they shall mount up upon wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint Isa 40. 31. The second case whereon believers are called to exercise this hope in their personal concernments is in reference to the time past the seeming frustration and disappointment of their former expectations For having prayed and waited for the good desired yet they have not oâ—tained it And many when they have given up their names unto Christ looked for peace prosperity and good dayes but find troubles crosses and afflictions of sundry kinds this much disquieteth and sometimes discourageth their spirits Hence they are apt to complain with the Church in Jer. 8. 15. We looked for peace but no good came and for a time of health and behold trouble and to conclude as they did in Isa 49. 14. Zion said the Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me In this case that may be made for a right exercise of hoping in God I shall distinguish the subjects of it 1. There are some whom God forsakes really 1. Such as forsake God If ye forsake him he will forsake you 2 Chron. 15. 2. This is the condition of all Apostates that depart from the rules of Gods worship and the Churches of the Saints embracing and following worldly policies and advantages 2. Such as seem to seek God but rest in outward performances without inward sincerity and spiritualnesse and trust in their parts and gifts and duties not in Christ for acceptance with God This is the condition of all hypocrites who sin and pray and pray and sin without true repentance yet think to be accepted of God for the things they do in religion outwardly of such the Lord saith in Hos 5. 6. They shall go with their flockâ—â— and with their Heards to seek the Lord but they shall not find him he hath with-drawn himself from them 3. Such as abuse the mercies they have received and yet presume that mercies shall be still continued and added though they go on in their impenitency This is the condition of all obstinate hard-hearted sinners These may receive their doom from that which the Lord denounced against Israel in Hos 1. 6. Call her name Lo-ruhamah for I will not adde any more to shew mercy to them As if 〈◊〉 had said They have received many mercies from me but they abuse theâ— all and presume that they shall receive more mercies from me but 〈◊〉 shall not be so I will not adde any more Of all these and the like the Apostle saith they are without Christ without God and without hope Eph. 2. 12. Therefore I have no more to say to them in this point 2. There are others whom God doth not forsake really but onely seemingly and that but in some respect and but for a time And that he is present with them graciously when they think he hath forsaken them appeareth by his efficacy in them 1. That he quickens them to seek him in the use of all means Psal 9. 10. For thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seek thee 2. That they seek him as their portion as their chief good without injoyment of whom nothing will satisfie them This is from the efficacy of his grace in them as it was in the Spouse Cant. 5. 4 5 6 8 10. 3. That Gods with-drawing from them in any degree makes them fearful of his forsaking them utterly and for prevention thereof careful to engage themselves to obey him more perfectly Thus it wrought in David Psal 119. 8. I will keep thy Statutes O forsake me not utterly These are the persons who are called to exercise hope in God in this case To instruct them how to perform this great duty aright I shall propound five Directions 1. Direction Make it clear unto your own souls that you have a good ground of hope See that your faith in God is right For this hope is the daughter of faith And if you are in the dark as to present sight of your good estate consider whether formerly when you had a clear light you then knew that your soul said the Lord is my portion For it may be at sometimes with a true believer spiritually as it was with Eutychus bodily in Acts 20. 10. that though life is in him yet he hath not the sense of it Then though Gods face is towards him yet he complains that he hath long hid his face from him as David did in Psal 13. 1. and if his Ministers speak comfortably to him it is with him as it was with the people of Israel when Moses spake as comfortably unto them as at any time but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of heart Exod. 6. 9. and when he remembers God he is troubled and complaineth and his spirit is over-whelmed as Asaph found in Psal 77. 3. In this case faith it self must be helped by reflecting upon former experience This course Asaph took and found relief by it ibid. ver 5 6. So a believer having called to mind form 〈◊〉 passages betweeen God and his soul when he made diligent search and upon tryal of his estate toward God by Scripture light found it to be good hath good ground to hope in God that it is so still and that it will so continue for ever and that from the sure Word of God in the Scripture which assâ—â—â—s us thaâ— Gods drawing us to himself in Christ is from his everlasting love Ier. 31. 3. and that Christ having loved his own which are in the World loveth them unto the end Ioh. 13. 1. and that the gifts and callings of God are without repentance Rom. 11. 29. As a man who hath deliberately cast up his accounts and summed up the particulars exactly when he took a fit season for it if afterward when being sick or in some hurry of businesse he is not fit to review the particulars he be demanded how the Accounts stand he will refer himself to the foot of his Account in a certain perswasion that it is right so a believer being under temptations and seeming desertion may and should exercise this hoping in God and hath good ground so to do from what he formerly found when he diligently searched into particulars though now he cannot call them to mind Or as a woman with child having felt it stir in her womb knowes thereby that she hath been quickened and conceived and hath thereby comforting hope that it will go on though she doth not alwayes feel it stir So 〈◊〉 is in this case and much rather For that conception may die and the woman may miscarry but so cannoâ— the regenerate being born againâ— not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever 1 Pet. 1. 23. 2. Direction When thus the ground of hope is cleared to be good and way is made for the excercise of it then let it be exercised in its purging work This is the
THE SAINTS ANCHOR-HOLD IN ALL Storms and Tempests Preached in Sundry SERMONS And Published for the Support and Comfort of Gods People in all times of Tryal By John Davenport B. D. sometime Minister of Stephens Coleman-street London and now Pastor of the Church of Christ in New-Haven in New-England Heb. 6. 18. Lay hold upon the Hope set before us 19. Which hope we have as an Anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast and which entreth into that within the vail 20. Whither the forerunner is for us entred even Jesus made an High-Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedech LONDON Printed by W. L. for Geo. Hurlock and are to be sold at his Shop at Magnus Church corner in Thames-street 1661. The PREFACE To the Christian Reader AS the whole Creation hath groaned ever since its original subjection unto Vanity earnestly expecting the manifestation of the Sons of God so more especially in these latter dayes the travelling pains thereof have encreased as presages of its approaching Deliverance The vanity of it hath alwayes been great but the Experimental Discoveries thereof never more than now In this case it is the wisdome of a Christian to secure to himself an Interest in a Portion as sufficient and permanent as Jehovah that never changeth A greater than which cannot be procured This may and a less will never satisfie By this men live indeed and in this is the Life of a Christian That the Lord's Portion are his People addeth nothing to him that is alsufficient to himself but that the Lord is their Portion is all in all to them And this is the foundation of their Hope and Comfort For here we are all embarqued in a Vessel sometimes caught with Windes sometimes covered with Waves and should soon be at our wits end but for this sure and steadfast ancre which entreth into that within the Vail Now that Portion and this Hope grounded on it are the Churches and a Christians support in the midst of their lamentations For the Church at this time was driven from Jerusalem Zion Temple Temple-Ordinances and native Place of residence greatly afflicted and tossed with Tempests This is only remaining that she hath God for her portion and Hope for her Anchor never to be taken from her And both these are the Subject of the ensuing Discourse seasonable and suitable at all times especially in these last moments of the last Dayes in which God is shaking Heaven Earth and Sea in order to the appearance of the Desire of all Nations As touching the Author of this Treatise in whose heart the Text was written by the finger of God befor the Discourse was penned by his own hand His Piety Learning Gravity Experience Judgment do not more commend him to all that know him than this Work of his may commend it self to them that read it And the consideration of the two hindges on which the Text turneth Faith and Hope their near cognation concomitance usefulness necessity power comfort the first exciting the second the one commensurate with the other is enough to procure from thee the expence of a little time to see and weigh what is here spoken of these most necesâ—ary Helps to Eternall Happiness which will never relinquish the Believer till they have resigned him up to the glorious Vision and fruition of the Objects believed in and hoped for there leâ—â—ing the Soul to the everlasting exercise of never failing Love to God and the Saints in Glory That this holy Faith and Hope in God together with fervent Love to God and one to another may dayly flourish and be confirmed in the hearts and lives of all the Saints on earth till they enter upon their purchased Possession which is the end of their Faith and Hope to the praise of the Glory of God in Glory is the hearty desire and Prayer of Thy Fellow-Brethren in this Faith and Hope William Hooke Joseph Caryl Errata Page 19. Lines 12 and 13. read Causally p. 66. l. ult r. him p. 76. l. 26. r. resolved p. 126. l. 13. r. quietnesse p. 130. l. ult r. grounds p. 134. l. 24. r. There p. 145. l. 18. r. brought p. 151. l. 16. r. notice p. 164. l. 25. r. lust p. 204. l. 4. thereof The Saints ANCHOR-HOLD Lam. 3. 24. The Lord is my portion saith my soul therefore will I hope in him THis Book is according to the judgment of a godly learned Writer an Abridgment of all Jeremies Sermons from the 13th year of Josias unto the 4th of Joakim and that Book which God commanded Ieremy to write and to cause Baruch to read it publikely upon the day of a Fast kept in the ninth moneth of the fifth year of Iehojakim which afterward Iehudi read unto the King sitting by a fire in his winter house who was so far from repenting that when he had read three or four leaves of it he cut it with a penknife and cast it into the fire till all was consumed and rejected the intercession of some of his Princes that he would not burn it and he commanded to lay hold upon Ieremy and Baruch But God hid them Whereupon the Lord commanded Ieremy to write the Book again with Additions which the same Writer thinks was this Chapter which consisteth of a threefold Alphabet in the Hebrew The Prophet having discharged his offices in labouring to convince the Jews of their sins and to bring them to repentance when he found not the successe he desired he fals to lamenting and weeping for their pride and obstinacy in sin and teacheth them also how to lament their own misery in Captivity and because there was among them a basket of good figges he teacheth them how to exercise faith and hope in the middest of their sorrows Among other passages my Text hath a tendency thereunto which admits a double consideration 1. As a part of a Lamentation 2. As an expression of a free spirit Accordingly I shall handle it first as a part of a Lamentation In verse 17 18. you may see their deep dejection and despondency I said my strength and my hope is perished from the Lord. In vers 19 20 21. you may see how from the good fruit of their affliction in humbling them they gather hope In vers 22 23. they can see mercy in God towards them in their Affliction In my Text they are as men that find rest after their dangers and tossings at Sea by casting Anchor upon firme ground in a safe Harbour The Doctrinal note I collect from the words so considered is this Doct. Though it may be the case of true believers to be greatly dejected for a time yet even then God doth support their spirits and quicken their faith and hope in him To clear this point we must prove two things 1. That it may be the case of true believers to be greatly dejected for a time This may be abundantly confirmed both by the Scriptures in the examples of Iob
and to do this and that particular are so weak and mutable as the morning cloud and as the early dew Hos 6. 4. which soon vanish Some at an heart-searching and soul-piercing Sermon are affected as that young man till they are put upon such conditions as their praedominant lust will not accept Mat. 19. 16 22. Others in some strong convictions and awakenings of conscience are affected as Saul was for his unrighteous dealing with David and do purpose against it as he did yet afterward with him return to their former sin again 1 Sam. 24. 16 17. with 26. 2. Some in great sicknesses others in great dangers by Land or Sea resolve that they will become new men if God will be pleased to spare them or deliver them this time of whom the Lord may complain as he did of the children of Israel in Iudg. 10. 11 12 13. The reason is because they are unregenerate they are in their natural state Such may have a notional light in their minds and awakenings of their natural consciences and stirrings in their affections and sudden purposes toward God and Christ and spiritual things from a transient work of the spirit exciting their innate principle of self-love thereunto for a time during which they are in a better mood but not in a better state as in sicknesses the fits may be altered yet the sicknesse remain in its strength New resolutions in an un-renewed heart are like seed in an unsuitable soil which prospers not but withers and dies and comes to nothing at last How many such are now in Hell where their remembrance of such fruitlesse ineffectual purposes gnaweth their consciences as a never-dying worm and torments them for ever 2. Hence we may learn whence it is that true believers have such firm resolutions of cleaving to God in Christ and of hoping in him when he hideth his face from them in great afflictions Isa 8. 17. Ion. 2. 4. The reason of it is because their hearts are purified by faith Acts 15. 9. which is seated principally in the will whereby it receiveth Christ Ioh. 1. 12. Rom. 5. 17. 1 Tim. 15. and is the effect of the operation of God Col. 2. 12. by his exceeding greatnesse of power Eph. 1. 19 20. whose peculiar glory it is to perswade the heart Gen. 9. 27. and to draw the will to come unto Christ Ioh. 6. 44. which he doth by changing the disposition inclination and bent of it If you offer green boughs unto Swine they regard them not but trample them under their feet but if their nature were changed into the nature of sheep then they would be drawn to them This is done by the spirit of God 2 Cor. 3. 17. Before regeneration the will is in bondage unto sin but being united unto Christ in regeneration the Son makes us free indeed Ioh. 8. 36. Then the will freely moveth towards God in Christ by faith and hope as a man though he cannot give life to himself being dead yet when he is made alive he can move himself from a principle of life in him So much faith as a man hath so much free-will he hath to hope in God in the worst times So far as his spiritual grace and strength goes so far he is able by the concourse of Gods spirit which he usually joyns with the ability he hath given to his people that it may be quickened and actuated thereby A man cannot act his natural abilities he cannot move his hand or foot unlesse he be assisted with Gods general concourse So a man can do nothing in spiritual actions without special concourse of grace in Christ Ioh. 15. 5. But being assisted with a supply of the Spirit proportioned to the exigencies of services to be performed and of temptations to be resisted and of corruptions to be mortified he may say as Paul did Phil. 4. 13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me 3. Hence we may learn in what manner believers in Christ resolve to hope in God This resolution in them may be known and distinguished from the resolutions of others by four characters or properties 1. It is a sanctified resolution It is the effect of Gods Holy Spirit dwelling in them and removing far from them vanity and lying Pro. 30. 8. that is vain and false apprehensions of things and turning their whole soul unto God in Christ to seek all their good in him This is the effect of converting grace as the Prophet shews in Isa 17. 7 8. At that day shall a man look to his Maker c. 2. It is an obedient resolution in answer to Gods calling them to himself in Christ Psal 27. 8. it is the yielding up of their wills to be ruled by Gods will Psal 110. 3. When mens wils are not subdued and conformed unto Gods will they are in times of affliction like sullen birds in a Cage which beat themselves to death like peevish froward children which will be pleased with nothing if their wills be crossed in any thing But when the will is subdued unto Gods will by the spirit through the minisâ—â—y of the Gospel 2 Cor. 10. 5. then we can say with Asaph It 's good for me to draw near to God Psal 73. ult And with David 2 Sam. 15. 26. Let the Lord do with me what seemeth good in his own eyes 3. It is a rational resolution led by the best reasons For faith believes in Christ and in God through Christ upon Gods Authority and faithfulnesse and truth in his Word and Covenant Hence it ministreth reasons to quicken and strengthen hope from Gods All-sufficiency and love in Christ and faithfulnesse in his promises to expect and wait upon God for all good from him suitable to our needs in the best season and to resolve as Job did who said though he kill me yet will I trust in him Iob 13. 15. and if they see cause to complain to complain not of God but to God nor of their crosses but of the crossenesse of their wils to Gods holy will as Ephraim did in Ier. 31. 18. It is a dependent resolution relying upon God in Christ for ability to hope in him Isa 26. 12. and therefore praying to him as David did in Psal 138. ult and to keep it ever in the purpose of their hearts 1 Chron. 29. 18. with true self denial of any sufficiency of themselves so much as to think any thing 2 Cor. 3. 5. Thus they become strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Eph. 6. 10. Lam. 3. 24. Hope in him The last thing to be spoken to is the duty esolved upon illustrated by its objectr which is to exercise divine hope for so I call that hope which hath God for its object and efficient who is therefore called the God of hope Rom. 15. 13. and for its ground the Word of God as this hope hath Psal 119. 49. The word in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated hope
They may by Temptations be as sheep driven from mountaine to mountaine and forget their resting place Jer. 50. 6. But the spirit of faith in them will cause them to return unto God and to say as David Psal 116. 7. Return unto thy rest O my soul Believers are like Noahs Dove that finding no rest for the soles of its feet in the deluge returned unto the Arke Other men will like the Raven be soon satisfied with other things R. 2. From the sutable operation of Gods spirit in them unto Gods end in afflicting them Gods end in afflicting his children is to drive them from all other things unto himself For he corrects them for their good Heb. 12. 10. And its good for them to draw neer to God Psal 73. 28. When afflictions work us thereunto it is from the spirits sanctifying operation in them For 1. afflictions cannot work thus of themselves but rather set men further off from God by discontentment with his providence because it crosseth their carnal affections And 2. the soul of it self is apt to misgivings in such cases and to have hard thoughts of God And 3. Satan takes such occasions to breed and increase a distance and division between the soul and God Therefore it must be from the sanctifying operation of Gods spirit in them and with them when they work this good Rom. 8. 28. Vse 1. For Instruction 1. Here we may see the differenc between believers and others in their dejected condition 1. Believers have the spirit of faith in them whereby the soul though it be over-borne by passion and Temptation for a time yet it will worke it self into freedom again as oil will be uppermost The spirit as a spring will be cleansing it self more and more from that mudde that is in it But the heart of unbelievers is like a standing poole where that which is cast into it rests They are like the Sea where trouble and unquietnesse are in their proper place Isa 57. 20. True rest and peace are for ever separated from sin in any soul till the breach between God and the soul be made up by faith in Christ 2. Believers have an interest in God and he in them through Jesus Christ Hence they are kept as in a Garrison by his mighty power through faith unto salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. through the intercession of Christ Luke 22. 3. by the spirit of Christ dwelling with them and who shall be in them and abide with them for ever So that they shall not be left comfortlesse Joh. 14. 16 17 18. Hereupon Paul triumphed in Rom. 8. 35 c. Where he puts the question about persons and answers about things neither shall separate them from the love which either Christ bears to them or they to Christ Sin cannot separate them from Christs love to them because he hath more than conquered it by his own power Tribulation cannot seperate believers from the love they bear to Christ because they shall more then conquer it by the power of Christ It is not our hold of God and Christ but Gods and Christs hold of us that keeps us to him The root bears us up not we the root Rom. 11. 18. This Asaph acknowledged unto God when his feet were almost gone his steps had well nigh slipt saying Neverthelesse I am continually with thee thou hast holden me by my right hand Psal 73. 2 23. But unbelievers are without Christ and without God in the World Eph. 2. 12. Therefore when their creature-comforts fail them they are as a ship tossed in the Sea without a Pylot and without an Anchor which soon is bulged upon Rocks or falleth upon quick-sands having no God to guide or support them 2. Hence we way learn how to carry our selves toward afflicted dejected Christians Judge mercifully and wisely of poor weaklings Psal 41. 1. men are apt through want of wisdom and love to mis-apprehend the causes of their dejectednesse It is the lesse to be wondred at that an heathen King mis-interpreted the dejected countenance of Nehemiah Neh. 2. 2. seeing godly and wise Eli mis-censured Hannah as a distempered woman when she was in bitternesse of spirit 1 Sam. 1. 14 15. and Iobs friends mis-judged him for his afflictions and men generally mis-construed Christs sufferings Isa 53. 4 5. They are not alwayes the best that are merriest nor they the merriest in heart that are so in the face Nor are they alwayes of the weakest faith or spirit who are sometimes dejected as we see Ioshuah was in Josh 7. Therefore be not rash or harsh in censuring the dejected but rather worke with God for their support and comfort Two things are required hereunto knowledge and goodness Rom. 15. 14. The first will make you able the second willing to be helpful to such Labour to abound in both 1. In knowledge both of the word Col. 3. 16 and of the temper of the party that you may speak to them suitably and seasonably Isa 56. 4. 2. In goodnesse to pity them to pray for them and to set them in joynt Gal. 6. 1. 2. As for your selves beware that you mis-judge not your own estate toward God under such dejections but know that if ever you had any clear testimony of Gods love to you in Jesus Christ the love of God toward you in Christ is unchangeable it is an everlasting love Jer. 31. 3. Therefore hold the confidence and rejoycing of your hope firme unto the end Heb. 3. 6. and say with the Church in Mich. 7. 8. When I sit in darknesse the Lord shall be a light unto me Use 2. For Admonition Take heed of placing your comfort too much in the creature which being subject to change and inconstancy will be apt to breed disquietment Vexation inseparably followes vanity when vanity is not apprehended to be where it is In what degree any are lifted up in expectation of satisfying good from creatures or overjoyed with the comforts of them in that degree they are dejected in the dis-appointment of their hope and distressed in the losse of creature-contentments Inordinacy of affections imbitters all such afflictions Hence arise those bitter complaints I had setled my contentment and hope in such a friend or relation but now they are gone and with them all my joy is gone Woe is me I am undone Therefore Agur prayed wisely in Prov. 30. 8. Remove far from me vanity and lies i. e. vain and false apprehensions whereby the affections are too strongly fixed upon things that are vain and lying promising that contentment which they cannot yield confidence in vanities makes them Idols and makes the heart vaine like the things it relyes upon Psal 115. 8. They shall find continual disquietment who walk in a vain shadow Psal 39. 6. The best remedy against this is by dwelling in the secret of the most High to abide under the shadow of the Almighty Psal 91. 1 2. Lam. 3. 24. The Lord is my portion c The words having
19. My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Iesus Christ. 2. Enemies In Jesus Christ all believers have sufficient help from God against all sorts of enemies and can in an holy manner challenge them to do their worst and triumph over them before the battail upon this assurance My God will help me therefore I shall not be confounded Isa 50. 7 8 9. Other men are strong in men in armes in shipping in fortifications c. a believer hath all in God he is strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Eph. 6. 10. 3. A middle sort Laban fared the better for Iacob Potiphar Pharaoh and all Egypt for Ioseph The Sodomites for Lot The Mariners and all that were in the Ship for Paul Acts 27 24 The World for the Saints for the holy seed are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the propps that shoar up the places where they live that the wrath of God doth not over-flow and over-whelm them Isa 6. 13. Vse 1. For Instruction Hence learn to behold and admire the excellency and happinesse of every true believer in his portion The All-sufficient God is their portion His greatnesse power mercy grace goodnesse faithfulnesse forgivenesse justice all are for them and that they may possesse him as their portion he gives them his son to be theirs through faith and with him all things 1 Cor. 3 21 22 23. Thus The brother of low degree is exalted Iam. 1. 9. He hath the best portion that God can give and upon the best assurance that God can make Heb. 6. 18. Hence David calleth such the excellent ones Ps 16. 3. He had conversed with rich men great men wise men after the flesh yet he called none of them the excellent ones He well knew that the righteous is more excellent than his neighbour Prov. 12. 26. Vse 2. For Exhortation 1 Generally to all to make out for this portion To this end wait upon God in his Ordinances with thirsting souls It will not be in vain Isa 5. 5. 1 2 3. Prov. 8. 34 35. For thereby either it shall be cleered unto you that the Lord is your portion or the Lord will become your portion And he is so unto them in whom faith is wrought in Christ by the Spirit in the Ministry of the Gospel They that can say to Christ with Thomas My Lord and my God Ioh. 20. 28. may also say to God with David in Ps 142. 5. O Lord thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living This is the priviledge of those who answer Gods call by joyning to him in Covenant So saith the Lord I entred into Covenant with thee and thou becamest mine Ezek. 16. 8. And again in Hos 2. 23. I will say unto them which were not my people Thou art my people and they shall say Thou art my God To perswade you hereunto Consider 1. Every man desires to have best for his portion in other things in houses lands food apparel cattle But this portion is simply absolutely the best This Christ teacheth in Luke 16. 12. This he calls our own those another mans VVhen a man views houses or surveys land or tells money for another man his heart is not so affected with them as when he views surveys tells for himself Propriety draws and engages the heart to that wherein a man hath a property though it be but mean and worthlesse and carrieth the heart after it much more when propriety and a most worthy property meet together as David found this to be Psal 4. 6 7. 2. The misery of those that have not this portion Eph. 2. 12. Little or rather no cause have such to blesse themselves in their worldly portions and possessions as worldly men are apt to do Psal 49. 18. For they have their portion onely in this life which is but a vapour But believers are happy in their portion in God both in and after this life For they shall behold his face in righteousnesse and shall be satisfied when they awake with his likenesse Psal 17 14 15. Attend therefore in time to the counsel of Christ in Rev. 3. 17 18. 2. Specially To believers To behaâ—e themselves as it becomes those who have God for their portion That you may so do 1. Professedly avouch God to be your portion Deut. 26. 17. This is done two wayes 1. When you set your love upon him with such an esteem of him as is meet for such a portion Where a mans treasure is there will his heart be also Matth. 6. 21. Let God be your treasure when you look upon all things in the world single out those that you account most amiable desirable then ascend in your thoughts to heaven and contemplate all the excellencies there the rivers of pleasure the blessed fellowship of Saints in glory each of them as dear to another as if all relations of husbands and wives of parents and children and friends were in every one of them yet let God and Christ be above them all So did Asaph Psal 73. 25. So will every one that knows Gods name aright Psal 91. 14. Because he hath set his love upon me therefore will I deliver him I will set him on high because he hath known my name 2. When you are content to part with all to enjoy him alone A maid will say of a man whom she loves I will have him though I beg my bread with him A man will lay out his estate in suit for his own 3. When you live in the world with affections free from worldly ingagements as Pilgrims whose hearts are at home when their feet are travailing abroad 2. Possesse and use and injoy God as your portion Thus 1. Live upon God as the Israelites in Canaan did upon their lots and inheritances Live upon Gods favour in Christ Psal 30. 5. And upon his promises Isa 38. 16. Live by the faith of the Son of God Gal. 2. 20. fetching all your comfort thence 2. Walk with God Gen. 5. 24. and work in God Joh. 3. 21. marry in the Lord live unto the Lord exalting his ends and rules in all things 3. Cast all your care upon him 1 Pet. 5. 7. you may try men in smaller things before you trust them with greater especially if they be strangers But it is dishonourable to God if you do not at the first trust him with all that you are and have When mens hearts sink in every danger it is from a defect either of faith or in faith See how Christ reproved this in Peter Mat. 14. 30 31. Davids first recourse was to God and what ever means he used he looked up to him Psal 5. 3. 4. Live contentedly when you injoy God in his Ordinances without covetousnesse Heb. 13. 5. and with out discontentednesse because of outward afflictions or wants David as he was the sweet singer of Israel so he expressed a sweet frame of spirit in 2 Sam. 23. 5. He
call of God with the obedience of faith as David found in Psal 27. 8. Thou saidst seek ye my face my heart answered thy face Iehovah I do seek This answer is the voice of the whole soul unto God The understanding being illightned and fully convinced closeth with God in Christ as the first Truth and the will chooseth him as the chiefest good the affections rest satisfied with him alone and the whole soul placeth all its happinesse in its injoyment of him and conformity to him Hope waits for him desire longeth after him and joy delighteth in him above all things The Lord calleth the whole soul to come unto him that it may find true rest in voluntarily subjecting it self under his yoke Mat. 11. 28 29. and the whole soul in all its faculties and affections answereth as the Church did in Ier. 3. 22. Lo we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God With renouncing all other refuges as they did in ver 23. according to that promise in Hos 2. 23. I will say thou art my people and they shall say thou art my God R. 2. Because the souls saying the Lord is my portion argues unseigned love of God in Christ For all the affections depend on love What a man loveth as his portion he desireth to possesse and injoy and any impediment thereof stirs up his anger proportionately to his esteem and love of it As we see with what eagernesse and earnestnesse men endeavour to remove any thing that hinders their credits or estates c. Now if any love God above the world above themselves they will be more jealous of Gods honour then their own and against that which tends to Gods dishonour more then against what crosseth their own worldly honour Hence will arise hatred against sin because God hates it both in our selves Psal 97. 10. and in others Rev. 2. 6. Anger is against particulars but hatred is general Anger seeks revenge with moderation in proportion to the wrong done us but hatred seeks the destruction of its object Anger is placable but hatred is implacable And according to the degree of mens love to any thing will be their fear of being deprived of it and separated from it and of all causes and signes of alienation from it R. 3. Because the souls saying The Lord is my portion importeth the highest actings of the soul upon God When Iob said the things that my soul refused to touch Job 6. 7. he shewed the greatest detestation of them and when he said my soul chuseth death rather than life Iob 7. 15 he shewed a most vehement desire And when the Lord said I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul Ier. 32. 41. he shewed the firmnesse of his purpose So when the soul saith The Lord is my portion it argues the most full and firm cleaving of a believer unto God with purpose of heart as Barnabas exhorted them to do in Acts 11. 23. Else men do not return to him nor cleave to him as to the most High Hos 7. 16. unlesse they turn to him with all their heart Joel 2. 12. and love him with all their heart Deut. 30. 6. For it is by such a love that faith workes which is a believing with all the heart Acts 8. 37. and produceth obedience from the heart Rom. 6. 17. which is done when all the faculties and affections of the soul do open themselves and stand open to give entertainment unto God in Christ as the King of glory Psal 24. 7. When the Keyes of the whole house and every room in it are delivered up for the use and service of a King he is entertained like a King Inferiour guests are content one with one room another with another and sometimes two have but one room yea one bed for them both But the King must have all So it is in this case when the God of glory appeared unto Abraham and called him Abraham obeyed him without reservation Acts 7. 2 3. So must we yea so will all whose soules say the Lord is their portion Use 1. For instruction in four particulars 1. Hence learn how a man may know when afflictions are sanctified and blessed unto him i. e. when the eye of the soul is by them turned 1. Upward to look unto God for an interest in him as their portion 2. Inward to reflect upon the inward actings of the soul that they may know their interest in God as their portion Indeed afflictions of themselves work the contrary to estrange us from God and from our selves and Satan labours to foment and increase a separation of the soul from God and a division and distraction of the soul within it self Therefore it is by an over-ruling power and sanctifying efficacy of Gods spirit when they cause us to return unto the Lord Hos 6. 1. and to our selves Luke 15. 17 18. It is a sure rule of discerning ones self to be in the state of grace when he finds that every condition brings him neerer to God and every sanctifying gift of grace is quickned to its proper function to turn the faculty and affection of the soul in which it is planted unto God Rom. 8. 28 29. God is a pure act alwayes acting and every one the neerer he comes to God the more gracious frame of spirit he hath and the more spiritual affections and suitable actings of them sweetly issuing from thence 2. Learn hence a profitable use of spiritual soliloquies which are a mans speaking within himself to himself about spiritual things David prescribes communing with a mans own heart to further his repentance Psal 4. 4. and himself made use of it to quicken his faith Psal 42. 5. So the Church in my Text in times of affliction being driven out of their creature-comforts and expectations they communed and parlied with their own souls to cleer unto themselves their interest in God as their portion and to excite their faith and hope in him unto excercise 3. Learn hence not to rest in outward profession in words that the Lord is your portion Many hypocrites say so whose hearts cleave to some thing else as their portion some to their sinful wills and wayes They draw neer unto God with their lips but their hearts are removed far from him Such were those in Hos 8. 23. Israel will cry unto me my God we know thee when Israel hath cast off the thing that is good even God himself in whom and from whom is all good and the good word of God and the rules thereof though they thus departed from him yet in their distresse they were ready to claim an interest in him Others to their worldly objects They lay up treasures for themselves on the earth and there their hearts are Mat. 6. 19 21. Their belly is their God and portion that mind earthly things Phil. 3. 19. These steal away their hearts from God even while they are hearing the Word Ezek.
him God as our God and portion in the Covenant of Grace It is the office and work of faith to appropriate God in Christ to a mans self The voice of Christ unto believers is My Father is your Father and my God your God Joh. 20. 17. And the voice of faith in a believer to Christ is My Lord and my God ver 28 29. God absolutely considered out of Christ is an object of the greatest terrour unto sinners Isa 33. 14. But God relatively considered in Christ as our God and portion is the chiefest object of our hope and love Faith cleaveth unto God as our God and portion And when we know that God is our portion and thereupon hope in him then our hoping in God is right because it is rightly grounded Our having God for our portion begins at our entring into Covenant with him For then and not before we have a propriety in God and he in us Ezek. 16. 8. This propriety in God is given and manifested to us by degrees 1. The soul is convinced of the vanity and insufficiency of all other things to be our portion and so is made willing to forsake them all that it may injoy God as his portion Till this be done men observe lying vanities and forsake their own mercy Jon. 2. 8 9. 2. The soul is convinced that God is the God of some by a peculiar right Psal 4. 3. These he accounts the onely happy men in the World Psal 144. ult 3. Hence arise fervent desires that God would be so to him in particular Remember me O Lord with the favour of thy people Psal 106. 4. 4. The soul is quickened by the Spirit of faith to turn unto the Lord with true repentance and to put it self upon Gods mercy in Christ and to wait upon him for the discovery of his love to him Joel 2. 13 14. 5. God having thus far brought the soul towards himself doth in his own time manifest to us that he is our God whence the soul actually closeth with him by faith in Christ as our portion Hos 2. 13. Psal 73. 25. 6. Hereupon we come to hope in him for what ever good we need and he hath promised Psal 147. 11. And as faith groweth more towards full assurance so hope groweth more strong in spiritual security and courage and glorying in God Psal 48. ult yet in the darkest times faith inables the soul from its former taste of Gods goodnesse to claim an interest in him still Doubtlesse thou art our Father c. Isa 63. 16. with an expectation of future good from him Psal 42. 11. Yea when experience and sense failes by reason of our inadvertency yet so much vertue of former sense remains as inables the soul even when it is in darknesse and seeth no light to trust in the name of the Lord and stay it self upon his God Isa 50. 10. and to wait upon the Lord even when he hideth his face from us and to look for him Isa 8. 17. But if any desire to know how they may clearly discern that their hope is grounded on faith in God as their God and portion in Christ I answer you may know it by Gods influence in a believing soul whereby this hope is quickned and strengthened For when God becomes any ones portion he becomes a fountain of blessings to that person God our own God shall blesse us Psal 67. 6. He is a Sun and a Shield the Lord will give grace and glory no good thing will he withhold from them Psal 84. 11. Especially of spiritual blessings which the Apostles in their salutations comprehend in two things grace and peace God as our God in Christ is the God of both to his people He is the God of all grace 1 Pet. 5. 10. and the God of peace Heb. 13. 20. That is he influenceth believers with all those graces which breed peace and quietnesse in their souls supporting them under all burthens of temptations troubles wants imperfections till they come to enjoy perfect rest in God himself and fitting them in the mean time more and more for all that good which they want in themselves and he hath prepared for them in Christ For 1. God as our portion is the God of love yea love it self 1 Joh. 4. 8. and a tast of his love is better than wine Cant. 1. 3. so full of spirit that it will revive a drooping sinking dying soul and quicken all graces in it and make any condition comfortable any affliction tollerable and strengthen it to wait for more full communion with God in the use of the most difficult means as Jacobs love to Rachel inabled him to wait for her seven years in an hard service and they seemed to him but as a few dayes Gen. 29. 20. 2. God as our portion in Christ is the God of hope Rom. 15. 13. whereby as by an Anchor he stayeth and sixeth the soul upon himself as a Ship at Anchor though it may be moved and tossed yet it is not removed from its place and station so if you find that your soul cleaveth to God in Christ and will not be driven from him whatever troubles or temptations befal you your hope in him is right This Asaph found in Psal 73. ult 3. God as our God and portion is the God of patience Rom. 15. 5. whereby believers resigne up themselves to his dispose humbly submitting their wils to his If you find it so your hope is right David found it so 1 Sam. 30. 6. 4. God as our portion is the Father of Spirits Heb. 12. 9. which he so governs and meekens that though we be sensible of afflictions he keeps our spirits from discontentment and murmurring in a quiet frame Hereby also you may know that your hope is right The Church found it so in Mich. 7. 9. 5. God as our portion is God All-sufficient Gen. 17. 1. whence he gives us contenment in all estates 1 Tim 6. 6. If you find it so your hope is right Paul found it so Phil. 4. 11 12. 6. God as our portion is the God of all comfort 2 Cor. 1. 3. who by letting the light of his countenance into the soul maketh it light-some This joy strenthens the soul Neh. 8. 6. against inordinate fears of wants Psal 23. 1. or of dangers ver 4. and under sense of afflictions Rom. 5. 2 3. and oppositions Mich. 7. 7. and temptations 2 Cor. 12. 9 10. and in all events Rom. 8. 38 39. Not that every believer attains to such high actings of faith and and hope yet if it prevail to cause them to trust in him and stay themselves upon him in the dark it is a right hope Isa 50. 10. 2. Hope is rightly grounded when it is bottomed upon the Word and Promises of God believed in In the first conversion when the soul had nothing but the bare promise of free mercy in Christ to look at God did thereby cause us to trust and hope in