Exposition of John 17, Exposition · Part 29
JOHN. 17.11.
And now I am no more in the world.
IS it ſo that Jeſus Chriſt, as he is man, is gone away out of this Ʋſe 1 lower world, &c. Then let us not expect to ſee him here, till he return again from heaven. It's true he ſhall ſo come again from heaven, as the Apoſtles ſaw him going into heaven, as you may ſee, Act. 1.11. He ſhall come down again in a remarkable, obſervable and viſible way, Behold, he cometh with the clouds, and every eye ſhall ſee him, Apoc. 1.7. And in the mean time, my Beloved, the heavens muſt contain him, or confine him as to his bodily or fleſhly preſence, he muſt be comprehended there, Act. 3.21. I ſay then as our Saviour Chriſt himſelf upon the like occaſion, Mat. 24.4. Take heed that no man deceive you, for many ſhall come in my name, ſaying I am Chriſt. And though it ſeem ſo groſs a buſineſs, that there can be no danger in it, yet it is added preſently, and they ſhall deceive many, ſo that there may be need of this Caveat.
And therefore I beſeech you, my Brethren, lay it up againſt the time of trial come, if it ever come upon you; For there ſhall ariſe falſe Chriſts, and falſe Prophets, as the true Chriſts tell us, Mat. 24.24. inſomuch that if it were poſsible they ſhall deceive the very Elect. And therefore if they ſay unto you, Lo here is Chriſt, or there, believe them not. If they ſay he is in the Deſert, go not forth; he is in the ſecret chambers, believe it not, as Chriſt addes in that place. If a ſeducing ſpirit tell you, Chriſt is in ſuch, or ſuch a place, ſuch or ſuch a one is Chriſt (as ſome have been ſo groſsly impudent in theſe times) believe him not. If a Papiſt, or Ubiquitary tell you, Lo here is Chriſt, lo, he is corporally preſent in the Sacrament, the bread is really and truly chang'd into his body, believe him not. No, my Beloved, do you depend on that which Chriſt himſelf, affirmeth in my Text, and now I am no more in the world, as to my bodily and fleſhly preſence untill you ſee him come again, as the Apoſtles ſaw him go away (for every eye ſhall ſee him when he comes) be confident he is not here in this world, I ſay as Chriſt in the fore-alleadged place, Take heed, I have foretold you.
Ʋſe. 2 Is it ſo that Jeſus Chriſt as he is man is gone away, &c. and that he hath withdrawn his corporal and fleſhly preſence from us? Then let us make the more of the preſence of his Spirit by which he is ſtill among us: If he be abſent from us one way, it is good reaſon that we ſhould the more improve his preſence with us in another. The chief comfort of the ſoul conſiſteth in Communion with the Lord Chriſt, in having fellowſhip with him. Now Chriſt, as he is man, is aſcended into heaven, and ſo in that reſpect he is no more in the world. We cannot yet go up to him, though we would gladly die and be diſſolved, that we might be with Chriſt, yet it cannot yet be. But which way then ſhall we enjoy Communion with him? Why, my Beloved, becauſe we are not able to go up to him, the Spirit will do ſo much for us, that he will bring him down to us; and thus though he be abſent from us in the body, yet he is preſent with us in the Spirit, and will be to the worlds end, according to his own promiſe, Matth. 28.20. Lo I am with you always to the end of the world; They are the laſt words of the Chapter, and the laſt words of the Book, and there is nothing added, but Amen, Let it be ſo: and ſure it is a ſweet cloſe. Well then, my Brethren, let our work and buſineſs be to conſider with our ſelves, how we may the more enjoy him in the Spirit, becauſe we can no longer now enjoy him in the body. How we may make the moſt of that we have. And I ſhall give you the beſt adviſe that I am able, in this great buſineſs.
If you deſire to make the moſt of the preſence of your Saviour in the Spirit now he is abſent from you in the body, you muſt be infinitely cautious, that you do not grieve that Spirit by which he is preſent with you: If you grieve and trouble him, he will withdraw and hide himſelf from you, and then Chriſt is wholly gone both in the Body and the Spirit too; you do not ſenſibly enjoy him neither one way nor the other, and ſo are in a very ſad caſe. Since the preſence of the Spirit is all that you enjoy of Chriſt; ſo that if he be gone, my Brethren, all is gone, you muſt be very wary that you do not vex the Spirit, and cauſe him to depart from you.
But you will ask me, Which way do we vex and grieve the Spirit? we would know it, that ſo we might be careful to avoid it. I might ſpeak much of this Subject, and draw out my diſcourſe into abundance of particulars; but I will ſay it in a word; you grieve the Spirit when you deal unkindly with him any away. This is the ſpecal thing that grieves friends, when one of them deals unkindely with another; and ſo it is between the Spirit and the ſoul; He comes to us from Chriſt, in much love and much kindneſs to ſupply his abſence from us, and we are unkind to him, and this grieves him out of meaſure; Now we are unkind to him eſpecially two ways, and that is either when we ſlight him, or reſiſt him.
1. When we ſlight him, this is a very great unkindneſs, and that which friends can very ill bear. He makes tenders of himſelf, and we take no notice of him; he ſtands knocking at our doors, or rather Jeſus Chriſt by him, and we let him knock ſtill; He would be entertained by us, and we will not entertain him; or if we do, it is in ſuch a careleſs, and in ſuch a ſlight way, as if he were not worthy to be looked upon: The evil ſpirit comes, and he hath all the welcome that the houſe can make, he finds it ſwept and garniſhed; the Holy Spirit comes, and he is ſet behind doors. He offers holy motions to us, he ſtirs us up to read, to pray, to humble and afflict our ſouls, to meditate of holy things, and we neglect them, as if they were not worth the hearkning to. He offers ſweet and pretious comforts to us, and we forſake our own mercy; we hanker after other pleaſures and delights; the comforts of the Spirit will not relliſh with us, our ſouls loath this light bread; we muſt have fleſhly ſatiſfactions and refreſhments, ſpiritual will not ſerve the turn: Brethren, this is no good uſage, the Holy Spirit grieves at this; He thinks (as well he may) he hath deſerved better at our hands then this is: I have brought down Chriſt to them, and ſo have comforted and cheered them (thinks he) and now they ſlight and grieve me.
2. And as we deal unkindly with him when we ſlight him, ſo we deal more unkindly with him, when we oppoſe him and reſiſt him, when we ſet our ſelves againſt him; I know the Spirit of grace is irreſiſtible in ſome reſpect, but yet ad luctam, he may be reſiſted, though he cannot ad victoriam; and ſo he is ſometimes even by the Lords own people. Even they have fleſh within them, that luſts againſt this Spirit, as the Apoſtle Paul ſpeaks; That doth not ſlight it, and neglect it only, but luſt againſt it. The Spirit will have this or that done: no ſaith the fleſh, it ſhall not, the Spirit ſhall not be obeyed; the Spirit will have ſuch a luſt caſt out that is always croſſing him, and thwarting with him. No ſaith the fleſh, it ſhall not goe. The Spirit would have us ſet about ſuch or ſuch a holy duty; the fleſh oppoſes and reſiſts the motion; and we are well content (it may be) at preſent that it ſhould do ſo, and ſo we ſit ſtill and let all alone, ſay the Spirit what he will. Brethren, the Spirit takes it very ill to be thus uſed by us; it makes him ſad, that theſe whom he hath done ſo much for, ſhould make him ſuch a recompence, and that he ſhould be wounded thus in the houſe of his friends: That they ſhould keep and favour fellows there, and make them houſhold-gueſts, that go to thruſt him out of doors when he comes to lodge with them. I beſeech you think upon it, and give him better entertainment, that ſo he may take pleaſure to be with you.
If you deſire to make the moſt of the preſence of your Saviour in the Spirit, now he is abſent from you in the body; as you muſt not grieve him, ſo you muſt take ſingular and extraordinary comfort in him; for he is ſent down as a Comforter (you know) in Chriſts abſence; and therefore this is the ſpecial uſe that you are to make of him. It is ſad that Chriſt is gone; but it is comfortable that the Spirit is come down from heaven to ſupply his place, and therefore let us ſee that we take comfort in it. Ah, my Beloved, is not this a ſweet and welcome Office of the Spirit to repreſent Chriſt to us, and ſo pretious and ſo ſweet a friend as Chriſt is? when he comes in and tells us, Chriſt is gone up indeed to heaven, and he will fetch you after him ere it be long, that where he is, there may you be alſo. And in the mean time he hath taken care of you, and he hath ſent me down of purpoſe to be inſtead of him to you; and he would have you look upon me, as if he himſelf were with you. Ah, my Beloved, ſhould not our hearts even leap within us, at ſuch news as this? Doth not the Spirit comfort us? ſhould it not be a raviſhing, and a reviving thing to us, when he comes in Chriſts ſtead, and ſupplies Chriſts room, and Chriſts place?
Doth not our Saviour Chriſt himſelf propound it oftentimes to his Apoſtles and Diſciples for their comfort, when they were in heavineſs, and when their hearts were even about to break within them? come be not troubled, that I am about to leave you, I will ſend you another Comforter that ſhall abide with you for ever, Joh. 14.16. I have been a comfort to you I confeſs, but I will ſend you another Comforter, one that ſhall comfort you as much as I have done, and one that ſhall ſtick to you, and ſhall not leave you (as I am about to do) but ſhall abide with you for ever; I will not leave you comfortleſs, as Chriſt adds in the 18. verſe. No, which way will you help it might they ſay? How can we but be comfortleſs when Chriſt is gone? why, this way I will help it, might our Saviour ſay, I will come to you, and be with you by my Spirit: And though the world can never ſee me while my body is withdrawn, and I am only preſent with you by my Spirit, yet you have eyes to ſee me preſent with you this way; and while you have this preſence with you, I hope you have no reaſon to complain that you are left without comfort: So that the Spirit is a comforter you ſee by repreſenting Chriſt to us; yea, it is a greater comfort that the Spirit is with us, then if Chriſt himſelf were with us: It is a greater comfort that Chriſt is preſent with us by his Spirit, then if he ſhould be preſent with us by his body; then the comfort were more narrow, but now it is more large; then the comfort were more outward, but now it is more inward; then the comfort were more fleſhly; but now it is more ſpiritual, and therefore let us take in this comfort.
If you deſire to make the moſt of the preſence of your Saviour in the Spirit, now he is abſent from you in the body, as you muſt take in the comforts, ſo you muſt take in the graces of the Spirit; for even as Chriſt is preſent with you by the comforts, ſo he is preſent with you by the graces of the Spirit: By theſe he dwells among us, though he be in heaven in the body, as the Pſalmiſt intimates, Pſal. 68.18. When he aſcended up on high, he received gifts for men, the gifts and graces of the Spirit to beſtow on men, that the Lord God might dwell among them, by thoſe gifts and thoſe graces: And therefore the Apoſtle prays for the Epheſians, that Chriſt might dwell in their hearts by faith, one of the principal of thoſe graces, Epheſ. 3.17. Well then, my Brethren, when Jeſus Chriſt makes tenders of himſelf to you, by theſe graces, let him come in and dwell with you. Make the more of this way of his reſidence and habitation with you, becauſe you cannot have him in the other. When he offers any grace, conſider with your ſelves, Now Jeſus Chriſt draws nigh to me, he that is above in heaven, and with relation to his bodily and fleſhly preſence is no more in this world, is in another way coming into my ſoul; And therefore do not ſhut the doors againſt him, but bid him very welcome when he comes; when he offers more knowledge, faith, love, hope, patience, let not theſe offers be refuſed: Remember when you take in theſe, you take in Chriſt with them, in the preſence of his Spirit: So much as you enjoy of theſe, ſo much you enjoy of Chriſt; and therefore ſeek and value every ſaving grace the more, and be the readier to receive and entertain it, becauſe it brings Chriſt with it.
Is it ſo, that Jeſus Chriſt as he is man is gone away, &c. Then let us Ʋſe. 3 alſo go away out of the world to him, that we may be where he is; I ſay as Chriſt to his Diſciples in another caſe, Ariſe, let us go hence. Jeſus Chriſt is gone, you hear, and why then do we ſtay behind him? why do we tarry here, when Chriſt is gone? It's true, we cannot go to him in the body; but yet as Chriſt though he be abſent from us in the body, yet he is preſent with us by his Spirit: ſo we upon the other ſide, though we be abſent from him in the body, let us be preſent with him in the Spirit; and as he comes from heaven to us by his Spirit, though his body ſtay there; ſo let us go from earth to heaven to our Saviour in our ſpirits, though our bodies ſtay here.
But you will ask me, How may this be done, or how may we be preſent with our Saviour in our Spirits?
I Anſwer;
1. We may be preſent with him in the thoughts and meditations of the Spirit. Theſe are the proper actings of the ſoul, the inner man; and if our thoughts be much upon him, we are in this reſpect much with him. And therefore I beſeech you, my Beloved, let us feed our ſelves continually with ſweet and pretious thoughts of Jeſus Chriſt; though we be here below, and muſt continue ſo till Chriſt be pleaſed to take us to himſelf, yet let our minds aſcend to heaven, and let our thoughts and meditations be where Chriſt is. Oh let us think upon him in the day and in the night; upon our beds when we are ſtill, and have nothing to diſtract us; then let our hearts be filled with ſweet ſoliloquies, with raviſhing and tranſporting thoughts of Chriſt, that we may ſpeak to him as David did, Pſal. 104.34. How pretious are the thoughts of thee, O Lord? How great is the ſum of them? It paſſes my Arithmetique to caſt them up.
2. Let us be preſent with our Saviour in the affections of the Spirit; let our ſpirits cleave to him, though we be abſent from him in the body: Where Jeſus Chriſt our treaſure is, there let our hearts be alſo. That as Eliſha ſaid to Gehazi once, Went not my heart with thee? when at that very time he was ſitting in his houſe, and Gehazi was abroad, 2 King. 5.26. So we may ſay to Jeſus Chriſt, though in another way; However we be abſent from thee in the body, yet is not our heart with thee? as the Apoſtle to the Theſſalonians, We Brethren, being taken from you in preſence, not in heart, 1 Theſ. 2.17. ſo we to Jeſus Chriſt; Oh Lord, though we be ſeparated from thee in our bodies, we are not ſeparated from thee in our hearts; They are continually with thee, nor ſhall they be divided from thee.
3. Let us be preſent with our Saviour in the deſires and anhelations of the Spirit; let them be always mounting up where he is; he is gone, and in the mean time till he come again to us, let us long to go to him. Oh let us build no Tabernacles on the Tabor of this world, ſince our Saviour is not here: But let us look upon our ſelves as baniſhed men, as the Apoſtle did, knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are abſent from the Lord, 2 Cor. 5.6, and ſo let us groan earneſtly to get to Chriſt as he did. Let us be always breathing, gaſping, fainting after Jeſus Chriſt, and putting out our heads to ſee when he will come and receive us to himſelf, that where he is, there may we be alſo. And thus far of the firſt particular ſuggeſted in the words, the departure of our Saviour out of this lower world to the immediate preſence of his Father; And now I am no more in the world, but I come to thee.
The ſecond follows now in order to be handled, and that is, his Diſciples ſtay behind him; But theſe are in the world, and are where they are like to be, and where they are to tarry and remain when I am gone.
The world in which our Saviour Chriſts Apoſtles and Diſciples were, and were to ſtay, muſt be conceived to be the very ſame which Chriſt himſelf was now about to leave, and from which he was ready to depart, viz. this lower world beneath heaven; that from which he was to go, in that were his Diſciples and Apoſtles to remain. And now I am no more in the world, but theſe are in the world, the ſelf ſame world in which I am to be no more.
But why is this alleadged by our Saviour to his Father here, that the Apoſtles and Diſciples were to ſtay in this world? apparently to ſhew what cauſe he had to mention them in his Petitions, and to commend them to the ſpecial care and mercy and protection of his Father. As in the words that are immediately annexed, Holy Father, keep them through thy own Name. q. d. I am even now about to leave them, and to leave them in the world, and thou knoweſt what a place the world is, how troubleſome, unpleaſing, and vexatious it hath continually been to my Diſciples; and therefore I beſeech thee, Father, keep them, have a ſpecial eye upon them who are to ſtay behind me in ſuch a place as this is.
So that the point apparently ſuggeſted here is this;
DOCTRINE. The world hath alwayes been, and is, an evil and uncomfortable place to Chriſts Diſciples.
It is a ſad and doleful place to live in, and hence our Saviour ſeeemeth to bewail the caſe of his Apoſtles and Diſciples in my Text; Theſe are in the world, ſaith he, as if he ſhould have added, and that is but an ill place.
Now that I may the better clear it, and evince it to you, I ſhall ſhew in what reſpects the world is ſuch an evil and uncomfortable place to Chriſts Diſciples.
It is in this reſpect an evil and uncomfortable place to Chriſts Diſciples, that it is a place of ſuffering: In which they are continually to be expoſed to many tryals and to many troubles. Though they be in the world, yet they are not of the world, and therefore they are hated by the world, as Jeſus Chriſt himſelf informeth his Diſciples, John 15.19. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own, but becauſe ye are not of the world, therefore the world hates you. And hence it comes to paſs that it perſues them, perſecutes them, caſts them out, creates them all the trouble and vexation that it can: ſo that they are not like to have a quiet hour almoſt in this world. Beſides the evils and afflictions to which they are expoſed by the neceſſity of nature, as man is born to trouble as the ſparks fly upwards, Job 5.7. diſtempers and diſeaſes in their bodies, loſs of their eſtates and friends and earthly comforts and the like, ungodly men come in with their additions. The Church of Chriſt while ſhe is here, is ill-ſeated, ſhe grows in an ill place, as he himſelf affirmeth of her, 2 Cant. 2. as the Lilly among thorns, ſo is my Love among the daughters. She is environed and begirt with them, ſo that ſhe is annoyed and hurt and pierct on every ſide. She cannot ſtir but one or other of her thorny neighbours hath her by the ſleeve. She dwels in Meſech while ſhe dwells in this world, and hath her habitation in the Tents of Kedar, in the midſt of wicked men, ſo that ſhe is beleaguered as it were and hem'd about with thoſe that hate her, and deſire her ruine. This is the ſtate and the condition of the Saints while they are here, they are continually vexed and troubled: So that no marvel though our Saviour tells his own Apoſtles, In the world you ſhall have tribulation. Iohn 16.33. That is your portion, as long as you remain here.
The world hath alwayes been an evil and uncomfortable place to Chriſts Diſciples, in this reſpect, that it is a place of ſinning. Indeed, my brethren, they are troubled with the ſins of other men, their righteous ſouls are vexed with their filthy converſations. Rivers of waters run down their eyes becauſe men keep not Gods Law. But they are chiefly troubled with their own ſins, from which they are not to be wholly freed, while they remain in this world; As long as they continue here, they are perpetually in Sathans danger, who is the Prince of this world, and whoſe authority and power is confined to this life. There will never be an abſolute and perfect cure of ſin in any of the Saints, till this corruption have put on incorruption: And hence perhaps the corruptions of our natures are ſtiled worldly luſts, Tit. 2.12. And our members that are upon the earth, Col. 3.5. becauſe we cannot poſſibly be rid of them, while we are here upon the earth, and while we live in this world. The Apoſtle Paul compares himſelf and others of the Saints, to earthen Veſſels, 2 Cor. 4.7. And earthen veſſels when they were legally defiled, could not be made clean again, till they were broken all in pieces, as you may ſee Lev. 11.33. So we, my brethen, are not to be fully cleanſed, till we be ſhivered all in pieces. We are not to be wholly reſcued from the bondage to corruption, till death tranſlate is to another world. And then he that is dead, ſaith the Apoſtle, is free from ſin, Rom. 6.7. So that no marvel though the world be a place of ſuch diſquiet and diſcomfort to the Saints; For how can they be fully comfortable here, while they are alwayes ſinning againſt God. He that hath entred into reſt indeed hath ceaſed from his own works, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Heb. 4.10. Till then he cannot wholly ceaſe from thoſe that are moſt properly his own works, but is in danger of offending God and falling into ſin continually, and ſo can have no reſt here.
Nay, my beloved, no man knows how far the Lord may ſuffer him to fall in this world. Though it be a certain truth that they that are elect, can never wholly fall away from God, yet they may ſin exceedingly, to the diſhonour of the Lord, the ſcandal of their brethren, and the irreparable wounding of their name, while they have a day to live. And this they are in danger of, I mean of falling fearfully, ſo long as they remain here. What deadly falls have many of Gods worthies taken in their latter times! It is obſervable that Davids firſt wayes are commended 2 Chron. 17.3. By which the Holy Ghoſt inſinuates that his laſt wayes were not anſwerable to them. He (ſpeaking of Jehoſaphat) walked in the firſt wayes of his Father David. Indeed the latter wayes of David were blemiſhed with extremity of ſin and ſcandal. The like is alſo noted of Solomon, 1 King. 11.9. And Aſa, 2 Chron. 16.10. And Jehoſaphat, 2 Chron. 20.35. And how then can the world but but be a doleful and uncomfortable place to Chriſts Diſciples, where they are in ſuch hazard? How can they but complain as Rebecca ſometimes did, though in another caſe, If I muſt ſtill be troubled with my luſts, and my corruptions, if I muſt ſtill be over-ruled by them thus, what good will continuance in the world do me?
The world hath alwayes been and is an evil, &c. in this reſpect, that it is a place of baniſhment from Jeſus Chriſt, from him in whom their very ſouls delight. This makes it ſad and grievous to them, that they have not Chriſt with them. And this is that at which our Saviour aimeth in my text, I am no more in this world, but theſe are in the world. There is the dolefulneſs of their condition, that they are to continue here without me. Indeed we are debarred of the immediate preſence of the Lord, while we remain in this world. And therefore it is ſaid expreſly, 2 Cor. 5.6. That whileſt we are at home in the body, we are abſent from the Lord. And is not this a grievous thing to be kept from the enjoyment of ſuch a one as Chriſt is? Eſpecially to him that knows him, and is well acquainted with him, and hath taſted of his ſweetneſs? can you blame him if he be weary of the world, and if it be a trouble to him to continue here? if be be willing to be abſent from the body, that ſo he may be preſent with the Lord? What holy heart can chooſe but find a wearineſs in that place (let it be otherwiſe as pleaſant as it will) which keeps Chriſt and him aſunder, and hinders him from the compleat fruition of his bleſſed Saviour? Who would not gladly leave a place in which as long as he continues Chriſt and he muſt be aſunder?
Ʋſe 1 Now is it ſo, my brethren, that the world hath alwayes been and is an evil, &c. Then let it be a Caveat to us, not to caſt (as we are very apt to do) on too much joy and comfort here. Our manner is when things look a little well, and when we have ſome preſent quiet and content, to promiſe great and extraodinary matters to our ſelves; To ſing a requiem to our ſouls, with the rich man in the Goſpel, take thine eaſe, eat, drink and be merry. Its true, the men of this world may have ſome content and quietneſs and ſatisfaction here. They have their portion here, and they receive their good things here. But as for Chriſts Diſciples, they muſt look for no ſuch matter; And therefore he forewarns them when he is about to leave them what they are like to meet with in this world, perſecutions, tribulations and afflictions, all the injury, and wrong, and malice, and deſpight, and evil uſage that the world can pour upon them. There remaineth a reſt to the people of God, Heb. 4.9. their reſt remaineth for them, it is not to be had in this world.
And therefore it ſhall be their wiſdom to provide for trouble, and not to look the world ſhould be a better place to them, then it hath been to Chriſts Diſciples that have gone before them. Oh my beloved, do not deceive your ſelves in this particular, do not conceive the world will ever yield you any great content or quietneſs, or ſatisfaction; for this is that which makes affliction bitter when it comes. But when you live at greateſt eaſe, when you enjoy the greateſt calm, when all things look as if you were confirmed and ſetled in a proſperous ſtate, as if your Mountain ſhould not be removed, be ſure that you provide your ſelves for worſe times, that ſo afflictions may not find you unprepared when they come. How often ſhall you hear it from the mouths of many, when any heavy croſs is come upon them, Alas they never dreamt of this, they never looked to ſee this dolefull and unhappy day! the weaker and unwiſer they. Did they not know that they are here abiding in a vale of tears, and that the world hath alwayes been an evil and uncomfortable place? And why ſhould they expect it ſhould be better to them then it hath been to others of the Saints, who have perhaps exceeded them in holineſs and grace? And therefore in the midſt of comfort and proſperity, let us be wiſely caſting on the day of trouble and diſtreſs. Let us not reckon upon much felicity and ſweetneſs here, for certainly it is not to be had in this world.
Is it ſo that the world hath alwayes been and is an evil, &c. why then Ʋſe 2 if we find it ſo, let it not ſeem ſtrange to us. Let us not look upon it as a thing to be admired or wondred at, if we meet with nothing elſe but tribulation and affliction, and vexations in the world, if we have very little quiet or content here. Let not the members of the Church think much of it, if they be alwayes troubled and diſtreſſed, if they be alwayes followed and purſued with one affliction or another, ſo that they cannot have a comfortable hour almoſt; but let them look upon it as an uſual thing. The world hath alwayes been ſuch an uncomfortable place to Chriſts Diſciples; And therefore let them ſeriouſly conſider, that they could expect no other living in ſuch a place as they do; but this I do but glance at in my paſſage by.
Is it ſo that the world hath alwayes, &c. why then ſhould Chriſts Ʋſe 3 Diſciples be ſo much in love with this world? and why ſhould any of them be ſo deſirous to continue in it as they are? It is the caſe of many that do indeed belong to Jeſus Chriſt, they have a great unwillingneſs to leave the world. O what a cutting thing it is to many of them to think of comming forth out of their earthly tabernacles! it is a burthen to them that they cannot bear. They ſay with Peter, it is good to be here, though their Saviour be not here, whereas they ſhould ſay with Paul, It is better to be diſſolved and to be with Chriſt. Though Chriſt himſelf make mention of it as a ſad and dolefull thing, that his Diſciples were to ſtay in this world, they look upon it as a dolefull thing that they are to remove from it. And this it ſeems was Hazekias caſe, when he heard that he muſt dye, he turned to the wall and wept ſore, yea he chattered like a Swallow, and mourned like a Dove. Our Saviour Chriſt forewarning Peter of his death, Iohn 21.18. tells him, he ſhould be carried where he would not. By which it is apparent, that even in the bleſſed Martyrs there may be a lothneſs to depart out of theſe earthly Tabernacles. Though the righteous ſoul of Lot were vexed every day, as long as he remained in Sodom, yet Oh how did he linger when the Lord would take him thence! Gen. 19.16. Even ſo the Saints of God, though while they live in the Sodom of this world, they have a ſorry habitation, being continually vexed with the ſins and with the perſecutions of ungodly men; yet are they not ſo unwilling to depart and leave the world as they have cauſe to be. When Cyrus made a Proclamation to the Jews, that whoſoever was diſpoſed might return out of the Land of his Captivity, it is obſerved notwithſtanding that none were willing to go out but thoſe whoſe Spirits God had raiſed up to go. So though this world be nothing but a Babylon to us, the Land of our Captivity, an evil and a… uncomfortable place, yet till the Lord raiſe up our Spirits by his grace, we are loth to part with it, but are deſirous rather ſtill to ſerve in this bondage. Now I beſeech you my beloved, you that have ſenſes exerciſed, look about you; What do you ſee in this world, why you ſhould be loth to leave it? There is great reaſon why you ſhould be weary of it, why you ſhould look upon it as a ſad thing that you muſt yet continue in a place where you muſt alwayes ſin and ſuffer; there is no avoiding of it. But there is no ſuch reaſon why you ſhould be ſo unwilling to depart out of it.
Ʋſe 4 And therefore on the laſt place let this perſwade you, as many of you as are Chriſts Diſciples, to be alwayes ready to be tranſlated and removed out of this place, which is ſo evil and uncomfortable to you. Indeed you muſt not wiſh and long for a departure out of paſſion and impatience, add in a peremptory way, as being now no longer able to endure the evils and perplexities that are upon you; as thus it ſeems Eliah did when he fled from Jezabel, 1 Kings 19.4. And thus it is extremely probable that Moſes did, when he conceived his burthen was too heavy for him, Num. 1….10, 15. For it is ſaid he was diſpleaſed, and in that angry fit he ſaid to God, Wherefore …ſt thou afflicted me? I am not able to hear all this alone. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me I pray thee out of hand; and do not … for my wretchedneſs. And this is apparent Jonah did, who being croſt in a punctilio in a point of honour, out of a p…tiſh, fo…ſh, childiſh humour, will go dye forſooth, God muſt take away his life. But if you do it out of reaſon, and with ſubmiſſion to the will of God, that if he pleaſe to take you from a place that is ſo ſad and ſo uncomfortable to you, by reaſon of your dayly troubles, but eſpecially and chiefly by reaſon of your ſins againſt him, you ſhall look upon it as a mercy, this is not to be condemned. When Joſeph was in priſon, though he wanted nothing there, yet ſee how earneſt and importunate he was with Pharaohs Butler to help him to his liberty, Gen. 40.14. Think on me when it ſhall be well with thee, and ſhew me kindneſs, and help me out of this houſe. Brethren, our heaven-born ſouls are but impriſoned in theſe earthly Tabernacles; we have the manacles and fetters of our luſts about us. We cannot walk abroad with liberty and freedom, and enlargement, &c. Oh let us cry to Jeſus Chriſt to ſhew us kindneſs, and help us out of this houſe.