Counsel to the Afflicted, Question 2 · Section 16 – Section 17
SECT. 16.
16. Let the loſs of your ſubſtance and habitation ſtir you up to make ſure of a better houſe, and better ſubſtance in heaven. There is an houſe and ſubſtance in heaven, as well as here upon earth, Joh. 14.2. In my Fathers Houſe are many Manſions. Heb. 10.34. Ye have in Heaven a better and an enduring ſubſtance. Now when we have loſt, or are in danger to loſe our houſes and ſubſtance on earth, it ſhould put us upon making ſure of heaven, Heb. 13.14. Here have we no continuing City, but we ſeek one to come. Heb. 11.9,10. By faith he ſojourned in the Land of Promiſe, as in a ſtrange Country—He looked for a City which hath foundations, whoſe builder and maker is God. The Apoſtle Paul being without a certain dwelling place, 1 Cor. 4.11. made ſure of heaven, 2 Cor. 5.1. We know, that if our earthly houſe of this Tabernacle were diſſolved, we have a building of God, an houſe not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. It is very uncomfortable for the body to want an habitation. There was great wailing in Zion, when the Inhabitants thereof were caſt out of their dwellings, Jer. 9.19. A voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we ſpoiled? we are greatly counfounded, becauſe we have forſaken the land, becauſe our dwellings have caſt us out. But it will be far more uncomfortable for our ſouls, to want a dwelling place with God in heaven: there will be great weeping and wailing by all thoſe that ſhall be ſhut out of the Kingdom of Heaven. If a mans dwelling here on earth be burnt, or other wayes deſtroyed, he may get as good in another place; but he that faileth of a dwelling in heaven, muſt dwell with devouring fire, and with everlaſting burnings, Mat. 25.41. Depart from me ye curſed, into everlaſting fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels. Such as ſhall not be admitted to dwell with Chriſt, have another habitation provided for them, and that is among the Devils in flaming …ire. If a man be deprived of a convenient habitation here, it continueth but a little while, a few dayes will put an end to his miſery; but he that faileth of a dwelling with God when he dieth, is miſerable to all eternity.
If you ſay, What ſhall we do that we may be ſure of an houſe in heaven, and go to dwell with God when we dye? I anſwer,
1. We muſt open our ſouls to Jeſus Chriſt, and receive him into our hearts, and let him dwell with us, and then we ſhall ſurely dwell with him. The Lord Jeſus ſtands at the door of our hearts, and knocks, and calls to us to open our hearts to him, Cant. 5.2. It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, ſaying, Open to me my ſiſter, my love, my dove, my undefiled—Rev. 3.20. Behold, I ſtand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will ſup with him, and he with me. Now, after we have opened the door to Chriſt, and received him into our hearts, we muſt let him dwell with us: we ſhould let him dwell in our thoughts, we ſhould let him dwell in our affections, we ſhould let him dwell in our converſations; which we do, when we order our converſations by his word, and make Chriſt the end of our converſations. Now, if we receive Chriſt, and let him dwell in our hearts, we ſhall ſurely dwell with him for ever, 1 John 5.11,12. This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son, hath life.
2. We muſt not ſuffer any ſin to dwell either in our hearts or converſations. Evil motions, and vain and ſinful thoughts, will be often coming into our mindes; but we muſt not let them dwell there, but we muſt endeavour to caſt them out as oſt as they come into our mindes. This God expects from all thoſe that expect ſalvation, Jer. 4.14. O Jeruſalem, waſh thine heart from wickedneſs, that thou mayeſt be ſaved: How long ſhall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? God will not let evil dwell with him, Pſal. 5.4. Thou art not a God that haſt pleaſure in wickedneſs, neither ſhall evil dwell with thee; and therefore if we would dwell with God, we muſt purge our ſelves from our ſins. They that do not depart from iniquity, Chriſt will ſay to them, even to every one of them, Depart from me, Luke 13.27. Depart from me all ye workers of iniquity.
3. We muſt devote our ſelves to the ſervice of Chriſt; and if we ſerve the Lord Jeſus whilſt we are in this world, we ſhall dwell with him in heaven to all eternity, John 12.26. If any man ſerve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there ſhall alſo my ſervant be. Col. 3.24. Knowing that of the Lord ye ſhall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye ſerve the Lord Chriſt.
4. We muſt walk uprightly, whatever we do for God or for men, we muſt do it with an upright heart, we muſt put away all guile, and diſſimulation, and hypocriſie, and ſpeak the truth from our hearts, and be upright and ſincere in all manner of converſation; for ſuch as walk uprightly while they live, ſhall dwell with God in heaven to all eternity, Pſal. 140.13. The upright ſhall dwell in thy preſence. Pſal. 15.1,2. Lord, who ſhall abide in thy tabernncle? Who ſhall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteouſneſs, and ſpeaketh the truth in his heart. Iſa. 57.2. He ſhall enter into peace, they ſhall reſt in their beds; each one walking in his uprightneſs. Pſal. 84.11. The Lord God is a Sun and Shield, the Lord will give grace and glory, and no good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly. Matth. 25.23. His Lord ſaid unto him, Well done, good and faithful ſervant, thou haſt been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
5. We muſt perſevere in believing and ſerving Chriſt, and walking uprightly with him all our dayes, Matth. 24.13. He that ſhall endure unto the end, the ſame ſhall be ſaved. Rev. 2.10. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. No ſufferings whatever muſt deter us from ſerving of the Lord Jeſus, though it be the ſuffering of death it ſelf, 2 Tim. 2.12. If we ſuffer, we ſhall alſo reign with him; if we deny him, he alſo will deny us. Mark 8.35. Whoſoever will ſave his life ſhall loſe it; but whoſoever ſhall loſe his life for my ſake and the Goſpels, the ſame ſhall ſave it.
SECT. 17.
17. Let this affliction put you upon preparing your ſelves for all other afflictions that God ſhall try you withal, whilſt you are in this world. When God had been contending with Iſrael by Fire, he calls upon them to prepare for further Judgments, Am. 4.11,12. I have overthrown ſome of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a fire-brand plucked out of the burning; yet have ye not returned unto me, ſaith the Lord: therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Iſrael; and becauſe I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Iſrael. Afflictions oft-times come thick one after another, Job 16.14. He breaketh me with breach upon breach. Pſal. 34.19. Many are the afflictions of the righteous—As God dealt with Eli, when he began, he went on, till he had brought upon him all his pleaſure, 1 Sam. 3.12. In that day I will perform againſt Eli, all things which I have ſpoken concerning his houſe; when I begin I will alſo make an end. So it is oft-times in his dealings with others, when he begins to afflict, he follows on with one affliction after another, until he hath throughly humbled them, and made them lie at his foot: therefore one affliction ſhould warn us to prepare for another; and as Chriſt adviſeth us in our ſufferings from men, Matth. 5.39,40. I ſay unto you, that ye reſiſt not evil, but whoſoever ſhall ſmite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other alſo; and if any man will ſue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak alſo: We ſhould be ſo far from quarreling and contending with thoſe that afflict us, that one injury ſhould make us willing and ready to ſuffer another. The ſame advice is very ſeaſonable, when we are under any affliction from the hand of God; we ſhould be ſo far from reſiſting Gods will, that when he taketh one mercy, we ſhould reſign up all the reſt: When he ſends one affliction, we ſhould be willing and ready to ſuffer another. We are exhorted, Heb. 13.3. Remember them which ſuffer adverſity, as being your ſelves alſo in the body. As long as we are in the body, we are liable to all kindes of adverſity, and therefore we ſhould ſtand prepared for whatever afflictions it ſhall ſeem good unto the Lord to lay upon us. If you deſire to know how you ſhould be prepared for all ſorts of afflictions, See Queſt. 3. Sect 12.