Influences of the Life of Grace, Part 2 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
Influences of grace are due to the Saints by promiſe. 2. Some are plagued with plenty of means. 3. The ſcope of the place, Deut. 29. 3. The great temptations which thine eyes have ſeen, &c. opened. 4. The nature of the Lord's promiſe of influences. 5. The efficient cauſes of influences from the Father and from the Son: influences on the Man Chriſt. 6. Influences from the Father, how they are ours. 7. Influences from the Son Chriſt which are promiſed to us, how they are ours.
THere is another way of fetching influences of grace, when we carefully uſe former grace: as our Saviour ſaith, to him that hath, ſhall be given. And ſo grace ſhall bring more grace:The Lord hath given influences by neceſſity of a promiſe. Sowen wheat brings forth more wheat. Pſal. 119. 1. Bleſſed are they that walk in the law of the Lord, they ſhall doe no iniquity; then upon the account of a holy walk, the Lord muſt beſtow influences of grace to preſerve men from doing acts of iniquity. And there muſt be a promiſe of influences, that ſuch as walk in the Law of the Lord, ſhall walk more in that Law; Prov. 1. 5. A wiſe man will hear and encreaſe more in learning: then to ſpiritual wiſedome there muſt be a promiſe of influences to encreaſe ſpiritual wiſedom. Iſa. 40. They that wait on the Lord ſhall renew their ſtrength, they ſhall mount up with wings as Eagles, they ſhall run and not be weary, and walk and not faint. Then waiting on the Lord ſhall fetch the wind of new quickening influences to wait more upon the Lord, and to run; and they that run, ſhall run more, and which falls not out in phyſical running when they are running. Now freſh ſwiftneſs and recent vigour of ſpeed ſhall be given to the runner, and larger breath and ſpiritneſſe then he had before. None are thriving and growing men as the godly are. Mal. 4. 2. But unto you that fear my Name ſhall the Sun of righteouſneſs ariſe with healing in his wings; and ye ſhall goe forth, and grow as calves in the ſtall. Prov. 4. 18. But the path of the juſt is as the ſhining light, that ſhineth more and more, unto the perfect day.
In which diſpenſation, 1. Such as are more proud with plenty of means and plague themſelves with abundance, occaſion the truth of this; that Chriſt ſends the rich empty away, and throws the mighty down from their ſeats, and their golden and ſilken chairs, Luke 52. 53. And the rich and the full (ſaith Hannah, 1 Sam. 2. 5.) have hired out themſelves for bread. And ſince men will be plagued and poyſoned with plenty, let it be ſo; and that lie upon them as a word of chiding,A clearing of the place Deu. 29. 3. the great temptations, &c. Deut. 29. 3. The great temptations which thine eyes have ſeen, the ſigns and theſe great miracles. Ver. 4. Yet the Lord hath not given you a heart to perceive, nor eyes to ſee, nor ears to hear unto this day. And is the Lord complaining of himſelf in this place? No; he will not have them to ſearch into the depth of ſoveraignty, ver. 29. becauſe God gave them not an heart. Nay, but his ſcope is to complain of the peoples abuſing of the plenty of means. I gave you the grace of outward means, but ye miſgraced (to ſpeak ſo) your own heart; therefore it is juſt that ye be blind and deaf, ſince ye wickedly wink and ſtop your ears; though it cannot be denied that God would have them humbled by reflecting on their own wilful winking and blindneſs, yet ſo as they ſhould tremble and ſtoop at him, who can give a new heart and eyes and ears, but of ſoveraignty denies it to the reprobates; of whom he complains, that the choſen may tremble.
2. We are hence led to conſider the nature of God's promiſes, that they are much unlike to the promiſes and covenants between man and man: For it comes to this; ſuch as have influences from the Lord to run, through his free grace, the Lord of the ſame free grace giveth new influences to them to run more. The Lord, becauſe he makes ſome rich in grace, he makes them of rich in grace, yet more rich in grace; and whom he loves freely, he yet more freely loves. And the truth is, the Lord makes himſelf debtor to his own grace not to our induſtry. As Auguſtine, Auguſt. lib. 1. con. 6. Nec mater mea nec nutrices meae ſibi ubera implebant, ſed tu mihi, Domine, per eas dabas mihi alimentum infantiae ſecundum inſtitutionem tuam & divitias uſ que ad fundum rerum diſpoſitas; tu etiam dabas nolle amplius, quam dabas & nutrientibus me dare, mihi velle quod eis dabas dare enim mihi per ordinatum effectum volebant, quo ex te abundabant.the Lord gave being and milk to my Nurſe to feed me, thou gaveſt me nilling and willing; where is my merit then?
3. Free grace infuſed the firſt habit; ſo by infuſion of grace he adds parcels to the firſt habit; ſo that the increaſe of the habit of grace, is as free grace as the firſt habit; and there is no earning nor hiring of grace, or engaging of the Lord, elſe grace ſhould not be grace, and works ſhould not be works.
4. By ſome hainous, old and over years guiltineſs, we give place to the Divel, and rotten talking and malice and wrath ſtealing in; Paul is put to that neceſſary word, Epheſ. 4. 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. Grieve not the Spirit of God, by which ye are ſealed to the day of redemption. For ſuch ſins bring on withdrawing of influences. Chriſt knocks and ye put a little ſtone in the Key-hole, and the ſprent is broken, and the dore will neither open nor ſhut: when the wheels of the Horologue are broke, there is no ſound of hours heard; when the bones are cruſhed, the man cannot walk; the ſpiritual organs, diſpoſitions and powers of David's ſoul were blunted and out of frame, by his adultery and bloud-guiltineſſe: No wonder then the Spirit was unwilling to dwell and act in his wonted lodging, Pſal. 51. 11. Caſt me not away from thy preſence: and take not (ſaith he) thy holy Spirit from me. 12. Reſtore unto me the joy of thy ſalvation, and uphold me with thy free Spirit. Its good to keep the wheels whole.
But ſin cannot ſo interdict or lay an arreſtment upon influences as to conclude and reſtrain the free grace of God: Ripening of guiltineſſe, makes way to ripening of free grace.nor does the Lord by the Saints falls, fall from his ſoveraignty and princedom of grace; yea, rather from the heightning and abounding of ſin does the reign and Kingly power of grace ſhine the more; the more tumid the boyl is, and the more the fleſh about it burns and flames with the ſwelling of the humour, the more it is ripened for breaking and healing. A Feaver at the height begins to decline, as the Sea full at the outmoſt point of the ſhore does reflow and ebb again. See death and ſin's reign, and grace and Chriſt's reign, Rom. 5. 15, 17, 21. See Ezech. 20. 23. Ezech. 16. 59, 60. Ezech. 26. 21, 22, 23. 1 Tim. 1. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. make ſome ripeneſs for fulneſs of grace. Though Chriſt's reign cannot ebb or fall; But no thanks to the ſinner, but great praiſe to him who makes medicine of the rotten and attry bloud of our wounds.
5. Its conſiderable that gracious actings fetch influences for other gracious actings; for grace is nearer of kin to grace then nature can be to grace.
Now as touching the Author of influences (that we may come more particularly to the ſupernaturalneſs of influences) we know the Father, The three perſons, the Father, Son, and Spirit give influences.the Son, the holy Spirit are all in Scripture ſaid to act upon the ſoul, in a gracious way. It ſhall not be needful to ſpeak much of the Father's influences upon the man Chriſt in ſending and beſtowing the Spirit and the anointing above his fellows upon him: In the influences of the God-head, in a perſonal union upon the Man Chriſt in filling him with the holy Ghoſt from the womb: and eſpecially the Lord was mighty in him in preaching with authority; ſo that the hearers were aſtoniſhed, and all wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth, The fulneſs of influences on the man Chriſt.in praying while his countenance ſhined.
And 2. The Lord's influences were evident in diſputing with the Doctors in the Temple, when he was but twelve years of age, in ſilencing the learned enemies in ſtrongly convincing parables.
3. God was mighty in miracles of all ſorts, in caſting out Divels, healing all manner of diſeaſes inſtantly without medicine, in raiſing the dead, in rebuking the ſea and the winds, multiplying the loaves, blaſting the fig-trees, Acts 16. 39. Iſa. 61. 1. John 3. 34. Iſa. 11. 1, 2, 3.
4. Influences more then ordinary were ſeen in his ſtrength againſt the Divels, and juſtice and wrath of God for our ſins, in praying, ſtrong believing, in tears and cries, in preaching and exhorting his Diſciples, converting the Thief that ſuffered with him.
5. He muſt have had ſtrong and mighty influences in the courſe of a holy and ſinleſſe converſation, in a mortified walk, refuſing a Kingdom when it was offered to him, John 6. though he could have born it out; in being poor for us; in having no hole nor lodging to hide his head; in meek and patient forgiving of his enemies; in being much in prayer, ſpending whole nights in praying; in praying and faſting forty dayes; in obeying all lawes, fulfilling all righteouſneſſe, ceremonial, moral, natural; in all works of merciemercy, obedience to Caeſar, to Parents, Brethren, to ſoules of men; in his vertues of faith, lowlineſſe, meekneſſe, patience, love, zeal, hope, delighting in God.
Now though none can be ſo neer to God as the man Chriſt, who in one perſon was not neer to God only, but was God-man and Emanuel; yet learn we hence, the nearer we are to God, the more are we under the ſhowres of influences of grace. It's good to be holy, and keep cloſe communion with God, and dwell hard by the Fountain, and we ſhall be watered. The tree planted by the rivers ſide hath moſt influences; and the man that lies in a bed of roſes, and is neer to ſpikenard, to mirrhe, aloes, and Caſſia, and is dayly among the he…bs, and haunts in the garden of all fragrant ſmels, will carry ſome ſweet ſavour away. The Lord Jeſus his out-lettings of free love and grace, muſt run much upon theſe who are daily neer to him. Keep a diſtance from God, and be much at cups, at chambering and wantonneſſe, in the company of the whore, of the profane, of the ſwearer, what hope of ſhowres and waterings of influences of grace upon ſuch a curſed ſoyle?
But 2. The Fathers drawing ſinners to Chriſt, Iohn 6. 44. the Fathers teaching men, and cauſing them to hear the learning of the Father, Iohn 6. 45. holds forth the influences of the Father upon ſinners. Chriſts word is remarkable, Iohn 15.Influences of the Father upon his own 1. My Father is the husband-man. When Chriſts Father ploughs the ſinner, and breaks up the fallow ground of the heart, there muſt be influences there: for then is the Father fitting the ſoyle for Chriſt, Col. 1. 12. Giving thanks unto the Father, The Lord's beginning of a good work in us brings the Lord under a neceſſity of conferring influences to the end.who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkneſſe, and hath tranſlated us to the kingdom of the Son of his love. That muſt be a mighty ſtrong influence of the Father that works the mans tranſlation; and the daily work of the care of the Father is much in promoving his work, Iohn 15. 2. Every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Let then the queſtion be, what talk ye to us of predeterminating influences that are above us in the hand of a Soveraign God?How ſhall our ſhort arm reach theſe influences. How ſhall our ſhort arme reach theſe influences? We muſt have influences of the Father that are at our hand, and under the power of our free-will.
Anſw. 1. The Adverſaries here deny the freedome and ſoveraignty of grace in beſtowing influences, and ſubmit the actings of grace to the induſtry of a ſoveraign man. Bradwardin deſired to worſhip no God who was under mans free-will: I commend him for it.
2.Chriſt hath the diſpenſing of predeterminating influences, by office and covenant. The queſtion is ſoon anſwered: The Father of Chriſt condeſcends to take on the perſon, and, as it were, the office of a painful husband-man, who intends to make ſome noble generous Vine-trees to be planted in the higher garden; and ſhall an earthly husband-man plow, delve, ditch, plant, purge, and do all that becomes his office? ſo that it the Vine-tree had wit and reaſon, it could not make a queſtion, will the husband-man care for me? will he delve, and dreſſe, and purge me, that I may bring forth more fruit? Far more may the believer ſay, Chriſts Father and my Father is the good husband-man, and both have begun the good work in me. Faith would ſay, he will not be wanting in his office of husbandry; he will ſend ſhowers of bleſſings and influences upon his mount Sion, and upon me a withered and dry twig.
3. Chriſt ſaith, Iohn 15. I am the Vine-tree, ye are the branches. Now look what influences of ſap and life the Vine-tree ſends to the branches, and the head to the members, ſo will the Lord for ever make that good, Iohn 14. 19. Becauſe I live, ye ſhall live alſo.
1. As King and Prince. Chriſt muſt put out his influences for repentance and pardon, Acts 5. 31.
2. He is Prophet of the Church: Then opening the heart to underſtand the Scriptures is his office, and to warm the heart by the word, Luke 24. 32, 45.
3. As High Prieſt he aſcended on high, and contributes his influences for ſending down the Spirit, Luke 24. 49. John 14. 16, 17. John 16. 7.
Yea, and predeterminating influences to circumciſe the heart to the Lord, are promiſed by him, Deut. 30. 6. Ezek. 18. 19. Iſa. 44. 1, 2, 3, 4.
2. When a dominion from ſea to ſea, and from the river to the ends of the earth is promiſed to him, Pſal. 72. 8. and that all nations ſhall ſerve him, v. 11. and that the heathen ſhall be his inheritance, and the uttermoſt parts of the earth his poſſeſſion, Pſal. 2. 8. and when the incoming of the Gentiles in their fulneſs, is promiſed to him, Iſa. 55. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Iſa. 42. 8, 9. Iſa. 11. 10, 11. there muſt be promiſed a power of bowing their hearts, to make them a willing people to follow Chriſt, Pſal. 110. 1, 2, 3. Call this bowing of the heart predeterminating grace, or give it another name, I contend not, or call it an impreſſion of ſtrong delectation on the will, ſo it be invincible, inſuperable, and above the power of free will to reſiſt and oppoſe the call and drawing power of Chriſt, no matter though it be not irreſiſtible; which includes the wills free conſent.
3. The promiſes of a ſeed given to Chriſt, and that he ſhould ſee of the travels of his ſoul; and that the pleaſure of the Lord ſhould proſper in his hand, Iſa. 53. prove that influences of grace muſt be promiſed, by which people ſhould be made the ſeed of Chriſt, and willing followers of him, which is Chriſt's ſoul-travel, and the good-will and pleaſure of God proſpering in his hand, Iſa. 59. 20, 21, 22. Iſa. 49. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Pſal. 89. 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37.
4. The promiſes of the covenant between the Father and the Son prove the ſame; for if God give many children to Chriſt, and if Chriſt undertake for theſe many children, to bring them to glory, to caſt none of them forth, but to raiſe them up at the laſt day, and to loſe none of them; Then muſt Chriſt be Maſter of their free will, and he muſt have a bar of ſtrong influences on their heart, that it ſhall not be in the power of Satan, the world or ſinful fleſh to pluck them out of his hand. Hence againſt all trepidation of mind, this is removed; what warrant have we, that we can make uſe of the influences of grace that are in the hands of the Son? theſe are a fowl flying in the wood, which we cannot command; take theſe anſwers.
1.The influences in the Son are all for our uſe and good. What ever Mediatory grace is in the Son they are gracious influences laid by for our good; as what ſums of money a rich man is to give out for the profit of Minors, he mixes it not with his own, but looks on it as none of his, but to be expended for the good of others; and the Minors having aſſurance of the faithfulneſſe and care of their Tutors, look upon it as their own: we are by faith to look upon the treaſury of Chriſt that is begun to be beſtowed on us; and that Chriſt ſhall not withdraw, (being a moſt faithful Tutor) what is neceſſary for our beſt life.
2. Chriſt being the beſt of Kings, the moſt faithful of Prieſts, and above all the Prophets, Moſes, and who ever they were, by office is to give out influences. If we believe that Chriſt ſhall acquit himſelf as a King, then ſhall his ſubjects find the outlettings of grace for repentance and remiſſion, Acts 5. 31. for Chriſt is worthy of his throue and chair of Princely ſtate We are to believe, as our high Prieſt, he ſhall, by vertue of his office, apply by the Spirit the bloud of attonement and ſprinkle the nations therewith; As alſo, when we ſin he gives out influences for believing that our Advocate lives and intercedes for us; and the acts of opening the heart to believe the Scriptures, to be guided in all truth, to be comforted and quickned, come from Chriſt the great Prophet; and if he be God, what the Governour of Heaven and Earth does by his office, if he feed all living things, the Ravens move not the queſtion what they ſhall eat to morrow, nor the Lillies of the field how they ſhall be cloathed: far more, believers are to reſt upon this, Chriſt ſhall fully execute all his offices in all parts towards them.
3. The Vine-tree, by a flux of nature, ſends ſap to the branches, and the head does not deliberate nor interpoſe freedome of will to ſend down life and influences of life to the members; but nature hath a ſtrong hand in this: at leaſt love is ſoon reſolved in the husband what ſhall be the influences of good communicated by him to the Spouſe. The great thing Redemption is purchaſed, and will Chriſt ſtand and doubt of influences of grace to compleat the Redemption, and to make out the life of glory until it come to the fruition and enjoyment thereof?