The Intercourses of Divine Love Betwixt Christ and His Church, Sermon 37
Sermon XXXVII.
Canticles 1. 6.
—Becauſe the Sun hath looked upon me.
I am come now to the ſixth Propoſition I obſerved from theſe words, which the Spouſe giveth as one reaſon of her blackneſs. By the Sun I told you, I underſtood the ſcorchings of Afflictions, and Perſecutions; hence obſerved,
Prop.That in this life the Spouſe of Chriſt (whether we by it underſtand the true Church, or the particular believing Soul) is expoſed to afflictions, and perſecutions which, make her black.
The Propoſition aſſerts the Lot of the People of God in this world, that is to be afflicted, and perſecuted, to have the Sun look upon them; this ſenſe I put upon this metaphor, having our Saviour my guide, Mat. 13. 6. 21. 2. It ſheweth the ill effect, or influence which theſe Perſecutions have upon the People of God, ſometimes, that is, to make her black, or at leaſt to appear ſo to humane Eyes. In the handling of this Propoſition I ſhall,
1. Shew you, That Afflictions, and Perſecutions are uſually the lot of the Spouſe of Chriſt while ſhe is in this world.
2. Whence it is, that this is its hard fate to have the Sun to look upon her.
3. What collying, or blackning qualities there are in afflictions, which affect the Spouſe.
4. Whence it is, that becauſe of theſe Afflictions, and Perſecutions, the Spouſe of Chriſt is judged ſometimes black, when indeed ſhe is not ſo. Then I ſhall apply the whole diſcourſe.
Concerning Afflictions in general, I ſhall ſpeak little, they are the common lot of mankind, nor is the Child of God more exempted from them then another. I ſhall therefore rather bend my diſcourſe to ſuch kind of afflictions as are the more peculiar afflictions of the Goſpel, and affect the Spouſe of Chriſt, and theſe are thoſe which we call Perſecutions; of theſe our Saviour interpreteth, the Sun being up, Mat. 13. 6. v. 21. Theſe are ſuch injuries as are done to the Church and People of God, ſor the Words ſake, for Righteouſneſs ſake, for Chriſts ſake, which are the ſeveral phraſes by which theſe kinds of affliction are expreſſed, Mat. 13. 21. Mat. 5. v. 10. 1 Pet. 1. 14. Any ſufferings undergone of choice, rather then we will defile our conſcience with ſin. It is true, the Etymology of the word will not give us this ſenſe of it, but verba valent ſecundum uſum. It is the uſage of words, that muſt give us the ſenſe of them, and this you will find is the ſenſe of this term, both in Holy Writ, and all Eccleſiaſtical uſage. Nor doth it alter the caſe, if men be made ſufferers truly upon this account, whether they ſuffer according to an humane law, or not, for if an …umane law would have purged ſuch acts from unrighteouſneſs, and cleanſed them from the guilt of Perſecution; the Jews had been clear'd, who ſaid upon their Crucifying of Chriſt, we have a law, and by that law he ought to die; and all the Martyrs who have ſuffered ſince his time for his names ſake (excepting ſuch as had died in Maſſacres, and by Aſſaſſinations had died as fools died, for they generally died in the execution of ſome laws, firſt made by ſuch as thirſted after their blood. Nor is it to be limited only to capital puniſhments. Amongſt the noble Army of Martyrs reckoned up, Heb. 11. 36. Some had tryal of cruel mo…kings—of bonds, and impriſonments—ſome wandred about in Sheep-skins, and Goat skins,—in deſerts, and Mountains, and in Dens, and Caves of the Earth, and Paul calls Iſhmaels mocking of Iſaac a Perſecution, Gal. 4. 29. and as then (ſaith the Apoſtle) he that was born after the fleſh, perſecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even ſo it is now. Now that this hath been the lot of the People of God in all ages, is ſo evident both from the whole ſtory of Scripture, and all Eccleſiaſtical hiſtory, that I need not be large in the proof of it. He that caſteth his Eye upon Adams Family (when that contained all the Church God had in the world) will find there a Cain riſing up againſt Abel, and ſlaying him, becauſe he offered up a more excellent Sacrifice. In Abrahams Family he that was born after the Fleſh, perſecuted him that was born after the Spirit. Eſau perſecuteth Jacob, the Egyptians oppreſs the Iſraelites, there was a continual feud betwixt Judah, where the true Church was, and Iſrael after they had Apoſtatiſed. David in many Pſalms tells you how he was continually oppoſed, and maligned. What the holy Prophets of the Lord ſuffered for declaring the truth, you may read at large in the Books of the Kings and Chronicles, what Jeremiah, Daniel, Amos, the three Children ſuffered, you may read at large in the Prophets. If you come to the New Teſtament, you find John Baptiſt beheaded, Chriſt Crucified, Stephen ſtoned, James killed with the Sword, Paul variouſly ſuffering, and all for righteouſneſs ſake.
2. It may be more worth our inquiry, whence theſe ſtorms aroſe, which our Saviour foretold, and were begun with him, but grew greater preſently after his death, and troubled the Church for 300 years together; the root of them was doubtleſs the worlds hatred, this our Saviour hath learned us, and in ſome meaſure armed his people againſt it, John 15. 8. If the world hate you, you know it hated me▪ before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love his own. But becauſe you are not of the world, but I have choſen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. God hath put an enmity betwixt the Seed of the Woman, and the Seed of the Serpent; Chriſt and his Seed, the Devil and his Children, but in regard we muſt not ſo underſtand that Text, Gen. 3. 15. as if God infuſed thoſe evil habits of malice, and envy, and hatred of God, and goodneſs, but only that God would infuſe ſuch Spiritual, gracious habits into the Souls of his People, as through that native malice, envy, and corruption, which is in the hearts of ſuch as God pleaſeth not to change by his ſpecial grace, would provoke ſuch an enmity in them; we muſt inquire into the root, and grounds of that hatred, which produceth this enmity and hoſtility, and that is, 1. Their natural averſion to all piety and goodneſs: And 2. That Pride which is in their hearts, which ſuffereth them not to be patient of the preference of godly men in the favour of God, nor of being excelled by them before men in ſuch a converſation, as their luſts will not ſuffer them to lead, much leſs to be condemned by their Doctrines, and reproofs▪ hence they both hate ſuch as will reprove them, either in the Gate, or from the Pulpit, and becauſe the Miniſters of Chriſt are thoſe to whoſe Office eſpecially the latter belongeth, hence they have in all times been made the buts and objects of their fury.
But though theſe afflictions come immediately, and proximately from men, yet they are alſo the appointments of God, the counſels of God, executed by his permiſſive Providence, not reſtraining the malice, and luſts of wicked mens hearts, but ſuffering them to exert, and put it forth; the ſame account muſt be given of this ſort, as of other ſorts of Gods afflictive diſpenſations: 1. The puniſhment of his peoples ſins. 2. The trial, exerciſe, and manifeſtations of his peoples graces.
1. The puniſhment of his peoples ſins, and this is for the moſt part evident in ſuch Perſecutions as fall upon whole Churches, I ſay for the moſt part, it is rare that God lets looſe Enemies upon a ſetled Church to diſturb its quiet, till it hath loſts its firſt love, and admitted ſinful mixtures. Thus it fell out to the famous Churches of Aſia, to whom the Epiſtles were written in the Revelations, and it may be the obvious decays of Religion in the Primitive Churches, were no ſmall cauſe of the Perſecutions which vexed, and deſtroyed them for three hundred years together.
2. The trial, exerciſe, and manifeſtation of his peoples graces, was alſo another cauſe; this we are often told in the Epiſtles of the Apoſtles, nor did the Church of Chriſt receive a ſmall augmentation, and increaſe by the courage, and conſtancy, the faith, and patience of the Martyrs.
3. Laſtly, God alſo by this means obtaineth another end, viz. Wicked mens filling up the meaſures of their iniquities. That upon them might come (as our Saviour ſpeaks) all the righteous blood that hath been ſhed by their Fore-fathers. But all this is a digreſſion from the principal thing in the Propoſition, which is to ſhew you how theſe blacken the Spouſe of Chriſt: That is, either, 1. Really by drawing out corruption: Or, 2. Appearingly in the Eyes of the world.
1. Afflictions often really blacken the Spouſe of Chriſt, as they draw out that latent Corruption which is in their Hearts. This is true both concerning the Church, and concerning the particular Soul. 1. As to the Church, which is by our Saviour compared to a Field of Wheat, in which are Tares as well as Wheat, and to a Net, which within the ſwallow of it hath bad as well as good fiſh. Now Perſecution makes a great diſcovery of Hypocrites, they that received the Seed into ſtony ground, having no root in themſelves, fall away, enduring but a while, and when Tribulation, or Perſecution ariſeth, for the Word are immediately offended; the Dragons Tail, Revel. 12. 4. drew down the third part of the Stars of Heaven, and did caſt them down to the Earth. Thus it is ſeen in all Perſecutions, they alwaies diſcover a great number of Hypocrites, & falſe Brethren, yea, and often many of Gods People at firſt ſhrink, and fall under the greatneſs of the temptation; ſo you know it ſell out as to Peter in the High Prieſts Hall, and ſo it hath been with many of ſuch as have at laſt dyed in the teſtimony of the truths of God. Theſe things make the Church black, when the Sun looketh upon it, though in the iſſue the melting of the Church proveth the purifying of it, and making it exceeding white, as you know it is with many things purified by fire, though the fire maketh them at laſt more bright, and pure, yet at firſt till their droſs be cleanſed, they look more black, ſo it is with the Church of God in the day of its fiery trial. So it is alſo as to Particular Chriſtians. Tribulation in them at laſt worketh Patience, and Patience Experience. and Experience Hope. Even ſuch an hope as will not make aſhamed, but this is after ſome excerciſe therein. Hence ſaith the Apoſtle, Heb. 12. 11. Now no chaſtening for the preſent, ſee…oth to be joyous, but grievous. Nevertheleſs afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of Righteouſneſs, unto them which are exerciſed thereby. How black did holy Job look, Chap. 3. When he Curſed the day of his birth. Who afterward being exerciſed with a long affliction came out white. Till by Tribulation the Soul cometh to be humbled, and tamed to the will of God, and to have his will melted into a reſignation to the will of God, till his faith, and patience come to be both tryed, and to have their perfect work. Tribulation, and Perſecution maketh the Spouſe really black, like the Perſon that hath taken Phyſick to purge out ſome ill humours, ſo long as his Phyſick is working, and ſtrugling with the peccant humours, he is ſicker, and appeareth worſe then before he took it.
2. But ſecondly. Tho Perſecution and Tribulation may at firſt make the Spouſe really black; yet they make her appear much more black then ſhe is in the Eyes of the world, and the generality of men and women in it, of which a various account may be given, I will inſtance but in two or three things.
1. The firſt is the impreſſions which the calumnies, and ſlanders of Enemies thrown upon the Church, and upon believers, have upon many people. There is nothing more ordinary, then when the Enemies of God are in their higheſt rage againſt his People, to have their mouths fulleſt of obloquy and ſlander againſt them. Thus David complains, Pſal. 35. 11. that in the day of his ealamity, Falſe witneſſes did riſe up againſt him, and laid to his charge things that he knew not. The men of the world, whoſe malice, and hatred, prompteth them to injurious actions againſt innocent perſons, conceive themſelves obliged to defend themſelves againſt the common reaſon of the world, which teacheth them to cry out againſt ſuch acts of violence, with raiſing lies, and ſlanders concerning ſuch as they ſo oppreſs, and perſecute, he that is any thing acquainted with the Pſalms of David, or other parts of Holy Writ, will find that what we ſee in the age we live in, was but the old practice of wicked and profane Perſons, aſhamed to own the true cauſe of their hatred, and malice. It was Matchiavels maxime, Fortiter calumniare, aliquid adhaerebit, lay loud enough (though never ſo falſe) upon thy adverſaries, ſomething will ſtick to them, and indeed it is hardly imaginable but it ſhould.
2. A ſecond reaſon of this judgment is, becauſe the moſt of men judge of blackneſs, and comelineſs by a meer ſenſual Eye. The life of the Spouſe is an hidden life, her beauty is an hidden beauty. The world doth not conſider the afflictions of Gods People Spiritually, as they are the tokens of Divine Love (for whom the Lord loveth, he chaſteneth, and ſcourgeth every Child whom he receiveth) nor as they purge away the Souls droſs, and take away its Tin, as they melt it, and try it, and give faith a perfect exerciſe, and patience a perfect work, nor are they able to diſcern the Souls exerciſes of faith and patience, of humility, and meekneſs, and quiet ſubmiſſion to the will of God. The afflicted Spouſe may not only be exceeding beautiful in the Eyes of Chriſt, but in the Eyes of the Saints and People of God in their affliction, and tribulation, and the generality of men yet ſee no beauty and comelineſs in them, becauſe their beauty is ſpiritually diſcerned; all that is external, is blackueſs, and unlovelineſs, they are only glorious within.
3. The generality of men and women in the world judge of the love and hatred of God, by what is before men in this life. The beauty of the Spouſe of Chriſt lieth in two things. 1. In her acceptation with God. 2. In her habits of grace, and the exerciſe of them, both theſe are hidden from the Eyes of the world, they ſee not the internal frame of a believers Soul (as I but now told you) and as their habits of grace are hidden things (the world knoweth us not, faith John) ſo their ſtate of favour, and acceptation with God is an hidden thing alſo; they cannot underſtand how God ſhould love him or her, againſt whom he ſuffers men to prevail to ſuch a degree, ſo that the wicked devours the men that are more righteous then they; they judge of Gods love, and hatred to Souls, by what in this life happens to them. The Apoſtles phraſes, 2 Cor. 4. 8, 9. are all riddles to them; we are troubled, ſaith he, on every ſide, but not diſtreſſed, we are perplexed, but not in deſpair, perſecuted, but not forſaken, caſt down, but not deſtroyed; I have done with the Doctrinal part of my diſcourſe.
Uſe 1.Is this the lot of the Spouſe of Chriſt, to be Sun-burnt with afflictions, and perſecutions? Is it their lot to be afflicted, and will afflictions make them black, and appear more black then poſſibly they are, what then is our duty?
1. In the firſt place, it is certainly our duty to expect afflictions of this nature, and to expect ſuch uſage under them, as the people of God before us have conſtantly met with. Our Saviour Chriſt having given to his hearers the law of his Diſcipleſhip, Lu. 14. v. 27. And whoſoever doth not bear his croſs, and come after me, cannot be my Diſciple; addeth further. v. 28. 29, 30, 31. For which of you intending to build a Tower, ſitteth not down firſt, and counteth the coſt, whether he hath ſufficient to finiſh it, left happily after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finiſh it, all begin to mock him, ſaying this man began to build, and was not able to finiſh? Or what King going to make war againſt another Ring, ſitteth not down firſt, and conſulteth whether he be able with ten thouſand to meet him, that cometh againſt him with twenty thouſand. Or elſe while the other is yet afar off, he ſendeth an Embaſſage, and deſireth conditions of peace? Our Saviour Chriſt by thoſe two ſimilitudes, teacheth us all the duty of a pre-conſideration, a thinking before hand what may afterwards happen to us in the profeſſion of religion, and the owning of him, and the profeſſion of the Goſpel. It is certainly a true ſaying, Mala inopinata graviora, the leſs proſpect we have of evils, the more inexpected they come upon us, the more heavy they prove to us; unthought of evils are alwaies moſt intolerable, becauſe we are leaſt prepared for them. Let every good Chriſtian therefore live in view of thoſe Afflictions which the Apoſtle calleth the Afflictions of the Goſpel, 2 Tim. 1. 8. Either becauſe they conſtantly, or moſt ordinarily follow the profeſſion of it, or becauſe indeed it is unreaſonable to think that any perſon ſhould either adhere to the propoſitions of truth contained in it, or live up to the rule of life, which the Goſpel preſcribeth, and be free from them. If (ſaith our Saviour, John 15. 18.) The world hateth you, you know it hated me before it hated you, and v. 20. Remember the word that I ſaid unto you, the Servant is not greater then the Lord, if they have perſecuted me, they will alſo perſecute you. Theſe things (ſaith our Saviour, John 16. 1. 2, 3.) I have ſpoken unto you that you ſhould not be offended, they ſhall put you out of the Synagogues, yea, the time cometh, that whoſoever killeth you, will think that he doth God good ſervice. It is a moſt unreaſonable thing for men to meet with more pleaſing things, and proſperity, in the profeſſion of Religion, then the Author of that Religion, or any of his Diſciples ever met with, or then he hath told us we ſhould meet with in the profeſſion of it, who knew all things; or that we ſhould expect more tranquillity in the profeſſion of Religion, then the nature of that profeſſion, conſidered together with the ignorance, and corruption of the world, doth promiſe the profeſſors of it. It is true there is nothing in the nature and profeſſion of the Chriſtian Religion, conſidered ſingly, and apart by itſelf, that is unlovely, or diſobliging to any; it is a Religion full of good will toward men. But conſidering this Religion, together with the corruption of the world, there is much in it, which he that looketh but with a rational Eye, will ſee that the world is never like to bear better then it hath hitherto done▪ it tieth a man up to believe Propoſitions according to the revelations of the Word. To live a life according to the rule of the word. To worſhip God according to the preſcriptions of the Word, in all things, it calleth a man to the Law, and to the Teſtimony. It obligeth every man in his place to bear a teſtimony againſt whatſoever is contrary to the ſtrict rule of the Word. Now whoſo conſidereth either the ignorance of the world, which knoweth not the Son of God, nor him that ſent him, nor what is the revealed will of God, or the ſenſuality of the world, how mad upon their luſts the moſt of Men and Women are: Or the Pride of the world, which maketh men impatient, either of a verbal reproof, by doctrine and admonitions, or real reproof, by a quite contrary converſation, more pleaſing to God, & acceptable to, and beautiful in the ſight of men: Or the affectation of dominion over the conſcience, which a multitude are poſſeſt of, and their impatience at good Chriſtians not owning, and ſubmitting to their dictates, and ſaying as they ſay, and doing as they do, can hardly imagine how thoſe that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus, ſhould live any long time in the world without perſecution. Now the expectation of thoſe ſearchings, and Sunburnings, will have various good effects upon the Soul.
1. It will put the Soul upon preparing for them. He that liveth in the expectation of trials, will be oft-times putting the caſe to himſelf, if ſuch a tryal ſhould be, what ſhould I do? My Soul wouldſt thou ſtand to, or deſert the profeſſion of thy faith? wouldſt thou keep cloſe to God, or depart from him? we ſhould be laying up ſomething in ſtore againſt an evil day.
2. Expected tryals (as I before told you) are alwaies lighter, and more tolerable, and endured with more courage, and patience. We are not ſo frighted with evils, which we ſee at diſtances, and view in the approaches they make to us. Nothing more weakneth a Soul in the bearing of an evil, as a ſudden ſurpriſal, like an Apoplexy to the body, it at once ſtops thoſe paſſages by which the Spirits ſhould diſcover, and exert themſelves.
Br. 2.Secondly, This Doctrine calls to Chriſtians for patience, and that both under Perſecution, and Afflictions, and under the cenſures, and obloquies of the world, becauſe of them. Expectation of tryals is a previous duty in order to our preparation for them. Patience is a preſent duty, when the Chriſtian is fallen under them. It is indeed the work of the day; that very grace, which in the hour of tribulation ſhould have its perfect work, it lieth partly in a quiet ſubmiſſion to the good will and pleaſure of God, becauſe he hath laid it upon us, an holding our peace, becauſe it is the Lords doing, partly in a quiet waiting for God in the fulfilling of his promiſes made to his People under ſuch circumſtances. There are two things that call for our patience under afflictions. 1. The ſmart of the Affliction, for no affliction is joyous, but grievous. 2. The reproach of the world under it, this often doubleth the affliction and maketh it more grievous, and intolerable. Now conſider how many things have occurred in this diſcourſe, which may excite our patience under both theſe.
1. This is the lot of the People of God. There is none of them but the Sun at one time or other works upon. The Apoſtle exhorteth the Theſſalonians, 1 Theſ. 3. 3. That no man ſhould be moved by their Afflictions, for (faith he) your ſelves know that we are appointed thereunto. There is a great deal in that ſaying to quiet the Spirits of Chriſtians under the burthens of tryals. 1. God hath laid thoſe burthens upon them. I held my peace (ſaith David) becauſe it was thy doing. It is the Lord (ſaid that good man) let him do what ſoever he pleaſeth. Perhaps (ſaith David) God hath bidden him curſe. It is a mighty thing to ſilence the Spirit of a Chriſtian, when he can ſee the hand of God in it. 2. It is the Lords appointment. What hath befallen us in purſuance of an eternal counſel; this ſpeaketh the tryal eventually neceſſary, it ſpeaketh it alſo good for his People, for he hath not appointed us unto wrath, nor to any means of that tendency. Nor is it thy lot alone, but the lot of all thoſe who will live godlily in Chriſt Jeſus. The Apoſtles themſelves were appointed thereunto, and wherein are we better, then our Fathers, or our Brethren?
2. You have likewiſe heard why God hath appointed our lot to be Trials, and Afflictions, for the puniſhment of our ſins, and for the tryal, and exerciſe of our Graces; this alſo calls for patience. Why ſhould a living man complain? a man for the puniſhment of his iniquity? We have much leſs reaſon to be diſturbed at the trial, and exerciſe of our graces.
3. You have heard upon what miſtakes it is that the World accounts the Chriſtian black by reaſon of Afflictions, becauſe they judge of their complexions by a meer ſenſual Eye, and from a meer erroneous judgment. We have therefore no reaſon to be diſquieted, becauſe of it. But indeed the main uſe we ſhouldUſe 3. make of this point, ſhould be for Caution; and that in two particulars.
1. That afflictions may not blacken us. 2. That we do not judge others black, becauſe of them. 1. Will afflictions blacken the Spouſe of Chriſt? Let us take heed that they have not this ill influence upon us. We have heard that they no otherwiſe make us black then as they are occaſions to draw out our luſts and corruptions. This is that which we are more eſpecially to watch upon. In afflictive providences, God tryeth us, and Satan and the world alſo try, and tempt us. God tryeth our faith, our patience, our ſubmiſſion to his will, whether we will deny our ſelves, and take up the Croſs and follow him. The Devil, and the men of the World, which are the Devils inſtruments, try us, whether we will deſert our profeſſion, deny the Lord that bought us, forſake the ways of God, and imbrace a preſent World. If upon Gods tryal his ends be obtained, then are we by our afflictions purified, and made white, if the Devil and his inſtruments prevail upon us, then are we by our afflictions made black. This is the thing we are to take heed of Job 2. 3. after that God had taken away Jobs Eſtate, and Children, he ſaith to Satan, Haſt thou conſidered my Servant Job, that there is none like him in all the Earth, a perfect, and an upright man, one that feareth God, and eſcheweth evil, and ſtill he holdeth faſt his integrity, although thou moveſt me againſt him to deſtroy him without a cauſe. How white there did Job appear after his afflictions?
But I ſhall not inlarge my diſcourſe to afflictions in the general, but limit it to ſuch afflictions as are more peculiar to the Spouſe of Chriſt, and which I have had a more ſpecial reference to in my former diſcourſe, viz. Perſecutions, or ſufferings for our adherence to the truths of the Goſpel, and the good ways of God. Let us take heed that we be not made black by afflictions of this nature, which we ſhall be, if by them we be moved from our good opinion of the ways of God, from our profeſſion, or practice of them; there is no ſinner more black then the Apoſtate. See 2 Pet, 2. 20. 21. For if after they have eſcaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord, and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, they are again intangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worſe with them than the beginning. For it is better ſor them not to have known the way of righteouſneſs, then after they have known it, to turn from the Holy Commandment delivered unto them. Indeed failings in a time of Perſecution are cauſed from a double cauſe. Sometimes meerly from the fear of life, or ſome great danger that will befall to men, if they adhere to their former profeſſion; failings of this nature make a Soul look black, but many ſuch recover themſelves, and the Lord who can have compaſſion upon our inſirmities, pities them, and recovers them out of the ſnare of the Devil; this is a blackneſs we ought to avoid, by putting on the whole Armour of God, that we may be able to ſtand in the day of the Lords Battel. But there is another defection, which is occaſioned by Perſecutions, and Afflictions of this nature: That is, when men out of a greater love to other ways in a time of tryal, renounce the truths of God they have formerly owned, and forſake the ways of God, in which they have formerly walked; to theſe now Perſecutions, and Afflictions of this nature, are but a ſlight occaſion of their defection and Apoſtacy, and this eminent difference you will find betwixt the others, and theſe: The others, though they may be prevailed withal to warp, and ſtart aſide, becauſe of the greatneſs of the temptation (it was Peters caſe in the High Prieſts Hall) yet will never be prevailed with to ſpeak evil of, and to revile the truths of God which they have owned, nor the ways of God, in which they have formerly walked, and others yet walk. The others being prevailed upon to their Apoſtacy meerly from the luſts of their hearts, and the greater love they have alwaies had, (tho like Hypocrites they have concealed it) to looſer principles, and a looſer way of living, take themſelves concerned to reproach their former ways, and thoſe who yet walk in them. This is a dreadful blackneſs, not a tincture upon the face only, but a tincture of the heart, which by occaſion of Perſecution for the Goſpel, breaketh out into the more exteriour converſation. To enforce this caution, I ſhall only mention three things.
1. That this is the affection only of the ſtony ground, Mat. 13. 6, 21. It is a certain ſign, that thoſe never received the Seed of the Word into honeſt, and good hearts, that they never had any root in themſelves who when tribulation, and perſecution ariſeth, becauſe of the word, by and by they are offended. He that receiveth the truth, in the Love of it cannot ſo eaſily abandon the profeſſion of it, 1 John. 2. 19. They went out from us, they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us, but they went out that they might be made manifeſt that they were not all of us. The day of Perſecution and tribulation for the Goſpel ſake is the day of the manifeſtation and diſcovery of hypocrites. I do not think that all ſhrinking in a time of perſecution is a note of hypocriſy, there is a ſhrinking through fear in the time of great temptation (ſo Peter ſhrank.) But for men to make a defection, out of a principle of luſt and greater Love to other ways, and to reproach and ſpeak Evil of the ways of God (which by the way is a certain indication of ſuch a defection) this ſpeaketh the man or woman to be no better then an hypocrite nor ever to have been other, tho, to ſerve his luſts, he diſguiſed himſelf with a mask of holineſs, and Religion.
2. Secondly conſider, That no ſinner ſo reproacheth the good and holy ways of God as ſuch a ſinner doth. He tells the World that he hath tryed them, that there is nothing in them, that nothing but the ignorance & prejudices of his education & youth led him into them, that the ways of ſin & profaneneſs, of Formality, and Superſtition are better, and therefore he is at laſt grown wiſer then to take ſuch pains to go to heaven. If I would pick out a wretch out of the whole herd of ſinners to reproach God, to blaſpheme the Goſpel and the ways of holineſs, I would pick out onethat had been formerly a profeſſor, and had turned away from his profeſſion this wretch pretendeth from experience to juſtify what others do but looſely diſcourſe.
3. Thirdly no ſinners muſt expect a more dreadful Vengeance. The reaſon is evident, becauſe none ſin againſt more light. There is no man who hath made a profeſſion, and lived in any practice of Religion, but knows that there is no iniquity in it, nothing but what ſuteth the common reaſon of mankind not debauched through luſt, and that thoſe who in any meaſure live up to the profeſſion of the Goſpel, are (if ſober heathens were to be judges) the beſt of men, with reſpect to all duty which the light of Nature teacheth toward the Divine Being, and all good offices towards men. I ſay there is none who hath made any profeſſion but knows this, and in all his Evil ſpeaking of them doth not ſin like an heathen, nor like a profane man who ſpeaketh ill of the things he knoweth not, but ſpeaketh contrary to the dictate of his own conſcience. I would not have this underſtood of thoſe who are made black, through theſe afflictions, from the temporary prevailing of a ſtrong temptation, theſe with P…ter (tho they fall) yet go out and weep bitterly and are recovered, and made ſtronger by their fall, but of thoſe others before mentioned to whom Affliction and Perſecution are but the externall occaſions to draw out the luſts of their hearts which waited but for an opportunity to diſcover its ſelf.
2. Finally to ſhut up this diſcourſe let this caution us from Judging the Spouſe of Chriſt black becauſe the Sun hath looked upon her. You have heard that this is but the Worlds judgment, not according to any meaſures of truth, or righteouſneſs. To this End,
1. Root your ſelves in this truth, That none can judge of Gods Love or hatred from what happeneth to him in this life. It is Solomons Maxime, and a great truth, God governeth the World according to the juſt Oeconomy of his Providence with reſpects unto his own wife Ends; and no ſpiritual judgment can be made of the ſtate of any, from thoſe adminiſtrations, oft-times he maketh Princes to go on foot, when ſervants ride on horſe back, and the wicked to devour thoſe that are more righteous then they.
2. Look under the vail of Religious Perſons in the day of their afflictions. The Vail may be black, and yet the face White. You may poſſibly ſee the People of God glorifying him in the Fires, eminent faith adherence to God conſtancy, patience ſhining forth in the People of God in the hour of their tryals. you may poſſibly hear Paul and Silas, ſinging praiſes unto God at midnight, and the Apoſtles going away from their place of puniſhment rejoicing that the Lord hath thought them worthy to ſuffer for the name of Jeſus Chriſt; and here a Job reſolving that, Tho the Lord ſlayeth him, yet he will truſt in him. Theſe things ſpeak a Lilly tho amongſt thorns.