The Glorious Feast of the Gospel, Sermon 5
THE Fifth Sermon.
ISAIAH 25. 8.
And all teares ſhall be wiped away from all faces.
NOt only death ſhall be ſwallowed up in victory, but God will wipe away all tears from all eyes; Religion ſhall be religion, good things ſhall be good things, nothing ſhall go under falſe notions, all tears ſhall be wiped away; we have now many cauſes of teares. In the world there is continuall raiſing of clouds that diſtill into drops of teares; had we nothing without us to raiſe a vapour to be diſtil'd in teares, we are able to raiſe up miſts from our owne miſts, from our owne doubts and conflicts within.
As we ſhould weepe for our owne ſinnes, ſo for the ſinnes of others; as wee may ſee in Jeremy, where the Prophet ſaith, Oh that my head were a fountaine of teares, that I might weepe continually for the ſinnes of my people. *Good men eaſie to weepe.And indeed good men are eaſie to weepe, as the heathen man obſerveth; they are eaſie to lament, not onelyonly for their own ſinnes, but the ſinnes and miſery of another.
Our bleſſed Saviour himſelfe, we never read that he laughed, wee have heard that he wept, and for his very enemies, Oh Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem; He ſhed teares for them that ſhed his bloud. Teares were maine evidences of Chriſts ſweetneſſe of diſpoſition; as that hee would become man, and a curſe, and die for us, and that he would make ſo much of little children, and call all to him that were weary and heavy laden; that hee never refuſed any that came to him. Hee that wept ſpecially for the miſeries and afflictions; this ſhewed his gracious and ſweet diſpoſition: And that in heaven, he is ſo full of ſympathies in glory, that when Paul perſecuted the Church, Why doſt thou perſecute me? So though he is free from paſſion in heaven,Chriſt in heaven not without compaſſion. he is not free from compaſſion, from ſympathie with his Church. And ſo every child of God is ready, not onelyonly to grieve for his own ſinnes, and the miſerie that followeth them, but the ſins and miſeries of others.*Pſa. 119. 136 Mine eyes guſh out with rivers of teares, ſaith the Prophet David, when hee ſaw that men brake the law of God, whom he loved.
A true naturall child takes to heart the diſgrace of his father; if we be not grieved to ſee our father diſgraced, wee are baſtards, not ſonnes. They that make a ſport of ſinne, what are they? Alas, they have not one ſparke of the ſpirit of adoption: they are not children, who rejoyce at that at which they ſhould grieve.
So Saint Paul, *Phil. 3. 18,I have told you often, and now tell you weeping, there be many enemies of the croſſe of Chriſt; When he ſaw ſome men preach againſt, and others enemies of the croſſe of Chriſt, whoſe end is damnation, hee telleth them of it weeping.
Wee have cauſe therefore to mourne for the ſinnes of others,We have cauſe to weepe for the ſinnes of others. and for the miſeries of others; whether we reſpect God, or the Church, or our ſelves.
Firſt, the love of God moveth us to weepe when wee ſee him diſhonored:1. From our love to God. If we love the Church, we ſhould mourne for any ſinnes that may prejudice their ſalvation.2. From love to the Church, and our brethren. Doth it not pitty any man to ſee an Oxe go to ſlaughter; to ſee a man of parts otherwiſe, by ſinning againſt conſcience, going to ſlaughter; to ſee an ordinary ſwearer, an uncleane perſon, a prophane wretch, covering himſelfe with pride as a garment, ſcorning God, and the world, and all. Can a Chriſtian looke upon this, ſee fleſh and blood, like himſelf, under the Goſpell, under a curſed condition unavoidable, without ſerious repentance,Simile. and not be affected with it? Can a man ſee a poore Aſſe fall under a burthen, and not helpe to take it up, and yet ſee man falling to hell, and not be affected with it? Thus we ſee wee have cauſe enough of teares: And as there is cauſe, ſo we ſhould be ſenſible; we ought to take to heart the afflictions of Joſeph; hee is a dead man that hath not ſenſe in this kinde. If wee go to the body and ſtate, or any thing about a man, there is cauſe of griefe; hath not every member many diſeaſes? and is not our lives a kind of hoſpitall, ſome ſicke of one thing, ſome of another? But as there is cauſe wee ſhould bee ſenſible of it, wee are fleſh and not ſtones, therefore it is a ſottiſh opinion, to be ſtockiſh and brutiſh; as if to outface ſorrow and griefe were a glory.
When our Saviour was ſent into the world,Vſe. Chriſti dolor, To condemne Stoiciſme.dolor maximus, there were no patience without ſenſibleneſſe; away then with that iron, that flinty Phyloſophy, that thinks it a vertue to be ſtupid: And as the Apoſtle ſaith, Romans 1. 31. without naturall affections: He counteth it the greateſt judgement of God upon the ſoule, yet they would have it a vertue. Why ſhould I ſmite them any more ſaith God*Iſa. 1. 5.? they have no ſenſe, no feeling.
The proud Phyloſopher thought it was not phyloſophicall to weepe; a proud ſtoicall humor, but Chriſtians deſire it.
And therefore we ought to labour to be more ſenſible, that we might make our peace, and reverence the juſtice of God, and be more ſenſible of him afterwards. It is moſt true,The beſt men apteſt to grieve. that Sapiens miſer, plus miſer; the more wiſe any man is, the more ſenſible of miſery: And therefore of all men, the beſt men have moſt griefe, becauſe they have moſt quicke ſenſes, they be not ſtupified with inſenſibility, and reſoluteneſſe, to beare it bravely as the world; but they apprehend with griefe, the cauſe of griefe. And as they have a more ſanctified judgement than other men, ſo they have a more wiſe affection of love, and a quicker life of grace; where life is, there is ſenſe: and where there is a cleare ſight, or cauſe of griefe, there is moſt griefe. Therefore the beſt men have moſt griefe, becauſe they be moſt judicious, moſt loving.
Then they have moſt grace to beare it out of all others; therefore conſidering there is cauſe in our ſelves, and in others of griefe continually, wee ought to labour to be ſenſible of it, elſe it were no favour to have teares wiped away.
So that there is cauſe of teares, and teares is a duty of Chriſtians, ſenſible of the cauſe both of ſinne and miſery, upon one, and another.
And as it is an unavoidable griefe,Vſe 2. ſo it is good wee ſhould grieve:Its good wee doe grieve. we muſt ſtoope to Gods courſe, we muſt bring our hearts to it, and pray, (that ſince our neceſſities and ſins doe call for this diſpenſation, that we muſt under correction, he will make us ſenſible of his rod) that he would make good his Covenant of grace, to take away our ſtony hearts, and give us hearts of fleſh, that we may be ſenſible.
Moſt of graces are founded upon affection; and all graces are but affections ſanctified: what would become of grace, if wee had not affections? therefore as there is cauſe of griefe, and teares from griefe, wee ought to grieve. It is a condition, and a duty; a condition following miſery, and a duty following our condition.
Take heed of that which hinders ſenſibleneſſe of troubles and judgement,Avoid what hnders ſenſibleneſſe. that is, hardneſſe of heart, forgetfulneſſe, ſtudying to put away ſorrow with ſinne: For we ought to be ſenſible, and ought to labour to be ſenſible, to know the meaning of every croſſe in our ſelves, and others.
But ſuppoſe wee have croſſes, and we muſt be ſenſible of them, then it followeth, God will wipe away all teares from our eyes. Is there nothing for the preſent, no ground of comfort? yes. As we ought to be ſenſible of griefe, ſo we ought to be ſenſible of matter of joy for the preſent, ſpecially if we conſider the time to come. The life of a Chriſtian is a ſtrange kind of life;The life of a Chriſtian is a mixture of joy and ſorrow. hee ought to grieve, and he ought to joy; hee hath occaſion of both, and hee ought to entertaine both: for that that wee ought to aime at ſpecially is joy; and if we grieve, it is that afterwards wee might joy. We muſt be ſenſible of any affliction,Uſes of joy in Chriſtians. that wee might joy afterwards, and wee ought to labour for it: For is not the joy of the Lord our ſtrength? Are not we fit to doe ſervice, when our ſpirits are moſt inlarged? And is it not a credit to Religion, when we walke in comfort of the holy Ghoſt? Is it not a ſcandall, when we droope under the croſſe? Wee ought to be ſenſible, yet not ſo, as to forget matter of joy and comfort. And therefore as wee ought to grieve, ſo wee ought when we have grieved, to keep up the ſoule with conſideration of joy for the preſent as much as wee can,We ſhould picke matter of comfort out of griefe. yea, to picke out matter of comfort from the very croſſe. That is the heart of a Chriſtian, not onelyonly to joy in other matters, but to picke comfort out of griefe. God ſuffers me to fall into this or that condition, it is a fruit of his fatherly love; he might ſuffer me to runne the broad way, to be given up to a reprobate ſenſe and hard heart, but he doth not doe ſo. Picke out matter of comfort from griefe.
Then conſider the preſence of God in it; indeed I have matter of griefe, but I finde God moderating it: It might be farre worſe, it is his mercy I am not conſumed: I finde God by it doing me good, I finde my ſelfe better by it, I cannot well be without it. Who would not labour to be ſenſible of a croſſe, when he looketh up to Gods croſſe, and juſtice, and mercy, he hath rather cauſe to joy, than to grieve in the very croſſe it ſelf.
But ſpecially marke what the holy Ghoſt ſaith here, wee ought not to be caſt downe overmuch with any croſſe, conſidering God will wipe away all teares from our eyes, that is, all naturall teares, and the miſeries of this life. There ſhall be no more miſery, no more ſickneſſe, no more trouble.
And then all teares that ariſe from conſideration of ſinne, and miſery following ſinne. Death is the accompliſhment of all mortification. It is a comfort wee ſhall not alwaies leade this conflicting life, but the warre between the fleſh and ſpirit will be taken up; the ſenſe wil be removed,All cauſes of ſorrow ſhall be removed. wee ſhall be out of Satans reach, and the worlds reach one day, which is a great comfort to conſider: Whatſoever the cauſe is, the cauſe ſhall be removed ere long. If the cauſe be deſertion, for that God leaveth us comfortleſſe, wee ſhall be for ever hereafter with the Lord: If the cauſe be ſeparation from friends, why wee ſhall all meet together ere long, and be for ever in heaven: If the cauſe be our owne ſinnes, wee ſhall ceaſe hereafter to offend God, and Chriſt will be all in all; Now ſin is almoſt all in all, ſinne and corruption beare a great ſway in us: If the matter of our griefe be the ſinnes of others, and the afflictions of others; there is no ſinne in heaven, no uncleane thing ſhall enter there. The ſoules of perfect men are there, and all are of one mind, there is no oppoſition to goodneſſe, there all ſhall goe one way, there (howſoever they cannot agree here) all ſhall have mutuall ſolace and contentment in one another; they in us and wee in them, and that for ever; you cannot name them, or imagine a cauſe of teares, but it ſhall be removed there: Nay, the more teares we have ſhed here,The more teares here, the more joy hereafter. the more comfort wee ſhall have. As our troubles are increaſed here, our conſolation ſhall increaſe: That wee ſuffer here, if for a good cauſe, will worke our eternall and exceeding weight of glory: wee ſay Aprill ſhowers, bring forth May flowers; It is a common ſpeech from experience of common life. It is true in Religion, the more teares wee ſhed in the Aprill of our lives, the more ſweet comfort we ſhall have hereafter: If no teares are to be ſhed here, no flowers are to be gather'd there. And therefore beſides deliverance from trouble, here is comfort, God will take away all cauſe of griefe, and all kindes of griefe whatſoever.
And therefore thus think of it.
The next thing to be conſidered is the order.The Order, Firſt ſhed teares, and then have them wiped away. Firſt, we muſt ſhed teares, and then they muſt be wiped away: After a ſtorme, a calme; after ſowing in teares, comes reaping in joy. What is the reaſon of that order? The reaſon is our owne neceſſity: we are in ſuch a frame and condition ſince the fall, that we cannot be put into a good frame of grace without much paine.Reaſon 1. The truths of God muſt croſſe us,Our own neceſſity. and afflictions muſt joyne with them: For the ſinnes contracted by pleaſure, muſt be diſſolved by paine: Repentance muſt coſt us teares; we may thank our ſelves if wee have brought our ſelves to a ſinfull courſe.Simile. For the neceſſity of this order, a diſeaſed perſon muſt not bee cured, till hee feele ſome ſmart of the wounds.
Againe, conſider it is for our increaſe of comfort afterwards,Reaſon. 2. that God will have us ſhed teares; and then to have our teares wiped away,For the increaſe of our comfort. becauſe we be more ſenſible of joy, and comfort after ſorrow. We cannot bee ſenſible of the joyes of heaven, unleſſe wee feele the contrary here: And therefore of all men, heaven will be the moſt heaven to them that have had their portion of Croſſes, and afflictions here. Firſt therefore ſhed teares, and then they muſt be wiped away, becauſe joy is moſt ſenſible.Simile. As it is with the wickedeſt of all men, they be moſt miſerable that have been happieſt, becauſe their ſoule is inlarged by their happineſſe, to apprehend ſorrow more quickly and ſenſibly; ſo they that have been moſt miſerable here, ſhall have moſt joy hereafter.
Now for Uſe:Uſe. 1. Here is not onelyonly the mercies of God in Chriſt,Take notice of the tender mercy of God in this, that he will wipe away teares. but the tender mercy; that whereas our life is full of teares, which we have brought upon our ſelves, yet God ſtoops ſo low as to wipe our eyes, like a father or mother, his mercy is a ſweet and tender mercy: And as the Pſalmiſt ſaith, When wee are ſick he maketh our beds in our ſickneſſe. Chriſt will come, and ſerve them that watch and ſerve him; nay hee will attend them, and ſup with them. He is not only mercy and goodneſſe, but there be in him bowells of mercy; he not onelyonly giveth matter of joy and comfort, but hee will doe like a tender hearted mother, wiping away all teares from our eyes; we cannot apprehend the Bowells in Gods love, the pitty and mercy of God towards them that be his, and afflicted in the World, ſpecially in a good cauſe: though they bee never ſo many, if they bee penitent teares, he will wipe them all away.
And whereas wee muſt ſhed teares here,Judge not by ſight, for the godly here mourn moſt. that we may be comforted hereafter, take heed that we doe not in this life judge by ſight, but by faith: if we live by ſight, wee are of all men moſt wretched. In the world the Children of God are moſt miſerable, and of the Children of God, the beſt Saints. Who hath more cauſe of teares than the beſt Saints? It is but ſeed time here; while ſeed time continues, there be teares. The Husbandman while it is ſeed time cannot doe his office but with trouble: the Miniſter cannot doe his office, but he is forc'd to take to heart the ſinnes of the times, to ſee his worke go backward: Governours of Families and ſuch, they carry their ſeed weeping; yea, the beſt men cannot doe good ſometimes, but they doe it with trouble in themſelves, and with conflict of corruptions. There is no good ſowne here, but it is ſowne in teares: yet take no ſcandall at this, God will wipe away all teares.
The head of the Church our bleſſed Saviour, and all his gracious Apoſtles, what a life did they live? The glorious Martyrs that ſealed the truth with their bloud. And therefore as the Apoſtle ſaith,*1 Cor. 15. 19. If our happineſſe were here onelyonly, we were of all men moſt miſerable. If we judge by ſight, wee ſhall condemne the generation of the righteous: we live by ſight; when wee ſee any caſt downe with ſight of ſinne, ſenſe of temptation, diſtreſſe of conſcience, wee thinke him forlorne; Oh take heed of that: For thoſe that ſhed teares here, God will wipe them all away. Woe to them that laugh now, for they ſhall mourne hereafter: Though wee weepe here, yet matter of joy enough ſhall ſpring up hereafter. Afflictions will yeeld a quiet fruit of righteouſneſſe to them that are exerciſed thereby, Heb. 12. 11. we may not ſee their fruits preſently, but afterwards: And therefore be not diſcouraged for any thing we can ſuffer here, or for the Church, if we ſee her under preſſure. As darkneſſe is ſowne for the wicked,Be not diſcouraged for our own or Churches cauſes of griefe. the foundation of their eternall torment is laid in their joy: ſo the ground and foundation of all a godly mans joy is laid in teares.*Mat. 5. 4. Chriſtians have more cauſe of joy than griefe, and they ought to eye both. Bleſſed are they that mourn, for they ſhall be comforted. Yet for the preſent there is more matter of joy than griefe, if we look with both eyes: as wee ought to have double eyes, one to be ſenſible of our griefe as we muſt be, the other of our comfort, that we may not be ſurprized with griefe. There is a ſorrow to death, an overmuch ſorrow; it is unthankfulneſſe to God to forget our comforts, as it is ſtupidity to forget our ſorrow: Take us at the worſt, have not we more cauſe of joy then ſorrow? Marke Rom. 5. Being juſtified by faith, wee have peace with God, and rejoyce under hope of glory; Nay afterwards, ſaith he, we rejoyce in tribulations: And why? upon what ground? Knowing that tribulations bring experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not aſhamed. Now we rejoyce in God reconciled in Chriſt: So that as we ought to looke with one eye upon the griefe, that we may have ground to exerciſe grace, which we are not capable of without ſenſibleneſſe; ſo we muſt look to grounds of joy. Our life is woven of matter of ſorrow, and joy; & as it is woven of both, affections ſhould be ſenſible of both, that they may be more apprehenſive of the grounds of comforts.
When the day of perſecution approacheth,This is comfortable while we live and when we die. this will make us comfortable, for our life is a valley of teares; and ſhall not wee go through this valley of teares, to this mount where all teares ſhall be wiped away from all eyes? When we be dejected with the loſſe of any friend, they ſay as Chriſt ſaid to the woman, weepe not for me: they be happy, and all teares are wiped away from their eyes. And therefore as it is matter of comfort while we live, ſo ground of comfort when wee die; for there is occaſion of ſorrow in death, parting with friends and comforts of this world, then teares are ſhed in more abundance, and then wee bethinke our ſelves of former ſinnes, and there is renewing of repentance more then at other times; yet then are we neer the time of joy, and neereſt the accompliſhment of the promiſe, that all teares ſhall be wiped away.
And ſo you have the whole ſtate of a chriſtian life, an afflicted condition, I but it is a comfortable condition: The more afflictions here, the more comfort here, but ſpecially hereafter. The life of a carnall man is all in miſery;A carnall man is all joy, or all ſorrow. if he falls to joy, he is all joy, if to ſorrow, he is all ſorrow, hee hath nothing to ſupport him, he is like a Naball, he ſinketh like a piece of lead to the bottome of the ſea, like Achitophell downe he goeth; when he is upon the merry pinne, he is nothing but joy: But a Chriſtians ſtate and diſpoſition are both mixt, he hath ground of ſorrow for his owne ſinnes, and for the ſinnes and miſeries of the times; So he hath matter of comfort for the preſent, in the favour of God, in the pardoning of ſinnes, in the preſence of God, in delivering him from trouble. He hath ſpeciall ground of joy in hope of glory in time to come.The godly have a mixt condition, and ſhould have a mixt diſpoſition. Therefore as wee have a mixt ſtate, labour for a mixt diſpoſition, and labour to be in a joyfull frame, ſo to grieve, as out of it to raiſe matter of joy: And when wee would joy, grieve before, for joy is ſowne in griefe. The beſt method of joy is for to take away all that diſturbeth our joy; ſearch the bottome of the heart, ſee what ſinne is unconfeſt, unrepented of, ſpread it before God, deſire God to pardon it, to ſeale the pardon. When our ſoules are ſearched ro the bottome, then out of that ſorrow ſpringeth joy: and out of theſe ſighs, and grones that cannot be expreſt, commeth joy unſpeakable, and full of glory. If a man will be joyfull, let him labour to weepe firſt, that the matter that interrupteth his joy may be taken away. Thoſe that will be joyfull, and not ſearch to the bottome, muſt needs with ſhame be brought backe to ſorrow. When wee will joy to purpoſe, let us judge our ſelves, that we may not be judged of the Lord; mourne for our ſinnes, and then lay hold upon the promiſe, that all they that mourne for ſinne ſhall be comforted. And bleſſed are they that ſhed teares here, for all teares ſhall be wiped away.
Wee are ſubject to wrong our ſelves both good and bad; for the good thinke if they be in miſery they ſhall be ever ſo: the bad if they be in proſperity they ſhall allwaies be ſo, and they bleſſe themſelves in it. Now the the joy of the hypocrites is as the crackling of thornes, and the griefe of the godly is but ſhort; and therefore let not the wicked foole themſelves with groundleſſe hopes, nor the godly vex themſelves with needleſſe feares; but put off conceitedneſſe of the long continuance of troubles: time is but ſhort, and ere long God will wipe away all teares from our eyes. No miſts, no clouds, ſhall be extended to heaven; the ſtate in heaven ſhall be like the ſtate of heaven,Wayes are to be eſteemed by their end. & there is no cloud there, but all pure, all ſerene. Therefore in Chriſtianity conſider not their beginning but their ends. Marke the end of the upright, for the end of the upright is peace, Pſal. 37. 37. Wayes have their commendation from the terme in which they end. If by any meanes I may attaine the reſurrection of the dead ſaith Paul, Phil. 3. 11. Through thicke and thinne, faire and foule, rugged windes, dry, or bloudy death. If by any meanes I may come to the reſurrection of the dead, the firſt degree of glory, all is well; its a good way that ends well. Non qua, ſed quo, conſider not what way he brings us to heaven, but whither he brings bs. If he bring us to heaven through a valley of teares; its no matter, for in heaven all teares ſhall be wiped from our eyes. And therefore Chriſtianity is called wiſdome.Mat. 11. 19. And this wiſdome is juſtified of her children. What is the chiefeſt point of wiſdome? To looke home to the end, and to direct all meanes to that end: He is wiſe that is wiſe for eternity. The wicked will have their payment here; But woe to them that laugh, for they ſhall mourne ſaith Chriſt, Luke 6. 25. They will not ſtay for ground of joy hereafter, but will have preſent payment. But though the wayes of Chriſtians be foule, and wet with teares, yet bleſſed are they, for God will wipe away all teares from their eyes; comfort one another with theſe words.