Directions for Daily Communion with God (continued)
communion with God, and thus our last days will become our best days, our last works our best works, and our last comforts our sweetest comforts: in consideration of which take the prophet's advice; HOS 12:6. Hosea 12:6 (KJV) Turn thou to thy God; keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.
The Third Discourse: Showing How to Close
Every Day with God
PSALM 4:8 I will both lay me down in Peace, and sleep; for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. Ps 4:8 (KJV)
This may be understood either figuratively, of the repose of the soul in the assurances of God's grace; or literally, of the repose of the body under the protection of his providence; I love to give Scripture its full latitude, and therefore alike in both.
1. The Psalmist having given the preference to God's favour above any good, having chosen that, and portioned himself in that, here expresseth his great complacency in the choice he had made; while he saw many making themselves perpetually uneasy with that fruitless inquiry, who will shew us any good? Wearying themselves for very vanity; he had made himself perfectly easy by casting himself on the divine good will, Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us: any good, short of God's favour, will not serve our turn, but that is enough, without the world's smiles: the moon and stars, and all the fires and candles in the world, will not make day without the sun; but the sun will make day without any of them. These are David's sentiments, and all the saints agree with him: finding no rest therefore, like Noah's dove in the deluged defiled world, he flies to the ark, that type of Christ, return unto thy rest, unto thy Noah (so the word is in the original, for Noah's name signifies rest) O my soul, PS 116:7. Psalm 116:7 (KJV)
If God lift up the light of his countenance upon us, as it fills us with a holy joy, it puts gladness into the heart more than they have whose corn and wine increaseth, ver. 7, so it fixeth us in a holy rest, I will now lay me down and sleep. God is my God, and I am pleased, I am satisfied, I look no further, I desire no more, I dwell in safety: Or in confidence; while I walk in the light of the Lord, as I want no good, nor am I sensible of any deficiency, so I fear no evil, nor am apprehensive of any danger. The Lord God is to me both a sun and a shield; a sun to enlighten and comfort me, a shield to protect and defend me.
Hence learn that those who have the assurances of God's favour towards them, may enjoy and should labour after, a holy serenity, and security of mind. We have both these put together in that precious promise, ISA 32:17. Isaiah 32:17 (KJV) But the work of righteousness shall be peace, there is a present satisfaction in doing good; and in the issue, the effect of righteousness shall be quietness and assurance for ever; quietness in the enjoyment of good, and assurance in a freedom from evil.
a. A holy serenity is one blessed fruit of God's favour; I will now lay me down in peace and sleep. While we are under God's displeasure, or in doubt concerning his favour, how can we have any enjoyment of ourselves! While this great concern is unsettled, the souls cannot but be unsatisfied. Hath God a controversy with thee? Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids, until thou hast got the controversy taken up; Go humble thyself, and make sure thy friend, thy best friend, PROV 6:3, Proverbs 6:3 (KJV) and when thou hast made thy peace with him, and hast some comfortable evidence that thou art accepted of him, then say wisely and justly, what that carnal worldling said foolishly, and without ground, Soul take thy ease, for in God, and in the covenant of grace, thou hast goods laid up for many years, goods laid up for eternity, LK 12:19. Luke 12:19 (KJV) Are thy sins pardoned? Hast thou an interest in Christ's meditation? Doth God now in him accept thy works? Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart, ECCL 9:7. Ecclesiastes 9:7 (KJV) Let this still every storm and command, and create a calm in thy soul.
Having God to be our God in covenant, we have enough, we have all; and though the gracious soul still desires more of God, it never desires more than God; in him it reposeth itself with a perfect complacency; in him it is at home, it is at rest, if we be but satisfied of his loving kindness; abundantly satisfied: There is enough in this to satiate the weary soul, and to replenish every sorrowful soul, JER 31:25, Jeremiah 31:25 (KJV) to fill even the hungry with good things, with the best things; and being filled, they should be at rest, at rest for ever, and their sleep here should be sweet.
b. A holy security is another blessed fruit of God's favour. Thou, Lord, makest me to dwell in safety, when the light of thy countenance shines upon me I am safe, and I know I am so, and am therefore easy, for with thy favour wilt thou compass me as with a shield, PS 5:12. Psalm 5:12 (KJV) Being taken under the protection of the divine favour. Though an host of enemies should encamp against me, yet my heart shall not fear, in this I will be confident, PS 27:3. Psalm 27:3 (KJV) Whatever God has promised me, I can promise myself, and that is enough to indemnify me, and save me harmless, whatever difficulties and dangers I may meet with in the way of my duty. Though the earth be removed, yet will not we fear, PS 46:2, Psalm 46:2 (KJV) not fear any evil, no not in the valley of the shadow of death, in the territories of the king of terrors himself, for there thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. What the rich man's wealth is to him, in his own conceit, a strong city, and a high wall, that the good man's God is to him, PROV 18:10, 11. Proverbs 18:10-11 (KJV) The Almighty shall be thy gold, thy defence, JOB 22:25. Job 22:25 (KJV)
Nothing is more dangerous than security in a sinful way, and men's crying peace, peace, to themselves, while they continue under the reigning power of a vain and carnal mind: O that the sinners that are at ease were made to tremble: Nothing is more foolish than a security built upon the world, and its promises, for they are all vanity and a lie; but nothing more reasonable in itself, or more advantageous to us, than for good people to build with assurance upon the promises of a good God, for those that keep in the way of duty, to be quiet from the fear of evil; as those that know no evil shall befall them, no real evil, no evil, but what shall be made to work for their good; as those that know, while they continue in the allegiance to God as their king, they are under his protection, under the protection of Omnipotence itself, which enables them to bid defiance to all malignant powers; If God be for us, who can be against us? This security even the heathen looked upon every honest virtuous man to be entitled to, that is Integer vitæ scelerisque purus, [A beautiful line from Horace's Odes, not fully given here, which reads "An upright man, free of guilt, needs no weapon to defend himself."] and thought if the world should fall in pieces about his ears, he needed not fear being lost in the desolations of it; much more reason have Christians, that hold fast their integrity, to lay claim to it, for who is he, or what is it, that shall harm us, if we be followers of him that is good, in his goodness?
Now, 1) It is the privilege of good people, that they may be thus easy and satisfied: This holy serenity and security of mind is allowed them, God gives them leave to be cheerful; nay it is promised them, God will speak peace to his people, and to his saints; he will fill them with joy and peace in believing; his peace shall keep their hearts and minds; keep them safe, keep them calm. Nay, there is a method appointed for their obtaining this promised serenity and security. The scriptures are written to them that their joy may be full, and that through patience and comfort of them they may have hope. Ordinances are instituted to be wells of salvation, out of which they may draw water with joy. Ministers are ordained to be their comforters, and the helpers of their joy. Thus willing has God been to shew to the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, that they might have strong consolation, HEB 6:17, 18. Hebrews 6:17-18 (KJV)
2) It is the duty of good people to labour after this holy security and serenity of mind, and to use the means appointed for the obtaining of it. Give not way to the disquieting suggestions of Satan, and to those tormenting doubts and fears that arise in your own souls. Study to be quiet, chide yourselves for your distrusts, charge yourselves to believe, and to hope in God, that you shall praise him. You are in the dark concerning yourselves, do as Paul's mariners did, cast anchor, and wish for the day. Poor trembling Christian, that art tossed with tempests, and not comforted, try to lay thee down in peace and sleep; compose thyself into a sedate and even frame; in the name of him whom winds and seas obey, command down thy tumultuous thoughts, and say,
Peace be still; lay that aching trembling head of thine where the beloved