A Covert from the Storm, Doctrine 7
The Seventh Doctrine.
Whatſoever ſufferings he is expoſed to, a Chriſtian muſt be faithful.
All the children of Abraham ſhould reſemble their father; of whom it is ſaid, that the Lord found his heart faithful before him, Neh. 9. 8. This charge in the text is ſtrict, Be thou faithful: And truly 'tis but needful, if theſe three things are conſidered.
1. A Chriſtians heart is treacherous, and apt to ſtart aſide like a deceitful bow A beſieged City, when the beſiegers, have friends w…thin the walls, that are ready to lay hold of any opportunity to betray it, the Inhabitants had need to be the more circumſpect and vigilant. Such a City is the embleme of a believer; though his heart be renewed, yet 'tis only in part, it remains ſtill in part corrupted, and that corruption ſides with the tempter, and is ready to yield and open to him. Faithfulneſs therefore to the Lord, and to himſelf is often to be preſſed upon the Chriſtian.
2. Shaking temptations are likely to be met with, Mat. 7. 27. The rain will deſcend, and the floods come, and the winds blow and beat upon the houſe, to try whether it is founded on a Rock, or upon the ſand onelyonly.
1. This charge to be faithful is very requiſite, if we conſider, that in time of ſhaking, many will take offence, and depart from Chriſt. Chriſtians in ſhew will then diſcover their want of faith, and love in truth: And when theſe fall off, the Saints had need to be cautioned. Do not you alſo leave me. That ſo they may reply with Peter, Joh. 6. 67, 68. Lord, to whom ſhall we go? Thou haſt the words of eternal life; and eternal life it ſelf to beſtow on us.
In the further handling of this Doctrine. Firſt, I ſhall ſhew what it is to be faithful; Secondly, I ſhall give good and ſufficient reaſon, why a Chriſtian ſhould be faithful.
In the firſt place, I am to ſhew what it is to be faithful. This Apoſtle does briefly, and yet excellently ſet forth, 1 Tim. 1. 18, 19. This charge I commit unto thee ſon Timothy, according to the propheſies which went before on thee, that by them thou mighteſt war a good warfare, holding Faith and a good Conſcience. And in holding theſe, we hold all that is worth our care to ſecure.
The Epithite Precious is given to Faith, 2 Pet. 1. 1. To them who have obtained the precious faith with us. And if you would know how precious, you have it, 1 Pet. 1. 7. Faith is not only ſaid to be as precious as gold, but much more precious then gold, nay, much more precious then gold that periſheth, therefore 'tis to be held faſt.
Now in holding of Faith theſe five things are implied. We hold faſt; firſt, the Doctrine, Secondly, the Object. Thirdly, the Confidence. Fourthly, the Life. Fifthly, the Profeſſion of our faith without wavering.
1. He that is faithful, holds faſt the doctrine of faith. The truthes of Chriſt he looks upon as worth the buying at any rate: but nothing ſhall make him ſell them. Buy the truth, and ſell it not, ſaid wiſe Solomon. Truth is of God; a bright and glorious beam, that ſhines from the Sun of righteouſneſs. Truth is a Chriſtians Pilot, his Compaſs; he will quickly ſplit on ſome rock, or ſink in ſome ſand; if this be not heeded the Chriſtian is in a dark place, where ſtumbling blocks and ſnares are innumerable many: and the truth of Chriſt, the doctrine of faith is a light unto his feet, and a lamp unto his paths.
The Church of Pergamus though they welt where Satans ſeat was, yet ſayes Chriſt, Rev. 2. 13. Thou holdeſt faſt my name, and haſt not decayed my Faith; that is, my doctrine, which I delivered to be believed and obeyed. Rather then the Goſpel ſhould be let go, and buried in ſilence, we muſt venture all for its propagation. Even Peace it ſelf, we are to endeavour after no further then conſiſtent with truth. The Apoſtle matter'd not what troubles and ſtir the Goſpel occaſioned, and though Satan and the ungodly did ſtorm at the light, they boldly did publiſh that meſſage which they had a command to deliver. foreign. As long as the Goſpel lives and thrives; no matter what diſturbances are created by its enemies.
2. He that is faithful holds faſt the Object of Faith. Now the Object of faith is ſaid down; Joh. 14. 1. Ye believe in God, believe alſo in me, ſayes Chriſt to his Diſciples. 'Tis our duty, and our ſafety to cleave unto the onelyonly true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom he hath ſent. A believer keeps his hold of God, who is his ſhield, and exceeding great reward; who can defend him from evil, or turn thoſe evils which he feels, to his advantage, who can crown him with loving kindneſs, and ſuch mercies as are tender, ſutable, ſatisfactory and ſure. Neither will he let go his hold of Jeſus Chriſt who brought him near, and keeps him near unto this God, who guides him by his ſpirit, who by vertue of his blood and interceſſion, is continually making up the breaches that the believers ſinful infirmities do make; and who out of his fulneſs is ready to impart whatever grace in any time of need is neceſſary. 3. He that is faithful holds faſt his aſſurance and confidence of faith. A…ter he hath given all diligence to attain aſſurance, he is loth to loſe what coſt him ſuch pains to get. The Apoſtle pr…ſſes this again and again, Heb. 3. 6. But Chriſt as a ſon over his own houſe, whoſe houſe we are, if we hold faſt the confidence and rejoycing of hope firm unto the end. And Heb. 10. 5. Caſt not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompence of reward. Aſſurance of faith is a mighty ſupport in the evil day. The eye of faith when faith is heightned into a full perſwaſion and confidence, will look through the clouds, and behold God ſmiling when men do frown: faith will hear God ſpeaking peace in a ſtill voyce, when the mouths of men are full of threatnings and furious rebukes: Faith will perceive the better ſubſtance enduring, when earthly goods are taken away,
But when troubles on earth ſurround us on every ſide, and we are at uncertainties what will be our lot in the next world: When there are fightings without, and in reference to our ſpiritual eſtate, doubts and fears within; this will render our condition doleful. Oh therefore labour and pray for aſſurance, cheriſh not any diſtemper of heart, give no place to the Devil, for thus doing will feed your fears, and ſtrengthen your unbelief.
4. He that is faithful holds faſt the life of faith. As this is the ſafeſt, ſo 'tis the ſweeteſt life on earth. They that walk by ſight and not by faith, will preſently grow faint and weary in the hour of temptation. If fleſh and blood are conſulted with, if our murmuring and repining ſenſes are heeded, we ſhall refuſe to rowe againſt the ſtream, and be carryed away with the corruption of the times we live in. If Moſes had been led by ſenſe, his choice and practice would have been contrary to what it was. Senſe would have prized Honour, and ſo he would have ſtill been called the Son of Pharaohs Daughter. Senſe would have coveted wealth and delight, and ſo he would have had his heart glewed to the pleaſures of ſin, and the treaſures of Egypt. But Moſes walked by faith, and therefore choſe to ſuffer afflictions with the people of God, he eſteemed it part of his riches to be reproached for Chriſt, for faith continually ſhewed Him that is inviſible and the Recompence of reward to him, Heb. 11. 24, 25, 26, 27.
So the Apoſtle walked by faith, and profeſſeth Gal. 2. 20. I am crucified with Chriſt, nevertheleſs, I live; yet not I, but Chriſt liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the fleſh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himſelf for me. They that live by faith ſtay themſelves upon the promiſes of ſuſtentation, and no weight can▪ ſink them: they c…ſt their burthens and themſelves too upon the Lord, who being faithful will not ſuffer them to be tempted above what they are able.
5. He that is faithful holds faſt the Profeſſion of his faith. He heeds that admonition of the Apoſtle, Heb. 10. 25. Let us hold faſt the profeſſion of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful that hath promiſed. He is not aſham'd of his Lord & Maſter, nay eſteems it an honour for his Maſters ſake to be deſpiſed. Though the Kings and Rulers of the earth take counſel, and ſet themſelves againſt the Lords Chriſt, yet the faithfu… ſervant will ſtick to him. He is not aſhamed to be of that way that is every wher… ſpoken againſt; He is not aſhamed of that Goſpel, which is a ſtumbling block to the Jewes, to the Greeks fooliſhneſs; he is not aſhamed of that word which a ſinful and adulterous Generation reproach, and have no delight in it, Jer. 6. 10.
His principal care and ſtudy indeed is to be a ſincere lover, and real practiſer of Religion; and yet he is not afraid to be an open profeſſour, though thereby it comes to paſs that he is evil entreated by religious enemies. That's the firſt thing implyed in being faithful, namely Holding Faith.
2. To be faithful is alſo to hold a good conſcience. When Paul ſtood before the Council, earneſtly beholding them he proteſted, I have lived in all good conſcience before God unto this day, Acts 23. 1. So Acts 24. 16. Herein do I exerciſe my ſelf, to have a conſcience void of offence towards God and towards men. The unſtedfaſt profeſſour regards not his conſcience, makes nothing of wounding and defiling it. But the faithful ſoul ſpeaks much what the ſame language with holy Job, chap. 27. 5, 6. Till I dye I will not remove my integrity from me; my righteouſneſs I hold faſt, and will not let it go, my heart ſhall not reproach me ſo long as I live.
There are theſe three things that argue a good conſcience.
1. Where the conſcience is good, no ſinful deſigns are carryed on. Si…iſter aimes are not allowed by one that is faithful. If his treacherous heart begin to have a ſquin… eye at his own praiſe or profit, he checks it preſently. What he doth, he deſigns that God may have the glory of; and ſurely the glory is the Lords due, ſince his ſtrengthening grace doth all in us, and for us. And by ſuffering, the faithful man aimes not at the advancing his own repute, but that Chriſt may be magnified by his tryals, his patience and joy in them. And if the world be convinced, the weak confirmed, if the Goſpel get ground, and the Lord Jeſus be by a greater multitude prized and admired, he hath his end.
2. Where the conſcience is good, ungodly deſires are not harbour'd. He that is faithful looks well to his deſires, that they be preſerved pure. The World is undeſirable, ſin is abominable, but his ſoul thirſteth for God, for the living God, Pſal. 42. 2. and ſufferings are willingly undergone, ſo this thirſt may be ſatisfied.
3. Where conſcience is good, 'tis purged from dead works, Heb. 9. 14. How much more ſhall the blood of Chriſt, who through the eternal Spirit …ffered himſelf without ſpot to God, purge your conſciences from dead works to ſerve the living God? A good conſcience will not wink at unwarrantable practiſes, will not connive at not doing the work of the Lord, or doing that work negligently. He that is faithful makes conſcience to walk before God in truth, though never ſo many in their works deny the Lord: he is grieved and vexed at others filthy converſation, and orders his own aright; and ſo though for a while he is uſed hardly, he comes at length to ſee the ſalvation of God, Pſal. 50. ult.
In the ſecond place I am to lay down the Reaſons why a Chriſtian ſhould be faithful.
1. A Chriſ…ian is under a command to be faithful. And this command to be ſtedfaſt, is very expreſſive, 'tis very much pr…ſſed in Scripture, 1 Cor. 15. 58. Be ſtedfaſt, unmovable, alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord. Phil. 4. 1. So ſtand faſt in the Lord my dearly beloved. 1 Cor. 16. 13. Watch ye ſtand faſt in the faith, quit ye like men. Joh. 8. 31. Jeſus ſaid unto them that believed on him; if ye continue in my word, then are ye my Diſciples indeed. Moſes likewiſe of old, did harp upon this ſtring; commanding the children of Iſrael not only to turn, but to cleave unto the Lord, Deut. 30. 20. That thou mayeſt love the Lord thy God, and obey his voice, and cleave unto him, for he is thy life. And they are forbid to turn either to the right hand, or the left from following the Lord their God. Now all theſe commands make the Chriſtians obligation to faithfulneſs the ſtronger: and truly to be unfaithful is not a ſingle ſin, for he that leaves the Lord, how fearfully muſt he be drawn into tranſgreſſion.
2. A Chriſtian is under covenant to he faithful. Deut. 26. 17. He has avouched the Lord to be his God. He was given up to God betimes, and how often has he made of himſelf a freſh reſignation, upon dayes of humiliation? and when he has eat and drunk at the Lords table, his covenant to be the Lords has been renewed. How often has the Chriſtian profeſſed, that his heart and members were not his own but Gods, to dwell in, and to make uſe of: this is another reaſon, and a ſtrong one why he ſhould be faithful. The Lord is the Chriſtians, and the Chriſtian is the Lords portion. The Lords portion is his people, and Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. Now Gods inheritance ſhould be for his uſe, and ſhould in no wiſe be alienated.
3. The God of believers is faithful, therefore they ſhall reſemble him. The Scripture ſpeaks in a glorious ſtrain concerning the faithfulneſs of God. He is ſaid to keep truth for ever. The hills and mountains ſtand not ſo firm as his covenant ſhall. Lev. 54. 10. For the mountains ſhall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindneſs ſhall not depart from thee, nor the covenant of my peace be removed, ſaith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. Nay the Scripture goes much higher then the Mountains, in ſetting forth this faithfulneſs, I have ſaid, mercy ſhall be built up for ever; Thy faithfulneſs ſhalt thou eſtabliſh in the very Heavens. And being thus eſtabliſhed, nothing on earth can ſhake their faithfulneſs, 'twill be as apparent and illuſtrious as the Heavens are: The Ordinances of Heaven, as the Sun by day, and of the Moon and Stars by night, are not more unalterable than the Lords Covenant, Jer. 31. 33, 34, 35, 36.
4. The Lord is glorified by a Chriſtians proving faithful. It reflects diſhonour upon him when his Servants leave him. Oh then how faithful ſhould they be? The worlds prejudices againſt the Lords ſervice are heightned, and they are hardned in their ſtubborn and evil way, when they behold profeſſours apoſtatize, and become again their companions in the paths of folly and wickedneſs. But the faithful man cauſes the way of truth to be well ſpoken of; by his faithfulneſs he proclaims his Maſters goodneſs and his power, and both wayes is his Maſter glorified.
1. He proclaims his Maſters goodneſs, and that he hath made the beſt choyce, ſince he will ſuffer any thing rather than part with his Lord. The Iſraelitiſh ſervant that refuſed to go out free at the year of releaſe, and had his ear boared through with an Awl, 'twas a plain demonſtration of his Maſters kindneſs, ſince liberty was not ſo …uch eſteemed as his ſervice. And ſo when we are unmovable in our Lords work, we tell the World that our Maſter is exceeding gracious; and who knows but that by this means the number of his ſervants may be increaſed?
2. The man that's faithful proclaims his Lords power. The power of Chriſt doth reſt upon him, elſe he would be unſtable as water, who through Chriſt ſtrengthening of him is like the very Rock unſhaken; and the more weak the Believer is, the more glorious is his power in whom he believes.
USE I.
Of Reproof, and I ſhall direct it to two ſorts of perſons.
1. The fickle and unconſtant are to be reproved. Their ſpirit is unſtedfaſt with the Lord, if the World make proffer of its good things, or threaten them with evil. Vain hopes draw them away, vain fears drive them away from Chriſt. Somtimes they ſeem to be his humble Servants; but this is only an hypocritical kind of complement; Self they are reſolved to ſerve, to pleaſe, and to ſecure, whatever become of Chriſt, his Honour, and his Goſpel.
2. They are to be reproved that are in an ill ſenſe faithful; Faithful to their ſins, which are the worſt maſters; unmoveable in their reſolution to make proviſion for the fl…ſh, to fulfil the luſts thereof. There is a ſtrange ſtou…neſs of ſpirit, and fixedneſs in evil, that is to be found in thouſands: Their neck is like an iron ſinew, their brow like braſs; they make their faces harder then a rock, they refuſe to return. Say what we will, ſin is their maſter, and ſin they will ſerve, though they be told an hundred and an hundred times that death is its wages. They a…e as unchangeable in evil as the ſpots of the Leopard, …or the blackneſs of the Ethiopian. Oh that we would learn of ſins vaſſals, to be as faithful to the beſt, as they are to the worſt Lord.
USE II.
Of Exhortation. Let me preſs you to be faithful.
1. How many obligations lye upon you to be ſtedfaſt? infinite millions of encouragements …he gives you: the more conſtant, the more comfort and peace is found. Great peace have they, ſayes David, that love thy law, and nothing ſhall offend them. Every mercy of thoſe many thouſands you receive, ſhould be a cord to …ye you faſter unto God; and what ſtrange kind of hearts have you, if ſo many cords are ſ…apt aſunder, and ſo many obligations are forgotten.
2. Whom do you leave when you are unfaithful? you forſake that Lord whoſe loving kindneſs is ſo excellent, who is able to perform all things for you, whoſe allſufficiency can furniſh you though never ſo indigent. This God you leave, and for what do you leave him? 'Tis for that which is not bread? 'Tis for that which can never ſatisfie, Iſa. 55. 2.
3. By unfaithfulneſs you not only deprive your ſelves of the Lords goodneſs, but engage him againſt you, Ezra 8. 22. His hand is upon all them for good that ſeek him, but his power and his wrath is againſt thoſe that forſake him. And wrath armed with ſuch power is dreadful. God greatly abhors the backſlider: when his ancient people turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers, 'tis ſaid, When the Lord heard this he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Iſrael, Pſal. 78. 57, 59.
4. If you are faithful with God, you ſhall find by experience his wayes to be truth and mercy, Pſal. 25. 10. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, unto ſuch as keep his covenant and his teſtimonies. His promiſes you ſhall experience to be true; his mercies will all in mercy be…oved; Nay there will be mercy in every affliction, in every diſtreſs, mercy ſupporting, mercy reviving, mercy turning all things to the beſt: As the Philoſophers ſtone is ſaid to turn all me…tals into gold.
USE III.
Of direction how to be made faithful.
1. Be ſenſible of the treachery of your own ſpirits, and let this make you the more jealous of your ſelves all your dayes. Watch ye, ſtand faſt, ſayes the Apoſtle. If you would ſtand faſt you muſt be exceeding vigilant. Watch that nothing come in at the door of your ſenſes, which may prove a ſnare; and that nothing go out of your heart which may defile you. When firſt the heart begins to grow weary of well-doing, or to hearken to the tempter, obſerve it, and being apprehenſive of your danger, cry to be quickned and eſtabliſhed.
2. Pray to be upheld by the ſpirit of the Lord. Thus did David, Pſal. 51. 12. Reſtore unto me the joy of thy ſalvation, and uphold me with thy free ſpirit. Where the ſpirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, life, holineſs, ſtrength. Grieve not the ſpirit, but be obſequious to him, and he will ſtrengthen you with might in your inward man. When Chriſt was about to go away, and part with his Diſciples, he promiſes to ſend the ſpirit who ſhould abide with them for ever; and 'twas by this ſpirit that they were born up and carried thorow all their work, and the difficulties that attended it.
3. Plead the Covenant, one clauſe whereof is this; I will not turn away …from them to do them good, and I will put my fear into their hearts that they ſhall not depart from me, Jer. 32. 40. Again he ſaith, Jer. 3. 19. Thou ſhalt call me my Father, and ſhalt not depart from me. Prize theſe promiſes, plead them, believe them, and as ſure as God is faithful, he will make you faithful whatever your ſufferings or temptations be.