Christ All and in All, Sermon 9
ESAY 32. 2.
And a man ſhall be as a hiding place X. SERM. at Mary Wolnoth. Lon. Feb. 22. 1651.from the winde.
THe Doctrine was, that Jeſus Chriſt is unto a Beleever a hiding place from-the Winde.
The Uſes are three Information. Exhortation. Conſolation.
1. For Information. This conſiſts of foure Branches.
1. That Beleevers are Chriſto chari, very precious in the eſteem of Chriſt. Beleevers are perſons of great worth. They are called excellent ones, Pſal. 16. 3. They are more excellent then any perſons in the world beſides. They are flowers, roſes and lilies, the beſt of flowers, Cant. 2. 2. They are fine gold, others are the droſſe of ſilver, Jer. 6. ult. They are wheat, others are Lam. 4. 2.but chaff, Mat. 13. 30. They are precious ſtones, others are but common ſtones; They are light, others are darkneſſe. Their worth appeares by this, that Jeſus Chriſt hides them in times of danger. Men do not uſe to hide rubbiſh or lumber; but their jewels, their writings, things of value. The Saints are the jewel… of Chriſt, they are the jewels of the Crown; Chriſt will loſe all, rather then one of theſe, Mal. 3. 17. They ſhall be mine in that day when I make up my jewels. They are Gods hidden ones, Pſal. 83. 3. Jeſus Chriſt will venture all the world to ſave one of his Saints. While he is able to protect himſelf, he will protect them; they are his very members, a part of himſelfe; he keeps them with the ſame care he keeps himſelf. Wicked men look upon them as vile and mean things, but Chriſt accounts them his precious ones; he keeps the very number of their haires, Mat. 10. 30. It was aſigne that Jacob reſpected Rachel and Joſeph more then all the reſt of his houſhold, becauſe he was ſo careful of their preſervation, Gen. 32. 2. He puts the handmaids and their children foremoſt, then Leah and her children, and then Rachel and Joſeph. If there be but one place of ſafety to be found in the world, Jeſus Chriſt wil put the beleever there. The Scripture ſaith, that Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord, Gen. 6. 8. How is this grace of God to him evidenced? When all the world was expoſed to the violence of the deluge, God takes care to make an Ark for his preſervation. 'Tis a ſigne of the precious thoughts of Chriſt towards his Saints, that he makes himſelfe a hiding place for their preſervation. Though they be never ſo meane in the eyes of men, they are incomparably precious in the eſteem of Chriſt.
2. How impoſſible is it that any true beleever ſhould eternally periſh. The Scripture ſaith that they can never periſh, John 10. 28. They may ſeem to be loſt in the judgement of men, they may be at loſt in their own apprehenſion, but they cannot be loſt. Amongſt other reaſons this is one, Christ hides them. Satan muſt ſtorme and level this hiding place before he can reach a beleever to deſtroy him. The treaſury muſt be broken before the treaſure that is hid in it can be carried away, the jewels cannot be taken away before the cheſt that keeps them be broken. The hiding place muſt be entred before that which is hidden in it be removed. Chriſt ſtands between his Elect and danger. The Devil muſt pierce Chriſt himſelf, before he can touch a Saint to deſtroy him. The beleever is hid in Chriſt, and Chriſt muſt ſuffer before he can ſuffer. Jeſus Chriſt did once conquer the devil for the beleevers freedome, and the devil muſt conquer Chriſt before he can finally overcome the beleever.
3. See here the al-ſufficiency of Chriſt. He is to his holy ones every thing they ſtand in need of. He is their life, he is their food, he is their rayment, and he is their hiding place. A hiding place is as neceſſary ſometimes as meat and cloathing. The Saints here are militant; they could not live if they were not hid. Though Chriſt were every thing elſe, yet if he were not an hiding place, he were not enough; but he is a hiding place as well as food. Jeſus Chriſt ſerves all the neceſſities of the ſoul. The Saints of God are in Scripture compared to ſheep, John 10. 14. Now a fold is as neceſſary for ſheep as paſtures; as the paſture preſerves them from ſtarving, ſo the fold preſerves them from worrying. Chriſt now is both fold and paſture. and ſo a ſufficient ſhepheard. The Church of Chriſt is compared to an Army, Cant. 6. 10. A place of retreat is as needful to … any other proviſion. Chriſt i… … … pl…ce to his ſouldiers; he doth not feed and cloath them, but he hides them too. He doth not onelyonly give them ammunition to fight when they are in the field, but he is a hiding place to them when they are heaten out of the field. The Church of Chriſt is compared to a ſhip, Eſay 54. 11. A haven is as neceſſary for a ſhip as either Maſts or Sailes, or Anchors. Jeſus Chriſt doth not onelyonly provide Sailes and Tackling for his ſhip, but he provides a Haven alſo; yea, he himſelf is the Haven; when his ſhip is weather-beaten by long voyages and ſharp ſtormes, he brings her into the Haven, and there ſhe's out of danger. …e is fit for all the exigencies and neceſſities of the ſoul, a compleat al-ſufficient Saviour.
4. The miſery of thoſe who are out of Christ. One great work of the Miniſtery is to diſcover the miſery of a Chriſtleſſe Condition. All unbeleevers are without Chriſt. Though they be in Chriſt by outward profeſſion, yet they are without Chriſt in regard of ſaving union, Eph. 2. 12. The miſery of being unintereſſed in Chriſt is unſpeakable even in this regard, that he is without a hiding place. No greater embleme of miſery then to ſee a man in a ſharp ſtorm without a ſhelter. He that is without Chriſt hath neither ſhelter for ſoule nor body. When men aſſault him, when devils tempt him, when ſinne ſets upon him, he hath no place to retire to, where he can can have any ſecurity. He that is without Chriſt hath not one buſh to defend him, either from men, devils, his own conſcience, or from the indignation of God. He lies open to all the hoſtile incurſions of men, devils, of the w…h of God which is as a conſuming fire. All his confidence is but as the ſhadow of a ſpiders web, which will neither keep him warm, nor ſafe.
Ʋſe 2. Exhortation.
1. Let not beleevers be inordinately afraid in times of danger. Should ſuch a man as I flie, ſaith Nebemiah? and who being as I, would go into the Temple to ſave his life? Neh. 6. 11. A fear of providence becomes the people of God as well as others; but feare of anxiety or diſtruſt ſhould be far from them; wondrous confident have the Saints of God been in times of danger, upon this very ground. God is our refuge and ſtrength, ſaith the Church, a preſent help in time of trouble; therefore we will not fear though the earth be moved, &c. Pſal. 46. 1, 2, 3. A Saint that beleeves this may laugh at fear, he may eſteeme iron as ſtraw, and braſſe as rotten wood, as the Scripture ſaith of the Leviathan, Job 41. 27, 28. 'Tis a diſparagement to your hiding place, that you ſhould be afraid. If Chriſt be able to hide you, you ſhall not be undefended. Let the world rage, let devils roare, let men lift up their voice, let ſinne be never ſo furious, Chriſt is a hiding place; he hides you from Gods wrath, and he will hide you from mans fury. Let unguarded ſinners fear and tremble; but let Chriſts hidden ones reſt in ſetled peace, in firme ſecurity. Your ſinking doth upbraid your hiding place with weakneſſe and inſufficiency.
2. Acknowledge from whence all your ſafety and protection comes. That you are hid from danger, when others are expoſed to danger; that you are ſheltred, when others … without ſhelter; that your ſoules, bodies; graces, comforts are ſecured, it is not becauſe of your own care, but becauſe Chriſt hides you. If the Lord himſelf had not been on our fide, now may Iſrael ſay, they had ſwallowed us up quick when their wrath was kindled againſt us, Pſal. 124. 1, 2. If Chriſt did not prepare a place for the woman, the Church, and if he did not give her the two wings of an Eagle to carry her to her hiding place, the Dragon would ſoon devoure both her and her childe, Rev. 12. 14. Acknowledge the protection of Chriſt, let him have the praiſe of all your ſafety. The ancient Romanes uſed to pay tribute for ſhadows: let Chriſt have praiſes for his ſhadowy protection. Whoſoever are the inſtruments, he is the principal Authour of all your hiding.
3. Take heed of making any other hiding places. Men are very apt when danger approacheth to dig created hiding places for themſelves. We may reade how the Prophet reproves this practiſe, Eſay 22 9, 10, 11. A providential uſe of outward means, is not onelyonly lawful, but neceſſary, but carnal truſting to any ſuch hiding place is ſinful. To truſt to creatures in time of danger is very Atheiſtical. God hath curſed ſuch confidence, Jer. 17. 5, 6. But to deſcend to particulars; There are ſundry places which men create to themſelves in time of danger.
(1) Many make great men their hiding place. When troubles ariſe they have recourſe to men, that by the ſtrength of horſes and Armies they may hide them. Alas what a vain confidence is this? Ahaz thought to have hid himſelfe under the wing of the King of Aſſyria: but what was the event? 2 Chron. 28. 20. The King of Aſſyria came unto him, but ſtrengthened him n…t. The skirt of men, the ſtrength of horſes is weak and very vaine, Prov. 21. 31. The horſe is prepared againſt the day of battel, but ſafety is of the Lord. We muſt ſay as the Church, Lord give us help in trouble, for vaine is the help of man. He that makes a chariot his hiding place, ſhall not be hid. God will drive the wheeles over their own back. If men and horſes could be a hiding place from men to your bodies, they cannot be any competent ſhelters to your ſoules; they cannot hide the inner man. I ſhall conclude this with Pſal. 20. 7. Some truſt in chariots, &c. They are brought down and fallen, but we are riſen and ſtand upright. He that makes men and horſes his hiding place, ſhall bring down the fire of Gods anger upon his hiding place, and upon himſelfe, Eſay 31. 1, 3. When God ſhall ſtretch out his hand; both he that helpeth ſhall fall, and he that is holpen ſhall fall down, and they all ſhall fall together.
(2) Others make strong Caſtles and deſenced Cities their hiding place. When danger approaches they ſlie to ſuch places, and there think to be ſafe. But alas, how inſecure are all theſe places? The high walls of Jericho fell down with a ſhout, when Jeſus Chriſt gave commandment for their downfal. Joſh. 6. 20. ſuch hiding places are made of periſhable materials. Nineveh was a ſtrong place, but it could not ſecure the inhabitants thereof. See how the Prophet derides their confidence, Nah. 3. 12, 13, 14. Tyrus was very ſtrong, Ezek. 27. 11. The Gammadims were in thy Towers. They were a people of Phenicia, called Gammadims, as if we ſhould ſay, vi…i …, becauſ… of the gr…t ſtrength they had in their … ▪ … & lac…rtoſi, ſaith Juni…s. And not for all their ſtrength they could not preſerve their Towers, nor their Towers them from the rage of Nebuchadnezzar, Chap. 26. 7, 8, 9. If any defenced place could hide you, yet it could but hide the outward man, it could be no ſecurity to the ſoul either from ſinne or temptations. Devils can climb the higheſt walls; brazen wals cannot keep out his temptations, much leſſe can they ſecure you from the wrath of God.
(3) Others make their ſilver and gold a hiding place. The rich mans wealth is his ſtrong City, and as a high wall in his conceit, Prov. 18. 11. but alas, how unable are theſe things to ſecure us? riches ſometime lay men open to danger; poverty is a better ſecurer then riches, even from bodily danger. Oſiander reports that in that bloody Epit. Cent. 16. l. 3. c. 69.Pariſian Maſſacre many rich Papiſts were murthered for their wealth as well as proteſtants. Though their profeſſion made them Papiſts, yet their wealth made them Hugonots as well as others. However, riches cannot ſecure a man from a diſeaſe, nor from death, Luke 16. nor from temptation, nor from troubles of conſcience, nor from the wrath of God, Prov. 11. 4. and Zephan. 1. 18. Neither their ſilver nor gold can deliver them in the day of the Lords anger.
(4) Others make their outward priviledges a hiding place. This the carnal Jewes did ever betake themſelves to, when the Prophets threatned any ſtormes. Nothing is more frequent in Scripture then this, Jer. 7. 4. The Temple of the Lord, &c. Mic. 3. 11. and Mat. 3. 9. Think not to ſay within your ſelves, we have Abraham to our Father, &c. But alas, all this will not hide you. Go to my place at Shiloh, ſaith God, Jer. 7. 12. Go to Jeruſalem, and ſee how it is there; go to the ſeven Churches of Aſia, and ſee how it is there. Theſe priviledges are ſo farre from being hiding places, that if he that enjoyes them be not hid ſavingly in Chriſt, they will expoſe him to more ſudden, more certaine, and more dreadful ruine. Reade Mat. 11. 20, 21, 22▪ 23, 24. Ioab was ſlaine at the horns of the Altar. Gods Temple ſhall not be a Sanctuary except he who is the Lord of the Temple be our hiding place. Indeed whatever hiding place is made, beſides Chriſt, ſhall not ſhelter when ſtormes come. We may ſay of all theſe hiding places, as the Prophet doth of that one, Eſay 28. 15, 16, 17, 18. Every hiding place beſides Chriſt is a hiding place of falſhood.
4. Be perſwaded actually to hide your ſelves with Ieſus Chriſt. To have a hiding place, and not to uſe it, is as bad as to want one: flie to Chriſt; runne into the holes of this rock. Three things muſt be done by all thoſe that would hide themſelves with Chriſt.
(1) You muſt put away ſinne by repentance. Jeſus Chriſt will not be a Sanctuary for rebels, he will not protect evil-doers. Chriſt will never hide the devil, nor any of his ſervants. Eſay 55. 6, 7. Let the ungodly forſake his way, &c. David knew this, therefore he prayes that God would teach him to do his Will, Pſal. 143▪ 9, 10. Deliver me, &c. I flie unto thee to hide me. Teach me to do they will. He that will not do the Will of Chriſt, ſhall receive no protection from Chriſt. Protectio ſequitur Allegiantiam, You muſt be his liege people if you will have him to defend you, Jo…. 22, 23, 25.
(2) You muſt pray that he would hide you. The promiſe is made to prayer, Eſay 65. 10. Sharon ſhall be a fold of flocks; the valley of Achor, a place for the flocks to lie down in, for my people that have ſought me. He that prayes moſt fervently is like to be hid moſt ſecurely. And then,
(3) You muſt beleeve in him. Faith is the key that, opens the door of this hiding place, and locks it againe. One word in the Hebrew ſignifies to truſt, and to make a refuge, Pſal. 57. 1. He that doth not make Chriſt his truſt ſhall not have Chriſt for his hiding place; he will hide none but thoſe that commit themſelves to him. I will ſet him on high, becauſe he hath known my name, Pſal. 91. 9, 14. Dependance on Chriſt is not the cauſe of his hiding us, but it is the qualification of the perſon that ſhall be hid.
Ʋſe 3. Conſolation.
1. It's comfortable against the malice of all their enemies. Though devils rage, though men roare, yet here is ſhelter againſt both. Satan is a deſtroyer, but Chriſt is a hiding place. This made David ſo ſecure, Pſal. 4. 8. I will both lay me down in peace and ſleep, for thou Lord makeſt me dwell in ſafety.
2. When other hiding places fail. Gods people often finde by experience that the places of their protection are places of deſtruction. Well, when all other places faile, Chriſt will not faile. See how it was with David, Pſal. 142. 4, 5. and when his hiding place at Ziglak was gone, yet his Saviour was not gone, 2 Sam. 30. 6. He encouraged himſelf in the Lord his God. 'Tis a mighty encouragement to beleevers, that Chriſt is a hiding place. 1. He is a ſafe and ſtrong hiding place, Eſay 33. 16. Chriſt is a rock, and he that is in Chriſt, is in the munitions of rocks. 2. He is a large hiding place. There's room enough for all his Elect. His skirt is large. 3. He is a hiding place to the ſoul as well as to the body. 4. He hath undertaken to hide us. God hath committed his Elect to Chriſt, that he ſhould hide them. 5. Chriſt is a man. As he is God and ſo able, ſo he is man alſo; he hath not put off his humanity, he is pitiful to his own fleſh. I ſuppoſe Chriſt is here called a Man for the comfort of men.