The inseparable communion of a believer with God in his love being the substance of several sermons preached on Rom. VIII 38, 39 / by ... Mr. Thomas Mallery ...

ROM. 8.39.

Nor any other Creature,—

WE are come to the last Rank or Regi∣ment of enemies▪ which may be sup∣posed

to endanger a separation between God and a believer in sweet Communion, in which the Apostle in the name of all believers, comes off with victory.

Let us consider what is meant by this expression,

First, Nor any other creature—The Apostle having reckoned up all known Adversaries in this cause by name; he riseth higher, and speaks by way of supposition. If there be yet any other creature, besides what I have mentioned; if any know any other adversary then what I have na∣med, I fear not to encounter.

I doubt not but to overcome it.

Secondly, Nor any other creatures. By crea∣ture here (saith a learned Author) we are to understand all things that are done in the world, * 1.1 whe∣ther good or bad, and all the thoughts, words, actions, employments, councels, contrivances of men, Angels, Devils, with all other creatures within the Compass of the whole Citation of God.

Thirdly, Nor any other creature—the word rendred Creature is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which often sig∣nifies

the Creation, the whole Creation.

The Apostle had hitherto encountred the enemy in Parties and single Regiments, but now he encounters the whole body, he mu∣sters up all the enemies he had before spoken of, into one body; he fears not to encounter the united strength and combi∣ned power and rage of the whole Creation, If all creatures should rise up together with one hand and one heart to endeavor to se∣parate—They shall not be able—

Doct. Not the Concurring Power of the whole Creation of God, if they were in one Con∣federacy, can be able to separate.

This I shall prove.

1. The concurrent power and endeavour of the whole Creation cannot make God to be against his people who are in Commu∣nion with him.

Balak hired Balaam to do this work, to separate God from his people; Balaam u∣sed all means to this end, he offered sacri∣fices, he used inchantments and divinations, but nothing could prevail, Numb. 23.19. God is not as man—see ver. 23.

Hence the Apostle speaks as a man asto∣nisht,

fill'd with abundance of evidence and assurance in this point, Rom. 8.31. If God befor us.—

Such as have Emanuel, God with them, God in Communion with them, have also God for them, and what can the concur∣rent power of the creature do against them.

Secondly, that that love of God which hath gathered believers into this blessed Communion with God, and still embraceth them in the loftest Armes of Peace; it is everlasting as God is, Ier. 31.3. It takes hold on both Eternities, that which is past, and that which is to come; This Love runs Parallel with the Life of God from Eter∣nity to Eternity.

Can the concurrent wrath, rage and malice of the whole Creature, bring God out of love with them, whom he loved from everlasting; Is there more power in the wrath of the Creature, then in the love of God? Can the poor Creature make that not to be, which God hath made to be from Eternity, to be for Eternity?

Thirdly, the golden Chain of salvation cannot be broken, Rom. 8.29, 30. The two extreme links in this Chain are Election and Glorification; the two middle links are Vocation and Justification. This seems to be the Chain which so much ravisht the heart of Christ about the neck of his Spouse, Cant. 4.9. The two ends of this Chain God keeps in his own hands in Hea∣ven; the two middle links are those God lets down from Heaven, and so draws us up to himself, and linketh us fast to himself for ever.

What Confederacy or Combination of the creature, can pull the Son out of Hea∣ven?

Further, can they pluck any end of this Chain out of Gods Hand. Can they rise up and blot out the book of life, and rase out the names that are written in Heaven. Can Creatures, some whereof are in Chains of darknesse, all in iron Chains of divine Providence, break that golden Chain of grace, in which believers are kept close in Communion with God.

Can the concurrent Power of the crea∣ture

rise up and cancel the great Charter of salvation, whose records are kept in Heaven.

Fourthly, the concurrent power and ma∣lice of all creatures cannot separate them from Christ in whom they have this Com∣munion with God in love.

I. They are said to be in the Hand of Christ, which Hand gives them eternal life, and they shall never perish, John 10.28. what creature can pluck them out.

II. They are said to be engraven on the Palmes of his hand, Isa. 49.16. what is en∣graven cannot be taken out, without mang∣ling the Hand of Christ. If you could sup∣pose they could be taken out of Christs Hand as loose things, yet they cannot as engraven things, will Christ suffer his Hand to be maculated or cut off.

III. They are said to be in the Armes of Christ, Cant. 8.6. They are sealed on the ••••rm of Christ, with the indelible chara∣cters and impressions of divine love. If the Arm of Christ cannot be separated from him, then cannot Saints.—

IV. They are not only on, but in the

Armes of Christ, they are everlasting Armes, Deut. 33.27. there is an everlasting Arm underneath, and an everlasting Arm above, Cant. 2.6.

V. They are not only in the Armes, but in the breast and bosome of Christ, Isa. 40.11. the High-Priest bare the Names of all the tribes on his breast-Plate.

VI. They are born not only in his breast, but on his shoulders, as Exod. 28.11, 12. Cant 8 5. by which they are ever∣lastingly upheld from all that ruine or de∣struction their enemies can—

VII. They are not only on the shoulders, but in the eye of Christ, as the Apple in the eye, Zach. 2.8.

VIII. Nor only in the eye, but in the very bowels of Christ, as that expression shews, Phil. 1.8.

IX. Not only in his bowels but in his heart; see Cant. 8.6. such as prevail to separate believers from Christ, must pluck out the heart of Christ.

Obj. 1. But the Apostle seems to sp••••k within the Compass of Creatures, that no Crea∣ture can— yet God can separate.

Answ. It is God that justifies, who shall con∣demn, Rom. 8.33. to justifie and condemn the same persons, implies a contradiction, which God cannot do, Jer. 33.24, 25, 26.

Secondly, he hath said to the utmost, I will never, never, never—leave thee, Heb. 13.5, 6.

Obj. 2. But though other men, other crea∣tures cannot do it, a man may separate him∣self.—

Answ. 1. God hath promised to put his fear, Jer. 32.40.

Secondly, never any true believer made the least separation from God, but they quickly found a difference, and readily return'd to him again with bitter repent∣ings, Hos. 2.7.

Obj. 3. Though no creature can do it, sin may.

This was Bernards Position, but I an∣swer

First, Sin is a creature, not Gods crea∣ture but the devils; every sin is a Lie, and the devil is the father of it, Iohn 8.44. Therefore.

Secondly, former sins cannot, they are pardoned; after-sins shall not, they have an Advocate and a Propitiation, 1 Iohn 2.2.

Thirdly, large experience hath made this good, Ier. 51.5. when Bala•••• attem∣pted to separate between God and his peo∣ple, he could not effect it, because God be∣held no iniquity— Numb. 23 21.— for the Lord his God is with him.

1. Use. This informs us, how much the salvation of man one way or other is en∣dangered by every creature; for if such who are gathered into Communion with God are endangered by every creature in a separation, how much more are such who are yet at a distance from God, in dan∣ger by the creature to be kept from em∣bracing that Communion. Doth not eve∣ry creature an unregenerate man loves, set up it self to be his God, his chief good, and endeavour to perswade him that his chief blessedness consists more in that en∣joyment, then in the enjoyment of God himself.

Beware how much you are endangered

by the creatures, either to be kept off from all Communion with God, or made to have a loose Communion with God.

2. Use. I exhort believers again and a∣gain to strengthen your faith in your Communion with God in love which is in Christ Iesus.

This is the Ark of salvation in every deluge, your Refuge and Sanctuary in eve∣ry storm; your Door of escape in every danger, your resting place in all the Confusions of the world, your Victo∣ry and Triumph over all your ene∣mies, all your fears, doubts, temptations, trials—

But how shall we do this?

First, study much the love of God, it had a wonderful attractive vertue to draw you into this Communion! With loving kind∣ness I have drawn you. It hath a marvellous force and efficacy to keep you close to that Communion: 2 Cor. 4.14. The Love of Christ, coarctat constringit—

Secondly, better your acquaintance with Christ.

First, who first swallowed up all the di∣stances,

and reconciled all the e••••ities, and so made way for you into this blessed Com∣munion with God.

Secondly, study him, converse with him, who remains one with God, and one with us in the divine nature, and in the humane nature, that he might preserve our Communion with God inviolable.

3. Use. Having clear'd your Communi∣on— Put on a nobleness of spirit, an height of resolution, a magnanimity of faith, ex∣pect to encounter with the most and with the worst of enemies.

And doubt not of Victory and Conquest over all. Let your faith rise higher then your dangers or enemies can

Some can believe Victory over such and such, not over others; over things present, not over things to come— Faith is not come to its just height of spirit till it triumph over all, real or possible, present or to come, not only over one creature, but over the united, concurrent power of all creatures.

Notes

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