Christ Crucified, Sermon 13
SERMON XIII.
ISAIAH LIII.I.
—And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
THere are many miſtakes in the way of Religion, wherewith the moſt part are poſſ…ſſed, and amongſt the reſt there is one, that generally the Hearers of the Goſpel think it ſo eaſie to Believe, that there is no difficulty in that by any thing; they think it hard to Pray, to keep the Sab…ath, to be Holy, but the moſt part think there is no difficulty in Believing, and yet Unbelief is ſo rife, and Faith ſo rare and difficult, that the Prophet Iſaiah here in his own name, and in name of all the Miniſters of the Goſpel crys out, Lord who hath believed our report? he complains that he could get but very few to take the Word off his hand; and becauſe it weighted him to find it ſo, and becauſe he would fain have it to take impreſſion on his Hearers, he doubles expreſſions to the ſame purpoſe, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? which in ſum is, there is much Preaching and many Hearers of the Goſpel, but little believing of it, few in whoſe Heart the work of Faith is wrought; It's but here one and there one that this Goſpel hath efficacy upon, for uniting of them to Jeſus Chriſt, and for working a work of Saving Grace in them; the effectual working of God's Grace reaches the Hearts but of a few.
For opening the words, we ſhall ſpeak a little to theſe three. 1. To what is meant by the Arm of the Lord. 2. To what is meant by the revealing of the Arm of the Lord. 3. To the ſcope and dependance of theſe words on the former.
For the firſt, In general know, the Arm of the Lord is no to be underſtood properly; the Lord being a Spirit. hath no Arms, Hands, nor Feet as Men have; But it's to be underſtood figuratively, as holding out ſome Property or Attribute of God; By the Arm of the Lord then we underſtand in general the Power of God, the Arm of Man being that whereby He exerceth His Power, performeth Exploits, or doth any Work: So the Arm of the Lord is His Power whereby He produceth His Mighty Acts; as it's ſaid in the Pſalms, The right hand of the Lord hath done valiantly, His hand and his arm hath got him the victory; and becauſe the Power of God is taken either more generally for that which is exerced in the Works of common Providence, or more particul…rly for that which is put forth in the Work of Saving Grace; We t…ke it here in ſhort to be the Grace of God exercing its Power in and by the Goſpel, for the converting of Souls, and cauſing them ſavingly to Believe, ſo Rom. 1.16. I am not aſhamed of the Goſpel of Chriſt, for it is the power of God to ſalvation to every one that believes; not ſimply as it conſiſts in ſpeaking of good, ſweet, and ſeaſonable words, but as it cometh backed by the irreſiſtable Power of the Grace of God, as the word is, 1 Cor. 1.23, 24. We preach Chriſt to the Jews a ſtumbling block, and to the Greeks fooliſhneſs but unto them who are called both Jews and Greeks, the power of God and the wiſdom of God; and that it is ſo to be taken here, the con…ion of theſe words with the former will make it clear, for ſure he is not ſpeaking of the Power of God in the works of common Providence, but of His Power in the converſion of Souls to Chriſt, even of that Power which works Saving Faith in the Elect.
For the ſecond, The revealing of the Arm of the Lord, By this we do not underſtand the revealing of it objectively as it's brought to light by the preaching of the Goſpel, for thus it's revealed to all the Hearers of the Goſpel, it's in this reſpect not keeped hid, but brought forth clearly to them in the Word: And therefore ſecondly, The revealing of this Arm or Power of the Lord, is to be underſtood of the ſubjective inward manif…ſting of it, with efficacy and life to the Heart, by the effectual operation of the Spirit of the Lord; as it's ſaid of the great things prepared for them that love God, 1 Cor. 2.10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit; it's that which is called 1 Cor. 2. the demonſtration of the ſpirit and of power, which makes plain and powerful to the ſpirit of the Hearer inwardly that which the Word preacheth outwardly to the Ear, which without this would ſtrick only on the Ear, and yet remain ſtill an hidden Myſtery; This is the revealing of the Lord's Arm that is here ſpoken of, becauſe it is that on which Believing dependeth and of the want whereof the Prophet ſadly complaineth, even where there was much Preaching.
For the third, to wit, the Scope, Dependance, and connexion of theſe words with the former, We conceive they come in, both for Confirmation and for Explication of the former words. 1. For Confirmation, There are (as hath been ſaid) but few that Believe, for there are but few that have this ſaving and effectual work of God's Grace re…ching their Heart; though they have the Word preached to them, yet they have not the Arm of the Power of God's Grace manifeſted to them, and ſo He confirms His former Doctrine concerning the paucity of Believers under the preaching of the Goſpel. Firſt, By aſſerting the fewneſs of them that are brought to Believe, to be converted, and effectually called by the Goſpel; which comes to paſs through their own Unbelief: And Secondly, By aſſerting their fewneſs in reſpect of God's ſoveraign applying of His Grace in the Goſpel, which is but to few; it's but few that Believe, for it's but few that He makes effectual application of His Grace to. 2. We ſay it comes in to clear and explicate the former words, whether we take it by way of a Reaſon, or of an anſwer to an Objection; For if it be ſaid, how can it be that Iſaiah, Paul, yea, and our Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, ſhould preach ſo powerfully, and yet that ſo few ſhould Believe? he anſwers, it's not to be marvelled at, in reſpect of God as if he were fruſtrate of his deſign, no ſuch matter; It's becauſe the Power of Jeſus Chriſt is revealed but to few; and we take this the rather to be the meaning of theſe words, becauſe when Chriſt is preaching and many take offence and ſtumble, Joh. 6.43, 44. he ſays, Murmure not among your ſelves, no man can come to me, except the Father which hath ſent me, draw him; there muſt be an effectual work of the Grace of God put forth on the Heart, elſe none will believe on me: So its ſaid Joh. 12.37, 38. that they believed not on Him, that the ſaying of Iſaias might be fulfilled which he ſpoke, Lord who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? therefore they could not believe, becauſe that Iſaias ſaid again, He hath blinded their eyes, &c. he ſpeaketh not ſo, to appologize for, or to excuſe their Unbelief, but to ſhew the connexion that is betwixt theſe two, the not revealing of the Arm of the Lord, and their not Believing; even ſo here, the Lord ſhews the connexion that is betwixt the efficacy of the work of Grace, and believing or turning to God, that where the powerful and effectual work of His Grace goeth not forth with the preached Goſpel, there will be then no believing nor converſion, no ſaving change of the Perſon from Nature to Grace.
That which we would ſay from theſe words, may be drawn to three Doctrines, which I ſhall firſt propoſe, and then clear and apply them for uſe. The firſt is, That in the work of Converſion and begetting of Saving Faith, there is requiſite and neceſſary, beſide the preaching of the Word, a diſtinct, inward, peculiar, real, immediate, efficacious, and powerful work of the Spirit of the Lord on the Hearts of as many Hearers as are converted by this Goſpel. 2. That it is but few of many Hearers in whom the Lord thus efficaciouſly and effectually works by His Spirit and the Power of His Grace, it's but here one and there one, a very few who are thus wrought upon and converted. 3. That there is a neceſſary and inſeparable connexion betwixt this inward and efficacious work of the Spirit, and Faith or Converſion; Where this work of Grace is not, there cannot be Faith, and where it is, Faith neceſſarily muſt be, otherways theſe two could not be commenſurable of equal extent and reciprocal, Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? He is not, neither can be a Believer to whom it is not revealed, and he is, and cannot but be a Believer to whom it is revealed.
For the firſt, We ſay there is in the work of Converſion, and begetting of Faith, beſide the preaching of the Goſpel, a diſtinct, inward, peculiar, real, immediate, efficacious, and powerful work of the Spirit of the Lord requiſite and neceſſary for Converſion and begetting of Faith, to convince of Sin, and to humble for it, to enlighten the Mind in the Knowledge of Chriſt, to renew the Will and Affections, and to perſwade and enable the Soul of the Sinner to embrace and receive Jeſus Chriſt as He is offered in the Goſpel. We ſhall firſt take notice of, and clear ſome words in the Doctrine, and then confirm it.
Firſt, For clearing of ſome words in the Doctrine, we ſay, 1. It is a diſtinct work of the Spirit, diſtinguiſhed and ſeparable from the Word; though it goes along as He pleaſeth with the Word, yet it is not as if there were ſome Power infuſed into the Word, and went always and neceſſarily along with the Word, which is the fooliſh and groundleſs conceit of ſome, for albeit it accompany the Word, yet it's from a diſtinct Agent, working, and a diſtinct work, and is ſeparable (as I ſaid) from the Word, though it be wrought on the Heart of the ſame Sinner to whoſe Ear the Word is preached. 2. It's an inward work of the Spirit, for beſide the outward and external preaching and calling by the Word, there is an inward, powerful, effectual work and calling of the Spirit in the converſion of a Sinner, which ſpeaks to the Heart, as well as the Word ſpeaks to the Ear; ſo that this work of the Spirit that goes along in Converſion, is much more then any external perſwaſion of the preached Word can produce. 3. We ſay it's a peculiar work, to difference it from what is common to the Hearers of the Goſpel, for it's a work that is peculiar to them whom the Lord converts, and is applied to none other, but to thoſe in whom He works Faith, and whom He effectually calleth by His Grace; It's a peculiar work then and not common, for if it were common to all the Hearers of the Goſpel, and not peculiar to ſome, theſe two could not go together and be commenſurable (as we ſaid) Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? 4. We ſay it's a real work as well as powerful; A real work of the Spirit, that is not only able and powerful to produce the effect, and to convert the Sinner, but real and powerful in producing and bringing of it about, and to paſs by a real influence of the Spirit, actually renewing the Will, infuſing and creating the habits of Grace, & particularly the very habit of Faith amongſt others in the Soul; which is quite an other thing then the ſuppoſing and ſaying that a Man hath power to Believe and be Converted, that there is no more requiſite to his Converſion, but to perſwade him to put forth that Power or Strength which he hath into Exerciſe or Practice; It's a real work of the Spirit, and a powerful bringing about of the converſion of the Sinner in a phyſical way, as they ſay in the School. 5. We ſay it is an immediate work of the Spirit on the Heart, to difference it from a mediate perſwaſion, or moral ſwaſion (as it's called) as if there were no more requiſite in Converſion but God's enlightening of the Mind, and by that perſwading the Will to cloſe with Jeſus Chriſt, without any immediate work of the Spirit on the Will it ſelf; In this Doctrine, we take in all theſe according to the Scripture, in oppoſition to the ſeveral Errors vented by Men of corrupt Minds, anent the work of Converſion and of Saving Faith; God's Arm and Hand muſt be revealed, the work and power of His efficacious Grace muſt be put forth, for moving and enclining the Heart and Affections, and for determining the Will it ſelf.
We might farther clear and confirm all theſe from that famous inſtance of Lydia, Act. 16.14. where Paul preaching to ſome Women, it's ſaid of her, Whoſe heart the Lord opened, that ſhe attended to the things which were ſpoken of Paul, where we find theſe things differenced. 1. The Lord's powerful work on her heart from Paul's preaching to her Ear, the Lord opened her Heart. 2. It's an inward work, for it's on the Heart. 3. It's a peculiar work, it's not all who hear Paul preach whoſe Hearts are opened, but it's the Heart of one Lydia. 4. It's in the nature of it a real work, that makes a real inward change on her. 5. It's an immediate work, for the Lord not only enlightens her Judgment, but goes down to the Heart and opens it, and works a change in it immediatly; Paul indeed by his preaching opens the way of Salvation to all that heard him, from which, though many go away with their Hearts unopened, yet the Lord hath a ſecret, myſterious, real, inward work on her Heart, which is evidenced by the effect, for He not only enlightens her Mind, but makes her willingly yield to the call of the Goſpel, by opening of her Heart.
In the ſecond place, To ſpeak a little for confirmation of the Doctrine, we would conſider theſe four or five Grounds or Reaſons, to ſhew that there is ſuch a work of the Spirit wherever Faith is begotten, and that moſt intelligibly in them that are at Age. 1. It's clear from theſe places of Scripture, where there is an expreſs diſtinction and difference put betwixt the outward Miniſtry of the Word, and this inward, powerful, efficacious work of Grace on the Heart, and wherein the great weight of Converſion is laid on this inward work and not on the outward Miniſtry of the Word; as Deut 29.4. where the Lord by Moſes tells the People how many things they had ſeen and heard, and yet ſays he, The Lord hath not given you a heart to perceive, and eyes to ſee, and ears to hear, unto this day; They had the outward Means in plenty, when they wanted in the mean time the inward Power; The gift of a ſpiritual Life, and the making them ſpiritually active to exerce it, was with-holden, and therefore they did not ſavingly perceive, ſee, nor …ear; Joh. 6.44. Murmure not among your ſelves, no man can come to me except the Father which hath ſent me draw him; It's written in the Prophets, and they ſhall be all taught of God, every man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me; where there is very clearly a diſtinction put betwixt the outward teaching and the Father's drawing, betwixt the Miniſters teaching and God's teaching; It was one thing to be taught outwardly by Chriſt as the Prophet of His Church, and another thing to be drawen and taught inwardly of the Father; This inward teaching is called drawing, to ſhew that it is not external Oratory or Eloquence conſiſting in words, to perſwade, that can effect the buſineſs, but a powerful draught of the Arm of the Lord reaching the Heart: There are ſeveral other Scriptures full and clear to this purpoſe, as Pſal. 110.3. and Acts 11.21. A ſecond Ground, of kin to the former, Is from the many and various expreſſions that are uſed in the Scriptures for holding forth this work of the Spirit of God in Converſion, that point out, not only an Hand working, and an work wrought; but an inward powerful way of working and bringing about the wo…k, as Je…. 31.34. I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts: Ezek. 11.19. I will give them one heart, I will put a new ſpirit within them, and will take away the ſtony heart out of their fleſh: Ezek. 36.26 27. A new heart will I give unto you, and a new ſpirit will I put within you, &c. Jer. 32.40. I will put my fear in their heart, that they ſhall not depart from me; It's called the Father's drawing, John 6.44. as I ſhew. In the Saints Prayers (as Pſal. 51.) it's called even as to further degrees of this work, or reſtoring of loſt degrees, creating of a clean heart, and renewing a right ſpirit within; And many moe the like expreſſions there are, which ſhew not only Mans impotency and inability to convert or ſavingly to change himſelf; but alſo that to his Converſion there is neceſſary, an inward, real, peculiar, efficacious, powerful work of the Spirit of Grace. 3. It's clear, and may be confirmed from the Power of God which He puts forth and applys in the begetting of Faith and in working Converſion; It's not a mediate work whereby He only perſwades congruouſly, as ſome love to ſpeak, but an immediate and efficacious work, whereby with mighty Power He works Converſion, It is God (ſaith the Apoſtle, Phil. 2 13.) that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleaſure; and as he not only perſwadeth but effectually worketh, ſo he not only works on the Judgment to the enlightning of it, but on the Will, to encline and determine it, by curing it of its crookedneſs and perverſneſs, backwardneſs, obſtinacy, and rebellion; and the Power whereby He worketh this great work is ſaid, Eph. 1.19. To be that ſame mighty power which he wrought in Chriſt when he raiſed him from the dead, that ye may know ſaith the Apoſtle, what is the exceeding greatneſs of his pow…r to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Chriſt when he raiſed him from the dead and ſet him at his own right hand, &c. It is ſuch a Power that works Faith, and ſo exerciſed in the working of Faith, as it was in the raiſing of Chriſt from the Dead; Now, could there be uſe for ſuch a Power, if there were no more requiſite to Converſion but an objective ſwaſion, or a bare propoſal of the object with external perſwaſion to embrace it, wherein the Soul is left to it ſelf to choiſe or refuſe as it pleaſeth? certainly if there were no more, conſidering our natural enmity at God …nd His Gr…ce, the Devil and Corruption would have much more influence, and a far greater ſtroak upon the Heart to cloſing up of the ſame in Unbelief, then any outward perſwaſion would have as to the opening of the Heart, and the begetting of Faith; therefore His Power is neceſſarily called for, and the Lord addeth it in converting Sinners, elſe the work would for ever ly behind; and if Men be ſp…ritually dead in Sins and Treſpaſſes, (as all Men by Nature are) as real a Power muſt be exerced in raiſing and quickening of them, as there is exerced in raiſing and quickening of the Dead. 4. It may alſo be cleared from ſome in whom this Power is exerced, as ſome Children, ſome deaf Perſons, and others, whom we cannot deny to be reached by the Grace of God, and yet there can be no other way how th…y are reached but by this effectual, efficacious, and immediate powerful work of the Spirit, they not being capable of reaſoning or perſwaſion by force of Argument.
We ſhall only add two Reaſons further, to confirm and ſome-way to clear why it is that the Lord works, and muſt work thus diſtinctly, inwardly, really, powerfully, and immediatly in working Faith and converting of Sinners: The firſt is drawen from the exceeding great deadneſs, indiſpoſition, averneſs, perverſneſs, impotency, inability, and impoſſibility that is in us naturally for the exerciſing of Faith in Chriſt; If Men naturally be dead in Sins and Treſpaſſes, if the Mind be blind, if the Affections be quite diſordered, and if the Will be utterly corrupted and perverted; then that which converts, and changes and renues them, muſt be a real inward, peculiar, immediate, powerful work of the Spirit of God; there being no inward ſeed of the Grace of God in them to be quickened, that ſeed muſt be communicate to them, and ſowen in them ere they can believe, which can be done by no leſs nor lower Power then this Power of God's Grace; It's not Oratory as I ſaid, nor excellency of Speech that will do it; it's ſuch a work as begers the Man again, and actually renews him. The ſecond is drawen from God's end in the way of giving Grace, comunicating it to ſome and not to others; If God's end in being gracious to ſ…me one and not to others, be to commend His Grace ſolly, and to make them alone in Grace common or debt, then the work of Grace in Converſion muſt be peculiar and immediate, and wrought by the Power of the Spirit of God, leaving nothing to Man's Free-will to diff…rence himſelf from another, or on which ſuch an effect ſhould depend; But if we look to Scripture, we will find, that it's God's end in the whole way and conduct of His Grace, in Election, Redemp…ion, Calling, Juſtification, &c. to commend His Grace ſolly, and to ſtop all Mouths, and to cut off all ground of boaſting in the Creature, as it is 2 Cor. 4.7. Who makes thee to differ from another? and what haſt thou that thou haſt not received? now if thou didſt receive it, why doeſt thou glory as if thou didſt not receive? This being certain, that if the work of Grace in Converſion, were not a diſtinct, inward, peculiar, real, immediate work, and did not produce the effect of it ſelf by its own ſtrength, and not by vertue of any thing in Man; the Man would ſtill be ſuppoſed to have had ſome Power for the work in himſelf, and ſome way to have differenced himſelf from another; but the Lord hath deſigned the contrary, and therefore the work of Grace in Converſion muſt be ſuitable to his deſign.
Uſe 1. The firſt Uſe is for the refutation of ſeveral Errors, and for the confirmation of a great Truth of the Goſpel which we profeſs.
It ſerves I ſay, Firſt, For the refutation of Errors, which in ſuch an Auditory we love not to inſiſt on; yet we cannot here, the Ground being ſo clear, and the Call ſo cogent, forbear to ſay ſomewhat bri…fly this way, and the rather that the Devill hath taken many wa…s, and driven many d…ſigns, to weaken the eſtima…ion of God's Grace among Men, and to exalt proud Nature, and that there is here a collection and concatenation of theſe deſigns and ways againſt the Truth which this Doctrine holds forth, vented by corrupt Men. As 1. They will have nothing to be neceſſarily applyed for the working of Converſion, bu… the preaching of the Word; taking it for gran…ed, that all Men have univerſal or common Grace, which God by His Soveraignty, ſay they was obliged to give, elſe he could not not reaſonably require Faith of them; and upon this comes in the pleaded for Power of Free-will, and Mans ability to turn himſelf to God; others by pleading for this notion of a Light within Men, become to be Patrons of proud and petulant corrupt Nature, as if there were need of nothing to beget Saving Faith but that common Grace within, and Oratory or Swaſion of Mouth from without; And hence they came to maintain the fouleſt Errors, which have not only been condemned by the Chu…ch of God in all Ages, b…t have even by ſome Papiſts been abominated; and many of theſe ſame Errors are creeping in even in theſe times wherein we live, the deſign whereof is to tempt Folk to turn looſe, vain, and proud, and to turn the Grace of God into wantonneſs, as if they needed not at all to depend on God and His Grace, having a ſufficient ſtock within themſelves on which they can live well enough: And it's not only the Errors of Papiſts, Pelagians, Socinians, Arminians, or Errors in the Judgment that we have to do with; but of ſuch as overturn the very foundation of the work of Man's Salvation, and who though pretending to higher notions, do yet go beyond all theſe. But if it be true, that in the work of Converſion, beſide the preaching of the Word, there is a diſtinct, real, inward, peculiar, immediate, efficacious work of the Spirit, neceſſary for bringing about ſuch an effect; Then there is no common and univerſal Grace that all the Hearers of the Goſpel have, nor is there any Power or Ability in Man to believe of himſelf; otherwiſe there were no neceſſity of ſuch a work as this for the converting of a Sinner, the Prophet needed not to cry, Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? And Chriſt needed not ſay, No man can come to me except the Father draw him; for Men might come without drawing, and believe without the revelation of God's Arm: But in oppoſition to that, we ſay and have made it clear, that the work of Converſion is brought about by a diſtinct, peculiar, powerful, real, and immediate work of the Spirit on the Heart, whereby he not only enlightens the Mind, but renews the Will and rectifies the Affections. 2. There is another Error that this refutes, which ſeems to be more ſubtile, for ſome will grant a neceſſary connexion betwixt the effect, and the Grace of God, who yet ſay that it is ſwaſion or perſwaſion (for here we take theſe for the ſame,) ſo and ſo tryſted to prevail with ſome, that brings about the effect or work of Converſion in them, and not in others where that perſwaſion is not ſo tryſted; but this opinion lays not the weight of Converſion on the Arm of the Lord, but on ſome circumſtances accompanying the work, and leaves ſtill ſome ground of boaſting in the Creature. 3. A third Error which this Doctrine refutes, is that of ſome others, who will have Grace neceſſarily to go alongs with the Word in the working of Faith, but ſo as it reacheth not the Will, but that the Will neceſſarily determines it ſelf; as if the Will were not corrupt, or as if that Corruption that is in the Will were indeed no Corruption, as if that Corruption that is in the Will could be any more removed from the Will without the immediate work of the Spirit upon it, then Darkneſs can be removed from the Judgment without the Spirits immediate work on it: But ſeing the Will is the prime ſeat of Man's perverſneſs while in Nature, and the principal part to be renewed; It's a ſtrange thing to ſay, that in the work of Converſion, other faculties and powers of the Soul muſt be renewed, and yet that this which comes neareſt to the life of the Soul ſho…ld be neglected, or not ſtand in need of renovation: But from this Text it is clear, that in Converſion the Arm of the Lord muſt be revealed, and that there is a powerful work of Grace that not only preſents reaſons from the Word to move the Will, but really regenerates and renews the Will: Now what is for the refutation of it theſe Errors ſerves alſo to confirm us in the Truth of the Doctrine oppoſite to theſe Errors.
2. It ſerves to refute ſomething in Folks Practice, and that is, their little ſenſe of the need of Grace; Moſt part come and hear Preaching as if they had the habit of Faith, and as if it were natural to them, and pretend to the exerciſe of Faith, never once ſuſpecting their want of Faith, nor thinking that they ſtand in need of ſuch a work of Grace to work it in them, as if it were impoſſible for them not to Believe; Hence many think that they have Grace enough, and if they Pray, it's that they may do well, never minding the corruption of Nature that is in them, and indeed it is no wonder that ſuch Perſons fall readily into Error, when their Practice ſays plainly they think they have Grace enough already.
The ſecond Doctrine is, That this diſtinct, real, inward, efficacious, powerful work of the Grace of God in Converſion, is not common to all the Hearers of the Goſpel, but is a rare thing applied but to few, it's even as rare as Faith is; And what we touched on to evidence the rarity of Faith, will ſerve alſo to evidence the rarity of this work of Grace in Converſion; It's on as many as are Believers, and are ſaved, that the work of Grace is revealed, and no moe, Jer. 3.14. I will take one of a city, and two of a family, and bring you to Zion, ſaith the Lord; It's two or three in the corner of a Paroch, or in the end of a Town, to ſpeak ſo, who are converted, and the reſt are ſuffered to ly in black Nature. If the reaſon hereof be erquired after, this might be ſufficient to ſtop all Mouths, which the Lord gives, Mat. 11.28. Even ſo Father, for ſo it ſeemeth good in thy ſight; It is of the Lord, who is Debitor to none, and who as it is Rom. 9.15. ſhews mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardens; and here we muſt be ſilent and lay our hand on our Mouth and anſwer no more, all being found guilty, He is juſt in what He doeth, in calling or not calling, effectually, as He ple…ſeth; And yet ſecondly, The Lord hath thought good to call few of many, for holy and wiſe ends, As 1. To hold forth His own Soveraignty, and that He is free, and will walk freely in the diſpencing of His own Grace; Hence, He not only takes few, but ordinarily theſe that are the moſt mean, contemptible, ſilly, and in a manner fooliſh, of the multitude of Hearers; It is not many noble, not many wiſe, according to the fleſh, not many rich, not many learned, that He chooſeth and converteth, very ordinarily He hides His Grace from theſe; It's but ſeldom that He calls and takes the ſtout and valiant Man, and the learned Scholler, but it's this and that poor mean Man, the Weaver, the Shoomaker, the ſimple Plough-man, &c. whom moſt ordinarily He calls, when He ſuffers others to continue in their Sin. 2. That He may make all the Hearers of the Goſpel walk in holy fear and awe of Him, He reveals His Grace in few; It's not the multitude that believes, but here one and there one, that all that have the Offer of Grace may fear leſt they miſs it and receive it in vain, and may be careful to entertain and make right uſe of the Means of Grace, and may withall cheriſh the Spirit in His motions, and not grieve Him. O! if ye knew and believed what a rare thing the work of the Spirit of Grace is, ye would be feared to quench, extinguiſh, or put out any of His motions. 3. As to the Godly, He does thus, To make them admire, adore, and praiſe His Grace, and the Power of it ſo much the more.
The Uſes are three. 1. It ſerves to move all to reverence, adore, and admire the Grace of God, and His ſoveraign way in it; Preſume not to debate or diſpute with Him, becauſe there are few that believe, and few that He hath determined His Grace for, it's an evidence of His dread, a proof of His ſoveraignty, in which he ſhould be ſilently ſtooped unto, and reverently adored, and not diſputed with; we ought to bound all our reaſoning within His good pleaſure, who might have taken many and left few, or taken none as pleaſed Him; And we ſhould not think ſtrange, nor fret that the Goſpel is powerful but on few, here is the reaſon of it that may qui…t us, the Lord hath determined effectually to c…ll but few, and yet he will not want one of His own; All that the Father hath given to Chriſt, ſhall come to Him, though none come but as they are drawen in. A thing that we ſhould be ſenſible of, but yet calm and quiet our Spirits, rather wondering that He hath choſen and calleth one, then fret becauſe he hath paſt by many.
Uſe 2. The ſecond Uſe is to exhort you that are Hearers of the Goſpel, and have not had this diſtinct and powerful work of Grace begetting Faith in you, to be perſwaded of this Truth, that Faith and the work of Grace is no common thing; The moſt part alace! think that they have Grace, and that it is not one of many that want it, they will readily ſay, it's true I cannot believe of my ſelf, but God hath given me the Grace; But I would aſk you this queſtion, Do you think that Grace is ſo common a thing that it comes to you and ye never know how, or ſo common that never a Body wants it? If not, how cometh it then to paſs that ye think and ſpeak of Grace as ye do? we would think it a great length, if many of you could be perſwaded of your Graceleſneſs; It's not our part to point particularly at the Man and Woman, though the deeds of many of you ſay within our Heart that there is no fear of God before your eyes, and that many of you think ye have Grace who never had it; And therefore we wou…d ſay theſe three or four words to you. 1. Begin and ſuſpect your ſelves that matters are not right betwixt God and you, we bid none of you deſpair, but we bid the moſt part of you be ſuſpicious of your condition; ſuſpect, nay be aſſured, that Hypocriſie is not Grace, and that your Preſumption is not Fai…h, for if but few get Grace, then many ſhould ſuſpect them…elves, and ſeing Grace is ſo rare a thing, do not ye think it common. 2. Neglect no means that may bring you through Grace to believe, but be diligent in the uſe of them all, of the Word, Prayer, Sacraments, Meditation, &c. It's by theſe that the Lord begets Grace, and by neglecting of them ye may make your ſelves guilty of deſtroying your own Souls. 3. Beaware of quenching the Spirit in any of His Operations or Motions, of ſmothering or putting out any Challenges or Convictions; If the Conſcience be at any time touched, or the Affections tickled, go not away as the temporary Believer doeth, ſitting down there without going any further; Fear to ſtrangle the beginnings of the life of Grace, for Grace may begin at little; and if ye quench any Motion, Conviction, or Challenge, ye know not if ever ye ſhall meet with the like again, becauſe when He knocked hard at your Heart ye held Him out and keeped Him at the door; and ye may be in hazard of that terrible charge, Acts 7.31. Ye uncircumciſed in heart and ears, ye have always reſisted the Holy Ghoſt, as your Fathers did ſo do ye. 4. Seing this work is not common to all the Hearers of the Goſpel, but peculiar to ſome, labour to have it made ſure to your ſelves, by putting it to proof and tryal in good earneſt.
Uſe 3. The third Uſe is for you that are Believers, (and would God there were many ſuch,) to whom I would alſo ſpeak three or four words. 1. Learn from this to be humble, What haſt thou man but what thou haſt received? and if thou haſt received it, why doest thou boaſt as if thou hadſt not received it? O! but it's unſuitable to Believers who are Free-Graces-Debtors and Beggers (whereof yet none need to think ſhame,) to be proud and forget themſelves; Thou haſt nothing Believer to boaſt of, but that He hath ſhamed thee with His Grace, and ſhouldeſt thou be proud of that as if thou had made thy ſelf thus? therefore guard watchfully againſt all puffing up, ſelf-conceit, and high-mindedneſs, and ſtudy to be humble, and to carry a low S…il, elſe thou mayeſt break out into ſome ſcand…lous offence, and may become a ſhame and reproach to the Goſpel; We commend Humility to you above many things, for we think that in theſe days. Folks pride is like to break their Necks; for when once Conceit creeps in, they begin to think they are ſo far advanced in Holineſs, that they muſt not keep Company with others, nor joyn in Worſhip with them, and from that they go to another thing, and from that to a third, that it is hard to tell where they wil… halt or end; they grow ſo giddy that they are ſcarcely like to leave ſo much Ground as themſelves may ſtand upon: O! think ſhame of Pride, it's a moſt intollerable thing to be proud of that which God hath given, wherein ye have no more hand, and whereof ye can no more boaſt, then they who never had it. 2. Be thankful and give God the praiſe of that ye have gotten; It becomes the upright to be thankful; It's no little matter to have God's Power manifeſted in the working of Faith and conferring Grace; The temporal Throne and Kingdom, and great things in the World, are nothing to this, it's peculiar to the Lord's own, and not common; Many get their fill of the World, who never get nor will get this; The World is of ſo little value with the Lord, that to ſpeak ſo, He doeth not much regard who get it, though it be ex…ctly diſtributed by His Providence, but converting and upbuilding Grace is peculiarized to His Favourites; Being therefore clear that He hath beſtowed Grace on you, O how ſhould ye exult in bleſſing God (as David did,) for giving you counſel to make choice of ſuch a portion, and for His powerful determining of your Heart by His Grace to embrace it, for which ye have not your ſelves to thank but God. 3. Be compaſſionate and tender towards others, conſidering that it is only Grace that hath made the difference betwixt you and them, and not any good nature in you which was not in them as ſome fooliſhly fancy; Be not puft up at the faults and falls of any, but rather mourn for them as well as for your own, and be the more humble when ye think of the difference that Grace hath made, leſt ye fall; and ſince your ſtanding is by Grace, be not high-minded, but fear; of all Perſons it worſe becomes you to look lightly on. let be to mock at the falls of others, conſidering who, and what hath made the diff…rence. 4. If it be ſo peculiar a priviledg… to be p…rtakers of this powerful and ſp…ci…l Gr…ce of God that is put ſorth in the great work of Converſion; Then ſure there is …omething peculiar called for in your Converſation, even that it may in all things be as it becometh the Goſpel, and anſwerable to this Grace beſtowed on you, O! what manner of Perſons ought ye to be in all holy Converſation and Godlineſs?