Subjection to Christ in All His Ordinances 2, Treatise
OF INEFFECTVALL HEARING.
JOHN. 5. 37.
Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
FRom the 31. Vers. to the end of this Chapter, Our Saviour proves that he was the Messiah to come, from four testimonies.
1. From the testimony of Iohn; the first, yet the least, yet very strong and full, vers. 32, 33.
2. From the testimony of his works, greater than that of Iohn, vers. 36.
3. From the testimony of the Father, by his voice from heaven, vers. 37.
4. From the voice of the Scriptures, the highest of all, and surer than a voice from heaven, (2 Pet. 1. 19.) vers. 39, 46.
Now these words are annexed to the third testimony, which I told you is the voyce of God from heaven, set down, Mat. 3. 17. For this Testimony of the Father …s not the inward testimony of the Spirit only; Because Christ speaks of publick, and evident testimonies in this place; no… is it meant of the testimony of the Father in the Scripture; for that is a distinct testimony: and …ough the Father doth testifie of Christ in the Scriptures; yet 'tis not as his testimony, no more than the testimony of Iohn, and of his works, whereby the Father did testifie also: Nor is it probable that our Saviour would at this time, omit that famous testimony of the Father at his Baptism; which if it be not here, is no where in this Chapter. Beside, how is this testimony the Fathers more than the Spirits; but then, being called his Son, he did evidently declare himself to be the Father that spake. Lastly, the Spirits testimony is spoken of, as the testimony of Moses and the Prophets, Vers. 46, 47. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me, for he w…ote of me, vers. 47. For if ye beleeve not his writings how, shall ye believe my words.
Now our Saviour in these words answers an Objection which the Jewes (ever conceited of their own knowledge) might make. We know the Father as well as you; and yet we know no such testimony that he gives. Christ answers, You do not know him; for the certain knowledge of a thing, is either by seeing or hearing; now you never saw him nor heard him; you have therefore no acquaintance with him.
So that the words contain 1. Christs fearfull accusation of the Jews to be ignorant of God, 2. The aggravation and extent of it, at no time, i. e. not only at Baptism, but at no other time, in any Ministery, or in any Scripture, &c.
Quest. 1.Quest. 1. What is it not to see his shape nor hear his voice?
Answ. Answ.Some think they are metaphorical speeches, to expresse their ignorance of God; Now though this be the scope, and the general truth, yet I conceive, the Lord speaking particularly, and knowing what he spake, intends something particularly: and it is a rule, never to flie to metaphors, where there can be a plain sense given. There is therefore two degrees of true knowledge of God in this life, or 'tis attained unto by a double means.
1. By hearing of him, for hence our faith comes by the Word.
2. By hearing thus from him, the mind also comes to have a true Idea of God, as he reveals himself in the Word and Means by the Spirit, Iob 42. 5. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee; and this is the shape here spoken of, not bodily and carnall. Now Christ doth professe that they did want both. Carnal and unregenerate hearts, neither hear Gods voyce, nor have a right Idea of God in their minds, but become vain in their minds, though they have means of knowing, and their foolish hearts are darkned; the wiser they be, the more foolish they grow.
2. At no time, i. e. neither at baptism, nor else in any mans Ministery, nor in any of the Scriptures which you read, and where the Lord speaks.
3. But did they not hear the voice of God at Christs baptism, and at the Mount when Christ preach't, when the Scriptures were opened every Lords day, and at other times amongst them?
Answ. Answ.No, they never heard it. It's a strange thing, that such men that read, heard, preach'd, remembred the Scriptures, and could tell you mysteries in titles, never heard the voice of God; and yet it is most true.
Observat.Observ. That many men may a long time together know and hear the Word of God written and spoken, yet never hear the Lord speaking that Word, no not so much as one word, tittle or syllable; no not so much at once, at any time. This was the estate of the Jews, and this is the estate of all unregenerate men. Hence Christ, Luke 19. 41. laments and weeps over Ierusalem, saying, Oh that thou hadst known in this thy day, &c.
1. Quest.Quest. 1. How did the Iewes hear, and yet not hear God speaking?
Answ. Answ.There is a twofold word, or rather a double declaration of the same word. 1. There is Gods externall or outward word, containing letters and syllables, and this is his externall voice. 2. There is God internal word and voice, which secretly speaks to the heart, even by the externall word, when that only speaks to the ear. The first the Jewes did hear, at Christs Baptism, in Christs Ministery, and in reading the Scriptures, and when they did hear it, it was Gods word they heard, full of glory, and so they heard the word spoken, but only man speaking it: the other comes to few, who hear not only the word spoken, but God speaking the word, Rom. 10. 18, 19. Israel did hear, but Israel did not know. Christ speaks in parables; Hence in seeing they did not see, Luke 8. 10. And this is one way, how 'tis true that Christ sayes, They never heard his voice. As 'tis with a painted Sun on the wall, you see the Sun and Stars, but there is a difference between seeing this and the Sun and Starres themselves, wherein is an admirable glory: go to a painted Sun, it gives you no heat, nor cherisheth you not; so it is here, &c.
2. This inward word is double. 1. Ineffectuall, (though inward.) 2. Effectual. 1. Ineffectuall, is that which hath some inward operation upon the heart, but it attains not Gods end to bring a man into a state of life; and thus, Heb. 6. 2, 5. Many tasted of the good word of God, yet fell away. And such a heart is compared to a field which a man plowes and sowes, and rain falls on it, and yet the end is not attained, it brings forth thistles; and this many Jewes did hear, and hence had some kind of faith in Christ. 2. Effectual, is that which hath such an inward efficacy upon mens hearts, as that God attains his end thereby, Isa. 55. 11. and brings men to a state of life, of which Christ speaks, Iohn 6. 45. and this voice none but the Elect hear; and of this Christ speaks here, as appears, v. 38. Him whom he sent, ye beleeve not. Hence it is you have heard God at no time. Hence he speaks of such a hearing & knowing, such a hearing outwardly, as is accompanied with such a hearing inwardly, Ioh. 14. 17. so that many men may hear the word spoken outwardly, but never inwardly: they may hear it inwardly, but never effectually, translating them from state to state, from death to life, from life to life and glory. No sense of the Majesty of God speaking, nor effectuall hearing of the word spoken. When the Sun is down the Moon may arise, but yet a man is cold and dark; but when the Sun ariseth, oh it warms, nourisheth and cherisheth, &c. nothing is hid from it; so it is here, when the Lord speaks inwardly and effectually to the heart.
Reas. 1.Reason 1. From that great distance and infinite separation of mens souls from God, that though God cals, yet they can't hear no more than men a 1000 mile off. Eph. 2. 1. men are dead in sin. Now what is spirituall death, but separation of the soul from God, and God from it. A dead man cannot hear one word at no one time, he was not dead if he could. Mens minds are far from God, and hearts also, that they are neither stricken with the sight of his glory, nor sense and savour of his goodnesse, but must be vain, and have worldly hearts in the Church, nay adulterous eyes, or if they listen, God is gone from them, and from his Word also, Hos. 5. 6.
Reas. 2.Reason. 2. From the mighty and wonderfull strange power of Satan, which blinds their eyes they cannot see nor hear, 2 Corinthians 4. 4. never such clear light, never such an effectuall Word, as that of the Apostles, yet it was hid; why? The God of this world blinded them, either he will keep such a noise and lumber in their heads, that they cannot hear God speaking for the noise, or else turn himself into an Angel of light, and speak, and by their light will blind them, that the light in them shall be darknesse. Rom. 1. 22. When men with naturall light began to be most wise, then they became the greatest fools: so 'tis with other knowledge of Scripture, and things they hear. Happy were it for many a man if he had never heard nor seen; for that which he hath heard and seen keeps him from hearing.Rev. 12. 9. Tyre and Sidon would hear sooner than Capernaum that heard most.Rom. 1. 22.
Reas. 3.Reas. 3. From the righteous judgement of God, in leaving men to be blinded and made deaf, from and by the means whereby they should hear and know; that as it is with the Saints, all evill things are for their good, so all good things are for their hurt, Isa. 6: 10. the meriting cause is unbelief and sin, but the deep and hidden rise of all is Gods eternal dereliction of them, God never intended love, speciall love to them; hence he never speaks one word to them; 2 Cor. 4. 3. Iohn 6. 65. Many were offended at his words and forsook him. Now to take off this offence, I said, None can come to me, except it be given him of the Father, what is that? see v. 45. and 37.
Vse 1.Vse 1. Hence see the reason, why the Word is so wonderfully ineffectual to the souls of many men, that it never stirs them, that it's a strange thing to them; it's, Heb. 12. 19. like the law, a voice of words, a sound of words, so they hear men speak, but understand no more than if they spake in a strange language, or if they do, it concerns not them; or if it stirs, 'tis but as the blowing of the wind upon a rock, which blusters for a time; but when the wind is down they are still. Truly they hear the word spoken, but they do not hear God speaking. They heard Latimer speak, but not God speaking, they hear a sound, which every one sayes, and they think is the word… but they hear not God speaking it.
One would wonder that those Jews that heard Iohn and his Disciples, Moses and the Prophets, nay Gods voice from heaven, saying, This is my Sonne, that they should not hear this, and receive him with all their hearts, but they did not hear his voice. One would wonder to see, that such things which a gracious heart thinks, this would draw every heart, yet main not stirr'd, things which the devils tremble at, and others which Angels wonder at, yet they hear not. Oh they hear not God speak, they are dead in their graves farre from God; and there they are kept by the mighty power of Satan, like one in a deep dark cave, kept by fiery dragons under the ground, and the tombit…ne is laid upon them. If Christ spake he would make the dead to hear, and the blind to see.
Vse 2.Vse 2. Hence see why the Saints find such changes and alterations in themselves when they come to hear; sometimes their hearts are quickned, fed and cherished healed and comforted, relieved and visited; sometime again dead and senselesse, heavy and hardned. Mark 8. 17, 18, 21. How is it ye do not understand? Nay which is more, that the same truth which they hear at one time, should affect them, and at another time doth not; the same thing which they have heard a hundred times, and never stirr'd them, at last should. The reason is, they heard the Word of God spoken at one time, but not God speaking; and they heard the Lord speaking that same Word at another time; the Lord is in his Word at one time, the Word goes alone at another time; as in Eliah, the Lord was not in the whirlwind, but he spake in the still voice and hence there he was to Elijah, Luke 24. 25. with 32. not that you are to lay blame on the Lord; for he blows where he listeth; but to make us see 'tis not in outward means, nor 'tis not in our own spirits to quicken our selves; and to make us ashamed of our own darknesse, that when he speaks, yet we cannot hear, there is so much power of spiritual death and Satan yet within us, only out of his pitty he speaks sometimes; not that you should despise the outward word; No, no, the Lord is there shining in Perfection of glory, and that which doth thee no good, the Lord makes powerfull to some others. But prize the Spirit of God in that Word, which alone can speak to thee.
Vse 3.Vse 3. Of dread and terrour to all unregenerate men. Hence see the heavy wrath of God against them: they have indeed the Scriptures, and the precious Word of God dispensed to them; but the Lord never speakes one word unto them. If any one from whom we expect and look for love, passe by us and never speak; What not speak a word? and we call to him and he will not speak, we conclude he is angry and displeased with us. You look for love, do you not? you that hear every Sabbath, and come to Lectures, and you must out; tis well, yes, you will say, His love is better than life, & frowns more bitter than death; Love? wo to me if the Lord do not love me, better never been born. I hope he loves me. Happy I if the mountains might fall on me, to crush me in pieces if he loves me not, &c. but consider if he loves he will then speak peace unspeakable to thy conscience when humbled, life to thy heart, joy in the Holy Ghost, Isa. 57. 19. Iohn 6. 63. 1 Thes. 1. 6. but look upon thy soul, and see this day in the sight of God, whether ever the Lordspake one word to thee: outwardly indeed he hath, but not inwardly; inwardly also, but not effectually, to turn them from darknesse to light, and the power of Satan to God, &c. The voyce of God is full of Majesty, it shakes the heart; 'tis full of life, it quickens the dead, and light, and peace, and gives wisdom to the simple. Ps. 119. Opening of thy word gives light to the eyes. How many women, ever learning and never knowing, and many men learning and knowing what is said, but never hear God speak? Then know the wrath of the Lord, see and go home mourning under it. There is a fourfold wrath in this.
1. 'Tis the Lords sore wrath and displeasure, Zach. 1. 2. with vers. 4. If one should expect love from another to do much for him, and he did not, it may be he would not take it as a signe of displeasure: but if he will not do a small thing, not speak a word to him, oh this is bitter; what will not the Lord speak a word, not one word▪ especially when thy life lies on it, thy soul lies on it, eternity lies on it, especially the Lord that is so mercifull and and pittifull? this is a sign of sore anger.
2. 'Tis a token of Gods old displeasure, eternall displeasure; I know you cannot hear; hence though God speaks, you hear him not: but why doth not the Lord remove that deafnesse? you old hearers, that have ears fat with hearing, but heavy, he never intended love, else he would speak, there would be some time of love. Rom. 11. 7, 8. The Elect have had it, others are blinded, as 'tis written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear to this day.
3. 'Tis the Lords present displeasure. When a man looks for love and speech, and he doth not speak at those times he is not wont to speak; one may take it as no sign of anger: but when the Lord shall speak usually, and then he speaks not, this is a sad sign. 1 Sam. 28. 6, 15. He cries out of this, He answors me not by Urim nor dreams, nor thee by the Gospel nor Law, neither where he useth to answer. If this anger were to come, it were some comfort: but when 'tis now upon thee, even that very Sermon and Word whereby he speaks to others, but not a word to thee.
4. 'Tis his insensible anger: for a fat heart, and an heavy ear ever go together; for you will say, I feel no hurt in this, I have heard and been never the better, but yet that hath made me never the worse. Oh poor creature! 'tis because you feel it not; but when the time of misery shall come, you will say, This is wo and load enough, for the Lord to give no answer. Psal. 71. 9. We see not our Prophets, nor any to tell us how long: so you that despise means you shall then lament and say, none can tell how long. Oh therefore, lament this thy condition now, that the Lord may hear some of your cries, &c.
Vse 4.Vse 4. Hence examine whether ever you heard the Lords voice or no: not only outwardly (for that you know you have often done) but inwardly; and not only so, for so ye may do, and yet your eares heavy; but effectually, that if it be not so, you may be humble, and say, Lord how have I spent my time in vain? and if it be so, you may be thankfull, and say, Lord, what am I that the infinite God should speak to me?
There is great need of trial of this, for a man may read, hear and understand externally, what ever another may; and yet the whole Scripture a sealed Book.
There are therefore these three degrees, by which you shall discern the effectuall voice of God, you must take them joyntly.
1. The voice of God singles a man out, and (though it be generally written or spoken) speaks particularly to the very heart of a man, with a marvellous kind of Majesty and glory of God stamp't upon it; and shining in it.
When a man hears things generally delivered, the blessed estate of the Saints, the cursed estate of the wicked, consolations to the one, curses to the other, exhortations to faith and obedience, to both, and a man sits by, and never thinks the Lord is now speaking, and means me. Or if it doth so, yet thinks he intends me no more than others, he hears not the Lord speaking; for when he speaks, he speaks particularly to the very heart of a man: he doth so fit the word to him, whether it be the Word of the law to humble him, or of Gospel to comfort, or of command to guide, as if the Lord meant none but them.
The word is like an exact picture, it looks every man in the face that looks on it, if God speaks in it, Heb. 4. 12, 13. It searcheth the heart, vers. 12. but vers. 13. he speaks of God, how comes that in? because God, the Majesty of God comes with it when God speaks it; With whom we have to do, why is that put in? because when the Lord speaks, a man thinks now I have to do with God, if I resist I oppose a God. Before this a ma… thinks he hath nothing to do with God, they are such strangers. Hence it is one man is wrought on in a Sermon, another not. GOd hath singled out one, not the other that day. Hence take a man unhumbled, he hears many things, and it may be understands not; if so, yet they concern not him; if they do, and conscience is stirr'd, yet they think man means them, and speaks by hap, and others … bad as they, and his troubie is not much. At last he hears his secret thoughts and sins discovered, all his life is made known, and thinks 'tis the Lord verily that hath done this; now God speaks, 1 Cor. 14. 2…. those things he did neither believe nor imagine; &c. Iohn 4. 29. See the man that hath told me all that ever I did. Hence take a soul that is humbled, he heares of the free offer of grace, he refuseth it; why, this is to all, and to hypocrit…s as well as to me. Apply any promise to it, it casts by all, it looks upon them as things generally spoken, and …polyed by man, but they hear not God speaking; but when the Lord comes, he doth so meet with their objections, and speaks what they have been thinking may be true, that they think this is the Lord, this is to me. Hosea 2. 14. I'le speak to her heart: and hence 'tis called the ingraffed word, James 1: 21. like one branch of many, applied to the stock. Iob 33. 14, 16.
2. The voice of the Lord doth not only speak particularly, but it goes further; it comes not only with an Almighty power, but with a certain everlasting efficacy and power on the soul. Thus 'tis here, vers. 38. Ye have not his word in you, they had it out of them; and not only in you, but abiding in you, 1 Pet. 1. 23. born of incorruptible seed, the Apostle seems to speak of a kind of birth by corruptible seed, and such are like goodly flowers which soon wither, but you are born of incorruptible seed, which hath an eternall savour, sweetnesse and power. Mat. 13. of the four grounds three of them fall away. Iohn 15. 16. Their fruit does not remain: they have some living affection at the present, but they go away and it dies. Look but upon particulars, doth the Lord once speak by the Word, and humble the heart? it never lists up its head more; doth he reveal the glory of Christ? that light never goes out more. Isa. 60. 19. 2 Cor. 4. 4, 5. As at the first Creation, there was light, and so continues to this day; so doth he give life, Iohn 11. 26. You shall never die more; doth he give peace and joy? no man shall take their joy from them. Isa. 32. 17. Fruit of Righteousnesse and Peace, and assurance for ever. Doth he give the Spirit of all these, which Gal. 3. comes by hearing of faith? it shall abide for ever, Iohn 14. 17.
That look as Gods love is everlasting, so his words have an everlasting excellency and efficacy in them, and goodness in them, the sweetest token of his love: and as Christs purchase is only of eternall good things; so the application of this purchase by the Word, 'tis of eternall worth: peace, but peace eternal; life, light, favour, joy, but joy eternal; like Mustard seed, though very little, yet mighty in increase, and never subdued again; so that though it be but little, yet 'tis eternal; and hence observe where God hath spoken effectually, the longer the man lives, the more he grows in the vertue and power of the word; another though wonderfully ravished for a time, yet dies, most commonly outwardly in externall Profession, but ever in inward savour; so that when you hear the word, and it moves you, affects you, and Iohn is a burning light, and you rejoyce therein, but 'tis but for a season. The …vill Spirit comes on you, and David playes upon his Harp, and Ministers preach sweet things, but as soon as the Musick is done, the evill Spirit returns, I say you never heard the Lords voyce. The peace and joy of the Lord enters into Eternity, and the Apostle expresly cals him an un…ruitfull hearer, Iames 1. 21 that sees his face and forgets himself. A gracious heart can say, This peace shall go to heaven; and joy, and love, and fear, it's part of eternall glory.
3. The voyce of the Lord comes not only thus particularly, and with eternal efficacy, but with such efficacy as carries unto, and centers in Christ; so 'tis here: For him whom God hath sent, you believe not. Iohn 6. 41. They shall be taught of God: wherein doth that appear? they shall hear, and learn so as to come to me; if the law humbles them, it's such a humbling as drives them unto Christ, poor and undon, Rom 10. 4. if the word gives peace to them, 'tis such a peace, which at the last they find in Christ, Eph. 2. 17, 18. with 14. i it live holily, it lives unto Christ, not meerly as to God, and to quiet conscience, unto a Creator, as Adam, but for Christs sake. 2 Cor. 5. 14. 15. We judge that if we were dead, and Christ dyed for us, we should then live unto him; if they grow up by the word, 'tis in Christ, Eph. 4. 14. though Christ be not mentioned, yet it is strange to see, let the word speak what it will, whether terrour, Oh my need of Christ! mercy and grace; Oh the love of Christ! oh the blood of Christ! command; oh that I may live to honour Christ, and wrong him no more! Duties; Oh the easie yoke of Christ! They look upon the whole word rightly dispensed as the bridegrooms voice, and truly his words are sweet.
For a man may have some such fear, reformation, affection, as may continue, but never carry him out of himself unto Christ. The Pharisees knew the law, were very exact even till their death, profited as Paul said he did; yet they had not the word abiding in them; because not driven out of themselves to Christ, to rest there.
Hence when men shall hear many things, but to what end do you hear, or what vertue have the things you hear? Do they only please fancy for a time? or do you hear to increase your knowledge & parts; or do you hear for custome and company, and to quiet conscience? or are you affected and sunk, but not driven by all to lay thy head on Christ? the Lord never spake yet to thee; when the word hath laid you on this foundation, truly it's office is done and ended, Gods end is now attained, &c.
Oh try your selves here, have you heard, but never heard the voyce of the Lord, rushing upon thee with Majesty, speaking to thy heart, and the very secrets of it, but have said, This is for oth…rs, and when you have thought the man hath spoken to you, your hearts have then swollen against him? or have you thus heard, but all dies and withers like flowers? the same heart still, or have you had some powerfull stroke which remains, but it forceth you not out of your selves to Christ, there to rest, there to joy, there to live, there to die? truly your time hath been spent in vain, you never yet heard the Lord speak. Oh mourn for it, thou art still in thy blood, if he never said Live; in thy bondage, if the Lord never said, Come forth. This is the condition of many to be lamented with tears. But if thou hast thus heard particularly, and though but little light, life and peace, yet it is of eternal efficacy, and all to draw thee to Christ; then blesse the Lord; For blessed are your ears that hear, and I say as Moses said, Deut. 4. 32. Ask, if ever People heard God speaking and live. The Apostle, Heb. … makes it a greater matter to come to hear God on Mount Sion, and yet live; Blessed be God I live.
Obj. Object.But may not many of the Saints hear, & hear the Lord speak; but not feel this everlasting power and efficacy?
Answ. Answ. 1.I would not lay a foundation of unthankfulnesse, nor discourage any; and therefore, note for answer these particulars.
1. There may be an eternal efficacy of the Word, and yet lye hid, and not felt for a time. The Word is compared, you know, to seed, and that in this respect; the seed it is cast under the clod in the winter-time, and …t hath a vertue in it to grow; but it is hid, and comes not to blade, of a good while, and when it doth blade, yet it bears not fruit of a long time: So here, the Lord may cast the seed of his Word into the heart; but it is hidden for a time, it is not felt as yet, but there it is; a word of threatning, a word of promise, a word of Command; a man may cast it by, and say, It belongs not to me; a man may slight the command for a time: Yet notwithstanding, the Lord having cast his seed into the heart; it shall spring up. As many a child, the father speaks to it, and applies the word home to it, when it is of some years, the child regards it not: But now stay some time, till the Lord do bring it into some sad affliction; now a man begins to think, I remember what my Father spake to me once, and I regarded it not then: Now this seed which was cast when the child was young, it shall spring up twenty years after. Iohn 2. 22. Christ had said, He would destroy the Temple, and raise it again in three dayes: Now when he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembred that which he had spoken to them, but they regarded it not before; These things, saith Christ, have I spoken to you whiles I was with you; but when the comforter is come, he shall bring all these words to your remembrance that I have said unto you. One sentence it may be that hath discovered a mans sin, it lies hid; but when the time of ripening draws near, you shall see the word will have marvelous increase; and that sin it may be will bring to mind twenty sins; and that promise of God which gives but a little consolation, consider'd in it self, it shall give marvelous consolation. One would wonder to see what one word will do, when the Lords time of blessing it is come.
2. After that a Christian hath had the feeling of the efficacy of the word, he may lose the feeling of it again, and yet the being of it may remain; and the reason is this, partly because there is not alwayes need of feeling the like efficacy in the word. A man may have by the word a marvelous deal of assurance of Gods love, and sense of mercy and joy in the holy Ghost, he may have this in the feeling of it: This word, it did lye hid for a time; afterward it springs up and gives him peace. But he loses his peace again, his Sun do's set, and it is midnight with with him within twenty four hours, and he is as much in the dark as before; Now the being of this peace is there, but he hath no need of the feeling of it at all times; the Lord he will reserve that till some time of tentation, that he shall meet withall. As Paul, he had marvellous Revelations; but Paul had more need of humiliation, than exaltation; and there was not that use of Pauls having those glorious manifestations to him; I will glory in my infirmities: There was need for Paul to know the evils of his heart, that he might walk humbly; and it did not make so much for the glory of the Lord, as this, that Paul should say, I have this misery and darkness, and sins, and yet Jesus Christ he will take away all: There was not need for Paul to have those joyes at all times, that he had at one time. So the Lord he gives a Christian joy and peace, now there is no need for a Christian to have it alwayes. I will pour floods of water on dry ground. Beloved, if there should be nothing but rain, rain every day and night, the ground would be glutted with rain, and so turned into a puddle, but when the land is dry and thirsty, now the ground hath need of rain: Let the Earth make use of that rain it hath: and when it is dry and thirsty, I will give more, saith the Lord. So the Lord he gives the soul joy and peace; Now, if it should continue, the very peace and joy of God, would not be pleasant to the soul; or at least, not so pleasant as it will be, when the Lord takes it away, and gives it the soul again. A Christians comes to the meeting-house, and the Lord fills the sailes of a poor soul, that he wonders the Lord should meet him, and speak so suitably to him: But as soon as he is gone out again, this is the complaint of the soul, all is lost again; now the soul it sals a mourning again. It is not for the glory of God to give the soul such peace out of his Ordinances, as he doth in them; the soul it would not prize the Ordinances of the Lord so much; yet there it is; and when they come again, the Lord, he either gives them the same refreshings again, or else there is a new spring.
3. The eternall efficacy of the word and voyce of God; it may be preserved in an internall spirit of prayer, for the continuance of it while he hath it, and for the return of it when it is lost. Psalm. 119. 4, 5. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. David he knew his own weakness; yet he intimates with what power it came on his heart: Oh that my soul were directed to keep thy statutes; When the soul sees the bea…ty of a command, and the good will of God, how sweet it is, and how amiable the way and work of God is: Oh that my heart were directed to keep thy statutes. And so when it is gone, Psal. 63. 3. My soul thirsteth after thee, Lord, saith David, that I may see thy glory and power, as I have seen thee in thy sanctuary. He doth not say, that I may see thy glory and power in thy sanctuary, though that might be too; no, but that I may see thy glory and power, as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. David he did find a want of seeing him as he had done; yet the vertue of it did remain in a spirit of thirsting, and desire: My soul thirrsteth for thee, as in a dry land where no water is, that I may see thee. A Christian may have at some time such a glimpse (in hearing the word) of Gods grace, of the exceeding riches of Gods grace, and the love of God to him, that he may be in a little heaven at that time; ravished in the admiration of that mercy, that ever God should look to him. It is so, and the word sayes so, and the soul is ravished with wonderment at it; yet God is gone again, and the soul loses it. Now the soul thinks, I have lost the efficacy of Gods word, but it is not so; for thus it may be preserved. Oh that I may see this God as I have done: And all his life-time the soul may find the want of this, & yet it may be preserved in a spirit of prayer. For whem the Lord hath given once a glimpse of his glory; the soul it cannot be at rest, but it breatheth for more of that mercy and presence; a Christian may find his spirit marvellously refreshed at the word, he may taste how good the Lord is, and he may lose it again: but this may be preserved in a spirit of longing after this God, and presence again. And I will say this, Brethren, A Christian may find no good by the word to his apprehension; he sees the admirable blessed estate of the Saints, and exceeding riches of God in Christ, sees the sweetness of the waies of God▪ goes home & thinks within himself, Happy they that are in this condition: Blessed are they that can walk thus with God; But I cannot, saith the soul. I say it may find it thus, when he cannot find the reall efficacy of the word as he would do; he may receive the benefit of that word, if the Lord do but only give him a heart to desire it. Oh that the Lord would but thus manifest himself to me; the soul may go away poor and hungry from the word, and the Lord may yet reserve a spirit of thirsting after that good which a man desires to find; and there is the efficacy of the word there.
As now there are two golden vessels; one a man fills, and it is every day dropping, and he preserves it; another vessel he do's not fill, but with something that he hath, He is every day widening of it. So some Christians, the Lord he's a filling of them; others, the Lord he do's not fill them with such peace and joy; ay, but though the Lord is not filling of them, he is a widening of them: there is such a vertue that the Lord do's enlarge the heart with secret desires and longings after more of Gods grace, and Christs: The Lord he saith, I intend to make this man a vessell of glory; and I intend he shall have a great deal of glory and peace at the last. The Lord he leaves such an impression of the word upon him, as that thereby he enlargeth the heart▪ Open thy mouth wide, & I will fill it.
4. A Christian may have the everlasting efficacy of the word and voice of God preserved in a spirit of thankfulnesse and love to the Lord, for those joys, and good that it finds by the word sometimes. When it feels that the sweet and savour of the word is gone, a spirit of thankfulnesse and love to the word that doth remain; The Lord he preserves the efficacy of the word in this way. Psal. 119. 7. I shall, saith David, then praise thee with uprightnesse of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgements. The Lord he may teach his people his righteous judgements; and the savour and feeling, and strength of them to their feeling may be gone, and yet it is preserved in a spirit of thankfulnesse and praise, that ever the Lord should shew it such mercy. When the Spirit is gone, the spirit of love and thankfulnesse remains. As now a man hath heard the word, the Lord he hath effectually wrought on him, and changed his heart, and drawn him to himself; a Christian it may be he may lose those sorrows and humiliations, and the remembrance of those things; yet there remaineth to his dying day this Spirit, he blesseth God, and wondereth at God, that ever he should make the word effectuall; that he should leave so many thousands in the world, and cast his skirt over him, and say to him, Live; this do's remain still.
Brethren, the Lord do's sometimes let light into a mans mind to discover his sin: now this light it do's not sensibly overcome the power of sin: But now the s…ul blesseth God for that word which hath convinced it; had I never seen my sin, saith the soul, I should never a sought for power against it, and pardon of it; and this continues now, and cannot but continue; here is the efficacy of the word, the word of Gods grace; though the flower of it be gone, yet there is an eternal power of the word; that the soul can say, It hath come to me, and helped me against these sins; and the soul wonders at the Lord, it should be so much as it is. So again, a Christian he finds marvellous refreshings and affection whiles he is a hearing; when he is gone away, he finds not the same, but he blesseth God for those affections he finds, and there remains an eternall efficacy of the word.
5. The eternall efficacy of the word, it may be and is preserved, by nourishing, increasing and restoring the new man that is eternall. There is a double efficacy that the word hath; the first is to beget a Christian to life, and this new man is eternall. I conceive all the actions of the new man may be suspended, and the increasings of the new creature may be decayed, though God doth renew it again: But this never do's decay, it never dies: He that is born of God cannot sin, because he is born of God; and because the seed of God remains in him.
2. There is efficacy in the word when it hath begotten a man to nourish him up; and so the word it is food to him, that was seed to him to beget him, which food is eternall. How is it eternal? Is it in this, that now the sweetnesse, savour and remembrance of every thing that doth refresh him, shall last in it self? No, but in this respect it is eternall, in that it leaveth its secret vertue in the nourishing of that which is eternall. As now Adam when he was in innocency, and had an immortall body, his food it should have been an immortall food to him; but how should that have been? should …e alwayes have had the same strength, from the same diet, which he ate long before? No, but in this respect it should have been an immortall food to him, in that it was to nourish that which was to be eternal: So it is here, the word of Gods grace it begets a man, it humbles a man, and draws the soul to Christ; but afterwards, there are many things that God speaks to the soul in the word that hath an eternall vertue, … the new creature; the word hath a secret vertue in it … this end. I wil shew it you thus; Isa. 58. 11. The Lord he … to his people thy soul shal be as a water'd garden, the … wil make the souls of his people like watered gardens, in peace, and joy, and life. Now look as if so be Trees by water or by some springs that run by it, and slide away, and ye cannot tell, which it is that makes them to grow; yet ye know this, there is in all of them joyned together, a secret insensible vertue; that every one of them addes something to … flourishing of the Tree: So it is here, the Saints of God, the word of God it comes to them, and passes by them; and ye cannot tell whether this part or that part of the word leave any vertue, but many times a man feels no vertue; yet it is manifest, here is a flourishing Christian, here is heart, and life, and peace that it hath with God, and the soul it remains flourishing; there is a secret vertue, all the words that run by and passe by the souls of Gods people, they do leave a marvellous vertue, to make the soules of Gods people like watered gardens, and to increase in grace. Note it by the way you that live under the means of grace, your souls shall be like watered gardens; if God have spoken to you first or last, the Lord speaks many times to you, sometimes affecting, and sometimes warning, sometimes convincing and humbling, and speaking Peace, and there is a vertue that remaines, and if ye find it not, know that God hath not spoken to you.
6. The eternall efficacy of the word may be preserved in a power of Conflict against the power of sin: for therein the Lords power of the Word does principally appear in this life, though not in a power of victory, I mean a compleat victory, yet an imperfect and incompleat victory, there ever is first or last where ever there is a power of Conflict. I mean thus, the Word it singles a man out, and speaks to his heart, & sets him at variance with his sin, and with himself for his sin, and he joynes … with God in the use of all meanes▪ that his unbeli…vi…g heart and proud Spirit may be subdued; it s…ts him at variance with his sin; now there is many a Christian thinks there is no power of the Word: oh my unbelief continues still and my vain mind, and I can find little strength; no, ye m…st not look for a power of compleat victory, but yet there is a power of Conflict; God he sets the soul at an everlasting distance with his …, never to be rec…nciled, and looks to the Lord, that by his Word and Spirit he would subdue them▪ that so he may see the de…th of them, & he sides with the Lord in the use of all means, comes to the Word, and comes to Prayer, and sayes, Speak against my sin, Lord, Lord, waste these distempers & so the … is thus at variance with his sin, although his … and hill of him, he goes again, and to them again: and though he perisheth, and never ha…e mercy from the …ord, yet, …ord, that I may never sin against thee m…re, help therefore, Lord, by his promise, and mercy and means, and here he keeps him, and here he holds. Truly, brethren, here is an eternall vertue, and such a vertue as no hypocrites have, that have some sting of conscience, and after they have some peace, they are at truce with their sins. No, there is an everlasting conflict and warfare, and I do assure you there is an everlasting power gone forth, Mat. 12. 20. Christ will not break the bruised reeed, nor quench the smoaking flax, till judgement come to victory; Therefore there may be judgement, but it may not come to victory, there may be smoak and fire, and it may almost go out, and the Lord he blowes it up again, and at the last, though it be weak and little, and he think with himself he shall never get strength again, yet the Lord will give victory in his time.
Only be cautious here; I told you there is an incompleat victory, the Lord never sets his people at variance with their sin, but they have victory, but it's an incompleat victory; Saith the Lord, I will drive out the Hittites, and Canaanites, and Perizzites before you, but I will do it by little and little. There is many a Christian that findes within himself a Spirit of warfare against his sin, and did he examin himself, he should find a Spirit of victory; but hee thinkes he hath none because his victory is not compleat. If he had a heart so to believe as never to doubt more, and such quickning as never to be dead more, never to depart from God more, now I should think the Word comes with power; but I find that these evils prevaile against me. There is many a one does scorn the kindnesse of Christ, because he finds not compleat victory, but darknesse remaines still, and sinfull lusts remain still, therefore the Word doth me no good at all, saith he. The Lord he hath given thee a Spirit of Conflict, and hath s…t thee at an everlasting distance with thy sin, and he doth give thee some victory. Beloved, a Christian may decay in the power of the grace of Christ, which he hath received from the Word, and voice of God in the Word, and he may decay, and grow to a very low estate; yet he shall find this, the Word of the Lord hath come with power to him, it will recover his soul again, and so the efficacy of the Word is eternall. Psalm. 72. its said of Christ, that his People shall fear him so long as Sun and Moon shall endure, that is, continually, all their lifetime. It may be said, there be many that find decay of their service and obedience, and lose their fear of the Lord, and their dread, and their humble walking before him, He shall come as the rain on the mowen grasse: many times a Christian hath his flourishing time as the grasse, but when the grasse is mowen, it is as a dry chip; so the soul it may grow dry, as dry as a chip. Now where is your sap and savour? but I tell you, if you belong to the Lord Jesus, the rain it will fall again, the Word of God set on by the Spirit of Christ, it shall fall upon you as the rain on the mowen grasse, and you know that it recovers little by little, and puts on a green coat again. Here is the eternal love of the Lord Jesus to his People, and thus the eternal efficacy of the word does continue.
3. Vse Vse 3.is of exhortation. Oh Brethren and beloved in the Lord Jesus, may a Christian hear the Word of God spoken, and yet never hear God speak? may he hear it externally and not internally? then rest not in externall hearing, and with some little movings, and affections, and stirrings of the Word of Gods grace in hearing. Let not the Word be to you as the sound of many waters, and a noise, no efficacy of the Word that do remain on your soules. Brethren and beloved in Christ, I lay my finger on the sore in these times. Oh the contempt of the Gospel of Christ, though I believe it hath its efficacy in the heart of the Elect: that is the thing that I presse, never be content with external hearing, though thou mayest have some affection, and know new things, unlesse thou find the Lord speaking with an eternall efficacy to thy soul. I conceive two things are to be done, that the word may come with an everlasting efficacy; although something is to be done by Ministers; that is, to preach truth, and Gospel-truth, fetch't from heaven with many prayers, & soaked truth with many tears. Ye shall know the truth, & that truth shal make you free. Convicting truth. We preach, saith the Apostle, in the demonstration of the Spirit. The Spirit of God when he commeth, he convinceth the world of sin. Let Ministes do so. Preach convincing truth and Gospel-truth, fetch'd from heaven, and bathed in tears. Oh brethren, let the fire burn clear, let there not be more smoak than fire, it will never come with power then; convincing Gospel-truth, set on by the demonstration of the Spirit of the Lord, and this will set a Christian at liberty; there is never such a Sermon that the faithful ones of God preach to you; if it come not with a power to loosen you and call you home; it comes with a power to blind you: it is an ax at the root of the Trees; but I leave this. What means ought the people to use, that the Word of God may come with efficacy?
Them that are in their unregenerate estate, the Lord only knows how to work on their hearts; they must come to the outward means. I speak to the Saints of God, I leave others to the infinite mercy of the Lord; It is not in him that willeth or runneth, but in the Lord that sheweth mercy. In the use of means.
1. Means. Do not only see thy infirmities and weaknesses, but pray to God to give thee a heart bleeding under the sense of thy many infirmities. Many times men slight them, and are not sensible of them; I do not say wickednesses and wilfulnesses, but thy infirmities and weaknesses, get a heart mourning under them, A Christian is made up of infirmities and weaknesses, a man would not think there is that in another, which he knows by himself. Oh brethren, labour for a broken heart in the sense of your many infirmities and weaknesses, darknesse and enmity, vanity and unsavourinesse, the Lord will have his time to speak to such a soul. Break up the fallow ground of your hearts,—lest my wrath break out with fire: the Lord hath promised to dwell with the poor and contrite. Look as it was with our Saviour Christ, they brought the sick and the lame ones to him, and vertue went out from Christ to heal them all. Bring thy sick and blind heart to Christ, and vertue shall go forth from Christ to heal it.
2. Draw near to God in the Word, by looking on it as God speaking to thee. We are far from God, and therefore we cannot hear him: draw near to him when you come to the external Word, when you come to hear the Word, hear it as the voyce of God; You heard the Word as the Word of God, 1 Thes. 2. 3.which you felt in you. I do not speak that the soul should take every thing that Ministers speak as the Word of God, but that which is the Word of God, take it as God speaking. I am not able to expresse the infinite unknown sweetnesse, and mercy, and presence of God, that you shall find thus comming. I know it is a common truth, but I am not ashamed to tell you, I have not for many a year understood this truth, and I see but little of it yet; ye have heard of it, but ye do not understand what it is to hear God speaking. When God hath an intent to harden a mans heart and to damn him, either he shall have a prejudice against the man, or else if he hath not a prejudice against the man, there is a secret loathing of the truth, in regard of the commands of it, and that is all, and the Lord he hardens, and blinds, and prepares for eternall ruin, all the men in the world by this means, that live under the means. When the Lord spake to Samuel, Samuel heard a voyce, but he heard it not as spoken by God, but when he took Elies counsel, and saw it was the Lord that spoke; now he listens to the voice of the Lord, and now the Lord opens all his mind to him.
3. Do not trust to the external word. It is a heaven on earth to hear the word exalted, a glorious thing to hear the word of God as Gods word; but trust to the free grace of God in it, and the Spirit of God in Christ to set on that Word. When they brought the lame, and blind, and halt to Christ, they looked for the Word and the Power of it; Speak the Word, Lord, and thy servants shall be whole; so bring you blind, lame, and halt souls to Christ, and trust to the free grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Work of the Lord it shall prosper in his hand; so the Word of the Lord it shall prosper in his hand also.
Lastly, so seek the Lord, and so hear the Word, so see the truth, and so hear the truth, as that you lay up your happinesse in this world, in closing with the truth and with the word. Brethren, what is a mans happiness in heaven, but to close with God and Christ? I cannot come to God now, the most that I can have of God now is in his word; if it be happiness in heaven to close with God in Christ, truly then it is a mans happinesse to close with God in his word on earth; and if it be your happiness, lay up your happiness in it.Prov. 3. My son, saith Solomon, if thou wilt hear my words, let them not depart from thine eies; keep them in thy middest of thy heart; place thy happiness in them.Vers. 22. So shall they be life to thy soul. Neverthelesse Brethren, let a mans soul be set upon anything in the world, when he comes to hear, besides the word; if he lay not up his happinesse in closing with the word; truly, the word it will be like a song to him. The Prophet Ezekiel tells them, Their hearts were gone after their covetousness: When a man comes to hear a Sermon, there is a Sermon and the Market, there is a Sermon and a friend to speak withall; and so many young people will go abroad to hear Sermons; What is the end of it? It is, that yee may get wives and husbands many of you; but it is not your blessednesse to close with the Lord in his word. I have known some men that have had a distaste against the truth of the Lord; and I have known them for many a day, they have not bee able to understand the truth of the Lord. When it shall be thus with a man, that a mans heart is set on something else besides the word of the Lord, that it is not my happinesse to close with the truth of the Lord; such a man shall never understand the truth of the Lord. Though the word be sweet to you sometimes, if your blessednesse do not lye in this, to enjoy God; Oh this Gospel of God, and these Commands of God, that your blessednesse do not lye in cleaving to the Lord in his word; I say, it is a certain truth, you shall be blinded and harned by the word: For here is a Rule; Whatsoever a mans heart is set on, as his chiefest good, the presence of that good it comes with power: So here, the precious Gospell of Christ, when the presence of it commands the heart, nothing is good enough for it, and it closeth with it, and with Christ in it.
I beseech you therefore, Beloved in Christ, set upon the use of these meanes, think within your selves, What if the Lord had left me without the word? I will tell you what ye would have been. Look upon these poor Indians, herds of Beasts; look upon others on their Ale-benches, enemies to the Lord, such a one thou hadst been.
This blessed word and voyce of God, every tittle of it cost the blood of Christ; written all the lines of it in the blood of Christ. Oh, make much of it, and it will make much of you; it will comfort you, and strengthen you, and revive you; & if the word come not with power, ye shall be under the power of something else; if not under the power of the word, then under the power of some lust. What is the reason that these poor creatures, that are come to the tryall for life and death, that have fallen into such sinnes as were never heard of? What is the reason that they are under the power of their lusts? I will tell you what Solomon saith, My son, if wisdome enter into thy heart, and discretion be pleasant to thy soul, it shall keep thee from the strange woman, and sinful companion. If it be pleasant, here is the reason, the word of Gods grace it never came with power, or if it came with power, powerless the word of Gods grace hath been to them; and because it hath not come with power, the Lord hee hath given them over to the power of their lusts, and sinfull distempers. Oh Brethren, truly I cannot see how any man can maintain any evidence of Gods electing love, that shall hear and hear, and good dayes mend him not, nor bad dayes pair him: that can commend a Sermon, and speak of it; but that efficacy is not known to him, neither doth he mourn for the want of it; but the eternall efficacy thereof is a stranger to it. 1 Thes. 1. 5. Knowing, saith the Apostle, your Election of God; How did he know it? For, saith he, Our Gospel came not to you in word, but in power; ye will rejoyce the hearts of your Ministers, when the word comes with power. Let me say this, and so I conclude.
I remember the Lords threatning; I will take away the staffe of bread, and ye shall eat, and shall not be satisfied; When the Lord shall let men have the word, when the Lord shall not take away the word, but the staffe of the word. Suppose you poor Parents, Fathers, and Mothers; your Families should have good Corn, but when you come to eat it, no strength at all, but ye dye and wear away; and others that are about you, they have planted the same Corn, and eat and are satisfied; What will ye do in this case? You would set apart a day of fasting and prayer, and say, Good Lord, what a curse is upon me? my poor children are dying before me, others have the staffe of Corn; but my Family have no strength at all. Ye would mourn if it were thus with your poor Cattell. Oh, for poor Creatures to have the word, but the efficacy of it to be taken away; no blessing, no power at all. Oh poor Creatures, go and say! Oh the curse of God that lies on me, the wrath of God that lyes on my servants, it is a heavy plague. But Oh the sweetnesse and excellency of it, when a Christian shall find everlasting vertue and efficacy conveyed to him by the word.
All you that are before the Lord this day, ye shall see an end of all perfection; but eternall things are not they worth something? You shall see an end of all delights and contentments; but this shall comfort you when you are a dying, that the word which you attended upon the Lord in, such peace, and such consolations I have found by it; and the efficacy of that word then remaines with you; nay, goes to heaven with you. I commend you therefore to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up unto an eternall inheritance amongst them that are sanctified, Acts 20. 32.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Shepard, Subjection to Christ in All His Ordinances 2 (1657)