The Glory of Christ Set Forth in Sermons on John 3:34-36, Sermon 5
SERMON V.
Hebrews XI. 6.
But without Faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe Him.
YOU have heard the dependance of theſe Words upon the foregoing; we came directly to open the Propoſition as it lay before us in the Words.
Doct. That without Faith it is impoſſible for any Man or Woman alive ever to pleaſe God. We have ſhewn you firſt what it is for a Man or Woman to pleaſe God. Secondly, we have proved to you, that this pleaſing of God is a matter of very great concernment; it is a thing very deſirable for a Man or Woman to be found pleaſing God. And then in the third place, we came to enquire what Faith that is without which it is impoſſible to pleaſe God. And then fourthly, we came to clear it up to you, that by Faith a Soul doth pleaſe God. Thus far we have gone.
5. Now we come in the fifth place to give you ſome demonſtrations, to make it evident to you (if the Lord pleaſe to ſet in with it) that it is impoſſible for any Man or Woman ever to pleaſe God without Faith: It is not only ſaid here, that without Faith a man hath not pleaſed God, or without Faith no man ever ſhall pleaſe God, but he ſpeaks a greater word, without faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God. This is ſuch a thing, that it will hardly enter into the hearts of men and women to be perſwaded of it. What! not pleaſe God by doing what God requires! why, if I be diligent and faithful in my calling, doth not that pleaſe God! if I perform the Duties that God requires doth not that pleaſe God! if I give much in a way of charity, perform good works, and be given to Alms-deeds in relieving the poor Saints of Chriſt, is not this pleaſing unto God! if I ſuffer for the Truths ſake, doth not this pleaſe God! why, do but obſerve and conſider what the Apoſtle here ſaith, without faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God. And conſider alſo what the Apoſtle ſpeaks, 1 Cor. 13.3. ſays he, Though I give all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, yet all is nothing without charity; without Love: and whence comes this Love, but from Faith? it is Faith that worketh Love. Now if the Apoſtle ſay, it is impoſſible to pleaſe God without Faith, then certainly this is a Truth, whether we can believe it or no; it is a Truth notwithſtanding all that can be objected againſt it. It is impoſſible, mark the word, when he ſaies impoſſible, he doth not mean, that it is a very hard and difficult thing, that which may come to paſs with a great deal of difficulty, as ſometimes that is meant by impoſſible in Scripture-phraſe, as in Mark 10.27. ſays Chriſt to them, With men it is impoſſible. Impoſſible, that is, very hard, very difficult; but now to pleaſe God without Faith, is not only impoſſible with ſuch an impoſſibility, but it is impoſſible ſo as it oppoſes God in his determinate Counſel, Without faith it is abſolutely impoſſible to pleaſe God: Such an impoſſibility as the Apoſtle ſpeaks of in Heb. 6.4. For it is impoſſible for thoſe who were once inlightned, and have taſted of the heavenly gift, &c. if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance: It is abſolutely impoſſible, it is beyond Gods determination. So in Heb. 10.4. It is impoſſible that the blood of Bulls and of Goats ſhould take away ſin: It is impoſſible that all the blood of all the creatures under Heaven ſhould take away the guilt of ſin. So here, without Faith it is impoſſible for a man or woman to pleaſe God, abſolutely impoſſible. Let me now give you two or three demonſtrations to make it evident and apparent in every mans Conſcience, I hope, through the aſſiſtance of the Spirit of God: And O that the Lord would perſwade us of the truth of this, That it is impoſſible to pleaſe God without Faith.
Firſt, Becauſe all that ever an unbelieving man or woman doth or can do, is all for ſelf, and not for God; and is it poſſible then to pleaſe God, when he does nothing at all, not one thing for God, but all for ſelf, every thing for ſelf? every duty that he performs is all for ſelf; every unbeliever is juſt Judas like, in John 12.6. Judas was a Thief, and had the Bag, and bare what was put therein; he had Chriſts Bag, and the Diſciples Bag, ay, but he had another Bag of his own; ſo every unbeliever hath a Bag, he ſeems to have a Bag for God and for Chriſt, but he hath a Bag for ſelf, and he puts all into that Bag: He may ſeem to do a great deal for God, he may pray much, and frequently and earneſtly; he may read the Word very much, and attend very often upon the Word Preached, he may be frequent in the ordinary duties of the Worſhip and Service of God, nay, let me ſay further, he may be taken up in extraordinary duties too, as Faſting, and Prayer, and the like, and …t ſtill all for ſelf, and nothing at all for God. Look into Zach. 7.5, 6. ſaith the Lord there, Speak unto all the people of the Land, and to the Prieſts, ſaying, when ye faſted and mourned in the fifth and ſeventh month, even thoſe ſeventy years, did ye at all faſt unto me, even unto me? And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did ye not eat for your ſelves, and drink for your ſelves? All for ſelf. Thus it is with every unbeliever, whatever he doth he doth for ſelf, he is compaſſed about in the Circle of ſelf, and cannot get a hairs breadth beyond it; and do you think that we can pleaſe God in any duty or ſervice that we perform, when the Lord ſees and knows that we do all for ſelf? do you think that God can accept of that Service? Make it your own caſe, ſuppoſe now you had a Servant, you give him Meat, and Drink, and Wages, and he Works, and Labours, and Toyls, but all is for himſelf; now, though he labour and work, yet is it pleaſing to you? is it acceptable to you? Or ſuppoſe you have a Factor, and you ſend him to Trade for you, you truſt him with your Stock, and he is diligent in his Trade, and follows his buſineſs, but all his Trade is for himſelf, would you accept of this? is this pleaſing to you? no, you will ſay, he is a very unfaithful wretched Servant, and you cannot be pleaſed with him. Why, this is the very caſe, God hath ſent us into the World to Trade for him, and to act for him, now all that ever we do whilſt we are in a ſtate of unbelief, is for ſelf; we do every thing for ſelf; truly, until … Soul comes to believe on Chriſt, all that he doth is for himſelf, he cannot get out of the circle of ſelf; but now, when a Soul comes to receive Chriſt by Faith, then he comes to act for Chriſt, and to deny ſelf, never can deny himſelf before; as it was with the Apoſtle Paul, Paul before his Converſion he did very much, but yet all was for ſelf; he was very zealous for the Law, and he was very upright, but all was for ſelf; but now when he comes to believe on Chriſt, ſelf is laid aſide, Now, ſaies he, I am nothing, 2 Cor. 12.11. Though I be nothing; Paul an Apoſtle, an eminent Saint of Chriſt, and yet he is nothing! Now, ſaies he, I am nothing, I can do nothing, I cannot pray, I know not how to pray, nor do no-nothing as I ought to do it; I cannot ſo much as think a good thought, ſaies he; now ſelf is abaſed, ſelf is put down; but now, mark, Chriſt is lifted up, 1 Cor. 15.10. I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the Grace of God which was with me; not I, ſaies he, but the grace of God with me, or in me; ſo ſaies he in Philip. 4.12, 13. I know how to abound, and how to want; I have learned in all ſtates and conditions therewith to be content; I can do all things, ſaies he, through Chriſt that ſtrengthens me. Thus, when he comes to believe, he exalts Chriſt, and abaſes ſelf; Faith is a ſelf-emptying Grace, it makes the Soul to be little or nothing, and makes Chriſt to be all; it hath no ſtrength in its ſelf, but doth all in the ſtrength of Chriſt; and till the Soul comes to believe on Chriſt, ſelf is the cheif agent in all that he doth, and therefore now it is impoſſible for a man or woman ever to pleaſe God, by all that he can do, till he comes to believe. You know what is ſaid in the parable of the Talents, in Matt. 25. He that had one Talent, and improved it not, but hid it, he came and brought his Talent; but did he pleaſe his Lord with the Talent? He had not improved his Talent for his Lord; and ſaies his Lord to him, Thou wicked and ſloathful Servant, take away the Talent from him. Now what would his Lord have ſaid to him if he had improved it for himſelf? he did not improve it for his Lord nor for himſelf neither, and was this diſpleaſing to his Lord? how much more diſpleaſing would it have been if he had improved it for himſelf? Certainly, whatever a man or woman doth, if he do it not for God, but for himſelf, he cannot pleaſe God in it: Then a man cannot pleaſe God without Faith, becauſe without Faith he cannot go beyond ſelf. Ephraim is an empty Vine, he bringeth forth Fruit to himſelf, Hoſea 10.1. And ſo God ſpeaks of every unbeliever, ſuch a man or woman is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit to himſelf; he doth not, he cannot pleaſe God in any thing that he doth; This is the firſt demonſtration.
Secondly, Without Faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God; becauſe till a man or womans perſon be accepted and pleaſing to God, all that ever he doth cannot pleaſe God; and that cannot be without Faith. It is ſaid in Geneſis 4.4, 5. that God had reſpect to Abel and to his Offering, he had not reſpect to Cain and his Sacrifice; but he had reſpect to Abel's Sacrifice. why? becauſe he had firſt reſpect to Abels perſon. By Faith his perſon was accepted, and then his Sacrifice was accepted; God had no reſpect to Cains Sacrifice, becauſe his perſon was not accepted; and his perſon was not accepted, becauſe he was not a Believer. When a Soul comes to believe on Chriſt, then, and not till then his perſon is accepted; becauſe that which made God diſpleaſed with him is removed, and his Sin is pardoned, and now the Soul doth appear Righteous in the ſight of God; but till a perſon comes to believe on Chriſt, it is impoſſible that ever this perſon ſhould pleaſe God; becauſe his perſon is not accepted, then whatever comes from him is not accepted. It is a full word that the Apoſtle hath to this purpoſe, in Rom. 8.8. So then (he brings it in by way of concluſion) So then, they that are in the Fleſh cannot pleaſe God.
Obj. That are in the fleſh, you will ſay, what is that? was not Paul in the Fleſh? when he ſaies in Gal. 2.20. The life that I now live in the Fleſh, I live by the Faith of the Son of God? Paul was in the Fleſh, and did not Paul pleaſe God? all the believers that are upon the face of the Earth are in the Fleſh, and yet the Apoſtle ſaies here, thoſe that are in the Fleſh cannot pleaſe God: But I pray obſerve, what the Apoſtle means by being in the fleſh, there is a douacceptation of the Word, one is to live this life here in the Body, but that is not the Apoſtles meaning, when he ſays thoſe that are in the fleſh cannot pleaſe God, for then never a Believer in the World can pleaſe God. But then 2dly, there is another meaning of the Word, according to the Scripture; to be in the fleſh, is to be in a fleſhly carnal State, a corrupt State, an unchanged State, an unbelieving State and condition; they that are thus in the fleſh, cannot pleaſe God; and this is the ſence of the Holy-Ghoſt in Rom. 7.5. For when we were in the Fleſh, ſaies he, &c. why, he was in the Fleſh in one ſence, but he was not in the Fleſh in another ſence; when we were in the Fleſh, that is, when we were unbelievers, in a fleſhly carnal ſtate, when we were ſo in the fleſh, we could not pleaſe God, and no man that is in the Fleſh in that ſence can pleaſe God. But why is it not poſſible for a man or woman that is an Unbeliever to pleaſe God? Why ſo? why, look but into the former verſe, Rom. 8.7. there he gives you the reaſon of it, why thoſe that are Unbelievers cannot pleaſe God; becauſe the carnal mind is enmity againſt God, it is not ſubject to the Law of God, nether indeed can be; and then he brings in this concluſion, So then they that are in the Fleſh, they that have a carnal mind, they that are altogther unbelievers, cannot pleaſe God; becauſe they are Enemies to God, enemies in the higheſt degree; for mark the expreſſion, he doth not ſay the carnal mind is an enemy to God, but he puts it in the abſtract, the Carnal mind is enmity againſt God; Enmity it ſelf; it is irreconcileable to God, it is not ſubject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be, till God change it. Now ſee the force of the demonſtration, every unbeliever is an Enemy to God, and every thing he doth comes from a principle of enmity againſt God; and do you think that can pleaſe God? though he ſeems to do much for God, he prays much, and reads much, and is much in thankſgiving, and much in confeſſing of ſin, but all this comes from a principle of enmity againſt God, and what can this pleaſe God? Suppoſe now you ſhould have an enemy, and he ſhould come and ſeem to ſpeak you fair, and you know that he hath a heart full of hatred and enmity againſt you; poſſibly; he comes and confeſſes he hath done you wrong, and he is ſorry for it, but he hopes he ſhall do ſo no more; if you know he comes and ſpeaks this with a ſpirit of Enmity, and that he doth maintain his enmity as fully in his heart and mind as ever, are you pleaſed with theſe confeſſions? no, you abhor him the more, becauſe he comes in a diſſembling hipocritical way. Now, God ſees and knows our Hearts, poſſibly we may be taken with ſome ſuch expreſſions of an enemy, and think he means as he ſays, and take it in good part; but a Man cannot deceive God. So when an Unbeliever comes and confeſſes his Sins to God, the Lord ſees he doth it with a ſpirit of enmity, he comes with his humble petitions and ſupplications, and the Heart is full of Enmity and hatred againſt God; Will the Lord now accept of this? He comes and gives thanks to God, but the Lord looks upon all as hypocritical and flattering; and can this be pleaſing to God? in Pſalm 78.34 When he ſlew them, then they ſought him, and they returned and inquired early after God. Verſe 35. And they remembred that God was their Rock, and the High God their Redeemer. Now, they challenge acquaintance with God, and claim intereſt in God; well, but what doth the Holy-Ghoſt ſay of this their inquiring after God? Verſe 36. Nevertheleſs, they Flattered him with their Mouth, and they Lyed unto him with their Tongues. And could God be pleaſed with this? I pray conſider, this is the very caſe, every Unbeliever is an Enemy to God, is in a State of enmity till ſuch time as he comes to believe on Chriſt; then indeed the enmity is taken away, but till he come to believe on Chriſt, he is an enemy to God, and he hates God in his Soul, and whatever he doth he doth but diſſemble; if he comes and confeſs his ſins, and give thanks to God, and make petitions and ſupplications to God, all this doth not pleaſe God, he doth but Flatter, and play the Hypocrite, and Lye to God; to his Face. How then can a Man or Woman pleaſe God without Faith? that is the Second demonſtration. Take one more.
Thirdly, Without Faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God; why? becauſe all that ever a man or Woman doth that is an unbeliever; is all but dead works, all is Stinking, Dead; a dead Service, and a dead Sacrifice, whatever he brings to God, it is dead, his Prayers and Thankſgivings are dead, and his Supplications and Petitions are all dead, his Reading and Hearing the Word is all dead, all that he doth is dead. Now, do you think that the living God can or will be pleaſed with dead ſervices? can this be pleaſing to him? all is dead, becauſe it comes from a dead principle, every unbelieving man and woman in the World is ſpiritually dead, and therefore all that comes from him muſt be dead; they are all dead works, as the Apoſtle calls them, in Hebrews 6.1. Leaving the Principles of Repentance from dead works, ſaies he, and ſo in Hebrews 9.14. How much more, ſays he, ſhall the Blood of Chriſt, who through the eternal Spirit offered up himſelf to God without ſpot, purge your Concience from dead works, &c. when the Blood of Chriſt comes to be ſprinkled upon the Soul by Faith, then he is cleanſed from dead works; but before, all is dead, his faithfulneſs in his calling, his thankſgivings, his prayers, and all, is dead, and how can this pleaſe a living God? Can a man gather Grapes of Thorns, and Figs of Thiſtles? No. So, can any thing that is lively and acceptable to God, come from a dead Heart? No. Can God be pleaſed with that which is dead? that which is dead is diſpleaſing to you; if they give you dead Drink, dead Beer, or dead Wine, doth it pleaſe you? No, you will ſay you had rather drink Water. All the ſervices that an unbeliever can perform, they are all but dead in the ſavour of God, they are all ſtinking, loathſome things, therefore how can theſe things be pleaſing unto God? This is the ſtate of every unbeliever, he is ſpiritually dead, and all that he doth is dead, nothing that is living or lively can come from a dead thing; a dead thing cannot produce a living action; but now, by Faith, a ſoul comes to be made alive; when a ſoul comes to receive Chriſt he receives a principle of Life; but every unbeliever is dead, and therefore nothing that he does can be pleaſing unto God. So now you have heard the point demonſtrated to you, That it is impoſſible for any man or woman to pleaſe God without Faith. We come now in the next place for the further clearing this truth, and for your more diſtinct underſtanding of it, to remove ſome objections that poſſibly may be made againſt it; As firſt, what is nothing pleaſing to God without Faith? You will ſay, did not the Elect pleaſe God from all Eternity? did not God chuſe the Elect, and ſet his love upon them? did not they pleaſe God? yet they had no Faith: then it ſeems it is poſſible to pleaſe God without Faith. Indeed, if the Arminians were to anſwer this, they would eaſily anſwer it; for they make election to be upon foreſeen Faith, that God did foreſee that ſuch and ſuch a man would believe, and therefore he elected him; and if ſo, then the elect cannot pleaſe God without Faith; but we do not joyn with them in that thing, there was not any thing foreſeen that did move God to elect one or another. In Romans 9.11. the Apoſtle there, inſtances in the two Children, Jacob and Eſau, For the Children being not yet born, having done neither good nor evil, God did not conſider them as having done good or evil, that the purpoſe of God, according to election might ſtand, not of Works but of him that calleth: It was ſaid unto her the Elder ſhall ſerve the Younger. God doth not conſider that in point of election, for election is not the effect of Faith foreſeen, but Faith is the conſequent of Election; he hath choſen us, that we ſhould be Holy, that we ſhould believe, in Eph. 1.4. and in Acts 13.48. And as many as were Ordained to Eternal Life, believed. Election is antecedent to Faith and believing; God was not pleaſed with the Elect, becauſe of their Faith; no, but they were choſen to Faith: and then, did not they pleaſe God without Faith? there is the objection ſtill.
Anſw. I anſwer ſhortly, That the Elect did not pleaſe God, but God was pleaſed out of his free Grace to ſet his Love of Benevolence upon them, and thereby did intend in time to ſhew Love and Friendſhip to them; I ſay, it was not becauſe they pleaſed God, that God choſe them, and elected them; but God was pleaſed out of his infinite free Grace and Love to ordain them in time, to manifeſt his love of friendſhip to them; ſo that it was not for Faith nor without Faith, for they did not pleaſe God.
Obj. But then you will ſay, Did not Adam in innocency pleaſe God? if he did, then it is poſſible to pleaſe God without Faith, for Adam had no Faith in innocency. Now, before the fall Adam did pleaſe God; was there not a ſweet intercourſe between God and Adam? was there not a covenant made between God and Adam? Did not God come and ſpeak in a familiar way to Adam? Surely Adam pleaſed God, Adam had not Faith; then it is poſſible to pleaſe God without Faith. For Anſwer to this,
Firſt, In a word, Adam had a Faith, though not ſuch a Faith as believers have now, yet Adam had a faith of Affiance, of Truſt and Confidence, and Dependance upon God, which was required in the firſt Commandment; and Adam had all the Commandments of the Law written upon his Heart.
2. But Secondly, This Truth doth preſuppoſe man in a ſinful fallen ſtate, Adam after his fall, and ſo all the poſterity of Adam; now, there is no Son nor Daughter of Adam ſince the Fall that can ever pleaſe God without Faith; Adam himſelf ſince the fall, if ever he pleaſed God it was by Faith, for the Apoſtle ſpeaks of thoſe that are ſuppoſed to be Sinners and Enemies againſt God, That without Faith it is impoſſible for them to pleaſe God.
Obj. But you will ſay, Have not ſome that have been unbelievers, by doing of thoſe things that God hath required, pleaſed God? Look into the example of Jehu, 2 Kings 10.30. You know that God commanded Jehu to go and cut off all the Houſe of Ahab, that was his Meſſage; that he ſhould deſtroy all the poſterity of Ahab, and ſo be did, in Chapt. 9. and the fore-part of the 10th Chapter. Now then, ſee what a Teſtimony the Lord gives of his own approbation of Jehu at the 30 verſe, And the Lord ſaid to Jehu, Becauſe thou haſt done well in Executing that which is right in mine Eyes, and haſt done unto the Houſe of Ahab according to all that was in mine Heart; thy Children of the Fourth Generation ſhall ſit on the Throne of Iſrael. Did not Jehu pleaſe God here? and was not Jehu an Unbeliever? ſee verſe 31. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the Law of the Lord God of Iſrael with all his heart, for he departed not from the ſins of Jeroboam, which made Iſrael to Sin. And ſo for Nebuchadnezzar, he did what God required him to do. Go, ſays God, againſt Tyrus, and conquer it, it coſt him a hard bout, but did it not pleaſe God? Then it ſeems when men and women do that which God requires, they pleaſe God in ſo doing.
For Anſwer to this in two things.
Anſw. Firſt, That the thing that God commands being done do pleaſe God for the ſubſtance of it, for the matter of it, it is pleaſing to God, and ſo far pleaſing, as God may manifeſt his Approbation; he may give a teſtimony that he doth approve of it, by ſome outward reward, as he did to Jehu; God teſtified that what he did pleaſed him, and he gave him a reward. And ſo for Nebuchadnezzar's Warring againſt Tyrus, God did approve of it, and ſhew his acceptation of the thing, being done, by rewarding and recompenſing of Nebuchadnezzar, Ezekiel 29.18, 19. and 20. Son of Man, Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon: hath cauſed his Army to ſerve a great Service againſt Tyrus, &c. And what ſhall he have? he ſhall have a reward; verſe 19. Therefore thus ſaith the Lord God, behold, I will give the Land of Egypt unto Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon, &c. That is one Anſwer, That the thing that God Commands, being done, God doth approve of it for the Subſtance. But,
Now, Secondly, Though God do approve of the thing that is done for the ſubſtance of it, yet being done by ſuch a perſon, in ſuch a manner, to ſuch an end, God doth not accept it. As now, take both theſe Inſtances again. Jehu, God did approve of the thing that he did, and manifeſted his approbation of it; his cutting off the poſterity of Ahab, God approved of it; but for the manner of Jehu's doing of it, it being done in the way of unbelief, God expreſſes his diſpleaſure againſt it, in Hoſea 1.4. ſaies God, yet a little while, and I will avenge the Blood of Jezreel upon the Houſe of Jehu. What? would God be revenged for doing that which he required? God Commanded him to cut off the Poſterity of Ahab, and God approved of it; but for the manner of doing of it, it being done by ſuch a one in a ſtate of unbelief, he did not pleaſe God in it; the thing it ſelf was acceptable to God; but for the manner of it, God was not pleaſed with it. And ſo for Nebuchadnezzar, God calls him his Servant, in Jeremiah 25.9. The breaking of the Nations by Nebuchadnezzar was a thing that God required: and yet being done by him, God will be revenged on him for it. Therefore if you look into Haggai 2.22. God threatens there to deſtroy Nebuchadnezzar's Kingdom that had deſtroyed ſo many Nations; and yet he had done but that that God had ſet him about; ſo that obſerve, and underſtand the Anſwer thus, that the thing done that God requires, for the ſubſtance of it, God doth allow and approve of it: but being done by one that is an Unbeliever, God doth not accept of his perſon nor of his Service, God may allow it ſo far as to manifeſt his approbation of it, and to give ſome outward recompence and reward for it, and yet notwithſtanding God doth not allow it, ſo as to accept it with a Gracious acceptation, being done by ſuch a one.
Obj. 4. But the Fourth Objection is of greateſt Weight and Moment, and a matter of the greateſt Temptation, and that is this; you will ſay to me, But if it be impoſſible for a Man or woman to pleaſe God without Faith, then it is in vain for any man or woman to endeavour to do any thing that is pleaſing unto God; for if it be impoſſible to pleaſe God by what we do, then why ſhould we pray, and hear the Word, and read the Word? here is a Temptation that I ſuppoſe will preſently come in upon you. If it be impoſſible to pleaſe God without Faith, hath not this a tendency to put people into deſpair of ever hoping to pleaſe God by all that they can do?
But for Anſwer to it briefly in two things.
Anſw. 1. Firſt, Though it be true, that it is impoſſible for any Man or Woman to pleaſe God without Faith, yet notwithſtanding, (mark I pray what I ſay) yet God may pleaſe to look towards the prayers and endeavours of an Unbeliever; God may pleaſe graciouſly to look towards their deſires and ſupplications, when they are in the Lords way, ſeeking of him; I do not ſay God will do it, but I ſay God may do it; perhaps God may look towards an unbeliever, and give ear to the prayers that he makes (I pray mind it:) becauſe here is a very great Temptation that is ready ſecretly to prevail over us upon the hearing of ſuch a Truth as this, that we cannot pleaſe God by all that ever we can do. Why, then a Man had as good take his courſe, and Sin, and take his pleaſures in the World, he can but diſpleaſe God at laſt, and he cannot pleaſe him by all that he can do: Therefore, I ſay, here is the firſt Anſwer, Though it is true, we cannot ſay certainly that God will be pleaſed with the prayers and endeavours of an Unbeliever, yet God may pleaſe graciouſly to look towards the prayers and ſupplications of an unbelieving Soul; I pray elſe, why doth the Apoſtle Peter put Simon Magus upon it to pray to God, in Acts 8.22. Simon Magus was a Sorcerer, and he liſtened and hearkened to what Philip Preached, and forſooth he would be a convert, and went for a Believer; Peter and John hearing the report what was done by the Goſpel, went to confirm him; but Peter preſently ſmelt out Simon Magus what he was, by his offering him Money for the gift of the Holy-Ghoſt: ſaies he, Thy Money perriſh with thee: I perceive that thou art in the Gall of bitterneſs, and in the Bond of iniquity, repent, ſays he, therefore of this thy wickedneſs, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee. Peter put him upon Prayer, he was a wicked Man, an Unbeliever, in the Gall of bitterneſs, and in the Bond of iniquity, yet pray to God, ſaies he, perhaps the thought of thy Heart may be forgiven thee; And ſo Paul ſpeaks in 2. Tim. Ch. 2. Two laſt Verſes, In meekneſs, inſtructing thoſe that oppoſe themſelves, if God peradventure will give them Repentance, to the acknowledging of the Truth God may peradventure give them repentance, though it is a certain Truth, that without Faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God. Yet thus much I may ſay, to help to take off this objection, That there is a perhaps, if you be found diligent in ſeeking God, and humbling your Souls before the Lord, peradventure you may be forgiven, I do not ſay you ſhall certainly be forgiven; and God will certainly hear you; but perhaps, as Peter ſaid to Simon Magus, perhaps, and if peradventure, ſays Paul, God will give them Repentance; then here is a [perhaps] for thoſe that are Unbelievers, that God may graciouſly pleaſe to have reſpect towards them, though God be not pleaſed with them not their prayers, and duties; therefore let not this Temptation prevail over you upon that account, namely, to give over all, becauſe you cannot pleaſe God by what you do peradventure God may, have reſpect towards you; but now, if you go on, and caſt off ſeeking God, and the ways of God, and go on in your ſinful ways and courſes, there is no perhaps for ſuch, no; but if Men ſin willfully (mark the expreſſion) in Heb. 10.25, 26. If Men ſin wilfully, and caſt off the means of Grace wilfully, there is no perhaps for ſuch: He puts an impoſſibility upon himſelf ever to be recovered therefore, give not way to the Temptation, but ſay, Well, there is a peradventure, and perhaps for me, though I be an Unbeliever. But,
Secondly, Let me anſwer it in another thing; Though it be true, that without Faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God; Nay, though we do diſpleaſe God by all that we do; make the objection as ſtrong as you can; it is impoſſible to pleaſe God by all my Prayers, Tears, and Confeſſions, in my waitings upon God; yet, notwithſtanding, know and underſtand it for a Truth, that there are degrees of diſpleaſing God; a man may diſpleaſe God more or leſs. Look into Zachariah 1.15. I am very ſore diſpleaſed with the Heathen that are at eaſe: for I was but a little diſpleaſed, and they helped forward the affliction. God may be ſorely diſpleaſed, and God may be leſs diſpleaſed with a perſon; as now, if one ſin doth diſpleaſe God, will not many ſins diſpleaſe him much more? if that which we call a ſmall ſin will diſpleaſe God, then a greater ſin will dipleaſe him much more. So now, if we diſpleaſe God by our Duties and Services, then may we not diſpleaſe God much more by caſting off duties? Nay, may we not diſpleaſe him moſt of all not only by caſting of Duties, but by running deſperately and Headlong into all, manner of Evil. Mark how you conclude, you cannot pleaſe God by what you do, therefore you will diſpleaſe him more; this is to run headlong and deſperately into the loweſt Hell. As there are degrees of glory in Heaven, as one Star differs from another Star in Glory; ſo there are degrees of Torment in Hell. It ſhall be more tollerable for Sodom and Gommorah at the day of Judgement, than for thoſe that have the Goſpel and do not improve it. As ſhe hath fared deliciouſly, ſaies God, ſo much the more Torment give her, ſaies God, in Revelations 18.7. So now, becauſe we do diſpleaſe God by what we do in our duties and ſervices, therefore ſhall we run further on to diſpleaſe God more and more? Is it not enough to diſpleaſe God by doing things irregularly and unbelievingly, but ſhall we therefore run headlong upon wickedneſs, and care not how much we diſpleaſe God? O! therefore let us have a care of this Temptation, for it is very great and dangerous; becauſe we cannot pleaſe God by doing what we can, therefore we will run headlong on to diſpleaſe him all that we can: So now I have finiſhed the explication of this Truth, That without Faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God. I cannot now come to that Application which I chiefly intend.
Appli. But in a word, becauſe I would not leave you wholy without ſome word of Application:
Uſe. Here then, let all thoſe that are Unbelievers underſtand and know this day from the Lord, what a dangerous ſtate and condition they are in; it is ſuch a ſtate and condition as is not to be reſted quietly in, becauſe that they cannot poſſibly pleaſe God by all that they can do, I would not ſpeak any thing to diſcourage and caſt down any, but to awaken poor Souls: Underſtand and know this day from the Lord, that you never yet did pleaſe God by all that ever you have done; you have made poſſibly many Hundred prayers and petitions to God, you have been exerciſed in holy Duties and Services all along from day to day; yet you have not pleaſed God in any thing that you have done; Nay, without Faith you cannot pleaſe God in whatever you ſhall do, it is impoſſible. What ſhould I ſay more, read but the Text, ſaies the Apoſtle, without Faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God. The Apoſtle doth not only ſpeak of ſuch as live in open known ſins of Uncleanneſs, and Drunkeneſs, and Swearing, and Lying, that they do not pleaſe God, that is plain enough; every one will ſay that theſe men do not pleaſe God, and that it is impoſſible they ſhould pleaſe God. And thoſe that live in ſecret Sins, in ſecret covetouſneſs of heart, in ſecret oppreſſion, ſecret omiſion and neglect of duty, Family or Cloſet-prayer, do theſe things pleaſe God think you? not that I ſpeak to ſuch as theſe are, but to thoſe that are profeſſors, and that are careful to walk ſtrictly and conſcienciouſly in their places, as far as ever they have light and underſtanding; you are careful poſſibly to deal righteouſly in your Callings and Trade, you deſire to make Conſcience of your ways in buying and ſelling, and trading and converſing with the World, to walk uprightly towards all men, and what, doth not this pleaſe God, you will ſay? do not I pleaſe God in this? I pray mark, is this Faith or no? The Apoſtle ſaies here, without Faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God; ſuppoſe you perform duties, wait upon God in his Worſhip and Ordinances, are very diligent in attending upon the Word Preached, and very dilligent in reading the Scriptures daily, day by day, and you are very diligent alſo in private duties, ſuch as I mentioned before doth not this pleaſe God, you will ſay? why, I pray ſtill do but have recourſe to the Apoſtles words, without Faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God. Can you ſay that theſe things are Faith? without Faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God: But if a Man or Woman be ſo Charitable that they are ready upon all occaſions to relieve the Bowels of the Saints, doth not this pleaſe God? why, ſaies the Apoſtle, without Faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God. Do you believe that this is a Truth that this Text holds forth? our Charity and good works, they are not Faith, and without Faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God. Reckon what you can reckon, and ſay what you can for your ſelves, yet conſider, is this Faith or no? If it be not Faith, it cannot pleaſe God. Poſſibly you may deſire and endeavour to walk in the ſtricteſt way of profeſſion, and worſhip God in the cloſeſt way; ſuppoſe you do ſo, you deſire to walk in Church-fellowſhip with the Saints, but this is not Faith ſtill, and without Faith is is impoſſible to pleaſe God. I pray conſider the Apoſtle Paul, ſaies Paul, before he was converted, and was brought to believe on Chriſt, in Acts 16.5. ſays he, After the moſt ſtraiteſt ſect of our Religion, I lived a Phariſee. And ſays he in another place, in Phil. 3.7, 8, 9. As concerning the righteouſneſs which is in the law, I was blameleſs, ſays he at verſe 6. But now mark, ſays he, this was not faith; though when he comes to believe on Chriſt, Now, ſays he, I look at all that ever I did as nothing, and I count all but dung that I may win Chriſt. Brethren, whatever we do, without faith it is impoſſible for us to pleaſe God.
But poſſibly you will ſay to me, I hope I do believe: If you do, it is well; But, I pray, do you know what it is to believe? ask this queſtion to your own hearts, Do you know what it is to believe? It is not to believe that every thing that is ſpoken in the Goſpel is true; no, no, this Faith whereby we come to pleaſe God, is another manner of Faith.
But ſuppoſe now that you do believe indeed and in truth, I pray have you done all that ever you have done in a way of Faith and believing? truly without Faith you ſee it is impoſſible to pleaſe God; even you that are Believers, without acting of Faith in what you do, you cannot pleaſe God.
Queſt. But you will ſay to me then, How ſhall a Chriſtian man or woman ſo perform duties in Faith, ſo as they may be pleaſing unto God? As ſuppoſe now the duty of Prayer, How ſhall we perform the duty of prayer, ſo as it may be pleaſing unto God? or for hearing the Word, How ſhall we ſo hear the Word in Faith that it may be pleaſing unto God? and how ſhall we partake of the Lords-Table in Faith ſo as to pleaſe God?
I cannot come to anſwer this now; but poſſibly if the Lord pleaſe, I may ſpeak ſomething to that at ſome other time; all that I have to ſay for the preſent is this:
You ſee, Friends, Brethren and Beloved, what cauſe we have all of us, I ſpeak not only to unbelievers, but to thoſe that are believers; as for unbelievers, what cauſe have they to go home and bewail and bemoan their condition before the Lord? Look back upon all that you have done throughout your whole lives, and you may write this upon it all, you have diſpleaſed God; you have made many Prayers, and confeſſed many Sins, and given thanks to God often; you have read and heard the Word, and have done this and that, and yet in all that you have done you have never pleaſed God, becauſe without Faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God: Go and bewail it before the Lord, that you have led ſuch a courſe of life, that you have done nothing that hath been pleaſing unto God. And you that are Believers, have you done all that you have done in Faith? have you prayed in faith? have you heard the word in faith, and have you partaked in other Ordinances in a way of faith? we have all cauſe to go home, and in private fal down before the Lord, and acknowledge that we have diſpleaſed God in every duty and ſervice that we have performed.
But thus much ſhall ſuffice for this time.