The excellency of holy courage in evil times by Jeremiah Burroughs ; published by Thomas Goodwin ... [et al.]

CHAP. 26. (Book 26)

How Faith carries the Soul through the difficult Work of forsaking Egypt. Their Works of Faith. 1. The discovering work, in two Particulars. 2. The relying Work. 3. The Surrendring Work. Question Resolved concerning the force of Na∣tural Conscience, in three Particulars, shewing the great difference between the actings of Faith and Natural Conscience. Application, 1. Hence see the ground of Miscarriages. 2. A Rule of Direction; Incouragements to Faith and Be∣leeving. 3. Let delivered Persons see what deli∣vered them. Faith which acts by a power with∣out us. Twelve Considerable and useful Directi∣ons in this matter.

BUt though it be a difficult work, yet Faith carries the Soul through: and brings it from this spiritual

Egypt: and it is only Faith that doth this: the Law may do somwhat to shew men their bondages; and the spirit of bondage may make them sensible of their bon∣dage, but this doth not deliver them; as the Children of Israel when they were in bondage, they Cryed out, but that did not deliver them, it was Faith by which they were to go from Egypt: So whatsoever there may be in a way of preparation: Its Faith only that delivers from it.

Quest. How doth Faith do this?

Answ. First, I wil shew how Faith doth it.

Secondly, I wil shew whether a man may not be de∣livered in shew by some other things.

There are three works of Faith whereby we come to forsake this spiritual Egypt.

• 1. The discovering Work.
• 2. The relying Work.
• 3. The surrendring Work.

First, The discovering work, Its Faith that disco∣vers clearly and with power the great Misteries of the Gospel, the great Work of God, wherein the Glory of the great God appeares in providing such a way, for the Reconciliation of lost man unto himself, such a glorious means of Mediation for the satisfying of his Justice, and for the making up of the breach that is between man and him. Its Faith and only Faith, that can hold out the excellency and Beauty of God appearing in the Gospel; And to shew fully al that good that God intends to com∣municate to the Children of men in this way of Mediati∣on.

Secondly, The discovering work of Faith is, in set∣ting before the Soul not only the Glory and excellency and certainty of the work of Mediation in Christ: but

it discovers unto the Soul the Riches of the freeness of the grace of God in Christ: it is Faith that must per∣swade the Soul that the way of deliverance comes only from free grace, that God doth Justifie the ungodly, that it is nothing in the creature for which God comes to justifie.

Secondly: There is a relying Work of Faith: the Soul having these things discovered in the Glory and po∣wer and reality of them: Faith comes to close with these things, and to cast it self upon this Glorious Rich free Grace of God, and venture its self and all its good upon it.

Thirdly, The Soul having thus ventured upon the free Grace of God, it makes a surrender of its self up unto Christ. To unite it self to him: I do not only de∣sire to draw Christ to me; to be made mine. But I give up my self to Jesus Christ to be his. In uniting of two things I do not only lay one thing upon another, but joyne the other to that; and so in uniting the Soul to Christ, there is not only a bringing of Christ to the Soul, but a surrendring of the Soul to Christ: to him in him, to him, and for him, and to be satisfied with him; And when Faith comes to discover with power, the Glory and reality of the great Misteries of the Gospel, enabling it to cast and rowle it self, for all its good upon this way and surrender its self up to Christ to be wholly his, here is the work of Faith that delivers from this spiritual Egypt.

Quest. But may not natural Conscience help men through much difficulty in the way of deliverance from this spiritual Egypt? Many come to see their bondage by sin, and seeme to be delivered, and may be it is only the strength of Natural Conscience, and not Faith.

Answ. It is acknowledged that natural Conscience may in a great degree deliver men from some hind of

bondage under sin, and may deliver from a great deal of the power of their sin, but you shall observe the differ∣ence to be thus.

First, Natural conscience may help men to abstaine from sin, and set upon many duties, that it may seem they are delivered from this bondage, but whatsoever they abstaine from, and whatsoever duties they do, It is rather because conscience urgeth the necessity of it upon them, then any inward principle to approve, and like of the duties they performe, or to dislike and disapprove of the sin they abstaine from, they are forced out of Egypt: But Faith it doth not make men only abstain from sin, but is gives them a principle to make against sin; and it doth not only perform duty, but the heartt is for that duty, and there is an agreeableness, and sutable∣ness in the heart unto that duty.

Secondly, Where it is only naturall conscience, that carries through many streights, it doth enable to do out∣ward things, and abstaine from outward things, but there is but little inward change of the heart, it may keep them from some actions, they dare not commit such and such sins, no not in secret, though none in the world know it, but there is not an inward change in the heart.

Thirdly: Where it is a natural conscience Grace is desired for peace sake, where it is of grace the soul desires peace for the furtherance of Grace.

USE 1.

To apply this a little.

Is it Faith that delivers from this spiritual Egypt: Hence let us see the ground of the Miscarriages of most people in their deliverances from spiritual Egypt: Many people by the word, by the Ministry of the Law, they come to see their bondage, and woful wretched estate, & their consciences are much troubled, but they miscarry

and it appears in the end that they were never delivered from the bondage of Egypt, but they lived, and died, in Egypt, and perished Eternally. They were come neer to Canaan, and yet they perished, and never come to Ca∣naan, because it is not Faith that delivered them, they were not acquainted with the mistery of the Gospel, and the covenant of Grace: they must abstain from Sin, be no more drunkards, and Swearers, and Adulterers, and Sabbath breakers: They abstaine from them, and their Religion is a meer natural work, and there they quiet themselves, and think they are delivered: But the glo∣rious work of God in Faith, is not mighty and power∣ful upon their hearts carrying their hearts to God in Christ in the way of the Gospel, and discovering the misteries of the Gospel: and therefore they are not delivered.

2. Hence is a rule of direction to such as are about being delivered from this spiritual Egypt. Are there any such, that God hath made sensible of their woful bon∣dage and wouldest thou deliver thy soul from that spi∣ritual bondage? is it thy worke that thou art now a∣bout? If any thing do it, it must be the work of Faith. Thou maiest get some quiet and ease by some other means, but for deliverance you can never get it but by Faith: Therefore do not content thy self with any re∣formation, that its better with thee then it hath been; never rest till thou hast got the work of Faith: and for the incouragement of such a soul to beleeve that it may be delivered by Faith from that bondage, it is sen∣sible of, and which it is now about. Know,

First, If thou beest sensible of thy spiritual bondage, know it is the great work that God hath set his heart up∣on above al the works of the world, to deliver souls from this spirituall bondage: Many that are sensible of their spiritual bondage say, I am in such a condition, and will God ever regard me in this estate? will he regard thee? yes, know that the greatest thing that Gods

heart is upon, as the highest thing that he wil do, is upon those that are sensible of their spiritual bondage of this spiritual Egypt to deliver them? And though thou art not sure he wil do it for thee, yet this is a great incouragement.

Object, But though he may do it for others yet I am so vile, that though I have seen my sin, I have stil gone on, therefore he wil not do it for me.

Answ. 2. Wherefore know in the second place that the great designe that God hath in this work, is not only to manifest his power, but to set out before men, and Angels, to all eternity, the Riches and Glory of his free Grace. And therefore those objections of thy unwor∣thinss may be taken away: for thou maiest see God doth not intend to goe on with thee in a way of retribu∣tion or distributive Justice, if thou dost so, and so and so, he wil do so, and so for thee, but he goes this way to work: that his great designe is to magnify his free Grace, And whosoever he does deliver, it is for this end, to shew to men and Angels, what the power of his infinite free Grace is able to do; and this is a great Incouragement.

3. Further Jesus Christ hath already removed all differences that are between God the Father, and thy soul: the difficulties which make such a mighty vast dis∣mal distance between God and thy soul, is the wrath of God, and the justice of God and the curse of the Law: Now it hath been the work of Christ to take away all these difficulties: So that when thou lookest up and seest thy sin against an infinite God, that is, infinitely holy, and infinitely just, and seest the curse of the Law against thee; thou thinkest these are great diffi∣culties, how is it possible for me to get over these: know it is the work of Christ that great Savior of the world, to remove those difficulties, and if he had not under∣took it, it had been impossible for any soul to come to

God, But he hath done it and therefore thou hast li∣berty to come to God; if thou hast but an heart to venture upon his free Grace, if thou saiest, how can I know, that Christ hath removed these difficulties for me? Its the work of Faith that gives thee an interest. And therefore do not stay for any thing else: If thou doest but venture upon Faith, thou needest not take care as those Women did, who shall roule away the stone. Who shall remove the difficulties of the curse of the Law? who shall pacifie the wrath of God that is burning a∣gainst me for my sin? If thou doest beleeve Christ hath done it.

Fourthly, Christ hath not only removed the diffi∣culties between God the Father, and thy soul; but there are many gracious promises in the Gospel (for the re∣moving of all difficulties in thy soul) that thou hast as much right to lay claime to, as any one in the world that ever was delivered by Christ: Whatsoever ground any had to claime these promises, before the applying of them, thou hast the same ground; the great hinder∣ance that is in thee is an hard heart, a stout stubborne spirit: marke what is said; that there shall be a way prepared for the Lord: Make his way strait, every high Mountain shal be brought low, every valley shal be filled up, every crooked way shall be made strait, every rough way shall be made plaine. Luke, 3.4.5.6. Now who hath right to laie hold on these promi∣ses, this applying of them doth give interest: doest thou find thy heart proud and canst not pul it down? saies the Lord every high mountaine shal be cast down dost thou say I have an unbeleeving heart, I know not how to beleeve Gods word, but my heart sinks down in unbeliefe, that is as a valley dejected? Every vally shal be filled up. I have a perverse crooked heart? every cro∣ked way shall be made strait. I have a rough knotty heart? every rough heart, Every rough way shall be made plaine: So that Christ hath not only made things

cleer between God and thee but in thy own Soul.

Object. But he doth not make it clear for all.

Answ. Thou hast as much ground to beleeve as any had before they did beleeve, I will take away thy strong Heart saith God; This is revealed to all, and therefore thou art to make use of them; And whosoever did get good by them, they could not see any interest they had to them, more then thou canst see.

USE. 3.

A Third use is this, If Faith be that which does deli∣ver from this spiritual Egypt: Then those that are deli∣vered, let them see what hath brought them out; and magnifie the work of God; let them stand and admire the Grace of God in delivering them from al difficulties, and in carrying them through, that were so poor and weak as they were: know it was not thy endeavor but the work of Faith, and the work of God in thee. Faith workes by a power out of us, and not by our own po∣wer; And God delivers the Soul from this spiritual Egypt by Faith, Because he would have the Glory of it. Therefore now if it have been a work of Faith, let this Exhortation prevail with you: Labor to exercise your Faith in going through the Wilderness to Canaan. There was a time you were in bondage under sin and Satan and the Law; And now thou art delivered from the Law, and brought to Grace: Is it Faith hath done it? Let this Faith be imployed to carry thee on through the wilderness unto Canaan: And all the Rules that I will give unto you, shall be from the People of Israels going through the wilderness unto Canaan, when they were delivered from Egypt.

Direction. 1.

First, They were not to stir, but upon Gods

Direction, when the cloud and the pillar of fire went before them. So in thy way, keep close to the Directi∣on of God. Let thy Faith stick close to the word, and not to the Direction of thine own Heart.

Direction, 2.

Secondly, When they were delivered, this was a great Evil, their Murmuring because of the hardships they met withal: take heed thou beest not guilty of this: Let not thy heart run out too far, to murmur a∣gainst the waies of God, when you meet with any hard∣ships: being God with his outstretched Arm, and his mighty hand hath delivered thee, God forbid thou shouldest be murmuring upon every difficulty.

Direction, 3.

Thirdly, Take heed you do not limit the Holy One of Israel, God was Angry with them because they limi∣ted the Holy One of Israel, Psalm. 78.19. Can God prepare a table in the Wilderness (say they) So many when they are in the way to Heaven, and they find any difficulty, can God help such a one as I (say they) Take heed of limiting God; do not propound Limits to to what God can do: No nor to what God wil do.

Direction, 4.

Fourthly, Take heed of slighting any thing that God gives you, as they did, when they were delivered, and had Manna, say they, What is this Manna? Exod. 16.15. Numh. 11.6. They slight it, take heed you be not guilty of this spirituality: when God feeds you with Manna, you say they are but huskes. And when God gives you his Grace, you say they are but such things as Hypocrites may have, and slight all.

Direction, 5.

Fifthly, Take heed of having hard thoughts of God: as when they came into the wilderness the Scripture saies Deut. 1.27. They said God brought them thither be∣cause he hated them, and meant to destroy them: So ma∣ny out of the frowardness of their hearts, (and that I tremble to speak of) When God is in a gracious way, in doing good to them, and in bringing them to himself upon every difficulty they find, they are ready to say God does all this but to aggravate my sin, and because he hates me, and that my condemnation might be the more grievous, if I had never known so much, and never had such convincings of conscience, and had never pray∣ed so much, my condemnation had not been so great? this is an horrible abusing of the Grace of God, Just like those that were delivered out of Egypt, this is be∣cause God hates us (say they) and means to destroy us it is true God hath wrought upon mee more then others but it is to aggravate my condemnation: let not us have such hard thoughts of God.

Direction, 6.

Sixthly, Observe their way in the wilderness: and take heed of being discouraged by any hardship thou meerest withall in thy way; they said. Numb. 13.27.28. The Land was a good Land, but there were the Ana∣kins, and Giants, and they should never overcome them. So many reason, Heaven is a blessed place, But there are such oppositions, the children of Anak, such strong lusts, and corruptions, they shall never o∣vercome such Giant like, Anakish corruptions: But as David said, Psalm. 1.27.1. One day I shall perish by the hand of Saul. So one day I shall perish by the hand of my lusts.

Direction, 7.

In the seventh place, Take heed of a passionate throwing off all, as they did when they heard of the Anaks, and of opposition. Numb. 14, 4. Let us make a Captaine to returne againe into Egipt: So when men are in their way from Egypt going to Canaan, they meet with strong oppositions within and without, and they say we had as good cast off all, and go back againe; take heed of flinging off all.

Direction, 8.

Eightly, Take heed of giving the least way to any lusting of thy heart after former corruptions, Exod. 16.3.4. They would be lusting after their Onions and Flesh pots in Egypt, and so were ready to com∣mit sin. So many, when God is in the way of work∣ing his grace, they are ready to think what they had formerly, and they were not so strictly bound before, & they have some hankerings of heart after former lusts: And though thou darest not conclude I wil go and com∣mit such and such sins, I say though thou doest not conclude, yet thy heart and thoughts have some hanker∣ings after them; take heed of that.

Direction, 9.

Ninthly, Take head of forgetting Gods dealings with thee, as they did when they were going to Canaan notwithstanding God did such great things for them: Psal. 106.13. They presently forget them. So God did much for thee and thou forgeitest the gracious dealings of God; God takes that very ill.

Direction, 10.

Tenthly, Take heed of resting in means as they did When Moses was absent: Exod. 32.1. We wote not what is becom of this Moses: And they knew not what to do, they made them other Gods. So many depend on meanes, and if such and such means faile us we shall never be able to go on.

Direction, 11.

Eleventhly, Be not too hasty in applying any comfort any further then God gives leave, but be waiting up∣on God in his way and labor to cast thy self upon the promises; you cannot be too hasty to believe, and rest your selves upon the promises, but to have eager desire of comfort, there may be too much hast. Num. 14.40. to the end. When God had them not go into Canaan they would, and they fell by their enemies. So wait upon God, and see what he would have thee to doe, stay for to have comfort handed in by God and wait for his time.

Direction, 12.

And lastly, Take heed thou be not discouraged, beause the meanes is but weake thou hast to help thee. When they came to Canaan the great City Jericho, what have they to overcom it? Jos. 6.4.5. The Preists must goe with Rams-hornes and blow seven times about the City and the walls should fall down. A poore weake meanes, they might say; have we been fourty yeares in the wilderness, and come to the strong City, and have no other meanes to help us but Rams-hornes? yet this is Gods way: If we reason with flesh and blood, when we meet with difficulties, and look

upon means, We shal turne back again, look not at means, but rest on Faith and that Faith which hath brought thee out of Egypt, will carry thee on: and thus we have finished the First Allegory.