Heart Humiliation, Sermon 13
SERMON XIII.
Iſai. 26. 3.
Thou ſhalt keep him in perfe… Peace, whoſe mind is ſtayed on thee, becauſe he truſteth in thee.
CHriſt hath left us his peace, as the great a… comprehenſive Legacy, My peace I lea… you, Joh. 14. 27. And this was not peace in th… world that he injoyed, you know what his li… was, a continual warfare; but a peace above the world, that paſſeth underſtanding In the world you ſhall have trouble, but in me y… ſhall have peace, ſaith Chriſt, a peace that ſha… make trouble no trouble: You muſt lay you accompts to have ſuch a life, as the Forerunner had; But withall, as he hath left us hi… trouble, ſo hath he left us his peace; Th… trouble will have an end, but the joy can n… man take from you: We have this ſure Promiſe to reſt upon, in behalf of the Church, pea… ſhall be on Iſrael; A peace that the worl… knoweth not, and ſo cannot aſſault it, or tak… it away. Oh that you would hearken to thi… word, That you would truſt in the Lord, and ſta… upon your God, then ſhould your peace be as a River, Iſai. 48. 18. There is nothing more deſired in time of trouble, then peace; but all peac… is not better then warr: Some neceſſary warr is better, then evil grounded peace. The Kingdomes have been long in pain, labouring to bring forth a ſafe and well-grounded peace. But alas, we have been in pain and brought forth wind, when we looked for peace, no good came; and for healing, behold trouble. But how ſhall we arrive at our deſired Haven? Certainly, if peace be well grounded, it muſt have Truth for its Foundation, and Righteouſneſſe for its Companion; Truth muſt ſpring out of the earth, and righteouſneſs look down from heaven. This were the compendious way for publick peace, if every man would make his own peace with God: There are controverſies with God, between King, Nobles and People, and therefore, God Fomenteth the warrs in the Kingdoms; If you would have theſe ended, make peace with God in Chriſt, by flying in unto him, and reſting on him; more truſting in God would diſpatch our warrs; Truſting in the arm of fleſh continueth them. Allways what ever be, peace or warr, here is the buſineſſe that more concerns you, your eternal peace and ſafty; And if ye were more careful of this, to ſave your own Souls, you would help the publick more. If you could be once perſwaded to be Chriſtians indeed, we needed not preſſe many duties in reference to the publick, and untill you be once perſwaded to ſave your ſelves, by flying from the wrath to come, it is in vain to ſpeak of pub,lick Duties to you. We do therefore, declare unto you the way of obtaining perfect peace, peace as a River, if you will quite all ſelf-confidences, fly from your ſelves as your greateſt enemies, and truſt your Souls unto the Promiſe in Jeſus Chriſt, and lean all your weight on him, we aſſure you, your peace ſhall run abundantly and perpetually. Whoever truſteth in Creatures, in uncertain Riches, in worldly peace, in whatſoever thing, beſide the only living and glorious Lord, we perſwade him, that his peace ſhall fail as a Brook: All things in this world ſhall deal deceitfully with you, as a Brook which is blackiſh, by reaſon of Ice, what time it waxeth warm, it ſhall evaniſh; you …hat looked and waited for water in it, ſhall be confounded, becauſe you hoped and are aſhamed becauſe of your expectation, Job 6. 15. &c. The Summer ſhall dry up your peace, and what will you do? But if you pour ou… your Souls on him, and truſt in the Fountain of Living Waters, you ſhall not be aſhamed, for your peace ſhall be as a River. The Elephant is ſaid to truſt, that he can drink out a River, but he is deceived, for he may drink again, it runs, and ſhall run for ever. If any thing would eſſay to take your peace from you, it is a vain attempt, for it runs like a River; it may be ſhallower and deeper, but it cannot run dry, becauſe o… the Living Fountain it proceedeth from. There is no other thing can be made ſure, all beſides this, is uncertain, and this only is worthy to be made ſure; Nothing beſides this, can give you ſatisfaction.
Are your hearts asking within you, how ſhall this peace be attained? If you deſire to know it, conſider theſe words, whoſe heart is ſtayed on thee, becauſe he truſts in thee. It concerneth you much to know well, what this is, that your eternal peace depends on.
Truſting in God, is the leaning of the Souls weight on God, the Soul hath a burden above it, heavy and unſupportable, and this the truſter caſteth upon God; And ſo he is a loadened and weary man, whom Chriſt exhorteth to come to him, and he ſhall find eaſe for his Soul, Matth. 11. 28. Prov. 3. 5. Leaning to our ſelf, and truſting in God are oppoſed▪ Pſal. 22. 10. Truſting is exponed, to be a caſting upon God, Pſal. 25. 1. It is called, a lifting up the Soul to him. This one thing is included, in the boſome of Truſting and Believing, that a man hath many burdens, too heavy for him, which would ſink him down: The Believer is ſuch a one as Jehoſaphat. 2 Chron. 20. 12. O Lord we have no might againſt this great company, neither know we what to do. O Lord, I have an Army of iniquities againſt me, a great company compaſſeth me about; An Army of Curſ…s, als numerous as mine iniquities, both are innumerable as the Sand of the Sea, I have no might againſt them, neither know I what to do: Nay, the Lord is againſt me, his wrath is like the roaring of a Lyon, what can I do agai…ſt him? The firſt beginning of truſting in God, is diſtruſting our ſ…lves: And untill a man ſee his duty and burden beyond his ſtrength, his burden greater then he can bear, you will never perſwade him to come to Jeſus Chriſt, and lean on him. We will not preac… any ſuch Doctrine, as to diſcharge any to co… to Chriſt, till they be wearied and loaden For, when a man conceiveth that he wante… that weariedneſſe, whither ſhall he go to fi… it? Is there any Fountain, but one Jeſ… Chriſt, both of Grace and preparations to it, any ſuch be? But this we preach unto yo… that un…l you be wearied and loaden, you wi… not caſt your burden on Jeſus. We need n… diſcharge you to come till you be ſuch, for ce… tainly you will not come. This is the deſper… wickedneſſe of our hearts, that we will neve… forſake our ſelves, till we can do no better: Utill men be as David, I looked on the right han… and there was none would know me, refuge fail… me, certainly they will not cry to God: M… will look round about them, before they wi… look up above them, they will caſt the burde… of their Souls upon any thing, upon their ow… ſorrow and contrition, upon their reſolution … amend, upon external Duties and Priviledge upon civil Honeſty, until all theſe ſuccumb under the weight of their Salvation, and then, i… may be, they will ask after him who bare o… griefs. I would not willingly ſpeak of preparations to Faith, becauſe it putteth men upo… ſearching ſomething in themſelves, upon faſhioning their own hearts, and trimming them t… come to Chriſt; wheras there is nothing ca… be acceptable to him, but what cometh fro… him. But I think all that men intend, wh… ſpeak of preparations, may be gained this wa… by holding out unto men, the impoſſibility o… …oming to Chriſt, till they be emptied of themſelves; Not that the one is a thing going before, to be done by us, but becauſe they are all …ne, it is one motion of the Soul to come out of …t ſelf, and in to Jeſus: It is one thing really to …iſtruſt our ſelves, and to truſt in him; And by this means, when the true Nature of Faith it …elf is holden out, men might examine themſelves …ather by it, whither they have it, nor by the preparations of it.
But to come to our purpoſe, when the Soul is preſſed under burdens of ſin and miſery, of duty, and inſufficiency, and inability to do it, then …he Goſpel diſcovereth unto the wearied Soul, a place of repoſing and reſt. The Lord hath eſtabliſhed Chriſt Jeſus an enſigne to the people, theſe who ſeek unto him ſhall find his reſt glorious, Iſa. 11. 10. When there is diſcovered in us, all …mptineſſe and inability, yea impoſſibility to ſave our ſelves or perform any duty, then are we led to Jeſus Chriſt, as one who is come with grace and truth, in whom it hath pleaſed the father all fulneſs ſhould dwell; And the turning of the Soul over upon him, is truſting in him. You would not miſtake this, truſting in the Lord in its firſt and moſt native acting, is not always perſwaſion of his good-will and love in particular; No, the Soul meets firſt with a general promiſe, holding out his good-will in general, and the Soul cloſeth with this, a thing both good and true, as faithful in it ſelf, and worthy of all acceptati…n. This is it that we muſt firſt meet with, an …ll-ſufficient Saviour able to ſave to the u… …oſt all that come to him, and the Souls ac…epting of that bleſſed Saviour on the termes he is offered, this is believing in him and truſting to him, as a compleat Saviour.
Now when the Soul hath diſburdened it ſe… upon God, and ſet to it… ſeal to the truth o… t… promiſes in the Goſpel for Salvation; If t… Light of the Spirit ſhine to diſcover this un… it, that it hath laid hold on his ſtrength, who… able to ſave to the utmoſt, then it becometh pe… ſwaded of his love in particular, and this is r… ther the Sealing after believing, then believing … ſelf.
When once men have hazarded their So… upon his word, and truſted in him, then th… may truſt in him for all particulars: He th… hath given his Son for us, will be not with him g… all things: This therefore, is the continual … courſe of a Believer, from diſcovered emptine… and inſufficiency in himſelf, to travel unto t… fulneſſe and ſtrength of Jeſus Chriſt, that h… ſtrength may be perfected in weakneſſe: Y… when all things ſeem contrary, and his diſpe… ſation writes bitter things againſt us, yet ou… we to truſt in him, Job 13. 15. There is a pe… of wilfulneſs and violence in Faith, that will lo… allways towards his word, whatever be thre… ned to the contrary.
Now from this Faith in God, floweth a c… ſtant dependance and ſtayedneſs on him, T… are ſtayed on him, becauſe they truſted in him: … Faith diſcovereth in God, ſuch grounds, t… it may lean its weight upon him without w… vering and changing. It conſidereth his po… er, his good-will and his faithfulneſs; H… able to perform, he is willing to do it, and he is faithful, becauſe he hath promiſed. His greatneſs and power is a high Rock, higher then we, that Faith leadeth us unto: His love and good will in Jeſus Chriſt, maketh an open entry, and ready acceſs to that Rock; And faithfulneſs ingageth both to give a ſhelter and refuge to the poor ſinner. Would a Soul be any more toſſed, would there be any place for wavering and doubting, if Souls conſidered his excellent loveing kindneſs and great goodneſs laid up and treaſured with him, for theſe that truſt in him? Pſal. 36. 7. Who would not put their truſt under the ſhadow of his wings, and think themſelves ſafe? Again, if his eternal power were pondered, how he is able to effectuat whatever he pleaſeth, what everlaſting Armes he hath, that by a word ſupports the frame of the world, what he can do, if he ſtretch out his Arm: And then, if theſe two immutable things, Heb. 6. 18. His Promiſe and his Oath were looked upon, how he hath ingaged himſelf in his Truth, and ſworn in his Holineſs; Would not a Soul ly ſafely between theſe three? what ſtrong conſolation would ſuch a threefold conſideration yield? Would any wind or tempeſt blow within theſe Walls mounted up to Heaven?
Stayedneſs on God is nothing elſe, but the fixedneſs of believing and truſting, Pſal. 112. 7, 8. His heart is fixed, truſting in God, hi… …eart is eſtabliſhed. It is even the mature and ripe age of Faith: F…ith while it is yet in infancy, in its tender years, it neither can endure ſtorms, nor can it confirm us in them; But when it hath ſprung up and grown in that root of Jeſſe, whe… it is rooted and eſtabliſhed in Jeſus Chriſt, then it eſtabliſheth the Soul: Faith abiding in him and taking root groweth confirmed, as a Tree that cannot eaſily be moved, and if you eſtabliſh Faith, you ſhall be eſtabliſhed.
There are two particulars which I conceive the truſting Soul is ſtayed on, Firſt, in the meditation of God, Secondly, in expectation from him of all good things. When I ſay the Meditation of God. I take in both Contemplation and Affection. The moſt part of men have but few thoughts of God at all, even thoſe who truſt in him, do not conſider ſufficiently, what a One he is in whom they believe. If Faith were vigorous and lively, it would put men to often thinking on him, ſeeking to know him in his glorious Names, the mind would be ſtayed upon this glorious object, as the moſt Myſterious and Wonderful One. How throng are mens minds with their vanities? When they awake, they are not ſtill with God; The Meditation of him is a burden to them; Any other thing geteth more time and thoughts. But Meditation addeth Affection to Contemplation; Men may think long upon the Heavens and their Courſe, but their Affections are not raviſhed with them: But this is the Soul ſtayed on God, when the Souls deſires are towards the remembrance of his Name, then Affection ſtayeth the mind upon what it pitcheth one: And certainly, the mind giveth but paſſing looks, conſtrained thoughts where the heart is not: Here is Davids Meditation, Pſal. 1. My delight is in the law of the Lord. The Soul of a Believer ſhould be conſtant and fixed in the conſideration of God, till he be wholly ingaged to admiration and wondering. O Lord how excellent is thy Name, Pſ. 8. 1. And who is like unto thee? You all ſay that you believe in God, and know his Power, you know he is Good, he is Merciful, Juſt, Long ſuffering, Faithful, &c. But what is all this knowledge but ignorance, and your light darkneſs, when it doth not preſs you to put your truſt in his Name? You know; Nay, but you conſider not what you know: This is truſting, when the mind is ſtayed on what it knoweth, when all the ſcattered thoughts and affections are called home, and united in one, to be exerciſed about this comprehenſive Object, The Lord our God. It is not want of knowledge deſtroyeth you, but want of conſideration of what you know, and this is brutiſhneſs. Mens hearts do not carry Seal and Stamp of their knowledge, becauſe thoughts of God and his word are but as paſſengers that go thorow a Land, as lightning going thorow the mind, but warms it not: And ſo their practice carrieth no impreſſion of it either. How baſe is it for thoſe who have God for their God, to be ſo ignorant of him. Would not any man willingly travel about his own poſſeſſions Have you ſuch a large portion Believers, and ſhould you be taken up with other vanities? Should your hearts & minds be ſtayed on them more then the living God? There is a great vanity and levity in mens minds. The Lord knoweth the thoughts of men that they are vanity. There is a… unſetledneſs of Spirit, we cannot pitch upon that on which we may be ſtayed: And ſo all the ſpirits of men are in a continual motion from one thing to another, for nothing giveth compleat ſatisfaction, and therefore it muſt go and try one after another, to ſee if it can find in it, what i… found not in the former: And ſuch is the inconſtancy of the Spirit, that it licketh up its vomit and what thing it refuſed, it eateth it up as it… meat: The time is ſpent in chooſing and refuſing, rejecting one thing, and taking another and again returning to what you have rejected Thus are men toſſed up and down, and unſtabl… in all their ways, as a Ship without ballaſting. Now Faith and truſting in God is the ballaſ… and weight of this inconſtant Ship: It is the Anchor to ſtay it from being driven to and fro. once men would pitch upon this one Lord, wi… hath in himſelf eminently all the ſcattered perfections of Creatures, and infinitely more if you would conſider him, and meditate on him, till your Souls loved him, would you not be raviſhed with him? Would you not build your houſe beſide him, and dwell in the meditation of his Name? This would fix and eſtabliſh you in duties, when I awake, I am ſtill with thee. A little ſearching and experience diſcovereth emptineſs in all beſide, and therefore is it, that the Soul removeth ſooner from ſuch a particular Creature, then it expected; but here is one that is paſt finding out; The more I ſearch and find, I find him the more above what I can ſearch and find. The Creatures are but painted and fair in mens apprehenſion and at a diſtance, but the near injoyment of them diſcovereth the deluſion, and ſendeth a man away aſhamed, becauſe he truſted. But the Lord God is, and there is no other, he is not as waters that fail no liar, he is an everlaſting Fountain, the more you dig and draw, it runs the faſter, he will never ſend any away aſhamed that truſt in him, becauſe they ſhall find more then they expected.
Therefore the Soul that is ſtayed on meditation of God, and knoweth him certainly, will be fixed in expectation from him. Our expectation from the Creatures changeth, becauſe it is oft fruſtrat, diſappoyntment meets it, it is above what is in the Creature, and ſo it muſt meet with diſappoyntment; But as he is above our meditation, ſo is he far above our expectation: And if a mans experience anſwer his hope, he hath no reaſon to change his hope. The Lord hath often done things we looked not for, but we never looked for any thing according to the grounds of the word, but it was done, or a better then it. He doth not always anſwer our limitations, but if he give Gold, when we ſought Silver, are we not anſwered? Are we diſappoynted? There are three things that uſe moſt to diſquiet and toſs mens ſpirits, ſin and wrath, future events, and preſent calamities: Faith eſtabliſheth the Soul on God in all theſe, and ſuffereth it not to be driven to and fro, with theſe winds; It finds a harbour and refuge in God from all theſe. If he be purſued by the avenger of blood, Gods Wrath and Juſtice, here is an open City of Refuge that he may run to, and be ſafe. If iniquities compaſs me about, yet I will not fear, but oppoſe unto that great company, the many ſufferings and obedience of Jeſus Chriſt. My co… ſcience challengeth and writteth bitter things againſt me, yet I have an anſwer in that blood that ſpeaketh better things nor Abels. If ſinns prevail, he will purge them away: His Mercy is above all my …n, and his Vertue and Power is above my ſin, He hath promiſed and will he not do it? Oftimes mens Souls are perplexed and toſſed about future Events, careful for to morrow; this is a great torment of ſpirit, it cutteth and divideth it, putteth a man to his own providence as if there were no God. But he that truſteth in God, is eſtabliſhed in this, his heart is fixed, truſting in the Lord, he hath commited his Soul to him, and why may he not his body? He hath nothing but his promiſe for eternal Salvation, and may not that ſame ſuffice for temporal? He careth for me (ſaith Faith) why then ſhould we both care about one thing? He hath given his Son for me, the moſt precious gift, which the world cannot match, and will he not with him give all theſe leſſer things? And thus the Believer incloſeth himſelf within the fathers love and providence, and i… fixed, not fearing evil tidings: For what tydings can be evil, ſeing our Father hath the Soveraign diſpoſing of all Affairs, and knoweth what is beſt for us? Preſent diſpenſations often ſhake men and driveth them to and fro: their feet ſlip, and are not eſtabliſhed, thou bid thy face, and I was troubled. But if you truſted in God, and conſidered what is in him to oppoſe to all difficulties and calamities, you would ſay, I ſhall not be moved, though the floods lift up their voice. If you believed his love, would not this ſweetten all his dealing? He maketh all work together for good. Soveraignty, Righteouſneſs and Mercy, are ſure and firm ground to ſtand upon in all ſtorms. You may caſt Anchor at any of thoſe, and ly ſecure. It is the Lord, let him do what be pleaſeth. This was enough to quiet the ſaints in old times. Should he give account of his matters to us? Sball the clay ſay to the potter, why is it thus? His abſolute right by Creation, maketh him beyond all exception, do what he pleaſe. But beſide this, he is pleaſed and condeſcendeth to reaſon with us, and give account of his matters, to teſtify to our Conſcience, that he is righteous in all his ways. It was the ground of Jeremiahs ſetling. Lam. 3. It is of the Lords mercy that we are not conſumed: It ſhould have allayed and ſtayed Job, know this, thou art puniſhed leſſe then thy iniquities deſerve, who will ſet a time to plead with him? Shall any be found righteous before him? And this might ſtop all mens mouths, and put them in the duſt to keep ſilence, ſeing he hath Law to do infinitely more then he doth, why ſhould not we rather proclaim his Clemency, then argue him ſo very hard? If to both thoſe, you ſhall add the conſideration of his Mercy, that all his path… are Mercy and Truth unto you, even when he correcteth moſt ſeverely, ſo that you may bleſſe him as well for Rods, as for Meat and Cloathing, and count your ſelf bleſſed when you are taught by the Rod and the Word the one ſpeaking to the other, a… the other ſealing its inſtruction: If you believ… that it were a fruit of his Love, He chaſteneth … very ſon whom he loveth, that becauſe he will n… let you depart from him, will not let you ſett… upon a preſent world, and forget your Countre… above; therefore he compaſſeth you about wit… Hedges of Thorns to keep in your way: And therefore he maketh this world bitter and unpleaſant, that you may have no continuing City; If all this were believed, would not the ſoul triumph with Paul, What can ſeparat me from th… love of God, not paſt things, for all my ſins are blotted out, and ſhall be remembered no more: not preſent things, for they work to good, and are a fruit of his Love: not things to come, for that is to come which ſhall more declare his love then what is paſt. Would not a Soul ſleep ſecurely within the compaſs of this Power, this Love, and Faithfulneſs of God, without fear of daſhing or ſinking.
Now judge whither a perfect peace may not flow from all this, may it not be a perfect calm, when the Mountains that inviron, go up to Heaven? Not only doth the Soul truſt in God, but God keepeth the truſting Soul in peace. He is the creator of peace, and the preſervator of it, I creat peace, I keep him in peace: The ſame power and vertue is required to the preſerving of a thing, and the firſt beeing of it. Our Faith and Hope in God, is too weak an Anchor to abide all ſtorms: Our cords would break, our hands faint and weary, but he is the everlaſting God who fail… not, and …arieth not, he holdeth an inviſible grip of us, we are kept by his power to ſalvation, and we are kept by his power in peace: Thy right band holdeth me, ſaith David, and this helpeth me to purſue thee. What maketh believers inexpugnable, impregnable, is it their ſtrength? No indeed, but ſalvation will God appoynt for walls and bulwarks: Almighty Power is a ſtrong wall though inviſible, this power worketh in us and about us.
Now Believers, pity the world about you, that knoweth not this peace: when they ly ſecure, and cry peace, peace; Alas, they are a City open without walls as the plain field, there is no keeper there, nothing to hold off deſtruction. Entertain your own peace, do not grieve the Spirit who hath ſealed it: If you return to folly after he hath ſpoken peace to you, I perſwade you, you ſhall not maintain this peace, there may be peace with God, but no peace in thy Conſcience, as long as the whoredoms of thy heart are to the fore: Thou may be ſecure, but ſecurity is worſe then fear. Know this, that continuing in a courſe of ſin, entertaining any known ſin, ſhall trouble thy peace. If God have ſpoken peace to thee, thou ſhalt not lodge that enemy in peace, great peace have they that love thy law. Obedience and delight in it doth not make peace, but it is the way of peace, and much meditation in the bleſſed word of God, is the moſt excellent mean to preſerve this peace, if it be ſecured with much correſpondence with Heaven by prayer, Phil. 4. 6, 7. If you would diſburden your hearts dayly at the Throne of Grace, peace ſhould guard and keep your heart, and then your peace would be perfect indeed. But becauſe your Faith is here imperfect, your requeſts few and infervent, your follies and iniquities many, therefore is this promiſed perfection a ſtranger to the moſt part of Chriſtians. Always what we want here, we muſt expect to have made up ſhortly: Heaven is a Land of peace and all things are there in full age: Here all are in minority, it is but yet night, but when the day ſhall break up, and the ſhadows fly away, and the Prince of Peace ſhall appear and be revealed, he ſhall bring Peace and Grace both with him, and both perfect. To him be praiſe and glory.