Gospel Worship, Sermons · Sermon 2
SERMON II.
LEVITICUS. 10. 3.
I will be Sanctified in them that come nigh me.
WEE began theſe words the laſt day,Stepney, Nov. 16. 1645. and ſhewed the ſcope of them, and opened the meaning of them, and ſpake of divers Notes of Obſervation that we gathered from this ſtory of Nadab and Abihu, and of Gods dealing with them. From the general ſtory of it, there were many Points of notable Obſervation that were drawn from thence: Ile adde ſome few now, and ſo come to the main Doctrinal Point in the Text.
A further Note of Obſervation is this, 14 Obſer.That many times even the dear Saints of God do meet with very ſore and grievous afflictions in their Children.
That the moſt eminent Saints of God are not freed from very grievous afflictions even in their Children; It was one of the ſoreſt afflictions that almoſt ever any Saint of God met withall in his Children; this affliction of Aaron at this time, That two of his Sons, and (as I told you the laſt day) renowned men in Iſrael, newly conſecrated to the Office of Prieſthood, that the very firſt day they came to offer in their office, they were ſtrucke before all the people with fire from heaven and conſumed: Oh what a ſad affliction was it to Aaron their Father when he ſaw his Sonnes in ſuch a manner deſtroyed by God himſelf! Conſider of this you that have Children, and are ready to murmur and complain of every little affliction that is upon you in reſpect of your Children: If ſo be that your Children be but a little ſick, or there be any miſcarriage of them, you think it is a heavy hand of God; But eſpecially if God take away your Children by death, then you mourn and will not be comforted: Yea but though God have taken away your Children by death, yea perhaps it may be by a violent death, as being drowned, &c. yet they have not been ſtrucken with fire from heaven by God, and they have not been of ſuch publick uſe. Theſe here were renowned men, and taken away in their very ſin too, your Children which have gone upon their lawfull imployments and God hath taken away their lives; there's no ſuch cauſe of murmuring here, but when God takes away Children in their ſins, and in ſuch a way as by fire from heaven; thus God took away Aarons Children, and he was as dear to God as you are: And yet thus God deals with his Saints; with Aaron in regard of his Children, and with his Elder Children and with two of them together. This example may be enough to ſtill and quiet the hearts of men and women that are afflicted in reſpect of any calamity befals their Children. You ſee what a hand of God is againſt the very Children of Aaron.
A further Note is this, 15 Obſer.That Gods judgements we ſee ſometimes, though the effect of them be viſible, yet they come in an inviſible way.
For you ſhall find if you read on in this ſtory, That they were ſmote with fire from heaven, but it did not appear what fire, for it did not ſo much as conſume their cloaths, nor their bodies, but went through and ſtruck them dead, and no body could tell how. Gods judgements do come in a way that is inviſible: if it had been in a viſible flame of fire all would have ſeen it, and it would have burnt their cloaths, or their bodies: but you ſhall find in the 5 verſe, That they were carried away from the Sanctuary in their cleaths, they were not burnt.
Another Note is this, 16 Obſer.That though the lives of men be dear and precious to God, yet they are not ſo precious as his glory.
The Glory of his Name is a thouſand thouſand times more dear unto God then the lives of thouſand thouſands of people; the lives of Nadab and Abihu muſt go that God may be …anctified: If it comes ſo in the way (as I may ſo ſay) he lives of men and the Sanctifying of Gods Name, the Glory of God muſt paſſe on, and maſt have its courſe let the lives of men go which way they will.
We think much to have the lives of men taken away; but if we know … Glory of God meant, and what infinite reaſon there is that God ſhould be g…ned, we would not think it much that the lives of never ſo many men ſhould go for the Glory of God … 'Tis mercy that our lives have not gone many times for Gods glory: How often might God have glorified himſelfe in taking away our lives? Wee have cauſe to bleſſe him, that our lives have been preſerved ſo long as they have.
Again Note, 17 Obſer.That the neerer any men are to God, the more they had need take heed that they glorifie him, for they muſt expect to be ſpared the leſſe if they ſin againſt him.
Nadab and Abihu the Prieſts of God, and they came neer to God, yet by their tranſgreſſion: though I told you We do not find in any place of Scripture directly in words that this fire is forbidden, but they ſhould have gathered Gods mind by conſequence, And therefore by the way I only Note, That we muſt not think to urge upon men in all things ſtrict commands in very words, but if it be commanded ſo as we may draw it by any conſequence, it's a command, as now here for the Negative, they had not a Negative prohibition in words, yet they had it by Conſequence; So for the Affirmative, though we have not the affirmative in expreſſe words, yet if we may have it by conſequence it is an affirmative as well as the negative, when we have it by conſequence. But now the Note of Obſervation is, That the neerer any comes to God if they ſin againſt him, they muſt not expect to be ſpared. Do not think that God will ſpare you the more becauſe you are profeſſors of Religion, or becauſe you do often worſhip him: I ſuppoſe you that are acquainted with Scripture know that place in Amos 3. 2. You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will puniſh you for all your iniquities.
Another Note is this, 18 Obſer.That when a judgement is exemplary, then we ſhould have recourſe to the Word of God, to ſee how God doth make his Word good in that judgement.
So Moſes doth, This is that which the Lord hath ſaid. Do you ſee any remarkable hand of God in the execution of a judgement upon one, have recourſe to Gods Word, and preſently begin to think this, What is there in Gods Word againſt that ſin that this man hath been guilty of? If you ſee a judgement of God upon a Drunkard, remember the threats in the Word of God againſt drunkenneſſe, and ſo the judgements of God upon unclean Perſons, ſwearers, Sabbath breakers, lyars, or any prophane and ungodly perſons, have recourſe to the judgements of God threatned in the Word againſt ſuch; and ſo likewiſe concerning Scorners and Oppoſers of Religion, remember what is ſaid in the Word of God againſt ſuch, and ſo learn to Sanctifie Gods Names. We might have mentioned ſome particular threats of God againſt particular ſinners for the helping of you, that when you ſee exemplary judgements, to have recourſe to the Word of God. But we let that paſſe.
A further Note from this ſtory is this, 19 Obſer.That the great honour that God intends to his Name, It is the making of his Name Holy. I will be Sanctified in them that draw nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified.
As if Moſes ſhould ſay in Gods name, Why, I muſt have glory from the people, and how? By making my name appear to be holy, this is the glory that I ſtand upon above all other things that my Name may appear to be holy, that I may appear to be a holy God. I beſeech you brethren conſider of this, God ſtands upon nothing more then to appear to all the world to be a Holy God, there's the glory of Gods Name in an eminent way, God doth not ſo much ſtand upon this, to appear to be a ſtrong God, to appear to be a powerfull God, to be a God of patience, long-ſuffering, God doth not ſo much ſtand to be an Omniſcient God, though theſe Attributes are dear to God, but that he may appear to be a Holy God: that he ſtands upon. Whatever glory of the Name of God, that God ſhall be content to have eclipſed in the world for a while, yet he is reſolved he will have the Glory of his holineſſe above all things: and therefore the Angels when they are celebrating the glory of God, they do not ſay Lord Almighty, Almighty, Almighty, or Lord Omniſcient, Omniſcient, Omniſcient, but Holy, Holy, Holy. Thoſe three together, the Holineſſe of God, therein appears the glory of God above all: God ſtands upon it that he will appear to be a Holy God.
Oh that thoſe who profeſſe themſelves to be the Servants of God, that they would eſpecially indeavour to hold forth Gods Holineſſe; you that are neer to God, you that hope you are Gods Children, and make profeſſion of his Name, labour you to hold forth the glory of his Holineſſe above all things, in your holy lives and converſations: for God ſtands upon this, To have his Name to be Sanctified I will he Sanctified ſaith God, and I will be Glorified, ſo he doth interpret the glory of his Name by being Santified. As if God ſhould ſay, That's the glory that I look for, That my Name may be extolled as Holy: And therefore the very firſt Petition that Chriſt teaches us to pray in the Lords prayer, it is, Hallowed be thy Name, which is all one with this, Sanctified be thy Name; Oh let the Name of God appear to be holy in the World: that's another Note, that theſe two are joyned together, I'le be Sanctified in thoſe that draw nigh me, and I will be Glorified before the people.
Again obſerve, 20 Obſer.That it is the part of true friendſhip, to help friends in their diſtreſſes, and ſeek to comfort them from the Word.
Though we our ſelves be in afflictions, yet we ſhould ſeek to comfort our friends that are in greater afflictions, and to comfort them by the Word, for ſo did Moſes: Moſes comes to comfort Aaron and applies the Word, This is that which the Lord hath ſaid, I will be Sanctified. Now mark, no queſtion Moſes was afflicted upon this heavy hand of God, for he was their Uncle; but though it was heavy upon the Uncle, yet it was heavier upon the Father, and therefore though Moſes was troubled, yet he knew that Aaron was more troubled, and therefore he goes to Aaron and ſeeks to comfort him, and he makes uſe of the Word in his comforting of him. Learn this then, to go and comfort your brethren, for Aaron was Moſes brother; go and comfort them in thier afflictions, and think not becauſe that you have ſome afflictions upon you, that therefore you ſhould not be a comfort to your brethren: their affliction is greather then yours, and when you come to comfort, them, come not in a meer carnal way and ſay, Brother you muſt be content, but you muſt come and apply ſomewhat of the Word of God to comfort them and ſay, This is that which the Lord hath ſpoke; and to that end you ſhould labour to be exerciſed in the Word of God, that ſo you may be able to go to your brethren and comfort them in any affliction; for there is no particular affliction but there is ſome word of God that is ſuitable to that particular affliction, and thoſe who are well exerciſed in the Word of God, they can apply ſome word to every affliction: And indeed this is an excelent friend, and ſuch a friend is worth his weight in gold, that can come to another friend in any affliction and ever more hath ſome what of the Word of God to apply to that affliction.
The Laſt Obſervation is this,21 Obſer. That Aaron held his peace.
From whence we may Note, That there is no ſuch way to quiet a gracious heart under any afflictions in the World as that God will fetch out his honour by it.
It is grievous to me, but God fetches out his glory and honour by it. The applying of the Word, and the conſideration that God hath his way to fetch out his glory in our afflictions is the only way to quiet a gracious heart. All theſe Points might take up a great deal of time, but I will let them paſſe and come to the main Point of all, I will be Sanctified in all thoſe that come nigh me. There are theſe Three Points in theſe words:
1 Firſt, That in the Worſhip of God, men and women draw nigh to God.
2 Secondly, That we ought to Sanctifie Gods Name in drawing nigh to him.
3 Thirdly, That if we do not Sanctifie it, God will Sanctifie his own Name upon us.
Firſt, That in Worſhipping of God, there is a drawing nigh to God.
Queſt. Why is not God in every place?
Anſw. Yes certainly, we can never be in any place but we are nigh to God, God ſtands by us and looks upon us It is not only when you are Worſhipping of God that you are nigh him, but when you ſin againſt him: when thou art ſwearing prophaning his Name his Day, God ſtands & looks upon thee thou art nigh him: And it may be ſaid or written upon every place, what was ſaid of the City in the laſt words of the Prophecie of Ezek. 48. 35. The name of the City was Jeh…ab-Shammah, that is, the Lord is there, the Lord …ehovah he is there, he is preſent in this place: Oh that you would remember when you are in any place, that the name of that place is …chovah-Shammah, The Lord is there. In him we live, we move … being therefore we are alwaies nigh him yea but though we are alwaies nigh God in regard of that eſſentiall preſence of his, yet there is a more peculiar and ſpeciall drawing nigh to God in the duties of his Worſhip, and that the Scripture ſeems to hold forth unto you. Firſt Ile ſhew you how the Scripture holds it forth, and then in what reſpects the Creature may be ſaid to draw nigh to God in holy duties of Worſhip; for ſo it was here, they were coming to offer Incenſe.
1 That we do draw nigh to God in holy Duties,That we draw nigh to God in Holy Duties. ſee Jam. 4. 8. Draw nigh to God (ſo that you may be neerer God then you were) that is, by holy Services, & holy Duties, & hence it is in Pſ. 95. 2. Let us (ſaith he) come before his preſence with thanksgiving, ſo that there is a more peculiar coming before Gods preſence when we come to Worſhip him then at other times: And v. 6. O come let us Worſhip and how down, let us kneel before the Lord our maker. So in Pſal. 100. 2. Let us come before his preſence with ſinging, for that's one part of the Worſhip of God. But the Scripture is plain, that there is a ſpeciall coming before God when we are coming to Worſhip him, and in this reſpect the Servants of God in Pſal. 148. 14. are ſaid to be a people neer to God. It is a very remarkable expreſſion and lets forth much the honour of the Saints of God: There's the commendation of the excellent eſtate of the Saints. He alſ… the h…rn of his people, the praiſe of all his Saints even the children of Iſrael, a people neer unto him. The Saints of God, the Children of Iſrael, the Church of God are ſaid to be a people neer to God; Why neer him? Becauſe that they Worſhip God, they are much exerciſed in the Worſhip of God. This is one reſpect though there may be divers others mentioned, yet in reſpect of their coming ſo much before God in his Worſhip, therefore they are neer God.
Queſt. Neer him, Why, in what reſpects may a man be ſaid to draw nigh to God when he Worſhips him?
Anſw. To that I Anſwer, There are three reſpects in which a man when he is Worſhipping of God may be ſaid to draw nigh to God:
1 Firſt, Becauſe when we come to Worſhip God, we come to tender up that homage and ſervice unto him, that is due from us as creatures to the infinite Creator that's the very end of Worſhip. If you would know what it is to Worſhip God, it is this:
You come to tender up that homage and reſpect that is due from the creature to the Creator.What it is to worſhip God. Now when a Subject comes to tender up his homage to his Prince, he comes towards him, when he doth it immediately: So we have none to tender it up by but Jeſus Chriſt, and when we tender it up we muſt come our ſelves too, for Chriſt doth not take our ſervice and tender it up to God and we be abſent, but we muſt come with Chriſt, and Chriſt takes us by the hand and ſo tenders it up to the Father while we are in preſence, ſo that we are ſaid to come nigh to God in that reſpect, becauſe of the immediate tendering up of that Worſhip of ours to God; I call it immediate in reſpect of any creature: But in reſpect of Chriſt indeed he is a Mediator to do it, but yet he doth it in a ſpirituall way, and we have to do with none but God through Jeſus Chriſt in the tendering up of our Worſhip to him: We may make uſe of an inſtitution that God hath appointed, but we do not tender up our Worſhip to God through that creature, but in the uſe of that creature we do come to God, and our ſouls are to tender up that reſpect we owe to God immediately. Therefore in Levit. 21. 21. it is ſaid of the Prieſts in their Sacrifices, when they were to come to Worſhip God, No man that hath a blemiſh of the ſeed of Aaron the Prieſt ſhall come nigh to offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire. So that when any come to offer any offerings of the Lord made by fire, it appeares he came nigh to God: he came to bring a preſent to God: therefore he comes nigh. So when we come to offer our ſpirituall Sacrifices unto God, we come nigh to God to offer, it's the offering of a Sacrifice to God. And that's the firſt thing, becauſe the creature comes to bring a preſent to God, therefore he is ſaid to draw nigh.
And Secondly,The Second reſpect wherein the Soule is ſaid to draw nigh to God in holy duties. the Soul is ſaid to draw nigh to God in holy duties, becauſe it doth preſent it's ſelf before God in thoſe ways through which God doth uſe to communicate his choice, precious, moſt excelent and glorious mercies to his people: I ſay, when we come to Worſhip God, we come to ſet our ſelves before God in thoſe waies that God doth … to communicate the choice, moſt excelent and glorious rich mercies that he hath to communicate to his creature.
When we have to deal with creatures, as meat and drink, and our outward buſineſſes we have to do with God in them; but when we come to Worſhip God, we come to preſent our ſelves before him in thoſe things that he doth uſe to let out himſelfe though in a more ſpeciall and glorious manner to the ſouls of his people. What's the reaſon why heaven is ſaid to be the preſence of God, and why thoſe that are in heaven are ſaid to live with God? There they behold the face of God and are before him in a ſpeciall manner, therefore when Chriſt teacheth us to pray he teacheth us to look up to heaven and to ſay, Our Father which …rt in heaven, &c. Now certainly the eſſentiall preſence of God is on earth as truly and really as in heaven, and God is not ſo as to have one part in one place, and another in another, but All God is in every place, but the reaſon why God is ſaid to be in heaven, it is becauſe the Lord makes known himſelf there in a more glorious manner then in any other place, and therefore heaven is the preſence of God in a more ſpeciall way. Now then if the communication of God unto a creature be enough to make the preſence of God more ſpeciall if this be enough to make a creature to live with God, and to be before his face, becauſe they are there where God doth moſt communicate himſelf, then certainly when we come to Worſhip God, we come to be neer God, and be with God becauſe the duties of his Worſhip are thoſe means that the Lord hath appointed for the letting out of himſelf in the glory of his goodneſſe and mercy to his people: You may expect other manner of communication of Gods goodneſſe through the duties of his Worſhip then in any other way: And that's the Second reſpect wherein you may be ſaid to draw nigh to God in holy duties.
Thirdly, You may be ſaid to draw nigh to God, becauſe then we ſhould (and if we Worſhip God as we ought, we do) act our faith and humility, and all the graces of the Spirit; We do act them, as it were, upon God, when we come to Worſhip him: That's required in every duty of Worſhip, that you ſhould ſtir up the faculties of your ſouls, and all the graces of the Spirit of God, and you ſhould act them upon God when you are Worſhipping of him. Tis not enough to come with grace when you come to Worſhip God, but there muſt be an acting of that grace upon God.
And ſo we find in Scripture, that the acting of grace upon God, it is a drawing neer to him, therefore in Iſa. 29. 13. the Lord complaines there, This people draws neer to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, as if God ſhould ſay, Indeed they come and ſpeak to me, and therefore they think they draw nigh to me, but I expect that their hearts ſhould be acting upon me, that's the meaning. And in Zeph. 3. 2. God complains there of his people that they did not draw neer to him as they ſhould: And it appears plainly, it was from hence, that their graces did not act ſo upon God as they ought, She obeyed not the voice: ſhe received not correction: ſhe truſted not in the Lord: ſhe drew not neer to her God. So that acting faith upon God is a drawing nigh to God, and ſo acting any grace upon God is a drawing nigh to God. Now when is there a time for the acting of our graces upon God ſo as when we come to worſhip God? And therefore in Iſa. 64. 7. the Lord complains there, That no man did ſtir up himſelf to take hold on him. When we come to Worſhip God we ſhould ſtir up our ſelves to take hold of God. And thus you ſee in what reſpects the Soul may be ſaid to draw nigh to God when it comes to worſhip him.
Now for the Application of this point and it is in divers particulars. The Firſt is this,
Hence learn what you do when you come to Worſhip God,Applic. 1 and conſider of it every time you come to performe any act of Worſhip. Truly this one thing would be of marveilous uſe, and it would help forward to the next Point of Sanctifying of Gods Name. This you are all convinced of, That it is your duty to Worſhip God, when you pray you come to Worſhip God, when you come to hear his Word you come to Worſhip him, and when you receive the Sacrament you Worſhip him. Now if I ſhould come from one end of the Congregation to the other, and ask every one of you this Queſtion, It is your duty to Worſhip God, is it not? Yes: that you will all be ready to anſwer. And what do you do when you Worſhip God? I fear that this Second Queſtion would gravell many. You will ſay, We muſt pray to God, and ſerve him, and hear his Word, and go to the Communion… yea, but what do your Souls do in this Work of Worſhipping of God? This ſhould be the anſwer, and ſo you ſhould think with your ſelves, and charge this upon your own hearts, I am now going to Worſhip God, either in Prayer, Word, or Sacraments, I am now going to tender up that homage that is due from a creature to the infinite Creator, ſo that I muſt ſo pray, as I muſt manifeſt that high reſpect that I owe to God as my Creator; but that I ſhall ſpeak to more afterward: only now remember this, That you do profeſſe every time you go to Prayer, That you go to tender up that homage that you owe unto God and ſo every time you come to hear the Word, there is a profeſſion that you come to tender up that reſpect and homage that you owe to the infinite God: And ſo likewiſe when you come to receive the Sacrament. Now when we come to offer a preſent to men, we know how we prepare, and with what ſuitable preſence we deſire to offer: but of that afterward when we come to ſpeak of Sanctifying Gods Name.
2 Secondly, Remember, when I come to Worſhip God, I come to ſet my ſelf before the Lord in thoſe ways that God doth let out the choice of his mercies to his people in: I have many mercies from God in the enjoyment of the creature, but when I come to Worſhip him I expect the communication of his mercy in another way then through any creature in the World. The duties of his Worſhip are the chief chānels that God doth let out the choiceſt of his mercies to the hearts of his people through, and now I am going to Worſhip him, I am going to preſent my ſelf before God. Indeed there is a little glimmering of the light of God through other creatures to me, but the glorious beames of the light of God is through the duties of his Worſhip.
3 And then Thirdly, I am now going to act my Soul upon God, ſo that if I have any abilities to cloſe with God, to act my Soul upon him, it muſt be put forth now at this time; I am indeed at all times to labour to injoy communion with God, when I ſee the creatures, the Sun and Moon and Stars to labour to lift up my heart to God, and when I ſee the glory of God in the Sea, and for my meat and drink I am to bleſſe God, and to acknowledge God in all; but now when I come to Worſhip God, then all the ſtrength of my Soul is to be acted upon God in a more ſpeciall manner; I muſt then above all labour to ſtir up whatſoever I have in my Soul to act upon God, this is now to Worſhip God.
Secondly,Applic. 2 If to Worſhip God, be to draw nigh to God, hence we ſee the reaſons why guilty conſciences have little mind to the duties of Gods Worſhip. When a man or woman hath given liberty to any licentious way & ſinned againſt their conſciences, if they have any light in their conſciences, it is one of the tediouſeſt things in the World to come to the duties of Gods Worſhip: they had rather do any thing then to come to holy dutys, as to Prayer and eſpecially to ſecret prayer. A man or woman that hath an inlightened conſcience, and is under the guilt of ſin, the coming to God in holy duties, is a very grievous burden to them: Why? Here's the Reaſon, Becauſe to Worſhip God is to draw nigh to God, and the guilt that is upon them hath made the preſence of God terrible to them, and therefore they had rather go into their company & be merry, eat, drink, ſport, or any thing rather then to come into Gods preſence. We know how it was with Adam, when God appeared in the garden and called to him, he ran to hide himſelf; Why? Becauſe he had guiltineſſe upon him: Oh the evill that the guilt of ſin brings upon the Soul, it makes the preſence of God terrible! The preſence of God it ſhould be more comfortable to us then our lives but our ſin makes Gods preſence grievous and terrible. A Child ſometimes when it hath offended the Father and is conſcious to its ſelf of the offence that it hath given the Father, it had rather be in the Kitching among the Servants, then to come into the Hall or Parlour where the Father is, becauſe it hath offended him: and ſo it is with a guilty conſcience, when it is conſcious to its ſelf of ſome haunt of evil that it hath given it ſelf unto, it hath no mind at all of coming into the preſence of the Father, but hangs off. My Brethren, the very preſence of God in the communion of his Saints is terrible to a guilty conſcience, the very looking upon a godly man is terrible to a guilty conſcience. When as thou haſt bin abroad &c. bin looſe &c. wicked in thy waies, I appeal to thy conſcience, when thou comeſt into the preſence of ſome holy gracious man or woman that lives cloſe with God, doth it not daunt thee? Now is the preſence of God in the very faces of his Saints terrible to a guilty conſcience? How terrible is the preſence of God in his Ordinances then? Indeed thoſe men and women whoſe conſciences are not inlightened, but are ignorant and ſottiſh, they can ſin againſt God and go into his preſence without any trouble; you ſhall have men ſwear and be drunken over night and come to the Sacrament the next day, What's the reaſon? Becauſe there is no light in their conſciences, their conſciences are in darkneſſe, they are beſotted in their ſin; but I ſpeak now of one who hath an inlightened conſcience, the preſence of God is terrible to ſuch a one.
A Third Uſe is this,Applic. 3 Here is the Reaſon why Hypocrites do meet with ſuch vengeance from God as they do: I confeſſe we ſhall meet with this more eſpecially afterwards, only by the way take notice of it; Hypocrites above all men may expect the ſevereſt judgements of God upon them, becauſe they come ſo nigh God, for they come often to the duties of Gods Worſhip; now they that will come ſo nigh Gods preſence, and come with baſe and ungodly hearts, to cloak their villany, of all in the world they muſt expect to have the ſevere vengeance of God let out upon them; they that ſtand nigheſt the bullet muſt expect to have the ſtrength of it to be the more upon them; ſo when the wrath of God proceeds out upon ſinners, wicked men that ſtand nigheſt him they have the greateſt ſtrok of Gods wrath; but of that more when I come to the Third Point, That God will be Sanctified in thoſe that draw nigh him.
The Fourth Uſe is this,Applic. 4 If to Worſhip God be to draw nigh him, then to neglect Gods Worſhip is to depart from him, that muſt needs follow, and this is a dreadfull thing, it is the ſentence that ſhall be at the laſt day of judgement, Depart from me. Thou now art willing to depart from God, Oh conſider of this you that neglect Worſhip, the Worſhip of God in your families, and in your cloſets, and in the congregation, in the communion of the Saints, thou haſt little minded or regarded the Worſhip of God it may be all thy daies, what haſt thou been doing all this while? thou haſt been departing from God all this while, & when thy conſcience ſhall be but inlightened and awakened to ſee how far thou art from God, how terrible will it be to thee? Remember this you that have no mind to the duties of the Worſhip of God but love the Commiſſion of ſin, you neglect Gods Worſhip, you were wont to Worſhip him in a conſtant way in your cloſets and families, but now you grow more looſe, and ſo you grow more dead every day then other, you go off from God more and more. Surely there can be no good to neglect Gods Worſhip. And thoſe that are loth to Worſhip God becauſe they cannot Worſhip him as they ought, from this Point it appears plainly, That there can be no good gotten by neglecting Gods Worſhip, for it is departing from God, whatſoever plea there may be by any temptation to neglect Gods Worſhip, certainly there is danger in it, and therefore never liſten to any ſuch temptation as ſhall draw your hearts from the duties of Gods Worſhip. There are a Generation of wantons in theſe times that make little matter of continuing the duties of Gods Worſhip, they were wont conſtantly to worſhip God, and to attend upon the Word, but now it is nothing to them, and they are even ready to thank God for it that they make not ſuch conſcience as they were wont to do in the duties of the Worſhip of God: It may be they will ſay, That heretofore ſome ſlaviſh terror did carry them on in the duties of Gods Worſhip more then the underſtanding of the freeneſſe of the grace of God would admit of: But ſhall the underſtanding of the freedom of the grace of God carry thee on leſſe then thy ſlaviſh terrour did? Oh blind and wanton ſpirit that knoweſt not the waies of God, nor the freeneſſe of the grace of God, nor the riches of it! Oh what a diſhonour art thou to Jeſus Chriſt and to the freeneſſe of his grace, that now canſt go up and down from day to day and never Worſhip God! Did Jeſus Chriſt come into the world to that end for to cauſe thee to depart more from God? 'Tis plain out of the Word, That the duties of Gods Worſhip are thoſe duties whereby the Soul comes to draw nigh to God: And I beſeech you brethren obſerve theſe men, whither there be that holineſſe in their lives, that ſpiritualneſſe as there was wont to be; no, you ſhall find them by degrees to grow looſe, yea run ſometimes into groſe ſins, grow many times to lying and deceiving, and to drunkeneſſe and company keeping; yea to worſe things by degrees: Perhaps they are at firſt ready to ſay, Is thy Servant a dead Dog that I ſhould do this? But by departing from God they grow dead to holy duties: We find it by experience, That the profeſſors of Religion have not that holineſſe, heavenlineſſe, ſpiritualneſſe, as they were wont to have in former times. And no marveile, for now they keep not ſo nigh to God as they were wont. You that are Sea-men and Travelours, ſometimes you are neer the Sunne, and then you are hot but the further off the Sunne you go, you grow to be colder and colder: And ſo thoſe that neglect the Worſhip of God, they go from the warm Sun, they go from the light of Gods countenance and from the preſence of God and ſo they grow cold and chill, and by degrees they grow to prophaneſſe, and it is to be feared that many of them will grow to meer Athiſme.
Another Uſe is this,Applic. 5 A Uſe of Exhortation, that we would be incouraged to Worſhip God, and to be much in the Worſhip of God. In Heb. 10. 22. Let us draw neer (ſaith the Text) Who would not draw neer to God? Oh what a good thing is it to be in the preſence of God! Is not the Lord the fountain of thy life? Is it not a ſweet thing to be in his preſence? We think it a ſweet thing to be in the preſence of godly men; Oh 'that we might alwaies live with ſuch men, and be nigh them! That Martyr Doctor Taylor rejoyced in this, That ever he came into Priſon to be acquainted with that Angel of God holy Maſter Bradford, and as I remember ſome among the heathens that profeſt they would rather be in priſon with Ca…o then be in the greateſt glory with ſome other: It is a bleſſed thing to be in the preſence of God, to be with him that is the God of our lives, and the fountain of all good; let us draw nigh to God often, let us know that it is a mercy that we may draw nigh to God; wee might have been baniſhed from the preſence of the Lord long e're this time.
This is that that the happineſſe of the glorious Church is ſet out by in Rev. 22. 4. They ſhall ſee his face and his name ſhall be in their foreheads. This is the Priviledge of the Church. And that it is ſuch a bleſſing to draw nigh to God you may ſee it by that in Eph. 2. 18. For through him we both have an acceſſe by one ſpirit unto the Father.
Through him] Through Chriſt we have acceſſe by one Spirit unto the Father, and now (ſaith he) Ye that were ſtrangers and forreiners, are made fellow Citizens with the Saints, and of the houſhold of God: and verſ. 13. But now by Chriſt Jeſus ye who ſometimes were a far off are made nigh by the blood of Chriſt, and you have acceſſe through Chriſt: So our coming nigh to God is ſuch a priviledge as coſt the bloud of Chriſt; and will not you improve it? You were far off in your naturall condition, but now you are nigh through his bloud; Lay but this text warm to your hearts this morning, That I that was far off am made nigh by the bloud of Chriſt, made nigh to God, it will be a means for ever to draw your hearts to all thoſe waies whereby you may draw neereſt to God.By drawing nigh to God often we incre…ſe … gr… …ts.
And by drawing nigh to God often, you will come to increate your graces abundantly: your graces how will they act the preſence of God will draw forth the acts of grace as the preſence of the fire draws forth our heat, ſo the preſence of God will draw forth our graces.
And by this means we come to live moſt holy lives.We come to live holy lives We read of Moſes, he was upon the mountain forty daies with God, and when he came down his face did ſo ſhine, that the people were not able to bear it; what's the reaſon? it was from hence, becauſe he was ſo nigh to God: would you have your faces to ſhine in a holy converſation before men? converſe much with God, be often with God, be nigh to him, and that will make you ſhine as lights in the middeſt of a crooked and perverſe generation. We find it ſo with ſome that converſe much with God, there is a ſhine upon their very countenances.
And further it is a ſpeciall ſigne of our adoption to love to be nigh to God.A ſpecial ſigne of our adoption. What ſhould a Child love moſt but to be in the preſence of his Father? Would you know whither you have received the Spirit of adoption yea or no? I can hardly give you any one ſigne ſo clear as this, for to love to go into Gods preſence, as David ſaid, I was glad when they ſaid, Come and let us go up unto the Houſe of the Lord. You ſhall have many that love to be in Gods preſence, ſo as they think on it overnight, and long for the time while it comes; I never am better then when I am with God, me thinks when I get into Gods preſence, either in Prayer or any duty of Gods Worſhip, I find my heart warmed and quickned, &c. They are ready to ſay with Peter, Maſter, it is good being here.
And that's another thing,We come to be put in mind of the life of heaven It is that which will put us in mind of the life of heaven, it is the only thing in heaven to be in the preſence of God. Why, the more thou art nigh God in the Duties of Worſhip, the more thou art in heaven, and doeſt not thou pray, That the will of God may be done in Earth as in Heaven? Now the Saints and Angels are alwaies before God Worſhipping of him; then be as much as thou canſt in the preſence of God, If thou wouldeſt be in heaven, be there: Many of the Saints they find it ſo, It is not ſo with carnall hearts, they are weary preſently, when they are in Prayer, or hearing the Word, it is not ſo to them: yea, that's becauſe thou haſt not the preſence of God, as in Mal. 1. what wearineſſe is there? thou canſt be a gaming till one or two a clock at night, and though thou ſhouldeſt loſe thy ſupper, or the work of thy family, it is not tedious to thee to be exerciſed in thoſe things that pleaſeth the fleſh; but when thou comeſt to Worſhip God, how quickly art thou tir'd now what wilt thou do in heaven where there is nothing elſe done to all eternity but Worſhipping of God?
And then it muſt needs be delightful to God that thou ſhouldeſt come nigh him:Our drawing nigh to God delightfull to him, There is nothing in the world more pleaſant to God then to have his Saints come into his preſence. What doth a Father more delight in then to have his Children about him? never did any Father or Mother love to have their Children by them, ſo as God loves to have his Children come nigh him, and be often with him. And the truth is, one great reaſon that God ſuffers you to fall into afflictions ſo much is that you may come running to him: How doth the Child come running to the Father or Mother when it is afraid? why, the Lord is willing to permit men to do you wrong that you may run to him, that he might have more of your preſence: Thou that art ſuch a poor creature, yet thou heareſt this day that there is nothing in the world that God takes more pleaſure in (next to the preſence of his own Son Jeſus Chriſt, and his Saints and Angles that he hath with him in heaven) then to have his Saints come nigh him, to have them alwaies to be under his wing.
And then by coming often into Gods preſence in his worſhip there will grow a ſweet and bleſted familiarity between God and thy ſoul,By coming into Gods preſence there is a bleſſed familiarity betweē God and the ſoul. for thou wilt be ſpeaking to God, and God will be ſpeaking to thee too: We know many times that dear friends who are very neerly linkt together, yet if they be long abſent one from another there grows a ſtrangeneſſe, and ſo by degrees their friendſhip is deaded; but now when they are together every day, and there is an intercourſe of love and friendſhip, then their friendſhip is kept active and quick, but now if they be abſent long; Indeed if they be abſent in another Country when they cannot come together, that they are ſure it is not through any neglect, then it will not damp their friendſhip; but when they are neer and come not one to another, then they think it is out of neglect & ſo they grow ſtrange. So it is with the Soul, if there were no poſſibility of a coming into Gods preſence, then it would not hinder the ſweetnes of the love of God to us. But now when we have thoſe duties of Worſhip wherein we may draw nigh to God, if we neglect them our familiarity with God will quickly be loſt, Acquaint thy ſelf with God and be at peace. God is willing to be acquainted with his Servants; the Lord loves to be familiar with the pooreſt of his Saints, and wilt not thou maintain that ſweet familiarity with God? Theſe two benefits will follow upon thy familiarity with God.
Firſt,Our familarity with God makes us to be potent with him. Thoſe that are moſt familiar with God they are moſt potent with God; As now a ſtrnger cannot prevaile in any Petition ſo as a familiar friend can: Thus my brethren, when ſtrangers come into Gods preſence, God doth not ſo much regard them; but when his familiars come into his preſence, the Saints of God that keep cloſe with him in conſtant communion and converſe in the duties of his Worſhip, God doth take them as his familiar friends, and they will prevaile much with God.
Secondly,By our communion with God the terror of death wil be taken away. By this means the terror of death will be taken away, there is no ſuch way to take off the terror of the thoughts of death as by keeping familiarity with God, death then is joyfull to thoſe that converſe with him. That Reverend Divine that is now with God (Doctor Preſton) when he was to die he had this ſpeech, I ſhall but change my place, I ſhall not change my company; whereas its otherwiſe if thou groweſt eſtranged from God, when death comes it will look with a terrible face, for then thou haſt to deale with God, thou art then to go into the preſence of the infinite dreadfull God, into whoſe preſence thou never hadſt any mind to go before, but ſaith death, I muſt now carry thee into the preſence of God. As thy Body returns to the duſt ſo thy Soul muſt return to God that gave it; that is, to receive its eternall doome, &c. But now ſaith a Saint, what muſt my body return to duſt and my Soul to God that gave it? it is he which I have bin with every day, and can ſay as he ſaid, My Soul go forth, go forth, why art thou unwilling to go forth to him that thou haſt converſed with all thy daies?
And then what ſafety is there in being neer to God,Safety in being neer to God. eſpecially in theſe dangerous times? In the time wherein we live it is ſafe to be neer God; in Pſal. 22. 11. Be not far from me, for trouble is neer, ſaith David: Lord, trouble is neer me be not thou far from me; It's a bleſſed thing to have God neer is when trouble is neer us, trouble is neer many of you, perhaps there's not a ſpans breadth between death and us, what a bleſſed thing is it then to have God to be neer us? when the poor Chickin ſees the Kite come neer it to ſeize upon it, and is like to be ſurprized, if the Hen be neer, it runs to the Hen, and the Hen covers it and keeps it ſafe; ſo it ſhould be with us, for ſo Chriſt ſaith of Jeruſalem, How often would I have gathered thee as a Hen gathereth her Chickins? There are a company of Kites abroad in the world, and we are poor ſhiftleſſe creatures; now how happy are we then if we can run under the ſhaddow of Gods wing? there is a kind of ſhaddow in the preſence of God in the injoyment of the creature; but the ſhadow of God that we have in his Worſhip that is as the ſhadow of his wing. There is the ſhadow of a Tree, and that may help from ſome kind of troubles but there's another manner of ſhadow under the ſhadow of the wing of the Hen, becauſe that nouriſhes the Chickin: The men of the world they have the ſhadow of the Tree, as it were, Gods generall providence which is over all creatures; but the Saints of God that draw nigh to God they have the ſhadow of Gods wing, like the ſhadow of the Hens wing to the Chickin, which doth comfort it and ſafeguard it; let us by the duties of Worſhip thus draw nigh to God, and keep nigh unto him.