A Covert from the Storm, Doctrine 2
The Second Doctrine.
No ſufferings ſhould cauſe the Saints to be afraid.
Sayes the Text, Fear none of thoſe things which thou ſhalt ſuffer. See alſo Iſa. 37. 3, 4. Strengthen the weak hands, confirm the feeble knees; ſay to them that are of a fearful heart, be ſtrong, fear not.
Two things in the opening of this Doctrine are to be done. One is to ſhew that there is an aptneſs in the Saints to be afraid of ſufferings. The other to demonſtrate, the unreaſonableneſs of giving way to this fear.
In the firſt place I am to ſhew, that there is an aptneſs in the Saints to give way to fear, when ſufferings are coming: this is implyed in the Text, Fear not, which intimates that by fears they would be aſſaulted, though thoſe fears ought to be repelled. There is a two fold fear; a fear that is a duty, a fear that is an infirmity.
1. A fear that is a Duty, and that is the fear of the Lord: This fear is the beginning of wiſdom, and a great preſervation from evil; this fear is a grace to be prayed for, and as a grace is promiſed in the New Covenant. I will put my fear into their hearts, and they ſhall not depart from me, Jer. 32. 40. This fear hath nothing of torment in it; but as it argues the man bleſſed in whom it hath place, ſo it is very conſiſtent with delight, and great delight, Pſ. 112. 1. Bleſſed is every one that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his Commandments. T…is fear of God will ſwallow up other fear. If we ſanctifie the Lord of Hoſts in our hearts, by making him our fear and dread, nothing beſides will be ſufficient to diſma… us.
2. There is a fear which is an infirmity, and that is the fear of man, or any evil… that upon the account of Religion may be brought upon us. This fear in the Text is forbid: Yet this fear is apt to ſeize upon believers; and truly they find it much more difficult to overcome thoſe fears, than the evils themſelves, whereby their fears are raiſed.
Several things there are, whereby fears are apt to be raiſed in Believers.
1. The greatneſſe of the evils which they may be expoſed to: Not only their credit, but their livelyhood; not only their livelyhood, but their lives may be ſtruck at. And running the hazard of loſing all, makes timorous nature to adviſe, and endeavour to diſſwade them from it. Our Lord does not limit his followers to venture ſo far, and no further, but commands expreſsly to ſtick at nothing; the neareſt Relations, the deareſt enjoyments, muſt be hated, when they ſtand in competition with him, that is, leſs loved than he is; Luke 14. 26. If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and ſiſters, yea and his own life alſo, he cannot be my Diſciple. In times of trouble, Men and Devils are let more looſe, and ſo are likely to lay on load on Chriſts Diſciples; and the apprehenſion of ſuch heavy burthens, may cauſe ſome diſmayedneſs of ſpirit.
2. Fear is apt to be raiſed by the proximity and nearneſſe of evils. When the Saints behold their perſecutors full of fury, their tongues whet like a ſword, and their hands lifted up to give the blow; when they ſee calamity haſtening towards them, and diſtreſs like an armed man, which they cannot reſiſt nor avoyd, then alſo their temptation will be ſtrong to fear.
3. Theſe evils are heightned by Satan, who endeavours what he can to impreſſe fear upon them. He repreſents their approaching ſufferings, in the moſt amazing forms, to their imaginations. He tells them, it will be ſad to be the ſcorn of all that look on them, to be counted the filth of the world, and the off-ſcouring of all things. S…tan tells them it will be ſad to have their goods ſpoyled, their houſes taken from them, or leveld with the ground, to ſee their Families undone, and pined with extremity of wan…, to feel in their own perſons the hand of violence, eſpecially when ſinful compliance may prevent it. The Devil buzzes in their ears nothing but Dungeons, ſhackles, ſwords, axes, faggots, ſtakes, furious flames, and thus endeavours to fright them out of the way of righteouſneſs.
And 'tis not unuſual when ſuch dreadful things are repreſented to their imaginations, to aſſault their faith, and to peſter them with unbelieving and blaſphemous injections againſt Chriſt and his word, endeavouring to make them queſtion the certainty and truth of that glorious life and immortality which is brought to light by the Goſpel, 2 Tim. 1. 10. And if theſe thoughts of infidelity are not watched and prayed againſt, they will dead and overwhelm the heart, and prove of a very ſinking nature. The Lord therefore is to be intreated to rebuke Satan, who by ſuch blaſphemies ſtrikes at his honour, as well as at our ſafety and peace.
4. Add alſo, That Grace in believers is imperfect, and therefore fear is the more incident. There is much of corrupted, as well as renewed Nature; and corrupted nature ſides with Satan to affrighten them, that ſo they may caſt faith and a good conſcience over board, to keep the Veſſel from drowning, and ſecure themſelves.
In the ſecond place I am to ſhew The unreaſonableneſſe of this fear in the Saint▪ Now the unreaſonableneſs of it will be abundantly evinced by theſe arguments.
1. Let us compare the mightieſt enemies of the Saints with him who is their helper. Their adverſaries may be mighty, but their Helper is Almighty. If the everlaſting ſtrength of the Lord Jehovab were but conſidered, fear would be aſhamed of it ſelf in thoſe that belong to him, and are protected by him. Believers enemies (take the very proudeſt and ſtrongeſt of them) in compariſon of God are but Nothing, leſs than nothing, and vanity, Iſa. 40. And is it not unreaſonable to be afraid of nothing? and more unreaſonable to be afraid of leſs than nothing? O ye Saints, remember what a power is for you; whoſe hands uphold you, even the very ſame that doth uphold all things. Your enemies themſelves are in Gods hands, they cannot live or move, or act without him; they are but weapons in his hand, which cannot ſtrike one blow more than he ſees needful to be given you; all the wounds which they make ſhall be healing; and by all their inſtruments of death they ſhall but puſh you forward, and haſten you along in Heavens way.
And if your mighty God rebuke theſe perſecutors, preſently they muſt ſtoop and bow, and fall down before him. He can tye their hands, nay take away their breath when he liſteth; and when their breath goeth forth, and they return to their duſt, all their thoughts and deſigns againſt you will periſh, their envy and revenge will be come to an end, when once the vengeance of God, which is the vengeance of hell fire, hath taken hold of them. The Grave and Hell will keep them far from ever moleſting of you more.
2. Let a compariſon be made between the cra…tineſſe of believers enemies, and their Gods wiſdome. The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. He ſees their projects, and knows how to fruſtrate their deſigns. That's a notable place, Job 5. 12, 13. He diſappointeth the devices of the crafty, ſo that their hands cannot perform their enterpriſe; he taketh the wiſe in their own craftineſs, and the counſel of the froward is carryed headlong. The Lord is wiſe enough, not only to deliver us, but alſo to take the Politicians in their own craftineſs. He looks and laughs at the plots of Rome and Hell to undermine his Kingdom; and that which they intend as a ſupport to the principality of darkneſs, ſhall prove its downfall; and Sion ſhall be built on Babylons ruines. Solomon ſayes, there is no wiſdome, nor underſtanding, nor counſel againſt the Lord, Prov. 21. 30. And by very good conſequence, there is no wiſdom, nor underſtanding, nor counſel againſt his people; why then ſhould his people fear? If one wiſe man were able to defend a little City, having few men in it, againſt a great King that came againſt it, and beſieged it, Eccl. 9. 14, 15. Surely in the wiſdome of the Lord, who is only wiſe, whoſe underſtanding is infinite, there may be ſtrong confidence.
3. Again, Compare the hatred of the Saints enemies with the love which the Lord bears them. Great is the hatred of the world, greater is the hatred of the Devil; but oh by infinite degrees greater than either, than both, is the Love of God. The Love of God to believers is very tender, draws out his care towards them; 'tis a love that is unchangeable, and ſo vaſt as paſſes all dimenſions, and underſtanding. Therefore they may be emboldened, and conclude, that this love will be ten thouſand times more beneficial, than the hatred of any creature can poſſibly be injurious. In the loving kindneſs of God, there is very great ſecurity, Pſal. 5. 12. For thou Lord wilt bleſs the righteous, with favour wilt thou compaſſe him as with a Shield. Our enemies indeed may be many, and may hate us with cruel hatred; but their hatred can no more equal the love of God, than their ſtrength can vie with his moſt glorious power.
4. To ſhew the unreaſonableneſs of the Saints fear, let this be conſidered, That this God, whoſe power and wiſdom and love are thus beyond compare, is ever with them. Fear thou not, ſayes God by the Prophet, for I am with thee, Iſa. 4. 10. He is not out of the way when his people want him; he is a preſent help in the time of need. The Saints need not go far to ſeek their God; he fills the earth as well as heaven, and is alwayes ready to ſhew himſelf ſtrong in the …ehalf of thoſe that truſt in him. The Lord is alwayes within hearing; his eye is upon the righteous, and his ear is open to their cry, Pſal. 34. 15. He beſets his people behind and before, and layes his hand upon them: ſurely their faith may conclude, ſince God is ſo near them, and does beſet and fence them, that they are in ſafeguard.
5. The Lord hath engaged by an everlaſting Covenant to be their God: What, or why therefore ſhould believers fear? Be not diſmayed, for I am thy God, in that forecited place, Iſa. 41. 10. The Lord ſtands nearly related to the Saints: now 'tis certain, that Relation, though 'tis minimae entitatis, yet 'tis efficaciae maxim…, it hath ſmall entity, but great efficacy. He is their God, their Father, their Husband; and will he not be a Buckler and a Fortreſs to his children, his Sons eſpouſed ones? Will he not take care of his Jewels, of his portion, of his peculiar treaſure? will he patiently ſuffer the apple of his eye to be touched? Let the Covenant be ſtudied, and what's implyed, in that, I will be to them a God, and they ſhall be to me a people; and fear will quickly give way to confidence.
6. The Lord intends to glorifie himſelf in his peoples preſervation. They need not fear, God will not miſs of his glory; he will be exalted, and therefore his people ſhall be remembred. Gods honour, and the Saints ſafety, are twiſted together. It was a ſtrong argument which Joſhua pleaded; If Iſrael fly, and the Canaanites prevail, then what wilt thou do for thy great Name? Joſh. 7. 9. That place in the Proverbs, The Name of the Lord is a ſtrong Tower, the righteous fly unto it and are ſafe, may not only thus be expounded, That the power, and faithfulneſs, and mercy of God, by which he hath made himſelf known as by his name, are a ſafe ſhelter to the righteous; but alſo thus the place may be applyed: God for his Name ſake will be a ſtrong Tower to his children; and when they plead his Name, he will glorifie himſelf in their protection. To ſecure his own honour, he will ſecure thoſe whom he hath taken the charge of; they ſhall be ſaved, either ſub coelo, or in coelo; they ſhall either on earth find a Chamber in the day of calamity, till the indignation be overpaſt; or they ſhall be houſed in the celeſtial Manſions, beyond the fear or poſſibility of danger.
Thus have I demonſtrated the unreaſonableneſs of the Saints fear. The Application of this Doctrine follows.
USE I.
Although I would have you fearleſs of ſuffering, yet ſome Cautions are very needful to be given you. Raſhneſs is not a Grace, though Chriſtian fortitude and courage is.
1. Take heed of augmenting your ſufferings needleſly by want of wiſdom. Died Abner as a fool dieth? Do believers ſuffer as fools ſuffer? When Chriſt tells his Diſciples, that he ſent them forth as ſheep among wolves, He bids them to be wiſe as Serpents, to beware of men, and uſes much what the ſame Language that one of his Prophets did before. Jer. 9. 4, 5. Take ye heed every one of his Neighbour, truſt ye not in any brother, for every brother will utterly ſupplant, and every neighbour will walk with ſlanders, and they will …eceive every one his neighbour, and will not ſpeak the truth; they have taught their tongue to ſpeak lies, and they weary themſelves to commit iniquity. Be wary what, and to whom you ſpeak: In evil times the prudent keep ſilence; when men are made offenders for a word. Do not heartily credit every profeſſour, there are …y falſe brethren, who though they ſpeak you fair, have … abominations in their heart. Beg wiſdom of God that he would guide you with his eye.
But let not a wily, and ſelfiſh heart impoſe upon you, and call cowardiſe by the name of diſcretion. If thy heart be aſſured to the world, and thou art loath to part with thy enjoyments that are earthly, for the enjoyment of Chriſt and Glory; if thou lookeſt upon earthly things as ſutable, and ſpiritual with a ſtrange eye: ſuſpect thy wiſdom to come not from above, and that 'twill be found folly in the end.
2. Take heed of ſuffering as an evil doer. You may in all likelihood have much evil ſpoken againſt you; but if it be falſly, 'tis well enough. That counſel and caution of the Apoſtle, is much to be obſerved, 1 Pet. 4. 15. But let none of you ſuffer as a murtherer, or as a thief, or as a buſie body in other mens matters. You muſt indeed expect to go through evil report, as well as good, and diſhonour as well as honour, 2 Cor. 6. 8. But do not by any ſiniſter aimes, by any unwarrantable practice, give conſcience juſt cauſe to reproach you, as well as your enemies. If you are convinced and ſuffer as evil doers, if covetouſneſs, lying, injuſtice, ſedition, rebellion, be juſtly laid to your charge, you will not ſuffer alone, but the Goſpel, and your brethren who are innocent, will be branded for your ſakes. Oh let there be nothing of a crime in your ſuffering; purely let it be for the ſake of purity in worſhip, and purity of life; then the greater comfort will redound to you, and advantage to the Church of Chriſt.
3. Take heed of vain glory in your ſufferings. That glory that is but vain, is not worth …he ſeeking, much leſs the ſuffering to attain. Though a ſufferer be in a low condition, yet he is in great danger of being pu…t up with pride. If you deſign the advancing of your own eſteem, and deſire to be pointed at as thoſe that are reſolute and conſtant, you are Self's, and not Chriſts Martyrs. How far may pride and vain glory carry an unſound profeſſour? He may give all his goods to feed the poor, nay his body to be burned, and yet in all this ſeek himſelf, and be deſtitute of love to Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Cor. 13. 3. As the Apoſtle ſayes, Phil. 2. 3. Let nothing be done, ſo may I ſay, let nothing be ſuffered through ſtrife or vain glory. 'Tis a poor thing to be admired and commended of men, if the Lord does not commend you. If you ſeek not his approbation, and that honour which comes from him, you may ſuffer here and eternally beſides. Aim not therefore at applauſe, or any ſuch carnal, by, and baſe end: but let this be your deſign, that Chriſt may be magnified by you, whether it be by life or by death, Phil. 1. 20.
4. Take heed of being Saints in ſhew, and ſuffering in a good Cauſe with an evil conſcience. Hypocritical profeſſors are in a very bad caſe; becauſe Profeſſors, the world hates them; becauſe hypocritical they are hated by the Lord: They have a form of godlineſs, therefore the world ſtrikes at them; they deny the power of godlineſs, therefore God will not ſecure them. Oh therefore beg an upright heart, and be ſure to walk in truth. Cover no… with the vail of hypocriſie any luſt that you judg pleaſing or profitable; but be Jewes inwardly, Iſraelites indeed, not contenting your ſelves with a name that you are alive; this you may have, and yet be dead in ſin, and at laſt damn'd for it.
USE II.
Let me diſſwade you from fearing any thing that may befall you for following the Lord Jeſus. And let theſe two things be thought on, that fear is both, a Torment, and a Snare.
1. Fear is a torment. The fearful heart is moved, as the leaves are with the wind. What anguiſh ſeizeth upon the timorous ſpirit at the report of evil tydings? how doth it ſink into an hopeleſs kind of dejection? and ſo is made more bare and naked unto the ſtroke and dint of calamities which are invading.
2. Fear is a ſnare, Prov. 29. 25. One that fears an arm of fleſh, will ſoon be hurried away from God, and into almoſt any unlawful courſes, which by his carnal and diſturbed mind are judged to have a tendency: to his preſervation. Peter fears, and denyes Chriſt, and not only ſo, but falls a curſing; ſwearing that he did not know him. How is he foiled through fear, who before ſaid, Though all are offended and forſake thee, yet will not I. Cranmer fears, and againſt his Conſcience ſubſcribes to Popery; and anathematizes the Hereſie of Luther and Zuinglius, thoſe reſtorers of the Goſpel, and of pure and undefiled Religion, which had a long time lay… buryed by the prevailing of Antichriſt. Spira fears the looſing of his eſtate, the beggering of his wife and children, the hazarding of his life, and renounces the Proteſtant Religion, but preſently was ſeiz'd upon by the Pangs of deſpair; and to the terrour and aſtoniſhment of all about him, ſpake as if he had been in Hell it ſelf, even while he was alive. Oh therefore be afraid of being afraid; if this paſſion prevail, you may quickly fall ſo foully, as to make you weep bitterly, if not eternally.
USE III.
I ſhall conclude with ſeveral Antidotes againſt this ſinful and enſnaring fear of ſufferings. The Antidotes are theſe.
1. One Antidote is a well grounded aſſurance of the love of God. By this love, fear will be caſt out. The Apoſtle was ſo far from being afraid, that he gloryed in tribulation, and the reaſon was, becauſe the love of God, that is, the ſenſe and perſwaſion of it, was ſhed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghoſt which was given to him, Rom. 5. 3, 5. When we know that God is ours, we may conclude that afflictions, troubles, and death are ours, that evil men and evil Angels too are ours, that is, working out our good, though contrary to their intentions. The enemies of believers are but as ſo many Scullions to ſcour them, and make them look the brighter. The aſſured Chriſtian concludes, that greater is he that is in him, than he that is in the World, and therefore he is undaunted. Heark, how confidently the Saints of old ſpake, who knew the God of Jacob was theirs, and with them, Pſal. 46. 1, 2. God is our refuge and ſtrength, a very preſent help in trouble; therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed, though the mountains be carryed into the midſt of the Seas.
Give diligence therefore to make your Calling and Election ſure; bring your Grace to the Touchſtone of the Scripture, that the truth thereof may be evident; pray that the Lord would ſearch you, and lead you out of every evil way; and that his Spirit may bear witneſs with your ſpirits that you are indeed his Children.
2, A ſecond Antidote againſt fear, is a clear Conſcience. A pacified and purified Conſcience, will make the heart very couragious. The Heathen Poet could ſay,
—Hi… murus a…aenius eſto; Nil conſcire ſibi, nulla palleſcere culpa. Horat. Epiſt. 2.
A Brazen Wall is not a greater ſecurity than an unſpotted conſcience. And Solomon tells us, that a righteous man is bold as a Lion. The Apoſtle Paul, when he was preſſed out of meaſure by the weight of troubles, above ſtrength, inſomuch that he deſpaired even of life; was he diſmayed? No; ſo far from that, that he rejoyced. This was ſtrange indeed: What might be the cauſe of his gladneſs, when ſenſe being judg, his condition was ſo exceeding doleful? Our rejoycing is this, ſayes he, even the teſtimony of our conſcience, that in ſimplicity, and godly ſincerity, not with fleſhly wiſdome, but by the grace of God we have had our converſation in the world, 2 Cor. 1. 12. Make not therefore, eſpecially in troublous times, any breach upon conſcience, by cloſing with temptations, for at that breach fear will aſſault you.
3. A third Antidote againſt fear, is truſting in God. David ſayes, What time I am afraid, I will truſt in thee, Pſal. 56. 3. There's the diſtemper, fear, and the remedy againſt it, faith in God. So Pſal. 112. 7. He ſhall not be afraid of evil tydings, his heart is fixed: What fixes the righteous mans heart? Truſting in the Lord. Pray for the increaſe of faith: be well acquainted with the promiſes, wherein God hath ſaid he will be a ſhield, an hiding place, a covert, a ſtrong Tower, a Saviour; and theſe promiſes will be as food for your faith to live upon, and to grow ſtrong by. But be ſure let your truſting in God be joyned with the doing of good, Pſal. 37. 3. with a deſire and deſign to pleaſe him; elſe he will reject your confidence as preſumption, and you ſhall not proſper in it.
4. A Fourth Antidote againſt fear, i… calling upon God. David when he was in danger, cryes that he may be lead to the Rock that was higher than he; when ſurrounded with enemies he gave himſelf unto prayer, Pſal. 109. 4. and by this means he got above his fears and terrours. He tells us how effectual prayer was, Pſal. 34. 4. I ſought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. The Coneys are a feeble folk, but have their dwelling among the Rocks: You may learn a great deal of wiſdome from thoſe little creatures. By Faith and Prayer you ſhould be working your ſelves further into the Rock of Ages, and that Rock you will find impregnable.
5. A Fifth Antidote againſt fear is an heavenly Converſation. They who are much above, that have their Treaſure in that place, where neither moth corrupteth, nor thief approacheth, will not be afraid of priſons, of being robb'd, of being ſlain for the Teſtimony of Jeſus. Their ſouls cannot be touched, their beſt riches are durable, and out of their enemies reach; their adverſaries cannot by diſtraining take away their glory or grace from them: and when this life is done, they will enter upon that life which is infinitely better.
They who walk cloſely with God, and whoſe hearts as an heave-offering are frequently given to him, being lifted up in his wayes, who every day do take ſeveral turns in the City that hath foundations; who often think of the glorious prize, and what it will be to be perfectly holy, and moſt fully ſatisfied in the uninterrupted and never ending enjoyment of God; ſuch will be indifferent what on earth they meet with; they will not be afraid of what man can do, ſince when their enemies do their worſt, they do their beſt; for when they take away their lives, they do but ſend them thither, where they long and groan earneſtly to be received, and to make their everlaſting abode.
The Apoſtle informs us, That they who mind earthly things are enemies to the Croſſe of Chriſt, Phil. 3. 18, 19. They feel not its crucifying vertue, they are afraid of it, they are offended at it: but as for himſelf, whoſe converſation was in heaven, and who perpetually from thence was looking for a Saviour, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, he knew how to be abaſed, how to be hungry, now to ſuffer need, and learned in whatever ſtate he was therewith to be contented, Phil. 4. 11, 12. compared with v. 20. of ch. 3.
6. A ſixth Antidote againſt fear, is a due conſideration who your enemies and troublers are. Bring them into the Sanctuary, and there take a view of them, weigh them in the ballance, and themſelves with all their power, will be found ſo light, that you will conclude that to be a very vain fear, which ſuch vain and weak creatures as they are, do raiſe in you.
1. Your enemies are but men; let them do their worſt, their moſt, they can but kill the body. Ceaſe ye from man, ſaith the Prophet, whoſe breath is in his noſtrils, for wherein is he to be accounted of. The hand of man, as 'tis not able to ſuppo…t us, ſo neither to throw us down; and conſequently he doth no more deſerve to be feared, than to be truſted in by us.
2. Your enemies are men whom the Lord hates and ſets his face againſt. He ordains his arrows againſt the perſecutors, Pſal. 7. 13. God ſhall ſhoot at them, ſuddenly ſhall they be wounded. He is more angry at them, than they can be enraged againſt you; and it will not be long ere he eaſe himſelf and you …oo of th…ſe burthenſome oppreſſours, Iſa. 1. 24. Therefore ſaith the Lord, the Lord of Hoſts, the mighty one of Iſrael, Ah I will caſe me of my adverſaries, and avenge me of my enemies. Fear becomes them that have ſuch a mighty God their enemy, not you that have him to be your Father and Defender.