The Pouring Out of the Seven Vials, Vial 6
THE THIRD SERMON UPON THE SIXTH VIAL.
REVELAT. 16.15.
Behold, I come as a theefe: Bleſſed is hee that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, leſt he walke naked, and they ſee his ſhame.
YOu have heretofore heard that theſe words ſet forth a deſcription of the pouring out of the ſixth Vial. Set forth it is by the ſubject, upon the great River Euphrates. By the effects, they were double: Firſt, Immediate, the waters thereof were dryed up. The ſecond was Accidentall, and mediate, warlike preparation. The former effect of drying up the River, was amplified by the end; That the way of the Kings of the Eaſt might be prepared. The accidentall effect, (which was warlike preparation) was ſet forth by a double argument: Firſt, by the efficients, Principal and Inſtrumentall. Secondly, by the watch-word which the Lord gives his people. The efficients were (principally) the Devill, the Beaſt, and the falſe Prophet. The Inſtrumentals were certaine ſpirits, for nature: three ſpirits for number: Unclean for quality: Like Frogs for ſimilitude: Out of the mouth of the Beaſt, the Dragon, and the falſe Prophet: For their originall which are deſcribed by their effects, which are three: They work miracles; They goe forth to the Kings of the earth, to gather them to battell: And thirdly, They doe gather them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. The watch-word which is the ſecond Adjunct, obſerved in this warlike preparation, is the watch-word of the Lord Jeſus to his people (in the words of my Text) there are two parts of it: Firſt, a deſcription of the manner of his comming: by a compariſon taken from the manner of a theefe: Behold I come as a theefe. The ſecond is a word of promiſe, unto ſuch as watch and keepe their garments at that time. The promiſe is firſt of bleſſedneſſe to them: And ſecondly, the prevention of the diſcovery of their owne nakedneſſe and ſhame: Bleſſed is hee that watcheth and keepeth his garments, left he walke naked; and they ſee his ſhame. Not to repeat what hath been delivered, that which offereth it ſelfe here to our conſideration, is a two-fold doctrine. the firſt is this:
Doct. 1 When Frogs, and uncleane Spirits, (that is to ſay) when Popiſh Inſtruments ſhall goe forth To gather the Princes of the earth, and of the whole world, unto battell: And thoſe Princes ſhall go forth to battell againſt the Lord and his people. It is behovefull for the people of God, to behold the Lord Jeſus comming againſt them, or comming to them as a theefe. That's the note: when the Lord expoſes his people to great trials, by the buſie diligence of thoſe Frogs, or by the violent rage of the Beaſt and Kings of the earth, againſt Religion: The Lord then cals his people to behold him comming upon them, (I meane upon all the profeſſors of the Goſpell) the Lord cals them to looke upon him comming at them, or comming to them as a theefe. Behold (ſaith he) I come as a theefe. When doth he ſay ſo? when theſe Frogs were let forth: Thoſe unclean ſpirits of Devils ſent forth to ſtirre up the Kings of the earth, and of the world to gather them to battell, againſt the Lord, and againſt his people, and againſt Chriſtian Religion, and them that maintaine it. Then, Behold, I come as a theefe: They are the words of the Lord Jeſus. Becauſe the notes are double, that the Text holds forth; I muſt be briefe in either of them.
As a theef] The Scripture hath reſpect to a foure-fould manner of a theefe comming. He doth not come as a theefe in Juſtice or robbery: That the holy Spirit of the Lord Jeſus cannot be capable of. How can hee ſteale any thing from us, which is not his own: There is nothing but it is his, and therefore in that ſenſe he cannot be ſaid to come as a theefe, (But yet) as a theefe he can come ſuddenly, and he can come ſecretly and ſlily, yea, and he can come alſo violently, and terribly, as a theefe.
Thus he can come, and thus he is deſcribed in the Scripture to come; which, though ſome think it to be at the laſt judgement, yet I cannot ſo conceive it; for here's a world of buſineſſe that is to be tranſlated after this Vial is poured out: above a thouſand yeers after this, before the coming of Chriſt to the laſt judgement, but his coming in any notable judgement, his coming, eſpecially if it be a coming ſuddenly, and ſecretly, and powerfully: It is coming as a thief, as ye have an inſtance of it in Rev. 3.3. to the Church of Sardis, I will come on thee as a thief. How like a thief? Thou ſhalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. And ſo in Luke 12.39. If the good man of the houſe had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have ſuffered his houſe to be broken through. But coming ſuddenly, and ſecretly, at unawares therefore it comes to paſſe, that the good man of the houſe is aſleep, and the thief breaks thorow and ſteals, when all is biſht then he comes, like a thief in the night, 1 Theſ. 5.2. Your ſelv as know perfectly, that the day of the Lord ſo cometh, as a thief in the night. So like a thief hee comes ſuddenly, and ſecretly. Thirdly, he comes as a thief, to take away, and bereave a man of ſuch goods as he carnally keeps, not to ſteal from him, but to recover his own: Though not as a lawleſſe thief ſtealeth, yet as a juſt recoverer of his fathers goods, out of the hands of thoſe that have not been faithfull in improving of them. John 10.10. The thief cometh not, but for to ſteal, and to kill, and to deſtroy: I am come, that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
And ſo he may come alſo to kill; but not unjuſtly, as a thief, but verily as a juſt Judge, upon thoſe that do not watch, and keep their garments: He may take their garments, and leave them naked, that men may ſee their ſhame, and juſtly too, becauſe they have not watched, but have ſuffred themſelves to be defiled.
Thus then Chriſt will come at that time (yee ſhall have many men ſerious of Reformation, when the Lord ſhall dry up the River Euphrates, that makes glad the city of Babel) when the ten Kings ſhall come to make the Whore deſolate: the Lord will then come and try all thoſe Kings and their ſouldiers, who ever they are he will try them: in the Frogs he will try them, ſecretly and ſlily, for they will not ceaſe to be inchanting, as ſecretly as they can, into the hearts of Kings, and all godly ſpirits; to turne things backe againe into the former courſe of corruption: into thoſe idolatries and thefts, which made glad the City of Rome, and which did uphold the Turke.
And in the Kings of the earth, and of the world, he will come upon them as a thief violently and terribly, to ſhake the hearts of all the Kings of Chriſtendom (as its called) to withdraw them from the Reformation of Religion, which they ſhall be zealouſly addicted to; ſuddenly to drive them to their former ſuperſtition of their fore-fathers. So in one ſort of theſe he will come as a thief, ſecretly and ſlily; In the other ſort of theſe, he will come as a thief, violently and terribly.
Reaſ. 1 If ye ſhall ask the Reaſon of the Point, the Reaſon is ſhortly this; Firſt, it is taken from the inſtrument in which Chriſt doth come, for Chriſt is many times reſembled by the inſtruments which he uſeth; if he uſeth inſtruments of a ſtill voice, then he comes not with a rending, but with a ſtill voice: ſo ye read in 1 Kings 19.12. So here he comes in theſe unclean ſpirits, for the Lord acts them; he comes in Potent Princes, for he is ſaid to come in the likeneſſe of theſe, he comes in them both; and he is ſaid to come as a thief, in the likeneſſe of theſe Frogs, becauſe they come in his likeneſſe. Ye ſhall have many falſe Prophets come in my name, (ſaith Chriſt) Mat. 24.24. Take heed of them, for they ſhall deceive many; they ſhall come ſecretly, and ſlily, and play legerdemain, and by that means deceive many; and they ſhall come outragiouſly, firſt againſt the Lord and his people; and the Lord comes forth in their rage: that look as it is ſaid (by ſome Interpreters) of Paul, 1 Cor. 15.32. He fought with beaſts at Epheſus, after the manner of men; they interpret it thus, not that ever he was put to any ſuch triall (that any probable Stories mention) in Epheſus, or any where elſe; but he fought with beaſts at Epheſus, after the manner of men; becauſe, the men of Epheſus fought with him after the manner of beaſts: So Chriſt is ſaid to come in theſe men, becauſe they come in the name of Chriſt, and plead for the Catholick Church of Chriſt, and the Vicar of Chriſt. Behold, I come as a thief; they are all but theeves, though they pretend to come in the name of Chriſt; that may be one part of the meaning: But yet notwithſtanding, this that followeth do I moſt of all cleave unto, not excluding that.
This may be another, taken from the authority of Chriſt, and power of Chriſt, in leading a people into temptation, what ever the inſtruments be; I ſay it is the Lord Jeſus that leads his people into all kindes of temptation, whatſoever the inſtruments be: If any Prophet be deluded, it is Chriſt the Lord hath deluded that Prophet: Or if any Tyrants be ſet up, it is the Lord that ſets them up: Or what ever unclean ſpirits come againſt his Church, it is the Lord that ſtirred them up, it is the Lord that ſtirred them up unto this battell againſt his Church, it is the Lord that ſtirred them up, what ever the inſtruments be, be they Frogs, or unclean ſpirits that gathers to the battels of Pray; And therefore we are taught to pray in (that which is commonly called) the Lords Prayer (Mat. 6.13.). Lead us not into temptation: We pray to the Lord, that he would not lead us into temptation: As who ſhould ſay, to the Lord it belongs, to bring one creature againſt another; the devil againſt Eve, and Eve againſt the devil; the Lord it is that brings the evil, whoever be the inſtruments; it is the Lord that brings his challenge into the field, he brings Goliah into the valley of Elah. And therefore when it is ſaid, 1 Chron. 21.1. that Satan roſe up againſt Iſrael, and provoked David to number Iſrael. In 2 Samuel 24.1. it is ſaid, The anger of the Lord was kindled againſt Iſrael, and he moved David againſt them, to ſay, Go number Iſrael and Judah. The Lord was angry with the people, and then he let Satan looſe to tempt David to number the people: It was the Lords doings, though it was Satans act. And ſo, when Micaiah in his Viſion ſaw the Lord ſitting on his Throne, and all the hoſte of Heaven ſtanding by him, on his right hand, and on his left. And the Lord ſaid, Who ſhall perſwade Ahab, that he may go up, and fall at Ramoth-Gilead? And one ſaid on this manner, and another ſaid on that manner. At length (ſaith the Text) there came forth a ſpirit, and ſtood before the Lord, and ſaid, I will perſwade him. And the Lord ſaid unto him, Wherewith? And he ſaid, I will go forth, and I will be a lying ſpirit in the mouth of all his Prophets. And he ſaid, Thou ſhalt perſwade him, and prevail alſo: (ſaith the Lord) Go forth and do ſo. 1 Kings 22.19, 20, 21, 22. So that (minde you) whoever goes forth, the Lord ſends him, the Dragon, the Beaſt, and the falſe Prophet, may give one Commiſſion, but the Lord gives him permiſſion; yea, and (I may ſay) Commiſſion too: For in effecting the thing, the Lord doth it; that as David ſaith of Shimei, The Lord hath bid him curſe me: (that is to ſay) he hath given him effectuall liberty, and opportunity to do the thing, as if he had given him a command to do it. If a falſe Prophet ariſe (ſaith the Lord in Deuteronomie, Chapter 13. Verſe 12.) and give thee a ſign, and a wonder;) ſaying, Let us goe after other gods, Thou ſhalt not harken unto the words of the Prophet, or unto the dreamer of dreames: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your hearts, and with all your ſoules
The Lord will ſuffer ſuch to come, and this he doth to try his people, ſo that (mind you) it is the Lords doings, it is he that commands a theefe, when he comes like a theefe: it is the Lord that ſends forth ſuch that are clothed with ſheeps skins, but inwardly are ravening wolves; though they have no direct commiſſion from God, yet they have ſuch ſecret permiſſion from God, and commiſſion by giving them oportunity to do that which they come for; that indeed the Lord comes: Beloved, think it not ſtrange (ſaith the Ap: Peter, 1 Pet. 4.12.) concerning the fiery triall, which is come to try you, as though ſome ſtrange thing happened unto you. He means the ten Perſecutions, the Perſecutions in Nero's time, and thoſe that were to follow. Let no man think it ſtrange; why? for judgement muſt begin at the houſe of God, to that (mind yee) all the fiery trials, what were they but the judgements of God: God ſends them forth in his fatherly wiſdome, and by his Soveraigne Authority, to try the patience, and wiſdome, and watchfulneſſe of his people: And therefore it becomes the people of God, when they ſee ſuch creatures budge, and when they ſee the Kings of the earth ſtirre: then, Behold, ſaith the Lord, I come as a theef, ſuddenly, ſecretly, ſlily, and violently.
Vſe 1 And the uſe of this point ſerves to teach us neither to juſtifie men, nor to condemne the Lord Jeſus, for that were a ſinful violating of the Scripture. Let it be therefore a caution to teach us to avoid both theſe, and neither to juſtifie theft, nor to condemne the Lord; it is not the Lords meaning, but make account of this, though the Lord come as a theefe, that doth not juſtifie theft, but aggravate the ſin of theft: If a theef ſhall make uſe of the opportunities, which the providence of God puts into his hand, of the nimbleneſſe of his wits, and the authority he hath in his ſpeech, and the powre he hath with Princes: I ſay that man that ſhall abuſe ſuch things as are given him of the Lord, this doth not excuſe their ſin, much leſſe juſtifie it, but it aggravates it, and they ſhall find it ſo one day. It is a very divine ſpeech of our Saviour, Iohn 19.10, 11 Pilate ſaith to him, Knoweſt thou not that I have power to crucifie thee, and have power to looſe thee? Ieſus anſwered, Thou couldeſt have no power at all againſt me, except it were given thee from above: therefore hee that delivered mee unto thee hath the greater ſinne. And it implyes alſo (and it had been a wholeſome leſſon for Pilate to have ſuckt out of it) that it was the greater ſinne in Pilate, to abuſe his authority, to condemne the Lord Jeſus.
For Iudas to betray Chriſt to the Jewes Eccleſiaſtical Authority: and for the Jewes to deliver Chriſt into the hands of Pontius Pilate, it was a great ſin, and ſo much the greater, becauſe Pilates authority was of God; and they would arme the ſword of God againſt the Lord Jeſus: And if Pilate had the power given him of God either to crucifie Chriſt, or looſe him: if he ſhall abuſe his authority, in putting Chriſt to death, as he did: Then he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater ſinnes: But thou then that doſt abuſe thy power, to crucifie me, ſhalt bee found very ſinfull in the end: So that, that will not excuſe any Inſtrument for abuſing the power for ſuch an end. If God raiſe up Pharaoh (Exod. 10 16.) to make his power knowne, and to declare his name thorow-out all the world: If he ſhall abuſe this Authority, the more heavy will the wrath of God be upon him; and it will not be for him and ſuch like to complaine againſt God; and ſay he hath ordained me to it; Oh man who art thou that disputeſt againſt God: for God never doth it, but being over-juſtly provoked by the creature. Therfore ſo much the greater is the ſin of any that will abuſe their wits and parts in a way of ſin againſt God: And therefore it muſt teach men to beware of excuſing theft: And neither is their unrighteouſneſſe in Chriſt, For the Lord is righteous in all his wayes, and holy in al his works, Pſal. 145.17.
He doth not theſe vnclean ſpirits, (Cardinals, Biſhops and Jeſuits) any wrong; but even as the Seraphims cryed one to another, ſo let us learn, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hoaſts; the whole earth is full of his glory. When is this? When he ſends Iſaiah to harden the hearts of the people, and make their ears deaf, Iſa. 6.3, 10. So that let the Lord and his Throne be guiltleſſe, and let guilt lye upon theſe theeves; theeves and robbers, let them bear the burthen of their own ſins.
If we ask how this can be imagined? Anſ. All this acting with theeeves is an accidentall concurring; in all theſe things the Lord doth no act but holy and good: neither his efficacy in co-working with them; all this efficacy is only an accidentall concurring. God gives them the gift and the opportunity which they will abuſe: And ſo theſe Kings of the earth are juſtly deluded, becauſe they received not the truth in the love of it, 2 Theſſ. 2.10, 11, 12. Thus is the Lord and his Throne guiltleſſe, but all the theft and robbery lyes on the inſtruments (which the Lord doth uſe) in their own abuſe, he that rides a horſe which halts, every ſtep he takes, the halting is not the owners that rides him, but the horſes. And ſo when the Sunne hardens clay, it ſoftens wax; and when it drawes ſtinking ſavours out of the dunghill, it drawes ſweet ſavours out of the garden: hardening to the clay, and ſtinking ſavours to the dunghill, is not properly from the Sunne, but in themſelves, occaſionally from the Sunne. Even ſo it is in this caſe. This evill lyes not in the proper act of the Lord Jeſus, but accidentally only from him. Thus therefore the firſt Uſe; for a ſecond Uſe,
Vſe 2 It may ſerve to teach the people of God thus much, when ever you ſee evill ſpirits, the ſpirits of errour, let looſe; and when you ſee great men come on you with violence and rage, how then? why then to behold the Lord comming upon you himſelf: He comes upon you, and he comes then upon you as a thiefe: you muſt therefore behold the Lord in all the changes that befall you; looke at the Lord in them, The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken, bleſſed be the name of the Lord: Thus Iob, (in Iob 1.21. and Chap. 2.10.) when the Lord ſorely viſited him, in his cattell, and ſervants, and children, and in his own body, he ſees the Lords hand in all the ſad changes that paſſed over him: and it is a notable ſpeech he hath in Iob 16.11, 12, 13, 14. God hath delivered me up to the ungodly, and turned me into the hands of the wicked, and God hath delivered me. He ſees the hand of God in all, and there's marvellous benefit in that: Firſt, it keepeth a man (alwayes) patient and meek in all: Pſal. 39.9. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth becauſe thou didſt it. Hee ſees it is Gods hand, and therefore he patiently ſubmits thereto, he hath not a word to ſay, but meekly ſubmits; the Lord doth all, comes upon me as a thiefe, Bleſſed be the name of the Lord.
I was worth thus much within this twelve month, and now not worth halfe ſo much; Bleſſed be the name of the Lord. I was rich in cattell, or in this or that commodity, but now the priſes are fallen, they are not worth half, nor (it may be) one third of that they were; the Lord hath done this, he hath come upon us on a ſudden like a thief, and bleſſed be his name for it.
Secondly, it helps us in the uſe and improvement of them all, it naturally leads men by the hand, to humble themſelves under the hand of God: and this is the onelyonly way to obtain deliverance, 1 Peter 5.6. Humble your ſelves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Its not the caſualties or calamities of the Country that comes either by chance, or fortune, but from the Lord, he taketh away all, by one means or another, takes away all; whether by our pride, that we muſt have every new faſhion, and be like the men of the world, in houſes, apparell, and the like, or daintineſſe, that we muſt have our varieties, be it what it will be, though it coſt never ſo much; and no matter what follows, though it eat up our eſtates, and brings us into want: The Lord hath made uſe of our folly, and pride, and daintineſſe, our idleneſſe, our covetouſneſſe, (or what ever it be) to bring us into poverty, the Lord hath done it; and let the people of God ſee the hand of God in it.
Thirdly, it leads you by the hand in all the ſad changes that paſſe over you, to look to the Lord, and to wreſtle with the Lord, and not to ſtand wreſtling with men: Jacob he is in trouble, and he wreſtles with the Lord, Geneſis 32.26. And ſo it behoves the Lords people to wreſtle with the Lord, and not to ſtand conteſting with the Biſhops, nor with the Jeſuits, as it may be men may do: No, no, prevail with the Lord, and get him to turn all things about; and if Jacob get God to bleſſe him, Eſau ſhall not (then) curſe him. I will not let thee go till thou bleſſe me; and if the Lord bleſſe Jacob, Eſau ſhall be curs'd.
And laſtly, it will help you to quit your ſelves like men in all the things that do befall you; as Paul ſaith in 1 Corinthians 16.13. God hath ſet us (ſaith the Apoſtle) upon a Theatre, (as the word is in the originall, 1 Corinthians 4.9.) unto the world, and unto Angels, and unto men; therefore ſaith he, quit your ſelves like men, as Heb. 10.35.) Caſt not away your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward; for ye have need of patience, &c. It behooves Chriſtians to quit themſelves like men, ſanctifying the Lord in all conditions, in afflictions and croſſes, wreſtling with him to turn away theſe things, and to turn us from all our evil wayes; and then walking in a holy ſelf-deniall, and integrity of heart and life, giving every man his own: And ſo while we walk in pathes of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, in humility and meekneſſe of ſpirit; unclean ſpirits may come out againſt us, and the Lord come as a thief upon us, and yet when he doth, we ſhall keep our own garments. So much for the firſt Point.
The ſecond Note is this; that
Doctr. 2 A watchfull Chriſtian keeps his garments in times of fraudulent, or violent calamities, or triall, injoyes his own bleſſedneſſe, and prevents the ſhamefull diſcovery of his own nakedneſſe.
Its evident in the Text, Behold, I come as a thief: Bleſſed is he that watcheth, and keep th his garments, leſt he walk naked, and they ſee his ſhame. He that watcheth, and keeps his garments, when Chriſt cometh he is bleſſed, that is, he injoyes his own bleſſedneſſe, and increaſeth it, and eſtabliſheth it; and he ſhall by this means prevent the diſcovery of his own ſhame and nakedneſſe, or his ſhamefull nakedneſſe.
Queſt. What are theſe garments, garments in the Plurall Number?
Anſw. They are interpreted briefly in the 19 Chapter of the Revelation, Verſe 8. The fine linnen is the righteouſneſſe of the Saints. There is a double righteouſneſſe of the Saints; there is an inherent righteouſneſſe, and an imputed righteouſneſſe: An inherent righteouſneſſe, He that doth righteouſneſſe, is righteous, 2 John 3.7. There is a righteouſneſſe therefore of a mans own, to wit, ſpirituall graces; as, Zachary and Elizabeth were both righteous before God, Luke 1.6. And it is well obſerved by ſome holy Divines, that he puts a double Epithite upon this righteouſneſſe of the Saints, a double commendation; they are pure, and they are bright, this fine linnen its both pure and bright; for the words are in the originall foreign (and they well obſerve it) pure, becauſe imputed, righteouſneſſe is pure indeed, and hath no ſpot in it, but it is not bright, you can ſee no great matter in it, it maketh no great ſhow before men: A man may be very much defiled, and be ſubject to many ſcandals, and yet cloathed with the garment of imputed righteouſneſſe; the righteouſneſſe inherent, is the righteouſneſſe of a godly heart and life before men; Let your l ght ſo ſhine before men, that they may ſee your good works, Matth. 5.16. The righteouſneſſe of Chriſt imputed (I mean the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt received by faith, and imputed by grace, is a pure righteouſneſſe hat ſhines before God, and not before men. But the righteouſneſſe inherent, thats not pure, (but very bright) before men. There is therefore a righteouſneſſe that is very bright, thats the righteouſneſſe inherent, expreſſed in our converſation; and there is another righteouſneſſe, to wit, the righteouſneſſe imputed, which is incomparably more pure: As it hath been ſaid of old, There is not the pooreſt Saint, though Lazarus on the dunghill, but is as pure as the Virgin Mary, Phil. 2.8. So then thoſe are the garments, cloathed in bright and in pure garments: And theſe garments are the righteouſneſſes of the Saints. Garments, why? To cloath our nakedneſſe, for our naturall corrupt eſtate is nakedneſſe: Now both theſe are given to cover this nakedneſſe of ours; theſe Indewments, rightly ſo called; Indowments, or Induments, Knowledge covers the nakedneſſe of our ignorance; Zeal covers the nakedneſſe of our Luke warmneſſe; Wiſdom covers the nakedneſſe of our Folly, Faithfulneſſe covers the nakedneſſe of our Unfaithfulneſſe and falſ-heartedneſſe; Humility covers the na…edneſſe of our Pride; Patience covers the nakedneſſe of our Paſſion; Chaſtity covers the nakedneſſe of our Wantonneſſe; and the Righteouſneſſe of Chriſt covers all: And as garments cover the nakedneſſe, ſo they keep us from the injuries of weather, wet and cold, &c. ſo do theſe garments keep us from all injuries in the world; all temptations from the devil, or our own corrupt luſts: And they do adorn us alſo, in the ſight of men, and make us beautifull, amiable, and glorious, as our garments which are not onelyonly for neceſſity, but comelineſſe.
Now, Bl…ſſed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garm…nts. Which argueth, that our garments are kept by watchfulneſſe; watcheth unto what? Watcheth unto prayer, 1 Pet. 4.7. Watch, (ſaith our Saviour to his ſleepy Diſciples) Mat. 26.41. And, Watch unto the Word: Wherewithall ſhall a yong man cleanſe his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy W…rd. Pſal. 119.9. Watch unto Prayer, and watch unto the Word, and watch unto your converſation and wayes, and then keep your garments and your ſelves clean; and then watch to the ſpeciall duties of your calling: Bleſſed are thoſe ſervan s, whom the Lord when he cometh ſhall finde watching, (Luke 12.37.) Verily I ſay unto you, that he ſhall gird himſelf, and make them to ſit down at meat, and will come forth and ſerve him. Then Peter ſaid unto him, (ver. 41.) Lord ſpeakeſt thou this Parable to us, or even to all? And the Lord ſaid, Who is that faithfull and wiſe Steward, whom his Lord ſhall make ruler over his houſhold, to give them their meat in due ſeaſon? Bleſſed is that ſervant, whom his Lord when he cometh ſhall finde ſo doing: in the 22 and 43 verſes of the ſame Chapter. When a man watches to the improving of his calling, unto thoſe good ends, for which God hath given him it. Why? Bleſsed is that man, which when the Lord cometh, he ſhall finde ſo doing. And fourthly, he watches unto his own heart, that he does not truſt to his own righteouſneſſe; and runs away from God by deceitfulneſſe and unbelief of his own heart: Take heed (ſaith the Apoſtle) leſt there be in any of you an heart of unbelief, to depart from the living God, Heb. 3.12. And ſo, Watchfulneſſe is oppoſed unto Drowſineſſe, eſpecially in good duties, Luke 6.41. it is oppoſed to Senſuality, Luke 21.34, 35, 36. it is oppoſed alſo to carnall Security, 2 Theſſ. 5.2, 3, 4. So ſee now by this means, whileſt a man watcheth unto prayer, watcheth to the Word, watcheth to his calling, and watcheth over his own unclean, corrupt, and deceitfull heart; Hence it comes to paſſe, that he keeps his garments ſo bright; in one word, he keeps faith and a good conſcience, and faith helps him to keep his garments: He keeps holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, and all is kept in this holy way. So that by this means, what ever theeves or robbers come, a mans garments are kept clean; he is not gulled out with thoſe Frogs, nor frighted or tyred out with theſe Kings of the earth. So that by this means he doth not ſhew his own nakedneſſe, but doth injoy his own bleſſedneſſe.
Reaſ. 1 For the Reaſon of this Point briefly, and ſo come to the Uſe. The Reaſon is taken from the Lords graciouſneſſe, and tender reſpect to a watchfull ſpirit.
It is (as I remember) one of the aboundanteſt promiſes of grace that is made to any eſtate of Gods people, that he makes to a watchfull heart, in the fore-named place in Luke 12.37. Bleſſed are thoſe ſervants whom the Lord when he commeth ſhall finde watching: why, wherein lyes their bleſſedneſſe? The Lord (ſaith the Text) ſhal gird up himſelfe, and make them to ſit down to meat, and will come forth and ſerve them. A wel-girt Chriſtian hath ever a well-girt Chriſt to miniſter to him; that as his garments are girt to him, and the loynes of his mind girt up, and his Spirit attentive to watch over himſelf, and to watch to his calling; The Lord Jeſus will watch over him, and he ſhall enjoy him, and his bleſſedneſſe: And wherein lyes our bleſſedneſſe? but in the enjoyment of Chriſt: Chriſt will be ever with us to help us to pray, and to heare our prayers: He will be with us to ſerve us, he will ſupply us, and carry an end all our workes for us.
And a ſecond Reaſon is taken from the wofull nakedneſſe of Reaſ. 2 corrupt nature, eſpecially in a Chriſtian profeſſion: A wel-girt Chriſtian will bluſh and be aſhamed for any miſ-carriage before God and men. O my God (ſaith Ezra) I am aſhamed, and bluſh to lift up my face to thee my God, for our iniquities are encreaſed over our head, &c. Ungirtneſſe, or looſeneſſe, fils a Chriſtian with ſhame. I ſay, if this be the ſhamefulneſſe of ſinne, the nakedneſſe of it, that a man is not ſo aſhamed of the nakedneſſe of his body, as a Chriſtian of the ungirtneſſe of his ſpirit; why then (mind yee) he that watches and keeps his garments, he enjoyes his own bleſſedneſſe, and prevents the ſhamefull diſcovery of his own nakedneſſe. The uſe of this point is thus much.
Firſt, it may teach us, how to eſteeme truly and rightly of the Vſe 1 nature both of ſin and righteouſneſſe, how to take a true eſtimation of both. Look at your paſſions, and look at your luſts, and look at all your naturall parts: what are they all? (if they be not over-powred with holy gifts of grace) they are the very nakedneſſe and ſhame of a man. If a man will have his own will, and not Gods will, the ſhame of ſtubbornneſſe lyes upon that mans heart. A ſpirit that is not lively and wakefull, but heavie and drowſie, it is a ſhamefull nakedneſſe. Covetouſneſſe is the very ſhame of a man; Pride is the very ſhame of a man. A man thinks himſelfe the goodlieſt of all, and is ſhamefull in the eyes of all. Wantonneſſe is the very ſhame of a man. A man thereby makes himſelfe one of the fooles in Iſrael. So all errours in a man, they are the ſhame of a man; and ſo all the ſinfull miſcarriages of a man, they are the ſhame and nakedneſſe of a man, that he may bluſh to behold, and to think, and to heare of. And it will be a greater ſhame not to behold them, not to be willing to ſee them, when he is juſtly taxed with them. You think you will have your own will, and will ſhift off well enough all that is laid againſt you, verily it is the ſhame of your nakedneſſe. All paſſionate, and proud carriages expreſſed in word or deed, are the ſhame of a mans nakedneſſe. And idleneſſe in a mans calling, is the very nakedneſſe and ſhame of a man So on the other ſide, what is righteouſneſſe? the white linnen of a Chriſtian…? pure ſhining garments? They are ſuch, that if the Lord looke upon a man, he is pure in his eyes; if the world looke upon him, he is bright, yea, it even dazels the eyes of wicked men. I ſay, it is the honour of a Chriſtiam, it is the comlineſſe of his perſon. There is no garment, that becomes a Chriſtian ſo well, as to be clothed from top to toe with the pure g rments of Chriſts righteouſneſſe imputed. Inherent righteouſneſſe is not ſo comely, ſave in the eyes of men. A tender conſcience, a ſpirit eaſie to be entreated, is a comely ſpirit; a man void of paſſion, that hath the bridle and reines of his affections, it is a great beauty to a man; both righteouſneſſe inherent, and righteouſneſſe imputed, they make us walke ſo, as no man ſhall ſee our nakedneſſe and ſhame. Diligence in a mans calling, and truſtineſſe and faithfulneſſe are comely things in Chriſtians. A well-girt Chriſtian the Lord wil keepe, that men ſhall not ſee his nakedneſſe; though in many things he may faile and be aſhamed, yet the Lord keepes him that men ſee not his nakedneſſe. That is the firſt Uſe. And the ſecond is this;
Ʋſe 2 It muſt teach us holy watchfulneſſe in all our Chriſtian converſation, eſpecially in ſuch times when theſe frogs are croking, and theſe …ive ſpirits are le…ping up and down. There are many ſpirits of Errour, as it is generally complained of (and I fear too juſtly) up and down the countrey: Some ye know, and more will know, and the ſooner the better. Beware of them, look well to your garments, keep faith, and keep a good conſcience: Keep them too, and you keep all your garments: I aith looks to your holineſſe, and a good conſcience to your righteouſneſſe: Be watchfull to Prayer, and watchfull to the Word, and wathfull to your callings, and watchfull to your own deceitfull h…art; when you ſee the falſe Prophets ſtir when you ſee …rrours ſtir: Keep your garments cloſe, and ſo much the cloſer, when you ſee ſuch ſpirits ſtirring; and now (I doubt not) it is a time when evil ſpirits are buſie, and ſtirring in our native country. Oh that the people of God might be but watchfull. Now J…ſuits, and carnall hearts will be buſie. Oh that all, high and low, of all the Nations of the earth were awaked, not to be intreated by them, that will ſtrive to carry Religion in the old ſtreams of Euphrates, that makes glad none but Cardinals, and Biſhops, and carnall hearts; whatſoever is a ſupport to new Babylon, or old; whatſoever maintains Popiſh Idolatry, or Turkiſh Tyrannie: But to beſtir themſelves like men, that ſo the work of the Lord may go forward, and the ſtreams of the River Euphrates may be dryed up; what ever maintains Popiſh Idolatry, or Turkiſh Tyrannie, that all this were dryed up. What a cauſe of joy would this be to all the people of God! If ye hear any ill news from our native country, you will hear nothing but ſhamefulneſſe diſcovered. If men be not watchfull, ſhamefulneſſe in Doctrine, and ſhamefulneſſe in Worſhip, and ſhamefulneſſe in Government will be diſcovered, if men be not watchfull at this day: For now is the time that God goes about to pour out the Vials of his wrath upon the Throne of the Beaſt, to dry up the Epiſcopacie. And ye ſhall finde great way made for the drying up of the river Euphrates, for it will ſuddenly be dryed up. I ſay (therefore) it behoves men in this time eſpecially to be watchfull; and therefore let us pray for our Brethren, and for our ſelves in this regard, that the Lord would gird them and us cloſe, that our lamps may be burning, as men that are bound to dry up this river Euphrates, that makes glad Rome, but ſad the hearts of Gods people.
Laſt of all (to make an end) it will be a ground of comfort to Vſe 3 all watchfull ſouls, to whom Chriſt comes as a thief; and yet when he doth come he findes them watching, and girt; (If the good man of the houſe did know when the thief would come, he would ſurely watch, and not ſuffer his houſe to be broken through, &c.) I ſay in ſuch a caſe as this is; if the Lord give up the ſpirits of men (as I doubt not but he doth) thoſe that are ſo, take it for your comfort; yee that are cloſe girt, cary it home as an encouragement unto continuall watchfulneſſe. Such as walke before him ſpiritually and watchfully, marke what the Lord promiſeth you, for yee ſee what the bleſſedneſſe is which the Lord promiſeth. He ſhall not have bleſſedneſſe only, but he is a bleſſed man. Bleſſed is he that watcheth, he ſhall enjoy the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and all Soveraigne good. He will gird himſelfe, and will ſit downe at table and miniſter unto you, Luke 17.7. A man will not ſay ſo to his ſervants. But (mind yee) here's a difference, that if ſo be a man have walked with a watchfull frame of ſpirit, the Lord will ſerve him. A man that hath kept his garments without ſpot, the Lord ſo well approves the frame of his ſpirit, as that he will gird himſelf, and will ſerve him, (that is) ready prepared to do ſuch a ſoul good.
He ſhall finde him at ſupper, he ſhall finde him at the ordinances, at every ſpirituall duty he ſhall finde him; at leaſt, it will not be long, but he ſhall finde him. I ſet aſide extraordinary caſes of tryall, times of temptation and tryall, which may come upon any of Gods ſervants; and theſe ſhall not be long. The Lord will hide them under the ſhadow of his wings, and preſerve them from ſhamefull fals; or will hide the ſhamefulneſſe of them; and the Lord will for the preſent be girt cloſe to you: He will be ever and anon helping you in all trials and temptations, when you have moſt need of him, then ſhall ye finde him ready to be moſt near you. And therefore it is a marvellous comfort, and ſtay to a Chriſtian whom the Lord helps to be thus watchfull: He will be a Sun, and a ſhield; and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk thus uprightly with him, Pſalm 84.11.