Heart Humiliation, Sermon 5
SERMON V.
Pſal. 73. 28.
But it is good for me to dra… near to God: I have put my truſt in t… Lord God, that I may declare all t… Works.
AFter mans firſt tranſgreſſion he was ſhut o… from the Tree of Life, and caſt out of t… Garden, by which was ſignified, his ſeclu… on and ſequeſtration from the preſence of Go… and communion with him: And this was a manner the extermination of all mankind one, when Adam was driven out of Parad… Now this had been an eternal ſeparation for any thing that we could do (for we can do nothing, but depart by a perpetual backſliding, and make the diſtance every day wider) except it had pleaſed the Lord of his infinite Grace, to condeſcend to draw near to us in gracious Promiſes and offers of a Redeemer. If he had not made the firſt journey from Heaven to Earth, by ſending his only Son, we ſhould have given over the hope of returning from Earth to Heaven. But he hath taken away the greateſt part of that diſtance, in drawing near to our Nature; yea, in aſſuming our Fleſh into the fellowſhip of his glorious Divinity. He hath ſtooped ſo low to meet with us, and offered himſelf the tryſting place between God and us, a fit meeting place, where there is an conjunction of the intereſts of both Parties. And now there is no more to do, but to draw near to God in Jeſus Chriſt, ſince he hath made the great journey to come down to us. We have not that infinite gulfe of ſatiſfaction to Juſtice to paſſe over, we have not the height of Divine Majeſty, as he is infinitely above us, and offended with us, to climb up unto. Certainly we could not but fall into the Lake that is below us, if we were to aim ſo high. But the Lord hath been pleaſed to deſcend to us, in our mean capacity in the Fleſh, and fill up that immenſurable gulfe of Juſtice, by the infinite merits and ſufferrings of his Son in our Fleſh. And now he invites us, be requeſts us to come to him in his Son and have life. VVe are not come to Mount Sinai, that might not be touched, that burnt with Fire and Tempeſt, where there were terrible ſights and intollerable noiſes. I ſay, ſuch a God we might have had to do with, … conſuming fire, inſtead of inſtructing light; A devouring fire, inſtead of a healing Sun of Righteouſneſſe, conſidering that there is nothing in us, which is not fit and prepared fuel for everlaſting burnings. But we are come (and that is the eternal wonder of Angels) unto Moun… Sion, to be Citizens in the City of God, and fellow citizens with bleſſed Angels and glorified Spirits, to Peace and Reconciliation with him who was our Judge. And if you aſk how this may be? I anſwer, becauſe we have one Jeſus the Mediator of the New Covenant t… come to, whoſe Blood cryeth louder for pardon of ſinners, then all mens tranſgreſſion can cry for puniſhment of ſinners, Heb. 12. 18, 19. 20. &c.
Let us then Conſider the firſt ſtep and deare… of Union with God, it conſiſts in Faith in Jeſus Chriſt. This is the firſt motion of the Sou… in drawing near to God; For, as there is n… remiſſion without Blood; So no acceſſe to Go… without a Mediator. For if you conſider wha… is in Jeſus Chriſt, you will find that which wil… engage the deſire of the heart; as alſo, tha… which will give boldneſſe and confidence to ac… that deſire. Eternal Life is promiſed and propoſed in him, he offers reſt to weary ſouls, an… hath it to give. That which we ignorantly an… vainly ſeek elſwhere, here it is to be found For Perſonal Excellencies, he is the chief infinitely beyond compariſon; And for Sutableneſſe to us and our neceſſities, all the Goſpel an expreſſion of it: So that he is preſented the moſt attractive drawing manner that can be imagined. And then when the deſires are inflamed, yet if there be no Oyl of hope to feed it, it will ſoon cool again. Therefore take a view again, and you may have boldneſſe to enter into the Holieſt, by the Blood of Jeſus. There was ſome kind of diſtance kept in the Old Teſtament, none but the High Prieſt might enter into the Holieſt Place; But the entry of our High Prieſt into it, that is into Heaven, hath made it patent to all that come to him and apply his Blood. There is a new and living way by the holy fleſh of Chriſt, conſecrated and made of infinite value and uſe, by the Divinity of his Perſon: And therefore, having ſuch a one of our kindred ſo great with God, we may draw near with a true heart, and full aſsurance of faith, having our conſciences ſprinkled, &c. Heb. 10: 18. 19, 20. &c. Now, ſince the way is made plain to you, and the entry is opened up in the Goſpel; Do you not find your hearts ſtir with in you to draw near to him? Do you not find a neceſſity of making peace by ſuch a Mediator? O! that you knew the great diſtance between God and your Natures, and what the hazard is: Loe, they that are far from thee ſhall periſh: Then certainly, you would take hold of this invitation, and be eaſily drawn unto Jeſus Chriſt. But unto you who have adventured to draw near for pardon of ſin in Chriſt; I would recommend unto you, that you would draw yet nearer to God. After that the partition wall of wrath and condemnation is removed; yet there is much darkneſſe in your minds, and corruption in our natures that ſeparats from him. I mean intercepts and diſturbs that bleſſed communion you are called unto. Therefore I would exhort you, as James, draw near to God, and he will draw near to you, ch. 4. 8. And that, wherein this moſt conſiſts, is in ſtudying that purification of our natures, that cleanſing of our hearts from guile, and our hands from offences, by which our Souls may draw towards a reſemblance of God. This acceſſe and drawing near to God in aſſimilation, and conformity of nature, is the great deſigne of the Goſpel, Be ye holy, for I am holy. Now ye are agreed, walk with him, Amos 3. 3. As Enoch walked with God, Gen. 5. 24. That is, labour in all your converſation, to ſet him before your eyes, and to ſtudy to be well pleaſed with him in all things, and to pleaſe him in all; to conform your ſelves to his pleaſure in every thing. And this Communion in walking, eſpecially conſiſts, in that Communication of the Spirit with God in prayer: This is the neareſt and ſweateſt approach, when the Soul is lifted up to God, and is almoſt out of it ſelf in him: And this being the ordinary exerciſe and motion of the Soul, it exceedingly advances in the firſt point of nearneſſe, that is, in conformity with God. Drawing often near in Communion with him in prayer, makes the Souldraw towards his likeneſſe, even as much converſe of men together, will make them like one another.
Now for the commendation of this, It is good; What greater evil can be imagined then ſeparation from the greateſt Good? And what greater good, then acceſſion to the greateſt Good Every thing is in ſo far happy and well, as it is joyned with and enjoyeth that which is convenient for it. Light is the perfection of the Earth, remove it, and what a diſconſolat and unpleaſant thing is it? Now truely there is nothing ſuitable to the immortal Spirit of man, but God; And therefore, all its happineſſe or miſery muſt be meaſured by the acceſſe or receſſe, Nearneſſe or diſtance of that infinite Goodneſſe. Therefore, is it any wonder, that all they that go a whoring from him, periſh, as every mans heart doeth: For we are infinitly bound by Creation, by many other bonds ſtronger then wedlock, to conſecrat and devote our ſelves wholly to God, but this is treacherouſly broken: Every man turns aſide to vanity and lies, and is guilty of heart whoredome from God and ſpiritual idolatry, becauſe the Affection that ſhould be preſerved chaſt for him, is proſtitute to every baſe object: So then, this divorcement of the Soul from God, cannot but follow thereupon, even an eternal ecclipſe of true and real life and comfort. And whoever draw back from the Fountain of Life and Salvation, cannot but find elſewhere perdition and deſtruction. Heb. 10. ult. My beloved, let us ſet this aſide all other things which are the purſuites and endeavours of the moſt part of men. Mens natural deſires are carried towards Health, Food, Raiment, Life and Liberty, Peace and ſuch like. But the more rational ſort of men, ſeek after ſome ſhadow of Wiſdom and Virtue. Yet the generality of men, both high and low, have extravagant, illimited deſires toward Riches, Pleaſure, Preferment; And all that we have ſpoken, is incloſed within the narrow compaſſe of mens abode here, which is but for a moment; ſo that if it were poſſible, that all theſe forementioned deſires and delights of men, could attend any man for the ſpace of an hundreth years, though he had the concurrance of the ſtreames of the Creatures to bring him in ſatisfaction, though all the world ſhould bow to him and be ſubject to the beck of his authority, without ſtroak of Sword, though all the Creatures ſhould ſpend their ſtrength and wit upon his ſatisfaction; yet do but conſider what that ſhall be within ſome few years, when he ſhall be ſpoiled of all that attendance, denuded of all external comforts, when the fatal period muſt cloſe his life, peace, health and all; and his poor Soul alſo, that was drowned in that guif of pleaſure, ſhall then find it ſelf robbed of its precious Treaſure, that is, Gods favour, and ſo remain in everlaſting baniſhment from his preſence. Do ye think, I ſay, that man were happy. Nay! O happy Lazarus who is now bleſſed in Abrahams boſom, who enjoyes an eternity of happineſſe, for a moments miſery. But my beloved, you know that it is not poſſible, even to attain to that imagined happineſſe here. All the gain that is found, is not able to quit the coſt and expenſe of grief, vexation, care, toyling and ſweating that is about them.
But if you would be perſwaded, there is that to be found eaſily, which you trouble your ſelves ſeeking elſewhere: And believe me, though the general apprehenſion of men be, that peace, plenty, preferment and ſatisfaction in this life, to compenſe their pains, is more eaſily attainable then fellowſhip and communion with God; Yet I am perſwaded that there is nothing more practicable then the life of Religion. God hath condemned the World under vanity and a curſe, and that which is crooked, can by no art or ſtrength be made ſtraight; But he hath made this attainable, by his gracious Promiſes, even a bleſſed life, in approaching near to himſelf the Fountain of all Life. And this is a certain Good, an univerſal Good, and an eternal Good. It will not diſapoint you as other things do, of which, you have no aſſurance for all your toylings. This is made more infallible to a ſoul that truely ſeeks it in God. It is als certain, that they cannot be aſhamed through fruſtration, as that he is faithful. And then it is an univerſal Good, one comprehenſive of all, one eminently and virtually all things created, to be joyned to the infinite all-fulneſſe of God: This advanceth the Soul to a participation of all that is in him. This is health, Pſal. 42. laſt, Prov. 3. 8. This is light, Jo. 8. 12. It is life, Jo. 11. 25. Liberty, Job. 8. 36. Food and Raiment, Iſai. 61. 10. And Jo. 4. 14. And what not? It is profit, pleaſure, preferment in the ſuperlative degree, and not ſcattered in ſo many various ſtreames, which divide and diſtract the heart, but all conbined in one. It is the true Good of both Soul and Body, and ſo the only Good of man. And laſtly it is eternal, to be coaetaneous with thy Soul: Of all other things it may be ſaid, I have ſeen an end of them, they were and are not: but this will ſurvive time, and all the changes of it, and then it will begin to be perfect, when all perfection is at an end. Now from all this, I would exhort you in Jeſus Chriſt, to ponder thoſe things in your hearts, and conſider them in reference to your own Souls, that ye may ſay with David, It is good for me to draw near to God.
That which all men ſeek after, is happineſſe and well being. Men purſue nothing but under the notion of Good; And to compleat that which may be called Good, there is required ſome excellency in the thing it ſelf, and then a conveniency and ſutableneſſe to us; And theſe joyntly draw the heart of man. But the great miſery is, that there is ſo much ignorance and miſapprehenſion of that which is truely Good; And then when any thing of it is known, there is ſo little ſerious conſideration and application of it to our ſelves; And this makes the moſt part of men wander up and down in the purſuit of divers things, which are not that true Good of the Soul, and ſet their hearts on that which is not, until they find their hearts fall down, as wanting a foundation, and then they turn about again to ſome other vanity. And ſo the wanderings and ſtrayings of men are infinite, becauſe the by-wayes are innumerable, though the true way be but one: Yea, the turnings, and toylings of one man are various and manifold, becauſe, he quickly loſſes the ſent of happineſſe in every way he falls into, and therefore muſt turn to another. And thus men are never at any ſolid ſetting about this great buſineſſe; never reſolute wherein this happineſſe conſiſts, nor perremptor to follow it; But they fluctuat upon uncertain apprehenſions, and divers affections, until the time and date of Salvation expire, and then they muſt know certainly and ſurely, the inevitable danger and irrecoverable loſſe they have brought themſelves to, who would not take notice of the ſure way, of eſcaping both wrath, and attaining happineſſe while it was to be found.
Well then, this is the great buſineſſe we have here to do; yea, to make the circle the larger, it is that great buſineſſe we have to do in this world, to know wherein the true well being and eternal wellfare of our Souls conſiſts, and by any means to apply unto that, as the only thing neceſſary, in regard of which, all other things are Ceremonies, Circumſtances and indifferent things. And to guide us in this Examination and Application, here is one man who having almoſt made ſhipwrack upon the Rocks which men commonly daſh upon, and being by the Lord led ſafely by, and almoſt arrived at the Coaſt of true Felicity, he ſets out a Beacon, and lights a Candle to all who ſhall follow him, to direct them which way they ſhall ſtirre their courſe. Examples teach more effectually then Rules; It is eaſie for every man to ſpeak well upon this Point in general, and readily all will acknowledge, that here it is, and no where elſe: But yet all this is outcryed by the contrary noiſe of every mans practice. Theſe general grants of Truth, are recalled in the converſations of men; Therefore they cannot have much influence upon any man: But when we hear one ſpeak, and ſee him walk ſo too; when we have the example of a moſt wiſe man, who wanted not theſe worldly expectations, which other men have; So that he not only propones it to us, but after much ſerious adviſement, after mature conſideration of all that can be ſaid, of the wickeds beſt eſtate and the godlies worſt, ſetting down reſolute concluſions for himſelf. It is good for me to draw near to God; Yea, ſo determinate into it, tha… if none of the world ſhould be of that mind, he would not change it; Though all ſhould walk in other ways, he would chooſe to be rather alone in this, then in the greateſt croud of company in any other. Now, I ſay, when we have ſuch a Coppy caſt us, a man of excellen… parts in ſobriety and ſadneſſe, chooſing that way, which all in words confeſſe to be the beſt, ſhould not this awake us out of our dreams, and raiſe us up to ſome more attention and conſideration of what we are doing? The words you ſee, are the holy reſolution of a holy heart, concerning that which is the chiefeſt Good. You ſee the way to happineſſe, and you find the particular application of that to Davids Soul, or of his Soul to it. We ſhall ſpeak a word of the thing it ſelf, then of the commendation of it, then of the application of it.
For the thing it ſelf, drawing near to God, it gives us ſome ground to take a view of the poſture in which men are found by nature, far off from God. Our condition by nature, I cannot ſo fitly expreſſe, as in the Apoſtles words, Ep…. 2. 12. Without Chriſt, Aliens from the commo… wealth of Iſrael, ſtrangers from the Covenant of Promiſe, having no hope, and without God in the World. A deplorable eſtate indeed, hopeleſſ… and helpleſſe: No hope in it, that is the extremity of miſery, the refuſe of all conditions. Without Chriſt, and without God. O! theſe are words of infinite weight: Without thoſe, without whom i… is ſimply impoſſible to be happy: and without whom it is not poſſible but to be miſerable, without the Fountain of Light, Life and Conſolation, without which, there is nothing but pure darkneſſe, without any beam of light; Nothing but death, without the leaſt breathing of life; Nothing but vexation, without the leaſt drop of conſolation. In a word, without theſe, and wanting theſe, whom if you want, it were good to be ſpoyled of all beeing, to be nothing, if that could be, or never to have been any thing. Men will ſeek death, and cannot find it. O! what a loſſe and deprivement is the loſſe of God, which makes death more deſireable then life; and not to be at all, infinitly preferable to any beeing. Now it is true, that the bringing in of multitudes within the pale of the Viſible Church, is ſome degree of acceſſe and nearneſſe to God; for then they b…come Citizens (as to external right) in the Common-wealth of the Church, and have the offers of the Promiſes made to them, in reſpect of which viſible ſtanding, the Apoſtle ſpeaks of the whole Church of Epheſus. But now ye are made near who were far off, v. 13. notwithſtanding, that many of them were found afterwards, to have left their firſt Love, Rev. 2. But yet, Beloved, to ſpeak more inwardly, and as your Souls ſtand in the ſight of God. The generality of thoſe who are near hand in outward Ordinances, are yet far off from God in reality, without God and without Chriſt, as really as touching any Soul feeling, as thoſe who are altogether without. The bond of Peace and Union was broken in Paradiſe, ſin diſſolved it, and broke off that nearneſſe and friendſhip with God, and from that day to this day, there hath been an infinite diſtance and ſeparation betwixt Man and God: The ſteps and degrees of it are many; There is darkneſſe and blindneſſe in mens minds: Such ignorance naturally poſſeſſeth the multitude, ſo that it wholly Alienats them from the Life of God, Eph. 4. 18. For what fellowſhip can Light, that pure Light, have with ſuch groſſe Darkneſſe as is among us? This certainly, is the removal of that Sun of Righteouſneſſe from our Souls, or the impoſition of the Clouds of tranſgreſſion, that makes it ſo dark a night in the Souls of Men. And then there is nothing but enmity and deſperate wickedneſſe in the heart of man, and this keeps the ſtrong hold of the Affections, Rom. 8. Jer. 17. There cannot be a further elongation or ſeparation of the Soul from God, then to turn ſo oppoſite in all inclinations and diſpoſitions to his Holy Will: For the diſtance between God and us, is not local in the point of place; For whither ſhall we go from him who is every where? And thus he is near hand every one of us; but it is alſo real in the difformity and repugnancy of our Natures to his Holy Will. But add unto this, that being thus ſeparated in Affection, and diſjoyned as it were, in natural Diſpoſitions, we cannot draw near to God in any Ordinance, as the Word, Prayer, &c, Though we may, as that People, draw near with out lips, and aſk of him our duty, and ſeem to delight to know him; Yet there is this natural incapacity and crookedneſſe in the heart of man, that it cannot truely approach unto the Father of Spirits, with any Soul deſire and delight. But their hearts are removed far from me, Iſa. 6. 9. Mat. 4. 12. I think men might obſerve, that their Souls act not in Religious buſineſſe as they ſhould; but that they remove their Souls many Myles diſtant from their Bodies, and they cannot keep any conſtancy in this approach of Prayer to God, cannot walk with him in their Converſation, or carry him along in their Meditation. But there is one point of eſtrangement and ſeparation ſuperadded to all, that there is no man can come near to God, without an Oblation and Offering of Peace; That there is no approaching to him, but as to a conſuming Fire, except we can bring a Sacrifice to appeaſe, and a Preſent to pleaſe him for our infinite offences: There the difference ſtands, we cannot draw near to walk together, till we be agreed. And truely, this unto man is impoſſible, for we have nothing ſo precious as the Redemption of our Souls, nothing can compenſe infinite Wrongs, or ſatiſfie infinite Juſtice. Now this ſeems to make our nearneſſe again deſperate, and to put men furtheſt off from Hope.
Notwithſtanding, this is the very purpoſe of the Goſpel, Preached from the beginning of the World, to remove that diſtance, and to take impediments of meeting out of the way; For that great obſtruction, the want of a Sacrifice, and Ranſome, the Lord hath ſupplied it, he himſelf hath furniſhed it: And it was the great deſigne carried on from the beginning of the World: But as the Sun, the nearer he is, the more the Earth is Enlightened, ſo here, firſt ſome dawning of Light appears, as a Meſſenger of Hope, to tell that the Redeemer ſhall come, that the True Sacrifice ſhall be ſlain; then ſtill the nearer his own appearing, the clearer are the Manifeſtations of him, and the great deſigne is more opened up, till at length he breaks out in Glory, from under a Cloud, and ſhews himſelf to the World, to be that Lamb of God that ſhould take away the ſins of the World. And now as the Apoſtle to the Hebrewes ſpeaks, Chap. 7. 19. The Law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did, by the which we draw nigh to God. All the Sacrifices and Shadows that were under the Law, did but point at this perfect Ranſom, and the way of acceſſe to God through a Mediator was not ſo clear, but now the matter is made as hopeful as is poſſible, the partition wall of the Lawes curſes, the hand-writting againſt us is removed one the Croſſe, the enmity ſlain, the diſtance removed by the Blood of the Croſſe, being partly filled up by his deſcent into our Nature, partly by his lower deſcent in our Nature to ſuffer Death. And this is the ſavoury Oblation that we have to preſent to God, and may have boldneſs to come nigh becauſe of it. And when once our acceſſe is made by the Blood of Jeſus Chriſt, then we are called and allowed to come ſtill nigher, to cleave and adhere to him as our Father, to pray unto him, to walk with him; Then we ſhould converſe as Friends and Familiars together, then draw nigh to his Light for Illumination, and to him as the Fountain of Life, for quickening, to place our delight and deſire in him, to forſake all other things, even our Wills and Pleaſures, and to loſe them, that they may be found in his, to converſe much in his Company, and be often in Communication with him, and Meditation upon him. This is the very deſigne and ſubſtance of the Goſpel, it holds forth the way of making up the breach between Man and God, of bringing you nigh who are yet afar off, and nearer who are near hand. Oh let us hearken to it.