seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let everyone that
SERMON VI.
2 TIMOTHY, Chap. ii. verse 19.
19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
We noticed this morning what was said by St. Paul concerning those that had fallen away; in order to stir up the minds of the faithful, to the end they should not be troubled thereat. If we see those fall who seemed to uphold the church, as it were, we must not be shaken; for if men be frail, if they go astray out of the right way, if they be froward, it is no new thing, for such is their nature; therefore we ought not to marvel at it, if they fall into wickedness rather than godliness. But in the meantime, our salvation is settled upon the grace of our God; yea, insomuch that it pleased him to choose us before the world began, and to make us of the number of his chosen children.
But we are grieved to see those who have shown some good tokens that they were the children of God, turn back; for we ought to possess a zeal to have the church of God enlarged and increased, rather than diminished. We ought also to have a care of our brethren, and to be sorry to see them perish; for it is no small matter to have the souls perish, who were bought by the blood of Christ. Yet notwithstanding, we must always comfort ourselves with this doctrine, that God will maintain his church, although the number be but small; though it be not so great as we could wish it, yet we must content ourselves, and believe he will safely keep all those he hath chosen.
Those that fall away, and those backsliders that renounce Jesus Christ, although they were joined to us, we must conclude that they were not of this number; seeing they have departed from us. For it is easier for the world to be turned about a thousand times, than that one of God's chosen children, whom he holdeth fast to himself, should perish: it cannot be! For God is the protector of our salvation, as he himself hath declared: yea, and this office is given to our Lord Jesus Christ, to maintain and keep all that God the Father hath chosen. This is what St. Paul meaneth by these words, The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his.
St. Paul setteth down two articles, which we shall here notice. In the first place, when we see such turning, that those who seemed to be the forwardest in religion, give back, and fall away from us, and so estrange themselves from the kingdom of God that they become unbelievers, we must not think that the church falleth. It is true, the number of those whom we thought to be faithful, is lessened by this means. But howsoever the world go, there is a sure foundation; that is to say, God will always keep his church, and there shall always be some to call upon him, and worship him; therefore let this be sufficient for us. For he hath declared, Psalm lxxii. that so long as the sun and moon endure, he will have some people to fear him, throughout all generations.
If we see the devil scatter the flock of our Lord Jesus Christ, if we see those that have given some proof of a good hope fall away, yet notwithstanding, we may be assured that the building remaineth; even though it be hid from our view; for it hath remained when there was scarcely a Christian to be found in all the world. In what case were we forty years ago, before God gave us the light of his gospel? Would it not have been thought that all Christianity had been banished out of the world? But yet there was a foundation hid; that is, God reserved after a wonderful manner, such as he
would, though it were but a small number. Therefore, the foundation of God standeth sure.
When we see such troubles, that we think all will come to nought, let us behold by faith this foundation, which cannot be seen by the eye of man. For if we have not faith to discern the church of God, we shall think it utterly abolished. We see what came to pass in the days of the prophet Elijah: he saith, 1 Kings xix. 14. "The children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away." But the Lord reproveth him, by telling him that he hath yet seven thousand in Israel, who have not bowed the knee to Baal. And so it will be at all times and seasons; we may think the church of God is utterly defaced and abolished, but he will keep the foundation sure.
Secondly, St. Paul informs us, that although the foundation of God standeth sure, yet it is as a letter closed up and sealed. And why so? Because the Lord knoweth them that are his. If God humble us, and blind us as it were, we must be content therewith; for he hath made his election sure, though it be hid from us. Although he will not make it known at first, yet notwithstanding, it remaineth in his secret counsel. Therefore if God know them that are his, let us not think it strange if we be often deceived when men revolt. Why so? For we know them not; but God will not be deceived; he will bring to an end whatsoever he hath determined in the counsel of his own will.
St. Paul exhorteth us not to be negligent, when we see those that were like angels among us fall from the right way: but to walk in fear and trembling; and beware that we do not abuse the name of God, by cloaking ourselves falsely with the name of Christianity, as do the hypocrites; who take the name of God in their mouth, and at the same time mock him, and falsify his holy precepts. Let us practise that which is here contained; to wit, that if we
call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, if we make profession to be his, we must depart from iniquity. For we are not of the church of God, unless we separate ourselves from the world, and from the subtleties thereof.
Therefore, let us consider whereunto we are called; what our condition is: and then let us be faithful, and walk uprightly: for God can easily cut us off from his church, seeing he hath shown us such examples, if we have not made our profit by them.
But now, that we may apply this text better to our instruction, let us treat upon the point we have already mentioned; namely, the everlasting counsel of God, whereupon our election is grounded; upon which our salvation is surely settled. It is true, (as the scripture saith,) that we are saved by faith; for we know not that God is our Father, and that we are made partakers with him, only by faith, and by laying hold of the promises contained in the gospel; wherein God showeth that he accepteth us, and is pleased with us, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We must accept of this benefit, or we cannot know him. So then, we are in possession of our salvation by faith. This is true; but who is it that giveth us faith, save God alone? And why doth he give it to us? Because it pleased him to choose us before we were made; yea, before the world itself was made; as St. Paul showeth, especially in the first chapter to the Ephesians. He setteth that before us, which is most familiar to us; even that which we know; to wit, that God hath made us partakers of his heavenly blessings through Jesus Christ: that after he hath forgiven us our sins, he showeth us that we are acceptable to him, and that he hath taken us to be his children. Thus we have all that the gospel openeth to us.
But St. Paul lifteth us up higher; saying, all that is given us, is because God had chosen us before the world began; because he loved us in our Lord Jesus Christ before we could do either good or evil. This is what we shall
now notice: namely; although God draweth us to him by the gospel, and we by faith receive the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the cause of our salvation; yet notwithstanding, there was a secret love of God that went before: yea, though it were hid from us, though God made no great haste in drawing us to him, yet it is certain that we were chosen. This is what St. Paul aimeth at in the sentence before us; to wit, The foundation of God standeth sure.
He setteth this foundation of God, against whatsoever virtue may be found in man: he setteth this sureness of which he speaketh, against this frail state of ours. St. Paul, knowing that we are inconstant, and that we straightway fall and pass away like water, saith, we must take our sureness in God; for we perceive it is not in ourselves, neither in our nature. Therefore, if we find no certainty in things on earth, we must know that our salvation resteth upon God; and that he holdeth it in such a manner, that it can never vanish away. This is a very happy consideration.
If I see a man become wicked, what can I say for myself? I am so likewise; but I must come to this conclusion; though I am weak, God is steadfast and sure. Therefore, I must commit myself wholly into his hands. And for this cause our Lord Jesus informs us, John x. that, those whom the Father hath given him, shall never perish.
And why so? Because God the Father is stronger and more mighty than all those that would oppose him, or endeavour to prevent him from executing his will.
By these words he warneth us, that if we put our trust in ourselves, we shall be utterly dismayed; and indeed, we should be liable to perish every minute, if we were not upheld and maintained by a higher power than our own. But, as the mighty power of God cannot be overcome, our salvation resteth sure; for God keepeth it. Yea, (and as I said before,) Jesus Christ hath taken charge of our souls, and will not suffer us to be taken out of his hands.
Although the devil may do what he can, though he use ever so many means, although it may seem a hundred thousand times as though we should be taken by violence out of the hands of our Lord Jesus Christ, yet notwithstanding, we shall remain there forever. And why so? Because our salvation is settled upon the election of God, and his unchangeable counsel.
Let us beware and take heed, when we see others stumble and fall from the gospel. Let us observe what St. John saith in chapter ii.; those that went from us, were not of us; otherwise they could never have been separated from us. We must know that God suffered hypocrites to remain among us for a season, although he knew they were reprobates. Our Lord Jesus plainly showeth that the faithful ought not to be troubled through the unthankfulness of men, when they rebel against the gospel; for they are grieved at the true doctrine, and are at defiance with God. Jesus Christ saith, every tree which God the Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
He compareth those who seem to be of the number of the faithful, to trees that are planted in a field or garden. Those that are open enemies to God, bear no resemblance to trees: but the hypocrites, who make a fair show, and would be taken for God's children, seem to be like trees planted in a field or garden; but they take no root because God did not plant them: that is to say, he did not choose them. In order to try us, he suffereth them to pretend the name of God falsely; yet notwithstanding, he never adopted them for his children, neither are they chosen to the inheritance of life; therefore they must be plucked up.
If anyone becomes dissatisfied with the gospel, men will say, behold, such a man hath fallen away. If there fall out any stumbling-block, (I speak not of those who show themselves open enemies to God, and manifestly contemn his word,) if there be any who are proud and lofty, who cannot abide sound doctrine, who reject it, and are grieved with it, they become a stumblingblock. Therefore the disciple asked our Lord Jesus Christ, why the
Scribes and Pharisees were not edified: let them alone, saith he, they are blind. But beware ye, go not to destruction with them.
We must know that all are not elected and chosen of God the Father. Some will say, there is nothing but holiness in them; but this is a mistake; for it is evident that they never had any fear of God before their eyes; but are hypocrites. Therefore we must not be dismayed, if we see rebellion in men; for all are not planted by the hand of God. Thus we see how we must make our profit of this doctrine. We must know, first of all, that faith is given us from above: God having lightened us by his holy spirit, we receive the gospel; yet not by our own wit and virtue.
God giveth us this grace, because he had chosen us for his children, and adopted us before the beginning of the world: which is a singular and inestimable blessing, bestowed upon us, while others are left to perish. He was at liberty to choose whom he would: therefore it behooveth us to know that we are so much the more bound to him, because he hath delivered us out of the general destruction of mankind. Let us consider that it is very profitable for us to understand this free election of God, which maketh a difference between his children and the castaways.
When we see troubles and offences in the church, when we see those who had begun well turn aside frail; yet notwithstanding, we shall find sufficient sureness in our God; because he hath been graciously pleased to adopt us for his children; therefore he will keep us through Jesus Christ according to his promise. Let us resort to the election of God, whenever we become dismayed or cast down: if we see men fall away, if the whole church should seem to come to nought, we must remember that God hath his foundation; that is, the church is not grounded upon the will of men, for they did not make themselves, neither can they reform themselves: but this proceedeth from the pure goodness and mercy of God.
Although the upper part of the building be as it were overthrown, though we see no pillars, though the form and shape of it appear no more, yet God will keep the foundation sure, which never can be shaken. Thus the world may see whether the doctrine of God's election which we preach, be needless or not. We must not presume to enter into the secret counsel of God, to thoroughly comprehend his wonderful secrets; but if this be hid from us, to know that God chose us before the world was made, is it not to deprive us of a comfort which is not only profitable for us, but even necessary? The devil can find no better means to destroy our faith, than to hide this article from our view.
What case should we be in, and especially now-a-days, when there are so many rebels and hypocrites in the world? yea, and such, as men are looking for wonders at their hands. Might we not fear the same would befall us? How can we rest ourselves with constancy upon God, and commit ourselves to him with settled hearts, not doubting but that he will take care of us to the end, unless we flee to this election as our only refuge? If this is not true, it seemeth that God hath broken his promise, which was given us respecting his gospel; and that Jesus Christ is banished out of the world.
This is the principal cause, and the best means that satan can devise, to destroy our love for the gospel. Therefore, let us hold fast these weapons, in despite of satan and all his imps: for these must be our defence. Let us be confirmed in the election of our God, and make it available; and see that it be not taken from us; if we love the salvation of our own souls, let us attend well to these things. We must consider those who would hide such a doctrine from us our mortal enemies: the devil stirreth them up to deprive us of a comfort, which if we do not enjoy, we cannot be assured of our salvation. However, we must remember this exhortation of the apostle Paul; let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
As the election of God is to give us a sure constancy, to make us happy in the midst of trouble, which otherwise might disquiet us, we must not cease to call upon him, to run to him, and to walk diligently in the way wherein he hath called us. There is a great difference between the assurance of the faithful, who are thoroughly persuaded of the surety of their salvation, and those who are negligent and careless, and think no harm can overtake them: these are as blocks; they know not the danger that surroundeth them, which should induce them to flee to God for protection: but on the contrary, after they have been once instructed, they never pay any more attention to doctrine.
But the faithful cease not to fear, although they are grounded upon the goodness of God, and are persuaded that no storm nor tempest whatsoever can carry them away: yet notwithstanding, they continue to watch against the assaults of satan. They know their frailty, which causes them to put their trust in God, and pray to him, that he would not forsake them in time of need, but that he would put forth his hand and preserve them: they consider whereunto they are called; they repent, and call upon God to increase the graces of his holy spirit in them, and take from them their afflictions.
St. Paul saith, 1 Cor. x. 12. "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." Not that St. Paul meant to put us in doubt, or cause us to waver; as though we knew not what to do, nor whether God would guide us to the end or not; for we must be thoroughly resolved upon this point, that the work which God hath begun, will be brought to perfection; as it is said in Phil. i. and likewise in many other places. We must call upon God, and stir up ourselves to daily prayer, that we may not abuse his grace. We must dedicate ourselves to him, we must walk in fear and carefulness, and beware that we be not entrapped in the condemnation of the wicked.
If they be poor blind creatures, we need not marvel to think they go astray: but seeing God hath enlightened us, doth it not behoove us to walk uprightly seeing he hath adopted us for his children, are we not under an obligation to serve and honour him as our Father?
This is what St. Paul exhorteth us to do, when he saith, let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. To call upon the name of Christ, is to avouch ourselves to be his followers. When we speak of calling upon God, it meaneth, to pray to him, and implore his blessings: we likewise call upon the name of God, when we make profession to be of his people, and his church.
Therefore, we cannot take the name of Christian upon us, we cannot make protestation that we are of the company of the children of God, that we are of his church and people, to be short, we can have nothing to do with Christ, unless we be delivered from all our filthiness. If a man should call himself the servant of a prince, and in the meantime be a thief, ought he not to be doubly punished, because he abused the name that in no wise belonged to him? Behold the Son of God, who is the fountain of all holiness and righteousness! shall we endeavour to hide ourselves, and cloak all our filthiness, be it ever so shameful, under his name? Is not this such horrible sacrilege, that it deserveth the most severe punishment? It is true, that let us take whatsoever pains we may to serve God purely, we cease not to be wretched sinners, full of blemishes; and to have many wicked imperfections in us.
But if we desire to do well, if we hate sin, though we go limpingly, seeing our design is good, and we strive to go forward in the fear of God, and in obedience to his will, this is a right affection; and Jesus Christ maketh the same account of us, as though we were just; he freeth us from all our faults, and charges them not to our account. Therefore, the faithful, though they be not entirely perfect, though they have many sins, are taken for
God's children; and Jesus Christ thinketh it no dishonour that they should be called by his name: for he causeth the goodness which is in them, through his grace, to be acceptable to God.
But if we abuse the name of Jesus Christ, and make a cloak of it for our sins, do we not deserve to have him rise up against us seeing we have dishonoured his majesty, and falsified his name? Therefore, let us mark well what this word, Christianity, meaneth: its meaning, is to be members of the Son of God! Christ having been pleased to accept us, we must cleave to him in all righteousness; for he hath received all fulness, that he might make us partakers of his grace. The spirit of God must reign in us, if we would be taken for his children, and for members of the Lord Jesus Christ.
All those that give themselves to wickedness, and submit not themselves to the will of God, to mortify their wicked lusts, are false varlets and abusers, in pretending to claim the name of Christians. When we see men separate themselves from the church of God, when we see those who have begun well, go not on, we must remember that although there be weakness in men, the foundation of God ceaseth not to remain sure. And how so? Because God knoweth whom he hath chosen, and will certainly maintain them. Therefore, let us not doubt but what we are of that number, seeing our Lord hath called us to him; for this is a witness that he had chosen us before we were born: then let us content ourselves with this holy calling.
Let us not be troubled with whatever stumbling blocks may fall in our way; but in the meantime, let us hope that we shall be preserved by the power of God, and that he will maintain his church, and not suffer his people to perish; although the world may strive hard to lessen their number. Let us study to walk in fear, not abusing the will of our God; but know, seeing he hath separated us from the rest of the world, that we must live as children in his house: for he hath given us the outward mark of baptism, that we may have the seal of the Holy Ghost. This is the earnest (as St. Paul calleth it,
Eph. i. 14.) of our election: it is the pledge which we have of our being called to the heavenly inheritance.
Therefore, let us pray to God, that he would sign and seal his free election in our hearts by his holy spirit; that he would shelter us under the shadow of his wings: and if the poor castaways go astray, and are carried away by the devil; if they fall, never to rise again; if they cast themselves headlong into destruction, let us pray God to keep us under his protection, that we may be in subjection to his will, and be maintained by his power. Although the world strive to shake us, still let us rest ourselves upon this foundation; The Lord knoweth them that are his; and let us never be put from it, but stand steadfastly to it, and profit more and more by it, until God take us to his kingdom, which is not subject to any changes.