England Faithfully Watched, Lecture 45
COLOSS. 1.20. Whether they be things in earth, &c.
AS the expreſſion points at things in heaven, 'tis uſefull you ſee; as it ſpeaks of things in earth, 'tis more proper to us. The latitude of divine love downward, is as large as upward; it reacheth all things in heaven, and all things in earth. That he might reconcile [all things] to himſelf, whether things in heaven, or things in earth. The grace of reconciliation, as it works towards things on earth, is very vaſt; as it works towards creatures above, 'tis unexpreſſible; a man cannot tell how many love ſmiles upon in heaven, and therefore generally expreſt, all things; a univerſall term, to note the vaſtneſſe of that kindneſſe: So as it works towards things on earth, 'tis inexpreſſible, 'tis called all things, to note the vaſtneſſe, the unexpreſſible company, which Chriſt embraceth here below. A man cannot tell the number of ſpirits in earth, which Chriſt doth reconcile to his Father in heaven.
Grace works unexpreſſibly vaſt to us ward.
Doct. Grace doth abound, The Lord is upon many waters, Pſal. 29.3. As providence externall, ſo providence internall, doth reach forth it ſelf to many. Many bodies are ſaved from ſinking in the ſea, becauſe the Lord is upon the waters: So many ſoules are ſaved from ſinking into hell, becauſe the Lord moves upon theſe many waters too. The world is full of troubles, as the ſea of waves, not one but meets with enough to over-turn all, if God did not uphold; the whole world would fall into a conſumption and die, as big a body as 'tis, if God did not uphold. Not one, nor two, nor three, but all creatures ſhare, in upholding mercy, or elſe all would ſink; 'tis ſo in a proportion in ſpirituall reſpects. Satan is an induſtrious creature, to overthrow mans welfare, he goes about, ſeeking whom he may devoure, none would eſcape hell, if God were not exceeding rich in mercy; Satans deſire is to deſtroy all, and his malice is attended with ſuch art, that it would certainly bring forth its end, did not the ſpeciall providence of Chriſt prevent; which it doth, and doth it to many, the grace of Chriſt unto life is powred out upon many ſouls. There are many laſt, which are made firſt, as well as many firſt are made laſt. Many are eternally ſaved out of the power of Satan, as many are prey'd upon by him.
Grace did work more compendiouſly then now it doth, before Chriſts coming in the fleſh; loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael found all that dropt from heaven, and they were but few, the Lord knoweth, one of a City, and two of a Tribe. But ſince, a great dore of love is opened, and many hundred ſoules in one City; yea, many thouſands in one Countrey, come in to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. The white ſheet of mercy that is let down from Heaven now, is great, ſaith the Text, and it hath all manner of beaſts in it; and the Apoſtle makes a Comment upon it as I do. My viſion, ſaith he, ſpeaks the grace of Chriſt working now very richly; God hath ſhewed me that I ſhould call nothing common, or unclean. He ſpeaks it in the caſe of Saul; not a man ſo vile, ſo bloody and malicious, but the blood of Chriſt may reconcile him to God, the love of God doth now ſo richly work.
Mercy is infinite, and it works ſo; God ſhews mercy to thouſands, from generation to generation. Abrahams ſeed are as the ſtars of heaven for multitude: God hath but one Son, but Chriſt hath many; he brings many ſons to glory. Infinite mercy generates infinitely; what is in Chriſt, derives it ſelf to all the nations of the earth. Aarons rod buds, Chriſts bleſſing buds, it multiplies into many bleſſings, and ſpreads all the world over: In thee ſhall all the nations of the earth be bleſſed. The Sun that ſhines upon us, ſhines upon thouſands more, it caſteth over the world, and ſhines upon a world; ſo doth the Son of righteouſneſſe. God was in Chriſt, reconciling a world to himſelf: the expreſſion notes quantity in ſome ſenſe, as well as quality, a world of worldly men.
Ʋſe. Bounty ſhould be admired: 'tis ſo reſpecting men, why ſhould it not be ſo much more reſpecting God. He whoſe hand is open to all, all mens mouths are open to ſpeak of his goodneſſe. Chriſt is a generall good, lame, blind, halt have favour; he keeps a table of kindneſſe for all commers, he reconciles all things. Love is deſtroyed, when the heart is not taken with great goodneſſe; love deſtroyed, there can be no marrying between Chriſt and the ſoul. 'Twas a great judgement, when their maids were not given to marry. There is no inclination to embrace Chriſt, when his beauty is no whit admired. Vanities deſtroy affection, ſome ſouls are ſots, talk of any thing that is ſpirituall, and their hearts grow not amorous by it, but die within them, like Nabals; the curſe of God is in ſtrength here, theſe have made themſelves Eunuches for the kingdome of darkneſſe. Chriſt hath no engine to raiſe love like this, to wit, his bounty and ſweetneſſe, that he will give every one to drink that is dry; that Moſes a fair man will marry a Blackmoore; that Abraham will lodge a Lazarus in his boſome. If goodneſſe will not make good; if love will not draw love, let the ſoul marry whom he will, Chriſt will have none of him. Chriſt is noble, he will gain the heart fully, or he will marry no perſon in the world: Perſons ſhall be ſick of love, or they ſhall be unmarried to Chriſt. You care not whether perſons love you, ſo you can but get their wealth. Chriſt is righteous, he ſeeks us, not ours, perſons, not dowry: I ſeek not yours, but you. He was a friend to the Bride, which ſpake that, and ſpake his heart. I know not what hearts you have, nor how to wooe for my Maſters Son; I can ſay nothing but this, he is all love, he reconcileth all, high, low, rich, poore, heavenly things, earthly things, he takes duſt into his boſome, and delights in it for ever.
The contemplation of Chriſts ſweetneſſe, makes the marriage knot, and the ſolace of the marriage when made. When is the ſoul in heaven? but when taken with that love which hath loved him, when conſidering love in its latitude: He hath loved me, and given himſelf for me; he reconciles all things indeed, that would not leave out me. Milk and honey is Canaan: As the ſoul feeds upon the riches of love, 'tis in heaven. Man is doubly miſerable, he is at a loſſe of ſatisfying ſolace, and of the right way to acquire it, he is taken with creatures, and when he comes to lie down in their boſome to ſolace, they vaniſh and vex; a man lies down ſmiling, riſeth up howling, becauſe that's nothing which he made ſo much; and this may be the Motto of all earthly beauties, That creature is nothing which man makes all. Taken with the love of Chriſt, and the longer ſo, the ſtronger ſo, the more bleſſed; the ſoul cannot want depth here, and tumble it ſelf aſhore, as it doth when it tumbles in other waters; ſweetneſſe in this way is found bottomleſſe. O the depth of the riches of the goodneſſe of God! &c. 'Tis a brave thing to dive the depths of kindneſſe; if there be heaven any where, 'tis in the bottome of divine love. Things have their full ſolace in their proper element, this in reference to the ſoul of man, is the love of God, in the extent thereof. What did take up Adams ſoul into Paradiſe, whileſt he moved well, but the beauty of God, the extent of his kindneſſe, that it reached all that Adam could look upon? and all that while had he Paradiſe in his ſpirit; but when he began to admire the beauty of forbidden things, the beauty of Diabolicall fancies, then he dyed in his neſt preſently. What takes up thoſe bleſſed ſpirits above, but the contemplation of the love of God? Here lies their full and perpetuall bleſſedneſſe, that they cannot nor will not look beſide love. 'Tis a very deſolate time in which we live, many have little left in the world to think upon, and yet ſet not themſelves to think of that which might make all to them. Such are without ſolace indeed, which have none without nor within; how ſuch poor creatures bear up, I know not, how to keep them up if they ſink, I know not; there is no cordiall in any diſtreſſe, but the contemplation of the love of Chriſt, and under this notion, how large it is.
This bleeding time makes my heart bleed, to think what refreſhments to give forth to mourning perſons in every corner. State is gone, friends gone, all left me gone, this the complaint of thouſands. Yet he that is all, is ready to receive you all, and to impart all to you. God hath ſet you free of this world, to think of another which is better. Make uſe of the rich proffers of grace, and all will do well yet. What, doth Chriſt reconcile all things in earth to himſelf, and leave out me? Bleſſe me, even me alſo, O my Father, ſo pray. Some are froward, and will not ſtir after grace, though never ſo plentifull, though Chriſt will be friends with them, yet they will not with him: How oft would I have gathered thee, and thou wouldſt not? Take heed of ſtubbornneſſe in ſin, though Chriſt ſhew mercy to thouſands, yet he will be the death of ſuch a ſoul. I am affraid of ſome of you, leſt Satan ſhould harden your hearts againſt the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Know the diſpoſition of grace; Chriſt treads upon none that ſtoop. Know the ſeaſon of grace; doth Chriſt knock? O then is the time when he would reconcile thee to himſelf. Never let that word of Chriſt which takes thee, be forgotten; that's a kiſſe of Chriſts lips to gain thee; kiſſe the Son again. Bleſſe God, that he would make any word of his, a ſword to wound thy hard heart: Bleſſe Chriſt, that hee would come ſo neer where thou dwelleſt, that he would not once knock, but put in his finger by the hole of the dore, to make thy bowels yearn after him: when he knocks again, intreat him to knock all down, that hinders his coming in. Longing ſouls after Chriſt, are the bleſſedſt ſouls in the world, who ever die unreconciled to God, they will not.
This point will leave all men without excuſe, I will touch this, and conclude: God would have all men to be ſaved, and come to the knowledge of the truth, and Chriſt acts according to this latitude; he reconciles all things to himſelf, he deſires not the death of one ſinner: Sinners, if you die in your ſins, blame your ſelves, not God, you will die as thoſe that exclude your ſelves, as thoſe that judge your ſelves unworthy of the Kingdome of God. Spirits deeply ingaged to their luſts, have deſperate reaſonings againſt free grace; when they can ſay nothing to ſtop the mouth of men and their conſcience, to keep on in their courſe, they alledge the decree of God; and if I be decreed to life, I ſhall do better one day, if not, all you ſay, or that I ſhall do, will do me no good. Ah, that ſo much of hell ſhould flame out of any mans mouth upon earth! What hath any ſoul to do with the Decree of God? Gods ſecret will doth not contradict his revealed. What latitude of love doth his revealed will hold forth? conſider that, and know, that God is reall. Doth he reconcile all things? then thou art bound to believe it, and to put in for a ſhare in that grace which is ſo large, which no ſoul ever did and miſſed.