while are not perceiv'd to be do not therefore cease to be we may be taken into the number of the Sons of God and yet want the Manifestation of our being such Rom. 8.19 I speak not this to discourage any in the least from looking after the clearing up of these Matters as much as can be to their own Souls but to prevent those from being too much discouraged who are yet kept in the dark by God that they may not conclude positively against themselves but rather take Courage with the Church under the hidings of God's Face But thou art our Father Isa 64.7 8. IV. How is this Priviledge of a Believer's Sonship improve'd by the Spirit 's help The Text seems to have a special Reference to Prayer and to our Challenging and Pleading of this filial Relation in that Duty I shall endeavour the opening of this Point in these eight Things 1. That the Spirit of Christ is particularly promis'd and given as a Spirit of Supplication Zech. 12.10 His Influence is eminently needful in this Service We should never sind in our Hearts to Pray one acceptable Prayer to God throughout our Lives if the Spirit did not put it into our Hearts first We cannot speak to God in any Language which he will hear upon any occasion whatsoever without the Spirits Direction They are all vain Words which are not of his Teaching the froth and scum of Man's Invention which however esteemed among Creatures here below bears no Price at all in Heaven Every Petition which the Father receives is dictated and drawn up by the Holy Ghost God never inclines his own Ear but when he thus prepares our Hearts Except this Advocate be at Work in us there is no finding of Audience with him And therefore they that prophanely renounce all Supplication in and by the Spirit as some have done may as well go a little further and lay aside all Supplication in general for whatever Prayer they pour out is as Water spilt on the Ground 2. Effectual Prayer such as the Spirit teaches and helps us in is put up to God as a Father Jesus Christ is a Pattern to us and if we examine the style of his Prayers we shall find that they are all grounded upon this Relation Mat. 11.25 I thank thee oh Father c. which Title is repeated ver 26. Even so Father c. John 12.27 Father save me from this Hour Father glorifie thy Name And no less than six Times over Chap 17. Again in the Garden Mat. 26.39 O my Father if it be possible c. Yea some of his last Words upon the Cross were in the same strain when he came to give up the Ghost Luke 23.46 Father into thy Hands c. And that we might not think this was proper and suitable to him only the Directory which he gave to his Disciples is so likewise After this manner Pray ye Our Father c. Mat. 6.9 When the Scripture speaks of making Supplication to our Judge Job 9.15 We must understand it of Praying that he would not deal with us as a Judge Psalm 143.2 Enter not into Judgment c. 3. The Praying Dispositions of Children are first infus'd into them by the Spirit Every Babe in Christ is furnish'd with them and as he increases in spiritual Strength and Stature they grow up with him Children naturally apply themselves to their Parents for what they want rather than to other Persons and this also is natural to all the Children of God 'T is a part of their new Nature which is the Work and Product of the Spirit He that hath not a Divine Principle in him which leads him to call on the Father deserves not to be call'd a Christian Assoon as the Soul is born again it crys and its cry is immediately to him whom it is born of This cry is renewed every Day several times in a Day for there is an Habit of this kind emplanted in the Soul which puts forth it self in frequent Acts. The Spirit 's quickening is always accompanied with inward groaning so that where no such groans are we may be sure that Death hath Dominion still and the Man hath not begun to Live 4. The Spirit fills the Mouth with Arguments in the very Act of Prayer such as are fit to be us'd and urg'd to a Father Holy and humble Argumentations with God are truly the very sinews of Prayer wherein its great Strength lies It does not so much consist in the bare proposing of our Requests to God as in the alledging of proper Pleas for God's answering and fulfilling of them Such as that of the Church Isa 63.15 Where is the sounding of thy Bowels and of thy Mercies towards me are they restrained This is Connected with their Claim of God as a Father in the next Words twice ver 16. A fatherly Relation speaks Tenderness and Compassion Psalm 103.13 Like as a Fasther pitieth his Children c. Whoever are void of Pity Fathers are wont to put on Bowels or if the Fathers of our Flesh should be unnatural the Father of our Spirits cannot be so and therefore this was a very apt and agreeable Plea which the Spirit of God hath Register'd for us Whatever you need to have done intreat of God to do as becomes a Father 5. The Spirit enables us to go to God as a Father with Confidence for whom can Children repair so freely to as to their own Parent Whom can they with so much certainty expect Relief from as from him that begat them Therefore as we have Access by one Spirit unto the Father Eph. 2.18 So we are said to have boldness and access or access with boldness Chap. 3.12 The Command of God is to ask in Faith to trust him and depend upon him for the seasonable Accomplishment of all our regular Desires and this dependance is as much our Duty as Subjection is and it is every whit as difficult yea as impossible to be perform'd without the help of the Spirit 'T is far easier to utter many thousands of Petitions before God than to lift up one to him believingly But when the Soul is strengthen'd with all might by the Spirit in this Duty all the workings of unbelief are instantly subdued Doubts and Fears of our Acceptance and Success are made to vanish like Shadows that fly away upon the Appearance of the Sun 6. The Spirit instructs us how to Address our selves to God as a Father with becoming Reverence There must be a mixture of this with our Considence or else we abuse our Priviledge instead of improving it The same Spirit is a Spirit of the fear of the Lord as well as of Faith Isa 11.2 We are not to make so bold with God as not to stand in awe of him The Freedom which God allows us in his Presence is not a rude Familiarity this is not Child-like for a Father ought to be respected by those that descend from him He must be consider'd as a
remains uncertain There is one Request for deliverance out of this calamitous Case which is thrice Repeaed ver 3 7 19. in the former Part of which Request there is a kind of Gradation observ'd every Time 't is mention'd Turn us again Oh God turn us again Oh God of Hosts and turn us again Oh Lord God of Hosts but the latter Part is still the same and no difference made in the Repetiton Cause thy Face to shine and we shall be saved But yet there is no Petition throughout the Psalm which is so remarkable or that seems to carry such an Evangelical Sense in it as that in the Text. For Explication there are Three Things to be enquir'd into 1. Who is intended here by the Man of God's right Hand and the Son of Man c Some think it signifies the People of the Jews the whole Common-Wealth of Israel who are sometimes collectively spoken of as one Man and a single Person others take it for the House of David and Royal Family or for the Stock and Tribe of Judah out of which our Lord was to spring but the Characters here given do much better agree to the Messiah himself if we duly consider them 1. The Man of thy Right Hand This imports one highly favoured and respected by God as Benjamin which is a Son of the right Hand and named ver 2. was his Father's darling The right Hand is a beloved Member as is intimated by the Command to Cut it off if it offend Mat. 5.30 So is Christ peculiarly dear to God his Delight and Joy from Everlasting and exalted to sit at his Right Hand a Place too great for any Creature Psalm 110.1 2. The Son of Man This is a Title most frequently given to Christ in the Gospel and in the Old Testament also Dan. 7.13 I saw in the Night-Visions and behold one like the Son of Man c. Which denotes the Truth of Christ's Humane Nature though he came not by ordinary Generation 3. One made strong by God for himself As ver 15. The Branch which thou madest strong for thy self Now as Christ is often call'd the Branch by the Prophets so he was really furnisht and endued as Mediator with extraordinary Power to serve the great Purposes and Designs of God such as could have been accomplished by no other And so it was foretold that he should be Isa 41.10 I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right Hand of my Righteousness 2. What is meant by the Thing requested let thy Hand be upon c. If we consider some other Places where the like Phrase is used we shall find it implies Influence Protection and Support as Ezra 8.31 The Hand of our God was upon us and he delivered us from the Hand of our Enemy c. Ezek. 3.14 I went in the heat of my Spirit but the Hand of the Lord was strong upon me the Prophet being then under a mighty Divine Impression beyond what other common Persons were or even he himself at other Times 3. How are we to understand the Connexion of this Petition with the following Words so will not we go back from thee It may be understood two Ways 1. As it would oblige them to the yielding of stedfast Obedience it would lay them under a special Engagement never to Revolt any more as they had done if God would grant this Request it would be a most eminent Tye and Bond upon them to the most constant and faithful Service 2. As it would enable them to yield such Obedience And this I conceive to be chiefly aimed at if God would lay such help upon Christ for them they should receive Power by that means to discharge their Duty to him better than ever heretofore though they were very feeble and wavering false and treacherous of themselves yet here would be a successful Remedy Note 1. The Consideration of Jesus Christ is very fit and proper to Minister Comfort and Relief in the most afflicted Condition That State of the Church which this Psalm hath a Relation to was very deplorable but they encouraged themselves by looking to the promised Saviour When their Vineyard was burnt with Fire and cut down ver 16. They had an Eye to him that was the true Vine whom God exercises such Care and Husbandry about that his pleasant and useful Fruit can never be destroy'd John 15.1 Note 2. It was the commendable Practice of the Church in the Old Testament Times to Pray for Christ This was according to the Precept Psalm 72.15 Prayers shall be made for him continually They pray'd for his Assistance in his Work and for his actual Mission to perform it that he might be sent into the World and that what he undertook might prosper in his Hand Nor is the Duty now out of Date of Praying for his second Coming for the Advancement of his Interest and Enlargement of his Kingdom here below But the main Scope of the Words will lead us to another Point Obs The Strength of Christ is the great and immediate Security of Believers against Apostacy from God Here I. Shew wherein lies the true Nature of this Apostacy II. Of what Concernment it is to Believers to be secur'd against it III. How is the Strength of Christ their Security in this Case IV. Why hath God order'd it so to be V. Use I. Wherein lies the true Nature of Apostacy from God The very Expression whereby the Holy Ghost does here describe and set it forth will if duely weighed give us some Light into it 1. Every failure and defect in the Exercise of Grace is not to be reckon'd as an Apostacy There is a great Difference between spiritual Decaies and Languishings and this going back from God The Soul may faint and flag in the pursuit of God and yet not be carried off so far as to steer a contrary Course As a Schism in the Body 1 Cor. 12.25 Is much less than a Separation from the Body a breach or disunion in a Church not so much as an absolute Rent and dividing from a Church so there may be Declensions in our Obedience and yet no declining from the Law Psalm 119.51 The Degrees of Grace may be remitted when the actings of Grace are not destroyed and the habits of Grace weakened when they are not abolished As the Church of Ephesus did not cease to Love yea even in Sincerity though charg'd with leaving her first Love Rev. 2.4 Christ says he had somewhat against her which is a diminishing term but he would have had much more against her if instead of an abatement of Love it had been turned into hatred These gradual Deficiencies and shrinkings of Grace are truly humbling to us and may issue worse if not carefully lookt after we have Reason to lament them and endeavour a speedy Cure of them but such a revolting from God as the Text speaks of if more than all this comes to 2. Every
when it is so plainly confirmed by the Word of God as I have elsewhere shewed If we receive the Witness of Men the Witness of God is greater And there needs no greater Vindication of any Doctrine than the Testimony of God to the truth of it The Author of these Discourses was a Person whose Worth was well known in this City he was a Person of a sound Mind and Judgment in the great Doctrines of the Gospel and held fast the Form of sound Words carefully shunning the Paths of those By-way Men who please themselves with the fond Thoughts of such Opinions wherein they chuse to walk by themselves apart from the Community of the Saints and Churches of God None who knew him and love the Interest of Christ and the Souls of Men but must bewail the loss of such an Eminent Servant in the Lord's Work especially in such a day as this is wherein the Harvest is so great and Faithful Labourers so few But why stand I in the Door-way which leads to the Discourse it self I shall therefore no longer hinder thy Entrance than by begging a Blessing upon the Work that it may be sanctified to thy Vnderstanding for Knowledge to thy Judgment for Establishment to thy Conscience for Peace and for Joy and Gladness to thy whole Soul So Prays Thy Servant in the Lord's Work And for his Sake Matth. Mead. Febr. 2d 1699. ERRATA PAge 18. Line 9. read Duties P. 25. l. 21. r. it 's P. 28. l. 27. r. not P. 31. l. 28. r. askt P. 51. l. 15. r. Fortifies P. 52. l. 15. r. the P. 77. l. 16. r. knew P. 79. l. 21. r. of P. 104. l. 11. r. Law P. 144 l. 1. dele that l. 27. r. hardened P. 193. l. 12. dele when we are so P. 213. l. 17. r. but P. 256. l. 4. r. are P. 257. l. 12. r. Comparison P. 274. l. 13. dele and P. 315. l. 25. r. bounds P. 330. l. 6. r. Thyatira's P. 335. l. 11. r. Equivalent P. 362. l. 26. r. Scope THE TEXTS Matth. XVI 17. AND Jesus answered and said unto him Blessed art thou Simon Bar-jona for Flesh and Blood hath not revealed it to thee but my Father which is in Heaven Page 1 Psalm XXVI 3. For thy loving kindness is before mine eyes and I have walked in thy Truth p. 36 2 Corinth I. 20. For all the Promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen unto the Glory of God by us p. 67 Psalm LXXX 17. and 18. former part Let thy hand be upon the Man of thy right hand upon the Son of Man whom thou madest strong for thy self 18. So will not we go back from thee p. 95 Judges XVI 20. last Clause And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him p. 125 Acts V. 32. latter part And so is also the Holy Ghost whom God has given to them that obey him p. 156 Mark X. 26 27. And they were astonished out of measure saying among themselves Who then can be saved And Jesus looking upon them saith With Men it 's impossible but not with God for with God all things are possible p. 186 Psalm LXIX 4. last Clause Then I restored that which I took not away p. 217 Gallat IV. 6. And because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts crying Abba Father p. 247 Ephes IV. 7. But unto every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the Gift of Christ p. 279 Deuteronomy XXXIV 5. So Moses the Servant of the Lord died there in the Land of Moab according to the word of the Lord p. 311 Hebr. VII 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them p. 340. SERMON I. April 23. 1695. MATTHEW XVI xvii And Jesus answered and said unto him Blessed art thou Simon Bar-jona For Flesh and Blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven TO understand the occasion of these Words we must look back as far as ver 13. of this Chapter where our Lord having a mind to clear and confirm his Disciples in the Knowledge of himself makes way for it by the proposing of such Questions as would draw forth suitable Answers Accordingly 1. He asks them what was the Opinion of others concerning him Whom do Men say that I the Son of Man am Christ usually stiled himself thus Son of Man not only as an Expression of his Humility but to shew that he was the promised Seed the Person foretold under that Character in the Old Testament Psal 8.4.80.17 Dan. 7.13 And perhaps also to try the Faith of his Hearers whether they had an Eye to any more than his Humanity therefore says he here what does that World which you Converse with think of me what kind of Person do they take me to be The Answer is ver 14. Some say that thou art John the Baptist some Elias and others Jeremias or one of the Prophets Here was a diversity of Opinions about Christ and none of them right but all false and fabulous the Products of vain Imagination That Christ was John the Baptist risen from the Dead was Herods Opinion Chap. 14.2 That he was Elias was the Opinion of many among the Jews who had a mistaken Notion that Elias must first come before the Appearance of Christ Chap. 17.10 And again another sort of them thought that he was the Soul of some eminent Deceased Prophet in a new Body which was one of the wild Conceits of that dark erroneous Age. But 2. Christ asks them what was their own Opinion ver 15. Whom say ye that I am Do you concur with this blind and ignorant World or have you any better Apprehensions of me different from theirs 'T is meet that you who are my little Flock should give me some account of your particular Belief and 't is also meet that seeing you are to Preach me unto others you should first make some Confession of me your selves The Answer to this and the Person answering we have ver 16. Which because it hath an immediate Coherence with the Words now before us ought to be distinctly consider'd And 1. We may begin with the less considerable Part the Person speaking Simon Peter answered and said 'T is probable that he spake as the Mouth of the Apostles in the Name of all and that the rest agreed to this Testimony and believ'd as he said Not that he had any real Precedency or Superiority above the rest for then why should they enquire who was the greatest c. Chap. 18.1 but because he was one of the first call'd to the Apostleship and of the more esteem among them as he was of so long a standing and because he was of a very warm and forward Spirit as is evident by many other Passages 2. Here is the Thing spoken which is the main Subject of our