Twenty Sermons, Sermon 9
MERCY DESPISED, AND GOD PROVOKED thereby.
PSAL. CVI. 24.
Yea, they deſpiſed the pleaſant Land, and believed not his Word.
IN the laſt Sermons which I gave you out of Heb. 4.1, Let us therefore fear, leſt a Promiſe being left us of entring into his Reſt, any of you ſhould ſeem to come ſhort of it; I ſhewed you, what a dreadful, invaluable, unconceivable and irrecoverable loſs it was to come ſhort of that eternal Reſt that God hath prepared for the Saints in Light. In loſing of Heaven you ſhall loſe the preſence of God, in whoſe preſence is fulneſs of joy, and at whoſe right hand are pleaſures for evermore: In loſing of Heaven, you ſhall loſe the favour of God; never, never to enjoy a ſmile of his Face, never, to lie under the hope of one drop of mercy: In loſing Heaven, you ſhall loſe fellowſhip and communion with God, that eternal happineſs which is the portion of the Saints: ſuch an invaluable loſs, that Eternity it ſelf will be little enough to deplore it and bewail it.
My Deſign in the choice of this Text, is, to ſhew you from it, what one main cauſe is why men come ſhort of that eternal happineſs: namely, their deſpiſing and undervaluing thoſe glorious hopes that are laid up in Heaven: as the deſpiſing the Land of Canaan was the main reaſon why ſo many thouſands of the Iſraelites were excluded from the Land of Canaan, as the Text here tells you: Yea, they deſpiſed the pleaſant Land, they believed not his Word. Many were the provoking-ſins that the people of Iſrael ſtood guilty of, after that the Lord had wrought that glorious deliverance for them, in bringing them out of the Land of Egypt: as the Pſalmiſt reckons up a whole Catalogue of them in this excellent Pſalm wherein my Text lies: As,
Firſt, Their Rebellion at the Red ſea, in the 7 verſe, Our Fathers underſtood not thy Wonders in Egypt, they remembred not the multitude of thy mercies: but provoked him at the Sea, even at the red Sea, where God had wrought that glorious deliverance for them; for you know they were ready to diſtruſt the Power of God, and they murmured againſt Moſes the Servant of God, Exod. 14.11, And they ſaid unto Moſes, Becauſe there were no Graves in Egypt, haſt thou taken us away to die in the Wilderneſs? Wherefore haſt thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
Secondly, Another ſin was their murmuring for want of fleſh, in the 14 ver. of this Pſalm, But luſted exceedingly, or they luſted with a very great luſt: Nothing but fleſh forſooth, would ſerve their turn; they would not be contented with the proviſion that God made for them, of Manna, which was Angels Food, which was called Angels food, becauſe that if ſo be the glorious Angels in Heaven ſhould want bread for their entertainment and proviſion, if they ſtood in need of bread, they could not have better bread than that which God fed the Iſraelites with from Heaven, every day: but this would not content them, they murmured, and luſted exceedingly after fleſh.
Thirdly, Another ſin was their Sedition, and their Conſpiracy againſt Moſes and againſt Aaron, in the 16 verſe, They envyed Moſes alſo in the Camp, and Aaron the Saint of the Lord; You take too much upon you, you ſons of Levi: why ſhould you be more holy than we? are not all the Congregation holy? This was a horrible provocation, that made the Lord to cauſe the earth to open and ſwallow up Corah, Dathan and Abiram.
The fourth ſin they were guilty of, was their deſpiſing or undervaluing the pleaſant Land that God gave them, in the words of the Text: Yea, they deſpiſed the Pleaſant Land, they believed not his Word. So then, in the Text you may take notice of theſe two Particulars:
Firſt, Iſraels horrible ingratitude, in this Phraſe, They deſpiſed the Pleaſant Land.
Secondly, The ground of that Ingratitude, in theſe words, They believed not his Word: For the firſt,
Firſt, Iſraels horrible Ingratitude, They deſpiſed the Pleaſant Land. By a pleaſant Land here, is meant the Land of Canaan, that Land of Promiſe, that God had promiſed to Abraham four hundred and thirty years before ever they did enjoy it, and it is called in the Hebrew, a Land of Deſires, or a deſirable Land; as dainty food is called Meat of Deſires (Job 33.20.) in the Hebrew: So that his Life abhorreth bread, and his Soul dainty meat, or meat of Deſires. This ſame dainty Land, this ſame deſirable Land, this ſame pleaſant Land, this Land of Promiſe, they deſpiſed, they rejected, they contemptuouſly ſcorned: ſo the Original word properly ſignifies. Now conſider this Land of Canaan here, which they deſpiſed, in a two-fold Notion:
Firſt, As it was an earthly Poſſeſſion.
Secondly, As it was a Type, or Pledg, or Earneſt-penny of that heavenly Inheritance laid up for the Saints in Light: And you ſhall ſee in both theſe reſpects, their deſpiſing this Land was horrible Ingratitude.
Firſt, Conſider it in the firſt Notion: namely, as it was an earthly Poſſeſſion, it was very great Ingratitude. But conſider it in the ſecond Notion: namely, as it was a Pledg and earneſt-penny of the heavenly Inheritance, ſo it was a far greater Ingratitude. Take it in the firſt Notion, for an earthly Poſſeſſion: ſo the Doctrine you may obſerve from thence, is this,
Doct. That deſpiſing or undervaluing of thoſe outward bleſſings and favours that God beſtows upon a people, is a God-provoking ſin, a ſin of great Ingratitude.
This you ſee was the ſin of Iſrael, after they came out of the Land of Egypt, to deſpiſe any Land that God ſhould beſtow upon them: but eſpecially conſidering that they had been bondmen in Egypt, that they that had undergone ſuch a baſe ſervitude, that they had undergone-ſuch burthens of Tyranny, for God to bring them out of ſuch a condition, into a Land, this had been a great mercy; but to bring them into ſuch a Land, a Land flowing with Milk and Honey, to bring them into a Land ſo deſirable: This certainly was a grievous provocation, eſpecially if you conſider what Land this was; for,
Firſt, It was very delightful in regard of the Scituation of it; Canaan being ſcituated (as Geographers obſerve) in the midſt or Center of the whole Earth: for it had Aſia upon the Eaſt, and Europe upon the Weſt, and Africa upon the South, and America, and Scythia, and Perſia upon the North; it was very pleaſant therefore in the ſcituation of it.
Secondly, It was pleaſant in regard of the Air; though it is true, it was a hotter Climate than ours is, yet it was a very temperate Climate; it was a Climate of that temper, that they were free from all noiſome vapours: ſo it was a healthful Land in that regard.
Thirdly, It was a very fruitful Land; a Land that did abound with Corn, and Cattel, and Vines, and Fig-trees, and Pomgranates, as you may find Deut. 8.7, 8, 9, For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good Land; a Land of Brooks of waters of Fountains, and depths that ſpring out of valley, and hills: a Land of Wheat, and Barley, and Vines, and Fig-trees, and Pomgranates: a Land of Oyl, Olives and Honey; A Land wherein thou ſhalt eat bread without ſcarceneſs, thou ſhalt not lack any thing in it: a Land whoſe ſtones are iron, and out of whoſe Hills thou mayſt dig braſs. It's a Land, ſaith the Lord, wherein thou ſhalt not lack any thing, any thing that may be deſirable, any thing that may be comfortable for their ſubſiſtence: for them therefore to deſpiſe ſuch a Land as this was, it could not but provoke the Lord to anger. You know there is no juſter provocation among men, than kindneſs churliſhly refuſed. Now for the Iſraelites to deſpife this Land, a free gift, a gift of bounty and favour, ſuch a gift as they could not in the leaſt merit at the hand of God; you find God himſelf beating them off from that, Deut. 9.4, Speak not then in thine heart, after the Lord thy God hath caſt them out before thee, ſaying, for my righteouſneſs the Lord hath brought me in to poſſeſs this Land. It was not for thy righteouſneſs-ſake, but it was for his own Name-ſake, and his Promiſe-ſake, that he made to Abraham for them to poſſeſs this Land; therefore it was a gift of favour, and free bounty, doubtleſs; and it was a very great ſin, becauſe ingratitude is hateful both to God and man. Ʋnthankfulneſs (as one calls it) is the helliſh bar or ſtop to all future mercies. A man that is about to pour in ſome precious Oyl or Liquor into a Glaſs, if he ſee the Glaſs be crack'd, or there be a hole in it, you know he will pour in no Oyl or Liquor in that Glaſs: So here, an unthankful man is a broken Glafs, and God will not beſtow his favours upon thoſe that are unthankful, at leaſt he will not beſtow them in mercy; he ſometimes gives theſe outward bleſſings in anger, I gave thee a King in mine anger, Hoſ. 13.11, but he never gives mercies in love and favour to unthankful wretches. This ſin of unthankfulneſs ſometimes provokes the Lord to ſtrain for his Rent, when men will not give him the quit-Rent of thankfulneſs. Therefore ſays God, Hoſ. 2.8, 9, Becauſe ſhe did not know that I gave her Corn, and Wine, and Oyl, and multiplyed her ſilver and gold, which was prepared for Baal; therefore will I return and take away my Corn in the time thereof, and my Wine in the ſeaſon thereof, and will recover my Wool and my Flax, given to cover her nakedneſs: ſays God, I will ſtrip her naked, and leave her bare. Unthankfulneſs provokes the Lord you ſee, to take away all his mercies, and to ſtrain for his Rent: but that is not all, for it provokes the Lord to inflict ſome ſpiritual judgment, when men are unthankful, Rom. 1.21, and 24 verſes, compared together: it's ſaid, Becauſe that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their fooliſh hearts were darkned. Wherefore God alſo gave them up to uncleanneſs through the luſts of their own hearts, to diſhonour their own bodies between themſelves. So that you ſee, deſpiſing or undervaluing thoſe outward bleſſings or mercies that God beſtows upon a People, is a God-provoking ſin, a ſin of ingratitude.
Let me briefly apply this; for this is not the Point I intend principally to handle, but only to touch at it:
I beſeech you my Brethren, Let every one of us enter into our own hearts, and by ſome ſerious, ſelf-reflecting thoughts, call our ſelves to an account, whether we be not in the number of thoſe that deſpiſe and undervalue thoſe National mercies wherewith God hath enrich'd us. We live in a pleaſant Land, in a Goſhen for light, in a Canaan for plenty: We live here in a City that is lifted up to Heaven in Mercies, in the uſe of Ordinances: I believe there is not ſuch a place under the Heavens of God, not ſuch a City that hath ſuch plentiful proviſions both for Soul and Body, as we have; But, have we walked worthy of the Lord unto all well-pleaſing? Have we liv'd up to our light, under our means, under our mercies? Have we thankfully prized and improved theſe National priviledges and bleſſings that we enjoy? No, no, God knows, and our own hearts know, that it is not ſo. Alas, it may be ſaid of theſe Nations, as it was ſaid of the Land of Canaan, Ezra 9.11, The Land to which ye go to poſſeſs it, it is an unclean Land, with the filthineſs of the People of the Lands, with their abominations which have filled it, from one end to another with their uncleanneſs. So may it be ſaid of this pleaſant Land; this goodly Land, this goodly City that we live in; it is an unclean City, through the filthineſs and abomination of many that live therein: and therefore that which God threatens, Levit. 18.25, And the Land it ſelf vomiteth out her Inhabitants: even ſo juſtly might our God deal with us, becauſe we have defiled the Land with our abominations and uncleanneſs; therefore the Land ſhould ſpew us out. We have ſwallowed down his mercies without regarding him that beſtowed thoſe mercies upon us: juſt like the Hog under the Acorn-tree that ſwallows down the Maſt, but does not look unto the Tree. We have been a murmuring and diſcontented people, ſo looking upon one croſs, as to forget a thouſand mercies: We have no way walked worthy of all the good things that our God hath given us to enjoy: therefore it were juſt that God ſhould deal with us as he threatens, Deut. 28.47, 48, Becauſe thou ſervedſt not the Lord thy God with joyfulneſs, and with gladneſs of heart for the abundance of all things: therefore ſhalt thou ſerve thine enemy which the Lord ſhall ſend againſt thee in hunger, and in thirſt, and in nakedneſs, and in want of all things: and he ſhall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have deſtroyed thee, &c. Our unthankfulneſs is intolerable, the Lord awaken us to repentance: but I will not inſiſt longer upon that Point.
I eome therefore to the ſecond Notion: Conſider the Land of Canaan, as it was a Type, or Figure, or Pledg, or Earneſt-penny of that ſame Heavenly Inheritance that God hath laid up for the Saints in Light; and ſo their ingratitude was far greater; they deſpiſed that pleaſant Land, this was a grievous provocation indeed; ſo the Doctrine I ſhall give you from the words, conſidered in this notion or ſenſe, is this:
Doct. That deſpiſing, or undervaluing that Heavenly Inheritance that God hath prepared for the Saints in light, is a very grievous God-provoking ſin: it is a ſin of the firſt magnitude.
For the proof of this Point, that one place of Scriptue will be ſufficient, Heb. 2.2, 3, For if the word ſpoken by Angels was ſtedfaſt, and every transgreſſion and diſobedience received a juſt recompence of reward: how ſhall we eſcape, if we neglect ſo great ſalvation: which at the firſt began to be ſpoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him? How ſhall we eſcape, if we neglect ſo great ſalvation? By Salvation there, he means the Goſpel, which is the cauſe of our Salvation: for it is obſervable, that both the Goſpel of Grace, and Grace wrought by the Goſpel, and Glory, which is the perfection of Grace, they all come under one name: The Kingdom of God, in Scripture; becauſe thoſe whom God by the Goſpel brings to Grace, he will by Grace bring to Glory; now, ſays the Apoſtle, How ſhall we eſcape, if we neglect ſo great ſalvation? It is a marvelous ſtrong Negation: he does not ſay, We ſhall not eſcape, or hardly eſcape, if we neglect ſo great ſalvation; but, How ſhall we eſcape? It includes the ſtrongeſt Negation that can be; as if he ſhould ſay, It is impoſſible for us to eſcape eternal Condemnation, if we do neglect ſo great Salvation; not only if we do deſpiſe this eternal Salvation, but if we neglect it. Salvation it ſelf will not ſave that man that deſpiſes or neglects it.
But for the clearing of this Point, that you may a little better underſtand it: there are theſe three Queries I will endeavour to ſpeak to, in opening of the Doctrine.
Firſt, When may a man be ſaid to deſpiſe or undervalue that Heavenly Inheritance that is prepared for the Saints in light.
Secondly, How comes it to pafs, that men ſo lightly regard, and undervalue that eternal Salvation?
Thirdly, How may it appear that this deſpiſing or undervaluing of this Heavenly Inheritance, is ſuch a God-provoking ſin?
Firſt, When may a man be ſaid to deſpiſe, or undervalue the Heavenly Inheritance that is prepared for the Saints in light?
I ſhall anſwer this Query, and ſhew it you in theſe four Particulars:
Firſt, Then doth a man deſpiſe and undervalue this Heavenly Inheritance, when he is an Earthly-minded man: when he does over-value earthly things, and under-value Heavenly things: when he does ſet his affections ſo much on things below, that he cannot ſet his affections on things above: for theſe two are inconſiſtent, they cannot ſtand together, as appears by that in 1 John 2.15, Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world: If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him: As if he ſhould ſay, The love of God, and the love of the world, are inconſiſtent. So, in Col. 3.2, Set your affections on things above, and not on things on the Earth: as if he had ſaid, If you ſet your affections on things below, you cannot ſet them on things above. Now when a man prefers a preſent poſſeſſion, before a future expectation: when he ſays, Give me a Bird in hand, rather than two in the Buſh: give me the pleaſures and profits, and honours, and contentments of this life, let me have prefent pay: but as for that glorious Inheritance you ſpeak of, for the time to come, let them look after it that will; as he ſaid, Let me have my part in Paris, let who will look after a part in Paradice. This is an undervaluing of this Heavenly Inheritance.
Secondly, Then may a man be ſaid to deſpiſe and undervalue this Heavenly Inheritance, when he is ſluggiſh and ſloathful, and will not ſtir up himſelf to take hold of God: when he will not ſet about thoſe means that God hath appointed for the attaining of thoſe glorious hopes that are laid up in Heeven. True, nothing is to be done by us in a way of merit; but much is to be done in the uſe of means for the attaining of this Eternal Happineſs, (Phil. 2.12,) Work out your own ſalvation with fear and trembling: Mark, it is not ſaid, Work out your ſalvation; Chriſt hath wrought out our ſalvation for us by way of merit, but we muſt work out our ſalvation in the uſe of means: Orig, foreign, Work it out, as it were out of the fire. Now when a man will not be contented to take that pains that the Lord requires, in this working out of his ſalvation; when he ſits ſtill and is idle, or when he is ſloathful or negligent in Duty: when he does either neglect Duty, or ſleepily and careleſly perform every Duty, this is a deſpiſing and undervaluing this Salvation. For you muſt know, the Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a Race, 1 Cor. 9.24: and he that would win the Crown by firſt coming to the Goal, muſt run for it. It is compared to a Kingdom, Luke 13.24, and he that would win it, muſt ſtrive for it; Strive to enter in at the ſtrait gate, foreign, Strive as in an Agony. And it's compared to a Crown, 1 Cor. 9.25: and he that would obtain it, muſt fight for it; I have fought a good fight (ſaith the Apoſtle) I have finiſhed my courſe, I have kept the Faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteouſneſs, which the Lord the righteous Judg ſhall give me at that day, 2 Tim. 4.8. The Crown of Glory there, is called a Crown of Righteouſneſs; not becauſe it was merited by Pauls righteouſneſs, you muſt not underſtand it ſo; but it is called a Crown of Righteouſneſs, becauſe it was promiſed, and becauſe it was purchaſed; it was freely promiſed by the Father, and it was fully purchaſed by the precious blood of Jeſus Chriſt: ſays he, Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteouſneſs, which the Lord the Righteous Judg ſhall give me at that day. But ſays he, I have fought a good fight firſt, and I have finiſhed my courſe. Now, when men will neither ſo run as that they may obtain, nor ſo ſtrive as that they may gain a Kingdom, nor ſo fight that they may get a Crown that is laid up in Heaven for the Saints: then they may be ſaid to deſpiſe and undervalue the Heavenly Inheritance. That is the ſecond.
Thirdly, Then may a man be ſaid to deſpiſe this Heavenly Inheritance, when he is a ſelf-ſeeking Chriſtian, or rather a pelting Chapman (as I may ſo call him) that will not come up to the price of Salvation, that will not be contented to take the pains that muſt be taken; if ſo be he may be the maſter of his own deſires, then he would be content to enjoy thoſe glorious hopes. But when a man will not with the wiſe Merchant, ſell all, that he may buy the Pearl; for as Jeſus Chriſt may be called A Pearl of Price, ſo may this Heavenly Inheritance be called A Pearl; though not of that price that Jeſus Chriſt is of, yet a Pearl of price too. Now when men will not part with all, in cafe it come to that point, to get this Pearl, they deſpiſe and undervalue this bleſſed Inheritance. Every man would be contented to come to Heaven, ſo he might come in his own way, on his own terms, and in his own time. If he may come to Heaven in his own way, that is Heaven and the World, Heaven and his luſts, Heaven and his own ends and intereſts together: Or if he may have Heaven upon his own terms: namely, to live as he liſt, to take Jeſus Chriſt as a Saviour, but not as a Prince; to take him as a Redeemer, but not as a Ruler: Or if he may have Heaven in his own time; namely, when he lies upon his Death-bed, when his ſick Bed is ready to deliver him over to his cold Grave; but all his life long he would proſecute his own ends, and intereſt, and live to himſelf more than to Jeſus Chriſt; every man on Earth would be contented to have Heaven on theſe terms. But now, when it comes to this, that a man that will have this Heavenly Inheritance, muſt have it in Chriſts way, in a way of Holineſs: Be ye holy, for I am holy, 1 Pet. 1.16. And without holineſs none ſhall ſee the Lord, Heb. 12.14. And when it comes to this, that if a man will have Heaven, he muſt have it on Chriſts own terms: which is, that thou muſt be contented to ſerve me, as well as to be ſaved by me; and to be contented to be ruled by me, as well as to be redeemed by me; thou muſt be contented to bear my Croſs, as well as to wear my Crown. And when it comes to this, that a man muſt have Heaven in Chriſts own time, what time is that? To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, Heb. 3.7. Put not off your repentance from day to day: ſet about the work with all your might; ſet about it without any further procraſtination, or delay. Now here it ſticks: rather than men will have Heaven on theſe terms, they reſolve they will never have Heaven, they will let it go.
Fourthly, Then men may be accounted, or ſaid to deſpiſe Heaven, when Heaven is not accounted worthy thoſe difficulties or diſcouragements that they muſt fuſtain in the purſuit of thoſe glorious hopes. Thus with the Iſraelites, when the Spies came from Canaan, and told them; True, the Land is an excellent Land; but let's tell you, there are Giants, Anakims, walled Towns, there will be a great deal of difficulty before you get poſſeſſion; and if you will poſſeſs the Land, you muſt fight for it, it will coſt you the lives of many of you, before you obtain it. Oh now, upon this report they were ready to ſtone Caleb and Joſhua, thoſe two that told them, that they were able to conquer the Inhabitants: and that they were but as bread for them, and their ſtrength was departed; they were ready (I ſay) to ſtone them, when they heard of the difficulties of obtaining the Land of Canaan, and they would rather go back again into Egypt, than fight for Canaan; we will rather go back to our Leeks, and Onions, and Garlick, than have this pleaſant Land, if we muſt fight and adventure our lives for it. So here, when fainthearted cowardly Chriſtians hear, that through much tribulations we muſt enter into the Kingdom of God, Acts 14.22: Yea, and all that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus, ſhall ſuffer perſecution, 2 Tim. 3.12. And when they hear that truth which our Saviour tells them, Mark 8 34, If you will be my Diſciples, you muſt take up your Croſs and follow me: As good Soldiers that follow their Captain, through dirt, and mire, and blood. And that they muſt be hated of all men for the ſake of Jeſus Chriſt, Matth. 10.22. And that they muſt endure hardſhip in the World, Matth. 5. Though their ſorrow ſhall be turned into joy: Say they, If we cannot have Heaven but upon theſe terms, we will have none of it, we will rather have the pleaſure of ſin for a ſeaſon; we will lye, and ſwear, and cozen, and cog, and flatter, and temporize, and ſwim with every ſtream, and loſe the peace of our Conſciences; we will rather chuſe to ſleep in a whole skin, though with gauled Conſciences: before we will have Heaven upon ſuch terms, we will have our eaſe, we cannot abide difficulties and diſcouragements, which are in the way that leads to Heaven; this is a deſpiſing of the pleaſant Land. That is the firſt Query, When may a man be ſaid to deſpiſe this heavenly Inheritance. But in the ſecond place.
Secondly, For Explication. How comes it to paſs, that men are ſo ready to deſpiſe and to undervalue ſuch a glorious Inheritance, an Inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, that fadeth not away, reſerved in the heavens, 1 Pet. 1.4. A Kingdom that cannot be ſhaken, Heb. 12.28? To deſpiſe thoſe glorious and unconceivable joys that are at the right hand of God for evermore? Pſalm 16.11. I profeſs a man would wonder that any, unleſs they were bereav'd of their reaſon, unleſs they had loſt their ſenſes & feeling, that ever any man ſhould part with ſuch glorious hopes, hopes of ſuch a glorious Inheritance, that ſurpaſſes what eye hath ſeen, or ear heard, or whatever the heart of man can conceive, 1 Cor. 2.9. But I will tell you the reaſon; the Reaſons briefly are theſe:
Firſt, Men deſpiſe this glorious Inheritance, becauſe they know not the worth of it, John 4.10, Jeſus anſwered, and ſaid unto her, If thou kneweſt the gift of God, and who it is that ſaith unto thee, give me to drink; thou wouldſt have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. So, if men did but know what this heavenly Inheritance is, Oh were they but with Moſes (Deut. 32.49.) to ſtand upon Mount Nebo, to ſee this Land afar off, to ſee but a glimpſe of it: Or if they were with Paul (2 Cor. 12.) wrapt up into Heaven one day, nay, but a few hours, they would adventure to get through the narrow Wicker, the narrow Dore, though an Angel with a drawn Sword kept the paſſage, as you read, an Angel did keep the Gate of Paradiſe, Gen. 3.24. If a man ſaw but one glimpſe of that eternal glory, he would cry out as that Father, Dominus hic affligas, hic corrigas, corpus maximis doloribus afficias, &c. modo in eternum parcas. Oh Lord, Cut me here, wound me here, burn me here, let all the pains of Hell come upon my body, ſo my poor Soul may be ſaved, ſo I may come to that eternal Inheritance. But men are ignorant, and know not the worth of it, therefore they do not prize it.
Secondly, Men undervalue this heavenly Inheritance, becauſe they were never yet ſufficiently humbled for their ſins, they never had Soul-ſhaking humiliation and conviction upon their Spirits: they never yet feelingly groaned under the burden of ſin: they never taſted the bitterneſs of ſin, they never yet conſidered the woful wages of ſin. But if God now ſhould but take ſuch a one by the neck, as he did Job, and ſhake him to pieces, and ſet him up for a mark, and his Archers ſhould compaſs him round about, and cleave his Reins aſunder, and not ſpare him: and pour out his Gaul upon the ground, and break him with breach upon breach, and run upon him like a Giant, as Job complains, Chap. 16. ver. 12, 13, 14: Oh, Chriſt now would be Chriſt indeed. Heaven now would be Heaven indeed; ſuch a one would ſay, Oh Lord, Do with me what thou pleaſeſt, ſo I may be but thine. But becauſe men were never yet throughly humbled, therefore they never prize this glorious Inheritance.
Thirdly, Becauſe men are bewitched with the pleaſures of ſin, which are but for a ſeaſon; and why are they bewitched with them? becauſe of the preſent enjoyment of them. Demas hath for ſaken me, having loved this preſent world (2 Tim. 4.10); and he loved it, becauſe it was preſent.
Fourthly, Becauſe men are rockt aſleep in the Cradle of ſecurity, the Devils Cradle: Satan makes them believe Heaven may be got with a wet Finger; and that they may come thither, whatſoever their courſe and converſation be; and that they may put off their repentance to the laſt Year of their lives: nay, to the laſt Month of the laſt Year; nay, to the laſt day of the laſt Month: and that one day is as good as five thouſand, to make their peace with God in; and that it is a ſmall matter to repent, and that a Lord have mercy upon thee, will ſerve thy turn to bring thee to Heaven. That's the ſecond Query.
But thirdly, The third Query is this: But how will it appear, that this deſpiſing and undervaluing this heavenly Inheritance, is ſuch a grievous Godprovoking ſin? I will tell you, it will appear thus; There are two reaſons I ſhall give you for it:
Firſt, Becauſe this deſpiſing of that heavenly Inheritance, ſpeaks men to be Atheiſts, it proves men to be Atheists, to look at nothing but at things preſent: that look upon things that are ſeen, but never look upon things that are not ſeen: Things that are ſeen, are temporal; but things that are not ſeen, are ſpiritual and eternal. So I ſay, they look only at things preſent: and they meaſure their joy only by outward proſperity, and they meaſure their ſorrow only by the want of it. Now what a dreadful thing it is for men to be Atheiſts!
Secondly, This deſpiſing or undervaluing of the heavenly Inheritance, it provokes the Lord ſo to anger, that he ſware in his wrath, ſuch deſpiſers ſhall never, never taſte of that Inheritance, never enjoy that they have deſpiſed. Thus did God deal with thoſe deſpiſing Iſraelites, thoſe ſcornful Iſraelites in the Wilderneſs, that deſpiſed that pleaſant Land. You may read the ſad ſtory, Numb. 14.28, 29, 30: Says God, being exceedingly provoked to anger; Say unto them, As truly as I live, ſaith the Lord as you have ſpoken in mine ear, ſo will I do unto you; your carcaſſes ſhall fall in the Wilderneſs, and all that were numbred of you according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured againſt me; doubtleſs, ye ſhall not come into the Land, concerning which I ſware to make you dwell therein, ſave Caleb the ſon of Jephunch, and Joſhua the ſon of Nun. Not one of thoſe thouſands that I brought out of the Land of Egypt, not one of them ſhall ſee the Land they deſpiſed. Juſt ſo will God deal with thoſe that deſpiſe and undervalue this heavenly Inheritance. Says the Lord, Have I prepared a Kingdom, an Everlaſting Kingdom, a Kingdom of Glory? Have I prepared ſuch things as eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive? Have I prepared a place of infinite and unſpeakable happineſs, ſuch happineſs as all the Kingdoms of the World, and the beauty, and glory, and ſplendor, and pleaſures of them, are not worthy to be a Picture of it? what, have I provided ſuch a Crown, ſuch a Kingdom? and do you undervalue it? Do you not regard it? Will you not tread in the way that leads to it? As I live, ſaith the Lord, You ſhall never enter into my Reſt, you ſhall never enjoy the Land, nor poſſeſs it. Thus I have opened the Point to you, and ſhewed you, that deſpiſing or undervaluing that heavenly Inheritance that God hath prepared for the Saints in Light, is a very grievous God provoking ſin. Now briefly to apply it.
Firſt Ʋſe, by way of Examination. Would it no be a very neceſſary enquiry, a very neeedful enquiry for you and me, and every one of us, in ſome ſerious ſelf-reflecting thoughts, to call our ſelves to an account, whether we be in the number of thoſe that deſpiſe and undervalue this heavenly Inheritance, yea or no? But it may be you will ſay, We hope we are not ſuch as deſpiſe, or undervalue this heavenly Inheritance: God forbid we ſhould be ſuch Atheiſts. But for anſwer, Pray tell me, Art thou one that overvalueſt Earth, and undervalueſt Heaven? Art thou one that ſayeſt, I am ſo much taken up with the World, ſo over head and ears in the World: I drive a Trade to provide for my Family, but to drive a Trade for Heaven, I have no leiſure, no leiſure; thou that ſayeſt thou haſt no leiſure to look after Heaven, thou wilt have leiſure enough to bewail the loſs of Heaven, when thouſands of years are gone, and ten thouſand to that, and a hundred thouſand to that: all this while thou ſhalt be weeping, and wailing, and gnaſhing of thy teeth, for the loſs of it. When thou preferreſt a preſent poſſeſſion before a future expectation, do you not deſpiſe Heaven, and undervalue it? Commune with your own hearts: is it not as I ſpeak? Do I not ſpeak the hearts of ſome of you?
Again, Are you not ſloathful and ſecure? and do you not neglect thoſe means that God hath appointed? Do you work out your Salvation? Do you ſo run that you may obtain? Do you fight the good fight of Faith? Examine your hearts, and ſee if you are not ſecure, and neglectful of the means God hath ordained, for the obtaining of this glorious and heavenly Inheritance. Remember the ſpeech of the Spies, Judg. 18.9, For we have ſeen the Land, and behold it is very good; and are ye ſtill? Be not ſloathful to go, and to enter to poſſeſs the Land. The Land is an exceeding good Land, all things that can be deſired are there: and do you ſit ſtill? So may I ſay, Here is a pleaſant Land, a glorious Land, a Land flowing with Milk and Honey; here are pleaſures at Gods right hand for evermore, and do you ſit ſtill? will you not run? do you not ſtrive to enter?
Again, You ſay, you do not undervalue Heaven; I beſeech you conſider, What, are you content to part with for Heaven? will you ſell all to buy this Pearl? Will you part with any thing that ſtands in oppoſition to your hopes? Will you take Chriſt in his own way, and on his own terms, and in his own time? Can you be content to ſwallow down ſome diſcouragements, and difficulties, and temptations, and bleſs God for them: and ſay, One ſmile of thy face will recompence a thouſand years of adverſity? If I have Chriſt for my portion, and Heaven in reverſion, though I carry a Rod of affliction at my back every day: though I am fed with the water of affliction, and with the bread of adverſity, Heaven will make amends for all. But alas! How many have weak hands, and feeble knees, and are not able to go on in the way of Salvation, and will not come up to the price of Salvation! Do not deceive your felves. Theſe are plain down-right Truths, bottomed upon Scripture; if I ſpeak not the truth, believe me not; but if I do, ſome of you have cauſe with ſerious ſelf-reflection, to ſmite upon your Thighs, and you have cauſe greatly to fear this deſpiſing and undervaluing this heavenly Inheritance, is your ſin; and Oh that it might be your ſorrow and ſhame.
Secondly, This Doctrine may juſtly ſerve for to reprove (and I profeſs, I know no reproof ſharp enough for) ſuch perſons as deſpiſe and undervalue that heavenly Inheritance that God hath prepared for the Saints in Light. Let me ſay to ſome of you, as God ſpeaks, Acts 15.41, Behold ye deſpiſers, and wonder, and periſh. So ſay I, Hearken ye deſpiſers: hearken ye ſecure, careleſs, ſenſleſs, ſottiſh Atheiſts (I can call you no better); Oh, you that have ſuch ſlight thoughts of Heaven, you that look upon this heavenly Inheritance but as imaginary, a Fools Paradiſe, or as a meer conceit, rather than any real exiſtent thing: you that never yet ſet your hearts and ſouls to ſeek the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and his Kingdom; you whoſe hearts are buried in Earth and Earthly things, who mind nothing but Earth, nothing in the World but raiſing great Eſtates, and ſatisfying the brutiſh part of your ſelves: Tell me, Do you think that ever you ſhall enjoy this external Inheritance which you have deſpiſed? Shall you ever taſte of that everlaſting happineſs which you have ſo much undervalued? Will the Lord caſt Pearls before Swine? Will he hang ſuch a Jewel, ſuch an unvaluable Jewel, which is better worth than ten thouſand Worlds? will be hang ſuch a Jewel on a Swines ſnout? No, no, you deceive your ſelves, if you think ſo. Do you think that Heaven will drop into your mouths as you lie a-dying? Do you think our Saviour ſpeaks in vain, when he ſays, Matth. 11.12, And from the days of John the Baptiſt, until now, the Kingdom of Heaven ſuffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. If Heaven could be purchas'd with a Lord have mercy upon us: if it could be procured in ſuch a cold, lazy, luke-warm way as you walk in, then certainly our bleſſed Saviour did not know what he ſaid; his exhorting to ſtrive to enter in at the ſtrait gate, was to no purpoſe. But if prizing of this Salvation, and ſtriving or this Salvation to the end of your lives: if theſe muſt go before enjoying, then as ſure as the Lord lives, you careleſs, ſecure, ſottiſh Sinners, that mind nothing leſs than that one thing neceſſary: aſſure your ſelves, you ſhall never have a portion in that Inheritance which is prepared for the Saints in Light; no, there is another place prepared for ſuch Dogs and Swine (as they are called), that place without, Rev. 22.15, For without are Dogs, and Sorcerers, and Whoremongers, and Murtherers, and Idolaters, and whoſoever loveth and maketh a lye. You all cry out of Eſau a prophane wretch, the Spirit of God brands him for it, a prophane Atheiſt, that ſold his Birth right for a Meſs of Pottage: he ſold his Birth-right, which was a Type of Heaven; he ſold this for an old Song (as we ſay). And you that neglect, and undervalue, and deſpiſe Heaven; you are guilty of the ſame ſin, and have you not as prophane ſpirits as he? You cry out of Judas, becauſe he ſold his Maſter for thirty pieces of ſilver. Oh hearken, impenitent ſottiſh Sinner! It may be thou ſelleſt Chriſt, and Heaven, and Glory, and all, may be, for a baſe luſt, a baſe lye: thou ſelleſt it for ſome conſiderable advantage, as thou conceiveſt for the preſent, though at laſt it will be like Gravel in the Throat. Take home this reproof with you: the Lord ſet it home upon your Souls, you that never ſet your hearts & ſouls to ſeek the Lord.
I have done with a word of Exhortation: That is, I beſeech you, and exhort you, in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that you would take heed of this God-provoking, Soul-damning ſin; take heed of undervaluing this heavenly Inheritance: Let it not be ſaid of any of you, that you deſpiſed the pleaſant Land; inſtead of deſpiſing it, do you highly priſe it: and ſay as David, Pſalm 119.174, I have longed for thy ſalvation, O Lord, and thy Law is my delight. And what a kind of longing was it? Not a cold wiſh, ſuch a wiſh as Balaam had, O that I might die the death of the Righteous: that Heaven might drop into my mouth then, but I would live as I liſt; it was not ſuch a deſire: no, ſays David, I have longed for thy ſalvation: what then? Thy Law is my delight. That is a right longing that is accompanied with an endeavour; he rightly longs for the Salvation of God, that delights in the Commands of God. In the 123 ver. of the ſame Pſalm, Mine eyes fail in waiting for thy Salvation. Look as the Lord Jeſus Chriſt will never beſtow himſelf upon that Soul that does not pant, and breathe, and break, with longing deſires after him. So likewiſe, he will never beſtow this heavenly Inheritance upon that Soul that does not moſt earneſtly, wiſhfully, and induſtriouſly pant after him; and long for him, and ſeek him, that you may prize him. Take heed, in the fear of God, of thoſe four cauſes of undervaluing this Salvation.
Firſt, Take heed of Earthly-mindedneſs; beg that you may be digged out of the thick Mire and Clay: ſay, Give me not my portion here, O Lord: How ſad will it be with me, if thou putteſt me off only with theſe outward things!
Secondly, Take heed of ſloathfulneſs and ſluggiſhneſs in the ſervice of God, and in ſeeking this Salvation, Rom. 12.11, Not ſloathful in buſineſs, ſèrvent in Spirit, ſerving the Lord. Seek the Lord, and ſeek his Salvation, with all your might, mind and ſtrength.
Thirdly, Be content to part with any thing for Chriſt; take heed of placing your love upon the Creature; be content to part with any thing that ſtands in oppoſition to, or in competition with thoſe glorious hopes that are laid up for the Saints in Light.
Fourthly, Be contented to endure ſome hardſhip in the way; Heaven will make amends for all: all the coſts, diſcouragements, and difficulties that you meet with in the purſuit of your hopes, will be abundantly recompenced by one hours fruition of that eternal happineſs.
Secondly, If you would not deſpiſe or undervalue that heavenly Inheritance, learn to live by Faith, and not by ſight and ſenſe; if you live by ſight and ſenſe, you will look on the things that are ſeen, and not on the things that are not ſeen: the things that are ſeen are temporal, but the things that are not ſeen, are eternal, 2 Cor. 4.18. If you live by Faith, you will fetch your comforts from Chriſt, more than from any thing in the Creature.
Thirdly, If you would not deſpiſe this pleaſant Land, then beg of Jeſus Chriſt, that he would draw your Souls, that you may run after him. Quicken me with thy quickning-grace, for thy Name ſake; Lord, beſtow thy quickning-grace upon me, that I may mind the buſineſs of Eternity ſeriouſly. Lord, help me to ſet about the work vigorouſly, that I may not trifle with thee in matters that are of infinite Concernment. I remember the ſpeech of a Martyr, a good woman, at that time when profeſſion of the Goſpel was enough to bring to the ſtake; ſays ſhe, I hear there are Crowns and Kingdoms to be diſpoſed of this day; here, take my child, I will put in for one Crown, for one Kingdom. Oh that every one of us had hearts to do as ſhe did; let us be contented to ſuffer hardſhip for a while, that we may enjoy the pleaſant Land for ever and ever.
So much for the firſt Branch of the Text, that is the horrible ingratitude of this people: They deſpiſed the pleaſant Land. The ground of that ingratitude you have in the next words of the Text, And believed not his Word. But ſo much for this time.