BOOK 3. THE PROMISE.
CHAPTER 2.
3.2.9. Of Conforming to Jesus in that Respect.
Of Conforming to Jesus in that Respect.
We must conform to Jesus, in reference to this covenant of grace, "We are changed by beholding, into the same image," 2 Cor. iii. 18. If we look unto Jesus in this respect, this look will have such an influence upon us, that we shall conform to Jesus, but wherein consists this conformity? I answer, in these several particulars: 1. God in Christ offers his covenant to us; so we, through Christ, should embrace his offer; 2. God in Christ keeps covenant with us: so we, through Christ, should be careful to keep covenant with him; 3. God in Christ hath highly honoured us, as we are his people: so we, through Christ, should highly honour him, as he is our God.
1. God in Christ offers a covenant of grace to us, so we, through Christ, should embrace this gracious offer. His offers have appeared, from first to last, as, 1. To Adam. 2. To Abraham. 3. To Moses, 4. To David. 5. To Israel and to Judah, Take notice of it in that great promise of the covenant, "I will be thy God," q.d. "Come, soul, if thou wilt but have me, I am thine, here, I offer myself, my Son, my Spirit, justification, sanctification, adoption, salvation; whatsoever I am, or whatsoever I have, all is thine, if thou wilt but accept of me: look over all this wide, wide world; and if there be anything in it that can please thy soul, and when thou hast gone through all the world, then come and take a view of me, and see me in my glory, beauty, and excellency; view me in my attributes, and see if thou findest not enough in me worthy of thy acceptance; all this, and more than this, nay more than eye can see, or ear can hear, or heart conceive, I offer to thee, if thou wilt but have me, lo, I will be thy God." So Christians, God is first with us, he is the first mover, he begins with us before we begin with him, "I will bring them (saith God) into the bond of the covenant." Now, in this let us conform; doth he offer? O let us embrace the offer! doth he lead the way? O let us follow him step by step in that very way as he goes before us! let us not prescribe unto God, let us not presume to appoint the conditions of the covenant; let us not seek to wind about the promise of grace to our own mind and will; let not us say, We will have it thus, and thus it shall be, or else we will admit of no conditions of peace: but O come, take God and Christ upon his own terms; submit to that way of the covenant, and to those conditions of peace which the Lord prescribeth. Why? this is to conform to his gracious offer. There is much in this offer of Christ, and conforming to Christ, therefore give me leave to enlarge. As in the offer God usually scatters some little seeds of faith in the hearts of those that he will bring to himself; so it is worth the while to observe the work of faith in receiving and accepting of this gracious offer; only I shall not herein limit the Lord, but I will show what some conceive the most usual and ordinary course of faith's working, and of the soul's conforming to Jesus Christ, in its closing with Christ, as thus,
(a). Faith hearing the great things proposed in the covenant of grace, it stirs up in the heart a serious consideration of their blessed condition that are in covenant with God. "Blessed art thou, O Israel, a people saved by the Lord, Deut. xxxiii. 29. What nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself," 2 Sam. vii. 23. Time was, (saith the soul) that I counted the proud blessed, and the rich blessed, and the honourable blessed: time was when I placed my blessedness in other things, as in riches, preferments, favour, credit with men: but now these are become vile, and things of no value; faith makes us change our voice, and speak as the Psalmist, "Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord," Psalm cxliv. 15.
(b). Faith stirs in the heart a longing desire after this condition. Good being believed, cannot but be desired, and longed for; desire naturally springs from the apprehension of any good being made known : hence faith (we say) is both in the understanding and in the will; as it is in the understanding, it opens the eye to see, and clearly to discern the blessing of the covenant; as it is in the will, it pursues and desires the attaining of the grace revealed; nor are these desires faint desires, but very earnest, eager, violent: sometimes it is called "a thirsting after God and sometimes a panting after God; and sometimes a gasping after God: It is such a desire, as cannot be satisfied by anything without God himself.
(c). Faith stirs in the heart some hope to enjoy this condition, I say, "Some hope;" for faith being as yet in the bud, or in the seed, though its desire be strong, yet hope of obeying is but feeble and weak: hence faith is taken up with many thoughts; fain would the soul be joined to Christ, but being as yet dismayed with the sense of sin, it stands like the publican afar off; as yet faith can scarce speak a word to God, only with Jonah, it can "look towards his holy temple." As a poor weak babe, who lies in the cradle sick, and weak, and speechless, only it can look towards the mother for help; the cast of the eye expresseth in some sort what it would say; thus faith being weak it would speak to God, but it cannot, or dares not, only it hath its eye towards heaven; as Jehoshaphat sometimes said, "our eyes are towards thee," 2 Chron. xx. 12. It feels a need and fain would have, but sense of unworthiness, and the sense of the law strikes such a fear into the heart, that it dares not come near. Consider Israel's case, and we shall find it parallel to this: God proclaims on the mount, "I am the Lord thy God." What was this, but God's offer to be in covenant with Israel? and yet the terror of the thunder was so great, that Israel durst not come near: A poor soul hearing the Lord to offer himself, to be in covenant with him, "Come soul, I am the Lord thy God." Why, alas it dares not come near; "What am I Lord? or what is my father's house, that I should enter into a covenant with the most high God?" The soul is unquiet within itself, it is hurried to and fro, and finds no rest, it hears of peace with God, but feels it not, there is much ado with the soul to sustain its hope; only faith sets the mind again and again to consider the promises, invitations, and all other encouragements which God hath given in his word.
(d). Faith stirs in the heart some resolves to go to God's throne, and to sue for grace; faith speaks within as they did, "Who can tell whether the Lord will return?" Jonah iii. 9. And "it may be the Lord God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph," Amos v. 15. So who can tell? saith the soul, "It may be the Lord will," saith the soul. And this begets some resolves, as those lepers in Samaria knew they were sure to perish, if they sat still, therefore they resolved to try whether the Aramites would save them; or as Esther knowing all was undone, if she would not stir, she would try whether the king would hold out his golden sceptre; so the poor soul, knowing there is no way but perishing, if it continue in its natural state, therefore it resolves to go to God: doth the Lord say, "Seek my face? Why! thy face Lord will I seek." Doth the Lord say, "Come unto me? Why! behold, Lord, I come unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God," Jer. iii. 22. And now the soul betakes itself unto God; it sends up complaints of itself, it laments its own sinful rebellions, it puts out a whole volley of sighs, groans and strong cries towards heaven; it confesseth with grief and bitter mourning, all its former iniquities; it smites, with repenting Ephraim, upon its thigh; it lies down at God's footstool, it puts its mouth in the dust; it acknowledges God's righteousness, if he should condemn, and cast off forever; and yet withal it pleads for grace, that it may be accepted as one of his; it says unto God, "Lord, I have nothing to plead, why thou mayest not condemn me, but if thou wilt receive me, thy mercy shall appear in me. O let thy mercy appear, take away all iniquity, and receive me graciously." Thus the soul lies at God's throne, and pleads for grace.
(e). As faith is thus earnest in suing to God for grace; so it is no less vigilant and watchful in observing what answer comes from the Lord; even as the prisoner at the bar, not only cries for mercy, but he marks every word which falls from the judge's mouth; if anything may give him hope; or as Benhadad's servants lay at catch with the king of Israel, to see if they could take occasion by anything which fell from him to plead for the life of Benhadad, so the poor soul that is now pleading for life and grace, it watcheth narrowly to see if anything may come from God, any intimation of favour, any word of comfort, that may tend to peace, "O let me hear joy and gladness. -- I will hear what the Lord will say, for he will speak peace unto his people."
(f). As faith waits for an answer, so accordingly it demeans itself.
(i). Sometimes God answers not, and faith takes on, and follows God still, and cries after him with more strength, as resolving never to give over, till the Lord either save or destroy: nay, if the Lord will destroy, faith chooseth to die at God's feet, as when Joab was bidden to come forth from the horns of the altar, and to take his death in another place; Nay, saith Joab, "but I will die hereor as when Christ saw no deliverance come in his agony, "He prayed more earnestly," Luke xxii. 44. So a poor soul in the time of its agony, when it is striving as for life and death, if help come not at first call, prays again, and that more earnestly. Faith is very urgent with God; and the more slack the Lord seems in answering, tire more earnest is faith in plying God with its prayers; it will wrestle with God as Jacob with the angel, it will take no denial, but will crave still, "Bless me, even me also, O send me not away without a blessing."
(ii). Sometimes God answers in part, he speaks as it were out of a dark cloud; he gives some little ease; but he speaks not full peace; in this manner he speaks to the woman, "Go thy way, and sin no more," John viii. 11. He doth not say, "Go in peace, thy sin is forgiven thee." No; no, but "go thy way and sin no more hereby faith usually gets a little strength, and looks after the Lord with more hope; it begins to plead with God, as Moses did, "O Lord, thou hast begun to show grace unto thy servant, go on. Lord, to manifest unto me all thy goodness." Here faith takes a little hold on the covenant of grace; it may be the hand of faith is feeble, shaking and trembling, yet it takes a little hold, it receives some encouragement, it finds, that its former seeking is not in vain.
(iii). Sometimes God answers more fully and satisfactorily; applies some promise of grace to the conscience, by his own Spirit; he lets the soul feel and taste the comforts of himself, or of such and such a promise, more effectually than ever before: "Fear not (saith God) for I am thy God," Isa. xli. 10. Here faith waxeth bold, and with a glad heart entertains the promise brought home unto it. The apostle calls this, "The embracing of the promises," Heb. xi. 13. Now embracing implies an affectionate receiving with both arms opened; so the soul embraceth the promise, and the Lord Jesus in the promise, and having him like Simeon, in his arms, it lays him in the bosom, it brings him into the chamber of the heart, there to rest and abide forever. And now is the covenant struck betwixt God and the soul; Now, the soul possesseth God in Christ, as her own; it rests in him, and is satisfied with him, it praiseth God for his mercy, as Simeon did when he had Christ in his arms; it commits itself wholly and forever to that goodness and mercy which has been revealed to it.
O my soul hast thou come thus by little and little to touch the top of Christ's golden sceptre? Why, then is thy hand given to God, then art thou entered into a covenant of peace. Christ's offering, and thy receiving the covenant of grace, bears a sweet agreement, an harmonious conformity.
2. God in Christ keeps covenant with us; so we through Christ should be careful and diligent to keep covenant with God, in the things of this life, a strict eye is had to the covenants we make; now, it is not enough for us to enter into covenant with God, but we must keep it? The Lord never will, never hath broken the covenants on his part; but, alas, we on our parts have broken the first covenant of works; take heed we break not the second; for then there remains not any more place for any more covenants with us, so let us keep covenant with him: and therein is the blessing; "The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, -- to such as keep his covenant," Psal. ciii. 17, 18.
There is much also in this keeping of the covenant, and therefore give me leave a little to enlarge: sundry acts of faith are required to this keeping of the covenant. As thus,
(a). Faith in keeping the covenant hath always an eye to the rule and command of God; as in the things to be believed, faith looks on the promise; so in things to be practised, faith looks upon the command; faith will present no strange fire before the Lord; it knows, that God will accept of nothing but what is according to his own will.
(b). As faith takes direction from the rule, so in keeping of the covenant it directs us to the right end, that is, to the glory of God: we are of him, and live in him, and by faith we must live to him, and from him: "For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself: for whether we live, we live unto the Lord, and whether we die, we die unto the Lord, whether we live therefore or die we are the Lord's," Rom. xiv. 7, 8. Again, "he died for all, that tbey which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them," 2 Cor. v. 15. This God claims as his right and due, "Thou shalt glorify me," saith God; yes, saith faith, "I will glorify thee forever." Psal. l. 15. and lxxxvi. 12.
(c). Faith in keeping the covenant shields the soul against all hindrances that it meets withal: as for instance, sometimes we are tempted on the right hand by the baits and allurements of the world, all these will I give thee, saith the world "if thou wilt be mine," Matth. iv. 9. But then faith overcomes the world, by setting afore us better things than these. Sometimes we are tempted on the left hand with crosses, afflictions, persecutions, and sufferings for the name of Christ, but then faith helps us to overcome, and makes us conquerors through Christ that loved us, by setting before us the end of our faith and patience. It is said of Jesus, That "for the joy that was set before him, he endured the cross, and despised the shame," Heb. xii. 2.
(d). Faith encourageth the soul, that the Lord will have a gracious respect unto its keeping covenant; "In every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him," Acts x. 35. Surely this is no small encouragement to well-doing, what would not a servant do, if he knew his Lord will take it in good part now? Now, faith assures the soul, there is not one prayer, one holy desire, or one good thought, or word which is spoken, or done to the glory of God, but God takes notice of it, and accepts it in good part, "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name," Mal. iii. 16.
(e). Faith furnisheth the soul with strength and ability to keep the covenant; by faith we get a power and strength of grace; as thus --
(i). By faith we look at Christ, as having all fulness of grace in himself. "It pleased the father, that in him should all fulness dwell," Col. i. 10. All others have but their measures, some more, some less, according to the measure of the gift of Christ, but Christ hath received the "Spirit, not by measure, but in fulness of it," John iii. 34.
(ii). By faith we know, that whatever fulness of grace is in Christ, he had it not for himself only, but for us, "he received gifts for men," Psal. lxviii. 18. said the Psalmist; not for himself merely, but for men; "of his fulness we receive grace for grace," saith John i. 16. His wisdom is to make us wise, his meekness is to make us meek, and his patience is to make us patient.
(iii). By faith we look at Christ, as faithful to distribute such grace unto us, as he received for us; he is faithful in all the house of God," Heb. iii. 2. He is faithful in dispensing all the treasures of grace committed unto him for his church's good; he keeps nothing back, his faithfulness will not suffer him to keep that to himself which he hath received for us: hence, as the Psalmist saith, "He received gifts for men," Psal. lxviii. 18. So the apostle renders it, "He gave gifts unto men," Eph. iv. 8. As he receives, so he gives, being faithful in all that is committed to him.
(iv). By faith we seek God, and beg performance of his promises according to our need. Do we want wisdom, meekness, patience, or any other grace? faith carries us by prayer unto the fountain, and in this way it waits and expects to receive the grace we want. As the child by sucking the breast, draws forth milk for its own nourishment, and thereby it grows in strength; so do we by the prayer of faith suck from Christ, and from the promise of grace, and by that means derive strength to our inner man, to fulfil the covenant which we have made with God.
(f). As faith strengthens us, so if at any times by occasion or temptation we fail in our covenant-keeping, faith recovers us, and restores us again to our former estate. I do not say the covenant can be broken betwixt God and us; we may offend God, and fail in the service of God, but till we refuse God, and leave God, and choose another master, lord, and husband besides God, there is no dissolution of the covenant of grace: now, this a true believer cannot do; he may fall, and fall often, yet he doth not fall, but he rises again, he may turn aside, but yet he turns again into the way of the covenant. What a sweet point is this, Christians! we may, and sometimes we do walk weakly in keeping of covenant, our feet slip, and we step aside out of God's path, yet faith brings us back again to God; it casts shame on our faces, that after all the grace shewed us, w T e should so ill requite God : it reminds us of these promises, "Return unto me, and I will return unto you, Zech. i. 3. Ye have done all this wickedness, yet turn not aside from following the Lord.--For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake, because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people," 1 Sam. xii. 20, 22. In the minding of these, and such other promises, faith doth encourage us to return unto God, to take words unto ourselves, and to plead the covenant of his grace towards us; this work of faith brought Peter back to Christ, whereas Judas, wanting this faith, lies down in desperate sorrow, never able to rise up, or to recover himself.
O my soul, art thou acquainted with these acts of faith, enabling thee in some good measure to keep covenant with God! then is there a sweet conformity betwixt thee and Jesus.
3. God in Christ hath highly honoured us, as we are his people; so we through Christ should honour him highly, as he is our God: this is the main end of the covenant, and I shall end with this, O my soul, be like to God, bear the image and resemblance of God thy Father in this respect; he hath humbled himself to advance thee; O then humble thyself to advance him, endeavour every way to exalt his name.
We are all willing to be in covenant with God, that we may set up ourselves, that we may sit upon thrones, and possess a kingdom; but we must think especially of setting up the Lord upon his throne; "Ascribe greatness to our God," saith Moses, Deut. xxxii. 3. Make it a name, and a praise unto him. That he hath vouchsafed to make us his people, and to take us unto covenant with himself; honour him as lie is God, but honour him more abundantly as he is our God: who shall honour him if his people will not? The world knows him not. The wicked will not seek after God, God is not in all his thoughts" Psal. x. 4. And shall God have no honour? Shall he that stretched out the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth, and formed man upon it, have no glory? O yes! the Lord himself answers, "This people have I formed for myself, they shall shew forth my praise," Isa. xliii. 21. Surely God will have praise from his own people, whom he hath taken to himself, "He will be glorified in all these that come near unto him," Lev. x. 3.
But how should we honour God? I answer, --
(a). We must set him up as chief and highest in our esteem: kings account not themselves honoured, if they be not set above other men, and hence God's people have used such expressions concerning God, as do single him forth beyond the comparison of all creatures: Thus Moses, "Who is like unto thee amongst the gods? "Who is like unto thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" Exod. xv. 11. Thus David, "Thou art great, O Lord God, for there is none like thee, neither is there any God besides thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears," 2 Sam. vii. 22. Thus Solomon, "Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants," 1 Kings viii. 22. Thus Micah, "Who is a God like unto thee, which passest by the transgressions of the remnant of thine heritage?" Micah vii. 18. And thus should we rise up in our thoughts and apprehensions of God, until we come to an holy ecstasy and admiration of God.
(b). We must count it our blessedness and highest dignity to be a people in covenant with God; are we honourable? Yet esteem this as our greatest honour, that God is our God; are we low and despised in the world? yet count this honour enough, that God hath lifted us up to be his people. Christians, if when we are counted as things of nought, we can quiet ourselves in this, that "God is our God," if when we are persecuted, imprisoned, distressed, we can say, with Jacob, "I have enough, because the Lord hath mercy on me, and hath taken me into covenant with him," surely then we do bear witness of God before heaven and earth, that he is better to us than corn, or wine, or oil, or whatsoever this world affords.
(c). We must lie under the authority of every word of God, and we must conform ourselves to the example of God; that is, we must labour to become followers of God, and imitate his virtues: it is a part of that honour which children owe to their parents, to obey their commands, and to imitate their godly example; we cannot honour God more, than when we are "humbled at his feet to receive his word," Deut xxxiii. 3. Than when we renounce the manners of the world, to become his "followers as dear children," Eph. v. i. O think of this! for then we conform indeed; then are we "holy as he is holy, and pure;" as he is pure and then how should this but tend to the honour and glory of our God?
Thus far we have looked on Jesus, as our Jesus in that dark time before his coming in the flesh; our next work is to look on Jesus, carrying on the great work of man's salvation in his first coming or incarnation.