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
his calling why so Christ he is the true Shepherd who entred in by the door Iohn 10.2 He entred in by the door What 's the meaning of that that is Christ he is lawfully called and appointed to his keeping sheep 2. A Shepherd knows his Flock knows all his Flock this is in the Text I am the good Shepherd I know my Sheep saith Christ Christs knowing his Sheep implies a knowledge of approbation Christs knowing his Sheep that is his Loving of them this is a great Consolation that Christ knows all his Sheep he knows every one of their Names Iohn 10.3 He calleth his own Sheep by name He knows all their sighs and groans that they make Psalm 38.9 My groaning is not hid from thee Christ knows every tear they shed he bottels their tears as Wine Psalm 56.8 Put thou my tears into thy bottle He knows all their sufferings Iudg. 10.16 His Soul was grieved for the miseries of Israel Christ knows all their good works all their works of Piety and Charity and will shortly say Come ye blessed of my Father inherit a Kingdom What a Comfort is this Christ knows all his Sheep by name 3. A Shepherd he marks his Sheep that he may distinguish them from other strange Sheep so Jesus Christ this blessed Shepherd he sets a double mark upon his Sheep one is the ear-mark of Election I have chosen you saith he and beside that he hath set another mark upon his Sheep he seals them by his Spirit Eph. 4.30 The sanctifying Graces are the several badges and seals that Christ puts upon his Sheep how will this raise the Saints Triumph in Heaven How will this make them bless God that they should be markt out for Sheep when the most of the World are markt for Goats 4. A Shepherd he seeks his Sheep when they are lost and gone astray Luk. 15.4 That is the office of a Shepherd he seeks his Sheep Let me assure you Christs Sheep they are all lost naturally they have stray'd far from the fold and they are so lost that they can never find their way home of themselves a Dog or a Horse if lost can find the way home again but if a Sheep be lost it can never find its way home this is the case of lapsed Souls they are so lost that they cannot find the way now Jesus Christ this blessed Shepherd seeks these lost Sheep He left his Fathers Bosom he came from Heaven on purpose to seek after his lost wandring Sheep Luk. 19.10 The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost Zaccheus was a lost Sheep a great Sinner an Extortioner this lost Sheep was found upon a Sycomore Tree there Christ spied him and called him Luk. 19.5 Zaccheus make haste and come down here was a lost Sheep brought home Christ entred first into Zaccheus his Heart and then he entred into his House This day is Salvation come to thine House There may be some who are as yet lost Sheep they are wandred from God and have gone on in the ways of Sin but if they belong to this good Shepherd if you belong to Christ he will at one time or other bring home these wandring Sheep by converting Grace 5. A Shepherd he leads and guides his Sheep and thus Christ this blessed Shepherd guides his people that they should not go wrong Iohn 10.3 He leads them out How doth Christ guide his people he guides them with his Eye his Eye is never off of them though their Eye be too much off from him Psalm 32.8 Thou shalt guide me with thine Eye that is the eye of thy Providence shall direct me Again Christ guides his people by the Oracle of his holy Word Psalm 73.24 Thou shalt guide me with thy Counsel and Christ guides his people by the sweet conduct of his Spirit Iohn 16.13 He will guide you into all Truth when the Spirit of Truth is come unto you he will guide you into all Truth Besides Christ appoints Ministers to be guides if Christs Sheep go out of the way his Ministers are appointed to bring them back again to the fold 6. A Shepherd he governs his Sheep they have as much need of governing as guiding he governs his Sheep he orders them and brings them into a Decorum so the Lord Jesus governs his people Christs Pastoral staff it is a Type and Emblem of his governing the Saints Isa. 9.6 The Government shall be upon his Shoulders In the Hebrew it is the Priestdom shall be upon his Shoulders Christs Sheep are apt sometimes to be disorderly they are apt to slight their Shepherd to grow wanton to despise their Pastor to quarrel one with another but now Jesus Christ this blessed Shepherd he hath his Laws to bind them and he hath his Shepherds Rod to rule them he doth bring them into good order We want as well Christs Rod to govern us as his Blood to save us 7. A Shepherd doth relieve and feed his Sheep by the way He won't see them starve the Greek word for Shepherd signifies to feed the Lord Jesus doth mercifully feed his Flock he won't let them starve Isa. 40.11 He shall feed his flock like a Shepherd Christ feeds his people in the Sanctuary Gods Table are this Shepherds Tents Every Ordinance is a fresh pasture for the Saints to feed in Christ feeds Souls with the Bread of Life he fed them with that spiritual Supper at his own Table Here is the love of Christ the great Shepherd of Souls he provides plenty of pasture though some would rob Christs Sheep of their green pasture and starve them yet Christ will feed them as long as Christ hath a spiritual flock of Sheep in the World he will rather work a Miracle than they shall not be provided for He shall feed his flock like a Shepherd 8. A Shepherd he makes it a part of his work to look after his sick Sheep Christs Sheep they are apt to be sick some sick of Pride and some sick of Discontent and some sick of Envy and some sick of Covetousness Christs Sheep are apt to be sick and he cures all his Sheep that they shall never die of the Rott Ezek. 34.16 I will bind up that which is broken I will strengthen that which is sick Christ hath those soveraign Oyls and Balsams that can cure the worst distemper he hath appointed the Preaching of the Word to be a healer of Sin-sick Souls Ezek. 47. The Word preach'd is like the Waters of the Sanctuary both for Food and for Medicine 9. A Shepherd keeps a continual watch over his Flock that they be not stole or devoured by the Wolf so Christ doth watch over his flock by his omnisciency that no hurt comes to his Elect that they be not infected by Sin and insnared by Temptation Christ hath his Shepherd Eyes to watch his flock and he hath his Shepherd staff to beat off the Wolf. 10. A Shepherd hath compassion of his Sheep
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
affliction 2 Cor. 4.17 18. The Cross is light in comparison of the Cross which Christ conformed to The Cross is light in comparison of the weight of glory and thus faith makes the Soul go through affliction Thirdly This kissing of Christ by faith pleases God more than any thing we can do besides it is better than to give God Rivers of Oil it is better than Sacrifice it is faith that pleases God this is the savoury meat which God loves to tast of And the reason why believing is thus pleasing to God is this because by believing we bring a righteousness into Gods presence which is perfectly meritorious We don't bring the righteousness of Adam into Court or the righteousness of Angels but we bring the righteousness of God and this is that which makes believing so pleasing to God. If then to kiss Christ by faith be the great work under the Gospel why then let us labour thus to kiss the Son of God by believing in him and puting and placing our full hope in him That 's the first thing Kiss him with a kiss of faith Secondly We must kiss the Son of God with a kiss of Love. Indeed Christ he is the wonder of beauty he is nothing but Love. God is love 1 Iohn 4.8 Christ hath that majesty in him which may draw reverence and he hath that mercy in him that may draw love to him The Lord Jesus he is a whole Paradice of delight why then kiss him with a kiss of love Let it be a sincere love 1 Cor. 16.21 Grace be with them that love the Lord Iesus in sincerity and truth Don't kiss him with a Iudas kiss to betray him but love him sincerely that is love his person more than Jewels Love Christ more for what he is than for what he hath and then love Christ with a superlative love a love above all things whatsoever Christ hath loved you more than others you that are Believers he hath loved you with such a love that he doth not bestow upon the wicked You have Electing love you have Adopting love let your love to Christ be such a love that none else but Christ may be a sharer that is give Christ a love that is joyned with adoration Don't only kiss Christ with your lips but worship him in your hearts That 's a second Kiss Christ with a kiss of Love he deserves your love most and he deserves your love best Thirdly Kiss Christ with a kiss of Obedience This is to kiss Christ when we submit to him when we obey his Laws when we are under his Jurisdiction There are many in the world give Christ a complemental kiss they seem devout and zealous they bow and cringe O but they don't obey the Son they kiss Christ as their Saviour but they will not submit to him as their Prince The truth is they would have Christ and their lusts together they would embrace his Promises but they will not obey his Commands O kiss the Son with a kiss of Subjection We should be like the Needle that points that way which the Loadstone draws Those persons that will not have Christs Laws to rule them they shall never have Christs Blood to save them Now to perswade you to kiss the Lord Jesus with a kiss of Obedience consider these two things 1. The first is in the Text lest he be angry Anger is not in Christ as a passion but anger is said to be in Christ as a displeasure in him And his punishing of offenders is the effect of his displeasure Who knows the power of his anger O therefore kiss the Son lest he be angry See that place in Rev. 6. v. 15. The Kings of the Earth the great men hid themselves in the Dens and in the Rocks of the Mountains and said to the Rocks and the Mountains Fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sits on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. Now the Lamb of God is turn'd into a Lion and therefore they cry out to the Rocks O hide us from the wrath of the Lamb He that hath no part in the Blood of the Lamb will have a part in the wrath of the Lamb. If you will not kiss the â—on and lie down at his feet and submit to him then you must fall into his hands and the Apostle saith It 's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God Heb. 10.31 It is good for to fall into his hands when he is a friend O but it 's sad to fall into his hands when he is an adversary God is the sweetest friend but he is the sourest enemy When but one spark of Gods wrath doth light upon a man it is so terrible what is it then to have the whole Furnace of his wrath How easily can the Lord Jesus crumble us to dust he can unpin the whole world O then kiss the Son lest he be angry The Mountains quake at his presence and will not the sinners heart quake Perhaps you think this Lion is not so fierce as he is painted Look into one Scripture Ezek. 22.14 Can thine heart endure or can thine hand be strong in the day that I shall deal with thee 2. Secondly If we kiss the Son by believing in him and by obeying him Christ will answer Love with Love he will smile upon us he will kiss us with the kisses of his mouth Cant. 1.8 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth for his love is better than wine Christ will lay us for ever in his bosom and if we give him a kiss of Love he will give us a Crown of Life Rev. 2. The last Use. Here 's a word of terrour to wicked men instead of kissing the Son they disobey him dishonour him vex his Spirit do all they can to spite him They take counsel against the Lord and his Anointed Are there not many that do all they can to overturn Christs Interest they would stop the Conduit-pipes that transmit the Water of Life Rev. 17.14 They shall make war with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them Christ will get the Victory he will come off Conquerour Jesus Christ he will lay his Saints in his bosom but he will put his Enemies under his feet Psal. 110.1 I will make mine enemies my footstool Those that will not be ruled by Christs Royal Scepter his Scepter of grace they shall be broken by his Rod of Iron In short All those that do oppose Christ they shall be as so many ripe clusters of Grapes to be cast into the great Wine-press of Gods wrath and to be trodden by the Son of God till their blood squeezes out The Lord Jesus he shoots his Arrows very deep into the very hearts of his Enemies Psal. 54.5 His Arrows are sharp in the hearts of his Enemies The Persians they dip their Arrows in poison to kill more mortally So Jesus Christ he shoots his Arrows of poison and because they
can be no trust One cannot well trust a stranger there must be some acquaintance with God Iob 22. v. 21. Acquaint thy self now with him and be at peace That 's the first What this trusting in God is Secondly Why we must repose our trust in God I will give you but these two Reasons First Because God doth call for this trust Isa. 26.4 Trust ye in the Lord for ever Psal. 62.8 Trust in him at all times Tho' you are in never such straits and fears yet remember to cast Anchor upwards Trust in God at all times The Lord would take off our confidence and trusting in all other things besides Ier. 17.5 Cursed be that man that trusts in man and maketh flesh his arm We break our Crutches because we lean too hard upon them God would have us make him our trust And the truth is trust and affiance is the chief part of the Worship we ascribe to God. Secondly We must trust in God in all our straits and dangers He is the proper object of our trust My Brethren the Creature is not a fit object of our trust as it appears thus It hath two ill qualities that we cannot repose our trust in First The Creature it deceives Secondly It fails First It deceives it is but a sugared Lie Where we think to suck Honey we only tast Wormwood And as it deceives so it fades and withers like a Rose the fuller it is blown the sooner it sheds So that we cannot make the Creature the object of our trust But God he deserves our trust he is called in Scripture a strong Tower where you may have safety Prov. 18.10 The name of the Lord is a strong Tower he is Elshaddi God Almighty Gen. 17.1 There is no condition we can be in no exigence but he can relieve he is God Almighty In particular there are two glorious Attributes in God in which we may safely repose our trust The one is his Mercy The other his Truth They are both joyned in one verse Thou wilt perform thy Truth and thy Mercy to Abraham First We may rest and stay our Souls upon Gods Mercy Psal. 13.5 I have trusted in thy mercy Though I have sinned mercy can pardon me Though I am in want mercy can relieve me Gods mercy it is infinite it is a Honey-comb for sweetness and it is a Rock for safety Secondly We may safely relie on Gods Truth or Faithfulness Remember this Truth is the object of Trust. Heaven and Earth may sooner fail than Gods Veracity Psal. 89.33 I will not suffer my faithfulness to fail Good reason then we should trust in God. Where can we pitch our Faith but upon Gods Faithfulness Thirdly The third thing is to shew you that trusting in God is the way to have the heart fixed His heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. Note two things first That it is an excellent thing to have the heart fixed Secondly It is only Faith doth fix the heart First It is a rare thing It is excellent to have the heart fixed as appears two ways First Fixing of the heart shews solid efficacy of spirit A heart unfixt it is just like a Ship without Ballast blown up and down in the water Secondly Fixing the heart fits it for holy duties He whose heart is fixed upon God he serves God with delight with chearfulness Indeed a heart unfixt is a heart unfitted for duty A shaking hand is not fit to write An unfixed heart is unfit to pray or meditate it runs after other vanities Sure then a fixed frame of heart is an excellent frame of heart You know when the Milk is settled then it turns to Cream So when the heart is settled and fixed on God it is ever in the best frame That 's the first Secondly That trusting in God doth fix the heart The heart is fixed trusting in the Lord that is 't is fixed by trusting Faith it frees the heart from those commotions which cause trembling and quivering it fixes the heart upon God as a Star is fixt in its Orb so is a Believers Soul fixt on God. Faith makes the heart cleave to God as the Needle doth cleave to the Loadstone Faith fixes the heart Such a fixed Star was Athanasius Tertullian called him an invincible Adamant he could not be stirr'd or moved away from the Truth Faith had fixed his heart on God. To make some Use of this Vse First Here you see the misery of wicked men they are unfixed they know not where to rest when troubles come they have no God to go to trust to Sinners they are like a Ship without Anchor tossed with the Storms that hath no where to put in for harbour they are like the Old World when the Flood came they had no Ark to trust to The wicked are like King Saul in an hour of danger 1 Sam. 28.15 I am sorely distressed for the Philistines make war against me and God is departed from me A flagitious sinner is like a Souldier in Battel where the Bullets flie about and he is without Armour and hath no Garrison to trust unto Beloved it is Faith makes the heart fixt in troublesom times Faith doth ingarrison the Soul in Gods Attributes and makes it like a Tower walled in with Rocks that is impregnable Use 2. Of Exhortation Oh! Let us above all things labour for this heart-fixing grace of Faith. Trusting in God doth corroborate and animate and bear up the heart in death-threatning dangers Oh get this heart-fixing grace of Faith But alas who will not say that he is resolved and he is fixt If a Storm doth arise he for his part trusts in God who will not say he trusts in God Therefore we must bring our hearts to a Scriptural Touchstone it is worth while Let us try whether our trusting in God be right or no. You shall know it thus First If our Trust be right then we commit our chief Treasure to God our Soul is the Jewel the chief Treasure and we commit this to Gods care and custody Psal. 31.5 Into thy hand I commit my Spirit we lay up all our hope in God Psal. 39.7 What wait I for Lord my hope is in thee As in time of war a man puts all his Money and Plate in a safe strong place so must we lay up all our hopes in God as a strong Tower. Secondly If we trust in God aright why then we do in all our danger flie to God. There are some when troubles arise they flie to their shifts O! but do we flie to God Psal. 143.9 Deliver me O Lord from mine enemies I will flie to thee to hide me When Satan shoots his fiery Darts of Temptation then we flie under Christs wing to shelter us even as the Dove when the Hawk pursues it it casts it self into the clefts of the Rock and there it hides So when Satan pursues us with Temptation we get into the bleeding wounds of Christ these clefts of the Rock there
enemies are laying snares for them God is pouring Wine and Oil into his peoples wounds and his adversaries they are a pouring in Vinegar into those wounds How contrary do these act those that are of the Romish Whore are at this day plotting to the ruine of Gods people and would have the Church of God lie in a field of blood The Lord he makes light to arise to the godly the wicked they labour to make darkness and sorrow to arise to them But such as lay snares for the righteous God will rain fire upon them Psa. 11.6 Upon the wicked God shall rain fire and brimstone The wicked they strike at Christ thorow his members sides but let them know if they kick against the Rock Christ the Lord will be too hard for them at last God ordains his Arrows against the Persecutors Psal. 7. v. 13. and God never misses his mark if he hath his Arrow upon the string he will certainly shoot and he never misses his mark That 's a second Inference 3. See here the difference betwixt the wicked and the godly in all their darkness they have some light some comfort arises to them The wicked in all their outward comforts they have some darkness arises up to them conscience chides them and troubles threaten them It is like the hand-writing upon the wall Psa. 68.31 God shall wound the heads of his enemies and the hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his trespasses The sinner in his light time condition in all his outward mirth he may see some clouds of darkness Gods threatning Arrows are against him and Gods Curse is against him and Gods Curse it blasts where-ever it comes An impenitent sinner he lives every day under the sentence of death and there remains for him saith the Apostle a fiery indignation Heb. 10.27 When the hardened sinner dies he will be but in a bad case he drops into the Grave and into Hell both at once God hath brewed for the impenitent sinner a deadly Cup Psal. 75.8 Observe that Scripture In the hand of the Lord there is a Cup the Wine is red it is full of mixture and the dregs thereof the wicked of the earth shall wring them out and drink them This red Wine it is the wrath of God and this Wine is full of mixture what 's that that 's the worm of Conscience and the fire of Hell Here is a mixed Cup and the wicked shall be ever drinking this Cup. God will never say Let this Cup pass away No they must be for ever drinking the dregs of this Cup of wrath My thinks this Scripture should be a damp to all their joy and mirth darkness is coming upon them 1 Sam. 28.19 It was sad news to Saul that the Devil brought saith he Tomorrow thou shalt be with me dreadful news Now men are sporting with their lusts and pleasures now they think they are in their gallantry and to morrow may be with the Devil A fourth branch of Inference Doth God cause light to spring up in his peoples darkness then see here the difference betwixt Earth and Heaven Here in this world there is a mixture of darkness with the Saints light in Heaven there shall be nothing but pure light no darkness there It is called an Inheritance of light Col. 1.12 As the Philosophers say Light is the very glory of the Creation it is the beauty of the world What was all the world without light but a dark prison Here 's the beauty of Heaven it is a place of light there is no eclipse nor dark shadows to be seen there Heaven is a bright body all over all over embroidered with light there is the Sun of Righteousness shining with the bright Orient beams of glory Rev. 21.23 the Lamb is the light thereof oh how should we long for that place of Paradice Use 2. is of Consolation For the Church and People of God. This Text is a pillar of light a breast of consolation To the upright ariseth light in darkness Doth God make light and joy and peace to arise to the righteous why then should we despair why should we despond when it is Gods great design to lighten his peoples darkness I confess things have but a bad aspect England is like the Ship in the Gospel almost covered with waves This may humble us and set our Eyes abroach with tears Yet let us not mourn as without hope This Text methinks le ts in some branches of light it gives some spark of comfort in our darkness Let me come as the Dove with an Olive branch of peace That it is some spark of light that there are many upright ones in the Land and the Text saith Light ariseth to the upright Indeed were the godly quite removed as it is the desire of some to destroy them God would soon make quick work with the Nation he would soon break up house here Gen. 19.22 Haste thee escape thither for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither The upright that my Text speaks of God will do much for their sakes The upright they are the excellent of the Earth they are the Chariots and Horse-men of Israel they are the very flower and cream of the Creation they are the glory of Christ 2 Cor. 8.23 and for their sakes God may yet cause light to arise and his Arm may bring salvation Secondly Another spark of light in our darkness that yet God is pleased to stir up in his people is a spirit of mighty prayer they cry mightily Certainly God will not say to this City and Nation Seek ye my face in vain Prayer is the Wall and Bulwarks of the Land. It is observable when the Lord intends to pour out the Vials of his Indignation he stops the sluces of prayer shuts up the spirit of prayer Ier. 7.16 Therefore pray not thou for this people neither lift up a cry nor prayer for them neither make intercession to me for I will not hear God hath not yet said so to us The Key of Prayer oiled with tears and turned with the hand of faith unlocks Gods bowels Prayer when it is important staves off wrath from the Nation Exod. 32.10 Saith God to Moses Now therefore let me alone that my wrath may wax hot against them and that I may consume them And what did Moses do he only prayed Fervent prayer overcomes the Almighty Prayer finds God free but it leaves him bound it is as it was This his hand staves off Judgment this lets in some dawning light to this Land that God don 't wholly leave us especially remembring this that Christ Jesus praying over our prayers again presents them to his Father and perfumes them with his sweet odour which makes them go up as Incense Rev. 8.3 Thirdly Another spark arising is this when we consider Gods compassion and bowels of mercy Mercy it is Gods darling Attribute that he loves most of all to magnifie Micah 7.18 Mercy pleaseth
and doth convey it by his Spirit So thirdly He doth maintain this peace by his daily Intercession What Saint alive doth not sometimes offend God and cause the fury of his anger to rise up in his face Now when the case is thus that we offend God and are ready to break his peace then Jesus Christ he stands up as an Intercessor and he speaks to God the Father on our behalf and it is his request that God would lay aside his anger and that he would smile upon his people again and therefore in Scripture Christ is called our Atonement to make peace and he is called our Advocate to purchase peace When we break our peace Christ he pleads our cause and makes up this peace again by his Intercession 1 Iohn c. 3. v. 7. To make some Application of this Use 1. First By way of Inference See then here to what Coast we must trade for this Pearl whither we must go for this spiritual peace that is our consolation in life and death Go to Christ for it That in me ye might have peace Saith Cyprian peace it is in Christ as sap is in the Root of the Vine as water is in the Spring That in meâ— ye might have peace saith Christ. This blessed peace that Christ gives it 's worth going to him for it is superiour to all other peace Peace in a Kingdom it is very desirable peace it is every ones Vote Peace it is the very quintessence of earthly blessings To sit quietly under our Vines and Figg-trees surely better a great deal better is the sounding of the Lute and Viol than the roaring of the Cannon See what a sweet promise God makes Isa. 2.4 He will break their Swords into Plowshares all shall be peace But what is this peace to the peace Christ gives to his People that is sacred This peace our Saviour gives it hath these two properties or these two qualifications to name no more First It is an Emboldening peace Secondly It is a Lasting peace First It is an Emboldening peace Friends that are at peace they use a kind of freedom and boldness one with another So we having peace thorow Christs Blood conveyed by his Spirit may be bold to make use of Gods Promises There is never a Promise in the Bible but a Believer may pluck a Leaf from and be at peace with God thorow Christ. We may now use a holy boldness in prayer We may come to God as Children to their Father Heb. 4.16 Let us come with boldness to the Throne of Grace God is our Father and he being at peace with us he will not deny any thing that may conduce to our real good This may make us come with boldness to the mercy Seat That 's the first It is an Emboldening peace Secondly Christs peace that he gives as it is an Emboldening peace so it is a Lasting peace Here is a peace that will hold For all Earthly peace to speak properly it is rather a truce than a peace a truce that is but for a small time and it ends Yea but this peace that Christ gives it is for ever Once in Christ and ever in Christ. Once justified and ever justified Here is a Lasting peace Isa. 54.10 The Covenant of my peace shall not be moved saith the Lord. The peace of a Believer it is but begun here in this life it is perfected in the Kingdom of Heaven Isa. 57.2 He shall enter into peace Here is a godly mans priviledge when he dies he dies in peace and as soon as ever he is dead he enters into peace he shall enter into peace that is he shall go to the Ierusalem above that City of peace Here the Saints peace it is but begun it is but in the seed there it shall be in the Flower Here it is but in its infancy there it shall be in its full growth That 's the first see to what Coast you must trade for this peace Go to Christ for it That in me ye might have peace Use 2. See what a sad condition all wicked men are in that live and die in their sins They have nothing to do with peace What! Shall they have peace that make War with Heaven persecute Christ in his Members Shall they have peace that deride and grieve the Spirit of God whose very Office it is to drop peace into the Conscience What a sinner to have peace 2 Kings 9.22 What peace so long as the Whoredoms of thy Mother Jezabel and her Witchcrafts are so many A wicked man is a worker of iniquity As a man works at his shop so he works at the trade of sin and what hath he to do with peace and how deplorable is his case What if a Foreign Enemy should come sinners would be in a storm and have no where to put in for Harbour It is a very sad thing to be in Sauls condition the Philistines upon him and God departed It is a very sad thing to have fightings without and fears within to have the Bullets shooting against the Ship and the Ship leaking within Isa. 57.21 There is no peace to the wicked saith my God And if God saith it he knows it to be true The wicked perhaps they may delude themselves and presume that though they go on in sin yet they shall have peace but to undeceive them turn to that one Scripture Deut. 29.19 And it come to pass when he heareth the words of this curse that he blesses himself in his heart saying I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of mine heart Verse 20. The Lord will not spare him but then the anger of the Lord and his Iealousie shall smoke against that man. One may as well think to suck health out of Poison as to suck peace out of Sin. Sinners they may be quiet or rather secure for the present but as 2 Sam. 26. it will be bitterness in the latter end Guilt will sooner or later raise a storm saith Chrysostom Sin will conjure up the Winds and Storms into the Conscience I have sometimes thought it is with sin as it is with poison there are some sorts of poison that will lie a great while in the body and not work but at last it does wring and torture the bowels a fit resemblance of sin Men they drink this poison and they may be quiet a while but at last especially at death then it begins to work and then the poison begins to touch the Conscience The great God of Heaven and Earth hath set up his Standard and proclaimed open War against every impenitent sinner and it will not be long if men go on in sin before Gods Cannon Bullets will begin to flie Gods wrath may seem to be like a sleeping Lion but this Lion will awake and roar and tear his prey I will say but this I confess God may bear long with wicked men let them alone he may bear long with them in respect of punishment when