happiness we expect hereafter; perfect Conformity, and uninterrupted Communion. And they differ only but as the Bud, and the Flower; the River, and the Ocean: Here it is begun, hereafter perfected.
III. In the Application of his Grace to particular Believers, he hath abounded towards us in all Wisdom and Prudence.
(1.) In the Way God taketh to convert Souls to Himself, there is a sweet Contemperation and Mixture of Wisdom and Power. There is a Proposal of Truth and Good to the Understanding and the Will: and by the secret Power of his Grace it is made effectual. We are taught and drawn, Ioh. 6. 44, 45. No Man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me, draw him. In the 45th vers. And they shall be all taught of God. Every Man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father, cometh unto me. There is opening of blind Eyes, and the turning of an hard Heart; Acts 26. 18. To open their Eyes, and to turn them from Darkness to Light, &c. Eph. 1. 18. The Eyes of the Understanding being opened, &c. Col. 3. 10. Renewed in Knowledg. Turning the Heart: Acts 16. 29. God opened the Heart of Lydia. Acts 11. 21. The Hand of the Lord was with him; and a great Number believed, and turned to the Lord. His Hand implieth his Power. Thus God worketh strongly, like Himself; sweetly, with respect to us, that he may not oppress the Liberty of our Faculties. Christ comes into the Heart, not by Force, but by Consent. We are transformed, but so as we prove what the Will of God is, Rom. 12. 2. He draweth, we run, Cant. 1. 4. The Power of God, and Liberty of Man, do sweetly consist together. As God is said to create in us a new Heart, he is also said to give us a free Spirit, Psal. 51. 10, 12. Eph. 2. 10. We are said to be his Workmanship, created in Christ Iesus unto good Works, which God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them. So he puts a new Heart, and we are said, to walk in his Ways. Ezek. 36. 26, 27. A new Heart will I also give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony Heart out of your Flesh, and I will give you an Heart of Flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my Statutes; and ye shall keep my Iudgments, and do them. Thus God sheweth forth the powerful Efficacy of his Grace, and doth also win the Consent and good Liking of the Sinner: he obtaineth his Effect, and yet doth preserve the Liberty of Man's Nature, and the Principles thereof. It is not only Voluntas mota, but mutata; the Nature is changed and renewed. 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we all with open Face, beholding, as in a Glass, the Glory of the Lord, are changed into the same Image, from Glory to Glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
(2.) In the perswasive and moral Way, the Wisdom of God is seen, as taking the most likely Course to gain the Heart of Man, discovering Himself to us, as a God of Love, Kindness, and Mercy. Guilty Creatures stand aloof from a condemning God; our Fear of his Justice maketh us run from him. Gen. 3. 7, 10. Adam hid himself from the presence of the Lord. So all his Posterity forsake God, and hate him. But God, though the Superior, though the wronged Party, maketh Offers of Peace, and sheweth how willing he is to be reconciled to us. Having first laid the Foundation in the highest Demonstration of Goodness, that ever could come to the Ears of Man to hear of, or enter into the Heart of Man to conceive; namely, in giving his Son to die for a sinful World, 2 Cor. 5. 19, 20. What more apt to make Man relent? And then because Man had fallen from the Love of God to the Creature, Ier. 2. 3. What Wisdom doth God shew, not only in the Offers of Pardon, but Eternal Life, and Blessedness, infinitely beyond the false Happiness which carnal Self-Love inclineth us to? that it is a Shame and Disgrace to our Reason, to think these things are worthy to be compared together. What are all the Pleasures, Profits, and Honours we dote upon, to the Pleasures at God's right-Hand? the Riches of the Inheritance of the Saints, and the Glory which cometh from God. And therefore what more powerful Motive can be produced, than this Blessed Immortality? Indeed God is invisible, and the Glory is to come; and sensual Pleasures are at hand, ready to be enjoyed. But Faith checketh Sense; Heb. 11. 1. Faith is the Evidence of Things not seen. O the Wisdom of God in the Frame of the Gospel!
2. In the Effect it self, the new Creature, which is the wisest Creature on this side Heaven. To evidence this to you, I shall shew you, that all Wisdom and Prudence consisteth in three things. (1.) In fixing a right End. (2.) In the choice of apt and proper Means. (3.) In a dextrous effectual Prosecution of the End by those Means.
(1.) In fixing and propounding to ourselves a right End. A wise Man doth not mind Trifles, but is conversant about Things of the greatest Reality, Necessity, and Excellency: such are God and Heaven. All other Wisdom will prove but Folly in the end. Others disquiet themselves about a vain Show, Psal. 59. 6. Poor silly Creatures! cark, and labour, and turmoil, to get together a few poor transitory Enjoyments, where there is neither durable possession, nor solid Satisfaction. The Honours, Pleasures, and Riches of the World, are but Pictures and Shadows of the true Honours, the true Riches, and Fulness of Joy at God's right Hand. Surely he is a wise Man, that chooseth God for his Portion, and Heaven for his Home. Prov. 15. 24. The Way of Life is above to the Wise, to avoid Hell beneath. He is wise, and hath chosen the true Sort of living, which mindeth the Salvation of his Soul, and looketh after Eternal Life. Surely this is above and beyond any Wisdom Man can pretend unto, to be happy, not for a while, but for ever.
(2.) In the Choice of apt and proper Means. A Man is wise enough, if he knows his Duty, and the Way to Happiness. God hath appointed us the Way wherein to walk, to fear him, and love him, and keep his Commandments; Deut. 4. 6. Keep these Statutes, for this is your Wisdom. Job 28. 28. The Fear of God, that is Wisdom; and to depart from Evil, that is Understanding. There is an Excellency in this sort of Life, Prov. 12. 26. Those applaud it that do not choose it. All are of this Mind at last, and dying are sensible of the Excellency of it.
(3.) A dextrous effectual Prosecution of the End. This Prosecution imports, First, Diligence. He is a Fool, that hath a Price in his Hand, and hath not a Heart to lay it out on a good Purchase, Prov. 17. 16. But he is a wise Man, that improveth his Time and Labour to a good Purpose. A wise Man's Heart is at his right Hand, Eccles. 10. 2. Secondly, This Prosecution lies in Caution and Circumspection, to keep himself from Sin. Eph. 5. 15. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as Fools, but as Wise. Lastly, It consists in Self-denial. The wise Merchant sold all that he had for the Pearl of Price, Mat. 13. 46, 47. A wise Man doth not dally with Religion, but throughly sets himself to it.
USE. 1. Be perswaded, That serious Christianity is the true Wisdom; and the Wisdom of the World, which is only conversant about worldly Things, from a worldly Principle, to a worldly End, is Foolishness with God. This is Wisdom, which acquainteth us more with God, and leadeth us into everlasting Happiness.
2. Admire the Wisdom of God, in dispensing Salvation by Christ; who could bring Light out of Darkness; and so great a Demonstration of his Glory out of Man's Sin; and vanquish Satan by the Way, whereby he seemed most to prevail; and still attain his End by Means seemingly contrary. There is more of Divine Power and Wisdom shewed in Christ crucified, than in any thing Men could think of. It was a more glorious Act of Power to raise Christ from the Dead, than in not permitting him to die. He prevaileth more by laying down his Life, than by being prosperous in the World, and taking the Lives of his Enemies.
3. If God hath abounded to us in all Wisdom, Let us not disturb the Order of this Grace, by asking Priviledges without Duties, or minding Duties without the Help of the Spirit; or placing all in Duties, so as to exclude the Merit and Satisfaction of the Redeemer; or to eye the Ransom, so as to exclude the Example of Christ. All things are well ordered in God's Covenant; the Confusion arises from our Darkness and Misapprehensions.
4. There should be Wisdom and Prudence in us; for the Impression must be according to the Seal and Stamp. Wisdom is a saving Knowledge of Divine Mysteries; and Prudence, to regulate and order our Actions and Practices, to perform our respective Duties to God and Man. The Apostle prays for the Colossians; (Col. 1. 9.) That they might be filled with the Knowledge of his Will, in all Wisdom, and spiritual Understanding. All have not the same Measure of Saving-Knowledge and Prudence, yet the least Saint hath what is necessary to Salvation. You must every Day grow in those Graces, for by degrees they are carried on towards Perfection.