PRECIOUS PROMISES The Portion of OVERCOMERS BY JOHN LOVGHER Minister of the Gospel Vincenti Dabitur LONDON Printed by A. Maxwell and R. Roberts for Edw. Giles Bookseller in Norwich 1681. To my Honoured and Worthy Friends and Brethren in and about Southrepps and Alby in Norfolk Grace and Peace be multiplied through the knowledg of God and of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Dear Friends and Brethren UNder Christ whose I desire chiefly to be and whom I would firstly serve you are nearest to me in spiritual relation and dearest in Christian affection having upon your call and invitation thereunto given my self to the service of your Souls and though through much infirmity I have preached the Gospel to you being the most unworthy of them who Minister in holy things yet my weakness you have not despised nor rejected but received me as an Angel of God yea even as Christ Jesus And though I have spent nigh Eighteen years amongst many of you yet I have not reason to put that question to you which St. Paul did unto his Galatians Where is then the blessedness you speak of For your respects to me and my weak endeavours continue fresh and vigorous at this day even as at the first To some of you I am obliged in many bonds of gratitude to all in love and duty to others I owe much to you my self and therefore I could make a dedication of these Discourses to none so fitly as your selves The many imperfections in them may render them contemptible to others yet I know your love will cover my defects and will receive them with as much candour and kindness from the Press as you did attend them with diligence and affection in the Preaching of them especially considering that some of you importuned me to it judging them seasonable I cannot easily wish the subject treated of greater or better but the manner of explaining and applying these excellent Promises I could desire were much better for your sakes But where there is a willing mind it is accepted with Christ and I doubt not but you will be conformable to his example in this particular As the following Sermons were at first Preached for your instruction and now published for your edification so let them be well digested by meditation and practised in your conversation You are called a Church of Christ O study to be so indeed viz. A Congregation of faithful ones faithful to God and with the Saints Be not like Ephesus declining in your love and first works or if you be abated therein remember whence you are fallen and labour to recover Be not like Pergamos and Thyatira seduced by erronious Principles or debauched by evil Practises Above all be not like Laodicea self-conceited and proud of your attainments and enjoyments or luke-warm in the great things of salvation for such are loathsom to the heart and spirit of Jesus Christ But be you a sweet-smelling Smyrna let the savour of Christs good Ointments be manifested in all your words and ways and shew your selves Philadelphians of humble meek loving dispositions towards one another unto all the Saints yea even unto all men In a word Labour to approve your selves good Soldiers of Jesus Christ look to him who is the Author and finisher of your faith yield not to compound not with fly not from your spiritual enemies but resist stedfastly for Christ stands by you fights for you and will give victory to you in the end 'T is reported of the ancient British Nation that they never ran away in Battel till their General first forsook them Let us all demean our selves valiantly in our Christian warfare till Christ the Captain of our salvation desert us which will never be for we have his faithful Promise saying I will never leave you nor forsake you To his blessing and holy protection I commend you desiring the continuance of your Prayers for me and your acceptance of this small testimony of my respects to you by which I may speak to you when I shall go from hence and be seen no more I am March 26. 1681. Your weak but willing Servant in the work of the Gospel John Lougher THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Christian Reader THE end of my prefixing these few Lines to the following Sermons is not because I think they need any commendation or attestation from me or that any thing I can say of them will render them at all the more acceptable to any one into whose hands they may come for I doubt not but they will approve themselves to every judicious intelligent and spiritually minded Reader but only to answer the desires of my dear and worthy friend the Author of them As to this Book of the Revelation the precious promises to the Seven Asian Churches in the second and third Chapters thereof being the foundation of the ensuing discourses it hath been observed by some that it is Symbolical and Prophetical containing in it Predictions of many things to come both in the Church and in the World symbolically represented so that the Apostle John as in his Gospel he appeareth to be an Evangelist in his Epistles an Apostle so in this his Revelation a Prophet It is indeed penned in somewhat obscure phrases borrowed some of them from the Prophets of old whence the understanding of it at least of some part of it have been found difficult even to the godly learned thence some have refused to read it privately others have declined the publick reading of it others have forborn to expound it and some have refrained from Preaching out of it yet it being a part of the holy Scripture dictated by the Spirit of God for the instruction and consolation of the Church in these last and worst days and there being also such a gracious promise of blessing made to the reading and hearing the words of it but especially to the keeping the things written therein Chap. 1.3 I cannot but judge the labours of those much to be commended who have either by their Sermons or Interpretations endeavoured the elucidation and illustration of it And that the Author of these following discourses hath by the gracious assistance and guidance of the Lords holy Spirit been directed to the true and genuine sense and meaning of the same Spirit in those choice and precious promises whereof he treats As to the subject matters contained in these promises here discoursed I look upon them as some of the most necessary and substantial truths of the Gospel for what indeed can be more necessary profitable and useful to Christians than the right understanding of the most precious and glorious promises thereof those exceeding great and precious promises as the Apostle Peter calls them 2 Pet. 1.4 which are as so many breasts full of sweetness and consolation to all the heirs of them The new Covenant to which all the Promises relate and in which they are all contained called therefore the Covenant of Promise Ephes 2.12 and which
Christ saith I will ransome them from the power of the Grave I will redeem them from Death Hos 13.14 It cannot deliver them over to wrath or carry a good man in Chains to the Prison of Hell This is to be killed with Death A Believer may say O Death where is thy Sting O Grave where is thy Victory Thanks be to God who giveth us the Victory through Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.56 57. Once past the first Death you are for ever free from all fear of Death This Life is on this account miserable that it is in fear of Death hanging over it every moment What is your Life saith St. James it is a Vapour that now is and quickly vanishes away Jam. 4.13 14. But after this no more fear of Death to a true Christian And to make the Joy of such full there is a Meiosis in this Text when it is said they shall not be hurt of the second Death it implies that they shall be called to a blessed and immortal Life Not only not ashamed but have boldness and confidence before Christ at his coming not only sorrow and sighing will flee away but everlasting Joy shall be upon their heads not only free from the Curse but shall hear a Come ye blessed not only no Despair but no doubting yea a perpetual Plerophory and full Assurance of their happy state not only no Worm of an accusing Conscience but the testimony of an absolving Conscience which will be a continual Feast not only no Torments of Hell but the Pleasures of Heaven not only no Canaanites in that Land no Devil no wicked men but the Society of holy Angels and Saints and God's glorious Presence to all Eternity Why should not all sincere Believers comfort themselves and one another with these things and that in the worst of times A Martyr being offered Life if he would renounce the Truth answered Can you give me Eternal Life And being threatned with Death for refusal he said You cannot bring me under the second Death you cannot put me to Eternal Death You can kill my Body but that 's all you can do I must fear to offend him that can destroy Body and Soul in Hell Better it is saies he that I have a little Wormwood in my Mouth a while than to have my Bowels filled with it for ever Oh! how would the Improvement of this Text and Truth support and comfort a Christian in the saddest conditions he may be called to pass through in this world Vse 2. Is it thus that Overcomers shall not be hurt of the second Death Then let us all make out for true Faith in Jesus Christ for this is the Victory whereby we overcome the World and all that is in the World even our Faith 1 John 5.4 This is the first Resurrection which whosoever hath a part in is blessed If you ask wherein are such blessed The Text tells you Rev. 20.6 On such the second death hath no power Some understand this of Romish Idolatries and Superstitions for it is said If any man worship the Beast and his Image and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb And they have no rest night nor day who worship the Beast and his Image and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name which implies say they that those who live and dye under the dominion of those Antichristian abominations in Doctrine Worship and Practice and rise not by true Faith in Christ and Repentance towards God will fall under the power of the second death 'T is said every living soul died in the Sea for it became as the Blood of a dead man when the Vial was poured out upon it Revel 16.3 Whence some have concluded that those under the Romish Jurisdiction who live and dye under the full Dominion and Practice of their Idolatrous wicked Doctrines and Worship cannot be saved But others take this first Resurrection to be meant of a Spiritual quickning to a Divine Life the Dead hear the Voice of the Son of God in the Gospel and live this is when Faith is first wrought which is the beginning of the Soul's life and strength the first born of graces the bond of Union between Christ and Believers and so brings all the strength and Grace of Christ into their hearts for Christ and all his Fulness dwelleth there by Faith and by that is derived to the Soul to enable it to overcome all its Enemies Where this is not wrought Sin and Satan do conquer and utterly destroy the Soul If ye believe not that I am he ye shall dye in your sins saies Christ to the Jews Joh. 8.21 24. Should any one come and tell us You shall die in a Ditch or in a Goal it would sound harshly in our ears but for Christ to say Ye shall dye in your sins is yet more dreadful For a man may die in a Ditch or in a Prison and yet go to Heaven but if any one die under the full power of Sin and Satan a dead Dog is better than he it had been good for that man he had never been born for he drops presently into Hell and the Second Death hath an irrecoverable Power over him he can never get from under it because all his Sins will be laid upon him If a Debtor be Arrested and cast into Prison no sooner do his Creditors understand it but they come and bring in their several Actions that a man must lye there all his days Thus if the first Death Arrest us and we under the full Dominion of sin Satan comes in Conscience comes in the Law comes in yea God himself comes in all come in and lay Action upon Action against us and there we must lye till the last Mite be paid which because we can never do we must lye there to all Eternity We live in very dying Times and none can tell how soon the thred of his Life may be cut If we look not diligently to it we shall dye in our sins and so be undone for ever O let us look and get true Faith for it is he that believes that overcomes and he that overcomes shall not be hurt of the Second Death SERMON III. REV. II. 17. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Manna and will give him a white stone and in the stone a new name written which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it WE have here another of those excellent Promises made to Overcomers It is the concluding words of that Epistle to the Church in Pergamos as in the 12th Verse is evident Some say this was a great City distant from Jerusalem Two hundred and twenty eight miles very populous but very wicked Hence we
a man tells his friend a secret he would not have others know he whispers in his ear so the Lord deals with his People he reveals those secrets to them which every one shall not know which indeed eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor hath entred into the hearts of other men These God reveals to Believers by his spirit 1 Cor. 2.9 10. On this account is the Church stiled by Christ a Garden enclosed Cant. 4.12 Not only are Believers as to their persons so enclosed that they cannot fall away and miss of salvation nor are the graces of such only so enclosed that they perish not but they are also enclosed in their mystical enjoyments that none partake of them but themselves To which agreeth that Prov. 14.10 The heart knoweth its own bitterness and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy Believers have bitter and sweet listings up and castings down sorrows and joys peculiar to themselves alone Quest You will say What are those special favours Christ gives those that overcome which others cannot receive Answ There are many of these peculiar tokens of special love he doth bestow upon them that by faith get Victory over their spiritual Enemies as true Believers do we read that Abraham gave the sons of the Concubines portions and sent them away but to Isaac he gave all that he had Gen. 25 5 6. God gives portions in this Life even to all to the worst of men but some things Believers have others share not in They have the Lord for their God in a peculiar covenant-relation 't is said he is not ashamed to be called their God Heb. 11.16 others have none of the life of God given them none of the fulness of God none of the peculiar knowledge of God no special interest in the attributes of God none of the saving influential goodness of God all which the Saints receive Yea they partake of Christ they have received Christ Jesus the Lord Colos 2.16 others are without Christ no right to the Covenant no interest in the Promises no reconciliation no righteousness no acceptance no salvation for these benefits are derived to men by Faith in Christ I might adde Believers only are partakers of the spirit of God I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter saith Christ even the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive John 14.16 17. And he is to them a Spirit of Light and Wisdom a Spirit of Power and Love and of a sound mind a spirit of Grace and Holiness a spirit of Love and joy none of which things others partake of But I wave those and confine my discourse to those in the Text. 1. Hidden Manna To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Manna that is of Christ himself whom though none of the Princes of this World knew yet God reveals this hidden Manna to his hidden ones by his Spirit It is an allusion to the Manna God gave Israel the Wilderness which was a famous and excellent type of Christ as he himself largely declares John 6. Moses gave you not that Bread from Heaven but my Father giveth you the true Bread from Haven For this pointing to himself is the Bread of God which cometh down from Heaven and giveth life unto the World verse 32.33 and so verse 48. I am that Bread of Life Again vers 56. This is the Bread which cometh down from Heaven whereof if a man eats he shall not dye This Manna God gave the Jews was twice hidden 1. It fell in the dew of the Morning and so was hidden from their sight for it is said when the Dew was gone up they saw a little round thing and when they saw it they said it is Manna Ex. 16.14 15 33. And 2. It was hidden when some part of it was by Gods appointment put into a golden pot and preserved as a memorial of that wonderful Work to future Generations unto this latter many take the Text to allude The sense of this Promise take in two things 1. That Christ will give Overcomers to feed and feast upon himself sweet tastes of himself here in Dunes and Ordinances Even in these they shall be able to say as Christ did I have meat to eat you know not of Joh. 4.32 we have hidden Manna given us the World cannot taste of Of this they eat sometimes in Prayer when Hannah had prayed she was so strengthened by this Manna that 't is said her countenance was no more sad 1 Sam. 1.18 An ancient once speaking of what he met with of Christ in this Ordinance said nunquam abs te absque te recedo Lord I never go from thee without thee very sweet are the Refreshments victorious souls meet with in this Duty so in hearing the word they meet with more than a voice of words even Angels food the hungry soul is filled they eat the word as Jeremiah saith he did and find their weak hands strengthened their feeble knees confirmed their fainting hearts comforted their doubts resolved and their minds settled Whilst Peter was preaching the word the Holy-Ghost fell upon all the hearers Acts 10.44 Especially in that great Ordinance of the Lords Supper Believers feed not only upon Sacramental Bread but hidden Manna also Here they eat his Flesh which is meat indeed and drink his Blood which is drink indeed and sup with Christ and he with them Here they have a feast of fat things and wine on the lees well refined they are satisfied as with marrow and fatness and taste his love which is better than wine fat things both sweet and filling yet not cloying as other fat things are My soul is satisfied with the goodness of thy house even of thy holy Temple says David Psal 65.4 We read that the Israelites nauseated the Manna We have nothing besides this Manna Numb 11. who shall give us flesh to eat The excellent Bread God gave them was now but light Bread and they loathed it and grew weary of it but the spiritual refreshments Believers sometimes are partakers of have a present delight in them and create an earnest appetite in the soul after them Such hidden Manna does Christ give them to eat here 2. This Promise intimates that they shall feed and feast themselves upon him in Heaven He is hid and laid up there as the Manna in the golden pot was laid up in the holiest of all which was but a shadow of this mystery This none but themselves can be admitted to share in for without are the fearful and the unbelievers Here they eat by Faith there by sight here now and then a little as they are able to bear there fully and without intermission Here when the King sits at the table their spiknard sends forth its savour their graces and gracious affections slow forth What will the Sweet-Meats of Heaven the full and eternal fruition of this Banquet the everlasting enjoyment of these Dainties produce in them
Blessed is he that shall eat bread this Bread of Life in the Kingdom of God both of Grace and Glory This is not meat that perishes but meat that endures to everlasting Life John 6.27 This is the first thing Christ here promises to them that overcome 2. The white Stone is another of those peculiar Favours I will give him the white stone 'T is judged to be an Allusion to that practice in use of old among the Romans who gave both white and black Stones white ones were given in the Election of Officers and Absolution of Malefactors 1. In the Election of any to an high Office they gave him a white Stone as a certain Token thereof The sense then of the Promise is that Conquerors shall have the assurance of their Election to be Vessels of Mercy that they are chosen to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and the belief of the Truth to the end and to the means to Glory and to Grace and though the means be the last in intention yet they are first in execution their Salvation is first intended but Faith and Holiness are first effected Now to have the Assurance that we are chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world that we be holy before him here and happy with him hereafter Who can declare the Refreshment it carries with it Comfortable it is 1. In respect of Delusion They shall deceive if it were possible the very Elect Mat. 24.24 In the superstructure of Truth they may be deceived but fundamentally and finally they never shall because both the deceived and the deceiver are the Lords Job 12.13 16. Deceivers may distemper them but it is not possible they should poison them The Elect are a people exempted from the fatal Infection of false Prophets and false Christs who decive many this is a great Comfort to such in these erroneous days 2. In respect of Accusation Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect Rom. 8.33 Who shall charge when God dischargeth True it is many will be ready to lay things to their charge Satan will accuse them he is the Accuser of the Brethren Rev. 12. the Law will accuse them the World will accuse them but God will justifie them which makes all their Accusations null and void as Christ caused all the Womans Accusers to go out so will Gods acquitting them make those Accusers and all their Accusations to vanish 3. In respect of publick Calamities which are shortned upon their account For the Elects sake those days shall be shortned Mat. 24.23 What days Even the days of Tribulation which were to come upon the Jews except those days should be shortned no flesh should be saved no Jew should be alive all would fall under destruction when those Calamities come Many others fare the better for the Elects sake these are the Salt of the Earth that being sprinkled here and there preserve it from perishing God gave all that were in Zoar to Lot and all that were in the Ship to Paul if it were not for his Elect in the world he would make a short work in the Earth And 4. In respect of their own personal oppressions Shall not God hear and avenge his Elect that cry unto him night and day I tell you he will avenge them speedily Luke 18.7 8. When their Enemies are above Fear and they below Hope when there is not Faith on the Earth to believe there are Bowels in Heaven to relieve them 5. In respect of his working for them at the Resurrection and Day of Judgment whereas they will lye scattered here and there he will gather together his Elect from all parts of the world by his Angels Mat. 24.31 Who will know them by their Fathers mark upon their Foreheads And as Servants know their Masters Corn from anothers and the Wheat form the Tares so will the Angels soon discern and single out the Elect from the rest by the Glory and Cheerfulness which he will put upon them and into them 6. In respect of the co-operation of all things here for their good according to that Promise All things shall work together for good to them that are called according to his purpose Rom. 8.28 They say the Philosophers-Stone turns all it touches into Gold This white Stone as a Token of our Election according to God's Eternal purpose turns all Conditions and Dispensations to good How unspeakably full of Comfort are these things to all Overcomers from this Gift of the White Stone as a Sign of their Election 2. White Stones were given of old in the Absolution of Malefactors as black ones were given to persons Condemned as a Token they must dye so white ones to them acquitted in their Courts of Judicature 'T is as if Christ had said To him that overcometh will I give an evidence of the Remission of his Sins And what a Fountain of Consolation is in this particular Son be of good chear thy Sins are forgiven thee Mat. 9.2 Well might he be cheerful to have the assurance of our sins being pardoned is able to make any one everlastingly merry Yea though under present afflictions This Palsy-man was not cured of his disease when Christ bid him rejoyce yet ground enough of joy he had to be assured from Christ's own mouth that his sins were forgiven him Blessed is the man whose iniquity is forgiven and whose sin is covered Psal 32.1 for this is an infallible evidence of Gods favour outward mercies we may receive from an angry God silver and gold and precious stones in abundance and yet from the wrath of God but this white stone of Absolution is a certain token of Love and Reconciliation 'T is not a giving-God for our Bodies that can give grounds of Comfort so much as a forgiving-God for our Souls can do This evidenceth our Redemption by Christ In him we have Redemption through his Blood the Forgiveness of Sin This bringeth Salvation John Baptist's going before the face of the Lord was To give knowledg of Salvation to his People by the remission of their Sins Ephes 1.7 Luke 1.77 Reconciliation stands in it God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their sins 2 Cor. 5.19 In a word it is the inlet to and ushers in all other Good and Mercy Take away all Iniquity and take up good or give us good as it is Hos 14.2 They must pray for good O but your Sins keep good things from you Jer. 5.25 Therefore first their request is Take away all Iniquity No good to be given till sin be forgiven but when that is removed that withholds good from them then the passage is cleared and way is made for all good to come unto them It makes way for the Liberty and Deliverance of the Church from Troubles Speak comfortably to Jerusalem tell her that her Iniquity is pardoned and her Warfare is accomplished When Sin was pardoned her Afflictions and Troubles soon had an end It brings
Father said Luke 15. Son thou art ever with me He that is a Servant to day may be none to morrow but if God be a Father and we his Children by Adoption this relation abides unchangeably he is an everlasting Father and we his Sons and Daughters for ever O what an excellent Priviledge is this new Name here promised To be a Son of God is an old Name for Adam was called the son of God but it was only by Creation The Angels in that sense are also called the Sons of God but to which of all the Angels did ever God say Thou art my Adopted Son This is the new Name here spoken of and is the peculiar Priviledg of true Believers 'T is storied That Alexander the Conquerour was by the flattering Oracle saluted as a Son of Jupiter but the Believer who overcomes the Devil Sin and the World in a more noble Spiritual way is by the true Oracle stiled the Son of God To as many as received him to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe in his Name Joh. 1.12 The Believer is no longer a mere Son of Adam but in the instant of his Believing is united to Christ the natural Son of God and so becomes an Adopted one And this is not an empty Title For they are born of God and are of the Seed-royal of Heaven yea this Adoption is Quaedam Similitudo Filiationis aeterni as a Learned man expresses it a Shadow of the Eternal One. The natural son is the Image of Gods nature the brightness of his Fathers glory and the express Image of his person Heb. 1.2 The adopted Son is the Image of his will of his own will begat he us by the word of truth James 1.18 And this puts a lustre upon Believers beyond what is to be seen upon the Princes and Potentates of the earth All the great swelling names thrown upon them by men is but fumus seculi a little smoke which quickly is scattered but this divine Adoption is radius coeli a beam of heavenly glory which makes them shine in the eyes of the Angels and continues an indelible character upon them You see by these things somewhat of the new name here promised and is this a little matter in any mans account When Sauls servants told David of the purposes the King had to give him one of his Daughters to wife David said Seemeth it a light thing to any of you to be a Kings Son-in-law seeing I am a poor man and lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 18.23 What may Believers then say as to this Divine Adoption Shall it be a light matter to be a Son or Daughter of the most high God the King of Kings That they who may say to corruption Thou art my Father or as 't is said Thy Father was an Amorite and thy Mother a Hittite Ezek. 16. should receive the spirit of Adoption crying Abba Father even to God himself This This is that new Name which is here promised to all that overcome I might here add Reasons of this point The love of God to them his chusing-love is the cause of this The Lord loveth the righteous Psal 146.8 Therefore his secret is with the righteous Prov. 3.32 Delilah could not believe Samson's love was so great to her as he pretended because he told her not that great secret where his strength lay It springs also from the purchase of Christ He bought a peculiar people and purchased for them peculiar favours Their common much more their special Mercies are the price of Blood and what Christ hath purchased God will give out unto them To all which add his engagement by Promise as in the Text And faithful is he that hath promised The Vse follows and briefly Vse 1. See here the great mistake of the men of the world who are ready to think none outgo them in their Enjoyments They exceed in outward things and knowing no better conclude themselves the only Favourites of God And others miserable who want them This Errour proceeds from Ignorance of and Inexperience as to higher things Every one is satisfied with what he apprehends most suitable as the Prodigal with his Husks but having a new Nature must have new Food and began to think of the Bread in his Father's house How much are all in a state of Unbelief to be pitied who judge good men have no such Priviledges as to be acquainted with God's Secrets more than themselves They measure a good man by themselves and therefore are ready to say in this case as Eliphaz did to Job in another Hast thou heard the Secret of God What knowest thou that we know not What understandest thou that is not in us Is there any secret thing with thee Job 15.8 9 11. Yet Believers do know and understand what worldly men know not For the Secret of the Lord is with them that fear him The Secrets of his Counsel are reserved in his own breast but the Secrets of his Providence are many times revealed to them Surely the Lord will do nothing but he revealeth his Secrets to his Servants the Prophets Amos 3.7 And the Lord himself saith of Abraham Shall I hide from Abraham the thing that I will do Yea the Secrets of his Truth are with Believers for he hath promised his Spirit of Truth shall lead them into all Truth the Secrets of his Love and Grace are with them of which the world knows nothing no more than of the Word of God which the Spirit only can savingly discover which Spirit the world cannot reeeive Joh. 14.16 17. As wicked men have Bread which they eat in secret Prov. 9.17 of which good men desire no knowledg some secret Lust which is as a sweet Morsel under their Tongue as to which good men are ready to say with the Patriarch O my Soul come not thou into their secret or with David Let me not eat of their dainties So they that are truely good have Spiritual Comforts peculiar to themselves which the world knows not of never tasted of Oh pity such and pray if perhaps any may be delivered from their present delusion Vse 2. This Truth and Text is full of Comfort to all true Believers who are victorious in their holy Warfare Set these Divine Refreshments here promis'd against all Discomforts and Discouragements of spirit Are you weak and feeble by the assaults of the enemy here is hidden Manna to strengthen and revive you Are you cast down with the fears of Sins Guilt and Gods Wrath Here is a White-Stone in token of your Election and Absolution which may also relieve against the black coals of Scandal and Reproach with which men are ready to dirty and defile you And if your Names be cast out among men Christ hath given you a new Name that shall be had in everlasting Remembrance when the name of the wicked shall rot And that your Joy may be yet more full from this Text consider
Stability This is promised in this Phrase I will make him a Pillar in the Temple of my God It is by Expositors taken to be an Allusion to the Pillars that were erected in Solomons Temple the one was called Jachin which signifies he shall establish the other Boaz that is in it is strength 1 King 7.21 Both amount to this Firmness and Stability Some think that the infinite Power of Christ is aimed at in these Pillars it still confirms this matter Overcomers shall be established in the House of God by the Power of Christ himself Him will I make a Pillar saies he in the Text. It is a great Favour to have a Nail in his Temple a Name a Room in his House and Family though we be but weak Children but bruised Reeds To have Truth though with much Infirmity and Weakness is to be esteemed an inestimable Mercy but to be Pillars there is a special Priviledge To be settled and rooted confirmed and established there is a very desirable Blessing and very great Honour Such Honour is here made the Portion of Overcomers We read of Jacob setting up a Pillar of Stone Gen. 35. and of the Promise of God to Jeremiah being to go on his Errand to a furious and opposing People and the Prophet timerous I will make thee an Iron Pillar Jer. 1.18 Stone and Iron both are very strong To be a Living Stone in God's House is a great Mercy but to be a Pillar of Stone or of Iron notes Spiritual and Divine Strength given to such that they stand firm and upright and are Instrumental to bear up the Name Truth and Interest of God in the world Hence is the Church stiled The pillar and ground of Truth 1 Tim. 3.15 Not as if the Church were the Foundation of the Truth as the Papists say for indeed the Truth is the Foundation of the Church That 's the tâ—ue Church which is built upon the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles not upon their Persons but upon their Doctrines Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner Stone Ephes 2.20 But as the Pillar Bears up the King's Proclamation that it may be visible and legible so is the Church the Pillar of Truth it holds forth the Truth of God to the view of all that will behold it And keeps up the Doctrine and Worship of the Gospel from falling or else in an ordinary way Truth would be born down by Errour and Purity of Administration in Divine Worship would be cast down by Idolatrous and Superstitious Innovations It is a great Mercy when there are Breaches and Divisions in a Land to heal them by just Government And when Righteousness is falling and Equity can scarce enter in a Nation but all through Injustice and Oppression ready to run to ruine and confusion To bear up the Pillars of the Earth even when it and its Inhabitants are dissolved as David did Psal 75.3 And it is no less Favour to be settled Pillars in the Temple of God to keep up and to maintain his Interest in the world We read that Absolom in his life time reared up for himself a Pillar having no Son to keep his Name in remembrance 2 Sam. 18.18 God rears up to himself Spiritual Pillars to keep up the Memorial of his Name in the world which else would soon be forgotten among men And how great the Blessing is to be such a Pillar who can declare Instability darkens a mans excellency Vnstable as water thou shalt not excel was Jacob's saying to Reuben Gen. 49.4 Water is easily moved by the Wind every way He being thus unsettled did not excel either in the number of his Tribe or Valour or any excellent Atchievement To be a Reed shaken with every wind of Doctrine is dishonourable To seem to be Pillars as Peter did and yet not to walk with a right foot as he is charged to do Gal. 2.9 14. is very unbecoming But to be so indeed to be fixt and grounded in the Faith and Order of the Gospel to be rooted and confirmed in the Temple of God is a Mercy promised only To him that Overcometh to shew in what esteem such are with Christ 2. Beauty is here also signified in this Expression Pillars are not only the Firmament as I may say but the Ornament not the Strength only but the Glory of a Building especially in such large and long Structures where there are many and rows of them as in the Temple 1 King 7 3. So then the sense is Overcomers shall be made by Christ the Glory of his Church the Beauty of his Temple In the Chariot Solomon made for himself the Pillars were of Silver Cant. 3.10 Some take it for the Graces of the Spirit of God others understand it of the Ministers of the Church named Pillars in Galat. 2. fore-mentioned Others to note those of eminency in the Church who labour to uphold and support the truth of Christ therein to be the Silver Pillars to be the Beauty of the Church yea the Glory of Christ as some are said to be 2 Cor. 8.23 Silver when purified is very beautiful Victorious Christians are Silver Pillars an excellent glory in the Temple of God Wisdome hath builded her House she hath hewen her out seven Pillars Prov. 9.1 2. Christ is here meant by Wisdome And though some take the House he hath built to be the World and it is a truth that Christ built this great House and Fabrick of the Universe Heb. 3.4 Yet most carry it to be the Church that Spiritual House which he is here said to build But what the seven Pillars are is not agreed on Some take the Seven Liberal Arts to be they Others the seven Days of the Week Others the seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost mentioned Isa 11.2 And some which is to the matter now before us for a competent number of Faithful Persons who by their stedfast adhering to Christ and his Truth not only support but adorn and beautifie his Church As those who through Cowardise and slavish Fear yield to the Enemy are a Disgrace and Disparagement so they that are firm and stable are an Ornament to the Temple of God 3. Perpetuity and Constancy is here also promised to Overcomers for Christ engageth to make such Pillars that shall go no more out of his Temple Some take this to be spoken to anticipate the fears that might arise in their hearts and trouble them The Prophet Jeremiah tells us That the Pillars of that famous Temple of old were broken down and the Brass of them carried away to Babylon by the Caldeans Jer. 51.17 Hence fears might arise in some that notwithstanding their present Settlement they might afterward be utterly cast out of God's House To prevent all such Jealousies of After-Apostacies he assures them They shall go no more out It 's true those that only seem to be Pillars and are not sincere in the main may and will break and be utterly cast down as Judas