Opening to believers the unchangeableness of God, as
The Righteous Man's Refuge.
" of my heart, and myportion for ever." And ſo much of the third chamber prepared forbelievers in the name of their
God.
CHAP.
IX .
Opening to believers the unchangeableness ofGod, as a fourth chamber of refuge and rest in times of trouble.
Sett. I. ITis faid, Prov. ix. 1. Wisdom hath builded her house, shehath hewn out herfeven pillars, (i. e.) She hath raiſed her whole building upon ſolid and ſtable foundations; for, indeed, the ſtrength of every building is according to the ground-work upon which it is erected.
Debilefundamentum fallit opus. The wisdom and love of God have built anhouſe for a refuge and ſanctuary to believers in tempestuous and evil times, containing many pleaſantand comfortable chambers prepared for their lodgings, till the calamities be over-paft; three of them have been already opened, viz. The power, wiſdom, and faithfulness of God.
The last of which leads into a fourth, much like unto it, namely, the unchangeableneſs of God; wherein his people may find as much reſt and comfort amidst the viciſſitudes of this unſtable world, as inany of the former.
This world is compared, Rev. xv. 2. to afea of glass mingled with fire. A fea for its turbulency and inſtability ; a fea of glaſs for the brittleneſs and frailty of everything in it; and a fea of glaſs mingled with fire, to repreſent the ſharp ſufferings and fiery trials, with which the faints are exerciſed here below.
The only fupport and confortwe have against the fickleneſs and inſtability of the creature, is the unchangeableness ofGod.
There is a twofold changeableneſs inthe creature ; 1. Natural, the effect of fin.
2. Sinful in its own nature.
1. Natural, let inby the falluponallthe creation; by reaſon whereofthe ſweetest creature is butafading flower, Pfal. cii, 26.
Time, like a moth, frets out the beſt wrought garmentwith whichwe cloath and deck ourſelves inthis world, temporalia rapit tempus.
Our moſt pleasant enjoyments, wives, children, eſtates, like the gourd in which Jonas ſo delighted himself, maywither in a night; fin rings theſe changes allthe world over.
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The Righteous Man's Refuge.
2. Sinful, fromthe falſeneſs, inconstancy, and deceitfulnes ofthe creature; Solomon puts ahard queſtionwhich may pole thewhole world to anſwer it, Prov. xx. 6. Afaithful man who canfind? Themeaning is, amanof perfect and univerfal faithfulneſs is a phoenix, leldom or never to be found in this world; for when a queſtion in ſcripture is moved and let fall again without any anſwer, thenthe ſenſe is negative ; but tho' the believerdespairoffinding an unchangeable man, itishishappiness and comfortto find an unchangeableGod.
The unchangeableness ofGodwill appearthree ways.
1. By fcripture emblems.
2. By fcripture affertions.
3. By convincing arguments.
1. By fcripture emblems.
Remarkable to this purpoſe is that place, Jam. i. 17. whereGod iscalled " the Fatheroflights,
" withwhom isnovariableneſs, neitherſhadowofturning;" no variableness.
The word is, wαραλλαγή, an atronomical term, commonly applied to theheavenly bodies,whichhave theirpatallaxes, i. e. theirdeclinations, revolutions, viciffitudes, eclipſes, increaſes anddecreaſes : butGod is a Sun that never rifes nor fets, but is everlastingly andunchangeablyone andthe ſame;with him is no variableness nor ſhadow ofturning, τροπῆς ἀποσκίασμα.
The fun in its zenithcafts no ſhadow, itis the tropic, or turning of its courſe, that cauſes the ſhadow; thevery fubitance of turning is with man; butnotthe leaſt ſhadow of turningwith
God. And in Deut. xxxii. 4. Mofes tellsus, God is a rock, andhis work is perfect. Andindeed perfectworkingneceſſarily follows a perfect being. Now there is nothingfound innature more folid, fixed, and immutable than a rock; the firmeſt buildings will decay ; a few ages will make them a ruinous heap; but though one age pals away, and another comes, the rocks abide where and what they were; OurGod is the rockof ages; andyet one ſtep higher, in Zech. vi. 1. his decrees and purpoſes are called mountainsofbraſs, that is, moſt firm, durable, and unchangeable purpoſes. Thus the immutabilityof
God is thadowed forth tous in fcripture emblems.
2. The fame allo you will find in plain, poſitive fcripture affertions ; fuch as theſe that follow, Mal. iii. 6. " I am the " Lord, I change not, therefore ye fons ofJacobare notcon
" ſumed." And Job. xxiii. 13. "He is in one mind, and who "can turn him ?" Men are in one mind today, and anotherto morrow; thewinds are not more variable than the minds of men; butGod is in one mind, the purposes ofhis heart never change.
Thouart thefame, or as fome tranſlate, Thou art thy
The Righteous Man's Refuge.
felfforever, Pfal. cii. 27. Thus when Mofes defiredto know hisname, that he might tell Pharoah from whom he came ; the anſwer is, IAM hath fent me, Exod. iii. 14. not I not I was, or [ will be, but I AM THAT I AM, noting the abſolute un changeableness ofhis nature.
3. The unchangeableness ofGod is fully proved by convincing arguments which divines commonly draw from fuch topicsas theſe, viz.
1. The perfection of his goodness.
2. The purity ofhis nature.
3. Theglory ofhis name.
Arg. 1. Fromthe perfection ofhis goodness andbleſſedneſs, God is optimus maximus, the beſt and chiefeſt good, and in that ſenſe, " There is nonegoodbut one, which is God," Mark
*. 18. Fromwhenceit is thus argued, If there be any change in God, that change muſt eitherbe for thebetter, or for the worſe, or into a ſtate equalwith thathe poſſeſſed before.
But not for the better, for then he could notbe the chief good; nor for the worſe, forthen he must cease to beGod, the perfectionofwhoſenature is perfectly exclufive of all defects ; nor into an equal ſtateofgoodness with thathe poſſeſledbefore ; thatnotion would involve Polytheism, and ſuppoſe two firſt and equal beings, beſides the vanity of ſuch a change would be abſolutely repugnant to the wisdom ofGod.
Thereforewith the Fatherof lights can be no variableneſs nor ſhadow ofturning.
Arg. 2. The unchangeableness ofGod may be evinced from the purity, fincerity, anduncompoundedness of his being, in which thereneither is, nor canbe the leaſt mixture, he being a pureact.
From whence it is thus argued; If therebe any change inGod, that change must be made eitherby ſomething without himself; or by something within himself, or by both together.
But it cannot be byany thingwithout himself; for in him allcreated dependentbeings live and move, andenjoy the beings theyhave ; and all the changes that are among them, are fromthe pleaſureofthis unchangeable Being, he changeth them, but it is not poſſible for him, uponwhoſe pleaſure they ſo entirely, and abſolutely depend, both as to their beings andworkings, to fuffer any change himselffrom, or by them.
Nor cananyſuch change be madeupon God by any thing within himself; for that would ſuppoſe action and paffion, movens et motum, a mixture and compoſition in his nature,
The Righteous Man's Refuge. which is abſolutely rejected and excluded bythe ſimplicityand purity thereof; ſeeing therefore it can neither be from any powerwithout him, nor anymixture within him, there can be nochange at all made on him .
Arg. 3. That is by no means tobe aſcribedtoGod, which, at once, eclipſes the glory of his name, and overthrows the hopes andcomforts ofall his people.
But ſo would the ſuppoſition of mutability inGod do, this would level him with the vain changeable creature ; whereas it
is a principal part of his glory, that" He is not aman thathe " ſhould lie, neither the ſon of man that he ſhould repent,"
Numb. xxiii. 19.
This alſo would overthrow the hopes and comforts of all his people, which are built upon this attribute as upon their ſtable and folid foundation : Among divers others we find three principal privileges of the people ofGod, built upon his immutability, viz.
1. Their perfeverance in grace.
2. Their comfort in the promifes 3. Their hopes of eternal life.
1. Their perfeverance ingrace is built upon the foundation ofGod's unchangeableness; one main reason why Chriſtians ne. ver repent of their choice of Chriſt, and the ways ofGodlineſs, is, becauſe the gifts and calling ofGod are without repentance,
Rom. xi. 29. ShouldGodbutoncerepentofthegifts ofhis grace he hath beſtowed on us, and alter in his love towards us, how foon would our love toGod, anddelight in God vaniſh, as the image in the glaſsdoth,whenthe man that looked upon ithath once turned away his face ?
2. All their comfort in thepromiſes is builtupon God's unchangeableneſs .
The promises are the ſprings of confolation; ſhould they fail and dry up, the whole world could not afford themonedropofſpiritual comfort to refreſh their thirsty ſouls ; the ſtrength ofour conſolation immediately reſults fromthe ſtability and firmness ofthe ſcripture promiſes, Heb. vi. 18.
3. Their hope ofeternal lifedepends upon the unchangeableneſs ofGod that hath promised, Tit. i. 2. "Inhope of eternal
" life, whichGod that cannot lie, promiſed before the world began."
Take awaythen the immutability ofGod, and you atonce darken and eclipse his glory, and overturn the perſeverance, confolations, and hopes of all his people; but bleſſed beGod theſe things are built upon firm foundations.
1. His nature is unchangeable, " Thou art the fame for ever,"
Pfal. cii . 27.
The heavens though they be the pureft, and therefore the moſt durable and unchangeable part of the crea
The Righteous Man's Refuge.
i tion; yet they ſhall periſh andwax old, and be changed as a
veſture, but ourGod isthe fame for ever.
2. His power is unchangeable, Ifa. lix. 1. " The Lord's hand " isnot ſhortned."
Time will enfeeble the ſtrongest creature, andcut ſhortthe power ofthe hands ofthe mighty, they cannotdo in their decrepit age as they were wont todoin their youthful and vigorous age ; but the Lord's hand never is, nor canbe ſhortned.
3. The counſels and purpoſes of his heart are unchangeable, Pfal. xxxiii. 11. " The counſel of the Lord ſtandeth for ever,
" the thoughts ofhis heart to all generations."
4. The goodness, truth, and mercy of God are unchangeable, Pfal. c. 5. " The Lord is good, his mercy is everlaſting,
" and his truth endureth to all generations."
5. Theword ofGod is unchangeable.
Though all fleſh be asgraſs, andthe goodliness thereof as the flower ofthe field, yet the word of ourGod ſhall stand for ever; all the promiſes containedthereinare fure and ſtedfaſt : Not yea and nay, but yea andAmen for ever, 2 Cor. i. 20.
6. The love ofGod is an unchangeable love, Jer. xxxi. 3.
" Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love."
7. Inaword, all the gracious pardons ofGod are unchangeable; as they are full without exceptions, ſothey are final pardonswithout any revocation. " I will be merciful to their un- " righteouſneſs, and their iniquities and ſins will I remember
" no more," Heb. viii. 12. And thus much briefly of God's unchangeableneſs abfolutely confidered in itſelf.
Sect. 11. Let us next conſider, and briefly view the unchangeableness ofGod in its reſpect and relation,
1. To his promiſes.
2. To his providences, 1. The immutability ofGodgives down its comforts to be. lievers through the promises, there is no other way by which theycanhave a comfortable admiſſion into this chamber or attribute ofGod ; and there are fix forts of promiſes in the word, bywhich it is highly improveable totheir ſupportand comfort inan evil day.
For, 1. The unchangeableGodhath engaged himself by promiſe tobewith his people in alltimes, and in all ſtraits, Heb. xiii.
5. " I will never leave thee nor forſake thee."
The life, joy andcomfort ofa believer lies in the boſom ofthat promife, the concluſion of faith from thence is sweet and fure : If I shall neverbe forſakenof myGod, lethell and earth do their worſt, I gapneverbe miferable,
$50 The Righteous Man's Refuge.
2. The unchangeableGodhath promised to maintain their graces, and thereby his intereſtin them forever, Jer. xxxii. 40.
" And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that [ " will not turn awayfrom them todo themgood : But Iwill
" put my fear in their hearts, that they ſhallnot turn away " from me."
Where the Lord undertakes forboth parts inthe covenant, his own and theirs: Iwill not turnawayfrom them?
Oh unexpreffible mercy ! Yea,butLord, maythe poorbelievers ſay,that isnot ſomuchmy fear,as thatmy treacherous heart will turn away from thee. No, faithGod, Iwill take care for that alſo: I willput my fear into thy heart, and, thou shalt never depart fromme.
3.The unchangeableGodhath promiſed to eſtabliſh the covenant with them for ever ; ſo that those who are once taken intothatgracious covenant thall never be turned out of it again,
Ifa. liv. 10. "The mountains (hall depart, and the hills be re- " moved, but my kindneſs ſhall not depart from thee, neither
" ſhall the covenant ofmy peace be removed, faith the Lord " that hathmercyon thee."
4. The unchangeableGod hath ſecuredhis loving-kindness to his people, by promiſe under all the trials and ſmarting rods of affliction with which he chaftens them inthisworld; he hath referved tohimſelfthe liberty ofafflicting them,butbound himselfbypromiſe never to remove his favourfrom them, Pfal.
Ixxxix. 33, 34. " I will visit their tranfgreffion with the rod, " and their iniquitywith ſtripes, nevertheleſs myloving-kind- " neſs will I not take from them, nor fuffer myfaithfulneſs to " fail."
5. The promises ofajoyful refurrection from the dead are grounded upon the immutability ofGod, Matth. xxii. 32. " I " am theGodofAbraham, theGod ofIfaac, and theGodofJa- " cob; God is not the God ofthedead, but theGodofthe
" living."
Death hath made a great changeupon them, but none upon their God; though they be not, he is ſtill the ſame: therefore they are not loſt indeath, but ſhall aſſuredlybe found again inthe refurrection.
6. To conclude, the promises ofthe faints eternal happinefswithGodinheavenare foundedin his immutability, I Cor. i. 8, 9. Tit. i. 2. By all which you ſee whata pleaſant lodging is prepared for the ſaints in theunchangeable promites ofGod, amidſt all the changes and alterations here below.
2.Once more let us view the unchangeableneſs of God is. his providences towards his people, whatever changes it makes upon us, or whatever changes we seem to difcern init, nor
The Righteous Man's Refuge.
thingismorecertain than this, that it holdsoneandthefame tenor,purfuesoneand the ſamedeſigninallthatit dothupon us, or about us.
Providences indeed are very variable, but the deſigns and ends of God in themallare invariable, and the famefor ever.
It isnoted inEzek. i. 12. " That the wheels "went straight forward; whether the ſpirit was to go, they
"went, and they turned not when they went." As it is in nature, fo inprovidence, you have one day fair, halcyon, and bright, anotherdarkand full of ſtorms ; one ſeaſon hot, another
cold; but all theſe ſerve to one and the fame end anddeſign tomake the earth fruitful; and the aim of all providences is to make you holy and happy.
That is a ſweet promife, Rom. viii. 28."All things ſhall work together for good tothem that " loveGod."
This is the compaſs by which all providences ſteer their courſe, as a ſhip at ſea doth by the chart : but more particularlylet usnote the unchangeablenessofGod inhis providences of all kinds, effective and permiſſive, and fee inthem allhis unchangeable righteouſneſs and goodness.
1. Itmust needs be to, confidering the unchangeableness of hisdecree, 2 Tim. ii. ro. " The foundation ofGod ſtandeth
" fure."
Providences ferve,but never fruſtrate; execute, but cannotmake void the decree, ſo thatyou may ſay ofthe moſt afflicting providences,as Daviddoth ofthe ſtormy winds,Pfal. cxlviii. 8. They allfulfil his word.
2. The wisdom ofGodproves it; he will not faffer hisworks or permiffions to claſhwith his deſigns and purpoſes : Divine wisdom ſhews itſelf in the ſteddy direction ofall things tothe ultimate end.
To open this in fome particulars, conſider, 1. Doth the Lord permitwicked mento rage and infult, perfecuteandvexhis people ?
Yet all this while providence is in its rightway, it walks in as direct a line to yourgood, aswhen itis inamore pleasantpath ofpeace, Jer. xxiv. 5. " Thus faith
" the Lord, theGod of Ifrael, like theſe good figs,ſowill 1ac- " knowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah,
"whom I have fentout ofthisplace intothe land ofthe Chal- " deans for their good."
Ifraelwas ſent toBabylon for their good.
This improves your faith and patience, Rev. xiii. 10.
Here is the patience and faith of the faints. So Rom. v. 2, 3.
"Bywhom alſo we have acceſs by faith into thisgrace,where- " inwe stand, and rejoice inhope of theglory ofGod; and not " only fo, butwe glory in tribulations alſo; knowing that tri- " bulation worketh patience."
By this you are weaned from, andmortified to this world.
2. Doth the Lord in his providenceordermanyandfrequent
The Righteous Man's Refugei cloſe and ſmarting afflictions for you ? Why, lo! here is the ſame deſign managing as effectually, as if all the peace and proſperity in the world were ordered for you ; the face of pro. vidence indeed is not the fame, but the love ofGod is ſtill the fame; he loves you as much whenhe ſmites, as when he ſmiles on you : for what are his ends in afflicting you, and what the fanctified fruits of your afflictions ? Is itnot,
1. To purge your iniquities ? Ifa. xxvii. 9. " By this there- " fore ſhall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the " fruit to take away his fin."
2. To reduce your hearts toGod ? Pfal . cxix. 67. " Before " I was afflicted I went aſtray, but nowhave I kept thy word."
3. To quicken you toyour duties: Let the beſt man be without affictions, andhe will quickly grow dull in the way of his duty.
3. DothGod let loose the chainofSatan totempt and buffet you ? Yet is he ſtill the ſame God to you as before ; for do butobſerve his ends in that permiſſion, andyouwillfind, that, by theſe things, the Lord is leadingyou towards that defired affurance ofhis love which your fouls long after.
Few Chriſtians attain toany confiderable ſettlement offoul, but by ſuch ſhakings and combats , the end oftheſe permiſſions is to put you to your knees, and blow up a greater flame andfervour of fpirit in prayer, 2. Cor. xii. 8. So that, eventually, theſe permiffions ofprovidence prove ſingular advantages and bleſſings to you.
Sect. III. What remains then, ſeeingGod isunchangeable in his loveto hispeople, pursuing the great ends of all his gracious promiſes in a ſteddycourſe ofprovidence, wherein he will never effect, or permitany thing that is really repugnant to his own glory, or theirgood ; butthat we enter alſo into this chamber of reſt, ſhut thedoors about us, andcomfortably improve the unchangeableness of God, while we ſee nothing but changes and troubles here below.
(1.) Enter into God's unchangeableneſs by faith, take up your lodging in this ſweet attribute alſo; and to encourage your faith thereunto, ſeriouſly confider afew particulars.
1. Confider how conſtant, firm and unchangeable God hath beentohis people in alltimes and ſtraits; not one among the many thousands of his people, that are paſſed on beforeyou, but by frequent and certain experience have found him fo.
What a fingular encouragement is this to our faithn the cafe before us ? Pfal. ix. 10. " They that know thy name,
" will put their trust in thee, for thou, Lord, haft not forſaken them that ſeck thee."
So Ifa. xxv. 4. "Thou hast been a
The Righteous Man's Refuge.
" ſtrength to the poor, a ſtrength to the needyinhis diſtreſs, " arefuge from the ſtorm, a ſhadow from the heat, when the *" blaſt of the terrible ones is as the ſtorm against the wall."
Neither is there any thing in your experience contradictory to the encouraging reports others have made of God ; you must acknowledge, that notwithstanding your own changeableneſs, who have hardly been able to maintain your hearts in any ſpiritual frame towardsGod for oneday together, yet his mercies towardsyouhave beennew every morning, and greathath been his faithfulneſs. You have oftenturned aſide from theway of yourduty, and have not followedGod in a ſteddy courſe of obedience ; and yet, for all that, his goodness andmercy have followed you all the days of your life, as it is Pfal. xxiii. 6.
2. Confider how often you havedoubted and miſtruſted the unchangeableness ofGod, and been forced, with shame and forrow, toretract your folly therein;Godhath many times con vinced you, that his love to you is an unchangeable love, how manychanges ſoever, inthe courſeofhisprovidence, havepaſſed over you ; confult Ifa. xlix. 14. and Pfal. lxxvii. 78. and fee howthe cafes are parallel, both in reſpect of God's conſtancy tothem andyou, and the inconſtancy ofhis people's faith then, andyours now; your fears anddoubts are the famewith theirs ; though hisgoodness and lovehave been as unchangeable toyou, asever itwas to them.
3. Confider the advocateſhip and interceſſionofJeſus Chrift inheaven foryou, by virtue whereof the favour and love of Godbecomes unalterable towards his people.
If any thing can be ſuppoſed to cool or quench the love of God towards you, ! nothing in the world is more like to do it than your fin; and this, indeed, is that which you fear will eſtrange and alienate the heart ofyourGodfrom you. But, reader, if thou be one that ſincerely mourneſt for all the grief and diſhonour ofGod by thy fin, applieft the blood of ſprinkling to thy foul by faith, and makeſt mortification and watchfulneſs thy daily buſineſs ; comfort thyſelfagainſt thatfearfrom that fingularencouragement giventhee in this cafe, I John ii. 1, 2. " My little children,
" theſe things write I untoyou, that ye ſin not; and ifanyman 66 fin, we have anAdvocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the righteous, and he isthe propitiation for our fins."
Look as the death of Chriſt healed the great breach betwixtGod and thy foul, by thy reconciliation at firſt, ſo the powerful interceffionofChriſt inheaven, effectually prevents allnew breaches
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The Righteous Man's Refuge. betwixtGodandthy foul afterwards, fothathewillnever totally and finally caft thee offagain.
(2.) Shut the door behind you againſt all objections, ſcruples,andqueſtionings ofGod's immutability, and, by a refolvedand ſteddy faith,maintain the honour ofGod in thispoint,by thyconftant adherence to it, and dependence upon it; andefpecially fee that thou give him the glory ofhis unchangeableneſs.
1. When thou shalt fee the greatest alterations and changes made by his providence in the world.
What though thou ſhouldſt live to fee all things turned upside down, the foundations out ofcourſe, all things drawing into a fea ofconfuſion and trouble? yet in the midst of thoſe public diſtractions, and diftreisofnations, encourage thou thyself in this ; thyGod, and his love to his people, is the fametor ever.
Pfal.xlvi. 1, 2, 3.
4,5. "God is our refuge and ſtrength, a very preſenthelp in " trouble; therefore willwe not fear, thoughthe earth bemov- " ed, and the mountains be caſt into the midst of the ſea, God
" isin the midst ofher, the ſhallnot bemoved."
2. Live by faith upon God's unchangeableneſs under the greatest changes of your own condition in this world. Providence maymake great alterations upon allyour outward com. forts, it may caft youdown, how dear foeveryou be toGod, from riches into poverty, fromhealth into fickness, from honour into reproach, from liberty intobondage ; thou mayeſt overlive allthy comfortablerelations, andofaNaomi become aMarah.
Thou hast liftedme up, and caft me down, faid asgood a man as you, Plal. cii. 10.
Yet ſtill it isyour duty, and will be your greatprivilege inthe midstofalltheſe changes, to act your faith upon the never-changingGod, as that holy man did, Hab. iii.
17. " Although the fig-tree ſhall notbloffom, neither fruit be "in the vine; the labour ofthe olive ſhall fail; andthe fields
" ſhallyieldno meat ; the flocks ſhall be cut offfrom the fold, " and there ſhall be no herd in the ſtall ; yet will I rejoice in " the Lord, I willjoy in theGod ofmyfalvation ;" q. d. Suppoſe a thouſanddisappointments of my earthly hopes, yet will
Imaintain my hope in God. OChriſtian ! with how many yets, notwithstandings, andnevertheleſſes, muſt thy faithbearup intimesoftrouble, or thou wilt fink.
3. See thou live uponGod's unchangeableness, whenage and flickness ſhall inform thee, that thy great change is at hand'; though thy heart and thy fleſh fail, comfort thyself with this, thyGodwill never fail thee, Pfal. Ixxiii. 16. " OGod (faith
" David) thou hast taught me from my youth, and hitherto ** have I declared thywondrous works, now alſo when I am