Chapter XVI: Support and Comfort to Poor Trembling Souls
suffered in his soul as well as in his body; and the sufferings of his soul were the very soul of his sufferings. It was the Father's wrath that lay so heavy on him, as to put him into such an agony, that an instance was never given of the like nature: for he sweat θρομβοι, great drops, or dodders of blood, which fell from his body to the ground, Luke 22:44. "It amazed him, and made him very heavy;" see Mark 14:33. yea, sorrowful even to "death,"
Mat. 26:38.
And yet, as bitter as the cup was, he freely and willingly drank it up, John 18:11. prepared himself to be offered up a sacrifice,
Psal. 40:6, 7. "gave his back to the smiters," Isa. 50:6. yea, longed exceedingly for the time till it came, Luke 12:50.
Now, if Christ so cheerfully prepared and addressed himself to such sufferings as these for you, should you not prepare yourselves to encounter any difficulty or hardships for him? O my brethren, doth not this seem a just and fair inference to you, from the sufferings of Christ for you? 1 Pet. 4:1. "For as much then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind."
Oh, trifle no longer, feed not yourselves with fancies and groundless presumptions of immunity and peace, but foresee difficulties, and fit yourselves to bear them.
Chapter XVI: Support and Comfort to Poor Trembling Souls
Containing the last use of the point, by way of support and comfort to poor trembling souls, who do take pains to make themselves ready for sufferings; but yet finding such strength in Satan's temptations, and their own corruptions, fear that all their labour is vain, and that they shall faint, and utterly apostatize, when their troubles and trials come to an height.
IN the last place, if it be such a blessed thing to be ready for bonds, or death for Christ, this may minister much comfort to such souls, who though they cannot say as Paul here did, that they are ready; yet are at work daily upon their own hearts to make them ready, and strive, in the use of all means, to conquer those corruptions that hinder it, and improve those graces in which it mainly consisteth. O poor soul, whatever present unreadiness or indisposition thou findest, and complainest of in thine heart, yet thy condition is safe.
Objection. Oh! but I cannot be satisfied in that: I fear I shall be over-borne by temptations when they come to an height. I have such experience of the deceits and treacherousness of my own heart, that it seems impossible to me to do as these blessed souls did, when I come to the like trials.
Solution. It is well thou suspectest thine own heart, and tremblest in thyself; this fear will keep thee waking, while others are securely sleeping. It was a good saying of a reverend minister, now with God, 'He that fears to flinch, shall never flinch for fear.' It is true, seeming grace may be totally lost, Luke
7:18. Heb. 6:4, 5. 2 Pet. 2:20. It is granted also, that the sin of believers deserve that God should forsake them, and that he may
suffer grace in them to be sadly abated, and they may fall before a temptation, as Peter, and all the disciples did: but that thou shalt never be separated from Christ, or fall totus a toto, in totum, utterly away from God, thou mayest be abundantly satisfied, upon these five or six grounds.
1. From God's eternal electing love, wherewithal gracious souls are beloved and embraced, be their graces never so weak, or their corruptions never so strong. This is immutable, Heb. 6:18 and hence it is said, Mark 13:22. "They shall deceive (if it were possible) the very elect." Now, this immutable purpose of God, is not founded upon any mutable ground or reason in thee, Rom.
9:11. Yea, when he, Rom. 8:29. elected thee, he saw what thou wouldst be, and yet that hindered him not.
2. From the covenant of grace, in the bosom of which thou art wrapped up: this is all thy salvation, and all thy hope; it will afford thee abundant satisfaction, if thou do but weigh particularly these three things about it. 1. That the Author of this covenant is not a fickle creature, but a faithful God, with whom there is not yea and nay; with whom there is no variableness, nor shadow of turning; whose gifts and callings are without repentance; so that once within this blessed covenant, and in it for ever. 2. That God hath established the covenant with you in the blood of Christ; therefore the sacramental cup, is called "the cup of the New Testament in his blood," Luke 22:20. The everlasting merit and efficacy whereof gives the soul of a believer the highest satisfaction imaginable. Lastly, Add to this, that in this covenant God hath undertaken for us, as well as for
himself: so that what is a condition in one scripture, is the matter of a promise in another, Jer. 32:40.
3. From that strict and intimate union that is betwixt Christ and thee. And hence it is impossible thou shouldst be lost. For, 1.
Thy union with his person brings interest in his properties along with it. Whatever he is, or hath, it is for thee: his eye of knowledge, arm of power, bowels of pity, it is all for thee.
2. This union with his person, secures thy feeble graces from perishing, John 4:14. Thy graces have an everlasting spring.
Whilst there is sap in this root, it will ascend into the branches.
3. It implies thy perseverance, because by this union thou becomest an integral part of Christ's body, which would be mutilated and defective, should thou be cut off and lost.
4. From the prevalent intercession of Jesus Christ in the heavens, for all his saints, in all their trials here on earth. From hence the apostle infers the certainty of our perseverance, Rom.
8:34 and a pregnant instance of it you have in Peter's case, Luke 22:32. So Heb. 7:25. speaks fully to the case. To strengthen this, consider, 1. Who it is that intercedes: It is Christ, whose person is most dear and ingratiated with the Father, John 11:42. 2.
What he intercedes for: Surely for nothing but what is most suitable to his Father's will. The will of Christ's and his Father's do not clash, John 16:26, 27. yea, what he prays for, he prays not for gratis, or asks upon any dishonourable terms to the justice of his Father; but they are all mercies purchased and paid for; and therefore fear not the failing of your graces.
5. From the Spirit of Christ which dwelleth and abideth in thee, and hath begun his saving work upon thee. I say, saving, for else it would afford no argument. His common works on hypocrites come to nothing, but in thee they cannot fail. For, 1. His honour is pledged and engaged to perfect it. That reproach of the foolish builder shall never lie upon him, that he began to build, but could not finish. Besides, this would make void all that the Father and the Son have done for thee; both their works are complete and perfect in their kinds, and the Spirit is the last efficient in order of working. 2. Besides, the grace he hath already wrought in thee, may give thee yet further and fuller assurance of its preservation, inasmuch as it hath the nature of a seal, pledge, and earnest of the whole, Rom. 8:23. 2 Cor. 1:22. So that it cannot fail.
6. From those multitudes of assertory, promissory, and comparative scriptures, the rich veins whereof run through the book of God, as so many streams to refresh thy soul. Of assertory scriptures, see John 6:39 John 10:28. 1 John 2:19. Of promissory scriptures, see Isa. 54:10. Jer. 34:4. 1 Cor. 1:8, &c. Of comparative scriptures, see Psal. 1:3. Psal. 125 1 John 4:14, &c.
The principal scope of all which is to shew the indefectible nature of true grace in the saints.
And now, how should this refresh thy drooping soul, make thee gird up the loins of thy mind, since thou dost "not run as one uncertain, neither fightest as one that beats the air," 1 Cor. 9:26 but art so secured from total apostasy, as thou seest thou art by all these things. O bless ye the Lord.
Obj. 2. But the Lord seems to be departed from my soul; God is afar off from me, and troubles are near. I seem to be in such a case as Saul was when the Philistines made war upon him, and God was departed from him; and therefore I shall fall.
Sol. Not so; for there are two sorts of Divine desertions; the one is absolute, when the Lord utterly forsakes his creatures, so that they shall never behold his face more: The other is limited and respective, and so he forsook his own Son, and often does his own elect: and of this kind, some are only cautional, to prevent sin; some are merely probational, to try grace; and others castigatory, to chastise our negligence and carelessness. Now, though I have not a word of comfort to speak in the case of total and absolute desertions; yet of the latter (which doubtless is thy case) much may be said by way of support, be it of which of the three sorts it will, or in what degree it will. For, 1. This hath been the case of many precious souls, Psal. 22:1, 2. Psal. 77:2. Psal.
88:9. Job 13:24, 25, 26. This was poor Mr. Glover's case, as you will find in his story, and it continued till he came within sight of the stake; therefore no new or strange thing hath happened unto you.
2. The Lord by this will advantage thee for perseverance, not only as they are cautioned against sin, but as they make thee hold Christ the faster, and prize his presence at an higher rate, when he shall please graciously to manifest himself to thee again, Cant. 3:4.
3. This shall not abide for ever: it is but a little cloud, and will blow over. It is but for a moment, and that moment's darkness
ushers in everlasting light, Isa. 54:7.
Yea, lastly, The light of God's countenance shall not only be restored certainly, but it shall be restored seasonably; when the darkness is greatest, thy troubles at the highest, and thy hopes lowest. He is a God of judgment, and knows how to time his own mercies, Psal. 138:3.
Obj. 3. But I am a weak woman, or a young person, how shall I be able to confess Christ before rulers, and look great ones in the face?
Sol. Christ delights to make his power known in such, 2 Cor.
12:9 for he affects not social glory.
2. "Thou shalt be holden up, for God is able to make thee stand,"
Rom. 14:4. Thou that art sensible of thine own infirmity, mayest run to that promise.
3. Such poor weak creatures shall endure when stronger (if selfconfident) fall, Isa. 40:30, 31. "Even the youths shall faint, and be weary, and the young men utterly fall. But they that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength: they shall mount up with wings as eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not faint."
Youths, and young men, are bold, daring, and confident persons, that trust to their own strength; to whom such as wait upon the Lord stand here opposed; they shall faint, but these shall renew their strength.
Art thou one that waitest and dependest upon an all-sufficient God, in the sense of thine own weakness? This promise then is for thee.
4. You may furnish yourselves at pleasure, with examples of the mighty power of God resting upon such as you are, out of our own martyrology.
Thomas Drowry the poor blind boy, Fox, vol. 3. p. 703. What a presence of spirit was with him, when examined by the Chancellor!
Eulalia, a virgin of about 12 years of age, see how she acted above those years, yea, above the power of nature. Fox, vol. 1. p.
120. Tender women, yea, children, act above themselves, when assisted by a strong God.
And thus you have some help offered you by a weak hand, in your present and most important work.
The Lord carry home all with power upon your hearts, that if God call you to suffer for him, you may say as Paul did, "I am now ready to be offered up, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which God the righteous Judge shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but to them also which love his appearing," 2 Tim. 4:6, 7, 8. And as you expect so to finish your course with joy; be diligent in the use of all means, to prepare and make yourselves ready to follow the call of God, whether it be to bonds, or to death, for the name of the Lord Jesus.
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