The Christian Completely Armed, Lecture 12
LECT. XII. Decemb. 26. 1649.
(4.) HE that leades a life truly righteous, Lect. 12.deſires and endeavours every day to be more righteous. He is one, whoſe care is to cleanſe himſelf from all filthineſs both of fleſh and ſpirit, perfecting holineſs in the fear of God, 2 Cor. 7. 1. This Character the Holy Ghoſt gives of the righteous man, Rev. 22. 11. He that is righteous, let him be righteous ſtill; and he that is holy, let him be holy ſtill. The particle [Still] denotes not onelyonly continuance, but progreſs in holineſs. He deſires not onelyonly to bring forth the fruits of righteouſneſs, but to be filled with the fruits of righteouſneſs, and to abound more and more: he doth deſire daily to put off the old man, and to put on the new man, which (after God) is created in righteouſneſs and true holineſs, Epheſ. 4. 22, 24.
Firſt, he ſeeth the vileneſs and odiouſneſs of ſinne, and therefore would have it further mortified: he ſeeth the excellency and beauty of holineſs, and therefore he would have it increaſed: and, to this purpoſe, deſires to make conſcionable uſe of all meanes of Mortification and Renovation.
Secondly, he ſeeth what a little meaſure of holineſs it is, which he hath yet attained unto, and this makes him mend his pace.
(5.) The righteous man is one who workes righteouſneſs in all times. Not onelyonly when it is gainful, but even then when it is dangerous and prejudicial. This is David's character of himſelf, Pſal. 119. 20. My ſoul breaketh for the longing i… hath to thy judgments at all times. And this is that character which he makes of others, Pſal. 106. 3. Bleſſed are they that keep judgment, and he that doth righteouſneſs at all times. A righteous perſon will do righteouſly not only when he may be rewarded, but alſo when he is ſure he ſhall be perſecuted for righteouſneſſe ſake. He can diſtinguiſh between fas and nefas, when the generation, wherein he lives, is wholly devoted to wickedneſs. This is the character of Noahs righteouſneſs, Gen. 7. 1. You have a deſcription of that Generation, Chap. 6. 5. In this Generation Noah kept his righteouſneſs.
This the Apoſtle exhorts the Philippians, Phil. 2. 15. That ye may be harmleſs and blameleſs, &c. in the middeſt of a crooked and perverſe generation.
Yea, a righteous man in ſuch a generation, by a ſpiritual kind of Antiperiſtaſis, endeavors to walk more righteouſly. For,
(1.) Times and Ages, Men and Cuſtome, are not the guide of his Life, but Conſcience rightly informed by the Word of God.
(2.) The more looſe his generation is, the more neceſſity he ſees lying upon himſelf to practiſe Holineſs, both to keep it up in the world, and to confute the want of it in other men. If he live in a Covenant-breaking, and Covenant-denying, and Covenant-forſwearing generation, he ſees that he hath the more reaſon to walk in Covenant maintaining, and Covenant keeping, &c.
(6) The righteous perſon is one who doth in his heart bewail the unrighteous practices of other men. This is the Evidence of Lots righteouſneſs: vid. 2 Pet. 2. 8. That righteous man dwelling among them, in ſeeing, and hearing, vexed his righteous ſoul from day to day with their unlawful deeds. Thus alſo did the Holy men in Jeruſalem, in a time of wickedneſs, Ezek. 9. The ſins, which were a ſport to others, were a ſad grief to their ſoules. When others were ſinging to their idols, they were ſorrowing for that mirth: they did not onelyonly murmure againſt their ſins, but they did mourn for them, and that with ſighing and tears.
1. A righteous man knowes both the filthineſs of ſinne, and the miſchiefe of ſinne.
2. A righteous perſon hath fervent love to God, and hearty Affection to the ſoules of men: this makes him mourn for the ſins he cannot mend.
(7) The righteous perſon is one who is gladly willing to be told of any act of unrighteouſneſs. He is ſorry to do unrighteouſly; but not ſorry to be told of his unrighteous Doing. He will thank God for making any an Inſtrument of reproving, and he will honour and love the Inſtrument for his faithfull admonition. He will not like Ahab impriſon a Micajah, nor yet with Herod cut off the head of a faithfull Reprover; but will be pleaſed with the diſcovery of ſinne, though from an enemy. Famous and renowned is the example of David for this, 1 Sam. 25. 32, 33. He had received an unworthy affront from a man to whom he had ſhewed much kindneſs, ver. 15, 16. The men were very good to us, neither miſſed we any thing as long as we were converſant with them in the field, &c.
And now he was upon his march in the heat of blood to avenge that wrong: It was but a woman who came to meet him, and one who was ſo neerly related to Nabal, that what ſhe ſaid, might be rendred ſuſpected; and yet becauſe ſhe ſpake both Reaſon and Religion, David was convinced of his ſinne, bleſſed God, and bleſſeth her, retreats from his march; yea, his ſoul was ſo knit to Abigail for her faithful advice, that as ſoon as her husband was dead, he took her to wife, & ſhe was ever after precious in his ſight. Solomon maks this a diſtinctive note between the godly wiſe, and the wicked: the one loves ſinne, but hates rebuke: the other loves rebuke, but hates ſinne, Prov. 9. 8. A faithful Reprover, is as a Looking-glaſs, wherein our ſpots are ſeen; and he that loves to be clean, hates no Looking-glaſs, unleſs it be a falſe one, that makes him fairer then he is. A faithful Rebuker is as a Phyſician to the ſoul, he comes to lance, but it is in order to a cure: no man that loves to live, hates the Phyſician, unleſs he be in a diſtemper; but honours him, and bids him welcome. Let the righteous ſmite me, it ſhall be a kindneſs; let him reprove me, it ſhall be a precious oyl, which ſhall not break my head: ſo the righteous perſon thinketh, and ſo he ſpeaketh, Pſal. 141. 5. A righteous perſon is as willing to have his ſinne diſcovered, as his graces; and as willing to be ſmitten for his ſinne, as encouraged for well-doing. He loves a plain-dealing Miniſtry, that will tell him of his ſinne without flattery: he would not have bitter put for ſweet, or ſweet for bitter.
Secondly, wherein the uſefulneſs of this Breaſt-plate ſtands, as to the reſiſting of Temptation. I ſhal ſhew you this in theſe three Particulars, viz.
(1) Righteouſneſs gives boldneſs and courage to the ſoul in the day of Temptation. Reſolution of ſpirit is of very great advantage to a ſouldier: If the heart be faint, the hands tremble. When the people of Iſrael went out to War againſt their enemies, God gave this Law amongſt others, that the Officers ſhould make a Proclamation in the head of the Army, That whoſoever was fearfull and faint-hearted, ſhould go and return to his houſe, leſt his Brethrens heart faint as well as his, Deut. 20. 8. Cowardlineſs doth give a very great advantage to the enemy. Now Righteouſneſs, and Innocency of life, makes the ſoul valiant. Hic murus aheneus eſto, Nil conſcire ſibi nullâ palleſcere culpâ. Innocency of life, is the beſt Cordial to remove tremblings from the ſoul. Pro: 28. 1. The wicked flee, when no man purſueth; but the Righteous are bold as a Lyon. The word is, as a young Lyon, in the Hebrew: Of all Beaſts, the Lyon is moſt valiant; he is the King of Beaſts; and of all Lyons, the young Lyon is moſt valiant, in regard of the abundance of naturall heat which is in him. Righteouſneſſe gives a Lyon-like boldneſs to the ſoul in the day of Temptation: guilt makes the heart melt. Thou haſt driven me out this day from the face of the earth, &c. And it ſhall come to paſs, that every one that findeth me ſhall ſlay me, Gen. 4. 14. Carnificem fuum gerebat; his Conſcience was his Tormenter, and the guilt of his ſinne did ſo infeeble his ſpirits, that though there was not then a man living beſides his Father, yet he thought he ſhould be taken away by a violent death.
Now the ground of the courage ariſing from Righteouſneſs, is, not from the merit of Righteouſneſs; for, in reſpect of Merit, all our Righteouſneſſes are as a filthy rag, Iſa 64. 6. But, upon theſe conſiderations, it makes the ſoul valiant, in that (1.) It pacifieth the Conſcience, by giving us an evidence of our Juſtification, and of the acceptance of our perſons, through grace, in the ſight of God. Holineſſe, and Righteouſneſſe, is an Argument that we are the redeemed Ones of Jeſus Chriſt, Luke 1. 74, 75. Righteouſneſs of Converſation, gives the ſoul an evidence of its election, 2 Tim. 2. 19. Departing from Iniquity, is a teſtimony that a perſon is ſealed up for ſalvation, and eternal life: vid. 1. Ioh. 3. 9, 10. (2.) It gives courage, in that it lets a ſoul ſee that it hath a right to all the Promiſes. All the Promiſes are made to righteous walking: Promiſes of Support, Promiſes of perſeverance, Promiſes of deliverance; Righteouſneſs gives the ſoul a propriety in all theſe, and ſo makes it valiant: See but that one Promiſe, 1 Ioh. 5. 18. that is a Promiſe of ſecurity againſt Satan.
He ſhall not touch him, that is, not with a deſtructive Touch; he ſhall not draw him into that ſin which is unto death; he ſhall not finally overcome him, &c. This Promiſe is made to every one that is born of God; and whoſoever is born of God, doth righteouſly, as he is righteous: the righteous man, and the regenerate, are all one.
(2.) Righteouſneſs makes the ſoul strong, as well as valiant. Strength and Power is of very great uſe to a ſouldier in the day of battel: it makes him able both to defend himſelf, and to offend his enemy. Now Righteouſneſs, and Holineſs, ſtrengthens a Chriſtian two ways.
Firſt, In that it doth demoliſh and deſtroy that which makes the ſoul weak. Sin is the weakneſs and infirmity of the ſoul: it is the Devils great ſtrength, and that which gives him all the advantage he hath againſt the ſoul: Our ſins, are Satans Armour, that wherein he truſteth, and with which he fighteth againſt us: if he did not find aſſiſtance within us, he could not do us any miſchief by that which is without us. The Prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me, Joh. 14. 30. and becauſe he had nothing in him, he could do nothing againſt him. Our ſinnes are the Devils ſtrong Holds, in which he fights againſt us. Now Righteouſneſs doth expell ſinne, as the Light expelleth the darkneſs: It doth caſt down theſe ſtrong Holds; it doth diſſolve the works of the Devil, and taketh from him that Armor wherein he truſteth and ſo gives us ſtrength.
Secondly, It ſtrengthens the ſoul, in that it brings with it all ſtrength. Whereſoever Righteouſneſs is, there is God, and there is Chriſt, and there's the Spirit; the Spirit of Might, and the Spirit of Power. 'Tis true, Righteouſneſs is not either in the heart, or in the life, till God have wrought it. Righteouſneſs doth not bring God, but God brings Righteouſneſs unto the ſoul: but when God hath wrought this Work, then doth Holineſs engage God. Righteouſneſs puts the ſoul under the ſhadow of Gods wings, ſo that whatſoever ſtrength, power and vertue is in God, is engaged for the righteous mans defence. This ye have clearly laid down, Pſal. 92. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. It was the great happineſs of the Iſraelites, that the Eternal God was their refuge, Dent. 33. 27. This was their ſtrength in all the battels they fought; and he that walkes holily is under this happineſs; Pſal. 84. 11.
(3.) Without righteouſneſs of life, no uſe can be made of any other pieces of this Armour. 1. He cannot gird himſelf with Truth: Righteouſneſs of life, and truth of heart, are as the tree and fruit, they alwayes go together: he that hath an unholy life, is certainly unholy in heart: the Kings daughter is all glorious within, and her Cloathing of wrought gold, Pſal. 45. 13.
2. He cannot put on the ſhooes of the Goſpel of peace; for there is no peace to the wicked, ſaith my God, Eſa 57, 21.
3. He cannot put on the Helmet of Salvation. A man who is unholy in life, is deſtitute of all true hopes of Heaven; for every one that hath this hope purifyeth himſelf, as God is pure, 1 Joh. 3. 3.
(4.) Nor can he take the Shield of Faith, Faith is alwayes an heart-purifying grace, Act. 15. 9. A wicked life is the conſequence of an unbelieving heart.
(5.) Nor can he take the Sword of the Spirit: This ſword is not a defending ſword, but a wounding ſword to an unholy life: every part of Gods Word, is, for the preſent, againſt him: the word terrifyeth and condemneth him.
(6.) Nor will Prayer and Supplication do him any good: God hath no ear for the prayers of a wicked man, Pſal. 66. 18. yea his prayers are turned into ſin, Prov. 28. 9. But now he whoſe converſation is righteous, can make uſe of all the other. He can uſe the girdle; he can, and may draw comforts from the Goſpel of peace; he may cover himſelf with the ſhield of Faith; the Sword of the Spirit is a defending Weapon to him, and his prayers are full of virtue and efficacy.
Information. (1) This may apologize for 1. Ʋſe.the care and exactneſs of the ſervants of God in their endeavours after purity and holineſſe of life. Wicked men are ready to blaſt, and reproach the children of God for their diligence in labouring after purity, becauſe they will not run with others into the ſame exceſs of Riot, therefore they ſpeak evill of them, 1 Pet. 4. 4. Let ſuch men conſider what followeth, ver. 5. They ſhall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. In the day of judgment it ſhall appear, that ſuch exactneſs was not unneceſſary: when you ſhall ſee ſuch as you have reproached numbred among the Saints; then you will befool your ſelves, and ſay, We fooles counted their lives madneſs, and their end full of reproach, Wiſd. 5. init. How are they reckoned amongſt the ſons of God, and have their Inheritance amongſt the Saints? You that are now troubled at their holy lives, will be then aſtoniſhed at their unexpected ſalvation. The ſervants of God know the uſefulneſs of holineſs here, and the eternal happineſs of it in the other world; and you alſo will in the day of the Lord return and diſcern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that ſerveth God, and him that ſerveth him not, Mal. 3. 18. Men do not uſe to blame a ſouldier that goes to meet a cruel and potent enemy, becauſe he is carefull to provide a ſtrong Breaſt-plate: they rather blame his raſhneſs and indiſcretion, that ſhall go naked: Righteouſneſs is the onelyonly Breaſt-plate to keep out Satans arrows, and therefore they are very wiſe, whatever men think, who are careful both to provide it, and wear it.
(2.) We need not wonder to ſee men of diſſolute and leud lives, to be ſo wofully ſubdued unto the will of Satan, and ſo unable to reſiſt any temptation. Well ſaith the Apoſtle, Eph. 2. 2. That the Prince of the power of the Air, worketh in the children of diſobedience, foreign; he doth work effectually, as the word ſignifies; he commands, and they obey; he tempts, and they yield; he ſuggeſts, and they conſent to his ſuggeſtions; if he tempt them to ſwear, to lye, to murther, to commit adultery, they make no reſiſtance, but are carryed captive, by ſin, at his Will, 2 Tim. 2. 26. Amongſt many other Reaſons that might be rendred, the Doctrine gives us one, which is ſufficient to ſtay our wonderment: Their breaſt lies naked to his arrows, and therfore they cannot but fall; and when they are fallen, they cannot recover. As the Heretick and Hypocrite are overcome for want of the girdle of Truth, ſo the prophane perſon is ſurprized for want of the Breaſt-plate of Righteouſneſs.