Exposition of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 4 · Verse 12
Vers. XII. And, if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a three-fold Cord is not quickly broken.
The Saint is in personal, in Marriage-Union with Christ, in his irresistibly Mighty, Invincible Creature-spirit, that's in like Union with Infinite, Almighty Divinity. This threefold Cord who can break? Who is sufficient for these things? So much as to declare the Transcendent Security and Priviledges of Saints? They are above all language; yea, wonder. If Christ, if God be on their side, who can be against them, and prosper? How can they be less then more then Conquerors? Rom. 8. 31. 37. Saints, the third and lowest. Link of this Chain, or …, are, in effect, in the same security with the higher and highest. Christ and God. Who shall seperate them from the Love of Christ, v. 35? Or, from the Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord? 35. 39. They are secured from all Enemies, without or within, in Christs Gospel-Spirit, that's greater then he that's in the World, the Devil; 1 Jo. 4. 4. The Gates of Hell, all the secret Counsels and Strength of Enemies; the Powers of darkness, with all their Mystery of Iniquity, shall not prevail against them. They can discover all their secret Counsels and Projects against God's Spiritual Israel; as Elisha, the King of Syria's, against Litteral. And, they can trample all their Power, under their feet, being by God, delivered up into their hands, as the Syrian Army into Elisha's, to lead them blindfold, whither he pleas'd, and to do what he listed, with them. Mad are the evil Angelical Principalities and Powers of darkness, at those who can discover all their Devices, Wiles, Designs, and Projects, for destroying Men; as also are their Apostles and Ministers, when they find the Falsities of their whole accursed other Gospel, detected. 'Tis the self-same case with both and all of them. They are all of a knot. The small number of Christ's awak'ned Spiritual Gospellers must look to be Charactred by them all, as the most Proud, Presumptuous, Insolent, Censorious Contradicters and Blasphemers of all good Men, all Goodness, and saving truth, in the whole World. This is Man's (Wise, enlight'ned, first-Covenant Man's) Censure, in Harmony with Satan's, concerning the truly Meek, and Humble, Poor, Needy, broken-Spirited Seed, Sheep, and Flock of Christ, contented, with Paul, to become Fools, Weak and Despicable, as to all, their Enemies put value upon. 1 Cor. 3. 18. and 4. 10. Enemies, not being able to deal with them, at Spiritual Weapons (or to Resist and bear up against the Spirit and Wisdom by which they speak) (Act. 6. 10.) have recourse, and betake themselvs to other Weapons, Humane Laws, and outward Belluine Force, to silence, suppress, and destroy them, as the … Jews serv'd Steven (Act. 7. 57-60.) and as the King of Syria would have serv'd Elisha, if he could. True Saints, as on the strongest and surest side (though the tide seem to run so strong against them, that there's no stemming it; all visible and invisible Powers of this World, comming with a swift and full Torrent upon them, to run them down) have this to say (by what the Spiritual Man or true Prophet and Seer in them, sees) their Rock is not as our Rock, even our Enemies themselvs being Judges; Deut. 32. 51. Be the present awak'ned Spiritual … of Christ, in any Generation, never so few; yea, if there be but one single Jeremy, amongst the only professing people of God in the whole world, and all against him, even there, King, Princes, Priests, and People, he'l be too hard for them all. Moe and greater still are they that are with and for him, then against him. They shall …, but not prevail against thee, for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee. Sure, he, or they, that have God on their side, will have the best on't, though all the World be against them, as indeed they always are. All Inhabitants of the Earth, and Sea, … in their own earthly Life of nature, corrupt or …; Inhabitants of the Mystical foaming Sea and Land; All worldly force, by Sea and Land, is full against the Saints of the most High, dwellers in Heaven, that have their affections and Hearts set on things above, their Conversation in Heaven, while Bodies still on Earth. The Saints Rock is the new-Creature, Gospel-Spirit, the new name or Life of Christ, into which they run, and are safe from all that pusse at them, and swell in an implacable mind of enmity, against them. What Spirit then, is the Enemies Rock? The Devil's. He has made choice of (and set up for himself and followers, in) all the sading Glory, Wisdom, Strength, and excellency of the first-Creation; all the Life and Power of Humane and Angelical nature, as six'd in unchangable Enmity, and used in a perpetual War, against God, Christ, Blessed, Angels, and Saints, so long as they can (by God's Permission, for most Wise and Holy ends, known to himself) hold it, and make a Vain Tumultuous … against them. The Saints Rock will be found, at winding up of all, to be too hard for all their Inhumane Enemies Rocks, viz. all evil Angelical Principalities and Powers. Their Rock will dash … these Rocks, to …. Their Mountain or Kingdom, with Christ, will be establish'd in the top of their Mystical Angelical Mountains, and exalted above all their Humane Hills, or visible worldly Principalities, and Powers. When wicked Men shall flee to their Angelical Confederates and Masters (higher, Subtler, and Stronger then they, in their first-Creation make and nature, and so, the Supream first-creation Mystical Rocks and Mountains) to shelter, hide, or Protect them, from the Wrath of the Lamb, the Saints Rock; all won't do. They'l not be able to bear up, stand, or keep upon their Feet, before the Lamb, when the great day of his great Wrath is come. Rev. 6. 15-17. All such Rocks and Mountains, with all runners to them, for safety; all will to wrack, under the irresistible Power and Wrath of the Saints Rock, upon them all, Mountains and Hills; or, Angels and Men. Then, all Proud evil Angelical helpers, with all their Proud, helped self-exalting Subjects, amongst Men, must all stoop, bow, and lie down under his and his Saints Feet, for ever. Christ will not withdraw his anger, but cause it to rest on them all, for ever, as a Fire never to be quench'd; and therefore, thus it will be with them, look as big, and be as confident as they will, now; Job. 9. 13. Kings of the Earth, both Humane and Angelical, in their earthly first-Creation make and life; again, humane or visible Kings of the said Earth, and that, of two sorts, in corrupt and Righteous earthly nature and life, Heathens and a professing first-Covenant People, who are all ready to lay their Heads together, and joyn Heart and Hand, against true Saints; all these Litteral and Mystical Kings can agree, and consult at one Table, how they may, both and all, rid their hands of, and weare out the Saints of the most high, by changing times and laws, perverting good, or establishing evil ones, and so, mischief, by a Law; Dan. 11. 27. and, 7. 25. These Crafty Consulters shall all be at a loss, when Christ comes to set up his and his Saints Kingdom in the World, or upon the earth. His and his Saints Mountain or Kingdom, set up, on the top, or over the heads of all their Mountainous, worldly Rocks and Powers, will crush them all to pieces, yea, grind them to Powder. When he takes to himself his great Power, and Reign's, will this most certainly be. And, then will he have the Universal Praises, Hosannah's, Hallelujah's, and most joyful Acclamations of all that dwell in Heaven, all his Saints, whom he'l bring (and cause to Reign) … him (Jude 14.) as we find; Rev. 11. 17. But, even now, during Christ's and his Saints suffering season, under Man's and Satan's domineering Reign, he suffer's neither of these visible or invisible Powers, without, to do any thing to his Saints, but what's exactly conducible to their true good, the destruction of their Flesh, or slaying all Enemies within them, the Foes of their own House, the desires, thoughts, affections and lusts of their natural Man (Life and all, at best) which Fight and War against God and the true interest of their own Souls. These combin'd Enemies, Devils and Men, are the wicked, Christ uses, as his Hand and Sword (Psal. 17. 13, 14.) against the natural Man of his Saints, in a pure serviceableness to their everlasting advantage, in all their most malicious designings and practicings against them, with intent to destroy them, for ever. The Prince of this World, strik's at Gospel-Life and Spirit, in Saints, nor he nor his Instruments can ever hit or touch. They hit only their own party in them, flesh and Blood (or their natural Man, in the full comprehensiveness thereof, corrupt or righteous) on the perfect destruction whereof (under the Cross, by their own obedient consent and submitting thereto) are they filled with his Spirit and Life, in the irresistible Power whereof, they will break all their Heads, and trample them under their Feet. This is the pass, they bring their matters to, in all their despite to Saints, and the Spirit of Grace, they are of. A most comfortable consideration, in all their Sufferings! This is abundantly evident, in Job's case. All he had, in the righteous Life and Wisdom of his own nature, was, by the Lord, put into Satan's Hand, or Power; Job. 1. 12. And, to't he goes, bestirring himself, with all his Malice and Power, to destroy him. What was the Result? Job's Arriving, by way of Death and Resurrection to his spirit, at that all-powerful spiritual Life, in which, to break the Serpent's Head; the latter end better then his beginning. Flesh (or the natural Man, at best) till Crucified and subdued, Hurries even true Saints, with an Impetuous, Violent Torrent of Desire or Lust, after Satan's Perishing Meats; and so, into many Rebellious Practices against God, Christ, and their own spiritual Mind; Ro. 7. 15. 23. Solomon had a larger sad experience of this, then Paul. But, though this one (even the natural Spirit of the Saint, in its own Life, lust, will, and way) oft prevail against him, even against his spiritual mind, or man, two shall withstand him; even this rebellious flesh, or natural man. What two? Who are these? The Fountain Spirit of Christ, in himself, and the quick'ned up Seed thereof (or Spiritual Man) in the Saint. The Rebellious natural Spirit, Satan's Party in the Saint, and he at the back of it (to encourage and strengthen it, with all variety of Arguments, Motives, Reasons, and Uses, against its own Saviour and Salvation) shall both fall down together, under the prevailing Power of the Spiritual Man, Christ's Party in the Saint, and he at the back of it, making up the blessed two, here. These will weaken Satan's Party in the Saint, and, at length, quite extinguish all the Life, and abolish all the Power thereof; laying it in the Dust. Then, the whole Man shall be fill'd with (and actuated by) his Spirit of Life, there's no dealing or medling, for Satan, with. Perfect Conformity to Christ's Death and Resurrection, is all; compleat's the Saints work, and deliverance from all Enemies, without and within. He that's thus dead, is freed from Sin; Ro. 6. 7. Sin, or the guilty Sinner, the natural Spirit, is dead and gone, as to its own sinning life of enmity. So comes a ceasing from Sin, for ever; 1 Pet. 4. 1. The same mind in the Saint with Christ, for a compleat, full suffring in the flesh, extinguishes all Sinning, self-destroying Power, for ever, in him. And this bring's the Saint's matters to the self-same passe with Christ's, when he said; Now come's the Prince of this World, and hath nothing in me. Jo. 14. 30. Satan would have perswaded Christ himself, and that, by an Apostle, to pity and spare his first-Covenant Law-Life, or righteous natural self: But he utterly rejected these flattering Judas-Kisses, and Smooth words of the Enemy, which are drawn Swords, to Wound and Kill Men, eternally. He took not the Enemie's Counsel; but, clean contrary, brought his own Spiritual Sword and Fire upon it; Crucified, offered it up, by a Holy Obedient death, in Sacrifice to his Fathers Will. Saints must do likewise. They must hate that Life in themselvs, he Crucified in himself, or cannot be his Disciples. But, under all plausible appearances of kindness (for Self-Preservation, and Salvation) does Satan animate his Party in Man, the Disputer of this World, to Dispute and Contend for his own everlasting Destruction, against all Christs Gospel-things and truths. By Man himself, does he carry on his work, smoothly and fair, for the destroying him, for ever. Men are, generally, in their fallen State of nature, Children of Wrath, dead in Trespasses and Sins, hatefull to, and hating God, and one another. So, are they half Devils, ready (as 'twere) made to Satan's hand, by his own hand, or first blow upon humane nature, in our first Parents. They are Enemies of God; Lovers and Friends of World and Devil, in corrupt, or, in part, righteous nature. They are Litteral or Mystical Adulterers and …; Jam. 4. 4. Thus we see, Men want no more of being compleat Deuils, as Christ asserted Judas to be (Jo. 6. 70.) then of being fixed and rendred unchangable in Enmity. They are born and live, as thus forward, in the ready Rode and broad way, towards their everlasting Destruction. And, to forward and encourage the restor'd righteous Party, in this way, there want not for a World of false Christ's, and false Apostles, in the Counterfeit guise, apparel, and dress of the true, fitted to deceive, if possible, the very Elect. These evil Angelical Roaring Lions, in Christ's Clothing; and … in the Clothing and appearance of Christ's true Apostles and …, will, in their Lying Spirit of Divination and false Prophecy, warrant this, their very way to Salvation; Ezek. 13. 6. Here's Man's dangerous condition, on all hands, as to his grand concern. In this deplorable State (these, almost, desperate Circumstances) all Men are in, does Christ, the true WISDOM of God, publickly warn and cry out, aloud, to them all, to take heed of being taken with this deceitful Doctrin of Men and Devils; their false, accursed, other Gospel; and, that they listen to his contrary Counsel and Instructions of Life, submit to his Reproofs of Death, on that Spirit of nature that's …; and so, receive, his Spirit of …, that can never Sin, or be deceived, err, or miscarry; but, … discern and own all his words of truth; Prov. 1. 20-23. See then and consider, Oye Sons of Men, the different posture ye are in, towards your Blessed Saviour, and the Abaddon, Apollyon, Red Dragon, and Destroyer. Christ comes to Cross and run down fallen nature, as to the corrupt Lusts, and vile affections of Litteral Sodom. This done, and nature recovered, and set afresh, upon its …, in a rectified first-Creation orderly state or mystical house; he comes again with Fire and Sword upon this, to pull it down and destroy it, in order to the new spiritual Building and Life of the Rock. Here's all this unpleasing Cross-work, to nature, corrupt or righteous, which must be submitted to, and obediently complied with, or no Salvation. On the other hand, Satan that comes to destroy Men, finds them in a ready posture, gladly to receive and entertain him and all his words, his flattering Kisses and smooth Sayings in his accursed other Gospel; all, after their own Hearts desire, and Palate. And, if he can but fix them in Enmity, they are his own, for ever; direct Devils. Now, whom think you, like to be most welcome to Man, the destroying Saviour, or the saving destroyer? Christ, or the Devil; the Angel or Messenger of Gods everlasting Covenant, or the Angel of the Bottomless Pit? The whole World (or, earthly party of mankind, corrupt or righteous) lieth in Wickedness (1 Jo. 5. 19.) or, in the wicked one, the Devil; liable to be used by him, against God, Christ, all awak'ned Spiritual Saints, and Gospel-Truths, as Paul, when eminent in the Law-Righteousness of Man, was. Ready are all, save actually awak'n'd Spiritual Saints, to embrace his smooth words of Counsell (which are drawn Swords, to kill them, saw they all) and to be at his service, greedily receiving, teaching, and Hearing, the very doctrin of Devils, without the least scruple, for Salvation. All the World wonder and run after the Beast; Rev. 13. 3. His Ministers and Apostles are of the World (or, worldly, earthy nature and Life, in the Image of the earthy, the Wisdom and Righteousness of Man) so, teach only such worldly things, for Salvation; speak of the World; and the World (all of the like earthy-temper and Spirit) hear, follow, and Embrace their Doctrin. Down it goes, without any chewing, pause, doubt, or suspition. If this Doctrin wear thred-bare; and lose its colour, he will clothe it with the appearance of Christ's Spiritual, true Gospel-Doctrin. In this dress, he, with his Angels and Apostles, come, as Spiritual Wickednesses, in Heavenly places or likenesses, to deceive, if possible, the very Elect. But, all won't do. The said two, in and with the Saint, can pluck off all their Vizor's, detect the Mummery of these Wolvs in Sheeps-clothing; and, wherein they deal proudly and subtilly, will be above them, every way, at every turn. The new-Creature-Spirit of Christ, in himself and Saints, is abundantly too Wise and hard for them all. And then, the infinite Divine Spirit (the supream strength of all, the Fountain-Contriver and former of the other) makes up the Triple-League, or Threefold-Cord, which secures the Saint, above all words or wonder. What think you now, of the Saint's Furniture, To fight the Battels of the Lord against the mighty, evil angelical, or humane Principalities and Powers of this World? May they not safely say, as Elisha to his Servant, when besieg'd by the Syrian Army, in Dothan, … that be with us, are moe than they that be with them? 2 King. 6. 16. Our Rock, our Army, our Arms, are not as theirs, fleshly, weak, feeble, and nothing worth, but Spiritual and mighty, in and through God, invincibly strong and powerful, to beat, profligate, and cast them all down, with all their vain imaginary strong holds, high Places, and self-exalting confidences therein; 2 Cor. 10. 4, 5.
The threefold Cord, here, not quickly, or easily (yea, utterly impossible, ever to be) broken, may seem to import, first, the most high Union of divine Father and Son, the … … and Form of God. In this Union, the Three that are (impersonally as 'twere) One, in the divine Essence, are distinctly and personally three and One, in the infinite and purely divine Form. And so are they, from Eternity to Eternity, ineffably, the peculiar Object of their own infinite understanding, in a transcendent sublimity, above all Creation; or Creatures, when made. The divine form, or Son of God, is the Three that are One, in a personal visibility or discernableuess, properly calculated and suited, only, to him, whose understanding is infinite, Ps. 147. 5.
The second link in this threefold Chain or Cord, imported here, may be the Union of divine and creature-nature, in Christ's person; the divine and supream creature-Form, or Image of God most high, the Infinite divine Father or Essence.
The third and lowest of the three Cords or Links in this golden Chain, is found in the unchangable Union of Christ and Saints, in his new-creature-spirit. They are personally united with him, as he with the Father; are one with him, as he and the divine Father are one; Joh. 17. 21--23. Thus come all things to be the Saint's, as he is Christ's, and Christ God's; 1 Cor. 3. 22, 23. This, have Saints, in their lowest of these three unions. By the Second, all the fullness of the Godhead dwell's bodily, in the Man, Christ; Col. 2. 9. He is Possess'd of all divine and creature-fullness, in absolute perfection. These twofold fullnesses make up that unsearchable divine and creature-riches of his person, Paul preached; Ephes. 3. 8. All creature-nature in Christ (all, below his infinite divinity) is call'd Man. Man is a warranted Scripture-Title for all, below pure divinity, in Christ, and in all Angels and Men, good and bad. Christ, thus, is the Man or Angel Gabriel, that appeared to Daniel and Mary; Dan. 9. 21. Luk. 1. 19. 26. Evil Angels are Men of sin, with their Father, the Devil. So are all men, that are, by them, fix'd in enmity, with them. And Christ, with two of his holy Angels, were the three Men that did eat of Abram's Calf, with butter and milk, under a Tree; and warn'd him of the near approaching destruction of Sodom; Gen. 18. All rational, intellectual creature-nature (natural or spiritual, in Creator or Creatures) is comprehended in the Word MAN. Saints then (by their personal union with the Man Christ, as Mystical members of that one Body he is Head to) are entitled to all the divine and creature-riches of his most glorious and wonderful person. Such riches therefore, do all true Gospel-Ministers preach, declare, and offer, under Christ, unto Men (Ephes. 3. 8.) to all Men, Jews, or Gentiles; Heathens, or a first-covenant People of God.