currant of divine Joy runs into the Soul Here is Christs love to his Sheep he comforts them Thirdly Christ shews his love to his elect Sheep in that he shed his Blood for them Iohn 10.11 I lay down my Life for my Sheep The Death of the Shepherd is the Life of the Sheep Consider Christs death in a three-fold Notion 1. As it was painful 2. As it was voluntary 3. As it was Meritorous in all these ways he shews his love in dying for his Sheep First Look upon Christs death as painful if the torment of the body was so great Oh! What was the agony of the Soul The Lord Jesus Christ he was troden he was squeezed in the wine-press of his Fathers wrath the Evangelists use three Words worthy of observing to express Christs agony he began saith the Text to be amazed he began to faint Mat. 14.23 and he began to be exceeding sorrowful Mat. 26.37 He felt Hells torment in his Soul equivalent though not locally though Christ was anointed with the Holy Ghost though he was supported with the Deity though he was comforted with Angels from Heaven yet for all that he swate great drops of Blood the Text saith Oh! the love of Christ in dying for his Sheep Secondly Consider Christs Death as it was voluntary He did part with his Life freely It is true Christs death was necessary in regard of Gods decree but it was voluntary in this respect that Christ chearfully yielded to suffering Iohn 10.18 I lay down my Life the Iews could not have taken away his Life if he had not laid it down nothing could have forced Christ to have died for his Sheep but love Nothing could have bound him to the Cross but the golden chain of Love. Thirdly Consider Christs Death as it was Meritorious It is the inlet to all holy benediction it procures for us Justification of our Persons acceptance of our services access to the Throne of Grace it procures an entrance into the holy acceptable place of Heaven Heb. 3.19 Behold here is the Love of Christ in laying down his Life for his Sheep He hath purchased glorious things for us there was no way for the Sheep to live but by the Death of the Shepherd and for Christ Jesus to die as a Malefactor having the weight of so many sins lying upon him it was more than if all the Angels had been turned into dust Sixthly Christ is a better Shepherd than any other in that he can make all the care and pains that he takes with his Sheep to be successful which no other Shepherd can do other Shepherds they may lead the Sheep to the water or to the pasture but they cannot make the Sheep have a stomack they cannot make them have an appetite to feed they cannot make the pasture to nourish their Sheep but Christ our blessed Shepherd as he leads his Sheep into the pasture so he can cause an appetite in his Sheep to their food he can make them with a word speaking hunger and thirst after Righteousness Jesus Christ he provides pastures for his Sheep and he only can bless these pastures and make them nourishful to the Soul 1 Tim. 4.6 Nourished up in the Words of Faith Christ can bless the blessed Sacrament he can make the Elements thorow the operation of his Spirit to be spiritual growth and nourishment in his elect Sheep Thus he is a better Shepherd he can bless the pasture Seventhly Christ is a better Shepherd than any other in the World for he is a pattern and example to all his flock an example of meekness and of humility and sanctity he is a pattern for all his flock and in this sence observe Christ is said to go before his Sheep Iohn 10.34 how did he go before them that is by his holy Example 1 Pet. 2.21 For even hereunto were ye called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps Ierom having read the religious Life of Delyan and what an excellent end he made now saith he Delyan shall be the example that I will follow So let all the Sheep of Christ say Jesus Christ he shall be the example that we will follow and imitate Christs Sheep go astray when they do not tread in the steps of their Shepherd the Lord Jesus Eighthly Christ is a better Shepherd than any other and far excels them In that he keeps his Sheep so fast in his hands that none can ever pluck them out Iohn 10.28 Neither can any man pluck them out of my hand Not one of Christs Sheep was ever lost a Shepherd though he is never so careful and vigilant yet sometimes a Sheep may go astray and be devoured by the Wolf but not one of Christs elect Sheep was ever lost Iohn 17.12 None of them are lost but the Son of Perdition Iudas was never given to Christ he was not a Sheep but a Goat none of his Sheep was ever lost Christs Sheep sometimes may go astray by errour and may fall into the acts of Sin as David but Christ will reduce them and bring them off again by speedy Repentance Christs Sheep they may be lame and faint and can hardly go but yet Christ he hath a care of the weak Sheep as well as the strong Sheep the bruised Reed he will not break the weakest Saint alive is so a Sheep that he is part of his Shepherd Christ and Believers are one the Sheep cannot perish but the Shepherd must perish likewise Ninthly Christ is a better Shepherd than any other in that he puts his Sheep into a better pasture at last takes them out of the Wilderness here the valley of Tears and transplants them into Paradice there to feed among the Lillies he gives them Eternal Life Iohn 10.28 I give unto them Eternal Life Christs Sheep may lose their golden Fleece men may rob them of their Wool and they may lose their lives for Christs sake I but Christ gives them Eternal Life Life is sweet but that word Eternal makes it far sweeter Eternal Life it doth consist in the fruition of all good things Life Beauty Strength Joy Perfection Eternity here is the excellency of our good Shepherd he gives his Sheep Eternal Life he will take them out of the Wilderness where are fiery Serpents and place them in Paradice and they shall feed among the Cherubims Thus I have shewed you how the Lord Jesus is resembled to a Shepherd and how he is a better Shepherd than any other Give leave to make some Application VSE the first Is the Lord Jesus Christ this great Shepherd which takes such care for his Flock and is he a better Shepherd than any other Then let us all labour to know our Shepherd here in the Text saith Christ I know my Sheep And I know them by Name I and I am known of them too Oh! Let us know our blessed Shepherd knowing of Christ is nothing else but believing in him in
Christ by Faith it is hard it is not an easie matter It is easie to profess this Son of God but it is not easie to kiss this Son. That which makes this work of believing lies in these two things First Because man sets up the Idol of Self-righteousness he is apt to think he hath something of his own growth in him righteousness of his own his prayers his tears his alms he would make a Christ of them Instead of kissing the Son he doth idolize himself Man 's a proud piece of flesh he would see some worthiness in himself he would give part to himself and part to Christ he is loth to be beholden to grace only he would grow upon his own Root and not be grafted upon the Stock of Christs righteousness Rom. 10.3 Going about to establish a righteousness of their own they have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God. O! it 's wonderful to see a proud sinner humble to go out of himself to Christ for righteousness That 's one thing Secondly That which makes this work of believing so hard is this because believing it 's a work above the power of nature to produce it 's a work of supernatural infusing Iohn 6. v. 29. Faith is call'd the work of God It 's the work of God to believe Faith is a new Creation The creation of the world it is called the work of Gods finger but the creation of faith it is called the work of Gods arm The Lord doth as it were set all his strength awork It is called the exceeding greatness of his power Eph. 1.20 Surely to raise Christ from the dead required a great power he had a heavy Grave-stone laid upon him the sins of the whole world Why the same power God doth put forth in the producing of faith in the Soul so that this kissing of Christ by faith is not so easie as most do imagine Thirdly Where ever this blessed work of faith is it hath some virtue goes along with it it hath a refining consecrating virtue The kiss of faith it 's a holy kiss it purifies the heart and makes it holy Acts 15. Faith is in the heart as fire amongst metal it purifies it and takes away the dross A kiss of faith it has the same virtue as the touching of Christ by faith The Woman touched the hem of Christs garment by faith and immediately she receives healing virtue from that touch Mark 5.34 Thus faith touches Christ and heals True faith draws a sanctifying and a mortifying virtue from the Lord Jesus Justifying faith may be called a faith of spiritual miracles for it removes mountains of sins and throws them into Christs blood Whoever doth kiss the Son by faith he is presently made holy The truth is faith doth argue a man to holiness it falls to reasoning with him O my Soul hath Christ done so much for me hath he forgiven me so many debts hath he purchased such rich mercy in his blood and wilt thou abuse the Love of so dear a friend Wilt thou make the wounds of thy dear Saviour to bleed afresh is this to kiss the Son O my Soul how shouldst thou give up thy self to Christ in holiness And then faith reasons If that my tears will wash Christs feet wilt thou not pour them out If thy Estate be a precious Ointment wilt not thou pour out this Ointment upon part of Christs body and relieve his Members Now the Soul cannot withstand these melting reasons but presently yields to all Faith it is a holy gift it doth consecrate the heart where-ever it comes Fourthly To kiss the Son by faith it is the most excellent way of worshiping of him there 's nothing like believing Let me a little set forth to you the excellency of faith First This is the main thing the Scripture doth hold forth and press you to If one should be asked this Question Why the Scriptures were written The Answer is to point us to Christ the true Messiah and that we should embrace him by faith Iohn 20.31 These things are written that you might believe that Iesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing you might have life through his name This is the marrow of the Gospel It 's the soveraign Cordial of a fainting Soul that by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ he may be saved Secondly This blessed believing kissing the Son by faith it is the most excellent of all graces it excels all others even as Gold among Metals Every grace is very lovely but this of faith excels them all Consider these four or five particulars First Faith is the uniting grace therefore this grace excels other graces conform us to Christ but faith unites us to Christ it espouses us to him Other graces make us like Christ but faith makes us one with Christ Other graces make us pictures of Christ but faith makes us branches of Christ. That 's one Secondly Faith it is the heart vital grace By kissing Christ we fetch life from him The just shall live by faith Hab. 2.4 By believing we fetch life from Christ I live by the faith of the Son of God saith the Apostle Gal. 2.20 As the arm lives by drawing life from the heart so faith it lives by drawing life and strength from Christ. Other graces are useful but faith is vital Thirdly Faith it is the justifying grace therefore it is most excellent Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith It is not repentance that justifies nor self-denial but faith Faith it is the most proper grace of all to justifie a sinner for the hand is more fitter to receive the food than the eye so faith is the most proper to justifie because when we believe we don't give any thing to Christ but we fetch something from him Fourthly It is a world-conquering grace 1 Iohn 5.4 This is the victory over the world even our faith Faith overcomes all the allurements of the world the riches of the world the delights of the world and it doth it thus by shewing the Soul a better world than this is Faith gives it a prospect of prosperity it carries a Believer to the Mount of Transfiguration it makes it to see things that are not seen by the eye of sence Heb. 12.1 Faith leads the Soul to Christ the bright morning Star it gives the Soul a view of him and he is known in the embroidered Robes of his glory Faith shews a man a Kingdom it trades above the Moon and when once a Soul hath a shadow of these things it despises all the pleasures of this world Fifthly and lastly Faith is a suffering grace it inables us to wade thorow the deep waters of affliction Heb. 11.25 By faith Moses he chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season Faith is a Furnace grace it gives the Soul a right notion of suffering What is this suffering saith faith it is but light
hour more to prepare my self but death will neither be bribed nor courted Iob cursed the day of his birth Unprepared Souls will curse the day of their death Oh then be fitted for this last end and for that purpose labour for a holy change get grace into your Souls death cannot hurt grace Grace is Armour of proof it can never be shot thorow Grace it is as needful for the Soul as Oil is for the Lamp. Christians get holy hearts be as Christs Bride get your selves ready dress your selves every day by the Glass of Gods Word see your spots in that Glass and when you have seen them wash them off by Repenting tears Adorn the hidden Man of your hearts with Love Meekness Holiness and put on the Lord Jesus which is your clothing of wrought Gold. By having this holy change wrought you will be fitted for your last and great change To conclude all You that are prepared live in a continual expectation of this great change so did Iob in the Text I will wait till my change come First Live in hope till this change come Secondly Be patient till this change come First Live in hope till this change come This word in the Text I will wait in the Hebrew it is I will hope till my change come The Husbandman having sowed his seed he hopes for a crop Having sowed the seed of true Repentance now hope for a full crop of glory at death Secondly and lastly Be patient till this change come I will wait saith Iob in the Greek it is I will be patient till my change come Indeed the troubles that the Righteous suffer here and that great preferment they shall have in Heaven may be ready to cause impatience to stay here any longer but take heed of this we must not be our own Carvers God knows the best season when he will send for his Children home therefore we must wait but a while then we shall enjoy our wish and that is to have Christs sweet Imbraces and to lie in the Bosom of Divine Love. SERMON II. This Sermon was Preached in the Parish of St. Margaret Moses Psalm 23.4 Thy Rod and thy Staff they comfort me THIS Psalm St. Bernard calls a noble and illustrious Psalm The Jews did use to repeat this Psalm when they sate down to their meat In it David sets forth two things His Experience and his Confidence His Confidence in the first and last verses In the first verse The Lord is my Shepherd therefore I shall not want In the last verse Surely that goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life here is David's Confidence His Faith was risen up into a great degree of confidence But that which I shall speak to is of David's Experience in the words that I have read Thy Rod and thy Staff they comfort me What is here meant by Staff a Staff is for support whether it be the Staff one walks with to support the body or whether it be the Staff of Bread that supports the Life of Man. Staff is for support so here in the Text Thy Staff comforts me By Staff is meant metaphorically the Staff of Gods supportation Thy Staff comforts me Gods Providence it is a Wing to cover the Saints it is a Breast to feed them and it is a Staff to uphold them In the most calamitous times the Church of God hath the Staff of Gods Supportation and this is the reason that the Church is preserved in despite of all malice and opposition This Bush burns yet it is not consumed Though the Lion roar yet the Lambs of Christs fold are in safety Though the Rulers take counsel against the Saints of the Most High yet they are kept alive Here is the reason thy Staff doth comfort me The Saints have always the Staff of Divine Protection God secretly preserves them and sets an invisible Guard about them We see the Staff that smites the Godly but we do not see the Staff that upholds them We see their danger but we do not see their defence God is their Staff of support Gods continual care of his Church is as a Wall of Brass against which the Gates of Hell shall never prevail The Church of God hath God for her Guardian The Enemies must first overcome God before they can overcome his Church saith Luther For the Use of this briefly This is no small comfort to Gods Church she hath a Staff of support God is her protection The Saints of God they have malignant Enemies to conflict with The Powers of the Earth are against the godly We read the Beast in the Revelations had on his head seven Horns and ten Crowns Rev. 13.1 and this was given him to make War with the Saints You see the People of God was then in an ill case they had the Horns and the Crown against them But the Saints they have the Lion of the Tribe of Iuda on their sides and Christ hath a Staff to protect them and Teeth to devour all his Enemies So much briefly for that expression for I only glance at it Thy Staff doth comfort me thy Staff of Supportation and glorious Providence it is always with me it doth comfort me But that which I shall chiefly speak to is the first of these in the Text Thy Rod doth comfort me In the opening of this the Quetion is Quest. What is meant by Rod Answ. This word Rod when it is ascribed unto God it is taken three ways in Scripture First For Gods destroying Rod. Secondly For Gods Pastoral Rod as a Shepherd Thirdly For his disabling Rod or Rod of Affliction First The Rod when it is ascribed unto God which he uses towards his Enemies Psal. 12.9 Thou shalt break them with a Rod of Iron This Rod of God upon his Enemies doth comfort the godly Psal. 58.10 The righteous shall rejoyce when they see the vengeance Gods destroying Rod upon sinners it is matter of rejoycing and comfort unto the godly We read of Deborah's song her triumphant song and the Jews Festival before the destruction of Haman Esther 9.22 The Rod of God upon the wicked comforts the godly Quest. But some may say How far may the godly be comforted in the destruction of wicked men how far may they rejoyce Answ. The godly may be comforted in the destruction of wicked men so far as now there is a stop put to their sins and they cannot live any longer to dishonour God. Secondly Gods destroying Rod upon the wicked it is a matter of comfort to the godly as hereby Gods Justice is declared to all the world Why did God smite Pharaoh for his Pride and Tyranny The Saints rejoyce and triumph to see Gods Justice executed upon his Enemies Exod. 15. v. 1. They are comforted to see Gods Justice in punishing the wicked of the world Thirdly It is comfort to the People of God to see a wicked man destroyed Gods ruining of sinners is a warning to others to
worst that ever shall befal him The Lord comes with a murdering Ax to hew down wicked men but he hath only a rattling Rod to his Children This is all the Hell that ever they shall feel is not this comfort 1 Cor. 11.32 But when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world Is not this comfort to know that this is the worst that we shall have God lays upon us a light Affliction and saves us from wrath to come Here is the Rod full of comfort What is a drop of sorrow that the godly taste to the bottomless Sea of wrath the damned do endure for ever Fifthly Yet farther The Rod it is full of comfort as it makes us happy and for this consult that Scripture Iob 5.17 Behold happy is that man whom God correcteth Among the Philosophers some place their happiness in Riches some in Wisdom some in Pleasures and the like but who ever placed happiness in Affliction The Worldlings cry If this be happiness the Lord deliver them from it But Iob saith this Happy is that man whom God correcteth How is he happy he is happy who is made better by Affliction The Cross though it makes the outward condition worse yet it makes the heart better Again he is happy who hath God to visit him Don't we account him a happy person who hath a King to visit him but much more to have a God to visit him Persecution it is a Rod yea but for all that it is a blessed Rod it is a healing Rod. A Rod though it smarts yet it saves the Soul. Well then may a Christian say Lord thy Rod comforts me this makes me happy Happy is that man whom God corrects Sixthly and lastly Gods Rod hath comfort in it as it is a means to bring us to glory Gods Rod whips us to Heaven 2 Cor. 4.17 These light afflictions which are but for a moment work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory Affliction is like throwing a Bag of Money at another it may bruise him but it doth enrich him so Affliction it may bruise us but it doth enrich us and this works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory In short the black Rod prepares for the white Rod. Oh Christian thou who art now humbled by some sharp Affliction shalt shortly wear a Garland made of the Flowers of Paradice Thou shalt have thy Soul set thicker with the Jewels of Heaven than the Firmament is with Stars Thus you see this Truth is verified Thy Rod doth comfort me Application First Here are several Inferences to name four First See then from hence the difference betwixt the wicked and the godly God makes the worst things tend to the consolation of the godly and the best things tend to the condemnation of the wicked Let the People of God meet with Affliction it is for the better Gods Rod comforts Let the wicked have prosperity it is for the worse Cordials themselves kill them To the godly evil things have good in them To the wicked good things have hurt in them this is clear Scripture Their Table is a snare I say the wickeds Table is a snare Psal. 69.22 Wicked men have mercy out of Gods hand as Israel had Quails they were sawced with the wrath of God Eccles. 5.13 A clear Scripture I have seen an evil under the Sun Riches kept for owners to their hurt Like Hamans Banquet which was a Prologue to his Execution To wicked men even spiritual mercies are turned into Judgments The Word preached is a savour of death to the wicked 2 Cor. c. 2. v. 16. Nay farther Jesus Christ himself is a Rock of Offence to the wicked 1 Pet. 2.7 Christ is as well for the falling as the rising of many in Israel Luke 2.34 In short Sinners stumble at a Saviour and pluck Death from the Tree of Life As for the godly Gods Rod comforts them As for the wicked Gods very Mercy ruins them Secondly See then from hence that Religion is not to be looked on as a melancholy thing Some persons discourage Religion and draw it with a sour countenance and in a frightful dress but we see the worst of Religion hath much comfort in it the very Rod of God comforts the godly See that Scripture Iames 1.2 Account it my Brethren all joy when you fall into divers temptations that is Afflictions they are called temptations because they are for Tryal Account it all joy joy and all joy Take the sourest part of Religion 〈◊〉 is sourest to the Soul Repentance and that which is sour to the Body Affliction and there is comfort in both First That which is sour to the Soul Repentance there is comfort in that For whom is the Oyl of Joy prepared but for Gods mourners Isa. 61.3 A gracious Soul is never more enlarged and comforted than when he can melt kindly for sin Christ Jesus made the best Wine of Water The best Wine of Joy is made of the Water of true Repentance The Hebrew word to repent signifies to take comfort None have such ground of comfort as a true Penitent When God makes him weep for sin he goes away weeping for joy Thus you see the sourest part of Religion hath comfort in it Secondly Take that which is sour to the Body Affliction and it hath comfort in it A parallel Scripture for this worth observing 2 Cor. 6.10 As sorrowful yet always rejoycing There is comfort in the Rod. A Christian is like a Bird that can sing in the Winter season He can pick comfort out of the Rod and with Sampson fetch Honey out of the Lion. 1 Thes. 1.6 Having received the Word with much Affliction with Joy here is Gods Rod comforting that Christian which knows Affliction tends to the bettering him making his Grace purer and his Crown brighter He can rejoyce in Affliction and say as David Oh Lord thy Rod comforts me Thus you see Religion is no unchearful thing Thirdly A third Inference is this If Gods Rod comforts then it shews us what good reason we have to chuse Affliction rather than Sin. There is something in Affliction to comfort us but there is nothing in Sin to comfort us Sin it is evil and nothing but evil It is the spirit of Witchcraft it defiles the mind disturbs the peace it puts a worm into Conscience a sting into death and a fire into Hell. This is in Scripture called the abominable thing Ier. 44.4 Do not this abominable thing which I hate Sin binds the Soul over unto Gods wrath for ever Oh then what wisdom is it to chuse Affliction rather than Sin A Christian can say there is comfort in the Rod but he cannot say there is comfort in Sin. Sin puts the Soul into an Agony and makes it in the very suburbs of Hell. Moses chose Affliction rather than Sin for a season Heb. 11.25 Fourthly and lastly If Gods Rod comforts
then what doth Gods Love do If there be any comfort as you have heard whilst God is afflicting us what comfort is there while he is embracing us If there be any comfort in the Valley of Tears what is there then in Paradice There is the Bed of Spices and the River of Pleasures If God can make a Prison sweet what then is Heaven If afflicting mercy be so great what is crowning mercy Did God make one of the Martyrs flames a Bed of Roses why then how sweet is it to lie in Christs bosom the Bed of Perfume The second Use is of Exhortation Use 2. If Gods Rod hath so much comfort in it to the godly then be not too much dejected and cast down in Affliction If you meet with losses if you meet with Pyrats at Sea and Hornets at Land you see God can turn all these to good Thy Rod comforts me Therefore be not too much cast down Tho' we are not to pray for Affliction for it is in it self penal neither must we despond under Affliction Oh saith one if God did love me he would not have dealt thus severely with me he hath bereaved me of such and such a dear comfort which is like plucking a Limb from the body But Christian consider that which thou callest a dear comfort that God hath taken away perhaps it was an Idol it may be thou lovedst it more than thou didst God and if thou hadst not lost this comfort thou mightest have lost thy Soul and Heaven too why then hath God in taking away this comfort done thee any wrong there is mercy in all this Maist not thou say at last Thy Rod comforts me The third Use of Tryal Use 3. Let us examine whether we have had any Honey out of the Lion any comfort out of Affliction Hath the Rod of God upon us blossomed and brought forth Almonds It 's certain we have met with Affliction in one kind or other but what benefit have we got by Affliction what advantage for our Souls Can we say indeed as David Lord thy Rod comforts me Can we say We have met with such and such a sore Tryal and it hath brought us nearer to God and weaned us from the world it hath conquered our Pride and tamed our Covetousness When Gods Rod upon us fetches Water of tears and makes us weep bitterly for our sin then it is a good Rod. In short If Gods Rod hath made us better it hath made us Reform and break off iniquity when we can say with Ephraim Hosea 14.8 What have I to do with Idols To conclude all Let it be our daily prayer to God that we may find some comfort in Affliction some Honey mingled with our Gall. David speaks of comfort in Affliction Psal. 119.50 This is my comfort in Affliction Affliction it is not joyous but grievous Oh but when the Lord doth bless and sanctifie it to us now it brings comfort with it Let us pray that we may hear the voice of the Rod and kiss the Rod and bless the hand that holds it Let 's pray unto God that we may see his hand in every Affliction and wherefore God contends with us that we may turn to him that smites and say as David doth here in the Text Oh Lord thy Rod and thy Staff they comfort me SERMON III. John 16 33. These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world THESE words were spoken by our blessed Saviour not long before his suffering The Chapters foregoing are full of spiritual sweetness This blessed Sun of Righteousness did it seems shine more glorious and bright a little before his setting Our Saviour Christ he was now about to leave the world and go to his Father and therefore having endeavoured to comfort the hearts of his Apostles and Disciples he knew they would be sorrowful therefore the more he endeavours to comfort them and this is the great Cordial he gives them before his death These things have I spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace Christ foretold that Sufferings would befal his Apostles and Disciples In the world saith he ye shall have tribulation the Greek word for tribulation it is a metaphor that alludes to Grapes that are squeezed in the Wine press till the blood of the Grapes comes out So saith Christ In the world ye shall have tribulation You shall be put into the Wine-press and perhaps the blood of the Grape may be prest out Tribulation it is the Saints Diet-drink it is bitter but it is wholesom All that God doth in afflicting his Children it is but to make them better and to try them and make them white Dan. 10. v. 12. Is it not far better to swim thorow the main River the Red Sea of Affliction to Heaven than to swim thorow the perfumed Joys and Pleasures to Hell and Damnation In the world saith Christ you must look for ye shall have tribulation But Christ having told of this bitter Pill he gives them some Sugar of comfort to sweeten it and make it go down the better In these words of the Text These things I have told you that in me ye might have peace First Here is the dark side of the Cloud tribulation Secondly The bright side of the Cloud that in me ye might have peace Doct. That the Lord Iesus Christ who is our Peace-maker gives his sweet peace to all his people that in me ye might have peace That peace meant here in the Text it is spiritual and sacred it is the immediate fruit and product of our Justification Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith we have peace with God. This spiritual peace the Lord Jesus procures by his Blood conveys by his Spirit maintains by his Intercession First This peace Christ doth purchase and procure by his Blood it swims to us in the Blood of Christ the Justice of God being wronged by us Jesus Christ laid down his life as a price that he paid for our peace it is his blood that doth cement us and reconcile us to God the Father as it is in Col. 1.20 Having made peace thorow the Blood of Iesus Secondly Christ conveys this blessed peace by his Spirit he doth procure it by his Merit and he doth convey it by his Spirit Iohn 16.7 The Lord Jesus left this peace to us as a Legacy And the Spirit it is Christs Executor to see that his Will be made good and that we should have â—his peace And now God being at peace with us thorow Christ Conscience that 's at peace too If the Heavens be quiet and serene and no tempest there nor wind blowing then the Sea is calm So if the great God be but at peace with us and there is no tempest in his face then Conscience that is quiet and all is calm Thirdly As Christ doth procure this blessed peace by his Blood
he doth not remit the sin but it will be sad with the sinner at last a sad hour at death the Body and Soul must part and Christ and the Soul must part There is no peace to the wicked saith my God. Can they have peace that strike against the Crown and Dignity of Heaven and make War with Christ and God and Heaven A second Use is of Tryal Use 2. Let us then search and examine Have we this secret and sweet peace in our Souls flowing from the Lord Jesus You may know it these three ways and they are three sure Notes that will never fail First Such as have Christs peace in their Souls they are ingrafted into Christ they are one with Christ. Mark the words of the Text In me peace First we must be in Christ before we can have peace from Christ in me Then peace The Graft or Scien must first be inoculated into the Tree before it receives sap and influence from the Tree We must by faith be inoculated into Christ before we can receive of his fulness The wicked they may presume to have peace and that they shall have peace and yet they are not acquainted with Christ. Do they think ever to have an Interest in Christs peace that have no Interest in Christs person it cannot be A Christless Soul hath no more to do to lay claim to Christs peace than a Woman hath to do to lay claim to a Mans Estate that was never married to him In me saith Christ First in Christ and then you shall have peace from Christ sacred peace it is a Legacy that Christ bequeaths he gives this Legacy not to strangers but to his friends such as are united to him First the Pipe must be laid to the Spring before it receives Water from the Spring so we must first by faith be united to Christ laid to this Spring by faith before we can receive the sweet influences of peace from him That 's the first Secondly Where ever Christ gives peace to any Soul there he always sets up his governing Scepter to bear sway in that Soul. A pregnant Scripture for this Isa. 9.7 Of his Government and Peace shall be no end First there must be Christs Government set up in the Soul before there is peace Whenever the Lord Jesus comes with an Olive branch of peace in his mouth he always comes with a Scepter in his hand A parallel Scripture for this Zech. 6.13 It is a promise of Christ He shall Sit and Rule and he shall be a Priest upon the Throne Observe Christ as a Priest he makes peace but he will be a Priest upon the Throne that is he will bring the heart where he gives peace into a full subjection to his Laws he will be a Priest upon his Throne Now let us examine Have we given subjection to Christ Jesus do we submit to his blessed Laws does Christ Sit and Rule in our hearts as a Priest upon his Throne then all is well There are many people would have Christ to speak peace to them but they will not suffer him to bear Rule they would have his Olive branch but they will not endure his Scepter Thirdly If Christ hath given us this blessed peace then we shall know it thus then he hath made us to be of a meek quiet and peaceable disposition Where ever Christ doth give his peace he makes the heart to be peaceable Isa. 11.6 The Wolf shall dwell with the Lamb the Leopard shall lie down with the Kid that is after grace is brought into a mans heart and Christ hath given him peace this man becomes of a peaceable and quiet disposition Now the Wolf shall dwell with the Lamb the fierceness of the Wolf shall be turned into the meekness of the Lamb. It was a saying of Bernard that good man he was a man of a peaceable spirit and at any time when some fell out with him saith he I will be at peace with you though you go on in trouble Such turbulent spirits that are troublers of the common peace they are like the Salamander that lives in the fire of Broyls and of Contention and they love to live in this fire Surely where Christ gives this peace it makes men of a peaceable spirit it turns the Brier into a Mirtle Tree So by this we may know whether Christ hath given us this peace or no. Third Vse is Hereditary And here I will turn my self to such as are acquainted with Christ and this blessed Peace First Have you this blessed peace from Christ then be not over-much troubled about the afflictions and incumbrances that are incident to this present life It is true our lives they are full of vicissitudes and troubles it will be so He that doth not expect some trouble must go out of the world Fear and grief are the two constant companions of Mans Life You may as well separate weight from Lead or moistness from the Air as trouble from the Life of Man. Doth not the Text say In the world you shall have tribulation But here is that which may sweeten the troubles of Gods People Christ gives peace Here is an Antidote against your fears and troubles and none like a Scripture Antidote That in me saith Christ ye might have peace This is a glorious peace indeed it is a peace that will hold out in a Storm and Tempest it turns a Prison into a Paradice it turns our Mourning into Musick it turns our Sighs into Songs and Triumphs As that holy man dated his Letter thus Written from the pleasant Garden of the Lion Prison David he had Christ prepared and therefore let the times be never so stormy he would lie down in peace Psal. 4.8 I will lay me down in peace It was a very tempestuous time David was flying from his Son Absolom Now saith David I will lay me down in peace I will take a nap and sleep sweetly upon this good Pillow of Conscience I will sleep in peace David he was in danger of losing two Jewels at once but there is a third Jewel he could not lose and that was a good Conscience I read of one that had a precious Stone and it was of that brightness that it made it be like the Ark when it was tossing upon the Water Let me allude to it If Jesus Christ hath given us this peace this will give light to the Soul when the Clouds do gather and thou art tossing upon the Waters of Affliction Secondly If Christ hath given thee a well grounded peace oh be thankful for this great gift No Rhetorick no Tongue of Angels can set it forth in all its glory Peace of Soul it makes a harmony in a Christian Though there be never so many discouragements in the world yet he enjoys a harmony in his own Soul. This inward peace it is the best still Musick That you may be thankful for this peace consider how sad it is to want this peace because this is
God by holy trust Trust him where you cannot trace him Trust God for protection in this life and Salvation in the other life My Beloved trusting in God it is a Receit for all diseases Faith it is the cure Doth the Orphan trust himself and his Estate in the hands of his Guardian Doth the Patient trust his life in the hands of his Physician And shall not we trust our Souls in Gods hand 2 Sam. 22.31 He is a Buckler to all them that trust in him If ever we would get mastery of our fears and disquiets let us captivate carnal reason and advance faith So then you shall not be afraid of eâ—il tydings for the heart will be fixed trusting in the Lord. SERMON VI. This Sermon was Preached Novemb. 17. 1678. Psalm 112.4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in darkness CHrysostom calls the Scriptures a Spiritual Paradice The Book of Psalms is placed in the midst of this Paradice Davids Psalms are not only for delight but for benefit Like those Trees of the Sanctuary in Ezekiel which were both for food and for medicine The Psalms are commensurate and exactly fitted to every Christians condition If his affections be frozen here he may fetch fire if he be weak in grace here he may fetch Armour if he be ready to faint here he may fetch Cordials Among other Divine consolations this Text is none of the least Unto the upright there ariseth light in darkness which words are calculated for the comfort of Gods Church in all Ages This Text is like Israels Pillar of Fire which gave light in the Wilderness Or this is like the Mariners Lanthorn to serve to give light in a dark night To the upright there ariseth light in darkness Give me leave a little to explain the words then I shall come to the Proposition To the upright Who are meant here by the upright Answer The Hebrew word for upright signifies plainness of heart The upright man he is without blushing or fraud he is one in whose spirit there is no guile Psal. 32.2 He that is upright his heart and his tongue go together as a well made Dial goes exactly by the Sun. The words following here in the Text may serve for a short paraphrase to shew us who this upright man is he is gracious full of compassion and righteous 1. He is gracious that implies his holiness 2. He is full of compassion that implies his charitableness 3. He is righteous that implies his justness The upright man he is gracious therefore he fears God he is full of compassion therefore he feeds the poor he is righteous therefore he doth to others as he would have them to do to him The upright man is one that acts from a right principle and that is faith by a right rule and that 's the Word of God to a right end and that 's the glory of God this is the downright upright man. The second thing in the Text is There ariseth light to the upright man by light is here meant metaphorically viz. for comfort or joy Esth. 8.16 The Jews had light and gladness and joy but by light is meant gladness The light when it doth spring it doth very much relieve Joy is to the heart as light is to the eye very exhilarating and refreshing Thirdly Light ariseth in darkness By darkness is meant trouble any thing that doth disquiet either the body or the mind Trouble is darkness Isa. 8.22 Look unto the earth and behold trouble and darkness Psa. 107.10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death As darkness is very disconsolate and affrighting so trouble where it comes it makes every thing look like the terrours of the night The Observation is this Doct. That when the condition of Gods people is darkness God causeth a light to shine unto them To the upright there ariseth light in darkness Here are two branches of the Proposition First That the upright such whom God loves they have their night Secondly That a morning light ariseth to them in the midst of all their darkness First The upright they have their night it may be a very dark season Godliness doth not exempt them from suffering they may have a night of affliction a cloud may set upon their Names and Estates God may lay an Imbargo upon all their outward comforts Ruth 1.20 Secondly The people of God they may have a night of desertion God may withdraw the smiling beams of his favour and then it is night with them indeed Iob 6.4 The Arrows of the Almighty are within me the poison thereof drinks up my spirits It alludes saith Grotius to the Persians who in their War do dip their Arrows in poison to make their wounds more deadly Thus God sometimes shoots the poisonous Arrows of desertion at the godly then they are in the dark they are benighted tho' God hath the heart of a Father yet sometimes he hath the look of an Enemy he may cause darkness in the Soul and shut up the beams of spiritual comfort First He doth this that he may the more quicken the exercise of grace for prayer may sometimes act highest in the hour of desertion Ionah 2.4 I said I was cast out of thy sight yet will I look towards thy holy Temple Faith and Patience like two Stars shine most bright in the night of desertion We are taken with the comfort but God is more taken with the acting of our graces Secondly The Lord may cause a dark cloud to be upon the righteous a cloud of desertion that he may hereby awaken and stir up in his people a spirit of prayer that now they may cry mightily to God that now they may stir up themselves to take hold on God by prayer Sometimes a Father hides his face to make the Child cry after him the more so God may hide his face in a cloud of desertion that his Children may cry the more after him Psal. 140.7 Oh hide not thy face from me Desertion will make one pray if any thing will. Desertion it is a short Hell. Ionah calls the Whales belly the belly of Hell because he was deserted there and if ever he would pray sure it is now that he might get out of that Hell Ionah 2.2 Out of the belly of Hell I cryed unto thee and thou heardest my voice That 's the first The godly they may have their night The second part of the Proposition That a morning light doth arise in the righteous in all their darkness To the upright there ariseth light in darkness Psal. 18.28 The Lord will light my Candle as if David had said My comforts at present they seem to be blown out and I am in the dark but the Lord will light my Candle and will cause light to arise There is a twofold light that God causes to arise in his people in the dark First An outward light Secondly An inward light First An outward light shines that is God doth oftentimes