Mercy Magnified, Sermon 25
SERMON XXV.
THere are ſome other more particular uſeful obſervations may be here made, viz.
DOCT. 1. God uſeth his Servants as instruments …n beſtowing his ſpiritual bleſſing upon his Children.
He doth not uſually diſpenſe theſe things immediatly, but in and with the means. We may here conſider. 1. Who are theſe Servants. 2. The confirmation of the Doctrine.
1. Who are theſe Servants?
Anſw. Touching the Miniſtry of the Holy Angels, though the thing be a truth, Heb. 1. 14. Yet the way is more ſecret: and I verily believe they do more for the Saints than they are aware of, and may be as active in ſuggeſtion of that which is good, as ſatan that which is evil: But I ſhall not adventure here to particularize, therefore,
2. By theſe ſervants we may underſtand the Miniſters of the Goſpel, who are appointed to this end, to be labourers under Chriſt for the help of the Elect, and bringing of them to Glory, Eph. 4. 10, 11, 12. theſe are therefore called Ambaſſadours for Chriſt, 2 Cor. 5. 20. Now Ambaſſadours are the repreſentatives of their Princes, and manage forreign affairs in their name; and theſe do diſpence for Chriſt the Goſpel of Reconciliation. verſ. 19. Hence they are called Miniſters, and Stewards, 1 Cor. 4. 1. Whoſe work is to diſtribute their Maſters Eſtate according to order. They are alſo called Deacons, 1 Cor. 3. 5. Becauſe as they do by office diſtribute the outward, ſo do theſe the ſpiritual treaſures.
2. For Confirmation of the Doctrine: The Scripture gives us clear light for this truth; beſides that Allegorical direction, Cant. 1. 7, 8. See, Mal. 2. 7: The Prieſts lips ſhould keep knowledge, and they ſhould ask the Law at his mouth. Which is ſpoken of Goſpel times: beſides illuſtrious examples add confirmation to it; that of Paul, Act. 9: 14: of Cornelius, Act: 10: of the Eunuch, Act: 8: ſhew what care God takes to ratifie this way. Though Paul be enlightened and awakened extraordinarily, he muſt be confirmed and comforted by a Miniſter: Though an Angel appear to comfort Cornelius and counſel him, yet his inſtruction and receiving the ſpirit, muſt be under Peter's miniſtry: Though God works a miracle upon Philip to bring him to him, yet the Eunuch muſt receive the Goſpel by ordinary means: and the ground is,
1: Negatively; not for want of power in God; he needs not the aſſiſtance of Angels or men; he ſometimes doth without them; though to keep up and credit his appointed order, it is but ſeldom.
2: Poſitively; God doth it:
1: To ſuit our nature: the People begged that Moſes might ſpeak to them: God ſpeaks to us familiarly when he ſpeaks by men like our ſelves.
2: To honour his ſervants: it is an honour to any creature to be uſed by God in any ſervice of his; but to be uſed in the greateſt work, that is ſo much more; this is it which ſo elevates Paul, Eph: 3: 8: To me, who am leſs than the leaſt of all Saints, is this grace given, &c.
USE, 1: For Information,
1: See their folly who, contemning the ſervants of Chriſt, expect all their comforts and benefits to come from himſelf immediatly: They ſcorn to receive the beſt robe, &c. at the hands of Chriſt's Servants, but muſt have it from him without means, though (ſhould God grant us our deſire) it is moſt ſuitable that his Servants ſhould be helpful in it; yet it is a ſtrange frame in a Prodigal, that he will be limiting his Father, and telling him how he ſhall relieve him, or not at all? What? Can we not ſee the father's love in the gift, becauſe it is ſent by the hand of a Meſſenger? Well; if God's own way cannot content men, they are like to go without his bleſſing.
2. That thoſe are likely to receive the greateſt manifeſtations of Gods love to their ſoul, that are moſt careful and diligent in giving attendance to the Ordinances. In heaven indeed, we ſhall derive all immediatly from Chriſt, but upon earth it is otherwiſe: Hence that promiſe, Prov. 8. 35, 36. Bleſſed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my Gates, &c. It is vain for men to depend upon immediate revelations; Moſes and the Prophets they have, let them uſe them. Gods way is in his Temple. David deſires to dwell in Gods houſe, there to behold his beauty, Pſal. 27. 4. and declares ſuch as do ſo, to be bleſſed, becauſe they will still be praiſing him, Pſal. 84. 4. i. e. they will be alwayes finding matter of praiſe.
USE, For Exhortation: It may adviſe all ſuch as would receive the ſpiritual bleſſings of the Goſpel, to make uſe of the help of Chriſt's Servants, his Miniſters. Do you want help, relief, comfort? repair to them. Though it be true that God only can give it, and all means avail not without his bleſſing, yet is alſo true, that by them he diſpenſeth it ordinarily: Now, as the means are appointed by God, ſo he honours them with the preſence and efficacy of his ſpirit, which elſe is not to be expected, where there are ſuch advantages. Truth may be the ſame, ſpoken by a Miniſter and another, and yet it may come with more efficacy from ſuch an one, than from another; not from any vertue in him, but from the grace of God, who will thus own his own appointments. Are you in trouble and want help? May you not blame your ſelves? You ſay, Alas! What can ſuch an one ſtead me? I anſwer, not at all of himſelf, but God comes where he will, and may juſtly leave you without the bleſſing, if you diſpiſe his way: Let then the meſſages of peace be welcome to you; if God ſends you comfort by his Servants, do not refuſe, but receive it.
DOCT. 2. God teſtifieth his love to a penitent ſinner, not ſo much in words as in deeds.
We do not here obſerve that the Father is mentioned to ſay any thing, to his humble ſon, weeping out his confeſſions to him in his arms; but he calls for his ſervants, and commands them preſently to do for him, that which ſhall be a real teſtimony of his entire love: What is done for him ſhall ſpeak his affection better than ten thouſand complemental profeſſions.
USE, This may ſhew us the difference between God and men: Theſe make many proffers and proteſtations: ſay be fed, be clothed; but mean while the needy creature may periſh for all them: But now God ſeeing a miſerable ſoul in diſtreſs, he takes it up into his arms, gives him what he wants, cloths his nakedneſs, feeds his hunger, takes away his diſgrace. It may alſo direct us in clearing up our evidences; you are ready to ſay, could I but hear or underſtand him to ſpeak to me in this or that promiſe, it would greatly ſatisfie my doubts; but I reply, is there not a convincing language in deeds? and do you find that to be wrought in you which the promiſe ſpeaks of? is there ſuitable ſpiritual ſupply brought into your ſouls? Do you find that there which anſwers your wants? and ſhall not this ſatisfie and certifie you of your fathers love, and your intereſt in the Promiſe: Nay, you may ſafely thus argue the caſe, could he do this for me if he loved me not? Am I not dealt with as a ſon, and ſhall I any longer doubt of my ſonſhip.
DOCT. 3. There is a very eminent and glorious change wrought in Converſion.
This is expreſſed, verſ. 24. under two reſemblances, wherein the ſtate of man before and after converſion is oppoſed;
1. Of one that was dead, and is now alive: the natural man is ſpiritually dead, Eph. 2. 1. This part of the curſe actually fell upon Adam, as ſoon as he fell, and falls on his poſterity as ſoon as they are born, or have a being. They are every way like one that is dead, have no principle of ſpiritual life, being wholly without Sanctification, which was the informing principle of their Theological life: he can do nothing that is good, can neither ſtir hand or foot to the ſervice of God; he ſtinks in the noſtrils of God, all that comes from him is rotten and noiſom, he ſees, hears, underſtands nothing ſpiritually. But the convert is alive, Gal. 2. 20. I live; the Image of God is reſtored, his eyes are opened, ears bored, and he is made capable of doing God ſervice, and glorifying of him in his life; he can now ſavour the things of God, and walk in his wayes.
2. Of one that was loſt, and is found: Every Son and Daughter of Adam is loſt, gone aſtray, knows not the way of peace; is in a wilderneſs and cannot find the way out of it; cannot tell where he is, nor what he is doing, nor whither he is going, and will certainly be loſt for ever, if grace follow him not into the Wilderneſs: ſeek him out, take him up into arms of mercy and bring him home: But the Convert is found; grace hath ſought and found him in the mountains, ſet him in his right way, and becomes his conducter; and now he is going to eternal happineſs, and ſhall arrive at glory.
USE, 1. To teach us how unjuſtly they boaſt of their converſion, who are ſtill the ſame that they were; no changlings; whoſe lives and converſations are as dead and ſapleſs and unfavoury as ever; who are wandring from God and from his wayes: Let us aſſure our ſelves, that where grace hath been at work it will not be ſo, if men have received ſpiritual life, they will live; if they are found, they will ſeek and endeavour to keep in the way of peace, in Tit. 1. 16. See a vaſt difference between ſome that ſay they are converted, and ſuch as are ſo indeed.
USE, 2. For comfort to thoſe that find this change wrought in them: theſe are the beginnings of eternal life: This the father gives as the reaſon of the joyful feaſt; can you ſay you were dead and are alive? you have the ground of all conſolation in you, and may rejoyce in the midſt of all other ſorrows and troubles. He that lives ſpiritually, ſhall live eternally, and him whom Chriſt hath found, he will ſave, and he ſhall be loſt no more: He may have his wandrings, but he ſhall never wholly ſwerve.
DOCT. 4. The Believers joy is but begun in this life.
They began to be merry. They are but the ſips and foretaſtes, inchoations of joy which they partake in in this world: The Saints have joy here tranſcending all the worlds pleaſures and delights, ſuch as indeed they cannot ſo much as apprehend, 1 Cor. 2. 9. but compared with thoſe that are to come, they are but drops, eſſayes, inchoations.
Reaſ. 1. From the different manner of their fruition of the object of their joy: Their joy here, is for the moſt part a joy of hope, but afterwards it ſhall be a joy of poſſeſſion, Rom. 8. 24. 2 Cor. 5. 7. For we walk by faith, not by fight. They are now heirs, and their inheritance is glorious, and the fore-thought of it affords them great joy, but they are under Tutors, and Guardians the while; but then they ſhall take poſſeſſion of all the Glories of Heaven, and fulneſs of Chriſt: they now rejoyce that their names are written in Heaven; then they ſhall themſelves be there placed upon thrones, and wear Crowns.
Reaſ. 2. From the different degrees of their fruition: They have ſomething now to live upon by Faith, there is ſomething of heaven that doth come down into the ſouls of Believers here upon earth, but they are but earneſts, like a bunch of grapes to refreſh them in a wilderneſs; which, though it be ſweeter than all that is in the world, yet it is but little to that Canaan where theſe grow in abundance: they have ſpiced draughts here, but then the mountain of ſpices, Pſal. 16. ult. fulneſs of joy is in thy preſence.
Reaſ. 3. From the mixture and allays of their joyes here, which ſhall not be in another world. The joyes of Believers are here ſometimes interrupted, a cloud intercepts the Sun, a curtain is drawn before their window, they are in the dark and ſee no light: Though Faith be never loſt, yet ſenſe is many times taken away; they have broken bones to pain them: Yea, all along the preſence of ſin, that captivating power of the body of death, put them into mourning; their cleareſt ſunſhine is attended with ſhowers, ſo that their preſent joyes cannot be full: but there no cloud doth ariſe, that upper world enjoyes a perpetual ſerenity; There is no ſin to moleſt them, no frown of a father to deject them, nothing to cut off their full and endleſs communion with Jeſus Chriſt the fountain of life and glory.
USE, 1. This may help to ſtrengthen and augment a Believers preſent joy: There is a vaſt difference between a meer penny, and an earneſt penny: Though we ſee but a little light juſt at day breaking, yet this is the comfort of it, that it is an harbinger to, and witneſs of the Suns riſing ſhortly; ſo, though they be but weak and faint beams of comfort that are glimmering upon our hearts, yet this is our happineſs that they dart in to tell us that we ſhall ere long be put into poſſeſſion of all that felicity which Chriſt hath bought and paid for.
USE, 2. Let this alſo ſerve to ſweeten to our thoughts, the apprehenſion of our change: If a drop doth ſo refreſh thy ſoul, as to fetch it again to life, when juſt dying, think how bleſſed then are they who dwel by the fountain, and drink their fill of it every day? Ah what will it be to be in his armes everlaſtingly? Didſt thou hear his voice in an Ordinance, it was ſo full of charms, that thy raviſhed ſoul could hardly keep in from quitting its mortal tabernacle? What will it then be to feel his everlaſting embraces? How welcome ſhould this make the meſſenger of Death; yea, how pleaſantly may it make thee to meditate upon and put into thee a deſire to be diſſolved, and to be with Chriſt which is beſt of all.