Of Growth in Grace, Sermon 11
SERM. XI.
I Was speaking concerning this Knowledge, for the kind of it: Now I would strengthen this cause I have in hand, concerning the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; I would strengthen the cause what I could, and I shall do my best endeavour, that you may be as fully convinc'd as may be, How much it concerns Believers and Saints to grow in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Besides all that hath been already spoken to the purpose, which indeed doth carry very convincing light with it, and is beyond all gain-saying. There is besides all that hath been already spoken, some things further to be held forth unto you, whereby you may yet stand more fully convinc'd of it, That the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus, is a Knowledge that we should vigorously endeavour a growth and Improvement in.
As now to instance. Having spoken the last time of things that concern us, in reference to Christ; so I shall now further communicate those things to you that concern this matter, in reference to our selves. If so be we be but that we profess to be, if we be such as have the faith of the Gospel, and are planted under the hopes of the Gospel; truly, it doth very much concern us, in respect of our selves, to endeavour vigorously a growth in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and that in these several respects, which I would intreat you seriously to weigh and consider. As,
First, Our Duty is, to endeavour a growth in th▪ Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
First, That we may be men and women of more able Judgments, be more Judicious and able to manage our Judgment of things.
2. That we may have the more benefit and comfort of our Consciences, and with respect to our consciences; our duty is to endeavour a growth in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
3. With respect unto Gospel-grace, and that there may be an increase in it.
4. With respect unto Gospel-priviledges, and Benefits, and Comforts.
5. With respect to Gospel-duties.
6. With respect unto a Gospel-conversation. In the general, these things I now do further offer to your consideration, and shall endeavour to give some insight into them, and what they do import, that so if the Lord will please to prosper my endeavours among you, that you may come to set on more strenuously, with strength, and endeavour after a growth in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Consider first, It is required of us (such as profess Godliness and the Faith of the Gospel) that they be a wise, judicious and understanding People. Be not, saith the Apostle, unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 'Tis that which hath been earnestly prayed for. So David, Thy hands have made me, and fashioned me, give me understanding.—How earnest was Solomon in that behalf, that he would give him a wise and an understanding heart? How earnest was Paul with God on the behalf of the Church of the Ephesians, That their understandings might be enlightned?—God would have his People to be like himself; he is a judicious God, a God of Judgment; and he would have his People to be an understanding and judicious People, of discerning spirits, able to make a right Judgment of persons and persons, of things and things: This is the Will of God.—Now consider, There is no Knowledge in all the World, that contributes so much to this, that we may come to be a wise, understanding and judicious People, as the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ doth. I remember what Moses speaks, in Deut. 4. That they should be acknowledged upon the account of those Laws, and Statutes, and Testimonies which were given them; they should be acknowledged to be a wise and an understanding People. Why? Truly they were of high accomplishment, as touching their wisdom and understanding, and judgment; and that upon the account of those Revelations that God did make to them. O, but how much higher will the advance be of a People, in wisdom, and understanding, and judgment, that are well instructed in, and acquainted with the Mysteries of Christ, and the things that are to be known concerning him. Consider now, What was the teaching of the Old Testament, to the teaching that was to be had under the New Testament, the Gospel-teaching; when the time came that the Mysterie which had been kept secret, from Ages and Generations, should be broken open, and laid out to the full of it? Oh, what an advantage was there then, for a People to come to good judgment and understanding! No Knowledge in all the World (I say) contributes so much to the purpose, of making Men and Women wise and judicious, as doth the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
By this Knowledge well improved (for I speak of that) I speak of the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, considered as well improved, when there is a considerable growth and increase in it: I speak of this Knowledge in the improvement and increase in it, as the most pretious Knowledge, most beneficial to such a purpose, for to accomplish men and women for being a judicious understanding People, of discerning spirits. Consider,
First of all, By the means of this Knowledge, we shall be the better able to make a judgment of ourselves, our persons, and conditions, and states. Alas, beloved, What woful mistakes are we apt to run upon, concerning our conditions God-ward! How many are there that think themselves to be something, when they are nothing at all; judge themselves to be of a right Gospel-spirit, when they are nothing so at all?—How many are there that account themselves to be right in point of Religion and Godliness, well accomplisht, and that they are such as will pass in account with God, for good, and sound, and upright men, right in the Mysterie of the Gospel; whom God will reject and protest against, and profess of them, that he hath no pleasure in them?—Then on the other hand, There are many poor souls that pass a very sad judgment upon themselves, and are apt to give themselves for stark naught, that they are not to be accounted of with God, that have deserved rather to be rejected of him; when yet for all that, they are in his account, no other than noble Vines, a holy, a right seed; as the Prophet Jeremiah useth the expression. Now, the reason of these mistakes, in point of Judgment, concerning our selves and Estates; it must needs arise, e…pecially, either from the total want, or from a great deficiency in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. For, mark you; You must know that we are never so well able to judge of the Writing, as when we are well knowing of the Copy after which the Writing is to be drawn: We can never so well make a Judgment of the fashion of a thing, unless we know the due pattern after which it is to be cast; they that see the Copy, will be the better able to judge of the Writing that is to be drawn after the Copy; they that understand the state of the Mold, will be the better able to judge of the Vessel, whether it be right cast and fashioned, sutable to the Mold. Now, consider thus: Our Lord Jesus Christ, he is the Copy after which a Believer, a Christian is to be drawn up: He is the Mold into which a Christian is to be fashioned. The Apostle tells us, in Rom. 8. That those whom God hath predestinated, he hath predestinated to be conformed to the Image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren. Thus it is, it is the great design of God concerning all his People that he will own; that they be conformed and fashioned according to Christ: And such as is the constitution of Christ, such must be the constitution of a Christian. Now, when we come to know, and to know to good purpose, the things that concern Christ; when we come to be made able to answer the Mysteries of the Gospel concerning Christ, what a Christ he is, of what a make and constitution. (Pray consider well:) The more we know of this Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the better able shall we be to make a Judgment of our selves, and to escape those dangerous mistakes concerning our condition and state, which we are apt to run upon; when we come to know, and to know to some good degree what Christ is; what he is for his Nature, and Disposition, and Qualifications, and Constitution; and that he is not made after the Law of a carnal Commandment, but after the power of an endless Life: That he is constituted a Priest after such a manner; and so a Prophet, a King. When we come to know this to some purpose, the Constitution of Christ, what make he is of, how God hath ordered him, who is the Pattern and the Copy after which a Christian is to be drawn up; the more we understand and know of this, the better able shall we be to make a Judgment of our selves and states, when we come to compare our selves with our Saviour Jesus Christ; when we can find, that as in the Print, there is letter for letter, there is Grace for Grace; there is stamp for stamp, Impression for Impression; when we can find this, when we come to know the original Copy, and then come to compare our selves with the Copy, the Writing that is drawn up in our own hearts;—when we come to understand what Constitution Christ is of, and understand that to some purpose, and then come to consider how it is vvith our selves; then shall vve be the better able to make a Judgment of our condition and state, and to say, I knovv that my heart is right, I knovv that my state is good, I am able to avouch it, I can give a Judgment of my self upon this account, because I find the conformity to Christ my Head; I see there is an ansvvering to the Copy, and that I am dravvn up according to the Pattern. O Brethren, consider vvell of this: We are said to be made Kings and Priests unto God our Father. Why, novv, Kings and Priests? vve are such as Christ, vvho vvas a King and a Priest; not after the Lavv (as I said before) of a carnal Commandment, but after the power of an endless Life; when we come to find the power of an endless Life in us, a sutableness unto Christ; when it's otherwise, it is but a pretence. As it may be said according to that, in Rev. 2. They say they are Iews and are not; they are of the Synagogue of Satan; and so will many be found to be so, that do not correspond to Christ, and do not answer Christ as the Pattern. This is that therefore, that we are to know and consider, That it is necessary that Believers and Saints should be well acquainted with the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, because by that Knowledge we are to regulate our Judgments concerning our own persons. And so the Church, as in Rev. 2. before-mentioned.
And so again, The like is to be said concerning Doctrines, and concerning Worships; concerning the Doctrines that are held forth, and concerning the Worships that are performed. Why, Brethren, there are many Doctrines preach'd in the World, that are no better than chaff to the Wheat; and no other than dross to the Gold. What is the chaff to the wheat? as the Prophet Ieremiah speaks: And what is the dross to the Gold? Now, how should we judge, but by the help of the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? The more we improve in that Knowledge, the better able shall we be to make a Judgment of Doctrines.
And so likewise of Worships: Such Worships as shall have acceptance vvith God. Why? they must be Worships that are according to Christ; and the more vve improve in the Knovvledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the more able shall vve be to make a Judgment of these things. O! Christ, he is a spiritual Christ: Though we have known him (saith the Apostle) after the flesh, yet henceforth know we him so no more: He was made after the power of an endless Life, and not after the Law of a carnal Commandment; and his Worship is drawn up, not after the Law of a carnal Commandment, but after the power of an endless Life, sutable to himself. O, consider of this, and take heed of carnal hearts, and of carnal Services, that hold no correspondency with our Lord Jesus Christ; so that upon this account, you may see and stand convinc'd of it, That it concerns us very much to endeavour a growth and increase in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, because by the means of that Knowledge, we are inabled to make a Judgment of Churches, and their Constitutions;—we are inabled to make a Judgment of Doctrines and of Worships, which are to be performed.
… Yet further. The Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, is a Knowledge that Christians and Believers should endeavour a growth in, and that as with respect unto their Judgments, that they may come to be well accomplisht, and to become a judicious People. So likewise 2ly. In regard of their Conscience: Conscience, truly it is a great word, and I wish that the interpretation of it were better known. The interpretation of Conscience; I tell you Brethren, That every man and woman hath a Conscience within them, and this Conscience is either his cordial Friend, or it will be his dreadful Enemy; it will either be a Friend or a Fury; either his best Friend on earth, or his greatest Enemy on earth; Conscience will be a Friend if it be right, but God is a greater Friend; Conscience will be an Enemy, I, but God is a greater Enemy: If our heart condemn us, faith the Apostle, God is greater than our heart, and he knows all things.—But, on earth, there is not a greater Friend, nor is there a greater Enemy than a man's Conscience. I tell you this, That your Consciences, when you come to know them, and to be acquainted with them, and when they come to be awakened and set on work, your Consciences will either create a Heaven within you, or else they will create a Hell within you. Truly, Conscience will do thus; It will either make your life to be a Heaven, or else it will make it to be a Hell. I'le give you two Instances, and I think that more remarkable Instances cannot be given.—To instance in Paul and Iudas: There was never man (I think) in the World, that was able to speak more from experience concerning his Conscience, and how it befriended him, than Paul was; never man better studied in Conscience; never man more befriended by Conscience, and he knew the benefit of it, and was exceedingly rejoyced in it: And there was never man that was more terrified by his Conscience (I think) than Iudas was, and no man more able to speak to the terror of his Conscience, than he was. Paul makes his boast of his Conscience: This is our rejoycing, The testimony of our Conscience. And, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good Conscience: And still upon every occasion, My Conscience bears me witness. O, this Conscience of Paul, it sung within his bosom, like a bird of Paradise! O, this good Conscience of Paul, notwithstanding all the troubles and persecutions he meets with, his Conscience befriends him, and doth keep him up in heart, and he is cheered with it, under all the troubles and disquietments that he meets with in this World. Thus it was with him, as to his Conscience.
And as for Iudas, his Conscience was a Fury within him, when he came to be awakened and had the guilt of blood upon him: O, how Conscience rages! it creates a Hell within him, and he is in Hell before he comes there; as many are, and will be, when God comes to awake their Consciences. Now, thus it was with Iudas, and he was so hurried, and agaster'd, and amazed, and afrighted, that he was a Magor-missabib, a terror to himself. Thus it was with Iudas, and that by reason of his awakened Conscience, labouring under the guilt of his iniquities and impieties that he had committed. Well, this is Conscience, the best friend on Earth, or the greatest and dreadfullest enemy on Earth. A man had better have all the World against him, than have his Conscience against him; and if all the World be against a man, yet, if his Conscience be for him, if his Conscience will befriend him; it will inable him to bear up with comfort notwithstanding.
I, but now consider, that it is by the well-improvement of the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; it is by the well-improvement of that knowledge, and by endeavouring an advance, and a growth and increase in that: this is the thing that I drive at; it is by this means, and upon this account, that the Conscience comes to be set to rights, and is inabled to do the part of a dear and cordial Friend, which it will never do upon other tearms. I'll tell you what, your Consciences will never do the part of a friend to you to any purpose, but rather storm against you, and make you to become as Magor-missabibs, terrors to your selves; unless you be well instructed in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ. Men and women may daub with their Consciences, and sooth up themselves, and lay their Conscience upon a pillow, when it's sick, and distemper'd, and ill at ease, and would be breaking out: men may take this and that course to still their Conscience for a little while; O, but there will never, never be any true quieted peace, nor any kindly settlement of it, nor any friendlyness of it to us, if we be not well understanding in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ. It is clearly by the advancement that we make in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ, that we come to have our Consciences set right, and to perform the office of a dear and cordial friend to us. Alas Brethren, consider thus; men and women may have gone on in a fair and plausible profession of Christianity for many years, and have been in good account for Christians, and have had friendly respect from the Godly: but when they come to fall under a temptation, an awakening and stinging temptation; or when they come to lye upon their death-beds, and have a representation made to them of their condition and state, they are in a most restless condition, they do not know what in the World will become of them; but they are like unto the raging Sea: and this is like to prove the condition of many poor creatures, that make a fair profession: the Lord give them wisdom to look into it, they are in a restless condition, like unto the raging Sea, that casts up mire and dirt, and cannot be quiet. O, it's true, I have had a profession, and have had a name for a Christian, and I have b…n installed in Church-priviledges, and I have …t and drank with the Saints, and walk'd in communion with them; but now all this, and a great deal more of this, that may be accounted, will not quiet the spirit; and the poor creature cannot tell where to rest, but tumbles and tosses, and rouls up and down, and knows not what in the World will become of it. Thus it will be; therefore we had need look about us, and to consider wisely of it.—Why, what's the reason of this? why truly, principally upon this account; because the knowledge of Christ was not better studied, and that it was not pursued more eagerly, according to the true state of it; and the Conscience was not duly principled with the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ.
And so likewise; there are others, Godly persons; the Godly persons, concerning whom, it may be very comfortably hoped, that their hearts are right with God, and that they have the root of the matter in them; and yet, in a day of temptation; at a great loss, and tossed with tempests, and wofully shattered and broken; and do not know where to rest the sole of their foot: poor souls, that are roving, and tossed from post to pillar, and cannot tell how to have any quiet injoyments:—what's the reason of this? O, it is in a special manner to be reckoned to the want of a due information in the mysterie of Christ; and, because there is not a well-improved knowledge concerning our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ. But the poor creature is principled much, what with principles of Legality, with Legal principles, which will never settle the Conscience, nor never bring any solid peace unto the Conscience. This is the reason why many poor creatures are so shattered and broken as they are, and cannot have a comfortable day; pass a long from time to time, and upon every occasion, they are under woful perplexities.—What's the reason of this?—because of Legal principles in their Conscience; by occasion whereof, the Conscience is ever and anon rising up, and presenting matter of terror to the poor creatures; and it knows not what to do, nor how to have any comfortable injoyment of it self:—upon this account it is, because we are not well studyed in the mysteries of the Gospel, in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ. Thus it is; We must know, that all the knowledge concerning God, considered out of Christ, as he is an Infinite Glorious Being; as he is a God of Infinite Sovereignty, of Infinite Power; as he is a God that is Perfect in Knowledge, in Holyness, and Wisdom, and the like: all this Knowledge,—and the Knowledge of God in the works of his Creation;—and the Knowledge that we have of our selves, and of the state wherein we were created. The Knowledge of the Covenant, under which we were planted in the beginning of the Creation:—The Knowledge of the Law, and of the Sovereignty of that: All this knowledge will but raise up terror in the soul, and make the Conscience to rage and storm; nothing of this Knowledge that is able to calm and quiet the Conscience. No, let a man present to himself never so fully, all his moralities, and duties, and services, whatsoever he can account concerning himself: notwithstanding this, Conscience rages still; there's nothing of satisfaction to the Conscience: Conscience is still all this while like the raging Sea, and casts out mire and di…t, and cannot be quiet.— Why?—Why because it hath nothing to rest upon; nothing that it knows concerning God, his Infinite Majesty, Glory, Purity, and Holyness, that gives a bottom for the Conscience to rest upon; but the Conscience rather comes the more to ra…e and storm; O, he is a Holy God, and my Conscience tells me, that I am a filthy, loathsome, polluted creature: He is a Righteous and Just God, and I am a rebellious wretch, that have provoked Him most dreadfully: I have the representations before me, of such and such moralities, and services: I, but the Law is a strict Law, and I have not answered it in any thing that I have done. Now, it is only by the Knowledge of our Lord and Savlour Jesus Christ. The Knowledge of the Myste… which was kept secret from Ages and Generatio… … is only by the knowledge of that Mysterie, that the Co… comes to be quiet, it comes to find a bottom there: when this Knowledge comes, there's a plank cast out after the Ship-wrack. O, when the soul comes to hear of the Lord Jesus Christ, that he was sent of God, to be the Saviour, to make satisfaction to his Justice, by the offering up of himself a sacrifice; that he hath shed blood, and the blood of attonement, an available blood: when the Conscience comes to know this, and this knowledge comes to be wrought in a soul; then Conscience begins to be quiet. The Apostle argues to this purpose, in Heb. 10. The Law, saith he, having a shaddow of good things to come; for it had its worldly Sanctuary, and its Priesthood, a pompous Priesthood, and the Sacrifices, and the blood of Bulls, and Goats: I, but, saith he, These were never able to purge the Conscience, and to make the comers thereunto perfect; to give them peace, and to bring them to the injoyment of rest; they could find no rest here; For, saith he, if so be that they had been available, then would they not have ceased to be offered, because the comers to these sacrifices, being once made perfect, should have had no more Conscience of sins; their Consciences no more labouring under the apprehension, and the representation of their former sins, they would have been made perfect, and would have had no more Conscience of sin. But, saith he, every time they come to offer these Sacrifices, there is a remembrance of sins:—Why?—Why because the knowledge of all this, the performance of all this, would not answer the exigency of the Conscience, and lay a foundation for the Conscience to bottom upon. But, saith he, Christ, He comes in, and He, by one offering of Himself, by the shedding of his own blood once, He hath perfected for ever, them that are sanctified; and now the Conscience comes to be quiet. O, this is the knowledge will quiet the Conscience. Therefore now, judge with your selves, whether there be not infinite cause, that professors that mind their souls, and the peace of their hearts, and the comfort of their Consciences; whether it doth not infinitely concern them, to endeavour an increase and growth in the Knowledge of the Lord Jesus: That so, when Conscience would be upon stirring, and startling, and stumbling; the soul being well versed in the mysterie, and understanding to good purpose what the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ is, the soul may be able to relieve it self: Well, be it what it will; let Devils charge, and let men charge, let them charge to the full; I bless God, I have the knowledge of Jesus Christ. I understand the mysterie concerning my Lord Jesus: I have endeavoured to make a good progression in this knowledge, and to accommodate it to my purpose. I know who Christ was, what a Priest he was, and what blood he shed, and what a sacrifice he offered; and I know, that the Infinite Justice of God, is not able to make any exception against this sacrifice and blood. God hath rescued me, well may my Conscience rescue me: God is satisfied, well may my Conscience be satisfied. Well now, for my part, I know not what in all the World to preach to you, that is more material and momentous than these things. And these two things that I have laboured about this morning;—as touching a Christians accomplishment, for being wise, and judicious; and that is, by a due improvement in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.—And likewise, concerning the Conscience; and how that comes to be rectified, and set to rights, and to stand a mans Friend in every time of need; and that he may sweetly injoy himself, and come to have a Rock to repose upon in a storm and tempest; how a soul may come to find a rest for it self in all the tossings and turmoylings in the World: and that it is the knowledge, or improving in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I say, these are momentous things, and we should well consider of it; that of all knowledge, there is none that we should endeavour a growth and increase in, as the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.