18. The Use Of Faith Under Reproaches And Persecutions
THE USE OF FAITH UNDER
REPROACHES AND
PERSECUTIONS
"The righteous shall live by his faith."—HAB. 2:4.
Y ou may remember, I spoke occasionally from that of the psalmist, Ps.
97:2, "Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne;" and from there took occasion to consider what is our special duty when clouds and darkness are round about us, as they are at this day. And some of you know I have had a great persuasion that the clouds that are gathering will, at least in their first storm, fall upon the people of God. I must repeat it again and again; I have been warning you for some years, and telling you it would be so. The present frame with which I have to conflict in my own spirit, and that frame of spirit which I have observed in others, the state and condition of all churches and professors, so far as I know, is—they have gone into a
dreadful security. I speak my heart, and what I know with reference to our present state and the cause of God; we have gone, I say, into a dismal security: which still confirms me that the storm will come upon us, and that it will not be long before we feel it. My design is, therefore, to show you how we ought to behave ourselves under the perplexities and difficulties we are to conflict with in this world. And I have not sat studying for things to speak, but only tell you the experience of my own heart, and what I am laboring after. I have already shown you what our duty is under the approach of these distressing, calamitous times that are coming upon us, and what faith will do in such a season.
II. I am now, in the second place, to show you how faith will carry it under other perplexities, that either are present or are coming upon us. And here I shall show you—1. How we may live by faith, under all the reproaches and persecutions that do or may befall us, on account of that order and fellowship of the gospel, of that way of God's worship, which we do profess. 2. How we may live by faith, with reference to the returning upon us of antichristian darkness and cruelty, if God shall allow it so to be.
3. How we may live by faith under an apprehension of great and woeful decays in churches, in church members, in professors of all sorts, and in the gradual withdrawals of the glory of God from us on that account.
1. How may we live by faith, with reference to those reproaches, that scorn and contempt, which are cast upon the ways of God which we profess, that worship of God in which we are engaged, and that order of the gospel that we do observe, with the persecutions that will attend us on account thereof? Truly, I may say of it as the Jews said to Paul about Christianity, Acts 28:22, "As for this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against." The whole world seems to be combined, that the name of
Israel, in this way, may no more be remembered. There are few who are concerned about these things while it is well with them, their families, their relations, estates, inheritances. Let the ways of God be reproached, what is that to them? They are not concerned in it. They cannot say, as the psalmist does when he speaks in the person of Christ, Ps. 69:9, "The reproaches of them that reproached you have fallen upon me." Perhaps some of us are more sensitive than others (or, at least, have reason so to be) to those reproaches that are continually cast upon the ways of God, seeing they are more particularly upon us; but to those that are not concerned in this scorn and contempt, I would say three things:—
Firstly, what evidence do you have that you are concerned with God's glory? These are the things by which God is glorified in this world; and if you are not concerned when there are so many criticisms thrown upon it, please consider what evidence you have within yourselves of any concern for the glory of God.
Secondly, what evidence do you have that you love these things, that can hear them being insulted, scorned, despised, and never be moved by it? An honest, good man, would find himself concerned if his wife or children were insulted with lies and shameful things, because of his interest in them; but for those who can hear the ways of God insulted every day, and, as long as it is well with them and theirs, are not concerned about it,—they can have no evidence that they love them. Nehemiah cries out on such an occasion, chapter 4:4, "Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their insult upon their own head, and give them as prey in the land of captivity."
God has made special promises to those who are thus concerned: Zephaniah 3:18, "I will gather them," says he. Whom will he gather? "Those who are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the insult of it
was a burden." The solemn assemblies were insulted and mocked; and there were some of them (not all) to whom this insult was a burden. "These," says
God, "I will gather;"—"gather them under my gracious protection."
Thirdly, to add one more point: If you are not concerned about the insults that are cast upon the ways of God, persecution will awaken you, and either make you concerned or put an end to all your profession.
Now, the question is, how, under these difficulties that we have to contend with, shall we glorify God, and pass through them without loss,—to our spiritual advantage?
The apostle, in the 10th chapter of Hebrews, where he describes this very condition I have been speaking of, fully guides us. "You endured," says he,
"a great fight of afflictions; partly, while you were made a spectacle both by insults and afflictions; and partly, while you became companions of those who were so treated. For you had compassion on me in my bonds, and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your goods," etc., verses 32–34. But how shall we conduct ourselves under this condition here described?
"Now," says he, verse 38, "the just shall live by faith."
What is the work of faith in this condition, that we may glorify God, and carry it through to a good and comfortable conclusion for ourselves?
Examine your own hearts, and see how faith will work to give you support and supply. I will tell you what I am striving for in my own heart; and may the Lord guide you to find out what will be more useful! What will faith do in such a case? I answer,— (1.) Faith will provide us with such an experience of the power, effectiveness, sweetness, and benefit of gospel ordinances and gospel worship, that it will cause us to disregard all that the world can do in opposition to us. Here I would cast my anchor, and urge you not to be
confident in yourselves; for nothing else will keep and preserve you. An opinion, a well-founded opinion and judgment, will not preserve you; love for this or that man's ministry, will not preserve you; your ability to argue for your ways, will not preserve you (I can provide examples where all these have failed);—resolutions that, even if all men should abandon them, you would not, are insufficient. Nothing can preserve you but a sense and experience of the usefulness and sweetness of gospel administrations, according to the mind of Jesus Christ. Only this faith can give you.
"Desire," says the apostle Peter, "the sincere milk of the word," 1 Epistle 2:2;—"Desire, and strive to continue in, the ordinances of the gospel, and the worship of God under the administration of the word." How? "If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious," verse 3; otherwise you will never desire it. I would hope that, through the grace of God (and otherwise I do not hope it), I might yet continue (if indeed I could keep alive) an experience that, in the dispensation of the word, I find a constant exercise of faith in God, delight in him, love for him;—if I find that I come to the word expecting to receive from God a sense of his love and supply of his grace; then I would have good hope, through grace, that ten thousand difficulties would never shake me in my continuance in this way. But if it is otherwise, there will be no continuance or abiding. I mention these things, because, to the best observation such a poor creature as I am can make, there is a significant coldness and indifference grown upon the spirits of men in attending to the worship of God. There is not that life, spirit, courage, and delight in it as there has been in times past; and if so, where it may end only
God knows. This, I say, is the first thing that faith will do in this state, if we put it to work. If we would but strive to stir up faith to find those supplies of spiritual life and strength in the ways of his worship and ordinances,—if we
would strive to overcome prejudices, and set ourselves against laziness and negligence,—we would find ourselves as other men, and greatly liberated as to what the world can do to us. This is what faith can do for us in such a state of things; and this is what I would be striving to bring my own heart to.
(2.) Faith, in such a season, will bring the soul into such an experiential sense of the authority of Jesus Christ, as to make it disregard all other things. I confess, if it were not for the authority of Christ, I would renounce all your meetings; they would have neither form nor beauty in them why they should be desired. But a deep respect for the authority of Christ (unless our evil hearts are betrayed by unbelief and weakness) is what will carry us through all that may befall us. Faith will work this double respect for the authority of Christ:— [1.] As He is the great leader and lawgiver of the church, who alone has received all power from the Father to institute all worship; and whoever imposes herein usurps His crown and dignity. All power to institute spiritual worship is given unto Christ in heaven and on earth. What then? "Go, therefore," says He, "and teach men to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you," Matt. 28:18–20. Bring your souls to this exercise of faith, that those things we do are commanded to us by Christ, who is the sovereign Lord of our consciences, who has sovereign authority over our souls. We must all appear before His judgment-seat, who will require of us whether we have done and observed what He has commanded us or not. Do not only say these things, but labor greatly by faith to affect your consciences with this authority of Christ, and you will find that all other authorities will come to nothing, however you may suffer for it.
[2.] Faith respects the authority of Christ, as He is "Lord of lords, and King of kings;" as He sits at the right hand of God, expecting all His enemies to become His footstool; as He has not only a golden scepter in His hand, "a scepter of righteousness," with which He rules His church, but also an iron rod, to break all His enemies in pieces like a potter's vessel. If faith exercises itself upon this power and authority of Christ over His enemies, it will pour contempt upon all that the world can do. You cannot be carried before any magistrate, but Christ is there present, greater than them all,— who has their breath in His hands, their lives and their ways at His disposal, and can do what He pleases with them. Faith will bring in the presence of Christ in such a season; when otherwise your hearts would fail for fear, and you would be left unto your own wisdom, which is folly, and your own strength, which is but weakness. But if you have but faith working in the sense of this authority, it will make you like those well-composed persons in the 3rd chapter of Daniel. Do not wonder at the greatness of their answer and the composure of their spirits when they looked on the fiery furnace on the one hand, and the fiery countenance of terrible majesty on the other.
"Know, that God," say they, "whom we serve, is able to deliver us out of your hand; but if not,—if God will not give us this present deliverance, be it known unto you, O king, we will not serve your gods, nor worship your golden image," verses 17, 18. Faith will give us the same composure of spirit, and the same resolution; and with these things should we relieve ourselves under the worst that can befall us.
(3.) Faith, in such a case and condition, will bring to mind, and make effective upon our souls, the examples of those who have gone before us in giving the same testimony that we do, and in the sufferings that they underwent on that account. When the apostle had told the believing
Hebrews, that through all their trials, tribulations, and sufferings, they must live by faith, Heb. 10, "What encouragement," they might ask, "shall we receive by faith?" Well, he says, "Faith will bring to mind all the examples of those who have gone before you, who have suffered, been afflicted, and distressed as you now are;"—which account takes up the entire 11th chapter, and a good part of the beginning of the 12th. It is a significant thing when faith revives an example. Let us then, by faith, carry in our minds the examples that are recorded in the Scripture. There is the example of Moses; the apostle gives it to us; and it is an eminent instance: "He chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt." He, by the dark promise he had to live upon, endured the reproach of Christ. My brethren, take the prophets as an example of those who have suffered; and consider how the apostles have gone before us: but do not stop at them; for there is a greater than Moses, and the prophets, and apostles,—greater than even a cloud of witnesses; and that is no less a person than the Lord Jesus Christ. Heb. 12:2, "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame." He underwent the contradiction of sinners against himself, "and is now seated at the right hand of God." Faith, recalling these great examples, would give us great support under all the trials we may be brought to, and conflict with. Where are we going? What do we hope for? We would be where Moses is, and where the prophets are; but how did they get there? They did not get there through the increase of riches, and multiplying to themselves lordships in the world; but by sufferings and the cross. Through many tribulations they entered into the kingdom of heaven.
(4.) Faith will receive in the supplies that Christ has laid up for his people, in such a season. Christ has made peculiar provision for suffering saints.
And it consists of two things:—First, In his special presence with them. He will be with them in the fire, and in the water. Secondly, In the communication of the sense of God's love unto them. Their "tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope; and then the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given to us," Rom. 5:3–5. Faith will bring all these things into the soul. But your minds must be spiritual, or you cannot put forth one act of faith for bringing in this special provision that is laid up for suffering saints;—and very few attain this spiritual frame, where faith fetches in these spiritual consolations Christ has prepared for such souls. This is one way whereby we may live by faith in such a season. Search, therefore, and make inquiry at your entrance into troubles, what sense faith gives you of the love of God, to carry you through these difficulties.
(5.) It is only faith that can comfort us with respect to the recompense of reward. Moses "endured hardship with the people of God; for he had respect for the recompense of reward," Heb. 11:25, 26. The light and momentary affliction which we endure in this world, "produces for us an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs them all," 2 Cor. 4:17. "Who knows, but in a few days some of us may be taken into that incomprehensible glory, where we will eternally marvel that we ever placed any importance on things here below? Faith will focus your eye on the eternal recompense of reward. We indeed have a faith now at work, that focuses the minds of men on this and that way of deliverance, and this and that strange incident; but we will find that true faith will burn up all this as stubble.
(6.) And finally, faith will work through patience. The apostle tells us "we have need of patience, so that after we have done the will of God, we might receive the promise;" and we are to be "followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises," Heb. 10:36, 6:12.
This is something of what I had to offer to you, and, I hope, both timely and useful. However, it is what I can achieve in these times of reproach, scorn, and contempt, that are cast upon us, and persecutions approaching. I say, faith will reveal to us that efficacy, sweetness, power, and advantage in spiritual ordinances, as to make us willing to endure anything for them.
Faith will bring our souls into such submission to the authority of Christ, as Head of the church, and Lord over all creation, that we will not be terrified by what man can do to us. Faith will provide us with examples of the saints of God, whom he has helped and assisted to endure sufferings, and who are now crowned and at rest in heaven. Faith will help us to keep our eye fixed, not on the things of this world, but on the eternal recompense of another world, and glory therein. And faith will also work through patience, when difficulties are multiplied upon us.