The Intercourses of Divine Love Betwixt Christ and His Church, Sermon 63
Sermon LXIII.
Cant. 1. 17.
The Beams of our houſe are Cedar: and our Rafters are of Fir.
I Am now come to the laſt Propoſition which I obſerved out of theſe Words, with which I ſhall cloſe my diſcourſes, both upon this verſe, and upon this whole Chapter. The point is this:
Prop. 3. There is a Beauty, Sweetneſs, Power and Efficacy, and an incorruptible nature in the Word and Ordinances of God.
Theſe four things I noted to you concerning theſe two ſorts of wood to which the Spouſe here likeneth the Beams, and Rafters of the Church which is her, and her beloveds houſe: Here are four things (in the Propoſition) praedicated of theſe Spiritual Rafters
1. The firſt is Beauty▪ Cedars, and Fir trees, are tall, and goodly trees, the latter loſe not their beauty in the Winter time. Zion of old was called the perfection of beauty, Pſal. 50. 2. ſtrength and beauty were ſaid to be in the Sanctuary, Pſal. Pſal. 50. 2. 96. 6. Rom. 10. 15.96. 6. the feet of them who bring glad tidings of peace are called beautiful, Rom. 10. 15. the Sanctuary indeed of old had an external beauty, it was full of Gold, and of rare work, which much pleaſed the carnal Eyes of the beholders. This beauty is ceaſed with the Jewiſh Worſhip. But there is a greater beauty ſtill remaining, the beauty of Solomons Temple in all its glory, was not like the beauty of Goſpel adminiſtration.
1. Beauty is a pleaſing thing. That which Satisfieth the luſt of the Eye, is that which we call carnal beauty: the orderly adminiſtration of Goſpel inſtitutions is a comely thing in the Eyes of a Spiritual Soul, the ſimplicity of the Goſpel adminiſtrations hinders not the beauty at all. The ſober, grown Perſon, thinks a ſuit of plain Spaniſh cloth, as beautiful, as the Child thinks its gay coat, whoſe colours it may be are more diverſe and the ribbands about it of ſeveral colours, but the ſubſtance of it not of half ſo much value. 'Tis true the legal adminiſtrations were more gay, but though the trimming were more coſtly the cloth was not ſo good: They were all but ſhadows of things to come. The ſubſtance is ours. What ſober Perſon lives in a Congregation, where the Sabbaths of God are ſtrictly obſerved: where the Paſtor powerfully, plainly, clearly, gravely, Preacheth the wholeſome Doctrines of the Goſpel, Prays powerfully and Spiritually, where the Word of God is read, and the Sacraments duly and orderly adminiſtred, where Pſalms are daily ſung in a Spiritual manner; and the Ordinances of diſcipline, are prudently and faithfully executed, and doth not ſee a great comelineſs in them, at which his Soul is pleaſed, and with which it is delighted?
2. As they are exceeding pleaſing to a Spiritual heart, ſo there is a lovely Majeſty in them, and alſo a great Symmetry and proportion. God hath ſtamped a certain ſecret Majeſty upon every holy inſtitution of his, which Commandeth love and reverence for it, from all ſober Perſons, who have not outlawed both their reaſon and Religion too, and here again the plainneſs, and ſimplicity of the Goſpel adminiſtrations gives advantage to them: beſides there is a great Symmetry in them: the word Preached is verbum audible, an audible word, the Sacrament is verbum viſible, a viſible word. When the Goſpel is Preached▪ what is Preached but Chriſt crucified, and what is that which is repreſented in the Sacrament but a Chriſt crucified? The whole Goſpel adminiſtration is a goodly thing, and doth ſhine nativa luca in a certain native light of its own: and hath ſuch a lovelineſs attends the pure diſpenſation of it, that the ſuperadding of any humane inventions, is but like adding black patches to a lovely face, without which it was far more beautiful.
3. But laſtly the Beauty of the Word and Ordinances, of the Goſpel lies in this that the beauty of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is upon them. This is that which gives them luſtre. Obſerve holy David, Pſal. 27. v. 4. one thing have I deſired of the Lord: that will I ſeek after that I may dwell in the houſe of the Lord all the daies of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, & to enquire in his holy Temple. The gracious Soul ſees the Face of God in his Word, and the Image of Chriſt in Ordinances, this makes them lovely. Look as it is with the body; let it be never ſo goodly a ſtructure, the lineaments of it never ſo proportioned, yet if the Soul informs it not, there is no beauty in it: So it is with Ordinances. Chriſt is the Soul of Ordinances, and it is only his ſtamp upon them, his preſence in them, which makes them lovely, and beautiful. Take the Word of God, as Chriſt is wrapt up in it, the Ordinances of God, as they are the inſtitutions of Chriſt and ſacred conduit pipes, and means, by which Chriſt conveys himſelf, and the influences of his grace, unto Peoples Souls; ſo they are exceeding beautiful: they are thoſe performances in which the Soul ſeeth Chriſt, and meets with Chriſt; and this makes them goodly things.
2. The 2d thing which the Propoſition praedicates concerning the word and Ordinances, is power and Efficacy, and uſefulneſs, I obſerved to you concerning Cedars, that as they had much beauty and goodlineſs in them: ſo they had much ſtrength in them, which made them very uſeful for Beams and Rafters, fit to bear the weight of materials in building laid upon them and to uphold the building. There is a wonderful power and vertue in the Word and Ordinances of God.
1. There is a ſupporting power in them.
2. There is a working power in them.
1. There is in them a ſupporting power: They ſupport a Church. The Apoſtle ſaith that the Church is built upon the foundation of the Apoſtles and Prophets, Eph. 2. the Church cannot ſtand without them: they ſupport a particular Soul. The weight of poor Souls all lies upon the Word of God: how often doth holy David ſpeak to this in that excellent Pſalm, Pſal. 119. v. 49. Remember thy Word into thy ſervant upon which thou haſt cauſed me to hope, v. 15. This is my comfort in my affliction for thy Word hath quickened me, 81. My Soul fainteth for thy Salvation: but I hope in thy word, v. 92. unleſs thy love had been my delight I ſhould have periſhed in my affliction. Nay herein doth the wonderful power of the Word of God appear above the ſtrength of Cedars, you muſt Imagine a Cedar Beam of ſome proportionable bigneſs to bear the great weight of a building, every ſtick of Cedar will not do it. But now not the whole Word of God only, but a particular promiſe, will ſtrangely ſupport and bear up the whole weight of a Soul ſinking into deſpair, I have heretofore given you ſtrange inſtances in this caſe, and I doubt not but many of your Souls can verify this from a particular experience.
2. But further, there is a working power likewiſe, in the Word, and Ordinances; this is now more than is in a Cedar beam, that hath in it a great ſtrength, but it hath no life, it is an inanimate thing, and ſo worketh nothing, it beareth much, but hath no activity in it. The words which I ſpeak (ſaith our Saviour) are Spirit, and life. Indeed the life and Spirit which they have, is Chriſts life, Chriſts Spirit; without which they are but dead letters, and weak things, but from Chriſts concurrence with them, they have not only the forementioned power to uphold, and bear up a ſinking Soul, but they have an active, working power, to caſt down the ſtrong holds of the Soul (according to that of the Apoſtle 2. Cor. 10. 4) The Weapons of our warfare, are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of ſtrong holds, caſting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth it ſelf againſt the knowledge of God, and bringing into Captivity every thought to the Obedience of Chriſt. But I ſhall not inlarge upon this being ſomething beyond my Metaphor.
3. The third thing which my Propoſition predicateth of the Word & Ordinances of God is ſweetneſs. This is one thing which I obſerved to you concerning the C…dar wood, and the pine Tree they were of a grateful and delightful ſmell. The ſweetneſs of the Cedar is a gratefulneſs to the exterior ſenſes: But the ſweetneſs of the Word and Ordinances of God is intellectual, they are ſweet to the inward man. Which intellectual ſweetneſs is yet ſet out by ſimilitudes of ſenſible things, Pſal. 119. 103. How ſweet are thy words unto my taſt. What is ſweeter then honey ſaith Sampſon; Judg. 14. 18. Holy David …elleth him, Pſal. 19. 10. The word of God is ſweeter then the hony or the hony comb, and Pſal. 119. 104. He doubleth the Expreſſion for the further confirmation of it. They are the words of God, that are the pleaſant words, of which Solomon ſaith, Prov. 16. 24. Pleaſant words are as an hony comb: Sweet to the Soul and health to the bones. The ſweetneſs, that reſulteth to the Spiritual ſenſe, from the word of God, ariſeth from two things.
1. The firſt is that ſweet joy and peace, which God Ordinarily brings into the Soul from them. God will ſpeak peace to his People (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) and he creates the fruit of the lips peace, peace, (ſaith the Prophet;) this joy is indeed of different degrees, there is the rejoicing of hope, for hope growing from a true Root bringeth forth ſome fruit of joy in the Soul, though it indeed be not ſo fair and pleaſant a fruit as that joy which is the fruit of aſſurance, becauſe the Union which hope gives the Soul with its beloved object, is of the loweſt fort. But yet even this joy hath a great deal of ſweetneſs, but Oh! How great is that ſweetneſs which is the riper fruit of aſſurance, that peace which paſſeth all underſtanding; A ſweetneſs which oft times overcomes the Soul and is too great for it to bear. Both which the Soul reaps from the word of God and from the Ordinances of God.
2. But ſecondly this ſweetneſs in the Word and Ordinances of God ariſeth not from this alone, but from other uſefulneſs of them to the Soul. That is not only ſweet: but that alſo which is profitable, David ſaies, that the Law of the Lord doth convert the Soul, makes wiſe the ſimple, enlightens the Eyes, that they are uſeful to warn us, and that in keeping them there is great reward. By the word and the Ordinances of God the Soul hath wherewithal to anſwer the tempter, in that it finds arguments to help it in repelling a ſecret motion to ſin, &c. This makes the Word and Ordinances of God exceeding ſweet to gracious Souls as they are thoſe things by which the Soul is profited.
3. But thirdly, there is a further ſweetneſs, that the Word, and Ordinances of God have to a gracious Soul, as they are pure and holy, Pſal. 119. v. 140. Thy word is very pure, therefore doth thy ſervant love it. The heart of man (naturally) doth not love purity, but the Spiritual heart that is conformed to the image of God loves it▪ It is turned into the likeneſs of the word, and made to love whatſoever is holy and Spiritual and pure. This makes the Rafters, and beams of the Church, to the true Chriſtian to be like Cedar and Fir, ſweet ſmelling, becauſe of that purity, and holineſs which cleaveth to them.
4. A fourth thing which the Propoſition predicateth of the Word and Ordinances of God, is their duration, they are of an incorruptible Nature, as Cedar and Fir, or Pine: Not ſubject to corruption, and putrefaction as other ſorts of wood are, Iſa. 40. v. 8. The graſs withereth, and the flower fadeth, but the Word of God ſhall ſtand for ever. Our Saviour ſpeaketh to this purpoſe, Heaven and Earth ſhall paſs away, but one jot or tittle of the Law ſhall not paſs away until all theſe be fulfilled. I will open this a little.
1. The Ordinances of the Goſpel endure for ever. Herein the excellency of the Goſpel diſpenſation appeareth, above the legal diſpenſation. The Law brought nothing to perfection (faith the Apoſtle to the H…brews) the Ordinances of worſhip under the Law were but ſhadows and types which ceaſed, when Chriſt who was the ſubſtance of thoſe ſhadows, and the Antitype to thoſe types once appeared in the World, or at leaſt when he dyed, but the Ordinances which are as the beams and Rafters of the Goſpel Church are durable and do not paſs away. The Jewiſh Prieſthood ceaſed; But the Goſpel Miniſtry continues, Chriſt hath promiſed to be with them to the End of the World, Eph. 4 11, 12.God hath given Apaſtles, Prophets, Evangeliſts, Paſtors, and Teachers, for the perfecting of the Saints until we all come in the Unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man▪ unto the meaſure of the ſtature of the fulneſs of Chriſt. The paſſover was but for a time, until the▪ Meſſiah (who was the true paſchal Lamb▪) ſhould he ſlain for the ſins of his People, but the Ordinance of the Lords Supper (which comes inſtead of this) is an Ordinance by which we ſhew the death of Chriſt until his coming again, 1 Cor. 11.
2. The word of God in particular indureth for ever. I will open this in two things,
1. The Propoſitions of the word indure for ever. They are Propoſitions of Eternal truth, whether they be Dogmatical Propoſitions, which aſſert the truth of God, concerning the Nature or will of God, or concerning the ſtate of man, or any thing relating to his duty, or whether they be ſuch as are promiſory, they are of an immortal Nature, the reaſon is, becauſe God is a God that changeth not, he is not Yea, and Nay, but Yea and Amen, a God that cannot lye to his People, nor repent of what he hath ſaid unto them. The truth of the word abideth for ever.
2. The vertue of the word abideth, and is immortal. The ſame vertue which the word of God ever had in it to convince, convert, to enlighten, quicken ſupport, comfort, the ſame is in it ſtill, and indeed the proof of this dependeth partly upon the former, for the vertue of the word, whether it be the word of precept, or the word of promiſe, doth much depend upon the truth of it. Now the truth of it being perpetual, the vertue of it muſt alſo be ſo, ſuppoſing the ſame concurrence of that holy Spirit which muſt be to make the Word of any uſe or vertue at any time, I have ſpoken enough to the Explication of the point; I come now to the Application of it; which I ſhall diſpatch, by drawing ſome ſpeculative and practical Inferences from what you have heard.
Uſe 1.Hence (in the firſt place) you may obſerve a great difference betwixt the Legal and the Goſpel Miniſtry; And (conſequently) the excellency of the latter above the former. The Apoſtle to the Hebrews inſiſteth much upon this, and by this argument proves the excellency of the Goſpel above the Law. The Beams and Rafters of the Church under the law they were not of Cedar, they laſted no longer then until the timeof reformation. The Evangeliſt St. John ſaith. The law was given by … Joh. 17.Moſes, but grace, and truth came by Jeſus Chriſt. Two things commend the Goſpel above the law. Grace came by it, truth came by it▪. The law brought wrath, the Doctrine of it tended to curſe men and women, and to conclude all under wrath, but the Doctrine of the Goſpel, brought grace, the news of the free pardon, and remiſſion of ſins, through the blood of Chriſt, & the acceptance of the Soul upon the account of his merits. Truth alſo came by Chriſt. Whether you take Truth for Subſtance and Realities, oppoſed to types and ſhadows, that came by Chriſt who was the End of the Law: Or whether you take Trut… for Certainty, and that which hath in it porpetuity and dur…bleneſs; that also came by Chriſt, who put an end to the Ce…emonial law, which conſiſted of temporary Ordinances for worſhip, &c. It is true, the Doctrine of the Law and Goſpel, the Propoſitions of truth, contained in both are much one and the ſame. The moral precepts the ſame, and the promiſes the ſame, &c. Yet that great Propoſition of truth De M…ſſia venturo, concerning the ſtar that ſhould come forth out of Jacob, the coming of Shiloh. The raiſing of the great Prophet like to Moſes, &c. This Propoſition, was perfected in the Goſpel, and turned into another of far more comfort to us, viz. That Chriſt is come, and hath dyed for our ſi…s, &c. But all the Propoſitions of the Goſpel are of eternal truth, and all the Ordinances of the Goſpel are like Beams of Cedar that ſhall never decay. That's the firſt Inference.
Uſe 2.2. Obſerve from hence▪ The blindneſs of many Peoples Eyes, and the hardneſs of our hearts, together with the unreaſonableneſs of unbelief. You have heard that there is a Beauty and a ſweetneſs in the Word and Ordinances of God, they are beautiful to the Eye, and they are ſweet unto the taſt and to the ſmell; the lips of Chriſt drop ſweet ſmelling Myrrh; what is the reaſon then that the moſt of People can taſt no ſweetneſs in them, nor ſee any beauty in them? Alas, the moſt men and women in the World have no more ſavour of a Sermon or Sacrament then in the white of an Egg: They ſee more beauty in a play-book, or an hiſtory, then they can ſee in the holy Word of God, the reaſon is this, they are void of Spiritudl ſenſes, they have their exteriour carnal ſenſes, they can taſt ſweetneſs in an Hony-Comb, but they have not any Spiritual ſenſe, they can taſt no ſweetneſs in the Word of God, which to Davids taſt was ſweeter then the Hony-comb. They muſt needs want Spiritual ſenſe, for they want Spiritual life, they are dead in treſpaſſes and ſins: no ſooner doth the Lord quicken a dead Soul, but it ſavoureth the things of God, and taſts that ſweetneſs, and ſees that beauty in the Word of God, and in the Ordinances of God of which I have been diſcourſing.
2. As it diſcovers the want of Spiritual ſenſe, in an unbelievers Soul, ſo it alſo diſcovers the hardneſs of mens hearts. The Word and Ordinances of God, have a power and Efficacy in them, but alas! how few do they make any impreſſion upon? But I ſhall not inſiſt upon this as not ſo proper to the reſemblance of the Text. Let me rather,
3. Infer the unreaſonableneſs of unbelief, from what you have heard, of the ſupporting power of the Word of God. The Word of God, is the greet ſupporter of Souls, under all afflictions, temtations, in all diſtreſſes and agonies, &c. God is indeed pleaſed as to ſome of his People to give them in ſenſible evidences of his love, ſealing them up, (by way of aſſurance of his love) unto the day of redemption: and bleſſed are they who are in ſuch a caſe, but this is not the portion of all the People of God, the moſt of Chriſtians have nothing but the royal Word of God to truſt to, and upon this all their hopes hang as to Eternity. And we are ſo carnal, that we find it an hard thing oft-times to keep up the building of grace, faith and hope, upon this foundation, but are ready to ſway, and ſink through diſtruſt and doubtings, through unbelief, and anxiety of thoughts, &c. This is that which we call unbelief. The unreaſonableneſs of which is ſufficiently evidenced from the ſtability of the Word of God, it is a Beam of Cedar. Thou that thinkeſt it an hard thing, to have nothing but a bare Word of God to truſt to, unleſs thou haſt ſome ſenſible evidence, that canſt not believe without a ſign, conſider,
1. That the Word is the Beam of the Church. The whole Church of God is built upon the Word; it is that which God hath judged ſufficient at all times for his People: God the Father had no more than Chriſt's word for the price of all the Souls that were ſaved, from the beginning of the World, until the time of Chriſt's Death and Paſſion, (when the price was actually paid into God's hand.) All the Believers that were ſaved, from Adam till Chriſt's coming in the Fleſh, had no more to truſt to for their Salvation, than the Royal Word of God; That the Seed of the Woman ſhould break the Serpents head: That a Meſſiah ſhould come and be ſlain to make reconciliation for iniquity, &c. They all truſted on theſe words of God, and were ſaved.
2. Conſi…er, This Beam is a Beam of Cedar; it is an incorruptible thing. The Apoſtle calls the Word and Oath of God two immutable things: It muſt needs be ſo, becauſe of the immutable Nature of God; he is a God that cannot lye, that cannot ſpeak that which is falſe; he is a God that cannot repent; he cannot, like man, eat his word, or recede from it. David ſaith, That the Word of the Lord is ſettled in the Heavens. The Graſs may wither, and the Flower may fade, but the Word of the Lord muſt ſtand for ever. Heaven and Earth ſhall paſs away, but one jot or tittle thereof cannot fail. Hath he ſaid it, and ſhall he not do it? Hath he ſpoken it, and ſhall not he bring it to paſs? The Apoſtle calls the word of Prophecy a ſure Word. The word of Prophecy is ſure, and the word of Promiſe is ſure, therefore truſt to it.
3. It is a Beam that never yet brake; never Soul miſcarried that truſted its whole weight upon it. What greater Arguments can any have to perſuade his Soul to truſt to the Word of God, than theſe two.
Firſt; That the Nature of the word is ſuch that it cannot fail. The truth of God cannot be turned into a lye.
Secondly; That no inſtance can be produced of any Soul that miſcarried in its confidence. Look over all the Book of God, and find me Gods Word given to any Soul, for anything, whether temporal, or ſpiritual, and it was not made good unto him: indeed the Viſions have ſometime tarried beyond the patience of God's People, but they have alwaies been fulfilled in their ſeaſons.
4. Conſider how unreaſonable a thing it is, that thou ſhouldeſt truſt to the word of a man, and diſtruſt the Word of a God? You think your ſelves concerned to truſt in the Royal word of a King, in the ſerious word of a Noble Perſon, in the word of an ordinary Friend who is but accounted morally honeſt, how unreaſonable a thing then is it, that thou ſhouldeſt not take the word of a God, the word of him who cannot lye? To ſum up this then Chriſtian, what though thou haſt nothing but the word of God to truſt to, either for thoſe things which concern thee as to this Life, or for thoſe things which concern thee as to another Life; yet the Word of God is enough; it is the Beam of Chriſt's Houſe, and it is a Beam of Cedar, which cannot corrupt or putrifie, nor fail for ever. Nor indeed
5. Is that Aſſurance (of things not ſeen) which God gives to any Soul, any thing more than the ſealing, and particular application of the Word. In the mean time, it is the Word that ſupports and upholds the Soul. The ſealing of the Spirit adds no new ſtrength to the Word, only helps me to bear my ſelf upon it.
3. Is there ſuch a Beauty, Sweetneſs, Strength and Power; and ſuch an incorruptible and immortal Nature in the Word of God, and in the Ordinances of God? Oh that theſe things might commend them more to all you that hear me this day! Under this head let me plead with you for theſe things.
1. For a knowledge and underſtanding of, and an acquaintance with the Word of God. Let the beauty of an Object be never ſo perfect, it pleaſeth not me, if I look not upon it, or looking upon it, do not obſerve and underſtand it! Let the ſweetneſs of an Object be never ſo great, it affords me no pleaſure unleſs I taſt it. Let the power and efficacy of a thing be never ſo much, it is nothing to me if I make no application of my ſelf to it, or it to me. And in very deed this is the reaſon why the moſt poor Souls ſee no beauty, underſtand no ſweetneſs in the Word of God, why they feel nothing of the power and ſtrength of it, becauſe they ſeldom look into it; or if they read in it, and attend upon it, they obſerve not what they read and hear; they underſtand not the Myſteries of the Goſpel; they make no appplications of the Word of God to their Souls, nor of their Souls to the Word, and try not the ſtrength of it: Oh let the Word of God be precious to you! Read it, and read it over and over again, thou wilt every time diſcern ſome ſweetneſs in it, which before thou didſt not diſcern; hear it; and hear it often; obſerve what thou readeſt, and what thou heareſt; get underſtanding in the Lord's Statutes; make application of the Word to thy Soul, and of thy Soul to the Word. When thou art in ſtraights as to thy outward condition, or as to thy ſpiritual condition, thou wilt then find this ſweetneſs, beauty, power and efficacy in the Word, which till that time affords but matter of diſcourſe to thee.
2. Let this plead with you for a due Attendance upon Ordinances. The Word, the Sacraments, every Ordinance of the Goſpel, they are the Beams and Rafters of the Church, which deſerve all your care and diligence to uphold and maintain, and to keep up in their perfect ſtrength glory and beauty: They are Beams of Cedar, and Raferes of Fir; they have a ſweetneſs, beauty and excellency in them; and this beauty and excellency which is in them, will not be diſcerned by the Soul that neglects its Attendance upon them.
FINIS.
A Catalogue of Books Printed for, or to be ſold by Edward Giles Bookſeller in Norwich, near the Market-place.
SEveral Diſcourſes concerning Actual Providence.
A Word in Seaſon. Denfenſative Armour againſt four of Satan's moſt fiery Darts.
Sermons upon the whole firſt and ſecond Chapters of the Canticles. All Publiſhed by John Collinges, D. D.
Allen's Way of the Spirit in bringing Souls to Chriſt.
The Glories of Chriſt ſet forth, with the Neceſsity of Faith, in ſeveral Sermons: By Mr. Thomas Allen late Miniſter in Norwich.
Several Sermons of Mr. Timothy Armitage late Miniſter in Norwich.
Lougher's Precious Promiſes, the Portion of Overcommers.
The Saint's Ebenezer: By Mr. Francis Engliſh late Miniſter in Norwich.
Directions for Learners to Spell Engliſh right.
The Hiſtory of the Proteſtant Reformation, as it was begun by Luther.
The Dead Saints Speaking. Being a Sermon Preached upon the Death of Mr. Newcomen.
Engliſh Presbytery.
The Ordinary matter of Prayer drawn into Queſtions and Anſwers.