An Exhortation to the People of GOD
not to be discouraged in their Way,
by the Scoffs and Contempt of wicked Men.
HEBREWS iv. 9.
_There remaineth therefore a Rest to the People of GOD._
WHEN we consider the persecutions they are exposed to, who live
righteously and godly in this present world; it is amazing to consider,
that the people of this generation should be so fond of a name to live,
while they are in effect dead. The people of GOD are to expect little
else but troubles and trials while they are in this world; common
experience is a contradiction to my text, that there is a rest to the
people of GOD; but the author of the _Hebrews_, when speaking of this
rest, did not mean that they should have a rest here. No; he too well
knew that the people of GOD, all who would seek and serve the LORD
JESUS, must be despised, hated, scoffed, slandered, and evil intreated;
but the time was hastening when they should have a perfect rest: there
is a rest laid up for them, and this is an encouragement for you, my
brethren, to hold on, and hold out your way rejoicing; after death
there will be a rest for ever; at judgment, you shall be taken up
to dwell with the LORD JESUS CHRIST; and there, you shall be for
ever exempted from sin; you shall rest from all manner of sorrow,
and be no more troubled with the temptations of Satan. Now, you can
set about nothing for the glory of GOD, or for your own soul’s welfare,
but the devil is dissuading you from it, or distracting you in it,
or discouraging you after it. Here we are scoffed and derided; as
the world hated the LORD JESUS CHRIST, so will it hate you: but be
not discouraged, though we are here the scorn and off-scouring of all
things; and are as a gazing stock to men and angels. Though they put
us out of their synagogues, cast out our name as evil, and look on us
as persons unfit for their company; yet, in that rest which is prepared
for you, my brethren, we shall then be gazed at for our glory, and they
shut out of the assembly of the saints, and separated from us, whether
they will or no; unless the LORD JESUS CHRIST, by his free, rich, and
sovereign grace, brings them unto himself.
The letter-learned Scribes and Pharisees of this day, look on us as
madmen and enthusiasts; but though they make so much noise about the
word _enthusiast_, it means no more than this, one in GOD; and what
christian can say, he is not in GOD, and GOD in him? And if this is
to be an enthusiast, GOD grant I may be more and more so; if we being
in CHRIST, and CHRIST in us, makes us enthusiasts, I would to GOD we
were all more and more enthusiasts. They now think it strange, that
we run not with them into all excess of riot, and because we will not
go to the devil’s diversions with them, therefore they speak evil of
us. We cannot now go along the street, but every one is pointing out
his finger with scorn, and cries, Here comes another of his followers;
what! you are become one of his disciples too! But there is a rest
which will be a complete deliverance for you. Let none of these things
move you; for, though you are thus treated here, consider, you shall
in heaven have no discouraging company, nor any but what will be an
assistance to you; you will have no scoffer there, all will be ready
to join with heart and voice in your everlasting joy and praises.
You will not be counted enthusiasts, madmen, and rabble, in that rest
which remaineth for the people of GOD. Therefore, possess your souls
in patience; account it matter of joy when you fall into tribulation;
GOD, in his own time, will deliver us; let not their hindering us from
preaching in the church, be any discouragement; do not shrink, and draw
back, because of opposition; be not ashamed of your work or master; but
hold fast your integrity. You must expect to go through evil report,
and good report; fear not the violence of unreasonable men; let them
hate you, and cast you out for the LORD’s sake, behold he shall appear
to your joy, and they shall be ashamed: therefore hold on, and hold out
to the end. Be stedfast and patient, and bear the troubles of the world;
if you are the people of GOD, there is a rest provided for you, which
you shall certainly obtain.
I shall not speak unto you, Pharisees, this morning, nor to any, except
to you who have experienced the pangs of the new-birth, or are at
present under them, and who know what it is to love the LORD JESUS in
sincerity and truth: do not be discouraged, or think hard of the ways
of GOD, my dear brethren, because you are not loved by the men of this
world; if you were of the world it would love you; it would then be
pleased with your company; it would not thrust you from a tavern, or
an alehouse; it would not dislike you for singing the songs of the
drunkard, or for going to plays, balls, or other polite and fashionable
entertainments, as they are called; no, these the children of the world
like; but if you will sing hymns and psalms, and go to hear what GOD
hath to say unto your souls, and spend your time in reading, praying,
and frequenting religious assemblies, then it is that they dislike you,
and thrust you out of their company, as unworthy thereof; but let none
of these things move you, for the rest which JESUS CHRIST hath prepared
for you, is an ample recompence for all you may meet with here.
This rest is the fruit of the blood of the LORD JESUS CHRIST: O how
will it fill our souls with love, to think that through the streams of
this blood, we have overcome the violence of the world, and the snares
of the devil. My dear brethren, be not discouraged at the treatment you
meet with here, but let it be a means to stir you up to advance in the
love of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who hath prepared a rest for you. Can
you consider, what CHRIST has done and suffered for you, and have your
hearts stupified with vile and senseless pleasures? Can you hear of
a panting, bleeding, dying JESUS, and yet be dull and unaffected? Was
there any sorrow like unto his sorrow? and all this, he underwent to
save you, who were vile, and polluted, and by nature, since the fall,
a motly mixture of the beast and devil. JESUS CHRIST, by dying upon the
cross, intended to take away the devil and beast from your heart, and
to prepare it for himself to dwell in. Think of the love of this your
Jesus, and then, will a little reproach and scorn move you? sure it
will not. I hope better things of you, and things that accompany
salvation.
O think with what pleasing astonishment you will see the LORD JESUS
CHRIST, when he comes to take you to his rest: now his heart is open
to us; but our hearts are shut against him; then, then, his heart shall
be open, and ours shall be so too. O my brethren, how will your love
be increased? With what raptures will you see the LORD JESUS CHRIST?
Therefore, undergo a few reproaches here patiently, and revile not
again. Let them say what they please of me, the reproaches, scorns,
and contempt of this world, will no ways hurt me, but will recoil upon
their own heads; leave it to the LORD, who knows what is best for you
and me: do not question his love; he will be with you; only do you, who
have tasted the LORD to be gracious, follow hard after him.
And now, let me speak a word unto you, who have not yet experienced
the love of CHRIST to your souls, but are waiting for his appearance.
I shall be but very short, because I would not break in upon the duties
of the day.
I shall speak unto you a word of invitation; even, to wait still on the
LORD; do not forsake him, though he may not answer your petitions at
once or twice seeking unto him; hold on, do not leave seeking him, and
you shall have an answer of peace; remember the poor man who was lame,
and had lain at the pool of _Bethesda_ thirty-eight years for relief,
yet at last he found that it was worth waiting for, he obtained his
desire.
And if you are but zealous for the LORD, and seek unto JESUS, if your
zeal be according to godliness, and you pray unto him for his Spirit,
you shall certainly have an answer of peace; you shall find it is good
to seek unto the LORD, you will be adopted into his family, and by his
spirit be enabled to cry, “Abba, Father.” O then do not leave, but be
continually waiting at wisdom’s gate, and you shall find all her ways
to be ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace; then, you
shall find that it is worth waiting on the LORD JESUS; and when you
have got his Spirit within you, all the power of men or devils cannot
make you forsake the ways of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
If you do but once taste of his pardoning love, it will be so
delightful unto you, that you will cry for more and more thereof; you
will be as full as you can hold, and still not be satisfied; you will
desire more and more of this love of JESUS, you will hunger and thirst,
and hunger and thirst again, and never be satisfied till you come to
that rest which is prepared for the people of GOD, where all hungering
and thirsting will cease, and will be turned into songs and hallelujahs,
and that for ever and ever.
As many of you as design to partake of the emblems of the body and
blood of our dying LORD, examine well yourselves, lest by eating and
drinking unworthily, you eat and drink damnation unto yourselves:
remember the dying love of your dying LORD, and eat and drink in
commemoration thereof; do not let the world keep you from partaking
hereof; and when you have eaten and drank, do not go away and run into
the world; let the world see that you have been with JESUS; give them
no room to speak unseemly, they do that enough without occasion; but
how would they rejoice if they had just reason.
Look well then unto your paths, that you do not slip; remember that all
your faults are magnified, and that all your little slips are laid upon
me; therefore, look well unto your ways, your words, your actions, that
they may silence gainsayers; let them see that we have the presence of
GOD with us, and that there has been good done by field-preaching.
Let me exhort you once more to consider the love of the LORD JESUS
CHRIST. O do not forget his love. Consider, I beseech you, how great
it has been unto you, and do not slight this his grace, the riches, the
love, the kindness of your dear Redeemer, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who
hath prepared this eternal rest for you; he also laid down his life for
your sakes: what great love was here! that while you were enemies to
the LORD of glory, he died for you, to redeem you from sin, from hell
and wrath, that you might live and reign with him, world without end.
The Lamb that died, and was buried, is now risen and exalted, and
sits on the right-hand of GOD the Father; and when he shall come to
judge all the world, then, my brethren, it will be seen whether we
have deserved the usage the world has given us; then it will be known
who are the true followers of the LORD JESUS, and who are madmen and
fools; but, may it be determined in this world, that we and our present
enemies may enter into that rest which GOD hath prepared for those that
love him.
Which GOD of his infinite mercy grant!
My brethren, let not these few words of exhortation be forgotten,
but lay them up in your hearts, and remember they must be called over
another day. I should have enlarged, but the duties of the day obliged
me to forbear.
Now, to GOD the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be all power, &c.