England Faithfully Watched, Lecture 74
COLOS. 1.26.
Which hath beene hid from Ages, and from Generations.
THis expreſſion meanes not totum but tantum, not altogether hid but very much hid, over what it is ſince the revelation of Chriſt in the fleſh. A full comment upon theſe words are thoſe of the Apoſtles to the Epheſians cap. 3. v. 4, 5. Whereby when you reade, you may underſtand my knowledge in the myſtery of Chriſt, which in other ages was not made knowne to the ſonnes of men, as it is now revealed to his holy Apoſtles and Prophets by the ſpirit. Ceremonies were but a ſhaddow of good things to come, as great a diſtance between their condition and ours, as betweene ſhaddow and ſubſtance: their fruit had much ſhell and little kirnells: we have no ſhell, yet the kirnell bigger and ſweeter to. The ſenſuall helps they had, ſpake for the moſt part no farther then ſence. What all thoſe carnall Ordinances did ſpiritually meane, we have in expreſſe words, and theſe words explained and applyed, with greater power and glory then ever, from the ſpirit of Chriſt. Mercies have their demenſions, they differ in grouths. The drops that fall from Heaven, are of ſeverall quantities, Chriſt hath in his hand bleſſings of ſeverall ſizes, ſome bigger, ſome leſſer; two talents, five talents, ten talents, concerning the glory above, tis diſputed whether it be graduall, but concerning the glory of a Chriſtian here, it is a reſolved thing that it is graduall: there is migration in our glory here, going from glory to glory, from ſtrength to ſtrength; Milke and ſtrong meate, babes and full age, crums and Flagons, love and abounding in love. Our Kingdome comes, our Kingdome here is a comming Kingdome.
Mercies are all ſhaped by Love, it is the property of Divine Love, to higthen diſpenſation ſtill, till ſhee hath lifted the ſoule beloved fully into her boſome. Grace tis in the beginning little, a grai… of Muſtardſeed, in progreſſe great, in the end, all; to wit, Heaven which is all now doth Love fully poſſeſſe her beloved, and now ſhe reſts and not till now; beyond Heaven there is no gradation, no ſtep higher; Love hath got her full end, which is the full poſſeſſion of what ſhee makes out to, and now reſts. Love ſhapes Mercy ſo, as fully to bring about her end, and that is to bring the ſoule ſhee loves into her boſome, to the full fruition of her ſelfe, of whatſoever ſhee is; you may ſee this demonſtrated in Chriſt: the Father loves him, and he gives him mercies greater and greater, and never leaves till hee hath lifted him fully into his boſome, to his right hand, (i) the fruition of all, John 5.20. The Father loveth the Sonne and ſhoweth him all things that himſelfe doth, and hee will ſhow him greater workes then theſe, that yee may marveile. My Father hath given me great things already, but hee will give me greater, for he loves mee; and this will drop and drop till it hath dropped out all, it will never reſt till it hath brought mee into his boſome. The love of God carries the ſame property and proportion to a Chriſtian, and this makes the grouth of a Chriſtian neceſſarily, as the grouth of a Crocadile, of which it is written; that hee groweth alwayes, ſo doth a Chriſtian, till hee bee tranſplanted into Heaven.
Ʋſe. Tis trying this point, what truth is in you. Your graces are not ſo great but you may have greater; if this be not regarded, as you taſte not grace what tang it has, ſo you underſtand not grace, what order t'as. Spirituall fulneſſe ſpeakes a deluded heart; hee that hath goods enough, enough for many yeares, enough to make his felicity for ever, and therefore reſts, is a foole, hee knowes not his ſtate, what hee has nor what he wants. Blinde men 'tis obſerved, do not dreame ſo much as men that ſee, becauſe fancy in the day hath not ſo much nor ſo lively impreſſive imployment to ſet it at worke in the night; but blinde ſoules dreame more a great deale then they that ſee; This is one of their dreames among many; I have enough grace to bring me to Heaven I hope, and I care for no more, I love not to be pragmaticall. Some make a great deale of ſtir and run mad; tis extreame naught this, I like it not. Anſw. this is one extreame, but there are two extreames, and vertue in the midſt of them; doſt thou eye t'other extreame? Some die with heate, others die with cold. Thou ſeeſt others too hot, may'ſt not thou be too cold? grace in the true knowledge of it is inviting, 'tis like ſome Liquids drinking makes thirſtineſſe and longing for more drinke; every degree of grace poſſeſſed, makes diſcovery of greater degrees not poſſeſſed; One Chamber of Chriſt hath a window looking into another far bigger and more glorious. Thou art entered into one thou ſayeſt; doſt thou looke into another more glorious, and long to enter into it? if thou be a ſtranger to theſe things, thou art a fooliſh Virgin, that poſſibly haſt knocked at the doore of Chriſts houſe a little, but art yet indeed entered into no roome; when Chriſt had opened the nature of ſpirituall bread unto his followers, that they did indeed underſtand it, they fell a longing preſently for more; what they had, diſcovered much more behind which they wanted, and therefore cryed Lord evermore give us of this Bread.
Ʋſe This point is upbraiding; the light which ſhines upon us, is more glorious then that which ſhined upon our Fathers; that which hath beene hid from Ages and from Generations, we have made manifeſt to us; wee have mercies according to externall communication of the biggeſt: what have you according to internall communication? this will be looked after. This is a day of great things, a time wherein Chriſt brings about great things to our doores; our fathers day was a day of ſmall things; yet if they were judged for deſpiſing their day of ſmall things, how much more ſhall you be judged that deſpiſe the day of great things? tis the Apoſtles argument to the Hebrewes, and muſt be mine to you. Deſpite is a ſpiritull act, deliberate diſaffection to the lovelieſt things. The poſture of our ſpirits wee leaſt looke at, and this Chriſts Eye is moſt of all fixed upon. Externall carriages are all meaſured, and titled from the heart. God rules in the inſide of his enemies, hee unbowells this Generation, and Chriſtens it in blood, according to its ſpirit. We offer deſpite to the ſpirit of grace, we tread under foot the bloud of the Lord Jeſus; can wee tell whether this iniquity will be blotted out till this Generation die? The heart fired againſt truth, abides ſo; tis part of that unquenchable fire below; God allowes Satan to bee fueler in ſuch a ſoule, till they both come to burne together in hell. Love loſt, Chriſt cares not for the perſon, let him be what he will, if hee be the greateſt man in the World, he will burne to death in that fire, which burnes in his breaſt againſt Chriſt. Our love now to be leaſt, when greateſt love is tendered, can you imagine that this iniquity will be quickly forgotten? great heare makes great thunders, tis ſo now; the Sun of love ſhines mighty hot, and now wickedneſſe thunders, and ſo will Juſtice and righteouſneſſe too; believe it.