A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 137 (Question 36 cont.)
SERMON CXXXVII.
THE Fifth and laſt of theſe Benefits now comes under Confideration, viz. Perſeverance therein unto the End. And this …efers to, or is a Priviledge of Al…ption, and it is a proper Fruit of the S…all… of the Spirit, as will be afterwards made evident.
BEFORE I proceed to … this Benef…, it is requiſite to … of it that … may know, in what … is here …. Obſerve then, that … is … taken in a large, end … a more reſtrained ſenſe. … it c…r…ri… eth in it both the preſervation of the I…e and Exerciſe of Grace in the Believer, and the … greſs he makes in Sanctiſ…ea… n…e the end of … Life. But ſo we are not to preſecute th…. For out Catechiſm makes theſe two diffence. Benefits, and the latter of them hath b… ſpoken to already, under the title of Incre… … Grace. I ſhall therefore here only ſpeak to it in the former ſenſe, wherein the nature of this Benefit is ſtrictly contained. Here alſo we may obſerve, that this Perſiverance, may be confidered either as it is a Duty en…ned upon the Children of God, o…s it is a Eriviledge conferred on them: … which reſpects are taken notice of in the Scriptures. Of the former ſee, Rev. 2.10. Be thou faithful unto de…h. Of the latter, 1 Pet. 1.5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto …vation. But it is the latter of theſe, that li…s …ore us at preſent, it being a Benefit of Adoption, and no ſmall part of the preſent Happineſs of the People of God in this Life. And indeed, it is that which makes all their other Priviledges happifying, in that it preſerves and confirms them to us. And were it not for this, we might loſe them all, and he the more miſerable, in that once we envoyed them. For ſhould a Believer fall from Grace, he would loſe all, his Juſtification, Adoption, Aſſurance, and every thing. For …h… Eternal Life is ſecured unto him on Believing, yet it is in this Way; and therefore the Connexion is certain and reciprocal, and every Child of God may apply it to himſelf. Rom. 8.13 For if ye live after the fleſh ye ſhall the: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye ſhall live. But becauſe this Priviledge and Duty are conjoyn'd, and the Spirit of God, in preſerving us, helps us in our duty of Perſeverance, this alſo may have a room in out Speculation. Accordingly, we may take this Account of it: Perſeverance is a fruit of the indwelling Spirit, in every Behever, by which be maintains the Life and exerciſe of all his Graces in him, ſo that they neither totally nor finally fail, but endure to the and of his Courſe, in deſpight of all that ſecks to deſtroy them. This is a popular Deſcription, and contairs ſeveral things in it, which may …e under Conſideration, for our better comprenending this excellent Benefit.
1. WE have the General Nature of it; it is a fruit of the Indwelling Spirit, in every Be…ever. And herein it agreeth with the other fore mentioned. And here there are four things to be taken notice of,
1. THE Author of this Benefit, viz. the Spirit of God. Every ſaving Good comes from him: Not can this Perſeverance derice to us from any other but him; as will anon …e evidenced. As we were not able to put Grace into our ſelves, nor ſhould ever have had any, of he had not created it in us: In reſpect of which, ſee, Eph. 2.10. We are his workmanſhip created in Chriſt Jeſus unto good works. So neither can we preſerve it in us, when we have it, but he muſt ſet a ſecond hand to this. And hence we are told, Hed. 12.2 Jeſus the author and finiſher of our faith, It is true, he uſeth Means with them for this, and requires of them that they do diligently uſe them in order to it, yet the Succeſs of them is from him, and doth intirely depend upon his Bleſſing and Influence. Hence he ſo argues, Rom. 14.4 He ſhall be holden up: … God is oble to make him ſtand. So that our uſing of the Means is not an Anteced… Condition of it, but a conſequent Fruit of it … a Medium by which he promoves it. H… all our dependance is upon him for it, and we muſt ſeek it of him. Pſal. 51.12. … unto me the joy of thy ſalvation: and … we with thy free ſpirit. Pſal. 119.116 … we according unto thy word, that I may … let me not be aſhamed of my hope.
2. THE Subject of it; the Deliever. … are no other capable of it. And the … of this will appear, becauſe that in him which partakes of it is his Grace, as we ſhall … ſently obſerve. Now Perſeverance in … preſu…poſeth the being of it. For a thing … firſt be, before it he preſerved. Now … are none but Believers, in whom the … Graces of the Spirit are produced, … with their Believing, they receive … Habits of Sanctification, and hence … ſuch are partakers in it. It is rece… Men firſt paſs from Death to Life, in … to their being kept alive, and that is … Regeneration.
3. THE Extent of the Subject; every … liever. It is not a Benefit reſt … theſe or thoſe of the Children of God … only ſome eminent ones did partake … but it is common to all of them. Is … to the Children of God as ſuch. We … fore obſerved, that it is one of the Pri… of Adoption; tho' the influence of it … Sanctification: and becauſe whom God … to be his Children, he alſo gives … have the Heart of Children in the New …. This is therefore one of his Gifes … without Repentance, as Rom. 11.29. And … from his Immutable Love to them, Job. …. This is a Priviledge conferred with … and ſo is as extenſive as Faith. God … loves one Believer as another, and eve… lieves is committed to the Charge & … of the Holy Ghoſt. Hence, tho' one may … more Grace then another, yet both … perſevering Grace. Hence all comp… … a Tree, &c. Pſal. 113. And to M… … Pſal. 125.
4. THE way in which it deriver; it is … of his Indwelling in us. When the … God comes to work the great Cha… … Sinner, and plants his Grace in the … be takes poſſeſſion of ſuch a Soul. and … in it a Spirit of Adoption. For this … are ſaid to receive him, Rom. 8.15. … is ſaid to dwell in us, and we to have him, … And Believers are on this account … Temple, 1 Cor. 3.16. In what … dwells is matter of diſpute. However … he doth ſo, by his conſtant, ſaving, and … clous Influence, is acknowledged by all … Orthodox. And we are aſſured that … immutable and perpetual, Joh. 14. … I will pray the Father, and he ſhall give … ther Comforter, that he way abide with … ever. Now one great fruit of his … Dwelling in us, is Perſeverance. It is to preſerve us in the Faith, and keep us from loſing …; and he will certainly look after his own Dwelling to keep it, nor will be ever ſuffer … to be turned out of it again. And this is … true and proper reaſon, why any do Per…
2. WE have the Special Nature of it, in the … of the Deſcription. In which theſe …ings are obſervable,
1. THE Subject of the Application of this … for; viz. All his Graces. We obſerved. … the Believer is in general the Subject of … then there is that in him which is … …ore immediate-Subject recipient of it and … is all his Graces. For it is by the Perſe… of theſe, that the Believer perſeveres, … …olding out of theſe he abides in the …. Theſe are his bow, and while it … i… its ſtrength, he is ſafe.
And here are two Things.
… THEY are the Believers Graces which are … Knowledged. What we are to underſtand … Grace, we obſerved under the former …. In ſum, it is the New Creature, or … Principles of Holineſs and Righteouſ… … are infuſed into the People of God …erſion: Which are therefore called … becauſe they are the free Gift of God, … …ed on us, beſides our deſerving. … we here underſtand all the Gifts … God confers upon Men by his Spirit, …le are ſome common to Believers and …ers, others proper to Believers, and … have them: and theſe are here in…: ſuch as difference the Children of … all others. And hence we have the … to be obſerved between Gifts and …; for though every Grace be a Gift, … Gifts are not Sanctifying Graces, not … the bleſſing of Perſeverance:
…. THIS Priviledge is ſecured to all his …. As there are many Members in the …tural, ſo the New Man in a Believer … …y Graces. We have the chief of … …erated, Gal. 5.22, 23. The fruit of … is love, joy, peace, long ſuffering, gen… …dneſs, ſaith, meekneſs, temperance. … theſe go into the Perfection of Parts, … …egrality of the New Man, ſo that … them ſhould be wanting or loſt, it … maimed thing, and not furniſhed … good Work. Now the Believer is not … in Grace, but he is kept perfect and …. This therefore he prayed for in … …alf, Col. 4.12. Epaphras, who is one … ſervant of Chriſt, ſoluteth you, always … ſervently for you in prayers, that ye … perfect, and compleat in all the will …. Every Grace is equally a Fruit of the …. Every Grace hath its Service in the … Chriſtian, and every Grace is equally … of this Preſervation. He therefore … undertaken for one, hath ſo for all. … have the Benefit itſelf; theſe Graces … …tained or upheld. This is, the Spirits … performance of this Benefit. When the Spirit of God hath put his Grace into us in our Renovation, there needs a ſecond Hand to be afforded to them, for their Preſervation. As, when God had created the World by his Power, it needed his Suſtentation of it by the ſame Power, and without that Manutenency of his, it would have fallen back into its abyſs of Nothing. The Enemies of the Doctrine of Perſeverance miſtake, if they think we aſcribe it to the inward Nature of Grace itſelf. We aſſert the contrary, and ſay,
(1.) THAT Grace is a Creature, and in it ſelf mutable. Mutability is ſown in the Nature of ſecond-beings. Abſolute Unchangeableneſs, is a Divine Incommunicable Prerogative. The Angels and Adata were created with a fulneſs of Sanctifying Grace, and yet how did they loſe it all? What ſoever Ornaments of Grace we have, yet they are not inſeperable from us in their own Nature.
(2.) THAT the Believers Grace is but weak in this Life. There are indeed different degrees of Strength in the Children of God; all are not arrived at the ſame Sta…ure, but ſome are ſtrong compared with others; but ſtill, all labour of much infirmity. Grace i… the beſt is far ſhort of that power that it had in our firſt Patents in their Integrity It is ſo weak that it cannot ſtand alone. If He … ki…h be left to himſelf he falls, 2 Chron. 32.31.
(3.) THE remaining Corruption in him is very ſtrong, and it withstands his Grace. There are theſe two Parties in him, and they are ever in Oppoſition. Gal. 5.17. For the fleſh luſteth againſt the Spirit, and the Spirit againſt the fleſh, and theſe are contrary the one to the other: ſo that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Original Sin in him is always endeavouring to expel Grace out of him, and uſeth its utmoſt force in it. And as for its Power and Efficacy, the Apoſtle tells us, ſomething of it, on his Experience, Rom. 7.23. But I ſee another law in my members, warring againſt the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of ſin, which is in my members. His Grace is but a Spark in a Flood, and it is a wonder that it lives in it, and is not every Hour extinguiſhed.
(4.) THAT he hath many potent Enemies from abroad who both deſign and attempt to rob him of his Grace.— We have a comprehenſive account of them, Eph. 6.12. For we …efile not againſt fleſh & blood, but againſt principalities, against powers, againſt the rulers of the darkneſs of this world, against ſpiritual wickedneſs in high places. And they are formidable; they are indefatigable in watching. Occaſions, to do this miſchief. 1 Pet. 5.8. Your adverſary the devil, is as a roaring lion walking about ſeeking whom he may devour. And there are Multitudes of them. And the Hazard of them is live…ily expreſſed by our Saviour. In Mat. 24.12.
(5.) HENCE the Preſervation of them is owing, to the Spirit of God. It is his powerful Hand that doth it, 1 Pet. 1.5. Were it not for this, every aſſault would give them a fall, and every fall world be ruinous, and they would never get up again. But it is certain, that he can preſerve them. His Hand is ſtrong enough to lu…in them: and they have the Security of that; and this is their Safety. So that tho' they do fall, yet they ſhall riſe again, Pſal. 37.23, 24. And this is the Privilege of … God's Iſrael, Dear. 33.27.
3. WE have the Things, i… which this Benefit is excerted; or the reſpects wherein it maintains theſe Graces: Which are two,
(1.) IT maintains the Life of them. Believers by the Infuſion of theſe Graces into there, are ſaid to be quic…d, Eph 2.1. And Sanctifying Grace is often called Life in the Word of God, becauſe it is a Principle of Gracious Operations. Hence that, Gal. 5 25. If we …ve in the Spirit, let us alſo walk in the Sp…ri…. Now this Principle is implanted in the Man in Converſion, and is accordingly called a Seed, which reſpecteth the Ho…s of it. Now this is called Inc…rrup…ab…e, 1 Pet. 1.23. And it is ſaid to remain in the…. 1 Joh. 3.9. So that whatſoever f…i…tings it may …eet with, yet it ſhall not be extinguiſhed. If Grace ſhould at any time be reduced to the Habit, yet that ſhall never be loſt. This is the Water that Chriſt gives to Believers, of which he ſaith, Joh. 4.14. Whoſoever drinketh of the water that I ſhall give him, ſhall never thirſt. Now this is becauſe of the A…i…ing of the Spirit, which …des in them and priſer…es them, 1 Joh. 2 27.
(2.) IT alſo …x…i…s the Exerciſe of them. Grace is given us for uſe. Our Spiritual Life is given us that we may live to God. And this alſo belongs to Perſeverance, and is a Benefit, which all that are Effectually Called, do partake in. Joh 17.9. The righteous alſo ſhall hold in his way, and he that hath cl… …o…ds ſhall be ſ…i…ger and ſtronger. Not but that a Child of God may, and frequently doth meet with interruption in his way, and the exerciſe of his Graces is many ways obſtructed in theſe and thoſe Occaſions for the acting of it. He doth not find himſelf like the ſame Man at one time, and at another, in reſpect of any of theſe Graces which are in him. He is a Wreſtler, and is ſometimes above, ſometimes under. His Faith ſometimes holdeth up its head above all the billows that aſſail it, at another time it is under Water, and begins to doubt, and a…o… it riſeth again. His Obedience ſometimes …ems the tide of Corruption, and bears it before him, a…on he lets go, and is born down in the ſtream of it. The Law in his Members is ſometimes too hard, &c. Rom. 7.23. But for all this, take the whole tract of a Believer and there will be found Perſeverance in it. A Child of God in the exerciſe of his Grace, it by reaſon of the two contrary Principles luſting in him, like two Co…bitants, whom if we look on during their ſcu…e, ſometimes the one, ſometimes the other ſeems to prevail, but in the iſſue of the barrel, one gets the Conqueſt, and this ever falls on the ſide of Grace. We may frequently obſerve it in the Pſalmiſts, particularly in Pſal. 73. The Believer is like the Traveller is a mi… way, when he comes at a deep Ford, … a dirty Swamp, he is at a ſtand, goes up and down to ſeek the beſt Paſſage, and looks a… if he were diſcouraged; but wait a while and you ſhall ſee him venturing through and going on: for he is bound for Heaven, and will not reſt till he get thither.
4. WE have the Effect or Product of this … …eſs; He ſhall neither …lly not ſin…lly ſaid … his Graces. How far Grace in a Believer … fail, and that not only in the Exerciſe, … in the Habits of it, is hard to determine … have many awful Inſtances for this i… the Word of God, and theſe of ſuch who … Worthy's in their Generation. A Child of God may, if God leave him to himſelf, … he grow negligent of his Duty, c…ch … Falls, bruiſe himſelf fearfully, … B…es, …ch weakes and impair the Li… … Strength of his Grace, and lay it be a … The …ittings of it may be ſo indiſcri… … he can ſarce diſcern whether there … Life left in it. Was it not ſo with … when he legs for a new Creation to pa… … him, Pſal. 51.10. Was it not ſo with … when that record was made of him … 11.9. His heart was turned for… God. … is ſometimes ſo, that Men of corrupt … ples have fro… thence undertake… to … the p…i…i…s Doctrine of the Ap… … Saints. But it is certain, that thoſe … once in Chriſt by Faith, ſhall never … of him again, becauſe he will not … be ſo. Nor can it be conſiſtent with … … venant Faithleſſeſs. If we look to … … venant of Redemption we find what … …bliged in to his Father, and what … of him. Joh. 6.39. This is the Fa… … which hath ſo… me, this of all which … given me I ſhould loſe nothing. And if … to the Covenant it of Grace we find a… … Engagement to Believing, Joh. 3.16. … ſo l…ed the world, that he go…e his only … Son: that whoſoever believeth in him, … … peri…, but have everlaſting life. So … evident, that their Grace cannot … becauſe then the Promiſe of Eternal … to them upon Believing would be … which it cannot. 2 Cor. 1.20. For a… … miſes of God in him are you, and in him … So that if it ſhould all be loſt, it … paired again according to Covenant, … out Grace, there can be no Glory: … … ther can it totally fail. Whether all … may be ſuſpended, I diſpute not; … Apprehenſion they may, but the … never ſhall. One would think that … done as much as well could be, wh… … fo…rfully and repeatedly denyed his … yet we m…t grant, that either Chriſt … Prayer, or that Peter did not loſe … Luk. 21.31, 32. Beſides Effectual … a Fruit of God's purpoſe of Good. … Rom. 8.28. And is therefore the … Eternal Life.
5. WE have the Continuance of this …, his Grace ſhall endure to the F…d of his life. This doth not intend that they ſhall …ide to longer, but to ſignify, that the Spirit of God will not fail of his conſtant Aſſiſtance of them, ſo long as they are in any …d. The Chriſtians Life here is a con…d Warfare, it begins at his Converſion, and …s till his Diſſolution, and it is his … which his Adverſaries ſeek to deprive … of. If therefore it laſts till Death, it … out till the Warfare be done, and the … be granted him, after which he ſhall never meet with any thing, either from … or without, that ſhall offer to under…he it. And that it ſhall hold out till then …, becauſe the ſafe Conduct of the Spirit, to which he is committed, ſhall abide …e he put out of harms way. Pſal. 73.24. … g…i…e me with thy counſel, and after… …ci…e me to glory. And the Believer, …ing b…reſted himſelf with him may con… in it, and ſay as he, 2 Tim. 1.12. I know … I have believed—. He hath made it out … to be faithful to Death, Rev. 2.10. And. … undertaken for us, that we ſhall be ſo, … beg…n, he will perfect his good Work … the day of Jeſus Chriſt. Ph…l. 1.6.
4. WE have the powerful …cy of this Per…, it ſhall …ld … in deſpite of all that … deſtroy them. It ſhall be a vanquiſh… verance: And therein the Admira… of it doth appear. If it had nothing … it, it would be no wonder, that …. Grace is no ſooner born in the … the Li…e of it is ſought; and there …ge of Sin, and Hell, and World com… … it, but yet God greeth it to …. When they have done their worſt, …th it to ſtand in the evil day, and … as ſtand, Eph. 6.13. It bears up againſt … of natural Corruption. The Fleſh … appre…eth, and be cries & groans, … gives him Deliverance, Rom. 7.24, 25. … …it and be too hard for him, & lead …ive, but it ſhall never drive out his … It holds out againſt the flatteries and … of the preſent World. Proſperity … him, the World puts or its Har… and paint, and …, turn in … that Grace ſhall …crc… it, 1. Joh. 5. … World threatens him with Affliction, … Perſecution, and would fright him … with it; but Grace deſpi…ſe …ena…es, and help…th him to look …'s Victory, and in it to canquiſh them, … it …l…. It maintains its own againſt … Fury of the Powers of Darkneſs. … be up in Arms againſt the Be… … Satan, like a roaring Lion, hunts … Prey among Chriſt's Flock, and ſome… … them into his Snare through in…y, yet the Snare is broken, and they … Throught a Troop a…erccu… them, they … at laſt, and the Ga…es of He… can… b…d for them, Mat. 16.18. Tho' their Grace be weak, and they fear it will not hold out, yet his Aſſ…ting Grace is their Sufficiency. 2 Cor. 11.9. And this affords a ſupply of Life to their habitual Grace continually. Let Satan's Inſtruments uſe never ſo many Impoſtures to deceive them, and tho' Thouſands fall at their right hand, &c. yet God preſerves them. Nor ſhall the Apoſtacy of temporary Believers, who after an eminent Profeſſion turn from the Truth, diſcourage them in their way, but make them the more cautious. 2 Tim. 2.17, 18, 19. In a word, nothing ſhall ſeparate them from the Love of God in Chriſt, and while that abides inviolable, their Perſeverance ſhall be invincible.
USE. LET me from the Premiſes, offer a Threeforl Advice to the Children of God.
1. TAKE beed of abuſing this Truth, by indulging Carleſsneſs in you. Ungodly Men calumniate this Doctrine with this Tendency. Let not your Example be produced to juſtify the Calumny. God expects that you Perſevere: And the Truth in hand is to encourage you in it. And if you pretend to confide in this Security, and take no heed to your ſelves, he may let you fall ſo far as ſhall coſt you ſorrow, though he do not leave you utterly to periſh. How many experienced it to their Bitterneſs?
2. BE not diſcoureged at any thing that threatens your Grace. Let is awake your Courage and Reſolution, but not diſhearten you. What though your Grace be little and weak, and there appears a World of Corruption in you; and tho' the Adverſaries of your Souls, which cruelly hate you, appear to be many and potent, and you ſeem to be but graſshoppers to them and to your ſelves. Remember now, that you are not your own Keepers, but under the ſtrong Gartiſon of Omnipotency. See that there are more for you then againſt you. You are put into an Hand, out of which none can pluck you. Believe this, and wait for God's Salvation.
3. LET this Comfort you, in all the Conflicts of your Spiritual Warfare. Let not your Hearts be troubled, but rejoyce in the midſt of all your Combats. Let this be your Satisfaction, that tho' foiled, you ſhall not be vanquiſhed; tho' diſtreſſed, yet not forſaken. The Promiſe cannot fail; Divine Omnipotency cannot be overpowred. The Foundation of Eternal Life is laid in you, and the ſame Hand will not draw back, till it hath laid the Topſtone, Truſt then in this, and be not afraid.
[SEPTEMBER 26. 1699.]