The Use and Practice of Faith, Question 7 · Part 2 · Branch 4
BRANCH IV. IN THE LIFE of FAITH IN SANCTIFICATION; VIZ. VIVIFICATION.
THE juſt lives by Faith the Life of Vivification. When his heart is ready to ſink, Faith lifts it up again, and puts a new Life as it were into it: And the very Text ſeems to drive at this alſo, if we make out the Antitheſis or oppoſition to the full betwixt Unbelief and Faith. The Unbeliever lifts up his heart, in Creature-ſtrength; but the Believer lives by Faith in Gods ſtrength. Jehoſaphats heart was lift up in the wayes of the Lord, 2 Chron. 17.6. In the midſt of all damps, he liv'd by Faith this Life of Vivification: which is as it were (under God) the life of our lives, or at leaſt the livelineſs of our life; as we ſay, Such an one is a lively Chriſtian, or a man full of life. For I do not here mean by Vivification, the firſt quickning work of the Spirit (for that we ſpoke of before, in the Life of Renovation) but I mean the quickning and reviving work of the Spirit, after ſome deadneſs hath ſeized upon the Soul.
Two Propoſitions.Therefore two things are to be demonſtrated: 1. That Gods own Children are ſubject to be overtaken with ſpiritual drowzineſs or deadneſs of Spirit at ſome times, as the foot may be aſleep through obſtructions.
2. That at ſuch times as theſe they live by Faith, and by Faith recover the quickneſs and activity of their ſpiritual life again.
1. Gods children ſubject to deadneſs.The firſt we premiſe; That the beſt of Gods Children are ſubject to deadneſs: Even the five wiſe Virgins, as well as the fooliſh, all ſlumbred and ſlept, Matth. 25.5. The Spouſe complains of her drowzineſs, Cant. 5.2: I ſleep, but my heart waketh. Chriſt chargeth the Church of Sardis with this, Rev. 3.1, 2. Thou haſt a name that thou liveſt, and art dead. What! quite dead? No; but ready to die, as it follows, ver. 2. And ſo Mr. Perkins expounds it. Experience ſhews this daily: How many Chriſtians full of complaints of their deadneſs, as David, Pſal. 119.25. My ſoul cleaveth unto the duſt, quicken thou me, &c.
Queſt. How comes this to paſs, or what is the reaſon and cauſe of it?
Anſ. It is good indeed to know the cauſe. The cauſe of a diſeaſe being found out, it is half cured. For anſwer then hereunto, we muſt diſtinguiſh of Deadneſs.
Cauſes of this deadneſs.A Chriſtians deadneſs, is either Accidental, Sinful, Penal, or Probational.
1. Accidental.1. The cauſe of Accidental deadneſs ſprings ſometimes from age, ſometimes from ſickneſs, ſometimes from melancholly. In which caſes, a man may have a very good will to do ſervice with life and activity: but bodily weakneſs pulling him down, and the natural ſpirits being low, he is juſt like a Bird that hath her wings clipt, who would fain fly, but cannot. And this unfits to any duties, as well natural and civil, as religious.
2. There is a Sinful deadneſs,2. Sinful. when a man hath little heart or affection to the ſervice of God. And if we enquire into the reaſon of this, it ſprings from ſinful cauſes: Which are either Privative, as the want of good Food, the Word, which is animae pabulum: Or good Exerciſe; 1 Tim. 4.7. Exerciſe thy ſelf rather unto godlineſs: Or good Company, which is quickning; one ſtick of this fire kindles another; he that's all alone ſoon falls aſleep: Or good Air, I mean, a good Miniſtery.Heb. 10.24, 25 As the preſence of theſe things in nature, makes men active and vigorous, and the want of them, makes heavy and dead: ſo in Grace.
Or elſe they are Poſitive cauſes. And ſuch are 1. Exceſſive cares or pleaſures, which do overcharge the heart, Luke 21.34. 2. Bad Company: Peters heart was deaded in the High-Prieſts Hall. 'Tis ſaid of Nero, he tied the bodies of living men to thoſe that were dead; which was cold comfort, and half a death to them. Nothing dulls more, than the ſociety of dull and dead-hearted men. 3. Cuſtom in Sin, which makes inſenſible in ſinning. Prov. 23.34, 35. They have ſtricken me, and I was not ſick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not, &c. 4. Satan oft rocks the cradle. It was more than a natural drowzineſs, that the diſciples were ſo heavy and ſleepy, when Chriſt was upon his Paſſion. You may know the diſeaſe by the remedy, watch and pray, ſays our Savior, that ye enter not into temptation.Mat. 26.40, 41.
3. There is a Penal deadneſs: and God inflicts this as a puniſhment of former ſins. Iſ. 6.9, 10. Go and tell this people, 3. Penal.Hear ye indeed, but underſtand not; and ſee ye indeed, but perceive not: make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, leſt they ſee with their eyes, and hear with their ears, &c. The word ſometimes makes men worſe, rather than better; as the beams of the Sun harden the Clay, and ſoften the Wax; withers the graſs upon the houſe-top, and makes the graſs in the meadows flouriſh; comforts ſound eyes, and offends ſore eyes.
4. Probational.4. There is a Probational deadneſs; which God diſpenſeth or permitteth, for the trial of his Servants graces. This was in Peter for a time, to let us ſee what we are, when God leaves us to our ſelves. Summer were not ſo comfortable if we had not a Winter. Look as it is in natural life, Pſal. 104.29, 30. Thou hideſt thy face, they are troubled; thou takeſt away their breath, they die and return to the duſt: Thou ſendeſt forth thy Spirit, they are created, &c. So in ſpiritual life: whence there is ſo much difference betwixt one man and another; yea, in the ſame man at one time, and at another.
Propoſ. 2. Saints recover by faith out of deadneſs.But it is better to know how to come out of this eſtate, than how we come into it; though both be needful. Therefore I come to the ſecond Propoſition:
That, at ſuch times as theſe, the juſt lives by faith, and by Faith recovers the quickneſs and activity of his ſpiritual life again. In the 2 of Tim. 1.6. the Apoſtle perſwades Timothy, to ſtir up the gift of God that was in him, foreign, to thrive, or rekindle it, to blow it up as a spark into a flame. Now Faith is as the bellows to blow it up. The breath of the Lord indeed is the wind that breathes upon dead bones, ſo upon dead Souls: But Faith is as the bellows, that draws this wind, and blows it forth again. And therefore if you obſerve it, the Apoſtles Exhortation [to ſtir up, or blow up the gift] is grounded upon the former verſe viz. I call to minde the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt firſt in thy grandmother Lois, &c. As if he ſhould have ſaid, Thou that haſt faith, art too blame, if thou doſt not ſtir up the gift that is in thee, (Miniſterial gifts eſpecially) by the exerciſe of thy faith.
This is the Aqua-vitae of a Chriſtian in fainting fits and dead fits, when Qualms of ſorrow and ſpiritual ſickneſs come over the heart. Pſal. 42.5. Why art thou caſt down, O my ſoul, why art thou diſquieted within me? ſtill truſt in God, for I ſhall yet praiſe him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. There was the cure, his Faith did revive him: and were it not for this, we ſhould quite ſink away; Pſal. 27.14. I had fainted, but that I hoped to ſee the Lord, the Lord in the land of the living. So then, the juſt lives by Faith the Life of Vivification.
And the Reaſons of it are:
Reaſ. 1 1. Becauſe Faith doth aſſure us in preſent deadneſs, that a time of quickning ſhall come; —I ſhall yet praiſe him: as before. Pſal. 138.7. Though I walk in the midſt of trouble, thou wilt revive me—and thy right hand ſhall ſave me: The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me, &c.
Reaſ. 2 2. Becauſe Faith is a Mean of quickning; an active grace, that works and ſets all a work, like the Spring in the Watch. If Faith lies dead in a Chriſtian, all is dead: If you winde up the Spring of Faith, if you act your Faith, it moves every Wheel, it quickens all your Humility, your Patience, Love, Zeal: and the ſtronger Faith, the quicker the motion. Should we speak for God? As ſtrong wine muſt have a vent; ſo ſtrong Faith. This made the Apoſtles ſpeak ſo freely, Acts 2. when others thought they were fill'd with new wine. Thus Elihu, Job 32.18. I am full of matter, the spirit within me conſtraineth me: Or do much for God? Act 6.8. Steven full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people: This ſuffers us not to be ſlothful, Heb. 6.12.
Reaſ. 3 3. Becauſe it puts the Soul upon quickning Means: As 1. It layes hold on a quickning Word: Pſal. 119 50. Thy word hath quickned me. Heb. 4.12. The word of God is quick and powerful, &c. and Faith, layes hold on that Word: Eſpecially the quickning Promiſes, Heb. 9.14. & 12.11, 12. Hoſ. 14.5, 6, 7. Iſa. 40.3 laſt verſes. Jer. 29 10, 11, 12.Prov. 12.25. Heavineſs, ſaith Solomon, in the heart of a man, maketh it ſtoop; but a good word maketh it glad; that is, a word of Promiſe. 2. On a quickning Saviour, 1 Tim. 6.13. God, who quickneth all things. How? in and by Chriſt. 1 Cor. 15. Iohn 6.The ſecond Adam is a quickning Spirit; that hath life in himſelf, and gives it to all others. As the root quickneth the branches; ſo Chriſt, Joh. 15.5. The life of the branch in winter is hid in the root; ſo is our life hid with Chriſt, Col. 3.3. And 3. Faith receives a quickning Spirit: Joh. 6.63. It is the Spirit that quickneth; Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, 2 Cor. 3.17. and where there is liberty, there is activity. Pſal. 119.32. I will run the way of thy Commandments, when thou ſhalt enlarge my heart. The Spirit is compared to water, Joh. 7.38. not to ſtanding water, but to running or living water, becauſe it is alwayes in motion: Pſal. 45. Cor meum ebullit, &c. my heart bubleth up, as a ſpring. Hence alſo it is compared to fire, Mat. 3. Fire is an active element, it's alwayes mounting upwards; and it warms thoſe that come near it. Dead and frozen members, are made uſeful and active by the heat of the fire: ſo are dead and benummed Souls by the warmth of the Spirit.
Reaſ. 4 4. Becauſe Faith puts the Soul upon quickning Meditations, or Arguments. Whileſt I was muſing (ſays David) the fire kindled, Pſal. 39.3. Whether we meditate on good or evil, Meditation will blow up the fire. The faithful man is deſcribed to be a man full of Meditation, Pſal. 1.2. —he meditates day and night: and, Pſal. 119.147, 148. I prevented the dawning of the morning— Mine eyes prevent the night-watches, that I might meditate on thy Word.
Queſt. But what Meditations or Arguments does Faith put the Soul upon to quicken it?
Anſwer. Such as are drawn, 1. From former Experience, Arguments of faith to quicken the ſoul under deadneſs.that God who once quickned the Soul, will quicken it again: Pſal. 77.3, 5, 6. I remembred God,—I have conſidered the dayes of old—I call to remembrance my ſong in the night. —Will the Lord caſt off for ever, &c?
Arg. 2 2. From Gods Attributes, of Mercy and Faithfulneſs: Pſal. 77.8. Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his faithfulneſs fail for evermore? Of his Perfection: His works are perfect, Deut. 32.4. A perfect God will perfect his works.
Arg. 3 3. From Gods Glory. An active Chriſtian brings him in more glory in one day, than another in a thouſand. Pſal. 80.18. Quicken us, and we will call upon thy Name: Pſal. 119.175. Let my ſoul live, and it ſhall praiſe thee, &c.
Arg. 4 4 From the Danger of Spiritual drowzineſs. Firſt from the Judgement threatned, Revel. 2.5. Repent, and do thy firſt works, or I will remove thy Candleſtick. Amos 8.10, 11Such as ſleep by candle-light, are in danger of burning the houſe over their heads, or of their Maſters removing the candleſtick. Secondly, from the Judgement felt, Pſal 32. David was in a dead condition of Soul, he made no confeſſion of his ſins, but God quickned him by his afflicting Rod; ver 3, 4. Thy hand was heavy upon me, &c. And as Faith will feel the Rod, ſo it is that Heavenly Wiſdome will teach us to hear the Rod, and who hath appointed it, Micah 6.9. An unbeliever is not ſtirr'd, Jer. 2.30. & 5.3.
Ʋſe of all in general.
Uſe of the Life of Vivification 1 Reproof.FIrſt, this then Reproves the want of living by Faith this Life of Vivification.
Simile. Divers men, though they are dead and dull, and can ſometimes complain of it, in Prayer, in Hearing, in Practice, O weary of themſelves! yet labour not to blow up the fire, to ſtir up the gift,Gen. 49.14. but like Iſſachar, bow under their burthens. They are like ſuch as are troubled with the Green-ſickneſs, or ſome ſuch lazy diſeaſe: Though motion be the onelyonly way of cure, they had as lieve die as ſtir; they will not act their Faith. O, ſay they, God muſt do all, I can do nothing; and under this pretence, they give themſelves up to Spiritual ſloth: That look as ſome, turn the grace of God into wantonneſs, who under pretence that Chriſt died for ſinners, take occaſion to run into all exceſs of riot: So others turn the grace of God into ſlothfulneſs, who under pretence that God muſt do all, wil do nothing at all themſelves. But the Scriptures reaſon the contrary way. God our heavenly Maſter works all the works of his poor Servants,Phil. 2. in them and for them: therefore we ſhould be encouraged to work. As when the Maſter is willing to hold and guide the hand of the Scholar, he ſhould be encouraged to write. That is the Argument, Phil. 2.12, 13. Work out your own ſalvation—for it is God that worketh in you, to will and to do of his good pleaſure. Thus, as the Father ſaid, Agimus acti; when God helps us in the action, we ſhould be willing to act the grace receiv'd, and employ the talent beſtow'd. The ſlothful Servant and the wicked Servant are put both together, Mat. 25.26. Therefore they are juſtly Reproved, who live not by Faith this Life of Vivification, but give themſelves up to ſpiritual ſloth and lazineſs. Such are in danger of a ſudden blow from God, if they ſmite not on their own hearts to quicken themſelves. The warning that Chriſt gives to the Church of Sardis, is proper to ſuch, Rev. 3.1, 2, 3. —Be watchful, and ſtrengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, &c. Elſe he threatens to come as a Thief upon ſuch drowzy Souls: A Thief comes ſuddenly and terribly; and ſo will Chriſt. Though he may ſave their Souls at laſt, yet it may coſt them a ſcouring in the meanwhile.
Obj. But what can I do?
Anſ. 1. Thou maiſt come to the place of hearing: 2. Thou maiſt frequent good Company: 3. Thou maiſt complain of thy deadneſs to God. This I do, but I am not quickned: I confeſs my deadneſs is a burthen to me; O that I might meet a Meſſenger, one of a thouſand, Job 33.to deliver my Soul out of this pit of deadneſs. In anſwer to this therefore, We ſhall propound a Second Uſe; viz.
Of Exhortation
To perſwade us to live by Faith the Life of Vivification.Ʋſe 2. Exhortation. In proſecution whereof, I ſhall firſt propound ſome Motives to make willing, and ſecondly, ſome Means to make thee more able.
Motive 1. We ſhould be active, ſtirring, lively Chriſtians; becauſe as God is a pure Act, ſo he is active for us.1. Motives to Vivification. Joh. 5 17. My Father worketh hitherto, and I work, ſays Chriſt: and therefore of him 'tis ſaid, Acts 10.38. —He went about doing good, and healing all —for God was with him. Wherefore we ſhould be alwayes working for him, 1 Cor. 15. —Alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord.
Mot. 2 God loves active and lively Servants, as he is a living God: And as the God of Spirits, he loves to be ſerved in the Spirit, not onelyonly as 'tis oppoſed to falſeneſs and diſſimulation, but as 'tis oppoſed to ſloth and negligence. God would not have an Aſs to be offered up in Sacrifice, Exod. 13.13. becauſe that was a dull and ſlow creature. He maketh his Angels his Meſſengers, becauſe they are all Spirit. And God would have us as Angels, not onelyonly in our Intellectuals, but in our Practicals, that his Will may be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven; and that is, with life and vigour. However, in Scripture, Chriſtians are compared to Stones; 'tis not for their coldneſs or deadneſs, but onelyonly for their firmneſs; and then they are called too, Living ſtones, 1 Pet. 2.5. Therefore as their faith is a living faith*Joh. 11.26., their hope a living hope†1 Pet. 1.4.; ſo their prayers ſhould be lively and fervent prayers, aſcending up as Incenſe; their works living works. The firſt Leſſon, the very A B C of a Chriſtian, is Repentance from dead works, Heb. 6.1. In a word, himſelf ſhould be a living Sacrifice, if acceptable to God, Rom. 12.1. In the 3 of Rev. 20. after Chriſt had reproved them for lukewarmneſs, and exhorted to be zealous, he then invites them to Supper: where we may obſerve, a lukewarm temper to be the worſt temper, and a zealous temper the beſt temper: the firſt, is a Diſh for the Devil, but the latter is a Diſh fit for Chriſts own palate. Now where there is zeal, there is heat, and where there is heat, there is activity, as fire mounts Heaven-ward: Therefore God would never have the fire go out upon his Altar, to ſignifie, there ſhould be heat in all our ſpiritual Sacrifices, of Prayer, of Preaching, of Hearing, of Meditation,Wiſd. 4.13. and Practice. In all theſe, we muſt live by Faith the Life of Spiritual Fervor.
Mot. 3 An active Chriſtian lives long in a little time, as others live but a little in a long time. For we live no longer to any purpoſe, than we fulfil the end of our life, which is to do God ſervice.Ioh. 20.4. Herein active Chriſtians do like that Diſciple that out-ran Peter, and came firſt to the Sepulcher. And indeed, they are fitteſt for the Sepulcher in another ſenſe, that are ſwifteſt in their Chriſtian race. It is the higheſt commendation of a Chriſtian on earth, and will be their Crown in Heaven, through Free-grace, to have been active for God. Their Commendation on Earth. The honorable ſalutation of active Chriſtians, ſtands upon Record, that all that are gracious may call them Bleſſed, Rom. 16.12. Salute Triphena and Triphoſa, who laboured in the Lord: Salute the beloved Perfis, who laboured much in the Lord. And their Crown in heaven. Mat. 25.21. 'Tis ſaid to him that had receiv'd and gain'd five Talents, Well done, thou good and faithful Servant—I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. They ſhall have the comfort of it to all eternity, that have been active & ſtirring for God in their little time upon earth. There is a bleſſing upon him that loves the Lord with all his ſtrength; Ier. 48.10.and a curſe upon him that doth the work of the Lord negligently, that puts not forth that ſtrength which God hath given him, but quencheth the Spirit. Such a man loyters and loſes his time; whereas the other redeems time: and we had all need redeem the time, conſidering how much we have loſt already,Ioh. 9. and how little there is behind. The Sun is going down, and the night is coming, when no man can work.
Mot. 4 Satan hath great advantage of a dead-hearted Chriſtian: for he is like a man half aſleep (in a ſecure condition) he may ſoon be deceiv'd, as Samſon was, Judg. 16.19. It was the field of the ſluggard, not of the watchful and active man, that was all overgrown with thorns and nettles, Prov. 24.30. What are thoſe thorns and nettles, but thoſe extravagant wayes of ſin, which though they ſeem to be ſmooth and pleaſing at the firſt ſpringing up, (as thorns and nettles are) yet at the laſt they prove more dangerous, and prick like a thorn, and ſting like a nettle. And therefore, that we may not be overcome of theſe Spiritual Philiſtines, we ſhould, like Samſon, rowſe up our ſelves with all our might, to live by Faith this Life of Vivification.
Mot. 5 Rev. 12.12.Times call for Activeneſs: They are laborious times, and dangerous times with the Church. Satan was never more active, becauſe his time is ſhort: His inſtruments never more active, compaſſing Sea and Land to gain one Proſelyte: The Churche, never more diſtreſſed and ſtanding in need of our help. Germany, Ireland, Scotland, England, all ſtretch out their hands for help: As in Harveſt time, every one is with his ſickle in his hand. See Rev. 14.15. And in Building-time, like as in Nehemiah's dayes, Neh 4.17.—every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other held a weapon. It was a ſhame for the Diſciples to ſleep, when Chriſt was in the midſt of his Agony: and a ſhame for Chriſtians to be dead-hearted, when the Church is in her Agony. When Zion cries, For the Lords ſake; and the Lord cries for Zions ſake, You that are the Lords remembrancers, give him no reſt, till he eſtabliſh, and till he make Jeruſalem a praiſe in the earth, Iſa. 62.1. & 7. The times therefore call for activeneſs, which ſprings from this Life of Vivification.
Mot. 6 'Tis the nature of true Grace, to be more and more active, if it be ſupernaturally natural. All natural motion is in fine velocior, ſwifteſt near the end: whereas things moved by violence, are ſlower. We throw a ſtone up with difficulty, but it drops down of it ſelf. The true Chriſtians, they go from ſtrength to ſtrength, Pſal. 84.7. As it is ſaid of Time, Seneſcit, non Tardeſcit: So may it be ſaid of a gracious perſon, Though he grows more old, yet not more ſlow, but brings forth more fruit in old age, Pſal. 92.
Mot. 7 Note, It is ſo, if we yield to deadneſs.Dead-hearted ſervice, is a vain ſervice, and ſo a taking of Gods Name in vain, againſt the Third Commandment. That is vain, which is not accepted, and ſo attains not it's end. Iſa. 29.13.—this people draw near me with their mouth, and honour me with their lips, but have removed their heart far from me, &c. which our Saviour interprets, Mat. 15.9. In vain do they worſhip me. Religion is a part of Gods Name, and muſt be uſed with zeal, Rev. 3.15. I would thou wert hot or cold. We are commanded to ſerve God with all our might.
Mot. 8 The coldneſs of the Times ſhould make us active, as men in cold ſeaſons are moſt active to get themſelves into heat. Theſe are cold times for the Soul, as well as for the Body. The Charity of many waxeth cold, as Chriſt foretold; and ſo do other Graces. Men are hot for the Disputes of Faith, and very cold in the Life of Faith: Therefore we ſhould be the more active to keep our heat. It was cold weather, it ſeems, when Peter warm'd himſelf among the Servants at the fire in the High-Prieſts hall. But he went to the wrong fire, and to the wrong company; he ſhould have gone to Gods fire: and indeed Gods people uſe to do ſo in cold times. Others coldneſs makes them the hotter, and others deadneſs makes them the quicker, as contraries quicken one another by an Antiperiſtaſis. It is time for thee to ariſe, ſayes David, Pſal. 119.126. becauſe they have made void thy law: Then addes in the next verſe, Therefore I love thy Commandments above gold. Therefore the coldneſs of the times ſhould make us active, not cool and lazy.Fenner.
Theſe are the Motives. We come now to the Means of Quickning.
The firſt and chiefeſt of all,Means of Quickning. 1. Influence of Chriſt. is to get into the Sun-ſhine of Jeſus Chriſt. You know poor Bees, and other Flies, if they can creep into the Sun, it quickens them, and puts a new life into them. So the Chickens that hang the wing, get under the warmth of the Hen. The nearer we preſs to Jeſus Chriſt by Faith, the more ſpiritual life and heat. He is the Sun of Righteouſneſs, that ariſes with healing in his wings, Mal. 4.2. The beams of his grace revive the drooping Soul: as ſhe ſaid, Joh. 11. If thou hadſt been here, my brother had not died; but I know thou art able to raiſe him up again: So may a Chriſtian ſay, If thou hadſt been here, my Soul had not died, not been in this dead and ſad condition; but thou canſt quicken it again. Faith draws quickning vertue from Jeſus Chriſt, as we heard before in the Reaſon.
2. Ordinances.The ſecond Means are quickning Ordinances, which are as beams from the Sun. One of theſe Ordinances is a quickning Miniſtery; this puts life into the Soul. The Word of God is compared to fire: 1. Word.and therefore John Baptiſt is ſaid to be a burning and ſhining light, Joh. 5.35. A ſhining light; ſo he taught the people: A burning light; ſo he quickned, Did not our hearts burn within us, ſaid the two Diſciples going to Emmaus, Luke 24.32. while he talked with us, and opened to us the Scriptures? The Miniſters lips are as fire, Peoples hearts as tinder. Eliſha liv'd in a dead time, and therefore he praid for a double meaſure of the Spirit of Elijah, which was an active, powerful Spirit, that he might quicken the people If the Miniſters lips be touched with a Coal from Gods Altar, they do oft inflame the hearts of the hearers. Live under ſuch a Miniſtery, if thou wouldſt be quickned. A lively Miniſtery makes a lively people; a dead Miniſtery makes a dead-hearted people. And therefore it's obſervable,Rev. 3.1. that the deadneſs of the Church of Sardis, is charged upon the Angel or Miniſter of the Church; Ʋnto the Angel of the Church of Sardis, write, &c. Therefore pray for your Miniſters, that themſelves being quickned, they may quicken you. Another quickning Ordinance is Prayer. 2. Prayer. Pſal. 119.How oft doth David pray for quickning grace? five or ſix times in one Pſalm. He begins many a Prayer with an heavy heart; and before he hath done, he is full of life. Therefore pray much, becauſe all life is from God, and he quickens whom he will. OnelyOnly let me adde this Caution,Caution. before I let this paſs, Be ſure thy underſtanding and affection go along together in every Ordinance, and in every part of the Ordinance, as thou wouldſt have it a quickning Ordinance. Many complain they are dead under Ordinances: and no wonder: They hear, and they pray without underſtanding, or without affection. It is a Rule, Quicquid agit, agit per contactum: Whatſoever thing acts effectually upon another, it is by ſome kinde of touch or cloſe. When our Souls do not cloſe with the duty in Prayer or Hearing no marvel if it put no life into us. When we give way to diſtractions, to wandring thoughts, to wandring looks, &c. we do but take Gods Name in vain, and the Ordinance is vain to us. There is no life in it, therefore no wonder if there be no life from it. Therefore keep thy head and thy heart cloſe to the duty, if poſſible, from firſt to laſt, and then it will quicken.
Thirdly, make uſe of Death to quicken Spiritual Life. 3. Meditation of Death.Eccleſ. 9.10. Whatſoever thine hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wiſdome in the grave whither thou goeſt. Think of the ſhortneſs of our time of ſervice, in compariſon of the eternity of the reward: Say of ſervice (which is moſt affliction, paſſive ſervice) Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 2 Cor. 4.17.
Fourthly, ſet before thine eyes,4. Gods Eye. the All-piercing Eye of God. So was Peter quickned by a look from Chriſt. Rev. 2.18, 19. Theſe things ſaith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like a flame of fire—I know thy works, and charity, and ſervice, &c. and again, Chap. 3.1. I know thy work, that thou haſt a name to live, and art dead; q. d. I look upon the inſide, where the life of the action is. This would quicken in Prayer, Hearing, &c. Eye-ſervice indeed, in relation to men, is not good: Eph. 6.6. not with eye-ſervice— Partly, becauſe men cannot alwayes look upon us; and partly, becauſe the Conſcience hath a ſuperiour tye, from an heavenly Maſter, at whoſe command they are bound to do ſervice to their earthly Maſters: But Eye-ſervice towards God, (who looks upon his children with an eye of Love, as well as an eye of Obſervance) is very commendable. This it was made David ſo watchful, Pſal. 139.1, 2. O Lord, thou haſt ſearched me, and known me; thou knoweſt my down-ſitting, &c. And it was Gods charge to Abraham, Gen. 17.1. Walk before me, and be thou upright. God hath an eye into our breſts; therefore Faith will make a man take heed how he hears, take heed how he prayes, take heed what he thinks;Pſal. 16. it will make him keep his heart with all diligence, becauſe God ſearcheth the heart and reins, and ponders the spirits. Faith ſetting God at our right hand, will keep us from falling.
5. Aſſurance of Gods Love.Fifthly, get aſſurance of Gods Love: This will make us love him again, 1 Joh. 4.19. We love him, becauſe he loved us firſt. Love will make us very active. Men care not what they do or ſuffer, for thoſe whom they love dearly: Jacob ſerved two hard Apprentiſhips for the love of Rachel; he endured the heat of the day, and the cold of the night, and all was nothing to him, Gen 29.20. Love is as ſtrong as death, Cant. 8.6. and active as fire: Much water cannot quench love. There is a conſtraining power in Love: 2 Cor. 5.14. The love of Chriſt conſtraineth me, ſayes the Apoſtle. You need not much perſwade ſuch a man to be active for God, he hath arguments enough in his own boſome. That Diſciple who lay in Chriſts boſome, how much love doth he expreſs to God and Men! Oh how active and paſſive too, was Paul for God! (2 Cor. 11.23.) and no marvel; for, Who ſhall ſeparate us, ſayes he, from the love of Chriſt? ſhall tribulation, &c. Rom. 8 35.
6. Gods Power.Laſtly, look at Gods Almighty power, able to quicken the deadeſt heart. Rev. 3.14. Thus ſaith the Amen, the Faithful and True Witneſs, the Beginning of the Works of God. Epheſ. 2.10. We are his workmanſhip, created in Chriſt Jeſus unto good works, &c. Therefore David prayes to God, Pſal. 51.10. Create in me a clean heart, renew a right spirit. And there is a Promiſe for Faith, Hoſ. 14.7. They that dwell under his ſhadow, ſhall return; they ſhall revive as the corn (after winter) and grow as the vine, &c.
Ʋſe of Examination.
Whether we do live by Faith the Life of Vivification:Ʋſe 3. Trial of Faith in vivifying. And need we have to Examine, leſt we be deceived. Many ſeem to be very active, and yet they do not live By Faith for all that. Therefore ſay to thy ſelf, as Iſaac did when he thought Eſau had brought him veniſon, Gen. 27.21. Art thou my very ſon Eſau? ſayes he: So, Art thou that very Life of Vivification? Say to this or that particular Duty, Art thou the very true Iſſue and Childe of ſuch a life? The DeVil is cunning to deceive us; as he raiſed up a counterfeit Samuel in ſtead of the true Samuel, 1 Sam 28. So he cozens men with a counterfeit Life of Vivification in ſtead of a true.
Queſt. But how ſhall I know one from the other?
Anſ. This is partly delivered before. At preſent, they may be known by Examining them: 1. In their Principle. 2. In their End. 3. In their Manner of working. 4. In their iſſue and Event.
Trial. 1 Firſt, in their Principle. True living actions ſpring from a living and inward Principle. Though a Clock moves, we do not ſay it is alive; becauſe it is moved by the Weights. Though an heavy Milſtone moves apace, we do not ſay it is alive, becauſe it is moved ab extra, by the Wind or Water. But if we ſee a little Fly or Ant move, we ſay there is life, becauſe it is moved from an inward Principle. So he that lives the Life of Vivification, his activity proceeds from an inward principle of life.
And how is that diſcerned?
Anſ. His actions ſpring 1. From Faith, both in the Precept, Pſal. 119.93. I will never forget thy precepts, for by them thou haſt quickned me; and in the Promiſe, whether of Aſſiſtance, or Acceptance, or Reward: as we ſee in Moſes, Heb. 11.25, 26. 2. From Love, 2 Cor. 5.14. The love of Chriſt conſtraineth me. A natural man, or hypocrite, is not moved by any ſuch Principle.
Trial. 2 Secondly, they differ in their End. A true Chriſtian aims at Gods glory: Elias is zealous for the Lord of hoſts, 1 King. 19. Whether he eats or drinks—he does all to the glory of God, 1 Cor. 10.31. And others Salvation; ver. 33 Even as I pleaſe all men in all things, not ſeeking mine own profit, ſayes Paul, but the profit of many, that they may be ſaved. An Hypocrite, though zealous, and he ſayes 'tis for God, yet 'tis for himſelf, that he may be ſeen of men, Matth. 6.6. So Jehu, 2 Kings 10.16. Come ſee my zeal for the Lord: This is his end, and this is his Principle. For, Finis movet agentem; That which is laſt in Execution, is firſt in Intention. Hence alſo his moſt lively actions ſpring from envy, and ſinful emulation; they ſcorn any ſhould go beyond them: Some preach Chriſt of envy, ſayes Paul, Philip. 1.15. But a gracious heart is glad when others are active, and exceed.
Trial. 3 Thirdly, in their Manner of working, where there is true Vivification. 1. It ſtrives againſt Coldneſs, and meets with oppoſition; ſwims againſt the ſtream. An hypocrite may be as active as he will, he findes nothing to let him. 2. He that is truly active, deſires to approve himſelf to God, and had rather God ſhould approve him, than all the world commend him: 1 Cor. 4.3, 4. It is a very ſmall thing, I ſhould be judg'd of mans judgment— but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Nay, 2 Cor. 10. laſt, Not he that commendeth himſelf is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.See Pſal. 139. Iohn 21.17.
Trial. 4 Laſtly, in their Iſſue and ſucceſs. The true Life of Vivification, increaſeth ſtrength and ſpirits: Prov. 24.5. A man of knowledge increaſeth ſtrength. The counterfeit life of Vivification, decreaſeth ſtrength and ſpirit; like the blazing Comet that waſtes it ſelf; or as unnatural predatory heat, devours the ſpirits and ſtrength, whereas natural heat increaſeth both. Falſe zeal, is like Nebuchadnezzars Image, Dan. 2.32 the head of gold, but downward worſe and worſe.