strong holds of sin and Satan in their Consciences by casting down the imaginations and bringing them into subjection 2 Cor. 10.4 5. This he doth Ministerially by the Word of Reconciliation effectually by his Spirit Thus being delivered from the power of darkness they are translated into the Kingdom of Gods dear Son and Christ is become their Lord. Secondly he is the only Lord of their saith as he is Authour of it Heb. 12.2 To him only we can say as that poor man Lord I believe help my unbelief as the disciples Lord increase our saith And he only is the object or matter of our faith the Apostle preach'd him the only Lord our faith 2 Cor. 4. 5. It is highest sacriledge horrible usurpation to impose any thing to be believed for salvation which Christ hath not commanded Thirdly he is Lord by justifying their persons and forgiving their sins he is called the Lord our Righteousness Ier. 23.6 He is to us a Melchizedech a King of Righteousness Heb. 7.2 To forgive sin is Royalty the Prerogative of such a Person who hath dominion over us as a Prince and Lord Acts 5.31 Fourthly by ruling leading governing them whom he hath justified and pardoned Isa 55.6 This he doth by writing his Laws in their hearts by giving a spiritual understanding in the knowledge of his Will by forming and fashioning their affections and conversations into holy obedience to the heavenly and spiritual nature of his Kingdom Fifthly by affording all needful supplies to all their wants by affording mercy and grace to help Joseph was made Lord of Egypt and he had all the Granaries and Store-houses at his Command to dispence So Christ is Lord of all his Fathers Treasures and he giveth all things 2 Pet. 1.3 Sixthly in protecting upholding succouring them in all their dangers amidst all their temptations infirmities discouragements 2 Cor. 12.9 by his compassions pltying them Heb. 4.15 by his power and grace helping them by his care and wisdom proportioning their strength to their trials to him every believer may say Lord save me or I perish Seventhly in overcoming all the enemies of their salvation the two Heads or Generals whereof are Satan Rom. 16.20 and Antichrist Rev. 17.14 Eighthly he hath manifested himself to be our Lord when he died for us and rose for us and sate down at the right hand of God for us and hath quickned us together and raised us together and set us together with himself in heavenly places Eph. 25 6. Thirdly consider how much this consideration that Christ lesus is our Lord doth afford to this triumph or ful persuasion of faith that nothing can separate us from the love of God He is our Lord and Lord over all creatures in Heaven Earth and Hell Lord over Angels Men Devils Lord over Life and Death Lord over all Prineipalities and Powers Lord in the heighths and Lord in the depths Lord over things present and Lord over things to come such as have a Lord so full of Love Power Wisdom Compassions Grace can never fall from the Love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. 1. Use Is Christ Iesus a Lord over all creatures here is encouragement for any poor creature that lies under the sense of sin and wrath to come to Christ and say Lord save me or I must perish Doth the wrath of God threaten thee run to Christ and say be mâ—rciful to me O Lord under the shadow of thy wings I come for shelter Dost thou feel a dominion of sin a tyranny of prevalling lusts leading the captive come and say Lord many lores have dominion over me O let me be under the Dominion and Government of thy grace Doth Satan pursue Conscieâ—ce accuse Law condemn Death threaten Hell open upon thee Come to Christ who hath spoiled Satan pacified Conscience satisfied Law abolisht death triumph'd over Hell he is Lord over all hath swallowed up all in victory Dost thou want a Righteousness to lustifie thee Christ is Lord of Righteousness Dost thou want Pardon of sin Christ is Lord and hath power to forgive sin Dost thou want any grace within the whole compass of the Promises Ordinances Treasures of God Christ is Lord of all Dost thou want a good title to Heaven Christ is Prince of life and Lord of Glory 2. Use Is Christ Iesus in a special manner the Lord of his Church the Lord of believers I. Let us own Iesus Christ to be our Lord for this end two things are necessary First Faith when the Apostle represents this Lord absent to us he saith We walk by faith 2 Cor. 5 6 7. Other lords are present with us to command encourage oversee over rule and to reward us Christ is absent therefore to stand in awe of him to be diligent in his Work to do to suffer for him to fear to offend him to endeavor that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him this requires much faith Secondly the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12.3 It is not every one that saith Lord Lord Many that live under the Education and external Profession of the Gospel in words call Christ Lord yet they will never yield up themselves in obedience to him as their Lord without the over-ruling grace and power of the Holy Ghost II. As ye have received Christ Iesus the Lord so walk in him Col. 6.2 Give up your selves consciences thoughts desires the secrets of your souls and the conversations of your lives to be guided ordered governed by his Word and Will Thirdly honour Christ Iesus your Lord both in life and death Rom. 14 7.8 9. Fourthly let us be faithful sincere constant and abundant in his service we have a Lord that can and will reward us 1 Cor. 15. ult Fifthly if Christ Iesus be our Lord let us trust him and live in dependance upon him for our present subsistence and future expectations the Lord never failed them that waited on him ROM 8 38 39. I am Perswaded THE Apostle having taken himself and all believers to their strong holds which is Communion with God and having strengthned this Communion with God by love and fortified this love of God in Christ Iesus and having engaged Christ Iesus his Lord his Leader the Captain of our salvation Now he prepares for the encounter 1. He takes a view of all his adversaries and then encourageth his faith against them all I am Perswaded Expects an assault from all kind of enemies Satan mustering his Aemies from the four quarters of Heaven Earth and Hell compassing the Camp of the Saints endeavoring to overthrew the beloved City the strong hold of Gods beloved ones he musters death and life Doct. Such as are beloved of God in Christ Iesus may yea must expect to encounter all kinds of enemies or evils possible or imaginable in this world I. In these enemies the Apostle reckons up in the Text which befal Saints on the Account of Gods love to them First consider the reality of them they are
and Son is chiefly managed and transacted 1 Iohn 16.14 15. and by whom it is manifested 1 Iohn 4.13 Thirdly be much in those duties frequent those Ordinances where God manifesteth and most communicateth himself to his own 4. Use Let Believers be exhorted to live walk act and work all their works in the strength of that grace that flows from this Communion First hence our victory over all dangers enemies difficulties 1 Iohn 4.4 Secondly hence your fruitfulness in Christ John 15.4 5. ROM 8.38 For I am Perswaded c. IN the first Point I opened the doctrine of Believers Communion with God The second is the bond of this Communion The Love of God Doct. The Love of God is a sweet a sacred bond of inseparable Communion between God and believers Though the love of God in Scripture somtimes signifies our love to God yet here it must needs signifie Gods love to us for not our love to God but his love to us is the only foundation on which a believer can build such high resolution strong confidence glorious joy triumphing faith as is in the text There is a threefold love of God to us First a general love a love of benevolence or good will common to all his creatures as they are the works of his hand so his mercy and love are over all his works the invisible things of his Wisdom and Power are seen in every creature Rom. 1.20 And what of God is in any creature is lovely and he loves every thing himself hath made Secondly a particular love a love of beneficence or bounty Thus he loves man above all his other creatures before his fall Pro. 8.31 After his fall Psal 8.45 Heb. 2.16 Tit. 3.4 Thirdly a more special and peculiar love a love of Communion and Complacency it is of such out of mankind whom God hath loved in Christ with an everlasting love these are believers according to Election Man is Partaker with other creatures of all that love of God that communicates to them yet hath a special love of God that communicates to him and no other creature hath part with him Believers partake of all that love of God that communicates it self to all other creatures and to all other men yet hath a special love of God in which no other creature and no other men partake with him Thus a believer is Heir of all that love that ever issued forth from God of this love of God the Text speaks First it is the bond of our Communion as being that which draws us into this Communion There is in every man by nature an unwillingness to come to God a drawing off from God and Communion with him Partly from sin and corruption which is in man which is a privation of our suitableness and likeness and conformity to God and is a positive contrariety and opposition to God both which are flatly repugnant to Communion and partly also from the apprehension of the wrath and displeasure of God and our obnoxiousness to his Iustice whom most unjustly and injuriously we have offended hence no man will come into Communion with God except drawn Iohn 6.44 But what then doth God compell men against their wills no this would destroy that natural principle of liberty God hath implanted in that faculty therfore in infinit wisdom he hath ordered to bring them in by a way of voluntariness and free obedience and the meanes by which the power of his grace shall produce effectually those effects in the hearts of men to which they shall freely and willingly consent to is a way of love Hos 11 4. Love is the cord that drawes men that drawes man into communion with God Ier 34.3 When God by his Spirit manifests his love to the soul whom no other meanes could perswade much less compel the soul is conquered by the secret ineffable potency and Tweetness of the operation of love love drawes and the soule comes yea runs into his armes yea into that bosom where love opens Cant. 1.1.4 Secondly it is the bond of our communion with God because it binds God fast to us and us fast to God First it binds God fast to us in this sacred communion First this it doth by bringing us into an everlasting Covenant with God Ezek. 16 8. 1 Sam. 18.3 No after-sins â—ack-slidings no temptations persecuâ—ions of the world nor chastise rents of God can break Covenant because founâ—ed on love Our Communion with God is foundâ—d on the Covenant the Covenant founâ—ed on love hence we call it a Covenant â—f grace or love It is exprest to be a Covenant of Conjugal love Hos 2.18 19 20. when God threatens to visit the sins of his people c. yet my loving kindness c. nor breaks my Covenant c. Isa 89 31.34 Secondly this is that doth dispense all the blessings of the Covenant to believers in this Communion This love of God is that which first gives forth Jesus Christ to them 1 Jo. 4.10 And with Christ all other graces and Priviledges of grace that concur to salvation T it 3.4 7. This love makes the first great change and alteration in mens estates and conditions v. 3. this love of God goes on to manifest it self to such in Christ in the Renovation of the Spirit in Justification in making us heirs of glory and eternal life So love the Fountain of all grace Eph. 2 4 5 6. see 2 Thes 2.16 17. the love whence flows all consolation as from the original is there expresly affirmed of God the Father Secondly it is the bond of this Communion as it binds us fast to God this it doth First by engaging us to believe in his Son Jesus Christ John 3.16 God o loved c. the love of God here is made matter of greatest encouragement to finners to believe against all doubts of strongest engagement to believe against all Pleas Pretences on the contrary God so loved c. So How so as we cannot tell so as the tongue of men and Angels cannot express so infinitely so ardently so in comprehensibly as exceeds our thoughts as far as heaven is above the earth Gods love with a So swallows up all our sins doubts fears difficulties wants weaknesses unworthinesses or whatever stands in the way of believing Secondly by enabling us to believe 1 John 4.10 We have known such whom no means no Prâ—misâ—s no Persuasions could prevail with to believe if God make known but a secret hint of his love forthwith it believes against all unbelief believes in hope against hope and gives glory to God Faith is called the Gift of God Eph. 2.8 and every gift springs from love Christ is the Gift of God love and faith is the gift of Gods love the love of God brings Christ and faith together and unites both together Thirdly by begeting in our hearts a love to God in some manner of Analogie like that of his to us Love begets love as fire begets fire and in this flame
the soul like Manoahs Angel ascends up to God in heaven it is a common proverb that love alwayes descends seldome ascends It is not so between God and beleivers 1 Jo. 4 19. and that love which ascends from us to God what is it but that which first descended from God to us A woman that hath no love no affection for such a person nor any thoughts of him it may be never saw him yet when such a person comes to make known his true love and affection to her it presently begets love in her bosom so Thus the Apostle doth describe it Eph 1.4 see how it begins in the love of God to us and ends in our love to him this is that the eternal love of God aimed at and works up every believer to God loves that he may be loved Where God loves he takes up his rest in that soul Zeph. 3.17 where the soul lovâ—s God it takes up its rest in God Psal 116.7 and values the love of God above richest enjoyments Psal 63.3 Now it cannot live but in the love of God Psal 30.5 Fourthly by actuating the whole foul in a way of service and sincere obedience to God What the Apostle saith of the love of Christ 2 Cor. 5.10 the same is true of the love of God it constrains it besiegeth it hemms us in it takes full possession of the soul brings it under the regency of divine love is wholly at the Command of love 1 John 5.3 This is the love of God Herein is Gods love manifested to be special love to us and herein is our love manifested to be sincere love to him This is the spirit in the wheels that moves all the faculties and affections of the soul to God in a way of duty and obedience In this way God manifests his Communion of love with us Jo. 14.23 and we manifest our Communion of love with God 1 John 1.7 To walk in the light is to walk in a way of holiness and holy obedience to God and whereas many failings and fallings short will be found in the best obedience yet there is a remedy provided the blood of Christ 1. Use This point leads us to the uppermost spring the highest original of grace and glory to believers and that is the love of God not the love of Christ as Mediator but the love of God whence Christ and all spiritual blessings with him originally flow to us In vain shall we seek for any other motive to God in his dispensations of grace to us besides his love Deut. 5.7 8. God hath predestinated you to the adoption called justified sanctified you and will glorifie you only because it pleased the Lord to love you 2. Use Is love the bond of our Communion with God First then it is a very near close intimate Communion Love is a transanimation one soul in another 1 Sam. 18.1 or with another it is a believer engraven in Gods heart appled in Gods eye carried up and down in Gods armes like a beloved disciple lying in Gods Bosom the Place the Seat the Center of love Secondly it is of love therefore a choice Communion Love singles out its object it looks upon many chuseth few the children of his love are a chosen generation 1 Pet. 2.9 God singles some out of all the world to have Communion with and they single God out of all the world to have Communion with him Psal 73.25 Thirdly it is of love therefore a strong Communion Love is strong as death invincible by any opposition conquering every thing that is against it The Love of God pardons all sin swallows up all distances The love of God in communion with the soul sweetens every bitter thing heals all lapses repairs all breaches ends all controversies between God and the soul Hos 145 5. Fourthly it is an everlasting communion because it is of love the love of God in the heart of a believer never faileth 1 Cor. 13.8 much less can the love of God fail in his own heart the love of God is one of the longest and most lasting things in God Psal 36.10 Continue in the Hebrew Draw out at lengthâ— as is the love so is the Communion 3. Use Is love the bond of our Communion with God take that exhortation Jude 21. Keep your selves in the love of God keep up your faith in Gods love keep the apprehensions and manifestations of Gods love warm in your hearts This will keep you in sweet Communion with God which is the life of ouâ— faith the soul of our Christianity thâ— joy of our salvation all joy and peace iâ— believing This is strong consolation Peace that passeth understanding Thiâ— is our stability in grace our security for glory 1 Iohn 4.16 we have known and believed God is love ROM 8.38.36 VVE are come to the third particular viz. the primary and principal subject in which the love ef God to us centred and that is Jesus Christ which is in Christ Jesus Doct. That love of God which is the bond of communion between himself and believers with all its gracious effects Blessings Priviledges is manifested and dispensed to us only in and through Jesus Christ Our life and salvation is first in God himself with whom is the fountain of life and who is the Father of lights in whom our life is said to be hid Coll. 3.3 and so in him it is ours by the eternal purpose of his love and grace in himself This love of God as it was the only moving cause to God of the eternal purpose of his grace concerning us so it is the chief Agent and principal Efficient of all grace in us as we declared in the last Point Yet we must consider the only Medium or means by which God doth manifest his love to us through which he doth dispence all the effects of his eternal love and grace to us is Jesus Christ who is appointed of God to be the only Executor of all his Decrees of love and grace and is ordained to come in as Mediatour in all things between God and us This I shall endeavour to demonstrate 1. Demonst Jesus Christ was anointed with all that love which God the Father had taken up in his own bosom to be laid out on all his elect ones and thus he became Son and Heir of all the love of God to his beloved Hence Christ is made known to us as the eminently beloved one of the Father Mat. 3.17 The beloved with an Amphasis in whom we are said to be accepted Eph. 1.6 his dear Son or the Son of his love into whose Kingdom we are said to be translated Col. 1.13 And from the love of God to him is the love of God derived to us John 17. ult 2. Dem. Jesus Christ alone is the great manifestation of Gods eternal love to us as being the first and most immediate effect of it 1 John 4.10 so as we cannot nor ever could come to the least measure of knowledge of
could see this Numb 23.19 This fenced and fortified them there in Gods love against all the sorceries and inchantments of their enemies This also fenced and fortified them in Gods love against the greatest provocations by their own sins Hos 11.8 9. God loved Jacob in the Womb and continued to love him through Old and New Testament Mal. 1.2 Rom. 9.13 Thirdly the faithfulness of God confirmed by Oath by which they are fenced and fortified in the love of God against all their own backslidings and the severest dispensations of Gods displeasure Psal 89.30 33. Nevertheless my loving kindness confirmed by Covenant and Oath v. 34 35. Fourthly the All-sufficiency of God He is God of all grace and hath called them he will settle them 1 Pet. 5.10 Thus they are fenced and fortified in Gods love against all their own wants doubts weaknesses and imperfections 3. Dem. Is taken from the nature and quality of the love of God to believers as it is said to be in Christ Jesus First hence it will appear to be an everlasting love from eternity to eternity the love of God was from everlasting to everlasting Jer. 31 3. and the love of Christ is to everlasting John 13.1 Believers have full security for their continuance in Gods love because it is the love of God in Christ who is to carry it on through all its passages oppositions seeming interruptions to Eternity Secondly the Lord Iesus his love is a victorious love it brings off believers more then Conquerours over all things that can attempt or endanger a separation Rom. 8.35 37. More then Conquerors because whenever they fight with any enemies for the prize the love of Christ they always come off Conquerors not wounded nor wearied nor discouraged nor with any loss but they come off sounder stronger holier fuller of all grace and more confirmed in the love of Christ Thirdly the love of God in Christ is indelible the persons are engraven on his heart it is invincible they are engraven as a Seal on is Arm Cant. 8.6 you may as easily pluck out Christs heart as pluck away believers from his love she is seal'd on his Arm to shew that mighty Power Christ still engageth to keep them in his love to support her infirmities and to subdue all the enemies that rise up against her 4. Dem. Is taken from this love of God as it is scituated in Christ Iesus our Lord. First he is Son and Heir of all Gods love and the Heir is Lord of all Jesus Christ is Lord of all his Fathers love and the love of God the Father is primarily his portion and inheritance Now this Jesus Christ is our Lord so that what he possesseth of Gods love is ours and upon what terms he possesseth it It is for us Iohn 17 23 26. Now who can dispossess Christ Jesus of Gods love or separate him from the love of God No more Secondly the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord is Protection to itself and all that are under it against the violence of all its enemies Cant. 2.4 his Banner over me was love Where the colours is there is the Captain where the Standard or Banner is there is the King The love of God in Christ Iesus our Lord is as a banner displayed in the heart and a believer may say of all the enemies reckoned in the Tex as the Prophet Isa 8.9 10 for Emanuel God is with us Christ Iesus our Lord. Thirdly Christ Iesus our Lord will make believers invincible in the love of God what is the power of all these enemies in the Text to the power of Christ Jesus our Lord he will bring them under believers feet and make them know he hath loved them and they shall never separate them from his love Rev 3.9 5. Dem. Is taken from the nature and quality of that love of God which is in the hearts of believers which is produced by the love of God to us in Christ Jesus First there is more sweetness in the love of Christ then bitterness in all the sorrows troubles afflictions that be fal them for the love of Christ Jacobs seven years servitude seemed nothing to him for his love to Rachel Gen. 29.20 The love of Christ is said to be better then wine Cant. 1.2 4. Wine makes glad the heart Zach. 9.7 it makes a man neither to feel nor remember his sorrows the love of Christ in the foul makes every bitter thing sweet nothing can kill the love of Christ in the heart Secondly this love of Christ in believers hath a mighty potency in it 2 Cor. 5.14 stronger to keep us to Christ then all adverse power to separate us from him It conquers death that conquers all other things it swallows up the grave that swallows up all things consumes coals of fire which consumes all things and many waters Cant. 8.6 7. Thirdly that love by which believers love God as first loved of him dwell in God who then can separate 1 John 4.6 6. Dem. Is taken from the impotencie of all things that encounter a believer fortified in Gods love how mighty soever in themselves and in other Cases yet in this attempt they are impotent They are not able saith the Text to sepâ—rate So that if we shall consider the nature and quality of Saints Communion with God and of that God in whom this love is as in its original and the nature of it as in Christ Iesus as in Christ Iesus our Lord and the nature and quality of it as it is in believers then we may conclude the Point in hand Obj. But some say this Persuasion is not common to other believers Paul had it by revelation Answ First nay Paul had it by the lively exercise of faith on the doctrine of Justification by free grace as the context shews Secondly the Apostle in this Persuasion of faith includes all believers with himself shall not be able to separate us he is much perswaded for others as himself Thirdly though all believers have the same Communion with God and Christ Iesus in love as hath been declared all have not yet the same measure and degree of confidence assurance and full Persuasion of faith in this Fourthly no believers security is founded on the Persuasion of his faith but the Persuasion of his faith is founded on the love of God which is in Christ Iesus his Lord. A believer sins this weakens his faith he griâ—vs the Spirit this weakens his Persuasion he neglects the means this weakens his confidence it may be God for his trial voluntarily withdraws this weakens his assurance yet this stands firm nothing can separate him from Communion with God in love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1. Use For Instruction Let Christians who design and aim at the comfort of Christianity cast their thoughts defires endeavors into this Mould viz. how to compass an assurance of Gods love in Christ While some Christians are endeavoring desiring longing O that I knew
I had this grace that grace the other grace in truth Do thou endeavor to get thy state cleared up to thee in the love of God in Christ Jesus thy Lord. Hath Christ prayed that the World may know John 17 23. to their Conviction Conversion or Condemnation that God hath loved his And shall not they endeavor to know for this end First live much in Communion with Christ It is the love of God in Christ Jesus See John 17. ult Secondly dearly entertain the sweet Spirit of God Rom. 5.5 2. Use To such as have clear'd up to them their Communion with God in love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Bring up your faith to this Persuasion that nothing shall be able to separate you from Put on the breast-Plate of faith and love Fear no enemy for God hath not 1 Thes 5.8 9. I say to you as Gideon to his men Judg. 7.15 Arise for God hath delivered the whole Host of your enemies into your Hand Nor Death nor Life nor shall be able ROM 8.38 39. Nor Death nor Life shall THE Apostle having raised his Fortress built his Towers fenced and fortified his faith in its Communion with God in love through the Lord Iesus and having taken a distinct view of all his enemies now hangs out a Flag of defrance throws the Gauntlet triumphs in the Conflict over all The first rank of enemies he encounters with is death and life which he overcomes by faith Doct. A Christian fortified in the love of God through Christ or his Communion with God in love hath full security against all the attempts whereby death or life may endanger a separation I. We shall consider how far a believer may be in danger by death and life as to a separation from God and his love First as to death it is a dangerous e 〈◊〉 considered in its abstract nature First death is the punishment Gods Iustice every way fitted and proportioned to sin In the day thou eatest thou 〈◊〉 As sin contains in it all the evâ—l the creature 〈◊〉 do against God so death includes in it all the evils mischiefs miseries the wrath of God can bring upon the creature Secondly the Power of Death was committed to the Devil hence the generality of believers under the Old Testament were all their life kept in bondage through slavish fears Heb. 2.14.15 Thirdly death is a thing can no more have Communion with God then sin can sin is absolute opposition to Gods 〈◊〉 and purity Death is absolute opposition to Gods life and being he is called the living God who is eternal unchangeable immortal Fourthly death is attended with Hell in its first institution Rev. 6.8 which is everlasting separation from God By sin the creature separated it self from Go and its punishment was to be everlastingly separated from God Fifthly the Saints of God have mightily cried out to God when they have been in danger to be separated from God by death Heman Psal 88.3 4 5 10 11 12. David Psal 116.3.4 But death can never separate a believer from his Communion with God in love through Christ lesus First the love of God and the love of Christ never dies Death could not abolish Christs love to believers Iohn 13.1 nor can it abolish the love of believers to Christ Rev. 12 11. The love of Christ to believers and their love to him is strong as death Cant. 8.6 they never encountred death but overcame Secondly Saints have walked in the â—alley of the shadows of death and have â—ept their Communion with God and have not heard nor felt any evil Psal 3.4 Thirdly Christ hath taken the Power of Death out of Satans hand and taken it into his own hands and commanded his people to fear not Rev. 17 18. Fourthly Christ hath executed that revenge threatned Hos 13.14 against Death and the Grave for all the sorrows fears temptations cruelties it hath executed against him and his holy Saints Fifthly Christ hath abolisht death 2 Tim. 1.10 the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifiâ—s to make weak and useless to take away all the power and strength of a thing death is not now as it was its sting is gone Boys play with a Bee when the sting is out Nor only so but Christ â—ath brought in the room of it Life and Immortality hence that Iohn 11.26 Mat. 22.32 Sixthly Saints now die like Christ though in the Grave his soul was separate from his body yet neither was separated from the Godhead Though death may separate between soul and body in a Saint it cannot separate either from Communion with God Rom. 8.11 Seventhly death to Saints strengthens their Communion with God it separates an holy Saint from a filthy world a precious soul from a 〈◊〉 body precious graces from filthy corruptions 〈◊〉 precious Spirit from vile flesh Death to Saints separates only the precious from the vile whereby they come into more intimate Communion with God 2 Cor. 6.17 Eighthly it is not to believers Death and Hell follows it but Death and Heaven follows it Death is so far from separating it carries the soul into the full enjoyment of God Secondly let us consider how far a Christian may be endangered by life Here consider four things First the many errors slips falls backslidings believers are subject to in this life Psal 19.12 James 5.19 20. if any of you erre in judgement or practice How much by these things a believer is endangered to a separation from the love of God and his Communion with God appears Heb. 3.12 Hebr. 10.38 2 Pat. 3.17 Secondly they are endangered in this life by the corrupt customes and conversations of the ungodly with whom they converse in the world how apt Gods people are to this appears by that exhortation Rom. 12.2 How much they are endangered thereby See Psal 106.36 what great Apostacies false Professâ—â—â— have made thereby See 2 Pet. 2.20 Thirdly they are endangered by the profits pleasures promises and allurements of the world By these Demas was brought off from his fellowship in the Gospel 2 Tim. 4.10 Hence that 1 Tim 6.10.11 How much hereby they are endangered to fall from the love of God 1 John 2.15 Fourthly they are endangered by those many afflictions temptations reproaches persecutions that befal them in this life when many afflictions followed the believing Hebrews their 〈◊〉 began to saint their handâ— hang downs their knees grow seeble and their 〈◊〉 were in danger of turning 〈◊〉 from the ways of God Heb. 12. â—â— 1â— When Christ spake bus of his own sufferings to 〈◊〉 he startled and said Master 〈…〉 self when Christ call'd him to be an eye witness of his sufferings Peter 〈◊〉 to sleep he that promised never to forsake Christ to die with him comes to deny him had not Christ prayed aâ—prehand for him his faith bad utterly â—â—â—ed Yet none of these things that 〈◊〉 a believer in life shall 〈◊〉 him First not the first the Office of Christ is to
THE Inseparable Communion OF A Believer WITH GOD IN HIS LOVE Being the Substance of Several SERMONS Preached on ROM VIII 38.39 By that Reverend Minister Mr. THOMAS MALLERY late Pastor of a Church in London LONDON Printed for R. D. near the Royal Exchange MDCLXXIV AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE Christian-READER THE Author of this short Treatise was so well known to the Churches of Christ in and about this City that neither himself nor any of his holy Labours do need an Epistle of Commendation to them For though he be dead he yet speaketh by his past Example to Believers in word in conversation in charity in spirit in faith in purity And by his Ministry which he Managed as the Steward of God holding fast the faithful Word with uncorruptness and dispensed with gravity sincerity sound speech as cannot be condemned rightly dividing the Word of Truth whereby as he did approve himself to God a Workman that needed not to be ashamed so also to every Mans Conscience that knew him and more especially to the Flock over which the Holy Ghost had made him Overseer to whom in Christ Jesus both his Personal Grace and Ministerial Abilities are acknowledged as the Auther and Finisher of them The design therefore of these few lines is not so much to bespeak an Acceptance with the Reader as to Advertise him That these Sermons were not prepared or for ought is known ever intended by himself for the Presse but are made publick by some of his Friends in whose Memory his Name and Labour yet live as those that God made useful and savoury to them when he Preached them and which they hope may be Profitable to all the Saints Yet the Reader may be assured That they are the true Copy of his own Notes the Errors of the Transcriber excepted which he Prepared to methodize what of the Word he Ministred in his daily course which were enlarged and further emproved in the lively Delivery of them which latter if we could present thee with as truly as the substance of them is here emitted especially if it had pleased the only wise God to have spared him to a Review of them by that spiritual Judgment which he was singularly blest with to deliver the things of God not only solidly but in many things very sublimely there would need no Apology to the World whose course is to censure rather then to study profit by the Labours of Gods Servants for the seeming abruptnesse of some of his notions and the brevity of the whole which last inconvenience yet is attended with this advantage That the godly Reader may with less expence of time peruse them and with greater facility retain them and the worth and weight he finds in them will recompence his labour through the blessing of the Holy One who teacheth us to profit as he hath Promised to all that are interessed in this inseparable union to and communion with him in Jesus Christ who will through him make us Conquerours over the unprofitablenesse of our own hearts as well as all other our spiritual enemies The Substance of several Sermons ROM 8.38 39. For I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come Nor heighth nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. IN the 33. and 34. verses we have Paul with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration he sets one foot on Mount Calvary where Christ died the other on Mount Olivet where Christ ascended and by faith takes in a full view of the infinite dimensions of the Grace of Justification and triumphs over the Law and Satan the grand Accuser of the Brethren In 35 36 37 verses he triumphs over the world and the worst the world can do by power or malice by faith in the love of Christ In the Text is a higher Rapture of faith it takes a view of all things in Heaven Earth and Hell and triumphs over all Enemies real or imaginary that can be supposed to endeavor to separate believers from the love of God in Christ ver 38 39. 1. Here we have one thing implied a Mystery that lies hid in the bosom of the Text viz. Communion with God Secondly the Bond of that Communion the Love of God Thirdly the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or first subject of that love Christ Jesus Fourthly the Propriety Believers have to Christ for this end viz. Communion with God in his love Christ Jesus our Lord. Fifthly the triumph of faith in this love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord over all things in Heaven Earth or Hell that can be supposed to separate from the love of God 1. All Believers have a most intimate spiritual Communion with God though in a mystical and wonderful way This truth is couched in the Text and lies hid like a spring in a Watch which yet moves all the Wheels in the Work it is implied in the word Separate for separation is the disjoyâ—ting or disuniting of things conjoyned together in common union and therefore somthing and in the first place is to be spoken to it In which we must consider three things Union Communion Communication between God and Believers 1. We must consider the Union that is between God and Believers which is the foundation of all Communion There are several sorts of Union First A natural union an union of persons in the same common nature such an union there is between Christ and believers Heb. 2.11 and through Christ between them and God for hereby God became Emanuel God with us one with us and we one with him Secondly there is an union by Covenant thus all the sons of men were one with the first Adam the Apostle speaks of this one man as including all men Rom. 5.18 Such an union there is between Christ and believers Eph. 1.10 and through Christ with God Zach. 13.9 I will say it is my people and they c. Thirdly there is an union of Amity or Affection as between Jonathan and David 1 Sam. 18.11 and 20.17 as between those Acts 4.32 such an union is between believers and Christ Eph. 5.25 Christ loved his Church and gave himself Such also between God and believers now reconciled by Christ Eph. 2.14 Fourthly there is a Conjugal union of persons by Marriage Eph. 5.28 31. such an union there is between Christ and believers 2 Cor. 11.2 and such between God and believers Isa 54.5 Isa 62.5 Hos 2.16 19.20 Fifthly there is a spiritual union between all believers 1 Cor. 12.13 such an union hath believers with Christ 1 Cor. 6.17 and through Christ with God 1 Cor. 2.13 with Eph. 2. ult But there is an union of believers with God beyond all these most spiritual most mystical and as yet incomprehensible such an union as is made to resemble the union between the Father and his Son John 14.20 and John 17.21
all things which have a true real being and subsistence there is life and there is death The Apostle doth not fight with his own shadow or in fighting only beat the Air he doth not propound to himself or us dangers evils enemies which have only a notional aiery empty existence but such as have a real solid being not one of them but believers may expect to encounter with at one time or other Secondly the multitude of them the Apostle reckons up but the chief Heads Leaders and Commanders of these evils enemies and dangers eight in number Death Life c. How many Armies of dangers evils enemies may march under the Conduct of every one of these Commanders are innumerable Psal 40.12 how many under death how many under life c. Thirdly the variety of them they are of divers kinds some arise from life some from death They are managed by variety of Agents and Instruments some by Angels good and bad some by Principalities and Powers They are inflicted at divers times some from the present some from the future They come from divers places some from the heighth some from the depth Fourthly the strange contrariety in them Death is opposite to life good Angels to bad the Principalities and Powers of the World opposite to one another things present opposite to things to come heighths to depths Here is Ephraim against Manassch and Manassch against Ephraim but both against Iudah here is Herod and Pilate at variance between themselves but both against Christ from these opposite interests arise dangers to the people and how contrary soever each to other yet they all one way or other endanger the salvation of Saints and most of them vigorously endeavor and design their destruction to the utmost These are the evils afflictions which may befal them who are in the love of God Little less the Apostle had declared before verse 35 36 37. should befal them upon the account of Christs love which is Tribulation Here the world is mustering up all its forces and arming it self with all the weapons of its indignation against them who are loved of Christ 1. Observe from hence all the evils the power and malice of the world can inflict may befal them that are under Christs love These here reckoned are the worst and they comprehend all the evils the world can inflict Secondly not only the worst of evils in the world may befal such but this in the highest degree not only tribulation but tribulation with distress not only distress but distreâ—s with persecution nor only persecution but persecution with famine nor only famine but famine with nakedness nor only nakedness but peril of life nor only peril of life but the destruction of the sword Not only to be troubled but to be distressed nor only distressed but persecuted nor persecuted only but famish'd nor only famish'd but stript naked nor only stript naked but in peril of life nor in peril only but killed by the sword killed all the day long This is misery to the height There are two evils which are commonly made to comprehend all the miseries in hell The pain of loss and the pain of sense Both these in their kind may befal those in this world who are under the love of God First Pain that ariseth from loss loss of all their outward comforts dearest relations and sweetest enjoyments of the world Mar. 10.28 29 what hath a man to lose more Paul Phil. 3.8 I have suffered the loss of all Secondly Pain of sense Heb. 11.35 36.37 Tortured You say these were of the Church of the Old Testament the New Testament Church hath greater Priviledges No compare Psal 44.22 with Rom. 8.36 the Apostle speaks in the same words as the Prophet as the words are the same the conditions are the same no difference between that Church and this and this in respect to afflictions We are killed all the day not one day but every day nor one part of the day but all the day though this slaughter do not befal every one in the Church every day yet it is probable no day passeth wherein more or fewer are slain in one place or other the Church suffereth every where in her Members and every day though every particular Member doth not We are counted as sheep sheep are killed to feed and to feast the ungodly world hunger and thirst as much after the blood and flesh of Saints feed and feast on it with as much delight as men do on slaughtered sheep hence that 1 Cor. 15.19 Secondly we are to demonstrate that all the evils afflictions that Saints suffet in this world either from God or from the world are upon the account of Gods love to them in Christ I All they suffer from God or his more immediate Instruments and Agents is 1. Because he hath loved them all his chastisements are from love Heb. 12.6 Rev. 3.19 Secondly as they are from love so they are for love for the further manifestation of Gods love to them and for the strengthning of their Communion with God in love Zach. 13.9 I. All they suffer from the power and malice of Satan and the world is upon the account of Gods love to them First either because God loves them there is an irreconcileable enmity between God and the world God hates the world and the world hates God and all that God loves and because God loves them Wherefore did Cain hate his brother because God shewed more love to Abel in accepting his offering wherfore did Ishmael persecute Isaac because God shewed more love to Isaac why did Esau hate Iacob because God loved Iacob and Secondly or because they love God more then the world wherefore did Pharaoh persecute Moses because he loved Christ the reproaches of Christ and the sufferings of his people above all preferments pleasures of sin in Pharaoh's Court or the rich treasures of Egypt Heb. 11 24 5 6. Thirdly or because hereby they might bring them out of love credit favour with God so much is imported Rom. 8.35 But they are never more in account with God more in Gods love then in and under the sufferings Heb. 11.38 Fourthly or because hereby they design to bring them out of love with God and Christ and the ways of God So much seems to be implied Psal 119 87. Psal 38.20 No Courtesiâ—s will oblige the ungedly except the godly will leave doing good The Grounds of this Point 1. To make all the Children conformable to his own Son and all the Brethren conformable to their elder Brother Rom 8.29 All our sufferings and afflictions are Christs Cup it is one and the same Cup Christ and his disciples drank of Mat. 20.23 And Christ saith Te shall indeed drink Now this Cup of Christ had in it not one or two only but a mixture of many bitter ingredients Secondly to conrâ—m Saints in the faith of Gods love and the love of Christ Acts 14.22 Consider here First the Apostles did
compassionate their 〈◊〉 Heb. 4.15 to present the sacrifice of himself for the errors of his people Heb. 9.7 See Eâ—â—k 24.10 he will succour their temptations and heal their backslidings he wil keep them from falling from the love of God and Communion with God and present Jude 24. Secondly not the second for Christ hath prayed John 17.15 16. Gal. 1. â— God hath promised to sanctifie them wholly and he will do it Thes 5.23 24. and Christ will do it 2 Tim. 4.18 Thirdly not the third God out-bids the Promises of the world 1 Tim. 4.8 when David in a temptation was ready to quit the ways of God by reason of the many hardships and difficulties and to fall in with the pleasures profits and prosperity of the world God kept him in close Communion Psal 73.23 24. Fourthly not the last because all these afflictions aâ—e made ordered and design'd to work up a believer unto a fitness for everlasting Communion with God in glory 2 Cor. 4.17 Heb. 12.10 Holiness sits for Communion with God 〈◊〉 The reasons of the point Reas 1. Because that God who hath taken believers into Communion with himself in love hath a Sovereignty and Authority over death and life and 〈◊〉 things that concern the state of both Deut. 32.29 Reas 2. All believers have Communion with Christ in his life and death Rom. 5.10 by which death and life and all things that befal them in life and death are sweetned and sanctified to them Thirdly Iesus Christ is to be magnified in believers whether it be by life or death Phil. 1 20. Fourthly Life and Death are reconciled to them who are reconciled to God they are ours as Christ is ours 1 Cor. 3.12.23 Fifthly Life and Death to believers are great advantages in Christ Phil. 1.21 Sixthly a Christians state in life and death is wholly consecrated to God â—om 14.7 8. 1. Use Let this caution believers concerning Life and Death both of them naturally afford many advantages to the enemies of your salvation continually against you In life walk circumâ—â—â—â—â—â— you walk among snares be thou in the sear of the Lord all the day be in the faith of the Lord all the day be faithful unto death Wonder not if you meet with strong Conflicts to the last Attempts will be made to separate you if possible from Use 2. Christians be diligent above all things like the Apostle to fortifie your faith in the love of God which is in c. Here is your comfort and security against all the troubles and temptation in life and all the fears and â—errours of death Life and death are at the Command of God for good and not for evil to his beloved ones with him is the fountain of life to him belongs the issues from death Use 3. This should teach us patience under all the afflictions or suffâ—rings that befal us in life or death Many evils sorrows temptations may sorely afflict the godly in life and death but here is the consolation none shall separate him The Apostle makes no reckoning of all other troubles when a Christian remains inviolable in his Communion with God in love ROM 8.38 39. Nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers WE have seen the Apâ—stle as the mighty Champion of believers encountring conquering and triumphing over the first Rank or Regiment of enemies that appear in this cause viz. that either attempt or endanger a separation The second Rank or Regimeat follow Angels Principalities Powers Life and Death are but certain states and conditions wherin Saints may be endanger'd abstractly considered are unactiver hangs in themselves but Angels Principalities and Powers are living Agents that have a mighty activity in them to hurt and endanger the welfare of such an they oppos Interpreters agree not in stating the quality of these three Agents First some by Angels Principalities and Powers understand the whole Host of good Angels distinguisht by their orders degrees and dignities as Cor. 1.16 The good Angels are called Principalities and Powers Secondly by Angels Principalities and Powers some understand the whole Host of Angels good an bad those in Heaven are called Principalitie and Powers Eph. 3.10 so are those in Hell Eph. 6.12 Thirdly but I rather judge the Apostle here intends three particular and distinct Agents all the creatures in Heaven Earth and Hâ—ll for by his last expression And no other Creature it appears he intended to take in all creatures By Angels I understand the good Angell in Heaven by Principalities the Rulers Magistrates Governours of this world Tit. 3.1 Luke 12.11 by Powers the Angels of darkness Eph. 6.12 Dect The Point is That neither Angels who are the Powers and Principalitie of Heaven nor men who are the Powers and Principalities of this world nor Devils whâ— are the Powers and Principalities of Hell shall ever be able to separate I shall consider the first particular touching Angels First why the Apostle ranketh good Angels among them who attempt or endanger to separate seeing there is no cause of fear or real danger from them in such a cause Answ 1. Because I answer first the good Angels stand not by their own strength if lest to themselves and the fraiâ—ty of their own nature they might fall from their present station become Apostates and turn as bad enemies to believers as Devils are Their stability and unchangeableness is not from any natural power of inherent grace in themselves The Apostle here speaks by suprosition not as if the good Angels would really attempt to do it but if they should they could not It is like that speech Gal. 1.8 If an Angel Saints in the height of their saith and confidence of security in God have supposed such dangers as never were like to be and triumphed over them as if they had really been Psal 46.1 4. This wonderfully magnifies the security of Saints in Gods love that it is above all real or imaginary possible or â—upposed dangers Thirdly the Apostle holds forth the greatest Hyperbole of faith the Elevation of a soul wrapt up in Gods love above and beyond every creature of the highest Perfection Therefore he takes in the latitude of the whole creature that is below God himself not only men and devils but even the Angels and triumphs over them in this Cause Fourthly the Apostle here speaks as a man going into the field to meet his enemie who in the height of his resolution in the confidence of his strength and skill in his weapon bids his enemy chuse his Weapon chuse his Ground chuse his Second to his best advantage So the Apostle arm'd with Gods love enclosed in Gods bosom and confident nothing shall separate him bids his enemy in this cause chuse his Weapon Life or death Chuse his Ground Earth Hell or Heaven chuse his Second Men or Devils or the whole Host of Angels if these shall appear against him he fears not to encounter them be doubts not of victory over them By this the
Apostle would hold forth the immediate way of Saints Communion with God in love without the least help or assistance of any creature concurring Even all the Angels had nothing to do in it And as no Angel could ever procure Gods love or bring a Saint into Communion with God so none shall be able to separate Secondly we are to consider how the good Angels may be supposed to endanger believers in their Communion with God 1. The good Angels by their continual Attendance and Watchfulness about Saints must needs be privy to all their open sins in words actions duties and cannot but conceive a holy indignation at the unworthy or unbeseeming carriages of believers as that text 1 Cor 11.10 shews Saints miscarriages and sins grieve offend the Angels and hereby may be supposed to endanger their state in Gods love when they sin against love Secondly the Angels in zeal to God glory are always in a readiness to revenge the injuries that are done against God Psal 104.4 and they have ofteâ— executed the righteous displeasure oâ— God against his own people 2 Sam. 2â— 16 17. When David saw the Angel hâ— cried out O Lord I have sinned Wheâ— Isaiah saw God on his Throne with hâ— Seraphims about him the Executioneâ— of his Justice upon the Transgression of his own people he cries out Wo me I am undone Isa 6.1 2 5. Thirdly the Angels are made servanâ— to believers Man in his first Creatioâ— was made a little lower then the Angels but in Christ he is now exalted to glory and honour above the Angels Christ hath not taken Heb. 2.16 our nature is exalted in the Person of Christ far above all Principalities Ephes 1.20 21. That Angels should be servants to them who by nature are inferiour to them is ground of a temptation to them had not grace over-powered nature to take all occasions against Saints to bring God out of love with them and to bring themselves again into the highest place of Gods favour Fourthly the Angels may be supposed to endanger Saints not industriously but occasionally by reason of the corruption that remains in our natures What through the excellency of their Natures their nearness to God and the many good services they perform to us Saints have been endangered to commit idolatry with them See Rev. 19.10 Rev. 22.8 hence that caution of the Apostle Col. 2.18 19. hereby some are in danger to quit Jesus Christ the Head Thirdly we are to shew that Angels shall not be able to separate I. They will not First in regard of their Office they are all ministring spirits sent forth Heb. 1. ult Secondly they will not be enemies to them but are in a readiness to execute the wrath of God upon all that offend them Mat. 18.10 Thirdly they have a charge to keep them in all their ways Psal 91.11 12. not to lead them out of Gods way II. They cannot if they would First their subjection to Christ they are under his dominion and sovereignty Heb. 1.6 7 8. Secondly their dependance upon Christ for the execution and performance of all they do The vision of Jacobs Ladder compared with Jo. 1. ult Angels attended Christ at his Birth in the Wilderness when tempted in the Garden at his Resurrection and Ascension Thirdly they can do nothing but what God commands them Psal 103.20 III. If they could they dare not First they have their establishment in Christ They were by nature as mutable as the rest that fell they are fetled in a state of love in God by Christ testified by the Cherubims on the Mercy-Seat Secondly they are by Christ brought into the same Fellowship and Communion with God as we Eph 1.10 see what the Angel himself declared Rev. 19.10 Rev. 22.9 and we are said to be brought into Communion with Angels Heb. 12.22.23 if they should endeavor to separate believers from Communion with God in his love they should also separate themselves 1. Vse This informs us that no creature ture in Heaven not the purest Angels can be any part of our essential blessedness These Angels may in case of disobedience actually instict the Tokens of Gods displeasure against us And occasionally through our own corruption prove snares and temptations to us such as may endanger our state in Gods love much less then caâ— any creature on earth the holiest the purest Saint the sweetest and dearest relation be part of our essential blessedness This alone consists in our Immediate Communion with God in love through Iesus Christ our Lord from which nothing can separate us 2. Use This serves to confirm the faith of believers in the assurance of their unchangeable state in Gods love there is an utter impossibility to separate them from it The Angels excel in strength Psal 103.20 if they cannot do it much less can inferiour creatures Men or Devils what is beyond the power of good Angels is an absolute impossibility to other creatures 3. Use By this we are informed that those things those Agents sometimes we greatly fear as enemies that may endanger us in our chiefest concernments are often our greatest friends and such as really design our greatest good good angels are but supposed enemies and are real friends beloâ—s of our Ioy and such as Endeavor to keep us fast in the love of God 4. Use This fully convinceth Popery to be Apostacy an Apostacy of such who were never truly or really in a state of Love and Communion with God through Christ For though not actively yet occasionally through good angels they are utterly fallen from that love of God that Communion with God in Christ they professed They are fallen into the worship of Angels which is flat Idolatry Rev. 22.9 and they hold not the head Col. 1.18 19. Had they real Communion with God in Love they had never been separated by the means of Angels from the love of God in Christ Iesus our Lord. ROM 8.38 39. I am Perswaded Nor Principalities BY Principalities I understand as I shewed in the Explication the Magistrates Princes Rulers of the Kingdoms of this world with their subjects Armies Associates whereby they become potent enemies to the Church which is the Kingdom of Christ Doct. None of the Princes or Principalities of the Kingdoms of this World shall be able to separate What great opposition the Princes and Principalities of the World have made at all times against the Church and how much persecution the Church hath suffered under them how much Saints have been endangered thereby to Apostacy and so to a separation from their Communion with God in love is upon record in Scripture How much the Church the Kingdom of Christ and his Saints under the Old Testament suffered from the Principalities of the Kingdoms of the World appears Psal 2.2 How often are Kings said to be assembled against Sion Psal 48.4 How oft did Christ put them to â—ight with their Armies Psal 68 1â—,14 destroy them Psal 136.17.18 No sooner did Christ appear under
daily Mat. 6.34 sufficient for Every day is in travel and bringâ— forth some new trouble every day Christ hath taught us to pray for deliverance from evil David complaineth of his grief and sorrow daily Psal 13.2 see Psal 73.14 Thirdly the present evils usually surprize us unawares he that expects thâ— evil yet is commonly surprized with the manner and kinde of it unexpectedly We often say of this or that present evil that befals us we never dreamt 〈◊〉 it as God is said to work deliverance and mercies for his people they looke not for Is 64.3 so often he sends trouble and afflictions they looked not for Jer. 8.15 Yet no present evils nor troubles shall separate 1. Because in all present troubles believers have God present with them a very present help Psal 46.1 yea in their most dismal and darkest troubles in which they cannot see him they may believe his Presence Psal 23.4 his Word and Spirit his Rod and Staffe He hath a Cordial in a readiness for every present dejection a Comfort in a readiness for every present tribulation 2 Cor. 1.3 4. Secondly because they are though sometimes they see not feel not continually with God Psal 73.23 and they who have complained of daily afflictions have blest God for daily mercies Psal 68.19 And they who have cied daily to God of their troubles Psal 86.3 have been able daily to praise him Psal 61.8 Thirdly because no present trouble can swallow up the joy that springs to believers from future glory Rom. 8.18 2 Cor. 4.17.18 1 Pet. 1.5.6 Fourthly against all present and pressing evils that Sâ—ints have that promise more precious then gold of Ophir 1 Cor. 10.13 O saith one I am under such trials and troubles that I have non-plust my faith but God is faithful O I am not able to bear or stand under them God saith he will lay no more then you are able to bear O I see no end no way of escape out God will make a way to escape Secondly as for things to come It is with the godly in this life as with Solomens old man the clouds return after rain present evils afflict him and future threaten him as it s said Rev. 11. One woe is past a second is and a third woe cometh quickly Evils to come may much endanger Saints in their Communion with God 1. Because Saints are very subject to this temptation about what may befal them for time to come as appears by that of Christ Mat. 6.34 who will not themfore allow his people one anxious thought about what shall fall out on the morrows This temptation hath two evils in it 1. It begets fear and that fear hath great torment 2. It takes away the relish and sweetness of the present mercies we enjoy while we take in a deeper apprehension of what troubles are yet to come upon us Secondly because God usually makes the troubles that are to come heavier then the present the waters of affliction like the waters of the Sanctuary rise by degrees higher and higher from the Ancles to the Knees Psal 42.7 Psal 69.1 â— No trial can be so great but God can make it greater no affliction so heavy but God can make it heavier God deals with his children as men do with theirs Fathers correct children first with a branch of Rosemary then a Rod afterward it may be with a Staffe that makes them as David cry out of their boâ—es calls them to bear burdens and do service according to their strength As they grow up in faith holiness huâ—â—lity patience spiritual strength so their trials temptations afflictions increase and their latter often become greater then their former Thirdly because the trials and troubles of the Church which are to come are certainly like to be the greatest Those which more immediately precede the coming of Christ very dangerous and great for sin 2 Tim. 3.1 5. and for judgement Luke 21.25 26. Yet no troubles to come shall be able to separate First because all things shall certainly work Rom. 8.28 we know there is no doubt hesitancy uncertainty in this knowledge that all things things present and things to come all things none excepted shall work all things that have any spirit power vertue activity in it that works to any end shall work together all Agents Instruments God shall make use of how various in their kinds how different in their operations how distinct in their intentions yet they shall all work together with God by whom they are guided ordered over-ruled in all their motions and actions and the same things which work for evil unto others are all made to work for good unto them Secondly from the immutability of Gods love it is everlasting Ier. 31.3 God is not as man that he should repent whom he loves he loves to the end He doth not love to day and hate tomorrow love at present and revoke in â—â—ture he hath loved and no sins of the creâ—ture could violate it he doth love therefore no present evils can interrupt it he will love therefore no future things shall prevail Thirdly from the nature and quality of that Covenant in which God hath taken them into Communion with himself to be their God in which the first Promise is I le â—e to them for a God the second is I le pardon their sins and remember their iniquities no more All the advantage things present or things to come can have against Saints for evil is sinne for nothing can separate between God and the soul but sâ—t Now the Act of Gods Pardoning Mercy is a compleat Act of Grace it cannot be said of a believer one moment that he stands under unpardoned guilt no more thâ—n it can be said he is an unjustified person If a believer may believe sins pardoned under all present evils he may believe sins pardoned under all future therefore as not things present so no things to come can separate 1. Use Terrour to the ungodly who have no Cemmunion with God in love through Christ Iesus they are yet in their sins without God and Christ in the World it may be things present are for thee Health Wealth Liberty Prosperity Plenty O but things to come are terrible and against you Son said Abraham to the rich man Remember thou in thâ— life-time badst thy good things and now nothing but torment and misery â—o thy present enjoyments thou sayst Soul take thine ease thou hast Goods laid up for and thinkest not thou art treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath thou dost rise up comfortably and walk delicately like Agag but O the bitterness of death is not past There is a wrath to come the Devils believe and tremble O come to Christ quickly he will not treat you so roughly as John Baptist did the Pharisees O generation of Vipers he will deal gently and mercifully with you 2. Use To the godly First by way of Instruction to turn security out of their hearts in reference to their
yet shall never enjoy them so he makes some to taste the wrath and torments of that wrath which is to come who never yet shall feel them Thirdly into this Deep falls in the depths of Satan deep temptations as it was with Christ in this condition so 't is in its meawith Saints now the devil and the powers of darkness bestir themselves Luke 22.33 When Sun sets and darkness covers the earth then the Lions and wilde beasts go forth Psal 104.20 21. so when God hides his face see Christs Complaint in that day Psal 22.1 12 13 16 20. Fourthly into this Deep falls the depths of Hell Hell is deep and large Isa 30. ult nothing deeper Job 11.8 the bottomless Pit Rev 7.1 In the depth of spiritual desertion Saints have complain'd of the snares of death and sorrows of Hell Psal 116.3 Christ Psal 16.10 so â—â—man counted himself 〈◊〉 free of that damned Company and Corporation of devils and reprobates Psal 88.5 Such scorching and scalding drops of wrath God in this condition sometimes lets 〈◊〉 the Conscience as if they were Pledges and Earnests of damnation as if be haâ— already kindled Hell fire in the foul Fifthly into this Deep falls the depth of sorrow and affliction Psal 102. see the title Psal 69 1 2. here is Complaint see his Prayer ver 15. No sorrows like these no afflictions so deep as these they enter into the soul here often misery appears remediless and the foul expects endless sorrow yea refuseth all the comforts that are administred from any hand but Gods alone Psal 77.2 Thus you fee spiritual desertion is a Depth into which many Deeps fall the Depth of sin ' wrath Satan one Deep here calleth on another Secondly let us consider how much these Depths may endanger to separate a believer First in this state Saints apprehend a total cessation of Gods love to them an everlasting night on them that the light of Gods Countenance shall never shine on them more Jonah 2.4 I am cast out of thy sight Thus they say The Lord will cast off for ever Psal 77.8 9. so David Psal 13.1 How long for ever In the favour of God is life Psal 30.5 If he frown who can live In his favour is light if he hide his face who can behold him Job 34.29 Secondly in this state God may seem to withdraw that Spirit which is the bond of our Communion with God hence that Psal 51.11 12. The Spirit in this state useth to suspend its Testimony refuse light to our Evidences and withhold that witness it formerly bare to our Adoption yea it may suffer Satan to bear false witness to our spirits and perswade us that we are hypocrites children of wrath fitting for destruction Thirdly in this state God calls to remembrance sins which the soul thought had long since been repented of and that God had pardoned Thus were the sins of Jobs youth and Davids original sin thus a believer may be brought to question all Gods former Acts of grace and his own faith and repentance and suspect all his former comforts yea the being of any grace at all in truth and this is very dangerous Fourthly it is a state of darkness and no light Isa 50.10 Cant. 3.1 Now he that walks in darkness knows not John 12.35 so these knew not what to do what way to take He that walks in darkness trembles at every thing even the Promises of grace are stumbling blocks to that soul In darkness are terrible apprehensions as to the Egyptians in the Plague of darkness Psal 78.49 the terrours of God are upon Saints in spiritual desertions Psal 88.15 16. Job 7.14 Fifthly in this state God seems for the present to neglect all their Prayers Lam. 3.8 Christ Jesus Psal 22.1 2. Saints here are ready to say as Saul The Lord is departed from me and answereth me no more Sixthly in this state the soul suffers the affliction is on the spirit of a man it s a wound on the spirit Prov. 18.14 a Dagger at the heart â— Psal 42.10 see Christ in his Desertion Maâ— 26.38 Heman suffered not in his inferiour only but in the superiour faculties of his soul Psal 88.15 In other afflictions the body suffers and the soul only by sympathy here the soul suffers and the body only by sympathy Thirdly let us consider these depths shall never be able to separate I. Because they are all consistent with love and always end in love 1. They are consistent with love Heb. 12.5 6. he seems if not only yet principally to intend the Castigation that fall upon the souls and spirits of believers God never loved Christ better then at that time when he cried out My God My God Josephs bowels yearn'd most when he dealt most roughly with his brethren so God Ier. 31.20 II. Be sure all will end in love Isa 54 7 8. Cant. 31 5. Isa 57.18 Secondly because these Depths of spiritual desertion are but to bring forth fulâ—ess of Conformity to Christ in his Death and Resurrection Christs sufferings were some in his body these were call'd his Baptism some and the greatest in his soul these were call'd his Cup Matth. 20.22 23. in this Cup was a mixture of sin wrath death â—nd hell He tells those disciples they should â—artake with him in both When Christ â—ried out My God my God why it was â—bstractio visionis not dissolutio unionis for â—ill he cried My God so it is to Saints in â—he like condition and what faith Christ â—xercised in that state he commanded other â—elievers to do Isa 50.10 Thirdly because there are depths in the â—ercy and free-grace of God that easily wallow up this depth of spiritual deserâ—on and all the depths that run into it â—om 11.33 O the Depth Eph. 3.18 The â—ee-grace of God is a mighty Ocean Miâ—h 7.19 Fourthly because God hath pawn'd all â—e Ordinances of Heaven and Earth that â—othing what he seems to do against them and nothing they do against him shall provoke him to cast them off Jer. 31.35.36 37. 1. Use If such who are lockt fast in the Armes of God such who are in everlasting Communion with God Communion with God in love which love is unchangeable as God himself in love which is in Christ Iesus and therefore can no more fail then his love to Christ can fail If such as these may fall into these depths of spiritual desertion in which are the depths of sin of wrath O where shall the sinner and ungodly appear who are treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath O the infinite unsearchable bottomloss depths of sin wrath devils hells worst of sorrows endless torments wherein all unbelievers impenitent unregenerate persons shall be plunged in swallowed up without Redemption 2. Use This fully informs us that the beâ—â— of Saints must live all their days in every â—ondition on a dependence onthe freâ— grace of God By the Eclipse of the Moon we comâ— to know it borrows its light