sackclothe upon all the beauty and bravery of the Creature and so hideth pride from man when God by some flashes of Lightning strikes us blind to the World then we can discover beauty and excellency in Christ infinitely transcending all the beauty and excellency in the World Thou art fairer then the Children of men grace is poured into thy lips when under the stairs Psal 45.2 Cant. 5.10 and in the Clifts of the Rocks then the soul can sing my beloved is white and ruddy the chicfest among ten thousand When the God of Heaven hath famisht all our Gods on earth when he hath hunger-starved us as to Creature comforts in any way whatsoever then we can hunger after and taste the sweetness the fulness which is in Jesus Christ O then Christ a King to govern a Prophet to teach a Priest to save how precious then none but Christ none but Christ give me a Christ or else I die In a word my Beloved when once it is come by what exigencies and surprises soever to an Oh wretch that I am who shal deliver me Rom. 7.24 then I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Truly God is forc't to exercise us with a severe Discipline that he may endear Jesus Christ to our hearts and secludes us from the World that we may study and improve his fulness As the Law is our School-master Gal. 3.24 so affliction is an Vsher to the Law affliction brings us to the Law and the Law brings us to Christ And thus I have dispatcht the first thing I undertook for the opening of the Doctrine sc The Lessons which God teacheth those whom he chasteneth both in their twenty particulars and in their three summary comprehensive heads to which all the rest may be reduced I come to the second thing namely The Nature or properties of divine teaching The nature and propetries of divine teaching For my Brethâ—en it is not every teaching that will make or evidence a man to be a blessed man under affliction There is hardly any man that is under affliction but he learns somewhat by it yet few are blessed the reason is because it matters not so much what a man is taught as who is the Teacher whither he be taught of God or no yea that is not all neither for we are not to enquire only whether we be taught of God but how There is a twofold teaching of God There is a common teaching which even Heathen men out of the Church Hypocrites Reprobates within the Church may have the very Philosophers have read excellent Lectures upon affliction Seneca others and there is a special teaching proper and peculiar only to the Children of promise A Covenant-teaching Isa 54.13 All thy Children shall be taught of God it is the Covenant of God with thâ— Redeemer Isa 54 13. A teaching without which no man can come to Christ John 6.45 Every man that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me Now this teaching hath a sixfold property The first property is 6. properties of Covenantreaching It is an inward teaching Inward in respect of the Object and inward in respect of the Subject Inward in respect of the Object 1. Property it is inward so our Saviour concerning the saving teaching of the Holy Ghost when the spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth Ioh. 16 13 Man may lead you UNTO truth but it is the spirit of God that only can lead you INTO truth he only that hath the Key of David that openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth can open to you the door of truth and shew you the inside of truth And great is the difference between these two teachings He that comes to a stately house or place sees only the outward fabrick and structure and even that may take much but he that comes into it sees all the inward contrivances and conveyances he sees all the rich furniture and adornings of the several rooms and Offices of the house which are not only for use but for delight and ornament Surely the very out-side of truth is goodly but like the Kings Daughter it is all glorious within not pleasing only but ravishing this they see who are led into truth Psal 119.18 by verâ—ue whereof David saw wonderful things in the Law Objects which filld his soul with wonder and delight And as the teachings of the Covenant are inward in respect of the Object so inward also in respect of the Subject In the HIDDEN PART thou hast made me know wisdom Psal 51.6 and again I thank the Lord that gave me counsel MY REINS also instruct me in the night seasons Psal 16.7 the Reins are the most inward part of the Body and the night-season the most retired and private time both express the intimacy of divine teaching man may teach the Brains but God only teacheth the Reins the knowledg which man teacheth is a swimming knowledg but the knowledg which Christ teacheth is a soaking knowledg God who commanded light to shine out of dâ—rkness 2 Cor. 4 6 hath shined into our HEARTS to give the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ it is a loaden expression and holds forth the inward teachings of God on both sides both in reference to the Subject and in reference to the Object In reference to the Subject He that commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined into our hearts Mans light may shine into the Head but Gods light doth shine into the Heart God hath his Throne in Heaven Cathedram habet inCaelis quicorda doâ—et Aâ—g but his Chair his Pulpit is in the heart he hath shined into our hearts And then you have the inwardness of divine teaching in respect of the Object he hath given us the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ Man may give knowledg confused general knowledg but God giveth the light of knowledg in the lustre and brightness of it In thy light we shall see light Psal 36.9 the soul seeth by the same light whereby God himself seeth thy light and not only so here is not only knowledg and light of knowledg but the glory of that light the light which God brings in to the sanctified understanding is a glorious light a marvelous light 1 Pet. 2.9 the soul that the spirit taketh by the hand leadeth into truth standeth wondering at the glory and excellency of that light which shines round about it And then lastly all this in the face of Jesus Christ The face is the full discovery of a person Moses could not see Gods face but only his back-parts he might see Exod. 33. last But now by the flesh of Josus Christ God hath put a vail upon his face the vail of his flesh Heb. 10.20 through which we may see the face of God
1 Tim. 3.6 for now in Christ it is God manifest in the flesh the humane nature of Jesus Christ hath made God visible In this face now of Jesus Christ do they whom God teacheth by a saving Gospel-teaching see divine truth i. e. they see it now not only by borrowed representations and natural resemblances Ephes 4.21 but in its own native beauty and lustre as the truth is in Jesus He hath shined into our hearts to give us the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ 2 property clear convincing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist A Syllogisme whereby the respondent is forced to contradict himself either concessa negando or per negata concedendo This is the first property of Divine Teaching It is inward and that both in respect of Subject Object 2. Divine Covenant-teaching is a clear convincing teaching so our Saviour of the spirit when He is come he shall CONVINCE the world c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word signifieth a clear demonstrative conviction so the Apostle defines faith to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the evidence or demonstration the evident demonstration of things not seen The Holy Ghost in his teachings brings in divine Truths with such a clear and convincing light that the soul sits down under it fully satisfied it is not only convinc'd to silence but to assurance it doth sweetly and freely acquiesce in the present truths Now I know saith Moses Father-law that the Lord is greater then all Gods He had heard of God before Exod. 13.11 but that bred but opinion only but now he is throughly convinced I know that the Lord is greater then all Gods So David concerning his afflictions Psal 119.75 I know Lord that thy judgments are right and that of faithfulness thou hast afflicted me He was fully satisfied both of the equity and fidelity of Gods chastisements right in respect of the merit and faithful in respect of the end And thus in all the Lessons before presented to your view and in all other what God teacheth he teacheth with such a clear evidence of truth that the soul is set beyond all peradventure 1 Thes 1.5 Our Gospel came unto you not in word only but in power and in the Holy Ghost and in much full assurance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word hath a double and a treble emphasis assurance full assurance and much full assurance such are the teachings of the Holy Ghost Common teaching may convince to silence but the understanding may remain doubtful still Formido oppositi there is that which the Schools call suspence or hesitancy in the understanding there is not a full and clear assent in the understanding to the truths propounded but a man remains in the Apostles Language a double minded man or as the word signifieth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a double-sould man duplex amino a man of a double or doubtful or divided spirit floating between different opinions one soul as it were beleeveth this way and another soul beleeveth that way one while he beleeveth there is a God and anon the fool saith in his heart there is no God sometimes he calls sin evil and anon again he thinks it good He beleeveth and he beleeveth not sometimes what he heareth from the word is truth sometimes he thinks again it is but an invention of man there may be some mistake in it But now the teachings of God set a man beyond all those fluctuations and unsetledness in judgment there is that which the Apostle calls the riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the Mystery of God Assurance of principles Col. 2.2 even when the soul may possibly want the assurance of application A third property of divine teaching It is an experimental teaching 3d property experimental The soul can speak experimentally of the truths it knows it is good for me saith David Psal 119.71 that I have been afflicted why but may not any man say as much as that yes few men there are but have the Notion in their heads in their lips I but mark I pray the Psalmist speaks experimentally to the point and doth instance the good which he had gained by affliction I have learned thy statutes He had learned more acquaintance with the word more delight in the word more conformity to the word He knew it more and loved it better and was more transformed into the nature of it then ever c. So Psal 116.6 The Lord proserveth the simple i. e. God stands by his upright hearted ones to secure them from violence a good notion but any man may have it in the proposition I but David hath it in the experience I was brought low and he helped me my faith was brought low and my comfort was brought low and my resolutions were brought low my feet had welnigh slipt Psal 73.2 but God helpt my faith revived my comfort strengthened my resolutions and stablisht my feet thou hast holden me by my right hand 2 Tim. 1.22 vers 23. Thus St. Paul I know whom I have beleeved c. I have experienc't his faithfulness and his All-sufficiency I dare trust my All with him I am sure he will keep it safe to that day And thus they that are taught of God in affliction can speak experimentally in one degree or other of the gains and priviledges of a suffering condition they can speak experimentally of Communion with God though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death Psal 23 4 I will fear no evil why for thou art with me I have had comfortable experience of thy upholding councelling comforting presence with me in my deepest desertions so of other fruits of affliction this I had Psal 119.56 this I have got by my sufferings I bless God I have learned more patience humility self-denial c. to be more sensible of my Brethrens sufferings to sit looser to the World to minde duty and to trust safely with God to prepare for death and to provide for eternity one way or other it is good for me I could not have been without this affliction c. Common knowledg rests in generals lieth more in propositions then in application but they that are taught of God can say as we have heard so have we SEEN they can go along with every truth and say It is so I have experienc'd this Word upon mine own heart Iohn 3.33 they can set to their seal that God is true 4. 4 Property Powerful Divine Covenant teaching is a powerful teaching After a man hath got many truths into the understanding the main work is yet to do and that is to bring down holy truths to action to draw forth divine principles into practice a natural man may know much he may have an heap of truths in his understanding but they all lie strengthless in the brain he
into prison arraigned condemned executed in a most shameful and an accursed manner oh what was it for him to endure all this contradiction of sinners rage of the Devil and wrath of God in comparison of whom the most righteous person that ever was may say with the good Theif on the cross And we indeed justly Isa 53.9 but He what evil hath he done He made his Grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death because he had done no violence neither was any deceit in his mouth Blessed be God my prison is not Tophet my burnings are not unquenchable flames my cup is not fild with wrath in a word this is not Hell Blessed be God for Jesus Christ 1 Thes 1.10 by whom I am delivered from wrath to come And thus as the Lord Jesus by the sensible experience of his own passion came perfectly to understand what his poor members suffer while they are in the body so we by the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the remainders of his cross which he hath bequeathed us as a Legacy come in some measure to understand the sufferings of Christ or at least by comparing things of such vast disproportion to guess at what we cannot understand The twentieth and the last Lesson which God teacheth by affliction 20 Lesson is How to prize and long for Heaven In our prosperity when the Candle of God shines in our Tabernacles when we wash our steps in butter and the Rock powreth us out Rivers of Oyl Iob. 29.6 we could set down with the present World and even say with the Disciples Eccles 41.1 though not upon so good an account It is good for us to be here let us here build us Tabernacles while life is sweet death is bitter and Heaven it self is no temptation while the World gives us her friendly entertainments But when poverty imprisonment reproach and persecution sickness and sore Diseases do not only pinch but vex our hearts with verietie of aggravations we are not so fond of the Creature but we can be content to entertain a partly with death and take Heaven into our considerations Not that meerly to defire to be in Heaven because we are weary of the World is an Argument of grace or a Lesson that needs divine teaching self-love will prompt as much as that comes to But because like foolish Travellers we love our way though it be troublesom rather then our Countrey God by this Discipline taketh off our hearts by degrees from this present World and maketh us look homeward being burdened we groan 2 Cor. 5.4 and with the Dove we return to the Ark when the World floats round about us when David was driven from his Palace then wo is me that my Pilgrimage is prolonged 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the Septuagint renders it We should be contented like the Israelites with the Garlick and flesh-pots of Egypt if God did not set cruel Taskmasters over us to double our Burdens and when God hath thus lessened our esteem of the World he discovers to us the excellency of heavenly comforts and draws out the desires of the soul to a full fruition when shall I come and appear in thy presence EVEN SO come Lord Jesus Affliction puts Heaven into all those notions which make it Heaven indeed To the weary it is rest Isa 57.2 Revel 14.13 To the banished it is Home 2 Cor. 5.6 To the scorned and reproached it is glory Rom. 5.2 To the Captive it is liberty Rom. 8.21 To the conflicting soul it is Conquest Rom. 8.37 And to the Conqueror it is a Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 Righteousnes 2 Tim. 4.8 Glory 1 Pet. 5.4 To the Hungry it is hidden Manna Rev. 2.17 To the thirty it is the fountain and waters of life and Rivers of pleasure Rev. 22.17 Psal 36.8 9. To the grieved soul whither with sin or sorrow it is fulnes of joy and to the mourner it is pleasures for evermore Psal 16.12 In a word to them that have lain upon the Dunghill and kept their integrity it is a Throne on which they shall sit and reign with Christ for ever and ever Rev. 3.31 and 22.5 Surely beloved Heaven thus proportioned to every state of the afflicted soul cannot chuse but be very precious and will make the soul with a stronger or weaker impulse desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ Phil. ◠23 which is best of all A Christian indeed is comforted by Faith but not satisfied or if satisfied it is in point of security not of desire because here we are absent from the Lord and walk by Faith not by sight 2 Cor. 5 6 7. Hope though it keep life in the soul yet it is not able to fill it he longs and thinks every day a year till he be at home in his Fathers Arms and sit down on his Fathers Throne crowned with his Fathers Honour and glory They that walk by Faith cannot be quiet till they be in the sight of those things which they beleive Jacob when he heard that Joseph was alive though he did beleive it yet could not be satisfied with hearing of it but saith he I will go and see him before I die so the beleiving soul He whom my soul loveth was dead but is alive and behold he liveth for evermore Rev. 1.18 I will die that I may go and see him as Augustine upon that answer of God to Moses thou cast not see any face and live Exod. 33.20 makes this quick and sweet reply then Lord let me die that I may see thy face Thus I have presented you with those 20 several Lessons which Jesus Christ the great Prophet of his Church teacheth his afflicted ones to take out in the school of affliction And now as I told you in my entrance upon this subject all these 20. Lessons may be reduc'd to three great summary comprehensive Instructions c. 1. The sinfulness of sin 2. The emptiness of the Creature 3. The fulness of Jesus Christ 1 Summary Lesson The sinfulness of sin The first summary comprehensive Lesson is the sinfulness of sin sin is alwayes very sinful but in our prosperity we are not so sensible of it the dust of the World doth so fill our eyes that we cannot make a clear and distinct discovery of the evil that is in sin but now by the sharp and bitter waters of affliction God doth wash out that dust and clears the Organ to make a perfect discovery and to discern sin as it is and not as usually it doth appear sin becomes exceeding sinful Rom. 7 13. God hath four Classes wherein he discovers to the soul the evil that is in sin 1. The Glass of the Law Jam. 1.23.24 2. The blood of Christ Rev. 1.6 3. Afflictions and chastisements in this present World 4. The torments of Hell Mat. 25.41 Indeed of all these Glasses the blood of Christ is the clearest and doth most fully perfectly