Sermons Preached from Luke 11:21-22, Sermon 5 – Title page 2
SERMON, V.
LUKE XI. 22.
— He taketh from him all his Armour wherein he truſted and divideth his Spoils.
THESE Phraſes ſeem deſigned only to repreſent the Compleatneſs and Entireneſs of the SAVIOURS Victory over Satan in our Redemption and Salvation. For the taking of the Enemy's Armour, and the Dividing the Spoil are the Fruits of Conqueſt and the Evidence of Victory; and ſerve unto the Generals Triumph and his Souldiers Reward. The Enemy muſt not only be beat and routed before the Spoil can be taken; but they muſt alſo be taken Captive or …lain before their Armour can be taken.
The Spoils are the Conquerors Recompence, and …he Dividing them is the Generals Honour and Prerogative; and the Enemies Armour is the noble Spoil that adorns the Conquerors Triumph. This has ever been and yet is the Uſage of War, unto which theſe Phraſes refer and by which they muſt be Interpreted.
Of old therefore Victory was ſung of under this Phraſe, — I will purſue, I will overtake, I will divide the Spoil. So the Mother of Siſera ſpake of his deſir'd Return from the War, and her wiſe Ladies anſwer'd her in that part of the Martial Style which they beſt underſtood and reliſh'd, — Have they not ſped? have they not divided the prey —? A prey of diverſe colours of Needle-work, meet for the Necks of them that take the Spoil.
And thus the Victory and Triumph of the Meſſiah was greatly ſpoken of in Ancient Propheſies: I will divide him a Portion with the Great, and He ſhall divide the ſpoil with the Strong; (or of the Strong, as ſome read it). Iſai. 53. ult. And thus our Saviours Death was ſpoken of by the Apoſtle, Col. 2.15. And having ſpoiled Principalities, and Powers, he made a ſhew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Give me leave then for the Amplif…ie. on our Saviours Victory over the Enemies of our Souls, to ſtay a little on theſe Martial Phraſes, which Methinks I ſhould not be juſt to my Text, if I ſhould wholly paſs by. And firſt I will conſider a little the Armour here ſpoken of, wherein Satan is ſaid to truſt, or put Confidence, and which Chriſt takes away from him. Secondly, The Spoils which our Victorious Saviour divides.
I. The Armour here ſpoken of, wherein Satan is ſaid to Truſt, or put Confidence, and which Chriſt is ſaid to take away from him.
Now the things here repreſented ſeem to be theſe three.
1. What a bold and confident Enemy we have.
2. That there is an Armour that gives him his Confidence.
3. That the Victorious Saviour takes that from him.
1. I obſerve, What a bold and confident Enemy we have. How he arms himſelf and comes out, like ſome Goliah defying the Armies of the living God; Confident in himſelf and in his own Strength; threatning what he can do and what he will. He makes ſhow of Courage. Fearleſsneſs and Security. He ſeems to deſpiſe Heaven, to pretend to hold his own, and maintain his Kingdom among Men, in ſpite of God. All theſe are Mine, ſaid the bold and vaunting Spirit to our Saviour, and I do what I will with them. And if Heaven denies his Title he pretends to defend it; Rev. 12.7. And the Devil fought and his Angels.
Nevertheleſs all this is only Grimmace, and a face put on, which the heart gives the lie unto. He looks big and fierce; ſpeaks Great, and roars like a Lion. But for all that he believes and trembles. He knows that his day is coming, and ſhreiks and flies at the tho't of the time of his Torment. As he fell in horror before our Saviour, and cried out, and tore and rav'd; and (as he cou'd) pray'd to his Judge; in the moſt abject and torturing fears that any weak mind can feel.
He is bold to us becauſe Inviſible. Could we but look into the World of Spirits, and ſee him before an Angel of Light, we ſhould ſee ſomething mean and dastard beyond any Compariſon that we can find for it here on Earth. So a Wolf appears and is terrible to a Lamb, but what a cur is it before a Lion? How will the Wild Barking Dog fly more fearful than a Lamb?
So it is the property of an Inſolent Spirit to Inſult thoſe that are Ignorant or Feeble; Whom it can deceive or fright, impoſe on and terrifie, it is always ready to hector and bully. Beſides that our Enemy is falſe and impudent, as he is proud and cruel; He covers his own ſhame and weakneſs, fears and horrors with lies and folſhood; and never appears what he is. We have a bold and confident Enemy.
2. His Armour gives him his Confidence. He has ſomething that he pretends to truſt in, and incloſes himſelf in as it were in Armour. The Alluſion of War is here carried on; As Armour gives the Soldier Confidence, which he wears either for his own Defence, or for the Off…e of his Enemy; ſo there are ſome things that afford to the Enemy of Souls his boldneſs and ſecurity: They are to him as Goliahs Helmet of Braſs and Coat of Mail, his Sword and Spear, added to his huge natural Bulk and Strength.
But have Spirits their Armour too? Yes, what … be Alluſively ſo called, both good and bad have. There is the Armour of Light, and of Righteouſneſs; and why not that of darkneſs & of Spiritual Wickedneſs, with which they fight againſt God and defend the Cauſe of Hell? For Tyrants have their Armouries, and rebel Hosts arm themſelves for the War.
Now this Armour of Satan is the ſame with thoſe Strong holds of his in a wicked heart, which I before ſpake of under the Second Doctrine, whereby he holds it as a Garriſon againſt God, in a wretched and accurſed Peace and Security.
The Mind of Man is corrupted and blinded by the Fall, and ſo are the Will and Affections, and by the Corruption of theſe Conſcience is defiled and debauched; All theſe give Satan an eaſy Acceſs unto the Soul and a mighty Power over it by his Temptations; and this is his chief Confidence having prov'd his own skill and power ſo very often and effectually upon us.
He is a Serpent and a Dragon, and what he cannot effect by force he does by wile and ſtratagem; and in his fraud and ſubtlety doth he moſt truſt.
He truſts in the natural darkneſs …d blindneſs of our carnal minds, which renders us liable to be Impoſed on by his craft and falſehood; and he hopes ever to keep us in Ignorance, and Alienated from the Life of God thereby: that we may never ſee things as they are, but call evil Good, and God evil; never ſee how hateful and dangero… Sin is, or how good and lovely and ne… the Wayes of God are, and how Glorious the Methods of Grace in our Salvation.
He truſts to keep Men in the Miſtakes and Prejudices, which they eaſily imbibe by Education, and by Traditions received from their Fathers, which are frequently Oppoſite unto the Truth and Power of Godlineſs. So he holds the Pagan World in their brutiſh Idolatries, the Mahometan in their Impoſture and Infidelity, the Jews in their Obſtinacy and Unbelief, the Romiſh Church in their infinite Superſtitions and groſs Corruptions; and among the Reformed ſome in their External Forms, and ſome without any Form at all of Godlineſs, in their licentious Principles and looſe Morals. For indeed there are but few in the World but who are early Prepoſſeſs'd one way or other againſt the Truths and Laws of pure Religion; and this is a ſtrong and mighty part of Satans Armature wherein he truſteth.
He truſts much in a Carnal Heart, which is Enmity to God, and in a Stubborn Will which is Averſs to his Holy Will, and bent to Sin. He truſteth in that natural and contracted …otence to Good, which he ſees the Miſerable Children of Men labour of, and which at laſt comes of an Invincible Diſinclination thereto. He truſteth in the Natural Deceitfulneſs of Mans heart, and its unknown deſperate Wickedneſs, which it pleaſes him to ſee Mankind believe ſo little of.
He truſſeth in the power of fleſhly …sts and ſenſual Pleaſures: in the Cares of this World and the Deceitfulneſs of Riches; to allure and draw away the Soul from God, Inchant and Infatuate it; to choke every awful Conviction and ſerious Impreſſion, and that the Earth and its Bars are about it for ever. He truſts in the League and Confederacy which he is in with a corrupt Nature and many treacherous Luſts within us, and with a corrupt and wicked World, whoſe Friendſhip is Enmity to God, and which is full of many hurtful and fooliſh Luſts that drown Men in Deſtruction and Perdition.
He truſts in the Habits of Sin and in the ſtrong Chains of Guilt which he ſees many of the Wretched Children of Men held under. He truſt that One accuſtomed to do evil can never learn to do well; no more than the Ethiopian ſhall ever change his skin, or the Leopard his ſpots. He truſts that he ſhall ever keep them far from the Favour of God, and under his Wrath and Curſe. He truſts that he ſhall keep them eaſy and ſinging in theſe chains of death, or drive 'em into deſpair when once they begin to Mourn under them.
Finally, he truſts in his pas… …cceſſes againſt us, and that he ſhall yet prevail over the frail Sons of Adam and Dau'ters of Eve. He is grown vain and conceited of his own Subtlety and Force; and dares to attemptany thing; even what he knows he can never p…form. He truſts that he can deceive the very Elect. He dar'd to tell God when he ſpake graciouſly of his Servant Job, that if he might but have Permiſſion to try him, he wou'd ſoon make him as very a Devil as himſelf, and he ſhould curſe him to his F… and doubtleſs he deſpiſed him in his He…; when Heaven bro't him forth for ſingle Combat with the Prince of Devils, as the hu…e Philiſtine did the Stripling David. Nay. when the Son of GOD was manifeſted in the Fleſh, the Tempter was ſo bold as to ſet upon Him; and after he had once and again found nothing in him, but had receiv'd an utter Defeat always, had been often Ejected by him and been forced to ly roaring and trembling before him, and confeſs him who he was, the Holy One of GOD; yet the bold Fiend continu'd to purſue him ſtill even to his Croſs, where the grovelling Serpent had his Head utterly broken, while he ſtung his Heel. No higher could the Snake reach his Head, yet meant all it's Poiſon into the very Boſome of God; preſuming to have vanquiſh'd the Son of the Higheſt, as if he had been only the Son of Man.
Thus we have a bold and confident Enemy; and we ſee in part what it is he truſts in.
But then,
3. Chriſt takes away all this, by the Merits and Purchaſe of his Death, and by the Operation of his Holy Spirit on the Souls of his Choſen and Called. He ſaves us firſt by Price and then by Power. He has paid a Ranſome for his Elect unto the Juſtice of God, and by his Spirit he ſanctifies and rules in them for whom he died.
They are Juſtified by Faith in his Righteouſneſs, and they are Sanctified by his Grace and preſerved in Him. In the one Chriſt acts as the Lord our Righteouſneſs, in the other as the Lord our Sanctifier and Ruler. And they are each equally Glorious to Him and Neceſſary for us.
1. Our Salvation out of Satans hands, is by a Price of Redemption, and a Satisfaction to the Juſtice of God. To this was his firſt Regard. He had in his Eye (as Mr. Bradbury has juſtly and ſtrongly repreſented the Matter, and whoſe Words on this Head I ſhall uſe, becauſe of their light and force‖The Doctrine of Juſtification, explain'd & apply'd) the Equity of a GOD whom we had offended, the Dignity of the Law which we had broken, the Eternal Morality and Life of the Covenant of Works under which we were planted. For there cou'd be no ſaving us with any Diſhonour to theſe. It had not been a Redemption but a Plunder, to deliver the lawful Captive upon any other Claim than a Satisfaction. We are therefore bought with a Price. Any other way wou'd have made the Saviour a Party with Sin and Satan. Sin had got the better of the L…w, if that could have been pardoned, whilſ… this remained violated, without any Rep…ration.
Our Salvation is not a meer Act of Pity and Favour without a wiſe and ſufficient Reaſon; that were Sofineſs and Imperfection. Nor is it an Act of meer Power and Violence, without juſt regard to the moſt wiſe Rules and Meaſures of Government: But Wiſdom, Holineſs, Juſtice and Truth came in for a ſhare in the mighty Produce of Glory. There had been no great Work for Deſign, and conſequently nothing ſo ſuitable to the Infinite Mind, had He only forc'd his way thro' all that oppos'd our Salvation: But this Honour and Harmony of all the Divine Attributes in our Salvation, is what the Angels deſire to look into. The Cherubims are ſtraining their Eyes to behold a Throne of Grace ſo near unto an Altar of Atonement: That there ſhould be a Satisfaction for Sin, and yet all Mercy in the Forgiveneſs of it! a full Payment conſiſtent with a free Gift! a full Revenge taken upon the Guilt, and yet a noble Excurſion of Mercy for the Perſon!
In a Word, Here is a Righteouſneſs declared in the Remiſſion of Sin: One ſpeaking in Righteouſneſs and Mighty to ſave: One to defend us at the Bar, as well as to fight for as in the Field.
Satan truſted that this could never be; nor could the Anecls in Heaven ſuppoſe how it could be. And without this, Chriſt had not deſtroy'd the Works of the Devil. That Wickedneſs would have been yet Triumphant, which is …, Extinguiſh'd. For if you ſtrip the Death of Chriſt of the great Atonement, the Works of the Devil had deſtroy'd him. But now by dying, he bound the ſtrong Man. Thus we ſee Jeſus in the ſuffering of Death crown'd with Glory and Honour, tasting it for us: We ſee the Captain of our Salvation made perfect thro' Sufferings, in bringing many ſons to Glory. Therefore is a Portion divided him with the Great, and he divides the ſpoil with the strong: becauſe he bare the ſins of many.†Heb. 2.9, 10. Iſai 53. ult.
This is the Strain and Current of the whole Goſpel of our Salvation: It all returns into this Myſtery and Depth of Grace from whence it flow'd; A Satisfaction to the Justice of God for our Sins. Christ our Great High Prieſt is HOLINESS TO THE LORD. For our ſakes He ſanctifyed Himſelf. In the midſt of the Throne is a Lamb ſtain. We are come to the Blood of ſprinkling. The Redeemed are waſhed from their Sins in their Saviour's Blood, and ſo made Kings and Prieſts to GOD. They have waſhed their Robes and made them White therein; and ſo are before the Throne. They overcome by the Blood of the Lamb.*Heb. 12.23. Rev. 1.6 5.6.7.14, 15.12.11.
Thus as the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, our Redeemer has broke the Chains of Guilt, and the Free Gift is come upon all unto the Juſtification of Life.
But then moreover,
2. As the LORD our Sanctifier and Ruler, He pulls doxn the strong Holds of Sin within us, and implants the Powers and Principles of the Divine Life He renews us in the Spirit of our Mind, forms a new Creature, and puts on it the whole Armour of God, the Armour of Light, and of Righteouſneſs, on the right hand and on the left. *Eph. 6.11, 12, 13. Rom. 13.12. 2 Cor. 6.7.He clothes us with that Divine Strength, and with thoſe Divine Graces, whereby we may withſtand the Wil…s of the Devil, reſiſt him ſtedfaſtly in the Faith, Overcome the Wicked one, ſtand in the evil Day, and having done all to ſtand.
He breaks the Power of Sin and Corruption in the Soul,‖Henry in loc. rectifies its Miſtakes delivers … from its Prejudices: And whe… the Eyes are opened, and the Heart is humbled and changed, and made ſerious and ſpiritual; then Satans Armour is taken away. The Sword is firſt wreſted out of his hand, and then the Seepter.
Satans Armour wherein he truſted, was his keeping Men in Darkneſs,†Pool in loc. blinding them with Error and Superſtition, and ſeducing them into ſinful Practices. But now Chriſt by the Goſpel teaches the … of God in truth, and brings Souls into the love of it: He ſubdues the Soul to a … miſſion both to the Glorious Way of our Juſtification by Faith in his Righteouſneſs, and to the Glorious Way of Holineſs as the only path of Life.
There needs only a Work of Sanctification to be wrought in us, whereby our Saviour reſtores in us an Enlightned Mind, an Obedient Will, a Faithful Conſcience, Holy Affections, Pure Deſires, Gracious Purpoſes, and Spiritual Abilities; to the ſpoiling and diſarming Satan of all his Intereſt in us and Power over us. The Saviour rules that day in the midst of his Enemies, and they are made his footſtool: It is the Day of his Power, in which his People are made Willing, under the Rod of his ſtrength.
In ſhort then, As the Armour wherein Satan truſteth are principally theſe two, The power and ſtrength of Sin in us, and the Chains of …ilt, whereby we are bound to ſuffer the Curſe of God's Holy Law; ſo Chriſt takes away the one, by the Merits of his Death, … the other by the Power of his Renc…ing Grace.
And I cannot better compare and illuſtrate both the Confidence that Satan has of holding his Poſſeſſion, and the Grace of Chriſt diſarming and ſpoiling him of his bold and vain Truſt; than by that famous and Ancient Piece of ſacred Story, which we have in the 2. Sam. 5 6, 7, 8. I mean the Story of Davids Conqueſt of the Jebuſites, who held the ſtrong Fort of Sion in Jeruſalem, unto the Day wherein David received the Kingdom of Iſrael. Theſe Jebuſites had ſuch a vain Opinion of the ſtrength of their Fortification, that they ſet a parcel of Invalids, lame and blind People upon the Walls, in ſcorn of David and his Army, eſteeming them ſufficient to defend and ſecure them againſt all his Power.
Or rather theſe Jebuſites ſeem to have had their Idols in whom they truſted, (as many Learned Men have tho't) and to whom they aſcribed their long Protection and Preſervation in the midſt of Iſrael. Now the firſt Exploit of David's Reign, (as became ſo Pious a King, and ſo Illuſtrious a Type of Chriſt) was to root out this Remnant of Idolatry, and of the Kingdom of Satan, left in the very Heart of the Church. But the Jebuſites ſhow'd him (we ſuppoſe) their Gods, their Idols from the Wall, their Palladium wherein they truſted, and defied his coming thither ſo long as theſe were there. But Holy David derided their fond Superſtition, and fooliſh Confidence, calling their Idols the Lame and the Blind; for ſuch they indeed wi…; Eyes had they but they ſaw not, Feet had they but they walked not. In juſt Indignation at the Affront offer'd to the GOD of Heaven, he declar'd theſe lame and blind Images to be the Hated of his Soul, and that the Man who ſhould firſt ſcale and enter the Fort, and tumble down theſe ſenſleſs Deities from the Wall where they were perch'd up, ſhould be the Chief and Captain of his Army. Upon which Word the brave and valiant Joab went firſt up, and was deſervedly the Chief.
From that Day Jeruſalem became the Royal and the Holy City, the Seat of Worſhip and of the Government; the Head of Iſrael and the Type of the Goſpel Church; that Jeruſalem from Above which is the Mother of us all. Hither David bro…t the Ark of God in Triumph, into its Reſt; and here Solomon built the Temple. So the Kingdom of Chriſt is Eſtabliſhed where Satans ſeat was, and on its Ruins; and He taketh from him all his Armour wherein he truſteth.
But it is time that I paſs unto the latter Phraſe in the Text, and conſider a little,
II. The Spoils which the Victorious Saviour divides. And divideth his Spoils; or as another Evangeliſt hath it, he ſpoileth his houſe.
This is eaſie to do after the Enemy is Overcome and diſarmed, ſlain, routed, or taken Captive. Upon the Victory follows the taking the Spoil. Theſe are the Conquerors Reward, theſe grace his Triumph, and theſe he hangs up in the Temple of God unto his Praiſe.
His Spoils: The Spoil that Satan had made is all the taken. As Abraham of old arm'd his valiant and trained Houſhold, and purſu'd after the Kings that had taken Captive his Brother Lot, and had carried away all his Goods: He ſmote them and brought back all, both the Captives and the Spoil. Or as David came upon the Amalekites that had ſpoiled Ziglag, and carried away his Wives: He found them ſpread abroad upon the Champian, eating and drinking and dancing, becauſe of the great Spoil which they had taken; and David ſmote them from the Twilight even until the Evening, and recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away.
I name theſe two Inſtances, becauſe that doubtleſs Abraham and David were herein Types of Chriſt ſpoiling Principalities and Powers, and reſcuing our precious Souls out of their cruel hands. Our Lord Jeſus was the Son of David and of Abraham, and they reſembled him in this, His taking the Prey from the Mighty and the Terrible. We may look in upon our own Souls, if recovered by his Grace from Sin and Hell, and ſay of them as David's Soldiers did of that Drove which they ſet apart, and in the Van upon his Return from that noble Conqueſt, This is David's Spoil! Theſe belong to the Conquering SAVIOUR, the Purchaſe of his Blood and Acqueſt of his Sword, Whom he has redeemed from the hand of the Enemy.
For indeed Satan had made a Spoil of us. He had ſpoiled God of his Creature Man, and of any Service or Glory from him without a Redemption. He had alſo ſpoiled Man of his God and Heaven, of his Innocence and Peace and Glory. It was an Inva…able and Immenſe Treaſure which he had ſpoiled God and Man of. Theſe Immortal Souls of ours were of greater Price than all the World beſide. This Rate God ſets upon them, ſo nobly had he Endow'd his Creature, and ſuch Riches had he expended in him! So Great was his Eſtimation of him, and ſuch Account he made of him. For him he had Created and furniſh'd this Great and pleaſant Earth; And having made it a Paradice, and ſtor'd it with an Innumerable Bounty and Variety, and all very coſtly; He then ſaid, — Let us make Man in our Image after our Likeneſs, and let him have the Dominion over all theſe: So he put them under his feet.
Now this Rational Mind, this Intelligent and Immortal Spirit, made in the CREATOR's Image, with Angelical Faculties and Powers, contained more Riches in a little, being a Jewel belonging to the Crown of Heaven, than all the reſt of this lower Creation, tho' theſe in their ſeveral kinds are an Unſearchable and Ineſtimable Riches of Wiſdom, Power and Goodneſs. This therefore was the Spoil that Satan aim'd at; and in carrying this he knew that he ſhould carry all, and become the God of this World. For God valued not the Earth, but for the ſake of Man, that bare his Image here, and in whom were his Delights. He had given the Earth to him, and now he gave away himſelf from God that went with him. Satan knew this, that in gaining Man he got all, and ſhould ſpoil God of his lower World; and now he prides and vaunts himſelf in his Acqueſt,—All this is mine.
And now, ſhall the Prey be taken from the Mighty? and the lawful Captive, (for ſuch were we become, Slaves by our free Conſent as well as a juſt Victim to the Juſtice of God) be delivered? Yes: Thus hath the LORD ſaid, Even the Captives of the Mighty ſhall be taken away, and the prey of the Terrible ſhall be delivered; — And all Fleſh ſhall know that I am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob, Iſai. 49. ult. So our Lord JESUS as a General after the gaining the Battle divideth his Spoils. The Victor poſſeſſes for himſelf the Palace he has taken, and from whence he has driven the Foe, and all he finds there is his own, and diſpoſed of to his own Uſe and Service, by his own Will and Pleaſure.
For Inſtance,
1. He poſſeſſes and uſes the Powers and Endowments of the Soul and Body before de…ed to the Service of Satan, for Himſelf and unto … own Glory. Henceforth they are Sacred to …im, their only true Proprietor. His rightful Dominion is reſtored; His Throne ſet up again in the Heart, and there he reigns for Ever. For having vindicated his Right, he aſſerts his Power, and maintains his Conqueſt. We may write upon the Man, He is Chriſt's: Wholly and entirely poſſeſſed by him, and devoted to him.
2. The Benefit of the Victory redounds to us, while the Glory is all His, and thus he divides the Spoil among his Redeemed. He needed not us, nor any thing of ours, nor can he receive any thing at our hands. If we be righteous what do we give him, or if we ſin on what do we againſt him? Our Goodneſs extends not unto Him to benefit him, nor is our Miſery any damage to Him. Had we remain'd for ever in the Hand of Satan, what had He loſt? And if we are ſnatch'd thence by the Power of his Grace what has he gain'd? Was he not the ſame God over all, bleſſed for Ever, Infinitely bleſſed in Himſelf, before Man had a Being, and ſince his Apoſtacy? And would he not have remain'd ſo, and the Intereſts of his Glory been all ſecure, had he reſerv'd us with the Angels that ſinned, in Chains under Darkneſs unto the Judgment of the Great Day. Now therefore, that he has deſcended into our low World and died, Aſcended alſo hence and led Captivity Captive, what is He enriched by it? Has He taken a Shoe-latchet of ours, that we ſhould be able to ſay, — We have made him rich? as the Generous Abraham ſaid to the King of Sodom, in the Day of his Return from the Conqueſt of the Kings, that he might be the more perfect Type of his SAVIOUR. We are indeed made free, we are reſtored to Liberty, and the Creature it ſelf ſhall e're long be deliver'd from the Bondage of Corruption: We are made Conquerors, and are to wear the Crowns of ſuch, and He is glorified with the Glory which he had with the Father before the World was.
Thus the Benefit is entirely ours. The Generous Conqueror fought for our Ranſome and Deliverance, and hath effected it. He divideth the ſpoils among his ſaved Ones. When he aſcended on High, He received Gifts for Men, even for the Rebellious, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
This is his Name, Jehovah our Righteouſneſs: which ſpeaks (ſay One on that Text) a Happineſs to us, a Glory to Himſelf: Our Happineſs lies in Things, His Glory appears in a Name: What we get by Him is a Reality, what he has from us, is only an Acknowledgement.
3. He diſtributes to every Man ſeverally as he will, of the Abundance of Grace and Gifts of Righteouſneſs; Graces and Comforts here in this Life, and Glory hereafter. Theſe are the Unſearchable Riches of Christ, and who can count the duſt of them? or number the Tenth part. either as to kind or meaſure? Eye hath not ſeen, nor Ear heard, neither hath it enter'd into the Heart of Man to conceive the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1. Of his own Sovereign Will and free Grace, he divideth to Whom he will, and in what Portion he will. He hath Mercy on whom he will have Mercy, and hath Compaſſion becauſe he will have Compaſſion. Yea, the faint and ſpent, whoſe hearts are in his Cauſe, but their feeble hands can do nothing in it, ſhall come in for a ſhare in the Spoil; as David in his Princely Piety and Juſtice, order'd with reſpect unto the two Hundred Men, that were ſo faint that they could not follow him to the War. Thus the lame take the Prey, when the Great Spoil is divided, Iſai. 33.23.
2. He divides with a Munificent Hand. He that has leaſt has an Intereſt in a whole Chriſt, a whole Heaven for a whole Eternity. He partakes in a compleat, Eternal Redemption; he attains a perfect Happineſs, and ſhares in infinite Bleſſedneſs; tho' there doubtleſs are Degrees of Glory, as well as Degrees of Grace, Service and Comfort now. Joh. 12.24. Father, I will that they whom thou haſt given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my Glory.
3. A Reſpect is had to Eminence of Love and Zeal, and faithful Service. The old and beaten Soldiers, who have been forward and bold, active and couragious, have endur'd hardneſs, often fought and ventur'd Limb and Life, receiv'd Wounds, and it may be died in the Cauſe; They ſhall receive the greater Reward and the brighteſt Crown, They ſhall be advanced in Rank and Honour in the Heavenly World: Not of Works, nor for any deſert in them; but of the meer good Pleaſure of the Sovereign GOD, who is Lord of his own Favour, and has made it a Statute in Heaven for Ever. And accordingly we read of a Prophets Reward, and that they who turn many to Righteouſneſs ſhall ſhine as the stars for ever and ever: Alſo, that he who ſoweth ſparingly ſhall reap ſparingly, and he that ſoweth bountifully ſhall reap bountifully; and that they who receive abundance of Grace and of the Gift of Righteouſneſs, ſhall reign in Life by Jeus Chriſt.
Thus our Lord encouraged his Apoſtles, the General Officers in his Church Militant, and who were ſet in the Front of the Battle; Ye which have followed me in the Regeneration, when the Son of Man ſhall ſit upon the Throne of his Glory, Ye alſo ſhall ſit upon twelve …es, judging the twelve Tribes of Iſrael: A… ever hath forſaken Houſes and Lands, &c. … my Name ſake and the Goſpel, ſhall receive an hundred fold in this Life, and in the World to come Life Everlasting. Wherefore the Apoſtle Pa… who had done, labour'd and ſuffer'd … more than others in the Cauſe of Chriſt, … pected of the free Grace of God a more diſtinguiſhing Crown in the Heavens; 2 Tim. 4.7, 8. I have fought a good Fight, I have finiſhed my Courſe, I have kept the Faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteouſneſs, which the Lord the righteous Judge ſhall give me at that Day: and not to me only but to all them that (in like manner) have his Appearing.
USE.
And now I have again prevented my ſelf in the Application, which I hop'd to have made of this Doctrine: The USE ſhould have been,
I. To teach us to give Glory to Chriſt our Saviour. He is the true Meſſiah; the promis'd Seed of the Woman to break the Serpent's Head; the Horn of Salvation raiſed up for us in the Houſe of David, as was ſpoken by the mouth of all the Holy Prophets, which have been ſince the World began, that we ſhould be ſaved from our Enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us. We ſhould now go forth with Branches of Palm-Trees in our hands, to grace the Triumph of our Saviour, and ſhout, — Hozanna to the Son of David; Bleſſed be he that cometh in the Name of the Lord, Hozanna in the highest.
So in that great Day wherein the Philiſtine of Gath fell, and all the Enemies of Iſrael fled at his Fall, the lovely Conqueror and illuſtrious Type of the Conquering Saviour, came back with the Monſter's Head in his hand, and he put his Armour in his Tent: While the Dau'ters of Iſrael prepar'd their Inſtruments of Muſick, and met him with their Songs, — David his ten thouſands!
What a mighty Lord and Conqueror is our REDEEMER, and on what a gracious Deſign has he arm'd to bring forth the Priſo…ers, and proclaim Liberty to the Captives, after he has ſlain the Tyrant and the Oppreſſor! With what Admiration and Delight ſhould we Contemplate this Appearance of the Son of God in our Nature, and all the Enemies of our Souls under his Feet? Iſai. 63.1. Who is he that cometh from Edom, (like David after the Conqueſt of the Edomites at the valley of ſalt, whereby he got him a Name, 2 Sam. 8.13.) with died Garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his Apparel, travelling in the Greatneſs of his ſtrength? — I that ſpeak in Righteouſneſs, Mighty to ſave. Let the Divine Anſwer the Prophet in the Viſion he had of the Glorified Jeſus, in the form of a Mighty Conqueror, Rev. 19.11, 12, &c. And I ſaw Heaven opened, and behold a White Horſe, and he that ſat on him was called Faithful and True, and in Righteouſneſs he doth judge and make war, His Eyes were as a flame of Fire, and on his Head were many Crowns, and he had a Name written that no Man knew but He Himſelf And he was cloathed with a Veſture dipt in Blood; and his Name is called, The Word of God. And the Armies which were in Heaven followed him, — and out of his mouth goeth a ſharp …ord, that with it he ſhould ſmite the Nations: And he ſhall rule them with a rod of Iron; and he treadeth the wine-preſs of the fierceneſs and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his Vesture and on his Thigh a Name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Such a Viſion of the Glories of the Victorious Saviour does the Text preſent us. As in the Day when David took Rabbah, the Royal City of the Children of Ammon; He came Himſelf and took it, leſt it ſhould be called after another's Name: And he took their Kings Crown from off his head, (the weight whereof was a Talent of Gold, with the precious Stones) and it was ſet on Davids head; and he brought forth the ſpoil of the City in great abundance. So we ſee JESUS Crowned, and Hell Spoiled, and all the Enemies of our Salvation put under ſaws and harrows and axes of Iron, 2 Sam. 12. ult.
II. The Second Uſe is of ſingular Comfort to the Believer in Chriſt.
1. In all Temptations and ſpiritual Annoyances form the Wicked One. Chriſt has overcome the Tempter: For in that He himſelf hath ſuffered being tempted, He is able to ſuccour them that are tempted: for we have not an HighPrieſt which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without ſin, See Heb. 2.14, 18.4.15, 16.
2. Ʋnder the Burden of Indwelling Sin, and the tormenting Fears which the ſorrowful Senſe of it doth often create in the Children of God; Whether Satan be indeed caſt out of them; whether Sin have not yet the Dominion over them; whether they ſhall not yet fall by the hand of their roaring Enemy without, and a treachercus Heart within-But be not diſcouraged; Chriſt ſays to you as he did to Peter, Satan has deſired to ſiſt you, but I have prayed for you. Read the Promiſe and the Prayer, Rom. 16.20 The God of peace ſhall bruiſe Satan under your feet ſhortly: The Grace of our Lord Jeſus Christ be with You. Amen.
3. Let Believers be comforted under, and ſupported againſt all the Troubles and Perſecutions they may be annoyed with from Earth and Hell. It is a wicked World, and Satan is the God of it. They therefore that will live Godly in Chriſt Jeſus muſt ſuffer Perſecution from it. Marvel not if the World hate you, for it hated Chriſt firſt. And he hath ſaid to you, Be of good cheer, I have overcome the World. Read what the Spirit ſaith unto the Church in Smyrna, Fear none of theſe things: the Devil ſhall caſt ſome of you into Priſon that ye may be tryed, and ye ſhall have Tribulation ten dayes: Be thou faithful to the Death, and I will give you the Crown of Life.
4. In the low Eſtate of God's Church, and in all it's Sufferings, this is the ſupport of God's People, that the Church is founded on a Rock, and the Gates of Hell ſhall not be able to prevail againſt it. Our Lord has ſaid to us, I beheld Satan as Lightning fall from Heaven. Read the Viſion of the Church in its travailing and weak Eſtate, perſecuted by Satan and the Powers of this World, but protected by her Saviour to the deſtruction of the Dragon and his Inſtruments: Rev. 12. The Church appears there as a Woman cloathed with the Sun, ſhining in Purity of Doctrine and Holineſs of Converſation; the Moon under her feet, trampling on all ſublunary and earthly things; and on her head a Crown of twelve Stars, the Doctrine of the twelve Apostles worn as her Crown. She is repreſented as travailing in Birth, to propagate true Religion and Godlineſs. But to devour this her Holy Birth, appears a Great red Dragon. God caught up her bleſſed Offſpring to Himſelf and to his Throne. Michael and his Angels fought againſt the Dragon, and caſt him down. Yet he continues to perſecute the Woman and her Child, and Providence continues its Guard and Succour. The Dragon caſt out floods, but even the Earth it ſelf was made to help the Woman, and to ſwallow that Flood which might elſe have drown'd the Truth. Thus the Church is and ſhall be ſaved in ſpite of the Malice of Satan and his power. Her Redeemer is Mighty, and his little Flock need not fear. Let us believe, and look and pray for the Downfal of Satan's Kingdom more and more; and rejoyce over it thou Heaven, and ye holy Apoſtles and Prophets.
III Let the laſt Uſe be of Exhortation to us all, to ſubmit to Chriſt and chuſe Him for our Lord; to behave towards Him as rightful King, and be his Servants. Let us all how our knees to his Scepter, let us kiſs the Son, let us conſent to his Covenant, and accept of his offered Grace. Let us renounce Sin and Satan, abjure the Devil and all his Works, and yield our ſelves up to the Government of Chriſt, his Word and Spirit.
It is moſt wilful in us, if we remain yet under Satans Power. We prefer him to the Son of GOD by a practical and vile choice of him, renouncing our Saviours Claim of us and Offers to us. And let Sinners conſider, that they liſt into the conquer'd ſide, and muſt fall into their condemnation.
But if Chriſt be our Lord now, He will be our Saviour for Ever. If he now rule in us and over us, we ſhall one day reign with Him. If we now give up our ſelves to him, He will hereafter take us to Himſelf in Heaven. If we are now ſubject to Him as Prince and Saviour, we may know our ſelves to be choſen in Him before all Worlds, unto Eternal Glory.
Wherefore Return, O revolted Soul, from Satan unto Chriſt: And like Magdalen, out of whom be caſt ſeven Devils, thou ſhalt be yet precious in his Eyes. Lay down the Weapons of thy Rebellion, and fight no more againſt GOD. Come in upon the Proclamation of a General Pardon which is iſſned out in the Goſpel of Peace. See out the Pardon therein offer'd and ſecur'd to thee. Swear a future Allegiance and Fidelity, and perform unto the Lord thy Saviour thy Chriſtian Oath and Vow; thy Sacramental Engagement to Him.
Lift in the War denounc'd againſt Sin and Satan for Ever. For the Lord hath ſworn that he will have War with this Amalek for evermore. Be ſtrong in the Lord and in the power of his Might. Put on the whole Armour of God: for we wrestle not againſt fleſh and blood, but againſt Principalities and Powers, againſt the Rulers of the darkneſs of this world, against spiritual Wickedneſſes in High places. Whoſoever is born of God overcometh them all, and this is the Victory, even our Faith.
Now thanks be to God who cauſeth us to triumph thro' Christ. He that conquers in this ſpiritual Warfare has an Eternal Triumph. Our Lord has ſaid, I appoint you a Kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me. And again, To him that overcometh will I give to ſit down with me on my Throne, even as I alſo Overcame and am ſet down with my Father upon his Throne.
A PARAPHRASE ON St. LUKE XVII. 21. The Kingdom of GOD is within you.
1. ETernal GOD! Thy Providence
Over all Worlds extends it Reign:
In Number they and Space Immenſe,
Thou the One Abſolute Sovereign.
2. Within thy Church on Earth we are
The viſible Kingdom of thy Grace:
Heaven is the State of Glory, where
Thy Saints ſhall Ever ſee thy Face.
3. The nobleſt Rule in Nature is
Thy unſeen Empire over Souls:
No Pow'r may be compar'd to this,
Which our free Tho't and Will controuls.
4. This Rule, Bleſt GOD of Grace, Thou doſt
Diſplay in turning us from Sin;
A Souls Converſion ſhows it moſt,
Thy Throne and Kingly Reign within.
5. Almighty Pow'r renews the Mind,
While Satan, World and Fieſh oppoſe:
In Terrors arm'd, with Bowels kind
It headlong drives th' Infernal Foes.
6. Majeſtick, on the Glorious Word,
Victorious Grace in Triumph rides;
And in the Purchaſe of its-Sword,
It's reſcu'd Captives, highly prides.
7. Angles! behold what Grace has done!
A fallen Soul reſtor'd, renew'd;
A Soul worth many a World is won
From Sin, and to GOD's Will ſubdu'd.
8. Within my Heart, Almighty GOD,
Begin thy Reign, ſet up thy Throne:
From Sion ſend thy conquering Rod,
And Satan's curſed Seat pull down.
9. A willing Captive of thy Pow'r
Make me: My Songs that Powr ſhall praiſe
In Shouts of Grave from that bleſs'd Hour,
Thro' all my future happy dayes.
10. Into this Kingdom come my Soul;
Or rather let it come in thee:
Take (LORD) my Heart, my Name inroll;
Thou Son of David make me free.
A DISCOURSE OF THE Pleaſure OF Religious Worſhip, IN OUR Publick Aſſemblies.
FROM PSALM CXXII. 1.
I was Glad when they ſaid unto me, Let us go into the Houſe of the Lord.
BOSTON: Printed by B. Green, for Samnuel Gerriſh, & Daniel Henchman: Sold at their Shops. 1717.