Redemption from the Curse, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. Uſe 3.
Sect. 1. Conſolation against ſinnes, old and new ſeverally.
3. THe Lords Redeemed may with joy draw up cordial waters of Conſolation out of this well of ſalvation. The former uſe hath afforded us much matter of refreſhing, having ſent forth ſundry cryſtal ſtreames of comfort, to make glad the city of our God. Yet there is moee behinde. The main Concluſion,Iſa. 12.3. [that Chriſt hath ranſomed us from the curſe, by becoming a curſe for us] is a ſolid ground of conſolation to poor ſinners, againſt ſundry diſtempers, or annoyances, whereunto they are ſubject in this life. as,
1. Againſt ſinne, which may be conſidered 1. as it was in there old eſtate of bondage. 2. as it is now in their reſtored condition.
1. For the former, The humbled ſoul, looking back upon his old ſlavery under ſin, may conceive cauſe of diſcouragement, by ſundry aggravations of it, which will preſent themſelves unto him: But the right underſtanding of this truth will afford him help againſt them. I obſerve eſpecially four,
1. The greatneſs and heynouſneſs of his ſinnes in particular. Oh, ſaith he, were mine iniquities of an ordinary ſize, I could have hope; but alas, they are mighty ones, like the great mountains, ſome of them are of a deep die, crying, crimſon, ſcarlet ſinnes, outragious miſcarriages, they are gone over my head, and reach up to the heavens, But oh poor ſoul, doſt thou think that thy ſinnes can be greater than Chriſts ſatisfaction, or that he took upon him the curſe of ſmall ſinnes,Dicat terra redempta ſanguine. Magna iniquitas mea ſed ma…or eſt redemptio tua. Aug. 2 King. 21.1, 2, &c. 16. and not of great ones? Aſſuredly, this is a mighty redemption, a great ſalvation. God made his power wonderfull, in the work of Creation, and he makes his mercy as wonderfull in this work of new creation. Art thou a greater ſinner then Manaſſeh? Read his ſtory, where the Holy Ghoſt points him out in his black, and ugly colours, and tell me, if thou didſt ever hear of ſuch a monſter: yet the fruit of this Redemption reached even unto him: for upon his humiliation, the Lord was intreated of him, 2 Chron. 33.12, 13. thy greateſt ſinnes are finite, but the merit of Chriſt's redemption is infinite. If ſome mountains were removed, and hurled into the great Ocean, it would ſwallow them up, that they could not be ſeen: So the Sea of Chriſts bloud will drown the huge mountains of thy iniquities. Though thy ſinnes be as ſcarlet, thy Redeemer will make them white as ſnow; though they be red like crimſon, they ſhall be as wool, Iſa. 1.18. Oh then! never lay the weight of thy guilt in the balance with Chriſts ſatisfaction, never fear, that that will overweigh this. Thy ſurety hath made thy peace for the greateſt, as well as the ſmalleſt faults. He was charged with thy moſt heinous crimes, that thou mighteſt be delivered from the curſe of them.
2. The multitude, and numerouſnes of them. Though I have not committed ſuch greiſly enormous ſinnes, as ſome others have done, yet I have made that up in the number, which is wanting in weight: my tranſgreſſions are manifold, yea innumerable, more than the haires of mine head, Pſal. 40.12. or the ſands that are on the ſea ſhore. Be it ſo, But doſt thou think, that they are more than Chriſts merits? Hath he born in his body, and made ſatisfaction for all the ſinnes of all the Elect, from Adam to the laſt man on earth, and doſt thou fear, thy ſinnes are ſo very many, that this ſatisfaction cannot reach to take them away: The Apoſtle comparing the guilt of the firſt ſin with the free gift by Chriſt, gives the preheminence to this, in that the former brought condemnation for one, but this latter brings juſtification for many offences, Rom. 5.16. and Chriſt teſtifies of the woman that was a ſinner, that her ſinnes which were many, are forgiven her, Luke 7.47. Be thy ſinnes never ſo many, if they fill a roll, that reacheth from the Eaſt to the Weſt, or from earth to heaven, they can but wrap thee in the curſe, and Chriſt hath taken upon him the whole curſe, that he might redeem thee from it, If thou haſt multiplied to ſin, God will multiply to pardon, Iſa. 55.7. he will caſt all our iniquities into the depths of the Sea, Mic. 7.19. If thou ſhouldeſt fill a thouſand baskets with ſand, and caſt them all into the midſt of the Sea, the waves would ſo ſweep them all away, that no remnant of them would appear, ſo the ſtreames of Chriſt's blood are able to waſh away thy manifold ſinnes, that not one of them ſhall remain: When the dew is fallen upon the ground, thou mayeſt ſee infinite millions of drops, but when the Sun breaks out, and ſhines in its ſtrength, it licks up, and ſcatters them all in a very ſhort time, and thou ſeeſt not one left: So the Sonne of righteouſneſs can diſpel thy numberleſs tranſgreſſions, as a cloud, or a miſt, that they cannot be found, Iſa. 44.22. Jer. 50.20.
3. Long continuance in the ſtate and trade, and under the guilt, and power of ſin. Oh, I am a ſinner of a long ſtanding, I am old and aged in ſin,Ierem. 2.33. Ier. 22.21. Eze. 23.43. I am ſoaked in iniquity, I have ſerved many apprentiſhips in it, and am grown gray-headed, I have drawn out a long train of vanitie, and ſin, as it were with cartropes, Iſa. 5.18. Methinks, I feel the guilt of it ſo ſodered into my ſpirit by dayly cuſtome, that it cannot be plucked out. But ſtay a while, poor ſoul, if the Lord hath begun to draw thy heart to ſeek an intereſt in the grace of Redemption, let not this diſmay thee. Although thou haſt ſpent all thy dayes in a courſe of ſin, ſpun out a long thread of iniquity, lived under guilt, even to the age of Methuſelah, yet the Redemption that is in Chriſt is richly able to ſet the free. He, to whom a thouſand years are but as one day, can take of thy guilt of 1000 years ſtanding. There were means for cleanſing an old Leproſie of long continuance, and ſacrifices to be offered to that end, Lev. 13.11. and 14.2. The Iſraelites after the death of every Judge returned to their old trade of ſin, and ceaſed not from their ſtubborne way. Judg. 2.19. Yet the Lord ſtirred them up Saviours ſtill; and though thou haſt continued long in ſin, yet Chriſt continues ſtill a Saviour. The ſinner that is 100 year old, is accurſed. Iſa. 65.20. but the curſe which thy Redeemer did undergoe, is ſtrong enough to ſhatter in peices the moſt inveterable curſe, and to turn it into a bleſſing. The removal of guilt ſo deeply rivetted into thy ſoul by length of time ſeems to thee impoſſible, but to him all things are poſſible. To ſhut up this, I would have the humbled ſoul to reſolve thus; Chriſt Jeſus hath offered up himſelf to God through the eternal ſpirit; and wherefore thus? ſurely, that he might by his blood purge my conſcience, from dead works, and ſo deliver my ſoul from that eternal guilt, and curſe wherein it is intrapped. Heb. 9.4.
4. The advantage which Juſtice might have againſt the ſinner, for rejecting, or neglecting the offer, and ſeaſon of grace. Oh, how often hath the Lord made a render of ſalvation to me by the Goſpel? how affectionately hath he invited me to come in, and to take hold on the ſtrength of this great Redeemer? yet I have reſiſted the ſpirit, and trampled this great grace under my feet, or at leaſt ſlighted it ſhamefully; therefore I have cauſe to fear, that the time is paſt, and that mercy ſhall never reach to my ſoul. Had I thoroughly cloſed at the firſt call, or ſeen ſome reaſonable time to lay down armes, and ſubmit, I could hope, that the Lord would have paſſed by all my former offences: But that he ſhould now accept me after the abuſe of ſo much mercy, ſuch unprofitableneſs under his ordinances, ſtrong oppoſition againſt grace ſo unweariedly offered, and ſettling my ſelf on the lees of mine old ſinful condition, contrary to the light, which I had received, this is quite beyond mine expectation. Theſe and the like aggravating circumſtances cannot but exaſperate divine Juſtice, and even compel it to vindicate its own honour, and to avenge it ſelf on ſuch a notorious wretch, as I am: Surely the Lord hath determined to glorifie himſelf in my finall condemnation. Thus the poor afflicted ſoul is apt to plead againſt its intereſt in this redemption. But oh my dear heart, be not ſo peremptory; open thine eyes & thou ſhalt ſee mercy glorying againſt Judgement. James 2.13. None of theſe aggravations ſhall obſtruct the ſweet fruit of this glorious benefit, but it ſhall break through them all. True it is, one of the Lords ends in ſuffering ſin to abound, and ſhewing forth ſo much patience to ſinners, is the manifeſting of his Juſtice upon the veſſels of wrath fitted to deſtruction, Rom. 9.22. as in the caſe of Pharaoh, Exod. 9.16. But what is this to thee, who haſt laid down thine armes, and art gaſping for merciemercy? He hath another, and a more deſirable end in reſpect of thee, namely, that grace may much more abound, and may raign thorough righteouſneſs unto life. Rom. 5.20, 21. And what wilt thou ſay, if the glory which he gets by delivering thee from the curſe, be double to that, which he might have by leaving thee under it. By this he onelyonly glorifies his juſtice, but by the former he glorifies both his juſtice, and mercy, this, in reſcuing thee from guilt, and wrath: that, in laying the curſe upon his onelyonly Son, that mercy might have free way to ſerve thee. Why then doſt thou not rather conclude thus? ſurely the Lord which doth all things for his own glory; will more regard a greater then a leſſer glory, my unbelieving heart ſaith, it will be his choiceſt glory to deſtroy me, being guiltie of ſuch foul rebellions: But the mercy of the redeemer ſaith, No, not ſo, I have borne the whole curſe for thee, that juſtice might have no advantage by thy rebellion; therefore I will rather raiſe up my glory by thy deliverance. The Jews did alwayes reſiſt the Holy Ghoſt,Acts 7.51. and trample the grace of God under their feet, even to the ſhedding of the blood of the Son of God, yet a great number of them are, and ſhall be ranſomed by the merit of that ſame blood which they ſhed:Zach. 12.1… & 13, 1… Ioh. 6.9. Peter having plainly confeſſed, that Jeſus was the Chriſt, the Son of the living God, Matt. 16.16. yet ſhortly after he rebukes Chriſt for ſpeaking of his ſuffering and death, verſ. 22. whereby (although ignorantly) he oppoſed the work of redemption; and when the time of ſuffering came, he diſowned him with ſwearing and curſing, Matth. 26.70, &c. yet the Lord Jeſus paſſed by all theſe provocations, and he became both a witneſs of his ſufferings, and a partaker of the glory, to be revealed,Acts 13.9. 1 Pet. 5.1. Saul (who was alſo called Paul,) did not onelyonly reject Chriſt, and the tender of Salvation by him, but alſo was injurious, a perſecuter, a blaſphemer, plaid the mad man againſt the Saints, and compelled them to blaſpeme. Might not Paul have deſpaired of favour, and ſaid, ſurely God will plead the cauſe of his Juſtice againſt me, he will never put up ſuch high affronts againſt merciemercy; But we hear no ſuch language. No, the grace of our Lord (ſaith he) was exceeding abundant, &c. 1 Tim. 1.13, 14. Herein he was ſet for a pattern to us.foreign ver. 16. Let the ſame minde be in us.
2. For the latter. The converted ſoule, who is actually made partaker of the grace of Redemption, and all his ſcores cleared, as to his eſtate of unregeneracy, yet even he may ſee matter of diſcomfort, by reaſon of ….
1. Its preſence, or in dwelling. Oh (ſaith the Godly ſoul,) I feel a lump of ſinne ſtill …ing in me, there is a troubleſome Inmate that ſtill hampers me, a continual dropping, … …o…ome-enemy, which beſets, and clogs … wofully, it is as near me, as my very bowels: I cannot be quiet for it, if I lie down, or if I riſe up; if I go forth, or if I come in, it is ſtill about me, In the buſineſs, and imployments of my ordinary calling, it't' puting in an oar, and in performance of Religious duties, but it act's with all its might, raiſing up oftentimes ſuch baſe paſſions, and luſts, as like a malignant Eaſt-winde, are ready to blaſt my beſt fruits. Oh ſad complaint. But pauſe a while, and take one thing with another. Thou thinkeſt thou art ſtill under the Curſe, while the caſe is thus with thee: but it is not ſo. The great deſigne of thy Redeemer in deſtroying ſinne, and delivering thee from it, doth not take place fully whileſt thou art in this mortality. His meaning was not, to remove it wholly out of thy ſoul, ſo as no footſtep of it ſhould remain, but onelyonly to take away the ſting, and deadly ruining power of it for the preſent: The total aboliſhing of it muſt be a gradual work, not to be perfected till thou ſhalt put on incorruption. Thy happineſs here ſtands not in the not having ſin, but in the Lords not imputing of ſin, through the ſatisfaction of Chriſt. It is the wiſedome of our heavenly Father, thus to exerciſe thoſe, whom he prepares to be veſſels of mercy; He will have their remaining time here, to be a warfare, that they may know the fellowſhip of Chriſts ſufferings. He was burthened with thy ſin, and could not be rid of it, till death: thou muſt be conformed to thine head, and make account it will be thy neighbour, while thou art in the body. But remember, that while thou art yoked with this body of ſin, and groaning under it, thy Redeemer hath compaſſion on thee. If the Canaanite be in the Land, he will be a thorn in Iſraels ſide, yet he ſhall not prevail. Holy Paul had a law in his members, which led him captive to the law of ſin, and made him cry out, Oh miſerable man; yet even then he can thank God in the view of full deliverance by Chriſt, Rom. 7.21, 23, &c. Thine head is now conforming thee to himſelfe, and will not ceaſe till hee hath wrought out thy victory with triumph.
2 It is prevalency or domineering. Oh! if I had it under, I could have ſome ground of comfort; but alas, it is exceeding maſterful, it doth not onelyonly lead, but hold me captive. Oh! how doth ſin rage within me? Strong luſts, like the Anakims? If there be any grace in me, any thing of the new man, it is but as a graſhopper in compariſon of a Gyant: One cryes out of the luſt of the fleſh, which ſoon kindles and gets up into a flame of inclination to bodily uncleanneſs: Another of the luſt of the eyes, in too eager deſires after the world: A third, of pride of life in ambitious aſpirings after great things. A fourth of raſh anger which bears him down as with the ſtream, and puts him upon unſeemly language and carriage. And although I pray, and ſtrive againſt my luſt (ſaith the Chriſtian) yet it ſtill, ever, and anon gets the upper hand. I have been overtaken with a groſs ſin, I have fallen into it again and again, yea I have ſinned willingly, againſt knowledge, and with delight: I fear I ſhall one day periſh by the hand of ſin. But ſtay a while, and hearken what the Lord will ſpeak to thee. It is a ſad thing that Chriſts free-man ſhould be ſo hankled in a ſnare, and ſo trampled under the feet of a maſterful luſt; and more ſad, if he ſhould lay under the power and command of a groſs ſin in the actual committing of it, yet there is hope in Iſrael concerning this: OnelyOnly take notice, that I have no deſigne to bolſter up the ſinner in his way of inquity, my endeavour is to ſpeak peace to the diſconſolate Saint. I ſay then, thou art not alone (poor ſoul) others of the Lords people have been and may be in this very condition. Noah foulely overcome with wine, yet commended by God himſelf to be a righteous man. Sampſon intangled in the love of one Harlot after another, yet numbred among thoſe which by faith obtained a good report. David deeply implunged into thoſe two groſs ſinnes, Adultery and murder, and abiding under the guilt of them a long time; yet who among all the Lords Worthies regiſtred in Scripture, was comparable to him? There were ſacrifices in the Law for ſins againſt knowledge, as well as ſins of ignorance. A man that was grievouſly infected with the Leproſie,Levit. 6.1, 2, 6, 7. Levit. 13.…. & 14, 4 &c. had means of cleanſing at hand, as well as he that was defiled with ordinary uncleanneſs. The blood of the Redeemer can purge all ſorts of ſins, and therefore the mercy of God doth reach out to pardon all, Exod. 34.7. Is thy ſin in too great power? Remember, that Chriſt crucified is the power of God, he will break the head of Leviathan, he came to deſtroy the works of the Devil, 1 Joh. 3.8. Haſt thou ſinned willingly, and with delight? Jeſus Chriſt delighted to do his Fathers will, Pſ. 40.8. he ſuffered willingly for thy ſin. The Lord ſometimes gives luſt and ſin leave to rage, and maſter his ſervants, for a ſeaſon but it ſhall not totally prevail. Although thy corruptions be as the ſons of Zeruiah to David, too hard for thee, yet if the bent of thy ſoul bee againſt them, if thou fighteſt againſt them with the heart of an enemy, thou ſhalt at laſt bee conquerour over them through the Croſs of Chriſt. See the promiſe, Rom. 6.14.
3 The advantage, which Juſtice might get againſt him, by reaſon of frequent neglects, faylings, wandrings, ſwarvings from the rule of the word ſince his converſion. Oh (ſaith the godly ſoul) I can do nothing aright; how often do I miſcarry in the manner, motives, and ends of obedience? Methinks I am fettered, that I cannot go a foot pace, much leſs run in the way of Gods Commandements. To ſome kinde of evill, ready and free enough, to ſome kinde of good too often dead and ſluggiſh. If I be redeemed indeed, why am I thus? or what comfort can I have in the work of Redemption, while I am in this caſe? Doth the priſoner when he is releaſed, feel the ſhackles ſtill on his legs? If Chriſt by undergoing the curſe of my former bondage, hath brought me into liberty, why am I ſtill in bondage? who ſhall anſwer for me now? or where is the ranſome for it? But now conſider, if theſe diſtempers are the unavoidable workings of remaining corruption which cannot be wholly ſhaken off. The beſt Saints may finde in themſelves an indiſpoſedneſs to good, and forwardneſs to evil, eſpecially about thoſe things which are moſt ſpiritual, and require much ſelf-denial in their carnal and earthly intereſt of eaſe, credit, and other outward enjoyments, as in a conſtant courſe of ſecret prayer, private reproof of others upon juſt occaſion, acknowledging a miſcarriage to their own diſgrace, putting up wrongs, for the maintaining of peace, and ſuch like. Why is thy heart dejected for that which is the common lot of all the godly? Thou mayeſt think it is well, that the Lord hath not left thee to groſſer ſins; and although thou haſt many failings, yet the Lord looks upon thee according to thy better part; he will own his own grain in the midſt of much chaffe. And here is the crown of thy comfort. Chriſt Jeſus hath offered a ſacrifice for every one that erreth, and for him that is ſimple, Ezek. 45.20. and he can reaſonably bear with the ignorant, and thoſe that are out of the way, Heb. 5.2. and he will carry on his work in thy ſoul, till thy ſinful diſtempers bee wholly ſubdued, and thou ſhalt have no more cauſe to complaine.
Sect. 2. Comfort againſt inward terrours, reproaches of men, and outward afflictions.
2. AGainſt inward fears and terrours of conſcience, ariſing from ſenſe of guilt and liableneſs to Gods diſpleaſure. Even the Lords redeemed may have ſhrewd remainders of the ſpirit of bondage upon them; their ſpirits are ſometimes ſtartled and terrified with the fear or feeling of Divine wrath. God lets Satan looſe againſt them, to bring their old ſins to remembrance, or to roar upon them as a Lion, for new miſcarriages. And when he meets with a timorous unbeleeving heart, he plies it ſo long with his fiery darts, till at length he bereaves the ſinner of all comfort. Sometimes he is dejected, and laid low in the ſight of his own vileneſs: Sometimes he is toſſed and diſquieted as the Sea with ſtorms and tempeſts: Sometimes he is even ſwallowed up with waves of ſoul-trouble, as a ſhip ready to ſink, ſo that Satan ſeems to have his will of him,Lam. 3.18. and he ſaith, My ſtrength, and my hope is periſhed from the Lord. A ſad and unwelcome buſineſs, I confeſs, yet many of Gods dear ſervants have been thus put to it, as both Scripture and experience do teſtifie. Job complains that God held him for his enemy, and made him to poſſeſs the iniquities of his youth, Job 13.24, 26. and therefore the poyſon of his arrows did drink up his ſpirit, and the terrours of God did ſet themſelves in array againſt him,Iob 19.25. Chap. 6.4. yet elſewhere he profeſſeth his faith in the Redeemer. David cries out, that Gods arrows ſtuck ſo faſt in him, and his hand preſſed him ſo ſore, that there was no ſoundneſs in his fleſh, nor reſt in his bones, Pſal. 38.3, 4. The like we may ſee in Heman the Ezrahite, Pſal. 88.3, 6, 7, 14, 15, &c. But let the afflicted ſoul now have recourſe to this harbour of Redemption, and there he ſhall finde good ſhelter againſt all theſe ſtorms. What haſt thou to fear, ſave the curſe of the Law? why? but that is removed and gone. Thy Surety hath freed thee from it, by making an end of thy ſins. No ſin, no curſe. If the Lord hide his face, and frown upon thee, it will bee for a moment, for a ſmall moment, but he will return, and with everlaſting kindneſs have mercy on thee: And for this thy Redeemer hath ingaged his word, Iſa. 54.7, 8. As for Satan, that Lion of hell, when he can neither hold; nor recover his priſoners, it is his next policy to diſquiet them, and to make their lives uncomfortable. But tell him, that thou art Chriſts devoted ſervant, by vertue of a dear ranſome, and he hath nothing in thee, neither ſhall hee rule in thy conſcience; he may go, laſh, and torment his own marked ſlaves, but thou art out of his reach. And if the Lord and Satan do ſtill purſue thy ſoul with terrours, remember that thy Maſter Chriſt hath drunk of this bitter cup before thee, and be aſſured, that he will plead thy cauſe with his Father, and at length he will take that roaring Lion under-hand, and rend him, as he would rend a Kid, as it is ſaid of Sampſon, Judg. 14.6. Know it, dear Chriſtian, for thy comfort, there are no ſtorms in heaven.
3 Againſt the curſings, evill ſpeakings, reproaches, contradictions of the men of the world. Their tongues are ſet on fire of hell, and they are very eloqu…nt in the helliſh art of curſed language, eſpecially againſt the Lords Redeemed ones, ſmiting them with bitter words, and heaping upon them the baſeſt indignities, which either the Devil can ſuggeſt, or their malicious hearts invent. Haſt thou been acquainted with ſuch unwelcome ſalutations? Do thy prophane neighbours open their mouthes againſt thee? And doſt thou hear the words of curſing and bitterneſs, yet be not troubled at it. Theſe arrows, though they be very ſharp, and ſent from a ſtrong arm, yet they ſhall not reach to pierce thy heart; theſe coals of Juniper, though they keep in the fire, a whole year, yet thou needeſt not fear ſcorching by them; the malignity of them is taken away by the grace of Redemption. If the curſe of Gods righteous Law be voided to thee, much more is the curſe of mans unrighteous law. If the Lord hath reverſed, and diſanulled his juſt ſentence, paſſed againſt thee in heaven, will he ſuffer the unjuſt ſentence of ſinful man on earth to ſtand in force againſt thee? If the curſe which is deſerved ſhall not come, much leſs ſhall that which is cauſeleſs, Prov. 26.2. Say thou to God, as David, Let them curſe, but bleſs thou, Pſal. 109.28. thou mayeſt hope, that the Lord will requite thee good for their curſing, as 2 Sam. 16.12. when the children of Iſrael were brought out of Egypt, and upon their way to the promiſed Land, Balaam was hired to curſe them; but the Lord turned the curſe into a bleſſing, Deut. 23.3, 4. So if thou be redeemed out of thy curſed condition, and art travelling heaven-ward, thou ſhalt meet with curſes by the way, but thy Redeemer will turn them into a bleſſing; yea he hath bleſſed thee already, ſo that all their imprecations, cenſures, ſlanders, are but the flaſhings of powder without ſhot, or like ſquibs, which breath out fire, but ſuddenly vaniſh and dye. Thou mayeſt pitty their folly, in ſpeaking evill of the things which they know not. The day is comming, wherein they ſhall hang down their heads for ſhame, and ſay, We counted their life madneſs, but indeed we are the mad-men, they are the Lords Redeemed, and numbred among the Saints, we are the Devils bondmen, and muſt go in the black band. How have we raved againſt them by curſing and railing, and all malicious language: But now we finde that they are the bleſſed of the Lord, and we (Wo, wo unto us) are the children of the curſe.
4 Againſt outward temporal afflictions which they meet with in this life. Theſe are the lot of the Lords people, whereunto they are appointed, 1 Theſſ. 3.3. Every one muſt have his ſeveral cup of one kinde, or other. None of us can be wholly diſcharged from this war, while we are in the body, yet here is ſafety in the hand of our great Reedeemer. The Ch…ldren of Iſrael, being brought out of the houſe of bondage, had a troubleſome journey through the wilderneſs to the Land of Canaan, by reaſon of many difficulties they muſt encounter withall in the way; but the Angel of the Covenant went before them, and carried them forward, as on E…gles wings, and at length gave them reſt. You that are happily reſcued from the Curſe and bondage of hell, may expect to meet with much tribulation in the way to the Kingdome of God, Act. 14.22. But this may be your comfort, Jeſus Chriſt your ſtrong Deliverer looks after you, and will not ſuffer you to be trodden under foot, Hee is the Captain of your ſalvation, and he knows by experience, what it is to be afflicted; for the Father thought it moſt convenient, to make him perfect by ſufferings, Heb. 2.10. and he hath drunk the bittereſt cup even to the bottome, and will ſo ſweeten yours, as you ſhall have no cauſe to ſhrink at it.
I ſhall inlarge this further in ſome particulars. Not to inſiſt on ſuch grievances as the godly ſuffer in common with the men of the world: The grace of Redemption affords ſome reliefe againſt theſe. There be three ſorts of Afflictions very remarkable, which do oftentimes deject and weaken the ſpirits of Gods people, ſo that they need to bee comforted with the ſavoury, and reſtorative Apples which grow upon this Tree.
1. Perſecutions for righteouſneſs. By this excellent benefit we are made capable of high enjoyments, but it is with the proviſo of ſuffering perſecutions, ſo hath Chriſt himſelf determined, Mark. 10.29, 30. and his choſen witneſs Paul tells us poſitively, All that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus ſhall ſuffer perſecution, 2 Tim. 3.13. which hath been abundantly verified in all ages. See Davids complaint, Pſal. 38.20, & 119.86. Act. 8.1. 1 Cor. 4.12. Gal. 4.29. But now the Saints which ſuffer for the truth, or for well-doing, may chear up their hearts, when they conſider that the Redeemer himſelf hath led them the way in this fiery trial. Did ever any undergo ſo much? his whole life was a continued perſecution. Herod ſought his life while he was a childe, and when hee was grown up, the Jews perſecuted him to the death; and he hath given us warning before hand, that we may not think it ſtrange, if we be baptiſed with the ſame baptiſme, Joh. 15.20. Let the poor ſuffering Chriſtian then reſolve thus,Luke 4.28, 29. Ioh 5.16, 18. and 8 59. & 10.30, &c. If my Redeemer was perſecuted for righteouſneſs ſake, in defence of his heavenly doctrine, the avouching of his eternal God-head, the Fathers ſending him to be the Saviour of the loſt world, and the doing of good works, and all this for me, and on my account; then it is but equal, th…t I ſhould undergo any kinde of perſecution for him, and not ſtick at it. This is but to help to fill up the remainder of Chriſts ſufferings, Col. 1.24. and for thine encouragement take notice that he hath pronounced thoſe bleſſed that are thus perſecuted, Matth. 5.10, &c. Look up unto him, who for the joy that was ſet before him, indured the Croſs, Heb. 12.2. and do thou likewiſe.
2 Sufferings in their innocency. The godly are expoſed to hardſhips in the world, not onelyonly for bearing witneſs to the truth, and for well-doing, but alſo when there is no cauſe at all, ſave the unreaſonable will and malice of men. Thus it was with David, Pſal. 13, 4. & 35.7. & 59.3. Prov. 1.11. They lurk privily for the innocent without cauſe. So Joſeph, Gen. 39.8, 12, 20. and Daniel 16.4, 16, 22. Some men are ſo malignantly affected againſt ſincerity, that rather then fail, they will forge, and invent matter of miſchiefe againſt the godly. If this be thy caſe, thine integrity, and innocency may bear up thy ſpirit; thou needeſt not fret againſt the Agents, but conſider that the Lord hath an hand in it for thy good, at leaſt for the trial of thy faith, ſelf-denial, patience. Above all, remember, that this alſo was the lot of thy Redeemer. He had no ſin, neither was guile found in his mouth, yet he ſuffered; he was brought as a Lamb to the ſlaughter, yet opened he not his mouth, Iſa. 53.7. 1 Pet. 2.21, 22. Say then, Although I ſuffer without cauſe, yet I will not be caſt down, but I will commit my way unto the Lord, and he ſhall bring forth my righteouſneſs as the light, Pſal. 37.5, 6. The Redeemer which pleads my cauſe with God, will plead it alſo with men. Rejoyce not againſt me, O mine enemy, when I fall, I ſhall ariſe, Mic. 7.8. He will awake to judge my cauſe in due time.
3. Puniſhments for ſin. The Redeemed of the Lord, by giving way to the temptations of the wicked one, and the prevailing of luſt, do ſo far forget themſelves, that they even waxe wanton againſt him, and provoke him to take them underhand, and to inflict ſome judgement upon them. Thus he puniſhed David for his ſin in the matter of Bathſheba, 2 Sam. 12.10, 11, 14. and Moſes for not ſanctifying him before the people, Num. 20.12. & Deut. 32.50, 51. and the Saints of Corinth for unworthy communicating, 1 Cor. 11.30. which is called judging, verſ. 31. The godly ſometimes by their miſcarriages bring upon themſelves, ſickneſs, poverty, loſſes, croſſes in children, or good name, yea bodily death. By complying with the ſins of the times, they become partners in the judgements, Ezek. 21.3. Wiſe Solomon obſerves it, as very remarkable, prefixing a [Behold] to it, that the righteous ſhall be recompenced in the earth, Prov. 11.21. even he is not ſpared, but paid home for his folly; there is a time, that judgement begins at the houſe of God, 1 Pet. 4.17. Say then, Is this thy caſe? Thou haſt ſinned, and now thou ſuffereſt. I adviſe thee to be humbled for it, yet not to be diſcomforted. The Redeemer hath born the heat and burthen of Gods wrath for thy ſin, and theſe puniſhments are not the effects of indignation ſteeled with hatred, but anger meekned with love.
Minde it, good Chriſtian, the Lord hath annexed this proviſo to the Covenant of grace, If you tranſgreſs, you muſt expect to be viſited with the rod, yet the Covenant ſhall ſtand faſt, Pſa. 89.30. &c. As poyſon duely mixed and ordered by the art of the skilful P…yſi…ian, doth not kill, but help to bring health; So the wiſe God will temper the puniſhments which he layes on thee for ſin, that they ſhould not hinder, but further the fruit of thy Redemption. Thy Saviour learned obedience by the things which he had ſuffered for thy ſin, Heb. 5.8. Take thou out the ſame leſſon.
I might here take occaſion to ſtart and diſpute this queſtion, Whether thoſe which are actually made partakers of the grace of Redemption, be ſo fully freed from the curſe of the Law in this life, that the evills which they ſuffer for ſin, have nothing of the curſe in them, nor can be truly ſo called: But I look upon it, as a ſtrife about words; the controverſie may be thus decided.foreign. The curſe may be conſidered, either materially, as it is a thing contrary to the good and welfare of the creature, and ſo unwelcome; or formally as it the ſinners liableneſs to the avenging wrath of God for ſin: Or, it may be taken, either largely, for any evill whatſoever, which is the reward of ſin, or ſtrictly for that great evil of evils, which ſtands in the ſeparation of the ſinner from God, and his eternal perdition. Take it materially, or in the largeſt ſenſe, and both Scripture and experience ſpeak it aloud that beleevers are not fully delivered from the whole curſe in this life: But take it formally and ſtr…ctly, and thus the elect ſinner is wholly ſet free from it at the inſtant of his converſion. The terrible tempeſt, that would overwhelme him, and render him utterly and everlaſtingly miſerable is paſſ…d by, and ſh…ll not fall upon his head; onelyonly ſome drops and ſprinklings may daſh him, but they ſhall not hurt him; yea the nature of them is ſo altered,Med…inales … A…g. …, corr… …nes… & … … nes, fabr… lo…s, …ſiones …t…on…s, & candidat…es Guil P…iſ. apud Ameſ. Bell. Enerv. that they do him good, as the Lords Warning-peeces, to bring him to repentance after his falls, and a Phyſical receits, which though they be not toothſome, yet are wholeſome to the ſoul, Heb. 12.10, 11. Jer. 24.5. If thou be well adviſed, thou wilt not look upon them, as eff…cts of revenging juſtice, but as fatherly chaſtiſements, and medicines to cure thy folly, and helps to promote vertue, as hammering or ſquarings, and knockings, or waſhings, and whitenings, Dan. 11.35. And this may miniſter ſweet refreſhing to thee under the ro…, even when thou haſt the greateſt cauſe of humiliation for thy ſin.