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Words may have │ + │ multiple spelling variations or inconsistent hyphenation in │ + │ the text. These have been left unchanged unless indicated │ + │ with a Transcriber’s Note. │ + │ │ + │ Footnotes are identified in the text with a superscript │ + │ number and are shown immediately below the paragraph in which │ + │ they appear. │ + │ │ + │ Transcriber’s Notes are used when making corrections to the │ + │ text or to provide additional information for the modern │ + │ reader. These notes are identified by ♦♠♥♣ symbols in the │ + │ text and are shown immediately below the paragraph in which │ + │ they appear. │ + └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ + + + + + THE WORKS OF THE + REVEREND GEORGE WHITEFIELD, M.A. + + Late of PEMBROKE-COLLEGE, OXFORD, + + And Chaplain to the Right Honourable, + the Countess of HUNTINGDON. + + + CONTAINING + + + All his SERMONS and TRACTS + Which have been already published: + + WITH + + A SELECT COLLECTION of LETTERS, + Written to his most intimate Friends, and Persons of + Distinction, in _England_, _Scotland_, _Ireland_, and + _America_, from the Year 1734, to 1770, including the + whole Period of his Ministry. + + ALSO + + Some other PIECES on IMPORTANT SUBJECTS, + never before printed; prepared by Himself for the Press. + + To which is prefixed, + + An ACCOUNT of his LIFE, + Compiled from his Original PAPERS and LETTERS. + + + VOLUME VI. + + + LONDON: + + Printed for EDWARD and CHARLES DILLY, in the Poultry; + and Messrs. KINCAID and CREECH, at Edinburgh. + + MDCCLXXII. + + + + + CONTENTS¹. + + ¹ The Sermons marked with a *, are now first published from + the Author’s own Manuscripts. + + ⭘ SERMON XXXII. A Penitent Heart, the best New Year’s Gift. + + LUKE xiii. 3. _Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise + perish._ + + ⭘ SERMON XXXIII. The Gospel Supper. + + LUKE xiv. 22, 23, 24. _And the servant said, Lord, it is + done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And + the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways, + and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house + may be filled. For I say unto you, that none of those men + which were bidden, shall taste of my supper._ + + ⭘ SERMON XXXIV. The Pharisee and Publican. + + LUKE xviii. 14. _I tell you, this man went down to his + house justified rather than the other: For every one that + exalteth himself, shall be abased; and he that humbleth + himself, shall be exalted._ + + ⭘ SERMON XXXV. The Conversion of Zaccheus. + + LUKE xix. 9, 10. _And Jesus said unto him, This day is + salvation come to this house; forasmuch as he also is the + Son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to + save that which was lost._ + + ⭘ SERMON XXXVI. The Marriage of Cana. + + JOHN ii. 11. _This beginning of miracles did Jesus in + Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his + disciples believed on him._ + + ⭘ SERMON XXXVII. The Duty of searching the Scriptures. + + JOHN v. 39. _Search the Scriptures._ + + ⭘ SERMON XXXVIII. The Indwelling of the Spirit, the common + Privilege of all Believers. + + JOHN vii. 37, 38, 39. _In the last day, that great day + of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man + thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth + on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall + flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the + Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive._ + + ⭘ SERMON XXXIX. The Resurrection of Lazarus. + + JOHN xi. 43, 44. _And when he had thus spoken, he cried with + a loud voice, Lazarus come forth. And he that was dead, + came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-cloaths: and + his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto + them, Loose him, and let him go._ + + ⭘ SERMON XL. The Holy Spirit convincing the World of Sin, + Righteousness, and Judgment. + + JOHN xvi. 8. _And when he is come, he will reprove the world + of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment._ + + ⭘ SERMON XLI. Saul’s Conversion. + + ACTS ix. 22. _But Saul increased the more in strength, and + confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that + this is very Christ._ + + ⭘ SERMON XLII. Marks of having received the Holy Ghost. + + ACTS xix. 2. _Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye + believed?_ + + ⭘ SERMON XLIII. The Almost Christian. + + ACTS xxvi. 28. _Almost thou persuadest me to be a christian._ + + ⭘ SERMON XLIV. Christ, the Believer’s Wisdom, Righteousness, + Sanctification, and Redemption. + + 1 CORINTHIANS i. 30. _But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, + who of God is made unto us, wisdom, righteousness, + sanctification, and redemption._ + + ⭘ SERMON XLV. The Knowledge of Jesus Christ the best Knowledge. + + 1 CORINTHIANS ii. 2. _I determined not to know any thing + among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified._ + + ⭘ SERMON XLVI. Of Justification by Christ. + + 1 CORINTHIANS vi. 11. _But ye are justified._ The whole + verse is: _And such were some of you; but ye are washed, + but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of + our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God._ + + ⭘ SERMON XLVII. The great Duty of Charity recommended. + + 1 CORINTHIANS xiii. 8. _Charity never faileth._ + + ⭘ SERMON XLVIII. Satan’s Devices. + + 1 CORINTHIANS ii. 11. _Lest Satan should get an advantage + over us; for we are not ignorant of his devices._ + + ⭘ SERMON XLIX. On Regeneration. + + 2 CORINTHIANS v. 17. _If any man be in Christ, he is a new + creature._ + + ⭘ SERMON L. Christians, Temples of the living God. + + 2 CORINTHIANS vi. 16. _Ye are the Temple of the living God._ + + ⭘ SERMON LI. Christ the only Preservative against a Reprobate + Spirit. + + 2 CORINTHIANS xiii. 5. _Know ye not your ownselves, how that + Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be Reprobates._ + + ⭘ SERMON LII. The heinous Sin of Drunkenness. + + EPHESIANS v. 18. _Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; + but be filled with the Spirit._ + + ⭘ SERMON LIII. The Power of Christ’s Resurrection. + + PHILIPPIANS iii. 10. _That I may know him, and the power of + his resurrection._ + + ⭘ SERMON LIV. Intercession every Christian’s Duty. + + 1 THESSALONIANS v. 25. _Brethren, pray for us._ + + ⭘ SERMON LV. Persecution every Christian’s Lot. + + 2 TIMOTHY iii. 12. _Yea, and all that will live godly in + Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution._ + + ⭘ SERMON LVI. An Exhortation to the People of God not to be + discouraged in their Way, by the Scoffs and Contempt of + wicked Men. + + HEBREWS iv. 9. _There remaineth therefore a rest to the + people of God._ + + ⭘ SERMON LVII. Preached before the Governor and Council, and the + House of Assembly, in Georgia, on January 28, 1770. + + ZECHARIAH iv. 10. _For who hath despised the day of small + things._ + + ⭘ ♦SERMON LVIII. _Peter_’s Denial of his LORD. + + MATTHEW xxvi. 75. _And Peter remembered the words of Jesus, + which said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou + shalt deny me thrice: and he went out, and wept bitterly._ + + ⭘ SERMON LIX. The true Way of beholding the LAMB of GOD. + + JOHN i. 35, 36. _Again, the next Day after, John stood, and + two of his Disciples; and looking upon Jesus as he walked, + he saith, Behold the LAMB of GOD._ + + ♦ The two following sermons were added after the book had + gone to press and were not included in the original Table + of Contents + + + + + SERMON XXXII. + + A Penitent Heart, the best _New Year’s Gift_. + + + LUKE xiii. 3. + + _Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish._ + +WHEN we consider how heinous and aggravating our offences are, in +the sight of a just and holy GOD, that they bring down his wrath +upon our heads, and occasion us to live under his indignation; how +ought we thereby to be deterred from evil, or at least engaged to +study to repent thereof, and not commit the same again; but man is so +thoughtless of an eternal state, and has so little consideration of the +welfare of his immortal soul, that he can sin without any thought that +he must give an account of his actions at the day of judgment; or if +he, at times, has any reflections on his behaviour, they do not drive +him to true repentance: he may, for a short time, refrain from falling +into some gross sins which he had lately committed; but then, when the +temptation comes again with power, he is carried away with the lust; +and thus he goes on promising and resolving, and in breaking both his +resolutions and his promises, as fast almost as he has made them. This +is highly offensive to GOD, it is mocking of him. My brethren, when +grace is given us to repent truly, we shall turn wholly unto GOD; and +let me beseech you to repent of your sins, for the time is hastening +when you will have neither time nor call to repent; there is none in +the grave, whither we are going; but do not be afraid, for GOD often +receives the greatest sinner to mercy through the merits of CHRIST +JESUS; this magnifies the riches of his free grace; and should be an +encouragement for you, who are great and notorious sinners, to repent, +for he will have mercy upon you, if you through CHRIST return unto him. + +St. _Paul_ was an eminent instance of this; he speaks of himself as +“the chief of sinners,” and he declareth how GOD shewed mercy unto +him. CHRIST loves to shew mercy unto sinners, and if you repent, he +will have mercy upon you. But as no word is more mistaken than that of +repentance, I shall + + I. Shew you what the nature of repentance is. + + II. Consider the several parts and causes of repentance. + + III. I shall give you some reasons, why repentance is necessary + to salvation. And + + IV. Exhort all of you, high and low, rich and poor, one with + another, to endeavour after repentance. + +I. Repentance, my brethren, in the first place, as to its nature, is +the carnal and corrupt disposition of men being changed into a renewed +and sanctified disposition. A man that has truly repented, is truly +regenerated: it is a different word for one and the same thing; the +motley mixture of the beast and devil is gone; there is, as it were, +a new creation wrought in your hearts. If your repentance is true, you +are renewed throughout, both in soul and body; your understandings are +enlightened with the knowledge of GOD, and of the LORD JESUS CHRIST; +and your wills, which were stubborn, obstinate, and hated all good, are +obedient and conformable to the will of GOD. Indeed, our deists tell +us, that man now has a free will to do good, to love GOD, and to repent +when he will; but indeed, there is no free will in any of you, but to +sin; nay, your free-will leads you so far, that you would, if possible, +pull GOD from his throne. This may, perhaps, offend the Pharisees; but +(it is the truth in CHRIST which I speak, I lie not) every man by his +own natural will hates GOD; but when he is turned unto the LORD, by +evangelical repentance, then his will is changed; then your consciences, +now hardened and benumbed, shall be quickened and awakened; then +your hard hearts shall be melted, and your unruly affections shall be +crucified. Thus, by that repentance, the whole soul will be changed, +you will have new inclinations, new desires, and new habits. + +You may see how vile we are by nature, that it requires so great +a change to be made upon us, to recover us from this state of sin, +and therefore the consideration of our dreadful state should make +us earnest with GOD to change our condition, and that change, true +repentance implies; therefore, my brethren, consider how hateful your +ways are to GOD, while you continue in sin; how abominable you are unto +him, while you run into evil: you cannot be said to be christians while +you are hating CHRIST, and his people; true repentance will entirely +change you, the biass of your souls will be changed, then you will +delight in GOD, in CHRIST, in his law, and in his people; you will then +believe that there is such a thing as inward feeling, though now you +may esteem it madness and enthusiasm; you will not then be ashamed of +becoming fools for CHRIST’s sake; you will not regard being scoffed at; +it is not then their pointing after you and crying, “Here comes another +troop of his followers,” will dismay you; no, your soul will abhor +such proceedings, the ways of CHRIST and his people will be your whole +delight. + +It is the nature of such repentance to make a change, and the greatest +change as can be made here in the soul. Thus you see what repentance +implies in its own nature; it denotes an abhorrence of all evil, and a +forsaking of it. I shall now proceed + +_Secondly_, To shew you the parts of it, and the causes concurring +thereto. + +The parts are, sorrow, hatred, and an entire forsaking of sin. + +Our sorrow and grief for sin, must not spring merely from a fear +of wrath; for if we have no other ground but that, it proceeds from +self-love, and not from any love to GOD; and if love to GOD is not the +chief motive of your repentance, your repentance is in vain, and not +to be esteemed true. + +Many, in our days, think their crying, GOD forgive me! or, LORD have +mercy upon me! or, I am sorry for it! is repentance, and that GOD +will esteem it as such; but, indeed, they are mistaken; it is not the +drawing near to GOD with our lips, while our hearts are far from him, +which he regards. Repentance does not come by fits and starts; no, it +is one continued act of our lives; for as we daily commit sin, so we +need a daily repentance before GOD, to obtain forgiveness for those +sins we commit. + +It is not your confessing yourselves to be sinners, it is not knowing +your condition to be sad and deplorable, so long as you continue +in your sins; your care and endeavours should be, to get the heart +thoroughly affected therewith, that you may feel yourselves to be lost +and undone creatures, for CHRIST came to save such as are lost; and if +you are enabled to groan under the weight and burden of your sins, then +CHRIST will ease you and give you rest. + +And till you are thus sensible of your misery and lost condition, you +are a servant to sin and to your lusts, under the bondage and command +of Satan, doing his drudgery: thou art under the curse of GOD, and +liable to his judgment. Consider how dreadful thy state will be at +death, and after the day of judgment, when thou wilt be exposed to such +miseries which the ear hath not heard, neither can the heart conceive, +and that to all eternity, if you die impenitent. + +But I hope better things of you, my brethren, though I thus speak, and +things which accompany salvation; go to GOD in prayer, and be earnest +with him, that by his Spirit he would convince you of your miserable +condition by nature, and make you truly sensible thereof. O be humbled, +be humbled, I beseech you, for your sins. Having spent so many years in +sinning, what canst thou do less, than be concerned to spend some hours +in mourning and sorrowing for the same, and be humbled before GOD. + +Look back into your lives, call to mind thy sins, as many as possible +thou canst, the sins of thy youth, as well as of thy riper years; see +how you have departed from a gracious Father, and wandered in the way +of wickedness, in which you have lost yourselves, the favour of GOD, +the comforts of his Spirit, and the peace of your own consciences; then +go and beg pardon of the LORD, through the blood of the Lamb, for the +evil thou hast committed, and for the good thou hast omitted. Consider, +likewise, the heinousness of thy sins; see what very aggravating +circumstances thy sins are attended with, how you have abused the +patience of GOD, which should have led you to repentance; and when thou +findest thy heart hard, beg of GOD to soften it, cry mightily unto him, +and he will take away thy stony heart, and give thee a heart of flesh. + +Resolve to leave all thy sinful lusts and pleasures; renounce, forsake, +and abhor thy old sinful course of life, and serve GOD in holiness and +righteousness all the remaining part of life. If you lament and bewail +past sins, and do not forsake them, your repentance is in vain, you are +mocking of GOD, and deceiving your own soul; you must put off the old +man with his deeds, before you can put on the new man, CHRIST JESUS. + +You, therefore, who have been swearers and cursers, you, who have been +harlots and drunkards, you, who have been thieves and robbers, you, who +have hitherto followed the sinful pleasures and diversions of life, let +me beseech you, by the mercies of GOD in CHRIST JESUS, that you would +no longer continue therein, but that you would forsake your evil ways, +and turn unto the LORD, for he waiteth to be gracious unto you, he is +ready, he is willing to pardon you of all your sins; but do not expect +CHRIST to pardon you of sin, when you run into it, and will not abstain +from complying with the temptations; but if you will be persuaded to +abstain from evil and chuse the good, to return unto the LORD, and +repent of your wickedness, he hath promised he will abundantly pardon +you, he will heal your back-slidings, and will love you freely. Resolve +now this day to have done with your sins for ever; let your old ways +and you be separated; you must resolve against it, for there can be +no true repentance without a resolution to forsake it. Resolve for +CHRIST, resolve against the devil and his works, and go on fighting +the LORD’s battles against the devil and his emissaries; attack him in +the strongest holds he has, fight him as men, as christians, and you +will soon find him to be a coward; resist him and he will fly from you. +Resolve, through grace, to do this, and your repentance is half done; +but then take care that you do not ground your resolutions on your own +strength, but in the strength of the LORD JESUS CHRIST; he is the way, +he is the truth, and he is the life; without his assistance you can do +nothing, but through his grace strengthening thee, thou wilt be enabled +do all things; and the more thou art sensible of thy own weakness and +inability, the more ready CHRIST will be to help thee; and what can all +the men of the world do to thee when CHRIST is for thee? thou wilt not +regard what they say against thee, for you will have the testimony of a +good conscience. + +Resolve to cast thyself at the feet of CHRIST in subjection to him, and +throw thyself into the arms of CHRIST for salvation by him. Consider, +my dear brethren, the many invitations he has given you to come unto +him, to be saved by him; “GOD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” +O let me prevail with you, above all things, to make choice of the LORD +JESUS CHRIST; resign yourselves unto him, take him, O take him, upon +his own terms, and whosoever thou art, how great a sinner soever you +have been, this evening, in the name of the great GOD, do I offer JESUS +CHRIST unto thee; as thou valuest thy life and soul refuse him not, +but stir up thyself to accept of the LORD JESUS, take him wholly as he +is, for he will be applied wholly unto you, or else not at all. JESUS +CHRIST must be your whole wisdom, JESUS CHRIST must be your whole +righteousness, JESUS CHRIST must be your whole sanctification, or he +will never be your eternal redemption. + +What though you have been ever so wicked and profligate, yet, if you +will now abandon your sins, and turn unto the LORD JESUS CHRIST, thou +shalt have him given to thee, and all thy sins shall be freely forgiven. +O why will you neglect the great work of your repentance? do not defer +the doing of it one day longer, but to-day, even now, take that CHRIST +who is freely offered to you. + +Now as to the _causes_ hereof, the first cause is GOD; he is the author, +“we are born of GOD,” GOD hath begotten us, even GOD, the Father of +our LORD JESUS CHRIST; it is he that stirs us up to will and to do of +his own good pleasure: and another cause is, GOD’s free grace; it is +owing to the “riches of his free grace,” my brethren, that we have +been prevented from going down to hell long ago; it is because the +compassions of the LORD fail not, they are new every morning, and fresh +every evening. + +Sometimes the instruments are very unlikely: a poor despised minister, +or member of JESUS CHRIST, may, by the power of GOD, be made an +instrument in the hands of GOD, of bringing you to true evangelical +repentance; and this may be done to shew, that the power is not in men, +but that it is entirely owing to the good pleasure of GOD; and if there +has been any good done among many of you, by preaching the word, as +I trust there has, though it was preached in a field, if GOD has met +and owned us, and blessed his word, though preached by an enthusiastic +babbler, a boy, a madman; I do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice, let foes +say what they will. I shall now + +_Thirdly_, Shew the reasons why repentance is necessary to salvation. + +And this, my brethren, is plainly revealed to us in the word of GOD, +“The soul that does not repent and turn unto the LORD, shall die in +its sins, and their blood shall be required at their own heads.” It is +necessary, as we have sinned, we should repent; for a holy GOD could +not, nor ever can, or will, admit any thing that is unholy into his +presence: this is the beginning of grace in the soul; there must be a +change in heart and life, before there can be a dwelling with a holy +GOD. You cannot love sin and GOD too, you cannot love GOD and mammon; +no unclean person can stand in the presence of GOD, it is contrary to +the holiness of his nature; there is a contrariety between the holy +nature of GOD, and the unholy nature of carnal and unregenerate men. + +What communication can there be between a sinless GOD, and creatures +full of sin, between a pure GOD and impure creatures? If you were to +be admitted into heaven with your present tempers, in your impenitent +condition, heaven itself would be a hell to you; the songs of angels +would be as enthusiasm, and would be intolerable to you; therefore you +must have these tempers changed, you must be holy, as GOD is: he must +be your GOD here, and you must be his people, or you will never dwell +together to all eternity. If you hate the ways of GOD, and cannot spend +an hour in his service, how will you think to be easy, to all eternity, +in singing praises to him that sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb +for ever. + +And this is to be the employment, my brethren, of all those who are +admitted into this glorious place, where neither sin nor sinner is +admitted, where no scoffer ever can come, without repentance from his +evil ways, a turning unto GOD, and a cleaving unto him: this must be +done, before any can be admitted into the glorious mansions of GOD, +which are prepared for all that love the LORD JESUS CHRIST in sincerity +and truth: repent ye then of all your sins. O my dear brethren, it +makes my blood run cold, in thinking that any of you should not be +admitted into the glorious mansions above. O that it was in my power, I +would place all of you, yea, you my scoffing brethren, and the greatest +enemy I have on earth, at the right-hand of JESUS; but this I cannot +do: however, I advise and exhort you, with all love and tenderness, to +make JESUS your refuge; fly to him for relief; JESUS died to save such +as you; he is full of compassion; and if you go to him, as poor, lost, +undone sinners, JESUS will give you his spirit; you shall live and +reign, and reign and live, you shall love and live, and live and love +with this JESUS to all eternity. + +I am, _Fourthly_, to exhort all of you, high and low, rich and poor, +one with another, to repent of all your sins, and turn unto the LORD. + +And I shall speak to each of you; for you have either repented, or you +have not, you are believers in CHRIST JESUS, or unbelievers. + +And first, you who never have truly repented of your sins, and never +have truly forsaken your lusts, be not offended if I speak plain to +you; for it is love, love to your souls, that constrains me to speak: +I shall lay before you your danger, and the misery to which you are +exposed, while you remain impenitent in sin. And O that this may be a +means of making you fly to CHRIST for pardon and forgiveness. + +While thy sins are not repented of, thou art in danger of death, and if +you should die, you would perish for ever. There is no hope of any who +live and die in their sins, but that they will dwell with devils and +damned spirits to all eternity. And how do we know we shall live much +longer: we are not sure of seeing our own habitations this night in +safety. What mean ye then being at ease and pleasure while your sins +are not pardoned. As sure as ever the word of GOD is true, if you die +in that condition, you are shut out of all hope and mercy for ever, and +shall pass into easeless and endless misery. + +What is all thy pleasures and diversions worth? They last but for a +moment, they are of no worth, and but of short continuance. And sure it +must be gross folly, eagerly to pursue those sinful lusts and pleasures, +which war against the soul, which tend to harden the heart, and keep us +from closing with the LORD JESUS; indeed, these are destructive of our +peace here, and without repentance, will be of our peace hereafter. + +O the folly and madness of this sensual world; sure if there were +nothing in sin but present slavery, it would keep an ingenuous spirit +from it. But to do the devils drudgery! and if we do that, we shall +have his wages, which is eternal death and condemnation; O consider +this, my guilty brethren, you that think it no crime to swear, whore, +drink, or scoff and jeer at the people of GOD; consider how your voices +will then be changed, and you that counted their lives madness, and +their end without honour, shall howl and lament at your own madness +and folly, that should bring you to so much woe and distress. Then you +will lament and bemoan your own dreadful condition; but it will be of +no signification: for he that is now your merciful Saviour, will then +become your inexorable Judge. Now he is easy to be entreated; but then, +all your tears and prayers will be in vain: for GOD hath allotted to +every man a day of grace, a time of repentance, which if he doth not +improve, but neglects and despises the means which are offered to him, +he cannot be saved. + +Consider, therefore, while you are going on in a course of sin +and unrighteousness, I beseech you, my brethren, to think of the +consequence that will attend your thus mispending your precious time; +your souls are worth being concerned about: for if you can enjoy all +the pleasures and diversions of life, at death you must leave them; +that will put an end to all your worldly concerns. And will it not +be very deplorable, to have your good things here, all your earthly, +sensual, devilish pleasures, which you have been so much taken up with, +all over: and the thought for how trifling a concern thou hast lost +eternal welfare, will gnaw thy very soul. + +Thy wealth and grandeur will stand in no stead; thou canst carry +nothing of it into the other world: then the consideration of thy +uncharitableness to the poor, and the ways thou didst take to obtain +thy wealth, will be a very hell unto thee. + +Now you enjoy the means of grace, as the preaching of his word, prayer, +and sacraments; and GOD has sent his ministers out into the fields and +highways, to invite, to woo you to come in; but they are tiresome to +thee, thou hadst rather be at thy pleasures: ere long, my brethren, +they will be over, and you will be no more troubled with them; but then +thou wouldst give ten thousand worlds for one moment of that merciful +time of grace which thou hast abused; then you will cry for a drop of +that precious blood which now you trample under your feet; then you +will wish for one more offer of mercy, for CHRIST and his free grace +to be offered to you again; but your crying will be in vain: for as you +would not repent here, GOD will not give you an opportunity to repent +hereafter: if you would not in CHRIST’s time, you shall not in your +own. In what a dreadful condition will you then be? What horror and +astonishment will possess your souls? Then all thy lies and oaths, +thy scoffs and jeers at the people of GOD, all thy filthy and unclean +thoughts and actions, thy mispent time in balls, plays, and assemblies, +thy spending whole evenings at cards, dice, and masquerades, thy +frequenting of taverns and alehouses, thy worldliness, covetousness, +and thy uncharitableness, will be brought at once to thy remembrance, +and at once charged upon thy guilty soul. And how can you bear the +thoughts of these things? Indeed I am full of compassion towards you, +to think that this should be the portion of any who now hear me. These +are truths, though awful ones; my brethren, these are the truths of +the gospel; and if there was not a necessity for thus speaking, I would +willingly forbear: for it is no pleasing subject to me, any more than +it is to you; but it is my duty to shew you the dreadful consequences +of continuing in sin. I am only now acting the part of a skilful +surgeon, that searches a wound before he heals it: I would shew you +your danger first, that deliverance may be the more readily accepted by +you. + +Consider, that however you may be for putting the evil day away from +you, and are now striving to hide your sins, at the day of judgment +there shall be a full discovery of all; hidden things on that day shall +be brought to light; and after all thy sins have been revealed to the +whole world, then you must depart into everlasting fire in hell, which +will not be quenched night and day; it will be without intermission, +without end. O then, what stupidity and senselessness hath possessed +your hearts, that you are not frighted from your sins. The fear of +_Nebuchadnezzar_’s fiery furnace, made men do any thing to avoid it; +and shall not an everlasting fire make men, make you, do any thing to +avoid it? + +O that this would awaken and cause you to humble yourselves for your +sins, and to beg pardon for them, that you might find mercy in the LORD. + +Do not go away, let not the devil hurry you away before the sermon is +over; but stay, and you shall have a JESUS offered to you, who has made +full satisfaction for all your sins. + +Let me beseech you to cast away your transgressions, to strive against +sin, to watch against it, and to beg power and strength from CHRIST, +to keep down the power of those lusts that hurry you on in your sinful +ways. + +But if you will not do any of these things, if you are resolved to +sin on, you must expect eternal death to be the consequence; you +must expect to be seized with horror and trembling, with horror and +amazement, to hear the dreadful sentence of condemnation pronounced +against you: and then you will run and call upon the mountains to fall +on you, to hide you from the LORD, and from the fierce anger of his +wrath. + +Had you now a heart to turn from your sins unto the living GOD, by +true and unfeigned repentance, and to pray unto him for mercy, in and +through the merits of JESUS CHRIST, there were hope; but at the day of +judgment, thy prayers and tears will be of no signification; they will +be of no service to thee, the Judge will not be entreated by thee: as +you would not hearken to him when he called unto thee, but despised +both him and his ministers, and would not leave your iniquities; +therefore, on that day he will not be entreated, notwithstanding all +thy cries and tears; for GOD himself hath said, “Because I have called, +and you refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded, but +ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would have none of my reproof; +I will also laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear cometh as +desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress +and anguish cometh upon you, then shall they call upon me, but I will +not answer, they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me.” + +Now you may call this enthusiasm and madness; but at that great day, if +you repent not of your sins here, you will find, by woeful experience, +that your own ways were madness indeed; but GOD forbid it should be +left undone till then: seek after the LORD while he is to be found; +call upon him while he is near, and you shall find mercy: repent this +hour, and CHRIST will joyfully receive you. + +What say you? Must I go to my Master, and tell him you will not come +unto him, and will have none of his counsels? No; do not send me on so +unhappy an errand: I cannot, I will not tell him any such thing. Shall +not I rather tell him, you are willing to repent and to be converted, +to become new men, and take up a new course of life: this is the only +wise resolution you can make. Let me tell my Master, that you will come +unto, and will wait upon him: for if you do not, it will be your ruin +in time, and to eternity. + +You will at death wish you had lived the life of the righteous, that +you might have died his death. Be advised then; consider what is before +you, CHRIST and the world, holiness and sin, life and death: choose +now for yourselves; let your choice be made immediately, and let that +choice be your dying choice. + +If you would not chuse to die in your sins, to die drunkards, to die +adulterers, to die swearers and scoffers, &c. live not out this night +in the dreadful condition you are in. Some of you, it may be, may say, +You have not power, you have no strength: but have not you been wanting +to yourselves in such things that were within your power? Have you not +as much power to go to hear a sermon, as to go into a playhouse, or to +a ball, or masquerade? You have as much power to read the Bible, as to +read plays, novels, and romances; and you can associate as well with +the godly, as with the wicked and prophane: this is but an idle excuse, +my brethren, to go on in your sins: and if you will be found in the +means of grace, CHRIST hath promised he will give you strength. While +_Peter_ was preaching, the Holy Ghost fell on all that heard the word: +how then should you be found in the way of your duty? JESUS CHRIST will +then give thee strength; he will put his Spirit within thee; thou shalt +find he will be thy wisdom, thy righteousness, thy sanctification, and +thy redemption. Do but try what a gracious, a kind, and loving Master +he is; he will be a help to thee in all thy burdens: and if the burden +of sin is on thy soul, go to him as weary and heavy laden, and thou +shalt find rest. + +Do not say, that your sins are too many and too great to expect to +find mercy: No; be they ever so many, or ever so great, the blood of +the LORD JESUS CHRIST will cleanse you from all sins. GOD’s grace, my +brethren, is free, rich, and sovereign. _Manassah_ was a great sinner, +and yet he was pardoned; _Zaccheus_ was gone far from GOD, and went +out to see CHRIST, with no other view but to satisfy his curiosity; +and yet JESUS met him, and brought salvation to his house. _Manassah_ +was an idolater and murderer, yet he received mercy; the other was an +oppressor and extortioner, who had gotten riches by fraud and deceit, +and by grinding the faces of the poor: so did _Matthew_ too, and yet +they found mercy. + +Have you been blasphemers and persecutors of the saints and servants +of GOD? So was St. _Paul_, yet he received mercy: Have you been common +harlots, filthy and unclean persons? so was _Mary Magdalene_, and yet +she received mercy: Hast thou been a thief? the thief upon the cross +found mercy. I despair of none of you, however vile and profligate you +have been; I say, I despair of none of you, especially when GOD has had +mercy on such a wretch as I am. + +Remember the poor Publican, how he found favour with GOD, when +the proud, self-conceited Pharisee, who, puffed up with his own +righteousness, was rejected. And if you will go to JESUS, as the +poor Publican did, under a sense of your own unworthiness, you shall +find favour as he did: there is virtue enough in the blood of JESUS, +to pardon greater sinners than he has yet pardoned. Then be not +discouraged, but come unto JESUS, and you will find him ready to help +in all thy distresses, to lead thee into all truth, to bring thee from +darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto GOD. + +Do not let the devil deceive you, by telling you, that then all your +delights and pleasures will be over: No; this is so far from depriving +you of all pleasure, that it is an inlet unto unspeakable delights, +peculiar to all who are truly regenerated. The new birth is the very +beginning of a life of peace and comfort; and the greatest pleasantness +is to be found in the ways of holiness. + +_Solomon_, who had experience of all other pleasures, yet saith of +the ways of godliness, “That all her ways are ways of pleasantness, +and all her paths are paths of peace.” Then sure you will not let the +devil deceive you; it is all he wants, it is that he aims at, to make +religion appear to be melancholy, miserable, and enthusiastic: but +let him say what he will, give not ear to him, regard him not, for he +always was and will be a liar. + +What words, what entreaties shall I use, to make you come unto the +LORD JESUS CHRIST? The little love I have experienced since I have been +brought from sin to GOD, is so great, that I would not be in a natural +state for ten thousand worlds; and what I have felt is but little to +what I hope to feel; but that little love which I have experienced, +is a sufficient buoy against all the storms and tempests of this +boisterous world: and let men and devils do their worst, I rejoice in +the LORD JESUS, yea, and I will rejoice. + +And O if you repent and come to JESUS, I would rejoice on your accounts +too; and we should rejoice together to all eternity, when once passed +on the other side of the grave. O come to JESUS. The arms of JESUS +CHRIST will embrace you; he will wash away all your sins in his blood, +and will love you freely. + +Come, I beseech you to come unto JESUS CHRIST. O that my words would +pierce to the very soul! O that JESUS CHRIST was formed in you! O that +you would turn to the LORD JESUS CHRIST, that he might have mercy upon +you! + +I would speak till midnight, yea, I would speak till I could speak no +more, so it might be a means to bring you to JESUS: let the LORD JESUS +but enter your souls, and you shall find peace which the world can +neither give nor take away. There is mercy for the greatest sinner +amongst you; go unto the LORD as sinners, helpless and undone without +it, and then you shall find comfort in your souls, and be admitted at +last amongst those who sing praises unto the LORD to all eternity. + +Now, my brethren; let me speak a word of exhortation to those of you, +who are already brought to the LORD JESUS, who are born again, who +do belong to GOD, to whom it has been given to repent of your sins, +and are cleansed from their guilt; and that is, be thankful to GOD +for his mercies towards you. O admire the grace of GOD, and bless his +name for ever! Are you made alive in CHRIST JESUS? Is the life of GOD +begun in your souls, and have you the evidence thereof? Be thankful +for this unspeakable mercy to you: never forget to speak of his mercy. +And as your life was formerly devoted to sin, and to the pleasures +of the world, let it now be spent wholly in the ways of GOD; and O +embrace every opportunity of doing and of receiving good. Whatsoever +opportunity you have, do it vigorously, do it speedily, do not defer +it. If thou seest one hurrying on to destruction, use the utmost of +thy endeavour to stop him in his course; shew him the need he has of +repentance, and that without it he is lost for ever; do not regard +his despising of you; still go on to shew him his danger: and if thy +friends mock and despise, do not let that discourage you; hold on, hold +out to the end, so you shall have a crown which is immutable, and that +fadeth not away. + +Let the love of JESUS to you, keep you also humble; do not be high +minded, keep close unto the LORD, observe the rules which the LORD +JESUS CHRIST has given in his word, and let not the instructions be +lost which you are capable of giving. O consider what reason you have +to be thankful to the LORD JESUS CHRIST for giving you that repentance +you yourselves had need of: a repentance which worketh by love. Now +you find more pleasure in walking with GOD one hour, than in all your +former carnal delights, and all the pleasures of sin. O! the joy you +feel in your own souls, which all the men of this world, and all the +devils in hell, though they were to combine together, could not destroy. +Then fear not their wrath or malice, for through many tribulations we +must enter into glory. + +A few days, or weeks, or years more, and then you will be beyond their +reach, you will be in the heavenly _Jerusalem_; there is all harmony +and love, there is all joy and delight; there the weary soul is at rest. + +Now we have many enemies, but at death they are all lost; they cannot +follow us beyond the grave: and this is a great encouragement to us not +to regard the scoffs and jeers of the men of this world. + +O let the love of JESUS be in your thoughts continually. It was his +dying that brought you life; it was his crucifixion that paid the +satisfaction for your sins; his death, burial, and resurrection that +compleated the work; and he is now in heaven, interceding for you +at the right-hand of his Father. And can you do too much for the +LORD JESUS CHRIST, who has done so much for you? His love to you +is unfathomable. O the height, the depth, the length and breadth of +this love, that brought the King of glory from his throne, to die +for such rebels as we are, when we had acted so unkindly against him, +and deserved nothing but eternal damnation. He came down and took our +nature upon him; he was made of flesh and dwelt among us; he was put +to death on our account; he paid our ransom: surely this should make us +love the LORD JESUS CHRIST; should make us rejoice in him, and not do +as too many do, and as we ourselves have too often, crucify this JESUS +afresh. Let us do all we can, my dear brethren, to honour him. + +Come, all of you, come, and behold him stretched out for you; see his +hands and feet nailed to the cross. O come, come, my brethren, and +nail your sins thereto; come, come and see his side pierced; there is a +fountain open for sin, and for uncleanness: O wash, wash and be clean: +come and see his head crowned with thorns, and all for you. Can you +think of a panting, bleeding, dying JESUS, and not be filled with pity +towards him? He underwent all this for you. Come unto him by faith; lay +hold on him: there is mercy for every soul of you that will come unto +him. Then do not delay; fly unto the arms of this JESUS, and you shall +be made clean in his blood. + +O what shall I say unto you to make you come to JESUS: I have shewed +you the dreadful consequence of not repenting of your sins: and if +after all I have said, you are resolved to persist, your blood will be +required at your own heads; but I hope better things of you, and things +that accompany salvation. Let me beg of you to pray in good earnest for +the grace of repentance. I may never see your faces again; but at the +day of judgment I will meet you: there you will either bless GOD that +ever you were moved to repentance; or else this sermon, though in a +field, will be as a swift witness against you. Repent, repent therefore, +my dear brethren, as _John the Baptist_, and as our blessed Redeemer +himself earnestly exhorted, and turn from your evil ways, and the LORD +will have mercy on you. + +Shew them, O Father, wherein they have offended thee; make them to +see their own vileness, and that they are lost and undone without +true repentance; and O give them that repentance, we beseech of thee, +that they may turn from sin unto thee the living and true GOD. These +things, and whatever else thou seest needful for us, we entreat that +thou wouldst bestow upon us, on account of what the dear JESUS CHRIST +has done and suffered; to whom, with Thyself, and holy Spirit, three +persons, and one GOD, be ascribed, as is most due, all power, glory, +might, majesty, and dominion, now, henceforth, and for evermore, _Amen._ + + + + + SERMON XXXIII. + + The Gospel Supper. + + + LUKE xiv. 22, 23, 24. + + _And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, + and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go + out into the high-ways, and hedges, and compel them to come in, + that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, that none of + those men which were bidden, shall taste of my supper._ + +THOUGH here is a large and solemn assembly, yet I suppose you are all +convinced, that you are not to live in this world always. May I not +take it for granted, that even the most prophane amongst you, do in +your hearts believe, what the sacred oracles have most clearly revealed, +“That as it is appointed for all men once to die, so after death comes +the judgment?” Yes, I know you believe, that nothing is more certain, +than that we are to “appear before the judgment-seat of CHRIST, to +be rewarded according to the deeds done in the body, whether they +have been good, or whether they have been evil.” And, however hard +the saying may seem to you at the first hearing, yet I cannot help +informing you, that I am thoroughly persuaded, as many will be driven +from that judgment-seat, with a “Depart ye cursed into everlasting +fire,” for pursuing things in themselves lawful, out of a wrong +principle, and in too intense a degree; as for drunkenness, adultery, +fornication, or any other gross enormity whatsoever. Bad as the world +is, blessed be GOD, there are great numbers yet left amongst us, who +either through the restraints of a religious education, or self-love, +and outward reputation, abstain from gross sin themselves, and look +with detestation and abhorrence upon others, who indulge themselves in +it. But then, through an over-eager pursuit after the things of sense +and time, their souls are insensibly lulled into a spiritual slumber, +and by degrees become as dead to GOD, and as deaf to all the gracious +invitations of the gospel, as the most abandoned prodigals. It is +remarkable, therefore, that our Saviour, knowing how desperately +wicked and treacherous the heart of man was, in this, as well as other +respects, after he had cautioned his disciples, and us in them, to +“take heed that their hearts were not at any time overcharged with +surfeiting and drunkenness,” immediately adds, “and the cares (the +immoderate anxious cares) of this life.” For they are of a distracting, +intoxicating nature, and soon overcharge and weigh down the hearts of +the children of men. To prevent or remedy this evil, our LORD, during +the time of his tabernacling here below, spake many parables, but not +one more pertinent, not one, in which the freeness of the gospel-call, +and the frivolous pretences men frame to excuse themselves from +embracing it, and the dreadful doom they incur by so doing, are more +displayed, or set off in livelier colours, than that to which the words +of the text refer. “And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the +highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be +filled: For I say unto you, that none of those that were bidden shall +taste of my supper.” + +In order to have a clear view of the occasion, scope, and contents of +the parable, to which these words belong, it is necessary for us to +look back to the very beginning of this chapter. “And it came to pass, +as he went into the house of one of the chief pharisees to eat bread, +on the sabbath day, that they watched him.” The person here spoken +of, as going into this Pharisee’s house, is our blessed Saviour. For +as he came eating and drinking, agreeable to his character, he was +free, courteous and affable to all; and therefore though it was on +the sabbath-day, he accepted an invitation, and went into the house +of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread, notwithstanding he knew +the Pharisees were his professed enemies, and that they watched him, +hoping to find some occasion to upbraid him, either for his discourse +or behaviour. If the Pharisee into whose house our LORD went, was +one of this stamp, his invitation bespeaks him to be a very ill man, +and may serve to teach us, that much rancour and heart-enmity against +JESUS CHRIST, may be concealed and cloaked under a great and blazing +profession of religion. However, our Saviour was more than a match +for all his enemies, and by accepting this invitation, hath warranted +his ministers and disciples, to comply with the like invitations, and +converse freely about the things of GOD, though those who invite them, +may not have real religion at heart. For how knowest thou, O man, but +thou mayest drop something, that may benefit their souls, and make them +religious indeed? And supposing they should watch thee, watch thou unto +prayer, whilst thou art in their company, and that same JESUS, who went +into this Pharisee’s house, and was so faithful and edifying in his +conversation when there, will enable thee to go and do likewise. + +That our LORD’s conversation was not trifling, but such as tended to +the use of edifying, and that he behaved among the guests as a faithful +physician, rather than as a careless, indifferent companion, is evident +from the 7th verse of this chapter, where we are told, that “he marked +how they chose the chief rooms;” or, to speak in our common way, were +desirous of sitting at the upper end of the table. And whether we think +of it or not, the LORD JESUS takes notice of our behaviour, even when +we are going to sit down only at our common meals. Would to GOD, all +that make a profession of real christianity, considered this well! +Religion then would not be so much confined to church, or meeting, but +be brought home to our private houses, and many needless unchristian +compliments be prevented. For (with grief I speak it) is it not too +true, that abundance of professors love, and are too fond of the +uppermost places in houses, as well as synagogues? This was what our +LORD blamed in the guests where he now was. He marked, he took notice, +he looked before he spake (as we should always do, if we would speak +to the purpose) how they chose out the chief rooms. Therefore, though +they were rich in this world’s goods, and were none of his guests, yet +unwilling to suffer the least sin upon them, or lose any opportunity of +giving instruction, he gave them a lecture upon humility, saying unto +them, or directing his discourse to all in general, though probably he +spake to one in particular, who sat near him, and whom, it may be, he +took notice of, as more than ordinarily solicitous in choosing a chief +room, or couch, on which they lay at meals, after the custom of the +_Romans_; “When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding (which seems +to intimate that this was a wedding-feast) sit not down in the highest +room, lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; and he +that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and +thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, +go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, +he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have +worship (or respect) in the presence of them who sit at meat with +thee.” O glorious example of faithfulness and love to souls! How ought +ministers especially, to copy after their blessed Master, and, with +simplicity and godly sincerity, mildly and opportunely rebuke the +faults of the company they are in, though superior to them in outward +circumstances? What rightly informed person, after reading this passage, +can think they teach right and agreeable to the word of GOD in this +respect, who say, we must not, at least need not, reprove natural men? +Surely such doctrine cometh not from above! For are we not commanded, +in any wise, to reprove our neighbour (whether he be a child of GOD +or no) and not to suffer sin upon him? Is it not more than probable, +that all these guests were natural men? And yet our LORD reproved them. +Help us then, O Saviour, in this and every other instance of thy moral +conduct, to walk as thou hast set us an example! + +Neither did our LORD stop here; but observing that none but the rich, +the mighty, and the noble, were called to the feast, he took occasion +also from thence, to give even his host (for the best return we make +our friends for their kindness, is to be faithful to their souls) one +of the chief Pharisees, a wholesome piece of advice. “Then said he +also to him that bade him, when thou makest a dinner or a supper, call +not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen nor thy rich +neighbours, lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made +thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, +the blind, and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompence thee: +For thou shalt be recompenced at the resurrection of the just!” Thus +did our LORD entertain the company. Words spoken in such due season, +how good are they! Would CHRIST’s followers thus exert themselves, and, +when in company, begin some useful discourse for their great master, +they know not what good they might do, and how many might be influenced, +by their good example, to second them in it. + +An instance of this we have in the 14th verse: “And when one of them +that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed +is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of GOD.” Happy they who +shall be recompenced at that resurrection of the just, which thou hast +been speaking of. A very pertinent saying this! every way suitable to +persons sitting down to eat bread on earth, which we should never do, +without talking of, and longing for that time, when we shall sit down +and eat bread in the kingdom of heaven. This opened to our LORD a fresh +topic of conversation, and occasioned the parable, which is to be the +more immediate subject of your present meditation. As though he had +said to the person that spoke last, Thou sayest right: blessed are +they indeed, who shall sit down to eat bread in the kingdom of GOD: But +alas! most men, especially you Pharisees, act as if you did not believe +this; and therefore he said unto him, “A certain man made a great +supper, and bade many;” by the certain man making a great supper, we +are to understand GOD the Father, who has made provision for perishing +souls, by the obedience and death of his beloved Son CHRIST JESUS. This +provision is here represented under the character of a supper, because +the _Cæna_ or supper, among the ancients, was their grand meal: Men +could never have made such provision for themselves, or angels for them. +No, our salvation is all from GOD, from the beginning to the end. He +made it, and not we ourselves; and it is wholly owing to the divine +wisdom, and not our own, that we are become GOD’s people, and the +sheep of his pasture. This provision for perishing souls, may be justly +called _great_, because there is rich and ample provision made in the +gospel for a great many souls. For however CHRIST’s flock may be but a +little flock, when asunder, yet when they come all together, they will +be a multitude which no man can number. And it is especially called +_great_, because it was purchased at so great a price, the price of +CHRIST’s most precious blood. And therefore, when the apostle would +exhort the christians to glorify GOD in their souls and bodies, he +makes use of this glorious motive, “That they were bought with a +price.” He does not say what price, but barely a _price_, emphatically +so called; as though all the prices in the world were nothing (as +indeed they are not) when compared to this price of CHRIST’s most +precious blood. + +For these reasons, JESUS said in the parable, “A certain man made a +great supper, and bade many, and sent his servant at supper-time, to +say to them that were bidden, Come, for all things are now ready.” He +bade many; the eternal GOD took the _Jews_ for his peculiar people, +under the _Mosaic_ dispensation; and by types, shadows, and prophesies +of the Old Testament, invited them to partake of the glorious +privileges of the gospel. “But at supper-time,” in the fulness of time, +which GOD the Father had decreed from eternity, in the evening of the +world (for which reason the gospel times are called the last times) +“he sent his servant,” CHRIST his Son, here called his servant, because +acting as Mediator he was inferior to the Father; therefore says the +prophet _Isaiah_, “Behold my servant whom I have chosen:” “to say to +them that were bidden,” to the professing _Jews_, called by St. _John_, +“his own,” that is, his peculiar professing people――with this message, +“Come;” repent and believe the gospel. Nothing is required on man’s +part, but to come, or accept of the gospel offer. It is not according +to the old covenant, “Do and live;” but only “come, believe, and thou +shalt be saved.” All things are ready. Nothing is wanting on GOD’s part. +“All things are now ready.” There seems to be a particular emphasis to +be put upon NOW, implying, this was an especial season of grace, and +GOD was now exerting his last efforts, to save lost man. Well then, +if the great GOD be at so great an expence, to make so great a supper, +for perishing creatures, and sends so great a person as his own Son, in +the form of a servant, to invite them to come to it; one would imagine, +that all who heard these glad tidings, should readily say, LORD, lo we +come. But instead of this, we are told, “They all, (the greatest part +of the _Jews_) with one consent began to make excuse.” Conscience told +them they ought to come, and in all probability they had some faint +desire to come; and they had nothing, as we hear of, to object either +against the person who prepared the supper, or the person that invited +them, or the entertainment itself; neither do we hear that they treated +either with contempt, as is the custom of too many in the days wherein +we live. In all probability, they acknowledged all was very good, and +that it was kind in that certain man, to send them such an invitation. +But being very busy, and as they thought very lawfully engaged, they +begun to make excuse. + +But the excuses they made, rendered their refusal inexcusable. “The +first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs +go and see it:” Thou fool, buy a piece of ground, and then go see it! +A prudent man would have gone and seen the ground first, and bought +it afterwards. Why must he _needs_ go? At least, why must he needs go +_now_? The land was his own, could he not therefore have accepted the +invitation to-day, and gone and seen his estate, or plantation, on the +morrow? As he had bought it, he need not fear losing his bargain, by +anothers buying it from him. But notwithstanding all this, there is a +needs must for his going, and therefore says he, “I pray thee, have me +excused,” and improve thy interest with thy master in my behalf. This +was a bad excuse. + +The second was rather worse. For what says the evangelist, verse 19? +“And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove +them:” One, it seems, had been buying an estate; another, cattle, to +stock an estate already bought; and both equally foolish in making +their bargains. For this second had bought five yoke of oxen, which +must needs cost them a considerable sum, perhaps all he had in the +world, and now he must go and prove them. A wise dealer would have +proved the oxen first, and bought them afterwards: But our Saviour +speaks this, to shew us, that we will trust one another, nay I may add, +the devil himself, more than we will trust GOD. + +The excuse which the third makes, is worst of all. “I have married a +wife, and therefore I cannot come.” Had he said, I will not come, he +had spoken the real sentiments of his heart: for it is not so much mens +impotency, as their want of a will, and inclination, that keeps them +from the gospel-feast. But why cannot he come? He has “married a wife.” +Has he so? Why then, by all means he should come. For the supper to +which he was invited, as it should seem, was a wedding-supper, and +would have saved him the trouble of a nuptial entertainment. It was +a great supper, and consequently there was provision enough for him, +and his bride too. And it was made by a great man, who sent out his +servant to bid many, so that he need not have doubted of meeting with a +hearty welcome, though he should bring his wife with him. Or supposing +his wife was unwilling to come, yet as the husband is the head of the +wife, he ought to have laid his commands on her, to accompany him. +For we cannot do better for our yoke-fellows, than to bring them to +the gospel-feast. Or, supposing after all, she would not be prevailed +upon, he ought to have gone without her: for “those that have wives, +must be as though they had none;” and we must not let carnal affection +get such an ascendancy over us, as to be kept thereby from spiritual +entertainments. _Adam_ paid dear for hearkening to the voice of his +wife: and sometimes, unless we forsake wives, as well as houses and +lands, we cannot be the LORD’s disciples. + +This then was the reception the servant met with, and such were +the excuses, and answers, that were sent back. And what was the +consequence? “So that servant came (no doubt with a sorrowful heart) +and shewed his LORD these things.” However little it be thought of, yet +ministers must shew the LORD, what success their ministry meets with. +We must shew it to our LORD here. We must spread the case before him +in prayer. We must shew it to our LORD hereafter, before the general +assembly of the whole world. But how dreadful is it, when ministers are +obliged to go upon their knees, crying, “O! my leanness, my leanness!” +and _Elias_-like, to intercede as it were against those, to whom they +would not only have imparted the gospel, but even their own lives. It +is a heart-breaking consideration. But thus it must be; “The servant +came and shewed the LORD these things;” so must we. Well, and what says +the LORD? We are told, verse 21st, that “the master of the house was +angry?” Not with the servant: for though _Israel_ be not gathered, yet +shall CHRIST be glorious; and faithful ministers shall be rewarded, +whether people obey the gospel or not. “We are a sweet savour unto GOD, +whether the word be a savour of life unto life, or a savour of death +unto death.” The master of the house therefore was angry, not with +the servant, but with these-worldly-minded, pleasure-taking refusers +of his gracious invitation; who, in all probability, went to see and +stock their estates, and attend upon their brides, not doubting, but +their excuses would be taken, because they were lawfully employed. And, +indeed, in one sense, their excuses were accepted. For I do not hear +that they were ever invited any more. GOD took them at their word, +though they would not take him at his. They begged to be excused, and +they were excused, as we shall see in the sequel of this parable. Let +us not therefore harden our hearts, as in the day of provocation; “Now +is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.” But must the feast +want guests? No, if they cannot, or will not come, others shall, and +will. The master of the house therefore being angry, sent the servant +upon a second errand. “Go out quickly into the streets, and lanes +of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the +halt, and the blind.” Every word bespeaks a spirit of resentment and +importunity. Go out quickly, make no delay, dread no attempt or danger, +into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither, not only +call them, but bring them in (for the master here, to encourage the +servant, assures him of success) the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, +and the blind. This was fulfilled, when JESUS CHRIST, after the gospel +was rejected by the _Jews_, went and invited the _Gentiles_, and when +the publicans and harlots took the kingdom of GOD by a holy violence, +whilst the self-righteous scribes and Pharisees rejected the kingdom +of GOD against themselves. This was also a home reproof to the rich +Pharisee, at whose house the LORD JESUS was, as well as a cutting +lesson to the other guests. For our Saviour would hereby shew them, +that GOD took a quite different method from his host, and was not above +receiving the poor, and halt, and blind, and maimed, to the gospel +supper, though he had called none such to sit down at his table. +Whether the guests resented it or not, we are not told. But if they +were not quite blind, both host and guests might easily see that the +parable was spoken against them. But to proceed, + +The servant again returns, but with a more pleasing answer than before, +“Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.” The +words bespeak the servant to be full of joy at the thoughts of the +success he had met with. None can tell, but those who experience it, +what comfort ministers have in seeing their labours blest. “Now I live, +(says the apostle) if you stand fast in the LORD. Ye are our joy and +crown of rejoicing in the day of the LORD JESUS.” “Lord, it is done as +thou hast commanded. The poor, and maimed, and halt, and blind, have +been called, and have obeyed the summons, and I have brought them with +me; yet, LORD, thy house, and thy supper is so great, there is room +for more.” Hereby he insinuated that he wanted to be employed again, +in calling more souls; and the more we do, the more may we do for GOD: +“To him that hath, shall be given;” and present success is a great +encouragement to future diligence. Such hints are pleasing to our +Saviour. He delights to see his ministers ready for new work, and +waiting for fresh orders. “The LORD, therefore, we are told, verse 23, +said unto his servant, (the same servant,) Go out into the highways +and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled; +24. For I say unto you, that none of those who are bidden, shall taste +of my supper.” O cutting words to those that sat at meat, if they +had hearts to make the application! But glad tidings of great joy to +the publicans, harlots, and Gentiles, who were rejected by the proud +Pharisees, as aliens to the commonwealth of _Israel_, and strangers +to the covenant of promise! This was fulfilled, when our LORD sent +the apostles, not only into the streets and lanes of the city, and +places bordering upon _Jerusalem_ and _Judea_; but when he gave them a +commission to go out into all the world, and preach the gospel to every +creature, _Gentile_ as well as _Jew_; and not only gave them a command, +but blessed their labours with such success, that three thousand were +converted in one day. And I am not without hopes that it will be still +further fulfilled, by the calling of some of you home this day: For +however this parable was spoken originally to the _Jews_, and upon a +particular occasion, as at a feast, yet it is applicable to us, and to +our children, and to as many as are afar off; yea, to as many as the +LORD our GOD shall call. It gives a sanction, methinks, to preaching in +the fields, and other places besides the synagogues; and points out the +reception the gospel meets with in these days, in such a lively manner, +that one would think it had a particular reference to the present age. +For is it not too, too plain, that the gospel-offers, and gospel-grace, +have been slighted, and made light of, by many professors of this +generation? We have been in the churches, telling them, again and again, +that GOD has made a great supper (and has invited many, even them) and +sent us by his providence and his spirit, “to say unto them that were +bidden, Come, for all things are now ready. Believe on the LORD JESUS, +and you shall be saved.” But the generality of the laity have made +light of it, they have given us the hearing, but are too busy in their +farms and their merchandizes, their marrying and giving in marriage, +to come and be blessed in the LORD of life. We have told them, again +and again, that we do not want them to hide themselves from the world, +but to teach them how they may live in, and yet not be of it. But all +will not do. Many of the clergy also (like the letter-learned Scribes +and Pharisees in our Saviour’s time) reject the kingdom of GOD against +themselves, and deny us the use of the pulpits, for no other reason but +because we preach the doctrine of justification in the sight of GOD by +faith alone, and invite sinners to come and taste of the gospel feast +freely, without money and without price. + +Whatever they may think, we are persuaded, the great master of the +house is angry with them, for being angry with us without a cause. +He therefore now, by his providence, bids us “Go out quickly into the +streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor, and the maimed, +and the halt, and the blind,” or call in the publicans and harlots, +the common cursers and swearers, and sabbath-breakers, and adulterers, +who, perhaps, never entered a church door, or heard that JESUS CHRIST +died for such sinners as they are. We, through grace, have obeyed the +command, we have gone out, though exposed to much contempt for so doing, +and, blessed be GOD, our labour has not been in vain in the LORD. For +many have been made willing in the day of GOD’s power; and, we would +speak it with humility, we can go chearfully to our Saviour, and say, +“It is done, LORD, as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.” He +is therefore pleased, in spite of all opposition from men or devils, +to continue, and renew, and enlarge our commission; he hath sent us +literally into the highways and hedges; and, I trust, has given us +a commission to compel sinners to come: For, could we speak with the +tongues of men and angels, yet if the LORD did not attend the word +with his power, and sweetly inclined men’s wills to comply with the +gospel-call, we should be as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. +But this we believe our Saviour will do, for his house must be filled: +every soul for whom he has shed his blood, shall finally be saved, “and +all that the Father hath given him, shall come unto him, and whosoever +cometh unto him he will in no wise cast out.” This comforted our LORD, +when his gospel was rejected by the _Jews_. As though he had said, Well, +tho’ you despise the offers of my grace, yet I shall not shed my blood +in vain; for all that the Father hath given me shall come unto me. + +Supported by this consideration, I am not ashamed to come out this +day into the highways and hedges, and to confess that my business +is to call the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind, +self-condemned, helpless sinners, to the marriage-feast of the +supper of the Lamb. My cry is, Come, believe on the LORD JESUS; throw +yourselves at the footstool of his mercy, and you shall be saved; for +all things are now ready. GOD the Father is ready, GOD the Son is ready, +GOD the Holy Ghost is ready; the blessed angels above are ready, and +the blessed saints below are ready, to welcome you to the gospel-feast. +A perfect and everlasting righteousness is now wrought out by JESUS +CHRIST. GOD, now, upon honourable terms, can acquit the guilty. GOD can +now be just, and yet justify the ungodly. “For he hath made CHRIST to +be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness +of GOD in him.” The fatted calf is now killed, and “CHRIST, our +passover, is sacrificed for us.” Come, sinners, and feed upon him in +your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving. For JESUS CHRIST’s sake, do +not with one consent begin to make excuse. Do not let a piece of ground, +five yoke of oxen, or even a wife, keep you from this great supper. +These you may enjoy, as the gifts of GOD, and make use of them for +the Mediator’s glory, and yet be present at the gospel-feast. True and +undefiled religion does not take away, but rather greatly enhances the +comforts of life; and our LORD did not pray that we should be taken out +of the world, but “that we should be delivered from the evil of it.” +O then that you would all, with one consent, say, Lo! we come. Assure +yourselves there is provision enough. For it is a great supper. In our +Father’s house there is bread enough and to spare. And though a great +GOD makes the supper, yet he is as good and condescending as he is +great. Though he be the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity, +yet he will dwell with the humble and contrite heart, even with the man +that trembleth at his word. Neither can you complain for want of room; +“for yet there is room. In our Father’s house are many mansions.” If +it was not so, our Saviour would have told us. The grace of CHRIST is +as rich, as free, and as powerful as ever. He is “the same yesterday, +to-day, and for ever.” He is full of grace and truth, and out of his +fulness, all that come to him may receive grace for grace. He giveth +liberally, and upbraideth not. He willeth not the death of a sinner, +but rather that he should believe and live. Come then, all ye halt, +poor, maimed, and blind sinners; take comfort, the LORD JESUS has sent +his servant to call you. It is now supper-time, and a day of uncommon +grace. The day may be far spent. Haste, therefore, and away to the +supper of the Lamb. If you do not come, I know the master will be angry. +And who can stand before him when he is angry? “Harden not therefore +your hearts, as in the day of provocation, as in the day of temptation +in the wilderness.” Do not provoke the LORD to say, “None of those +that were bidden shall taste of my supper.” O dreadful words! Much more +is implied in them than is expressed. It is the same with that in the +psalms, “I sware in my wrath, that they should not enter into my rest.” +And if you do not enter into GOD’s rest, nor taste of CHRIST’s supper, +you must lift up your eyes in torments, where you will have no rest, +and must sup with the damned devils for ever more. + +Knowing therefore the terrors of the LORD, we persuade you to haste +away, and make no more frivolous excuses. For there is no excuse +against believing. Perhaps you say, You call to the halt, and maimed, +and blind, and poor. But if we are halt, and maimed, how can we come? +If we are blind, how can we see our way? If we are poor, how can we +expect admission to so great a table? Ah! Happy are ye, if you are +sensible, that you are halt and maimed. For if you feel yourselves so, +and are lamenting it, who knows but whilst I am speaking, GOD may send +his Spirit with the word, and fetch you home? Though you are blind, +JESUS has eye salve to anoint you. Though you are poor, yet you are +welcome to this rich feast. It cost JESUS CHRIST a great price, but +you shall have it gratis. For such as you was it designed. “Blessed +are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Rich, +self-righteous, self-sufficient sinners, I know, will scorn both the +feast and its great provider. They have done so already, therefore the +LORD has sent us into the highways and hedges, to bring such poor souls +as you are in. Venture then, my dear friends, and honour GOD, by taking +him at his word. Come to the marriage-feast. Believe me, you will there +partake of most delicious fare. + +Tell me, ye that have been made to taste that the LORD is gracious, +will you not recommend this feast to all? Are you not, whilst I am +speaking, ready to cry out, Come all ye that are without, come ye, +obey the call, for we have sat under the Redeemer’s shadow with great +delight, and his fruit has been pleasant to our taste. Whilst I am +speaking, does not the fire kindle, do not your hearts burn with a +desire that others may come and be blessed too? If you are christians +indeed, I know you will be thus minded, and the language of your hearts +will be, LORD, whilst he is calling, let thy Spirit compel them to come +in. O that the LORD may say, _Amen!_ And why should we doubt? Surely +our Saviour will not let me complain this day that I have laboured in +vain, and spent my strength for nought. Methinks I see many desiring +to come. O how shall I compel you to come forwards. I will not use +fire or sword, as the _Papists_ do, by terribly perverting this text +of scripture. But I will tell you of the love of GOD, the love of GOD +in CHRIST, and surely that must compel you, that must constrain you, +whether you will or not. Sinners, my heart is enlarged towards you. I +could fill my mouth with arguments. Consider the greatness of the GOD +who makes the supper. Consider the greatness of the price, wherewith +it was purchased. Consider the greatness of the provision made for +you. What would you have more? Consider GOD’s infinite condescension, +in calling you now, when you might have been in hell, “where the worm +dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” And that you might be without +excuse, he has sent his servant into the highways and hedges to invite +you there. O that you tasted what I do now! I am sure you would not +want arguments to induce you to come in: No, you would fly to the +gospel-feast, as doves to the windows. + +But, poor souls! many of you, perhaps, are not hungry. You do not +feel yourselves halt, or maimed, or blind, and therefore you have no +relish for this spiritual entertainment. Well, be not angry with me for +calling you; be not offended if I weep over you, because you know not +the day of your visitation: If I must appear in judgment as a swift +witness against you, I must. But that thought chills my blood! I cannot +bear it; I feel that I could lay down my life for you. But I am not +willing to go without you. What say you, my dear friends? I would put +the question to you once more, Will you taste of CHRIST’s supper, or +will you not? You shall all be welcome. There is milk at this feast +for babes, as well as meat for strong men, and for persons of riper +years. There is room and provision for high and low, rich and poor, +one with another; and our Saviour will thank you for coming. Amazing +condescension! Astonishing love! The thought of it quite overcomes me. +Help me, help me, O believers, to bless and praise him. + +And O! that his love may excite us to come afresh to him, as though +we had never come before! For, though we have been often feasted, yet +our souls will starve, unless we renew our acts of faith, and throw +ourselves, as lost, undone sinners, continually at the feet of CHRIST. +Feeding upon past experiences will not satisfy our souls, any more than +what we did eat yesterday will sustain our bodies to-day. No, believers +must look for fresh influences of divine grace, and beg of the LORD to +water them every moment. The parable therefore speaks to saints as well +as sinners. Come ye to the marriage-feast; you are as welcome now as +ever. And may GOD set your souls a longing for that time when we shall +sit down and eat bread in the kingdom of heaven! There we shall have +full draughts of divine love, and enjoy the glorious Emmanuel for ever +more. Even so, LORD JESUS, _Amen._ + + + + + SERMON XXXIV. + + The Pharisee and Publican. + + + LUKE xviii. 14. + + _I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather + than the other: For every one that exalteth himself, shall be + abased, and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted._ + +THOUGH there be some who dare to deny the LORD JESUS, and disbelieve +the revelation he has been pleased to give us, and thereby bring upon +themselves swift destruction; yet I would charitably hope there are but +few if any such among you, to whom I am now to preach the kingdom of +GOD. Was I to ask you, how you expect to be justified in the sight of +an offended GOD? I suppose you would answer, only for the sake of our +LORD JESUS CHRIST. But, was I to come more home to your consciences, I +fear that most would make the LORD JESUS but in part their Saviour, and +go about, as it were, to establish a righteousness of their own. And +this is not thinking contrary to the rules of christian charity: for +we are all self-righteous by nature; it is as natural for us to turn to +a covenant of works, as for the sparks to fly upwards. We have had so +many legal and so few free-grace preachers, for these many years, that +most professors now seem to be settled upon their lees, and rather +deserve the title of _Pharisees_ than christians. + +Thus it was with the generality of the people during the time of our +LORD’s public ministration: and therefore, in almost all his discourses, +he preached the gospel to poor sinners, and denounced terrible woes +against proud self-justiciaries. The parable, to which the words of +the text belong, looks both these ways: For the evangelist informs +us (verse 9.) that our LORD “spake it unto certain who trusted in +themselves that they were righteous, and despised others.” And a +notable parable it is; a parable worthy of your most serious attention. +“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear,” what JESUS CHRIST speaks to +all visible professors in it. + +Verse 10. “Two men went up to the temple to pray (and never two men of +more opposite characters) the one a Pharisee and the other a Publican.” +The Pharisees were the strictest sect among the _Jews_. “I was of the +strictest sect, of the Pharisees,” says _Paul_. They prayed often; +not only so, but they made long prayers; and, that they might appear +extraordinary devout, they would pray at the corners of the street, +where two ways met, that people going or coming, both ways, might see +them. “They made broad (as our LORD informs us) the borders of their +phylacteries,” they had pieces of parchment sown to their long robes, +on which some parts of the Scripture were written, that people might +from thence infer, that they were lovers of the law of GOD. They were +so very punctual and exact in outward purifications, that they washed +at their going out and coming in. They held the washing of pots, brazen +vessels and tables, and many other such-like things they did. They were +very zealous for the traditions of the fathers, and for the observation +of the rites and ceremonies of the church, notwithstanding they +frequently made void the law of GOD by their traditions. And they were +so exceedingly exact in the outward observation of the sabbath, that +they condemned our LORD for making a little clay with his spittle; and +called him a sinner, and said, he was not of GOD, because he had given +sight to a man born blind, on the sabbath-day. For these reasons they +were had in high veneration among the people, who were sadly misled by +these blind guides: they had the uppermost places in the synagogues, +and greetings in the market-places (which they loved dearly) and were +called of men, _Rabbi_; in short, they had such a reputation for piety, +that it became a proverb among the _Jews_, that, if there were but two +men saved, the one of them must be a Pharisee. + +As for the Publicans, it was not so with them. It seems they were +sometimes _Jews_, or at least proselytes of the gate; for we find one +here coming up to the temple; but for the generality, I am apt to think +they were _Gentiles_; for they were gatherers of the _Roman_ taxes, and +used to amass much wealth (as appears by the confession of _Zaccheus_, +one of the chief of them) by wronging men with false accusations. They +were so universally infamous, that our LORD himself tells his disciples, +“the excommunicated man should be to them as a heathen man, or a +Publican.” And the Pharisees thought it a sufficient impeachment of our +LORD’s character, that he was a friend to Publicans and sinners, and +went to sit down with them at meat. + +But, however they disagreed in other things, they agreed in this, that +public worship is a duty incumbent upon all: for they both came up to +the temple. The very heathens were observers of temple-worship. We have +very early notice of mens sacrificing to, and calling upon the name +of the LORD, in the Old Testament; and I find it no where contradicted +in the New. Our LORD, and his apostles, went up to the temple; and we +are commanded by the apostle, “not to forsake the assembling ourselves +together,” as the manner of too many is in our days; and such too, as +would have us think well of them, though they seldom or never tread +the courts of the LORD’s house. But, though our devotions begin in +our closets, they must not end there. And, if people never shew their +devotions abroad, I must suspect they have little or none at home. +“Two men went up to the temple.” And what went they thither for? Not +(as multitudes amongst us do) to make the house of GOD a house of +merchandize, or turn it into a den of thieves; much less to ridicule +the preacher, or disturb the congregation; no, they came to the temple, +says our LORD, “to pray.” Thither should the tribes of GOD’s spiritual +_Israel_ go up, to talk with, and pour out their hearts before the +mighty GOD of _Jacob_. + +“Two men went up to the temple to pray.” I fear one of them forgot +his errand. I have often been at a loss what to call the _Pharisee_’s +address; it certainly does not deserve the name of a prayer: he may +rather be said to come to the temple to _boast_, than to pray; for I do +not find one word of confession of his original guilt; not one single +petition for pardon of his past actual sins, or for grace to help and +assist him for the time to come: he only brings to GOD, as it were, a +reckoning of his performances; and does that, which no flesh can justly +do, I mean, glory in his presence. + +Verse 11. “The Pharisee stood, and prayed thus with himself; GOD, I +thank thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, +adulterers, or even as this Publican.” + +Our LORD first takes notice of his posture; “the Pharisee _stood_,” he +is not to be condemned for that; for standing, as well as kneeling, is +a proper posture for prayer. “When you stand praying,” says our LORD; +though sometimes our LORD kneeled, nay, lay flat on his face upon the +ground; his apostles also kneeled, as we read in the _Acts_, which has +made me wonder at some, who are so bigotted to standing in family, as +well as public prayer, that they will not kneel, notwithstanding all +kneel that are around them. I fear there is something of the Pharisee +in this conduct. Kneeling and standing are indifferent, if the knee of +the soul be bent, and the heart upright towards GOD. We should study +not to be particular in indifferent things, lest we offend weak minds. +What the Pharisee is remarked for, is his “standing by himself:” for +the words may be rendered, he stood by himself, upon some eminent +place, at the upper part of the temple, near the Holy of holies, that +the congregation might see what a devout man he was: or it may be +understood as we read it, he prayed by himself, or of himself, out of +his own heart; he did not pray by form; it was an extempore prayer: +for there are many Pharisees that pray and preach too, extempore. I +do not see why these may not be acquired, as well as other arts and +sciences. A man, with a good elocution, ready turn of thought, and good +memory, may repeat his own or other mens sermons, and, by the help of +a _Wilkins_ or _Henry_, may pray seemingly excellently well, and yet +not have the least grain of true grace in his heart; I speak this, not +to cry down extempore prayer, or to discourage those dear souls who +really pray by the spirit; I only would hereby give a word of reproof +to those who are so bigotted to extempore prayer, that they condemn, at +least judge, all that use forms, as though not so holy and heavenly, as +others who pray without them. Alas! this is wrong. Not every one that +prays extempore is a spiritual, nor every one that prays with a form, a +formal man. Let us not judge one another; let not him that uses a form, +judge him that prays extempore, on that account; and let not him that +prays extempore, despise him who uses a form. + +“The Pharisee stood, and prayed thus by himself.” Which may signify +also praying inwardly in his heart; for there is a way (and that an +excellent one too) of praying when we cannot speak; thus _Anna_ prayed, +when she spoke not aloud, only her lips moved. Thus GOD says to _Moses_, +“Why criest thou?” when, it is plain, he did not speak a word. This +is what the apostle means by the “spirit making intercession (for +believers) with groanings which cannot be uttered.” For there are +times when the soul is too big to speak; when GOD fills it as it were, +and overshadows it with his presence, so that it can only fall down, +worship, adore, and lye in the dust before the LORD. Again, there is +a time when the soul is benumbed, barren and dry, and the believer +has not a word to say to his heavenly Father; and then the heart only +can speak. And I mention this for the encouragement of weak christians, +who think they never are accepted but when they have a flow of words, +and fancy they do not please GOD at the bottom, for no other reason but +because they do not please themselves. Such would do well to consider, +that GOD knows the language of the heart, and the mind of the spirit; +and that we make use of words, not to inform GOD, but to affect +ourselves. Whenever therefore any of you find yourselves in such a +frame, be not discouraged: offer yourselves up in silence before GOD, +as clay in the hands of the potter, for him to write and stamp his own +divine image upon your souls. But I believe the Pharisee knew nothing +of this way of prayer: he was self-righteous, a stranger to the divine +life; and therefore either of the former explanations may be best put +upon these words. + +“He stood, and prayed thus with himself; GOD, I thank thee that I +am not as other men are, extortioner, unjust, adulterer, or even as +this Publican.” Here is some appearance of devotion, but it is only +in appearance. To thank GOD that we are not extortioners, unjust, +adulterers, and as wicked in our practices as other men are, is +certainly meet, right, and our bounden duty: for whatever degrees +of goodness there may be in us, more than in others, it is owing to +GOD’s restraining, preventing, and assisting grace. We are all equally +conceived and born in sin; all are fallen short of the glory of GOD, +and liable to all the curses and maledictions of the law; so that “he +who glorieth, must glory only in the LORD.” For none of us have any +thing which we did not receive; and whatever we have received, we did +not in the least merit it, nor could we lay the least claim to it on +any account whatever: we are wholly indebted to free grace for all. Had +the Pharisee thought thus, when he said, “GOD, I thank thee that I am +not as other men are,” it would have been an excellent introduction to +his prayer: but he was a free-willer, as well as self-righteous (for +he that is one must be the other) and thought by his own power and +strength, he had kept himself from these vices. And yet I do not see +what reason he had to trust in himself that he was righteous, merely +because he was not an extortioner, unjust, adulterer; for all this +while he might be, as he certainly was (as is also every self-righteous +person) as proud as the devil. But he not only boasts, but lies before +GOD (as all self-justiciaries will be found liars here or hereafter.) +He thanks GOD that he was not unjust: but is it not an act of the +highest injustice to rob GOD of his prerogative? is it not an act of +injustice to judge our neighbour? and yet of both these crimes this +self-righteous vaunter is guilty. “Even as this Publican!” He seems +to speak with the utmost disdain; this Publican! Perhaps he pointed +at the poor man, that others might treat him with the like contempt. +Thou proud, confident boaster, what hadst thou to do with that poor +Publican? supposing other Publicans were unjust, and extortioners, +did it therefore follow that he must be so? or, if he had been such +a sinner, how knowest thou but he has repented of those sins? His +coming up to the temple to pray, is one good sign of a reformation at +least. Thou art therefore inexcusable, O Pharisee, who thus judgest the +Publican: for thou that judgest him to be unjust, art, in the very act +of judging, unjust thyself: thy sacrifice is only the sacrifice of a +fool. + +We have seen what the Pharisee’s negative goodness comes to; I think, +nothing at all. Let us see how far his positive goodness extends; for, +if we are truly religious, we shall not only eschew evil, but also do +good: “I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.” + +The Pharisee is not here condemned for his fasting, for fasting is a +christian duty; “when you fast,” says our LORD, thereby taking it for +granted that his disciples would fast. And “when the bridegroom shall +be taken away, then shall they fast in those days.” “In fasting often,” +says the apostle. And all that would not be cast-aways, will take care, +as their privilege, without legal constraint, to “keep their bodies +under, and bring them into subjection.” The Pharisee is only condemned +for making a righteousness of his fasting, and thinking that GOD would +accept him, or that he was any better than his neighbours, merely on +account of his fasting: this is what he was blamed for. The Pharisee +was not to be discommended for fasting twice in a week; I wish some +christians would imitate him more in this: but to depend on fasting +in the least, for his justification in the sight of GOD, was really +abominable. “I give tithes of all that I possess.” He might as well +have said, I pay tithes. But self-righteous people (whatever they may +say to the contrary) think they give something to GOD. “I give tithes +of all that I possess:” I make conscience of giving tithes, not only of +all that the law requires, but of my mint, annise, and cummin, of all +things whatsoever I possess; this was well; but to boast of such things, +or of fasting, is pharisaical and devilish. Now then let us sum up all +the righteousness of this boasting Pharisee, and see what little reason +he had to trust in himself, that he was righteous, or to despise others. +He is not unjust (but we have only his bare word for that, I think +I have proved the contrary;) he is no adulterer, no extortioner; he +fasts twice in the week, and gives tithes of all that he possesses; and +all this he might do, and a great deal more, and yet be a child of the +devil: for here is no mention made of his loving the LORD his GOD with +all his heart, which was the “first and great commandment of the law;” +here is not a single syllable of inward religion; and he was not a true +_Jew_, who was only one outwardly. It is only an outside piety at the +best; inwardly he is full of pride, self-justification, free-will and +great uncharitableness. + +Were not the Pharisees, do you think, highly offended at this +character? for they might easily know it was spoken against them. And +though, perhaps, some of you may be offended at me, yet, out of love, +I must tell you, I fear this parable is spoken against many of you: +for are there not many of you, who go up to the temple to pray, with no +better spirit than this Pharisee did? And because you fast, it may be +in the _Lent_, or every _Friday_, and because you do no body any harm, +receive the sacrament, pay tithes, and give an alms now and then; you +think that you are safe, and trust in yourselves that you are righteous, +and inwardly despise those, who do not come up to you in these outward +duties? this, I am persuaded, is the case of many of you, though, alas! +it is a desperate one, as I shall endeavour to shew at the close of +this discourse. + +Let us now take a view of the Publican, verse 13. “And the Publican +standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, +but smote upon his breast, saying, GOD be merciful to me a sinner.” + +“The Publican standing afar off:” Perhaps in the outward court of the +temple, conscious to himself that he was not worthy to approach the +Holy of holies; so conscious and so weighed down with a sense of his +own unworthiness, that he would not so much as lift up his eyes unto +heaven, which he knew was GOD’s throne. Poor heart! what did he feel +at this time! none but returning Publicans, like himself, can tell. +Methinks I see him standing afar off, pensive, oppressed, and even +overwhelmed with sorrow; sometimes he attempts to look up; but then, +thinks he, the heavens are unclean in GOD’s sight, and the very angels +are charged with folly; how then shall such a wretch as I dare to +lift up my guilty head! And to shew that his heart was full of holy +self-resentment, and that he sorrowed after a godly sort, he smote upon +his breast; the word in the original implies, that he _struck hard_ +upon his breast: he will lay the blame upon none but his own wicked +heart. He will not, like unhumbled _Adam_, tacitly lay the fault of +his vileness upon GOD, and say, The passions which thou gavest me, +they deceived me, and I sinned: he is too penitent thus to reproach +his Maker; he smites upon his breast, his treacherous, ungrateful, +desperately wicked breast; a breast now ready to burst: and at length, +out of the abundance of his heart, I doubt not, with many tears, he at +last cries out, “GOD be merciful to me a sinner.” Not, GOD be merciful +to yonder proud Pharisee: he found enough in himself to vent his +resentment against, without looking abroad upon others. Not, GOD be +merciful to me a saint; for he knew “all his righteousnesses were but +filthy rags.” Not, GOD be merciful to such or such a one; but, GOD be +merciful to me, even to me a sinner, a sinner by birth, a sinner in +thought, word, and deed; a sinner as to my person, a sinner as to all +my performances; a sinner in whom is no health, in whom dwelleth no +good thing; a sinner, poor, miserable, blind and naked, from the crown +of the head to the sole of the feet, full of wounds, and bruises, and +putrifying sores; a self-accused, self-condemned sinner. What think +you? would this Publican have been offended if any minister had told +him that he deserved to be damned? would he have been angry, if any one +had told him, that by nature he was half a devil and half a beast? No: +he would have confessed a thousand hells to have been his due, and that +he was an earthly, devilish sinner. He felt now what a dreadful thing +it was to depart from the living GOD: he felt that he was inexcusable +every way; that he could in nowise, upon account of any thing in +himself, be justified in the sight of GOD; and therefore lays himself +at the feet of sovereign mercy, “GOD be merciful to me a sinner.” Here +is no confidence in the flesh, no plea fetched from fasting, paying +tithes, or the performance of any other duty; here is no boasting that +he was not an extortioner, unjust, or an adulterer. Perhaps he had been +guilty of all these crimes, at least he knew he would have been guilty +of all these, had he been left to follow the devices and desires of his +own heart; and therefore, with a broken and contrite spirit, he cries +out, “GOD be merciful to me a sinner.” + +This man came up to the temple to pray, and he prayed indeed. And a +broken and contrite heart GOD will not despise. “I tell you,” says our +LORD, I who lay in the bosom of the Father from all eternity; I who am +GOD, and therefore know all things; I who can neither deceive, nor be +deceived, whose judgment is according to right; I tell you, whatever +you may think of it, or think of me for telling you so, “this man,” +this Publican, this despised, sinful, but broken-hearted man, “went +down to his house justified (acquitted, and looked upon as righteous +in the sight of GOD) rather than the other.” + +Let Pharisees take heed that they do not pervert this text: for when +it is said, “This man went down to his house justified rather than +the other,” our LORD does not mean that both were justified, and that +the Publican had rather more justification than the Pharisee: but +it implies, either that the Publican was actually justified, but the +Pharisee was not; or, that the Publican was in a better way to receive +justification, than the Pharisee; according to our LORD’s saying, “The +Publicans and Harlots enter into the kingdom of heaven before you.” +That the Pharisee was not justified is certain, for “GOD resisteth the +proud;” and that the Publican was at this time actually justified (and +perhaps went home with a sense of it in his heart) we have great reason +to infer from the latter part of the text, “For every one that exalteth +himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” + +The parable therefore now speaks to all who hear me this day: for that +our LORD intended it for our learning, is evident, from his making such +a general application; “For every one that exalteth himself shall be +abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” + +The parable of the Publican and Pharisee, is but as it were a glass, +wherein we may see the different disposition of all mankind; for all +mankind may be divided into two general classes. Either they trust +wholly in themselves, or in part, that they are righteous, and then +they are Pharisees; or they have no confidence in the flesh, are +self-condemned sinners, and then they come under the character of the +Publican just now described. And we may add also, that the different +reception these men met with, points out to us in lively colours, the +different treatment the self-justiciary and self-condemned criminal +will meet with at the terrible day of judgment: “Every one that exalts +himself shall be abased, but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” + +“Every one,” without exception, young or old, high or low, rich or +poor (for GOD is no respecter of persons) “every one,” whosoever he +be, that exalteth himself, and not free-grace; every one that trusteth +in himself that he is righteous, that rests in his duties, or thinks +to join them with the righteousness of JESUS CHRIST, for justification +in the sight of GOD, though he be no adulterer, no extortioner, though +he be not outwardly unjust, nay, though he fast twice in the week, and +gives tithes of all that he possesses; yet shall he be abased in the +sight of all good men who know him here, and before men and angels, and +GOD himself, when JESUS CHRIST comes to appear in judgment hereafter. +How low, none but the almighty GOD can tell. He shall be abased to live +with devils, and make his abode in the lowest hell for evermore. + +Hear this, all ye self-justiciaries, tremble, and behold your doom! +a dreadful doom, more dreadful than words can express, or thought +conceive! If you refuse to humble yourselves, after hearing this +parable, I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, +that GOD shall visit you with all his storms, and pour all the vials +of his wrath upon your rebellious heads; you exalted yourselves here, +and GOD shall abase you hereafter; you are as proud as the devil, +and with devils shall you dwell to all eternity. “Be not deceived, +GOD is not mocked;” he sees your hearts, he knows all things. And, +notwithstanding you may come up to the temple to pray, your prayers +are turned into sin, and you go down to your houses unjustified, if you +are self-justiciaries; and do you know what it is to be unjustified? +why, if you are unjustified, the wrath of GOD abideth upon you; you +are in your blood; all the curses of the law belong to you: cursed are +you when you go out, cursed are you when you come in; cursed are your +thoughts, cursed are your words, cursed are your deeds; every thing you +do, say, or think, from morning to night, is only one continued series +of sin. However highly you may be esteemed in the sight of men, however +you may be honoured with the uppermost seats in the synagogues, in +the church militant, you will have no place in the church triumphant. +“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of GOD:” pull down +every self-righteous thought, and every proud imagination, that now +exalteth itself against the perfect, personal, imputed righteousness of +the dear LORD JESUS: “For he (and he alone) that humbleth himself shall +be exalted.” + +He that humbleth himself, whatever he be: if, instead of fasting twice +in the week, he has been drunk twice in the week; if, instead of giving +tithes of all that he possesses, he has cheated the minister of his +tithes, and the king of his taxes; notwithstanding he be unjust, an +extortioner, an adulterer, nay, notwithstanding the sins of all mankind +center and unite in him; yet, if through grace, like the Publican, he +is enabled to humble himself, he shall be exalted; not in a temporal +manner; for christians must rather expect to be abased, and to have +their names cast out as evil, and to lay down their lives for CHRIST +JESUS in this world: but he shall be exalted in a spiritual sense; he +shall be freely justified from all his sins by the blood of JESUS; he +shall have peace with GOD, a peace which passeth all understanding; +not only peace, but joy in believing; he shall be translated from the +kingdom of Satan, to the kingdom of GOD’s dear Son: he shall dwell in +CHRIST, and CHRIST in him: he shall be one with CHRIST, and CHRIST one +with him: he shall drink of divine pleasures, as out of a river: he +shall be sanctified throughout in spirit, soul and body; in one word, +he shall be filled with all the fulness of GOD. Thus shall the man that +humbleth himself be exalted here; but O, how high shall he be exalted +hereafter! as high as the highest heavens, even to the right-hand of +GOD: there he shall sit, happy both in soul and body, and judge angels; +high, out of the reach of all sin and trouble, eternally secure from +all danger of falling. O sinners, did you but know how highly GOD +intends to exalt those who humble themselves, and believe in JESUS, +surely you would humble yourselves, at least beg of GOD to humble you; +for it is he that must strike the rock of your hearts, and cause floods +of contrite tears to flow therefrom. O that GOD would give this sermon +such a commission, as he once gave to the rod of _Moses_! I would +strike you through and through with the rod of his word, until each of +you was brought to cry out with the poor Publican, “GOD be merciful to +me a sinner.” What pleasant language would this be in the ears of the +LORD of Sabbaoth! + +Are there no poor sinners among you? what, are you all Pharisees? +Surely, you cannot bear the thoughts of returning home unjustified; can +you? what if a fit of the apoplexy should seize you, and your souls be +hurried away before the awful Judge of quick and dead? what will you do +without CHRIST’s righteousness? if you go out of the world unjustified, +you must remain so for ever. O that you would humble yourselves! then +would the LORD exalt you; it may be, that, whilst I am speaking, the +LORD might justify you freely by his grace. I observed, that perhaps +the Publican had a sense of his justification before he went from +the temple, and knew that his pardon was sealed in heaven: and who +knows but you may be thus exalted before you go home, if you humble +yourselves? O what peace, love and joy, would you then feel in your +hearts! you would have a heaven upon earth. O that I could hear any +of you say (as I once heard a poor sinner, under my preaching, cry +out) _He is come, He is come!_ How would you then, like him, extol a +precious, a free-hearted CHRIST! how would you magnify him for being +such a friend to Publicans and sinners? greater love can no man shew, +than to lay down his life for a friend; but CHRIST laid down his life +for his enemies, even for you, if you are enabled to humble yourselves, +as the Publican did. Sinners, I know not how to leave off talking with +you; I would fill my mouth with arguments, I would plead with you. +“Come, let us reason together;” though your sins be as scarlet, yet, +if you humble yourselves, they shall be as white as snow. One act +of true faith in CHRIST, justifies you for ever and ever; he has not +promised you what he cannot perform; he is able to exalt you: for GOD +hath exalted, and given him a name above every name, that at the name +of JESUS every knee shall bow; nay, GOD hath exalted him to be not +only a Prince, but a Saviour. May he be a Saviour to you! and then I +shall have reason to rejoice; in the day of judgment, that I have not +preached in vain, nor laboured in vain. + + + + + SERMON XXXV. + + The Conversion of _Zaccheus_. + + + LUKE xix. 9, 10. + + _And JESUS said unto him, This day is salvation come to this + house; forasmuch as he also is the Son of Abraham. For the Son + of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost._ + +SALVATION, every where through the whole scripture, is said to be the +free gift of GOD, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Not only free, because +GOD is a sovereign agent, and therefore may withhold it from, or confer +it on, whom he pleaseth; but free, because there is nothing to be +found in man, that can any way induce GOD to be merciful unto him. The +righteousness of JESUS CHRIST is the sole cause of our finding favour +in GOD’s sight: this righteousness apprehended by faith (which is also +the gift of GOD) makes it our own; and this faith, if true, will work +by love. + +These are parts of those glad tidings which are published in the gospel; +and of the certainty of them, next to the express word of GOD, the +experience of all such as have been saved, is the best, and, as I take +it, the most undoubted proof. That GOD might teach us every way, he has +been pleased to leave upon record many instances of the power of his +grace exerted in the salvation of several persons, that we, hearing how +he dealt with them, might from thence infer the manner we must expect +to be dealt with ourselves, and learn in what way we must look for +salvation, if we truly desire to be made partakers of the inheritance +with the saints in light. + +The conversion of the person referred to in the text, I think, will be +of no small service to us in this matter, if rightly improved. I would +hope, most of you know who the person is, to whom the LORD JESUS speaks; +it is the publican _Zaccheus_, to whose house the blessed JESUS said, +salvation came, and whom he pronounces a Son of _Abraham_. + +It is my design (GOD helping) to make some remarks upon his conversion +recorded at large in the preceding verses, and then to inforce the +latter part of the text, as an encouragement to poor undone sinners to +come to JESUS CHRIST. “For the Son of man is come, to seek and to save +that which was lost.” + +The evangelist _Luke_ introduces the account of this man’s conversion +thus, verse 1. “And JESUS entered and passed through _Jericho_.” The +holy JESUS made it his business to go about doing good. As the sun +in the firmament is continually spreading his benign, quickening, +and cheering influences over the natural; so the Son of righteousness +arose with healing under his wings, and was daily and hourly diffusing +his gracious influences over the moral world. The preceding chapter +acquaints us of a notable miracle wrought by the holy JESUS, on poor +blind _Bartimeus_; and in this, a greater presents itself to our +consideration. The evangelist would have us take particular notice of +it; for he introduces it with the word “behold:” “and behold, there was +a man named _Zaccheus_, who was the chief among the _Publicans_, and he +was rich.” + +Well might the evangelist usher in the relation of this man’s +conversion with the word “behold!” For, according to human judgment, +how many unsurmountable obstacles lay in the way of it! Surely no one +will say there was any fitness in _Zaccheus_ for salvation; for we +are told that he was a _Publican_, and therefore in all probability +a notorious sinner. The _Publicans_ were gatherers of the _Roman_ +taxes; they were infamous for their abominable extortion; their very +name therefore became so odious, that we find the _Pharisees_ often +reproached our LORD, as very wicked, because he was a friend unto and +sat down to meat with them. _Zaccheus_ then, being a _Publican_, was +no doubt a sinner; and, being chief among the _Publicans_, consequently +was chief among sinners. Nay, “he was rich.” One inspired apostle has +told us, that “not many mighty, not many noble are called.” Another +saith, “GOD has chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith.” And +he who was the Maker and Redeemer of the apostles, assures us, “that +it is easier for a camel, (or cable-rope) to go through the eye of a +needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of GOD.” Let not +therefore the rich glory in the multitude of their riches. + +But rich as he was, we are told, verse 3. that “he sought to see +JESUS.” A wonder indeed! The common people heard our LORD gladly, and +the poor received the gospel. The multitude, the οχλες, the mob, the +people that knew not the law, as the proud high-priests called them, +used to follow him on foot into the country; and sometimes staid with +him three days together to hear him preach: But did the rich believe or +attend on him? No. Our LORD preached up the doctrine of the cross; he +preached too searching for them, and therefore they counted him their +enemy, persecuted and spoke all manner of evil against him falsly. +Let not the ministers of CHRIST marvel, if they meet with the like +treatment from the rich men of this wicked and adulterous generation. +I should think it no scandal (supposing it true) to hear it affirmed, +that none but the poor attended my ministry. Their souls are as +precious to our LORD JESUS CHRIST, as the souls of the greatest men. +They were the poor that attended him in the days of his flesh: these +are they whom he hath chosen to be rich in faith, and to be the +greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Were the rich in this world’s goods +generally to speak well of me, wo be unto me; I should think it a +dreadful sign that I was only a wolf in sheep’s clothing, that I spoke +peace, peace, when there was no peace, and prophesied smoother things +than the gospel would allow of. Hear ye this, O ye rich. Let who will +dare to do it, GOD forbid that I should despise the poor; in doing so, +I should reproach my Maker. The poor are dear to my soul; I rejoice to +see them fly to the doctrine of CHRIST, like the doves to their windows. +I only pray, that the poor who attend, may be evangelized, and turned +into the spirit of the gospel: if so, “Blessed are ye; for yours is the +kingdom of heaven.” + +But we must return to _Zaccheus_. “He sought to see JESUS.” That is +good news. I heartily wish I could say, it was out of a good principle: +but, without speaking contrary to that charity which hopes and +believeth all things for the best, we may say, that the same principle +drew him after CHRIST, which now draws multitudes (to speak plainly, it +may be multitudes of you) to hear a particular preacher, even curiosity: +for we are told, that he came not to hear his doctrine, but to view his +person, or, to use the words of the evangelist, “to see who he was.” +Our LORD’s fame was now spread abroad through all _Jerusalem_, and all +the country round about: some said he was a good man; others, “Nay, but +he deceiveth the people.” And therefore curiosity drew out this rich +Publican _Zaccheus_, to see who this person was, of whom he had heard +such various accounts. But it seems he could not conveniently get a +sight of him for the press, and because he was little of stature. Alas! +how many are kept from seeing CHRIST in glory, by reason of the press! +I mean, how many are ashamed of being singularly good, and therefore +follow a multitude to do evil, because they have a press or throng +of polite acquaintance! And, for fear of being set at nought by those +with whom they used to sit at meat, they deny the LORD of glory, and +are ashamed to confess him before men. This base, this servile fear of +man, is the bane of true christianity; it brings a dreadful snare upon +the soul, and is the ruin of ten thousands: for I am fully persuaded, +numbers are rationally convicted of gospel-truths; but, not being +able to brook contempt, they will not prosecute their convictions, +nor reduce them to practice. Happy those, who in this respect, like +_Zaccheus_, are resolved to overcome all impediments that lie in their +way to a sight of CHRIST: for, finding he could not see CHRIST because +of the press and the littleness of his natural stature, he did not +smite upon his breast, and depart, saying, “It is in vain to seek after +a sight of him any longer, I can never attain unto it.” No, finding he +could not see CHRIST, if he continued in the midst of, “he ran before +the multitude, and climbed up into a sycamore-tree, to see him; for he +was to pass that way.” + +There is no seeing CHRIST in Glory, unless we run before the multitude, +and are willing to be in the number of those despised few, who take +the kingdom of GOD by violence. The broad way, in which so many go, +can never be that strait and narrow way which leads to life. Our LORD’s +flock was, and always will be, comparatively a little one: and unless +we dare to run before the multitude in a holy singularity, and can +rejoice in being accounted fools for CHRIST’s sake, we shall never +see JESUS with comfort, when he appears in glory. From mentioning the +sycamore-tree, and considering the difficulty with which _Zaccheus_ +must climb it, we may farther learn, that those who would see CHRIST, +must undergo other difficulties and hardships, besides contempt. +_Zaccheus_, without doubt, went through both. Did not many, think you, +laugh at him as he ran along, and in the language of _Michal_, _Saul_’s +daughter, cry out, “How glorious did the rich _Zaccheus_ look to-day, +when, forgetting the greatness of his station, he ran before a pitiful, +giddy mob, and climbed up a sycamore-tree, to see an enthusiastic +preacher!” But _Zaccheus_ cares not for all that; his curiosity was +strong: if he could but see who JESUS was, he did not value what +scoffers said of him. Thus, and much more will it be with all those who +have an effectual desire to see JESUS in heaven: they will go on from +strength to strength, break through every difficulty lying in their way, +and care not what men or devils say of or do unto them. May the LORD +make us all thus minded, for his dear Son’s sake! + +At length, after taking much pains, and going (as we may well suppose) +through much contempt, _Zaccheus_ has climbed the tree; and there +he sits, as he thinks, hid in the leaves of it, and watching when he +should see JESUS pass by: “For he was to pass by that way.” + +But sing, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth! Praise, magnify, and adore +sovereign, electing, free, preventing love; JESUS the everlasting +GOD, the Prince of peace, who saw _Nathanael_ under the fig-tree, and +_Zaccheus_ from eternity, now sees him in the sycamore-tree, and calls +him in time. + +Verse 5. “And when JESUS came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, +and said unto him, _Zaccheus_, make haste and come down; for this day +I must abide at thy house.” Amazing love! Well might _Luke_ usher in +the account with “behold!” It is worthy of our highest admiration. When +_Zaccheus_ thought of no such thing, nay, thought that CHRIST JESUS +did not know him; behold, CHRIST does what we never hear he did before +or after, I mean, invite himself to the house of _Zaccheus_, saying, +“_Zaccheus_, make haste and come down; for this day I must abide at thy +house.” Not pray let me abide, but I must abide this day at thy house. +He also calls him by name, as though he was well acquainted with him: +and indeed well he might; for his name was written in the book of life, +he was one of those whom the Father had given him from all eternity: +therefore he must abide at his house that day. “For whom he did +predestinate, them he also called.” + +Here then, as through a glass, we may see the doctrine of free grace +evidently exemplified before us. Here was no fitness in _Zaccheus_. He +was a Publican, chief among the Publicans; not only so, but rich, and +came to see CHRIST only out of curiosity: but sovereign grace triumphs +over all. And if we do GOD justice, and are effectually wrought upon, +we must acknowledge there was no more fitness in us than in _Zaccheus_; +and, had not CHRIST prevented us by his call, we had remained dead in +trespasses and sins, and alienated from the divine life, even as others. +“JESUS looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, ♦_Zaccheus_, make +haste and come down; for this day I must abide at thy house.” + + ♦ “Zacchues” replaced with “Zaccheus” + +With what different emotions of heart may we suppose _Zaccheus_ +received this invitation? Think you not that he was surprised to hear +JESUS CHRIST call him by name, and not only so, but invite himself to +his house? Surely, thinks _Zaccheus_, I dream: it cannot be; how should +he know me? I never saw him before: besides, I shall undergo much +contempt, if I receive him under my roof. Thus, I say, we may suppose +_Zaccheus_ thought within himself. But what saith the scripture? +“I will make a willing people in the day of my power.” With this +outward call, there went an efficacious power from GOD, which sweetly +over-ruled his natural will: and therefore, verse 6. “He made haste, +and came down, and received him joyfully;” not only into his house, but +also into his heart. + +Thus it is the great GOD brings home his children. He calls them by +name, by his word or providence; he speaks to them also by his spirit. +Hereby they are enabled to open their hearts, and are made willing to +receive the King of glory. For _Zaccheus_’s sake, let us not entirely +condemn people that come under the word, out of no better principle +than curiosity. Who knows but GOD may call them? It is good to be +where the LORD is passing by. May all who are now present out of this +principle, hear the voice of the Son of GOD speaking to their souls, +and so hear that they may live! Not that men ought therefore to take +encouragement to come out of curiosity. For perhaps a thousand more, at +other times, came to see CHRIST out of curiosity, as well as _Zaccheus_, +who were not effectually called by his grace. I only mention this for +the encouragement of my own soul, and the consolation of GOD’s children, +who are too apt to be angry with those who do not attend on the word +out of love to GOD: but let them alone. Brethren, pray for them. How do +you know but JESUS CHRIST may speak to their hearts? A few words from +CHRIST, applied by his spirit, will save their souls. “_Zaccheus_, says +CHRIST, make haste and come down. And he made haste, and came down, and +received him joyfully.” + +I have observed, in holy scripture, how particularly it is remarked, +that persons rejoiced upon believing in CHRIST. Thus the converted +Eunuch went on his way rejoicing; thus the Jaylor rejoiced with his +whole house; thus _Zaccheus_ received CHRIST joyfully. And well may +those rejoice who receive JESUS CHRIST; for with him they receive +righteousness, sanctification, and eternal redemption. Many have +brought up an ill report upon our good land, and would fain persuade +people that religion will make them melancholy mad. So far from it, +that joy is one ingredient of the kingdom of GOD in the heart of a +believer; “The kingdom of GOD is righteousness, peace, and joy in the +Holy Ghost.” To rejoice in the LORD, is a gospel-duty. “Rejoice in the +LORD always, and again I say, rejoice.” And who can be so joyful, as +those who know that their pardon is sealed before they go hence and +are no more seen? The godly may, but I cannot see how any ungodly men +can, rejoice: they cannot be truly cheerful. What if wicked men may +sometimes have laughter amongst them? It is only the laughter of fools; +in the midst of it there is heaviness: At the best, it is but like the +crackling of thorns under a pot; it makes a blaze, but soon goes out. +But, as for the godly, it is not so with them; their joy is solid and +lasting. As it is a joy that a stranger intermeddleth not with, so +it is a joy that no man taketh from them: it is a joy in GOD, a “joy +unspeakable and full of glory.” + +It should seem that _Zaccheus_ was under soul-distress but a little +while; perhaps (says _Guthrie_, in his book intituled, _The Trial +concerning a saving Interest in Christ_) not above a quarter of an hour. +I add, perhaps not so long: for, as one observes, sometimes the LORD +JESUS delights to deliver speedily. GOD is a sovereign agent, and works +upon his children in their effectual calling, according to the counsel +of his eternal will. It is with the spiritual, as natural birth: all +women have not the like pangs; all christians have not the like degree +of conviction. But all agree in this, that all have JESUS CHRIST formed +in their hearts: and those who have not so many trials at first, may +be visited with the greater conflicts hereafter; though they never +come into bondage again, after they have once received the spirit of +adoption. “We have not, (says _Paul_) received the spirit of bondage +again unto fear.” We know not what _Zaccheus_ underwent before he died: +however, this one thing I know, he now believed in CHRIST, and was +justified, or acquitted, and looked upon as righteous in GOD’s sight, +though a Publican, chief among the Publicans, not many moments before. +And thus it is with all, that, like _Zaccheus_, receive JESUS CHRIST +by faith into their hearts: the very moment they find rest in him, +they are freely justified from all things from which they could not be +justified by the law of _Moses_; “for by grace are we saved, through +faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of GOD.” + +Say not within yourselves, this is a licentious Antinomian doctrine; +for this faith, if true, will work by love, and be productive of the +fruits of holiness. See an instance in this convert _Zaccheus_: no +sooner had he received JESUS CHRIST by faith into his heart, but he +evidences it by his works; for, verse 8. we are told, “_Zaccheus_ stood +forth, and said unto the LORD, Behold, LORD, the half of my goods I +give unto the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false +accusation, I restore him four-fold.” + +Having believed on JESUS in his heart, he now makes confession of +him with his mouth to salvation. “_Zaccheus_ stood forth:” he was not +ashamed, but stood forth before his brother Publicans; for true faith +casts out all servile, sinful fear of man; “and said, Behold, LORD.” +It is remarkable, how readily people in scripture have owned the +divinity of CHRIST immediately upon their conversion. Thus the woman +at _Jacob_’s well; “Is not this the CHRIST?” Thus the man born blind; +“LORD, I believe; and worshipped him.” Thus _Zaccheus_, “Behold, LORD.” +An incontestable proof this to me, that those who deny our LORD’s +divinity, never effectually felt his power: if they had, they would +not speak so lightly of him; they would scorn to deny his eternal power +and Godhead. “_Zaccheus_ stood forth, and said, Behold, LORD, the half +of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any +man by false accusation, I restore him four-fold.” Noble fruits of a +true living faith in the LORD JESUS! Every word calls for our notice. +Not some small, not the tenth part, but the _half_. Of what? My goods; +things that were valuable. _My_ goods, his own, not another’s. I give: +not, I will give when I die, when I can keep them no longer; but, I +give now, even now. _Zaccheus_ would be his own executor. For whilst +we have time we should do good. But to whom would he give half of his +goods? Not to the rich, not to those who were already clothed in purple +and fine linen, of whom he might be recompensed again; but to the +poor, the maimed, the halt, the blind, from which he could expect no +recompence till the resurrection of the dead. “I give to the poor.” +But knowing that he must be just before he could be charitable, and +conscious to himself that in his public administrations he had wronged +many persons, he adds, “And if I have taken any thing from any man by +false accusation, I restore him four-fold.” Hear ye this, all ye that +make no conscience of cheating the king of his taxes, or of buying or +selling run goods. If ever GOD gives you true faith, you will never +rest, till, like _Zaccheus_, you have made restitution to the utmost of +your power. I suppose, before his conversion, he thought it no harm to +cheat thus, no more than you may do now, and pleased himself frequently, +to be sure, that he got rich by doing so: but now he is grieved for it +at his heart; he confesses his injustice before men, and promises to +make ample restitution. Go ye cheating Publicans, learn of _Zaccheus_; +go away and do likewise. If you do not make restitution here, the +LORD JESUS shall make you confess your sins before men and angels, +and condemn you for it, when he comes in the glory of his Father to +judgment hereafter. + +After all this, with good reason might our LORD say unto him, “This +day is salvation come to this house; forasmuch as he also is the Son +of _Abraham_;” not so much by a natural as by a spiritual birth. He was +made partaker of like precious faith with _Abraham_: like _Abraham_ he +believed on the LORD, and it was accounted to him for righteousness: +his faith, like _Abraham_’s, worked by love; and I doubt not, but he +has been long since sitting in _Abraham_’s harbour. + +And now, are you not ashamed of yourselves, who speak against the +doctrines of grace, especially that doctrine of being justified +by faith alone, as though it leaded to licentiousness? What can be +more unjust than such a charge? Is not the instance of _Zaccheus_, a +sufficient proof to the contrary? Have I strained it to serve my own +turn? GOD forbid. To the best of my knowledge I have spoken the truth +in sincerity, and the truth as it is in JESUS. I do affirm that we are +saved by grace, and that we are justified by faith alone: but I do also +affirm that faith must be evidenced by good works, where there is an +opportunity of performing them. + +What therefore has been said of _Zaccheus_, may serve as a rule, +whereby all may judge whether they have faith or not. You say you have +faith; but how do you prove it? Did you ever hear the LORD JESUS call +you by name? Were you ever made to obey that call? Did you ever, like +_Zaccheus_, receive JESUS CHRIST joyfully into your hearts? Are you +influenced by the faith you say you have, to stand up and confess the +LORD JESUS before men? Were you ever made willing to own, and humble +yourselves for, your past offences? Does your faith work by love, so +that you conscientiously lay up, according as GOD has prospered you, +for the support of the poor? Do you give alms of all things that you +possess? And have you made due restitution to those you have wronged? +If so, happy are ye; salvation is come to your souls, you are sons, +you are daughters of, you shall shortly be everlastingly blessed with, +faithful _Abraham_. But, if you are not thus minded, do not deceive +your own souls. Though you may talk of justification by faith, like +angels, it will do you no good; it will only increase your damnation. +You hold the truth, but it is in unrighteousness: your faith being +without works, is dead: you have the devil, not _Abraham_, for your +father. Unless you get a faith of the heart, a faith working by love, +with devils and damned spirits shall you dwell for evermore. + +But it is time now to enforce the latter part of the text; “For the Son +of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” These words +are spoken by our Saviour in answer to some self-righteous Pharisees, +who, instead of rejoicing with the angels in heaven, at the conversion +of such a sinner, murmured, “That he was gone to be a guest with a man +that was a sinner.” To vindicate his conduct, he tells them, that this +was an act agreeable to the design of his coming: “For the Son of man +is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” He might have said, +the Son of GOD. But O the wonderful condescension of our Redeemer! He +delights to stile himself the Son of man. He came not only to save, +but _to seek_ and to save that which was lost. He came to _Jericho_ +to seek and save _Zaccheus_; for otherwise _Zaccheus_ would never +have been saved by him. But from whence came he? Even from heaven, his +dwelling-place, to this lower earth, this vale of tears, to seek and +save that which was lost; or all that feel themselves lost, and are +willing, like _Zaccheus_, to receive him into their hearts to save +them; with how great a salvation? Even from the guilt, and also from +the power of their sins; to make them heirs of GOD, and joint heirs +with himself, and partakers of that glory which he enjoyed with the +Father before the world began. Thus will the Son of man save that which +is lost. He was made the son of man, on purpose that he might save them. +He had no other end but this in leaving his Father’s throne, in obeying +the moral law, and hanging upon the cross: all that was done and +suffered, merely to satisfy, and procure a righteousness for poor, lost, +undone sinners, and that too without respect of persons. “That which +was lost;” all of every nation and language, that feel, bewail, and are +truly desirous of being delivered from their lost state, did the Son +of man come down to seek and to save: for he is mighty, not only so, +but willing, to save to the uttermost all that come to GOD through him. +He will in no wise cast them out: for he is the same to-day, as he was +yesterday. He comes now to sinners, as well as formerly; and, I hope, +hath sent me out this day to seek, and, under him, to bring home some +of you, the lost sheep of the house of _Israel_. + +What say you? Shall I go home rejoicing, saying, That many like sheep +have went astray, but they have now believed on JESUS CHRIST, and so +returned home to the great Shepherd and Bishop of their souls? If the +LORD would be pleased thus to prosper my handy-work, I care not how +many legalists and self-righteous pharisees murmur against me, for +offering salvation to the worst of sinners: for I know the Son of man +came to seek and to save them; and the LORD JESUS will now be a guest +to the worst Publican, the vilest sinner that is amongst you, if he +does but believe on him. Make haste then, O sinners, make haste, and +come by faith to CHRIST. Then, this day, even this hour, nay, this +moment, if you believe, JESUS CHRIST shall come and make his eternal +abode in your hearts. Which of you is made willing to receive the King +of glory? Which of you obeys the call, as _Zaccheus_ did? Alas! why do +you stand still? How know you, whether JESUS CHRIST may ever call you +again? Come then, poor, guilty sinners; come away, poor, lost, undone +publicans: make haste, I say, and come away to JESUS CHRIST. The LORD +condescends to invite himself to come under the filthy roofs of the +houses of your souls. Do not be afraid of entertaining him; he will +fill you with all peace and joy in believing. Do not be ashamed to +run before the multitude, and to have all manner of evil spoke against +you falsly for his sake: one sight of CHRIST will make amends for +all. _Zaccheus_ was laughed at; and all that will live godly in CHRIST +JESUS, shall suffer persecution. But what of that? _Zaccheus_ is now +crowned in glory; as you also shall shortly be, if you believe on, +and are reproached for CHRIST’s sake. Do not, therefore, put me off +with frivolous excuses: there’s no excuse can be given for your not +coming to CHRIST. You are lost, undone, without him; and if he is not +glorified in your salvation, he will be glorified in your destruction; +if he does not come and make his abode in your hearts, you must take up +an eternal abode with the devil and his angels. O that the LORD would +be pleased to pass by some of you at this time! O that he may call you +by his Spirit, and make you a willing people in this day of his power! +For I know my calling will not do, unless he, by his efficacious grace, +compel you to come in. O that you once felt what it is to receive JESUS +CHRIST into your hearts! You would soon, like _Zaccheus_, give him +every thing. You do not love CHRIST, because you do not know him; you +do not come to him, because you do not feel your want of him: you are +whole, and not broken hearted; you are not sick, at least not sensible +of your sickness; and, therefore, no wonder you do not apply to JESUS +CHRIST, that great, that almighty physician. You do not feel yourselves +lost, and therefore do not seek to be found in CHRIST. O that GOD +would wound you with the sword of his Spirit, and cause his arrows of +conviction to stick deep in your hearts! O that he would dart a ray of +divine light into your souls! For if you do not feel yourselves lost +without CHRIST, you are of all men most miserable: your souls are dead; +you are not only an image of hell, but in some degree hell itself: you +carry hell about with you, and you know it not. O that I could see some +of you sensible of this, and hear you cry out, “LORD, break this hard +heart; LORD, deliver me from the body of this death; draw me, LORD, +make me willing to come after thee; I am lost; LORD, save me, or I +perish!” Was this your case, how soon would the LORD stretch forth +his almighty hand, and say, Be of good cheer, it is I; be not afraid? +What a wonderful calm would then possess your troubled souls! Your +fellowship would then be with the Father and the Son: your life would +be hid with CHRIST in GOD. + +Some of you, I hope, have experienced this, and can say, I was lost, +but I am found; I was dead, but am alive again: the Son of man came +and sought me in the day of his power, and saved my sinful soul. And do +you repent that you came to CHRIST? Has he not been a good master? Is +not his presence sweet to your souls? Has he not been faithful to his +promise? And have you not found, that even in doing and suffering for +him, there is an exceeding present great reward? I am persuaded you +will answer, Yes. O then, ye saints, recommend and talk of the love of +CHRIST to others, and tell them, O tell them what great things the LORD +has done for you! This may encourage others to come unto him. And who +knows but the LORD may make you fishers of men? The story of _Zaccheus_ +was left on record for this purpose. No truly convicted soul, after +such an instance of divine grace has been laid before him, need despair +of mercy. What if you are Publicans? Was not _Zaccheus_ a Publican? +What if you are chief among the Publicans? Was not _Zaccheus_ likewise? +What if you are rich? Was not _Zaccheus_ rich also? And yet almighty +grace made him more than conqueror over all these hindrances. All +things are possible to JESUS CHRIST; nothing is too hard for him: he +is the LORD almighty. Our mountains of sins must all fall before this +great _Zerubbabel_. On him GOD the Father has laid the iniquities of +all that shall believe on him; and in his own body he bare them on the +tree. There, there, by faith, O mourners in _Sion_, may you see your +Saviour hanging with arms stretched out, and hear him, as it were, thus +speaking to your souls; “Behold how I have loved you! Behold my hands +and my feet! Look, look into my wounded side, and see a heart flaming +with love: love stronger than death. Come into my arms, O sinners, come +wash your spotted souls in my heart’s blood. See here is a fountain +opened for all sin and all uncleanness! See, O guilty souls, how +the wrath of GOD is now abiding upon you: come, haste away, and hide +yourselves in the clefts of my wounds; for I am wounded for your +transgressions; I am dying that you may live for evermore. Behold, as +_Moses_ lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so am I here lifted up +upon a tree. See how I am become a curse for you: the chastisement of +your peace is upon me. I am thus scourged, thus wounded, thus crucified, +that you by my stripes may be healed. O look unto me, all ye trembling +sinners, even to the ends of the earth! Look unto me by faith, and you +shall be saved: for I came thus to be obedient even unto death, that I +might save that which was lost.” + + And what say you to this, O sinners? Suppose you saw the King of +glory dying, and thus speaking to you; would you believe on him? No, +you would not, unless you believe on him now: for though he is dead, +he yet speaketh all this in the scripture; nay, in effect, says all +this in the words of the text, “The Son of man is come to seek and to +save that which is lost.” Do not therefore any longer crucify the LORD +of glory. Bring those rebels, your sins, which will not have him to +reign over them, bring them out to him: though you cannot slay them +yourselves, yet he will slay them for you. The power of his death and +resurrection is as great now as formerly. Make haste therefore, make +haste, O ye publicans and sinners, and give the dear LORD JESUS your +hearts, your whole hearts. If you refuse to hearken to this call of +the LORD, remember your damnation will be just: I am free from the +blood of you all: you must acquit my Master and me at the terrible +day of judgment. O that you may know the things that belong to your +everlasting peace, before they are eternally hid from your eyes! Let +all that love the LORD JESUS CHRIST in sincerity say, _Amen_. + + + + + SERMON XXXVI. + + The Marriage of _Cana_. + + + JOHN ii. 11. + + _This beginning of miracles did JESUS in Cana of Galilee, and + manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him._ + +I HAVE more than once had occasion to observe, that the chief end St. +_John_ had in view, when he wrote his gospel, was to prove the divinity +of JESUS CHRIST, [that WORD, who not only was from everlasting with +GOD, but also was really GOD blessed for evermore] against those +arch-heretics _Ebion_ and _Corinthus_, whose pernicious principles too +many follow in these last days. For this purpose, you may take notice, +that he is more particular than any other Evangelist, in relating +our LORD’s divine discourses, as also the glorious miracles which he +wrought, not by a power derived from another, like _Moses_, and other +prophets, but from a power inherent in himself. + +The words of the text have a reference to a notable miracle which +CHRIST performed, and thereby gave proof of his eternal power and +Godhead. “This beginning of miracles did JESUS in _Cana_ of _Galilee_, +and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.” + +The miracle here spoken of, is that of our LORD’s turning water into +wine at a marriage feast. I design, at present, by GOD’s help, to make +some observations on the circumstances and certainty of the miracle, +and then conclude with some practical instructions; that you, by +hearing how JESUS CHRIST has shewed forth his glory, may, by the +operation of GOD’s Spirit upon your hearts, with the disciples +mentioned in the text, be brought to believe on him. + +_First_, then, I would make some observations on the miracle itself. + +Verse 1 and 2. “And the third day there was a marriage in _Cana_ of +_Galilee_; and the mother of JESUS was there. And both JESUS was called, +and his disciples, to the marriage.” By our LORD’s being at a feast +we may learn, that feasting upon solemn occasions is not absolutely +unlawful: but then we must be exceeding careful at such seasons, that +the occasion be solemn, and that we go not for the sake of eating +and drinking, but to edify one another in love. Feasting in any other +manner, I think absolutely unlawful for the followers of JESUS CHRIST: +because if we eat and drink out of any other view, it cannot be to the +glory of GOD. The Son of man, we know, “came eating and drinking.” If +a pharisee asked him to come to his house, our LORD went, and sat down +with him. But then we find his discourse was always such as tended to +the use of edifying. We may then, no doubt, go and do likewise. + +We may observe farther, that if our LORD was present at a marriage +feast, then, to deny marriage to any order of men, is certainly a +“doctrine of devils.” “Marriage (says the Apostle) is honourable in +all.” Our LORD graced a marriage feast with his first public miracle. +It was an institution of GOD himself, even in paradise: and therefore, +no doubt, lawful for all christians, even for those who are made +perfect in holiness through the faith of JESUS CHRIST. But then, we may +learn the reason why we have so many unhappy marriages in the world; +it is because the parties concerned do not call JESUS CHRIST by prayer, +nor ask the advice of his true disciples when they are about to marry: +No; CHRIST and religion are the last things that are consulted: and no +wonder then if matches of the devil’s making (as all such are, which +are contracted only on account of outward beauty, or for filthy lucre’s +sake) prove most miserable, and grievous to be borne. + +I cannot but dwell a little on this particular, because I am persuaded +the devil cannot lay a greater snare for young christians, than to +tempt them unequally to yoke themselves with unbelievers: as are all +who are not born again of GOD. This was the snare wherein the sons +of GOD were entangled before the flood, and one great cause why God +brought that flood upon the world. For what says _Moses_, _Genesis_ +vi. 2, 3. “The sons of GOD (the posterity of pious _Seth_) saw the +daughters of men, (or the posterity of wicked _Cain_) that they were +fair, (not that they were pious) and they took them wives of all which +they chose:” not which GOD chose for them. What follows? “And the +LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he +also is flesh;” that is, even the few righteous souls being now grown +carnal by their ungodly marriages, the whole world was altogether +become abominable, and had made themselves vessels of wrath fitted for +destruction. I might instance farther, the care the ancient patriarchs +took to chuse wives for their children out of their own religious +families; and it was one great mark of _Esau_’s rebellion against +his father, that he took unto himself wives of the daughters of the +_Canaanites_, who were strangers to the covenant of promise made unto +his fathers. But I forbear. Time will not permit me to enlarge here. +Let it suffice to advise all, whenever they enter into a marriage +state, to imitate the people of _Cana_ in _Galilee_, to call CHRIST +to the marriage: He certainty will hear and chuse for you; and you +will always find his choice to be the best. He then will direct you to +such yoke-fellows as shall be helps meet for you in the great work of +your salvation, and then he will also enable you to serve him without +distraction, and cause you to walk, as _Zachary_ and _Elizabeth_, in +all his commandments and ordinances blameless. + +But to proceed. Who these persons were that called our LORD and his +disciples to the marriage, is not certain. Some (because it is said, +that the mother of JESUS was there) have supposed that they were +related to the Virgin, and that therefore our LORD and his disciples +were invited on her account. However that be, it should seem they were +not very rich, (for what had rich folks to do with a despised JESUS +of _Nazareth_, and his mean followers?) because we find they were +unfurnished with a sufficient quantity of wine for a large company, and +therefore, “when they wanted wine, the mother of JESUS,” having, as it +should seem by her applying to him so readily on this occasion, even in +his private life, seen some instances of his miraculous power, “saith +unto him, They have no wine.” She thought it sufficient only to inform +him of the wants of the host, knowing that he was as ready to give +as she to ask. In this light the blessed Virgin’s request appears to +us at the first view; but if we examine our LORD’s answer, we shall +have reason to think there was something which was not right; for +JESUS saith unto her, verse 4. “Woman, what have I to do with thee?” +Observe, he calls her woman, not mother; to shew her, that though she +was his mother, as he was man, yet she was his creature, as he was GOD. +“What have I to do with thee?” Think you that I must work miracles at +your bidding? Some have thought that she spoke as though she had an +authority over him, which was a proud motion, and our LORD therefore +checks her for it. And if JESUS CHRIST would not turn a little water +into wine, whilst he was here on earth, at her command, how idolatrous +is that church, and how justly do we separate from her, which +prescribes forms, wherein the Virgin is desired to command her Son to +have compassion on us! + +But notwithstanding the holy Virgin was blameable in this respect, +yet she hath herein set rich and poor an example which it is your duty +to follow. You that are rich, and live in cieled houses, learn of her +to go into the cottages of the poor; your LORD was not above it, and +why should you? And when you do visit them, like the virgin-mother, +examine their wants; and when you see they have no wine, and are ready +to perish with hunger, shut not up your bowels of compassion, but +bless the LORD for putting it in your power to administer to their +necessities. Believe me, such visits would do you good. You would learn +then to be thankful that GOD has given you bread enough, and to spare. +And I am persuaded, every mite that you bestow on feeding the hungry +and cloathing the naked disciples of JESUS CHRIST, will afford you more +satisfaction at the hour of death, and in the day of judgment, than all +the thousands squandered away in balls and assemblies, and such-like +entertainments. + +You that are poor in this world’s goods, and thereby are disabled from +helping, yet you may learn from the Virgin, to pray for one another. +She could not turn the water into wine, but she could entreat her son +to do it: and so may you; and doubt not of the LORD’s hearing you; +for GOD has chosen the poor in this world, rich in faith: and by your +fervent prayers, you may draw down many a blessing on your poor fellow +creatures. O that I may ever be remembered by you before the throne +of our dear LORD JESUS! But what shall we say? Will our LORD entirely +disregard this motion of his mother? No; though he check her with, +“Woman, what have I to do with thee?” yet he intimates that he would do +as she desired by-and-by: “Mine hour is not yet come.” As though he had +said, The wine is almost, but not quite out; when they are come to an +extremity, and sensible of the want of my assistance, then will I shew +forth my glory, that they may behold it, and believe on me. + +Thus, Sirs, hath our LORD been frequently pleased to deal with me, and, +I doubt not, with many of you also. Often, often when I have found his +presence as it were hidden from my soul, and his comforts well nigh +gone, I have went unto him complaining that I had no visit and token +of his love, as usual. Sometimes he has seemed to turn a deaf ear to my +request, and as it were said, “What have I to do with thee?” which has +made me go sorrowing all the day long; so foolish was I, and faithless +before him: for I have always found he loved me notwithstanding, as he +did _Lazarus_, though he stayed two days after he heard he was sick. +But when my hour of extremity has been come, and my will broken, then +hath he lifted up the light of his blessed countenance afresh; he has +shewed forth his glory, and made me ashamed for disbelieving him, who +often hath turned my water into wine. Be not then discouraged, if the +LORD does not immediately seem to regard the voice of your prayer, +when you cry unto him. The holy Virgin we find was not; no, she was +convinced his time was the best time, and therefore, verse 5. “saith +unto the servants, (O that we could follow her advice!) whatsoever he +saith unto you, do it.” + +And now, behold the hour is come, when the eternal Son of GOD will shew +forth his glory. The circumstance of the miracle is very remarkable; +verse 6. “And there were set six water-pots of water, after the +manner of the purifying of the _Jews_, containing two or three firkins +a-piece.” The manner of this purifying we have an account of in the +other Evangelists, especially St. _Mark_, who informs us, that the +pharisees, and all the _Jews_, except they wash their hands oft, eat +not; and when they come from the market, except they wash they eat not. +This was a superstitious custom; but, however, we may learn from it, +whenever we come in from conversing with those that are without, to +purify our hearts by self-examination and prayer; for it is hard to go +through the world, and to be kept unspotted from it. + +Observe further, verse 7. “JESUS saith unto them,” not to his own +disciples, but unto the servants of the house, who were strangers to +the holy JESUS, and whom the virgin had before charged to do whatsoever +he said unto them; “Fill the water-pots with water. And they filled +them to the brim. And he saith unto them, draw out now, and bear to the +governor of the feast. And they bear it.” How our LORD turned the water +into wine we are not told. What have we to do with that? Why should +we desire to be wise above what is written? It is sufficient for the +manifestation of his glorious godhead, that we are assured he did do +it. For we are told, verse 9, 10. “When the ruler of the feast had +tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was (but +the servants that drew the water knew) the governor of the feast called +the bridegroom, and saith unto him, every man at the beginning doth set +forth good wine, and when they have well drunk, that which is worse; +but thou hast kept the good wine until now.” + +To explain this passage, you must observe, it was the custom of the +_Jews_, nay even of the heathens themselves, (to the shame of our +christian baptized heathens be it spoken) at their public feasts to +chuse a governor, who was to oversee and regulate the behaviour of the +guests, and to take care that all things were carried on with decency +and order. To this person then did the servants bear the wine; and we +may judge how rich it was by his commendation of it, “Every man at the +beginning, &c.” Judge ye then, whether JESUS did not shew forth his +glory, and whether you have not good reason, like the disciples here +mentioned, to believe on him? + +Thus, my brethren, I have endeavoured to make some observations on the +miracle itself. But alas! this is only the outward court thereof, the +veil is yet before our eyes; turn that aside, and we shall see such +mysteries under it, as will make our hearts to dance for joy, and fill +our mouths with praise for evermore! + +But here I cannot help remarking what a sad inference one of our +masters of _Israel_, in a printed sermon, has lately drawn from this +commendation of the bridegroom. His words are these. “Our blessed +Saviour came eating and drinking, was present at weddings, and other +entertainments, (though I hear of his being only at one;) nay, at one +of them (which I suppose is that of which I am now discoursing) worked +a miracle to make wine, when it is plain there had been more drank than +was absolutely necessary for the support of nature, and consequently +something had been indulged to pleasure and chearfulness.”¹ + + ¹ See Dr. _Trap_’s sermon against being righteous over-much, + page 17. + +I am sorry such words should come from the mouth and pen of a dignified +clergyman of the Church of _England_. Alas! how is she fallen! or at +least, in what danger must her tottering ark be, when such unhallowed +hands are stretched out to support it! Well may I bear patiently to +be stiled a blasphemer, and a setter forth of strange doctrines, when +my dear LORD JESUS is thus traduced; and when those who pretend to +preach in his name, urge this example to patronize licentiousness and +excess. It is true (as I observed at the beginning of this discourse) +our blessed Saviour did come eating and drinking; he was present at a +wedding, and other entertainments; nay, at one of them worked a miracle +to make wine, (you see I have been making some observations on it) but +then it is not plain there had been more wine drank than was absolutely +necessary for the support of nature; much less does it appear, that +something had been indulged to pleasure and ♦chearfulness. + + ♦ “charfulness” replaced with “chearfulness” + +The governor does indeed say, “When men have well drunken,” but it no +where appears that they were the men. Is it to be supposed, that the +most holy and unspotted Lamb of GOD, who was manifested to destroy the +works of the devil, and who, when at a Pharisee’s house, took notice +of even the gestures cf those with whom he sat at meat; is it to be +supposed, that our dear Redeemer, whose constant practice it was to +tell people they must deny themselves, and take up their crosses daily; +who bid his disciples to take heed, lest at any time their hearts might +be over-charged with surfeiting and drunkenness; can it be supposed, +that such a self-denying JESUS should now turn six large water-pots +of water into the richest wine, to encourage excess and drunkenness +in persons, who, according to this writer, had indulged to pleasure +and chearfulness already? Had our LORD sat by, and seen them indulge, +without telling them of it, would it not be a sin? But to insinuate he +not only did this, but also turned water into wine, to increase that +indulgence; this is making CHRIST a minister of sin indeed. What is +this, but using him like the Pharisees of old, who called him a glutton, +and a wine-bibber? Alas! how may we expect our dear LORD’s enemies will +treat him, when he is thus wounded in the house of his seeming friends? +Sirs, if you follow such doctrine as this, you will not be righteous, +but I am persuaded you will be _wicked over-much_. + +But GOD forbid you should think our LORD behaved so much unlike himself +in this matter. No, he had nobler ends in view, when he wrought this +miracle. One, the evangelist mentions in the words of the text, “to +shew forth his glory,” or to give a proof of his eternal power and +godhead. + +Here seems to be an allusion to the appearance of GOD in the tabernacle, +which this same evangelist takes notice of in his first chapter, where +he says, “The Word (JESUS CHRIST) was made flesh, and dwelt (or, as +it is rendered in the margin, tabernacled) amongst us.” Our dear LORD, +though very GOD of very GOD, and also most perfect and glorious in +himself as man, was pleased to throw a veil of flesh over this his +great glory, when he came to make his soul an offering for sin. And +that the world might know and believe in him as the Saviour of all men, +he performed many miracles, and this in particular; for thus speaks the +evangelist, “This first,” &c. + +This then was the chief design of our LORD’s turning the water into +wine. But there are more which our LORD may be supposed to have had in +view, some of which I shall proceed to mention. + +_Secondly_, he might do this to reward the host for calling him and his +disciples to the marriage. JESUS CHRIST will not be behind-hand with +those who receive him or his followers, for his name’s sake. Those who +thus honour him, he will honour. A cup of cold water given in the name +of a disciple, shall in no wise lose its reward. He will turn water +into wine. Though those who abound in alms-deeds, out of a true faith +in, and love for JESUS, may seem as it were to throw their bread upon +the waters, yet they shall find it again after many days. For they who +give to the poor out of this principle, lend unto the LORD; and look, +whatsoever they lay out, it shall be repaid them again. Even in this +life, GOD often orders good measure pressed down and running over, to +be returned into his servants bosoms. It is the same in spirituals. To +him that hath, and improves what he hath, for the sake of CHRIST and +his disciples, shall be given, and he shall have abundance. Brethren, I +would not boast; but, to my master’s honour and free grace be it spoken, +I can prove this to be true by happy experience. When I have considered +that I am a child, and cannot speak, and have seen so many of you come +out into the wilderness to be fed, I have often said within myself, +what can I do with my little stock of grace and knowledge among so +great a multitude? But, at my LORD’s command, I have given you to eat +of such spiritual food as I had, and before I have done speaking, have +had my soul richly fed with the bread which cometh down from heaven. +Thus shall it be done to all such who are willing to spend and be spent +for CHRIST or his disciples; for there is no respect of persons with +GOD. + +_Thirdly_, Our LORD’s turning the water, which was poured out so +plentifully, into wine, is a sign of the plentiful pouring out of his +Spirit into the hearts of believers. The holy Spirit is in scripture +compared unto wine; and therefore the prophet calls us to buy wine as +well as milk, that is, the spirit of love, which fills and gladdens +the soul as it were with new wine. The apostle alludes to this, when he +bids the _Ephesians_ “not to be drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but +be filled with the Spirit.” And our LORD shews us thus much by chusing +wine; to shew forth the strength and refreshment of his blood, in the +blessed sacrament. I know these terms are unintelligible to natural men, +they can no more understand me, than if I spake to them in an unknown +tongue, for they are only to be spiritually discerned. To you then that +are spiritual do I speak, to you who are justified by faith, and feel +the blessed Spirit of JESUS CHRIST working upon your hearts, you can +judge of what I say; you have already (I am persuaded) been as it were +filled with new wine by the inspiration of his Holy Spirit. But alas! +you have not yet had half your portion; these are only earnests, and +in comparison but shadows of good things to come; our LORD keeps his +best wine for you till the last; and though you have drank deep of it +already, yet he intends to give you more: He will not leave you, ’till +he has filled you to the brim, ’till you are ready to cry out, LORD, +stay thine hand, thy poor creatures can hold no more! Be not straitened +in your own bowels, since JESUS CHRIST is not straitened in his. Open +your hearts as wide as ever you will, the Spirit of the LORD shall +fill them. CHRIST deals with true believers, as _Elijah_ did with the +poor woman, whose oil increased, to pay her husband’s debts; as long +as she brought pitchers, the oil continued. It did not cease till she +ceased bringing vessels to contain it. My brethren, our hearts are like +those pitchers; open them freely by faith, and the oil of GOD’s free +gift, the oil of gladness, the love of GOD through CHRIST, shall be +continually pouring in; for believers are to be filled with all the +fulness of GOD. + +_Fourthly_, Our LORD’s turning water into wine, and keeping the best +until last, may shew forth the glory of the latter days of his marriage +feast with his church. Great things GOD has done already, whereat +millions of saints have rejoiced, and do yet rejoice. Great things GOD +is doing now, but yet, my brethren, we shall see greater things than +these. It is meet, right, and our bounden duty, to give thanks unto GOD, +even the Father; for many righteous men have desired to see the things +which we see, and have not seen them; and to hear the things which +we hear, and have not heard them. But still there are more excellent +things behind. Glorious things are spoken of these times, “when the +earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters +cover the sea.” There is a general expectation among the people of GOD, +when the partition-wall between _Jew_ and _Gentile_ shall be broken +down, and all _Israel_ be saved. Happy those who live when GOD does +this. They shall see _Satan_, like lightning, fall from heaven. They +shall not weep, as the _Jews_ did at the building of the second temple. +No, they shall rejoice with exceeding great joy. For all the former +glory of the christian church shall be nothing in comparison of that +glory which shall excel. Then shall they cry out with the governor of +the feast, “thou hast kept thy good wine until now!” + +_Fifthly_, and lastly, This shews us the happiness of that blessed +state, when we shall all sit together at the marriage supper of the +Lamb, and drink of the new wine in his eternal and glorious kingdom! + +The rewards which JESUS CHRIST confers on his faithful servants, and +the comforts of his love wherewith he comforts them, whilst pilgrims +here on earth, are often so exceeding great, that was it not promised, +it were almost presumption for them to hope for any reward hereafter. +But, my brethren, all the manifestations of GOD that we can possibly be +favoured with here, when compared with the glory that is to be revealed +in us, are no more than a drop of water when compared with an unbounded +ocean. Though CHRIST frequently fills his saints even to the brim, +yet their corruptible bodies weigh down their souls, and cause them to +cry, “Who shall deliver us from these bodies of death?” These earthly +tabernacles can hold no more: But, blessed be GOD, these earthly +tabernacles are to be dissolved; this corruptible is to put on +incorruption; this mortal is to put on immortality: and when GOD shall +cause all his glory to pass before us, then shall we cry out, LORD, +thou hast kept thy good wine until now. We have drank deeply of thy +spirit; we have heard glorious things spoken of this thy city, O GOD! +but we now find, that not the half, not the thousandth part hath been +told us. O the invisible realities of the world of faith! Eye hath not +seen, ear hath not heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of the +greatest saint to conceive how CHRIST will shew forth his glory there! +St. _Paul_, who was carried up into the third heavens, could give us +little or no account of it. And well he might not――for he heard and saw +such things as is not possible for a man cloathed with flesh and blood +to utter. Whilst I am thinking, and only speaking of those things unto +you, I am almost carried beyond myself. Methinks, I now receive some +little foretastes of that new wine which I hope to drink with you in +the heavenly kingdom for ever and ever. + +And wherefore do you think I have been saying these things? Many, +perhaps, may be ready to say, To manifest thy own vain-glory. But it is +a small matter with me to be judged of man’s judgment. He that judgeth +me is the LORD. He knows that I have spoken of his miracle, only for +the same end for which he at first performed it, and which I at first +proposed, that is, “to shew forth his glory,” that you also may be +brought to believe on him. + +Did I come to preach myself, and not CHRIST JESUS my LORD, I would come +to you, not in this plainness of speech, but with the enticing words +of man’s wisdom. Did I desire to please natural men, I need not preach +here in the wilderness. I hope my heart aims at nothing else, than +what our LORD’s great fore-runner aimed at, and which ought to be the +business of every gospel minister, that is, to point out to you the +God-man CHRIST JESUS. “Behold then (by faith behold) the Lamb of GOD, +who taketh away the sins of the world.” Look unto him, and be saved. +You have heard how he manifested, and will yet manifest his glory to +true believers; and why then, O sinners, will you not believe in him? I +say, O sinners, for now I have spoken to the saints, I have many things +to say to you. And may GOD give you all an hearing ear, and an obedient +heart! + +The LORD JESUS who shewed forth his glory above 1700 years ago, has +made a marriage feast, and offers to espouse all sinners to himself, +and to make them flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone. He is +willing to be united to you by one spirit. In every age, at sundry +times, and after divers manners, he hath sent forth his servants, and +they had bidden many, but yet, my brethren, there is room. The LORD +therefore now has given a commission in these last days to others +of his servants, even to compel poor sinners by the cords of love to +come in. For our master’s house must and shall be filled. He will not +shed his precious blood in vain. Come then, come to the marriage. Let +this be the day of your espousals with JESUS CHRIST, he is willing +to receive you, though other lords have had dominion over you. Come +then to the marriage. Behold the oxen and fatlings are killed, and +all things are ready; let me hear you say, as _Rebecca_ did, when they +asked her, whether she would go and be a wife to _Isaac_; O let me hear +you say, we will come. Indeed you will not repent it. The LORD shall +turn your water into wine. He shall fill your souls with marrow and +fatness, and cause you to praise him with joyful lips. + +Do not say, you are miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked, and +therefore ashamed to come, for it is to such that this invitation is +now sent. The polite, the rich, the busy, self-righteous Pharisees of +this generation have been bidden already, but they have rejected the +counsel of GOD against themselves. They are too deeply engaged in going, +one to his country house, another to his merchandize. They are so +deeply wedded to the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, that they, +as it were with one consent, have made excuse. And though they have +been often called in their own synagogues, yet all the return they make, +is to thrust us out, and thereby in effect say, they will not come. +But GOD forbid, my brethren, that you should learn of them; no, since +our LORD condescends to call first, (because if left to yourselves +you would never call after him) let me beseech you to answer him, as +he answered for you, when called upon by infinite offended justice +to die for your sins, “Lo! I come to do thy will, O GOD!” What if +you are miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked, that is no excuse; +faith is the only wedding garment which CHRIST requires; he does not +call you because you already are, but because he intends to make you +saints. It pities him to see you naked. He wants to cover you with +his righteousness. In short, he desires to shew forth his glory, that +is, his free love through your faith in him. Not but that he will be +glorified, whether you believe in him or not; for the infinitely free +love of JESUS CHRIST will be ever the same, whether you believe it, +and so receive it, or the contrary. But our LORD will not always send +out his servants in vain, to call you; the time will come when he will +say, None of those which were bidden, and would not come, shall taste +of my supper. Our LORD is a GOD of justice, as well as of love; and if +sinners will not take hold of his golden sceptre, verily he will bruise +them with his iron rod. It is for your sakes, O sinners, and not his +own, that he thus condescends to invite you: suffer him then to shew +forth his glory, even the glory of the exceeding riches of his free +grace, by believing on him, “For we are saved by grace through faith.” +It was grace, free grace, that moved the Father so to love the world, +as to “give his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him +should not perish, but have everlasting life!” It was grace, that made +the Son to come down and die. It was grace, free grace, that moved the +Holy Ghost to undertake to sanctify the elect people of GOD: and it was +grace, free grace, that moved our LORD JESUS CHRIST to send forth his +ministers to call poor sinners this day. Let me not then, my brethren, +go without my errand. Why will you not believe in him? Will the devil +do such great and good things for you as CHRIST will? No indeed, +he will not. Perhaps, he may give you to drink at first of a little +brutish pleasure; but what will he give you to drink at last? a cup of +fury and of trembling; a never-dying worm, a self-condemning conscience, +and the bitter pains of eternal death. But as for the servants of JESUS +CHRIST, it is not so with them. No, he keeps his best wine till the +last. And though he may cause you to drink of the brook in the way +to heaven, and of the cup of affliction, yet he sweetens it with a +sense of his goodness, and makes it pleasant drink, such as their souls +do love. I appeal to the experience of any saint here present, (as I +doubt not but there are many such in this field) whether CHRIST has not +proved faithful, ever since you have been espoused to him? Has he not +shewed forth his glory, ever since you have believed on him? + +And now, sinners, what have you to object? I see you are all silent, +and well you may. For if you will not be drawn by the cords of infinite +and everlasting love, what will draw you? I could urge many terrors of +the LORD to persuade you; but if the love of JESUS CHRIST will not +constrain you, your case is desperate. Remember then this day I have +invited all, even the worst of sinners, to be married to the LORD JESUS. +If you perish, remember you do not perish for lack of invitation. You +yourselves shall stand forth at the last day, and I here give you a +summons to meet me at the judgment seat of CHRIST, and to clear both my +master and me. Would weeping, would tears prevail on you, I could wish +my head were waters, and my eyes fountains of tears, that I might weep +out every argument, and melt you into love. Would any thing I could +do or suffer, influence your hearts, I think I could bear to pluck +out my eyes, or even to lay down my life for your sakes. Or was I sure +to prevail on you by importunity, I could continue my discourse till +midnight, I would wrestle with you even till the morning watch, as +_Jacob_ did with the angel, and would not go away till I had overcome. +But such power belongeth only unto the LORD, I can only invite; it is +He only can work in you both to will and to do after his good pleasure; +it is his property to take away the heart of stone, and give you a +heart of flesh; it is his spirit that must convince you of unbelief, +and of the everlasting righteousness of his dear Son; it is He alone +must give faith to apply his righteousness to your hearts; it is He +alone can give you a wedding garment, and bring you to sit down and +drink new wine in his kingdom. As to spirituals we are quite dead, and +have no more power to turn to GOD of ourselves, than _Lazarus_ had to +raise himself, after he had lain stinking in the grave four days. If +thou canst go, O man, and breathe upon all the dry bones that lye in +the graves, and bid them live; if thou canst take thy mantle and divide +yonder river, as _Elijah_ did the river _Jordan_; then will we believe +thou hast a power to turn to GOD of thyself: But as thou must despair +of the one, so thou must despair of the other, without CHRIST’s +quickening grace; in him is thy only help; fly to him then by faith; +say unto him, as the poor leper did, “LORD, if thou wilt,” thou canst +make me willing; and he will stretch forth the right-hand of his power +to assist and relieve you: He will sweetly guide you by his wisdom on +earth, and afterwards take you up to partake of his glory in heaven. + + To his mercy therefore, and Almighty protection, do I earnestly, + humbly, and most affectionately commit you: the LORD bless + you and keep you; the LORD lift up the light of his blessed + countenance upon you, and give you all peace and joy in + believing, now and for evermore! + + + + + SERMON XXXVII. + + The Duty of searching the Scriptures. + + + JOHN v. 39. + + _Search the Scriptures._ + +WHEN the Sadducees came to our blessed LORD, and put to him the +question, “whose wife that woman should be in the next life, who had +seven husbands in this,” he told them “they erred, not knowing the +scriptures.” And if we would know whence all the errors, that have +over-spread the church of CHRIST, first arose, we should find that, in +a great measure, they flowed from the same fountain, ignorance of the +word of GOD. + +Our blessed LORD, though he was the eternal GOD, yet as man, he made +the scriptures his constant rule and guide. And therefore, when he was +asked by the lawyer, which was the great commandment of the law, he +referred him to his Bible for an answer, “What readest thou?” And thus, +when led by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil, he repelled all his +assaults, with “it is written.” + +A sufficient confutation this, of their opinion, who say, “the Spirit +only, and not the Spirit by the Word, is to be our rule of action.” If +so, our Saviour, who had the Spirit without measure, needed not always +have referred to the written word. + +But how few copy after the example of CHRIST? How many are there who do +not regard the word of GOD at all, ♦but throw the sacred oracles aside, +as an antiquated book, fit only for illiterate men? + + ♦ “bot” replaced with “but” + +Such do greatly err, not knowing what the scriptures are, or for what +they are designed. + +I shall, therefore, + + _First_, Shew, that it is every one’s duty to search them. + + And, _Secondly_, Lay down some directions for you, to search + them with advantage. + +I. I am to shew, that it is every person’s duty to search the +Scriptures. + +By the Scriptures, I understand the law and the prophets, and those +books which have in all ages been accounted canonical, and which make +up that volume ♦commonly called the Bible. + + ♦ “commmonly” replaced with “commonly” + +These are emphatically stiled the _Scriptures_, and, in one place, the +“Scriptures of Truth,” as though no other books deserved the name of +true writings or scripture in comparison of them. + +They are not of any private interpretation, authority, or invention, +but holy men of old wrote them, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. + +The foundation of GOD’s revealing himself thus to mankind, was our +fall in _Adam_, and the necessity of our new birth in CHRIST JESUS. +And if we search the scriptures as we ought, we shall find the sum and +substance, the _Alpha_ and _Omega_, the beginning and end of them, is +to lead us to a knowledge of these two great truths. + +All the threats, promises and precepts, all the exhortations and +doctrines contained therein, all the rites, ceremonies and sacrifices +appointed under the _Jewish_ law; nay, almost all the historical parts +of holy scripture, suppose our being fallen in _Adam_, and either point +out to us a Mediator to come, or speak of him as already come in the +flesh. + +Had man continued in a state of innocence, he would not have needed an +outward revelation, because the law of GOD was so deeply written in the +tables of his heart. But having eaten the forbidden fruit, he incurred +the displeasure of GOD, and lost the divine Image, and, therefore, +without an external revelation, could never tell how GOD would be +reconciled unto him, or how he should be saved from the misery and +darkness of his fallen nature. + +That these truths are so, I need not refer you to any other book, than +your own hearts. + +For unless we are fallen creatures, whence those abominable corruptions +which daily arise in our hearts? We could not come thus corrupt out +of the hands of our Maker, because he being goodness itself could make +nothing but what is like himself, holy, just, and good. And that we +want to be delivered from these disorders of our nature, is evident, +because we find an unwillingness within ourselves to own we are thus +depraved, and are always striving to appear to others of a quite +different frame and temper of mind than what we are. + +I appeal to the experience of the most learned disputer against divine +revelation, whether he does not find in himself, that he is naturally +proud, angry, revengeful, and full of other passions contrary to +the purity, holiness, and long-suffering of GOD. And is not this a +demonstration that some way or other he is fallen from GOD? And I +appeal also, whether at the same time that he finds these hurtful lusts +in his heart, he does not strive to seem amiable, courteous, kind and +affable; and is not this a manifest proof, that he is sensible he is +miserable, and wants, he knows not how, to be redeemed or delivered +from it? + +Here then, GOD by his word steps in, and opens to his view such a scene +of divine love, and infinite goodness in the holy scriptures, that +none but men, of such corrupt and reprobate minds as our modern deists, +would shut their eyes against it. + +What does GOD in his written word do more or less, than shew thee, O +man, how thou art fallen into that blindness, darkness, and misery, of +which thou feelest and complainest? And, at the same time, he points +out the way to what thou desirest, even how thou mayest be redeemed out +of it by believing in, and copying after the Son of his love. + +As I told you before, so I tell you again, upon these two truths rest +all divine revelation. It being given us for no other end, but to shew +us our misery, and our happiness; our fall and recovery; or, in one +word, after what manner we died in _Adam_, and how in CHRIST we may +again be made alive. + +Hence then arises the necessity of searching the scriptures: for since +they are nothing else but the grand charter of our salvation, the +revelation of a covenant made by GOD with men in CHRIST, and a light +to guide us into the way of peace; it follows, that all are obliged +to read and search them, because all are equally fallen from GOD, all +equally stand in need of being informed how they must be restored to, +and again united with him. + +How foolishly then do the disputing infidels of this generation act, +who are continually either calling for signs from heaven, or seeking +for outward evidence to prove the truth of divine revelation? Whereas, +what they so earnestly seek for is nigh unto, nay, within them. For let +them but consult their own hearts, they cannot but feel what they want. +Let them but consult the lively oracles of GOD, and they cannot but +see a remedy revealed for all their wants, and that the written word +does as exactly answer the wants and desires of their hearts, as face +answers to face in the water. Where then is the scribe, where is the +wise, where is the solidity of the reasoning of the disputers of this +world? Has not GOD revealed himself unto them, as plain as their own +hearts could wish? And yet they require a sign: but there shall no +other sign be given them. For if they believe not a revelation which +is every way so suited to their wants, neither will they be persuaded +though one should rise from the dead. + +But this discourse is not designed so much for them that believe not, +as for them, who both know and believe that the scriptures contain a +revelation which came from GOD, and that it is their duty, as being +chief parties concerned, not only to read but search them also. + +I pass on, therefore, in the + +_Second_ place, to lay down some directions, how you may search them +with advantage. + +_First_, Have always in view, the end for which the scriptures were +written, even to shew us the way of salvation, by JESUS CHRIST. + +“Search the scriptures,” says our blessed LORD, “for they are they that +testify of me.” Look, therefore, always for CHRIST in the scripture. +He is the treasure hid in the field, both of the Old and New Testament. +In the Old, you will find him under prophesies, types, sacrifices, and +shadows; in the New, manifested in the flesh, to become a propitiation +for our sins as a Priest, and as a Prophet to reveal the whole will of +his heavenly Father. + +Have CHRIST, then, always in view when you are reading the word of GOD, +and this, like the star in the east, will guide you to the Messiah, +will serve as a key to every thing that is obscure, and unlock to you +the wisdom and riches of all the mysteries of the kingdom of GOD. + +_Secondly_, Search the scriptures with an humble child-like disposition. + +For whosoever does not read them with this temper, shall in no wise +enter into the knowledge of the things contained in them. For GOD +hides the sense of them, from those that are wise and prudent in their +own eyes, and reveals them only to babes in CHRIST: who think they +know nothing yet as they ought to know; who hunger and thirst after +righteousness, and humbly desire to be fed with the sincere milk of +the word, that they may grow thereby. + +Fancy yourselves, therefore, when you are searching the scriptures, +especially when you are reading the New Testament, to be with _Mary_ +sitting at the feet of the holy JESUS; and be as willing to learn what +GOD shall teach you, as _Samuel_ was, when he said, “Speak, LORD, for +thy servant heareth.” + +Oh that the unbelievers would pull down every high thought and +imagination that exalts itself against the revealed will of GOD! O that +they would, like new-born babes, desire to be fed with the pure milk +of the word! then we should have them no longer scoffing at Divine +Revelation, nor would they read the Bible any more with the same intent +the _Philistines_ brought out _Sampson_, to make sport at it; but they +would see the divine image and superscription written upon every line. +They would hear GOD speaking unto their souls by it, and, consequently, +be built up in the knowledge and fear of him, who is the Author thereof. + +_Thirdly_, Search the scriptures, with a sincere intention to put in +practice what you read. + +A desire to do the will of GOD is the only way to know it; if any man +will do my will, says JESUS CHRIST, “He shall know of my doctrine, +whether it be of GOD, or whether I speak of myself.” As he also +speaks in another place to his disciples, “To you, (who are willing to +practise your duty) it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom +of GOD, but to those that are without, (who only want to raise cavils +against my doctrine) all these things are spoken in parables, that +seeing they may see and not understand, and hearing they may hear and +not perceive.” + +For it is but just in GOD to send those strong delusions, that they may +believe a lie, and to conceal the knowledge of himself from all such as +do not seek him with a single intention. + +JESUS CHRIST is the same now, as formerly, to those who desire to +know from his word, who he is that they may believe on, and live by; +and to him he will reveal himself as clearly as he did to the woman +of _Samaria_, when he said, “I that speak to thee am he,” or as he +did to the man that was born blind, whom the _Jews_ had cast out for +his name’s sake, “He that talketh with thee, is he.” But to those +who consult his word with a desire neither to know him, nor keep his +commandments, but either merely for their entertainment, or to scoff at +the simplicity of the manner in which he is revealed, to those, I say, +he never will reveal himself, though they should search the scriptures +to all eternity. As he never would tell those whether he was the +_Messiah_ or not, who put that question to him either out of curiosity, +or that they might have whereof to accuse him. + +_Fourthly_, In order to search the scriptures still more effectually, +make an application of every thing you read to your own hearts. + +For whatever was written in the book of GOD, was written for our +learning. And what CHRIST said unto those aforetime, we must look upon +as spoken to us also: for since the holy scriptures are nothing but a +revelation from GOD, how fallen man is to be restored by JESUS CHRIST: +all the precepts, threats, and promises, belong to us and to our +children, as well as to those, to whom they were immediately made known. + +Thus the Apostle, when he tells us that he lived by the faith of +the Son of GOD, adds, “who died and gave himself for me.” It is this +application of JESUS CHRIST to our hearts, that makes his redemption +effectual to each of us. + +And it is this application of all the doctrinal and historical parts +of scripture, when we are reading them over, that must render them +profitable to us, as they were designed for reproof, for correction, +for instruction in righteousness, and to make every child of GOD +perfect, thoroughly furnished to every good work. + +I dare appeal to the experience of every spiritual reader of holy writ, +whether or not, if he consulted the word of GOD in this manner, he was +not at all times and at all seasons, as plainly directed how to act, +as though he had consulted the Urim and Thummim, which was upon the +high-priest’s breast. For this is the way GOD now reveals himself to +man: not by making new revelations, but by applying general things that +are revealed already to every sincere reader’s heart. + +And this, by the way, answers an objection made by those who say, “The +word of GOD is not a perfect rule of action, because it cannot direct +us how to act or how to determine in particular cases, or what place +to go to, when we are in doubt, and therefore, the Spirit, and not the +word, is to be our rule of action.” + +But this I deny, and affirm on the contrary, that GOD at all times, +circumstances, and places, though never so minute, never so particular, +will, if we diligently seek the assistance of his Holy Spirit, apply +general things to our hearts, and thereby, to use the words of the +holy JESUS, will lead us into all truth, and give us the particular +assistance we want: But this leads me to a + +_Fifth_ direction how to search the scriptures with profit: Labour to +attain that Spirit by which they were written. + +For the natural man discerneth not the words of the Spirit of GOD, +because they are spiritually discerned; the words that CHRIST hath +spoken, they are spirit, and they are life, and can be no more +understood as to the true sense and meaning of them, by the mere +natural man, than a person who never had learned a language can +understand another speaking in it. The scriptures, therefore, have +not unfitly been compared, by some, to the cloud which went before the +_Israelites_, they are dark and hard to be understood by the natural +man, as the cloud appeared dark to the _Egyptians_; but they are +light, they are life to christians indeed, as that same cloud which +seemed dark to _Pharaoh_ and his house, appeared bright and altogether +glorious to the _Israel_ of GOD. + +It was the want of the assistance of this Spirit, that made _Nicodemus_, +a teacher of _Israel_, and a ruler of the _Jews_, so utterly ignorant +in the doctrine of regeneration: for being only a natural man, he could +not tell how that thing could be; it was the want of this Spirit that +made our Saviour’s disciples, though he so frequently conversed with +them, daily mistake the nature of the doctrines he delivered; and it +is because the natural veil is not taken off from their hearts, that +so many who now pretend to search the scriptures, yet see no farther +than into the bare letter of them, and continue entire strangers to the +spiritual meaning couched under every parable, and contained in almost +all the precepts of the book of GOD. + +Indeed, how should it be otherwise, for GOD being a spirit, he cannot +communicate himself any otherwise than in a spiritual manner to the +hearts of men; and consequently if we are strangers to his Spirit, +we must continue strangers to his word, because it is altogether like +himself, spiritual. Labour, therefore, earnestly for to attain this +blessed Spirit; otherwise, your understandings will never be opened to +understand the scriptures aright: and remember, prayer is one of the +most immediate means to get this Holy Spirit. Therefore, + +_Sixthly_, Let me advise you, before you read the scriptures, to pray, +that CHRIST, according to his promise, would send his Spirit to guide +you into all truth; intersperse short ejaculations whilst you are +engaged in reading; pray over every word and verse, if possible; and +when you close up the book, most earnestly beseech GOD, that the words +which you have read, may be inwardly engrafted into your hearts, and +bring forth in you the fruits of a good life. + +Do this, and you will, with a holy violence, draw down GOD’s Holy +Spirit into your hearts; you will experience his gracious influence, +and feel him enlightening, quickening, and inflaming your souls by +the word of GOD; you will then not only read, but mark, learn, and +inwardly digest what you read: and the word of GOD will be meat indeed, +and drink indeed unto your souls; you then will be as _Apollos_ was, +powerful in the scriptures; be scribes ready instructed to the kingdom +of GOD, and bring out of the good treasures of your heart, things both +from the Old and New Testament, to entertain all you converse with. One + +Direction more, which shall be the last, _Seventhly_, Read the +scripture constantly, or, to use our Saviour’s expression in the text, +“search the scriptures;” dig in them as for hid treasure; for here is +a manifest allusion to those who dig in mines; and our Saviour would +thereby teach us, that we must take as much pains in constantly reading +his word, if we would grow wise thereby, as those who dig for gold and +silver. The scriptures contain the deep things of GOD, and therefore, +can never be sufficiently searched into by a careless, superficial, +cursory way of reading them, but by an industrious, close, and humble +application. + +The Psalmist makes it the characteristic of a good man, that he +“meditates on GOD’s law day and night.” And “this book of the law, +(says GOD to _Joshua_) shall not go out of thy mouth, but thou shalt +meditate therein day and night;” for then thou shalt make thy way +prosperous, and thou shalt have good success. Search, therefore, the +scriptures, not only devoutly but daily, for in them are the words of +eternal life; wait constantly at wisdom’s gate, and she will then, and +not till then, display and lay open to you her heavenly treasures. You +that are rich, are without excuse if you do not; and you that are poor, +ought to take heed and improve that little time you have: for by the +scriptures you are to be acquitted, and by the scriptures you are to be +condemned at the last day. + +But perhaps you have no taste for this despised book; perhaps plays, +romances, and books of polite entertainment, suit your taste better: if +this be your case, give me leave to tell you, your taste is vitiated, +and unless corrected by the Spirit and word of GOD, you shall never +enter into his heavenly kingdom: for unless you delight in GOD here, +how will you be made meet to dwell with him hereafter. Is it a sin +then, you will say, to read useless impertinent books; I answer, +Yes: And that for the same reason, as it is a sin to indulge useless +conversation, because both immediately tend to grieve and quench that +Spirit, by which alone we can be sealed to the day of redemption. You +may reply, How shall we know this? Why, put in practice the precept in +the text; search the scripture in the manner that has been recommended, +and then you will be convinced of the danger, sinfulness, and +unsatisfactoriness of reading any others than the book of GOD, or such +as are wrote in the same spirit. You will then say, when I was a child, +and ignorant of the excellency of the word of GOD, I read what the +world calls harmless books, as other children in knowledge, though old +in years, have done, and still do; but now I have tasted the good word +of life, and am come to a more perfect knowledge of CHRIST JESUS my +LORD, I put away these childish, trifling things, and am determined to +read no other books but what lead me to a knowledge of myself and of +CHRIST JESUS. + +Search, therefore, the scriptures, my dear brethren; taste and see how +good the word of GOD is, and then you will never leave that heavenly +manna, that angel’s food, to feed on dry husks, that light bread, those +trifling, sinful compositions, in which men of false taste delight +themselves: no, you will then disdain such poor entertainment, and +blush that yourselves once were fond of it. The word of GOD will then +be sweeter to you than honey, and the honey-comb, and dearer than gold +and silver; your souls by reading it, will be filled as it were, with +marrow and fatness, and your hearts insensibly moulded into the spirit +of its blessed Author. In short, you will be guided by GOD’s wisdom +here, and conducted by the light of his divine word into glory +hereafter. + + + + + SERMON XXXVIII. + + The Indwelling of the Spirit, + the common Privilege of all Believers. + + + JOHN vii. 37, 38, 39. + + _In the last day, that great day of the feast, JESUS stood and + cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and + drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, + out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this + spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should + receive._ + +NOTHING has rendered the cross of CHRIST of less effect; nothing has +been a greater stumbling-block and rock of offence to weak minds, than +a supposition, now current among us, that most of what is contained +in the gospel of JESUS CHRIST, was designed only for our LORD’s first +and immediate followers, and consequently calculated but for one or +two hundred years. Accordingly, many now read the life, sufferings, +death, and resurrection of JESUS CHRIST, in the same manner as _Cæsar’s +Commentaries_, or the _Conquests of Alexander_ are read: as things +rather intended to afford matter for speculation, than to be acted over +again in and by us. + +As this is true of the doctrines of the gospel in general, so it +is of the operation of GOD’s Spirit upon the hearts of believers in +particular; for we no sooner mention the necessity of our receiving the +Holy Ghost in these last days, as well as formerly, but we are looked +upon by some, as enthusiasts and madmen; and by others, represented +as wilfully deceiving the people, and undermining the established +constitution of the church. + +Judge ye then, whether it is not high time for the true ministers of +JESUS CHRIST, who have been made partakers of this heavenly gift, to +lift up their voices like a trumpet; and if they would not have those +souls perish, for which the LORD JESUS has shed his precious blood, +to declare, with all boldness, that the Holy Spirit is the common +privilege and portion of all believers in all ages; and that we as well +as the first christians, must receive the Holy Ghost, before we can be +truly called the children of GOD. + +For this reason, (and also that I might answer the design of our church +in appointing the present festival¹) I have chosen the words of the +text. + + ¹ Whitsuntide. + +They were spoken by JESUS CHRIST, when he was at the feast of +tabernacles. Our LORD attended on the temple-service in general, and +the festivals of the _Jewish_ church in particular. The festival at +which he was now present, was that of the feast of tabernacles, which +the _Jews_ observed according to GOD’s appointment in commemoration of +their living in tents. At the last day of this feast, it was customary +for many pious people to fetch water from a certain place, and bring +it on their heads, singing this anthem out of _Isaiah_, “And with +joy shall they draw water out of the wells of salvation.” Our LORD +observing this, and it being his constant practice to spiritualize +every thing he met with, cries out, “If any man thirst, let him come +unto me, (rather than unto that well) and drink. He that believeth +on me, as the scripture hath spoken, (where it is said, GOD will make +water to spring out of a dry rock, and such-like) out of his belly +shall flow rivers of living water.” And that we might know what our +Saviour meant by this living water, the Evangelist immediately adds, +“But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should +receive.” + +The last words I shall chiefly insist on in the ensuing discourse: And + + _First_, I shall briefly shew, what is meant by the word Spirit. + + _Secondly_, That this Spirit is the common privilege of all + believers. + + _Thirdly_, I shall shew the reason on which this doctrine is + founded. And + + _Lastly_, Conclude with a general exhortation to believe on + JESUS CHRIST, whereby alone we can receive this Spirit. + +_First_, I am to shew, what is meant by the word _Spirit_. + +By the Spirit, is evidently to be understood the Holy Ghost, the third +person in the ever-blessed Trinity, consubstantial and ♦co-eternal +with the Father and the Son, proceeding from, yet equal to them both. +For, to use the words of our Church in this day’s office, that which we +believe of the glory of the Father, the same we believe of the Son, and +of the Holy Ghost, without any difference or inequality. + + ♦ “co-eternnl” replaced with “co-eternal” + +Thus, says St. _John_, in his first epistle, chapter v. verse 7. “There +are three that bare record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the +Holy Ghost, and these three are one.” And our LORD, when he gave his +Apostles commission to go and teach all nations, commanded them to +baptize in the name of the Holy Ghost, as well as of the Father and the +Son. And St. _Peter_, _Acts_ v. 3. said to _Ananias_, “Why hath Satan +filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?” And verse 4. he says, +“Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto GOD.” From all which passages, +it is plain, that the Holy Ghost, is truly and properly GOD, as well as +the Father and the Son. This is an unspeakable mystery, but a mystery +of GOD’s revealing, and, therefore, to be assented to with our whole +hearts: seeing GOD is not a man that he should lie, nor the son of man +that he should deceive. I proceed, + +_Secondly_, To prove that the Holy Ghost is the common privilege of all +believers. + +But, here I would not be understood of so receiving the Holy Ghost, +as to enable us to work miracles, or shew outward signs and wonders. +I allow our adversaries, that to pretend to be inspired, in this +sense, is being wise above what is written. Perhaps it cannot be +proved, that GOD ever interposed in this extraordinary manner, but when +some new revelation was to be established, as at the first settling +of the _Mosaic_ and gospel dispensation: and as for my own part, I +cannot but suspect the spirit of those who insist upon a repetition of +such miracles at this time. For the world being now become nominally +christian, (though, GOD knows, little of the power is left among us) +there need not outward miracles, but only an inward co-operation of the +Holy Spirit with the word, to prove that JESUS is the Messiah which was +to come into the world. + +Besides, if it was possible for thee, O man, to have faith, so as to be +able to remove mountains, or cast out devils; nay, couldst thou speak +with the tongue of men and angels, yea, and bid the sun stand still +in the midst of heaven; what would all these gifts of the Spirit avail +thee, without being made partaker of his sanctifying graces? _Saul_ had +the spirit of government for a while, so as to become another man, and +yet probably was a cast-away. And many, who cast out devils in CHRIST’s +name, at the last will be disowned by him. If, therefore, thou hadst +only the gifts, and was destitute of the graces of the Holy Ghost, they +would only serve to lead thee with so much the more solemnity to hell. + +Here then we join issue with our adversaries, and will readily grant, +that we are not in this sense to be inspired, as were our LORD’s first +Apostles. But unless men have eyes which see not, and ears that hear +not, how can they read the latter part of the text, and not confess +that the Holy Spirit, in another sense, is the common privilege of all +believers, even to the end of the world? “This spake he of the Spirit, +which they that believe on him should receive.” Observe, he does +not say, they that believe on him for one or two ages, but they that +believe on him in general, or, at all times, and in all places. So that, +unless we can prove, that St. _John_ was under a delusion when he wrote +these words, we must believe that even we also, shall receive the Holy +Ghost, if we believe on the LORD JESUS with our whole hearts. + +Again, our LORD, just before his bitter passion, when he was about to +offer up his soul an offering for the sins of the elect world; when +his heart was most enlarged, and he would undoubtedly demand the most +excellent gift for his disciples, prays, “That they all may be one, as +thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in +us, I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one;” +that is, that all his true followers might be united to him by his holy +Spirit, by as real, vital, and mystical an union, as there was between +JESUS CHRIST and the Father. I say all his _true followers_; for it is +evident, from our LORD’s own words, that he had us, and all believers, +in view, when he put up this prayer; “Neither pray I for these alone, +but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;” so +that, unless we treat our LORD as the high priests did, and count him +a blasphemer, we must confess, that all who believe in JESUS CHRIST, +through the word, or ministration of his servants, are to be joined to +JESUS CHRIST, by being made partakers of the Holy Spirit. + +A great noise hath been made of late, about the word _enthusiast_, +and it has been cast upon the preachers of the gospel, as a term of +reproach; but every christian, in the proper sense of the word, must +be an enthusiast; that is, must be inspired of GOD, or have GOD, by his +Spirit, in him. St. _Peter_ tells us, “we have many great and precious +promises, that we may be made partakers of the divine nature;” our LORD +prays, “that we may be one, as the Father and he are one;” and our own +church, in conformity to these texts of Scripture, in her excellent +communion-office, tells us, that those who receive the sacrament +worthily, “dwell in CHRIST, and CHRIST in them; that they are one with +CHRIST, and CHRIST with them.” And yet, christians must have their +names cast out as evil, and ministers in particular, must be looked +upon as deceivers of the people, for affirming, that we must be really +united to GOD, by receiving the Holy Ghost. Be astonished, O heavens, +at this! + +Indeed, I will not say, all our letter-learned preachers deny this +doctrine in express words; but however, they do in effect; for they +talk professedly against inward feelings, and say, we may have GOD’s +Spirit without feeling it, which is in reality to deny the thing itself. +And had I a mind to hinder the progress of the gospel, and to establish +the kingdom of darkness, 1 would go about, telling people, they might +have the Spirit of GOD, and yet not feel it. + +But to return: When our LORD was about to ascend to his Father and our +Father, to his GOD and our GOD, he gave his apostles this commission, +“Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, +and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” And accordingly, by authority +of this commission, we do teach and baptize in this, and every age of +the church. And though we translate the words, “baptizing them in the +_name_;” yet, as the name of GOD, in the LORD’s prayer, and several +other places, signifies his nature, they might as well be translated +thus, “baptizing them into the _nature_ of the Father, into the +_nature_ of the Son, and into the _nature_ of the Holy Ghost.” +Consequently, if we are all to be baptized into the nature of the Holy +Ghost, before our baptism be effectual to salvation, it is evident, +that we all must actually receive the Holy Ghost, and ere we can say, +we truly believe in JESUS CHRIST. For no one can say, that JESUS is my +LORD, but he that has thus received the Holy Ghost. + +Numbers of other texts might be quoted to make this doctrine, if +possible, still more plain; but I am astonished, that any who call +themselves members; much more, that many, who are preachers in the +church of _England_, should dare so much as to open their lips against +it. And yet, with grief I speak it, GOD is my Judge, persons of the +established church seem more generally to be ignorant of it, than any +dissenters whatsoever. + +But, my dear brethren, what have you been doing? how often have your +hearts given your lips the lye? how often have you offered to GOD +the sacrifice of fools, and had your prayers turned into sin, if you +approve of, and use our church-liturgy, and yet deny the Holy Spirit to +be the portion of all believers? In the daily absolution, the minister +exhorts the people to pray, that “GOD would grant them repentance, and +his Holy Spirit;” in the Collect for _Christmas-day_, we beseech GOD, +“that he would daily renew us by his Holy Spirit;” in the last week’s +Collect, we prayed that “we may evermore rejoice in the comforts of the +Holy Ghost;” and in the concluding prayer, which we put up every day, +we pray, not only that the grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and the love +of GOD, but that “the fellowship of the Holy Ghost” may be with us all +evermore. + +But farther, a solemn season, to some, is now approaching; I mean the +_Ember-days_, at the end of which, all that are to be ordained to the +office of a deacon, are in the sight of GOD, and in the presence of the +congregation, to declare, that “they trust they are inwardly moved by +the Holy Ghost, to take upon them that administration;” and to those, +who are to be ordained priests, the bishop is to repeat these solemn +words, “Receive thou the Holy Ghost, now committed unto thee, by the +imposition of our hands.” And yet, O that I had no reason to speak +it, many that use our forms, and many who have witnessed this good +confession, yet dare to both talk and preach against the necessity +of receiving the Holy Ghost now; and not only so, but cry out against +those, who do insist upon it, as madmen, enthusiasts, schismatics, and +underminers of the established constitution. + +But you are the schismatics, you are the bane of the church of +_England_, who are always crying out, “the temple of the LORD, the +temple of the LORD;” and yet starve the people out of our communion, by +feeding them only with the dry husks of dead morality, and not bringing +out to them the fatted calf; I mean, the doctrines of the operations +of the blessed Spirit of GOD. But here is the misfortune; many of us +are not led by, and therefore no wonder that we cannot talk feelingly +of, the Holy Ghost; we subscribe to our articles, and make them serve +for a key to get into church-preferment, and then preach contrary to +those very articles to which we have subscribed. Far be it from me, +to charge all the clergy with this hateful hypocrisy; no, blessed be +GOD, there are some left among us, who dare maintain the doctrines +of the Reformation, and preach the truth as it is in JESUS: But I +speak the truth in CHRIST, I lye not; the generality of the clergy are +fallen from our articles, and do not speak agreeable to them, or to +the form of sound words delivered in the Scriptures; wo be unto such +blind leaders of the blind! how can you escape the damnation of hell? +It is not all your learning (falsely so called) it is not all your +preferments can keep you from the just judgment of GOD. Yet a little +while, and we shall all appear before the tribunal of CHRIST; there, +there will I meet you; there JESUS CHRIST, the great Shepherd and +Bishop of souls, shall determine who are the false prophets, who +are the wolves in sheep’s cloathing. Those who say, that we must now +receive and feel the Holy Ghost, or those who exclaim against it, as +the doctrine of devils. + +But I can no more; it is an unpleasing task to censure any order of men, +especially those who are in the ministry; nor would any thing excuse it +but necessity: that necessity which extorted from our LORD himself so +many woes against the Scribes and Pharisees, the letter-learned rulers +and teachers of the _Jewish_ church; and surely, if I could bear to see +people perish for lack of knowledge, and yet be silent towards those +who keep from them the key of true knowledge, the very stones would cry +out. + +Would we restore the church to its primitive dignity, the only way is +to live and preach the doctrine of CHRIST, and the articles to which we +have subscribed; then we shall find the number of dissenters will daily +decrease, and the church of _England_ become the joy of the whole earth. + +I am, in the _Third_ place, to shew the reasonableness of this doctrine. + +I say, the reasonableness of this doctrine; for however it may seem +foolishness to the natural man, yet to those, who have tasted of +the good word of life, and have felt the power of the world to come, +it will appear to be founded on the highest reason; and is capable, +to those who have eyes to see, even of a demonstration; I say of +demonstration: for it stands on this self-evident truth, that we are +fallen creatures, or, to use the scripture-expression, “have all died +in _Adam_.” + +I know indeed, it is now no uncommon thing amongst us, to deny the +doctrine of original sin, as well as the divinity of JESUS CHRIST; but +it is incumbent on those who deny it, first to disprove the authority +of the holy Scriptures; if thou canst prove, thou unbeliever, that the +book, which we call _The Bible_, does not contain the lively oracles of +GOD; if thou canst shew, that holy men of old, did not write this book, +as they were inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost, then will we give up the +doctrine of original sin; but unless thou canst do this, we must insist +upon it, that we are all conceived and born in sin; if for no other, +yet for this one reason, because that GOD, who cannot lye, has told us +so. + +But what has light to do with darkness, or polite infidels with the +Bible? Alas! as they are strangers to the power, so they are generally +as great strangers to the word of GOD. And therefore, if we will preach +to them, we must preach to and from the heart: for talking in the +language of scripture, to them, is but like talking in an unknown +tongue. Tell me then, O man, whosoever thou art, that deniest the +doctrine of original sin, if thy conscience be not seared as with a +hot iron! tell me, if thou dost not find thyself, by nature, to be a +motly mixture of brute and devil? I know these terms will stir up the +whole Pharisee in thy heart; but let not Satan hurry thee hence; stop a +little, and let us reason together; dost thou not find, that by nature +thou art prone to pride? otherwise, wherefore art thou now offended? +Again, dost not thou find in thyself the seeds of malice, revenge, +and all uncharitableness? and what are these but the very tempers of +the devil? Again, do we not all by nature follow, and suffer ourselves +to be led by our natural appetites, always looking downwards, never +looking upwards to that GOD, in whom we live, move, and have our being? +and what is this but the very nature of the beasts that perish? Out +of thy own heart, therefore, will I oblige thee to confess, what an +inspired apostle has long since told us, that “the whole world (by +nature) lies in the wicked one;” we are no better than those whom St. +_Jude_ calls “brute beasts;” for we have tempers in us all by nature, +that prove to a demonstration, that we are earthly, sensual, devilish. + +And this will serve as another argument, to prove the reality of the +operations of the blessed Spirit on the hearts of believers, against +those false professors, who deny there is any such thing as influences +of the Holy Spirit, that may be felt. For if they will grant that the +devil worketh, and so as to be felt in the hearts of the children of +disobedience (which they must grant, unless they will give an apostle +the lye) where is the wonder that the good Spirit should have the same +power over those who are truly obedient to the faith of JESUS CHRIST? + +If it be true then, that we are all by nature, since the fall, a +mixture of brute and devil, it is evident, that we all must receive the +Holy Ghost, ere we can dwell with and enjoy GOD. + +When you read, how the prodigal, in the gospel, was reduced to so low +a condition, as to eat husks with swine, and how _Nebuchadnezzar_ was +turned out, to graze with oxen; I am confident, you pity their unhappy +state. And when you hear, how JESUS CHRIST will say, at the last day, +to all that are not born again of GOD, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into +everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels,” do not your +hearts shrink within you, with a secret horror? And if creatures, with +only our degree of goodness, cannot bear even the thoughts of dwelling +with beasts or devils, to whose nature we are so nearly allied, how do +we imagine GOD, who is infinite goodness, and purity itself, can dwell +with us, while we are partakers of both their natures? we might as well +think to reconcile heaven and hell. + +When _Adam_ had eaten the forbidden fruit, he fled and hid himself from +GOD; why? because he was naked; he was alienated from the life of GOD, +the due punishment of his disobedience. Now, we are all by nature naked +and void of GOD, as he was at that time, and consequently, until we are +changed, renewed, and cloathed with a divine nature again, we must fly +from GOD also. + +Hence then appears the reasonableness of our being obliged to receive +the Spirit of GOD. It is founded on the doctrine of original sin: and, +therefore, you will always find, that those who talk against feeling +the operations of the Holy Ghost, very rarely, or slightly at least, +mention our fall in _Adam_; no, they refer St. _Paul_’s account of +the depravity of unbelievers, only to those of old time. Whereas it is +obvious, on the contrary, that we are all equally included under the +guilt and consequences of our first parent’s sin, even as others; and +to use the language of our own church-article, “bring into the world +with us, a corruption, which renders us liable to GOD’s wrath, and +eternal damnation.” + +Should I preach to you any other doctrine, I should wrong my own soul; +I should be found a false witness towards GOD and you; and he that +preaches any other doctrine, howsoever dignified and distinguished, +shall bear his punishment, whosoever he be. + +From this plain reason then appears the necessity why we, as well as +the first apostles, in this sense, must receive the Spirit of GOD. + +For the great work of sanctification, or making us holy, is +particularly referred to the Holy Ghost; therefore, our LORD says, +“Unless a man be born of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom +of GOD.” + +JESUS CHRIST came down to save us, not only from the guilt, but also +from the power of sin: and however often we have repeated our creed, +and told GOD we believe in the Holy Ghost, yet, if we have not believed +in him, so as to be really united to JESUS CHRIST by him, we have no +more concord with JESUS CHRIST than _Belial_ himself. + +And now, my brethren, what shall I say more? tell me, are not many of +you offended at what has been said already? do not some of you think, +though I mean well, yet I have carried the point a little too far? are +not others ready to cry out, if this be true, who then can be saved? is +not this driving people into despair? + +Yes, I ingenuously confess it is; but into what despair? a despair of +mercy through CHRIST? no, GOD forbid; but a despair of living with GOD +without receiving the Holy Ghost. And I would to GOD, that not only +all you that hear me this day, but that the whole world was filled +with this despair. Believe me, I have been doing no more than you allow +your bodily physicians to do every day: if you have a wound, and are in +earnest about a cure, you bid the surgeon probe it to the very bottom; +and shall not the physician of your souls be allowed the same freedom? +What have I been doing but searching your natural wounds, that I might +convince you of your danger, and put you upon applying to JESUS CHRIST +for a remedy? Indeed I have dealt with you as gently as I could; and +now I have wounded, I will attempt to heal you. For I was in the + +_Last_ place, to exhort you all to come to JESUS CHRIST by faith, +whereby you, even you also, shall receive the Holy Ghost. “For this +spake he of the Spirit, which they that _believe_ on him should +receive.” + +This, this is what I long to come to. Hitherto I have been preaching +only the law; but behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy. If I +have wounded you, be not afraid; behold, I now bring a remedy for all +your wounds. Notwithstanding you are sunk into the nature of the beast +and devil, yet, if you truly believe on JESUS CHRIST, you shall receive +the quickening Spirit promised in the text, and be restored to the +glorious liberties of the sons of GOD; I say, if you believe on JESUS +CHRIST. “For by faith we are saved; it is not of works, lest any +one should boast.” And, however some men may say, there is a fitness +required in the creature, and that we must have a righteousness of our +own, before we can lay hold on the righteousness of CHRIST; yet, if +we believe the scripture, salvation is the free gift of GOD, in CHRIST +JESUS our LORD; and whosoever believeth on him with his whole heart, +though his soul be as black as hell itself, shall receive the gift of +the Holy Ghost. Behold then, I stand up, and cry out in this great day +of the feast, let every one that thirsteth come unto JESUS CHRIST and +drink. “He that believeth on him, out of his belly shall flow (not only +streams or rivulets, but whole) rivers of living water.” This I speak +of the Spirit, which they that believe on JESUS shall certainly receive. +For JESUS CHRIST is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever; he is the +way, the truth, the resurrection, and the life; “whosoever believeth +on him, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” There is no respect +of persons with JESUS CHRIST; high and low, rich and poor, one with +another, may come to him with an humble confidence, if they draw near +by faith; from him we may all receive grace upon grace; for JESUS +CHRIST is full of grace and truth, and ready to save to the uttermost, +all that by a true faith turn unto him. Indeed, the poor generally +receive the gospel, and “GOD has chosen the poor in this world, rich +in faith.” But though not many mighty, not many noble are called; and +though it be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than +for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of GOD, yet, even to you that +are rich, do I now freely offer salvation, by JESUS CHRIST, if you will +renounce yourselves, and come to JESUS CHRIST as poor sinners; I say, +as poor sinners; for the “poor in spirit” are only so blessed, as to +have a right to the kingdom of GOD. And JESUS CHRIST calls none to him, +but those who thirst after his righteousness, and feel themselves weary, +and heavy laden with the burden of their sins. JESUS CHRIST justifies +the ungodly; he came not to call the righteous, but sinners to +repentance. + +Do not then say you are unworthy; for this is a faithful and true +saying, and worthy of all men to be received, “that JESUS CHRIST came +into the world to save sinners;” and if you are the chief of sinners, +if you feel yourselves such, verily JESUS CHRIST came into the world +chiefly to save you. When _Joseph_ was called out of the prison-house +to ♦_Pharaoh_’s court, we are told, that he staid some time to prepare +himself; but do you come with all your prison cloaths about you; come +poor, and miserable, and blind, and naked, as you are, and GOD the +Father shall receive you with open arms, as was the returning prodigal. +He shall cover your nakedness with the best robe of his dear Son’s +righteousness, shall seal you with the signet of his Spirit, and feed +you with the fatted calf, even with the comforts of the Holy Ghost. +O, let there then be joy in heaven over some of you, as believing; let +me not go back to my Master, and say, LORD, they will not believe my +report. Harden no longer your hearts, but open them wide, and let the +King of glory enter in; believe me, I am willing to go to prison or +death for you; but I am not willing to go to heaven without you. The +love of JESUS CHRIST constrains me to lift up my voice like a trumpet. +My heart is now full; out of the abundance of the love which I have for +your precious and immortal souls, my mouth now speaketh; and I could +now not only continue my discourse until midnight, but I could speak +until I could speak no more. And why should I despair of any? no, I can +despair of no one, when I consider JESUS CHRIST has had mercy on such a +wretch as I am; but the free grace of CHRIST prevented me; he saw me in +my blood, he passed by me, and said unto me, Live; and the same grace +which was sufficient for me, is sufficient for you also; behold, the +same blessed Spirit is ready to breathe on all your dry bones, if you +will believe on JESUS CHRIST, whom GOD has sent; indeed, you can never +believe on, or serve a better master, one that is more mighty, or more +willing to save; I can say, the LORD CHRIST is gracious, his yoke is +easy, his burden exceeding light; after you have served him many years, +like the servants under the law, was he willing to discharge you, you +would say, we love our Master, and will not go from him. Come then, my +guilty brethren, come and believe on the LORD that bought you with his +precious blood; look up by faith, and see him whom you have pierced; +behold him bleeding, panting, dying! behold him with arms stretched +out ready to receive you all; cry unto him as the penitent thief did, +LORD, remember us now thou art in thy kingdom, and he shall say to +your souls, shortly shall you be with me in paradise. For those whom +CHRIST justifies, them he also glorifies, even with that glory which +he enjoyed with the Father, before the world began. Do not say, I have +bought a piece of ground, and must needs go see it; or I have bought a +yoke of oxen, and must needs go prove them; or I have married a wife, I +am engaged in an eager pursuit after the lust of the eye, and the pride +of life, and therefore cannot come. Do not fear having your name cast +out as evil, or being accounted a fool for CHRIST’s sake; yet a little +while, and you shall shine like the stars in the firmament for ever. +Only believe, and JESUS CHRIST shall be to you wisdom, righteousness, +sanctification, and eternal redemption; your bodies shall be fashioned +like unto his glorious body, and your souls be partakers of all the +fulness of GOD. + + ♦ “Pharoah” replaced with “Pharaoh” + + Which GOD of his infinite mercy, &c. + + + + + SERMON XXXIX. + + The Resurrection of _Lazarus_. + + + JOHN xi. 43, 44. + + _And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus + come forth. And he that was dead, came forth, bound hand and + foot with grave-cloaths: and his face was bound about with a + napkin. JESUS saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go._ + +WHEN JESUS CHRIST, the eternal Word, was pleased to make all things +by the word of his power, his last works were the best. When he looked +back upon, and beheld the first products of his almighty power, he +pronounced them “good;” but when that last, that lovely creature man, +was formed, he pronounced them “very good.” So, the same JESUS, when he +came to tabernacle among us, and to begin and carry on a new and second +creation, though all his works were miracles of wonder, and manifested +forth the glory of his eternal Godhead, yet the nearer he came to +the end of his public ministrations, the greater and more noble did +the miracles which he wrought appear. The resurrection of _Lazarus_, +that is to be the subject of the following discourse, I think, is a +sufficient proof of this. To an eye of sense, it seems to be one of +the greatest, if not the very greatest miracle of all which our blessed +Lord performed. When our Saviour bid _John_’s disciples go and tell +their Master what things they had seen and heard, he commands them to +inform him, that by his divine power “the dead were raised;” alluding +no doubt to the Ruler’s daughter, who was raised immediately after her +decease; and the Widow’s son, who at the command of JESUS, rose out of +his coffin, as they were carrying his corpse to the burial. These were +pregnant proofs, that JESUS was indeed the Messiah that was to come +into the world. But his raising of _Lazarus_ from the dead, after he +had lain four days dead, and saw corruption, is still, if possible, +a greater miracle; and consequently a stronger proof of his being the +Anointed, the CHRIST of GOD. The evangelist _John_ is very particular +in giving us an account of this miracle; even so particular, as to +spend a whole chapter in relating the circumstances which preceded, +attended, and followed after it. And as he was undoubtedly directed +herein by the all-wise, unerring Spirit of GOD, does it not point out +unto us, that this miracle, with all its respective circumstances, +calls for our particular and most serious meditation? It appears to me +in this light; and therefore, as the LORD shall be pleased to assist, +I shall go back to the beginning of this chapter, follow the evangelist +step by step, and consider the particulars of this wonderous miracle, +make some practical observations as I go along, and conclude with some +suitable instructions and exhortations, which will naturally arise from +the body of the discourse. + +The evangelist in the first verse, makes mention of the sickness of +_Lazarus_. “Now, a certain man mas sick, named _Lazarus_ of _Bethany_, +the town of _Mary_, and her sister _Martha_.” Some think these sisters +were very wealthy, so as to own good part of the town, or, as the +original word seems to imply, the village. But then it is probable +the evangelist would have said the town of _Lazarus_, estates usually +descending, as with us, in the male line: it means therefore no more, +than that _Martha_ and _Mary_ lived in _Bethany_. The Holy Ghost +pointing out to us hereby, that nothing makes a town so worthy of a +gracious soul’s remark or esteem, as its having many of GOD’s dear +children for its inhabitants. _Bethany_, though a little place, is +more famous because it was the town of _Martha_ and _Mary_, than if +_Alexander_ had fought in it one of his greatest battles. Both these +women loved JESUS in sincerity, and were as good as they were great. +But _Mary_, though the younger sister, seems to be the most eminent: +for the evangelist in the second verse, speaks of her in a very +distinguishing manner. “It was that _Mary_, (that never-to-be-forgotten +_Mary_) which anointed the Lord with ointment (expensive as it was) and +wiped his feet, (after she had washed them with tears of love) with her +hair,” even the hair of her head. What notice is taken of this action! +With what an eulogy, and in what a high strain of commendation is it +here spoken of? And such are the honours of all GOD’s saints. Though +all our good works are not recorded as _Mary_’s are, yet GOD is not +unmindful, that he should forget our works of faith, and labours which +have proceeded of love. Every tear we shed, every sigh we fetch, every +alms we give, though it be only a cup of cold water, are all recorded +in the Lamb’s book of remembrance, and shall be produced to our eternal +honour, and rewarded with a reward of grace, though not of debt, at the +great and terrible day of the LORD. “I was an hungered, and ye gave me +meat, I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink, naked, and ye cloathed me, +sick and in prison, and ye came unto me.” What reason have we then to +be “stedfast and unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, +forasmuch as we are assured, that our labours will not be in vain or +forgotten by the LORD?” It was that _Mary_ that anointed the LORD with +ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair. And what follows? “Whose +brother _Lazarus_ was sick.” So that being related to CHRIST, or his +disciples, will not exempt persons from sickness. In this life, time +and chance happen to all, only with this material difference, those +afflictions which harden the obstinately impenitent, soften and purify +the heart of a true believer. “My son, therefore despise not the +chastening of the LORD (on one hand), nor faint when thou art rebuked +of him (on the other): for whom the LORD loveth he chasteneth, and +scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” + +JESUS loved _Lazarus_, and yet _Lazarus_ was sick. And what do his +sisters do for him now he is sick? No doubt they applied to a physician, +for it is tempting GOD to neglect making use of means for the recovery +of our health, when it is impaired. But then they were not guilty of +_Asa_’s crime, “who sought to the physicians, but not to the LORD.” No; +they knew the most skilful prescriptions would be of no effect, unless +attended with a blessing from JESUS the Great and Almighty Physician; +and therefore his sisters sent unto him, probably at the beginning of +their brother’s illness. How unlike is their conduct, to that of the +generality of people, especially the rich and great! How unfashionable +is it now-a-days for persons to send to JESUS in behalf of their +sick relations! It is so very uncustomary, that in some places, if a +minister be sent for to a sick person, it is a sad symptom that the +patient is almost past hopes of recovery. Thus did not _Martha_ and her +sister _Mary_; they sent unto JESUS, though he was now beyond _Jordan_, +(chapter x. 40.) where he abode, or chiefly resided, for some time. +Hence it was that they knew where to send to him. But what kind of +message did they send? A very humble and suitable one. “LORD, Behold, +he whom thou lovest is sick.” They might have said, LORD, he who loveth +thee is sick. But they knew, that our love was not worth mentioning, +and that we love JESUS only because he first loved us. Besides, here is +no prescribing to our LORD what he should do, or what means he should +make use of. They do not so much as say, We pray thee to come, or only +speak the word, and our sick brother shall be restored. They simply +tell JESUS the case, knowing it was sufficient barely to lay it before +an infinitely compassionate Redeemer, and leave it to him to act +according to his own sovereign good-will and pleasure. “LORD, Behold he +whom thou lovest is sick.” Oh how sweet is it when the soul is brought +to this! And with what a holy confidence may we pray to, and intercede +with the holy JESUS, when we have reason to hope, that those we pray +and intercede for, are lovers of, and are beloved of him! For his eyes +are in a peculiar manner over the righteous, and his ears always open +to their prayers. This was their message, and it soon reached JESUS +CHRIST. And how does he receive it? We are told, verse 4. “When JESUS +heard that, (that he whom he loved was sick) He said, this sickness is +not unto death, but unto the glory of GOD, that the Son of GOD may be +glorified thereby.” To whom these words were spoken is not certain. +In all probability, JESUS spake them to the persons that delivered +_Martha_’s and _Mary_’s message. And if so, it was no doubt a +comfortable answer for the present, though it must afterwards puzzle +them as well as the disciples how to explain it, when they found that +_Lazarus_ was actually dead. “This sickness is not unto death,” not +unto an abiding death, because he intended to raise him again, soon +after his decease. It is like that expression of our LORD in St. _Mark_, +“The damsel is not dead, but sleepeth;” which must not be understood +in a literal, but metaphorical sense. And this and such-like instances, +ought to teach us to weigh carefully our blessed LORD’s words, and to +wait for an explication of them, by subsequent providences; otherwise +we shall be in danger of misapplying them, and thereby bring our souls +into unspeakable bondage. “This sickness is not unto death, but unto +the glory of GOD, that the Son of GOD may be glorified thereby.” This +is the end both of the afflictions and the deaths of GOD’s people. By +all that happens to them he will be glorified one way or another, and +cause every thing to work together for their good. And who then but +would be content to be sick, or willing to submit to death itself, if +so be the Son of GOD may be glorified thereby? This answer, no doubt, +proceeded from love. For we are told, + +Verse 5. that “JESUS loved _Martha_ and her sister, and _Lazarus_.” +Oh happy family! Three in it beloved of JESUS, with a peculiar, +everlasting love. “Very often it so happens, (to use the words of the +pious Bishop _Beveridge_) that there is but one in a city, and two +in a country of this stamp.” But here are two sisters and a brother, +all lovers of, and beloved by the glorious JESUS. What shall we say +to these things? Why, that our Saviour’s grace is free and sovereign, +and he may do what he will with his own. They who are thus so highly +favoured as to have so many converted in one house, ought to be doubly +thankful! Such a blessing have not all his saints. No; many, very +many, go mourning over their perverse and graceless relations all their +lives long; and find, even to their dying day, that their greatest foes +are those of their own houshold. Surely these three relations lived +a heaven upon earth. For what can they want, what could make them +miserable, who are assured of JESU’s love? But surely if JESUS loves +this dear little family, the next news one might think we should hear, +would be, that he went immediately and healed _Lazarus_; or at least +cured him at a distance. But instead of that, we are told, verse 6. +“When he had heard that he was sick, he abode two days still in the +same place where he was.” A strange way this, in the eye of natural +reason, of expressing love; but not so strange in the eye of faith: +for the LORD JESUS very often sheweth his love, by deferring to +give immediate answers to our prayers. Hereby he tries our faith and +patience, and exercises all our passive graces. We have a proof of this +in the _Syrophenician_ woman, upon whom the blessed JESUS frowned, and +spake roughly to at first, only that he might afterwards turn unto her +and say, “O woman, great is thy faith.” Let not those then who believe, +make too much haste; or immediately in their hearts repine against +the LORD, because he may not answer their requests, in their own time +and way. GOD’s time and way is best. And we shall find it to be so +in the end. _Martha_ and _Mary_ experienced the truth of this, though +undoubtedly our LORD’s seeming delay, to come and heal their brother, +cost them great searchings of heart. But will the LORD JESUS forget his +dear _Lazarus_, whom his soul loveth? “Can a woman forget her sucking +child?” Indeed she may; but the LORD never faileth those that fear him. +Neither is he slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness: +for his very delays are answers. The vision is for an appointed time; +in the end it will speak and not lie. + +Though our LORD abode two days where he was, to try the faith of these +sisters, yet after this, he said unto his disciples, verse 7. “Let +us go into _Judea_ again.” With what a holy familiarity does JESUS +converse with his dear children! Our Saviour seems to speak to his +disciples, as though he was only their brother, and as it were upon a +level with them; “Let us go into _Judea_ again.” How gently, according +to what was predicted of him, does he lead those that are with young! +JESUS very well knew the weakness of his disciples, and also what a +dangerous place _Judea_ was: how gradually therefore does he make +known unto them, his design of going thither! And how does he admit his +disciples to expostulate with him on this account! “Master, say they, +the _Jews_ of late sought to stone thee, and goest thou thither again?” +They were amazed at our LORD’s boldness, and were ready to call it +presumption; as we generally are prone to censure and condemn other +zealous and enterprizing persons, as carrying matters too far; it may +be for no other reason, if we examine the bottom of our hearts, but +because they go before, and excel ourselves. The disciples, no doubt, +thought that they spoke out of love to their LORD, and assuredly they +did; but what a deal of self-love was there mixed and blended with it? +They seem much concerned for their Master, but they were more concerned +for themselves. However JESUS overlooks their weakness, and mildly +replies, verse 9, and 10. “Are there not twelve hours in the day? +If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the +light of the world; but if any man walk in the night, he stumbleth, +because there is no light in him.” As though our LORD had said, My dear +disciples, I thank you for your care and concern for me. _Judea_ is a +dangerous place, and what you say of the treatment I met with from its +inhabitants, is just and true: but be not afraid of going there upon my +account. For as a man walketh safely twelve hours of the day, because +he walketh in the light: so as long as the time appointed by my Father +for my public administration lasts, I shall be as secure from the hands +of my enemies, as a man that walks in broad-day is secure from falling. +But as a man stumbleth if he walketh in the night, so when the night +of my passion cometh, then, but not till then, shall I be given up into +the hands of my spiteful foes. Oh what comfort have these words, by the +blessing of GOD, frequently brought to my soul! How may all CHRIST’s +ministers strengthen themselves with this consideration, that so long +as GOD hath work for them to do, they are immortal! And if after our +work is over, our LORD should call us to lay down our lives for the +brethren, and to seal the truth of our doctrine with our blood, it +would certainly be the highest honour that can be put upon us. “To you +it is given not only to believe, but also to suffer,” says the apostle +to the _Philippians_. + +“These things (the evangelist tells us, verse 11.) said JESUS, and +after that, (to satisfy them that he was not going into _Judea_ without +a proper call) he saith unto them, Our friend _Lazarus_ sleepeth.” +Our friend. Amazing! For what is a friend? As one’s own soul. How dear +then, and near are true believers to the most adorable JESUS! “Our +friend _Lazarus_.” Still more amazing! Here is condescension, here +is unparalleled familiarity indeed. And what of him? “He sleepeth.” +A figurative way of expression. For what is death to the lovers of +JESUS CHRIST, but a sleep, and a refreshing one too? Thus it is said +of _Stephen_ when he died, that “he fell asleep.” CHRIST indeed died, +but believers only sleep. And “those that sleep in JESUS, (says the +scripture) will GOD bring with him.” “Our friend _Lazarus_ sleepeth.” +For though he be dead, I shall raise him from the grave so soon, that +his dying will be only like a person’s taking a short sleep. “Our +friend _Lazarus_ sleepeth, but I go that I may awake him out of sleep.” +By this time, one would imagine, our LORD’s disciples should have +understood him: But how unwilling are we to believe any thing that we +do not like. “Then said his disciples, LORD, if he sleep he shall do +well.” Oh fearful, and slow of heart to believe! How fain would they +excuse themselves from going into _Judea_, for fear of a few stones! +By this way of talking, how do they in effect impeach their blessed +Master’s conduct, and under a pretence of preserving his person, +foster, and as it were plead for their own (though perhaps undiscerned) +cowardice and unbelief? That charity, which hopeth and believeth all +things for the best, teacheth us to judge thus favourably of them. For, +“Howbeit JESUS spake of his death: they thought that he had spoken of +taking rest in sleep.” The great and compassionate High-priest knowing +and remembering they were but dust, throws a veil of love over their +infirmity; and at length, verse 14. “Saith unto them plainly (for if +we wait on JESUS, we shall know his will plainly, one way or another) +_Lazarus_ is dead.” And even then, lest they should be swallowed up +with overmuch sorrow, he immediately adds, verse 15. “And I am glad for +your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe,” or have +more faith, or have that faith which you already possess increased and +confirmed. A plain proof this, that all JESU’s delays to answer prayer, +are only to strengthen our faith. + +“Nevertheless, says our LORD, let us go unto him.” This was a +sufficient hint, if they knew how to improve it, that he intended to do +something extraordinary, though he would not tell them directly what he +intended. For the LORD JESUS will keep those whom he loves, at his foot, +and dependant on him. “Let us go unto him.” He still speaks as though +they were his equals. Oh that Christians in general, Oh that ministers +in particular, would learn of him their great exemplar, to condescend +to men of low degree! Well, the secret is now out. JESUS has said +unto them plainly, _Lazarus_ is dead. And what reception does this +melancholy news meet with? With great condolance, especially from +_Thomas_; for verse 16. “Then said _Thomas_, who is called _Didymus_, +unto his fellow disciples, let us also go and die with him;” i. e. +according to some, with _Lazarus_, with whom, it may be, _Thomas_ had +contracted an intimate acquaintance. But granting it was so; shall I +commend him for this passionate expression? I commend him not. Surely +he spake unadvisedly with his lips; “Let us also go and die with him.” +As though there was no comfort henceforward to be expected in the world, +now his friend _Lazarus_ was gone. This was a great fault, and yet +a fault that many of GOD’s children run into daily, by mourning for +their deceased relations over-much, like persons that have no hope. But +this infirmity ought not to be indulged. For if our friends and dear +relatives are dead, JESUS, that friend of sinners, is not dead. He will +be better to us than seven sons, and will abundantly supply the place +of all creature-comforts. But I am more inclined to think that the word +_him_, refers to JESUS his dear Master; and if so, he is so far from +being blamed, that he spake like a good soldier of JESUS CHRIST. Let +us also go, that we may die with him. If our dear master will go into +_Judea_, and hazard his precious life, let us not any longer make such +frivolous excuses, but let us manfully accompany him; and if the _Jews_ +should not only be permitted to stone, but also to kill him, let us +also go and die with him, we cannot die in a better cause. This was +a speech worthy of a christian hero, and _Thomas_ herein hath set us +an example, that we should follow his steps, by exciting and provoking +one another closely to adhere to the blessed JESUS, especially when +his cause and interest is in any immediate danger. This exhortation, +it seems, had a proper effect. They all went, and as far as we know, +chearfully accompanied their glorious Master. + +How their thoughts were exercised on the road, we are not told. But +I am apt to believe they were a little discouraged when they came to +_Bethany_. For “When JESUS came, he found that _Lazarus_ had lien in +the grave for four days already.” And what would it avail them, to +come so many miles only to see a dead man’s tomb? But how wisely were +all things ordered by the blessed JESUS, to manifest his glory in the +most extraordinary manner, that not only his disciples might have their +faith confirmed, but many also of the _Jews_ might believe on him. +This _Bethany_, it seems, verse 18. “was nigh unto _Jerusalem_, about +fifteen furlongs off;” or about two miles; and _Martha_ and _Mary_, +being what we may call people of fashion, and devout likewise; many +of the devout, and we may suppose many of the wealthy _Jews_ came from +the metropolis, as well as other adjacent places, verse 19. to _Martha_ +and _Mary_; not to pay an idle, trifling, but a serious, profitable +visit, “to comfort them concerning their brother.” This was kind and +neighbourly. To weep with those that weep, and to visit the afflicted +in their distresses, is one essential branch of true and undefiled +religion. And O how sweet is it when we visit surviving friends, that +we have reason to think that their departed relations died in the LORD! +And we can therefore give them comfort concerning them: For “blessed +are the dead, that die in the LORD, even so saith the Spirit, for they +rest from their labours.” This and such-like arguments, no doubt, these +visitors made use of, to comfort _Martha_ and _Mary_. And indeed they +stood in much need of consolation. For we have reason to suppose, from +our LORD’s answer, “This sickness is not unto death, but the glory +of GOD;” that they had entertained thoughts of the recovery of their +brother. But who can tell what these two holy souls must feel, when +they found their brother did not recover, but was dead, laid out, and +now stinking in the silent grave! What hard thoughts, without judging +them, may we suppose they entertained concerning JESUS! Think ye not +that they were ready to cry out in the language of the prophet, “Thou +hast deceived us, and we are deceived?” But man’s extremity is JESU’s +opportunity. In the multitude of the sorrows that they had in their +hearts, the news of CHRIST’s coming refreshes their souls. Somebody or +another, commendably officious, privately informs _Martha_ of it. “Who, +as soon as she heard that JESUS was come (without making any apology to +the company for her rudeness) went and met him: But _Mary_ sat still in +the house.” But why so, _Mary_? I thought thou hadst been most forward +to attend on JESUS, and thy sister _Martha_ more prone to be cumbered +about the many things of this life. Why sittest thou still? It may be +the news was brought only privately to _Martha_ (for it is plain from +verse 31st, that the _Jews_ who were in the house knew not of it;) and +_Martha_ knowing how our LORD had chid her once, was resolved he should +have no reason on the same account to chide her any more; therefore +when the news was brought, she would not so much as stay to inform her +sister, but went out to see whether it were true or not, and if so, as +the eldest sister, she would invite the blessed JESUS in. How happy is +it, when CHRIST’s reproofs for past neglects, excite our future zeal to +come out and meet him! Such reproofs are an excellent oil. Or, it may +be, the news reached _Mary_’s ears, as well as _Martha_’s, but being +overcome with sorrow, she thought it too good news to be true, and +therefore sat still in the house. O how careful ought believers to +be, to cherish and maintain, even in the midst of tribulation, a holy +confidence and joy in GOD! For the joy of the LORD is a believer’s +strength. Whereas giving way to melancholy and unbelief, raises gloom +and vapours in the mind, clouds the understanding, clogs us in the way +of duty, and gives the enemy, who loves to fish in troubled waters, a +very great advantage over us. + +_Mary_, perhaps, through the prevalence of this, and being also +naturally of a sedentary disposition, “sat still in the house,” while +her sister _Martha_ got the start of her, and went out to meet JESUS. +And how does she accost him? Why, in a language bespeaking the distress +of a burdened and disordered mind. For she said unto JESUS, verse 21, +“LORD, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” Here is +a mixture of faith and unbelief. Faith made her say, “LORD, if thou +hadst been here, my brother had not died.” But unbelief made her +confine CHRIST’s power to his bodily presence. Besides, here was a +tacit accusation of the blessed JESUS of unkindness, for not coming +when they sent unto him the message, “LORD, he whom thou lovest is +sick.” Once she charged JESUS with want of care; “LORD, carest thou +not, that my sister hath left me to serve alone?” Now she taxes him +with want of kindness. “If thou hadst been here;” as much as to say, +if thou hadst been so kind as to have come when we sent for thee, “my +brother had not died;” and by saying thus, she does as it were lay +her brother’s death to JESUS CHRIST. O how apt are even those whom +JESUS loves in a peculiar manner, to charge him foolishly! How often +does the enmity of our desperately wicked hearts rise against CHRIST, +when we are under the afflicting hand of his providence! Are not the +very best of us frequently tempted, in such circumstances, to say +within ourselves at least, Why does GOD thus cruelly deal with us? Why +did not he keep off this stroke, seeing it was in his power to have +prevented it? How should we be ashamed and confounded before him upon +this account? How should we pray and labour to be delivered from this +remaining enmity of the heart, and long for that time, when mortality +shall be swallowed up of life, and we shall never feel one single +rising of heart, against a good and gracious, and all-wise and glorious +Redeemer, any more? However, to do _Martha_ justice, she pretty well +recovers herself, verse 22. “But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou +wilt ask of GOD, GOD will give it to thee.” Whether these words imply +an actual belief of our LORD’s divinity, is not certain. To me they do; +because we shall presently find, that she did believe our LORD was the +Son of GOD, and the Messiah which was to come into the world. Therefore +when she said, she knew that whatsoever he asked of GOD, GOD would give +it to him, she may be understood as referring to GOD the Father, under +whom the LORD JESUS acted as Mediator, though equal to him in respect +to his eternal glory and godhead. This mystery we may well suppose her +acquainted with, because JESUS had been frequently preaching at her +house, and consequently, had opened that mystery unto her. O what a +blessed thing must it be to have such a Mediator! such an high-priest +and intercessor at the Father’s right-hand, that whatever he asks the +Father in our behalf, he will give unto us! JESUS takes this kindly +at _Martha_’s hand, and passes over her infirmity. For if the LORD +was exact to mark every thing that we say or do amiss, alas! who could +abide? He only calmly says unto her, verse 23. “Thy brother shall rise +again.” + +Glad tidings these of great joy. This should comfort us concerning +our deceased, pious relations, that ere long they shall rise again, +and soul and body be for ever with the LORD. Howbeit JESUS spake here +of an immediate resurrection, though he did not speak plainly: For +CHRIST loves to exercise the faith and patience of his disciples, +and frequently leaves them to find out his meaning by degrees. It +is best for us in our present state, that it should be so. In heaven +it will be otherwise. “Thy brother, (says CHRIST to _Martha_) shall +rise again.” She might immediately have replied, When, LORD? But she +fetches a circuit as it were, and labours to find out the mind of +JESUS by degrees. “I know, says she, that he shall rise again at the +resurrection of the last day.” These words seem to imply, that she had +some distant thought of our LORD’s design to raise her brother now, +and that she spoke thus only to draw our Saviour to speak, and tell her +plainly whether he meant to do so or not. Those who are acquainted with +JESUS, are taught an holy art by the blessed Spirit, in dealing with +their blessed master. “I know, says she, he shall rise again at the +resurrection of the last day,” (a notable proof this, by the way, that +the pious _Jews_ believed the resurrection of the body). It is just the +same as though she had said, LORD, dost thou mean that my brother shall +rise again before that time? Our Saviour wisely keeps off from giving +her a direct answer, but chuses rather to preach to her heart. “JESUS +said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life: He that believeth in +me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” On this _Martha_’s faith, +if in exercise, might take hold. O glorious words! How encouraging to +you poor sinners lying in your blood! Though you are dead in trespasses +and sins, and might justly be condemned to die the second death, yet if +you believe on the LORD JESUS you shall live. He adds, “And whosoever +believeth in me shall never die;” never die as to their souls, never +die eternally, and consequently never finally fall away from GOD. This +is an encouraging soul-comforting declaration for you, O believers, who +are thus kept, as it were, in a garrison, by the mighty power of GOD, +through faith, unto salvation! “Believest thou this?” says CHRIST to +_Martha_, verse 26. What avail all the many great and precious promises +of the gospel, unless they are applied and brought home in particular +to each of our souls? The word does not profit unless it is mixed with +faith. We therefore do well, when we are reading CHRIST’s words, to +put this question to ourselves; O my soul, believest thou this? And +well would it be for us, if upon putting this question to ourselves, we +could with the same holy confidence, and in the same delightful frame, +say with _Martha_, verse 27. “Yea, LORD: I believe that thou art the +CHRIST, the Son of GOD, which should come into the world.” This I think +is a direct confession of our LORD’s divinity. How full was her heart +when she spoke these words! I am persuaded it burnt within her. What +a divine warmth had she contracted by talking with JESUS! How does she +long that her sister might share in her holy joy! For when she had so +said, verse 28. “she went away;” full of love, no doubt, and called +_Mary_ her sister, as all will labour to call their near relations, who +have felt the LORD JESUS to be the resurrection and the life themselves. +But _Martha_ took care, in the midst of her zeal (as we should always +do) to behave with prudence; and therefore “she called her sister +secretly, saying, The master is come, and calleth for thee.” The master +is come. She need say no more; _Mary_ knew very well whom she meant. +For holy souls easily understand one another when talking of their +master JESUS. The divine _Herbert_ used to delight (when speaking of +JESUS) to say, “My Master;” perhaps he learned it of _Martha_, who said +here, “The Master is come, and calleth for thee.” But what is this thou +sayest, _Martha_? The Master is come, and calleth for thee? Surely a +woman of thy exalted piety will not tell a deliberate lie, and in order +to induce thy sister to come to JESUS, acquaint her that JESUS called +her, when indeed he did not. Thou needest not put thyself to such an +expence, or do so much evil, that good may come of it. Only mention +JESUS to _Mary_, and let her know for a certainty that the Master is +indeed come, and I am persuaded she will sit no longer. _Martha_ no +doubt knew, and therefore I cannot judge her as some do, as though in +her haste she said what was not true. For JESUS might bid her to call +her sister, though it be not directly mentioned in this chapter. And +it is very probable, that our LORD did enquire after _Mary_, because +she used to take such great delight in sitting at his feet, and hearing +the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth. “The Master is come +(saith _Martha_ to her sister) and calleth for thee.” And so say I to +all poor sinners. JESUS, your LORD and Master, your Prince and Saviour, +is come, come unto this lower world, and is come this day in his word, +and by me, who am less than the least of all his servants, and calleth +for you. O that he may also come in the demonstration of the Spirit, +and by his mighty power bow your stubborn hearts and wills to obey the +call, as holy _Mary_ did. + +For we are told, verse 29. “When she heard that, she rose quickly, +and came to JESUS.” Sinners, when will you do so? Or why do you not +do so? How know you whether JESUS will call for you any more, before +he calls you by death to judgment? Linger, O linger no longer. Fly, +fly for your lives. Arise quickly, and with _Mary_ come to JESUS. She +obeyed the call so very speedily, that her haste was taken notice of +by her visitors. “The _Jews_ then, who were with her in the house, and +comforted her, when they saw _Mary_ that she rose up hastily (without +any ceremony at all) and went out, followed her, saying, she goeth to +the grave, to weep there.” How wisely does our LORD permit and order +all this, to bring the _Jews_ out to behold the wonderful miracle that +he was about to perform! Little did _Mary_ and the _Jews_ think for +what end they were thus providentially led out. But when JESUS hath +work to be done, he will bring souls to the place where he intends +to call them, in spite of men or devils. But how does _Mary_ behave +when she comes to JESUS? We may be assured, not without great humility. +No wonder then we are told, verse 32. that “when she saw him, she +immediately fell down at his feet (a place _Mary_ had been used to, and +in an agony of grief, says, as her sister had done before her) LORD, +if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” Poor _Mary_! Her +concern was great indeed. Though she was a holy woman, she could not +well bear the loss of her brother. She knew very well, that the world +would miss him, and no doubt he had been a kind and tender brother to +her. But I am afraid she was sinfully overcome with overmuch sorrow. +However, had we been there, the sight must have affected us. It seems +to have affected the visitors, especially the blessed JESUS. He, +instead of blaming her, for her tacitly accusing him of unkindness, +and for not coming to her brother’s relief, pities and sympathizes +both with _Mary_ and her weeping friends! “When JESUS saw her weep, and +the _Jews_ also weeping, he groaned in his Spirit, and was troubled.” +Troubled: Not with any sinful perturbation we may be assured: nothing +of that nature could possibly be in his sinless soul. And, therefore, +some have judiciously enough compared the trouble our LORD now felt, to +some chrystal water shaken in a glass or bottle; you may shake it, but +there will be no sediment: it will be chrystal water still. “He groaned +in his spirit.” I do not see why this may not be understood of his +praying in the spirit, which maketh intercession for the saints, with +ἀλαλητοις στεναγμοις “groanings that cannot be uttered.” Methinks I see +the immaculate Lamb of GOD, secretly, but powerfully agonizing with his +Father; his heart is big with sympathy! At length, out of the fulness +of it, he said, verse 34. “Where have ye laid him? They (I suppose +_Mary_ and _Martha_) say unto him, LORD, come and see.” He came, he +saw, “He wept,” verse 35. It is put in a verse by itself, that we might +pause a while, and ask, why JESUS wept? + +He wept, to shew us, that it was no sin to shed a tear of love and +resignation at the grave of a deceased friend; he wept, to see what +havock sin had made in the world, and how it had reduced man, who was +originally little lower than the angels, (by making him subject to +death) to a level with the beasts that perish: but above all, he wept +at the foresight of the people’s unbelief; he wept, to think how many +then present, would not only not believe on, but would be hardened, and +have their prejudices increased more and more against him, though he +should raise _Lazarus_ from the dead before their eyes. Well then may +ministers be excused, who, whilst they are preaching, now and then drop +a few tears, at the consideration of their sermons being, through the +perverseness and unbelief of many of their audience, a savour of death +unto death, instead of a savour of life unto life. Upon a like occasion +JESUS wept. What an affecting sight was here! Let us for a while +suppose ourselves placed amidst these holy mourners; let us imagine +that we see the sepulchre just before us, and the _Jews_, and _Mary_, +and the blessed JESUS weeping round it. Surely, the most obdurate of us +all must drop a tear, or at least be affected with the sight; we find +that it affected those who were really by-standers: for then said the +_Jews_, verse 36. “Behold, how he loved him.” And did they say, Behold, +how he loved him, when JESUS only shed a few tears over the grave of +his departed _Lazarus_? Come then, O sinners, and view CHRIST dying and +pouring out his precious heart’s blood for you upon an accursed tree, +and then surely you must needs cry out, Behold, how he loved us! + +But alas, though all were affected, yet, it seems, all were not well +affected at seeing JESUS weep! For we are told, verse 37. that some of +them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind, have +caused that even this man should not have died?” One would imagine, +that Satan himself could scarce have uttered a more perverse speech: +every word is full of spite and rancour. Could not this man, this +fellow, this deceiver, who pretends to say, that he opened the eyes of +the blind, have caused that this man, whom he seems to love so, should +not have died? Is not this a sufficient proof that he is a cheat? Have +we catched him at last? Is it likely that he really helped others, when +he could not help his own friend?――――O how patient ought the servants +of our LORD to be! And how may they expect to be censured, and have +their good deeds questioned, and lessened, when their blessed Master +has been thus treated before them! However, JESUS will do good, +notwithstanding all these slights put upon him; and therefore, again +groaning in himself, “he cometh to the grave; it was a cave, (or vault, +as is customary in great families) and a stone lay upon it; JESUS said, +verse 39. Take ye away the stone.” How gradually does our LORD proceed, +in order to engage the people’s attention the more! Methinks I see them +all eye, all ear, and eagerly waiting to see the issue of this affair. +But _Martha_ now returning with the rest of the company, seems to have +lost that good frame which she was in when she went to call her sister; +“She saith unto him, (verse 39.) LORD, by this time he stinketh: for he +hath been _either_ dead _or_ buried four days.” O the dismal effects of +carnal reasoning! How naturally do we fall into doubts and fears, when +we have not our eye simply directed to the blessed JESUS! _Martha_, +instead of looking up to him, looks down into the grave, and poring +upon her brother’s stinking corpse, falls into a fit of unbelief: “By +this time he stinketh;” and, therefore, a sight of him will only be +offensive. Perhaps she might think our LORD only wanted to take a view +of her brother _Lazarus_; JESUS, therefore, to give her yet a further +hint, that he intended to do something extraordinary, saith unto +her, verse 40. “Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldst believe, +thou shouldst see the glory of GOD?” Our LORD speaks here with some +degree of warmth: for nothing displeases him more than the unbelief +of his own disciples. “Said I not unto thee, if thou wouldst believe, +thou shouldst see the glory of GOD?” When CHRIST first spoke these +words unto her, we are not told; it might be, this was part of their +conversation upon another occasion some time before: however, he checks +her openly for her unbelief now: for those whom JESUS loves, must +expect to be rebuked sharply by him, whenever they dishonour him by +unbelief. The reproof is taken. + +Without making any more objections, “They took away the stone from the +place where the dead was laid.” And now behold with what solemnity the +holy JESUS prepares himself to execute his gracious design! “And JESUS +lift up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard +me; and I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people +which stand by, I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent +me.” Who can express with what fervor and intenseness of spirit, our +glorious High-priest uttered these words! They are a thanksgiving +arising from an assurance that his Father had heard him: for CHRIST, +as Mediator, was inferior to the Father. “I knew that thou hearest me +always (and so may every believer in his degree say too); but because +of the people which stand by, I said it.”――Said what? We do not hear +that JESUS said any thing by way of prayer before; and that is true, +if we mean vocally, but mentally he did say something, even when he +groaned in the spirit once and again, and was troubled. There is a way +of praying, even when we do not, and cannot speak. “Why cryest thou,” +said GOD to _Moses_; though we do not hear that he spoke one single +word: but he cried in his heart. And I observe this for the comfort +of some weak, but real christians, who think they never pray, unless +they can have a great flow of words; but this is a great mistake: for +we often pray best, when we can speak least. There are times when the +heart is too big to speak: and the spirit itself maketh intercession +for the saints, and that too according to the will of GOD, with +groanings that cannot be uttered. Such was _Hannah_’s prayer for a son, +“She spake not, only her lips moved:” and such was our LORD’s way of +praying at this time. And perhaps the soul is never in a better frame, +than when in a holy stillness, and unspeakable serenity, it can put +itself as a blank in JESUS’s hand, for him to stamp on it just what he +pleases. + +And now the hour of our Saviour’s performing this long-expected miracle, +is come. Verse 43. “When he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, +_Lazarus_, come forth.” With the word there went an irresistible power: +he spake, and it was done: he cried, and behold, “He that was dead came +forth bound hand and foot with grave cloaths; and his face was bound +about with a napkin.” What a sight was here! Methinks I see surprize +sit upon each spectator’s face: as the body rises, their wonder rises +too. See how they gaze! See how their looks bespeak the language +of astonished hearts; and all with a kind of silent, but expressive +oratory, ready to say, What manner of man is this? Surely this is the +Messiah that was to come into the world. How did the hearts of _Martha_ +and _Mary_, as we may very well suppose, leap for joy! How were they +ashamed of themselves, for charging JESUS foolishly, and taxing him +with unkindness, for not coming to prevent their brother’s dying! It +is true, CHRIST suffered him to die, but behold he is now alive again! +JESUS never denies us one thing, but he intends to give us something +better in the stead of it. Think you not that _Martha_ and _Mary_ were +now the most officious to obey our blessed LORD’s command, “Loose him, +and let him go?” That same power that raised _Lazarus_ from the dead, +might have also taken the grave-cloaths from him: but JESUS CHRIST +never did, and never will work a needless miracle. Others could unloose +his grave-cloaths, but JESUS alone could unloose the bands of death. + +And now, perhaps, some may be ready to ask, What news hath _Lazarus_ +brought from the other world! But stop, O man, thy vain curiosity! +It is forbidden, and therefore useless knowledge. The scriptures are +silent concerning it. Why should we desire to be wise above what is +written? It becomes us rather to be wholly employed in adoring the +gracious hand of that mighty Redeemer who raised him from the dead, and +to see (now we have heard the history) what improvement we can make of +such a remarkable and instructive transaction. + +Would to GOD that my preaching upon the resurrection of _Lazarus_ +to-day, may have the same blessed effects upon you, as the sight of it +had upon some of the standers-by: For we are told, verse 45. “Then many +of the _Jews_ who came to _Mary_, and had seen the things which JESUS +did, believed on him.” A profitable visit this! The best, no doubt, +that they ever paid in their lives. And this was in answer to our +Saviour’s prayer, “But because of the people who stand by, I said it, +that they may believe, that thou hast sent me.” One would imagine, +that all who saw this miracle, were induced thereby, really to believe +on him: But alas! I could almost say, that I can tell you of a greater +miracle than raising _Lazarus_ from the dead. And what is that? Why, +that some of these very persons who were on the spot, instead of +believing on him, “went their way to the Pharisees, and told them +what JESUS had done.” verse 46. It was so far from convincing them, +that it only excited their envy, stirred up the whole hell of their +self-righteous hearts, and made them, from that day forward, “take +counsel together,” to execute what they had long before designed, to +put the innocent JESUS to death. See how busy they are, verse 47. “Then +gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What +do we? For this man doeth many miracles.” Envy itself, it seems, could +not deny that. And need they say then, “What do we,” or what should we +do? Believe in, to be sure, and submit to him; take up the cross, and +follow him. No; on the contrary, say they, verse 48. “If we let him +thus alone, (which they would not have done so long, had not GOD put a +hook in the Leviathan’s jaws) all men will believe on him.” And suppose +they did? Then all men would be blessed indeed, and have a title +to true happiness. No, say they, “then the _Romans_ shall come and +take away both our place and nation.” But were not the _Romans_ come +already? Were they not at this time tributaries to _Cæsar_? But they +were afraid of the church as well as the state: “They will come and +take away our place,” our place of worship: and consequently, they look +upon JESUS CHRIST and his proceedings, and adherents, as dangerous both +to church and state. + +This hath been always the method of Pharisees and high-priests, when +they have been taking counsel against the LORD JESUS, and his dear +anointed ones. But they need not have been afraid on this account: for +our Saviour’s kingdom neither was, nor is of this world; and the only +way to have preserved their place and nation, was to have countenanced, +and as much as in them lay, caused all to believe on JESUS. How +miserably were they out in their politics! The death of JESUS, which +they thought would save, was the grand cause of the utter destruction +both of their place and nation: And so will all politics formed against +CHRIST and his gospel end at last in the destruction of those who +contrived them. + +O the desperate wickedness and treachery of man’s deceitful heart! +Where are the scribes, where are the infidels, where are the +letter-learned disputers of this world, who are daily calling for a +repetition of miracles, in order to confirm and evidence the truth +of the christian religion? Surely if they believe not _Moses_ and the +prophets, neither would they believe, though one rose from the dead. +Here was one raised from the dead before many witnesses, and yet all +those witnesses did by no means believe on JESUS. For divine faith is +not wrought in the heart by moral persuasion (though moral suasion is +very often made use of as a means to convey it); faith is the peculiar +gift of GOD: no one can come to JESUS unless the Father draw him: and, +therefore, that I may draw near the close of this discourse, let me +shut up all with a word of exhortation. + +Come, ye dead, Christless, unconverted sinners, come and see the place +where they laid the body of the deceased _Lazarus_; behold him laid +out, bound hand and foot with grave-cloaths, locked up and stinking +in a dark cave, with a great stone placed on the top of it! View +him again and again; go nearer to him; be not afraid; smell him, ah! +how he stinketh. Stop there now, pause a while; and whilst thou art +gazing upon the corpse of _Lazarus_, give me leave to tell thee with +great plainness, but greater love, that this dead, bound, entombed, +stinking carcase, is but a faint representation of thy poor soul in +its natural state: for, whether thou believest it or not, thy spirit +which thou bearest about with thee, sepulchred in flesh and blood, is +as literally dead to GOD, and as truly dead in trespasses and sins, as +the body of _Lazarus_ was in the cave. Was he bound hand and foot with +grave-cloaths? So art thou bound hand and foot with thy corruptions: +and as a stone was laid on the sepulchre, so is there a stone of +unbelief upon thy stupid heart. Perhaps thou hast lain in this state, +not only four days, but many years, stinking in GOD’s nostrils. And, +what is still more affecting, thou art as unable to raise thyself out +of this loathsome, dead state, to a life of righteousness and true +holiness, as ever _Lazarus_ was to raise himself from the cave in which +he lay so long. Thou mayest try the power of thy own boasted free-will, +and the force and energy of moral persuasion and rational arguments +(which, without all doubt, have their proper place in religion); but +all thy efforts, exerted with never so much vigour, will prove quite +fruitless and abortive, till that same JESUS, who said, “Take away +the stone,” and cried, “_Lazarus_, come forth,” comes by his mighty +power, removes the stone of unbelief, speaks life to thy dead soul, +looses thee from the fetters of thy sins and corruptions, and by the +influences of his blessed Spirit, enables thee to arise, and to walk +in the way of his holy commandments. And O that he would now rend the +heavens, and come down amongst you! O that there may be a stirring +among the dry bones this day! O that whilst I am speaking, and saying, +“Dead sinners, come forth,” a power, an almighty power might accompany +the word, and cause you to emerge into new life! + +If the LORD should vouchsafe me such a mercy, and but one single soul +in this great congregation, should arise and shake himself from the +dust of his natural state; according to the present frame of my heart, +I should not care if preaching this sermon here in the fields, was an +occasion of hastening my death, as raising _Lazarus_ hastened the death +of my blessed Master. For methinks death, in some respects, is more +tolerable, than to see poor sinners day by day lying sepulchred, dead +and stinking in sin. O that you saw how loathsome you are in the sight +of GOD, whilst you continue in your natural state! I believe you would +not so contentedly hug your chains, and refuse to be set at liberty. + +Methinks I see some of you affected at this part of my discourse. +What say you? Are there not some ready to complain, alas! we have some +relations present, who are so notoriously wicked, that they not only +hug their chains, but make a mock of sin, and stink not only in the +sight of GOD, but man. Dear souls! you are ready to urge this, as a +reason why JESUS will not raise them; and think it hard, perhaps, that +JESUS does not come, in answer to your repeated groans and prayers, to +convert and save them. But what JESUS said unto _Martha_, I say unto +you, “Believe, and you shall see the glory of GOD.” Think it not a +thing incredible, that GOD should raise their dead souls. Think not +hard of JESUS for delaying an answer to your prayers: assure yourselves +he heareth you always. And who knows, but this day JESUS may visit some +of your dear relations hearts, upon whose account you have ♦travailed +in birth till CHRIST be formed in them? You have already sympathized +with _Martha_ and _Mary_, in their doubts and fears; who knows but you +may also be partakers of that joy which their souls experienced, when +they received their risen brother into their longing arms. + + ♦ “travelled” replaced with “travailed” + +O Christless souls, you do not know what grief your continuance in sin +occasions to your godly relations! You do not know how you grieve the +heart of JESUS. I beseech you give him no fresh cause to weep over you +upon account of your unbelief: let him not again groan in his spirit +and be troubled. Behold how he has loved you, even so as to lay down +his life for you. What could he do more? I pray you, therefore, dead +sinners, come forth; arise and sup with JESUS. This was an honour +conferred on _Lazarus_, and the same honour awaits you: Not that you +shall sit down with him personally in this life, as _Lazarus_ did; but +you shall sit down with him at the table of his ordinances, especially +at the table of the Lord’s-supper, and ere long sit down with him in +the kingdom of heaven. + +Happy, thrice happy ye, who are already raised from spiritual +death, and have an earnest of an infinitely better and more glorious +resurrection in your hearts. You know a little, how delightful it must +have been to _Martha_ and _Mary_ and _Lazarus_, to sit down with the +blessed JESUS here below; but how infinitely more delightful will it +be, to sit down, not only with _Mary_ and _Martha_, but with _Abraham_, +_Isaac_, and _Jacob_, and all your other dear brethren and sisters, in +the kingdom of heaven. Do you not long for that time, when JESUS shall +say unto you, “Come up hither?” Well! blessed be GOD, yet a little +while, and that same JESUS, who cried with a loud voice, “_Lazarus_, +come forth;” shall with the same voice, and with the same power, speak +unto all that are in their graves, and they shall come forth. That +all who hear me this day may be then enabled to lift up their heads +and rejoice, that the day of their compleat redemption is indeed fully +come, may JESUS CHRIST grant, for his infinite mercy’s sake. _Amen_, +and _Amen_. + + + + + SERMON XL. + + The Holy Spirit convincing the World of Sin, + Righteousness, and Judgment. + + + JOHN xvi. 8. + + _And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of + righteousness, and of judgment._ + +THESE words contain part of a gracious promise, which the blessed JESUS +was pleased to make to his weeping and sorrowful disciples. The time +was now drawing near, in which the Son of man was first to be lifted +up on the cross, and afterwards to heaven. Kind, wondrous kind! had +this merciful High-priest been to his disciples, during the time of +his tabernacling amongst them. He had compassion on their infirmities, +answered for them when assaulted by their enemies, and set them right +when out of the way, either in principle or practice. He neither called +nor used them as servants, but as friends; and he revealed his secrets +to them from time to time. He opened their understandings, that they +might understand the scriptures; explained to them the hidden mysteries +of the kingdom of GOD, when he spoke to others in parables: nay, he +became the servant of them all, and even condescended to wash their +feet. The thoughts of parting with so dear and loving a Master as this, +especially for a long season, must needs affect them much. When on a +certain occasion he intended to be absent from them only for a night, +we are told, he was obliged to constrain them to leave him; no wonder +then, that when he now informed them he must entirely go away, and that +the Pharisees in his absence should put them out of their synagogues, +and excommunicate them; yea, that the time should come, that whosoever +killed them, would think they did GOD service (a prophecy, one would +imagine, in an especial manner designed for the suffering ministers of +this generation); no wonder, I say, considering all this, that we are +told, verse 6. Sorrow had filled their hearts: “Because I have said +these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your hearts.” The expression +is very emphatical; their hearts were so full of concern, that they +were ready to burst. In order, therefore, to reconcile them to this +mournful dispensation, our dear and compassionate Redeemer shews them +the necessity he lay under to leave them; “Nevertheless I tell you the +truth; it is expedient for you that I go away:” As though he had said, +Think not, my dear disciples, that I leave you out of anger: no, it is +for your sakes, for your profit, that I go away: for if I go not away, +if I die not upon the cross for your sins, and rise again for your +justification, and ascend into heaven to make intercession, and plead +my merits before my Father’s throne; the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, +will not, cannot come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto +you. And that they might know what he was to do, “When he is come, he +will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” + +The person referred to in the words of the text, is plainly the +Comforter, the Holy Ghost; and the promise was first made to our LORD’s +apostles. But though it was primarily made to them, and was literally +and remarkably fulfilled at the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Ghost +came down as a mighty rushing wind, and also when three thousand were +pricked to the heart by _Peter_’s preaching; yet, as the Apostles were +the representatives of the whole body of believers, we must infer, that +this promise must be looked upon as spoken to us, and to our children, +and to as many as the LORD our GOD shall call. + +My design from these words, is to shew the manner in which the Holy +Ghost generally works upon the hearts of those, who, through grace, are +made vessels of mercy, and translated from the kingdom of darkness into +the kingdom of GOD’s dear Son. + +I say, _generally_: For, as GOD is a sovereign agent, his sacred Spirit +bloweth not only on whom, but when and how it listeth. Therefore, far +be it from me to confine the Almighty to one way of acting, or say, +that all undergo an equal degree of conviction: no, there is a holy +variety in GOD’s methods of calling home his elect. But this we may +affirm assuredly, that, wherever there is a work of true conviction and +conversion wrought upon a sinner’s heart, the Holy Ghost, whether by a +greater or less degree of inward soul-trouble, does that which our LORD +JESUS told the disciples, in the words of the text, that he should do +when he came. + +If any of you ridicule inward religion, or think there is no such thing +as our feeling or receiving the Holy Ghost, I fear my preaching will be +quite foolishness to you, and that you will understand me no more than +if I spoke to you in an unknown tongue. But as the promise in the text, +is made to the world, and as I know it will be fulfilling till time +shall be no more, I shall proceed to explain the general way whereby +the Holy Ghost works upon every converted sinner’s heart; and I hope +that the LORD, even whilst I am speaking, will be pleased to fulfil it +in many of your hearts. “And when he is come, he will reprove the world +of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.” + +The word, which we translate _reprove_, ought to be rendred _convince_; +and in the original it implies a conviction by way of argumentation, +and coming with a power upon the mind equal to a demonstration. A great +many scoffers of these last days, will ask such as they term pretenders +to the Spirit, how they feel the Spirit, and how they know the Spirit? +They might as well ask, how they know, and how they feel the sun when +it shines upon the body? For with equal power and demonstration does +the Spirit of GOD work upon and convince the soul. And, + +_First_, It convinces of sin; and generally of some enormous sin, the +worst perhaps the convicted person ever was guilty of. Thus, when our +LORD was conversing with the woman of _Samaria_, he convinced her first +of her adultery: “Woman, go call thy husband. The woman answered, and +said, I have no husband. JESUS said unto her, Thou hast well said, I +have no husband: for thou hast had five husbands, and he whom thou now +hast, is not thy husband: in this saidst thou truly.” With this there +went such a powerful conviction of all her other actual sins, that +soon after, “she left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, +and saith to the men, Come, and see a man that told me all things that +ever I did: is not this the CHRIST?” Thus our LORD also dealt with +the persecutor _Saul_: he convinced him first of the horrid sin of +persecution; “_Saul_, _Saul_, why persecutest thou me?” Such a sense +of all his other sins, probably at the same time revived in his mind, +that immediately he died; that is, died to all his false confidences, +and was thrown into such an agony of soul, that he continued three +days, and neither did eat nor drink. This is the method the Spirit of +GOD generally takes in dealing with sinners; he first convinces them +of some heinous actual sin, and at the same time brings all their other +sins into ♦remembrance, and as it were sets them in battle-array before +them: “When he is come, he will reprove the world of sin.” + + ♦ “remembrace” replaced with “remembrance” + +And was it ever thus with you, my dear hearers? (For I must question +you as I go along, because I intend, by the Divine help, to preach not +only to your heads, but your hearts). Did the Spirit of GOD ever bring +all your sins thus to remembrance, and make you cry out to GOD, “Thou +writest bitter things against me?” Did your actual sins ever appear +before you, as though drawn in a map? If not, you have great reason +(unless you were sanctified from the womb) to suspect that you are not +convicted, much more not converted, and that the promise of the text +was never yet fulfilled in your hearts. + +Farther: When the Comforter comes into a sinner’s heart, though it +generally convinces the sinner of his actual sin first, yet it leads +him to see and bewail his original sin, the fountain from which all +these polluted streams do flow. + +Though every thing in the earth, air, and water; every thing both +without and within, concur to prove the truth of that assertion in +the scripture, “in _Adam_ we all have died;” yet most are so hardened +through the deceitfulness of sin, that notwithstanding they may give an +assent to the truth of the proposition in their heads, yet they never +felt it really in their hearts. Nay, some in words professedly deny it, +though their works too, too plainly prove them to be degenerate sons of +a degenerate father. But when the Comforter, the Spirit of GOD, arrests +a sinner, and convinces him of sin, all carnal reasoning against +original corruption, every proud and high imagination, which exalteth +itself against that doctrine, is immediately thrown down; and he is +made to cry out, “Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” +He now finds that concupiscence is sin; and does not so much bewail +his actual sins, as the inward perverseness of his heart, which he now +finds not only to be an enemy to, but also direct enmity against GOD. + +And did the Comforter, my dear friends, ever come with such a +convincing power as this into your hearts? Were you ever made to see +and feel, that in your flesh dwelleth no good thing; that you are +conceived and born in sin; that you are by nature children of wrath; +that GOD would be just if he damned you, though you never committed +an actual sin in your lives? So often as you have been at church and +sacrament, did you ever feelingly confess, that there was no health in +you; that the remembrance of your original and actual sins was grievous +unto you, and the burden of them intolerable? If not, you have been +only offering to GOD vain oblations; you never yet prayed in your lives; +the Comforter never yet came effectually into your souls: consequently +you are not in the faith properly so called; no, you are at present in +a state of death and damnation. + +Again, the Comforter, when he comes effectually to work upon a sinner, +not only convinces him of the sin of his nature, and the sin of his +life, but also of the sin of his duties. + +We all naturally are Legalists, thinking to be justified by the works +of the law. When somewhat awakened by the terrors of the LORD, we +immediately, like the Pharisees of old, go about to establish our +own righteousness, and think we shall find acceptance with GOD, if we +seek it with tears: finding ourselves damned by nature and our actual +sins, we then think to recommend ourselves to GOD by our duties, and +hope, by our doings of one kind or another, to inherit eternal life. +But, whenever the Comforter comes into the heart, it convinces the +soul of these false rests, and makes the sinner to see that all his +righteousnesses are but as filthy rags; and that, for the most pompous +services, he deserves no better a doom than that of the unprofitable +servant, “to be thrown into outer darkness, where is weeping, and +wailing, and gnashing of teeth.” + +And was this degree of conviction ever wrought in any of your souls? +Did the Comforter ever come into your hearts, so as to make you sick +of your duties, as well as your sins? Were you ever, with the great +Apostle of the _Gentiles_, made to abhor your own righteousness which +is by the law, and acknowledge that you deserve to be damned, though +you should give all your goods to feed the poor? Were you made to feel, +that your very repentance needed to be repented of, and that every +thing in yourselves is but dung and dross? And that all the arguments +you can fetch for mercy, must be out of the heart and pure unmerited +love of GOD? Were you ever made to lye at the feet of sovereign Grace, +and to say, LORD, if thou wilt, thou mayest save me; if not, thou +mayest justly damn me; I have nothing to plead, I can in no wise +justify myself in thy sight; my best performances, I see, will condemn +me; and all I have to depend upon is thy free grace? What say you? Was +this ever, or is this now, the habitual language of your hearts? You +have been frequently at the temple; but did you ever approach it in the +temper of the poor Publican, and, after you have done all, acknowledge +that you have done nothing; and, upon a feeling experimental sense of +your own unworthiness and sinfulness every way, smite upon your breasts, +and say, “GOD be merciful to us sinners?” If you never were thus minded, +the Comforter never yet effectually came into your souls, you are out +of CHRIST; and if GOD should require your souls in that condition, he +would be no better to you than a consuming fire. + +But there is a fourth sin, of which the Comforter, when he comes, +convinces the soul, and which alone (it is very remarkable) our LORD +mentions, as though it was the only sin worth mentioning; for indeed it +is the root of all other sins whatsoever: it is the reigning as well as +the damning sin of the world. And what now do you imagine that sin may +be? It is that cursed sin, that root of all other evils, I mean the sin +of _unbelief_. Says our LORD, verse 9. “Of sin, because they believe +not on me.” + +But does the christian world, or any of you that hear me this day, +want the Holy Ghost to convince you of unbelief? Are there any infidels +here? Yes, (O that I had not too great reason to think so!) I fear most +are such: not indeed such infidels as professedly deny the LORD that +bought us (though I fear too many even of such monsters are in every +country); but I mean such unbelievers, that have no more faith in +CHRIST than the devils themselves. Perhaps you may think you believe, +because you repeat the Creed, or subscribe to a Confession of Faith; +because you go to church or meeting, receive the sacrament, and are +taken into full communion. These are blessed privileges; but all this +may be done, without our being true believers. And I know not how to +detect your false hypocritical faith better, than by putting to you +this question: How long have you believed? Would not most of you say, +as long as we can remember; we never did disbelieve? Then this is a +certain sign that you have no true faith at all; no, not so much as +a grain of mustard-seed: for, if you believe now, (unless you were +sanctified from your infancy, which is the case of some) you must know +that there was a time in which you did not believe on the LORD JESUS +CHRIST; and the Holy Ghost, if ever you received it, convinced you of +this. Eternal truth has declared, “When he is come, he will convince +the world of sin, because they believe not on me.” + +None of us believe by nature: but after the Holy Ghost has convinced +us of the sin of our natures, and the sin of our lives and duties, +in order to convince us of our utter inability to save ourselves, and +that we must be beholden to GOD, as for every thing else, so for faith +(without which it is impossible to please, or be saved by CHRIST) he +convinces us also, that we have no faith. “Dost thou believe on the +Son of GOD?” is the grand question which the Holy Ghost now puts to the +soul: at the same time he works with such power and demonstration, that +the soul sees, and is obliged to confess, that it has no faith. + +This is a thing little thought of by most who call themselves believers. +They dream they are christians, because they live in a christian +country: If they were born _Turks_, they would believe on _Mahomet_; +for what is that which men commonly call faith, but an outward consent +to the established religion? But do not you thus deceive your own +selves; true faith is quite another thing. Ask yourselves, therefore, +whether or not the Holy Ghost ever powerfully convinced you of the sin +of unbelief? You are perhaps so devout (you may imagine) as to get a +catalogue of sins; which you look over, and confess in a formal manner, +as often as you go to the holy sacrament: but among all your sins, did +you ever once confess and bewail that damning sin of unbelief? Were you +ever made to cry out, “LORD, give me faith; LORD, give me to believe +on thee; O that I had faith! O that I could believe!” If you never were +thus distressed, at least, if you never saw and felt that you had no +faith, it is a certain sign that the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, never +came into and worked savingly upon your souls. + +But is it not odd, that the Holy Ghost should be called a Comforter, +when it is plain, by the experience of all GOD’s children, that this +work of conviction is usually attended with sore inward conflicts, +and a great deal of soul-trouble? I answer, The Holy Ghost may well +be termed a Comforter, even in this work; because it is the only way +to, and ends in, true solid comfort. Blessed are they that are thus +convicted by him, for they shall be comforted. Nay, not only so, but +there is present comfort, even in the midst of these convictions: the +soul secretly rejoices in the sight of its own misery, blesses GOD +for bringing it out of darkness into light, and looks forward with a +comfortable prospect of future deliverances, knowing, that, “though +sorrow may endure for a night, joy will come in the morning.” + +Thus it is that the Holy Ghost convinces the soul of sin. And, if so, +how wretchedly are they mistaken, that blend the light of the Spirit +with the light of conscience, as all such do, who say, that CHRIST +lighteth every man that cometh into the world, and that light, if +improved, will bring us to JESUS CHRIST? If such doctrine be true, the +promise in the text was needless: our LORD’s apostles had already that +light; the world hereafter to be convinced, had that light; and, if +that was sufficient to bring them to CHRIST, why was it expedient that +CHRIST should go away to heaven, to send down the Holy Ghost to do this +for them! Alas! all have not this Spirit: it is the special gift of GOD, +and, without this special gift, we can never come to CHRIST. + +The light of conscience will accuse or convince us of any common sin; +but the light of natural conscience never did, never will, and never +can, convince of unbelief. If it could, how comes it to pass, that +not one of the heathens, who improved the light of nature in such an +eminent degree, was ever convinced of unbelief? No, natural conscience +cannot effect this; it is the peculiar property of the Holy Ghost the +Comforter: “When he is come, he will reprove (or convince) the world of +sin, of righteousness, and judgment.” + +We have heard how he convinces of sin: we come now to shew, + +_Secondly_, What is the righteousness, of which the Comforter convinces +the world. + +By the word _righteousness_, in some places of scripture, we are to +understand that common justice which we ought to practise between +man and man; as when _Paul_ is said to reason of temperance and +righteousness before a trembling _Felix_. But here (as in a multitude +of other places in holy writ) we are to understand by the word +righteousness, the active and passive obedience of the dear LORD JESUS; +even that perfect, personal, all-sufficient righteousness, which he +has wrought out for that world which the Spirit is to convince. “Of +righteousness, (says our LORD) because I go to the Father, and ye see +me no more.” This is one argument that the Holy Spirit makes use of to +prove CHRIST’s righteousness, because he is gone to the Father, and we +see him no more. For, had he not wrought out a sufficient righteousness, +the Father would have sent him back, as not having done what he +undertook; and we should have seen him again. + +O the righteousness of CHRIST! It so comforts my soul, that I must be +excused if I mention it in almost all my discourses. I would not, if I +could help it, have one sermon without it. Whatever infidels may object, +or _Arminians_ sophistically argue against an _imputed righteousness_; +yet whoever know themselves and GOD, must acknowledge, that +“JESUS CHRIST is the end of the law for righteousness, (and perfect +justification in the sight of GOD) to every one that believeth,” and +that we are to be made the righteousness of GOD in him. This, and this +only, a poor sinner can lay hold of, as a sure anchor of his hope. +Whatever other scheme of salvation men may lay, I acknowledge I can see +no other foundation whereon to build my hopes of salvation, but on the +rock of CHRIST’s personal righteousness, imputed to my soul. + +Many, I believe, have a rational conviction of, and agree with me in +this: but rational convictions, if rested in, avail but little; it must +be a spiritual, experimental conviction of the truth, which is saving. +And therefore our LORD says, when the Holy Ghost comes in the day +of his power, it convinces of this righteousness, of the reality, +compleatness, and sufficiency of it, to save a poor sinner. + +We have seen how the Holy Ghost convinces the sinner of the sin of his +nature, life, duties, and of the sin of unbelief; and what then must +the poor creature do? He must, he must inevitably despair, if there be +no hope but in himself. When therefore the Spirit has hunted the sinner +out of all his false rests and hiding-places, taken out the pitiful +fig-leaves of his own works, and driven him out of the trees of the +garden (his outward reformations) and placed him naked before the bar +of a sovereign, holy, just, and sin-avenging GOD; then, then it is, +when the soul, having the sentence of death within itself because of +unbelief, has a sweet display of CHRIST’s righteousness made to it by +the Holy Spirit of GOD. Here it is, that he begins more immediately to +act in the quality of a Comforter, and convinces the soul so powerfully +of the reality and all-sufficiency of CHRIST’s righteousness, that the +soul is immediately set a hungering and thirsting after it. Now the +sinner begins to see, that though he has destroyed himself, yet in +CHRIST is his help; that, though he has no righteousness of his own +to recommend him, there is a fulness of grace, a fulness of truth, a +fulness of righteousness in the dear LORD JESUS, which, if once imputed +to him, will make him happy for ever and ever. + +None can tell, but those happy souls who have experienced it, with what +demonstration of the Spirit this conviction comes. O how amiable, as +well as all-sufficient, does the blessed JESUS now appear! With what +new eyes does the soul now see the LORD its righteousness! Brethren, +it is unutterable. If you were never thus convinced of CHRIST’s +righteousness in your own souls, though you may believe it doctrinally, +it will avail you nothing, if the Comforter never came savingly into +your souls, then you are comfortless indeed. But + +What will this righteousness avail, if the soul has it not in +possession? + +_Thirdly_, The next thing therefore the Comforter, when he comes, +convinces the soul of, is judgment. + +By the word _judgment_, I understand that well-grounded peace, that +settled judgment, which the soul forms of itself, when it is enabled +by the Spirit of GOD to lay hold on CHRIST’s righteousness, which I +believe it always does, when convinced in the matter before-mentioned. +“Of judgment (says our LORD) because the Prince of this world is +judged;” the soul, being enabled to lay hold on CHRIST’s perfect +righteousness by a lively faith, has a conviction wrought in it by the +Holy Spirit, that the Prince of this world is judged. The soul being +now justified by faith, has peace with GOD through our LORD JESUS +CHRIST, and can triumphantly say, It is CHRIST that justifies me, who +is he that condemns me? The strong man armed is now cast out; my soul +is in a true peace; the Prince of this world will come and accuse, but +he has now no share in me: the blessed Spirit which I have received, +and whereby I am enabled to apply CHRIST’s righteousness to my poor +soul, powerfully convinces me of this: why should I fear? or of what +shall I be afraid, since GOD’s Spirit witnesses with my spirit, that +I am a child of GOD? The LORD is ascended up on high; he has led +captivity captive; he has received the Holy Ghost the Comforter, that +best of gifts for men: and that Comforter is come into my heart: he +is faithful that hath promised: I, even I, am powerfully, rationally, +spiritually convicted of sin, righteousness and judgment. By this I +know the Prince of this world is judged. + +Thus, I say, may we suppose that soul to triumph, in which the promise +of the text is happily fulfilled. And though, at the beginning of +this discourse, I said, most had never experienced any thing of this, +and that therefore this preaching must be foolishness to such; yet I +doubt not but there are some few happy souls, who, through grace, have +been enabled to follow me step by step; and notwithstanding the Holy +Ghost might not directly work in the same order as I have described, +and perhaps they cannot exactly say the time when, yet they have a +well-grounded confidence that the work is done, and that they have +really been convinced of sin, righteousness and judgment in some way, +or at some time or another. + +And now, what shall I say to you? O thank GOD, thank the LORD JESUS, +thank the ever-blessed Trinity, for this unspeakable gift: for you +would never have been thus highly favoured, had not he who first +spoke darkness into light, loved you with an everlasting love, and +enlightened you by his Holy Spirit, and that too, not on account of +any good thing foreseen in you, but for his own name’s sake. + +Be humble therefore, O believers, be humble: look to the rock from +whence you have been hewn: extol free grace; admire electing love, +which alone has made you to differ from the rest of your brethren. Has +GOD brought you into light? Walk as becometh children of light. Provoke +not the Holy Spirit to depart from you: for though he hath sealed you +to the day of redemption, and you know that the Prince of this world is +judged; yet if you backslide, grow luke-warm, or forget your first love, +the LORD will visit your offences with the rod of affliction, and your +sin with spiritual scourges. Be not therefore high-minded, but fear. +Rejoice, but let it be with trembling. As the elect of GOD, put on, +not only humbleness of mind, but bowels of compassion; and pray, O pray +for your unconverted brethren! Help me, help me now, O children of GOD, +and hold up my hands, as _Aaron_ and _Hur_ once held up the hands of +_Moses_. Pray, whilst I am preaching, that the LORD may enable me to +say, This day is the promise in the text fulfilled in some poor sinners +hearts. Cry mightily to GOD, and, with the cords of holy violence, +pull down blessings on your neighbours heads. CHRIST yet lives and +reigns in heaven: the residue of the Spirit is yet in his hand, and a +plentiful effusion of it is promised in the latter days of the church. +And O that the Holy Ghost, the blessed Comforter, would now come +down, and convince those that are Christless amongst you, of sin, of +righteousness, and of judgment! O that you were once made willing to +be convinced! + +But perhaps you had rather be filled with wine than with the Spirit, +and are daily chasing that Holy Ghost from your souls. What shall I +say for you to GOD? “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they +do.” What shall I say from GOD to you? Why? That “GOD was in CHRIST +reconciling the world unto himself:” Therefore I beseech you, as in +CHRIST’s stead, be ye reconciled to GOD. Do not go away contradicting +and blaspheming. I know _Satan_ would have you be gone. Many of you may +be uneasy, and are ready to cry out, “What a weariness is this!” But I +will not let you go: I have wrestled with GOD for my hearers in private, +and I must wrestle with you here in public. Though of myself I can +do nothing, and you can no more by your own power come to and believe +on CHRIST, than _Lazarus_ could come forth from the grave; yet who +knows but GOD may beget some of you again to a lively hope by this +foolishness of preaching, and that you may be some of that world, which +the Comforter is to convince of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment? +Poor Christless souls! do you know what a condition you are in? Why, +you are lying in the wicked one, the devil; he rules in you, he walks +and dwells in you, unless you dwell in CHRIST, and the Comforter is +come into your hearts. And will you contentedly lie in that wicked one +the devil? What wages will he give you? Eternal death. O that you would +come to CHRIST! The free gift of GOD through him is eternal life. He +will accept of you even now, if you will believe in him. The Comforter +may yet come into your hearts, even yours. All that are now his living +temples, were once lying in the wicked one, as well as you. This +blessed gift, this Holy Ghost, the blessed JESUS received even for the +rebellious. + +I see many of you affected: but are your passions only a little wrought +upon, or are your souls really touched with a lively sense of the +heinousness of your sins, your want of faith, and the preciousness +of the righteousness of JESUS CHRIST? If so, I hope the LORD has been +gracious, and that the Comforter is coming into your hearts. Do not +stifle these convictions! Do not go away, and straightway forget what +manner of doctrine you have heard, and thereby shew that these are +only common workings of a few transient convictions, floating upon +the surface of your hearts. Beg of GOD that you may be sincere (for he +alone can make you so) and that you may indeed desire the promise of +the text to be fulfilled in your souls. Who knows but the LORD may be +gracious? Remember you have no plea but sovereign mercy; but, for your +encouragement also, remember it is the world, such as you are, to whom +the Comforter is to come, and whom he is to convince: wait therefore at +wisdom’s gates. The bare probability of having a door of mercy opened, +is enough to keep you striving. CHRIST JESUS came into the world to +save sinners, the chief of them: you know not but he came to save you. +Do not go and quarrel with GOD’s decrees, and say, if I am a reprobate, +I shall be damned; if I am elected, I shall be saved; and therefore I +will do nothing. What have you to do with GOD’s decrees? Secret things +belong ♦to him; it is your business to “give all diligence to make your +calling and election sure.” If there are but few who find the way that +leads to life, do you strive to be some of them: you know not but you +may be in the number of those few, and that your striving may be the +means which GOD intends to bless, to give you an entrance in. If you +do not act thus, you are not sincere; and, if you do, who knows but you +may find mercy? For though, after you have done all that you can, GOD +may justly cut you off, yet never was a single person damned who did +all that he could. Though therefore your hands are withered, stretch +them out; though you are impotent, sick, and lame, come, lie at the +pool. Who knows but by and by the LORD JESUS may have compassion on you, +and send the Comforter to convince you of sin, righteousness, and of +judgment? He is a GOD full of compassion and long-suffering, otherwise +you and I had been long since lifting up our eyes in torments. But +still he is patient with us! + + ♦ duplicate word “to” removed + +O Christless sinners, you are alive, and who knows but GOD intends +to bring you to repentance? Could my prayers or tears effect it, you +should have vollies of the one, and floods of the other. My heart is +touched with a sense of your condition: May our merciful High-priest +now send down the Comforter, and make you sensible of it also! O +the love of CHRIST! It constrains me yet to beseech you to come +to him; what do you reject, if you reject CHRIST, the LORD of glory! +Sinners, give the dear Redeemer a lodging in your souls. Do not be +_Bethshemites_; give CHRIST your hearts, your whole hearts. Indeed he +is worthy. He made you, and not you yourselves. You are not your own; +give CHRIST then your bodies and souls, which are his! Is it not enough +to melt you down, to think that the high and lofty One, who inhabiteth +eternity, should condescend to invite you by his ministers? How soon +can he frown you to hell? And how know you, but he may, this very +instant, if you do not hear his voice? Did any yet harden their hearts +against CHRIST, and prosper? Come then, do not send me sorrowful away: +do not let me have reason to cry out, O my leanness, my leanness! Do +not let me go weeping into my closet, and say, “LORD, they will not +believe my report; LORD, I have called them, and they will not answer; +I am unto them as a very pleasant song, and as one that plays upon +a pleasant instrument; but their hearts are running after the lust +of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life.” Would you +be willing that I should give such an account of you, or make such a +prayer before GOD? And yet I must not only do so here, but appear in +judgment against you hereafter, unless you will come to CHRIST. Once +more therefore I intreat you to come. What objections have you to make? +Behold, I stand here in the name of GOD, to answer all that you can +offer. But I know no one can come, unless the Father draw him: I will +therefore address me to my GOD, and intercede with him to send the +Comforter into your hearts. + +O blessed JESUS, who art a GOD whose compassions fail not, and in +whom all the promises are yea and amen; thou that sittest between the +cherubims, shew thyself amongst us. Let us now see thy outgoings! O +let us now taste that thou art gracious, and reveal thy almighty arm! +Get thyself the victory in these poor sinners hearts. Let not the word +spoken prove like water spilt upon the ground. Send down, send down, +O great High-priest, the Holy Spirit, to convince the world of sin, +of righteousness, and of judgment. So will we give thanks and praise +to thee, O Father, thee O Son, and thee O blessed Spirit; to whom, as +three Persons, but one GOD, be ascribed by angels and archangels, by +cherubims and seraphims, and all the heavenly hosts, all possible power, +might, majesty, and dominion, now and for evermore. Amen, Amen, Amen. + + + + + SERMON XLI. + + _Saul_’s Conversion. + + + ACTS ix. 22. + + _But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews + which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very CHRIST._ + +IT is an undoubted truth, however paradoxical it may seem to +natural men, that “whosoever will live godly in CHRIST JESUS, shall +suffer persecution.” And therefore it is very remarkable, that our +blessed LORD, in his glorious sermon on the mount, after he had +been pronouncing those blessed, who were poor in spirit, meek, pure in +heart, and such like, immediately adds (and spends no less than three +verses in this beatitude) “Blessed are they who are persecuted for +righteousness sake.” No one ever was, or ever will be endowed with the +forementioned graces in any degree, but he will be persecuted for it +in a measure. There is an irreconcileable enmity between the seed of +the woman, and the seed of the serpent. And if we are not of the world, +but shew by our fruits that we are of the number of those whom JESUS +CHRIST has chosen out of the world, for that very reason the world +will hate us. As this is true of every particular christian, so it +is true of every christian church in general. For some years past we +have heard but little of a public persecution: Why? Because but little +of the power of godliness has prevailed amongst all denominations. +The strong man armed has had full possession of most professors hearts, +and therefore he has let them rest in a false peace. But we may assure +ourselves, when JESUS CHRIST begins to gather in his elect in any +remarkable manner, and opens an effectual door for preaching the +everlasting gospel, persecution will flame out, and _Satan_ and his +emissaries will do their utmost (though all in vain) to stop the work +of GOD. Thus it was in the first ages, thus it is in our days, and thus +it will be, till time shall be no more. + +Christians and christian churches must then expect enemies. Our chief +concern should be, to learn how to behave towards them in a christian +manner: For, unless we take good heed to ourselves, we shall imbitter +our spirits, and act unbecoming the followers of that LORD, “who, when +he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatned not; and, +as a lamb before his shearers is dumb, so opened he not his mouth.” But +what motive shall we make use of to bring ourselves to this blessed +lamb-like temper? Next to the immediate operation of the Holy Spirit +upon our hearts, I know of no consideration more conducive to teach us +long-suffering towards our most bitter persecutors, than this, “That, +for all we know to the contrary, some of those very persons, who are +now persecuting, may be chosen from all eternity by GOD, and hereafter +called in time, to edify and build up the church of CHRIST.” + +The persecutor _Saul_, mentioned in the words of the text, (and +whose conversion, GOD willing, I propose to treat on in the following +discourse) is a noble instance of this kind. + +I say, a persecutor, and that a bloody one: For see how he is +introduced in the beginning of this chapter; “And _Saul_ yet breathing +out threatnings and slaughter against the disciples of our LORD, went +unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to _Damascus_ to the +synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or +women, he might bring them bound to _Jerusalem_.” + +“And _Saul_ yet breathing out.” This implies that he had been a +persecutor before. To prove which, we need only look back to the +7th chapter, where we shall find him so very remarkably active at +_Stephen_’s death, that “the witnesses laid down their clothes at a +young man’s feet, whose name was _Saul_.” He seems, though young, to be +in some authority. Perhaps, for his zeal against the christians, he was +preferred in the church, and was allowed to sit in the great council +or Sanhedrim: For we are told, chapter viii. verse 1. “That _Saul_ was +consenting unto his death;” and again, at verse 3. he is brought in +as exceeding all in his opposition; for thus speaks the evangelist, +“As for _Saul_, he made havock of the church, entring into every house, +and haling men and women, committed them to prison.” One would have +imagined, that this should have satisfied, at least abated the fury +of this young zealot. No: being exceedingly mad against them, as he +himself informs _Agrippa_, and having made havock of all in _Jerusalem_, +he now is resolved to persecute the disciples of the LORD, even to +strange cities; and therefore yet breathing out threatnings. “Breathing +out.” The words are very emphatical, and expressive of his bitter +enmity. It was as natural to him now to threaten the christians, as +it was for him to breathe: he could scarce speak, but it was some +threatnings against them. Nay, he not only breathed out threatnings, +but slaughters also (and those who threaten, would also slaughter, if +it were in their power) against the disciples of the LORD. Insatiable +therefore as hell, finding he could not confute or stop the christians +by force of argument, he is resolved to do it by force of arms; and +therefore went to the high priest (for there never was a persecution +yet without a high priest at the head of it) and desired of him letters, +issued out of his spiritual court, to the synagogues or ecclesiastical +courts at _Damascus_, giving him authority, “that if he found any of +this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound +unto _Jerusalem_,” I suppose, there to be arraigned and condemned +in the high priest’s court. Observe how he speaks of the christians. +_Luke_, who wrote the _Acts_, calls them “disciples of the LORD,” and +_Saul_ stiles them “Men and women of this way.” I doubt not but he +represented them as a company of _upstart enthusiasts_, that had lately +gotten into a new method or way of living; that would not be content +with the temple-service, but they must be righteous over-much, and have +their private meetings or conventicles, and break bread, as they called +it, from house to house, to the great disturbance of the established +clergy, and to the utter subversion of all order and decency. I do not +hear that the high priest makes any objection: no, he was as willing +to grant letters, as _Saul_ was to ask them; and wonderfully pleased +within himself, to find he had such an active zealot to employ against +the christians. + +Well then, a judicial process is immediately issued out, with the +high priest’s seal affixed to it. And now methinks I see the young +persecutor finely equipped, and pleasing himself with thoughts, how +triumphantly he should ride back with the “men and women of this way,” +dragging them after him to _Jerusalem_. + +What a condition may we imagine the poor disciples at _Damascus_ were +in at this time! No doubt they had heard of _Saul_’s imprisoning and +making havock of the saints at _Jerusalem_, and we may well suppose +they were apprised of his design against them. I am persuaded this was +a growing, because a trying time with these dear people. O how did they +wrestle with GOD in prayer, beseeching him either to deliver them from, +or give them grace sufficient to enable them to bear up under, the fury +of their persecutors? The high priest doubtless with the rest of his +reverend brethren, flattered themselves, that they should now put an +effectual stop to this growing heresy, and waited with impatience for +_Saul_’s return. + +But “He that sitteth in heaven laughs them to scorn, the LORD has +them in derision.” And therefore, verse 3. “As _Saul_ journeyed, +and came even near unto _Damascus_,” perhaps to the very gates, (our +LORD permitting this, to try the faith of his disciples, and more +conspicuously to baffle the designs of his enemies) “suddenly (at +mid-day, as he acquaints _Agrippa_) there shined round about him a +light from heaven,” a light brighter than the sun; “and he fell to the +earth (why not into hell?) and heard a voice saying unto him, _Saul, +Saul_, why persecutest thou me?” The word is doubled, “_Saul, Saul_:” +Like that of our LORD to _Martha_; “_Martha, Martha_;” or the prophet, +“O earth, earth, earth!” Perhaps these words came like thunder to +his soul. That they were spoken audibly, we are assured from verse 7. +“His companions heard the voice.” Our LORD now arrests the persecuting +zealot, calling him by name; for the word never does us good, till +we find it spoken to us in particular. “_Saul, Saul_, Why persecutest +thou Me?” Put the emphasis upon the word _why_, what evil have I +done? Put it upon the word _persecutest_, why persecutest? I suppose +_Saul_ thought he was not persecuting; no, he was only putting the +laws of the ecclesiastical court into execution; but JESUS, whose +eyes are as a flame of fire, saw through the hypocrisy of his heart, +that, notwithstanding his specious pretences, all this proceeded from +a persecuting spirit, and secret enmity of heart against GOD; and +therefore says, “Why persecutest thou me?” Put the emphasis upon the +word _me_, why persecutest thou me? alas! _Saul_ was not persecuting +CHRIST, was he? he was only taking care to prevent innovations in the +church, and bringing a company of enthusiasts to justice, who otherwise +would overturn the established constitution. But JESUS says, “Why +persecutest thou me?” For what is done to CHRIST’s disciples, he takes +as done to himself, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. He that +touches CHRIST’s disciples, touches the apple of his eye; and they who +persecute the followers of our LORD, would persecute our LORD himself, +was he again to come and tabernacle amongst us. + +I do not find that _Saul_ gives any reason why he did persecute; no, +he was struck dumb; as every persecutor will be, when JESUS CHRIST puts +this same question to them at the terrible day of judgment. But being +pricked at the heart, no doubt with a sense not only of this, but of +all his other offences against the great GOD, he said, verse 5. “Who +art thou, LORD?” See how soon GOD can change the heart and voice of his +most bitter enemies. Not many days ago, _Saul_ was not only blaspheming +CHRIST himself, but, as much as in him lay, compelling others to +blaspheme also: but now, he, who before was an imposter, is called +_Lord_; “Who art thou, LORD?” This admirably points out the way in +which GOD’s Spirit works upon the heart: it first powerfully convinces +of sin, and of our damnable state; and then puts us upon enquiring +after JESUS CHRIST. _Saul_ being struck to the ground, or pricked to +the heart, cries out after JESUS, “Who art thou, LORD?” As many of +you that were never so far made sensible of your damnable state, as +to be made feelingly to seek after JESUS CHRIST, were never yet truly +convicted by, much less converted to, GOD. May the LORD, who struck +_Saul_, effectually now strike all my christless hearers, and set them +upon enquiring after JESUS, as their all in all! _Saul_ said, “Who +art thou, LORD? And the LORD said, I am JESUS, whom thou persecutest.” +Never did any one enquire truly after JESUS CHRIST, but CHRIST made +a saving discovery of himself, to his soul. It should seem, our LORD +appeared to him in person; for _Ananias_, afterwards, says, “The LORD +who appeared to thee in the way which thou camest;” though this may +only imply CHRIST’s meeting him in the way; it is not much matter: it +is plain CHRIST here speaks to him, and says, “I am JESUS, whom thou +persecutest.” It is remarkable, how our LORD takes to himself the +name of _Jesus_; for it is a name in which he delights: I am JESUS, +a Saviour of my people, both from the guilt and power of their sins; +“a JESUS, whom thou persecutest.” This seems to be spoken to convince +_Saul_ more and more of his sin; and I doubt not, but every word was +sharper than a two-edged sword, and came like so many daggers to his +heart; O how did these words affect him! a JESUS! a Saviour! and yet +I am persecuting him! this strikes him with horror; but then the word +JESUS, though he was a persecutor, might give him some hope. However, +our dear LORD, to convince _Saul_ that he was to be saved by grace, and +that he was not afraid of his power and enmity, tells him, “It is hard +for thee to kick against the pricks.” As much as to say, though he was +persecuting, yet he could not overthrow the church of CHRIST: for he +would sit as King upon his holy hill of _Zion_; the malice of men or +devils should never be able to prevail against him. + +Verse 6. “And he, trembling and astonished, said, LORD, what wilt +thou have me to do?” Those, who think _Saul_ had a discovery of JESUS +made to his heart before, think that this question is the result of +his faith, and that he now desires to know what he shall do, out of +gratitude, for what the LORD had done for his soul; in this sense it +may be understood; ¹and I have made use of it as an instance to prove, +that faith will work by love; but perhaps it may be more agreeable to +the context, if we suppose, that _Saul_ had only some distant discovery +of CHRIST made to him, and not a full assurance of faith: for we are +told, “he trembling and astonished,” trembling at the thoughts of +his persecuting a JESUS, and astonished at his own vileness, and the +infinite condescension of this JESUS, cries out, “LORD, what wilt thou +have me to do?” Persons under soul-trouble, and sore conviction, would +be glad to do any thing, or comply on any terms, to get peace with GOD. +“Arise, (says our LORD) and go into the city, and it shall be told thee +what thou shalt do.” + + ¹ See Volume V. Sermon 24. + +And here we will leave _Saul_ a while, and see what is become of +his companions. But what shall we say? GOD is a sovereign agent; his +sacred Spirit bloweth when and where it listeth; “he will have mercy +on whom he will have mercy.” _Saul_ is taken, but, as far as we know to +the contrary, his fellow-travellers are left to perish in their sins: +for we are told, verse 7. “That the men who journeyed with him stood, +indeed, speechless, and hearing a confused voice;” I say, a _confused +voice_, for so the word signifies, and must be so interpreted, in +order to reconcile it with chapter xxii. verse 9. where _Saul_, giving +an account of these men, tells _Agrippa_, “They heard not the voice +of him that spake to me.” They heard a voice, a confused noise, but +not the articulate voice of him that spake to _Saul_, and therefore +remained unconverted. For what are all ordinances, all, even the most +extraordinary dispensations of providence, without CHRIST speaks to +the soul in them? Thus it is now under the word preached: many, like +_Saul_’s companions, are sometimes so struck with the outgoings of GOD +appearing in the sanctuary, that they even stand speechless; they hear +the preacher’s voice, but not the voice of the Son of GOD, who, perhaps, +at the same time is speaking effectually to many other hearts; this I +have known often; and what shall we say to these things? O the depth of +the sovereignty of GOD! it is past finding out. LORD, I desire to adore +what I cannot comprehend. “Even so, Father, for so it seemeth good in +thy sight!” + +But to return to _Saul_: the LORD bids him “arise and go into the city;” +and we are told, verse 8. that “_Saul_ arose from the earth; and when +his eyes were opened, (he was so overpowered with the greatness of the +light that shone upon them, that) he saw no man; but they led him by +the hand, and brought him into _Damascus_,” that very city which was to +be the place of his executing or imprisoning the disciples of the LORD. +“And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.” +But who can tell what horrors of conscience, what convulsions of soul, +what deep and pungent convictions of sin he underwent during these +three long days? it was this took away his appetite (for who can eat or +drink when under a sense of the wrath of GOD for sin?) and, being to be +greatly employed hereafter, he must be greatly humbled now; therefore, +the LORD leaves him three days groaning under the spirit of bondage, +and buffeted, no doubt, with the fiery darts of the devil, that, being +tempted like unto his brethren, he might be able hereafter to succour +those that were tempted. Had _Saul_ applied to any of the blind guides +of the _Jewish_ church, under these circumstances, they would have said, +he was mad, or going besides himself; as many carnal teachers and blind +Pharisees now deal with, and so more and more distress, poor souls +labouring under awakening convictions of their damnable state. But GOD +often at our first awakenings, visits us with sore trials, especially +those who are, like _Saul_, to shine in the church, and to be used as +instruments in bringing many sons to glory: those who are to be highly +exalted, must first be deeply humbled; and this I speak for the comfort +of such, who may be now groaning under the spirit of bondage, and +perhaps, like _Saul_, can neither eat nor drink; for I have generally +observed, that those who have had the deepest convictions, have +afterwards been favoured with the most precious communications, and +enjoyed most of the divine presence in their souls. This was afterwards +remarkably exemplified in _Saul_, who was three days without sight, and +neither did eat nor drink. + +But will the LORD leave his poor servant in this distress? no; his +JESUS (though _Saul_ persecuted him) promised (and he will perform) +that “it should be told him what he must do. And there was a certain +disciple at _Damascus_, named _Ananias_; and unto him, said the LORD, +in a vision, _Ananias_; and he said, Behold, I am here, LORD.” What a +holy familiarity is there between JESUS CHRIST and regenerate souls! +_Ananias_ had been used to such love-visits, and therefore knew the +voice of his beloved. The LORD says, “_Ananias_;” _Ananias_ says, +“Behold, I am here, LORD.” Thus it is that CHRIST now, as well as +formerly, often talks with his children at sundry times and after +divers manners, as a man talketh with his friend. But what has the +LORD to say to _Ananias_? + +Verse 11. “And the LORD said unto him, Arise, and go into the street, +which is called _Straight_, and enquire in the house of _Judas_, for +one called _Saul_ of _Tarsus_;” (See here for your comfort, O children +of the most high GOD, what notice JESUS CHRIST takes of the street and +the house where his own dear servants lodge) “for behold, he prayeth;” +but why is this ushered in with the word _behold_? what, was it such +a wonder, to hear that _Saul_ was praying? why, _Saul_ was a Pharisee, +and therefore, no doubt, fasted and made long prayers: and, since we +are told that he profited above many of his equals, I doubt not but +he was taken notice of for his gift in prayer; and yet it seems, that +before these three days, _Saul_ never prayed in his life; and why? +because, before these three days, he never felt himself a condemned +creature: he was alive in his own opinion, because without a knowledge +of the spiritual meaning of the law; he felt not a want of, and +therefore, before now, cried not after a JESUS; and consequently, +though he might have said or made a prayer (as many Pharisees do +now-a-days) he never prayed a prayer; but now, “behold! he prayed +indeed;” and this was urged as one reason why he was converted. None +of GOD’s children, as one observes, comes into the world still-born; +prayer is the very breath of the new creature: and therefore, if +we are prayerless, we are christless; if we never had the spirit of +supplication, it is a sad sign that we never had the spirit of grace in +our souls: and you may be assured you never did pray, unless you have +felt yourselves sinners, and seen the want of JESUS to be your Saviour. +May the LORD, whom I serve in the gospel of his dear Son, prick you all +to the heart, and may it be said of you all, as it was of _Saul_, +behold, they pray! + +The LORD goes on to encourage _Ananias_ to go to _Saul_: says he, verse +12. “For he hath seen in a vision a man named _Ananias_, coming in, +and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.” So that +though CHRIST converted _Saul_ immediately by himself, yet he will +carry on the work, thus begun, by a minister. Happy they, who under +soul-troubles have such experienced guides, and as well acquainted with +JESUS CHRIST as _Ananias_ was: you that have such, make much of and +be thankful for them; and you who have them not, trust in GOD; he will +carry on his own work without them. + +Doubtless, _Ananias_ was a good man; but shall I commend him for +his answer to our LORD? I commend him not: for says he, verse 13. +“LORD, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done +to thy saints at _Jerusalem_: And here, he hath authority from the +chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name.” I fear this +answer proceeded from some relicks of self-righteousness, as well as +infidelity, that lay undiscovered in the heart of _Ananias_. “Arise, +(said our LORD) and go into the street, which is called _Straight_, and +enquire in the house of _Judas_, for one called _Saul_ of _Tarsus_; for +behold, he prayeth!” One would think this was sufficient to satisfy him; +but says _Ananias_, “LORD, I have heard by many of this man (he seems +to speak of him with much contempt; for even good men are apt to think +too contemptuously of those who are yet in their sins) how much evil +he hath done to thy saints in _Jerusalem_: And here, he hath authority +from the chief priests, to bind all that call upon thy name.” And what +then, _Ananias_? Is any thing too hard for the LORD? Who made thee +to differ? Could not he who converted thee, convert him also? Surely +_Ananias_ here forgets himself, or perhaps fears, lest this man, +who had authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon +CHRIST’s name, should bind him also, if he went unto him; but the LORD +silences all objections, with a “Go thy way, for he is a chosen vessel +unto me, to bear my name before the _Gentiles_, and kings, and the +children of _Israel_. For I will shew him how great things he must +suffer for my name’s sake.” Here GOD stops his mouth immediately, +by asserting his sovereignty, and preaching to him the doctrine of +election. And the frequent conversion of notorious sinners to GOD, to +me is one great proof, amongst a thousand others, of that precious, but +too much exploded and sadly misrepresented, doctrine of GOD’s electing +love; for whence is it that such are taken, whilst thousands, not near +so vile, die senseless and stupid? All the answer that can be given, is, +_they are chosen vessels_; “Go thy way, (says GOD) for he is a chosen +vessel unto me, to bear my name before the _Gentiles_, and kings, and +the children of _Israel_: For I will shew him how great things he must +suffer for my name’s sake.” Observe what a close connection there is +between doing and suffering for CHRIST. If any of my brethren in the +ministry are present, let them hear what preferment we must expect, if +we are called out to work remarkably for GOD: not great prebendaries or +bishopricks, but great sufferings for our LORD’s name sake; these are +the fruits of our labour: and he that will not contentedly suffer great +things for preaching CHRIST, is not worthy of him. Suffering will be +found to be the best preferment, when we are called to give an account +of our ministry at the great day. + +I do not hear, that _Ananias_ quarrelled with GOD concerning the +doctrine of election; no, (O that all good men would, in this, learn of +him!) “He went his way, and entered into the house; and put his hands +on him, and said, Brother _Saul_;” just now, it was _this man_; now it +is _brother Saul_: it is no matter what a man has been, if he be now a +christian; the same should be our brother, our sister and mother; GOD +blots out every convert’s transgressions as with a thick cloud, and so +should we; the more vile a man has been, the more should we love him +when believing in CHRIST, because CHRIST will be more glorified on his +behalf. I doubt not, but _Ananias_ was wonderfully delighted to hear +that so remarkable a persecutor was brought home to GOD: I am persuaded +he felt his soul immediately united to him by love, and therefore +addresses him not with, thou persecutor, thou murderer, that camest to +butcher me and my friends; but, “brother _Saul_.” It is remarkable that +the primitive christians much used the word _brother_ and _brethren_; +I know it is a term now much in reproach; but those who despise it, +I believe, would be glad to be of our brotherhood, when they see us +sitting at the right-hand of the Majesty on high. “Brother _Saul_, the +LORD (even JESUS that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest) +hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with +the Holy Ghost.” At this time, we may suppose, he laid his hands upon +him. See the consequences. + +Verse 18. “Immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales, +and he received sight forthwith;” not only bodily, but spiritual sight; +he emerged as it were into a new world; he saw, and felt too, things +unutterable: he felt a union of soul with GOD; he received the spirit +of adoption; he could now, with a full assurance of faith, cry, “Abba, +Father.” Now was he filled with the Holy Ghost; and had the love of +GOD shed abroad in his heart; now were the days of his mourning ended; +now was CHRIST formed in his soul; now he could give men and devils +the challenge, knowing that CHRIST had justified him; now he saw the +excellencies of CHRIST, and esteemed him the fairest among ten thousand. +You only know how to sympathize with the apostle in his joy, who, after +a long night of bondage, have been set free by the Spirit, and have +received joy in the Holy Ghost. May all that are now mourning, as +_Saul_ was, be comforted in like manner! + +The scales are now removed from the eyes of _Saul_’s mind; _Ananias_ +has done that for him, under GOD: he must now do another office, +baptize him, and so receive him into the visible church of CHRIST; a +good proof to me of the necessity of baptism where it may be had: for +I find here, as well as elsewhere, that baptism is administered even +to those who had received the Holy Ghost; _Saul_ was convinced of this, +and therefore arose and was baptized; and now it is time for him to +recruit the outward man, which, by three days abstinence and spiritual +conflicts, had been much impaired: we are therefore told, (verse 19.) +“when he had received meat, he was strengthened.” + +But O, with what comfort did the apostle now eat his food! I am sure it +was with singleness, I am persuaded also with gladness of heart; and +why? he knew that he was reconciled to GOD; and, for my own part, did I +not know how blind and flinty our hearts are by nature, I should wonder +how any one could eat even his common food with any satisfaction, +who has not some well-grounded hope of his being reconciled to GOD. +Our LORD intimates thus much to us: for in his glorious prayer, after +he has taught us to pray for our daily bread, immediately adds that +petition, “Forgive us our trespasses;” as though our daily bread would +do us no service, unless we were sensible of having the forgiveness of +our sins. + +To proceed: _Saul_ hath received meat, and is strengthened; and whither +will he go now? to see the brethren; “then was _Saul_ certain days with +the disciples that were at _Damascus_.” If we know and love CHRIST, we +shall also love and desire to be acquainted with the brethren of CHRIST: +we may generally know a man by his company. And though all are not +saints that associate with saints, (for tares will be always springing +up amongst the wheat till the time of harvest) yet, if we never keep +company, but are shy and ashamed of the despised children of GOD, it +is a certain sign we have not yet experimentally learned JESUS, or +received him into our hearts. My dear friends, be not deceived; if we +are friends to the Bridegroom, we shall be friends to the children of +the Bridegroom. _Saul_, as soon as he was filled with the Holy Ghost, +“was certain days with the disciples that were at _Damascus_.” + +But who can tell what joy these disciples felt when _Saul_ came +amongst them! I suppose holy _Ananias_ introduced him. Methinks I +see the once persecuting zealot, when they came to salute him with +a holy kiss, throwing himself upon each of their necks, weeping over +them with floods of tears, and saying, “O my brother, O my sister, +Can you forgive me? Can you give such a wretch as I the right-hand +of fellowship, who intended to drag you behind me bound unto +_Jerusalem_!” Thus, I say, we may suppose _Saul_ addressed himself to +his fellow-disciples; and I doubt not but they were as ready to forgive +and forget as _Ananias_ was, and saluted him with the endearing title +of “brother _Saul_.” Lovely was this meeting; so lovely, that it seemed +_Saul_ continued certain days with them, to communicate experiences, +and to learn the way of GOD more perfectly; to pray for a blessing on +his future ministry, and to praise CHRIST JESUS for what he had done +for their souls. _Saul_, perhaps, had sat certain years at the feet +of _Gamaliel_, but undoubtedly learned more these certain days, than +he had learned before in all his life. It pleases me to think how this +great scholar is transformed by the renewing of his mind: What a mighty +change was here! That so great a man as _Saul_ was, both as to his +station in life, and internal qualifications, and such a bitter enemy +to the christians; for him, I say, to go and be certain days with +the people of _this mad way_, and to sit quietly, and be taught of +illiterate men, as many of these disciples we may be sure were; what +a substantial proof was this of the reality of his conversion! + +What a hurry and confusion may we suppose the chief priests were now +in! I warrant they were ready to cry out, What! is he also deceived? As +for the common people, who knew not the law, and are accursed, for them +to be carried away, is no such wonder; but for a man bred up at the +feet of _Gamaliel_, for such a scholar, such an enemy to the cause as +_Saul_, for him to be led away with a company of silly, deceived men +and women, surely it is impossible: we cannot believe it. But _Saul_ +soon convinces them of the reality of his becoming a fool for CHRIST’s +sake; for straightway, instead of going to deliver the letters from the +high priests, as they expected, in order to bring the disciples that +were at _Damascus_ bound to _Jerusalem_, “he preached CHRIST in the +synagogues, that he is the Son of GOD.” This was another proof of his +being converted. He not only conversed with christians in private, but +he preached CHRIST publicly in the synagogues: especially, he insisted +on the divinity of our LORD, proving, notwithstanding his state of +humiliation, that he was really the Son of GOD. + +But why did _Saul_ preach CHRIST thus? Because he had felt the power +of CHRIST upon his own soul. And here is the reason why CHRIST is +so seldom preached, and his divinity so slightly insisted on in our +synagogues: because the generality of those that pretend to preach him, +never felt a saving work of conversion upon their own souls. How can +they preach, unless they are first taught of, and then sent by GOD? +_Saul_ did not preach CHRIST before he knew him; no more should any one +else. An unconverted minister, though he could speak with the tongues +of men and angels, will be but as a sounding brass and tinkling cymbal +to those whose senses are exercised to discern spiritual things. +Ministers that are unconverted, may talk and declaim of CHRIST, and +prove from books that he is the Son of GOD; but they cannot preach +with the demonstration of the Spirit and with power, unless they preach +from experience, and have had a proof of his divinity, by a work of +grace wrought upon their own souls. GOD forgive those, who lay hands +on an unconverted man, knowing that he is such: I would not do it for +a thousand worlds. LORD JESUS, keep thy own faithful servants pure, and +let them not be partakers of other mens sins! + +Such an instance as was _Saul_’s conversion, we may be assured, must +make a great deal of noise; and, therefore, no wonder we are told, +verse 21. “But all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this +he that destroyed them who called on this name in _Jerusalem_, and came +hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound to the chief +priests.” + +Thus it will be with all that appear publicly for JESUS CHRIST; and it +is as impossible for a true christian to be hid, as a city built upon a +hill. Brethren, if you are faithful to, you must be reproached and have +remarks made on you for CHRIST; especially if you have been remarkably +wicked before your conversion. Your friends will say, is not this he, +or she, who a little while ago would run to as great an excess of riot +and vanity as the worst of us all? What has turned your brain?――Or if +you have been close, false, formal hypocrites, as _Saul_ was, they will +wonder that you should be so deceived, as to think you were not in a +safe state before. No doubt, numbers were surprized to hear _Saul_, +who was touching the law blameless, affirm that he was in a damnable +condition (as in all probability he did) a few days before. + +Brethren, you must expect to meet with many such difficulties as these. +The scourge of the tongue, is generally the first cross we are called +to bear for the sake of CHRIST. Let not, therefore, this move you: It +did not intimidate, no, it rather encouraged _Saul_: says the text, +“But _Saul_ increased the more in strength, and confounded the _Jews_ +who dwelt at _Damascus_, proving that this is very CHRIST.” Opposition +never yet did, nor ever will hurt a sincere convert: Nothing like +opposition to make the man of GOD perfect. None but a hireling, who +careth not for the sheep, will be affrighted at the approach or barking +of wolves. CHRIST’s ministers are as bold as lions: it is not for such +men as they to flee. + +And therefore (that I may draw towards a conclusion) let the ministers +and disciples of CHRIST learn from _Saul_, not to fear men or their +revilings; but, like him, increase in strength, the more wicked men +endeavour to weaken their hands. We cannot be christians without being +opposed: no; disciples in general must suffer; ministers in particular +must suffer great things. But let not this move any of us from our +stedfastness in the gospel: He that stood by and strengthened _Saul_, +will also stand by and strengthen us: He is a GOD mighty to save all +that put their trust in him. If we look up with an eye of faith, we, as +well as the first martyr _Stephen_, may see JESUS standing at the right +hand of GOD, ready to assist and protect us. Though the LORD’s seat is +in heaven, yet he has respect to his saints in an especial manner, when +suffering here on earth: then the Spirit of CHRIST and of glory rests +upon their souls. And, if I may speak my own experience, “I never enjoy +more rich communications from GOD, than when despised and rejected of +men for the sake of JESUS CHRIST.” However little they may design it, +my enemies are my greatest friends. What I most fear, is a calm; but +the enmity which is in the hearts of natural men against CHRIST, will +not suffer them to be quiet long: No; as I hope the work of GOD will +increase, so the rage of men and devils will increase also. Let us put +on, therefore, the whole armour of GOD: let us not fear the face of men: +“Let us fear him only, who can destroy both body and soul in hell:” I +say unto you, let us fear him alone. You see how soon GOD can stop the +fury of his enemies. + +You have just now heard of a proud, powerful zealot stopt in his full +career, struck down to the earth with a light from heaven, converted +by the almighty power of efficacious grace, and thereupon zealously +promoting, nay, resolutely suffering for, the faith, which once with +threatenings and slaughters he endeavoured to destroy. Let this teach +us to pity and pray for our LORD’s most inveterate enemies. Who knows, +but in answer thereunto, our LORD may give them repentance unto life? +Most think, that CHRIST had respect to _Stephen_’s prayer, when he +converted _Saul_. Perhaps for this reason GOD suffers his adversaries +to go on, that his goodness and power may shine more bright in their +conversion. + +But let not the persecutors of CHRIST take encouragement from this to +continue in their opposition. Remember, though _Saul_ was converted, +yet the high-priest, and _Saul_’s companions, were left dead in +trespasses and sins: And, if this should be your case, you will of all +men be most miserable: for persecutors have the lowest place in hell. +And, if _Saul_ was struck to the earth by a light from heaven, how will +you be able to stand before JESUS CHRIST, when he comes in terrible +majesty to take vengeance on all those who have persecuted his gospel? +Then the question, “Why persecutest thou me?” will cut you through and +through. The secret enmity of your hearts shall be then detected before +men and angels, and you shall be doomed to dwell in the blackness of +darkness for evermore. Kiss the Son, therefore, lest he be angry: for +even you may yet find mercy, if you believe on the Son of GOD: though +you persecute him, yet he will be your JESUS. I cannot despair of any +of you, when I find a _Saul_ among the disciples at _Damascus_. What +though your sins are as scarlet, the blood of CHRIST shall wash them as +white as snow. Having much to be forgiven, despair not; only believe, +and like _Saul_, of whom I have now been speaking, love much. He +counted himself the chiefest sinner of all, and therefore laboured more +abundantly than all. + +Who is there among you fearing the LORD? Whose hearts hath the LORD now +opened to hearken to the voice of his poor unworthy servant? Surely, +the LORD will not let me preach in vain. Who is the happy soul that +is this day to be washed in the blood of the Lamb? Will no poor sinner +take encouragement from _Saul_ to come to JESUS CHRIST? You are all +thronging round, but which of you will touch the LORD JESUS? What a +comfort will it be to _Saul_, and to your own souls, when you meet him +in heaven, to tell him, that hearing of his, was a means, under GOD, of +your conversion! Doubtless it was written for the encouragement of all +poor, returning sinners; he himself tells us so: for “in me GOD shewed +all long-suffering, that I might be an example to them that should +hereafter believe.” Was _Saul_ here himself, he would tell you so, +indeed he would; but being dead, by this account of his conversion he +yet speaketh. O that GOD may speak by it to your hearts! O that the +arrows of GOD might this day stick fast in your souls, and you made to +cry out, “Who art thou, LORD?” Are there any such amongst you? Methinks +I feel something of what this _Saul_ felt, when he said, “I travail +in birth again for you, till CHRIST be formed again in your hearts.” O +come, come away to JESUS, in whom _Saul_ believed; and then I care not +if the high-priests issue out never so many writs, or injuriously drag +me to a prison. The thoughts of being instrumental in saving you, will +make me sing praises even at midnight: And I know you will be my joy +and crown of rejoicing, when I am delivered from this earthly prison, +and meet you in the kingdom of GOD hereafter. + + Now to GOD, &c. + + + + + SERMON XLII. + + Marks of having received the Holy Ghost. + + + ACTS xix. 2. + + _Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?_ + +TWO different significations have been given of these words. Some have +supposed, that the question here put, is, Whether these disciples, +whom St. _Paul_ found at _Ephesus_, had received the Holy Ghost by +imposition of hands at confirmation? Others think, these disciples had +been already baptized into _John_’s baptism; which not being attended +with an immediate effusion of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle here asks +them, Whether they had received the Holy Ghost by being baptized +into JESUS CHRIST? And upon their answering in the negative, he first +baptized, and then confirmed them in the name of the LORD JESUS. + +Which of these interpretations is the most true, is neither easy nor +very necessary to determine. However, as the words contain a most +important enquiry, without any reference to the context, I shall from +them, + + _First_, Shew who the Holy Ghost here spoken of, is; and that we + must all receive him, before we can be stiled true believers. + + _Secondly_, I shall lay down some scripture marks whereby we may + know, whether we have thus received the Holy Ghost or not. And + + _Thirdly_, By way of conclusion, address myself to several + distinct classes of professors, concerning the doctrine that + shall have been delivered. + +_First_, I am to shew who the Holy Ghost spoken of in ♦the text, is; +and that we must all receive him before we can be stiled true believers. + + ♦ duplicate word “the” removed + +By the Holy Ghost is plainly signified the Holy Spirit, the third +Person in the ever-blessed Trinity, consubstantial and co-eternal with +the Father and the Son, proceeding from, yet equal to them both. He is +emphatically called Holy, because infinitely holy in himself, and the +author and finisher of all holiness in us. + +This blessed Spirit, who once moved on the face of the great deep; who +over-shadowed the blessed Virgin before that holy child was born of her; +who descended in a bodily shape, like a dove, on our blessed LORD, when +he came up out of the water at his baptism; and afterwards came down in +fiery tongues on the heads of all his Apostles at the day of Pentecost: +this is the Holy Ghost, who must move on the faces of our souls; this +power of the Most High, must come upon us, and we must be baptized with +his baptism and refining fire, before we can be stiled true members of +CHRIST’s mystical body. + +Thus says the Apostle _Paul_, “Know ye not that JESUS CHRIST is in you, +(that is, by his Spirit) unless you are reprobates?” And, “If any man +hath not the Spirit of CHRIST, he is none of his.” And again, says St. +_John_, “We know that we are his, by the Spirit that he hath given us.” + +It is not, indeed, necessary that we should have the Spirit now given +in that miraculous manner, in which he was at first given to our LORD’s +Apostles, by signs and wonders; but it is absolutely necessary, that we +should receive the Holy Ghost in his sanctifying graces, as really as +they did: and so will it continue to be till the end of the world. + +For thus stands the case between GOD and man: GOD at first made man +upright, or as the sacred Penman expresses it, “In the image of GOD +made he man;” that is, his soul was the very copy, the transcript of +the divine nature. He, who before, by his almighty fiat, spoke the +world into being, breathed into man the breath of spiritual life, and +his soul was adorned with a resemblance of the perfections of Deity. +This was the finishing stroke of the creation: the perfection both of +the moral and material world. And so near did man resemble his divine +Original, that GOD could not but rejoice and take pleasure in his +own likeness: And therefore we read, that when GOD had finished the +inanimate and brutish part of the creation, he looked upon it, and +beheld it was _good_; but when that lovely, God-like creature man was +made, behold it was _very good_. + +Happy, unspeakably happy must man needs be, when thus a partaker of the +divine nature. And thus might he have still continued, had he continued +holy. But GOD placed him in a state of probation, with a free grant to +eat of every tree in the garden of _Eden_, except the tree of knowledge +of good and evil: the day he should eat thereof, he was surely to die; +that is, not only to be subject to temporal, but spiritual death; and +consequently, to lose that divine image, that spiritual life GOD had +not long since breathed into him, and which was as much his happiness +as his glory. + +These, one would imagine, were easy conditions for a finite creature’s +happiness to depend on. But man, unhappy man, being seduced by the +devil, and desiring, like him, to be equal with his Maker, did eat of +the forbidden fruit; and thereby became liable to that curse, which the +eternal GOD, who cannot lie, had denounced against his disobedience. + +Accordingly we read, that soon after _Adam_ had fallen, he complained +that he was naked; naked, not only as to his body, but naked and +destitute of those divine graces which before decked and beautified +his soul. The unhappy mutiny and disorder which the visible creation +fell into, the briars and thorns which now sprung up and overspread +the earth, were but poor emblems, lifeless representations of that +confusion and rebellion, and those divers lusts and passions which +sprung up in, and quite overwhelmed the soul of man immediately after +the fall. Alas! he was now no longer the image of the invisible GOD; +but as he had imitated the devil’s sin, he became as it were a partaker +of the devil’s nature, and from an union with, sunk into a state of +direct enmity against GOD. + +Now in this dreadful disordered condition, are all of us brought into +the world; for as the root is, such must the branches be. Accordingly +we are told, “That _Adam_ begat a son in his own likeness;” or, with +the same corrupt nature which he himself had, after he had eaten the +forbidden fruit. And experience as well as scripture proves, that we +also are altogether born in sin and corruption; and therefore incapable, +whilst in such a state, to hold communion with GOD. For as light cannot +have communion with darkness, so GOD can have no communion with such +polluted sons of _Belial_. + +Here then appears the end and design why CHRIST was manifest in the +flesh; to put an end to these disorders, and to restore us to that +primitive dignity in which we were at first created. Accordingly he +shed his precious blood to satisfy his Father’s justice for our sins; +and thereby also he procured for us the Holy Ghost, who should once +more re-instamp the divine image upon our hearts, and make us capable +of living with and enjoying the blessed GOD. + +This was the great end of our LORD’s coming into the world; nay, this +is the only end why the world itself is now kept in being. For as soon +as a sufficient number are sanctified out of it, the heavens shall be +wrapped up like a scroll, the elements shall melt with fervent heat, +the earth, and all that therein is, shall be burnt up. + +This sanctification of the Spirit, is that new birth mentioned by our +blessed LORD to _Nicodemus_, “without which we cannot see the kingdom +of GOD.” This is what St. _Paul_ calls being “renewed in the spirit of +our minds;” and it is the spring of that holiness, without which no man +shall see the LORD. + +Thus then, it is undeniably certain, we must receive the Holy Ghost ere +we can be stiled true members of CHRIST’s mystical body. I come in the + +_Second_ place to lay down some scriptural marks, whereby we may easily +judge, whether we have thus received the Holy Ghost or not. And the + +_First_ I shall mention, is, our having received a spirit of prayer +and supplication; for that always accompanies the spirit of grace. +No sooner was _Paul_ converted, but “behold he prayeth.” And this was +urged as an argument, to convince _Ananias_ that he was converted. And +GOD’s elect are also said to “cry to him day and night.” + +And since one great work of the Holy Spirit is to convince us of sin, +and to set us upon seeking pardon and renewing grace, through the +all-sufficient merits of a crucified Redeemer, whosoever has felt the +power of the world to come, awakening him from his spiritual lethargy, +cannot but be always crying out, “LORD, what wouldst thou have me to +do?” Or, in the language of the importunate blind _Bartimeus_, “JESUS, +thou Son of _David_, have mercy upon me.” + +The blessed JESUS, as he received the Holy Ghost without measure, so he +evidenced it by nothing more, than his frequent addresses at the throne +of grace. Accordingly we read, that he was often alone on the mountain +praying; that he rose a great while before day to pray: nay, that he +spent whole nights in prayer. And whosoever is made partaker of the +same Spirit with the holy JESUS, will be of the same mind, and delight +in nothing so much, as to “draw nigh unto GOD,” and lift up holy hands +and hearts in frequent and devout prayer. + +It must be confessed, indeed, that this spirit of supplication is often +as it were sensibly lost, and decays, for some time, even in those +who have actually received the Holy Ghost. Through spiritual dryness +and barrenness of soul, they find in themselves a listlesness and +backwardness to this duty of prayer; but then they esteem it as their +cross, and still persevere in seeking JESUS, though it be sorrowing: +and their hearts, notwithstanding, are fixed upon GOD, though they +cannot exert their affections so strongly as usual, on account of that +spiritual deadness, which GOD, for wise reasons, has suffered to benumb +their souls. + +But as for the formal believer, it is not so with him: no; he either +prays not at all, or if he does enter into his closet, it is with +reluctance, out of custom, or to satisfy the checks of his conscience. +Whereas the true believer can no more live without prayer, than without +food day by day. And he finds his soul as really and perceptibly fed by +the one, as his body is nourished and supported by the other. A + +_Second_ scripture mark of our having received the Holy Ghost, is, Not +committing sin. + +“Whosoever is born of GOD, (says St. _John_) sinneth not, neither +can he sin, because his seed remaineth in him.” _Neither can he sin._ +This expression does not imply the impossibility of a christian’s +sinning: for we are told, that “in many things we offend all:” It only +means thus much; that a man who is really born again of GOD, doth not +wilfully commit sin, much less live in the habitual practice of it. For +how shall he that is dead to sin, as every converted person is, live +any longer therein? + +It is true, a man that is born again of GOD, may, through surprize, +or the violence of a temptation, fall into an act of sin: witness the +adultery of _David_, and _Peter_’s denial of his Master. But then, +like them, he quickly rises again, goes out from the world, and weeps +bitterly; washes the guilt of sin away by the tears of a sincere +repentance, joined with faith in the blood of JESUS CHRIST; takes +double heed to his ways for the future, and perfects holiness in the +fear of GOD. + +The meaning of this expression of the Apostle, that “a man who is born +of GOD, cannot commit sin,” has been ¹fitly illustrated, by the example +of a covetous worldling, to the general bent of whose inclinations, +liberality and profuseness are directly opposite: but if, upon some +unexpected, sudden occasion, he does play the prodigal, he immediately +repents him of his fault, and returns with double care to his +niggardliness again. And so is every one that is born again: to commit +sin, is as contrary to the habitual frame and tendency of his mind, as +generosity is to the inclinations of a miser; but if at any time, he is +drawn into sin, he immediately, with double zeal, returns to his duty, +and brings forth fruits meet for repentance. Whereas, the unconverted +sinner is quite dead in trespasses and sins: or if he does abstain +from gross acts of it, through worldly selfish motives, yet, there is +some right eye he will not pluck out; some right-hand which he will not +cut off; some specious _Agag_ that he will not sacrifice for GOD; and +thereby he is convinced that he is but a mere _Saul_: and consequently, +whatever pretensions he may make to the contrary, he has not yet +received the Holy Ghost. A + + ¹ _Law_’s _Christian Perfection_. + +_Third_ mark whereby we may know, whether or not we have received the +Holy Ghost, is, Our conquest over the world. + +“For whosoever is born of GOD, (says the Apostle) overcometh the +world.” By the world, we are to understand, as St. _John_ expresses +it, “all that is in the world, the lust of the eye, the lust of the +flesh, and the pride of life:” And by overcoming of it, is meant, +our renouncing these, so as not to follow or be led by them: for +whosoever is born from above, has his affections set on things above: +he feels a divine attraction in his soul, which forcibly draws his mind +heavenwards; and as the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so doth it +make his soul to long after the enjoyment of his GOD. + +Not that he is so taken up with the affairs of another life, as to +neglect the business of this: No; a truly spiritual man dares not stand +any day idle; but then he takes care, though he laboureth for the meat +which perisheth, first to secure that which endureth to everlasting +life. Or, if GOD has exalted him above his brethren, yet, like _Moses_, +_Joseph_, and _Daniel_, he, notwithstanding, looks upon himself as a +stranger and pilgrim upon earth: having received a principle of new +life, he walks by faith and not by sight; and his hopes being full +of immortality, he can look on all things here below as vanity and +vexation of spirit: In short, though he is in, yet he is not of the +world; and as he was made for the enjoyment of GOD, so nothing but GOD +can satisfy his soul. + +The ever-blessed JESUS was a perfect instance of overcoming the world. +For though he went about continually doing good, and always lived as +in a press and throng; yet, wherever he was, his conversation tended +heavenwards. In like manner, he that is joined to the LORD in one +spirit, will so order his thoughts, words, and actions, that he will +evidence to all, that his conversation is in heaven. + +On the contrary, an unconverted man being of the earth, is earthy; +and having no spiritual eye to discern spiritual things, he is always +seeking for happiness in this life, where it never was, will, or can be +found. Being not born again from above, he is bowed down by a spirit of +natural infirmity: the serpent’s curse becomes his choice, and he eats +of the dust of the earth all the days of his life. A + +_Fourth_ scripture mark of our having received the Holy Ghost, is, Our +loving one another. + +“We know (says St. _John_) we are passed from death unto life, because +we love the brethren.” “And by this (says CHRIST himself) shall all men +know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one towards another.” +Love is the fulfilling of the gospel, as well as of the law: for “GOD +is love; and whosoever dwelleth in love, dwelleth in GOD.” + +But by this love we are not to understand a softness and tenderness of +mere nature, or a love founded on worldly motives (for this a natural +man may have); but a love of our brethren, proceeding from love towards +GOD: loving all men in general, because of their relation to GOD; +and loving good men in particular, for the grace we see in them, and +because they love our LORD JESUS in sincerity. + +This is christian charity, and that new commandment which CHRIST gave +to his disciples. _New_, not in its object, but in the motive and +example whereon it is founded, even JESUS CHRIST. This is that love +which the primitive christians were so renowned for, that it became a +proverb, _See how these christians love one another_. And without this +love, though we should give all our goods to feed the poor, and our +bodies to be burnt, it would profit us nothing. + +Further, this love is not confined to any particular set of men, but +is impartial and catholic: A love that embraces GOD’s image wherever +it beholds it, and that delights in nothing so much as to see CHRIST’s +kingdom come. + +This is the love wherewith JESUS CHRIST loved mankind: He loved all, +even the worst of men, as appears by his weeping over the obstinately +perverse; but wherever he saw the least appearance of the divine +likeness, that soul he loved in particular. Thus we read, that when he +heard the young man say, “All these things have I kept from my youth,” +that so far he loved him. And when he saw any noble instance of faith, +though in a Centurion and a _Syrophenician_, aliens to the commonwealth +of _Israel_, how is he said to marvel at, to rejoice in, speak of, and +commend it? So every spiritual disciple of JESUS CHRIST will cordially +embrace all who worship GOD in spirit and in truth, however they may +differ as to the appendages of religion, and in things not essentially +necessary to salvation. + +I confess, indeed, that the heart of a natural man is not thus enlarged +all at once; and a person may really have received the Holy Ghost, +(as _Peter_, no doubt, had when he was unwilling to go to _Cornelius_) +though he be not arrived to this: but then, where a person is truly in +CHRIST, all narrowness of spirit decreases in him daily; the partition +wall of bigotry and party zeal is broken down more and more; and the +nearer he comes to heaven, the more his heart is enlarged with that +love, which there will make no difference between any people, nation, +or language, but we shall all, with one heart, and one voice, sing +praises to him that sitteth upon the throne for ever. But I hasten to a + +_Fifth_ scripture mark, Loving our enemies. + +“I say unto you, (says JESUS CHRIST) Love your enemies, bless them +that curse you, do good to those that hate you, and pray for them +that despitefully use you and persecute you.” And this duty of loving +your enemies is so necessary, that without it, our righteousness does +not exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, or even of +Publicans and sinners: “For if you do good to them only, who do good to +you, what do you more than others?” What do you extraordinary? “Do not +even the Publicans the same?” And these precepts our LORD confirmed by +his own example; when he wept over the bloody city; when he suffered +himself to be led as a sheep to the slaughter; when he made that mild +reply to the traytor _Judas_, “_Judas_, betrayest thou the Son of man +with a kiss;” and more especially, when in the agonies and pangs of +death, he prayed for his very murderers, “Father, forgive them, for +they know not what they do.” + +This is a difficult duty to the natural man; but whosoever is made +partaker of the promise of the Spirit, will find it practicable +and easy: for if we are born again of GOD, we must be like him, and +consequently delight to be perfect in this duty of doing good to our +worst enemies in the same manner, though not in the same degree as he +is perfect: He sends his rain on the evil and the good; causeth his +sun to shine on the just and unjust; and more especially commended his +love towards us, that whilst we were his enemies, he sent forth his Son, +born of a woman, made under the law, that he might become a curse for +us. + +Many other marks are scattered up and down the scriptures, whereby we +may know whether or not we have received the Holy Ghost: such as, “to +be carnally minded, is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and +peace.” “Now the fruits of the Spirit are joy, peace, long-suffering, +meekness,” with a multitude of texts to the same purpose. But as most, +if not all of them, are comprehended in the duties already laid down, +I dare affirm, whosoever upon an impartial examination, can find the +aforesaid marks on his soul, may be as certain, as though an angel was +to tell him, that his pardon is sealed in heaven. + +As for my own part, I had rather see these divine graces, and this +heavenly temper stamped upon my soul, than to hear an angel from heaven +saying unto me, Son, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee. + +These are infallible witnesses; these are _Emmanuel_, GOD with and in +us; these make up that white stone, which none knoweth, saving he who +hath receiveth it; these are the earnests of the heavenly inheritance +in our hearts: In short, these are glory begun, and are that good thing, +that better part, and which if you continue to stir up this gift of GOD, +neither men nor devils shall ever be able to take from us. + +I proceed, as was proposed, in the _Third_ place, to make an +application of the doctrine delivered, to several distinct classes of +professors. And + +_First_, I shall address myself to those who are dead in trespasses +and sins. And, O how could I weep over you, as our LORD wept over +_Jerusalem_! For, alas! how distant must you be from GOD? What a +prodigious work have you to finish, who, instead of praying day and +night, seldom or never pray at all? And, instead of being born again +of GOD, so as not to commit sin, are so deeply sunk into the nature of +devils, as to make a mock at it? Or, instead of overcoming the world, +so as not to follow or be led by it, are continually making provision +for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. And, instead of being +endued with the god-like disposition of loving all men, even your +enemies, have your hearts full of hatred, malice, and revenge, and +deride those who are the sincere followers of the lowly JESUS. But +think you, O sinners, that GOD will admit such polluted wretches into +his sight? Or should he admit you, do you imagine you could take any +pleasure in him? No; heaven itself would be no heaven to you; the +devilish dispositions which are in your hearts, would render all the +spiritual enjoyments of those blessed mansions, ineffectual to make +you happy. To qualify you to be blissful partakers of that heavenly +inheritance with the saints in light, there is a meetness required: to +attain which, ought to be the chief business of your lives. + +It is true, you, as well as the righteous, in one sense, shall see GOD; +(for we must all appear before the judgment-seat of CHRIST) but you +must see him once, never to see him more. For as you carry about in you +the devil’s image, with devils you must dwell: being of the same nature, +you must share the same doom. “Repent, therefore, and be converted, +that your sins may be blotted out.” See that you receive the Holy Ghost, +before you go hence: for otherwise, how can you escape the damnation of +hell? + +_Secondly_, Let me apply myself to those who deceive themselves +with false hopes of salvation. Some, through the influence of a good +education, or other providential restraints, have not run into the +same excess of riot with other men, and they think they have no need to +receive the Holy Ghost, but flatter themselves that they are really +born again. + +But do you shew it by bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit? Do you +pray without ceasing? Do you not commit sin? Have you overcome the +world? And do you love your enemies, and all mankind, in the same +manner, as JESUS CHRIST loved them? + +If these things, brethren, be in you and abound, then may you have +confidence towards GOD; but if not, although you may be civilized, yet +you are not converted: no, you are yet in your sins. The nature of the +old _Adam_ still reigneth in your souls; and unless the nature of the +second _Adam_ be grafted in its room, you can never see GOD. + +Think not, therefore, to dress yourselves up in the ornaments of a +good nature, and civil education, and say with _Agag_, “surely the +bitterness of death is past:” for GOD’s justice, notwithstanding that, +like _Samuel_, shall hew you to pieces. However you may be highly +esteemed in the sight of men, yet, in the sight of GOD, you are but +like the apples of _Sodom_, dunghills covered over with snow, mere +whited sepulchres, appearing a little beautiful without, but inwardly +full of corruption and of all uncleanness: and consequently will be +dismissed at the last day with a “Verily, I know you not.” + +But the word of GOD is profitable for comfort as well as correction. + +_Thirdly_, Therefore I address myself to those who are under the +drawings of the Father, and are exercised with the Spirit of bondage, +and not finding the marks before mentioned, are crying out, Who shall +deliver us from the body of this death? + +But fear not, little flock; for notwithstanding your present infant +state of grace, it shall be your Father’s good pleasure to give you the +kingdom. The grace of GOD, through JESUS CHRIST, shall deliver you, and +give you what you thirst after: He hath promised, he will also do it. +Ye shall receive the spirit of adoption, that promise of the Father, if +you faint not: only persevere in seeking it; and determine not to be at +rest in your soul, till you know and feel that you are thus born again +from above, and GOD’s Spirit witnesseth with your spirits that you are +the children of GOD. + +_Fourthly_ and _Lastly_, I address myself to those who have received +the Holy Ghost in all his sanctifying graces, and are almost ripe for +glory. + +Hail, happy saints! for your heaven is begun on earth: you have already +received the first fruits of the Spirit, and are patiently waiting till +that blessed change come, when your harvest shall be compleat. I see +and admire you, though, alas! at so great a distance from you: your +life, I know, is hid with CHRIST in GOD. You have comforts, you have +meat to eat, which a sinful, carnal, ridiculing world knows nothing of. +CHRIST’s yoke is now become easy to you, and his burden light. You have +passed through the pangs of the new birth, and now rejoice that CHRIST +JESUS is spiritually formed in your hearts. You know what it is to +dwell in CHRIST, and CHRIST in you. Like _Jacob_’s ladder, although +your bodies are on earth, yet your souls and hearts are in heaven: and +by your faith and constant recollection, like the blessed angels, you +do always behold the face of your Father which is in heaven. + +I need not exhort you to press forward, for you know that in walking +in the Spirit there is a great reward. Rather will I exhort you, in +patience to possess your souls yet a little while, and JESUS CHRIST +will deliver you from the burden of the flesh, and an abundant entrance +shall be administered to you, into the eternal joy and uninterrupted +felicity of his heavenly kingdom. + + Which GOD of his infinite mercy grant, through JESUS CHRIST our + LORD: To whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, three + Persons and one GOD, be ascribed all honour, power, and glory, + for ever and ever. + + + + + SERMON XLIII. + + The Almost Christian. + + + ACTS xxvi. 28. + + _Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian._ + +THESE words contain the ingenuous confession of king _Agrippa_; +which having some reference to, it may not be improper to relate the +substance of the preceding verses, with which the words are so closely +connected. + +The chapter, out of which the text is taken, contains an admirable +account which the great St. _Paul_ gave of his wonderful conversion +from Judaism to Christianity, when he was called to make his defence +before _Festus_, a _Gentile_ governor, and king _Agrippa_. Our blessed +LORD had long since foretold, that when the Son of man should be lifted +up, “his disciples should be brought before kings and rulers, for his +name’s sake, for a testimony unto them.” And very good was the design +of infinite wisdom in thus ordaining it; for Christianity being, from +the beginning, a doctrine of the Cross, the princes and rulers of +the earth thought themselves too high to be instructed by such mean +teachers, or too happy to be disturbed by such unwelcome truths; and +therefore would have always continued strangers to JESUS CHRIST, and +him crucified, had not the apostles, by being arraigned before them, +gained opportunities of preaching to them “JESUS and the resurrection.” +St. _Paul_ knew full well that this was the main reason, why his +blessed Master permitted his enemies at this time to arraign him +at a public bar; and therefore, in compliance with the divine will, +thinks it not sufficient, barely to make his defence, but endeavours +at the same time to convert his judges. And this he did with such +demonstration of the spirit, and of power, that _Festus_, unwilling to +be convinced by the strongest evidence, cries out with a loud voice, +“_Paul_, much learning doth make thee mad.” To which the brave apostle +(like a true follower of the holy JESUS) meekly replies, “I am not mad, +most noble _Festus_, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.” +But in all probability, seeing king _Agrippa_ more affected with his +discourse, and observing in him an inclination to know the truth, he +applies himself more particularly to him. “The king knoweth of these +things; before whom also I speak freely; for I am persuaded that none +of these things are hidden from him.” And then, that if possible he +might complete his wished-for conversion, he with an inimitable strain +of oratory, addresses himself still more closely, “King _Agrippa_, +believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest them.” At which +the passions of the king began to work so strongly, that he was obliged +in open court, to own himself affected by the prisoner’s preaching, +and ingenuously to cry out, “_Paul_, almost thou persuadest me to be +a Christian.” + +Which words, taken with the context, afford us a lively representation +of the different reception, which the doctrine of CHRIST’s ministers, +who come in the power and spirit of St. _Paul_, meets with now-a-days +in the minds of men. For notwithstanding they, like this great apostle, +“speak forth the words of truth and soberness;” and with such energy +and power, that all their adversaries cannot justly gainsay or resist; +yet, too many, with the noble _Festus_ before-mentioned, being like +him, either too proud to be taught, or too sensual, too careless, +or too worldly-minded to live up to the doctrine, in order to excuse +themselves, cry out, that “much learning, much study, or, what is more +unaccountable, much piety, hath made them mad.” And though, blessed +be GOD! all do not thus disbelieve our report; yet amongst those who +gladly receive the word, and confess that we speak the words of truth +and soberness, there are so few, who arrive at any higher degree of +piety than that of _Agrippa_, or are any farther persuaded than to be +almost Christians, that I cannot but think it highly necessary to warn +my dear hearers of the danger of such a state. And therefore, from the +words of the text, shall endeavour to shew these three things: + + _First_, What is meant by an almost christian. + + _Secondly_, What are the chief reasons, why so many are no more + than almost christians. + + _Thirdly_, I shall consider the ineffectualness, danger, + absurdity, and uneasiness which attends those who are + but almost christians; and then conclude with a general + exhortation, to set all upon striving not only to be almost, + but altogether christians. + +I. And, _First_, I am to consider what is meant by an almost christian. + +An almost christian, if we consider him in respect to his duty to GOD, +is one that halts between two opinions; that wavers between CHRIST and +the world; that would reconcile GOD and _Mammon_, light and darkness, +CHRIST and _Belial_. It is true, he has an inclination to religion, +but then he is very cautious how he goes too far in it: his false +heart is always crying out, Spare thyself, do thyself no harm. He prays +indeed, that “GOD’s will may be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” But +notwithstanding, he is very partial in his obedience, and fondly hopes +that GOD will not be extreme to mark every thing that he wilfully does +amiss; though an inspired apostle has told him, that “he who offends +in one point is guilty of all.” But chiefly, he is one that depends +much on outward ordinances, and on that account looks upon himself as +righteous, and despises others; though at the same time he is as great +a stranger to the divine life as any other person whatsoever. In short, +he is fond of the form, but never experiences the power of godliness in +his heart. He goes on year after year, attending on the means of grace, +but then, like _Pharaoh_’s lean kine, he is never the better, but +rather the worse for them. + +If you consider him in respect to his neighbour, he is one that is +strictly just to all; but then this does not proceed from any love +to GOD or regard to man, but only through a principle of self-love: +because he knows dishonesty will spoil his reputation, and consequently +hinder his thriving in the world. + +He is one that depends much upon being negatively good, and contents +himself with the consciousness of having done no one any harm; though +he reads in the gospel, that “the unprofitable servant was cast into +outer darkness,” and the barren fig-tree was cursed and dried up from +the roots, not for bearing bad, but no fruit. + +He is no enemy to charitable contributions in public, if not too +frequently recommended: but then he is unacquainted with the kind +offices of visiting the sick and imprisoned, cloathing the naked, and +relieving the ♦hungry in a private manner. He thinks that these things +belong only to the clergy, though his own false heart tells him, that +nothing but pride keeps him from exercising these acts of humility; +and that JESUS CHRIST, in the 25th chapter of St. _Matthew_, condemns +persons to everlasting punishment, not merely for being fornicators, +drunkards, or extortioners, but for neglecting these charitable offices, +“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, he shall set the sheep +on his right-hand, and the goats on his left. And then shall he say +unto them on his left-hand, depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting +fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was an hungred, and +ye gave me no meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; I was a +stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye cloathed me not; sick +and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also say, LORD, +when saw we thee an hungred, or a-thirst, or a stranger, or naked, +or sick, of in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he +answer them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have not done it +unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it not unto me: and +these shall go away into everlasting punishment.” I thought proper to +give you this whole passage of scripture at large, because our Saviour +lays such a particular stress upon it; and yet it is so little regarded, +that were we to judge by the practice of christians, one should be +tempted to think there were no such verses in the Bible. + + ♦ “hungary” replaced with “hungry” + +But to proceed in the character of an _almost christian_: If we +consider him in respect of himself; as we said he was strictly honest +to his neighbour, so he is likewise strictly sober in himself: but +then both his honesty and sobriety proceed from the same principle of +a false self-love. It is true, he runs not into the same excess of riot +with other men; but then it is not out of obedience to the laws of GOD, +but either because his constitution will not away with intemperance; +or rather because he is cautious of forfeiting his reputation, or +unfitting himself for temporal business. But though he is so prudent +as to avoid intemperance and excess, for the reasons before-mentioned; +yet he always goes to the extremity of what is lawful. It is true, he +is no drunkard; but then he has no _christian self-denial_. He cannot +think our Saviour to be so austere a Master, as to deny us to indulge +ourselves in some particulars: and so by this means he is destitute of +a sense of true religion, as much as if he lived in debauchery, or any +other crime whatever. As to settling his principles as well as practice, +he is guided more by the world, than by the word of GOD: for his part, +he cannot think the way to heaven so narrow as some would make it; +and therefore considers not so much what scripture requires, as what +such and such a good man does, or what will best suit his own corrupt +inclinations. Upon this account, he is not only very cautious himself, +but likewise very careful of young converts, whose faces are set +heavenward; and therefore is always acting the devil’s part, and +bidding them spare themselves, though they are doing no more than what +the scripture strictly requires them to do: The consequence of which +is, that “he suffers not himself to enter into the kingdom of GOD, and +those that are entering in he hinders.” + +Thus lives the almost christian: not that I can say, I have fully +described him to you; but from these outlines and sketches of his +character, if your consciences have done their proper office, and made +a particular application of what has been said to your own hearts, +I cannot but fear that some of you may observe some features in his +picture, odious as it is, too near resembling your own; and therefore +I cannot but hope, that you will join with the apostle in the words +immediately following the text, and wish yourselves “to be not only +almost, but altogether christians.” + +II. I proceed to the second general thing proposed; to consider the +reasons why so many are no more than almost christians. + +1. And the first reason I shall mention is, because so many set out +with false notions of religion; though they live in a christian country, +yet they know not what christianity is. This perhaps may be esteemed +a hard saying, but experience sadly evinces the truth of it; for some +place religion in being of this or that communion; more in morality; +most in a round of duties, and a model of performances; and few, very +few acknowledge it to be, what it really is, a thorough inward change +of nature, a divine life, a vital participation of JESUS CHRIST, an +union of the soul with GOD; which the apostle expresses by saying, “He +that is joined to the LORD is one spirit.” Hence it happens, that so +many, even of the most knowing professors, when you come to converse +with them concerning the essence, the life, the soul of religion, I +mean our new birth in JESUS CHRIST, confess themselves quite ignorant +of the matter, and cry out with _Nicodemus_, “How can this thing be?” +And no wonder then, that so many are only almost christians, when so +many know not what christianity is: no marvel, that so many take up +with the form, when they are quite strangers to the power of godliness; +or content themselves with the shadow, when they know so little about +the substance of it. And this is one cause why so many are almost, and +so few are altogether christians. + +2. A second reason that may be assigned why so many are no more than +almost christians, is a servile fear of man: multitudes there are and +have been, who, though awakened to a sense of the divine life, and +have tasted and felt the powers of the world to come; yet out of a +base sinful fear of being counted singular, or contemned by men, have +suffered all those good impressions to wear off. It is true, they have +some esteem for JESUS CHRIST; but then, like _Nicodemus_, they would +come to him only by night: they are willing to serve him; but then they +would do it secretly, for fear of the _Jews_: they have a mind to see +JESUS, but then they cannot come to him because of the press, and for +fear of being laughed at, and ridiculed by these with whom they used +to sit at meat. But well did our Saviour prophesy of such persons, “How +can ye love me, who receive honour one of another?” Alas! have they +never read, that “the friendship of this world is enmity with GOD;” and +that our LORD himself has threatened, “Whosoever shall be ashamed of me +or of my words, in this wicked and adulterous generation, of him shall +the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father +and of his holy angels?” No wonder that so many are no more than almost +christians, since so many “love the praise of men more than the honour +which cometh of GOD.” + +3. A third reason why so many are no more than almost christians, is +a reigning love of money. This was the pitiable case of that forward +young man in the gospel, who came running to our blessed LORD, and +kneeling before him, enquired “what he must do to inherit eternal life;” +to whom our blessed Master replied, “Thou knowest the commandments, +Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal:” To which the young +man replied, “All these have I kept from my youth.” But when our LORD +proceeded to tell him, “Yet lackest thou one thing; Go sell all that +thou hast, and give to the poor; he was grieved at that saying, and +went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions!” Poor youth! he had +a good mind to be a christian, and to inherit eternal life, but thought +it too dear, if it could be purchased at no less an expence than of his +estate! And thus many, both young and old, now-a-days, come running to +worship our blessed LORD in public, and kneel before him in private, +and enquire at his gospel, what they must do to inherit eternal life: +but when they find they must renounce the self-enjoyment of riches, and +forsake all in affection to follow him, they cry, “The LORD pardon us +in this thing! We pray thee, have us excused.” + +But is heaven so small a trifle in men’s esteem, as not to be worth +a little gilded earth? Is eternal life so mean a purchase, as not +to deserve the temporary renunciation of a few transitory riches? +Surely it is. But however inconsistent such a behaviour may be, this +inordinate love of money is too evidently the common and fatal cause, +why so many are no more than almost christians. + +4. Nor is the love of pleasure a less uncommon, or a less fatal cause +why so many are no more than almost christians. Thousands and ten +thousands there are, who despise riches, and would willingly be true +disciples of JESUS CHRIST, if parting with their money would make them +so; but when they are told that our blessed LORD has said, “Whosoever +will come after him must deny himself;” like the pitiable young man +before-mentioned, “they go away sorrowful:” for they have too great a +love for sensual pleasures. They will perhaps send for the ministers +of CHRIST, as _Herod_ did for _John_, and hear them gladly: but touch +them in their _Herodias_, tell them they must part with such or such +a darling pleasure; and with wicked _Ahab_ they cry out, “Hast thou +found us, O our enemy?” Tell them of the necessity of mortification +and self-denial, and it is as difficult for them to hear, as if you +was to bid them “cut off a right-hand, or pluck out a right-eye.” They +cannot think our blessed LORD requires so much at their hands, though +an inspired apostle has commanded us to “mortify our members which are +upon earth.” And who himself, even after he had converted thousands, +and was very near arrived to the end of his race, yet professed that +it was his daily practice to “keep under his body, and bring it into +subjection, lest after he had preached to others, he himself should be +a cast-away!” + +But some men would be wiser than this great apostle, and chalk out to +us what they falsely imagine an easier way to happiness. They would +flatter us, we may go to heaven without offering violence to our +sensual appetites; and enter into the strait gate without striving +against our carnal inclinations. And this is another reason why so many +are only almost, and not altogether christians. + +5. The fifth and last reason I shall assign why so many are only almost +christians, is a fickleness and instability of temper. + +It has been, no doubt, a misfortune that many a minister and sincere +christian has met with, to weep and wail over numbers of promising +converts, who seemingly began in the Spirit, but after a while fell +away, and basely ended in the flesh; and this not for want of right +notions in religion, nor out of a servile fear of man, nor from the +love of money, or of sensual pleasure, but through an instability and +fickleness of temper. They looked upon religion merely for novelty, as +something which pleased them for a while; but after their curiosity was +satisfied, they laid it aside again: like the young man that came to +see JESUS with a linen cloth about his naked body, they have followed +him for a season, but when temptations came to take hold on them, +for want of a little more resolution, they have been stripped of all +their good intentions, and fled away naked. They at first, like a tree +planted by the water-side, grew up and flourished for a while; but +having no root in themselves, no inward principle of holiness and +piety, like _Jonah_’s gourd, they were soon dried up and withered. +Their good intentions are too like the violent motions of the animal +spirits of a body newly beheaded, which, though impetuous, are not +lasting. In short, they set out well in their journey to heaven, but +finding the way either narrower or longer than they expected, through +an unsteadiness of temper, they have made an eternal halt, and so +“returned like the dog to his vomit, or like the sow that was washed to +her wallowing in the mire!” + +But I tremble to pronounce the fate of such unstable professors, +who having put their hands to the plough, for want of a little more +resolution, shamefully look back. How shall I repeat to them that +dreadful threatening, “if any man draw back, my soul shall have no +pleasure in him:” And again, “It is impossible (that is, exceeding +difficult at least) for those that have been once enlightened, and +have tasted of the heavenly gift, and the powers of the world to come, +if they should fall away, to be renewed again unto repentance.” But +notwithstanding the gospel is so severe against apostates, yet many +that begun well, through a fickleness of temper, (O that none of us +here present may ever be such) have been by this means of the number +of those that turn back unto perdition. And this is the fifth, and +the last reason I shall give, why so many are only almost, and not +altogether christians. + +III. Proceed we now to the third general thing proposed, namely, to +consider the folly of being no more than an almost christian. + +1. And the _first_ proof I shall give of the folly of such a proceeding +is, that it is ineffectual to salvation. It is true, such men are +almost good; but almost to hit the mark, is really to miss it. GOD +requires us “to love him with all our hearts, with all our souls, +and with all our strength.” He loves us too well to admit any rival; +because, so far as our hearts are empty of GOD, so far must they be +unhappy. The devil, indeed, like the false mother that came before +_Solomon_, would have our hearts divided, as she would have had the +child; but GOD, like the true mother, will have all or none. “My Son, +give me thy heart,” thy whole heart, is the general call to all: and if +this be not done, we never can expect the divine mercy. + +Persons may play the hypocrite; but GOD at the great day will strike +them dead, (as he did _Ananias_ and _Sapphira_ by the mouth of his +servant _Peter_) for pretending to offer him all their hearts, when +they keep back from him the greatest part. They may perhaps impose upon +their fellow-creatures for a while; but he that enabled _Elijah_ to +cry out, “Come in thou wife of _Jeroboam_,” when she came disguised to +enquire about her sick son, will also discover them through their most +artful dissimulations; and if their hearts are not wholly with him, +appoint them their portion with hypocrites and unbelievers. + +2. But, _secondly_, What renders an half-way-piety more inexcusable is, +that it is not only insufficient to our own salvation, but also very +prejudicial to that of others. + +An almost christian is one of the most hurtful creatures in the world: +he is a wolf in sheep’s cloathing: he is one of those false prophets, +our blessed LORD bids us beware of in his sermon on the mount, who +would persuade men, that the way to heaven is broader than it really +is; and thereby, as it was observed before, “enter not into the kingdom +of GOD themselves, and those that are entering in they hinder.” These, +these are the men that turn the world into a lukewarm _Laodicean_ +spirit; that hang out false lights, and so shipwreck unthinking +benighted souls in their voyage to the haven of eternity. These are +they who are greater enemies to the cross of CHRIST, than infidels +themselves: for of an unbeliever every one will be aware; but an almost +christian, through his subtle hypocrisy, draws away many after him; and +therefore must expect to receive the greater damnation. + +3. But, _thirdly_, As it is most prejudicial to ourselves and hurtful +to others, so it is the greatest instance of ingratitude we can express +towards our LORD and Master JESUS CHRIST. For did he come down from +heaven, and shed his precious blood, to purchase these hearts of ours, +and shall we only give him half of them? O how can we say we love +him, when our hearts are not wholly with him? How can we call him our +Saviour, when we will not endeavour sincerely to approve ourselves to +him, and so let him see the travail of his soul, and be satisfied! + +Had any of us purchased a slave at a most expensive rate, and who was +before involved in the utmost miseries and torments, and so must have +continued for ever, had we shut up our bowels of compassion from him; +and was this slave afterwards to grow rebellious, or deny giving us +but half his service; how, how should we exclaim against his base +ingratitude! And yet this base ungrateful slave thou art, O man, who +acknowledgest thyself to be redeemed from infinite unavoidable misery +and punishment by the death of JESUS CHRIST, and yet wilt not give +thyself wholly to him. But shall we deal with GOD our Maker in a manner +we would not be dealt with by a man like ourselves? GOD forbid! No. +Suffer me, therefore, + +To add a word or two of exhortation to you, to excite you to be not +only almost, but altogether christians. O let us scorn all base and +treacherous treatment of our King and Saviour, of our GOD and Creator. +Let us not take some pains all our lives to go to heaven, and yet +plunge ourselves into hell at last. Let us give to GOD our whole hearts, +and no longer halt between two opinions: if the world be GOD, let us +serve that; if pleasure be a GOD, let us serve that; but if the LORD +he be GOD, let us, O let us serve him alone. Alas! why, why should we +stand out any longer? Why should we be so in love with slavery, as not +wholly to renounce the world, the flesh, and the devil, which, like so +many spiritual chains, bind down our souls, and hinder them from flying +up to GOD. Alas! what are we afraid of? Is not GOD able to reward +our entire obedience? If he is, as the almost christian’s lame way of +serving him, seems to grant, why then will we not serve him entirely? +For the same reason we do so much, why do we not do more? Or do you +think that being only half religious will make you happy, but that +going farther, will render you miserable and uneasy? Alas! this, my +brethren, is delusion all over: for what is it but this _half piety_, +this wavering between GOD and the world, that makes so many, that +are seemingly well disposed, such utter strangers to the comforts of +religion? They chuse just so much of religion as will disturb them in +their lusts, and follow their lusts so far as to deprive themselves of +the comforts of religion. Whereas on the contrary, would they sincerely +leave all in affection, and give their hearts wholly to GOD, they would +then (and they cannot till then) experience the unspeakable pleasure +of having a mind at unity with itself, and enjoy such a peace of GOD, +which even in this life passes all understanding, and which they were +entire strangers to before. It is true, if we will devote ourselves +entirely to GOD, we must meet with contempt; but then it is because +contempt is necessary to heal our pride. We must renounce some sensual +pleasures, but then it is because those unfit us for spiritual ones, +which are infinitely better. We must renounce the love of the world; +but then it is that we may be filled with the love of GOD: and when +that has once enlarged our hearts, we shall, like _Jacob_ when he +served for his beloved _Rachel_, think nothing too difficult to undergo, +no hardships too tedious to endure, because of the love we shall then +have for our dear Redeemer. Thus easy, thus delightful will be the +ways of GOD even in this life: but when once we throw off these bodies, +and our souls are filled with all the fulness of GOD, O! what heart +can conceive, what tongue can express, with what unspeakable joy and +consolation shall we then look back on our past sincere and hearty +services. Think you then, my dear hearers, we shall repent we had done +too much; or rather think you not, we shall be ashamed that we did +no more; and blush we were so backward to give up all to GOD; when he +intended hereafter to give us himself? + +Let me therefore, to conclude, exhort you, my brethren, to have always +before you the unspeakable happiness of enjoying GOD. And think withal, +that every degree of holiness you neglect, every act of piety you omit, +is a jewel taken out of your crown, a degree of blessedness lost in +the vision of GOD. O! do but always think and act thus, and you will +no longer be labouring to compound matters between GOD and the world; +but, on the contrary, be daily endeavouring to give up yourselves more +and more unto him; you will be always watching, always praying, always +aspiring after farther degrees of purity and love, and consequently +always preparing yourselves for a fuller sight and enjoyment of that +GOD, in whose presence there is fulness of joy, and at whose right-hand +there are pleasures for ever more. Amen! Amen! + + + + + SERMON XLIV. + + CHRIST the Believer’s Wisdom, Righteousness, + Sanctification, and Redemption. + + + 1 CORINTHIANS i. 30. + + _But of him are ye in CHRIST JESUS, who of GOD is made unto us, + wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption._ + +OF all the verses in the book of GOD, this which I have now read to +you, is, I believe, one of the most comprehensive: What glad tidings +does it bring to believers! what precious privileges are they herein +invested with! how are they here led to the fountain of them all, I +mean, the love, the everlasting love of GOD the Father! “Of him are +ye in CHRIST JESUS, who of GOD is made unto us, wisdom, righteousness, +sanctification, and redemption.” + +Without referring you to the context, I shall from the words, + + _First_, Point out to you the fountain, from which all those + blessings flow, that the elect of GOD partake of in JESUS + CHRIST, “who of GOD is made unto us.” And, + + _Secondly_, I shall consider what these blessings are, “wisdom, + righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.” + +_First_, I would point out to you the fountain from which all those +blessings flow, that the elect of GOD partake of in JESUS, “who of +GOD is made unto us,” the Father, he it is who is spoken of here. +Not as though JESUS CHRIST was not GOD also; but GOD the Father is +the fountain of the Deity; and, if we consider JESUS CHRIST acting +as Mediator, GOD the Father is greater than he; there was an eternal +contract between the Father and the Son: “I have made a covenant with +my chosen, and I have sworn unto _David_ my servant;” now _David_ was +a type of CHRIST, with whom the Father made a covenant, that if he +would obey and suffer, and make himself a sacrifice for sin, he should +“see his seed, he should prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD +should prosper in his hands.” This compact our LORD refers to, in that +glorious prayer recorded in the 17th chapter of _John_; and therefore +he prays for, or rather demands with a full assurance, all that were +given to him by the Father: “Father, I will that they also whom thou +hast given me, be with me where I am.” For this same reason the apostle +breaks out into praises of GOD, even the Father of our LORD JESUS +CHRIST; for he loved the elect with an everlasting love, or, as our +LORD expresses it, “before the foundation of the world;” and therefore, +to shew them to whom they were beholden for their salvation, our LORD, +in the 25th of _Matthew_, represents himself, saying, “Come, ye blessed +children of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from +the foundation of the world.” And thus, in reply to the mother of +_Zebedee_’s children, he says, “It is not mine to give, but it shall +be given to them, for whom it is prepared, of the Father.” The apostle +therefore, when here speaking of the christian’s privileges, lest +they should sacrifice to their own drag, or think their salvation was +owing to their own faithfulness, or improvement of their own free-will, +reminds them to look back on the everlasting love of GOD the Father; +“who of GOD is made unto us, &c.” + +Would to GOD, this point of doctrine was considered more, and people +were more studious of the covenant of redemption between the Father and +the Son! we should not then have so much disputing against the doctrine +of election, or hear it condemned (even by good men) as a doctrine of +devils. For my own part, I cannot see how true humbleness of mind can +be attained without a knowledge of it; and though I will not say, that +every one who denies election is a bad man, yet I will say, with that +sweet singer, Mr. _Trail_, it is a very bad sign: such a one, whoever +he be, I think cannot truly know himself: for, if we deny election, +we must, partly at least, glory in ourselves; but our redemption is so +ordered, that no flesh should glory in the divine presence; and hence +it is, that the pride of man opposes this doctrine, because according +to this doctrine, and no other, “he that glories, must glory only in +the LORD.” But what shall I say? Election is a mystery that shines +with such resplendent brightness, that, to make use of the words of one +who has drank deeply of electing love, it dazzles the weak eyes even +of some of GOD’s dear children; however, though they know it not, all +the blessings they receive, all the privileges they do or will enjoy, +through JESUS CHRIST, flow from the everlasting love of GOD the Father: +“But of him are you in CHRIST JESUS, who of GOD is made unto us, wisdom, +righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.” + +_Secondly_, I come to shew what these blessings are, which are here, +through CHRIST, made over to the elect. And + +1. _First_, CHRIST is made to them _wisdom_; but wherein does true +wisdom consist? Was I to ask some of you, perhaps you would say, in +indulging the lust of the flesh, and saying to your souls, eat, drink, +and be merry; but this is only the wisdom of brutes; they have as good +a gust and relish for sensual pleasures, as the greatest epicure on +earth. Others would tell me, true wisdom consisted in adding house to +house, and field to field, and calling lands after their own names; but +this cannot be true wisdom; for riches often take to themselves wings, +and fly away, like an eagle towards heaven. Even wisdom itself assures +us, “that a man’s life doth not consist in the abundance of the things +which he possesses;” vanity, vanity, all these things are vanity; +for, if riches leave not the owner, the owners must soon leave them; +“for rich men must also die, and leave their riches for others;” their +riches cannot procure them redemption from the grave, whither we are +all hastening apace. + +But perhaps you despise riches and pleasure, and therefore place wisdom +in the knowledge of books: but it is possible for you to tell the +numbers of the stars, and call them all by their names, and yet be +mere fools; learned men are not always wise; nay, our common learning, +so much cried up, makes men only so many accomplished fools; to keep +you therefore no longer in suspense, and withal to humble you, I will +send you to an heathen to school, to learn what true wisdom is: “Know +thyself,” was a saying of one of the wise men of _Greece_; this is +certainly true wisdom, and this is that wisdom spoken of in the text, +and which JESUS CHRIST is made to all elect sinners; they are made to +know themselves, so as not to think more highly of themselves than they +ought to think. Before they were darkness, now they are light in the +LORD; and in that light they see their own darkness; they now bewail +themselves as fallen creatures by nature, dead in trespasses and sins, +sons and heirs of hell, and children of wrath; they now see that all +their righteousnesses are but as filthy rags; that there is no health +in their souls; that they are poor and miserable, blind and naked; and +that there is no name given under heaven, whereby they can be saved, +but that of JESUS CHRIST. They see the necessity of closing with a +Saviour; and behold the wisdom of GOD in appointing him to be a Saviour; +they are also made willing to accept of salvation upon our LORD’s own +terms, and to receive him as their all in all: thus CHRIST is made to +them wisdom. + +2. _Secondly_, _Righteousness_. “Who of GOD is made unto us, wisdom, +righteousness;” CHRIST’s whole personal righteousness is made over to, +and accounted theirs. Being enabled to lay hold on CHRIST by faith, GOD +the Father blots out their transgressions, as with a thick cloud; their +sins, and their iniquities he remembers no more; they are made the +righteousness of GOD in CHRIST JESUS, “who is the end of the law for +righteousness to every one that believeth.” In one sense, GOD now sees +no sin in them; the whole covenant of works is fulfilled in them; they +are actually justified, acquitted, and looked upon as righteous in +the sight of GOD; they are perfectly accepted in the beloved; they are +compleat in him; the flaming sword of GOD’s wrath, which before moved +every way, is now removed, and free access given to the tree of life; +they are enabled to reach out the arm of faith, and pluck, and live for +evermore. Hence it is that the apostle, under a sense of this blessed +privilege, breaks out into this triumphant language; “It is CHRIST +that justifies, who is he that condemns?” Does sin condemn? CHRIST’s +righteousness delivers believers from the guilt of it: CHRIST is their +Saviour, and is become a propitiation for their sins: who therefore +shall lay any thing to the charge of GOD’s elect? Does the law condemn? +By having CHRIST’s righteousness imputed to them, they are dead to the +law, as a covenant of works; CHRIST has fulfilled it for them, and in +their stead. Does death threaten them? they need not fear: the sting of +death is sin, the strength of sin is the law; but GOD has given them +the victory, by imputing to them the righteousness of the LORD JESUS. + +And what a privilege is here! Well might the angels at the birth of +CHRIST, say to the humble shepherds, “Behold, I bring you glad tidings +of great joy;” unto you that believe in CHRIST, “a Saviour is born.” +And well may angels rejoice at the conversion of poor sinners: for the +LORD is their righteousness; they have peace with GOD, through faith in +CHRIST’s blood, and shall never enter into condemnation. O believers! +(for this discourse is intended in a special manner for you) lift +up your heads; “Rejoice in the LORD always; again I say, rejoice.” +CHRIST is made to you of GOD righteousness, what then should you fear? +you are made the righteousness of GOD in him; you may be called, “The +LORD our righteousness.” Of what then should you be afraid? what shall +separate you henceforward, from the love of CHRIST? “shall tribulation, +or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or +sword? No, I am persuaded, neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor +principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor +height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate +you from the love of GOD, which is in CHRIST JESUS our LORD,” who of +GOD is made unto you righteousness. + +This is a glorious privilege, but this is only the beginning of the +happiness of believers: For + +3. _Thirdly_, CHRIST is not only made to them righteousness, but +_sanctification_; by sanctification, I do not mean a bare hypocritical +attendance on outward ordinances, though rightly-informed christians +will think it their duty and privilege constantly to attend on all +outward ordinances. Nor do I mean by sanctification, a bare outward +reformation, and a few transient convictions, or a little legal sorrow; +for all this an unsanctified man may have; but, by sanctification, +I mean a total renovation of the whole man; by the righteousness of +CHRIST, believers become legally, by sanctification they are made +spiritually, alive; by one they are entitled to, by the other they are +made meet for, glory. They are sanctified, therefore, throughout, in +spirit, soul and body. + +Their understandings, which were before dark, now become light in +the LORD; and their wills, before contrary to, now become one with, +the will of GOD: their affections are now set on things above; their +memory is now filled with divine things; their natural consciences +are now enlightened; their members, which were before instruments of +uncleanness, and of iniquity unto iniquity, are now instruments of +righteousness and true holiness; in short, they are new creatures; “old +things are passed away, all things are become new,” in their hearts; +sin has now no longer dominion over them; they are freed from the power, +though not the indwelling and being, of it; they are holy both in heart +and life, in all manner of conversation; they are made partakers of +a divine nature; and from JESUS CHRIST, they receive grace for grace; +and every grace that is in CHRIST, is copied and transcribed into their +souls; they are transformed into his likeness; he is formed within +them; they dwell in him, and he in them; they are led by the Spirit, +and bring forth the fruits thereof; they know that CHRIST is their +_Emmanuel_, GOD with and in them; they are living temples of the Holy +Ghost. And therefore, being a holy habitation unto the LORD, the whole +trinity dwells and walks in them; even here, they sit together with +CHRIST in heavenly places, and are vitally united to him, their head, +by a living faith; their Redeemer, their Maker, is their husband; they +are flesh of his flesh, bone of his bone; they talk, they walk with him, +as a man talketh and walketh with his friend; in short, they are one +with CHRIST, even as JESUS CHRIST and the Father are one. + +Thus is CHRIST made to believers sanctification. And O what a privilege +is this! to be changed from beasts into saints, and from a devilish, to +be made partakers of a divine nature; to be translated from the kingdom +of Satan, into the kingdom of GOD’s dear Son! to put off the old man, +which is corrupt, and to put on the new man, which is created after +GOD, in righteousness and true holiness. O what an unspeakable blessing +is this! I almost stand amazed at the contemplation thereof. Well +might the apostle exhort believers to rejoice in the LORD; indeed they +have reason always to rejoice, yea, to rejoice on a dying bed; for the +kingdom of GOD is in them; they are changed from glory to glory, even +by the Spirit of the LORD: well may this be a mystery to the natural, +for it is a mystery even to the spiritual man himself, a mystery which +he cannot fathom. Does it not often dazzle your eyes, O ye children of +GOD, to look at your own brightness, when the candle of the LORD shines +out, and your Redeemer lifts up the light of his blessed countenance +upon your souls? Are not you astonished, when you feel the love of GOD +shed abroad in your hearts, by the Holy Ghost, and GOD holds out the +golden sceptre of his mercy, and bids you ask what you will, and it +shall be given you? Does not that peace of GOD, which keeps and rules +your hearts, surpass the utmost limits of your understandings? and +is not the joy you feel unspeakable? is it not full of glory? I am +persuaded it is; and in your secret communion, when the LORD’s love +flows in upon your souls, you are as it were swallowed up in, or, to +use the apostle’s phrase, “filled with all the fulness of GOD.” Are not +you ready to cry out with _Solomon_, “And will the LORD, indeed, dwell +thus with men!” How is it that we should be thus thy sons and daughters, +O LORD GOD Almighty! + +If you are children of GOD, and know what it is to have fellowship with +the Father and the Son; if you walk by faith, and not by sight; I am +assured this is frequently the language of your hearts. + +But look forward, and see an unbounded prospect of eternal happiness +lying before thee, O believer! what thou hast already received, are +only the first-fruits, like the cluster of grapes brought out of the +land of _Canaan_; only an earnest and pledge of yet infinitely better +things to come: the harvest is to follow; thy grace is hereafter to be +swallowed up in glory. Thy great _Joshua_, and merciful high Priest, +shall administer an abundant entrance to thee into the land of promise, +that rest which awaits the children of GOD: For CHRIST is not only +made to believers, wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification, but also +_redemption_. + +But, before we enter upon the explanation and contemplation of this +privilege, + +_First_, Learn hence the great mistake of those writers, and clergy, +who, notwithstanding they talk of sanctification and inward holiness +(as indeed sometimes they do, though in a very loose and superficial +manner) yet they generally make it the _cause_, whereas they should +consider it as the _effect_, of our justification. “Of him are ye in +CHRIST JESUS, who of GOD is made unto us, wisdom, righteousness, (and +then) sanctification.” For CHRIST’s righteousness, or that which CHRIST +has done in our stead without us, is the sole cause of our acceptance +in the sight of GOD, and of all holiness wrought in us: to this, and +not to the light within, or any thing wrought within, should poor +sinners seek for justification in the sight of GOD: for the sake of +CHRIST’s righteousness alone, and not any thing wrought in us, does GOD +look favourably upon us; our sanctification at best, in this life, is +not compleat: though we are delivered from the power, we are not freed +from the in-being of sin; but not only the dominion, but the in-being +of sin, is forbidden by the perfect law of GOD: for it is not said, +thou shalt not give way to lust, but, “thou shalt not lust.” So that +whilst the principle of lust remains in the least degree in our hearts, +though we are otherwise never so holy, yet we cannot, on account of +that, hope for acceptance with GOD. We must first, therefore, look for +a righteousness without us, even the righteousness of our LORD JESUS +CHRIST: for this reason the apostle mentions it, and puts it before +sanctification in the words of the text. And whosoever teacheth any +other doctrine, doth not preach the truth as it is in JESUS. + +_Secondly_, From hence also, the Antinomians and formal hypocrites +may be confuted, who talk of CHRIST without, but know nothing, +experimentally, of a work of sanctification wrought within them. +Whatever they may pretend to, since CHRIST is not in them, the LORD is +not their righteousness, and they have no well-grounded hope of glory: +for though sanctification is not the cause, yet it is the effect of +our acceptance with GOD; “Who of GOD is made unto us righteousness +and sanctification.” He therefore, that is really in CHRIST, is a new +creature; it is not going back to a covenant of works, to look into +our hearts, and, seeing that they are changed and renewed, from thence +form a comfortable and well-grounded assurance of the safety of our +states: no, but this is what we are directed to in scripture; by our +bringing forth the fruits, we are to judge whether or no we ever did +truly partake of the Spirit of GOD. “We know, (says _John_) that we +are passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.” And +however we may talk of CHRIST’s righteousness, and exclaim against +legal preachers; yet, if we are not holy in heart and life, if we +are not sanctified and renewed by the Spirit in our minds, we are +self-deceivers, we are only formal hypocrites: for we must not put +asunder what GOD has joined together; we must keep the medium between +the two extremes; not insist so much on the one hand upon CHRIST +without, as to exclude CHRIST within, as an evidence of our being his, +and as a preparation for future happiness; nor, on the other hand, +so depend on inherent righteousness or holiness wrought in us, as to +exclude the righteousness of JESUS CHRIST without us. But + +4. _Fourthly_, Let us now go on, and take a view of the other link, +or rather the end, of the believer’s golden chain of privileges, +_redemption_. But we must look very high; for the top of it, like +_Jacob_’s ladder, reaches heaven, where all believers will ascend, and +be placed at the right-hand of GOD. “Who of GOD is made unto us, wisdom, +righteousness, sanctification, and _redemption_.” + +This is a golden chain indeed! and, what is best of all, not one link +can ever be broken asunder from another. Was there no other text in the +book of GOD, this single one sufficiently proves the final perseverance +of true believers: for never did GOD yet justify a man, whom he did +not sanctify; nor sanctify one, whom he did not compleatly redeem +and glorify; no; as for GOD, his way, his work, is perfect; he always +carried on and finished the work he begun; thus it was in the first, +so it is in the new creation; when GOD says, “Let there be light,” +there is light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day, when +believers enter into their eternal rest, as GOD entered into his. Those +whom GOD has justified, he has in effect glorified: for as a man’s +worthiness was not the cause of GOD’s giving him CHRIST’s righteousness, +so neither shall his unworthiness be a cause of his taking it away; +GOD’s gifts and callings are without repentance; and I cannot think, +they are clear in the notion of CHRIST’s righteousness, who deny the +final perseverance of the saints; I fear, they understand justification +in that low sense, which I understood it in a few years ago, as +implying no more than remission of sins: but it not only signifies +remission of sins past, but also a _fœderal right_ to all good things +to come. If GOD has given us his only Son, how shall he not with him +freely give us all things? Therefore, the apostle, after he says, “Who +of GOD is made unto us righteousness,” does not say, perhaps he may be +made to us sanctification and redemption; but, “he is made:” for there +is an eternal, indissoluble connection between these blessed privileges. +As the obedience of CHRIST is imputed to believers, so his perseverance +in that obedience is to be imputed to them also: and it argues great +ignorance of the covenant of grace and redemption, to object against it. + +By the word _redemption_, we are to understand, not only a compleat +deliverance from all evil, but also a full enjoyment of all good both +in body and soul: I say, both in body and soul; for the LORD is also +for the body; the bodies of the saints in this life are temples of +the Holy Ghost; GOD makes a covenant with the dust of believers; after +death, though worms destroy them, yet, even in their flesh shall they +see GOD. I fear, indeed, there are some _Sadducees_ in our days, or +at least heretics, who say, either, that there is no resurrection of +the body, or that the resurrection is past already, namely, in our +regeneration: Hence it is, that our LORD’s coming in the flesh, at the +day of judgment, is denied; and consequently, we must throw aside the +sacrament of the LORD’s supper. For why should we remember the LORD’s +death until he comes to judgment, when he is already come to judge +our hearts, and will not come a second time? but all this is only +the reasoning of unlearned, unstable men, who certainly know not what +they say, nor whereof they affirm. That we must follow our LORD in the +regeneration, be partakers of a new birth, and that CHRIST must come +into our hearts, we freely confess; and we hope, when speaking of these +things, we speak no more than what we know and feel: but then it is +plain, that JESUS CHRIST will come, hereafter, to judgment, and that +he ascended into heaven with the body which he had here on earth; for +says he, after his resurrection, “Handle me, and see; a spirit has not +flesh and bones, as you see me have.” And it is plain, that CHRIST’s +resurrection was an earnest of ours: for says the apostle, “CHRIST is +risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that sleep;” +and as in _Adam_ all die, and are subject to mortality; so all that +are in CHRIST, the second _Adam_, who represented believers as their +fœderal head, shall certainly be made alive, or rise again with their +bodies at the last day. + +Here then, O believers! is one, though the lowest, degree of that +redemption which you are to be partakers of hereafter; I mean, +the redemption of your bodies: for this corruptible must put on +incorruption, this mortal must put on immortality. Your bodies, as +well as souls, were given to JESUS CHRIST by the Father; they have been +companions in watching, and fasting, and praying: your bodies therefore, +as well as souls, shall JESUS CHRIST raise up at the last day. Fear +not, therefore, O believers, to look into the grave; for to you it is +no other than a consecrated dormitory, where your bodies shall sleep +quietly until the morning of the resurrection; when the voice of the +archangel shall sound, and the trump of GOD give the general alarm, +“Arise ye dead, and come to judgment;” earth, air, fire, water, shall +give up your scattered atoms, and both in body and soul shall you be +ever with the LORD. I doubt not, but many of you are groaning under +crazy bodies, and complain often that the mortal body weighs down +the immortal soul; at least this is my case; but let us have a little +patience, and we shall be delivered from our earthly prisons; ere long, +these tabernacles of clay shall be dissolved, and we shall be clothed +with our house which is from heaven; hereafter, our bodies shall be +spiritualized, and shall be so far from hindering our souls through +weakness, that they shall become strong; so strong, as to bear up +under an exceeding and eternal weight of glory; others again may have +deformed bodies, emaciated also with sickness, and worn out with labour +and age; but wait a little, until your blessed change by death comes; +then your bodies shall be renewed and made glorious, like unto CHRIST’s +glorious body: of which we may form some faint idea, from the account +given us of our LORD’s transfiguration on the mount, when it is said, +“His raiment became bright and glistering, and his face brighter +than the sun.” Well then may a believer break out in the apostle’s +triumphant language, “O death, where is thy sting! O grave, where is +thy victory!” + +But what is the redemption of the body, in comparison of the redemption +of the better part, our souls? I must, therefore, say to you believers, +as the angel said to _John_, “Come up higher,” and let us take as +clear a view as we can, at such a distance, of the redemption CHRIST +has purchased for, and will shortly put you in actual possession of. +Already you are justified, already you are sanctified, and thereby +freed from the guilt and dominion of sin: but, as I have observed, the +being and indwelling of sin yet remains in you; GOD sees it proper to +leave some _Amalekites_ in the land, to keep his _Israel_ in action. +The most perfect christian, I am persuaded, must agree, according to +one of our articles, “That the corruption of nature remains even in the +regenerate; that the flesh lusteth always against the spirit, and the +spirit against the flesh.” So that believers cannot do things for GOD +with that perfection they desire; this grieves their righteous souls +day by day, and, with the holy apostle, makes them cry out, “Who shall +deliver us from the body of this death!” I thank GOD, our LORD JESUS +CHRIST will, but not compleatly before the day of our dissolution; then +will the very being of sin be destroyed, and an eternal stop put to +inbred, indwelling corruption. And is not this a great redemption? I +am sure believers esteem it so: for there is nothing grieves the heart +of a child of GOD so much, as the remains of indwelling sin. Again, +believers are often in heaviness through manifold temptations; GOD sees +that it is needful and good for them so to be; and though they may be +highly favoured, and wrapt up in communion with GOD, even to the third +heavens; yet a messenger of Satan is often sent to buffet them, lest +they should be puffed up with the abundance of revelations. But be not +weary, be not faint in your minds: the time of your compleat redemption +draweth nigh. In heaven the wicked one shall cease from troubling you, +and your weary souls shall enjoy an everlasting rest; his fiery darts +cannot reach those blissful regions: Satan will never come any more +to appear with, disturb, or accuse the sons of GOD, when once the LORD +JESUS CHRIST shuts the door. Your righteous souls are now grieved, day +by day, at the ungodly conversation of the wicked; tares now grow up +among the wheat; wolves come in sheeps clothing: but the redemption +spoken of in the text, will free your souls from all anxiety on these +accounts; hereafter you shall enjoy a perfect communion of saints; +nothing that is unholy or unsanctified shall enter into the Holy +of holies, which is prepared for you above: this, and all manner of +evil whatsoever, you shall be delivered from, when your redemption is +hereafter made compleat in heaven; not only so, but you shall enter +into the full enjoyment of all good. It is true, all saints will not +have the same degree of happiness, but all will be as happy as their +hearts can desire. Believers, you shall judge the evil, and familiarly +converse with good, angels: you shall sit down with _Abraham_, _Isaac_, +_Jacob_, and all the spirits of just men made perfect; and, to sum up +all your happiness in one word, you shall see GOD the Father, Son, and +Holy Ghost; and, by seeing GOD, be more and more like unto him, and +pass from glory to glory, even to all eternity. + +But I must stop: the glories of the upper world croud in so fast upon +my soul, that I am lost in the contemplation of them. Brethren, the +redemption spoken of is unutterable; we cannot here find it out; eye +hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the hearts of the +most holy men living, to conceive how great it is. Was I to entertain +you whole ages with an account of it, when you come to heaven, you must +say, with the Queen of _Sheba_, “Not half, no, not one thousandth part +was told us.” All we can do here, is to go upon mount _Pisgah_, and +by the eye of faith, take a distant view of the promised land: We may +see it, as _Abraham_ did CHRIST, afar off, and rejoice in it; but here +we only know in part. Blessed be GOD, there is a time coming, when we +shall know GOD, even as we are known, and GOD be all in all. LORD JESUS, +accomplish the number of thine elect! LORD JESUS, hasten thy kingdom! + +And now, where are the scoffers of these last days, who count the +lives of christians to be madness, and their end to be without honour? +Unhappy men! you know not what you do. Were your eyes open, and had +you senses to discern spiritual things, you would not speak all manner +of evil against the children of GOD, but you would esteem them as the +excellent ones of the earth, and envy their happiness: your souls would +hunger and thirst after it: you also would become fools for CHRIST’s +sake. You boast of wisdom; so did the philosophers of _Corinth_: but +your wisdom is the foolishness of folly in the sight of GOD. What will +your wisdom avail you, if it does not make you wise unto salvation? Can +you, with all your wisdom, propose a more consistent scheme to build +your hopes of salvation on, than what has been now laid before you? +Can you, with all the strength of natural reason, find out a better +way of acceptance with GOD, than by the righteousness of the LORD JESUS +CHRIST? Is it right to think your own works can in any measure deserve +or procure it? If not, Why will you not believe in him? Why will you +not submit to his righteousness? Can you deny that you are fallen +creatures? Do not you find that you are full of disorders, and that +these disorders make you unhappy? Do not you find that you cannot +change your own hearts? Have you not resolved many and many a time, +and have not your corruptions yet dominion over you? Are you not +bond-slaves to your lusts, and led captive by the devil at his will? +Why then will you not come to CHRIST for sanctification? Do you not +desire to die the death of the righteous, and that your future state +may be like theirs? I am persuaded you cannot bear the thoughts of +being annihilated, much less of being miserable for ever. Whatever +you may pretend, if you speak truth, you must confess, that conscience +breaks in upon you in your more sober intervals whether you will or +not, and even constrains you to believe, that hell is no painted fire. +And why then will you not come to CHRIST? He alone can procure you +everlasting redemption. Haste, haste away to him, poor beguiled sinners. +You lack wisdom; ask it of CHRIST. Who knows but he may give it you? +He is able: for he is the wisdom of the Father; he is that wisdom which +was from everlasting. You have no righteousness; away, therefore, to +CHRIST: “He is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that +believeth.” You are unholy; flee to the LORD JESUS: He is full of grace +and truth; and of his fulness all may receive that believe in him. You +are afraid to die; let this drive you to CHRIST: He has the keys of +death and hell; in him is plenteous redemption; he alone can open the +door which leads to everlasting life. Let not, therefore, the deceived +reasoner boast any longer of his pretended reason. Whatever you may +think, it is the most unreasonable thing in the world, not to believe +on JESUS CHRIST, whom GOD hath sent. Why, why will you die? why will +you not come unto him, that you may have life? “Ho! every one that +thirsteth, come unto the waters of life and drink freely: come, buy +without money and without price.” Were these blessed privileges in +the text to be purchased with money, you might say, We are poor, and +cannot buy: or, were they to be conferred only on sinners of such a +rank or degree, then you might say, How can such sinners as we expect +to be so highly favoured? But they are to be freely given of GOD to +the worst of sinners. “To us,” says the Apostle; to me a persecutor, +to you _Corinthians_, who were “unclean, drunkards, covetous persons, +idolaters.” Therefore, each poor sinner may say then, Why not unto me? +Has CHRIST but one blessing? What if he has blessed millions already, +by turning them away from their iniquities; yet, he still continues the +same: he lives for ever to make intercession, and therefore will bless +you, even you also. Though, _Esau_ like, you have been prophane, and +hitherto despised your heavenly Father’s birth-right; even now, if you +believe, “CHRIST will be made to you of GOD, wisdom, righteousness, +sanctification, and redemption.” + +But I must turn again to believers, for whose instruction, as I +observed before, this discourse was particularly intended. You see, +brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, what great blessings +are treasured up for you in JESUS CHRIST your head, and what you are +entitled to by believing on his name. Take heed, therefore, that ye +walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. Think often how +highly you are favoured; and remember, you have not chosen CHRIST, +but CHRIST hath chosen you. Put on (as the elect of GOD) humbleness of +mind, and glory, but let it be only in the LORD: for you have nothing +but what you have received of GOD. By nature ye were as foolish, as +legal, as unholy, and in as damnable a condition as others. Be pitiful, +therefore, be courteous; and, as sanctification is a progressive work, +beware of thinking you have already attained. Let him that is holy, be +holy still; knowing, that he who is most pure in heart, shall hereafter +enjoy the clearest vision of GOD. Let indwelling sin be your daily +burden; and not only bewail and lament, but see that you subdue it +daily by the power of divine grace; and look up to JESUS continually to +be the finisher, as well as author of your faith. Build not on your own +faithfulness, but on GOD’s unchangeablness. Take heed of thinking you +stand by the power of your own freewill. The everlasting love of GOD +the Father, must be your only hope and consolation: let this support +you under all trials. Remember that GOD’s gifts and callings are +without repentance; that CHRIST having once loved you, will love you +to the end. Let this constrain you to obedience, and make you long and +look for that blessed time, when he shall not only be your wisdom, and +righteousness, and sanctification, but also compleat and everlasting +redemption. + + Glory be to GOD in the highest! + + + + + SERMON XLV. + + The Knowledge of JESUS CHRIST the best Knowledge. + + + 1 CORINTHIANS ii. 2. + + _I determined not to know any thing among you, save JESUS CHRIST, + and him crucified._ + +THE persons to whom these words were written, were the members of the +church of _Corinth_; who, as appears by the foregoing chapter, were not +only divided into different sects, by one saying, “I am of _Paul_, and +another, I am of _Apollos_;” but also had many amongst them, who were +so full of the wisdom of this world, and so wise in their own eyes, +that they set at nought the simplicity of the gospel, and accounted the +Apostle’s preaching foolishness. + +Never had the Apostle more need of the wisdom of the serpent, mingled +with the innocency of the dove, than now. What is the sum of all his +wisdom? he tells them, in the words of the text, “I determined not to +know any thing amongst you, save JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified.” + +A resolution this, worthy of the great St. _Paul_; and no less worthy, +no less necessary for every minister, and every disciple of CHRIST, to +make always, even unto the end of the world. + +In the following discourse, I shall, + + _First_, Explain what is meant by “not knowing any thing, save + JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified.” + + _Secondly_, Give some reasons why every christian should + determine not to know any thing else. And + + _Thirdly_, Conclude with a general exhortation to put this + determination into practice. + +_First_, I am to explain what is meant by “not knowing any thing, save +JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified.” + +By JESUS CHRIST, we are to understand the eternal Son of GOD. He is +called JESUS, a Saviour, because he was to save us from the guilt +and power of our sins; and, like _Joshua_, by whom he was remarkably +typified, to lead GOD’s spiritual _Israel_ through the wilderness of +this world, to the heavenly _Canaan_, the promised inheritance of the +children of GOD. + +He is called _Christ_, which signifies anointed, because he was +anointed by the Holy Ghost at his baptism, to be a prophet to instruct, +a priest to make an atonement for, and a king to govern and protect +his church. And he was crucified, or hung (O stupendous love!) till he +was dead upon the cross, that he might become a curse for us: for it is +written, “Cursed is every man that hangeth upon a tree.” + +The foundation or first cause of his suffering, was our fall in _Adam_; +in whom, as the living oracles of GOD declare, “We all died;” his sin +was imputed to us all. It pleased GOD, after he had spoken the world +into being, to create man after his own divine image, to breathe into +him the breath of life, and to place him as our representative in the +garden of _Eden_. + +But he being left to his own free will, did eat of the forbidden fruit, +notwithstanding GOD had told him, “The day in which he eat thereof, he +should surely die;” and thereby he, with his whole posterity, in whose +name he acted, became liable to the wrath of GOD, and sunk into a +spiritual death. + +But behold the goodness, as well as the severity of GOD! For no sooner +had man been convicted as a sinner, but lo! a Saviour is revealed to +him, under the character of the _seed of the woman_: the merits of +whose sacrifice were then immediately to take place, and who should, +in the fulness of time, by suffering death, satisfy for the guilt we +had contracted; by obeying the whole moral law, work out for us an +everlasting righteousness; and by becoming a principle of new life in +us, destroy the power of the devil, and thereby restore us to a better +state than that in which we were at first created. + +This is the plain scriptural account of that mystery of godliness, GOD +manifested in the flesh; and to this our own hearts, unless blinded by +the god of this world, cannot but yield an immediate assent. + +For, let us but search our own hearts, and ask ourselves, if we could +create our own children, whether or not we would not create them with +a less mixture of good and evil, than we find in ourselves? Supposing +GOD then only to have our goodness, he could not, at first, make us +so sinful, so polluted as we are. But supposing him to be as he is, +infinitely good, or goodness itself, then it is absolutely impossible +that he should create any thing but what is like himself, perfect, +entire, lacking nothing. Man then could not come out of the hands of +his Maker, so miserably blind and naked, with such a mixture of the +beast and devil, as he finds now in himself, but must have fallen from +what he was; and as it does not suit with the goodness and justness of +GOD, to punish the whole race of mankind with these disorders merely +for nothing; and since men bring these disorders into the world with +them; it follows, that as they could not sin themselves, being yet +unborn, some other man’s sin must have been imputed to them; from +whence, as from a fountain, all these evils flow. + +I know this doctrine of our _original sin_, or fall in _Adam_, is +esteemed foolishness by the wise disputer of this world, who will +reply, How does it suit the goodness of GOD, to impute one man’s sin to +an innocent posterity? But has it not been proved to a demonstration, +that it is so? And therefore, supposing we cannot reconcile it to our +shallow comprehensions, that is no argument at all: for if it appears +that GOD has done a thing, we may be sure it is right, whether we can +see the reasons for it or not. + +But this is entirely cleared up by what was said before, that no sooner +was the sin imputed, but a CHRIST was revealed; and this CHRIST, this +GOD incarnate, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, that he might be +freed from the guilt of our original sin; who was born of the Virgin +_Mary_, that he might be the seed of the woman only; who suffered under +_Pontius Pilate_, a _Gentile_ governor, to fulfil these prophecies, +which signified what death he should die: This same JESUS, who was +crucified in weakness, but raised in power, is that divine person, that +_Emmanuel_, that GOD with us, whom we preach, in whom ye believe, and +whom alone the Apostle, in the text, was determined to know. + +By which word _know_, we are not to understand a bare historical +knowledge; for to know that CHRIST was crucified by his enemies at +_Jerusalem_, in this manner only, will do us no more service, than to +know that _Cæsar_ was butchered by his friends at _Rome_; but the word +_know_, means to know, so as to approve of him; as when CHRIST says, +“Verily, I know you not;” I know you not, so as to approve of you. It +signifies to know him, so as to embrace him in all his offices; to take +him to be our prophet, priest, and king; so as to give up ourselves +wholly to be instructed, saved, and governed by him. It implies an +experimental knowledge of his crucifixion, so as to feel the power +of it, and to be crucified unto the world, as the Apostle explains +himself in the epistle to the _Philippians_, where he says, “I count +all things but dung and dross, that I might know him, and the power of +his resurrection.” + +This knowledge the Apostle was so swallowed up in, that he was +determined not to know any thing else; he was resolved to make that +his only study, the governing principle of his life, the point and end +in which all his thoughts, words, and actions, should center. + +_Secondly_, I pass on to give some reasons why every christian should, +with the Apostle, determine “not to know any thing, save JESUS CHRIST, +and him crucified.” + +_First_, Without this, our persons will not be accepted in the sight of +GOD. “This (and consequently this only) is life eternal, to know thee, +the only true GOD, and JESUS CHRIST, whom thou hast sent.” As also St. +_Peter_ says, “There is now no other name given under heaven, whereby +we can be saved, but that of JESUS CHRIST.” + +Some, indeed, may please themselves in knowing the world, others boast +themselves in the knowledge of a multitude of languages; but could we +speak with the tongue of men and angels, or did we know the number of +the stars, and could call them all by their names, yet, without this +experimental knowledge of JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified, it would +profit us nothing. + +The former, indeed, may procure us a little honour, which cometh of man; +but the latter only can render us acceptable in the sight of GOD: for, +if we are ignorant of CHRIST, GOD will be to us a consuming fire. + +CHRIST is the way, the truth, and the life; “No one cometh to the +Father, but through him;” “He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of +the world;” and none ever were, or ever will be received up into glory, +but by an experimental application of his merits to their hearts. + +We might as well think to rebuild the tower of _Babel_, or reach heaven +with our hands, as to imagine we could enter therein by any other door, +than that of the knowledge of JESUS CHRIST. Other knowledge may make +you wise in your own eyes, and puff you up; but this alone edifieth, +and maketh wise unto salvation. + +As the meanest christian, if he knows but this, though he know nothing +else, will be accepted; so the greatest master in _Israel_, the most +letter-learned teacher, without this, will be rejected. His philosophy +is mere nonsense, his wisdom mere foolishness in the sight of GOD. + +The author of the words now before us, was a remarkable instance of +this; never, perhaps, was a greater scholar, in all what the world +calls fine learning, than he: for he was bred up at the feet of +_Gamaliel_, and profited in the knowledge of books, as well as in the +_Jewish_ religion, above many of his equals, as appears by the language, +rhetoric, and spirit of his writings; and yet, when he came to know +what it was to be a christian, “He accounted all things but loss, so +he might win CHRIST.” And, though he was now at _Corinth_, that seat of +polite learning, yet he was absolutely determined not to know any thing, +or to make nothing his study, but what taught him to know JESUS CHRIST, +and him crucified. + +Hence then, appears the folly of those who spend their whole lives in +heaping up other knowledge; and, instead of searching the scriptures, +which testify of JESUS CHRIST, and are alone able to make them wise +unto salvation, disquiet themselves in a pursuit after the knowledge of +such things, as when known, concern them no more, than to know that a +bird dropped a feather upon one of the _Pyrenean_ mountains. + +Hence it is, that so many, who profess themselves wise, because they +can dispute of the causes and effects, the moral fitness and unfitness +of things, appear mere fools in the things of GOD; so that when you +come to converse with them about the great work of redemption wrought +out for us by JESUS CHRIST, and of his being a propitiation for our +sins, a fulfiller of the covenant of works, and a principle of new life +to our souls, they are quite ignorant of the whole matter; and prove, +to a demonstration, that, with all their learning, they know nothing +yet, as they ought to know. + +But, alas! how must it surprize a man, when the Most High is about to +take away his soul, to think that he has passed for a wise man, and +a learned disputer in this world, and yet is left destitute of that +knowledge which alone can make him appear with boldness before the +judgment-seat of JESUS CHRIST? How must it grieve him, in a future +state, to see others, whom he despised as illiterate men, because +they experimentally knew CHRIST, and him crucified, exalted to the +right-hand of GOD; and himself, with all his fine accomplishments, +because he knew every thing, perhaps, but CHRIST, thrust down into +hell? + +Well might the Apostle, in a holy triumph, cry out, “Where is the wise? +Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world?” For, GOD +will then make foolish the wisdom of this world, and bring to nought +the wisdom of those who were so knowing in their own eyes. + +I have made this digression from the main point before us, not to +condemn or decry human literature, but to shew, that it ought to be +used only in subordination to divine; and that a christian, if the Holy +Spirit guided the pen of the Apostle, when he wrote this epistle, ought +to study no books, but such as lead him to a farther knowledge of JESUS +CHRIST, and him crucified. + +And there is the more reason for this, because of the great mischief +the contrary practice has done to the church of GOD: for, what was +it but this learning, or rather this ignorance, that kept so many of +the Scribes and Pharisees from the saving knowledge of JESUS CHRIST? +And what is it, but this human wisdom, this science, falsely so +called, that blinds the understanding, and corrupts the hearts of so +many modern unbelievers, and makes them unwilling to submit to the +righteousness which is of GOD by faith in CHRIST JESUS? But, + +_Secondly_, Without this knowledge our performances, as well as persons, +will not be acceptable in the sight of GOD. + +“Through faith,” says the Apostle, that is, through a lively faith in +a Mediator to come, “_Abel_ offered a more acceptable sacrifice than +_Cain_.” And it is through a like faith, or an experimental knowledge +of the same divine Mediator, that our sacrifices of prayer, praise, and +thanksgivings, come up as an incense before the throne of grace. + +Two persons may go up to the temple to pray; but he only will return +home justified, who, in the language of our collects, sincerely offers +up his prayers through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. + +For it is this great atonement, this all-sufficient sacrifice, which +alone can give us boldness to approach with our prayers to the Holy of +Holies: and he that presumes to go without this, acts _Korah_’s crime +over again; offers unto GOD strange fire, and, consequently, will be +rejected by him. + +Farther, as our devotions to GOD will not, so neither, without this +knowledge of JESUS CHRIST, will our acts of charity to men be accepted +by him. For did we give all our goods to feed the poor, and yet were +destitute of this knowledge, it would profit us nothing. + +This our blessed LORD himself intimates in the xxvth of _Matthew_, +where he tells those who had been rich in good works, “That inasmuch +as they did it unto one of the least of his brethren, they did it unto +him.” From whence we may plainly infer, that it is seeing CHRIST in +his members, and doing good to them out of an experimental knowledge of +his love to us, that alone will render our alms-deeds rewardable at the +last day. + +_Lastly_, As neither our acts of piety nor charity, so neither will our +civil nor moral actions be acceptable to GOD, without this experimental +knowledge of JESUS CHRIST. + +Our modern pretenders to reason, indeed, set up another principle to +act from; they talk, I know not what, Of doing moral and civil duties +of life, from the moral fitness and unfitness of things. But such +men are blind, however they may pretend to see; and going thus about +to establish their own righteousness, are utterly ignorant of the +righteousness which is of GOD by faith in CHRIST JESUS. + +For though we grant that morality is a substantial part of christianity, +and that CHRIST came not to destroy, or take off the moral law, as a +rule of action, but to explain, and so fulfil it; yet we affirm, that +our moral and civil actions are now no farther acceptable in the sight +of GOD the Father, than as they proceed from the principle of a new +nature, and an experimental knowledge of, or vital faith in his dear +Son. + +The death of JESUS CHRIST has turned our whole lives into one continued +sacrifice; and whether we eat or drink, whether we pray to GOD, or do +any thing to man, it must all be done out of a love for, and knowledge +of him who died and rose again, to render all, even our most ordinary +deeds, acceptable in the sight of GOD. + +If we live by this principle, if CHRIST be the Alpha and Omega of all +our actions, then our least are acceptable sacrifices; but if this +principle be wanting, our most pompous services avail nothing: we are +but spiritual idolaters; we sacrifice to our own net; we make an idol +of ourselves, by making ourselves, and not CHRIST, the end of our +actions: and, therefore, such actions are so far from being accepted +by GOD, that, according to the language of one of the Articles of our +Church, “We doubt not but they have the nature of sin, because they +spring not from an experimental faith in, and knowledge of JESUS +CHRIST.” + +Were we not fallen creatures, we might then act, perhaps, from other +principles; but since we are fallen from GOD in _Adam_, and are +restored again only by the obedience and death of JESUS CHRIST, the +face of things is entirely changed, and all we think, speak, or do, is +only accepted in and through him. + +Justly, therefore, may I, in the + +_Third_ and _Last_ place, Exhort you to put the Apostle’s resolution +in practice, and beseech you, with him, to determine, “Not to know any +thing, save JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified.” + +I say, _determine_; for unless you sit down first, and count the cost, +and from a well-grounded conviction of the excellency of this, above +all other knowledge whatsoever, resolve to make this your chief study, +your only end, your one thing needful, every frivolous temptation will +draw you aside from the pursuit after it. + +Your friends and carnal acquaintance, and, above all, your grand +adversary the devil, will be persuading you to determine not to +know any thing, but how to lay up goods for many years, and to get a +knowledge and taste of the pomps and vanities of this wicked world; +but do you determine not to follow, or be led by them; and the more +they persuade you to know other things, the more do you “determine not +to know any thing, save JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified.” For, this +knowledge never faileth; but whether they be riches, they shall fail; +whether they be pomps, they shall cease; whether they be vanities, they +shall fade away: but the knowledge of JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified, +abideth for ever. + +Whatever, therefore, you are ignorant of, be not ignorant of this. If +you know CHRIST, and him crucified, you know enough to make you happy, +supposing you know nothing else; and without this, all your other +knowledge cannot keep you from being everlastingly miserable. + +Value not then, the contempt of friends, which you must necessarily +meet with upon your open profession to act according to this +determination. For your Master, whose you are, was despised before +you; and all that will know nothing else but JESUS CHRIST, and him +crucified, must, in some degree or other, suffer persecution. + +It is necessary that offences should come, to try what is in our hearts, +and whether we will be faithful soldiers of JESUS CHRIST or not. + +Dare ye then to confess our blessed Master before men, and to shine +as lights in the world, amidst a crooked and perverse generation? +Let us not be content with following him afar off; for then we shall, +as _Peter_ did, soon deny him; but let us be altogether christians, +and let our speech, and all our actions declare to the world whose +disciples we are, and that we have indeed “determined not to know any +thing, save JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified.” Then, well will it be +with us, and happy, unspeakably happy shall we be, even here; and what +is infinitely better, when others that despised us, shall be calling +for the mountains to fall on them, and the hills to cover them, we +shall be exalted to sit down on the right-hand of GOD, and shine as the +sun in the firmament, in the kingdom of our most adorable Redeemer, for +ever and ever. + + Which GOD of his Infinite mercy grant, &c. + + + + + SERMON XLVI. + + Of Justification by CHRIST. + + + 1 CORINTHIANS vi. 11. + + _But ye are justified._ + + The whole verse is: _And such were some of you; but ye are + washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the + name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and by the Spirit of our GOD_. + +IT has been objected by some, who dissent from, nay, I may add, by +others also, who actually are friends to the present ecclesiastical +establishment, that the ministers of the Church of _England_ preach +themselves, and not CHRIST JESUS the LORD; that they entertain their +people with lectures of mere morality, without declaring to them the +glad tidings of salvation by JESUS CHRIST. How well grounded such an +objection may be, is not my business to enquire: All I shall say at +present to the point is, that whenever such a grand objection is urged +against the whole body of the clergy in general, every honest minister +of JESUS CHRIST should do his utmost to cut off all manner of occasion, +from those who desire an occasion to take offence at us; that so by +hearing us continually sounding forth the word of truth, and declaring +with all boldness and assurance of faith, “that there is no other +name given under heaven, whereby they can be saved, but that of JESUS +CHRIST,” they may be ashamed of this their same confident boasting +against us. + +It was an eye to this objection, joined with the agreeableness and +delightfulness of the subject (for who can but delight to talk of +that which the blessed angels desire to look into?) that induces me to +discourse a little on that great and fundamental article of our faith; +namely, our being freely justified by the precious blood of JESUS +CHRIST. “But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, +in the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and by the Spirit of our GOD.” + +The words beginning with the particle _but_, have plainly a reference +to something before; it may not therefore be improper, before I descend +to particulars, to consider the words as they stand in relation to the +context. The apostle, in the verses immediately foregoing, had been +reckoning up many notorious sins, drunkenness, adultery, fornication, +and such like, the commission of which, without a true and hearty +repentance, he tells the _Corinthians_, would entirely shut them out of +the kingdom of GOD. But then, lest they should, on the one hand, grow +spiritually proud by seeing themselves differ from their unconverted +brethren, and therefore be tempted to set them at nought, and say with +the self-conceited hypocrite in the prophet, “Come not nigh me, for +I am holier than thou;” or, on the other hand, by looking back on the +multitude of their past offences, should be apt to think their sins +were too many and grievous to be forgiven: he first, in order to keep +them humble, reminds them of their sad state before conversion, telling +them in plain terms, “such (or as it might be read, these things) were +some of you;” not only one, but all that sad catalogue of vices I have +been drawing up, some of you were once guilty of; but then, at the same +time, to preserve them from despair, behold he brings them glad tidings +of great joy: “But ye are washed; but ye are sanctified, but ye are +justified in the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and by the Spirit of +our GOD.” + +The former part of this text, our being _sanctified_, I have in some +measure treated of already; I would now enlarge on our being freely +justified by the precious obedience and death of JESUS CHRIST: “But ye +are justified in the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.” + +From which words I shall consider three things; + + _First_, What is meant by the word _justified_. + + _Secondly_, I shall endeavour to prove that all mankind in + general, and every individual person in particular, stands in + need of being justified. + + _Thirdly_, That there is no possibility of obtaining this + justification, which we so much want, but by the all-perfect + obedience, and precious death of JESUS CHRIST. + +_First_, I am to consider what is meant by the word justified. + +“But ye are justified,” says the apostle; which is, as though he had +said, you have your sins forgiven, and are looked upon by GOD as though +you never had offended him at all: for that is the meaning of the word +justified, in almost all the passages of holy scripture where this word +is mentioned. Thus, when this same apostle writes to the _Romans_, he +tells them, that “whom GOD called, those he also justified:” And that +this word justified, implies a blotting out of all our transgressions, +is manifest from what follows, “them he also glorified,” which could +not be if a justified person was not looked upon by GOD, as though +he never had offended him at all. And again, speaking of _Abraham_’s +faith, he tells them, that “_Abraham_ believed on Him that justifies +the ungodly,” who acquits and clears the ungodly man; for it is a +law-term, and alludes to a judge acquitting an accused criminal of the +thing laid to his charge. Which expression the apostle himself explains +by a quotation out of the _Psalms_: “Blessed is the man to whom the +LORD imputeth no sin.” From all which proofs, and many others that +might be urged, it is evident, that by being justified, we are to +understand, being so acquitted in the sight of GOD as to be looked upon +as though we never had offended him at all. And in this sense we are to +understand that article, which we profess to believe in our creed, when +each of us declare in his own person, I believe the forgiveness of sins. +This leads me to the + +_Second_ thing proposed, to prove that all mankind in general, and +every individual person in particular, stands in need of being +justified. + +And indeed the apostle supposes this in the words of the text: “But +ye are justified,” thereby implying that the _Corinthians_ (and +consequently all mankind, there being no difference, as will be shewn +hereafter) stood in need of being justified. + +But not to rest in bare suppositions, in my farther enlargement on this +head, I shall endeavour to prove, that we all stand in need of being +justified on account of the sin of our natures, and the sin of our +lives. + +1. _First_, I affirm that we all stand in need of being justified, +on account of the sin of our natures: for we are all chargeable +with original sin, or the sin of our first parents. Which, though a +proposition that may be denied by a self-justifying infidel, who “will +not come to CHRIST that he may have life;” yet can never be denied by +any one who believes that St. _Paul_’s epistles were written by divine +inspiration; where we are told, that “in _Adam_ all died;” that is, +_Adam_’s sin was imputed to all: and lest we should forget to make a +particular application, it is added in another place, “that there is +none that doeth good (that is, by nature) no, not one: That we are all +gone out of the way, (of original righteousness) and are by nature the +children of wrath.” And even _David_, who was a man after GOD’s own +heart, and, if any one could, might surely plead an exemption from this +universal corruption, yet he confesses, that “he was shapen in iniquity, +and that in sin did his mother conceive him.” And, to mention but +one text more, as immediately applicable to the present purpose, St. +_Paul_, in his epistle to the _Romans_, says, that “Death came upon all +men, for the disobedience of one, namely, of _Adam_, even upon those, +(that is, little children) who had not sinned after the similitude of +_Adam_’s transgression;” who had not been guilty of actual sin, and +therefore could not be punished with temporal death (which came into +the world, as this same apostle elsewhere informs us, only by sin) +had not the disobedience of our first parents been imputed to them. So +that what has been said in this point seems to be excellently summed +up in that article of our church, where she declares, that “Original +sin standeth not in the following of _Adam_, but it is the fault and +corruption of every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring +of _Adam_; whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, +and is of his own nature inclined to evil, so that the flesh lusteth +always contrary to the spirit; and therefore in every person born into +this world, it deserveth GOD’s wrath and damnation.” + +I have been more particular in treating of this point, because it +is the very foundation of the christian religion: For I am verily +persuaded, that it is nothing but a want of being well grounded in the +doctrine of original sin, and of the helpless, nay, I may say, damnable +condition, each of us comes into the world in, that makes so many +infidels oppose, and so many who call themselves christians, so very +lukewarm in their love and affections to JESUS CHRIST. It is this, +and I could almost say, this only, that makes infidelity abound among +us so much as it does. For, alas! we are mistaken if we imagine that +men now commence or continue infidels, and set up corrupted reason in +opposition to divine revelation merely for want of evidence, (for I +believe it might easily be proved, that a modern unbeliever is the +most credulous creature living;) no, it is only for want of an humble +mind, of a sense of their original depravity, and a willingness to own +themselves so depraved, that makes them so obstinately shut their eyes +against the light of the glorious gospel of CHRIST. Whereas, on the +contrary, were they but once pricked to the heart with a due and lively +sense of their natural corruption and liableness to condemnation, we +should have them no more scoffing at divine revelation, and looking on +it as an idle tale; but they would cry out with the trembling jaylor, +“What shall I do to be saved?” It was an error in this fundamental +point, that made so many resist the evidence the Son of GOD himself +gave of his divine mission, when he tabernacled amongst us. Every word +he spake, every action he did, every miracle he wrought, proved that +he came from GOD. And why then did so many harden their hearts, and +would not believe his report? Why, he himself informs us, “They will +not come unto me that they may have life:” They will obstinately stand +out against those means GOD had appointed for their salvation: And St. +_Paul_ tells us, “that if the gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are +lost; in whom the GOD of this world hath blinded the eyes of them which +believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of CHRIST, who is +the image of GOD, should shine upon them.” 2 _Corinthians_ iv. 3, 4. + +If it be asked, how it suits with the divine goodness, to impute the +guilt of one man’s sin, to an innocent posterity? I should think it +sufficient to make use of the apostle’s words: “Nay, but O man, who +art thou that repliest against GOD? Shall the thing formed say to him +that formed it, why hast thou made me thus?” But to come to a more +direct reply: Persons would do well to consider that in the first +covenant GOD made with man, _Adam_ acted as a public person, as the +common representative of all mankind, and consequently we must stand +or fall with him. Had he continued in his obedience, and not eaten the +forbidden fruit, the benefits of that obedience would doubtless have +been imputed to us: But since he did not persist in it, but broke the +covenant made with him, and us in him; who dares charge the righteous +Judge of all the earth with injustice for imputing that to us also? I +proceed, + + _Secondly_, To prove that we stand in need of being justified, + on account of the sin of our lives. + +That GOD, as he made man, has a right to demand his obedience, I +suppose is a truth no one will deny: that he hath also given us both +a natural and a written law, whereby we are to be judged, cannot be +questioned by any one who believes St. _Paul_’s epistle to the _Romans_ +to be of divine authority: For in it we are told of a law written +in the heart, and a law given by _Moses_; and that each of us hath +broken these laws, is too evident from our sad and frequent experience. +Accordingly the holy scriptures inform us that “there is no man which +liveth and sinneth not;” that “in many things we offend all;” that “if +we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves,” and such like. And if we +are thus offenders against GOD, it follows, that we stand in need of +forgiveness for thus offending Him; unless we suppose GOD to enact laws, +and at the same time not care whether they are obeyed or no; which is +as absurd as to suppose that a prince should establish laws for the +proper government of his country, and yet let every violator of them +come off with impunity. But GOD has not dealt so foolishly with his +creatures: no, as he gave us a law, he demands our obedience to that +law, and has obliged us universally and perseveringly to obey it, +under no less a penalty than incurring his curse and eternal death for +every breach of it: For thus speaks the scripture; “Cursed is he that +continueth not in all things that are written in the law to do them;” +as the scripture also speaketh in another place, “The soul that sinneth, +it shall die.” Now it has already been proved, that we have all of us +sinned; and therefore, unless some means can be found to satisfy GOD’s +justice, we must perish eternally. + +Let us then stand a while, and see in what a deplorable condition each +of us comes into the world, and still continues, till we are translated +into a state of grace. For surely nothing can well be supposed more +deplorable, than to be born under the curse of GOD; to be charged +with _original guilt_; and not only so, but to be convicted as actual +breakers of GOD’s law, the least breach of which justly deserves +eternal damnation. Surely this can be but a melancholy prospect to view +ourselves in, and must put us upon contriving some means whereby we may +satisfy and appease our offended judge. But what must those means be? +Shall we repent? Alas! there is not one word of repentance mentioned +in the first covenant: “The day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt +surely die.” So that, if GOD be true, unless there be some way found +out to satisfy divine justice, we must perish; and there is no room +left for us to expect a change of mind in GOD, though we should seek +it with tears. Well then, if repentance will not do, shall we plead +the law of works? Alas! “By the law shall no man living be justified: +for by the law comes the knowledge of Sin.” It is that which convicts +and condemns, and therefore can by no means justify us; and “all our +righteousnesses (says the prophet) are but as filthy rags.” Wherewith +then shall we come before the LORD, and bow down before the most high +GOD? Shall we come before Him with calves of a year old, with thousands +of rams, or ten thousands of rivers of oil? Alas! GOD has shewed thee, +O man, that this will not avail: For he hath declared, “I will take +no bullock out of thy house, nor he-goat out of thy fold: for all the +beasts of the forests are mine, and so are the cattle upon a thousand +hills.” Will the LORD then be pleased to accept our first-born for +our transgression, the fruit of our bodies for the sin of our souls? +Even this will not purchase our pardon: for he hath declared that “the +children shall not bear the iniquities of their parents.” Besides, they +are sinners, and therefore, being under the same condemnation, equally +stand in need of forgiveness with ourselves. They are impure, and will +the LORD accept the blind and lame for sacrifice? Shall some angel then, +or archangel, undertake to fulfill the covenant which we have broken, +and make atonement for us? Alas! they are only creatures, though +creatures of the highest order; and therefore are obliged to obey GOD +as well as we; and after they have done all, must say they have done +no more than what was their duty to do. And supposing it was possible +for them to die, yet how could the death of a finite creature satisfy +an infinitely offended justice? O wretched men that we are! Who shall +deliver us? I thank GOD, our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Which naturally leads +me to the + +_Third_ thing proposed, which was to endeavour to prove, that there is +no possibility of obtaining this justification, which we so much want, +but by the all-perfect obedience and precious death of JESUS CHRIST, +“But ye are justified in the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.” + +But this having been in some measure proved by what has been said under +the foregoing head, wherein I have shewn that neither our repentance, +righteousness, nor sacrifice, no not the obedience and death of angels +themselves, could possibly procure justification for us, nothing +remains for me to do under this head, but to shew that JESUS CHRIST has +procured it for us. + +And here I shall still have recourse “to the law and to the testimony.” +For after all the most subtle disputations on either side, nothing +but the lively oracles of GOD can give us any satisfaction in this +momentous point: it being such an inconceivable mystery, that the +eternal only-begotten Son of GOD should die for sinful man, that we +durst not have presumed so much as to have thought of it, had not GOD +revealed it in his holy word. It is true, reason may shew us the wound, +but revelation only can lead us to the means of our cure. And though +the method GOD has been pleased to take to make us happy, may be to +the infidel a stumbling-block, and to the wise opiniator and disputer +of this world, foolishness; yet wisdom, that is, the dispensation of +our redemption, will be justified, approved of, and submitted to, by +all her truly wise and holy children, by every sincere and upright +christian. + +But to come more directly to the point before us. Two things, as was +before observed, we wanted, in order to be at peace with GOD. + +1. To be freed from the guilt of the sin of our nature. + +2. From the sin of our lives. + +And both these (thanks be to GOD for this unspeakable gift) are secured +to believers by the obedience and death of JESUS CHRIST. For what says +the scripture? + +1. As to the _first_, it informs us, that “as by the disobedience +of one man, (or by one transgression, namely, that of _Adam_) many +were made sinners; so by the obedience of one, JESUS CHRIST (therein +including his passive as well as active obedience) many were made +righteous.” And again, “As by the disobedience of one man, judgment +came upon all men unto condemnation;” or all men were condemned on +having _Adam_’s sin imputed to them; “so by the obedience of one, that +is, JESUS CHRIST, the free gift of pardon and peace came upon all men, +(all sorts of men) unto justification of life.” I say all sorts of +men; for the apostle in this chapter is only drawing a parallel between +the first and second _Adam_ in this respect, that they acted both as +representatives; and as the posterity of _Adam_ had his sin imputed to +them, so those for whom CHRIST died, and whose representative he is, +shall have his merits imputed to them also. Whoever run the parallel +farther, in order to prove universal redemption (whatever arguments +they may draw for the proof of it from other passages of scripture,) +if they would draw one from this for that purpose, I think they stretch +their line of interpretation beyond the limits of scripture. + +2. Pardon for the sin of our lives was another thing, which we wanted +to have secured to us, before we could be at peace with GOD. + +And this the holy scriptures inform us, is abundantly done by the death +of JESUS CHRIST. The evangelical prophet foretold that the promised +Redeemer should be “wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our +iniquities; that the chastisement of our peace should be upon him; and +that by his stripes we should be healed,” _Isaiah_ liii. 6. The angels +at his birth said, that he should “save his people from their sins.” +And St. _Paul_ declares, that “this is a faithful saying, and worthy of +all acceptation, that JESUS CHRIST came into the world to save sinners.” +And here in the words of the text, “Such (or, as I observed before, +these things) were some of you; but ye are washed, &c.” and again, +“JESUS CHRIST is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that +believeth.” And, to shew us that none but JESUS CHRIST can do all this, +the apostle St. _Peter_ says, “Neither is their salvation in any other; +for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we +must be saved,” but the name of JESUS CHRIST. + +How GOD will be pleased to deal with the _Gentiles_, who yet sit +in darkness and under the shadow of death, and upon whom the sun of +righteousness never yet arose, is not for us to enquire. “What have we +to do to judge those that are without?” To GOD’s mercy let us recommend +them, and wait for a solution of this and every other difficult point, +till the great day of accounts, when all GOD’s dispensations, both of +providence and grace, will be fully cleared up by methods to us, as yet +unknown, because unrevealed. However, this we know, that the judge of +all the earth will, most assuredly, do right. + +But it is time for me to draw towards a conclusion. + +I have now, brethren, by the blessing of GOD, discoursed on the words +of the text in the method I proposed. Many useful inferences might be +drawn from what has been delivered; but as I have detained you, I fear, +too long already, permit me only to make a reflection or two on what +has been said, and I have done. + +If then we are freely justified by the death and obedience of JESUS +CHRIST, let us here pause a while; and as before we have reflected on +the misery of a fallen, let us now turn aside and see the happiness +of the believing, soul. But alas! how am I lost to think that GOD the +Father, when we were in a state of enmity and rebellion against Him, +should notwithstanding yearn in his bowels towards us his fallen, his +apostate creatures: And because nothing but an infinite ransom could +satisfy an infinitely offended justice, that should send his only +and dear Son JESUS CHRIST (who is GOD, blessed for ever, and who had +lain in his bosom from all eternity) to fulfil the covenant of works, +and die a cursed, painful, ignominious death, for us and for our +salvation! who can avoid crying out, at the consideration of this +mystery of godliness. “Oh the depth of the riches of GOD’s love” to us +his wretched, miserable and undone creatures! “How unsearchable is his +mercy, and his ways past finding out!” Now know we of a truth, O GOD, +that thou hast loved us, “since thou hast not with-held thy Son, thine +only Son JESUS CHRIST,” from thus doing and dying for us. + +But as we admire the Father sending, let us likewise humbly and +thankfully adore the Son coming, when sent to die for man. But O! what +thoughts can conceive, what words express the infinite greatness of +that unparalleled love, which engaged the Son of GOD to come down from +the mansions of his Father’s glory to obey and die for sinful man! The +_Jews_, when he only shed a tear at poor _Lazarus_’s funeral, said, +“Behold how he loved him.” How much more justly then may we cry out, +Behold how he loved us! When he not only fulfilled the whole moral law, +but did not spare to shed his own most precious blood for us. + +And can any poor truly-convicted sinner, after this, despair of +mercy? What, can they see their Saviour hanging on a tree, with arms +stretched out ready to embrace them, and yet, on their truly believing +on him, doubt of finding acceptance with him? No, away with all such +dishonourable, desponding thoughts. Look on his hands, bored with pins +of iron; look on his side, pierced with a cruel spear, to let loose +the sluices of his blood, and open a fountain for sin, and for all +uncleanness; and then despair of mercy if you can! No, only believe +in Him, and then, though you have crucified him afresh, yet will he +abundantly pardon you; “though your sins be as scarlet, yet shall they +be as wool; though deeper than crimson, yet shall they be whiter than +snow.” + + Which GOD of his infinite mercy grant, &c. + + + + + SERMON XLVII. + + The great Duty of Charity recommended. + + + 1 CORINTHIANS xiii. 8. + + _Charity never faileth._ + +NOTHING is more valuable and commendable, and yet, not one duty is +less practised, than that of charity. We often pretend concern and pity +for the misery and distress of our fellow-creatures, but yet we seldom +commiserate their condition so much as to relieve them according to +our abilities; but unless we assist them with what they may stand in +need of, for the body, as well as for the soul, all our wishes are no +more than words of no value or regard, and are not to be esteemed or +regarded: for when we hear of any deplorable circumstance, in which our +fellow-creatures are involved, be they friends or enemies; it is our +duty, as christians, to assist them to the utmost of our power. + +Indeed, we are not, my brethren, to hurt ourselves or our families; +this is not that charity which is so much recommended by St. _Paul_; +no, but if we are any ways capable of relieving them without injuring +either ourselves, or families, then it is our duty to do it; and this +never faileth, where it proceeds from a right end, and with a right +view. + +St. _Paul_ had been shewing, in the preceding chapter, that spiritual +gifts were divers; that GOD had disposed of one blessing to one, and +another to another; and though there was a diversity of blessings, GOD +did not bestow them to one person, but gave to one a blessing which he +denied to another, and gave a blessing, or a gift to the other which +might make him as eminent in one way, as the other’s gift made him so +in another: but though there are these divers spiritual gifts, they are +all given for some wise end, even to profit withal, and to that end +they are thus diversly bestowed. We are not, on the one hand, to hide +those gifts which GOD has given us: neither are we, on the other, to +be so lavish of them, as to spend them upon our lusts and pleasures, +to satisfy our sensual appetites, but they are to be used for the +glory of GOD, and the good of immortal souls. After he had particularly +illustrated this, he comes to shew, that all gifts, however great they +may be in themselves, are of no value unless we have charity, as you +may see particularly, by considering from the beginning of this chapter. + +But before I go any further, I shall inform you what the apostle +means by charity; and that is, LOVE; if there is true love, there will +be charity; there will be an endeavour to assist, help, and relieve +according to that ability wherewith GOD has blessed us: and, since this +is so much recommended by the apostle, let us see how valuable this +charity is, and how commendable in all those who pursue it. I shall, + + I. Consider this blessing as relating to the bodies of men. + + II. I shall shew how much more valuable it is, when relating to + the souls of men. + + III. Shall shew you when your charity is of the right kind. + + IV. Why this charity, or the grace of love, never faileth. + + V. Shall conclude all, with an exhortation to high and low, + rich and poor, one with another, to be found in the constant + practice of this valuable and commendable duty. + +_First_, I shall consider this duty, as relating to the bodies of men. +And, + +1. O that the _rich_ would consider how praise-worthy this duty is, in +helping their fellow-creatures! We were created to be a help to each +other; GOD has made no one so independent as not to need the assistance +of another; the richest and most powerful man upon the face of this +earth, needs the help and assistance of those who are around him; and +though he may be great to-day, a thousand accidents may make him as +low to-morrow; he that is rolling in plenty to-day, may be in as much +scarcity to-morrow. If our rich men would be more charitable to their +poor friends and neighbours, it would be a means of recommending them +to the favour of others, if Providence should frown upon them; but +alas, our great men had much rather spend their money in a playhouse, +at a ball, an assembly, or a masquerade, than relieve a poor distressed +servant of JESUS CHRIST. They had rather spend their estates on their +hawks and hounds, on their whores, and earthly, sensual, devilish +pleasures, than comfort, nourish, or relieve one of their distressed +fellow-creatures. What difference is there between the king on the +throne, and the beggar on the dunghill, when GOD demands their breaths? +There is no difference; my brethren, in the grave, nor will there be +any at the day of judgment. You will not be excused because you have +had a great estate, a fine house, and lived in all the pleasures that +earth could afford you; no, these things will be one means of your +condemnation; neither will you be judged according to the largeness of +your estate, but according to the use you have made of it. + +Now, you may think nothing but of your pleasures and delights, of +living in ease and plenty, and never consider how many thousands of +your fellow-creatures would rejoice at what you are making waste of, +and setting no account by. Let me beseech you, my rich brethren, to +consider the poor of the world, and how commendable and praise-worthy +it is to relieve those who are distressed. Consider, how pleasing this +is to GOD, how delightful it is to man, and how many prayers you will +have put up for your welfare, by those persons whom you relieve; and +let this be a consideration to spare a little out of the abundance +wherewith GOD has blessed you, or the relief of his poor. He could have +placed you in their low condition, and they in your high state; it is +only his good pleasure that has thus made the difference, and shall not +this make you remember your distressed fellow-creatures? + +Let me beseech you to consider, which will stand you best at the day +of judgment, so much money expended at a horse-race, at a cockpit, +at a play or masquerade, or so much given for the relief of your +fellow-creatures, and for the distressed members of JESUS CHRIST. + +I beseech you, that you would consider how valuable and commendable +this duty is: do not be angry at my thus exhorting you to that duty, +which is so much recommended by JESUS CHRIST himself, and by all his +apostles: I speak particularly to you, my rich brethren, to intreat +you to consider those that are poor in this world, and help them from +time to time, as their necessity calls for it. Consider, that there is +a curse denounced against the riches of those, who do not thus do good +with them; namely, “Go to now you rich men, weep and howl for your +miseries that shall come upon you; your riches are corrupted, your +garments are moth-eaten, your gold and silver is cankered, and the rust +of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh, as +it were fire; ye have heaped your treasure together for the last day.” +You see the dreadful woe pronounced against all those who hoard up the +abundance of the things of this life, without relieving the distresses +of those who are in want thereof: and the apostle _James_ goes on +also to speak against those who have acquired estates by fraud, as too +many have in these days. “Behold the hire of the labourers, which have +reaped down your fields, which is by you kept back by fraud, crieth; +and the cries of them who have reaped, are entered into the ears of +the LORD GOD of Sabbaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and +been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.” +Thus, if you go on to live after the lust of the flesh, to pamper +your bellies, and make them a God, while the poor all round you are +starving, GOD will make these things a witness against you, which shall +be as a worm to your souls, and gnaw your consciences to all eternity; +therefore, let me once more recommend charity unto the bodies of men, +and beseech you to remember what the blessed LORD JESUS CHRIST has +promised unto those who thus love his members, that “as they have done +it to the least of his members, they have done it unto him.” + +I am not now speaking for myself; I am not recommending my little flock +in _Georgia_ to you; then you might say, as many wantonly do, that I +wanted the money for myself; no, my brethren, I am now recommending +the poor of this land to you, your poor neighbours, poor friends, yea, +your poor enemies; they are whom I am now speaking for; and when I see +so many starving in the streets, and almost naked, my bowels are moved +with pity and concern, to consider, that many in whose power it is, to +lend their assisting hand, should shut up their bowels of compassion, +and will not relieve their fellow-creatures, though in the most +deplorable condition for the want thereof. + +As I have thus recommended charity particularly to the rich among you; +so now I would, + +2. _Secondly_, Recommend this to another set of people among us, who, +instead of being the most forward in acts of charity, are commonly the +most backward; I mean the _clergy_ of this land. + +Good GOD! how amazing is the consideration, that those, whom GOD has +called out to labour in spiritual things, should be so backward in this +duty, as fatal experience teacheth. Our clergy (that is the generality +thereof) are only seeking after preferment, running up and down, to +obtain one benefice after another; and to heap up an estate, either to +spend on the pleasures of life, or to gratify their sensual appetites, +while the poor of their flock are forgotten; nay, worse, they are +scorned, hated, and disdained. + +I am not now, my brethren, speaking of all the clergy; no, blessed be +GOD, there are some among them, who abhor such proceedings, and are +willing to relieve the necessitous; but GOD knows, these are but very +few, while many take no thought of the poor among them. + +They can visit the rich and the great, but the poor they cannot bear in +their sight; they are forgetful, wilfully forgetful of the poor members +of JESUS CHRIST. + +They have gone out of the old paths, and turned into a new polite way, +but which is not warranted in the word of GOD: they are sunk into a +fine way of acting; but as fine as it is, it was not the practice of +the apostles, or of the christians in any age of the church: for they +visited and relieved the poor among them; but how rare is this among +us, how seldom do we find charity in a clergyman? + +It is with grief I speak these things, but woful experience is a +witness to the truth thereof: and if all the clergy of this land were +here, I would tell them boldly, that they did not keep in the ways of +charity, but were remiss in their duty; instead of “selling all and +giving to the poor,” they will not sell any thing, nor give at all to +the poor. + +3. _Thirdly_, I would exhort you who are poor, to be charitable to one +another. + +Though you may not have money, or the things of this life, to bestow +upon one another; yet you may assist them, by comforting, and advising +them not to be discouraged though they are low in the world; or in +sickness you may help them according as you have time or ability: do +not be unkind to one another: do not grieve, or vex, or be angry with +each other; for this is giving the world an advantage over you. + +And if GOD stirs up any to relieve you, do not make an ill use of what +his providence, by the hands of some christian, hath bestowed upon +you: be always humble and wait on GOD; do not murmur or repine, if you +see any relieved and you are not; still wait on the LORD, and help one +another, according to your abilities, from time to time. + +Having shewed you how valuable this is to the bodies of men, I now +proceed, + +_Secondly_, To shew you how much more valuable this charity is, when it +extends to the souls of men. + +And is not the soul more valuable than the body? It would be of no +advantage, but an infinite disadvantage, to obtain all the world, if we +were to lose our souls. The soul is of infinite value, and of infinite +concern, and, therefore, we should extend our charity whenever we see +it needful, and likewise should reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all +godliness and love. + +We should, my dear brethren, use all means and opportunities for +the salvation of our own souls, and of the souls of others. We +may have a great deal of charity and concern for the bodies of our +fellow-creatures, when we have no thought, or concern, for their +immortal souls: But O how sad is it, to have thought for a mortal, +but not for the immortal part; to have charity for the body of our +fellow-creatures, while we have no concern for their immortal souls; +it may be, we help them to ruin them, but have no concern in the saving +of them. + +You may love to spend a merry evening, to go to a play, or a +horse-race, with them; but on the other hand, you cannot bear the +thoughts of going to a sermon, or a religious society, with them; no, +you would sing the songs of the drunkard, but you will not sing hymns, +with them; this is not polite enough, this is unbecoming a gentleman of +taste, unfashionable, and only practised among a parcel of enthusiasts +and madmen. + +Thus, you will be so uncharitable as to join hand in hand with those +who are hastening to their own damnation, while you will not be so +charitable as to assist them in being brought from darkness to light, +and from the power of Satan unto GOD. But this, this, my dear brethren, +is the greatest charity, as can be, to save a soul from death: this is +of far greater advantage, than relieving the body of a fellow-creature: +for the most miserable object as could be, death would deliver it +from all. But death, to those who are not born again, would be so far +from being a release from all misery, that it would be an inlet to all +torment, and that to all eternity. Therefore, we should assist, as much +as possible, to keep a soul from falling into the hands of Satan: for +he is the grand enemy of souls. How should this excite you to watch +over your own and others souls? for unless you are earnest with GOD, +Satan will be too hard for you. Surely, it is the greatest charity to +watch over one another’s words and actions, that we may forewarn each +other when danger is nigh, or when the enemy of souls approaches. + +And if you have once known the value of your own souls, and know what +it is to be snatched as brands out of the burning fire, you will be +solicitous that others may be brought out of the same state. It is not +the leading of a moral life, being honest, and paying every man his +just due; this is not a proof of your being in a state of grace, or of +being born again, and renewed in the spirit of your minds: No, you may +die honest, just, charitable, and yet not be in a state of salvation. + +It is not the preaching of that morality, which most of our pulpits now +bring forth, that is sufficient to bring you from sin unto GOD. I saw +you willing to learn, and yet were ignorant of the necessity of being +born again, regenerated, of having all old things done away, and all +things becoming new in your souls: I could not bear, my brethren, to +see you in the highway to destruction, and none to bring you back. It +was love to your souls, it was a desire to see CHRIST formed in you, +which brought me into the fields, the highways, and hedges, to preach +unto you JESUS, a crucified JESUS as dying for you. It was charity, +indeed it was charity to your souls, which has exposed me to the +present ill treatment of my letter-learned brethren. + +Therefore, let me advise you to be charitable to the souls of one +another; that is, by advising them with all love and tenderness, to +follow after CHRIST, and the things which belong to their immortal +peace, before they be for ever hid from their eyes. + +I now proceed, in the + +_Third_ place, to shew when your charity is of the right kind. + +And here, my brethren, I shall shew, _First_, When it is not; and, +_Secondly_, When it is of the right kind. + +1. _First_, Your charity is not of the right kind, when it proceeds +from worldly views or ends. + +If it is to be seen of men, to receive any advantage from them, to +be esteemed, or to gain a reputation in the world; or if you have any +pride in it, and expect to reap benefit from GOD merely for it; if +all, or each of these is the end of your charity, then it is all in +vain; your charity does not proceed from a right end, but you are +hereby deceiving your own souls. If you give an alms purely to be +observed by man, or as expecting favour from GOD, merely on the account +thereof, then you have not the glory of GOD, or the benefit of your +fellow-creatures at heart, but merely yourself: this, this is not +charity. Nor, + +_Secondly_, Is that true charity, when we give any thing to our +fellow-creatures purely to indulge them in vice: this is so far from +being charity, that it is a sin, both against GOD, and against our +fellow-creatures. And yet, this is as common, as it is sinful, to carry +our friends, under a specious pretence of charity, to one or the other +entertainment, with no other view, but to make them guilty of excess. +Hereby you are guilty of a double sin: we are not to sin ourselves, +much less should we endeavour to make another sin likewise. But, + +_Thirdly_, Our charity comes from a right end, when it proceeds from +love to GOD, and for the welfare both of the body and soul of our +fellow-creatures. + +When this is the sole end of relieving our distressed fellow-creatures, +then our charity comes from a right end, and we may expect to reap +advantage by it: this is the charity which is pleasing to GOD. GOD is +well pleased, when all our actions proceed from love, love to himself, +and love to immortal souls. + +Consider, my dear brethren, that it was love for souls, that brought +the blessed JESUS down from the bosom of his Father; that made him, +who was equal in power and glory, to come and take upon him our nature; +that caused the LORD of life to die the painful, ignominious, and +accursed death of the cross. It was love to immortal souls, that +brought this blessed JESUS among us. And O that we might hence consider +how great the value of souls was and is: it was that which made JESUS +to bleed, pant, and die. And surely souls must be of infinite worth, +which made the Lamb of GOD to die so shameful a death. + +And shall not this make you have a true value for souls? It is of the +greatest worth: and this, this is the greatest charity, when it comes +from love to GOD, and from love to souls. This will be a charity, the +satisfaction of which will last to all eternity. O that this may make +you have so much regard for the value of souls, as not to neglect +all opportunities for the doing of them good: here is something worth +having charity for, because they remain to all eternity. Therefore, let +me earnestly beseech you both to consider the worth of immortal souls, +and let your charity extend to them, that by your advice and admonition, +you may be an instrument, in the hands of GOD, in bringing souls to the +LORD JESUS. + +I am in the next place to consider, + +_Fourthly_, Why this charity, or grace of love never faileth. + +And it never faileth in respect of its proceeding from an unchangeable +GOD. We are not to understand, that our charity is always the same: No, +there may, and frequently are, ebbs and flowings; but still it never +totally faileth: No, the grace of love remaineth for ever. There is, +and will be, a charity to all who have erred and run astray from GOD. +We cannot be easy to see souls in the highway to destruction, and not +use our utmost endeavour to bring them back from sin, and shew them the +dreadful consequence of running into evil. Christians cannot bear to +see those souls for whom CHRIST died, perish for want of knowledge: and +if they see any of the bodies of their fellow-creatures in want, they +will do the utmost in their power to relieve them. + +Charity will never fail, among those who have a true love to the +LORD JESUS, and know the value of souls: they will be charitable to +those who are in distress. And thus you see, that true charity, if it +proceeds from a right end, never faileth. + +I now proceed, my brethren, in the + +_Last_ place, to exhort all of you, high and low, rich and poor, one +with another, to practice this valuable and commendable duty of charity. + +It is not rolling in your coaches, taking your pleasure, and +not considering the miseries of your fellow-creatures, that is +commendable or praise-worthy; but the relieving your distressed poor +fellow-creatures, is valuable and praise-worthy wherever it is found. +But alas! how very few of our gay and polite gentlemen consider their +poor friends; rather they despise, and do not regard them. They can +indulge themselves in the follies of life, and had much rather spend +their estates in lusts and pleasures, while the poor all round them +are not thought worthy to be set with the dogs of their flock. If you +have an abundance of the things of this world, then you are esteemed +as companions for the polite and gay in life; but if you are poor, then +you must not expect to find any favour, but be hated, or not thought +fit for company or conversation: and if you have an abundance of the +things of this life, and do not want any assistance, then you have +many ready to help you. My dear brethren, I do not doubt but your +own experience is a proof of my assertions; as also, that if any come +into distress, then those, who promised to give relief, quite forget +what they promise, and will despise, because Providence has frowned. +But this is not acting like those who are bound for the heavenly +_Jerusalem_; thus our hearts and our actions give our lips the lie: for +if we profess the name of CHRIST, and do not depart from all iniquity, +we are not those, who are worthy of being esteemed christians indeed. + +For, if we have not charity, we are not christians: charity is the +great duty of christians: and where is our christianity, if we want +charity? Therefore, let me beseech you to exercise charity to your +distressed fellow-creatures. Indeed, my dear brethren, this is truly +commendable, truly valuable; and therefore, I beseech you, in the +bowels of tender mercy to CHRIST, to consider his poor distressed +members; exercise, exercise, I beseech you, this charity: if you have +no compassion, you are not true disciples of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. +I humbly beg you to consider those who want relief, and are really +destitute, and relieve them according to your abilities. Consider, +that the more favourable Providence has been to you, it should make +you the more earnest and solicitous to relieve those whom you may find +in distress: it is of the utmost consequence, what is well pleasing to +your fellow-creatures, and doing your duty to GOD. + +When you are called from hence, then all riches and grandeur will be +over; the grave will make no distinction; great estates will be of +no signification in the other world; and if you have made a bad use +of the talent which GOD hath put into your hands, it will be only an +aggravation of your condemnation at the great day of account, when GOD +shall come to demand your souls, and to call you to an account, for the +use to which you have put the abundance of the things of this life. + +To conclude, let me once more beseech each of you to act according to +the circumstances of life, which GOD, in his rich and free mercy, has +given you. + +If you were sensible of the great consequences which would attend your +acting in this charitable manner, and considered it as a proof of your +love to GOD, the loving his members; you could not be uncharitable +in your tempers, nor fail to relieve any of your distressed fellow +creatures. + +Consider how easy it is for many of you, by putting your mites together, +to help one who is in distress; and how can you tell, but that the +little you give, may be the means of bringing one from distress into +flourishing circumstances; and then, if there is a true spirit of a +christian in them, they can never be sufficiently thankful to GOD the +author, and to you as the instrument, in being so great a friend to +them in their melancholy circumstances: consider also, once more, how +much better your account will be at the day of judgment, and what peace +of conscience you will enjoy. How satisfactory must be the thought of +having relieved the widow and the fatherless? This is recommended by +the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and has been practised in all ages of the church: +and therefore, my brethren, be ye now found in the practice of this +duty. + +I have been the larger upon this, because our enemies say we deny +all moral actions; but, blessed be GOD, they speak against us without +cause: we highly value them; but we say, that faith in CHRIST, +the love of GOD, and being born again, are of infinite more worth; +but you cannot be true christians without having charity to your +fellow-creatures, be they friends or enemies, if in distress. And, +therefore, exert yourselves in this duty, as is commanded by the +blessed JESUS: and if you have true charity, you shall live and reign +with him for ever. + + Now to GOD the Father, GOD the Son, and GOD the Holy Ghost, be + all honour, power, glory, might, majesty, and dominion, both + now and for evermore. _Amen._ + + + + + SERMON XLVIII. + + Satan’s Devices. + + + 2 CORINTHIANS ii. 11. + + _Lest Satan should get an advantage over us; for we are not + ignorant of his devices._ + +THE occasion of these words was as follows: In the church of _Corinth_ +there was an unhappy person, who had committed such incest, as was not +so much as named among the _Gentiles_, in taking his father’s wife; but +either on account of his wealth, power, or some such reasons, like many +notorious offenders now-adays, he had not been exposed to the censures +of the church. St. _Paul_, therefore, in his first epistle, severely +chides them for this neglect of discipline, and commands them, “in the +name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, when they were gathered together, to +deliver such a one, whoever he was, to Satan, for the destruction of +the flesh, that his Spirit might be saved in the day of the LORD;” that +is, they should solemnly excommunicate him; which was then commonly +attended with some bodily disease. The _Corinthians_, being obedient +to the Apostle, as dear children, no sooner received this reproof, but +they submitted to it, and cast the offending party out of the church. +But whilst they were endeavouring to amend one fault, they unhappily +ran into another; and as they formerly had been too mild and remiss, +so now they behaved towards him with too much severity and resentment. +The Apostle, therefore, in this chapter, reproves this, and tells them, +that “sufficient to the offender’s shame, was the punishment which had +been inflicted of many:” that he had now suffered enough; and that, +therefore, lest he should be tempted to say with _Cain_, “My punishment +is greater than I can bear;” or to use the Apostle’s own words, “Lest +he should be swallowed up with over-much sorrow;” they ought, now he +had given proof of his repentance, to forgive him, to confirm their +love towards him, and so restore him in the spirit of meekness; “Lest +Satan, (to whose buffetings he was now given, by tempting him to +despair) should get an advantage over us:” and so, by representing you +as merciless and cruel, cause that holy name to be blasphemed, by which +you are called; “for we are not ignorant of his devices:” we know very +well how many subtle ways he has to draw aside and beguile unguarded +unthinking men. + +Thus then, stand the words in relation to the context; but as Satan +has many devices, and as his quiver is full of other poisonous darts, +besides those which he shoots at us to drive us to despair, I shall, in +the following discourse, + + _First_, Briefly observe who we are to understand by Satan. And, + + _Secondly_, Point out to you, what are the chief devices he + generally makes use of, to draw off converts from CHRIST, and + also prescribe some remedies against them. + +_First_, Who are we to understand by Satan? + +The word _Satan_, in its original signification, means an adversary; +and in its general acceptation, is made use of, to point out to us +the chief of the devils, who, for striving to be as GOD, was cast down +from heaven, and is now permitted, “with the rest of his spiritual +wickednesses in high places, to walk up and down, seeking whom he may +devour.” We hear of him immediately after the creation, when in the +shape of a serpent, he lay in wait to deceive our first parents. He +is called Satan, in the book of _Job_, where we are told, that “when +the sons of GOD came to present themselves before the LORD, Satan +also came amongst them.” As the scripture also speaketh in the book of +_Chronicles_; “and Satan moved _David_ to number the people.” In the +New Testament he goes under different denominations; sometimes he is +called the _evil One_, because he is evil in himself, and tempts us to +evil. Sometimes, “the Prince of the power of the air;” and, “the Spirit +that now ruleth in the children of disobedience;” because he resides +chiefly in the air, and through the whole world: and all that are not +born of GOD, are said to lie in him. + +He is an enemy to GOD and goodness; he is a hater of all truth: Why +else did he slander GOD in paradise? Why did he tell _Eve_, “You shall +not surely die?” And why did he promise to give all the kingdoms of the +world, and the glories of them, to JESUS CHRIST, if he would fall down +and worship him? + +He is full of malice, envy, and revenge; for what other motives could +induce him to molest innocent man in paradise? And why is he still so +restless in his attempts to destroy us, who have done him no wrong? + +He is a being of great _power_, as appears in his being able to act on +the imagination of our blessed LORD, so as to represent to him all the +kingdoms of the world, and the glories of them, in a moment of time. As +also in carrying his sacred body through the air up to a pinacle of the +temple; and his driving a herd of swine so furiously into the deep. Nay, +so great is his might, that, I doubt not, was GOD to let him use his +full strength, but he could turn the earth upside down, or pull the sun +from its orb. + +But what he is most remarkable for is, his _subtlety_: for not having +power given him from above, to take us by force, he is obliged to wait +for opportunities to betray us, and to catch us by guile. He, therefore, +made use of the serpent, which was subtle above all the beasts of the +field, in order to tempt our first parents; and accordingly he is said, +in the New Testament, “To lie in wait to deceive;” and, in the words +of the text, the Apostle says, “We are not ignorant of his devices;” +thereby implying, that we are more in danger of being seduced by his +policy, than over-borne by his power. + +From this short description of Satan, we may easily judge whose +children they are, who love to make a lie, who speak evil of, and +slander their neighbour, and whose hearts are full of pride, subtlety, +malice, envy, revenge, and all uncharitableness. Surely they have Satan +for their father: for the tempers of Satan they know, and the works of +Satan they do. But were they to see either themselves, or Satan as he +is, they could not but be terrified at their own likeness, and abhor +themselves in dust and ashes. + +But, the justice of GOD in suffering us to be tempted, is vindicated +from the following considerations: That we are here in a state of +disorder; That he has promised not to suffer us to be tempted above +what we are able to bear; and not only so, but to him that overcometh +he will give a crown of life. + +The holy angels themselves, it should seem, were once put to a trial +whether they would be faithful or not. The first _Adam_ was tempted, +even in paradise. And JESUS CHRIST, that second _Adam_, though he was +a son, yet was carried, as our representative, by the Holy Spirit, into +the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. And there is not one single +saint in paradise, amongst the goodly fellowship of the prophets, the +glorious company of the apostles, the noble army of martyrs, and the +spirits of just men made perfect, who, when on earth, was not assaulted +by the fiery darts of that wicked one, the devil. + +What then has been the common lot of all GOD’s children, and of the +angels, nay, of the eternal Son of GOD himself, we must not think to +be exempted from: No, it is sufficient if we are made perfect through +temptations, as they were. And, therefore, since we cannot but be +tempted, unless we could unmake human nature, instead of repining at +our condition, we should rather be enquiring, at what time of our lives +Satan most violently assaults us? And what those devices are, which he +commonly makes use of, in order to “get an advantage over us?” + +As to the first question, what time of life? I answer, we must expect +to be tempted by him, in some degree or other, all our lives long.――For +this life being a continual warfare, we must never expect to have rest +from our spiritual adversary the devil, or to say, our combat with him +is finished, ’till, with our blessed master, we bow down our heads, and +give up the ghost. + +But since the time of our conversion, or first entring upon the +spiritual life, is the most critical time at which he, for the most +part, violently besets us, as well knowing, if he can prevent our +setting out, he can lead us captive at his will; and since the wise son +of _Sirach_ particularly warns us, when we are going to serve the LORD, +to prepare our souls for temptation, I shall, in answer to the other +question, pass on to the + +_Second_ general thing proposed; and point out those devices, which +Satan generally makes use of at our first conversion, in order to get +an advantage over us. + +But let me observe to you, that whatsoever shall be delivered in the +following discourse is only designed for such as have actually entered +upon the divine life; and not for carnal almost Christians, who have +the form of godliness, but never yet felt the power of it in their +hearts. This being premised, The + +_First_ device I shall mention, which Satan makes use of, is, _to drive +us to despair_. + +When GOD the Father awakens a sinner by the terrors of the law, and by +his Holy Spirit convinceth him of sin, in order to lead him to CHRIST, +and shew him the necessity of a Redeemer; then Satan generally strikes +in, and aggravates those convictions to such a degree, as to make the +sinner doubt of finding mercy thro’ the Mediator. + +Thus, in all his temptations of the Holy JESUS, he chiefly aimed to +make him question, whether he was the Son of GOD? “If thou be the +Son of GOD,” do so and so. With many such desponding thoughts, no +doubt, he filled the heart of the great St. _Paul_, when he continued +three days, neither eating bread nor drinking water; and therefore he +speaks by experience, when he says, in the words of the text, “We are +not ignorant of his devices,” that he would endeavour to drive the +incestuous person to despair. + +But let not any of you be influenced by him, to despair of finding +mercy. For it is not the greatness or number of our crimes, but +impenitence and unbelief, that will prove our ruin: No, were our sins +more in number than the hairs of our head, or of a deeper die than +the brightest scarlet; yet the merits of the death of JESUS CHRIST are +infinitely greater, and faith in his blood shall make them white as +snow. + +Answer always, therefore, his despairing suggestions, as your Blessed +LORD did, with an “It is written.” Tell him, you know that your +Redeemer liveth, ever to make intercession for you; that the LORD hath +received from him double for all your crimes: And tho’ you have sinned +much, that is no reason why you should despair, but only why you should +love much, having so much forgiven. A + +_Second_ device that Satan generally makes use of, to get an advantage +over young converts, is, to tempt them to _presume_, or to think more +highly of themselves than they ought to think. + +When a person has for some little time tasted the good word of life, +and felt the powers of the world to come, he is commonly (as indeed +well he may) most highly transported with that sudden change he finds +in himself. But then, Satan will not be wanting, at such a time, to +puff him up with a high conceit of his own attainments, as if he was +some great person; and will tempt him to set at nought his brethren, +as though he was holier than they. + +Take heed therefore, and let us beware of this device of our spiritual +adversary; for as before honour is humility, so a haughty spirit +generally goes before a fall; and GOD is obliged, when under such +circumstances, to send us some humbling visitation, or permit us to +fall, as he did _Peter_, into some grievous sin, that we may learn not +to be too high minded. + +To check therefore all suggestions to spiritual pride, let us consider, +that we did not apprehend CHRIST, but were apprehended of him. That we +have nothing but what we have received. That the free grace of GOD has +alone made the difference between us and others; and, was GOD to leave +us to the deceitfulness of our own hearts but one moment, we should +become weak and wicked, like other men. We should farther consider, +that being proud of grace, is the most ready way to lose it. “For GOD +resisteth the proud, and giveth more grace only to the humble.” And +were we endowed with the perfections of the seraphim; yet if we were +proud of those perfections, they would but render us more accomplished +devils. Above all, we should pray earnestly to Almighty GOD, that +we may learn of JESUS CHRIST, to be lowly in heart. That his grace, +through the subtlety and deceivableness of Satan, may not be our +poison. But that we may always think soberly of ourselves, as we ought +to think. A + +_Third_ device I shall mention, which Satan generally makes use of, “to +get an advantage over us,” is to tempt us to _uneasiness_, and to have +_hard thoughts of_ GOD, when we are dead and barren in prayer. + +Though this is a term not understood by the natural man, yet, whosoever +there are amongst you, who have passed through the pangs of the _new +birth_, they know full well what I mean, when I talk of deadness and +dryness in prayer. And, I doubt not, but many of you, amongst whom I am +now preaching the kingdom of GOD, are at this very time labouring under +it. + +For, when persons are first awakened to the divine life, because grace +is weak and nature strong, GOD is often pleased to vouchsafe them some +extraordinary illuminations of his Holy Spirit; but when they are grown +to be more perfect men in CHRIST, then he frequently seems to leave +them to themselves; and not only so, but permits a horrible deadness +and dread to overwhelm them; at which times Satan will not be wanting +to vex and tempt them to impatience, to the great discomfort of their +souls. + +But be not afraid; for this is no more than your blessed Redeemer, +that Spotless Lamb of GOD, has undergone before you: witness his bitter +agony in the garden, when his soul was exceeding sorrowful, even unto +death. When he sweat great drops of blood, falling on the ground; +when the sense of the Divinity was drawn from him; and Satan, in all +probability, was permitted to set all his terrors in array before him. + +Rejoice, therefore, my brethren, when you fall into the like +circumstances; as knowing, that you are therein partakers of the +sufferings of JESUS CHRIST. Consider, that it is necessary such inward +trials should come, to wean us from the immoderate love of sensible +devotion, and teach us to follow CHRIST, not merely for his loaves, +but out of a principle of love and obedience. In patience, therefore, +possess your souls, and be not terrified by Satan’s suggestions. Still +persevere in seeking JESUS in the use of means, though it be sorrowing; +and though through barrenness of soul, you may go mourning all the day +long. Consider that the spouse is with you, though behind the curtain; +as he was with _Mary_, at the sepulchre, though she knew it not. That +he has withdrawn but for a little while, to make his next visit more +welcome. That though he may now seem to frown and look back on you, +as he did on the _Syrophenician_ woman; yet if you, like her, or blind +_Bartimeus_, cry out so much the more earnestly, “JESUS, thou Son +of _David_, have mercy on us;” he will be made known unto you again, +either in the temple, by breaking of bread, or some other way. + +But amongst all the devices that Satan makes use of, “to get an +advantage over us,” there is none in which he is more successful, or +by which he grieves the children of GOD worse, than a + +_Fourth_ device I am going to mention, his troubling you with +_blasphemous, profane, unbelieving thoughts_; and sometimes to such +a degree, that they are as tormenting as the rack. + +Some indeed are apt to impute all such evil thoughts to a disorder of +body. But those who know any thing of the spiritual life, can inform +you, with greater certainty, that for the generality, they proceed from +that wicked one, the devil; who, no doubt, has power given him from +above, as well now as formerly, to disorder the body, as he did _Job_’s, +that he may, with the more secrecy and success, work upon, ruffle and +torment the soul. + +You that have felt his fiery darts, can subscribe to the truth of this, +and by fatal experience can tell, how often he has bid you, “curse +GOD and die,” and darted into your thoughts a thousand blasphemous +suggestions, even in your most secret and solemn retirements; the bare +looking back on which makes your very hearts to tremble, + +I appeal to your own ♦consciences; Have not some of you, when you have +been lifting up holy hands in prayer, been pestered with such a crowd +of the most horrid insinuations, that you have been often tempted to +rise off from your knees, and been made to believe your prayers were +an abomination to the LORD? Nay, when, with the rest of your christian +brethren, you have crouded round the holy table, and taken the sacred +symbols of CHRIST’s most blessed body and blood into your hands, +instead of remembring the death of your Saviour, have you not been +employed in driving out evil thoughts, as _Abraham_ was in driving away +the birds, that came to devour his sacrifice; and thereby have been +terrified, lest you have eat and drank your own damnation? + + ♦ “consciencies” replaced with “consciences” + +But marvel not, as though some strange thing happened unto you; for +this has been the common lot of all GOD’s children. We read, even in +_Job_’s time, “That when the sons of GOD came to appear before their +Maker, (at public worship) Satan also came amongst them,” to disturb +their devotions. + +And think not that GOD is angry with you for these distracting, though +ever so blasphemous thoughts: No, he knows it is not you, but Satan +working in you; and therefore, notwithstanding he may be displeased +with, and certainly will punish him; yet he will both pity and reward +you. And though it be difficult to make persons in your circumstances +to believe so; yet I doubt not but you are more acceptable to GOD, +when performing your holy duties in the midst of such involuntary +distractions, than when you are wrapped up by devotion, as it were, +into the third heavens; for you are then suffering, as well as doing +the will of GOD at the same time; and, like _Nehemiah_’s servants +at the building of the temple, are holding a trowel in one hand, and +a sword in the other. Be not driven from the use of any ordinance +whatever, on account of those abominable suggestions; for then you let +Satan get his desired advantage over you; it being his chief design, +by these thoughts, to make you fall out with the means of grace; and to +tempt you to believe, you do not please GOD, for no other reason, than +because you do not please yourselves. Rather persevere in the use of +the holy communion especially, and all other means whatever; and when +these temptations have wrought that resignation in you, for which they +were permitted, GOD will visit you with fresh tokens of his love, as he +met _Abraham_, when he returned from the slaughter of the five kings; +and will send an angel from heaven, as he did to his Son, on purpose to +strengthen you. + +Hitherto we have only observed such devices as Satan makes use of +immediately by himself; but there is a + +_Fifth_ I shall mention, which is not the least, tempting us by our +_carnal friends_ and _relations_. + +This is one of the most common, as well as most artful devices he makes +use of, to draw young converts from GOD; for when he cannot prevail +over them by himself, he will try what he can do by the influence and +mediation of others. + +Thus he tempted _Eve_, that she might tempt _Adam_. Thus he stirred up +_Job_’s wife, to bid him “Curse GOD and die.” And thus he made use of +_Peter_’s tongue, to persuade our blessed LORD “to spare himself,” and +thereby decline those sufferings, by which alone we could be preserved +from suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. And thus, in these last +days, he often stirs up our most powerful friends and dearest intimates, +to dissuade us from going in that narrow way, which alone leadeth unto +life eternal. + +But our blessed LORD has furnished us with a sufficient answer to all +such suggestions. “Get you behind me, my adversaries;” for otherwise +they will be an offence unto you; and the only reason why they give +such advice is, because they “savour not the things that be of GOD, but +the things that be of men.” + +Whoever, therefore, among you are resolved to serve the LORD, prepare +your souls for many such temptations as these; for it is necessary that +such offences should come, to try your sincerity, to teach us to cease +from man, and to see if we will forsake all to follow CHRIST. + +Indeed our modernisers of christianity would persuade us, that the +gospel was calculated only for about two hundred years; and that now +there is no need of hating father and mother, or of being persecuted +for the sake of CHRIST and his gospel. + +But such persons err, not knowing the scriptures, and the power of +godliness in their hearts; for whosoever receives the love of GOD +in the truth of it, will find, that CHRIST came to send not peace, +but a sword upon earth, as much now as ever. That the father-in-law +shall be against the daughter-in-law, in these latter, as well as in +the primitive times; and that if we will live godly in CHRIST JESUS, +we must, as then, so now, from carnal friends and relations, suffer +persecution. But the devil hath a + +_Sixth_ device, which is as dangerous as any of the former, by _not +tempting us at all_, or rather, by _withdrawing himself for a while_, +in order to come upon us at an hour when we think not of it. + +Thus it is said, that he left JESUS CHRIST only for a season; and our +blessed LORD has bid us to watch and pray always, that we enter not +into temptation; thereby implying, that Satan, whether we think of it +or not, is always seeking how he may devour us. + +If we would therefore behave like good soldiers of JESUS CHRIST, +we must be always upon our guard, and never pretend to lay down +our spiritual weapons of prayer and watching, till our warfare is +accomplished by death; for if we do, our spiritual Amalek will quickly +prevail against us. What if he has left us? it is only for a season; +yet a little while, and, like a roaring lion, with double fury, he will +break out upon us again. So great a coward as the devil is, he seldom +leaves us at the first onset. As he followed our blessed LORD with one +temptation after another, so will he treat his servants. And the reason +why he does not renew his attacks, is sometimes, because GOD knows +we are yet weak and unable to bear them, sometimes, because our grand +adversary thinks to beset us at a more convenient season. + +Watch carefully therefore over thy heart, O christian; and whenever +thou perceivest thyself to be falling into a spiritual slumber, say +to it, as CHRIST to his disciples, “Arise (my soul) why sleepest +thou?” Awake, awake; put on strength, watch and pray, or otherwise the +_Philistines_ will be upon thee, and lead thee whither thou wouldst +not. Alas! Is this life a time to lie down and slumber in? Arise, and +call upon thy GOD; thy spiritual enemy is not dead, but lurketh in some +secret place, seeking a convenient opportunity how he may betray thee. +If thou ceasest to strive with him, thou ceasest to be a friend of GOD; +thou ceasest to go in that narrow way which leadeth unto life. + +Thus have I endeavoured to point out to you some of those devices, that +Satan generally makes use of “to get an advantage over us;” many others +there are, no doubt, which he often uses. + +But these, on account of my youth and want of experience, I cannot +yet apprise you of; they who have been listed for many years in their +master’s service, and fought under his banner against our spiritual +Amalek, are able to discover more of his artifices; and, being tempted +in all things, like unto their brethren, can, in all things, advise and +succour those that are tempted. + +In the mean while, let me exhort my young fellow-soldiers, who, like +myself, are but just entring the field, and for whose sake this was +written, not to be discouraged at the fiery trial wherewith they must +be tried, if they would be found faithful servants of JESUS CHRIST. You +see, my dearly beloved brethren, by what has been delivered, that our +way through the wilderness of this world to the heavenly _Canaan_, is +beset with thorns, and that there are sons of Anak to be grappled with, +ere you can possess the promised land. But let not these, like so many +false spies, discourage you from going up to fight the LORD’s battles, +but say with _Caleb_ and _Joshua_, “Nay, but we will go up, for we +are able to conquer them.” JESUS CHRIST, that great captain of our +salvation, has in our stead, and as our representative, baffled the +grand enemy of mankind, and we have nothing to do, but manfully to +fight under his banner, and to go on from conquering to conquer. +Our glory does not consist in being exempted from, but in enduring +temptations. “Blessed is the man, (says the apostle) that endureth +temptation;” and again, “Brethren, count it all joy, when you fall +into divers temptations:” And in that perfect form our blessed LORD has +prescribed to us, we are taught to pray, not so much to be delivered +from all temptation, as “from the evil” of it. Whilst we are on +this side eternity, it must needs be that temptations come; and, no +doubt, “Satan has desired to have all of us, to sift us as wheat.” +But wherefore should we fear? For he that is for us, is by far more +powerful, than all that are against us. JESUS CHRIST, our great +High-priest, is exalted to the right hand of GOD, and there sitteth +to make intercession for us, that our faith fail not. + +Since then CHRIST is praying, whom should we fear? And since he has +promised to make us more than conquerors, of whom should we be afraid? +No, though an host of devils are set in array against us, let us not be +afraid; though there should rise up the hottest persecution against us, +yet let us put our trust in GOD. What though Satan, and the rest of his +apostate spirits, are powerful, when compared with us; yet, if put in +competition with the Almighty, they are as weak as the meanest worms. +GOD has them all reserved in chains of darkness unto the judgment of +the great day. So far as he permits them, they shall go, but no farther; +and where he pleases, there shall their proud malicious designs be +stayed. We read in the gospel, that though a legion of them possessed +one man, yet they could not destroy him; nor could they so much as +enter into a swine, without first having leave given them from above. +It is true, we often find they foil us, when we are assaulted by them; +but let us be strong, and very couragious; for, though they bruise our +heels, we shall, at length, bruise their heads. Yet a little while, and +he that shall come, will come; and then we shall see all our spiritual +enemies put under our feet. What if they do come out against us, +like so many great Goliahs; yet, if we can go forth, as the stripling +_David_, in the name and strength of the LORD of hosts, we may say, O +Satan, where is thy power? O fallen spirits, where is your victory? + +Once more therefore, and to conclude; let us be strong, and very +couragious, and let us put on the whole armour of GOD, that we may +be able to stand against the fiery darts of the wicked one. Let us +renounce ourselves, and the world, and then we shall take away the +armour in which he trusteth, and he will find nothing in us for his +temptations to work upon. We shall then prevent his malicious designs; +and being willing to suffer ourselves, shall need less sufferings to +be sent us from above. Let us have our loins girt about with truth; and +for an helmet, the hope of salvation; “praying always with all manner +of supplication.” Above all things, “Let us take the sword of the +spirit, which is the word of GOD,” and “the shield of faith,” looking +always to JESUS, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy +that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is +now sat down at the right hand of GOD. + + To which happy place, may GOD of his infinite mercy translate us + all, through our LORD JESUS CHRIST. + + To whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, three persons and + one eternal GOD, be all honour and glory, now and for evermore. + Amen. + + + + + SERMON XLIX. + + On Regeneration. + + + 2 CORINTHIANS v. 17. + + _If any man be in CHRIST, he is a new creature._ + +THE doctrine of our regeneration, or new birth in CHRIST JESUS, though +one of the most fundamental doctrines of our holy religion; though so +plainly and often pressed on us in sacred writ, “that he who runs may +read;” nay though it is the very hinge on which the salvation of each +of us turns, and a point too in which all sincere christians, of every +denomination, agree; yet it is so seldom considered, and so little +experimentally understood by the generality of professors, that were +we to judge of the truth of it, by the experience of most who call +themselves christians, we should be apt to imagine they had “not so +much as heard” whether there be any such thing as regeneration or not. +It is true, men for the most part are orthodox in the common articles +of their creed; they believe “there is but one GOD, and one Mediator +between GOD and men, even the man CHRIST JESUS;” and that there is no +other name given under heaven, whereby they can be saved, besides his: +But then tell them, they must be regenerated, they must be born again, +they must be renewed in the very spirit, in the inmost faculties of +their minds, ere they can truly call CHRIST, “Lord, Lord,” or have an +evidence that they have any share in the merits of his precious blood; +and they are ready to cry out with _Nicodemus_, “How can these things +be?” Or with the _Athenians_, on another occasion, “What will this +babler say? he seemeth to be a setter-forth of strange doctrines;” +because we preach unto them CHRIST, and the new-birth. + +That I may therefore contribute my mite towards curing the fatal +mistake of such persons, who would thus put asunder what GOD has +inseparably joined together, and vainly think they are justified by +CHRIST, or have their sins forgiven, and his perfect obedience imputed +to them, when they are not sanctified, have not their natures changed, +and made holy, I shall beg leave to enlarge on the words of the text in +the following manner: + + _First_, I shall endeavour to explain what is meant by being in + CHRIST: “If any man be in CHRIST.” + + _Secondly_, What we are to understand by being a new creature: + “If any man be in CHRIST he is a new creature.” + + _Thirdly_, I shall produce some arguments to make good the + apostle’s assertion. And + + _Fourthly_, I shall draw some inferences from what may be + delivered, and then conclude with a word or two of exhortation. + +_First_, I am to endeavour to explain what is meant by this expression +in the text, “If any man be in CHRIST.” + +Now a person may be said to be in CHRIST two ways. + +_First_, Only by an outward profession. And in this sense, every one +that is called a christian, or baptized into CHRIST’s church, may be +said to be in CHRIST. But that this is not the sole meaning of the +apostle’s phrase before us, is evident, because then, every one that +names the name of CHRIST, or is baptized into his visible church, would +be a new creature. Which is notoriously false, it being too plain, +beyond all contradiction, that comparatively but few of those that +are “born of water,” are “born of the Spirit” likewise; to use another +spiritual way of speaking, many are baptized with water, which were +never baptized with the Holy Ghost. + +To be in CHRIST therefore, in the full import of the word, must +certainly mean something more than a bare outward profession, or being +called after his name. For, as this same apostle tells us, “All are not +_Israelites_ that are of _Israel_,” so when applied to christianity, +all are not real christians that are nominally such. Nay, this is so +far from being the case, that our blessed LORD himself informs us, that +many who have prophesied or preached in his name, and in his name cast +out devils, and done many wonderful works, shall notwithstanding be +dismissed at the last day, with “depart from me, I know you not, ye +workers of iniquity.” + +It remains therefore, that this expression, “if any man be in CHRIST,” +must be understood in a + +_Second_ and closer signification, to be _in him_ so as to partake +of the benefits of his sufferings. To be in him not only by an +outward profession, but by an inward change and purity of heart, and +cohabitation of his holy spirit. To be in him, so as to be mystically +united to him by a true and lively faith, and thereby to receive +spiritual virtue from him, as the members of the natural body do from +the head, or the branches from the vine. To be in him in such a manner +as the apostle, speaking of himself, acquaints us he knew a person was, +“I knew ♦a man in CHRIST,” a true christian; or, as he himself desires +to be in CHRIST, when he wishes, in his epistle to the _Philippians_, +that he might be found in him. + + ♦ missing article “a” inserted + +This is undoubtedly the proper meaning of the apostle’s expression +in the words of the text; so that what he says in his epistle to the +_Romans_ about circumcision, may very well be applied to the present +subject; that he is not a real christian who is only one outwardly; nor +is that true baptism, which is only outward in the flesh. But he is a +true christian, who is one inwardly, whose baptism is that of the heart, +in the spirit, and not merely in the water, whose praise is not of man +but of GOD. Or, as he speaketh in another place, “Neither circumcision +nor uncircumcision availeth any thing (of itself) but a new creature.” +Which amounts to what he here declares in the verse now under +consideration, that if any man be truly and properly in CHRIST, he is +a new creature. Which brings me to shew, + +_Secondly_, What we are to understand by being a _new creature_. + +And here it is evident at the first view, that this expression is not +to be so explained as though there was a physical change required to +be made in us; or as though we were to be reduced to our primitive +nothings, and then created and formed again. For, supposing we were, +as _Nicodemus_ ignorantly imagined, to enter a “second time into our +mother’s womb, and be born,” alas! what would it contribute towards +rendering us spiritually new creatures? Since “that which was born of +the flesh would be flesh still;” we should be the same carnal persons +as ever, being derived from carnal parents, and consequently receiving +the seeds of all manner of sin and corruption from them. No, it only +means, that we must be so altered as to the qualities and tempers +of our minds, that we must entirely forget what manner of persons we +once were. As it may be said of a piece of gold, that was once in the +ore, after it has been cleansed, purified and polished, that it is a +new piece of gold; as it may be said of a bright glass that has been +covered over with filth, when it is wiped, and so become transparent +and clear, that it is a new glass: Or, as it might be said of _Naaman_, +when he recovered of his leprosy, and his flesh returned unto him like +the flesh of a young child, that he was a new man; so our souls, though +still the same as to essence, yet are so purged, purified and cleansed +from their natural dross, filth and leprosy, by the blessed influences +of the Holy Spirit, that they may be properly said to be made anew. + +How this glorious change is wrought in the soul, cannot easily be +explained: For no one knows the ways of the Spirit, save the Spirit +of GOD himself. Not that this ought to be any argument against this +doctrine; for, as our blessed LORD observed to _Nicodemus_, when he was +discoursing on this very subject, “The wind bloweth where it listeth, +and thou hearest the sound thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, +and whither it goeth;” and if we are told of natural things, and we +understand them not, how much less ought we to wonder, if we cannot +immediately account for the invisible workings of the Holy Spirit? +The truth of the matter is this: the doctrine of our regeneration, +or new birth in CHRIST JESUS, is hard to be understood by the natural +man. But that there is really such a thing, and that each of us must +be spiritually born again, I shall endeavour to shew under my + +_Third_ general head, in which I was to produce some arguments to make +good the apostle’s assertion. + +And here one would think it sufficient to affirm, + +_First_, That GOD himself, in his holy word, hath told us so. Many +texts might be produced out of the Old Testament to prove this point, +and indeed, one would wonder how _Nicodemus_, who was a teacher in +_Israel_, and who was therefore to instruct the people in the spiritual +meaning of the law, should be so ignorant of this grand article, as +we find he really was, by his asking our blessed LORD, when he was +pressing on him this topic, How can these things be? Surely, he could +not forget how often the Psalmist had begged of GOD, to make him “a +new heart,” and “to renew a right spirit within him;” as likewise, +how frequently the prophets had warned the people to make them “new +hearts,” and new minds, and so turn unto the LORD their GOD. But +not to mention these and such like texts out of the Old Testament, +this doctrine is so often and plainly repeated in the New, that, as I +observed before, he who runs may read. For what says the great Prophet +and Instructor of the world himself: “Except a man (every one that +is naturally the offspring of _Adam_) be born again of water and the +Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of GOD.” And lest we should be +apt to slight this assertion, and _Nicodemus_-like, reject the doctrine, +because we cannot immediately explain “How this thing can be;” our +blessed Master therefore affirms it, as it were, by an oath, “Verily, +verily, I say unto you,” or, as it may be read, I the Amen; I, who am +truth itself, say unto you, that it is the unalterable appointment of +my heavenly Father, that “unless a man be born again, he cannot enter +into the kingdom of GOD.” + +Agreeable to this, are those many passages we meet with in the epistles, +where we are commanded to be “renewed in the Spirit,” or, which was +before explained, in the inmost faculties of our minds; to “put off the +Old Man, which is corrupt; and to put on the New Man, which is created +after GOD, in righteousness and true holiness;” that “old things must +pass away, and that all things must become new;” that we are to be +“saved by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy +Ghost.” Or, methinks, was there no other passage to be produced besides +the words of the text, it would be full enough, since the apostle +therein positively affirms, that “If any man be in CHRIST, he is a +_new creature_.” + +Now, what can be understood by all these different terms of being +_born again_, of _putting off the Old Man_, and _putting on the New_, +of being _renewed in the spirit of our minds_, and becoming _new +creatures_; but that christianity requires a thorough, real inward +change of heart? Do we think these, and such-like forms of speaking, +are mere metaphors, words of a bare sound, without any real solid +signification? Indeed, it is to be feared, some men would have them +interpreted so; but alas! unhappy men! they are not to be envied in +their metaphorical interpretation: it will be well, if they do not +interpret themselves out of their salvation. + +Multitudes of other texts might be produced to confirm this same truth; +but those already quoted are so plain and convincing, that one would +imagine no one should deny it; were we not told, there are some, “who +having eyes, see not, and ears, hear not, and that will not understand +with their hearts, or hear with their ears, lest they should be +converted, and CHRIST should heal them.” + +But I proceed to a + +_Second_ argument; and that shall be taken from the purity of God, and +the present corrupt and polluted state of man. + +GOD is described in holy scripture (and I speak to those who profess +to know the scripture) as a Spirit; as a being of such infinite +sanctity, as to be of “purer eyes than to behold iniquity;” as to +be so transcendently holy, that it is said “the very heavens are not +clean in his sight; and the angels themselves he chargeth with folly.” +On the other hand, man is described (and every regenerate person will +find it true by his own experience) as a creature altogether “conceived +and born in sin;” as having “no good thing dwelling in him;” as being +“carnal, sold under sin;” nay, as having “a mind which is at enmity +with GOD,” and such-like. And since there is such an infinite disparity, +can any one conceive how a filthy, corrupted, polluted wretch can +dwell with an infinitely pure and holy GOD, before he is changed, and +rendered, in some measure, like him? Can he, who is of purer eyes than +to behold iniquity, dwell with it? Can he, in whose sight the heavens +are not clean, delight to dwell with uncleanness itself? No, we might +as well suppose light to have communion with darkness, or CHRIST to +have concord with _Belial_. But I pass on to a + +_Third_ argument, which shall be founded on the consideration of the +nature of that happiness GOD has prepared for those that unfeignedly +love him. + +To enter indeed on a minute and particular description of heaven, +would be vain and presumptuous, since we are told that “eye hath not +seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to +conceive, the things that are there prepared” for the sincere followers +of the holy JESUS, even in this life, much less in that which is to +come. However, this we may venture to affirm in general, that as GOD is +a Spirit, so the happiness he has laid up for his people is spiritual +likewise; and consequently, unless our carnal minds are changed, and +spiritualized, we can never be made meet to partake of that inheritance +with the saints in light. + +It is true, we may flatter ourselves, that, supposing we continue in +our natural corrupt estate, and carry all our lusts along with us, we +should, notwithstanding, relish heaven, was GOD to admit us therein. +And so we might, was it a _Mahometan_ paradise, wherein we were to +take our full swing in sensual delights. But since its joys are only +spiritual, and no unclean thing can possibly enter those blessed +mansions, there is an absolute necessity of our being changed, and +undergoing a total renovation of our depraved natures, before we can +have any taste or relish of those heavenly pleasures. + +It is, doubtless, for this reason, that the apostle declares it to +be the irrevocable ♦decree of the Almighty, that “without holiness, +(without being made pure by regeneration, and having the image of GOD +thereby reinstamped upon the soul) no man shall see the LORD.” And +it is very observable, that our divine Master, in the famous passage +before referred to, concerning the absolute necessity of regeneration, +does not say, Unless a man be born again, he _shall not_, but “unless +a man be born again, he _cannot_ enter into the kingdom of GOD.” It is +founded in the very nature of things, that unless we have dispositions +wrought in us suitable to the objects that are to entertain us, we can +take no manner of complacency or satisfaction in them. For instance; +what delight can the most harmonious music afford to a deaf, or what +pleasure can the most excellent picture give to a blind man? Can a +tasteless palate relish the richest dainties, or a filthy swine be +pleased with the finest garden of flowers? No: and what reason can be +assigned for it? An answer is ready; because they have neither of them +any tempers of mind correspondent or agreeable to what they are to be +diverted with. And thus it is with the soul hereafter: for death makes +no more alteration in the soul, than as it inlarges its faculties, and +makes it capable of receiving deeper impressions either of pleasure or +pain. If it delighted to converse with GOD here, it will be transported +with the sight of his glorious Majesty hereafter. If it was pleased +with the communion of saints on earth, it will be infinitely more so +with the communion and society of holy angels, and the spirits of just +men made perfect in heaven. But if the opposite of all this be true, we +may assure ourselves the soul could not be happy, was GOD himself to +admit it (which he never will do) into the regions of the blessed. But +it is time for me to hasten to the + + ♦ “decreee” replaced with “decree” + +_Fourth_ argument, because CHRIST’s redemption will not be complete in +us, unless we are new creatures. + +If we reflect indeed on the first and chief end of our blessed LORD’s +coming, we shall find it was to be a propitiation for our sins, to +give his life a ransom for many. But then, if the benefits of our +dear Redeemer’s death were to extend no farther than barely to procure +forgiveness of our sins, we should have as little reason to rejoice +in it, as a poor condemned criminal that is ready to perish by some +fatal disease, would have in receiving a pardon from his judge. For +christians would do well to consider, that there is not only a legal +hinderance to our happiness, as we are breakers of GOD’s law, but also +a moral impurity in our natures, which renders us incapable of enjoying +heaven (as hath been already proved) till some mighty change have been +wrought in us. It is necessary therefore, in order to make CHRIST’s +redemption compleat, that we should have a grant of GOD’s holy Spirit +to change our natures, and so prepare us for the enjoyment of that +happiness our Saviour has purchased by his precious blood. + +Accordingly the holy scriptures inform us, that whom CHRIST justifies, +or whose sins he forgives, and to whom he imputes his perfect obedience, +those he also sanctifies, purifies and cleanses, and totally changeth +their corrupted natures. As the scripture also speaketh in another +place, “CHRIST is to us justification, sanctification, and then +redemption.” But, + +_Fourthly_, Proceed we now to the next general thing proposed, to draw +some inferences from what has been delivered. And, + +_First_, If he that is in CHRIST be a new creature, this may serve as +a reproof for those who rest in a bare performance of outward duties, +without perceiving any real inward change of heart. + +We may observe a great many persons to be very punctual in the regular +returns of public and private prayer, as likewise of receiving the holy +communion, and perhaps now and then too in keeping a fast. But here is +the misfortune, they rest barely in the use of the means, and think all +is over, when they have thus complied with those sacred institutions; +whereas, were they rightly informed, they would consider, that all the +instituted means of grace, as prayer, fasting, hearing and reading the +word of GOD, receiving the blessed sacrament, and such-like, are no +farther serviceable to us, than as they are found to make us inwardly +better, and to carry on the spiritual life in the soul. + +It is true, they are means; but then they are only means; they are part, +but not the whole of religion: for if so, who more religious than the +Pharisee? He fasted twice in the week, and gave tythes of all that he +possessed, and yet was not justified, as our Saviour himself informs us, +in the sight of GOD. + +You perhaps, like the Pharisee, may fast often, and make long prayers; +you may, with _Herod_, hear good sermons gladly. But yet, if you +continue vain and trifling, immoral or worldly-minded, and differ from +the rest of your neighbours barely in going to church, or in complying +with some outward performances, are you better than they? No, in no +wise; you are by far much worse; for if you use them, and at the same +time abuse them, you thereby encourage others to think there is nothing +in them, and therefore must expect to receive the greater damnation. +But, + +_Secondly_, If he that is _in_ CHRIST be a new creature, then this may +check the groundless presumption of another class of professors, who +rest in the attainment of some moral virtues, and falsely imagine they +are good christians, if they are just in their dealings, temperate in +their diet, and do no hurt or violence to any man. + +But if this was all that is requisite to make us christians, why +might not the heathens of old be good christians, who were remarkable +for these virtues? or St. _Paul_ before his conversion, who tells +us, that he lived in all good conscience? but we find he renounces +all dependance on works of this nature, and only desires to be found +in CHRIST, and to know the power of his resurrection, or have an +experimental proof of receiving the Holy Ghost, purchased for him by +the death, and ensured and applied to him by the resurrection of JESUS +CHRIST. + +The sum of the matter is this: christianity includes morality, as grace +does reason; but if we are only mere Moralists, if we are not inwardly +wrought upon, and changed by the powerful operations of the Holy +Spirit, and our moral actions, proceed from a principle of a new nature, +however we may call ourselves christians, we shall be found naked at +the great day, and in the number of those, who have neither CHRIST’s +righteousness imputed to them for their justification in the sight, nor +holiness enough in their souls as the consequence of that, in order to +make them meet for the enjoyment, of GOD. Nor, + +_Thirdly_, Will this doctrine less condemn those, who rest in a partial +amendment of themselves, without experiencing a thorough, real, inward +change of heart. + +A little acquaintance with the world will furnish us with instances, of +no small number of persons, who, perhaps, were before openly profane; +but seeing the ill consequences of their vices, and the many worldly +inconveniencies it has reduced them to, on a sudden, as it were, +grow civilized; and thereupon flatter themselves that they are very +religious, because they differ a little from their former selves, and +are not so scandalously wicked as once they were: whereas, at the same +time, they shall have some secret darling sin or other, some beloved +_Dalilah_ or _Herodias_, which they will not part with; some hidden +lust, which they will not mortify; some vicious habit, which they will +not take pains to root out. But wouldst thou know, O vain man! whoever +thou art, what the LORD thy GOD requires of thee? thou must be informed, +that nothing short of a thorough sound conversion will fit thee for +the kingdom of heaven. It is not enough to turn from profaneness to +civility; but thou must turn from civility to godliness. Not only some, +but “all things must become new” in thy soul. It will profit thee but +little to do many things, if yet some one thing thou lackest. In short, +thou must not only be an almost, but altogether a new creature, or in +vain thou boasteth that thou art a christian. + +_Fourthly_, If he that is in CHRIST be a new creature, then this +may be prescribed as an infallible rule for every person of whatever +denomination, age, degree or quality, to judge himself by; this +being the only solid foundation, whereon we can build a well-grounded +assurance of pardon, peace, and happiness. + +We may indeed depend on the broken reed of an external profession; +we may think we are good enough, if we lead such sober, honest, moral +lives, as many heathens did. We may imagine we are in a safe condition, +if we attend on the public offices of religion, and are constant in the +duties of our closets. But unless all these tend to reform our lives, +and change our hearts, and are only used as so many channels of divine +grace; as I told you before, so I tell you again, christianity will +profit you nothing. + +Let each of us therefore seriously put this question to our hearts: +Have we received the Holy Ghost since we believed? Are we new creatures +in CHRIST, or no? At least, if we are not so yet, is it our daily +endeavour to become such? Do we constantly and conscientiously use all +the means of grace required thereto? Do we fast, watch and pray? Do we, +not lazily seek, but laboriously strive to enter in at the strait gate? +In short, do we renounce our own righteousness, take up our crosses and +follow CHRIST? If so, we are in that narrow way which leads to life; +the good seed is sown in our hearts, and will, if duly watered and +nourished by a regular persevering use of all the means of grace, grow +up to eternal life. But on the contrary, if we have only heard, and +know not experimentally, whether there be any Holy Ghost; if we are +strangers to fasting, watching and prayer, and all the other spiritual +exercises of devotion; if we are content to go in the broad way, merely +because we see most other people do so, without once reflecting whether +it be the right one or not; in short, if we are strangers, nay enemies +to the cross of CHRIST, by lives of worldly-mindedness, and sensual +pleasure, and thereby make others think, that christianity is but +an empty name, a bare formal profession; if this be the case, I say, +CHRIST is as yet dead in vain, to us; we are under the guilt of our +sins; and are unacquainted with a true and thorough conversion. + +But beloved, I am persuaded better things of you, and things that +accompany salvation, though I thus speak; I would humbly hope that you +are sincerely persuaded, that he who hath not the Spirit of CHRIST is +none of his; and that, unless the Spirit, which raised JESUS from the +dead, dwell in you here, neither will your mortal bodies be quickened +by the same Spirit to dwell with him hereafter. + +Let me therefore (as was proposed in the _last_ place) earnestly exhort +you, in the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, to act suitable to those +convictions, and to live as christians, that are commanded in holy writ, +to “put off their former conversation concerning the Old Man, and to +put on the New Man, which is created after GOD in righteousness and +true holiness.” + +It must be owned indeed, that this is a great and difficult work; but, +blessed be GOD, it is not impossible. Many thousands of happy souls +have been assisted by a divine power to bring it about, and why should +we despair of success? Is GOD’s hand shortened, that it cannot save? +Was he the GOD of our Fathers, is he not the GOD of their children +also? Yes, doubtless, of their children also. It is a task likewise, +that will put us to some pain; it will oblige us to part with some lust, +to break with some friend, to mortify some beloved passion, which may +be exceeding dear to us, and perhaps as hard to leave, as to cut off +a right-hand, or pluck out a right-eye. But what of all this? Will not +the being made a real living member of CHRIST, a child of GOD, and an +inheritor of the kingdom of heaven, abundantly make amends for all this +trouble? Undoubtedly it will. + +The setting about and carrying on this great and necessary work, +perhaps may, nay assuredly will expose us also to the ridicule of the +unthinking part of mankind, who will wonder, that we run not into the +same excess of riot with themselves; and because we deny our sinful +appetites, and are not conformed to this world, being commanded in +scripture to do the one, and to have our conversation in heaven, in +opposition to the other, they may count our lives folly, and our end +to be without honour. But will not the being numbered among the saints, +and shining as the stars for ever and ever, be a more than sufficient +recompense for all the ridicule, calumny, or reproach, we can possibly +meet with here? + +Indeed, was there no other reward attended a thorough conversion, but +that peace of GOD, which is the unavoidable consequence of it, and +which, even in this life, “passeth all understanding,” we should have +great reason to rejoice. But when we consider, that this is the least +of those mercies GOD has prepared for those that are in CHRIST, and +become new creatures; that, this is but the beginning of an eternal +succession of pleasures; that the day of our deaths, which the +unconverted, unrenewed sinner must so much dread, will be, as it were, +but the first day of our new births, and open to us an everlasting +scene of happiness and comfort; in short, if we remember, that they who +are regenerate and born again, have a real title to all the glorious +promises of the gospel, and are infallibly certain of being as happy, +both here and hereafter, as an all-wise, all-gracious, all-powerful GOD +can make them; methinks, every one that has but the least concern for +the salvation of his precious and immortal soul, having such promises, +such an hope, such an eternity of happiness set before him, should +never cease watching, praying, and striving, till he find a real, +inward, saving change wrought in his heart, and thereby doth know of a +truth, that he dwells in CHRIST, and CHRIST in him; that he is a new +creature, therefore a child of GOD; that he is already an inheritor, +and will ere long be an actual possessor of the kingdom of heaven. + +Which GOD of his infinite mercy grant, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. + + To whom, &c. + + + + + SERMON L. + + Christians, Temples of the living GOD. + + + 2 CORINTHIANS vi. 16. + + _Ye are the Temple of the living God._ + +ISAIAH, speaking of the glory of gospel days, said, “Men have not heard +nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O GOD, besides +thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.” Chapter lxiv. +4. Could a world lying in the wicked one, be really convinced of this, +they would need no other motive to induce them to renounce themselves, +take up their cross, and follow JESUS CHRIST. And had believers this +truth always deeply impressed upon their souls, they could not but +abstain from every evil, be continually aspiring after every good; and +in a word, use all diligence to walk worthy of Him who hath called them +to his kingdom and glory. If I mistake not, that is the end purposed +by the apostle _Paul_, in the words of the text, “Ye are the temple of +the living GOD.” Words originally directed to the church of _Corinth_, +but which equally belong to us, and to our children, and to as many as +the LORD our GOD shall call. To give you the true meaning of, and then +practically to improve them, shall be my endeavour in the following +discourse. + +_First_, I shall endeavour to give you the true meaning of these words, +“Ye are the temple of the living GOD.” The expression undoubtedly is +metaphorical, or figurative: but under the metaphor, something real, +and of infinite importance, is to be understood. And there seems to +be a manifest allusion, not only to what we call temples or churches +in general, but to the _Jewish temple_ in particular. I trust, that +but few, if any here, need be informed, that the preparations for this +edifice were exceedingly grand, that it was modelled and built by a +divine order, and when compleated, was separated from common uses, +and dedicated to the service of the incomprehensible Jehovah, with the +utmost solemnity. + +It is thus that christians are “the temple of the living GOD,” of +Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; they who once held a consultation to +create, are all equally concerned in making preparations for, and +effectually bringing about the redemption of man. The Father creates, +the Son redeems, and the Holy Ghost sanctifies all the elect people +of GOD. Being loved from eternity, they are effectually called in +time, they are chosen out of the world, and not only by an external +formal dedication at baptism, or at the LORD’s supper, but by a free, +voluntary, unconstrained oblation, they devote themselves, spirit, +soul, and body, to the entire service of Him, who hath loved and given +himself for them. + +This is true and undefiled religion before GOD our heavenly Father: +This is the real christian’s _reasonable service_, or, as some think +the word imports, this is the service required of us in the word of GOD. +It implies no less than a total renunciation of the world; in short, +turns the christian’s whole life into one continued sacrifice of love +to GOD; so that, “whether he eats or drinks, he does all to his glory.” +Not that I would hereby insinuate, that to be christians, or to keep +to the words of our text, in order to be temples of the living GOD, we +must become hermits, or shut ourselves up in nunneries or cloysters; +this be far from me! No. The religion, which this bible in my hand +prescribes, is a social religion, a religion equally practicable by +high and low, rich and poor, and which absolutely requires a due +discharge of all relative duties, in whatsoever state of life GOD shall +be pleased to place and continue us. + +That some, in all ages of the church, have literally separated +themselves from the world, and from a sincere desire to save their +souls, and attain higher degrees of christian perfection, have wholly +devoted themselves to solitude and retirement, is what I make no doubt +of. But then such a zeal is in no wise according to knowledge; for +private christians, as well as ministers, are said to be “the salt +of the earth, and the lights of the world,” and are commanded to “let +their light shine before men.” But how can this be done, if we shut +ourselves up, and thereby entirely exclude ourselves from all manner +of conversation with the world? Or supposing we could take the wings +of the morning, and fly into the most distant and desolate parts of the +earth, what would this avail us, unless we could agree with a wicked +heart and wicked tempter not to pursue and molest us there? + +So far should we be from thus getting ease and comfort, that I believe +we should on the contrary soon find by our experience the truth +of what a hermit himself once told me, that a tree which stands by +itself, is most exposed and liable to the strongest blasts. When +our Saviour was to be tempted by the devil, he was led by the Spirit +into the wilderness. How contrary this to their practice, who go into +a wilderness to avoid temptation! Surely such are unmindful of the +petition put up for us by our blessed LORD, “Father, I pray not that +thou wouldst take them out of the world, but that thou wouldst keep +them from the evil.” This then is to be a christian indeed; to be +in the world, and yet not of it; to have our hands, according to our +respective stations in life, employed on earth, and our hearts at the +same time fixed on things above. Then, indeed, are we “temples of the +living GOD,” when with a humble boldness, we can say with a great and +good soldier of JESUS CHRIST, we are the same in the parlour, as we are +in the closet; and can at night throw off our cares, as we throw off +our cloaths; and being at peace with the world, ourselves, and GOD, are +indifferent whether we sleep or die. + +Farther, the Jewish temple was a house of prayer. “My house (says the +Great GOD) shall be called a house of prayer:” and implies that the +hearts of true believers are the seats of prayer. For this end was it +built, and adorned with such furniture. _Solomon_, in that admirable +prayer which he put up to GOD at the dedication of the temple, saith, +“Hearken therefore unto the supplication of thy servant, and of thy +people _Israel_, which they shall make towards this place.” And hence I +suppose it was that _Daniel_, that man greatly beloved, in the time of +captivity, “prayed as aforetime three times a day with his face towards +the temple.” And what was said of the first, our LORD applies to the +second temple, “My house shall be called a house of prayer.” On this +account also, true believers may be stiled, “the temple of the living +GOD.” For being wholly devoted and dedicated to GOD, even a GOD in +CHRIST, their heart becomes the seats of prayer, from whence, as so +many living altars, a perpetual sacrifice of prayer and praise (like +unto, tho’ infinitely superior to the perpetual oblation under the +Mosaic dispensation) is continually ascending, and offered up, to the +Father of Mercies, the GOD of all Consolations. Such, and such only, +who thus worship GOD in the temple of their hearts, can truly be said +to be made priests unto GOD, or be stiled a royal priesthood; such, and +such only, can truly be stiled, “the temple of the living GOD,” because +such only pray to him, as one expresses it, in the temple of their +hearts, and consequently worship him in spirit and in truth. + +Let no one say that such a devotion is impracticable, or at least only +practicable by a few, and those such who have nothing to do with the +common affairs of life; for this is the common duty and privilege of +all true christians. “To pray without ceasing,” and “to rejoice in the +LORD always,” are precepts equally obligatory on all that name the name +of CHRIST. And though it must be owned, that it is hard for persons +that are immersed in the world, to serve the LORD without distraction; +and though we must confess, that the lamp of devotion, even in the best +of saints, sometimes burns too dimly, yet those who are the temple of +the living GOD, find prayer to be their very element: And when those +who make this objection, once come to love prayer, as some unhappy men +love swearing, they will find no more difficulty in praying to, and +praising GOD always, than these unhappy creatures do in cursing and +swearing always. What hath been advanced, is far from being a state +peculiar to persons wholly retired from the world. + +My brethren, the love of GOD is all in all. When once possessed of +this, as we certainly must be, if we are “the temple of the living +GOD,” meditation, prayer, praise, and other spiritual exercises, become +habitual and delightful. When once touched with this divine magnet, for +ever after the soul feels a divine attraction, and continually turns +to its centre, GOD; and if diverted therefrom, by any sudden or violent +temptation, yet when that obstruction is removed, like as a needle +touched by a loadstone when your finger is taken away, turns to its +rest, its centre, its GOD, its All, again. + +The Jewish temple was also a place where the Great Jehovah was pleased +in a more immediate manner to reside. Hence, he is said to put and +record his name there, and to sit or dwell between the cherubims; and +when _Solomon_ first dedicated it, we are told, “the house was filled +with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason +of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD had filled the house.” And +wherefore all this amazing manifestation of the Divine Glory? Even for +this, O man, to shew thee how the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth +eternity, would make believers hearts his living temple, and dwell and +make his abode in all those that tremble at his word. + +To this, the apostle more particularly alludes in the words immediately +following our text; for having called the _Corinthians_ “the temple +of the living GOD,” he adds, “as GOD hath said, I will dwell in them, +and I will walk in them, and I will be their GOD, and they shall be my +people.” Strange and strong expressions these! But strange and strong +as they are, must be experienced by all who are indeed “the temple +of the living GOD.” For they are said, to be “chosen to be a holy +habitation through the Spirit; to dwell in GOD, and GOD in them; to +have the witness in themselves, and to have GOD’s Spirit witnessing +with their spirits that they are the children of GOD.” Which +expressions import no more or less, than that prayer of our LORD which +he put up for his church and people a little before his bitter passion, +“That they may be one, even as we are one, I in them, and thou in me, +that they may be made perfect in one:” This glorious passage our church +adopts in her excellent communion office, and is so far from thinking +that this was only the privilege of the apostles, that she asserts +in the strongest terms, that it is the privilege of every worthy +communicant. For then (says she) if we receive the sacrament worthily, +we are one with CHRIST, and CHRIST is one with us; we dwell in CHRIST, +and CHRIST in us. And what is it, but that inspiration of the Holy +Spirit, which we pray for in the beginning of that office, and that +fellowship of the Holy Ghost, which the minister, in the conclusion of +every day’s public prayer, entreats the LORD to be with us all evermore? + +Brethren, the time would fail me to mention all the scriptures, and +the various branches of our liturgy, articles, and homilies, that speak +of this inestimable blessing, the indwelling of the blessed Spirit, +whereby we do indeed become, “the temples of the living GOD.” If you +have eyes that see, or ears that hear, you may view it almost in every +page of the lively oracles, and every part of those offices, which +some of you daily use, and hear read to you, in the public worship +of Almighty GOD. In asserting therefore this doctrine, we do not vent +the whimsies of a disordered brain, and heated imagination; neither +do we broach any new doctrines, or set up the peculiar opinions of any +particular sect or denomination of christians whatsoever; but we speak +the words of truth and soberness, we shew you the right and good old +way, even that, in which the articles of all the reformed churches, +and all sincere christians of all parties, however differing in other +respects, do universally agree. We are now insisting upon a point, +which may properly be termed the christian _shibboleth_, something +which is the grand criterion of our most holy religion; and on account +of which, the holy _Ignatius_, one of the first fathers of the church, +was used to stile himself a _bearer of_ GOD, and the people to whom +he wrote, _bearers of_ GOD: For this, as it is recorded of him, he was +arraigned before _Trajan_, who imperiously said, Where is this man, +that says, he carries GOD about with him. With an humble boldness he +answered, I am he, and then quoted the passage in the text “Ye are the +temple of the living GOD; as GOD hath said, I will dwell in them, and +walk in them, and I will be their GOD, and they shall be my people.” +Upon this, to cure him of his enthusiasm, he was condemned to be +devoured by lions. + +Blessed be GOD! we are not in danger of being called before +such persecuting _Trajans_ now: under our present mild and happy +administration, the scourge of the tongue is all that they can legally +lash us with. But if permitted to go farther, we need not be ashamed +of witnessing this good confession. Suffering grace will be given for +suffering times; and if, like _Ignatius_, we are bearers of GOD, we +also shall be enabled to say with him, when led to the devouring lions, +Now I begin to be a disciple of CHRIST. + +But it is time for me, + +_Secondly_, To make some practical improvement of what has been +delivered. You have heard in what sense it is that real christians are +“the temple of the living GOD.” Shall I ask, Believe ye these things? +I know and am persuaded that some of you do indeed believe them, not +because I have told you, but because you yourselves have experienced +the same. + +I congratulate you from my inmost soul. O that your hearts may be in +tune this day to “magnify the LORD,” and your spirits prepared to +“rejoice in GOD your Saviour.” Like the Virgin _Mary_, you are highly +favoured, and from henceforth all the generations of GOD’s people shall +call you blessed. You can call CHRIST, Lord, by the Holy Ghost, and +thereby have an internal, as well as external evidence of the divinity, +both of his person, and of his holy word. You can now prove that +despised book, emphatically called The Scriptures, doth contain the +perfect and acceptable will of GOD. You have found the second _Adam_ +to be a quickening spirit; He hath raised you from death to life. +And being thus taught, and born of GOD, however unlearned in other +respects, you can say, “Is not this the CHRIST?” O ineffable blessing! +inconceivable privilege! GOD’s spirit witnesseth with your spirits, +that you are the children of GOD. When you think of this, are you not +ready to cry out with the beloved disciple, “What manner of love is +this, that we should be called the children of GOD!” I believe that +holy man was in an extasy when he wrote these words; and tho’ he has +been in heaven so long, yet his extatic surprize is but now beginning, +and will be but as beginning through the ages of eternity. Thus +shall it be with all you likewise, whom the high and lofty One, that +inhabiteth eternity, hath made his living temples. For He hath sealed +you to the day of redemption, and hath given you the earnest of your +future inheritance. His eyes and heart shall therefore be upon you +continually: and in spite of all opposition from men or devils, the +top-stone of this ♦spiritual building shall be brought forth, and you +shall shout Grace, grace unto it: your bodies shall be fashioned like +unto the Redeemer’s glorious body, and your souls, in which (O infinite +condescension!) He now delights to dwell, shall be filled with all +the fulness of GOD. You shall then go no more out; you shall then no +more need the light of the sun or the light of the moon, for the LORD +himself will be your temple, and the Lamb in the midst thereof shall be +your glory. Dearly beloved in the LORD, what say you to these things? +Do not your hearts burn within you whilst thinking of these deep, +but glorious truths of GOD. Whilst I am musing, and speaking of them, +methinks a fire kindles even in this cold, icy heart of mine: O what +shall we render unto the LORD for all these mercies! Surely He hath +done great things for us: How great is his goodness, and his bounty! +O the heighth, the depth, the length, and the breadth of the love of +GOD! Surely it passeth knowledge. O for humility! and a soul-abasing, +GOD-exalting sense of these things! When the blessed virgin went into +the hill country, to pay a visit to her cousin _Elizabeth_, amazed at +such a favour, she cried out, “Whence is it that the mother of my LORD +vouchsafes to come to me?” And when the great Jehovah filled the temple +with his glory, out of the abundance of his heart, king _Solomon_ burst +forth into this pathetic exclamation, “But will GOD in very deed dwell +with men on the earth?” With how much greater astonishment ought we to +say, And will the LORD himself in very deed come to us? Will the high +and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, dwell in, and make our earthly +hearts his living temples? My brethren, whence is this? From any +fitness in us foreseen? No, I know you disclaim such an unbecoming +thought. Was it then from the improvement of our own free-will? No, I +am persuaded you will not thus debase the riches of GOD’s free grace. +Are you not all ready to say, Not unto us, not unto us, but unto thy +free, thy unmerited, thy sovereign, distinguishing love and mercy, +O LORD, be all the glory. It is this, and this alone, hath made the +difference between us and others. We have nothing but what is freely +given us from above: if we love GOD, it is because GOD first loved us. +Let us look then unto the rock from whence we have been hewn, and the +hole of the pit from whence we have been digged. And if there be any +consolation in CHRIST, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the +spirit, if any bowels and mercies, let us study and strive to walk as +becometh those who are made the temples of the living GOD, or, as the +apostle elsewhere expresseth himself, “a holy temple unto the LORD.” +What manner of persons ought such to be in all holy conversation and +godliness? How holily and how purely should we live! As our apostle +argues in another place, “For what fellowship hath righteousness with +unrighteousness? What communion hath light with darkness? Or what +concord hath CHRIST with Belial?” Shall those who are temples of +the living GOD, suffer themselves to be dens of thieves and cages of +unclean birds? Shall vain unchaste thoughts be suffered to dwell within +them? much less shall any thing that is impure be conceived or acted by +them? Shall we provoke the LORD to jealousy? GOD forbid! We all know +with what distinguished ardor our blessed Redeemer purged an earthly +temple; a zeal for his father’s house even eat him up: with what a holy +vehemence did he overturn the tables of the money-changers, and scourge +the buyers and sellers out before him! Why? They made his father’s +house a house of merchandise: they had turned the house of prayer into +a den of thieves. + + ♦ “spirituaul” replaced with “spiritual” + +O my brethren, how often have you and I been guilty of this great evil? +How often have the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the +pride of life, insensibly stolen away our hearts from GOD? Once they +were indeed houses of prayer; faith, hope, love, peace, joy, and all +the other fruits of the blessed Spirit lodged within them; but now, O +now, it may be, thieves and robbers. _Hinc illæ lachrymæ._ Hence those +hidings of GOD’s face, that dryness, and deadness, and barrenness of +soul, those wearisome nights and days, which many of us have felt from +time to time, and have been made to groan under. Hence those dolorous +and heart-breaking complaints, “O that I knew where I might find +him! O that it was with me as in days of old, when the candle of the +LORD shone bright upon my soul!” Hence those domestic trials, those +personal losses and disappointments: and to this perhaps some of us may +add, hence all those public rebukes with which we have been visited: +they are all only as so many scourges of small cords in the loving +Redeemer’s hands, to scourge the buyers and sellers out of the temple +of our hearts. O that we may know the rod and who hath appointed it! +He hath chastised us with whips: may we be wise, and by a more close +and circumspect walk prevent his chastising us in time to come with +scorpions! But who is sufficient for this thing? None but thou, O LORD, +to whom alone all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no +secrets are hidden! Cleanse thou therefore the thoughts of our hearts +by the inspiration of thy blessed Spirit, that henceforward we may more +perfectly love thee, and more worthily magnify thy holy name! + +But are not some of you ready to object, and to fear, that the LORD +hath forgotten to be gracious, that he hath shut up his loving kindness +in displeasure, and that he will be no more entreated? Thus the +psalmist once thought, when visited for his backslidings with GOD’s +heavy hand. But he acknowledged this to be his infirmity; and whether +you think of it or no, I tell you, this is your infirmity. O ye +dejected, desponding, distrustful souls, hear ye the word of the LORD, +and call to mind his wonderful declarations of old to his people. “I, +even I am He that blotteth out thy transgressions: for a small moment +have I forsaken thee, but with everlasting mercies will I gather thee. +Can a woman forget her sucking child? Yes she may, but the LORD will +not forget you, O ye of little faith, For as a father pitieth his own +children, so doth the LORD pity them that fear him. How shall I give +thee up, O _Ephraim_? How shall I make thee as _Admah_? How shall I set +thee as _Zeboim_?” And what is the result of all these interrogations? +“My repentings are kindled together: I will not return to execute the +fierceness of my anger against _Ephraim_: for I am GOD, and not man.” +And is not the language of all these endearing passages, like that of +_Joseph_ to his self-convicted, troubled brethren? “Come near to me.” O +that it may be said of you, as it is said of them, “And they came near +unto him.” Then should you find by happy experience, that the LORD, the +LORD GOD, merciful and gracious, is indeed slow to anger and of great +kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knows but he may come down +this day, this hour, nay this moment, and suddenly revisit the temple +of your hearts? Who knows but he may revive his work in your precious +souls, cause you to return to your first love, help you to do your +first works, and even exceed your hopes, and cause the glory of this +second visitation even to surpass that glory which filled your hearts, +in that happy, never to be forgotten day, in which he first vouchsafed +to make you his living temples? Even so, Father, let it seem good in +thy sight! + +But the improvement of our subject must not end here. Hitherto I have +been giving bread to the children; and it is my meat and drink so to +do: but must nothing be said to those of you who are without? I mean to +such who cannot yet say, that they are “the temple of the living GOD.” +And O how great, put you all together, may the number of you be: by far, +in all probability, the greatest part of this auditory. Say not I am +uncharitable; the GOD of truth, hath said it, “Strait is the gate, and +narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find +it.” Suffer me to speak plainly to you, my brethren; you have heard +what has been said upon the words of our text, and what must be wrought +in us, ere we can truly say that we are “the temple of the living GOD.” +Is it so with you? Are ye separated from the world and worldly tempers? +Are your hearts become houses of prayer? Doth the Spirit of GOD dwell +in your souls? and whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do, +as to the habitual bent of your minds, do you do all to the glory of +GOD? These are short, but plain, and let me tell you very important +questions. What answer can you make to them? Say not, “Go thy way, and +at a more convenient season I will call for thee.” I will not, I must +not suffer you to put me off so; I demand an answer in the name of the +LORD of Hosts. What say ye? Methinks, I hear you say, “We have been +dedicated to GOD in baptism, we go to church or meeting, we say our +prayers, repeat our creeds, or have subscribed the articles, and the +confession of faith; we are quite orthodox, and great friends to the +doctrines of grace; we do no body any harm, we are honest moral people, +we are ♦church-members, we keep up family-prayer, and constantly go to +the table of the LORD.” All these things are good in their places. But +thus far, nay much farther may you go, and yet be far from the kingdom +of GOD. The unprofitable servant did no one any harm; and the foolish +virgins had a lamp of an outward profession, and went up even to +heaven’s gate, calling CHRIST, “Lord, Lord.” These things may make you +whited sepulchres, but not “the temples of the living GOD.” Alas! Alas! +one thing you yet lack, the one chief thing, and without which all is +nothing; I mean the indwelling of GOD’s blessed Spirit, without which +you can never become “the temples of the living GOD.” + + ♦ “churc-hmembers” replaced with “church-members” + +Awake therefore, ye deceived formalists, awake; who, vainly puffed up +with your model of performances, boastingly cry out, “The temple of the +LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD are we.” Awake, ye +outward-court worshippers: ye are building on a sandy foundation: take +heed lest you also go to hell by the very door of heaven. Behold, and +remember, I have told you before. + +And as for you who have done none of these things, who instead of +making an outward profession of religion, have as it were renounced +your baptism, proclaim your sin like _Sodom_, and wilfully and daringly +live as without GOD in the world; I ask you, how can you think to +escape, if you persist in neglecting such a great salvation. Verily, +I should utterly despair of your ever attaining the blessed privilege +of being temples of the living GOD, did I not hear of thousands, who +through the grace of GOD have been translated from a like state of +darkness into his marvellous light. Such, says the apostle _Paul_, +writing to these very _Corinthians_ who were now GOD’s living temples, +(drunkards, whoremongers, adulterers, and such like) “such were some of +you. But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in +the name of the LORD JESUS, and by the Spirit of our GOD.” O that the +same blessed Spirit may this day vouchsafe to come and pluck you also +as brands out of the burning! Behold, I warn you to flee from the wrath +to come. Go home, and meditate on these things; and think whether it +is not infinitely better, even here, to be temples of the living GOD, +than to be bond-slaves to every brutish lust, and to be led captive +by the devil at his will. The LORD JESUS can, and if you fly to him +for refuge, he will set your souls at liberty. He hath led captivity +captive, he hath ascended up on high, on purpose to receive this gift +of the blessed Spirit of GOD for men, “even for the rebellious,” that +he might dwell in your hearts by faith here, and thereby prepare you to +dwell with Him and all the heavenly host in his kingdom hereafter. + +That this may be the happy lot of you all, may GOD of his infinite +mercy grant, for the sake of his dear Son CHRIST JESUS our LORD; to +whom with the Father, and the blessed Spirit, three persons, but one +GOD, be ascribed all power, might, majesty, and dominion, now and for +evermore. Amen! and Amen! + + + + + SERMON LI. + + CHRIST the only Preservative against a Reprobate Spirit. + + + 2 CORINTHIANS xiii. 5. + + _Know ye not your ownselves, how that JESUS CHRIST is in you, + except ye be Reprobates._ + +THE doctrines of the gospel are doctrines of peace, and they bring +comfort to all who believe in them; they are not like the law given by +_Moses_, which consisted of troublesome and painful ceremonies; neither +do they carry with them that terror which the law did; as, “cursed +is every one who continueth not to do all things which are written in +the book of the law:” If you were to keep the whole law, and break but +in one point, you are guilty of the breach of all. The law denounces +threatnings against all who do not conform to her strict commands; but +the gospel is a declaration of grace, peace and mercy; here you have an +account of the blood of CHRIST, blood which speaketh better things than +that of _Abel_; for _Abel_’s blood cried aloud for vengeance, vengeance: +But JESUS CHRIST’s crieth mercy, mercy, mercy upon the guilty sinner. +If he comes to CHRIST, confesses and forsakes his sin, then JESUS will +have mercy upon him: And if, my brethren, you are but sensible of your +sins, convinced of your iniquities, and feel yourselves lost, undone +sinners, and come and tell CHRIST of your lost condition, you will soon +find how ready he is to help you; he will give you his spirit; and if +you have his spirit you cannot be reprobates: you will find his spirit +to be quickening and refreshing; not like the spirit of the world, a +spirit of reproach, envy, and all uncharitableness. + +Most of your own experiences will confirm the truth hereof; for are +not you reproached and slandered, and does not the world say all manner +of evil against you, merely because you follow JESUS CHRIST; because +you will not go to the same excess of riot with them? While they are +singing the songs of the drunkard, you are singing psalms and hymns: +while they are at a playhouse, you are hearing a sermon: while they are +drinking, revelling and mispending their precious time, and hastening +on their own destruction, you are reading, praying, meditating, and +working out your salvation with fear and trembling. This is matter +enough for a world to reproach you; you are not polite and fashionable +enough for them. If you will live godly, you must suffer persecution; +you must not expect to go through this world without being persecuted +and reviled. If you were of the world, the world would love you; for +it always loves its own; but if you are not of the world, it will +hate you; it has done so in all ages, it never loved any but those who +were pleased with its vanities and allurements. It has been the death +of many a lover of JESUS, merely because they have loved him: And, +therefore, my brethren, do not be surprized if you meet with a fiery +trial, for all those things will be a means of sending you to your +master the sooner. + +The spirit of the world is hatred; that of CHRIST is love: the spirit +of the world is vexation; that of CHRIST is pleasure: the spirit of the +world is sorrow; that of CHRIST is joy: the spirit of the world is evil, +and that of CHRIST is good: the spirit of the world will never satisfy +us, but CHRIST’s spirit is all satisfaction: the spirit of the world +is misery; that of CHRIST is ease. In one word, the spirit of the world +has nothing lasting; but the spirit of CHRIST is durable, and will +last through an eternity of ages: the spirit of CHRIST will remove +every difficulty, satisfy every doubt, and be a means of bringing you +to himself, to live with him for ever and ever. + +From the words of my text, I shall shew you, + + I. The necessity of receiving the spirit of CHRIST. + + II. Who CHRIST is, whose spirit you are to receive, And then + +Shall conclude with an exhortation to all of you, high and low, rich +and poor, to come unto the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and to beg that you may +receive his spirit, so that you may not be reprobates. + +_First_, I am to shew you the necessity there is of receiving the +spirit of CHRIST. + +And here, my brethren, it will be necessary to consider you as in your +first state; that is, when GOD first created _Adam_, and placed him +in the garden of _Eden_, and gave him a privilege of eating of all the +trees in the garden, except the tree of knowledge of good and evil, +which stood in the midst thereof. Our first parents had not been long +in this state of innocence, before they fell from it, they broke the +divine commands, and involved all their posterity in guilt; for as +_Adam_ was our representative, so we were to stand or fall in him; and +as he was our fœderal head, his falling involved all our race under the +power of death, for death came into the world by sin; and we all became +liable to the eternal punishment due from GOD, for man’s disobedience +to the divine command. + +Now as man had sinned, and a satisfaction was demanded, it was +impossible for a finite creature to satisfy him, who was a GOD of +so strict purity as not to behold iniquity: And man by the justice +of GOD would have been sent down into the pit, which was prepared of +old for the devil and his angels; but when justice was going to pass +the irrevocable sentence, then the LORD JESUS CHRIST came and offered +himself a ransom for poor sinners. Here was admirable condescension +of the LORD JESUS CHRIST! that he who was in the bosom of his father, +should come down from all that glory, to die for such rebels as you +and I are, who if it lay in our power, would pull the Almighty from his +throne: Now can you think that if there was no need of CHRIST’s death, +can you think that if there could have been any other ransom found, +whereby poor sinners might have been saved, GOD would not have spared +his only begotten Son, and not have delivered him up for all that +believe in him? + +This, my brethren, I think proves to a demonstration, that it was +necessary for CHRIST to die: But consider, it will be of no service to +know that CHRIST died for sinners, if you do not accept of his spirit, +that you may be sanctified, and fitted for the reception of that JESUS, +who died for all those who believe in him. The sin of your nature, your +original sin, is sufficient to sink you into torments, of which there +will be no end; therefore unless you receive the spirit of CHRIST you +are reprobates, and you cannot be saved: Nothing short of the blood +of JESUS applied to your souls, will make you happy to all eternity: +Then, seeing this is so absolutely necessary, that you cannot be +saved without having received the spirit of CHRIST, but that ye are +reprobates, do not rest contented ’till you have good hopes, through +grace, that the good work is begun in your souls; that you have +received a pardon for your sins; that CHRIST came down from heaven, +died, and made satisfaction for your sins. Don’t flatter yourselves +that a little morality will be sufficient to save you; that going to +church, or prayers, and sacrament, and doing all the duties of religion +in an external manner, will ever carry you to heaven; no, you must have +grace in your hearts; there must be a change of the whole man. + +You must be born again, and become new creatures, and have the spirit +of CHRIST within you: And until you have that spirit of CHRIST, however +you may think to the contrary, and please yourselves in your own +imagination, I say, you are no better than reprobates. You may content +yourselves with leading civil, outward decent lives, but what will that +avail you, unless you have the spirit of the LORD JESUS CHRIST in your +hearts: His kingdom must be set up in your souls; there must be the +life of GOD in the soul of man, else you belong not to the LORD JESUS +CHRIST; and until you belong to him, you are reprobates. + +This may seem as enthusiasm to some of you, but if it is so, it is what +the apostle _Paul_ taught; and therefore, my brethren, they are the +words of truth. I beseech you, in the mercies of GOD in CHRIST JESUS, +not to despise these words, as if they do not concern you, but were +only calculated for the first ages of christianity, and, therefore, of +no signification: If you think thus, you are wronging your own souls; +for whatever is written, was written for you in these times, as well as +for the christians in the first ages of the church. + +For the case stands thus between GOD and man: GOD, at first, made man +upright, or, as the sacred penman expresses it, “In the image of GOD +made he man;” his soul was the very copy, the transcript of the divine +nature. He who had, by his almighty power, spoken the world into being, +breathed into man the breath of spiritual life; and his soul became +adorned with purity and perfection. This was the finishing stroke of +the creation; the perfection both of the moral and material world; and +it so resembled the divine Original, that GOD could not but rejoice and +take pleasure in his own likeness: Therefore, we read, that when GOD +had finished the inanimate and brutish part of the creation, “he looked, +and behold it was good.” But when that lovely, god-like creature man +was made, “behold it was very good.” + +Happy, unspeakably happy, to be thus partaker of a divine Nature; and +thus man might have continued still, had he continued holy; but GOD +placed him in a state of probation, with a free grant to eat of every +tree in the garden, except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The +day he did eat thereof he was not only to become subject to temporal, +but spiritual death; and so lose that divine image, that spiritual life +which GOD had breathed into him, and which was as much his happiness as +his glory. + +But man, unhappy man, being seduced by the devil, did eat of the +forbidden fruit, and thereby became liable to that curse which the +eternal GOD had pronounced on him for his disobedience. And we read, +that soon after _Adam_ was fallen, he complained that he was naked; +naked, not only as to his body, but naked and destitute of those divine +graces which before beautified his soul. + +An unhappy mutiny and disorder then fell upon this world; those briars +and thorns which now spring up and overspread the earth, were but poor +emblems, lifeless representations of that confusion and rebellion which +sprung up in, and overwhelmed, the soul of man, immediately after the +fall. He now sunk into the temper of a beast and devil. + +In this dreadful and disordered condition are all of us brought into +the world: We are told, my brethren, that “_Adam_ had a son in his own +likeness,” or with the same corrupt nature which he himself had sunk +into, after eating the forbidden fruit: And experience, as well as +scripture, proves, that we are altogether born in sin, and, therefore, +uncapable, whilst in such a state, to have communion with GOD. + +For as light cannot have communion with darkness, so GOD can have no +communion with such polluted sons of _Belial_. Here, here, appears the +great and glorious end, why CHRIST was manifest in the flesh, to put +an end to these disorders, and to restore us unto the favour of GOD. +He came down from heaven and shed his precious blood upon the cross, +to satisfy the divine justice of his Father, for our sins; and so, he +purchased this Holy Ghost, who must once more re-stamp the divine image +on our hearts, and make us capable of living with, and enjoying of GOD. +We must be renewed by the spirit of GOD; he must dwell in us before we +can be new creatures, and be freed from a reprobate spirit: the spirit +of CHRIST must bring us home unto that fold where all his sheep are, +and implant his grace in our hearts, and take from us that spirit of +sin which reigns in us: And till this is rooted out of our hearts, +however we may flatter ourselves with being good christians, because we +are good moralists, and lead civil, moral, decent lives, yet if we live +and die, my brethren, in this way, we are only flattering ourselves +into hell. + +I think I have proved, to a demonstration, the necessity there is of +receiving the spirit of CHRIST. I now come to shew you, + +_Secondly_, Who CHRIST is, whose spirit you are to receive. + +My brethren, JESUS CHRIST is co-equal, co-essential, co-eternal, and +consubstantial with the Father, very GOD of very GOD; and as there was +not a moment of time in which GOD the Father was not, so there was not +a moment of time in which GOD the Son was not. + +_Arians_ and _Socinians_ deny this godhead of CHRIST, and esteem him +only as a creature: The _Arians_ look on him as a titular Deity, as +a created and subordinate God; but, if they would humbly search the +scriptures they would find divine homage paid to CHRIST. He is called +GOD in scripture, particularly when the great evangelical Prophet says, +“He shall be called the mighty GOD, the everlasting Father, and the +government shall be upon his shoulders:” And JESUS CHRIST himself says, +that he is “the Alpha and Omega;” and that “the world was made by him:” +But though this be ever so plain, our gay airy sparks of this age will +not believe the LORD JESUS CHRIST to be equal with his Father, and +that for no other reason, but because it is a fashionable and polite +doctrine to deny his divinity, and esteem him only as a created God. + +Our _Socinians_ do not go so far; they look upon CHRIST only to be a +good man sent from GOD, to shew the people the way they should go, on +their forsaking of Judaism; that he was to be also an example to the +world, and that his death was only to prove the truth of his doctrines. + +Many of those who call themselves members, yea, teachers of the church +of _England_, have got into this polite scheme. Good GOD! my very soul +shudders at the thoughts of the consequence that will attend such a +belief. O my brethren, do not think so dishonourably of the LORD who +bought you; of the JESUS who died for you: he must be all in all unto +your souls, if ever you are saved by him: CHRIST must be your active, +as well as passive obedience; his righteousness must be imputed to you. +The doctrine of CHRIST’s righteousness being imputed, is a comfortable, +a desirable doctrine to all real christians: And to you, sinners, who +are enquiring what you must do to be saved? how uncomfortable would it +be to tell you, by your own good works, when, perhaps, you have never +done one good work in all your lives: This would be driving you to +despair indeed; no, “believe in the LORD JESUS CHRIST and you shall be +saved;” come to the LORD JESUS by faith, and he shall receive you. He +is able and willing to save you. + +This second person in the Trinity, who is God-man, the mediator of +the new covenant; he, my brethren, hath virtue enough, in his blood, +to atone for the sins of millions of worlds: As man he died, he was +crucified, nailed to, and pierced on the accursed tree: This was the +love of the LORD JESUS CHRIST for you; and will you then have low and +dishonourable thoughts of JESUS CHRIST, after his having done so much +for you? O my dear brethren, don’t be so polite as to deny the Deity of +CHRIST; though you may be counted fools in the eye of the world, yet in +GOD’s account, you shall be esteemed wise, wise for salvation. + +You may now be looked upon as fools and madmen, as a parcel of rabble, +and, in a short time, fit for Bedlam. They may say you are going to +undermine the established church; but GOD, who knows the secrets of +all hearts, knows our innocency; and I speak the truth in CHRIST, I +lie not, I should rejoice to see all the world adhere to her articles; +I should rejoice to see the teachers, the ministers of the church +of _England_, preach up those very articles they have subscribed to; +but those ministers who do preach them up, they esteem as madmen, and +look on them, as the off-scouring of the earth, unfit for company and +conversation. + +The evil things they say of me, blessed be GOD, are without foundation; +I am a friend to the church homilies; I am a friend to her liturgy, and +if they did not thrust me out of their churches, I would read it every +day. + +My brethren, I am not for limiting the spirit of GOD, but am for +uniting all in the bonds of love; I love all that love the LORD +JESUS CHRIST: This will make more christians, than will the spirit of +persecution. + +The Pharisees may think it madness to mention persecution in a +christian country, but the spirit of persecution resides in many: their +will is as great, but blessed be GOD, they want the power; if they +had that, my brethren, fire and faggot is what we must expect, for the +devil’s temple is shaken. Many are coming unto JESUS, I hope many of +you are already come, and many more coming; this must make Satan rage, +to see his kingdom weakened; he will stir up all his malice against +the people of GOD. We must expect, that a suffering time will certainly +come; it is now hastening on, it is ripening a-pace; then it will be +proved, to a demonstration, whether you are hypocrites or not; for +suffering times are always trying times. O my brethren, do not be +afraid of a little reproach, but look on it as a fore-runner of what +will be the attendant upon it: Therefore let me, by way of application, + +Exhort all of you, high and low, rich and poor, one with another, +to come unto the LORD JESUS CHRIST, that he may give you strength to +undergo whatsoever he, in his wisdom, calls you to. Come, come, my +brethren, to JESUS CHRIST, and he will give you grace, which will make +you willing and ready to suffer all things for JESUS CHRIST. + +It is not being pointed at; it is not being despised and looked on as +mad, and a deluded people: Alas! what does this signify to a soul who +has JESUS CHRIST? Do not be afraid to confess the blessed JESUS; dare +to be singularly good: Don’t be afraid of singing of hymns, or of +meeting together to build each other up in the ways of the LORD: Shine +ye as lights in the world amidst a crooked and perverse generation. + +It is necessary that offences should come, to try what is in our hearts, +and whether we will be faithful soldiers of JESUS CHRIST or not: Be not +content with following CHRIST afar off, for then we shall, as _Peter_ +did, soon deny him; but let us be altogether christians. Let our speech +and all our actions declare to the whole world, whose disciples we are, +and that we have determined to know nothing but JESUS CHRIST, and him +crucified. O then, then, will it be well with us, happy, unspeakably +happy, shall we be, even here; and what is infinitely better, when +others that despised us shall be calling for the mountains to fall +on them, and the hills to cover them, we shall be exalted to sit down +on the right hand of GOD, and shine as the sun in the firmament, and +live for ever with our Redeemer. And will not this be a sufficient +recompence for all the sufferings you have undergone here? Therefore, +do not strive to have the greatness, the riches, the honour, and +pleasures of this world, but strive to have JESUS CHRIST. + +Your friends and carnal acquaintance, and, above all, your grand +adversary the devil, will be persuading you not to have CHRIST until +you are grown old; he would have you lay up goods for many years; to +see plays, play at cards; go to balls, and masquerades; and to make you +the more willing, to draw you in, he calls sinful pleasures, innocent +diversions. + +A late learned Rabbi of our church, told the people, in a sermon, which +I myself heard, that if people went to church of a Sunday, and said the +prayers while there, that it was no harm, neither would GOD count it a +sin, to take their recreation, after the service of the church was over: +But I say, my brethren, and the command of GOD says so too, that the +whole sabbath must be kept holy; and that as GOD has allowed you six +days for yourselves, to do the duties in those several stations wherein +Providence has placed you, he expects you should give him one day +to himself; and will you waste that sabbath which should be spent in +gathering provisions for your souls? GOD forbid! + +You had ten thousand times better be ignorant of all the polite +diversions of the age, than to be ignorant of the spirit of CHRIST’s +being within you, and that it must be, before you are _new creatures_, +and are in CHRIST; and if you have not an interest in CHRIST, you are +lost, your damnation is hastening on. “He that believeth shall be saved, +and he that believeth not shall be damned.” + +If you stand out against CHRIST, you are fighting against yourselves. O +come unto him, do not stay to bring good works with you, for they will +be of no service; all your works will never carry you to heaven, they +will never pardon one sin, nor give you the least comfort in a dying +hour; if you have nothing more than your own works to recommend you to +GOD, they will not prevent your sinking into that eternal abyss, where +there is no bottom. + +But come unto CHRIST, and he will give you that righteousness which +will stand you in good account at the great day of the LORD, when he +shall come to take notice of them that love him, and of those who have +the wedding garment on. + +Let all your actions spring from the love of JESUS; let him be the +Alpha and Omega of all your actions; then, my brethren, our indifferent +ones are acceptable sacrifices; but if this principle be wanting, our +most pompous services avail nothing; we are only spiritual idolaters: +we sacrifice to our own net, and make an idol of ourselves, by making +ourselves, and not CHRIST, the spring of our actions; and therefore, +my brethren, such actions are so far from being accepted by GOD, that +according to the language of one of the articles of our church, “We +doubt not but that they have the nature of sin, because they spring not +from an experimental faith in, and knowledge of JESUS CHRIST.” + +Were we not fallen creatures, we might then act upon other principles; +but since we are fallen in _Adam_, and are restored again only by the +death of JESUS CHRIST, the face of things is intirely changed, and all +we think, speak, or do, is only accepted in and through him, + +Therefore, my brethren, I beseech you, in the bowels of love and +compassion, that you would come unto JESUS: Do not go away scoffing, +offended, or blaspheming. Indeed, all I say is in love to your souls; +and if I could be but an instrument of bringing you to JESUS CHRIST, +if you were to be never so much exalted, I should not envy, but rejoice +in your happiness: If I was to make up the last of the train of the +companions of the blessed JESUS, it would rejoice me to see you above +me in glory. I do not speak out of a false humility, a pretended +sanctity; no, GOD is my judge, I speak the truth in CHRIST, I lie not, +I would willingly go to prison, or to death for you, so I could but +bring one soul from the devil’s strong holds, into the salvation which +is by CHRIST JESUS. + +Come then unto CHRIST every one that hears me this night; I offer JESUS +CHRIST, pardon, and salvation to all you, who will accept thereof. +Come, O ye drunkards, lay aside your cups, drink no more to excess; +come and drink of the water which CHRIST will give you, and then you +will thirst no more: come, O ye thieves; let him that has stolen, steal +no more, but fly unto CHRIST and he will receive you. Come unto him, +O ye harlots; lay aside your lusts and turn unto the LORD, and he will +have mercy upon you, he will cleanse you of all your sins, and wash +you in his blood. Come, all ye liars; come, all ye Pharisees; come, all +ye fornicators, adulterers, swearers, and blasphemers, come to CHRIST, +and he will take away all your filth, he will cleanse you from your +pollution, and your sins shall be done away. Come, come, my guilty +brethren; I beseech you for CHRIST’s sake, and for your immortal soul’s +sake, to come unto CHRIST: Do not let me knock at the door of your +hearts in vain, but open and let the King of Glory in, and he will +dwell with you, he will come and sup with you this night; this hour, +this moment he is ready to receive you, therefore come unto him. + +Do not consult with flesh and blood, let not the world hinder you from +coming to the LORD of life: What are a few transitory pleasures of this +life worth? They are not worth your having, but JESUS CHRIST is a pearl +of great price, he is worth the laying out all you have, to buy. + +And if you are under afflictions, fly not to company to divert you, +neither read what the world calls harmless books; they only tend to +harden the heart, and to keep you from closing with the LORD JESUS +CHRIST. + +When I was a child, yea, when I came to riper years, GOD knows, it is +with grief I speak it, when ignorant of the excellency of the word of +GOD, I read as many of these harmless books as any one; but now I have +tasted the good word of life, and am come to a more perfect knowledge +of CHRIST JESUS my LORD; I put away these childish, trifling things, +and am determined to read no other books but what lead me to a +knowledge of myself, and JESUS CHRIST. + +Methinks I could speak till midnight unto you, my brethren; I am full +of love towards you; let me beseech you to fly to CHRIST for succour: +“Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation;” therefore +delay not, but strive to enter in at the strait gate; do not go the +broad way of the polite world, but choose to suffer affliction with the +people of GOD, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season: +You will have a reward afterwards, that will make amends for all the +taunts, jeers, and calamities you may undergo here. + +And will not the presence of CHRIST be a sufficient reward for all +you have suffered for his name’s sake? Why will you not accept of the +LORD of glory? Do not say you have not heard of CHRIST, for he is now +offered to you, and you will not accept of him; do not blame my master, +he is willing to save you, if you will but lay hold on him by faith; +and if you do not, your blood will be required of your own heads. + +But I hope that you will not let the blood of JESUS be shed in vain, +and that you will not let my preaching be of no signification. Would +you have me go and tell my master, you will not come, and that I have +spent my strength in vain; I cannot bear to carry so unpleasing a +message unto him, I would not, indeed, I would not be a swift witness +against any of you at the great day of accounts; but if you will refuse +these gracious invitations, and not accept of them, I must do it: and +will it not move your tender hearts to see your friends taken up into +heaven, and you yourselves thrust down into hell? But I hope better +things of most of you, even that you will turn unto the LORD of love, +the JESUS who died for you, that in the day when he shall come to take +his people to the mansions of everlasting rest, you may hear his voice, +“Come, ye blessed of my Father, enter into the kingdom prepared for +you before the foundation of the world.” And that we may all enter into +that glory, do thou, O JESUS, prepare us, by thy grace; give us thy +spirit; and may our hearts be united to thee: May the word that has now +been spoken, take deep root in thy people’s hearts, that it may spring +up and bring forth fruit, in some thirty, in some forty, and in some an +hundred fold; do thou preserve them while in this life from all evil, +and keep them from falling, and at last present them faultless before +thy Father, when thou comest to judge the world, that where thou art, +they may be also. Grant this, O LORD JESUS CHRIST, with whatever else +thou seest needful for us, both at this time and for evermore. + + Now to GOD the Father, GOD the Son, and GOD the Holy Ghost, be + ascribed all honour, power, glory, might, majesty and dominion, + both now and for evermore, Amen. + + + + + SERMON LII. + + The heinous Sin of Drunkenness. + + + EPHESIANS v. 18. + + _Be not drunk with Wine, wherein is Excess; but be filed with + the Spirit._ + +THE persons to whom these words were written, were the inhabitants of +_Ephesus_, as we are told in the _Acts_, had been ♦worshippers of the +great goddess _Diana_, and, in all probability, worshipped the God +_Bacchus_ also; at the celebration of whose festivals, it was always +customary, nay, part of their religion, to get drunk; as though there +was no other way to please their God, but by turning themselves into +brutes. + + ♦ “worshipppers” replaced with “worshippers” + +The apostle therefore in this chapter, amongst many other precepts more +especially applicable to them, lays down this in the text; and exhorts +them, as they had now, by the free grace of GOD, been turned from +heathenish darkness to the light of the gospel, to walk as children of +light, and no longer make it part of their religion or practice to be +“drunk with wine, wherein is excess;” but, on the contrary, strive to +“be filled with the Spirit” of that Saviour, after whose name they were +called, and whose religion taught them to abstain from a filthy sin, +and to live soberly as they ought to live. + +The world being now christian, and the doctrines of the gospel every +where received, one would imagine, there should be no reason for +repeating the precept now before us. But alas, christians! I mean +christians falsely so called, are led captive by all sin in general, +and by this of drunkenness in particular; that was St. _Paul_ to rise +again from the dead, he might be tempted to think most of us were +turned back to the worship of dumb idols; had set up temples in honour +of _Bacchus_; and made it part of our religion, as the _Ephesians_ did +of theirs, “to be drunk with wine, wherein is excess.” + +Some of our civil magistrates have not been wanting to use the power +given them from above, for the punishment and restraint of such evil +doings; and I wish it could be said this plague of drinking, by what +they have done, had been stayed amongst us. But alas! though their +labour, we trust, has not been altogether in vain in the LORD, yet +thousands, and I could almost say ten thousands, fall daily at our +right-hand, by this sin of drunkenness, in our streets; nay, men seem +to have made a covenant with hell, and though the power of the civil +magistrate is exerted against them, nay, though they cannot but daily +see the companions of their riot hourly, by this sin, brought to the +grave, yet “they will rise up early to follow strong drink, and cry, +To-morrow shall be as to-day, and so much the more abundantly; when we +awake, we will seek it yet again.” + +It is high time therefore, for thy ministers, O GOD, to lift up their +voices like a trumpet; and since human threats cannot prevail, to set +before them the terrors of the LORD, and try if these will not persuade +them to cease from the evil of their doings. + +But alas! how shall I address myself to them? I fear excess of +drinking has made them such mere _Nabals_, that there is no speaking +to them. And many of GOD’s servants have toiled all their life-time in +dissuading them from this sin of drunkenness, yet they will not forbear. +However, at thy command, I will speak also, though they be a rebellious +house. Magnify thy strength, O LORD, in my weakness, and grant that +I may speak with such demonstration of the Spirit, and power, that +from henceforward they may cease to act so unwisely, and this sin of +drunkenness may not be their ruin. + +Believe me, ye unhappy men of _Belial_, (for such, alas! this sin has +made you) it is not without the strongest reasons, as well as utmost +concern for your precious and immortal souls, that I now conjure you, +in the Apostle’s words, “Not to be drunk with wine, or any other liquor, +wherein is excess.” For, + + _First_, Drunkenness is a sin which must be highly displeasing + to GOD; because it is an abuse of his good creatures. + +When GOD first made man, and had breathed into him the breath of +life, he gave him dominion over the works of his hands; and every herb +bearing seed, and every tree, in which was the fruit of a tree yielding +seed, to him was given for meat: but when _Adam_ had tasted the +forbidden fruit, which was the only restraint laid upon him, he +forfeited this privilege, and had no right, after he had disobeyed +his Creator, to the use of any one of the creatures. + +But, blessed be GOD, this charter, as well as all other privileges, is +restored to us by the death of the second _Adam_, our LORD and Master +JESUS CHRIST. Of every beast of the field, every fish of the sea, and +whatsoever flieth in the air, or moveth on the face of the earth, that +is fit for food, “we may freely eat,” without scruple take and eat; +but then, with this limitation, that we use them moderately. For GOD, +by the death of JESUS, has given no man license to be intemperate; but, +on the contrary, has laid us under the strongest obligations to live +soberly, as well as godly, in this present world. + +But the drunkard, despising the goodness and bounty of GOD, in +restoring to us what we had so justly forfeited, turns his grace into +wantonness; and as though the creature was not of itself enough subject +to vanity, by being cursed for our sake, he abuses it still more, +by making it administer to his lusts; and turns that wine which was +intended to make glad his heart, into a deadly poison. + +But thinkest thou, O drunkard, whosoever thou art, thou shalt escape +the righteous judgment of GOD? No, the time will shortly come that thou +must be no longer steward, and then the Sovereign LORD of all the earth +will reckon with thee for thus wasting his goods. Alas! wilt thou then +wrest scripture any longer to thy own damnation? And because JESUS +CHRIST turned water into wine at the marriage-feast, to supply the +wants of his indigent host, say, that it is therefore meet to make +merry, and be drunken. No, thou shalt be silent before him; and know, +that though thou hast encouraged thyself in drunkenness by such-like +arguments, yet for all these things GOD will bring thee into judgment. +But, + + _Secondly_, What makes drunkenness more exceedingly sinful, is, + that a man, by falling into it, sinneth against his own body. + +When the apostle would dissuade the _Corinthians_ from fornication, +he urges this as an argument, “Flee fornication, brethren; for he that +committeth fornication, sinneth against his own body.” And may not I as +justly cry out, Flee drunkenness, my brethren, since he that committeth +that crime, sinneth against his own body? For, from whence come so many +diseases and distempers in your bodies? Come they not from hence, even +from your intemperance in drinking? Who hath pains in the head? Who +hath rottenness in the bones? Who hath redness of eyes? He that tarries +long at the wine, he that rises early to seek new wine. How many +walking skeletons have you seen, whose bodies were once exceeding fair +to look upon, fat and well-favoured; but, by this sin of drinking, how +has their beauty departed from them, and how have they been permitted +to walk to and fro upon the earth, as though GOD intended to set them +up, as he did _Lot_’s wife, for monuments of his justice, that others +might learn not to get drunk? Nay, I appeal to yourselves: are not many, +for this cause, even now sickly among you? And have not many of your +companions, whom you once saw so flourishing, like green bay trees, +been brought by it with sorrow to their graves? + +We might, perhaps, think ourselves hardly dealt with by GOD, was he +to send us, as he did the royal Psalmist, to choose one plague out of +three, whereby we should be destroyed. But had the Almighty decreed +to cut off man from the face of the earth, and to shorten his days, +he could not well send a more effectual plague, than to permit men, as +they pleased, to over-charge themselves with drunkenness; for though it +be a slow, yet it is a certain poison. And if the sword has slain its +thousands, drunkenness has slain its ten thousands. + +And will not this alarm you, O ye transgressors? Will not this persuade +you to spare yourselves, and to do your bodies no harm? What, have +you lost the first principles of human nature, the fundamental law of +self-preservation? You seem to have a great fondness for your bodies; +why, otherwise, to gratify the inordinate appetites, do you drink to +excess? But surely, if you truly loved them, you would not thus destroy +them; and was there no other argument to be urged against drunkenness, +the consideration that it will destroy those lives you are so fond of, +one would imagine, should be sufficient. + +I know, indeed, that it is a common answer, which drunkards make to +those, who, out of love, would pull them as firebrands out of the +fire, we are no body’s enemy but our own. But this, instead of being +an excuse for, is an aggravation of their guilt: for (not to mention +that the drunkenness of one man has cloathed many a family with rags, +and that it is scarce possible for a person to be drunk, without +tempting his neighbour also) not to mention these, and many other ill +consequences, which would prove such an excuse to be entirely false: +yet what is dearer to a man than himself? And if he himself be lost, +what would all the whole world avail him? But how wilt thou stand, O +man, before the judgment-seat of CHRIST, and make such an excuse, when +thou shalt be arraigned before him as a self-murderer? Will it then be +sufficient, thinkest thou, to say, I was no man’s enemy but my own? No; +GOD will then tell thee, that thou oughtest to have glorified him with +thy spirit, and with thy body, which were his; and since thou hast, +by intemperance, destroyed thy body, he will destroy both thy body and +soul in hell. But, + + _Thirdly_, What renders drunkenness more inexcusable, is, that + it robs a man of his reason. + +Reason is the glory of a man; the chief thing whereby GOD has made +us to differ from the brute creation. And our modern unbelievers have +exalted it to such a high degree, as even to set it in opposition to +revelation, and so deny the LORD that bought them. But though, in doing +this, they greatly err, and whilst they profess themselves wise, become +real fools; yet we must acknowledge, that reason is the candle of the +LORD, and whosoever puts it out, shall bear his punishment, whosoever +he be. + +But yet, this the drunkard does. _Nebuchadnezzar_’s curse he makes his +choice, his reason departeth from him; and then what is he better than +a brute? + +The very heathen kings were so sensible of this, that, in order to +deter their young princes from drinking, they used to make their slaves +get drunk, and be exposed before them. And didst thou but see thine +own picture, O drunkard, when, after having drowned thy reason, thou +staggerest to and fro, like one of the fools in _Israel_, and seest thy +very companions making songs upon thee, surely thou wouldst not return +to thy vomit again, but abhor thyself in dust and ashes! + +When _David_, in a holy ecstacy, was dancing before the ark, _Michal_, +_Saul_’s daughter, despised him in her heart; and when he came home, +she said, “How glorious was the king of _Israel_ to-day, who uncovered +himself to-day in the eyes of the hand-maids of his servants, as one +of the vain fellows shamelesly uncovereth himself.” But may not every +one that meets a drunkard, more justly say, How glorious does he, that +was made a little lower than the angels, look to-day, when, unmindful +of his dignity, he has by drinking robbed himself of his reason, and +reduced himself to a level with the beasts that perish. + +But what if GOD, in the midst of one of these drunken fits, should +arrest thee by death, and say unto thee, “Thou fool, this moment shall +thy soul be required of thee.” O! how wouldst thou appear in those +filthy garments before that GOD, in whose sight the heavens are not +clean. And how knowest thou, O man, but this may be thy lot? Hast thou +not known many summoned at such an unguarded hour? and what assurance +hast thou, that thou shalt not be the next? Because GOD has forborn +thee so long, thinkest thou he will forbear always? No, this is rather +a sign that he will come at an hour thou lookest not for him; and since +his goodness and long-suffering has not led thee to repentance, he will +cut thee down, and not permit thee to cumber the ground any longer. +Consider this then, all ye that count it a pleasure to turn yourselves +into brutes, lest GOD pluck you away by a sudden death, and there be +none to deliver you. + + _Fourthly_, There is a farther aggravation of this crime, that + it is an inlet to, and forerunner of many other sins; for it + seldom comes alone. + +We may say of drunkenness, as _Solomon_ does of strife, that it is like +the letting out of water; for we know not what will be the end thereof. +Its name is _Legion_; behold a troop of sins cometh after it. And, +for my own part, when I see a drunkard, with the holy Prophet, when he +looked in _Hazael_’s face, I can hardly forbear weeping, to consider +how many vices he may fall into, ere he comes to himself again. + +What horrid incest did righteous _Lot_ commit with his own daughters, +when they had made him drunk? And, I doubt not, but there are many +amongst you, who have committed such crimes when you have deprived +yourselves of your reason by drinking, that were you to hear of them, +your heart, like _Nabal_’s, after he was told how he had abused _David_ +when he was drunk, would die within you. And, had any one told you, +when you were sober, that you would have been guilty of such crimes, +you would have cried out, with _Hazael_ before-mentioned, “Are thy +servants so many dogs, that they should do thus?” + +But no marvel that drunkards commit such crimes; for drunkenness drives +the Holy Spirit from them; they become mere machines for the devil to +work up to what he pleases; he enters into them, as he entered into the +herd of swine; and no wonder if they then commit all uncleanness, and +any other crime, with greediness. But this leads me to a + + _Fifth_ consideration, which highly aggravates the sin of + drunkenness, it separates the Holy Spirit from us. + +It is to be hoped, that no one here present need be informed, that +before we can be assured we are christians indeed, we must receive +the Holy Ghost, must be born again from above, and have the Spirit of +GOD witnessing with our spirits, that we are the sons of GOD. This, +this alone is true christianity; and without the cohabitation of this +blessed Spirit in our hearts, our righteousness does not exceed the +righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, and we shall in no wise +enter into the kingdom of GOD. + +But now, drunkards do in effect bid this blessed Spirit to depart from +them: for what has he to do with such filthy swine? They have no lot or +share in the Spirit of the Son of _David_. They have chased him out of +their hearts, by defiling his temple; I mean their bodies. And he can +no more hold communion with them, than light can have communion with +darkness, or CHRIST have concord with _Belial_. + +The apostle, therefore, in the words of the text, exhorts the +_Ephesians_, “not to be drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but to be +filled with the Spirit;” thereby implying, that drunkenness and the +Spirit of GOD could never dwell in the same heart. And in another +epistle, he bids them to avoid unprofitable conversation, as a thing +which grieved the Holy Spirit: whereby alone they could be sealed to +the day of redemption. And if unprofitable conversation grieves the +Holy Spirit, at what an infinite distance must drunkenness drive him +from the hearts of men? + +O that you were wise! that you would consider what a dreadful thing it +is to have the Spirit of the living GOD depart from you! for, assure +yourselves, if you live without him, you will live without GOD in the +world. You are in the same miserable forlorn condition as _Saul_ was, +when an evil spirit of the LORD came upon him; and you are only so many +vessels of wrath fitted for destruction. But this brings me to a + + _Sixth_ reason against the sin of drunkenness; it absolutely + unfits a man for the enjoyment of GOD in heaven, and exposes + him to his eternal wrath. + +To see and enjoy GOD, and to be like the blessed angels; always +beholding the face of our heavenly Father, in the glories of his +kingdom, is such an unspeakable happiness, that even wicked men, though +they will not live the life of the righteous, cannot but wish their +future state to be like his. + +But think you, O ye drunkards, that you shall ever be partakers of this +inheritance with the saints in light? Do you flatter yourselves, that +you, who have made them often the subject of your drunken songs, shall +now be exalted to sing with them the heavenly songs of _Sion_? No, as +by drunkenness you have made your hearts cages of unclean birds, with +impure and unclean spirits must you dwell. + +A burning _Tophet_, kindled by GOD’s wrath, is prepared for your +reception, where you must suffer the vengeance of eternal fire, and in +vain cry out for a drop of water to cool your tongues. Indeed you shall +drink, but it shall be a cup of GOD’s fury: for in the hand of the +LORD there will be a cup of fury, it will be full mixed; and as for the +dregs thereof, all the drunkards of the land shall suck them out. + +But perhaps you may not believe this report. These words may be looked +upon by you as idle tales, and I may seem to you as _Lot_ did to his +sons-in-law, when he came to warn them to get up out of _Sodom_, “as +one that mocketh.” But if you believe not me, believe eternal truth +itself, which has positively declared, that no drunkard shall ever +enter into his kingdom. + +And I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that as +surely as the LORD rained fire and brimstone, as soon as _Lot_ went +out of _Sodom_, so surely will GOD cast you into a lake of fire and +brimstone, when he shall come to take vengeance on them that know not +GOD, and have not obeyed the gospel of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. + +Behold then I have told you before; remember, that you this day were +informed what the end of drunkenness would be. And I summon you, in +the name of that GOD whom I serve, to meet me at the judgment-seat of +CHRIST, that you may acquit both my Master and me; and confess, with +your own mouths, that your damnation was of yourselves, and that we are +free from the blood of you all. + +But, LORD, has no one believed our report? Wilt thou suffer so many +words to be spoken in vain, if it be yet in vain? No, methinks I see +some pricked to the heart, and ready to cry out, in the language of +_David_ to _Abigail_, “Blessed be the LORD GOD of _Israel_, which sent +thee this day to speak unto us.” For surely, unless he had sent thee, +this sin of drunkenness had been our ruin: but now, since we find +whither it will lead us, we are resolved to drink no liquor to excess +while the world stands, lest we should be tormented in the flames of +hell. + +But alas! how shall we be delivered from the power of this sin? Can the +_Ethiopian_ change his skin, or the leopard his spots? So hard, almost, +will it be for you who have been accustomed to be intemperate, to learn +to live sober. + +But do not despair; for what is impossible with man, is possible with +GOD. Of whom then should you seek for succour, but of him your LORD? +Who, though for this sin of drunkenness, he might justly turn away his +face from you; yet observe, + +_First_, If you pour out your hearts before him in _daily prayer_, +and ask assistance from above, it may be GOD will endue you with power +from on high, and make you more than conquerors through JESUS CHRIST. +Had you kept up communion with him in prayer, you would not so long, +by drunkenness, have had communion with devils. But, like the Prodigal, +you have desired to be your own masters; you have lived without prayer, +depended on your own strength; and now see, alas! on what a broken reed +you have leaned. How soon have you made yourselves like the beasts that +have no understanding? But turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways. Come +to him with the repenting Prodigal, saying, “Father we have sinned;” we +beseech thee, let not this sin of drunkenness have any longer dominion +over us. Lay hold on CHRIST by faith, and lo! it shall happen to you +even as you will. A + +_Second_ means I would recommend to you, in order to get the better +of drunkenness, is to _avoid evil company_: For it is the evil +communication of wicked men, that has drawn many thousands into this +sin, and so corrupted their good manners. + +But you may say, If I leave my companions, I must expect contempt: for +they will certainly despise me for being singular. And thinkest thou, O +man, ever to enter in at the strait gate by a true conversion, without +being had in derision of them that are round about thee? No; though +thou mayst be despised, and not go to heaven, yet thou canst not go +to heaven without being despised: “For the friendship of the world +is enmity with GOD.” And they that are born after the flesh, will +persecute those that are born after the Spirit. Let not, therefore, +a servile fear of being despised by a man that shall die, hinder thy +turning unto the living GOD. For what is a little contempt? It is but +a vapour which vanisheth away, and cometh not again. Better be derided +by a few companions here, than be made ashamed before men and angels +hereafter. Better be the song of a few drunkards on earth, than dwell +with them, where they will be eternally reproaching and cursing each +other in hell. Yet a little while, and they themselves shall praise thy +doings; and shall say, We, fools, counted his leaving us to be folly, +and his end to be without honour: but now is he numbered among the sons +♦of GOD, and his lot among the saints! + + ♦ duplicate word “of” removed + +But I hasten to lay down a + +_Third_ means for those who would overcome the sin of drunkenness, +to enter upon a life of _strict self-denial_ and mortification: for +this kind of sin goeth not forth but by prayer and fasting. It is true, +this may seem a difficult task; but then, we must thank ourselves for +it; for had we begun sooner, our work would have been the easier. And +even now, if you will but strive, the yoke of mortification will grow +lighter and lighter every day. + +And now, by way of conclusion, I cannot but exhort all persons, high +and low, rich and poor, to practise a strict self-denial in eating +and drinking. For though “the kingdom of GOD consists not in meats +and drinks,” yet an abstemious use of GOD’s good creatures, greatly +promotes the spiritual life. And perhaps there are more destroyed by +living in a regular sensuality, than even by the very sin I have now +been warning you of. I know indeed, that many, who are only almost +christians, and who seek, but do not strive to enter into the kingdom +of GOD, urge a text of scripture to justify their indulgence, saying, +that “it is not what entereth into the man defileth the man.” And +so we grant, when taken moderately; but then they should consider, +that it is possible, nay, it is proved by daily experience, that a +person may eat and drink so much as not to hurt his body, and yet do +infinite prejudice to his soul: for self-indulgence lulls the soul +into a spiritual slumber, as well as direct intemperance; and though +the latter may expose us to more contempt among men, yet the former, +if continued in, will as certainly shut us out from the presence of +GOD. St. _Paul_ knew this full well; and therefore, though he was the +spiritual father of thousands, and was near upon finishing his course, +yet he says, it was his daily practice to “keep his body under, and +bring it into subjection, lest after he had preached to others, he +himself should be a cast-away,” or disapproved of, or do something that +might make him an offence or stumbling-block to any of GOD’s children: +for of his own, and all other saints final perseverance, he makes no +doubt, as is evident from many of his epistles; and the word Ἀδοκιμος +bears this sense, 2 _Corinthians_ xiii. 5. and sundry other places. But +why urge I the apostle’s example, to excite you to a strict temperance +in eating and drinking? Rather let me exhort you only to put in +practice the latter part of the text, to labour to “be filled with +the Spirit of GOD,” and then you will no longer search the scriptures +to find arguments for self-indulgence; but you will deal sincerely +with yourselves, and eat and drink no more at any time, than what is +consistent with the strictest precepts of the gospel. O beg of GOD, +that you may see, how you are fallen in _Adam_, and the necessity of +being renewed, ere you can be happy, by the Spirit of JESUS CHRIST! +Let us beseech him to enlighten us to see the treachery of our corrupt +hearts, and how pure and holy these bodies ought to be, that they +ought to be living temples of the Holy Ghost, and then we shall +shew ourselves men. And being made temples of the Holy Ghost, by his +dwelling in our bodies here, though after death, worms may destroy them, +yet shall they be raised by the same Spirit at the general resurrection +of the last day, to be fashioned like unto CHRIST’s glorious body +hereafter. + + Which GOD of his infinite mercy grant, &c. + + + + + SERMON LIII. + + The Power of CHRIST’s Resurrection. + + + PHILIPPIANS iii. 10. + + _That I may know Him, and the Power of his Resurrection._ + +THE apostle, in the verses before the text, had been cautioning the +_Philippians_ to “beware of the concision,” _Judaizing teachers_, +who endeavoured to subvert them from the simplicity of the gospel, by +telling them, they still ought to be subject to circumcision, and all +the other ordinances of _Moses_. And that they might not think he spoke +out of prejudice, and condemned their tenets, because he himself was a +stranger to the _Jewish_ dispensation, he acquaints them, that if any +other man thought he had whereof he might trust in the flesh, or seek +to be justified by the outward privileges of the _Jews_, he had more: +For he was “circumcised the eighth day; of the stock of _Israel_ (not +a proselyte, but a native _Israelite_); of the tribe of _Benjamin_ (the +tribe which adhered to _Judah_ when the others revolted); an _Hebrew_ +of the _Hebrews_ (a _Jew_ both on the father’s and mother’s side); +and as touching the law, a _Pharisee_,” the strictest sect amongst +all _Israel_. To shew that he was no _Gallio_ in religion, through +his great, though misguided zeal, he had persecuted the church of +CHRIST; and “as touching the righteousness of the law (as far as the +_Pharisees_ exposition of it went, he was) blameless,” and had kept +it from his youth. But, when it pleased GOD, who separated him from +his mother’s womb, to reveal his Son in him, “What things were gain +to me,” (he says) those privileges I boasted myself in, and fought to +be justified by, “I counted loss for CHRIST.” And that they might not +think he repented that he had done so, he tells them, he was now more +confirmed than ever in his judgment. For, says he, “yea doubtless (the +expression in the original rises with a holy triumph) and I do count +all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of CHRIST +JESUS my LORD.” And that they might not object that he said, and did +not, he acquaints them, he had given proofs of the sincerity of these +professions, because for the sake of them, he had suffered the loss of +all his worldly things, and still was willing to do more; for, “I count +them but dung (no more than offals thrown out to dogs) so that I may +win, (or have a saving interest in) CHRIST, and be found in him (as the +manslayer in the city of refuge) not having my own righteousness which +is of the law, (not depending on having _Abraham_ for my father, or on +any works of righteousness which I have done, either to atone or serve +as a balance for my evil deeds) but that which is through the faith of +CHRIST, the righteousness which is of GOD by faith,” a righteousness +of GOD’s appointing, and which will be imputed to me, if I believe +in CHRIST, “that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection;” +that I may have an experimental knowledge of the efficacy of his +resurrection, by feeling the influences of his blessed Spirit on my +soul. In which words two things are implied. + + _First_, That JESUS CHRIST did rise from the dead. + + _Secondly_, That it highly concerns us to know the power of his + rising again. + +Accordingly, in the following discourse I shall endeavour to shew, + + _First_, That CHRIST is risen indeed from the dead; and that it + was necessary for him so to do; and, + + _Secondly_, That it highly concerns us to know and experience + the power of his resurrection. + +_First_, CHRIST is indeed risen. + +That JESUS should rise from the dead was absolutely necessary; + +1. _First_, On his own account. He had often appealed to this as the +last and most convincing proof he would give them that he was the true +Messiah, “There shall no other sign be given you, than the sign of the +prophet _Jonas_.” And again, “Destroy this temple of my body, and in +three days I will build it up.” Which words his enemies remembered, and +urged it as an argument, to induce _Pilate_ to grant them a watch, to +prevent his being stolen out of the grave. “We know that deceiver said, +whilst he was yet alive, after three days I will rise again.” So that +had he not risen again, they might have justly said, we know that this +man was an impostor. + +2. _Secondly_, It was necessary on our account. (says the apostle) for +our justification;” or that the debt we owed to GOD for our sins, might +be fully satisfied and discharged. + +It had pleased the Father (for ever adored be his infinite love and +free grace) to wound his only Son for our transgressions, and to arrest +and confine him in the prison of the grave, as our surety for the guilt +we had contracted by setting at nought his commandments. Now had CHRIST +continued always in the grave, we could have had no more assurance +that our sins were satisfied for, than any common debtor can have of +his creditor’s being satisfied, whilst his surety is kept confined. +But he being released from the power of death, we are thereby assured, +that with his sacrifice GOD was well pleased, that our atonement was +finished on the cross, and that he hath made a full, perfect, and +sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins of the +world. + +3. _Thirdly_, It was necessary that our LORD JESUS should rise again +from the dead, to assure us of the certainty of the resurrection of our +own bodies. + +The doctrine of the resurrection of the body was entirely exploded and +set at nought among the _Gentiles_, as appears from the _Athenians_ +mocking at, and calling St. _Paul_ “a babbler and a setter forth +of strange doctrines,” when he preached to them JESUS, and the +resurrection. And though it was believed by most of the _Jews_, as is +evident from many passages of scripture, yet not by all; the whole sect +of the Sadducees denied it. But the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST put it +out of dispute. For as he acted as our representative, if he our head +be risen, then must we also, who are his members, rise with him. And +as in the first _Adam_ we all died, even so in him our second _Adam_ we +must all, in this sense, be made alive. + +As it was necessary, upon these accounts, that our blessed LORD +should rise from the dead; so it is plain beyond contradiction, that +he did. Never was any matter of fact better attested; never were +more precautions made use of to prevent a cheat. He was buried in a +sepulchre, hewn out of a rock, so that it could not be said that any +digged under, and conveyed him away. It was a sepulchre also wherein +never man before was laid; so that if any body did rise from thence, +it must be the body of JESUS of _Nazareth_. Besides, the sepulchre +was sealed; a great stone rolled over the mouth of it; and a band of +soldiers (consisting not of friends, but of his professed enemies) was +set to guard it. And as for his disciples coming by night and stealing +him away, it was altogether improbable: For it was not long since, that +they had all forsaken him, and they were the most backward in believing +his resurrection. And supposing it was true, that they came whilst the +soldiers slept; yet the soldiers must be cast into a deep sleep indeed, +that the rolling away so great a stone did not awake some of them. + +And our blessed LORD’s afterwards appearing at sundry times, and in +divers manners, to his disciples, as when they were assembled together, +when they were walking to _Emmaus_, when they were fishing; nay, and +condescending to shew them his hands and feet, and his appearing to +above five hundred brethren at once, put the truth of his resurrection +out of all dispute. + +Indeed, there is one objection that may be made against what has been +said, that the books wherein these facts are recorded were written by +his disciples. + +And who more proper persons than those who were eye-witnesses of +what they related, and eat and drank with him after his resurrection? +“But they were illiterate and ignorant men.” Yet as good witnesses +of a plain matter of fact, as the most learned masters in _Israel_. +Nay, this rendered them more proper witnesses. For being plain men, +they were therefore less to be suspected of telling or making a lye, +particularly, since they laid down their lives for a testimony of the +truth of it. We read indeed of _Jacob_’s telling a lie, though he was +a plain man, in order to get his father’s blessing. But it was never +heard since the world began, that any man, much less a whole set of men, +died martyrs, for the sake of an untruth, when they themselves were to +reap no advantage from it. + +No, this single circumstance proves them to be _Israelites_ indeed, in +whom was no guile. And the wonderful success GOD gave to their ministry +afterwards, when three thousand were converted by one sermon; and +twelve poor fishermen, in a very short time enabled to be more than +conquerors over all the opposition men or devils could make, was as +plain a demonstration, that CHRIST was risen, according to their gospel, +as that a divine power, at the sound of a few ram’s horns, caused the +walls of _Jericho_ to fall down. + +But what need we any farther witnesses? Believe you the resurrection +of our blessed LORD? I know that you believe it, as your gathering +together on this first day of the week in the courts of the LORD’s +house abundantly testifies. + +What concerns us most to be assured of, and which is the + +_Second_ thing I was to speak to, is, Whether we have experimentally +known the power of his resurrection; that is, Whether or not we have +received the Holy Ghost, and by his powerful operations on our hearts +have been raised from the death of sin, to a life of righteousness and +true holiness. + +It was this, the great apostle was chiefly desirous to know. The +resurrection of CHRIST’s body he was satisfied would avail him nothing, +unless he experienced the power of it in raising his dead soul. + +For another, and that a chief end of our blessed LORD’s rising from the +dead, was to enter heaven as our representative, and to send down the +Holy Ghost to apply that redemption he had finished on the cross, to +our hearts, by working an entire change in them. + +Without this, CHRIST would have died in vain. For it would have done us +no service to have had his outward righteousness imputed to us, unless +we had an inward inherent righteousness wrought in us. Because, being +altogether conceived and born in sin, and consequently unfit to hold +communion with an infinitely pure and holy GOD, we cannot possibly be +made meet to see or enjoy him, till a thorough renovation has passed +upon our hearts. + +Without this, we leave out the Holy Ghost in the great work of +our redemption. But as we were made by the joint concurrence and +consultation of the blessed trinity; and as we were baptized in their +name, so must all of them concur in our salvation: As the Father made, +and the Son redeemed, so must the Holy Ghost sanctify and seal us, or +otherwise we have believed in vain. + +This then is what the apostle means by the “Power of CHRIST’s +resurrection,” and this is what we are as much concerned experimentally +to know, as that He rose at all. + +Without this, though we may be moralists, though we may be civilized, +good-natured people, yet we are no christians. For he is not a true +christian, who is only one outwardly; nor have we therefore a right, +because we daily profess to believe that CHRIST rose again the third +day from the dead. But he is a true christian who is one inwardly; and +then only can we be stiled true believers, when we not only profess +to believe, but have felt the power of our blessed LORD’s rising from +the dead, by being quickened and raised by his Spirit, when dead in +trespasses and sins, to a thorough newness both of heart and life. + +The devils themselves cannot but believe the doctrine of the +resurrection, and tremble; but yet they continue devils, because the +benefits of this resurrection have not been applied to them, nor have +they received a renovating power from it, to change and put off their +diabolical nature. And so, unless we not only profess to know, but also +feel that CHRIST is risen indeed, by being born again from above, we +shall be as far from the kingdom of GOD as they: our faith will be as +ineffectual as the faith of devils. + +Nothing has done more harm to the christian world, nothing has rendered +the cross of CHRIST of less effect, than a vain supposition, that +religion is something without us. Whereas we should consider, that +every thing that CHRIST did outwardly, must be done over again in our +souls; or otherwise, the believing there was such a divine person once +on earth, who triumphed over hell and the grave, will profit us no +more, than believing there was once such a person as _Alexander_, who +conquered the world. + +As CHRIST was born of the Virgin’s womb, so must he be spiritually +formed in our hearts. As he died for sin, so must we die to sin. And as +he rose again from the dead, so must we also rise to a divine life. + +None but those who have followed him in this regeneration, or new-birth, +shall sit on thrones as approvers of his sentence, when he shall come +in terrible majesty to judge the twelve tribes of _Israel_. + +It is true, as for the outward work of our redemption, it was a +transient act, and was certainly finished on the cross, but the +application of that redemption to our hearts, is a work that will +continue always, even unto the end of the world. + +So long as there is an elect man breathing on the earth, who is +naturally engendred of the offspring of the first _Adam_, so long must +the quickning spirit, which was purchased by the resurrection of the +second _Adam_, that LORD from heaven, be breathing upon his soul. + +For though we may exist by CHRIST, yet we cannot be said to exist in +him, till we are united to him by one spirit, and enter into a new +state of things, as certainly as he entered into a new state of things, +after that he rose from the dead. + +We may throng and crowd round about CHRIST, and call him “Lord, +Lord,” when we come to worship before his footstool; but we have not +effectually touched him, till by a lively faith in his resurrection, +we perceive a divine virtue coming out of him, to renew and purify our +souls. + +How greatly then do they err who rest in a bare historical faith of our +Saviour’s resurrection, and look only for external proofs to evidence +it? Whereas were we the most learned disputers of this world, and could +speak of the certainty of this fact with the tongue of men and angels, +yet without this inward testimony of it in our hearts, though we might +convince others, yet we should never be saved by it ourselves. + +For we are but dead men, we are like so many carcases wrapt up in grave +cloaths, till that same JESUS who called _Lazarus_ from his tomb, and +at whose own resurrection many that slept arose, doth raise us also by +his quickening Spirit from our natural death, in which we have so long +lain, to a holy and heavenly life. + +We might think ourselves happy, if we had seen the Holy JESUS after He +was risen from the dead, and our hands had handled that LORD of life. +But more happy are they who have not seen him, and yet having felt the +power of his resurrection, therefore believe in him. For many saw our +divine master, who were not saved by him; but whosoever has thus felt +the power of his resurrection, has the earnest of his inheritance in +his heart, he has passed from death to life, and shall never fall into +final condemnation. + +I am very sensible that this is foolishness to the natural man, as +were many such like truths to our LORD’s own disciples, when only +weak in faith, before he rose again. But when these natural men, like +them, have fully felt the power of his resurrection, they will then own +that this doctrine is from GOD, and say with the _Samaritans_, “Now we +believe not because of thy saying,” for we ourselves have experienced +it in our hearts. + +And O that all unbelievers, all letter-learned masters of _Israel_, +who now look upon the doctrine of the power of CHRIST’s resurrection, +or our new birth, as an idle tale, and condemn the preachers of it +as enthusiasts and madmen, did but thus feel the power of it in their +souls, they would no longer ask, how this thing could be? But they +would be convinced of it, as much as _Thomas_ was, when he saw the +LORD’s CHRIST; and like him, when JESUS bid him reach out his hands and +thrust them into his side, in a holy confusion they would cry out, “My +LORD and my GOD!” + +But how shall an unbeliever, how shall the formal christian come thus +to “know CHRIST, and the power of his resurrection?” GOD, who cannot +lye, has told us, “I am the resurrection and the life, whosoever liveth +and believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” Again, +says the apostle, “By faith we are saved, and that not of ourselves, it +is the gift of GOD.” + +This, this is the way, walk in it. Believe, and you shall live in +CHRIST, and CHRIST in you; you shall be one with CHRIST, and CHRIST one +with you. But without this, your outward goodness and professions will +avail you nothing. + +But then, by this faith we are not to understand a dead speculative +faith, a faith in the head; but a living principle wrought in the heart +by the powerful operations of the Holy Ghost, a faith that will enable +us to overcome the world, and forsake all in affection for JESUS CHRIST. +For thus speaks our ♦blessed Master, “Unless a man forsake all that he +hath, he cannot be my disciple.” + + ♦ “blesser” replaced with “blessed” + +And so the apostle, in the words immediately following the text, says, +“being made conformable to his death;” thereby implying, that we cannot +know the power of CHRIST’s resurrection, unless we are made conformable +to him in his death. + +If we can reconcile light and darkness, heaven and hell, then we +may hope to know the power of CHRIST’s resurrection without dying to +ourselves and the world. But till we can do this, we might as well +expect that CHRIST will have concord with _Belial_. + +For there is such a contrariety between the spirit of this world, and +the Spirit of JESUS CHRIST, that he who will be at friendship with the +one, must be at enmity with the other: “We cannot serve GOD and mammon.” + +This may, indeed, seem a hard saying; and many, with the young man in +the gospel, may be tempted to go away sorrowful: But wherefore should +this offend them? For what is all that is in the world, the lust of +the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, but vanity and +vexation of spirit? + +GOD is love; and therefore, could our own wills, or the world, have +made us happy, he never would have sent his own dear Son JESUS CHRIST +to die and rise again, to deliver us from the power of them. But +because they only torment, and cannot satisfy, therefore GOD bids us +to renounce them. + +Had any one persuaded profane _Esau_ not to lose so glorious a +privilege, merely for the sake of gratifying a present corrupt +inclination, when he saw him about to sell his birth-right for a +little red pottage, would not one think that man to have been _Esau_’s +friend? And just thus stands the case between GOD and us. By the +death and resurrection of JESUS CHRIST, we are new-born to an heavenly +inheritance amongst all them which are sanctified; but our own corrupt +wills, would tempt us to sell this glorious birth-right for the +vanities of the world, which, like _Esau_’s red pottage, may please us +for a while, but will soon be taken away from us. GOD knows this, and +therefore rather bids us renounce them for a season, than for the short +enjoyment of them lose the privilege of that glorious birth-right, to +which, by knowing the power of the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST, we are +entitled. + +O the depth of the riches and excellency of christianity! Well might +the great St. _Paul_ count all things but dung and dross for the +excellency of the knowledge of it. Well might he desire so ardently to +know JESUS, and the power of his resurrection. For even on this side +eternity it raises us above the world, and makes us to sit in heavenly +places in CHRIST JESUS. + +Well might that glorious company of worthies, recorded in the Holy +scriptures, supported with a deep sense of their heavenly calling, +despise the pleasures and profits of this life, and wander about in +sheep-skins, and goat-skins, in dens and caves of the earth, being +destitute, afflicted, tormented. + +And O that we were all like minded! that we felt the power of CHRIST’s +resurrection as they did! How should we then “count all things as +dung and dross for the excellency of the knowledge of CHRIST JESUS our +LORD!” How should we then recover our primitive dignity, trample the +earth under our feet, and with our souls be continually gasping after +GOD? + +And what hinders but we may be thus minded? Is JESUS CHRIST, our great +High Priest, altered from what he was? No, “he is the same yesterday, +to-day, and for ever.” And though he is exalted to the right-hand of +GOD, yet he is not ashamed to call us brethren. The power of his +resurrection is as great now as formerly, and the Holy Spirit, which +was assured to us by his resurrection, as ready and able to quicken us +who are dead in trespasses and sins, as any saint that ever lived. Let +us but cry, and that instantly, to Him that is mighty and able to save; +let us, in sincerity and truth, without secretly keeping back the least +part, renounce ourselves and the world; then we shall be christians +indeed. And though the world may call us out, and separate from our +company, yet JESUS CHRIST will walk with, and abide in us. And at the +general resurrection of the last day, when the voice of the archangel +and trump of GOD shall bid the sea and the graves to give up their dead, +and all nations shall appear before him, then will he confess us before +his Father and the holy angels, and we shall receive that invitation +which he shall then pronounce to all who love and fear him, “Come, ye +blessed children of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you +from the beginning of the world.” + + Grant this, O Father, for thy dear Son’s sake, JESUS CHRIST our + LORD; to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, &c. + + + + + SERMON LIV. + + Intercession every Christian’s Duty. + + + 1 THESSALONIANS v. 25. + + _Brethren, pray for us._ + +IF we enquire, why there is so little love to be found amongst +christians, why the very characteristic, by which every one should +know that we are disciples of the holy JESUS, is almost banished out +of the christian world, we shall find it, in a great measure, owing to +a neglect or superficial performance of that excellent part of prayer, +_intercession_, or imploring the divine grace and mercy in behalf of +others. + +Some forget this duty of praying for others, because they seldom +remember to pray for themselves: and even those who are constant in +praying to their Father who is in heaven, are often so selfish in +their addresses to the throne of grace, that they do not enlarge their +petitions for the welfare of their fellow christians as they ought; and +thereby fall short of attaining that christian charity, that unfeigned +love to their brethren, which their sacred profession obliges them to +aspire after, and without which, though they should bestow all their +goods to feed the poor, and even give their bodies to be burned, yet it +would profit them nothing. + +Since these things are so, I shall from the words of the text (though +originally intended to be more confined) endeavour to shew, + + I. _First_, That it is every christian’s duty to pray for others, + as well as for himself. + + II. _Secondly_, Shew, whom we ought to pray for, and in what + manner we should do it. And, + + III. _Thirdly_, I shall offer some motives to excite all + christians to abound in this great duty of intercession. + +I. _First_, I shall endeavour to shew, That it is every christian’s +duty to pray for others, as well as for himself. + +Now _prayer_ is a duty founded on natural religion; the very heathens +never neglected it, though many christian heathens amongst us do: +and it is so essential to christianity, that you might as reasonably +expect to find a living man without breath, as a true christian without +the spirit of prayer and supplication. Thus, no sooner was St. _Paul_ +converted, but “behold he prayeth,” saith the LORD Almighty. And thus +will it be with every child of GOD, as soon as he becomes such: prayer +being truly called, The natural cry of the newborn soul. + +For in the heart of every true believer there is a heavenly tendency, a +divine attraction, which as sensibly draws him to converse with GOD, as +the load-stone attracts the needle. + +A deep sense of their own weakness, and of CHRIST’s fulness; a strong +conviction of their natural corruption, and of the necessity of +renewing grace; will not let them rest from crying day and night to +their Almighty Redeemer, that the divine image, which they lost in +_Adam_, may through his all-powerful mediation, and the sanctifying +operations of his blessed spirit, be begun, carried on, and fully +perfected both in their souls and bodies. + +Thus earnest, thus importunate, are all sincere christians in praying +for themselves: but then, not having so lively, lasting, and deep +a sense of the wants of their christian brethren, they are for the +most part too remiss and defective in their prayers for them. Whereas, +was the love of GOD shed abroad in our hearts, and did we love our +neighbour in that manner, in which the Son of GOD our Saviour loved +us, and according to his command and example, we could not but be as +importunate for their spiritual and temporal welfare, as for our own; +and as earnestly desire and endeavour that others should share in the +benefits of the death and passion of JESUS CHRIST, as we ourselves. + +Let not any one think, that this is an uncommon degree of charity; an +high pitch of perfection, to which not every one can attain: for, if +we are all commanded to “love our neighbour (that is every man) even as +ourselves,” nay to “lay down our lives for the brethren;” then, it is +the duty of all to pray for their neighbours as much as for themselves, +and by all possible acts and expressions of love and affection towards +them, at all times, to shew their readiness even to lay down their +lives for them, if ever it should please GOD to call them to it. + +Our blessed Saviour, as “he hath set us an example, that we should +follow his steps” in every thing else, so hath he more especially +in this: for in that divine, that perfect and inimitable prayer +(recorded in the xviith of St. _John_) which he put up just before his +passion, we find but few petitions for his own, though many for his +disciples welfare: and in that perfect form which he has been pleased +to prescribe us, we are taught to say, not _My_, but “_Our_ Father,” +thereby to put us in mind, that, whenever we approach the throne of +grace, we ought to pray not for ourselves alone, but for all our +brethren in CHRIST. + +Intercession then is certainly a duty incumbent upon all christians. + +II. Whom we are to intercede for, and how this duty is to be performed, +comes next to be considered. + +1. And first, our intercession must be _universal_. “I will, (says the +apostle) that prayers, supplications and intercessions be made for all +men.” For as GOD’s mercy is over all his works, as JESUS CHRIST died +to redeem a people out of all nations and languages; so we should pray, +that “all men may come to the knowledge of the truth, and be saved.” +Many precious promises are made in holy writ, that the gospel shall +be published through the whole world, that “the earth shall be covered +with the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea:” and +therefore it is our duty not to confine our petitions to our own nation; +but to pray that all those nations, who now sit in darkness and in the +shadow of death, may have the glorious gospel shine out upon them, as +well as upon us. But you need not that any man should teach you this, +since ye yourselves are taught of GOD, and of JESUS CHRIST himself, to +pray, that his kingdom may come; part of the meaning of which petition +is, that “GOD’s ways may be known upon earth, and his saving health +among all nations.” + +2. Next to the praying for all men, we should, according to St. +_Paul_’s rule, pray for _Kings_; particularly for our present sovereign +King _George_, and all that are put in authority under him: that we +may lead quiet lives, in all godliness and honesty. For, if we consider +how heavy the burden of government is, and how much the welfare of +any people depends on the zeal and godly conversation of those that +have the rule over them: if we set before us the many dangers and +difficulties, to which governors by their station are exposed, and the +continual temptations they lie under to luxury and self-indulgence; we +shall not only pity, but pray for them: that he who preserved _Esther_, +_David_, and _Josiah_, “unspotted from the world,” amidst the grandeur +of a court, and gave success to their designs, would also preserve them +holy and unblameable, and prosper all the works of their hands upon +them. But + +3. _Thirdly_, you ought, in a more especial manner, to pray for those, +whom “the Holy Ghost hath made _Overseers_ over you.” This is what St. +_Paul_ begs, again and again, of the churches to whom he writes: Says +he in the text, “Brethren, pray for us;” and again, in his epistle to +the _Ephesians_, “praying always, with all manner of supplication; and +for me also, that I may open my mouth boldly, to declare the mystery of +the gospel.” And in another place, to express his earnestness in this +request, and the great importance of their prayers for him, he bids the +church “strive, (or, as the original word signifies, be in an agony) +together with him in their prayers.” And surely, if the great St. +_Paul_, that chosen vessel, that favourite of heaven, needed the +most importunate prayers of his christian converts; much more do the +ordinary ministers of the gospel stand in need of the intercession of +their respective flocks. + +And I cannot but in a more especial manner insist upon this branch +of your duty, because it is a matter of such importance: for, no +doubt, much good is frequently withheld from many, by reason of their +neglecting to pray for their ministers, and which they would have +received, had they prayed for them as they ought. Not to mention, that +people often complain of the want of diligent and faithful pastors. But +how do they deserve good pastors, who will not earnestly pray to GOD +for such? If we will not pray to the LORD of the harvest, can it be +expected he will send forth labourers into his harvest? + +Besides, what ingratitude is it, not to pray for your ministers! For +shall they watch and labour in the word and doctrine for you, and your +salvation, and shall not you pray for them in return? If any bestow +favours on your bodies, you think it right, meet, and your bounden duty, +to pray for them; and shall not they be remembered in your prayers, who +daily feed and nourish your souls? Add to all this, that praying for +your ministers, will be a manifest proof of your believing, that though +_Paul_ plant, and _Apollos_ water, yet it is GOD alone who giveth +the increase. And you will also find it the best means you can use, +to promote your own welfare; because GOD, in answer to your prayers, +may impart a double portion of his holy spirit to them, whereby they +will be qualified to deal out to you larger measures of knowledge in +spiritual things, and be enabled more skilfully to divide the word of +truth. + +Would men but constantly observe this direction, and when their +ministers are praying in their name to GOD, humbly beseech him to +perform all their petitions: or, when they are speaking in GOD’s name +to them, pray that the Holy Ghost may fall on all them that hear the +word; we should find a more visible good effect of their doctrine, and +a greater mutual love between ministers and their people. For ministers +hands would then be held up by the people’s intercessions, and the +people will never dare to villify or traduce those who are the constant +subjects of their prayers. + +4. Next to our ministers, _our friends_ claim a place in our +intercessions; but then we should not content ourselves with praying +in general terms for them, but suit our prayers to their particular +circumstances. When _Miriam_ was afflicted with a leprosy from GOD, +_Moses_ cried and said, “LORD, heal her.” And when the nobleman came +to apply to JESUS CHRIST, in behalf of his child, he said, “LORD, my +little daughter lieth at the point of death, I pray thee to come and +heal her.” In like manner, when our friends are under any afflicting +circumstances, we should endeavour to pray for them, with a particular +regard to those circumstances. For instance, is a friend sick? we +should pray, that if it be GOD’s good pleasure, it may not be unto +death; but if otherwise, that he would give him grace so to take his +visitation, that, after this painful life ended, he may dwell with him +in life everlasting. Is a friend in doubt in an important matter? we +should lay his case before GOD, as _Moses_ did that of the daughters +of _Zelophehad_, and pray, that GOD’s Holy Spirit may lead him into +all truth, and give all seasonable direction. Is he in want? we should +pray, that his faith may never fail, and that in GOD’s due time he may +be relieved. And in all other cases, we should not pray for our friends +only in generals, but suit our petitions to their particular sufferings +and afflictions; for otherwise, we may never ask perhaps for the things +our friends most want. + +It must be confessed, that such a procedure will oblige some often to +break from the forms they use; but if we accustom ourselves to it, and +have a deep sense of what we ask for, the most illiterate christian +will not want proper words to express themselves. + +We have many noble instances in holy scripture of the success of this +kind of particular intercession; but none more remarkable than that of +_Abraham_’s servant, in the book of _Genesis_, who being sent to seek +a wife for his son _Isaac_, prayed in a most particular manner in his +behalf. And the sequel of the story informs us, how remarkably his +prayer was answered. And did christians now pray for their friends +in the same particular manner, and with the same faith as _Abraham_’s +servant did for his master; they would, no doubt, in many instances, +receive as visible answers, and have as much reason to bless GOD for +them, as he had. But + +5. As we ought thus to intercede for our friends, so in like manner +must we also pray for _our enemies_. “Bless them that curse you, +(says JESUS CHRIST) and pray for them that despitefully use you, and +persecute you.” Which commands he enforced in the strongest manner by +his own example: in the very agonies and pangs of death, he prayed even +for his murderers, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they +do!” This, it must needs be confessed, is a difficult duty, yet not +impracticable, to those who have renounced the things of this present +life, (from an inordinate love of which all enmities arise) and who +knowing the terrible woes denounced against those who offend CHRIST’s +little ones, can, out of real pity, and a sense of their danger, pray +for those by whom such offences come. + +6. Lastly, and to conclude this head, we should intercede for all that +are any ways _afflicted_ in mind, body, or estate; for all who desire, +and stand in need of our prayers, and for all who do not pray for +themselves. + +And Oh! that all who hear me, would set apart some time every day for +the due performance of this most necessary duty! In order to which, + +I shall now proceed, + +III. To shew the advantages, and offer some considerations to excite +you to the practice of daily intercession. And + +1. _First_, It will fill your hearts with love one to another. He that +every day heartily intercedes at the throne of grace for all mankind, +cannot but in a short time be filled with love and charity to all: +and the frequent exercise of his love in this manner, will insensibly +enlarge his heart, and make him partaker of that exceeding abundance +of it which is in CHRIST JESUS our LORD! Envy, malice, revenge, +and such like hellish tempers, can never long harbour in a gracious +intercessor’s breast; but he will be filled with joy, peace, meekness, +long-suffering, and all other graces of the Holy Spirit. By frequently +laying his neighbour’s wants before GOD, he will be touched with a +fellow-feeling of them; he will rejoice with those that do rejoice, +and weep with those that weep. Every blessing bestowed on others, +instead of exciting envy in him, will be looked on as an answer to his +particular intercession, and fill his soul with joy unspeakable and +full of glory. + +Abound therefore in acts of general and particular intercessions; and +when you hear of your neighbour’s faults, instead of relating them to, +and exposing them before others, lay them in secret before GOD, and beg +of him to correct and amend them. When you hear of a notorious sinner, +instead of thinking you do well to be angry, beg of JESUS CHRIST to +convert, and make him a monument of his free grace; you cannot imagine +what a blessed alteration this practice will make in your heart, +and how much you will increase day by day in the spirit of love and +meekness towards all mankind! + +But farther, to excite you to the constant practice of this duty of +intercession, consider the many instances in holy scripture, of the +power and efficacy of it. Great and excellent things are there recorded +as the effects of this divine employ. It has stopped plagues, it has +opened and shut heaven; and has frequently turned away GOD’s fury from +his people. How was _Abimelech_’s house freed from the disease GOD sent +amongst them, at the intercession of _Abraham_! When “_Phineas_ stood +up and prayed,” how soon did the plague cease! When _Daniel_ humbled +and afflicted his soul, and interceded for the LORD’s inheritance, how +quickly was an angel dispatched to tell him, “his prayer was heard!” +And, to mention but one instance more, how does GOD own himself as it +were overcome with the importunity of _Moses_, when he was interceding +for his idolatrous people, “Let me alone,” says GOD! + +This sufficiently shews, I could almost say, the omnipotency of +intercession, and how we may, like _Jacob_, wrestle with GOD, and by an +holy violence prevail both for ourselves and others. And no doubt it is +owing to the secret and prevailing intercessions of the few righteous +souls who still remain among us, that GOD has yet spared this miserably +sinful nation: for were there not some such faithful ones, like _Moses_, +left to stand in the gap, we should soon be destroyed, even as was +_Sodom_, and reduced to ashes like unto _Gomorrah_. + +But, to stir you up yet farther to this exercise of intercession, +consider, that in all probability, it is the frequent employment even +of the glorified saints: for though they are delivered from the burden +of the flesh, and restored to the glorious liberty of the sons of +GOD, yet as their happiness cannot be perfectly consummated ’till the +resurrection of the last day, when all their brethren will be glorified +with them, we cannot but think they are often importunate in beseeching +our heavenly Father, shortly to accomplish the number of his elect, +and to hasten his kingdom. And shall not we, who are on earth, be +often exercised in this divine employ with the glorious company of +the spirits of just men made perfect? Since our happiness is so much +to consist in the communion of saints in the church triumphant above, +shall we not frequently intercede for the church militant here below; +and earnestly beg, that we may all be one, even as the Holy JESUS and +his Father are one, that we may also be made perfect in one? + +To provoke you to this great work and labour of love, remember, that +it is the never ceasing employment of the holy and highly exalted JESUS +himself, who sits at the right hand of GOD, to hear all our prayers, +and to make continual intercession for us! So that he who is constantly +employed in interceding for others, is doing that on earth, which the +eternal Son of GOD is always doing in heaven. + +Imagine therefore, when you are lifting up holy hands in prayer for +one another, that you see the heavens opened, and the Son of GOD in +all his glory, as the great high-priest of your salvation, pleading for +you the all-sufficient merit of his sacrifice before the throne of his +heavenly Father! Join then your intercessions with his, and beseech him, +that they may, through him, come up as incense, and be received as a +sweet-smelling savour, acceptable in the light of GOD! This imagination +will strengthen your faith, excite a holy earnestness in your prayers, +and make you wrestle with GOD, as _Jacob_ did, when he saw him face +to face, and his life was preserved; as _Abraham_, when he pleaded for +_Sodom_; and as JESUS CHRIST himself, when he prayed, being in an agony, +so much the more earnestly the night before his bitter passion. + +And now, brethren, what shall I say more, since you are taught of JESUS +CHRIST himself, to abound in love, and in this good work of praying +one for another. Though ever so mean, though as poor as _Lazarus_, +you will then become benefactors to all mankind; thousands, and twenty +times ten thousands, will then be blessed for your sakes! and after +you have employed a few years in this divine exercise here, you will +be translated to that happy place, where you have so often wished +others might be advanced; and be exalted to sit at the right hand of +our All-powerful, All-prevailing Intercessor, in the kingdom of his +heavenly Father hereafter. + +However, I cannot but in an especial manner press this upon you +now, because all ye, amongst whom I have now been preaching, in all +probability will see me no more: for I am now going (I trust under the +conduct of GOD’s most Holy Spirit) from you, knowing not what shall +befal me: I need therefore your most importunate intercessions, that +nothing may move me from my duty, and that I may not “count even my +life dear unto myself, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the +ministry I have received of the LORD JESUS, to testify the gospel of +the grace of GOD!” + +Whilst I have been here, to the best of my knowledge, I have not failed +to declare unto you the whole will of GOD: and though my preaching may +have been a savour of death unto death to some; yet I trust it has been +also a savour of life unto life to others; and therefore I earnestly +hope that those will not fail to remember me in their prayers. As for +my own part, the many unmerited kindnesses I have received from you, +will not suffer me to forget you: out of the deep, therefore, I trust +shall my cry come unto GOD; and whilst the winds and storms are blowing +over me, unto the LORD will I make my supplication for you. For it +is but a little while, and “we must all appear before the judgment +seat of CHRIST;” where I must give a strict account of the doctrine I +have preached, and you of your improvement under it. And O that I may +never be called out as a swift witness, against any of those, for whose +salvation I have sincerely, though too faintly, longed and laboured! + +It is true, I have been censured by some as acting out of sinister and +selfish views; “but it is a small matter with me to be judged by man’s +judgment;” I hope my eye is single; but I beseech you, brethren, by the +mercies of GOD in CHRIST JESUS, pray that it may be more so! and that +I may increase with the increase of grace in the knowledge and love of +GOD through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. + +And now, brethren, what shall I say more? I could wish to continue +my discourse much longer; for I can never fully express the desire of +my soul towards you! Finally, therefore, brethren, “whatsoever things +are holy, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are honest, +whatsoever things are of good report: if there be any consolation in +CHRIST, if any fellowship of the spirit,” if any hopes of our appearing +to the comfort of each other at the awful tribunal of JESUS CHRIST, +“think of the things that you have heard,” and of those which your +pastors have declared, and will yet declare unto you; and continue +under their ministry to “work out your own salvation with fear and +trembling:” so that whether I should never see you any more, or whether +it shall please GOD to bring me back again at any time, I may always +have the satisfaction of knowing that your conversation is such “as +becometh the gospel of CHRIST.” + +I almost persuade myself, that I could willingly suffer all things, +so that it might any ways promote the salvation of your precious and +immortal souls; and I beseech you, as my last request, “obey them that +have the rule over you in the LORD;” and be always ready to attend on +their ministry, as it is your bounden duty. Think not that I desire to +have myself exalted at the expence of another’s character; but rather +think this, not to have any man’s person too much in admiration; but +esteem all your ministers highly in love, as they justly deserve for +their work’s sake. + +And now, “brethren, I commend you to GOD, and to the word of his grace, +which is able to build you up, and give you an inheritance amongst all +them that are sanctified.” May GOD reward you for all your works of +faith, and labours of love, and make you to abound more and more in +every good word and work towards all men. May he truly convert all that +have been convinced, and awaken all that are dead in trespasses and +sins! May he confirm all that are wavering! And may you all go on from +one degree of grace unto another, till you arrive unto the measure of +the stature of the fulness of CHRIST; and thereby be made meet to stand +before that GOD, “in whose presence is the fulness of joy, and at whose +right-hand there are pleasures for evermore!” Amen! Amen! + + + + + SERMON LV. + + Persecution every Christian’s Lot. + + + 2 TIMOTHY iii. 12. + + _Yea, and all that will live godly in CHRIST JESUS, shall suffer + Persecution_. + +WHEN our LORD was pleased to take upon himself the form of a servant, +and to go about preaching the kingdom of GOD; he took all opportunities +in public, and more especially in private, to caution his disciples +against seeking great things for themselves, and also to forewarn +them of the many distresses, afflictions and persecutions, which they +must expect to endure for his name’s sake. The great apostle _Paul_ +therefore, the author of this epistle, in this, as in all other things, +following the steps of his blessed Master, takes particular care, +among other apostolical admonitions, to warn young _Timothy_ of the +difficulties he must expect to meet with in the course of his ministry: +“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For +men shall be lovers of their ownselves, covetous, proud, blasphemers, +disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, +truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those +that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more +than lovers of GOD; having a form of godliness, but denying the power +thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they who creep into +houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with +divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge +of the truth. Now, as _Jannes_ and _Jambres_ (two of the _Egyptian_ +magicians) withstood _Moses_ (by working sham miracles) so do they +also resist the truth; and (notwithstanding they keep up the form of +religion) are men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.” +But, in order to keep him from sinking under their opposition, he tells +him, that though GOD, for wise ends, permitted these false teachers, +as he did the magicians, to oppose for some time, yet they should now +proceed no farther: “For their folly (says he) shall be made manifest +unto all men, as theirs (the Magicians) also was,” when they could +not stand before _Moses_ because of the boil; for the boil was upon +the _Magicians_, as well as upon all the _Egyptians_. And then, to +encourage _Timothy_ yet the more, he propounds to him his own example; +“But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, +long-suffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which +came unto me at _Antioch_, at _Iconium_, at _Lystra_; what persecutions +I endured; but out of them all the LORD delivered me.” And then, lest +_Timothy_ might think that this was only the particular case of _Paul_, +says he, in the words of the text, “Yea, and all that will live godly +in CHRIST JESUS, shall suffer persecution.” + +The words, without considering them as they stand in relation to the +context, contain an important truth, that persecution is the common lot +of every godly man. This is a hard saying, How few can bear it? I trust +GOD, in the following discourse, will enable me to make it good, by +shewing, + + I. What it is to live godly in CHRIST JESUS. + + II. The different kinds of persecution to which they, who live + godly, are exposed. + + III. Why it is, that godly men must expect to suffer persecution. + + _Lastly_, We shall apply the whole. + +1. _First_, Let us consider what it is to live godly in CHRIST JESUS. +This supposes, that we are made the righteousness of GOD in CHRIST, +that we are born again, and are one with CHRIST by a living faith, +and a vital union, even as JESUS CHRIST and the Father are One. Unless +we are thus converted, and transformed by the renewing of our minds, +we cannot properly be said to be in CHRIST, much less to live godly in +him. To be in CHRIST merely by baptism, and an outward profession, is +not to be in Him in the strict sense of the word: no; “They that are in +CHRIST, are new creatures; old things are passed away, and all things +are become new” in their hearts. Their life is hid with CHRIST in GOD; +their souls daily feed on the invisible realities of another world. +To “live godly in CHRIST,” is to make the divine will, and not our own, +the sole principle of all our thoughts, words, and actions; so that, +“whether we eat or drink, or whatsoever we do, we do all to the glory +of GOD.” Those who live godly in CHRIST, may not so much be said to +live, as CHRIST to live in them: He is their Alpha and Omega, their +first and last, their beginning and end. They are led by his Spirit, +as a child is led by the hand of its father; and are willing to follow +the Lamb whithersoever he leads them. They hear, know, and obey his +voice. Their affections are set on things above; their hopes are full +of immortality; their citizenship is in heaven. Being born again of GOD, +they habitually live to, and daily walk with, GOD. They are pure in +heart; and, from a principle of faith in CHRIST, are holy in all manner +of conversation and godliness. + +This is to “live godly in CHRIST JESUS:” and hence we may easily learn, +why so few suffer persecution? Because, so few live godly in CHRIST +JESUS. You may live formally in CHRIST, you may attend on outward +duties; you may live morally in CHRIST, you may (as they term it) do +no one any harm, and avoid persecution: but they “that will live godly +in CHRIST JESUS, shall suffer persecution.” + +2. _Secondly_, What is the meaning of the word Persecution, and how +many kinds there are of it, I come now to consider. + +The word Persecution, is derived from a _Greek_ word signifying _to +pursue_, and generally implies pursuing a person for the sake of his +goodness, or GOD’s good-will to him. The + +_First_ kind of it, is that of the _Heart_. We ♦have an early example +of this in that wicked one _Cain_, who, because the LORD had respect +to _Abel_ and his offering, and not to him and his offering, was very +wroth, his countenance fell, and at length he cruelly slew his envied +brother. Thus the _Pharisees_ hated and persecuted our LORD long before +they laid hold on him: and our LORD mentions being inwardly hated of +men, as one kind of Persecution his disciples were to undergo. This +heart-enmity (if I may so term it) is the root of all other kinds of +Persecution, and is, in some degree or other, to be found in the soul +of every unregenerated man; and numbers are guilty of this persecution, +who never have it in their power to persecute any other way. Nay, +numbers would actually put in practice all other degrees of persecution, +was not the name of Persecution become odious amongst mankind, and did +they not hereby run the hazard of losing their reputation. Alas! how +many at the great day, whom we know not now, will be convicted and +condemned, that all their life harboured a secret evil-will against +_Zion_! They may now screen it before men; but GOD seeth the enmity +of their hearts, and will judge them as Persecutors at the great and +terrible day of judgment. A + + ♦ duplicate word “have” removed + +_Second_ degree of Persecution is that of the tongue; “out of the +abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.” Many, I suppose, think it +no harm to shoot out arrows, even bitter words, against the disciples +of the LORD: they scatter their firebrands, arrows and death, saying, +“Are we not in sport?” But, however they may esteem it, in GOD’s +account evil-speaking is a high degree of Persecution. Thus _Ishmael_’s +mocking _Isaac_, is termed persecuting him. “Blessed are ye (says our +LORD) when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all +manner of evil against you falsely for my name’s sake.” From whence we +may gather, that reviling, and speaking all manner of evil for CHRIST’s +sake, is a high degree of persecution. For “a good name, (says the wise +man) is better than precious ointment,” and, to many, is dearer than +life itself. It is a great breach of the sixth commandment, to slander +any one; but to speak evil of and slander the disciples of CHRIST, +merely because they are his disciples, must be highly provoking in the +sight of GOD; and such who are guilty of it (without repentance) will +find that JESUS CHRIST will call them to an account, and punish them +for all their ungodly and hard speeches in a lake of fire and brimstone. +This shall be their portion to drink. The + +_Third_ and _last_ kind of Persecution, is that which expresses +itself in _actions_: as when wicked men separate the children of GOD +from their company; “Blessed are ye, (says our LORD) when they shall +separate you from their company:” or expose them to church-censures. +“They shall put you out of their synagogues;” threatening and +prohibiting them from making an open profession of his religion or +worship; or interdicting ministers for preaching his word, as the +high-priests threatened the apostles, and “forbad them any more to +speak in the name of JESUS;” and _Paul_ breathed out threatenings and +slaughters against the disciples of the LORD: or when they call them +into courts; “You shall be called before governors,” says our LORD: +or when they fine, imprison, or punish them, by confiscation of goods, +cruel scourging, and, lastly, death itself. + +It would be impossible to enumerate in what various shapes persecution +has appeared. It is a many-headed monster, cruel as the grave, +insatiable as hell; and, what is worse, it ♦generally appears under the +cloak of religion. But, cruel, insatiable, and horrid as it is, they +that live godly in CHRIST JESUS, must expect to suffer and encounter +with it in all its forms. + + ♦ “generallly” replaced with “generally” + +This is what we are to make good under our next general head. + +3. _Thirdly_, Why is it that godly men must expert to suffer +persecution? And, + +_First_, This appears from the whole tenor of our LORD’s doctrine. We +will begin with his divine sermon on the mount. “Blessed are they who +are persecuted for righteousness sake; for theirs is the kingdom of +heaven.” So that, if our LORD spoke truth, we are not so blessed as to +have an interest in the kingdom of heaven, unless we are or have been +persecuted for righteousness sake. Nay, our LORD (it is remarkable) +employs three verses in this beatitude, and only one in each of the +others; not only to shew that it was a thing which men (as men) are +unwilling to believe, but also the necessary consequence of it upon +our being christians. This is likewise evident from all those passages, +wherein our LORD informs us, that he came upon the earth, “not to send +peace, but a sword;” and that the father-in-law should be against the +mother-in-law, and a man’s foes should be those of his own houshold. +Passages, which though confined by false prophets to the first, I am +persuaded will be verified by the experience of all true christians in +this, and every age of the church. It would be endless to recount all +the places, wherein our LORD forewarns his disciples, that they should +be called before rulers, and thrust out of synagogues, nay, that the +time would come, wherein men should think they did GOD service to kill +them. For this reason he so frequently declared, that “unless a man +forsake all that he had, and even hated life itself, he could not be +his disciple.” And therefore it is worthy our observation, that in the +remarkable passage, wherein our LORD makes such an extensive promise +to those who left all for him, he cautiously inserts persecution. “And +JESUS answered and said, Verily I say unto you, there is no man that +hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or +wife, or children, or lands, for my sake and the gospel’s, but he shall +receive an hundred-fold now in this time; houses and brethren, and +sisters and mothers, and children and lands, with persecutions; (the +word is in the plural number, including all kinds of persecution) and +in the world to come eternal life.” He that hath ears to hear, let him +hear what CHRIST says in all these passages, and then confess, that all +who will live godly in CHRIST JESUS shall suffer persecution. + +As this is proved from our LORD’s doctrine, so it is no less evident +from his life. Follow him from the manger to the cross, and see whether +any persecution was like that which the Son of GOD, the LORD of glory, +underwent whilst here on earth. How was he hated by wicked men? How +often would that hatred have excited them to lay hold of him, had +it not been for fear of the people? How was he reviled, counted and +called a Blasphemer, a Wine-bibber, a Samaritan, nay, a Devil, and, +in one word, had all manner of evil spoken against him falsely? What +contradiction of sinners did he endure against himself? How did men +separate from his company, and were ashamed to walk with him openly? +insomuch that he once said to his own disciples, “Will you also +go away?” Again, How was he stoned, thrust out of the synagogues, +arraigned as a deceiver of the people, a seditious and pestilent fellow, +an enemy to _Cæsar_, and as such scourged, blind-folded, spit upon, +and at length condemned, and nailed to an accursed tree? Thus was +the Master persecuted, thus did the LORD suffer; and the servant is +not above his Master, nor the disciple above his Lord: “If they have +persecuted me, they will also persecute you,” says the blessed JESUS. +And again, “Every man that is perfect (a true christian) must be as his +Master,” or suffer as he did. For in all these things our LORD has set +us an example, that we should follow his steps: and therefore, far be +it that any, who live godly in CHRIST JESUS, should henceforward expect +to escape suffering persecution. + +But farther: not only our LORD’s example, but the example of all +the saints that ever lived, evidently demonstrates the truth of the +apostle’s assertion in the text. How soon was _Abel_ made a martyr +for his religion? How was _Isaac_ mocked by the son of the bond-woman? +And what a large catalogue of suffering Old Testament saints, have we +recorded in the xith chapter of the _Hebrews_! Read the _Acts_ of the +Apostles, and see how the first christians were threatened, stoned, +imprisoned, scourged, and persecuted even unto death. Examine Church +History in after-ages, and you will find the murder of the innocents +by _Herod_, was but an earnest of the innocent blood which should be +shed for the sake of JESUS. Examine the experience of saints now living +on earth; and, if it were possible to consult the spirits of just men +made perfect, I am persuaded each would concur with the apostle in +asserting, that “all who will live godly in CHRIST JESUS, shall suffer +persecution.” + +How can it be otherwise in the very nature of things? Ever since the +fall, there has been an irreconcileable enmity between the seed of the +woman and the seed of the serpent. Wicked men hate GOD, and therefore +cannot but hate those who are like him: they hate to be reformed, and +therefore must hate and persecute those, who, by a contrary behaviour, +testify of them, that their deeds are evil. Besides, pride of heart +leads men to persecute the servants of JESUS CHRIST. If they commend +them, they are afraid of being asked, Why do not you follow them? And +therefore because they dare not imitate, though they may sometimes be +even forced to approve their way, yet pride and envy make them turn +persecutors. Hence it is, that as it was formerly, so it is now, and +so will it be to the end of time; “He that is born after the flesh, +(the natural man, does and) will persecute him that is born after the +Spirit,” the regenerate man. Because christians are not of the world, +but CHRIST hath chosen them out of the world, therefore the world will +hate them. If it be objected against this doctrine, that we now live +in a christian world, and therefore must not expect such persecution +as formerly; I answer, All are not christians that are called so; and, +till the heart is changed, the enmity against GOD (which is the root +of all persecution) remains: and consequently christians, falsely so +called, will persecute as well as others. I observed therefore, in +the beginning of this discourse, that _Paul_ mentions those that had +a form of religion, as persons of whom _Timothy_ had need be chiefly +aware: for, as our LORD and his apostles were mostly persecuted by +their countrymen the _Jews_, so we must expect the like usage from the +Formalists of our own nation, the _Pharisees_, who seem to be religious. +The most horrid and barbarous persecutions have been carried on by +those who have called themselves Christians; witness the days of queen +_Mary_; and the fines, banishments and imprisonments of the children +of GOD in the last century, and the bitter, irreconcileable hatred +that appears in thousands who call themselves Christians, even in the +present days wherein we live. + +Persons, who argue against persecution, are not sufficiently sensible +of the bitter enmity of the heart of every unregenerate man against +GOD. For my own part, I am so far from wondering that christians are +persecuted, that I wonder our streets do not run with the blood of the +saints: was mens power equal to their wills, such a horrid spectacle +would soon appear. But, + +Persecution is necessary in respect to the godly themselves. If we have +not all manner of evil spoken of us, how can we know whether we seek +only that honour which cometh from above? If we have no persecutors, +how can our passive graces be kept in exercise? How can many christian +precepts be put into practice? How can we love, pray for, and do good +to, those who despitefully use us? How can we overcome evil with good? +In short, how can we know we love GOD better than life itself? _Paul_ +was sensible of all this, and therefore so positively and peremptorily +asserts, that “all who will live godly in CHRIST JESUS, shall suffer +persecution.” + +Not that I affirm, all are persecuted in a like degree. No: this would +be contrary both to scripture and experience. But though all christians +are not really called to suffer every kind of persecution, yet all +christians are liable thereto: and notwithstanding some may live in +more peaceful times of the church than others, yet all christians, in +all ages, will find by their own experience, that, whether they act +in a private or public capacity, they must, in some degree or other, +suffer persecution. + +Here then I would pause, and, _lastly_, by way of application, exhort +all persons, + +_First_, To stand a while and examine themselves. For, by what has been +said, you may gather one mark, whereby you may judge whether you are +christians or not. Were you ever persecuted for righteousness sake? If +not, you never yet lived godly in CHRIST our LORD. Whatever you may say +to the contrary, the inspired apostle, in the words of the text (the +truth of which, I think, I have sufficiently proved) positively asserts, +that all who will live godly in Him, shall suffer persecution. Not that +all who are persecuted are real christians; for many sometimes suffer, +and are persecuted, on other accounts than for righteousness sake. +The great question therefore is, Whether you were ever persecuted +for living godly? You may boast of your great prudence and sagacity +(and indeed these are excellent things) and glory because you have not +run such lengths, and made yourselves so singular, and liable to such +contempt, as some others have. But, alas! this is not a mark of your +being of a Christian, but of a _Laodicean_ spirit, neither hot nor +cold, and fit only to be spewed out of the mouth of GOD. That which +you call prudence, is often, only cowardice, dreadful hypocrisy, pride +of heart, which makes you dread contempt, and afraid to give up your +reputation for GOD. You are ashamed of CHRIST and his gospel; and in +all probability, was he to appear a second time upon earth, in words, +as well as works, you would deny him. Awake therefore, all ye that live +only formally in CHRIST JESUS, and no longer seek that honour which +cometh of man. I do not desire to court you, but I intreat you to live +godly, and fear not contempt for the sake of JESUS CHRIST. Beg of GOD +to give you his Holy Spirit, that you may see through, and discover +the latent hypocrisy of your hearts, and no longer deceive your own +souls. Remember you cannot reconcile two irreconcileable differences, +GOD and Mammon, the friendship of this world with the favour of GOD. +Know you not who hath told you, that “the friendship of this world is +enmity with GOD?” If therefore you are in friendship with the world, +notwithstanding all your specious pretences to piety, you are at enmity +with GOD: you are only heart-hypocrites; and, “What is the hope of +the hypocrite, when GOD shall take away his soul?” Let the words of +the text sound an alarm in your ears; O let them sink deep into your +hearts; “Yea, and all that will live godly in CHRIST JESUS, shall +suffer persecution.” + +_Secondly_, From the words of the text, I would take occasion to +speak to those, who are about to lift themselves under the banner of +CHRIST’s cross. What say you? Are you resolved to live godly in CHRIST +JESUS, notwithstanding the consequence will be, that you must suffer +persecution? You are beginning to build; but have you taken our LORD’s +advice, to “sit down first and count the cost?” Have you well weighed +with yourselves that weighty declaration, “He that loveth father or +mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me;” and again, “Unless a man +forsake all that he hath he cannot be my disciple?” Perhaps some of +you have great possessions; will not you go away sorrowful, if CHRIST +should require you to sell all that you have! Others of you again +may be kinsmen, or some way related, or under obligations, to the +high-priests, or other great personages, who may be persecuting the +church of CHRIST: What say you? Will you, with _Moses_, “rather chuse +to suffer affliction with the people of GOD, than enjoy the pleasures +of sin for a season?” Perhaps you may say, my friends will not +oppose me. That is more than you know: in all probability your chief +enemies will be those of your own household. If therefore they should +oppose you, are you willing naked to follow a naked CHRIST? and to +wander about in sheep-skins and goats-skins, in dens and caves of +the earth, being afflicted, destitute, tormented, rather than not be +CHRIST’s disciples? You are now all following with zeal, as _Ruth_ +and _Orpah_ did _Naomi_, and may weep under the word; but are not +your tears crocodiles tears? And, when difficulties come, will you not +go back from following your LORD, as _Orpah_ departed from following +_Naomi_? Have you really the root of grace in your hearts? or, are you +only stony-ground hearers? You receive the word with joy; but, when +persecution arises because of the word, will you not be immediately +offended? Be not angry with me for putting these questions to you. I +am jealous over you, but it is with a godly jealousy: for, alas! how +many have put their hands to the plough, and afterwards have shamefully +looked back? I only deal with you, as our LORD did with the person +that said, “LORD, I will follow thee whithersoever thou wilt.” “The +foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the son +of man, (says he) hath not where to lay his head.” What say you? Are +you willing to endure hardness, and thereby approve yourselves good +soldiers of JESUS CHRIST? You now come on foot out of the towns and +villages to hear the word, and receive me as a messenger of GOD: but +will you not by and by cry out, Away with him, away with him; it is not +fit such a fellow should live upon the earth? Perhaps some of you, like +_Hazael_, may say, “Are we dogs, that we should do this?” But, alas! I +have met with many unhappy souls, who have drawn back unto perdition, +and have afterwards accounted me their enemy, for dealing faithfully +with them; though once, if it were possible, they would have plucked +out their own eyes, and have given them unto me. Sit down therefore, I +beseech you, and seriously count the cost, and ask yourselves again and +again, whether you count all things but dung and dross, and are willing +to suffer the loss of all things, so that you may win CHRIST, and +be found in him: for you may assure yourselves, the apostle hath not +spoken in vain, “All that will live godly in CHRIST JESUS, shall suffer +persecution.” + +_Thirdly_, The text speaks to you that are patiently suffering for +the truth’s sake: “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; great shall be your +reward in heaven.” For to you it is given, not only to believe, but +also to suffer, and perhaps remarkably too, for the sake of JESUS! This +is a mark of your discipleship, an evidence that you do live godly in +CHRIST JESUS. Fear not, therefore, neither be dismayed. O be not weary +and faint in your minds! JESUS, your LORD, your life, cometh, and his +reward is with him. Though all men forsake you, yet will not he: no; +the Spirit of CHRIST and of glory shall rest upon you. In patience +therefore possess your souls. Sanctify the LORD GOD in your hearts. Be +in nothing terrified by your adversaries: on their part CHRIST is evil +spoken of; on your part he is glorified. Be not ashamed of your glory, +since others can glory in their shame. Think it not strange concerning +the fiery trial, wherewith you are or may be tried. The Devil rages, +knowing that he hath but a short time to reign. He or his emissaries +have no more power than what is given them from above: GOD sets them +their bounds, which they cannot pass; and the very hairs of your head +are all numbered. Fear not; no one shall set upon you to hurt you, +without your heavenly Father’s knowledge. Do your earthly friends and +parents forsake you? Are you cast out of the synagogues? The LORD shall +reveal himself to you, as to the man that was born blind? JESUS CHRIST +shall take you up. If they carry you to prison, and load you with +chains, so that the iron enter into your souls, even there shall CHRIST +send an angel from heaven to strengthen you, and enable you, with +_Paul_ and _Silas_, to “sing praises at midnight.” Are you threatened +to be thrown into a den of lions, or cast into a burning fiery furnace, +because you will not bow down and worship the beast? Fear not; the GOD, +whom you serve, is able to deliver you: or, if he should suffer the +flames to devour your bodies, they would only serve, as so many fiery +chariots, to carry your souls to GOD. Thus it was with the martyrs of +old; so that one, when he was burning, cried out, “Come, you Papists, +if you want a miracle, here, behold one! This bed of flames is to me a +bed of down.” Thus it was with almost all that suffered in former times: +for JESUS, notwithstanding he withdrew his own divinity from himself, +yet has always lifted up the light of his countenance upon the souls +of suffering saints. “Fear not therefore those that can kill the body, +and after that have no more that they can do; but fear Him only, who is +able to destroy both body and soul in hell.” Dare, dare to live godly +in CHRIST JESUS, though you suffer all manner of persecution. But, + +_Fourthly_, Are there any true ministers of JESUS CHRIST here? You will +not be offended if I tell you, that the words of the text are, in an +especial manner, applicable to you. _Paul_ wrote them to _Timothy_; +and we, of all men, that live godly in CHRIST JESUS, must expect to +suffer the severest persecution. _Satan_ will endeavour to bruise our +heels, let who will escape: and it has been the general way of GOD’s +providence, in times of persecution, to permit the shepherds first to +be smitten, before the sheep are scattered. Let us not therefore shew +that we are only hirelings, who care not for the sheep; but, like the +great Shepherd and Bishop of souls, let us readily lay down our lives +for the sheep. Whilst others are boasting of their great preferments, +let us rather glory in our great afflictions and persecutions for +the sake of CHRIST. _Paul_ rejoiced that he suffered afflictions and +persecutions at _Iconium_ and _Lystra_: out of all, the LORD delivered +him; out of all, the LORD will deliver us, and cause us hereafter to +sit down with him on thrones, when he comes to judge the twelve tribes +of _Israel_. + +I could proceed; but I am conscious, in this part of my discourse, I +ought more particularly to speak to myself, knowing that _Satan_ has +desired to have me, that he may sift me as wheat. Without a spirit of +prophecy, we may easily discern the signs of the times. Persecution +is even at the doors: the tabernacle of the LORD is already driven +into the wilderness: the ark of the LORD is fallen into the unhallowed +hands of uncircumcised _Philistines_. They have long since put us +out of their synagogues, and high-priests have been calling on civil +magistrates to exert their authority against the disciples of the +LORD. Men in power have been breathing out threatenings: we may easily +guess what will follow, imprisonment and slaughter. The storm has been +gathering some time; it must break shortly. Perhaps it may fall on me +first. + +Brethren therefore, whether in the ministry or not, I beseech you, +“pray for me,” that I may never suffer justly, as an evil-doer, but +only for righteousness sake. O pray that I may not deny my LORD in any +wise, but that I may joyfully follow him, both to prison and to death, +if he is pleased to call me to seal his truths with my blood. Be not +ashamed of CHRIST, or of his gospel, though I should become a prisoner +of the LORD. Though I am bound, the word of GOD will not be bound: +no; an open, an effectual door is opened for preaching the everlasting +gospel, and men or devils shall never be able to prevail against +it. Only pray, that, whether it be in life or death, CHRIST may be +glorified in me: then I shall rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. + +And now, to whom shall I address myself next? + +_Fifthly_, To those, who persecute their neighbours for living godly +in CHRIST JESUS. But, what shall I say to you? Howl and weep for the +miseries that shall come upon you: for a little while the LORD permits +you to ride over the heads of his people; but, by and by, death will +arrest you, judgment will find you, and JESUS CHRIST shall put a +question to you, which will strike you dumb, _Why persecuted you Me_? +You may plead your laws and your canons, and pretend what you do is +out of zeal for GOD; but GOD shall discover the cursed hypocrisy and +serpentine enmity of your hearts, and give you over to the tormentors. +It is well, if in this life GOD does not send some mark upon you. +He pleaded the cause of _Naboth_, when innocently condemned for +blaspheming GOD and the king; and our LORD sent forth his armies, and +destroyed the city of those who killed the prophets, and stoned them +that were sent unto them. If you have a mind therefore to fill up the +measure of your iniquities, go on, persecute and despise the disciples +of the LORD: but know, “that for all these things, GOD shall bring you +into judgment.” Nay, those you now persecute, shall be in part your +judges, and sit on the right-hand of the Majesty on high, whilst you +are dragged by infernal spirits into a lake that burneth with fire and +brimstone, and the smoke of your torment shall be ascending up for ever +and ever. Lay down therefore, ye rebels, your arms against the most +high GOD, and no longer persecute those who live godly in CHRIST JESUS. +The LORD will plead, the LORD will avenge, their cause. You may be +permitted to bruise their heels, yet in the end they shall bruise +your accursed heads. I speak not this, as though I were afraid of you; +for I know in whom I have believed: only out of pure love I warn you, +and because I know not but JESUS CHRIST may make some of you vessels +of mercy, and snatch you, even you persecutors, as fire-brands out +of the fire. JESUS CHRIST came into the world to save sinners, even +persecutors, the worst of sinners: his righteousness is sufficient for +them; his Spirit is able to purify and change their hearts. He once +converted _Saul_: may the same GOD magnify his power, in converting +all those who are causing the godly in CHRIST JESUS, as much as in them +lies, to suffer persecution! The LORD be with you all. Amen. + + + + + SERMON LVI. + + An Exhortation to the People of GOD + not to be discouraged in their Way, + by the Scoffs and Contempt of wicked Men. + + + HEBREWS iv. 9. + + _There remaineth therefore a Rest to the People of GOD._ + +WHEN we consider the persecutions they are exposed to, who live +righteously and godly in this present world; it is amazing to consider, +that the people of this generation should be so fond of a name to live, +while they are in effect dead. The people of GOD are to expect little +else but troubles and trials while they are in this world; common +experience is a contradiction to my text, that there is a rest to the +people of GOD; but the author of the _Hebrews_, when speaking of this +rest, did not mean that they should have a rest here. No; he too well +knew that the people of GOD, all who would seek and serve the LORD +JESUS, must be despised, hated, scoffed, slandered, and evil intreated; +but the time was hastening when they should have a perfect rest: there +is a rest laid up for them, and this is an encouragement for you, my +brethren, to hold on, and hold out your way rejoicing; after death +there will be a rest for ever; at judgment, you shall be taken up +to dwell with the LORD JESUS CHRIST; and there, you shall be for +ever exempted from sin; you shall rest from all manner of sorrow, +and be no more troubled with the temptations of Satan. Now, you can +set about nothing for the glory of GOD, or for your own soul’s welfare, +but the devil is dissuading you from it, or distracting you in it, +or discouraging you after it. Here we are scoffed and derided; as +the world hated the LORD JESUS CHRIST, so will it hate you: but be +not discouraged, though we are here the scorn and off-scouring of all +things; and are as a gazing stock to men and angels. Though they put +us out of their synagogues, cast out our name as evil, and look on us +as persons unfit for their company; yet, in that rest which is prepared +for you, my brethren, we shall then be gazed at for our glory, and they +shut out of the assembly of the saints, and separated from us, whether +they will or no; unless the LORD JESUS CHRIST, by his free, rich, and +sovereign grace, brings them unto himself. + +The letter-learned Scribes and Pharisees of this day, look on us as +madmen and enthusiasts; but though they make so much noise about the +word _enthusiast_, it means no more than this, one in GOD; and what +christian can say, he is not in GOD, and GOD in him? And if this is +to be an enthusiast, GOD grant I may be more and more so; if we being +in CHRIST, and CHRIST in us, makes us enthusiasts, I would to GOD we +were all more and more enthusiasts. They now think it strange, that +we run not with them into all excess of riot, and because we will not +go to the devil’s diversions with them, therefore they speak evil of +us. We cannot now go along the street, but every one is pointing out +his finger with scorn, and cries, Here comes another of his followers; +what! you are become one of his disciples too! But there is a rest +which will be a complete deliverance for you. Let none of these things +move you; for, though you are thus treated here, consider, you shall +in heaven have no discouraging company, nor any but what will be an +assistance to you; you will have no scoffer there, all will be ready +to join with heart and voice in your everlasting joy and praises. +You will not be counted enthusiasts, madmen, and rabble, in that rest +which remaineth for the people of GOD. Therefore, possess your souls +in patience; account it matter of joy when you fall into tribulation; +GOD, in his own time, will deliver us; let not their hindering us from +preaching in the church, be any discouragement; do not shrink, and draw +back, because of opposition; be not ashamed of your work or master; but +hold fast your integrity. You must expect to go through evil report, +and good report; fear not the violence of unreasonable men; let them +hate you, and cast you out for the LORD’s sake, behold he shall appear +to your joy, and they shall be ashamed: therefore hold on, and hold out +to the end. Be stedfast and patient, and bear the troubles of the world; +if you are the people of GOD, there is a rest provided for you, which +you shall certainly obtain. + +I shall not speak unto you, Pharisees, this morning, nor to any, except +to you who have experienced the pangs of the new-birth, or are at +present under them, and who know what it is to love the LORD JESUS in +sincerity and truth: do not be discouraged, or think hard of the ways +of GOD, my dear brethren, because you are not loved by the men of this +world; if you were of the world it would love you; it would then be +pleased with your company; it would not thrust you from a tavern, or +an alehouse; it would not dislike you for singing the songs of the +drunkard, or for going to plays, balls, or other polite and fashionable +entertainments, as they are called; no, these the children of the world +like; but if you will sing hymns and psalms, and go to hear what GOD +hath to say unto your souls, and spend your time in reading, praying, +and frequenting religious assemblies, then it is that they dislike you, +and thrust you out of their company, as unworthy thereof; but let none +of these things move you, for the rest which JESUS CHRIST hath prepared +for you, is an ample recompence for all you may meet with here. + +This rest is the fruit of the blood of the LORD JESUS CHRIST: O how +will it fill our souls with love, to think that through the streams of +this blood, we have overcome the violence of the world, and the snares +of the devil. My dear brethren, be not discouraged at the treatment you +meet with here, but let it be a means to stir you up to advance in the +love of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who hath prepared a rest for you. Can +you consider, what CHRIST has done and suffered for you, and have your +hearts stupified with vile and senseless pleasures? Can you hear of +a panting, bleeding, dying JESUS, and yet be dull and unaffected? Was +there any sorrow like unto his sorrow? and all this, he underwent to +save you, who were vile, and polluted, and by nature, since the fall, +a motly mixture of the beast and devil. JESUS CHRIST, by dying upon the +cross, intended to take away the devil and beast from your heart, and +to prepare it for himself to dwell in. Think of the love of this your +Jesus, and then, will a little reproach and scorn move you? sure it +will not. I hope better things of you, and things that accompany +salvation. + +O think with what pleasing astonishment you will see the LORD JESUS +CHRIST, when he comes to take you to his rest: now his heart is open +to us; but our hearts are shut against him; then, then, his heart shall +be open, and ours shall be so too. O my brethren, how will your love +be increased? With what raptures will you see the LORD JESUS CHRIST? +Therefore, undergo a few reproaches here patiently, and revile not +again. Let them say what they please of me, the reproaches, scorns, +and contempt of this world, will no ways hurt me, but will recoil upon +their own heads; leave it to the LORD, who knows what is best for you +and me: do not question his love; he will be with you; only do you, who +have tasted the LORD to be gracious, follow hard after him. + +And now, let me speak a word unto you, who have not yet experienced +the love of CHRIST to your souls, but are waiting for his appearance. +I shall be but very short, because I would not break in upon the duties +of the day. + +I shall speak unto you a word of invitation; even, to wait still on the +LORD; do not forsake him, though he may not answer your petitions at +once or twice seeking unto him; hold on, do not leave seeking him, and +you shall have an answer of peace; remember the poor man who was lame, +and had lain at the pool of _Bethesda_ thirty-eight years for relief, +yet at last he found that it was worth waiting for, he obtained his +desire. + +And if you are but zealous for the LORD, and seek unto JESUS, if your +zeal be according to godliness, and you pray unto him for his Spirit, +you shall certainly have an answer of peace; you shall find it is good +to seek unto the LORD, you will be adopted into his family, and by his +spirit be enabled to cry, “Abba, Father.” O then do not leave, but be +continually waiting at wisdom’s gate, and you shall find all her ways +to be ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace; then, you +shall find that it is worth waiting on the LORD JESUS; and when you +have got his Spirit within you, all the power of men or devils cannot +make you forsake the ways of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. + +If you do but once taste of his pardoning love, it will be so +delightful unto you, that you will cry for more and more thereof; you +will be as full as you can hold, and still not be satisfied; you will +desire more and more of this love of JESUS, you will hunger and thirst, +and hunger and thirst again, and never be satisfied till you come to +that rest which is prepared for the people of GOD, where all hungering +and thirsting will cease, and will be turned into songs and hallelujahs, +and that for ever and ever. + +As many of you as design to partake of the emblems of the body and +blood of our dying LORD, examine well yourselves, lest by eating and +drinking unworthily, you eat and drink damnation unto yourselves: +remember the dying love of your dying LORD, and eat and drink in +commemoration thereof; do not let the world keep you from partaking +hereof; and when you have eaten and drank, do not go away and run into +the world; let the world see that you have been with JESUS; give them +no room to speak unseemly, they do that enough without occasion; but +how would they rejoice if they had just reason. + +Look well then unto your paths, that you do not slip; remember that all +your faults are magnified, and that all your little slips are laid upon +me; therefore, look well unto your ways, your words, your actions, that +they may silence gainsayers; let them see that we have the presence of +GOD with us, and that there has been good done by field-preaching. + +Let me exhort you once more to consider the love of the LORD JESUS +CHRIST. O do not forget his love. Consider, I beseech you, how great +it has been unto you, and do not slight this his grace, the riches, the +love, the kindness of your dear Redeemer, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who +hath prepared this eternal rest for you; he also laid down his life for +your sakes: what great love was here! that while you were enemies to +the LORD of glory, he died for you, to redeem you from sin, from hell +and wrath, that you might live and reign with him, world without end. + +The Lamb that died, and was buried, is now risen and exalted, and +sits on the right-hand of GOD the Father; and when he shall come to +judge all the world, then, my brethren, it will be seen whether we +have deserved the usage the world has given us; then it will be known +who are the true followers of the LORD JESUS, and who are madmen and +fools; but, may it be determined in this world, that we and our present +enemies may enter into that rest which GOD hath prepared for those that +love him. + + Which GOD of his infinite mercy grant! + +My brethren, let not these few words of exhortation be forgotten, +but lay them up in your hearts, and remember they must be called over +another day. I should have enlarged, but the duties of the day obliged +me to forbear. + + Now, to GOD the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be all power, &c. + + + + + SERMON LVII. + + Preached before the Governor, and Council, + and the House of Assembly, in, _Georgia_, on January 28, 1770. + + + ZECHARIAH iv. 10. + + _For who hath despised the Day of Small Things?_ + +MEN, brethren, and fathers, at sundry times and in divers manners, GOD +spake to the fathers by the prophets, before he spoke to us in these +last days by his Son. And as GOD is a sovereign agent, and his sacred +Spirit bloweth when and where it listeth, surely he may reveal and make +known his will to his creatures, when, where, and how he pleaseth; “and +who shall say unto him, what doest thou?” Indeed, this seems to be one +reason, to display his sovereignty, why he chose, before the canon of +scripture was settled, to make known his mind in such various methods, +and to such a variety of his servants and messengers. + +Hence it is, that we hear, he talked with _Abraham_ as “a man talketh +with a friend.” To _Moses_ he spoke “face to face.” To others by +“dreams in the night,” or by “visions” impressed strongly on their +imaginations. This seems to be frequently the happy lot of the +favourite evangelical prophet _Zechariah_, I call him _evangelical +prophet_, because his predictions, however they pointed at some +approaching or immediate event, ultimately terminated in Him, who +is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end of all the lively +oracles of GOD. The chapter from which our text is selected, among many +other passages, is a striking proof of this: An angel, that had been +more than once sent to him on former occasions, appears again to him, +and by way of vision, and “waked him, (to use his own words) as a man +that is wakened out of his sleep.” Prophets, and the greatest servants +of GOD, need waking sometimes out of their drowsy frames. + +Methinks I see this man of GOD darting out of his sleep, and being +all attention: the angel asked him, “what seeth thou?” He answers, “I +have looked, and behold, a candlestick all of gold,” an emblem of the +church of GOD, “with a bowl upon the top of it, and seven lamps thereon, +and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which were upon the top thereof;” +implying, that the church, however reduced to the lowest ebb, should +be preserved, be kept supplied, and shining, through the invisible, +but not less real, because invisible aids and operations of the blessed +Spirit of GOD. The occasion of such an extraordinary vision, if we +compare this passage with the second chapter of the Prophecy of the +prophet _Haggai_, seems to be this: It was now near eighteen years +since the _Jewish_ people had been delivered from their long and +grievous _Babylonish_ captivity; and being so long deprived of their +temple and its worship, which fabric had been rased even to the ground, +one would have imagined, that immediately upon their return, they +should have postponed all private works, and with their united strength +have first set about rebuilding that once stately and magnificent +structure. But they, like too many christians of a like lukewarm stamp, +though all acknowledged that this church-work was a necessary work, yet +put themselves and others off, with this godly pretence, “The time is +not come, the time that the LORD’s house should be built.” The time is +not come! what, not in eighteen years! for so long had they now been +returned from their state of bondage: and pray, why was not the time +come? The prophet _Haggai_ tells them; their whole time was so taken up +in building for themselves cieled houses, that they had no time left to +build an habitation for their great and glorious Benefactor, the mighty +GOD of _Jacob_. + +This ingratitude must not be passed by unpunished. Omniscience observes; +Omnipotence resents it! And that they might read their sin in their +punishment, as they thought it best to get rich, and secure houses and +lands and estates for themselves, before they set about unnecessary +church-work, the prophet tells them, “You have sown much, but bring +in little: ye eat, but ye have not enough: ye drink, but ye are not +filled with drink: ye clothe you, but there is none warm: and he that +earneth wages, earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.” Still +he goes on thundering and lightening, “Ye looked for much, and lo it +came to little: and when ye brought it home, (pleasing yourselves with +your fine crops) I did blow upon it: why? saith the LORD of Hosts; +because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his +own house.” A thundering sermon this! delivered not only to the common +people, but also unto, and in the presence of “_Zerubbabel_, the son +of _Shaealtiel_, governor of _Judah_, and to _Joshua_, the son of +_Josedech_ the high-priest. The prophet’s report is believed; and the +arm of the LORD was revealed. _Zerubbabel_, the son of _Shaealtiel_, +and _Joshua_, the Son of _Josedech_, (O happy times when church and +state are thus combined) with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the +voice of the LORD their GOD, and the words of _Haggai_ the prophet.” + +The spirit of _Zerubbabel_, and of _Joshua_, and the spirits of +all the remnant of the people were stirred up, and they immediately +came, disregarding, as it were, their own private buildings, “and +did work in the house of the LORD of Hosts their GOD.” For a while, +they proceeded with vigour; the foundation of the house is laid, and +the superstructure raised to some considerable height: but whether +this fit of hot zeal soon cooled, as is too common, or the people +were discouraged by the false representations of their enemies, which +perhaps met with too favourable a reception at the court of _Darius_; +it so happened, that the hearts of the magistrates and ministers of +the people waxed faint; and an awful chasm intervened, between the +finishing and laying the foundation of this promising and glorious work. + +Upon this, another prophet, even _Zechariah_, (who with _Haggai_ had +been joint sufferer in the captivity) is sent to lift up the hands +that hang down, to strengthen the feeble knees, and by the foregoing +instructive vision, to reanimate _Joshua_ and the people in general, +and the heart of _Zerubbabel_, the son of _Shealtiel_, in particular, +maugre all discouragements, either from inveterate enemies, or from +timid unstable friends, or all other obstacles whatsoever. If _Haggai_ +thunders, _Zechariah_’s message is as lightening. “This is the word +of the LORD unto _Zerubbabel_, saying, Not by might, nor by power, +(not by barely human power or policy) but by my spirit, saith the +LORD of Hosts: Who art thou, O great mountain? (thou _Sanballat_ and +thy associates, who have been so long crying out, what mean these +feeble _Jews_? however great, formidable, and seemingly insurmountable) +before _Zerubbabel_ thou shalt (not only be lowered and rendered more +accessible, but) become a plain;” thy very opposition shall, in the end, +promote the work, and help to expedite that very building, which thou +intendest to put a stop to, and destroy. + +And lest _Zerubbabel_, through unbelief and outward opposition, or for +want of more bodily strength, should think this would be a work of time, +and that he should not live to see it compleated in his days, “The +word of the LORD came to _Zechariah_, saying, The hands of _Zerubbabel_ +have laid the foundation of this house; his hands also shall finish it, +and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, +Grace, grace unto it.” Grace! grace! unto it: a double acclamation, to +shew, that out of the abundance of their hearts, their mouth spake; and +this with shoutings and crying from all quarters. Even their enemies +should see the hand and providence of GOD in the beginning, continuance, +and ending of this seemingly improbable and impracticable work; so that +they should be constrained to cry, “Grace unto it,” and wish both the +work and the builders much prosperity: But as for its friends, they +should be so transported with heart-felt joy in the reflection upon the +signal providences which had attended them through the whole process, +that they would shout and cry, “Grace, grace unto it:” or, This is +nothing but the LORD’s doing; GOD prosper and bless this work more +and more, and make it a place where his free grace and glory may be +abundantly displayed. Then by a beautiful and pungent sarcasm, turning +to the insulting enemies, he utters the spirited interrogation in my +text, “Who hath despised the day of small things?” Who are you, that +vauntingly said, what can these feeble _Jews_ do, pretending to lay the +foundation of a house which they never will have money, or strength, or +power to finish? Or, who are you, O timorous, short-sighted, doubting, +though well-meaning people, who, through unbelief, were discouraged +at the small beginnings and feebleness of the attempt to build a +second temple? And, because you thought it could not come up to the +magnificence of the first, therefore were discouraged from so much as +beginning to build a second at all? + +A close instructive question this; a question, implying, that whenever +GOD intends to bring about any great thing, he generally begins with a +day of small things. + +As a proof of this, I will not lead you so far back, as to the +beginning of time, when the Everlasting “I AM” spoke all things +into existence, by his almighty _fiat_; and out of a confused chaos, +“without form and void,” produced a world worthy of a GOD to create, +and of his favourite creature man, his vicegerent and representative +here below, to inhabit, and enjoy in it both himself and his GOD. And +yet, though the heavens declare his glory, and the firmament sheweth +his handy work, though there is no speech nor language where their +voice is not heard, and their line is gone out through all the earth; +and by a dumb, yet persuasive language, proves the hand that made them +to be divine; yet there have been, and are now, such fools in the world, +as to “say in their hearts, There is no GOD;” or so wise, as by their +wisdom, not to know GOD, or own his divine image to be stamped on that +book, wherein these grand things are recorded, and that in such legible +characters, that he who runs may read. + +Neither will I divert your attention, honoured fathers, to the +histories of _Greece_ and _Rome_, or any of the great kingdoms and +renowned monarchies, which constitute so great a part of ancient +history; but whose beginnings were very small, (witness _Romulus_’s +ditch) their progress as remarkably great, and their declension and +downfal, when arrived at their appointed zenith, as sudden, unexpected, +and marvellous. These make the chief subjects of the learning of our +schools; though they make but a mean figure in sacred history, and +would not perhaps have been mentioned at all, had they not been, in +some measure, connected with the history of GOD’s people, which is +the grand subject of that much despised book, emphatically called, The +Scriptures. Whoever hath a mind to inform himself of the one, may read +_Rollin_’s Ancient History, and whoever would see the connection with +the other, may consult the learned _Prideaux_’s admirable and judicious +connection. Books which, I hope, will be strenuously recommended, +and carefully studied, when this present infant institution gathers +more strength, and grows up into a seat of learning. I can hardly +forbear mentioning the small beginnings of _Great Britain_, now so +distinguished for liberty, opulence and renown; and the rise and rapid +progress of the _American_ colonies, which promises to be one of the +most opulent and powerful empires in the world. But my present views, +and the honours done this infant institution this day, and the words +of my text, as well as the feelings of my own heart, and I trust, of +the hearts of all that hear me, lead me to confine your meditations +to the history of GOD’s own peculiar people, which for the simplicity +and sublimity of its language, the veracity of its author, and the +importance and wonders of the facts therein recorded, if weighed in a +proper balance, hath not its equal under the sun. And yet, though GOD +himself hath become an author among us, we will not condescend to give +his book one thorough reading. Be astonished, O heavens, at this! + +Who would have thought that from one, even from _Abraham_, and from so +small a beginning, as the emigration of a single private family, called +out of a land wholly given to idolatry, to be sojourners and pilgrims +in a strange land; who would have thought, that from a man, who for a +long season was written _childless_, a man whose first possession in +this strange land, was by purchasing a burying place for his wife, and +in whose grave one might have imagined he would have buried all future +expectations; who would have thought, that from this very man and woman, +according to the course of nature, both as good as dead, should descend +a numerous offspring like unto the stars of heaven for multitude, +and as the sand which is upon the sea shore innumerable? Nay, who +would have imagined, that against all probability, and in all human +appearance impossible, a kingdom should arise? Behold a poor captive +slave, even _Joseph_, who was cruelly separated from his brethren, +became second in _Pharaoh_’s kingdom: he was sent before to work out +a great deliverance, and to introduce a family which should take root, +deep root downwards and bear fruit upwards, and fill the land. How +could it enter into the heart of man to conceive, that when oppressed +by a king, who knew not _Joseph_, though they were the best, most loyal, +industrious subjects this king had, when an edict was issued forth +as impolitic as cruel, (since the safety and glory of all kingdoms +chiefly consist in the number of its inhabitants) that an outcast, +helpless infant should be taken, and bred up in all the learning of the +_Egyptians_, and in that very court from which, and by that very tyrant +from whom the edict came, and that the deliverer should be nurtured to +be king in _Jeshurun_? + +But time as well as strength would fail me, was I to give you a detail +of all the important particulars respecting GOD’s peculiar people; as +their miraculous support in the wilderness, the events which took place +while they were under a divine theocracy, and during their settlement +in _Canaan_ to the time of their return from _Babylon_, and from thence +to the destruction of their second temple, &c. by the _Romans_. Indeed, +considering to whom I am speaking, persons conversant in the sacred and +profane history, I have mentioned these things only to stir up your +minds by way of remembrance. + +But if we descend from the _Jewish_, to the Christian æra, we shall +find, that its commencement was, in the eyes of the world, a “day of +small things” indeed. Our blessed LORD compares the beginning of its +progress in the world, to a grain of mustard-seed, which though the +smallest of all seeds when sown, soon becomes a great tree, and so +spread, that the “birds of the air,” or a multitude of every nation, +language and tongue, came and lodged in its branches: and its inward +progress in the believers heart, CHRIST likens to a little leaven +which a woman hid in three measures of meal. How both the _Jewish_ +and Christian dispensations have been, and even to this day are +despised, by the wise disputers of this world, on this very account, is +manifest to all who read the lively oracles with a becoming attention. +What ridicule, obloquy, and inveterate opposition christianity meets +with, in this our day, not only from the open deist, but from formal +professors, is too evident to every truly pious soul. + +And what opposition the kingdom of grace meets with in the heart, is +well known by all those who are experimentally acquainted with their +hearts: they know, to their sorrow, what the great apostle of the +_Gentiles_ means, by “the Spirit striving against the flesh, and the +flesh against the Spirit.” + +But the sacred Oracles, and the histories of all ages acquaint us, that +GOD brings about the greatest thing, not only by small and unlikely +means, but by ways and means directly opposite to the carnal reasonings +of unthinking men: he chuses things that be not, to bring to nought +those which are. How did christianity spread and flourish, by one, +who was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted +with grief, and who expired on a cross? he was despised and rejected, +not merely by the vulgar and illiterate, but the Rabbies and Masters +of _Israel_, the Scribes and Pharisees, who by the _Jewish_ churchmen +were held too in so high a reputation for their outward sanctity, +that it became a common proverb, “If only two went to heaven, the +one would be a Scribe, and the other a Pharisee.” Yet there were they +who endeavoured to silence the voice of all his miracles and heavenly +doctrine with, “Is not this the Carpenter’s son?” Nay, “He is mad, why +hear you him? he hath a devil, and calleth out devils by _Beelzebub_ +the prince of the devils.” And their despite not only followed him +to, but after death, and when in his grave. “We remember (said they) +that this deceiver said, after three days I will rise again; command +therefore that the sepulchre be made sure;” but, maugre all your +impotent precautions, in sealing the stone, and setting a watch, +he burst the bars of death asunder, and, according to his repeated +predictions, proved himself to be the Son of GOD with power, by rising +the third day from the dead. And afterwards, in presence of great +multitudes, was he received up into glory; as a proof thereof, he sent +down the Holy Ghost, (on the mission of whom he pawned all his credit +with his disciples) in such an instantaneous, amazing manner, as one +would imagine, should have forced and compelled all who saw it to own, +that this was indeed the finger of GOD. + +And yet how was this grand transaction treated? with the utmost +contempt: when instantaneously the apostles commenced orators and +linguists, and with a divine profusion spoke of the wonderful things of +GOD; “these men (said some) are full of new wine.” And yet by these men, +mean fishermen, illiterate men, idiots, in the opinion of the Scribes +and Pharisees, and notwithstanding all the opposition of earth and hell, +and that too only by the foolishness of preaching, did this grain of +mustard-seed grow up, till thousands, ten thousands of thousands, a +multitude which no man can number, out of every nation, language and +people, came and lodged under the branches of it. + +Neither shall it rest here; whatever dark parenthesis may intervene, +we are assured, that being still watered by the same divine hand, it +shall take deeper and deeper root downward, and bear more and more +fruit upward, till the whole earth be filled with the knowledge of the +LORD, as the waters cover the sea. Who shall live when GOD doth this? +Hasten O LORD that blessed time! O let this thy kingdom come! Come, +not only by the external preaching of the gospel in the world, but by +its renovating, heart-renewing, soul-transforming power, to awakened +sinners! For want of this, alas! alas! though we understood all +mysteries, could speak with the tongues of men and angels, we should +be only like sounding brass, or so many tinkling cymbals. + +And yet, what a “day of small things” is the first implantation of +the seed of divine life in the soul of man? Well might our LORD, who +alone is the author and finisher of our faith, compare it to a little +leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the +whole was leavened. Low similies, mean comparisons these, in the eyes +of those, who having eyes, see not; who having ears, hear not; whose +heart, being waxed gross, cannot, will not understand! To such, it is +despicable, mysterious, and unintelligible in its description; and, +if possible, infinitely more so, when made effectual by the power of +GOD, to the salvation of any individual soul. For the wisdom of GOD +will always be foolishness to natural men. As it was formerly, so it +is now; they who are born after the flesh, will persecute those that +are born after the spirit: the disciple must be as his master: they +that will live godly in him; they that live _most godly_ in him, must, +shall suffer persecution. This is so interwoven in the very nature +and existence of the gospel, that our LORD makes it one part of the +beatitudes, in that blessed sermon which he preached, when, to use the +words of my old familiar friend the seraphic _Hervey_, a mount was his +pulpit, and the heavens his sounding board. A part, which, like others +of the same nature, I believe, will be little relished by such who are +always clamouring against those few highly favoured souls, who dare +stand up and preach the doctrine of _justification by faith alone_ +in the imputed righteousness of JESUS CHRIST, and are reproached with +not preaching, like their master, _Morality_, as they term it, in his +glorious sermon on the mount: for did we more preach, and more live it, +we should soon find all manner of evil would be spoken against us for +CHRIST’s sake. + +But shall this hinder the progress, the growth, and consummation? and +shall the christian therefore be dismayed and discouraged? GOD forbid! +On the contrary, the weakest believer may, and ought, to rejoice and +be exceeding glad. And why? for a very good reason; because, he that +hath begun the good work, hath engaged also to finish it; though CHRIST +found him as black as hell, he shall present him, and every individual +purchased with his blood, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, +before the Divine Presence. O glorious prospect! how will the saints +triumph, and the sons of GOD then shout for joy? If they shouted when +GOD said, “Let there be light, and there was light;” and if there +is joy in heaven over one sinner only that repenteth, how will the +heavenly arches echo and rebound with praise, when all the redeemed +of the LORD shall appear together, and the Son of GOD shall say, “of +all these that thou hast given to me, have I lost nothing.” On the +contrary, what weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth will there be, +not only amongst the devil and his angels, but amongst the fearful and +unbelieving, when they see that all the hellish temptations and devices, +instead of destroying, were over-ruled to the furtherance of the gospel +in general, and to the increase and growth of grace in every individual +believer in particular. And how will despisers then behold and wonder +and perish, when they shall be obliged to say, “we fools counted their +lives madness, and their end to be without honour; but how are they +numbered among the children of GOD, and how happy is their lot among +the saints!” + +But whither am I going? Pardon me, my dear hearers, if you think this +to be a digression from my main point. It is true, whilst I am musing, +the fire begins to kindle: I am flying, but not so high, I trust, as +to lose sight of my main subject. And yet, after meditating and talking +of the rise and progress of the gospel of the kingdom, I shall find +it somewhat difficult to descend so low, as to entertain you with +the small beginnings of this infant colony, and of the Orphan-house, +in which I am now preaching. But I should judge myself inexcusable +on this occasion, if I did not detain you a little longer, in taking +a transient view of the traces of divine Providence, in the rise +and progress of the colony in general, and the institution of this +Orphan-house in particular. Children yet unborn, I trust, will have +occasion to bless GOD for both. + +The very design of this settlement, as charity inclines us to hope all +things, was, that it might be an Asylum, and a place of business, for +as many as were in distress; for foreigners, as well as natives; for +_Jews_ and _Gentiles_. On _February_ 1, a day, the memory of which, I +think, should still be perpetuated, the first embarkation was made with +forty-five _English_ families; men, who had once lived well in their +native country, and who, with many persecuted _Saltzburghers_, headed +by a good old soldier of JESUS lately deceased, the Rev. Mr. _Boltzius_, +came to find a refuge here. They came, they saw, they laboured, and +endeavoured to settle; but by an essential, though well-meant defect, +in the very beginning of the settlement, too well known by some now +present, and too long, and too much felt to bear repeating, prohibiting +the importation and use of negroes, &c. their numbers gradually +diminished, and matters were brought to so low an ebb, that the whole +colony became a proverb of reproach. + +About this time, in the year 1737, being previously stirred up +thereto by a strong impulse, which I could by no means resist, I +came here, after the example of my worthy and reverend friends, +Messieurs _John_ and _Charles Wesley_, and Mr. _Ingham_, who, with +the most disinterested views, had come hither to serve the colony, +by endeavouring to convert the _Indians_. I came rejoicing to serve +the colony also, and to become your willing servant for CHRIST’s sake. +My friend and father, good Bishop _Benson_, encouraged me, though my +brethren and kinsmen after the flesh, as well as religious friends, +opposed it. I came, and I saw (you will not be offended with me to +speak the truth) the nakedness of the land. Gladly did I distribute +about the four hundred pounds sterling, which I had collected in +_England_, among my poor parishioners. The necessity and propriety of +erecting an Orphan-house, was mentioned and recommended before my first +embarkation. But thinking it a matter of too great importance to be +set about unwarily, I deferred the farther prosecution of this laudable +design till my return to _England_ in the year 1738, for to have +priests orders. + +Miserable was the condition of many grown persons, as well as children, +whom I left behind. Their cause I endeavoured to plead, immediately +upon my arrival; but being denied the churches, in which I had the +year before collected many hundreds for the _London_ charity-schools, +I endeavoured to plead their cause in the fields. The people threw in +their mites most willingly; once or twice, I think, twenty-two pounds +were collected in copper; the alms were accompanied with many prayers, +and which, as I told them, laid, I am persuaded, a blessed foundation +to the future charitable superstructure. In a short time, though +plucked as it were out of the fire, the collections and charitable +contributions amounted to more than a one thousand pounds sterling. + +With that I reimbarked, taking _Philadelphia_ in my way, and upon my +second arrival, found the spot fixed upon; but, alas! who can describe +the low estate to which it was reduced! the whole country almost was +left desolate, and the metropolis Savannah, was but like a cottage +in a vineyard, or as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers. Many orphans, +whose parents had been taken from them by the distresses that naturally +attend new settlements, were dispersed here and there in a very forlorn +helpless condition; my bowels yearned towards them, and, animated by +the example of the great Professor _Franck_, previous to bringing them +here, I hired a house, furnished an infirmary, employed all that were +capable of employment, and in a few weeks walked to the house of GOD +with a large family of above sixty orphans, and others in as bad a +condition. + +On _March 25, 1740_, in full assurance of faith, I laid the foundation +of this house; and in the year following, brought in my orphan family, +who, with the workmen, now made up the number of one hundred and fifty: +by the money which was expended on these, the remaining few were kept +in the colony, and were enabled to pay the debts they owed; so that +in a representation made to the House of Commons, by some, who for +very good reasons wanted the constitution of the colony altered; they +declared, that the very existence of the colony was in a great measure, +if not totally, owing to the building and supporting of the Orphan +House. + +Finding the care of such a family, incompatible with the care due +to a parish, upon giving previous warning to the then trustees, I +gave up the living of _Savannah_, which without fee or reward I had +voluntarily taken upon me: I then ranged through the northern colonies, +and afterwards once more returned home. What calumny, what loads of +reproach, I for many years was called to undergo, in thus turning +beggar for a family, few here present need to be informed; a family, +utterly unconnected by any ties of nature; a family, not only to be +maintained with food, but cloathed and educated also, and that too in +the dearest part of his Majesty’s dominions, on a pine barren, and in +a colony where the use of negroes was totally denied; this appeared so +very improbable, that all beholders looked daily for its decline and +annihilation. + +But, blessed be GOD, the building advanced and flourished, and the +wished-for period is now come; after having supported the family +for thirty-two years, by a change of constitution and the smiles of +government, with liberal donations from the northern, and especially +the adjacent provinces, the same hands that laid the foundation, are +now called to finish it, by making an addition of a seat of learning, +the whole products and profits of which, are to go towards the increase +of the fund, as at the beginning, for destitute orphans, or such youths +as may be called of GOD to the sacred ministry of his gospel. I need +not call on any here, to cry, “Grace, grace, unto it.” For on the +utmost scrutiny of the intention of those employed, and considering the +various exercises they have been called to undergo, and the opposition +the building hath every where met with, we may justly say, “not by +might, nor by power, but by thy Spirit, O LORD,” hath this work been +carried on thus far; it is his doing, let it be marvellous in our eyes. +With humble gratitude, therefore, would we now set up our _Ebenezer_, +and say, “Hitherto thou, LORD, hast helped us;” and wherefore should +we doubt, but that he, who hath thus far helped, will continue to help, +when the weary heads of the first founders and present helpers, are +laid in the silent grave. + +I am very well aware, what an invidious task it must be to a person +in my circumstances, thus to speak on an affair in which he hath been +so much concerned. Some may perhaps think, I am become a fool in thus +glorying. But as I am now, blessed be GOD, in the decline of life, and +as, in all probability, I shall never be present to celebrate another +anniversary, I thought it best to be a little more explicit, that if +I have spoken any thing but truth, I may be confronted; and if not, +that future ages, and future successors, may see with what a purity of +intention, and what various interpositions of Providence, the work was +begun, and hath been carried on to its _present height_. + +It was the reading of a like account, written by the late Professor +_Franck_, that encouraged me: who knows but hereafter, the reading +something of a similar nature, may encourage others to begin and carry +on a like work elsewhere? I have said its _present height_, for I +would humbly hope, that this is, comparatively speaking, only a “day +of small things,” only the dawn of brighter scenes. Private genius’s +and individuals, as well as collective bodies, have, like the human +body, the nonage, puerile, juvenile estate, before they arrive at their +zenith, and their lives as gradually they decline. But yet I would +hope, that both the province and _Bethesda_ are but in their puerile +or juvenile state. And long, long may they increase, and make large +strides, till they arrive at a glorious zenith! I mean not merely in +trade, merchandise, and opulence, (though I would be far from secluding +them from the province, and would be thankful for the advances it hath +already made) but a zenith of glorious gospel blessings, without which, +all outward emoluments are less than nothing, or as the small dust +of the balance: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the +whole world and lose his own soul.” + +Who can imagine, that the prophet _Zechariah_ would be sent to +strengthen the hands of _Zerubbabel_, in building and laying the +foundation of the temple, if that temple was not to be frequented with +worshippers that worshipped the Father in spirit and in truth. The +most gaudy fabrics, stately temples, new moon sabbaths, and solemn +assemblies, are only solemn mockeries GOD cannot away with. This GOD +hath shewn by the destruction of both the first and second temples. +What is become of the seven churches of _Asia_? How are all their +golden candlesticks overthrown? “GOD is a Spirit, and they who worship +him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” And no longer do I expect +that this house will flourish, than when the power of religion is +encouraged and promoted, and the persons educated here, prosecute their +studies, not only to be great scholars, but good saints. + +Blessed be GOD! I can say with Professor _Franck_, that it is +in a great measure owing to the disinterested spirit of my first +fellow-helpers, as well as those who are now employed, that the +building hath reached to its present height. This I am bound to speak, +not only in honour to those who are now with GOD, but those at present +before me. Nor dare I conclude, without offering to + +Your Excellency, our pepper corn of acknowledgment for the countenance +you have always shewn _Bethesda_’s institution, and the honour you did +us last year, in laying the first brick of yonder wings: in thus doing, +you have honoured _Bethesda_’s GOD. May he long delight to honour you +here on earth! and after a life spent to his glory, and your country’s +good, may he honour you to all eternity, in placing you at CHRIST’s +right-hand in the kingdom above! + +Next to your Excellency, my dear Mr. President, I must beg your +acceptance both of thanks and congratulation on the annual return of +this festival. For you was not only my dear familiar friend, and first +fellow-traveller in this infant province; but you was directed by +Providence to this spot, laid the second brick of this house, watched, +prayed, and wrought for the family’s good: A witness of innumerable +trials, partner of my joys and griefs; you will have now the pleasure +of seeing the Orphan-house a fruitful bough, its branches running +over the wall. For this, no doubt, GOD hath smiled upon and blessed +you, in a manner we could not expect, much less design; and may he +continue to bless you with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places +in CHRIST JESUS. Look to the rock from whence you have been hewn, and +may your children never be ashamed, that their father left his native +country, and married a real christian, born again under this roof. May +_Bethesda_’s GOD grant this may be the happy portion of your children, +and children’s children! + +Gentlemen of his Majesty’s council, + +Mr. Speaker, and you members of the General Assembly, many thanks are +owing to you, for your late address to his Excellency in favour of +_Bethesda_. Your joint recommendation of it, when I was last here, +which, though in some measure through the bigotry of some, for the +present is rendered abortive, by their wanting to have it confined +to a party, yet I trust the event will prove that every thing shall +be over-ruled to the furtherance of the work. Here I repeat, what +I have often declared, that as far as lies in my power before and +after my decease, _Bethesda_ shall be always on a _broad bottom_. All +denominations have freely given; all denominations, all the continent, +GOD being my helper, shall receive benefit from it. May _Bethesda_’s +GOD bless you all! in your private as well as public capacity; and +as you are honoured to be the representatives of a now flourishing +increasing people: may you be directed in all your ways! May truth, +justice, religion, and piety be established amongst you through all +generations! + +_Lastly_, My reverend brethren, and you inhabitants of the colony, +accept unfeigned thanks for the honour done me, in letting us see you +at _Bethesda_ this day. You, Sir, for the sermon preached here last +year. Tell it in _Germany_, tell my great, good friend, Professor +_Franck_, that _Bethesda_’s GOD, is a GOD whose mercy endureth for +ever. O let us have your earnest prayers! encourage your people not +to “despise the day of small things.” What hath GOD wrought? From +its infancy, this colony hath been blessed with many faithful gospel +ministers: O that this may be a nursery to many more! This hath been +the case of the _New England_ College for almost a century, and why not +the Orphan-house Academy at _Georgia_? + +Men, brethren, fathers, as many of you, whether inhabitants or +strangers, who have honoured this day with your presence, give us the +additional blessings of your prayers. And O that _Bethesda_’s GOD may +make this day, though but a day of small things, productive of great +things to the souls of all amongst whom I have been now preaching the +kingdom of GOD. A great and good day will it be indeed, if JESUS CHRIST, +our great _Zerubbabel_, should, by the power of the eternal Spirit, +bless any thing that hath now been said, to cause every mountain of +difficulty, that lies in the way of your conversion, to become a plain. +And what art thou, O great mountain, whether the lust of the flesh, +the lust of the eye, or the pride of life, sin, or self-righteousness? +Before our _Bethesda_’s GOD, thou shalt become a plain. + +Brethren, my heart is enlarged towards you: it is written, blessed +be GOD that it is written, “In the name of JESUS every knee shall +bow, whether things in heaven, or things in earth, or things under the +earth.” O that we may be made a willing people in the day of his power! +Look, look unto him, all ye that are placed in these ends of the earth. +This house hath often been an house of GOD, a gate of heaven, to some +of your fathers. May it be a house of GOD, a gate of heaven, to the +children also! Come unto him, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, +he will give you rest; rest from the guilt, rest from the power, rest +from the punishment of sin; rest from the fear of divine judgments here, +rest with himself eternally hereafter. Fear not, though the beginnings +are but small, CHRIST will not despise the day of small things. A +bruised reed will he not break, and the smoaking flax will he not +quench, until he bring forth judgment unto victory. His hands that +laid the foundation, also shall finish it: yet a little while and the +top-stone shall be brought forth with shouting, and men and angels +join in crying “Grace! Grace! unto it.” That all present may be in this +happy number, may GOD of his infinite mercy grant, through JESUS our +LORD. + + + + + SERMON LVIII. + + _Peter_’s Denial of his LORD. + + + MATTHEW xxvi. 75.¹ + + _And Peter remembered the words of Jesus, which said unto him, + Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice: and he + went out, and wept bitterly._ + + ¹ The two following Sermons came to hand after the others were + in the press. + +BIOGRAPHY, as one observes, is the best history; or, in other words, +writing or reading the lives of great and good men, is one of the most +profitable and delightful kinds of history we can entertain ourselves +with. For hereby we are convinced, that Wisdom’s ways are indeed ways +of pleasantness; and being proved to be practicable by men of like +passions with ourselves, we are insensibly allured to follow them as +they followed _Christ_, and encouraged to run with patience the race +set before us. This, one would hope, is the grand end proposed by all +such who undertake to draw the characters, or hand down to posterity +the remarkable transactions of persons who have shone as lights in the +church of GOD. Many have done worthily in this respect; and for this +their labour of love, thousands as yet unborn, shall rise and call +them blessed. But without detracting any thing from their due praise, +I cannot help observing, that in most of the lives that I have had +an opportunity of perusing, there seems to be one deficiency, I could +almost say, common to them all. It is this: The writers of them seldom +or never mention the blemishes or falls of those whose characters they +exhibit. They emblazon their good, without so much as hinting at any +of their bad qualities. In short, they paint them blameless, and by not +mentioning any of their foibles, or the sins that did most easily beset +them, they make them, as it were, equal to the angels of GOD, or rather +to the Son of GOD himself, of whom alone it can truly be said, “That +he was without sin.” Such a method, (however well meant, because we are +more prone to imitate others vices than their virtues) to speak in the +softest terms, is not according to the pattern shewn us in the mount. +The scriptures set us a different copy. In those lively oracles, as +in a well-drawn picture, we have both shade and light; and at the same +time as they paint out to us, in the most striking manner, the graces +for which the holy men of old were most eminent, they also, with an +equally impartial hand, expose to public view, not only the common +infirmities, but even some of the most dreadful falls, with all their +aggravating circumstances, of some of the greatest men of GOD that ever +did, or will live, till time itself shall be no more. + +One of these is to be the mournful subject of our present meditation. +_Procul ite profani!_ Let all profane persons keep at an awful distance: +We are going to tread on holy ground. I set an hedge about it in the +name of the living GOD. Come not too nigh the mount, lest that which +was written for your learning, through your own perverse abuse of it, +should prove unto you a further occasion of falling. + +If any should enquire, “Why all this caution?” I answer, “We are about +to discourse on the Apostle _Peter_’s shameful denial of his and our +blessed Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST.” A passage recorded by all +the evangelists, St. _Mark_ himself not excepted, who is supposed to +have been emanuensis to St. _Peter_, and to have taken his gospel from +_Peter_’s own mouth. A proof this, not only of the impartiality of the +sacred writers, but also that the Holy Ghost intended that this awful +story should, in an especial manner, be recorded for our learning, on +whom the ends of the world are come. But though all the evangelists are +very explicit in relating this perfidious and wicked act, yet we shall +chiefly confine ourselves, at present, to the account given us of it in +this xxvith chapter of St. _Matthew_, and, for method sake, purpose to +consider, + + _First_, The steps that led to this great man’s fall. + + _Secondly_, The fall itself. And, + + _Thirdly_, His recovery from it, mentioned in the text: “And + _Peter_ remembered the words of JESUS, which said unto him, + Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went + out and wept bitterly.” + +But before we proceed to the prosecution of these points; it may be +proper to premise, that we take it for granted the Apostle _Peter_, +before his fall, was certainly a converted man. This is controverted +by some. For what reason, is best known to themselves. The scriptures +evidently leave us no room to dispute it. One passage may suffice +for a proof. “Blessed art thou, _Simon Bar Jonah_ (said the glorious +_Emmanuel_ to _Peter_, when he witnessed that good confession, Thou +art CHRIST, the Son of the living GOD); for flesh and blood hath not +revealed this unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” Not content +with this, he adds, “Thou art _Peter_, and upon this rock will I build +my church, and the gates of hell shall never be able to prevail against +it:” Words that carry with them the strongest presumption, not only +that _Peter_ was a converted man, but that he had some eminent place +to be assigned him in the kingdom of grace. For our Lord pronounces him +blessed: “Blessed art thou, _Simon Bar Jonah_:” and gives him a reason +for it; “For flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee, but my +heavenly Father.” So that _Peter_ called CHRIST Lord by the Holy Ghost, +which none but a converted person can do. And further, “Upon this rock, +says CHRIST, will I build my church;” which, whether it be understood +of his confession of CHRIST’s divinity, or his being afterwards to +be employed in first preaching the gospel to the _Gentiles_, seems +to denote some peculiar favour and honour assigned to, and hereafter +to be conferred upon him. It is true, indeed, the same all-seeing +Redeemer, when afterwards he forewarned him of his fall, subjoined +this particular command; “And when thou art converted, strengthen thy +brethren.” But this only implies, that his fall would be so exceeding +great, that his recovery out of it would be, as it were, a second +conversion. + +The steps that led to this terrible disaster, come now more +particularly to be considered. In order to be informed of these, (as +I take it for granted you have brought your Bibles with you) I must +beg you to look back to the 33d verse of this chapter, where we shall +find, that spiritual pride, and a too great dependence on a stock of +grace already received, was one of the first steps discernible in this +Apostle’s denial of his LORD――――The blessed JESUS, knowing all things +that should befal him, after the solemn institution and celebration +of his last supper, gave his disciples this tremendous warning, backed +with a scripture prediction: “All ye (verse 31.) shall be offended +because of me this night; for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, +and the sheep shall be scattered.” A warning, one would imagine, +terrible enough to have struck them all dumb, at least to have filled +them with a holy jealousy of their own desperately wicked and deceitful +hearts. But what says our Apostle? He (verse 33.) answered and said, +“Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never +be offended.” Poor _Peter_! How unlike thy former self, when at thy +first calling, thou criedst out, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, +O LORD.” Alas! he now thinks his mountain is so strong, that it never +could be moved. “Though all men should be offended because of thee, yet +will I never be offended.” O these egotisms! How frequently are they +used by, but how little do they become such frail creatures as we are! +“Yet will I never be offended;” so far from being offended this night, +that I will never, at any time, or in any place, be offended because of +thee. No wonder, after hearing this, that the holy JESUS said unto him, +(verse 34.) “Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock +crow, thou shalt, or will deny me thrice:” (for CHRIST’s predicting +his fall, laid him under no necessity of falling). Surely _Peter_ will +now retract! Nothing less. On the contrary, depending too much on the +sincerity of his intentions, and his present good frame, he said unto +his Master, (verse 35.) “Though I should die with thee, yet will I not +deny thee.” As though he should have said, “Die with thee I may; to die +with or for thee, I am ready: but to deny thee, I dare not. Deny thee +in any wise, I cannot, and neither will I. Is thy servant a dog, a +devil, that he should do this?” Stop, _Peter_; whither art thou going? +Where is thy present warm zeal carrying thee? What! wilt thou give the +GOD of truth the lie? I begin to tremble for thee. Such self-confidence +and spiritual pride, generally go before a fall. + +But to proceed. Spiritual sloth, as well as spiritual pride, helped to +throw this Apostle down. The sun, that glorious Sun of righteousness, +was now about to enter into his last eclipse. Satan, who had left +him for a season, or, till the season of his passion, is now to be +permitted to bruise his heel again. This is his hour, and now the +powers of darkness summon and exert their strongest and united efforts. +A hymn is a prelude to his dreadful passion. From the communion-table, +the Saviour retires to the garden. An horrible dread, and inexpressible +load of sorrow begins to overwhelm and weigh down his innocent soul. +His body can scarcely sustain it. See how he faulters! See how his +hands hang down, and his knees wax feeble under the amazing pressure! +He is afflicted and oppressed indeed. See, see, O my soul, how he +sweats! But what is that which I see? Blood――drops of blood――great +drops of blood falling to the ground. Alas, was ever sorrow like unto +this sorrow! Hark! what is that I hear? O dolorous complaint? “Father, +if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” Hark! he speaks again. +Amazing! the Creator complains to the creature, “My soul is exceeding +sorrowful, even unto death: tarry you here and watch with me.” And now +he retires once more. But see how his agony increases――Hark! how he +prays, and that too yet more earnestly: “Father, if it be possible, +let this cup pass from me.” And will his heavenly Father leave him +comfortless? No.――An angel (happy, highly-favoured angel!) is sent +from heaven to strengthen him. But where is _Peter_ all this while? We +are told that the holy JESUS took him, with _James_ and _John_, into +the garden. Surely he will not leave his LORD in such deep distress! +What is he doing? I blush to answer. Alas! he is sleeping: nay, though +awakened once by his agonizing LORD, with a “_Simon Peter_, sleepest +thou? what! couldest thou not watch with me one hour?” yet his eyes, +notwithstanding his profession of constancy and care, are heavy with +sleep. LORD, what is man! + +After hearing all this, we need not be surprized at the account given +us, (verse 58.) of another step to his fall, viz. His following JESUS +afar off. “But _Peter_, says the Evangelists, followed him afar off.” +The Redeemer’s agony was now over, “and behold the hour is at hand, +when he is to be betrayed into the hands of sinners.” He warns his +sleepy disciples of it, and, acting like himself, goes out to meet the +threatening storm. “Arise, said he let us go: behold! he that betrayeth +me is at hand.” _Judas_, one of the twelve that eat of his bread, +performs the hellish task, and lifts up his heel against him. He says, +Hail, Master! kisses and then betrays him. For this was the sign agreed +on, “Whomsoever I shall kiss, the same is he, hold him fast.” They +knew the watch-word, and, like so many roaring lions, seize on their +unresisting prey. This rouses _Peter_. Out of an honest, but misguided +zeal, he draws his sword, and cuts off the High-priest’s servant’s ear. +The blessed JESUS heals the one, reproves the other; and, according +to _Isaiah_’s prophecy, is contentedly led as a lamb to the slaughter. +_Peter_’s heat is soon cooled, and instead of adhering to his LORD, or +saying, as might justly be expected, “Whither thou goest, I will go; +whithersoever they lead thee, they shall lead me also:” Alas! alas! he +followed him afar off. Observe, he does not deny his LORD all at once. +No. Satan leads us on by degrees into great sins, and will not suffer +us to be very bad immediately. _Peter_ at first follows afar off: he +skulks behind, and keeps on purpose at a distance, lest he should be +accounted one of his followers. O _Peter, Peter_, did I not know how +prone my own deceitful heart is to go astray from the great Shepherd +and Bishop of our souls, I should now begin to say, Fie upon thee, fie +upon thee. Hadst thou kept close to thy LORD, thou mightest have been +sheltered safely under his almighty wings; but how canst thou avoid +falling, and that foully too, when thou beginnest thus to be ashamed of +thy glorious master? + +But this is not all. For we are not only informed that he followed +JESUS afar off, but that “He went into the High Priest’s palace (verse +58.) and sat with the servants.” So that keeping bad company was +another step that led to his great fall. Oh _Peter_! my blood begins +now almost to run cold within me. I tremble for thee more than ever. +What canst thou propose to thyself, or what bad thing may we not expect +to hear of thee, when sitting in such sorry company? I had much rather +have heard that thou hadst fled with thy other cowardly brethren. Thou +sittest among thy master’s professed enemies to see the end. Whatever +becomes of him, I dread to hear what the end of all this gradual +backsliding will be, in respect to thy own soul. + +Well! the blessed JESUS is now at the bar. Omnipotence suffers itself +to be arraigned, and he who set bounds to the sea which it cannot pass, +is content to be bound, and that as a criminal, by the work of his +own hands. False witnesses rise up against him, and lay to his charge +things that he knew not. “This fellow, say they, (verse 61.) said, I am +able to destroy the temple of GOD, and to build it in three days.” And +what reply doth the innocent JESUS make? None at all. Not only because +they all knew that it was a malicious slander, but because he stood +as our representative. He, therefore, held his peace, and as a sheep +before the shearers is dumb, so this immaculate Lamb of GOD opened not +his mouth. At length, being adjured thereto by the High priest in the +name of the living GOD, he confesses himself to be the CHRIST, the son +of the Blessed; and lets the imperious Sanhedrim know, that however +contemptible his appearance might be now, yet they should hereafter +see him sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of +heaven. And does not this strike terror into his accusers and judges? +By no means. The haughty High-Priest rises in disdain, hypocritically +rends his cloaths, urging this as a reason, “He hath spoken blasphemy; +what further need have we of witnesses?” Was ever indignity, like this +indignity, put on thee, thou most adorable Mediator! Which shall I +marvel at most, the High-Priest’s impudence, or thy patience? Both, +doubtless, are unparalleled. And yet, alas! a further trial awaits +our suffering LORD. For whilst the master is thus arraigned, insulted, +and causelesly condemned at the bar within, _Satan_ is no less busy +in wounding him through _Peter_’s side, who was sitting in the palace +without. _Peter_, indeed, thinks to sit there undiscovered; but a +damsel comes to him, (verse 69) saying, “Thou also wast with JESUS of +Galilee.” And what then? Was that high treason? Or rather was it not +the highest honour? _Peter_, what sayest thou? Alas, (verse 70) “He +denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.” Know not +what thou sayest, _Peter_? her words were plain enough, “Thou also was +with JESUS of Nazareth.” Can any words be plainer? To deny this, in the +least, was bad, but to deny this before them all, who could so easily +confront thee, proves thee to be falling indeed. Call him now no longer +_Peter_, but call him _Ichabod_: for the glory of the LORD is departing +from him. + +However, as yet there is hope concerning him. For, conscious, as it +were, of his guilt (verse 71) “He went out into the porch.” _Satan_ +pursues him. For when a saint begins to fall, his hellish language +is, Down with him, down with him, even to the ground. Another damsel, +therefore, is put in _Peter_’s way, who, upon seeing him, says, not +unto _Peter_ himself, but to them that were there, (verse 71) “This +fellow was also with JESUS of Nazareth.” She speaks the same language +with her sister scoffer, and with those who accused the blessed JESUS +at the bar. Doubtless, our modern scoffers are related to them, for +they use the same dialect every day when speaking of CHRIST, or those +that, through grace, dare to own and confess him before men. But here +would I stop and feign be excused from relating to this great assembly +_Peter_’s answer. Oh tell it not in _Gath_, publish it not in the +streets of _Askelon_! But we must not be wise above what is written. +The Holy Spirit hath left it upon record, and proclaimed it by four +Evangelists upon the house-top, and, therefore, I am constrained to +tell you, that again (verse 72.) “He denied with an oath, I do not +know the man.” What! an Apostle swear? Was it not enough barely to deny +the damsel’s assertion, but he must deny it with an oath? Perhaps, it +was a crime he never was guilty of before. Surely, the way of sin is +down-hill. One step leads to another. At first he only denied what was +said to him, by a kind of equivocation, “I know not what thou sayest.” +Now he grows bolder, and denies with an oath, “I know not the man.” +What, _Peter_! Know not the man? That glorious God-man CHRIST JESUS thy +LORD? What! not know Him, who called thee from the poor occupation of +catching fish, to make thee an Apostle and a fisher of men? What! not +know Him, who bad thee come to him upon the waters, and Him who with +his own almighty arm saved thee from drowning, when thou wast answering +thy name _Cephas_, and sinking like a stone? What! not know Him, with +whom thou hast so intimately conversed for three years last past, who, +so lately pronounced thee blessed, washed thy feet, gave thee a new +name, and took thee to Mount _Tabor_, where he displayed before thee +his excellent glory, which made thee cry out, It is good for us to be +here? What! hast thou forgot all this, _Peter_? + +Surely, it is high time for the cock to crow. Hark! The cock does crow, +not only once, but twice; but all in vain. Fallen as this great man +is, he must still fall lower. _Satan_ is now about to give him the last +and most fatal thrust. He hath his quiver full of deadly arrows, and +hath always instruments at hand, the weakest of which will foil the +strongest Apostle when left to himself, “After a while (verse 73) came +unto him they that stood by, and said unto _Peter_, Surely, thou also +wast one of them, for thy speech betrayeth thee.” As though they had +said, “How canst thou have the impudence to say thou knowest not the +man, when thy very language and manner of speaking betrays thy being +even one of his followers?” What says _Peter_ now? Can he withstand +this glaring evidence? Yes, he not only denies it with a single oath, +but (Oh, how shall I speak it!) he “began to curse and to swear,” +and with a whole volly of execrable expressions, striving to act the +bravado, he persists in saying (verse 74) “I know not the man.” And +now, _Satan_, thou hast gained thy point. A great man, through too +much self-confidence, spiritual pride, spiritual sloth, and too great +intimacy with some of thy children, is fallen indeed! Thou hast sifted +him with a witness. + +But is he fallen, never to rise again? Is _Peter_ sunk too low for free +grace ever to raise him up? Will the Redeemer suffer his truth to fail; +or shall the prayer put up for him before he was led into temptation, +viz. that his faith should not fail, remain unanswered? No, all the +promises in CHRIST JESUS are all yea and all Amen; and having loved his +own, he loves them unto the end. The enemy hath broke in upon _Peter_ +like a flood, but the almighty Redeemer will now lift up his standard +against him, and deliver his captive servant. Immediately, (verse 74) +upon this last denial of his LORD, “the cock crew.” And what is most +of all (nay, without which the cock might have crowed ten thousand +times) another Evangelist tells us, that “the LORD turned, and looked +upon _Peter_,” Oh amazing condescension! Oh unparalleled instance of +endearing love! Our Lord was now upon a trial for his life. Fat bulls +of _Bashan_ were surrounding him on every side. Yet the same love, +that in the night in which he was betrayed, would not permit him to +forget his disciples in general, would not, though he was himself now +arraigned at the bar, suffer him to forget his poor fallen Apostle in +particular. “The LORD, therefore, turned, and looked upon _Peter_.” +But who besides _Peter_, and souls like him recovering from their +backslidings, can tell the language of that look? Doubtless, it carried +with it an “_Et tu Peter?_ And art thou there _Peter_? Is it not enough +for me to be falsely accused, and condemned by my enemies, but I must +be wounded also in the house of my friends! Is it not sufficient that +_Judas_ betrays me, but thou must add to my grief by denying me? Deny +me too with an oath, nay, with oaths and curses deny that ever thou +knewest me? Is this thy kindness to thy friend? Alas! What is become +of thy boasted professions now? Art thou the man that didst so solemnly +declare, that though thou shouldst die with me, thou wouldst not deny +me in any wise? Yes, Thou art the man.” + +This, and much more of the same kind, we may well suppose was the +real language of that convincing, heart-piercing look, which the LORD +JESUS at this time gave his fallen _Peter_. Amazing! He looks him into +contrition; whereas had he rewarded him according to his iniquity, +he might have looked him into hell. Rejoice with me, therefore, my +dear hearers. This straying sheep, through the tender mercies of the +compassionate shepherd and bishop of our souls, by this look is brought +back to the fold again. “And _Peter_, says our text, remembered the +words of JESUS, which said unto him, Before the cock crow,” i. e. at +the time emphatically called the cock-crowing, which was about three +in the morning, “thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out.” (The word +seems to import, that he threw himself out with a holy violence) “and +wept bitterly.” St. _Mark_ only says, “And when he thought thereon, he +wept.” For being an amanuensis to St. _Peter_, though explicit in the +account of his fall, he is very sparing in mentioning his repentance. +Unless we suppose that St. _Mark_ would insinuate that whenever _Peter_ +reflected on his fall, he always wept for ever after. However that be, +he wept bitterly now. Methinks, I see him wringing his hands, rending +his garments, stamping on the ground, and with the self-condemned +publican smiting upon his ungrateful breast. See how it heaves! Oh +what piteous sighs and groans are those which come from the very bottom +of his heart! Alas! It is too big to speak. But his tears, his briny, +bitter, repenting tears plainly bespeak this to be the language of his +awakened soul. “Alas! Where have I been? On the devil’s ground. With +whom have I been conversing? The devil’s children. What is this that +I have done? Denied the LORD of glory, with oaths and curses denied +that ever I knew him. And now whither shall I go? Or where shall +I hide my guilty head? I have sinned against light. I have sinned +against repeated tokens of his dear distinguishing and heavenly love. +I have sinned against repeated warnings, resolutions, promises and +vows. I have sinned openly in the face of the sun, in the presence of +my master’s enemies, and thereby have caused his name to be blasphemed. +How can I think of being suffered to behold the face of, much less to +be employed by, the ever-blessed JESUS any more? O _Peter_, thou hast +undone thyself. Justly mayst thou be thrown aside like a broken vessel. +GOD be merciful to me a sinner.” + +And is this the language of thy tears, O _Peter_? Blessed art thou +still then, thou _Simon Bar Jonah_. These tears, and this holy +resentment against thyself, bespeak thee to be a holy mourner. Yet a +little while, and thou shalt be comforted with a “Go tell his brethren +and _Peter_, that he is risen;” and with a “_Simon_ son of _Jonah_, +lovest thou me? Then feed my lambs.” And where is now thy boasting, O +_Satan_? Or what hast thou gained by foiling this favourite of heaven? +Thou didst desire to have him. Thy request was granted. Thou hast +sifted him as wheat. But dost thou imagine the all-prevailing Mediator +will suffer thee to pluck him out of his hands? No. JESUS hath prayed +for him, and therefore _Peter_’s faith shall not finally fail. Rejoice +not then over him, O thou enemy of souls! For though he has fallen, +yet see how he begins to rise again. Though at the present he sits in +darkness, yet, ere long, the glory of the LORD shall shine around him. + +Where then are those Sons of _Belial_, those perverse disputers of this +world, and yet, if possible, more perverse perverters of the Word of +GOD? Dare any of you now go away, saying within yourselves, “Who can +blame us for a little equivocating, or a little innocent lying, cursing, +and swearing? Was not _Peter_, the great Apostle _Peter_, guilty of all +these?” Yes he was, but with this difference, he fell through surprize, +and but once, you, perhaps, sin wilfully and habitually. Fall he did, +and that dreadfully too; but if his fall was dreadful, his repentence +was as sincere and lasting. Ere long you shall see this same _Peter_, +boldly owning his LORD before the whole _Jewish_ Sanhedrim, and +rejoicing that he was counted worthy to suffer for his great name’s +sake. Ere long you shall hear of an angel’s being sent to bring him out +of prison, and at last sealing his blessed doctrine with his blood. Go +ye then, and entreat the LORD to look you into a godly sorrow, and see +that with _Peter_ you bring forth fruits meet for repentance; or as the +LORD GOD liveth, in whose name I speak, and in whose presence we now +stand, you, with all your carnal reasonings and wilful wrestings of the +word of GOD, shall, ere long, be thrust down to the nethermost hell. + +But why should I waste my time in reasoning with men of such perverse +minds? To you who do, from your hearts, believe on JESUS of _Nazareth_, +and who, in reality, are the children of the most High GOD, the +mournful passage we are now upon, does, in a more immediate manner, +call me to address myself. You, I am persuaded, on hearing of _Peter_’s +fall, and the LORD’s turning and looking upon him, Will not draw this +abominable inference, “Let us sin then, that grace may abound.” No. +I know you detest it from your inmost souls; and if it was proper +to speak, would to a man cry out, “God forbid.” Your hearts, I would +humbly hope, are rather employed in silent ejaculation to the holy +JESUS, saying within yourselves, “Oh, that he would this day look +down from heaven, the habitation of his holiness, and cause, out of +these rocky hearts, floods of repenting tears to flow.” I will readily +join with you in this necessary request. For, alas! we are all guilty +concerning this thing, viz. Of denying our LORD, as well as _Peter_. +Some of us, perhaps, have not so openly with oaths and curses denied +that ever we knew him. But then, though we have in words owned, yet +in works and practice, it may be, we have habitually denied him. For +how often have we been sleeping, when we ought to have been watching? +And how often have we been warming and indulging our bodies, when we +should have been in our closets warming our hearts in prayer? How often +have we needlessly left the communion of saints, and as needlessly put +ourselves into the way of, and too intimately conversed with open and +unconverted sinners, or at least, with those who we had reason to think +were enemies to the cross of CHRIST? How often have we been drowsy +when hearing the word of GOD? Nay, how often have we been stupid, and +even as dead as stones, at the table of the LORD, when CHRIST has been +evidently set forth crucified before us? How often have we been so +foolish as to trust our hearts, and instead of trusting the LORD, have +leaned on the broken reed of our own understandings? How often have +we been puffed up with spiritual pride, and confidently boasted of our +graces, as though we had not received them? And oh, how often have we +shamefully followed our LORD afar off? And notwithstanding he may have +manifested himself to us as he doth not to the world; notwithstanding +he may have taken us on the mount of ordinances, given us to see his +glory, led us into his banqueting-house, and let his banner over us +be love; notwithstanding our repeated vows that we would never leave +him, never forsake him; yet how often have we, as it were, been ashamed +of him, and his glorious Gospel, and given our LORD occasion, times +without number, to complain in that cutting language, “These wounds +have I received in the house of my friends?” And now which of us +shall throw the first stone at _Peter_? Behold, he has been placed +in the midst of us this day. My brethren, why stand we like statues? +I say, let him that is without this sin of denying the LORD JESUS, +cast the first stone. But with what face of justice can we do this, +being guilty in many respects equally, and in some even more guilty +than _Peter_ himself? Rather let us turn the edge of our resentment +against ourselves, and imitating _Peter_ in his repentance, as we have +undoubtedly too much imitated him in his crime, let us go out from a +wicked, noisy, and deluding world, and weep bitterly. Who knows but the +LORD may return and leave a blessing behind him? For this end was this +instance of human frailty and divine condescension recorded. In him the +Redeemer shewed all this long-suffering, that we, notwithstanding our +manifold backslidings, might be kept from despair. True, we have sinned, +but though we have sinned against light and love, yet we have still +an advocate with the Father, even JESUS CHRIST the righteous, whose +precious blood can, and, if applied to our souls by a living faith, +will certainly cleanse us both from the guilt and power of all our sins. +It was this which washed away the stain of this foul and dreadful fall +from _Peter_’s heart. He quickly rose, and was as speedily restored to +his blessed master’s favour again. “Go tell his brethren and _Peter_,” +said the angel, “that he goeth before you into _Galilee_.” There shall +you see him. They did see him. And what said JESUS unto him? He renewed +his commission, and bid him “feed his sheep and lambs.” Accordingly we +hear not only of his preaching, but of his being honoured so to preach, +that three thousand were converted in one day. And is not the LORD +JESUS the same now as he was yesterday? Yes, he is, and will continue +the same for ever. We have his own royal word for it, that he will heal +our backslidings, and love us freely. Let us return then unto the LORD, +from whom we have revolted. He is long-suffering, slow to anger, and +soon repenteth him of the evil which we provoke him to send upon us. +But oh let us not return again to folly, but carefully watch and pray +against spiritual pride, spiritual sloth, and self-indulgence, from +whence all our evils flow. + +Young preachers, to you in an especial manner are these words of +exhortation sent. Of all people in the world, you had need watch most +against spiritual pride. It is a fly that often spoils your whole pot +of ointment. This made aged _Paul_ so careful to warn _Timothy_ not +to lay hands upon novices, lest, says he, “being puffed up with pride, +they fall into the condemnation of the devil.” How many awful instances +have we had of this in various places within these few years last past? +Young men, therefore, I exhort you to be humble. For CHRIST’s sake, +for your own souls sake, for the sake of the church of GOD which he +hath purchased with his own blood, pray without ceasing that you may be +cloathed with humility. Take care of carrying too high sail. Popularity +is a dangerous sea, and nothing but the special and almighty grace of +GOD can keep you from oversetting in it. Mark the rocks against which +others have made shipwreck, and beg of the LORD JESUS night and day, +to help you to steer such a course as to avoid and keep clear of them: +he alone can preserve you. _Satan_ envies the honour put upon you; +he has a particular enmity against those whom he sees the Redeemer +making use of. He knows your weak sides, and will desire to have +you, as he desired to have _Peter_, that he may sift you as wheat. +Watch, therefore, and pray always, that you may not fall in an hour of +temptation. If _Peter_ could not stand when left to himself, what are +we? + +Have any from among ourselves of late given proofs of this? Nay, have +any that once appeared boldly for our LORD, and seemed ready to follow +him to prison or to death, have any such, I say, been permitted not +only to follow him afar off, but shamefully and openly to disown and +deny both him and his people? Let us not marvel as though some strange +thing happened unto us, but let us search the scriptures. Many such +instances are recorded there; and we know who hath forewarned us to +expect them now. “It must needs be, says the unerring, all-seeing JESUS, +that offences come. Let us not therefore be high-minded, but fear; and +let him that standeth take heed lest he fall.” Brethren, pray for them. +Who knows but they may yet rise, and the locks at present cut off, grow +again? Who knows but the cock may yet crow, JESUS may yet look, and +such grievous backsliders, being as it were reconverted, may appear +more zealous than ever in strengthening their brethren? When shall this +once be? “We wait for thy salvation, O LORD: make no long tarrying, O +our GOD!” + +In the mean while, let none of us be discouraged, GOD will take care of +his own cause. The Redeemer hath declared, that the gates of hell shall +never be able to prevail against his church: and, therefore, though the +ark may totter, he can keep it from falling; and though driven for a +while into the _Philistine_’s country, he assuredly can bring it back. +He that healed the wound imprudently given by _Peter_ to the ear of +the High Priest’s servant, he can and will heal all wounds, and repair +all breaches that have been occasioned either by the backslidings, or +unguarded conduit of those whom he vouchsafes to employ. “Out of the +eater shall come forth meat, and out of the strong shall come forth +sweetness.” The wicked, no doubt, rejoiced when they heard of _Peter_’s +fall, and in all probability frequently vented their spleen in saying, +“Here is religion for you! Here is a pretty family of reformers, and +setters forth of new doctrines. One of them hath betrayed his master +with a kiss, and another with oaths and curses denied that ever he +knew him: if this be the beginning, what will the end of their boasted +reformation be?” What will the end of it be? Ye fools! I have an +answer ready: CHRIST shall be glorified, _Satan_ and all his emissaries +confounded, and a multitude of souls out of every nation, language, and +tongue, redeemed and finally saved. Oh what a CHRIST have we! Courage +then, my brethren, courage! I beat to arms again in the name of the +LORD of hosts. Let us not quit the field of battle, but in the strength +of our once crucified, but now exalted JESUS, renew the combat. “He +is faithful who hath promised not only to make us conquerors, but more +than conquerors through his love.” Yet a little while, and our warfare +shall be accomplished, death will put an end to all. A wicked world, +a wicked heart, a wicked devil shall then cease from troubling us, and +our weary souls shall never be so much as tempted to deny our blessed +LORD any more. + +Where is _Peter_ now? Yonder he sits, not weeping bitterly, but +rejoicing in GOD his Saviour, on a throne of never-fading glory. To Him, +at whose right hand he is now sitting, and who alone is able to keep +us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of +his glory with exceeding joy; to Him the only wise GOD our Saviour, be +glory, majesty, dominion, and power, both now and ever. _Amen._ + + + + + SERMON LIX. + + The true Way of beholding the LAMB of GOD. + + + JOHN i. 35, 36. + + _Again, the next Day after, John stood, and two of his Disciples; + and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the LAMB + of GOD._ + +GLORIOUS words these! Before we set about the opening and enforcing +them, permit me to introduce myself in the language of _Paul_ to +King _Agrippa_, “Would to GOD that both my own heart, and likewise +the hearts of all that hear me this day, may not only be almost, but +altogether in such a divine frame, as I am persuaded the heart of that +man of GOD was who first uttered these words!” I need not tell you his +name; our text tells us, it was _John_; emphatically called _John_ the +Baptist, because he was sent to baptize with water unto repentance, in +order to prepare his hearers for the further baptism of the Holy Ghost. +He was a _Boanerges_, a son of thunder. He came in the spirit and power +of _Elias_, and thereby soon rendered himself so exceedingly popular, +that not only _Jerusalem_, all _Judea_, and all the regions round about +_Jordan_, flocked to hear him preach, but even some of the _Jewish +Sanhedrim_ began to doubt, whether he was not the _Messiah_ himself. +Accordingly we are told in this chapter, “That they sent priests and +levites from _Jerusalem_ ask him, Who art thou? What sayest thou of +thyself?” A most commodious opportunity this, had he any thing in view +but his master’s glory and the good of souls, for _John_ to have set up +for himself. He might have said, “_Si populus vult decipi, decipiatur_; +if people will be deceived, let them; I will impose on their credulity, +and let them look upon me as the _Messiah_;” But scorning any such +sinister and base ends, “He confessed, and denied not, but confessed, I +am not the CHRIST.” The Evangelist expresses himself in a very peculiar +manner, “He confessed, and denied not, but confessed;” implying that +he took more than ordinary pains to rectify their mistake, and guard +them against thinking more highly of him than they ought to think: nay, +impatient, as it were, of the least appearance of any such thing, he +speaks of himself in the most diminutive terms, acknowledges that he +was unworthy even of carrying his blessed master’s shoes, and seizes +the very first opportunity that offered itself to point him out in +person to the people. The next day (verse 29.) _John_ seeth JESUS +coming unto him, and upon seeing him, immediately cries out, “Behold +the Lamb of GOD:” “Gaze not on, nor let your views terminate in me, +but look to and behold the Lamb of GOD which taketh away the sin of +the world.” Thus _John_ spoke in public; and to prove that he acted +the same consistent part in private, our text informs us, that, “Again, +the next day after, _John_ stood, and two of his disciples,” who like +other newly awakened souls, having their master’s person too much +in admiration, he labours to divert their views also from himself to +CHRIST, and that too in the very same language. “For looking upon JESUS +as he walked, he saith, Behold the LAMB of GOD.” + +Thus does this disinterested, honest-hearted baptist, unweariedly and +repeatedly recommend the LORD JESUS, under the same endearing character +of the LAMB of GOD. + +It shall be our business in the following discourse, + + _First_, To shew you why it is that JESUS CHRIST is stiled the + LAMB of GOD. And, + + _Secondly_, What we are to understand by beholding him, Way will + then be made for a word of application. + +And first, Why is JESUS stiled the LAMB of GOD? + +I presume one reason that may be assigned for it may be drawn from the +account we have given us of his most amazing and unparalleled meekness. +A Lamb, you all know, is one of the most pacific creatures in the +world. When we would describe, or point out a person of a peaceable +disposition, we say such a one is as quiet as a Lamb. But what is +the meekness of any person, even _Moses_ himself, nay, of all the +saints that ever lived, put them all together, in comparison of the +meekness of the blessed JESUS? To prove this, I might refer you to +his whole life, which was one continued meek and patient enduring of +contradiction of sinners against himself; but if you want me to specify +particular instances, only take a walk with me to _Gethsemane_’s garden; +there you will see the traitor _Judas_ at the head of a troop of +ruffians, accosting his glorious LORD with a Hail master! then kissing +him, and then betraying him. But what says the Prince of peace? Only, +“Friend, wherefore art thou come? _Judas_, betrayest thou the son of +man with a kiss?” But how does this same JESUS behave after he was +apprehended? Even in the same meek manner: for when his warm-hearted +disciple _Peter_, through a misguided zeal, had cut off the High +Priest’s servant’s ear, Suffer ye, said the holy JESUS, thus far. In +all probability these words were addressed by our LORD to the officers +who had tied his hands behind him. As though he had said, “Be pleased +to unloose me, whilst I cure that poor man’s ear, which my too forward +disciple hath imprudently cut off, and then you shall bind me again.” +Was ever reply, was there ever meekness like unto this thy meekness, O +thou blessed LAMB of GOD! Well did _Isaiah_ prophecy concerning thee, +“That thou shouldst be led as a lamb to the slaughter,” which goes as +willingly to the shambles, as to the pasture: and as justly might thy +forerunner call upon sinners to behold thee under the pacific character +of the LAMB of GOD. Help us, holy JESUS, to come at thy invitation, and +to learn of thee, who gavest such amazing evidences of thy being meek +and lowly in heart! then, and not ’till then, shall we find true rest +in our souls. + +But further, the dear LORD JESUS may properly be called a LAMB, or The +LAMB, by way of emphasis, not only in allusion to the Lamb that was +offered under the law morning and evening, but more especially because +he was typified by the paschal lamb. Hence he is stiled, by that prince +of preachers St. _Paul_, CHRIST our passover; and in allusion to the +same, the Apostle _Peter_ tells us, “That we are not redeemed with +corruptible things, as silver and gold, from our vain conversation, but +with the precious blood of JESUS CHRIST, as of a Lamb without blemish +and without spot.” This was an indispensable requisite to be found in +the paschal lamb. It was to be a lamb without blemish. A proper type of +him who knew no sin, but was spotlessly holy, harmless, and altogether +undefiled in heart, lip, and life. Indeed, if we consider him as +having the chastisement of our peace, and the iniquities of us all +laid upon him by way of imputation, he was, as some divines express +it, the greatest sinner that ever was: and we should esteem him to be +such in reality, were we to judge of his innocence by the abusive and +barbarous treatment that he met with whilst tabernacling on earth. +But, notwithstanding all this, he was without sin, and therefore could +boldly and truly give men and devils the challenge, and say, “Which +of you convinceth me of sin?” The prince of this world cometh, but +shall find nothing in me. There was no corruption in the heart of this +immaculate LAMB of GOD for _Satan_’s temptations to lay hold on: But +this properly belongeth only to him: for any of his followers, though +arrived at the highest pitch of christian perfection, much less for +young converts, mere novices in the things of GOD, to presume that +they either have, or ever shall, while on this side eternity, arrive +at such a sinless state, argues such an ignorance of the spiritual +extent of the moral law, of the true interpretation of GOD’s word, +of the universal experience of GOD’s people in all ages, as well as of +the remaining unmortified corruptions of their own desperately wicked +and deceitful hearts, that I dare venture to tell the preachers and +abettors of any such doctrine, however knowing they may be in other +respects, that they know not the true nature of gospel-holiness, nor +the COMPLEATNESS OF A BELIEVER’S STANDING IN THE UNSPOTTED IMPUTED +RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST, as they ought to know, or as I trust +they themselves, through divine grace, will be made to know before they +die. Surely it is high time to awake out of this delusive dream! Pardon +this short, (would to GOD there was no occasion of adding) though too +necessary a digression. + +But to proceed. The paschal lamb was further typical of CHRIST, +its great antitype, in that it was to be killed in the evening, and +afterwards roasted with fire. So CHRIST, our passover, was sacrificed +for us in the evening of the world; only with this material difference, +the paschal lamb was first slain, and then roasted; whereas the holy +JESUS, the spotless LAMB of GOD, was burnt and roasted in the fire +of his Father’s wrath before he actually expired upon the cross. To +satisfy you of this, if you can bear to be spectators of such an awful +tragedy, as I desired you just now to go with me to the entrance, so I +must now entreat you to venture a little further into the same garden, +But――stop――What is that we see? Behold the LAMB of GOD, undergoing the +most direful tortures of vindictive wrath! Of the people, even of his +disciples, there is none with him. Alas! was ever sorrow like unto that +sorrow, wherewith his innocent soul was afflicted in this day of his +Father’s fierce anger? Before he entered into this bitter passion, out +of the fulness of his heart, he said, “Now is my soul troubled.” But +how is it troubled now! his agony bespeaks it to be exceeding sorrowful, +even unto death. It extorts sweat, yea, a bloody sweat. His face, his +hands, his garments, are all over stained with blood. It extorts strong +cryings and many tears. See how the incarnate deity lies prostrate +before his Father, who now laid on him the iniquities of us all. See +how he agonizes in prayer! Hark! Again and again he addresses his +Father with an “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me!” Tell me, +ye blessed angels, tell me, _Gabriel_ (or whatsoever thou art called, +who wast sent from heaven in this important hour, to strengthen our +agonizing LORD) tell me, if ye can, what CHRIST endured in this dark +and doleful night; and tell me, tell me what you yourselves felt when +you heard this same God-man, whilst expiring on the accursed tree, +breaking forth into that dolorous, unheard-of expostulation, “My GOD, +my GOD, why, or how hast thou forsaken me?” Were you not all struck +dumb? And did not an universal awful silence fill heaven itself, when +GOD the Father said unto his sword, “Sword, smite thy fellow?” Well +might nature put on its sable weeds; well might the rocks rend, to +shew their sympathy with a suffering Saviour: and well might the sun +withdraw its light, as though it was shocked and confounded to see +its maker suffer. But our hearts are harder than rocks, or otherwise +they would now break, and our souls more stupid than any part of the +inanimate creation, or they would even now, in some degree, at least, +sympathize with a crucified Redeemer; who for us men, and for our +salvation, was thus roasted, as it were, in the fire of his Father’s +wrath, and therefore fitly stiled the LAMB of GOD. + +But further. The paschal lamb was typical of CHRIST our passover in +another respect. For as the blood of the lamb, after it was slain, was +sprinkled upon the door-posts of the _Israelites_ houses, so the blood +of JESUS CHRIST, shed for the sins of the world, is to be applied to, +and by faith sprinkled upon the hearts of the true _Israel_ of GOD. +And as the destroying angel had no power to execute vengeance on, or +hurt those whose door-posts were thus sprinkled with the blood of the +paschal lamb, so in the great and terrible day of the LORD, he shall +be prohibited both from destroying or hurting true believers, who by +a living faith in the blood of JESUS, have their hearts sprinkled from +an evil conscience. Hence the blood of CHRIST is called “The blood of +sprinkling.” And lastly, As the lamb under the law was feasted upon +by GOD’s people, after it was slain, so believers under the gospel by +faith feast upon a crucified Redeemer. CHRIST, our passover, says the +apostle, is sacrificed for us, therefore let us keep the feast, not +barely upon an Easter-day, but all the year round. For the just, i. e. +truly justified souls, live by faith, and find, by happy experience, +that in a spiritual sense CHRIST’s flesh is meat indeed, and his blood +drink indeed; and therefore believing on him is stiled “Eating the +flesh and drinking the blood of the son of man.” Agreeable to this, +in our communion office, the minister, when he gives the bread to the +communicants, is directed to make use of these affecting words, “Take +and eat this in remembrance that CHRIST died for thee, and feed on him +in thy heart by faith with thanksgiving.” May all who give, and all +that receive that bread, feel the meaning of this form of sound words +experimentally, and powerfully pressed home upon their souls! Then +indeed, but not till then, may they expect to take this holy sacrament +to their comfort. Upon all these accounts then, well might the Baptist +recommend the holy JESUS under the significant character of the Lamb. +And with equal propriety might he be called the LAMB of GOD, not only +because he was a Lamb of GOD the Father’s providing, but because he was +co-equal, co-essential with the Father: “The Word that was with GOD, +the Word that was GOD,” even GOD over all, GOD blessed for evermore. +For ever adored be the triune GOD for this great mystery of godliness, +GOD manifest in the flesh! O may it be continually marvellous in our +eyes! O make us, thou altogether lovely Redeemer, like-minded with +thy blessed angels, that with them we may always so eagerly, and so +perseveringly desire to look into it, that neither the lust of the +flesh, the lust of the eye, or pride of life, may ever in the least +divert us from beholding thee! + +What this beholding him imports, comes next to be considered, under our +second general head. + +And here I take it for granted, that it cannot imply a beholding +the LORD JESUS in person with our bodily eyes. It is true, indeed, +when _John_ called upon the people and his disciples to behold the +LAMB of GOD, they were thus highly favoured: and we are apt to say +within ourselves, Blessed are the eyes which saw what they saw; and +so undoubtedly they were. But had their views terminated only in +beholding his person, or knowing him barely according to the flesh, +they might notwithstanding have died in their sins, and been condemned +to depart from him into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and +his angels.――Our LORD himself hath told us, that there will be many +who will plead that they eat and drank in his presence, and heard him +preach in their streets, to whom he will say, “Verily I know you not.” +A true beholding of the LAMB of GOD, must therefore necessarily import +something more; and what can that be but a beholding him with an eye +of faith? This is what the Old Testament saints were invited to, when +the glorious Redeemer called upon them in those emphatic terms, “Behold +me, behold me;” and again, “Look unto me, all the ends of the earth.” +This our LORD in another place terms, believing on him: “Blessed are +they which have not seen me, and yet have believed:” not barely as +the result of a mere rational conviction, which is no more than an +historical faith, but as the consequence of a true spiritual conviction +of our being every way undone, and liable to eternal condemnation +without him. This is believing on him with the heart, and is sometimes +expressed by coming to, receiving, and trusting in him: different +expressions, but all importing one and the self same thing. “I wound, +and I heal.” That is the method the Holy Ghost takes, and that is the +pattern gospel ministers must follow in preaching him. From any other, +though prescribed to us by an angel from heaven, good LORD, deliver us! + +But secondly. By beholding the LAMB of GOD, we are to understand not +only looking to him so as to trust him for the pardon of our sins, +but beholding him so as to have our hearts broke with a true and godly +sorrow for having crucified and slain him by them. For thus speaks the +LORD by the mouth of the Prophet _Zechariah_, “They shall look upon +him whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one that +mourneth for an only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one +that is in bitterness for his first-born.” This prediction was in some +degree fulfilled immediately after the descent of the Holy Ghost, in +the days of Pentecost, when so many being pricked to the heart, were +made to look to, believe on, and lament over a pierced JESUS. But it +will be continually fulfilling in the experience of every true beholder +of the LAMB of GOD, till time shall be no more. True faith, at the same +time as it opens the heart to receive CHRIST, melts and dissolves it +into tears of godly sorrow, for having betrayed and crucified him. Such +were the tears of _Mary_, when she washed the feet of her sin-forgiving +LORD. They flowed from a sense of pardoning love. She loved much, +having much forgiven her. And though she knew the LORD had forgiven her, +yet she could not forgive herself. _Hinc illæ lachrymæ._ Hence those +repenting tears: they proceeded from love: sorrow, flowing from any +other principle, is not a godly, but a legal sorrow, which the most +abandoned wretch may have without the least degree of saving grace. +Thus we hear of a _Judas_ his repenting, and of an _Esau_ crying out +with an exceeding bitter cry; but the one all the while was a prophane +person, and the other immediately went and hanged himself. And why? +Their sorrow was only extorted by a fear of hell, and a despairing +sense of impending ruin. It is true, a godly sorrow may, and I believe +generally does, begin with something of this nature; but then it does +not end there. Through want of a due consideration of this, it is +to be feared, many seeming converts have taken up with a few legal +convictions, which never ended in savingly and truly beholding the +LAMB of GOD. May none here present, by a half-way repentance, and +hypocritical sorrow for sin, add to the unhappy number! + +But this is not all. A scriptural beholding of the LAMB of GOD, denotes +not only such a relying on CHRIST for pardon of sin, as is attended +with a truly godly sorrow for it, but such a believing on him, as is +productive of a holy life, and a universal chearful observance of all +his divine commands. When the two disciples mentioned in our text, +heard _John_ speak, we are told that they followed him, viz. the LORD +JESUS CHRIST. And if GOD hath given us an hearing ear, when called upon +to behold the LAMB of GOD, we shall certainly have an obedient heart, +and follow him in the way of holy obedience. But then it will be an +obedience flowing from love: A working not for, but from life. Not out +of a servile fear of being damned, but from a grateful sense of having +received the beginning of salvation in our hearts. And this is what +the Apostle calls “faith working by love.” Many, I know, censure and +look upon us as troublers of _Israel_, for preaching up the doctrine +of justification by faith alone in the imputed righteousness of JESUS +CHRIST. We own the charge. We do preach, and hope shall continue to +preach it, till we can preach no more. _Luther_ stiles it, _Articulus +stantis aut cadentis ecclesiæ_; the article by which the church must +stand or fall: and in the ninth article of our own church, it is termed, +a most wholesome doctrine. Take away this, and you take away the only +solid foundation upon which a truly weary and heavy-laden sinner can +possibly build his hopes of pardon and acceptance in the sight of a +holy and sin-avenging GOD. But why this outcry against the doctrine +of justification by faith alone? They say this doctrine destroys good +works. But do we, by preaching this doctrine, make void the law of GOD? +No: We thereby establish the law. For, though faith alone justifies, +yet, as the good old Puritans used to observe, That faith which is +alone, justifieth not. Agreeable to this, speaketh the 12th article of +our Church. “Albeit that good works, which are the fruits of faith, and +follow after justification, cannot put away our sins, and endure the +severity of GOD’s judgment, yet are they pleasing and acceptable to GOD +in CHRIST, and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively faith, +insomuch that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known as a +tree is discerned by the fruit.” They, therefore, who object against +our insisting upon justification by faith alone, as destructive of +morality, not only betray great ignorance of the articles of our Church, +and of GOD’s word, but give too great reason to suspect, that they +never experienced the blessed influence of a true and lively faith in +their own hearts. For true and undefiled religion, is nothing more or +less, than a universal morality, founded upon the love of GOD and faith +in CHRIST JESUS. And a true beholding him as pierced for our sins, will, +in its own nature, sweetly compel us to cry out, “What shall we render +unto the LORD?” It was this, that, perhaps, in a quarter of an hour, +made that covetous worldling _Zaccheus_, give half of his goods to +the poor; it was this, that all of a sudden made the Jailor wash the +stripes of those whom he had but a little before thrust into an inward +prison; it was this that caused _Lydia_, whose heart the LORD had +opened, so freely to open her house to entertain the Apostles; and +it was this that excited the Apostles themselves in general, and St. +_Paul_ in particular, to bid adieu to worldly honours, to glory in +nothing but the cross of CHRIST, and to fly like an arch-angel from +pole to pole, publishing the blessed and everlasting gospel. “The love +of CHRIST, said he, constraineth us.” Preaching faith in this manner, +seems to me the only scriptural way of preaching CHRIST: and by this +means we shall steer a middle course between two dangerous extremes. +For to insist only upon morality and good works, and not lay a true +lively faith, as a foundation whereon they are to be built, (as it +is to be feared too many do) is to act like _Pharaoh_’s task-masters, +and bid people make brick without shewing them ♦where to get straw. +“My soul, come not thou into their secret!” On the other hand, to +call upon people to believe in, and behold the LAMB of GOD, and at the +same time not exhort them to maintain good works, as an evidence and +fruit of their beholding him, is the way to turn the grace of GOD into +lasciviousness. And therefore, however evangelical such preachers may +seem in their own eyes, yet if the writings of _Moses_ and the Prophets, +of our LORD and his Apostles, are to be our judges, they do not rightly +divide the word of truth. “To their assembly, mine honour, be not thou +united!” + + ♦ “were” replaced with “where” + +Once more. A true beholding of the LAMB of GOD, implies such a +beholding him, as will transform us into his divine likeness. This will +be the effect of our seeing him as he is in heaven; and this, in its +degree, will always be the consequence of our beholding him with an eye +of a true and lively faith on earth. When _Moses_ came down from mount +_Horeb_, where he had been conversing with GOD, we are told, that his +face shone; and if we have been upon the mount of ordinances beholding +by faith the blessed LAMB of GOD, though our faces will not shine, yet +our hearts will be moulded into his blessed image. This is what the +Apostle _Paul_ terms, in one place, “Being transformed by the renewing +of our minds;” and in another, “Passing from glory to glory, even by +the Spirit of the LORD.” All manifestations, of whatever kind or degree, +if not attended with this transforming and truly sanctifying influence, +are unprofitable, delusive, or merely imaginary. _Balaam_ could call +himself the man whose eyes were open, and the man who had seen the +visions of the Almighty, and yet he was a poor worldling all the +while. He loved the wages of unrighteousness, though forced by GOD not +to receive them. Hence we may easily and rationally account for the +falling away of some, and it may be the final apostacy of many others, +who in the late religious stir, (as some are pleased to call it) seemed +to be uncommonly gifted, and to be lifted up, as it were, to the third +heaven. Satan being sensible that the Holy Spirit of GOD was working +a great work upon the earth, turns himself into an angel of light, +introduces his extraordinaries, and thereby mimics GOD’s true work +now, as the magicians were once permitted to mimic the real miracles +of _Moses_ formerly. Such counterfeits, those who are not ignorant of +Satan’s devices, ought from time to time to add all diligence to search +out and detect; but after the utmost caution imaginable, I believe we +shall find the saying of a very zealous Reformer (who thought, at his +first coming out, that he should convert the whole world) to be too +true, viz. “That old Satan will be, in many cases, too hard for young +_Melancthon_.” Satan is an old practitioner, and we, comparatively +speaking, but novices; and therefore no wonder, that we sometimes +mistake his extraordinaries, for the powerful operations of the +Holy Spirit; or look upon those, at least for a while, who are only +stony-ground hearers, and have received the word with joy, as though +they were truly converted to, and had by a living, soul-transforming +faith, beheld the LAMB of GOD. Such mistakes may serve to make us more +cautious. But to condemn a work in the lump, as merely delusive and +diabolical, or roundly to affirm, that all the pretended subjects of +it have taken up only with an ideal CHRIST, because some have mistaken +imaginations for the true spiritual manifestation of GOD’s love to +their hearts, discovers such an ignorance of scripture, of Satan’s +devices, and the accounts given us of past revivals in all ages, that +if one did not know the dreadful blindness of a bigotted sectarian zeal, +and what a proneness there is in the best of men, to condemn every +thing that doth not come just in their own way, we should think it +morally impossible that good men should run such lengths as some have +done of late, in censuring what I think may be called, amidst all the +infirmities and weaknesses that have attended it, A great and glorious +work of a GOD. + +But it is time for me to draw nearer to a conclusion. We have now then, +my dear hearers, done with the doctrinal part of our text; in opening +of which, that we might deal with you as rational creatures, we have +endeavoured calmly, and in the fear of GOD, to address ourselves +to your understandings: but the hardest work is yet behind, namely, +to affect and warm your hearts. This I take to be the very life of +preaching: for man is a compound creature, made up of affections, as +well as understanding; and, consequently, without addressing both, we +only do our work by halves. It is true, every one hath his proper gift, +and some excel in making use of a proper method to inform the judgment, +whilst others are more eminent for exciting the passions. Both are +beautiful in their season; and both ought and will be used by all who +have warm hearts, as well as clear heads. _Moses_ and the Prophets, +CHRIST and his Apostles, dealt much in exhortations, as well as in +opening and explaining the weighty matters of the law. And if we +are taught by the same Spirit, we shall, like them, bring light and +heat with us, when called to speak of, and enforce the things which +concern the kingdom of GOD. Without a proper mixture of these, however +a preacher may acquire the character, in the letter-learned and +polite world, of being a calm and cool reasoner; yet he never will be +looked upon by those whose senses are exercised to discern spiritual +things, as a truly evangelical and christian orator.――And surely if +a minister’s heart is ever warm, it ought to be so in a more especial +manner, when calling on a blind and drowsy world, to behold the Lamb +of GOD. O! that my tongue was at this time touched with a coal from +his altar. O! that my cold and frozen heart (for I must again repeat +the wish I put up at the beginning of this discourse) was in the same +blessed and divine frame, as we have reason to believe the holy Baptist +was favoured with, when he called upon his disciples and the people, so +repeatedly, to behold the Lamb of GOD. But to whom shall I apply myself +first? Or with what language shall I address you, when pressing you to +the same important thing? + +Will my brethren in the ministry suffer a word of exhortation from one +who is less than the least of them all? Does not the practice of this +fervent harbinger and fore-runner of the Son of GOD, naturally lead me +to it? For did he so unweariedly recommend the LORD JESUS? Did he take +such care to preach not himself, but CHRIST JESUS his Lord? And shall +not we make this same JESUS the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end +of all our discourses? Did he take such pains to debase himself, exalt +his LORD, and evidence to the world that he was disinterested, and +sought not his own glory, but the glory of him whose fore-runner he +was? And shall we not go and do likewise? To prepare the Redeemer’s way +before him, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of +the just, and to proclaim a coming Saviour, _John_ esteemed his highest +honour. This is an employ worthy angels. They thought themselves highly +favoured, when sent to give notice of the Mediator’s birth to some +humble shepherds. And I hope I am speaking to some, who had rather +be employed in such an errand, than be ambassadors to the greatest +monarchs on earth. Go on then, my brethren, or rather fathers, as it +becomes such a one as I to call you. Ye angels of the churches, ye +stewards of the mysteries of GOD, go on in the name and strength of the +everlasting I AM. Preach CHRIST, and him crucified; continue to preach +him: be instant in season and out of season; and though you should be +called to suffer for so doing, fear not, but rather rejoice, and be +exceeding glad: great will be your reward in heaven; for so persecuted +they _John_ the Baptist, and others that have been employed in calling +upon sinners to behold the Lamb of GOD before you. + +Are any here present who are entrusted with the care of youth that are +intended for the ministry? My text warns me not to leave you out in +this address. _John_ directed his disciples to behold the Lamb of GOD: +and ought not such, who have the oversight of those who are hereafter +to be employed in the same divine work as _John_ was, to make it one +main part of their daily endeavours, to bring their pupils to a true, +experimental, and saving acquaintance with the ever-blessed Lamb of +GOD? This may be done without leaving any one necessary branch of +true knowledge and useful learning undone. A neglect of this important +point hath been, and it is to be feared even now is, the bane of +the christian church. For, if young men’s minds are from year to +year wholly engaged in studying the heathen mythology, instead of +being shewn the beauties of the New Testament; if they are taught to +delight more in reading _Cæsar_’s Commentaries, or the exploits of +an _Alexander_, than to admire the miracles of _Jesus_ of _Nazareth_; +if they are directed to employ themselves more in giving an account +of _Homer_’s battles, than of the important war between _Michael_ +and the Dragon; if it is esteemed a greater excellency to be engaged +in studying the folds of a _Roman_ garment, than to enquire into +the various turnings and windings of their own corrupt hearts: if +these, and such-like trifling things, are recommended to their daily +study, and the glorious doctrines of the gospel, such as regeneration, +justification, &c. wholly neglected, or superficially spoken of, is +it any wonder, that so many ignorantly strike their heads against the +pulpit, or appear when put into it, more like heathen philosophers +or _Roman_ orators, than gospel preachers, though without half the +clearness and sound reasoning of the one, or a thousandth part of the +true pathos and unaffected eloquence of the other? The recommending +and enforcing the practical study of the doctrines and example of the +blessed JESUS, seems to me to be the only remedy for this great, not to +say growing evil. + +And therefore, I beg leave in the next place to address myself to those +who are now actually engaged in the study of divinity, and are desirous +of being prepared according to the preparation of the sanctuary, for +the great and solemn work of calling upon sinners, to behold the Lamb +of GOD. When _John_ the Baptist was thus employed, he took care to +allure the people, that he himself was well acquainted with that CHRIST. +“I saw, said he, and bear record, that this is the Son of GOD.” And +doth not this at least intimate to you, young students, that above +all things you should study to get an experimental acquaintance with +the LORD JESUS in your own hearts, before you attempt to recommend him +to the choice of others? Then, having believed, you will speak; speak +not as mere dead, formal, letter-learned scribes, but as men having +authority. You will then, like _John_ the Baptist, be the voice of one +crying; you will lift up your voices like trumpets; you will preach not +with the enticing words of man’s wisdom, but with the demonstration of +the spirit and of power. This, with a moderate share of useful learning, +which is quite necessary in its place, will enable you to do wonders. +Vallies shall be filled up, mountains shall be brought low, and a +highway made, through your instrumentality, into sinners hearts, by +the blessed and all-powerful operations of the Spirit of the everliving +GOD. Such a method, perhaps, may render your preaching a little +unfashionable, but it is the only way to render it useful, and truly +evangelical. Take the Apostle _Paul_ for your ensample. He was a great +scholar, as well as a great saint; and, if called to it, could have +fought the learned world with their own weapons; but he chose to fight +only with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of GOD. And even, +when preaching at so polite a place as _Corinth_, determined to know +nothing among them, but JESUS CHRIST and him crucified. He too, like +another _John_, made it his constant, uninterrupted employ to beseech +poor sinners to behold the Lamb of GOD. May that mind be in you, which +was also in him! + +But do not the words of our text lead me to address all in general, as +well as tutors and their pupils in particular? Yes: to you, even to as +many as hear me this day, whether high or low, rich or poor, young or +old, one with another, may a word of exhortation naturally be directed. +It was to the people, as well as to his disciples, that _John_, when +he saw JESUS coming unto him, spoke those endearing words, “Behold +the Lamb of GOD.” I therefore call upon you all in the same language, +and for the same reason; for it is He, and He alone, that taketh +away the sins of the world. It is this that you all stand in need of, +whether you know it or not. You are all stung by that old and crooked +serpent the devil. “Therefore, as _Moses_ lifted up the serpent in +the wilderness, even so was the Son of Man lifted up, that whosoever +believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” O then +behold him, behold him! Look unto him, all ye ends of the earth, even +ye upon whom the ends of the world are come, and be ye saved. Some of +you, I trust, through grace, have already been enabled to do this. O +come, come, I beseech you, and repeat the blessed look: for this is +the christian’s grand catholicon, the sovereign remedy for all the +remaining diseases of his soul. Are ye tempted? Behold the Lamb of GOD. +“He was tempted in all things like as we are,” that he might be able +experimentally to sympathize with, and succour those that are tempted. +Are ye deserted, and bewailing an absent GOD? Behold the Lamb of GOD. +He once complained, and that too to his own creatures, “My soul is +exceeding sorrowful, even unto death;” He once cried out, and that +to his heavenly Father, “My GOD, my GOD, why hast thou forsaken me.” +Are ye poor? Behold the LAMB of GOD: He had not where to lay his head. +Are ye betrayed and forsaken by friends? Behold the LAMB of GOD: He +was betrayed by _Judas_, denied by _Peter_, and when apprehended, +all forsook him and fled. Are you blackened and maligned by enemies? +Behold the LAMB of GOD: He was accounted a mad-man, a deceiver, nay, +a Beelzebub, the very chief of the devils. Are ye afraid of death, +or dying? Behold the LAMB of GOD: He hath taken away the sting of +that king of terrors, and came to deliver those, who through fear of +death were all their life-time subject to bondage. Doubt ye whether ye +shall hold out to the end? Behold the LAMB of GOD; “He is the Author +and finisher of our faith;” and having loved his own, he loved them +even unto the end. Do ye want more grace, either to mortify remaining +corruption, or to enable you to bring forth more fruit unto GOD? Behold +the LAMB of GOD: “Out of his fulness we may all receive, and that too, +even grace for grace;” grace upon grace, grace to beget more grace, +even till we are filled with all the fulness of GOD. O ye believers, +my heart is enlarged towards you; look to, and live much on the blessed +JESUS; and then you will live to, and act for him more and more. Be +thankful for what you have received, but be looking out continually +for fresh discoveries of his love, and fresh incomes of heavenly grace, +till you are called to behold this LAMB of GOD in glory: that time, +blessed be GOD, will shortly come. Though worms destroy our bodies, yet +in our flesh we shall see our GOD; not as we do now, through a glass +darkly, but face to face: see him as he is: and what is yet better, be +growing up more and more into his divine likeness, through the endless +ages of eternity. + +But as for ungodly and obstinate unbelievers that die in their sins, +it shall not be so with them. Behold him indeed you shall; behold him +you must; “For yet a little while, and we must all appear before the +judgment-seat of CHRIST.” But O! how shall I speak it? You must behold +him once, never to behold him any more! Behold him, not so much as the +LAMB of GOD, as the Lion of the tribe of _Judah_, and hear him roaring +out that dreadful sentence, “Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, +prepared for the devil and his angels.” O think of this, all ye that +have hitherto neglected to behold this LAMB of GOD by faith, so shall +unbelief not prove your final ruin. To you, even to you I once more +call. Blessed be GOD, the door of mercy is not yet shut; the day of +grace is not yet over; look unto him, and you shall yet be saved: his +heart is open, and his arms stretched out ready to receive you. O that +he would rend the heavens and come down amongst you; and as he had once +compassion upon a poor woman, that was bowed down with the spirit of +infirmity, lo eighteen years! O that he would repeat that all-powerful +command, “Be ye loosed from your infirmity,” and enable every +unconverted sinner to look up to, and behold the LAMB of GOD! However, +if you will not come to him that you might have life, GOD forbid that +I should cease to pray for you. O LORD GOD most holy, O LORD GOD most +mighty, O holy and merciful Saviour, thou most worthy Judge eternal, +by thine agony and bloody sweat, by thy cross and passion, by thy +precious death and burial, by thy glorious resurrection and ascension, +and by the coming of the Holy Ghost, we humbly entreat thee to help +all such to take the warning that has now been given them! O help them +to behold thee by faith here, that so no pains of hell may fall from +thee whenever they are summoned to appear before thy awful tribunal +hereafter! I am persuaded all that love the LORD JESUS in sincerity, +will say, _Amen!_ Even so, LORD JESUS! _Amen!_ and _Amen!_ + + +FINIS. + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77041 *** |