[Page]
SERMON, 1. That the
Soul of Man is a Noble
Palace which the Great GOD built for Himself.
LUKE XI. 21, 22.
When a strong man armed keepeth his. Palace, his Goods are in Peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him and overcome him, He taketh from him all his Armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
IN the
Content our blessed
Saviour is answering the blasphemous Imputation of the
Pharisees, who charg'd Him with casting out Devils by vertue of a Compact and Confederacy with
Beelzebub, the prince of Devils. Our LORD argues the
Absurdity and perve
[...]
Malice of that Objection; and he
[...] copious and cogent in the
Argument. A w
[...]
[Page 2]and good Man, whether
Elias or even
Moses, would have been ready to think such a spiteful Contradiction, not worthy of any Confutation, except the vengeance of Eternal fire to fall from Heaven on the Blasphemers: but the Meek and Merciful
Lamb of God endured this Contradiction of Sinners against Himself, and tried to convince them by Reasonings that were plain and irresistible; at least for their sakes that stood by he did it, that this Venom of Hell might not enter into them.
He argues with them that surely
Satan would not cast out Satan, and that
a Kingdom divided against it self can never stand; that it must needs be
by the singer of God that He cast out Devils, and that therefore the
Kingdom of God was sensibly now
come unto them: that it was Evident that He had a power over the Devil, and was
Stronger than he and came to destroy his works; and therefore that He ought to be acknowledged by them to come from God, and as such to be submitted unto.
This He illustrates in the Words of my
Text by comparing the
Possession that Satan had of the Bodies and Souls of many Miserables, unto a strong Man armed keeping his Palace in peace and quiet; till there comes upon him One stronger than he and overcomes him, and spoils his house after he had disarm'd him.
When a strong man armed keepeth his Palace, &c.
In which
Words we have,
[Page 3] 1. A Representation of the Devils
quiet possession of Miserable Persons:
The strong man armed keepeth his Palace and his goods are in peace. Now it appears by the
Context.
- 1.
That Satan is this strong man armed. He is a Spirit of Mighty Strength and Power, and he is arm'd against God and us to do what mischief and hurt he can. On Earth there is not his like, and he is a King over all the Children of Pride. He is only under the restraints and check of Almighty God, and and of His Ho
[...] Angels which remain in the perfection of the
[...] Strength; and if it were not for this Blessed and Superiour Power Satan would make a wretched World know his strength daily. We read of this wicked Power in
Arms, and who he
fights with: Rev. 12.7.
And there
[...]as war in Heaven; the Dragon and his Angels warring against Michael and his Angels This is the strong man armed that dares to make War with the
Lamb; the Lion of Hell against the
Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
- 2. The
Palace that he keeps possession of is the
Hearts of the Sinful Children of Men. This he has usurp'd. God built it for Himself and worthy of Himself. Sin betray'd it, by defiling it into Satans hands. There he keeps, rules and works; even in the Children of disobedience. Here he lords, and tyranises: and does what he can to fortifye the Soul against Christ, and keep him out of it. It was once the
Peaceful Palace of God,
[Page 4]now 'tis the strong hold and Garison of a Rebel-tyrant and Out-law,
in a state of War.
- 3. Satan
quietly possesses the Impenitent Soul as if it were his
Property. His Goods are in Peace. He calls it
his Palace &
his Goods. He pleads a long quiet possession, and the right of
Conquest, if not
Consent too. The Sinners Mind and Heart and Will are his; tamely
yielded to him, wickedly
used for him.
‘Satan rules without controul, his Lusts are done, and his Interest serv'd; and all the Powers of the Soul are employ'd by him in his Service.’ They are his Goods; and the Sinner is
easy and unconcern'd about the matter, is secure and merry, servile and obedient, likes his Master and loves his Service; has no sense of misery, nor fear of danger.
Thus the strong man armed keepeth his palace, and his goods are in peace: A just representation of the Devils quiet possession of miserable Souls.
II. There follows a more pleasing account of CHRISTS
Rescuing the poor Soul out of Satans hands.
But when a stronger than He shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour, &c. So then,
- 1.
There is a stronger than the strong man armed, even Christ If we speak of Strength, lo he is strong! Stronger than all is our Father in Heaven: and the
Mediator there hath a P
[...]ion divided to Him with the strong.
[...]St
[...] is
[...] Lord God that Judges.
- 2.
[...] s
[...]ll
[...]me upon the Enemy. The
certainty
[Page 5]of His doing so seems express'd, and the
Manner of it by a way of surprize;
suddenly and
unexpectedly; in His Peace and Security, when all is quiet and he is least fear'd; when the Enemy thinks all is his own for ever.
His hand shall find out all his Enemies.
- 3.
When he comes he will overcome. The Victory will fall to CHRIST. None ever exalted or hardned himself against God and prospered.
Michael prevails.
Now the Evidences of this Victory are
two.
- 1.
He taketh from him all his Armour wherein be trusted. What is that? What is
Satans Armoury in which he puts his confidence, accounting himself sure of the Sinner? And how does Christ
take it away? Why, He breaks the power of Sin and Corruption in the Soul, (sayes Mr.
Henry) he rectifies its Mistakes, delivers it from its Prejudices. When the Eyes are opened, and the Heart is humbled and changed, then Satans
Armour is taken away. "The
Sword is first wrested out of Satans hand, and then the
Scepter. Satan is bound and cast out himself. Satans Armour
Pool in loc.
wherein he
‘trusted was his keeping men in darkness, blinding them with Error and Superstition, seducing them into the love of sinful practices: Now Christ takes away this his Armour by scattering the darkness expelling Error and Superstition,
[...]ching the way of God in truth, and
[Page 6]bringing Souls into the love of it: taking away the chains of guilt and destroying the Power of Sin. Thus Souls are turned from darkness to light, and from the Power of Satan unto GOD.’
- 2.
He divideth his spoils; or as it is in another place;
He spoils his House. This is easie to do after the Enemy is overcome and disarm'd. Upon
Victory follows the taking the
Spoils. The
Conqueror possesses for himself the Palace, which he has taken, and from whence he has driven the
Foe; or where he has taken him Captive. The Endowments of our Mind and Body, made use of before in the Service of Satan; our Powers and Interests so before devoted and debased, are these
spoils. Spoils wherein Satan once prided him, and spoils which God values and which should be Sacred to Him for ever. This is the Conquerors Reward, which he hangs up in the Temple of God for an Everlasting Triumph: Col. 2.15.
And having spoiled Principalities and Powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. His Cross.
Having thus at large opened this Copious
Text, I would offer from it these Four
Observations.
- I. That the Soul of Man is a
Palace which the Great GOD built for Himself.
- II. That it is now become as a
Garison, or strong hold which Satan keeps against God.
- III. That there is a wretched
Peace and cursed
Quiet which the carnal heart lies in under
[Page 7]Satans Tyranny.
- IV. That the
Victorious Saviour rescues whom He pleases, and will rescue all His chosen from Satans Power and Tyranny.
Of
these in their Order, as God shall Enable; and of the
First at this time.
DOCTRINE, I. That the Soul of Man is a noble Palace, which GOD has built for Himself.
This is the Palace which the
Text speaks of; even Mans Soul, and tho' it is not here spoken of as the Palace of God, but much the contrary; yet from the beginning and Originally it was His only. Every house has some Builder, but
He that built all things in God: and for whom did He or could He make any thing, and every thing, but for
Himself: for his pleasure they are and were Created. But above other things God made his Rational and Intelligent Creatures for his own possession, use and propriety. This is common to
Angels and
Men; Heaven is His Throne, and the Earth His Footstool; but Angels the Inhabitants of Heaven, and Men the People of His Pasture Earth, were His own designed Habitation and Residence. He made both one and other in His own
Image, in His likeness. The Realms above He prepared for Angels; this Earth a
Paradise for Man, whom He placed an
Imbodied Angel upon it, a Celestial Mind clothed in flesh, crowned with
[Page 8]glory and honour; and he walked with God, God visited him daily and conversed with him, yea dwelt in him. This was Mans
First State; He was the Residence and
Mansion of the Creator here upon Earth.
For what is a
Palace? but some Dwelling of a
Prince or
King, which he builds for himself, for the
Honour of his Majesty, and to shew
the Riches of his Kingdom. He builds it spacious and large to keep his
Court there, and spares no Art and Cost to render it
Magnificent and Sumptuous. Such now is the Creature
Man, taking Body and Soul together. He is a Stately and curious, ample and rich Building of God. The King of Glory pitch'd this
Tabernacle upon Earth. The Body he form'd & rais'd out of the dust, and breath'd into his Nostrils the breath of Life and made him this living Soul. The
Body is a wonderful Structure, and was a much more
Elegant piece of Workmanship at the first: but the
Spirit therein tho' Invisible is a Creature of far more admirable and beautiful Powers. O the divine Art and Power, the Wisdom and Glory of God, Conspicuous and Astonishing in producing the one and the other!
In short;
If a
King builds — What less than a
Palace? And where a
King dwells — What is it but a Palace? If then God made Man to
reside in him, We are the
Palace of the Great King.
And what find you in the Palaces of Kings here on Earth, which is not to be found in the Soul of Man.
[Page 9] 1.
Here God meant to Reign and Keep His
[...]. Here he Erected his
Throne and Sea
[...] of Judgment, in the Heart and Conscience, Here he appointed his
Servants to stand in his Presence and Minister to him, even the
[...] Powers & every Affection of the Soul. Here he gives
Audience, and receives the humble
Addresses of a loyal and dutiful Mind, and stoops to
Converse with his Servants.
The Kingdom of God is within you.
2. Mans Soul is a Palace for
Space and Amplitude. It is larger than the Circuit of the Heavens, whereon the ETERNAL rides. It scorns to be confined within the body or to be bounded by the Earth, or by the visible Heavens. It can compass the
Ʋniverse in a Moment, and one of its single Tho'ts is
[...] than
that: for I think of Him that is
[...]
MENSE, whom all worlds can not o
[...] tain. In this
Idea, this adoring
Tho't
[...] dwells. Here is a Palate for him
[...] than
the Heavens of Heavens. This
[...] a
living Image of his Immensity, and
[...]
Space is at last a
dead and dull one.
[...] among the Orbs of light is the
[...] brightest Body, and nothing is
[...] for beauty and velocity and ben
[...] the
Globes which it shines upon; but I
[...] unto you this Eye and Light of the World
[...] a
small and dark and single Attome,
[...] to the vaster Powers of a Batimal
[...] of Tho'ts can in
[...] and a brighter
[...]ay
[...]
[Page 10]
Throne of God, and there
[...]ly Adoring,
[...] delighting in and enjoying
the Father of these Lights, and
the Former of Spirits.
3. Again, In Kings Palaces do you look for
rich Furniture? how rich are the
Endowments of
the Humane Mind? What are the carved Works and
Gildings of the
Rooms of State? What are the costly Pictures of the
Galleries of Kings? What are the
Tapestry and Imbroider'd Hangings, their Tables of Silver and vessels of Gold, the
peculiar Treasures of the Provinces subject to them; compar'd to the Adorning and Magnificent furniture of a Humane Mind;
the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge and Largeness of heart which their Great Ministers and Counsellors are adorn'd with, and without which Kings themselves do not shine in their Palaces and on their Thrones. For Instance,
Nebuchadnezzars Reason and Princely Endowments for Empire was a far greater Glory than
Great Babylon which he had built for the
House of his Kingdom: Witness the day when the God of Heaven struck him for his Pride and took away his Princely Powers, and they
drove him from among men; unfit any longer for his own Palace, he dwelt among the
Beasts of his Park: But at the end of his dayes his Understanding returned to him, and he lift up his Eyes to Heaven, and blessed the
Most High GOD his Maker and his Judge, and prais'd and honour'd
Him that Liveth for ever & ever. Now his
Brightness return'd to him, his
[Page 11]
Counsellers and his
Lords again sought to him and
excellent Majesty was added to him,
Dan. 4.
ult. Verily, here was a sight much more. Magnificent than proud
Babylon with all its Towers and Palaces could afford: Here was Majesty in its Excellency; A Wise & Mighty
Emperor Contemplating, Adoring, Magnifying and Extolling the Immense and Eternal Majesty of Heaven; before whom the Inhabitants of the Earth are reputed as nothing. This Princely Humane Mind now look'd vastly greater in an Act of
Reason and
Worship. than ever He had done before in
Governing the Empire, or receiving the
Homages of Princes and Provinces. Draw this to the life, and let it for ever
hang in the Palaces of Princes. Shall I go on and say,
4. In Kings Palaces do we look for
Cleanness and
Purity, that there be no
dust or soil to be seen there; for they that be in Kings Palaces go in
soft Raiment, and every Apartment there will be
swept and garnished: Such was the Soul and Body of Man as He came out of his Makers hands; He was in the
Likeness of GOD very Holy and Good, without the least spot or stain,
the Glory of the Lord filled the House, which he had just finish'd and Consecrated: Man was
full of Grace and Truth: the Glory of the
Only-Begotten was to be seen in the measure proper to such a Creature;
Whose Delights were with the Sons of Men before Man was Created,
or ever the Earth was.
And indeed without this
Original Holiness
[Page 12]Man could not have been designed the
Dwelding of GOD: for what Communion has Light with darkness, or the
Temple of God with Belial? But now, Man being made a
Holy as well as a
Living Soul, He was therefore necessarily under a religious
Consecration to God from the first Moment of his Existence: and his Posterity in Mans Primitive State of Innocence & Sanctity could have been nothing else but so many
Lively Stones in one Spiritual house; a Holy Building and a
Holy Priesthood, as Believers now are again,
to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices.
Thus the Palace becomes a
Temple, properly speaking:
A Dwelling Sacred to God: not barely the
Mansion of a great
King, but a House
Dedicated to the Worship of the
ETERNAL GOD-HEAD the
Holy One. Such Man was made; His Heart an
Altar for the Holy God; Spiritual Exercises and Holy Acts of Devotion and Obedience, the
Sacrifices on that Altar holy Affections the
Fire from Heave
[...]
[...]ng on the Sacrifice, in the
Smoke whereof the Soul would
(Angellike) have been for ever
Ascending; and in all this the Understanding and the Will, the trading and commanding Faculties of the Soul, were to do the part of the
Lords Priests, and to be the Offerers.
Man being holy, God was
Conversable with him, and indeed made him for Communion with Himself: He was made to know God, to love him and delight in him; to obey and
[Page 13]serve Him, and finally for ever to Enjoy Him: Here and hereafter to live blessed in the favour, care and love of God towards him. He made Man with a Capacity for and an Inclination after Communion with Himself; and doubtless therefore was he ready to apply Himself to Man, and to communicate unto him in a way suitable to the Nature which he had given him: and could not fail "of doing so unless Man laid some Obstruction "in the way. It remains therefore only to say,
5. That the Creature Man was in his Original and first Design
a Dwelling worthy of the Eternal & Invisible King. Surely he
would not make an Intelligent and Immortal Mind that should not be so! And I may say, surely Eternal Wisdom & Goodness
could not make 'em unworthy of his own Habitation. For however one Rational Being may be of an Order a little lower than another, yet the
lowest must be not unworthy of Himself. For if not unworthy of his own
Making then certainly not of his own gracious Converse and
Abode. The Wisdom of God could not
Design Man better than he was made, nor the Power of God
make him better.
As for God his Work is perfect: and so he
said of it when he had made Man upon the Earth. Wherefore,
1.
"The Father of Spirits plac
[...]d a Spirit in Man so agreeable to his own Spiritual Nature, on purpose that he might converse with him. The Inspiration of the Almighty gave him understanding for this very end. God his
[Page 14]Maker taught him more than the beasts of the Earth, and made him wiser than the fowls of heaven that he might enquire and ask after Him. Where should the
Eternal Mind and Spirit dwell without Himself, but in some Immortal Spirit, Mind and Reason of his own Creating? The
Most High dweldeth not in Temples made with hands: What House can we build Him for the Place of his Rest? truly none: but he has built Himself a proper Dwelling in the
Spirit of Man, the
Humane Mind.
2.
The present Ruines of the Soul of Man show what a Structure it once was. Travellers be
[...]vail the Desolation of many famous Cities and Palaces, the Heads of Mighty Empires and Royal Seats of Mighty Princes. Yet in their Ruines they often find stupendous Marks of their
Antient Greatness. So whoso is wise and will observe his own Soul, tho' he cannot but find a vast Desolation upon it, yet in its present Weakness and Corruption he must needs perceive what a glorious Workmanship, what a
Superiour Creature it once was. When these
Powers were perfect; when this
Mind was full of light and knowledge, when this
Will was subject to that light, and these
Affections all regular, and obedient to it, and
Conscience full of Peace and Joy in its own Integrity; what a
Lovely and Venerable Form was this! how did it shine in
Paradise, the favourite Creature, Vice-gerent & meet Representative of GOD
[Page 15]here below; the Delight of God, the love of Angels its next Kindred, and commanding the Reverence and Homage of the Inferiour Creatures by an External Raye of Majesty and Beauty. All this is yet as plainly to be perceived within our selves that it once was, as when we have pass'd by demolish'd Houses, that were sometimes Magnificent Structures; we look on the pieces of
ragged Walls yet standing, the strong Foundation, its breadth and wide Circumference, the broken pieces of curious carved work, and say, —
What a Sumptuous Building was this once! and how meet for some Princes Residence!
But then again,
3.
The Rebuilding and Restoring of this Dwelling and Temple at such a vast Expence as the Blood of CHRIST, shews what it
was in its first design, and yet
is when rebuilt in the sight of God. When
David drew the Plan of the Temple he had design'd, in doing which the Infinite Mind and
Divine Artichec guided him; he at the same time gather'd an Immense Sum of Riches, the spoils of many Countries in proportion to the vast
Fabrick. He that had seen the Treasure amass'd and devoted, and counted the Sum, would have wonder'd how it should ever be expended; and it may be they that saw it finisht might wonder as much whence the Riches could be gather'd that should raise and adorn that
costly Pile. Yet this is but a small Image of the Infinite Price which the GOD of Heaven
[Page 16]has expended on the Repair and Rebuilding of his Palace in our Souls. For at what price shall we be able to value the least drop of the Blood of his own Son!
For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish, who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the World, 1 Pet. 1.18. If we believe the
Eternal Godhead, and the infinite Dignity and Glory of our
Saviour, what a price are we
bought with. Acts 20.28.
The Church of God which he has purchased with his own blood. Heb. 9.14
The blood of Christ who thro' the Eternal Spirit offered up himself without spot to God. i. e. His own
Eternal Godhead gave the infinite price to the Offering and Sacrifice. A price which Angels cannot Estimate, nor are those Hosts of glorious Spirits to be weigh'd against it, nor the World, which it might well purchase, for He Himself made them all.
But there yet remains one more
Particular to be considered in the Argument before us, and I shall add no more, for the Tho'ts of Men or Angels can rise no higher,
And that is,
4.
Let us view this Palace of the Blessed God, the Humane Nature, in the Person of Christ, God-Man, Emmanuel, God with us. God manifest in our flesh, tabernacling in a Body of Gods preparing for him, the
Second Adam, the Lord from Heaven, in whom we are made
[Page 17]Alive; the singular work of God, conceived by the
HOLY GHOST, the promis'd
Seed of the Woman, born of a
Virgin, the power of the
Highest Overshadowing, whereby the
First begotten was bro't into the World. The Commandment came forth at his Birth to the
Spirits above,
Let all the Angels of God worship Him; and down came the
Multitudes of the Heavenly Host; they saw and ador'd and Sang —
Glory to God in the Highest! They bro't us the
glad Tidings of Great Joy, —
To you is born the Saviour, and they yet desire to
pry into the Ineffable thing.
In him dwelt the
Fulness of the God-head Bodily, in him all the
Treasures of Wisdom of Knowledge, of Holiness & Righteousness; for He received not the
Spirit by Measure: He was
Fairer than the Children of Men, Grace was
Pour'd into his Lips, yea the bright Angels of God were dark, and the Heavens not clean in comparison of him; He was the LORD that was
lookt for by them that were waiting for Redemption in Israel, and he came into his Temple, and by his divine Presence made the
Glory of the Second Temple greater than the Glory of the Former: for in the first Temple he only gave a sign and token of his presence between the
Cherubims in a
Shechinah, or Body of light; but into this
Second Temple he came
Personally and
Bodily, a GOD
Incarnate; and being found in
fashion as a Man, but Eternally in the
Form of GOD and without robbery
Equal with God; He Worshipt,
[Page 18]he Obeyed, he fulfilled all Righteousness in our place and on our account; yielding
such an Obedience to the honour of God, and to repair the dishonours which the Sin of Man had done to the Great God, as
Adam and his Posterity if they had all stood in their first Purity and Perfection could never have been able to render to the Majesty of Heaven. For as the
Altar Sanctifies the Gift, so the Divine Nature in the Person of the
Redeemer did his Obedience to the Law; and as thousands of Millions of things finite put together can never make any thing like an Infinite, so all the Obedience of all Creatures for ever paid to God could never equal one Act of Obedience and Worship from Him who was Himself
GOD: But moreover,
the Son of God in our Nature humbled himself yet further and became
Obedient unto Death, even the death of the Cross, tasting death for every Man, and bearing the Curse of the Law:
For it became Him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons unto glory to make the Captain of our salvation perfect thro' suffering; for both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctifyed are all of one; for which cause He is not Ashamed to call them Brethren: — For as the Children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself took part of the same, that thro' Death he might destroy him that had the power of Death, that is the Devil: — For verily He took not on him the Nature of Angels, but the seed of Abraham.
[Page 19] And now in this very
Nature, being
Risen from the dead, and being by the Right hand of God
Exalted, this same glorious JESUS
is set down on the right hand of the Majesty on High, in the Glory which he had with the Father before the World began; far above all Principalities and Powers and Might, and Dominion, and every Name that is named, not only in Heaven but on Earth.
Now let us but consider this
Great Thing! this Palace and Temple of the
Eternal God. head in the
Man Christ Jesus! What was
Adam in his Paradise to this glorious
Person! What was the Glory of God in the
burning Bush, or between the
Cherubims to this glorified
Jesus? What was the shining of
Moses face, or the flames of
Elijahs Zeal before this
greater Glory! To which of the
Angels said he at any time,
Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee! Has the great God ever taken the Nature of Angels
so near to Himself? No verily. Here then let us see the
Glory of Humane Nature in the Person of the Redeemer. God has seen meet to exalt and dignifye
it; to do all this
for it and
in it! To make it His dwelling. His Temple, and the Light and Glory of Heaven it self:
for the Lamb is the Light thereof. Well therefore did our
Saviour turn off their Admiting Eyes who observed to Him the wonderful
Stones of the Material Temple, and he pointed them to his own
blessed Body, saying,
Destroy this Temple of God and I will raise it up in three
[Page 20]dayes! Twas done, and
in it God reigns and his Glory resides there for ever and ever. And thus it appears that the Creature Man was in his Original and first design, and is in his Restoration and Recovery,
a dwelling worthy of the Eternal and Invisible King.
I might add some other
Reasons, why God has made his Rational and Intelligent Creatures for his own Dwelling; Namely, from his Delight and Pleasure in his own Glorious Workmanship, and in his Image on them: for the making his Creature happy and blessed by Communion with Himself: And for the display of his own Glory, Perfection and Happiness in the Creature:
Let us make Man in our Image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
USE.
But I pass to the
Ʋse and
Improvement of the
Doctrine; as the time may allow me.
1.
See the Dignity and Honour of Man! God made him a little lower than the Angels, and crowned him with glory and honour. But in this he was ever as the Angels, that he was made the
Living Temple of the Deity as well as they. And to this his
Original honour he is restored by a
Redeemer: Rev. 21.
[Page 21]3, 5.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men, and be will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And he that sat upon the Throne said, Behold I make all things new.
‘What an honourable State is this? as Mr.
How excellently sayes upon the
Argument; and what an excellent Creature does it imply to be
Immediately Sacred to GOD and his own Converse! a Soul receptive of the
Deity! able to entertain God by Knowledge and Contemplation, by Reverence and Love, by Adoration and Praise
[...] a most
delectable and pleasant State to be separated to this Entertainment of the Divine Presence.’
2.
Let us see and admire the Condesc
[...]nti
[...] of God to Dust and Ashes. Will God in v
[...] deed dwell with Man upon Earth? behold Heaven and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain thee? Lord, what is Man that thou art mindful of him! What a low and mean and narrow, nay and dirty place are we become, to be ever again honoured with the
Indwelling of the Divine Glory! Behold the Heavens are not clean in his eyes, and he chargeth this Angels with folly; how much less on them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, Job 4.19. This Grace of G
[...] to us may well be
in our Eyes His brighte
[...] Glory. And thus God speaks of it Himself: Isai. 53.15.
For thus saith the High and Lofty
[Page 22]One that Inhabits Eternity, I dwell in the High and Holy Place, with him also that is of a humble spirit.
3.
What a cursed thing must Sin be, which defiles the Temple, and layes the Palace of God in ruine
[...], and unfits as to be his Dwelling. God the rightful
Lord and Owner is turn'd out of His own House; for
Evil cannot dwell with Him. Not only is the
Magnificence destroyed, and Man come short of the glory of God; but his Temple is turn'd into a
Stew, and
Stye, and a
Cage of every unclean thing. They are altogether become
filthy, the
habitation of Devils and the
hold of every foul spirit.
And here I cannot but Entertain you with a most affecting strain of
Meditation, on this
desolation of the Temple of God in Man, from the Pen of the late Excellent and Venerable Mr.
How.
"Here God once
dwelt, but He is now retir'd and
gone! The
Lamps are extinct! the
Altar overturn'd! the
Light and
Love are now vanisht, which did the
one shine with so heavenly brightness, the
other burn with so pious fervour. The
Golden Candlestick is displaced, to make room for the Throne of the
Prince of darkness! the
Sacred Incense, which sent rowling up in Clouds its rich Perfumes, are exchang'd for a poisnous
hellish Vapour, and instead of a
sweat savour there is a
stench! The comly
Order of the House is turn'd into
Confusion, and the
Beauties of holiness into noisome
Impurities, the House of
Prayer into
[Page 23]a den of
Thieves! and that of the worst and most
horrid kind, Sacriledge! What have not the
Enemies done wickedly in the Sanctuary!
Thus
He.
4. Is the Soul of Man a noble Palace which God built for himself,
See the Reason then why God has done so much for our Redemption. For what King would not
recover his Palace out of the hands of Traitors and Rebels, that had Perfidiously seiz'd upon it? And what
Expence could be tho't too much, or what
Force to imploy unto this End? In the
Man Christ Jesus God prepared to Himself a most
perfect Temple, and the glory of the
latter House (the Second
Adam) was Greater than the Glory of the
first; For the first Man Adam was made a living Soul, the last Adam was made a quickning Spirit: In him
we are again the Building of God, a
Spiritual House, and an
Habitation of God thro' the Spirit. But when we contemplate the
Only-begotten of the Father coming down from Heaven and
Tabernacling in our flesh, for a time, and upon his return to Heaven, when we consider of the
Descent of the
Eternal Spirit of Grace to make His Abode here for ever; we must needs Enquire
for what Great End and Purpose the Amazing Undertaking is? And here we find it —: 'tis to
Repair and Rebuild the Palace of the Great God on Earth! To restore this fair part of the Creation of God! To
Renew the face of the Earth, by restoring his
lost Image in us! To this End
it pleased the Father that in
[Page 24]Christ should all fulness dwell, by him to reconcile all things to himself: And to this End is He
Ascended that He might receive
Gifts for Men, even for the Rebellious,
That the Lord God might dwell among them, Psal. 68.18.
5. If the Soul of Man was originally designed, and is recovered by Grace, to be the Palace and Dwelling of God;
then no doubt Good Men shall dwell with God, and God in them in the Life to come. There are Habitations for them in Heaven,
Many Mansions in the Fathers House which Christ is gone to prepare for them, and will take them to; but there they shall be (together with the
Angels)
themselves the Mansions and Habitation of God. We know that if our
Earthly House of this Tabernacle be dissolved, we have a
Building of God, an House not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens. There we know that the Redeemed are
before the Throne of God, and serve Him Day and Night in his Temple, and
He that sitteth on the Throne dwells among them.
6. And lastly; If the Soul of Man be a noble Palace which the Great God has built for Himself,
Learn then the Duty thou owest to the blessed God. Restore Him the possession of thy Soul; which is his own, for he
made it and gave it Being and all its Endowments. Yea He has also
bought it and
dearly paid for it.
[Page 25]Wherefore
I beseech you Brethren by the Mercies of God that ye present your Bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Let not
Satan keep possession of you, neither
yield ye your Members as Instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, but yield your selves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead; and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. Let us say with the
Redeemed Israelites, He is
my God and I will prepare him an Habitation, my fathers God and I will exalt him. Yea let us swear unto the Lord and vow unto the mighty GOD, surely I will not come up into the tabernacle of my House, nor go up into my Bed; I will not give sleep unto mine Eyes, nor slumber to mine eye-lids, until I find out a place for the Lord, an Habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. We have solemnly
Consecrated our whole selves, Soul and Body, to the Lord; and we should with Great solemnity be often
renewing the Act of Self-dedication.
Wherefore,
Live as one holy and devoted. Let nothing common or unclean come into the holy Place. Remember
what thou art,
Know thy self, and how
dreadful is the consideration! This
is no other than the House of God, and Gate of Heaven. Kings are
served in their Palaces, with great
Respect and Alacrity; and God is to be
Worship'd in his Temple with
Reverence and Godly fear. So imploy all thy Powers to the Glory of God with the utmost
[Page 26]devotion. Turn
aside, with
Moses, to see this
Great Sight, God in the
Bush, and that not
consumed; and let an
awful Reverence sieze thy Soul,
for Thou and the Place where thou standest is holy Ground.
SERMON, II.
IT was a
bright and
pleasant MEDITATION we have been upon; which might well Engage and carry a Mans Tho'ts away a great Length: scil.
That the Soul of Man is a Noble Palace which the Great GOD built for Himself. But I am now to pass into as
dark and
melancholly a CONTEMPLATION, where a Mans Mind may well be as much clouded and Oppressed.
DOCTRINE, II. That the Soul of Man is now become as a Garrison and Strong Hold which Satan keeps against GOD.
He the strong Man armed keepeth the Palace, and calls it his. He has the present Possession and Rule; he keeps it by force of Arms, as a Castle in Time of War.
[Page 27] Let us
- 1. Consider the
Fact, Satans possession.
- 2. Whence that is?
- 3. That he keeps it by
Arms, and as a Garrison against GOD.
I. It is a sorrowful
Matter of Fact, of easy
Proof, and the sad
Experience of the Children of Men, that
Satan has and keeps possession of their Souls in their Natural and Unregenerate State. I speak of a
Spiritual possession of the Souls of Sinners, which is a Case really much more deplorable than a
Bodily possession by evil Spirits; but this
last being less common, and falling under the Bodily senses and being horrible to behold, is terrifying and affrighting to us; while the
other being only a Spiritual misery, is not apprehended or regarded by stupid Men, tho' it be of more
fatal and
lasting Consequence.
In whomsoever
Sin reigns, in and over them
Satan rules, and has possession of them.
He that committeth sin is of the Devil, for the Devil sinneth from the beginning. In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil; whosoever doeth not Righteousness is not of God: And whosoever is not of God is a slave to Satan, 1
Joh. 3.8, 10.
He that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not: These we know
are of God, while the whole World lyeth in Wickedness, 1 Joh. 5.18, 19.
[...],
in the Wicked one; under his power and under his possession.
[Page 28] We are
born in Sin, and Satan has the first possession in this State of Corruption and Apostacy; which remains thro' the whole Unregenerate Life. In the
New Birth Satan is Ejected. If it be Enquir'd concerning any Person in that blessed hour, as it was concerning the poor
Lad bro't to Christ, foaming and gnashing with an unclean and cruel Spirit; Mark 9.21.
How long is it agoe since this came unto him? It must be answered —
Even of Child; yea even from his
Birth, and before.
The
Habit of Sinful Actions, and the ungodly
Courses of wicked People, shows the possession and Rule of Satan. They are
acted by him. Joh. 8.44.
Ye are of your Father the Devil, and the lusts of your Father ye do; Ye do the deeds of your Father. It is the
Style of Satan, that he is
the God of this wicked world, the Prince of the power of the Air, the spirit that now ruleth in the Children of Disobedience, Eph. 2.2. And it is the wretched account of the
State of the Ungodly, that they are
in the snare of the Devil and taken Captive by him at his will, 2 Tim 2.
ult.
To conclude, Some wicked Persons are possessed and acted by Satan more
Visibly and
Openly than others. The unclean Spirit shows it self to the World in the abandoned Wretches, & in their scandalous Courses which
[...]e earthly, sensual, devilish. They are blinded and led blindfold by him: 2 Cor. 4.4.
In whom the God of this world has blinded their
[Page 29]eyes. As the
Philistines of old
put out Samsons Eyes and set him to grind; or as the
Demoniacks of old were wont to run staring over Rocks and Precipices, into the fire and into the water, whithersoever the furious spirit drove them.
Moreover, Satan
hardens them in
Sin, and his possession of them is to be seen in their
Security &
Fearlesness: for if the Devil were not
in them, they would fear and tremble and be struck with horror at their own Actions and Dangers. They
ly among the Tombs and know not that the
dead are there. They
cut and gnash themselves with Stones and
feel it not, tho' they are so Cruel & Barbarous to their own Souls.
I might be more particular and say,
He is a
Deaf Spirit in them and they wont
hear, a
Dumb Spirit and they cant
Pray, a
Profane Spirit & they
Blaspheme God. Yea like the possessed in their
Fits they are
Insensible, and you would think 'em
quite dead. The thunders from
Sinai are not heard by 'em, nor the flashes of lightning seen, nor the shaking Earth felt. Were they not in some strange Preternatural State they would
exceedingly fear and quake: Their Senses and their Reason are lock'd up as in a
Swoon, and it is very hazardous whether they will ever
come to themselves again and to a right Mind; or if they do it is to be feared that it will be by dreadful
Convulsions, which may be terrible, if not equally dangerous as their present
Stupidity.
[Page 30] II.
Whence is it that Satan has possessed himself of the Souls of Men? The Palace was Gods, built for Himself and actually his Dwelling and Residence:
How then came Satan into it?
Not to be sure by any
Legal Right, but by Tyranical
Ʋsurpation: Not by any power
against God, or any freedom
from his Power and Justice, but by the righteous permission of a holy God,
in Judgment and Punishment for our Sin. The sorry
Traitor, the foul and false
Usurper boasts of a Right and Title,
All these, and all this Power and Glory is mine; for
to me they are delivered, and whatsoever I will I do with them. He claims as by
Victory and
Conquest over God, when as he only prevailed over weak Man by
Subtlety and
Fraud, and by the Judgment of a holy God is
permitted to Possess and Tyrannize.
Wherefore,
The Palace was betray'd into Satans hands by Mans Sin. Man
delivered up himself to the Devil by a base and voluntary disloyal
yielding to his Temptation. Sin was the cursed thing that made God
forsake his Palace, for he cannot dwell with it; and this gave Satan his possession. The first
Order and Command of God was, that Sin should not be permitted to enter into and defile his Palace, on pain of his Departure in Wrath. God made Man Holy, Inclin'd him well, disposed him only to that which is good, and to all
[Page 31]that is so! He gave him an express
Warning and Commandment, with a severe and dreadful
Threatning in case of Transgression. The penalty was present Desertion and utter Destruction. Nevertheless the Devil by craft and subtlety beguiled and seduced Man into Sin. Man weakly, ungratefully, wilfully complied with Satans Motion. He treacherously gave him the
Keys of the Palace, and receiv'd him into his own heart. The Holy God then forsook his Earthly Tabernacle and Residence. He loath'd and abhorred the defiled Place. He left miserable Man in those cruel and filthy hands which he had put himself into. The Traitor surrendred himself into a Tyrants hand, and renounced God his righful Proprietor, and Gracious LORD. He revolted to the Devil at his first Motion, from God that made him. It was a voluntary Resignation to the declared Enemy of God, who had appear'd to him
bare fac'd, giving God the
lye, and
accused him of Envying the Felicity of his Creature. He transgressed in a defying manner to God, and insolently dar'd his Vengeance. God was far from willing or allowing Mans fall and ruine; He did all that was proper and reasonable to have restrained and prevented him: He forbid it under the pain of Death, his highest Displeasure and an Everlasting Excision from himself. This is the Rice and Support of Satans Kingdom here on Earth and his Dominion over Men. He
[Page 32]tempted and Man yielded. God forsook and Satan usurped. Man renounced God, revolted to Satan, and God left him to the wretchedness and Curse he chose.
III.
Satan now holds and keeps the wretched Soul as a Garrison in a time and state of War against the blessed God. The strong man Armed keepeth the Palace. We read of the
Powers of Darkness, the
Powers of the Air, Principalities and Powers and spiritual Wickednesses. The Devils Empire is large and his Kingdom strong. The Hosts of Evil Spirits are many, and every single fallen Spirit is of Great Might. Their Name is
Legion, for they are many; and any one of them can do dreadful things if God permit them. Satan and his Angels are the Great Enemy of God and in Arms against Him. They never laid down their Arms of Rebellion unto this day. From the day they left Heaven, from the day that God cast them down from it, they declar'd and still wage an Everlasting War with it, for they have an Irreconcilable Enmity, and a Rage which they can't suppress. Rev. 12.7.
And there was War in Heaven; Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon; and the Dragon fought and his Angels.
Tyrants have their Palaces as well as rightful Princes; but they rule by force of Arms; by
standing Armies. Usurpers and Rebel
[...] have no other Security of their unjust possession.
[Page 33] God
Arms for the Recovery of the Soul out of Satans hands. As the
Captain of the Hosts of the Lord CHRIST has appear'd in his Church. The
Eternal and Almighty Spirit of Grace has proceeded from
Him, with his
Sword drawn, His Blessed
Word in the Ministry thereof. His
Ministers have received their Commissions from Him to
Inlist others in his Cause; with whom they are to War a good Warfare,
as good Souldiers of Jesus Christ: Whom that they may serve faithfully they are called off from
Entangling themselves with the Affairs of this World. The
Weapons put into our hands are not
Carnal but Mighty thro' God, to the pulling down of strong holds: 2 Cor. 10.4. The
whole Armour of God is provided for us, wherein to go forth against the
Goliah of Hell; and it
fits every gracious Soul, for he has
prov'd and tried it and been
exercis'd therein; being
skilful in the word of Righteousness, and experienced in Spiritual Graces & Duties. The Spirit of God Himself puts them on, and is in them that go forth in his Name to Animate, Strengthen and Prosper 'em. His Presence in his Word appears in
Showers of Arrows, and darts thrown with a strong hand, that
Peirce the hearts of his Enemies; and subdue them to be his
willing People, while their Enmity is
slain in the day of his Power. The
Stars of Heaven also in their Courses fight against Sis
[...]a, and Invisible Hosts of
Angels Engage in the Cause of Christ, and for the Destruction of Satans Kingdom.
[Page 34] Thus
more are with us than there are against us. Nevertheless the Rebels are
Obstinate and
Desperate; for they are never to be pardoned nor to find any Mercy. They hold on the fight, and renew the War, amidst all their Defeats, with impotent Spite and Malignity. They fall and are wounded and broken, and bite the ground, and gnash with their teeth, while they see a happy Number recovered to God, after
whom nevertheless they cast their fiery darts, & give them many a painful wound. The Convictions of
others they quench, and keep possession of them by prevailing with them to
Confederate with them against God. Sinners
side with the Devil, consent to his Motions, submit to his Rule, resist the Holy Ghost, and are found to fight against God. They have a
Diabolical Nature of their own, which is Enmity to him, and naturally sides with the powers of Darkness. They are
Seconds in the War, and count themselves
Principal in it. It is the cause of their Lusts, whom they love and like, and can even fight and die for, rather than part with them. They are haters of God, and despiteful as well as He under whose Banner they appear. Alienation from the life of God & Aversion to it in the Corrupt Nature of Man, is the foundation of his Agreement and
League with Hell. 'Tis the Seed of the Serpent: A
Serpentine Nature, which loves its like, but hates God as its Opposite. The Law is Spiritual, but this corrupt Nature is carnal, Sold under Sin, Sold to do evil.
[Page 35] Hence is it that the Soul becomes such a
Strong hold against God. The corrupted Soul is it self Enmity to God. There is a strong hold of Sin.
- 1. In the corrupt Mind and carnal Reasonings.
- 2. In the Will and Affections.
- 3. In the defiled and corrupted Conscience.
- 4. Sin has deeply Intrenched about & strongly fortified it self with many Outworks. And to finish all,
- 5. Sometimes the foul Moat of Judicial Blindness and Obduracy encloses all.
1.
There is a strong Hold of Sin in the corrupt Mind and carnal Reasonings of Men. Ignorance of God, affected blindness, stupidity, Pride, Conceit, Vanity, Unbelief and Infidelity are natural to Sinful Man. In these Consist the Kingdom of Darkness and the Power of darkness. Satan is the
Ruler of the Darkness of this World, and as the God of this World, (
i. e. the
Tyrant over it.)
he blindeth the Mind of them that believe not, lest the light of the Glorious Gospel should shine into them. The natural State of Man is Darkness: Eph. 5.8.
Ye were sometimes darkness. The Understanding is both disabled and depraved by the Fall, the Mind is defiled: if that be Evil the whole Soul must be full of darkness; if the light that is in us be darkness, how great is that Darkness? We read of the
Chains of Darkness; and indeed chains are not more to the Liberty of the Body, than Darkness is to the noble Powers of the Mind: as the one are in the Imprisonment and Captivity of
[Page 36]the Body, so is the other the Thraldom and Slavery of the Soul. What a dark
Dungeon is to the Body, that is Spiritual Darkness to the Mind.
Well therefore when the
Apostle speaks of the Weapons of our Warfare mighty thro' God to the pulling down strong Holds, the
first of these Holds that he mentions is
our Tho'ts and Imaginations, and every high thing that exalts it self against the Know
[...]edge of God. 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. The Corruption of the Angelick and Humane Mind is much alike: Angels and Men both fell by
Pride, and Pride fastens the Chains of darkness on them. Vain Man will yet be wise, and wiser than God, tho' he be born like the wild Asses Colt.
Are we blind also? Said the disdainful
Pharisees; and therefore they were left in wilful Ignorance and Unbelief. The Mind of Man
likes not to retain God in its knowledge. And its own natural Notions, Fancies, Prejudices, it sets up in Opposition to the Revelation of God. Neither is there any stronger hold of Satan in Us than this
Evil Heart of Unbelief in departing from the living God. Or when Men from the perverss reasonings of their own Mind, corrupt Opinions, Phylosophy & vain deceit fortifie themselves against the Convictions of the Word. Hence has arose the Infidelity, Atheism, Profaneness and Licentiousness of the present Ages. The desires of the
Mind are Opposite to God as well as those of the
F
[...]sh. Eph. 2.3.
Carnal Wisdom
[Page 37]is devilish. Jam. 3.15. And therefore the Soul by Sanctifying Grace is
Renewed in the Spirit of the Mind. Rev. 12.2. The other Faculties of the Soul fight, like
common Souldiers, for the Prey, (sayes one) but the Mind as the
Leader of the Army fights for Vict
[...]ry, and Superiority; freedom from the power of God, or for the Conquest of him.
We are alienated and Enemies in our Minds, Col. 1.21. We are averss to the Knowledge of God, and say to him, Depart from us for we desire not the Knowledge of thy wayes. Conversion therefore begins in
Illumination and the
Opening Mens eyes, and they are transformed by the
Renewing of their Mind. It was the Pride of
Jews and
Greeks that hindred them from submitting to the Gospel of Christ; 1 Cor. 1.23.
We Preach Christ Crucified, to the Jews a stumbling Block and to the Greeks Foolishness. A Crucified Saviour was a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of Offence to them; they fell on it and were broken to pieces. And so do many in our own dayes, in whose wise Eyes the Gospel is yet fool
[...]ness, and they cannot stoop to the Simplicity, Humility and Self-dental of its pure Laws, nor to the Righteousness which is of faith. Hence as it was from the beginning it yet is, Not many wise Men after the flesh are called. They test in Natural Religion after their study of Nature. But this Pride and Arrogance and high look God hates. This Pride of reason is
Odious to God, as well
[Page 38]as
Averss to him, Not only does it
turn from God, but God
resists that. So that it brings a kind of
Impossibility to be ever convinced;
How can ye believe that receive honour one of another? and seest thou a Man wise in his own eyes there is
more hopes of a fool than of him.
God resisteth the proud and giveth Grace to the lowly. The want of a Spiritual Discerning, and the power of carnal Apprehension, is an effectual hindrance of Mens Salvation; and a strong
Wile and
Snare of the Devil. So he
began with Man, and so he
holds on, and the Effect is the same
now that it was at
first; i. e. his Possession and Dominion is Establisht by it:
Ye shall be as GOD's to know Good and Evil.
2.
Satan finds a strong hold in the Corrupt Will and Affections of Men. They are his by
Consent, and they are obstinate in their
choice of sinful wayes, they delight in some or other lust under the power and rule whereof they live, and all expresses and issues in more and more Aversion to God, and their hatred of his wayes increases continually. The love and liking of Sin is the Establishment of Satans Throne. The slave loves his cruel Master and will not go free, but will fight for the Tyrant. Such is the
baseness of the once noble and free Soul.
There needs no more to give Satan a full and entire possession of our Souls than our own Consent to him. And indeed nothing but that can give him possession. The Soul
[Page 39]is yet so
free that he rules in none but by their own
Will. In the day when their heart and will is changed, Satans throne is cast down and he is spoil'd of all his Armour. He enter'd by our consent, and he reigns by our tame submission and consent. And so long as thou art
willing it is impossible but he should
keep the Palace. Thy
will is the Palace which he prides in, and gives him all his power. He would if he could keep his possession of the convinced Sinner
against his will,
but all the Devils in Hell can't do that. Every Sin (sayes one) is an Election of the Devil to be our Lord; so far as it has a voice it gives it suffrage or vote for him. Joh. 8.44.
His Lusts ye will do. While the w
[...]
[...]ubbornly persists in its Disobedience
[...]
[...]od and to rebel against Him; the possession of Satan is secure. The Souls affections are his Guard while he sleeps within in peace and quiet. He has no trouble to keep the Palace,
we keep it for him. Our love of Sin is all the Hold that Satan desires of us. Let that abide and he is sure of us. On this his Kingdom stands, for Satan can never cast out Satan. The two are agreed and can dwell together well. While God is hated as a Soveraign and as a Lawgiver; Satans dominion is Establish'd as much as it is in our power to do it. We are loyal to him and zealous Assertors of his right.
Here then is Satan power against God and over thee; thy own Will, choice, love and
[Page 40]likeing. This is Invincibly set for Sin. God won't force thee to be his against thy will, nor accept of thee without thy Will, nor rule thee but by thy own Consent; Tho' he will judge and punish thee at last without it. And this is thy Guilt, and the Condemnation: you
will not be rul'd and sav'd by Christ, and you
love darkness rather than light. You have not the love of the Truth that you may be saved
3.
Conscience is corrupted and perverted, and becomes another strong hold of Satan, whereby he keeps possession of us. Tit. 1.15
The Mind and Conscience is defited. This
Substitute and
Vicegarent which God set up within us to govern and to judge
[...] is himself
debauched into Satans Interes
[...]. No wonder then that the Fortress he was to have defended is betrayed and delivered up and that Satan has so quiet a possession. It is the Office, and only in the power of Conscience to disturb and disquiet him in his Tyranny. This should
protest against the Usurpation, this should
exclaim under the Oppression, this should draw up the
Charge of Treason and Rebellion, this should
judge and pass Sentence, this should Awaken Reason to its just Exercise, and summon the Will to submit again to God. But if this be
Silent, if this be
Brib'd by the Tyrant in possession, or if it be
Aw'd and cow'd; If Conscience
side with the Inclination to Sin, and judge in its favour from
Partiality and Affection, if the Judge takes bribes and
[Page 41]cryes Peace to the Inslaved Soul; or if it be tame and cowardly, sneaking and fordid, as a
corrupt Judge is easily found in vicions Reigns, servile to the Tyrants Lust and Will; no wonder that Satan keeps possession then and his dominion stands. The
Foundations are out of course, and there's all the Confusion and Iniquity proper to the Reign of the Devil.
Indeed Natural Conscience has not power
now to govern a blind Mind and an obstinate Will. The will often carries it against the judgment of Reason and the Convictions of Conscience. Conscience is not hearkned to, but hector'd and Insulted, oppos'd and resisted when he does condemn. But how often is Conscience asleep, or dumb and conniving at the
[...]penitence Men live in; and so the hands of Sin and Satan are strengthned. Sometimes it
Establishes Iniquity by a Law and gives that for law that is not; calls evil good & good evil, and puts darkness for light and light for darkness, sometimes it covers, excuses, palliates, and appears an
Advocate for wickedness and Villany. Sometimes it holds its peace & bears no Testimony at all. By all this the power of Sin
[...]nd its Rule is upheld in the Soul.
Indeed Conscience must needs suffer together with and by the corruption of the Understanding and the Will: it wants the clea
[...] light of the
One to judge by, and violence is done it by the
Other. But alas one Faculty is corrupted as well as the other. Conscience
[Page 42]
[...] both weak and false. It holds the Truth in Unrighteousness, the fall has made Shipwreck of it, and sensual Men drown it with their Souls in the Sea of Lust. The
Chancellor falls in with the wicked
Ministry, and involves himself in their Crimes.
4. I might add, if you will not think that I stretch the Allusion too far,
That there are many Outworks, by which Satan has deeply Intrench'd and
[...]ortified about the Palace which he keeps: and every one of these lines he disputes and defends, that he may keep the Fort. Such are Evil
Customs, worldly Principles and
Maxims, evil
Examples and wicked
Tempters about us; the Errors and Prejudices of
Education, evil
Habits, and sometimes even
Lawful Liberties; but above all the baits of
Sensual Pleasures, worldly
Riches, and Earthly
Honours; the Lust of the Eye, the Lust of the Flesh and the Pride of Life; all which are that friendship of the World which is Enmity to God, and whereby Satans Seat and Empire is Enlarged and Established. The God of this World has with much hellish wisdom for himself, and malice against God, thus formed as he could a corrupt
World for his own possession. He has filled it with Snares for Souls, and Inticements to Sin, foolish and hurtful Lusts, that we may be taken captive by him at his will, and may never recover out of his hands. How many are his Stratagems and devices, and how subtle and very hidden his Arts! He is still the
Serpent and
[Page 43]an
old one, and folds and twines, and shows himself in a thousand postures and forms; and we the poor Children of
Eve are taken with his shining Skin, and glaring lies and promises;
and take and eat and die. This present evil World is a strong Confederate with Satan, and joyns all its forces against God and our Souls.
5. And lastly,
Sometimes there is the foul Moat of Judic
[...] Blindness and Obduracy inclosing all. A line of Gods
drawing in his Wrath and feirce Anger, and a deep ditch of the Sinners
digging about himself. A great
Gulph fixed of an Everlasting Separation between God and the Soul. A righteous Sentence of
Reprobation pass'd, which can never be revok'd. The tree
Cursed before it is cut down, and from that Moment
drying up at the root. An utter and final Rejection from God, and a delivery of the wretched Soul over to Satan as his for ever. So Satan enter'd with the
Sop into
Judas, and his heart
Petrify'd within him, and turn'd into a Stone, and at last
dissolv'd in despair, in the fire of Gods wrath. God sayes concerning the lost Soul, Let him be filthy still. God gives him up to vile affections, and unto strong delusions, that he may be damned, because he believed not the Truth, but had pleasure in Unrighteousness. The Sinner becomes past feeling, and gives himself over to work all Uncleanness with Greediness, as if his Conscience were seared with a hot Iron.
[Page 44]From henceforth Satan has a sure possession of the miserable Soul, as sure as if he were already in Hell, and the bars of the pit about him for ever. No place can be found for Repentance, should he seek it carefully with
Judas his Tears & Remorse; but he hastens to his
own Place.
And thus I have endeavoured to represent the possession that Satan keeps of Impenitent Sinners; as a
Garrison and strong Hold in a state of War against God.
USE.
Give me leave to make a Reflection or two on this deplorable Account of the matter.
1.
See the lamentable Change that is come upon us by Sin. In the change of the
Inhabitant, and in the change of
State consequent there-upon. Once the Dwelling of
God, now the Habitation of
Devils & of every unclean thing. From a Princely
Palace turn'd into a
Garrison: From a Paradise of Pleasure, Peace and Liberty, driven into Captivity, Bondage and Misery: from the gentle Rule of a Rightful Gracious Prince, now the Usurpation of a Cruel Enemy. Into what
Evil Hands, and into what a
forlorn Condition has our Apostacy from God bro't us?
2.
See what Satans Motion to thee is in every Temptation unto Sin. It is this — Renounce God and Give thy self to me both Soul and
[Page 45]Body, to be mine for ever. With this horrid Motion the Sinner complies, tho' he only thinks of Gratifying and Indulging himself. So Souls are
kidnapt by the Devil;
Entic'd over into the
Gardens of sin & sense, as into some promis'd
Paradise; but truly in the Event find themselves
Sold into the vilest Slavery. If the Devil should appear to the Sinner and make the barefac'd Motion to him; "Soul, sell thy self unto me; come, Seal a Contract to be mine for ever; Let me Enter into thee and possess and act thee; — would the Soul Consent? No, but with Infinite horror would scream out and die away at the Motion. O believe it, Every Temptation to Sin, and unto Impenitence therein, is nothing better than this Cursed Motion: and this is thy State, and this thy Misery, while you
[...]ly under the Power and Rule of any known Lust.
3.
See the Cursed Nature of Satan and of Sin: His Enmity against us, and the
Mischiefs he has bro't upon us: How he is to be hated and detested by us, and his Motions to be loath'd, abhorred and trembled at: what madness as well as how Impious it is to side with him, comply with him, and fight against God: But alas! What Homage, Obedience and Service has he? He sends his Imperious Message like some Haughty
Benhadad to some Servile
Ahab, "Thou and thy Riches and all that thou hast is Mine: and
[Page 46]the
Sinner tamely returns answer,— "True Satan, I am thine and all that I have; and all shall be imployed for thee, and according to thy Will.
4.
See then what a Mighty Saviour Sinners need, to deliver them from the Power and Possession of Satan. And a Mighty One God
has raised up for us, (as if God will we may hear hereafter) even an
Almighty One, His own
Son in our Nature. He is manifested to
destroy the works of the Devil, to
break the Serpents head; to deliver us from the power of Satan unto the glorious Liberty of the Kingdom of God. He is able to save unto the uttermost, able to
bruise Satan under our feet: The Devils
tremble before him,
confess him, and
beseech him not to torment them; and they
fly at his Presence and his Word. By Him
all Devils shall be judged at the last day, and receive their
Doom from his Lips to an Eternal Torment. He was
tempted and is able to succour us; He has
Ascended on High and has led Captivity Captive. He
commandeth the unclean spirits and they obey him, and
the very Devils are subject to us thro' His Name. What manner of
MAN is this!
5.
Let Sinners earnestly be Exhorted to seek and get Deliverance from the Possession & Power of Satan. Recover your selves out of the snare of the Devil, and be not led Captive by him at his Will. Now you must seek Deliverance,
[Page 47] 1.
By Faith in Christ. Believe His Power and His Readiness to Save thee from all thy Spiritual Enemies and from the Hand of them that hate thee. Legions of Devils are nothing in His Hands.
Beelzebub and all his
Hosts are but as a
swarm of flies which a Mans hand will drive away.
2.
By Repentance. This
Spues out the Unclean Spirit, when you loath your self for Sin before the Holy God. He cannot bear the Moans and Agonies of a repenting Soul. The broken Spirit which is Gods
Sacrifice, is Satans
Abomination. Thy deepest
Humiliation is his surest
Ejection.
3.
By Prayer. This also he abhors from. If he keeps thee from Prayer he will keep his Hold of thee, but by Prayer you
bind him and carry him to Christ, and
his Strength is gone. He may tempt and hurry you, but he does not possess you, if you are sincere and earnest in daily Prayer.
Formality in it he bears well eno', and Indulges those in it whom he possesses; but Pray thou in Spirit and in Truth, with Constancy, holy Importunity and Fervency, and he can never endure it. Prayer has power
with God; and is has power
over Satan. It obtains help against him and power to resist him. God gives his
Holy Spirit to them that ask Him, and
He drives away the Evil Spirit. This is a singular part of our
Spiritual Armour, and
[Page 48]a weapon of our Warfare mighty thro' God to the pulling down strong holds, even —
Praying alwayes with all Prayer, Eph. 6.18.
Pray for a
Pure and
Enlightned Mind; Pray for a
Soft and
Tender Heart. Pray for a
Free and
Faithful Conscience. Pray for a
Conquer'd and
Obedient Will. Pray for Spiritual and
Holy Affections. Pray to be Saved from this E
[...]il World. And Pray that God would never
cast you from his Presence, nor take away his Holy Spirit from you.
Say unto God,
O Lord I beseech thee deliver
[...]y Soul. Yea carry your poor Soul
[...]
Christ, as she did her poor
Daughter of old grievously vexed with a Devil, Matt. 15.22.
Have Mercy on me O Lord, thou Son of David.
4. Another means of Satans Ejection is the
reverent and diligent Study and Entertainment of Gods Word. The Devils Throne and Kingdom
Shakes before the Preached Gospel, and Millions of poor Souls have been delivered from his possession under the Ministry of the Word. This is the
Sword of the Spirit, whereby he pushes and peirces the Enemies of our Salvation; and also slayes Sin in the Soul by wounding it. It is given us to
wear about us, for our own
Defence, and for the
Offence of them that assault us in our way to Hea
[...]en.
It is Written, said our
Saviour, and so put by the fiery darts of the
Tempter, and he
[...] from Him. If we did better Improve Gods
Sabbaths and his Holy Ordinances, it
[Page 49]would strangely weaken and break the power of Satan, and give us new strength and Supplies of Grace against Him. These are the Means of thy Deliverance.
The Last USE should have been a
Word of Comfort to the Godly, and to the Tempted. But this will properly belong to the Af
[...]e
[...]-
Proposition, when I come to consider, how
the Victorious Saviour rescues whom He pleases, and will rescue all his Chosen, from Satant Power and Tyranny. If he has already done
this for you,
Rejoyce because your Name is written in Heaven. O thy Happiness, — while you look with so much Commiseration o
[...] the Miseries of others. Such was your
[...] once, but the Holy and
Mighty One has
[...] Great things for you. You once had the
Legion in you, but they remain now only in the
Swine and in the
Abysse
[...] Now you
Sit at Jesus feet, clothed and in a right Mind. Entreat Him to keep thee with him.
Go home and tell how Great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had Compassion on thee.
[Page 50]
SERMON, III.
TWO
Doctrinal Observations have been
[...] spoken to; Namely,
- I. That
the Soul of Man is a Palace which the Great GOD built for Himself.
- II. That
it is now become as a Garrison and strong Hold which Satan keeps against GOD. The strong Man Armed keepeth his Palace.
I now pass to a
Third DOCTRINE.
III.
That there is a wretched Peace and cursed Quiet which the carnal Heart often lies in under Satans Tyranny.
His Goods are in Peace. He calls them his Palace and his Goods, and seems to have a peaceable Possession. The Miserable Soul seems to Enjoy a profound Peace in its woful Bondage. Satan has a quiet possession allow'd him. He conquer'd by Consent and so he rules. The Sinners Mind and Heart and Will are
his; tamely
yielded to him, wickedly
used for him. "Satan rules without Controul; His Lusts are done and his interests served; and all the Powers of the Soul are Imployed by him in his Service.
[Page 51]The Sinner is content they should be so; Easy and unconcern'd about the matter; is Secure and Merry, Servile and Obedient; likes his Master and loves his Service; has no sense of Misery, nor fear of Danger. Thus
the strong Man Armed keepeth his Palace and his Goods are in Peace.
It is
strange that it should be so, because the Soul is not in its native State of Rectitude and Order.
The foundations are out of course, and all things are in disorder and confusion. Whence then should come any quietness or rest in this
Preternatural State? What Peace can there be under Guilt and Wrath? But however strange it be, it is in fact true and a thing undeniable, that there is a Carnal Security and Easiness which some of the most wretched and guilty among the Miserable Children of Men do stupidly ly in.
Concerning this, I shall
- 1. Observe that the thing is
True in Fact.
- 2. That it is a very
wretched and cursed thing in it self.
- 3.
Whence it comes. And so
Apply the Doctrine.
I.
In Fact we see it to be true, most palpable and very Evident to all the World, that there are many wicked and ungodly
[...]ersons who are secure and in Peace in their Sins, as it there were no danger near them and they had nothing to trouble them. They seem either, 1. To have a
good Opinion.
[Page 52]of themselves, and to Entertain no doubt or scruple about the Goodness of their State: Or, 2. A
Fearlessness and
Unconcern tho' they know that it can't be well with them. They have neither any sense of their own Sinfulness, nor any Dread of the Judgment to come.
The
Scripture speaks of this wretched Peace of a carnal Mind: Psal. 36.2.
He flattereth himself in his own Eyes until his Iniquity be found to be hateful.
‘He perswades himself either that he is guilty of little or no Sin, or that he shall scape well eno', and so goes on Impenitently in his Sinful wayes. He either doth not
see, or will not
own the Evil and danger of his wicked Courses.’ Present ease and quiet is all that most Men propose to themselves, without any regard to futurity; and a present fleshly Indulgence all they crave without caring for the Consequence thereof. Sensual Objects inclose them
without, and draw away their Eyes from future and distant, unseen & Eternal things; and an evil Heart of Unbelief
within yields to the power and perswasion of se
[...]se, and departs gladly from the living
[...]. The Sinner is resolutely and obstinately bent to keep all easy within; shuts his
[...] upon the flames, and stops his
[...] the thunders of Gods Law; an
[...]
[...] Peace in himself let the Law declare
[...] it pleases.
He hears the Words of this
[...]rse,
[...] yet blesses himself in his heart, saying,
[...] all
[...]ve peace, tho' I walk in the Imagination,
[...] my
[Page 53]heart, to add drunkenness to thirst, Deut. 29.19. He faces the Curse, or turns away from it, and promises himself Impunity and safety, tho' he persist in his Impiety. There are Multitudes of such Men in the Professing World, who are under the Curse of God, and cannot but know it if they would but allow themselves to think of it, and yet bless themselves; and the more ripe for ruine, the more resolute they are in promising Peace to themselves.
There are
Degrees of this Peace in Sin. Some seem to have it more and some less; yet 'tis so much a
Cheat that they who s
[...]em to have it most may indeed have least of it; tho' they hector Conscience and suppress it, or bear up against it as well as they can.
1.
In some it is only a stupid Ʋnconcern, Carelessness and Tho'tlessness: and then it is usually the dull quiet of the Ignorant and Untaught, who know and have heard or minded little of God or His Word: for a vain and loose Education must needs lay a foundation for unconcern about our Spiritual State.
2.
In other it is a Presumptnous Hope. The vain Sinner will hope groundlesly, and if he can but co
[...]
[...]p the Word and corrupt Conscience to permit him this, he layes a sure foundation for a
false Peace.
‘The World is full of hope without a Promise; said the Devout Mr.
Flavel. A Hope whereof a Man
[Page 54]can never give a Reason. A groundless, dead, Christless, irrational, idle, absurd hope: Job. 8.54, 55.
Of whom ye say that he is your God, and yet ye have not known him.’
3.
In others this false Peace rises into a false Joy. And this is natural 'eno, for as a presumptuous hope cries
Peace, Peace to the Sinner it must needs
cheer him in his evil way. This fond delusion of self-love is sometimes so strong, that it may buoy the light and vain heart over the Billows of Adversity thro' this Life, and those of Death at the End of it. As bladders of Wind may make a shift to keep the head above Water.
They are not in trouble and they have no Bands in their death. They die with some Expectation that it will be well with them hereafter.
Indeed many that live stupidly and quietly in Sin die so too, and they that ignorantly and loosely take up fond hopes of their good Estate die with less fear and distress very often than many of the Godly themselves. To this length may security sometimes go.
But after all,
It is not
[...]eet to be called Peace of Soul, which is a Great and blessed thing whereof this is but the fiction.
True Peace is a gracious Tranquillity and S
[...]nity of Mind built on the solid principles of Religion, the unchangeable Promises and Covenant-faithfulness of God; the Experience of his Good Work in us, and the certain Exercise and Actings of Grace toward God. The Wicked are far from this,
[Page 55]in their careless quiet or presumptuous hopes.
I go on therefore to the
Second thing propounded under the
Doctrine; Namely, to observe,
II. That it must needs be a
very wretched Peace and cursed Quiet which the carnal heart lies in under Satans Tyranny. Do you speak of Peace, O
Sinner? What Peace can there
[...] so long as thy reigning Sins, are so
Many? and the power and Witchcraft of Satan over thee is so
Strong? There is no Peace faith
[...]y God unto the Wicked, Isai 57.21.
God is not at Peace, not reconciled; and
Conscience should not be easy, nor suffer the guilty So
[...] to enjoy any quiet.
Peace is a Happy thing in it self, Greatly to be
wisht for, Earnestly to be
sought aft
[...] and much to be
priz'd and
cherished by him that has it: But in some cases it is
unnatural, unlawful, impossible, and the pretence of it the greatest Curse and Mischief. Peace in Six, Peace without
Holiness, Peace without
Reconciliation to God, Peace without
Pardon, — It is a most
Irrational as well as
Irreligious and prosane thing
Peace under
Guilt and Condemnation, and quietness under the
Wrath and Curse of God, what madness and distraction must it suppose? To be at Peace under Satans po
[...] ru
[...]
[...]nd
[...]y
[...]nny! Under Spiritual-P
[...]
[...]
[...]ss and on the brink of hell! To
[Page 56]be quiet & at ease while God is our Enemy, and ready to damn and destroy both Body and Soul in Hell for ever. Job 12.6.
And they that provoke God are secure.
A Peace not of
Gods giving nor allowing! A Peace of
Sutans soothing and deceiving into! A
Stupor upon the Soul and
Lethargy, which under the shews of fast and
sweet Sleep, is the sure and fatal
Symptom of approaching death.
The quiet which Impenitent Sinners have in their evil wayes is cursed in its
Original, which is of Hell; and cursed in its
End and final
Issue, which is there from whence it took its rise. It is a woful Peace, cursed in its
Causes and cursed in its
Effects.
It comes of Infidelity and Unbelief, Profaness and Contempt of God, presumption and fearlessness, fleshliness and sensuality. It is
earthly, sensual and devilish. And it hardens Mens hearts, blinds their eyes, deprives them of understanding; stupefies, fears and makes Men Insensible of Good and Evil. It is a
Root that beareth Gall and Wormwood, as
Moses saith: One of the strongest holds of Satan whereby he keeps Men in Impenitence and fixeth them in an Everlasting Estrangement from God: It reserves the Soul in chains under darkness, as sure as those under which Devils are held, unto the Judgment of the Great Day.
This cursed quiet and security frustures all Awakning Means, receives all the terrors
[Page 57]of God with
mildness and unconcern; as an
Arrow sinks silently into a Wall of
Mud; or it
roughly puts them away, as an
Arrow blunts and breaks against a Wall of
Stone. Finally,
It provokes the Lord to Jealousy, and treasures up wrath against the day of wrath, and will make the Revelation of that wrath the more Surprising and Insupportable.
The
Holy Ghost has therefore given us the Character and the Judgment of this Secure Sinner, his
Way and his
End, in diverss passages which are very dreadful to read, but most necessary and profitable for us to weigh. The
Character of the Impiety we have, Psal. 36.1,—4.
The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no Fear of God before his Eyes. For he flattereth himself in his own Eyes until his Iniquity be found to be hateful. The words of his Mouth are iniquity and deceit; he hath left off to be wise and to do good. He deviseth mischief upon his Bed, he setteth himself in a way that is not good, he abhorreth not evil. What a miserable account is here of the Person? Flattering himself on in wicked wayes without any regret or remorse? But what is the
End of it? Can it last alwayes? No: but as the soft Oyl yields the most Vehement flame when it is set on fire, so this carnal Peace prepares and layes open a wretched Soul to the devouring fire of Gods wrath to fix and prey upon, when he comes forth to Judgment. So
Moses tells us, Deut. 29.20, 21.
The Lord will not spare him, but
[Page 58]the Anger of the Lord and his Jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the Curses that are written in this Book shall ly upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his Name from under Heaven: and the Lord shall separate him unto Evil, according to all the Curses of the Covenant.
‘There is scarce a Threatning in all the
Book of God that sounds more dreadful than this; (sayes Mr.
Henry on the Place) O that secure and presumptuous Sinners would but read it and tremble! For it is not a Bugbear to frighten Children and Fools, but a real Declaration of the wrath of God against the Unrighteousness and Ungodliness of Men.
The Lord shall not spare him. The dayes of his Reprieve which he abuseth shall be shortned, and no Mercy remembred in the midst of Judgment. The
Jealousy of the Lord, which is His fiercest Auger, shall
Smoke as a Furnace against him. The
Curses Written shall not only
light upon him and terrifie him, but
ly upon him and abide in all their weight, to sink him down into the lowest Hell. He shall be
Separated unto Evil, which is the most proper Notion of a Curse;
Cut off from all happiness, & all hope of it; and
Mark'd out for Misery, without Remedy. And all this
according to all the Curses of the Covenant, which are the most fearful Curses, being the Revenges of Abused Grace.’
This is the sure and certain End of present Security and Peace in Sin; and it comes
[Page 59]alwayes with
[...]prize and as a
Snare that covers the unwary
Bird while it feeds, or sings securely and merrily. As in the dayes that were before the
Flood, they were
Eating and Drinking — and knew not until the flood came and took them all away, Mat. 24.38. The height of the Sinners security is the time of his Instant Danger, that his folly may be the more manifest, and the warning to others the louder, and that the severity of the Punishment may awfully appear in the surprize it brings with it. 1 Thes. 5.3.
For when they shall say peace and safety, then sudden Destruction cometh upon them,
[...]s Travail upon a Woman with Child, and they shall not escape.
So in the
Parable of the rich fool we have the Picture of Carnal security drawn in its true Features, and in most lively Colours, together with the miserable End of it: Luke 12.19, 20.
And I will say to my soul, Soul thou hast much goods lard up for many years, take thy ease, eat, drink and be merry: But God said unto him, thou Fool, this night shall thy Soul be required of thee. O the surprize in the midst of his
Song, of many a secure day to come, wherein he propos'd to dwell at ease!
In a day when he look'd not for it, and in the hour when least aware, is he cut asunder. Tho' while he liv'd he blessed his Soul, and his Nei'bours might praise him as projecting well for himself,
in a Moment he goes down to the dead, and lifts up his Eyes in Torments. It is a very
[Page 60]
wretched Peace and
cursed Quiet which deceives Souls into this Miserable End.
III.
Whence comes it? And how comes it to be
so common a thing among ungodly Men? It is a
Strange Infatuation, and
Ʋnaccountable Madness in the hearts of the Children of Men:
What possesses them? I answer,
1.
Satan does. The God of this World hath blinded their heart, that the light of the Gospel may not shine into them. He keepeth the Palace with a stronghand and with much skill.
He keeps it in peace. His
Agency in the matter must be Acknowledged. It is the sign and proof of Satans power over the Soul, his
strong hold in it. If he can lull and rock us Asleep in Sin his possession is s
[...]ure. If we doze away our Life he has the
[...]ress trouble to watch us, the less danger of losing us. It is a sure and easy way of keeping his hold, if he can perswade us to be quiet, that there's no danger near us, that we are safe and have nothing to fear.
He takes away the good seed sown in the heart, quenches Convictions, puts off serious Tho'ts, and endeavours to keep the Soul from any concern or trouble about its Spiritual State and Interests. If he can keep thee quiet thou art his own for ever, for we must bestir our selves, and resist him, and fight for our Liberty and Lives if we would be deliver'd. Satan knows
where thy strength lyes, and where his own hold of thee, and will find thee a
Delilahs lap to
sleep and
[Page 61]be
shorn in. There is not a more manifest Temptation of the Devil than this of security, which he beguiles unwary Souls into. So he
began, and so he
holds on; (a
Liar and a
Murderer from the beginning) Gen. 3.4.
And the Serpent said unto the Woman, Ye shall not surely die.
2.
Men are willing to be deceived. It is the
Disease of the Carnal heart to love ease, to indulge stoth, and to avoid the pain and uneasiness of considering its own miseries and dangers Men naturally love quiet and hate to be disturb'd in their Evil Wayes. The carnal Mind agrees with the
Unclean Spirit in his Outcry at the Sight of Christ,
What have I to do with thee, thou Holy One? I beseech thee torment me not.
‘Every Man is unwilling (sayes Dr.
Barrow) to entertain a bad
Conceit of himself, and to pass a sad
Doom upon himself. No Man likes to be gall'd, to be stung, to be rack'd with a sense of
Guilt, to be scar'd with a dread of
Punishment, and the apprehension of Imminent danger; Gladly therefore would he shun that Doctrine which demonstrates him to be a grievous Sinner, which speaks dismal terror and thunders ghastly woe against him.’ Seeing he can't find a heart to mourn for and part with his Sins he would fain be quiet in them. He flies from Convictions, as from a
Spectre that haunts and I terrifies him;
Hast thou found me O my Enemy; and
art thou come to torment me before my time! Now there is
[Page 62]but this one way to be easy in a sinful way, and that is Not to trouble ones self about it, but to live on securely without thinking, Considering and laying things to heart; or if troublesome tho'ts will arise to give them no Entertainment, but get rid of them again as soon as they can, being painful and unwelcome things.
3.
The Security and Peace of carnal Men comes very much from Example, and the Evil Conversation of the Wicked. They see
others easy and chearful in sinful wayes, and why should not they as well. They learn of their
Betters too usually, their Superiours, their Parents it may be, and those that have more Knowledge, more Age, & make more Profession than they do. They see their Careless and Loose walk, and Unconcern about it, and are glad of the
License (as they take it) to themselves. More especially loose and evil Companions are ready to tempt and solicite others into their own Jollity and Carelessness. They think it strange if others are not as free and easy in Satans Bondage and Drudgery as themselves. They will laugh 'em out of a Serious look, or a thos'tful air; and
speak evil of them if they will not run into the same Excess that they do. Isai. 56.12.
Come ye (say they) I will fetch wine, and we will fill our selves with strong drink, and to morow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.
[Page 63] 4.
Sometimes there is a Judicial Infatuation and Senslessness inflicted by GOD, whereby he gives such up to a
Spirit of Slumber; Eyes that they should not see, and Ears that they should not hear unto this Day, Rom. 11.8. This
Calm of a Sensual Heart is like that of the
dead Sea, the Lake of
Sodom, from the
Curse of God upon it: The less it is
Agitated the more it
Stagnates and gathers filth. God gives Men over to a
Reprobate Mind, to work all uncleaness with greediness & with fearlessness. He gives them up to their own hearts lusts and they walk in their own counsels.
Si vult decipi decipiatur. The
Plague of Darkness falls upon the Soul, and there is not a worse Curse that God has to inflict:
Let their Eyes be darkned that they may not see, and bow down their back alwayes. Yea thou shalt be as one that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a Mast. i. e. as a Miserable
Mad Man insensible of danger.
5. And lastly, One Reason of the wretched Peace of S
[...]nners is,
Satans Confidence and Security of his Interest in them & Power over them, and their object servility of Spirit and tame subjection to lust. This makes the devil easy about them (if I may so speak) and keeps his house in Peace, for he sees no great danger of losing the secure Sinner. He trusts in his
Armour, his past Conquests, and his long and quiet possession by the Sinners consent. The Sinner (he sees) has no Spirit or Resentment
[Page 64]left, so much as to struggle for his freedom. Lust has
taken away his heart, and he has no tho't of Liberty. It is not for Satans Interest to disturb the Sinner in his quiet, free, and easy subjection. By long
Experience and many a Million sad
Instances he has long since learn'd that it ordinarily holds. Were there any danger of losing the Soul the Devil would disrest him soon. So long as all is his own, and he sees his Slave easy, all is well and
let him be easy. But yet, in this his Confidence Satan is sometimes taken; and the
Strong Redeemer comes upon him unexpected, and
takes from him all his Armour wherein he trusted and divideth his spoils.
To Conclude, There is a kind of
Concord in Hell, and so between Satan and Sinners here, so long as they
agree in Sin.
Satan will not cast out Satan. As long as you will be quiet in Sin the Devil will willingly let you.
USE.
The
Application and Improvement of the
Doctrine may be in divers USES.
I.
Of Conviction to Secure and Quiet Sinners: See the exceeding
Sinfulness and the dreadful
Danger of your wretched State.
The Devil keeps you in this cursed Peace. Let this Convince you,
- 1. Of the
Wickedness, and
- 2. Of the
Folly of your Security.
[Page 65] 1.
It is exceeding wicked and sinful in you, and a prodigious Guilt, and should so appear to you.
1.
You don't believe Gods Word, and the Doctrines or Threatnings thereof relating to a State of Sin. There is surely a secret Disbelief and Infidelity which makes you say in your heart,
There is no God, or I hope he is not that
Holy, Just and Dreadful God which the
Scripture represents him. Under all your profession of the Christian Belief you are certainly guilty of
secret Atheism, or you would not act so like an
Infidel. So the Judge will at last surprize a secure World, as he did the stupid Jews in their last Destruction, and
not find Faith in the Earth, Luk. 18.8. Now is the
Time and here is the
Place for Faith, even while we are here on Earth; and Sinners if they did believe would
fear those Threatnings of Gods Wrath, which else in a little time they shall be made to
feel.
2.
You highly Contemn God if you do partly believe the Truths and Threatnings of his Word. Psal. 10.13.
Wherefore do the Wicked contemn God — Sinners cast great Contempt upon the Holy God by their sinful Courses. They contemn his Dominion, his Holiness, his Truth, his Power and Vengeance. " What an Impious and Absurd thing is this? Jer. 5.22.
Will ye not fear me, saith the Lord? will Je not tremble at my Word? No, they wont: and in Effect they dare to tell God so. If you
[Page 66]are
but almost perswaded of the Being of God, and of the Revelations which he has made of his Wrath against all Unrighteousness and Ungodliness of Men, who hold the Truth in Unrighteousness, it were a
horrible thing that you should be able to be secure and quiet in sinful wayes. Wherefore do you so Contemn
that glorious and fearful Name, THE LORD THY GOD?
3. Consider the
Aggravation of this thy Contempt of the Great GOD,
under our Light, and the Means of Conviction & Awakning which we Enjoy. We are not of the Night nor of Darkness to excuse us: Not in the Night of Ignorance; nor under the Darkness of meer Nature and of
Heathenism: These Times and Places
God might wink at, but now he calls all Men every where to repent. This sound has gone out to all the World, and reached these Ends of the Earth What Presumption and
Insolence must it be in us then to be secure and fearless in a State of Sin and Wrath?
Who know the Judgment of God that they that do such things are worthy of Death? It is a hainous thing, however light we may now make of it, to do
violence to Reason, and
Conscience rising against us within, and
despire unto the Spirit of God testifying against our Sins in his Word, and by that in our Consciences. Heb. 10.26, 27.
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the Truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins: But a certain
[Page 67]looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, that shall devour the adversaries. Eph. 4.17, 18, 19.
This I say therefore and testifie in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind; having the understanding darkned, being alienated from the life of God thro' the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their Heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all Uncleaness with Greediness. But ye have not so learned CHRIST.
2.
Be Convinced of the exceeding Folly and desperate Madness of your Security and Peace under the Power and Guilt of Sin. Here we must apply our hearts, to know the
wickedness of folly, even of Foolishness and Madness: Madness is in their hearts while they live and after that they go to the Dead. Men shift off their fears as well as they can; compassing themselves with
Sparks of their own kindling; they walk in this poor Gleam of light for the Moment that it lasts, and then
ly down in Sorrow.
It is but a false shew of Peace; a
Shadow, a
Dream, an
Imagination of it. It is
interrupted with many a sting of guilt and fear. It does not at all
put off, nor
skreen thee from the Evil Day: No more than it secures a Person from the Lightning to shut his Eyes, or stop his Ears against the Thunder. Thou art every Moment liable to the Blow of God, tho' thou wilt not consider it. It is a fond
[Page 68]and absurd kind of self love that makes thee promise thy self any safety. Satan is highly gratified in his Successful Beguiling thee into it. And nothing more
shews his possession of thee, or
strengthens it more than thy Security, While Sin reigns in quiet, the
Kingdom is strengthened in its hand. Lust has its undisturbed sway, and however
Imperious It is in its will, it is
Obsequiously obey'd. The Devil should not be allow'd this easy Dominion. His Cunning lies (as
Monsieur Ludolf sayes)
‘in keeping his Slaves from knowing their own Inward State. They fancy all is well in the midst of Misery. The Soul is one Spirit with the Devil and knows it not, tho' the sad Effects of that dark Union are manifest.’ So then you are
bewitch'd and inchanted by sensual Lusts, or you would not be so quiet in your Sins.
You have a Devil and art mad. And whenever Conscience awakes, this Guilt wilt rend and tear thee. God may give thee up to thy Security and to Satan for ever. If he do not the pains of Repentance will be horrible unto thee. At last it
will bite like a Serpent and sting like an Adder. Prov. 1.27.
When your Fear cometh as Desolation and your Destruction as a Whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. False Peace vanishes usually at
Death, Everlasting Torments begin. The
foolish Virgins sleep on, and at
Midnight there is a Cry made,
Mat. 25.6. Midnight is the time of Security,
when deep sleep falleth upon
[Page 69]one. To be wak'd with an
Outcry then is frightful indeed, and sets all the joynts a trembling. O the Consternation when Death Surprizes Sinners in their Security!
The sting of death is si
[...]. Sin throws away its
[...]lask and Vizour when Death advances. It
[...]ares him in the face whom it
sooth'd before. The
hope of the
Hypoorite is given up with the
Ghost. The
Spiders Web is swept away with the
Besome of Destruction.
This is the
first Use, To convince Sinners of the
Evil and Danger of their Security.
II. The next USE may be of
Comfort to them that are under Spiritual Trouble, and Distressed on the Account of their Souls: who are Mourning, fearing and trembling on the account of their Sins.
Peace be to you from
Christ the
Saviour: Let not your Hearts be troubled, neither be afraid. This Sorrow which hath fill'd your hearts is a thousand times better than to be at quiet in sinful wayes. The Fear and Distress which thy Convictions
[...]ive thee are Necessary unto and
[...]xcretratory for that Divine Peace which
[...]es all Understanding & which abides for ever. When the
Comforter comes he does thus
Convince of Sin. Godly sorrow worketh Repentance unto Salvation never to be repented of. Now
[...]d rejoyce, not that you are made sorry, but that you sorrow to Repentance.
[Page 70] The Devil hates to see thee under this Concern. And now he will difrest & trouble thee as much as he can. But be of good cheer, this is the way of thy Deliverance and his Ejection. No wonder if he
tear &
rend thee when he is forc'd out after a long and too quiet a possession. But
Christ is then near thee to take thee up and heal thee.
While you lay in: your Stupidity and Security in Sin, Hell triumph'd over thee with
Insult and cruel pleasure: but now in thy Repentance there is
Joy in Heaven among the Angels of God. Hell rages at what God is doing for thy poor Soul. Satan will now desire to terrifie thee. But the
High & Lofty One Looks to him that is of a poor and contrite Spirit and that trembleth at his Word. The God of Peace shall bruise Satan under your feet and do it shortly. Christ has
Purchased Peace for, and
Spoken it unto the Penitent. Let his Peace
Keep thy Soul. Joh. 14.27.
Peace I leave with you my Peace I give unto you; not as the
[...] give I unto you: Let not your
[...]
[...]ed, neither be afraid. If
He giveth
[...], who can give trouble? A holy
Serenity and
Security of Mind becomes Believers in
Christ. Isai. 32.17.
The work of Righteousness shall be Peace, and the Effect of Righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. Psal. 4.8.
I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, for thou Lord only makest me to dwell in safety.
[Page 71] III. Let the
Last USE therefore be,
To direct our feet in the way of Peace. See the Peace which you should be seeking after. It lies in a Deliverance from Satans Thraldom, in Penitential Mourning for Sin, in Gods Speaking Pardon to us thro'
Christ, in the Fruits and Evidences of our Regeneration, the
Spirit of Christ in us, and his
Witnessing with our Spirits that we are the Children of God.
Christ in our Peace. We must direct Sinners unto Him. You must have your
Hearts sprinkled from an Evil Conscience. The Blood of
Christ is this
blood of Sprinkling. The Soul is
purified, and the Conscience
pacified, by Faith therein.
Wherefore Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee Life. Ly no longer still in thy Sins, but ly at
Jesus feet
washing them with thy tears and wiping them with the hair of thy head. Weep and Love
much, for much is to be forgiven thee.
‘He who has satisfied Gods Justice, can satisfy thy Conscience, and He only can do it. His Blood quenches Guilt, and Guilt it is that sets Conscience on fire.’
We may not dare to heal the hurt of your Souls
slightly, saying peace, peace, when there is no Peace. You must Repent and Believe in Christ, or you will
die in your Sins. You
[Page 72]must see your perishing and lost Estate and need of a
Saviour. You must go to him for deliverance from the
Dominion of Sin, as well as from the
Curse due to it. You must be
Sanctified by the Spirit of Christ, and
Justified by his Righteousness. You must be
taught, and
ruled and
saved by him.
Then all the Malice and Powers of Hell shall not be able to over thr
[...]w thy Peace. It is
built upon a Rock. Thy Faith in thy Saviour shall
quench all the fiery darts which the Enemy of thy Soul can throw at thee.
But let not the Believer in Christ be
secure neither.
Thou standest by faith, be not high minded but fear. The
Wise Virgins are too apt to
Slumber, but their Fnemy is wakeful. Tho' Christ has pray'd for them that their faith may not
fail, yet if they do not watch and pray they may sadly
fall and wound themselves and make work for bitter Repentance. If you have Peace take care to keep it.
Do not sleep as do others, but watch and be sober.
We have need to be thus
Exhorting one another daily while it is called to day, lest any be hardned thro' the deceitfulness of sin. See that your
hopes be well grounded, and that you are able to give a
Reason of them with meekness and fear: That they be such as purifie thy heart and quicken thee in Godly living. There is but
one way of Peace to a Sinner,
[Page 73]and that is to yield unto
Christ the
Saviour, upon the Terms of the Gospel.
‘Christ is now
Storming the Sinners heart, he breaks the Truce and League with Sin and Death. He gives it terrible
Alarms of Judgment & of Hell,
Mr-Baxter. he batters it with the
Ordnance of his Threatnings and Terrors; he sets all in a Combustion of fear and sorrow, till he force it to yield to his meer mercy.’ Now, wilt thou yield and submit to Him? To the Conditions of Peace which he offers? He will then be at Peace with thee: thy Peace may be made with God immediately thro' Him, upon the
Surrender of thy self to him. Do
this then: Lay down the Arms of thy Rebellion, throw thy self at his feet, take Him for thy LORD, submit to his Rule and Government. This is the only
Basis of true and solid Everlasting Peace: Isai. 27.5.
Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me, and he shall make peace with me.
I will
Conclude with some very
Pathetical Words of the Excellent Mr.
Baxter in his
Saints Everlasting Rest: "I should wonder, but that I know the desperate hardness of the heart of Man, how a Man that is not sure of his Peace with God, can eat, or drink, or sleep, or live in any Quiet. Well, if thou wert the
nearest Friend that I have in the World, I could wish thee no Greater Good,
[Page 74]than that God would break in upon thy careless heart, and shake thee out of thy false Peace, and cast thee into trouble, — and make thee ever read thy Sentence as if it were still written before thy Eyes; and which way so ever thou goest still meet thee full in the face with the sense of his Wrath,
as the Angel did Baalam with a drawn sword; till he make thee cast away thy groundless Peace, and ly down at his foot, saying,
Lord what wilt thou have me to do!
SERMON, IV.
THREE
Doctrinal Truths have been already Spoken to:
- I. That the Soul of Man is a Noble
Palace which the Great GOD built for Himself.
- II. That it is by Sin become as a
Garrison or
Strong Hold which Satan keeps against GOD.
- III. That there is a
wretched Peace and
cursed Quiet which the Carnal Heart lies in under Satans Tyranny.
The strong Man armed keepeth his Palace and his Goods are in peace.
[Page 75] I proceed now unto the
Fourth Doctrine.
IV.
That the Victorious SAVIOUR rescues whom He pleases, and will rescue all his Chosen from Satans Power & Tyranny.
But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, He taketh from him all his Armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his Spoils.
According to the
Phrases in the
Text, I will speak to it in these
Three Propositions. 1. That there is
a stronger than the strong Man armed. 2. That he will
come upon him and Overcome him. 3. That
CHRIST's
Victory over Satan, in rescuing poor Souls from him, is the Most
Perfect and
Glorious, Compleat and
Entire that can be
He taketh from him all his Armour wherein he trusted and divideth his spoils.
I.
There is a stronger than Satan, the strong Man Armed. This is a
small Observation to make to them that believe in
GOD THE FATHER Almighty, in the
SON and in the
HOLY GHOST. For
who in the Heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the Sons of the Mighty can be likened unto our GOD! If we speak of strength, lo HE is strong. Our Father in Heaven is Greater than all, and none can sna
[...]ch us out of his Hand. Satan in his first and best state was
[Page 76]but an
Angel, Created by the power of God, and infinitely beneath that Power that made him and now judges him. Like the Angels of God he first
excell'd in strength, but fallen he is became
weak as we. A crawling Worm and
Serpent, which 'tis beneath the power of God to trample on! Wherefore He
treads him under our feet. Hell is Gods Dominion: He reigns over it, as the
Prison belongs to the
King. There the Devil is
in Chains under darkness. limited and restrained and reserved to the Day of Judgment. He cannot stir without leave, no not to
enter into a Swine.
The Lord JESUS is stronger than Satan; and to say so is scarce to speak with reverence eno' of the
Son of God. Else he were no
Saviour to us.
Sampson was the
Type of Him in his
Great strength. He slew the
Lion with his
naked hand, and out of the
Eater came forth Meat, and out of the
Strong sweetness. He slew the Enemies of God and his
Israel heaps upon heaps, with his single arm, and without a Weapon. He tore up the
City Gates and bore away the Posts and Bars, when they tho't they had him sure. Yea he pull'd down the
Hol Temple, bow'd the strong
Pillars of the Mighty Stucture, and buried
Dagon and his Worshippers in the vast Ruines together.
David was yet a more
August Type of the Power of Christ, who without
Sampsons miraculous strength, yea with the weak arm of
[Page 77]a
Stripling slew the
Lion and the
Bear, and the fiercer
Philistine, and delivered the
Israel of God. The
Son of David is the
Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Salvation and
Strength came together.
Our
LORD appeared stronger than all the Hosts of Hell in Arms and Battle Array in the day of his
Temptation, when they assaulted him, were repuls'd and fled. He did moreover often
cast out Satan; with Authority he commanded the Unclean Spirits and they obey'd him. They lay
trembling before him,
confessing, beseeching him,
deprecating and as well as they could
Adoring him. He again
suffer'd them not to speak, and they
rag'd and
tore and
shreik'd out. In his last
Agonies, that
hour of the power of darkness, they renew'd their Assaults only to their own Confusion.
The
HOLY GHOST, the
Infinite and Eternal Spirit of God is Greater and Stronger than Satan and all his
Legions. It were a
Blasphemy against Him never to be forgiven to say the contrary.
If I by the Finger of God, i.e. His Spirit,
cast out Devils —, said our
Saviour. He the
Holy GHOST endued
the Apostles with power from on High, to tread on
Scorpions and all the Power of the Enemy; the
Dragon and the
Lion to trample under foot. Satan had his
lying Wonders, like the
Magicians of Egypt, but how inf
[...]riour to the
Finger of God! How
devour'd by the
Rod of Moses! The inspired Word is the
Eternal Spirits Sword to
[Page 78]peirce and push back the fallen
Legions into their Pit, and he destroyes them with the Breath of his Mouth.
But to descend lower yet, and take an infinite step for the Greater Debasement of Hell:
The Holy Angels of God are now stronger than Satan. They excel in strength,
hearkning to the Voice of God. In
this their Great strength lieth, even in their Integrity and Obedience to God, having preserv'd their Original Purity and Holiness; while Satan is
shorn and his strength departed from him. Wherefore in the last day
Michael and his Angels will easily bind and bring the fallen Hosts to the Bar, and hale 'em from thence to the bottomless Pit and cast them in, to come forth no more: See an Image of the Superiour strength of a standing Angel over those that are fallen: Rev. 20.1, 2, 3.
And I saw an Angel come down from Heaven, having the Key of the Bottomless Pit, and a great Chain in his hand, and he laid hold on the Dragon, that old Serpent which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him, — and cast him in, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him.
But this
Vision may as well, or rather, be interpreted of CHRIST, by his
Ministers on Earth, as by the Ministring Spirits of Heaven. Wherefore to come down from Heaven to Earth, —
Thro' the Spirit and Grace of Christ even WE are stronger than Satan. Even we
Worms of the dust. The very Devils are
[Page 79]
Subject to the Grace of Christ in us, the Spirit of God in the Regenerate.
He bruises Satan under our feet. He makes us more than Conquerors. 1 Joh. 2.14.
I have written unto you Young Men because you are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and you have overcome the Wicked One. In our selves we are wretchedly Weak, and crushed before the Moth. Yet we
wrestle against Principalities and Powers and Spiritual Wickednesses, and they fall before us. We are
strong in the Lord and in the power of his Might. He puts on us the
whole Armour of God. Our
Faith quenches the fiery darts of the wicked one. In
Prayer we cry to God and our Enemies turn back. The
kind goes out at the glorious Name which we Invoke and plead. And his Word in our Mouth is a
Power and Spirit which be cannot resist, or stand before. Thus
there is a stronger than the strong Man Armed: which was the first
Proposition.
II.
He will come upon him and overcome him. Which speaks,
- 1. The
Certainty of the
REDEEMERS Encountring the Enemy of Souls.
He will come upon him.
- 2. The
Suddenness and
Sarprize where with he usually comes upon the Enemy in his
Security and
Peace.
- 3. The certain
Issue of the Combat, he shall
overcome.
1.
The Certainty of the Redeemers Encountring the Enemy of Souls is here supposed. He shall
[Page 80]come upon him. And this is very sure as to the whole
Election of Grace, and as to all that is
necessary to be done for the delivering them all and every one of them from the power of Sin and Satan, and the translating them into the Kingdom of his
Grace in this Life, and of
Glory hereafter. This
in his time & way, sooner or later,
He shall shew who is the Blessed and Only Potentate, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
It is true that the most by far of the miserable Children of
Adam are left at last under the possession, and in Captivity unto Satan, who is the
Prince of this World; but the
Election shall obtain Deliverance, even all Those
whom the Father hath given unto Christ out of the World: For GOD has given him power over all flesh, to give Eternal life unto as many as he hath given him. These chosen Vessels of Mercy are fore-known & predestinated in the Eternal Counsels and Purposes of Grace, and so are the Wayes and Means of their Effectual Vocation and Perseverance; and
not one of them is lost.
It was promised from the beginning that there should be a Glorious
Seed of the Woman, that should
break the Serpents head, and that He should
see his Seed. Long was he look'd for by them that were waiting for Redemption in Israel, and known in the Church by that Name and Style, O'
[...],
He that should come. In the
Fulness of time He came, being manifested to
destroy the works of the Devil.
[Page 81]And as to all the future times and seasons which he has spoken of, the Great
Periods for the Advancing his Kingdom on the Ruine of Satans,
He that shall come will come and will not tarry.
2.
He comes with suddenness and surprize upon the Enemy, in their security and peace. So it is commonly in the
Conversion of Souls, and so as to the
Great Events foretold respecting the Downfal of the Kingdom of Satan, and the Triumphs of the Church therein. The Soveraign and Irresistible Grace of God
rescues Souls in the Day of his power, when very often there is the least Appearance and Probability of the thing, either to the Persons themselves, or to Others. When Satan least
fears he is Ejected, and when the Soul sometimes least
expects it is delivered. The
Power of GOD arrests some, like
the Light from Heaven which struck down Saul in his evil way; and the
free Grace of GOD unexpectedly meets others. as it did the
Eunuch on the Road. So Unexpected was the Blow to the Kingdom of Darkness, when the
Thousands were pricked to the Heart in an Instant: A surprize as astonishing to the
Infernal Powers as it was unto the
Men themselves.
But it may be 'tis much more so in all the
Great Events of Providence, wherein the Greatest Blows are given to the Interests of Hell, in the Changes and
Revolu
[...]ions that happen among the Kingdoms of Men. It is
[Page 82]not for us to know the Times and Seasons which the Father reserves in his own Power: Nor may we too Curiously ask, Lord wilt thou at this Time restore the Kingdom to
Israel? The Kingdom of GOD cometh not with
Observation. Wherefore least of all do the Great
Expectanda come to pass at the
Time and in the
Way which Men are most Confident about; and when they are saying—
Lo here, and lo there.
When the World by Wisdom knew not God it pleased God by the Foolishness of Preaching to Convert the World: As much it may be to the Confusion of
Hell, as to the frustration of the wise Expectations of the
Jewish Doctors: for the One no more seem'd Aware of the
humble Means of that Great Event than the other: But
Satan like lightning fell from Heaven, struck with the flash before he was aware, and down to the Abysse in a Moment. How strange and Inexplicable to them was it, to hear our Saviour say, Joh. 12.31.
Now is the Judgment of this World, now shall the Prince of this World be cast out. Indeed the Great Events of the Kindom of Christ in their Accomplishments are
high and dreadful, bright and surprizing, as the
Lightning that passes from one part of the Heaven to the other; Conspicuous to all, sudden and Irresistible.
3.
When Christ comes upon the Enemy he Overcomes him. Victory over Satan is the certain Issue. He
has come and he Overcame.
[Page 83]He is yet
daily Conquering. And He will yet
further overcome, and make his Victories compleat in an Everlasting Triumph.
1.
In the dayes of his flesh our Lord came and overcame the Enemy. In his
Temptation he conquer'd; and so in his whole
Obedience and consummate
Righteousness, in all his
Sorrows and
Sufferings, and in his
Death, wherein he made his
Soul an Offering. He finished Transgression, and made an End of Sin, and bro't in an Everlasting Righteousness, and made Reconciliation for Iniquity. He condemned Sin in the flesh, he destroyed him that had the power of Death,
i. e. the
Devil. He forgave Sins, he cast out Devils, he called whom he would and they came unto him. He pour'd out his Soul unto Death, and divided the Spoil with the strong. On his Cross'd he triumph'd, and having spoiled Principalities and Powers, he made a shew of them openly in his Resurrection & Ascention. His rising again was the death of Death, and the utter breaking of Satans Head. He then Abolish'd death, which was
the Curse. Then was bro't to pass the saying, O Death I will be thy Plague, O Grave I will be thy Destruction. When he ascended on high he led Captivity captive. He pass'd triumphantly thro' Satans Territories, the Prince of the powers of the Air, whose Hosts were in effect led in chains before his Chariot Wheels. Thus our
Saviour conquer'd when he came.
[Page 84] 2.
Ever since his Ascention he has been carrying on his Victories, and spreading his Conquest far and near. And this
- 1. In the setting up his
Visible Kingdom, which shall finally prevail.
- 2. His Internal and
Invisible Kingdom in the Souls of Men.
1.
The Victorious Saviour has set up his Visible Kingdom in the World on the Ruines of Satan, and the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against his Church. This began gloriously in the Day when the
Holy Ghost descended on the Apostles, endowed them with Power from an High, confirming the Word with Signs and Miracles, and accompanying it with his mighty Workings on the Souls of Men; whereby the Conversion of so great a part of the World to
Christianity was most wonderfully Effected. The
Idolatries of the World, and the
Wickedness and
Ignorance wherein it lay, were Satans possession of it and Empire in it. In this respect he appear'd the
God of this World, and might have some pretence to say of all the Kingdoms of the Earth, and the Glory of them, —
all these are Mine. For the things which the
Gentiles Sacrificed, they ignorantly Sacrificed to devils and not to GOD. And Agreably the Services which he imposed on them were like his own cursed Nature, barbarous and cruel, unclean and filthy. But
Idolatry was soon exposed to Contempt at the Preaching of the Gospel of Christ, which came every where
in power and in the Holy Ghost; and Men turned to GOD
[Page 85]from Idols, to serve the Living and True GOD and to wait for his Son from Heaven whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus which delivereth us from the Wrath to come, 1 Thes. 1.9, 10.
From about the Time of our
Saviours Birth and onwards the Devils
Oracles were shuck dumb, his
Responses ceas'd, his power of Deceiving the Nations was restrained; "as the "rising Sun chases away the Birds of Night. In the Place of these was the Spiritual and Pure Worship of the true GOD restored and set up, the Holy Doctrines and Laws of the Gospel published thro' many Nations, Converts Multiplied, and in a while the
Empire became Christian.
The Kingdom of our
Lord first flourish'd in
Asia and in
Greece, and suffer'd less there by many Oppositions and
Persecutions, than it soon did in
Europe afterward by the
Romish Apostacy. By
that it was a long time horribly
Obscured, and the Name of
Jesus was rather blasphem'd than worship'd for many
Centuries of Darkness and Idolatry together; all which time the Devil seem'd as it were to have got back the Kingdom of Christ into his own Hands. At last came the Day of the Revival and Restoration of the Visible Kingdom of Christ, in the
Happy and Glorious Reformation, which began in the days of
Lather, and prevailed wondrously in Spite of the rage of
Rome and of the
Imperial Power: since which day altho' a
Sea of the Blood of the
Martyrs hath been shed, yet the Reformed
[Page 86]Religion lives, and we believe shall finally triumph in the Downfal of
Antichrist.
For we koow that GOD has promis'd and foretold, and we according to his promise look for,
a more glorious State of the Church, than hath been yet seen; in respect both of
Extent and Enlargment, and of
Knowledge, Holiness and
Love. We believe that such a
Dominion and Glory is to be given to Christ, that
all People, Nations and Languages shall serve him. We believe that the Kingdom of
Christ is that
Stone cut out of the Mountains without hands, which shall it self become a Great Mountain and fill the whole Earth, and break in pieces and consume all other Kingdoms. We look for the Coming in of the
Fulness of the Gentiles, the Conversion of the
Jews, & the Destruction of the
Man of Sin; whose Coming has been after the Working of Satan, with all Power, Signs and Lying Wonders;
that Wicked One whom the Lord shall consume by the breath of his Mouth, and destroy with the brightness of his Coming. The Earth will be lightned with the Glory of that day, when the mighty Voice shall be heard,
Babylon is fallen, is fallen.
In a word, we look for a
New Heaven and a New Earth, and a Reign of Holiness, such as has never yet been; some most happy and flourishing State of the Church,
‘for Purity of Ordinances, for Increase of Light and Knowledge, for the Power of Godliness, for the Multitudes of Converts, for
[Page 87]the open and publick Profession of the Truth, and for outward Peace and Tranquillity.’ Then shall the Church have a long and singular Freedom from the power of Satan and his Instruments. This is the
first Resurrection: i. e. The Churches Revival from its present State of Weakness, Sinfulness and Sorrow, unto a State of Power, Purity and Joy: And
blessed and holy is He that hath part therein; whose lot it is to live in this happy time; when the
Means of Holiness and the
Measures of Holiness shall be more abundant. Satan shall be
bound for that happy season, and after it he must be loosed for a little time.
To conclude, In every
Period of the Advancement of the Kingdom of our
Lord Jesus, from the first Dayes of Christianity to the Consummation of it, is carried on
Michaels War & Victories over the Dragon & his Angels; and the
Casting down that old Serpent called the Devil & Satan, which deceiveth the whole World; and at every
Period and great Event we may hear that
loud Voice in Heaven, saying,
Now is come Salvation and Strength, and the Kingdom of our God and the Power of his Christ! — and they over came him by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of their Testimony. Thus our
Lord has come upon the Enemy and overcame him. and
shall yet further do so, in setting up his
Visible Kingdom upon the Ruine of Satan.
[Page 88] 2.
He more especially comes upon the Enemy and overcomes him in his Internal and Invisible Kingdom in the Souls of Men. This Eminently is
his Kingdom and Reign among Men, for the sake of which the Administration of
Providence is put into his hands, and he has a Church in the World.
When therefore the
Pharisees demanded of him,
When the Kingdom of God should come, Luke. 17.20. He answered them and said,
The Kingdom of God cometh not with Observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here, or lo there; for THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU. That is to say, The Kingdom of God is in its true Glory and Efficacy an
Inward & Spiritual thing, in the Heart, the Soul, the Conscience of Man; There look for the
Messiabs Kingdom, even
within your Selves. There is his Throne, in the Hearts of a free and willing and holy People, who are by his Divine Power bro't to believe in and obey him. The
Seat of his Government and the
Glories of it are to be sought within us. His Empire is
over Souls, and like them
Invisible, by the Secret Operations of his Spirit on the Mind and Conscience.
Thus
there is a Spiritual Kingdom of Christ, set up in the hearts, his Government in the Souls of Believers; in the Soul that is Sanctified, that believes and obeys the Gospel. This Kingdom of Christ consists in the
Conversion of Souls from Sin unto God, and the
carrying on the Work of his Grace in them unto Salvation.
[Page 89]It is the whole work of Sanctification, wro't and carried on in the Souls of the Elect, by the Preaching of the Gospel. Hence we read of the Kingdom of God and
his Righteousness; and of the
Word of the Kingdom, the
Gospel of the Kingdom, the
Good Seed and the
Children of the Kingdom.
‖
Two Things might be very pertinent to observe here,
1.
That there is no Empire or Rule in Nature like that which is over the Soul and Spirit. God governs the World, we say; and very truly. All his Works are ordered, directed and managed by Him. The Sun, Moon and Stars
obey Him (we say) in all their Motions. His Will is their Rule & Law which guides and limits them. But
all this is not properly Government, nor strictly
Obedience in them. The Creature knows not the Will of its
Maker, nor is sensible of its own Being and Motion, Use and Service.
Government is of the Superiour, Reasonable and Intelligent Creatures,
Angels and Men These are capable of
Law and of a free Subjection, and a willing Service. These have a Law written in their Nature. Over
them therefore God reigns. These are His Subjects and the People of his Kingdom, being his Noblest Creation and Workmanship. He maketh his
Angels Spirits, the Ministers of His Kingdom both of
[Page 90]Providence & Grace; they excel in Strength, Knowledge and Holiness. He made
Man like them a Living Soul; in His own Image, who is a Spirit and the Father of Spirits; and all Souls are His, and
we are His OFFSPRING.
Now here is the
Perfection of Rule, of Knowledge and Power; to know the Tho'ts of the heart, and search it, and turn and change it as it pleases GOD. Others can reach the Body, order and inspect our outward Behaviour, and punish the Overt Transgression; but the Mind is free and not to be bro't under the Power of any.
Humane Laws can prescribe only to the outward Life and Actions, and take Cognizance only of Mens Manners: But it is the Glory of God, his Laws, and his Government that he looks to the Heart within, requires the Love and Service of that, and will accept nothing less; but the Tho't of Wickedness is Sin before him and he judges therefor. Jer. 17.10.
I the Lord search the Heart, I try the Reins.—.
Conscience within us is His
Vicegerent. He has created it, endow'd and impower'd it, and to Him it is Accountable. He has given it Knowledge, and he Commissions it, and to Him it renders in its Register and Testimony. For
the Spirit of Man is the Candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the Belly, Prov. 20.27. This is GODS Government, whereby he rules over the Highest and the least. The Hearts of Kings are in his Hand and he
[Page 91]turns them, & cuts off the Spirits of Princes. In this He appears to be the Blessed and Only Potentate; the King Immortal, Invisible and only Wise; from whose Spirit and Presence there is no hiding, no flying. Such Knowledge is too wonderful for Man; it is High and he cannot attain unto it.
In a word, This Empire over Souls and Spirits takes in the Dominion of the
vast Hades, the unseen World; the
Key whereof is put into the Redeemers Hand: In Comparison whereof the
Millions of Souls on our
little Globe are but a small Number, and as a
single Family. How many Millions of Immortal spritis pass out of this World of ours, in every Age of it, into this
Hades? Besides the
Myriads of Angels and
Legions of Devils there before! What a Kingdom of God is
here without limits, or any Number of its Hosts!
this Empire over Souls or Spirits!
To these GOD has subjected the rest of his Glorious
Creation, made them for Dominion, &
put all things under their feet; reserving
them to be his
Own Dominion and Servants, because the Superiour Orders of Being.
This is the first Note which I commended to your serious Attention, That there is no Empire or Rule in Nature like that which is over the Soul and Spirit. The next
Observation I would make is,
II.
That there is no Rule or Empire over Souls here on Earth like that which God displays
[Page 92]in the Work of Sanctification, or his saving work of Grace wro't and carried on in our Souls by His Holy Spirit. There are other wonderful Proofs and Instances of GODS Governing the Spirits of Men in the common Rule of His Providence: there being indeed no such thing at all as a Providence over Humane Affairs, without a particular Knowledge of and Power over Mens Spirits; directing and over-ruling them as the Alwise
Governour of Heaven and Earth sees meet and necessary; Inclining or restraining them, and changing their Purposes and Counsels, according to his own Will & unto his own Glory. There is a powerful insensible Operation of Providence on the Spirits of Men, which puts no force on their Freedom, Liberty and Choice, but yet governs their Will to its own Purpose and Council. But now the Work of Grace, Conversion & Regeneration, and the progress of our Sanctification is a more
manifest and Eminent Empire of GOD over our Spirits than all this.
1.
It is Gods Glorious Efficiency. The
Excellency of the Power is of GOD and not of Man. The Word is the Power of GOD unto Salvation. The Day of a Souls Conversion is the Day of GODS Power
‖ For who but GOD can change the Soul? give a new heart? renew the Mind and Spirit? form
[Page 93]and make a New Creature? For there is a new Mind given, a new Will, new Affections, new Purposes and Resolutions, new Strength and Power, and so a newness of Life produced. This is Dominion, Rule and Government over our Spirits with a witness: An Absolute Power exerted upon them, whereby they are reformed and restored, according to the Will, and into the Image of God, who worketh all in all.
This is the Exceeding Greatness of His Power to Us-ward who believe, according to the Working of his Mighty Power.
2.
It is all Efyected & Carried on in a way of Rule & Government: by a Divine Regency which is most Free and Gracious. An Act of true Dominion, bringing the Reasonable Creature in a Way agreable to its rational Nature, Liberty & Faculties, into a chosen Subjection to God. To set this in a true light we need only consider the
Means which the Holy Ghost uses, and the
Method which he takes with us in this glorious Work: And this is such as is most proper to the Government of a
Soul. That is to say, He works on the Soul
by that Inspired Word and revealed Law which He hath given for our Government, to regulate us & to be Obeyed by us. His
Word is the Rule of Holiness and of our Duty. It prescribes both to the Outward Life, and to the Inward Tho'ts, Affections & Desires. It is a Law to our Consciences, and it is quick & powerful as a Sword to peirce
[Page 94]into the Inmost Soul; a Discerner of the Tho'ts and intents of the Hearts, and a judge of them. This Divine Word is the
Ordinary Means which the Spirit of GOD uses in Convincing & Converting Sinners; and to that End the
Ministry and
Preaching of it is Ordained, and by the Blessing of GOD with it is made Instrumental & Efficacious. Now this is Agreable to our Nature and the proper Government of Reasonable Creatures.
For God made Man to be rul'd by a Law and Precept. He wrote his Law in Mans heart at first, and some Remains of it abide in his Apostacy. He gov
[...]rn'd Man in his Integrity by a Law and Commandment, requiring a perfect Obedience of him; by a Promise and a Threatning, by Hopes & Fears. And so he doth yet by the
Written Law, Precepts and Prohibitions, Promises and Threats. He uses the proper Means, Humane and Rational, to Inform Enlighten and Convince the
Judgment, to perswade and overcome the
Will, to move the
Affections, Desire and Loathing, Love and Hatred, Hope & Fear, Grief and Joy; and by all to Alarm the
Conscience, Encourage and Deter us, as His Glory and our Happiness do direct. In this way Soveraign Grace gets the Dominion again in the Soul of Man, and in this way it maintains it: Which is the Way of a
Rational Dominion, the Governing
by Law free & Intelligent Beings. The Divine Government in our Souls is upheld by the Law of the Kingdom.
[Page 95]
Faith comes by Hearing, and Hearing by the Word of God. Of His own Will be begets us by the Word of Truth. The Commandment comes and the Sinner dies
‖ So he is bro't to the foot of
Christ, to kneel to the
Scepter of his Grace.
Thus the
Holy Ghost accompanies this Word of the Kingdom with an Invisible and Irresistible Blessing, whereby he subdues the Enmity of the Heart against the Divine Law, and brings it to submit freely thereunto.
3.
Herein is the Kingdom of Satan in the Soul overthrown, and the Opposite glorious Reign of Holiness set up in its stead. Satan is dispossessed and Souls recovered from Sin unto God. The Dominion of Sin is broken, and the Scepter of Christ bow'd to, the Laws of Holiness obeyed. So that here is a proper
Conquest and
Reduction of the Soul from the Tyranny of Satan, and from Slavery to him into the Glorious Liberty of the Children of God. He that was
sometimes alienated and an Enemy in his mind by wicked Works, now is Reconciled, Col. 1.21.
Many Enemies are conquer'd in the Souls
Conversion, and all of them are
fought with daily and resisted in the progress of our
Sanctification, and in the Saints
Perseverance. Flesh, World and
Devil are the Mortal Enemies of this blessed Work; for they well know that it tends to their Mortification and Destruction, and consists therein
[Page 96]These are stubborn, fierce and irreconcilable Foes, subtle and strong, fighting for their life and for the Dominion which they have usurp'd over us.
All the Powers of Hell are in Arms against every Souls Salvation, and every Soul has a treacherous
corrupt Nature siding with the Powers of Darkness. It is now the
Glory of GODS Grace to conquer these Powers, break their cruel and unjust Dominion, set up a Contrary Law and Rule in the heart, and bring the Soul to a willing Obedience unto the Holy Law which it once hated and violated, and unto a mortal hatred of that Tyranny and Cursed Way of Sin, from which the Grace of GOD hath deliver'd it. Thus the
World is overcome, and this is the Victory even our Faith: The
Flesh is Crucified with its Affections and Lusts, and
Satan is resisted stedfastly and bruised under our feet. The Soul is turned from Darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God:
It is delivered from the Power of Darkness, and translated into the Kingdom of his dear Son Col. 1.13.
4. And lastly,
This delivery of Souls begun in this Life in the Work of Sanctification, from the Power of Satan, ends in their final Salvation and eternal Glorification in Heaven. At
Death these
Redeemed Souls are carried by
Angels, in safety & in triumph, thro' Satans Territories into the
Paradise of God. The Devils see them pass along thus
guarded, to the Presence of Christ, to see his Glory, and to be glorified
[Page 97]by him. They dare not come nigh 'em, to offend 'em, in this their Glorious Passage. They at a distance see it with Envy & Rage, and gnash and melt away. And whither they go Satan can never come: They go to those
Realms and Seats of Glory which he (
Accursed Spirit) left and fell from, and can return to no more. The
Crowns of Glory which fell from the Heads of these Apostate Spirits, the Redeemed Saints of Christ ascend to
wear; and they reign in those
Thrones, from which these were cast down to Hell. When Christ ascended on high
He led Captivity Captive, and when Believers ascend after him they see
the Captive Spirits in Chains all the Way they pass, Unable to offend them, Afraid to behold them.
They fade away and are afraid out of their close places.
But then in the
Resurrection of the Dead the Dominion of Sin and Satan will be more sensibly and fully broken. Then Death, the last Enemy will be destroyed, abolished, and Mortality it self swallow'd up of Life, swallow'd up in Victory.
And yet in more formal manner will the Redeemers Conquest of Satan appear in the
Judgment Day; both in the Condemnation of
Satan Himself, and of all
those that have s
[...]v'd and obey'd him; and in the publick Justification of
Believers in Christ.
For then
Satan himself,
the Devil and his Angels shall be bro't forth in Chains before the Judgment Seat of Christ, and shall be
[Page 98]condemned by him to Eternal Torments:
To that Everlasting Fire prepared for them. They believe this Day and
tremble, they once shreik'd out before the Son of God on Earth and said, —
Art thou come to torment us before our time? But in the last and
great Day the Time of their Torment will be fully come, and the
Man Christ Jesus (in the Glory of the Father, with all his Holy Angels)
will be their Judge; Yea His Saints shall
sit by him and judge Angels: 1
Cor. 6.3. And they shall be
cast into the Bottomless pit, into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone, to be tormented Day and Night, for Ever and Ever, Rev. 20 10.
That is to say too, All those that have here Impenitently hearkened unto Satans Temptations and Delusions, and done his Lusts, shall be Adjudged and Condemned with him to one and the same Place of Torments:
Mat. 25.41.
But at the same time these Damned Spirits shall behold with Envy and Horror Millions of the Children of Adam,
Redeemed from the the Earth, washed white in the Blood of Christ, openly Justified in their sight, and declared Heirs of Eternal Glories in Heaven. Satan shall behold this
blessed Election of free Grace T
[...]phing in that glorious Day;
He the Object of their Contempt, Disdain and Abhorrence,
They of his Envy and Rage: He shall consider them as Sav'd from Sin & Hell, from his Malice and Hatred, by the Power and Grace of Christ, to the Everlasting Enjoyment
[Page 99]Adoration and Service of God, to Infinite and Unspeakable Blessedness in His Love and
[...]our for ever and ever: He'll see it with
Amazement and
Anguish, Confusion and
Shame, and down he'll
Sink Blaspheming, with all the
Sinful Ghosts a-round him, in Everlasting
Despair.
And thus I have Meditated the
Redeemers Conquest of Satan in the Rescue of Souls from him by the Power of his Grace. And this would have led me to a more particular Consideration of the
latter Phrases in the
Text, and the last
Proposition thence resulting;
He taketh from him all his Armour wherein he trusted and divideth his Spoils: It is a
Victory the most Compleat and Entire, Perfect and Glorious that can be.
But I must proceed no further at this time.
[Page 100]
SERMON, V.
LUKE XI. 22.
— He taketh from him all his Armour wherein he trusted and divideth his Spoils.
THESE
Phrases seem designed only to represent the
Compleatness and Entireness of the SAVIOURS Victory over Satan in our Redemption and Salvation. For the
taking of the Enemy's Armour, and the
Dividing the Spoil are the
Fruits of Conquest and the
Evidence of Victory; and serve unto the
Generals Triumph and his
Souldiers Reward. The Enemy must not only be
beat and
routed before the
Spoil can be taken; but they must also be
taken Captive or
[...]lain before their
Armour can be taken.
The
Spoils are the
Conquerors Recompence, and
[...]he
Dividing them is the
Generals Honour and Prerogative; and the Enemies
Armour is the noble Spoil that
adorns the Conquerors
Triumph. This has ever been and yet is the
Usage of War, unto which these
Phrases refer and by which they must be Interpreted.
[Page 101] Of old therefore
Victory was sung of under this Phrase, —
I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the Spoil. So the
Mother of Sisera spake of his desir'd Return from the War, and her
wise Ladies answer'd her in that part of the
Martial Style which they best understood and relish'd, —
Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey —? A prey of diverse colours of Needle-work, meet for the Necks of them that take the Spoil.
And thus the Victory and Triumph of the
Messiah was greatly spoken of in
Ancient Prophesies: I will divide him a Portion with the Great, and He shall divide the spoil with the Strong; (or
of the Strong, as some read it).
Isai. 53.
ult. And thus our
Saviours Death was spoken of by the
Apostle, Col. 2.15.
And having spoiled Principalities, and Powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Give me leave then for the
Amplif
[...]ie. on our Saviours Victory over the Enemies of our Souls, to stay a little on these
Martial Phrases, which Methinks I should not be just to my
Text, if I should wholly pass by. And
first I will consider a little the
Armour here spoken of, wherein
Satan is said to trust, or put Confidence, and which
Christ takes away from him.
Secondly, The
Spoils which our Victorious Saviour divides.
I. The
Armour here spoken of, wherein Satan is said to
Trust, or
put Confidence, and
[Page 102]which
Christ is said to
take away from him.
Now the things here represented seem to be these
three.
- 1. What a
bold and
confident Enemy we have.
- 2. That there is an
Armour that gives him his
Confidence.
- 3. That the
Victorious Saviour takes that from him.
1. I observe,
What a bold and confident Enemy we have. How he
arms himself and
comes out, like some
Goliah defying the Armies of the living God;
Confident in himself and in his own Strength;
threatning what he
can do and what he
will. He makes
show of Courage. Fearlessness and Security. He seems to despise Heaven, to pretend to hold his own, and maintain his Kingdom among Men, in spite of God.
All these are Mine, said the bold and vaunting
Spirit to our
Saviour, and I do what I will with them. And if
Heaven denies his Title he pretends to defend it; Rev. 12.7.
And the Devil fought and his Angels.
Nevertheless all this is only
Grimmace, and a
face put on, which the heart gives the lie unto. He looks big and fierce; speaks Great, and roars like a Lion. But for all that he
believes and trembles. He knows that his day is coming, and
shreiks and
flies at the tho't of the time of his Torment. As he fell in horror before our
Saviour, and cried out, and tore and rav'd; and (as he cou'd)
pray'd to his Judge; in the most abject and torturing fears that any
weak mind can feel.
He is bold to us because
Invisible. Could
[Page 103]we but look into the World of Spirits, and see him before an
Angel of Light, we should see something
mean and dastard beyond any Comparison that we can find for it here on Earth. So a
Wolf appears and is terrible to a Lamb, but what a
cur is it before a Lion? How will the
Wild Barking Dog fly more fearful than a Lamb?
So it is
the property of an Insolent Spirit to Insult those that are Ignorant or Feeble; Whom it can deceive or fright, impose on and terrifie, it is always ready to
hector and
bully. Besides that our Enemy is
false and
impudent, as he is proud and cruel; He covers his own shame and weakness, fears and horrors with lies and folshood; and never appears what he is.
We have a bold and confident Enemy.
2.
His Armour gives him his Confidence. He has something that he pretends to trust in, and incloses himself in as it were in Armour. The Allusion of
War is here carried on; As
Armour gives the Soldier Confidence, which he wears either for his own Defence, or for the Off
[...]e of his Enemy; so there are
some things that afford to the Enemy of Souls his boldness and security: They are to him as
Goliahs Helmet of Brass and Coat of Mail, his Sword and Spear, added to his huge natural Bulk and Strength.
But
have Spirits their Armour too? Yes, what
[...] be
Allusively so called, both
good and
bad have. There is the
Armour of Light,
[Page 104]and of
Righteousness; and why not that of
darkness & of
Spiritual Wickedness, with which they fight against God and defend the Cause of Hell? For
Tyrants have their
Armouries, and
rebel Hosts arm themselves for the War.
Now this
Armour of Satan is the same with those
Strong holds of his in a wicked heart, which I before spake of under the
Second Doctrine, whereby he holds it as a
Garrison against God, in a wretched and
accursed Peace and Security.
The Mind of Man is corrupted and blinded by the Fall, and so are the Will and Affections, and by the Corruption of these Conscience is defiled and debauched; All these give Satan an easy
Access unto the Soul and a mighty
Power over it by his Temptations; and this is his chief Confidence having
prov'd his own skill and power so very often and effectually upon us.
He is a
Serpent and a
Dragon, and what he cannot effect by
force he does by
wile and
stratagem; and
in his fraud and subtlety doth he most trust.
He trusts in the natural darkness
[...]d blindness of our carnal minds, which renders us liable to be Imposed on by his craft and falsehood; and he hopes ever to keep us in Ignorance, and Alienated from the Life of God thereby: that we may never see things as they are, but call evil Good, and God evil; never see how hateful and dangero
[...] Sin is, or how good and lovely and ne
[...] the
[Page 105]Wayes of God are, and how Glorious the Methods of Grace in our Salvation.
He trusts to keep Men in the Mistakes and Prejudices, which they easily imbibe by Education, and by Traditions received from their Fathers, which are frequently Opposite unto the Truth and Power of Godliness. So he holds the
Pagan World in their brutish
Idolatries, the
Mahometan in their Imposture and Infidelity, the
Jews in their Obstinacy and Unbelief, the
Romish Church in their infinite Superstitions and gross Corruptions; and among the
Reformed some in their External
Forms, and some
without any Form at all of Godliness, in their
licentious Principles and
loose Morals. For indeed there are but few in the World but who are early Prepossess'd one way or other against the Truths and Laws of pure Religion; and this is a strong and mighty part of
Satans Armature wherein he trusteth.
He trusts much in a
Carnal Heart, which is Enmity to God, and in a
Stubborn Will which is Averss to his Holy Will, and bent to Sin. He trusteth in that natural and contracted
[...]otence to Good, which he sees the Miserable Children of Men labour of, and which at last comes of an Invincible
Disinclination thereto. He trusteth in the Natural
Deceitfulness of Mans heart, and its unknown
desperate Wickedness, which it pleases him to see Mankind
believe so little of.
He trusseth in the power of
fleshly
[...]sts and
sensual Pleasures: in the
Cares of this
[Page 106]World and the
Deceitfulness of Riches; to allure and draw away the Soul from God,
Inchant and
Infatuate it; to
choke every awful Conviction and serious Impression, and that
the Earth and its Bars are about it for ever. He trusts in the
League and
Confederacy which he is in with a
corrupt Nature and many treacherous Lusts
within us, and with a corrupt and wicked
World, whose Friendship is Enmity to God, and which is full of many hurtful and foolish Lusts that drown Men in Destruction and Perdition.
He trusts in the
Habits of Sin and in the strong
Chains of Guilt which he sees many of the Wretched Children of Men held under. He trust that
One accustomed to do evil can never learn to do well; no more than the
Ethiopian shall ever change his skin, or the
Leopard his spots. He trusts that he shall ever keep them far from the Favour of God, and under his Wrath and Curse. He trusts that he shall keep them
easy and
singing in these chains of death, or drive 'em into
despair when once they begin to Mourn under them.
Finally, he trusts in his
pas
[...]
[...]ccesses against us, and that he shall yet prevail over the frail Sons of
Adam and Dau'ters of
Eve. He is
grown vain and conceited of his own Subtlety and Force; and dares to attemptany thing; even what he knows he can never p
[...]form. He trusts that he
can deceive the very Elect. He dar'd to tell God when he spake graciously of his Servant
Job, that if he
[Page 107]might but have Permission to try him, he wou'd soon make him as
very a Devil as himself, and he should curse him to his F
[...] and doubtless he
despised him in his He
[...]; when Heaven bro't him forth for
single Combat with the
Prince of Devils, as the
hu
[...]e Philistine did the
Stripling David. Nay. when the
Son of GOD was manifested in the Flesh, the
Tempter was so bold as to set upon Him; and after he had once and again found nothing in him, but had receiv'd an utter Defeat always, had been often Ejected by him and been forced to ly roaring and trembling before him, and confess him who he was,
the Holy One of GOD; yet the
bold Fiend continu'd to
pursue him still even to his
Cross, where the
grovelling Serpent had his Head utterly broken, while he stung his Heel. No
higher could the
Snake reach his Head, yet meant all it's Poison into the very
Bosome of God; presuming to have vanquish'd the
Son of the Highest, as if he had been only the
Son of Man.
Thus we have a
bold and confident Enemy; and we see in part what it is he
trusts in.
But then,
3.
Christ takes away all this, by the Merits and Purchase of his Death, and by the Operation of his Holy Spirit on the Souls of his Chosen and Called. He saves us first by
Price and then by
Power. He has paid a
Ransome for his Elect unto the Justice of God, and by his Spirit he
sanctifies and
rules in them for whom he died.
[Page 108] They are Justified by Faith in his Righteousness, and they are Sanctified by his Grace and preserved in Him. In the one Christ acts as the
Lord our Righteousness, in the other as the
Lord our Sanctifier and Ruler. And they are each equally Glorious to Him and Necessary for us.
1.
Our Salvation out of Satans hands, is by a Price of Redemption, and a Satisfaction to the Justice of God. To
this was his first Regard. He had in his Eye (as Mr.
Bradbury has justly and strongly represented the Matter, and whose
Words on this Head I shall use, because of their light and force
‖) the
Equity of a GOD whom we had offended, the
Dignity of the Law which we had broken, the
Eternal Morality and
Life of the Covenant of Works under which we were planted. For there cou'd be no saving us with any Dishonour to these. It had not been a
Redemption but a
Plunder, to deliver the
lawful Captive upon any other Claim than a
Satisfaction. We are therefore
bought with a Price. Any other way wou'd have made the
Saviour a Party with Sin and Satan.
Sin had got the better of the
L
[...]w, if that could have been pardoned, whils
[...] this remained violated, without any Rep
[...]ration.
Our Salvation is not a meer Act of Pity and Favour without a wise and sufficient
[Page 109]Reason; that were Sofiness and Imperfection. Nor is it an Act of meer Power and Violence, without just regard to the most wise Rules and Measures of Government: But Wisdom, Holiness, Justice and Truth came in for a share in the mighty Produce of Glory. There had been no great Work for Design, and consequently nothing so suitable to the
Infinite Mind, had He only forc'd his way thro' all that oppos'd our Salvation: But this Honour and Harmony of all the Divine Attributes in our Salvation, is what the Angels desire to look into. The
Cherubims are straining their Eyes to behold a Throne of Grace so near unto an Altar of Atonement: That there should be a Satisfaction for Sin, and yet all Mercy in the Forgiveness of it! a full Payment consistent with a free Gift! a full Revenge taken upon the
Guilt, and yet a noble Excursion of Mercy for the
Person!
In a Word, Here is a
Righteousness declared in the Remission of Sin: One speaking in Righteousness and Mighty to save: One to defend us at the
Bar, as well as to fight for as in the
Field.
Satan
trusted that this could never be; nor could the Anecls in Heaven suppose how it could be. And without this, Christ had not
destroy'd the Works of the Devil. That Wickedness would have been yet Triumphant, which is
[...], Extinguish'd. For if you strip the Death of Christ of the great
[Page 110]Atonement, the Works of the Devil had destroy'd him. But now by dying, he
bound the strong Man. Thus we see
Jesus in the suffering of Death crown'd with Glory and Honour, tasting it for us: We see
the Captain of our Salvation made perfect thro' Sufferings, in bringing many sons to Glory. Therefore is
a Portion divided him with the Great, and he divides the spoil with the strong: because he bare the sins of many.
†
This is the Strain and Current of the whole Gospel of our Salvation: It all returns into this Mystery and Depth of Grace from whence it flow'd;
A Satisfaction to the Justice of God for our Sins. Christ our Great
High Priest is
HOLINESS TO THE LORD. For our sakes He
sanctifyed Himself. In the midst of the Throne is a
Lamb stain. We are come to the
Blood of sprinkling. The Redeemed are
washed from their Sins in their
Saviour's Blood, and so
made Kings and Priests to GOD. They have washed their
Robes and made them
White therein; and so are
before the Throne. They overcome by the Blood of the Lamb.
*
Thus as the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, our Redeemer has broke the Chains of Guilt, and the Free Gift is come upon all unto the Justification of Life.
But then moreover,
[Page 111] 2.
As the LORD our Sanctifier and Ruler, He pulls doxn the strong Holds of Sin within us, and implants the Powers and Principles of the Divine Life He
renews us in the Spirit of our Mind, forms a
new Creature, and puts on it the
whole Armour of God, the
Armour of Light, and of Righteousness, on the right hand and on the left.
* He clothes us with that Divine Strength, and with those Divine Graces, whereby we may withstand the Wil
[...]s of the Devil, resist him stedfastly in the Faith, Overcome the Wicked one, stand in the evil Day, and having done all to stand.
‘He breaks the Power of Sin and Corruption in the Soul,
‖ rectifies its Mistakes delivers
[...] from its Prejudices: And whe
[...] the Eyes are opened, and the Heart is humbled and changed, and made serious and spiritual; then Satans Armour is taken away. The
Sword is first wrested out of his hand, and then the
Seepter.’
‘Satans Armour wherein he trusted, was his keeping Men in Darkness,
† blinding them with Error and Superstition, and seducing them into sinful Practices.’ But now Christ by the Gospel teaches the
[...] of God in truth, and brings Souls into the love of it: He subdues the Soul to a
[...] mission both to the Glorious Way of our Justification
[Page 112]by Faith in his Righteousness, and to the Glorious Way of Holiness as the only path of Life.
There needs only a Work of
Sanctification to be wrought in us, whereby our Saviour restores in us an Enlightned Mind, an Obedient Will, a Faithful Conscience, Holy Affections, Pure Desires, Gracious Purposes, and Spiritual Abilities; to the spoiling and disarming Satan of all his Interest in us and Power over us. The Saviour
rules that day
in the midst of his Enemies, and they are made his footstool: It is the
Day of his Power, in which his People are
made Willing, under the
Rod of his strength.
In short then, As the Armour wherein Satan trusteth are principally these
two, The power and strength of Sin in us, and the Chains of
[...]ilt, whereby we are bound to suffer the Curse of God's Holy Law; so Christ takes away the
one, by the Merits of his Death,
[...] the
other by the Power of his Renc
[...]ing Grace.
And I cannot better compare and illustrate both the
Confidence that Satan has of holding his Possession, and the
Grace of Christ disarming and spoiling him of his bold and vain Trust; than by that famous and Ancient Piece of
sacred Story, which we have in the 2.
Sam. 5 6, 7, 8. I mean the Story of
Davids Conquest of the
Jebusites, who held the
strong Fort of Sion in Jerusalem, unto the Day wherein
David received the Kingdom of
Israel.
[Page 113]These
Jebusites had such a vain Opinion of the strength of their
Fortification, that they set a parcel of
Invalids, lame and blind People upon the Walls, in scorn of
David and his Army, esteeming them sufficient to defend and secure them against all his Power.
Or rather these
Jebusites seem to have had their
Idols in whom they trusted, (as many
Learned Men have tho't) and to
whom they ascribed their long Protection and Preservation in the midst of
Israel. Now the first Exploit of
David's Reign, (as became so Pious a King, and so Illustrious a
Type of Christ) was to root out this
Remnant of Idolatry, and of the Kingdom of Satan, left in the very Heart of the Church. But the
Jebusites show'd him (we suppose) their
Gods, their Idols from the Wall, their
Palladium wherein they trusted, and defied his coming thither so long as
these were there. But Holy
David derided their fond Superstition, and foolish Confidence, calling their Idols the
Lame and the
Blind; for such they indeed wi
[...];
Eyes had they but they saw not, Feet had they but they walked not. In just Indignation at the Affront offer'd to the GOD of Heaven, he declar'd
these lame and blind Images to be the Hated of his Soul, and that the Man who should first scale and enter the
Fort, and tumble down these
sensless Deities from the Wall where they were perch'd up, should be the
Chief and Captain of his Army. Upon which Word the brave and valiant
Joab went first up, and was deservedly the
Chief.
[Page 114] From that Day
Jerusalem became the
Royal and the
Holy City, the Seat of
Worship and of the
Government; the
Head of Israel and the
Type of the Gospel Church; that Jerusalem from Above which is the Mother of us all. Hither
David bro
[...]t the
Ark of God in Triumph, into its Rest; and here
Solomon built the
Temple. So the
Kingdom of Christ is Established
where Satans seat was, and on its Ruins; and
He taketh from him all his Armour wherein he trusteth.
But it is time that I pass unto the latter Phrase in the Text, and consider a little,
II.
The Spoils which the Victorious Saviour divides. And divideth his Spoils; or as another
Evangelist hath it,
he spoileth his house.
This is
easie to do after the Enemy is Overcome and disarmed, slain, routed, or taken Captive. Upon the Victory
follows the taking the Spoil. These are the
Conquerors Reward, these grace his Triumph, and these
he hangs up in the Temple of God unto his Praise.
His Spoils: The Spoil that
Satan had made is all the taken. As
Abraham of old arm'd his valiant and
trained Houshold, and pursu'd after the
Kings that had taken Captive his Brother Lot, and had carried away all his Goods: He smote them and brought back all, both the Captives and the Spoil. Or as
David came upon the Amalekites that had spoiled
Ziglag, and carried away his
Wives: He found them spread abroad upon the
Champian, eating and drinking and dancing, because of the
great
[Page 115]Spoil which they had taken; and
David smote them from the Twilight even until the Evening, and recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away.
I name these
two Instances, because that doubtless
Abraham and
David were herein
Types of Christ spoiling Principalities and Powers, and rescuing our precious Souls out of their cruel hands.
‘Our
Lord Jesus was the Son of David and of Abraham, and they resembled him in this, His
taking the Prey from the Mighty and the Terrible.’ We may look in upon our own Souls, if recovered by his Grace from Sin and Hell, and say of them as
David's Soldiers did of that
Drove which they set apart, and in the
Van upon his Return from that noble Conquest,
This is David's Spoil! These belong to the
Conquering SAVIOUR, the Purchase of his Blood and Acquest of his Sword,
Whom he has redeemed from the hand of the Enemy.
For indeed
Satan had made a Spoil of us. He had spoiled
God of his
Creature Man, and of any Service or Glory from him without a Redemption. He had also spoiled
Man of his God and Heaven, of his Innocence and Peace and Glory. It was an Inva
[...]able and
Immense Treasure which he had spoiled God and Man of. These Immortal
Souls of ours were of greater Price than all the World beside. This Rate God sets upon them, so nobly had he Endow'd his
Creature, and such Riches had he expended in him! So Great was his
[Page 116]Estimation of him, and such Account he made of him. For
him he had Created and furnish'd this Great and pleasant Earth; And having made it a
Paradice, and stor'd it with an Innumerable Bounty and Variety, and all very costly; He then said, —
Let us make Man in our Image after our Likeness, and let him have the Dominion over all these: So he put them
under his feet.
Now this
Rational Mind, this
Intelligent and Immortal Spirit, made in the CREATOR's Image, with
Angelical Faculties and Powers, contained more
Riches in a little, being a
Jewel belonging to the Crown of Heaven, than all the rest of this
lower Creation, tho' these in their several
kinds are an Unsearchable and
Inestimable Riches of Wisdom, Power and Goodness. This therefore was the
Spoil that Satan aim'd at; and in carrying
this he knew that he should carry
all, and become the
God of this World. For God valued not the Earth, but for the sake of
Man, that bare his
Image here, and in whom were his
Delights. He had given the
Earth to him, and now he gave away himself from God
that went with him.
Satan knew this, that in gaining Man
he got all, and should spoil God of his lower World; and now he prides and vaunts himself in his Acquest,—
All this is mine.
And now,
shall the Prey be taken from the Mighty? and the lawful Captive, (for
such were we become,
Slaves by our free Consent as well as a just
Victim to the Justice of God)
[Page 117]
be delivered? Yes:
Thus hath the LORD said, Even the Captives of the Mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the Terrible shall be delivered; — And all Flesh shall know that I am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob, Isai. 49. ult. So our Lord JESUS as a
General after the gaining the Battle divideth his Spoils. The
Victor possesses for himself the
Palace he has taken, and from whence he has driven the Foe, and all he finds there is
his own, and disposed of to his
own Use and
Service, by his
own Will and
Pleasure.
For Instance,
1.
He possesses and uses the Powers and Endowments of the Soul and Body before de
[...]ed to the Service of Satan, for Himself and unto
[...] own Glory. Henceforth they are
Sacred to
[...]im, their only true
Proprietor. His rightful Dominion is restored; His Throne set up again in the Heart, and there he reigns for Ever. For having vindicated his Right, he asserts his Power, and maintains his Conquest. We may write upon the Man,
He is Christ's: Wholly and entirely possessed by him, and devoted to him.
2.
The Benefit of the Victory redounds to us, while the Glory is all His, and thus he divides the Spoil among his Redeemed. He needed not us, nor any thing of ours, nor can he receive any thing at our hands. If we be righteous what do we give him, or if we sin on what do we against him? Our Goodness extends not unto Him to benefit him, nor is our Misery
[Page 118]any damage to Him. Had we remain'd for ever in the Hand of Satan, what had He lost? And if we are snatch'd thence by the Power of his Grace what has he gain'd? Was he not the
same God over all, blessed for Ever, Infinitely blessed in Himself, before Man had a Being, and since his Apostacy? And would he not have remain'd so, and the Interests of his Glory been all secure, had he reserv'd us with the Angels that sinned, in Chains under Darkness unto the Judgment of the Great Day. Now therefore, that he has descended into our low World and died, Ascended also hence and led Captivity Captive, what is He enriched by it? Has
He taken a Shoe-latchet of ours, that we should be able to say, —
We have made him rich? as the Generous
Abraham said to the King of
Sodom, in the Day of his Return from the Conquest of the Kings, that he might be the more perfect
Type of his SAVIOUR. We are indeed made
free, we are restored to Liberty, and the Creature it self shall e're long be deliver'd from the Bondage of Corruption: We are made Conquerors, and are to wear the Crowns of such, and He is
glorified with the Glory which he had with the Father before the World was.
Thus the
Benefit is entirely ours. The Generous
Conqueror fought for our Ransome and Deliverance, and hath effected it.
He divideth the spoils among his saved Ones. When he ascended on High,
He received Gifts for
[Page 119]Men, even for the Rebellious, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
This is his Name,
Jehovah our Righteousness: which speaks (say
One on that
Text) a
Happiness to us, a
Glory to Himself: Our Happiness lies in
Things, His Glory appears in a
Name: What we get by Him is a
Reality, what he has from us, is only an
Acknowledgement.
3.
He distributes to every Man severally as he will, of the Abundance of Grace and Gifts of Righteousness; Graces and Comforts here in this Life, and Glory hereafter. These are the
Unsearchable Riches of Christ, and who can count the
dust of them? or number the
Tenth part. either as to kind or measure? Eye hath not seen, nor Ear heard, neither hath it enter'd into the Heart of Man to conceive the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1.
Of his own Sovereign Will and free Grace, he divideth to
Whom he will, and in
what Portion he will. He hath Mercy on whom he will have Mercy, and hath Compassion because he will have Compassion. Yea, the
faint and spent, whose hearts are in his Cause, but their feeble hands can do nothing in it, shall come in for a
share in the Spoil; as
David in his Princely Piety and Justice, order'd with respect unto the
two Hundred Men, that were so faint that they could not follow him to the War. Thus the
lame take the Prey, when the
Great Spoil is divided, Isai. 33.23.
[Page 120] 2.
He divides with a Munificent Hand. He that has
least has an Interest in a
whole Christ, a
whole Heaven for a whole Eternity. He partakes in a
compleat, Eternal Redemption; he attains a
perfect Happiness, and shares in
infinite Blessedness; tho' there doubtless are
Degrees of Glory, as well as Degrees of Grace, Service and Comfort now. Joh. 12.24.
Father, I will that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my Glory.
3.
A Respect is had to Eminence of Love and Zeal, and faithful Service. The
old and beaten Soldiers, who have been forward and bold, active and couragious, have
endur'd hardness, often fought and ventur'd Limb and Life, receiv'd Wounds, and it may be
died in the Cause; They shall receive the greater Reward and the brightest Crown, They shall be advanced in Rank and Honour in the Heavenly World: Not of Works, nor for any desert in them; but of the meer good Pleasure of the
Sovereign GOD, who is Lord of his own Favour, and has made it a
Statute in Heaven for Ever. And accordingly we read of a
Prophets Reward, and that they
who turn many to Righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever: Also, that
he who soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly, and he that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully; and
that they who receive abundance of Grace and of the Gift of Righteousness, shall reign in Life by Jeus Christ.
[Page 121] Thus our Lord encouraged his
Apostles, the
General Officers in his Church Militant, and who were set in the Front of the Battle;
Ye which have followed me in the Regeneration, when the Son of Man shall sit upon the Throne of his Glory, Ye also shall sit upon twelve
[...]es, judging the twelve Tribes of Israel: A
[...] ever hath forsaken Houses and Lands, &c.
[...] my Name sake and the Gospel, shall receive an hundred fold in this Life, and in the World to come Life Everlasting. Wherefore the Apostle
Pa
[...] who had done, labour'd and suffer'd
[...] more than others in the Cause of Christ,
[...] pected of the free Grace of God a more distinguishing Crown in the Heavens; 2 Tim. 4.7, 8.
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 the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that Day: and not to me only but to all them that (in like manner)
have his Appearing.
USE.
And now I have again prevented my self in the
Application, which I hop'd to have made of
this Doctrine: The USE should have been,
I.
To teach us to give Glory to Christ our Saviour. He is the true
Messiah; the promis'd
Seed of the Woman to break the Serpent's Head; the
Horn of Salvation raised up for us
[Page 122]in the House of
David, as was spoken by the mouth of all the Holy
Prophets, which have been since the World began, that we should be
saved from our Enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us. We should now go forth with Branches of
Palm-Trees in our hands, to grace the Triumph of our
Saviour, and shout, —
Hozanna to the Son of David; Blessed be he that cometh in the Name of the Lord, Hozanna in the highest.
So in that great Day wherein the
Philistine of Gath fell, and all the Enemies of Israel fled at his Fall, the
lovely Conqueror and illustrious
Type of the Conquering
Saviour, came back with the
Monster's Head in his hand, and
he put his Armour in his Tent: While the
Dau'ters of Israel prepar'd their Instruments of
Musick, and met him with their
Songs, — David his ten thousands!
What a mighty Lord and Conqueror is our REDEEMER, and on what a gracious Design has he arm'd to
bring forth the Priso
[...]ers, and
proclaim Liberty to the Captives, after he has slain the
Tyrant and the Oppressor! With what Admiration and Delight should we Contemplate this Appearance of the Son of God in our Nature, and all the Enemies of our Souls under his
Feet? Isai. 63.1.
Who is he that cometh from Edom, (like
David after the Conquest of the
Edomites at the
valley of salt, whereby he got him a Name, 2 Sam. 8.13.)
[Page 123]
with died Garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his Apparel, travelling in the Greatness of his strength? — I that speak in Righteousness, Mighty to save. Let the
Divine Answer the
Prophet in the
Vision he had of the Glorified
Jesus, in the form of a Mighty Conqueror, Rev. 19.11, 12, &c.
And I saw Heaven opened, and behold a White Horse, and he that sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in Righteousness he doth judge and make war, His Eyes were as a flame of Fire, and on his Head were many Crowns, and he had a Name written that no Man knew but He Himself And he was cloathed with a Vesture dipt in Blood; and his Name is called, The Word of God. And the Armies which were in Heaven followed him, — and out of his mouth goeth a sharp
[...]ord, that with it he should smite the Nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of Iron; and he treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his Vesture and on his Thigh a Name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Such a
Vision of the
Glories of the Victorious
Saviour does the
Text present us. As in the Day when
David took
Rabbah, the
Royal City of the Children of
Ammon; He came
Himself and took it, lest it should be called after
another's Name: And he took their Kings Crown from off his head, (the weight whereof was a Talent of Gold, with the precious Stones) and it was set on Davids head; and he
[Page 124]brought forth the spoil of the City in great abundance. So we see JESUS
Crowned, and Hell Spoiled, and all the Enemies of our Salvation
put under saws and harrows and axes of Iron, 2 Sam. 12. ult.
II.
The Second Use is of singular Comfort to the Believer in Christ.
1.
In all Temptations and spiritual Annoyances form the Wicked One. Christ has overcome the
Tempter: For in that He himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted: for we have not an HighPriest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin, See Heb. 2.14, 18.4.15, 16.
2.
Ʋnder the Burden of Indwelling Sin, and the tormenting Fears which the sorrowful Sense of it doth often create in the Children of God; Whether Satan be indeed cast out of them;
whether Sin have not yet the Dominion over them;
whether they shall not yet fall by the hand of their roaring Enemy without, and a treachercus Heart within-But be not discouraged;
Christ says to you as he did to
Peter, Satan has desired to sist you, but I have prayed for you. Read the
Promise and the
Prayer, Rom. 16.20
The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly: The
[Page 125]Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with You. Amen.
3. Let Believers be comforted under, and supported against all the
Troubles and Persecutions they may be annoyed with from Earth and Hell. It is a wicked
World, and Satan is the
God of it. They therefore that
will live Godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persecution from it.
Marvel not if the World hate you, for it hated
Christ first. And he hath said to you,
Be of good cheer, I have overcome the World. Read what the
Spirit saith unto the Church in
Smyrna, Fear none of these things: the Devil shall cast some of you into Prison that ye may be tryed, and ye shall have Tribulation ten dayes: Be thou faithful to the Death, and I will give you the Crown of Life.
4.
In the low Estate of God's Church, and in all it's Sufferings, this is the support of God's People, that the Church is founded on a
Rock, and the
Gates of Hell shall not be able to prevail against it. Our Lord has said to us,
I beheld Satan as Lightning fall from Heaven. Read the
Vision of the Church in its travailing and weak Estate, persecuted by Satan and the Powers of this World, but protected by her
Saviour to the destruction of the
Dragon and his Instruments:
Rev. 12. The Church appears there as a
Woman cloathed with the Sun, shining in Purity of Doctrine
[Page 126]and Holiness of Conversation; the
Moon under her feet, trampling on all sublunary and earthly things; and
on her head a Crown of twelve Stars, the Doctrine of the
twelve Apostles worn as her
Crown. She is represented as
travailing in Birth, to propagate true Religion and Godliness. But to
devour this her Holy Birth, appears a
Great red Dragon. God
caught up her blessed Offspring to Himself and to his
Throne. Michael and his Angels fought against the
Dragon, and
cast him down. Yet he continues to
persecute the Woman and her Child, and Providence continues its Guard and Succour. The
Dragon cast out floods, but even the
Earth it self was made to help the Woman, and to
swallow that Flood which might else have drown'd the Truth. Thus the
Church is and shall be saved in spite of the Malice of Satan and his power. Her
Redeemer is Mighty, and his
little Flock need not fear. Let us believe, and look and pray for the Downfal of Satan's Kingdom more and more; and
rejoyce over it thou Heaven, and ye holy Apostles and Prophets.
III Let the
last Use be of
Exhortation to us all, to submit to Christ and chuse Him for our Lord; to behave towards Him as rightful King, and be his Servants. Let us all
how our knees to his Scepter, let us
kiss the Son, let us
consent to his Covenant,
[Page 127]and
accept of his offered Grace. Let us
renounce Sin and Satan,
abjure the Devil and all his Works, and
yield our selves up to the Government of
Christ, his Word and Spirit.
It is most
wilful in us, if we remain yet under Satans Power. We prefer him to the Son of GOD by a practical and vile choice of him, renouncing our
Saviours Claim of us and Offers to us. And let Sinners consider, that they
list into the conquer'd side, and must fall into their condemnation.
But if Christ be our
Lord now, He will be our
Saviour for Ever. If he now
rule in us and over us, we shall one day
reign with Him. If we now
give up our selves to him, He will hereafter
take us to Himself in Heaven. If we are now
subject to Him as
Prince and Saviour, we may know our selves to be
chosen in Him before all Worlds, unto Eternal Glory.
Wherefore
Return, O revolted Soul, from Satan unto Christ: And like
Magdalen, out of whom be cast
seven Devils, thou shalt be yet
precious in his Eyes. Lay down the Weapons of thy Rebellion, and fight no more against GOD. Come in upon the
Proclamation of a General Pardon which is issned out in the Gospel of Peace.
See
[Page 128]out the Pardon therein offer'd and secur'd to thee. Swear a future
Allegiance and Fidelity, and perform unto the Lord thy Saviour thy
Christian Oath and
Vow; thy
Sacramental Engagement to Him.
Lift in the War denounc'd against Sin and Satan for Ever. For the Lord hath sworn that he will have War with this
Amalek for evermore.
Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his Might. Put on the whole Armour of God: for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against Principalities and Powers, against the Rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual Wickednesses in High places. Whosoever is born of God overcometh them all, and
this is the Victory, even our Faith.
Now thanks be to God who causeth us to triumph thro' Christ. He that
conquers in this spiritual Warfare has an
Eternal Triumph. Our
Lord has said,
I appoint you a Kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me. And again,
To him that overcometh will I give to sit down with me on my Throne, even as I also Overcame and am set down with my Father upon his Throne.