Exposition of Jude 2, Biblical exegesis · Verse 12 · Observations 2
OBSERVATIONS
1. The want of the ſhowrs of a faithful Miniſtry (ſpiritual rain) is a ſingular curſe and calamity. Conſciencious Miniſters are clouds, and their Doctrine rain. As no rain is ſo uſeful and profitable as the rain of the Word, ſo neither is it ſo great a miſery, to be deprived of any, as of this. God often in Scripture promiſeth Showres and Teachers as great Bleſſings, Deut. 28.12. The Lord ſhall open to thee his good treaſure, the Heaven to give thee rain, &c. Joel 2.23. Rejoice in the Lord your God, for &c. he will cauſe to come down for you the Rain, &c. And for inſtructours, ſee Jer. 3.15. Jer. 23.4.I will give you Paſtours according to mine own heart, which ſhall feed you with knowledg and underſtanding. Iſai. 30.20. Though the Lord give you the bread of Adverſity, and the water of Affliction, yet ſhall not thy Teachers be removed into a corner any more. God alſo threatens the keeping away of rain, and the taking away of Inſtructers, as diſmal curſes, Deut. 28.23. Jer. 3.3.14.4. Amos 4.7. Iſai. 3.2. 1 Sam. 3.1. Hoſ. 4.5. Ezek. 3.26. Pſal. 57.9.The Heaven that is over thy head ſhall be braſs, thy rain ſhall be powder and duſt. Lev. 26.19. I will make your Heaven as iron, and your earth as braſs. Zach. 14.17. Ʋpon them ſhall be no rain. Never was a greater plague on Iſrael, then when in three yeers and a half, it rained not on the earth in Ahabs time. And concerning the Prophets, the Lord ſaith, Mich. 2.6. They ſhall not (Hebr. drop) Propheſie; and Iſai. 5▪6. God threatens his Vineyard, that he will commands, his clouds (his Prophets) that they ſhall rain no rain upon it. God threatned a great judgment in great diſpleaſure againſt the people Ezek. 3.26. when he told Ezekiel, that he would make his tongue cleave to the roof of his mouth; and that he ſhould be dumh, and no reprover to them: and when he threatned that he would remove away the candleſtick of Epheſus, out of its place, Rev. 2.5. The want of Spiritual, is a much greater woe then the want of natural rain. The withholding of ſhow…s from Heaven, can but produce a Famine of bread; the want of a faithful Miniſtry, brings a Famine of the Word of the Lord, Amos 8.11. And this famine of the Word of the Lord, is a Soul-famine. And
1 Oppoſeth not Natural, but Spiritual life. The ſeparation of the ſoul from the body, is but the ſhadow of death: True death ſtands in the ſeparation between God and the ſoul. Where viſion faileth, people periſh, Prov. 29.18. My people periſh for want of knowledge, Hoſ. 4 6. Salvation and Life eternal ſtand in Knowledg, Joh. 17.3. 1 Tim. 2.4.
2. Bodily famine takes away our natural ſtrength and vigor, whereby we perform our ordinary and worldly actions; but a ſoul-Famine deſtroyes that Spiritual ſtrength, whereby we are enabled to heavenly Employments, Praying, Repenting, Believing, Holy-walking.
3 Bodily Famine makes the outward man look pale, deformed, lean, unpleaſing; ſoul-famine brings a leanneſs into the ſoul, deformity and profananeſs into the face of our converſation. Who obſerves not in Congregations, whence the Word is taken, the miſerable change of men and manners! In Elies time, ſin abounded, and the reaſon is ſet down 1 Sam. 3.1. In thoſe dayes the word of the Lord was precious.
4 Bodily Famine, as other external judgments, may be a help to bring men to God, by cauſing Repentance, and bettering Obedience, as in the Prodigal; but the famine of the Word, puts men farther from God, and by it men grow more obdurate in ſin.
5. Bodily Famine may be recompenſed and made up with Spiritual food. Iſai. 30.20. Though the Lord give the bread of Adverſity, yet he countervailes that loſs, by giving them to ſee their Teachers, whereas Spiritual famine cannot be recompenſed by having bodily food, becauſe when God takes away the food of the ſoul, he takes away himſelf, the tokens of his preſence and Grace: and what can be given in exchange for God himſelf?
6 Of bodily Famine people are ſenſible, they cry out thereof, and labour for a ſupply; but the more ſoul famine rageth, the more people diſregard, their miſery, and ſlight their wretchedneſs; by faſting, forgetting, how to feed, and with their food, loſing (often) their ſtomacks too. How much then are they miſtaken who account Spiritual ſhowres, their greateſt plague, and complain of theſe dewes of Grace, as if they were a deluge of woe; to whom the word of the Lord is the greateſt burthen; who cry out, the Land cannot bear it! A Church without a Preacher, is as a Ship ſayling in a dark night, on a rough Sea, without a Pilot. Never was Chriſt more moved in compaſſion toward the people, then when he ſaw them ſcattered as ſheep without a Shepherd. They who would be rid of the Word, would alſo be without pardon, peace, holineſſe, happineſſe; it being the Word of Faith, the Word which ſanctifies, the Goſpel of Peace, the Word of life, the Power of God to ſalvation. Miniſters are Saviours, Watch-m…n, Labourers in the Harveſt, Nurſes, Guides, Builders, Sowers, Seers, Light, Salt, Clouds, &c. VVhat then a…e places deſtitute of ſaving inſtruction, but unſafe, ſpoiled, ſtarved, waſte, blind, wandering, unſavoury, barren? and yet how commonly do many curſe the preaching of the word, as the people who live under the torrid Zone, do the riſing of the Sun! To conclude, what apparent enemies are they to the ſouls of people, who hinder the preaching of the Goſpel! who will not ſuffer it to run and be glorifi…d; who revile and abuſe the faithful Diſpenſers thereof! an act (no doubt) of greater unthankfulneſs, then to wrong and abuſe a man, who in a time of Famine ſhould open his Garners for the relief of a whole Country.
2 The greateſt commendation of a Miniſter, Obſerv. 2is induſtry for, and uſefulneſs to the ſouls of others. Clouds are not appointed for themſelves, but to water the earth; and in doing ſo, they conſume themſelves: like Silkworms, Miniſters wear and weave out their own boweis. 'Tis a ſin for any, much more for a Miniſter, to be an unprofitable ſervant. He muſt not go to Sea in his M… niſterial Calling for Pleaſure, but Employment. He muſt ſay (with Pompey) who being to ſayl over the Seas with Corn to relieve diſtreſſed Rome, and being told by the Pilot, that it would prove a dangerous Voyage; anſwered, foreign.It is not neceſſary we ſhould live, but that we ſhould ſayl. The Excellency of the Sun is not ſo much in reſpect of its glory and ſplendor, as its influences and beneficialneſs: and he who expects hereafter to ſhine like the Sun, muſt here run like the Sun. They who preach the Sun of Righteouſneſs, muſt be like the Sun who cometh forth of his chamber like a Bridegroom, and rejoiceth to run his race. The clods of the earth, may be of a more dull and ſad temper, reſt and lye ſtill; but the clouds of Heaven, muſt be in a perpetual motion. Miniſters muſt, like the Cherubims, which give attendance in the preſence of God, have wings for expedition in the execution of his will. They are called Labourers, and workmen; they labour in the Word and Doctrine. Pauls glory was not, that he was more advanced, but that he laboured more abundantly then they all: As much as in me is (ſaith he) I am ready to preach the Goſpel. He made Preaching his buſineſs; therein he was glad to ſpend, and to be ſpent, 2 Cor. 12.15. Knowledg without induſtry, ſpeaks no man Excellent. None is accounted good, for the good he hath, but the good he doth. A wooden key that opens the door, is a better one, then a Golden one that cannot do it. Greateſt induſtry is alway to be uſed about the ſalvation of ſouls. Impudent importunity is in no caſe ſo commendable as in this Paul was an excellent Orator, and all his Oratory was to perſwade men to be ſaved. Never did Malefactor ſo plead to obtain his own life, as did Paul beg of men to accept of life. He was an importunate woer of ſouls, and he would take no denyal. Miniſters muſt rather be worn with uſing then ruſting. The ſweat of a Miniſter (as it is reported of Alexanders) caſts a ſweet ſmell; his Talents are not for the Napkin, but Occupation; not to be laid up, but to be laid out. They who are full Clouds, ſhould be free in pouring out, returning as they have received. How unworthily do they deal with God, who are all for taking in, and nothing for laying out! How liitle is the age and place wherein they live, beholding to them! How juſt is it with God, that they who will not give him the intereſt of their abilities, by improving and acting them, ſhould loſe the principal, by ceaſing to have and retain them! 1 Cor. 12.7.The manifeſtation of the Spirit, is given to every one to profit withal. Standing water ſoon putrifies. Muſical Inſtruments which are moſt uſed, ſound moſt melodiouſly. Eccleſ. 5.17.If Solomon obſerved it to be a great vanity, that ſome men had Riches, who had not power to uſe them; how much greater is the vanity of having great intellectual abilities, and yet to have no power to make uſe of them, for the good of others? In ſhort therefore, Miniſters muſt remember that they are not appointed for ſight, but ſervice, and uſefulneſs. We account not a Pillar to be good becauſe it is ſightly, but ſtrong. We ſhould fear to ſit under that Structure, the Pillars whereof are, though curiouſly gilded and painted outwardly, yet crazy and rotten within. Its better to be under a diſgraced, perſecuted Paul, then under a ſilken Diotrephes, who is altogether for worldly glory and preheminence, nothing for duty and performance.
3 Miniſters of the Goſpel muſt be full and watery clouds. Obſerv. 3Able and apt to teach; gifted and enabled to their Miniſtry. As Ambaſſadors, they muſt be ſure to have their inſtructions with them; 2 Cor. 3.6. Epheſ. 4.2.and to be able Miniſters of the New Teſtament, for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Miniſtry. Able to impart Spiritual gifts, Match. 13.52. 2 Tim. 2.15.bringing forth out of his treaſure, things new and old being Workmen that need not be ſhamed, rightly dividing: the Word of Truth.
1. Able they muſt be to open the Scriptures: They muſt have the water of Knowledg, and be able to unlock the Cabinet of the Word, fit to feed the people with underſtanding: to role away the ſtone from the mouth of the well, for the watering of the flocks of Chriſt. He who calls for a reaſonable Sacrifice, will not be content with an unreaſonable Sacrificer; Miniſters muſt teach every one in all wiſdom, Col. 1.28.
2. They muſt have ability to convince gainſayers by ſound Doctrine, Tit. 1.9. A Miniſters breſt, ſhould be a Spiritual Armory, furniſhed with Spiritual Weapons, for overcoming of oppoſers. Apollos mightily convinced the Jewes; ſo Paul diſputed againſt the adverſaries of the Truth, Act. 9.29. and 17.17.
3 The Gift of working upon the affections, and quickning to duty. Ability, not only to enlighten the underſtanding, but to warm the heart. I think it meet, &c. 2 Pet. 1.13.(ſaith Peter) to ſtir you up. Paul knowing the terror of the Lord, perſwaded men. The Miniſters lips, like Iſaiahs, Iſai. 6.6.muſt be touched with a live coal, and he muſt partake of that Spirit, which came down in the likeneſs of fiery tongues, to fire the affections of his Hearers, and to make their hearts burn within them, with love to holy duties. It was ſaid of Baſil, that he breathed as much fire as eloquence.
4. The gift of comforting the diſtreſſed conſcience; of ſpeaking a word in ſeaſon to him that is weary, Iſai. 50.4 of declaring to man his uprightneſs: of binding up the broken heart, and of pouring oyl into its wounds; of dropping the refreſhing dewes of the Promiſes upon the parched Conſcience: In a word, of giving every one his Portion, like a Faithful and wiſe Steward.
5. Laſtly, They muſt have the water of Grace and Sanctification. Of this their hearts and life ſhould both be full. If a Beaſt was not to come to the Mount, where the Law was delivered, much leſs may he who is a beaſt deliver the Law. The Doctrine of a Miniſter muſt credit his life, and his life adorn his Doctrine. Dead Doctrine, not quickned with a holy life (like dead Amaſa) lying in the way, ſtops people, that they will not go on cheerfully in their Spiritual warfare. Doth God require that the Beaſt which is offered to him, ſhould be without blemiſhes; and can he take it well that the Prieſt who offers it ſhould be full of blemiſhes?
He then who will win ſouls (we ſee) muſt be able and wiſe. A Miniſter muſt be throughly furniſhed (as Paul ſpeaks.) There is ſome wiſdom required to catch Birds, 2 Tim. 3.17.Fiſh, and Vermine; how much more to catch ſouls? The beſt Miniſter may bluſh to conſider how unfit he is for his Calling; and when he hath gotten the greateſt abilities, he ſhould beg pardon for his unableneſs, and pray and ſtudy for a further increaſe of his gifts. They are none of Chriſts Miniſters, who are not in ſome meaſure gifted for their work. He that ſendeth (ſaith Solomon) a Meſſage by the hand of a fool, cutteth off the feet, Prov. 26.6.and drinketh damage; he is ſure to ſuffer for it, it being all one, as if he ſhould cut off a mans legs, and then bid him go on his Errand.
To conclude, how unworthy and profane are they who beſtow ſuch of their children upon the Miniſtry, as are the dulleſt and moſt unfit of all their number! who ſay, that when a child is good for nothing, be is good enough to make a Preacher; whoſe children (as Doctor Stoughton ſpeaks in alluſion to his ſpeech who called Baſil, the Gift of an Ague, he being preſerved from the violence of an Arian Emperor, foreignbecauſe he recovered his ſon of a dangerous Ague) may be called the gift of ſome lameneſs, infirmity, deformity; Offer it now to thy Governor, will he be pleaſed with the…?
4. Miniſters are ſuſtained and upheld in their work by the mighty power of God. It is much to be wondred, Mal. 1.8.that the Natural, Obſerv. 4.but more that the Spiritual clouds are kept from falling. Its God who bindeth up the waters in the cloud; ſo that it is not rent under them, Job 26.8. He that eſtabliſhed and made a decree, which ſhall not paſs, for the waters above the Heavens. Pſal. 148.4, 6.It was God who preſerved Elijah when Jezabel had vowed his death; God delivered Paul out of the mouth of the Lion; he kept Iſaiah in his Miniſtry during the Reign of four; and Hoſea during the Reign of five Kings: he continued Noah an hundred and twenty years, againſt the oppoſition of the old world. Jeremy, notwithſtanding all his enemies, was upheld in his work till the Captivity. God promiſeth the Church, that their Teachers ſhould not be removed into corners, but that their eyes ſhould behold them. Iſai. 30.20. Luke 13.32.A Miniſter of Chriſt may ſay, as Chriſt of his working of miracles, I preach the Word to day, and to morrow, and do the world what they can, they ſhall not hinder me, till that day be come that Chriſt hath appointed; The Miniſters are ſtars in Chriſts hand So long as theres any one ſoul, which theſe Lights are to guide to Heaven, all the blaſts of Hell can never extinguiſh them. God ſets them, and God keeps them up; he erects, he upholds, he gave, and he continues their commiſſion, Durante beneplacito; they are Ambaſſadours, 2 Cor. 5.20.whom he calls home when he pleaſeth. Let not (then) the ſervants of Chriſt, fear man in the doing of the work of their Lord. He who hangs the earth upon nothing, and keeps the clouds from being rent under the burthen of the waters, can uphold them under all their preſſures. Their times are in Gods hand; they are neither in their own, nor in their enemies. They ſhall fight againſt thee (ſaid God to Jeremy) but they ſhall not prevail againſt thee, Jer. 1.19.for I am with thee. Let faithful Miniſters, fear none but their Maſter, and nothing but ſin and unfaithfulneſs. Not outward evils, becauſe he ſleeps not who preſerves them; but inward evils, becauſe he ſleeps not who obſerves them. Let Miniſters undauntedly make their faces hard againſt the faces of the wicked. In their own cauſe let them be as flexible as a reed; in Gods, as hard as an Adamant; who can powerfully ſay to the ſtrongeſt enemies of his Miniſters, Do my Prophet: no harm; and who will turn the greateſt harm which they receive for his ſake, into good, and make even a fiery chariot to carry his zealous Elijahs into heaven. Hence likewiſe, people are taught how to have their faithfull Miniſters continued; namely, by making God their friend, who at His pleaſure removes and continues them. How carefull were they of Tyre and Sidon to be at peace with Herod, becauſe their Country was nouriſhed by the Kings Country? Acts 10.…0. Tis doubtleſſe, greater wiſdom to make God our friend, by whoſe Care and Providence our Country is nouriſhed ſpiritually, and ſupplied with thoſe who ſhould break the Bread of Life unto us. If People would keep their Miniſters, let them keep and love no ſin: Upon the repentance of the Jews, God promiſed them, that his ſanctuary ſhould be in the midſt of them for evermore, Ezek. 37.26. Let them bring forth (likewiſe) the fruits of the Goſpel. The Husbandman layes his ground fallow, when he perceives it will not quit Charges. The Kingdom of heaven (ſaith Chriſt) ſhall be taken from you, and given to a Nation which will bring forth the fruits thereof, Mat. 21.43.
Laſtly, let them be importunate with God in Prayer, to uphold his Miniſters. Importunity held Chriſt with the Diſciples, when he was going away, Luk. 24.29. Say, Lord, Thou ſhalt not go till thou haſt bleſſea me, with more ſpirituall bleſſings and grace by the means of grace. Oh! lay hold upon God, as Galeacius's children hung about his legs, when their Father was going from, them to live at Geneva. The Prophet complains, Iſa. 64.7. that none ſtirred up himſelf to take hold of GOD. Say, O thou the hope of Iſrael, why ſhouldſt thou be as a ſtranger in the Land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aſide to tarry for a night? Jer. 14.8. When Peter was caſt into priſon, prayer was made with out ceaſing of the Church unto God for him; and their Prayer broke open the priſon-doors, and knockt off Peters chains. When Paul was a priſoner at Rome, Philem 22. He. 13.18, 19.he tels Philemen, I truſt that through your prayers, I ſhal be given unto you.
5.Obſ. 5. Miniſters muſt not in this world, expect a ſetled quiet condition.
They are clouds, and they muſt look to be toſſed, and hurried by the winds. The faithfulleſt ſervants of Chriſt, have ever been oppoſed by when oppoſers of the ſinners and ſins of the times wherein they lived. They are Light, and therefore theeves and ſore eyes cannot endure them. They are Souldiers, and if they (like Iſhmael) will draw their ſword againſt every one, every ones ſword ſhall be againſt them. They are the ſalt of the earth, and therefore ſmart and biting; fiſhers, and therfore they ſhal be toſſed as upon the ſea. Which of the Prophets (ſaith Steven) have not your fathers perſecuted? Acts 7.52. Mat. 5.12. Mat. 23.34. Luk. 11.49So perſecuted they the Prophets, (ſaith Chriſt) I ſend unto you Prophets, &c. and ſome of them ye ſhall kill, &c. and perſecute.
So long as Miniſters will not ſuffer wicked men to be quiet in their luſts, they will not ſuffer Miniſters to have quiet lives. Satan doth not ſo much oppoſe any of the Souldiers in Chriſts Army, as he doth the Commanders; nor doth that wolf any way, ſo much endeavor the devouring of the Sheep, as by the removing of the Maſtives. By the perſecuting likewiſe, and ſcattering of His Miniſters; God wiſely provides for the relief of his Church: God waters the ſeveral parts thereof, by diſperſing theſe Clouds into ſeverall quarters. They who were ſcattered abroad (ſaith Luke) went every where preaching the word, Acts 8.4. foreign.Act. 8.4. Ʋnleſſe the ſeed be ſcattered, ther can be no crop expected. & the ſcattering of the ſowers, makes way for the ſcattering of the ſeed. The ſcattering of Simeon and Levi in Iſrael, diſperſed the knowledg of the Law. By the carrying of the Jews into captivity, the Truth was made known among the heathen. In the Primitive perſecution, Perſecutio veritatis, propagatio veritatis.the more were made Martyrs, the more Chriſtians were made. By the irruption of the Gothes and Vandals, the perſecuters themſelves became Chriſtians. The perſecution of the Truth, is the Propagation thereof. The ſufferings that happened to Paul, fell out to the furtherance of the Goſpel.: Phil. 1.11.A conſideration which ſhould ſweeten the bitterneſſe of a Miniſters perſecution and unſetlement. God doth not onelyonly thereby make them more pure, but his Church more numerous; they ought to prefer ſervice before ſafety, and account that condition to make moſt for their good, whereby they may make moſt to become good.
To conclude this, let Miniſters take heed, In tantum Deo places in qu…n tum hominibus diſplices. Ruat Coelum & terra potius quam aliquid Chriſto diſcedat. Luth. Obſ. 6.leſt they abate in their zeal and faithfulneſs for God, to gratifie a ſinful world. If I pleaſe men (ſaith Paul) I am not the ſervant of Chriſt; Its much eaſier to bear the wrath of men, for the conſcionable diſcharge, then the wrath of God, for the unconſcionable neglect of our duty.
6. People ſhould ſit under the miniſtery of the Word, as under the rain diſtilling from the clouds; they ſhould be as the dry and parched ſoil, not in regard of barrenneſſe under, but thirſtineſſe after heavenly Doctrine, and the dews of Grace; like thoſe of whom Job ſpeaks, who waited for him as for the rain, Job 29.23. Gaſping after the Word, as the chapt earth opens its mouth, Tot linguae, quot fiſſurae.in its cleſts for the ſhowers (every cleft whereof, is as it were, a tongue to call to the clouds for Rain) People ſhould be a thirſt for God, yea the living God, Pſal. 42.1.panting after Chriſt in his Promiſes, as the Hart after the water brooks; Open thy mouth wide (ſaith God) and I will fill it: The reaſon why we come not to the Word, drink not, reliſh not, digeſt not, is becauſe we thirſt not after it. This thirſt muſt be firſt, an inward, hearty ſincere thirſt; My ſoul followeth hard after thee; Pſal. 63.1.my heart ſaith, thy face will I ſeek. Iſa. 26.8. The deſire of our ſoul is to thy Name. Our deſires muſt not be (as they ſay of ſome ſpices) hot in the mouth, cold in the ſtomack; not only the expreſſion of the tongue, but accompanied alſo with the ſincerity of the heart. Chriſtians muſt not be like ſome hounds, which following the game, open very loud, with the reſt for company, when they have not the ſcent of that beaſt which they purſue. We muſt thirſt, Cant. 4.8. Pſal. 42.2.4 Pſal. … 19 17. 2. Cer. 7.11 Rom. 12.11with the inward ſavour of that good wch is in the Word. Secondly, It muſt be a vehement, ardent thirſt, like that of David, Pſal. 119.20. My ſoul breaketh for the longing it hath, &c. with the whole heart, verſ. 10. Pſal. 119.81. My ſoul fainteth for thy ſalvation; my ſoul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord. All the ſweetneſſe is put into the benefits of the Goſpel, which God could put into them, and all the deſire muſt be ſet upon them, which thy ſoul can ſet upon them: All the vehement propenſions, wherewith things are carryed to their Centers, in their courſes can no more then ſhadow out ſpirituall deſires. If a rock ſhould fall from the Clouds, it would break any interveening impediment; the Sun cannot be ſtopt in its courſe: Gun-pouder bears all away, that would hinder its force. 3. Its a predominant thirſt. No power of nature, is ſo importunate and clamorous for ſatiſfaction, as taſting; a thirſty man, much more ardently deſires water, then another doth beautifull proſpects, ſweet ſmells, melodious Muſick. Theſe things being wanting, a man can live; not ſo, without Water: Thoſe a man would have, this (he ſaith) he muſt, he will have. A ſpiritually-thirſty ſoul, deſireth nothing much, but him whom it cannot deſire too much: A greater fire is made for the roaſting of an Ox, then of an Egg; and greater is the flame of deſire after the great and vaſt benefits of the Goſpel, then after theſe curt and inconſiderable things, here below; in compariſon of Chriſt they are dung, droſs, loſſe; a Chriſtian will ſtep over them and kick them away, when God requires; lay them down as ſacrifices, There is none upon earth that I deſire beſides thee, Pſal. 73.25.or hate them as ſnares. Chriſt gives himſelf wholly to the ſoul, and ſo doth a ſoul deal with him. The greateſt worth that it ſees in any thing, beſide Chriſt, is this, that it may be be left for Chriſt. 4. It is an induſtrious thirſt, 'tis not a lazy veleity, but a deſire which takes pains for the thing deſired; it ſuffers not a man to ſit ſtill, but makes him ſeek, knock, ask, cry, call, ſell all, wraſtle, ſtrive (all Scripture-expreſſions) it offers violence to, and makes an holy riot upon heaven. Its like fire, that will not be ſmothered: It ſaith (as Elijah to Obadiah) As the Lord liveth, I will ſhew my ſelf; It ſtands not for any coſt, it turns every ſtone: Like the arrow drawn to the head, it flies apace. It's not like the deſire of the ſlothfull, which ſlayes him, becauſe his hands refuſe to labour, Prov. 21.25.
5. Its a reſolved, waiting, permanent thirſt: Gen. 49.19. Luk. 2 25. Iratum colit numen.Hence we frequently read of waiting for the Lord, and his Salvation and Conſolation; It ſtayes the Lords leiſure, and will not away though the Lord ſeems to deny. No waters of diſcouragement, ſhall quench it. It doth not caſt off hope, becauſe it cannot preſently find comfort; Tis good (ſaith the ſoul) that a man ſhould both hope, and quietly wait for the ſalvation of the Lord, Lam. 3.26. Like one who goes to an houſe, to ſpeak with one much his Superiour: the ſpiritually thirſty ſoul, will tarry the Lords leiſure for his coming to it. 6. Its a thirſt determined and limited to that One Thing upon which its ſet: Nothing elſe will ſerve its turn, nor will it be brib'd or put off with any thing in ſtead thereof; Whom (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) have I in heaven but thee? Pſal. 73.25. Pſal. 27.4.and there is none upon the earth that I deſire beſide thee; One thing (ſaith David) I have deſired of the Lord, that will I ſeek after. What have I (ſaid Abraham) ſo long as I go childleſſe? and what have I, (ſaith the ſoul) ſo long as I go Chriſtleſs? Land, riches, honours, children, &c. are good, but yet they are not Chriſt! A bag of gold wilnot ſerve him who is periſhing with thirſt, in ſtead of a cup of water. 7. Its a returning, progreſſive thirſt; 'tis never fully ſatisfied on this ſide Heaven, it puts upon craving and ſeeking again, and again. The earth deſires not rain once onelyonly in a year, but a return of ſhowres, the latter as well as the former rain: nor doth refreſhment with drink to day, make a man regardleſs therof to morrow. Davids deſire was to dwell in the houſe of the Lord for ever. The leaſt degree of ſpirituall relief, Pſal. 23.6 Pſal. 27.4.ſatisfies and ſtayes a Chriſtians ſtomack to the world; but the greateſt takes not away its further deſires of Chriſt. 8. Its a thank full thirſt, it bleſſeth the Lord for every drop of grace, with the Pſalmiſt, Pſal 63.5. My ſoul is ſatiſfied as with marrow, and fatneſſe; and my mouth ſhal praiſe thee with joyfull lips. Oh! ſaith the ſoul; Lord, who ſhall praiſe thee if I do not? A ſoul ſatisfied with mercy, Pſal. 103.3. Rom. 7.25. 1 Tim. 1.17. Nibil leve, quo anima reparatur.is a ſpirituall Pſalm ſung out in the praiſes of God. Bleſſed be God, who hath bleſſed us, (ſaith Paul) with ſpirituall Bleſſings; as ſoon as ever Paul had ſaid, Chriſt came into the world to ſave ſinners, whereof he was chief, he adds, his Doxology, Now to the King immontall, &c. What a delightfull fragrancy comes from, and what a face of freſhneſſe, greenneſſe, cheerlineſſe is upon the face of the parched graſſe, and Plants, after a ſhower of Rain? Oh! what a ſpirituall freſhneſſe of joy, is upon, what ſweetly breathings of praiſes iſſue from that ſoul which God hath relieved with his ſpirituall Showres of Love and favour. The ſouls greateſt trouble is now, that it brings not forth more fruits of new obedience, after thoſe Showres, and its now as boundleſs in duty, as heretofore it was in deſires.
7.Obſ. 7. Seducers are wont to make great ſhews and appearances of worth in themſelves and their Doctrines. Theſe Seducers ſeem'd to be full, watery clouds, whoſe wombs were big with the rain of inſtruction, and holineſſe, but (for all this) the Apoſtle tels us, they were clouds without water. Hereſie is compared to leaven, Mar. 8.15. and among other reaſons, for its puffing and raiſing the dough. This ſpirituall Leaven puffs up men with an undue and exceſſive opinion of their own parts and Graces; The Phariſees trusted in themſelves, that they were righteous, 2 Pet. 2.20.and deſpiſed others, Luk 18.9. No doubt (think they) we are the people, and Wiſdome ſhall dye us with, Job 12.2. They are vainly puft up by their fleſhly minde. Col. 2.18.The Miniſters of Satan deſired to be accounted the Miniſters of righteouſneſſe. Falſe Apoſtles (2 Cor. 10.12.) commended themſelves, meaſured themſelves by themſelves, and compared themſelves among themſelves. They meaſured and eſteemed themſelves according to their own mind and judgment, and not according to their reall worth or excellency. Regnat luſcus inter c…cos.They (alſo) never conſidered the excellency of others, who were much beyond them in worth, but onelyonly ſuch who were of the ſame pitch with themſelves or (as ſome underſtand the place) they commend and receive praiſes from one another, and among themſelves. And whereas the Apoſtle ſaith (verſ. 13.) that he would not boaſt of things without his meaſure; he intimates that theſe Seducers boaſted beyond all the bounds or meaſure of their gifts and calling: or (according to ſome) that they boaſted of their labouring in the Goſpel, beyond the meaſure and term of Pauls Labour. Theophilact and Oecumenius conceiving that theſe Seducers falſely boaſted that they had propagated the Goſpel to the ends of the earth, and that according to the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 19.Their line was gone through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. Arius vainly gloried, that God had revealed ſomething to him, that was hid from the Apoſtles themſelves. Vide Danaeum in deſcriptione arboris. Haereſ. foreign. Epiph. Haer. 24.Montanus boaſted that he was the Paraclet or Comforter himſelf. Simon Magus, the father of theſe hereticall ſeducers, boaſted that he was the mighty power of GOD. Hereticks boldly inintrude into things which they have not ſeen; they profeſſe knowledg falſely ſo called. The diſciples of Baſilides voyced themſelves onelyonly to be men, and all others to be ſwine and dogs, ſaith Epiphanius; and Nazianzen tels Eunomius, that he was (he means in his own Conceit) a beholder of things which to all others are inviſible, foreign. Naz. in Orat. 33.an hearer of things which it is not lawfull to …tter; that he was taken up to heaven as was Elias; that he had ſeen the face of God as had Moſes; that he was rapt up into the third heavens as was Paul. Thus the Papiſts ſtile ſome of their Schoolmen, Angelicall, Seraphicall, irrefragable, moſt ſubtill, illuminate. The conſideration of all which ſhould make us more wary of being led away with the big words, and high expreſſions of theſe titular worthies: Let us conſider what the power is which goeth along with their words: and in ſtead of admiring the flouriſhing titles of every vain dogmatiſt, examine what is the conſonancy between the Scriptures and their opinions. Who honours a meer titular nominal Prince? Let us not be taken with the glory of the doctor, but ſearch into the bowels of the Doctrine: Fools indeed, being to take mony, wil be put off with braſſe coin, becauſe it gliſters; but a wary man tryes it by the Touchſtone. Try all your Doctors and Doctrines by the Word, and ever be more ready to ſuſpect then admire either.
8.Obſ. 8. Its a great and inexcuſable ſin to make ſhew of that goodneſſe, of which we are wholly void, and to which we are oppoſite.
Sinfull was the pretending of theſe Seducers, to be watering clouds, big and black, accompanied with emptineſſe and dryneſſe.
The ſin of the Church of Sardis was, the reſting in a bare and meer name and ſhew of holy life. A Chriſtian muſt look after both name and thing. The Prophet chargeth the Jews with ſwearing by the Name of the LORD, Iſa. 48.1, 2.and making mention of the GOD of Iſrael, but not in truth and righteouſneſſe, with contenting themſelves to be called of the holy City, &c. Nor will this impiety ſeem ſmall, if we conſider either GOD, others, or our ſelves.
1. The ſinfulneſſe hereof appears in reſpect of God: It pollutes and prophanes His Name. What greater prophanation thereof imaginable, than to put it upon an unholy, helliſh heart: Is it not more inſufferable, then to cloath a ſwine with the Robes of a Prince, and to put the Crown and Scepter of a King upon the head, and into the hand of a dunghil-raker? Is any diſgrace to an Emperour greater, then for a baſe-bornſlave to voice himſelf his ſon, and heir to his Crown? This is that pollution of GODS Name, with which GOD charged the people, Ezek. 36.20.
2. In reſpect of others. It hardens the wicked, who when they ſee the meer profeſſion ſeparated from the reality of holineſſe, applaud themſelves, and think their own eſtate very bleſſed, and that Religion is a meer notion and nullity, deride alſo at it, as did the Heathens at thoſe hypocriticall Iſraelites: Theſe are (ſaid they) the people of the Lord, and are gone forth of his Land. q. d. Theſe are your Saints, your Iſraelites, that came out of the holy Land: And what more damps the goodneſſe of young beginners, than the falſeneſſe and emptineſſe of thoſe who have made great ſhews of forwardneſſe in holineſſe? thereby, one Hypocrite more pulling them back, than an hundered ſincere ones can put them forward. At the beſt they ſet up, their ſtaff before they are gone half way, and are made like the people, who ſeeing the body of Amaſa lye dead by the way ſide, ſtood ſtil. In ſhort, what are theſe bare pretenders to holineſſe, but deluders of others, gins, and pitfalls in Religion, dunghils covered over with ſnow, reeds that run into the arms of thoſe who lean upon them, and ſuch who do not onelyonly by their faithleſſeneſs (oft) deceive and gull thoſe who truſt them with their eſtates and worldly concernments, but alſo much more dangerouſly miſguide and delude the ſouls of thoſe who follow their empty doctrines, and crooked lives?
But 3. The greatneſſe of this ſin appears, principally by conſidering them who ve in it. For 1. All their glorious appearances are purely unprofitable unto them. Thereport of a mans being wealthy, adds nothing to his eſtate, or that of full feeding to one who is hungerſtarved. God tells the hyocritical Jews, that they truſted in lying words, Jer. 7.8.when they onelyonly truſted to their outſide ſhews, I will declare thy righteouſneſſe, and thy works (ſaid God to that falſe-hearted people) and they ſhall not profit thee, Iſa. 57.12. 2. Shews, without reality of holineſſe, are very hurtfull. 1. Appearing goodneſſe makes men furtheſt from being and becoming really good. Religion is a very ſerious, reall buſineſſe; yea, its very reality, and call'd in Scripture, Truth it ſelf: As the priviledges, ſo the practices of godlineſſe are indeed and in Truth, and by nothing ſo much oppoſed, as ſhadows and falſneſſe. 2. They who pleaſe themſelves with appearances will never labour for the reality of holineſſe, nor truth in the inward parts; they are ſeldome reproved by others, nor is it ſo eaſie to faſten a reproof upon them, as upon thoſe who are void of all ſhews of Religion; and ſo they go on in a miſerable quietneſſe, and uninterruptedneſſe to their own deſtruction. 3. They who barely appear holy, are of all others the moſt impudent, not bluſhing to be accounted ſuch as their own conſciences tell them they are far from being. Naomi was aſhamed of her ſelf, when the men of Bethlehem ſaid, Is not this Naomi? Cal me not (ſaid ſhe) Naomi, call me Marah, for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. Ruth. 1.20. But theſe ſay, cal us Chriſtians, though they are no better than heathens; call us Saints, though they are inwardly but rotten Sepulchers: Account us to be in the higheſt form of Religion, though they have not (as yet) ſtept over the threſhold of Religon's School. Eſteem us to be ful, although we be altogether empty. True ſaints are aſham'd of commendation, though they be full of worth: hypocrites glory in being commended, though they have nothing in them commendable. When men have not the thing, its moſt unreaſonable that they ſhould have the name. When God gave Abram the name of Abraham, he told him there was a reaſon why he ſhould be called by that name, Gen. 17.5.Thy Name ſhall be called Abrabam, for a father of many Nations, have I made thee. Abigail ſaid concerning her Husband, As his name is, ſo is he, Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; and if Chriſtians be our name, true Chriſtianity ſhould be with us. Laſtly, ſuch clouds without water, appearing Profeſſors, render themſelves, of all others, moſt inexcuſable. If Religion were bad, why did they ſo much as profeſs it; if good, why did they not more, even love it alſo? If they took upon themſelves, the title and trade of Gods ſervants, why would they not do his work? If God be a maſter, where is his fear; if a father, where is his honour? If they would not be his ſervants, why would they be called ſo? If they would be called his ſervants, why would they not be ſo? how fearful ſhould we then be, of putting our ſouls off, with ſhadows of goodneſs! Labour for that truth in the inward parts, which all the expreſſions of the outward man are not able to reach; and remember that hereafter, all paint muſt fall off, which was not laid in the oyle of ſincerity; and Hypocrites ſhall be diſcovered and unmasked both to their own conſciences, and the judgments of all others.
9. The empty are alſo unſtable. Obſerv. 9.Theſe clouds without water, are by the Apoſtle ſaid to be carried about of the winds. The Apoſtle 2 Pet. 3.16. joyns the unlearned and unſtable together; and Heb. 13.9. he mentions the eſtabliſhment of the heart with grace. A heart (then) empty of ſaving knowledg, and true holineſs is ſoon unſetled; and needs muſt it be ſo, being not firmly united to, and ſet into Chriſt by faith; unbelief and diſtruſt, make a man carried up and down like a Meteor. He who is not built upon the Rock, can never ſtand: if a Reed be not tyed to ſome ſtronger thing, it can never be kept from bending and ſhaking; where grace the fruit is not, there Chriſt the root is not; and where there is no root, there is no ſtability. Further, where there is a total emptineſs of holineſs, there is an emptineſs of peace and contentment; there is no peace to the wicked. And he who wants true contentment, will ever be looking out for it, foreign.where it is not to be had; without joy life is no life, and if it be not gotten one way, another will be tryed: Who will ſhew us any good, is the language of natural men? they have ſtill hopes to be better; and like men in a Fever, they toſs from one ſide of the bad to the other, in hope to finde coolneſs and refreſhment; but a ſoul that exerciſeth it ſelf in the ways of holineſs, tells every temptation. You would draw me away to my loſe: 2 Cor. 7.32, 35 Cor non tutum, niſi totum. Scinditur in certum ſtudia in contraria.Yet again, a heart void of grace is divided in the ſervice of God, and therefore an unſetled heart; tis not united to fear Gods Name; it ſerves not the Lord without diſtraction; all of its love, fear, joy, runs not one way, but having inclinations not wholly beſtowed upon God, and ſeveral ways of the hearts out-going from God being allowed, its never ſafe and certain; when the ſcales are even in weight, they tremble, and waver, ſometime one is up, ſometime another; they who will ſerve two Maſters, God and the creature, and are double-minded, and will divide their hearts between them, will often be wavering, and ſhew themſelves ſometimes for Religion, ſometime for the world; grace fixeth, and weighs down the heart for God and to God, and chuſeth him onelyonly. Here's the true Reaſon then (in the general) why men are ſo toſſed and carried away from the truth of the Goſpel, they are empty of the truth of grace; they go from us, becauſe they were never of us; they are a Land-flood, a Ciſtern onelyonly, receiving from without, and void of an inward living principle and fountain.
10.Obſerv. 10. Chriſtians ſhould beware of unſtedfaſtneſs, of being carried away with any winds, from their holy ſtedfaſtneſs in the truth. Continue in the things which you have learned, 2 Tim. 3.14. Be not as children toſſed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. To this end, 1. Let the Word of Chriſt ballaſt your ſouls; ſtore them with the knowledg of ſaving Principles of Religion. Empty Table-books are fit to have any thing written in them, and a ſoul empty of the knowledg of wholſome truths, is a fit receptacle for any error. Do ye not err, (ſaith Chriſt) becauſe ye know not the Scriptures, Mat. 22.29. Stones will eaſily be removed, unleſs fixed upon a foundation. He who buyes commodities without either weighing or meaſuring them, may eaſily be deceived, the Scripture is the meaſure and ballance of every opinion. How eaſily may he be cheated with Errors in ſtead of truth, who buyes onelyonly in the dark? Ignoran… Chriſtians are like Infants which gape, and take in whatſoever the Nurſe puts to their mouths. 2. Labour to get your hearts faſtned to the truth, by love, as well as your heads filled with the truth, by light; he who never loved truth, may eaſily be brought to leave truth, and to imbrace error. He who embraced truth he knew not why, will forſake it, he knows not how; the heart which hath continued deceitful under truth, may ſoon be deceived by error; a literal, without an experimental knowledg of the truth, may quickly be drawn to error from that wherein we find neither pleaſure nor profit, we may eaſily be enticed. But when once we feel the truth both enlightning and delighting, unloading its treaſures of glory into our ſouls quieting our conſciences, quelling our luſts, changing us into the Image of the Lord, quickning our graces; Seducers will not be able to cheat us of this Jewel, becauſe we know they can bring us nothing in exchange, for which we ſhould barter it away. 3. Let there not be any one luſt * foreign. Theoph, in Rom. 16.allowed within thee, to looſen thee from the truth. They who are not ſound in the fear of God, may eaſily become unſound in the faith of God. A remiſſe heart will cloſe with remiſs principles. The myſtery of Faith muſt be held in a good conſcience, 1 Tim. 1.9.which ſome (ſaith the Apoſtle) having caſt away, have made ſhipwrack of the faith: he comparing conſcience to a ſhip, and faith to a treaſure therein imbarked, which muſt needs miſcarry, if the ſhip be caſt away; any corrupt affection entertained, the ſoul like an unwalled, and unfenced City, lies open to the rage and rapine of, and ruine by any enemy. If Seducers ſute their bait to the unmortified luſt of a ſinner, Prov. 25.8.he is eaſily made their prey. Of this at large before. Particularly, beware of Pride, the proud Chriſtian, Page 615, 616 617, part 1.like a light puft bladder, will eaſily be puft any way of Error; a Bird of a very ſmall carkaſs, and of many Feathers, is eaſily carried away with the wind; Pride is the mother of Hereſie; the proud man it is, who conſents not to wholſome Doctrine, but dotes about queſtions, 1 Tim. 6.3, 4. Humility is the beſt fence againſt Error; an humble man is ſo ſmall, in his own eyes, that the ſhot of Seducers cannot hit him; and lies ſo low, that all their Bullets fly over him. God teacheth the humble, but the proud perſon is Satans Scholler. 2. Fence thy ſoul againſt worldly mindedneſs; a worldly heart will be bought and ſold at every rate. The truth can never be ſafe in the cloſet of that heart, which Error can open with a golden picklock. The covetous both make merchandiſe of others, 2 Pet. 2.13, 14.and will be made merchandiſe by others: The hook of error, is eaſily ſwallowed down by a worldly heart, if it be baited with (though filthy) lucre. Take heed of being a ſervant of truth, Fraus & malitia haereticorum vel dolend a eſt tanquam hominum, vel cavenda eſt, tanquam haereticorum, vel irridenda tanquam imperitorum. Aug.for gain, for (if ſo) thou wilt ſoon be a ſlave unto error, for more gain. 3. Keep out of the wind of ſeducing Doctors, and their Doctrines. Mark them who cauſe diviſions, and avoid them, Rom. 16.17. If it be dangerous to be tempted by, what is it then to be tempters of the Divel. Turn away from ſuch as creep into houſes, and lead ſouls captives 2. Tim. 3.5, 6. Eat not of the banquets of him who hath been found out, to mix poyſon in his diſhes; let holy Zeal (in this reſpect) hinder Civility. Ʋt fallacius incautis ovibus obrepant, manente luporum ferocia, deponunt lupinam ſpeciem ſeſe divinae legis ſententiis velut quibuſdam velleribus obvolvunt, ut cum quiſque lan… rum mollitiem perſenſerit, nequaquam acul…os dent…um pertimeſcat. Vinc. Lyr. cap. 36. Polycarpus Marcioni aliquando occurrenti ſibi, & dicenti, cognoſce nos; reſpondit, cognoſco te primogenitum Satanae. Tantum Apoſtoli & horum Diſcipuli babuerunt timorem, ut neque verbo tenu… communicarent alicui …crum, qui adulteraverant veritatem. Iren. l. 3. c. 3. pag. mihi 171.If theſe Seducers come to you, yet neither teceive them into your houſes, nor bid them God ſpeed. Shun the meeting places of Error as the Schools of impiety. Beware of falſe Prophets, who put on a ſheepskin-profeſſion over a woolviſh purpoſe, Deceitful Workers, transforming themſelves into the Apoſtles of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 11.13. The Divel never deceives in his own likeneſs. Feed not like ſilly ſheep upon rotten graſs, becauſe its ſweet and luſſious. Polycarp would entertain no acquaintance with Marcion, but termed him the firſt born of the Divel; and (as Irenaeus tells the Apoſtles and their Diſciples) were ſo full of holy fear, that they would not communicate with Hereticks in the world, who had adulterated the word. Let not Satan take us among his own, leſt he make us of his own. Of theſe things ſee more, pag. 266, 267. Part 1.
Thus much for that ſecond compariſon, whereby the Apoſtle deſcribes the ſin and miſery of theſe Seducers; viz, Clouds without water, &c. The third followes in theſe words, Trees whoſe fruit withereth; without fruitt twice dead, plucked up by the roots.
Two things, principally, are here conſiderable, in this Reſemblance taken from bad and corrupt trees.
Their badneſs in conſideration 1. Of their fruits. 2. Of the trees themſelves.
1 In conſideration of their fruits; ſo our Apoſtle expreſſeth.
1. The decay and withering of their fruits; whoſe fruit withereth.
2 Their ceſſation from, and privation of their fruit; their fruit was none; without fruit.
2 Their badneſs, in conſideration of themſelves, the trees, which 1 Were irrecoverably dead; twice dead. 2. Deſervedly therefore plucked up by the roots