35. Mr. Cooper's Farewell Sermon

35. Mr. Cooper's Farewell Sermon
"Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do; and the God of Peace shall be with you." - Php_4:9.
THE Amannensis, or Pen-man of this Epistle, was Paul the Apostle, who being Prisoner at Rome, takes occasion from the benevolence of the Philippians sent unto him by Epaphroditus for the supply of his wants there, to confirm them (by this Epistle) in the Faith, notwithstanding his bonds, to encourage them in godliness, and walking worthy of the Gospel, but especially in stedfastness, unity and lowliness of mind; to warn them against certain perverse Zealots of the Law, who mingled Works with Faith in point of Justification; and (in a word) to quicken them to the practice of all Christian duties.
My Text falls under the last of these heads, wherein our blessed Apostle being about to Epilogize, and drawing towards a conclusion, endeavours to Epitomize his whole Epistle, and to give them in a few words the sum of all his Apostolick Advice, which was, that they should live up to their knowledge, practising with all faithfulness the things they had both learned, and heard, and received from the Lord by him.
Those things (saith he) which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you.
In which words you may observe these two things:
1. A Precept, holding forth the duty and employment of a Christian: Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do.
2. A Promise, holding forth the priviledge and encouragement of a Christian; And the God of Peace shall be with you.
First, For the Precept; it holds forth the duty an employment of a Christian, and that is, to live up to his knowledge, to transcribe the Law of God into his life, and to practice with all diligence what ever he hath learned, and heard, and received from the Lord, whether by precept or example.
Secondly, For the Promise; it holds forth the priviledge and encouragement of a Christian, and that is, that doing what he knows and exercising himself in the practise of what he hath both heard, and learned, and received from the Lord, he is sure to have God's presense with him, not only in regard of his Essense, for so he is everywhere, and with every man present; neither can he be otherwise; but also in regard of his grace and savour.
Doct. Those that walk in obedience with God, he will always be graciously present with them.
The God of Peace will vouchsafe his gracious presense to all those who have heard, received and learned, whether by Precept or Example, the Truth as it is in Jesus, are careful to do accordingly.
Such as yield obedience to God's holy Will, endeavouring to practice what they have heard, and to live up to the Truths they have learned, shall never be forsaken, but God will always afford them his gracious presense.
If any man practice what he knows, (provided that he know the Truth as it is in Jesus) if any man walk in obedience with God, endeavouring to express what he hath heard, and learned, and received from him, by the holiness of his life and conversation; the Lord will be graciously present with that man, as a Pilot to guide him as a Rock to sustain him, and as a Fountain of living water, to minister all fulness to him.
In the prosecution of this Doctrine, having shewed you how the Lord will be present with them that walk in obedience with him; I shall give you the Reasons evincing it, and so come to the practical improvement of the whole, by way of Use and Application.
First, therefore by way of Explication; The Lord will be graciously present with those that walk in obedience with him, these eight wayes.
1. By way of gracious Acceptation: Never did any man yet study to approve himself to God, in a way of dutiful obedience, but the Lord also was present with him in a way of gracious acceptance. A wicked man, not studying obedience to God, finds no acceptance with him in ought that he doth; the sighs of a wicked man are unsavoury, his solemn Sacrifice is as dung, and his prayers are abominable; God will not come near him, for his breath is infectious. But for those that live up to their knowledge, God highly favours them, and takes all that they do in good part.
Not a good word falls from their lips, but is recorded, Malachi 3:16. Not a tear drops from their eyes, but 'tis taken up and bottled, Psalms 56:8. Their weak prayers sound like melody, their broken sighs smell like Incense, Genesis 8:21. and their very stammerings seem Rhetorical, Son_2:14.
When all the glistering shews of hypocrites, evaporate and come to nothing, yet they that study to walk in obedience with God, are crowned with acceptation.
We oftentimes come to God with broken pravers; but if we be such as make it our care to practice what we have heard, and learned, and received, God spell can out our meaning and will take our weak performances as a most grateful present, 2 Corinthians 8:12.
2. By way of Direction: The Pilot by his presense in the Ship, and by his Skill and Activity, turns the Rudder of the Ships, and guides the course thereof, steering a right course towards the desired Haven: So God as a spiritual Pilot, is present in the Ship of every obedient Soul, guiding it by his Counsel, and enabling, it by the direction and guidance of his own holy spirit, to steer a right course to the Haven of Eternal Rest. By nature we understand not the things of the Spirit of God, neither indeed can we, because they are spiritually discerned; but, saith Christ, if any man will do his will, he shall know of the Doctrine, whether it be of God, John 7:17. Knowledge is the Pilot, to guide us in our obedience; if Zeal be not according to knowledge, it's will-worship; and there is no better way to become knowing, than by doing and practising what we have already learned.
The disobedient and ungodly are in darkness until now; neither can they discern as they ought, what concerns their everlasting peace; but the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, endeavouring to do what they know; and he will teach them the way that they should choose, Psalm 25 12, 14.
Oh then, how great is this priviledge, that God will resolve our doubts, acquaint us what is his Will, and give his Spirit to lead us into all necessary Truths, when we make it our care to answer our knowledge with suitable practise! He that doth not what he knows, shall not shortly know what to do; but he whose life is correspondent to his light, God will never leave to sit in Egyptian darkness.
3. By way of preservation; God is always present with those to keep them from evil, who study obedience to him in that which is good. If God's people abstain from drunkenness, swearing, Idolatry, and the like abominable impieties, which inevitably drown the soul in perdition, let them not rob the Lord of his glory, in ascribing it to the goodness of their natures, but let them ingeniously acknowledge it to proceed from the goodness of God, that preserves them more than others, and many times prevents their falling into those fins which by nature they were prone to, as well as the rest.
Thus David was kept from murdering Nabal; Noah from partaking with the old world in their wickedness; Lot from following after the abominations of Sodom; Joseph from consenting to the lude inticements of his impudent Mistris; and those three Jewish Worthies, from falling down to worship before the golden Image which Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon had set up, Daniel 3:16; Daniel 3:18.
When therefore, Gods people consider. Judas bursting asunder, through black despair, Julian dying with revenge and rage against Christ; Achitophel dispatching himself for very madness, because his oracle was not received, one blaspheming, another sinfully, plying with a wicked world, and a third running into all excess of riot: Oh! let them then also consider the goodness of God, and the power of his Grace in preserving them from the like.
Every one of Gods people, did not the Lord preserve them by his Grace, and keep off temptation, would soon be a Gain, or Achitophel; Yea, a Devil incarnate. Oh then! think with yourselves, if the Grace of God did not keep off such a sin, such a lost, such a temptation, how had it swallowed us up, as the Whale did Jonah.
4. By way of Corroboration; Those that walk in obedience with God, doing what they know, the Lord is still present with them, assisting them by his Grace, and strengthening them in all their weaknesses. Whence it, that a Christian is able to do duty, to resist temptations and to scorn, as well the smiles as the frowns of a deceitful world; whether seeking by promises, to draw into sin, or by threatnings, to deter from duty, but through the Presense of God strengthning him Php_4:13.
Paul hath, as one observes, a kind of Omnipotency, and to him, with every good Christian, all things are possible because possible to the Grace of God, who is with them.
The strength of a Christian lies not in himself, but in God assisting him: the Bird may as well flie without wings, as he resist a temptation, perform duty acceptably, mortifie any lust, or do anything prevailing without the Presense of God strengthening.
As Sampson, while God kept him, and was present with him, no Philistine was too strong for him: So, while God is present with us, assisting us by his Grace, we cannot fall, and when he keeps us not, we cannot stand.
5. By way of Protection; Such as do what they have heard, and learned, and received, with them God is present, not only as a Sun for Direction, but also as a Shield for Protection, Not only to do them good, but also to defend them from evil, Psalms 84:11. Pharaoh King of Egypt followed Israel, but he and his mighty men were drowned, and Israel escaped, for the Lord was with Israel. Saul hunteth David as a Partridge upon the mountains, but Saul, perisheth, and David is made a King; For the Lord was with David. Haman hateth Mordecai, resolving to have him hanged high enough, because he would not stoop low enough: But Haman himself is hanged, and Mordecai is advanced, for God is with Mordecai.
And thus if we study to walk with God, he will give us protection, and be present with us, to deliver us out of all our troubles. For the Lord, whom we serve, is stronger than All, and if he be present with us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31.
Nemo nos loedit, nisi qui Deum vincit. He only who can overcome God, can bring evil upon those that walk in Obedience with him; neither is any man delivered from evil, but through Gods protecting him.
When therefore, we see one disgraced, another slain; One diseased, another cut off by the stroke of Death, one lose his Estate, another his Liberty, and we out selves delivered from the like Calamities, how can we choose but ascribe it to Gods goodness, protecting us therefrom?
6. By way of Communication; The wicked are estranged from God, but the Righteous have access into his Presense, and in all the methods thereof he lets out himself, communicating of his Grace and Goodness to them. Such open to him, and therefore He comes in to sup with them, that they may sup with him. Revelation 3:20 Such are often drawing nigh to him in Duty, he therefore draws nigh to them in a way of Mercy, and gracious Communication, James 4.
If they meditate, they meet with God, and what a blessed Contemplation is that? If they hear his Word, they meet with God, and what a joyful hour must that be? If they receive the Sacrament, there also they meet with God in Christ, and what a soul solacing Feast is that? If they how their souls in Prayer, there they meet with God; And oh! what an heaven upon earth is this?
Oh! Little do any of you (that are yet disobedient) know what secret Debates, what spiritual Incomes, what Heavenly Elapses, and soul ravishing contentments, Gods people find in Communion with him! They study obedience with him, and therefore he is graciously present with them, communicating himself to their souls in every Ordinance: So that those who are willing and obedient, they eat the fat of Ordinances; they have other joyes, other pleasures, other delights to be feeding upon, and solacing their souls withall, in the duties of Gods Worship, than what the world is aware of.
Such are satisfied with the fatness of Gods House, they sit down under his Shadow, with great delight, they find his Fruit sweet to their taste, and one days communion with the Lord, it is better to their souls, than a thousand elsewhere.
7. By way of Occultation: God is an abiding place for his people, their Refuge and Fortress in times of trouble; Those that keep close to God, to do what be loves, the Lord will keep close to them to hide them from what they fear. In the time of trouble, saith David, He shall hide me in his Pavillion: In the secret of his Tabernacle shall he hide me, Psalms 32:7.
God hath secret Chambers of Providence wherein to hide his people in time of danger and publick calamities.
Isaiah 26:20-21. Come my people, saith the Lord, enter thou into thy Chambers, and shut thy Doors about thee; Hide thy self as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be ever-past. When danger pursues Gods people, he teaches them to run to himself, as a most inviolable Sanctuary. The Name of the Lord, saith the wise man, is a strong Tower, the Righteous runneth to it, and is safe, Proverbs 18:10.
A Child of God never dwells so securely, as when God himself hides him under the Ark, in the most secret place of his own Sanctuary. For the nearer to God, the farther from danger.
8. And Lastly, By way of Supportation. Though God be not always so present with his people, as to hide them from suffering, yet he will always be present, to support them under their sufferings, how many and grievous soever. As, without Gods leave, no Affliction can overtake us, so when it doth overtake us, God will not leave us: But if we walk in obedience with him, the Lord will also be present with us, to support us under all our pressures, Isaiah 47:10. Fear not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee, with the right hand of my Righteousness. Here, you have God engaging his Almighty Power, to that if that be sufficient, he will be sure to bear you up under all your burdens.
Though God will not always deliver his people out of trouble, yet he will still be present with them, supporting them, that they may not despond, not sink under the burden,
Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters. I will be with thee, and through the Rivers, they shall not overthrow thee: When thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
If at any time an ungrateful World cast Gods people into the waters of great tribulation: yet the Lord will be present with them bearing them up (as it were) by the chin, that they may not sink, nor be utterly overwhelmed therein.
Secondly, Thus I have shewed you how God is present with those that live up to their knowledge: As an Altar of Perfume, causing them to find acceptance, both in their persons and performances with himself As the Sun which gives them light in darkness, as a wall of fire which defends them in the assaults of all their Enemies; as a fountain of living water; communicating streams to refresh them, when all their Vessels, like Hagars, prove empty bottles; as an Ack to hide them in from the deluge of all distresses; and as a living Rock, sustaining them under all their pressures or burdens, how many or great soever. Come we now therefore, to give you the Reasons, why God will vouchsafe to be graciously present with them, who walk in obedience with him, according to what they have heard, received, and learned, whether by precept or example.
1. Because those that are present with God in a way of obedience, the Lord is engaged by promise, to be graciously present with them, 2 Chronicles 15:2. Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah, and Benjamin, the Lord is with you, whilst you are with him. Those that are present with God in a way of Duty, he hath here promised to be present with them in a way of Grace and Mercy.
'Tis our Duty indeed, to keep close to God, and to walk in obedience with him, though after all he should reject us, and give us no reward: But, for but better encouragement, God sweetens his Commands with promises, tying our Work and our Wages, our Duty and Reward together.
So, that present with God in a way of obedience, according to the condition, he cannot but be graciously present with us, according to the mind and true intent of the promise: For the Lord is not a man that he should lye, nor the Son of man, that he should repent, Numb. 23:19.
2. Because, such as walk in obedience with God, do engage him to be present with them, by depending fiducially upon him. Trust, is a kind of engagement when there is no promise: but what is it to trust upon God, who hath made so many promises of being present with those that keep close to him.
Common ingenuity will teach us to stand by those that put confidence in us; And will not the goodness of God much more incline him to be graciously present with his own people, who place their whole trust and affiance to him?
3. Because such stand related to God, and are become his people. The Lord hath set apart the Godly for himself; and that propriety he hath in them, engageth Him to be graciously present with them, Psalms 4:3.
Though there were nothing to move him to make such his people, before he did; yet there is something that may engage him never to forsake, but to be graciously present with them, now he hath made them his people; and that is, his propriety in them, because they are his people.
Hath he chosen us, and will he again reprobate us? Hath he set us apart for himself, and will he cast us off? Hath he purchased us, and will he reject his own purchase? Hath he married us to himself, and will he not cohabit with us, but instead thereof, be divorced from us, notwithstanding he hath told us, he hates putting away? Malachi 2:16. Hath he, in a word, of his own good pleasure, made us his people, and will he repent of his choice, with drawing from us, instead of being graciously present with us? 1 Sam. 12:27.
And lastly, Because God is concerned in point of Honour to be graciously present with them; Such stand by God asserting his interest and Glory in the world; And is he not then concerned, in point of Honour to stand by them?
To practise what we have heard, and received, and learned of God, is to run the hazard of reproach, disgrace, and persecution in the world: Now all this being done upon Gods account, and in obedience to him, How can it stand with his Honour, to stand aloof, and not to be graciously present with us in the midst of so many dangers? Thirdly, Having thus given you the Proof, let us now come to the Improvement of the Doctrine by way of Use and Application.
First, by way of Information; we may hence take notice of these ensuing Particulars.
1. How sad and deplorable their condition is, who having heard, learned, and received the things of God, are not careful to do accordingly. You that have heard, you that have been taught how you ought to walk, and yet practise not what you have learned, most dreadful, and lamentable is your condition? For God is not graciously present with thee, but departed from thee. What though thou hast Riches with thee, and Honours with thee, and Friends with thee; If God be not with thee, but sets himself as an Enemy against thee; Can thy Riches thy Honours, and thy Friends profit thee in the day of his wrath? Can they keep off the stroke of his Indignation? Can they make thee happy, who through the want of Gods gracious presense, are compleatly miserable?
Oh! that all you who are still disobedient, living contrary to the many precious Truths and wholesome Instructions which you have heard, received and learned, had but your eyes open to behold to what certain, great, and unconceivable misery you are every moment for want of Gods gracious presense, obnoxious!
Who, alas, can stand by you, if God be not with you? Who is there that can give you comfort, if He frown upon you? Or, who can relieve your Souls, when assaulted by men, tempted by Devils, and grievously tormented by the estuations of your own Consciences, if God depart from you? the happiness of man consists in Communion with God, and all those are compleatly miserable, with whom the Lord is not present.
2. The great safety and blessed security of all those that endeavour to walk according to what they have heard, and learned, and received of the Lord. Not to do as the most do, not to run with the men of the world into the same excess of Riot, but to walk circumspectly, endeavouring to answer our knowledge with suitable practice, this doth usually enrage the world against us; However, if God be with us, what can all the world do against us? Romans 8:13.
Such walk with God in a way of Duty; Whatever therefore the world and ungodly men may attempt to the contrary, yet Gods presense with them therein, will make it a way of safety.
However, then, some timorated Spirits may think by dissembling conscience and giving way to sinful compliances to secure themselves; Yet we may hence see, that there is no such security as in walking with God in a way of Duty.
Communion with God in a way of Duty, is a sure Sanctuary of Refuge; As no stranger can enter into it, so Gods people have most while they dwell in it. Psalms 27:5.
By dissembling Conscience, and waving Duty, we run our selves upon a thousand dangers: But by diligence in the wayes of God, and being faithful in all the duties of his worship, we betake ourselves to the Name of the Lord, in which, as a strong Tower, we are sure to find safety Proverbs 18:10.
3. The desperate folly, and fool-hardiness of all such as set themselves against Gods people, opposing them in the practice of what they have heard, and learned, and received of the Lord. 'Tis usual with the World, then to trample upon the Righteous, when surrounded with Afflictions; they will grieve where God wounds, they will persecute where God smites: But wherever the condition of Gods people is, yet the Lord is still present with them; neither can the ungodly of the World oppose them in well-doing, but they enter a quarrel with God himself.
Why then do you pride your selves against those, like Moab, with whom God is present? And, why do you strive to abase those whom God will exalt? Jeremiah 48:26-27. Are you stronger than the mighty God of Jacob? And can you be present to hurt those, with whom God is present to protect and save?
Oh, how great is the folly of wicked men, whom nothing can hinder from prosecuting their bloody thoughts against the righteous, nor withhold from opposing them in the practice of what they have learned! Do they know of a certainty that God is with the righteous, that no weapon formed against them shall prosper, and that the Lord, by his presense, will secure them against all their Enemies? Why then should they still be kicking against the pricks.
4. What reason all those have to sit down satisfied with their portion, who make it their care to practice what they have heard, and learned, and received of the Lord. Though possibly they have neither Riches nor Honors, nor Friends in the World with them; yet they have God with them, as an inexhaustible treasure, to supply all their wants, as a Crown of glory upon their heads, and as an everlasting Friend, who will never fail them, Hebrews 13:5,
What then though a Christian want other things, is it not enough, that God, over all, blessed forever, is still graciously present with him, and become his portion? Shall he inflict himself for want of Star-light, who hath the Sun in its full strength shining upon him, or be disconsolate for the loss of some broken Cistern, who may go at his pleasure to the Fountain-head, where waters are sweetest?
Oh, how unsuitably were it for you that live up to your knowledge, endeavouring to practice what you have learned, to grow despondent and repining for want of creature-comforts, when God, your Creator, is alwayes present with you, to comfort and solace your souls in every condition!
Had you nothing but God's gracious presense, and an interest in him for your portion; yet this were as much as happiness comes to, & sufficient to make you everlastingly blessed. For happy is that People, whose God is the Lord. Psalms 144:15.
Secondly, by way of Exhortation; Let me now prevail with you all, those things which you have heard, and learned, and received, to do them; Oh! walk in obedience with God, would you ever enjoy his gracious presense.
Many precious truths have been preached among you; many heavenly Doctrines have been set before you, many wholesome lessons and faithful Admonitions have been given you; let me now therefore (being, for ought I know, as a Star, setting and rising no more in this Horizon, like a Lamp going out, and shining no more in this your house of Sacred meeting, and as a dying man, whose last breath is now expiring) perswade you for your own good, to remember what you have heard, to hold fast what you have received, and to practice what you have learned.
Oh! let this be the main of your care, that as the Truth, as it is in Jesus, hath been delivered to you; so you may be delivered up to it, expressing the soundness of your knowledge, by the holiness of your lives and conversations.
Oh! this, my Brethren, is the one thing necessary; you may hear much, and yet be strangers to God; you may learn much, and yet never come nigh God; you may receive many wholesome instructions at his hands, and yet at last be punished with everlasting destruction from his presense; but now, if you practice what you hear, if you live up to what you have learned, and transfer be into your lives those wholesome instructions you receive from God he will never forsake you, but will alwayes be graciously present with you. But that I may not leave you half persuaded, give me leave to acquaint you with the excellency of God's gracious Presense, in these following particulars.
1. Consider, such is the presense of God with those that walk in obedience with him, that it will make them in all things to thrive and prosper. The Ark received into Obed-Edom's house caused all that he had to prosper: So the Lord received by obedience into the heart, and graciously present there, makes the whole man prosperous. He makes him prosper in the inward man, and he also makes him prosper in the outward man. Where God is graciously present, there can nothing be wanting, neither for soul, nor for body; but the man is successful, and prospers in all his undertakings, Psalms 1.
Without God's gracious presense we can profit by nothing; without this, health is not profitable, nor riches profitable, nor Ordinances profitable; the choicest means of Grace, without God's presence, are but as breasts without milk, as bottles without water; nay, they are not only a dead letter, but the savour of death; without Gods presense they will damn us; many go loaded to Hell with Ordinances. But, &c.
2. Consider, such is the presense of God with those that walk in obedience with him, that it transforms them into his own likeness, making them holy as he is holy. As the Sun will change the colour of those that are much in it; so a man cannot be near to God, but this will make him in purity and holiness like God.
And do you not desire to have such a beauty put upon you, and thus to be adorned with the Robes of Righteousness? Why, do but strive to walk in obedience with God, and he also will be graciously present with you, making you of Bryars and Thorns, Lillies and Roses, of Lyons, Lambs; of deformed, he will make you comely; and of filthy, he will make you clean, adorning your souls with the Jewels of Holiness, Colossians 1:13.
Without the presense of an holy God, you can never be holy; and without holiness you can never see the Lord with comfort, Hebrews 12:14. 'Tis only Grace that leads to glory. For, no holiness here, no happiness hereafter.
3. Consider, such is the presense of God with those that walk in obedience with him, that it can quiet their souls, turning every storm that arises, into a blessed calm.
When the heart is full of doubts and distresses, accused by the Law, pursued by the Adversary, and condemned by itself; then doth God by his gracious presense still the raging of the sea, give quiet to conscience, and lay the storm.
Nothing but the breast will quiet the child; so nothing but the breasts of God's gracious presense can quiet a distressed soul, Romans 5:1.
Would you therefore be at peace, and have quiet in your own consciences? would you have a sweet calm, and a sabbath of rest from all your spiritual agonies? Walk then in obedience with God, endeavouring to practise what you know, that he by his presense may work your desire.
4. Consider, such is the presense of God with all that obey him according to what they have heard, and learned, and received, that nothing can intercept it, nor withhold it from them.
If they go up to Heaven in prosperity, God is there, making all their enjoyments conduce to their everlasting advantage; if they be forced to make their bed in hell and lie down in sorrow, God also is there, turning their sorrow into joy; if they be glad to take the wings of the morning and to fly for their lives into the uttermost parts of the earth, God is also there, bringing them back at length out of Egypt, the Land of their Captivity, into Canaan.
Oh then, if anything can make you obedient; let the hope of God's gracious presense prevail with you to be so; your Honors, your Riches, your Friends, and all your creature comforts may be easily withheld; these are but as the shining of the Sun, which every discontented cloud may intercept: But if you walk in obedience with God, there is nothing can intercept his presense; nor hinder you from having communion with him. Are you banished from your own habitations, and forced to sojourn as strangers in a strange Land? There will the Lord be with you, as with Jacob at Padan-Aram, Genesis 28:15.
Are you shut up in close prison, and lie under restraint, that your Friends may not visit you? There will God also be present with you, as with Paul and Silas, compassing you about with songs of deliverance, Acts 16:25.
Are you (in a word) as men appointed unto death, cast into an hot fiery Furnace? There likewise will the Lord be present with you, as with Shadrach, Meshech, and Ahednego, not suffering the flames to kindle upon you, Daniel 3:27.
5. Consider, such is the presense of God with those that obey him according to what they have heard, and learned, and received, that it makes them rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory, 1. Pet. 1:8.
Many traduce Religion as a thing that makes men melancholick; but his estate is of all mens most joyful, who walking in obedience with God, doth enjoy his presense; for where can the soul find those comforts which do fill it with gladness, and crown it with delight, but in God? His presense is a Christians musick and Festival, the Nectar and Ambrosia whereon he delights to feed.
You may sooner taste honey, than tell how sweet it is; so you may taste what joy and gladness God's presense puts into the soul, but can never express it. Would you then have your souls overflowing with gladness? Would you have them rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory? Then walk in obedience with God, and his presense will do it.
6. Consider, such is the presense of God with all that obey him according to what they have heard, and learned, and received, that it sweetens every Cross, and makes them not only rejoice, but to rejoice in tribulation, Romans 5:3. Amaritudines mundi dulces reddit. The Wine of God's presense can sweeten the bitter Waters of Marah. Let sickness come, let reproach come, let persecution come, yea, let death itself come, yet the sense of God's gracious presense takes away the sting out of all these.
Such is the power of God's gracious presense, that it takes away the bitterness of afflictions from all that walk in obedience with him, gives them honey out of the belly of Lyons meat out of the Eater, and sweet out of sour.
If then you desire to see light in darkness, to have your Prison turned into a Paradise, and the flames of Martyrdom into a bed of Spices; See then that you walk in obedience with God according to what you have heard, and learned, and received.
Prosperity without God's presense is full of trouble; but trouble with the presense of God is full of comfort.
7. Consider, Such is the presense of God with those that obey him according to what they have heard, and learned, and received, that it doth not only rejoice their souls, but gives them full satisfaction.
The Sun satisfieth the eye with light, the Fountain satisfieth the thirsty with water; so God satisfieth (by his gracious presense) all that walk in obedience with him.
Outward comforts do sooner cloy than chear; and sooner weary than fill; they can no more satisfie the heart, than a Triangle can fill a Circle: But when once God comes and vouchsafes his gracious presense, Now the soul is at rest, now it's come to its centre, and with Jacob it can say, I have enough. For with whom God is graciously present, to all them he is an all-sufficient portion.
8. Consider, the presense of God with all those that obey him in what they have heard, and learned, and received, is such as shall endure forever. Your Riches, your Comforts, your Friends may be with you to day, and be gone tomorrow; but with whom God is once graciously present, to them he continues the presense of his grace, his love and his favour forever.
God may (indeed) withdraw the light of his countenance for a time; but totally, and forever, he will never desert those that walk in obedience with him.
All things without God are full of vanity and change; only the Lord will never utterly absent himself from us, if once he be graciously present with us: He is a faithful Friend, loving at all times; his favour is a Sun that knows no setting: and his presense a Well of comfort, springing up to eternal Life, John 4:14; John 13:1.
So that if you regard a Treasure that shall never be taken from you, that favour which shall never end in frowns, make sure of God's gracious presense, by walking in obedience with him, according to what you have heard, and learned, and received from him.
9. Consider, such is the presense of God with those that walk in obedience with him, that it's every way suitable and correspondent to their souls necessities.
Whatever the soul can desire, whatever it stands in need of, may be found in God's gracious presense; this is beauty to adorn; this is gold to enrich; this is balm to heal; this is bread to strengthen; this is wine to comfort and make glad the soul in the time of heaviness.
Are we in danger? this is a shield: Are we disconsolate? this is a Sun: If in a word) we be pursued by any calamity, this is like the munition of Rocks, an hiding-place against the storm, and a Tower wherein we may find safety.
If then God's gracious presense be thus proper to our wants, and so suitable to all our necessities, how ought we to labour for it, by walking in obedience with him, according to what we have heard, and learned and received from him.
10. And lastly, such is the presense of God with those that obey him, according to what they have heard, and learned, and received; that it fit them for everlasting Communion with him in Glory.
God's people they go from Communion to Communion; from Communion with God in a state of grace, to Communion with God in a state of glory. For with whomsoever God is graciously present here, they shall hereafter enjoy his blissful, soul-ravishing, and beatifical presense to all Eternity.
If then you desire to be with the Lord forever, where you shall see his glory, enjoy his presense, and be satisfied with pleasures at his tight hand for evermore; then see that you walk in obedience before him. For those only shall enjoy God's presense in a state of glory, with whom he is now present in a state of grace. There is no commencing Saints, either Militant on Earth, or Triumphant in Heaven per Saltum: If we draw not nigh to God in a way of obedience here, we must hereafter be punished with everlasting destruction from his presense, and from the glory of his Power.
Thus by Divine assistance I have shewed you the excellency of Gods presense, with all such as obey him according to what they have heard, and learned, and received from him: Now then, do not deprive your selves of so glorious a privilege, but see that henceforth you walk in obedience with God, giving diligence to practise those things you have learned.
But that you may not at length be disappointed, neither finding God graciously present with you here, nor enjoying his presense in glory hereafter; be sure that in doing what you have heard, learned and received, you observe these following directions.
1. Be sure that of all which you have heard, and learned and received, tither of me or of any other, you practice that only which you find to be of God, and according to the unerring Rule of his Word.
We have one Heavenly King, and must therefore observe one Law; we have one God, and must Worship by one Rule; We have one Shepheard, and must be commanded by one Voice: We have (in a word) one Head, and must follow upon that account one direction.
All that builded Noah's Ark, builded by one pattern; so all that intend to build themselves an Heavenly and Spiritual House to GOD, must build by one Rule. All Israel travelled to the Land of Canaan by the light of one fiery Pillar: So all that will travel to the Heavenly Canaan of God's gracious presense, must make his Word a light to their feet, and a lanthorn to their paths. All the passengers in a Ship sail by one Compass; so all that will steer a right course to the Haven of Eternal Rest, must keep close to the unerring Rule of Gods Word, as their only Compass, Php_3:16.
For it's Gods Prerogative to prescribe, and mans duty to conform; our service is no service, nor will God be present with us in anything that we do, farther then we have heard, and learned, and received it from him, Matthew 15:9.
Let then every man amongst you that desires Gods presense, either in grace here, or in glory hereafter, be like those noble Bereans, examining the ground of their Faith, and obedience. Oh, do not offer to God a sacrifice without eyes; your Religion must be Scripture-Religion, and all your obedience commanded therein, would you ever be accepted of God in what you do.
2. Be sure that whatever you have heard, received and learned, you do it cordially without dissembling.
The obedience of the life without, when integrity of heart, and the life of grace is wanting within, finds no acceptance with God, nor will he ever be graciously present with those who only draw nigh unto him by an external conformity.
Obedience without the heart, and to practise what we have heard, and learned, and received, but not in sincerity, will bring neither glory to God, nor comfort to us.
Do not then dissemble any longer with the God of Heaven: Oh be not industrious to plot your own death, and through your hypocrisie go to Hell in the way of duty; but whatever you have heard, whatever you have learned, whatever you have received, be sure that you do it heartily as unto God.
3. Be sure that whatever you have heard, and learned, and received, you do it universally, without any reservation.
True obedience is universal; doing many things, and neglecting others, will not save; one leak in the ship of thy Soul, is enough to sink it in eternal perdition, Psalms 119.
The hypocrite will walk in some of Gods Statutes; but with David you must have respect to all his Commandments, if you ever desire the Lord to be present with you as he was with David.
Every duty (therefore) commanded, be sure that you do it; and every sin forbidden, be sure that you shun it as Hell itself.
Many wholesome Doctrines have been taught, and many soul-saving Truths have been made known among you; well, of all that you ever heard, received and learned, let nothing fall to the ground, but bring all into practice, would you ever enjoy Gods gracious presense.
4. And lastly, of all that you have heard, and learned, and received from God, be sure that you do it constantly, without going over. The Lord is with you (saith the Prophet, speaking to Asa and all Juda) while ye are with him; if ye seek him, he will be found of you, but if you forsake him, he will also forsake you, 2 Chronicles 15:2.
If we desire that God should always be present with us in a way of Mercy, we must still strive to be present with him in a way of duty; and if we would not have God cast us off, and forsake us in the end, we must be careful not to forsake him, but to hold on with God in a way of obedience to the end.
He that shall endure to the end (saith Christ) the same shall be saved, Matthew 24:13. As God condemns no man before he sins, so neither will he crown any man before he overcomes. We must Conquer, before we can Triumph; win the garland before we can wear it, and obtain the Crown of Eternal Communion with God in glory, by patient continuance in well-doing, Romans 2:8.
Let me then, once for all (as a lover of your souls) beseech you whatever you have heard, whatever you have learned, whatever you have received from the Lord, that you practise it, and that to the end. Oh remember what you have heard, give diligence to practise what you have learned, and whatever you have received from the Lord, whether concerning principles of Faith, or precepts of Life, be sure that you hold it fast, that no man take your Crown, Revelation 3:3.
Knowledge without an answerable practice, will not avail you; and the practice of what you know, without perseverance therein to the end, will but aggravate your condemnation, and serve to sink you the deeper in the pit of eternal perdition, 2 Peter 2:21.
Take heed therefore that you be not carried away with the error of the wicked; let no thought arise within you of departing from the living God, but press on towards the Mark, hold fast your Integrity, persevere in obedience to God, according to what you have heard, and learned, and received from the Lord, and see that you break through all discouragements for communion with him.
In God you have a living Spring when all your bottles are empty; in him you have a sure Sanctuary, when all your Refuges and hiding-places in the World are laid level with the ground; in him you have a glorious Sun, when all the blazing stars of your creature comforts are extinguish'd, and disappear: In him (to be short) you shall find everlasting friendship, when all your friends according to the flesh, are put to perpetual silence in the grave.
Oh then, be careful that you cleave to this God, that you repose your selves wholly upon him, and that you constantly (without giving over) walk in obedience with him, according to what you have heard, and learned, and received; that so enjoying God's gracious presense here in a state of grace, you may hereafter enjoy the presential, soul-satisfying, and open vision of himself in a state of glory.