The Greatest Sinners Exhorted and Encouraged, Application 2
ƲSE. 2. EXHORTATION.
Let us Endeavour to be abundantly Fruitful. The Motive in the Text, is enough if there were nothing else to be mentioned. Where is there a man that has the heart of a Christian in him, but above all things in this world, he desireth to glorifie God? So shall you be my Disciples, saith Christ. It is the spirit of a true Disciple of Christ to desire that God may be glorifyed, and therefore to endeavour to be fruitful. But moreover,
Consider, 1. We may bear much fruit, if the fault be not our own. Some indeed are advantaged thereunto above others, namely, They that are in a publick capacity (as many before the Lord in this Assembly are.) A Magistrate is put into a capacity of bearing fruit in such a Degree, as that the whole Countrey shall fare the better for him: By being Zealous for God, in the Execution of Justice, and the Suppression of Vice. He may stand in the Gap, and save a whole People from Ruin. When Sin is Duly punished, all fare the better for that fruit of Righteousness. And They that minister in the House of God, have an opportunity put into their hands of being abundantly fruitful. He that converts a sinner, and so saveth a soul from death, beareth much fruit. He that builds up many in Faith and Holiness, beareth much fruit. That Minister who shall be an Example of the Believers in Word, in Conversation, in Charity, in Spirit, in Faith, in Purity, beareth much fruit, and many souls will feed thereon, and bless God to eternity that ever they knew such a one. But Private Christians also, may bear much fruit: They may set such an Example as many others may be the better for: And by their prayers they may doe much good. A prayerful Christian is a fruitful Christian. I will suppose a poor man, or a poor woman that is little taken notice of by the world, but is much in prayer, and is upon all occasions getting others together and inciting them to Prayer, and provoking them to love and to good works; I say the whole Town and Land fareth the better for that poor man, for that poor godly woman
Consider, 2. The Lord expects much fruit from us. As He speaks in the 5th of Isaiah, He planted His Vineyard in a very fruitful hill, and then looked that it should bring forth Grapes. Truly so hath God dealt with us, He hath planted us in a very fruitful soyl. What Liberties do we enjoy! Mention, if you can, a People in the world, so priviledg'd as we are! So that the Lords Expectations are great concerning us, and woe unto us if we utterly fail him! What Sermons do men hear! what Sacraments do they enjoy! What Sabbaths, what Lectures! Yea, and what Providences have passed over us! What Afflictions! What Reproaches l What Sicknesses! God's end in bringing such Afflictions upon His servants, is that so they might bear yet more fruit. Joh. 15. 2. Every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit. And how does God purge fruitful branches, but by bringing afflictions upon them, and sanctifying those afflictions to their purgation, that they bring forth yet more fruit to His glory? And what Mercies, what Deliverances have we had, publique and personal! Some of us have been pulled out of the Jaws of Death. Perhaps we have been in eminent Dangers at Sea; and what does God expect now but more fruit? Or Sickness has brought us to the gates of the Grave, only God hath said, Return again into the world, and let me see you bear much fruit that I may be glorified.
Quest. But what shall be done that it may be so?
Answ. 1. We must in the first place make sure of our Ʋnion with Christ. Remember that without Him we can do nothing, as in this context the Lord hath declared, Joh. 15. 4, 5. As the branch cannot bear fruit of it self, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me. I am the vine, and ye are the branches, he that abideth in Me, and I in him; the same bringeth forth much fruit. And the Apostle faith We must be married to Him that was raised from the dead, that so we might bring forth fruit unto God. Rom. 7. 4. Tho' a man should do never so many good workes in the account of men, tho he should pray never so often, tho he should give his Estate to the poor, if he is not in Christ, all that he does is no fruit unto God. It was a truly christian Reply of that Pious Minister, who when some told him of the good Works he had done in the time of his health, and that therefore in case he should dye, his Reward in Heaven must needs be very great; These (said he) are good works, if they be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. If a man be in Christ, then his good Works will be fruit, otherwise not. Hence the Apostle speakes of being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the praise and glory of God. Phil. 1. 11. No man did ever bring forth fruits of Righteousness, but it was by Christ Jesus, and therefore no man will be full of those fruits, Except he be in Christ.
2. Let us labour for a Publick spirit, and for much of such a spirit. The reason why men bring no more fruit to the Glory of God, is because they have so much of a private, selfish spirit prevailing in them. All seek their own, not the things which are Christ's. The Prophet complain'd Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit to himself. Hos. 10. 1. The man that's all for himself, will certainly be an empty, fruitless vine: the most fruitful Saints have alwaies been eminent for a publick Spirit. David was one that did bear much fruit, and he was of a publick spirit. He served his generation. He had great Advantages to have served himself, but his heart was set upon serving the generation wherein he lived. And Solomon brought forth much fruit: He also was of a publick spirit; wherefore he built God's House before his own, and made quicker dispatch with it. Nehemiah, and Mordecai were fruitful Servants of God, and they were men that denied themselves much out of respect to the publick interest. Amongst the Apostles there was none did bear so much fruit as Paul: (In labours more abundant than they all) And he was of a very publie spirit. He made it the chief design of his life to do good to many. 1. Cor. 10. 33. Not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many that they might be saved.
3. Let us be alwaies bearing fruit. That's the way to bear much fruit. He that bears fruit every day, will at last bear much fruit. A Christian should not let one day pass, without some good. And therefore it is good for a man, as duly as the day passeth over his head, when night cometh, to call himself to an account before he goeth to sleep, and to ask, Where have I been this day? How have I spent my time this day? Have I gained any spiritual good to my self, or done any good to others this day? Thus doe, and if upon Examination, you find that your time has been spent unprofitably, Oh fall down and mourn in the presence of God, and say, Alas O Lord, I have lost a day! I have read of a great Moralist, that would doe not much less than this comes to. How much more should a Christian be careful to spend his time well every day! And he should endeavour to doe good wherewherever he cometh. He may doe good in whatever place he shall be. If he be in Company with others, he may doe good with his Tongue. Some have said concerning Dr. Preston, that he was the most fruitful Christian in the world in that respect. He would upon all occasions set on foot Edifying Discourse, either something that should tend to promote Knowledge, or should be helpful as to the practical part of Christianity. Or, If a man be alone; he may do good with his head and heart, he may be contriving for God's glory. He may be often thinking with himself, What shall I doe for God? Is there nothing that I may yet doe for God and His people, more than I have hitherto done? Yea, a Christian should endeavour so to walk, as that all he does may be fruit unto God. Therefore holy Thoughts of GOD should be still running in his mind. I could name a man to you, that could say, For the space of these ten years, excepting when I have been asleep, Thoughts of God have not been out of my heart a quarter of an hour together. We should have thoughts of God, in our Eating, Drinking, Buying, Selling, and in all that we doe. And explicit aymings at His Glory, should be in our hearts and thoughts very frequently every day. So will all that we do become fruit, and then we shall bear much fruit.
4. Let us set before us the most holy and fruitful Examples for our Imitation. Take, my brethren, the prophets for an Example Jam. 5. 10. Such as we read of in the Scripture who were Eminent for God, we should consider their Example, and endeavour to become like them. Or such of the Saints as we our selves have known or heard of. And hence the reading of the Lives of holy & eminent servants of Christ is certainly a good, and profitable thing: It may (by the blessing of God) be a meanes to cause us to become like to them in Holiness and Fruitfulness. But above all let us set the Example of JESƲS CHRIST before us, and learn of Him. The best of men have had their failings, and so are not a perfect Copy to write after: But Christ did all things well, and never did amiss in any thing. He went up and down doing good. Act. 10. 3. He came no where, but He did some good, brought forth some fruit there. We should remember that example. And if a Christian be exercised with any Temptation, suppose him to be persecuted, made the reproach of the world, slandered, and his life sought after! let him think with himself, How did Christ carry it under such Temptations? Let me demean my self as near as I can as He did. Or if he be put upon any Service, Let him consider, If Christ had been called to such a Service, how would He have manag'd that work to the glory of the Father? And as He was, so let me be in this world. Every one of us here, calls himself a Christian: He that saith he abideth in Him, ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked. So shall we bear much fruit, and glorifie God.
It is good for every man to draw near to God.
PSAL. LXXIII. 28.
But it is good for me to draw near to God.—
THere are two great Truths asserted in this Psalm, from both of which these words are an Inference.
1. That God is good to his Servants, notwithstanding all the evils which may befal them in the world. ver. 1. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. Tho' such may meet with many afflictions, yet God is good, yea and good to them in all. He intends them good and not hurt by the Temptations which they may at any time be exercised with. Now if God be so good to His People, it must needs be good, and the best Course they can take to draw near to Him.
2. Another thing asserted in this Psalm, is, That tho' wicked men who are strangers to God may be in present prosperity, yet it will not be long before they utterly perish, ver. 27. For lo, they that are far from thee shall perish, thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. And therefore he concludes that it is good to draw near to God. If they perish that are far off, the Best and safest course is to get and keep near. Inasmuch as it cannot be ill with those that are with Him, nor well with those that are without Him, its a Rational and a necessary conclusion that it is good to draw near. And whereas the Psalmist sayes, It is good for me, Two Things are implyed,
1 That for his own part he was resolv'd to practise according to what he here makes Profession of. 2. That tho the generality of men did not draw near to God, yet it would be good for them so to doe. He does not intend that it would be good for himself only, but it is equally true of all other men, and so they should find it, would they be perswaded to make the Experiment.
The Doctrine then is,
That it is good for every man to draw near to God.
Drawing nigh to God is not not only in it self a good thing, but its good for them that sincerely do so.
Here two Things are to be enquired into. 1. When a man may be said to draw near to God. 2. How it does appear that it is good so to do.