A Dry Rod Blooming and Fruit Bearing, Treatise · Part 2 · Section 5 – Section 6
SECT V. The manner of this fruit-bearing.
4. ALL that toucheth upon this in the text,foreign. is in theſe, it yeeldeth, that is, the chaſtening yeeldeth this fruit, or giveth it out from it ſelfe: What, doth the dry rod or ſmart upon the fleſh, carry in it ſuch ſpirituall effects as righteouſneſſe, &c. or elſe how can it give them forth? It is firmly aſſerted in the text, Chaſtening yeelds this fruit, which that wee may take aright, two things are to bee remembred concerning chaſtening. 1 The materiall part of it, which is nothing but the ſmart. 2 The formall part, and that is the ſpirit of the rod, or the ſpirituall energie, which it receiveth from that Hand of power, holineſſe, and grace that uſeth it toward the children of his boſome; when therfore we ſpeake of chaſtening it is meant the Reſult of both theſe, not ſmart abſtracted, nor ſpirit abſtracted, but both united in this chaſtening and of this it is truly ſaid, It yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of righteouſneſſe; and in the particulars following I ſhall ſhew you how. 1 Orderly, for as there are many ingredients in this chaſtening, Smart, and Love, and Spirit; It is Spirit that is active, working this good unto the creature, for Spirit muſt be in the cauſe, if Spirit bee the effect: Now this mighty ſpirit workes through ſmart, and through love to bring forth this fruit, yet in this method, obſerving theſe ſteps. 1 Through the paine and griefe upon the fleſh, as by its inſtrument it works privatively to take away ſtubbornneſſe and indiſpoſition unto righteouſneſſe; true, ſmart it ſelfe doth rather anger, but ſpirit and ſmart will make men yeeld. This chaſtening knocks downe rebellion, weakens corruption, takes away gaineſaying to the will of God; for there is the ſpirit that overpowers, and the ſmart that in bitters ſinne unto the fleſh, ſo that it becomes willing to leave the dug though its delight, when nothing but wormwood is taſted in it. This ſpirituall effect of chaſtening, lieth in that promiſe,Eſa. 27.9. By this ſhall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit to take away his ſinne. Spirit in paine doth this firſt. 2. Poſitively, by love and ſmart it drawes to God, and formes the fruits of love and purpoſe of the rod upon the heart. Now that love of the Father that doth chaſtiſe, carries all the effects of grace in it, righteouſneſſe is but his love, and peace his love, and life his love, that is, the iſſues of it, and the rod makes way through the fleſh to bring theſe into the ſoule, and the Spirit through both perfects the effect, and leaves Gods image more eminently ſtampt upon the heart, that more exactly we might ſubject our ſelves to the Father of ſpirits and live.Luke 15.17. Ier. 31.18. Pſal. 119.67. By this the prodigall was brought to himſelfe, and Ephraim tamed and turned, and David eſtabliſht and perfected in the way of God. Thus then conceive the way of this increaſe; the Spirit by his power ſtrikes out this bloom and fruit▪ through the dry rod; that is but the ſtalke, yet ſuch a ſtalk there muſt be, the Spirit is the ſeminall vertue that gives forth the fruit; and in this order, by the ſmart awing, humbling purging an untoward fleſh, and by love adjoyned drawing and conforming the ſoule to God, ſo making righteouſneſſe and peace to abound.
2. Freely doth this rod thus give the fruit; the very word imports it, yeelding it from it ſelfe: No green tree yeelds its fruit more naturally, none ſo freely as this: For Grace is in it, which every way is free, and works moſt freely toward the creature. Nothing more free then gift, and that gift the freeſt, which comes onelyonly from and for the Donors ſelfe. Thus the love of God, through the rod, gives forth this gain: it is not by force, nor charm, that this dry rod is quickned, and made fruitfull, onelyonly by Grace and Promiſe, becauſe the chaſtiſing father ſaith,Hoſea 5.15. I will afflict, and they ſhall ſeek me early. It is not for thy exerciſe, but to thy exerciſe, that the Lord commands his rod to yeeld this bleſſed fruit.
3. Certainly ſhall this fruit be rendred from the Rod, to the exerciſed ſoule: It is not doubtfully delivered, it may yeeld, or it may not, but peremptorily affirmed, it doth yeeld. If the power, promiſe, or truth of the Father of ſpirits, can give certainty enough, all is put to it to aſſure this fruit. He that workes, and none can let it, hath thus ſpoken,Iſai. 48.11. For mine owne ſake, even for mine owne ſake, will I doe it. What will he doe? Even refine his people, and make them choice ones in the Furnace of Afflictions, righteous and glorious; nay, it ſtands him upon, otherwiſe his Name would bee polluted, and his glory loſt, in his Churches barrenneſſe under the Rod. From all the premiſed explications we muſt take the ſtate of the truth concluded; the ſum whereof is this, Gods chaſtenings, his ſmarting loving Rods for the afterward yeeld, that is, in their appointed time and manner, give the peaceable fruit of righteouſneſſe, both grace and bliſſe to them that are duly exerciſed by them. Yee ſee the gain of the Rod diſcovered.
SECT. VI. The demonſtration of this Truth.
ADde we to theſe the Certainty and Neceſſitie of this truth, then faith may freely feed and get ſtrength from it: Each particular indeed hath its light in opening enough to convince of all being put together; yet to leave no doubt, the intire truth ſhall be demonſtrated in its certainty, that it is ſo, and in its neceſſity, why it muſt be.
1. That this is true in the whole propoſition,foreign. will be evident from two great Arguments, Gods Revelation, and Mans Experience.
1. God hath ſpoken it, therfore it is certain. Take we ſome teſtimonies;Iſai. 26.9. This is divine, When thy judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteouſneſſe. Theſe judgements in the earth, are chaſtenings to Gods portion there, theſe inhabitants of the world, are not all, but ſome, and they the people of truths, whoſe ſouls are ſaid to deſire after Gods Name (for the reſt abide wicked) theſe learn righteouſneſſe, this is their gain, but how come they by it? Not by idleneſſe, but exerciſe: they muſt goe to ſchoole for it, and learn it. This alſo is his Oracle,Pſal. 126.6. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing pretious ſeed, ſhall doubtleſſe come again with rejoycing, bringing his ſheaves with him. Here's grieving and going, and working, and ſowing in the day of mans affliction; but what return? He that goes forth, ſhall as ſurely come to his home, he that ſprinkles his way with teares, ſhall come leaping and rejoycing, and he that beares and ſowes his ſeed, ſowing to the Spirit, ſo ſhall he reap, for every ſeed he ſhall bring his handfull, or for every handfull he ſhall have a ſheafe, aboundance of righteouſneſſe, peace, and everlaſting life.
2. The Saints have found it, and experience is a viſible demonſtration, then which nothing ſurer.Pſal. 119.71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, ſaith David; and good for me, ſaith Job, and for me, ſaith Je…my, and for me, ſaith Daniel, and for us, ſay Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob; all the Saints,Pſal. 23.4. Patriarchs, and Prophets, ſubſcribe to this. And this ſteels David againſt diſtractions, Thy rod comforts me, what needs more witneſſe?
2. The neceſſity why it muſt be ſo, depends upon one undeniable ground, that is, the ſupreme irreſiſtible ordinance of God, then which nothing can be ſtronger to convince. The alone decree and ordinance of that great God, whoſe counſell none can croſſe, hath ſo linked this chaſtening cauſe to this effect, and this condition, and this ſeaſon, that they cannot bee ſeparated. If we allow his Soveraignty in leſſer matters, wee may not deny it here, unleſſe we ungod him.Ier. 33.20. The ſame power that hath decreed the Winter ſtormes, and Summer calm, the cold and the hot, the wet and the dry, the froſt and the thaw, to fit the earth that it may yeeld its ſtrength to the labouring man in the time of harveſt, and none can alter one link of theſe, or change his mind; to that Soveraigne might we muſt grant, that his counſel muſt ſtand what ever he determine: In an higher and more excellent way hath he ordained, that the rod to the labouring & exerciſed Chriſtian, ſhould haſten and give out the ſweet fruit of righteouſneſſe and peace in the appointed ſeaſon. His authority is the higheſt reaſon. Now that his Name and ſtamp is upon this truth to own it, and make it his, is viſible in every peece of it, as before declared. It is all then his ordinance, and thereforeour duty to beleeve, and love, and honour God in obedience thereunto.