A Dry Rod Blooming and Fruit Bearing, Treatise · Part 2 · Section 10
SECT. X. A ſecond direction to inable Chriſtians for exerciſe under the Rod.
2. TO thoſe poore ſoules, that in the vallies of trouble, hemm'd in with unpaſſable hills upon every ſide, would ſit cloſe to work without diſtraction, my counſell is, that they earneſtly and ſingly eye the Spirit of the Rod, to draw that out, and not ſo much pore upon the groſſer part of it, which is nothing but ſmart upon the fleſh; This Spirit of the Rod is lenitive for the pain, active for the work which concernes a chaſtened ſoule; The groſſer parts of unſavory herbs may be bitter, and invalid, or dull to give out their vertue, yet the ſpirit of theſe may be ſweet, and operative for ſpeciall ends, being rightly extracted. It is very true in the preſent, the more ſenſible and carnall part of the Rod is irkſome and ineffectuall of it ſelf for good, but the more inviſible and ſpirituall part of it is moſt pleaſant, full of energy, and vertue to make the ſoule live above affliction, and according to God to labour in it. This is a myſterie, (but a great truth) as there is a ſpirit in the word Covenant, ſo there is in the Rod of the Covenant, one and the ſame is the very ſoule of the Rod, as is alſo of the Word, without which the Word is but a dead letter, and the Rod but a dry ſtick; but with it, Word and Rod are not only God… power to awaken,Vna cadem que manus vulnus opemq… tul…t. wound, afflict and kill towards ſin, but to quicken, heal, comfort, and ſtrengthen in all duties toward Chriſt. Two things at leaſt will be inquired concerning this, which I ſhall reſolve, and then leave this direction to Chriſtian practice.
1. What is this ſpirit of the Rod?Queſt. 1.
2. Where is this eſpecially to be eyed, and whence procured?Queſt. 2.
To the firſt;Anſw. 1. In ſhort this Spirit is that divine power or ſpirituall energy and vertue ſecretly put forth in the Rod, by the Lord himſelf, to bring his purpoſe to paſſe by it, what ever he intends for the good of his children: As for the Rod, take it by it ſelf, of what kind ſoever it be, it is of a ſmarting, vexing, angring quality, when it meets with fleſh, and ſtirs up corruption againſt it ſelf, as it falls out, but ſubdues it not; It is this Spirit, the very ſoule of chaſtening, that overpowers ſin by it, and quickens, and rectifies, and ſtrengthens the chaſtened ones for their preſent work; This in ſhort is no other, than the awakening power, the awing power, the convincing power, the ſoftning power, and reforming power of the Rod over the fleſh; whoever have experience of this, they are put in, not beaten off from preſent duty under afflictions. The being of ſuch a Spirit is demonſtrable, as well by divine revelation, as by reall effects from the execution of the Rod.
1. It is revealed,1 Pet. 4.14. that together with fiery and waſting trialls there is a Spirit of Glory and of God given to the Saint; that is, a mighty excelling power, that ſhall maſter and over-rule all ſufferings, reproaches, ſcorchings that may befall them, and make them ſo to live above pain, as to glorifie God, in the midſt of torments; This is the ſpirit of the Rod, intayl'd on it, for them that ſhall be heirs of ſalvation, which ſhallinable them to preſent duties, and ſmart ſhall not turne them back from a conſcionable attendance on their work: this is that only which overcomes corruption, and cauſed the Rod to do good and no hurt.
2. The different effects of affliction upon ſeverall hearts muſt conclude this Spirits preſence in one Rod, and it's abſence in another; what reaſon elſe can be given,2 Cor. ….11, 12, 13. that the very ſame Rod ſhould convert one, and not ſo much as move another to any goodneſſe: Manaſſeh was bound with a Babyloniſh chain, and affliction was great upon him in that bondage, no lighter irons were upon Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah, yet he converted unto God, and accepted, but not they: what may be the reaſon of this? Surely the ſpirit of the iron was upon him by it to preſſe him unto God, but nothing ſave Iron upon theſe to preſſe them under ſin. O let our eyes be then in our afflictions toward this Spirit, that we may gain it; Surely this will weaken affliction and ſtrengthen us.
But where may this be found,Queſt. 2. and whence is it to be obtained?
For ſatisfaction unto this alſo,Anſw. 2. nothing is more cleere then the Apoſtles expoſtulation,Gal. 3.2 Received ye the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of Faith? Doubtleſſe not by that, but by this; It is true, this is meant of the Spirit of the Covenant, which ſame alſo is the ſpirit of the Rod by gracious diſpenſation annexed to it; This is not parchaſed by any labour or work of ours, but by the hearing of Faith; that is, by that doctrine or word of promiſe (here oppoſed to the Law) which Faith heareth and receiveth: ſo that no Spirit or divine power from God tending to life, is any where to be found but in the promiſe, nor from any place to be expected, but from the Word of Grace. The former expreſſion notes both terme whence, that is, the promiſe; and means whereby this Spirit is drawne forth, and that is Faith; the word of Grace carryeth in it this power, and Faith is the only inſtrument to worke it out. Such promiſes as theſe are as the treaſuries of the Spirit; whence variety of power is given out to the chaſtened and believing ſoule.Hoſ. 5.15. In their affliction they will, or indeed, they ſhall ſeeke me earely; for the forme of words is promiſſory, and here is a Spirit or power given out to by aſſe the ſoule in afflictions unto God, and to ſpeed it too in ſeeking earely in the morning after him; and ſo it appeared in the effect,Hoſ. 6.1. Iſa. 43.2, 3. when immediately they call upon each other: Come, let us return unto the Lord; ſo againe it is promiſed, When thou paſſeſt thorow the waters, I will be with thee, and thorow the rivers, they ſhall not over ſlow thee, when thou walkeſt through the fi…e, thou ſhalt not be burnt, neither ſhall the flame kindle upon thee: For I am the Lord thy God, &c. Here lyeth the ſecuring ſpirit, and the preſerving power for the Saints in the houſe of affliction, that may make them ſit and ſing, and worke ſecurely; God gives it out from himſelfe in his promiſe to them,Z…ch. 1….4. and Faith muſt receive. Yet further, I will bring a third part, (that is, his choſen remuant) through the fire, and will r…fine them as ſilver is refined, and will try them as gold is tryed; They ſhall call on my Name and I will heare them; I will ſay it is my people, and they ſhall ſay the Lord is my God; See here the trying, refining, ſpirit, working in the fires upon poore ſoules, yea, the covenanting, cloſing, obedient ſpirit, that through all chaſtenings knits the ſoule cloſer unto God; Let faith now work throughly upon theſe promiſes, it will ingage the power and Spirit of the Lord, to refine and fit the ſoule for God, and to unite it with him. It is evident what this Spirit is, and where to be obtained: Obedience to this direction is now required; eye more the ſpirit of the rod by faith, than the ſmart by ſenſe; this will be the benefit, the ſticke of the rod cannot ſo much diſturb, as the ſpirit ſetles, nor that ſo much grieve, as this doth comfort, nor that ſo much weaken from worke, as this doth ſtrengthen to it; for Spirit is ſtronger than fleſh in any kind; and in this is given out of God to over-power affliction, that it ſhould not hurt or hinder, but help and further them in the way to glory: Gaine this Spirit, and thou canſt not be loſt under the rod.