4. There is a wonderful difference between christians and them- selves at sundry times ; so that these three degrees may be coincident. The gravest father may be as weak as the youngest child, as violently tempted as the young man. The state of a godly man is» not always one and the same ; sometimes they are carried into the mount to behold Christ in his glory, at another time tossed with waves and tempests, as a ship ready to sink ; now rapt up with Paul into the paradise of
396 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN II. 12-14. [SeR. II.
God, to see things which cannot be uttered, and anon they are afflicted with a messenger of Satan. Alterations and changes, calms and storms, peace and troubles, combats and conquests, weaknesses and strength, are there found in God's children ; therefore the best are to walk humbly, and in a holy fear and trembling. Satan's design is against the spiritual christian, and those who are more eminent than others, to throw them into the mire, that religion may have the greater wound and dishonour. Thus did Satan desire to winnow Christ's own disciples : Luke xxii. 31, ' And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat' And the apostle biddeth the spiritual, which sometimes signifies a higher sort of christians, to ' take heed lest they also be tempted,' Gal. vi. 1 ; and those that stand, to ' take heed lest they fall,' 1 Cor. x. 12. It is woful when a christian of great parts and grace begins to have any confidence in himself, and falls, as Peter did. In violent gusts of wind, even cedars may fall to the ground. Therefore, as we grow in grace, we should increase in humility and godly fear.
5. All this doth not hinder but that some from their settled constant frame may be called ' fathers,' 'young men,' and ' babes.'
[1.] Fathers are such who, through long experience and much acquaintance with a godly life, do walk more evenly, and constantly, and cheerfully, and fruitfully in the ways of God than others do. In old men more constancy may be expected, or a more even and an uninterrupted course of godliness, because they are more acquainted with the snares of Satan to prevent them, more weaned from the baits of sense, and so sin hath not such a power over them ; walk more cheerfully in their service to God : 1 John i. 3, 4, ' That which we have heard and seen, declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us ; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. These things I write unto you, that your joy may be full ; ' Mat. xi. 30, ' For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light ; ' as knowing not only the toil, but the pleasure of obedience. Being inured to a course of godliness, it is as another nature to them ; the difficulty is worn off. It is said, Ps. xcii. 14, ' They shall bring forth fruit in old age ; they shall be fat and flourishing.' Their last works are their best works, because their salvation is nearer than when they first believed. In short, they have brought their hearts to a heavenly temper, and accustomed themselves to a heavenly course, and do delight in obedience as their perfect liberty. These, though not grown up into a perfect man in Christ Jesus, or come to their complete growth, yet have made a great advance in heaven's way.
[2.] Young men in Christ are such as have most courage, resolution, and earnestness, yet not that experience which Christ's old servants have gotten ; a middle sort of christians, not so settled as the aged, nor yet altogether so weak and infirm as babes. They are more exercised with temptations, and a life of conflicts, as having many rebellious passions and inordinate desires to subdue, which being irritated by the suggestions of Satan and the baits of sense, do put them to no small trouble ; that they may not dishonour religion, and put a damp upon their hopes, and obstruct their own progress to heavenly glory.
VeK. 13, 14.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN II. 12-14 397
[3.] There are babes or little children, and they are of two sorts —
(1.) Some are as it were in the birth, inter regenerandum ; it is a doubtful question whether they are regenerated, yea or no ; have the grace of the third or fourth ground. Of such the apostle speaketh, Gal. iv. 19, ' My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.' They are such whose evidences of regeneration lie under ground, and much in the dark ; so that as to outward appear- ance there is little of the life of God to be seen in them. Their apprehensions of the love of God are very uncertain ; the beauty of the image of Christ is hardly discernible in them. They have good inclinations, will not turn off from the holy ways of God, but keep waiting upon them until grace be impressed upon them in a fairer character. They prize the favour of God, and nothing can satisfy them without it, though as yet they have no persuasions of it. They have a sense of religion, though it cannot stand up in such considerable strength against temptations.