Gods Husbandry, Sermon 2 · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. Containing the third vſe of the poynt, to incourage the Saints in ſtriuing againſt ſinne, becauſe the Lord will helpe them in this labour, and they ſhall ſurely preuaile.
BVt this poynt doth yeeld likewiſe a third vſe, Vſe 3 Incouragement to proceed in reſiſting of ſinne.to animate the people of God to a reſolute oppoſing of all their corruptions, becauſe, loe the God of heauen is ready at hand, to cut off thoſe euils which they are hewing at. A man is ſure of ſucceſſe in the worke of mortification, if he want not diligence to labour in that worke. The fleſh muſt downe, corruptions ſhall tumble, the Spirit ſhall bee victorious; ſtronger is he that is in vsus, then he which is in the world; and certainly the grace of God ſhall hauehave the vpper hand, and our faith ſhall bee our victory. We are many times little leſſe then out of heart, becauſe the proceedings doe ſeeme very ſlow, and well-neere indiſcernable. But bee not diſcouraged, O ye Chriſtian ſoules, promiſe your ſelues victory in this ſpirituall conflict; for the Lord doth fight on your ſide, and you ſhall conquer. In truth, we want much of that mortification which we might attaine, if out of this confidence we would put forth our ſelues to the vtmoſt. The diuel labours to make vsus beleeue, that it wil be to no purpoſe to reſiſt our luſts: wee hauehave ſo often reſolued to leaue ſuch a fault, and cannot yet leaue it; we hauehave thus often reſolued againſt anger, luſt, pride, worldlineſſe, and the like, and yet behold, the paſſions and motions of them are ſtirring, and alſo breake forth againe; ſure therefore it will neuer be better, and it is in vaine to continue ſtriuing about that, which cannot bee effected. Theſe be the heartleſſe and vnbeleeuing concluſions, wherewith the diuell and the fleſh would diſmay vsus.
But now know thou that theſe concluſions are falſe. I tell thee the quite contrary in the name of the Lord: It ſhall not be in vaine to ſtriue againſt ſinne: the husbandman will prune the branches; and ſhall not hee bee able to bring his workes to paſſe according to his promiſe? Tell me from thine owne feeling: doe not theſe ſins vexe thee more and more, and art thou not more and more angry and diſcontented againſt thy ſelfe for them, and more and more out of louelove with thy ſelfe becauſe of them? if ſo, as ſure thou canſt not deny but it is ſo, then all is ſafe; this is to be in pruning, now the ſinne is dying: onelyonly doe thou make vſe of Gods words to Ioſhua, fighting againſt the Canaanites: Faint not, nor bee diſcouraged, but take to thy ſelfe a valiant ſpirit, to continue praying againſt, meditating on the Word of God, and the death of Chriſt, oppoſing the firſt motions of it, and vſing all other good wayes that God hath directed thee vntounto, for the ſubduing of it, and I ſay vntounto thee, thou ſhalt proſper: goe vp and fight againſt theſe Philiſtims, and the Lord will deliuer them into thine hands. Our want of being ſufficiently purged, doth come from want of ſufficient indeuours to purge our ſelues; and this want ſpringeth from a want of faithful aſſurance of Gods aſſiſtance, and good ſucceſſe in our indeuours. But now I beſeech you all that bee members of Chriſt, ſet in earneſtly and with a good courage, and you ſhall vanquiſh them, you ſhall more and more preuaile againſt them, till at laſt you hauehave quite ouercome them, in the ouercomming of the laſt enemy, which is death. If wee did labour againſt ſin alone in our owne ſtrength, we ſhould finde indeed, that vaine is the helpe of man, and the labour of fleſh and blood in this behalfe; but the God of heauen, he is the husbandman, and hee pruneth. The Lord is preſent with thy prayers, to make them effectuall for the killing of thy luſts. The Lord is preſent in his Word, to make it a two-edged ſword, to cut off all carnall affections, and to wound the body of death more and more. The Lord is preſent with thine holy meditations, to make them effectuall to weaken any of thy ſinfull paſſions. Faint not therefore, but ſtir vp thy ſelfe to worke with God in thoſe holy exerciſes, & know, that thy ſucceſſe ſhall be, as often it hath been with Gods people in the naturall battell, farre beyond thine expectation. And of the matter of Gods Husbandry ſo farre. We muſt now looke into the end and effect of it: (for God will neuer miſſe of his ends, though hee often miſſe of thoſe ends, whereto his actions in their owne nature are fitted, and which, ſpeaking after the manner of men to our capacity, he tells vsus that he intended.) This is, that they may bring forth more fruit.