A Dry Rod Blooming and Fruit Bearing, Treatise · Part 2 · Section 2
SECT. II. The condition of the fore-going Fruit opened.
2.2. Condition. foreign. THe character or condition of thoſe ſouls, who onelyonly find this fruit of the rod, is thus expreſt in the Text, To them that are exerciſed thereby, to them this fruit is yeelded from the rod; There is much weight in this clauſe, and yet I find it little conſidered, our gain or loſſe by all afflictions, depends upon the Yea or Nay of this. It will be fit therefore to ſee what is in the letter, and then take more ſeriouſly to thought the matter intended. Three termes there are in this clauſe. 1. The Subject, the men here pointed at. 2. The Condition, Exerciſe. 3. The Occaſion, or Incentive of it, the Rod; no difficulty here but about the right taking of the condition: It is for the moſt part onelyonly rendred paſſively, They that are exerciſed thereby, that is, they that ſuffer, and are preſſed, and afflicted by the Rod, and ſo uſed to ſorrowes; but this cannot be the mind of the Spirit here: For then all that ſuffer afflictions would have this fruit of chaſtening. which we ſee eminently falſe, many the worſe and not the better by the rod; but all that are exerciſed as here meant, fall not ſhort of this bleſſed fruit. It muſt needs therefore have an active ſignification implied here to this purpoſe, To them that are exerciſed thereby, that is, all ſuch as by the rod are provoked and ſtirred up to exerciſe themſelves duly under Gods chaſtening, for obtaining the fruit promiſed; ſo that not onelyonly paſſion is here noted, a meere ſuffering of pain, but action, ſtirring and Chriſtian exerciſe moved by the rod, to work together with it for the deſired fruit. This is in the letter. But now it will be more expedient to look into the nature of the thing; what may this exerciſe be, whereupon depends ſo much advantage to Chriſtians? The diſcovery of two things, the Manner and Matter of this action, will ſatisfie that quaere, both which will be ſupplied from the words duly weighed. 1. The manner of this action (becauſe the ſhorteſt) ſhall be firſt touched, to ſhew how Chriſtians ſhould buckle themſelves to this work; The very word of Exerciſe teacheth this in three particulars. 1. The originall expreſſion iſſueth from a term denoting Nakedneſſe, foreign, from foreign.or a naked man, and therefore hath been properly uſed in prophane Authours, to ſet forth ſuch exerciſes, which men acted in their ſhirts, or naked, as wraſtling, running, foyling, or fencing, wherein garments or clothes would be a great incumbrance; activity, nimbleneſſe, intention of ſpirit, are intimated in this form of exerciſe. He then that would find this fruit from the rod, had need labour in his ſhirt, caſt off all carnall incumbrances, and wraſtle it out with God; holy activity and ſweat of the browes, great intention, and fervencie of ſpirit become the practitioner in this work, to gaine the prize, and obtain the fruit promiſed: what is done, muſt be done with all the might of man, in this buſineſſe. Idle husband-men, let ſeed, and ground, and ſeaſon, be never ſo good,Eccleſ 9.10. in vain expect a crop where no labour was. The greateſt pains this way, brings the greateſt gains.
2.Frequencie. Exerciſe in this place notes frequencie of action, it is no working by ſpurts and fits, that will make a man thrive in this way, or become eminently fruitfull: Exerciſe and uſe are here Synonymaes, He is exerciſed indeed,Jer. 9.24. to whom it is uſuall to ſtudy Gods mind in the rod, and who is daily like the Bee, ſucking and making hony out of it; As the daily influence of Gods love, is called the exerciſe of his loving kindneſſe to his creatures;Ezek. 22.29. and the common thiefe is ſaid to exerciſe robbery; ſo the ſoule that meets Gods ſcourge, and chaſtening every morning,Pſal. 73.14. and falls to work about it, is here the truly exerciſed Chriſtian. The daily labourer thrives the beſt.
3.Conſtancie. Exerciſe here intends conſtancie and continuance in labour untill the fruit comes: many plucks may be had at a bucket, yet to ſtop before it be full up, is but to loſe all former labour; draw home we muſt and reach the mark, if we mean to carry back the price of our high calling: to work two daies,Iſai 64.5. and leave off the third, when we ſhould be parfected, is as fruitleſſe as never to begin. As in all the wayes and works of God, conſtancie crownes the action, In thoſe is continuance, and we ſhall be ſaved: continuance and ſalvation are yoaked; ſo no leſſe in this,Matth. 10.22. He that endureth to the end ſhall be ſaved, that is, he that abides in bearing, in doing, in working after Gods mind under the rod, the ſafe fruit of righteouſneſſe, life and peace, ſhall be to that exerciſed ſoule. Thus muſt their labour be ordered. But then what is the worke it ſelfe?
2. To come to that, Let us diligently conſult the text againe, it is ſaid, they are exerciſed by it, that is, by this chaſtening they are awakened, provoked, and ſtirred up to the worke or exerciſe ſutable to the condition under which they are, and to the end or fruit which they deſire. Now both the Riſe or Incentive to this labour in the rod, and the end of it, which is here expreſſed Righteouſneſſe or Holines in God, ſweetly point out unto us together the variety of work that muſt take us up for exerciſe in this caſe.
The rod that awakens and puts upon this worke, points us to it, to our ſelves, and unto God for ſpeciall exerciſe; ſo Holineſſe unto which chaſtening is intended, no leſſe directs us to looks to the rod, to our ſelves and to God, for ſome ſpeciall worke; if we would bee partakers of it: Hence then wee may gather the exerciſe that doth concerne us is threefold. 1 About the rod that ſmarts. 2 About our hearts that feele. 3 About God that doth inflict and chaſten. 1. Much worke there is to doe about the rod,Worke about the Rod. if wee expect the appointed end, or fruit, it is all taken up in hearing, bearing, and doing after the rods voice.
1.Hearing-worke. There is hearing work for the ſoule; for there is a voyce or ſpeech in every chaſtening, and a ſpeciall duty is it to underſtand the meaning of the rod, which yet cannot be had, without hearkening or liſtening thereunto: The one is therefore aſſerted a truth from God, and the other commanded a duty to him: upon a wiſe heart that would have profit by chaſtening,Mich. 6.9 The Lords voice cryeth to the city (the wiſe will ſee his name in it) heare ye the rod, and who hath appointed it. If it be enquired, what voice the rod hath? It is fully replied, The Lords voice cryeth in it: But what is the matter of all this cry? In ſhort, virtually it takes in the whole contents of Gods covenant, and calleth for all reſtipulations due unto God from a covenanted people. It is ſpoken of the rod,Levit. 26.25. which is the ſword; I will bring a ſword upon you, that ſhall avenge the quarrell of my Covenant; vengeance abſolute of wrath it takes up on reprobates for their rebellion, but onelyonly a ſmart exaction or correction of love upon his choſen, to convince them of former errors, and awaken them to future care in obedience to his Covenant. Whether it bee vengeance to one or chaſtening to another, this is certaine, the rod carries in it the voice of Gods whole Covenant, and requires obedience to it, where it comes, God appoints it for this purpoſe: That one Notion under which word and Rod are ſignified,Pſal. 119.20.30. even Judgements, is enough to evince the ſubſtance of one to bee carried in the other; The word of covenant is Judgement, Ezek. 14.21.that is, a right word of truth to bring to God, and the rod as Judgement alſo a right ſtroke upon the creatures default, to require the abuſe of ſo right a covenant. The rod then doth ſpeake, though it be a word in a blow, for God who ſends it; therefore is the chaſtened ſoules duty to heare, that is, to liſten, to ſtudy out: and underſtand, and to beleeve what the Lord ſpeakes in his chaſtenings. But what cryeth the rod more diſtinctly?
Theſe three words plainely are uttered in every ſcourge, and muſt be ſo heard, by the wiſe ſoule that would be fruitfull under the rod. 1. The ſtroke cries aloud unto the ſoule, Thou haſt ſinned, thou haſt ſinned; affliction could never fall upon a creature, where ſinne had not made entrance for it: and however God ſeeth not iniquity in Jacob ſo as to lay to Iudgement to the rule, to caſt away his people for ever, and forget his covenant of grace to them, yet in every rod hee notes their corruptions to convince of them, to lay ſtrokes of death upon them, and keepe from them for time to come. It was the cry of Iſraels fall before Ai to Joſhua; Joſ. 7.11.Iſrael hath ſinned, and no leſſe Davids family troubles and Kingdom ſhakings ſound in his eare, did the matter of Vriah: every chaſtening ſpeakes the ſame to Gods Sonnes.
2. Another note the whip ſounds out, God is diſpleaſed, God is diſpleaſed: though in love God take up the rod, to keepe his children from the worlds condemnation, yet every ſtroake ſhews a frown upon their ſin: Though David be Gods deare, and Solomon his beloved one, and Ephraim his joy, yet his diſpleaſure is againſt their ſin. God loves his Saints,Num. 12.14. but not their ſins, and were he not diſpleaſed he would not ſmile, God ſparing Miriam ſhewed that hee loved her, but ſpitting in her face, argues his indignation againſt her folly. Notably doth this appeare,Pſal 44.24. when the cry of Gods afflicted returnes, Why hideſt thou thy face from us?
3. The plaine voyce of the rod to the chaſtened ſoule is, Returne, Returne, becauſe you ſtrayed abroad, God ſent out his appointed ſcourge after you, to call you home, and to ſet you right in the way of life againe: when Ephraim was unruly in this kinde, the ſcourge purſues him, and whips and cries, Come backe Ephraim, come backe; and at laſt he heares it,Jer. 31.18 & replies, Turne me my God and I ſhall be turned. Thus every rod cryes repentance to the chaſtened child; and his worke it is to heare, to underſtand, to be convinced, and beleeve all this revelation by the rod, if ever that excellent fruit of righteouſnes appeare.
2.Bearing-worke. There is bearing worke alſo for Chriſtians in reference to the rod; The neceſſity of this patience is urged by one, and the perfection of it adviſed by another Apoſtle,Heb. 10.36. James 1.4. to give men poſſeſſion of the promiſe, and render them intire, wanting nothing. The Church commends it to her children, It is good for a man to beare the yoake in his youth; good to beare,Lam. 3.27. and to beare betimes, and ſhe reſolves to do it in conſcience of her owne guilt deſerving it,Mich. 7.9. I will beare the indignation of God, becauſe J have ſinned againſt him; this is the way to that deſired gaine, He will bring me forth to the light, and I ſhall behold his righteouſneſſe; ſee the ſucceſſe of bearing ſmart.
But how muſt we beare, to be ſure of this?Queſt.
Three words will direct ſafely.Anſw. 1. We muſt beare feelingly, that is, feele and beare, or elſe what patience here? little hope of whipping a dry poſt into greene, alas there is neither life nor ſenſe in it, the Anvile-bearing may make worſe and harder, never ſoft nor better. It is ſtupidity, not patience, where there is want of ſenſe; no thanke for bearing,Job 1.20.21.22. where no paine is felt: poore Iob feeles and beares, and takes all kindly from the hand of God; in this hee did not ſinne.
2. Wee muſt beare freely and willingly; forced ſuffering againſt our wills is not worth the name of patience; over-powered ſtrength may beare in policie, when it muſt yeeld of neceſſity, but little thanks for ſuch a bearing in reſpect of God; to chooſe to beare rather than not, when God chaſtiſeth and his will is ſo, to take up the croſſe, when fleſh might finde the way to ſhift it, Chriſt calling thereunto, this is action, and truth of duty, not dull paſſion, or patience perforce. Correct me O Lord, and that in judgement, Ier. 10.24.meaſur'd by the rule of thy ſaving truth, was the deſire of a gratious ſoule, rather then bee left unrebuk't and hated.
3. We muſt beare waitingly alſo, if we expect the fruit; to grow weary after ſome ſtrokes born,foreign. Chryſoſt in text. 26.8.9 is but to forfeit all former paines to loſſe; to hold out and indure bearing to the utmoſt point of the wil of God is the onelyonly way to get the crowne: It is therefore a true paraphraſe of the condition in the text by an Antient, to bee exerciſed is to beare, and to hold out: The practiſe of that good Prophet and people of truths ſutes ſweetly with this rule, yea in the way of thy judgements O Lord have we waited for thee; that is, in all the journey round or circuit of Gods ſcourges, though he take rod after rod, and leade them from fire to fire, and from water to water, they keepe him company throughout the way, and waite unweariedly till the fruit do come, that they may be exactly skil'd or learn'd in righteouſneſſe. No hope of healing the wound, if the plaiſter lye not long enough, nor expectation of harveſt by the husbandman, till winter bee paſt and the ſeaſon come: thus beare the rod, and the rod ſhall beare his pretious fruit.
3.Doing-work. There is yet more doing worke about the rod, to compleate this exerciſe, and helpe on the deſired gaine: to heare and beare the rod will prove but idle worke without doing, or beſtirring our ſelves in action ſutable to its demands; theſe three Acts I ſhall commend for compleating your exerciſe about the rod, and inlarging the intailed fruit.
1. Kiſſe the rod in your Fathers hand; no ſtorming, no ſnatching, nor biting at it, if you conſult your peace: Aske ye what I meane by kiſſing the rod? I ſhall ſhortly tell you, Honour it as the Scepter of God, ſet up above you; Feare it as the ſword of God, ſent to require all failings againſt his Covenant; Love it as Gods medicine appointed for healing your ſores, and preventing death, and condemnation, the kiſſe is but the token of love and homage due.2 Chron 33.12 Manaſſeh did thus under the iron rod in Babylon and proſpered.
2. Caſt away the ſinne that hath provoked God; ſay unto it, what ever it be, Get thee hence; and within your ſelves parly, What have we any more to doe with evill?Iſa. 30.22. Hoſ. 14 8. Iob 34.31.32.2 Sam. 20.22. Elihu ſweetly notes this to Job in his affliction, Surely it is meete to be ſaid unto God, I have borne chaſtiſement, J will not offend any more; That which J ſee not teach thou me; if J have done iniquity, J will doe no more. It was the ſpeedieſt way the woman tooke to ſecure Abell, & make Joab retreat, to throw the Traitors head over the wall; no other way to calme the ſea but by caſting out Jonah, Iohn 1.12.nor ſhorter courſe can be found to ſtill the rod, and ripen the ſweet fruit of holineſſe, than to thruſt out that ſinne that angers one, and contradicts the other.
3. Imbrace the covenant of God for which the rod pleades, This is the meſſage about which the ſcourge is ſent, to teach you your folly in tranſgreſſing, and wiſedome for a timely imbracing the covenant of the Lord.Gen. 43.30. Gen. 35.1.2. &c. That rod which made Jacob ſtink in the noſtrills of his Neighbours, tells him of his forgetfulneſſe of his vow at Bethel, and mindes him to purge his family, and haſte to performe his covenant with God; upon obedience to this his feare was removed, his ſmart eaſed, and his grace ſtrengthened. Gods Covenant embraced, brings Righteouſneſſe and Peace with it, This is the Firſt peece of our exerciſe about the Rod.