Next Part 4 The PREFACE to the Commandments
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Use two. To such as can realize this covenant union, we have several EXHORTATIONS.
(1) If God is our God, let us improve our interest in him, let us cast all our burdens upon him: the burden of our fears, our needs and our sins. "Cast your burden upon the Lord." Psalm 55:22. Wicked men who are a burden to God—have no right to cast their burden upon him. But such as have God for their God are called upon to cast their burden on him. Where should the child ease all its cares, but in the bosom of its parent? "Let all your needs lie upon me." Judges 19:20. So God seems to say to his children, "Let all your needs lie upon me." Christian, what troubles you? You have a God to pardon your sins and to supply your needs; therefore roll your burden on him. "Casting all your care upon him, because he cares for you." 1 Pet 5:7. Why are Christians so disquieted in their minds? They are taking care—when they should be casting care.
(2) If God is our God, let us learn to be contented, though we have the less of other things. Contentment is a rare jewel, it is the cure of care. If we have God to be our God—well may we be contented. "I know whom I have believed." 2 Tim 1:12. There was Paul's interest in God. "As having nothing, and yet possessing all things." 2 Cor 6:10. Here was his contentment. That such who have covenant-union with God may be filled with contentment of spirit, consider what a rich blessing, God is to the soul.
He is bonum sufficiens—a sufficient good. He who has God has enough. If a man be thirsty, bring him to a spring, and he is satisfied; in God there is enough to fill the heaven-born soul. He gives "grace and glory." Psalm 84:11. There is in God not only a sufficiency—but a redundancy; he is not only full as a vessel—but as a spring. Other things can no more fill the soul than a mariner's breath can fill the sails of a ship; but in God there is a cornucopia, an infinite fullness! He has enough to fill the angels, therefore enough to fill us. The heart is a triangle—which only the Trinity can fill.
God is bonum sanctificans—a sanctifying good. He sanctifies all our COMFORTS and turn them into blessings. Health is blessed, estate is blessed. "I will abundantly bless her provision." Psalm 132:15. He gives the little meal in the barrel—as a pledge of the royal feast in paradise. He sanctifies all our CROSSES. They shall not be destructive punishments—but medicines; they shall corrode and eat out the venom of sin; they shall polish and refine our grace. The more the diamond is cut, the more it sparkles. When God stretches the strings of his violin, it is to make the music better.
God is bonum selectum—a choice good. All earthly things are but the blessings of the footstool—but to have God himself to be ours, is the blessing of the throne. Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines—but he settled the inheritance upon Isaac. "Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac." Gen 25:5. God may send away the men of the world with gifts, a little gold and silver; but in giving us himself, he gives us the very essence, his grace, his love, his kingdom! ere is the crowning blessing!
God is bonum summum—the highest good. In the chief good there must be delectability; it must have something that is delicious and sweet: and where can we suck those pure essential comforts, which ravish us with delight! In God's character there is a certain sweetness which fascinates or rather enraptures the soul. "You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11.
In the chief good there must be transcendence, it must have a surpassing excellence. Thus God is infinitely better than all other things. It is below the Deity to compare other things with it. Who would weigh a feather against a mountain of gold? God is the spring of all entities, and the cause is more noble than the effect. It is God who bespangles the creation, that puts light into the sun, who fills the veins of the earth with silver. Creatures do but maintain life, God gives life. He infinitely outshines all sublunary glory. He is better than the soul, than angels, and than heaven.
In the chief good, there must be not only fullness—but variety. Where variety is lacking, we are apt to nauseate. To feed only on honey would breed loathing; but in God is all variety of fullness. Col 1:19.
God is a universal good, commensurate to all our needs. He is the good in which is every. He is called the "God of all comfort." 2 Cor 1:3. There is a compilation of all beauties and delights in him. Health has not the comfort of beauty, nor beauty of riches, nor riches of wisdom; but God is the God of all comfort.
In the chief good there must be eternity. God is a treasure that can neither be drawn low, nor drawn dry. Though the angels are continually spending what is his, he can never be spent; he abides forever. Eternity is a flower of his crown. Now, if God is our God, there is enough to let full contentment into our souls. What need have we of candlelight, if we have the sun? What if God denies the flower, if he has given us the jewel? How should a Christian's heart rest on this rock! If we say God is our God, and we are not content, we have cause to question our interest in him.
(3) If we can clear up this covenant-union, that God is our God, let it cheer and revive us in all conditions. To be content with God is not enough—but we must be cheerful. What greater cordial can you have than union with Deity? When Jesus Christ was ready to ascend, he could not leave a richer consolation with his disciples than this, "I ascend to my God and to your God." John 20:17. Who should rejoice, if not those who have an infinite, all-sufficient, eternal God to be their portion, who are as rich as heaven can make them? What though I lack health? I have God who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 42:11. What though I am low in the world? If I have not the earth, I have him who made it. The philosopher comforted himself by saying, "Though I have no music or vine-trees—yet here are the household gods with me;" so, though we have not the vine or fig-tree—yet we have God with us.
"I cannot be poor," says Bernard, "as long as God is rich; for his riches are mine." O let the saints rejoice in this covenant-union! To say God is ours, is more than to say heaven is ours, for heaven would not be heaven without him. All the stars cannot make day without the sun; all the angels, those morning stars, cannot make heaven without Christ the Sun of Righteousness. And as to have God for our God, is matter of rejoicing in life, so especially it will be at death. Let a Christian think thus, "I am going to my God!" A child is glad when he is going home to his father. It was Christ's comfort when he was leaving the world, "I ascend to my God!" John 20:17. And this is a believer's deathbed cordial, "I am going to my God; I shall change my place—but not my kindred; I go to my God and my Father."
(4) If God is our God, let us break forth into praise. "You are my God, and I will praise you." Psalm 118:28. Oh, infinite, astonishing mercy, that God should take dust and ashes into so near a bond of love, as to be our God! As Micah said, "What else do I have?" Judges 18:24. So, what else does God have? What richer jewel has he to bestow upon us than himself? That God should put off most of the world with riches and honour, that he should pass over himself to us by a deed of gift, to be our God, and by virtue of this settle a kingdom upon us! O let us praise him with the best instrument, the heart; and let this instrument be pitched up to the highest pitch. Let us praise him with our whole heart. See how David rises by degrees. "Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, and shout for joy." Psalm 32:11. Be glad, there is thankfulness; rejoice, there is cheerfulness; shout, there is triumph. Praise is called incense, because it is a sweet sacrifice. Let the saints be choristers in God's praises. The deepest springs yield the sweetest water; the more deeply sensible we are of God's covenant-love to us, the sweeter praises we should yield. We should begin here to praise God's name, and do that work on earth which we shall be always doing in heaven. "While I live will I praise the Lord." Psalm 146:2.
(5) Let us live as those who have God to be our God; that is, walk so that others may see there is something of God in us. Live holily. What have we to do with sin, which if it does not ruin us, will weaken us? "What have I to do any more with idols?" Hos 14:8. So would a Christian say, "God is my God; what have I to do any more with sin, with lust, pride, malice! Bid me commit sin! As well bid me drink poison. Shall I forfeit my interest in God? Let me rather die than willingly offend him who is the crown of my joy, the God of my salvation."
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