6. And withal labour to keep the graces of the Spirit in continual
Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom,' Luke 12:32. Or that other, 'If God spared not his Son for us, how will he not with him give us all things else?' Rom. 8:32.
Labour to have these things fresh in memory, together with the privileges belonging to Christians. Think what it is to be a child of God, and an heir of heaven!
We must not look only to the blind and dark side of our condition.
Christians have two sides, one to heaven-ward and God-ward; and that is full of glory, certain and immoveable. Another towards the world; and that is oftentimes full of abasement, full of disgrace, and dejection. That is moveable; sometimes better, sometimes worse, as God pleaseth to dispense his government in the church. Let us look to the grace, to the comforts that belong to that grace; to the promises; the best side; and not to be carrried away with the darkness of the other.
It is a terrible sight to look upon sin, and misery, and hell, and judgment to come; but what are these to a Christian that is in Christ, that seeth them all subdued, and overcome to him? The afflictions of the world, and the crosses of the world, what are they to a soul, that is already in heaven by faith, and seeth them all overcome in his head
Christ? 'Be of good comfort, I have overcome the world,' John 16:33.
And therefore we must not be so malignant, as to look all upon one part of a Christian, and that the worser part, which is the object of sense. For shame, live not by sense! But if we be Christians, let us live by faith, look to the best part; look upwards and forwards to that which is eternal.
6. And withal labour to keep the graces of the Spirit in continual exercise upon all occasions. For grace exercised, brings certain comfort. It may be with a Christian in his feelings as with the worst
man living; but he may thank his own negligence, his own dulness; his not stirring up of the graces of God in him. For therefore it is that he hangs the wing upon every petty cross, on every occasion. Labour to have an heart ready to exercise grace suitable to that occasion. For then grace will reflect sweetly, where there is sincerity and grace in exercise. Sincerity alone will not comfort a man, unless it grow up to fruitfulness; and fruitfulness which springs from the exercise of grace, hath a sweet reflection upon the soul. 'Remember, Lord, how I walked before thee, in truth, and with a perfect heart,' saith
Hezekiah, 2 Kings 20:3. He stood then most in need of comfort; and this comforted him; this his reflection upon his former sincerity. So when a man can appeal unto God, as Peter did, 'Lord, thou knowest I love thee,' John 21:17. So much sincerity, so much boldness with God. And therefore let us keep grace in exercise, that we may be fruitful in our lives and conversations, and then we shall be always comfortable.
And to add a little, there is no grace in a Christian but, if it be exercised, there is a suitable comfort upon it even here in this world.
There is a prœmium ante prœmium, a reward before a reward. Nay, the heathen men, Socrates and the best of them, so far as they exercised the natural goodness that was in them, their consciences reflected peace; so far as they were good, and did good, they had peace, much more peace than bad men had. God gave even them some rewards upon discharge of their duties. He will not be beholden to any man that exerciseth any degree of goodness that is in him.
Much more therefore shall a child of God enjoy it, when he exerciseth his graces in any temptation. When he overcomes any unclean, earthly, vainglorious, vindictive, or any other base lust, he shall find peace of conscience suitable. And the more he grows in strength and resolution for the time to come, the more he groweth in inward peace. Righteousness and peace go together; not only the
righteousness of Christ and our reconciliation before God, but also the righteousness of an holy life and peace in our own consciences.
The righteousness of Christ entitles to heaven; and the righteousness of an holy life sheweth my title unto comfort. As faith in Christ's righteousness brings peace, so sanctification also. Christ is first 'King of righteousness,' and then 'King of peace,' Heb. 7:1. And therefore where there is no righteousness, there is no peace. But, on the contrary, as heat followeth the fire, and as the beams have an emanation from the sun, so doth comfort arise from grace, especially from grace exercised.
Therefore they that would have inward peace, let them labour to be gracious; and that not only in the inward frame of the heart, but in the exercise of grace upon all occasions. 'For they that walk according to this rule,' that is, of the new creature, 'peace be to them, and the whole Israel of God,' Gal. 6:16. An exact and careful life will bring constant peace.
Therefore let us labour first for interest in Christ's righteousness, and then for the righteousness of an holy life; for a conscience to justify us, that we have no purpose to live in any sin; and a not accusing conscience will be a justifying conscience. What a blessed condition shall we be in, to be in Christ, and to know that we are so! O the heaven on earth of such a man as is in that condition! For which way soever he looks, he finds matter of comfort. If he looks backward, to the government of the Spirit that hath ruled him in the former part of his life, he may say with St Paul, 'I have fought a good fight, I have run the race that God hath set before me,' 2 Tim. 4:7. And what a sweet reflection is this! He is not afraid to look back to his life past as other men. If he looks forward, he seeth a place prepared for him in heaven, and there he sees himself already in Christ. Henceforth
'there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the righteous Judge shall give me at that day,' ver. 8; and all that love his appearing, saith he, there. When there comes ill tidings of the church abroad and at home, it doth not much dismay him. His heart is fixed; he believeth in God and in Christ, and that keeps him from being like a reed shaken with every wind. For reproaches and disgraces that he meets withal in the world, he wears them as his crown, if they be for religion and goodness' sake. For his witness is in heaven, and in his own conscience. And God in heaven, and his conscience within, do acquit him; and if he suffer for his deserts, yet in all afflictions God dealeth with him as a correcting Father. He knoweth he hath deserved them, but he looks on them as coming from a Father in covenant with him. And what can come from a father but what is sweet? He sees it moderated and sweetened, and in the issue tending to make him more holy. The sting is taken out, and a blessing is upon it, to make him better. And therefore what can make a Christian uncomfortable, when he hath the Spirit of Christ, and faith, the root of grace?
These comforts being warmed with meditation, will stick close to the heart. Comforts that are digested are they that work. Let them therefore not only enter into the brain and fleet* there, but let them sink into the heart, by often consideration of God's love in Christ, and the privileges of Christians here and in heaven, where our Head is, and where we shall be ere long. Warm the heart with these, and see if any petty thing can cast thee down!
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Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled by Richard Sibbes, Copyright ©
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