Influences of the Life of Grace, Part 3 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
The place Luke 24. 32. Did not our heart burn, &c. is opened. 2. Believers can tell the hiſtory of the actings of the Spirit. 3. Feelings may be ſtrongeſt after the actings of the Spirit. 4. The differences between literal heat and ſpiritual heat in many particulars. 5. And betwixt the Spirits actings with the Word, and Enthuſiaſtical raptures.
There be other holy diſpoſitions moſt conſiderable, ſpecially theſe.
1. Burning of heart.
2. Enlargedneſs of heart
3. Fixedneſs of heart.
4. Love-ſickneſs after Chriſt.
Beſides theſe there be ſpecial diſpoſitions to pray, to praiſe, to ſubmit to God, to adore, to walk humbly, to walk circumſpectly and tenderly, and ſuch like; but moſt of them may be reduced to theſe.
NOw to ſpeak of the burning of the heart, the place Luke 24. 32. is clear. The two diſciples having parted with Chriſt, now riſen from the dead, and not knowing him to be Chriſt, 32. they ſay one to another, Did not our hearts burn within us when he ſpake to us in the way, and opened to us the Scriptures?
In which words the nature of heavenly heart-burning, in the cauſes and properties thereof, is laid open; and the differences between the heat natural from natural influences, from the lively heat ſpiritual.
In the words theſe particulars are to be obſerved.
1. When the heat is gone and paſt, 1. they perceive it; they ſaid one to another when he is gone, our heart did burn, in the paſt or preterite time.
2. They accuſe their own ſtupidity, foreign, did not our heart burn? were we ſleeping when he burnt us.
3. The Author ſpeaking, Chriſt, while he ſpake to us in the way.
4. The fewel that made the fire, and the burning coals, the Scripture opened by Chriſt.
5. The object of the burning, or the ſubject recipient, our heart, was burning, as an oven or a furnace.
They ſaid one to another. The coal of fire which Chriſt caſt into the heart, and is now ſmoaking among the firewood, and on the heart, leaves two things behind it.
1. Telling of their experiences one to another.
2. The feeling and perceiving of the heavenly heart-burning, better when it's gone,We can tell the actings of the ſpirit when they are on, and after they are over and gone. then when it was on. Then the heart-working of Chriſt will leave hiſtories behind it; as what is much of Solomons Song, but a Narration of the daughters and virgins one to another of Chriſts actings upon the ſoul, or a chronicle of Chriſts love, and the Spouſes ſin; as
1. Of Chriſts diſpenſation in withdrawing, Cant. 3. I ſought him, but I found him not. Cant. 5. 6. I opened to my beloved, and my beloved had withdrawn himſelf.
2. She tells his ſaving actings upon the ſoule be like to the virgins, Cant. 1. 4. The King hath brought me unto his chambers. Cant. 2. 4. He brought me into his banquettinghouſe, and love was his banner over me.
3. She tells over ſongs of Chriſts lovelineſs and excellency, Cant. 5. 10, 11, 12. of the ſavourineſs of his name, of the memory of his love, Cant. 1. 3, 4. of the ſeat and room that Chriſt hath in her heart, and betwixt her breaſts, Cant. 1. 13. all the night.
4.Differences betwixt ſpiritual heartburnings of the love of Chriſt, and literal heat. She tells of her carnal drowſineſs; of her ſinful refuſing to open, and let in Chriſt to the heart. So does Jeremiah tell a ſad experience of his own; he had quit the prophecying trade, and would ſpeak no more in the name of the Lord; and he was burnt with a fire in his breaſt, he could not get the word houſed in his heart, but it did come abroad.1. Difference. This ſhall be the firſt difference betwixt ſpiritual heart-burnings, and the influences that the Spirit leaves, and the natural heat. The literal burning leaves no work upon the heart, nor any impreſſion of heavenly experiences. Jehu his heat againſt Achab and Baal left no impreſſion of God on him to hate the golden calves, or the way of Jeroboam the ſon of Nebat, who made Iſrael to ſin: He did cleave to that way, 2 Kings 10. 28, 30. Let fiery profeſſors ſhew any influence of a gratious work in the heart: the flaming of thorns under a pot, and the flaſhes of heat from burning ſtraw leave no fire but aſhes, and much cold behind them in the cold winter froſt; and the generality of dead profeſſors can ſay nothing to one another, but I have long heard the Goſpel, and yet am without God and without Chriſt. 2. I am convinced of the excellence of Chriſt, and there yet is no fire or coal of heart-love to Chriſt in me; and it were good ſuch a miſſing there were.
2. Did not our hearts burn?
This is convinced to be a diſpoſition ſpiritual rather then a habit; its a burning of heart while Chriſt ſpeakes, that had a cooling before, though they were believing Diſciples.Feeling may be ſtronger after actings of the ſpirit are gone. But here obſerve, they feel not ſo the burning of heart in the mean time as afterward, when v. 31. Chriſt was vaniſhed out of their ſight and gone, now they take ſpecial notice, in a feeling way, of the warmneſs of heart they felt while he opened the Scriptures to them. The Lord preaches in a ladder reaching from earth to heaven; Jacob ſleeps, and can give no judgement in the mean time; but Gen. 28. 16. when the ſweet viſion and preaching is e…ded Jacob awaked out of his ſleep, and he ſaid, Surely the Lord was in this place, and I knew not. A ſtrong impreſſion of the preſence and glory of God ſometimes comes on after the Lord is away. David deſires and thirſts, Pſalm 63. 2. (ſaith he in the wilderneſs of Judah) that I may ſee thy power and thy glory as I have ſeen thee. The enjoying of Zion and Zions ſongs while the people is at home in their own land, hath not ſuch influence on their ſpirit as when the Sancturies glory is removed; then Pſalm 137. 1. By the rivers of Babel, there we ſate down, yea, we wept when we remembred Zion. While one is in a fever, they may be ignorant that they are in a fever, but when the cooling of health comes, then he well remembers he was ſick of a fever. When there is a fever of glory on Peter, he ſpeaks he knows not what, Mark 9. 6. yet after, 2 Pet. 1. 16, 17. he makes ſweet comfortable uſe of that glory of Chriſt on the mount: when the Lord waters the ſown ſeed, and ſends down new influences of grace, then doth it appear what warming hath been in the ſoul;… Difference. this is a ſecond difference betwixt literal heat and ſpiritual burning of heart; literal heat hath moſt ſenſe when it is a dowing;Spiritual …arning of heart leaves ſome impreſſion… … which literal heat …. there are no ſpiritual reflexions upon that burning when it is gone and over, except the Lord give repentance, and that is accidental to all ſinful fairds and flaming of the fleſh, or of a moral gift, it dies with its flaming, as fired powder that endures not long; whereas its uſeful to call to mind the gracious burnings of heart, yea, or any of the Lords ancient paths, according to that Pſalm 119. 52. I remembred thy judgement of old, and have comforted my ſelf; and its good to receive and lay up influences of heart warmings of Chriſt, Iſa. 42. 23. Who among you will …ear this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?
Did not our hearts burn? foreign.
The godly reprove their not knowing and not diſcerning of Chriſt in his heart flamings of love; godly and ſpiritual ſenſe …lengeth ſelf-dulneſs, Cant. 5. 6. I opened to my be…ved, but my beloved had withdrawn himſelf and was gone. This is a ſenſe of Chriſts withdrawing, with a challenge of her refuſing to open:… Ah! why did I not op…n while he did …ovingly … knock, and lovingly ſpeak, Open … my …ſter, my love, &c. ſenſe of Chriſt with chal…d good▪ … with tears for … in the woman th… … his feet with tears; ſenſe with faith going along … is commendable: its a ſpiritual caſe … up our rec…nnings, what we have profited ſpiritually by the heart-…ing… wrought by Chriſt; and this is a third diffrence. The moral and … man … ſo …prove his hear, as to call himſelf to a reckoning; nor … ſay, whe… neere am I to God for my ſtirring … reforming religion? its kindly life-heat that makes the man more lively and vigorous.
While he ſpake. The third particular, who works burning of heart in theſe men, ſpeaking Jeſus Chriſt; when Chriſt takes the bellows and the fan and ſtirs up the fire, it muſt need… burn boldly; and when Chriſt caſts in a coal in the ſoul▪ it muſt make heart-flamings. John 4. I am he that ſpeaks to thee, that made a fire in the womans heart, then ſhe leaves well and water-pot and runs to the City. So Matth. 9. 9. Matth. 4. 20, 21, 22. with a word he kindles a fire in the breſts of fiſher-men, who knew nothing of him before, and hath an inward work upon the heart. Cant. 5. He put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him; that was fire in the bowels; and what did Chriſt here but ſpeak words?4. Difference. and this is the fourth difference, with little pain, but a word ſpeaking he makes a fire.There is ſweet leading, no violence ſpiritual in heart-burnings for Chriſt; its not ſo in the litera… heart. There is a huge deal of violence in Eſaus running, ſweating, hunting; Jacob ſtirred not after works, but ſtaid at home and believed, and faith made him bleſſed: the ſpirit drives not, but by the words leading and perſwading. But is there no violence in the natural and literal heat? Yea, for B…als prieſts to cut and bleed themſelves with knives, and cry till noon, and to ſhout to a deaf God, muſt have in it much violence; and its a very unnatural fire, and its a moſt unnatural wild-fire heat to ſlay their young children to Molech. A man who forces a ſigh when a ſigh forces not him is a ſufferer; but what violence is in the conſtraining Goſpel-promiſe? what compulſion is there in love or love-ſickneſs, when Chriſt makes love a key that opens all doors? how ſtrongly and how ſweetly doth the word of promiſe carried on by the ſpirit of Chriſt, force thy ſoul? there is a huge deal of force and violence in fair…heed ſickneſs, as when a man makes and counterfeits diſtraction and madneſs, and runs naked.
While he opened the Scriptures.
The fourth particular is the fewel that makes the fire; the Scriptures opened, and opened by Chriſts key; Is not my word like a fire? ſaith the Lord, Jer. 23. 15. Yea, in Chriſts baptizing there is fire. John baptizeth with water, and no more, as a cold and watry ſeal; but Chriſt, Matth. …. 11. batizeth with the holy Ghoſt and with fire. The word of propheſie was in Jeremiahs bowels,5. Difference. The heavenly beat goes along with the Scriptures open and applied, not ſo the literal heat. as a fire ſhut up; and this is the fift difference betwixt the literal and ſpiritual heat; the heavenly heart-burning goes along with the Scriptures. 2. With the Scriptures ſo opened and applied by the ſpirit of Jeſus as by a ſtrong power, burning coals are caſt into the heart. As touching the former, the difference betwixt this and the Libertines ſpirit, or the Enthuſiaſts, are to be obſerved, and the ſpirit of the children of God.
1. Chriſts ſpirit extols the Scriptures; It is written, ſaith Chriſt againſt Satan. Have ye not read in the Scriptures, ſaith Chriſt againſt the Sadduces, Matth. 22. Search the Scriptures, ſaith Chriſt, they bear witneſs of me. He taught the multitude and diſciples, as its written in the Scriptures. He rebukes them, Luke 24. v. 25. as fools and ſlow of heart, for not believing the Scriptures. When he would carry in real influences of grace to the heart, he carries them along by the Scripture, and opens the underſtanding that they may underſtand the Scripture, Luke 24. 45. that is the ſpirit of Satan in ſome, who boaſt that they are beyond and above the word of the Kingdom, and ſuch muſt be beyond and on the other ſide of heaven.
2. They who wait for the Lord, and whoſe ſoul waits for God, they hope in his word, Pſalm 130. 5, 6. Libertines ſouls cannot wait for the Lord as the watch for the morning.Hence conſiderable differences betwixt motions of the Spirit and looſe Enſiaſms.
3. Its a work of the ſpirit ſtrongly to convince the conſcience of not believing in Chriſt, John 16. 7, 8. now to believe in him is the ſum of the Scriptures, of the Goſpel. Enthuſiaſts extol perſwaſions by raptures, according to which the brother killeth the brother, as Bullinger relates, in place of the Scripture-convictions of the ſpirit.
4. The work of the ſpirit is to comfort, for its the ſpirits office; and the ſound comfort is patience and comfort of the Scriptures bringing hope, Rom. 15. 4. The ſpirit of Enthuſiaſts perſwades men of peace and comfort without and beſide the promiſes of the Goſpel.
5. The words of the book of the Law melt the heart of godly Joſiah, 2 Kings 19. 22. and the Lord looks to him that trembles at his word to dwell with him, Iſa. 66. 2. The Enthuſiaſts boldly mock the word as an inſtrument of carnal and fleſhly regeneration, and ſeek a new birth from a ſpirit alone ſeparated from the word.
6. Deep humiliation is wrought by the word, 2 Kings 22. 14. the pride of Satan reigns in the ſpirits of Enthuſiaſts, who deſpiſe Scripture humility, and reproach tears and the work of repentance, as a work of the Law and the fleſh.
7. Strong and couragious fighting, even to overcoming, gets for a reward the hid manna, the white ſtone, and the new name written thereon, which no man can read but he that receives it: now fighting and overcoming is by the word of the ſpirit, Rev. 2. 17. Eph. 6. 17. and faith in the word, 1 John 5. 4. Enthuſiaſts tell us of a dumb and Scriptureleſs perſwaſion by which men are perſwaded they are choſen to ſalvation, and can know others by the face that are ſo choſen.
8. The true ſpirit leads unto all truth, John 16. 13 and opens the true ſenſe of the Scriptures, and leads no man by a new wild-fire light; nor doth the ſpirit of God ſway and determin a topick conjectural way, while there is a ſpeculative doubting as touching any light from Scripture, whether the courſe be lawful or warranted by the word or not: for the ſpirit of God leads by Scriptures infallibility, Iſa. 59. 20, 21.
9. The actings of the true ſpirit are gentle, civil, human, and he bids us follow whatſoever is of good report—whatſoever things are pure, Phil. 4. 8, 9. The ſpirit of Enthuſiaſts, leaving Scripture, licences men to abominations which Heathens abhor.
10. The actings of the ſpirit of Chriſt are ſeaſonable, Matth. 10. 19. in that hour it ſhall be given you; it is not ye that ſpeake, but the ſpirit of your Father ſpeakes in you. Enthuſiaſts ſpirit ſuggeſts night-works to be done in day light, and many unſeaſonable actions contrary to godly prudence, as to read godly Treatiſes when they ſhould hear the Word preached; the ſpirit that ſuggeſteth this is not of God, for the ſpirit of God cannot counter-work himſelf.
11. The ſpirit of God acts the ſoul and the man within his own orb and ſphere of grace. Nature acts not upon the Moon to move it up to the ſphere of the Sun, nor could it be called a kindly and connatural motion for the Sun to move down in the orb of the Moon. It's not the ſpirit of the Lord which acts the plow-man to move out of his element in the throne or in another calling in which God hath not placed him: for it is not from the motion of the ſpirit of ſanctification for David to go out of his element of grace, and move in Satans orb of uncleanneſs and blood-ſhed: the ſpirit of holineſs is a friend to the holy Law of God; all influences and actings of the ſpirit are to be tried by the ſame rules by which the ſpirit is tried: ſome influences to Scriptural duties are from God and his ſpirit, other influences from the Scriptureleſs ſpirit of Satan, or corrupt man himſelf; every ſtirring and impulſion muſt not be fathered upon the ſpirit of grace.
The fourth particular is the ſubject or ſeat of burning, and its the heart; did not our hearts burn within us? the heart is the only ſeat of heavenly burnings; not ſimply, as the heart of man, which is evil, and only evil by nature in all its out-goings, Gen. 6. 6. Gen. 8. 21. and ſupplanted and wicked, Jer. 17. 9. But the new heart of man, Ezek. 36. 26, 27. the heart in which the love of God, as a flood, is ſpread abroad by the holy Ghoſt, Rom. 5. 5. the heart and ſoul that loves the beloved Chriſt, Cant. 3. 1, 2, 3. as for the unrenewed heart it is no more a hearth-ſtone, or a ſeat to kindle this fire upon, nor will it burn in this heart, then if you would kindle a fire of coals and fewel and dry timber upon the ſuperfice of the ocean ſea; for the heart of the unrenewed man would eat up and quench all this fire; and the ſpirit does no more give influences for the heavenly burnings in the heart of an unrenewed man, then he gives influences to the water to burn, and caſt out flamings as a huge fire doth, or to the midnight darkneſs to ſhine as the Moon or Sun: and this is the ſixt difference. The renewed heart is only the ſeat of this fire that comes down from heaven, the natural heart is not capable thereof.
Q. Is there not an heart warmneſs in the natural and unrenewed man?
Anſw. Such as is the heart, ſuch is the heat; ſuch as is the hearth-ſtone, ſuch is the fire and the fewel that but as on it
But the differences be theſe:
1. The heat of the unrenewed man is ſtrong, and cannot be commanded; they haſten as mad men after their idols, who run after other gods, Pſalm 16. 4. And Paul ſays of his heat in perſecuting the Saints, Acts 26. 11. I compelled them to blaſpheme, foreign, I was abundantly and exceedingly mad, and phrentick, out of my wit, in burning malice againſt them: now the mad man can hardly command his madneſs, yet upon other ſinful and mad grounds Paul could have been perſwaded on the contrary: as the Phariſees were mad againſt Chriſt, yet the fear of the people and of their own …ns reſtrained them long from doing violence to him: and in matters which neerly concern God, the hear of …n …renewed man may be quenched; as a man that counterfeitech himſelf to be mad can command his madneſs, and … who fains himſelf to be ſick, can command his ſickneſs; out one who is really poſſeſſed with a Divel and mad, and one who is really ſick of a raging fever cannot command either madneſs or ſickneſs▪ hypocriſie hath ſome dominion and empire over its own curſed heat and …; …ut ſay mountains on the love of Chriſt, love breathes and lives under it: deviſe torments, lent, burning quick … of …, or in a ſee…ing Caldron to the Mar…rs of Chriſt, in ten days out off the ten ſingers one by one, and ſo the reſt of the members in diver… days, or ſome … deviſe hellith …; the witneſſe, of Jeſus … and bounded hand and foo… (as the word … is made uſe of) by the commanding … ſweetly … love of Chriſt, to die an hundred deaths … rather … deny Chriſt; for ſuch as ſo love not … lives to …, are not their own nor hath a believer … his …; not can the word, if … could … and an …rth of the gold of … of Chriſt, and the ſtrong in…ence, thereof. So true is that Cant. 8. 7. Many waters cannot quench love. That is a ſtrong fire which all the waters in the Sea cannot quench. Nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give all the ſubſtance of his houſe for love, it. would utterly be contemned. Then drowning and burning, death, fair allurements and gifts, cannot counterwork the love of Chriſt. What? and are loves coales ſo hot? yea he ſpoke to that, v. 6. Love is ſtrong as death: jealouſie is cruel as the grave; the coals thereof are coals of fire, which have a moſt vehement flame, the flame of God. But natural men for all their heat in the matters of God, can let out and let in, and ſtretch out the truth for all their heart-burnings, as if it were kid-leather; and they may take and give, and borrow and lend upon Chriſts matters, whereas the Saints are awed with that, Buy the truth and ſell it not. Let indifferent and cold men, who never felt the influences of loves fiery coals, know this. Ah, the intereſts of Chriſt have been looked on in Scotland too indifferently and coldly; the coales of ſelf-intereſt burn ſtrongly.
2. The bare letter of the Goſpel wins not in upon the heart, it warmes the skin and not the heart; whereas Chriſts ſpeaking and opening the Scriptures with his Spirit, and the key of David, Literal heat is all upon the letter and forms, not ſo as the ſpiritual heat.caſteth not fire upon the heart, the heat is all upon the letter and externals, and upon Sacrifices, New Moons, Solemn Aſſemblies, formes without taſte: All Pauls heat is about Chriſt, and the hope of the reſurrection; the Jewes his adverſaries heat could be nothing of this heart-burning, but for Moſes Law in the letter, circumciſion, and other ceremonies, now wanting their life Chriſt. For Chriſt had now 1. removed from the letter of the ceremonial law, and there is no life there as touching the obſervance thereof.
But Chriſt hath 2. not departed from, and gone out of the ceremonial law, as touching the doctrinal teaching thereof to lead us to Chriſt; and therefore that law ſhould be read, preached, believed, and ſtands cloathed with the authority of Canonick Scripture, otherwiſe Libertines muſt caſhier the books of Moſes.
3. Nor hath Chriſt removed out of the letter of the Scripture Law and Goſpel, to teach us no more thereby, but only by the Spirits inſtruction; for even the doctrine of the Law curſes, Deut. 27. Deut. 28. are a part of the immediately inſpired word of God ſhining with the ſame majeſty, holineſs, divinity, convincing power, as the letter of the Goſpel, Pſal. 19. 7, 8, 9, 10.
4. Chriſt hath not removed (as Saltmarſh, Dell, and others teach) from the Law moral the divine obligation to holineſs and righteouſneſs; for it layes the ſame bands and obligations to the duties of love and obedience to God, and of love, truth, mercy, righteouſneſs, ſoberneſs, to man, which was upon us in Moſes time; for that way grace ſhould teach looſneſs, lawleſs wantonneſs, not holineſs. We would preſs good works, holineſs, godly walking, on all, as they would ſee God, and not be trees hewen down and caſt in the fire. Suppoſe we could not with Schoole accuracy rid marches as touching the neceſſity thereof; but we are to beware of the leaven of the Phariſees, juſtification by works.
5. Chriſt and the Spirit of Chriſt dwell in the Law, to joyn gracious influences therewith to humble ſinners, to caſt them down, to bring them to ſelf-deſpair, that they may flee to Chriſt