Great and Precious Promises, Sermon 9
SERMON IX.
2 Cor. 13.5.
Examine your ſelves, whether ye be in the faith? prove… your own ſelves, know ye not your own ſelves, how that Jeſus Chriſt i… in you, except ye be reprobates?
I Think ere long, there are many that … paſſeth under the notion of Profeſſors, … that the verieſt atheiſt when he behold…th there walk, may cry out, Are thou alſo become like unto one of us: Are there not many here that are in a golden dream, and in … fools paradiſe, that dream they eat, and behold, when they awake, they ſhall be hungry … therefore I think it is incumbent upon us, to ſearch and examine our ſtate, and condition; profanity hath ſlain its thouſands, but deluſion and preſumption hath ſlain their ten thouſands. It was an ancient complain… of Chriſt. Luk. 12.57. And why even of … judge ye not what is right; I am per…waded of this, there are many decreets … peace paſt upon earth, that are never rati… …ed in heaven, there are many that cry out …terneſſe of death is paſt, whom yet … the ſword of His Juſtice, ſhall …ew … … our eyes. We told you … laſt occaſion, that we ſpake upon theſe words, there were ſix things we intended to ſpeak from them, of the firſt three we have ſpoken.
That which we intended to speak to at this time, is, That there is much ſoul advantage and ſpiritual gain, that doth redound to the Chriſtian, by the diſtinct perſwaſion of his intereſt in Chriſt; this we gathered from Paul's doubling the command of ſearching and trying themſelves, as if he had ſaid, it is a buſineſſe that will be ſo much for your advantage, that it is incumbent for you to ſearch and try diligently: And for further clearing of the point, I ſhall onelyonly give theſe three places, Rev. 2.17. I will give unto them a white ſtone, and in the ſtone a new name, written that no man knoweth, but he that hath received it: By the new name, and the white ſtone, is underſtood aſſurance, and the intimation of it to the ſoul: This indeed is ſuch a mercy, that I defy any to make language of it, no man knoweth it, much leſſe can he expreſſe it, but he that is the profeſſor of it, and that place, Iſa. 62 2.3. I will give unto them a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name: O what a name muſt t…t be which the mouth of the Lord will name: I think, what he giveth, muſt be one of the nobleſt names that ever was given, all the ſtiles and titles under heaven cannot equal it. And, thirdly, we ſee David in the 18 Pſal. fo…d much ſweetneſſe and advantage in this, when nine times he hath that word, my: My ſtrength, my rock, my foretreſſe … my deliverer, my ſtrength and my buckler, … horn of my ſalvation, and my high tower, … David, what needeth all thoſe Mys, Dav… would anſwer us, O! he is ſo ſweet in hi… ſelf, but O! much ſweeter to me, when I pu… to that poſſeſſive note, My.
Now to ſpeak more particularly to the… advantages of aſſurance, The firſt is, That a perſon that is aſſured of his intereſt in Chriſt, he is much in deſiring communion with Chriſt: Tell me, O thou whom my ſoul loveth, (there is his aſſurance) where th… feedeſt, and where thou makeſt thy flock to reſt at noon, there is deſire of communion, and Song 7.10, 11. My beloved is mine, and his deſire is towards me, there is her aſſurance, and immediately followeth, Come my beloved, let us go forth into the fields, let us lodg… in the villages, there her deſire of communion, Song 2.16, 17. My beloved is mine, and I am his, and what f…lloweth upon that, He feedeth among the lillies, untill the day break, and the ſhadows flie away. Turn my beloved, and be as a roe, or a wild hart upon the mountains of B…ther, that is i… ſhort, let me have ſweet correſpondency and fellowſhip with thee, till the day of Eternity ſhall come … I think the deſires of an aſſured Chriſtian they are like the grave, they cry continually Give, give, and they never ſay, it is enough What is the reaſon, ye ſeek ſo little after fe… lowſhip with Chriſt, it is even this, ye … not perſwaded of your intereſt in him; … lieve it, if once ye had attained to th… bleſt length, as to cry out, Chriſt is mine, it … be a hell upon earth for you to live at ſuch a diſtance with him as ye do for the moſt part: O but aſſurance maketh abſence from Chriſt an unſupportable burden, Pſal. 22.1. My God, my God, there is aſſurance, and immediately followeth his complaint, Why hiddeſt thou thy ſelf from me, Song 3.1, 2, 3. that word, Him whom my ſoul loveth, made her to weep ſo much under abſence from Chriſt, and Joh. 20.13 when the Angels aſk the queſtion at Mary, Woman why weepeſt thou? I think ſhe thought it a needleſſe queſtion, and ſhe tells the cauſe of it, They have taken away my Lord: I think her heart was at her mouth when ſhe pronounced theſe two words, My Lord, ſhe ſpake them with a great deal of emphaſis and force, could ye reſent abſence with Chriſt ſo little, if ye were aſſured he were yours. I confeſſe, it is no wonder when perſons loſſe that which is not their own, that they weep not much for the loſſe of it; but O! to loſſe that which is our own, it maketh it a croſſe and a burden to us.
Secondly, It maketh the ſoul to have a high and matchleſs eſteem of precious Chriſt, Song 5.10. My beloved is white and ruddy, the chief among ten thouſand: O ſaith the Spouſe, I never ſaw his like, and I ſhall never ſee his like again; there is much in that My; intereſt maketh her look upon Chriſt with another eye nor ſhe would have done, ſtrangers look upon him but as a tree pla… at the ſand, 1 Pet. 2.7. To you that beli… Chriſt is precious. not to every one: A… Song 2.2. I ſate down under his ſhaddow wi… great delight, the reaſon is, intereſt in th… words going before, As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, ſo is my beloved among the ſons; yea, aſſurance will make ever… thing in Chriſt exceeding pleaſant to the ſoul: as is clear, Song 5 16. My beloved … altogether lovely, or, he is all deſires. I tell you what aſſurance will do, it will make Chriſts perſon pleaſant and precious to the ſoul, it will make Chriſts Natures pleaſant to the ſoul, it will make Chriſts Offices pleaſant to the ſoul, it will make Chriſts Promiſes pleaſant to the ſoul, it will make Threatnings pleaſant to the ſoul, it will make the ſmell of Chriſts Garments pleaſant to the ſoul, and it will make the kiſſes of His Mouth pleaſant to the ſoul: O ſaith the aſſured Chriſtian, there is nothing of Ch…iſt but it is moſt pleaſant, and is all deſires … His Threatnings are pleaſant, they are the wounds of a friend, and His kiſſes are pleaſant, they are better then wine, His Name i… is pleaſant, it is as precious ointment powred Forth, His ſmellings are moſt delightſome… wh…ſe countenance is as Lebanon, excellent … the cedars: O to imbrace a married Chriſt, how pleaſant is it to the ſoul; What make… you to have ſo low thoughts of Chriſt … this, the want of aſſurance that He … your Huſband.
Thirdly, Aſſurance will make the Chriſtian patiently to ſubmit to every croſſe and ſad diſpenſation he meeteth with: this is clear, Heb. 10.34. They took with joy the spoiling of their goods, and what made them do ſo, They hoped for a better inheritance, and a more induring ſubſtance: I tell you… aſſurance, it will anſwer all croſſes with this, Chriſt is mine; when they are afflicted, aſſurance will lift up its face, and cry out, Chriſt it mine, and when they are reproached, they will comfort themſelves with this, Chriſt i… mine, I can put on the Lord Jeſus.
Fourthly, Aſſurance will keep you from apoſtacy and defection from Chriſt, 2 Pet. 1.10. Make your calling and election ſure, and if ye do this, (ſaith he) ye ſhall never fall, Heb. 3.11, 12. It is there ſet down as a fruit of the evil heart of miſbelief, it maketh us depart from the living God, but on the contrary, aſſurance knitteth the ſoul to Chriſt by a threefold cord, which is not eaſily broken. Believe it, the aſſured Chriſtian can cry out with much confidence of faith, My moutain ſtandeth ſtrong, I ſhall never be moved; the aſſured Chriſtian … out with much chearfulneſſe: In God … I praiſe his word, in God have I put my truſt, I will not be afraid what fleſh can do unto me▪ yea, he can ſweetly ſing in the very mouth of danger. The Lord is my light … ſalvation, Whom ſhall I fear? the Lord is the ſtrength of my life, of whom ſhall I be afraid, Pſal. 27.1.
Fifthly, Aſſurance keepeth all the … of the ſpirit green and flouriſhing, it is … refreſhing dew upon our branches, whi… maketh every grace ſweetly to bloſſome … its ſeaſon. 1. It ſtirreth up the exerci… of love: O how vigorous are the actings … love, when a Chriſtian can cry out, My … loved is m…ne, and I am his, Song. 1.13. M… beloved, there is her aſſurance. He is a bund … of myrrhe, and ſhall lye all night between … breaſts, that is, as long as time ſhall laſt, I ſhall never have Chriſt out of my heart, there is love, 1 Joh 4.19. We loved him, becauſe he loved us firſt; our hearts are naturally cold, but love kindleth love, the ſenſe of his love to us, putteth our hearts into a heavenly flame towards him again. 2. Aſſurance keepeth up the exerciſe of prayer, it is the aſſured Chriſtian that can pray beſt, and to beſt advantage, and in theſe three things eſpecially, is prayer helped by aſſurance. Firſt, It helpeth in the point of boldneſſe O but the aſſured Chriſtian can go boldly to the Throne of grace, Crying Abba father, and my Lord and my God. Secondly, It helpeth our diligence in prayer, Pſa…. 63.1. O my God, there is aſſurance, early will I ſeek thee, there is his diligence as the fruit thereof. Thirdly, It helpeth the fervency of prayer, as in that ſame place, my ſoul thirſteth for thee, my fleſh longeth for thee, there is his fervency as another fruit of his aſſurance. 3. Aſſurance keepeth In exerciſe and life, the grace of mortification: as is clear by comparing, 2 Cor. 4. verſe laſt, with 2 Cor. 5.1. We look not after the things that are ſeen: O Paul, what aileth you, may ye not take a look of the world, O ſaith Paul, and would ye know the ground of it, We know if this houſe of this tabernacle were diſſolved, we have a houſe not made with hands, eternally in the heavens: my houſe and my treaſure is in heaven, I muſt have my heart there, and my eyes alſo: Would ye know what would ſtay your purſuit after the world, ſtudy to have the aſſurance of your intereſt in Chriſt continually with you. And 4. It keepeth in exerciſe the grace of humility; there is nothing will keep a Chriſtian ſo humble as aſſurance, Gal. 2.20. I live, yet not I, but Chriſt liveth in me, Eph. 3.8. there he is all in exalting grace, and debaſing himſelf. It is the miſbeliever and diſcouraged perſon that dwelleth neareſt pride; Believe it, miſbelief is big with childe of pride and apoſtacy, theſe are the two children which that fruitful mother will bring forth. And, 5. it will help the grace of Repentance: Would ye know what would make the Chriſtian to repent, it is even this, to take Chriſt in our arms and call him ours, Zech. 12.10. They ſhall look unto him, that is, there faith and they ſhall mourn as one mourneth for his only ſon: I think it is known by experience, the ſoul never weeps more tenderly under the conviction of ſin, then when he hath Chriſt in his arms, and can ſay, He is …: O how ſweetly doth they, … complain, there is not a fight of Chri… their own, when they have offended, b… breaketh all their heart in pieces, and i… as a ſword piercing into the bones, w… …ey cry out, O what a fool was … to offe… …uch a precious One, in whom I had ſo mu… …tereſt; Was it not ſenſe of intereſt th… made Mary waſh the feet of Chriſt with h… …ears. Laſtly, It will keep in exerciſe th… grace of Joy, 1 Pet. 1.8. It is faith wh…t …keth one to rejoyce with joy unspeakab… …d full of glory: Would ye know w… …our graces are withered? would ye kno… …hy all the pleaſant plants of God with… … ſoul are decayed? It is this, ye live with … ſight of your intereſt in Chriſt, believe i… (… ſo I may ſpeak) aſſurance will be a w… tering to your graces every morning, and r… freſh them every hour, it being as a chan… through which divine influence is conveig… … to the increaſe of grace, and eſpeciall… … joy.
…he ſixth advantage that cometh in to th… … …ian by aſſurance of his intereſt i… Chriſt, is, That it maketh death exceedi… pleaſant and comfortable to the ſoul; wh… … …th douth the king of terrours, and wh… … unto us? Is it not this, we … … under a cloud: the aſſured … take death in his arms, and cry … come, O friend: the aſſured Chriſti… … he ſeeth the chariots his father … doth with old Jacob rejoyce, … … 23 When I walk through the valley of …e, ſhadd…w of death, I will fear no evil: …hat brought you that length David? I tell …on why ſaith he, for God is with me, ver. 4. … think I need not fear any thing, when I …ave God in my company: It is the aſſured …hriſtian that can cry out, Why ſhould I fea… …eath, ſhould I not laugh at deſtruction: I …ink indeed, the aſſured Chriſtian neede…h …ot fear death, becauſe death to him is the …eath of all his luſts, the funerall of all his …orrows: and is not the day of death his co…onation day, his marriage day, the day of …is triumph, and of his entering into reſt, and why then ſhould he fear it.
The ſeventh advantage is, That a Chriſti…n being in the ſtate of aſſurance, can put the …igheſt account upon the ſmalleſt mercy that …e meets with from God: the aſſured Chri…ian look…th upon every mercy as a wonder; … is the aſſured Chriſtian that cryeth out, I … leſse then the leaſt of all thy mercies: there … not a mercy he meets with, were it but a …op of cold water, but if he can read this …n it, that it came from my Huſband, and from …y Father, it will be better to him then the weereſt wine.
Laſtly, Aſſurance doth exceedingly help … to chearfulneſſe in obedience: O that is …ema…kable connexion that Paul hath, Act. ….23 The Lord whoſe I am, and whom I …ve: That paſſ…ge alſo. 2 Cor. 5.14. is ve… obſervable, The love of Chriſt conſtraineth …, &c. Why art …hou ſo painfull a Miniſter Paul? Why? Knoweſt thou no man after th fleſh, are not led by carnal intereſts, nor at ſections, art ſo buſie and diligent as all the world counteth thee mad? Why? (ſaith he) love will not l…t me reſt if I would be l…e or carnal, or fold my hands to ſleep: the love of Chriſt doth alwayes ſound that in my ears, that I was dead, and he hath died for me, that henceforth I ſhould not live unto my ſelf, but to Him who died for me: Now to him who is the firſt and the laſt, wh… was dead, and is alive for evermore, We give praiſe.
FINIS.
End of the text · Andrew Gray, Great and Precious Promises (1663)