21. Mr. Venning's Farewell Sermon

21. Mr. Venning's Farewell Sermon
"Let us hold fast the Profession of our Faith without wavering, (for he is faithful that promised.)"- Hebrews 10:23.
That Christians are greatly concerned, not only to believe, and to make Profession of their belief, but to hold fast their faith, and the Profession of it, is that which I have already proved unto you; the several Obligations that lie upon Christians hereunto, have been in one or two Sermons handling among you: the great Obligation here annexed is, (for he is faithful that hath promised.) From whence, and from other places of Scripture, I have deduced several Arguments, and propounded them unto you: the last of which was this; None can promise us better than God can; none can threaten us worse than God can, and therefore it concerns us to hold fast; If any man can do more for you, or against you than God can, leave God, and cleave to that person; but seeing that is impossible, let it be as impossible for you to leave God: Can anybody promise you better than Heaven? and that God hath promised to them that do believe. Can any threaten you with worse than Hell? and that God hath threatned to them that do not believe. I shall now proceed to touch the remaining Arguments that are behind, and give you a few helps, with which I shall conclude this discourse at this time; I pray God I may not say Preaching too: There are several Arguments to be drawn,
First, From the Subject concerned, Us.
Secondly, From the Object, the Profession of our Faith. And,
Thirdly, From the Act, with the Qualifications, Hold fast without wavering.
First, From the subject concerned, Us; Let [us] hold fast, whatever others do; if they let go Faith, and God, and Heaven, and Souls, and All, yet let us hold fast. Whatever the Apostle speaks of, or to Believers, there is a very great Emphasis in the word we, or us, as in the first of Tim. 6:8. saith he, Having Food and Raiment, let us be content. Indeed he might have said, let every man be content; but the Emphasis lies in the us: if nobody else will be content, yet let us: for a Christian lies under more Obligations to all manner of vertue, than any other man doth. If Nature will not be content with little, yet let Grace; Let [us] be content. So here, let us hold fast our Profession: It may be others will let it go; I, but let us hold it fast: let us among whom, let us upon whom, let us in whom such mighty things have been done by God, let us hold fast, or else it will be an intolerable upbraid, and condemnation to us. That it will be both, see but two Texts of Scripture: the first is in Matthew 11:20-21. Then began he (that is Christ) to upbraid the Cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not. Wo unto thee Chorazin, wo unto thee Bethsaida, for if the mighty works that were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in Sackcloath and Ashes: but I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon, at the day of Judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto Heaven, shalt be brought down unto Hell; for if the mighty works which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto thee, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, at the day of judgment, than for thee. Pray, do but mark, what an upbraid their is, and what ground, because mightier works had been done among these, than among others. Now it seems to be a little excusable, that they, where these mighty works had not been done, did not repent; and therefore, their punishment shall be more tollerable: but it will be more inexcusable for them, among whom less mighty works have been done. If they do not comply with the design of God, their condition will be far more intollerable: They that have been lifted up to Heaven, as it were, that have as it were seen Christ crucified before there eyes, for them to Apostatize and turn away from Christ, of how much sorer punish∣ment shall they be thought worthy? Certainly, these very persons, that have great and mighty works done among them, & upon them too, great Convictions and strong Resolutions, and yet they shall Apostatize: Oh! how will God upbraid these persons? Now see that other Text, that speaks as dreadful as this, Hebrews 6:4-6. For it is impossible for those who are once enlightned, and have tasted of the Heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good Word of God, and the power of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them to repentance: Seeing they crucifie to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. It is the greatest disgrace and affront that man can put upon Christ, to Apostatize from him, (it is not half so much not to own him) for by that they crucifie him again, and put him to an open shame: it is as if they told all the world, that this Christ is not worth a believing in, and it were but to throw away their time and happiness to believe in him. Well then, let us that pretend to such enlightnings, and say, we have tasted of the Heavenly gift, and of the good Word of God, and of the first Fruits of Heaven, let us hold fast, lest we come under this upbraid and condemnation.
But more particularly, let us hold fast, as we are concerned to do, if we consider.
1. What we were before Faith.
2. What we were by Faith.
3. What we shall be at the end of Faith.
1. What we were before Faith: What were we before Christ was preached, and before we believed? What were we? Why, much worse than if we had not been: considered in our case and state, it is better not to be at all, than to be a sinner: it were better not to be a people, than not to be the people of God. Now, what were we before Faith? Why, truly, we were not a people: so the Scripture tells you, They that were not a people, are now the people of God; so that, if we were not the people of God, we are, as if we were not a people.
We were; What were we before Faith? Dark. We were the darkness itself, as the Apostles expression is, in Ephes. 5:8. saith he, Ye were sometimes darkness. The very light that was in us, was Darkness, corrupting our Understandings and Imaginations; the Understanding dark. We are dead, yea, under the worst of deaths: dead in sin: You, saith he, that were dead in sins and trespasses, hath he quickned. How were they dead in sins? Did they not live in sin? Yes, saith he, wherein you walked. Why? what is their Death? To live in sin, is to be dead in sin; all the while the Prodigal lived in his sin, the Father said of him, he was dead: My Son that was dead is alive.
We were; What were we before Faith? Why, we were children of wrath, as well as others.
Now, Beloved, consider how many abide thus to this day in darkness: Dead in sin, and Children of wrath. When you are, or pretend to be, translated out of this Darkness, into the marvellous light; will not you hold fast? You that were dead, as well as others, and now live, is this your requital of God, that you will not let it go? Oh! I beseech you have a care of that.
2. Let us consider, what we are by Faith: and that will be another obligation upon us. We were not so bad before Faith, but we are better by Faith. We were not in so miserable a case before believing, but we are in as happy a case when we do believe. Why? what are we? we are alive, and Children of Light, and Children of God.
We are alive: You hath he quickened, saith he, or made alive; and, My Son that was dead is alive. Now, what is the work of the Living? It is to praise God, The Living, and the Living, they shall praise thee, as I do this day. Now if this be the work of the Living, then consider, if we hold not fast our Faith; if we Apostatize, we are so far from doing the work of the Living, that is of praising God, that we do all the dishonour we can to God; we do the work of dead men: Yea, we are twice dead.
We are Children of the Light: Ye were in darkness, but now are light in the Lord. Now it is very observable, what the Apostle speaks concerning the children of darkness, and the children of the light, 2 Thes. 5:5. You Believers, saith he, are all the children of the light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness; but what follows? therefore let us not sleep as do others: but let us watch, and be sober: why? for they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunk be drunk in the night: if any stagger, that is the work of the night, this is not the work of the day: Now every Apostate that wavers, he is like a man that is drunk, so that he acts clean contrary to the children of the day. Saith he, they that are drunk, are drunk in the night; but saith he, let us watch and be sober, and let us who are of the day, put on the Breast-plate of Faith, and for a Helmet the hope of Salvation.
We are by believing, the Children of God, Galatians 3:26. For we are all the children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus: now, Beloved, are we weary of so honorable a Title, as being the children of God? why, we are the children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus. Will any body part with so great a Title as this? why, if we are weary of being God's Children, whose can we be? none but the Devils: and had we rather be the Devils Children than Gods? there are but these two, either you must be Children of God, or the Devils children; now you are the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus: oh therefore let us hold fast the profession of our Faith, seeing by Faith we are the Children of God.
3. Let us consider what we shall be at the end of Faith: why, we shall be saved, 1 Peter 1:4-5; 1 Peter 1:9. verses compared, He hath begotten us to an Inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, that fades not away, reserved in Heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last times; and in the ninth verse, saith he, receiving the end of your Faith, even the salvation of your souls; so that, it seems, to be weary of believing, it is to be weary of being saved; not to hold fast Faith, is not to hold fast Salvation; for, saith he, you are saved by Faith, and the end of your Faith is the Salvation of your souls. Can you be contented to be damned? can you have patience to think of going to Hell? Now, put all these together, and will you not hold fast? you that before Faith were but darkness, were but dead, were but children of wrath, who by Faith are made children of light, are made alive, and the children of God; and who at the end of Faith, shall receive the salvation of our Souls: And shall not we hold fast? shall we leave this Faith? but then secondly,
A second Argument in the Text shall be drawn from the Object, and that is two-fold; there is faith, and the profession of this faith, that is to be held fast; and there are Arguments from both; First Faith, hold fast faith: why are we so greatly concerned, and so highly obliged to hold fast Faith? I will give you this one reason for it, it is the most holy Faith; There are many things may be called Faith, that may not be called most holy Faith: there are many faiths that are at least called holy: Turkish faith, is by them called holy faith: the Romish faith, is by them called holy faith: I, but this is the most holy faith; there is an expression that Jude hath, to commend faith to us, in the 20 verse of his Epistle, But ye beloved, building up your selves on your most holy faith, &c. Let other pretenders be as holy as they can, they can never rise to the holiness of this, this is the most holy faith, it is so holy in so high a degree as to be beyond compare. I, but now, what is it that may denominate this faith to be the most holy faith? why, it hath for its Author the most holy God; it is the gift of God, and the work of God, if we take it for the Act of faith: and the doctrine of God, if we take it for the doctrine of faith. There are, as the Apostle saith, gods many, but we know but one most holy God: there are that will be called your Holiness in the world; but this is the most holy God, a God that is glorious in holiness; yea whose glory is to be holy. There is nothing stamps glory on any subject like holiness: what is the difference between the Angels in Hea∣ven, and the Angels in Hell, but Holiness? that is their glory, the holy Angels; and that is their shame, the sinful Angels: and what was it that made Canaan a better land than another? was it not the holiness? it was the holy Land: what was it that made the Temple? a better place than another? was it not because it was the holy Temple? Yea, it is the glory of all the Attributes of God, that they are holy. His Justice would look like severity, but that it is holy: His Power would look like Tyranny, were it not holy: His Love would look like fondness, were it not holy: His Patience would look like a toleration of sin, were it not holy: therefore it is said, the Lord God glorious in holiness. Now this most holy God is the Author of this Faith, and so it is a most holy faith, it being the Word of the most holy God; and will you leave, and not hold fast this most holy Faith?
But then besides, it may be said to be the most holy faith in this sense too, that it is its nature where ever it comes to make the subject in whom it is, most holy: saith the Apostle, you hath God chosen, to wit, by Faith, to be a peculiar people, a holy Nation, Acts 15:2. it is said, He hath purified their hearts by faith, and he will give them an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith. It may be called the most Holy Faith, in these two respects.
First, Considering the operation and effects it hath upon the hearts and lives of them in whom it is: it makes them a holy People, beyond all the people in the world: And then upon this account too, as to the ultimate effects of it, that it admits us into the most holy places. You know the Holy of Holies in the Temple, was a Type of Heaven, and Jesus Christ is said to enter into the Holy of Holies, that is into Heaven. Now this doth admit us into the most holy place, where the most holy God is, saith the Apostle, having therefore boldness to enter into the holiest, by the bloud of Jesus. Alas, in the time of old they could go but into the outward court: but now, saith he, we have all this boldness to enter into the most holy place by the bloud of Jesus. Shall we leave such a Faith as this? shall we not hold fast the most holy Faith, that is from the most holy God, that makes the most holy people, and that admits us into the most holy place? Where do we find such another Faith as this is? if you leave this Faith that is so good in itself, a Faith that doth so much good to us; and, which is better, that makes us so good: for it is much better to be made good, than to have good done unto us; and beloved, what will it avail us, if God should do us good all our days, if we be not made good? if we should have the good of health and wealth, and long life, and yet not be made good all this while, it avails us not: now this is the nature of Faith, it is good in itself, it doth good to us, and it makes us good: therefore beloved, let us not lay it aside, until we can find a better, and that we shall never do, unless we can find anything more holy than God.
But secondly, the second Branch of the Object is, the Profession of our Faith. It seems, Beloved, it is not enough to hold fast our Faith only, but the Profession of it: why so? truly there is this in it: the profession of faith, is as necessary as the faith itself; mark that. See this from the mouth of that great Apostle, I may say from the mouth of God himself, Romans 10:9-10. That if thou shalt with thy mouth confess thy Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved; for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation: An unprofessed Faith hath no salvation annexed to it; you see the Scripture maketh it as necessary to our salvation, to profess our believing, as to believe. Now beloved, if it be necessary to believe, and necessary to profess, its then necessary to hold fast Faith; and consequently as necessary to hold fast the profession thereof; without Faith there is no salvation, faith the Scripture; and saith this Scripture, without the profession of this Faith, there is no Salvation: now to say, I will keep faith, I will only part with a little profession, it is all one in Scripture, as to part with Faith itself; for why, the Scripture faith, If thou believe with thy heart, and confess with thy mouth, thou shalt be saved: so that as long as faith continues, profession is to continue, or there is no salvation; faith without profession, will do no more for you, than profession without faith: therefore observe what the Apostle speaks, Hebrews 3:13. saith he, We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end: not else.
Thirdly, A third Argument is drawn from the act with the qualifications, let's hold fast without wavering; Now there are two things, to name no more, that are hugely obliging in this very act, with its qualification; first, it is a manly act to hold fast that which is good: and it is a childish act to let it go. I say it is a manly act; it argues something of a great soul, and of a great understanding, and of a manly resolution, to hold fast that which is good, but it is childish to let it go, and therefore see how the Apostle puts these together, Ephes. 4:13, 14. saith he, speaking there, That God hath given some Prophets, some Apostles, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers, for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Ministry, for edifying of the work of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Now he comes in the 14 verse to add, That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of Doctrine by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereas they lay in wait to deceive: it is not for a man to be tossed to and fro with every wind of Doctrine; for a child to be bought out of a Pearl with a bauble, is no great matter: but for a man, what a shame is it? why, we should be men, not children, tossed to and fro with every wind of Doctrine: now beloved: you know the Scripture calls upon us in such Language as this, Be courageous, and quit your selves like men; be not children, that will dance after every pipe, tossed to and fro, and always unstable.
Secondly, It is not only a manly act to hold fast that which is good, and childish to let it go: but it is a Christian act, a proper Christian act, a right Christian act, it is that which doth distinguish a true Christian from a hypocrite and a counterfeit; you know it is a character of a Godly man, he is a praying man: there went up two men into the Temple to pray, the one was a hypocrite, the other a Publican; now, what is there then in prayer, that doth distinguish these two men? why faith Job, will the hypocrite pray always? no not he. I will warrant you, that is well, he held out in the profession of God and of his Worship and Service; the Saints are always said to pray: but as for the hypocrite, will be pray always? no not he; for here the true children of God, they will hold fast; but Hypocrites and Formalists, they will let go. Now mark here, the Apostle makes this distinction, Hebrews 10. ver. last; But we are not of them who draw back to perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of their souls; that is, of them that believe to the end: for the end of our Faith is the salvation of our Souls: now pray you mark by the way, what you draw back to; when you draw back, you draw back to perdition; they that go backward, go to Hell. How, saith he, we are not of them that draw back to perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of their souls: that is, of those that believe to the end; and this is the difference he makes between them that are the People of God, and them that are not, that to the end holds fast, the other lets go. Thus I have given you an account of the Arguments that are couched in these words, drawn from the Subject, the Object, and the Act, with its qualifications. I think I promised you a few helps, with which I shall conclude, take them in these three or four particulars.
First, would you hold fast? (I cannot but believe it to be all your desires) well then, if you would hold fast, let me beseech this of you, take heed of all, and every sort of men, that make Religion a Trade to get money, by which perhaps you will say, are there any such in the world? Oh, I would there were not. See that 1 Timothy 6:3-5. where the Apostle acquaints you with such men, saith he, if any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesom words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the Doctrine which is according to godliness, the wholesom Doctrine, the healing Word: what then? in the 4. verse, saith he, he is proud, knowing nothing, but doating about questions, and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the Truth; supposing that gain is Godliness, or as most read it, that godliness is a gain, a meer trade to get money by; from which withdraw thy self: If you be not baptized, they will tell you, you are not a Christian; and baptized you shall not be, unless you pay for it: they will tell you, cat flesh you must not at such and such times; but if you will pay for it, you may: they will tell you, you must not sin by no means; but if you will pay for it, you may, and have a pardon for it when your have done, such a one as they can give. Oh I beseech you, whenever any make use of Religion to get money by, take heed of them, faith the Apostle, from those that make godliness a Trade to get money by, withdraw thy self, and know, that godliness with contentment, is great gain. Doubtless, godliness is the best Trade in the world, if closely followed; but the worst, if wordily followed; but to take up a Profession of the Christian Religion, meerly for pomp and state, and to get gain; Oh rueful! Is Christian Religion made use of for such ends as this? Oh! take heed therefore as ever you would stand fast in the Faith, and hold fast the profession thereof, take heed of all, and every sort of men, that makes use of Religion to get money by.
Secondly, take heed of the error of the wicked, lest you fall from your own stedfastness: this advice you have from the Apostle Peter, 2 Peter 3:17. Ye therefore Beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware, lest you also being led away by the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness; the error of the wicked, is like to make one as wicked as they: pray, what was this error of the wicked? It was this; there were a generation of wicked men, that said, It was in vain to serve God, for, say they, Where is the promise of his coming? Only, Beloved, it was as much as to say, there was no reward for godliness, nor no wages for ungodliness. Oh! take heed of this error of the wicked▪ it is a wicked error, and none but wicked ones hold it, to wit, That it is in vain to serve God: therefore keep this still in your hearts, that, Verily in keeping his Commandments there is great reward; if there were no more but the very work, it is great honour to us, that we may be servants to such a God; but, Beloved, Be stedfast and unmoveable, knowing that your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. Malachi 3:13. there is the like instance: Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord, yet ye say, what have we spoken so much against thee? this God is always quarrelling with us, and laying things to our charge; what have we said? in the 14 verse, Ye said it is in vain to serve God, and what prosit is it that we have kept his Ordinances? we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts, and now we call the proud happy, yea, they that work wickedness are set up, yea, they that tempt God are even delivered: well now, what follows? They they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another: as if they had said, let not these things take anything off the edge of our affections, or quench any flame of our love: did God take any notice of this now, that he had any such friends in the world? yes, saith he, God hearkned, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his Name, and they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my Jewels, and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him: there is a time coming the day will declare, whether it be serving God or the Devil: well then beloved, as ever you would hold fast the profession of your Faith, take heed of the error of the wicked, never think it vain to serve God, though you may lose b• it; for, if ye lose for him, ye shall never lose by him.
Thirdly, Would you hold fast the Profession of your Faith? then lay up the word of Faith in a good and honest heart, Luke 8:15. It is said there of the good ground; they are they which have heard the Word, kept it, or hold it fast: where do they lay it up now? in a good and honest heart: so that you must pull out his heart, before that you can pull out the Word, and will any man suffer his heart to be torn from him? you never hold it fast till you lay it up in a good and honest heart; if it be only in the hands, as a Bible in your hands, or in the head, it will be gone; but if it be in your hearts, you will never let it go: therefore observe, saith he, Having heard it, they keep it, and hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience: they had a great deal of sufferings to bring with patience; for, if they were not under suffering, what need were there of patience?? Well, beloved, consider a little further, as to this, the Connection between the verse preceding the Text, and the Text, saith he; Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled with a pure conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith: the purity of the heart is the best preservative of the Faith. 1 Timothy 3:9. Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience; a good and honest heart will never part with the mysteries of faith,
Lastly, would you hold fast the profession of your Faith? then look much to, and often consider Jesus Christ, the Author and finisher of your Faith. David had got the faculty of walking with God, and how was it? saith he, I will keep thy loving kindness before mine eyes, that I may walk with thee. Oh! if we do but keep the loving kindness of God in Jesus Christ before our eyes, we shall certainly keep the faith. Saith the Apostle, having a high Priest over the House of God, let us draw near, and let us hold fast; a high Priest, that is Jesus Christ, our great high Priest, Hebrews 3:1. Wherefore, holy Brethren, he partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle, and high Priest of our Profession, Christ Jesus. Hebrews 4:14. Seeing then that ye have a great high Priest, that is passed into the Heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our Profession, Hebrews 12:2. Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the Cross, despised the Shame, and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God!. Oh! let us be thinking of, and looking to this Jesus. You will say, what shall we think of him? Oh! think of this condescension in the world, of that vouchsafement, which, as was never the like of his; how he humbled himself, and suffered being God for man: Think how he became poor that was rich, that we that were poor might become rich; think how he became a curse, think how he became sin for us, think what a good Confession he made before Pontius Pilate, even to death, and was obedient to the death: Think how he conquered death by dying, and how he rose again by his Almighty power, and ascended into Heaven, and ever lives to make intercession for those that come to the Father through him: Think how he lived here on earth in a sad condition, and joyed in it, so that it might be for our good, and shall we leave such a Christ as this? Oh! can you look upon Christ, and leave the Profession of your Faith? It cannot be: keep Christ before your eyes, make him your pattern, and you will not, you cannot do amiss. He that saith he abides in him, ought to walk as he walked: he walked in obedience all his days, and was obedient to the death: So must we, we must walk in all obedience all our days, though we dye for being obedient. You see now, how many Arguments there are for our holding fast the Profession of our Faith. There are many now that might be added, but the time is past; therefore I shall shut up all in the words of Jude, from the 20 ver. of this Epistle to the end, But you, Beloved, building up your selves on your most holy Faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep your selves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life, and of some have compassion, making a difference; and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and present you faultless before the presense of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God and Saviour, be Glory and Majesty, Dominion and Power, now and forever. Amen.