Seven Sermons, Sermon 1
SERMON I.
Job 14.14.
All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come.
THIS Book relates the History of Iob's sufferings: he was a tall Cedar in grace, yet this Cedar grew in a Valley of Tears. Religion gives no Charter of Exemption from trouble. Iob's tryals were so sharp, that he began to grow weary of life, and was willing to have a Writ of Ease; to have his pass and be gone, Iob 14.13. Oh that thou wouldest hide me in the grave! This holy man was much afflicted in his meditations of his latter end: He walked among the Tombs, and walked into his Grave before it was digged, and by frequent thoughts laboured to make death familiar to him. All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come.
The Text is a large Field; I shall only as I pass along, pluck some few ears of corn.
In the words are these three general parts observable.
1. A description of Life; All my days.
2. The determination of Life; My appointed time.
3. A holy Resolution; I will wait till my change come.
I begin with the first.
First, Here is a description of Life; All the days.
Doct. Job doth not measure his life by years, but by days.
Nay, he calls life a day, in verse 6. of this chapter. Mans life is very much resembled to a day in three or four respects.
1. Life is like a day for the shortness of it: men dream of a long life, saith Austin. Men they do think of such a thing as an earthly Eternity, but it is a short day. Infancy, that is day break: Youth, that is Sun rising: Full growth, that is the Sun in its Meridian: Old age, is Sun setting: Sickness, is Evening; and then comes the night of Death. Life it is a day; and is it so short? but a day; why do we then rather lose time, than live it?
2. Life is like a day for the vicissitudes that are in it. A day hath much alteration and change of weather; the Morning that shews clear and bright; at Noon, black Clouds and Rain: one part of the day is calm and serene, the other part it is blusterous and windy: Such is our life, it is like a day; what change of weather is there in Man's life? What sudden alterations fall out? sometimes health, sometimes sickness, sometimes prosperity, and sometimes adversity: Here is change of weather; sometimes we see the White Lilly of Peace, sometimes again the Red Rose of a Bloody War appears: Here is change of weather.
3. Life it is a day for Labour: The day it is the time for working, Psal. 104.23. The Sun riseth, and man goeth forth to his work. Death is a sleeping time for the body: Life is a working time; a Christian hath no time to lie fallow, Phil. 2.12. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Work while it is day, Iohn 9.4. Still there is some work to do, either some sin to mortifie, or some grace to exercise.
4. And lastly, If a day be once past, you can never call that day again: so when once this day of life is past and gone, you cannot call it back.
Use, Briefly.
1. The thoughts of this that our lives is but a day, may serve to cool the intemperate heat of our affection to earthly things: we should not be much raised in the enjoyment of them, nor much dejected in the want of them: These under moon comforts they are not to be with us long; only a few days: Nay it is but a day: Why then should we be too much taken with them? Our life being so transient, made up of a few flying Minutes, it should much abate our affections to all things under the Sun. Abraham, I read of him, that he bought the possession of a burying place, Gen. 49. v. 30. The longest possession we have here on Earth, it is the possession of a burying place. So much for the first particular, a description of Life; it is not measured by years, but days; nay, it is shorter, it is but a day.
2. The second thing in the Text is the determination of Man's Life, in these words, My appointed time; the days of my appointed time. The Hebrew hath a double signification.
1. It signifies the days of my Warfare to militate; the days of my warfare,
Hence note this;
That a Christians Life here on Earth it is no other than a warfare.
1 Tim. 1,18. That thou mayest war a good warfare. It is not an easie life, a life of sloth and pleasure; it is a warfare; all the days of my warfare. A Christians Life it is a warfare in three respects.
1. In respect of Hardship.
2. Watchfulness.
3. Combate.
First, In respect of Hardships; a Souldier he doth endure much hardship; he hath not his soft bed, nor his dainty fare, but goes thorough many a tedious March; such is a Christian's life, 2 Tim. 2.3. Thou therefore indure hardship as a good Souldier of Iesus Christ. We must not be, as Tertullian saith, silken Christians, but expect to wrestle with difficulties.
Secondly, A Christians life is a warfare, in respect of Watchfulness: We must stand Sentinel, and be ever upon our Guard. The Souldier gets up into the Watch-tower, sends out his Scouts, lest the Enemy should surprize him. It was Christs watch-word, Mark 13.37. I say unto you all, Watch. A subtle Heart needs a watchful Eye. Watch lest sin doth decoy you, lest Sat…n falls upon you when you are asleep on your Guard: when you have been praying against sin, then you must watch against temptation.
Thirdly, A Christians life it is a warfare for Combate. We all of us come into the world as into Field-battle; we stand just as the Jews did, Nehem. 4.17. Every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and in the other hand held a weapon. Just such is our Military posture, working and fighting in order to this holy warfare; we must get our Spiritual Armour ready, the Breastplate of Holiness, which can never be shot thorow; and having got this Armour, and the Shield of Faith in our hands, we must now give battle to our Spiritual Enemies, 2 Tim. 4.7. I have fought the good fight of Faith; yea and we must maintain a Combate with the flesh, and that for an Enemy Satan.
To encourage us in this Warfare, consider but these two things.
First, We have a good Captain, Jesus Christ, he is called the Captain of our Salvation, Heb. 2.10. Christ not only leads us in our march, and gives us skill to fight, but he gives us strength also. A Captain he may give his Souldiers Armour, but he cannot give them strength to fight, but Christ doth, Isa. 41.10. I will strengthen thee, yea I will help thee.
Secondly, To encourage us in this warfare against Sin and Satan, having overcome our Ghostly Enemy, then we shall have a glorious Recompence of Reward: Henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, 2▪ Tim. 4.8. A Crown, it is not fit for every one; a Crown, it is not fit for every head, only Princes, Kings, persons of Renown. After our Combate with Sin and Satan, God will call us out of the Field, where the Bullets of Temptation did flie so fast, and will give us a victorious Crown, then no more Battle, but there shall be Musick, not the Drum and the Cannon, but the Viol and the Harp shall sound, Rev. 14.2.
Use 2.
Is Life a Warfare? how unworthy and blameable are they, who have no Spiritual Artillery, nor do make out against their Spiritual Enemies? they spend their time in dressing themselves, but do not put on their holy Armour. And rejoyce in the sound of the Organ. They spend their days in mirth, as if their lives were rather for Musick than for Battle. I have read of one, he would have no mans name written upon his Tomb, but he who died manfully in War. God writes no mans name in the Book of Life, but such as die in this holy War, die in Battle, fighting this good fight of Faith.
Secondly, Let us consider this word in the Text in the other signification, The days of my appointed time; my appointed time,
Hence observe this;
Doct. That God hath prefixt the just time and period of every mans Life.
Iob 14.5. His days are determined; thou hast appointed the bounds that he cannot pass. God who numbers ours hairs, numbers our days. He hath entred down in his Decree how long our lives shall last, and we shall not live one hour nor minute beyond the time prefixt. Therefore do not say, If such a casualty had not happened, such a friend had not died so soon.
Obj. But is it not said in Eccles. 7.16▪ Be not over-much wicked, why shouldest thou die before thy time?
Ans. There is a general time of life, and there is a limited time of life: There is a general time, in regard of the course of Nature; and there is a limited time, in regard of Gods Decree, how long such a person shall live. Now a man that dies young, or dies a violent death, he dies before his time, in regard of the course of Nature, but he doth not die before the time that God hath limited and appointed.
Use 1.
First Use is, to admonish us all to beware of adjourning and putting off our Repentance. Our days they are certain to God, but they are uncertain to us: The Lord knows how long our Glass will be running; for ought we know there is but a few Sands more to run; life may expire in an instant; when our breath goes out, we know not whether we shall draw it in again. 'It is true, Hezekiah had a Lease sealed him of fifteen years, but we have no such Lease; we are Tenants at will, and may be turned out presently; our time of life is known to God, but not to us; therefore take heed of procrastinating and delaying: death may be sent to any of you this night with a Habeas Corpus: God may say, Give an account of your Stewardships.
Secondly, Is the time of our life appointed, and the number of our days set? why then, this should teach us courage for God; be not fearful of doing your duty to appear for God, to own his Cause in an Idolatrous generation, to vindicate Gods Truth, wherein his glory is so concerned; so the Text saith, Our time is appointed. Men can take away our Liberty when they will; they shall not touch a hair of our heads till Gods time is come. This made our blessed Saviour so zealous for his Fathers Honour, so sharp in his Reproof against sin. Whence was Christ so couragious? Iohn 8.20. For his hour was not yet come. Christ knew full well that all his Enemies could not take away his life, till the time was come which his Father had appointed: This should make us like Athanasius, that Bulwark of the Nation.
Thirdly, The third thing in the Text is Iob's holy Resolution; I will wait till my change come, that is, I will wait till death come.
Hence note this,
Doct. That death, whenever it comes, it makes a great change.
First, This change that death will make, it is a certain change; there is no avoiding it, Psal. 89.48. What man is he that lives and shall not see death? Heb. 9.27. It is not strength, it is not courage, it is not any worldly grandure can exempt from death: deaths Sword cuts asunder the Royal Scepter. The godly they must die as well as others. Though death doth not destroy the treasure of Grace, yet death breaks the Vessel that this treasure is in. Pliny, he speaks of a golden Vine that is not subject to storms. The body of a Saint, when glorified, shall be be like that golden Vine, but now it is a withering Vine, and is soon blasted by death. We are not so sure to lie down in our beds, as we are to lie down in our graves.
Secondly, The change that death makes, it is a visible change: how strangely is the body metamorphosed at death, that one scarce knows their friends, they are so disfigured by death! the Eyes hollow, the Jaws fallen; death carries away all the goodly spoil of beauty; it changes a living body into a carkass, Psal. 39.11. Thou makest the beauty to consume like a Moth. Take a body of the finest spinning, the Lilly and the Purple, white and ruddy, when once death, as a Moth, gets into it, it consumes all the luster and glory of it. Death puts the body into a very frightful dress, that nothing can fall in love with it but the Worms.
Thirdly, The change that death makes, it is often a very sudden change: death steals upon some unawares; as one I have read of was suddenly choaked with the kernel of a Grape. What quick dispatch do several distempers make! death oftentimes strikes, and gives no warning.
Fourthly and lastly, The change that death makes, it is an unalterable change: As the Tree falls, so it lies to eternity. Death is a change that puts us into an unchangeable condition.
Application.
First, See what a different change death makes to the Righteous, and to the Wicked▪ both are changed at death; but there is a vast difference.
First, Death makes a dreadful change to the Wicked; it is a Trapdoor to let them down to Hell. The Wicked that live here in gallantry and splendor, that are clothed in Purple, and fare deliciously every day, oh but when death comes they will find an alteration. Death will throw the Wicked down from the top of the pinacle of their honour, Rev. 18.22. I allude to it, The voice of the Harper shall be heard no more in thee.
There is a River in America that runs in the day, but in the night it is dried up: so these pleasures that now run in the life-time in a full current at the night of death, shall all be dried up. Nor will the ungodly only lose their suggared things; but here is their misery, their Souls must be steeped in the flames of Hell, Mark 9.44. where the Worm dies not. Such a fire is kindled in Gods anger, that no tears can quench it, nor no time can finish it. We read that the Servant under the Law, if he had a hard Master, yet at the seven years end there was a Jubilee, a year of Release, when the Servant might go off from him; but in Hell torments there is no year of Jubilee, Rev. 9.6. Men shall seek death, and shall not find it. If a spark of Gods anger falling into a mans Conscience, be so full of torture in this life; oh then how terrible will it be to have the fire of Gods wrath to lie in for ever! Thus you see death will be a sad change to the unrighteous: Therefore surely the very thoughts of death must needs be terrible to a wicked man.
Secondly, It will be a glorious change to all Righteous persons; they shall have their fetters of sin knockt off, and shall drink of the Rivers of pleasure: Oh blessed change! from a weary Pilgrimage, to a blessed Paradice; from Labour, to Eternal Rest. In short, death to a Child of God, it is a friend: Death it is a pale Horse to carry a Believer home to his Fathers house. Death gives a full possession of glory. There is a Freehold in Law, and there is a Freehold in Deed. A Believer now hath a Freehold in Law, that is, he hath a Right to Heaven, but at death he hath a Freehold in Deed: He makes Entry of it, and takes Possession. Death pulls down this old Building, this House of Clay, and prepares for the Soul a better House, a House not made with hands; Oh blessed change to the Righteous! and this may be comfort in the death of Christian friends; whenever they are changed by death, they are sure to change for the better; they go instantly into a blessed Eternity.
Second Use is of Exhortation.
Does death make such a change, a certain change, a visible change, and sometimes a sudden change, and an unalterable change? Let us all labour to be fitted for this great change. It is a very sad thing, as Iob saith, to have the grave ready for us, and we not ready for the grave. When death surprizes the unprepared Soul, what a condition will he be in? he will say as those, Oh death! I pray thee let me be excused one day more, one hour more, to prepare my self; but death will neither be bribed nor courted. Iob cursed the day of his birth. Unprepared Souls will curse the day of their death. Oh then be fitted for this last end! and for that purpose labour for a holy change: get grace into your Souls; death cannot hurt grace: Grace is Armour of proof; it can never be shot thorow. Grace, it is as needful for the Soul, as Oil is for the Lamp. Christians, get holy hearts; be as Christs Bride: get your selves ready; dress your selves every day by the Glass of Gods Word: see your spots in that Glass; and when you have seen them, wash them off by Repenting tears. Adorn the hidden Man of your hearts with Love, Meekness, Holiness; and put on the Lord Jesus, which is your clothing of wrought Gold. By having this holy change wrought, you will be fitted for your last and great change.
To conclude all:
You that are prepared, live in a continual expectation of this great change; so did Iob in the Text; I will wait till my change come.
First, Live in hope till this change come.
Secondly, Be patient till this change come.
First, Live in hope till this change come. This word in the Text, I will wait, in the Hebrew it is, I will hope till my change come. The Husbandman having sowed his seed, he hopes for a crop: Having sowed the seed of true Repentance, now hope for a full crop of glory at death.
Secondly and lastly, Be patient till this change come; I will wait, saith Iob; in the Greek it is, I will be patient till my change come.
Indeed, the troubles that the Righteous suffer here, and that great preferment they shall have in Heaven, may be ready to cause impatience to stay here any longer; but take heed of this; we must not be our own Carvers: God knows the best season when he will send for his Children home; therefore we must wait but a while, then we shall enjoy our wish, and that is, to have Christs sweet Imbraces, and to lie in the Bosom of Divine Love.