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SAMUEL AONEW,
OK f H I L A I) K I, P H I A , FA.
'bX 8915 .B67 1848 v. 9
Boston, Thomas, 1677-1732.
The whole works of the late
Reverend Thomas Boston, of
THE
WHOLE WORKS
LATE REVEREND THOMAS '^OSTON
OF ETTRICK;
XOW FIRST COLLECTED. AND REPRINTED WITHOUT
ABRIDGMENT;
INCLUDING
HIS MEMOIES, WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.
EDITED BY THE
REV. SAMUEL M'MILLAN.
YOL. IX.
ABERDEEN :
GEORGE AND ROBERT KING, ST. NICHOLAS STREET.
M.DCCC.LI.
THE
POSTHUMOUS WORKS
OF THE LATE
REV. THOMAS BOSTON,
CONSISTING 01-
SIXTY-SIX SERMONS
IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING SUBJECTS.
WITH A
RECOMMENDATORY PREFACE
BY THE CLEKGYMAN WHO PREPARED THE WORK FOR THE PRESS.
By it, he beiii"- dead, yet speaketh. — Heb. xi. 4.
ABERDEEN:
GEORGE AND ROBERT KING, ST. NICHOLAS STREET,
1851.
PEIHCETOH
"^.
\'„
CONTENTS OF VOL. IX.
Faqb
ATTESTATION, &c. 9
SERMON I.
INFALLIBLE ANTIDOTES AGAINST UNBELIEVING FEARS.
Rev. i. 17, 18. — Fear not ; I am be that liveth, and was dead, and behold, I am
alive for ever more, Amen : and have the keys of hell and death, ... 13
SERMON II.
SIN THAT WHICH SEPARATES GOD AND MEN,
IsA. lix. 2. — But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and
your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear, ... ... 27
SERMON III.
THE FOLLY OF RESISTING, THE WISDOM OF COMPLYING
WITH THE GOSPEL-CALL.
Matth. xxi. 29. — He answered and said, I will not; but afterwards he repented
and went, ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 37
SERMON IV.
THE NATURE AND EFFECTS OF A WEANED DISPOSITION
OF SOUL.
Psalm cxxxi. 2. — My soul is even as a weaned child, ... ... ... 45
SERMON Y.
THE DANGER OF NOT WAITING ON GOD AFTER THE DUE
ORDER.
1 CoR. XV. 13. — For because ye did it not at the first, the Lord our God made a
breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order. ... 53
SERMON YI.
THE PERFECTION OF PROVIDENTIAL DISPENSATIONS.
Psalm xviii. 30 As for God, his way is perfect, ... ... ... ... 61
SERMON YII.
FEAR AND HOPE OBJECTS OF THE DIVINE COMPLACENCY.
Psalm cxlvii. 11. — The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those
that hope in his mercy. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 66
SERMON YIII.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED, 76
IV. CONTENTS.
SERMON IX.
JESUS VICTORIOUS OVER DEATH.
IsA. XXV. 8. — He will swallow up death in victory, ... ... ... ... 95
SERMON X.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED, 104
SERMON XT.
THE SUITABLE IMPROVEMENT OF SAINTS' FORMER EX-
PERIENCES,
2 Kings i. 14 And he took the mantle of Elijah, that fell from him, and smote
the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" ... ... Ill
SERMON XII.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED, 120
SERMON XIII.
CHRIST, THE FATHER'S GIFT TO HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE.
IsA. Iv. 4. — Behold, I have given him for a Witness to the people, a Leader and
Commander to the people, ... ... ... ... ... ... 128
SERMON XIV.
THE CHRISTIAN WEAK, YET STRONG.
2 Cor. xli. 10. — For when I am weak, then am I strong. . ... ... ... 138
SERMON XV.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED, 145
SERMON XVI.
THE INTERESTING INQUIRY.
Matth. XX. 6. — Why stand ye here all the day idle? ... . . ... 152
SERMON XVII.
CHRIST'S PRESENCE WITH GOSPEL MINISTERS.
Matth. xxviii. 20. — And lo, I am with you always. ... ... ... 169
SERMON XVIII.
CHRIST'S INVITATION TO THE LABOURING AND HEAVY-LADEN.
Matth. xi. 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy-laden, and I
will give you rest, ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 169
SERMON XTX.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED, 185
SERMON XX.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED, 200
SERMON XXI.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED, 206
CONTENTS. V.
Page
SERMON XXII.
CHRIST A REFRESHFUL SHADOW IN A WEARY LAND.
IsA. xxxii. 2. — And a man sball be— as the shadow of a great rock in a weary
land 220
SERMON XXIII.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED,^ 230
SERMON XX ly.
THE EVIL AND DANGER OF HALTING BETWEEN TWO
OPINIONS.
1 Kings xvi. 21. — And Elijah said, How long halt ye between two opinions ? 245
SERMON XXV.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED, 254
SERMON XXVI.
CREATION'S GROANS CONSIDERED AND IMPROVED.
Rom. viii. 22. — For we know that the whole creation groaneth, and travaileth in
paiu together until now, ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 263
SERMON XXVII.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED, 274
SERMON XXVIII.
CREATION'S TRAVAIL AND DELIVERY.
Rom. viii. 22. — For we know that the whole creation groaneth, and travaileth
together until now, ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 286
SERMON XXIX.
FAITHFULNESS TOWARDS GOD EXEMPLIFIED AND REWARDED.
Num. xiv. 24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him,
and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereunto he
went, and his seed shall possess it. ... ... ... ... ... 299
SERMON XXX.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED, 313
SERMON XXXI.
THE CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, THE HYPOCRITE DETECTED.
Rom. ii. 28, 29. — For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, &c. ... 334
SERMON XXXII.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED, 349
SERMON XXXIII.
THE STATUTE-LAW OF DISCIPLESHIP.
Luke xiv. 26. — If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mo-
ther, &c., 36ft
Vi. CONTENTS.
SERMON XXXIV.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED, 376
SERMON XXXV.
A RICH REWARD TO DILIGENCE IN RELIGION.
Hos. vi. 3. Then shall ye know, if ye follow on to know the Lord, ... 384
SERMON XXXVI.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED, 391
SERMON XXXVII.
THE ACCEPTABLE MANNER OF DRAWING NEAR TO GOD.
Heb. X. 22. Let us draw near with a true heart, iu the full assurance of
faith, &c., 399
SERMON XXXVIII.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED, 408
SERMON XXXIX.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED, 423
SERMON XL.
THE SAINTS GOD'S SERVANTS, AND HIS PROPERTY.
Acts xxvii. 23. For there stood by me this night the angel of the Lord, whose
I am, and whom I serve, ... ... ... ... ... ... 639
SERMON XLI.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED, 450
SERMON XLII.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED, 464
SERMON XLIII.
GOD'S GRACIOUS CALL AND PRECIOUS PROMISE CONSIDERED.
Psalm Ixxxi. ID Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it, ... ... ... 482
SERMON XLIV.
THE NATURE AND SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE.
John vi. 57. — He that eateth me> even he shall live by me, 490
SERMON XLV.
THE FOLLY OF TURNING ASIDE FROM THE LORD.
1 Sam. xii. 21 And turn ye not aside ; for then should ye go after vain things,
which cannot profit nor deliver, for they are vain, ... ... ... 500
SERMON XL VI.
JESUS COMPLETELY QUALIFIED FOR HIS WORK.
IsA. Ixi. 1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord hath
anointed me, ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 507
CONTENTS. Vll.
Page
SERMON XLVII.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED, 517
SERMON XLVIII.
JESUS A PREACHER OF GOOD TIDINGS TO THE MEEK.
IsA. xli. I. — The Lord hath anoiDted me to preach good tidings to the meek. 529
SERMON XLIX.
THE- SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED, 539
SERMON L.
JESUS BINDS UP THE BROKEN-HEARTED.
IsA. Ixi. 1. — To bind up the broken-hearted, ... ... ... ... ... 550
SERMON LI.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED, 560
SERMON LII.
JESUS PROCLAIMS LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES. Jr
IsA. Ixi. 1. — To proclaim liberty to the captives ... ... ... ... 569
SERMON LIII.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED 577
SERMON LIV.
JESUS OPENS THE PRISON DOORS TO THE PRISONERS.
IsA. Ixi. 1. — And the opening of the prison to them that are bound, ... 589
SERMON LV.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED, 604
ATTESTATION
FAVOUR OF THIS WORK,
We, whoso Dames are subjoined, liaviug had opportunity of look-
ing over several of these Sermons in manuscript, now proposed for
publication, have sufficient reason to be satisfied that they are the
genuine remains of the worthy Author whose name they bear.
They have been transmitted through the hands of his lineal de-
scendants. From the handwriting, which is such as was common
towards the beginning of this century, though now rather anti-
quated, as well as from the information of those who had access to
know, it appears that these Sermons were the original autograph,
written at the time mentioned in the dates affixed to them. But to
those acquainted with the spirit and manner of Mr. Boston's other
writings, the perusal of the Discourses themselves will convince
them that they are genuine. They discover the same serious and
spiritual strain, — the same perspicuity and simplicity of language,
— the same happy fertility and copiousness of scriptural proof and
illustration, — the same pertinent application of his subjects to per-
sons and times — the same deep concern about the public interests
of religion, and the dangers to which these kingdoms have been ex-
posed through heinous sins and backslidings, — as are conspicu-
ous in his other works. Few have ever attained to his manner
and style of writing, so much adapted to popular and general
edification. Such of these Discourses as we have perused, seem to
have been as carefully and fully written as those formerly pub-
lished, and on subjects no less interesting. The Sermons in this
collection which were composed at the time of the Rebellion that
YOL. IX. B
X. ATTESTATION, &C.
arose upon the accession of the present family to the throne, will be
found deserving particular attention in such a period as the present.
It must be a public benefit to have such a savoury entertainment
made accessible, through the press, to all who regard the means of
their own spiritual improvement, or that of others ; and we hope,
that, through the divine blessing, the long prevailing rage for frivo-
lous or dangerous reading, may, in some measure, be counteracted
by such solid and useful publications as the present.
Thus far we have taken the liberty to express ourselves, in com-
pliance with the request of those concerned in the present publica-
tion.
(Signed)
Arch. Bruce, Minister of the gospel at Whitburn.
John Brown, Minister of the gospel at Longridge.
KoB. Paterson, Minister of the gospel at Biggar.
ADVERTISEMENT
TO THE FIRST EDITION.
The Antlior of the Discourses now offered to the public is so uni-
versally known, and his character as a practical and evangelical
writer is so fully established with religious persons of all deno-
minations, that, in regard to the present publication, it may suf-
fice to state, that the Discourses in this and the succeeding volumes
are all of them upon important subjects ; some of them uncommon
and striking. They were composed by the author in the early part
of his ministry and in the most vigorous period of his life, as will
appear by the dates prefixed to them ; on which account, as well as
to distinguish them from preceding publications by the same au-
thor, though they are the last ofi'ered to the public, they appear
under the title " Primitiie ;" and as the whole of the remaining manu-
scripts of the handwriting of the worthy author, as far as is known, are
in the possession of the present publishers, for the purpose of accom-
plishing the present publication, the title " Ultima" is added; inti-
mating, that it is almost certain that they are the last remains that
will meet the public eye as a genuine production from the pen of this
able Divine.
After the ample recommendation by the author's near relation,
and two other respectable clergymen, contained in the preceding
pages, it will be necessary only farther to add, that these Discourses
have been faithfully transcribed from the originals in the author's
handwriting, and correctly printed from them. It is not doubted
but that these volumes will be highly acceptable to the religious of
all denominations, who, we trust, will unite with the editor and
publishers in sincere and fervent prayers, that, through the divine
blessing, they may be extensively useful.
Edinburgh, "1
January 13, 1800. J
b2
FEXKt)iiiTUJ^
seIimons.
INFALLIBLE ANTIDOTES AGAINST UNBELIEVING FEARS."
SERMON I.
Rev. i. 17, 18,
Fea7- not : I am he that liveth, and was dead ; and behold, I am alive
for evermore, Amen ; and have the keys of hell and of death.
To-day is the feast of the Christian passover. A communion table
is about to be covered. The great end of persons sitting down at
that table is, that they may suck the breasts of consolation, and
drink abundantly of that blood which flows from the pierced side of
a crucified Saviour. Some feed at this table without fear. Others
fear so much that they cannot feed. To such poor trembling souls
our text speaks good and comfortable words : " Fear not," &c.
As the Lord shewed to Daniel, a man greatly beloved, the state
of his church till his first coming ; so to John, another beloved dis-
ciple, he discloses the state of his church till his second coming.
Both of them were dignified with a vision of Christ, the Son of God;
and on each of them it had almost the same eftect. In Daniel there
remained no strength, Dan. x. Here we see the vision had a similar
effect on John. He is represented, ver. 17, as a dead man. He
was confounded with the glory of the person whom he saw. His
eyes were dazzled with the brightness, his strength failed, he could
act no more than if he had been dead. But our Lord revives him.
He lays his right hand on him, and strengthens him, that he might
be able to stand, hear, and receive his orders. Jesus comforts him.
He rebukes his fears : Fear not. There is a fear with which God
is well pleased, and a fear of which he does not approve. This last
is excessive fear, which greatly mars us in our duty, makes our
hearts faint, and our hands hang down, so as that we have neither
heart nor hand for our work. This is incident to the people of God ;
* Delivered immediately before the di.-pensation of the Lord's supper, October 6,
1706.
14 INFALLIBLE ANTIDOTE?
but Christ does not allow them in it, though he is tender of them
under it.
"We have next, the grounds of consolation, to dispel this fear, viz.
(i.) The Godhead of Christ. He is the first and the last. The first
principle of all things, from whom they had their beginning, and the
last end of all things : an irrefragable testimony this of the divinity
of Christ. And it shews us that the comfort of believers depends
upon this article. (2.) The union of the Godhead and manhood in
one person: — where Christ is held forth as God, the living God;
who had life from eternity of himself, and gave life to all the crea-
tures : — As man ; in that it is said he died. It is spoken of the same
person. It was the living God that died, though not the divine na-
ture. Here we see proposed, for John's comfort, the death of
Christ, God-man. He was made man, and died. (3.) His resurrec-
tion : I am alive. He overcame death, and arose the third day.
(4.) The eternity of that life to which he was raised up : he lives for
evermore. To all this is prefixed a Behold ! to stir up believers to
notice it as the grand fountain of their comfort ; and it is followed
with an asservation. Amen, or verily, to put them out of doubt of it.
Next, we have his Mediatorial sovereignty : He hath the keys of
hell and death. The keys are an ensign of government. The key
of the house of David is laid upon his shoulder. He opens and none
can shut, be shuts and none can open, Isa. xxii. 22. None go to
death or hell but when he sends them ; and none are kept out of
hell, and taken to glory but by him.
From this subject we may observe the following
DocT. That the death and resurrection of Christ, that eternal life
to which he was raised, and his Mediatory sovereignty, are the great
grounds of the saints' consolation, and sufficient to dispel all their
unbelieving f«ars.
In discoursing upon this subject, I shall, by divine aid,
I. Speak a little, and but a little, to each of these things, to un-
fold them, so as that the ground of comfort in them may appear.
II. Point out the consolation of the saint to be found in these.
III. Make some practical improvement.
I. To speak a little to each of the things in the text, to unfold
them, so as that the ground of comfort in them may appear.
1. As to his death. On this I offer these few remarks: (1.) His
death supposeth — his incarnation, and living as a man in the world,
John i. 14, " The word was made flesh and dwelt among us." This
has a respect to the Shechinah, or the divine presence : that was a
fire, encompassed with a cloud, which was above the ark in the first
AGAINST UNBELIEVING FEAKS. 15
temple. Christ's divinity was clouded with his humanity ; the form
of God, with the form of a servant, Phil. ii. 6 — 8, " He took upon
him onr nature." He was a partaker of flesh and blood, Heb. ii. 14.
Thus he became a substantial Mediator between God and man, that
so he might be a Mediator of reconciliation ; how he was conceived,
bo^-n, and lived in the world, the Evangelists fully relate. (2.) His
death was vicarious ; he died in the room and stead of sinners, not
indeed of all, but of his own sheep. The Sociuians allow that he died
for our good, though not in our room ; but this places the death of
the martyrs and of Christ on the same footing. But the scripture
is plain, Matth. xx. 28, " He came to give his life a ransom for
many." Gal. iii. 13, " Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of
the law, being made a curse for us. He was made sin for us, and
died, the just for the unjust." There was a real imputation of the
sins of the elect unto Christ, and a real translation of the punish-
ment due to us upon him, Isa. liii. 4 — 6, " Surely he hath borne
our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken,
smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our trans-
gressions, he was bruised for our iniquities ; the chastisement of
our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. All
we like sheep have gone astray : we have turned every one to his
own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
— This was typified by the sacrifices under the law, on the head of
which the offerer laid his hand, typically transferring the sin upon
the beast : which was really accomplished in that true sacrifice of
Christ, who gave himself for us, " an offering and a sacrifice to God
for a sweet smelling savour," Eph. v. 2. (3.) His sufferings and
death were most exquisite : " God spared not his own Son." In the
death of Christ there was a complication of deaths ; they murdered
his reputation, execrating him as a blasphemer against God, and a
traitor against the government; placing him between two malefac-
tors, as if he had been the greatest of the three. They murdered his
body, and that in a most cruel manner. The wrath of God fell
upon his soul, the first drops of which made him cry out, " My soul
is exceeding sorrowful." His enemies shewed no pity, but gave
hira vinegar to drink: he got judgment without mercy from God;
even the sun was darkened, that he might not have the light of it,
because it is pleasant to the eyes. (4.) His sufferings and death
were satisfactory, and that fully. By his one sacrifice, he hath for
ever perfected them that are sanctified. He was Lord of his
own life : he voluntarily laid it down, and that upon a compact be-
twixt the Father and hira. Being God, the fulness of the Godhead
dwelling in him, the fulness of merit cannot be doubted ; lor so his
16 INFALLIBLE ANTIDOTES
sufferings were of infiaite value, to which nothing can be added.
He was God, and purchased the church with his own blood, Acts
XX. 28. Tliere was a proportion between the sins of the elect, and
the sufferings of Christ. Sin is an infinite evil, his sufferings were
of infinite value. His deity stamped an infiaite value on his suffer-
ings ; and in this respect they do more than equal all the possible
sufferings of all creatures together ; for what would they all be to
God dying ?
2. As to his resurrection, and the life to which he was restored.
The text says, " Behold I am alive." Had he lain still in the grave
as dead, all the hopes of believers had died with him ; but behold,
we have David's comfort : his soul was not left in hell, neither did
he see corruption. Psalm xvi. 10. Here consider, (1.) That God
raised up Christ ; Acts ii. 24, " Him God hath raised up, having
loosed the pains of death ; because it was not possible that he should
be holden of it." There was the weight of all the elect's sins lying
on him as a grave-stone. This was rolled away, and he was raised
up by the exceeding greatness of God's power, Eph. i. 19. By this
power, also, the Father declared him to be his Son indeed, Rom. i.
4 ; and that he was fully satisfied for the debt Christ undertook to
pay. Therefore, though Christ himself could have rolled away the
stone, yet an angel, God's officer, is sent to do it, to open the prison
door ; thereby declaring, that the Judge had no more to exact of
him, that the debt was completely paid. (2.) Where he now lives.
It is in heaven, the better country, which we had forfeited by sin,
but where we still would fain be. Forty days after his resurrection,
he ascended into heaven. As a public person he died, and as such
he ascended. There the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus,
made an high priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec. He
is set down on the Father's throne, and is at his right hand. Hav-
ing offered his bloody sacrifice, he is now gone into the holiest of
all, and there will continue till the restitution of all things. (3.)
For what he lives. The apostle tells ns, that it is to make interces-
sion for us ; and he himself says, it is to prepare a place for us in
his Father's house, where there are many mansions. He went there
to take infeftment of heaven for us, and he lives to keep possession.
He lives there as the advocate of the saints, who have continual busi-
ness at the court of heaven, yet have no skill to manage it; "but,"
says Paul, " Christ is entered there to appear in the presence of
God for us." This is said in allusion to a custom among confeder-
ated states and princes, who have their agents, who, upon all occa-
sions, appear in the presence of the prince in behalf of those they
represent, and for whom they negotiate, to take up any emergent
AGAINST UNBELIEVING FEAKS. 17
differences, or manage whatever business may be put into their hands.
We now go on,
3. To the eternity of this life. The man Christ lives for ever-
more. Amen. Says Paul, " He ever liveth" and that as God-man.
The saints cannot outlive their advocate ? nay, through eternity
they shall behold his glorious face. He will never lay aside our
nature. He is now for ever out of the reach of death. He dieth
no more, death hath no more dominion over him. Joseph's brethren,
when they saw their father was dead, were in a great fear, lest
Joseph should avenge the wrong they had done him. No such fear
needs the believer have. Jesus lives for ever, to be the eternal
bond of the saints' eternal communion with God. For, seeing we
can neither come to God by ourselves, nor by ourselves abide in
communion with him, it is necessary, that as we come to God by
Christ, so by him also must we abide with God for ever. The mem-
bers must receive influences and glory from their head, to whom
they shall remain for ever united. He lives for ever, to be their
prophet, for the Lamb is the light of the New Jerusalem, Rev. xxi.
23 ; and he will be their priest for ever ; he continueth for ever,
having an unchangeable ijriesthood, Heb. vii. 24. He will eternally
represent his own sacrifice as the foundation of our eternal glory :
and as for his kingdom, it is an everlasting kingdom, that shall
not be destroyed, Dan. vii. 14. Let us,
4. Attend to his mediatorial sovereignty. He hath the keys of
liell and death. He hath all power over the present and future
worlds. Hell and death are terrible to the believer ; but Christ
holds the keys of both. He went down to the grave, opened the
door, and brought the keys away with him. None go to hell but
whom he sends there, and consequently the keys of heaven are in
his hand; which is here also understood. Ho has "all power in
heaven and earth," Matth. xxviii. 18. Of this, Joseph's exaltation
in Egypt was a type. Gen. xli. 40. And these keys are the pur-
chase of his blood, Phil. ii. 8, 9, " Because he humbled himself, and
became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Where-
fore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which
is above every name," &c.
Now, these things, the death, resurrection, life, and power of
Jesus, may be considered three ways, in order to improve them for
consolation to the saints. (1.) As patterns and examples. It is
the ordinary way of distressed persons, to conclude there is no sor-
row like their sorrow ; and if ye can satisfyingly answer that or-
dinary question of theirs. Was there ever any in my case that got
safely out of it? you will do much to allay their grief, and raise
18 INFALLIBLE ANTIDOTES
their hopes. Thus we find the apostle improving the sufferings and
glory of Christ, Heb. xii. 3, " For, consider him," says he, " that
endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be
wearied, and faint in your minds." Yea, Jesus Christ himself says,
Rev. iii. 21, " To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me
on my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my
Father on his throne." (2.) As pledges, assuring the saints of
what they wish for. Thus the apostle improves the resurrection of
Christ, to assure believers they shall not lie ever consuming in a
grave, but shall be raised up to glory. Christ says he is risen from
the dead, the first-fruits of those that slept, 1 Cor. xv. 20 ; and
Jesus tells us, that his life is a pledge of ours : " Because I live, ye
shall live also," John xiv. 19. (3.) As containing in them sufficient
salves for all their sores. Thus are these the magazine of the
saints' consolation, his wounds are the clefts of the rock, wherein
the poor creature may safely hide itself. Only bruise the spices,
pour out the ointment, consider them in their nature and effects,
and assuredly they will send forth a pleasant smell, sufficient to
revive and comfort a fainting soul. We are now,
II. To point out the nature of that consolation which saints may
derive from these. For this purpose, let us take a view of the
fountains of their fears and distrust.
1. There is the super-eminent glory and infinite majesty of the
great God. This, when seen and considered by poor wornf man,
whose habitation is in the dust, is a great source of fear. This made
John fall down at his feet as dead. Who can behold the glorious
majesty upon this earth, and not be ready to dwindle into nothing ?
How do some tremble at the view of their fellow-creatures exalted
above thera in power and dignity ! But what a vast dispropor-
tion betwixt God and the greatest monarch ! This challenges our
fear indeed, but the saints ought not to let it degenerate into slavish
fear. God has vailed his throne in the heavens, he spreads his
cloud upon it. Job xxvi. 9. This is the common benefit of mankind
upon this earth. But the saints have anotlier ground of consolation
in the text : and that is the death of Christ, wherein we behold
God incarnate, God made flesh, God in our nature. Can ye not
look straight forward to divine majesty, then fetch a compass, and
look through the vail of the flesh of Christ, and so ye may see God,
and not die. " Often and willingly," said Luther, " would I thus
look at God."
2. Sin is another fountain of fear ; sinfulness considered with the
nature of God. Here the sinner first sees guilt in himself, and
justice in God, which two together make a very frightful spectacle.
AGAINST UNBELIEVINa FEAKS. 19
It is the nature of guilt to bind over to punishment, and of justice
to inflict it ; so that guilt is a great source of fears. But fear not,
Christian ; Christ was dead, and is alive for ever more ; therefore
the guilt that exposes to hell-fiie is done away. Thou mayest in-
deed be guilty, so as to bring upon thee fatherly chastisments for
your amendment, but thou art not liable to eternal plagues. Tou
may plead not guilty to the charges of the law as a covenant of
works : " For if God be for us, who can be against us ?" Eoni. viii.
31. Upon the cross there were two crucified, the Son of God, and
the law of God. But the Son of God, by his becoming dead, bruised to
death the law as a covenant of works, in respect of believers. He
took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross, Coloss. ii. 14. There-
fore the law, our first husband, being dead, our relation to it is dis-
solved, and we are legally married to Christ, who was raised from
the dead, fliat we should bring forth fruit unto God. Justice is
satisfied. No flaming sword stands any more to guard the tree of
life. The storm hath exhausted itself upon Christ ; fear not, but
come forward. He died in our room. Justice exacted, and he
answered. Fear not old account?, for God spared not his own Son.
A thousand may fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right
hand, by the stroke of justice, but it shall not come nigh thee. Do
ye doubt the completeness of the satisfaction ? Behold Christ in
heaven, with the complete discharge in his hand. He is out of pri-
son. He brought the keys with him, and is now on the throne.
Everlasting righteousness is brought in, and it is put on thee by
him. He is made of God unto you righteousness. Your own is
only filthy rags ; but that which is imputed unto you will abide the
judgment of God, and endure for ever. But,
3. The sinner sees pollution in himself, and holiness in God.
When they behold the spotless purity of God, and themselves as an
unclean thing, they are ready to say, will Gud look on vile me ?
will these pure eyes cast a favourable glance on such a dunghill-
worm ? Fear not, Christ was dead, and is alive. He is made of
God unto you sanctification. Thou hast some grace amidst a heap of
corruptions. Though thou seest not what a lustre this casts within
thee, yet God sees it : " The king's daughter is all glorious within,"
Psalm xlv. 13. But look to your outer garments, which are of
wrought gold, they will hide all your deformities. Though you are,
in respect of inherent grace, but fair as the moon, yet your imputed
righteousness is clear as the sun. To this some may object, "I am
guilty of gross sins, and that even since the Lord began to deal
with me." Fear not, Christ died ; and if so, God died for your sius.
If he was God who died, when he was pouring out his blood, he
20 INFALLIBLE ANTIDOTES
knew all the siiis you would be guilty of, even after your conver-
sion. He did not shed his blood in vain, and therefore in his death
he had even these in his view ; and will not the blood of God be
able to expiate the grossest sins ? It cleanseth from all sin. Re-
member also he is alive evermore to intercede for you : " If any man
sin, we have an advocate with the Father," 1 John ii. 1. If his blood
was sufficient for expiation, his intercession cannot but be prevalent.
— " But I may say, I sin evermore, and that breaks ray soul." Fear
not, Christ lives evermore ; and, if ye believe the apostle, it is to
make intercession for you. If Christ lives evermore, ye shall not
sin evermore : for he will not thus live alone without you ; where
he is, there you shall be also, John xvii. 24. " But the sin of my
nature lies nearest my heart : I am just a lump of hell, and a mass
of sin. Acts of sin are transient, but this is permanent, and I
cannot be freed of it." Fear not : Christ died, and therefore,
though it may make your way to heaven difficult, yet ye shall never
be condemned for it. Nay, good news, believer ! with the death
of Christ sin got a fatal wound. Your old man was crucified with
him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, Rom. vi. 6. You
wonder it is so troublesome ; but why do ye do so ? The old man is
mortally wounded ; and can you think he will groan out his life in
silence, and not move a tongue against Christ? But as surely as
Christ came not down from the cross till he breathed out his last, so
surely shall the body of death in you be destroyed.
3. Desertions are a cause of fears. The deserted soul is an af-
frighted soul. Say some, " Christ is withdrawn from me : my sua
has gone down : nothing now but darkness and confusion : I can
see no evidences of the Lord's love to me : I may say as Job, chap,
xxiii. 8, 9, " I go forward and backward, but I cannot perceive him."
But fear not, Christian ; it has beeu, and it will be, better with you.
Good news to you in your low state, Christ died, and in his death he
was forsaken of God ; and yet he now enjoys the bosom of the Fa-
ther, and the light of his countenance. Who would not be content
to follow Christ, even through the valley of the shadow of death ?
Ye pray, and it seems ye are not heard ; so it was with Christ :
" my God," said he, " thou hearest not," Psalm xxii. 2. But
tlioiigh your husband be far off, though you cannot see him, yet he
is not dead, he is alive ; and if alive, he will come again, for he
hateth putting away. Though ye seem to be out of sight, yet ye are
not out of mind ; he liveth evermore. Zion's account of Christ
under a fit of desertion, is not canonical, it is not orthodox, Isa. xlix.
14 — 16, " But Zion said, the Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord
hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she
AGAINST UNBELIEVING FEARS. 21
should not liave compassion on the son of her womb ? yea, they may
forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon
the palras of my hands, thy walls are continually before me."
To this the objection may be proposed, " But how can I endure to
want the joys I have sometimes had, and these blessed consolations ?"
Answer, Trust in God, and have respect to the recompense of the re-
ward of grace. Will you disquiet yourselves because there is not
a second summer in one year ? Bless God that helps you to the
fight in any measure ; wait patiently for his comforts, and be con-
stantly at your work. Again, say others, " Were there no more in
my case, I might keep heart ; but I am under dreadful apprehen-
sions of wrath, and there are positive outgoings of God's anger
against my soul, as Job vi. 4, " The arrows of the Almighty are
within me." Here, I confess, it is hard to stand, and not to fall
down at his feet as dead. Yet we must say, Fear not; for Christ
was dead, and the wrath of God was poured out into his soul, which
melted his heart like wax in the midst of his bowels : Yet he swam
through this ocean. Now, that he is alive, is a pledge that yo
shall not drown : For, says he, " because I live ye shall live also."
It was one of the ends of Christ's death, to deliver you and the
like of you, Heb. ii. 15, " And deliver them who through fear of
death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. You are mistaken,
if you think the arrows are dipped in deadly poison ; for Christ was
dead, and is alivs, and the poison of these arrows entered into his soul
in full measure, and he drank it up; Gal. iii. 13, " Christ hath re-
deemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us : for
it is written. Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." They will
wound very sore, though there be no poison, no curse in them. Your
cloud has a white side, if ye could discern it ; only believe, aud ye
shall be established. This is the heat of the battle with you. Keep
hold of the death of Christ as your shield that will defend you.
Look not on God, but through the veil of the flesh of Jesus. Dry
stubble may be safe, if there be a strong crystal wall between it and
the fire. Does God appear as a consuming fire ? Christ is the crystal
wall : set him betwixt you and an angry God. The light of tliat
fire will shine through him to refresh you, but it will not burn
through him. It has been often tried ; he is still alive, and ye shall
live also.
4. Temptations are a source of fears. Sometimes Satan gets
leave to dog saints at their heels. With what horrid temptations
poor souls may be harassed, some know by sad experience : fiery
darts that they tremble to think of, and that they dare not name !
This fills them with fear : but to such I say. Fear not. Christ died.
22 INFALLIBLE ANTIDOTES
and is alive evermore. He that thus lives evermore gave a deadly
wound to the tempter. When Jesns was in the world, Satan set
on him with the most severe temptations ; but Jesus overcame him,
and at his death triumphed over him. He spoiled principalities and
powers, Col. ii. 15, "And having spoiled principalities and powers,
he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." You
see, then, that the enemy with whom you fight is already vanquished,
and the victory of Jesus over him is a sure pledge of yours. Yea,
as in the first Adam we were all tempted and fell, so iu the second
Adam we were tempted and stood; and so have overcome already in
our Head. We have no more to do but cry to our Lord, who, from
his own temptations, well knows how to succour his tempted people.
"We must give the alarm, and handle our weapons. Though the
fight may last a while, yet it will come to an end, and we shall be
more than conquerors. Jesus is in heaven, waiting till his enemies
be made his footstool ; and he will bruise Satan under our feet
shortly.
5. Death is the cause of much fear. how hard is it to look on
it with a stayed countenance ! Death is terrible, in that it is a dis-
solution of nature, parts soul and body; and therefore we are so
apt to shudder at the thoughts of it. But fear not ; for Christ died.
His precious soul and body were parted ; so he orders us to travel
no path but such as he hath trode before us. By his death he has
destroyed death ; he has unstinged it to the believer. Then, fear it
not, it can do you no harm, " But death is terrible, in that it takes
us out of this world from all our enjoyments, from our dearest re-
lations and friends, and sends us into another world, where we
know not a foot of ground, where we never saw a face. Were a
child born with that judgment that men have, the first sight of this
world might be terrible to him ; so must the unseeu world be to
us. But fear not : he that was dead is alive ; and when ye are car-
ried ofi", you shall be with him who is infinitely better than all
earthly relations. Here is your comfort. Jesus hath the keys of
hell and death. He is Lord supreme of that other world to which
you are travelling. He sends you such word as Joseph sent his
father. Gen. xlv. 9, saying, " God hath made me lord of all Egypt;
come down unto me, tarry not." to believe it firmly !
6, And Lastly, Hell is a fountain of fears. Sometimes the godly are
above, sometimes under the fears of hell. It is terrible, the thought
of being excluded for ever the presence of God ! " Who can abide
with everlasting burnings ?" When we look down to the pit, it
seems hard to escape it; when we look up to heaven, our souls faint,
lest we never get there. But fear not: for Christ died; and if so,
AGAINST UNBELIEVING FEARS. 23
he suflfered the torments thou shouldst have suffered in hell, as to
tlie essentials of them. He was under the punishment of loss; God
forsook him, Psalm xxii. 1. He endured the punishment of sense,
even to drops of blood, and the wrath of God poured into his soul.
Then God will not require two payments for one debt. Christ lives,
he rose, and entered heaven as a public person; and therefore, be-
liever, thou shalt as surely go to heaven as if thou wert there al-
ready, yea, the apostle says we are there already. Eph. ii. 6,
•' We are raised up together, and made to sit together in hea-
venly places in Christ Jesus," as our Head. Jesus lives for
evermore ; and therefore thou shalt be for ever with the Lord.
He has tlie keys of hell and death. Suppose your father or
best friend on earth had these keys, would you be afraid ? But we
may have more confidence in Jesus than in ten thousand fathers, or
even the mothers that bare us. They may forsake us, and a mother
may be fouiid that will not have compassion on the son of her womb;
but, believer, Jesus hath said, " I will not forget thee," Isa.
xlix. 15, 16, " Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should
not have compassion on the son of her womb ? yea, they may forget,
yet I will not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the
palms of my hand, thy walls are continually before me." Though
Satan be the jailor of hell, yet he keeps not the keys; they hang,
believer, at the girdle of your best friend.
III. We shall conclude with some improvement.
1. From this subject we may infer the comfortless state of them
that are out of Christ. Are the truths ia the text grounds of con-
solation to the saints? How, then, can they bear up who have no
interest in Christ ? Nay, we might turn the black side of this white
cloud upon unbelievers, and tell them, that if Jesus died how can
they escape ? If he be alive, he will avenge their contempt of him
and their neglect of his salvation. If he lives for evermore, then
they will have an eternal enemy. If he has the keys of hell, then
they cannot escape that prison ; or le rescued out of it.
2. That it is the duty of Christians to improve these things for
their actual comfort. Christian, sit down at his table, and suck the
breasts of consolation. Build your comforts on these truths. Alas!
our comforts are often short lived, because we do not found them sure
enough. I will give you but a few notes concerning this. (1.) The
grieving of the Spirit cuts the throats of our comforts. (2.) Good
men sometimes build their comforts on outward blessings; hence,
when these are gone, their comfort is gone. (3.) On grace within
them, not on grace without them; the comfort of some streams from
their obedience principally, therefore it is soon dried up ; whereas
24 INFALLIBLE ANTIDOTES
tlio death and life of Christ are liable to no change, as is our obe-
dience. (4.) Upon the coming in of words to their minds. Hence,
when a promise comes in, they are comforted ; when a threatening,
all is gone. I do believe that the Spirit comforts his people by the
word, and that he makes words come in with an impression on the
soul; John xiv. 26, "He shall teach you all things, and bring all
things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said." But then
these words lead the soul direct to Christ, and to build our comfort
on him; but it is not of God to build it on the bare impression of
a comfortable word. The coming in of a word should guide us to
Christ ; and though the impression, the guide go, yet we may keep
our hold of him. — Here we are presented with an objection, " Bat I
fear I have nothing to do with these consolations." An^sw. Are you
this day willing to take Christ? Then give your consent, and he is
yours, and all is yours : " Whosoever will, let him take of the water
of life freely," Rev. xxii. 17- Object. " But I fear I am not sincere,
in that I am actuated from fear of hell, and hope of reward." Axsw.
If ye fear not God's wrath, so as to endeavour to escape it, ye are
despisers of God ; if ye desire not salvation, so as to labour for
it, ye are monstrous murderers of your own souls. Let your self-
love only be regular, and it is commendable ; and then it is regular
when your desires of happiness are carried towards it through Christ
and the way of holiness ; so that your soul longs for Christ as well
as salvation, and ye desire to be holy as well as happy. It is re-
gular, when it is subordinate to the will of God ; and that is, when
the man justifies God, though he should cast him off, and yet, come
what will, is resolved to cleave to the Lord and his way.
A word to other two sources of the saint's fears.
1. "Weakness and spiritual inability for the duties of religion.
The soul taking a view of the great work it has to do, what strong
lusts are to be mortified, temptations resisted, duties performed ;
and then, considering how weak and unable it is for any of these
things, it is even ready to sink. But fear not : Christ died, &c.
Heb. xii. 12, " Wherefore, lift up the hands which hang down, and
the feeble knees." Christ died, and therefore strength for duty is
purchased. In the first Adam, the influences of the Spirit were for-
feited ; in the second Adam, they are bought back again. The
well-ordered covenant is sealed and confirmed. There is a fulness
in the covenant for all your wants. There are promises in it that
will answer all your needs. Now, the covenant is confirmed, for the
testator is dead. Christ liveth ; he arose from death, and lives
evermore ; therefore, he that has the believer's stock of strength is
alive. Adam got our first stock, but he became insolvent; Christ
AGAINST UNBETilEVING FEAR3. 25
got the next, he liveth in the court of heaven as a public person
and treasury of strength ; " Of his fulness have all we received, and
grace for grace," John i. 16.
The believer's Surety to the Father stands good ; and what need
they fear as long as their Cautioner holds foot ? Christ is the be-
liever's cautioner for sanctification and perseverance, John x. 28,
and chap. xvii. 12, " While I was with thera in the world, I kept
them in thy name : those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none
of them is lost, but the son of perdition ; that the scripture might be
fulfilled." Therefore he is called " the surety of a better testament,"
Heb. vii. 22. Now, he will not see his people in want of what is
necessary for their through-bearing. He lives for that end, to dis-
pense the benefits of the covenant. He holds the keys, therefore they
shall not want. The Spirit is given by virtue of his ascension,
John xvi. 7, " Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is expedient for
you that I go away ; for if I go not away, the Comforter will
not come unto you : but if I depart, I will send him unto you."
For what purpose was Joseph sent to Egypt, and exalted there, but
to provide for his father's family, being therein a notable type of
Christ ? "Well, then, fear not ; wiles help weak folk. Though ye
want strength, yet you have wisdom afi'orded you, even in betaking
yourselves to Christ. I may allude to that, Prov. xxs. 24 — 29,
" There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are
exceeding wise. The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare
their meat in the summer ; the conies are but a feeble flock, yet
make they their houses in the rocks ; the locusts have no king, yet
go they forth all of them by bands ; the spider taketh hold with her
hands, and is in king's palaces." Ye have the wisdom of the ants,
to provide your meat in summer ; of the conies, to build in the
Rock Christ ; of the locusts, not to set out alone; and of the spiders,
to be in the palace of the great King, holding by the promises.
2 Cor. xii. 9, " My grace is sufficient for thee ; for my strength is
made perfect in weakness."
2. The danger of an evil time is another source of fear. Psalra
xlix. 5, "Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the ini-
quity of my heels shall compass me about ? Two things there look
ghastly upon them. (1.) The hazard of sinning. An evil time is a
time of many snares. The soul is afraid that he will never stand
out, but one day will fall. Fear not : — Christ died, and it was an
evil time, a time of many snares, yet he came safe off. This he did
as a public person, and so it is a pledge that ye shall also be carried
through ; see Heb. iv. 14. — 16. Christ lives evermore, therefore ye
may say, as David, Psalm xviii. 46, 48, " The Lord liveth, and blessed
Vol. IX. c
26 INrALLIBLE ANTIDOTES, AlC.
be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. He delivereth
me from mine enemies," &c. He lives to intercede, which was Peter's
security : " I have," says he, " prayed for thee, that thy faith fail
not." He is busy for his people, when they have most need. (2.)
There is hazard of suffering, and that is frightful to flesh and blood.
Fear not : — Christ died, and therefore the bitter dregs of the cup
are drunken off. He was forsaken in his sufferings, that you might
be supported in your sufferings. — Your sufferings will but conform
you to Christ your head. Christ liveth, and therefore ye shall be
supported in suffering, that the world may know that he who was
dead is alive. Remarkable is that word, 2 Cor. iv. 10, " Always
bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life
of Jesus also might be made manifest in our body." A suffering
time is a special season in which Christ uses to appear. "We read
thrice of Christ's hour, John xiii. 1, " Now, before the feast of the
passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come, that he should
depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own
which were in the world, he loved them unto the end." Chap. xvii.
1, "These words spake Jesus, — Father, the hour is come," &c. That
was an hour of darkness. John ii. 4, " Jesus saith unto her. Woman,
what have I to do with thee ? mine hour is not yet come." That
was an hour wherein the wine was done, and the pots were filled
with water; you know what followed.
Here it may be objected, " But what if ordinances be taken away ?"
Answ. If they be, the God of ordinances endures for ever. Christ
liveth, " and he shall be for a sanctuary," Isa. viii. 14. And says
God, by Ezekiel, concerning his scattered people, " Yet will I be to
them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come,"
chap. xi. 16. When there was no ordinary food to be got in the
wilderness, it was sent down from heaven. Though our kirk doors
should be shut, heaven's door shall be open as long as Christ liveth.
Object. " But I think I am very unfruitful under ordinances."
Answ. It is the greater shame ! But if this be thy trouble, know
that Christ liveth ; and therefore, if there be sap in the root, there
is always hope of the branches. There is enough there, draw it out.
But as Christ first died, then arose, so the believer grows downward
as well as upward. If ye have a heart-memory, though ye want a
head-memory, it is well. — Object. " But what shall those do, when
they are seized with fear and discouragement, and cannot tell where-
fore ?" Answ. The Lord may sometimes exercise his people so, to
shew them their own weakness and nothingness. But possibly it may
be the majesty of God that so affects thee, and the reason why it is
not discerned to be so, may be an intimation of the Lord's love just
SIX THAT WHICH SEPARATES, &C. 27
going before it. See Dan. x. 10 — 12, " And behold, a hand touched
me, which set rae upon my knees, and upon the palms of my hands.
And he said unto me, Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand
the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am
I now sent: and when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood tremb-
ling." But however it be, the only cure is believing. Psalm xxvii.
13, " I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the
Lord in the land of the living." The sooner you believe, the better ;
for in this case a man is like one that is going to ride a great water
that is increasing ; the longer he delays, the water grows still the
greater.
Now, the way to make use of these things, so as to draw comfort from
them, is to believe. There is, in the first place, a firm assent to the
truths revealed, 1 John v. 5, " Who is he that overcometh the world,
but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God ?" then, an act
of faith, realizing these things, Heb. xi. 1, " Now, faith is the sub-
stance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." To
which may be added, an act of assurance. Gal. ii. 20, " I am cruci-
fied with Christ ; nevertheless I live ; yet not I but Christ liveth in
me ; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of
the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." If ye
cannot reach to all this extent, yet you may reach an act of ad-
herence. A trembling hand may draw the water of consolation out
of the wells of salvation. Amen.
SIN THAT WHICH SEPARATES GOD AND MEN.*
SERMON II.
Isaiah lix. 2,
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and
your sijis have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
"When we look abroad through the world, many sad sights may be
seen; but amongst the most lamentable is man, who was by the
Lord planted a noble vine, wholly a right seed, but now turned into
the degenerate plant of a strange vine. Some are lying mouldering
in the grave of a graceless state, noisome to God and to good men ;
some are in a withered state, their former beauty gone, and death
• Delivered Nov. 3, 1706.
c2
28 SIN THAT WHICH SEPARATES
lias settled down on their faces, because God, the life and soul of
their souls, is gone. If they inquire, with Rebekali, Why am I
thus ? the answer is in the text : " Your iniquities," &c.
In these words, we have, 1st, A dreadful evil that this people was
under, separation from God. 2dl(/, The party at whose door the
blame lies, they who have made the breach. Zdl]/, The procuring
cause of this evil, " your iniquities."
As to the 1st, Separation is either good or bad, according to the
quality of the term from which men are separated. But the separa-
tion here is held forth as an evil, and that the greatest evil ; for it is
a separation from God, an evil which is so heavy, that, when felt, it
is enough to make a Cain groan, and say, " It is greater than I can
bear," Gen. iv. 13. Sin makes many separations. It separates the
nearest relations, it separates the soul from the body. But all these
are inconsiderable in respect of this, the separation of the soul from
God. It is an evil still greater, for it is a separation from a cove-
nanted God. Tour God. Free love had separated Israel from all
other people on the earth, and made them the Lord's by a peculiar
relation ; but sin separates betwixt them and that God to whom they
were thus joined. That there should be a separation betwixt God
and the Gentile world, who had professedly joined themselves to
other gods, is not to be wondered at ; but how dreadful is this, to be
separated from our God ! No fall is like a fall to hell from off hea-
ven's threshold. The higher persons are raised up, the lower do
they sink when they fall.
2. "Who are to blame ? Why, men are ready to say, God is an
austere master, and forgetful of the children of men ; and from our
first father we have it as hereditary, rather to lay the blame on
God, than to take it to ourselves. Therefore, he clears himself of it,
ver. 1, shewing he wants neither power nor will to help them, on
due application ; and accordingly, he lays the blame where it should
be, even on themselves. They made the breach ; they may thank
themselves for what they lie under, for they have drawn it on with
their own hands.
3. How have they done it ? Has God, who is exalted above the
heavens, withdrawn from them, because they are on the earth as
nothing before him ? Cannot infinite majesty lodge with the soul in
a cottage of clay ? Has he separated from them, because they are
mean, hated and despised by their neighbours rouud about them ?
No, no ; none of these are the causes. Their iniquities are the only
cause of all. Nothing but sin could part them. Sin is the only
make-bate betwixt God and you. This subject affords us this
GOD AND HAK. 29
Doctrine, viz. However light people think of sin, yet it is that
which is of so dreadful efficacy, as to make a separation betwixt God
and the sinner. Sin separates between God and a soul.
In discoursing which, I shall shew,
I. "What is that separation which sin makes betwixt God and
souls.
II. I shall evince the greatness of the evil of separation from God,
which many go so lightly under.
III. Inquire how sin makes this separation betwixt God and the
soul.
lY. Make some practical improvement. — I am to shew,
I. What is that separation which sin makes betwixt God and a
soul. It is not a local separation ; for " he is not far from every
one of us, for in him we live, move, and have our being ;" Acts xvii.
27, 28. The wicked would fain be at a local separation, and there-
fore, in their vain imaginations, they shut up God in heaven, that
he may not see what is done on earth. But the immensity and om-
nipresence of God make this simply impossible ; for as he is God, he
is intimately present with us, even in the very centre of our souls ;
so that, unless our sins could uudeify him, (if the expression may be
used), they can make no local separation betwixt him and us. Hence
it is remarkable, that even in hell the wicked shall be punished
from the presence of the Lord, 2 Thess. i. 9. He will not send his
strokes upon them from heaven, or from afar, though he could pre-
serve the force or them by the way, but he will erect his throne of
justice among them : " Whither shall I go from thy spirit ? or
whither shall I flee from thy presence ? If I ascend up into hea-
ven, thou art there : il' I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art
there : If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the utter-
most parts of the sea, even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy
right hand shall hold me," Psalm cxxxix. 7 — 10. But it is a re-
lative separation, inferring a distance of opposition betwixt God and
the soul, and affecting the man's state, or case, or both. It makes
snch a separation as is made by whisperers betwixt friends : " A
whisperer," saith Solomon, " separateth chief friends." This being
the case, the Lord's countenance is not towards the sinner as
it was before the breach was made. And as by sin there is an
alienating of the sinner's affection from God, so in God there is
something equivalent to the alienation of affections from the sinner,
for affections are not properly ascribed to God. Thus, concerning
every one that separateth himself from the Lord, and setteth up his
idols in his heart, God saith, Ezek. xiv. 8, " I will set my face
30 SIX THAT WHICH SErARATES
against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I
will cut him olf from the midst of my people, and ye shall know
that I am the Lord."
As to this separation, we observe,
1. That in it there is something negative ; and that is, the Lord
denies them the influences of his grace, countenance, and fellowship ;
they are deprived of benefits, their sins withhold good things from
them. The scripture expresseth it by the Lord's hiding his face
from sinners, as it is said in the text, by shewing them the back,
and not the face, Jer. xviii. 17 ; by forgetting them, Hos. iv. 6.
Thus the sun of many is gone down, they *' stumble at noon, as in
the night, and are in desolate places as dead men," Isa. lix. 10.
They go up and down in the world, as walking statues, carrying
dead souls in their bodies as living coflGins ; for God is gone, and hia
glory is departed from them.
2. There is something positive in it, sin kindles a fire against the
soul. (1.) There is a standing controversy God has against sinners ;
Amos iii. 3, " Can two walk together except they be agreed?" God
is displeased with the creature, his Spirit is grieved at him. Anger
rests in the bosom of God against the sinner, as long as he keeps the
sinful morsel under his tongue, which, though pleasant to the poor
soul in the meantime, is most displeasing to a holy God. (2.) There
is a pursuing of this controversy against the sinner ; some positive
outgoings of God's anger against the soul, in angry looks, which, if
perceived, are enough to put the stoutest sinner out of countenance.
In this way did the Lord look unto the host of the Egyptians,
through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled them, Exod.
xiv. 24. Angry words, even sad threats, ministered by the word
and the man's conscience ; also sad strokes upon the soul, sometimes
upon the body, sometimes on both at once, are measured out.
But to this it may be objected, says one, " Happy am I then, for
I see no such thing." Answ. Were there no more upon most of
us than we feel, we would have a very light burden either of sin
or wrath upon us. But take heed ye be not like Ephraim, Hos. vii.
9, " Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not ;
yea, grey hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth it not."
Or like the Ephesians, chap. iv. 19, " Who being past feeling, gave
themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with
greediness." Are you going on in your sins ? then be sure God is
going on against you, pursuing his quarrel ; and even in small things,
if it were but the miscarrying of a basket of bread, the curse of
God is in it to a wicked man, which makes it in itself very heavy.
There are two kinds of strokes upon the soul: (1.) Deadening
GOD AND MAN. 31
strokes ; these are secret strokes which God gives, and they are not
easily perceived. By them the conscience is deadened, the soul
stupified, and thus the man is fattened for the day of slaughter.
People think never to get their fill of ease, and sometimes the Lord
gives them enough of it : Hos. iv. 17, " Ephraim is joined to his idols,
let him alone," (Heb. give him rest). (2.) Quickening strokes :
Hos. V. 14, " For I will be to Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion •
to the house of Judah ; I, even I, will tear and go away, and no
one shall rescue him." By such strokes the conscience is made like
Mount Sinai, when there was nothing but thunder, and lightning,
and the sound of the trumpet waxing louder and louder. Many
men's consciences are like iron taken out of the fire, and having lain
a little, no fire appears there ; but when some drops of water fall
on it, it makes a hissing noise.
But the objector still says, " On the contrary, I find Providence
very favourable to me." Answ. Is it in spiritual good things ?
findest thou that because he lives, thou livest also ? Is Providence
kind to thee in influences of grace, communion with God ? surely,
then, Christ has taken away the separation wall. But is it in ex-
ternal things ? then know that these are no discriminating marks of
nearness to God; see Job xxi. 7, God is kind to you as ye are to
him; Lev. xxvi. 27, "And if ye will not for all this hearken unto
me, but walk contrary unto me, then I will walk contrary unto you
also in fury." He tells them they walked with him by accident, by
the bye, when they chanced to light on him ; and he says he will
walk with them so too. "What good the wicked does, is for another
end than the glory of God ; and what good he does to them, is often-
times in wrath.
Now this separation is twofold ; 1. Total, agreeing to the wicked
only, to whom, in respect of their state, God is an enemy. This is
that state of separation from God in which we are born, produced
by Adam's sin, Rom. v. 12, *' Wherefore, as by one man sin entered
into the world, and death by sin ; and so death passed upon all men,
for that all have sinned." This, to some, even to the elect, is only
temporary, the separation wall being pulled down, and they brought
near by the blood of Christ, applied by faith at their conversion, Eph.
ii. 13. To others it is eternal, who, living and dying in a state of
distance from God, are separated from God, soul and body in hell
for evermore ; according to that, " Depart from me, ye cursed, into
everlasting fire." This eternal separation is not meant in the text,
but it is a certain consequent of the other, if it is continued in, for
none are brought near to God in glory, who are not, by grace, first
brought near to him here.
c2 SIX THAT ^VUICII SEPAKATES
2. There is a partial separation, which agrees to the godly, who
have the root of the matter in them. Sometimes the Lord is pro-
voked to withdraw from his own people : " I opened," says the
spouse. Song v. 6, " to my beloved, but ray beloved had withdrawn
himself; my soul failed when he spake; I sought him, but I could
not find him ; I called him but he gave me no answer." Sometimes
• Christ's garden is left, so that there is no blowing of the Spirit
there, Song iv. 16. Hence the saints are so often praying to God to
return to them. Often may we see the King's children, having
their white robes sullied with tears, and rolled in the dust, because
of a departed God. What a mournful voice has the sweet finger of
Israel often, under desertions and hidings of God's face ! Heman
looks upon himself as a burgess of the land of darkntss, not only
forsaken but forgotten. Psalm viii. 8. This makes them, with Job,
cry out, " ! that it were with me as in months past, when the
candle of the Lord shone on my head !"
II. I shall evince the greatness of the evil of separation from God,
which many go so light under. Alas ! many reign like kings with
God; they be like king Saul, when God departed from him; but
how sad a thing this is, will appear, if we consider,
1. What God is. Every thing in God speaks terror to those that
are separated from him. I shall only take notice of these following:
(L) God is the chief good; and therefore to be separated from God
is the chief evil. Our native country we look on as good; and
therefore to be banished from it is a heavy trial. Relations are
good, life and liberty are good; and, therefore, to be deprived of
them is very afflicting. But God is the chief good ; all these petty
good things disappear, and dwindle into nothing, when compared
with God. How dreadful, then, must it be to be separated from
him ! If the enjoyment of him is the highest pinnacle of happi-
ness, separation from him is the lowest step of misery. It is often
observed, as an aggravation of the sufferings of the primitive Chris-
tians, that they suffered not only from the emperors who were ac-
counted monsters of men, but also from those who were admired by
the people for their virtues. Surely, then, to be cast off by good-
ness itself in infinite perfection, must be very distressing. (2.) God
is all-sufficient in himself, and to the creatures. The enjoyment of
him makes truly happy; and therefore to be separated from him is
a dreadful evil. While David thinks on God as his portion, his
heart leaps for joy : " The lines," says he, " are fallen unto rae in
pleasant places ; yea, I have a goodly heritage," Psalm xvi. 6 — 9.
While Cain sees himself driven from his presence, his punishment
appears intolerable. The frowns ol those we depend upon, and can-
GOD A^'D .MA>r. 33
not live without, are very grievous. To forsake the " fountain of
living waters," Jer. ii. 13, is held forth as a great evil of sin ; and
to be partially separated from it, must also be a great punishment.
(3.) The omnipotence of God. Job takes notice that "the arrows
shot against him were arrows of the Almighty," Job vi. 4. Let all
the men on earth, and devils in hell, let the angels come down and
help to draw the bow, still it is but finite power against the man ;
but how terrible would it be, to be a mark to these arrows ! how
much more, when the Omnipotent God pursues the quarrel ! (4.)
The absoluteness of God. Let men and devils work against the sin-
ner, let them do their utmost, there is one that can stay their
hands, and say to each of them, " What doest thou?" but God is a
King against whom there is no rising np. There is none who can
stay his hand, or say unto him, " What doest thou ?" Dan. iv. 35.
Can the pots hinder the potter to dash them all in pieces? Or can
worm man shake off the yoke of God's absolute dominion, and live
in a separate state from him ? (5.) God is eternal. If a great man
be our enemy, we know always death will end the quarrel ; if we
have such an one to be our friend, yet death will tie up his hands,
that he can give us no more favours : but God endures for ever.
Had a man not only the earth, but the heavens for his portion, yet
" the earth shall be burnt up, and the heavens wax old as a gar-
ment ;" thieves may steal away the covetous man's treasures out of
his barns and coffers ; moths may consume what remains, the devil
in wicked men may take away all he has in the world ; only God is
an everlasting friend and portion. It must, then, be very sad to be
separated from such an one.
2. All created things are empty and unsatisfactory. They are a
lie, alluring afar off; but when men come near, they answer not
their expectations. The world, that bulky vanity, that great round
nothing, can no more fill the heart, than a triangle a circle. All
created things stand as two lame legs under vanity and insufficiency.
He was a fool, indeed, that laid up for his soul in his barns, as if
his swine and his soul could have fed at one trough. Cain had the
broad world to find himself support, but all was sapless : his pun-
ishment from God's face was greater than he could bear. Where
God is wanting, there is a void which a thousand worlds cannot fill
up; and therefore, if you know the truth, ye would say to your
sins, to your lusts, " Te have taken away my God, and what have
I more ?"
3. To be separated from God is the saddest plague out of hell.
When God departs, he leaves a burden on the soul behind him,
which, when felt, will make the soul to roar : " Yea, woe also to
34 SIN THAT WniClI SEPARATES
them when I depart from them," Hos. ix. 12. "Who can tell the
ills the sinner is exposed unto, when once sin separates between God
and him. Saul felt a total separation ; and what a desperate pro-
ject did it set him upon ! Job felt a partial separation, which was
so heavy, that his soul choosed strangling and death, rather than
life," Job vii. 15.
4. Nay, it is a very hell to be separated from God. Therefore
David complains, " that the sorrows of death compassed him, and
that the pains of hell got hold upon him," Psalm cxvi. 3. Even
coals of hell are cast upon the godly in this world, when their sins
have made this separation; only they are softened with love, whereas
those cast upon the wicked are dipped in the poison of the curse.
Men by their sins now greedily sue out a separation from God.
"What will hell be, but a giving them their will ? For the torments
of hell are summed up in that, " Depart from me, I know you not."
5. I shall only add, that those that continue in a state of se-
paration from God, have no quarter to which they can turn for
comfort in an evil day. "We know not what sad trials we may live to
see. "When men that are seeking great things for themselves now,
may think they are come well to, if they get Baruch's part, their
life for a prey ; but for a man to be in Samson's case, the Philis-
tines upon him, and God departed from him, must be heavy indeed.
"We must all die : this we know. Let a man squeeze his cisterns,
then, with which he now solaces himself in his separation from
God, what will they do for him ? they will not be able to stay his
fleeting and fainting soul. "We must rise again. Will the gods ye
now serve, help you then ? "Will the sea, the rocks, or mountains,
fall on him, will the earth cover him, who, to enjoy it, incun-ed a
separation from God ? No, no ! ungrateful earth, that the man
consumed time, heart, and strength upon, while his days lasted, that
will not take part with him, now when he is not able to do for him-
self. "We must stand before his tribunal, and come near before his
throne for judgment, whose presence we now forfeit for the satisfy-
ing of our lusts. "What will comfort us then, when we see we have
passed this partial state of separation from God, as a short preface
to an eternal separation from him.
III. I am now to inquire, how sin makes this separation betwixt
God and a soul ?
1. There is the guilt of sin, whereby the sinner is bound over to
misery for his sin. God, from vindicative justice, acts against the
wicked ; and this justice of his naturally requires punishment to
be inflicted ou the sinner, according to the law. Hence, when Adam
sinned, a flaming sword was set to keep him off from the tree of life.
GOD AND MAN. 36
The enjoyment of God is the greatest good ; now, justice \?ill not
permit this, while guilt remains untaken away : and therefore, se-
paration from God necessarily follows. As to the godly, by their
guilt they are bound over to fatherly anger and chastisements,
whereof that partial separation from God is the chief part.
2. There is the stain and defilement of sin. Now, God is of purer
eyes than to behold evil. An unholy sinner cannot have commu-
nion with a holy God ; and in regard that some are altogether pol-
luted, they are therefore altogether separated from God. Others
are only in part polluted, by reason of some one or more sins re-
garded in their hearts ; therefore are under that partial separation,
Psalm Ixvi. 18, " If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will
not hear me." The leper, for his uncleanness, was put without the
camp; so is the sinner. They only are admitted to stand in the
holy place, who have clean hands and a pure heart, Psalm xxiv. 4.
Hence says James, chap. iv. 8, ** Draw near to God, and he will
draw near to you : cleanse your hands, ye sinners ; and purify your
hearts, ye double-minded." — It remains,
lY. That I make some practical improvement from this subject.
"We have,
1. An use of information. "We may hence see, (1.) That it is sin
which makes a land weak, mean, and contemptible, and is the cause
of all national calamity ; for sin separates between them and their
God. Then their strength is departed from them ; and therefore,
though the people should unite with one another, there is little good
to be expected so long as such abominations abound in the land, set-
ting God against us. that we might see the day, when, uniting
with heaven, we might bo zealously affected in reformation ; and the
heaven-daring abominations that abound, in principle and practice,
be zealously suppressed. But every one minds their own things, few
the things that are Christ's. (2.) Why so few have communion with
God in ordinances, public, private, and secret. Are there not many
at public ordinances dead and lifeless, sitting like idols that have
eyes and see not, hands but handle not ? Why, sin has separated
between God and them. Hence they go as they came; no inter-
course -with God. The Lord goes by them, and comes by them,
speaks to the hearts of others, but not to them. They cannot walk
together ; for they are not agreed. (3.) Why so many slight reli-
gious duties ? Some will not bow a knee to God ; they will not
commune with their hearts, nor converse with God. Sin hath sepa-
rated them ; and what pleasure can they take to converse with an
enemy, or one that has turned his back to them ? Hence some are
not afraid of any company so much as themselves ; and therefore, if
'66 SIN THAT WHICH SEPAKATES, &C,
their consciences begin to speak, they labour some way or other to
divert it. (4.) Whence is the root or cause of all the misery pro-
fessors are lying under at this day ? Security, barrenness, wither-
ing, desertion, and the like. "What wonder that it be so? They
may thank themselves for the whole. It is their dallying with some
bosom idol, their grieving the Spirit, and slighting his motions and
convictions, their worldliness and unwatchfulness : these are the root,
the cause of all their misery,
2. A use of exhortation. (1.) To those who enjoy nearness to
God. beware of sin ! If ye give way to it, it will soon turn
your wine into water, and overcloud your enjoyments. Live at a
distance from it; for it is the very thing from which you are in
such great hazard. (2.) To those who are by their sins separated
from God. Break off your course of sin, continue not in it. Is not
the separation wall high enough, and thick enough already ? what
needs more be added ? What shall you do to get the separation
taken away ? — Lay hold on the Lord Jesus by faith, Isa. xxvii. 5,
" Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me ;
and he shall make peace with me." Jesus is the ladder that knits
heaven and earth together. It is by him that God reconciles the
world to himself. His blood takes away both guilt and pollution.
It purges the conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
Though God hears not sinners, yet in Christ he is well pleased;
and through him they may find access to, and acceptance with him.
He is our peace: he is the Mediator between God and man. Re-
pent, and turn from your sins. There is no concord between Christ
and Belial. To enjoy both God and your lusts is impossible ; ye
shall as soon bring together the two poles. However some make a
mock of sin now, yet it has separated, and will separate them from
God eternally, if they separate not from it.
THE FOIiLY OF RESISTING, &C. 37
THE FOLLY OF RESISTING, THE WISDOM OF COMPLYING WITH
THE GOSPEL CALL."
SERMON III.
Matth. xxi. 29,
He answered and said, I will not ; but afterwards he repented, and
went.
The scope of this parable is to shew, that many who have been the
vilest of sinners repent and go to heaven, when others, who, though
they have a profession of religion, never go farther than a mere pro-
fession, and so fall short; partly, also, to shew that many who had
been publicans and harlots are now in a better case than the chief
priests and scribes. To convince of this, Christ spoke the parable
before us. — For understanding of which, I would notice, that the
man in the parable represents God; the two sons, two different
sorts of people among the Jews. Both had the gospel call by John
the Baptist. The first of the sons points out the publicans and har-
lots, who, though they were formerly most vile and hopeless crea-
tures, yet, on their hearing of John, repented, and became disciples
indeed. The second represents the priests and pharisees, who, not-
withstanding of their high pretences to religion, yet were indeed
strangers to it, their practices did not correspond with their profes-
sion.
In the text, which concerns the first son, pointing out the penitent
publicans and harlots, we have two things.
1. The sinner's first answer to the gospel call ; and it is a short
one ; " I will not." Like Israel, Psalm Ixxxi. 11, " But my people
would not hearken to my voice, and Israel would none of me."
The sinner so loves his sinful ease, that he cannot think of the work
in God's vineyard. Observe in this answer, (1.) The rudeness of
it. The son remembered not that he was speaking to a father, so
has not so much as a fair word to bestow on him. the rude
treatment Christ meets with at sinners' hands ! They remember
not his authority over them, nor do they regard it ; but they will
be their own; who is Lord over them? (2.) The plainness of it.
He tells the matter plainly ; says not, he cannot, but he will not.
It is want of will to the work of religion that is the great stop.
Sinners' hearts cannot relish the work of religion : the bent of
* Delivered on Saturday, 31st July, 1714.
38 THE FOLLY OF RESISTIXa
their hearts lies another way. (3.) The peremptoriness of it; he is
at a point. The hearing of the word raises his heart against it.
Let sinners hear of the work of religion, and that is enough, they de-
sire no more of it. It is a plain case to them, they must not, they
will not engage in such a task.
2. The second answer, in which the former bad answer is happily
retracted; " But afterwards he repented, and went." He complies
with the call he had before refused. The spring of this was, his
heart was touched ; he took second thoughts of the business, and
changed his mind. He fell under after grief, anxiety, and solici-
tude, as the woi'd signifies. Conscience, that was silent before, now
begins to speak, and his blood begins to cool ; he calmly considers
what he had answered, and he calls himself beast and fool, that
should have adventured so to treat his Father ; and hence he takes up
the work of religion, which he had before rejected. From this sub-
ject there arises this
DocT. That refusing the work of religion is not be stood to, but
retracted, and the sinner will see cause for it, if ever he comes to
himself. They who have refused to comply with the gospel call, to
engage in the work of the Lord, should take their word again, and
heartily comply with it; and if ever they be wise, they will do it.
In illustrating this point, I propose to shew,
I. "What is that work to which the gospel calls, and with which
sinners will not comply ?
IL Why is it that sinners will not comply with this work?
III. Why this refusal should be retracted.
lY. Make some practical improvement.
I. I am to shew. What is that work to which the gospel calls,
and with which sinners will not comply ? It is the work of prac-
tical godliness, to which most men are strangers. It is a large
work, as extensive as the commandment, which is exceeding broad.
I shall take it up in these two.
1. The gospel calls you to fall to your salvation work, Phil. ii. 12,
" Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Sinners,
you are in a ruined condition ; your souls are pining away in your
iniquities ; there is a burden of guilt on you that will sink you ;
there is a swarm of living lusts preying on you, that will devour
you. guilty creature ! knowest thou not, that thou art God's
enemy, justice's debtor, the law's criminal, and that the avenger of
blood is at your heels ? The gospel is calling you to consider your
ways, and fall to the work of your salvation, before it be too late. This
work has two parts: (1.) The work of faith, John vi. 29, "Jesus
THE GOSPEL CALL. 39
answered and said, This is tlie work of God, that ye believe on him
whom he hath sent." Acts xvi. 31, "And they said, Believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." It
is not that faith wherewith ye have lived in a good belief all your
bypast days, so that you never had power to believe an ill tale of
your own state ; that is a faith of the devil's planting, and the gos-
pel will have it rooted up. It is not that faith which consists in
your going on in sin without fear. The devils' faith goes beyond
this, for they believe and tremble, Jam. ii. 19. But the work of faith
to which the gospel calls you, is that whereby a sinner, sensible of
his undone state, flees out of himself to the Lord Jesus, to unite
with him for righteousness and sanctification, 1 Cor. i. 30. It is
that faith, which, when the house in which the presumptuous hoped,
wherein the secure sinner rested in his sins, is overturned as by an
earthquake, makes the sinner, naked and destitute, to flee to Jesus
Christ, as the only rock and shelter. It is that whereby the sin-
ner, sensible that he has lost his two eyes, and therefore cannot
guide himself through the wilderness to Canaan, gives up himself
wholly to Christ as his leader, prophet and healer ; and seeing
the flaming sword of justice pursuing him for sin, runs in under
the covert of Jesus' blood, saying, This is my rest ; and being will-
ing to part with sin, but unable to master his lusts, puts himself
under the protection of Christ as his King, that he may make
havoc of his enemies. This, sinner, is your work, your foundation
work. Haste, then, out of your natural state, and escape for your
life to Jesus Christ.
2. The work of sanctification. Ezek. xviii. 31, " Cast away from
you all your transgressions whereby ye have transgressed, and make
you a new heart and a new spirit; for why will ye die, house of
Israel ?" — Heb. xii. 14, " Follow peace with all men, and holiness,
without which no man shall see the Lord." Sin is the great de-
vourer and destroyer, and therefore the great salvation is from sin.
Jesus saves his people from their sins. To think of being saved in
sin, is a contradiction ; for to be left in it, is ruining. The sick man
does not desire the physician to remove death, but yet spare his
disease ; yea, but the foolish sinner is thus unreasonable in the case
of his soul ; he lias no will that his clothes be burnt, yet he will
needs carry fire in his bosom ; he wishes not his feet to be burned,
yet he will walk on coals of fire. Living lusts will devour the sonl ;
therefore to work, sinners, for you must either kill or be killed ! Let
not the vineyard of your souls be any more like that of the sluggard.
The sinner's soul is overgrown with hurtful lusts, there is no fence
about it. ! then, work ; seek holiness.
40 THE FOLLY OF RESISTING
3, Tlie gospel calls you to your generation work. Acts xiii. 36,
" For David, after Iio had served his own generation, by the will of
God, fell on sleep." Wherefore were you sent into the world, and
made members of society ? Was it not to honour Grod, and to be
useful to your fellow-servants? Surely God sent none of us into
the world to play ourselves, like the leviathan in the sea ; nor to be
like mice and rats, good for nothing but to eat that for which others
have laboured. Far less did he send yon to be agents for the devil,
to advance his kingdom, and to oppose the work of the Lord in the
places where you live ; nor yet like the beasts, only to eat, drink,
work, and sleep. To your work, then, your proper work, the service
of God. Perhaps ye will say, ye have not been idle ; but what have
ye done for God in your day ? What have ye done for the good of
any soul ? What have ye done to pluck any brand out of the burn-
ing ? I fear, if we reckon our days according to what we have done
for God in them, most of us may reckon our days lost days. Look
up to God, who placed you in the world, and say for what good pur-
pose you have taken up room in his earth. For what use are you
in the world ? God has given you a talent, what have you gained ?
He has placed you in such and such situations and relations, have
you done the duties of each ? I am to shew,
II. Why is it that sinners will not comply with this work ?
1. Because it is the work to which, of all works, their hearts are
most averse. Rom. viii. 7, " Because the carnal mind is enmity
against God ; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed
can be." They would rather do any thing than go and work in
God's vineyard. It is against the grain with unrenewed minds.
The prodigal would rather feed swine than go back to his father,
till he came to himself. Judas would rather go to a halter, than go
to Christ for pardon. It is like cutting off a right hand, and pluck-
ing out a right eye. The sinner's neck is flexible enough to the
devil's yoke ; but it is an iron sinew to Christ's yoke. He that has
a will to any thing, he has no will to this, till a day of power make
him willing, Psalm ex. 3.
2. Because of prevailing love to carnal ease; Prov. xxvi. 15,
" The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom ; it grieveth him to
bring it again to his mouth." The man loves to sleep in a sound
skin, and therefore will die in his nest, if God do not in mercy set a
fire to it.* Sloth is so sweet a sin, that the carnal heart can never
get a fill of it, Prov. vi. 10, " yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a
little folding of the hands to sleep." The man lies in the bed of
sloth, and would not miss heaven if it would fall down into his
mouth, or if wishing and woidding would do it. But if these will
THE GOSPEL CALL. 41
not Ho, he must even \Fant it, for he cannot leave the embrace of
his dear ease. Fighting, rnnning, praying, striving, wrestling, using
heavenly violence, and the like, he cannot away with.
3. Because Satan furnishes them with work more agreeable, and
it they will do ; therefore God's work they will not meddle with :
John viii. 44, " Te are of your father the devil, and the lusts of
your father ye will do." When the call of the gospel conies to
sinners, Satan does with them as Pharaoh did with the Israelites,
holds them more to their tasks; so they have always busy hands,
and hearts full of their work, insomuch that they cannot get the
work of religion minded to purpose. And what are they doing?
They are busy weaving the spider's web ; very busy doing nothing,
or hatching the cockatrice egg, doing worse than nothing. They have
much to do, having the desires of the flesh and mind to fulfil.
They have more to do than they ai'e able : they have the devil's
swine to feed; they have a fry of living, lively, hungry lusts, that
groan about their hearts, crying. Give, give, to satisfy. These they
Avill serve all their days.
4. Because the world gives them another thing to do. Like the
people invited to the marriage-supper, Luke xiv. 18, " They all
with one consent begin to make excuse." There are too many of
Pharaoh's mind, that think religion is only for them who have no
other thing to do ; as for them, they have no time for these things,
and they wonder how any person should expect it of them. They
are so delighted with considering what they shall eat and what they
shall drink, that they cannot get time to think what they shall do
to be saved. They have enough to do to get their daily bread, they
cannot get their starving souls minded. They have so much to do
to provide for to-day, and to-morrow, that they cannot get time to
provide for eternity. They never had such joy in the everlasting
covenant, in the benefits of it, or seals of it, which they have in a
good bargain where they gain something. Therefore they live like
moles in the earth, never to open their eyes, till in hell they lift
them being in torment. I go on to enquire,
III. Why this refusal should be retracted ? why they should re-
pent and aim at compliance with the gospel-call.
1. Because this refusal is against the respect and duty which you
owe to him who calls you to the work : Mai. i. 6, " A son honouretU
his father, and a servant his master : If I then be a father,' where is
mine honour ? and if I be a master, where is my fear ? saith the
Lord of hosts unto you. Have you no regard to the authority of
God ? or has not he that made you a power over you, to prescribe
your work ? Will ye follow the dictates of your own corrupt pas-
VOL. IX. D
-12 THE FOLLY OF RESISTINO
sions, even against the plain dictates of his Si)irit ? Shall we thus
by our obstinacy affront our heavenly Father, and grieve his Spirit ?
2. Because this refusal is full of the basest ingratitude. "What is
the meaning of all the gospel-calls, but — Sinners, do yourselves no
harm ? Your interest is advanced by working ; Job xxxv. 7, " If
thou be righteous, what givest thou him, or what receiveth he of
thine hand ?" If thou ply the work of religion, the advantage is
thine own ; if not, the loss remains alone with yourself: Prov. ix.
12, " If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; but if thou
scornest, thou alone shalt bear it." It is a great favour that thou
hast access to the work. Had not the Son of Grod made way for it
through his own blood, thou hadst never got such a call.
3. It is the most foolish and unreasonable refusal that can be ;
and if the sinner were not out of himself, he could not be capable of
it. What ! will a starving man refuse to have meat when it is
offered him? or will a convict refuse liberty? But this ye do in
refusing Christ's call, and so judge yourselves unworthy of eternal
life. Are sinners so foolish, as to hold fast and drink the cup of
poison, when they are entreated to thi'ow it away ? This folly and
madness will be bitterness in the end.
'Lastly, You are ruined if yon stand to your refusal. That ob-
stinacy will bar you out of heaven and the favour of God for ever.
Heaven is a rest prepared, not for loiterers, but for labourers ; and
you that will have your ease now, must bid farewell to it for ever in
another world: Prov. i. 24, " Because I have called, and ye refused.
I have stretched out ray hand, and no man regarded ; but ye have
set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof; I also
will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh ;
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, and I will not answer ; they shall seek me
early, but they shall not find me ; for that they hated knowledge,
and did choose the fear of the Lord." Salvation-work will not
work, unless men bestir themselves ; but damnation-work will go on
when men sit at ease, and are carried down the stream into the
ocean of the wrath of God.
IV. In the last place, I am to make some practical improvement;
in doing which, I shall confine myself, for the present, to an use of
exhortation. I would exhort refusers of Christ and of religion to
take their word again, and to comply with the gospel-call. Ye have
had many calls to engage in the work of religion with earnestness,
but the answer of the most part is, I will not ; and thus one refusal
comes on the back of another.
THE GOSPEL CALL. 43
You have had many calls from the word of God to fall to youv
work, and what has been your answer to these messages of God by
his servants, but that — I will not ? Have you not heard many ex-
hortations which have never affected you ? Have you not gone back
to those very sins for which reproofs have met you in public ordi-
nances, and yet you have held them fast? Has not duty been laid
plainly before you, and you have found means to put it by ? and
still the answer is, I will not.
2. Has not God pursued some of you by afflictions to drive you to
your work, and yet no awakening to repentance and reformation,
but still the language of your practice has been, I will not. The
Lord, in his holy providence, has sent you losses, crosses, and distres-
ses of divers sorts, to bring you to your duty ; but, ! may it not be
written en rod after rod, You have not yet returned to the Lord ?
3. Nay, has not the Lord sometimes so met you in a sinful course,
that you could not but say, This is the finger of God ? and yet ye
would be froward, ye would go back to the sin again. "SVhat is the
language of that, but — I will not ? Have ye not fallen under Jo-
tham's curse again and again ? Judges ix. 15, whereby fire has
flashed out of some one or other bramble, under which you have
rested, on your faces to burn you, instead of that shade ye thought
to find under it to refresh you. Has not your conscience awakened
on yon sometimes, and the arrows of conviction fastened on you, and
yet you have refused ? Ye have murdered convictions, and never
been at ease till conscience has been silenced. You have run away
from God, even with his arrows sticking in you, saying in opposition,
I will not.
Lastly, Have you not often delayed complying with the call of
God, and set the time for your going to work ? Yet for all that is
come and gone, your eyes have never seen that time yet. What is
delaying but plainly a refusal ? — " I will not." For there is no word
of God that says. Go, work to-morrow, or the next day ; it is. To-day,
if ye will hear his voice ; son, go work to-day. So that he that will
not work to-day, but pretends he will do it afterwards, plainly re-
fuses the call, and will not.
To promote your compliance with the call, I would offer a ie-^
weighty motives ; as,
1. Repent now, and fall to that work ye have formerly refused ;
for it is a work preferable to all other works. The work of religion
is your main, your chief work. (1.) It is the most pleasant work.
Many are disgusted at the work of religion, because they think it
unpleasant. But they have not yet tried it, and therefore are not
fit judges. You have a more favourable account of it from Prov.
d2
44 TITE FOLLY OF nESISTING, &C.
iii. 17, " Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all lier paths are
peace." See also Psalm iv. 7, 8, " Thou hast -put gladness in my
heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep ; for thou, Lord, only
makest me dwell in safety." There is work indeed in the vineyard
that is very unpleasant to corrupt nature ; but even out of this
arises the most refined satisfaction to the new nature. And what
are all the pleasures of the world, to reconciliation with God, and that
peace of conscience and joy that there is in believing ? (2.) It is the
most profitable work. The profit thereof is both for time and for
eternity ; 1 Tim. iv. 8, *' For bodily exercise profiteth little, but god-
liness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that
now is, and of that which is to come." The profits of it are durable
profits ; they last, and will be profitable, when all others will be of no
avail. Hereby you will gain the life of your souls, an'd, as the loss
is incomparably great, so also is the gain of it. (3.) It is the most
necessary work. It is the one thing needful, absolutely needful,
Luke X. 42. We cannot be happy here or hereafter without it ; we
are undone for ever.
2. Ye are always working something. The greatest idler on earth
is in some sort always busy. God does not require of you more work,
but other work. The soul of man is like a watch, that goes as fast
in going wrong as in going right. How sad is it, that, seeing men
are always doing something, they should refuse only that work
which would honour God, and save their own souls ! Will you not,
then, for God's sake, and your own sake, change your work ?
3. It is sad work you are working while you refuse this. If you
be not working out your own salvation, you are working out your
own damnation. We are always going forward ; if not pressing a
step nearer heaven, you are a step nearer hell. Every refusal, yea,
every sin, is a new impediment in your way to heaven, a new call
to Heaven for vengeance on the sinner, builds the separation-wall
the higher, and lays on the greater weight to sink you for ever un-
der the wrath of God.
4. Consider, if ye be not in some sort at as much pains to ruin
your souls, as otherwise might save them. There are difliculties
in the ways of sin, as well as in the ways of God. Is the work of
religion a toilsome work ? but do not ye many times weary your-
selves to commit iniquity ? Is thei-e not as much pain when a sinner
deimves himself of his night's rest, racking himself about the world,
as when a saint communes with his heart on his bed about eternal
things ? The sinner travels to bring forth sin. Psalm vii. 14. What
more than this at the hard duties of religion ! Since he that eu-
THE KATURE AND EFFECTS OF, &.C. 45
gages not in the work of religion is cumbered about many things,
had he not better take up with the oue thing needful ? The saint
has but oue master to serve ; sinners have many, not only at war
with God, but at war among themselves, on« lust dragging them one
way, and another another way.
5. The time is coming, when working in the vineyard will be
over ; and if ye continue to refuse, ye know not if ever you will get
another offer ; " for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge,
nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." This day's delay
may be an eternal loss, for you may be in eternity before another
day. A new refusal is dangerous ; God may take you at your word.
6. Our Lord is content yet to invite you to his work, notwith-
ing your former refusals; you will still be accepted: "Him that
coraeth unto me," says Jesus, " I will in nowise cast out."
7. Whatever hardships may be in the work of religion, it is not
long ere you shall be freed from them all ; you shall be made more
than conquerors : " You shall rest from your labours, and your
works shall follow you."
Lastly, If you will not, then remember death will make you
change your mind, and you will get a long eternity to repent that
ye did not repent in time. But such a change can then be of no
avail, but to increase your misery. Infinitely better, then, will it be
for you if this change take place at present ; " for now is the ac-
cepted time, and now is the day of salvation."
THE NATURE AND EFFECTS OF A WEANED DISPOSITION OF
SOUL.*
SERMON IV.
Psalm cxxxi. 2,
My soul is even as a weaned child.
This psalm is David's profession of piety, wherein he discovers
what was the habitual bent of his heart, and course of his life. The
occasion of it seems to have been the injury done him by Saul and
his courtiers, who reproached him as a proud, ambitious, and tur-
bulent man. His comfort is the testimony of his own conscience,
Delivered on Sabbath af'teinoon, Auguit 1, 1714.
46 TlIK KATUUE AND EFFECTS OF
wliicli witnessed, 1. The Imraility of his heart. This kei>t him from
an aspiring temper, and within the bounds of his station. 2. His
easiness in any condition with which the Lord was pleased to tryst
him, God had proraiseii hira the kingdom, yet kept him from it
long, and that in very hard circumstances ; but yet he was easy
under it ; he was far from that restless itching after a crown, of
which his enemies accused him.
In the text, he points out the spring of this easiness : " My soul
is even as a weaned child :" that is, his heart was loosed from those
things to which the hearts of men naturally are glued. There is
here, 1. Something supposed, namely, that the day was, when he
was sucking the breasts which fallen Adam led all his children to,
as well as others ; that he was even as fond of them, and could as
ill want them, as a child the breast. 2. Something expressed ; that
now there was a change, the child was weaned, set to another way
of living, and could want the breasts. God had taken off his heart
from those things on which naturally it was set, and now he fed at
God's hand, instead of creatures'. Ho does not speak of will-
ingly forsaking these breasts of his own accord, but he was weaned
by the power of grace. Now, this is his comfort against the asper-
sions of his enemies. From this subject I take this
Doctrine, That grace makes a weaned soul.
In discoursing which, I shall inquire,
I. From what does grace wean the soul ?
II. How is the soul weaned from these things ?
III. What are the effects of a weaned disposition of soul ?
IV. Make some practical improvement.
I am to inquire,
I. From what does grace wean the soul ? Grace weans the soul,
1. From the dry breasts of the world. One part of pure religion, and
undefiled, before God and the Father, is to keep ourselves unspotted
from the world, James i. 27- For, says John, 1st Ep. ii. 16, "All
that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and
the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." The
soul of man is not self-sufficient, and must fetch in its satisfaction
from something without itself, seeing it is capable to desire what it
hath not to furnish itself with. Our first father^ Adam did us two
ill turns ; ho led us out of the path of life, not knowing how to get
into it again, and so left us with a conscience full of guilt ; ho led
us away from the living God, not knowing how to return to him
again, and so left us with a heart full of unsatisfied desii'es. Hence
the poor soul is like the horse leoch, having two daughters crying.
A WEANED DISrOSITIOK OF SOUL, 47
Give, give ; a restless conscience, and a restless heart, to each of
which it must say, as Naomi to Ruth, chap. iii. 1, " My daughter,
shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee ?" But
alas ! the first way it goes for that, is through dry places, as the
devil, when he goes out of a man. For the restless conscience seeks
rest in the dry and barren region of the law, Rom. x. 3, " For they
being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish
their own righteousness ;" for the restless heart goes to the crea-
tures, saying, "Who will shew us any good ? The poor soul, like a
hungry infant, weeps and crys, shifts about as it can, gaping for
something to fill the mouth. The world is nearest, and there it
fastens and sucks. The soul has fallen off the breasts of divine con-
solations, and cannot set itself on again, and therefore takes up
with the breasts of the world ; but grace takes off the soul again.
And,
1. Grace weans the soul from the profits of the world : Heb. xi.
26, " Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than all
the treasures iu Egypt." The natural man fixes on them, drinks
greedily at the broken cisterns. His hungry heart flies out after
them, as a ravenous bird after its prey; he is restless till he get
them, as the child is for the breasts ; he is fond of them, when he
has them, as the infant plays with the breasts. They say they are
become rich, they have found out substance, Hos. xii. 8. But when
grace comes, it stops the chase. It makes the bulky vanity, that
can only satisfy the fancy of children, and not souls of men, dwindle
into nothing.
2. Grace weans the soul from the pleasures of the world. Plea-
sure is a necessary ingredient in happiness, and men cannot but
seek it ; hence God proposes it to the soul in the enjoyment of him-
self. Psalm xvi. 11, " In his presence there is fulness of joy, and at
his right hand are pleasures for ever more." But the soul, instead
of going to God for it, to drink at the pure fountain, naturally goes
to the muddy streams of it in the world, and there sucks, — is as fond
of the lusts of Egypt, flesh, &c. as the Israelites ; yea, can as little
live without them, as the sucking child without the breast : 2 Tim.
iii. 4, " They are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God." But
when grace comes, it makes the soul fall off, and looses the heart
from these things.
3. In a word, grace weans the soul from all worldly comforts
whatsoever, making it take up its rest in God : Luke xiv. 6, " If
any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife,
and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also,
he cannot be my disciple." The heart of man takes a greedy grip,
48 TUB NATURE AND EFFECTS OF
naturally, of relations, liberty, life, and such things. These are their
good things, which they can no more part with than the child with
the breasts. Take these away, what has the man more ? He has not
a God. He will rather part with God and Christ than these things.
But grace puts matters right ; it regulates the affection to these
things, and makes a soul ready to give up with them at God's call.
2. Grace weans the soul from the foulsome breasts of sin, so that
it loaths that which it loved before. The soul in its natural state
is like Israel, Ezek. xvi. 4, " Not cut, neither washed in water to
supple them ; not salted at all, nor swaddled at all." They had
lain long in the foul womb of Egypt, and after they came out, they
were still sucking in the Egyptian manners, customs, and abomin-
able courses. Thus men suck the breasts of sin ; they seek satisfac-
tion in those things which they ought not so much as desire ; they
greedily drink of what God forbids them to taste ; they are as fond
of their sins as a child is of the breast, their hearts are averse to
part with their sinful courses. There is a sweetness in these to
their corrupt hearts, which they cannot want. For, let a man go
the round of all created lawful gratifications in the world, and
squeeze the sap out of them all to satisfy his heart, they are so
empty, that he will break over the hedge, to try if forbidden fruits
will make up the want which allowed fruits cannot do. But grace
weans the heart from these breasts. It makes the person say,
'* That which I see not, teach thou me : if I have done iniquity, I
will do so no more," Job xxxiv. 32.
II. How the soul is weaned from these things ?
1. Grace lays gall and wormwood upon these breasts, and so em-
bitters them to the soul that it is made willing to give over sucking
them. The heart is made loath to part with them ; and though it
is often about to give up with them, yet it still goes back again, hop-
ing to suck sweeter than before ; but still the gall and wormwood
lies there, and more and more is laid on till the heart be actually
weaned. The way is hedged up with thorns. Hence, " she shall fol-
low after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them ; and she shall
seek them, but shall not fiud them : then shall she say, I will go and
return to my first husband ; for then it was better with me than
now," Hos. ii. 6, 7- Now, there are two things that serve to em-
bitter these breasts. (1.) Continual disappointments from them.
Though the man is always seeking satisfaction from them, he can
never get it. Like the prodigal, Luke xv. 16, " Ho would fain fill
his belly with the husks that the swine did eat, and no man gave
unto him." The man is like one in a mist : he sees something, and it
appears a house ; he comes to it, and it is but a stone. His hope
A WEANED DISPOSITION OF SOUL. 49
rises again on another view, conies forward to it, and it is but a
bush. They fall always short of expectation; and his most bloom-
ing hopes are blasted. "When he is going to take in the most plea-
sant fruit, providence makes it even fall between the hand and
the mouth, Hos. ix. 2, " The floor and the winepress shall not feed
them, and the new wine shall fail in her," Let him make Lis bed
where he will, there is always a thorn in it. (2.) Severe wounds
arise from them. The man leans with great delight on the broken
reed ; and ere he is aware, it pierceth through his hand. He sucks
eagerly at the breast, and, instead of milk, wrings out blood.
When striking the rock for water, instead of it, the fire flashes out
in his face. Perhaps from the very thing from which he expected
his greatest comfort, arises his greatest cross. Rachel must have
children, else she dies ; she gets them, and dies bringing them forth.
But all this will not wean the soul ; therefore,
2. The Lord fills the soul with better things; "Open thy mouth
wide," says God, " and I will fill it," Psalm Ixxxi. 10. If the nurse
take away the breast, she will not put an empty spoon into the
child's mouth. The soul of man is an empty, wavering thing, must
always have something to feed on; and will hold what it has as
good for it, till it get what it counts better. The man will not quit
hold of the world and his lusts, till he open his hand to take hold
of Christ and all the benefits of the everlasting covenant in their
stead. Therefore, the great transaction of the soul with Christ is
called buying of him, in which if a man gives away his money, he
gives it not but for as good, or better. Thus grace weans the soul ;
for, saith Jesus, John iv. 14, " Whosoever drinketh of the water
that I shall give him, shall never thirst ; but the water I shall give
him, shall be in him a well of water, springing up into everlasting
life." Hence, two things are evident. (1.) That only the enjoy-
ment of God can wean the soul, and the soul will never be at I'est
till it rest in God. The heart of man must have a match, and will
be ranging through the world for a match, till it meet with Christ,
who is the pearl of great price; and, to gain this, quits with all.
The soul of man will be a restless night-walker till the day of grace
dawn, and discover Jesus the plant of renown. If they cannot
work themselves happy, they will try to dream themselves happy,
and prepare themselves a feast of a thousand airy nothings ; posses-
sions of the heart, though not of the hand. (2.) That the soul will
never be boasted a^yay from these breasts. The very dung, and
asses' heads, will be precious in Samaria when there is no bread.
Who is there that has not rational conviction of the world's vanity ?
yet men throng into the house, craving a fill. Why is it that men
50 THE NATURE AND EFFECTS OF
SO often seem to give up with it, and in very deed liave satisfaction
in nothing, and yet go jnst back to the same door, where they have
got a thousand nay-says, and seemed to have got their last answer?
Why, truly, the devil is gone out of the house, but it is empty, it
is not filled from heaven, and it must not stand empty; therefore,
he returns with seven spirits worse than himself. I shall now
inquire,
III. What are the effects of a weaned disposition of soul ?
The soul is weaned at its first conversion to God. Then it is ta-
ken off" the breasts; but it is hard work, and tedious. The soul is
never j)erfectly weaned till death. As there is an uneasiness and
fretfulness in new weaned children, till thoroughly weaned, so is
there in the case of the children of God while here. Hence it is
said to them. Psalm xlv. 10, " Hearken, daughter, and consider,
and incline thine ear : forget also thine own people, and thy father's
house." So the effects of this disposition are more or less strong,
as souls are more or less thoroughly weaned. I shall notice some of
these eff"ects.
1. The weaned soul is a resigned soul : " If any man," said Jesus,
Matth. xvi. 24, " will come after me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross, and follow me." When the soul is weaned, the long
war betwixt our own will and the will of God is at an end, and
our will runs captive after the wheels of the Lord's triumphant
chariot. The will of the weaned soul is moulded, (1.) To the will
of God's commandments. The stony heart is broken, yea, melted
down, to receive the impression of whatever is God's will for our
duty. Its language is, " Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ?"
No right hand, or right eye, more to be spared. They esteem
all God's precepts concerning all things to be right, and they hate
every false way. Psalm cxix. 128. All carnal reasonings, in favour
of lusts, must yield to the great authority of the Lawgiver. (2.)
To the will of his providence. It will no more rally its forces, to
decide the question, whether God's will or their will shall carry it
as to their lot ; but as the weaned child is at the nurse's disposal,
so will they be at God's. If that which is crooked cannot be made
straight, they will comply with it as it is. If their lot cannot be
brought up to their mind, their mind shall be brought down to their
lot. Like Paul, " they learn, in whatsoever state they arc, there-
with to be content," Phil. iv. 11.
2. The weaned soul is cheerful, and not fretful in its resignation.
He says, not only just, but " Good is the will of the Lord," Isa.
xxxix. 8. It makes a man carry Christ's yoke evenly ; for, to go
drooping under it, is a sign of a heart not right weaned. What
A WEANED DISPOSITION OF SOUL. 51
God does is not only well done, but best done ; so says the weaned
soul.
3. The weaned soul stands on other grounds, when created com-
forts are with him, and even when created streams are running full :
he draws his support in both cases from God as the fountain. Such
say, like Hannah, 1 Sam. ii. 1, " My heart rejoiceth in the Lord,
mine horn is exalted in the Lord ;" and, with David, Psalm xviii.
46, " The Lord liveth, and blessed be my rock : and let the God
of my salvation be exalted." The world's good things shall not be
their good things. They will love them as a friend, but not be
wedded to them as a husband. They will use them as a staff, but
not build upon them as a pillar.
4. The weaned soul will stand without them when these are gone,
for they were not the props on which his house rested. Such a
soul can adopt the prayer of Habakkuk, chap. iii. 17, 18, "Although
the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be found in the
vine ; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no
meat ; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no
herd in the stalls: Yet I will lejoice in the Lord, I will joy in
the God of my salvation." Ah ! that soul is in a sad case, whose
comfort waxeth and weaneth, just according to the waxing and
weaning of created comforts ; is satisfied or starved, just according
as these breasts are full or empty. Thus many lose all spirit and
life in religion, when God takes away their worldly comforts.
5. The weaned soul uses creative comforts passingly. They fol-
low the directions of Paul, 1 Cor.Vii. 29, 30, 31, " That both they
that have wives, be as though they had none ; and they that weep
as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they
rejoiced not ; and they that buy, as though they possessed not ; and
they that use this world, as not abusing it ; for the fashion of this
world passeth away." The greedy grip the heart takes of these
things, in the use of them, is a sad sign of an unweaned soul. It was
the sin of the old world, they were eating and drinking like beasts.
The weaned soul will do in these like the dogs of Egypt, who run
when they lap the water of the Nile, for fear of the crocodiles.
6. The weaned soul casts itself uijon the Lord, without carnal
anxiety, as the weaned child depends on the mother's care. This
seems partly aimed at in the text. The soul is easy not on a sen-
sible prospect, but on the faith of the promise. They are " careful
for nothing, but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let their requests be made known to God," Phil,
iv. 6.
Lastly, The weaned soul strives to starve, but never to provide
52 THE NATURE AND EFFECTS, &C.
foi' tlieir lusts. These are the suckers, which, the more they are
satisfied, just the more they crave. They have much to do who have
these to feed.
IV. It remains to make some practical improvement. And,
1. In an use of information. This shews us, (1.) "Who they are
that have met with Christ, and been feasted at this communion ;
even those whose souls are now like a weaned child. Are your
heai'ts turned to loath your lusts, weaned from sucking the dry
breasts of the world, and ye must have your food from heaven ? then
the Lord is not sending you away empty. (2.) Your hearts are not
right with God, while they are not weaned. If no weaning influ-
ences have reached your hearts, no gracious influences have. You
will be nothing the better of this communion ; nay, it is like you will
be the worse of it ; if you get not your hearts weaned on this occa-
sion, your lusts will be more rampant after this; like the child that
is most fond of the breast after it has been long away from it.
2. Use of exhortation. I exhort you to labour to get a weaned
soul. To urge you to this, I would propose the following motives.
(1.) How sad is it that a heaven-born soul should be held at such
fulsome breasts as those fleshly lusts are, at such empty breasts as
those of the world are ! Is there not better food, and more plen-
tiful, set before you, even Christ himself, and all the benefits of
the everlasting covenant? Leave those to the swine, and let your
precious souls eat that which is good, (2.) Your souls will never
get satisfaction there. You shall as soon fill your hands with the
wind, or grasp your arms full of dreams and shadows, as fill your
souls at the dry breasts of the world. It is spending your
money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which
satisfieth not. (3.) They are altogether unsuitable to your souls.
The soul is spiritual, they are earthly things ; your souls are im-
mortal, they are perishing ; and ye can no more feed on them to
thrive, than fishes on meadows ; nor in the breasts of your lusts,
no more than salt water will quench thirst. (4.) A weaned soul
would make you very easy. The man that has it can never be
miserable, meet with what he will. The heaviest cross would be
very light, if eased of the overweight an unweaned soul lays ui>on
it. What is the rise of so much uneasiness, but that we are wedded
to this and the other thing, and being exceeding glad to have it,
are exceeding sorry to part with it. It would make you easy to
others also. (5.) An unweaned soul is the root of apostacy ; it will
expose you to many temptations, and may carry you oft" from the
way of the Lord altogether. It will make you a reproach to reli-
gion ; and it had been better for you not to have known the way
THE DA>"'GER OF XOT -WAITrXG OX GOD, &C. 53
of righteousness, than, after you have known it, to turn from the
holy commandment delivered unto you, 2 Pet. ii. 21. If ye go
back ye shall not feed on the seat at so cheap a rate as before. (6.)
A Tveaned soul will fit you for suftering ; and you have need of it,
when the work of God is in such danger. It will keep you safe in
times of trial, when others, glued to the world and lusts, will
turn their backs. (7.) It will fit you for communion with God, and
you shall have it. The manna fell, when the provision brought
from Egypt was done. Lastly, It will fit you for heaven ; and there
you shall be filled.
In conclusion, study the mortification of your lusts. What need
for these things, if you had not living lusts to feed on them ? Feed
on Christ and spiritual things. Take him instead of that which the
world and lusts ofter. Amen.
THE DANGER OF NOT WAITING ON GOD AFTER THE DUE ORDER.*
SERMON Y.
1 Chrox. XV. 13,
For because ye did it not at the first, the Lord our God made a breach
upon lis, for that we sought him not after the due order.
The ark of God having been brought from Kirjath-jearim, and left
at the house of Obed-edom, upon the account of the death of Uzza
whom God smote, God blessed that man and his house, where the
ark was. Tlie news of this coming to David's ears, he resolves
again to attempt the bringing of the ark into his own city, 2 Sam.
vi. 12. In this transaction, observe. 1. That the fear of misraana«r-
ing a duty may sometimes prevail so far with the people of God
as to make them lay by the duty for a time. David had seen how
dear a rash touch of the ark had cost Uzzah ; so, says he, 2 Sam,
vi. 9, " How shall the ark of the Lord come unto me ?" The fear
of God, by reason of corruption, easily degenerates into a slavish
fear, which cuts the sinews of holy endeavours, and leaves people
neither heart nor hand for the work. 2. Lay by duty who will
God will always have some that will take it up. If David have no
will for the ark to be with him, Obed-edom will entertain it. Many
in our own day, turn their backs on Christ, and his service • shut
their hearts against himself, and their houses against his worship •
• * Delivered August 2, 1707.
54 THE DANGER OF NOT WAITING ON GOD.
but God will always have some that will put their shoulders to his
work. 3. They are great fools that lay aside duty. They stand in
the way of their own mercy, and deprive themselves of that bles-
sing that attends the service of the Lord. 4. The people of God,
when they take up duty again, will see themselves the greater fools
that ever they laid it by. Well, David, being resolved on the work,
proceeds with great caution and circumspection, as we see in the
verses preceding that of our reading : the reason of all which we
have in the text.
In which words there is, 1. An old story brought fresh to mind:
" The Lord our God made a breach upon us." The stroke reached
Uzzah, and cut him off, while all the rest were safe ; yet the holy
man looks on that as a stroke to the whole congregation. 2. There
is the cause of the stroke : The stroke was dreadful and astonishing,
but the holy man lays not the blame on God, but on themselves,
and so justifies God. The sin of the Levites was the cause of the
stroke : " For because ye did not at the first," namely, sanctify your-
selves when ye first began to remove the ark from Kirjath-jearim.
They did not sanctify and prepare themselves, by solemn prayer and
services, in consideration of God's will, as to the way of carrying
the ark; as if he had said. We have smarted already by your care-
lessness, beware of it therefore at this time. The sin of all the
congregation, wherein he takes in himself among the rest, also pro-
duced the stroke ; and that because it was his and the people's duty
to have been acquainted with the woi'd of the Lord ; and the over-
sight of the Levites did not excuse them. We sought him, indeed,
bringing the ark, the symbol of God's presence, from the place
where it was, to be in the midst of us ; but our way of doing marred
all. It was God's ordinance that the ark should be carried on the
Levites' shoulders, Numb. iv. 15, and vii. 9 ; but the Philistines had
put it on a cart. God did not punish them for this transgression,
and this emboldened Israel to follow their example : but they
learned by sad experience, that God would not bear that in the one,
which he did in the other. — From this subject, I take this
Doctrine, God is highly displeased with persons who perform
duties, but are not careful to perform them in a right manner.
In discoursing which, I shall shew,
I. How it comes to pass that men perform duties, but are not
careful to perform them in a right manner.
II. How the Lord testifies his displeasure against such persons.
III. Why is the Lord so highly displeased ?
IV. Make some practical improvement.
I am to shew,
TUE DANGER OF NOT WAITING ON GOD, 55
I. How it comes to pass that men perform duties, but are not
careful to perform them in a right manner.
1. Because to perform duty is the easiest part of religion, but to
do it in a right manner is yery difficult ; and few people have a heart
to manage the difficulties of religion. Ease is sweet ; and in other
things we see it very ordinary for men to take what is most easy
instead of what is most profitable. It is an easy thing to think, to
hear, to eat bread, aud drink wine ; but to plough up our corrup-
tions, to engage in good earnest in the service of God, and to get
the heart in a case for fellowship with Christ, is not easy, and sloth
prevails.
2. Because the bare performance of duties is within the reach of
all, the performing of them in a right manner is beyond the reach
of the most part. Natural abilities will serve for the one, gracious
abilities are necessary for the other. John sv. 5, *' I (said Jesus)
am the vine, ye are the branches ; he that abideth in me, and I in
him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can
do nothing." " By faith (says Paul, Heb. xi. 4), Abel offered
unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained
witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts ; and by it
he, being dead, yet speaketh." Grace, you see, is necessary, and
grace is very rare. A natural man is conjured within the circle of
self, beyond it he cannot move ; this is his principle, and this is his
end. Nature cannot carry a man above itself, more than the mouth
of a river can be higher than the spring-head. This, then, mars all,
so that the service can no more be acceptable to God, than a man
sowing his master's ground with his own seed, to reap it for himself.
3. By the bjire performance of duties, men attain the base and
low ends which they propose to themselves in the service of God;
namely, (1.) Peace of mind, such as it is. The consciences of some
are but half awakened ; thus a little thing quiets them, even the
external performance of duties ; but should these neglect duties
altogether, they could have no peace. (2.) It gains a man credit in
the world, and that is a strong cord to draw men to the outside of
duties, namely to be seen of men, and to have glory of men, as our
Saviour expresses it, Matth. vi. 1, 2. It is to them no small matter
to have a name to live ; to be called good is affected by such as are
at no pains to be good.
What shall we say of these that will set abont duties, and attend
sacraments, even while they are sure that they will be mocked and
reproached for it by the wicked ? Answ. It is good in so far as
they are carried over these things ; for, alas ! there are some so
pitifully weak, that they will be blown over with the wind of the
56 THE DANGER OF NOT WAITING ON GOD,
moutli of the wicked. A broad laiigli, or silly taunt, out of tlio
moutli of the profane, is an unanswerable argument against religion
and seriousness, to some who are in the cause of Christ like silly-
doves without heart. Such as are thus chargeable are very incon-
siderate ; Christ gives a solemn warning to them, Mark viii. 38,
" Whosoever, therefore, shall be ashamed of me, and of my words,
in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of
man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father, with
the holy angels." We doubt not but a hypocrite may come this
leno-th. We do not wonder if even a miser, a covetous wretch, part
with his money to buy land ; neither need we wonder if a hypocrite
should sacrifice credit among the profane, to gain credit among the
godly. He does but as a man on a ladder, tread on the lower step
to win to the higher.
4. Because men may get duties done, and keep their lusts too.
For instance, they may go to a communion-table one day, and the
next to the table of devils. But to perform duties in a right manner,
is inconsistent with peace with our lusts : Psalm Ixvi. 18, " If I re-
gard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." Hence,
over the belly of an express commandment, people will venture to
the Lord's table without self-examination, or at least without search-
ing to the quick. They cannot, however, communicate aright with-
out a due attention to it. No, indeed. Says the apostle, 1 Cor. xi.
28, " But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that
bread, and drink of that cup." Many, notwithstanding, can commu-
nicate without it, and keep their lusts too ; here is the hellish ad-
vantage. There are secret lusts, which the man is unwilling to dis-
turb, therefore he will not light the candle and search, lest ho be
obliged to cast out the old leaven.
5. Because most men have low and mean thoughts of God, Mai.
i. 6 — 8, " A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master, if,
then, I be a father, where is mine honour ? and if I be a master,
where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, priests, that
despise my name : and ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name ?
Ye offer polluted bread upon my altar; and ye say. Wherein have
we polluted thee ? In that ye say. The table of the Lord is contempt-
ible. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if
ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil ? ofi'er it now unto thy go-
vernor, will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person ? saith
the Lord of hosts." It is not every one that knows the Lord. Many
men worship they know not what, and therefore they ofll'cr him for
worship they care not what. If men had awful apprehensions of
that God whom they worship, as a God greatly to be " feared in the
THE DANGER OF ITOT WAITING ON GOD. 57
assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that
are about him," Psalm Ixxxix. 7, doubtless they would see, that
there is none in heaven or earth like him, and they would worship
him in another manner. — Therefore the apostle, to engage men to
take care how they perform duties, says, " Let us have grace, where-
by we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear :
for our God is a consuming fire," Heb. xii. 28, 29.
I am now to shew,
II. How the Lord testifies his displeasure against such persons.
He does so,
1. By withdrawing from them in religions services : " Son of man,"
says God by Ezekiel, chap. xi. 3, " these men have set up their
idols in their hearts, and put the stumbling-block of their iniquity
before their face ; should I be inquired of at all by them ?" And
by Hosea he says, chap. v. 4, " The spirit of whoredom is in the
midst of them, and they have not known the Lord." It is granted,
ordinances are the galleries wherein the King is held ; they are the
trystiug-places where Christ meets with his people ; but if they be
not gone about in a right manner, they will be but an empty sepul-
chre : " Why seek ye the living among the dead ?" The living God
is not to be found in a dead worship ; when men withdraw their
hearts from the service of God, then he withdraws himself from
them ; and it is but sorry entertainment a man can have at this
feast, when the Master goes away.
2. By rejecting their services, Mai. i. 13, " Ye said also. Behold
what a weariness is it ! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of
hosts ; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the
sick ; thus ye brought an offering : should I accept this at your
hands ? saith the Lord." God will not accept of such duties, what-
ever pains men may take about them, Isa. i. 11, " To what purpose
is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me ? saith the Lord." It is
better to go halting on in the right way, than to be going straight
in the way of error : " The labour of the foolish wearieth every one
of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city," Eccl. x. 15.
It may well be applied to the duties of some, what is said, Hab. ii.
13, " The people shall labour in the fire, and the people shall weary
themselves for very vanity." To labour in the fire signifies great
pains, and great disappointments ; they work in the midst of scorch-
ing flames, and what they do produce consumes between their fin-
gers, they get no good of it.
3. By spiritual strokes upon their souls. There is a curse de-
nounced against them, Jer. xlviii. 10, " Cursed be he that doth the
work of the Lord deceitfully ;" and i^Ial. i. 14, '•' But cursed be the
Vol. IX. E
58 THE DANGER OF NOT WAITING ON GOB,
deceiver whicli bath in his flock a male, and vowoth and sacrificcth
xinto the Lord a corrupt thing. This will pierce the sonl ; and they
arc of two sorts : (1.) They aro deadening strokes; these are silent
blows, arrows that fly without noise from the hand of an angry God
into the soul ; " Make the heart of this people fat, and make their
ears heavy, and shut their eyes ; lest they sec with their eyes, and
hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and convert,
and be healed," Isa. vi. 10. Sometimes men are like Saul among
the prophets, but afterwards they are knocked on the head, it may
be on a communion Sabbath, and from that time God answers
them not. Many are sprightly professors for a while, but at length
God is so provoked, that their hearts are deadened, their affections
withered, their consciences stupified, their souls blasted, and they
are then prepared to be pruned ofi", and cast over the hedge. (2.)
Quickening strokes, whereby the man's name is changed ; he is
Mager-Missabid. The conscience is made like Mount Sinai, where
nothing but thunder, lightning, and the sound of the trumpet, are
to be heard. God takes the filthy rags of their lifeless duties,
wraps them in brimstone, and then sets them on fire about the sin-
ner's ears ; so that, like the house built upon the sand, to which the
man betook himself for shelter, the whole falls into ruins. As to
this, you will observe what the prophet declares, Hos. v. 11 — 14,
" Ephraim is oppressed, and broken in judgment ; because he will-
ingly walked after the commandment. Therefore will I be unto
Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness. When
Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound ; then went
Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jereb : yet could he not
heal you, nor cure you of your wonnd. For I will be unto Ephraim
as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah ; I, even I, will
tear and go away : I will take away, and none shall rescue him."
4- By strokes upon their bodies. Sometimes the Lord has
mingled his people's blood with their sacrifices. Thus he did with
Nadab and Abihu, Lev. x. 1, 2. A wrong look into the ark cost
the men of Bethshemesh dear : " The Lord smote of the people fifty
thousand and threescore and ten men," 1 Sara. vi. 19. Uzziah,
taking hold of the ark, was struck dead, 2 Sam. vi. 7- And the
apostle tells, 1 Cor. xi. 30, that for profaning the Lord's supper,
" many (among the Coi'inthians) were weak and sickly, and many
sleep," that is, were dead. One dies before his time, even in his
strength ; another falls sick, it may be after a communion. At
communions there is a great throng ; perhaps one has got a thurst,
another has catched cold, but unworthy communicating has more
often done the deed. — I shall enquire,
III. Why is the Lord so highly displeased ?
THE DANGER OF :yOT ^^'AITING OX GOD. 59
1. Because God commands his service to be done in a riglit
manner. The matter and right manner of performing duties are, in
the command of God, linked together. lie will have his service
well done, as well as really done. "SVe must serve God with a per-
fect heart and a willing wind, for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and
understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts ; if we seek him,
he will be found of us ; but if we forsake him, he will cast us off
for ever, 1 Chrou, xxviii. 9. Masters on earth challenge to them-
selves a power to oblige their servants, not only to do their work,
but to do it so and so ; and though they do the thing itself, yet if
not in the manner required, it cannot be accepted. So they brought
the ark, but they brought it on a cart, which was opposite to the
command, for it should have been on the shoulders of the Levites ;
and therefore their service was rejected with vengeance.
2. Because the doing of a duty in a wrong manner alters the
nature of it, and makes it sin. Hence the plowing of the wicked is
sin. Hence prayer is accounted a howling on their bed, Hos. vii. 14.
And unworthy communicating is not to eat the Lord's supper, 1 Cor.
xi. 20. If a house be built of never so strong timber and good
stones, yet if it be not well-founded and right built, the inhabitant
may curse the day he came under the roof of it.
3. Because duties not performed according to the right order, are
but the half of the service we owe to God, and the worst half too.
The Jews had it written about the doors of their synagogues,
" Prayer without intention is as a body without a soul." A skeleton
of bones without the flesh would have been a very abominable
sacrifice to have laid upon God's altar ; no less abominable are our
services, when the heart is not engaged, and when the soul is not
lifted up to God : " God is a Si^irit, and they that worship him must
worship him in spirit and in truth," John iv. 24.
Lastly, Because duties thus performed are very dishonourable to
God. See again, Mai. i. 6 — 8. Now, God is a holy God, and
will be sanctified in them that come nigh him, and before all the
people he will be glorified, Lev. x. 3. He is a jealous God in the
matter of his worship. Josh. xxiv. 18.
ly. I am now to make a practical improvement. And this,
1. In a use of information. We may hence see what a mercy
it is that we have a pure v.-orship amongst us at this day ; a worship
neither defiled by idolatry, nor corrupted by sui)erstition, but after
the divine order, accoi'ding to the pattern shown on the mount. It
is dangerous to join in a way of worship not warranted by the word
of God.
2, Let this fill ns with a holy reverence of God when we approach
E 2
60 THE DANGER OF NOT WAITING ON GOD.
his presence in this yenerable ordinance, Psalm Ixxxix. 7. Let us
know and reraember, that the God with whom we have to do is a
heart-searching, holy, and jealous God, who will not hold them
guiltless that profane his ordinances. Was he so displeased with
Belshezzar, for abusing the vessels of the temple ? how much more
with us, if we profane the symbols of the body and blood of his
Son ! The danger is great, both for soul and body. But there are
two sorts that are ready to abuse this. (1.) The stiff-necked care-
less sinner will cloak his contempt of communicating, and his sloth
with this : " If it be so, then we will do best not to meddle with it."
But, Sirs ! is there not an odds between rushing on the sacrament,
and forsaking it? Assure yourselves this contempt of the sacra-
ment is damning. God can reach a blow to you, though ye stand
far oif from his table ; and so much the more, that you slight the
love-token of a dying Lord. (2.) The poor broken-hearted sinner
will be ready to drink up discouragement from this, fearing that he
may be the person on wh.om the Lord will make the breach. But,
poor soul ! I would say to thee, Where wilt thou be safe, if thou
keepcst thyself without the ranges ? the sword of the Lord may
overtake thee there, for the neglect of your duty. Tlierefore come,
though trembling, venture thyself at his feet ; acknowledge, that if
he should make thee a monument of his justice, he is most just, thou
deservest it. A trembling hand may receive a pardon. Be diligent
to prepare thyself; and when thou hast done all, lay no stress on
any thing, but flee to Christ, and get him between an offended God
and thy soul. Dry stubble may be safe before a consuming fire, if
there be a crystal wall between it and the fire.
I conclude with exhorting all that intend to sit down at the
Lord's table to-morrow, to take heed how ye communicate. I would
urge you to do it in the right order. Ye have heard the danger of
an opposite conduct ; this may be sufiicient under this. Another
motive is, that duty done in a right manner, and that only, has the
blessing connected with it : mark Matth. xxiv. 26, " Blessed is that
servant whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing." A
man may pray a thousand times, and never be heard; go from one
communion to another, and never be sealed ; one sincere groan from
the heart will do more than all these. If ye mismanage this sacra-
ment, your souls may get such a stain that they will never cast
again ; and if ye manage it rightly, ye may get such a taste
of the goodness of the Lord as ye never got before. With this
view, see that ye be right as to your state; that you be the friends
of the Bridegroom, or you have no right to sit down at the marriage-
feast. It is not the due order, for persons dead in sin to sit down
THE PERFECTION OP, &C. 61
at tlie table of our Lord ; it is an ordinance only for those who are
quickened, and made spiritually alive ; it is the children's bread,
and therefore they only, who are the children of God by faith in
Christ Jesus, have a right to it. Endeavour to be in a right
frame ; to have grace in exercise ; a holy hunger, faith, repentance,
and love. It is not enough that you have oil in your lamps, you
must also have your lamps trimmed, and the oil burning. Tour
graces must be in exercise. If this be your state, and this be your
frame, then surely it will be good for you to draw near to God at
his own table : " They that thus wait upon the Lord shall renew
their strength, they shall mount up on wings like eagles, run and
not be weary, walk and not faint."
THE PERFECTION OF PROVIDENTIAL DISPENSATIONS."
SERMON VI.
Psalm xviii. 30,
As for God, his work is perfect.
The Psalmist by this time had followed the Lord through many a
deep step, and he had endured various troubles. Here, in the text,
he looks back on these ways in which the Lord had led him, and
gives his verdict as to them : *' As for God," &c. In the words
there is,
1. A magnificent preface : ''As for God." He stands up here in
his defence against an ungodly world, to justify his proceedings :
*' As for God," I that have tried his way can speak to his commen-
dation.
2. "What of God he commends : His way. There is a twofold
way. (1.) That wherein men walk to -and with God. — Personal;
Christ, who is the way to the Father: — Real; holiness, without
which no man shall see the Lord. None of these are here meant.
(2.) The way wherein God walks with men, the way of his provi-
dences, his dispensations, the way he takes with men in disposing of
them.
3. The commendation is perfect ; there is no flaw in that way.
Be his dispensations never so hard, there can bo no fault really ob-
served in them by the most discerning eye; they are faultless.
These words afford us this
' Delivered July iG, 1709.
G2 THE PEKFECTION OV
DocT. That the dispensations of jnovidence arc altogether per-
fect and faultless, however they appear to our carnal hearts.
In illustration I shall,
I. Take notice of some, among many, seeming faults our corrup-
tions would spy out in the dispensations of providence.
II. Inquire in what respects the way of God is perfect.
III. Confirm the point.
IV. Make some practical improvement.
I. I am to take notice of some, among many, seeming faults our
corruptions would spy out in the dispensations of providence.
1. The reason of dispensations not seen. The design of Provi-
dence lies oftentimes hid, and it is no easy matter to discover it :
" Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy
footstei)s are not known," Psalm Ixxvii. 19. The Lord leads the
man and he knows not where ; therefore corruption is ready to storm
at this, and disdains to follow the Lord, unless he will tell him what
way he is going; but the fault is in the eye, not in the way. Time
is big with the discovery, but must go a while before it is brought
forth : Acts x. 17, " Now, while Peter doubted in himself what this
vision which he had seen should mean, behold the men which were
sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood
before the gate." John siii. G, 7, " Then cometh Jesus to Simon
Peter ; and Peter said unto him. Lord, dost thou wash my feet ?
Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not
now, but tliou shalt know hereafter," "When the spectacles of faitli
are on, no fault appears.
2. Providence seeming to forget the promises, and the word seem-
ing to miscarry. Then we are ready to say, as in Jer. xv. 18, " Why
is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to
be healed ? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters
that fail ?" Abraham thought he saw this fault, and he would take
a way of his own to rectify it. But though the promise tarried, yet
it was accomplished, for Isaac, and not Ishmael, was to be his heir.
Fools' haste is no speed.
3. Providence going cross to the promises, his works to his word,
pulling down with the one hand what he seemed to be building up
with the other. Thus it appeared, when Abraham was commanded
to sacrifice Isaac, Gen. xxii. So also it was when God threatened
to cut short the days of Hezekiah, Isa. xxxviii. 1. But there is no
fault here yet ; wait the end, as in these instances ; they are but raw
travellers, who think that the way lies always even forward ; the
way in the wilderness is often crooked.
4. Providence running, as it seems, quite contrary to the design
PROVIDENTIAL DISPENSATIONS. 63'
of it. Mauy times the Lord has a design on foot for the good of his
church and people ; but a continued tract of disappointments cross
it more and more, till the very grave-stone seems to be laid upon
it. Thus it was with Joseph, when he was put into the dungeon.
But what fault is there here, more than when the sun sets to make
it darker and darker, till day-break. Stay till the dawning of the
design. Oftentimes providence reads best backwards : " For the
Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants,
when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up
or left," Deut. xxxii. 30.
5. Providence laying aside the most likely means. But where is
the fault here ? for if he lay aside these means ; he will accomplish
his designs by other means, and what though they be unlikely?
This stumbled the world, 1 Cor. i, 23, 24, " But we preach Christ
crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks,
foolishness : But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks,
Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God." Naaman in
distress stumbled at the unlikeliness of the means prescribed by
the prophet for the cure of his leprosy, 2 Kings v. 11. The disci-
ples of Jesus also stumbled, and judged the death of Christ a very
unlikely mean of leading him and them to glory ; and they had the
same opinion of his ascension, John xvi. 6, 7- Men have their own
ways : they will needs think that they know best what is good for
them. But God knows that his people are not good choosers of their
own lot, and sovereignty will have a latitude.
6. Providence falling on means quite contrary to the design of it.
But what the worse was the blind man that he was cured with clay
put upon his eyes ? The Lord works healing by wounding, and
comfort by tears. The earthquake, the troubling of the waters, the
dungeon of Joseph, the den of Daniel, the whale of Jonah, yea, we
know, that " all things work together for good to them that love
God, and are the called according to his purpose," Rom. viii. 28.
7. Wicked godless men getting the sunny side of the brae, walk-
ing contrary to God, and yet providence smiles, that never an ill
turn almost misgives in their hand. This made Asaph stammer.
Psalm Ixxiii. 12 — 14, " Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper
in the world, they increase in riches. Verily, I have cleansed my
heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day
long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning." It shook
Jeremiah, chap. xii. 1. 2. But there is no fault in this, that the sun
of prosperity rises on the wicked : " For when the wicked spring as
the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish, it is that
they may be destroyed for ever," Psalm xcii. 7. The sun rose faic
Gi THE PERFECTION OF
on Sodom tliat very day on wliicli it was destroyed ; all Israel fol-
lowed Absalom ; Jonah fled from the presence of the Lord ; Ilaraan
finds all things going to his wish. But see the end of all these
things.
8. Astonishing strokes lighting on those that are most dear to
God. Eccl. viii. 14, " There is a vanity which is done upon the
earth, that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to
the work of the wicked." Eli's sons are slain, his daughter-in-law
dies, and himself breaks his neck. The two sons of Aaron die at
the altar. How numerous were the afflictions that came upon Job.
But w^here is the fault here ? Christ's cross, to a child of God, is bet-
ter than the world's crown, 2 Cor. xii. 9. 10.
9. Great afflictions meeting the Lord's people in the way of
duty. This was Jacob's case in many instances. lie was in the
way God bade him go, yet he met with many trials and affliction?.
It hath been so also with many of the Lord's people in all ages.
But the Lord has his holy ends in these things ; he shews them that
they are sinful creatures ; though they are in his way, tries their
faith and patience, and makes way for higher experiences. — I am,
II. To shew in what respects the way of God is perfect.
1. All the dispensations of providence are exactly according to
the pattern shown in the word. If you would know wherein a man
has exactly built a house, look to the draught given him. Meet
with what we will, all may be reduced to, and explained by, scrip-
ture doctrines, prophecies, promises, threateuings, or examples.
2. They are exactly suited to the necessities of his people, and
to the designs of them. God weighs every grain of sand which he
jjuts in our glasses ; he will never put in too little, nor too much ;
nothing wanLing, nothing superfluous. Dent, xxxii. 4, " He is the
Ilock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are judgment; a God
of truth, and without iniquity; just and right is he."
3. In respect of the times of them. Nothing too soon done, nor
too late ; all fall out in their pi'oper season, determined in the un-
changeable council of God.
4. In respect of its stability. Our ways are unstable, and that is
a great fault ; but God's ways are uot so. That which is crooked
cannot be made straight. There will always be a crook in our lot.
That is sure, and we could not walk even without it. — I shall,
III. Confirm the point. Consider,
1. That the saints in their experience see this. They readily and
fully acknowledge it, Hos. xiv. 9, " Who is wise, and he shall un-
derstand these things ? prudent, and he shall know them ? for the
ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them, but the
PEOVIDEXTIAL DISrBKSATIONS. 65
transgressors shall fall therein." This is their unanimous vote when
in a right mood, and will be so in heaven, when the web is out.
Then will they say, "He hath done all things well."
2. That they are all the product of infinite holiness, which can do
nothing wrong.
3. That they are all directed, as well as contrived, by infinite
wisdom, which knows best how to frame matters. — It remains that,
lY. I make some practical improvement, in
1. A use of information. Are the dispensations of providence
all right? Then, (1.) If any thing bo wrong with us, we may see
where the fault lies, not in God, but in ourselves. Job x. The oar
he rolls his vessel with is in the waters of affliction, and therefore
we think the oar is crooked ; but that is our misjudging of God.
(2.) That we should justify God in the harshest dispensations, give
him the glory, even when we walk on the mountains of darkness.
Providence will abide a look of the most piercing impartial eye.
But when the eye is infected, it will take up things in their wrong
colours.
2. Of comfort to the people of God, whatever providences they
meet. Be they never so dark, be they never so little understood
by them, yet they are all right and faultless. God does not distri-
bute favours to them by guess, but by measure and weight.
3. Of reproof to those who censure, murmur, and quarrel witli the
dispensations of providence. This is, (1.) to accuse God of folly, as
if he were not wise enough to govern the world that he has made.
how often fall we into this, as if we could have ordered better than
providence has done. Murmuring will step up, and correct the
escapes of infinite wisdom. (2.) Of injustice, as if he were too hard
upon his creatures, that deserve better at his hand. For why would
people murmur at their right and due ? (3.) Of impotency, as if he
could not take away our crosses as easily as he brings them on, or
could not make them work for our good.
Lastly, Of exhortation. Let all of us, especially the Lord's peo-
ple, be exhorted to submit and stoop to sovereignty, be our lot in
the world what it will. There is none want their own crosses.
Every one has some burden or another to bear ; and if we would in
truth come after Christ, we are enjoined " to take up our cross, and
follow him."
G6 FEAR AND UOPE, OBJECTS
FEAR AND HOPE, OBJECTS OF THE DIVINE COMPLACENCY.'
SERMON VI I.
Psalm cxlvii. 11,
The Lord taketh pleasure in than that fear Mm, in those that hope in his
mercy.
There are times of clanger in wliicli the event is very doubtful, but
even then the safety and success will always be on the side the Lord
casts them. In consequence, it is an important question, How may
we engage him on our side ? Certain it is, his pleasure lies not in
created strength. Horse and foot, courage and strength, may be on
the side which God will disown, and which shall be worsted : " By
strength," says he, " shall no man prevail," 1 Sam. ii. 9. His plea-
sure is in the strength of grace : " He will keep the feet of his
saints ;" or, as it is expressed in the text, " The Lord takes pleasure
in them that fear him, in them that hope in his mercy." — In which
words we have,
1, The character of those whose part the Lord will take in all
their trials and troubles, and in all their encounters with their ene-
mies. The first part of their character is, they are fearers of God.
They have the awe of his majesty upon their spirits. — The second is
that they hope in, or rather for his mercy. They, in a becoming
manner, wait and patiently seek for relief from God, and that in
the way of mercy through Christ, not for any thing in themselves.
— Observe next the mixture of these parts of their character : They
do not only fear God but hope in him ; for fear without hope will
sink into raging despair. They not only hope, but fear, for hope
without fear will turn into presumption. These two God hath
joined together, let not us put them asunder.
2. The privileges of these persons, whoever may be displeased
with them, and however much they may be displeased with them-
selves, God takes pleasure in them. He accepts their persons, and
their services, and he will show himself to be on their side. They
shall not hope in vain ; however hapless their case bo in itself, they
shall get a merciful relief in due time.
From these words, observe this
DocT. The Lord takes pleasure in those, who, whatever case they
be in, entertain a holy fear of him, with a kindly hope in his mercy.
* DelivcrcdJuly 27, 1718,
or DIVINE COMPLACENCY. G7
In discouring wliich, it is intended,
I. Sliortly to describe this holy fear, that in all cases ought to be
entertained, with a hope of the Lord's mercy.
II. To describe that kindly hope of his mercy, to be entertained
in all cases, along with this holy fear.
III. To shew the necessity of keeping up this holy fear and
kindly hope in all cases together in the soul.
lY. To shew what is that pleasure the Lord takes in such.
y. To coniirra the doctrine of the text.
VI. To make a practical improvement of the different parts of
the subject.
I am, then,
I. Shortly to describe this holy fear, that in all cases ought to be
entertained, with a hope of the Lord's mercy. This fear of God is,
1. An awe and dread of his majesty and transcendent greatness :
Psalm Ixxxix. 6, 7, " For who in the heaven can be compared unto
the Lord ? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the
Lord? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints,
and to be held in reverence of all them that are about him." With
this the lightness and vanity of the heart is to be repressed. The
soul must entertain high and honourable thoughts of God, as a sove-
reign of independent being, in whom all perfections do concentre,
must look up to the clouds, and behold him on his throne in heaven,
and so bring itself thereby to a profound reverence of his greatness.
2. A reverence of his absolute, his unlimited authority and power :
" Fear him," said Jesus, " who, after he hath killed, hath power to
cast into hell ; yea, I say unto you, fear him," Luke xii. 5 ; he can
command us whatsoever he will, and dispose of us as he pleaseth.
Let us have a reverential regard to the uncontrolable sceptre he
sways over all creatures. Since he doth in heaven and in earth
what seemeth good unto him, and none can stay his hand, or say
unto him, "What dost thou ? we should silently submit to his dis-
posals.
3. A fear of offending him in any thing : Psalm iv. 4, " Stand in
awe, and sin not." This is a fear, and caution, and circumspection,
which we should always carry about and never lay aside. We
walk amidst many snares ; Satan aud a corrupt heart are ready to
entangle us ; but God cannot away with sin ; it is the only offence
we can give him. He is well pleased to see us afraid of offending
him, to see the poor sinner affrighted at every thing that is pro-
voking to him, and keeping up a holy tenderness this way.
4. A fear of imputing iniquity to him, or harbouring hard and
unbecoming thoughts of his majesty, Job i. 22, « In all this Job
68 PEAK AND UOrE, OBJECTS
sinned not, nor charged God foolishly," Tho proud heart casting
off the fear of God, arraigns and condemns the conduct of holy Pro-
vidence as rigorous and unrighteous ; and so murmers against the
Lord. But holy fear silencetli the mutiny of these unruly passions,
and says, " He does all things well, is holy and righteous in all his
ways and works."
5. A dread of going out of his way for help, however hard the
case be : Isa. viii. 13, 14, " Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself, and
let him be your fear, and let him be your dread ; and he shall be
for a sanctuary ; but for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of
offence, to both the houses of Israel ; for a gin and for a snare, to
the inhabitants of Jerusalem ; and many among them shall stumble,
and fall, and be broken, and be taken." Holy fear takes off tho
wheels of the chariot of impatience and unsanctified haste, which
drives furiously to get out of that case in which infinite wisdom has
placed us. The soul dare not adventure to shake off the yoke, till
the Lord put to his own hand and take it off.
Lastly, A dread of his holy hand in his judgments : Amos iii, 8,
" The lion hath roared, who will not fear ? the Lord God hath spo-
ken, who can but prophecy ?" This fear keeps the heart from slight
thoughts of them, and furnishes awful thoughts of a smiting God,
the weight of whose hand no man is able to bear. And there is
here a dread of the hand of the Lord lying on their person for the
past : Heb. xii. 5, " My son, despise not thou the chastening of the
Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him." The man noticeth
the stroke, and what impressions of anger are engraven on it, and
BO he putteth his mouth in the dust, if so there may be hope, Lara,
iii. 29. "Whatever he meets with, he takes it as from the Lord, and
reverenceth the hand that smiteth. — There is, (2.) A dread of what
tho Lord may inflict upon him : Psalm cxix. 120, " My flesh trem-
bleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgments." The
fearer of the Lord sees, that whatever be his stroke, it is less^han
his deserving. They say as Ezra, chap. ix. 13, " Thou, our God, has
punished less than our iniquities deserve ;" and therefore submit
themselves, lest the Lord make the stroke greater, and punish
us seven times more. — Let us now,
II. Describe that kindly hope of his mercy, to be entertained in
all cases along with this holy fear. It is,
1. A firm persuasion of the good, gracious, and bountiful nature ]of
God, who delights not in the misery of his creatures ; Psalm xxv.
8, " Good and upright is the Lord, therefore will he teach sinners in
the way." Ezek. xviii. 23, " Have I any pleasure at all that the
wicked should die ? saith tho Lord God ; and not that he should re-
OF DIVINE COMPLACENCY. 69
turn from his ways and live ?" God is the fountain of all goodness
to be found in man or angel, and so is himself a boundless ocean of
goodness. He loves to have poor sinners entertaining these kindly
thoughts of hira. And well may they do so, even under hard pres-
sures, for God lays not on man more than is meet or right. Job xxxiv.
23; and even this he does with a kind of holy reluctance, for "he
doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men," Lam.
iii. 33.
2. A hope of mercy to all their unrighteousness, through Christ.
This is the great hope, called the hope of the gospel. Col. i. 23. For
it is the main hope purchased by Clirist to lost sons of Adam, and
held forth to them in the gospel, Heb. viii. 12, " I will be merciful to
their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I re-
member no more." To cast away this hope, is at once to throw dis-
honour on the mercy of the Father, and the blood of the Son, and
the efficacy of his Spirit ; to cast it away, is to please Satan, and to
ruin our own souls.
3. A hope of good by their afflictions, trials, and troubles : Rom.
viii. 28, " And we know that all things work together for good to
them that love God, to them who are 'the called according to his
purpose." It is the Lord's ordinary way to bring his people nearer
him by afflictions : " Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now
have I kept thy word," Psalm cxix. 67 ; yea, by this way, also, does
he bring in those that are strangers to him, Hosea v. 15, " I will go
and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence and
seek my face ; in their afflictions they will seek me early." When
the Lord will not use a rod upon a person, that is a terrible sign ;
but there is always hope when the Lord is at pains with a rod ; and
to hope for this good, is the way to advance it.
4. A hope of support and protection under their afflictions : Heb.
xiii. 5, 6, "He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee;
so that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not
fear what man shall do unto me." The Lord can carry persons
through deep waters, and yet keep them from sinking, for he is the
lifter up of the head. However high the waters swell, they are still
under the check of him whom the winds and the seas obey. The
everlasting arms underneath, though not seen in the time, secure
the sinner from sinking to the ground, and bring hira safe ashore.
Now, faith and hope is the way to bring in that support.
5. A hope of seasonable relief, on having such deliverance in due
time, as shall be best for God's honour and their good : Psalm xlii.
5, " Why art thou cast down, my soul ! and why art thou dis-
quieted in me ? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him for
70 FEAB AND UOPE, OBJECTS
the help of his countenance." The Lord has many ways of giving
relief from trouble. Sometimes he makes the storm blow off,
and restores a calm ; sometimes he hides them in the grave, and
gives them a blessed exchange, for an afflicted life in this world, a
joyful happy life in another world. It becomes us to hope for his
mercy, in whatever way he may send it : Heb. x. 35, " Cast not
away your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward."
6. A hope of eternal life in a better world : 1 Pet. i. 13, " Where-
fore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end,
(for what ?) for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the reve-
lation of Jesus Christ." These hopes will never please Grod that
are confined to the things of this world. He has provided and
offers better things to poor sinners ; there is a hope laid up for us
in heaven. Col. i. 5. While that hope remains firm and well
grounded, happy is the soul, whatever be its case ; and since he
offers it, and makes it over to whosoever will embrace Christ, that
hope should never be cast away while we are here.
7. A waiting for the mercy needed and desired : Psalm xxvii. 14,
" Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen
thine heart : wait, I say, on the Lord." The hoping soul will wait
for God, and bear till his time come, however long it may seem to
be. He hath the times and seasons in his own hand. He knows what
is the fittest time for giving a mercy, and we must leave it in his
own hand, and wait on him : " Be patient therefore, brethren, unto
the coming of the Lord : behold the husbandman waiteth for the
precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience, till he receive
the former and the latter rain ; be ye also patient, stablish your
hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."
Lastly, All this hope is to be grounded only on the free grace of
God through Jesus Christ, and the precious promises of the word,
held forth to us in him, 1 Pet. i. 13, quoted already. Therefore it
is called hope for his mercy : " Remember thy word unto thy ser-
vant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope." Psalm cxix. 49.
If hope be founded on any work or merit in ourselves, or be not
bounded by the promise, that is to say, if we hope for what God has
not promised, then it cannot be pleasing to him ; so that his hope
follows faith's embracing Christ in the gospel, and resigning the
soul to the Lord ; which being done, hope goes and stands upon the
watch-tower, to behold and wait for all promised good things com-
ing with Christ from God in due time to the soul. — We now pro-
ceed,
III. To shew the necessity of keeping up this holy fear and kindly
hope together in all cases. — They are necessary to keep an even bal-
OF DIVINE COMPLACENCY. 71
aiice in tho soul at all times, ready to fall eitliei' to the one hand or
the other. God's voice to us, is, Isa. xxx. 21, " This is the way,
walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye
turn to the left." But, ! how apt are we to go off tho road, es-
pecially if we are obliged to traverse the mountains of darkness
and aflliction, of desertion and temptation. But this fear and hope
will hedge us on every hand, that we turn not to tho right hand or
to the left ; whereas, if either be wanting, there is a wide gape, at
which we will readily fall into the mire. — But more particularly,
1. They keep the soul from splittting on rocks on both hands.
Wa are in this world as on a sea, therefore had need to take care.
The way we pass is beset with two dangerous rocks ; one on the
left, despair, where thousands split ; another on the right, presump-
tion, where ten thousands have been shipwrecked ; some fall on
them in a dead calm, they are fearless and careless, and ere
they are aware they dash on the rock of presumption, and go to
the bottom; Job xxi. 13, " They spend their days in wealth, and in
a moment go down to the grave." To others a storm arises, they
are tossed, grow hopeless, and then split on the rock of despair.
Whereas holy fear would carry us safe by the one, and kindly hope
by the other, whatever storms blow : "Which hope," says Paul, "we
have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which
entereth into that within the vail," Heb. vi. 19.
2. They keep the heart in a due mean between carnal security
and torturing anxiety. Holy fear keeps men awake, while fear-
less souls are sleeping within the sea-mark of wrath, not knowing
when a wave may come and sweep them away. They may be say-
ing, like the rich man. Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many
years, take thine rest ; eat, drink, and be merry. But God may
then say, " Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee,"
Luke xii. 19, 20. Kindly hope composes the heart, and calms the
disturbed spirit, while others destitute of it are tormenting them-
selves. Fear keeps from soaring too high, hope from sinking too
low.
3. They keep notably to the duty of praying, which is necessary in
all cases, and is a messenger often to be sent to heaven, especially
in times of trouble : Psalm 1. 15, "And call upon me in the day of
trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." Fear stirs
up to the duty, hope draws to it. Fear fills the soul with reverence
for God, and makes it to be in deep earnest in its addresses ; hope
guards it against terror and confusion in its applications to the throne.
Fear caries off presumptuous confidence; but hope makes it hang
upon mercy and grace.
72 FEAK AND HOPE, OBJECTtS
4. They help on patience and resignation to the will of God, with-
out which no man is master of himself : Luke xxi. 19, " In your
your patience possess your souls." Hope looks for better things, a
calm after a storm ; fear tells us, such a stroke, ill carried, may
brinjr on a worse. Thus the soul is in a holy manner both flattered
and frightened Into contentment with its lot. Thus it is kept from
despising the chastening of the Lord, which many do, with their na-
tural courage, and from fainting under his rebukes, as weak-hearted
ones arc liable to.
Lastli/, They arm us on every hand against our adversary the
devil : James iv. 7, " Submit yourselves therefore to God ; resist the
devil, and he will flee from you." There are two things, one of
which the devil drives at continually : Either, (1.) To go forward
with all ease in the way of sin ; for, says the liar, there is no
hazard ; and thus whole shoals of sinners go on to the pit. But the
fear of God will repel this temptation. Or, (2.) Not to offer to re-
turn to God, or go to Christ; for, says the murderer, there is no
hope. But the kindly hope repels this. By this last he attacks the
awakened sinner, and by the former the secure one. Whatever be
your case, then, get your souls possessed of this kindly hope and
holy fear. Beware of quitting either hope or fear. Are you at ease,
and your hope great ? balance it with fear, lest having too much
sail without ballast, ye suddenly be overcast and overwhelmed.
Are you in trouble, and your fears great ? buoy up your souls
with hope, lest ye sink altogether. For motives, consider,
1. The want of any of them makes you a prey to your grand
enemy, 1 Peter v. 8, " Be sober, be vigilant, for your adversary the
devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may de-
vour ; whom resist stedfast in the faith." Whichever of the
avenues of the soul stand open, the enemy will enter by it ; and
once he get in, you know not what havoc he may make there. Are
you fearless ? he will have his snares fitted for that case. Are you
hopeless ? be sure he will take his advantage of it.
2. The safety of the soul in this sinful and ensnaring world de-
pends on your entertaining both. The mariner may easier sail the
ocean without his compass, the blind man go over his heights and
depths without his guide, than you go through this world without
these ; for the worst that can befal them is the death of the tody,
but your souls will be ruined.
Lastly, The want of either is highly dishonourable to God. Is
there a God in heaven, and will you not fear him ? Has his Son
died to purchase hope to sinners ? and has he declared in his word,
that he would have you hope in and for his mercy, and will ye not
OF DIVINE COMPLACEN-OY. 73
doit? Mai. i. 6, "A son lionoureth his father, and a servant his
master : if then I he a father, where is mine honour ? and if I be a
master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts." By the want
of fear, you declare you value greatness ; and by the want of hope,
that you can put no trust in his word. — I come now,
lY. To shew what is that pleasure which the Lord takes in such.
1. He approves them in so doing. The Lord says, Thou didst
well that it was in thine heart, though Satan may suggest it to be
presumption. Psalm cxv. 11, " Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the
Lord; he is their help and their shield." What God requires to bo
done, he will surely approve of when it is done , this he requires,
and therefore will approve of it.
2. He accepts of them ; he is well pleased with the persons that
do so. The exercise of these graces is a piece of very acceptable
service to Grod, which he takes oif sinners' hands for Christ's sake,
though it be attended with many imperfections. That unbelief which
remains in tl>e hearts of thera that fear God, makes them susj)ect
they will be very unwelcome to hope for good at the Lord's hand ;
but it is a mistake, for such exercise is very pleasing to the Lord.
3. The Lord delights in them that do so. Their name may be
Hephzibah, for the Lord delighteth in them, as a father does in his
child, who both fears him, and hopes for good at his hand,
(1.) The Lord delights in their persons. Jer. xxxi. 20, " Is Eph-
raira my dear son ? is he a jileasant child ? for since I spake against
him, I do earnestly remember him still, therefore my bowels aro
troubled for him : I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the
Lord." They are accepted in the beloved; their fear carrying them
to Christ, and their hope fixing them upon him as the storehouse of all
blessings. Being covered with imputed righteousness, they are all
fair and lovely in the eyes of the Lord, there is no spot in them.
Song iv. 7.
(2.) He delights in their graces. Song iv. 16, "Let my beloved
come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits." Holy fear and
hope are the fruits of his own Spirit in the souls of his people, that
grow up there as in a garden, being watered with the dew of hea-
ven. They are leading graces, which bring along with them a train
of others, all tending to promote holiness in heart and life.
(3.) In their duties. Prov. xv. 8, " The prayer of the upright is
his delight." Where the fear of the Lord has place, the duties of
religion will get room ; the soul will be afraid of neglecting to pay
its due homage unto the Lord ; and hope being joined thereto, will
bring them to the Lord with expectation of good at his hand ; and
this is the Lord's delight.
YoL. IX. F
74 FEAR AND HOPE, OBJECTS
(4.) In their company. Song v. 1, " I liare come into my garden,
my sister, my spouse." He loves to have them near him, hanging
about his hand, conversing with him, receiving his word from his
mouth, and making their requests known to him : Song ii. 14, " Let
me see (says he) thy countenance, let me hear thy voice ; for sweet
is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely." The mighty God, who
has his higher house in heaven, has the contrite spirit for his lower
house. — I shall now proceed,
Y. To confirm the doctrine of the text, or shew, that " the Lord
taketh pleasure in those, whatever case they be in, who entertain a
holy fear of him, with a kindly hope in his mercy," — For this pur-
pose, consider,
1. This is answerable and agreeable to the revelation of God's
mind in his word, what he has made known of himself both in the
law and in the gospel. The fear of God is the great purpose of the
law, hope for his mercy through Christ is the great purpose of the
gospel. The law was given in such an awful manner, as might fill
sinners with the dread of the great Lawgiver ; the gospel brings in
the blessed hope to lost sinners, so that this fear and hope, answer-
ing the design of both, cannot miss of being very pleasing to God.
2. It glorifies God in his glorious perfections, discovered to us in
the face of Jesus Christ. The great end of the gospel contrivance is,
to shew the glory of God in Christ as in a glass : 2 Cor. iv. 6, " For
God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined
in our hearts, to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of
God in the face of Jesus Christ." Now, the entertaining of these
two, fear and hope, doth at once give hira the glory of all these.
Holy fear gives him the glory of his awful majesty, inflexible justice,
infinite power and holiness ; kindly hope gives him the glory of his
free grace, mercy, love, and goodness : and the joining of these two
together gives him the glory of his infinite wisdom, that hath found
out the way to give vent to both in the sinners' case.
3. It is agreeable to the Spirit's work of grace on the soul, where-
by the sinner is first cast down, and then lifted up. The Spirit of
God coming to the elect soul, finds it secure, careless, and presump-
tuous, thinking itself " rich and increased in goods, and standing in
need of nothing," Rev. iii. 17. The Spirit then discovers what a
God, and what a law, the sinner has to do with, and so works this
holy fear in the heart. When the soul is awakened, it is ready to
despond ; and the Spirit, by the doctrines of the gospel, works this
hope. Thus the sinner comes and cleaves to Christ.
Lastly, The Lord is very gracious unto such. They are enter-
tained with some off-fallings while they hang about his hand in the
OF DIVINE COMPLAOEKCy. 75
ordinances and duties of religion : Psalm Ixv. 4, '* We shall be sa-
tisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple."
Yea, they are filled as with marrow and fatness ; God makes known
his secrets to them, even the secrets of his covenant : Psalm sxv.
14, " The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will
shew them his covenant." He shews them also the secrets of his
word: Luke xxiv. 32, "And they said one to another. Did not our
hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and
while he opened to us the scriptures ?" Also the secrets of his
works, and the dispensations of his providence. And at length they
shall be admitted to the full fruition of him in a better world ; they
shall enter into the joy of their Lord, and be for ever with him.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.
SERMON VIII.
Psalm cxlvii. 11,
The Lord takelh i)leasurc in those that fear him, in those that hope in
his mercy.
Havinw, in the preceding discourse, briefly gone through tho doc-
trinal part, it only remains, that, in the
VI. And last place, I make a practical improvement of the whole ;
in doing which, I propose to enlarge at considerable length, by ad-
verting to the different parts of this subject. — I begin,
I. "With an use of information. It informs us,
1. That God in Christ is full of good-will to poor sinners. Since
he will have them thus to depend upon him as children on a father,
fearing and hoping in him ; he it is who will have all men to be sa-
ved, and come to the knowledge of the truth, 1 Tim. ii, 4. Is not
this a j)lain proof that he hath no pleasure in the death of him that
dieth ? Eccl. xviii. 13, and that their ruin is of themselves, if they
should perish ; that he does not cast them ofl" that hang by him, nor
cast them out that come unl^o him, John vi. 37.
2. That however prosperous and favourable our case be, W9 have
ground to keep up a holy fear upon our spirits : " Happy is the
man that feareth alway,". Prov. xxviii. 14. Whether it be that our
outward state in the world, or our spiritual state, be peaceful, easy,
and prosperous, still there is ground to fear, for we are in hazard
of offending God in it. There is no way so plain and even, but
r2
76 FEAR AND HOPE, OBJECTS
WO may stumble in it. Outward prosperity ruins many : " The pros-
perity of fools shall destroy them," Prov. i. 31. And even in a pros-
perous state of the soul, there is no safety in being secure and care-
less, for in the managing of that we are apt to offend : 2 Cor. xii,
7, " Lest I should be exalted above measure, through the abundance
of the rerelations, there was given unto me a thorn in the flesh, the
messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above mea-
sure." No paradise on the earth but the serpent may be found
there ; and if one were wrapt up to the third heavens, like Paul,
they will bring back with them a corrupt heart, ready to give them a
slip, or lead them astray. We are in danger of a heavy turn and
sad change in our condition, we are " to serve God with fear, and
rejoice with trembling," Psalm ii. 11. See how quickly David's pros-
perity was changed : Psalm xxx. 7, " Thou didst hide thy face and
1 was troubled." Job's condition, both temporal and spiritual, how
suddenly was it changed ? Sovereignty lifts up and casts down, and
the anger of a jealous God may soon be stirred, so as to make a
mighty overturn in one's condition ; therefore we should not bo
" high-minded, but fear," Rom. xi. 20.
3. Tt informs us, that however low one's case be, there is still
room for hope while here ; therefore we should always entertain a
kindly hope : Psalm xliii. 5, " Why art thou cast down, my soul ?
why art thou disquieted in me ? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise
him who is the health of my countenance, and ray God." One may
yet be at his wits end with his difficulties, knowing of no outgate, but
yet he may have ground of faith and hope, because — so great things
have been done by our merciful God, as to raise us up. He made a
world out of nothing, he has raised the dead, and particularly
Christ, while the whole elect's sins lay as a grave-stone on him.
What, then, hinders him to do a great work for us, when he has
done a greater? In him we may trust that he will yet deliver us,
2 Cor. i. 10 — Whatever our case be, we are not the first that have
been in it, and delivered too in God's own way. Psalm xxii. 4,
" Our fathers trusted in thee, and thou didst deliver them." People
are apt to say. Never one was in such case as theirs. But, " is there
any thing whereof it may be said. See, this is new ? it hath been
already of old time which was before us," Eccl. i. 10 ; and suppose
it were new, yet faith and hope in God arc not in vain ; for he has
a new cure for a new case, Isa. xliii. 18, 19. Whatever our case be,
can it be worse than a lost case ? Luke xix. 10, " The Son of man
came to seek and save that which is lost." Can it be worse than a
self-destroying case ? Hos. xiii. 9, " Israel, thou hast destroyed
thyself, but in me is thine help." Can it be worse than a case in
OF DIVINE CO.MPLACENCY. 77
itself quite hopeless, even as dry bones ? Ezek. xxxvii. 11, 12, but
even by the Spirit of the Lord these bones can be made alive. — It is
not. beyond the reach of the power of God. Gen. sviii. 14, " Is any
thing too hard for the Lord ?" who can be so low, as that the ever-
lasting arms cannot raise up ? with God nothing is impossible. A
word from heaven can make all things take a happy turn, for say-
ing and doing are but one thing with God. God says to the sinner,
Believest thou that I can do these things ? If thou dost, there is a
ground of kindly hope. — In a word, the covenant of i)romise reaches
to, and includes mercy of all kinds, necessary to make us happy ; so
that we have not only God's power, but his will, to give us mercy
in all cases held out to us in the word, if so be wc will take his way
of faith and hope. — From this subject there is,
II. An use of exhortation, in several branches.
1. Fear the Lord ; get and entertain a holy fear of God in your
spirits. The profane and licentious lives of some, the carnal and
loose hearts of others, proclaim a general want of this, Psalm xxxvi.
1, " The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that
there is no fear of God before his eyes." But all fear of God is not
a holy fear pleasing to God. There is a servile fear, and a filial
fear. Not to the former, but to the latter, I exhort you.
Herewith some various difficulties and inquiries may arise, which
we shall endeavour to answer, such as,
1. When is the fear of God only slavish ? In answer to this
take the following observations : The fear of God is only slavish,
(1.) When it ariseth only from the consideration of God's wrath
as a just judge. This fear of God is to be found in the unconverted;
they have the spirit of bondage again to fear, Rom. viii. 15 ; yea,
in the devils', they believe and tremble. Jam. ii. 19 ; and if the con-
science once be awakened, though the heart be not sanctified, this
fear cannot miss to take place. It is a natural passion flowing from
self-love and a sight of danger, which is so much the more vehement,
in proportion as the danger apprehended is greater or smaller i
nearer or more distant. One under this fear, fears God as the slave
fears his master, because of the whip, which he is afraid of being
lashed ; he abstains from sin, not out of hatred of it, but because of
the wrath of God annexed to it. An apprehension of God's heavy
hand on him here, or of hell and damnation hereafter, is the predo-
minant motive of his fear of God, whom he fears only as an incensed
Judge, and his powerful enemy.
(2.) When it checks or kills the love of God. There is a fear
opposite to the love of God, which by this very character is dis-
covered to be base and servile: 1 John iv. 18, " There is no fear in
78 FEAR ANB UOl'E, OBJECTS
love, but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear liatli torment."
There is a necessary connection betwixt true fear and love, the one
cannot be without the other; they are both links of the same chaiu
of grace, which the Holy Spirit gives those whom he sanctifies ; but
slavish fear fills the heart with hard thoughts of God, and the more
it prevails, the farther is the soul from the love of God.
(3.) "When it drives the sinner away from God. Under its in-
fluence, Adam and Eve hid themselves from the preseuce of the
Lord God, and Cain went out from his presence. All the graces of
the Spirit, as they come from the Lord, so they carry the sinner
back to him ; so no doubt it io an ungracious fear of God that
frights the sinner away from him; for they that seek and return to
him, will fear him and his righteousness. This fear hath this eflfect
in difi'erent degrees, and the higher the worse : — It takes heart and
hand from persons in their approaches to God, 1 John iv. 18, quoted
already ; it kills them before the Lord, knocks all confidence and
hope in God on the head, so that their hearts at duty are like Na-
bal's — dying within them, and become as a stone ; so when they
should run for their life, it cuts the sinews of their endeavours;
when they would wrestle for the blessing, it makes their knees feeble,
and their hands hang down. — It makes them first averse to duty,
and then give up with it ; they deal with God as one with his
avowed enemy, into whose presence he will not come, Gen. iii. 8.
The people of God have sometimes had a touch of this, 2 Sam. vi. 9,
" And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said. How shall
the ark of the Lord come unto me ? Though it never prevails with
them to extinguish love, yet sometimes a believer is like a faulty
child, who, instead of humbling himself before his parents, hides
himself in some corner, and is so frighted, that he dare not come in,
and look the parent in the face ; but this is a most dangerous case,
especially if it lasts long. — In a word, it makes them run to physi-
cians of no value. For what is more natural than that men who are
frightened from God under apprehended danger, run to some other
quarter, and that to their own ruin, Rev. vi. 16, " And said to the
mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of
him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb."
2. "What is to be thought of this slavish fear of God ? To this I
answer, there is something good in it, and something evil.
(1.) There is something good in it, namely, the fear of God's
wrath for sin, which lies unpardoned on the guilty sinner or which
the sinner may be inclined to commit: Jam. ii. 19, "Thou be-
lievest that there is one God, thou dost well." To cast off fear
of the wrath of God, and the terrible punishments which he has
annexed to sin, is a pitch of wickedness which but the very worst of
OP DIVINE COMPIiACENCT. 79
rneii arrive at. The fear of God's wrath against sin, and that duly-
influential too, is recommended to us by Christ himself, Luke xii. 5,
** Fear him," says he, " which, after he hath killed, hath power to
cast into hell, yea, I say unto you. Fear him." It is also recom-
mended by the example of the very best of saints, Job xxxi. 23,
*' For destruction from God was a terror unto me ;" and says David,
" My flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judg-
ments," Psalm cxix. 12U. And the law of God is not fenced with
terrors to be disregarded, but to awe men's spirits. But,
(2.) There is something evil in it, yea, much evil in it, if we con-
sider, — The scrimpness and narrowness of its spring. Why should
the fear of God be confined to spring up from his Avrath against sin
only or chiefly, since there are so many other perfections of God,
which may give rise to the fear of him, which are disregarded by
this means ? It casts a vail of disrespect on his holiness, goodness,
and hatred of sin, on his relations of Creator, Preserver, Father,
Supreme Lord, and Governor of the world. — The horrible effects
and tendency thereof, as it rises only from this spring, and overflows
all the banks of godly fear. Fear of God, even of his wrath, is
good, but the excess of it is very bad. Fire and water are both good
and necessary, but very bad when the one burns man, and the other
drowns him. Hence, since what is acceptable in the sight of God is
perfect in parts, though not in degrees, is good in the manner as
well as matter, this fear is not what he takes j)Ieasure in, nay, it is
displeasing to him, and is the sin of those who hear the gospel, whose
fear ought to be extended according to the revelation made to them»
And thus one may be displeasing to himself, to those about him, and
to God also ; and if they attain to no other fear of God, what they
fear will probably come upon them. Nevertheless, this fear, kept
within bounds, may, by the Spirit, be made the means to bring the
sinner to the Lord in his covenant. For the fear of God's wrath
is a good thing in itself, Rom. viii. 15; it serves to rouse the sinner
out of his security, to make him sensible of his danger, and to seek
for relief : Psalm ix. 20, " Put them in fear, Lord, that the nations
may know themselves to be but men." And therefore the law and
its threatening, as a red flag, are displayed in the sight of secure
sinners, that they may be roused to flee from the wrath to come.
To this there may be offered this objection. The fear of the Lord's
wrath can make but an unsound closing with the Lord in his cove-
nant. Answ. That is very true, if there be nothing more. But
fear of God's wrath not only may, but ordinarily, if not always does,
begin the work which love crowns. Fear brings men to the gates
of the city of refuge, and when they are there, love is kindled, and
80 FEAU AND HOPE, OBJECTS
makes them press forward. Fear brings tlio poor captive woman to
confer with the conqueror about the match ; but thereby love is
kindled, and faith makes the match. It works, however, very dif-
ferently at other times ; for Satan and our corrupt hearts are ready
to drive forward this fear of God's wrath to exceed all bounds ; and
no wonder, for when it has got over the boundaries, it makes fearful
havoc in the soul's case, like a consuming fire, deadening all good
motions towards God, and quickening evil ones, to the dishonour of
God, and one's own torment ; and no case out of hell is liker hell
than this, both in respect of sin and misery. But when the Spirit
of God has a saving work in view, he can easily make the spirit of
bondage subservient to the spirit of adoption.
3. How should one manage in the case of a slavish fear of God's
wrath ? Uere I answer. We had need to be well guided, for the
losing or winning of the soul depends upon it. For your assistance
I offer the following directions : —
(1.) Labour to clear the grounds of your fear of God's wrath, by
a rational inquiry and discovery. There are, even of these fears,
some that do really proceed from a bodily distemper vitiating the
imagination, namely, from melancholy, and the like ; and in this
case, your trouble rises and falls according to the disposition of your
bodies, but not according to the comfort or terror you receive from
God's word, as it is in truly spiritual troubles. Thus it often comes
on, and goes off, they know not how ; shewing the first wound to bo
in their head, not in their conscience. Of this sort was the evil
spirit Saul was troubled with, under which he got ease by music,
not by his Bible. In this case, as v/ell as others, it would be of use
to consider the real grounds of fear from the Lord's word, and tho
consideration of one's own state or case, and so to turn it as much
as may be into solid fears upon plain and evident reasons for it.
This would be a step to the salvation of the soul. But, alas ! it is
sad to think of tormenting fear kept up on we know not what
grounds, and which can produce no good ; while in the meantime
people will not be at pains to enquire into the real evidences of their
soul's hazard, the sinfulness of their state, heart, and life. Ask,
then, yourselves, what real ground there is from the Lord's word for
this fear of yours.
(2.) Beware of casting off the fear, dread, and awe of the wrath
of God against sin : Job xv. 4, " Yea, thou castest off fear, and re-
strainest prayer before God." This is the issue of some people's
fears, who, one way or other, get their necks from under the yoke,
and grow more stupid, fearless, and profane, than even by the just
judgment of God. It is true, that fear is not enough ; but there is
or DIVINE COMPLACENCr. 81
something to be added, and yet not this fear cast away. If thou be
brought into a state of sonship to God, the dread of God's wrath
against sin will come along with you, though it will be no more
slavish ; as if a slave were made his master's son by adoption, he
would still fear his anger, though not slavishly as before. But
be one's state what it will, better be God's slave, fearing his
■wrath only, than the devil's freeman, casting off the fear of God
altogether. There is less ill in the former than in the latter. Yea,
(3.) Cast not off the fear of that wrath, even its overtaking you,
till such time as thy soul be brought away freely to Jesus Christ :
Hos. V. 8, " I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge
their offence ; in their afSiction they will seek me early." Thou
hast no warrant to cast it oflf sooner, for certainly wrath is pursuing
thee, till thou bo within the gates of the city of refuge ; and to be
without fear of that wrath that is still advancing on a person, is
ruining. Indeed, as soon as thou hast sincerely come to Christ in
his covenant, though the fear of wrath against sin is never to be laid
by, yet then thou mayest and oug'itest to cast off the fear of vindic-
tive wrath overtaking thee : " There is no condemnation to them
that are in Christ Jesus," Horn, viii 1.
(4.) Look not always on an absolute God, for surely that can pro-
duce no fear of God but a slavish one ; but look on God in Christ as
the trysting-place himself has set, for receiving the addresses of
the guilty on a throne of grace : 2 Cor. v. 19, " God was in Christ,
reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto
them." This is the way to repress and curb the horrible effects of
slavish fear, to make love to God, faith, and hope, spring up in the
soul, and so mould that fear of thine into filial fear and reverence.
In a God out of Christ thou canst discern nothing but inflexible jus-
tice, and the utmost terror ; and from his throne of unvailed ma-
jesty, hear nothing but terrible voices, thunders, and earthquakes.
But in a God in Christ thou mayest behold bowels of mercy, and
flowing compassions ; and from the throne of grace hear the still
small voice of mercy and peace, Isa. xxxv. 3, 4.
(5.) At what time soever you find the fear of God's wrath begin
to choke the love of God in your hearts, or to drive you away from
him in any way, check and curb that fear resolutely, let it not pro-
ceed, though you were in the time under the most atrocious sin ;
Psalm Ixv. 3, *' Iniquities prevail against me : as for our trans-
gressions, thou wilt purge them away." For then you are in the
march between God's ground and the devil's; and there is a wind
from hell, blowing up the fire of fear, that will consume you, if it
be not quenched ; for the separation of the soul from God, and its
82 PEAR AND IIOPK, OBJECTS
going away from hira, can in no case fail to be of a ruining nature :
and the more that it increases with a person, his heart will be the
more hardened, and he will be set the farther off from repentance.
(6.) Greedily embrace any gleam of hope from the Lord's own
word, and hang by it. Ye should do like Beuhadad's servants,
and say, "We have heard that the king of Israel is a merciful king,
and we hope he will save us, 1 Kings xx. 31. The apostle calls
hope the Christian's head-piece, 1 Thess. v. 8, not to be thrown
away in a time of danger.
Lastly, Come away resolutely to the Lord Jesus, lay hold on him
in the gospel-offer, and consent to the covenant : Heb. vii. 25, " He
is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him."
Lay hold on the horns of this our altar, and you shall not die ; he
will swallow up death in victory, Isa. xxv. 8. Flee into this city
of refuge ; the avenger shall not overtake thee. Do as the lepers of
Samaria did, reasoned with themselves, and went to the camp, where
meat was to be found. Thou art like to sink in a sea of wrath,
Jesus holds out his hand to draw thee ashore. Thou art afraid, per-
haps, it is not to thee, it is vain to try; but know that it is the
hand that must take thee out, or thou art a gone man ; neglecting
to take hold, thou art ruined ; otherwise, thcu canst be but ruined.
4. When is the fear of the Lord holy, filial, and reverential, such
as the Lord takes pleasure in ? — For your satisfaction in this in-
quiry, I would answer,
(1.) When the chief spring of it is not our own harm, but God's
infinite excellence and perfection striking an awe upon the soul :
Gen. xxviii. 17, " And Jacob was afraid, and said. How dreadful is
this place ! this is none other but the house of God, and the gate of
heaven." On this account, God was called the fear of the holy
patriarchs, while in the world, Gen. xxxi. 42. Thus ingenuous
children fear their parents, not because of the ill they may do them,
but because of that authority aud superiority they have over them. —
When the soul is awed into a profound leverence for God, by the
consideration of his transcendent excellence in all things, this is a
becoming or true filial fear.
(2.) When the offending of God is feared as the greatest evil. A
graceless man may fear the punishment of swearing, but a righteous
man feareth an oath, Eccl. ix. 2 ; the former may fear the threaten-
ing as the greatest evil, but the righteous feareth the command-
ment, and shall be rewarded, Prov. xiii. 13. What would the most
of the world fear about sin, if they were secured against wrath ?
Nothing. But the fearer of God, his great fear would remain not-
withstanding, viz. the disi)leasing of his gracious Father.
OF DIVINE COiirLACENCT. 83
(3.) When fear of his wrath is joined with a kindly affection and
love to him, Psalm xc. 11 — 13 . No man fears God who has not a
dread of his anger, and the more grace, the more of this dread ; so
that a godly man will fear a frown of his face more than another a
stroke of his hand. But withal this does not straiten the heart, but
enlarge it in love to him ; for these perfections of God that are the
most proper objects of fear, arc beautiful and lovely in the eyes of a
saint ; and therefore under the effects of his anger, they condemn
themselves and justify God.
Lastly, When the fear of God draws the sinner to God, and makes
him cling to him, Hos. iii. 5, _" They shall seek the Lord their
God, and David their king ; and shall fear the Lord and his good-
ness in the latter days." As if he had said. They shall fear away
to the Lord, like a good-natured child under fear of his parent
running away to him, and catching hold of him ; the language of
which is. Any thing but separation from my holy Father. Holy
fear also keeps the soul with the Lord, Jer. xxxii. 40, " I will put
my fear in their hearts, and they shall not depart from me," and
that upon the same principle.
5. How doth this fear work in the gracious soul ? To this ques-
tion I answer. Holy fear is an influential grace, diffusing its influ-
ence through the whole man, and therefore all religion is often
comprehended under the name of the fear of God.
(1.) It makes God's verdict of things in his holy law the man's
complete standard. In matters of faith, it causes him believe that
God has said it ; in matters of practice, to do or forbear, because
God has bid or forbid it, though his own reason and all the world
should contradict, Prov. iii. 7, ** Be not wise in thine own eyes ;
fear the Lord and depart from evil." Holy fear awes the soul into
implicit compliance with all that an incomprehensible God makes
known in his word. So was Abraham brought to offer his son, and
the fear of God carried him over all obstructions. Gen. xxii. 12.
(2.) It awes the soul into abstaining from such sins as there is no
other awe-band against. There are some cases of temptation, where-
in there is nothing from any creature to marr compliance with it,
the way is quite clear on that part. But then the fear of God will
be a sufficient restraint. Sometimes thou mayest have a fair occa-
sion to wrong thy neighbour, and there is no fear of his knowing
thou didst it ; but if thou fearest God, thou darest not for thy soul
do it, more than if all the world were looking on thee. Lev.
xix. 14, " Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling-block
before the blind, but shalt fear thy God, I am the Lord." Some-
times occasions for sin occur, and men will bear thee out in the sin-
84 FEAR AND HOPE, OBJECTS
ful practice ; but if thou fearest God, tliou darest not do it, more
than if all the world should conspire to hinder thee, Job xxxi. 21 —
23. Holy Providence lays such occasions before raen for their trial.
(3.) It awes the soul into compliance with duties, even such as
one has no other thing to drive hira to, Eccl. xii. 13, " Fear God and
keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." Iloly
fear reverenceth the authority of God, not only in abstaining from
sin, but in complying with duties, Deul. vi. 13, " thou shalt fear the
Lord thy God, and serve him." Those who have no inward principle
to set thera on their duty, have no fear of God before their eyes.
But that principle will carry a man to duty, over the belly of opo-
sition and contradiction, from Satan, an evil world, and the corrupt
reasonings of one's own heart.
(4.) It makes one mainly fear the offence of God in the commission
of sin, and omission of duties. The great care of a fearer of God
is, lest he depart from God, Jer. xxxii. 40 ; holy fear and love arc
always joined, and therefore he that truly fears God, hates sin, and
loathes it, because God hates it, Prov. viii. 13, " The fear of the
Lord is to hate evil." He loves his duty because it is pleasing in
the Lord's sight ; whereas others hate sin for fear of wrath, and
only love duty for the sake of the reward. It suffers not the soul
to rest in any degree of holiness already attained, but spurs it on
towards perfection : 2 Cor. vii. 1, " Having, therefore, these promises,
dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh
and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." As Noah's fear
made him not only begin the ark, but advance the work till it was
perfected, so this holy fear still works against sin, till the soul be
out of hazard ; and that is not till death. Truce with sin, or in-
dulging lusts, say either there is no fear of God in the heart,
or that it is asleep ; for in whatsoever measure one fears God, he
will stand at a distance from sin, and seek the destruction of his
corruptions.
Lastly, It carries the man to his duty, over the belly of the fear
of man or any other creature, Matth. x. 28, " And fear not them
which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul." If one be
in hazard of being frightened from his duty, by the fear either of
devils or of men, there is no antidote like the fear of God, 1 Pet.
iii. 14, " But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye ;
and be not afraid of their terror, neither be ye troubled ;" for as the
light of the sun removes the light of a glow-worm, that shines only
in the dark, so the fear of God banisheth other fear in the point
of duty to the Lord.
I shall now add a few motives to influence the study of this filial
fear ; such as,
OF DIVINE COMPLACENCY. 85
1. Infinite greatness and goodness meet together in him, and in
him only, and therefore it is his due, Jer. x. 7, " Who would not
fear thee, king of nations, for to thee doth it appertain." His glo-
rious and unspeakable perfections entitle him to it, and it cannot
be denied him without the highest sacrilege. Nay, men must needs
be strangers to him who do not fear him ; for no sooner does the
creature know him, but it must fear him ; the sight of his greatness
without his goodness, will produce a terror : but the sight of both, a
holy reverence.
2. The relations requiring reverence of us meet together in him ;
and the truth is, we owe no reverence to any, but as they do in
some sort, by the eminence they stand in, represent God whom we
are to fear above all, and to fear in them. A reverential fear is
due to our superiors, but God is the Supreme Being. We owe it to
those who are superior to us in office and dignity, Rom. xiii. 7,
"Eender therefore unto all their due, tribute to whom tribute is
due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom
honour." God is the supreme Governor of the world. Is the ser-
vant to reverence his master, the child his parents, the wife her
husband ? surely then God, who is the ancient of days, who stands
to his people in such endearing relations, is to be feared by them,
Psalm xlv. 11, "He is thy Lord, and worship thou him."
3. It is our wisdom to fear God, Psalm cxi. 10, " The fear of the
Lord is the beginning of wisdom." sinner ! wouldst thou be wise
indeed ? then fear God ; it is the beginning of wisdom. A man ne-
ver begins to be wise till the fear of God enters his heart. He goes
on in folly and madness till he get this ballast to his soul ; he is
frisking about the pit's mouth, in hazard every moment of falling
down, till the awe of God strikes his soul. — It is the chief point of
wisdom ; all the wisdom of the world is but folly iu comparison of
this. Wisdom teaches men to fear dangers, losses, and the like, but
what avails it all, if men fear not the offending of God, and the
loss of the soul.
4. It is in some sort the whole of religion. Job iv. 6, " Is not this
thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy
ways ?" for it is the sum and substance of religious duties, which
therefore are comprehended under that name in many parts of the
Bible, and it has an universal influence over the whole of religion,
drawing it all after it in the special parts thereof: for when it
once gets place, it will bring in every known duty, and set the soul
at a distance from all known sin.
5. It would free you of other fears that are tormenting, in what-
ever degree it gets place in your hearts. Fear of men and devils
86 PEAR AND HOPE, OBJECTS
is SO entertained by many, that it becomes a tormenting passion,
frighting them out of the way of duty to God. This is the first ex-
pedient to get rid of these. Allow the great God his own room in
the heart, and let him be thy fear and thy dread, and so the crea-
ture will prove contemptible in comparison of him.
6. Consider the precious promises made to. and the benefits bestowed
on those that fear the Lord. If thou be a fearer of God, go mat-
ters as they will, with thee it shall be well ; Eccl. viii. 12, 13,
"Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days are pro-
longed, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear
God, which fear before him ; but it shall not be well with the wicked,
neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because
he feareth not before God," It prolongs men's days, in so far as it
keeps them in the way of holiness, Prov. x. 27 ; see a cluster of
promises. Psalm XXV. 12 — 14; compare Prov. xix. 23, and Psalm
xxxiv. 9, which you may read at your leisure.
Lastly, The want of the fear of God is an infallible sign of a
wicked, graceless heart; it looses the reins to wickedness of heart
and life, and so betrays men into ruin, Psalm xxxvi. 1 — 4, " These
that fear not God now, will be made to fear him hereafter, when
there shall be no escaping out of the hand of their terrible Judge.
Some may say, O ! how shall I attain to this holy fear of God ?
With a view to promote this attainment, I would offer the following
directions ; —
1. Labour to know God, who and what he is, 1 Kings viii. 43,
" That all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as
do thy people Israel." It is a benefit of the second covenant, to
know the Lord, Hos. ii. 20, " I will even betroth thee unto me in
faithfulness, and thou shalt know the Lord." God, to the most of
the world, is like a prince in disguise amongst his subjects, they treat
him rudely because they do not know him ; an unknown God will
not be feared. While ignorance of God reigns in the heart, there
is no place for holy fear; for that will make men count darts as
stubble, and laugh at the shaking of the spear.
2. Stir up in your hearts a desire to fear him ; it is a token for
good, when one is willing to entertain the fear of God, Neh. i. 11,
*' Thy servants who desire to fear thee." This desire hath the pro-
mise, and it will be accompanied with suitable endeavours after it.
Many fight against the fear of God, that they may live at ease, and
may be able to give themselves loose reins to their sinful practi-
ces ; no wonder their hearts be hardened from it. And hence, if at
any time they be taken with the fear of God, they do what they
can to be freed of it, as they would pluck out arrows out of their
flesh.
or DIVINE COMPLACENCY. 8?
3. Take God for your God in Clirist, and devote yourselves to
hire. Tlie God we choose for our God, we will fear; Mic. iv, 5,
"For all people will walk every one in the name of his God, and
we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever."
And so, when men set up their idols of jealousy in the Lord's room,
these get the fear that is due to God. So the worldling fears his
clay god, his life is in its smiles, and its frowns are his death. But
take the Lord for your God, I say, in Christ ; for no otherwise he
offers himself to us in the covenant, 2 Cor. v. 19. This is the way
to holy fear : For, (1.) It is a promised benefit of the covenant,
Jer. xxxii. 40, " I will put my fear in their hearts." Whoever
comes into God's covenant of grace, the fear of God is, by the holy
Spirit, stamped upon their hearts, whereby it may be known that
they belong to God as children ; and they devote themselves, on the
other hand, to his fear. Psalm cxix. 38. They are his servants, de-
voted to his fear. They give themselves to it, and make it their
great study. (2.) This covenant is a covenant of peace and friend-
ship betwixt God and the guilty creature, through a Mediator, Heb.
xii. 22 — 24, so that thy state is changed, the moment that thon comest
into the covenant, from emnity to peace with God, Eph. ii. 19, they
become fellow-citizens with the saints, and are of the household of
God. This happily joins love and dread of God together, produc-
ing holy fear and reverence of God ; whereas while God is appre-
hended certainly as an enemy to us, fear him we may with slavish
fear, but not with holy fear, since we cannot love him.
4. Be much in the exercise of repentance. Sorrowing after a
godly sort for sin, as it dishonours God, is offensive to his majesty,
separates the sinner from God, and exposes the soul to his anger,
is the ready way to produce holy fear for the time to come, 2 Cor.
vii. 11. Yea, what fear, says Paul, namely as the effect of sorrow
after a godly sort ; they that are burnt dread the fire ; and they
that feel the bitterness of sin, will fear God, and stand at a distance
from it. The looking into our frightful acts of sin, will awe our
hearts with a dread of the offended Majesty, and make us fall down,
saying, " Forgive us our debts."
5. Pray for it earnestly as a premised benefit of the covenant,
and join thereto a faith of particular confidence : Matth. xxi. 22,
" And all things whatsoever ye shall ask, believing ye shall receive
them." Beg of God that he would manifest himself to you, so as
ye may be filled with holy fear of him. Ye may read and hear
much of God, and little impressions be made on your spirits by it
at all ; but when the Lord discovers himself to the sinner, his own
glorious light will so represent him as the soul cannot choose but
88 FEAR AND HOPE, OBJECTS
both love and fearliim : Job xlii. 5, 6, " I bave heard of thee by the
hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee : Wherefore I ab-
hor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."
Lastly, Draw together the scattered affections and faculties of the
soul, and set them on the Lord: Psalm Ixxxvi. 11, "Unite my
heart to fear thy name." As the scattered rays of the sun will not
burn, till they be collected by a burning glass ; so the heart, walk-
ing at random, will not be filled with holy fear. Withdraw your
hearts from pursuing vanities, and gadding after idols, and labour
to see the Lord in those glasses where we may perceive how he is
to be feared.
I would urge you to look to him particularly, (1.) In the glass of
his word. See how he is there represented as oue worthy to be
feared : Psalm Ixxxix. 7, " Grod is greatly to be feared in the as-
sembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are
about him." with what awful solemnity may we hear him there
speaking of himself, his saints speaking of him and to him ! and the
angels also, with their vailed faces, crying, Holy, holy, holy is the
Lord Grod Almighty. Had we eyes to discern his voice in his word,
every page would fill our hearts with profoundest reverence. See
him, (1.) In the shining holiness of his commandments, perfectly
pure from all earthly dross ; and when thus seen, how can the sin-
ful creature not fear him ! Exod. xv. 11, " Who is like unto thee,
Lord, among the gods ? who is like unto thee, glorious in holi-
ness, fearful in praises, doing wonders ?" He appears there to be
all light, and that in him there is no darkness at all. The holy,
spiritual, and extensive law, may fill our hearts with the dread of
the Lawgiver, of whose nature it is a transcript. See him, (2,) In
the amazing sovereignty of his threatenings. This filled good Josiah
with fear,. 2 Kings xxii. 19 ; and Hab. iii. 16, Behold thence flames
of wrath flashing out on the faces of impenitent sinners. All the
threats of men own death to be their utmost; and, ! how will a
threat of death fright mortals ! But the Lord's tlireatenings go be-
yond death, and carry the matter to an endless eternity. See him,
(3.) In the unspeakable riches of his gospel-promises displayed in
the word. His terrors are no more severe on the one hand, than
his promised encouragements are great on the other. If hell be
in the one scale, heaven is in the other. Who would not, there-
fore, fear him ? — Look to him,
2. In Christ, the brightness of his glory, and the express image
of his person. See God in Christ, and there see an object of fear
and love in one. If ye would be stirred up to fear God, look to
Mount Calvary, and there behold Christ groaning, and dying on a
OF DIVINE COMPLACENCY. 89
cross for tlie sins of an elect world, and you will see three awful
sights. (1.) The severity of God's justice against sin, not sparing
his own Son, Rora. viii. 32. Many terrible instances have there
been of this, in the deluge, and the like. But what is the tumbling
down of sinful angels into the pit, the deluging of a world, the
burning of Sodom, — to the Son of God dying on a cross, and bearing
his Father's wrath ? ! if this was done in the green tree, what
shall be done in the dry ? (2.) The channel of mercy and grace, in
which they flow to guilty sinners. It is by the Mediator's stripes
we must be healed ; the sinner's life comes in the way of Christ's
death ; no mercy, no grace, but through the wounds of a Redeemer.
There was love from eternity in the breast of God towards an elect
world, but Justice stood in the way of Mercy's getting through to
the criminals ; a way was then made by the blood of the Son of God.
(3.) The price of pardon, 1 Pet. i. 19, the precious blood of Christ ;
no pardon, but what is the price of blood, and that blood of infinite
value ; that is the ransom which had to be given for the captives, or
they could never have been set free. ! who can see these, and
not fear this awful and tremendous majesty thus appearing ! — Look
at him,
3. In the glass of his adorable perfections. How small a portion
do we know of him ! but there is nothing which we have manifested
to us concerning him, but may contribute to this holy fear. On the
one hand, consider his infinite power, whereby he can do all, and his
universal dominion, whereby he may do what he will : Job xxxvii.
23, 24, and xxv. 2 ; his justice, holiness, omniscience, omnipresence,
infinite varacity and truth, whereby all he has said shall be made
good to a tittle. Who, then, can but fear him ? — Consider, on the
other hand, his mercy, his love, grace, and goodness, which are so
unbounded and unspeakable ! Who, then, can but fear him ? — Look
at him,
Lastly, In the glass of his works. Look to his works of creation.
Psalm xix. 1. Does not the earth and heaven, with all their glori-
ous furniture, cry aloud to us to fear this God. Look to his works
of providence : Jer. v. 22, " Fear ye not me ? sailh the Lord ;
will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for
the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass ?"
Bis managing of the world challenges our fearing of him. (1.) His
mercies with which we are loaded, call us to reverence him as our
great benefactor, Jer. v. 24. (2.) His judgments ; his judgments, in
particular, against ourselves, Luke xxiii. 40 ; and against others
which we may every where discern : Psalm cxix. 118. — 120, " My
fiesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgments."
Vol. IX. G
90 FEAR AND HOPE, OBJECTS
Every stroke laid on in tliis world is fitted to create a fear of him
in oar hearts. His general judgment, that is to come, the serious
view of which must needs strike sinners with fear : 1 Pet. i. 17,
" And if ye call on the Father, who, without respect of persons,
judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your so-
journing here in fear." See also Eccl. xii. 13, 14.
II. I would now earnestly exhort you to " hope in the Lord for
his mercy." Entertain a holy hope in God in al! cases. For clear-
ing of this, we must know, that hope in general is an inclination to,
and expectation of good possible to be had, but not without some
difficulty. As hope is conversant about divine things, or the mercy
of God, it is of two sorts, holy hope, and presumptuous hope ; the
one well-grounded, the other ill-grounded. Here, therefore, also,
some inquiries may be proposed, which we shall endeavour to an-
swer ; such as,
I. What is the true hope for mercy, which the Lord takes plea-
sure in ? Answ. It is a certain expectation of attaining the mercy,
which faith believes, grounded on God's grace and faithfulness.
(1.) For the kind of it; it is an expectation of mercy to be at-
tained. Hope looks always on its object as future : Rom. viii. 24,
" For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is not hope,
for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for ?" This is a main
difference between faith and hope, faith looking always on its object
as present in the promise, for " faith is the substance of things
hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen." And hope is a
certain expectation of it, not so much in itself, (for true hope may
be attended with much doubting, Lam. iii. 18), as in the event, for
it will never fail the party that has it, nor put him to shame by
disappointment, for it hangs on faith : Rom. t. 5, " And hope maketh
not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts,
by the Holy Ghost given unto us.
(2.) For the object of this hope ; it is mercy which is hoped for.
Now, there is a threefold mercy hope looks for. (1.) The mercy of
evernal life itself : Jude 21, " Keei) yourselves in the love of God,
looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."
This is the chief thing the believer is to hope for, and he may, with
the utmost certainty and confidence, expect it, 2 Tim. i. 12. This
hope, even the hope of salvation, the apostle will have the Chris-
tian to put on as an helmet, 1 Thess. v. 8, and even to stretch forth
his hope over death and the grave. (2.) Tlie mercy necessary to
bring us to eternal life ; as perseverance therein to the end, not-
withstanding all the difliculties that are in the way: Rom. viii. 38,
" And wo know, that all things work together for good to them that
OF DIVIXE COMPLACEjrCY. 91
love God, and are the called according to his purpose." Though
the grace of God in him be like a spark of fire in an ocean, he ouo-lit
firmly to hope, that the same heavenly breath that kindled it will
keep it in to the end. (3.) The mercy of all other good things, so
far as God shall see the bestowing them on us for his own glory,
and our good. There are many particular things good in themselves
which we know not whether they will be so to us or not ; for ex-
ample, deliverance from such a trouble ; therefore it is not to be
absolutely hoped for, but under this qualification, that God sees it
to be good for us.
(3.) For the antecedent of this hope : that is faith, which is the
evidence of things hoped for, Heb. xi. 1. There can be no true
hope without faith ; where faith does not open the door, hope cannot
enter. Faith embraces the mercy in the promise of God, and hope
waits for the accomplishment of the promise; so that one cannot trulv
hope for that which God has not promised, neither can one hope
for the accomplishment of that promise which faith does not believe.
Lastly, The ground of this hope is God's free grace in Christ and
his faithfulness: 1 Pet. i. 13, " Wherefore, gird up the loins of your
mind, and hope to the end, for the grace which is to be brought to
you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." The mercy promised is quite
above the sinner's deserving ; but he considers the fulness and free-
dom of God'B grace, and withal how unalterable he is to his word,
and therefore hopes upon having that word made good to him.
A second question is. How may the hope of mercy be known to be
presumptuous ? Answ. Presumption is the soul-ruining plague,
whereby a person assumes to himself what God has, by no testimony
of his word, declared to be his, and which alters the beautiful order of
mercy established by God, joining together what God has separated,
and separated what he has joined. — Upon this I observe,
(1.) That hope is presumptuous, which is not founded on the
Lord's word. Such hope is brisk in the dark, but loses all its lustre
by the light of God's word brought in upon it: John iii. 20, 21,
*' For every one that doth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to
the light, lest his deeds should be reproved; but he that doth truth
cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they
are wrought in God." God's word is a friend unto his grace, but
an enemy to delusion ; it is the touch-stone that discovers the true
metal and also the counterfeit. ^Tou hope for salvation, in what
word of God is your hope founded ? Does the Lord's word, search-
ingly applied, strengthen or weaken your hope ? Say you. The
general invitations are the ground of my hope ? These may be
grounds of hope that ye may got eternal life, if you will take God's
g2
92 FEAR AND HOPE, OBJECTS
way : but do j'ou not hope that you shall get it, without a due con-
sideration of this ? Now, these can never be the grounds of a solid
hope, for all that hear the gospel are comprehended in these, as well
as you.
(2.) That hope is presumptuous, which overlooks and neglects the
means appointed by God for the attaining of his mercy unto eternal
life : 1 Pet. i. 3, " We are begotten by God to a lively hope, by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." The way thou art to
be happy for ever is, that thou be united to Christ by a true faith,
that thou be a new creature, that thou lead a holy life. Dost thou
neglect these, and yet hope all will be well ? Thy hope is presump-
tion, and will ruin thee, Deut. xxix. 19, 20.
Lastly, That hope is presumptuous, which is built without erasing
the old foundation, Luke xxxiv. 48. Many have hopes of heaven
which grow up with themselves, they were never shaken out of
themselves, nor had the naughtiness of their hopes discovered, and
so never were led to Jesus Christ, to build on him by uniting with
him.
A third enquiry may be, How may the hope of mercy be known
to be true hope, which God will take pleasure in ? In answer to
this, it may be noticed,
1. True hope is founded on the free grace of God in Christ, 1 Pet.
i. 13, quoted already. The scriptures are written for our learning
that we, through patience and comfort of them, might have hope,
Eom. XV. 4. Hope is not built upon our good dispositions, good
works, external and common benefits which we enjoy, for these are
but a sandy foundation, unable to bear this weight ; but the anchor
of hope is cast so as to fix upon the immoveable ground aforesaid,
Heb. vi. 19. It is true holiness discerned by us in ourselves, as an
evidence, that doth help us to a firm hope ; but the stress of hope
lies not upon it as a ground-work.
2. True hope is a lively principle of sanctification, 1 John iii. 3,
" And every man that hath this hope purifieth himself, even as ho
(God) is pure ;" and therefore it is called a lively hope, 1 Pet. i. 3.
As a spring by degrees does work out the mud that is in a well, so
hope of mercy does work out corruption ; as the prospect of the
marriage-day makes the parties to be taken up in preparing for
the marriage, so the. true hope of eternal life puts one to be prepar-
ing for it, Rev. xix. 7. That hope which suff"ers sin to lie untouched
in heart and life, that docs not put on a person to mortify sin, is
a dead hope ; and true hope carries to universal holiness, even as
he is pure.
Lastly, It makes one diligent in the use of means appointed by
OF DIVIKE CO-MrLACENCY. 93
God, Heb. x. 23 — 25 ; but withal not to rest on tlie mecans, but on
the Lord. To hope, without using tlie means appointed and re-
quired, is presumption ; to rest on the means is a spice of atheism.
But that is true hope, which makes the soul delight in all duties
and ordinances, to leave no appointed, means unessayed, in order to
attaining the blessed end ; and then, when all is done, to place all
confidence of success on the Lord.
With a view to press this holy, lively hope, I would mention the
following motives.
1. It is not only our comfortable attainment, but a duty required
of all that believe, 1 Pet. i. 13, " Gird up the loins of your mind,
be sober, and hope to the end." And therefore the apostle Paul
presseth diligence in seeking after it in full measure, Heb. vi. 11,
" And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence
to the full assurance of hope unto the end ;" and he prays for it,
Rom. XV. 13, "Now, the God of hope fill you with all joy and
peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power
of the Holy Ghost." It is a duty tha,t is in a special manner com-
fortable.
2. It is most necessary; hope is as necessary to a Christian, as a
head-piece to a soldier in a battle, 1 Thess. v. 8 ; as necessary as an
anchor to a ship, Heb. vi. 19; yea, so necessary, that we are said
to be saved by it, Rom. viii. 24.
Lastly, It is a great fiiend to holiness, and perseverance in the
ways of God, 1 Cor. xv. 58. — As it honours God's grace and good-
ness, so it strengthens the soul, and animates it to all duties, to
fight agaiust corruption and temptation, and to pursue holiness,
III. Let all be exhorted to entertain a holy fear of God, toge-
ther with a holy hope for his mercy. Mix these, and balance your
souls with them, whatever your case be. While you are going
through the world, keep your course in the middle between the two
rocks of presumption and despair. — For this purpose,
1. Beware of desponding or despairing of the mercy of God in
Christ. There is an allowable despair, which all ought to entertain,
in order to their getting their hope fixed on God, viz. a quitting of
all hope in our own sufficiency, or ability to make ourselves happy
by ourselves, or that ever we shall be well, while we continue in a
state of black nature. But what we call despair is a giving over all
hope in God, which is a horrible sin. There is a threefold despair
you should beware of, as ye would not ruin your own souls.
(1.) A sensual despair, which ariseth from an excessive love of
the profits and pleasures of this world, with a secure contempt of
spiritual and external good in another world, 1 Cor. xv, 32, " Let
94 FEAR AND Ild'E, OBJECTS, <S:C.
US," say they, "cat and drink, for to-morrow we die." Alas ! how
many are there plagued with this ? their souls are festered with the
desire of present good, which is their all, and, having no hope of
better after this life, they give the saving to their lusts after these.
(2.) A sluggish despair, Prov. xxii. 13, " The slothful man saith.
There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets." Their sloth
musters up difficulties to them, formiug some that are groundless,
imaginary ones, and aggravating real ones, so that they conclude
beforehand that ihey will not be better, their endeavours will not
succeed, and therefore they lie still, and will do nothing for their
own help; this ruins many.
(3.) A sorrowful despair, which ariseth from strong fears, which
raise such a mist in the soul, that grounds of hope in its case, are
hid out of sight, and they are in their soul's case as in Acts xxvii.
20, neither sun nor stars for many days appear, no small tempest
lies on them, and all hope that they shall be saved is then taken
away. There are different degrees of this ; sometimes it is silent
and sullen, making little noise, but is smothered in one's breast
like a burning fire. In such a case, one would do well to give it a
vent before God, his servants, or godly experienced Christians, lest
it ruin them. This is the way David took when in such a case.
Psalm xxxix. 2. — 4, " I was dumb with silence, I held my peace
even from good, and my sorrow was stirred ; my heart was hot
■within me ; while I was musing, the fire burned, then spake I with
my tongue, Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of
ray days, what it is, that I may know how frail I am." Sometimes
it is raging as in Judas, who, under horror laid upon his sin, did
miserably end his life.
Beware of all these, and resist the beginnings of despair, and if it
has fastened on any soul, let them strive to quench it, as they
would do a fire. The former makes way for the latter, and alto-
gether makes way for remediless despair in hell. I shall only
say two things of it. — (1.) It is defiling, and makes the soul most
loathsome before God ; for it conceives most basely aud abominably
of God and Christ, directly opposing itself to the grand design
of the gospel ; it blasphemes the power of God, and the efficacy of
his Son's blood and Spirit. (2.) It is ruining, for it makes the
sinner flee from God, and cast away the means of recovery, and so
ensures their destruction ; besides that it often drives the sinner
to put an end to his torment here, by leaping into endless torments
before the time, as in the case of Judas. And while we see how
Satan is ready to take advantage, we had need to take heed.
2. Beware of presumption. Take heed that ye do not flee from
JESUS VICTORIOUS OVER DEATH. 95
the one rock to dash on the other. Indeed, despair is tormentino-,
while presumption is easy. Nevertheless, though none of them is
good, yet a person presuming is ordinarily in greater hazard than
one despairing ; for the presumptuous sees not his case as the other
does: the one is well pleased with his damnable condition, the other
is weary of his, and wishes to have it changed; so that many more
perish by the one than by the other.
To conclude : Remember, on the one hand, God is a holy jealous
God, who cannot away with sin, or a state of sin, but the fire of
his jealousy burns against it. On the other hand, remember that
the blood of Christ takes away all guilt, his Spirit overcomes the
most hopeless case, and his mercy reaches wide for every condition.
Fear him, ye that hope in him ; hope in his mercy, ye that fear him;
for " the Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that
hope in his mercy." Amen.
JESUS VICTORIOUS OVER DEATH.''
SERMON IX.
Isaiah xxv. 8,
He will swallow up death in victory.
Such as are desirous duly to manage this solemn communion oc-
casion, will have in their view the other world. "We are all on a
journey towards it, and, if suitably exercised, will improve this oc-
casion to lay down our measures for eternity. Betwixt us and that
other world, lies the great gulf of death ; through it are two pas-
sages ; one deep and devouring, where the sinner passes alone ; there
the waters flow with all that force and strength which they acquired
by the breach of the covenant of works. By this passage, sinners
are thrown out into the land of utter darkness and misery. The
text shews us the other passage, which is shallow and safe, where
the sinner passes on at the Mediator's back, the waters being dried
up by the soles of his feet, whoso passeth this way, enters into
Imraanuel's land, the land of life; for "he will swallow up death
in victory."
In these words, we have a prophecy of the happy success of a
battle fought by the Mediator on account of elect sinners. The suc-
* Delivered Saturday, October 4, 171P.
96 JliSUS VICTORIOUS OVKR DEATH.
cess is most certain; therefore it is in the Hebrew, "He hath swal-
lowed up," &c. — Here consider,
1. The combatants; the two mightiest that ever encountered.
Upon the one hand is death, with his devouring mouth, a champion
who never yet could find his match among the children of men, till
the great HE, in the text, entered the lists against him, even Jesus
Christ, who being man, was capable of feeling the force of death ;
but being the Lord of hosts also, ver. 6, could not but be conqueror
at length. So death and the Mediator are the combatants. —
There is,
2. The encounter of the combatants, implied in these words, " He
will swallow up death in victory." Death attemi)ting to prey upon
that elect world which was given to Christ by the Father, he, as
Mediator, to pluck that prey out of death's devouring mouth, en-
counters the terrible enemy while he is making havock of poor sin-
ners ; and, having taken upon hira the guilt of his elect, which gave
death a power over them, death advances against hira, and attacks
him, and he abides the contest. No sooner was he born, than Death,
mounted on his pale horse, advanced against him, and striking at him,
filled Bethlehem with the blood of babes and the shrieks of parents.
Though it could not then reach him the deadly blow, it pursued hira
still, shot out its poisonous arrows against him all along, till they
came to a close engagement on the cross, wliere it wrestled him down
even into the grave, the proper place of its dominion. So the Me-
diator got the first fall.
3. But behold the issue of the battle. Death, who in all other
battles wins whatever party loses, loses the day here; the victory is
on the side of the slain Mediator. The slain Saviour again revives,
gets up upon death, stands conqueror over it, even in its own ter-
ritories, breaks.the bars of the grave, takes away the sting it fought
with against him, and puts it and all its forces to the rout; so that
it can never show its face against him any more, Rom, vi. 9, "Know-
ing that Christ being raised from the dead, dieth no more, death hath
no more dominion over him."
4. The Mediator's pursuit of the victory, till it be complete for
these that are his, as well as for himself: "He will swallow up
death in victory." The vanquished enemy has yet many strongholds
in his hand, and he keeps many of the redeemed ones at under; some
of them as prisoners, that they cannot stir ; others of them though
they can stir, yet can go nowhere, but they must drag the bands of
death after them. But the Jilediator will pursue the victory till he
swallow up death, totally abolish it out of his kingdom, that there
shall no more of it be seen there for ever, as a thing that is swal-
JESUS VICTORIOUS OVER DEATH. 9/
lowed up is seen no more at all ; our Lord is cutting it down daily,
and the last of it sliall go over at the last day, 1 Cor. xv. 54, " So
■when this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall
have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying
that is written. Death is swallowed up in victory. — These words
contain in them this
DocT. That our Lord Jesus, having fought death, and obtained
the victory, will pursue the victory, till death be utterly abolished
out of his kingdom. — Three things are here to be attended to.
I. The battle.
IL The victory.
III. The pursuit. — After which,
IV. I shall subjoin some practical improvement.
I. We shall consider the battle betwixt death and the Lord of
life. — And,
1, Under what character has the Lord of life fought this battle?
He fought it,
(1.) As the head and representative of the elect world, as their
Mediator, who took burden on himself for all that the Father had
given him ; for otherwise he had nothing to do with death ; nor had
it any concern with him : John v. 15, " I lay down my life for the
sheep." Adam, the head of all mankind, had betrayed us all into
the snare of death, we were not able to break it, or to make our
escape thence ; but Christ undertook it for the elect, as their Head,
and so sought death in their room and stead : 1 Tim. ii. 6, " Who
gave himself a ransom for all," " But he was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of
our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed," Isa.
liii. 5. He bare what we should have borne, stood the shock which
would have ruined us ; he was wounded and brused in this battle,
but all for us. Yer. 8, " For the transgression of my people was he
stricken." And hence we are reckoned in law to have died in him:
Rom. vi. 10, 11, " For in that he died, he died unto sin once ; but in
that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also your-
selves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God, through Jesus
Christ our Lord."
(2.) As their Redeemer and Deliverer : Hos. xiii. 14, *' I will
ransom them from the power of the grave, I will redeem them from
death : death ! I will be thy plagues ; grave ! I will be thy de-
struction." By sin we fell a prey to devouring death, the broken
law concluded us under the power of it. The prey could not be
taken from this mighty one, without both price and power ; so Christ
98 JESUS VICTORIOUS OVER DEATH,
engaged with death, and by his death ransomed death's prisoners :
Heb. ii. 15, " That through death he miglit destroy death, and him
that had the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver them
who, through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bon-
dat^e." He spoiled it of its power, that they might get free. The king-
dom he had received of his Father could not be recovered, nor the
captives set free, without stroke of sword, his overcoming death,
that held them fast ; therefore he fought the battle.
(3.) As a captain or general at the head of his people : Heb. ii.
10, " For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are
all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of
their salvation perfect through sufferings." God has designed that
the elect shall fight their way to heaven, and therefore has given
them Christ as a leader and commander : Isa. Iv. 4, " Behold I have
given him for a leader and commander to the people." They must
march through the Red Sea of death to the upper Canaan ; but Christ
goes before, drying up the waters. There are cords of death on the
most lively believer, yet he must set himself to break them ; but
Christ has made them like a thread of flax, wlien it toucheth the fire.
They must encounter the king of terrors ; but the King of glory,
marching in the front, has received all the deadly sting — I shall
consider,
2. The attack made upon him by death. Death, finding the Me-
diator standing in sinners' stead, advances against him with all its
forces, with which it was furnished by the breach of the first co-
venant ; and, when managing this contest,
(1.) Death brings up its strength against him, that is, the law,
1 Cor. XV. 56, " The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is
the law," which, finding him a sinner by imputation, cut him down,
Gal. iv. 4, " God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under
the law." The law cries for justice against sin, and justice takes the
Mediator by the throat, saying. Pay what thou owest ; then he " re-
stored what he took not away," Psalm Ixix. 4. The law brings
up against him a black band of curses, and pours into his soul : Gal.
iii. 13, " Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being
made a curse for us." It soon began to shoot its arrows against
him. When he was born, he must be born in a stable, laid in a
manger, for there was no room for him in the inn ; persecution is
raised against him in his infancy ; he must be all along a man of
sorrows, poor, not having where to lay his head ; he is hungry,
thirsty, weary, &c. At length the battle grows hotter, the heavens
arc black above his head ; and in the garden, and on the cross,
showers of arrows dipt in the curse fly at him. He sweats bloody
JESUS VICTORIOUS OVER DEATU. 99
drops, falling down to the ground, — cries out, " My God, my God,
wby hast thou forsaken me ?"
(2.) Meanwhile he that has the power of death (Heb. ii. 14.) ad-
vances against him, Satan sets upon hira in the wilderness with most
grievous temptations, Matt. iv. Being beat back, he returns, and re-
news the assault: Luke iv. 13, "And when the devil had ended all the
temptations, he departed from him for a season." At length the hour
and power of darkness comes, and then the bands of hell exert their
utmost vigour against him, storms from hell blow hard upon him,
the fountains of the great deep are opened on him : John xiv. 30,
*' Hereafter I will not talk much with you, for the prince of this world
Cometh, and hath nothing in me." Col. ii. 15, " And having spoiled
principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumph-
ing over them in it.
(3.) The congregation of men dead in trespasses and sins stir up
themselves against him : Isa. liii. 3, " He is despised and rejected
of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and we hid, as
it were, our faces from him ; he was despised, and we esteemed
him not." Judas betrays him, the Jews gape on him like a lion,
crying. Crucify him ; Pilate condemns him ; he is scourged, crowned
with thorns, smitten on the crowned head, his body racked till it
was all out of joint, nailed to the cross, hangs there mocked, and
pierced with a spear.
(4.) Death comes with its sting upon him, and pierces him to the
heart, and casts him down dead : 1 Cor. xv. 56, " The sting of death
is sin :" this gives it the power of hurting any. The guilt of all
the sins of the elect lay upon him, which could not but make the
sting of death inexpressibly sharp and piercing. Thus a thousand
deaths in one met together on him, for the Lord made the iniquities
of us all to meet on him ; and all the arrows that should have
pierced all the elect for ever, have entered into his bowels ; and,
having fallen under death, he was carried prisoner to the grave.
II. Let us consider the victory Christ obtained. He tells us he
has fought and overcome: Rev. iii. 21, "To him that overcoraeth
■will I grant to sit with me on ray throne, even as I also overcame,
and am set down with ray Father in his throne. Yea, he has tri-
umphed over his enemies in his glorious ascension into heaven. Con-
sider,
I. How this victory over death was obtained. It was obtained,
(1.) By his death. This was the decisive stroke : Heb. ii. 14,
" That through death he might destroy death, and him that had
the power of death." It was such a victory as Samson's last
victory over the Philistines, when he pulled down the house, and
100 JKSUS VICTORIOUS OVER DEATH.
died liimself with tlie Philistines in the fall of it; and therefore
he cried upon the cross, " It is finished." Death has done its utmost
and can do no more ; by his death he satisfied the law in all it had
to demand of him as the elect's Surety ; he paid the debt, and re-
moved the guilt. Sin being removed, and the law satisfied, death
has no more that strength or sting wherewith to set upon him at
first; and so it fell with him.
(2.) By his resurrection. Thereby he got up above death, which
had lost its power, and could hold him no longer. Acts ii. 24,
" Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death, be-
cause it was not possible that he should be holden of it." He stood
a conqueror in the grave, death's own quarters ; he broke asunder
its iron bars, and brought away its keys ; behold they hang at his
girdle, Rev. i. 18, " And have the keys of hell and of death." So
death's dominion over those that are his, got an irrecoverable stroke,
and he that had the power of death as to the elect, namely, as an
executioner, viz. the devil, was also destroyed. — I next inqaire,
2. What sort of a victory it is Jesus hath obtained over death ? —
It is,
(1.) A dear-bought victory, it cost the glorious Conqueror his
precious life ; he suflTered the bruising of his heel, before the ser-
pent's head could be got bruised. He suffered in his body, and also
in his soul, to such a degree, that the holy human nature could not
have borne up under it, had it not been supported by his divine na-
ture.
(2.) A complete victory in respect of himself, though not yet com-
plete in respect of his members : Rom. vi. 9, " Knowing that Christ
being raised from the dead, dieth no more, death hath no more do-
minion over him." Now he is beyond the reach of death and all his
enemies, sitting at the Lord's right hand until he make his enemies
his footstool. Psalm ex. 1.
(3.) A glorious victory, saints and angels singing the triumphant
song. Hear the acclamations of joy and wonder with which he Avas
met at his return from the battle, Isa. Ixiii. 1, " Who is this that
cometh from Edom, with died garments from Bozrah ? This that is
glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength ?
I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save." What a glorious
victory was it which he obtained over the king of terrors, who sub-
dues the most potent armies, overcomes the conquerors of the earth ;
but behold the great spoiler spoiled, the conqueror conquered by the
King of glory.
(4.) An everlasting victory. Now death's power is irrecoverably
broke ; the serpent is wounded in the head, which is a deadly
JESUS VICTORIOUS OVER DEATH. ■ 101
wound, it sliall never be able to rally its broken forces against him
any more ; it went out into the world full, but the King of saints
has met it, and spoiled it, so that it in some sort is now empty.
As a practical improvement of what has been said, I would on
this occasion earnestly call upou you,
1. As mortals, dying men and women, to come over this day to
the conqueror's side. Our Lord has obtained the victory over death,
come ye and surrender yourselves to him, break your covenant with
death and hell, enter into his covenant, and honestly enlist your-
selves under his victorious banners, abide no longer among his ene-
mies. — To prevail with you, I would lay before you the following
motives.
(1.) If ye are out of Christ, ye live in death's territories ; yea, ye
are dead ; while ye live, death hath dominion over you, Eph. v. 14,
" Wherefore he saith. Awake thou that sleepest, arise from the
dead, and Christ shall give you light." Ye are spiritually dead, the
threatenings of the law, as the bands of death, gird you about; the
divers lusts ye serve are as the chains of death unto you. !
awake, ere ye be cast out of this world, and buried out of his sight.
(2.) The conqueror is ready to receive you, and give you the pri-
vileges of the subjects of his kingdom, Zech. ix. 11, 12, "As for
thee also, by the blood of thy covenant, I have sent forth thy pris-
oners out of the pit, Avherein is no water ; turn ye to the stronghold
ye prisoners of hope, even to-day do I declare that I will render
double unto thee." Christ is coming this day in the word to your
graves, and saying to you, as to Lazarus, Come forth, bestir your-
selves, prisoners of hope ! and come away, when the Kedeeraer
and deliverer, who has overcome death, is calling yon ! Abide not
under the dominion of the foiled enemy, but come away to the vic-
torious Lord of life.
(3.) Behold how he loved the children of men, John xiv. 13,
*' And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the
Father may be glorified in the Son." Why did he fight this battle
with death, but to rescue sinners to himself, as a prey out of the
mouth of the devouring lion ? Shall not his dying love win you,
his dying groans awake you, out of your sleep in sin ? Does not
every wound he received call you to cast away your sins which lay
so heavy on him ? will ye love death, and slight the Redeemer, Prov.
viii. 2(j, " All they that hate me love death."
(4.) How will you grapple with death, if ye come not out of your
sins to Jesus Christ? Man, remember thou must die; the day is
coming these eyes will be closed, the breath that is now going out
and in will go, to return no more till the last pulse beat. How
102 JESUS VICTORIOUS OVER DEATH.
wilt thou be able to grapple with the king of terrors alone ? Death
cast down the niau Christ; if it did so to the green tree, what will
become of thee, a withered, dead branch ? Thou shalt find death
lively as to thee, armed with its sting against thee, since thou art
not in Christ, his victory belongs not to thee, but the first death will
turn thee over into the hands of the second death ; and so thou shalt
be eternally dying, but never die.
(5.) Come to Christ and thou shalt have the benefit of his victory
over death : John viii. 51, " Yerily, verily, I say unto you, If a man
keep my sayings, he shall never see death," never feel the sting of
death, its nature shall be quite altered to thee. ! are ye not
thinking what way ye shall get through that ford on that Red Sea,
which ye know not how soon ye may come to ? Come to Christ, lay
hold on the conqueror by faith, in the way of his covenant; the
sealed covenant will be your pass for safe conduct to the other side ;
it has carried all through that took their passage with it hitherto,
and so will it you. — I exhort you,
2. To prepare yourselves for celebrating the triumph of this vic-
tory. The saints above are celebrating it at the upper table, yo are
called to celebrate it at the lower table : " This do ye in remem-
brance of me." Let not Satan get advantage of such as look for
the benefit of this victory, to slight the memorial of it, lest they
vex the Spirit of God, and pour contempt on Christ's institution,
and give their souls such a throw as they will not easily recover,
while their fig-leaf covers of excuses will avail them nothing. Let
none, however, venture rashly on such an ordinance. Take heed
to your state, see that ye be not the King's enemies, but his friends,
by your coming honestly into his covenant, and putting a divorce into
the hands of all your idols. In the midst of the triumphal throng,
he will notice the man that wants the wedding-garment: Matth.
xxii. 11, **And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw
there a man which had not on a wedding-garment," Sinners dead in
trespasses and sins are not fit to celebrate the memorial of Christ's
victory over death. Off with the grave clothes of your lusts, then,
that you may be fit guests for the Lord of life on such an occasion. —
Take heed to your frame ; a dead frame is not fit for such an occasion.
Alas ! for the deadness on the spirits of professors at this day.
! labour to get a lively frame of spirit, wherewith to celebrate
the memorial of Christ's victory ; get faith, love, repentance, de-
sires, thankfulness, &c., in exercise; and for this end, I recommend
to you this night, to meditate on, and take a believing view of this
battle. — Consider,
1. It was a set battle; not an accidental rencounter, but deter-
JESUS VICTORIOUS OVER DEATH. 103
mined from eternity : Gal. iv. 4, " But when the fulness of the time
was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under
the law." Zechariah in his time proclaims the war : Zech. xiii. 7,
" Awake, sword ! against my shepherd, against the man that is
my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts." Nay, it was proclaimed in
paradise: Gen. iii. 15, "And I will put enmity between the woman
and between thy seed and her seed ; it shall bruise thy head, and
thou shalt bruise his heel." The ceremonial law, by which so much
blood was shed, plainly predicted that a bloody day was coming. —
It was,
2. A hot battle. Heavy were the strokes given here : Psalm xxii.
14, " I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint,
my heart is like wax, it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My
strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaveth to my
jaws ; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death." It was a
bloody battle, Isa. ix. 5, " For every battle of the warriors is with
confused noise, and garments rolled in blood ; but this shall be with
burning, and fuel of fire." A dreadful noise was here, the law, men
and devils, crying against the Son of God, death roaring for its prey,
and the Mediator himself crying with strong cries and tears. What
garments rolled in blood were here on every side ! — rolled in
the most precious blood of the Son of God : Isa. Ixiii. 2, " Where-
fore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that
treadeth in the wine-fat ?" A bloody spouse have we been to hira.
— It was,
3. A solitary battle on Christ's part. His enemies were many,
but he was alone : Psalm xxii. 12, " Many bulls have compassed
me." — Isa. Ixiii. 3, " I have trodden the wine-press alone, and of the
people there was none with me." All were against him, none were
with him to take a share ; so thick did the arrows of death fly, that
neither man nor angel durst set out their head, or venture into the
battle on his side. — It was,
4. A longsome battle. He fought all along, from the cradle to
the grave, from his birth to his burial : Isa. liii. 3, " He is de-
spised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with
grief;" though it came to a height at the latter end.
Lastly, There wore no quarters for him in this battle : Rom. viii.
32, " He spared not his own Son, but delivered him up to the death."
He was made to drink a cup of pure unmixed wrath. He met with
no sparing, that so, the arrows of death being all spent on him, his
people might get free.
104 JESUS VICTORIOUS OVER DEATH,
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.*
SERMON X.
Isaiah xxv. 8,
He will swallow xip death in victory.
Ye have been celebrating the triumph of Christ's victory over death,
and professing yourselves the subjects of the conqueror, yea, the
members of his body. If you approve yourselves true to your pro-
fession, here is the best news you can possibly hear in this vrorld,
news which may animate you to fighting the good fight : " He will
swallow up death in victory."
I have yesterday handled two heads in the method. A third
point now to be spoken to is, Christ's pursuit of the victory. Our
Lord Jesus will pursue the victory he has obtained over death, till
it be utterly abolished out of his kingdom. — Here,
I. I s!iall premise some things for the better understanding of
this point.
II. Show how he pursues the victory.
I. I shall premise some things for the better understanding of
this point. — And,
1. I premise that sin entering into the world, death obtained an
universal dominion over mankind : Rom. v. 12, " Wherefore, as by
one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin ; and so
death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned ;" it reigned as
a king, ver. 19, " Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses ;"
it became universal monarch, swaying its sceptre over all nations,
kingdoms, and empires, from the one end of the earth unto the other.
Every man receiving life in this world, not excej>ting those that
are born to crowns and kingdoms, are born subjects to death. It is
the most terrible king, even the king of terrors ; an absolute one,
against whom there is no rising up. This universal dominion it got
by law, upon sin's entering : Gen. iii. 19, '* Dust thou art, and unto
dust thou shalt return." 1 Cor. xv. 56, "The sting of death is sin,
and the strength of sin is the law."
2. The kingdom of death consists of two very different territories
or countries ; one is the upper country, namely, the sinful world ;
the other the lower country, in the other world, that land of utter
darkness, where the light is as darkness. In the former, the go-
vernment of death is comparatively mild, but in the latter inexpres-
' Delivered Sabbath evening, October 5, 1718. *
JESUS VICTORIOUS OVER DEATH. 105
sibly horrible. Here death's subjects have some gleams of light,
joy, hope, though raised with many sorrows ; but there they will
never see light more, nor enjoy the least ease from their pangs,
which is the second death, Matth. xxii. 13, " Cast him into utter
darkness ; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
3. Death's power over sinners by the law, reaches to the transport-
ing of them out of this world into its dominion in the other world ;
it has power to carry them to the pit, and shut the bars thereof for
ever upon them. Hence we find the rich man dying, and buried,
and then in hell lifting up his eyes, Luke xvi. 23 ; an impassable
gulf is fixed between that miserable company and the saints above,
ver. 26 ; so that by death's power, had it not been hemmed in, all
mankind had lauded there.
4. That all mankind might not perish, tlie Father gave a kingdom
to his Son, which he was to conquer out of the kingdom of death
in this upper world : in which kingdom life might reign for ever-
more through Jesus Christ : John vi. 37, " And this is the Father's
will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I
should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day."
This our Lord undertook willingly, resolving to spare no expense,
even of his own blood, to recover it.
5. Our Lord Jesus coming on this expedition, findeth all mankind
fettered with the bands of death ; death has seized them all without
exception, fastened on their souls and bodies, keeping them as
prisoners, till they should be transported into the pit from whence
there is no redemption ; and his own that were given to him of the
Father, he fiuds wrapt up in the common ruin ; so he, putting on a
zeal for his Father's glory and the salvation of the elect, encoun-
tered death iu their room, and, after a bloody battle, gained the
Tictory. But after all this the chains of death still continue on his
people, and they lie under them till the conqueror, who by his death
has purchased their liberty, come and loose them, in pursuit of this
victory.
I am now to consider,
II. How he pursues the victory, "swallowing up death iu vic-
tory."
1. He looses the bands of that spiritual death under which he
finds them, morally dead, lifeless, senseless, and motionless to any
spiritual good. He puts a principle of spiritual life in them, quick-
ening them by his Spirit, Eph. ii. 1, "And you hath he quickened
who were dead in trespasses and sins." TVith authority he asks the
grim vanquished tyrant, as ho did others in the case of Lazarus,
death ! where have ye laid him ? He comes to the grave, saying,
Vol. IX. H
106 JESUS VICTORIOUS OVER DEATH.
My word and my Spirit roll away the stone ; and with a powerful
voice he cries, Dead soul, come forth. Then feeble death loses its
grips, and the dead comes forth to walk before God in the light
of the living ; and then he is a new creature ; old things are done
away.
2. He looses the band of legal death off the sinner ; he is by na-
ture a condemned man, dead in law, and death holds him fast with
the cords of unpardoned guilt. But now the soul, uniting to Christ
by faith, and so being clothed with his perfect righteousness, hav-
ing his satisfaction applied to him, the cords of the guilt of eter-
nal wrath give way, can hold no longer, and so death is beat
from its grip ot him, Rom. viii. 1, " There is therefore now no con-
demnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." Now may the soul
say. It is God that justifielh, who is he that condemneth ? The
mighty Lord has burst the bars of iron asunder, death's snare is
broken, and we are escaped.
3. He destroys the body of death in the believer. Still the grave-
clothes hang about the believer, even strong corruptions and divers
lusts, the remains of that death from which they were raised in
regeneration. There is a body of death cleaves to them, complete in
all its members, therefore called the old man, which is the remain-
ing corrupt nature, with the lusts thereof. This makes them groan,
and long for delivery, Rom. vii. 24, " wretched man that I am !
who shall deliver me from the body of this death ?" This also is
swallowed uj) in the pursuit of this victory, by degrees. For,
(1.) It is crucified, gets a deadly wound, and its destruction en-
sured in the conversion of the soul to God ; Rom. vi. 6, " Knowing
this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin
might be destroyed." The nails are driven through it, and every
member thereof: Gal. v. 24, " And they that are Christ's have cru-
cified the flesh, with the affections and lusts. It is nailed to the
cross, and shall never come down till it breathe out its last. Its
reigning power is broken, and can no more command with that full
sway it did while the soul was under the dominion of death : Rom.
vi. 14, " For sin shall not have the dominion over you, for ye are
not under the law, but under grace."
(2.) It is weakened and mortified more and more, in the gradual
advances of sanctification : Rom. viii. 14, "But if ye tlirough the
Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." Every new
supply of grace weakens corruption more and more. The grace
of Christ in the heart is a spring that will never be quite stopt,
and therefore will work out corruption by degrees, as the spring
does the mud ; John iv. 14, ** But the water that I shall give
JESUS VICTOBTOUS OVER DEATH. 107
him, shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting
life." They will be like the houses of Saul and David, while the
former waxeth weaker, the latter stronger.
(3.) At the death of the body, the body of death is utterly de-
stroyed : Heb. xii. 23, " And to the spirits of just men made per-
fect." There is not the least remains of it to be seen any more
then; then there shall not be the least darkness in the mind, corrup-
tion in the will, nor disorder of the affections. When they are ta-
ken up into the mount, they are stript of their rags, and clothed
with change of raiment, for then Christ says, " Loose him, and let
him go."
4. He dries up all the sorrows of death, wipes away all tears.
David was sometimes encompassed with them, but he is now got be-
yond them all. Death entering the world at the back of sin, has
made an universal flood of misery, that covers the face of the whole
earth ; even the redeemed ones walking to Zion, cannot miss to dip
their foot in it, and that often very deep ; they are liable to afilic-
tions on their bodies and souls, and all that is theirs ; they are dis-
tressed with desertions and hidings of God's face ; they often go
mourning without the sun. And what are all these but the arrows
of the foiled enemy, wherewith he annoys the Mediator's company
in this lower world ; but Christ will also spoil this part of death's
game in his kingdom ; he has taken the poison and strength out of
these arrows already, that they cannot give a deadly wound ; and
in a little these Egyptians whom they see to-day, they shall see no
more for ever : Rev. xxi. 4, " And God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow,
nor crying : neither shall there be any more pain, for the former
things are passed away."
5. He brings all his people safe through the valley of the shadow
of death : Psalm xxiii. 4, " Yea, though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil ; for thou art with me."
Death advances at length to the saint as a king of terrors, to loose
the soul from the body. They are ready to be affrighted at the
sight, but the waters are dried up where they are to pass. It stands
before them like a serpent, but the sting of it is gone, they can
get no harm of it, " death ! where is thy sting ?" may the dying
saint say ; they tread then upon the serpent, while they pass over to
the other side ; it casts down the body into the grave, but their
more precious part it cannot touch. It is like the storm to Paul ;
the body, the ship of the soul, is dashed to pieces; but the soul, the
passenger, gets safe to land. This is a noble victory got through
Jesus Clirist.
n2
108 JESUS VICTORIOUS OVER DEAIH.
6. Now, death has nothing of Christ's but the bodies of the saints,
not a foot of ground in his kingdom but the grave ; and these he
will also wrest out of his hand at the resurrection. So, then, at
the last day, by the sound of the trumpet, death shall be summoned,
in the conqueror's name, to give up its dead; and immediately it
shall fling open its doors, and yield all up to him : Rev. xx. 13,
" And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and
hell gave up the dead which were in them." " Then this corruptible
shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on
immortality; then shall be brought to pass the saying that is writ-
ten. Death is swallowed up in victory." Death will held fast by
them that are his own, even when they are come out of the grave ;
but then nothing that ever belonged to it shall any more be about
those that are Christ's,
7. In consequence of the absolute victory over death, it shall be
shut up, and confined for the ages of eternity to the lower regions,
the lake that burns with fire and brimstone : Rev. xx. 14, " And
death and hell were cast into the lake of fire : this is the second
death." As the waters of the deluge, that overspread the whole face
of the earth some time, were, by the voice of God, chased away into,
and confined in the deeps; so death, in its whole extent, as compre-
hending all miseries, greater or lesser, that some time ranged through
the earth at liberty, shall be gathered together, and thrown into tlie
place of the damned, there to prey for ever upon its proper objects,
the enemies of Christ, the great conqueror. — I am,
lY. To make some practical impi'ovement. This doctrine is of
manifold use. I shall drop a few words from it to the profane, and
to professors. — I shall address,
1st, Profane folk, who are quite careless aboui their state and
conversation, on whose face death is painted, in the eyes of God and
all serious persons. Consider,
1. Ye have neither part nor lot in this victory of Christ's over
death, but are yet lying a prey to the devourer. What else means
that loathsome conversation of yours ? Psalm yiv. 1 — 3, — " The fool
hath said in his heart. There is no God ; they are corrupt, they have
done abominable works," &:c. "What else means it, but that ye are
yet rotting in the grave of your lusts ? Do not your profane speeches
declare your throat to be an open sepulchre ; the full liberty your
lusts get without control, says ye are not sick of sin, but dead in it ;
your want of the sense of religion, your not discerning the voice of
God in his word, and having no relish for the sweetness of it, all
these say ye are dead.
2. Awake, and come forth to Christ, in a holy life, else your lot
JESUS yiCTOEIOUS OVEU DEATH. 109
shall be for ever among the congregation of the dead : Gal. v. 21,
" They who do such things shall not inherit the Iciugdom of God."
Christ has set up a kingdom among us, but ye say, Let us break
his bands, and cast his cords from us. Remember, if ye continue
in this condition, Christ will cast you out of his kingdom, for if
death shall be abolished out of his kingdom, be sure such dead souls
shall never inherit among the saints, but receive their portion where
death bears eternal sway.
2dly, Professors, amongst whom I must reckon communicants.
To such,
1. By way of caution, I would say to yon,
(1.) Beware of hypocrisy, having a name to live, and yet dead :
Rev. iii. 1, " I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou liv-
est, and art dead." ! how many are there like some dead beasts,
whereof there is nothing good but the skin ! Except the form of
godliness, and their religious duties they go the round of, there
remains nothing but a rotten heart quite estranged from the
life of God, and a life full of dead works. Beware of this, for,
witli the abominable, the hypocrite will also be swept away.
(2.) Beware of apostacy, Christ will pursue his victory, and there-
fore whoso draweth back, his soul shall have no pleasure in him,
Heb. X. 38 ; they that draw back leave Christ's camp, and join his
enemies, and they will be involved in their ruin with a double de-
struction, as runaways.
2. By way of application to your case on the back of this com-
munion, I would ask you,
(1.) Have you got nothing at this feast from the conqueror to set
you a step forward to the victory, the spiritual victory ? Blame
whom or what thou wilt for it, a dead state, or at least a dead
frame is the true cause ; and therefore repent. If thou be mourn-
ing and humbled under it, it is a sign of some life ; pursue under
Christ's banner and thou shalt obtain the victory.
(2.) Have ye sped, and got some victory over the body of death ?
be not secure, and sit not down on that ye have attained, for death
is not yet swallowed up ; therefore pursue. — I shall only add,
3. By way of exhortation to duty from this point.
(1.) Be lively Christians, as those that are alive from the dead
through Jesus Christ ; keep grace in exercise, let not the holy fire
go out ; watch against deadness creeping in on your souls, yield not
to it, for that were to yield to death, that must be swallowed up.
(2.) Join issue with the Conqueror, in pursuing the victory in
your own souls. There is a noble Captain on your head; under
his conduct, then, fight the good fight; let mortification be your
110 JESUS TICTOKIOUS OYER DEATH.
daily work ; Avliile one lust remains, ye must never give over ; make
no truce ■with them, or any of theirs, but resolve to pursue these
fruits of death, till death be swallowed up in victory.
(3.) Join issue with the Conqueror, in pursuing the victory in the
world, especially in the ])laces where ye live. Do your utmost, by
word and example, to awaken a dead world ; take care of the young
generation ; and as ye love their souls, remove the stumbling-block
of your divisions out of their sight, which threatens the ruin of re-
ligion in this parish : when the members of the body are all going
asunder, falling off from one another, it is an evidence ^ea,ih. is
working in that body; and it has made much sad work in the
land and country-side already.
(4.) Believe this truth with application, in all your endeavours
after holiness. That is the true method of sanctification, using the
mean appointed of God, and believing the promised success. If ye
will not believe, ye shall not be established.
(5.) Be weaned from the world, and long for the day when death
shall be swallowed up in victory ; Phil. i. 23, " Having a desire to
depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better. Were we eager
in the battle, we would readily long for the day of complete victory.
Let all be stirred up, and exhorted from this,
1. To get and make sure their interest in this victory purchased
by Christ in this battle. Come to Christ, and make sure your in-
terest in him ; alas ! what will it avail you that Christ has pur-
chased this victory for you ? It would be promising-like in this
case, if ye be raised up from spiritual death, or if ye be wrestling
against the remains of it.
(1.) love the Lord, come see the field of battle, where the Lord
lay, and love him, John xiv. 13. "Whom will ye love, if not hira
that died for us ?
(2.) Hate sin, and seek the destruction and extirpation of it; set
yourselves against the body of death. Ye have here — what may
excite you to it, for it was your sin that gave death its power, and
furnished it with weapons against Christ — You may encourage your-
selves in the contest, for victory is certain, for death is already van-
quished in some sort : Rom. vi. 6, " Knowing this, that our old man
is crucified with Christ." Christ himself is engaged in the pursuit
of the victory with you, and for you.
3. Patiently bear your troubles, weaknesses, and distresses, that
hang about you, for these workings of death will be quickly over.
4. Join not yourselves with the congregation of the dead. Be-
ware, (1.) Of dead company, making them your beloved companions,
for " a companion of fools shall be destroyed." (2,) Renounce dead
THE SUITABLE IMPROVEMENT OF, &0. lll^
works, as an impiety towards God, and unrighteousness towards
men. (3.) Beware of a dead case and frame, that is, to be cold,
stiff, motionless, of the colour of clay, as men that are in a withered,
lifeless, spiritual condition.
Lastly, Let heaven and eternal life be the main thing ye have in
view, and are in quest of, saying. There is my rest, and there must
I be.
THE SUITABLE IMPROVEMENT OF SAINTS' FORMER EXPERIENCES.*
SERMON XI.
2 Kings ii. 14,
And he took the mantle of Elijah, that fell from, him, and smote the
waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah ?
Among all the elders who have through faith obtained a good re-
port, there is none more remarkable than Elijah the Tishbite. He
was a person altogether extraordinary. In his exercise and expe-
rience he was singularly distinguished. His translation was a strik-
ing loss to the church of God ; it was, however, not irreparable ;
his exercises were, in some measure, patterns to the people of God
in after ages ; his experiences were powerful encouragements to a
following of him who through faith and patience inherited the pro-
raises ; and, what was of still greater importance, Elijah's God still
lived, and, as being the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever, was
to be the object of hope and confidence to his people in all genera-
tions. In all their straits he was to be looked to, and inquired after,
for his presence with them, and his blessing upon them. Thus, we
see, was Elisha exercised in the verse before us ; for when over-
whelmed, and in perplexity, " He took the mantle of Elijah, which
fell from him, and smote the waters, and said. Where is the Lord
God of Elijah ?"
This verse shews us,
1. What Elisha did. (1.) He took Elijah's mantle, that fell
from him ; God so ordered, that it fell in Elisha's sight for his com-
fort, that he might have it as a token of the spirit of Elijah resting
on him. He willingly takes it up : he did not say. What avails the
mantle now, when it is not above Elijah's shoulders ? No ; that
* Delivered August 16, 1713.
112 THE 6UITABLK IMPROVEMENT OF
God that did wonders by it before, can do the same again, on whose
shoulders soever, by divine appointment ; even so the ordinances of
God are to be prized for the Lord's sake, not slighted for the sake
of the instruments, though they are not like to fill the room'of those
that went before them. (2.) He smote the waters with it. He was
to go back to the schools of the prophets in Jericho. Though the
Lord take away eminent instruments, his work must not be neglected,
they that are left behind must bestir themselves to carry on the
Lord's work. Jordan was between him and them, as oftentimes
depths of difficulties will be found in the way of duty. He might
have boated it over ; that was the easiest way, and to the carnal
eye the safest. But it was not the way his godly predecessor took
before him ; therefore, having the same spirit as he had, he will
rather believingly venture on the waters, in the faith that God
would carry him through, as he did Elijah before him. So he
" smote the waters."
2. "We have what he said when he smote the waters : " "Where is
the Lord God of Elijah ?" It is a vehement exclamation for the
presence of that God that was with Elijah : " Where is," &c. ; or a
most ardent prayer for it : where art thou ? as some read it ; for
neither " is" nor " art" is in the original. He inquires no more
after Elijah, he has no petitions to that saint when once he was de-
parted ; that had been impious; what he had to ask of him, he
asked while he was on earth. He does not sit down and weep, and
pore on the loss of Elijah, as if there had been no more hopes of
good days since he was gone ; bat he betakes liiraself to Elijah's
God. Though Elijah was gone, his God still remained. Elijah's
experience of good from Elijah's God, kindled in Elisha's heart a
surprising desire after him, and fills him with hope of good enter-
tainment at the door where Elijah had come so good speed ; for these
are not words of diffidence, but of mighty earnestness, and strong
faith ; as appears by considering,
3. The issue of the whole, which was according to his wish. God
was present with him the same way he had been with Elijah before,
Jordan is divided, &c. These words, (he also) some make Elisha's
answering to himself, and read them, even he, viz. Elijah's God, yet
endures ; but though there is no doubt Elisha believed this, yet that
reading does violence to the points and stops, without regarding of
which there can be no certain sense of any language : therefore our
translation is preferable; and these words (he also) are emphatical
to shew the freedom of God's grace, which is tied to none, but open
and free to all that come to him for it in the way that others re-
ceived it. — From these words, I take this
saints' former experiences. 113
Doctrine, That the consideration of God's presence with his peo-
ple in former days, should bring the succeeding generation to the
same God for the same entertainment.
In speaking to which, I shall,
I. Instance a few of these experiences of God's people in former
days.
II. Shew how we should come to God for the same entertainment.
III. Give the reasons of the doctrine. — And,
IV. Add the improvement.
I. I shall instance a few of the sweet and desirable experiences of
the Lord's people, which should bring us to the gracious Giver for
the same, and such like ; and I shall instance none but these of
Elijah, who, you must remember, was a man subject to like passions
as we are, James v. 17, and to these I think the text leads me.
Some instances of sweet entertainment this holy man had ; such as,
1. The God of Elijah gave him the sweet experience of keeping
warm and lively in a very cold and dead generation ; so that he
was best when others were worst. His zeal for God burnt most
vigorously when the generation was turned most coldrife, halting
betwixt God and Baal, like true fire that burns most keenly in the
winter frost, when a chill and cold air was the only air about him.
By the warm blowings of the Spirit from above npon him, he was
kept warm within. \Yhen nothing but deadness was on every hand,
the Spirit of life from above kept him lively. So it was with Noah
in the old world : Gen. vi. 9, " Noah was a just man, and perfect in
his generation." And Lot, 2 Pet. ii. 8, " For that righteous man
dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous
soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds,"
But where is the Lord God of Elijah in these dregs of time,
wherein professors generally are carried away with the stream of
impiety from all their liveliness and tenderness that sometimes have
been among them, when the more wickedness sets up its head, piety
is made to hide its head the more ? a sad evidence that God is gone
from us, when the standard of wickedness makes such advances, and
that of shining holiness is retreating, and can hardly get hands to
hold it up. I will tell yon two sad experiences, common at this
day.
(1.) The fulfilling of that scripture, Matth. xxiv. 12, " And be-
cause iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." It
is a time when atheism, deism, and immorality, make prodigious ad-
rances, and practical godliness is under a deep decay. I doubt if
ever Satan had more hands at work to overthrow revealed religion,
1 14 THE SUITABLE IMPROVEMENT OV
and to raze the foundations of it, than at this day ; and this effort
of Satan's against the church, has joined with it a most lamentable
decay of the vitals of practical religion in those that are called by
the Lord's name ; so that we are like to be exposed to this furious
attack, wanting the best piece of our armour against it ; that is, an
experience and feeling of the power of truth on our own souls :
ah ! " where is the Lord God of Elijah ?"
(2.) What heat there is, strikes all outward, while in the mean-
time folks are key-cold within ; a sad sign of a distempered body.
It is not hard to discern severals shewing a great deal of concern in
the lamentable occurrences of our day ; but how hard is it to find a
man that is truly awakened to the exercise of godliness by all the
alarming dispensations of our day, that is moved with fear, and
busy preparing an ark for the evil day, labouring to get the parti-
cular controversy between God and his soul removed, putting out of
his way the stumbling-block of his iniquity, and setting matters in
order for the day of the Lord ? Nay, sirs, though some talk in their
sleep, it seems we will all sleep together, till God's heavy hand give
us a fearful awakening : " Where is the Lord God of Elijah ?"
2. The God of Elijah gave him the sweet experience of the power
of prayer : James v. 17, " Elias was a man subject to like passions
as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it
rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months ;
and he prayed again, and. the heaven gave rain, and the earth
brought forth her fruit." He was mighty in prayer; by his prayers
the bottles of heaven were opened, the key of the clouds turned,
nay, the bands of death loosed, 1 Kings xvii. He was a great favo-
rite of Heaven, whose cries pierced the clouds, got in to the throne,
and returned, like Noah's dove, with an olive-branch of peace in his
mouth. Such experience of the power of prayer had Jacob ; Hos.
xii. 4, " Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed ;" Gen.
xxxii. Many times the Lord's people, when closed, up on every side,
have found a sweet outgate, their souls flying upward in prayer.
The prayers of the saints have been the great ordinance of the
church, have frustrated the jilans of enemies, and turned them back
on their own heads.
But where is the God of Elijah, while the trade with heaven by
prayers is so very low ? Alas for the dead, cold, and flat prayers,
that come from the lips of professors at this day ! so weak and lan-
guishing, that they cannot reach heaven. Sometimes the Lord lets
loose enemies on his people, tosses them from vessel to vessel, and
then the way betwixt heaven and them was well occupied. They
had still some particular suits lying before the throne, and they
saints' former experiences. 115
could have given a good account of their receipts. But long ease
has made them lose their tongue ; so that the experience of many in
that point now can hardly be named, unless they turn back to for-
mer days. There is one experience of Elijah's, which, I fear, is not
uncommon among praying folk at this day, and that is, a restraint
laid on them, that they cannot wrestle with God for the averting of
wrath from the generation of God's wrath, 1 Kings xvii. 3 — 9. Such
a sad experience had Jeremiah also, before the Babylonish captivity,
Jer. xiv. 11, and xv, 1. And though God doth not so reveal his
mind now in particular cases, yet I suppose that it will be found,
that those who live near God, and have the spirit of prayer in such
cases, may find something equivalent thereto in their liberty and
confidence with tile Lord, and that according to the subject of their
requests : Ezek. xxxvi. 37, " Thus saith the Lord God, I will yet for
this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them."
3. The experience of the sweet fruits of dependance on the Lord,
and of a little goiug far, with his blessing : 1 Kings xvii. 16, " And
the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, ac-
cording to the word of the Lord." Elijah saw so very few for God
in his day, that he thought he was alone ; and the Lord strength-
ened his faith by such experiences. Many times God's people have
had such experiences of the Lord's bringing great things about by
small beginnings, as the cloud like a man's hand, according to the
promise, Prov. iv. 18, " But the path of the just is as the shining
light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Hos. vi.
3, " His going forth is prepared as the morning, and he shall come
unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth."
God has many ways of working in the experience of his people ; and
when he works by means, sometimes he does great things by small
means, as the feeding of Elijah, the widow and her son, so long on
an handful of meal, and a little oil in a cruse ; Haman's hellish plot
is overturned by the king's falling from his rest one night, Esth. vi.
1. Sometimes by contrary means, as Elijah was fed by the ravens
•who were more likely to have picked flesh from him, than to have
brought it to him.
But where is the God of Elijah at this day, when what we have
seems to be blown upon, that it goes in eflfect to nothing ? Our table
is plentifully covered, yet our souls are starved; our goodness some-
times looks as a morning cloud, it blackens the face of the heavens,
and promises a hearty shower, but quickly proves as a little cloud,
like unto a man's hand,' which is ready to go to nothing ; yea, the
generation is blinded by the means that have a natural tendency to
give light. Ah ! " Where is the God of Elijah «"
IIG THK SUITABLK IMPROVEIIEXT OF
4. The experience of a gracious boldness to face the most daring
wickedness of the generation he lived in, though it was one of the
ATorst. Tliis eminently appeared in his rencounter with Ahab,
1 Kings xviii. 1 ; his standing alone against four hundred and fifty
of Baal's prophets ; whatever was his natural temper, he owed this
to the grace of God, for when he was left to his natural courage, it
failed him, chap. xix. 2 — 4; but the Lord spirited him then for the
hard work he had to do, that he feared nothing in his master's
cause, Acts iv. 13, " When they saw the boldness of Peter and
John, they marvelled, and they took knowledge of them, that they
had been with Jesus."
But -nhere is the God of Elijah now, while the iniquities of our
day meet with such faint resistance, while a brow for the cause of
God, a tongue to speak for him, and a heart to act, are so much
wanting. The wicked of the world, though they have an ill cause
in hand, yet they pursue it boldly ; but, alas ! the people of God
shame their honest cause, by their cowardice and faint appearing in
it. If God give us not another spirit, more fitted for such a day,
we will betray our trust, and bring the curse of the succeeding gene-
ration on us.
5. The experience of a glorious and powerful manifestation of
himself, in a solemn ordinance, even at the sacrifice on Mount Car-
mel, which was ushered in with the spirit of prayer in Elijah,
1 Kings xviii. 37 — 39, " Hear me, God, hear me, that this people
may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned
their heart back again. Then the fire of the Lord fell, and con-
sumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the
dust, and licked up the Avater that was in the trench. And when all
the people saw it, they fell on their faces, and they said. The Lord
he is the God, The Lord he is the God." That was a glorious day's
work, when Satan fell like lightning from heaven, from which day,
no doubt, many dated their conversion, some their revival, and the
people there generally felt somewhat divine on their spirits. Such
glorious days the church has often had in ordinances, which have
been as a high stream-tide of the gospel ; so that three thousand
were converted at one sermon. Acts ii. 4L
But where is the God of Elijah, when so little of the Spirit's in-
fluences is found in ordinances, even solemn ordinances ? Here is
the mantle, but where is the God of Elijah ? Here are the grave-
clothes in which sometimes the Lord was wrapt up, but where is he
himself? Communion-days have sometimes been glorious days in
Scotland, and sometimes the gospel hath done much good ; so that
ministers have had almost as much to do to heal broken hearts, as
now to get hard hearts broken ; but " where now is the God of Elijah ?"
saints' formek expekiences. 117
6. The experience of being enabled to go far upon a meal, 1 Kings
xix. 8, but where now is such experiences, while there is so little
strength in the meals to which we now sit down ? This is a time
wherein there is much need of such an experience ; the Lord seems
to be saying to his people, " Rise and eat, for the journey is long ;"
and what a hard journey some may have, ere they get another meal,
who knows ?
Lastly, The experience of the Lord's removing difficulties out of
his way, when he himself could do nothing at them ; Jordan di-
vided ; so Peter had the iron gate opened to him of its own accord :
for when the Lord takes the work in hand, were it never so despe-
rate as to us, it will succeed well with him. Sure we have need of
his experience this day. flow is the case of many souls so embar-
rassed at this day, that they cannot extricate themselves, by reason
of long and continued departures from God ! so that all they can do
is, that they are fighting and going backward. Ah ! " where is tho
God of Elijah," to dry up those devouring deeps ! Enemies have
surrounded the clinrch, and brought her to the brow of the hill,
ready to cast her over; " where is the God of Elijah," to make a
way for her escape ? — I shall next consider,
IL flow we should come to God for the same entertainment, if
we would come speed. There were two things Elisha did, for the
presence of God to be with him, as he had been with Elijah.
1. fle prayed for it, sent his prayer to heaven for it; and if we
would have the experience of God's presence as in former days, we
must ply the throne of grace for it this night. And there are three
things in his prayer, which must be in ours.
(1.) A most pressing sense of need, where he saw he could not
venture into Elijah's post without Elijah's God. Sense of need
makes earnest prayers. What is the reason we see not the glory
of the Lord as formerly ? we reign as kings without it ; men have
found out ways of their own, to get comfort without communion
with God ; they have the creatures' breasts to suck at, when the
Lord's consolations are not dropping into them. But if ever the
Lord return to this generation, there will be a hunger raised in
them, that all the world will not be able to satisfy.
(2.) A most vehement desire of his presence ; " Where is the God
of Elijah ?" There was a flame of desire after the Lord, that could
not be satisfied without him. Some have observed in nature, that
the tongue is tied by a double string to the heart in man. If so, it
seems it has been designed that the tongue should be a stringed
instrument, to sound out only the language of the heart. Were
the heart more eager for the divine communications, we would
118 THE SUITABLE IMPROVEMEXT OF
wrestle with God in earnest, and not let liim go till he bless us ;
but, alas ! our coldrife prayers do but beg a denial.
(3.) There was great faith in his prayers : " V/here is the God of
Elijah?" Faithless prayers will be inefficacious prayers to the end;
but the hand of faith will pierce through the cloud wherewith the
Lord covereth himself. 1st, He believed God could do what he
sought, therefore he calls hira Jehovah, and the God of Elijah, who
had discovered his power in dividing the waters before. 2.dli/, He
believed God would do it, he had God's call to the work ; Elijah
was taken away from hira, but he had Elijah's mantle in his hand, for
a token God would be with hira, as with Elijah before ; and he was
not faithless, but believing. So we must believe also, if we would
see the glory of God; not only the power, but the good-will of God ;
Jer. xvii. 6, 7, " Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and
whose hope the Lord is."
2. He used the means Elijah before him did, for attaining God's
appearance and manifestation of himself. He smote the waters ; no
matter though the means be unlikely to produce the effect, if they
be of God's appointment ; and in faith we must stretch out the
withered hand, if we would haA^e it restored, and venture on the work
upon the credit of the promise.
As a conclusion to this discourse, let me exhort you to go to the
Lord Jesus this night, and wrestle for his presence as in former
times; and let the consideration of God's presence with his people
in former times, take you to tlie same God for the same entertain-
ment.
To prevail with you, I would offer the following motives.
1. Consider it is too evident the Lord has forsaken this genera-
tion in great measure. He is writing bitter things against this
church and land. Her beauty is marred upon all her assemblies ;
where the cloud of glory some time rested, we may write Ichabod/
Hence it is so few are converted in our day ; and the Lord's own
children, though they get some food, yet they fare not so well
as in former times. "Why ? because the Lord is withdrawn in his
anger. The sun of the gospel in Scotland is as a winter sun, and
looks as if near the setting, at least getting under a dark cloud :
Isa. Ixiv. 7, " There is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth
up himself to take hold on thee, for thou hast hid thy face from us,
and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities."
2. This would be the way to get a blessing; importunity prevails
much in heaven. Were we thus exercised, wo might get a blessing
to this church, a blessing to this communion : Cant. iii. 4, " I found
him whom my soul loveth ; I held him, and would not let him go,
saints' foemer experiences. 119
until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the
chambers of her that conceived me :" a blessing Are should seek from
him to ourselves. Though the Lord is sometimes so angry with a
generation, that there is no turning away of his wrath, yet the seri-
ous seekers of his face will always get the blessing : Isa. iii. 10,
" Say ye to the righteous, it shall be well with him, for they shall
eat the fruit of their doings."
3. The door we set you to is a door where many have been liber-
ally helped before you, and the Lord's arm is not shortened. The
saints that were richest in experience got them all there, and all the
fair ones now in glory, he was their God, that was with them in
life, death, and now after death. Let the good report of his house,
then, make you flock about his door, for there is no ground for that
temptation, Job v. 1, " Call now, if there be any that will answer
thee, and to which of the saints wilt thou turn ?"
4. It is a door where there is nothing given for personal worth.
All that ever was given there to any of the children of fallen
Adam, was given with that protestation, Ezek. xxxvi. 32, " Not for
your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, be it known unto you :
be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, house of Israel !"
That the most unworthy in all succeeding generations might see they
were welcome, it is for his own sake ; and that cannot change.
Lastly, What will ordinances avail without his presence ? Nay,
they will do ill, instead of doing us good ; they will bring on us a
curse instead of a blessing ; and therefore wrestle with him, and
protest, Exod. xxxiii. 15, "If thy presence go not with us, carry
us not up hence." The sermons will be to you as an empty sound,
the Lord's table as an empty chair of state, when the King is
away. If his presence be not given you, you will get no spiritual
feast ; and one had better be at a common table, than at the Lord's
table, when they do not feed : 1 Cor. xi. 29, " For he that eateth
unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself." If the king
be away, then there will be no furniture for trials, none for the
evil day, that seems to be approaching quickly ; none for a dying
day that is awaiting all of us. Now, if ye would find him, seek him
in Christ, look for him in the several means of his appointment,
streets, courts, &c. Put away every thing that mars his presence
with you.
120 THE SUITABLE IMPROVEMENT OF
THE SAAIE SUBJECT CONTINUED.'
SERMON XII.
2 Kings ii. 14,
And he took the mantle of Elijah, that fell from hhn, and smote the
waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah ?
I SHALL now,
III. Give the reasons of the doctrine, or shew, that the considera-
tion of God's presence with his people in former days, should bring
the succeeding generation to the same God for the same entertain-
ment.
This consideration may and ought to work upon us in two ways.
1. By way of simple excitation and lipstirring. When Elisha
considered what God had done for Elijah, it set his soul on fire, in-
flamed his desires, set his heart a-longing after the Lord, that he
might deal the same way with him. Thus the consideration of
God's gracious appearances to and for his people in former times,
should be a powerful motive to labour for the same or like experi-
ences. It should inflame our hearts with a holy emulation, and ear-
nest desire of the blessed entertainment others have got before us
at God's door ; for the following reasons : —
(1.) Because, so far as we come short of it, it is a sign we are
so far off the way where the footsteps of the flock are to be seen,
Cant. i. 8 ; and that is so dangerous, that it may well strike a
nail to our heart to think of it. What is the reason we fare not so
well about the Lord's hand as others before us ? Have we not the
same God to go to, the same covenant-promises ? We have the
same breasts of divine consolations, as full as ever, but it seems we
have much lost the art of sucking them, that sometimes has been
our experience.
(2.) Because, so far as we come short, it is a sign of God's anger
against us, that he hath some quarrel with us he had not with his
people in former days of the right hand of the Most High ; and may
not this prick us to the heart, and set us to our knees ? Isa. lix. 12,
" For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins
testify against us." What is it but the sins of the generation, that
stops the communication of the divine goodness ? Does the Spirit
of the Lord depart till he be grieved, or the holy fire go out till it
* Delivered August 16, 1713 ; afternoon.
saints' former experiences. ' 121
be quenched ? Does the Lord close his distributing hand till his
people close their mouths ? or does not the oil ruu while there are
empty vessels to receive it ? While the furious wind of persecu-
tion blew on God's people in Scotland, and the sweeping rains fell>
sweeping away their earth from about them, the fountain of the di-
vine goodness to them ran freely ; but now, alas ! through long ease,
we have got the springs stopt with our mud and earth,
(3.) Because we have as much need as they had : Luke xv. 17,
"And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants
of ray father's house have bread enough, and to spare, and I perish
with hunger ! I will arise, and go," &c. If we be less at God's
door than other's before us, it is not, I am sure, for any wealth we
have at home, more than they had ; it is not that we do not stand
in need, but that we are not so sensible of our need. Many of the
Lord's peoi)le have taken little rest, when they had more than wo
can pretend to; they have been very anxious to increase their stock-
when it was far above ours ; and when we consider how fast they
ran, when they had reached far above our small measure, should
not that stir us up to mend our pace ? Phil. iii. 13, 14, " Brethren, I
count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, for-
getting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those
things that are before, I press towards the mark for the prize of the
high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
(4.) Because these glorious examples should not be without due
influence upon us. Example is a most efficacious incitement ; Csesar
grieved when he saw the statue of Alexander, and considered how
he, at the age of thirty, had conquered the world, and himself, being
older, had done nothing; Heb. xii. 1, " Wherefore, seeing we also are
compassed about with such a cloud of wituesses, let us lay aside
every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us
run with patience the race that is set before us." IIow may we
blush when we consider the stature of those before us, that have
been as the palm-tree, while we, growing in the same soil, are like
pitiful shrubs ! Surely if our spirits were not mightily sunk and de-
generate, the glorious example of the Lord's people in former days
would set our whole soul a-going after the God of Elijah.
2. It should work on us by way of encouragement. Elijah's ex-
ample gave Elisha hopes he might find God the same to him he had
been to his predecessor. Encouragement is a notable spur to dili-
gence, and is that which is most likely to take with men. What is
it which makes us that we wrestle not for God's presence, as in for-
mer days ? even unbelief, that tells us we need not be at the pains,
for it will not do. But the report of the godly in former days con-
VOL. IX. I
122 THE SUITABLE IMPKOVEMENT OF
tradicts the report of unbelief, and therefore should bring us back to
God's door ; even as when a beggar, having called at a door for his
alms, was coming away without it, and should meet with another
that had been plentifully served there, who would say to him. That
is a good house, and though one may stand long at the door ere they
be served, yet they give ay a liberal alms at length ; would not that
bring the beggar back again ? So should the consideration of God's
presence with his people in former days bring us to him for the
same entertainment. For this there are the best reasons ; such as,
(1.) Because the experiences of the Lord's people in former days
were given, and put on record, for that very end. All the expe-
riences of God's presence with his people in former days, arc as
so many signs of peace on earth, and good-will towards men. They,
as it were, stand at God's door, to invite and encourage those of suc-
ceeding generations to come in there for the same or like entertain-
ment ; and his people do but answer the design of them, when they
come and inquire, " Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" — Eph. xii.
7, " That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of
his grace, in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus." — Rom.
XV. 4, " For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written
for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the scrip-
tures, might have hope."
(2.) Because these experiences say there is enough to be had in
God for the seeking, if we seek in his own way : Psalm xxii. 4,
" Our fathers trusted in thee, they trusted, and thou didst deliver
them. They cried to thee, and were delivered ; they trusted in thee,
and were not confounded." The saints that have gone before us
have spread a good report of God's house, that others after
them might come to the same door. They have had the expe-
rience of the Lord's help in all the cases that we can be in ;
and whatever be the difficult steps we have to go, if we mark nar-
rowly, we will see the footsteps of the flock before us in these steps
through which their God has graciously handed them : Psalm xxxiv.
6, 8, " This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him
out of all his troubles. — taste, and see that the Lord is good ;
blessed is the man that trusteth in him." And their experiences
are their testimony to the truth of his promises : Psalm xii. 6, " The
words of the Lord are pure as silver tried."
(3.) Because we have the same advantages that they had, yea, and
more than some of them, that lived in darker days than we do. How
many have groped the way to the throne of grace, when they had
not such light shining around them as we have to shew the way ;
but, however we make the comparison, we have the same God to go
SAINTS FORJIER EXPEUIEXCES. 123
to that they had, who has as much to give, and is as gracious as
ever : Jam. i. 17, " Every good gift, and every precious gift, is from
above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom there
is no variableness, neither shadow of turning ;" the same High
Priest over the house of God, that is as well heard by the Father
now as ever, Heb. xiii. 8, " Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and
to-day, and for ever ;" the same covenant, for it is everlasting ; the
same promises, whose truth and mercy endure for ever.
(4.) Because all that ever the best of the saints got was in the way
of free grace. It was not only undeserved, but given over the belly
of ill-deserving : and if it be free grace that opens the door, what
needy sinner is there but may come forward for a share ? All the
love that was ever bestowed on any of them, was free love, without
the least deserving ; if ye think there is any exception, look through
them all, from Adam downwards, and name the man if you can.
Paul challenges the world to do it, Rom. xi. 35, " Or who hath first
given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again ?"
lY. I am now to make some practical improvement. And this,
I. In an use of reproof. This reaches a reproof to several sorts
of persons ; as,
(1.) To our modern blasphemers, who reckon the saints' expe-
riences of the workings of the Lord's Spirit on their spirits nothing
but the effects of imagination, heat of fancy, or somewhat else. So
true is it, 1 Cor. ii. 14, " The natural man receiveth not the things
of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness onto him ; neither can
he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." But when
we consider the sanctifying effects of these operations felt on their
spirits, how by these their hearts are loosed from the lusts to which
they were formerly glued, inflamed with love to God and his holy
law, and thus to despise the world, rejoice in tribulation, joyfully to
suffer for Christ, and deny themselves to all that is dear to them in
the world for his cause, we must conclude, that these men do but
new-model the doctrine of those that taught long ago that Christ cast
out devils by Beelzebub, the prince of devils ; and that, as their
working is formal, suited to the spirit of the natural man ; so their
spirit is profane.
(2.) Those that slight the experiences of the people of God, and
appearances to and for them, as not worth their notice, far less of
their pains, to get the same entertainment ; and yet they did more
service to the cause of God, by their godly simplicity, than we are
like to do by our refined prudentials ; and no wonder, for if a man
will be truly wise, 1 Cor. iii. 18, " Let him become a fool, that he
may be wise." A little faith and dependence on the Lord for light
i2
124 THE SUITABLE IMPROVKMENT OF
and strength, will go farther than ranch carnal foresight. Bnt they
had the spirit of preaching, praying, and other things belonging to
the service of God ; and we have the bare act of it. The good Lord
send back the Spirit, come of the act what will !
(3.) To those who are ready to talk big of the experiences of God's
people, and of God's appearances for theni in former days. With a
whole heart, their consciences bearing them witness, they are not
concerned to wrestle with God for themselves or others now, or to
put to their hand, in their several capacities, to the revival of prac-
tical godliness in the generation ; but, on the other hand, do im-
prove it to the hardening of their own hearts, and to the contempt
of ordinances and ministers. These are the genuine offspring of
those who built the tombs of the prophets, and garnished their se-
pulchres, yet are filling up the measure of their fathers' iniquities,
Matth. xxiii. 29. — Whence I may observe, (1.) That dead prophets
are better liked by a formal generation, than living ones, for they
get less trouble of the dead than of the living. (2.) Such would
make a brave use of the means of grace that were in former days,
which they are sure they cannot get, while they have no power to
improve the means that are among their hands. (3.) These will
condemn their fathers' misusing of the prophets that arc gone, who
yet will trample on their successors that are remaining.
(4.) To those who improve the experience of the Lord's people in
former days against themselves, to the deadening their own spirits,
instead of quickening them, when they look upon them. By the
subtlety of Satan, they are thereby discouraged and broken instead
of being animated, as they ought, to seek the same entertainment.
It is the remains of a legal disposition in any of the children of God,
that is the source of discouragements arising from this airth. They
look more to the goodness that was in the saints, and the ill that is
in themselves, than to the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, through
which alone the divine goodness did flow to them, and through which
it may flow as freely to themselves.
Lastly, To those whose hard thoughts of God the experience of
all the saints from Adam cannot remove. So vile are they, they
conclude, that God's heart cannot be towards them, though they
have all the experiences of former saints, as so many depositions to
confirm the welcome of all that come to him through Christ, what-
ever they have been. lay by these hard thoughts of God, so de-
structive to yourselves, and so dishonourable to God. Look among
all that ever came to God, if ye can find one that died at his door ;
if that be your lot, you will be the first ; but God's word says you
shall not: John vi. 37, "Him that cometh unto me, I Avill in nowise
saints' FOIIMER EXPERIENCES. 125
«ast out." Beware of hard thoughts of God whatever your disap-
pointmeuts be ; if the devil can get that point wrouglit up in you,
he has you fair l)efore the wind for hell, where the fearful and un-
believing land: and there is not a readier way on earth than that,
to create a hell within a man, a hell, I say, where sin and sorrow
for sin are both at a height. But here some may propose this
Object. No other person's case is like mine. Answ. And there
is none good as the Lord ; he is goodness itself, infinite goodness,
and infinitely good to sinners in Christ ; and that is sufficient to
swallow up your matchless evil. What think ye of Paul, Manasseh,
Adam ? But though ye cannot see a case like yours among all the elect
of Grod, you cannot thence conclude your case is marrowless, more
than if ye were in a wilderness where ye could see no marks of a
person's foot, ye might conclude never one was there before you.
But suppose the saints' experiences leave you, yet the word will
reach you : Rev. xxii. 17, " And the Spirit and the Bride say, come ;
and let iiira that is athirst come ; and whotoever will let him take
of tlie water of life freely." And if your case be quite new, God will
do a new thing according to his word. Some person must go foremost
in every case ; venture you, then, on Christ with that oase of yours,
that others that may be in it after may follovr, and ye shall find a
matchless physician for a matchless malady. — I shall only add,
2. An use of exhortation. Let me exhort all, especially com-
municants, to seek the Lord's presence and glorious appearances
as in former days ; and make this your great business, never ceas-
ing till he make himself known, as in the days of old.
(1.) Seek his glorious presence to the spirits of his people, as in
former days. The Lord's work here is at a sad stand ; cry, " Revive
thy work in the midst of the years," Hab. iii. 2. Their bones are
in that respect lying dry about the grave's mouth. cry for the
Spirit of life to enter into them ! Even the trees of God's plantiug are
become mighty sapless ; God's wheat is mighty withered at the root ;
cry for a shower of iutluences, that the work within, that is at such
a stand, may go on yet, and soul-exercises may be set on foot again.
(2.) Seek his powerful manifestation of himself, to purge the gene-
ration's wickedness, and to make holiness more common and shin-
ing in our day. There is a deluge of profanity overflowing the
land : " Where is the Lord God of Elijah ?" Cry for his appear-
ance, to turn the stream, to make iniquity hide its head, and holi-
ness to settle in its room. There is a glorious promise to the gospel-
church, in Zech. xiv. 20, " In that day shall there be upon the bells
of the horses, Holiness unto the Lord; and the pots in the Lord's
house shall be like the bowls before the altar;" cry for the accom-
plishment of it, to him with whom is the residue of the Spirit.
126 TIIR SUITABLE IMPU0VE3IENT OF
(3.) Seek his glorious appearance in ordinances, as in former days,
that he would beautify the place of his glory by his presence. Do
your utmost to get him into your mother's house, for it is a heart-
less house when he is away. We have been in pain, we have, as it
Avere, brought forth wind, we have not wrought any deliverance in
the earth : " Where is the Lord God of Elijah ?"
(4.) Seek his glorious appearance for his churches, now when
they are so low, and the hand of the Antichristian faction is so high :
Jer. li. 5U, "Remember the Lord afar off, and let Jerusalem come
into your mind ;" for your mother-church in particular, against
which many are gathered, saying. Let Zion be defiled. Behold how
pin after pin in her tabernacle is loosed, that it must quickly lie
along upon the ground, if the Lord himself do not appear to hold
it up. Seek for the revival and preservation of the covenanted work
of reformation, that sacred pledge transmitted to us at the expense
of the precious blood of many of the saints, the bearing down and
destroying of which is like to make these nations yet swim with
blood. Our rowers have rowed as into deep waters, where they
have sunk our nation, and solemnly buried our covenants in the ruins
of it : " Where is the Lord God of Elijah ?"
Cry for their resurrection ; and if ye can do no more ye may do
as Martha and Mary, that owned their relation to their brother while
in the grave ; and say as Mary, and these with her, John xii. 34,
when Christ asked, " Where have ye laid him ?" " Lord !" say they,
" come and see." — For motive,
1. Consider that the Lord's appearances and manifestations of
himself as to his people in former days, would make a pleasant
change on the face of affairs this day, it would be as life from the
dead : Isa. xxxv. 12, " The wilderness and the solitary place shall
be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the
rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy
and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the excel-
lency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord,
and the excellency of our God." It would renew the earth's with-
ered and decayed face. If, therefore, you have any respect for
the thriving of your own souls, any pity on the perishing souls of a
graceless multitude, any regard to God's honour and ordinances,
any concern for his ark and work, seek his glorious appearance for
his church.
2. Consider that matters are come to such a pass with us now,
that nothing less than God's gracious appearance for us, and pre-
sence with us, as in former days, can prevent our ruin ; we have all
grounds to fear an arousing stroke from the hand of the Lord, by
saints' rORMER EXPERIENCES. 127
menus of a French, Popish, and malignant faction, set to raze our
Jerusalem to the very foundation, whose tender mercies are cruelty ;
and if we should miss it, which is not likely by all appearance, there
will be a blacker sight seen on this church, and these nations, by
reason of that spirit of enmity against the purity of religion, and
against all practical religion, that has made such dreadful advances
this day, that, if God do not seasonably strike in, will, through
time, wear out the saints of the Most High.
Lastly, Consider the glorious things spoken of the latter times,
to which the world seems to be advancing apace. The extraordinary
efforts made this day for advancing the kingdom of the devil in the
Christian part of the world, the universal decay of piety ia the
churches look like a critical juncture, when the honour of God is
called upon to " arise like a giant refreshed with wine," to purify
a people to himself, and to strike his enemies on the hinder-parts.
Whatever sad work may be made on the churches before that come,
cry, '' Awake, put on strength, arm of the Lord ! awake, as iu
the ancient days," Isa. lix. 9. — 1 shall close with a ^q'^ advices.
1. Stir up yourselves to repent and reform : " Strengthen the
things that remain, that are ready to die," Rev. iii. 2. It is high
time we were bending to our feet, when the fire has begun to catch
hold of our bed of sloth ; we have slept long enough, labour now to
get and keep matters clear betwixt God and your souls.
2. Lament after the Lord : 1 Sam. vii. 2, ** And all the house of
Israel lamented after the Lord." Upon that they had occasion to
set up another Ebenezer. The tears of the Lord's people after a de-
parted God are the ready way to bring back their tender-hearted
Lord. Mourn over your own sin, and the sins of present and former
times.
3. Study unity, and beware of division. Psalm cxxxiii. 3 ; be more
afraid of your own than of other people's sins. This church at best
is but weak ; let us not by divisions make ourselves au easier prey
to the common enemy, lest God be provoked to cast us into the fire,
to make us burn together.
4. Lay out yourselves for the advancement of piety, to stir up
one another to holiness, love, and good works. Put to your hand
this way to hold up a standard for Christ in the world ; the devil's
agents are busy, not only against the out-works of religion, but to
sap the foundations of it. What are you doing to strengthen them ?
To talk and complain about the defections of the time, will not do
it, but apply your main force to advance and strengthen the vitals
of religion in yourselves and others.
5. Labour to put yourselves in a posture for suff'eriug ; cast the
128 CUEIST THE father's GIFT
burden of earth oft" your back, and let your shoes be on your
feet, your eye on the prize ; pursue it over the belly of all hardships
you may meet with, and you will readily find God will be with you.
Lastly, Pray, pray, lift up a cry for the remnant that is left ; let
us meet continually at the throne of grace, ministers and people, to
tryst with him in his ordinances, and to wrestle for his presence.
CHRIST THE FATHER'S GIFT TO HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE.*
SERMON XIII.
Isaiah Iv. 4,
Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and conv-
mander to the people.
In the first verse of the chapter, there is a large offer of grace, and
a cordial invitation to all to improve the blessings of salvation. In
the second and third verses, the Lord expostulates with sinners for
their slighting this offer, and pursuing after other things. Then the
invitation itself is renewed, and backed with weighty motives. In
all this the Lord has a special respect to the Gentiles, who at that
time were strangers to the covenant of iM'omise. In the text, there
is a notable ground of encouragement for sinners to come to Christ;
the very scope of it is to encourage them to come to him ; it is as if
God had said, Wliy are you afraid to come ? behold I have given
him for that very end, to be a witness, a leader, and a commander
to the iJeople. Therefore you may conclude, that he must have a
people to believe in him as a witness, follow him as a leader, and
obey him as a commander. Did ever any prince give any captain's
commission, but when he designed also he should have some under
him as soldiers ?
In the text, we have a declaration of what God the Father hath
done for poor sinners : and because it is an unequalled deed, it is
ushered in with a note of attention and admiration, " Behold I have
given." He has made a gift to sinners, a gift such as may supply
all their wants.
1. Consider the giver; " I," that is, the Father, the contriver and
source of the sinner's salvation. None else could give such a great
gift, none else had power to make this gift. In regard of the giver,
then, it ought to be received with all due respect and gratitude.
' The time when this discourse was delivered is not mentioned.
TO HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE. 129
2. Consider the gift, " hira ;" that is Christ, of whom David was a
type ; John iii. 16, " God so loved the world, that he gave his only-
begotten Son." This is a gift suitable to the greatness of the giver.
He gives like a king, yea, like the King of kings : for his gift is
unspeakably and infinitely great.
3. Mark the conveyance of this noble gift : " I have given him ;"
I have freely bestowed him. This was according to the covenant of
grace ; he was not given against his v/ill. No ; his Father's will
and his are one, he gave himself also. The Father freely designed
him for the work, and he cheerfully accepted, saying, " Lo ! I
come."
4. Consider the end of this gift. For what purpose did the Fa-
ther give Christ? Why, it was to supply the needs of the people,
both the Jews and the Gentiles. But here the Gentiles seem to be
especially aimed at, ver. 5, " Behold, thou shalt call a nation that
thou knowest not ; and nations that know not thee shall run unto
thee." What sort of people these were, may be learned in part
from the ends for which Christ is given. He is given,
(1.) For a witness, to testify the truth and to reveal the mind
and will of God to the people : John xviii. 37, " To this end," said
Jesus, " was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I
should bear witness to the truth ; every one that is of the truth he
heareth my voice." Hence it follows, that they are an ignorant
people that know not God, nor the mysteries of salvation ; the very
people, that have lost their eyes in Adam ; an unbelieving people,
who will not believe God, unless he proves what he says by his wit-
ness.
(2.) For a leader, to go before them as a prince and a captain, as
the word signifies, and so they are a people that have difiiculties to
go through, and know not their way, and so stand in need of a
leader. He is given,
(3.) For a commander, to give them laws and rules for their
obedience. This implies that they are an unruly people, who must
have one to keep them in order.
There is a "behold" prefixed to the text. This serves to stir up
attention and admiration. Let us consider and wonder, how graci-
ously and suitably the Lord has provided for us. — In this verse there
is this
Doctrine, That the Father's giving of Christ to be a witness,
leader, and commander to sinners, is a matter worthy of deepest
consideration, and greatest admiration.
In discoursing on this subject, it is intended, by divine aid,
130 CHRIST THE FATIIEk's GIFT
I. To show you some special steps of God's giving this noble gift,
Christ.
II. To inquire for what this gift is so remarkable.
III. What we may behold in the Father's giving this gift. And,
IV. To conclude with a practical improvement.
We are then,
I To shew you some special steps of God's giving this noble gift,
Christ.
1. God made this gift before time, even from all eternity, in re-
spect of designation ; the Lord designed him to be a witness, leader,
and commander to the i^eople ; from all eternity did God design to
bring many sous to glory ; and therefore at that period also did he
design their captain for them. What is done in time is but the
execution of eternal decrees; eternal life was promised us in Christ
Jesus before the world began. Tit. i. 2.
2. God gave him in the morning of time, in the first promise :
" The seed of the woman shall bruise the head of the serpent."
When Adam fell, and involved all his posterity in a lost condition,
when he had carried all of them out of the way of life, so that none
of them could ever know it again without a witness, nor walk in it
without a guide, then God promised this noble gift, to make up what
Adam had lost, and to restore to us what he had taken away.
3. In the fulness of time, when he actually exhibited this gift ;
when the word was made flesh, and tabernacled among us, " When
the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a
woman, made under the law," Gal. iv. 4.
Then was seen that great gift foretold by Moses and the prophets,
shadowed forth by the law, and looked for with earnest expectation
by the people of God. A time it Avas when he thus came, wherein
the world lay in deep spiritual darkness ; the knowledge of the true
God was almost totally abolished among the Gentiles ; they knew not
God, and the true religion was dreadfully corrupted among the Jews.
The few that remained were wearied with the burdensome ceremo-
nies, that could not make the comers thereunto perfect, and there-
fore looked for the mercy promised unto the fathers.
4. God gave this gift in the last time, when the gospel was freely
preached to all nations. Then it was, and ever since, that Christ
set up his standard in the world, to receive all, without distinction
that would fight under his banner. Thus God gave him in respect
of the free ofi^er : " He is the gift of God," John iv. 10.
5. He gives him, in particular, to every elect soul in the time of
love, the day of espousals. This is that blessed spot of the believer's
time, wherein they match with the Son of God, believe his word, and
TO HIS CHOSEN PKOl'LE. 131
give themselves up to his conduct. They thus receive the unspeak-
able gift of God ; and this is a crowning mercy indeed ! Whosoever
thus by faith receives this precious gift, shall receive him over again
in the marriage-day, that is, when time is over and gone. Then it
shall be said, "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him,
for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made her-
self ready." — Let us,
IL Inquire for what this gift is so remarkable ?
1. It is remarkable, for the hand from whence it came. It was
the Father that gave Christ ; even he spared not his own Son, but
delivered him up for us all, Rom. viii. 32. If a gift be valuable for
the sake of the giver, then Christ is the most valuable gift, as given
by the Father; and therefore he that slights Christ, slights the Fa-
ther also. The town-clerk of Ephesus supposed that none could
but know, that the Ephesians would be zealous for the image of
Diana, because it was supposed to have fallen down from Jupiter,
Acts xix. 35 ; ten thousand times better reason have we most highly
to esteem our Lord Jesus, because we have the most infallible assur-
ance, that he came down from God, the Father of mercies, " My Father
(said Jesus), giveth you the true bread from heaven," John vi. 32.
2. It is remarkable for the persons to whom it is given. Who
are they ? they are men, and not angels, sinners and not saints :
" God commendeth his love towards us, in that while we were sin-
ners, Christ died for us," Rom. v. 8, " Yea, in due time he died for
the ungodly." Men that give gifts, usually give them to their
friends, but God gave even his unspeakable gift to his enemies ;
men gave to the rich, but God gave to the poor ; he gave this gift
to them that had mis-spent the gifts bestowed upon them at their
creation. let us set a mark here, aud say, " Behold what manner
of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called
the sons of God !" 1 John iii. 1.
3. It is remarkable for the seasonableness of it. God not only
gave his Son, but he gave him in proper season ; as it was with
Abraham, for whom God provided a ram to be offered in the stead
of his only son Isaac, who was already bound on the altar; so
when the sinner's neck was on the block, when divine justice had a
sure hold of him, and was about to strike the fatal blow, then did
God provide, and give Jesus to be a sacrifice in our stead. what
a surprise, as well as a comfort, was the promise of him to poor
Adam ! and how welcome to us should be this faithful saying, and
worthy of all acceptation, that God sent even his own Son, " to seek
and to save that which was lost."
4. It is remarkable for the suitableness of it. Unsuitable gifts
132 CHRIST THE PATIIEk's GIFT
are not much esteemed. What though a man would give a purse
full of gold to one starving for want of bread, or present plenty of
food to a person just dying of an incurable disease ? Such unsuit-
able gifts could be of no use to these persons ; but Christ is every
way suitable to the sinner's case : *' Wherefore he is able to save
to the uttermost all that come unto God through him ; because he
ever liveth to make intercession for us." For such an High-priest
became us, who was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from
sinners, and made higher than the heavens." The balsam of his
blood exactly answers our wounds in breadth and length ; it cleanses
from all sin, and purges the conscience from dead works. It was
contrived by infinite wisdom for this purpose, and every sinner
whose eyes are opened at once sees his suitableness ; for Christ is
" the power of God, and the wisdom of God," 1 Cor. i. 24.
5. This gift is remarkable, for the necessity of it : Acts iv. 12,
" Neither is there salvation in any other ; for there is none other
name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved."
What would the world have been without Christ but a dungeon of
darkness, a pit of horror, a prison of misery and despair ? Had we
only heard God thundering on Mount Sinai, and not God groaning
on Calvary, then we had made the rocks rent, and the hills resound
with our desperate outcries. No man, no angel, was able to help;
nothing but the blood of God could expiate our guilt.
6. It is remarkable for the greatness of it. It is a gift without a
parallel in heaven or in earth : " God so loved tlie world, that he
gave his only-begotten Son," John iii. 16. A greater gift than this
Heaven could not give, and earth could not receive. The salvation is
great, but the Saviour, the person who wrought out this salvation,
must be greater. Many rich and blessed gifts God gives his people,
but they are all little when compared with this great gift, for along
with it he freely gives us all things. When God resolved to display
and communicate his goodness, his wisdom, power and bounty, he
made a world out of nothing ; but when he resolved to manifest his
love, and discover all his glory, he gives us to view it in the face
and person of Jesus. The Sabbath was appointed for celebrating the
praises of God for the work of creation ; but in addition to this,
eternity is destined to celebrate the praises of the riches of his grace
and glory in Christ Jesus.
7. This gift is remarkable, for the freedom of it. — Christ is a gift
every way free. There is a cluster of wonders in the freedom of it.
— These we shall in part take notice. This gift is given,
(1.) To the undeserving. We deserve no good at the hand of the
Lord, much less the greatest good ; we cannot challenge a drop of
TO HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE. 133
water by merit, much less Christ and his grace ; so that God can-
not wrong us, whatever he deny us. It is given,
(2.) To the ill-deserving ; to them who deserved death and dam-
nation ; who were justly lying under the curse of the first covenant,
and whose demerit would have sunk them to hell. Yea, this gift is
given,
(3.) To them that were not seeking it : "I am sought (says God)
of them that asked not for me ; I am found of them that sought me
not : I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that were not call-
ed by my name." Christ can say of all his people, " Ye have not
chosen me, but I have chosen you." The Father presses the gift
of his Son upon poor sinners, even when they are feeding on husks,
and not seeking after him, saying, " "Wherefore do ye spend money
for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which satisfieth
not ? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good,
and let your soul delight itself in fatness," Isa. Iv. 2. It is given,
(4.) To them that were not expecting it, or looking for any such
gift at his hand. How was Zaccheus surprised when Jesus said
unto him, " This day is salvation come to thine house," Luke xix. 9.
(5.) Yea, it is still offered to them who have often refused it,
who have been frequently bidden to the marriage-supper, anl have
as often refused to come : *' Ye will not come to me, (says Jesus),
that ye might have life ;" but yet still does he say, " Why will ye
die, house of Israel ?"
8. This gift is remarkable for the nnchangeableness of it. All
the spiritual gifts and callings of God are without repentance ; but
above all it is so with Jesus, his great and unspeakable gift. Where
he once comes, he never afterwards goes away. There is a strict
bond of union betwixt Christ and the soul, which death itself can-
not dissolve ; yea, " there is nothing that can separate us from the
love of God that is in Christ Jesus." If the soul cannot keep fast
hold of Christ, Christ will keep fast hold of it : "I know my sheep
(says Jesus), and they follow me ; and I give unto them eternal life,
and they shall never perish ; neither shall any man pluck them out
of my hand," John x. 27, 28. If the hand of faith be weak, he can
strengthen it ; and the Spirit of God does not faint or grow weary.
The term of the union between Christ and believers is during life
eternal. — Let ns,
III. Inquire what we may behold in the Father's giving this gift.
Much, much indeed, may we here behold, that merits our attention,
admiration, gratitude and love. But at present, time only permits
me simply to mention a particular or two.
1. In this gift we may see our own needs. If our necessity had
134 CHRIST THE FATHER's GUri
not been very great and urgent indeed, God would not have given
his own Son, to be a witness, leader, and commander to us ; had not
our misery been great, and also beyond the power of men and
angels to deliver from it, God would not have provided and given
such a ransom for us. This at once shews our misery to have been
so great, that none but Jesus could deliver us from going down to
the pit. The divine excellence and infinite value of the remedy,
clearly demonstrate the absolute necessity on our part of such a
cure.
2, In this gift we may see infinite love. What but love, love
eternal, and boundless grace, could have induced God the Father to
have given his own well-beloved Son, even to die in the room of
such creatures as we are ? Instead of merit, we had the very great-
est demerit ; and God was under no obligations to give us such a gift ;
his own love, then, was the source. In the gift itself, we have the
greatest display of love ever made to any of the creatures of God ;
the greatness of it the heart cannot conceive, nor the tongue express;
the greatness of it will through eternity excite the admiration, grati-
tude, and love of angels and men.
3. In this gift, we have to contemplate a glorious design of doing
good to sinners. All the gifts of God are intended for our good ;
but as this is the greatest of them all, yea, infinitely greater than
them all taken together, so the good evidently intended by it is
also exceeding great ; yea, it bears a proportion to the infinite value
of the gift itself. When we consider the divine dignity of the per-
son sent, and his near relation to the Father, when we consider the
greatness of the work his Father gave him to do, and the tremen-
dously dreadful sufferings which he appointed him to endure, we
may at once conclude, that the good thereby intended for sinners
was so great, as to be worthy of the wisdom and goodness of the per-
son who sent him, and worthy also of the Son of God to accomplish.
This was nothing else than eternal life : Jesus, *' the Captain
of our salvation, was made perfect through sufferings, that he
might bring many sons to glory."
TV. Let us now conclude with a practical improvement.
My friends, when God makes offer of this gift to you, slight it
not, but receive it gratefully ; accept of Christ as he is offered in the
gospel. When Christ on the cross saw his mother standing by the
disciple whom he loved, he said unto her, " Woman, behold thy
Son !" then to the disciple, " Eehold thy mother!" and from that
hour that disciple took her unto his own home. So does God ad-
dress you, saying to each of us, Behold my Son Christ, and take him
home into your hearts. — For motives to this consider,
TO HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE, 135
1. That Christ is a leading gift. "Wherever he comes, he nerer
comes alone, he brings a train of blessings along with him, even all
the blessings of the everlasting covenant ; for in him all the promises
are yea and amen. Receive him, and ye shall have a complete and
everlasting righteousness with him, reconciliation and peace with
God, pardon of sin, sonship to God, an inheritance among them that
are sanctified, and, finally, a right to all things. If ye receive him
all things are yours : " Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the
world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come ; all
are yours : and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's," 1 Cor. iii.
21—23.
2. He is a soul-satisfying gift, in the enjoyment of which your
souls may rest. Are you not seeking satisfaction, and pursuing
after happiness ? but " why do you seek the living among the dead ?"
Why do you suck the dry breasts of the world, and the impure
fountains of your own lusts, that cannot satisfy ? Isa. Iv. 2. No-
thing but an infinite good can satisfy the desires of the human soul,
and here it is. Here in Christ, like Habakknk, you may find a
source of joy and strength, when all other comforts fail. As no-
thing but the mother's breast can satisfy the hungry infant, so
nothing but Christ can satisfy your souls aright : " Whosoever
drinketh of the water (saith Jesus) that I shall give him, shall never
thirst ; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of
living water, springing up into everlasting life," John iv. 14.
3. He gave himself to the death, that he might be a gift suitable
to your necessities. He is that bread that the Father gave from
heaven ; bread that was ground between the mill-stones, and baken
in the oven of God's wrath, that he might be bread to you.
4. Do ye not need, positively need him ? Can you be happy with-
out a pardon, peace with God, a righteousness, and an everlasting
inheritance ? Now, there is no possible way of obtaining these, but
by him. ! my fellow-sinners, how can ye live or die without him ?
Sure your own necessities have a loud cry to you not to slight him ;
your souls, pining away in sin, cry, slight not a Saviour ! your
souls, truly sick, cry, slight not the physician !
5. Consider, he is in your offer; you may have him if you will.
*' The Spirit and the bride say. Come ; and let him that heareth, say
Come ; and let him that is athirst come ; and whosoever will, let
him take the water of life freely." You see there is nothing to
hinder your receiving him : for the Father is willing to give his
Son to you, and the Son is willing to give himself, the Spirit is will-
ing : " All things are ready, come ye to the marriage." Nay, it is
not merely a simple off'er, but a, command : " This is the command of
136 CHRIST THE father's gift
God, that ye believe on his Son." Therefore under the pain of God's
eternal displeasure, accept of hira : " He that believeth shall be
saved, he that believeth not shall be damned.
6. Consider, he will not always be in your offer. When once the
Master hath risen up, and shut the doors, ye may knock in vain,
there will be no more entrance. Thus ye may be taken from the
offer, or it from you ; now, then, is the accepted time, and now is
the day of salvation.
Lastly, Consider if ye receive him not, ye are lost for ever ; and
then it will be more tolerable for them that never heard of hira,
than for you :
" If he that despised Moses' law died without mercy, under two or
three witnesses, of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he
be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God,
and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanc-
tified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of
God ?" For we know hira that hath said, " Vengeance belongeth
unto me, and I will repay, saith the Lord," Heb. x. 28 — 30.
My fellow-sinners, will ye now take this gift from heaven ? I am
sure there would not need to be so much work to make you receive a
gift that is not worthy once to be named with this : if ye will not
take it, what have you to say for yourselves ? Perhaps the reasons
why some will not receive this gift may be easily found out; as,
1. Some will not, because they need it not; like Esau, in another
case, they may be ready to say, '' I have enough, my brother, keep
that thou hast unto thyself," Gen. xxxiii. 9. Alas ! many are full,
are rich, and reign as kings without Christ ; but, ! would to God
they were rich, and did reign. Such persons only reign like Saul,
when God departed from hira. Sure am I, that if there be a soul
under heaven needs Christ, it is such a person. They who, like
the Laodiceans, are rich and increased with goods, and have need of
nothing, and know not that they are wretched, and miserable, and
poor, blind, and naked, how much need had they to listen to the
counsel of Jesus, and buy of hira gold tried in the fire, that they may
be rich ; for what have ye without Christ, but has God's curse in it ?
all your gifts are cursed to you, Mai. ii. 2, " I will even," says God,
•* send a curse upon you, and will curse your blessings, yea, I have
cursed thera already," because ye do not lay it to heart.
2. Others will not, because they have not room for it ; many have
no room for Christ ; their hearts and affections are otherwise taken
up. But, ! what takes up that room ? what guests do you lodge
in your hearts, that the Son of God cannot have access ? If ye have
not room, will ye make room ? Tell^hira ye are content to take him.
TO HIS CHOSEN PEOI'LE. 137
and invite liira to make room for himself, and he will do it. He is
able to cast out your idols, and to pull down trhe strong-holds of sin
and Satan that are in your hearts.
3. Some will not, because they like not the onerous cause of the
gift. There are many that cannot digest what is required of them
who belong to Christ : " If any man will be ray disciple, let him deny
himself, take up his cross, and follow me." They could take the
crown, but they cannot away with the cross, or the hard service.
Such are to be pitied, for they are led aside by mistakes ; if Christ
was in yonr hearts, his service would be your choice, and you would
glory in his cross.
4. Many will not, because they have no will to come under the
obligation of a gift. Thus it was with the Jews ; going about to
establish their own righteousness, they submitted not themselves to
the righteousness of God. This pride of heart lies often vailed un-
der the shew of humility, when all the while the soul refuses to
come to Christ, because of unwillingness. Well, you must either be
obliged to Christ for your salvation, or perish ; for do what you
will, or suffer what you will, if Christ be not yours, you perish.
Lastly, Not a few will not, because they think, though it may do
good to others, yet it can do none to them. Who knows but this
may be the temptation of some ! this is the poisonous breath of
monstrous unbelief, that at once flies in the face of God's truth,
making him a liar, 1 John v. 10; and in the face of his wisdom, as
if he had provided an unsuitable remedy. Siuner, who ever perished
in the hands of Jesus ? and what desperate cases has he cured !
But do you object there was never the like of yours ? Answ. Then
you will glorify Christ the more, if you will venture yourself in his
hand. Many wonderful precedents have you as proofs of his abil-
ity. Venture yourselves then in his hand, " for he is able to save
to the uttermost all that come to God through him, seeing he ever
liveth to make intercession for us." Amen.
YoL. IX.
138 THE CHRISTIAN WEAK, YET STRONG.
THE CHRISTIAN WEAK, YET STRONG.*
SERMON XIV.
2 Cor. xii. 10,
For when I am weak, then am I strong.
The text is a gospel-paradox, best understood by experience. The
Christian is a mystery, a mystery to the world ; the saints are hid-
den ones, yea, in a great measure they are a mystery to themselves ;
so is the Christian life. The apostle in the text, tells us one of the
great mysteries of the Christian life, and that is meat out of the
eater: "I take pleasure," says he, "in infirmities, in reproaches,
in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake."
Christianity teaches not a Stoical apathy, no man is more sensible
of the weight of his burden than a Christian ; yet he can not only
bear a heavy burden patiently, (which I believe is a mystery to many
of us), but he even finds a pleasure in a burden he is not able to
stand under. After sense has considered a trial, gone out and in
through it, and found nothing but bitterness, faith can discover a
great deal of sweetness in it. The Christian well exercised, may get
some glorious sights in his trials and temptations, that afford a re-
fined pleasure.
1. It is a sweet sight for a Christian to see himself standing a
candidate for glory, and on his trials for heaven, 1 Pet. i. 6, 7,
" Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be,
ye are in heaviness, through manifold temptations, that the trial
of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perish-
eth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and
honour, and glory, at the appearing of Christ."
2. It is sweet to see Christ dragging the corrupt will to the cross,
and driving the nails through it, for its mortification : Jam. i. 3,
" Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience."
3. It is sweet to see Christ, in order to the starving of lusts
blocking up the passes by which provisions might be brought to
them.
4. To see the soul out of weakness made strong, and the devil
outshot with his own bow. This account of it the text gives, "For
when I am weak," that is, when I am weak in myself, '* then am I
strong" in Christ ; ver. 9, " My grace is sufficient for thee, for my
* Thii and the following discourse delivered July 12, and 13, 1713.
THE CIIRISTIAX W£AK, YET STRONO. 139
strength is made perfect in weakness." The Lord allowed the
temptation to continue with him till he was driven out of himself,
and was brought to confess he was not man enough for it, and then
the Lord gives him strength against it.
1. In the text there is something supposed, namely, that the Chris-
tian is not always weak in the sense of the text ; he has not always
the dne sense of his weakness ; sometimes his locks are cut, and yet
he will go out as at former times. It is no small piece of Christian
labour to keep a due sense of our weakness and insufficiency.
When the Christian is strong in himself, then he is dead weak. If
the devil can but get the man blown up with conceit of his own abil-
ity to stand his ground against him, then he has him fair before the
wind, as Peter. Hence it is that some will stand before great
temptations, and fall before less ones.
2. In the text, there is something expressed. "When the Christian
is weak in his own sight, then he is really strong ; he baffles the
temptation, he stands the trial, when he sees he is not man enough
for it. Sometimes the devil rages, drives furiously by temptations,
persecutions, and the like ; but unless he raise the dust, so as to
blind the Christian's eyes, that he see not his own weakness, nor the
strength of the grace without him in Christ, instead of driving him
off his way, he will drive him to Christ, in whom he is enabled to
stand, so as to come off a conqueror. I take up the sense of the
verse in this
DocT. That when the Christian is weak, then he is strong; weak
in his own eyes, strong in Christ.
In discoursing upon this subject, I shall consider the following
points.
I. What is that weakness, which paves the way to spiritual
strength ?
II. Offer some remarks for confirming this point.
III. Give some reasons of the doctrine. And,
lY. The illustration of these will make way for a large practical
improvement, in various uses of the subject.
I am then,
I. To shew what is that weakness which paves the way for spi-
ritual strength.
1. There is in it a holy bent of the heart to that work, to which
strength is required, with an honest desire and resolution to go
through with the work. If a man hath no mind for the work, it is all
one in that respect, whether he be weak or strong : Matth xxvi. 41,
*' Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temi>tation ; the Spirit in-
k2
i40 THE CHRISTIAN WEAK, YET STRONG.
deed is willing, but the flesh is weak. But the Christian, however
weak,
(1.) Aims honestly at the performance of every duty. Like Da-
vid he has respect unto all God's commandments, Psalm cxix. 6 :
Le dares not baulk any of the laws of Christ ; the whole law is writ-
ten in his heart by divine grace, and he labours to write it over
in his practice ; he has no objection to any duty he knows to be
enjoined of the Lord, but says, " I esteem all thy precepts concern-
ing all things to be right," Psalm cxix. 128.
(2.) He is honestly resolved to resist temptation, and mortify
lusts. This is what must be done, though he knows not well how ;
he concludes, that though there be a lion in the way, he must be
forward : " I have chosen," says he, " the way of truth," Psalm
cxix. 30 ; his feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of
peace ; he dares not think to fail with every wind, nor to go back
and lie down in the embraces of his lusts, for it is to be supposed
God has set fire to his rest there.
(3.) He has laid his account with the cross, and resolves to con-
tinue his weak shoulders under it, at Christ's call : Matth. xvi. 24,
" If any man," said Jesus, " will come after me, let him deny him-
self, take up the cross and follow me."
He is resolved to follow the Lamb, though he should lie at the
end of it, and never to leave the way of the Lord, for all the storms
that Satan may raise in it ; he prefers Christ's cross to the world's
crown ; and what he cannot keep with a good conscience, he will
reckon himself better without than with it.
2. A sense of utter inability, and insufficiency, to go through with
that work, or any part of it : 2 Cor. iii, 5, " Not that we are suffici-
ent of ourselves, to think anything as of ourselves, but our suffici-
ency is of God." Though his designs are noble and generous, he
knows he has nothing in himself to accomplish them ; for ye must
know, that the Christian's confession of weakness is no compliment,
they are children that will not lie ; it is no preposterous modesty
or diffidence, that blinds a man to his own ability. But he sees
things as they really are, and believes himself no more weak than
ho is. When he looks over all his inventory, of what he is, and
what he has in himself, he sees nothing to depend upon, either in
point of doing or suffering.
The Christian lies fairest for spiritual strength, when he is so
low and weak in his own eyes, as that he dare not trust to anything
for his through-bearing, that is not Christ's or in Christ : " They
are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in
Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh," Phil. iii. 3. A
THE CHKISTIAN WEAK, YET STRONG. 141
man is uo more weak in his own eyes than he has reason, — The
Christian considers himself as weak,
(1.) When he dare not trust to his own stock of natural or
acquired abilities for suffering for Christ. These things may some-
times carry a man through what is duty for the matter, but often-
times they leave a man in the lurch, and can never help a man to
do any good thing that God will accept ; and no wonder ; for saith
Jeremiah, chap. xvii. 5, 6, "Thus saith the Lord God, Cursed be
the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose
heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath, and
shall not see when good coraeth ; but shall inhabit the parched places
in the wilderness, in a salt land not inhabited." See also Isa. xl.
29—31.
(2.) "When he dares not trust to the principles and resolutions of
his heart. Nature is mighty venturous in religion, when it is flushed
with vigorous resolutions. The Scribe said unto Jesus, " I will fol-
low thee whithersoever thou goest," Matth. viii. 19. But when the
temptation or trial comes, they fall down like the walls of Jericho ;
the fire-edge soon wears ofl" the spirit that is not stayed on the
Lord.
(3.) When he dares not trust to vows and engagements. Every
gracious soul will give itself away to the Lord, but they will not
trust to these bands, but to him to whom they are bound : Isa. xlv.
24, " Surely shall one say. In the Lord have I righteousness and
strength." If men trust to their own vows, they will find them a
sorry fence, that will go like Samson's withs when he heard the
Philistines were upon him.
(4.) When he dares not trust to his own endeavours: Psalm
cxxvii. 1, "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain
that build it." A Christian must be as diligent and vigorous in his.
way of duty, as if he were to do all alone ; but if he would see the
success of these endeavours, he must look for it from another quar-
ter, as if he had done nothing. If the saint will not learn this les-
son otherwise, God will let him work on, till he work himself out
of breath, and so lie down at the Lord's feet, as the church did :
Isa. xxvi. 8, " We have been with child, we have been in pain, we
have, as it were, brought forth wind, we have not wrought any de-
liverance in the earth."
(5,) He dare not trust to the good frame he sometimes finds his spi-
rit in. A good frame is a precious ointment to refresh the weary tra-
veller, but is not a staff to lean upon, 1 Chron, xxix. 17, 18 ; it may
be quickly lost, Psalm cvi. 13, " They soon forgot his works ;" it
is a tender bud of heaven that is easily nipped, as Peter at the^
142 THE CIllUSTIAN WEAK, YET STUONG.
voice of a maid. It is a heavenly fire that needs continaal supply,
or else it will go out; if the Spirit of God cease to pour in oil, that
lamp will soon be extinguished.
(6.) He dare not trust to habitual grace. Paul had a good stock
of it, but he durst not venture to live on it : Gal. ii. 20, " I am cru-
cified with Christ : nevertheless I live ; yet not I, but Christ liveth
in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faiih
of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." The
grace within the saints is a well, the streams of which are often
dry, but to the grace without them in Christ ; they can never come
wrong, for it is an overflowing fountain. How quickly would the
branch wither, if it were left to the sap within itself, but the sap
in the stock keeps the branch green : " He that eateth me," saith
Jesus, " even he shall live by me," John vi. 7-
3. There is the weak soul turning to a strong God for strength,
in the way of believing, 2 Chron. xx. 12, " our God ! wilt thou
not judge them? for we have no might against this great company
that cometh against us, neither know we what to do ; but our eyes
are towards thee." When the strong man goes into himself, and
musters up all the forces and powers of his soul, for the duty, or
against the temptation, the weak man, that lies fair for strength,
goes out of himself to muster up the forces of heaven by faith. — I
may take up this in three things.
(1.) The weak man that becomes strong, truly believes that God
has treasured up in Christ the strength and furniture of all the
heirs of glory, for their work, 1 Cor. i. 30, " But of him are ye in
Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto as wisdom and righteousness,
and sanctification, and redemption." " And of his fulness have all
we received, and grace for grace," John i. 16. Since Adam fell, he
never trusted any of the saints with their own stock, but has made
the Mediator the great Trustee of divine grace, that if they would
be supplied, they must go to him for it.
(2.) Jesus Christ with all his salvation, being off'ered in the way
of the everlasting covenant, the weak soul by faith lays hold on
that covenant, and Christ therein, for sanctification, as well as jus-
tification. Thus the weak creature is joined to a strong God, the
empty soul is joined to him in whom all fulness dwells ; so that in
this sense, though he have nothing, yet he possesseth all things, viz.
in Christ his head ; they are complete in him, Col. ii. 10.
(3.) He believes the promises of the covenant, and, on the credit of
them, ventures on duty against sin, and takes up the cross : 2 Chron.
xiv. 11, " Help us, Lord, our God, for we rest on thee, and in thy
name we go against this multitude." Though resolutions, engage-
THE CHRISTIAN- WEAK, YET STRONG. US
ments, and vows, be not to be trusted, yet a man may safely trust
the promise ; it is the blessed contrivance of the second covenant,
that all our duties are there wrapt up in promises ; and whenever
Ave are called to do or suffer, the covenant has a promise of strength
for it, and the Christian, sensible of his weakness, trusts it. — I am,
II. To confirm this point. — For this purpose, I offer these re-
marks.
1. The Christian, when he closeth his own eyes, sees best ; when
he trusts least to his own understanding, he is best directed, accord-
ing to the promise: Prov. iii. 5, 6, "Trust in the Lord with all
thine heart, and lean not to thine understanding : in all thy ways
acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Carnal wisdom is
an ill judge betwixt sin and duty ; and if men renounce it not, and
singly give themselves up to the divine conduct, they will be ready
to stumble at noon-day : 1 Cor. iii. 20, " The Lord knoweth the
thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." Lot lifted up his eyes,
Abraham closed his, and left his choice to the Lord, Gen. xiii. 9, 10.
This is the reason why godly simplicity oftentimes carries men well
through, while carnal policy leads men into the ditch ; and weak
shrubs stend, while lofty cedars are blown over, that God may stain
the pride of all glory.
2. When he ventures on the difficulties in the way of duty, not
knowing how to remove them, he gets best through. This was the
case with Abraham, when called to offer up his son, Gen. xxii ; but
when he went down to Egypt, there was a difficulty in the way,
which he would not leave to the Lord to remove, but fell on ways
and means of his own, and came off shamefully, Gen. xxii ; over-
fast, overloose in this respect, 1 Cor. iii. 16, " For the wisdom of
this world is foolishness with God, for it is written. He taketh the
wise in their own craftiness." A little faith is more valuable than
much carnal foresight. Leave difficulties in the way of duty on the
Lord, if ever you would get safe through them : Psalm xxxvii. 5,
" Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in him, and he shall
bring it to jiass."
3. The Christian soldier fights best when the violence of the enemy
sets him to his knees. Paul experienced this, when he besought the
Lord thrice, and got a gracious answer ; and so he recommends it
to others, 2 Cor. xii. 8, " Praying always (says he) with all prayer,"
Eph. vi. 18. It was in this last posture that Jacob got the notable
victory, Gen. xxxii. 24. Hence it is said of him, Hos. xii. 4, " Yea,
he had power over the angel and prevailed ; he wept and made sup-
plication unto him : he found him in Bethel, and there he spoke
with us." Did temptations and troubles set us to our knees, the
144 TUE CURISTIAX WEAK, YET STRONG.
devil would be outsliot. Did the threats of the enemies at this time,
hut cast professors out of their beds of sloth down to their knees,
the Lord's work would quickly triumph over the enemies of it.
4. The lower the soul lies, it is the nearer the throne above : Isa.
Ivii. 15, " For thus saith the high and lofty One, that inhabiteth
eternity, whose name is holy, I dwell in the high and holy place,
with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the
spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."
A man will get a better view of the stars from the bottom of a deep
pit than from the top of a mountain. The soul is never nearer the
divine communications, than when shame and blushing make him
stand affar off with the publican, smiting on his breast. The soul
in that case will get the kindly invitation, "Come up hither;"
when the self-conceited presumptuous sinner will hear, " Go down
yonder."
5, The duty a Christian is called to, and sees himself most
unable for, he performs best. Peter, when he thought himself well
buckled for a confession for Christ, denied him at the voice of a
silly maid; but when he had better learned the duty of self-denial,
he boldly stood upon defence, Acts iv. 13. A man had better be in
the dark, than walk in the light of his own sparks. A Christian
never goes so actively through a duty, as when he leaves his own fur-
niture for it behind him, throws it down in point of confidence, and
takes up the promise.
6. The temptation that to a man is most contemptible, is most
dangerous : Prov. xxviii. 14, " Hai)py is the man that feareth al-
ways ; but he that hardeneth his heart, shall fall into mischief."
Many times the devil's wounded men do more execution than his
formic' able army set in battle array. Lot kept his ground in So-
dom, when among a company of incarnate devils, but fell foully
when he thought himself in no hazard in the cave. If ye would
stand, ye must never despise the meanest, nor think the greatest
temptation insuperable. The meanest is too hard for you, the strong-
est too weak for the strength that you may have in your God.
7, The Christian that stands before the Lord with trembling legs,
is the meetest to take up Christ's cross, and will bear it best. He
that dare say least, is the man that will do most : Isa. xl. 30, 31,
" Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men
shall utterly fall ; but they that wait upon the Lord, shall renew
their strength ; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they
shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint."
He that ventures on the hour of trial, merely with a Roman cou-
rage or natural briskness of spirit, has but a weak reed to lean to.
THE CHRISTIAN WEAK, YET STRONa. 145
There is none more likely to be a disgrace to religion, than the pre-
suraptnons self-confident professor, that wants nothing to support the
cause of God, in the time of trial, but only other professors' hearts
like his heart. The best and surest backing Christ will have, will
be from those that tremble when he shall roar like a lion, Hos.
xi. 10, see also Isa. xxxy. 4 — 6.
8. The Lord's people thrive best, when they have nothing but
from hand to mouth. The most enriching time they have, is when
felt needs are always driving them to God's door, and making them
hang on about his hand : Rom. v. 3, 4, " Knowing that tribulation
worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope."
The Christian that has most trials, has most experiences. Many
battles afford variety of spoil to the Christian soldier ; and a tract
of smoothness in a man's lot, is ordinarily a dead time with the
Christian, as to trading with heaven; he has not much outgiving,
and has as little income. "When David going against Goliath, got
on Saul's armour and dress, 1 Sam. xvii. 38, he could not go with
them ; but when he had nothing but the staff, and the bag of stones
out of the brook, he went freely, and succeeded.
As the fire burns most vigorously in a keen frost, so faith acts
most vigorously when it has nothing to animate it but the naked
word of promise. But when all is laid to a person's hand as they
would wish, faith is so clogged that it cannot readily go with them.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.
SERMON XY.
2 Con. xii. 10,
For ivhen I am weak, then am I strong.
We now proceed,
III. To give some reasons of the doctrine, or shew, That when the
Christian is weak, then he is strong ; weak in his own eyes, strong
in Christ.
Among other reasons which might be assigned, we shall mention
the following.
I. Because he who is thus weak will not enter on difficulty but
when he is called to it ; and God's call to his people for any piece of
work implies a promise of strength : Psalm xci. 11, "For he shall
give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways,"
146 THE CIIBISTIAN WEAK, YET STRONG.
Self-confidence is venturous, thinks nothing too high for the man.
Hence, he does not stay till he be led, but runs into temptation ; no
■wonder than he comes foul oflf, like Peter in the devil's ground, the
high-priest's hall. But the first thing the weak man does, is to be
sure of his call, knowing there can be no ground for confidence with-
out it. And he will not be over soon satisfied with it, but ponders
the path of his feet, Prov. iv. 2tj.
2. He is driven out of himself to the Lord Christ, the fountain of
strength : " Blessed is the man whose strength is in the Lord," says
the Psalmist, Psalm Ixxxiv. 5, " I will go in the strength of the
Lord God," Psalm Ixxi. 16. He leaves the rotten ground of self-
confidence, and trusts in him that raiseth the dead, and calleth things
that are not as though they were, and out of the mouths of babes
perfects praise. The power of heaven is engaged in his favour ; he
believes, therefore is not left to be ashamed. This is a sure way for
strength : for,
(1.) It lies on the honour of God, to strengthen the soul that de-
pends upon him alone, according to his word, and that in point of
his veracity; God's word of honour is good security; also in point
of his goodness and gracious nature. Trust reposed in a generous
man is a strong tie upon him in favour of the party trusting him.
And I think there is much in that word, Jer. xxxix. 18, " For
I will surely deliver thee, because thou hast put thy trust in me,
saith the Lord." Lot would rather that any evil that was to come
should have fallen on himself and family, than on his guests ; the
reason is in these words :* " For therefore came they under my roof,"
Gen. xix. 8. Humanity teaches people to preserve the life of a
litle bird, that flies into their bosom to be preserved from a raven-
ous bird. And they that take Ruth's way may be sure of the bless-
ing she got : Ruth ii. 12, " The Lord recompense thy work, and a
full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose
wings thou art come to trust."
(2.) Because it sweetly answers to the grand device of God touch-
ing the sanctification of sinners. For, (1.) The treasures of sancti-
fying grace are all laid up in Christ, " who of God is made unto us
sanctification," 1 Cor. i. 30, and from him all gracious influences are
to be derived : " Out of his fulness we are to receive, and grace for
grace," John i. 16. Accordingly the sinner comes to him, as the
famished Egyptians to Joseph. (2.) They are to be derived from
him by faith according to our needs ; this is the appointed mean for
conveyance of grace and strength from Christ, Gal. ii. 20. Accord-
ingly the soul believes, that is, trusts in him for supply. Now,
when the soul takes God's own way for strength, how can it miss it*
THE CHRISTIAN WEAK, YET STKONG. 147
(3.) Because the glory of God's grace appears best ia such a case.
Thus it was with Paul, to whom God said, " My grace is sufficient for
thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." When Christ
cured the blind man, he anointed his eyes with clay. The grace of
God works best alone ; and therefore the Lord, to stain pride, and
prevent men from sacrificing to their own net, brings them very
low before he appears to work for them, that his work may be
wonderful, Deut. xxxii. 36.
Lastly, Because in that case the grand stop of divine communica-
tions is removed ; the vessel is empty, and so the oil runs. Self-
confidence is diametrically opposite to the grand device of sanctifi-
cation revealed in the gospel. That a man should trust himself,
was the fundamental maxim of the Pagan morality, but revealed
religion plainly overturns it : Prov. xxviii. 26, " He that trusteth in
his own heart is a fool." It is practically set up in the hearts of
all men by nature, but grace overturns it : Matth. xvi. 14, " If any
man, (saith Jesus) will come after me, let him deny himself, and
take up his cross, and follow me."
ly. I am now to make some practical improvement of this sub-
ject,
\stf In an use of information.
1. Learn, that they who were never carried off their own bottom
for sanctification, have their religion yet to begin. It is a funda-
mental error in practice, for men to think, that though they need the
righteousness of Christ for justification, yet they need but activity
and diligence with their natural powers for holiness. This is as
absurd, according to the scriptures, as to say the cripple needs but
to ply his limbs, and so shall be cured. It is an evidence, — (1.) That
thou hast never got a view of the corruption of nature, the plague of
thine own heart ; thy plague is in thy head — (2.) That thou hast never
felt the need of Christ for all his salvation, yea, for the principal part
of it, that is, sanctification, which is the great design of the whole
mystery of the gospel of Christ. And, — (3.) That therefore self has
yet Christ's room in thy heart. Thou actest from thyself, and con-
sequently to thyself, and so art rejected of God in all that thou dost.
2. We are taught, that they make foul work, at communions who,
(1.) Bind themselves to the Lord for work, but lay not hold on
the everlasting covenant for strength. I will not deny but the sa-
crament is a seal of our engagement to the Lord ; but, according
to the scripture, it is mainly a seal of God's full covenant to be-
lievers, as appears from the words of institution ; and therefore I
think the main work of a communion-occasion is that Christians re-
ceive a full Christ, lay hold of a full covenant; suited to all their
148 THE CHRISTIAN WEAK, YET STRONG.
needs, and be no more faithless, but believing. They mistake also,
(2.) Who come to that ordinance without a deep sense of their
wants, weakness, and imperfections. They who would have any
thing at Christ's door, should be very sensible of their rank poverty
at home : Luke i. 53, " He hath filled the hungry with good things ;
and the rich he hath sent empty away." They should be capable
to lay their fingers on their sores, and tell what aileth them — Those
mistake also,
(3.) Who are at no pains to prepare for that ordinance, and to
bring strength from heaven for the management of it : " Without
me (says Jesus) ye can do nothing," John xv. 5 ; if nothing, how
will they of themselves manage such a great and solemn work ?
therefore they have much need of intercourse with heaven by faith
and prayer, — Those err,
(4.) Who depend upon their own preparation. It is hard work
to prepare the heart for a communion ; but it is harder to be denied
to it, and trust nothing to it when we have prepared. It is hard to
be wrestling with an ill heart, till it be brought to some tolerable
frame ; but harder to trust all to free grace.
3. We may learn that none are so ready to be a prey to the devil
as the presumptuous, self-confident sinner. This is a train which,
when laid for a man, will quickly blow him up. The poor trembling
saint will keep his feet, when such an one's bent bow will quickly
break, — In a word, we may conclude,
4. That the best way to stand is to be much in the work of un-
dermining our self-confidence, and razing the grounds of it, shoveling
away the mire in which that flag grows ; we would thus be brought
into firm ground, and would grow up into Christ. — I now proceed to,
2dli/, An use of comfort. This is comfortable to humble souls,
(1.) In the case of the church of God. This church is very weak
at this day ; she is weakened by mischiefs established by laws, by
divisions, but above all, by the provocations of her members against
the Lord ; she is cast into a decay of true tenderness, and practical
godliness ; she is far gone on in it : she has many enemies powerful
and subtile, and there are few to stand against them, a weak com-
pany, weak heads, hearts, and hands ; never fewer, perhaps, of the
nobles and gentry of Scotland to take her by the hand, than at this
day. But it is very like she will be weaker yet, ere she recover
strength, and many she trusts to now will leave her, that her army,
like Gideon's, may be brought to a small remnant, ere the tents of
Midian fall. But the farther the arm of flesh goes from the church
of God, the nearer is the arm of God drawing to her. — There is
comfort, .
THE CIIRISTIAX WEAK, YET STRONG. 149
(2.) In your own case. It is no doubt the perplexing question of
serious souls, How will I go cleanly through ? Religion is no easy
work at any time, but it is like to be harder than ordinary in our
time. How will we get the Lord's way kept ? Christ's cross borne ?
If we faint at little trials, what shall we do under greater ones ?
But remefhber, when yon are weak, then are you strong. — I shall
only add,
Sdli/, An use of exhortation. I exhort you to keep up a due sense
of your own weakness, and trust for your through-bearing in the
Lord.
(1.) Keep up a sense of the weakness of your heads, and lean not
to your own understanding in the point of sin and duty ; but be
ranch hanging about the Lord's hand for light to clear your mind as
to the way in which you are to walk.
(2.) Keep up a sense of the weakness of your hearts, and depend
not upon your own strength for carrying you on in the way of duty
when known, but go to the Lord for strength. In order to prevail
with you, I mention the following motives : —
[1.] This is necessary, to evidence your sincerity in what you
have been doing. Ton have been taking a guide, professing your-
selves incapable to guide yourselves, and a supporter, because you
are unable to support yourselves. Honour him, follow him, and de-
pend upon him.
[2.] You will have need of strength ; be sure you will be tried ;
public trials seem to be abiding us, private trials you may lay your
account with particularly ; Satan is most busy at such a time.
[3.] You will never get through in your own strength ; you have
no reason to trust to yourselves, whatever the present frame and
purposes of your hearts be. For, 1st, Many sad instances have been
of those who have got the slip of their own hearts, that thought they
had as good reason to be confident as you, that they would never go
back ; witness Noah, Lot, David, Solomon, and Peter. 2dli/, Many
that pretend fair are real nothings. We have need the Lord would
hold the glass before our eyes, that we may see ourselves, our state
and frame. Sdlt/, The best have very deceitful hearts : Jer. xvii.
21, " The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked,
who can know it ?" And it is a general maxim, " He that trnsteth
in his own heart is a fool," Prov. xxviii. 26. We are very much un-
acquainted with ourselves, with our own hearts, we know not what
manner of spirits we are of, Luke ix. 55, The root of wickedness
lies within us.
Lastly, Keep up the sense of your weakness, and trust to the
Lord alone, and you will be strengthened with all might, so that
150 THK CHRISTIAN ^'EAK, YET STRONO.
you can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth you, Phil,
iv. 13.
I shall oifer some considerations to impress this on your spirits.
I. You will have need of strength, if you intend to reach heaven.
Indeed, if you have taken your last sight of Immanuel's land, and
have no mind for the Lord's work, but to turn your back on his way,
and go with the stream, you may sit at your own ease, Satan will
see to your swift progress, and will not leave you till he have you
cast into the oven of God's wrath. But otherwise you must go
against the stream, and you must have strength.
(1.) Strength for the duties of religion, and these are as large as
the law, which is the rule of duty, and it is exceeding broad. Thou
must now set thyself to internal and external obedience, thy dnty
to God and man ; give the obedience of heart, lip, and life ; thou
must be universal in obedience, otherwise thou art hypocritical in it,
and so rejected; thou must have an holy conversation; thine eye
must ever be on the Lord, and his holy law ; holiness must go
through all your actions, your civil and natural actions. " "Whether
you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God ;"
and surely for all this you need strength.
(2.) Strength for temptations. Yon must now resolve to enter
the lists with a subtile devil, that has now more than five thousand
years' experience in the art of tempting. How will you stand ?
"With his agents in the world, he will fight against you with tongue,
feet, and hands, and that too may be ere long ; and your most dan-
gerous enemy is within ; you have innumerable tempters within
vou : Jam. i. 14, " Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of
iiis own lust, and enticed." There are many snares in the world,
but none so dangerous as the corruption that is within each of our
own hearts ; this will ever be ready to break out, and embrace its
friends whenever they come near.
(3.) Strength for the cross. Have you engaged with a crucified
Christ ? You must take up your cross, and bear it ; and this will re-
quire strength, (1.) To bear your every day's cross. Go times as they
will, you will find every day will have the evil thereof. (2.) Your holi-
day's cross, in the church's troubles : " Thou hast (says Jeremiah)
called, as in a solemn day, my terrors round about," Lam. ii. 22,
and how heavy that may be, we know not; but if the devil's time
be short, he will be sure to have great wrath. "We have had a
cheap religion of it for many years, and therefore it has got many
customers : but if the after-reckoning were come, which seems to be
making haste, it is to be feared that many of us will throw it down
again, and say, "We never intended to have it at that rate.
THE CHRISTIAN WEAK, YET STRONG. 151
2. You have no strength in yourselves answerable to that work ;
and therefore, without doubt, you will never be able of yourselves
for the least of it : 2 Cor. iii. 5, " Not that we are sufficient of our-
selves to think any thing as of ourselves ; but our sufficiency is of
God." Two things evidence this.
(1.) Our stock of strength was spent ere ever it came to our
hands. The first Adam got it, Eccl. vii. 29. God hath made man
upright, and he by falling left us without strength, Rora. v. 6. And
thus the unregenerate world lies in wickedness, unable to recover
themselves, but are held captive by Satan in chains of lusts, not to
be broken by the power of nature.
(2.) Though, since Adam fell, God has given strength to his peo-
ple, yet since that time God never trusted any mere man with his
own stock of strength ; but he has put a common stock of it into the
hand of the Mediator, to be distributed by him according as the
duties of his people require, and as they make application to him
for it ; and no man can come, saying with the younger brother,
Luke XV. 12, " Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me,"
intending to set up and stand by himself. But he must come to
stay at home, and receive his daily provision at his Father's table,
and out of his hand, according to his necessities. The believer,
being first by faith united to Christ as the head of influences, where-
in all fulness dwells, must depend on him as the members on the
head, the branches on the stock, and by faith derive strength from
him continually, which cannot be, but under this sense of weakness
which we press upon yon, John i. 57 ; 1 Cor. i. 30; John vi. 57-
Therefore, I say confidently, that, be ye saints or sinners, ye have
nothing in you to trust for the work of religion, if it be not Christ
in you; and, be your stock always what it will, it is a very weak
one, and you must not trust to it.
Lastly, You will get enough of strength in Christ, if you take
this way to it, living and going out of yourselves, under a sense of
utter weakness, to the Lord Christ, as the head of strengthening
influences. If you ask, What is that ? I answer. It is the soul's
discerning an utter inability in itself for any spiritually good action,
but withal believing that God has treasured up sufficient strength
in the Mediator, to be communicated to those that are his, and there-
fore embracing a full Christ for all, as held forth in the everlasting
covenant ; and then venturing on duties, watching against tempta-
tions, and taking up the cross, upon the faith and credit of the pro-
mises of the covenant, trusting that they shall be made out to him ;
which trust may be weaker or stronger, but according to the
strength of it, so is the income of strength to the soul. In this way
152 THE INTERESTING INQUIRY.
the weak go from strength to strength. Thus shall you be helped
to go through the most difficult duties acceptably, though not per-
fectly, to stand against the strongest temptations, to mortify the
most powerful lusts, and to bear the heaviest crosses. This has
made Christians attain to an eminent pitch of holiness, joyfully to
embrace a prison, banishment, a gibbet, a fire, and the most cruel
torments enemies could invent. The more you are emptied of your-
selves, placing confidence in the Lord, the more will you be strength-
ened with might in the inner man ; and when you shall be per-
fectly unselfed, if we may so express ourselves, so that there shall
be no more of it to marr the communication betwixt Christ and
you, then you shall be perfectly holy, and set above the reach of
all evil ; but because we are not properly divested of self-confidenCe
in this world, therefore we do not arrive here at perfect strength.
But all the saints, however, will give their testimony, that " when
they are weak, then they are strong." — Amen.
THE INTERESTING INQUIRY.*
SERMON XV I.
Matt. xx. 6,
W7ii/ stand ye here all the day idle ?
In the beginning of this chapter, Christ spake a parable concern-
ing the kingdom of hearen, the scope of which is to shew, that
those who, by conceit of themselves and their actings for God, do
place themselves among the first and chief favourites of heaven,
shall be rejected of God, and treated as the last ; they shall receive
the last of Heaven's favours ; while they who, through a feeling
sense of unworthiness, dare not make such advances, shall be
brought forward from among the last, where they placed themselves,
and advanced to the first rank, where they shall be placed of God,
who gives heaven as a gift to them that do not plead for it as a
debt. This is plain from the occasion and conclusion of this pa-
rable : the vineyard is the church ; the householder is Christ, whose
vineyard it is; his going out at several hours is the call of the gos-
pel at several times, coming to some sooner, to others later ; the
market-place is wherever the gospel comes. Our text is a pithy
* Delivered, Fast-day, August 19, 1713.
TUB IKTEKEsSTIKG INQUIRY. 153
expostulation with those that are standing there idle, even at the
eleventh hour, within an hour of sun-set ; according to that, " Are
there not twelve hours in tbe day?" Tliey are idle, in so far as
they are not taken up about their work for eternity. Our text, you
see, is a close application ; the nature of this day's work requires
it ; and I hope you will not think we misapply it, if we apply it
to you. Every word in it has its particular weight. — The follow-
ing inquiries are suggested from it.
I. Why are ye " idle ?" What reason can ye give for your
being idle ?
II. Why are " ye" idle, more than some others ?
III. Why " stand" ye idle ?
IV. Why " here" idle ?
V. Why idle in the "day?"
YI. Why idle " all the day ?"
We shall attend to these inquiries in their order.
I. Why are ye " idle?" If ye deny the charge, there are two things
at least, which must be yielded to by most, if not all of us.
1. Ye have been very busy doing nothing; but it is better, they
say, to be idle than doing nothing. What is it that most of us are
busy about, but nothing? Prov. xxiii. 5, " Wilt thou set thine eyes
upon that which is not, for riches certainly make themselves wings,
they fly away as an eagle towards heaven ;" that which is nothing
for our souls, nothing for a blessed eternity. Indeed man is a la-
borious creature ; the life of the greatest sluggard is a continued
succession of actions ; the soul of man is like a watch that goes as
fast when it goes wrong, as when it goes right. But, alas ! labori-
ous idleness and solemn trifling in the vanities of this world, is but
a pitiful way of spending a man's life, which is but a short time of
trial, in order to an unalterable state.
2. Ye have been very busy doing worse than nothing ; like these,
2 Thess. iii. 11, " For we hear that there are some which walk among
you disorderly, working not at all, but are busy bodies." Alas !
most of our lives are ill parted betwixt two ; one is spent in weaA---
ing the spider's web, the other in hatching the cockatrice eggs, Isa.
lix. 5; either spent in nothing, or worse than nothing; either sit-
ting still or making more progress hell-ward : either letting the se-
paration wall stand as before, or building it higher and stronger.
But there is one thing that cannot be yielded, at least to the most.
part of this generation ; that is, that they are busy in their great
work. No, no ; idleness in this respect is the epidemical disease
of the day, under which both professors and profane are pining
away. For your conviction in this, consider,
Vol. IX. L
154 THE INTERESTING INQUIRY.
1. What else means the lean souls among us? Solomon tells us,
Prov. xix. 15, " An idle soul shall suffer hunger," and Prov. xiii. 4,
*' The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing ; but the soul
of the diligent shall be made fat." "We may take up that lamenta-
tion, Isa. xxiv. 16, "But I said My leanness, my leanness." Alas!
for the many rickety children of the church this day, with their big
heads, and lean slender bodies, who are puffed up with their know-
ledge, but are yet to learn the elements of practical godliness and
experimental religion. — Consider,
2. The little desire there is among us after the heavenly rest:
Job tells us, chap. vii. 2, " A servant earnestly desireth the shadow,
and an hireling looketh for the reward of his work;" so if we were
not idle, we would be more desirous of that rest that remains for
the people of God. But I fear, if I would speak agreeable to their
consciences, they would say, that the Turks' paradise would fit their
desires better than the heavenly rest. It was the language of a
profane Cardinal, I would quit my part of paradise for present en-
joyment; so no doubt many would quit their part of heaven on lower
terms, for they only desire heaven, because they love not to go to
hell. They care not for the heavenly rest, because they trouble not
themselves with the work meet for heaven. — Consider,
3. The little appetite after our spiritual food. The labouring
man's work makes him find his stomach, and the Christian labour
would make men prize the table covered to them in ordinances.
The ordinances are greatly slighted this day, it is lamentable to
think how little they are regarded. It is only in the Lord's hand
to cure it, by filling folk's hands with heart-work about their soul's
case. It is this that would readily make them eager of help.
Lastly, What else means the rank poverty, and rotten rags,
which is all the portion of many souls ? Rev. iii. 17, " And knowest
not, that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and
naked." How many are there, who are the genuine offspring of the
serpent ! on their belly do they go, and dust is their meat ; they feed
on nothing but the husks of created comforts, wherewith the devil
feeds his herds ; as for communion with God, and sense of his love,
they know no more of them than if they had immortal souls for no
other end than to keep their bodies from rotting. They go up and
down in the rage of their profanity, and lusts, like so many ghosts
in their grave-clothes, busy in nothing but dead works.
I inquire, then, why are ye idle ?
1. Is it because ye have nothing to do ? Truly, ye have very much.
(1.) Ye have your salvation- work upon your hand : Phil. ii. 12,
" Work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Many have
THK IKTEUESTIX& INQUIRY. 155
never begun that work yet ; many that have seemed to have begun,
are at a stand with it now. Ye were born children of wrath, under
the curse of the first covenant ; what are ye doing to get free from
the wrath to come ? There is a burden of guilt lying on you, what
are ye doing to get it oif ? Divers living lusts hanging about you,
what are you doing to mortify them ? Is there any time to be idle,
while that work is not wrought out ? Salvation-work is weighty
work, for damnation-work is very terrible ; ye have that to undo
that ye have been doing. Thou hast been weaving thy life into one
web of sin, and ye have it to open out again into self-examinatiou,
repentance, and bitter mourning.
(2.) Ye have your generation-M'ork to attend upon : Acts xii. 36,
" For David, after he had served his own generation, by the will of
God fell asleep." God made thee, and sustains thee : some of you
in higher, others in lower stations ; what have ye done for God,
what service to your generation ? The sun, moon, and stars are
useful in their several jjlaces ; plants, yea, and beasts, are all use-
ful. For what use art thou in the world ? for Him who set thee
there, and to those he has set thee among ? Assure thyself, God
will call thee to answer that question. I fear most of us have that
work to begin yet.
2. Do ye think ye will get sleeping to heaven, and that your short-
winded wishes for mercy will secure you from the wrath of God ?
Prov. xiii. 4, •' The soul of the sluggard desireth, and has nothing."
No ; ye must " so run that ye may obtain." Take the kingdom by
force ; strive, wrestle, else ye are ruined ; deceive not yourselves, as
if ye would just make a slip of it, out of Delilah's lap into Abra-
ham's bosom. Thou wilt find it a leap out of that bed of sloth into
a bed of fire and brimstone, where ye will lie down in eternal sor-
row, if you do not seasonably bound to your feet, and put hand to
your great work.
3. Do you think the devil is as idle about your souls as you are ?
No ; though ye cannot creep out of your bed of sloth, the devil is
going about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; though
ye will be at no tolerable pains to secure your salvation, he will spare
no pains to secure your damnation. Sleep ye, or wake ye, Satan is at
your right hand ; and if ye be not rowing against the stream, he will
carry you down the stream, till he have you in the ocean of God's
wrath, where you will never see the shore. — The second inquiry is,
II. Why are " ye" idle, while others are gone to work in the Lord's
vineyard ? Why do ye sit still, while others are fleeing from the
wrath to come ? Why are ye sleeping, while others are wrestling
with God as for their bare .life? Why are ye dressing, eating, and
l2
156 THE IKTERESTING IKQUIKY.
drinking, while others, moved with fear, are preparing an ark
against the day of wrath in these lands, and in the world.
1. Is it because the work in the vineyard is too coarse for your
fine fingers ? John vii. 48, " Hare any of the rulers or the Pharisees
believed on him ? but this people that knoweth not the law is ac-
cursed." It is lamentable to think how religion is almost grown
out of fashion among the fashionable people of this degenerate age;
and shocking to see with what contempt some look on seriousness
about soul matters, resolving that these silly people as they call
them, shall for them enjoy their folly alone. Certainly these men
would never have taken their name from one crucified between two
thieves, if it had not been the religion of their country. But these
that are wise in heart think difterently, and glory in the cross of
Christ.
2. Is it because you have another thing to do ? Many in our day
are of Pharaoh's opinion indeed, that religion is only for them that
have no other thing ado. Ye are idle ; but for them they have
their families and farms, &c., to look after. But, man, hast thou
not an immortal soul to look after, as well as others ? They said
of Herod, It is better to be his swine than his son. I am sure,
many a man's soul may say to him. Well is your beasts, in compa-
rison of me ; for one thought that is spent on my case, there is ten
on theirs.
3. Are not ye by nature under the wrath and curse of God, as
well as others ? Yes ; Eph. ii. 3, " And were by nature the children
of wrath, even as others :" and therefore let me say to you as the
penitent thief to his fellow, Luke xxiii. 40, " Dost thou not fear
Ood, seeing thou art in the same condemnation ?" Better go to
heaven with a few, through all the labours of the Christian life,
than to slide away to hell, at your own ease, with the multitude ;
better weep now, than weep eternally, for it will be no comfort to
go to hell with company.
4. "Will ye be content to see the labourers set with Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob, and yourselves, with the fellow-loiterers, shut out ? you
must either set to their work now, or you will see your doom at
length, digest it as you will. — I now inquire,
III. Why stand ye " idle ?" Have you put on a whore's forehead,
and refuse to be ashamed ? It would set you better to hide your
head, as ashamed in that ye take up room in the world to no good
purpose, living in a shameful neglect of your own souls, and the
great end of your creation, which was not to sleep away a lifetime
on the earth, nor to stand like a barren tree in God's vineyard,
drawing away the sap from others, but to glorify God by acting to
and for him.
THE INTERESTING INQUIRY. 157
1. Why then stand ye idle in the sight of men? Have ye a mind
to tell the \7orld, that go to God's vineyard who will, ye have no
mind to stir? embrace God and his service who will, ye will have
nothing to do with him, nor it neither ? Are yoo afraid you want
witnesses to stand against you before the tribunal of God, to testify
how little you valued the working the works of God ? The groans
of those that warned you to your work, that were grieved at your
licentious lives, will witness against you ; nay, the stones and tim-
ber will cry out of the walls within which you live against you,
and witness how little God was in all your thoughts, how little ye
ever wrestled with God about your soul's case, and how the prayer,
when ye made it, has died in your mouths,
2. Why stand ye idle in the sight of the all-seeing God, who set
you down in this world to work your great work ? There are many
that seem to be diligent workers, but God knows them to be mere
idlers ; what they work is before men, but their vineytird in the
inclosure of their breasts is all overgrown with weeds, and they
are at no pains to pluck them up. Have ye bid a defiance to the
great Master, whose eyes are upon you in secret, as well as in pub-
lic, that sees your heart, as well as your outward conversation?
Be sure, he will call you to account. — The inquiry, next, is,
IV. Why stand ye "here" idle, even in the market-place, where
the great Master has been often calling whom he found here, and
you among others, to go and work in his vineyard ? and you had
not been standing here idle, if you had been willing to work.
1. Why stand ye here idle, in a land of gospel light? Isa. xxvi.
10, "In the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not
behold the majesty of the Lord ?" If you will serve the devil and
your lusts, why do ye not go to the dark places of the earth, and
work your works of darkuess there? but why must they be brought
forth in the face of the sun ? why here, in this covenanted land, a
land under the sacred bond of solemn covenant to the work of ho-
liness, and the means of holiness ; a bond which neither the break-
ing nor burning of them could loose ; and they had never met with
that treatment, had not men been as great enemies to piety as to
Presbytery. But I dare say, there is no land where men must buy
their ease at so dear a rate as in Scotland.
2. Why here, where the Lord is in a special manner calling you
to work, setting up his standard, and is about to cover a table for
his labourers ? will you be idle spectators, while Christ is to be sa-
cramentally crucified before your eyes ? will you be idle here, where
the Lord is in a special manner calling you to search and try your-
selves ? If you will stand here idle, it will be a new item, in great
158 THE INTEKESriNG INQUIRY.
letters, in the accounts of the despisers of Christ, and slighters of
the power of godliness in Yarrow*. — I may once more inquire,
Y. Why stand ye idle in the '* day ?" The day brings with it a call
to work, though indeed it is the time when the wild beasts enter
into their dens, and lie at their ease, Psalm cii. 22, 23. But bet-
ter to be a beast, than to be like a beast ; they that sleep, sleep in
the night ; but what shall we say of them that cannot be got awak-
ened, even in the day ?
1. Then why are ye idle, when ye have a day to work in ? No
wonder our forefathers were idle, when they were wrapt up in the
midnight darkness of Paganism and Popery; but though it was
night with them, it is day with us ; the sun of the gospel is arisen
above our horizon, it has been long up, and will ye be idle in the day ?
God has not only set up the candle of conscience within you, but has
made the sun of the gospel to arise and shine without you, to call
you to work, and to let you see to work : Tit. ii. 11, 12, " For the
grace of God, that bringeth salvation, hath appeared to all men, teach-
ing us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." Such a day
idled away will make a dreadful night !
2. "Why are you idle, when you have but a day to work in ? John
ix. 4, *' The night cometh when no man can work." It is to-day, if
ye will hear his voice. The time of your life, and the season of
grace, is but a day, and that day will soon be over ; there is no
•working in the grave, Eccl. ix. 10. The candle burnt to snuff can-
not be lighted again, and time once gone can never be recalled ;
God will not turn night to day, to let the sluggard see to work,
•who turned his day to night. Now, when you have but a day, will
you idle it away ? Ye will, it may be, count it rather by years yet
to come ; but sure I am, the Spirit of God never learned you that
way of counting : James iv. 14, " Whereas ye know not what
shall be on the morrow ; for what is your life ? it is even a vapour,
that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." Psalm
xxxix. 6, " Behold, thou hast made my days as an hand-breadth,
and mine age is as nothing before thee." — I shall only inquire,
YI. Why are ye idle " all the;day ?" Will no less than all the day
serve ? May not the time past suffice ? Is it not high time now
at length to awake ? Is it not the eleventh hour with many of you ?
and the youngest here knows not but they may be in the last hour of
their day. And are ye not afraid your glass run out ere your work
be done ? Sure it looks very like the very last hour of this church
The place where this discourse was delivered.
Christ's presence with, &c. 159
and nation's day : we have had a long day, but now we may say,
Jer. vi. 4, " "Woe unto us, for the day goeth away, for the shadows
of the evening are stretched out." We are threatened with a dread-
ful eclipse of gospel-light, and a dark night, and we may well con-
clude as to many of us, that our eyes will never see the breaking
of the day again.
As the practical improvement of this subject, I shall only call
on you to ponder seriously in yonr mind, the important inquiries
addressed to you ; — to pose your consciences closely with them as in
the sight of God, — to profit by the instructive lessons afforded
from them ; — and, in short, that you study a being diligent in busi-
ness, fervent in spirit, always serving the Lord.
CHRIST'S PRESENCE WITH GOSPEL MINISTERS.*
SERMON XYII.
Mattii. xxviii. 20,
And lo, I am ivith you alway.
OuK Lord Jesus Christ having, before his death, as a prophet, re-
vealed his Father's mind, and taught the doctrine of salvation, con-
firmed ihe same by many miracles ; and having in his death, as a
priest, offered up himself a sacrifice to atone for the sins of his
people, and so brought in an everlasting righteousness ; appears
here after his resurrection, as a King, ordering the affairs of his
own kingdom, which is his church. And, 1st, He asserts his power,
his supremacy, and headship, ver. 18, given unto him as Mediator.
2dli/, He gives a commission to his apostles, and in them to their
successors in the work of the ministry, to raise up unto him a king-
dom out of the kingdoms of the earth, to proclaim his laws among
them, and to enjoin obedience to these laws in his name, and to
take men solemnly engaged thereto, vers. 19 and 20. Then, in the
words of the text, by promise, he secures their encouragement,
for the due discharge of their duty, in the words under considera-
tion : " And lo, I am with you alway." — In these woi'ds consider,
1. The parties to whom this encouragement does belong : You,
that is, (1.) The apostles, to whom these words were immediately
directed : (2.) Ordinary ministers, succeeding to them in the ordi-
nary work of the ministry, teaching and baptising, as is clear from
* Delivered before tLe Synod of Merse and Teviotdale, April, 1712.
160 chbist's presence with
the words, in •which Christ promiseth to be with them to the end of
the world ; whereas the formal office of the apostleship was extra-
ordinary, and soon expired. Their mission was immediate ; their
inspection universal and unconfined ; they had an infallible di-
rective power ; John xvi. 13, " When he the Spirit of truth is come,
he will guide you into all truth." They had the gift of miracles
and tongues, and were eye-witnesses of Christ: 1 Cor. ix. 1, "Am
I not an apostle ? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord ?" So
that to allow any to be their successsors in the formal office of the
apostleship, as some Prelatists would have the bishops, is to con-
tradict the plain testimony of the scriptures, and of our senses :
but the authoritative dispensation of the word, and administration
of the sacraments, with the appendant power of discipline and go-
vernment, which were the substance of the apostolic office, are con-
tinued, and will be in the pastoral office to the end of the world ;
and to these is Christ's presence promised, not excluding such as
receive and embrace Christ's word preached by them. — Consider,
2. How, and in what case, they may lay claim to this promised
presence ; that is in the faithful adherence to, and discharge of their
work, put by their Master into their hands. This is the import of
the particle, and which knits the work and the encouragement to-
gether, ver. 19, " Go ye," &c. If they shall quit their Master's
work, they forfeit his promised presence. If they turn servants of
men, they must look to them, and not to Christ, for their protec-
tion and assistance. If they receive their instructions from any
other than our royal Master, they must bid farewell to their part in
the lot of his servants. Men that take upon them to teach what
Christ never commanded, bringing in error in doctrine, superstition,
and the inventions of men in the worship of God, such have need of
temporal power and force with them, seeing they have no ground
from the word to expect Christ will be with them. — Consider,
3. The encouragement promised : " I am with you," &c. It is
Christ's presence that is with them in their work, and who would
refuse to go a journey where Christ himself will be companion in
travel ? if the work be hard his presence is sweet. Christ lays in
here a sufficiency for the support of his servants against all the dis-
couragements they may meet with in his work. And there are
four things to be noticed in this.
(1.) There is but one encouragement proposed, their difficulties
were many. If they looked to their work, it was very hard ; they
were sent out to grapple with the powers of darkness, to overturn
the devil's kingdom, to reform the world sunk in idolatry and mon-
strous profanity, and to rescue the prey out of the month of the
GOSPEL-MINISTERS. 161
roaring lion. If they looked witbin themselves, they might see
a mass of emptiness, weakness, wants, nothingness, unable of them-
selves to resist the least temptation. If they looked abroad into the
world, they might see that the venturing out into it, on such a
design, was a running themselves into a manifest hazard ; the wits
of the world would treat them as a company of fools, the powers of
the world as a company of seditious and pestilent fellows ; the mul-
titude of the world would cry, " Away with them, it is not meet that
they should live on the earth." But go they must; and here is one
answer to all their objections, " I am with you ;" that is sufficient,
be against you who will, " I am with you," to assist, protect, and
bear you through in the work, and to make the word in your mouths
do execution ; I design to raise up, by your means, a kingdom to my-
self, maugre all the opposition of men and devils. He does not
promise to send armies with them, but to go with them himself —
His presence,
(2.) Is proposed as a present thing, an encouragement in hand :
" I am with you — to the end ;" not I " will be." The expression
is emphatical.
[1.] According to the prophetic style, it denotes the utmost cer-
tainty his servants shall have his presence in his work to the end
of the world, as surely as if it were already done.
[2.] It denotes Christ's presence with his apostles, to be, by his
own allowance and appointment, a pledge of his presence with these
that, being called, follow out the work that they began in their
day : " I am with you ;" and let these that follow take it as a cer-
tain pledge, " I will be with them too." Let the church be ever so
low, there was never any glorious appearance Christ made for her,
but she may call it Joseph, for the Lord shall add another.
[3.] It denotes, that Christ's servants, though they should be full of
eyes behind and before, yet their eyes are often dim, that they even
miss Christ when he is really with them, and so are dejected, because
they see not their own mercy : " I am with you," &c. — His presence,
(3.) Is promised to be with them without interruption, — " always,"
all days, every day ; it is an Old Testament phrase, denoting the
continuance of a thing without interruption ; as Gen. vi. 5, " And
that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil
continually." He will not leave his servants at his work at any
time ; they may sometimes want the sense of his presence, but he is
with them always, every day, in lightsome days, also in dark and
gloomy days, whatever be their case, however hard their lot may be,
their peace may be interrupted, but not their Master's presence
with them. While they keep at his work, he will be upon their
head. — His presence,
162 Christ's pbeseitce with
(4.) Is promised to be with them without end, till the end of the
world ; not that he will forsake them then ; no, he will then give
his faithful servants a place in the upper house, among them that
are pillars in the temple of their God : they will enter into the
joy of their Lord. But the work of their ministry, as it will con-
tinue to the world's end, so then it will be honourably laid by, and
Christ will deliver np the kingdom to the Father ; so that as long
as the work lasts, the encouragement will go along with it.
4. There is in the words the note of attention prefixed, " Lo !" Here-
by Christ stirs up and directs his servants to eye his promised presence
as their encouragement : Say not ye are left alone ; see, I am with you ;
look not to earth, or to an arm of flesh, for your support, but look up-
wards to heaven ; let not unbelief shut your eyes, but while you have
one eye on your work, fix another on your Master, and then you will
go on cheerfully. Now, you see that Jesus Christ, the alone King and
head of his church, as he has appointed a ministry in his church, and
carved out their work for them, and peremptorily appointed them to
set about it, so that he has promised them his presence always to the
end of the world, in the faithful discharge of the work he has put
into their hands ; and whatever be the opposition and discourage-
ment they may meet with in it, he wills them to eye his promised
presence as sufiicient to bear them through in the work, against all
discouragements whatsoever. This is the purport of the words of
the text, which being thus explained, I shall now apply it.
I. Has Jesus Christ promised his presence to his servants in their
work ? Let us, then, my fathers and brethren, cleave to our great
work, to which we are called of the Lord. Let us steadfastly pur-
sue the ends of our ministry, the advancing of the kingdom of Christ,
and the pulling down the kingdom of Satan, according to the
commission we have from our Lord and Master. Let us follow our
work faithfully, over the belly of all discouragement and opposition
which we may meet with in it. Our day is a dark day, and like to be
darker ; the Lord is angry with the generation, the plague is begun,
and it is to be feared there will be a miserable face on the church
and land ere it end. A door, we see, is opened, whereby errors
in doctrine may crowd in, and set up their heads without control,
and superstitious worship and ceremonies, mere inventions of men's
own hearts, may be, and are introduced, to mar" the beauty of this
church in the simplicity of gospel worship, to the dishonour of God,
to whom alone it belongs to appoint what way he will be wor-
shipped : and the discipline and government of his house are left to
be trampled under foot of profane men, for any assistance we can
expect now, but from Him whose institutions they are ; which surely
GOSPEL-MINISTEES. 163
calls US to lift up our eyes unto the heavens, from whence our help
is promised. Our times are like to be ensnaring and very trying
times to all sorts. The Lord's hand is very heavy by a great sick-
ness and mortality; but the face of the generation looks as if the
time were coming, when men shall think those happy who get to
their grave in peace. If it should be so, we need not wonder at it.
— Allow me to say in favour of the holy providence of God,
1. Providence (if it be so) has not stolen a march upon us ; we
have had fair warning, both from the word, and particular dispen-
sations, whereby we have been brought, as it were, to the brow of
the hill, and the Lord has brought us back, as with that, Hos. xi. 8,
*' How shall I give thee up, Ephraim ? how shall I deliver thee,
Israel ?" Yet have we not returned to the Lord ; we have had the
Lord's talents among our hands in peace now these two and twenty
years ; can it be but God will put both ministers and people to the
trial, what they have made of the many preachings, communions,
and other means of grace they have enjoyed. I think the light has
shone very bright in our day ; I dare not say our sacred heat has
been proportionable ; but ordinarily the saddest strokes follow hard
at the heels of the clearest dispensations. "
2. Many there are, who have the root of the matter in them,
who need to have it awakened with a storm ; many sleeping Jonahs
in our ship, that are yet sighing and going backward, much filthi-
ness and blood gathered on the daughters of Zion, to be purged
with the spirit of judgment and burning.
3. There are many who have taken up the name, but have no-
thing of the reality of religion, having gathered like summer's ver-
min in the time of the church's peace ; it is but reasonable to ex-
pect a storm for the discovery of such, by the loss of whom the
church may turn to less bulk, but not be less worth.
4. The case of the generation cries for a stroke, in regard of the
horrid contempt of Christ and his gospel at this day. The preach-
ing of the gospel has for several years been a weary work, and very
fruitless ; and the truth is, we have, as it were, been weary of God.
Atheism and horrid profanity abound, and are on the growing hand ;
these cry for vengeance ; enemies have a cup to fill up, they have
filled it well formerly, it is like, they have more to do to prepare
them for an overthrow. So we have reason to lay our accounts with
hardships in our work, and that we may have the walls to build in
troublous times ; and readily judgment begins at the house of God,
end where it will. But let us faithfully follow our Master's interests,
and work, and not faint.
And that we may be stirred up hereunto, let us consider,
164 Christ's presence witr
1. Our Lord Christ will be with us in the faitliful discharge of
his work, Go ye, " and lo, I am with you." A believing sight of
this would steel your foreheads in the Lord's work, with courage
and holy resolution, Ezek. iii, 9, " As an adamant harder than flint,
have I made thy forehead." Will Christ bo with us in the dis-
charge of his work ? Then,
(1.) We shall have furniture for our work : Isa. xli. 10, " Fear
thou not, for I am with thee ; be not dismayed, for I am thy God ;
I will strengthen thee ; yea, I will help thee ; yea, I will uphold
thee with the right hand of my righteousness." 2 Cor. iii, 5, 6,
*' Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of
ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God, who also hath made us
able ministers of the New Testament." No man goeth a warfare
on his own charges, neither shall our Lord send his soldiers to fight
his battles without furniture, more especially when he is upon their
head himself; and if our work be more than ordinary, he will make
the furniture proportionable : Acts iv. 13, " Now, when they saw
the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were un-
learned and ignorant men, they marvelled, and they took knowledge
of them, that they had been with Jesus." May be, we have much
ado to get a sermon, when we have all time for study and medita-
tion ; what shall come of us then, if we be hurried ? Truly, if we
have the call, we may look for it being given us in that hour :
Matth. X. 19, " For it shall be given you in that same hour, what
ye shall speak," with more heavenly oratory in it than at other
times. Be it doing-work or suffering-work, he allows furniture, Phil.
i. 29, " For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to
believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake." Isa. xl. 30, 31," He
giveth power to the faint, and to them that hath no might, he in-
creaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and
the young men shall utterly fall ; but they that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles,
they shall run and not weary, they shall walk and not faint."
(2.) We shall have success in our work, that is, the word in our
month shall accomplish that which Christ pleaseth, Isa. Iv. 2, " So
shall my woi'd be that goeth out of my mouth, it shall not return
unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it
shall prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it." As to the elect of
God, " As many as are ordained to eternal life, believe, however
the stream of a graceless generation may go." As to believers,
they shall be edified and bettered by it, Mic. ii. 7, " Do not thy
words do good to him that walketh uprightly ?" and very ordinarily
the gospel is like a fire, that spreads most in a windy day. Nay,
GOSPEL-MINISTEES. 165
the Lord being with us, it will uot be absolutely without effect on
those that are not one whit bettered by it. It will be at least
for a testimony to be produced against thera, for our Lord, at the
last day. If ye go where they are, the dust of your feet shall wit-
ness against them. Salvation was in their offer ; it will manifest
their unsoundness. The gospel will hang the sign of folly at every
wicked man's door, let them entertain it as they will : Mai. iii. 2,
" But who will abide the day of his coming, and who shall stand
when he appeareth ? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's
soap." It will torment them that dwell on the earth. Christ's
sword is two-edged, if it do not execution on men's lusts, it
will do execution on their souls : Hos. vi. 5, " Therefore have I
hewed them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of my
mouth." The word will never leave them as it finds them, but will
either make them better or worse.
(3.) We shall have protection in our work : Rev. ii. 1, " Saith he
that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, that walketh in the
midst of the seven golden candlesticks." If earth and hell should
conspire against us, as long as our Lord has any service for us in
the world, we shall be protected. Every one has their day of work-
ing, let them trust the Lord as long as that lasts, let them go on in
their work, they shall be protected. But when the night comes,
appointed by the Lord, wherein he has no more service for us, then,
and not till then, shall we be called off; and that night will carry
us off whether we be idle or at work.
(4.) "We shall have provision : Heb. xiii. 5, 6, " Let your conver-
sation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as
ye have, for he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee ;
so that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not
fear what man shall do unto me." Let us be at our work, and God
will see to our provision : Psalm xxxvii. 3, " Trust in the Lord,
and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt
be fed." Bread has been an old temptation to ministers : Amos vii.
12, 13, " Amaziah said unto Amos, thou seer, go, flee away into
the land of Judah, and there eat bread. But prophecy not again
any more at Bethel, for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's
court." But such as were faithful to the Lord have always ha-
zarded the bread, rather than a good conscience : consult ver. 14, to
the end of the chapter. Nature is content with little, grace with
less ; if we cannot trust Christ for our bread, I think we will-
scarcely be able to trust him with our souls. Miserable is that
bread which cannot be got down Avithout straining our conscience;
but little bread will go far with a good conscience and God's bless-
166 Christ's presence with
ing : let us mind that, Dan. i. 15, '* And their countenance did ap-
pear fairer and fairer in flesh, than the children which did eat the
portion of the king's meat."
(5.) Then, as Elisha said to his servant, 2 Kings ii. 16, "Fear
not, for they that be with us, are more than they that be with them."
Psalm xciii. 3, 4, " The floods have lifted up, Lord, the floods have
lifted up their voice, as the floods lift up their waves. The Lord on
high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the
mighty waves of the sea." The faith of the Lord's presence in
our work would make all opposition of our enemies yery contemp-
tible ; seeing he is with us that hath the devil in chains, and who
sets restraining bounds to the sea, and to the wrath of man, and
can in a moment overthrow all the enemies of his work.
(6.) Then he will be against them that are against us in our
work. "I am with you." If the world will make themselves par-
ties against you in your work, then, " Lo, I am with you," on your
side against them. A faithful ministry has always been the great eye-
sore of the world ; and none can at any time engage in that work, but
must lay his account with opposition. But sooner or later it returns
on the heads of their enemies, according to that prophetic prayer,
which is an awful hedge about Christ's ministers : Dent, xxxiii. 11,
" Smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of
them that hate him, that they rise not again."
2. Further to engage us to cleave to the Lord's work, let us con-
sider, God will be with his ministers and his church always, even
to the end of the world. — Then,
(1.) Lose what we will in the faithful discharge of our work, we
will never lose our God : " Lo I am with you always." There is no-
thing we have in the world, "but enemies may get their hands upon ;
but there is one thing which they cannot reach, which is better
than all goods, liberty, life ; that is, they cannot separate us from
the love of our Lord Jesus : Rom. viii. 38, 39, " For I am persuaded,
that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,
nor things present, uor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor
any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." There can be no lot so
hard, but Christ's presence can sweeten, and make it desirable.
(2.) The world will have an end, and all its smiles and frowns
also will be at length laid by for ever. Why then should its smiles
flatter, or its frowns fright us from our Lord's work and interest ?
A little time will carry off both the slothful and faithful servant.
But happy that servant, whom, when his Lord and Master cometh,
shall find so doing. The solid faith of that life and immortality
GOSrEL-MINISTEES. 167
brought to light by the gospel, which we preach, would, I believe,
make us very pei-emptory in our resolutions of diligence and faith-
fulness in our work, over the belly of all opposition in the world.
(3.) Our Lord's work will never lie for want of hands ; he will
have a church and a ministry to the end of the world. If we lay it
by, others will take it up, and write death on our faces, by yoking
us to it even in the heat of the day.
(4.) Our Lord and his people shall stand the last upon the earth,
his enemies will drop off after one another, he will outlive them all,
and stand a conqueror, when they are all routed, and made to quit
the field, " Lo, I am with you to the end." His cause will always be
victorious at length, and bear down all before it. Who knows but
the wheels of providence may be in motion towards the total over-
throw of Prelacy, and ceremonies in Britain and Ireland ? Provi-
dence has often gone to work in as unlikely a way.
III. Has Christ premised to be with us in his own work? 0!
then, let us not divide among ourselves, let us endeavour unity in
the Lord with all our might, and cleave to the work of God in this
land, as one man, against Popery, Prelacy, superstition, error, and
profanity, and whatsoever is contrary to sound godliness, seeing it
is the work laid on us by our Lord in his sacred word, the book of
our instructions, and seeing the land has been engaged thereto by
solemn covenants with God. If anything ruin this work of the
Lord amongst us, it will be our divisions. No doubt there will be
means used by our enemies to divide us, knowing well, that if we
once break, we are in danger of being broken more and more.
Therefore let us pray and act for unity in the Lord ; though, like
the builders of the wall of Jerusalem, we be separated upon the
wall, yet being upon the wall, all at our work, the work will go on.
But that which will be our ruin, will be one party throwing down
what the other builds up ; which will be the case, if in the auger of
the Lord we be divided. If the mountain of the ministry fall a
burning with the fire of division, all will quickly fall into the sea ;
but our unity will be our strength : and yet as contemptible as the
ministry of this church is at this day in the eyes of many, their
unity will make them beautiful as Tizrah, and terrible as an army
with banners ; yea, even in our evil time, would afford us a glimmer-
ing prospect that the Lord would yet fill his house with his glory,
Isa. Hi. 8, " Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice, with the voice
together shall they sing ; for they shall see eye to eye when the
Lord shall bring again Zion ;" Matth. xviii. 19, " Again, I say unto
you that if two of you shall agree upon earth, as touching anything
that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which
168 Christ's presence with, &c.
is in heaven." " Agree," or, or as the word is, sympathize, sound to-
gether. I take both these to be an allusion to that sweet passage,
2 Chron. v. 13, " It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and sing-
ers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and
thanking the Lord ; and when they lifted up their voice with the
trumpets and cymbals, and instruments of music, and praised the
Lord, saying, For he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever; that
then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord ;
BO that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the
cloud, fur the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God." If,
then, we have any love to the Lord, to his interests, to his people,
to our own souls, let us be one in the Lord's work. Cursed will
that carnal interest be, that shall loose a pin in the tabernacle of
Zion.
III. Has Christ promised to be with us in his work ? Then let
us not forget him who is with us, let us love Christ, let us preach
Christ ; this is our great work at all times, Eph. iii. 8, " Unto me,
who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I
should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ."
Let us beware of legal preaching ; let that be the scope of our preach-
ing, which is the great design of the gospel, to discover the corrup-
tion of men's nature, and to exalt the riches, power and freedom of
grace in Christ Jesus. "We have the more need to take heed to this,
because the corrupting of the doctrine of the gospel is like to be the
temptation of our day.
To conclude : As to you, the people, whether ye be.in the Lord's
interests or not, ye have heard what ye may apply to yourselves.
I think, upon the whole, if ye be wise, ye will say with these, Zech.
viii. " We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with
you." The profane world will be ready to laugh at this, but both
ministers and people must lay their account to be fools in the
world's eyes, if they will be wise in the sight of God.
Let none think from what I have said, that I have proposed my-
self as an example, or that I have forgot myself in this matter.
God knows, I look on myself as the weakest and most unfit, for a
time of trial, of all the servants of my Lord. But let truth stand
and take place, come of the speaker what will. I desire, with you,
to fix mine eyes on the promise of His presence, who hath said, " Lo,
I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."
Christ's invitatiox, &c. 169
CHRIST'S INVITATION TO THE LABOURING AND HEAVY LADEX.*
SERMON XVII.
Matth. xi. 28,
Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I tvill give
you rest.
The great and main object of the gospel preaching and gospel prac-
tice, is a coming to Christ. It is the first article in Christianity, ac-
cording to John V. 40, " Ye will not come to me, that ye might
have life." It is the connecting chain, 1 Pet. ii. 4, "To whom com-
ing as unto a living stone, ye also as lively stones are built up," &c.
And it is the last exercise of the Christian ; for when finishing his
warfare, the invitation is, Matth. xxv. 34, '' Come, ye blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you." It is virtually the
all which God requireth of us : John vi. 29, " This is the work of
God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." The words of the
text are a most solemn and ample invitation which Christ gives to
sinners. In them I shall consider,
I. The connection. For which look to verses 25 and 26, com-
pare Luke X. 21, " Jesus rejoiced in spirit." It was a joyful time
to him when he made this invitation. He rejoiced in the account of
the good news, the success with which the message of the disciples
was attended ; and in the wise and sovereign dispensation of grace
by the Father, which he here celebrates, as also upon the view of his
own power ; where he shows that all power was lodged in him. The
keys of the Father's treasures of grace are in his hand, yea, and
whatsoever is the Father's. He also shews, that none could know
the Father, but by him, for that is given to him only. He, as it
were, opens the treasure door to sinners in the text. — From the con-
nection of this verse, as just now stated, I would observe, that the
solemnity of this invitation is most observable. There seems some-
thing to be about it more than ordinary. As,
1. It was given in the day of Christ's gladness. He was a man
of sorrows, all made up of sorrows. Sorrow, sighing, weeping,
groaning, were his ordinary fare. Once indeed we read of his being
glad, John xi. 15 ; and once of his rejoicing, Luke x. 21. And,
again, on this occasion, here that thread of sorrow was interrupted,
This and the following discourses on this suliject, were delivered in January and
February, 1711.
Vol. IX. M
/
170 Christ's ikvitation to the
the sun of joy broke out for a little from under the cloud. His heart
was touched, and, as it were, leaped for joy, as the word signifies;
compare Matth v. 12, with Luke vi. 23. In the Greek, " he was
exceeding joyful." At this extraordinary time and frame, he gives
the invitation in the text. Hence infer,
1st, That Christ invites sinners with an enlarged heart. Joy en-
larges it. His heart is open to you, his arras are stretched wide.
You often see him with sorrow and anger in his face, and this works
with you that you will not come. Behold him smiling and inviting
you now to himself, sending love-looks to lost sinners, from a joy-
ful heart within ! Infer,
2cUt/, May I say, the Mediator's joy is not complete, till you come
and take a share ? The scriptures will warrant the expression, Isa.
liii. 11, " He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satis-
fied." He rejoiceth, but resteth not ; but invites sinners to a share,
as if all could not satisfy while he goes childless, as to some he has
yet an eye upon. Infer,
S-i/y, That nothing can make Christ forget poor sinners, or be
unconcerned for them. Sorrow could not do it, joy could not do it ;
either of these will drive a narrow-spirited man so into himself,
as to forget all others. But never was his heart so filled either
with sorrow or joy, but there was always room for poor sinners
there. "When he was entering the ocean of wrath, he remembered
them, John xvii ; and as our forerunner, he went into the ocean of
joy, Heb. vi. 20. Like Aaron, he carried our names on his heart,
when he went in to appear before the Lord in heaven, Exod.
xxviii. 29.
2. The invitation was given at a time when there was a great
breach made in the devil's kingdom, compare Luke x. 17, 18. Christ
was now beginning to set up a new kingdom, and he sends out se-
venty disciples, which was the number of the Sanhedrim at first.
He was to bring the people out of the spiritual Egypt, compare Gen.
xlvi. 27. The success of the disciples was a fair pledge of the
devil's kingdom coming down, and the delivery of sinners. And
when the news of it comes, his heart rejoices, and his tongue breaks
out in this invitation to the devil's captives, to come away upon
this glorious signal. As he had begun to perform this part of the
covenant, the Father had begun to perform his, which made his
heart leap for joy, and sets him on to cry, that they would all come
away, as disciples, vigorously to pursue the advantage which was
got. Psalm ex. 7, " He shall drink of the brook in the way, there-
fore^^shall he lift up the head. Hence infer,
1st, That Christ's heart is set upon the work of sinners' salva-
LABOURIN& AND HEAVY LADEN. 171
tion. Ye see no undue haste, but he would have no delays. He
holds hands to the work, calling, ** Come unto me." He preferred
it to the eating of his bread ; and what else is the meaning of all the
ordinances and providences ye meet with ? Infer,
^dly, That Christ would have you to come, taking encouragement
from the example of others that have come before you. There is a
gap made in the devil's prison ; some have made their escape by it
already, ! will not ye follow ? The Lord has set examples for
us, both of judgment and of mercy. In the beginnings of the
Jewish church, there was an example of God's sovereignty, in the
destruction of Nadab and Abihu, Lev. x. 1,2; and of the Christian
church, in the death of Ananias and Sapphira, Acts v ; of mercy, in
the Jewish church, Rahab the harlot, besides Abraham the father
of them all, an idolater. Josh. xxix. 15, compare Isa. li. 2. Then in
the Christian church, Paul the blasphemous persecutor, 1 Tim. i. 16.
Infer,
2)dly, That however full Christ's' house be, there is always room
for more ; he wearies not of welcoming sinners ; the more that come
the better. Christ's harvest is not all cut down at once, nor his
house built in a day ; if the last stone were laid in the building, the
scaffolding of ordinances would be taken down, and the world be at
an end. But none of these has hitherto taken place ; therefore yet
there is room : Joel iii. 21, " For I will cleanse their blood that I
have not yet cleansed, for the Lord dwelleth in Zion."
3. This invitation is given on a solemn review of that fulness, of
that all which the Father hath lodged in the hand of the Mediator,
and that solely. The Father, as it were, no sooner leads him into
these treasures, but he says, 'This and this is for you, sinners;
here is a treasure of mercies and blessings for you ; pardon, life,
peace, &c. is all for you. Come, therefore, unto me, the Father
has delivered them into my hand, I long to deliver them over to you.
Come, thei'efore, to me, and hence I shall draw my fulness out to
you.' Christ had got a kingdom from the Father ; it was as yet
thinly peopled, and so he calls you to come to him, that ye may be
happy in him. He has no will to enjoy these things alone, but be-
cause he has them, he would have you to take a share. — I would
draw this
DocT. That as the fulness lodged in the Mediator hath a free vent
in his heart, so it seeks to diffuse itself into the souls of needy sin-
ners.
Jesus Christ longs to make sinners the better of that all-fulness
that is lodged in him by the Father. Christ speaks here to us as
M 2
172 chkist's invitation to the
tbe true Joseph, Gen. xlv. 9 — 11. As Joseph invited his brethren
to come and dwell with him, so Jesus cordially invites us, and pro-
mises us a share of the fulness which he himself possesses. — In illus-
trating the above proposition, I shall only,
I. Assign some reasons.
II. Make some practical improvement.
I. I am to give some reasons of this doctrine, or shew, why
Christ is so kind and liberal to sinners. — He is so,
1. Because the Father hath given him for that end : Isa. Iv, 4,
" Behold, I have given him for a Witness unto the people, a Leader
and Commander unto the people. The Father had thoughts of love
to man ; his love designed to distribute a treasure of mercy, pardon,
and grace, to lost sinners ; but justice would not allow his giving
them immediately out of his own hand ; therefore he gives them to
the Mediator to distribute. An absolute God being a consuming
fire, guilty creatures, as stubble, could not endure his heat, but they
would have been burnt up by it ; therefore he sets his own Son, in
man's nature, as a crystal-wall betwixt him and them ; he gives him
the Spirit without measure, not only a fulness of sufficiency, but
abundance of blessings, is laid up in him ; for it hath pleased the
Father, that in him should all fulness dwell. — He is so,
2. Because he received a fulness of treasure for that very end :
John xvii. 19, " For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also
might be sanctified through the truth." The first Adam got man-
kind's stock ; he soon lost all. Christ takes the elect's stock in
his hand for their security, and so he is given for a covenant of the
people ; he takes the burden upon him for them, and takes the ad-
ministration of the second covenant, that it might, with them, be a
better covenant than the first. — He is so,
3. Because he bought these treasures at the price of his blood for
their behoof: Phil. ii. 8, 9, " He humbled himself, and became obe-
dient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also
hath highly exalted hira, and given him a name, which is above
every name." The Son of God, who is Lord of all, needed no
exaltation in the court of heaven, being equal with his Father; but
his design was, to exalt man's nature, to make these that were the
children of the devil — friends to heaven, and prepare for them room
there : "1 go (said he) to prepare a place for you," John xiv. 2.
No wonder, then, that he should long to see the purchase of his
blood, the fruit of the travail of his soul, come to him. — He is kind
and liberal,
4. Because of his love to them. Where true love is, there is an
aptness to communicate ; the lover cannot see the beloved want what
LABOURING AND HEAVY LADEN. 173
he has. God's love is giving love : " He so loved the world, that he
gave his only-begotten Son," John iii. 16. Christ's love is also
such ; he loves indeed : " He loved us, and gave himself for us,"
Gal. ii. 20. — For the improvement of this doctrine, I only add an
use of exhortation.
Come to Christ, then, sinners, upon this his invitation, and sit
not his blessed call. — To enforce this, I urge these motives : —
1. There is a fulness in him, all power is given him ; want what
you will, he has a power to give it to you ; the Son of man had
power, even on earth, to forgive sins. Grace without yon, or grace
within you, he is the dispenser of all: Jolm i. 16, "And of his
fulness have all we received, and grace for grace." He is the great
Secretary of heaven, the keys hang at his girdle ; he shuts, and none
can open ; he opens, and none can shut. — Consider,
2. You are welcome to it. He has it not to keep up, but to give
out, and to whom but to needy sinners ? Even the worst of you
are welcome, if you will take it out of his own hand : " If any man
thirst, (says he), let hira come to me, and drink," John vii. 37-
3. Would you do Christ a pleasure ? then come to him, Isa. liii.
11, "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied."
Would you content and ease his heart ? then come. It is a great
ease to full breasts to be sucked. The breasts of his consolations
are full, hear how pressingly he calls you to suck ! " Eat, friends I
drink, yea, drink abundantly, beloved !"
Lastly, Would you fall in with the designs of the Father's and
the Son's love, in the mystery of salvation ? then come to him.
Why is a fountain opened, but that ye may run to it, and wash ?
Seal not, shut not that to yourselves, which God and Christ have
opened.
II. The second thing to be considered in the words is, the per-
sons invited. These are they that labour, and are heavy-laden.
The word labour signifies not every labouring, but a labouring to
weariness, and so some read it weary. Heavy laden are they that
have a heavy burden on their back, which they are not able to
bear.
Who are meant by these ? I cannot agree with those that re-
strain these expressions to those that are sensible of their sins and
misery, without Christ, and are longing to be rid of the same ; but
I think it includes all that are out of Christ, sensible or insensible ;
that is, these that have not l:ad, and those that have had, a law-
work upon their consciences. And to fix this interpretation, con-
sider,
1. The words agree to all that are out of Christ, and none hav©
174 Christ's invitation" to the
any right to restrain them. None more properly labour, in the
sense of the text, than those that are out of Christ, seeking their
satisfaction in the creatures : Eccl, i. 8, " All things are full of la-
bour, man cannot utter it : the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor
the ear filled with hearing," And who hare such a burden of sin,
and wrath upon their back as they have ? The word properly sig-
nifies a ship's lading, which, though insensible of it, may yet sink
nnder the weight. — Consider,
2. *' The whole world lieth in wickedness," 1 John v. 19, as men
in a deep mire, still sinking. Christ came to deliver men out of
that case ; having taken upon him our nature, Heb. ii. 16, he caught
hold (Greek) as one doth of a drowning man, even as he did of
Peter when sinking, Matth. xiv. 31. And what are the invitations
of the gospel, but Christ putting out his hands to sinking souls,
sinking with their own weight. Consider,
3. That the words, in other scriptures, are without controversy
applied to the most insensible sinners. See what labour and weari-
ness ! Fab. ii. 13, " Behold, is it not of the Lord of hosts, that the
people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary
themselves for very vanity ?" In the most solemn invitation to
Christ in all the Old Testament, the word " labouring" is so used :
Isa. Iv. 2, " Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not
bread, and yonr labour for that which satisfieth not ?" Luke xi. 4t>,
" Ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne." " Lade" is the
same Greek word used in the text. Isa. i. 4, " Ah ! sinful nation,
a people laden with iniquity." Were they sensible? far from it;
for ver. 3, " Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider."
And, 2 Tim. iii. 6, it is said, " Silly women, laden with sins, led
away with divers lusts."
4. Consider the parallel text : Isa. Iv. 1, " Ho, every one that
thirsteth ;" where by the thirsty is not so much understood those
that are thirsting after Christ, as those that are thirsting after
happiness and satisfaction, seeking to squeeze it out of the creature ;
for the thirsty invited are the same that are spending their labour
for that which satisfieth not. But those that are thirsting after
Christ are not such.
5. If the words be a restriction of the call to sensible sinners,
then the most part of sinners are excluded. If they are not in-
cluded, sure they are excluded; and if the words are restrictive,
sure they are not included ; and then, so far from being the truth
of the text, that it is no gospel-truth at all ; for all, without ex-
ception, that hear the gospel, are called to come to Christ ; Rev. iii.
20, " Behold, I stand at the door, and knock ; if any man hear
LABOURING AND HEAVY LADEN. 175
my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup
with him, and he with me." And if any " one" be not called, they
have no warrant to come ; and if so, unbelief is not their sin, as in
the case of the Pagans, which is absurd.
Lastly, This is a most solemn invitation to come to Christ; and
if I say the most solemn, there is some ground for it by what is said
before. And shall that be judged restrained, that so expressly and
solemnly comes from that fulness of power lodged in Christ, more
than that just quoted ? Rev. iii. 20, where there is no shadow of
restriction. Besides, this restriction may well be a snare lo an
exercised soul, which ordinarily, by a legal disposition in all, will
not allow that they may come to Christ, because sin is not heavy
enough to them. But although sinners will never come to Christ
till they see their need of him, yet this I will ever preach, that all,
under pain of damnation, are obliged to come to him, and that
they shall be welcome on their coming, be their case what it will ;
that such as are willing to come ought not to stop on a defect of
their sensibleness, but come to him, that they may get a true sense
of sin unto repentance ; for he is " exalted a Prince and a Saviour,
to give repentance unto Israel, and remission of sins," Acts v. 31.
He is to give, not to stand and wait, till " folly bring repentance
with it."
III. Consider in the words, to what the labouring and heavy-
laden are invited. They are invited to come to Jesus ; that is, to
believe on him, to take him as he offers himself in the gospel.
lY. Observe the encouragement afforded to influence a compli-
ance with this invitation. Rest is promised to them here and here-
after : " I will give you rest." — We may afterwards open up these
things more largely, in handling the following doctrinal proposi-
tions, which we draw from the words thus explained, viz.
DocT. I. That sinners, while out of Christ, are engaged in a
wearisome labour.
DocT. II. That all who are out of Christ are under a heavy load
or burden, which by all their labours they cannot shake off.
DocT. III. Whatever sinful and vain labours sinners are eno-ao-ed
in, whatever be the loads which are lying on them, they are welcome
to Christ ; nay, he calls, invites, and commands them to come unto
him.
I shall consider these in order. — I begin with Doct. I. That
sinners, while out of Christ, are engaged in a wearisome la-
bour. Were you condemned, till yon forsook your lusts, to row in
the galleys, chained to the oars, to dig in mines, never to see the
176 cueist's invitation to the
liglit of the sun, it were not to be compared to this wearisome la-
bour, while out of Christ. If sinners feel it not, it is because they
are not at all themselves. It is a truth, though a sad one, Isa. Iv.
2, that they "labour for that which satisfieth not ;" (in the Hebrew,)
they " labour to weariness." Eccl. x. 15, " The labour of the foolish
wearieth every one of them ; because he knoweth not how to go to
the city."
In discoursing this point, we may inquire,
I. "What it is that sinners out of Christ are labouring for.
II. How it is, that men out of Christ labour for happiness and
satisfaction.
III. What sort of labour it is that they have in these things.
ly. "Why sinners labour in these things for satisfaction, and do
not come to Christ.
Y. Make some practical improvement.
Let us inquire,
I. What it is that sinners out of Christ are labouring for. No
man engageth in a labour, but for some end he proposeth to himself.
Though the devil is oversmau of these labourers, yet he does not
make them go like clocks, without a design. Every one that labours
proposes some profit to himself by his work, and so do these ; there
is always something, either really or seemingly good, that men seek
in all their labours. So, in a word, it is happiness and satisfaction
that they are labouring for, as well as the godly. For, consider,
1. The desire of happiness and satisfaction is natural to man ;
all men wish to see good. It is not the desire of good that may
satisfy, that makes the diiferenco between the godly and the wicked,
but the different ways they take : Psalm iv. 6, 7, " There be many
that say, Who will shew us any good ? Lord, lift thou up the light
of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in ray heart,
more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased."
In whatever case a man is on earth, in heaven or hell this is still
his desire ; and he must cease to be a man, ere he can cease to de-
sire to be a happy man. When that desire, mentioned Eccl. xii. 5,
shall fail, this desire is still fresh and green ; and it is good in itself.
Our Lord snpposeth this in the text, and therefore he promises to
them what they are seeking, rest, if they will come to him.
2. This desire is the chief of all : all other things are desired for it.
All men's desires, however different, meet here, as all the rivers
meet in the sea, though their courses may be quite contrary. There-
fore this is what they labour for. The devil has some labourers at
his coarse work, others at the more fine, but they all meet in their
end.
LABOURINa AND HEAVY LADEN. 177
3. Defects and wants are interwoven with tlio very nature of tlie
creature ; and tlie rational creature finds that it cannot be, nor is
self-sufficient. Hence it seeks its happiness without itself, and must
do it, to satisfy these natural desires.
Lastly, Seeing, then, man's happiness is without himself, it must —
be brought in, which cannot be done without labour. It is proper i^ .vt^vw- ^
to God to be happy in himself; but every creature must needs go
out of itself to find its happiness ; so that action is the true way
to it, that is, rest cannot be found but in the way of action and la-
bour, and because they are not in the right way, it is wearisome
labour.
Let us inquire,
II. How it is that men out of Christ labour for happiness and sa-
tisfaction. Here it is impossible for us to reckon up particulars,
and that in regard,
1. Of the diflFerent dispositions of men, and thg various, as well
as contrary opinions, concerning what may make a man happy.
Yarro says, there were two hundred and eighty opinions touching
the chief good in his time. It is true, Christianity, in the profession
of it, hath fixed this point in principle ; but nothing less than over-
coming grace can fix it in point of practice. The whole body of
Christless sinners are like the Sodomites at Lot's door; all were for
the door, but one grasps one part of the wall for it, another another
part, not one of them found it. The world is, as the air in a sum-
mer-day, full of insects ; and natural men, like a company of child-
ren, one running to catch one, another, another, while none of them
is worth the pains. One runs to the bowels of the earth, another to
the ale-house, &c. — It is impossible to determine here,
2. In regard of men's still altering their opinions about it, as they
meet with new diappointments. Like a man in a mist, seeking a
house in a wilderness, when every bush, tree, &c. deceives, till, by
coming near, he is undeceived. " (thinks the man), if I had such
a thing, I would be well." Then he falls to labour for it; may be
he never gets it, but he ever pursues it. If he gets it, he finds it
will not do, for as big as it was afar off, yet it will not fill his hand
when he grips it ; but it must be filled, or no rest, hence new labour
to bring forth just a new disappointment : Isa. xxvi. 18, " We have
been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought
forth wind." — It is difficult also,
3. Because they cannot tell themselves what they would be at.
Their starving souls are like the hungry infant, that gapes, weeps, yi/-t.»*~* hv>
crys, and sucks every thing that comes near its mouth, but cannot
tell what it would have, but is still restless till the mother set it to
178 Christ's invitation to the
the breast. It is regenerating grace that does that to the soul.
The Hebrew word for believing, comes from a root that signifies to
nurse, as if faith were nothing but a laying of the soul on the
breasts of Christ, in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead.
The scripture holds him out as the mother that bare them ; hence
his people are called, Isa. liii. 11, "The fruit of the travail of his
soul." He also is their nourisher : hence he says, Isa. i. 2, " I hare
nourished and brought up children." The breasts of the church,
Isa. Ixvi. 11, at which they are to suck and be satisfied, are no other
than Christ. But, in the general, to see from whence it is that men
out of Christ go about to squeeze out their happiness, see Psalm iv.
6, 7, quoted above. From which observe two things.
(1.) That it is not God, for these two are set in opposition ; go to
as many doors as they will, they never go to the right door; hence
it follows, that it is the creatures out of which they labour to draw
their satisfaction : " Having forsaken the fountain of living waters,
they hew out to themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold
no water."
(2.) That it is good they are seeking out of them ; and indeed
men can seek nothing but under that notion, though for the most
part they call evil good, and good evil. All good is either profitable,
pleasurable, or honest ; these, then, are all that they are seeking,
not from God, but from themselves, or other creatures. The two
former have respect to the cravings of men's desires, the latter to
the cravings of the law. And seeing it is not in God that they seek
their haj^piness and satisfaction, I infer hence, that all out of Christ
are labouring for their happiness and satisfaction in one or both of
these ways, either from their lusts, or from the law , and this I take
to be the very labour intended in the text. For which consider
these three things : —
1st, That all natural men have two principles in them, (1.) Cor-
ruption ; (2.) Conscience. Both crave of them : Rom. ii. 15, " Which
shew the work of the law, written in their heart, their conscience
also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing, or
else excusing one another." Hence, because they do not mortify the
lusts, they must be fed or no rest ; and therefore they labour for
their lusts to satisfy them. Then, because they fly not to Christ for
the satisfaction of their conscience, they go to the law.
2dl)/. The bulk of natural men in the world have still been of two
sorts: (1.) The profane party ; (2.) The formal party. These have
still been among Jews, Pagans, and Christians ; the former labour-
ing most in lusts, the latter in the law.
My, Adam left us with two yokes on our necks, (1.) Of lusts;
LABOURINO AND HEAVY LADEN. 179
(2.) Of the law. The last was of God's putting, but he gave strength
■with it to bear it ; Adam took away the strength, but left the yoke,
and put on a yoke of lusts beside ; and in opposition to both these,
Christ bids us come and take on his yoke, which is easy, and his
burden, which is light," Matth. xi. 29.
As to the labour they have in their lusts, they call them, and they
run after them. These infernal devils in the heart drive the swine
of this world into the sea of perdition; nay, turn the soul itself into
a very sea, that cannot rest : Isa. Ivii. 20, " The wicked are like the
troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and
dirt." They labour like madmen for satisfaction to them, and no
calm, no rest, till the soul come to Christ.
1. They labour hard in the lusts of profit: 1 John ii. 16, "For
all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." The
profits of the world are the cisterns they squeeze for satisfaction;
they bewitch the hearts of them that have them, and of them that
want them ; they fly after them with that pains and labour the ra-
venous bird doth after its prey : Prov. xxiii. 5, " Wilt thou set
thine eyes upon that which is not ? for riches take to themselves
■wings, they fly away, as an eagle towards heaven." The strength
of men's desires, and the cream of their aff'ections, are spent on
them ; their happiness depends npon its smiles, their misery upon
its frowns ; if gone, their god is gone. Hence is that verified, Hab.
ii. 13, " They labour in the very fire, and weary themselves for very-
vanity," like a poor fool running to catch a shadow. They have
hard labour in lawful profits, how to get them, and how to keep
them, but hardest of all, how to squeeze satisfaction out of them ;
there they labour in the very fire ; they labour also in unlawful
profits. The soul is an empty thing ; lusts are ill to guide ; con-
science must make a stretch now and then, for the satisfaction of
lusts ; and the man will leap over the hedge, though the serpent
will bite hira : 1 Tim. vi. 9, 10, " But they that will be rich fall into
temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts,
which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of
money is the root of all evil." Hence the carnal man, I may say,
never gets up his back, but on his belly doth he go, and labours, as
if he were a slave condemned to the mines, to dig in the bowels of
the earth ; like the blind moles, his constant labour is in the earth,
and he never opens his eyes till he is dying. He has his lade of
thick clay upon his back, Hab. ii. 6, as the fruit of his labouring in
the fire. There is thus a labouring and heavy-laden party. Others
take the world in their hand as a staff, nay, tread on it as the dirt,
180 cueist's invitation to the
and they get it as a burden on their back ; while guilt, many times
contracted in the getting of it, whether by oppression, cheatery, or
neglecting of the soul for it, is like a sore back under the load, that
makes them ready in despair to throw it away, but they know not
how to subsist without it.
2, They labour in lusts of pleasure ; they go about as the bee,
extracting the sweet out of the creatures for their own satisfaction ;
this and tlie former usually go together. Profits and pleasures are
the world's two great baits, at which all natural men are con-
stantly leaping, till they are caught by the hook, and flung out into
the fire of wrath : Prov. ix. 17, 18, " Stolen waters are sweet, and
bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he knoweth not that the
dead are there, and that her guests are in the depths of hell." Plea-
sure is a necessary ingredient in happiness, and man cannot but
seek it ; hence God proposeth it to men in himself, who is the foun-
tain of all sweetness : Psalm xvi. 11, " Thou wilt shew me the path of
life, in thy presence there is fulness of joy, at thy right hand there are
pleasures for evermore." But blind man makes the creature-sweet-
ness his idol, and puts it in the room of God ; for " they are lovers
of pleasures, (in this sense), more than lovers of God," 2 Tim. iii. 4.
It is no fault to seek our profit ; for, Heb. xi. 26, " We are to have
respect unto the recompense of the reward." Nor to seek what may
be sweet to the soul ; for we may wish our souls to be " satisfied
with marrow and fatness," Psalm Ixiii. 5. But the natural man's
misery and sin both is, he forsakes God, and fastens on the breasts
of the creatures for these things.
Now, there are two breasts of the creatures at which men may
be sucking.
(1.) The breast of lawful comforts. Natural men fall on these,
instead of the breasts of God's consolations, and labour, though in
vain, to squeeze happiness and satisfaction out of them, and that
with the greatest eagerness. They are lawful in themselves, but
they often press so hard, that they draw out blood instead of milk
from them ; and are like men working at a flinty rock, to bring out
water, instead of which they get fire flashing in their face, as in that
case. Judges ix. 15, when " fire came out of the bramble to devour
the cedars of Lebanon." — There is,
(2.) The breast of unlawful comforts, Prov. ix. 17, " Stolen waters
are sweet." Many seek their satisfaction in those things which they
ought not so much as to desire, and fill themselves with what God for-
bids them so much as to taste. ! the misery of Christless sinners, to
whom both lawful and unlawful comforts are efl'ectual snares for
ruin. Like mad beasts, if they abide within the hedge, they tear
LABOUniNG AND HEAVY LADEN. 181
up all to the red earth, which doth not yet satisfy. But they most
usually break over all hedges ; and they do so, because the creature
can never fully answer the craving desires and hungry appetite,
and yet, after all, they will not come to Christ, that they may have
rest.
These breasts of the creatures have many springs, divers lusts
and pleasures, Titus iii. 3, and these are served ; men must labour
in them as a servant at his master's work. I shall reduce them to
these two heads, mentioned, Eph. ii. 3, the desires of the flesh and
of the mind.
1st, They labour for satisfaction and happiness in the pleasures
of the flesh. And, — 1. In sensuality. This was the door man first
went to, after he had left God. And since the world was turned
upside down by that means, the soul has lain downmost, and the
flesh uppermost, so that they are all sensual, as Jude says, ver. 19,
that have not the Spirit; and the soul is made drudge of the body.
The belly is a god, and the pleasures of the flesh are squeezed for
satisfaction ; all the senses are set a- working for it, and yet can
never do enough : Eccl. vi. 7, " All the labour of man is for his
mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled." Many arts and trades
are found out to bring this to perfection, though all in vain ; and
there is no end of these things, which are of no use but to please
the flesh, which, like the grave, never says it has enough. — 2. Ease,
sloth, and quiet, which is a negative kind of sensuality : Luke xii.
19, " The rich man said. Thou has goods laid up for many years,
soul, take thine ease." All to please the flesh. This costs hard
labour many times to the soul, many a throw conscience gets for the
sake of this idol, what by neglect of duties, what by going over the
belly of liglit to shun what is grieving to the flesh, as if men's hap-
ness consisted in the quiet enjoyment of themselves. — They labour
for satisfaction,
2dli/, In the desires of the mind, and pleasures thereof. These, if
they terminated on right objects, and were sought in a right manner,
it would be well, for our true happiness consists in the soul's enjoy-
ment of God; but in the natural man all is confusion. And, — 1.
There is much labour in seeking happiness in the pleasures of the
judgment. This is the snare of thinking graceless men; this was
among the first doors men went to when they turned from God :
Gen. iii. 5, " Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." And
there is hard labour without a figure, for the punishment of that :
Eccl. i. 13, " And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wis-
dom concerning all things that are done under heaven ; this sore
travail God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised there-
182 Christ's invitation to the
with." And what comes it to at length? to no rest; for, ver. 18,
"In much wisdom there is much grief; and he that increaseth
knowledge, increaseth sorrow." Here is fulfilled, Eccl. x. 15, " The
labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he
knoweth not how to go to the city." "Whereas, would they go to
Christ, they would be in a fair way to get what they are seeking ;
for, John xvii. 3, " This is life eternal, that they might know thee
the true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." " In whom
are hid, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," Col. ii. 3.
There is labour, — 2. In pleasures of the fancy. What else are all
the lusts of the eye ? all the abundance of the riches for which men
labour so much ? Eccl. v. 11, " "When goods increase, they are in-
creased that eat them ; and what good is there to the owner thereof,
saving the beholding of them with his eyes ? all they can think or
say is. These are mine." What is honour, credit, and the like, but
a tickling of our fancy, with the fancies of others about us, adding
nothing to real worth ? And how busy is the soul oftentimes in
that, Eccl. vi. 9, " Better is the sight of the eyes, than the wander-
ing of the desire, (Heb.) " walking of the soul." This is also vanity
and vexation of spirit. What satisfaction is sought in imagination,
sins, lust, revenge, and the like ? what restlessness there, 2 Pet. ii.
14, " Having eyes full of adultery, that cannot cease from sin."
How busy is the soul oftentimes in imagination, of wealth, and the
like, as if, when it had tried all other means in vain, it would try,
while awake, to dream itself happy ! " The thoughts of my heart,"
says Job, chap. xvii. 11, (Heb.) "the passions of my heart," "are
broken off."
3. The other thing in which natural men labour for rest, is the
"law:" compare the text, Matth. xi. 28, with vers. 29 and 30.
Emphatically is that labour described, Rom. x. 3, " For they
being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish
their own righteousness." " Go about ;" the word signifies, a seek-
ing, like a disputer in the schools, or a torraenter of one upon the
rack ; to establish, to make it stand itself alone. They seek to
make it stand, as men that will have a stone to stand on end, which
at the same time is ever coming down on them again. Why all
this ? because it is their own : " Have not submitted." Christ offers
a righteousness ; but to take it, is to them a point of submission,
against which they labour, as the untoward bullock against the yoke.
They will never let it on till God break the iron sinew of the neck,
Isa. xlviii. 4.
To confirm this, consider,
1. All men desire to be happy, and no man can get his conscience
LABOURIXG AND HEAVY LADEN. 183
quite sileuced, more than he can get the notion of a God quite
erased from his mind : Rom. ii. 14, 15, " They are a law unto them-
selves, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts
the mean while accusing or excusing one another." Peace of
mind is a natural desire, which none can divest himself of. Hence
it follows, men cannot but seek inward peace ; and though they may
set iheraselves to murder conscience for that end, yet seeing it will
not do for them totally, they do of necessity take some other way.
There never was but two ways, either Christ or the law. The for-
mer they reject, therefore it follows, they follow the latter. Let us
view this in three sorts of natural men.
(1.) In the profane person, who has not so much as a form of
godliness ; it is hardest to be found in them. But none so profane,
but it will readily be found they have some one good thing or another
about them, and sometimes they will compliment their consciences
with a denial of satisfaction to their lusts, which is a labour so
much the harder to them, as they are under the greater power of
lusts. This sure they do not with an eye to make themselves miser-
able, but happy that their consciences may excuse them, Rom. ii. 15.
Excusing, even those that are most at the devil's will, and taken
captive, as hunters who take their prey alive, 2 Tim. ii. 26. Im-
porting still a conscience labouring in the law, though lusts, as
being stronger, do for the most part prevail. — Let us view this,
(2.) In the formal natural man : some of whom labour in the
duties of morality ; others in those of religion : who are at no small
travail in the law, if we consider it all for nought. Like the Pha-
risee, Luke xviii. 11, they take not the gospel-way, yet they labour
in the law. Sure lusts remain in them in their life and vigour. It
surely costs labour so far to restrain them.' — Let us view this,
(3.) In the awakened sinner. I am not for excluding those out
of the text, but only that it be not restrained to them: Acts ii. 37,
" Now, when they heard this, they were pricked to the heart, and
said unto Peter, and the rest of the apostles, what shall we do ?"
These mend their hands at this hard labour, and ofttimes labour so to
keep the law, that they are both by themselves, and others taken
for saints of the first magnitude, and yet it is but still in the law,
till converting grace come, and sued them off the old root.
2. It is natural for men to labour in the law for happiness, and
therefore, till nature be overcome by grace, men will not be put off
it. The law was Adam's covenant, who, with his children, were to
work and win heaven by their works ; though they have lost their
father's strength, yet they will keep their father's trade ; though
their stock be small, yet they will keep the merchandising for hea-
184 chuist's invitation to the
ven, and give God good works for good wages. See nature speaking
out of him, Matth. xix. 16, " Good Master, what good thing shall I
do that I may have eternal life ?" And it often happens, that they
who have fewest of good works lay the greatest stress upon them.
3. Consider how this practice has been formed into principles, in
the face of the sun of the gospel. Never was an error yet vented
in principle, but in compliance with some corruption of the heart ;
therefore is that made the characteristic of true doctrine, that it is
according to godliness, 1 Tim. vi. 3. No sooner was the gospel
preached, than Cain sets up for works in opposition to faith : Gen.
iv. 4, 5, " And the Lord had respect to Abel, and to his offering ;
but unto Cain and his offering he had not respect." Paul gives the
reason : Heb. xi. 4, " By faith Abel offered unto God a more ex-
cellent sacrifice than Cain." In Abraham's family, to whom the
promise of righteousness was more clearly made, Hagar bears her
son ; compare Gal. iv. 24. "When the people were in Egypt, the
generality of them knew nothing else. They had curtailed the law
so very short, as all that labour in it do, that they thought they
kept all very well : Rom. v. 13, *' For until the law, sin was in the
world; but sin is not imputed, when there is no law." For that
cause God gave them the law, as in Exod. xx. Gal. iii. 29, " The
law was added because of transgressions ;" it pravailed in the days
of the prophets, in Christ's days, and from the beginning of the
Christian church to this day ; — hence our swarms of Papists, &c. —
Consider,
4. They turn the very gospel into law, as unclean vessels sour
the sweetest liquor that is put in them. What a real gospel was
the ceremonial law to the Jews, holding up blood, death, and trans-
lation of guilt, from them to the substitute, every day before their
eyes in their sacrifices ; But, Rom. ix. 11, " Their very table (that
is, their altar, so call, Mai. i. 12,) became a snare ;" and they went
about these things, as if by them they V70uld have made up what
was wanting in their observation of the moral law. Just so was it
turned in Popery ; yea, and alas ! among Protestants it is found
thus soured, to whom the gospel is the law. and faith, repentance,
and new obedience, the fulfilling of the law. But would to God it
stood in principles only ; but as sure as every unrenewed man is
out of Christ, as sure even these natural men, whose heads are set
right in this point, in their hearts and practice the very gospel is
turned into law, and their obedience, their very faith and repentance,
such as it is, is put in the room of Christ. For practice, when fairly
traced, will show the principles from which it proceeds.
Lastly^ Consider, though all would be saved, yet natural men are
LABOURINU AND HEAVY LADEK. 185
enemies to the gospel-way of salvation : 1 Cor. i. 23, " It is to the
Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness." They
must then be in love with the law, for there is no mids ; yea, so
cleave they to it, that nothing but death can part Adam's sons and
it, and this even a violent death in a day of God's power : Psalm
ex. 3 ; Rom. vii. 4, " Ye also are become dead to the law ;" (Greek,)
" deadened, killed, or put to death." As long as a soul sees how to
shift without Christ, it will never come to him ; add to this, that
the godly find the remains of this principle in them to struggle
against. Self-denial is the first lesson Christ gives, but they are
a-learning it all their days. If it is thus in the green tree, what
shall it be in the dry ?
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.
Matth. xi. 28,
Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I ivill give
you rest.
We are now,
III. To inquire, What sort of a labour sinners have in these things?
For the sake of plainness, it will be necessary to consider this la-
bour, \st, As it respects their lusts ; 2dly, As it respects the law.
We are,
\st, To consider this labour of sinners, as it respects their lusts,
their going up and down among the creatures, extracting from them
a comfort and pleasures, which they take for happiness. — I shall
here show the properties of this labour, and thus confirm the point
that they are engaged in a wearisome labour.
1. It is hard labour, and sore toil : Jer. ix. 5, " They weary them-
selves to commit iniquity." None win the devil's wages for nought,
they eat no idle bread where he is taskmaster, and they must needs
run, whom he drives. The devil's yoke is of all yokes the heaviest.
— To clear this point, consider,
(1.) What the Scriptures compare this labour in lusts unto;
whereby it will appear hard labour. — It compares it, '
[l.j To the labour of a man going to a city and not knowing the
way : Eccl. x. 15, " The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of
them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city." That is hard
labour, as many know by experience. Many a weary foot such must
YOL. IX. N
186 curist's invitation to the
go, many a hardship they must endure, and so must these in pursuit
of happiness. — It compares it,
[2.] To a labouring in the fire : Hab. ii. 13, " Behold, is it not of
the Loi'd of hosts, that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the
people shall weary themselves for very vanity ?" How hard is their
labour that lieth about a fire ! what sweat ! what toil ! Jer. vi. 29,
" The billows are burnt, the lead is consumed of the fire, the founder
melteth in vain, for the wicked are not plucked away." But how
much more hard in the fire ! As when a house is ou fire, and men
in it, labouring to preserve that which the fire consumes, even among
their hands. These labour, 1st, In the fire of lusts, that inflames the
heart, and scorches the very soul, Prov. vi. 27, 28, " For by means
of a whorish woman, a man is brought to a piece of bread, and the
adulteress will hunt for the precious life. Can a man take fire in
his bosom, and his clothes not be burned ?" 2dly In the fire of di-
vine wrath that is kindled by the former : Isa. ix. 18, " For wicked-
ness burneth as the fire, it shall devour the briers and thorns, and
shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up
like the lifting up of smoke." This consumeth what they are work-
ing for in the other ; so that when, like the spider, they have spun
out their own bowels for a covering, yet it is by far too narrow, and
they have but wearied themselves for very vanity. — It is compared,
[3.] To labouring under a burden, as in the text itself, which will
not let the man get up his back. They are the devil's drudges, la-
bouring under that load that will crush them at last, if they do not,
as in Psalm Iv. 22, cast their burden on the Lord, that he may sus-
tain them. They are laden with divers lusts, which lie on them as
a burden on the weary beast, which weary them indeed, but they
are bound on as with bands of iron and brass. — It is compared,
[4.] To the labour of a soldier in war; they watch for iniquity as
a sentry at his post : Isa. xxix. 20. The natural man himself is the
very field of battle: Jam. iv. 1, "From whence come wars and
fightings among you, come they not hence, even of your lusts which
war in your members ?" The war itself you may see described in
the three following verses. Who cannot but be well laboured with
the feet of men and horse in that confusion ? Though there be not
grace and corruption to war in them, there are lusts, and lusts op-
posed to one another, lusts and light also. — It is compared,
[5.] To the labour of the husbandman in plowing : Hos. x. 13,
" Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity." They de-
vise wickedness, which the Hebrew calls plowing it : " Devise not
evil against thy neighbour," Prov. iii. 29. " An ungodly man dig-
geth up evil, and in his lips there is a burning. fire," Prov. xvi. 27.
It is compared,
LABOURING AND HEAVY LADEN. 187
[6.] Not to insist on more, to the labour of a woman in child-
birth : Psalm vii. 4, " Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath
conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood." What pangs do
raging lusts create to the soul ? What cords of death does it
straiten with ? No small toil at conceiving of sin, and bearing it in
the heart, and bringing it forth; but nothing in the abominable brat
to satisfy the soul after all.
(2.) It is hard labour, if you consider that eminent emblem of our
natural state, the Egyptian bondage. Their deliverance out of
Egypt, was typical of their si)iritual deliverance by Christ, and so
that must needs signify man's natural state ; concerning which it
may be remarked, (1.) That as the children of Israel went down to
Egypt in the loins of their parents, so we in Adam. — (2.) As
the deliverance was wrought by the angel of the covenant, by the
hands of Moses the lawgiver, and Aaron the priest, so this by the
law and the gospel. — (3.) As Pharaoh opposed the children of Israel
to the utmost, so the devil opposeth here. Pharaoh was " the great
dragon which lieth in the midst of his rivers, which said, my river
is mine own, and I have made it for myself," Ezek. xxix. 3 ; and
was a type of that great red dragon, mentioned Rev. xii. 3, &c. But
for that which concerns this point, see Exod. v. There you will find
persons labouring, and heavy laden, vers. 4, 5. It is hard labour to
satisfy lusts, the devil's taskmasters : Eph. ii. 2, 3, " He worketh in
the children of disobedience : Among whom also we had our conver-
sation in times past, in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of
the flesh, and of the mind." The Israelites had their tasks doubled,
to put religion out of their heads and hearts, Exod. v. 10. Lusts
also must be satisfied, but wherewith to do it is withheld, as straw
was from the Israelites, ver. 11. They are scattered up and down
among the creatures for it, but can never squeeze out a sufficiency for
them, even as the Israelites could not find stubble enough to prepare
their bricks, ver'^. 12, 13, 14. If any appearance of deliverance, the
labour is made the harder. Says Paul, Rom. vii. 9, " I was alive
without the law once; but when the commandment came, sin revived,
and I died." — It is hard labour,
(3.) If ye consider the effects this labour hath, 1st, On the souls
of men. The minds of men have a toilsome task, where sin is on
the throne : Isa. v. 20, " Woe unto them that call evil good, and
good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that
put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter." That soul must needs
be in a continual fever, while inordinate aff"ections are in their
strength, as in all out of Christ. A fermentation of lusts cannot
but make a tossed mind. Anxiety and cares of the world stretch
n2
188 Christ's invitation to the
the mind, as on tenter hooks. A conceived flight, like that of Ahab,
1 Kings xxi. 4, sets the proud man's heart in a fire of wrath and re-
venge, and squeezes the sap out of all their enjoyments, as in the
instance of Haman, Esth. v. 9, 13. Envy slays the silly one, lust
strikes as a dart through the liver ; anger, malice, discontent, and
the like, make a man his own executioner ; they are tossed between
hopes, fears, and vanity, tumbled hither and thither with ev6ry wind
of temptation, as a ship without either pilot or ballast. 2dly, Even
the body is ofttimes hard put to it in this labour. The covetous rises
early, eats the bread of sorrow for what is not; the drunkard uses
his body worse than his beast. More bodies have fallen sacrifices
to lust, one way or another, than ever fell by the hardships either
in or about religion.
2. It is base, mean, and abject labour : See Jer. ii. 21, compared
with vers. 23, and 24. Were we to die like beasts, we might live
like beasts, with our souls grovelling still downward on the earth.
If the soul had been so narrow, as to be satisfied with less than an
infinite good, ho had not spoke like a fool, who said to his soul,
Luke xii. 19, " Soul, take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry,"
when his barns were full ; in that case, the swine and his soul might
have fed together. But Ave have immortal souls, capable of enjoy-
ing an infinite good, and such working in the earth must needs be a
base labour for a heaven-born soul, which God breathed into the
formed dust, but gave not to be drowned in a mass of flesh and
blood, nor to be only as salt, to keep the body a while from rotting.
3. It is a constant labour. The sea rests sometimes, the carnal
heart never : Isa. Ivii. 20, " But the wicked are like the troubled
sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt."
Lusts are ever craving, never say they have enough ; they are roll-
ing the stone to the top of the hill, which still comes down on them
again and again, and creates new labour ; see Psalm Ixxviii. 18. —
20, 29, 30. Two things make it a continual labour. 1st, Continual
disappointments. These they cannot miss, seeing there is no satis-
faction to be had in the creatures ; yet their soul still craves, hence
no rest, but are urged on to work again : Isa. Ivii. 10, " Thou art
weary in the greatness of thy way, yet saidst thou not. There is no
hope." Men are like the silly doves without heart, who still go to
the same nest where they have been herried never so often before,
and will even beg there, where they have got a thousand nay-says.
2dly, "What is got in thera enlarges the desire, instead of satisfying
it ; the more that lusts are fed, the more they require to maintain
them. Sin is an insatiable tyrant ; to labour in its service, is but
to cast oil into the flame. The dropsy-thirst can never be quenched.
LABOURING AND HEAVY LADEN. 189
4. It is vain labour, tliey can never reach the end of it: Isa. Iv.
2, " Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread, and
your labour for that which satisfieth not ?" They shall as soon fill
a triangle with a circle, as the heart with such things ; the grave
shall sooner give back its dead, than the lusts of the heart say, It is
enough. It is impossible to find satisfaction in these things, for
they are not suitable to the soul, more than stones for the nourish-
ment of the body. The body gets its nourishment from the earth,
because it is of the earth ; the soul is from heaven, and so its satis-
faction must come from thence. The things of the world cannot sa-
tisfy the soul, because they have no word of divine appointment, to
be the staff of that bread which nourishes it ; without this, grass
could no more satisfy the beasts, nor bread the hunger of man, than
sand : Matth. iv. 4, " Man liveth not by bread alone, but by every
word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." God has kept this
as his own prerogative, to satisfy the soul, incommunicable to the
creatures conjunctly or separately.
Lastly, It is notwithstanding costly labour; for time that is pre-
cious is spent on it, which men should husband well, Eph. v. 16,
" Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." By time well
improved, we might attain true happiness; time once gone can never
be recalled. But, ah ! what precious hours are cast away on these
things, which might be improved in trading for heaven. — It is costly,
because the gifts of the mind are thrown away on it. Reason makes
us differ from the beai?ts, but by the abuse of it men make them-
selves worse than the beasts : Jer. viii. 7, " Yea, the stork in the
heaven, knoweth her appointed times : and the turtle, and the crane,
and the swallow, observe the time of their coming : but my people
know not the judgment of the Lord." Men's minds are employed
not to know God, but other things ; their choice also is not fixed
upon him, their affections are bestowed on other things. — Fi-
nally, it is costly, because the outward good things of the body, and
estate in the world, are bestowed upon it. Health and strength go
in the pursuit of vanity, and in the service of their lusts, yea, are
sacrificed many times on the altar of intemperance and sensuality.
Riches, power, honours, as the feeding of the horse does, make peo-
ple kick against him who lays these things to their hands. Yea, to
crown all, the soul itself is thrown away upon it : Matth. xvi. 26,
'* For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose
his own soul ? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul ?"
Men seeking vanity, lose what is most excellent ; and it is dear
bought that is purchased at that rate. — I shall now consider what
is meant by,
190 Christ's invitation to the
II. A labouring in the law. And to this most of what has been
said may be applied ; and besides it may occur afterwards. I shall
only say these two things anent it at present.
1. It is most hard labour, for it requires most exact obedience,
under pain of the curse : Gal. iii. 10, " Cursed is every one that con-
tinueth not in all things written in the book of the law, to do them."
Nothing but perfect obedience is accepted, according to the law ;
and for the least failure, it dooms the sinner to death. Now, no
man can perform this, and yet so foolish are men, that they think
to please God with their works. Again, — it is hard, because the
law neither promiseth nor giveth strength. God gave Adam
strength to perform, he lost it, the law does not restore it ; so that
in this case they must make the brick, and no straw is laid to their
hands. This makes hard work, and so, by the Spirit, it at length
breaks the heart of the elect, and makes them die to the law, as a
wife to a rigorous husband. Gal. ii. 19.
2. It is a vain and useless labour. There are much pains, and
yet no gain, in this labour. It is vain, in respect of the soul thriv-
ing ; they that labour in the law do but sow their seed in the sand ;
all they reap is wind, which may puff them up, but cannot nourish.
Why so many barren dry professors ? but because they are not trad-
ing with Christ, but with the law. Men go to duties, and rest in
them ; the pipe is laid short of the fountain. — It is vain, in respect
of acceptance with God. It is thankless work, for it supersedes the
commandment to believe : John vi. 29, " This is the work of God,
that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." It is a sad word, Rom.
ix. 31, 32, " Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness,
hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore ? because
they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law."
Turtles were accepted on the altar at Jerusalem, when bullocks were
rejected on those at Dan and Bethel. — Farther, it is vain, in respect
of answering the demands of the law. Gal. iii. 10. Our curtailed
obedience will not answer the measuring reed of the law ; it de-
mands satisfaction for what is past, and perfect obedience for what
is to come. — Finally, it is vain, in respect of salvation. The way to
heaven by the first covenant is blocked up ; the angel with the flam-
ing sword guards it, Gal. iii. 10. sirs ! duties are a sandy foun-
dation, and great will be the fall of legal professors. — Let us in-
quire,
IV. Why sinners labour in these things for satisfaction, and do
not come to Christ ? — They do so because,
1. They have lost God, the fountain of happiness, and therefore
they seek to squeeze it out of the creatures : Eph. ii. 12, " Having
LABOURING AND HEAVY LADEN. 191
no hope, and without God in the world." For, says God, Jer. ii. 13,
*■* They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters." The sun
is gone down upon thera, and therefore they light their candles, and
compass themselves with their own sparks ; for the empty soul must
have something to feed on. The prodigal wanted bread, and there-
' fore fed on husks. Doves' dung is precious, when there is no bread
in Samaria. — Sinners labour in these things,
2. Because, by the power of a strong delusion, they still expect
satisfaction from thera ; they are represented in a magnifying glasa,
as the forbidden fruit was to our first parents, Gen. iii. 5, 6. That
delusion took with them, is conveyed to their posterity, and will
never be cured till grace do it. Hence men, though they meet with
a thousand disappointments in these things, yet still from new hopes
they renew the attempt. — Sinners labour thus,
3. Because these things are most suitable to the corrupt nature :
Rom. viii. 5, *' For they that are after the flesh do mind the things
of the flesh." Fishes swim in the river, and care not for the most
pleasant meadow ; swine prefer the dunghill to a palace ; because
everything seeks its like. Lusts must be nourished with these ;
even the way of the law, though just and good in itself, is the way
that agrees best with self: Rom. iii. 27, " Where is boasting then ?
It is excluded. By what law ? Of works ? Nay, but by the law of
faith ? Sinners are engaged in this labour,
4. Because they know no better. Christ is a hidden Christ to
men in their natural estate ; they see not his glory, fulness, and ex-
cellency ; they say, as in Song v. 9, " What is thy beloved more
than another beloved ?" The fowl scrapes by the jewels, and takes
up a corn beside them, because it knows not their worth : 1 Pet. ii.
7, Unto you, therefore, which believe, he is precious, but unto them
which be disobedient, the stone the builders disallowed, the same is
made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock
of ofi'ence, even to thera that stumble at the word, being disobedient."
— Sinners continue this labour,
Lastly, Because men naturally are enemies to the way of salva-
tion by Jesus Christ. — I now come,
y. To make some practical improvement of the whole.
Allow me, then, to expostulate with you in the most earnest man-
ner upon this subject. Why spend you your labour for that which
satisfieth not ? Isa. Iv. 2. Seeing you would labour, will you not
change your work, and labour in God's way, that ye may enter into
his rest ? It is a wearisome labour that all out of Christ are en-
gaged in. I would have you, then, to give it over, and engage in
the service of Christ. I come in his name, to bid you, to beseech
19.2 Christ's invitation to the
you, to cease from this labour. I have these things to say, iu regard
to it.
1. It is a labour God never i>ut in your hands, but it proceeds
from the devil, and a corrupt heart, who yoked you to that work of
seeking your happiness in the creatures ; in lusts, or in the law, and
not in God. To this some may plead. Not guilty ! " We know
(say such) the world is but a vain thing, and we place our chief hap-
piness in God. God forbid we should be labouring in any such
way !" For your conviction, however, I must speak a few things.
You may be deceived ; many are as busy as their hands can be at
that work, and yet say that they are not : Prov. xxx, " There is a
generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed
from their filthiness." — I would inquire at you,
(1.) Who loosed you from this labour? Were you never at it?
If you think so, you miserably deceive yourselves, Eph. ii, 3, already
quoted. Since Adam went from God, to pluck his happiness off the
forbidden tree, all mankind have followed his steps, and abide at
the work, till converting grace loose them. What is conversion,
but a turning to God, from whom we are naturally turned away ?
Alas ! there are few converts ! — I inquire,
(2.) Was you ever heartily wearied of this labour, seeing your
folly in abiding so long with it ? Was it ever a heavy task, that
you was made to groan out under ? Ail are welcome to Christ that
will come, but none will ever give over their labour till they
be brought to this. God must bring the soul to a holy despair in
this way, ere it be given over, Hos. ii. 6, 7- And then the soul,
having run itself out of breath, can neither get satisfaction in the
creatures, nor go to God ; thus it leaves the pursuit, and sits down
with that, Jer. xxxi. 18, " Thou hast chastised me, and I was
chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke ; turn thou me,
and I shall be turned, for thou art the Lord my God." John vi. 44,
" No man can come unto me, except the Father who sent me draw
him." — I inquire,
(3.) How are you kept from returning to this labour ? If you
have left it, it will not be without a struggle. There is a natural
bias in the hearts of all men this way. Alas ! the strong man keeps
the house with the greater part ; they have no struggle with the
world, neither how to get it, nor how to keep it out of the heart. — I
inquire,
(4.) Whence is it your greatest dissatisfaction proceeds, from
the world's misgiving with you, or God's hiding his face from
you ? from your disappointments in the world, or at the throne of
grace ? Where the disappointment goes deepest, the expectations
LABOURING AND HEAVY LADEN. 193
Iiave been greatest : " Hope deferred makes the heart sick ;" an
infallible evidence that most men are at this work. Men will not
be dissatisfied for missing a thing, where they were not to find it. —
I inquire,
(5.) Where do you find your greatest satisfaction and pleasure, if
we may call it so ? In the enjoyment of God, or of the world, or in
getting the cravings of your lusts answered ? Ah ! there are not a
few, from whom, if the world's joy was turned away, that would not
have a blythe hour. They never found as much sweetness in the
benefits of the covenant, as in those of the world.
(6.) If yon be not labouring thus, what are you doing then ?
There is not, and there cannot be, an idle soul among us. If the
devil has us not, God has us at work ; one of the two must. These
things must bring convictions to our breasts.
Allow me still farther to expostulate with you. Why spend you
your labour for that which satibfieth not ? The labour you are en-
gaged in is a thankless labour; God will not thank you for it; he
cays, " Who hath required this at your hands ?" The devil pays
you the wages which are due to it, which are death, Rom. vi. 23.
He hath no better to give. Besides this, the labour in which you
are engaged, is a labouring against God : Jer. ii. 13, *• Having for-
saken the fountain of living waters, ye have hewed out for your-
selves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water." Ye are
thus setting the creature in the room of God, and accordingly God
is against you in this labour, so that you can never get what you
are seeking from it. Oh ! then be exhorted to cease from, to give
up with this labour. To prevail with you in doing this, I would
lay before you the following motives.
1. Why will ye toil so to bring out of the creatures what ig not
in them ? Nothing but God himself is commensurable to the desires
of the soul ; no man ever saw or will see an end of his desires, till
they are swallowed up in God himself. When the creatures were
at their best, there was the forbidden tree in paradise to teach man
his happiness was not in them. How much more now, when they
are so much worse ! Isa. xxviii. 20, " For the bed is shorter than
that a man can stretch himself on it, and the covering narrower than
that he can wrap himself in it."
2. How can ye think to find rest in that which is restless in it-
self? are not all things here unstable as water, aud so cannot excel?
Unchangeableness is a necessary property of that which makes truly
happy, for otherwise the very fear of losing it mars the conceived
happiness. Will we seek our rest in vanity, fill our hands with the
wind, sit easy on the rolling waves, or on the top of a wheel that is
in continual motion ?
194 CHEISl'S INVITATION TO THE
3. Did you ever meet with that among creature enjoyments, that
was every way as ye would have had it ? Dissatisfaction will pro-
ceed from any defect, however small, as it was with Haman, Esth.
V. 13 ; but satisfaction requires an universal concurrence of all de-
sirables in the thing that must satisfy ; So it is, Song v. 16, " He is
.. IjJX*^ altogether lovely." Let a man turn over the whole creation for sa-
tisfaction, let all be cast into his lap, yet he will find, as in Job xx.
22, " In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits," Who
ever got the rose that wanted the prickles ? the sweetness in any of
them, that wanted a mixture of bitterness ?
4. Do not the disappointment of hopes necessarily cleave to them
all ? They promise more when afar oflp, than they afford when
they are come near. Mountains afar off become mole-hills when
near ; like a ball of snow, the more closely it is held, it will grow
the less.
' 5. Has not the sap been squeezed out of enjoyments to thee be-
tween the hand and the mouth ? Hos. ix. 2, " The floor and the
wine-press shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her."
Have you not had fair prospects that have been blasted in a mo-
ment, ere you ever tasted of them ? As if they had appeared for no
other end, but to raise the appetite that was not to be laid with
them.
6. Has not the loss of them often brought greater sorrow than
ever the haviug of them. gave joy : while God has taken away the
desire of thine eyes, thy choice comforts. "Wert thou not more
grieved then, than thou wert happy before ?
7. Has not that wherein thou hast expected the greatest comfort
turned out to be the greatest cross ? This was the case with Rachel,
who said to Jacob, " Give me children, else I die," Gen. xxxi. com-
pare Gen. XXXV. 16 — 20. She got children, and death instantly
followed.
8. Have not signal mercies, as well as judgments, brought a sting
along with them, while conscience has been whisi)ering unto thee,
that God was thine enemy.
9. Was ever thy heart truly at rest in these things, so that thou
couldst say thou desirest no more ? Nay, but the more of these, the
more are they desired.
-. 10. There is another way to come at your purpose. Come to
Christ, and he will give you rest. This is a short way, for all is in
him ; whatever perfections are scattered up and down amongst the
creatures, all is in him, and infinitely more. It is a sure way, for
you will not miss happiness if you come to him.
I would once more expostulate with you. Why do you spend
LABOUKIKG AND HEAVY LADEN". 195
your labour for that which satisfieth not ? I would beseech you, in
the most earnest manner, not only to cease from, to give up with,
your present unpleasant and unprofitable labour, but also to change
your labour; I would have you, not only to depart from evil, but
even to do good ; I would call upon you to engage in the service of
a new master, and run in the way of his commandments. You are
labouring, you must be labouring, one way or other ; will you not
then engage in the labour of true religion, real godliness ? If we
must serve, surely it is better to serve Christ than the devil. The
labour that there is in religion afi'rights the world at it ; but why
should it, seeing their labour is so great while out of Christ ? Con-
sider,
1. We are not calling yon from idleness to working, but from la-
bour to labour. And even if we were still to be slaves, better be so
to God than to the devil. What will men say to Christ at the last
day, who will be at pains in their lusts, but at none in holiness, that
will bear a yoke, but not Christ's yoke ?
2. We call you, not from one base labour to another, but from a
base to an honourable work. Should one be called from the stone-
barrow to be a king's cup-bearer, it were not comparable to what
is proposed. — 1. They will have a more honourable master. — 2.
More honourable fellow-labourers, for the angels serve him. — 3.
More honourable work, God himself is glorious in holiness. — ±. A
more honourable office ; from being slaves to the devil, they are
made kings and priests unto God.
3. We call upon you from vain labour, to that which shall be
prosperous and successful ; you are labouring for happiness there,
where you will never get it, but here are full breasts ; you are in
vain striking at the flinty rock for water, here is an open fountain,
where none ever went away disappointed.
4. We call you from a barren labour, where you will get nothing
but sorrow to take away with you, to a labour which, when you
have finished your works, will follow you, Rev. xiv. 13. Ah ! mi-
serable is your present labour, Isa. lix. 5, 6. The spider wastes its
bowels to spin its web, and when all is done, one stroke of the be-
som sweeps all away ; it is either killed in its web, or drawn by it
as a rope unto death ; so that it doth but spin its winding-sheet, or
plait the rope for itself. Consider,
5. That the worst which can be made of it is, that religion is hard
labour. But this should be no prejudice against it with you, seeing,
as has been said, the labour out of Christ is also hard labour. But
to cast the balance, observe,
(1.) If it is hard labour, it is worth the pains, the other is not so,
196 Christ's invitation to tue
for, Prov. ii. 4, 5, " If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for
her as hid treasures, then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord,
and find the knowledge of God." There is hard labour in digging
stones, as well as in digging for gold ; nay, it is hard labour digging
disappointments, that which is not ; whereas the gain of the other is
precious and certain. — 1. The promise, Prov. viii. 21, " That I may-
cause those that love me to inherit substance, and I will fill their
treasures." — 2. The experience of all the labourers confirms the cer-
tainty of it : "I (God) said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye my
face in vain."
(2.) If it is hard labour, it is short ; if the work be sore, yet it is
not longsome. You shall soon rest from your labours : Rev. xiv.
13. He that is tired with his journey, his spirits will revive when
near the end. The shadow of the evening makes the labourer work
heartily, for loosing-time is at hand. The trials, afflictions, weeping,
&c. of the saints, endure but for a moment. On the other hand, the
labour of other persons knows no end ; no rest abides them, but an
everlasting toil under wrath that never ends.
6. We call you from a hard to an easy labour: "My yoke is
easy ;" Christ has said it, we must believe it. But to clear it, consi-
der for this time, only these two things.
(1.) All the difficulties in religion arise from that active corrup-
tion which is in men, putting them to labour in their lusts and in the
law : Matth. xi. 12, " The kingdom of heaven suftereth violence, and
the violent take it by force." Violence and force, not with God, he
opposeth us not, but with our own corruptions. And in this sense
only the scripture holds out the labour of religion to be hard. But
men do not state the matter fairly. Lay a ton-weight upon a rolling
stone, certainly it is harder to roll both together than the stone
alone ; but is the stone therefore lighter than the ton-weight ? Take
them separately, and absolutely, the labour in religion is easy, the
other hard. Men cannot bear Christ's burden. Why? because they
Btill keep on the devil's burden, and they cannot bear the one above
the other ; that is not fair. Lay off the one, take up the other ; see
■which is lightest. A meek and a passionate man, which of them has
the hardest task in bearing an affront? the sober man, or the drunk-
ard ? the worldly man, or he that lives above the world ? The more
power grace has, the more easy ; the more power lusts have, the
more hard is the labour.
(2.) There is true help in the one, not in the other. — The labour
in religion has outward helps ; the labourers are not helpless, they
have a cloud of witnesses gone before them, whom they may see
with their crowns upon their heads, Heb. xii. 1. Ye are not the
LABOTJRINa AND HEAVY LADEK. 197
forlorn in hope. Armies of saints have stormed heaven before you
and have left it behind them that the work is possible and the re-
ward certain. The other have not this ; if they get satisfaction in
their lusts, they are the first. They see thousands before them, who
have laboured as hard as they, disappointed, and are lain down in
sorrow. — This labour has inward helps. Christ bears the heaviest
part of his own yoke; he gives strength, he works the will for the
work ; and the work for us, when we have the will : Phil. ii. 13,
" For it is God that worketh in us, both to will and to do of his good
pleasure." Isa. xxvi. 12, " Thou also hast wrought all our works
in us." The others have not. True, they have that within them
which puts them on to this labour, but the more of the one, the hard-
er is the other, as the wearied beast is goaded by the spur, and worn
out by their being beaten when no straw is allowed them. But
where is the help to work satisfaction and happiness out of the
creatures, or from the law ?
7. We call you from a wearisome to a lightsome pleasant labour.
I have proved the first ; for the last, see Prov. iii. 17, " Her ways
are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." But let us
hear what can be said for both.
(1.) Is there much pleasure in sin ? Ans. In some there is none.
"What pleasure has the passionate man, that kindles a fire in his
own bosom ? What pleasure has the envious, that gnaws himself
like a serpent for the good that others enjoy ? What pleasure has
the discontented, that is his own executioner. Consider the calm of
spirit that the contrary graces bring, and judge who has the better
part. — As for those sins in which pleasure is found,
[1.] It is common to them with these creatures with whom they
will not desire to be ranked. For these things that gratify men's
sensual appetite are common to them with beasts, as gluttony, drunk-
enness, filthiness, &c. A sow can drink, and be as drunk as the
greatest drunkard, and so on. And they have the better of them,
as being under no law, and therefore they can go the full length of
their appetite. — 2. They do it without remorse. — 3. They find satis-
faction in these things, seeing they are not capable of desiring
greater things. Now, put these together, whei-e is the pleasure ? Is
it not surpassed by the pain ? As to the desires of the mind, these
are common to them with devils. The greatest swearer, liar, and
proud opposer of religion, have the trade but from the second hand.
The devil can satisfy his curiosity better than the most curious,
reason more closely against religion than any atheist. Only obsti-
nate despisers of reproof and mockers surpass the devil, for the de-
vils believe and tremble : whereas for a time they do not.
198 Christ's invitation to the
(2.) The pleasure is but raoraentary, the pain follows hard at the
heels, and is eternal. What pleasure can be devised, for which a
man would hold his finger over a burning candle for a quarter of an
hour ? how much more dreadful to endure eternal burnings !
(3.) The struggle that conscience makes against corruption, brings
more torment than that which corruption makes against grace.
Conscience is more dreadfully armed than corruption ; there is here
as much difference as there is betwixt the hand of God and the hand
of the devil. See now what becomes of the pleasure !
(2.) The labour in religion is truly pleasant. It is truly holy la-
bour ; for of that we speak, and scripture-testimony proves its plea-
santness ; see Prov. iii. 17, "Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace." Ask David, and he will tell you, in
Psalm Ixxxiv. ; Paul, in 2 Cor. xii. 10.
(1.) It is a labour suited to the nature of the soul, the better part,
their divine supernatural nature, 2 Pet. i. 4. Believers are par-
takers of a divine nature. This must needs create ease and delight;
the stream easily flows from the fountain ; birds with pleasure fly in
the air. The reason of the difiiculty in religion to many is, they are
out of their element when engaged in it.
(2.) Therein the soul carries on a trade with heaven ; entertains
communion with God, through the Spirit of Christ, by a mutual in-
tercourse of grace and duty, the soul receiving influences, and re-
turning them again in duties : as the rain falls on the earth freely,
so the waters run freely toward the sea again.
(3.) Great peace of conscience usually attends this ; and the more
labour, the more peace : Psal. cxix. 165, " Great peace have they
who love thy law." Here is a feast which nothing but sin mars :
2 Cor. i. 12, " For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our
conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly
wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in
the world," Men cannot take it from us, John xiv. 27.
(4.) Sometimes they have great manifestations of Christ, evidences
of the Lord's love raising a high spring-tide of joy in their souls,
greater than that which the whole congregation of the world enjoys,
Psalm iv. 6, 7- It is joy unspeakable, and full of glory, 1 Pet. i. 8.
(5.) It is a lightsome way they walk in, whereas the other is
darksome ; the light of the Lord's word shines in it. The Mahom-
medans have a tradition, that Moses' law and Christ's gospel were
written first with ink made of pure light. Sure the scripture points
out duty, as if it were written with a sunbeam.
8. We call you from a labour against yourselves, to a labour for
your advantage. We must efther do the work of God or the devil.
LABOURIN'& AND HEAVY LADEN. 199
Every sin is a new impediment in yonr way to heaven, a new stone
laid on the wall of separation. What a mad thing is it to be work-
ing out our damnation, instead of our own salvation !
9. We call you not to more, but to other labour. We are all la-
borious creatures ; the greatest idler is in some sort busy. Paul
calls even them that work not at all, busy bodies, 2 Thes. iii. 11.
Our life is nothing but a continual succession of actions, even as the
fire is ever burning, and the rivers running. It is in some respect
impossible to do more than we do ; the watch runs as fast when
wrong as when right. Why may we not then keep the highway
while we are travelling. — Consider,
10. That the same pains that men are at to ruin themselves,
might possibly serve to save them. There are difficulties in the way
of sin as well as of religion. Does not sin oftentimes bereave men
of their night's rest ? Are they more disturbed when communing
with their own souls, and with God ? Do not men draw sin as with
cart-ropes ? Isa. v. 18. Why might not labour be employed in
drawing the heart to God ? If men would but change, and suck as
greedily and incessantly at the breasts of God's consolations, as they
do of the creatures, how happy would they be !
Lastly, Consider that the labour in religion is not greater, nay, it
is less than in sin, for religion contracts our work to one thing :
Luke X. 41, 42, " Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled
about many things, but one thing is needful." Sinners have many
lusts to please, the saints have but one God to please ; the work of
religion is all of a piece, sin not so. There is a sweet harmony be-
twixt all the graces and all the duties of religion. But lusts are
quite contrary, and as they war against grace, so against one an-
other, James iv. 1, " From whence come wars and fightings among
you ? come they not from hence, even of your lusts that war in your
members ?" So that the sinner is dragged by one lust one way, by
another, another. And how hard is it to serve contrary masters I
200 Christ's invitation to the
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.
SERMONXX.
Mattii. xi. 28,
Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, aud I will give
you rest.
I now proceed to the consideration of
Doctrine II. That all who are out of Christ, are under an heavy-
burden, which, by all their labour, they cannot shake off.
In illustrating of which, I shall only,
I. Offer a few observations.
II. Make some practical improvement.
I. I am to offer a few observations ; such as,
1. That Satan has a load on all out of Christ ; it is a load of sin ;
Isa. i. 4, " Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity." This
load is twofold :
\st, A load of guilt, Gen. iv. 13, " And Cain said unto the Lord,
My punishment is greater than I can bear," (Heb. " sin.") Guilt is
the heaviest load ever was on the shoulders of men or angels. The
scriptures hold it forth,
(1.) As debt. He that is in debt is under a burden. It is the
worst of debts, we cannot pay it, nor escape the hands of our credi-
tor ; yea, we deny the debt, care not for count and reckoning, we
wave our creditor as much as we can ; so it stands uncancelled. But
it is a debt that must be paid : 2 Thess. i. 9, " Who shall be
punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the
Lord, and from the glory of his power." They shall pay what
justice demands. — It is represented,
(2.) As a yoke tied fast on the sinner's neck ; hence pardon is
called a loosing of it, guilt being, as it were, cords of wrath, where-
by the sinner is bound over to God's wrath. Pardon is also called
remission or relaxation : Rom. iii. 25, " To declare his righteous-
ness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance
of God." — It is pointed out, '
(3.) As a burden : Hos. xiv. 2, " Take away all iniquity." Take
away, namely, as a burden off a man's back. Hence Christ is said
to have borne our sins, the burden of the elect's guilt being laid on
his back. What a heavy load is it ! (1.) It makes the whole crea-
tion groan, Rom. viii. 22. It caused them take their pains five
thousand years since, and they are not yet delivered of their burden.
LABOURING AND HEAVY LADEN. 201
All the groans that ever men gave on earth and in hell were under
this burden ; it sunk the whole world into ruin : " Christ took our
nature," to prevent us going down to the pit, Heb. ii. 16 ; (Greek,
" caught hold"), as of a drowning man, not of the whole seed of
Adam, for gi-eat part of it fell to the ground, but of the seed of
Abraham, the elect. (2.) This load sunk the fallen angels, made
them fall as stars from heaven to the bottomless pit. And what a
load was it to Christ, that made him sweat as it were great drops of
blood, that made him groan and die ! — It is,
2dly, A load of servitude to lusts, which of themselves are heavy
burdens; the very remainder of which made the apostle groan :
Rom. vii. 24, " wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver me
from the body of this death ?" "What greater burden can be, than
for a man to have a swarm of unmortified corruptions hanging about
him, whose cravings he is still obliged to answer. This is that which
creates that weary labour, of which we have already spoken ; better
a man were burdened with serpents sticking in his flesh, than with
these. — I observe,
2. The law has a load on the Christless sinner; and that,
(1.) A load of duties, as great and numerous as the command-
ment, which is exceeding broad, can lay on. Though they perform
them not, yet they are bound upon them by the commandment : and
they shall sooner dissolve the whole fabric of the world, than make
void this commandment. This is a heavy load. True, they that
are in Christ have a yoke of duties laid on them, but not by the
law, but by Christ. The difl'erence is great ; the law exacts perfect
obedience, but gives no strength ; Christ, when claiming obedience
to his law, gives strength for the performance, which makes it an
easy obedience. — There is,
(2.) A load of curses : Gal. iii. 10, " Cursed is every one that
contiuueth not in all things written in the book of the law, to do
them." Every commandment of the law is fenced with a curse, de-
nounced against the breakei's of it. How great must be the load,
then, where every action is a sin, and eveiy sin brings a curse !
This is a heavy load, that makes the earth reel to and fro, like a
drunkard, under the weight of it. — I observe,
3. That God has a load on the Christless sinner, that is, of wrath :
Eph. ii. 3, " And were by nature children of wrath." This is an
abiding load : John iii. 36, " He that believeth not the Son, shall not
see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." This load is far hea-
vier than mountains of brass ; it is weightier than can be expressed,
II. I am now to make some practical improvement. From what
has been said, I infer.
Vol. IX. o
202 Christ's invitation to the
I. That every one must bear his own burden. There is no getting
through tbe world with an even-up back. If people will not take
up Christ's burden, they will bear a heavier one ; if they will not be
Christ's servants, they must be slaves to their lusts ; if they will
not take on the yoke of holiness, they shall bear a load of wrath ;
if people will still slip the yoke of Christ, God will wreathe the
yoke of their transgressions about their neck, that they shall not
get shaken off. We have given sorry entertainment to Christ's
burden : it is too likely we may come to get one of another sort.
The entertainment we have given to Christ's burden is like to
wreathe a threefold yoke about our necks. For,
(1.) We have bad little taste for the preaching of Christ, the
great mysteries of the gospel. The preaching of sin and duty, as
they call it, has been more desired than the preaching of the vitals
of religion. I fear it be the plague of the generation, to get such
preaching of sin and duty, as that the doctrine of Christ and free
grace fall through between the two, and the gospel be turned into a
system of morality with us.
(2.) We have little valued pure worship, it has been a burden to
us, and we have ground to fear a burden of another sort, the trash
of men's inventions in God's worship. There is an attempt already
made to set up Dagon by the ark of God; and God knows where it
may stop. If the ceremonies appointed by God himself were such,
Acts XV. 10, " as neither our fathers nor wo were able to bear, what
must they be that are laid on by men ?
(3.) God took the yoke of the enemy's oppression oS our necks,
for which we have been very unthankful. It is very like that God
intends to lay it on again, that we may know the worth of our de-
spised mercy : Hos. xi. 4, 5, " I dr?w them with cords of a man,
with bands of love, and I was to them as they that take oif the yoke
on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them. He shall not return into
the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they
refused to return." — We may hence lament,
2. The case of the generation living without Christ, heavy laden,
but not sensible of their burden, Isa. i. 4 ; compare ver. 3, both
already quoted. Sin sits light upon people, they reign as kings
without Christ ; the law's authority does not draw them away to
Christ ; and though wrath lies heavy, they feel it not. Oh ! what
is the matter? They never feel the weight of it, nor once seriously
put the question to themselves. What shall we do to be saved ?
They are taken up with so many things, that their soul's case can-
not come into their minds. Again, they have a dead soul, and a
stupid conscience, they complain not. Men's spiritual senses are
LABOURINO AND HEAVT TjADKN. 203
bound up, and a seared couscience, got by sinning oyer the belly of
daily warnings, is the plague of the generation. Well, but when
conscience is awakened, people will find their sores ; when drops of
wrath fall on the conscience, it will make a fearful hissing : Isa.
xxxiii. 14, " The sinners in Zion are afraid, fearfulness hath sur-
prised the hypocrites ; who among us shall dwell with the devour-
ing fire ? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings ?" —
I only exhort you,
3. To labour to be sensible of your burden, and to be concerned
to get rid of it. Is there not a burden of sin upon your backs ?
mind that you have to do with it. — Consider, That heaven's gate is
strait, and will not let in a man with a burden of unpardoned, un-
mortified sin on his back. The wide gate is that which only will
afford room for such. Off it must be, or they will never see hea-
ven. — Consider again, all that they can do will not shake it off, the
bonds of iniquity are stronger than to be broken with their weak
arms ; all the moisture of their bodies, dissolved into tears, will not
wash it off. — Consider, finally, it will never fall off of its own accord.
Age coming on may wear off the violence of some lusts, but the
guilt remains, and the root of sin. Death itself will not put it oft',
for it will lie down, and also rise with you, and cleave to you
through eternity.
What shall we do then ? What more proper than come to Christ ?
He, and he only, can ease you of your burden. This brings us for-
ward to the invitation itself : "Come unto me, all ye that labour,
and are heavy laden ;" which we have expressed in
DocT. III. That whatever sinful and vain labours sinners are en-
gaged in, whatever be the loads which are lying on them, they are
welcome to Christ ; he calls them to come to him, and in coming
they shall obtain rest. — Or more shortly thus : —
The devil's drudges and burden-bearers, even the worst of them,
are welcome to come to Christ, and shall find rest in him. — In
opening which, I shall in general shew,
I. What is meant by coming to Christ.
II. I shall more particularly attempt to unfold the import of the
invitation, in the several points deducible from the text.
III. I shall consider what is the rest which Christ promises, and
will give to such as come to him,
lY. I shall make some practical improvement.
I. I shall show what in general is meant by coming to Christ. To
come to Christ is to believe on him : John vi. 35, " And Jesus said
unto them, I am the bread of life ; he that cometh to me shall never
o2
204 Christ's invitation to the
hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." Unbelief
is the soul's departing, not from a living law, but from the living
God, Heb. iii. 12. Christ is the Lord, God is in him, he calls sin-
ners to come to him ; faith answers the call, and so brings back the
soul to God in Christ. Now, the scripture holds forth Christ many
ways answering to this notion of coming to him by faith. And that
you may see your privilege and call, I shall hold forth some of these
to you.
1. The devil's drudges and burden-bearers are welcome to Christ,
as the great gift of the Father to sinners, to come and take it : John
iii. 16, " God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth on him might not perish, but have ever-
lasting life." Tlie world was broken by Adam ; God sends Christ
as an up-making gift, and the worst of you are welcome to him, yea,
he bodes (urges) himself upon you. Come to him, then, ye broken
impoverished souls, that have nothing left you but poverty, wants,
and debt. — Such are to come to him,
2. As the great Physician of souls : Matth. ix. 12, " They that be
whole need not a physician, but they that are sick." Christ in the
gospel comes into the world as to an hospital of sin-sick souls, ready
to administer a cure to those that will come to him for it. Our
diseases are many, all of them deadly, but he is willing and able to
cure them all. He is lifted up on the pole of the gospel, and says,
" Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth ; for I
am God, and there is none else," Isa. xlv. 22. — Such should come to
him,
3. As the satisfying food of the soul : Isa. Iv. 1 — 3, " Ho, every
one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no
money, come ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy wine and milk, with-
out money, and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for
that which is not bread ? and your labour for that which satisfieth
not ? hearken diligently unto me, and eat that which is good, and
let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come
unto me ; hear and your soul shall live ; and I will make an ever-
lasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." The
soul is an empty thing, and has hungry and thirsty desires to be
satisfied ; the creatures cannot satisfy, Christ can : John vi. 35,
*' My flesh, (says he,) is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed."
God has made a feast of fat things in Christ, in him all the cravings
of the soul may be satisfied ; there are no angels to guard the tree
of life ; no seal on this fountain: Zech. siii. 1, " In that day, there
shall be a fountain opened to the house of David, and to the inha-
bitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness." There is no inclo-
I/ABOUBlKa AND HEAVY LADEX. 205
sure about this flower of glory, Caut. ii. 1. Here is the carcase, —
where are the eagles that should gather together ? — Such come to
Christ,
4. As one on whom they may rest : Song viii. 5, " Who is this
that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloyed ?" We
are not able to do our own turn, but on him we should rely ;
2 Chron. xvi. 8. " Because thou didst rely on the Lord, he delivered
thine enemies into thine hand." Guilt makes the mind in a fluctat-
ing condition. By coming to Jesus we are stayed, as is a ship at
anchor. In, or from ourselves, we have nothing for justification and
sanctification. God has laid help upon one that is mighty ; the
weary soul is welcome to rest in him. — Such come to him,
5. As one on whom they may cast their burdens : Psalm Iv. 22,
" Cast thy burden on the Lord, and he shall sustain thee." The
soul is heavy laden, while out of Christ : Jesus holds out the ever-
lasting arms, Deut. sxxiii. 27, faith settles down on the.n, casting
the soul's burden upou them ; " Come (says he) with all your
miser)', debts, beggary, and wants, I have shoulders to bear them all ;
I will take on the burden, ye shall get rest." He is content to
marry the poor widow. — Such come to him,
6. As one in whom they may find refuge : Heb. vi. 18, " Who
Lave fled for refuge, to lay hold on the hope set before us." The
law, as the avenger of blood, pursues the soul. Christ is that city
of refuge, where none can have power against them. The gates are
never shut; here is a refuge from the law, from justice, and from
the revenging wrath of God. Here is shelter uuder the wings of
Christ : how willing is he to gather his people, as a hen gathereth
her chickens under her wings ! — Such come to him,
7. As one in whom the soul may at length find rest : Psalm xxxvii.
7, " Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him." The soul out of
Christ is in a restless state, still shifting from one creature to an-
other, not finding content in any. But by coming to Christ, the
soul takes up its eternal rest in him, and he becomes a covering of
the eyes to it. We are like men in a fever, still changing beds ;
like the dove out of the ark, we have no rest, till we come to Christ.
Such come to Christ,
8. As a husband : Matth. xxii. 4, " All things are ready, come
unto the marriage. Tour Maker is content to be your husband,
Psalm xlv. 10. Ministers are sent, as Abraham's servant, to seek
a spouse for Christ. He is willing to match with the worst, the
meanest of you ; he seeks no dowry ; he is the richest, the most ho-
nourable, the most tender and loving husband. — Such come to Christ.
Lastly, A>s a powerful deliverer. Christ stands at onr prison
206 Christ's invitatiox to the
doors, as in Isa. Ixi. 1, " proclaiming liberty to the captive, and the
opening of the prison to them that are bound." All who come to
him, as in 2 Cor. viii. 5, first give their ownselves unto the Lord.
Whosoever will come to Jesus, must give np themselves to him. It
is the work of faith, to give up the soul to Christ, that he may save
it, that he may open the prison doors, take the prey from the mighty,
and deliver the lawful captive.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.
SERMON XXI.
Matth. xi. 28,
Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest.
Having very briefly considered what it is to come to Christ, by
pointing out under what characters we are to come to him, and the
consequent improvement which this coming denotes, in order to ex-
plain the invitation here given more particularly, I go on, as was
proposed,
II. To unfold its import, viewed in the several parts of which the
text consists.
You will accordingly observe, that there is in the text, the cha-
racters invited, — the " labouring and heavy laden ;" there is the
invitation itself, " Come unto me ;" by whom the invitation is given,
by Christ ; and the encouragement proposed to their complying with
it, ** I will give you rest." — All these considered complexly, in our
view, import the following things.
1. That all men naturally are at a distance from God; if it were
not so, they needed not be bid come. This is not a distance of place,
but a relative distance, a distance of opposition, which lies in these
three things.
(1.) The original union between God and man is blown up; they
were united in a covenant of works, whereby they had common
friends and enemies. This was the first marriage-covenant, but
Adam broke it, and so broke oflT from God. Hence God drove him
out of paradise, as a divorced woman out of the house of her hus-
band, spoiled of all her ornaments.
(2.) The hearts of men are naturally turned from God, and are a
mass of enmity against him : Rom. viii. 7, "Because the carnal raind
liABOUEING AND DBA VI" LADEN. 207
is enmity agaiust God, for it is not subject to the law of God, nei-
ther indeed can be." There is a perfect contrariety betwixt the
nature of God and ours. That first sin of Adam has been a little
leaven, that hath quite soured the whole lump of mankind : so that
we are not only away, but far off from the Lord : Eph. ii. 13,
" Without God in the world."
(3.) The soul is still going farther and farther from God in the
whole of our life, while in that state : Heb. iii. 12, " Take heed,
brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in de-
parting from the living God," Every sin is a step farther from God ;
therefore the gospel-call is after them that are running away, that
they may return to the Lord. We are on the road leading to
destruction, and moving very swiftly, as the water, the more it runs,
the farther it is removed from the fountain-head whence it came.
From what has been now observed, we may learn the sinfulness
and misery of our natural state. It is our duty and privilege to be
near God ; to be far from him must then be our sin and misery. No
wonder, then, we be dead, that we can do no good while in this
state of separation from God. God also is departed from us, Jer.
vi. 7. Will not this end in eternal separation, if we return not ? —
The invitation imports,
2. That if you have a mind to meet and unite with God again,
you must meet with him in Christ, and unite with God in him. " All
things (says Jesus) are delivered unto me of my Father. Come
therefore unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest." Would you have peace, pardon, and every
blessing ? you must come to him fbr it. God has condescended so
far to forward the meeting, that he has come down, and dwelt in the
flesh of Christ, there to wfiit sinners, to promote their meeting with
him: 2 Cor. v. 19, " God is in Christ, reconciling the world unto
himself." He needed not to have come so far, but of his own free
grace he has done it ; but he will never come farther. There, then,
and only there, sinners may meet him; God is in him, and is there
to make up the peace through him ; and if you will not come to him,
and meet God there, you shall never see his face in peace. — Here it
may be proper to shew, that this is God's contrivance for re-uniting
with sinners that are by sin far from him ; and that there is no
other way. This appears,
(1.) From plain scripture-testimony: John xiv. 6, "I (said Jesus)
am the way, the truth, and the life ; no man cometh to the Father,
but by me." He is the great Secretary of heaven, by whom alone
you can be brought into the King's presence : Eph. ii. 18, " For
through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father."
The keys of the house of David hang at his girdle.
208 Christ's invitatiox'to the •
(2.) If there were any other way of'coming to God again, it be-
hoved to be one of these two : either, 1st, By satisfying the law ac-
cording to the first covenant ; but that is impossible for us, seeing
we cannot give perfect obedience, nor satisfy justice for the sins we
are guilty of, Gal. iii. 10, often quoted : Or, 2dl>/, in a way of mere
mercy, for mercy's sake. But this cannot be : for, — The justice of
God necessarily requires satisfaction, and God will not dispense his
mercy in prejudice of his justice : Psalm v. 5, " The foolish shall not
stand in thy sight, and thou hatest all the workers of iniquity."
One part of the character of God is, that "he will by no means clear
the guilty," namely, without satisfaction. The law is already made,
fenced with threatenings of eternal wrath, and it is broken ; God's
justice and truth are both, in consequence, engaged to see the threat-
ening accomplished. — Again, God's last will and testament is already
made, and sealed by the death of his Son, but there is no such way
proposed in it ; no mercy but in Christ; yea, God has declared they
shall have no mercy that come not to Christ : Matth. xvi. 16, " He
that believeth, and is baptised, shall be saved; but he that believeth
not shall be damned." — Moreover, the very providing of this way
makes it evident that there is no other. Were there another way
of bringing sinners to God, would not an infinitely wise God, and a
loving Father, have fetched a compass, and dispensed with the blood
of his own Son ? If any could have been spared, it might have been
expected that He would ; but, Rom. viii. 32, " God spared not his
own Son, but delivered him up to the death for us all." — Finally,
ever' since~ Adam was driven out of paradise, this has been held
forth as the only way, as in the first promise. Abel's acceptance
was by it, Heb. si. 4. Jesus is the only propitiatory, where God
speaks in mercy to sinners.
HereH might also shew, what a suitable contrivance this is, for
the purpose of uniting God and sinners. — It is most suitable : For,
1. It is suited to God's honour, the glory of his divine perfec-
tions : Heb. ii. 10, " For it became him, for whom are all things,
and by whom are all things, in bringing many souls unto glory, to
make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."
God, with the safety of his honour, may be reconciled to the worst
of sinners in Christ ; yea, the glory of all his perfections shines forth
most illustriously in the mystery of Christ; there would be no safe-
ty in this plan, if it were not so.
2. It is suited to the comfort of the sinner, the contrivance being
such, that it answers all the necessities of the sinner: Rev. iii. 18,
" I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest
be rich, and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that
liABOUHING AND HEAVT LADEX. 209
the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and anoint thine eyes
with eye-salve, that thou mayest see." So that the soul may confi-
dently come to God by Christ, who can do such things for it.
Let us more particularly consider this contrivance of the sinner's
coming to, and uniting with God, by coming to Christ. — With this
view, we observe,
1. That Christ is a substantial Mediator, partaking of both na-
tures. He is the Father's fellow, yet bone of our bone. The worst
of men are sibber* to heaven than the fallen angels ; for " Jesus
took not upon him the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham."
Here is the true ladder, the foot of which, his humanity, is set on
earth, the top of which, his divinity, reaching to heaven. Gen. xxviii.
above which the Lord stands making the covenant. If it consisted
with the honour of God, for the divine nature to take into personal
union with itself the human nature, it is equally consistent to take
men into mystical union with the divine i>ersou of our Immanuel,
upon this foundation. And when sinners see the first, they are en-
couraged to look for the second in Christ.
1. In Christ justice is satisfied: He said, "It is finished." In
him God has presented to him a sacrifice to offended justice, a satis-
faction to his law. God exacted, and he answered, till the utmost
farthing was paid : Gal. iii. 13, "Christ hath redeemed us from the
curse of the law, having been made a curse for us ;" and he got up
the discharge. The sinner has in him a defence against justice, an
everlasting righteousness, in which God may behold the sinner, and
be well pleased with him, and the sinner may see God, and yet live.
Mercy has a free vent in him, and pardons run freely through his
blood. We observe,
3. That the covenant is made with him in his blood ; and all the
promises of the covenant, all the benefits of it, sinners have at the
second hand, Gal. iii. 16. God has laid up all in him : 2 Cor. i. 20,
" For all the promises of God in him, are yea, and in him amen, to
the glory of God by us." Sinners are to come to him for saving
blessings, and to take them from him as the purchase of his blood :
John V. 22. Our righteousness, pardon, peace, are all in him, " who
of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and re-
demption," 1 Cor. i. 30. Grace is in him, "for of his fulness have
all we received, and grace for grace," John i. 16. Glory is from
him : " The Lord will give grace and glory."
4. By this means, the grace of God is exalted. It is to the praise
of the glory of his grace. This is necessary for the glory of God in
the second covenant, and for the sinner's comfort, which conld not
be promoted nor secured except in this way.
* Move nearly related.
210 chuist's invitation to the
5. Here the matter is made sure ; God is sure of the sinner, and
the sinner sure of his union with God : such as are built upon this
foundation, made raerabers of him, Jesus will lose none of them.
From what has been stated, I would infer,
(1.) That all who come to Christ shall come back to the state of
union and communion with God, through him who knits heaven and
earth, rent asunder by Adam's sin. Let your sins be never so great,
these shall not stop it, for the cry of his blood is louder in God's
ears, than that of our sins. — Infer,
(2.) That they that never come to Christ, shall never see God in
mercy. Meet they may, but it will be a sad meeting, a meeting as
of a malefactor with an inexorable judge, dry stubble with consum-
ing fire, where our leaf will be as rottenness, and the blossoms of
Christless duties go up as dust.
Thus you see there is but one door to God; but what if it be shut?
No ; it is open. For the invitation imports,
3. That sinners are welcome to come to Christ, that they may
unite with God by him ; Christ is ready to receive you on your com-
ing. — As to this, consider,
-«~ (1.) Christ has made a long journey to meet with sinners. What
brought him out of the Father's bosom into the world, but to bring
sinners to himself, and so back to God again? "What was the errand
of the great Shepherd, but to seek them, even them that were stray-
ing on the mountains of vanity ? Luke xix, " For the Son of man is
come to seek and to save that which was lost." — Consider,
(2.) How dear it cost him to purchase your union with God by
him, 2 Cor. v. 21, "For he hath made him, who knew no sin, to be
sin for us, that we miglit be made the righteousness of God in him."
Though ye should little value his blood, he will not undervalue it
himself; for sinners it was shed, and will he not welcome the re-
ward of it, the fruit of the travail of his soul ? Why were his arms
stretched on a cross, and his side pierced through, but that he might
open up our way to God ? — Consider,
•- (3.) How near lost sinners lay to Christ's heart, that he would re-
fuse no hardship, in order that he might see the travail of his soul.
His love was ancient love ; from eternity, " his delights were with
the sons of men," Prov. viii. 31; see his choice, Heb. xii. 2; and
therefore, when he was to sufi^er, his heart was upon the work : Luke
xii. 60, "I have a baptism to be baptised with, and how am I strait-
ened till it be accomplished ?" Jacob's love to Rachel shewed itself
by his long service for her, which seemed to him but a few days. —
Consider,
(4.) Why has lie set up a ministry in the world, but to bring sin-
LABOURING AND UEAVT LADEN. 211
ners to himself? Matth. xxii. 3, "And he sent forth his servants
to call them that were bidden to the wedding." He would not have
left ambassadors to treat with sinners in his name, if he were not
willing to receive them, nay, were he not anxious that they should
come to him. — Consider,
_ (5.) He heartily invites you to come to him ; as in the text ;
in Isa. Iv. 1, "Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the
waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat, yea,
come, buy wine and milk, without money and without price ;" and in
Rev. ill. 2, " Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear
my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with
him, and he with me." These invitations look not like one who
cares not whether sinners come or not, far less like one who is not
willing to receive them. Consider,
- (6.) The earnestness of the invitations ; he deals with sinners as
one that will not take a nay-say : Luke xiv. 23, " Compel them to
come in, that my house may be filled," He not only knocks, bat
stands and knocks : strives with sinners by his word, his providences,
and the motions of his Spirit; answers their objections, Isa. Iv. 1,
and downwards ; while none can refuse, but those that rush wilfully
on in their ruin ; as in Ezek. xxxiii. 11, " As I live, saith the Lord
Grod, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the
wicked turn from his way and live : turn ye, turn ye, from your
wicked ways, for why will ye die, house of Israel ?" Consider,
(7.) How he complains of these that will not come : John v. 40,
" And ye will not come unto me, that ye might have life." " He
speaks as one that has been working in vain : Isa. xlix. 4, " I have
laboured in vain, I have spent ray strength for nought and in vain."
He complains of Jerusalem, Matth. xxiii. 37 ; yea, he weeps over
obstinate incorrigible sinners ; Luke xix. 41, 42, " And when he
came near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, if thou hadst
known, even thou at least in this thy day, the things which belong
unto thy peace ; but now they are hid from thine eyes." Sure he
has lost no bowels of compassion by going to heaven; they flow out
as freely and tenderly as ever. — Consider,
(8.) He commands sinners to come to him. The invitations are
all commands ; they are most peremptory : 1 John iii. 23, " This is
his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son,
Jesus Christ." If you do it not, you can do nothing that will please
him : John vi. 29, " Jesus answered and said unto them, this is the
work of God, that ye believe on hira whom he hath sent." And he
leaves it on us with the most dreadful certification : Mark xvi. 16,
" He that believeth not shall be damned." And hence it follows,
212 Christ's invitation to the
that the hearers of the gospel who perish, are inexcusable ; the
door was open, but they would not enter in. — The invitation imports,
4. That the worst of sinners are welcome to Christ : however great
their burden of sin and misery be, it is no hinderance in their way
to come to Christ. Where all are invited, none are excluded. But
upon this I do not enlarge here, having insisted upon it at some
length, when discoursing upon Joel iii. 10. All that I shall just
now observe is, that this consideration shall shame you out of your
slighting of Christ, and strike at the root of that bitter despair which
lodges in the breasts of many, who are yet far enough from absolute
despair of their case. — The invitation imports,
5. That Christ allows sinners to come to him, rather on account
of the desperateness of their case, than otherwise : " Come unto me,
all ye that labour, and are heavy laden." As if he had said, " Ye
have been labouring, and yet can get no rest ; let that engage you
to come to me. Sit down and consider your case, if nothing else
will prevail with you, let the desperateness of your disease bring
you to the great Physician." You are cordially welcome to do so.
For, consider,
(1.) That it is for this very end God discovers the worst of a
man's case to himself, drives them to their wit's end, in order that
he may begin to be wise : Hos. ii. 6, " Therefoi'e, behold I will
hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not
find her paths." Yer. 7, " Then shall she say, I will go and return
to my first husband, for then was it better with me than now." —
Consider,
(2.) That Christ has made ofi'ers of himself to those in the worst
of cases : Isa. i. 18, " Come now, and let us reason together, saith
the Lord ; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as
snow : though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
And he holds out himself as a Saviour in particular for these, Rev.
iii. 17, 18 ; Isa. Iv. 7. — Consider,
(3.) Such have been made welcome, who have employed such argu-
ments with him : Psalm xxv. 11, " For thy name's sake, pardon
mine iniquity, for it is very great ;" and so also in the case of the
Canaanitish woman with Jesus, Matth. xv. 26, — 28. Consider,
(4.) He has the more glory, the more desperate that the case is j
none see the stars so well as from the bottom of a deep pit. Ilis
power is the greater to pardon, his grace to overcome, when thei'e is
most occasion for these being displayed ; it is the worst of diseases,
that do best proclaim the Physician's skill, when a cure is eftected.
From what has been just now observed, we may see and admire
the divine condescension, that Christ is so willing to take the sinner
LABOURING AND HEAVY LADEN. 213
in, when he sees himself cast out at all doors, can get rest nowhere
else ; that he will give him rest, and embrace the sinner, when he
sees he can do no better, when he can make no other shift. — Hence
also learn, how to make an excellent use of the badness of your case,
even to take up these stumbling-blocks, and break up heaven's
door with them ; to make a virtue of necessity, and the more that
the burden presseth, the more readily to go to Christ with it. True,
it is never right coming to Christ, which sense of misery alone i)ro-
duceth ; but love may thus crown a work which terror begins, and
which when from the Holy Spirit it leads to. In a word, you are
absolutely inexcusable, that come not to Christ, be your case what
it will.
I now go on to what was proposed,
IV. Which was, to explain the nature of that rest which Christ
graciously promises, and which he actually gives to such labouring
and heavy-laden sinners, as truly come to him. And here it must
be observed, that there is a rest which they may have in Christ ; a
rest here, and a rest hereafter. In this life there is a fourfold rest
to be had in Christ. — A rest,
1. In respect of sin. The rest Christ gives from sin is twofold.
(1.) A rest from the guilt of sin. Guilt is a poison, infecting the
conscience, which makes it so to smart that it can get no rest, as in
the case of Cain and Judas, and also with those, Acts ii. 37, " They
were pricked in their hearts." This, when it festers and becomes
immoveable, is the gnawing worm in hell. Christ gives rest from it,
Heb. ix. 4 ; his blood purges the conscience from dead works. The
conscience, when like the raging sea, is stilled by him : Isa. Ivii. 18,
19, " I have seen his ways, and will heal hira ; I will lead him also,
and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners. I create the
fruit of the lips : Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that
is near, saith the Lord ; and I will heal him." The soul finds this
rest in the wounds of Christ, for, " by his stripes we are healed,"
Isa. liii. 5. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's own Son, cleanses from
all sin. The soul diped in this fountain is washed from this poison,
and is delivered from this sting of guilt. — There is rest,
(2.) From the reigning power of sin : Rom. vi. 14, " For sin shall
not have dominion over you." Sin on the throne makes a confused
restless soul, like the raging sea, continually casting out mire and
dirt. Christ, by his Spirit's efficacy, turns sin off the throne, and re-
stores rest to the soul. He casts down these Egyptian taskmasters,
and thus the soul enters into his rest : Heb. iv. 10, " For he that is
entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as
God did from his." In the day of the soul's coming to Christ, he
214 chbist's invitatiox to the
acts like a King, setting all in order in the kingdom, that was a
mere heap of confusion before his accession to the throne. — There is
in Christ,
2. Rest from the law ; not that he makes them lawless, but that
he takes off them the insupportable yoke of the law, and gives them
ease. — He does so,
(1.) From the burden of law-duties, which are exacted in all per-
fection, under the pain of the curse, while no strength is furnished
wherewith to fulfil them : Rom vii. 4, " Wherefore, my brethren
ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ." This is
the yoke on all men's necks naturally ; Christ put his neck in this
yoke, and bare it, satisfying the law's demands completely, and so
frees all that come to him from this service. Christ carries his
people without the dominions of the law. — He does so,
(2.) From the curse of the law : Gral. iii. 13. " Christ hath re-
deemed us from the curse of the law, having been made a curse for
us." Rom. viii. 1. " There is, therefore, now no condemnation to
them that are in Christ Jesus." These that are come to him, he
takes from off them that curse which they are under, and gives them
his blessing, which he hath merited ; carries them from Mount Sinai
to Mount Zion, where they hear the blood of Jesus speaking peace,
silencing the demand of vengeance, and affording a refuge for the
oppressed. — There is in Christ,
3. Rest from that weary labour in which persons are engaged
when in quest of happiness, leading the souls to the enjoyment of
God : Psalm cxvi. 7, " Return unto thy rest, my soul ! for the
Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee." The soul, restless in seek-
ing happiness among the creatures, he leads to God, the fountain
of all perfection, opening their eyes, as he did Hagar's, to see the
well, and bringing them into the enjoyment of all good in him,
uniting the soul with himself; where,
(1.) The soul finds a rest of satisfaction from Christ, which it can
find in no other quarter whatever, for the soul finds a rest of satis-
faction from him, when by faith it is set on the breasts of his conso-
lations. In these there is an object adequate to all the desires of
the soul answering all its needs; thus, Prov. xiv. 14, "A good
man shall be satisfied from himself." There is the triumph of faith
in the enjoyment of God: Phil. iv. 18. "But I have all and
abound." — The soul finds,
(2.) A rest in him of settled abode, insomuch, that the soul goes
not abroad as it was wont, among the creatures for satisfaction ;
John iv. 14, " But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give
him, shall never thirst ; but the water that I shall give him, shall
liABOlTPaNG AND HEAVY LADEN. 215
be in him a well of water springing up to everlasting life." Christ
becomes precious to the soul. Like the released lady, that did not
so much as look on or take notice of Cyrus, notwithstanding of the
noble part he acted, but on him (her husband) who said, he would
redeem her with his own life. " The kingdom of heaven is like unto
a treasure hid in a field, the which when a man hath found, he hid-
eth, and for joy thereof, goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buy-
eth that field."— There is in Christ,
4. Rest in respect of troubles. Christ gives rest,
(1.) From troubles in the world, now and then, when he sees
meet : Psalm xxxiv. 19, " Many are the afilictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivereth them out of them all." Zion's God reigneth,
be on the throne who will ; and when he speaks peace, neither devils
nor men can create his people trouble ; for. Lam. iii. 37, " Who is
he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord comraandeth it
not ? There is no such security from trouble as the godly have, but
that is from heaven, and not from earth. Therefore,
(2.) Christ gives rest in trouble : John xvi. 33, *' These things I
have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the
world ye shall have tribulation ; but be of good cheer, I have over-
come the world." You may, nay, you shall, meet with troubles, but
be can make you get sweet rest in your souls ; even when you are
on a bed of thorns as to the outward man, he can give his people
a sweet rest even in troubles. How can these things be ? may
some say. — In answer,
[1.] Christ gives his people in trouble an inward rest, that is an
inward tranquillity of miud in midst of trouble : Psalm iii. 1 — 5,
" Lord ! how are they increased that trouble me ? many are they
that rise against me. Many there be which say of my soul. There
is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, Lord, art a shield
for me ; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the
Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
I laid me down and slept ; I awaked, for the Lord sustained me."
Christ can make the believer as a vessel of water tossed here and
there, yet not jumbled. There was a greater calm with the three
children in the furnace, than with the king iu the palace, Dan. iii.
24. Fear may be on every side when there is none in the centre,
because Christ makes a blessed calm in their hearts. — Christ gives
in trouble,
[2.] A rest of contentment : " I have learned, (says Paul, Phil. iv.
11,) in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." This is
not only the duty, but the privilege of believers. If the lot of the
godly be not brought up to their spirit, Christ will bring their spirit
216 Christ's invitation to the
down to their lot ; and there must needs be rest there, where the
spirit of the man and his lot meet in one : Psalm xxxvii. 19, " They
shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine
they shall be satisfied." — Then follows,
[3.] A rest of satisfaction in the enjoyment of better things.
"What though the world hath a bitter taste in their mouths ? Christ
can hold a cup of consolation to them in that very instant, the sweet-
ness of which will master the bitterness of the other : " Your sorrow
(says he, John xvi. 20,)_shall be turned into joy." •' Our rejoicing (says
Paul, 2 Cor. i. 12,) is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in
simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the
grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world." They
are not indeed stocks, to be unmoved with troubles, but their sor-
row is so drowned in spiritual joy, that it is " but as sorrow," 2 Cor.
vi. 10, " As sorrowful yet always rejoicing ;" even as the joy of the
wicked is " but as joy." Troubles may raise a mutiny of lusts with-
in, but the peace of God quells them : "It keeps their hearts and
minds through Jesus Christ," — Christ gives,
(4.) A rest in confidence of a blessed issue : 2 Tim. i. 12, " For
the which cause I also suff'er these things ; nevertheless, I am not
ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded, that
he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against
that day." The soul in Christ has the promise to rest on ; and how-
ever dark a side the cloud may have, faith will see through it ;
though they may sink deep, they will never drown, who have a pro-
mise to bear them up. — Thus, you see, they rest in Christ in trouble ;
and this rest is a most secure rest, where people may rest confident-
ly : Isa. xxvi. 3, " Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind
is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee." The wicked may
have rest, but not with God's good will ; therefore the more rest,
the more dangerous is their case : 1 Thess. v. 3, " For when they
shall say, peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon
them, as a woman in travail, and they shall not escape." But there
is perfect security in Christ, and that iu the worst of times, Song iii.
7, 8. Again, it is a rest that is so rooted, that the soul can never
be deprived of it : Isa. xxxii. 17, " And the work of righteousness
shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness, and assur-
ance for ever." How soon is the rest of the wicked broken, their can-
dle put out ! But this, although it may meet with some disturbance
by temptations, as the clouds may go over the sun, yet it shall be as
sore as the sun fixed in the firmament; it will be proof against the*
disturbances of the world, against the temptations and accusations of
the devil ; yea, against the demands of justice, and the threatenings
LABOURING AND HBAVy LADEN. 21?
of the law. Then in the life to come, he will give them all complete
rest who come to him : Heb. iv. 9, " There remaineth, therefore, a
rest for the people of God." He will give their bodies rest in the
grave, Isa. Ivii. 2, and both soul and body rest in heaven hereafter ;
and that is a rest beyond expression.
If it should be inquired, Who is it that gives this rest ? this is
answered in our text ; Christ says to such labouring and heavy-la-
den sinners, and he is able to make good his word, " I will give you
rest." The gift of this rest is his prerogative ; they that obtain it
must get it out of his hands. — For illustrating and confirming this,
consider,
1. That all creatures cannot give rest to a restless soul. Not any
thing in them, or the whole of what can be afforded from them, can
give it : Eccl. i. 2, " Yauity of vanities, saith the preacher, vanity
of vanities ; all is vanity." Men, the best of men, cannot do it.
Ministers may be directed to speak a word in season, but the Lord
himself can only make that word effectual, 2 Sam. xii. 13, compared
with Psalm li. Nay, angels cannot do it, Exod. xxxiii. 2, compare
ver. 15. It requires a creating power : Isa. Ivii. 18, " I have seen
his ways, and I will heal him." — Consider,
2. There can be no rest to the soul without returning to a recon-
ciled God, for it is impossible the soul can find true rest elsewhere ;
and there is no returning to God but by Christ : John xiv. 6, " I am
the way, the truth, and the life ; no man cometh unto the Father,
but by me." He is the only ladder by which the soul can ascend to
heaven.
3. Christ is the great Lord Treasurer of heaven. The fulness of
power is lodged in him : Matth. xxviii. 18, " All power is given unto
me in heaven and in earth." There is nothing that any can get
from heaven in the way of spiritual favour, but what comes through
his hands : John v. 22, '* The Father judgeth no man, but hath com-
mitted all judgment unto the Son." Jesus also hath the keys of
hell and death. Rev. i. 18.
4. He is the store-house, where the treasure is laid up, and out of
which all needful supplies come : John i. 16, " And of his fulness
have all we received, and grace for grace." — Consider,
6. The glorious types illustrating this: Joseph, Gen. xli. 40 — 44;
Joshua, that brought the people to the rest in Canaan. — Consider,
6. That high character which he sustains : Heb. xii. 2. He is the
" author and finisher of our faith." — Consider,
Lastly, It is reasonable it should be so, he hath purchased this
rest with his blood : and therefore there is an high propriety that he
should be the giver, the dispenser of this glorious blessing. — In the
Vol. IX. P
218 Christ's invitation to the
IV. And last place, it was i)roposed to make some practical ini-
provemeut of the whole. To enlarge here, however, would be impro-
per, as a practical improvement has been made of the several parts
of the subject all along, as they have been considered. At the same
time, your attention may be called to the following brief hints.
From what has been observed, you have had set before you,
1. A melancholy picture of the miserable state of all mankind by
nature ; — they are "labouring and heavy laden," they have various
burdens lying on them, the burden of sin, the burden of the law, a
burden often of fears, of terrors, arising from the former; and while
thus heavy laden, they are labouring, striving to ease themselves of
their burdens, struggling hard to get rid of them, while after all
they are only labouring in vain in the fire, wearying themselves
in the greatness of their way ; are spending their " money for that
which is not bread, and their labour for that which satisfieth not,"
instead of obtaining the least ease or quiet. Their situation is in
this way rendered more and more grievous and distressing, their
burdens become heavier than they can bear, and their labour is ren-
dered quite intolerable.
2. We may learn a special ingredient in the misery of those that
thus labour, and are heavy laden. They are under the law as a
covenant of works, which requires the full tale of brick, without af-
fording the least straw with which to make them. They are under
most grievous taskmasters, who are constantly saying. Give, give,
while they are unable to work ; and, what is still worse, they are
without Christ, without God, and so without hope in the world. It
is Jesus only that can help them ; while afar from him, and enemies
to him, they have no other prospect than that of perishing eternally.
—But,
3. There is hence opened up a door of hope, even for such as are
labouring and heavy laden, whatever their characters or conditions
have been, or at present may be, though they may have long labour-
ed in vain, and spent their strength for nought. However heavy,
numerous, and continued these burdens may be, though in their view
their condition may not only be distressing and deplorable, but even
almost desperate, there is here a door of hope opened up to such.
On Jesus is their help laid ; in and from him it is to bo found. He is
saying, " Look unto me, and be ye saved, all ye ends of the earth ; for
I am God, and besides me there is no Saviour." " Hearken ye stout-
hearted, and ye that are far from righteousness." Nay, he speaks
to sucli expressly by name ; without excluding a single individual,
whatever his present character or condition be, his gracious words
are, " Come unto me, all ye" the whole of you, and each of you
LABOURINft AND HEAVY LADEN. 219
" that labour, and are heavy laden, and," in coming to me without
peradventure, " you shall have rest."
In the last place, there is pointed out to us what is the indispen-
sable duty of all the hearers of the gospel. It is to come to Jesus ;
to comply with the gracious call and invitation here given. It is
true, this in the text is addressed only to the labouring and heavy
laden ; but is not this a character common to all the hearers of the
gospel ? Are not all more or less in this situation ? A situation so
far from being desirable, that it is exceedingly uncomfortable. If
such, then, would consult their present or eternal welfare ; if they
would hearken to the gracious call, the kind invitation which Christ
gives them; if they would obey heaven's great command, it must be
admitted, that it is their bounden duty to come to Jesus, that is, to
believe on him ; for it is only in the exercise of faith as coming to
him, and according as faith is in exercise, that any can be freed from
their heavy burdens, or be released from that vain and irksome la-
bour iu which they are engaged.
Let all such, then, be exhorted to cease from the labour which sa-
tisfieth not ; from these fruitless attempts which they are engaged
in to rid themselves from these heavy burdens that they are weighed
down under. Be exhorted to come to Jesus, cast all your burdens
and your cares over upon him. He is able and willing to sustain
both you and your burdens, whatever they are. Come to him, then,
as you are, as labouring and heavy laden. There is the most cordial
welcome afforded to all such ; the greater your burdens, and the
more pressing your necessities are, in the way of putting your case
unreservedly in his hand, and under his management, you may in
due time assuredly expect a comfortable issue. He hates putting
away. Whosoever will may come, and him that cometh unto him,
he will in no wise cast out. " Come unto me" says he, " all ye that
labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
p2
220 CHRIST, A REFRESHFUL SHADOW
CHRIST, A REFRESHFUL SHADOW IN A WEARY LAND.*
SERMON XXII.
IsA. xxxii. 2,
And a man shall he — as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
This prophecy relates to Hezekiah, to his happy and pious govern-
ment; but doubtless a greater than Hezekiah is here, and that is
Jesus Christ, the king of saints. This world, before sin entered into
it, had always a clear sky; there was not an air of pestilential wind
to blow upon them that were travelling through it to Immanuel's
land. But since sin entered, the case is quite altered ; strong winds
of trouble blow, tempests of heavy rain fall ; there are inundations
in the world, as the word is ; it is a dry place ; in respect of com-
fort, it is a weary land ; but though a weary land, it is not altoge-
ther without some comforting prospect. A shadow and shelter is pre-
pared for the weary traveller; for it is promised in the text, "And
a man shall be — as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." In
which words, there is observable,
1. What the world is spiritually to Christ's subjects, the people
of God, a " weary land ;" that is, a thirsty land, a scorching coun-
try, a stormy place, with many inconveniences, which make travel-
lers weary and faint. It is a wilderness, wherein there is no water,
but a vehement heat, which makes people weary, and long for shel-
ter and refreshment. — Observe,
2. What Christ is to them there, "as the shadow of a great rock."
How pleasant is a shelter in such a place to the weary traveller !
Such is Christ to his people in the world. There are many shelters,
there is even the shadow of created comforts ; but, alas ! they are
unsubstantial shades ; they are as the shade of a tree, through
which the sun, wind, or rain beats. But Christ is as the shadow of
a rock, which none of these can pierce ; and as a great rock, which
gives a large shelter ; so that there they have a perfect repose, blow
what weather will. — The text affords us this
Doctrine, That Christ is a suitable shade, and a refreshing shel-
ter, for those to whom the world is a weary land.
For illustrating this doctrine, it is proposed,
I. To show what is implied in the text.
II. To inquire in what respects the world is a weary land to the
saints.
• This and tbe following discourse, delivered August, 1715.
IN A WEARY LAND. 221
III. To point out in what respects Jesus Christ is a suitable and
refreshful shade and shelter to them in a weary land.
IV. Conclude with a practical improvement.
We are, then,
I. To shew what is implied in the text, — It imports,
1. That the world is not our dwelling-j)lace, but the place through
which we are travelling. This world is but a thoroughfare to an-
other, where we come in at our birth, walk through in our life, and
go out again at death. Many imagine but two fixed points in the
universe, the higher and the lower, and that bodies are revolving in
continual motion towards one or other of these, heaven and hell.
The godly are going out of the world in affection. Song iv. 8 ; the
wicked, in action, though not in affection ; none are abiding. — It
imports,
2. That there is no correcting of the ill air of the world ; a shade
and shelter may be had in it, but to reduce it to its first tempera-
ture, that it may indeed be a pleasant land, is not promised, and
therefore cannot be expected. The winds of trouble must blow in it
while there are such treasures of sin in it to bring them forth.
While our provocations against heaven gather into clouds, there
will be tempestuous rains of calamities in it. The godly may lay
their account with this : John xvi. 33, " In the world ye shall have
tribulation." And the carnal world need not lay their account by
it : Job. V. 7, " Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly up-
wai'ds." — It imports,
3. That, foul or fair weather, we must set out our heads, and
through the weary land we must go ; there is no other way but to
take our share of what may be going on in it. He that would stop
till the sky clear, may with as good reason sit down and wait till
the water run out, that he may get through the river dry shod ; the
last may be sooner expected than the first. — It imports,
4. That the travelling through it will try our strength ; take
what way we will, we cannot miss sometimes to be entangled in the
wilderness, and to be wearied in it, though the heart were so glued
to it, as never to be wearied of it. The winds, the rains, and the
storms, that blow there, will bear heavy on us, so as that we will
need a resting, a refreshing place. — It imports,
5. That nothing less than the great rock will be a sufficient shel-
ter in this weary land ; no solid peace or repose out of Christ, more
than there was out of the ark when the deluge came on. The winds
and storms will blow down, or blow through, all other shades which
men make to themselves in the weary land : Isa. xxviii. 17, " And
the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall
222 CHRIST, A REFRESHFUL SHADOW
overflow the hiding-place." Flying from one mischief, while they
flee not to the great rock, they shall fall into another : Amos v. 19,
" As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him ; or went in-
to the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit
him." — It imports,
6, That Christ is a sufficient shelter, howeyer weary a land the
world be : John xvi. 33, " These things I have spoken unto you,
that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribu-
lation ; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Be the
storms or heats as great as they will, he is as a great rock ; and from
him, though the troubles may be great, yet they may expect a great
salvation. They will always be safe who are under the shade of the
great rock, through which neither heats nor storms can pierce : Psalm
xciii. 4, " The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters;
yea, than the mighty waves of the sea." It is impossible they can be
greater than they have been ; nay, they can never be so great as
once they were, when from heaven, earth, and hell, at once they
blew upon Christ. Yet he bore them, bore up under them, bore
them off his people ; even as the heats and rains fall on the rock,
while those under its shade are kept safe. — It imports.
Lastly, That the weary world makes Christ more precious to sin-
ners than otherwise he would be. If the traveller were not scorched
with heat, or tossed with tempests, he would never look near the
rock. Ease in the world, is the neck-break of many. But it is well
for the church and people of God, that the world is a step-dame to
them ; were they better entertained in the world's house, they would
more seldom knock at God's door. — We now proceed,
II. To shew in what respects the world to the people of God is a
weary land. — It is so, because,
1. The wind blowing in the traveller's face makes any land a
weary land to him ; and in this world, there is a wind of ordinary
trouble, that is seldom if ever down, but blowing especially in the
face of the travellers to Zion ; Matth. vi. 34, " Sufficient unto the
day is the evil thereof." Sometimes it blows away the man's ease,
blasts his reputation, blows away his worldly goods, his health, his
relations, &c. It blows so that he is sure of nothing he has, unless
it be Christ in him, the hope of glory. And the travellers must lay
their account with this. This cannot fail but make the world a
weary land. But the soul may find a calm under Christ's shadow,
as Hannah did, when she poured out her soul before the Lord, 1 Sam.
i. 16. Praying in faith is a great ease to a heart uneasy under
trouble: Matth. vii. 7, ''Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and
ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Christ is
IN A WEARY LAND. 223
an anchor that can keep the soul sure and steadfast amidst all the
tempests of a weary world. He has an open ear to their just com-
plaints, and a soft hand, under which the uneasy heart and head
may repose themselves. — It is a weary land,
2. Because sometimes there ai'e terrible tempests of common cala-
mity, threatening to sweep all away before them, blowing in this world,
which makes it a weary land. There are no tempests in the upper
region, but in the lower region, where we are, they are very fre-
quent, whereby nations, churches, and families, are thrown into the
utmost confusion. David speaks of such, Psalm Iv. 8, " I would,"
says he, " hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest."
These often make a most miserable face on the places where they
blow, and make the land a weary land indeed. But even in this
case, there is found peace under Christ's shadow : John xvi. 33,
" These things I have spoken unto you, that ye might have peace ; in
the world ye shall have tribulation ; but be of good cheer, I have over-
come the world." In him believers have a peace the world cannot
rob them of. He has hiding-places for his people, where he will
hide them, if not from trouble, yet from the evil, the sting, and hurt
of it: 1 Pet. iii. 13, " And who is he that will harm you, if ye be
followers of that which is good ?" He will hide them, if not under
heaven, yet in heaven; and they have no reason to complain who
get there, though in a fiery chariot. Our Lord holds the winds in his
hand, and they can blow no more terribly than he permits them ;
so that in the worst of times it is good news ; Isa. Hi. 7, " How
beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good
tidings, that publishetli peace, that bringeth good tidings of good,
that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth !" And these that make
Christ their friend, may bid defiance to all their enemies. — The
world is a weary land,
3. Because the wild beasts in it make it a weary land. The
scripture calls wicked men so, especially in their opposition to, and
treatment of the people of God, and the world is the place of their
abode : Song iv. 8, " Come with me, my spouse, from the lions' dens,
from the mountains of the leopards." And therefore, while they
are travelling through the wilderness, they are often j)ut to that
prayer. Psalm Ixxiv. 19, 20, " deliver not the soul of thy turtle-
dove unto the multitude of the wicked, forget not the congregation
of thy poor for ever, have respect unto the covenant, for the dark
places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty." No won-
der the world be a weary land to the people of God ; for the wild
beasts are often heard roaring there; Psalm Ixxiv. 4, " Thiue ene-
mies roar in the midst of thy congregation, they set up their ensigns
224 CHRIST, A KEFRESHPUL SHADOW
for signs ;" threatening to devour, and to swallow up, and to make
the name of Israel no more to be remembered ; as the Egyptian
beast did, Exod. xv. 9. But while these roarings make the hearts
of God's people to tremble, the voice of the Lion of the tribe of
Judah, terrible to his enemies, is comfortable to his friends : Psalm
xciii. 4, " The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many
waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea." This moderated
the roarings of the Assyrian in Hezekiah's days, Isa. xxxvii. 22.
These beasts are often heard yelling in the world : Jer. ii. 15, *' The
young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land
waste." Dreadful is that yelling they make when they are got
together, uttering their blasphemies, curses, and reproaches, against
God, his people, and his cause in the world, as if hell was opened,
which is the den of the great lion. This makes the world a weary
land, and it is most heavy and distressing to the people of God :
Psalm Ixxiv. 10, " God, how long shall the adversary reproach?
shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever ?" Bnt there is re-
freshment and shelter under Christ's shadow in this case, while the
soul sees that he will close up at length the blasphemous mouths, and
bring them to the city above, where they shall hear no more of any
such thing. But again, these beasts are often seen tearing and de-
vouring in the world the men that are more righteous than they :
Hab. i. 13, " Wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacher-
ously, and boldest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man
that is more righteous than he ?" God has his times wherein he
lets them loose, to make havoc of the church, and shed the blood of his
saints. But under Christ's shadow there is refreshing in this case.
He can break out the teeth of the great lions with a touch ; and
while they are at the worst, he says to his people, " Fear not them
which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul," Matth. x. 28.
It was the way they treated Christ himself when in the world, but he
rose upon them to their confusion ; and so shall the church in like
manner, and according to their measure. Psalm xxii. 12, 13.
4. Darkness causeth weariness, and a dark land will always be a
weary land to the children of light. The world at best is but a dark
land, in comparison with heaven : 1 Cor. xiii. 12, " For now we see
through a glass darkly, but then face to face." But sometimes the
darkness increaseth mightily. We have had a long sunshine of
gospel-light, but men have loved darkness rather than light. And
now God is rising up to plead with the generation ; and we may
say, with Jeremiah, " Woe unto us, for the day goeth away, for the
shadows of the evening are stretched out." Do ye not see the dark-
ness come, and coming on the land more and more ? There is a
IN A -WEARY LAND. 225
dark cloud already cast over the ministers and professors of Scot-
land ; so that they have now been like a company of travellers in a
mist ; some crying this, and others that is the way ; while many are
at a stand, not knowing what hand to turn to. Hence there are an
alienation of affection, divisions, and separations, amongst those
who all profess that they are travelling to the same place, but can-
not agree about the way. Terrible this at all times, but now espe-
cially, when the common enemy is at our gates, which should make
us cease from these feuds, as it is said the beasts did, hare, dog,
sheep, cat and rat, in the inundation of the Severn, Some pride
themselves in these, but they will make the world a weary land to
those that are led by the Spirit of truth and peace: Judges v. 16,
" Why abidest thou among the sheep-folds, to hear the bleating of
the flocks ? For the divisions of Reuben there were great search-
ings of heart."
What shall we do in such a case ? Get in under Christ's shadow,
by faith, renouncing our own understanding, passions, and pre-
judices, and giving up ourselves singly to his guiding, and his sha-
dow will be as the shadow on the dial, pointing to the hour of the
day : Psalm xxv. 9, " The meek will he guide in judgment, and the
meek will he teach his way." In the greatest darkness of the world,
there is a light, even " a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto
we do well that we take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark
place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in our hearts,"
2 Pet. i. 19. This oracle of heaven is never struck dumb; but at
any time men's corruptions may make them both blind and deaf to
its warnings. But again, the bushel is preparing to put the candle
under, which God has lighted to give light to his church, if mercy
prevent it not ; and then people that have made themselves so many
silent Sabbaths, will get them made to their hands ; and they that
have been wearying for the day, may come to get a weary fill of it.
Preachers driven into corners, closed kirk-doors, and the songs of
the temple turned into bowlings, will make a dark day. And now,
if God do not mercifully interpose, we cannot miss it. But Christ's
shadow will be refreshing in this case to those that get under it.
Though the enemy should get leave to tread down the outer court,
and these that worship in it, they that are farther in shall be well seen
to : Rev. xi. 1, 2. Though they should burn up all the synagogues
of God within the land, yet there is a little sanctuary they cannot
hinder you to carry about with you : Ezek. xi. 16, " Therefore say,
Thus saith the Lord God, Although I have cast them afar off among
the Heathen, and although I have scattered them among the coun-
tries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries
226 CHRIST, A REFRESHFUL SHADOW
where they shall come." And though the stars should be stamped
down to the earth, and no star-light shine in the church, ye shall
not want light ^vhile the Sun of righteousness continues to shine.
Finally, The bottomless pit is already opened, the smoke is aris-
ing in our land, and the locusts are coming out of the smoke upon
it: Rev. ix. 1 — 3. The Popish party are now begun to make head,
with their brethren the malignants who carry on the -war with Anti-
christ, and to set a limb of Antichrist upon the throne : and if they
succeed, what can be expected, but that the smoke of Antichris-
tian errors, superstition, and idolatry, will overspread these na-
tions again ? So that we must resolve either to take on the Beast's
mark or Christ's fire-mark, either burn or turn. It will be weary
work to get through the smoke, which it is to be feared will stifle
most of us, and blacken many. Eut get under Christ's shadow now ;
seek now to believe, and feel the power of truth. An empty pro-
fession will not do here ; lamps without oil will go out in the smoke.
But be it ever so gross, it will hurt none but the profane and hypo-
critical professor : Rev. ix. 4, " And it was commanded them, that
they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing,
neither any tree, but only those men which have not the seal of
God in their foreheads." They that have Christ's mark of true
piety, shall be kept from receiving the mark of the beast. Under
Christ's shadow they will be as the Israelites in Goshen ; when
darkness is over all the land, they shall have light in their dwell-
ings. — The world is a weary laud,
5, For blood aud death going through it, make it a weary land.
In heaven there are none of these things, it is the pleasant land,
Rev. xxi. 4. But in the world they are very frequent ; which often
makes the weary sons of Zion to cry, " Woe is me now, for my soul
is wearied because of murderers," Jer. iv. 31. The people that de-
light in war is a black character in the scriptures, Psalm Ixviii. 30.
The confused noise of the warriors is no pleasant sound, nor are
o-arments rolled in blood a pleasant sight. The constant disquiet
and terror that attends the sword's raging in a land, is a wearisome
case, as it is described. Dent, xxviii. 67, " In the morning thou shalt
say. Would to God it were even ! and at even thou shalt say. Would
God it were morning ; for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou
shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see."
The white horse of the gospel has for many years made a pleasant
parade through the land. But alas ! neither it, nor the crowned
head, the Son of God, that sits upon it, has been much regarded ;
nay ; both he, and his bow, which is the word, have been despised ;
few, very few, have given him a crown, Song iii. 11, by closing with
IX A WEARY LAXD, 227
him in the gospel-offers. And now the red, black, and pale horses,
mentioned Rev. vi. 4, 5, 8, seem to be re.idy to begin their march,
to avenge the affronts offered to the white horse ; though the Popish
and malignant riders mean not so, but to banish the white horse out
of the land. What shall we do in this case ? get in under Christ's
shadow, that is the only safe retreat in such a case : Mic. v. 5, " And
this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our
land." This should be our work this day ; we should sit down
under his shadow, believing in him, and depending upon him. Cant,
ii. 3. When public calamity comes upon a land, every person will
run to that place where they expect the greatest safety ; but run
where they will for shelter, if they run not to Christ, their shelters will
fall down about their ears at length : Isa. xxviii. 17, "And the hail
shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the water shall overflow
the hiding-place." But the way of safety is to run to Jesus Christ :
Prov. xviii. 10, " The name of the Lord is a strong tower ; the
righteous runneth into it, and is safe." You must sit down under
his shadow, by closing with him in the offers of the gospel, taking
him for all, and instead of all, for time and eternity : giving your-
selves away to him, renouncing the devil, the world, and the flesh,
embarking in his interests and cause at this day, whoever be against
it. This is a loud knock Christ is giving to gospel-despisers to open
to him, after the slighting of many a still small voice, whereby he
lets them know, that if they will not open to him as a Lord and Sa-
viour, he will arise on them as a Judge with a vengeance, whether
they will or not. Come, then, ye despisers of Christ, and sit down
under his shadow, before the scorching heat of the weary land burn
you up.
We must sit still under his shadow, by cleaving to him, and de-
pending upon him : Isa. xxx. 7, " For the Egyptian shall help in
vain, and to no purpose ; therefore have I cried concerning this,
Their strength is to sit still." Though the scourge reach all, the
greatest safety will be there. Cleave to him and his cause, come
what will come ; for if you go off his way to seek safety, you cast
yourselves out of his promised protection. Piety will be the best
policy in the worst of times : Prov. x. 9, " He that walketh up-
rightly, walketh surely ; but he that perverteth his way, shall be
known." And depend on him by believing his promises, both for
your personal case, and the church's case ; for whoever be in the
field, victory is in his hand alone, and he gives it to whom he will ;
he does what he will in the armies of heaven and earth ; whom
he will he strengthens, whom he will he weakens, for he is the
Lord of hosts ; and he hath engaged that at length it shall be ill
228 CHRIST, A RKPRESHFUL SHADOW
with his enemies, and well with his friends : Isa. liv. 17, ** No wea-
pon that is formed against thee shall prosper ; and every tongue
that shall rise against thee in judgment, thou shalt condemn ; this
is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness
is of me, saith the Lord." — But again,
We must lie down under his shadow, in holy resignation, to suffer
whatsoever he may call us to, Isa. li. 23. The dispensations of the
day call aloud to us to prepare for suffering ; if the malignant party
prevail, doubt not but their little finger will be heavier than their
father's loins. Our Lord has given many love-tokens to the gene-
ration, which have been lightly esteemed ; howbeit, there are many
that profess love to him and his ti'uths ; and it would seem, he will
try what tokens we have to bestow on him and his cause. It is
likely he will have a portion of some one's goods, relations, liberty,
yea, and of their blood too, ere all be done ; and it is to be feared,
the tokens of his displeasure draw so deep, that many will give up
with him on this account. But if you be wise, lie down under his
shadow ; for a thorny bed under Christ's shadow will at the last
prove more easy than the beds of ivory on which his enemies may
stretch themselves for a little; Job xx. 5, " The triumphing of the
wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment."
The hour and power of darkness will not last ; and though God
should suffer that party to carry all before them a while, there is
no ground to doubt but God will be even with them, for all their
enmity, and opposition to his work ; yes, and render home their
father's opposition to it into their bosom, and give them blood to
drink, for the blood their fathers shed in fields, and on scaffolds,
when they have filled up the measure of their iniquity by what they
may now do : Rev. xvi. 5, 6, " And I heard the angel of the waters
say. Thou art righteous, Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be,
because thou hast judged thus. For they have shed the blood of
saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink, for
they are worthy."
But we must also stand up under Christ's shadow, and act for
him. Certainly, as the quarrel is now stated betwixt Christ and his
enemies in Britain and Ireland, he calls his people now to act for
him and his cause. If they have a standard to be displayed for
Popery and slavery, God has given us a standard to be displayed
for religion and liberty : Psalm Ix. 4, " Thou has given a banner to
them that feared thee, that it might be displayed because of the
truth." And people are called, by this dispensation, to put them-
selves in a posture to defend their religion and liberties, their Pro-
testant King, country and families, and not to leave themselves a
IN A WfiARY LAND. 229
naked prey for murderers. And in such a time, people consulting
their own ease, more than the honour of God, the welfare of his
cause, and their neighbour's safety, may easily slip themselves in
under Meroz's curse, which, when incurred, will not be got so easily
off persons : Judges v. 23, " Curse ye Meroz, (said the angel of the
Lord), corse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came
not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the
mighty."
Never was the cause more clear in Britain. The word, to spirit
the soldiery under the enemies' standard, should be, The great red
dragon. Rev. xii. 3, and the motto corresponding with this, as in
Psalm ii. 3, " Let us break their bands, and cast their cords from
us." This is the design of the attempt, and, I am persuaded, is
looked upon so by Him that sitteth in the heavens. What else is
the design of the Papists and malignants this day ? Our holy re-
ligion must go, and idolatry and superstition come in its room ; we
and our families must be murdered, or renounce our religion, though
denying of Christ will never altogether please them, for they will
especially never trust Scotch Presbyterians, so that that would be
the way to die a double death. Our Protestant King must go, and
a Papist ascend the throne, and the covenanted work of Reforma-
tion be rooted out, unless that people act for their defence against
the Antichristian party. I know no mids this day, but that every
one must be on Christ's side, or on Antichrist's. This cause will
bear no neutrality : Matth. xii. 30, " He that is not with me, is
against me ; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth abroad."
Never was the cause more favourable ; for while our intruders and
enemies cannot appear in the field but as rebels and traitors, laying
themselves open to all the pains of treason and rebellion, we have,
by the mercy of God, the law on our side. No doubt, masses will
be said at Rome for them, and in other parts of the Pope's terri-
tory; but the prayers of all the Protestant churches abroad will be for
ns and our righteous cause ; and the prayers of all the godly in the
land will also be in our favour. It is true, indeed, our God is angry
with us ; but sure I am, he is not well-pleased with them, he never
was nor will be pleased with the cause they have in hand ; and
therefore, seeing the cause is the Lord's, we may be sure that
" though he cause grief, yet he will have compassion ;" and when he
has done his work with his furnace on Mount Zion, he will bring off
his cause and people victorious at length, Isa. liv. 17- And we
have ground to hope, that if the noise of enemies go on, it will raise
up at length a ghost upon the Popish and malignant interest in
230 CHRIST, A REFRESHFUL SHADOW
these nations, that shall affright them, and ruin it more than ever ;
I mean, the ghost of the buried covenants.*
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.
SERMON XXIII.
Is A. xxxii. 2,
And a man shall be — as the shadoiv of a great rock in a weary land.
Having, in the preceding discourse, offered several reasons why
this world is to the saints a weary land, I go on now farther to ob-
serve, that the world is to them a weary land : For,
6. An ill way makes a weary land to travellers. There is much
ill way in the world, that wearies sore them that are travelling
Zion-ward. It is true, the way of holiness is a good way, in so far
as it leads to the heavenly Jerusalem ; and though it be strewed
with thorns and briars, it is better to walk in it, than in the way to
destruction sti'ewed with roses. But an uneasy way we call an ill
way ; and such is the way through the weary land of the world.
It is all up-hill, which scars the most part of the world. The way
to hell is down the hill, but the way to heaven is up the hill : Psalm
xxiv. 3, " Who shall ascend into the hill of God ?" They that
would sit at ease, and sleep through the world, are not meet for
heaven ; the way will try people's strength, and an easy way to
heaven no man shall find. There are strong lusts, and temptations,
and troubles, which people have to climb over. But under Christ's
shadow, the traveller will recover his breath again, and be invigo-
rated for new difficulties, till he come to the top of the hill : Isa. xl.
29, " He giveth power to the faint ; and to them that have no might,
he increaseth strength." Yer. 31, *' They that wait upon the Lord
* The intelligent reader, who is acquainted with the history of Britain, has only to
be reminded, that the period when this discourse was delivered was very eventful.
An unnatural rebellion was then breaking out, cherished by a Popish faction both at
home and abroad, which in its progress threatened to overturn our religion and liber-
ties. On this occasion, the worthy author, as a sound patriot for his country's welfare,
as a genuine son of Zion, and a faithful watchman upon her walls, could not fail to
sound a suitable alarm. From the deep sense he had of the impending danger,
from a clear conviction of indispensable duty, and possessing a natural warmth of tem-
per, the strong expressions made use of by him in this and other parts of his discourses,
are easily to bo accounted for.
IN A WEAEY LAND. 231
shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as
eagles ; they shall run and not be weary ; they shall walk and not
faint."
It is a narrow way : " Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way,
that leadeth unto life," Matth. vii. 14. Multitudes walk in the
broad way, and there they get room enough ; but in the narrow way
there are few travellers, and they that are on it must take good
heed to their feet, or they are apt to catch a fall. And considering
how rash we naturally are, and how weak-headed and false-hearted
we are, and how narrow the road is, and how loose the ground about
it is, it is no wonder, that with the Psalmist wo complain of broken
bones. Psalm li. 8. These make a weary way. But under Christ's
shadow there is light for the blind, strength for them that go even
on, and medicine to cure them that are bruised by their falls, if they
intend not to lie still, but to get up and walk on.
It is a hard and rugged way, and therefore they must have leg-
harness, as soldiers have, to preserve their feet from stones and
roughness in the way of their march : Eph. vi. 15, " And their feet
shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace." There are many
difficulties to go through that will need resolution and undaunted
courage. The spies saw such difficulties in the way to Canaan, that
they brought up an ill report of the land. But Caleb and Joshua
had another spirit, that fitted them to face all these difficulties,
Numb. xiv. 24. The fearful are not for heaven. Rev. xxi. 8. But
under Christ's shadow there is sweet refreshment in the hardest
piece of the way, and nothing is too hard for them whom he bears
up : Phil. iv. 13, " I can do all things through Christ that strength-
eneth me."
It is a way wherein many snares are laid. The snares of the
world make it a weary land. The way is beset witli thorns, and
lies through thickets, where on every side there is something to
catch a man. There are snares in every lot, in every condition, in
the most innocent things in the world ; and there is need of great
caution to get through them. How often are men in the snare ere
ever they are aware ! Like the poor bird they find the snare laid
where they were not looking for it. But under Christ's shadow,
there is a shelter where they may be safe. It is he that leads them
through the wilderness to that place where they will be in no more
hazard. Tea, casting themselves by faith on him, they are in no
danger from any quarter whatever. — It may be further observed,
7. That the country-disease often makes it a weary land ; and
that, in the world, is sin. No sooner do any set their foot in that
land, than are they infected with it : Psalm li. 5, " Behold I was
232 CHRIST A REFRESHFUL SHADOW
shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." Though
the power of this disease be broken in the saints at their conversion,
yet it hangs about them as long as they are in the land. What
wonder, then, that it be to them a weary land ? — And there are five
things that make it so.
(1.) The heaviness of the disease. It is called a body of death,
Rom. vii. 24, " wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me
from the body of this death ?" Death is heavy in any part of it,
how much more burdensome must a body of it be ? It bears down
the man continually ; it is a burden to the back, that makes him
stoop, and so makes a weary land.
(2.) The universality of the disease. It affects and indisposes the
whole man, so that we may say, Isa. i. 5, 6, that " the whole head is
sick, and the whole heart faint ; from the sole of the foot to the
crown of the head, there is no soundness in it, but wounds, and
bruises, and putrifying sores." It spreads itself like a leprosy,
through all the faculties of the soul, and leaves no part of the man
unaffected. It has smitten the understanding with blindness, and
the heart with hardness, and filled the mind with enmity against
God. Job's life was a heavy life when he was full of boils all over;
and so is the life of those who are universally affected with the di-
sease of sin. — There is,
(3.) The frequent relapses that take place in this disease. How
often do they fall back again when they seem to be in a fair way of
recovery ! This makes a weary world to a heaven-born soul, that
would fain be like God in holiness ; ever wrestling, and ever falling
into the mire again, makes weary work. This makes that longing
to be away for which the saint is distinguished. — There is,
(4.) The malignant influence these things have on the saints' jour-
ney through the weary land. By these means they are very much
unfitted for it, they walk very slowly. It is a weary journey to
them ; and oftentimes they are so laid by, that they are not able to
move forward at all, and they are driven back, instead of going for-
ward.
(5.) It is not their case alone, but of all that are there, the being
affected by this disease. The world is an hospital of souls sick with
sin. Some of them are sensible of their disease, others are not.
The godly have not only their own plague-sores running on, but
they also see those of others running on : and that makes a weary
land : Jer. ix. 2, " that I had in the wilderness a lodging-place of
a wayfaring man, that I might leave my people, and go from them !
for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men." But
under Christ's shadow, there is medicine for the sore. There is
Ilf A WEARY LAND. 233
balm in Grilead, and a physician there. His blood takes away the
guilt, his Spirit takes away the power of sin ; and in his holy pro-
mises tliey see their freedom and complete cure. — I observe,
8. That the scorching heats in the world make it a weary land.
And there are these four kinds of scorching heat.
(1.) There is the fiery heat of desertion, from heaven. This the
captain of our salvation met with in the weary land, Psalm xxii. 1
— 14 ; and this has often been the lot of the people of God in the
weary land ; they have lost sight of their guide, and have been left
in darkness, and gone mourning many days, without the sun, with
many a weary groan. Psalm vi. 6. Nay, there have been many po-
sitive outgoings of wrath against their souls, sparks of hell flying
in on heaven-born souls, while they have been pressed under a sense
of the Lord's anger, living, as it were, in the smoke of a furnace :
Psalm cii. 3, " For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones
are burned as an hearth." — There is,
(2.) The fiery heat of temptation from hell : Eph. vi. 12, " For
we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickednesses in high places." When the Israelites
were in the wilderness they met with fiery serpents that bit them,
Num. xxi. 6 ; and while we are in the wilderness of this world, we
cannot miss the inflaming bites of the old serpent the devil. Satan
is within bow-shot of us while here ; and the tosses of temptation
from him make it a weary land. Ordinary temptations are never
wanting, but are coming through the weary land like midges in a hot
summer-day. Sometimes there are extraordinary temptations, fiery
darts, where the poor soul will be as much put to it, to defend itself,
as one to defend a thatch-house against one casting fire-balls, as it
were, without intermission. — There is,
(3.) The fiery trial from the men of the world, persecution. This
is such an ordinary inheritance of the people of God in the weary
land, that an apostle says, 1 Pet. iv. 12, " Beloved, think it not
strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some
strange thing happened unto you." There is much dross, together
with the good metal, which gathers together in Zion, and therefore
God will have a furnace there, and the wicked of the world to set it
on, and blow it up, and professors must be cast into it to try them,
some to be consumed, some to be refined in it : Zech. xiii. 9, " And
I will bring the third part through the fire, and refine them as silver
is refined, and will try them as gold is tried ; they shall call on my
name, and I will hear them ; I will say, it is my people, and they
shall say, the Lord is my God." — There is,
Vol. IX. Q
234 CHRIST, A REFRESHFUL SHADOTV
(4.) The fiery heat of contention and division from the altar,
mentioned Rev. viii. 5. These have a sort of malignant influence on
the church ; they scorch and blacken her exceedingly : Song i. 6,
" Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath look-
ed upon me : my mother's children were angry with me." Hence you
may see the dreadful mischief which it does. Rev. viii. 7, 8, " There
followed hail and fire, mingled with blood, and they were cast upon
the earth, and the third i)art of trees was burnt up, and all green
grass was burnt up." Though the way be long and sore, the travel-
lers may be hearty, and they may go pleasantly on, while they are
comfortable to one another ; but When they grow a burden to one
another, when their unity and love among themselves are gone, that
makes a weary way to travellers. But never was the shadow of a
great rock more suitable to the scorched traveller, than Christ is to
his people in all these cases. — For,
(1.) He is their great plight-anchor in desertion, their hope, and
the support of their souls. His blood is the great fence, under which
they shelter themselves from the fire of the law, and brings them
into hope, when they are next door to desponding. An absolute
God is a terrible, but God in Christ is a refreshing, sight.
(2.) He is their protector in temptation. Faith in Christ is a
shield which quenches all the fiery darts of the wicked, Eph. vi. 16.
He is stronger than the strong man, and a present help in time of
temptation, either to repel the tempter, or else to bear up the tempt-
ed. He says to them, " My grace is sufficient for you, and my
strength is made perfect in your weakness," 2 Cor. xii. 9.
(3.) He is their strong tower in persecution, where they abide,
and stand out against all the storms of an enraged world. He gives
them peace, when their enemies are carrying on the war. " Peace"
says he, " I leave with you ; my peace I give unto you." He makes
their bow to abide in its strength when the archers shoot at them,
Gen. xlix. 24 ; and makes them more than conquerors, Rom. viii.
37 ; and so lines the thorny crown with his love, that it sits very
soft on their heads.
(4.) He is their peace in time of contention and division. With
whomsoever they have war and strife, through him they have peace,
peace with God, peace with conscience, and a hopeful prospect of
getting thither, — where light shall be perfect, and where therefore
there can be no diff'erence of judgment ; — where love is perfect, and
therefore no alienation of affections among the inhabitants shall
prevail.
9. Scarcity of provisions makes this world a weary land. What
else can be expected in the waste howling wilderness of this world,
IN A WEARY LAND. 235
where, though there is enough to raise the appetite of lusts, and a
sufficiency of husks for swine to feed on ; yet provision suitable for
the soul is very scarce ; and this is what makes the world to the
saints a weary land. For oftentimes their table is overturned ; the
table of public ordinances is removed, which brings a famine of the
word by which their souls should live, Amos viii. 11, 12. Then they
may be sent to seek bread for their souls with the peril of their
lives ; and this makes a weary land to these that know the spiritual
sweetness of gospel ordinances. — Again, many times when they come
to the table of ordinances, they get nothing at all, not a mess from
the King's hand, less or more. How often are prayers, sermons,
communions, like the empty chair of state, the king not filling it ;
like the empty grave, where the grave clothes lie, but the Lord him-
self is gone ; so that there is nothing substantial with which to sa-
tisfy the hungry soul. — Finally, at their best entertainment in the
weary land, they ordinarily rise hungry, and with an appetite.
They are held short by the head, and it is but drops and sips that
are got in this world ; the full feast, where they shall hunger no
more, is reserved to the pleasant land, where there is fulness of joy,
and pleasures evermore. But in this respect Christ is a suitable
shadow, he keeps the soul from fainting ; rather than they should
want, bread shall be sent from heaven, and water shall flow out of
the flinty rock : " Open thy mouth wide," says he, " and I will fill
it," Psalm Ixxxi. 10. He has the keys of heaven, and is the great
steward of the Father's treasures, who, in the greatest scarcity, has
enough amply to furnish those who by faith come to him.
10. Little company in the road to Zion makes it a weary land to
the traveller thitherward. The multitude go all the other way ; few
take the narrow road. CJirist's flock is but a little flock; in Eli-
jah's days there were so very few upon the road, that he thought he
had been all alone ; he had so little help of the seven thousand, that
he knew not of them. See how Micah longed for company on the
road, but they were hid out of his view, Micah vii. l,and downwards.
Now, this circumstance makes it a weary land ; for at this rate the
traveller has few to take a lift of his burden, and bear it with him.
The apostle says, " Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the
law of Christ." But alas ! we are in a strange land, and there are
many to lay a load above a burden, but few to take a lift of it.
But people must even creep under their own burdens as they can,
and keep to it themselves. This is what makes a weary world.
But they are not to be moaned in this case, who get in under Christ's
shadow ; he can bear them, and their burden also. The Lord even
reduces his people to this case, that they may depend the more upon
q2
236 CHBIST, A REFRESHFUL SHADOW
himself. "When we have created props standing about us, we are
ready to lay over much weight on them, and therefore the Lord suf-
fers people to find their own weight, that they may be constrained
to employ himself, to put the work in his own hand. — Again, the
traveller has few to consult with, when he comes to a difficult and
dark step. There are such steps which Christians meet with in
their way to Zion, and it is no small mercy to have those who will
help by their sympathy, advice, and prayers. But, alas ! the unfeel-
ing world affords few such ; and this is what makes it a weary land.
But Christ lives, and he lives to be a counsellor, an interpreter, one
among a thousand. Therefore, let us not complain in this case: Mic.
iv. 9, " Now, why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee ?
is thy counsellor perished ?" They are Avell-guided whom Jesus
guides ; and if he do not guide us, we may blame ourselves, for,
" the meek he will guide in judgment, and the meek will he teach
his way," Psalm xxv. 9. Let us go to the oracle, and improve his
prophetical office. — Finally, they have few to keep them out of lan-
guor by the way. It would be a great comfort to the weary travel-
ler, to have the benefit of conference about the holy city, the New
Jerusalem, to which the travellers are going, and of the glory, ease,
and rest, that are to be enjoyed there ; it would tend to comfort and
stir them up to vigorous walking. But they are not alone, who
have Christ with them ; he can bear the soul company hy his word
and Spirit, he can keep them from languishing in the weary land. —
"We now proceed,
III. To shew in what respects Christ is a suitable and refreshful
shade or shelter. The truth is, there is nothing in Christ but what af-
fords a refreshful shade to the believer in the weary land : Song v. 16,
" Tea, he is altogether lovely." But the breaking of the spices
will make them the more fragrant to those that have their senses
spiritually exercised. Therefore observe,
1. That his very name aflfbrds a broad shade for the refreshment
of the traveller in the weary land, sufiicient to recover the soul that
is swooning away : Song i. 3, " Because of the savour of thy good
ointments, thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the
virgins love thee." "When Moses would see the glory of God, the
Lord proclaimed his name before him : Exod. xxxiv. 6, " The Lord,
the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant
in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving ini-
quity, transgression, and sin, and that will by no means clear the
guilty." His name is more glorious than if it were written in letters
of gold ; it is written to us in letters of his precious blood. The
truth is, all things in the world are rather names than things, the
IN A WEAET LAND. '237
most desirable thiugs in it are the name of nothing : Prov. xxiii. 5,
" Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not ? for riches cer-
tainly make themselves wings, they fly away as an eagle toward
heaven." The terrible things of it are but frightful names, 2 Cor.
vi. 9, 10 ; but here is a name " that is above every name," Phil. ii.
9. I shall mention only three instances. — His name is,
(1.) Jesus, a Saviour: Matth. i. 21, "His name shall be called
Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins." How sweet
must this name be to a sensible lost sinner ! in the world we hear of
Adara the destroyer, who ruined himself and all his posterity ; of
sinners, his children, self-destroyers, Hos. xiii. 9 ; of Abaddon, the
great destroyer, who goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom
he may devour. But to all these we may comfortably oppose Jesus
the Saviour; stronger than Adam, saving those that he destroyed ;
stronger than sinners, helping those that have destroyed themselves;
stronger than Satan, whom he spoils of his prey : Isa. xlix. 25,
" Thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be
taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered ; for I
will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save
thy children." — His name is,
(2.) Messiah, or Christ, the anointed of the Father, pointing at
his three offices. For under the Old Testament, prophets, priests,
and kings were anointed ; it signified their call to the office : so that
in this name we see him in all his offices, called to the Mediatory
office* by the Father, and fully furnished for it ; and so there is
enough in him for all our needs, to be drawn forth by faith in his
name. And we have it in Greek, as well as in Hebrew, shewing
that the Gentiles, as well as the Jews have access to him : John i.
41, " We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the
Christ." — His name is,
(3.) Immanuel, God with us, Matth. i. 23. If we press this name
by faith, the sap of it will come forth to the believer in three things.
— There is,
1st, God in our nature : John i. 14, " And the word was made
flesh." God made man; Satan having withdrawn man from his al-
legiance, the whole human nature was corrupted, and set at enmity
with God. But, behold in Christ the divine and human natures
united, heaven and earth joined together in him, under the shade of
which sinners may, with comfort and confidence, approach to God. —
There is,
2dly, God reconciled to us iu Christ : John i. 14, " And dwelt
among us ;" (Gr. tabernacled.) Christ is the tabernacle of meeting,
wherein God and sinners meet in peace : Rev. xxi. 3, " Behold, the
238 CHRIST, A EEFRESIirUL SHADOAV
tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and
they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and
be their GoL" There the weapons fall out of the hand of justice,
and there the arras of mercy embrace the sinner. When the
sinner comes there, he is out of the dark and black region,
where death, wrath, and the curse reign ; he comes into a place of
light, the light of the Lord's countenance, that shines on sinners in
the face of Jesus, our Imnianuel. what a blessed shade is here !
— There is,
^dly, God on our side : Psalm xlvi. 7, " The Lord of hosts is with
us, the God of Jacob is our refuge." Under this shade, believers
may bid defiance to all their enemies, the united powers of earth
and hell : Rom. viii. 31, " If God be for us, who can be against us."
This is the best shade the Lord's people can betake themselves to in
a time of confusion and danger. Before the wars of Canaan began,
the Lord brought Joshua under it. Josh. v. 13, 14. And if people
could be got awakened out of their sleep upon these pillows which
their enemies have laid under their heads, the directing them to this
shadow by the word would be both reckoned sweet and seasonable,
as Exod. ix. 20. This was the shadow Isaiah directed the people
to, when the news came that the malignant Ephraimites, and the
idolatrous Syrians, were confederated to war against Judah, and to
set up a king of their own stamp over Judah : Isa, vii. 2 — 6, " And
it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with
Ephraim ; and his heart was moved, and the hearts of his people, as
the trees of the wood are moved with the wind. Then said the Lord
unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jashub thy
son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of
the fuller's field, and say unto him, take heed, and be quiet, fear
not, neither be faint-hearted, for the two tails of these smoking fire-
brands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the Son of
Remaliah. Because Syria, Ephraim, and the Sou of Remaliah, have
taken evil counsel against thee, saying let us go up against Judah,
and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king
in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal." The prophet labours to
draw them to this shadow, as a complete defence against the scorch-
ing heat of these two smoking firebrands; for he says, Isa. viii.
10, " Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought, speak the
word, and it shall not stand, for God is with us," (Heb. Immanuel is
with us.)
2. Hia natures afford a broad shade to the traveller in the weary
land ; he is both God and man. Jesus, he is man, and as such he
has a sympathy, as one that has had experience of the troubles
IN A WEARY LAND. 239
his people meet with in the weary land : Heb. iv. 15, '' For we have
not an high priest, which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without
sin." As he is Grod, he is able to give them all protection in all
cases and all conditions. However low they be, his power, being in-
finite, is able to raise them up. So that, however unequally they
be matched with devils and men, they may say, as 2 Kings vi. 16,
" Fear not, for they that be with us are more than they that be with
them." "When Christ sent out his apostles into the world, and
knew that they would be opposed by the authority of the great
ones, by the pow^er, the learning, the prejudice, and superstitions of
the world, over against all these he sets these emphatic words, " Lo,
I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world," Matth.
xxviii. 20.
3. His offices are a shade to the traveller in a weary land. These
are suited to all the cases his people can possibly be in, in the weary
land.
He is a Prophet, to teach them, to lead and guide them : Isa. Iv.
4, "Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a Leader
and Commander to the people." If darkness arise, he is light to
them that sit in darkness. There is no case so perplexed, but he
can resolve it ; and faith can begin where sight ends; and his di-
rection will ever be ready to his own in the time of need : " It shall
be given them in that hour, what they shall speak," Matth. x. 19.
He is a Priest to purge away sin, and manage his people's cause
in the court of heaven. If guilt sting the conscience, and make a
sick soul, his blood removes the sting : it purges the conscience from
dead works, Ueb. ix. 14 : it heals all their wounds : Isa. xxxiii. 24,
" And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick : the people that
dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity." If they have a pe-
tition to present before the Lord, while Jesus lives, they know of a
-proper hand in the court of heaven, into which they can put it. For
he makes intercession for us ; he is our Advocate with the Father.
This is no small comfort in the weary land.
He is a King, to protect and defend them, to conquer and restrain
all his and their enemies. If Satan be too strong and subtle for
them, yet Jesus is stronger than he, and can outwit him, and even
outshoot him in his own bow. His grace is sufficient against the
greatest temptations. If the world, the men or things of the world
be too hard for them, Jesus has overcome both. And though they
may bo ready to cry out for fear of these, that one day they will
perish by their hands, yet their great Captain being on their head
they shall surely come off victorious at last, saying, " Thanks be to
240 CHRIST, A REFRESHFUL SHADOW
God, who gireth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ."
4. His purchase affords shelter in the weary land. The price he
paid was his own precious blood ; the purchase then must needs be
great, seeing the price was of infinite value. He has purchased for his
people all that is necessary to make them hai)py. What Adam lost,
Christ has purchased again, and that with advantage ; so that all their
losses are made up in him. Would you have the inventory of
Christ's purchase ? you have it, 1 Cor. iii. 22, " Whether Paul or
Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present,
or things to come, all are yours." The best things for their enjoy-
ment in time or through eternity. The worst things, through him,
work for your good. What a refreshing shade, then, is this in the
worst of times !
5. His relations afford shelter in a weary land. He stands in
many near relations to his people : he is the foundation on which they
are built, and therefore, as the house built on the rock stands un-
shaken, so he will support them under all pressures. He is their
Father, and will allow them their provision, he will afford them
protection, an inheritance, and every thing that children may ex-
pect from a father. He is their Husband, and therefore will be
their defence : yea, their Head, and therefore he will guide them,
and every way tenderly care for them, as the head does for the
several members of the body.
6. His covenant and promises afford shelter in a weary land. The
covenant is offensive and defensive, therefore the believer has com-
mon friends and enemies with the Lord himself : Zech. ii. 8. He
that toucheth his people toucheth the apple of his eye. Hence, said
Jesus, " Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me ?" Who would not
venture to sea in that ship in which Christ himself, his interest, and
his glory, are embarked ; for though the ship in that case be beset
with waves, it will not sink. Csesar, when embarking on board a
ship to pursue his enemy, to encourage the pilot, who was afraid of
the storm, cried out, You have Ciesar and his fortune embarked
with you. How much more may the Christian not be afraid in the
greatest storm, when Christ, his interest, and his honour, are with
him. There are promises in the covenant suited to every case.
The Lord has secured to his people protection and provision in the
worst of times : " He shall dwell on high, his place of defence shall
be the munition of rocks ; bread shall be given him, his water shall
be sure."
He has secured them against apostacy : John x. 29, " No man
(says he) shall pluck them out of my Father's hand." He has
promised strength to the weak and fearful, Isa. xl. 29 — 31 ;
IN A WEAKY LAND. 241
he hath promised his presence to be with them for ever, Heb. xiii.
5; Isa. xliii. 2, he hath promised that all things shall work to-
gether for their good, Rom. viii. 28 ; and finally, there is nothing
whatever which can befall them in the weary land, but there is
something in the covenant and the promise suited to it, peculiarly
calculated to comfort and support them under every pressure.
It remains that, as was proposed,
ly. I make some practical improvement, which I shall do,
1.9^, In an use of information, and,
2dlii, In an use of exhortation.
For an use of information we may see,
1. That it is a black mark of a soul, that has no more to look for
as a portion but the world; when they take so well with the world's
entertainment, that they never seek after Christ. The world is not
the weary land to them, and so they care not for Christ. Are there
not many who would desire no better portion than the Avorld, if
they could get it kept ? They could well renounce their pretensions
to Canaan, if they could get their tents to stand always on this side
Jordan : they would never desire a better heaven than their lord-
ships, their farms, or what else they can work for with their own
hands. While these things prosjjer tvith them, they have nothing
to make the world a weary land to them ; the country's disease
never wearies them ; and if they be crossed in one worldly thing,
they do not go to Christ to get comfort under it, but to some other
worldly thing. This speaks, that they are at home in the world,
and are not travelling towards Zion. Others may be pilgrims in
it, but they are not ; they are just where they would be, and have
no other choice. Psalm iv. 6. It shews also that they would never
look near Christ, if death did not make sure of their being turned
out of the earth. They have no love to Christ for himself, they
could fend well enough without him, if he would but let them alone
in the world.
2. See here the mystery of the Christian life. Why do true
Christians so condemn the world ? It is a weary land to all such.
What keeps them all under the tribulation of the world, while
others faint, so that they have had a joy in tribulation, took joyfully
the spoiling of their goods, yea, and even death itself ? Why,
under the shadow of the great Rock, they got meat to eat the
world knew not of.
3. See the transcendent excellence of Christ. What a precious
one must he be in whom there is enough to balance all the miseries
of the weary land ! There are some of these that nothing under
the sun can balance ; Avhat avails all the riches aud honours under
242 CHRIST, A KEFEESUFUL SHADOW
the sun, to a person under extreme bodily distress, or exposed to
the arrest of death. But in the most wearisome step of the weary
land, Christ is a refreshing shade.
4. This lets us see, where there is a shelter to be found in the
worst of times, against the stormy tempest of public or private ca-
lamity : John xvi. 33, " These things (says Jesus) I have spoken
unto you, that in me ye might have peace ; in the world ye shall
have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
In Jesus Christ our safety lies, and without him there is no safety.
Here is the rock that is higher than we, and higher too than the
highest of our enemies, whether devils or men.
I have only now to add an use of exhortation. I would exhort
you to come to Christ, and put yourselves under his shadow this
day. And that you may understand what you are called to, take it
in the following advices.
1. Lay aside your security, and see that you stand in need of a
shade for refreshment and for protection in the weary land. However
lightly people look on the confusions of our day, I think we have
no reason to be secure ; security is dangerous, seeing the sins of the
generation are crying sins, crying for a stroke. Whatever has
brought a stroke on a church or people, that is not wanting in Scot-
land this day. Did universal corruption amongst all ranks bring
the deluge on the old world ? that is visibly the plague of this ge-
neration. Did the despising of the gospel bring the Roman armies
on the Jews ? Matth. xxii. 7, the monstrous profanity amongst some,
and loathsome formality among others, says we cannot escape,
though God bear long with us. — The many deliverances we have met
with when at the brink of ruin, and yet the generation not bettered
by them, says that the axe, which has been lying so long at the
root of the tree, will be wielded against us at the last : Amos iv.
11, 12, " I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom
and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the
burning; yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.
Therefore thus will I do unto you, Israel ! and because I will
do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, Israel !" We are
manifestly pining away under spiritual plagues at this day, many
given up to vile affections, the generation generally plagued with
hardness of heart and deadness, men are turned hateful, and left
to hate one another, biting and devouring one another, all which
is an evidence, that there is an evil spirit amongst us. — Finally, our
security in the face of alarming dispensations, is a terrible token,
according to that in 1 Thess. v. 3, " For when they shall say. Peace
and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail
IN A AVEARY LAND. 243
upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape." — I would
exhort you,
2. To embrace Jesus Christ, and lay hold on the everlasting co-
venant. Ye that are strangers to Christ, come in at length. Let
the state of your perishing souls come into your minds in earnest,
and lay a sure foundation for eternity. Ye who have already come,
come nearer and nearer, renew your acceptance of Christ, and stir
up the grace of faith, that for the present is lying in such a weak
state.
3. Repent of your sins, and turn from them. Amend your ways
and your doings, and let not iniquity be your eternal ruin. Answer
the call of God at length, that there may be no standing controversy
betwixt God and you. Many delays have been in this matter, bring
it now to a point, and halt no more betwixt two opinions, whether to
be for God or for your lusts. — In a word, I exhort you,
4. To lay the weight of your through-bearing through the weary
land over on Jesus Christ. — Look before you to the difficult steps
that may be yet betwixt you and the grave, and solemnly take him
for all you need or may need. Be concerned to depend upon him,
and to trust in him, that he will not cease caring for you, and work-
ing in you, till he completely accomplish all that good word upon
which he has caused yon to hope. — To prompt you to this good
work, I would propose the following motives : —
1. This is the shade God the Father has provided for you. "I
have (says he) laid help upon one that is mighty," Psalm Ixxxix.
19 ; and you hear what he says to you in the text. Therefore,
honour the Father by coming to his Son, and putting yourselves
under his shadow. He knew sinners would need a shelter in the
weary land. neglect not the offered salvation ! — Consider,
2. That all other shadows are and will be but vain and vanishing
ones ; they will not be able to defend you from the ills to which you
are exposed in the weary land ; they will be like a hut built within
the sea-mark, which will be carried away, together with the inha-
bitant, when the waters begin to flow: Isa. xxviii. 17, "The hail
shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow
the hiding-place." Then your own wisdom will be but folly, your
strength weakness, your carnal schemes shall not profit you. — Con-
sider,
3. That the wrath of God will pursue all who are not under this
shadow. Christless sinners ! what will you do when God riseth up ?
and when he visiteth, what will you answer him ? He is a consum-
ing fire, all else you can put betwixt him and you vyill be but as
stubble, or at best but a partition-wall of dry boards, that will
quickly be consumed in that devouring fire. — Consider,
244 CHRIST, A REFKESHFUL SHADOW, &iC.
4. That whatever weary steps ye meet with in the weary land,
these will be doubly heavy by your not coming in under Christ's
shadow ; for the curse will be in them ; and though they were very
light in themselves, that will make them heavy. You will get all
your burden to bear alone, as Saul did. And, what a sad case it
is to have heaven and earth dark both at once ! Isa. viii. 21, 22.
— Consider,
5. That all the travellers to Zion have made this shade their shel-
ter. It is a tried shade in all ages of the church. Psalm xc. 1 ;
whoever pursues them, this is the refuge of all the people of God in
all times : Prov. xviii. 10, " The name of the Lord is a strong tower,
the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." The spouse of Christ
looks for this shade. Song i. 7, 8, and ii, 3 : and many a good word
they have spoken of it to recommend it to others. — Consider,
Lastly, That under Christ's shadow there will be safety in the
most wearisome parts of the weary land. He is the Saviour, and
there is none besides him. Under his shadow there is safety from
troubles, when they are flying very thick in the weary land. He
can hide his people in the hollow of his hand in the midst of danger,
Psalm xci. 7. For he has all things at his command ; men and
devils are under the check of his providence. There is oftentimes a
moderation of troubles. — Under this shadow people find, that though
they be not quite freed from them, yet they are made very moderate
to them : Jer. xv. 11, " The Lord said, Verily, it shall be well with
thy remnant, verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in
the time of evil, and in the time of affliction." And sometimes it is
much better for his people to meet with this moderation, Jer. xlv. 5.
The life for a prey is no small mercy. While his people rest under
this shadow, there is always a spiritual salvation from the sting of
evil ; thus the nature of afflictions is altered, and the sharpest and
heaviest stones thrown at them become precious stones, which do
them no hurt, but rather good ; for " who is he that will harm you,
if ye be followers of that which is good ?" 1 Pet. iii. 13. — To sum
up all in a word.
There is never missed here an eternal salvation. However they
be treated in the weary land, none go to hell from under Christ's
shadow ; but though they should go through fire and water, they
will land at last in Abraham's bosom, and be brought unto the
wealthy place. Amen.
THE EVIL AND DANGER OF, &C. 245
THE EVIL AND DANGER OF HALTING BETWIXT TWO OPINIONS. *
SERMON XXIV.
1 Kings xvi. 21,
And Elijah said, How long halt ye betiuixt two opinions ?
Among the crowds of irreligious men in the visible church, there are
few, if any, so positively determined against God and religion, as
never to have a thought of repentance and reformation. Reason
and interest appear so much on the side of religion, that where con-
science possesses any power at all, one can hardly fail in having
sometimes favourable thoughts on that side. But indecision and un-
settledness in that weighty matter ruins men. It is so long ere they
come to a point, that death often overtakes them before they have
got the matter fixed ; and they are set beyond the possibility of do-
ing any thing for their souls, before ever they have resolved firmly
what to do for them. The text is Elijah's expostulation with a
great assembly in that dangerous case. The worship of Baal was
set up, and authorised in Israel by Ahab, and patronised by his
courtiers. Thence the body of the people, though they did not ut-
terly renounce the worship of Jehovah, yet they were greatly cor-
rupted with that idolatry. God had on this account sent a famine
on them, and, though it had continued three years and a half, it had
not-reformed them. But Ahab lays the blame of this calamity on
Elijah ; Elijah retorts it boldly on him. They agree that all Israel
be gathered with Baal's priests, who were dispersed over all the
country, and the priests of the groves, who were Jezebel's chaplains,
that the whole matter betwixt God and Baal, Elijah and Ahab,
might be decided. The assembly being convened, Elijah comes
to them, and, without observing any ceremony, or beginning to in-
tercede with God for rain to them, he falls a-pleading God's
cause with them, expostulating with them on God's behalf, as in the
text : " HoAv long (said he) halt ye betwixt two opinions ?"
In which expostulation, we have,
I. The matter of it ; their halting betwixt two opinions. Here he
attacks them on two points, and charges them with a grievous fault,
an unaccountable weakness in the most weighty concerns of their
souls. — He charges them,
(1.) With weak and wavering heads. They had two opinions ;
by the one they had a value for Baal, by the other for Jehovah. Not
only did some of that people in their judgment declare for Baal,
* Maxton, Saturday, August, 2, 1718.
246 THE EVIL AND DANGEU OF
others for Jehovah, bat the same persons at one time thought it best
to follow Baal, at another time Jehovah ; they were undetermined
in this matter of the greatest importance. Their thoughts in this
case were wavering, going hither and thither, like top-branches of
trees going with the wind, which is the Holy Ghost's own metaphor in
the original word of the text. — They were chargeable,
(2.) With unsteady feet. They halted betwixt these two, and they
went from Baal to the Lord, and from the Lord to Baal again.
Thus, passing from side to side, they were poor lame souls, (this is
the Holy Ghost's own metaphor), they did not only limp, like men
lame of one leg, (the best Christians carry such a halt with them, till
they come to the grave), but they were like men lame of both legs,
for this is the import of the original word, 2 Sam. iv. 4. They
crooked to both sides, they went wavering from side to side, never
straight, one time they were for Baal, another time for Jehovah,
they were never steadily fixed. — In the expostulation, there is,
2. The manner of it : " How long will ye halt ?" &c. They had been
several years in that case, and yet were not come to a point. One
might think the case was not so very difficult, whether Jehovah or
Baal should^ be their choice; but wonder not at it, for the case is
even as plain betwixt the Lord and your lusts and idols, yet year
after year you cannot come to a point. The phrase is urgent ; it
imports, — the shamefulness, the baseness of their conduct, that they
should be so long in deciding in a matter so very clear, stumbling
at that rate in broad day-light ; — its grievousness to the Spirit of
God ; he was so weary with bearing with them, that he would fain
have them come to a point, aud therefore rouses them up to it.
From the expostulation thus explained, I would observe the fol-
lowing doctrines, viz.
DocT. I. That to be still wavering and undecided in the absolute
and final choice betwixt the Lord and idols, is most abominable.
DocT. II. That an unequal and unsteady walk, here-away, there-
away, betwixt the Lord and idols, is an unaccountable and abomin-
able way of walking through the world. — These I shall shortly con-
sider in their order.
DocT. I. That to be still wavering and undecided in the absolute
and final choice betwixt the Lord and idols, is most abominable. —
In speaking to this I shall only drop a few things,
I. For explication of the point.
II. For confirmation of it. And then,
III. Make some application. — I am,
I. To explain the point. — In order to this, consider.
HALTIXa BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS. 247
1. That the Lord and idols are suitors for the heart of every man
and woman that hears the gospel ; and because that idols have the
first love, they strive to retain it, and the Lord comes to recover it.
Lusts court it, and therefore the gospel teaches to deny them, Tit. ii.
12, " denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and while it thus teach-
es, it brings a better oifer. The devil, the world, and the corrupt
nature, are proxies to agent for our lusts : the Lord's Spirit, his
ministers, and conscience, act for the Lord. — Consider,
2. That the sinner's heart is urged with offers and arguments on
both hands. God makes his offers, and urges them with the strong-
est arguments, taken from the certainty of eternal happiness, or
misery, of enjoying his unspeakable love, or incurring his dread dis-
pleasure : Isa. Iv. 2, " "Wherefore do ye spend your money for that
which is not bread, and your labour for that which satisfieth not ?
Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let
your souls delight themselves in fatness." Satan is not behind hand
in pains to urge his offers, he plies them with allurements of present
profit and pleasure, most suited to the corrupt heart, which natur-
ally gapes for them. — Consider,
3. That there can be no enjoying of both together : Matth. vi. 24,
"No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one,
and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the
other. Te cannot serve God and mammon." The Lord will not
deal shares with lusts and idols, the offer is peremptory on other
terms, "If ye take me, let these go." If the matter could be agreed
betwixt the Lord and his rival idols, the wavering soul would soon
be at a point, and would embrace both. But that cannot be : if the
Lord be received, he must have the crown, and the most beloved
lusts must be nailed to the cross : Gal. v. 24, " And they that are
Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts." —
Consider,
4. That the matter must be determined by the sinner's free choice:
Josh. xxiv. 15, " Choose ye this day whom yo will serve." The
Lord will not take possession without the sinner's consent, for it is
the heart he seeks, and if that be wanting, there is no bargain.
And the choice must be an absolute and a final one ; there must be
a final deciding of this cause, so that thereafter the soul may cleave
to the one, with full purpose of heart, and altogether abandon the
other. — Consider,
Lastly, That the Lord requiroth the sinner's decided answer.
But here the sinner wavereth ; he is neither determined to give up
altogether with the Lord, nor to give up wholly with his lusts; some-
times he is almost persuaded, but never altogether. So there comes
248 THE EVIL A?fD DANGER OF
still one off-put on the back of another ; and when the sinner has
been at the advising and deciding this business days and years, he
is as far from a point the last day as the first. — I am now to pro-
pose some considerations,
II. For confirmation of this point. — Consider,
1. That there is no competition here in point of real value. What
is the dead idol Baal, in comparison with Jehovah, the living God?
"What are our filthy lusts, in comparison with Christ ? Jer. xxiii.
28, " The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he
that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully : what is the
chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord." It is a disgrace on our reason,
to put them in the balance together, and argues a fearful blindness
with which mankind are seized, once to entertain a doubt which to
choose. — Consider,
2. That it is ingratitude of the deepest dye, not readily to fall in
with the oflTer. When the potter is making suit to his own clay,
*the mighty God to his own creature worm ra.an, to put off" his offer,
because of the craving of the heart after filthy lusts, these brats of
hell, and spawn of the old serpent, is certainly ungrateful. The
Lord might have left us with them, to have made the best of them
we could, which would have been no better than death ; for what
else could have resulted from our drinking that cup of poison ? But
now, when he comes to offer us life, how horrible is it to be wavering
and undetermined, whether we will accept of the Lord and life, or
not ! — Consider,
Lastli/, That this warning is on a matter of the utmost weight,
and what we have not one to-morrow allowed us to advise upon.
Our souls lie at stake, eternal salvation or damnation depend on
our choice ; if we make the Lord our choice, we are happy for ever;
if ye do not, we are ruined for ever ; it is, " To-day, if ye will hear
his voice," Psalm xcv. 7 ; so that, if death carry you off undeter-
mined, your eternal destruction is unalterably fixed ; and what an
abominable thing is it, then, to be still wavering? — I now proceed,
III. To make some application of the subject. And with this de-
sign, I would expostulate with you halters and undetermined sin-
ners, who are not yet come to a point in the matter of your choice
betwixt Christ and your lusts, in the words of the text, " How long
halt ye betwixt two opinions ?" How long will it be ere you come
to a point how to dispose of that heart of yours ? You have had
many rich gospel-calls from the Lord, and many communion-calls,
and yet you have not freely abandoned your idols, and made choice
of the Lord, to this day. Still you are halting, undetermined, and
wavering. How long shall it be thus ? — In managing this expostu-
lation, I would ask,
HALTINCJ- BETWEEN' TWO Ol'XNIOXS. 249
I. Who are the wavering, undetermined halters betwixt the Lord
and their lusts ? — I answer,
(1.) Ye who to this day never found the time to brealc your co-
venant with your lusts, and to enter into covenant with God, either
in pretence or reality. Are there not some Iiere, who never gave
their personal consent to the baptismal covenant, who are utter
strangers to personal covenanting with God in Christ ? they have
not even expressly in words renewed the covenant made for them in
baptism, much less have they ratified it with their own solemn con-
sent before the Lord : they are woeful halters, but without making
this choice they can never see heaven : £ph. ii. 12, " Strangers from
the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the
world." — Te are the wavering,
(2.) Who time after time slight the sacrament of the Lord's sup-
per, not preparing yourselves to partake of it. What makes you
always and constantly mere spectators and onlookers of the seal of
the covenant, and that solemn engagement to be the Lord's, but that
you are halters betwixt the Lord and your lusts ? Were there a
bargain in your ofl'er, of which all the partners were obliged to
strike hands with the party that makes it with them, and you stood
by, and would not give your hand ; would not that prove you not to
be determined as yet for the bargain ? You would be glad to have
the bargain ratified betwixt God and you, if you were really for it ;
Psalm Ixviii. 31, " Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands to
God." — To this some may object,
We would fain take the sacrament, but they will not give us
tokens of admission. — To this I answer,
What hinders your receiving them, but your gross ignorance, or
your xmgodly and scandalous life, which certainly ought to do it:
Matth. vii. 6, " Give not that which is holy unto the dogs." But
why do not ye get the knowledge of God and religion, and reform
your lives, that ye may sit down at the Lord's table ? And here lies
the matter, you are not so far determined yet as to quit your lusts,
for all the communion with God that is to be had in the sacrament.
— Such of you are halting,
(3.) Who have had your convictions of sin, and are in so far sa-
tisfied, that you should have given up with it, but your hearts were
never brought to part with it to this day. Are there not many
who are standing undetermined this day on the carcases of their
murdered convictions? Acts xxiv. 25, " Felix trembled, and an-
swered. Go thy way for this time, when I have a more convenient
season, I will call for thee." They have been lashed by their con-
sciences, to drive them to the Lord from their lusts ; nay, they had
Yoh. IX. R
250 THK EVIL A^D DANGER OF
much ado to resist these lashings ; but, after all, these impressions
are worn off, and they are not yet determined. — Such are wavering,
(4.) Who have (often perhaps) been aiming at the covenant, but
always stuck at one thing. Yon have been brought to a point in
many things, but one thing you could never yet get over. miserable
halter betwixt God and the idol of jealousy ! shall that one thing
mar the winning of thy soul ? If you be not content with all the
articles of the covenant, without exception, you have your choice to
make, yet you are not determined ; Mark x. 21, " Jesus said unto
him. One thing thou lackest," &c. — Such are halting,
(5.) "Who are still at fast-and-loose with God, and whom nothing
can bind, who do with their vows, as the dog with his collar, that
slips it off and on as he pleases : Psalm Ixxviii. 36, 37, '* Neverthe-
less, they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him
with their tongues. For their heart was not right with him, neither
were they stedfast in his covenant." There are many of our com-
municants of this sort, who come under the vows of God very lightly,
and as lightly soon after slip out from under the tie ; the truth is,
they never consider the matter with due seriousness. They make
choice of the Lord, but, in very deed, their hearts were never in
earnest determined. — Such of you are wavering,
Lastly, And in a word, who have not expressly embraced God and
Christ, but cleave to your lusts. Our Lord has often come to you
in the gospel, requiring your last answer, but you have neither yet
given it, nor will you either plainly say ye will betake yourselves
to your lusts and idols for altogether, nor are you come the length
of an honest resolve to give over with them for altogether. Ye are
undoubtedly woful undetermined halters.
2. I must ask at you. How long will ye halt, and be undeter-
mined ?
(1.) Have ye not halted long enough already betwixt God and
your lusts ? 1 Pet. iv. 3, " For the time past of our life may suffice
us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles." Have ye not often
enough sent away the Lord in his messengers groaning from you,
because ye could- not be won yet? (1.) Young halters, may not ye,
after ten, fifteen, and twenty years, or more, be at a point whether
ye will be the Lord's or not ? I assure you, God has been at a
point with many one in that time, who never got your length, but
their states are determined in another world already, without pos-
sibility of alteration. Every seven years ye have been in the world,
ye have had an year of Sabbaths, in these Sabbaths many, many a
call. And will ye yet be undetermined ? (2.) Old halters, may not
ye be at a point, after thirty, forty, fifty, or sixty years ye have
HALTING BETWEEN T"WO OPINIONS. 251
taken to advise in ? will ye bait on, till ye slip into a grave, into
hell, undetermined. All the sermons ye have heard, the commu-
nions ye have waited on, even all the rods and the mercies ye have
met with, have left you where they found you, as undetermined as
ever, and will ye still go away this day as undetermined as ye came ?
2c%, How can you he at ease as long as such a weighty matter
is undetermined ? Poor soul ! while thou art halting, thou art
standing on the brink of the pit, and whether death or life shall be
thy lot, whether heaven or hell, is still as to thee undetermined.
Till thou determine the point to be the Lord's, and to renounce all
thy idols, Satan has the hold of thee, and there is nothing between
death and thee but one step, thou hangest over the pit by the long-
worn thread of divine patience ; and whenever that gives way, thou
art lost for ever : John iii. 36, " He that believeth not the Son shall
not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him."
(3.) Do you not wonder, that God has waited so long upon you,
that he has not taken your slights and scorns for your final answer ?
Is it not surprising, that he has not recalled his ambassadors, and
denounced war against you, to be carried on for ever ? Ye must
needs wonder that it is not so, when ye consider the infinite greatness
of him who makes suit to you, the meanness and vileness of those
whom he courts, and the abominable competitors which ye prefer to him.
(4.) Are ye not afraid lest the Lord halt, and proceed no farther
in seeking after you ? that this may be the last call that ever you
may get ? Luke xiv. 24, " For I say unto you, that none of these
men which were bidden, shall taste of my supper." Sit this
call, and who knows but the Lord may from this time leave you
to your lusts? Psalm Ixxxi. 11, 12, "But my people would not
hearken to my voice, and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up
unto their own hearts' lusts and they walked in their own counsels."
Hos. iv. 17, " Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone." Saying,
Cease my Spirit, cease conscience, ministers, ordinances, judgments,
mercies ; give that man no more disturbance in the embraces of his
lusts, let them hang by him, and he by them, till they sink him into
hell, and lie there as a mountain of lead on him for ever.
(5.) Do you not know, the longer you halt, it will be the harder'
to come to a point for God ? the longer ye hold off from the Lord,
you will be the more loth to come away ; Prov. vi. 10, " Yet a
little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep."
He that is not fit this day, will be unfitter to-morrow ; for lusts,
through continuance, grow more and more strong, and the devil, that
comes at first alone, afterwards his name is Legion, for they are
many. I aver, that it had been telling many of us, that they had
s2
252 THE EVIL AND DANGER OF
strnck tlie iron many years ago, when it was hotter than it is now.
Lastly, Halt as long as you will, you must not only be determined
for the Lord, and against all your lusts, but also you must be joined
to the Lord, and separated from them actually, else you are ruined
for ever. The case is plain, Mark xvi. 16, " He that believeth not
shall be damned." — Ezek. xviii. 30, " Repent, and turn from all_
your transgressions, so iniquity shall not be your ruin," — Matth.
xviii. 3, " Except ye be converted, and become as little children,
ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." So, if you have
any miud to be free from the wrath to come, unless you have a mind
to take your hazard with your lusts through all eternity, while God
is God, to pursue the quarrel for the slight ye put on him, you
must come to a point, and be determined for God, and give up with
all your lusts.
Now, Sirs, there are two things lying before you this day, of one
of which you are to tate your choice.
1. Ton must either give up with God, Christ, heaven, and glory,
quit all your part in the covenant of grace, the purchase of Christ,
and his death, freely, and betake yourselves to your lusts, idols, and
sinful courses, and make the best of them you can to live and die
with them. Satan is fond of your making this choice. Or,
2. Ton must give up with your lusts, idols, and sinful courses,
freely quit your part in them, not excepting your darling lust, and
betake yourselves to the Lord in his covenant, taking this day God
the Father for your Father, God the Son for your Saviour, God the
Holy Ghost for your Sanctifier, Christ for your Prophet, to be led
by his word and Spirit; Christ for your Priest, to be saved by hk
obedience and death only; Christ for your King, to be ruled and
governed by him according to his will absolutely. The Lord is
willing that you make this your choice, and kindly invites the worst
of you to it ; Rev. iii. 20, '' Behold, I stand at the door and knock ;
if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him,
and I will sup with him, and he with me." j^nd ch. xxii. 17, " And
the Spirit and the Bride say, Come ; and let him that heareth say.
Come : and let him that is athirst come ; and whosoever will, let
him take the water of life freely." Nay, he commands you to make
this choice : 1 John iii. 23, " And this is his commandment, that we
should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ." And so
earnest is he in this invitation, that he will pass all your former
slights, if yon will but now fall in with this offer : Ezek, xviii. 22, " All
his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be men-
tioned; in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live." Now,
there is the choice in both parts, what say ye to it ? Josh. xxiv. 15,
IIALTIXG- BETWEEN TWO 0P1>'I0>'9. 253
"Choose ye this day whom yo will serve." — I demand your answer.
What answer shall I return? — your final answer, for I cannot say
that ever our Master will send, me again to you on this errand. — Are
there any here,
(1.) Who will give that answer, Jer. ii. 25, " There is no hope ;
no ; for I have loved strangers, and after them I will go." Sirs !
take your word again, we are loth to carry back that word ; why
will you die ? why will you destroy yourselves ? If we saw a cup of
poison in your hand, which yOu would not part with, but would
drink, we would flee to you, mix our blood with yours, before you
should get it druak ; but what can we do in this case, but cry, do
yourselves no harm I and protest before God, angels, men, and
yonr own selves, that your blood is on your own head. — Are there
any here,
(2.) Who will give that answer, Jer. iii. 22, " Behold, we come
unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God." — Job xxxiv. 32, *' If I
have done iniquity, I will do so no more." Then, I call heaven and
earth to record, you are at a point for our Lord never to go back ;
that it is an everlasting bargain between God in Christ and you;
that he is yours, and you are his ; that although this bargain be-
twixt our Lord and you has been many times back and fore, it is now
fully and finally concluded, you are married now, and there is no
room for any other suitors. Ocome, then, to your Lord's table with
a holy boldness, and get the covenant scaled !
Lastly, Is that your answer, Acts xxiv. 25, " Go thy way for this
time, when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee ?"' Yon
say you will advise upon it. I declare we cannot take that answer :
our commission does not bear us to indulge you even till to-morrow,
in advising upon a matter of such importance : Heb. iv. 7? " To-day,
if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." Nay, we cannot
allow you even another hour or half-hour in hesitation : 2 Cor. vi.
2, " Eehold, now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation."
Give your answer, therefore, instantly, I peremptorily claim it; if
you delay longer, you may be in hell ere to-morrow, nay, nest hour,
it may be, next moment. What do yon hesitate upon ? — whether
you will obey God or the devil ? — whether you will cast the kindled
coals of hell out of your bosom, or not ? — whether you will travel
in that narrow road which leads to life, or in that broad road which
will land you in destruction ? — in short, whether you will live for
ever, or perish eternally ? Oh ! Sirs, be wise before it be too late,
halt no longer, I beseech you, betwixt these two opinions : " To-day
if ye will hear his voice ; harden not your hearts, as in the provo-
cation, the day of tentation in the wilderness." When a gracious
254 THE EVIL AND DANGER OF
God is now calling you, " Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die, house
of Israel ?" let the echo of your souls, and the answer of your
tongues be, " Behold, we come unto thee, for thou art the Lord our
God."
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.*
SERMON XXV.
1 Kings xvi. 21,
Elijah said, How long halt ye betwixt tivo opinions ?
In the ordinance of the Lord's supper, there is to be seen Jacob's
ladder, with its foot set on the earth, and the top thereof reaching
nnto heaven, Gcd. xxviii. 12. We trust ye have been essaying to
mount it, though perhaps ye are yet not far from the ground.
that ye may have freely entered upon the first step ! I must, how-
ever, warn you, whoever ye be, that are looking upwards towards
the place to which the top reaches, namely, heaven, that there is such
a voice to you from heaven in our text, as came to David from the
castle of Zion, when he set himself to win it, 2 Sam. v. 6, " Except
thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in
hither." 1st, Unless the blind mind and heart that is still waver-
ing in the choice betwixt the Lord and idols be taken away, and thou
canst be determined absolutely and finally for the Lord, ye can-
not come in hither. Of this we have discoursed already.f — There is
a second voice. Except the lame feet whereby one is still going
from side to side in practice, betwixt the Lord and idols, be taken
away, yon cannot come in hither. To this we are now to attend, in
considering,
DocT. II. That an unequal and an unsteady walk, here-away there-
away, betwixt the Lord and idols, is an unaccountable and abomin-
able way of walking through the world.
In discoursing from this, it is proposed to shew,
I. "What is to be accounted such a walking.
II. The evil of this way of walking.
III. The causes of this unsteady walking ; when we shall also
point out some remedies against it.
IV. Make some improvement. — I am,
I. To shew what is to be accounted such a walking.
* This discourse was delivered immediately after the celebration of the Lord's
supper, in MaxtOD, August 3, 1718.
t See page 245.
HALTINa BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS. 255
1. Random-walking is such a walking : Lev. xxvi. 21, " And if
ye walk contrary to me, and will not hearken unto me, I will bring
seven times more plagues upon you, according to your sins." The
original word, "contrary," may be rendered, as by accident, at random,
at all adventures. There is a generation that are at best but random-
customers to religion, who take no more of it than they readily meet
with. Their religion sits so light on them, that in their way
through the world they take it as it comes to them. As the fashion
of the time turns, they face as the stream runs about. They con-
form themselves to the taste and humour of whatever company they
fall in with : they become a prey to every temptation, and are
picked up like straying beasts by the first finder. Beware of this :
that day ye get to heaven in this way, God and Baal shall be recon-
ciled. Set up your mark in religion, and press unto it. Lay down
a principle for God, and hold by it, however times, companies, or
temptations may seduce you : Phil. iii. 15, " I press towards the
mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Acts xi. 23, " And exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart
they should cleave unto the Lord ;" that is, abide by his side with
full purpose, laid down and determined beforehand. — I observe,
2. Wavering-walking is such a walking : Heb. x. 23, " Let us
hold fast the profession of our faith, without wavering." When
men are still unsettled in their way, hither and thither, are waver-
ing in their purposes and practice, one day for God, another for the
devil, and their lusts like men in an ague, with their hot and cold
fits by turns, at one time destroying what at another time they were
building up, they are never fixed. Hence they will be one day at
the table of the Lord, another at the table of drunkards. Like
water-fowls, sometimes they will be soaring aloft towards heaven in
the exercises of religion, and quickly again swimming in their lusts,
and over head and ears in the cares, profits, pleasures, and
vanities of the world. Sometimes they will ai)pear so serious in re-
ligion, that one would think they would never go back again to
their sinful courses : anon, they give themselves the swing in their
sinful courses, as they would never look back again to religion.
Take heed of this ; waverers will never get up the hill to Zion :
Jam. i. 6, 7, 8, " But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering : for he
that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and
tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing
of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways." Go
straight forward iu the Lord's way, as one that is resolute for God
and his way : Prov. iv. 25, 26, 27, " Let thine eyes look right on,
and let thy eye-lids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of
256 THE EVIL AND DAXGEK OF
thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right
hand nor to the left, remove thy foot from evil." — I observe,
3. Unequal walking is such a walking : Prov. xxvi. 7, " The legs
of the lame are not equal." The parts of the conversation of many
answer no better than a long leg and a short one do. In the
church they are saints, at home they are devils ; in their profession
they are fair, in their practice they are foul and false ; in their
words the world is nothing, but in their afi'ection it is their all.
Their practice is made up of contradictions. They agree not with
themselves, ho^ can they with God ? They pretend piety towards
God, yet make no conscience of duty, mercy, and justice towards
man : Matth. xxiii. 23, " Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypo-
crites, for ye pay tithe of mint, anise, and cummin, and have omitted
the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith : these
ought ye to have done, and not left the others undone." A wide
conscience in substantial, and narrow in circumstantials of religion,
is a conscience of a profane make. Beware of this; see the emblem
of these folk, Prov. xxvi. 23, " Burning lips, and a wicked heart, are
like a potsherd covered with silver dross." The potsherd will be
broken in pieces at length. Labour to have your whole conversation
of a piece, if ever you would see heaven : Jam. iii. 10, " Out of the
same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these
things ought not to be so." — I observe,
4. Partial and divided walking is such a walking: Hos. x. 2,
" Their heart is divided." They keep not with one master, but in
some things serve the Lord, in other things their own lusts. They
would make void the commands of God ; some they will comply
with, others they will not regard. They will strain at a gnat in
some things, and in others swallow a camel. At a communion, or
under a conviction, they say, as in Dent. v. 27, " Speak thou unto
us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee, and we will
hear it, and do it." But when it comes to a labouring in their
work, they will resolve to do, but they cannot : Prov. xx. 4, "The
sluggard will not plough, by reason of the cold." They have their
particular idols of jealousy, which they can by no means part with.
* Beware of this; be universal in your respect to God's command-
ments, otherwise you will be clothed with shame at length : Psalm
cxix. 6, " Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all
thy commandments." The straight soul says, as in ver. 128, " I
esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to bo right, and I
hate every false way." — I shall now go on to shew,
IL The evil of this way of walking. I shall sum up this in these
four things : —
HALTING BETWEEN TWO OriNIONS. 257
1. It is a walking higlily dishonourable and offensive to God : Rev.
iii. 15, 16, " I know tliy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot ;
I would thou wert cold or hot. So then, because thou art lukewarm*
and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." How
could an affectionate husband take it, to have his wife gadding
after other lovers? And, how dishonourable is it to God, that
those who have given themselves away to him should be found hang-
ing about the doors of the world, and their lusts ? Friends' wounds
pierce deepest ; and therefore many do more dishonour God, and
disgrace religion, by their uneven walk, their halting betwixt two
opinions, than if they should go over entirely to the devil's side in
the world : Ezek. xx, 39, " As for you, house of Israel ! thus
saith the Lord God, Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, but pollute
ye my holy name no more with your gifts and with your idols."
2i It a walking which is most grievous and offensive to the se-
rious and godly. With what concern does Elijah complain of it
here ! They are a heavy burden in the ship of the church of God;
and the lighter they are in their fleeting and flowing, the heavier
their case lies on serious souls: Psalm Iv. 12, 13, 14, " For it was
not an enemy that reproached me, then I could have borne it ;
neither was it he that hated me, that did magnify himself against
me, then I would have hid myself from him. But it was thou, a
man, mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took
sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in company."
And no wonder, considering that the name of God is blasphemed by
reason of such walkers ; and they are the worst enemies religion
has : Phil. iii. 18, " For many walk, of whom I have told yoa often,
and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the
cross of Christ ; whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly,
•and who mind earthly things." When two armies are in the field,
as is the case betwixt Christ and the devil, absolute deserters are
dangerous ; but such as remain in the camp, yet keep up a corres-
pondence with the enemy, are still more so.
3. It is a walking which is hardening to the wicked: Prov. xxviii.
4, " They that forsake the law, praise the wicked." They betray
the cause of religion to them, and open their mouths to blaspheme
and reproach the way of God : Rom. ii. 23, 24, " Thou that makest
thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou
God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles
through you, as it is written." Do you think that your coming to a
communion table, your waiting on ordinances, public, private, or se-
cret, will ever commend the way of the Lord to onlookers, while yon
make not conscience of tender walking in the whole of your conver-
258 TUE EVIL AND DANOEB OF
salion, eveu in your natural and civil actions ? Nay, truly, the sin-
ful liberty you take to yourselves, eveu as others, will make your
religion loathsome to tl)em. I have found some have been restrain-
ed from the table of the Lord by observing the unsuitable walk of
others after a communion ; but woe to that man by whom the Son
of man is betrayed.
Lastly, It is a walking which is ruining to one's own soul. The
generation that wandered in the wilderness died there ; and waver-
ers betwixt the Lord and their idols fall into the mire at length :
Hos. vi. 4, 5, " "What shall I do unto thee, Judah? for your good-
ness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew, it goeth away.
Therefore have I hewed them by the projjhets, I have slain them by
the words of my mouth ; and my judgments are as the light that
goeth forth." It is to those that are faithful unto the death only
that the crown of life is promised, Rev. ii. 10. Instability in the
good ways of the Lord vexeth the Holy Spirit ; whereupon he de-
parts, then the soul withers, and is cast over the hedge at length.
Many walk in a round betwixt their lusts and their duties while
they live; and when they go out of the world they are just where
they were when they came into it. As they were born in sin, so they
die in it, and so tumble down into the pit. — I shall now point out,
III. The causes of this unsteady walking, going from side to side
betwixt the Lord and idols ; together Avith the remedies.
1. The want of a right set of the heart at first, is one cause: Psalm
Ixxviii. 37, " For their heart was not right with him, neither were
they stedfast in his covenant." While these in the text had two
opinions, and were not determined to one of them, they could not but
halt betwixt the two. The heart that is never once freely separate
from sin, so as to see it to be an evil, and the greatest evil, and to
hate it for itself, that is, for its contrariety to God's holy nature*
and law, will make at best but a halting professor. If the duties
of religion be desirable to them for one reason, the enjoyment of
their lusts is so for another ; and thus the heart being divided, the
life is so too.
In this case the remedy is, to come once freely away to the Lord
Christ, from all your lusts and idols : 2 Cor. vi. 17, " Wherefore
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you." They who
once thus part freely, will never halt again betwixt the two.
Though they may have a weak side by reason of indwelling corrup-
tion, yet they have a sound side too, that is combating with that
weakness : Gal. v. 17, " For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and
the Spirit against the flesh ; and these are contrary the one to the
other, so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." And they
HALTING BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS. 259
are in consequence longing for the victory : Rom. vii. 24, " !
wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this
death ?" Unite with Jesus Christ, and you will walk in him ; for
where he is once freely chosen for a pilot to the ship, the sinner's
course through the sea of this world will be completely managed ;
that soul will never be shipwrecked.
And now, if ye be in earnest not to halt any more, I give you an
advice : — As soon as ye get home after this work is over, retire by
yourselves, and consider where your weak side lies, what is that lust
or lusts that is most likely to draw you over to its side again ; and
having seen it, consider how your soul stands affected to it, and la-
bour by all means to make sure a final parting with it in your heart;
that is, honestly and resolutely before the Lord to give up with it
again for ever. And as for the void space which the renouncing
that sweet morsel will make in your heart, fill it up with Christ him-
self, by taking him expressly in the room of that idol : Matth. xiii.
45, 46, " Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman
seeking goodly pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great
price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."
To this some may object, is there any saint in the world that is
free of halting? Ans. There is a great difference betwixt the Chris-
tian's halting through weakness, and the halting through wickedness
spoken of in the text, which is really more than halting, properly so
called. The one is a halting like him that is lame of one leg, the
other like him that is lame of both. — The Christian, whatever weak-
ness he is attended with in his walk, is absolutely determined for
God and holiness, in opposition to all his idols : the hypocrite wants
this resolution of heart. The former longs, sighs, groans, and strives
to get the victory over corruption ; is never for truce and reconcilia-
tion betwixt the Lord and lusts, but for the extirpation of these
lusts. But the latter is at bottom for both together, a reconciliation
betwixt them, and cannot think to hold with the Lord without his
lusts. — The Christian sinneth not with that full swing of heart the
hypocrite doth. The former hath a sound side, a renewed part,
which lusteth against the flesh, and so far resists the sway to the
weak side ; whereas the latter has nothing sound, and so sinneth
with full consent of the will, however the conscience may reclaim
and reprove.
2. Another cause is, unmortified lusts and light meeting together
in the soul. An enlightened conscience puts it forward to God ;
unmortified, lively, reigning lusts, draw it back again. Thus one is
tossed from side to side, as in the case of Pilate and Balaam : Job
xxiv. 13, " They are of those that rebel against the light; they
260 TUE EVIL AND DANGER OF
know not tlie ways thereof, nor abide in tlie i)aths thereof." Lusts
rise against light, and thrust a man out of the paths thereof. It is
with them as with David, in the battle against Absalom. Upon the
one hand, it was hard to lose a kingdom : on the other hand, to lose
a son: " Therefore deal gently," says he, " with Absalom." Even
so here, they are loth to lose their sonls, yet loth also to lose their
idols. Hence they must do something for each of them. — In this
case thei'e is this
Remedy : — Mortify your lusts, that you may trample on them,
and follow the light: Col. iii. 5, ^' Mortify, therefore, your members
which are upon the earth," &c. Prune off these suckers, that ye
may have a thriving soul. Deny their cravings, that ye may weaken
and starve them. And that ye may be enabled to do this, let your
conscience and your heart boLh together take up their rest in Christ
by faith. Know, sinner! there is enough in Christ for the bound-
less desires of thy heart, as well as for the cravings of thy con-
science : Cant. V. 16, "Bis mouth is most sweet; yea, he is alto-
gether lovely." Col.ii. 9, 10, " For inhimdwelleth all the fulness of
the Godhead bodily.^ And ye are complete in him, which is the head
of all principality and power." — Here some may reason,
(1.) How can that be? for, alas! there are many desires in my
wretched heart, that are of such a carnal sort, that there can be no-
thing in Christ for them. Ans. Our Lord satisfies the desires of poor
sinners, by enlarging such of them as are holy, fulfilling these, and ex-
tinguishing others of them that are unholy : Psalm Ixxsi. 10, "I am
the Lord thy God, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt :"
" Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." Though thou canst not
have in Christ the unworihy thing thy false heart desireth, thou
shalt have in him what is a thousand times more desirable; and then
the desire of that thing will die away. None complains of the want of
candles while the sun shines into the room, for that more than sup-
plies the waut of them all ; and none will cry, " Who will shew us
any good ?" when the Lord " lifts up upon them the light of his coun-
tenance." A child may be fond of his rattle, and will not part with
it; but put a more pleasing thing in his hand, and he will imme-
diately let it go: Matth. xiii. 44, " The kingdom of heaven is like
treasure bid in a field, the which when a man hath found, he hideth,
and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth
that field." — Another may iuquii'e,
(2.) What way shall I take to get Christ to fill my heart ? The
answer, in a word, is, Believe. — What shall we believe ?
(1.) Believe that there is a complete fulness in Christ, sufficient
to satisfy the boundless desires of your hearts : Col. ii. 19, ** Hold-
IIALTIJfG BETWEEN TWO OriNIOXS. 261
ing the head, from which all the body by joints and bands, having
nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the in-
crease of God." He is infinite in perfections ; and whatever is
desirable in all the creation, is eminently in hini as the fountain of
all.
(2.) Believe that he, with all his fulness, is offered to you, in the
way of exchange with all your lusts and idols. Siucerely consent
to the exchange. There is a full Christ before you; and the lust of
the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, are with you.
Give up with these, as expressly and solemnly as ye can, and take
Christ in their room; believing there shall be no missing of them,
and looking for the heart-satisfaction in him ye used to seek in them.
And believe it is a bargain unalterable for eternity : Malth. xiii.
45, 46; Psalm Ixxiii. 25, " Whom have I in heaven but thee? and
there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. — God is the
strength of my heart and my portion for ever."
(3.) When your lusts come back, oflering to entertain you as for-
merly, believe ye have in Christ what is a thousand times better:
Psalm Ixxxiv. 10, " For a day in thy courts is better than a thou-
sand." Say in your souls, as the olive, Jud. ix. 9, Shall I come
down from bread, and lie down to eat husks? Shall I leave the milk
and honey, and fill my mouth with gravel-stones ? If the lust of
vanity say, there is gaiety and finery, the eyes of beholders are fixed
on thee ; let the soul say, but I have in Christ a never-fading beauty,
glorious robes of unspotted lighteousness, Christ's love and his
Father's, &c. that is solid and substantial, not to be exchanged for
the airy nothings of the world's vanity. If the lust of covetousness
say, there is a good prize to be had by a very little stretch, let the
soul say, but I have riches in Christ, and that without any sting,
durable riches and righteousness.
(3.) Another course of this walking is, men's touching but very
lightly on religion in its turn, but digging deep in their lusts in
their turn : Psalm Ixxviii. 18, " And they tempted God in their
heart, by asking meat for their lusts." Yer. 36, " Nevertheless,
they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with
their tongues." They are as it were in jest in the former, but in
deep earnest in the latter; they swim like feathers in the waters of
the sanctuary, but sink as lead in the mighty waters of their cor-
rupt afl^ections.
In this case, I propose this remedy : — Labour to be experimental
Christians: Psalm xxxiv. 8, "0 taste and see that the Lord is
good." A taste of the transcendent goodness of God, the hidden
excellency of religion, would hold, you fast to the right side : John
262 THE EVIL AND DANGER OF, &C.
iv. 10, " Jesus answered, and said unto her, If thon knewest the
gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee. Give me to drink, thou
wouldesthave asked of hira, and he would have given thee living wa-
ter." then press eagerly into the inner court of religion ; there
are beauties there that will arrest your heart. Labour that you
may have your hearts in every duty ; break through the shell, till
ye come to the kernel. Once make religion your business, it will
soon fill your hands, as well as your hearts. — I shall only mention,
4. Another cause of this walking. They would fain be at heaven,
but have no heart for the ragged way to it : Mark x. 21, " Then
Jesus beholding him, loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou
lackest ; go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the
poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven ; and come, take up
the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went
away grieved ; for he had great possessions." The sluggard loves
the gold, but will not dig for it.
In this case the remedy is, to put on a resolution, a peremptory
resolution for God, to cleave to him at any rate, and to pass through
the wilderness to the heavenly Canaan, cost what it will : Numb,
xiv. 24, " But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with
him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land
whereinto he went ; and his seed shall possess it." There ye may
be, there ye must be, else you are ruined. And there are two things,
as to which I would caution you.
(1.) Have you not got that victory over your idols you were ex-
pecting ? Do not give over, but resolutely continue the struggle,
looking to the Lord for strength to accomplish that in which you
have engaged : Rom. xvi. 20, " And the God of peace shall bruise
Satan under your feet shortly." Have you come to Christ's door,
though you apprehend you have got nothing yet ? Be peremptorily re-
solved you will not go back to the door of your lusts, but hang on
at his, though you should die at it, and you shall find, as in Cant,
iii. 4, " It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him
whom my soul loveth."
(2.) Have you got your feet on the necks of your idols ? Pray,
do not think the war is over, or that the Egyptian pursuers, who
have been sometimes heavy on you, will be seen no more. No,
no ; the broken forces of corruption will rally again, and the
newly-bafiled idols will lift up their heads ; therefore be on your
watch, and prepare to renew the battle.
TV. 1 am now to make some improvement, which for the present
shall only be in an use of exhortation.
Beware of wavering, and study to be stable Christians. — To en-
force this, consider,
creation's groans, &c. 263
1. That stability is the ground of fruitfulness : Psalm i. 3, " And
he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth
forth his fruit in his season ; his leaf also shall not wither ; and
•whatsoever he doth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are
like the chaff which the wind driveth away." A tree, after being
lifted, and planted sometimes here, sometimes there, cannot be fruit-
ful : " The rolling stone gathers no fog." Unstable as water, can
never prevail. Doubts, fears, and dryness in the soul's case, is a
necessary consequence of unsettledness. — Consider,
2. That stability is the beginning of comfortable experiences in
religion. We cannot think to thrive in a trade, till we settle to it.
A fool is always beginning, leaves off, begins again, and so on ; he
never brings any thing to perfection. — Consider,
3. That stability is a fence against temptations. The wavering
professor is a hopeful prey to temptation. The town that begins to
parley, is next door to surrendering. The Jews saw Pilate begin to
waver, and then they plied him to condemn Christ, till they carried
him off his feet. — Consider,
Lastly, That stability is the foundation of serviceableness for
Grod. The vessels of the temple were of gold, silver, brass, &c. but
none of glass, no crystal ones ; these were too brittle for temple-ser-
vice. So wavering professors will never be honoured of God to be
serviceable for him, but they will do much harm to the way of the
Lord.
CREATION'S GROANS CONSIDERED AND IMPROVED.*
SERMON XXVI.
Rom. viii. 22,
For xue know that the xulwle creation groaneth, and travelleth in pain to-
gether until noiu.
If we look abroad into the world, we cannot miss to perceive it in a
feverish condition; the whole head sick, the whole heart faint;
good men and God's good creatures also groaning under a weight of
misery. If we look above us into heaven, we cannot but see that
it is an holy God who has cast them into, and keeps them in this
miserable condition. But withal we may conclude, that it shall not
* Delivered January, 1716.
264 CItE.iTrOX3 GEOAXS
be always so ; this fever of tlie creation will have a cool. A gra-
cious God will not suffer it always to be ill with good men and his good
creatures. Therefore the apostle, ver. 18 of the chapter before us,
taking a view of the suffering lot of the saints, of which himself bad
a large share, by faith looks through the cloud of miseries into which
the saints are now wrapt up, and beholds a glory that is to be re-
vealed in them, a lightsome day that shall succeed this dark night,
when all the clouds shall be scattered, never more to gather. He
confirms the revelation of that glory from two considerations. 1.
The creatures, ver. 19, with earnest expectation wait for it. 2. The
saints, ver. 23, anxiously look and long for it. And neither of these
can be in vain, for they are of God's implanting ; and justice stands
not against the satisfying of these appetites raised by the sanctify-
ing Spirit in the saints, and by the creating hand in the creatures.
As to the first of these, the apostle, 1. Asserts that longing of the
creatures for the revelation of that glory in the saints, ver. 19. 2.
He shews the misery they are under, from which they are so anxious
to be delivered, vanity, ver. 20 ; corruption, ver. 21. 3. That their
deliverance is connected with, and must be suspended till the reve-
lation of that glory in the saints, ver. 21. 4. He shews how uneasy
they are in the meantime, ver. 22. — Thus much for the connection.
In the words of the text, we have,
1. The party whose uneasiness is here taken notice of: " The
whole creation," or every creature in heaven and on earth, is un-
easy. Yet this phrase is not so universal, but that it admits of some
exceptions, as Mark xvi. 15, " And he said unto them. Go ye into
all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature;" yet not to
the angels, glorified saints, devils, &c. The limitation is every crea-
ture made for the use of man, in heaven or on earth, which, becance
of their relation to him, were made subject to vanity on occasion of
his sin. This shews a good reason for that phrase, Mark xvi. 15,
"Preach the gospel to every creature;" that is, the gospel, which
is gospel or good tidings to every creature ; for not only man, but
the creatures that were sunk in misery with him, shall have the ad-.
vantage of it. As they smarted by the first Adam's sinning, they
shall be restored by virtue of the second Adam's suffering. Acts
iii. 21, " "Whom the heavens must receive, until the times of restitu-
tion of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his
holy prophets since the world began." So here are to be excepted,
(1.) The angels, for as they were not made for man, so they are
already perfectly happy, as the courtiers of the great King, who
stand before the throne continually, as is signified by that phrase,
Matth. xviii. 10, " That in heaA'en their angels do always behold the
face of my Father who is in heaven."
CONSIDERED AND IMPROVED. 265
(2.) The devils. For though they be most uneasy, and carry
their hell about with them, 2 Pet. ii. 4, " For God spared not the
angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them
into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment ;" yet as they
"were not made for man, so man did not make them miserable, but
they made man so. Besides, the creature here was subjected in
hope, ver. 20 ; but the case of devils is absolutely hopeless ; for
them there is no Saviour, and to them there is no promise.
(3.) Men themselves. For as, 1 Cor. xv. 27, " But when he saith
all things are put under him, it is manifest, that He is excepted who
did put all things uuder him ;" so wheu it is said, " the whole crea-
tion groaneth," «S:c. it is manifest he is excepted, who was the cause
of the groaning of them all. The reprobate, some of them are in
hell already, others are posting on, both groaning, but in vastly dif-
ferent degrees. Yet they are not meant here, for their groans shall
never have an end. But all the effects of the curse that are to be
found in the universe this day, shall with them be swept out of the
world into the lake at the great day, there to be settled on them as
their proper base : Rev. xx. 14, " And death and hell were cast
into the lake of fire. This is the second death."
(4.) The elect. Some of them are in heaven, and groan no more.
The unconverted elect groan under outward miseries ; but they are
not meant here, for, being immersed in wickedness with the rest of
the world, they are far from the earnest expectation which the crea-
tures here have, ver. 19. Believers groan most sensibly, but they
must also be excepted here, as being opposed to this creation or crea-
ture. Yer. 23, " And not only they, but ourselves also, which have
the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within our-
selves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our
body."
Now, these being excepted, it remains, that by the whole creation
we understand all the rest of the creatures made at first for the use
of man. They are all uneasy. The visible heavens were made the
roof of his house, the earth his floor ; the sun, moon, and stars, were
made to be his lights, the air to breathe in, the wind to refresh him;
the various produce of the earth to afford him necessaries, conve-
niences, and delights. He was lord of sea and land. Fishes, fowls,
and beasts of the earth, were all at his command. While he stood,
they were all of them most easy in his service. But now that mat-
ters are reversed with him, their situation is also reversed ; none of
them failed to share in his misery. For though vanity, corruption,
and misery, first sprang up in the man, they did not halt there, but
spread over the face of the whole earth, diffused themselves over the
YoL. IX. s
266 creation's groans
brinish waters of the sea, and ascended through the air to the very-
glorious lights in heaven. — In the words of the text we have,
2. The agony that the whole creation or creatures are in, — a great
agony. It is expressed two ways, both metaphorical.
(1.) They groan. This is a metaphor, taken from a man, with a
heavy burden on his back, which so straitens him, that he cannot
freely draw his breath ; and when he gets it, it is a groan. So there
is a heavy weight lying on the whole creation, that makes it groan ;
or, in other words, creatures got their death -wounds that day Adam
got his, and so they are groaning still with the groans of a deadly
wounded man. His sin stung them to the heart, and so they groan.
The weight they are lying under is the weight of the curse, which
binds vanity and corruption on them by virtue of the sin of man :
Gen. iii. 17, " Cursed is the ground for thy sake." A weight under
which, though stupid impenitent man groans not to God, yet his
very beasts, and the very earth on which he walks, do.
(2.) They " travail in pain." A metaphor taken from a woman
bringing forth a child.. The pains of child-birth are exquisite pains,
and put the patient both to groans and strong cries. And into this
condition is the whole creation brought by man's sin. They are in
pangs, and they cry out of their pangs. But though birth-pains
are sore pains, yet they are hopeful. There is thus some hope that
the creature will be delivered. They are travailing in pain with
the hinds, to cast out their sorrows, Job xxxix. 3. They have con-
ceived vanity and misery, and they have gone long with it, and they
are travailing in pain to be delivered of the unhappy birth. They
groan and also they travail. One that has too heavy a burden on
his back, groans continually while it is on. But blessed be the
holy and wise God, that has made the pains of travail intermitting ;
now and then a shower. So the creatures have their ordinary pains
that are never off them. But sometimes, as at this day, they have
extraordinary, and as it were travailing-pains, which will off again?
though they will return : Joel i. 18, " How do the beasts groan ! the
herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture : yea,
the flocks of sheep are made desolate." — In our text we have,
3. The mournful concert they make : they groan together and
travail together. Not together with us, ver. 23, but together among
themselves. Before sin entered into the world, they all looked
blythe, and as it were sung together : but now they have changed
their tune, and groan together. The beasts and the fowls groan
from the earth, and the very heavens echo back to them the same
strain. So many creatures as there are, so many groaners, each of
them with their mournful note, — "We have,
CONSIDERED AKD IMPROVED. 26?
4. How long they have sung to the melancholy tune : " Until
now." They began at Adam's fall, and they have groaned ever
since, and travailed on till the apostles' days, but they had not
done with it then. Nay, they have groaned and travailed till now
in onr days, long five thousand seven hundred years, and yet their
burden is not off their backs, nor have they yet got their sor-
rows cast out. And how long it may be to their delivery, we know
not. But one thing we know, it will never be till the world end by
the general conflagration, when the new heavens and the new earth
may rise, like the phoenix, out of their own ashes. — We have,
Lastly, The auditory that listens to the mournful concert : We,
" We know," &c. " We believers, we serious Christians, hear and
certainly know the mournful ditty." Can the shepherd who is sent to
notice the sheep, not observe when they make their moan for lack
of their food, especially when the whole flock is crying together ?
Were all the men of a city groaning of their wounds, and all the
women travailing in pains together, that person must be deaf that
would not hear the sound, and he must have an heart of adamant
that would not be aifected. Bnt the whole creation, above us
and about us, are groaning and travailing together, and that for our
sakes ; yet a sinful generation has no ears to hear, no heart to be
affected with it, and with sin which is the cause. But serious Chris-
tians, awake to it, cannot miss to hear, and their ears aftect their
hearts. Ton will observe, that they hear it distinctly, not confu-
sedly, as we apprehend sometimes we hear a thing, which we are
not sure whether it be a real voice, or only an illusion of the fancy.
We know, says the apostle, we are sure, it is no fancy. Some crea-
tures have a voice that every body can hear. But there is no
creature so mute, but a serious Christian, whose senses are exer-
cised, can discern its voice. David could hear the silent heavens,
day and night, and also know their meaning. Psalm xix. 1, 2; and
verse 3, " There is no speech nor language where their voice is not
heard." that we could hear their voice this day ! and that their
groans and cries might pierce our hearts for sin.
This subject is highly important. — There is contained in it the
three following doctrines, which in their order we propose to con-
sider.
DocT. I. That the whole creation, made for the use of man, groans
under the sin of man.
DocT, II. That the creatures' pains, under the sin of man, are
travailing pains, sore indeed, but hopeful, they will in due season
be delivered from them.
s2
268 creation's groans
DocT. III. Tliat the whole creation makes a mournful concert in
the ears of serious Christians, by their groans under man's sin.
"We begin with
DocT, I. That the whole creation made for the use of man,
groaneth under the sin of man.
What is to be offered on this doctrine shall be comprehended
under the three following heads of discourse.
I. In what respects the creation, or creatures are said to groan ; for
many of them, as the earth, &c. are properly incapable of groaning.
II. What distresses the creatures so much, that they groan ?
What has man's sin done to them, to make them groan under it ?
III. How, and by what right, can the harmless creatures be made
to groan for our sake ? They have not sinned. True, these poor
sheep what have they done ?
IV. I shall add a practical improvement of the subject.
I am, then, to shew in what respects the creation, or the creatures
are said to groan, for many of them, as the earth, &c. are properly
incapable of groaning. — Here I observe,
1. That the sensible part of the creation really groans, each after
its kind : Joel i. 18, " How do the beasts groan ? the herds of cattle
are perplexed, because they have no pasture ; yea, the flocks of
sheep are made desolate." The beasts, the birds, all that can
groan, do groan. And these may be admitted as the mouth of the
rest; they groan out their own misery, and the misery of their
mate-fellows, that are in the same condemnation with them, while
they stand about, as it were, looking on, like a company of foreigners,
one of whom only being capable of speaking our language, speaks for
the rest.
2. The whole creation appears in a mournful mood and groaning
posture. The sun, the eye of the world, has often a veil drawn over
it for many days ; and he with the rest of the lights of heaven are
covered with blackness, like mourners. The earth, trees and plants
upon it, lay aside their ornaments, and every head among them is
bald ; because man, whom they were appointed to serve, is slain by
the great murderer, the devil ; therefore all his servants are gone
into mourning.
3. The whole creation, if they could, would groan, for they have
good reason, as we will see afterwards. As our Lord says, Luke
X. 40, " If these should hold their peace, the stones would immedi-
ately cry out." The pressure they are under Avould make them
groan, if they had sense or reason to understand it. It is God's
goodness to man that his sense of hearing is not more quick than it
is, otherwise he could never have rest, there being always some noise
CONSIDEEED AND IMrEOVED. 269
in the world. And it is well for man that the creatures cannot re-
present their misery as it deserves, otherwise they would deafen him
with their complaints, and make him continually uneasy with their
groans.
4. The Spirit of God is grieved, and groaneth (so to speak) in the
creatures. God is every where present, quickening, influencing,
preserving, and governing all the creatures, according to their se-
veral natures : Acts xvii. 25, " Seeing he giveth to all, life, and
breath, and all things :" Heb. i. 3, " Upholding all things by the
word of his power." The sun cannot shine without him ; nor the
earth produce its fruits, nor its fruits be serviceable to man, without
him. Whatever is profitable or pleasant in the creatures, is but
some drops of the divine goodness distilled into them, for his glory
and man's good, Hence it is evident, that the abuse done to the
creatures riseth to God himself. As if a mother having suitably
sweetened the meat to a child, he should, after all, throw it away,
his doing so is a wrong to her as well as the abused creature. There-
fore, the abusing of God's works is forbidden in the third command-
ment, under the notion of taking God's name in vain. For the
creature's goodness is in effect God's goodness : " For there is none
good but one, that is, God," Matth. xix. 17. And therefore (with
reverence be it spoken) God groans from the creatures against sin-
ners: Amos ii. 13, "Behold, (says God), I am pressed under you,
as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves." And as the Lord from
heaven cried to Saul, Acts ix. 4, " Saul, Saul, why persecntest thou
me ?" so, if men had ears, to hear, the drunkard, for instance, might
hear God, from the creature, saying, " Man, why abusest thou
me ?" &c.
Lastly, Serious Christians groan in behalf of the creatures. Man
was made to be the mouth of the creatures, to speak out what they
could not : for which cause God gave him a tongue and speech,
therefore called his glory. "When sin entered, man's mouth was
closed in that respect. "When grace comes into the soul, the Lord
says, " Ephphatha," that is, " be opened," Mark vii. 34. So man
becomes the mouth of the creation again. Psalm xix. 1. Thus be-
lievers, seeing the reason the creatures have to groan, groan out
their case for them, acknowledging, before God and the world, the
misery and hard case they are brought into by man's sin.
II, We come now to inquire, what distresses the creatures so
much, that they groan ? What has man's sin done to them, to make
them groan under it ?
Why, truly, they got a large share of the curse to bear for man's
sake : Gen. iii. 17, " Cursed," said God to Adam, " is the ground
270 creation's groans
for tby sake." The curse coming upon man is also felt upon the
earth. "Wherefore, bat because of its relation to man ? It bears
hira, aud feeds him. And if so, that curse would spread to the
visible heavens that cover him, and afford him light, and that nourish
the earth which nourishes hira. If this be not enough, remember
they are all to go to the fire together at length ; and surely that
makes it. So thus man's sin, as brimstone, is scattered on his ha-
bitation: 2 Pet. iii. 10, "But the day of the Lord will come as a
thief in the night ; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a
great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat : the
earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burnt up."
Verse 11, "Seeing then, all these things shall be dissolved, what
manner of persons ought we to be, in all holy conversation and
godliness ?"
This curse has subjected the creature to vanity. It has squeezed
much of the fat out of it that was put into it at the creation ; and
from a full ear has brought it to an empty husk. And it is there-
by also in bondage to corruption. It is made a stage ol: sin, a scene
of misery, and liable to destruction as such. But to come to parti-
culars.
1. The whole creation, by man's sin, has fallen far short of its
beneficial and nutritive quality, in comparison of what it originally
was at its creation. Man has not that benefit of the creatures for
which they were appointed at first. While he stood, such sap and
nourishment was in them, that could have afforded him all things
for necessity, convenience, and delight, without toil. But sin gave
them such a shock, that much of that sap is shaken out of them, and
so man must now wring hard to get but a very little nourishment
from them. This makes so much barrenness in the earth, which so
meanly rewards all the toil of the husbandman. It brings forth
thorns and thistles plentifully, under the influence of that curse,
while it makes a very sober increase otherwise. And what is the
procuring cause of all this but sin ? Psalm cvii. 34, " He turneth a
fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell
therein." "We see how it is bound up, that the beasts of the
field cannot get their food. And if the influences of the heavens
were not restrained, it would not be so ; the earth would not be
iron, if the heavens were not brass. Under this vanity the whole
creation groaneth.
2. The whole creation, by man's sin, has come far short of its
ultimate end, the honour and glory of God. God's revenue of glory
from the creature is mightily diminished by the sin of man. The
whole creation was made to be a booTc, wherein men might read the
CONSIDERED AND UIPROVED. 271
name of God ; a stringed instruments by which men were to praise
him ; a lookiug-glass, in which to behold his glory. Eut, alas ! sin
has drawn a veil over our eyes. Men may say they are unlearned*
and cannot read more than what may make theai inexcusable : " For
the invisible things of God, from the creation of the world, are
clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his
eternal power and Godhead ; so that they are without excuse,"
Rora. i. 20. The book is as it were sealed. They have lost the art
of praising; hence the instrument is hung by, being to little purpose
in the possession of such persons. They care not for beholding his
glory, therefore the looking-glass is overlooked, and very little use
is made of it. Under this vanity they groan also.
3. The nature of the whole creation is in some sort altered.
When God looked on his creatures, he saw that they were very
good, Gen. i. 31. And that is a sad alteration that makes them
groan. Sin has cast the whole creation into a feverish disorder.
There is an evil which accompanies them now, that they long to be
rid of. Man complains and groans under the evil of the creatures,
and they complain and groan under him. The transgression of man
is heavy on the earth, and the case of the earth bound up from his
service is heavy upon him. Where is the creature that has no evil
about it now ? The sun sometimes scorches man, and burns up the
fruits of the ground ; at other times his absence makes the earth as
iron, that he cannot stand before the cold. The air often sickens
and kills him. The distempered winds often sink him in the sea, out
of the earth, where he is to get his meat, sometimes he meets with
poisonous herbs. What is the cause of all this ? Impute it not
to the creatures as they came from the creating hand of God, but to
the fall of man, whom nothing could have hurt, had he stood in
his integrity.
4. The creature has fallen into the hands of God's enemies, and
is forced to serve them. When man stood, all the creatures were at
his beck, and were ready to come to him at his call. But when he
left God, all the creatures would have left him, the sun would have
shined no more on him, the air would have refused his breathing
in it, the earth would not have fed nor carried him more, if God had
not subjected them anew to him ; Rom. viii. 20, " For the creature
was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who
hath subjected the same in hope." We see how far some of them
have gone in renouncing their service to him, Job xxxix. 7, 8. And
ver. 9, " Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy
crib?" And they would all have left their service, as a faithful
servant will leave his master, when he goes out in rebellion against
272 cbeation's groans
his sovereign, but that they were forced to go along ; and therefore
they groan.
5. They are used by sinners to ends for which Grod never made
them. They suffer violence, they are abused, and therefore they
groan. God made them for his honour, men abuse them to his dis-
honour. Never did a beast speak but once, Balaam's ass. Num. xxii.
28, 30, and that was a complaint on man for abusing it to an end
for which God never made it. The dumb ass rebuked the madness
of the prophet, that would have it to carry him in a way God for-
bade him to go, and where the angel stood to oppose him. And,
could the creature speak to us, we would hear many complaints that
way. God gave the creatures to be servants to man, but man has
sold them for slaves to his lusts; and who would not groan to be so
maltreated ? There are two things which make hard service : —
(1.) Labour in vain, continual toil, and yet no profit by it. The
creatures have no intermission in their service : Eccl. i. 5, 8, " All
things are full of labour." But 0, where is the profit of it all ?
The sun riseth, and runs his race every day, and never resteth.
But what is the issue ? If it were to let men see to read God's
word, to behold and admire his works, to perform acts of piety, to
accomplish substantial good, all the toil would never be grudged by
the creatures. But, alas ! here is the case, for the most part men
see to sin more by it, the worldling, the drunkard, &c. to pursue
their lusts by it. The night waits on in its turn, and the thief, the
adulterer, and the like, get their lusts fulfilled with it. The air
waits about us continually, and the swearer gets sworn by it, the
liar lied by it, and the like. The earth and sea wait on us with
their produce ; and people get their sensuality, their vanity, pride,
and the like, nourished by it. "What wonder they groan, to be
brought to this pass ? Sun, moon, air, earth, and sea, are groaning
for this as they can. If our very meat and drink could groan, they
would groan in the dish, cup, throat, and belly of the drunkard,
glutton, sensualist, yea, of every one with whom they are not em-
ployed to nourish the body for the Lord and his service, but for the
world, &c. — There is,
(2.) Hard labour, and much loss by it. We have both these :
Hab. ii. 13, " Behold, is it not of the Lord of hosts, that the people
shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves
for very vanity ?" The creatures not only toil for vanity, but as it
were in the fire, where they smart for their pains. The covetous
oppressor's money kept from the labourer, groans in the corner of
your chest, and cries, " Behold the hire of the labourers which have
reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth.
CONSIDERED AND IMPROVED. 273
and the cries of them that have reaped are entered into the ears of
the Lord of Sabaoth," James v. 4. " Why do ye lock me up here,
where a heavy curse lies upon me ? why wilt thou not let me away
to the labourer ?" The oppressor builds his house by blood and op-
pression, and the very stones and timber cry out, " Why have ye
laid me here, where the curse of God will not let me rest?" Hab. ii.
11. If a master should force his servant into the king's throne, and
force the crown on his head, and the sceptre into his hand, how
would he groan to think that he is abused, and that his life must go
for it too. Ah ! is it any wonder that the beasts, the pastures of
the wilderness, groan this day, who have so often been set in God's
throne, the heart ; have had room with him, yea, more room than
him, nay, many times the only room there ? ! would they not
cry, if they could speak, " Why get we the first thoughts in the
morning, and the last at night ? Why set you that love, joy, delight,
and trust in us, that you ought to place in God ? let us out of
this dangerous place, let us out of your hearts, that is a dangerous
place to us," Ezek. xxiv. 25, 26. — I only add as a
6. And last reason of their groaning, that the creatures partake
with man in his miseries. — Though they do not sin with him, yet
they suffer with him. They that have life, live groaning with him.
They are liable to sickness, pains, and sores, as well as he ; for not
a few of the troops of diseases billeted on man, were quartered also
on them. Sinful man's neighbourhood infected them ; they die
groaning with him. In the deluge they perished with him, except a
few preserved in the ai^k, as living in the same element with him.
The beasts in Sodom were destroyed with fire and brimstone, with
the men. In the plagues of Egypt, the cattle smarted together with
the owners, also their fields, vines, sycamores, &c. The inanimate
creatures suffer with him also. He sins, and the very earth is laid
in bonds for him ; but groan as it will in that case, he cannot loose
them: Job xxxviii. 31, "Canst thou bind the sweet influences of
Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion ?" Their iron bands he cannot
break : Dent, xxviii. 23, " And the heaven that is over thy head
shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron." The
very waters are straitly bound up on his account : Job xxxvii. 10
" By the breath of God frost is given ; and the breadth of the waters
is straitened." Nay, they are muffled up with a weight ab5ve them,
like a stone under ground ; for as swift as they rise to go, and as
nimble as they run, they are catched and held fast, like a wild
beast, in God's trap. This is the true sense of Job, in the Hebrew,
chap, xxxviii. 30, " The waters are hid as with a stone, and the
face of the deep is frozen." Nay, the very heavens are in bonds too,
27-4 creation's gboans
Dent, xxviii. 23. And tliey cry out in their bands, Hos. ii. 21, " I
will hear, saith the Lord, I will hear the heavens, and they shall
hear the earth."
THE SAME SUBJECT CO.XTINUED.*
SERMON XXVII.
Eoii. viii. 22,
For we know that the whole creoiion groaneth, and travaUeth in pain
together until now.
Hatixg considered in what respects the creation, or creatures, are
said to groan, and what distresses the creatures so much that they
groan, we now proceed to inquire,
III. How, and by what right, can the harmless creatures be made
to groan for our sakes ? They hare not sinned. True, these poor
sheep, what have they done ? — Here I observe,
1. That there is sovereignty in this groaning. The creatures are
all his own, and it is lawful for him to do with his own what he
will, Matth. XX. 15. Solomon tells us, Eccl. viii. 4, " Where the
word of a king is, there is power, (Heb. dominion), and who may
say unto him, "What doest thou ?" God is the great store-master,
to whom all the flocks and herds in the world belong : " The cattle
upon a thousand hills are his," Psalm 1. 10. He lias given you the
use of them, but has reserved the absolute property to himself. You
have them in kain, and that is ill paid ; therefore no wonder he
take them out of your hand, and dispose of them in another way
whereby he may get the use of them, that is, glory to himself. — I
observe,
2. That the creatures are liable to this groaning, because of their
relation to sinful man, who has a subordinate, limited, providential
interest in them ; and that by the same justice that the whole which
a malefactor has, smarts with him ; as it was in the case of Achan,
and all that he had. Josh. vii. 2-1. The sun is a light to him, there-
fore it is overclouded ; it nourishes his ground, therefore its in-
* This sermon was delivered on a fast-day, appointed by the presbytery of which
the author was a member, on occasion of a severe threatening storm which then pre-
vailed. ~ In this discourse, and through the whole of this subject, the author has evi-
dently a reference to the unnatural rebelliou which was then raging, and appears
deeply afiFected with the state of the church and nation at that period.
CONSIDERED AND IMPROVED. 275
fluences are restrained. The ground feeds his flocks and herds,
therefore it is inhabited. They furnish him with necessaries, con-
veniencies, and profits, therefore they suffer. They stand in a
nearer relation to him than other creatures ; they were made the
same day, and of the same earth, and lire in the same element with
him, and therefore they smart sorest, because ihej are nearest to
him. They are nearer, and therefore it is harder with them than
with fishes and fowls, which were of the water, and live, the one
in the water, the other in the air. — I observe,
3. That the creatures groan because of their usefulness to him, by
the same right that, in war, one takes from his enemy whatever
may be of use to that enemy in the war. None scruple to take
every thing from an enemy, that so he may be disabled, and yield.
Now, God is angry, and carrying on a war with us, which wo began ;
and to oblige us to yield, he falls on the creatures that are useful to
us. Pharaoh will not let Israel go, and the cattle, and the very
trees and water of Egypt, smart. They kill, swear, lie, steal, com-
mit adultery : Hos. iv. 3, " Therefore shall the land mourn, and
every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of
the field, and with the fowls of heaven ; yea, the fishes of the sea
also shall be taken away." Men are very indiS"erent about the
interest of God, and if they get their own interest seen to, are little
concerned as to any thing else ; and therefore God blasts their
prospects; as you may see, by consulting Haggai i. 4 — 11. — I ob-
serve,
4. That the creatures groan, by the same right one takes a sword
from a man wherewith he is running at him. The creatures are
idols of jealousy often to provoke God, and therefore he strikes
them down. Often, and most justly, does God punish sinners in
that wherein they have sinned, so as they may read their sin in
their punishment, as in Eli's case, and in Isaac's, Gen. xxv. 28, and
xxvi. 35. The farm, and the care about it, often keeps people from
the marriage-supper of the King's Son, Matth. xxii. 5. The Gada-
renes, for their liking of swine better than a Saviour, had their
wretched idols drowned in the sea. — I observe,
5. That the creatures groan by the same right one takes back his
loan, when he gets no thanks for it, but, on the contrary, it is im-
proved against himself: Hos. ii. 8, 9, " For she did not know that I
gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold,
which they prepared for Baal. Therefore will I return, and take
away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season there-
of, and will recover my wool and my flax given to cover her naked-
ness." Alas ! though we are always in God's common, for every
276 creation's groans
thing we have, we are not thankful, we do not remember our hold-
ing, but sacrifice to our own net. And God's favours with respect
to the creatures, though they make i)eoi)le more wealthy, they make
them not more holy.
Lastly, I observe, that the creatures groan by the same right a
prince levies a fine on a man, when he might take his life. It is a
mercy God deals not with ourselves, as with the creatures for our sake :
Lara. iii. 22, " It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed,
because his compassions fail not." True, men feel the stroke ; and
good reason, for God makes the creatures groan for that very end,
that we may feel it. But Ave feel only at the second hand, though
it is we ouly that are guilty. The bauds lying on the earth might
have lain on us, and we pinched as sore for our food as the beasts of
the field for theirs ; that as our flocks are forced to go to another
part of the country, leaving our own hills desolate, so our houses
might have been desolate, families scattered, and sent through the
country begging bread. They have had more than any of us, who
yet have been brought to such trying circumstances. — It only re-
mains,
lY. That we make some improvement of this doctrine.
1. In an use of information. Let us notice this scripture fulfilled
in our days, in this day, and that in a remarkable manner. There
is a mournful concert which the creatures have been making in our
ears now for many weeks together, for which we are this day called
to fast and humble ourselves. — Hear the groans of the creatures :
(1.) The earth is groaning under us. Dent, xxviii. 23, "And thy
heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is
under thee shall be iron." God has laid a weight on it, and bound
it so strait, that it can get no breathing, there is no perspiration ;
it can get up nothing. It is run together as lead does after it is
melted; Job xxxviii. 38, " When the dust groweth into hardness,
and the clods cleave fast together." Hebrew, " God has pitched it
up, or pitched it all over with frost, as one would do a vessel to keep
in the liquor, when they have in view to prevent others drawing from
it."
(2.) The waters groan, for there is a weight on them : Job xxxviii.
30, " The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is
frozen." Men's sins have taken hold of them, and turned them into
dry land : Psalm cvii. 33, " He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and
the water-springs into dry ground." Yer. 34, " A fruitful field into
barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein." We
have bridges of God's making, but these are no more signs of God's
favour, than the turning of sea into dry land was to Pharaoh, for it
proved his destruction.
CONSIDERED AND IMPROVED, 277
(3.) The wild beasts of the field groan for lack of food. They
that take the range of the mountains for pasture, are forced into the
valleys, and this strait brings them near the dwellings of men, which
otherwise they would shun, Hos. iv. 3.
(4.) The fowls of the air groan, and are hard put to it, to make
shift for their lives, and they mourn after their kind, for the hand
of God is heavy upon them : Hos. iv. 3, " Therefore shall the land
mourn, and everyone that dwelleth therein shall languish ; with the
beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven ; yea, the fishes of
the sea shall be taken away."
(5.) The flocks groan, for God has locked up their pasture : Joel
i. 18, " How do the beasts groan ? the herds of cattle are perplexed,
because they have no pasture ; yea, the flocks of sheep are made de-
solate." They are — fruitful creatures, but God threatens to pluck
up the tree with its fruit ; — harmless, yet they sadly sufi'er for the
sins of men, their owners ; — useful creatures, and because of their
singular usefulness, a singular weight of the stroke lies on them.
They cannot help themselves, and men cannot help them ; so they
groan and cry unto the Lord : Joel i. 20, " The beasts of the field
cry also unto thee : for the rivers of water are dried up, and the fire
hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness."
(6.) The heavens groan, Deut. xxviii. 23, quoted already, for God
has laid them under arrest. They have been long crying that their
influences are bound up, but God has not yet heard them : Hos. ii.
21, " And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear the heavens,
and they shall hear the earth." The machine of the world, in some
sort, has long stood ; because God has holden still the heavens, the
main spring ; but the heavens cannot help the earth, nor the earth
the grass, nor the grass the beasts of the field, till God see meet.
2. We may learn, that when the whole creation groans for man's
sake, it is no wonder God make man himself to groan heavily. It
has been a groaning time through Scotland now for a long time, and
these groans are not over yet. God grant they be not but begin-
ning!
(1.) The nation is groaning under the weight of two armies, which,
whether friends or foes, must needs be heavy to a poor land, that has
enough ado to maintain itself. Besides, that as the world is now
distempered by the corruptions of men, it is morally impossible but
that violence, rapines, and other disorders, will fall out in such a
case, which some heavily feel, hoA^ever easy others may live, and
that whether the armies be for or against us. It is groaning under
a most causeless rebellion, raised by men of a perverse, malignant,
Antichristian spirit, who, to get a limb of Antichrist on the throne.
278 creation's groans
and to ruin religion, have made all this disagreeable work. Hence
the nation groans under a drawn sword, deeply bathed in blood, and
thirsting for more. The blood of many has been shed in the field
like water, many precious souls sent to eternity in a moment, in the
hurry of war, and the carcases of men laid like dung in the open
field ; parents left childless, children fatherless, and their mothers
widows, while the lives of many others are made to them more bitter
than death. Into what a wretched case have many of the nobility
and gentry of Scotland brought themselves ! which, though it be the
just judgment of God upon them, for which we are to praise him,
yet it makes the nation groan, as the cutting off a gangrened mem-
ber is painful to the whole body. Thus David lamented over Saul,
2 Sam. i. 17. The northern parts of the nation have been long-
groaning, who have had many months of that oppression, of which the
southern parts have had but a few days, and yet made so great an
outcry. Some groaning there, because their houses are made un-
pleasant to them ; some, because they and their families are scat-
tered ; some groaning because they are harassed : others because
they are solitary, &c.
(2.) The church is groaning for the weight of the Lord's anger
gone out against her. Our mother is in mourning, and the gates of
Zion lament. She groans under the weight of these mischievous de-
crees laid on in the latter end of the last reign, not yet removed, by
which she is greatly oppressed, — under our own unchristian divisions,
by which she is rent into many pieces ; — under the just withdrawing
of her Lord, by which she is become heartless. Many congregations
of the land are groaning under the want of gospel-ordinances, the
weight of silent Sabbaths. Her serious ministers and members are
groaning, while they behold, on every hand, matter of lamentation
and woe. Nay, she is groaning this day, to see the great red dra-
gon standing before her to swallow her up. A limb of Antichrist
set up for a king, to be a captain, to lead back the nation to Egypt,
and to give the kingdom, if he had it at his will, to the Romish beast
that supports the whore. Her members are in no good case to give
a draught of their blood to the scarlet-coloured whore, and therefore
in hazard to drink the cup of the wine of her fornication, if she had
once access to put it to them.
Thus the church and nation are groaning together. No sort of
persons, from the throne to the dunghill, are exempted. Oar only
rightful and lawful Sovereign, our Protestant King, whom God, by
an admirable step of favourable providence, brought seasonably to
the throne, groans for the unnatural rebellion raised against him.
The nobles and gentry, who used to escape other strokes, smart un-
CONSIDEEED AND IMPROVED. 279
der the confusions in the land by that means. Ministers have a load
of many weights to groan under this day ; and to all the rest, not a
few of them are threatened with suffering for a cause which their
souls abhor as much as any in the nation. People of all sorts groan;
the husbandman, because the earth, being as iron, will not allow his
labouring ; and the store masters, because of the particular distress
of the beasts of the field.
3. This lets us see what is the cause of all this groaning. Is there
not a cause ? Yes ; men's sins are the cause of all the distress on
the creatures, and on themselves. We have procured all our
miseries with our own liands. All ranks in the land have gone out of
course, and therefore the very creation is put out of its course : Isa.
xxiv. 20, " The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and
shall be removed like a cottage, and the transgression thereof shall
be heavy upon it, and it shall fall, and not rise again." — The Lord
is contending with us,
(1.) Because that the sins of our fathers have not been sufficiently
mourned over by the generation. National perjury and bloodshed
are crying sins that are making the land to mourn this day. With-
out controversy, God is fulfilling that scripture in our eyes this day,
Lev. xxvi. 25, " And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall
avenge the quarrel of my covenant ; and when you are gathered to-
gether within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you, and
ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy." God is making
inquisition for the blood of the slain witnesses of Jesus ; and it will
be a wonder if, before the quarrel be ended, God make not the lives
of hundreds of others go for one of theirs. I have sometimes
thought, " ! why has God made choice of poor Scotland to be the
field of blood ? Are there not sins against God in the neighbouring
land, as well as amongst us ?" But I have been silenced by this
consideration, Scotland was the place where the witnesses were slain,
in a special manner, in the late times : " True and righteous are thy
judgments, Lord !" — The Lord is contending with us,
(2.) Because of the atheism and contempt of God in the land.
Matters were come to that pass under the light of the gospel, that
all religion was laughed at by many ; so that there was a necessity
that God, by some new argument, should prove the truth of his be-
ing, which he has already done, to the cost of many that were deep-
ly engaged in these atheistical ways. May God bear it home on
their consciences, that at least they may get their precious souls for
a prey ! — The Lord is contending,
(3.) Because of the horrid profanity of the generation : Hos. iv. i.
— 3, " Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel ; for the
280 creation's groans
Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because
there is no trnth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of Grod, in the land. By
swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adul-
tery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore shall the
land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with
the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven ; yea, the fishes
of the sea also shall be taken away." How many are there up and
down the land, that glory in their shame, and take a pleasure to af-
front the God that made them by their profane courses. Can these
things escape a mark of God's displeasure ? It has broken in like a
flood, and gone through the land ; so that they are indeed but rare
persons who have not entertained one branch or another of it ; either
they are swearers, or liars, or such like, and there is no reforming
of them. The word cannot do it. — The Lord is contending,
(4.) Because of our abuse of mercies, and God's good creatures.
We have had long peace, and God has wrought wonders for our de-
liverance. But we were surfeited with peace ere the war came.
The good creatures of God prospering and thriving were but fuel to
our lusts, and so snares to lead us away from God, that it is no won-
der they get a stroke, like idols of jealousy, wherewith God has been
provoked. — The Lord is contending,
(5.) Because of that woeful security and unconcernedness for the
public cause of God and of religion which prevails. God is a jealous
God, and when he is going out against a land, he calls all the inha-
bitants thereof to fear and to tremble ; and he cannot endure indif-
ference when his cause is at stake. This provokes him to blast peo-
ple's private concerns : Haggai ii. 14 — 17, " Then answered Haggai,
and said. So is this people, and so is this nation, before me, saith the
Lord ; and so is every work of their hands, and that which they
offer there is unclean. And now, I pray you, consider from this
day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the
temple of the Lord. Since those days were, when one came to an heap
of twenty measures, ^here were but ten : Ayheu one came to the press-
fat, for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but
twenty. I smote you with blasting, and with mildew and hail, in
all the labours of your hands, yet ye turned not to me, saith the
Lord." This woeful selfishness has prevailed in an amazing manner
among us. Little were we concerned with the distresses which
many others of the nation were under ; very indifferent were we as
to what way public matters should go, as if we had been set here to
be idle spectators of the reelings of the nation. But we see God
has many arrows in his quiver, and will even have us to groan with
the rest. And if people go lightly under the burden of the public,
C0N3IDERKD AKD IMPROVED. 281
lie will give them a burden of tlieir own to bear. God kno\vs, your
distress by this storm has laia near ray heart, as I bear a part in all
your afflictions ; but seeing, with grief of heart, your prevailing tem-
per to be such, that I could not call you together to wrestle for the
public cause, I could not have confidence before the Lord to do it
upon an inferior cause, though in itself a very weighty one. — The
Lord is contending with us,
(6.) Because of the contempt of the gospel, and uufruitfulness un-
der the means of grace. This makes a land to groan, and the crea-
tures in it to bear a share.
4. Let the groans of the creatures stir us up to repenting groans
before the Lord. Shall we be groaning under trouble, and the crea-
tures groaning for our sakes, and yet not groan for sin, which is the
cause of all ? For the Lord's sake, sirs, be pliable to the word, and
do not think yourselves above warnings, but receive convictions
from the word, and be humbled under the hand of God, and take a
look of your ways, and repent, and reform yourselves and your fa-
milies. Wrath is gone out from the Lord against the land and us.
Let us try to quench it ere it go farther, lest it break out like fire,
that none can quench it. Let us be concerned for the public cause,
and take a lift of Zion's burden this day. Be not indifferent in the
cause of a Protestant king, and a Popish pretender. Ye have had
fair warning to prepare to meet the Lord, and God followed the
closing of our sermons on that subject hard at the heels with the
stroke. And if this do us no good, take heed it come not next from
the stall to the hall, and men and women be as sore straitened as
the poor dumb creatures are this day.
5. Let us come here, and learn various other lessons. VTe know
the book of the creation is an instructive book; every day we may
have a lesson from them, from the highest. Psalm viii. 3, 4, to the
lowest, Prov. vi. 6, 7, 8, namely, from the heavens to the ant. But
in such a day as this we may learn more from them than ordinary;
now they speak much and loud to us. God makes them groan thus
for our instruction, as he cursed the fig-tree, for a lesson of faith to
his disciples ; and slew the cattle of Egypt, to make the owners see
what they might expect. The creatures groan out these lessons to
us :
(1.) That God is angry with us. He is angry with the land, has
a controversy with our mother, and he is angry with the creatures,
for they smart under it. We may say, as in Hab. iii. 8, " Was the
Lord displeased against the rivers ? was thine anger against the
rivers? was thy wrath against the sea? that thou didst ride upon
thine horses, and thy chariots of salvation." Sure if it is so, it is for
Yoh. IX. T
282 creation's groans
our sakes, and therefore he is angry much more with us. Look now-
through the whole creation, above, under, and about us, and we will
see the characters of the Lord's anger. It is true, these things have
natural causes, but God guides these. And this lesson we may take
for a certain evidence of our sin ; see sermon on Joel i. 18. — An-
other lesson is,
(2.) That it is not easy to get the flame of wrath quenched when
once it is kindled. "We may say this day, as in Psalm Ixv. 5, "By
terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, God of our
salvation." Men's sins may bring that on the creatures which they
will not soon get removed. Learn here to beware of kindling the
fire by provoking God ! It is easier to keep the sword of vengeance
in the sheath, than to got it sheathed again when once drawn. It is
dangerous to depend on the praying for mercy on a death-bed,
delaying all till then, for then wrath may be gone out, not to be
quenched.
(3.) It is dangerous to be concerned with those with whom God
hath a controversy : thus, all that belonged to Achan perished with
him : Josh. vii. 24, 25, " And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took
Achan, the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the
wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and
his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had ; and they
brought them unto the valley of Achor. And Joshua said, Why
hast thou troubled us ? the Lord shall trouble thee this day. And
all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after
they had stoned them with stones." Had these oxen and asses
been another's than Achan's. they had not perished in the manner
they did. Thus the poor creatures lament their relation to sinful
men ; and many smart sore upon the occasion of the controversy God
has with them with whom they are nearly connected. A companion
of fools shall be destroyed. Even those God has a kindness for
may smart full sorely for the sake of others ; see 1 Kings xiv. 10 —
13. Another lesson is,
(4.) That sin is a heavy burden, which none are able to bear up
under. sirs ! What think ye of sin, that makes the very earth
to groan under it this day ? Isa. xxiv. 20, " The earth shall reel
to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage,
and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it, and it shall
fall, and not rise again." Ye walk for the present full lightly
under it, but the weight of it ere long, will be felt by the most stu-
pid sinner ; a dreadful weight ! that makes the whole creation
groan. Are not the bands of guilt strong and strait, that thus gird
up the heaven and earth, and bind down the creatures, that they
CONSIDERED AND IMPROVED. 283
cannot get up their head ? It is an offence to an infinite God, no
wonder it doth lay an infinite weight on the ofi'ender. — We are
instructed,
(5.) That God is a jealons and just God, who will not suffer sin
to go unpunished. Deceive not yourselves with misapprehensions of
God, like the wicked, who, as in Psalm 1. 21, think him altogether
such an one as themselves ; for as sweet as sin may be in the mouth,
it will be bitter in the belly : Job xx. 12 — 14, " Though wickedness
be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue ; though
he spare it, and forsake it not, but keep it still within his mouth : —
Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within
him." Therefore, Exod. xxiii. 21, " Beware of him, and obey his
voice, provoke him not ; for he will not pardon your transgressions."
He is true to his word, and it cannot fail. He will reverse the
order of nature, turn the heavens to brass, and the earth to iron,
rather than one word of his fall to the ground. — We may also
learn,
(6.) That creatures are ever weak pillars to lean to. You have
need of something else to bear your weight, the weight of your
comfort, much more of your happiness, for they are not able. There
is a vanity that they are under, by reason of which they cannot
reach tliat end: Eccl. i. 2, " All is vanity." They that have not
something else to lean to, may soon have nothing to look to at all.
what a pitiful idol is the clay god of this world! — We may far-
ther learn,
(7-) That God is a sovereign King, against whom there is no
rising up. How can sinners think to escape with their sins, when
the whole creation smart for their sakes ? Can we think that
the innocent creatures should suffer, and we go free ? Can there
be an out-braving him, who makes the earth and heavens groan
under his hand ? or a fleeing from him, from whom the whole
creation cannot make their escape ? — We are instructed farther,
(8.) That the service of the creatures to sinful man is an imposi-
tion on them : Rom. viii. 20, " For the creature was made subject to
vanity, not willingly." Man falling from God, lost the right he had
to them. But yet they are kept in his service, which they grudge,
and therefore they groan. — Hence it comes to pass, that these ser-
vants sometimes becoming masters, hurt him, and dispatch him.
The least creature, having a commission for such a service, proves
too hard for him, such as a stone in fruit, or a hair in milk. — I only
add,
(9.) That the creatures ai'e wearied of the world lying in wicked-
ness, and would fain have it brought to an end : Rom. viii. 19, " For
T 2
284 cheation's gkoans
the earnest expectation of tlio creature waiteth for the manifesta-
tion of the sons of God." There is a happy day for the restitution
of all things; they are longing for that day, when this world, that
sink of sin, that stage of vanity, and scene of misery, shall be taken
down ; and the wicked shall have poured out upon them the de-
served curse, with all its eifects, centreing in themselves, without
burdening others with it in any measure. — I come now,
2. To an use of exhortation. The groans of the creatures are ex-
citing, stirring up groans. So many of them as are about us this
day, so many preachers have we to provoke us to the duty we pro-
fess to be engaged in. — They cry to us,
(1.) Humble yourselves under the hand of God. He has laid
them low, and shall not we lie low before him, since for onr sake
they are cast down. The noisy waters are now silent as a stone
under his hand, the lofty mountains have laid aside their ornaments,
and every thing mourns after its kind. Come down, then, from
your pride and obstinacy ; yield yourselves to the God that made
you, lie low in the dust, and join issue with the rest of the creation.
— They cry,
(2.) Eepent, repent ; for he is a God that will not be mocked,
and though he long forbear, lie will be avenged on impenitent sin-
ners at last. He has been long pleading with us to let our sins go,
and he is saying now, as to Pharaoh, Exod. ix. 2, 3, " For if you
refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still ; behold the hand of
the Lord is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses,
upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep ;
there shall be a very grievous murrain." Harden not your hearts
to keep fast the bane of strife betwixt God and yon, lest it fare
with you as it did with Pharaoh, on whose person God's hand fell
heavy at last. — They cry,
(3.) Pray, pray. "When the heathen mariners were at their
prayers in a storm at sea, it was a shame for Jonah to be sleeping ;
Jon, i. 4. The creatures, as they can, are crying to the Lord ; shall
we be more brutish than they, and be silent at such a time ? TVe
have been praying in the congregation; it would be a promising thing,
and no more but duty, if families and particular persons were fast-
ing and praying : Zech. xii. 12, " And the land shall mourn, every
family apart." There is much work in families otherwise, to take
care of them. ! then, will yon not do that which is so needful
for yourselves and them ? — I exhort you,
(4.) To reform, for the sake of these you would not involve in
ruin with yourselves. For, Eccl. ix. 18, " Wisdom is better than
weapons of war; but one sinner destroyeth much good." We see
CONSIDEHED AND lilPKOV£D. 285
how the poor creatures are ruined in this way. But it is not tlieni
only : Achan troubled the camp of Israel, God has threatened to
pursue his quarrel to the third and fourth generations. If one in
the family be seized with the plague, it is enough to carry away the
whole. — Be exhorted,
(5.) To endeavour to reform others, for your own sakes. The fire
in your neighbour's house may come to burn down yours, if you do
not help to quench it. It is thought that Achan's sons perished
with him, because they concealed and laboured not to put away
their father's sin.
(6.) Seek to find your comfort and happiness only in the enjoy-
ment of God and Christ. Then in the time of famine you may re-
joice in the God of salvation, like the prophet Habakkuk, chap, iii,
17. It is a sad matter we should again be so ready to trust the de-
ceiving world, and to lean again to that broken reed that hath so
often failed us, and pierced through our hand. Seek it in God,
where it can never fail, in the everlasting covenant, that will be a
portion of which ye may always be sure.
(7.) Fear God, and stand in awe of him. As the sight of the
drawn sword makes him in some measure afraid that wields it, so
the sight of God's judgments should fill us with the dread of his
majesty : Psalm cxix, 120, " My flesh trembleth for fear of thee ;
and I am afraid of thy judgment," When the sea was raging, and
Jonah awakened, he was impressed with fear and reverence of him
that made it, Jonah i, 9, God would have the hearts of people awed
■with his works ; and it is contempt of God not to be so,
(8.) Labour to get a renewed right to the creatures. Our first
charter was lost by Adam at his fall : and as the estates of rebels
fall of course to the crown, so our right to the creatures was for-
feited, and they fell back into the hands of him that gave them. We
must get a ne(v right through Jesus Christ, by faith in him, if ever
we would have true comfort in the creatures. I own a wicked man
has a sort of right to the creatures : Psalm cxv. 16, " The earth
hath the Lord given to the sons of men," By the same law that
God hath said. Thou shalt not kill, he has made them over to us.
This is a providential right, but it is not a covenant-right. It is but
like the right the forfeited condemned man has to his meat till the
hour of his execution.
Lastly, Te that are godly, I would beseech you to long for that
blessed day for which the creatures are groaning. You have good
reason, as well as they. Long for the day this stage shall be taken
down, whereon so much sin and misery are acted, when all that
Adam put wrong shall be completely righted by Jesus Christ.
286 creation's travail
CREATIONS TRAVAIL AND DELIVERY,
SERMON XXYIII.
Rom. viii. 22,
For we know that the tuhole creation groaneth, and travaileth in fain
together until now.
Having, in the preceding discourses, considered the groans of the
creatures under the sin of men, I now proceed to the illustration of
DocT. 11. That the creatures' pains under the sin of man are
travailing-pains, sore indeed, but hopeful, they will not last always,
they will be delivered from them.
That this is the sense of this metaphor, appears by comparing
ver. 23, " And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the
first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves,
waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."
The creatures have now had a sharp shower for several weeks ;
blessed be the Lord it has in part intermitted, and that he has
heard prayers in their behalf. Many such showers they have had
since Adam's fall ; and though they have an intermission of the ex-
quisite pains, they are not well yet ; the clouds will return after
the rain. But the day will come when they will be quite well, and
fairly delivered, and never groan more. What is clear from the
scriptures in this point, I shall briefly lay before you, and a more
curious inquiry is not fit for the pulpit. — "With this view, I shall
inquire,
I. When this delivery of the creatures is to come to pass.
II. What delivery shall they then get ?
III. Confirm the doctrine of the creatures' delivery. — And then,
lY. Lead you to the practical improvement of the subject. — We
are, then,
I. To inquire when this delivery of the creatures is to come to pass.
God, that has appointed a set time for every thing, has also ap-
pointed the precise time for the delivery of the groaning creation ;
and this is plainly revealed to be at the end of the world. For then
is that time, Rom. viii. 19, 21 : so Rev. xx. 11, " And I saw a great
white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and
the heaven fled ; and there was found no place for them." The
apostle Peter is very express, that then they shall have their bear-
ing shower, as it were, the sharpest ever they had, but it is the last.
AND DELIVERY. 287
2 Pet. iii. 10, " But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the
night, ia the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise,
and the elements shall melt with fervent heat ; the earth also, and
the works that are therein, shall be burnt up," Yer. 13, " Never-
theless, we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a
new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." They have been in
their pangs ever since Adam fell, and will not be delivered till then.
"When that period shall be, I know not; but it is plain the world is
come to its old age. The heaven and earth, that beautiful garment,
is grown old, as the psalmist foretold long ago. Psalm cii. 6 ; there-
fore it cannot be very long ere it will bo changed. She that hath
had many children is waxed feeble ; I mean our mother earth. It
is evident she is not so fruitful as she was ; neither do her fruits
yield such nourishment as sometimes they did, they are both fewer
and weaker ; hence still less and weaker bodies. And why so with
the earth, but because the heavens are in the same condition, and
aftbrd not such influences as formerly, in the vigour of their youth ^
It is observed by astronomers, that the sun shineth more dimly,
and appeareth more seldom than before, being much nearer to the
earth than in ancient times. So much the nearer, so much the less
influence, as appears by comparing summer and winter, the mid-
day and evening ; so that the mighty giant, having so long run his
race, begins also to wax feeble. It is long since our Lord said he
would come quickly, Rev. xxii. 20, And most of the prophecies of the
holy scripture are already fulfilled. All the seals are opened. Six
of the trumpets are already blown. In the time of the seventh, the
mystery of God is to be finished, and the world to end. Rev. x. 7.
And there is no doubt but it is long since it began to sound. Un-
der this trumpet are contained seven vials ; and if these were poured
out, then time is no more. There seems to be two of these vials
past, and that we are now under the third, expecting the fourth. So
that there will be but four of them to come. And it is very agree-
able to the dispensations of providence, that the nearer the end, the
motion will be the quicker ; as in the reigns of the kings of Israel
and Judah, before their respective captivites, 2 Kings xv. 16, and
23, and downwards. Thus, without dipping further, it is evident
we are far advanced in the last times, and that the world is in its
old, if not decrepit age ; and at the end is the delivery.* — We now
proceed,
II. To inquire what delivery the creation shall then get. The
* The author has, in this part of his manuscript, several notes in short band, which
the transcriber could not decipher, from the want of which this part of the subject i»
not so comolete.
288 creation's travail
creature conceived vanity and misery from the time of Adara'a sin,
then they shall be delivered of that burden, with which they have
been so long big, Rom. viii. 20, 21. Now, according to what I be-
fore said on the first general head, we may soberly explain here,
1. They shall fully answer their end, I mean not the very end for
■which they were created at first, for some of these are inconsistent
with the state of glorified saints : 1 Cor vi. 13, '* Meats for the belly,
and the belly for meats, but God shall destroy both it and them."
But whatever is their end, they shall fully answer that, God shall
have his glory by them ; and if he design any benefit to man by
them, they shall not be plagued by vanity therein, Rom. viii. 20 ;
2 Pet iii. 13.
2. They shall be freed from all that evil that cleaves to their
nature now by reason of man's sin. For now they have undergone
a sad alteration, but then they shall undergo another. They shall
be changed : Psalm cii. 26, " They shall perish, but thou shalt en-
dure ; yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment ; as a vesture
shalt tliou change them, and they shall be changed." And that it
shall be to the better, is evident from Rev. xxi. 1, " And I saw a
new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth
were passed away, and there was no more sea."
3. They shall no more be abased by sinners ; they shall never
more serve the lust of any man whatsoever, Rom. viii. 21. They
shall then be recovered, the groaning creature rescued, never to
suffer a relapse any more. However the lusts of the wicked may
then be, they must prey upon their own bowels, but they shall get
no more of the creation to feed them.
4. They shall serve God's enemies no longer. Their long capti-
vity shall then be at an end ; Rom. viii. 21. The sun shall no more
bestow one beam of its light on an ungodly wretch, nor shall the
face of the earth bear him any longer. One drop of water to cool
the tongue, shall no more be at his service. Then they shall bid an
eternal farewell to the masters they served so long against their will.
5. All their misery, which was brought on them by man's sin,
shall then be at an end. Tliey have shared long with man in his
plagues, but then they will get the burden off their back, Rom. viii.
21. The eating of the forbidden fruit cast them into a fever, they
have groaned under it ever since ; but then they shall get a cool,
and never relapse more. Now as to the way this shall be brought
to pass, the scriptures are clear in two things: —
(1.) That the world shall go all up in flames at the last day, which
we call the general conflagration : 2 Pet. iii. 7, " But the heavens
and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store,
AND DELIVERY. 289
reserved until fire against the day of judgment, and perdition of
ungodly men." The apostle is very particular on this, in the 10th
verse : " But the day of the Lord will come as a thief iu the night ;
in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the
elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth, also, and the works
that are therein, shall be burnt up." The visible heavens by these
means shall pass away with a great noise. What a fearful noise
would there be in a burning palace ! what a noise, then, must there
be arising from a dissolving world ! the elements of air, water, and
earth, shall be melted down like metal by the fire ; the habitable
earth shall be burnt up, with the works therein ; men's works, cot-
tages, palaces, castles, towns, and cities ; God's works, all the crea-
tures therein, birds, beasts, plants, trees, silver, gold, coin, &c.
(2.) That upon the back of this conflagration, there shall be new
lieavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, as in
2 Pet. iii. 13. This John sees. Rev. xxi. 1. To this purpose the
psalmist speaks, telling us that the heavens and the earth shall be
changed, which is quite another thing than to be annihilated. So
the apostle Peter calls it only dissolution, 2 Pet. iii. 11. And to this
agrees what lie says of melting by fire, which, we know, does not
annihilate, but only purges the metal from dress.
So far the scripture clearly goes. But what particular creatures
shall be renewed iu the new earth, their actions, properties, and
uses, I will not inquire into these things. It is certain that some
creatures came in after sin. Auah found mules in the wilderness,
as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father. Gen. xxxvi. 24. The day
will discover these things. But when one considers the world was
made to be a looking-glass, wherein to behold God's glorious per-
fections : and that ever since it was made, it has been before sinful
man, blinded with sin, except the short time Adam stood, it may
occasion some thoughts as to what the state of matters shall be in a
new heaven, and in a new earth. — We come now,
III. To confirm the doctrine of the creatures' delivery. — As to
this,
1. Consider, that the great day is the day of the restitution of all
things: Acts iii. 21, "Whom the heaven must retain, until the
times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the
mouth of all his holy prophets, since the world began." When God
made the world, there was nothing but harmony and orderliness in
it. But as ever a rude heedless person, by a rash touch of his hand,
defaced a fine picture, or disjointed and unframed a curious piece of
work ; so did Adam's sin the world. But there is a restoration
coming. — Consider, .
290 creation's travail
2. That our Lord Jesus is the heir of all things, Heb. i. 2. God
gave Adam a charter, to hold of him the great estate of the world.
But, rebelling against his God, his estate was forfeited, and that
charter-right void, because it depended on his good behaviour. The
second Adam coming in his room, the forfeited estate is made over
to him. Psalm viii. 5,6, 7, compared with Heb. ii. 6, 7, 8, " But
now we see not yet all things put under him." Ver. 9, " But we
see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the
suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour, that he by the
grace of God should taste death for every man." But still in some
sense he has not yet the actual possession of all, there are many of
them still in the hands of his enemies, Heb. ii. 8. As Jesus Christ
has a right to all the elect, thongli some of them are yet under the
power of sin and Satan, and all of them, except a few singular per-
sons, under the power of death, but Christ at that day will fully re-
cover them all ; so the creatures yet in the hand of his enemies, he
will then restore, seeing they are all his by his Father's gift ; hence
we are taught that he will come again out of heaven for that restora-
tion : Acts iii. 21. — Consider,
3. That all the effects of the curse are to be gathered together,
and confined for ever with the wicked in the lake : Rev. xx. 14, 15,
*' And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the
second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book
of life, was cast into the lake of fire." 'Now, they lie scattered up
and down through the whole creation, but they shall all meet to-
gether there ; and therefore it evidently follows, that as to the crea-
tures, their share of them, which makes them groan now, shall then
be taken off them, and they for ever made free. As the mud and
filthiness that lies in every part of the street being swept together,
and cast into the common sink, it is all there then, and in no place
else. — It remains,
lY. That we make some improvement.
1. In an use of information.
(1.) This teaches us that every wicked man shall at length get all
his own burden to bear himself alone. Many one takes a light lift
of the burden of sin, because there are so many to bear a share of it.
Men provoke God, and God smites the earth that bears them with a
curse, makes their poor beasts groan, &c. But these strokes are far
from their hearts ; they notwithstanding keep their sins. If they
groan at one time, they will recover again. But remember, im-
penitent sinner ! the day is coming when the creature shall escape,
and leave thee in the lurch for all. The whole weight that is on
them and thee together now, shall lie on thyself alone, and press
AND DELIVEKY. 291
thee (Iowa through eternity, while not one of the creatures shall
touch it with the least of their fingers. — Learn,
(2.) That people had need to take heed how they use the crea-
tures while they have them. For as much as they are under our
feet now, their ears are not nailed to our door-posts to be our slaves
for ever. The day of their freedom is approaching. Let us not
abuse them to the service of our lusts, lest they witness against us
at last. Let us not dishonour their Lord by them, lest they rejoice
over us for ever in our misery, when their foot is out of the snare,
and ours in it. Let us not pat them in God's room, lest they send
all the effects of the curse from off themselves on us, and so put us
in the same place with devils. — We may hence see,
(3.) That this world, and what is therein, passeth away : 1 John
ii. 17j *' And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof." It is a
stage of vanity that will be taken down, and the table of a dying
life will come to an end. "What marvel is it that man dies, seeing
he lives by deaths, the death of the creatures ; but this bondage of
the creatures will not continue, they will be delivered, and God will
support the life of man another way in eternity.
(4.) "We may learn "what glorious things will be the new heaven
and the new earth ! "When the old cracked pewter vessel is melted
down and refined, and cast into a new mould, how unlike will it be
to what it was ! The heavens and earth are now very glorious,
yet sin has marred them. He that made them is not pleased with
them, and therefore will have thera cast over again. If they be so
glorious, even while so far unmade by sin, how great must their glory
be when they are again new made ! — "We learn,
(5.) However large a share the wicked may have here, they will
have neither part nor lot in them. For " in the new heavens and
now earth dwelleth righteousness," 2 Pet. iii. 13. For the wicked
to be there, would be inconsistent with the creatures. But as for
the saints, they have a charter, making over the earth to be theirs ;
which, seeing it is not fully put into their possession now, it must
be in the other world : Matth. v. 5, " Blessed are the meek for they
shall inherit the earth." But how and in what sense they shall pos-
sess it, I am not here to inquire.
2. From this subject we have afforded an use of terror to the
■wicked. How dreadful shall their case be at the end of the world !
Come, impenitent sinner ! behold here, as in a glass, the misery
that is abiding thee. Thou canst make a shift now for thy ease,
but what wilt thou do then ? It is terrible news to thee, that the
creature shall be delivered. — For,
(1.) The misery that lies this day on any creature whatever for
292 creation's tuavail
thy sake, sliall be taken off it, and laid on tliee tliyself ; and when
all is laid on thee, thy burden will be insupportable. There is a
curse on thee already, as a transgressor of the law. Gal. iii. 10. But
a heavy end of the curse lies on the creatures for thy sake : Gen,
iii. 17, " Cursed is the ground for thy sake, in sorrow shalt thou eat
of it all the days of thy life." There is no way to extinguish the
curse but by faith in Christ's blood, which thou slightest. There-
fore, seeing there must be a remoYal of it from the creatures, it must
needs be turned over on thee, and with thee turned out of the world :
Matth. XXV. 41, " Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,
prepared for the devil and his angels." Compare Rev. xiv. 10,
" Thou shalt also drink of the wrath of God, which is poured out
without mixture, into the cup of his indignation, and thou shalt be
tormented with fire and brimstone, in the presence of the holy an-
gels, and in the presence of the Lamb." And wilt thou not then cry
out with Cain, " My punishment is greater than I can bear ?" Gen.
iv. 13.
(2.) As thou wilt be deserted of God, so thou wilt be deserted of
the creatures in thy misery. No help from heaven, none from earth:
Isa. viii. 21, 22, " And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead
and hungry: And it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hun-
gry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king, and their God,
and look upward. And they shall look unto the earth, and behold,
trouble and darkness, dimness and anguish; and they shall be driven
to darkness." When thine enemy falls upon thee, all thy friends
will run away from thee. There are two ways by which the ungodly
get ease in the world, which will both fail them here.
(1.) Though they have no comfort or satisfaction in God, they
can take it in the creature. Though they see no beauty in Christ,
they see a great deal in the world. Though the marriage-supper of
the King's Son be to them a light matter, yet the farm and the mer-
chandise are not so ; Matth. xxii. 4 — 7- Though they have no heart
for the bargain of the everlasting covenant, Prov. xvii. 16, yet they
are easy when they can win a few pence or pounds. Though the
promises of things unseen are to them hungry things, empty shadows,
yet what they can see with their eyes, and get a hold of wiUi their
hands, are substantial : Hos. xiii. 6, " According to their pasture, so
were they filled ; they were filled, and their heart was exalted,
therefore have they forgotten me." Though the man cannot lie on
his right side, he can lie full well on his left; though not on his
back, looking up to heaven, yet on his face, looking down to the
earth. -B^iti, ah! sirs, this trade of yours will not last ; you will not
shift long this way ; the creature will be delivered, and what wilt
AND DELIVERY. 293
thou do then ? Thou wilt not have a whole side to turn thee to
then ; thou slialt have as little comfort in the creature then as in
God, and that is none at all. He that has but one pillar to lean to,
had need to have it a durable one. But thou hast but one, and it
cannot last.
(2.) If they cannot find it in one creature, they take it in another.
If Haman cannot have the comfort of Mordecai's bowing, he can
take it in revenge. If there be not sap enough in one creature, he
can go to another, and so make shift. But this trade will not last
either. For the whole creation shall be delivered ; and if all must
go, there will be nothing left thee to ease thee in thy misery. Was
not Job in a heavy case, when he was full of sores, his whole bcdy
over, and all his friends deserted him ? Job, xix. 13 — 19. But what
was all this to what shall be thy case for ever ? If you call to the
sun that serves you now, it will not bestow one single gleam of light
upon you ; — to the waters, they will not afford thee one drop to cool
thy tongue ; — to all that ever thou possessed upon the earth, it will
not do thee the least service. For then their term is out, and they
will leave thee for ever. — How heavy will all this be !
1st, To be thus left by all thy gods that had most of thy heart
when thy days of strength were. faithless world ! is this thy
kindness to thy friends ? Is this the reward of the precious heart
and affections, time and soul, spent on thee ? Must they that loved
it best, have least comfort of it one day ? They whose hearts idoliz-
ed it, be the only persons abandoned by it in misery ? Yes, it must
be so, and that justly. For it was no more pleasant to the creature
to be set in God's room, than it was to a slave to be forced into the
king's throne by his master.
2dli/, To be concluded under such misery, when the creature, thy
servant and slave, which thou didst use and abuse according to thy
will and lust, shall be set free. When the suffering of the creature
by thy hands shall cease, then thy suffering shall begin. As the
heavens abused by Antichrist are called, on the fall of his kingdom,
to rejoice, Rev. xviii. 20 ; so the abused creatures will turn their
groans into songs of triumph upon thy ruin. And to be insulted in
misery by any, is sad : but saddest of all to be insulted by those
that sometime were our slaves. — This subject may be improved,
3. In an use of comfort to the serious and godly, who notice the
groans of the creatures under sin, and join their own groanings with
theirs. This cloud that has so black and lowering a side to others,
has a fair, white, lightsome side to you. — The creatures shall be de-
livered.
(1.) The mournful spectacle of the creatures which you see to-day,
294 creation's xravaiIi
if that day were come, ye shall see no more for ever. You not long
ago saw the heaven as brass, and the earth as iron, and you heard
an extraordinary groaning among the creatures. But their groans
are not gone, though become lower ; as yet the sun must serve to let
wicked men see to dishonour God ; the earth and sea must afford
God's good creatures to be fuel to men's lusts. Many a good crea-
ture must lose its life, to preserve the lives of them who live hut to
dishonour God; and every creature, meat, drink, and the like, is
abused, and groans under the abuse. Well, the day is coming, when
they will groan no more ; nor shall you need to groan for them.
The travailing creation will cast out its sorrows.
(2.) If that day were come, ye shall also be delivered. You
shall groan no more under your own burdens. This is the time of
your travail, then ye shall be well : John xvi. 20, " Verily, verily,
I say unto you, Ihat ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall
rejoice : and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned
into joy." Ver. 22, '' And now ye therefore have sorrow, but I will
see you again, and your heart shall rejoice : and your joy no man
taketh from you." May we not argue here as our Lord doth ? If
God so clothe the grass, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into
the oven, will he not much more clothe us ? And as tlie apostle,
" Doth God take care for oxen, to deliver them, and will he not take
care for us ?" If God deliver the old groaning creature, will he not
deliver the new creature, that is also groaning ? Yea, surely you
shall be delivered, — delivered from sin, the body of sin, you now
groan under ; the cords of guilt shall be broken in pieces ; the iron
bands of sin's tyrannical power shall be burst asunder ; the old te-
nant, that has sit long against your will, shall be cast out, never to
set his foot in again : 1 John iii. 2, " Beloved, now are we the sons
of God : and it doth not yet appear what we shall be ; but we know
that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see
him as he is." Your candle shall not burn dim any more, nor your
fire be weakly. In the garden, now so much overgrown, there shall
not be one weed, nay, nor the least seed of one left : *' The Egyp-
tians, whom ye see to-day, ye shall see no more for ever." Ye shall
be delivered from all the consequences of sin. Though you are at
present recovering of the deadly disease, yet the effects of it hang
about you ; miseries on your soul, body, character, and the like ;
but then all of these shall take wing, never to return. No more
complaints of a weak and crazy body ; no more reproaches, crosses,
and losses ; no more temptations, for when the carcase is removed,
why should the eagles gather together? The last enemy, death,
shall be destroyed, 1 Cor. xv. 53. Ye shall have a perfect delivery.
AND DELIVERY. 295
There are four words Christ spoke of, or to Lazarus, at raising
him from the dead. These ho speaks for the elect.
The first word is, " Where have ye laid him ?" John xi. 34. The
old murderer took away the elect's life among the rest, and every
elect soul he has naturally buried iu trespasses and sins. But our
Lord, coming to seek what was lost, sends the gospel to the elect ;
and though the party himself cannot discern the gospel-language,
yet others do discern it, and hear Christ in the gospel saying of the
elect soul, " Where have ye laid him ?"
The second word is, " Take ye away the stone," ver. 39. This is
spoken for the work of conviction. Though the dead soul cannot
hear it, it is heard : " My Spirit," says he, " Jet him alone no more ;
conscience, awaken and rouse him up ; law, take him by the tliroat;
oif with his ignorance of God, of sin, and of himself; break his se-
curity, throw by his self-conceit and fig-leave coverings : " Take ye
away the stone."
The third word is, " Lazarus, come fortli !" ver. 43. This is
spoken for the work of conversion. It carries life along with it, the
soul hears this voice, and lives. Then the Spirit of Christ enters
into the soul, and he that was dead in sin lives to God, and is com-
ing forth in the progress of sanctification. But, how slowly does
he come forth ! For though the reigning power of death be broken,
yet the grave-clothes are still about him, which entangle him.
Though he can move both hands and feet, which he could not do be-
fore, yet there are bands on them both. This is all that is heard in
time. But good news to the groaning Christian : at the last day, ye
shall hear the last word, which is the
Fourth, " Loose him, and let him go," ver. 44. Then not only
sin, but all the consequences of it, shall be taken off. No more sin,
pain, death, sorrow, or any such thing. Then comes the glorious li-
berty of the sons of God, which Christ has purchased, which God
has promised, which the whole creation is earnestly expecting, and
which the spiritual Christian is groaning and waiting for, Rom. viii.
21, 23. — I come now to a
4. And last use, of exhortation as to these things.
(1.) Let us believe, and give God the glory due to his name.
Man is changeable, and he that depends upon his promise may sooa
find that he trusts to a broken reed. But not so with God's pro-
mises : Psalm Ivi. 10, " In God will I praise his word : in the Lord
will I praise his word." Abraham had a promise of a very unlikely
thing ; he believed the promise, and it was accomplished, Rom. iv.
17 — 21. Is it unlikely that the creature shall be delivered ? Yet
God has said it ; believe, and give him the glory of his power, that will
296 creation's travail
perform this great thing. Should all tlie angels and men in the
universe conspire to free the groaning creation, they could not effect
it. It is long since they were nonplussed in the case of refreshing
the weary earth with a shower of rain : Jer. xiv. 20, '* Are there
any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain ? or can
the heavens give showers ?" Nay, men conspire to hold down, to
abuse the creatures, and keep tlie hold they have got of them. And
the earth is made a field of blood for the mastery over them. But
God will end the quarrel, and deliver the creature out of wicked
hands. Tlie second Adam is as able to restore, as the first was to
break in pieces. Give him the glory of his goodness, that will not
allow it always to go ill with the good. Gol's good creatures suffer
for man's sake : but a good God will not suffer it always to be so.
How much more will he provide, that piety shall not always be
ashamed, and wickedness triumph ! The day will come, when none
will be high but they that are holy. Give him the glory of being
mindful of his promise, and stedfast to his word. It is more than
five thousand years since he subjected the creature to vanity in
hope ; and so, to this day, they not only groan, but they travail, in
the hope of delivery; and their hope shall not make them ashamed.
that it could make us aishamed of our hope wearing out so soon
under afflictions ! to whom a few years, months, days, nay, even
hours, are sufficient many times to make us hopeless.
(2.) Let us believe this delivery, and walk answerable to the faith
of it : 2 Pet. iii. 11, " Seeing, then, that all these things shall be dis-
solved, what manner of persons ought ye to be, in all holy con-
versation and godliness !"
[1.] Let us use the creatures as servants, not as slaves ; allowing
thera a regard suitable to their natures and use. God has given the
creatures into our hands, and they must endure much misery for
our profit ; and even that may be humbling to us, as being the con-
sequence of sin. But that ever God allowed man to make a sport
of the proper effects of sin, to torment and put to pain any
creature, merely for his pleasure, is what I do not believe. And
therefore grave divines do condemn cock-fighting, and such like, as
unlawful recreations ; and I think not without good ground. Sure
1 am, Solomon says, " A righteous man regardeth the life of his
beast; but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel," Prov. xii.
10. And to whom can the needless torment of the poor creatures
create pleasure, but to the cruel or unthinking ?
[2.] Let us labour to use the creatures soberly, and in the fear of
God, and not abuse them to the service of our lusts. God allows
us them for our necessity, convenience, and delight, in sobriety, but
AND DELIVEKT. 297
not to be fuel to our lusts. Let ns use them so as we would wish
to have done in the day when we will see them delivered ; that is,
use them to the honour of God.
[3.] Let us never build our nest in that tree at the root of which
the axe is lying. The creature is passing, lay not the weight of
your portion upon it. Ye cannot abide with this world ; and if ye
could, it will not abide with you. He is a fool, though he act the
part of a king on a stage, who looks not for a portion that will
be more abiding. For where is he when the stage is taken
down?
[4.] Look for your portion in another world, where is an endur-
ing substance : Matth. vi. 19, " Lay not up for yourselves treasures
upon earth, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves
break through and steal :" Yerse 20, " But lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves do not break through nor steal." This world is
no continuing city ; look out for one that is to come. That is life,
which begins after death is subdued, and when men shall die no
more. To be easy here is no great matter, but to be so then is what
should be our chief concern.
[5.] Be holy in all manner of conversation, 2 Pet. iii. 11. This is
the time of God's forbearance, wherein many confusions are suffered
in the world : the holy and unholy are mixed : the effects of sin lie
on God's good creatures, as well as sinners : but this will draw to
an end, and there will be a fair separation. It concerns you now
to see on what side you shall be set, to distinguish yourselves by
holiness now, from those you would be distinguished from by happi-
ness hereafter.
(3.) And last place. Believe thy delivery, and help it forwards
with your prayers. Cry for the great deliverance, the restitution of
all things. It is one of six petitions our Lord has put into our
mouths, " Thy kingdom come ;" and the last in the book of God is,
" Even so, come, Lord Jesus," Rev. xxii. 20. I would have you to
consider,
[1.] That the churches are all groaning together this day ; some
of them under temporal plagues, being raised by Antichrist; all of
them under spiritual plagues, a fearful decay of power and purity
among them, whereby the disease is become general. The concern
for the Protestant interest is very little at the hearts of some Pro-
testant states. But a due concern -for the Protestant religion, the
promoting truth and holiness, by a thorough reformation, appears
to be very little at the hearts of any of them : Isa. Ixiii. 5, " And I
looked, and there was none to help : and I wondered that there was
YoL. IX. u
298 crkation's travail, &c.
none to uphold : therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me,
and my fury it upheld me."
[2.] That the wheels of providence seem to be running speedily
forward to great changes in the world. God is shaking the nations,
and things appear as in Luke xxi. 10, 11, " Then said he unto them,
Nation shall rise against nation, and kiugdom against kingdom ;
and great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines and
pestilences ; and fearful sights, and great signs shall there be from
heaven." And who knows what shall be the issue ? But we may
be sure that the mystery of God is carrying on by them, and a way
making towards it being finished.
Let us then, by our prayers, help on the deliverance of the crea-
tion, from sin aud its consequences, by crying mightily to the Lord,
that these glorious things which are spokeu of the city of God in
the latter days may be fulfilled, and so the end may come. — I now
proceed to
DocT. III. That the whole creation makes a mournful concert in
the ears of serious Christians, by their groans under man's sin. — Or,
That how deaf soever others be to the groans of the creature un-
der mau's sin, serious Christians will not be so, they will be affected
with them. — In speaking to this, I shall be very short.
I shall only, in a few words,
I. Mention the reasons why they so affect serious Christians.
II. Make some improvement.
I. I am to mention the reasons why they so affect serious Chris-
tians. — Among others, there are the following : —
1. They are the undoubted mark of man's fall and apostacy from
God, which cannot fail to affect a serious heart. Sin has marred
the beauty of the creation ; and though blackness is no deformity
among blackamores, yet it is so amongst the whites. Some glory in
their shame, but they will not do so to whom sin has been truly
shameful. Now, these groans are the memorials of the fall.
2. They are the constant evidences of God's indignation against,
and hatred of sin, which are never wanting in the world. And it is
a child-like disposition to be affected with the tokens of their father's
anger; though they who have no care to please God, can easily pass
the signs of God's displeasure, others cannot.
3. They bring their own sins to remembrance : and a tender con-
science disposes persons to think, *' This is for my sake, for my pro-
vocations, that they suft'er." And so the saints groan with the
groaning creatures, and long for the common deliverance.
4. God is dishonoured by the sinner's abuse of the creatures. This
FAITHFULNESS TOWARDS GOD, &.C. 299
makes both the creature and true Christians to groan, to see God's
good creatures abused, to the dishonour of their Creator.
II. I am now to make some improvement ; and all I propose here,
is an exhortation — not to be deaf to the groans of the creation
under man's sin, but to be suitably affected with them. God has
not only made them groan with their ordinary, but with an extra-
ordinary groan ; aud if you do not from hence see what an ill thing
sin is, what a just God the Lord is, and how severely he punishes,
and so set forwards to reformation of life, you may assure yourselves
you will see these things more to your cost, when you yourselves
shall be made to groan under the heavy hand of the Lord.
Alas ! for the security and impenitency of Scotland ; nothing of
all we have yet met with will rouse us out of it. Take heed that
God do not create a new thing amongst us, which whoso shall hear
of, their ears shall tingle, and thus groans of another sort from
houses and fields shall be heard.
that we were showing ourselves serious Christians, by our being
deeply affected by the groans of the creation under sin ! If we were
so, we would be,
(L) Groaning under a sense of our own sin, and the sins of the
land : mourning for the dishonour done to God by ourselves and
others, by which we have grieved the Spirit of God, and burdened
the very earth that bears us.
(2.) We would be weaned from, and in a holy manner wearying
of the world, which is a compound of sin, misery, and vanity.
Lastly, "We would be longing for the glorious day of the great
change abiding the world, when our Lord's kingdom shall be fnlly
come, — the mystery of God finished, — sin and misery swept out of the
world, — aud the saints and the creatures perfectly delivered. Amen.
FAITHFULNESS TOWARDS GOD EXEMPLIFIED AND REWARDED.*
SERMON XXIX.
Numb. xiv. 24,
But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and
hath followed me fully, hhmuill I bring into the land ivhereinto he
went, and his seed shall possess it.
The Lord being provoked with the murmuring of the people, in con-
sequence of the ill report of the laud brought by the spies, though he
* Delivered after the dispensatioa of the Lord's supper, July, 1712.
u2
500 FAlTHFULNEisf? TOWAIiDS GOD
did not destroy the people all at once ; yet, justly displeased, he
threatened to cut off the whole generation of murmurers, so that not
one of them should come to Canaan. His anger at the rebels, how-
ever, did not make him forget his faithful servant Caleb, who had
acted a totally different part from the rest of the spies, together
with Joshua, who is not named here, because now he was not num-
bered with the peoi)le, being for the present the attendant of Moses,
and afterwards his successor, as captain to lead the children of
Israel into Canaan. This intimates to us, that God's own people
may get special intimations of his love in a time when God is angry
with the generation. However great the darkness may be, some se-
lect ones will always have a Goshen, a land of light to dwell in. Joys
may be their portion, while God is distributing sorrows to others.
There were twelve spies, all of them noblemen or gentlemen,
heads of the children of Israel, Num. xiii. 3. There were two, and
but two of them, faithful to God and their country. Ten of them
brought up an ill report of the land, dishonoured God, and ruined
both their countrymen and themselves. They that are false to
God, will never be true friends to their country. Hence we see,
though not many noble are called, yet some are. Greatness and
goodness met in Caleb. — Goodness, that he would not desert the
cause of God, notwithstanding of all the ill company with which
he was associated. They have little religion, that will not endure
the shock of ill company, be they never so great. — In the text
there is,
1. Caleb's character. — More generally, God owned him as his ser-
vant. This honour God put upon him. It is an honour to the
greatest to be God's servants ; though the greater part will rather
be the devil's slaves, and count that their honour. But black-
ness is beauty among black men. — More particularly, Caleb was
a man of a truly gallant and generous spirit. His name sig-
nifies all heart, and his disposition corresponded with his name.
He had another sx)irit than that of the world, another than his
own, another than the rest of the spies. He possessed a spirit
from heaven, calculated for the work to which he was appointed ;
and that Spirit inspired him with courage, with undaunted resolution,
while the rest were misled by a base, mean, sneaking spirit. He was
truly courageous in his actions ; his other spirit made him behave
himself otherwise than the rest. He followed the Lord fully ; he
walked with the Lord, kept close by his duty, in opposition to all
difficulties and discouragements. He was not afraid of the Anakims,
nor did his undaunted heart shrink at the sight of their high walls.
He knew that towns, walls, armies, and giants, must fall before the
EXEilPLIFIED AND REWAHDED. 301
Lord, wlicn his promise was engaged for it. His companions de-
serted and contradicted him in his good report. The people threat-
ened him with stoning, but ho was all heart, would not yield, but
followed the Lord fully. (Hebrew, fulfilled after the Lord.) What-
ever way the Lord led, he followed. — In the text there is,
2, The gracious recompense which God promised to his steadiness
and faithfulness ; that is, the possession of that good land, while the
carcases of the rest fell. Piety is the best policy. They who are
careful of God's honour, he will see to their interest. Caleb was to
fight for the land, but God says, I will bring him into it. The praise
of the success of our endeavours is due to the Lord only ; this pro-
mise secured his through-bearing over all difficulties. — From this
subject, we may draw the following doctrines, which we shall attend
to iu their order, viz.
DocT. L That the honest servants of Jesus Christ must distinguish
themselves from others, by following the Lord fully.
DocT. II. That they who would follow the Lord fully must have
another spirit, another than the spirit of the world, another thau
their own spirit naturally is.
DocT. III. That those who, by following the Lord fully in the
time of great declining, distinguish themselves from others, God will
distinguish them, by special marks of favour in a time of great cala-
mity. — The scripture afl'ords many instances in proof of this, as
Noah, Lot, Jeremiah, &c. — We begin with
DocT. I. That the honest servants of Jesus Christ must distin-
guish themselves from others, by following the Lord fully. — For
illustrating this doctrine, it is intended,
I. To shew what it is to follow the Lord fully.
II. To give the reasons of the point. And then,
III. To improve the subject. — We are then,
I. To shew what it is to follow the Lord fully.
1. It is to follow the Lord only as our great guide and leader :
Heb. xii. 2, " Let us run the race set before us, looking unto Jesus,
the author and finisher of our faith." They that follow not the
Lord only, do not follow him fully : Hos. x. 2, " Their heart is
divided." Their heart was going, one part after the Lord, another
after their idols. He must have the whole man. Now, this implies
two things,
(1.) The soul's ceasing to follow all others who do not lead in
subordination, but in contradiction to him. We have eaten our
gospel-passover, and must now set forward on our journey. We
stand as in a place where two ways meet, and at the entrance to
302 TAITIIFULNESS TOWARDS GOX>
these ways there are false guides, who cry, Follow us ; the Lord
says, as in Song iv. 8, " Come with nie from Lebanon, ray spouse."
— "We must not follow false guides. — We must not follow our own
spirits : Prov. sxviii. 26, " He that trusteth in his own heart is a
fool." Most men's spirits are quite blind : " Ye were sometimes
darkness," Eph. v. 8. The best of them are but in their spiritual
childhood, not to be trusted to themselves, but standing in need of a
governor. They are naturally biassed guides, having a bent the
wrong way. There are many snares which our spirits perceive not,
till they are caught in them as a bird ; they often grasp delusions
instead of light ; and men's thoughts in religion, not regulated by
the word, prove as false lights on the sea, that occasion the ship's
dashing on a rock. Let us look above us, rather than within us,
for our way. — Again, we must not follow our own lusts : Rom. viii.
1, " Who walk not after the flesh." Lusts are followed by many
uuto their own perdition ; when they lead, the devil drives, because
they lead the highway from God. Wind and tide from hell go with
the stream of corrupt lusts, while the soul follows as an ox to the
slaughter. Much of the spiritual warfare here lies in striving against
this stream. — Neither must we follow the world ; the world would
have the leading of all, and it gets the leading of its own. — We
must not follow the men of the world : 1 Cor. vii. 23, " Ye are
bought with a price, be not ye the servants of men." No man must
be followed farther than he follows Christ. The dictates and com-
mandments of men, be they ever so great, are no rule for conscience
and practice : " To the law and to the testimony ; if they speak not
according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." It
was the sin of Ephraim, Hos. v. 11, that "he willingly walked after
the commandment." They have little faith, or truth either, that
will pin their faith to the sleeve of any. — Farther, Follow not the
course and way of the world : Rom. sii. 2, " Be not conformed to
the world." To be neighbour-like is not tlie plain way to heaven,
but a plausible Avay to hell, for the most part of people's neighbours
are going the broad way. Tliere will none seek to heaven, but a
peculiar people, a singular sort^of persons, true separatists from the
multitude, who must resolve to be men wondered at. They that will
follow the multitude must perish with the multitude, and it will be
cold comfort to us, that we go to hell with a company. — Finally,
Follow not the smiles of the world. If we will follow the Lord
fully, we must lift our process, and leave off to make our court to a
bewitching world, which treats its folloAvers like the false irregular
lights that are sometimes seen in the night, which pleases the eye
of the traveller, but lead him off his way into some quagmire,
EXEMPLIFIED AZiD REWARDED. 303
obliging him to retire with shame and sorrow. How often does the
world repay our love with frowns, and kills when it flatters. — This
implies,
(2.) The soul's following the Lord in opposition to all these. The
souls of men are ruined by an exchange of the living God for idols ;
Jer. ii, 13, " For my people have committed two evils: they have
forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cis-
terns, broken cisterns that can hold no water." And their salvation
is begun by an exchange of idols for the true God. The devil, the
world, and the flesh, make many oft'ers; God makes one, " I will be
thy God," which, in a day of power, downweighs all the offers of the
world and of hell. Hence, when the man is brought to follow the
Lord fully, then farewell all others, and the Lord is welcome for nil.
There the eye of the soul is fixed. You may take this in three
things : —
[L] The Lord points out to his people the place of eternal rest, a
city where they may abide. This they follow after as their grand
prospect in the world : Heb. xi. 14 — 16 " For they that say such
things, declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they
had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they
might have had opportunity to have returned : but nowHhey desire &
better country, that is, an heavenly : wherefore God is not ashamed
to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city."
There they must be, there they are resolved to be, cost what it will :
Matth. xi. 12, " The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the
violent take it by force." Their great question is, " What shall we
do to be saved ?" "While others are following what is about them,,
they follow what is above them for their happiness ; they will not
have their portion in this world, nor can such small things satisfy
them. They are inspired with holy ambition to have a place among
them that stand before the throne of God and the Lamb. Their
other spirit so ennobles them, as that they cannot rest in these little
views, which the serpent's seed have before their eyes. It is a holy
flame which natively ascends, and carries the soul upward : Phil,
iii. 20, " For our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we
look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ."
[2.] The Lord points out the way leading to eternal rest ; and
they following the Lord fully, their heart follows him, making
choice of it. He points out Christ the personal way, John xiv. 6,
Then the soul that was knocking at, and working to win in at
Adam's bolted door, the covenant of works, gives it over, and comes
in by the door of the sheep, renouncing the way of the law, that old
dead, killing way, and choosing to enter by the new and living way
304 lAlTUii'ULNElSS 'I'UWAitJDS OOD
Heb. X. 20. The Lord points to the real way of holiness, Isa. xxxv.
8. That way they choose : Psalra cxix. 30, " 1 have chosen the way
of truth." This is their choice, that they may not be either among
the faithless workers, or the idle, indolent believers, neither of whom
follow the Lord fully. True, it is a difficult way ; both the way of
believing, and the way of holiness, lie up-hill, but they halt no
more. Their feet follow him, walking in it. lie sets them to the
strait gate, and they enter on the narrow way, and they walk in it.
Better a narrow way to heaven, than a broad way to hell. Their
choice is followed with action, their purposes issue in sincere endea-
vours, and their resolutions are crowned with practice : Psalm cxix.
106, " I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy
righteous judgments." Like Naphtali, they give goodly words, and,
like Joseph, are as a fruitful bough.
[3.] The Lord goes before them, and they follow his steps. He
is glorious in holiness, and their design is to be like him, holy as ho
is holy. They labour to imitate him in his imitable perfections.
They are " followers of God, as dear children." There is a likeness
betwixt a man and his God, and therefore the heathens, when they
could not be like God in holiness, they made their gods like them-
selves in filthiuess; and God, to shew men how they should walk,
sent his own Son in manhood, both to die for sinners, and also to
leave them an example, that men might see with their eyes how God
walked, and so learn how ho would have them to walk. Thus wo
must write after his copy, 1 John ii. 6, " He that saith he abideth in
him, ought himself so to walk, even as he walked." And no less
pattern do they propose to themselves who follow the Lord fully.
2. To follow the Lord fully, is" to follow him universally : Psalm
cxix. 6, *' Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all
thy commandments." Whosoever says ho will come after me, they
must follow me " in all things, in all times, in all places, with all
their souls." No exceptions can be admitted in following the Lord :
but as the resignation at first was absolute, if honest, so must the
following be. This is to follow him fully, to fulfil all the will of
God. — More particularly,
They that would follow the Lord fully, must follow the Spirit of
the Lord, and not follow their own spirit. It is an ordinary
character of a Christian in Paul's epistles, that he walks after
the Spirit. It is the work of the Spirit to bring in light, to discover
sin and duty ; we must entertain it, and comply with it, we must
answer the call : Psalm xxvii. 8, " When thou saidst, Seek ye my
face, my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek." To in-
diue aud fit the soul for following, we must beware of quenching the
EXEMPLIFIED AND RE^yA^^DED. 305
Spirit, but rather, when the wind blows, spread out our sails, that they
may be filled by it. We must be spiritual in our hearts, lips, and lives.
They must follow the word of the Lord, Psalm cxix. 30. Tho
Lord's written word is the Christian's directory for heaven, tho com-
pass by which he is guided on the sea of this world, and by which he
is to steer his course. It is tho map of the country to which, and
through which, he is travelling. Thence must he take his way-
marks. What the Bible says, should seldom be out of the Chris-
tian's heart. Those who study the Bible, have the advantage above
all others, they get their directors away to heaven with them. " It
is written," will be enough to them that follow the Lord fully. They
will make the word of the Lord overcome their prejudices. Isa. si.
6, " The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie
down with the kid : and the calf, and tho young lion, and tho fat-
tling together : and a little child shall lead them."
They must follow the providential will of the Lord : " Thy will
be done in earth, as it is in heaven." If we have said, I am the
Lord's, then we must have said, Our will is the Lord's. It remains
that our will should follow the Lord's, as the shadow doth tho body.
If it be God's will that wo should be poor, sick, crossed, &c., that
should also be our will ; if not, we do not follow the Lord fully.
It is a sad matter we should give up ourselves to be servants, and
yet still aim at being masters, to cut and carve for ourselves. There
will be a crook in every lot of ours under the sun. Eccl. i. 15,
" That which is crooked cannot be made straight." That which is
crooked, in respect of our will, is straight enough with God's, which
is tho true rule, so that if we follow the Lord fully, oiir will should
be bended to the crook, and not the crook straightened to our will.
Again, we must follow the cause and interest of the Lord in the
world. There is always war in the heaven of the church, between
Michael and the dragon, though it does not always come to blood.
The armies are always in the field, though they are not always actu-
ally engaged in a furious battle. Ye must be on the Lord's side,
whether it be the highest, or the lowest in the world. There is no
lying neutral here ; if we be not for God and his cause, then we are
against him. This is a day wherein the enemy has displayed his
banners ; and we also have a banner to be displayed because of truth :
" Who is on the Lord's side? — Who?" It is time God's people
were taking courage to them, and cleaving to the Lord, his way
and work, in this covenanted land, in spite of all opposition.
In the next place, we must follow the ordinances and institutions
of the Lord, that doctrine, worship, discipline, and government,
which has the Lord's stamp on it, the preaching of his word, and the
306 FAITHFULNESS TOWARDS C40D
sacraments, &c. It is lamentable to think how that spirit is gone,
which some time ago was among people, for following the ordinances
of the Lord. We are even glutted and surfeited with them. Op-
portunities of communion with God are undervalued. People will
deprive themselves of them, from reasons which, if they were to
lose a sixpence by, they would quickly come over. It was the com-
mendation of the Levites, and godly people through the ten tribes
in Jeroboam's time, that " they followed the|ordinances of the Lord."
All these came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the Lord God of their
fathers.
We must also follow the worship of the Lord. — The secret wor-
ship of the Lord by ourselves alone : Matth. vi. 6, " But thou, when
thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy
door, pray to thy Father, which is in secret ; and thy Father which
seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." Secret prayer is a duty
which they who are exercised unto godliness cannot live without, a
duty in which communion with God is as readily to be had as in
any other : and though there may be prayers in your family, yet, if
you know your duty, you will also pray in your closet. — Family
prayer : " Pour out," says the prophet, " thy fury upon the heathen,
and upon the families that call not upon thy name." What do
prayerless families but expose themselves to the wrath of God ?
Every house should be a church. We receive family mercies, and
are chargeable with many family sins ; why not then family worship ?
And do they follow the Lord fully that have their family worship ?
They will worship God at night, but not in the morning. Complain
not of want of time, others in your circumstances get time when they
have a heart to it. — Next, internal worship, without which all your
external worship will be to no purpose. There is no following of
the Lord fully, if that be wanting : Phil. xiii. 3, " We are the cir-
cumcision, that worship God in the spirit ;" that is, in the exercise
of grace with external worship ; fear, reverence, faith, hope, love,
and other holy aifections, which are the life and soul of worship.
Finally, they must follow the Lord so as that one thing be not
wanting: Mark x. 21, " One thing thou lackest." There is one
thing usually that is the great thing which stands betwixt every one
and heaven : it is as it were the Shibboleth they cannot frame to
pronounce. They can comply with any duty, part with every sin,
bear any cross, but such a duty, such a sin, such a cross. And
therein they say, as Naaman, 2 Kings v. 18, " In this thing the
Lord pardon thy servant. When I bow down myself in the house
of Rimmon, the Lord pardon thy servant in this thing." But this
is not to follow the Lord fully. People must either come over that
EXEMPLIFIED AND REWARDED. 307
also, or tliey cannot prove their sincerity. The only course to take
here is that in Matth. v. 29, 30, " And if thy right eye offend thee,
pluck it out, and cast it from thee ; for it is profitable for thee, that
one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should
be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it oft', and
cast it from thee." Herein lies the great evidence of sincerity ;
and the victory over predominant lusts is like that over the Ana-
kiras, which will cost many a severe struggle.
3. To follow the Lord fully, is to follow him uprightly. A hypo-
crite does but walk in a vain show. His feet only, not his
heart, do follow the Lord. God, who is the maker and the
searcher of the heart, will never reckon himself followed fully
in a carcase of duties ; but notices the manner, motive, principle,
and end of actions, which, if they be not right, all is wrong. — Then,
to follow the Lord fully, is to follow him honestly in respect of our
principle, not with a carnal selfish principle, which can only set
us agoing, but with a spiritual, principle ; not as a mercenary sol-
dier follows his captain, but as a child follows his father : John vi.
26, " Te follow me," said Jesus, " not because ye saw the miracles,
but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled." There is a
selfish religion, where self is the chief wheel that sets all agoing. —
We must follow him singly, in respect of our end ; following the
Lord with a design and desire to please him, and not for carnal
selfish ends. What is not done for the Lord, as the chief end, he
will never reward. "Want of singleness in the end, maims the
action : as when a wife adorns herself to please an adulterer, her
aim would make her action abominable. — We must follow the Lord
evangelically, in respect of the manner; following the Lord, leaning
on his, and not on our own strength. This is the life of faith in obe-
dience, by which the soul goes out of itself to the Lord for all^strength,
saying, as in Psalm Ixxi. 16, " I will go in the strength of the Lord."
4. To follow the Lord fully, is to follow him constantly : John
viii. 31, " Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him. If
ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed," It is a
small matter to begin well, but it is the continuing to follow the
Lord which is true following of him. It is a following the Lord
habitually and evenly, so that our souls are fixed on this as their or-
dinary bend. It is not to take up our religion by fits and starts.
We must delight ourselves in the Lord, and call always upon our
God. This must be our daily business, not our by-hand work. It
was the fault of Rehoboam, 2 Chron, xii. 14, " He did evil, because
he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord," And it is the fault of
many, that they are unstable as water in matters of religion; many
308 FAITUrUL^TESS TOWAP.DS GOD
people's religion is like a tree-leg, which they can lay by and put to
as their convenience requires. Wo must follow the Lord, so as to
end our journey without defection and apostacy : " Be thou faithful
nnto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." "We must not
follow the Lord as ordinary servants, who have their term day, at
which they give up with their masters. But our course of obedience
must have its perfect work ; we must go through with the work of
Christ to the end. Apostates are not fit for heaven : " No man," said
Jesus, " having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for
the kingdom of heaven," Luke ix. G2. But fearful is their doom, if
they apostatise : " If any man," says God, " draw back, my soul shall
have no pleasure in him," Ileb. x, 38.
Finally, it is to follow the Lord resolutely, as Ruth did Naomi,
in opposition to all discouragements and impediments in the way.
There is the river of the evil example of the world, but they must
strive against the stream ; there are corrupt strong lusts of the
heart, but they must cut off right hands, and pluck out right eyes ;
and there is the cross that will be laid on their backs, which they
must go through with, and not turn their backs on the Lord in a
stormy day,'^but trample on all which they have in the world to follow
the Lord. They must not be as those who go to sea for pleasure, but
like hardy mariners, who ride out the storm. — We now proceed,
II. To give the reasons of the point.
Among others, we shall mention the following : —
1. Because the change made in regeneration is a real change
though not perfect. Believers are God's " workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus unto good works." The new creature, from the time
of its birth, is perfect in its parts, though not in degrees. There
is something awanting in every part of the new man, but no part is
altogether awanting. Each gracious person has all the graces of the
Spirit, though some of them are more eminent than the rest, and are
as top-branches. This cannot but produce a following the Lord in a
gospel sense.
2. In closing with Christ there is an universal resignation. They
give themselves up wholly to the Lord. No exception can be made,
but the most difficult duty is undertaken, the dearest lust is given
up with. It remains that people's sincerity in closing with Christ
be evidenced by their walk, in an unlimited respect to all his com-
mandments, in following the Lord whithersoever he goes.
3. The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness,
and truth, Eph. v. 9. When there is not something of all goodness,
there the Spirit dwelleth not. Where the garden is only watered
by man's hands, there some plants thrive, others go back for lack
EXEMPLIFIED AND REWARDED, 309
of moisture ; but where the shower comes from heaven, it brings all
forward together. So where there is an artificial religion taken
up by men, there may be some i)artial or external appearance of
good fruits : but where the Spirit is at work in the so'ul, real good-
ness, and righteousness, and truth, will at once be brought forth in
the life and practice.
4. True mortification is universal. Where death comes, it takes
the life out of the whole body, the soul departs from every part.
So, Gal. V. 24, " They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with
the affections and lusts." Sin keeps its dominion by one lust, as
well as by many : therefore where any lust remains unsubdued, there
is no genuine mortification there. But where genuine mortification
to sin is, the soul will follow the Lord fully.
5. Hypocrites may follow the Lord, but none can fully follow
him, but those that are sincere. Judas may be in Christ's company, but
the bag was always dearer to him than his master. Demas, because
he loved the present world, apostatized ; so that, unless we follow the
Lord fully, we go not beyond the line of hypocrites. — I now go on,
III. To make some improvement. — And this,
1. In an use of warning.
This may serve to warn one and all of us, to take heed to our
ways, and examine well our walk, whether we follow the Lord fully
or not. Much depends upon it. None follow the Lord fully in a
strict sense, while out of heaven, but all honest Christiansfollowhirain
a gospel sense. Therefore ye may well suspect your states,'if you do
not follow the Lord fully. This may strike a damp uponthe spirits,
(1.) Of the more gross sort of professors, whose religion appears
plainly to be but half religion, who, even in the externals of religion,
take some parts, and leave others which they know to be duty ; like
these, Zeph. i. 5, " who worship the host of heaven upon the house-
tops, and that swear by the Lord, and that swear by Malcham ;" that
will sometimes be praying, and sometimes cursing, taking parts of
religion only here and there. — It may strike a damp on the spirits,
(2.) Of the more cleanly sort of professors, who go a great leno-th,
only lack one thing. There is one thing that is the great make-
bate betwixt God and them ; and they go through all the rest of
religion, but there they are mired, there they stick. That is the
great gulf fixed between heaven and them, through which they can
by no means pass. But pass it wo must, or we follow not the Lord
fully. Some do not see it, then it is the more dangerous ; but seen
it must be, and also overcome, or men may bid farewell to heaven ;
Rev. iii. 21, " To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with mo
on my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my
Father on his throne," — Here some mav state an
310 FAITHFULNESS TOWABDS GOD
Objection, If following the Lord fully take in all these things,
■who does it ? In Answer, These follow the Lord fully in a gospel
sense, who,
(1.) Observe the Lord daily, and bear up after him in every step,
yet, like the weak child following its mother, their eye follows him,
their desire goes out after him, they would be at him, and with him,
wherever he goes. — This implies two things. — (1.) Their observing
all the prints of his feet, they love all his footsteps, they love all
the duties of religion for his sake, and desire to perform all his com-
mandments : Psalm cxix. 5, " that my ways were directed to keep
thy statutes !" Their heart is in some measure reconciled to every
known duty, and at variance "with every known sin. The spirit is
willing, though the flesh be weak. Some sins lie nearer their hearts
than others ; some are as right eyes, others only but as left toes ;
hut ! a right eye plucked out is good in their sight, the contrary
grace is beautiful and glorious, and the desire of their souls : Rom.
vii. 12, " Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy,
and just, and good," — (2.) Their observing himself as the centre of
all their desires. All goodness, holiness, and perfection, centre in
him. That which is scattered here and there in his word, ordinances,
and people, they take a view of, as concentred in himself, and so
see in him at one view the whole of what they should be ; they are
pleased with it, and sincerely desire to be like him. — These follow
the Lord fully,
(2.) Who aim after the Lord fully ; though they cannot follow
him precisely in every point, they aim at, they endeavour it, as the
child following its mother, weeping, and making what way it can
after her. This implies two things. — (1.) They aim at the perform-
ance of all duties, and warring against every sin. They do not give
goodly words, and so fold their hands together, wishing they were
better; but they even put their hands to roll up the stone, which
yet perhaps may come down and down, over and over again, upon
them. They aim at being holy in all manner of conversation, 1 Pet.
i. 15. Grace infuses a principle in the heart, that turns the man
towards every thing to which God calls. — (2.) They aim at the all
of every duty, to get it right as to the manner, as well as to the
matter : Phil. iii. 3, " They worship God in the spirit, rejoice in
Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." — I come now,
2. To an use of exhortation.
I exhort you to distinguish yourselves from others, by your fol-
lowing the Lord fully. Sirs ! have ye a desire for heaven or not ?
If ye have no desire, you may sit still at ease, time will carry you
down the stream to an eternity of woo ! If ye have a desire for
EXEMl'UFIED AN0 REWARDKD. 311
heaven, then up, follow the Lord, follow him fully. Set your aflfec-
tions that way. You follow duties; that is not enough, follow the
Lord in these fully, or you will never see heaven. I hope you are
not for bidding farewell to, and taking your last sight of heaven. If
then you be in earnest to get to heaven, set yourselves to follow the
Lord fully. Before I press this upon you by motives, I exhort you
to take a solemn, grave, and serious consideration of what is lacking
in your conversation, that you may fill it up by following the Lord.
We must see our defects before we can fill them up. To assist you
in this, consider what is wanting,
(1.) In your mortification of sin, what right eye remains to be
plucked out, lest there may be some one leak or other that may
sink the ship : Psalm Ixvi. 18, " If I regard iniquity in my heart,
the Lord will not hear me." Self-love prevails much, and hence
beloved lusts find harbour, and escape the axe. — Consider,
(2.) What is wanting as to your compliance with known duties,
whether ye make conscience of all ye know or not. Do you find
that you pray, but do not meditate nor examine yourselves ? then
fill up that want. Do you pray, but neglect to watch ? then fill up
this want also ; and so on. — Consider,
(3.) What is wanting in the duties ye perform ? For many times
these are but the half of duties, the outward part only, wanting
that faith, love, zeal, and liveliness, that should be in all our duties.
— Consider,
(4.) What is wanting in your bearing the cross. Every one has
his daily cross. Consider how ye bear it, with what meekness and
patience ye walk under it.
(5.) Consider what is wanting in your graces, if you have any;
and unto what you have you should be still adding : 2 Pet. i. 5^
" Add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge tem-
perance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and
to godliness brotherly love and charity." — Consider,
(6.) What is wanting in yonr relative conversation. A man is
really what he is relatively. Consider how thou answerest the
duties of a husband, wife, parent, child, master, or servant. — Having
carefully observed all these wants and defects, be conscientious in
filling them up ; follow the Lord only, universally, uprightly, con-
stantly, and resolutely. Follow him fully. — To constrain you to this,
I would mention the following motives : —
1. All is full which is set before you in the way of following the
Lord. God deals not by halves.
(1.) We have a full law for our rule to walk by: Psalm cxix. 96,
" Thy commandment is exceeding broad." It is extended to all the
312 PAITHFITLNESS TO^VARDS GOD
parts of our walk ; it readies heart, lip, and life ; requires not only-
duty to be done, but done aright. And unless we have respect to
all God's commandments, our obedience is not acceptable.
(2.) "We have a full word for our light in our walk, by which we
may take up what is sin, and what is duty, see how to steer our
course in times of the greatest darkness : Psalm cxix. 105, "Thy word
is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto ray path." It is the star
that is given to guide us through this world, and we should be much
conversant with it.
(3.) We have a full covenant for provision in our way. It
is an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure," 2 Sam.
xxiii. 5. Whatever be our case, there is suitable provision in the
covenant for it. There are in it precious promises to the saints in all
conditions of life. Whatever storms and tempests may blow in the
world, the saints may find something in the covenant to shelter
them.
(4.) We have a full Christ to lean to. He is mighty to save. In
him there is both righteousness and strength.
(5.) There is a full weight of glory for reward ; such as will fill
soul and body even those of the most enlarged capacities. Shall we
not then follow hira fully ?
2. The Lord Christ, our leader, did not do the work of our salva-
tion by halves, but fully. He obeyed the law fully, none of its com-
mandments wanted their full due of liim. lie suffered and paid the
debt fully, its threats and curses fell on him in full measure. And
what would have become of us, if Christ had halved the work of our
salvation ? Who would have done the rest ? Who would have sa-
tisfied for any of our sins, or made up for any deficiencies in our
services?
3. Our not following the Lord fully, makes the following him in
any instance so difficult ; and to follow hira fully would be the high
way to make religion easy. When the Christian has one foot fixed
to the earth, it is no wonder than that he with difficulty mount up-
ward. One lust unmortified is enough to mar all our duties, and
make our progress in religion very irregular, and therefore difficult ;
whereas it would bo a great ease if all came away together, Luke
ix. 69.
4. If wo do not follow him fully, we will lose the reward of fol-
lowing him at all, in respect of eternal salvation, 2 John 8. Look
to yourselves, that we lose not these things which we have wrought,
but that wo receive a full reward : otherwise wo will lose all tho
pains wo have been at in religion. That in which we follow him not,
will draw a black stroke through all in which we have followed him.
EXEMPLIFIED AND REWARDED. 313
Lastly, Another motive is, if we follow Iiim not fully, we will
share with them that have not followed him at all, in a fulness of
wrath : Psalm cxxv. 5, " As for such as turn aside unto their
crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of
iniquity." God will fill them with the wine of his wrath. He will
" cut them in sunder, and appoint them their portion with unbe-
lievers," Luke xii. 46, as those who divided themselves betwixt the
Lord and their own lusts.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.
SERMON XXX.
Numb. siv. 24,
But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit ivith him, and
hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land ivhereunto he
went, and his seed shall possess it.
I NOW proceed to the consideration of
DocT. IL That they who would follow the Lord fully, must have
another spirit ; another than the spirit of the world, another than
their own spirit naturally is.
In attending to which, I shall,
I. Shortly point out, that it is another spirit.
II. Shew what that spirit is, which they who follow the Lord
fully have, and must possess. — Illustrating, at the same time, the na-
ture and necessity of such a spirit.
III. Make some practical improvement.
I. I am shortly to point out, that it is another spirit which such
possess.
This other spirit, which is so necessary to following the Lord
fully, is understood, either of the Holy Spirit of God, who dwells in
all the saints, Rom. viii. 9, or rather of a spirit sanctified by the
Holy Spirit, and raised above its natural spirit by the power of
grace. Thus it seems here to be understood, though both amount to
the same thing. Such a spirit may well be called another spirit.
For,
1. It is another spirit than that which the world is possessed of
which is a mean and base spirit, influencing them to grovel on this
earth. The world has what it calls a fine spirit. But even that does
Vol. IX. X
314 FAITHFULNESS TOWARDS GOD
but grasp at sliadows, while the most excellent tilings are out of its
view. But this is a spirit truly noble.
2. It is another spirit than the most refined hypocrites hare. By
the common operations of the Spirit, the sj^irit of hypocrites may
be raised to act more nobly than before, but these change not the
nature of a man's spirit, but only help it to act in a natural way to a
better purpose ; whereas this spirit raises it to gracious actings.
3. It is another spirit than what the saints had before they were
sanctified. Another, not in substance, but in qualities. How does
this other spirit make a man differ from himself? How doth it ad-
vance him to a higher sphere ? It made a preaching Paul of a per-
secuting Saul. It endows a man with quite new principles, motions,
ends, and aims, and elevates him to new measures for attaining the
same.
II. I go on to show what that other spirit is which these who fol-
low the Lord fully have and must possess. — Illustrating, at the same
time, its nature and necessity. — This spirit is,
1. A noble elevated spirit, aiming at high things, and is not satis-
fied with these with which the common herd of mankind are satis-
fied. Thus Caleb aimed at Canaan, Numb. xiii. 30, while the rest
were for Egypt again, chap. xiv. 4. Such another spirit have the
saints, Phil. iii. 14, " They press forward toward the mark, for the
prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Were a beg-
gar's child adopted by a prince, he would change his spirit with his
lot, and aim at things suitable to his new quality. Thus the child-
ren of God rise in their aims and designs, will not be content with
the creatures, but with God himself ; not with earth, but hea-
ven, not the favour of men, but of God, not with gold, but grace;
for they have another spirit, which can be content with nothing less.
They have high projects, not bounded within the limits of this nar-
row world, but aiming at a greater conquest. Now, such a spirit they
must have that would follow the Lord fully. — For, if less can satisfy,
they will be content to take their portion on this side Jordan ; they
will exchange heaven for earth, and keep their grand prospect with-
in the bounds of this world : Phil. iii. 19, " Their God is their belly,
and they mind earthly things;" and so will never follow the Lord
fully, nay, they will leave him where they cannot get their carnal
interest along with them, as Demas did. — Again, if they have not
such a spirit, they will continue creeping on the earth, to get their
food, as the beasts among their feet, and never follow the Lord in the
way to true happiness. They will fall down before these three that
are in the world : " The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and
the pride of life," 1 John ii. 16. Tliey will wrap themselves up in
EXEMPLIFIED AND REWAHPED, 315
the world's profits, or drench themselves in its pleasures, and, like
beggars, take care of their cottages, having no eye to a palace.
Finally, if they have not such a spirit, they will never use means
and endeavours suitable to such high aims. Noble spirits will pro-
portion their endeavours to their high designs, while the mean spirit
will go heartlessly about them. Gold is not got, like stones, beside
every brook ; nor is grace and glory got, but in the way of hearty
exertions : Prov. ii. 3 — 5, " Tea, if thou criest after knowledge,
and liftest up thy voice for understanding, if thou seekest for her as
silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures, then slialt thou
understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
2. It is a spirit of faith, as the apostle speaks, 2 Cor. iv. 13, " We
having the same spirit of faith." Such a spirit had Caleb, another
than that of the rest, who could not enter because of unbelief. Such
another spirit have the saints, while the rest of the world remain
under the power of unbelief, and if they had it not, could never
follow the Lord fully; for unbelief will soon trip up a man's heels
in following the Lord : Heb. iii. 12, " Take heed, brethren, lest there
be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the
living God." Now, Caleb's other spirit of faith thus discovered itself
(1.) It took part with the promise, and hung by it, while the un-
believing spirits of the rest sided with sense in opposition to it.
Thus, while the unbelieving world, whatever they pretend, do never
solidly venture their happiness on the promise, but seek it rather
among those things which are the objects of sense — the saints have
another spirit, which rejects these, and by faith rolls the weight of
its eternal happiness on the promise ; which spirit of faith realises
to them the things which are not seen, Heb. xi. 1, aftords a view of
them, as matters of the greatest realities, and of the word of pro-
mise as sufficient security. "Without this, none will ever follow the
Lord fully ; — for, if that which is held out in the promise be not
realised unto men, it will never make sensible things, the reality of
which men certainly know, to yield and give place to it ; for men
will not quit certainty for hope. Were men as much persuaded of
the reality of the things contained in the promise, as they are of gold,
and other metals in the earth, think ye they would slight the pro-
mise and take up with the objects of their senses as their happiness ?
No. The truth is, all the glorious promises are to the world but
fair words about fancies. — Again, if men cannot trust the promise
as sufficient, security, they will never venture their all upon it, but
our all must be ventured upon it if we follow the Lord fully :
2 Sam. xxiii. 5, " This is all my salvation, and all my desire."
We must glorify him by faith, hanging by his bare word. All for
x2
316 FAITHFULNESS TOWABDS GOD
another world must be laid upon it, and often it comes to this, that
all for this world must also be laid upon it.
(2.) This spirit of faith took np the land of promise, as a land
well worth all the pains, toil, and hardships, which the conquering
it would incur : Numb. xiv. 7, " It is an exceeding good land."
Thus, while unbelievers cannot see heaven worth the pains and toil
that must be at the work, like the false spies, chap. xiii. 32, " they
bring up an evil report of it." But the saints have another spirit
of faith, which makes them see the glory of that land to be such as
to deserve their utmost efforts and endeavours. " Let us therefore
labour," say they, Heb. iv. 11, " to enter into that rest, lest any
man fall after the same example of unbelief." Now, without such
a spirit, men can never follow the Lord fully ; because to work for
nothing makes us extremely averse to engage. If the recompense
of reward be not seen as sufficient to counterbalance all the pains,
persons will never strive to enter into God's rest, nor take heaven
by force, Heb. xi. 26. Whence do we see, that men will strain
every nerve for a little of the world, which they think worth the
pains, who will not bow a knee to God for heaven ? They will
work eagerly, who pray very heavily and carelessly, because they
think the one worth their pains, the other not. — Again, men are na-
turally very averse to spiritual endeavours, and if they see not some-
thing that will provoke the sluggard to run, they will not follow
the Lord fully. There must be a glory seen by an eye of faith, to
overcome this aversion. Thus Christ proposed the treasure to the
man, Mark x. 21, but he saw it not, therefore he went away. — Far-
ther, no man can reach heaven with ease, the way to it lies up-hill.
It will cost striving, wrestling, using violence, and the like. There
are right eyes to be plucked out, that is hard ; there are giant-like
lusts to be mortified, who will adventure upon that ? there is a
combat, a fight to be maintained, in which the person must be a
conqueror. Will ever men, then, follow the Lord fully, without such
a spirit as by faith discerns heaven as worth all that pains ? Most
men see it not : they think less may serve, for they want that other
spirit, which accounts nothing too much here ; and so, with Judas,
they say. Why all this waste ?
(3.) This faith penetrates through all the difficulties which the
unfaithful spies could not see through. Caleb's other spirit took
the glass of the word of promise, and saw thereby how their numer-
ous armies might be beaten, their high walls thrown down, the Ana-
kiras laid as low as ever they were high : Numb. xiv. 9, " Only re-
bel ye not against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land,
for they are bread for us ; their defence is departed from them, and
EXEMPLIFIED AND REWARDED. 317
the Lord is with us ; fear them not." Such another spirit have all
the saints in a greater or less measure. The carnal professor, like
the sluggard, cries, " There is a lion in the way, I shall be slain in the
streets." There is no meddling with such a duty, no mortifying
such a lust ; thus he gives over the attempt. But the saints have
another spirit^ which by faith discovers how impossibilities may be
surmounted, how hills may be made to skip like lambs : and there-
fore falls a-blowing his ram's horns, in hopes that the walls of Jericho
sliall fall down ; and, like another David, with his sling, he sets
upon Goliah, and attacks even the children of Anak. I do not say
but this faith sometimes may be very weak, it may be very low ;
but it is such as makes them venture on duty and difficulty, though
trembling. Now, without such a spirit none will follow the Lord
full. — For the want of it cuts the sinews of resolute endeavours
after universal holiness. It is the hope of victory that makes the
soldier to fight ; and when he loses, he turns his back : 1 Tliess. r.
8, " But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breast-
plate of faith and love, and for an helmet the hope of salvation."
Faith must go before and see through difficulties, ere a person can
come up and break through them. — Again, the want of it makes
men, like Issachar, to couch under the burden, or as one who is
upon an unruly horse, and finding there is no mastering of him, he
lays the reins ou his neck. This is the reason why people, after
some struggle against sin, turn worse than ever. They find difficul-
ties in the way of duty, they have no hope to surmount these, and
therefore give it over. But how can any reach the promised land,
without the promise in their eye ? How shall they go through in the
spiritual battle, while they throw away the sword of the Spirit, the
word of God, the word of promise, and leave themselves destitute
of the shield of faith ? Without this they cannot go out in the
name of the Lord against their enemies, and so must turn their back
as foiled.
(4.) Caleb's spirit of faith looked to the Lord, as sufficient to bear
him over all difficulties. He saw the Anakims as well as the rest,
and had as little confidence in himself as they had; but he had con-
fidence in the Lord, and so would go against them in the strength of
the Lord. Such a spirit have all the saints : Psalm Ixxi. 16, " 1
will go in the strength of the Lord." Isa. xlv. 24, " Surely shall
one say. In the Lord have I righteousness and strength." This
carries them to the Lord as the fountain of strength ; while as to
the rest of the world, their spirit is as a pipe laid short of the
fountain, by which no water can be conveyed. Without such a
spirit, none can follow the Lord fully. — For, there are difficulties in
318 FAITUrULNKSS TOWAKDS GOD
the way to heaven, which none can overcome, bat by divine strength :
2 Cor. xii. 9, " My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is
made perfect in weakness." Unmortified corruptions will be as
heavy as a giant upon a child, till Grod himself take part with the
soul, and give the victory. They may lie under them and groan,
but who shall roll away the stone, if the angel come not from hea-
ven for that purpose ? Wo to him that is alone when he falleth !
without the Lord, the least work of religion is above us. " With-
out me," saith he, John xv. 5, " ye can do nothing." The slenderest
temptation will be found a wind from hell sufficient to blow over the
man that is not supported ; the least duty, a task which they can-
not perform acceptably. Where the Spirit of the Lord does not
draw, we never will follow. Thus that spirit of dependence upon
the Lord is necessary.
3. This spirit is a spirit of holy courage and resolution. Numb,
xiv. 9. Such a sj)irit, in some measure, have all the saints : Prov.
xxviii. 1, " The wicked flee when no man pursueth, but the righte-
ous is bold as a lion." Their spirit is peremptory and resolute for
following the Lord whithersoever he goeth, not to be diverted by
any means from their great interest. And though the godly may
be naturally fearful and unsteady, yet this spirit in the things of
God will prevail, seeing that their all lies at the stake ; without
such a spirit, none can follow the Lord fully, for the following,
among other reasons. — Because,
(L) The work of religion is a great work, for which we had need
of courage and resolution. The outward work of religion is great
work, the inward work is still greater : Prov xvi. 32, " He that is
slow to anger is better than the mighty : and he that ruleth his
spirit, than lie that taketh a city." The labour of the hand is hard,
the labour of the head is harder, but the labour of the heart hardest
of all ; and religion is work of that sort. To work out our own sal-
vation, to serve our generation, to get heart, lip, and life cleansed,
is work sufficient to fear cowards who have not another spirit. —
Again, consider,
(2.) That our own strength is small. how weak is man at best
for the work ! What a vast disproportion there is betwixt our
strength and the least duty, if done aright ! 2 Cor. iii. 6, " Not
that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves ;
but our sufficiency is of God." When we view our work, how far
it is above us, we may say, " Who is sufficient for these things ?"
2 Cor. ii. 16. Here is need of another spirit to influence men, in
attempting to roll away the stone, that is so far above their strength.
But holy courage, through faith in Christ, will do it: Phil iv. 13,
EXEilPLIFIED AND EE WARDED. 319
" I caado all things through Christ that strengtheneth mc." — Consider,
(3.) That our opposition is great. If ye have a desire for the
heavenly Canaan, ye must fight your way thither over ranch op-
position, and so have need of another spirit. He that overcoiueth
shall be crowned. If you have a desire to follow the Lord fully,
you must follow him over much opposition.
1. From the devil : Eph. vi. 12, " For we wrestle not against
flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against spiri-
tual wickednesses in high places." No sooner Avas man set up in
the world, than the devil attacked and overcame him : and as soon
as a soul begins to set heaven-ward again, the devil then will bo ou
his lop. it is much to stand, when hell is in arms against us,
Avhcn the black bands of temptations make an attack ! Satan is a
powerful and subtle enemy. He will be sure to attack you on your
weak side, and suit his temptations to your circumstances. Thus
he did with our Saviour; for when he had fasted forty days, the
devil said to liim. If thou be the Son of God, command that these
stones may be made bread," Matth. iv. 3. He has his temptations
for the poor and for the rich. He tempts the poor to steal, and the
rich to deny God. Hence said Agur, '' Give me neither poverty nor
riches, feed me with food convenient for me; lest I be full, and
deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord ? or lest I be poor, and steal,
and take the name of my God in vain," Prov. xxxx. 8, 9. He has
temptations for youth and for age, for the joyful and for the mourn-
ful Christian. Sometimes he appears as a fox transforming him-
self into a lamb. Sometimes he roars as a lion. There is thus need
of a spirit of courage to oppose him.
2. We have great opposition from the world.
(1.) From the things of the world. They collect their bands to
encounter those who would follow the Lord, to turn them back. —
There is the white band of the world's smiles, stained already with
the blood of thousands. Many have been wounded, and many slain
by these ; Prov. i. 32, " For the turning away of the simple shall
slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them." Many
a soul has died by the embraces of a smiling world, for it does with
men as the panther with other beasts, who draws them after him
with the sweet smell of his breath, hiding his head, while he after-
wards devours them. Its profits and pleasures are syren songs,
which end in bitter lamentations. They are silken cords, which
afterwards grow as iron fetters, which may cost a flood of tears to
get them off. Here is a trial for true courage of spirit, it is a
great spirit that rises above the world when it courts us ! while our
own spirit naturally loves it, even when it gives us gall to drink. —
320 FAITHFULNESS TOWARDS GOD
There is next the black band of the world's frowns. The world
often puts on the lion's skin, and brings a train of crosses against
the followers of fhe Lord : Acts xiv. 22, " We must through much
tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." The world often turns
stepmother to the godly, who may hare enough ado to get their
bread, while plenty flows to its own darlings. We see how the
world's sun went down at noon with Job. There is need of another
spirit to carry a man above these, to give him another joy when
that of the world fails, and to make him sing as the nightingale
when the very storm is at his back. Thus did Habakkuk when the
world failed : chap. iii. 18, " Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, and joy in
the God of my salvation." Again, there is the mixed band of the
world's cares. These are the world's thorn-hedge, which the Chris-
tian must break through, or else they will choke the seed of the
word in his heart, Matth. xiii. 22. This is the thorny crown it
sets upon our heads so soon as we set out into the world. How
hard is it to keep our ground here ! The care of a family, the care
of the body, is that which has rendered many careless of eternity.
Yea, and care we must : our meat will not be found among our feet,
as that of the beasts, nor will it drop into our mouths without care.
But what need of another spirit to use these things as if we used
them not ! But,
(2.) We have great opposition from the men of the world. The
devil has his agents in the world, factors for hell, that will give
much ado to those who would follow the Lord fully. And people
may lay their account to be attacked with their tongues. They are
not for heaven who cannot digest the raockings of a graceless ge-
neration ; nor are they meet for it that will pass over their duty,
only for the virulent reproaches they may meet with in their way.
These sting severely, but there must be a resoluteness against them,
to please God. Let a generation of imbittered spirits say what they
will ; let Christians strive to have the testimony of God and their
o^n conscience, which will be a secret support, condemn them who
will. — They will attack them \\ ith their feet. The example of an
unholy life : Matth. xviii. 7, " Woe unto the world, because of
offences ! for it must be that offences come ; but woe to that man by
whom the offence cometh." The world lieth in wickedness ; it is hard
to bear out against the stream of example set before us. To be
righteous as Noah in his generation, to keep clean garments in Sar-
dis, is not easy : Matth. xxiv. 12, " Because iniquity shall abound,
the love of many shall wax cold." Example ruins many, who like
sheep, when one gets into the water, the rest readily follow. — They
will attack them with their hands. The hands of persecutors are
EXEMPLIFIKD AND KEWARDED. 321
sometimes bound up ; the Lord seems now to be loosing them ; and
some are already finding the smart of that. And it is like it will not
be so easy to follow the Lord as it has been for some time past.
But they who will follow the Lord fully, must have another spirit,
which may urge them on to lose all, rather than lose their soul
by leaving off to follow the Lord.
Finally, The Christian has great opposition from his own lusts.
He will not only find a war without, but also a war within him :
Gal. r. 17, " For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit
against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other ; so
that ye cannot do the things that ye would." Our greatest enemies
are within our own bosoms. — First, there is the general of this army,
indwelling sin, the corrupt nature, the old man, flesh, called sin by
way of eminence: Rom. vi. 12, "Let not sin, therefore, reign in
your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lust thereof." The
plague of the heart : 1 Kings viii. 38. This is the cursed gronnd,
bringing forth briars and thorns. There must be another spirit to
draw this to the cross : Gal. v. 24, " And they that are Christ's
Lave crucified the flesh, with the aflTections and lusts." — Next, there
is a swarm of hellish soldiers under him, particular lusts, as pride, co-
vetousness, envy, malice, and tho like, that dog the man wherever he
goes, and will give him enough ado to resist : Rom. vii. 21, " I find
then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me." If
you ask their name, it may be Legion, for they are many: Titus iii.
3, " Serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy,
hateful, and hating one another." All sins are radically even in the
best. Look through the world, and see what appears there ; these
swine, who are running on others, show that corruption which is
within the whole. Who are their allies? These are the devil,
John viii. 44; the world. Tit. ii. 12. All the snares and tempta-
tions in the world are allied to some one or other lusts within us,
that suits them as tinder to fire. — There is, their quarters, the
heart. " Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders," &c. ;
and the nearer to us, the more dangerous. The heart is as a com-
mon inn, so often thronged with these, that the master is kept out. —
There is, their qualities. They are deceitful : Eph. iv. 22, " The
old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts." Hurt-
ful : 1 Tim. vi. 9, " But they that will be rich, fall into temptation,
and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown
men in destruction and perdition."
III. I'now proceed to make some improvement of the subject. —
Aud this,
1. In the use of information. — From this we see,
322 FAITHFULNESS TOWARDS GOD
(1.) The great spring of defection and apostacy from the good ways
of the Lord. How is it that so many make such a bad account of re-
ligion ? They have not another spirit. Many, at their first taking
up of religion, have great vigour and briskness of spirit ; but it is
only like a blaze of straw, their oil fails, and their lamps go out.
Such appearances denote only awakening, and not changing grace,
which they have got ; therefore it lasts not. There is no spring of
grace in the soul, only some showers from the clouds, water-
ing the old ground of their natural spirits, which is soon dried
up. They who thus drink, shall soon thirst again, John iv. 13;
it decays by little and little, as the light after sunset, till it be
quite dark. Again, because they have not another spirit, that
frame of their souls is not fed by nourishment from Christ, as the
sincere soul is, who receives out of the fulness of Christ. Hence,
for want of nourishment, it dies, and they wither as branches cut off
from the trunk, John xv. 6. A branch newly cut off from its stock,
and ingrafted into another, may keep a short time green ; but if it
do not take with the stock, it will wither. Now, they cannot take
with the stock, because they have not another spirit : John i. 12,
13, " He came to his own, and his own received him not. But as
many as received hira to them gave he power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on his name : Which wei'e born, not
of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of
God." Farther, it is the newness of the thing, not the newness of
their nature, that makes that stir among their affections. Hence,
when they have a little accustomed themselves to religion, and the
duties of it, the newness is gone, and so their delight is gone, their
affections settle, for they have not another spirit, to which religion
would be its element : John v. 35, " He was a burning and a shining
light, and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light."
Hence old truths turn stale with many, and nothing relishes with
them but some new thing. They are sprightly for a while, but at
length their metal is gone, their hearts are deadened, their affections
withered, and their consciences seared. Hence, a spirit of reigning
sloth, which was only covered, not subdued, rises again, as weeds in
the spring, which, though nipped with winter frosts, yet were not
plucked up by the roots : Psalm Ixxviii. 37, " For their heart was
not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant."
They are awakened as with noise a little while, but, because they
have not another spirit they fall asleep again. — Finally, hence a
spirit of profanity succeeds in many : 2 Pet. ii. 22, " But it is hap-
pened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to
his own vomit again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing
EXEMPLIFIED AND REWARDED. 323
in the mire." Their lusts, which were forcibly restrained before,
break out again with greater violence than ever. The devil returns
with seven spirits worse than the first ; and not being able to follow
the Lord fully, they turn back with the greater violence.
(2.) This instructs us as to the great spring of a divided religion,
where there is still one thing or more lacking, Mark x. 21. They
have not another spirit : the old spirit may follow the Lord in many
steps, but it will never carry a man through with it. There are dif-
ficulties in the way to heaven, which it is impossible to pass without
another spirit. These are such as,
It is a difficult step to advance into the heart and life of duties,
spiritual worship, and the like. Bodily exercise is the farthest the
old spirit can carry a man. A bird may as soon fly without wings,
or a beast reason, as one that has not another spirit can worship
God in spirit.
Another difficult step is, to be denied to duties : Matth. v. 3,
" Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of hea-
ven." The old spirit is a selfish spirit, that does all from and for
self. It knows not to strip itself of its own robes, spun out of its
own bowels, and to go naked to Christ for a covering. A man shall
as soon rend out his own bowels, pluck out his own heart, and cast
it from him, as one without another spirit will lay the stress of his
salvation on Christ alone, counting as if he had done nothing, when
he has done all he can.
A third difficult step is, to give up with bosom idols. Jesus laid
the treasure in heaven, on the other side, to that man, Mark x. 21,
and directed him to step over his idols, and he should have it ; but
he was sad, and went away grieved, for he had great possessions.
Fire, sword, and gibbet, will not affright some people from follow-
ing the Lord, who will yet start back, when Christ offers them the
knife of mortification, to cut off the offending right hand : 1 Cor.
xiii. 3, " And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and
though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it pro-
fiteth me nothing." Thou hast a hand, it is a right hand, it must bo
cut off, it must be done with thy own consent, nay, thou must put
thy own hand to the knife, and thou must labour to carry it through.
This is language that will never go down with a man that hath not
another spirit. — Hence, men have a heart aversion to encounter
heart difficulties in religion. Few see heaven, Why? Ileaven's gate
is strait, ease is sweet. They are like the rich man in hell, see hea-
ven afar off, but there is a great gulf fixed between them and it.
Their base spirit from within, when the man is looking over the gulf,
tries, Man, spare thyself, and then the heart starts back. They
324 FAITHFULNESS TOWARDS GOD
lo7e the gold but thoy do not dig for it. And they have not an-
other spirit, a new spirit, as Caleb had, to put them forward. —
Hence any attempts they make that way are faint, and therefore
fruitless : Luke xiii. 24, " Strive to enter in at the strait gate : For
many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."
Like a cowardly man, offering to cut off his own hand, which
threatens the ruin of his whole body, he takes up the knife, lays it
to the skin, but always the heart misgives, and he pulls it back.
Whereas a man of another spirit, will do it resolutely, because he
is resolved not to die. Hence such tampering with idols, in the way
of mortification. Then finding the fruitlessness of these faint at-
tempts, they even give over, losing all courage. They see it will
not do that way, and they despair of getting any more power over
them : Jer. ii. 25, " Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy
throat from thirst, but thon saidst. There is no hope ; no ; for I have
loved strangers, and after them will I go." Lusts are like an un-
manageable horse, v/hich therefore gets the reins on his own neck.
They have tried to roll the stone away, but it comes down on them
again, and therefore they even let it die, and leave it. — Finally,
their endeavours thon are turned to the soothing of conscience for
peace. For this cause the man pretends he can do nothing, but
Christ must do all. What is left is but an infirmity, from which
the best cannot be freed on this side of the grave ; he will look for
pardon, and so makes the blood of Christ a defence for his bosom
lust. For as great an enmity as the natural man has to Christ, the
devil will preach Chi-ist to serve a turn ; and thus the grace of God
is turned into lasciviousness.
(3.) This subject points out to us, that the righteous is more ex-
cellent than his neighbour. He has another spirit. what a glo-
rious difference does this other spirit make between one man and an-
other ! I will instance this in a few things.
How is it that one man contemns the world, with all that is in it,
the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, while
another man adores the world, and drives after it as his chief good
and happiness ? He drives a trade with another world, looking be-
yond others. What is it but that he has another spirit, a finer spi-
rit, a spirit of a greater elevation and compass than others, which
cannot take up with the little views of time.
How is it that a serious holy Christian, appearing in his own co-
lours, strikes a damp upon the profane, and even on the formal hy-
pocrite ? Is it not that another spirit shines out of him, which com-
pels them to fear him, though they hate him, to give him a secret
testimony, though openly they reproach Lim ? Is it not because
EXEMPLIFIED AND REWARDED. 325
greater is that spirit which is in the saints, than that which is in the
world ?
How is it that when many are carried away with the strong tide
of an evil time, keeping but one principle, which is to save them-
selves on any terms, others do resolutely row against the stream,
keeping one principle, which is to please God, to follow the
Lord, from which they will not be diverted, whatever they meet
with in the way ? No worldly advantage, the preventing of no
worldly loss, do they think worth their going out of their way to
attain it. ! is it not another spirit ?
How is it that one man enjoys such serenity and tranquillity of
mind, amongst the swelling waves of outward trouble, which carry
others quite off their feet ? That one stands as an unmoveable rock,
before the temptations which carry others hither and thither, as the
chaff before the whirlwind ? Is it anything but another spirit, fixed
on the Lord, his word, his promise, which are better things than
what the world has, and the tempter offers.
(4.) Hence we may see, the ground and rise of the spiritual com-
bat which is in the saints. They have another spirit. They have
a spirit in them, naturally as the rest of the world, which ordinarily
takes the first word ; but then they have another spirit, that contra-
dicts and corrects it : Gal. v. 17, " For the flesh lusteth against the
spirit, and the spirit against the flesh : and these are contrary the
one to the other." The natural raau has one spirit, which is corrupt,
and not another ; therefore he is wholly corrupt, in heart, lip, and
life. The saints in glory have one spirit, which is holy, and not an-
other; therefore they are perfectly holy. But the saints on earth
have one spirit that is corrupt ; but they have another spirit also ;
and therefore their heart becomes a field of battle. — Hence we see
how it comes to pass that the saints are at war with these lusts
with which the natural man cannot but be at peace. He has an-
other spirit, which is contrary to them, while the natural man's lusts
and his spirit are of the same nature, and he has not another spirit
contrary to them. If a man have a father, a brother, or son, in the
opposite army, how can he find in his heart to lift up a sword against
him ? The natural man's spirit, in the faint mortification which he
makes, says to him, as David said to his three generals, " Deal
gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom." The
man that has a wooden leg can take it off, and cast it from him, but
how can one do so with his limbs ? A man that has meat on his sto-
mach, which loathes and disorders it, can vomit it up, but how can a
man do this with a dainty morsel which he loves. — Hence we see
also how there comes to be snch diflicultyin dealing with these lasts;
326 FAITHFULNESS TOWARDS GOD
there is a made resistance by one spirit, which is opposed to another.
Lusts have a friend within the bosom of the saints, which takes part
with them, and gives that other spirit so mnch work. You will see
in them, as it were, the company of two armies, — twins struggling
within them.
(5.) Hence we may see the ground of that enmity that is betwixt
the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. There is a holy
amity among the saints as people of one spirit, which is a most close
knitting thing. They cleave to one Christ: they pursue one object;
they point towards one place ; because they have all one spirit.
And what jars are among them, How from their own spirits not be-
ing sufficiently subdued by that other spirit. But betwixt the godly
and the wicked, how can there be but great enmity, seeing the godly
have another spirit than they ? Those of different spirits and tem-
pers are ill-yoked. This makes that enmity. — It is,
(1.) A spiritual enmity, it breeds a natural antipathy betwixt
them, for they have not only other actions, but another spirit. Hence
the man whom the world caressed, and embraced, while of the same
spirit with itself, when once he becomes truly serious, and gets an-
other spirit, he is quickly turned out of the world's favour, he loathes
them, and they loathe him.
(2.) It is a most diffusive enmity; the spirit of the world is car-
ried out after these things which savour of the flesh, that other spi-
rit is carried out after the things which savour of the spirit. The
spirit of the world has things which it loves, and hates these which
the other spirit loves. Hence such an enmity against holiness of
life, against divine ordinances, preaching the word, and other duties
of religion ; but trace all these to their fountain, they will be found
to meet in that of their other spirit.
(3.) It is a most violent enmity; for the two spirits strike like
two flints against one another, to raise the fire. No enmity like that
which obtains on account of religion ; it breaks over all bounds of
liumanity, while no other reason can be given for it but religion.
It sets the daughter against the mother, the son against the father,
&c.
(4.) It is a most rooted and fixed enmity. This quarrel began
sooner than any in the world ; Cain and Abel were thus enemies.
Many other quarrels have begun since this one, which have been long
since rooted out. But no length of time can root out this ; the
wicked children continue the quarrel, though they have seen the fa-
thers fall in it.
(6.) This subject directs us to the great object towards which such
as would follow the Lord fully are to look, it is to their spirits. If
EXEMPLIFIED AND RE-WAEDED, 327
our spirit be right, we will be carried through ; if not, we will fall
off. The great work of religion lies inward. Take heed, therefore,
to your spirits ; see that these be of the right kind, that your hearts
be right with God, and sound in his statutes. — I shall have done
with,
2. An use of exhortation. Labour then to get another spirit, ear-
nestly seek it, aim at, and pursue after it. To obtain your compli-
ance with this exhortation, I would lay before you the following
motives,
(1.) The prevailing spirit among us is a spirit which is our plague,
and therefore we have great need to labour for another spirit : Luke
xix. 55, " Te know not what manner of spirit ye are of." This is
among the rest of our plagues. Men are little at home, weigh not
their spirits in the balance of the sanctuary; bat their spirit of self-
love makes all of high importance, and to appear well, which is their
own. There is a sixfold spirit that is our plague this day. — There
is,
(L) A carnal worldly spirit: Phil. ill. 19, " They mind earthly
things." Our spirits are sunk in the thick clay of a present world,
and have got into an earthly constitution, as if, with our bodies,
they were only sprung of earth. From communion and converse
with God, our spirits are greatly estranged, but the world gets our
first, middle, and last thoughts ; so that there seems need of some
terrible alarm to make us lift up our heads off that pillow. — There
is,
(2.) A private narrow spirit : Phil. ii. 21, " For all seek their
own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's." O what a rare thing
is a public spirit among us this day, a kindly concern for the king-
dom and interest of Christ in the world, men naturally caring for
these things as their father's concerns. Sirs, our wide mouths will
not absolve us from the crime of a narrow spirit in God's matters,
more than Jehu's bravado, " Come, see ray zeal :" Prov. xxvi. 23,
*' Burning lips and a wicked heart, are like a potsherd covered with
silver dross." The Protestant religion is in hazard abroad and at
home; is there anything of the care of the churches lying upon you?
This church is in hazard of falling into the enemy's hands; are your
hearts, like good old Eli's, " trembling for the ark ?" 1 Sam. iv. 13.
Nay, do not many look upon our present privileges with such a de-
spising eye, that it is all one to them whether they sink or swim.
Have the attempts of our enemies ever made you go alone to wrestle
with God against them ? You profess you would have ministers to
keep honest ; but are we obliged to your wrestlings with God for us
on that account ? Ilavc we any larger share in your prayers than
328 FAITHFULNESS TOWARDS GOD
we were wont to have ? Will the loss of our honesty be to you the
loss of many prayers for us in a difficult time ? Psalm cxxxii. 9,
"Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness, and let thy saints
shout aloud for joy." It is a time of much sinning ; are you sigh-
ing and crying for all the abominations that are in the midst of the
land ? Ezek. ix. 4. Are you putting to your hand, as you have ac-
cess, to stop the stream of abounding sin ? — There is,
(3.) A stout, sturdy, fearless spirit. I fear, if God look to none
but to those who are poor, of a contrite spirit, and who tremble at
his word, Isa. Ixvi. 2, there will be few amongst us that will get a
look of him. How little are we affected with the word, the dispen-
sations of the day, and the signs of the times I Is not the word like
a ball thrown against a wall ? The custom of hearing it has lessened
the value of it. Who is hearkening for the time to come ? Does
that question lie near your heart, How shall I be carried through in
the evil day ? Are you putting matters in order between God and
you, and preparing an ark for your safety ? — There is,
(4.) A proud fiery spirit, while the humble, meek, and lowly spirit
does rarely appear. People are so puffed up with conceit of them-
selves, there is no dealing with them. If they make themselves vile,
they will rather be more vile than submit to admonition or reproof.
And if they be in the least rufiled, they are ready to cast all ordi-
nances behind their backs. If the whole be not exactly according to
their mind, they will contemptuously reject all. Witness the contempt
poured by some upon the last fast. Humiliation of heart, and self-
denial would cure us of this irreligious heart, which is the banc and
ruin of religion among us, and would kindle in us a more kindly
warmth of heart towards God and the things that bear his stamp. —
There is,
(5.) A formal spirit : 2 Tim. iii. 5, '• Having a form of godliness,
but denying the power thereof." The bodily exercise of religion is
much amongst many of us, but for exercise unto godliness among us,
it appears to be very rare, 1 Tim. iv. 7, 8. And many proclaim
themselves utter strangers to it. In the eyes of any discerning
Christian, they have so little sense of the vitals of practical godli-
ness, that these things are an absolute mystery to them. It would
fare the better with many of us, that we would begin again and lay
the foundation of our religion, and follow it out in the great myste-
ries of the Christian life, mortification of heart corruptions, the life
of faith, and communion with God. — There is,
(6.) A profane spirit, where the works of the flesh Are manifest.
There is a lying spirit, which so possesseth many, that they make
no conscience of speaking truth, but lend their tongues for lies.
EXE.MrLIFIED AND REWARDED. 329
There is a bitter spirit of cursing aud swearing, railing and reproacli-
ing, amongst us, so that sober persons may say, as in Psalra Ivii. 4,
" My soul is among lions; and I lie even among them that are set
on fire, even the sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows, and
their tongue a sharp sword." See also Psalm Ixiv. 3 — 7. A base,
sneaking, dishonest spirit, lodges in the breast of many, whose cove-
tous, unrighteous ways, in undermining, deceiving, and wronging
their neighbours, will bring a vengeance from heaven on their heads.
(2.) The case of our day requires another spirit than we have.
God seems to be speaking to the carnal worldly generation this day,
as in Haggai i. 4 ; Jer. xliv. 4, 5. To the formal and profane, as in
Matth. iii. 10. To the private-spirited, as in Amos vi. 1. Aud to
all, as in Amos iv. 12. But how unsuitable are our spirits to the
case of the day ! How unmeet are our spirits to act for God ! They
are too mean to do any thing great and honourable for God and his
glory. And doubtless, if we get not another spirit, we will never
be honoured of God to perform any thing that is great for him.
Our work as Christians is at all times difficult, but we are likely to
have a special difficulty in our time. Is the mean and base spirit
wherewith we are plagued, meet to set us to oppose the stream and
tide of sin that is going through the generation ? Is our careless
carnal spirit meet to wrestle with God, to keep him still in our land ?
— Again, how unmeet are our spirits for suffering? The soft and
carnal spirit which prevails, suits very ill with a time in which the
Lord seems to be about to pluck up and destroy. That spirit of for-
mality and profanity answers very ill with a time iu which people's
religion may be put to the utmost trial : Isa. xsxiii. 14, " The sin-
ners in Zion are afraid, fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites."
Verily, if we get not another spirit, a time of trial will make a
dreadful discovery among the professed followers of the Lord.
(3.) Does not our own particular case, with respect to eternity,
require another spirit ? Eternity is no dream, the wrath to come is
no scare-crow ; these are the greatest of realities, and certainly require
our utmost efforts. Does the prevailing temper of our spirits look
like the eternal weight of glory that is abiding those who strive, run,
wrestle, and fight tlie good fight of faith ? Alas ! our spirits are as
unlike the attaining it, as the sluggard, who will not plow his field,
is like to attain a good crop." They who look for a treasure, dig for
it ; and they who wish for the prizC; run for it; but it is a loitering
not a labouring spirit with which most of us are possessed, who have
small probability of seeing heaven, unless it will drop down into our
mouths. — Again, does our spirit look like flying from the wrath to
come, that infinite load of wrath which is abiding a perishing gene-
YoL. IX. X
330 FAITIIFULNKSS TOWAIiliS GOD
ration? We seem to be creeping from it rather than fleeing; and
therefore it is ready to overtake us. how would our spirits stir
within us, if we were duly affected with eternity, and the danger
that our souls are in of the wrath to come ! — But farther, how un-
like is our spirit to the subduing of strong corruptions within our
own breasts ! How soft are our spirits against these our deadliest
enemies ! "We must have another spirit, or our spirits will soon be
devoured by thera. — Lastly, There is no following of the Lord fully,
and so no heaven, without another spirit ; and therefore, as ever we
would be found Christians indeed, and safe through eternity, let us
labour for that other spirit : " Create in us, Lord, a clean heart,
and renew a right spirit within us." — I shall now very briefly attend
to
Doctrine III. That those who, by following the Lord fully in the
time of general declining, distinguish themselves, God will distin-
guish them from others, by special marks of favour in the time of
general calamity. — The scriptures afford many instances in proof of
this, as Noah, Lot, Jeremiah, and many others.
For illustrating this doctrine, we shall,
I. Shew how those must distinguish themselves from others in the
time of general declining, who would have the Lord to distinguish
them from others in the time of general calamity. — We shall point
out,
II. The marks of favour by which, in times of great calamity, God
uses to distinguish such.
III. We shall subjoin some reasons of the point, to confirm it. —
And,
lY. Make some improvement.
We are then,
I. To shew how those must distinguish themselves from others
in the time of general declining, who would have the Lord to dis-
tinguish them from others in time of general calamity. — Here we ob-
serve,
1. That they must be best, when others are worst : Gen. vi. 9,
"Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generation; and Noah
walked with God." Their candle must shine brightest, when that of
others is dying out. It is the property of holy zeal for God and his
way, to become more vehement by opposition; so that the declining
of others is as oil to their flame. It was better with Lot when he
dwelt among the Sodomites, than when with his own children in the
cave : 2 Pet. ii. 7 — 10, " And delivered just Lot, vexed with the fil-
thy conversation of the wicked, (for that righteous man dwelling
EXEMPLIFIED AND REWARDED. 331
among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from
day to day with their unlawful deeds)." The Lord knoweth how to
deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto
the day of judgment, to be punished." " It is time for thee, Lord,
to work ; for they have made void thy law. Therefore I love thy
commandments above gold, yea, above fine gold." If religion be dy-
ing out among others, this will the more kindle an holy fire of zeal,
and increase it in their own breasts. — We observe,
2. That they must cleave to God, especially in that article in
which others are leaving him, as in Caleb's case ; that is to say, they
must be careful that they be not led away with the sins of the time,
that they do not enter into the general conspiracy of the generation
against the Lord aud his way, whether it be against truth or holi-
ness. Thus the promise was to those who kept the life and power
of godliness in Sardis, where there was a great general declining, a
deadness and formality, and the bare carcase of religion : Rev. iii.
4, " Thou hast a few names even in Sardis, which have not defiled
their garments ; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are
worthy." — We observe,
3. That they must witness against every declining, according to
their stations, and as they have access, for the exoneration of their
own consciences, and the honour of God. Thus did Noah, that
preacher of righteousness, to that unrighteous world. These must
give a real testimony by their contrary practice, and, as they may
have access, labour to withdraw others from sinful courses. — Thas
did Caleb. — We observe,
4. That they must be mourners over the sins of others, lamenting
them before the Lord ; sighing and crying for all the abominations
which are done in the midst of the land, Ezek. ix. 4. They must
mourn for those who cannot mourn for themselves. When the glory
of God is impaired by the sins of an apostatizing generation, their
love to the persons of the sinners, and hatred of their sins, must
draw tears of godly sorrow from their eyes.
Let us now,
II. Point out the marks of favour by which, in times of general
calamity, God useth to distinguish such. — There is,
1. Liberal furniture for duty, in a large communication of the spi-
rit, when the Spirit is withdrawn from others: Matth. x. 19, "But
when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall
speak, for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall
speak." The Lord calls not his people to serve him for nought;
he even rewards the will to his work, with strength for it. If they
be resolute to bear his burden, God will strengthen the back for it.
t2
332 FAITUFULIfESS TOWARDS GOD
Hence it comes to pass, that God's people never make better speed,
than when rowing against the stream of opposition. — There is,
2. Intimations of his special love to their souls. Thus had Caleb
in the text, the saints of God have often golden days in the dregs of
time upon this account. When the deluge of public calamity carries
incorrigible sinners before it, with their burden of guilt upon their
back, the saints are then made to rest in the evil day, by virtue of
that peace which they have with God and their own conscience, Hab.
iii. 16. — There is,
3. Special provision in a time of calamity : Psalm xxxvii. 19,
" They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of fa-
mine they shall be satisfied." God riseth often to see well to the
provision of those whose work it is to cleave to their duty, and rely
on the Lord for their provision : Psalm xxxvii. 3, " Trust in the
Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily
thou shalt be fed." So that their faces are fatter and fairer than
those who eat of the defiled meat. — There is,
4. Special protection in an evil day. God sets a mark on their
foreheads : Ezek. ix. 4. " And the Lord said unto him. Go through
the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark
upon the foreheads of the men that sigh, and that cry for all the
abominations that be done in the midst thereof." They are always
protected from the evil of trouble ; but God sometimes, besides this,
affords them special protection from trouble, by some surprising
providence removing them out of the way of it ; sometimes by mak-
ing them find favour in the eyes of their enemies : Jer. xv. 11,
" The Lord said, verily, it shall be well with thy remnant; verily,
I will cause the enemy to intreat thee well in the time of evil, and
in the time of affliction." And sometimes by hiding them in the
grave before the calamity come on: Isa. Ivii. 1,2, "The righteous
man perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart ; and merciful men are
taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from
the evil to come. He shall enter into peace, they shall rest in their
beds, each one walking in his uprightness."
Lastly, He gives them the crown of glory : Rev. ii. 10, " Fear
none of these things which thou shalt suffer ; behold, the devil shall
cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried ; and ye shall
have tribulation ten days : Be thou faithful unto the death, and I will
give thee a crown of life." He brings them into Canaan above, and
crowns them, while others, who forsook God, are for ever forsaken
of him ; and they who sinned with the multitude, suffer with them
for ever : Luke xxii. 28, 29, 30, " Ye are they which have continued
with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom.
EXEill'LlFIED AND liEAVARDED, 333
as my father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink
at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve
tribes of Israel." — "We now proceed very shortly,
III. To subjoin the reasons of the point, to confirm it. — Here we
offer the following, viz.
1. It is hard work to follow fully in a declining time, to strive
against the stream which is so ready to carry people away: Matth.
xxiv. 12, " And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many
shall wax cold." Hard to keep warm in cold Sardis, Rev. iii. 4.
To keep up the flame of religion, when a deluge of sin comes on, is
very hard work. But hard work has always the greatest reward
from the Lord.
2. It is a piece of special honour to God ; and those who honour
him he will honour. It is not so much to follow Christ when he hath
a great backing, as to cleave to bim when many are dropping off
from him on every hand.
3. The Lord orders it so for the encouragement of his people, to
follow him fully. He gives them the view of the recompense of re-
ward, to encourage and animate them in pressing forward towards
the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
lY. We are now to make some brief improvement of the whole ;
and,
1. In an use of information. — We see,
(1.) That none shall be losers at God's hand. They that cleave
to him, when others leave him, God will cleave to them when ho for-
sakes others. Our errand will come in his way, and he will shew
himself mindful of any respect and love shewn him by them that
walk uprightly. — We see,
(2.) That he who walketh uprightly walks surely, come what will
come. Whoso wanders from God's way, and follows the multitude
to do evil, their feet will slide. But the best preparation and secu-
rity for a time of general calamity, is to walk with God in a declin-
ing time. — We shall only add,
2. An use of exhortation,
We exhort you, then, to follow the Lord fully now. Our time is
a declining time. There is a declining from the purity of gospel
doctrine and gospel ordinances. There is a horrid declining in
practice ; the veil is falling off many faces, and the mask of religion.
There is a general declining from holiness, and the power of godli-
ness, on the spirits of professors in our day. It is a day of ap-
proaching calamity. Would you be safe ? Return now, and set
your face against the stream; and the more you see others going off
from God, cleave the more to him. If you do so, ycu will be distiu-
334 TAITHPULNESS TOWARDS GOD, &C.
guislied by special marks of favour in a day of public calamity ; but
if you also go away, your sin will afterwards find you out.
Remember, now you have heard your duty ; it is the duty of com-
municants, and also of others. Remember that it is not enough to
set fair off. It is only he tliat follows fully who will be brought
safely to the promised land. It is only he that endureth to the end
who will be saved. Be not, therefore, " weary in this well-doing,
for in due time ye shall reap, if ye faint not."
THE CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, THE HYPOCRITE DETECTED.*
SERMON XXXI.
RoM. ii. 28, 29,
For he is not a Jew wJiich is one outiuardly, neither is that circumcision
which is outward in the fiesh. JBut he is a Jew which is one inwardlt/,
and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter,
luhose praise is not of men, but of God.
These words are a reason why no man ought to value himself on
the externals of religion, for they will go but short way. However
they please men, they will never please God. The scope of them is,
to show who are the people of God. The Jews of old were the peo-
ple of God; the Christians are so now, being come in their room.
The apostle here distinguishes the people of God into nominal and
real ones, calling them Jews, because he was speaking to Jews ; the
case is the same as to Christians. — In these words, he shews two
things.
1. Who are not true Jews, real Christians, or saints indeed, ver.
28 ; for these are they whom he means by Jews, saying, " He ia
not a Jew." Not those who are Jews outwardly, Christians and
saints by profession, that is, who are only so, and no more ; for God
requires externals of religion as well as internals, though the for-
mer, separate from the latter, avail nothing. But those who have
no more religion than what is outward, viz. what men see or may
see, they have nothing of the reality of it.
The Jews valued themselves on circumcision, as Christians on
• Delivered in March and April, 1719.
THE CURISTIAN DESCRIBED, 335
baptism; but true circumcision is not what is outward in the flesli,
nor baptism wliat is by water ; that is only so. These external
rites signify an inward grace, without which they signify nothing
before God. Circumcision was in a hidden part of the body, yet it
was on the body, and what might be seen ; so religion might be in
saints; yet being only what may be seen, will not constitute a per-
son truly religious. — He shows,
2. Who are true Jews, real Christians, or saints indeed ? There
arc two characters of these, which distinguished them from the other.
They are,
(1.) Those who are so inwardly, or in the hidden part, which is
open to God alone, as well as in the outward part, which appears to
the world. These who have the hidden part of religion, which being
hid from the world's view, they cannot certainly judge of. Those
who have the true circumcision, the spiritual baptism, that is, the
circumcision of the heart, Deut. x. 16, by which corrupt lusts are
cut oflf, and the body of sin put off, Col. ii. 11. This is the spiritual,
not fleshly circumcision only. It touches on, reforms, and renews
our spirit, our soul, the hidden, but most valuable part of a man.
The carnal is but the cutting off a bit of the flesh of the body,
which might be done while the spirit remained overgrown with un-
mortified lusts, and the soul quite defiled. The spirit is here op-
posed to the letter, which last cannot be well understood of the
body, but of circumcision, and therefore the spirit also ; q. d. and
circumcision of the heart, which is circumcision in the spirit or grace
of it, (not in the letter, or external rite of circumcision), is the true
circumcision. So they have the spirituality of it, which is as the
soul thereof, as well as the letter, which is as the body thereof.
The spirit of circumcision is the invisible grace signified by it, and
joined with it, when it is effectual ; the letter of it is the sensible
sign or external rite,
(2.) They are such as have God's approbation, commendation, and
praise, whether they have men's or not. There is an allusion here
to the word Judah, from whom that i)eople, now called Jews, had
their name ; it signifies praised, Gen. xlviii. 8. These are the true
Judahs, whom not only their brethren, but their Father, even God,
praises. Outward religion may gain praise of men, who cannot dis-
cern what is Avithin ; but the true Jew the real Christian, is one ap-
proved even by the heart-searching God, according to the reality,
and not the appearance. — From this subject I take this
Doctrine, That he is not a true Christian, who only in the out-
ward part, and in the letter of religion, approves himself to men ;
336 THE CIIKISTIAN DESCRIBKl),
but he who, by the inner part of religion, and the spirituality there-
of, also approves himself to the heart-searching God.
In illustrating this important truth, I shall,
I, Speak to this point generally.
II. Consider it more particularly. — I shall,
I. Speak to this point more generally. — Here I propose,
I. To shew that there is such a difference in the visible church,
that there are some who are only Christians outwardly, and that
there are others who are also Christians inwardly.
II. To inquire what are the causes of this difference ?
III. To point out what is the outside and letter of religion, which
only makes an outside Christian, and what the inside and spirit of
religion is which makes a genuine Christian.
IV. To confirm the doctrine. — I am,
I. To shew that there is such a difference in the visible church,
that there are some who are only Cliristians outwardly, and that
there are others who are also Christians inwardly.
This difference appears many Avays. It appears,
1. In the very different characters given those who profess the
same faith and true religion. The preachers of the gospel are fishers
of men, but they are not all good that come by profession into the
net, Matth. xiii. 47, 48. The tares and the wheat grow together in
the field of the church, the goats and the sheep go together all the
day, till the great Shepherd separate them. And as to virgin-pro-
fessors, some are wise, and have oil in their vessels, with their lamps ;
others are foolish, Matth. xxv. who mock God with fair promises,
befool even the godly, who looked well upon them, and, worst of
all, befool themselves in the latter end, when the Bridegroom
Cometh. — This appears,
2. In the very diflferent effects religion has on the lives of those
who are called Christians. There are some whose religion has a
powerful efficacy on their hearts and lives to make them holy, others
who have nothing but an idle form, having no more sanctifying
power with it, than a painted fire has to burn : 2 Tim. iii. 5, "Hav-
ing a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. The know-
ledge of some is confined to their heads, it never gets down to their
hearts : Tit. i. 16, " They profess that they know God, but in works
they deny him." Others, by reason of their li^ht, dare not venture
on an ill thing, more than on a precipice. Religion makes some
persons godly, sober, and righteous, binds powerfully on them their
duty to God, to themselves, and to their neighbour. The pretended
religion of others, leaves them loose as to all those things. It never
THE UYPOCRITE DETECTED. 337
checks them when neglecting secret prayers, or prayers in the fa-
mily, or when disposed to swear, drink, lie, defraud, &c. — This
appears,
3. In the very diiferent acceptance with God which persons'
prayers get. There are some whose duties are very pleasing to
God, they have a sweet savour in his nostrils : their words are re-
gistered before him, their tears are bottled, their sighs and groans
are regarded, their will is accepted for the deed. But there are
others whom God abhors, and also their duties. The word is
preached to them, but it never reforms them ; yet they hold on
with their attendance on ordinances, and it may be also with their
prayers. What says the Lord of all such ? " He that turueth away
his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomina-
tion," " For all these things hath my hand made, and all those
things have been, saith the Lord ; but to this man will I look, even
to him that is poor, and of a conti'ite spirit, and trembleth at my
word. He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man ; he that sa-
crificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck ; he that offereth an
oblation, as if he offered swine's flesh ; he that burneth incense, as
if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and
their soul delighteth in their abominations." " To what purpose is
the multitude of your sacrifices to me ? saith the Lord ; I am full of
the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts, and I delight
not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats," Prov.
xxviii. 9 ; Isa. Ixvi. 2, 3, and i. 11. — This appears,
4. From the very different sense and feeling which those have of the
advantage of religion, the ordinances and duties thereof. Some are
acquainted with the gain of religion, and, from their own experience,
can give a solid reason why they follow it: 1 Tim. vi. 6, " But god-
liness with contentment is great gain." They have tasted of com-
munion with God in duties, and of access to him, of the sanctifying
iuflueuces of the Spirit in ordinances : Mic. ii. 7, " thou that art
named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the Lord straitened ? are
these his doings ? do not my words do good to him that walketh
uprightly ?" But unto others all these things are in very deed but
as empty husks : Prox. xiv. 10, " The heart knoweth his own bitter-
ness, and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy." They
abide in the outer court of religion all their days ; they see not its
intrinsic glory, nor taste of its kernel or marrow. They keep up a
form of duties from custom, t^nd an unenlightened conscience ; but
they feel nothing in them kindly to draw their hearts towards God.
— This appears,
5. In the very different effects of the religion which those profess.
338 THE CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED,
Grace is of a growing nature, and it will gi'ow, though not visible at
all times : Prov. iv. 18, " But the path of the just is as the shining
light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." And the
longer that saints have a standing in religion, they will be the more
firmly rooted ; though perhaps their affections be not always so vi-
gorous, yet solid tenderness will display itself with them : Psalm
xcii. 13, 14, " Those that are planted in the house of the Lord, shall
grow up and flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still
bring forth fruit in old age : they shall be fat and flourishing."
And if they fall, they will not lie still, but recover again : Psalm
xxxvii. 24, " Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down ; for
the Lord upholdeth him with his hand." But what are the effects
which the religion of many has ? Some grow up to their false pitch,
and there they stand without motion : Prov. xxvi. 14, " As the
door turneth on his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed." They
think they are right, and they seek no farther. Some, instead of
growing better, grow worse and worse ; the longer they live, they
are the more unholy, more untender in the substantials of moral
duties ; and some throw aside the mask altogether, and, in sight
of the world, desert to the devil's camp, by falling into some pro-
fane course, apostatising upon some temptation or other, and so,
as they were before loathsome before God, they become also loath-
some before his people : Rev. iii. 16, " So, then, because thou art
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my
month." This appears.
Lastly, In the very different passage which those have out of
time into eternity. True, all must die, that is the point in which
we all meet ; but as true is it, that it is the point where outside and
inside Christians part for ever : Psalm xxxvii. 37, 38, " Mark the
perfect man, and behold the upright, for the latter end of that man
is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together ; the
end of the wicked shall be cut off." Though thay have lived in the
same church together, under the same ordinances, gone to prayers
together, to one communion-table, when they come to that step
where their ways part, they separate never to meet more. The one
goes to the society of God, angels, and saints ; and their unseen reli-
gion terminates in a glorious open reward, their grace in glory, their
inward beauty in shining as stars in the firmament. The other gets
his portion with reprobates, and those who had as little of the shew,
as of the reality of religion : Psalm cxxv. 5, " As for such as turn
aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with
the workers of iniquity." — I shall point out,
II. What are the causes of this difference which obtains betwixt
Christians and others. — Among others, there is.
THE HYPOCRITE DETECTED. 339
1. The very different way that persons come by their religion ; if
■WG examine outside and inside Christians, how they came by the re-
ligion they severally have, it will be found, that the religion which
they have is answerable to the way they came by it. — Thus,
(1.) There is a difference in the weight which their entering on
their religion had on their spirits. Some come very lightly by
their religion ; hence it sits lightly upon them, and often goes as
lightly from them. They venture upon building a tower, without de-
liberately counting the cost. To others it is not so easy, but they
are brought to the utmost seriousness in the matter, Luke xiv. 28,
29 ; hence they go to the bottom of the matter, while others satisfy
themselves with superficial work,
(2.) There is a difference in the depth of their conviction and
humiliation : Luke vi. 48, 49, " He is like a man which built an
house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock, and when
the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and
could not shake it, for it was founded on a rock. But he that
heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that, without a foundation,
built an house on the earth, against which the stream beat vehe-
mently, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was
great," The plough of conviction lightly going over the fallow
ground of tho heart, is sufficient to make an outside Christian :
Matth. xiii, 5, 20, " Some fell upon stony places, where they had
not much earth, and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no
deepness of earth. But he that received the seed into stony
places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy re-
ceiveth it." If he have as much of it as to let him see tho evil and
danger of a life quite profane, without so much as the form of god-
liness, it is sufficient to make him put on the form. But it must be
carried deeper, to make an inside Christian, even to the root of the
most inward beloved lust, to the sin of one's nature, and to the dis-
covery of Christ for sanctiflcation, as well as justification.
(3.) There is a vast dift'erence in their light and illumination in
the knowledge of Christ : John iv, 10, " Jesus answered, and said
nnto her. If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith
unto thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldest have asked of him, and
he would have given thee living water," This is plainly intimated
in the wise and foolish builders and virgins ; so that an outside
Christian has never been right in the head. All their insight into
the excellency of Christ and religion, has left them fools, while
others have been made really wise, their judgment rectified, their
taste purified, so as to be capable to discern things concerning their
souls in their native colours. Hence that glory in Christ has been
340 TIIR CHKISTtAN DESCRIBED,
seen by the one, which has darkened all created glory, made thera
content to part with all for him, while the other has always some
lust or other more dear to them than Christ and religion. — There is,
(4.) A difference in the issue of their exercises about their soul's
case. In the one they have issued in the change of their nature,
the taking away of the heart of stone, Ezek. xxxvi. 26, the making
of thera new creatures, putting off the old man, and putting on the
new. But in the other, whatever stir has been made in the affec-
tions, whatever griefs or joys they have had, the stony heart has
remained untaken away, Mattli. xiii. 5 ; so, though they have be-
come other men than they were before, yet not new men. — Another
cause of difference is,
2. The different ways in which professors follow religion. This,
if attended to, cannot fail to make a mighty difference.
(1.) Some make religion their business, their main business, in
the world : Gen. v. 24, " And Enoch walked with God, and he was
not, for God took him." Religion is their all. They see nothing
they have to do in the world, but it is either their salvation-work or
their generation-work, so that they must observe God in all things.
And this makes an inside Christian : Psalm cxix. 6, " Then shall ]
not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.'
Others make religion but a bye-work ; their main business is oi
another kind, how to please themselves, how to advance their tem-
poral interest ; and this makes an outside Christian. In regard to
the one, all things else about him bow to his religion, he cuts and
carves them as may best suit God's honour, and his soul's welfare ;
whereas, as to the other, he makes his religion bow to his other de-
signs, takes so much of it, and no more, as may leave him in quiet
possession of some lust or other,
(2.) They follow religion from different principles, motives and ends.
[1.] Some follow it from natural principles and motives; that
which moves them to it is a natural conscience, in some sort enlight-
ened by the word and providence, which will give them no rest in
the utter neglect of religion. Fear of punishment, or hope of re-
ward, are powerful enough to make an outward Christian. But an
inside Christian has a gracious principle of love to God and holiness
implanted in him, the law is written in his heart, he has a new na-
ture, which inclines him unto universal holiness, and thereby he is
kindly drawn to follow religion, upon a view of its inward beauty ;
and thus he fills up his character.
[2.] Some aim at approving themselves to men in their religion.
They seek a name by it, they desire thus to advance their credit and
reputation among the sober part of the world, Matth. vi. 2 ; and
THE UTPOCUITE DETECTED. 341
seeming to be religious will satisfy, because men can judge no far-
ther than the outward appearance. But others study to approve
themselves to God : 2 Cor. v. 9, " Wherefore we labour, that
whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him." Now, since
God cannot be deceived with outward appearances, this engages
them to be careful of the hidden man of the heart, and to value no
approbation of any, if the Master approve them not. — From what
has been observed, we may learn.
That there is something in religion above nature's reach. study
to attain it ! The mystery of godliness is a great mystery. It is
no easy thing to be a Christian. The difference betwixt the godly
and others lies not in externals, but in internals, things removed
out of the view of the world, and open to God only. labour to
study internal religion, and to approve yourselves to God who
searcheth the hearts ! — Try yourselves. Consider to which of the
two sorts you belong, whether you be real Christians or not. Never
value yourselves on the outward part or letter of religion, for you
may have that and be stript of all by apostacy to which you lie
open, and will be turned out with the workers of iniquity at last,
though you still keep on the mask. We must all appear before
the tribunal of Christ. Study that religion which will be approved
by him there. — I now proceed to consider,
III. What is the outside and letter of religion, which only makes
an outside Christian, and what is the inside and spirit of it, which
makes a Christian ? — Here I observe,
1. That the outside of religion is that part of it which lies open to
the view of the world, by which men form their estimate, not God :
1 Sara. xvi. 7, " But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his
countenance, or on the height of his stature, because I have refused
him ; for the Lord seeth not as man seeth ; for man looketh on the
outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." It com-
prehends all church privileges, duties, whether of doing or suffering,
and attainments lying open to the view of men. Men may come a
great length in this, and yet be nought in God's esteem. — I observe
2. That the letter of religion is that part of it which is agreeable
to the letter of the law, whether in externals or internals. And it
comprehends not only the outside, which is open to man's view, but
also internal dispositions, exercises and attainments, as to the mat-
ter of thera ; for example, Judas's sorrow for sin, the stony ground's
joy at receiving the seed of the word, and the hypocrite's delight in
approaching to God, Isa. Iviii. which have the matter, but not the
form and manner, and so is like a body without the soul. — I observe,
3. That the inside of religion is that part of it which is open to
342 THE CHIUSTIAN DESCRIBJ5D,
the all-seeiug eye of God, Mattli. vi. 4, " That thine alms may be ia
secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret, himself shall reward,
thee openly." What, persons go about, out of mere conscience to-
wards God, as knowing that the world either is not, or cannot be
witness to it, and though it was a witness, it does not know right or
wrong; but such setting themselves in the presence of God, are
carried to their duty as if the eyes of all the world were upon them,
Acts xxiv. 16. But this is not all. — I observe,
Lastly, That the spirit or spirituality of religion is the internal
grace, joined to the external performance ; it is the right manner,
joined to the right matter of religion : John iv. 24, " God is a Spirit,
and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."
1 Tim. i. 5, "Now, the end of the commandment is charity out of a
pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned," as
when heart-humiliation is joined with bending of the knees to God
in prayer, and the duty is gone about from right principles, and di-
rected to a right end. — It remains that,
IV. I confirm the doctrine,
That not the former, but the latter sort of religion, marks a
true Christian, is evident, if we consider,
1. That there is nothing in the outside or letter of religion, but
what one may reach in an unregenerate state, in which no man can
ever please God, Rom. iii. 8. The hypocrite's mask may take in
the whole outward man, and the devil's goats may resemble Christ's
sheep, in all but the hidden man of tlie heart. All these are but
acts of moral discipline, not requiring a new nature from whence to
spring, but may arise from the old corrupt nature, assisted by ex-
ternal revelation, and the common influences of the Spirit. — It will
be farther evident, if we consider,
2. That the outside and letter of religion may be without any
true love to God in the heart, which yet is the substance of practical
holiness, and the comprehensive duty of the whole law : Ezek.
xxxiii. 31, " And they come unto me, as the people cometh, and
they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but
they will not do them ; for with their mouth they shew much love,
but their heart goeth after their covetousness." Love to God makes
all duties run in a right channel ; but how can this be found, when
the natural enmity is not overcome by regenerating grace ? Self-
love may supply its place, so far as the outside and letter of religion
go, and that upon this principle. Job iii. " Skin for skin, yea, all
that a man hath will he give for his life." — This will also be evident,
if we consider,
3. That the outside and letter of religion may consist with the
THE HYPOCRITE DETKCTED. 343
reign of sin in the heart: 2 Tim. iii. 5, " Having a form of godli-
ness, but denying the power of it." Such in themselves are weak,
and can never turn sin off the throne in the soul. Hence it is that
every hypocrite is a slave to some lust or other; whatever be his
attainmeuts, this always remains true of him, Mai'k x. 21. This
kind of religion i.5 ever like the legs of the lame, unequal. — This
will be evident, if we consider,
4. That men are in religion only what they are before God, not
what they are before men. When God directs Abraham to a holy
walk, he says, " Walk before me," Gen. xvii. 1. If God did not
observe the hearts, the insides of men, the principles of their
actions, an outside religion would be sufficient. But what does it
avail before the all-seeing God, to cleanse the outside of the platter,
while the inside is full of ravening, while that is wanting which
God chiefly requires and delights in ? Psalm li. 6, how is it possible
that the man should be approved of God ? — This will be evident, if
we consider,
Lastly, That the great difference of accepted and unaccepted per-
formances, dispositions, &c., does not lie in the letter but in some-
thing else. Cain and Abel both offered, the one acceptably, the other
not. Gen. iv. 3, 4, 5, where lay the difference ? The apostle shows it,
Heb. xi. 4, " By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sa-
crifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness, that he was righte-
ous, God testifying of his gifts ; and by it he being dead yet
speaketh." Peter and Judas both mourned, and we need not
hesitate to say, that the mourning of the latter in itself was fully
as hearty as that of the former, but they differed in their kind, the
one was godly sorrow, the other was the sorrow of the world. The
trial of men's works is not only by what they have wrought, but
hoiu they have wrought: John iii. 21, *' But he that doth truth
Cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they
are wrought in God."
Y. I now come to make some brief improvement. — "We infer,
1. "What are those Christians, who do not so much as approve
themselves to men, by the outside, and letter of religion. Those
surely have nothing of God, and shall never see heaven, if they
change not their course of life : Matth. v. 20, '• Except your righte-
ousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees,
ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." How many
are there among us this day, whose way of life is a scandal to
Christianity, who are in the church, as boils, botches, and sores, are
in the body, serving for nothing but to grieve the spirits of others
who have any concern in thorn ? What sort of Christians are
344 THE CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED,
prayerless persons, liars, Sabbath -breakers who loiter away whole
Sabbaths, unclean persons ? &c. 1 Pet. iv. 18, " And if the righte-
ous scarcely be saved, where shall tlie ungodly and sinners appear?"
The day will come, when such will see that it had been their hap-
piness to have lived and died among Pagans. — "We infer,
2. That those also are a sad sort of Christians, who, if they can
approve themselves to men, make it none of their business to ap-
prove themselves to God : Rev. iii. 1, " I know thy works, that
thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." How many are
there, with whom their credit goes farther than their conscience !
And therefore, if they can carry their wickedness, so as none but
God may see it, they value not his eye on them : Numb, xxxii. 23,
'* But if you will not do so, behold you have sinned against the
Lord ; and be sure your sin will find you out." This practical atheism
will be bitterness in the end, when the day comes, when God shall
judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to the gospel,
Rpm. xi. 16. Ah ! how many cast a fair cloak of profession over
reigning lusts; but behold their end : Psalm cxxv. 5, " As for such
as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them
forth with the workers of iniquity ; but peace shall be upon Israel."
II. I shall consider this point more particularly, and shew, in
some particulars, how far one may go, and yet be an outside Chris-
tian, and in what respects the inside Christian goes beyond him, and
these jointly, in the following propositions.
I. That he is not a true Christian who only bears the visible bad-
ges of Christianity, but he who, with the visible badges, also par-
takes of the invisible grace.
II. That he is not a true Christian, whose outward man is only
cleansed from the gross pollutions of the world, but he whose in-
ward man is also cleansed.
III. That he is not a true Christian who only performs the duties
of external obedience, but he who, with them, joins the duties of in-
ternal obedience.
TV. That he is not a true Christian, who has inside religion only
in the letter, but he who has it also in its spirituality. — These I shall
illustrate in their order. — I observe,
I. That he h not a true Christian, who only bears the visible bad-
ges of Christianity, but he who, with the visible badges, also par-
takes of the invisible grace. — Mark xvi. 16, "He that believeth,and
is baptised, shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall be
damned." The visible badges of Christianity are the sacraments,
baptism, and the Lord's Supper ; by partaking of these, we are dis-
tinguished from Pagans ; but there is an invisible grace, without
which these avail nothing to salvation. — For,
THE HYPOCRITK DKTKCTED. 345
1. One may be baptised in the name of Christ, and yet be no true
Christian, but even at the last only an outside one ; as in our text,
" For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, neither is that circum-
cision which is outward in the flesh." We find some have been bred
Jews or pagans, and, by their own free choice, have turned Chris-
tians, and received the seal of the covenant, and after all been
naught : Acts viii. 13, 21, " Then Simon himself believed also; and
when he was baptised, he continued with Pliilip, and wondered, be-
holding the miracles and signs that were done. But Peter said to
him. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is
not right in the sight of God !" How much more may persons
amongst us be such, who were baptised in their infancy with water,
which was not their choice, but a benefit they had by their parents'
care, and from Christianity's being the religion of our country !
And how little it avails many, and what good they make of it, may
be learnt from this, that the impressions of their baptismal engage-
ments are so slight on them that they never mind them, many bap-
tised persons pass year after year, without preparing themselves for
the Lord's table. But he is a true Christian, who has the invisible
grace signified by baptism. See the diflTerence betwixt outside and
inside Christians in this, Matth. ili. 11, " I indeed baptise you with
water unto repentance : but he that cometh after me is greater than
I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptise you with
the Holy Ghost, and with fire." 1 Pet. iii. 21, " The like figure
■whereunto even baptism doth also now save us, (not the putting
away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience
towards God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." The outside
Christian maybe baptised with water, but the inside is baptised with
the Holy Ghost, working like fire, burning up the lusts of the flesh.
He is born of water, and the Spirit, working like water, to the wash-
ing away of the natural filthiness of the spirit with which he was
born, on whose conscience Christ's blood is sprinkled, on whose soul
Christ's spirit has savingly operated to his spiritual cleansing. In
this the inside goes beyond the outside Christian.
2. In like manner, persons may be admitted to the Lord's table,
and yet not be true Christians. Though this be only the privilege
of saints, yet a person may be a communicant, who is nothing more
than an outside Christian. While others are debarred, they may
be admitted to an external partaking of the children's bread, and
yet be but dogs in the sight of the heart-searching God : Luke xii.
26, *' Then shall ye begin to say. We have eaten and have drunk in
thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets." Matth. xxii. 13,
*' And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having
Vol. IX. z
346 THE CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED,
a wedding-garmeut ? and he was speechless. Then said the king to
the servants, bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast
him into outer darkness, there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
A competency of knowledge, with an appearance of seriousness of
an holy life, will entitle persons to this privilege before the church, who
can judge only by the outward appearance ; but he is a true Christian
who is admitted to communion with God in that ordinance : Cant. v.
1, " I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse, I have gather-
ed my myrrh with my spice, I have eaten my honeycomb with my
honey. Eat, friends, drink, yea, drink abundantly, beloved."
In this matter, the inside Christian goes beyond the outside one.
The outside Christian gets the token from men, the inside Christian
has also the Lord's token. The one only eats the bread of the Lord,
the other, with it, eats that bread which is the Lord : John vi. 57,
" He that eateth me, he shall live by me ;" he feeds by faith on a cru-
cified Christ, unites with him, as partaking of his Spirit, of all the be-
nefits of his purchase, to his spiritual nourishment, and growth in
grace. The one is held in the outer court, the other is admitted into
the inner, and is there feasted in greater or lesser measures. The
lusts of the former are strengthened by the abuse of that ordinance,
those of the latter are weakened by the holy use of it. — I observe,
II. That he is not a true Christian, whose outward man only is
cleansed from the gross pollutions of the world, but he whose in-
ward man is also cleansed. Saving grace penetrates to the inside,
and stays not in the outside only : Psalm xxiv. 34, " Who shall
ascend into the hill of the Lord ? and who shall stand in his holy
place ? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart, who hath not
lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully." A person may
he clean from gross pollutions of the outward man, and yet be but
an outward Christian ; no swearer, liar, Sabbath-breaker, fornica-
tor, &c., and yet no Christian, Luke xxviii. 11. Negative holiness
and outside religion, though the want of it will damn the profane,
1 Cor. vi. 9, 10, yet the having it will not keep the outside Chris-
tian from ruin. A blameless life in the world, though good in itself,
yet comes not the length of true Christianity, There are several
things beside saving grace, that may in some measure cleanse the
conversation from gross pollutions. — Among others, there is,
1. Good education, and good company, as in the case of Joash
under the tutorage of Jehoiada. This may chain men's lusts, though
it cannot change their nature ; their heart is of an apish nature, apt
to follow example. Though readily the worst example is the most
taking, yet good example has a mighty influence, especially when
persons are brought up with it from their childhood. — There is,
TUE HYPOCRITE DETECTED. 347
2. A good natural temper and disposition. Many a person is
more indebted to his natural temper, than to the tenderness of his
conscience, for his cleanness from gross pollutions. It is evident,
that several persons who have no real religion, nay, nor even the
form of it, may be sober, as it would be a pain and a torment to
them to go to the extravagant courses in which others indulge them-
selves. But no man is born a true Christian, as he is with his na-
tural temper; religion in reality is a supernatural temper: 2 Pet.
i. 4, " "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious pro-
mises, that by these ye may be partakers of the divine nature, hav-
ing escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." —
There is,
3. Their being kept out of the way of temptation. It is a mercy
to be so kept ; but while people's corruptions are not tried with a
suitable bait, they cannot so well know what influence the command-
ment has or has not upon them. The cleanness of the outward con-
versation of many is owing more to those circumstances in which
they were placed in the world, than to any gracious disposition ; as
may appear from the case of some who kept right as long as they
were not tried, but so soon as the trial of their corruptions comes
they give way. — There is,
4. The workings of a natural conscience under the common in-
fluences and convictions of the Spirit, and a rousing ministry : Mark
vi. 20, *' For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man,
and an holy, and observed him : and Avhen he heard him, he did
many things, and heard him gladly." The preaching of the word
sometimes serves to embalm dead souls, who are never by it quick-
ened. It also sets the natural conscience a-working to purify the
outward man, while the inner is never renewed. It brings on many
so far, as that they are not far from the kingdom of God, who yet
never have power to go forward to it.
5. Self-love may do it, in so far as a regard to their soul or body,
credit or reputation, may move men to all this. Fear of punishment,
and hope of reward, are poA^erful incentives, where God's authority
is but little valued ; nay, some reigning lust, as covetousness,
pride, or ambition : Matth. vi. 2, " Therefore, when thou dost thine
alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in
the synagogues, and in the streets, that they may have glory of
men. Verily, I say unto you. they have their reward." But what
avails all this to salvation, while the hidden man of the heart is
sunk in pollutions before the all-seeing God, while the man is as a
painted sepulchre, fair without, but within full of rottenness : Ezek.
viii. 12, *' Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what
z2
348 TUE CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED,
the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the
chambers of his imagery ? for they say, the Lord seeth us not ; the
Lord hath forsaken the earth." It is a weak evidence to lean to
outward religion. But the true Christian has this cleanness of the
outward conversation, and besides goes farther than the outward
Christian in that point, in two particulars.
(1.) The inside Christian joins internal purity to external: Psalm
xxiv. 4, " He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart, who hath not
lifted up his soul to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully." Matth. v. 8,
" Blessed are the poor in heart, for they shall see God." He does
not sit down contented with outside purity, as the other does, bat
his chief concern is the heart, the fountain of all impurity of life.
And though the world cannot charge him with any gross pollutions,
he finds he has work enough to do with the blind mind, the rebel-
lious will, and the carnal corrupt affections. He accordingly strives
to get them mortified : Gal. v. 24, " And they that are Christ's have
crucified the flesh, with its affections and lusts." Though the world
sees not, yet, since God sees the disorder of his heart, that is enough
to humble him, and give him new errands to Christ for his blood
and Spirit.
(2.) Even his external purity is from religious motives, springs,
and principles. Thus Joseph, Gen. xxxix. 9, " How can I do this
great wickedness, and sin against God ?" In this he serves God,
while in it the outward Christian does but serve himself. It is God's
authority that sways him to it ; though his natural inclinations be
to break out, yet the fear of God in his heart does restrain him.
And if he be surprised into temptations, the offence and dishonour
to God weighs more with him than all the shame and loss in the
world which he incurs.
From all which we may learn, that certainly they are not true
Christians, who are profane in their walk, whose conversation is not
so much as cleansed from gross pollutions, such as cursers and
swearers, drunkards, mockers at religion, obscene speakers, unclean
persons, &c. Gal. v. 19, 20, 21. These bear the devil's mark on
their foreheads, Isa. iii. 19 ; and have not so much as the rude
draughts of the form of godliness. — Hence,
Let no man value himself on the cleansing of the outward man
from those pollutions, for a person may go all that length, and much
farther, and yet be a cast-away. Religion is much deeper than this
is, and is more inward. What the world observes least, God looks
most to. Therefore study the inwards of religion, truth and purity
in the inward parts.
THE IITPOCRITE DETECTED. 349
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.
SERMON XXXII.
Rom. ii. 28, 29,
For he is not a Jew tuhich is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision
ivhich is outward in the ficsh. But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly,
and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the
letter, ivhose praise is not of men, hut of God.
Haviijg, in tlie preceding discourse, considered the two first pro-
positions which I laid down for illustrating the second doctrinal
point, I go on to the
III. That he is not the true Christian who only performs the
duties of external obedience, but he who also with them joins
the duties of internal obedience. It is not the outward duties of
obedience, but those which are inward, which constitute a true
Christian. A hypocrite may go the whole round of outward duties,
and thus have a form of godliness, so as, to the view of the world,
he appears nothing short of the true Christian. — Thus, for instance,
1. A man may perform the external duties of righteousness and
morality towards his neighbour, and yet be no more than an out-
ward Christian. He may be just in his dealings with men : Luke
xviii. 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." He may be liberal and
abundant in mercy towards the needy, 1 Cor. xiii. 3, and yet after
all no true Christian. True Christianity makes a good neighbour,
makes him abhor every unjust and dishonest thing, it renders him
true to his word, and upright in his dealings in the world ; but when
a man has this and no more, he has but one half, and hardly the
half, of what is necessary to make a true Christian. — Besides this,
2. A man may perform the outward duties of piety towards God,
yet after all be but an outside Christian. For pointing out the
hypocrite's attainments in this respect, I would have you consider,
(1.) That persons may attend public ordinances, and not only so,
but they may be very punctual in their attendance ; they may be
far from loitering away Sabbaths at home, or from satisfying them-
selves with a partial attendance, as in Isa. Iviii. 2, " Yet they seek
me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righte-
ousness, and forsook not the ordinance of our God." They may be-
have themselves gravely and attentively, and neither be sleepers
350 TnE CHRISTIAN DESCBIBED,
nor gazers, far less laughers at ordinances, and yet after all nought
in God's esteem : Ezek. xxxiii. 31, " And they come unto thee as the
people Cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear
thy words, but they will not do them ; for with their mouth they shew
much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness." They
may be at much pains in following ordinances from place to place :
John vi. 24, 26, " When the people, therefore, saw that Jesus was
not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to
Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. — Jesus answered and said unto them,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye seek me, not because ye saw the
miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled."
They may talk well of what they hear, and after all be but outside
Christians : 1 Cor. xiii. 1, " Though I speak with the tongues of
men or of angels, and have not charity, I am become as a sounding
brass or a tinkling cymbal." — Consider,
(2.) That they may be praying persons, and so carry religion
into their families, and into their closets : Jer. xii. 2, " Thou hast
planted, yea, they have taken root ; they grow, yea, they bring
forth fruit ; thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins."
Even secret prayers, where no eye but the Lord's doth see, is a piece
of bodily exercise, not beyond the walk of a hypocrite, which an
awakened conscience may put a person upon at first, and other sel-
fish principles may keep them at it. They may be persons of many
prayers, not like those who pray some, but who indeed pray much :
Heb. xii. 17, " For ye know how that afterwards, when he would
have inherited the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place
of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." — Consider,
(3.) That they may not only do much, but they also may be suf-
ferers for religion, suffering not only to the spoiling of their goods,
but even unto death, and yet be naught in God's esteem ; 1 Cor.
xiii. 3, " And though I give my body to be burned, and have not
charity, it profiteth me nothing." Hypocrisy is such a salamandar,
as can live in the fire of persecution, of which there have been many
instances ; namely, of such whom the violent wind of persecution has
not been able to drive off the Lord's way, but the warm sun of pros-
perity has done their business, to their undoing.
3. They may join both the outward of the first and second
tables, and yet be but outside Christians. There are some who are
very upright in their dealings with men, yet have not so much as a
form in regard to the duties of piety. Others who do not neglect
duties of piety towards God, but they make no conscience of their
duty to their neighbour, but where they apprehend their worldly
interest will drive to it, right or wrong. Persons may even join
THE HYPOCRITE DETECTED. 351
botb together, nud yet be naught in God's esteem. " 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 ; I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all I possess,"
Luke xviii. 12, " Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching
the righteousness which is in the law, blameless," Phil. iii. 6. — All
this may be, and yet not beyond the boundaries of Pharasaical
righteousness : Matth. v. 20, "Except your righteousness exceed the
righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter
into the kingdom of heaven." The reason of this is manifest, namely,
that all these things being but bodily exercises, are within the com-
pass of nature, and do not require any supernatural grace to the
bare performance of them ; if the conscience be in any measure
awakened, persons may thus be influenced to perform them ; and
custom may so habituate them, that the performance may be con-
sistent enough with the reign of sin in the heart. But he only is a
true Christian who joins internal to external obedience : spiritual
exercise to bodily exercise in religion. The inside exceeds the out-
side Christian in various particulars. — As,
(1.) The inside Christian performs the duties of evangelical obe-
dience, in subjecting his whole heart and soul to the Lord, as well
as the outward man. This is the spiritual service which declares a
man to be a true Christian : " God is a Spirit, and they that wor-
ship him must worship him in spirit and in truth," John iv. 23,
" For we are the circumcision, that worship God in the spirit, and
rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh," Phil,
iii. 3. The bulk of the hypocrite's religion lies in externals, but
that of the true Christian's lies in internals, in faith, love, resignation,
and other parts of unseen religion. Their chief labour is with the
heart, to notice the risings of corruptions, their bewailing the de-
fects which the world cannot perceive, and mourning over the sin
of their nature, the spring of all evil: Gal. v. 24, "And they that
are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with its afi'ections and lusts."
(2.) The inside Christian is unreserved and universal in his
obedience, which the outside Christian never is. They have still
some lusts with which they can never part, they reign in them. —
Enmity against the power of godliness : 1 John iii. 12, " Not as
Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother ; and where-
fore slew he him ? because his own works were evil, and his
brother's righteous." — Self-seeking : John v. 44, " How can ye be-
lieve, who seek honour one of another, and seek not the honour
that Cometh from God only ?" — Bitterness of spirit, which cannot
digest the gospel command, of doing good for evil : Tit. iii. 3, "For
352 THE CHRISTIAN DESCriBED,
we also ourselves were sometime foolish, disobedient, deceived,
serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful
and hating one another." — lleigning love to the pleasures of this
world, and covetousness : Ezek. xxxiii. 31, " And they come unto
thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people,
and they hear thy words, but they will not do them ; for with their
mouth they shew ranch love, but their heart goeth after their co-
vetousness." But the gracious soul's obedience is universal ; all
such in so far sincerely aim at every known duty, approve the holy
law in every point; desiring their spirits to be conformed to it, not
it to be brought down to them ; lamenting from the heart their
shortcoming in all points.
3. The inside Christian's obedience is son-like obedience, the
other is servile and slavish. The highest principle with the hypo-
crite is fear of punishment, and hope of reward, Hos. x. 11 ; their
highest end is themselves, Hos. x. 1. Jehu professed zeal for the Lord,
but in effect it was but zeal for a kingdom. The inside Christian
serves God as a son does his father. — Prompted by love to him, next
to his command : 1 Tim. i. 6, " Now, the end of the commandment is
charity, out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith
unfeigned." — Leaning on him for strength to perform his duty : Col.
iii. 17, " And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of
the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." —
Aiming at his honour : 1 Cor. x. 31, '* Whether, therefore, ye eat
or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."
From this learn, that those are inevitably exposed to death, who
come not the length of the outward duties of religion, of mercy to-
wards their neighbours, or of piety towards God. Lay this to
heart, ye unrighteous, ye slighters of religion, prayerless persons, &c.
Ye come not even the length of some who will fall short, and never
see heaven. ! if those who do all these things be lost, what will
become of you ? — Ye that even come that length, lay no stress upon
it, it will be but a broken reed to trust to. Duties are by no means
sufficient confidences : nor in themselves, without internals joined to
them, can they even be evidences of your safety. Examine not only
what ye do, but how ye do it, for this last is that to which God
chiefly looks. — I now come to the
lY. And last proposition. That he is not a true Christian, who
has inside religion only in the letter of it, but he who also has it in
its spirituality. We have pursued the nominal Christian through his
outside religion, but we may not leave him here ; for, as an hypo-
crite may go farther than mere externals, so the text pursues him
for discovery, even in internals in the letter. — For explaining which,
I observe.
THE HYPOCRITE DETECTED. 353
1. That a man may carry his religion into internals, and yet be
but a Christian in the letter. He may do and have that in religion
which no eye but Grod sees or can see, and yet be no true Christian :
Jer. xvii. 9, 10, " The heart is deceitful above all things, and des-
perately wicked, who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, 1
try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and
according to the fruit of his doings." A person may form such a
fine thread of hypocrisy, as to beguile every eye but the all-seeing
eye ; Jer. iii. 10, " And yet for all this, her treacherous sister Judah
hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith
the Lord." Do not think that all hypocrisy is gross dissimulation,
or yet that all a hypocrite's religion lies only in his outside, and in
nothing within. — For,
(1.) A natural conscience may check for heart-sins, and sins that
no eye sees but God's, Rom. ii. 15, " Which shew the work of the
law written on their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness,
and their thoughts the mean time accusing, or else excusing, one
another ;" and consequently must j)ress to inward duties, according
to the light. Hence there may be sorrow and grief for what is hid
from all the world; since the conscience perceives that God sees it,
and that he will write his indignation on it. This fire has burned
in many an unsanctified breast, yet it behoved it to have a vent,
though to their own shame and loss.
(2.) An unsanctified desire of salvation, in the way of the co-
venant of works, may carry a man to internals in religion : Rom. x.
3, " For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about
to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted them-
selves unto the righteousness of God." — The covenant of works is
engraved on man's heart naturally, and under the influence of it a
man may do his utmost to conform to the letter of the law, in the
inward as well as outward duties of it. Observe the case of the
young man in Matth. xix. 16 — 20. It is no rare thing to see men
eager to purchase heaven by their works.
(3.) Light may be strong, and kept strong by the common opera-
tions of the Holy Spirit, in an unholy heart. Thus, Balaam durst
not entertain a thought of cursing Israel ; though he would fain
have gained the wages of unrighteousness, if his light would have
suff'ered him. Our Lord Christ breaks up the outer door of onr
understanding often Avhile the inner remains shut. This cannot
miss to have some bond on the heart, as well as on the outer man.
(4.) Even in the internals of religion, there is a letter and a
spirit ; there is the body or matter of the thing, and the soul and
spirit of it lying in the right manner of doing it. The former is not
354 THE CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED,
beyond the power of nature, but the latter is ; and therefore a
hypocrite may come the length of the letter of internals of re-
ligion. He may have desires of good ; Prov. xiif. 4, " The soul of the
sluggard desireth," &c., though not holy desires ; so in other cases.
2. The true Christian has inside religion, not in the letter only,
but in the spirituality thereof: Phil. iii. 3, " We — worship God in
the spirit, and — have no confidence in the flesh." He does not sa-
tisfy himself with the thing itself, but labours to get it, and main-
tain it as of the right stamp, such as God will approve. Here lies
sincerity, that ornament of all religion, or rather the spirit and life
of all, John i. 47. Now, this spirituality consists in two things.
(1.) In the graciousness of tho principle, 1 Tim. i. 5. Their in-
ward religion is the fruit of their new nature influenced by the Lord
the Spirit ; it is natural, and not violent or forced out by terrors,
or from necessity, as screening them from the wrath of God. The
new nature makes it their absolute choice, in whatever circum-
stances they may be : whereas it is the choice of others, only be-
cause they cannot otherwise act safely. — It consists,
(2.) In the holiness of their aim : their chief aim is to please the
Lord, Col. i. 10. The stress of their salvation is laid on the obe-
dience of Christ, not their own, whether outward or inward ; and
hence their aim in all their duties, is not to please themselves, but
him who has called them to be partakers of his glory. The hypo-
crite is servile in his aims to please God, as he is mercenary for his
own profit, so that himself, and not God, is his chief end ; but the
sincere soul acts like a son, by virtue of the spirit of adoption. —
From all this we may learn.
That this shews they are not true Christians, whose religion lies
all in externals, and have no concern about their hearts, Matth.
xxiii. 25. A whited sepulchre is the emblem of a hypocrite, not of
a true Christian. Persons also may be at much pains inwardly,
who yet never come the length of the spirit of religion. What,
then, will become of these, whose case is entirely confined to the
outward man ? — Let those who carry religion inwardly also examine
well, what are the principles and ends they act from, lest their in-
side religion be found a spiritless, lifeless corpse of religion, the
mere product of their own exertions. Such may perceive whether
or not they have the spirit of religion, by,
1. Their endeavouring to approve themselves to the Lord, as an
all-seeing holy God, not in some things only, but in all things, Col.
i. 10. Being content to know the whole word of God as to duty,
and what they know not to be discovered to them, in order to their
setting about it, .lob xxxiv. 32 ; Psalm cxxxix. 23, 24. They will
know it by,
THE HYPOCRITE DETECTED. 355
2. Their endeavouring to purge their inward, as well as their
outward religion, of all carnal and selfish motives, principles, and
ends, John iii. 21. Self is an insinuating thing, and much of our
spirituality lies in persons endeavouring to be spiritual in what they
do. So short length do most come, we must bo concerned to be
purged from hypocrisy ; it is a good sign with those who are unsa-
tisfied with their performance of duty, and are lamenting that they
are not spiritual in it, Rom. vii. 22, 23. — They will know it,
3. By being denied to their outward, and also their inward re-
ligion, Phil. iii. Though they endeavour to do all as if they were to
gain heaven by doing, yet they renounce all in point of confidence
before the Lord, as naked and bare. This is a good sign, Matth v. 3.
In pursuance of this point touching inside religion, I shall ofi^er
the following observations touching the hypocrite's attainments in
this respect, and at the same time shew wherein the true Christian
goes beyond him.
1. A person may be under heavy exercise of soul after the com-
mission of some sin, especially a gross sin, and yet be but a Chris-
tian in the letter. This is manifest in the case of Judas. Though
there are some sins, which every unsanctified heart makes no bones
of yet there are some which may stick in the throat even of a per-
son void of the grace of God ; nay, more, in this exercise of soul
there may be, (1.) Great restlessness and anxiety of mind, which
the person cannot divert, as he was wont to do. (2.) Indignation
at himself, for doing as he has done. (3.) A taking shame to him-
self before men, by a plain and open confession of guilt, Matth.
xxvii. 3, 4. Lastly, Strong resolutions to guard against that sin in
all time to come. Thus, Exod. ix. 27, in which Pharaoh was morally
serious, speaking as he thought in the time. — But here there are
four things wanting, which are to be found in the exercises of true
Christians after their falls into sin. — There is,
(1.) Kindly humiliation of soul before the Lord. The Christian
in spirit sees not only an evil in sin which afifrights him, but a
loathsomeness in it which turns his stomach at it, as being contrary
to God's holy nature and will : Job xlii, 5, 6, " I have heard of thee
by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee : wherefore I
abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. He owns himself un-
worthy of God's grace, and casts himself down at the Lord's feet,
stopping his mouth from quarrelling with God, however he dispose
of him. Psalm, li. 4.
(2.) The dishonour done to God, and the grieving his Spirit, is
what does most touch the heart of the true Christian : Psalm
li. 4, " Against thee, thee only have 1 sinned, and done this evil
356 THE CHUISTIAN DESCRIBED,
in thy sight ; that thou ralghtest be justified when thou speakest,
and be clear when thou judgest." The consideration of God's glo-
rious majesty, his loving-kindness and gracious benefits towards the
l)erson, furnish a quiver of arrows to pierce his heart, and he calls
himself beast and fool for thus requiting the Lord.
(3.) No peace will that person have, but that which God himself
speaks, and what flows from the application of the Redeemer's
blood, Rom. i. 5. Others may be for peace at any rate, build up
their peace on their sorrows, repentance, and confession ; but no
peace for the true Christian, till he get it under the covert of the
blood of Christ, Heb. ix. 14.
(4.) Their exercises under their trials drive them out of them-
selves to Christ for sanctification : Psalm li. 10, 11, " Create in me
a clean heart, God ; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast
me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy Spirit from
me ;" whereas trials drive others into themselves, as resolved, that
if God, for Christ's sake, will but pardon their sin, they will see to
their own holiness of life ; after which, in some, they issue in faith-
less blind vows against such and such sins, not sensible of their own
weakness, and not fleeing to Christ under a sense of it. But the
true Christian will be equally concerned for sanctification of his
spirit, as justification of his person by blood, knowing he equally
needs both. — In like manner,
2. A person may have a great struggle in himself against sin,
and against temptation to it, and yet be but only a Christian in the
letter. It is a dangerous mistake to think, that every inward strug-
gle against sin is the combat between the flesh and the spirit.
Herod had no small struggle with himself, before he could yield to
the beheading of John, Matth. xiv. 9. Pilate also, before he could
yield to the condemning of Christ. Nay, a hypocrite may not only
have this struggle, but may carry the day against the temptation, in
so much that he will not yield to it. This is clear in the case of
Balaam, when all Balak's entreaties and rewards could not engage
him to curse Israel. — There are five things wherein the true Chris-
tian goes beyond the hypocrite in this respect. — As,
(1.) His struggle arises from the new nature, with which he is
endowed; he has an habitual bent to holiness, and an aversion to
evil : Gal. v. 17, " For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the
spirit against the flesh ; and these are contrary the one to the other,
so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." The hypocrite's
struggle does arise only from a slavish fear, or at best from a civil
disposition, which is easily overcome, as being but a part of the old
nature, and so reaches but to some things. — Which brings rae to ob-
serve,
THE HYPOCRITE DETECTED. 357
(2.) That a true Christian's struggle is against all sin, every thing
•which is discovered by him to be sin, of whatever sort it be, whether
it be of those which are more gross or more subtile, those that are
brought to the light by some external action, or those that are in
the soul or spirit only : thus the psalmist : Psalm cxix. 128,
*' Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be
right, and I hate every false way." Hence the struggle of the trne
Christian is against unbelief, the actings and workings of self in the
various shapes which it assumes, and against predominant idols. But
the struggle of others is confined to the grosser kinds of sin, and is
never taken up against all known sin, but only against some one
lust or other, -which has often at length a respite given to, or rather
league concluded with it. A hypocrite gives evidence that the cause
of this vrar is not a natural antipathy, as in the true Christian, but
an accidental quarrel.
(3.) The Christian's struggle tends to the mortification and extirpa-
tion of sin, the plucking upof it by the roots, the destroying of the tree
"with its fruit. Gal. v. 24. It tends to no less than the perfection of
sanctification, and the utter abolition of sin as the cause of this war.
This the new nature lusteth and longeth after, and cannot be satisfied
to lay down the sword while there is a Canaanite in the land; and
since it is not obtained in this life, the war is continued till death
make the sword drop, and victory is obtained : Phil. iii. 13, 14,
"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one
thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching
forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark,
for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." The other
is not so violent, but strives only to repress certain lusts which are
troublesome or dishonourable.
(4.) The Christian's struggle prevails, to the constituting of the
habitual course of his life, a holy course. This is the chief strain in
which he runs on, although mixed with many slips, John iii. 9, 10 ;
so that he has that noble testimony with the apostle, " that with
simplicity, and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the
grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world," 2 Cor.
i. 12. But the other still lives a life habitually unholy.
(5.) The Christian's struggle is betwixt a new and gracious quality
in the will, and the old corrupt inclinations, its neighbours there,
whose reign is broken, though their molestation still continue ; Gal.
V. 17, " For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit
against the flesh : and these are contrary the one to the other ; so
that ye cannot do the things that ye would." But the struggle of
the hypocrite is betwixt his will and his partially enlightened con-
358 THE CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED,
science, which takes up the cudgels against the corrupt will, and
fights against it with the fire and terror of a holy law ; or, at most,
between a slight inclination of the will, and the reigning corrupt
inclinations. — There is farther to be considered,
3. That a person may be in great concern about his state, and yet be
but a Christian only in the letter. How is it possible that men living
under the clear light of the gospel, can but have some touches of
this ? Felix was so troubled with it, that he trembled. Acts xxiv.
25. Simon Magus, Acts viii. 24. Conversion begins here in the
work of conviction ; but oftentimes it stops here, and goes no
farther, Hos. xiii. 13. But I will say more than this : a person may
have such an exercise on his spirit about his state, and it may be
carried on from one step to another, in so much that, in his own
eyes, and the eyes of others, it may be taken for the work of con-
version, and yet after all he be a Christian only in the letter, and
not in the spirit. — Thus, for instance,
(1.) He may have a law-work on his spirit, and yet may be no
true Christian. Had not Pharaoh and Felix deep conviction ? and
was not Judas stung and pricked at the heart under the sense of his
guilt ? Legal qualms of conscience may fill a man with terrors,
sorrow, and anxiety, on account of sin, who notwithstanding is never
brought to Christ. The apostle tells us, Gal. iv. 24, that " the law
gendereth to bondage." The covenant of works bringeth forth
children ; but they are only bond-children, that is, slaves, not sons,
in their obedience to God. There are many pangs of conscience in
the world, which, though they may be taken for pangs of the new
birth, are nothing other than pangs of the second death. The mat-
ter lies here : either the wound which the hypocrite gets, is over
deep, as is the case when it drives the person to utter despair, as it
did Judas, so that he neither closed, nor pretended to close, with
Christ ; or else it is not deep enough, so that the work is marred,
being but superficial ; and he is like the person who, without a foun-
dation, built his house upon the sand, and the storm, whenever it
arose, swept it away, Luke vi. 48. Betwixt these two extremes, in the
middle way, the work is carried on for making a Christian in spirit,
and not in the letter only. The case of utter despair is manifest ;
but to shew that deepness of the soul's wound, which issues in
conversion, which is wanting in that which only issues in a per-
son's becoming a Christian in the letter, consider the nature of
that wound which is given in the work of grace.
[1.] It brings the soul to be content to part with all sin, and to
take Christ on any terms : Hos. xiv. 2, " Take with you words, and
turn to the Lord ; say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive
THE HYPOCRITE PETECTED. 359
US graciously ; so will we render the calves of our lips." Acts ix.
6, " Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ?" said Paul, trembling and
astonished. The man is content to expose the right-eye sin, that
the Lord may pluck it out, and the right hand, that it may be
cut off. But the hypocrite, with all his soul-exercise, is never
brought this length. There is still some one bias of the heart or
other he is never content to have corrected. There is always some
idol of jealousy to be spared, some particular or other in Christ's
terms of salvation to which he cannot submit, Mark x. 21.
[2.] The wound goes to the root of sin in the soul, namely, the
sin of our nature ; Jer. iv. 3, 4, " For thus saith the Lord to the
men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and
sow not among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take
away the foreskins of your hearts, ye men of Judah, and inhabi-
tants of Jerusalem." He that is only humbled for the sins of a
wicked life, and some particular lusts in the heart, which is the ut-
most of the hypocrite's attainmeut, in him the serpent's heel may be
bruised, but not his head. The sin of our nature is the great reign-
ing sin, and in the work of grace the Lord strikes at that particu-
larly, and makes the soul feel the intolerable weight of it : Rom. vii.
24, " wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver me from the
body of this death ?" But as long as heart-corruption is untouched,
as the man recovers his peace, his sin will recover its strength.
(3.) The wound brings the soul to a sense of its absolute need of
Christ, and his whole salvation, for justification and also for sancti-
flcation. This is the issue of kindly soul-exercise, namely, that thus
a person becomes poor in spirit, which the exercise of the hypocrite
never brings him to : Matth. v. 3, " Blessed are the poor in spirit
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Right soul-exercise carries a
man out of himself to Christ for righteousness, roots up his confi-
dence in himself, in his best duties and dispositions, &c., breaks the
marriage between him and the law, that he maybe married to Christ,
without anything whatever to recommend him : Gal. ii. 19, 20, " For
I, through the law, am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ
liveth in me ; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by
the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
He also depends on Christ for sanctification, being persuaded of his
utter inability to do any good : Rom. vii. 18, " For I know that in
me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing." And under the
sense of this, the soul lies down at the Lord's feet, as in Jer. xxxi.
18, "Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock un-
accustomed to the yoke ; turn thou me, and I shall be turned, for
thou art the Lord my God."
360 THE CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED,
(2.) A person may have a common illumination in the knowledge
of Christ, and yet he hut a Christian only in the letter : Heb. vi. 4,
" For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have
tasted of the heavenly gift, &c., if they fall away, to renew them
again to repentance." They may have such knowledge of Christ in
his natures, person and offices, as may enable them even to teach
others, and edify them in the knowledge of Christ, and yet be no
true Christians themselves. Such were Judas, Demus, and thousands
of others in other ages of the Church. Great gifts may be without
grace ; and there may be much heat, where there is no sanctified
warmth. — But there is a saving illumination, communicated to all
true converts, of which others never partake : John iv. 10, " Jesus
answered and said nuto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and
who it is that saith to thee. Give me to drink ; thou wouldst have
asked of him, and he would have given thee living water." And it
has these three characters.
(1.) Saving illumination discovers to the soul such a suitableness
in the mystery of Christ to the divine perfections and the sinner's
case, that the soul heartily falls in with, and acquiesces in the glo-
rious device of salvation by infinite wisdom : 1 Cor. i. 24, " But
unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power
of God, and the wisdom of God." They see that there is nothing
wanting in it, which is necessary to promote God's honour, or to an-
swer their own miserable case, but that it has a perfect suitableness
to both ; so that their awakened consciences may find complete rest
there ; and hence they lay themselves wholly for rest upon it, while
the consciences of others, being awakened, and their minds being
still blinded, they never go to him only for rest, but at best mix
their own righteousness with his, and dare not trust to his righteous-
ness alone. — Saving illumination,
(2.) Discovers such a transcendent glory and excellence in him, as
that th€ soul is made content and determined to part with all for
him : Phil. iii. 8, '* Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss,
for the excellence of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord, for
whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but
dung, that I may win Christ." It is a sad, but common question in
the hearts, though, it may be, not in the months, of unrenewed sin-
ners. Song V. 9, " What is thy beloved more than another beloved,
thou fairest among women ? what is thy beloved more than an-
other beloved, that thou dost so charge us ?" Certain it is, that the
most refined hypocrite has always something that to him is dearer
than Christ, and which has more of his heart than He has. But the
soul enlightened with the light of life, beholds that in him which
THE HYPOCRITE DETECTED, 361
darkens all created excellence, as the rising sun makes the stars
hide their heads ; so that they will part with all lawful, as well as
unlawful enjoyments, to win him, Luke xiv. 26.
[3.] Saving illumination discovers such a fulness in him, that the
heart takes up its everlasting rest in him : Psal. Ixxiii. 25, " Whom
have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I de-
sire besides thee." The returning prodigal sees bread enough and
to spare in his father's house ; and the true convert sees a rest to
his heart, as well as for his conscience, in Christ, so that he is
brought to be content with him alone, as seeing him to be all in all.
But this the hypocrite never comes to ; the divided heart must have
Christ, and also some lust or other, or else no contentment,
(3.) A person may give a consent to the covenant, and in some
sort close with the Lord in his covenant, while, after all, he may be
only a Christian in the letter; and thus the work of conversion may
seem to be completed, as it would really be if they were sincere in so
doing. A hypocrite may expressly and solemnly covenant with
God, by word or by writ, and thus engage to be the Lord's. This
is evident from the practice of the Israelites : Exod. xiv. 8, " And
all the people answered and said. All that the Lord hath spoken,
we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the
Lord." — Here we may observe, how full they are in their consent
and engagement, "All that the Lord hath spoken, we will do." See
also Exod. XX. 19. But mark the Lord's own verdict on this cove-
nanting ; Dent. V. 29, " that there were such an heart in them, that
they would fear me, and keep ray commandments always, that it
might be well with them, and their children for ever !" Not only
may all this be classed among the externals of religion, but I shall
add, for illustration, that persons may be morally serious in their
consent to the covenant, that is, thinking and resolving in the time
to do as they say. Moral seriousness is opposed to gross dissimula-
tion, which there was no place for here, Deut. v. 24. Yet it maybe
where there is no sincerity, Psal. Ixxviii. 37. Of the same people it
is said, " For their heart was not right with him, neither were they
stedfast in his covenant." Hypocrites, in this case, are like those
who, out of mere simplicity, and ignorance of the worth of a thing,
offer to buy it; but if they really knew what it could not be sold
under, they would never once bid for it. — They may also consent to
the covenant out of a real sense of their sin and misery, and a con-
viction of their need of a Mediator, as in Exod. xx. 19, " And they
said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear ; but let not
God speak with ns, lest we die." There was the mountain on fire,
for a tribunal ; ihe voice of a trumpet, summoning the criminals ;
YoL. IX. 2 a
3G2 THE CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED,
terrible thunders, to pronounce the sentence of death against them.
This filled them with horror and fear of death, and shewed them the
need of a Mediator. But there are three things in which the Chris-
tian in spirit goes beyond the Christian in the letter, in this point,
[1.] He engages freely and heartily to the Lord in his whole
covenant. The hypocrite is but dragged and forced into it, when
the matter is seriously considered. They are not a willing people :
Psalm. Ixxviii. 34, 36, 37, " "When he slew them, then they sought
him ; and they returned and inquired early after God. Neverthe-
less they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him
with their tongues. For their heart was not right with him, neither
were they stedfast in his covenant," I doubt not but a hypocrite
may be very hearty in his consent to receive the comforts of the
covenant : Matth. xiii. 20, 21, *' But he that received the seed into
stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with
joy receiveth it. Yet he hath not root in himself, but dureth for a
while." But if he consider the duties of the covenant, there he
sticks, and can come no other way to the whole covenant, but as he
is dragged : Eom. viii. 7, " Because the carnal mind is enmity against
God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."
When the Spirit enters into a person's heart, he takes such hold
of it, that the person is overcome by grace into willingness. Thus
it is said, Jer. xxxi. 3, " Tea, I have loved thee with an everlasting
love ; therefore, with loving-kindness have I drawn thee." Then
the person pours out his heart like water : Psalm Ixii. 8, " Pour out
your heart before him : God is a refuge for us." Terror may begin
the work, but love crowns it : Hos. ii. 14, " Therefore, behold I will
allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably
unto her."
(2.) "While the person's heart consents to the covenant with the
Lord, it is divorced from sin ; but the hypocrite consents to the cove-
nant with a heart glued to his lusts : Psalm xlv. 10, " Hearken,
daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear ; forget also thine own
people and thy father's house." It is an ill-made second marriage,
where there is neither death nor divorce from the first husband ; and
this is the cause of apostacy, men going back to their lusts, because
they never freely parted with them. What makes a man and his
lusts one, is, the greedy hold the heart takes of them ; the heart
cleaves to them : Jer. viii. 5, " Why, then, is the people of Jerusa-
lem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit,
they refuse to return." But the bond is loosed by divine grace, and
their liking is turned to loathing; though sin cleaves to them, they
cleave not to it : Rom. vii. 21, 22, " I find then a law, that when i
THE HYrOCRITE DETECTED. 363
would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight ia the law of
God after the inward man." In which case, it is not only put out
of the life, but out of the heart.
(3.) In covenanting with God, the person resigns himself absolute-
ly to the Lord, the hypocrite never without reserves. The sincere
soul absolutely gives up itself, (1.) To the yoke of his command-
ments, Psalm cxix. 128, " Therefore, I esteem all thy commandments,
concerning all things to be right, and I hate every false way." But
there is some one duty or other the hypocrite's heart cannot digest, as
in Mark x. 21. (2.) The soul gives up itself to the providential will
of God, Luke xiv. 26. He is content to bear his cross, as well as
to wear his crown ; but there is always something in the cross to
which the hypocrite cannot submit.
(4.) And lastly, A person may be in the exercise of religious duties,
may be much enlarged and aftected, and yet only a Christian in the
letter, Heb. vi. 4. Many get a taste of gospel-benefits, who never
digest them, this taste arising only from common operations of the
Spirit on an unrenewed heart ; and a person may, at a time, get an-
other heart, who never gets a new heart. Thus it was with Saul,
1 Sam. X. 9. — As to this, I would observe,
1. In the general, that a hypocrite may have a mighty enlarge-
ment in duties, and be much affected in them. That there may be a
great stir and motion among the affections, while the stony heart
does yet remain, is plain from the case of the stony-ground hearers,
Matth. xiii. 20, and the many instances of joys and sorrows raised
in unrenewed hearts by the word. Many lay a great deal of weight
on this, that they are not always alike in duties : Sometimes they
are bound up, sometimes enlarged ; sometimes they drive heavily in
them, sometimes they have a great deal of comfort and pleasure in
them. But, do not such swallow down this as an evidence of the
grace of God without examination ? — To understand this, consider,
that there is an enlargement in the exercise of a gift, as well as in
the exercise of a grace ; and the one may be mistaken for the other,
2 Cor. ii. 13 — 15. Thus also God both enlarged and straitened king
Saul in gifts : And as the gifts of othei-s, well exercised in holy
things, may greatly delight a man, as in Ezek. xxxiii. 32, " And lo,
thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant
voice, and can play well ou an instrument ;" so much more may the
exercise of one's own gift with ease and readiness, delight the per-
son's self. — Consider also, that the power of a deluded fancy may
produce this, as in the stony ground hearers, Matth. xiii. 20. As a
man may have a great deal of pleasure in a dream, or in a miscon-
ception, so a deceived heart may make a person feed very sweetly
2 a2
364 THE CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED.
upon ashes, and never snspect that there is a lie in his right hand,
Isa. xliv. 20. Do we not read of a fire of men's own kindling,
which, though it may mightily comfort them for a time, yet ends
in sorrow and darkness, Isa. i. 11. — Consider, in a word, that there
are common influences of the Spirit which are not sanctifying,
which may produce a mighty commotion among the affections, Heb.
vi. 4, 5, 6. Even signal providences will have this effect on unre-
newed hearts, whether they he in mercy or in judgment : Psalm
Ixxviii. 34. \yhen he slew them, then they sought him ; and they
returned and inquired early after God." These things come like
a summer-shower, which wets the surface of the earth, and makes
every channel run for a while, but is quickly again dried up. —
Now, the difference between the Christian in the spirit in his
gracious enlargement in duties, and the Christian in the letter in
his delusive enlargements in duty, may be seen in these two par-
ticulars : —
(1.) Gracious enlargements tend always to the killing and mor-
tifying of self, that grand competitor with Christ: 1 Chron. xxix.
14, " But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able
to offer so willingly after this sort ? for all things come of thee, and
of thine own have we given thee." The hypocrite's enlargements
feed and nourish it, swelling the heart with pride and self-conceit ;
Isa. Iviii. 3, " Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest
not? "Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no
knowledge ? Behold, in the day of your fast, ye find pleasure, and
exact all your labours." The more a person is graciously enlarged
in duties, the more his sinfulness, weakness, wants, and nothingness
appear, notwithstanding all his meltings, mournings, humilia-
tions, &c. But the hypocrite, the more he is enlarged, appears to
himself the more worthy that Christ should do great things for him ;
and he becomes the less self-denied.
(2.) Gracious enlargements are sanctifying ; they promote holi-
ness in heart and life : Zoch. xii. 10, " And I will pour upon the
house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of
grace and supplications ; and they shall look upon me whom they
have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for
his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in
bitterness for his first-born." They are a burning, as well as a
shining light, and make persons more tender in all moral duties to
God and man. If one has been taken into the temple of God in
duties, it will appear about him in the substantials of morality. He
will fear sin more, and be more exercised to keep a conscience void of
offence towards God and towards men. Bat delusive enlargements
THE IITPOCKITE DETECTED. 365
have not this effect. On the contrary, they readily leave people
more prond, peevish, and selfish, often making them snch sons of
Belial, that a person cannot speak to them ; and never strike at
inward beloved lusts to mortify them.
2. But to be more particular,
(1.) A hypocrite may be much affected with sorrow for sin in his
duties. All mourners are not true mourners, Zech. vii. 3. One
may hear the word, or pour out a prayer with wet cheeks, and yet
have a whole heart, a heart far from being broken for sin, Esau
was in a flood of tears, seeking the blessing. Many times, where
water goes out in their case, wind enters in. It is not always
humbling grace that produces tears. Some are of soft dispositions,
and easily wrought upon by a melancholy object, without any effi-
cacy of grace, like the daughters of Jerusalem, Luke xxiii. 27, and
downwards. Some, of most rugged dispositions, because their af-
fections are vehement in any case, may be thus touched and affected,
and yet there be nothing more than the product of nature. Thus,
when David shewed him mercy, even Saul lifted up his voice, and
wept, I Sam. xxiv. 16. But the difference betwixt the Christian
and the hypocrite lies here, (1.) That the chief ground of the true
Christiau's sorrow for sin is, the offence and dishonour done to a
holy gracious God, as an ingenuous child is moved with his father's
displeasure and dishonour : Psalm li. 4, " Against thee, thee only,
have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight : that thou mightest
be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest."
But the hypocrite's chief ground is selfish, because of the evils to
which he has thereby exposed himself, whether in time or eternity.
(2.) The hypocrite's sorrow is soon over ; it is but a flash, and
away : and he goes back again, if not to the same sins, yet to others
no less offensive to God. His sorrow never goes the length to loose
the bonds of wickedness ; Isa. Iviii. 5, 6, " Is it such a fast that I
have chosen ? a day for a man to afflict his soul ? Is it to bow
down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under
him ? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord ?
Is not this the fast that I have chosen ? to loose the bands of
wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go
free, and that ye break every yoke ?" It is not so with the godly :
Lam. iii. 49, 50, " Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, with-
out any intermission : till the Lord look down, and behold from
heaven." Their sorrow for sin is habitual, because the body of sin
still remains, and this sorrow influences them to war against all sin.
(2.) A hypocrite may have a kind of love to God and Christ, and
a desire after grace and good things. Hence Paul prays for grace
366 THE CHRISTIAK DESCRIBED.
to " them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity," Eph. vi. 24.
The Christian in the letter may say, " Lord, evermore give us this
bread," John vi. 34, and join the foolish virgins in their desire to
partake of the oil of the wise. But the difference betwixt the Chris-
tian and the hypocrite here lies : — •
[1.] That a hypocrite may love God as his benefactor, as one who
does him good every day, and from whose hands he looks for good
in time coming, either for time or for eternity, Mai. iii. 1. This is
to love God for one's self. But the true Christian loves him, not
only because of his benefits, but because of his lovely nature, his per-
fect holiness, truth, hatred of sin, &c. This is to love God for him-
self : Psalm xxx. 4, " Sing unto the Lord, ye saints of his, and
give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness." And this the
nnholy heart can never do, Rom. viii. 7, " Because the carnal mind
is enmity against God." Now, they that love God thus, they love
his image, wherever it appears, and particularly in the holy law
even where it strikes against that sin which most easily besets
them : Rom. vii. 22, " For I delight in the law of God after the
inward man." — The difference lies,
[2.] That they may desire grace, for its necessity in order to
save them, but not for its intrinsic beauty and likeness to the
Lord : Matth. v. 7, " Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst
after righteousness, for they shall be filled." It is the chief thing
the true Christian desires, grace to be holy, as well as grace to be
justified and pardoned : Psalm xxvii. 4, " One thing have I desired
of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house
of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the
Lord, and to inquire in his temple." — The difference lies,
Lastly, That a hypocrite may have much joy and delight in the
duties of religion ; so had the stony ground hearers, Matth. xiii.
20. — Isa, Iviii. 2, " Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know
my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the
ordinances of their God ; they ask of me the ordinances of justice ;
they take delight in approaching to God." There may be delu-
sive raptures of joy, as well as unsound floods of sorrow. I shewed
very lately the difference betwixt genuine joy and these delusive
raptures. True joy riseth orderly, after a preceding rending effect
on the heart, &c. ; delusive joy more quickly, &c.* — I now come,
III. To make some short improvement. — I have endeavoured to
lay before you the differences betwixt the hypocrite and the sincere
Christian ; and from the whole, I think you may carry away these
lessons. — We may hence see,
* See Catechetical Sermons on Rom. v, 2.
THE UTPOCBITB DETECTED. 3G7
1. That it is no easy thing to be a Christian. A parcel of ex-
ternal performances do not make a Christian, nay nor even internal
things also, -without the genuine spirit of duties, performances,
and attainments : that the great thing which makes the difference
is, not so much what is done, as how it is done, the principles,
ends, manner, &c. of doing it. — We may learn,
2. That a man may go a very great length in religion, and not-
withstanding be naught in God's esteem. A person may look so
like a true Christian, that he may deceive both saints and sinners
like him who is said to have made an image with such motion, that
others thought it had life. Nay, I know not but he may deceive the
devil himself: Jer. xvii. 9, " The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately wicked ; who can know it ?" like him who is said
to have painted grapes so lively, that the birds came and picked at
them. He may deceive himself like the Laodiceans, and go to death
with the delusion, like the foolish virgins. — We may learn,
3. That however far the hypocrite goes, the true Christian goes
beyond him ; and therefore we must not, we ought not, to satisfy
ourselves as to the point of sincerity, unless there be something in
us which is not to be found in hypocrites. And therefore I exhort
you to put yourselves to the trial. Try yourselves whether you be
in Christ or not, whether you be sincere Christians or not. — Con-
sider,
(1.) True religion is very rare at all times : Matth. vii. 14,
" Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life,
and few there be that find it." The miserable decay and untender-
ness among all sorts of persons, shew it to be especially rare at this
time, in which we may say, " Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth ;
for the faithful fail from among the children of men," Psalm xii. 1.
— Consider,
(2.) That we are like to see trying times, in which the Lord will
set his furnace in Zion. God has appeared often seasonably and
wonderfully for our deliverance ; but the generation is not bettered,
but rather growing worse and worse in all points. This is a fore-
runner of a fearful stroke. Now, Sirs, a shew of religion may do
in a time of ease and peace, but when that trial comes, it will be
hard to bear xip without the reality. — Consider,
(3.) That death and judgment will try us all. We may put off
the trial as we will for a time, there is however no shifting of it
altogether. God will not be mocked. — Consider,
Lastly, That it will be a terrible disappointment to be awakened
out of dreams of heaven, by falling into hell. It will be no time
to seek oil, when the Bridegroom is come, and hath shut the door.
368 THE STATUTE-LAW, &C.
We have in view an ordinance that calls to self-examination :
1 Cor. xi. 28, " But let a man examine himself, and so let him
eat of that bread, and drink of that cup." Therefore bestir your-
selves, and consider your state. Study the spirituality of religion,
that you may thus approve yourselves to the heart-searching God.
Amen.
THE STATUTE-LAW OF DISCIPLESHIP.*
SERMON XXXIII.
Luke xiv. 26,
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife,
and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he
cannot be my disciple.
He is a fool who joins himself to any society, before he has
■weighed with himself how he can comply with the laws and rules of
that society. In vain do we propose to be a disciple to any person,
if we are not disposed, to submit to his discipline. Man is
born like a wild ass's colt, naturally untractable and unteach-
able ; the Son of God has set up his school amongst us ;
many who externally belong to it stand at a distance from him,
as rude and unpolished by grace as when they first came to it.
There is a solemn and awful entry into the school of Christ be-
fore us, and it cannot be unsuitable, especially on such a season
as this, to stand and hear, out of the mouth of the great Master,
the necessary qualifications of all such as will be reckoned his
disciples indeed. This we have in the text. — In which there is
observable,
1. A case supposed; and there are two things in it. For this
case, though the case of many, is like the legs of the lame, which
are not equal. — In it, first, there is a fair profession. The man
Cometh to Christ, not in the way of believing on him, as this
word is often used, the expression here can by no means be thus
explained ; but in the way of an outward profession, joining him-
self with his followers, taking on him the name of his party. The
occasion of the words clears this. Multitudes went with him, and
they were ready to value themselves because they kept good com-
' Delivered at Selliiik. Saturday, Oct. 11, 1712.
or DisciPLESuir. 369
paiiy. The Lord turns to them, and tells them, that it was
another thing to be a disciple of his than most of them took it
to be. He lays the matter so plainly before them, as would make
it easy to conclude, that most who followed him now would leave
him afterwards ; and that when it came to the trying pinch, he
would have but a thin backing ; therefore they should in time
consider what they are doing. — In the case there is, next, a foul
and false heart. The man comes to Christ, and brings not his
heart with him, but leaves it at home with his father or mo-
ther, &c. or keeps it still hugging and embracing his dear self, his
life, so that he cannot embrace Christ, more than a man can take
both heaven and earth in his arms at once. Christ must be dearer
to his disciples than what is dearest to them in the world. The
dearest persons are father, mother, &c. The dearest thing is
life. That which makes this case so bad is, that they are dearer
to the man than Christ. He hates not his father, mother, &c.
He who taught us in the law, to love our neighbour as ourselves,
does not contradict this here, but speaks out what was implied
there, that we must neither love our neighbour nor ourselves,
as God. It is not an absolute, but a comparative hatred which
is here meant; that is, a less love; Gen. xxix. 31, "And when
the Lord saw that Leah was hated :" that is, less loved than
Rachel. Similar instances occur, as in Deut. xxi. 15; John xii. 25.
And thus it is explained, Matth. x. 37, " He that loveth father or
mother more than me, is not worthy of me." A man must leave
father and mother to cleave to his wife ; but he must leave his
wife, yea, and his life also, to cleave to Christ. Levi gave a prac-
tical commentary on this text, Deut. xxxiii. 9, " Who said unto his
father, and to his mother, I have not seen, neither did he acknow-
ledge his brethren, nor knew his own children ; for they observed
thy word, and kept thy covenant." And so did that disciple-like
resolution of Jerome : " If my father should stand before me," says
he, " my mother hang upon me, my brethren press about me, I
would break through my brethren, throw down my father, tread
under feet my mother, to cleave to Jesus Christ." So said a cer-
tain Dutch schoolmaster, being asked, if he loved not his wife and
children ? " Yes," says he, " if all the world were gold, and mine
to dispose of, I would give it all to live with them, though but in a
prison ; yet is my soul and my Lord Christ dearer than all." But
perhaps this is only the attainment of few. Mistake it not, but hear,
2. Christ's verdict upon the cose, and venture not to distinguish
where the law makes no distinction : " If any man come to me, and
hate not, &c., he cannot be my disciple." Be he or she who
370 THE STATUTE-LAW
they will, they cannot be Christ's disciples, if Christ be not dearer
than what is dearest to them in a world. Nominal disciples
they may be indeed, but real they cannot be, they cannot bear afflic-
tions for Christ, because they want such affections to him as are
necessary to make them go in the strait and narrow way which leads
unto life. — From this subject I would take this
Doctrine, That no man can be a true disciple of Christ, to whom
Christ is not dearer than what is dearest to him in the world.
For illustrating this subject, I shall,
I. Speak to the nature of this necessary qualification of a true
disciple of Christ.
II. Confirm the doctrine of the text.
III. Ofi"er some reasons why Christ is dearer to his true disciples,
than what is dearest to them in the world. And,
lY. Conclude with some improvement.
"We are then,
I. To speak to the nature of this necessary qualification of a true
disciple of Christ. — There are in it,
1. An esteem of Christ above all : Psalm xlv. 2, " Thou art fairer
than the children of men, grace is poured into thy lips; therefore
God hath blessed thee for ever." Christ is the highest and most
glorious object in the practical judgment of all his true disciples :
Psalm Ixxiii. 25, " Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is
none upon earth that I desire beside thee." They do not only think
him the best portion, considering things in the general, in which sense
he has even the commendation of those who slight him ; but they
look upon him as best for them, in whatever circumstances they may
be ; this is the character of a true disciple : Matth. xi. 6, " And
blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." As the spark-
ling stars hide their heads when the sun ariseth, so all things in the
world lose their lustre when the glory of God appeareth to them,
shining in the face of Jesus ; though to others there is in him no
beauty.
2. The heart renounceth its property in all things of the world,
in the day of its closing with Jesus Christ. As a rebellious son,
turned out of his father's house into an uninhabited land, takes that
as his property which he falls upon by the right of first finding; but
when he has access to return, he quits it, that he may enjoy his fa-
ther's estate : so Adam and his children being driven out of para-
dise, and banished from the presence and enjoyment of the Lord
himself, they take up with what created comforts they stumble upon
in their blind rambling through the wilderness of this world, as
OF DISCIPLESHIP 371
their own portion ; but retnrning and taking Christ, they part with
these, their souls returning into their quiet rest. The natural man,
being alienated from the life of God, takes a dead hold of created
things, as suited to his corrupt state, and therefore his own by-
choice ; hence so many carnal " mys," but not a word of " my
God" amongst them : Hos. ii. 5, " She said, I will go after my lovers
that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine
oil and my drink." This is very unlike to Psalm xviii. 1, 2, " I will
love thee, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fort-
ress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."
Now, when the soul begins to live, it quits that greedy grip of carnal
things, and begins to fall off from the world ; that bond of iniquity
which bound the heart and the world together being broken ; so that
the disciple of Christ looks on all he has as no more his own.
3. The soul resigns all to the Lord, lays all down at the Lord's
feet, to be disposed of as he will : 1 Sam. iii. 18, " Eli said, it is the
Lord, let him do what seemeth iiim good." 2 Sam. xv. 26, "David
said, Behold, here am I, let the Lord do with me as seemeth good
unto him." If the Lord have use for his comforts in the world, he,
and all that are his, are for his part at his service. Though they
were^ his before, he now makes a free-will offering of them all
to the Lord ; so that, in very deed, all that a true disciple of Christ
has, are dedicated things, consecrated to God. He may not, he
dare not, revoke the grant ; they must be used, as God who is the
proprietor doth direct, whose will must not be disputed in the dis-
posal of his own ; they can be no more for profane, but holy uses.
And if, through the prevalence of corruption, he has put his hand
to that which is not holy, Christ's discipline will make him bring it
back with the tear in his eye. Never a soul closes with Christ aright,
that layeth not all its enjoyments, even life itself, at his feet.
4. The soul accepts of Christ for, and instead of the things re-
signed. God does not require us, nor will the heart ever part with
these, but for a better : Matth. xiii. 45, 46, " Again, the kingdom
of heaven is like unto a merchant man seeking goodly pearls, who
when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that
he had, and bought it." The man takes Christ instead of father, mo-
ther, and all things ; for it is impossible that man can be self-suffi-
cient. The heart of man is an empty, hungry thing, that must needs
have something to feed upon ; and let men ply their hearts with the
utmost diligence, they will still find it impossible to draw the husks
of the world out of their hearts, unless something better is set before
them. They must see heaven, before they will be drawn from earth ;
372 THE BTATUTE-LAAV
therefore, the great transaction between Christ and the soul is held
out under the notion of buying, in which a man does indeed in one
sense, namely, as to his portion, give away his money : but he ob-
tains something instead of it, which is better to him than his money.
He gets Christ, the pearl of great price, the one thing needful.
5. The soul is disposed to part with them, when the Lord calls for
them ; has an habitual readiness to part with them for Christ. It
is true, indwelling corruption is ready to hold the grip too fast,
even when the Lord calls for a delivery ; yet every soul closing
■with Christ has an honest resolution to part with all for him actu-
ally, when he shall please to put them to the trial. The grace of
God looseth them at the root, when it first comes into the soul,
rooting and grounding them in love to Christ ; which root of the
righteous shall never be moved.
6. There is in the soul a new power of living, without them, on
Jesus Christ ; a life which is an absolute mystery to every Christ-
less soul : John vi. 57, " As the living Father hath sent me, and I
live by the Father, so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me."
If in this spiritual bargain they have quit with their money, on the
purchase made, they can live without it, else would they never have
quit with it. Though all temporal things fail them, yet can they
rejoice in the Lord as their portion, and joy in the God of their sal-
vation, Hab. iii. 18. If father and mother should leave them, they
can satisfy themselves in the Lord's taking them up. If they should
lose all relations for him, his relation to them is, in their eyes, more
than sufficient to make up the loss. If they should not know where
to hide their heads, or how to get food in a hiding-place, he is to them,
not only a refuge for protection, but a portion for maintenance,
Psalm cxlii. 4, 5. If all their substance should be taken from them,
the A-lmighty shall be the gold and silver of their strength, Job
xxii. 25. Yea, though natural life should go in his cause, himself
is their life, a life which cannot be taken from them ; for. Col. iii.
4, " When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall we ap-
pear with him in glory." — We now proceed,
II. To confirm the doctrine of the text, or shew, that no man can
be a true disciple of Christ, to whom Christ is not dearer than what
is dearest to him in the world. — For this purpose, consider,
1. That the soul cannot truly lay hold on Christ, but it must of
necessity part with the world. The embracing of Christ infers na-
turally the loosing our hold of the world : Matth. vi. 24, " No man
can serve two masters. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." We
may as soon grasp heaven and earth at once in our arms, as fix on
Christ, and not loose our hold from all things besides him. If you
OF DISCrPLESHIP. 373
would look up to the heavens, you must look away from the earth.
The world is the terra from which Christ calls us : Song iv. 8,
" Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon."
Men may keep his company, with the world under their feet, but
not with the world in their heart. — Consider,
2. It is impossible that the love of God, and the love of the
world, (the persons and things of the world), can at the same time
be predominant in the heart. One of them must of necessity be
uppermost. If the love of God be predominant, then it will com-
mand the love of all worldly things to yield ; and these things will
be disposed of, so as may best please him that has the chief room in
our hearts. All the streams of our love to things below, will be
swallowed up in the depth of our love to Christ : but this will be
swallowed up by none; for this love is strong as death. Many
Avaters cannot quench it, neither can the floods drown it. If a man
should give all the substance of his house for love, it would be ut-
terly contemned ; see Heb. xi. 25, 26, If the love of the world pre-
dominate, then it leaves no love to the Lord, because no predomi-
nant love of the world is consistent with the true love of God :
1 John ii. 15, " Love not the world, neither the things that are in
the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is
not in him." This proves the man no disciple of Christ, Matth. vi.
24 ; James iv. 4 ; 2 Tim. iii. 4, 5. — Consider,
3. That if Christ be not dearer to us than the world, there is no
universal resignation, which is necessary to prove the sincerity of
the heart : Acts ix. 6, " Lord, what wilt thou have me to do !"
2 Cor. viii. 5. — " But first gave their owuselves to the Lord." — If
this be wanting, there is nothing done ; we give not to the Lord
what he seeks, namely, that we be all his. If we deal thus in this
solemn transaction, we do but lie to the Holy Spirit, as Ananias and
Sapphira, keeping back part of the price. This is a sure evidence
that grace is not effectually at work with us, else we would have
been a willing people ; we would have made no reserves in closing
with Christ. — Consider,
4. That if Christ is not loved supremely, there is a root want-
ing, the fruit of which is necessary to evidence sincerity. (1.) There
is no root of universal obedience, the want of which will leave us
ashamed, Psalm cxix. 6. There will always be, in this case, one
thing lacking, that will mar all other good things about us. There
will always be some idol of jealousy that gets Christ's room ; some
offending right hand spared, that will bring the whole body to hell
at length. (2.) There is no root for Christian suffering, bearing the
cross of Christ, which is a cross of Christ's choosing, not of our own.
374 THE STATUTE-LAW
Oar part is, to take up the cross that Christ lays down to us ; and
•without this we cannot be his disciples. And when Christ lays on
his cross, it is found, that readily he will have the man tried in that
which of all things lies nearest his heart, and bids fairest for Christ's
room : so that, if any thing be dearer than Christ, the cross readily
discovers it, and the man's hypocrisy with it.
You, then, tbat are to sit down at the Lord's table, may see how
you are to manage this solemn transaction, so as that it may be ra-
tified in heaven. If you take Christ, let these go their way. Lay
down your all at Christ's feet, with all solemn seriousness ; if there
be aught kept back, you do but ruin your own souls. The laws of
Christ's school are read before you. Examine yourselves this night,
whether ye be content with Christ on these terms or not. If you be
not, it will be unnecessary, and even criminal, for you to come to
his table ; you cannot be his disciples. If you be content, then give
up your all to liim, and lay down your all at his feet. Because of
the deceitfulness of your heart, it will be good to be very distinct
and particular in this point, on which eternity depends. — In con-
sequence, I would advise you,
1. To give up with all your lusts. You have held the grip long,
let it now go : " Ephraim shall say. What have I to do any more
with idols ?" Hos, xiv. 8. Let none escape, let there be no reserved
morsel, as you would not quit your lot and portion in Christ. Let
every man give up with " the iniquity he knoweth," as the phrase
is, 1 Sara. iii. 13. If there be any bosom-lust, which has been a
signal competitor for the heart with the Lord, let it be given up with
in a particular manner. Sure, if lawful things must be laid at the
Lord's feet, unlawful must much more be laid down. — I would ad-
vise you,
2. To lay down at the Lord's feet your nearest and dearest re-
lations, so as that you may never break with Christ for them : his
favour, truths, and ways, must be dearer to you than they. And
sure I am, if thou meetest with Christ at his table, thou wilt say,
" Henceforth know we no man after the flesh." *' I will love my
father, mother, wife, children, brethren, and sisters; but my Lord
Jesus more than all."
3. Lay down at the Lord's feet your substance in the world, be
it great or small, houses and lands, goods, &c. that he may dispose
of them as he may see meet. Times have been, and they are like to
return, wherein the Lord has sent for these things from professors,
even by wicked messengers, as he sent for the ass and colt, Matth,
xxi. 3, " Saying, The Lord hath need of them." And they that had
before fairly given them, with themselves, to the Lord, did not
stand to deliver him his own : " Go thou, and do likewise."
OF DISCIPLESHIP. 375
4. Lay down at the Lord's feet, yoar credit and esteem in the
world. This is often a great idol, and goes betwixt many a man
and Christ. There are few that ever have it, but suffer an eclipse
in some time or other. God even sends for his people's credit, to be
a stepping-stone for his glory. But if thou makest sure work in
this transaction, thou wilt even be content at his call to creep down,
and lie among the pots, till he himself bring thee out again.
Thou wilt be content to commence a fool to the world, that thou
mayest be wise to God.
5. Lay down at the Lord's feet, your ease and liberty : Acts
xxi. 13, " I am ready," said Paul, not to be bound only, but also
to die at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus." The flesh
will cry, "Man, spare thyself;" but the spirit must offer all to the
Lord. Thou wilt not break with Christ, though thou shouldst
never get an easy hour, but be hunted as partridges, till in heaven.
He to whom his ease and liberty is dearer than Christ, is a slave to
the devil, and cannot be Christ's disciple.
6. Lay down at Christ's feet, your desires. Tour desires shall
be to your spiritual Husband, who shall choose for you your inherit-
ance. Psalm xlvii. 4. If he shall grant your lawful desires, it is
well ; if he see meet to refuse them, it must even be well also in your
eye ; you are to take himself, and give up with your own will, and
say. Thy will be done.
Lastly, Lay down at the Lord's feet, your life. Let your bodies
be given now to the Lord, not only for service, but also for a
sacrifice, if he requires it. The text makes it plain, none go to
heaven but martyrs, either in action or in affection. It may bo the
Lord may have use for your strength, for your health, it may be
for your blood. Resign all to him now. If you hate not your
life, yon cannot be his disciple. Be not deterred from the sa-
crament by this, for, by the word of God, the way to heaven is
no easier. But when the time comes, that the saints are to be
cari'ied to the table above, they will not be supposed to stand
and look on, as when they present themselves before the lower
table ; the fearful and unbelieving shall be excluded from that
table. Rev. xxi. 8. It is necessary at all times that people
should manage matters thus when they sit down at the Lord's
table, but especially at this time, when the cloud of the church's
trouble is gathering so fast, and our peace is flying from us. That
party has now got the ascendant, whose temper always has been to
breathe out threatenings, cruelty, and blood, and furiously to drive
their plough over the back of the church, and to make their furrows
deep, till the righteous Lord do cut the cords of the ungodly crew.
376 THE STATUTE-LAV
Tliey have brouglit in their superstitions already, by the favour of
a toleration which reflects shame on themselves before the world, as
if they were men of no faith, but as to one article. By their means
we are threatened with idolatry, and with a French government.
But God sits in heaven, and can bripg order out of confusion. Let
us prepare for whatsoever may come, honestly committing all to the
Lord, and he will raise the sincere soul above itself, and give the
back to bear its own burden, if we be but willing to stoop, and take
it on for his sake. He left all for us, and shall we account any
thing too much for him? However, this is the settled law of hea-
ven, " If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mo-
ther, and wife, and children, and sisters, yea, and his own life also,
he cannot be my disciple." Amen.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.*
SERMON XXXIV.
Luke xvi. 26,
If any man come unto me, and hate not his father, and mother, and
wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his oion life
also, he cannot he my disciple.
Having, in the preceding, discourse, attended to what was proposed
as the first and second heads of method, I now proceed,
III. To offer some reasons why Christ is dearer to his true dis-
ciples than what is dearest to them in the world. — Among other
reasons, the following are mentioned.
1. Because to every true disciple, sin, of all bitter things, is the
bitterest. A man will get a clearer view of the stars from the
bottom of a deep pit, than from the top of a high mountain ; and
the lower that a man is laid in humiliation for sin, Christ will be
the dearer to him. Many things, nay, almost any thing, is dearer
to most persons than Christ. "Why so ? Because any bitter thing
is more bitter to their depraved taste than sin. As when God in-
tended to endear the promised land to the Israelites, and make
them content to leave the flesh-pots of Egypt, Exod. i. 14, their
lives then were made bitter to them ; go God gives his people deep
wounds for sin, till their consciences be made to dread it, and their
* Delivered at Selkirk, Monday, Oct. 12, 1712.
OF DisrirLESiiTP. 377
hearts to loathe it; he .makes thera sick at the heart with it, and
puts more and more bitterness in the cup to them, till it be of all
things the bitterest, to this very end, that Christ may be the
dearest to them, and that whatever they may afterwards meet
with in his way, they may embrace it rather than sin. Sin has
been bitter to many, but not extremely bitter ; therefore they say,
as the drunkard, Prov. xxiii. 35, " When shall I awake ? I will
seek it yet again." But the experience of sin duly embittered
quickly determines the Christian which side to choose, when they
are brought to this alternative, to suffer or sin. — Another reason is,
2. That God is man's chief end ; and when he made him, he made
him pointing towards himself as his chief end: Eccl. vii. 29, " God
made man upright." But man sinning, turned off from God, turned
his intention, his love, and desire, beside the mark set before hira,
turned these in to himself, trade himself his chief end. So that the
whole of every natural man's religion, however refined, resolves
itself into that cursed principle, " Master, spare thyself." Hence
they choose new gods, father, mother, &c. sttting their heart on
them more than on God. Hence is their war in the gates against
heaven, those things which were to be subordinate to God are set
in opposition to him ; those which were to be below him in their
love and esteem, are set above hira. If the grace of God rectify
not this disorder, it does nothing : for it is impossible, while the
soul is perverted as to its chief end, that any thing can be right with
that person ; as a watch that is once wrong set, though it go never
so regularly, it is still wrong, for it never points right. But grace
truly, though not perfectly while here, brings back the Christian
to God as his chief end. It makes him say, " Whom have I in
heaven but thee? and there is none upon the earth that I desire be-
sides thee," Psalm Ixxiii. 25 ; and again, " For to mo to liv^e is
Christ, and to die is gain," Phil. i. 21. It makes hira holy in all
manner of conversation ; so that whatever way the Christian turns,
he points habitually towards God. — Another reason is,
3. That as there unquestionably is, so they have seen, a vanity
and emptiness in all things of the world, even the things that are
dearest to them : Psalm cxix. 96, " I have seen an end of all per-
fection, but thy commandment is exceeding broad." God has hung
the sign of vanity at tlie door of all the creatures, yet do men
throng into the house, every one calling and looking for a fill, and
promising it to themselves after a thousand disappointments : Isa.
Ivii. 10, " Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way : yet saidst
tliou not. There is no hope : thou hast found the life of ihine hand;
therefore thou wast not grieved." They see not the sign by the
YOL. IX. 2 B
378 THE STATUTE-LAW
light of grace, altliougli they may have a rational conviction of it,
which will be as far from producing a trne weaning of the heart
from the world, as painted fire is from burning off a man's bands.
But Christians are made to see it with the light of grace, which is
the light of life, which makes them go by the creatures' door to him
in whom " it hath pleased the father that all fulness should dwell,"
Col. i. 19. The Lord squeezes the sap out of all things, besides him-
self, to his 5vn, so as that when the heart is seeking its rest, they
are tasteless to them as the white of an egg : Phil. iii. 7, 8, " But
what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea,
doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Jesns Christ my Lord ; for whom I have suffered the
loss of all things, and do count them bnt dung that I may win
Christ." — Another reason is,
4. Because they find Christ of all objects the most suitable to
them, and therefore he cannot but be dearer to them than the
dearest thing in the world. The soul which has long gone through
the dry places of the world, seeking rest, and finding none, when it
comes to Christ, finds rest to the conscience under the covert of his
blood, and rest to his heart in that all-fulness dwelling in Christ
which is commensurate to the unbounded desires of the heart, desires
which can never be satisfied but by an infinite good ; and therefore
of necessity, and from choice, settles here, saying, " This is my
rest ;" and that soul is not to be drawn away from Christ by any
means whatever : Rom. viii. 35, 38, " Who shall separate us from
the love of Christ ? For I am persuaded, that 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 us from the love of God, which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord." He is fully suited to their case : and, what is
more, he is suited to their mind, they have no fault whatever to
him : Song v. 16, " His mouth is most sweet, yea, he is altogether
lovely ; this is my beloved, and this is my friend, daughters of
Jerusalem." There is nothing in him they would have out of him,
and nothing out of him they would have in him ; whereas every
created enjoyment is lame, and defective to a great degree ; the
fairest rose has some sharp prickles about it. Now, that soul which
has traversed all created enjoyments dissatisfied, and could never
find contentment, is completely satisfied in him. How, then, can it
otherwise be, than that he is dearer to it than all other persons and
things whatever? — Another reason is,
5. Because he is their greatest benefactor ; his unparalleled bene-
fits command their hearts to be all his : he has done for them what
or DISCIPLESHIP. 379
none other could do. "When Lebanon was not sufficient to burn, nor
the cattle on a thousand hills for a sacrifice, when rivers of oil were
too shallow, and the fruit of their bodies for the sin of their souls
would have been rejected, he redeemed them with his own blood ;
he left the bosom of his Father, and came and poured out his soul
unto death for them, when they deserved to have died for ever. He
is doing for them what none can do, he is their resident at the court
of heaven, taking up emergent differences betwixt God and them,
preparing a place for them in his Father's house of many mansions.
And he will do for them what none but he himself can do ; he will
at last bring them to his glory, and make them perfectly blessed in
the full enjoyment of their God and Saviour through all eternity. —
Another reason is,
6. Because they are sensible, that whatever they have in the
world, they have it through and by him. And so they behold him
as the fountain of all their mercies. — Thus,
(1.) They have the enjoyment of their blessings through him.
It is by him they enjoy father and mother, wife and children, &c.;
not only by his common providence, as the wicked enjoy their mer-
cies, but by his blood, whereby the malefactor is not only pardoned,
but also is set down with these, and far better things, as the pur-
chase of Christ's blood ; whereas, had not the Mediator intervened
betwixt them and the stroke of justice, they had been stripped of all
their enjoyments in the world, even life itself, and shut up for ever
in the prison of hell.*
(2.) They have the comfort of them through him. Every crea-
ture is to us what the Lord makes it to be, and it is no more ; no
more it can be. The creature in itself is a mere nothing : what
drops of sweetness are to be found in it, are distilled into it from
himself, the fountain of goodness : none good but one, that is, God.
And surely the Lord never puts any sweetness in the creature to
arrest our hearts upon it, but rather that, finding the sweetness of
the streams, we might thereby be drawn up to the Fountain, where
sweet water is always sweetest. Let God call in his own from ouv
enjoyments, our dearest relations shall be utterly uncomfortable ;
yea, our very life a burden. If it be by him only, then, that our
enjoyments are desirable, surely himself is much more so. And
seeing the Christian loves these things for what of God is in them,
* The worthy author is doubtless here to be understood as referring to that comfort
and benefit which is enjoyed in such relations ; for it is only in the nature and
extent of this kind of enjoyment, that a diflferenco arises between the Christian and
the sinner, or that the former, with propriety, can contemplate the enjoyment of
these relations as the fri\it of Christ's blood. — Edit.
2b2
380 THE STATUTE-LAW
and with them, and can never be satisfied with them without Christ,
surely Christ himself must be dearest of all. — Another reason is,
7. Because, if it were not so, Christ would have no church in the
world. His standard would fall, and there would be none to take
it up. There is an old inveterate enmity in the wicked against
godliness ; the devil's partizans are alway the most numerous. If
imprisoning, banishing, spoiling of goods, fields and scaffolds reeking
with the blood of the saints, would have deterred all persons from
following Christ, there had been no church in the world this day.
But God will have a church in spite of devils and wicked men.
The spark shall be kept alive, though in the midst of an ocean,
and " his name shall endure for ever," Psalm Ixxii. 17. A new seed
shall ever be rising to enlist themselves under Christ's banner. God
will not remove the rocks for them, but the way to heaven, to the
world's end, shall lie through many tribulations ; for he will animate
his people to quit with all that is dearest to them in a world,
rather than quit his way, and make thera overcome through the
word of his testimony, and not love their lives even unto death. —
I come now,
IV. To make some practical improvement.
1. In an use of information. — You may hence see,
(1.) That Christ will admit no rival in the heart. One throne
cannot receive two kings, and one heart cannot admit both Christ
and any worldly thing set up beside him ; it must needs lie at his
feet, or all is wrong in that heart ; Matth. vi. 24, " No man can
serve two masters. — Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Christ
and the world have long struggled together, it is hard to tell which of
them many of us have been chiefly following : but when Christ and
the world parts, it will be known which of them is our master. —
Ilcnce see,
(2.) How far those persons are from being Christ's disciples, to
whom a loathsome lust is dearer by far than the Lord Christ.
Though it tends to ruin their bodies, their souls, and consciences,
they notwithstanding will not part with it for Christ. "VYlicn Christ
commands thee to do some great thing for him, how wilt thou do it ?
Is it a right hand, a right eye ? Thou must cut it off^, pluck it out ;
for wast thou parting with all but one thing, this one will eternally
separate betwixt Christ and thee, if thou canst not also part with it
for him. — Hence see,
(3.) That men are not out of danger, even when walking within
the bounds of lawful things. It is a certain observation, that law-
ful things are a ditch, in which many souls arc drowned, Matth.
xxiy. 38, 39. A man in the use of lavyful things, is like cue walking
OF BISCIPLESHIP. 381
on the brink of a steep precipiece ; the ground is firm, but his head is
ready to become giddy, and he may fall over. It is hard to rejoice
in them, and not to overjoy; to have them, and yet to sit loose to
them. Be often feeling the pulse of thy affection to them, how it
beats, lest it be so violent as to separate Christ and thee.
(4.) This shews what is the root of apostacy and defection from
the truths and ways of Christ, in a time of the church's trials and
troubles. It is the things of the world being dearer than Christ, his
truth and ways, this is the first spring of it: *' Deraas hath forsaken
me, having loved the present world," If Christ be dearer to us
than all things else, we will follow him wherever he goes, and never
break with him, for the world's frowns. — I shall only add,
2. An use of exhortation.
Let me now exhort all of you, especially those who have been com-
municants, to evidence yourselves the true disciples of Christ by your
comparative hating of father and mother, &c., for Christ and his cause
in the world. Let your hearts be loosed from, and do you sit loose
to, all that is dear to you in the world, resolving in the Lord's
strength, and showing yourselves ready to part with all for Christ,
if he shall call you to it. In order to influence your complying
with the exhortation, I would lay before you the following motives : —
Mot. 1. This is necessary to fit you for trials ; that you may be
able to stand in the evil day, arm your souls with this disposition.
— For this purpose consider,
(1.) That the pathway to heaven lies by the cross, and all who
have a real desire for heaven must lay their account with suffering ;
John xvi. 33, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of
good cheer, I have overcome the world." Acts xiv. 22, " We must
through much tribulation enter into the kingdom." 2 Tim. iii. 12,
" Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer per-
secution." Therefore he who does not lay his account thus is a
foolish builder, Luke xiv. 25, and downwards. There is always a
hot noon-tide in the church's day. Song i. 7, and it may as cer-
tainly be expected as the noon. — Consider,
(2.) That the things which concern us appear to be making
haste. You have enjoyed the dispensation of the sacrament after
Christ's institution in peace, we have no great ground to promise
another such season in a haste. There has been much sad work
wrought upon this church in a little time, and it is the temper of
our enemies to drive more violently than deliberately. We have
had long peace, and the air is usually quiet and clear before an
earthquake, and the winds are laid before great rains fall. The gos-
pel has been doing little good for many years ; and where people
382 THE STATUTE-LAW
are not bettered, they are made worse by it. I believe there was
never a generation more disposed to root out serious godliness from
the earth, than that which this time affords. Among the fashion-
able people of the age, religion is become almost quite out of
fashion. Ministers and professors, through long ease, have gathered
much mud, they need to be emptied from vessel to vessel. And it
seems that judgment, as ordinary, must begin at the house of God,
to purge it, and prepare the nations for a more dreadful vengeance ;
so that it is probable it will be brought to this ere long, — suffer or
sin. — Consider,
(3.) That it is not easy to stand in a time of trial. Many will
venture to sea in a fair day, that will never abide a storm. Many
tall cedars have been blown up from the root by the wind of perse-
cution, and they who have stood firmest, their towering branches
have been made to sweep the ground. Be not over confident ; though
you have endured a storm already, there may be a harder yet be-
fore you, Heb. x. 34, compared with chap. xii. 4. There is need,
then, to be preparing. — Consider,
(4.) That this will fit you for it. When the things of the world
hang loose about us, like Joseph's mantle, and Satan, by the hands
of wicked men, seizes them, to draw us to him by them, they will
slip off, and we will leave them in their hand, and so escape, as he
did. They who are standing ready to encounter, will resist the
enemy, while they who are surprised will fall into confusion. It is
a sad thing to feel trouble before we see it, to be past hope before
we have any fear. Troubles that find men secure, ordinarily leave
them desperate.
Mot. 2. Apostacy and defection from God in a trying time, is
dreadful and dangerous : Heb. x. 38, " Now the just shall live by
faith ; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in
him." God punishes men of this description oftentimes remarkably.
How has a spirit of defection been followed in the fearful judgment of
God with a spirit of persecution ; for when God departs, the spirit
is imbittered. As the sharpest vinegar is made of the most gener-
ous wine, so apostate professors ofttimes become the bitterest per-
secutors. Besides, their gifts often wither, and dry up. It has
also often been seen, that they have quickly lost their all dishon-
ourably, who have gone out of God's way to save it, while they who
have walked honestly, have walked surely. Dreadful above ex-
pression will their doom be, if they get not grace to repent : Matth.
X. 33, " Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny
before my Father which is in heaven." But, Heb. x. 32, " Call to
remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated,
ye endured a great fight of afflictions." /
OF DISCIPLESHIP. 383
3. The truths and ways of God are more worth than the whole of
what we have to lose for them. It is a general rule : Prov. xxiii.
23, " Buy the truth, and sell it not." The profane spirits of some
influence their slighting some less truths of religion ; and they
imagine, after doing so, that they are secure from suffering, while
the foundation points remain untouched. If these men A'alued their
bodies as little as they do the truths of Grod, they would, in like
manner, allow you to cut and mangle them as you please, provided
ye did not stab them in the heart : but they who value fundamental
truths, because of Christ's stamp upon them, will not dare to give up
with circumstantial truths which they know, seeing they also bear
the same impression of divine authority ; so that it is a bold venture
for a man, on any pretence, to quit the word of Christ's patience in
a time of trial, and to step out of God's way : for he leaves his soul
in pawn for it, which is of more worth than all he has in a world ;
and it is one to a thousand, if ever he has power to come back, and
redeem it by repentance.
Mot. 4. Death is approaching, and then you must part with all
you have in the world. Cleave as fast as you will to these things,
you must let go your hold at length. The serious consideration of
the shortness of our time, the certainty of death, and the uncertainty
of the time of it, would discover to us, that the whole we can make
by turning aside from God's way in a time of trial, is not worth our
trouble, not worth the going off our road for it ; for it may be, what
is refused for Christ may quickly bo taken from you at death. I am
sure we will never part so easily with what we have, as when we
sit loose to it. Ripe fruit falls oft' ihe tree with a shake, when the
unripe must be rent off. When the heart is loosed from what we
have in the world, it is easy parting with it, by what it is when the
heart holds by it till it be forced from it. — Nothing is ever parted
with so honourably, as when it is parted with for Christ. No thanks
to you that you part with what you have, when God takes it from you
whether you will or not. It is honourable to forsake the world at
Christ's call, for Christ's sake, before we be forsaken of the world.
Mot. 5. You will be no losers at Christ's hands. If you quit
with them now t0 Christ, he probably will let you keep them, and
accept of your will for the deed. This was the case with Abraham,
when called to offer up Isaac ; and with David when it was in his
heart to build a house to the Lord. Thus you will have them with his
blessing and favour. If he take them from you, without them you
will get a throughbearing : Psalm xxxvii. 3, " Trust in the Lord, and
do good ; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be
fed." A little served up to you from the promise, and brought to
381 A lacii nEWARjj to
your liand by a particular provideuce, will liave a double sweetuess
in it. That bread will not be lost which is thrown upon these waters ;
after many days you shall find it : Matth. xix. 29, " And every one
that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or mother, or wife,
or children, or lands, for ray name's sake, shall receive an hundred-
fold, and shall inherit eternal life." Himself will be to you instead
of all, and better than all here ; and heaven will fully make up all
hereafter.
If any shall say, " But, ! I fear I shall never be able to carry
through," I would say to such. You know that the foundation of
your throughbearing is laid, if your heart be loosed from all things
besides Christ, and if he be dearer to you than what is dearest to
you in a world : Psalm xlv. 10, 11, " Hearken, daughter, and con-
sider, and incline thine ear ; forget also thine own people, and thy
father's house. So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty, for he
is thy Lord, and worship thou him." When the king thus greatly
desires thy beauty ; he will see to preserve it ; John x. 28, 29, ** I
give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither
shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, who gave
them me, is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck thera
out of my Father's hand." You have taken him for all, and it lies
upon his honour to see you carried through. Live by faith, and
draw your daily supplies from him : Hab. ii. 4, " The just shall liv«
by his faith." Isa. xl. SI, " They that wait upon the Lord shall renew
their strength ; they shall mount up with wings as eagles ; they shall
run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Amen.
A RICH REWARD TO DILIGENCE IN RELIGION.*
SERMON XX XY.
Hos. vi. 3,
Thc7i shall ive knoiv, i/ we follow on to know the Lord.
It is an observation of Soloraan's, Prov. xii. 27, " The slothful man
roasteth not that which he took in hunting." Men are at some pains
to get something, but when they have got it, they let it slip through
their fingers. Hence our religion, good frames, attainments, resolu-
tions, &c. turn to small account. We are at some pains to acquire
tomcthing when attending divine ordinances, but then we put it in
* DelLvereil at Tweedsniuir, A|iiil, 17>2.
DILIGENCE IN KELIGION. 385
a bag with holes. Now, tho text tells us liow to remedy this loss,
and to bring our religion to some good account : and that is, when
once our hand is in, to follow on eagerly : " Then shall we know,
if we follow on to know the Lord." — In these words consider,
1. What is the sura and substance of all religion. It is " the
knowledge of the Lord," that is, the practical knowledge of hini,
who can only be truly known in Jesus Christ. That thus the know-
ledge of the Lord is here to be understood, is evident, not only from
the nature of the thing, but from other scriptures : John xvii. 3,
" And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true
God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." See also Hos, vi. 6 ;
Jer. xxii. 16. — Consider,
2. The beginning of religion supposed. This is supposed in the
particle then, namely, when we have turned to the Lord ; and like-
wise in following on to know the Lord. — Consider,
3. The pursuit of religion, or the knowledge of the Lord proposed.
"We shall follow on, if we shall not content ourselves with the mea-
sure attained, but go on still farther, improving the beginnings.
(Heb. pursue), which is an eager sort of following, as is the case
when we follow a fleeing enemy. — Consider,
4. The benefit of this pursuit : " Then shall we know," we shall
thrive in our religion, get a larger measure of it even of a practical
experimental knowledge of the Lord. We shall be still adding a
cubit to our spiritual stature. The more we pursue, the more we
will gain. — From this subject, I observe the following
Doctrine, That the way to thrive in religion is to follow on, to
pursue, to hold our hand to it, when once our hand is in it.
It is evident, this is a day in which there is little thriving in re-
ligion. It is long since the generation began to weary of God, and
professors to decline ; yet sometimes there is a blowing up of the
spark, but, alas ! it dies always out again. Sometimes people look so
well when attending upon ordinances, we would almost think it Avas
a pity they should ever go from them ; but when they are away,
and the communion-frame has worn off, they look so ill, that one
would think it was a pity that ever they should come to them
again. We would show you how to prevent this ; and, that things
may apply the more closely to your consciences, I shall,
I. Shew who they are whom we may call to follow on.
II. I shall show what it is to follow on, or how you must hold
your hand to religion, that you may thrive in it, now that your
hand is in it.
III. I shall confirm the doctrine, and shew you, that it is the true
386 A RICH EEWARD TO
way to thrive ; and tlie belief of it would be a great spur to
diligence. Then,
IV. Conclude with the improvement of the subject.
"We are then,
I. To shew who they are whom we may call to follow on.
There are some we cannot call to follow on, because they have
not yet stirred a foot in religion. There are some who, for all that
they have heard and seen, are quite stupid and unconcerned, lying
asleep in their chains ; they have no good motions on their spirits,
and feel no concern for the want of them. Our text calls us to leave
you, but a word or two before we part.
1. "What would you think, if you saw the showers of heaven, after
a great drought, fall all around your land upon your neighbour's
ground, but not one drop on yours? would you not think you were
the mark at which God aims his arrow ? Now, what can you think
of yourselves, when God touches the hearts of others about you,
but never touches yours ? when he goes by you, and comes by you,
speaks to those on your right hand and on your left, but not a word
to you ? Does not that look very like what is in Hos. iv. 17, " Eph-
raim is joined to his idols, let him alone." To see a tree in the
winter without leaves, is nothing ; but in the spring, when all is
flourishing about it, such a tree is fit for the axe, and is near to the
fire.
2. Do you think the world will always last with you ? will you
always sleep in a sound skin ? Nay, sooner or later you shall get an
awakening, in mercy or in wrath : Isa. xxxii. 9, 10, " Rise up, ye
women that are at ease ; hear my voice, ye careless daughters, give
ear unto my speech. Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye
careless women ; for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not
come." If you should sleep it out all your days, you shall at last
awaken, Luke xvi. God will one time or another take the filthy
garments of your sins, wrap them up in brimstone, and set them on
fire about your ears.
But there are several sorts of persons, whose hands we may say
are now in their work : and their business is to pursue. — Such as,
1. There may be some whom the King has brought into his cham-
bers, and assured them of his love, and they have got the covenant
sealed, not only with the public seal of the sacrament, but the pri-
vate seal of the Spirit. Your business is to follow on, and improve
the precious season for the church of God, and for yourselves : Exod.
xxxiv. 8, 9, " And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward
the earth, and worshipped. And he said. If now I have found
grace in thy sight, Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us."
DILIGENCE IN RELIGIOX. 387
Follow on to know. There is more iu that God, that Christ,
that covenant manifested to you, than yon have yet seen. — There are,
2. Others that have got but some glimmerings of solid hope from
the Lord. It may be that they come here in a dark night of de-
sertion, saying, " My hope is perished from the Lord," Lam. iii. 18.
But now the day begins to break, and they have some hope that
there may be yet room for a backslider. Follo^7 on, his going forth
shall be as the morning, which grows lighter and lighter to the per-
fect day. — There may be,
3. Some who, it may be, Christ has treated, as Joshua did his
captains, when he made them set their feet upon the necks of the
captive kings. Josh. x. 24. Some lust that has long kept them un-
der, they have now got subdued, the bonds of wickedness are bro-
ken, and the gates of brass pulled down ; so that now they are
conquerors over their spiritual foes. To such we would say. Bestir
yourselves and pursue. "Wounded lusts, when they get time to re-
cover, have made sad work at a second onset ; you are not yet there,
where the gates shall not be shut at all by day. You are, however,
strong for the present ; follow on, and you will be yet stronger :
Zech. xii. 8, " In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of
Jerusalem ; and he that is feeble among you at that day, shall be
as David ; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of
the Lord before them." — There may be,
4. Some who have not come so far forward yet, though they are
come the length to be heartily content that they and their lusts were
freely parted, though they cannot tell how it will be accomplished.
Follow on, pursue, you have them at a fair advantage. The throne
of sin in the heart is shaken. Lusts sit looser than they did. Press
hard upon the tottering fabric, and it may come to fall altogether ;
so that you may soon be ready to say with Ephraira, " What have I
any more to do with idols?" Hos. xiv. 18. — There may be,
5. Some who have not come so far, but yet they have some desires
after Christ and religion. They have a hungering after him, and
they are more squeamish as to their lusts than they were : though
they cannot as yet see, if they forego the world and their lust, how
their loss will be made up. Truly this is not much ; but every
thing must have a beginning. Follow on ; that cloud, like a man's
hand, may come to darken the heavens at length. The conversion of
Zaccheus had as slender a beginning, Luke xix. 3. You have seen,
you were touched, look on, take a better look of the Plant of Renown,
and ye may come to be aflfected, allured, and captivated. — There
may be,
6. Some who have not come even so far, but they have got soine
388 A mou RKWAuu to
convictions of sin ; and though they have no will to part with their
lusts, yet, they cannot see how to live with them, and as little can
they see how to live without them. Their conscience is awakened,
but their heart is just where it was. It is a small length this indeed ;
but follow on. If the conscience has got the first touch, the heart
may get the next. If sin is become uneasy to the conscience, it may
become a burden to the heart next, and so the sweet morsel may be
vomited up. — There may be,
Lastly, Some who have not come so far as to have any particular
conviction, or quick touches of conscience, only they have a sort of
uneasiness with respect to the case of their souls, a secret dissatis-
faction with their state and case, which they see is not good. This
is even as little as can reasonably be concluded to be any beginning
of good; yet follow on, pursue this, think more attentively upon it.
If the dry bones be but beginning to move, they at last may come
together, and live, — We now proceed,
III. To show what it is to follow on, how you must hold your
hand to religion, that ye may thrive in it, now that your hand is
in it. The word imports a violence and eagerness, such as men have
in pursuing an enemy, persecuting the people of God, or iu hunt-
ing for prey. — Wherefore, when following on,
1. You must make religion your great end. As every man who
pursues has something in view, so your great design must be to
know the Lord : " Not," says Paul, " as though I had already at-
tained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I
may ai>prehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ
Jesus." There was a prospect which misgave at first with Adam,
because Satan laid the measures for it, Gen. iii. 5. But you must
take it up again, as the Lord himself will have you : Matth. v. 48,
" Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is per-
fect." When once grace touches the heart, it produces a certain
restlessness there, till the soul be perfectly united with God. You
will never make any good of religion, till you make it your grand ob-
ject in the world. You must not be merely occasional customers to
religion, of which see an instance, Judges xviii. 5, but stated alid
constant. — When following on,
2. Yon must be persuaded of the weight and worth of religion ;
for no wise man will pursue what he thinks not worth the pains.
What is the reason that the men of the world do not follow on to
know the Lord ? Why, truly, the most part are of Pharaoh's opi-
nion, that religion is only for those who have no other thing to do.
Hence it may be, they have got something to do here for the present ;
but if they were at home, they have another thing to do than Jo
DILIGENOK IN llELIGION. 389
follow it out: Mattli. xxii. 5, " But they made liglit of it, and went
their ^\ays, one to his farm, another to his merchandise." The sha-
dow of the world is substance with them, Hos. xii. 1, 8; and the
substance of religion is a shadow; but ! consider, " what is a
man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul ? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul ?" A wedge
of gold would make a sluggard run, and shall not a weight of glory
make us follow on? — When following on,
3. You must hold fast what you have ; the pursuer will be very
loth to go back a step ; Rev. iii. 3, " Remember, therefore, how
thou bast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent." Beware
that the spark does not go out, for thus you may quickly have a cold
coal to blow at. Make much of any good motion put into your
heart. Say not, it is not much you have to hold ; for the less it is,
it will die out the easier, and there is thus the more need to keep it
in. It caunot be so little, but Satan will think it worth his pains to
rob you of it. The kingdom of heaven in the soul has a small be-
ginning, like a grain of mustard-seed, and must be cherished. — When
following on,
4. Ton must not stand still, but be moving forward, labouring for
more, be it much or little which you have: Phil. iii. 12, "Not as
though I had already attained, either were already perfect : but
I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am
apprehended of Christ Jesus." A man who sits down on his attain-
ments, will quickly be empty-handed. The fire will go out, if con-
stant fuel be not furnished to it. Good beginnings will be lost, if
they be not cherished. Hast thou but one conviction ? follow on to
get it more deeply rooted. Be earnest that it spread further into
thy heart and life, that thou mayest bring forth fruits meet for re-
pentance. — When following on,
5. You must habitually attend upon religion, and make it your
chief business : 1 Thess. v. 15, "See that none render evil for evil
unto any man, but ever follow that which is good, both among your-
selves, and to all men." Fits and starts of religion cannot be
reckoned a following on, or holding our hands to it. You must la-
bour to weave the whole life into one continued web of religion :
1 Pet. i. 15, "As he which h^ith called you is holy, so be ye holy in
all manner of conversation." Whatever way you may turn, you
should still be pointing towards God. You must not be sober at
home, and loose abroad : not a church-saint, and a house-devil ; a
pretender to piety, and a renouncer of honesty. You must say to
all temptations which would take you off your way, as Joab, in his
pursuit, 2 Sam. xviii. 14, " I may not tarry thus with thee." — When
following on,
390 A KKH REWARD TO
6. You must be resolute and vigorous in your endeavours : Eccl.
ix. 10, " Whatsoever they hand findeth to do, do it with thy might."
Mere endeavours will not reach heaven : Matth. xi. 12, " The king-
dom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."
Our iron is blunt, we must therefore apply the more strength. Our
work is great, our strength small, our opposition powerful ; but we
must do or die. The work of religion will not prosper with only
good wishes and folded hands. No ; we must exert our hands, and
set down our feet : Prov. ii. 4, 5, " If thou seekest her as silver, and
searchest for her as for hidden treasures ; then shalt thou under-
stand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God." — When
following on,
7. You must entertain a hope of success. No man will pursue
but in hopes to overtake. We will have difficulties to grapple with
in this pursuit ; but let us " Avho are of the day be sober, putting on
the breast-plate of faith and love, and for an helmet the hope of
salvation." When the heart grows hopeless, the hands will hang
down, and the knees be feeble : Heb. x. 35, " Cast not away, there-
fore, your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.''
You must learn to hope against hope. You have the promise in
the text to encourage you. What though many attempts misgive ?
The tree falls not down at the first or second stroke of the axe ; and
the water, by continued dropping, wears the stones. — When follow-
ing on.
Lastly, If you fall, you must get up again, and quicken your pace;
and the sooner the better. The longer you lie, you will find it the
harder to get up. If you find the impressions on your spirit begin
to decay, take them in time, and go to God with them for a revival ;
Rev. iii. 2, "Be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain,
that are ready to die."
From what has been observed, we may learn, that the world shall
never be able to ruin religion, as long as there are some remaining
who will honestly follow after it. The hostile designs against re-
ligion are plainly exposed at this day, and its enemies have begun
to put them in execution. There are contrivances on foot to debauch
men's consciences, and mischief is framed into a law. Such a tolera-
tion of superstition, errors, and blasphemies, is set on foot, as is a
shame to a Christian country, no point of Christianity being pro-
tected from the insults of vile men, but the doctrine of the Holy
Trinity; and withal, patronages are restored to make way for in-
troducing the most naughty men into the ministry, while the most
conscientious will find more difficult access. The discipline of the
church is left to be trodden under foot of profane men. And what
DILiaENCE IN RELIGION. 391
is all this, but to ruin religion, and the covenanted work of refor-
mation ? But while our text remains, religion shall never be
ruined, if we will follow after it. Let men and devils do their ut-
most, it shall stand, till its followers abandon and give up with it.
And therefore, if it be ruined, the ruin will lie at our own doors, in
not cleaving to it ; but woe be to that man by whom the Son of man
is betrayed !
You may see here how to turn the cannon on the enemies of re-
ligion this day. It is very natural for zeal to grow by opposition.
Now, the friends of religion in Scotland have been long at a
stand, and its enemies have begun to drive the work back. Should
we now awake, and follow it more vigorously, then should ive know.
We should discern the flame to spread more and more, we should
see the Lord going forth as the morning, his work prospering over
the belly of opposition, superstition and profanity gliding away as
the darkness of the night at the morning-dawn. "We should per-
ceive him as a giant refreshed with wine, rising to defend and carry
on his own work.
Be exhorted, therefore, to hold your hands to religion now when
your hand is in it. As ever you would do a good deed to the church
of God, and to your own souls, follow religion closely in your prac-
tice. It is observed of some of the builders of the wall of Jerusa-
lem, that they repaired each over against his own house, Neh. iii,
23, 28, 30. Make it your endeavour, that your own exercise be
right ; this will be so much reformation. If you have got never so
little, hold your hands to it, labour to get it strengthened this night.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.*
SERMON XXXYI.
Hos. vi. 3,
Then shall ye know, if ye follow on to know the Lord.
Having, in the former discourse, attended to the two first heads of
the method we laid down, we now proceed,
III. To confirm the doctrine, or show you, that the way to follow
religion is, to follow on, to pursue, to hold your hands to it, when
once your hand is in it. — And the belief of this would be a great
• Delivered Monday, Sept. 1, 1712.
392 A RICH REWARD TO
spur to diligence. If a person, digging with great labour in the
earth, was almost ready to give it over, but another comes to him,
and persuades him, that if he will hold on, he would assuredly
find a treasure, he would unquestionably renew his resolution, and
vigorously follow it out. This I would persuade you of, in regard
to religion : however small your beginnings or hopes may now be, yet
persevere : " Be not weary in well-doing, for in due time ye shall
reap, if ye faint not." — To convince you as to this, consider,
1. You have God's word of promise for it : Matth. xxv. 29, " For
unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abund-
ance." A man hath no more in God's account, than what he keeps
and improves for God's glory and his own salvation. Now, God
does not set down all his children with equal stocks. There are
fathers, youths, and babes in Christ. Some get more, some less ;
bat there is a promise of more given to them all, on their holding their
hands to what they have got. It is God's goodness to most of us,
that we are held short by the head, and that any thing we get, we
know well how we come by it. This is necessary that our light
hearts may not grow vain, and that our careless spirits may be
aroused the more. But a little thing, with a promise, will be like
the five loaves that multiplied in the distribution. — Consider,
2. That it is the Lord's ordinary way in his works, to bring great
things by degrees out of small beginnings. He could have made the
world in a moment, but he took six days to it ; at first there was but
the rude mass, which day by day was brought to perfection. See an
instance, 1 Kings xviii. 43, and downwards. See how another great
work began, Esth. vi. 1. Both which places consult. See also in the
text : " His going forth is prepared as the morning." In his works
of grace, as in the works of nature, he ordinarily keeps that way of
advancing by degrees. — Consider,
3. That the works of grace in the soul ordinarily arise from very
small beginnings. The grain of mustard-seed, called the smallest
of seeds, is used as an emblem of this, Matth. xiii. 31, 32. It is a
seed springing so leisurely, that the springing of it cannot sometimes
be discerned in the time, Mark iv. 27. It springeth and groweth
up, we know not how. See how low the beginning of good may be,
which the Lord will cherish, and bring to perfection : Isa, xlii. 3,
" A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he
not quench ; he shall bring forth judgment unto truth." — Consider,
4. The bountiful nature of God, who surely will not always flee
from those Avho follow him, but will at length be found of them. If
at any time he seem to flee from thcra, it is that they may follow hira
the more vigorously: if ho hold meat from them a while, it is that
DILIGENCE IN RELiaiON. 393
their appetite may be the more sharpened, Luke xxiv. 28, 29. But
resolute following on cannot miss to find him. See an eminent
instance of this in the Syrophenician woman, who besought Jesus
to cast the devil out of her daughter, and persevered till she ob-
tained her request, Mark vii. 25 — 29. For good being in its nature
communicative of itself, goodness itself cannot fail to be so. The
spouse had experience of this, Song iii. 1 — 4. Consider,
5. That no person gets a refusal from heaven, but those who court
it by their own indifference : and indeed a faint way of seeking
is to beg a denial. God is more ready to give, than we are to seek :
Psalm Ixsxi. 10, " Open thy mouth wide," says he, " and I will fill
it." He loves importunity, and cannot deny an importunate suitor;
and though some such have stood long at his door, there was never a
single individual who fell down dead at it ; their long waiting was
always made up by the greater incomes of favour which they ex-
perienced, Matth. XV. 21, and downwards. The richest treasure is
that which lies deepest. — Consider,
6. That as importunity is usually in all cases the way to come
speed, so it has special advantages in this case which promise suc-
cess. The Lord gives much to importunity; Luke xi. 9, "And I
say unto you. Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall
find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." The word in the
eighth verse rendered " importunity," is in the Greek " shameless-
ness." Pinching need makes people shameless. It is not here as
with men, that a shameless seeker must get a shameless refusal ;
they who will not, cannot take a denial, shall not be troubled with
it : and when there is enough and to spare to the needy, this and
their condition makes them shameless ; both concur to make them
importunate.
7. But further consider, that such followers the Lord does not bid
them go back; and is not this very encouraging? If a beggar be
following a man for an alms, and he knows it, there is always hope
while he does not command him away. Now, you will follow long
ere the Lord bid you go away ; but if there were no hope, you would
soon get your answer. Thus the foolish virgins were soon answered
with a " Yerily I say unto you, I know you not," Matth. xxv. 12. —
Consider also,
8. That the Lord commands you to follow on : Luke xi. 19, " And
I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall
find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." And is not that
encouraging ? I know unbelief will be ready to shape an answer to
the soul, taking God's delay for a denial, that the soul may follow
no further: Jer. ii. 25, "Withhold thy foot from being unshod,
Vol. IX. 2 c
394 A RICH REWAliD TO
and thy throat from thirst ; but thou saidst, There is no hope ; no."
It is, however, better to hang on about God's door, than go back to
fill our belly with the husks whi^h swine devour. He commands
you to follow on, and he would not do it if there was no hope. — Con-
sider farther,
9. That it is the Lord who has given you the foot to follow him :
James i. 17, " Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from
above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no
variableness, neither shadow of turning." If you have any desire
after him, or the least good motion, it is from himself ; and though he
should have no regard for you, he will regard his own work in you,
if you do not put it away from you. God opens not his children's
mouth to put an empty spoon in it ; but he who forms the desire will
satisfy. — Consider,
Lastly, That the very nature of the thing confirms it, that the
more we apply ourselves to the business of religion, we shall bring
it to the better account. It is true, we own that religion in the
principle of it is infused into the heart ; but the Christian having
both to will and to do wrought in him by God, must work out his
own salvation with fear and trembling, Phil. ii. 12, 13. Grace, by
its exercise, increases. Whatever good motions the Lord has put
into the heart, it is like a spring ; the more opening which it gets,
and the more it runs, the more water comes into it ; whereas, if it
be stopped, the water turns away, and seeks another opening.
lY. We are now to make some practical improvement,
I. In an use of information.
Is it so that the way to prosper in religion is to follow on to
know the Lord ? Then we may learn,
(1.) That those who have not yet begun to look and seek after the
Lord, they are neither prospering in their souls, nor are they in the
way to it. Hearken, ye stupid souls, whose hearts within you are
this day dead as stones, moving still towards the earth, but having
no motion in them towards God. Your case is sad, and there is no
appearance yet of its growing better ; it is dark night with yon, and
there is no appearance of the morning light. Your hearts are shut
against Christ, and there is no putting in of his hand at the hole of
the door; you have not the smallest prospect of happiness. — We
may see,
(2.) That it is no wonder though backsliders have lean souls. How
many are there this day, who, comparing their own case with what
it has been formerly, may cry out, as in Isa. xxiv. 16, " But I said.
My leanness. My leanness, woe unto me." They have lost the delight
they sometimes had in God ; there is now little or no communication
DIIilGENCE IN IlELiaiOX. 395
between heaven and them. Whence does this take place? Why,
they did not follow on, when they were once set fair off, but went back-
ward. "When the wind was fair for Iranianuel's laud, they trifled away
their time, busy here and there about other things ; and their fair
occasions were lost. — We may see,
(3.) That they are in no prospering case who are at a stand in
religion. There is a generation who think they have got as much
grace as will carry them to heaven, and therefore ihey are not pres-
sing forward. Paul had more than ever they could pretend to, yet
says he, Phil. iii. 12, "Not as though I had already attained, either
were already perfect ; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend
that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." Truly, if
you continue thus, it will be an evidence that you have no grace
at all; for, Prov. iv. 18, " The path of the just is as the shining
light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."
(4.) You may see how the smallest spark which you now have,
may be brought to a great flame. Do but follow on to know the
Lord, and then you shall know, you shall make progress ; and
though your stock be but small, you may come to make that blessed
account of it which is in Luke xix. 16, " Lord, thy pound hath gained
ten pounds." Hold your hands to what you have got here, when
you are gone from this place, and you will find it will grow in your
hands ; it will increase in the using. — But here some may pro-
pose an
Objection : " I am a fearful backslider, who have wasted my
stock which some time increased with me in that way, and can I
think ever to recover it again ? Answ. Return, prodigal ! there
is yet room for thee in thy Father's house. The promise in the text
concerns you as well as others. See also Hos. v. 15, and chapter vi.
1, and downwards, where there is great encouragement to returning
backsliders. Are you convinced of your folly ? are you touched at
the heart with your backsliding ? are your souls moving for a re-
turn ? as in Jer. xxxi. 18, " I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning
himself thus, Thou has chastised me, and 1 was chastised, as a bullock
unaccustomed to the yoke : turn thou me, and I shall be turned ; for
thou art the Lord ray God." Then it may yet be as well with you as
ever it was, Joel ii. 23 — 27.
Lastly, We may hence see what is the ruin of many communi-
cants, and others who attend upon ordinances. It is not so much
that they get nothing at them, as that they carry nothing away with
them; or if they do, they do not hold their hands to it when they
are at home. You who think that your work is over when the com-
munion is over, you will make no good account of what you have
,- 2
396 A RICH REWARD TO
been doing. "Would you not think liim a foolish man, who would
employ himself on the meadow sharping his scythe, and then lay it
by when he has got it sharped ? Wherefore came you here, but to
get a meal for your journey heaven-ward ; and if so, then go in the
strength of it, go from strength to strength unweariedly, till you ap-
pear before God in Zion. — I come,
2. To an use of exhortation.
I would exhort yon all to follow on, to hold your hands at religion,
however small the beginnings of it may be with you ; and to prevail
with you, I would lay before you the following motives : — ■
Mot. 1. The way to prosper in religion is, when we find the least
moving, to bestir ourselves, and hold our hands to it, as David,
2 Sam. V. 24, 25. "We would all take measures for improving our
bodies and estates, why not also for improving our souls ? I am
sure, there are sad symptoms of a spiritual consumption and decay
on the generation in which we live ; we have need to use the re-
medy for ourselves against it. These symptoms are such as the
following — The stomach for our spiritual food is gone ; ordinances
are not prized; we look generally as if we had got a surfeit of the
gospel ; farms and merchandise go much nearer people's hearts
than opportunities of communion with God, for which they will be
loth to lose a day's work ; an evidence this that we may have to
fast till we find our stomachs again. — Another symptom is, that
professors have generally lost their colour; their former beauty is
gone. That heavenliness, spirituality, and tenderness, that savour
of godliness which was sometimes about them, is also gone ; and for-
mality, worldly-mindedness, deadness and lifelessness, have come in
their room ; so that we may well say, " our bones are dried !"
Any growth there is, is in pride and self-conceit: like rickety chil-
dren, a large head, but a poor lean body. Indeed, not a few are
even turned the colour of the earth, that their profane neighbours
may say. Behold, the man is become like one of us. It is a day in
wbich God is drawing the veil from off many faces ; and all this is
drawing on to a national apostasy from the Lord. The alarm is
sounded already to carry back this church into Egypt. Breaches
are made to let in a deluge of superstition, error, and profaneness.
The ruin of this church, and the covenanted work of reformation, is
threatened. It is high time we were bestirring ourselves to hold
our hands to the truths and ways of the Lord, handed down to us
from our fore-fathers, that we may transmit them also to our pos-
terity, by a faithful adherence to them, over the belly of all opposi-
tion, whether from open enemies or professed friends ; and for that
end, to be following on after the Lord's work in our own souls.
DILIGENCE IN RELIGION. 397
Mot. 2. Follow on, hold your liands to religion, however small a
measure of it you have : for you shall know, if you follow on to know.
You shall know that a going foot in religion is always getting:
Isa. xlv. 19, " I said Kot unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in
vain." They who are hanging on about the Lord's hand, will always
find some off-fallings. Though they do not soon get the very thing
they would be at, they will always get something in the mean time,
well worth all the pains. If you be following on for comfort, this
may be denied for a while, but you will be ready to get a deeper
conviction to prepare the way for it ; if,| for deliverance from temp-
tation, you may, like Paul, get grace to wrestle against, and to
overcome it. — Again,
You shall know that religion is a reward to itself : Psalm xix.
11, " In keeping of them, (thy commandments), there is great re-
ward." There is a pleasure in attending the very posts of Wisdom's
door : Psalm Ixxxiv. 10, " For a day in thy courts is better than a
thousand : I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God,
than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." There is a sweet peace
in the Lord's way : the strictest Avays of religion are a pleasure ;
Prov. iii. 17, " Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths
are peace." There is a great pleasure in seeing the bosom-idol on
the cross, sin dying, and grace reviving in the soul.
You shall know, that the more you follow on, it shall be the easier ;
the more you walk in this way, you will be the more expert : Isa.
xL 31, " They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength ;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles ; they shall run and not
be weary, and they shall walk and not faint," That which makes
religion so difficult to us, is our not holding at it, our taking it but
by fits and starts. Is it not always the easier to you to seek the
Lord, the oftener you are at his throne? But omit one occasion,,
you will find yourselves the less fit for the work.
You shall know, that some difficulties in religion, which are like
mountains afar off, shall turn to mole-hills, when you resolutely come
up to them. God will make iron gates open of their own accord to
his people who are resolute to be through. Unbelief and carnality
make difficulties where there are none. *'A lion," says the slug-
gard, " is in the way." They make real difficulties greater : Exod.
xiv. 15, 16, " And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou
unto me ? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.
But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea,
and divide it ; and the children of Israel shall go on dry land through
the midst of the sea." See David's experience, Psal. xviii. throughout.
You shall know that his goings forth are prepared as the morn-
398 A men EEWARD TO
ing. The manifestations of himself are certain. As the morning
will certainly follow the darkest night, so the darkest time which a
follower of the Lord has, will certainly issue in a morning-light of
refreshment at length. These manifestations are also gradual.
There is always more and more of God to be known, to be given out,
according to the soul's diligent waiting and following on.
Mot. 3. You will be great losers if you do not follow on ; you will
lose what you have got. The sacred fire in your hearts will go out,
if you do not cherish it, and if this should take place, you will be a
step farther from heaven than you were. Nay, if you lose it, who
knows if ever you will recover it again ; if ever the wind will blow
as fair for you to Immanuel's land, remember that which is in Luke
xiv. 24, " For I say unto you, that none of those men which
were bidden shall taste of my supper." And if it should recover it,
you will have to begin again, and it is a sad matter for people al-
ways to be but beginning ; ever learning, and never coming to the
knowledge of the truth, because they forget as fast as they learn.
You will lose also all the pains you have been at to get what you
have : Pro v. xii. 27, " The slothful man roasteth not that which he
took in hunting ; but the substance of a diligent man is precious."
"What a sad matter is it to be at pains for something, and then when
it is got, just to let it slip through our fingers ! We have work
enough besides. There is no propriety in always doing and undoing
again. In a word, you will lose your souls, if you do not follow on
to know the Lord ; Luke ix. 62, " And Jesus said unto him. No man,
having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the
kingdom of heaven." Heb. x. 38, " Now, the just shall live by
faith ; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in
him." And it will be a bitter ingredient of hell in your heart, that
sometime you was not far from the kingdom of God, and yet missed
it. — To this may be proposed these objections : —
1. I have met with so many disappointments, how can I follow on
further ? Answ. You are not the first who have met with disap-
pointments, Job xxiii. Song iii. And yet such have found him at
length. Disappointments are useful to the people of God ; they
sharpen their appetite ; they are necessary to give us honourable
thoughts of, and to learn us to stoop to divine sovereignty, for our
time is always ready, while his time may be not yet come. They
make the enjoyment more sweet, when we are favoured with it.
And therefore follow on, and wait the Lord's time.
2. My case grows worse and worse. Answ. What then ? his go-
ings forth shall be as the morning, and the darkest hour is usually
before day-break.
I shall, in conclusion, offer the following directions : —
DILIGENCE IN RELIGION. 399
1. Look to God tlirough Jesus Christ, from whence must come all
your strength. Let your resolutions be taken up under a sense of
weakness, and a persuasion of the supply to be had from the Lord
himself,
2. Be much in prayer and meditation. These are suited to keep
the impressions of God fresh upon your souls.
3. Make conscience of self-examination, that ye may the better
know how it is with you, whether you be going backward or for-
ward.
4. Beware of looking back, much more turning back, to your old
sin, especially the sin which has been the great make-bate betwixt
God and your soul. Keep special watch against it.
j5. Beware of evil company, and follow only such as are following
the Lord.
6. Live above the world while ye live in it. It will not be pos-
sible to follow on, if we come not to an holy indifference about the
world.
Lcisily, Keep the prize in your eye, and remember how short a
time it will be before you arrive at your journey's end. This con-
sideration will animate you to follow vigorously, because the time
will not last, and the work must bo done. It will dispose you to
recollect, that ere long you will be at the end of every difficulty,
that the days of your sorrow and mourning shall be ended. Amen.
THE ACCEPTABLE MANNER OF DRAWING NEAR TO GOD. *
SERMON XXXVI L
Heb. X. 22,
Let us draw near with a true heart, in the full assurance of faith, hav-
ing our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed
with pure water.
I HAVE been, in our last discourses, urging and directing you to
evidences for heaven ; and we are shortly to celebrate that^ ordin-
ance which is a special evidence of the Lord's love to his people,
and appointed to evidence it to them. That it may be so in effect
to us, let us hearken to the advice in the text ; which is an improve-
ment of the doctrine as to the great privileges of Christians. They
* Delivered May, 1715.
400 THE ACCEPTABLE MANNER OF
have freedom of access to God through Christ. They have Christ
as an High Priest set over the house of God ; therefore, " Let us
draw near," &c. — Here we have,
1. An exhortation and excitement to a duty corresponding to the
privileges which are through Jesus Christ : " Let us draw near,'*
that is, to God. Though he is great, and infinitely glorious, dwells
in the highest heavens ; yet, seeing he is upon a throne of grace, let
us not stand at a distance from him, but draw near to him in the
whole of our conversation, and particularly in acts of worship wait-
ing on him. Let us do it, the weak together with the strong ; let
us press in at the door of grace together. — "We have,
2. The right way of managing this duty for God's honour and our
own comfort. This is laid down in four particulars.
(1.) We should draw near to God with a "true heart," that is,
a sincere heart ; with the heart, and not with the lips only ; not
with a false hypocritical heart, but a heart true to God, true to our
own real interest. — We are to draw near,
(2.) " In full assurance of faith." Let us come believingly, come
in faith, leaning upon his Son, trusting in his blood. Lotus not
come doubtingly, doubting whether we will be welcome or not,
•whether there be access for us or not ; but with full assurance, like
a ship that is carried towards the port with full sail before the
wind. — We are to draw near,
(3.) " Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience." An
evil conscience is a guilty, accusing, and condemning conscience. This
vexes, disquiets, and torments the heart. Guilt is the mother and nurse
of fears. The sting of guilt in the conscience is like a thorn in a man's
foot ; when he is called to meet a friend, alas ! he cannot go, he
dare not set a foot to the ground, or every step goes to his heart.
The way to cure this is, by sprinkling with the blood of sprinkling^
that is, by faith applying the blood of Christ for remission of sin.
This makes the soul meet to draw near to God, and that with full
assurance, even as the unclean under the law were cleansed by the
sprinkling of blood. — We are to draw near,
(4.) Having " our bodies washed with pure water ;" that is, our
outward man also purged ; that so, having clean hands, and a pure
heart, we may ascend to the hill of God, and stand in his holy place,
Psalm xxiv. A blameless outward conversation. Sin so curbed
and borne down within, that it do not scandalously break out into the
life ; and this must be done with the pure water of the spirit of sanc-
tification, not with the muddy water of Christless endeavours, as in
painted hypocrites.— From this subject, I would take the following
Doctrine, That Christians may, and ought to draw near to God.
DRAWING NEAR TO GOD. 401
" Let US draw near." This is the voice of the gospel sounding in
the ears of the visible church through our Lord Jesus Christ ; and it
is sounding in our ears more particularly this day, while he gives
us the hope of his coming so near to us in the sacrament of the supper
next Lord's day.
In this discourse, I shall attend shortly to the following things : —
I. Shew what is implied in this, " Let us draw near."
II. Shew that we may draw near.
III. Shew that we ought to draw near.
ly. Add the practical improvement of the subject. — "We are then,
1. To shew what is implied in this, " Let us draw near." There
are two things in it.
\. Sin has set us at a distance from God : Isa. lix. 2, " But your
iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins
have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." Sin indeed
could not remove us out of the place where God is, for he is every
where : but it has set us out of his favour, out of his friendship, and
that is a sad out-cast. In Adam, while he stood, we lived in the
land of light, the light of God's countenance ; but he sinned, and
was banished from the presence of the Lord, after he had run away
from him wiih us in his loins; and so we come into the world
estranged from God : Psalm Iviii. 3, " The wicked are estranged from
the womb ; they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies."
2. Sinners stand at a distance from God till they be called, and
that powerfully : John vi. 44, " No man can come unto me, except
the Father who hath sent me, draw him." They keep their ground
where their first father left them. The breach began on our side,
we left our Father's house, and ran away from it without all just
ground, but we never come back again till worthless we be sent for
and fetched ; like the Levite's concubine, Jude xix. 2, 3. — And here
lies the case :
Insensible sinners will not : John v. 40, " And ye will not come
unto me, that ye might have life." They are away, and they will
not come back. They have no eye upon the privileges of them that
are near ; they can do well enough without it. They love the devil's
common, where they can ramble up and down at their own liberty,
better than God's inclosnre, where they think a man cannot get
elbow-room. Hence they are running away farther and farther
from him, till, I believe, not a few are so far from him, that they
hardly ever hear from him ; nor is there one left with them to dis-
turb them in their wandering.
Sensible sinners dare not : Luke v. 8, " When Simon Peter saw
it, he fell down at Jesus' feet, saying, Depart from me, for I am a
402 THE ACCEPTABLE MANNER OF
sinful man, Lord." They see his glory and his seat, they admire
the happiness of those that stand before him, as the queen of Sheba
did the attendants of Solomon, 1 Kings x. 8. But they dare not
draw near, but stand afar off, tinder a deep sense of unworthiness.
Like the publican, they cannot lift up their eyes to heaven, but
smite upon their breasts, saying, God be merciful to us sinners,
Luke xviii. 13. They cannot conceive how such vile malefactors
can face the Judge, how such prodigals can set their foot again
in their Father's house, how such filthy, loathsome, beggarly crea-
tures, can presume to come forward to the throne. If at any time
they break forward, it is like offering violence to themselves. They
take their life in their hand, and, like Esther, go in to the king,
chap. iv. 16. And then the legs of their confidence tremble, the
hands of faith shake, and they are ready to start back : but " let
us draw near." — This brings us,
II. To shew, that we tnay draw near to God. Glad news this to
poor sensible sinners ! Come in, ye blessed of the Lord ; why do
you stand back ? you may draw near to God. — For,
1. God is on a throne of grace in Jesus Christ : 2 Cor. v. 19, " To
wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not
imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the
word of reconciliation." God has in Christ laid aside his red gar-
ments, being to pursue the war no longer against those that come to
him through Christ. He wears the white garment of peace, and
breathes nothing from hence, but peace, love, and good-will. To
look on an absolute God out of Christ, is enough to make a devil
tremble. You are not called to draw near to him as snch. Indeed,
some presumptuous sinners will, like beasts, touch the mountain ;
but darts of wrath will strike through their consciences, and drive
them back at length. But you are to draw near to God, as on his
throne of grace, in Christ.
2. There is a way to the throne never trode, nor designed to be
trode, by any but sinners such as you, and the like of you. This is
no back entry, but the most glorious way to the throne. Adam had
a way to it, but that is blocked up ; there is a new and living way
consecrated for us, Heb. x. 20. And may we not draw near by it ?
It lies through the vail of Christ's flesh, and leads into the holiest,
the seat of God ! It is a way paved with glory to God, peace on
earth, and good-will to men. It will vail all your weaknesses, wants
and blemishes ; yea, it vails the fiery law, wraps it up out of sight ;
;t vails the sword of justice. The smiles of a reconciled God shine
through it, to revive and refresh the hearts of the guilty.
3. He is a friend of ours who is set over the house of God : Heb.
DnAWINCI NEAR TO 01). 403
X. 21, " And having an High-Priest over the house of God," that is
Jesus Christ. He was taken out from among us, being " bone of
our bone, and flesh of our flesh." Psalra Ixxxix. 19, " Thou spakest
in vision to thy Holy One, and saidst, I |have laid help upon one
that is mighty, I have exalted one chosen out of the people." He is
for us, in things pertaining to God, to employ his power and interest
for us in the court of heaven. He bears the keys of the house, and
admits whom he will, gives them what he will, brings as far for-
ward as he will : John v, 22, " For the Father judgeth no man, but
hath committed all judgment to the Son." And he is a Priest, a
High-Priest, who will take all our services, wash away all their pol-
lution, and offer them for us with the much incence of his merits and
intercession. — "We now proceed,
III. To shew that we ought to draw dear : " Let us draw near." —
For,
1. It is the command of God: James iv. 8, " Draw nigh to God,
and he will draw nigh to you." God commands runaways to re-
turn, and draw near to him. He commands returning sinners to
come forward, and come near him. He gives them no thanks for
standing afar off". Though he can bear with them long, yet he is
not pleased when a sense of sin makes poor sensible sinners stand
off" from him as afl"righted at him. His fatherly bowels yearn to-
ward them : Luke xv. 20, " And he arose, and came to his father ;
but when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had
compassion, and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him."
2. If we do not draw near to God, we dishonour his Son, and so
dishonour himself, in so far as we frustrate the great design of the
mystery of Christ : John v. 23, " That all men should honour the
Sou, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the
Son, honoureth not the Father which sent him." Eph. ii. 13, 14,
*' But now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were afar oflf, are made
nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made
both one, and hath broken down the middle-wall of partition be-
tween us." So far as we stand afar off from God, we dishonour the
friendship of God, the blood of the Son of God in its efficacy and
virtue, while we dare not trust ourselves in the new and living way
and under the covert of the Redeemer's blood. — We now proceed,
IV. To a practical improvement of the subject, in an use of ex-
hortation.
Let us, then, draw near to God. Return, sinners, and come back
to God, ye who have gone away from him : and having come back,
come forward to him in Christ, come forward even to his seat ; the
nearer you come the better, and always the nearer the more welcome-
404 TUE ACCEPTABLE MANNER OF
1. Come back, sinners, draw near towards God and duty. What
have you gained by going from him ? Satan, the world, and lusts,
made you fair promises to get you away from God. But what have
you made of your rambling, wandering life through the mountains
of vanity ? You have got a restlessness in your hearts, a blindness
in your minds, a deadness in your affections to what is good. You
have got your lusts strengthened, and a conscience full of guilt and
stings, when you seriously reflect. Our Lord is ready to take run-
aways home again ; Jer. iii. 1, " Return again to me, saith the
Lord." Ver. 22, " Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal
your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee, for thou art the Lord
our God." He is again casting open the doors of his house to re-
ceive backsliders ; nay, his arras of love and mercy are ready to
receive you. Come back, then, smiting on your breast, as grieved
for that backsliding heart of yours ; smiting on your thigh, as
grieved at those wandering feet of yours, which have not continued
in the paths of righteousness.
2. Not only draw towards God, but come forward, and draw
near to him as a God in Christ. You may get near him ere you
come to heaven ; in his ordinances in the lower house, there you
may have access to him. Particularly, let us draw near to him,
In prayer, Heb. iv. 16, " Let us therefore come boldly to the
throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help
in time of need." This should be a praying time with us, a time of
wrestling for the blessing. It may be you have not neglected the
form of prayer, but though God was near you in your mouth, yet
perhaps he was far from your reins. But pray now, and draw near
in prayer, press forward even unto his seat, with the arms of faith
and love. Many have got very near him in that exercise ; they
have broke the shell on which many gnaw all their days, while they
are never the better, and they have got into the kernel; like Jacob,
they have succeeded : " He had power over the angel, and pre-
vailed ; he wept, and made supplication unto him ; he found him in
Bethel, and there he spake with us."
Draw near in the holy sacrament of the supper. God is again
coming to us in that ordinance ; an ordinance^appointed for the most
special nearness out of heaven : 1 Cor. x. 16, " The cup of blessing
which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ ? the
bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ ?"
Here we may sacramentally touch his precious body and blood, and
feed upon it. Oh ! let us be sure to meet him there ; he will not break
the appointment. Let us draw near, draw by the vail with the hand
of faith : whatever be betwixt him and us, let us closely unite with
DRAWING NEAR TO GOD. 405
God in his Son, and come even to his seat, come forward, for we will
be welcome. But if we abide in the outward court, contenting our-
selves with the bare elements, better we sit not down at this table. —
Let us draw near in these ordinances,
1. As rebels accepting the King's peace, indemnity in the blood
of his Son ; draw near, and welcome : Isa. xxvii. 5, " Let him take
hold of ray strength, that he may make peace with me ; and he shall
make peace with me." He holds forth the golden sceptre to thee,
though thou deservest the iron rod. Start not back by unbelief. If
it be too much for thee to expect when thou lookest to thyself,
it is not too much for him to give ; for he is infinite in goodness,
and the blood of Christ purchased it for the undeserving ; and the
price of blood will not be kept back. Then, let us draw yet nearer,
2. As petitioners to the King. "While God sits on the throne
of his grace, he says to all who have accepted his peace, as
Ahasuerus did to Esther, " "What is thy petition, and it shall be
granted thee ?" Let us not, then, slight the season of petitioning.
Be sensible of your soul-wants : labour to get desires of supply
wrought in your hearts by the Spirit of Christ. And draw near
with your petitions as particular as you can make them. Come,
and welcome ; though there be blots in them, they will be accepted
out of the Mediator's hand. Nay more,
3. Draw near as servants of the house, to serve our Lord, to wait
upon him, and behold his glory : Psalm cxvi. 16, " Lord, truly I
am thy servant ; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid :
thou hast loosed my bonds ;" Rev. xsii. 3, " And his servants shall
serve him. And they shall see his face, and his name shall be in
their foreheads." Though our ragged garments are very unlike our
Master's honour, yet he allows us a livery in which to appear, of
which we need not be ashamed, and which will cover all our filthy
rags. He gives us white raiment, that we may be clothed, that the
shame of our nakedness do not appear. Rev. iii. 18. Lay this over
thy soul, wrap thyself in it, come thus forward, and welcome. —
Draw near,
4. As friends ; friends of God, to have fellowship with him, who
may freely converse with him : to unbosom ourselves to him, and to
be let into the secrets of the covenant : John xv. 15, " Henceforth,"
says he, " I call you not servants, for the servant knoweth not what
his Lord doth ; but I have called you friends, for all things that I
have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." He treats
you as such, setting you down at his table ; and the less reserved
you are, and the more you improve the privileges through Christ,
the more welcome you are. Does he approve the kneelers at the
406 THE ACCEPTABLK MANNER 01'
sacrament, when he has ordered tliem to sit ? as little will he ap-
prove the Christian's carrying froward-like, and standing afar off
from him at that table which he has covered for his friends. Nay,
draw near,
5. As children to a Father in Christ, to receive the portion of
children. Is not the soul which hath closed with Christ a son by
adoption ? " To as many as received him, to them he gave power
to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."
A child of the house by marriage with the King's son. Is not the
children's bread given them at the table ? Believe, then, and say
to God in Christ, " Abba, Father." If he did not love the compel-
lation from those that are his, his spirit would not put it into their
mouths, Rom. viii. 15. — Draw near,
Lastly, As a spouse to an husband, for our Maker is our Husband.
Let us embrace him in the arms of faith, give the love of the heart
to him a full vent : Song viii. 6, " Set me as a seal upon thine heart,
as a seal upon thine arm : for love is strong as death ; jealousy is
cruel as the grave ; the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath
a most vehement flame. Rejoice in him, delight in him, and bless
ourselves in our choice of him. The sacrament of the supper is ap-
pointed for that very end, that we may unite more closely with him,
have more intimate fellowship with our Lord, and may joy in the
blessed Husband, while at the feast of espousals. Think not strange
of drawing near at this rate ; for, if ever we come to heaven to be
happy, we will be nearer than all this, nearer God than we can
now conceive. The blood of God will be close cement betwixt God
and his own creatures : and this is the only way of our nearness.
But how must the business of our drawing near to God be ma-
naged ? The apostle here lays down four directions : —
(1.) Draw near to God sincerely. Hypocrisy is a disease in the
vitals of religion ; it pretends one thing, and intends another. The
tongue and external behaviour in gospel-ordinauces are no true in-
terpreters of the hypocrite's mind. Beware of this : Matth. xv. 8,
<' This people draweth nigh unto me Avith their mouth, and honoureth
me with their lips ; but their heart is far from me." If you be to
take Christ, let those go away. If you join hands with him in this
ordinance, join heart with him also. Seek out your sins impartially,
and see if you be willing to part with them without exception :
Psalm Ixvi. 18, " If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not
hear me." Consider and deliberate on the cost of the covenant, and
see if there be nothing at which your heart stands. Consider if you
be for Christ and his salvation, for his sanctifying Spirit, as well as
his justifying blood. If it be thus, you may warrantably come
DRAWING NEAR TO GOD. 407
forward, even to his seat ; but if otherwise, you will never get
near to hira.
(2.) Draw near in the " full assurance of faith." Faith's special
object is the blood of Christ. Come leaning and depending on the
merit and efficacy of this blood. "Would you be wafted over to the
presence of God, come swimming through that river which makes
glad the city of our God. Cast all your weight upon it. It bears
the weight of the Father's glory, and will bear the weight of your
salvation. If your assurance of welcome depends on any thing in
yourselves, God will cast the door of access in your face, as pre-
sumptuous insensible creatures. Labour to get your souls wrought
up to a full assurance of faith, not doubting of your welcome to, and
acceptance with him through Christ. Fix on the promise, he is
faithful who made it. Though a trembling hand may reach a par-
don, and God will not quench a smoking flax, yet it is more to the
honour of God, the honour of the precious blood of Christ, and more
to the sanctification, as well as comfort of the soul, confidently,
without hesitation, to lay hold upon the promise, and apply it, with
all that is in it : Matth. xxi. 22, " All things whatsoever ye shall
ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
(3.) Get your hearts beforehand " sprinkled from an evil con-
science." Are you to come to his table ? pray that all controver-
sies be done away between you and him. If you are to appear be-
fore the Lord, go, dip, wash, bathe in the fountain opened for sin and
for uncleanness, Zech. xiii. 1, that you may be clean. Take a back-
look of your ways, and be not superficial in it, lest some unremoved
guilt stare you in the face when you are coming forward, and drive
you back. Do not think your repentance, reformation, vows, tears,
(though of blood), will purge the conscience : only Christ's blood
will do it; for this only can satisfy the demands of justice and of
the law. Now, lay the weight of your remission on this blood, apply
it to yourselves by faith, and this will purge your conscience. The
sea of Christ's blood stands between us and the throne for that
effect. Rev. iv. 6.
Lastly, Let your outward conversation be blameless, free from
scandalous sins: Psalm xxiv. 4, "He that hath clean hands, and a pure
heart, who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn de-
ceitfully," is the person who shall ascend into the hill of God.
Wash your hands in innocence, if you would encompass God's altar.
Repent and mourn over the sins of the outward man, and apply to
the same blood for pardon. Forsake and give up with those sins
whether against the first or second table ; resolve, and endeavour
sincerely to perform. Amen.
408 THE ACCEPTABLE HANKER OF
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.*
SERMON XXXYIII.
Heb. X. 22,
Let us draw near ivith a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having
our hearts sprinhled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed
with pure water.
It will afford a beam of surprising and heart-reviving liglit upon
this text, to sensible sinners, if we compare it with that in Gen. iii.
22 — 24. Behold in these verses the fruits of the first Adam's sin-
ning. Adam sinned, and we in his loins, as well as himself, were
driven out from the presence of the Lord. Christ suffered, and we
are drawn in again, and farther in than ever Adam was. Hear the
sentence from Heaven casting us out : " Behold the man !" see what
he has brought himself to, " he is become as one of us, to know
good and evil." A holy taunt ! " And now, lest he put forth his
hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat and live for ever."
There is a deficiency in this speech, which is easily supplied from
"what follows : " Let us drive him out." But hear the voice from
heaven calling in again the wretched outcasts. The apostle here,
as one of the outcasts, manages the voice in effect thus, '* Behold
God, the second Person ! he is become as one of us, has taken upon
him our nature, to know by his own feeling, in some sort, the good
we lost, the evil in which we are involved ; and now, " let us draw
near," let us come back, come in, come forward, nay, come near ;
let us not only put forth, but freely stretch forth our hand, grasp, and
take of the tree of life ; eat freely, abundantly, and live for ever."
that the reverse may be carried yet farther ! God sent forth
the man, bade him go, but he would not : " So God drove him out."
Now, God bids us draw near, but we will not come. May the Lord
put forth his hand, and draw us in !
But here an inquiry occurs, How near may sinners come to Je-
sus Christ ?
I. They may come into the house of God, ver. 21, " Having an
High-Priest over the house of God." When Adam sinned, he was
driven out of the house, as a divorced woman. The first covenant
was broken ; but now, that the new covenant is made, the divorced
sinner, who is new-married to his Maker in Christ, may come in
* Delivered immediately before the dispensation of tlie sacrament.
DRAWING NEAR TO GOD. 409
again to the house. They may come to the lower house in ordi-
nances ; it is their own house ; by that title, they may sit down at
the table as in their own house : Isa. Ivii. 13, " He that putteth his
trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy moun-
tain." They may come to the higher house, even heaven, this is the
house in the context. They will come there at death, but the text
aims at a coming to it before death; and therefore, this drawing
near is a spiritual motion upon the wings of faith, carrying the
soul out of the body to heaven as its own house, because it is
Christ's house.
2. They come far forward in the house : ver. 19, " Having, therefore,
brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus."
The temple stood east and west, the porch, or entry, being in the
east. "Without the house were the courts of the temple, in one of
which stood the altar, before the porch of the house, in the open
air. In the temple was a vail, which divided the east end, called
** the holy place," (into which ordinary priests might go), from the
west end, called " the holiest of all," into which only the High-
Priest might enter once a-year. There was the ark, with the mercy-
seat and cloud of glory on it : and it was a special type of the
highest heavens, the high and holy place which is the glorious
dwelling of God.
Now, I say, sinners may through Christ come far forward in the
house, they may have Job's wish to como to God, even to his seat,
Job xxiii. 3. Sinners, we have an altar, a crucified Saviour ; if you
desire to come into the house of God, come by that aliar, and wel-
come, there is no other way; come into the holy place ; nay, come
forward into the holiest of all. Stand by no means only gazing on
the vail, the vail of Christ's flesh, bat come through the vail unto
God, God in Christ ; come even to his seat. God is in Christ as
the cloud of glory on the mercy-seat in the holiest of all ; come
forward through the vail of Christ's flesh, sufficiently rent and torn
in his sufferings, to aff'ord you access through it to God, sitting on
his mercy-seat in Christ, that you may bo refreshed and comforted,
your souls satisfied and sanctified with breathings of his love, with
peace, and good-will from thence even through the wounds of our
Redeemer. If this do not kindle in you a desire to draw near, what
can we say to kindle it ?
I told you last Sabbath that you may draw near to God in Christ,
and that you ought to draw near, &c. Are there any here who so
love their outcast condition, that they will not come back, nor draw
near to God, though they are invited ? Then I must leave you, to
speak to others. But, before we part, consider,
Vol. IX. 2 d
410 THE ACCErTABLK MANNER OF
1. What a miserable state you are in while far from God. As
God said to Adam, Gen. iii. 9, we may say to yon, " Where art
thou ?" Like the prodigal, Luke xv. 13, thou art in a far country,
far from God, his covenant, his grace, hig Christ, Eph. ii. 12. And
while you will not come back, you are far out of your senses. Tell
me, sinner, in sober earnest, (if you bs capable of a sober thought,)
Are you not in want? Is there not a principle of restlessness in that
soul of thine, which thou canst find no way to quiet, but sometimes
by the fulsome breasts of lusts which may surfeit, but at no time can
satisfy ? The dry breasts of the world, squeeze them as you will,
can never give full content, still there is some thorn of uneasiness
in your bed, make it where you will. Thou dost hunger after hap-
piness, but shalt never find it till thou come near to God in Christ.
— Consider,
2. If thou art able to hold on to the end without coming near to
God. Though thou canst live this way, wilt thou be able to die in
this state, and continue so for ever ? Art thou still able to make
thy part good without hira, yea, against him, so that thou art re-
solved never to knock at his door ? If not, thou art wretchedly
foolish, to slight a kind invitation from him to whom at length thou
must bow. Therefore, Isa, Iv. 6, " Seek ye the Lord while he may
be found, call ye upon him while he is near." — Consider,
3. If thou wilt not draw near now, the time will come, when God
will drive thee from him with a vengeance, and will give thee thy
heart's fill of distance from him for ever: Matth. xxv. 41, " Then
shall he say to them on his left hand. Depart from me, ye cursed,
into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." Now
he bids thee draw near, and thou wilt not ; this voice will draw to
an end with thee, and thou wilt hear that other voice, Depart from
me ; and thou must go, though thou wouldst gladly stay. As, then,
you would not be forced to depart for ever, draw near to God now,
while he is drawing near to you. — Consider,
Lastly, That the access to God, now in your offer, will make yonr
departure from him to hell the more dreadful : Matth. xi. 24, " It
will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judg-
ment, than for you." Ye are guilty of a sin of which heathens are
not capable, nay, which devils cannot commit. They departed, but
they never got a call to come back again. It was never said to
them, " Let us draw near." There is a way opened, at the expense
of the blood of Christ, for you to come back to God, and therefore
your neglecting to improve it must be inexcuseable.
But now, as for you who desire to draw near to God, ye have a
fair occasion at all times for it, there is a ready way from earth to
DRAWING NEAR TO G01>. 411
heaven, through Christ, wherever you are. You have a special oc-
casion at this time in the holy sacrament, an ordinance in which the
Lord comes very near to his people, in which the greatest nearness
may be enjoyed. The sacraments and death resemble one another.
In the former, the Lord comes to us, in death we may go to liim. We
should labour so to manage the former, as that a sure foundation
may be laid for safety and comfort in the latter. Here God ap-
pears on a throne of grace in Christ, the vail of Christ's flesh ap-
pears sacramentally rent, that you through it may draw near to God.
And you must by faith pass through the vail this day, that you may
get forward even to his seat, drawing near him as rebels accepting
the King's peace, the oifered indemnity through the blood of his Son,
drawing near as supplicants, as servants of the house, to serve our
Lord, to wait upon him, and behold his glory.
In these circumstances, your question, I presume, will now be,
How shall we so manage this approach, as that it may be successful
for the honour of God, our soul's good for time and eternity ? If
you manage right, you are made up for ever, and therefore your
mismanagement will be an unspeakable loss. I shall farther ex-
plain unto you the apostle's directions in the text. I fear the hints
already given to you as to the nature of drawing near to God, may
not be sufficient to clear you in this matter ; therefore, that ye may
not walk in the dark, know plainly, in a word, that we draw near
to God by faith, and our believing in God is our drawing near to
him. Hence the apostle's advice in the text is not. Come in by
faith, for this is the very coming itself, but, says he, " in full as-
surance of faith." So the scripture explains it, while it shews that
that coming to the Lord, which is so much pressed on sinners in the
Old and New Testament, is believing : John vi. 35, " And Jesus said
unto them, I am the bread of life ; he that cometh unto me shall
never hunger, he that believeth on me shall never thirst." How
does the sinner depart from God, but by unbelief? Heb. iii. 12,
" Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief, in departing from the living God." Therefore it is by be-
lieving we draw near [Greek, come) to God. This is the great unit-
ing grace which joins a sinner to the Lord while in this world.
How can we come to God, but by believing? for this drawing near
is a spiritual motion of the soi;l. Our souls indeed move towards
God in spiritual desires ; bat if these be not completed by faith,
which is the comprehensive motion, the soul still stands off from
God. So also in love, this is set a-going by faith, and its motion
is towards God, when the soul is brought near to God by faith :
1 John iv. 16, " And we have known and believed the love that God
2 D 2
412 TIIK ACCKPTARLK MANNER OF
hath to us. God is love ; he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in Grod,
and God in him."
Now, the object of faith is Jesus Christ held forth in the word of
the gospel, in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily, that
is to say, God in Christ. See the sura of the gospel, 2 Cor. v. 18,
19, " And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself
by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the mystery of reconciliation :
to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself,
not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto
us the word of reconciliation." Faith does not stand still in the
vai!, that is, his flesh, but goes through the vail, Heb. x. 20, to the
Godhead, that is, within it, and there, only there, it rests, or can
rest. Now, the persons of the Trinity being one, he who believeth
in Christ the Son, believeth in the Father and the Holy Ghost :
John xiv. 9, " He that hath seen me," said Jesus, " hath seen the
Father." More particularly, that you may take your aim right iu
this matter, I think drawing near by faith lies in three things,
namely,
1. It lies in accepting God for our God in Christ. I say iu Christ,
for no other way have v/e him offered to us, nor can a soul in any
other way accept him ; out of Christ he is a consuming fire. Thus,
from the mercy-seat in Christ he offers the covenant, which faith ac-
cepts : Heb. viii. 10, " For this is the covenant that I will make with
the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord : I will put my
laws in their mind, and write them in their hearts; and I will be to
them a God, and they shall be to me a people." And there, even in
Christ, the soul takes him for its God, and gives itself away to him :
Isa. xliv. 5, " One shall say, I am the Lord's, and another shall call
himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his
hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel."
Thus the sinner is joined to God in Christ by a marriage-union :
Isa. liv. 2, " For thy Maker is thy Husband." {Heh. thy Makers is
thy husband). 2 Cor. vi. 16, " For 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 ray people ;" and then
we are near indeed. — Drawing near by faith lies,
2. In claiming God for our God in Christ. This is the very pro-
per work of faith : Psalm xvi. 2, " ray soul, thou hast said unto
the Lord, Thou art my Lord," at all times, but especially at a com-
munion-table. What says the Lord to the soul then, but as he did
to Thomas ? John xx. 27, " Be not faithless, but believing." Let
us draw near, then, by faith, and answer, ver. 28, " My Lord, and
my God." Faith has the word of tho everlasting covenant to bear
DKAWIXa NEAR TO GOD. 413
it out ill its claim ; it has the Redeemer's blood, which is the blessed
cement to kuit a believer to a holy God. In the sacrament, the
body of Christ, in which dwells the fulness of the Godhead, is really
and truly presented to their faith, by and with the sacred symbols.
Is any thing more natural than that faith should claim as its own
the gift which is thus put into its hand ? — Drawing near by faith lies
3. In improving according to our necessities, for time and eternity,
the interest in God thus claimed, is in Psalm cxix. 94, " I am thine,
save nie," and throughout that psalui. Thus the soul feeds by
faith, when persons suck in the sap of the fruits growing on the
tree of life, when by fi^ith they sit under his shadow ; and this
plainly lies in confidence and trust in our God for all, according to
his word. It lies iu believing the promises of the everlasting co-
venant, founded and ratified in the blood of Christ ; not as devils
may believe them, namely, that they shall be made out to some per-
son, but believing them with application, namely, that they shall
be made out to me, believing over the belly of devils, and all the mass
of vileness, filthiness, and unworihiuess, which hangs about me. Be-
lievers should say, as in Gal. ii. 2U, "I am crucified with Christ.
Nevertheless I live ; yet not I, but Christ liveth iu me," &c.
It is the two last of these, I think, that the apostle here chiefly
aims at, supposing the first as the attainment of his Christian He-
brews.
In discoursing farther on this subject, I intend — to oflTer some
directions — to propose some cases and questions, and to olfer suit-
able answers.
As to the directions, I begin with this : —
1. " Draw near with a true heart" to God. If we come not with
the heart, we do not come to God in a suitable manner. To draw
near to God, is soul-work, heart-work ; if, therefore, we come not
with a true heart, we come not at all to him. A false heart in the
matter of covenanting to God, is no heart, is at best but a half-
heart to it; and this is no heart iu God's account: Prov. xvii. 16,
'* Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom,
seeing he hath no heart in it ?" If you have not a heart for God
in Christ, you will not get near him. Before Julius Csesar was
murdered, having slain a fat ox for a sacrifice, the heart was not
to be found among the entrails. That communicant in whom a
heart for the Lord is wanting, will doubtless be guilty of the body
and blood of the Lord this day. Heartless sacrifices involve mur-
der. A true heart is not a sinless heart, but a sincere heart. Let us
draw near, then, with a sincere heart. Sincerity is not a single grace,
but it is the sura and soul of all the graces. Take it away from faith
414 THE ACCErTABLE MANNER OF
itself, and it is but a dead grace, as in Simon Magus, and those in John
ii. 23, 24, " No\7, when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the
feast-day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles
which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself to them, because h«
knew all men." Sincerity is like the string in the beads about a
person's neck ; when this is broke, then they fall all to the ground.
We need not, however, seek this truth of heart through all the
graces, for it is principally the truth of faith which is here meant ;
it is believing, which is in its nature our drawing near to God >
and so it may be explained by what you have in Eom. x. 9, 10,
*' If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,
thou shalt be saved; for with the heart man believeth unto righte-
ousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
Poor soul ! if thou be coming back to thy great Master, though even
laden with the stolen goods you ran away with from him, though
you dare not say you are an honest servant, yet if you dare say
before the Lord you are honestly returning back again, then we
may say to you, Draw near, and welcome. — But here, perhaps, some
will propose this
Question. In what does the truth of our drawing near to God,
or the sincerity of faith, consist ? For answer, I would observe a
few things.
1. The soul drars near to God with a true heart, when it comes
to God only in the true way, through the rent vail of Christ's flesh;
that is, when the soul has no confidence in believing, but in the
blood of Christ; Phil. iii. 3, " For we are the circumcision which
worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no
confidence in the flesh." The person will stop eyes and ears, and
say, I cannot look on God but as in Christ, I desire to hear none
other, I have nothing whatever of ray own to recommend me to
Christ. Though perhaps the beggar-raiment of their reformation of
life, what they have done and suffered for the cause of Christ ; their
earnest prayers, deep exercise, bitter tears for sin, and the like,
look as well, and probably better than those of many of their
neighbours ; yet they dare not for their souls bring a rag of them
with them, to cover or commend them before the Lord ; but they
leave them, yea, flee out of them, and from them, as absolutely
naked, to the Lord Jesus himself, to get a covering under his righte-
ousness.
2. The soul draws near to God with a true heart, when, upon
a discovery of the glory of the Lord, it is thus subdued to this
obedience of faith : Psalm ex. 3, " Thy people shall be willing
DRAWING NEAR TO GOD. 415
in tlie day of thy power;" when the practical understanding casts
the balance on the Lord's side, so the heart says, "He is better
to me than thousands of gold ;" or as in Phil. iii. 8, " Yea, doubt-
less, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the know-
ledge of Jesus Christ, ray Lord;" in a word, when the soul draws
near to God, to take up its everlasting rest in hira, as its por-
tion, to take hira for all, and instead of all. With the heart
man believes, when the person takes God for his God in Christ,
not only for a rest to the conscience, that it thus may be quieted
in him, but also for a rest to the heart, that thus it may be sa-
tisfied in him ; and the person can accordingly say, Farewell,
vain world ; farewell, sinful lusts ; farewell, empty creation ; wel-
come, welcome, God in Christ, for a covering to mine eyes, and a
rest to mine heart : Psalm Ixxiii. 25, " "Whom have I in heaven but
thee ? and there is none on earth that I desire besides thee." The
gospel holds out Christ as the only satisfying portion ; faith first
believes this testimony, then embraces him as such. They Avho are
only acquainted with terror as dealing with them, may be driven
to God, but do not draw near to hira with a true heart. — To illus-
trate this, I would propose the two following cases : —
Case 1. What will become of those, then, who are driven to the
Lord by terror ? Answ. What becomes of a ship which is drove
into an undesirable harbour by stress of weather ? When the
storm is calraed, she even leaves it, and puts to sea again, as you
see in Psalm cvii. 24 — 30. Terror may begin the work, which a
willing choice may crown. The poor soul may be like Noah's dove,
drove away to the ark by a restless conscience ; but when it comes
theie, the Lord may open a window, by which it may get such a
view as to be drawn into it, though it was before only drove.
Though the storm at first drove thee to the harbour, yet if thou
be now captivated by the beauty of the place, so as that you are
heartily resolved to make it the place of thy abode for ever, in fair
weather or foul, and would, with a thousand good-wills, that the
vessel was burnt, that so you might never be in hazard of going
again to the sea of this world ; all is well, you are welcome to the
shore of Imraanuel's land : Hos. ii. 14, " Therefore, behold I will
allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably
unto her."
Case 2. But, alas ! I cannot purge myself of backwardness in
coming to the Lord. Answ. Is that backwardness truly the bur-
den of your spirit ? do ye loathe yourself on account of it ? Our
Lord allows you to draw near with your burden on your back. The
great Physician knows his patient comes to him with heart and
416 THE ACCEI'TACLE MA^NEU OF
good will, though his sickliness makes hira come very slowly, draw-
ing, as it were, his legs after hira : Matth. xxvi. 41, " "Watch and
pray, tliat ye enter not into temptation : the spirit indeed is willing,
but the flesh is weak." Psalm Ixv. 3, " Iniquities prevail against
us : as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away." — I
now go on to observe,
3. That the soul draws near to God with a true heart, when it
comes to hira for sauctification, as well as justification, to be freed
from the reigning and indwelling power, as well as from the guilt of
sin : 1 Cor. i. 30, " But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is
made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sauctification, and re-
demption." This is the sign of that heart which is a true heart, a
heart t^-nly divorced and alienated from sin, though the poor soul
cannot be wholly freed from it ; an heart true to the great end of
the mystery of Christ, his death, and his sufferings, which was
" to redeem us from all iniquity, and purify us unto himself, a peculiar
people, zealous of good works." Tit. ii. 14 ; — true to the great end
of all gospel-institutions, Acts xxvi. 18, " To open their eyes, and
turn them from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan
unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance
among them who are sanctified by faitli in Christ Jesus ;" — true to
the great end of faith, which is " to purify the heart," Acts xv. 9 ;
true to its own best interest, and the honour of God, which com-
mences in time, and terminates in heaven in likeness to God ;
1 John iii. 2, " But we know, that when he shall appear, we shall
be like hira, for we shall see hira as he is." When this is obtained,
the mystery of Christ is finished. Whosoever come in any other
way, come with a false heart. They who have only use for the
blood, and not for the water, which came out of Christ's side ; who
do not heartily desire universal holiness, but wish to conceal some
secret morsel under their tongue ; who come to God to bind them-
selves to holiness, if he will but save their souls, and pardon their
sins, as if they could make themselves holy, if he would but make
them happy ; the faith of such persons is but a dream.
Thus the truth of faith is made out, the soul draws near with a
true heart ; for thus it comes away from self, the world, and sin,
and draws near to God in Christ, and thus obeys the gospel-call. —
As another direction, I would mention,
2. " Draw near to God in full assurance of faith." Are you put
upon the right road, having a true heart ? then advance forward,
without doubting or wavering. Is your heart true ? let it next be
wrought up to full assurance, for in this lies all the importance of
this second advice. It is a metaphor taken from a ship, carried with
DltAWING NEAR TO GOD. 417
full sail before tlie wind. And thus, sinner, if, after you and I have
been tossed up and down in the sea of this world, (a world lying in
wickedness), by violent lusts, unsatisfied desires, and wearied out
with disappointed expectations, yet after all could never find in it
where to rest our foot, nay, not so much as sure anchor-ground for
our hearts, but still an unfathomable depth of emptiness present"
ing itself to us, and now have at length discovered the port and har-
bour suited to give rest to a weary soul, even God in Christ, have
our eye on it, and are steering our course straight towards it. let
us spread out our sails, let us draw near with the full sail of faith,
as our text might be read. This I would consider as more particularly
directing us to these three important points.
1. To a taking God for our God in Christ freely.
2. To a claiming him for our own God boldly.
3. To an improving our claim of interest in him confidently, and
without hesitation.
These I shall in their order a little enlarge upon. I say, then,
that to draw near to God in full assurance of faith, is,
1. To take God for your God in Christ, without doubting of your
welcome. Stretch forth the hand of faith, that ye may join hands
with an incarnate God : the more vigorous that your aim be, you
will take the better hold. Do not stand at the door, disputing and
doubting whether to go forward or not ? if you cannot loose doubts,
cut them with the sword of faith, and leap over them, Matth. xv.
24 — 28. It is none other than Satan, and an unbelieving heart,
which entertains the sinner before the vail, with disputes and doubts
whether to go through or not. And if these can hold them up with
that discourse till the door be shut, as it will soon be, they have
their design. There are, without question, good grounds for this
full assurance of faith ; — such as,
(1.) God, in his infinite love and mercy, has suited himself for an
approach by such as you. Had he intended to keep you oflf, he had
only to have kept himself in his unvailed glory, and the rays of it
from afar would have struck the guilty soul through with a thou-
sand arrows, and kept him off for ever. But he has vailed himself
with our nature, and that for us : Heb. x. 19, 20, " Having therefore,
brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by
a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through
the vail, that is to say, his flesh." Has he put on the vail, then,
that guilty wretches may draw near him ? Has he rent the vail of
the flesh of his own Son in his crucifixion, that a door might be
opened through his wounds to come to God ? Has he done all this
in vain ? If not, why will you doubt your welcome through this
new and living Avay ?
418 THE ACCEPTABLE MANNER OF
(2.) God's justice is satisfied, his houour is provided for, so that
justice has nothing to object against your putting your hand to this
claim. It is absolutely consistent with the honourof God to be thy
God in Christ, for the man that is the Father's fellow has done all
this by his blood ; and therefore the angel's song begins with glory
to God in the highest ; after that follows peace on earth, and good-
will to men, Luke ii. 14. Hear the sacramental words, 1 Cor. xi.
25, " This is the New Testament in my blood. Is not the blood of
the everlasting covenant sufficient to assure you ? Is not the co-
venant in which God oflFers himself to you as your God, drawn with
the blood of God ? Behold, then, the blood of the covenant, and no
more doubt your welcome.
(3.) You have his word for it. Kind invitations are breathed
out to you from the throne of grace in Christ. Hear the tenor of
the covenant, Heb. viii. 10, " For this is the covenant that I will
make with the house of Israel after those days saith the Lord ; I will
put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts; and I
will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people." See how
it is offered unto all to whom the gospel comes, Isa. Ixv. 1, 2. John
vi. 37; Rev. xxii. 17. Nay, you are commanded to accept it:
Luke xiv. 23, " Compel them to come in, that my house may be
filled." 1 John iii. 23, " This is his commandment, that we should
believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ." Many are in other
cases disputing, and doubting themselves out of their duty, but here
salvation lies at stake. Will you, then, doubt your welcome to
obey the command of God ?
(4.) You must take God in Christ for your God, or you are eter-
nally ruined. Debate the matter as long as you will, this is the
course you must take, or the wrath of God will lie on you for ever.
Miss this hold, and you sink assuredly into the bottomless pit :
John iii. 36, " He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life :
and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of
God abideth on him." Now, if you must do it, it is weakness and
folly not to do it with full assurance of faith. If a drowning man
must seize a rope to draw himself to land, does not common sense
say, the firmer he seizes it, he is the more safe ? If the hand trem-
ble, and be like to let go the hold, will he not wrestle against death ?
So, in like manner, should we, with full assurance of faith, keep our
hold of Christ, and thus draw near to God. — But here some may
propose a
Question, How may we be helped to this full assurance of faith
in taking God for our God in Christ ? As to this I answer, Sted-
fastly believe the doctrine of the gospel, which is the mean which
DKAWINO NEAR TO GOD. 419
the Spirit makes use of to beget and increase faith : Rom. x. 17,
" Faith Cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." And
therefore still hold by the word. I apprehend, if we would search
to the root of the doubts, fears, and uncertainty in the matter of be-
lieving in Christ, we would find the root of most, if not all of them,
is an error in the first concoction, an uncertainty as to the doctrine
of the gospel. Therefore labour to be fully and feelingly assured of
the doctrine of your lost state by nature, on the testimony of the
word. Begin there, and ply your faith as to this doctrine. It is
easiest, because an unenlightened conscience even goes along with
it ; but if I believe my lost state upon the testimony of that tvord, I
am helped the rather to believe the way of my recovery on the tes-
timony of the same word.
Believe ye, then, with full assurance, that you are in yourselves
guilty creatures, bound over to the wrath of God for time and eter-
nity, and that by no means ye are able to remove that guilt, by all
that ye are capable to do or suffer ? Believest thou this ? It is
gospel-doctrine, Eph. ii. 3, " And were by nature the children of
wrath even as others." Again, Do you believe that you are alto-
gether corrupt and unholy, and are utterly unable to make for your-
selves either a holy heart or life, that you are no more able to sub-
due a lust, than to procure yourself a pardon, that the breaking of
the power of sin is as far above thy reach, as the removing the guilt
of it ? Eph. ii. 1, " And you hath he quickened, who were dead in
trespasses and sins." Do you believe the doctrine of salvation
through Jesus Christ, held forth in the gospel? You cannot be-
lieve in the Lord to salvation, but as you give an assent to this doc-
trine by faith. This is the bottom on which faith proceeds, when
laying hold of God in Christ. — Do you believe, with full assurance,
that there is no way to make miserable man happy again, but by
the enjoyment of God as his own God ? for the full assurance of
this ! it would eflFectually determine those who are hanging on this
day about the world's door, and that of their lusts. — Do you believe
that there is no other way to come to the enjoyment of God as our
God, but through Jesus Christ, who was crucified without the gates
of Jerusalem ? Acts iv. 12, " Neither is there salvation in any other;
for there is none other name under heaven given among men, where-
by we must be saved." If so, his name would be precious. Do you
believe that there is no way to be saved from guilt, but by his
righteousness, and from pollution, but by his Spirit ?
Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that he took
upon him man's nature, and suffered in it to satisfy the justice of
God, that he might thus by his blood bring sinners again to God?
420 THE ACCEPTABLE IIAXNKR OF
to eujoy him as their God ? Eph. ii. 13, "But now, in Christ Jesus,
ye who sometimes were far oiF, are made nigh by the blood of Christ."
— Do you believe that the blood of Christ is the blood of God, and
that therefore it is a cement truly sufficient to knit or join a holy, just
God, and any guilty sinner whatsoever, who comes unto God through
him ? This is gospel-truth : 1 John i. 7, "And the blood of Jesus Christ
his Son cleanseth us from all sin." — Heb, vii. 25, " Wherefore be is
able also to save to the uttermost, all that come unto God by him, see-
ing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." Believest thou
this ? If thou believest it not, how can it be expected that thou
shouldst draw near to God, seeing the only way of access to God is to
thy unbelieving heart not sufficient to bear the weight of a guilty soul ?
If thou sayest thou dost believe, then, to try this, I would ask thee.
Dost thou believe that this blood is a cement sufficient to join thy
guilty soul, even thine, to God ? to bear thy weight, who perhaps
thinkest there was never one upon it with such a load of guilt ? If
not, then thou dost not believe the doctrine of the gospel, Heb. yii.
25, already quoted. — If thou dost believe all this, then.
Do you also believe, that whatsoever guilty sinner will come to
God through him, may have the benefit of that sufficiency of his
blood, that is, that God shall be his God, that he shall have the
righteousness of God, even God-man, to cover all his sins, the Spirit
of Christ to sanctify him, and make him like God ? This is gospel-
truth, Isa. Iv. 1 — 3. Rev. iii. 18, and chap. xxii. 17- Do you be-
lieve this ? If not, you cannot draw near to God indeed ; it cannot
be expected that you, who give no credit to his word, will venture
on himself. — But if you say you do believe, then dost thou also be-
lieve, that if thou coraest to God through him, thou, even thou, shalt
have this benefit ? If thou stoppest here, then I do not know but
devils go farther in believing than thou dost, namely, to believe this
general proposition, without excepting so ranch as thee. But thou,
monstrous dishonourer of the blood of Christ, and the truth of God,
read thy sin, tremble, and repent : 1 John v. 10, " He that believeth
on the Son of God hath the witness in himself ; he that believeth
not God, hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the record
that God gave of his Son." But if thou dost, with full assurance,
believe this, then what remains, but that thou draw near with full
assurance of faith ? Take God in Christ for thy God, without in the
least doubting of thy welcome. — This drawing near with full assur-
ance of faith, is in its nature,
2. To claim God in Christ as your God, without doubting of your
title. Having taken him as your God, do not stand debating
whether or not he is yours; only believe, believe he is yours : Jer.
DRA^TIXa NEAR TO GOD. 421
iii. 4, " "Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My Father, thou
art the guide of ray youth ?" What the better will you be of him,
if he be not yours ? John i. 12, " But as many as received him, to
them lie'gavc power to become the sons of God, even to them that be-
lieve on his name." I must content myself at this time, only to
offer two or three things on this exercise : — As,
(1.) When thou takest God for thy God in Christ with a true
heart, canst thou doubt thy title, without dishonouring the blood of
Christ and the truth of God ? For these two do secure it. Dost
thou not so far dishonour him, who is set over the house of God,
when he has given thee the benefit of tlie covenant, even himself, in
whom the fulness of the Godhead dwells, if thou doubtest of thy
title to them, for so thou dost in effect question his commission and
riglit. Glorify the Son of God, then, and honour the infinite vir-
tue and merit of his blood, by claiming God as your God upon this
ground. I know we are apt to think, we do but doubt the truth of
our taking God in Christ as our God. But do we doubt of the offer ?
Do we doubt of our soul's saying amen to it on any terms ? Do we
not ? Take heed, then, that the doubt run not upon another ground,
whatever our unbelieving heart may suggest.
(2.) When thou dost sit down at the table of the Lord, thy soul
hungering for Christ, tlie bread and wine are given thee by his mi-
nisters in his name and with his own words, " This is my body," &c.
dost thou believe these words ? If thou dost believe them, thou
darest not, with many profane spectators and communicants, also
look upon these sacred symbols as naked signs of Christ's body and
blood, but must believe, that by, and with these signs, the body and
blood of Christ, which were never separated from his Godhead since
they were first united, are really and truly exhibited, and given to thee
toothy faith, and thou receiving the same in faith, art as really made
partaker of his body and blood, as thou art of that bread and wine :
1 Cor. X. 16, " The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the com-
munion of the blocd of Christ ? the bread which we break, is it not
the communion of the body of Christ ?" What, then, should hinder
thee to claim God as thy God in Christ, without doubting of your
title, when you have a sealed gift of him made you by his authority
before the world, angels, and men ? — This drawing near with full
assurance of faith is in its nature,
3. To improve your interest claimed, without doubting of success.
Feed with a fear of circumspection ; but the less unbelieving fear,
the better. This you are to do still in the way of believing, believ-
ing the promises, without doubting of their being accomplished to
you for time and for eternity, for grace and glory : Matth. xxi. 22,
422 THE ACCEPTABLE MANNER OF
"And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye
shall receive." Rely on the word of grace, the covenant in his
blood, that for as poor and mean as you may appear this day, ye
shall be pillars in the temple of God, seeing he hath said it ; for as
black and deformed as yon are this day, ye shall shine as the stars
for ever and ever. Is there a lust or lusts you would have sub-
dued ; believe, with full assurance of faith, the promise suited to that
case, as in Mic. vii. 19, " He will turn again, he will have compas-
sion upon us ; he will subdue our iniquities ; and thou wilt cast all
their sins into the depths of the sea." And so in other cases.
What way can one imagine we should suck the sap of these pro-
mises, but by believing them, and so relying and trusting on the
Lord according to his word ? The heavenly treasures contained in
them are unseen things, they are known to us only by the testimony
of the word, and the inward sensation which they experience upon
believing them. How, then, can we think to get the benefit of
them, but in the way of believing them ? Suppose some rich prince
beyond seas, who can, nevertheless, at any time convey his treasures
hither, should find means to get proclaimed among a company of
poor people here, that whosoever will take hira, and him only, for
their provider, shall be seasonably and suitably supplied out of his
treasures. They never saw the prince, they know nothing of his
treasures, but by the testimony of his word sent to them. The
heralds commend the prince, they aver it is the surest way of sup-
ply to those who are poor. Some of these poor count these things
idle tales, and go their way, one to his day-labour, to earn a penny,
another to the begging through the country. When the supply
comes to the country, have these any ground to expect a share ?
No ; they did not believe his proclamation. But as for those who
were so foolish in the eyes of their neighbours, but so truly wise, as
to believe the proclamation, and venture their supply upon an unseen
provider, and an unseen treasure, it lies on his truth and honour to
see them abundantly supplied. I shall no further apply this, than
to say, that God's truth and honour is most undoubted security ;
Rom. ix. 33, " As it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling-
stone, and rock of offence ; and whosoever believeth on him shall
not be ashamed."
To conclude, think not that I have been teaching you to presume,
nay, but to " draw near with a true heart, in the full assurance of
faith ;" not to lay aside humility, for the greatest humility is to
deny ourselves, and obey the call of God, though it be an high call-
ing. It is not humility, but unbelief, which is the spring of the true
heart's doubtings in drawing near to God. They arc but warts and
DKAWING NEAR TO GOO. 423
moles iu the face of Christ's bride, and so far mar her beauty;
though he does not cast her off for them, if faith do but peep, as it
were, out among the crowd of these deformities, as if she could see
only with one eye : Song iv. 9, " Thou has ravished my heart, my
sister, my spouse ; thou hast rarished my heart with one of thine
eyes, with one chain of thy neck." Matth. xiv. '61,]" And immedia-
tely Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him,
thou of little faith ! wherefore didst thou doubt ?" The rule is, "Ac-
cording to thy faith, so be it unto thee." So, little faith, little com-
fort ; but, what is worse, little faith, little SEDctification. Amen.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.*
SERMON XXXIX.
Heb. X. 22,
Let tts draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having
our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed
with pure water.
It is by no means only at a communion-table that we are to draw
near to God, but also in all other parts of his worship ; yea, in the
whole of our conversation we must be drawing near, and keeping
near to God, till we at length appear before him in heaven : I say
keeping near : for certainly, the text points not merely to a drawing
near, just for a start, and away again ; but it is to draw near to the
house over which Christ is set, as a house where we are to abide ;
and it is such a drawing near, so as not to draw back.
You may remember, I told you, drawing near to God is by faith,
and that this lies principally in three things. 1. Accepting God as
our God in Christ. 2. Claiming God for our God in Christ. 3. Im-
proving, according to our necessities, for time and eternity, the interest
in God thus claimed. Ye have had two directions offered for the right
managing of this : 1. That you should draw near with a true heart;
2. With full assurance of faith ; which I explain to consist in,
(1.) Taking God for your God in Christ, without doubting of your
welcome ; (2.) Claiming God in Christ as your God, without doubt-
ing of your title ; (3.) Improving your interest claimed, without
doubting of success. I spoke upon the first of these three largely,
* Delivered, June, 1715.
424 THE ACCEPTABLE .MAKNEll OF
namely, the taking God for your God in Christ, witliout doubting of
your title. Upon the other two, little was said. I shall now speak
to a case which I shall propose, and so proceed.
Case. How shall I know that I have drawn near to God in Christ
with a true heart, and sincerely taken him for my God in Christ ?
Answ. The difference between the true and false heart in this point,
may be discerned in the following particulars, viz : —
1. The false heart draws near to God, as a neighbour only, as it
were, to pay a visit, stays a little, and then goes its way again : Isa.
xxii. 16, "Lord, in trouble have they visited thee; they poured out
a prayer when thy chastening was upon thera." The hypocrite
never takes up his everlasting rest in God. Though he leaves his
own house to come to the house of God, yet he leaves his heart be-
hind hira ; aud so he cannot stay. "With the mixed multitude who
came out of Egypt, Num. xi. 5, " They remember the fish which they
did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, the melons, and the leeks,
and the onions, and the garlick ;" and they found the retreat to go
back from whence they came.
2. The true heart draws near to God in heaven, as the new-married
wife comes home to her husband's house to dwell there all her days,
never to go back again to her father's house: Psalm cxvi. 7, " Re-
turn to thy rest, my soul ! for the Lord hath dealt bountifully
with thee." It was a custom among the ancient Greeks, to burn,
at the bridegroom's door, the axle-tree of the coach in which the
bride came home, to shew she was never again to go away; and if
ye have drawn near to God with a true heart, taking hira for your
God in Christ, I will not say that the axle-tree of the chariot in
which you came to God is as yet burnt to ashes, but sure I am, there
is a fire set to it; and if it is once set in a flame at the door of the
house of your new Husband, it is so because you had no mind to go
again back. And whether this be so or not, you will know,
(1.) By the smoke which will be rising there. There will be a
threefold smoke rising at the door of the house you have come to, if
the axle-tree be on fire, and you have determined not to go back
again to your former house.
[1.] There will be the smoke of fear as to drawing back. I mean
not a faithless fear, which seizes those who look to the duties to
which they are bound, but not to the strong God, whose strength is
engaged by covenant to his people, for the performance of them.
This is the fear which takes heart and hand from people, making the
heart quiver, like a candle burnt to the socket, till at last it expires
with a stench. This is the smoke of a fire from hell, blown up with
hard thoughts of God, and of the sweet yoke of Christ, Matlh.
DRA-WINO NEAR TO OOD. 425
XXV. 24, 25 ; Rev. xxi. 28. It is the forerunner of apostasy ; but
there is a fear of circumspection in the true heart, in opposition to
that self-confidence with which hypocrites are blown up : Pro v. xxviii*
14, ** Happy is the man that feareth alway, but he that hardeneth
his heart shall fall into mischief." He trembles to think of going
back from God, has a horror at the thought. He walks softly and
warily, as one afraid to be taken off his feet ; and he holds the
faster, the more he sees his hazard. — There is,
[2.] The smoke of self-loathing, for former sins and departures
from God: Ezek. xxxvi. 31, "Then shall ye remember your own
evil ways, and your doiugs that were not good, and shall loathe
yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities, and for your abo-
minations." They that are near will remember with self-loathing
what they were when they were far off: Psalm Ixxiii. 22, " So
foolish was I and ignorant, I was as a beast before him." They
who have not seen their wretched case while at a distance from
God, they go back again quickly ; for the sore that is not sufficiently
probed, though scarfed over, will break out again. — 'There is,
[3.] The smoke of dissatisfaction with the corrupt nature, in that
there should be so much as a principle of back-drawing, the least
inclination in them to go away : Rom. vii. 24, " wretched man
that I am ! who shall deliver me from the body of this death ?"
They will be looking with an evil eye on the corruption of nature,
which makes them capable of departing, and will be longing to be
beyond the reach of temptations to depart from the Lord.
(2.) You will know by the flame that will be rising there. There
being a live coal from the altar, there will be a threefold flame,
[1.] A flame of love to the house they have come to for the Mas-
ter's sake, Luke xxiv. 29, 32. The glory of that house cast open
by the blood of Christ, darkens all created excellency with them, so
that their hearts say, " This is my rest." Psalm Ixxiii. 25, " Whom
have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none on the earth that I
desire beside thee." They are like the servant, Exod. xxi. 5, who,
from love to his master, would not go out free. They have made
choice of God in Christ for their God ; and when they reflect on the
bargain, they do not repent their choice. If they had it to make a
thousand times, they would not alter. — There is,
(2.) A flame of desires, desires to stay : Psalm cxix. 10, " "With
my whole heart have I sought thee : let me not wander from thy
commandments !" They see Satan and a corrupt heart standing
ready to yoke, to carry thera back to their father's house again ;
but they are persuaded in their hearts, while they are with God,
they are where they are better, yea, where they are best ; and they
Vol. IX. 2 e
426 THE ACCEPTABLE MANNER OF
desire not to go back, tliey desire to stay, and therefore are denying
the suits of ungodliness and worldly lusts, which would carry them
back. Tit. ii. 12.— There is,
(3.) A flame of hatred against the fashion of their father's house ;
Psalm ci. 3, " I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes ; I hate
the work of them that turn aside, it shall not cleave to me." They
loathed them, they therefore left them, and came away from them.
They do not love them, and therefore hate to go back to them. They
have abandoned the sweet morsel, and abhor to take it up again :
Psalm xcvii. 10, •' Ye that love the Lord, hate evil ; he preserveth
the souls of his saints, he delivereth them out of the hands of the
wicked." Those fashions wounded their consciences, defiled their
souls, grieved the Holy Spirit, contradicted the law of righteous-
ness ; therefore they hate them.
Thus, you see, those who have drawn near to God in heaven, have
determined to abide there. They have taken God as their God, to
abide by, and with him for ever. And hence we may conclude
two things in regard to them.
1. That they are no more people of this world. Heaven was
cast open to them by Jesus Christ, a way was made for them
into the holiest of all, and they have drawn near by this way to
God in Christ, to abide there. It is indeed true, they are yet in
the world, but they are not any more of it, they are chosen out
of the world, John xv. 19. Though their bodies be still in this
world, their souls have by faith taken wing, have left this for that
world, which is not seen, and have got in within the vail. — Thus
it is, for the god of this world is not their God. They have re-
nounced the devil, no more to serve and obey him to their ruin, but
to resist him as their enemy, and the enemy of their God. They are
to have an irreconcileable war with him, till he be bruised under
their feet. — The world's portion is not their portion, 1 John ii. 15,
16. They look beyond things that are seen, which may fill the hand
but can never fill the heart. They seek after profits more solid,
pleasures more pure and sweet, than the world can afl'ord. They
will not, like the men of the world, cry, " "Who will shew us any
good ?" Psalm iv. 6 : but as answering Christ's call. Song iv. 8,
" Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse." What others take
upon their back, yea, place in the chief room of the heart,
they put under their feet, and are fighting with it, that they
may overcome it. The way of the world is not their way : Rom.
xii. 2, " And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind." To be only neighbour-like, is
not their religion. They are pilgrims and strangers in the world,
DRAWING NEAR TO GOD. 427
who will be distinguished by their way from the natives. For they
who take the way of the world must perish with it.
2. They are people of another world, they are of that world where
life and immortality reign. They have had access into heaven
while on earth, and they have drawn near to it by faith. Wonder
not at this, for if there be a soul here who has drawn near to God
with a true heart, in the full assurance of faith, and taken God in
Christ for their God, they may well be said to be in heaven, and to
be creatures of another world. For,
(1.) Their Head is in heaven, even Jesus Christ, who is as really
united to the believer, as the head of a living man is to his body.
There is as real an union and communion betwixt Christ and them, as
betwixt the head and the body : Col. ii. 19, "He is the head, from
which all the body, by joints and bands, having nourishment minis-
tered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God." This
union the Spirit descending from Christ, and faith ascending from
the true heart, constitutes ; and this the sacrament seals.
(2.) Their heart is in heaven, for their treasure, their stock, and
portion is there : Matth. vi. 21, "For where your treasure is, there
will your heart be also." Their heart is divorced from the world
and their lusts, it is away before them, in some measure, to the
place where they themselves are to be for ever. They have got a
view of the glory and treasures of the upper house, and after these
their souls are breathing.
(3.) Their life is there for Christ is there : Col. iii. 3, 4, " For you
are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ
who is our life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with him
in glory." Their principle of life is the Spirit of Christ, by whom
they live. It is a hidden life indeed, hid from the world, often
from themselves. They see not their dignity, it doth not yet ap-
pear what they are, but as really as they have taken God in Christ
for their God, the Spirit of Christ dwells in tliem. And hence their
life can never be extinguished, for it lies not in the grace of God
within them, but in that without them in Christ.
(4.) Their hand is in heaven, even faith, that long arm of the soul,
by which it can reach from earth to heaven, even to his seat ; for
by it, as was shewn, we draw near to God. Faith penetrates
through the vail and rests not, till it rests in God himself, who draws
near to us in his word, the word of the everlasting gospel.
(5.) Their conversation is in heaven, Phil. iii. 20. They are citi-
zens there, their great trade is there. The King of heaven is their
King, their Lord, Head, and Husband ; and so they wait their orders
from heaven, and do not take up with every thing which offers, accord-
2e2
428 THE ACCEPTABLE MAKXER OF
ing to the inclinations of their own corrupt hearts. The laws of heaven
are their rule, for they are put in their mind, and written in their in-
ward parts, Heb. viii. 10. They are not disposed to do as others do but
to hear what the Lord says to them. The word from heaven is their
oracle, with which to consult in all their way. Their hope and ex-
pectation is from heaven. The work of heaven is their work, which
is, to serve and to do the will of Christ's Father which is in heaven.
— So much for the first thing, taking God for your God in Christ,
without doubting of your welcome. — The
2. Thing in drawing near with full assurance of faith was. That
having taken God for your God in Christ, you claim him as such,
without doubting of your title. I give two observations on this,
but it is too weighty a point briefly to pass over. It is a pity that
a believer should so long stand afar from God, with his wishes,
that he were mine ! and that he should not draw near with full as-
surance, and say. He is mine in Christ. — To promote this exercise, I
would have you to attend to the following considerations : —
(1.) God allows you to claim him as your God. Satan, and an
unbelieving heart, may contradict the claim, but God will never do
it. The "covenant runs in these terms, "I will be your God," Heb.
viii. 10; and will ho ever resist you when you plead his covenant?
Did he not allow Thomas, formerly an unbeliever, to claim this, and
say, *' My Lord, and my God ?" John xx. 28. Seeing, therefore, you
may do it, it is folly to slight such a glorious privilege. — Consider,
(2.) That God is well-pleased with you if you make this claim :
Jer. iii. 4, " Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My Father,
thou art the guide of my youth ?" Is not a father well pleased to
hear his child call him so ? God is more loving than any father or
mother upon earth. Though they may forget, y^t he will not forget
us, Isa. xlix. 15, 16. The Son of his bosom, who best knows what
pleases him, teaches us to pray, Our Father; his Spirit, who search-
eth the deep things of God, teacheth the children to cry, Abba, Fa-
ther. It is true, that he is not pleased when carnal professors claim
him as their God, Hos. viii. 2, 3 ; Psalm 1. 16, 17. But why should
the children start back from their food, because the dogs are boasted
away ? If you are casting off the thing that is good, and are hating
instruction, I am not advising you to call him Father ; but you have
taken him in Christ for a rest to thine heart, to make thee holy, as
well as happy? then claim hira as thy God: Hos. ii. 23, " And
they shall say. Thou art my God." — Consider,
(3.) That the saints of God, in former ages, have claimed God as
their God : Psalm xvi. 2, " my soul ! thou hast said unto the
Lord, Thou art my Lord." — Song ii. 16, " My beloved ia mine, and
DRAWING NEAR TO GOD. 429
I am his." And it is the usual way of scripture-saints, to plead
their interest in God by faith. These things are written for our
imitation. I observe the saints in scripture not only claiming God
as their God in the sunshine days of their prosperity, but also in
deep affliction ; when the hand of God lay heavy on them, they ex-
pected good from him : Psalm xlii. 6, " my God ! my soul is cast
down within me, therefore will I remember thee from the land of
Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar." Was ever
any more afflicted than Job, tempted even by his friends to quit his
claim ? yet he resolutely maintained it. The saints have done this
also in deep desertion : thus, Psalm xxii. 1, " My God, my God,
why hast thou forsaken me ?" The 88th Psalm begins with a
believing claim. Why should it not be so, seeing afflictions and
desertions are the trial of faith ? nay, what is more, they claim God
as their God in the time when sin, guilt, and backsliding, are star-
ing them in the face, Ezra ix. 6 — 10 ; for this opens the heart to
kindly sorrow for sin, while unbelief locks it up. When the claim
is altogether given up with, the heart may be broken into a thousand
hard pieces, but it will never melt into godly sorrow. — Consider,
(4.) That this claim honours God. Abraham was strong in faith,
giving glory to God, Rom. iv. 20. Faith honours the blood of
Christ, the blood of the everlasting covenant, when the soul, over
the belly of felt unworthiness, claims God as its God upon the title
given by this blood. It gives Christ the honour of the infinite vir-
tue, value, and efficacy of his blood. Faith honours the truth of
God in the promises of the gospel, when the soul, in view of the infi-
nite disproportion betwixt God and his sinful creature, yet on the
credit of the word, puts in its claim to God himself. — Consider,
(5.) That it is in the strength of faith by Avhich persons draw
near when taking God as their God, but they come still nearer when
claiming them as such : Job xiii. 15, 16, " Though he slay me, yet
•will I trust in him. He also shall be my salvation." The stronger
that the man is, he holds the liarder, and the stronger that faith is,
it comes the farther forward in the house of God. When Thomas
got in his fingers, he cried, " My Lord, and ray God," John xx. 28,
for then his faith was as a giant refreshed with wine. — Consider,
(6.) If you dare not claim God as your God, how will you claim
any benefit of the covenant ? There is guilt lying on your soul, you
come and claim a pardon ; there is a lust too strong for you, you
claim strength against it; in difficulties you seek light and direction.
Now, how can you claim any of these, if you claim not God himself aa
your God ? Can a man who has no claim to a woman, claim the be-
nefit of a contract with her ? " I will be their God," is the great pro-
430 THE ACCErTABLE MANNER OF
mise of the covenant, on wliicli all the rest depend ; give up your
claim to this, and you cau lay claim to none of the rest. If God be
not your God in Christ, you have no right to pardon, peace, strength,
&c. — Consider,
Lasthj, That faith greatly advances sanctification. Faith is the
great promoter of holiness. Acts xv. 5, 9, " Purifying their hearts
by faith." So the more faith which a man has, he will be the more
holy ; and with the more full assurance that he can claim God,
he has the more faith, and so will be the more sanctified. Thus
it is certain, that that claim which does not advance holiness, is but
a delusion ; for the claim of faith is still of this nature. Psalm
xvi. 2, 3 ; Exod. xv. 2, " The Lord is my strength and my song,
and he is become my salvation ; he is my God, and I will pre-
pare him an habitation : my father's God, and I will exalt him.'*
This is a great gospel-truth ; I shall not launch forth into it now,
but only mention you three things upon it. — I observe,
(1.) That the way to attain true holiness is, by drawing it from
its fountain, God in Christ, Heb. viii. 10 ; 1 Cor. i. 30, " But
of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom
and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." There is
a bastard sanctification, consisting of some acts of external obe-
dience, wrought out of our own natural powers; but true sancti-
fication is by improving those treasures of holiness which are in Christ,
or God in Christ : John i. 16, " And of his fulness have all we received,
and grace for grace." Now, how can we improve or make use of
those treasures which are in God, if we cannot claim him for our
God ? But if we cannot claim him as such, we can come boldly to
his throne to find mercy and obtain grace to help us in time of
need, Heb. iv. 16. If the soul can say, God is mine, then may the
person say, Light, life, and strength, are mine, the promises are
mine. They may suck freely at the breasts of all the gracious
promises on record. In a word, when the soul can claim God by
faith, it can come freely to him for sanctification, and improve him
for that end. — I observe,
(2.) That love to God is the fulfilling of the law ; and the more
love, the more holiness. Now, to claim God in Christ as our God,
is the true way to attain true love to God ; for it is faith which
sets love a-going. Faith worketh by love, aud so it sets all the
graces of the Spirit in motion. Mine is a kindly word ; though you
live in a cottage, if you can say, It is mine, it will be sweeter to you
than the king's palace, because it is not yours. See how the love
of God is kiudled in the breast of a guilty creature, 1 John iv. 19,
" We love him, because he first loved us." It is a hard work (to
DRAWING NEAR TO GOD. 431
say no more) to love a Grod not believed in, not embraced as our
Grod ; for the greater and more glorious he is, he is the more dread-
ful an enemy. It is the word of the gospel which brings the glad
news of the love of God in Christ. Is it not plain, then, that the
more this be believed with application, the more will that love to
God be inflamed, and consequently the soul more satisfied. — I ob-
serve,
(3.) That our hearts must have something of their own to satisfy
themselves with. The greater part of the world hang on about the
door of the empty creation, and suck the breatts of their fulsome
lusts. Why do they this ? Because God is not theirs, and they
cannot want altogether. But let the heart once take God in Christ,
and claim him as its own God, then it has enough. And the more
the soul is persuaded of this, the less it will care for other things,
but says, in effect, " I have all, and abound." A man will keep in
. his candles, if he be not persuaded the sun is up ; but if the windows
be opened, and he sees the shining sun, he puts out his candles, he
needs them no more. — Our heart has that piece of prudence, that it
must fasten one foot before it loose another ; and therefore, accord-
ing as the claim to God is stronger or weaker, the claim to the world
and lusts will in like manner be proportioned. — Here I would pro-
pose, and say a word or two to three cases.
Case 1. I am afraid of presumption. Answ. Draw near with a
true heart, press only through the vail to make your claim. Claim
for a rest to your soul, and for sanctification, as was said before,
and there is no presumption. Have you taken him as your own
God ? Avow your claim to him as such : dishonour not God by
casting a cloak of pretended humility over your unbelief.
Case. 2. But can such an unworthy creature as I make such a
claim ? Answ. If you will not, then I hope you will not claim par-
don, grace, or heaven : but you will, you must quit your claim to
all these at once, for you must not think to claim these from a God
that is not yours in Christ. Will you then, without reluctance, quit
your claim to all these ? If not, then claim him, though unworthy.
Why talk of unworthiness ? Will you ever be worthy of him ? No,
no ; the claim of faith is over the belly of felt unworthiness, and
founded on the blood of Christ alone.
Case 3. I would have claimed God in Christ as my God, and I
even did it ; but Satan has got advantage already of me, and I had
to quit the hold. Who ordered you to quit your hold even in that
case ? Not God, I am sure ; for he saith, Heb. x. 35, " Cast not
away therefore your confidence, which has great recompense of re-
ward;" therefore it has been Satan and your own uubelieving heart.
432 THE ACCEPTABLE iIA>NEU OV
And are you not in a poor case for rising up again out of the mire
now, when you have let go hold of God, as your God in Christ ?
This is not the way to rise, your best course is, to act faith again,
and renew that claim which you have formerly made, for grace, in
order both for justification and sanctification, Ezra ix. 6 ; Psalm
Ixv. 3 ; Jonah ii. 12. — I now come to the
3. Thing in drawing near to God with full assurance, which was,
that you improve your claimed interest for all your necessities,
without doubting of success. Christ has opened heaven to you ; and
if you have come in through the vail, taken God in Christ as your
God, and claimed him as such, he would have you to be familiar in
his Father's house, and want nothing which is there suitable to
your condition ; but to put out the hand of faith, with full assurance,
that you are as welcome to the heavenly treasures as the blood that
purchased them can make you : and that is, welcome to the full. I
doubt not but this is the import of the text. Poor empty creature, thou
canst not subsist without communion with heaven ; but thou must
drink of the fountain, before thou canst meddle with the streams ;
liimself must be thine, before the least article of the furniture of the
house can be thine; therefore thou must take God in Christ for
your God, then you must claim him, and, having claimed him, be
familiar with him, and all that is his, in the way of believing. — In
explaining this, I shall shew,
I. How the believer should be familiar in the house over which
Christ is set, and thus draw near with full assurance.
II. "Why he should be so familiar.
1. We are to shew, how the believer should be familiar in the
house over which Christ is set, and thus draw near with full assur-
ance. — Upon this I observe, that he should,
1. Come and tell him all his wants freely, without concealing
any thing from him, for this would argue distance and distrust :
Song vii. 11, " Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field ; let
us lodge in the villages." Faith has a most enlarged desire, it is
always in want of something, and its work is to beg, to take
freely without money and without price ; and for that reason it is
pitched upon as the great mean of communion betwixt God and sin-
ners ; Rom. iv. 16, " Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by
grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed." And
the stronger faith is, it spreads out the more wants, and spreads
them out the more freely before the Lord, as to a friend. Do you
want any thing as to which you cannot tell the Lord ? It argues
either no real need, or else little faith. Strong faith is a free commu-
ner in heaven, and will conceal nothing, but tell all : Eph. iii.l2, *' In
DRAWING NEAH TO GOD. 433
Trhom we have boldness and access, with confidence, by the faith of
him." (Boldness, Gr. telling all). — He should,
2. Come and seek all he needs, without blushing: Heb. iv. 16,
" Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may
find mercy, and obtain grace to help in time of need." Faith com-
ing in within the vail, comes into a friend's house ; and the more
free and familiar it is there, and the less reserved, the more wel-
come. Tliere are two seekers that do not blush before the Lord in
their asking : 1. A proud unhumbled heart, whose sense of need is
very small ; and these, for their shamelessuess, get the door cast on
their face : 1 Pet, v. 5, " For God resisteth the proud," Luke i. 5,
"And the rich he sendeth empty away." 2. A strong faith, whose
sense of need is very great, which drives away the unbelieving
blushes out of the face ; and such shamefaced seekers never get a de-
nial in heaven : Luke xi, 8, " Yet because of his importunity, he
will rise and give him as many as he needeth."
There is a blessed shamelessuess in faith with full assurance ; it
makes persons very familiar in God's house. It can come there at
any time, it keeps no set hours, it can step forward at midnight,
(Luke xi, 5,) when doors used to be shut, and knock at the gates,
without fear of giving disturbance. It was a dark night to Job ;
God had drawn a sable covering over the face of his throne to him ;
yet faith goes forwards, and draws it by. Job xiii. 15, 16, (quoted
above). See also Isa. Ixiii, 15, 16, It can plead the relation of a
friend to the master of the house. The believer stands in many re-
lations to the Lord, and faith fixes on that relation which will serve
its i)lea best. If the soul be under particular necessities, where it
must have a friend's help, the soul will claim the help of God as its
friend, notwithstanding the infinite disproportion between the rela-
tives. And in this case, it can be very full in its demands : Luke
xi. 5, *' Lend me three loaves." Possibly less might serve a friend
on a journey, who is to tarry only a night, but strong faith is not to
be dealt with scriraply. It must have what will be enough and to
spare, for it desires to be more than a conqueror. — Faith thinks no
shame to complain of an empty house at home, Luke xi. 6, and that
it has nothing to set before this stranger. The report faith brings
to heaven, is still of emptiness, for they that live by faith are al-
ways from hand to mouth, and never want an errand to the God of
heaven for some supply or other, — Finally, It can confidently bor-
row, without one word of paying again. See the whole of our Sa-
viour's parable, the design of which is to recommend importunity at
the throne of grace, Luke xi. 5—10, This is the way of faith's
trading with heaven, without money in hand, and without price to
434 TUE ACCEPTABLE MANNER 01'
be paid. For faith just involves tlie soul iu the debt of free grace,
and can trade at no other market, for no other is suited for the
bankrupt family of Adam.
3. He should even put out his hand, and draw to him, by believ-
ing the promises suited to his case, and this with a faith of applica-
tion : Matth. xxi. 22, " And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in
prayer, believing, ye shall receive them." It is the business of faith,
to read the person's particular name in the general promise, and to fill
up his own name in these promises, which are, as it were, God's blank
bills and bonds, and then come forward with them even to his seat,
with David's plea : Psalm cxix. 49, " Remember the word unto thy
servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope." And this with-
out doubting. They can never be familiar with heaven, who stand
afar off from the promises. — Thou shouldst believe that the promises
shall be made out ; they are the words of truth, which shall have
a certain accomplishment. And though the unbelieving world take
them but for fair words, thou takest them for sure words, which
are full of mercy, and shall not miscarry, but shall surely be ac-
complished at the set time : Psalm xii. 6, " The words of the Lord
are pure words, as silver tried iu a furnace of earth, purified
seven times." — Again, believe that they shall be made out to thee.
What canst thou be the better of a salve not applied to thy sore, or
of a promise which is not applied by faith to thy own soul. It is
by the faith of application that these breasts of consolation are
sucked, and that the water is drawn out of the wells of salvation.
And what other way can we be partakers of the sap which flows
from them, but by thus believing, as was before shewn. And for
this cause it is necessary to be well acquainted with the Bible, and
to mark the promises, that whatever be thy case, thou mayest
have a word suited to it to plead with God, for the word is that by
which influences are conveyed. And seeing much lies in believing
and applying the promises, take these two notes to clear your way
in this exercise. — I observe,
(1.) That whosoever receives Christ, and takes God for his God
in him, has a right to all the promises of the covenant suited to his
case, and has a right to apply them. They meet all in Christ, for
" all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him amen, unto the
glory of God by us." And so all of them may be claimed in him,
even as he who marries a wife may plead all that is promised with
her in the contract. It is with him that God freely gives us all
things, Rom. viii. 32. Take Christ, then, and the promise is yours
in hira. — I observe,
(2.) That the promises are made primarily to Jesus Christ :
DRAWING NEAR TO GOD. 435
Gal. iii. 16, " Now, to Abraham and his seed were the promises
made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many ; but as of one, And
to thy seed, which is Christ." He is the second Adam, the great
contractor with the Father in the covenant of grace, and through
him to all who are his, even as the promise of the first covenant was
to Adam, and his seed in him. And they were made to him on con-
dition of his satisfying the demands of the law, which is now done ;
so that, with respect to us, they are all absolute and free ; properly
sjieaking, none of them are conditional. Some of them describe the
qualification of these to whom they shall be accomplished, as Matth.
V. 3 — 10, which qualification is, however, wrought in them, in ac-
complishment of the leading promises, the promises of grace, such
as Ezek. xxxvi. 26, 27, " A new heart also will I give you, and a
new spirit will I put within you ; and I will take away the stony
heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And
I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my sta-
tutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." But both the
one and the other are pleadable only through Jesus Christ, being
through him made absolute to those who are his ; so that in Christ you
have a right to all that is suited to your case. Hence it is that pro-
mises, made to some particular saints, may be confidently applied
by others in their circumstances, as growing all upon one root, which
is our common Lord. Thus, God said to Joshua, chap. i. 5, " As I
was with Moses, so I will be with thee ; I will not fail thee, nor for-
sake thee." He says to every believer, Heb. xiii. 5, " I will never
leave thee nor forsake thee."
Lastly, He should hang on about the Lord's hand till the supply
come, and that confidently. This is that which in the scriptures is
celebrated under the name of trusting, relying, staying on the
Lord. The whole weight of all our wants is to be laid over on the
Lord, and a confident expectation maintained, that he will supply
them, according to his word. Trust reposed in a generous man is a
strong tie on him to help and answer expectation. Lot, Gen. xix. 8,
would have any ill done to himself rather than to his guests, because,
says he, " for this cause they came under the shadow of my roof,"
And they that trust in the Lord according to his word, shall never
be ashamed. Thus, the believer should be familiar in the house
over which Christ is set, and in this way draw near with full assur-
ance. — Let us now,
II. Shew why the believer should be so familiar in this house, im-
proving his claimed interest for his necessities, without doubting of
the success. — He should be so,
1. Because heaven is made home to him bv the blood of the Son
436 THE ACCEPTABLE MANNER OF
of God, and therefore no reason to doubt of welcome, Heb. x. 19, 20.
That is a kindly word, which you have in John xx. 17, " Touch me
not, for I am not yet ascended unto my Father : but go to my bre-
thren, and say unto them, I ascend unto ray Father and your Father,
and to my God and your God." It is our Father's house because it is
Christ's Father's house ; and where may one be familiar, if not in their
Father's house ? It is the house prepared for them first by Christ's
satisfaction, then by his intercession : John xiv. 2, " I go to prepare
a place for you." It is the house their Lord and husband is set
over ; it is tlie house they came of, for they are born from above ;
and it is the house they are to dwell in for ever, nay, the Lord him-
self is their home : Psalm xc. 1, " Lord, thou hast been our dwell-
ing-place in all generations." The Jewish doctors called him 'place,
because the only resting-place of the soul is in God, and to belie-
yers he is unquestionably their rest.
2. It is a pleasure to have full breasts sucked. The breasts of
grace and goodness in God to sinners through Christ, are full, there
is nothing wanting, faith has only to suck, and to be satisfied. It is
applied to the church, what you have in Isa. Ixvi. 11, " That ye may
suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations ; that ye may
milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory." The
breasts are, as it were, held forth in the word of the gospel, which
is our great privilege. There is all fulness in Christ, the fulness of
the Godhead dwellelh in him, that so sinners might have access to
God through the vail of his flesh, and be filled with all the fulness
of God. The fulness in him is not the fulness of a vessel, to serve
itself only, but the fulness of a fountain to be communicated, which
still gives, and yet has enough. Well may we, then, draw near to
God with full assurance of faith. — We should be thus familiar ; for,
3. This is the great end for which sinners are at all brought to
God through Christ, namely, that they may partake of his fulness.
It is the great end of all the promises : 2 Pet. i. 4, " Whereby are
given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these
we might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the cor-
ruption that is in the world through lust." The communication be-
twixt God and man was interrupted by Adam's fall ; it is opened
by Jesus Christ, that influences from heaven may run freely, and
that in him they may get all their wants made up. They may be
assured of a cordial welcome when taking for their necessities these
things which are brought in for this very end, that they may be
supplied.
4. The Lord offers himself in the gospel for all, and the sinner
who takes him aright, takes him for all, and instead of all, Matth.
DRAWING NEAR TO GOD. 437
xiii. 45, 46. Now, if he offer himself for all, surely he intends that his
people should improve their interest in him for all. He has taken
them from all their former friends ; surely, then, as an affectionate
husband, he will allow his wife to be familiar in his house, and take
it very ill if she hang on about others for a supply of her wants. This
familiarity our Maker, onr Husband, allows us, and approves of.
5. Our Lord (if I may so speak) makes very familiar with his
people, and this is a sign that he would have them to be so with
him. Lodge they ever so meanly, he will lodge with them : Isa. Ivii.
15, "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity,
whose name is holy, I dwell in the high and holy place ; with him
also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of
the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." He not
only gives them, but he takes from them ; what provision from hea-
ven is with them, he takes part of, though he needs nothing from
them : Song v. 1, " I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse ;
I have gathered my myrrh with ray spice ; I have eaten my honey-
comb with my honey ; I have drunk my wine with ray milk : eat,
friends, drink, yea, drink abundantly, beloved !" He sometimes
even will take from them what they would not part with to any but
himself, and they will make him welcome to it, as he did with Job,
chap 1. His sheep, asses, children, were taken from him, and little
at all was left him. And if they act like themselves, they will re-
joice that they have any thing, liberty, life, &c. to part with to him.
But sure I am, the best of the saints can never so freely part with
any thing to him, as he does to them. — They should be familiar ; for,
Lastlj/, They who use most familiarity with the Lord, improving
their claimed interest, with greatest confidence, come best speed
at this throne: Matth. xv. 28, " Then Jesus answered and said unto
her, woman, great is thy faith : be it unto thee even as thou wilt."
Little faith is a narrow vessel, which brings in little from the foun-
tain ; but great faith brings in much. Whatever the Lord's people
may think of their doubtings of the promises, the word of God never
speaks a good word of the believer's doubts : Matth. xiv. 31, "
thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" Doubts are not
pleasing to God, for they shew the weakness of faith, and always in
less or more contain some reflections on the blood of Christ, the
truth and gracious nature of God. Augustus admitted the common
people with their petitions so pleasantly, that it is reported he re-
proved a certain person, telling him that he presented his petition
to him, as if he had been giving a halfpenny to an elephant. Hu-
mility may well consist with the confidence and full assurance of
faith.
438 THE ACCEPTABLE MANNER OF
Now, to conclude all this, ye who have taken God in Christ as
your God, learn this holy art of living by faith, claiming your in-
terest and improving it for all your necessities. Alas ! sirs, for
what end have we taken God in Christ for our God, if we do not
live upon him ? John vi. 57, " As the living Father hath sent me,
and I live by the Father ; so he that eateth me, even he shall live
by me." Why have we professed to enter into the house of God,
by embracing the covenant, if we do not improve it for all we need ?
Improve, then, the claimed interest for all ; and particularly,
1. For a rest to your consciences. Here David found a rest to
his, when death and guilt together stared him in the face : 2 Sam.
xxiii. 5, " Although," says he, " my house be not so with God, yet
he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things
and sure; for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he
make it not to grow." If God be thy God, the righteousness of
God is thine to cover thee, the righteousness of Christ God-man.
Thou art within that vail where the fiery law is closed up in the ark,
and cannot reach thee. Confessing, mourning, repenting, are
blessed and holy exercises, well becoming the child of God, and the
more faith, the more of these, and the deeper will they be ; but they,
after all, are wholly insufficient for a rest to the conscience. — Im-
prove the claimed interest,
2. For a rest to your hearts : Psalm cxvi. 7, " Return to thy rest,
my soul ; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee." Have
you come to God through Christ ? then rest thy heart in enjoyment
of him. Is the world smiling on thee ? beware, rest not on it, thou
wilt soon find thy rest broken, thou wilt never rest soundly in the
embraces of a smiling world, for the bed is shorter than thou canst
stretch thyself upon. Is the world frowning? Are the cisterns
dried up ? thy created pillars taken away ? Yet despond not, faint
not, while God remains, Hab. iii. 17, 18. You who have taken God
for all, you have a poor bargain of it, if you have not as much as
can make you live without those things which may be taken from
you. Look to your stock in heaven, look to the glorious promises ;
he who overcometh shall inherit all things.
Lastly, Improve it for sanctification, to be holy, as God is holy,
to get strength for duty, and against corruption. Draw in your fur-
niture for a holy life, from the fulness of him that fiUeth all in all.
Believe, that you may be holy. Take, by faith, the promise with
you, when you use the means of holiness. They know little of the
property of faith, who use it only for the pardon of sin ; it is the
instrument of sanctification, as well as of justification : Acts xv. 9,
, " Purifying their hearts by faith." If a lust is to be subdued, or a
DRAWING NEAR TO GOD. 439
teraptalion resistetl, &c. faith must run thy errand to heaven. Be-
lieve the promise of sanctification with application to thyself, believe
it with full assurance that it shall be made out to thee ; and in that
confidence use the means appointed of God for thy sanctification,
and so thou shalt succeed. — If any of you have set about gathering
evidences for heaven, and have got them, these things may help you
to keep them, and to increase them. Amen.
THE SAINTS GOD'S SERVANTS AND HIS PROPERTY.*
SERMON XL.
Acts xxvii. 23,
For there stood by me this night the angel of the Lord, xuhose I am,
and tvhom I serve.
There are two questions which may be pertinently proposed to
every one of you after this communion ; and he who can satisfyingly
answer them, as Paul here does, and every child of God may do, it
will be a pass which will carry him safely and comfortably through
the world, by sea or by land, at home or abroad, among friends or
enemies, and even at length into heaven. — The first question is,
Whose are you? Man, woman, to whom do you belong? Are
you Christ's or Satan's ? Are you still your own, or are you the
Lord's ? Are you a child of God's family, or of the devil's ? "What
countryman are you ? Are you from above, and do you belong to
the Lord of the better country ? or are you from below, and do you
belong to the god of this world ? What say you to this question,
Whose are you ? — The second question is.
What is your business ? Certainly you have some business or
other, you are either well or ill employed. What is your occupation ?
What course of life do you follow ? What is the great design upon
which you are set? Are you serving the devil, yourselves, your
lusts ? or are you serving God ? What say you to this question,
What is your business ?
Paul, in the text, and in a few words, answers these two questions.
He told those whom he addressed, that he was God's and that God's
service was his business ; that his Lord and Master had sent him a
very comfortable message in the dark hour which was now come
* Delivered June 15, 1715, the Sabbatb after the dispensation of the Sacrament,
440 THE SAINTS GOd's SERVANTS
upon them. — He was now in a ship, with many others, sailing for
Rome ; but a storm rises, continues many ilays, and all hope of being
saved was taken away. Paul, notwithstanding, is easy and cheer-
ful : he brings good news to them, that there should not one life be
lost in the cause. And, in the text, he shews them on what grounds
he went, namely, that of divine revelation, by the ministry of an
angel. — You may here observe, that God's word of promise is suffi-
cient security and encouragement in the darkest hour. The storm still
continued, and was to continue, they were to make a narrow escape,
the ship was to be lost : but amidst all this, the word of promise
kept up his heart; and he had good reason for maintaining his con-
fidence.
God is unchangeably true to his word. He cannot alter it, it
shall not fail : Numb, xxiii. 19, " God is not a man that he should
lie : neither the son of man, that he should repent : hath he said,
and shall he not do it ? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it
good ? There is an impossibility of his word failing : Tit. i. 12, " He
is God that cannot lie." So that faith has the surest bottom on
which to stand, when standing on the promise, namely, the unchange-
able truth of God. — There is nothing so difficult and hopeless, but
God can bring it to pass : Luke i. 37, "For with God nothing shall
be impossible." Therefore he is able to make good his promise,
though all creatures should conspire to render his working inefi^ec-
tual, and whatever difficulties may be in his way. — In one word, the
experience of the saints in all ages confirms this confidence : Psalm
xii. 6, " The words of the Lord are pure words ; as silver tried in a
furnace of earth, purified." Many and various have been the trials
of the saints, but they all held by the promise, and have at length
set to their seal that God is true. — From this we may learn.
That their salvation is secured, who have been graciously brought
within the compass of the covenant and the promise of salvation,
«' This," David said, " is all my salvation and all my desire," 2 Sam.
xxiii. 5. Though they be in this world as on a boisterous sea, where
the waves of indwelling corrnption, temptation, affliction, desertion,
are threatening to swallow them up ; yet they shall get safe ashore ;
and though the body fall in pieces by death, the soul shall arrive
safe in Immanuel's land. — If it should be inquired. How may a per-
son know that he is brought within the compass of the covenant
and promise ? I answer. If you have truly and honestly come to
Christ, and laid hold of him in the covenant, taken him as he ofi'ers
himself in the gospel, if you have given up with all other lovers, and
have taken up with him in all his offices, with a view to free you
from the guilt, from the power and pollution of sin, all is well .
AND HIS PKOrERTY. 441
for he has said, John vi. 37, " All that the Father giveth me, shall
come unto me ; and him that cometh unto me, I will in nowise cast
out." Possessing him as the chief benefit of the covenant, you have
all : 2 Cor. i. 20, " For all the promises of God in him are yea, and
in him amen, unto the glory of God by us." — We may further
learn.
That it is true wisdom to live by faith in the promise of God,
whatever storm be blowing : 2 Cor. v. 7, " For we walk by faith,
not by sight." You must lay your account with storms. Never
was there one in a ship, except the man Christ, whom the devil
would more anxiously have drowned, than he would have done Paul
at this time. But Paul is easy, even when on the boisterous sea, on
the promise of God, while the rest were in a terrible alarm ; Satan
was not so much set against them. Unbelief and discouragement
can in no case be useful. It is good to believe, whether we be tossed
with a storm of raging corruption, as in Psalm Ixv. 3; — strong temp-
tations, as in Luke xxii. 31, 32 ; — heavy affliction, as in Psalm xxvii.
13 ; — or desertion, as in Psalm xxii. 1. Thus much for the connec-
tion.
In the text, Paul declares to the ship's crew, who for the most
part were pagans, two things : —
(1.) His intercourse with heaven : " There stood by me this night
the angel of the Lord." (2.) His special relation to the God of
heaven: whose I am, and whom I serve." The design of this decla-
ratiou was, not only to comfort them, but to commend his God uuto
them, that they might also choose him for their God and master.
No doubt, in these days, ver. 20, there had been many prayers in the
ship. They had called to their gods, but in vain; Paul had cried
to his, and had got a comfortable answer. He thence takes occasion
to represent him as the God of salvation, who was able to make
them all safe, notwithstanding the storm ; as the Lord of angels ; as
one whose servant himself was, who was now so cheerful, when they
were so dejected. Proper methods these to commend his God to
them. — I would accordingly take occasion to observe, that it is the
duty of those who are the Lord's, to commend their God to others,
that they in consequence may be prevailed on also to be his. There
are two strong bonds to bind this on those who are the Lord's
There is,
1. The love and duty they owe to God, who has done so much for
them, and who would have all men to be saved. It is the more for
the honour of God in the world, the more there are who join them-
selves to his service. This is an acceptable thing which we can do
for God, to express our thankfulness, namely, to make conscience of
Vol. IX. 2f
442 THE SAINTS GOb's SERVAKT3
discharging onr duty, to lay out ourselves in advancing the interest
of Chrst and of religion in the world : that since he has brought us
into his family, we exert our endeavours to bring others also into it.
— Another bond is,
2. The love and duty we owe to mankind : Rora. xiii. 9, " If
there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in
this saying, namely, " Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
Those who are yet strangers to God, are our fellow-creatures, lying
in the ditch of sin, swimming to the ocean of wrath, in which con-
dition we also were before we were the Lord's; which requires from
us a very serious concern to help them out of that state. Tit. iii. 1,
2, 3. And this is as natural as it is for one that has narrowly es-
caped drowning, to bestir himself to help his fellow who is in hazard
of perishing.
The use and improvement I would make of this is, to call upon
you, Christians and communicants ! whosoever of you are the
Lord's, to put your hand to this work, to recommend Christ and re-
ligion to others. Tou that are come out from among the devil's
family, make it your work to prevail on others to come away also.
Remember the Samaritan woman, who told her neighbours of Christ,
and invited them to come to him : John iv. 29, " Go thou and do
likewise." — To stir you up to this work, I shall lay before you the
following motives.
Mot. 1. What use are you for in this world, if you be not useful
for God, and your generation, in this work to which you are called ?
If you will do nothing for God, you but take up room on God's
earth, and cumber his ground. The children of God are not so situ-
ated. They say, " For none of us liveth to himself, and no man
dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord ;
and whether we die, we die unto the Lord : "Whether we live, there-
fore, or die, we are the Lord's."
Mot. 2. It is a dangerous thing to be an unprofitable servant iu
God's house ; Matth. xxv. 30, " And cast the unprofitable servant into
outer darkness ; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
An unprofitable tree may stand safer in a wood than in an orchard ;
and what is quite unfit for the master's use, is fuel for the fire.
MoT. 3. It is the nature of true grace, and has been the practice
of the saints, thus to lay themselves out for God and the good of
others. Grace is communicative ; it is a well of water, from which
many may be refreshed ; it is a holy fire to warm others. Accordingly,
we find Abraham's grace working thus. Gen. xviii. 19, " For I know
him," said God, " that he will command his children and his house-
hold after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do jus-
AND HIS PROPERTY. 443
tice and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that
■which he hath spoken of him." Thus also, we find David's grace
Psalm xxxiv. 8, " taste and see that the Lord is good : blessed is
the man that trusteth in him." Thus also the spouse's grace, Song
V. ; the woman of Samaria, John iv. 29.
Mot. 4. Yon would thrive better yourselves, if you were more
employed in this work : Prov. xi. 25, " The liberal soul shall be
made fat ; and he that watereth shall be watered himself." The
spring runs, and the fire burns, the more freely that they get a vent ;
and they that use their talents thus for God, are in the high way
to increase them : Matth. xxv. 28, 29, " Take therefore the talent
from him, and give it to him that hath ten talents. For unto every
one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance." A cold
heart, without zeal for God's interest, and a sealed mouth, which
cannot open for God, produces a back-going withered condition.
Mot. 5. It is well laid out work. For either sinners are gained
by it, as it often falls out: Song vi. 1, ".Whither is thy beloved
gone, thou fairest among women ? "Whither is thy beloved turned
aside ? that we may seek him with thee." In this case the work is
an abundant reward for itself: James i. 27, "Pure religion and un-
defiled, before God and the Father, is this, to visit the fatherless
and the widow in their affliction." But it shall not go so ; for every
soul thou doest good to, shall be as a jewel in thy crown : " They
that turn many to righteousness, shall shine as the stars for ever and
ever." Thou wilt gain the blessing of those ready to perish ; and
if thou shouldst not gain thy point, yet thy work shall not be in
vain ; Isa. xlix. 4, " Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have
spent my strength for nought and in vain ; yet surely my judgment
is with the Lord, and ray work with my God." — But here some who
are under difficulties may propose this
Question, How shall a person manage this duty ? I answer,
Follow after the copy we have in the text, in these three parti-
culars : —
1. Speak to the commendation of him and his service. The world
have mean and low thoughts of God ; speak to his greatness, that
the souls of others may be awed by it ; to his goodness and loving-
kindness, that their souls may be stirred up to love him, hope in
him, trust him. Speak to the advantage of his service, how com-
fortable, pleasant, and beneficial it is. Psalm xxxiv. 6, 7, 8.
2. Prudently communicate your experiences of his goodness to
you. Tell what you have seen, heard, tasted, and felt of him, that
others may be excited to wait on him. Tell it to those who are ab-
solute strangers to God, when there is any hope of thus doing them
2 r 2
444 THE SAINTS GOD's SERVANTS
good, as in the case of the text; bat otherwise we must beware of
casting these pearls before swine. Tell it to fellow-Christians who
need to be strengthened : Psalm Ixyi. 16, " Come and hear, all ye
that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul."
And tell it even to those who see no beauty in ordinances : Zech.
viii. 23, " Thus saith the Lord of hosts, In those days it shall come
to pass, that ten men shall take hold, out of all languages of
the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew,
saying, "We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with
you."
3. Confidently avow your choice of God and his service before
the world. Let them see that you have made your choice, and do
not repent it. Say, with Joshua, chap. xxiv. 15, " As for me and
my house, we will serve the Lord." The being ashamed of con-
fessing the Lord and his way before an evil generation, does much
hurt to religion ; but a confident profession is a practical testimony
to it. — To these three may be added,
4. A conversation becoming the gospel, and those principles which
you possess. — In the text.
The first thing we have is Paul's intercourse with heaven, his com-
munion with God : " There stood by me," iS:c.
The second thing is, Paul's special relation to the God of heaven :
" "Whose I am, and whom I serve." — We begin with the
First thing in the text, Paul's intercourse with heaven, his com-
munion with God. " There stood by me this night, the angel of
the Lord." — In this several things oflfer themselves to our notice,
which we shall shortly explain. — There is,
I. The party employed to bring him the comfortable message
from God : " The angel of the Lord."
II. The peculiarity of this manifestation and interconrse with
heaven.
III. The posture of the angel : " He stood."
IV. The time of this manifestation : " This night."
Let us then attend,
I. To the party employed to bring him the comfortable message
from God : an holy angel, who appeared to him in the ship. This
was often the privilege of the saints in the Old Testament, and some-
times in the New, in the first times of it. We are not, however,
now to expect such appearances. The sacred volume is completed,
and we are not to expect new revelations. Angels are employed to
serve for the good and benefit of those that are the Lord's. We
know little of the ministry of angels, but the scriptures are plain,
that this is the privilege of all who are his : Psalm xxxiv. 7, " The
AND HIS PROPERTY. 445
angel of tlie Lord encampeth round about tliera that fear him, and
delivereth them." Heb. i. 14, " Are they not all ministering spirits*
sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation." And
the angels being invisible, we know not how much we are indebted
to them for their ministry ; we will know it better afterwards,
when we will be in no hazard of abusing it.
The improvement I wonld make of this is, to point out the dignity
and advantage of the children of God. King's children have ho-
nourable attendants; these, however, are only men. But if thou
be a child of the family of God, angels attend thee. They have a
concern for thy welfare, to promote it, as devils are trying to hin-
der it. And these angels will attend thee, — during thy life in this
world. The scripture is plain, that God gives his angels charge
concerning those who are his, to keep them while in the way. It is
a promise of the covenant that has been sealed to us : Psalm xci.
11, 12, " For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee
in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou
dash thy foot against a stone." As a father of a family charges the
elder children with the care of the younger ones ; so does God the
angels, with the saints on earth, the young heirs of glory ; and they
diligently execute their charge, however little we know about it.
^his appears from the scriptures already quoted. — The angels will
attend thee at thy death, they will wait on thy soul removing from
the body, and convey it away home to your Father's house in glory :
Luke xvi. 22, " And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and
was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom." When the child
comes out of its mother's belly into this world, some inhabitants
here receive it, and take care of it ; and when the soul of a believer
comes out of the body, and is born into another world, the angels,
inhabitants there, take it, and convey it away to their country.
This honour have all the saints. — Let us attend,
II. To the peculiarity of this manifestation and intercourse with
heaven. — " The angel stood by me." They were all in the same
ship, but none knew what passed between the Lord and Paul ; none
saw nor heard the angel but Paul himself. And two things are
here remarkable,
1. There were many strangers to God in the ship ; but Paul was
his own, and with him God keeps communion ; but with none of
them, though in the same ship with him. — "Whence observe, that
there is a secret conveyance of intercourse with heaven to those who
are the Lord's, in the midst of a crowd of persons who know nothing
of the matter. Many a time matters go on betwixt God and a gra-
cious soul, as betwixt Jonathan and David, when they only knew
446 TUB SAINTS god's SERVANTS
the matter, 1 Sam. xx, 39. The Lord knoweth who are his, and
who are not, however mixed the multitude may be, 2 Tim. ii. 19.
"Whatever fair appearances a hypocrite puts on, he can see through
the disguise ; and however iniquity prevail in his own, he can dis-
cern the pearl of faith and love in a dunghill of corruption. The
arrow is shot at a venture, but the Spirit of the Lord directs it*
Communion with God and intercourse with heaven, lies in inward,
not in external things : 1 Tim. iv. 8, " For bodily exercise profiteth
little, but godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise
of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." Every per-
son might see who went to the table, what visible thing was done
there, who received the bread and wine. But what passed in the
retirements of the heart there, whose spikenard sent forth the smell,
who received Christ into their hearts, whose faith and love were
exercised, with whom the idol of jealousy was preserved, or who put
the knife to the throat of it : the whole is a secret betwixt God and the
soul itself. — The improvement of this is, to learn, that it is a sad thing
to have been where that intercourse with heaven was, and to have had
no share of it ; to be persons whom God goes by, and comes by, mani-
fests his grace on the right hand, and on the left hand, while they have
no share of it. We have no ground to doubt but communion with God
was enjoyed by some in that church-yard, and at the Lord's tablet
! what was your share of it ? If you have had none, it is a token,
either that you were dead in your sins, and in a state of alienation
from God, and not come out of the devil's family, though you were
by profession among God's children: Amos iii. 3, " Can two walk
together, unless they be agreed ?" Dead folk cannot converse with
the living, nor dead souls have communion with the living God. Ha-
bitual estrangement from communion with God, is a black mark of
a graceless state, 2 Cor. vi. 16. Let that stir you up yet to come out
from among them, and leave the congregation of the dead, while yet
there is hope. — Or it is a token, that ye were asleep, and all out of
case for communion with God. And if that was the case, but it
was ill-timed ! Song v. 1, 2. Ye have slipt a precious season, ye
know not if ever it may return. Review, therefore, your carriage
and way at this occasion ; awaken timeously, and repent, else you may
come to get an awakening stroke from the Lord, which may go very
deep: 1 Cor. xi. 30, "For this cause many were weak and sickly
among you, and many sleep." — Learn to bless God, be thankful, and
walk worthy of your privilege, you who have had the distinguishing
mercy of communion with God. To whom much is given much also
shall be required. Did he bring you into his banqueting-house ? Then
follow on in the way of holiness, as strengthened by what you have
AND HIS PnOPBRTY. 447
experienced. Let not liis grace bestowed on you be in vain. Here
a question may be proposed, How may a person know whether he
had communion with God or not ? Answ. Communion with God con-
sists in the Lord's vouchsafing the influences of his grace to the soul>
and the soul's returning them again in the exercise of grace. There are
many marks of grace, I offer you two distinguishing ones from the text.
Mark 1. The soul's giving itself wholly to the Lord, without ex-
ception of any thing, and standing to it : " "Whose I am." People
may giv^e their hand, tongue, many things of theirs to the Lord, but
none but these who have communion with him, will honestly give
themselves wholly, without exception of one lust, or one cross, to
him ; and being deliberate, they stand to it. This is an evidence
that the Lord has given himself to them, and they have received
him by faith ; for man's heart will never give their all to the Lord
till it receive better.
Mark 2. Has religion now become your business ? " Whom I
serve." Have ye truly renounced the service of the devil, and of
lusts, taken on the yoke of Christ in all its parts, making religion
no more a by-hand work, to serve yourselves of it, but your chief
work, your continued work, to serve the Lord in it? If you have
had these, you have had communion with God ; if not, you have not had
it. — To this some may reply, But, alas ! I have not had what I would
wish to have been at. In answer to this, consider what is remark-
able here : there were others who were the Lord's, besides Paul, in
this ship ; Luke, at least, whom, though the Lord left not without
communion with himself in that dark hour, yet Paul only had the
vision of the angel. You will accordingly observe, that every saint
is not admitted to the same degree of communion with God, some
enjoy more than others. All the disciples were not taken up to the
mount of transfiguration, but only three of them. John was the be-
loved disciple, though Jesus loved them all, except the son of per-
dition. Some may be brought farther forward at one time, others at
another time. Some may be full to the brim, when the enjoyments
of others are very scanty. There is no reason to complain here ; for,
(1.) Ordinarily God proportions his people's present lifting up
to their former down-casting : Isa. xl. 4, " Every valley shall be ex-
alted." Some need more communion with God in the way of con-
viction and humiliation, others in the way of comfort; but the
heaviest heart, and the most humbled spirit, needs the greatest outlet-
ting of comfortable manifestations. And if God speak most com-
fortably to those who most need it, it is unjust to complain.
(2.) The greatest privilege is ordinarily followed with the greatest
piece of work, 1 Kings xix. 7. Crod has hard pieces of service to
448 THE SAINTS GOb's SEBVANTS
put into some people's hands beyond others. Paul must appear be-
fore Caesar for the defence of the gospel, and therefore stood in most
need of this manifestation to comfort and fortify him.
(3.) The backs of God's people are ordinarily strengthened in
proportion to their burdens : and therefore the more liberal feast that
a saint gets, he may expect the greater trial. If we compare the life
of Isaac and Jacob, you will observe, that the latter had the greatest
enjoyments of God ; but so also had he the greatest trials of the two.
As a suitable improvement of what has now been observed, let us,
who have had communion with God in any measure, however small, not
overlook the mercy, but thankfully entertain it. There is real com-
rauuion with God in these two things. (1.) In longing desires after
Christ : Psalm xxvi. 9, " With my soul have I desired thee in the
night, yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early." When the
soul is touched with a desire of him above all persons and things, long-
ing for the enjoyment of him as their portion, longing for his blood to
si)rinkle them, and his Spirit to sanctify them, it is an evidence of
the Lord's discovering himself in some measure to that soul. — There
is real communion with God, (2.) In real love to him, well-pleased-
uess with his covenant ; Matth. xi. 6, " And blessed is he, whosoever
shall not be offended in me." There can be no true love to Christ,
which is not produced by his love to the soul : 1 John iv. 19, " We
love him, because he first loved us." And no heart will be truly
satisfied with the covenant, with the tenor, benefits, and duties of
it, but that which, by the influences of the Spirit, is framed in con-
formity to it : " Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy
power," Psalm ex. 3. If this has been your attainment, then cherisli
the spark. Quench not the Spirit. Satan will endeavour to rob
you of it ; but if it be tenderly watched and preserved, the Spirit
will break out into a flame : Hos. vi. 3, " Then shall we know, if we
follow on to know the Lord." — Let those who have had a more than
ordinary meeting with God, and have been filled with consolation,
admire God's mercy towards them, and prepare themselves for trials
and temptations which will try their strength. God's children are
sufi'ered to eat no idle bread. Watch, therefore, and pray, that ye
enter not into temptation. Carefully cherish and preserve what God
has done for you, and improve it to your progress in sanctification.
This is the true way to keep your candle shining. — Let us attend,
III. To the posture of the angel. He stood, he did not sit down,
because he was not to stay. This was an extraordinary visit to
Paul, he was not to look for this as his ordinary entertainment from
heaven. Extraordinary manifestations are what we cannot expect
to bo continued, without interruption, while we are here. God will
AND HIS PHOPERTT. 44:9
have a difference betwixt heaven and earth. And as two summers
are not to be looked for in one year, so a lasting heaven of comfort
upon earth will not be found. Though the Lord may sometimes
feed his people with strong sensible manifestations in this world, this
is not their ordinary. They must for the most part live by faith>
without extraordinary manifestations : 2 Cor. v. 7, " For we walk
by faith, not by sight." Let Christians then lay their account with
a struggling and wrestling life, with the clouds returning after the
rain. For we are as those who travel by night, with the light of
the moon, which sometimes shines clear, at oiher times hides her
head under a cloud : Psalm xxx. 7, " Thou didst hide thy face, and
I was troubled." — We are,
lY. To consider the time of this manifestation : " This night."
It was a sad night in that ship, all hopes of being saved were lost,
and then the Lord appeared to help. — This may lead us to observe,
that when things are brought to an extremity, this is a special op-
portunity which the Lord takes to appear for those that are his.
This is the j^romise : Deut. xxxii. 36, " For the Lord will judge his
people, and repent himself for his servants, when he sees that their
power is gone, and there is none shut up or left." And agreeable
to this has been the experience of the saints in many cases. Thus,
as to the church of God in Egypt, their bondage was most hard, be-
fore the Lord delivered them. The reasons why the Lord does this
are many. — Among others,
1. By this the hand of God appears most eminent in the deliver-
ance. The more desperate that the case be, the love of God in
thinking upon his people, his wisdom in contriving their deliverance,
his power in bringing it to pass, appear the more conspicuous : Isa.
xxxiii. 10, " Now "will I rise, saith the Lord ; now will I be exalted ;
now will I lift up myself." He has the greater revenue of glory,
by curing the disease when past all hope. — Another reason is,
2. That it brings the greater advantage to the saints : John xi.
15, " And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the in-
tent you may believe." For hereby their eyes are opened to see
their own weakness more, their patience is tried, their faith in God
confirmed and strengthened, and their high thoughts of God and his
perfections raised to a higher pitch. — As an improvement of this, I
observe, that this affords ground of hope and comfort to the Lord's
people, when matters are come to the lowest ebb with them, Zech.
xiv. 7- Faith has ground to stand upon, when all things fail to
sense. It is God's special time of beginning to work, when men can
do no more. Thus Hagar at the well. Many a time the Lord makes
the wheel of providence drive downward and downward, till we are
almost at its extrimity ; and then is the turning point.
460 THE SAIWTS gob's SERVANTS
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.
SERMON XL I.
Acts xxviii. 23,
For there stood hy me this night the angel of the Lord, whose I am, a7id
whom I serve.
Having explained and improved the first brancli of the text, I now
come to the
Second branch, namely, Paul's special relation to the God of hea-
ven : " Whose I am, and whom I serve." And this is the chief
thing I would insist upon. And here Paul declares two things. 1.
To whom he belonged : " I am God's, I own no other Father, Lord,
Master, or Proprietor." The centurion might say, " I am Caesar's ;"
but Paul avows a more honourable Proprietor. 2. What was his
business : " Whom I serve." He was on the service of that God to
whom he belonged.
This word, " the Lord, whose I am," is very important. There
were four things implied in it.
1. A comfortable view of God's special interest in him. He was
convinced, that whoever others belonged to, he belonged to God,
that there was a saving relation betwixt God and him. — There is,
2. A recognizing God's special interest in him. He had said it
before at his first accepting of the covenant, " I am the Lord's ;" and
he did not repent the bargain, but repeated it over again, " I am
his."— There is,
3. An open profession of his special relation to God. • He was not
ashamed of his proprietor, his Lord and Master ; but he gloried in
it, accounting himself happy in the relation. — There is,
4. A rejoicing in it, particularly with respect to this season of
distress. As if he had said, The sea rages, the waves threaten us
with death ; but this is my happiness, I am the Lord's, in whose
hands all these are. — From this subject I would take the following
Doctrines ; —
DocT. I. That it is the duty and interest of those who have truly
given themselves away to the Lord, to look on themselves as his.
DocT. IL That those who are the Lord's ought to make, and will
make, God's service their business. — We begin with
DocT. I. That it is the duty and interest of those who have truly-
given themselves away to the Lord, to look on themselves as his.
In treating this point, I shall,
I. Confirm this doctrine.
AND HIS PROPERTT. 451
II. Shew in what respects those who have giyen themselves away
to the Lord in his covenant are to look upon themselves as his.
III. Assign reasons why it is the duty of those who have truly
given themselves away to the Lord in his covenant, thus to look on
themselves as his.
IV Shew how it is their interest to look on themselves as the
Lord's.
V. Conclude with some practical improvement. — We are, then,
1. To confirm the doctrine, That it is the duty and interest of
those who have truly given themselves away to the Lord, to look on
themselves as his. This is evident, if you consider,
L The laudable practice of the saints, who had given themselves
away to the Lord. They go over the bargain again, hold by it, and
look upon themselves as the Lord's : Psalm cxvi. 16, " Lord,
truly I am thy servant, I am thy servant, and the son of thy hand-
maid, thou hast loosed my bonds." And Psalm cxix. 94, " I am
thiue, save me." The spouse, Song ii. 16, " My beloved is mine,
and I am his."
2. The Spirit of God instructs them so to do. 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20,
" What ! know ye not that your body is the temple of the holy
Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God ? And ye are not
your own, for ye are bought with a price : therefore glorify God in
your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." There is great
weight in it, whose we look on ourselves to be. It is the sin of
many, that they say. Psalm xii. 4, " Our lips are our own : who is
Lord over us ?" This proceeds from Satan, and the corrupt heart.
The Spirit of the Lord teaches his own to look on themselves as his.
3. The Lord looks on such to be his, by a special relation : John
xvii. 9, 10, " I pray for them : I pray not for the world, but for
them which thou has given me ; for they are thine. And all mine
are thine, and thine, are mine ; and I am glorified in them." Yea,
he takes a pleasure to assert his interest in them ; he calls them,
and pleads with them, to own the mutual relation betwixt him and
them : Jer. iii. 4, " Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My
Father, thou art the guide of my youth ?"
Lastly, The nature of the thing requires it, for they are his in-
deed. Honest covenanters with God, give themselves to the Lord :
2 Cor. viii. 5, " But first gave their ownselves to the Lord, and
unto us by the will of God." They yield themselves to him, so that
they are his, and therefore should look upon themselves as such. —
Let us now,
II. Shew in what respects those who have given themselves away
to the Lord in his covenant, are to look upon themselves as his.
452 THE saint's god's servants
1. They are to look upon themselves as his, in oppositiou to all
his competitors. The Lord will not divide share in his covenant-
people with any whatsoever : Isa. xxvi. 13, *' Lord our God, other
lords besides thee, have had dominion over ns ; but by thee only
will we make mention of thy name." He will admit no rival with
hira, but if ye take me, let these go. The soul, till it comes within
the covenant, is in a restless case, like a bee going from flower to
flower, or a bird from bush to bush. The man has many masters
and lords. But when come into the covenant, he breaks his league
with them all, and is married to Christ, to live in undivided society
with hira : Psalm xlv. 10, " Hearken, daughter, and consider, and
incline thine ear: forget also thine own people, and thy father's
house."
Believers, ye are not your own, and you must no more look on
yourselves to be your own, 1 Cor. vi. 19, (quoted above). Have you
given yourselves away to him ? Then you are no more at your own
disposal. Faith is the soul's coming out of itself to the Lord, that
he may be all to us, and we as nothing. Away, then, with self-
wisdom, it is but folly : self-righteousness, nothing other than rags;
and self-strength is pitiful weakness.
You must no more look on yourselves as the children of your na-
tural father the devil. You have been too long at his beck, his
captives, slaves, and drudges. You must now change masters, you
must renounce the prince of darkness, having enlisted with the
Prince of peace. They are contrary masters, and ye cannot servo
both, Matth. vi. 24. Answer all temptations to sin with this, that
ye have come out from among them, and therefore have nothing to
do with the work or entertainment of the house of hell.
Believers, you are to look on yourselves as no more belonging to
the world lying in wickedness : John xv. 19, " Because ye are not
of the world; but I have chosen you out of the. world, therefore the
world hateth you." Have you come away to Christ in the co-
venant ? Then you have turned your back on the world, on its
courses and ways, you must no more conform yourselves thereto,
but to the heavenly Jerusalem : Rom. xii. 2, " And be not con-
formed to this world ; but be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable,
and perfect will of God." You have put your hand to the plough,
do not adventure to look back. You have left the society of the
wicked, do not mix with them again : Psalm xxii. 7, " Thou shalt
keep them, Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation
for ever." Ye are no more for your lusts and idols, but for the
Lord : Rom. vi. 16, " His servants ye are, to whom ye obey." Have
AND HIS rROPERTY. 453
you given Christ the throne ? Then your lusts must be mortified :
" For they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the afiec-
tions and lusts," Gal. v. 24. The ofi'ending right hand and eye
must be parted with. These will return back to seek entertainment
from you as formerly ; but remember, you must be as obedient chil-
dren, " not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in
your ignorance," 1 Pet. i. 14. — Finally, consider yourselves as no
more belonging to the law, or covenant of works, as a husband :
Rom. vii. 4, " Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to
the law by the body of Christ ; that ye should be married to another,
even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth
fruit unto God." They who have laid lold on Christ, in the co-
venant of grace, are divorced from the law. So that, though you
are to perform all incumbent duties, you are not to perform them
under the influence of the first covenant, as seeking and procuring
life and salvation by them ; but to express your thankfulness to
him, whose you are, as being under Christ's law of love.
2. They are to look on themselves as his universally, without ex-
ception or reserve of any thing. Whatever you are, whatever you
have, whatever you can do, or suffer, all is the Lord's ; for in that
day in which the soul closes honestly with Christ, all is made
over to him together. To be more particular. — Look, then, on your
bodies as his, to be temples for his Spirit, 1 Cor. vi. 19. with which
to serve him. Even all the members of the body, are to be conse-
crated to the Lord, as instruments of righteousness unto God, Rom.
vi. 13. You are to use your tongues in speaking for him, your hands in
acting for him, your feet in going his errands. To abuse the body by
intemperance, uncleanness, and the like, is to defile the temple of God.
To exhaust the body in worldly labour, so as to unfit it for bearing
its part in the service of God, is sacrilege, a devouring that which is
holy ; for your bodily strength is the Lord's. — Look upon your
souls also as his. The soul is the best part of the man, and it is
given away to God when one enters into his covenant. It is pur-
chased by Christ, as a precious thing ; and ye are to have a pecu-
liar care of it, and must not presume to lay it at stake, as many do,
for the satisfying of a lust, who often forget to loose the precious
pledge by repentance. — All the faculties of your souls are his. —
Your hearts are the Lord's : Prov. xxii. 26, " My son, give me
thine heart." The world and our lusts have long divided our hearts
betwixt them. They have been as a common inn, so throng with
strangers, that the Master of the house had to lodge without. But,
remember ! they are now the Lord's ; that he must be the object
of your choice, your love, your desire, and delight ; and tliut all
454 THB sAiKis god's sektakts
your affections must centre in him whose your heart is. — Your will
is also the Lord's : Acts ix. 6, " Lord, what wilt thou have me to
do ?" You must learn to say, Thy will be done. Put away your
self-will. The will of his commandments must determine your
practice ; the will of his providence, your lot. The long quarrel be-
twixt the Lord and yon must now be at an end, namely, whether
your will or his shall be done. His will must ever govern your will,
and yours stoop to his. — Your conscience is his. It ought to be
subject to him in all things, and to him only. Receive nothing in
religion, in point of faith or practice, but upon the authority of
God, speaking in his word ; otherwise, you prostitute conscience to
your lusts and the opinions of men : Matth. xxiii. 9, " And call no
man your father upon earth : for one is your father which is in hea-
ven." With whatever pretences these things be supported, such as
antiquity, strictness, &c., they are to be rejected, Col. ii. 20, 21, 22.
Receive every thing held out in the word, however opposite it may
be to your carnal reasoning, interests, &c. Your every thought
should be brought into captivity, to the obedience of Christ, 2 Cor.
X. 5. — Again, you must consider also, your worldly comforts and
enjoyments as his. If you have given yourselves to the Lord, you
have laid them all down at his feet, to be disposed of at his plea-
sure : Luke xiv. 26, " If any man come unto me, and hate not his
father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sis-
ters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be ray disciple." You
will look on them now as the Lord's loan, which he may call back
from you when he will. Look on them as what you are to improve
for God. Your life, your liberty, honour, wealth, reputation, all is
the Lord's, to be used for his honour, and willingly parted with at
his call. — Your gifts and opportunities for serving God, are also his.
The Lord has put them under your care, for the use of them, while
the property remains in himself. You are but the stewards, and
must use these talents for his honour ; he has given you them with
this charge, Luke xix. 13, " Occupy till I come." Have you a gift
of knowledge ? Do good by it, use all your gifts and comforts, for
your salvation-work, and for the good of those with whom you are
connected. — Finally, your time is his, Eph. v. 16, " Redeeming the
time, because the days are evil." Do not think you may fill up
your time as you please in pursuit of vanities, or in following your
lusts. No, you must make conscience of spending to good purpose
every inch of your time ; you must be careful that you trifle it not
away, doing nothing, or worse than nothing.
3. They must look on themselves as his for evermore ; not merely
for a time, but for all times, all cases, and all conditions : Psalm
AND HIS PEOPERTT. 455
Ixxii. 23, 26, " I am," says the Psalmist, " continually with thee. —
My flesh and my heart faileth ; but God is the strength of ray heart,
and my portion for ever." Remember, that your ears are bored to
the Lord's door-posts, you have lifted up your hand to the Lord,
and cannot go back. — You must, then, be his, without interruption :
Deut. V. 29, " that there were such an heart in them, that they
would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it
might be well with them, and with their children for ever !" You
must not be one day for God, another for the devil, nor take your
religion by fits and starts, you must not suit your religion to times
and companies. — You must be his, without apostacy and defection :
Psalm cxix. 12, " I have inclined mine heart to perform thy
statutes alway, even unto the end." You must make no terra-day
with Christ, but having loved your Master, you raust resolve to
abide with him for ever, to live with him, and to die with him, that
thus you may be with him through the endless ages of eternity. And
therefore your heart must rest in him, as an object which is com-
pletely satisfying: Psalm Ixxiii. 25, " Whom have I in heaven but
thee ? and there is none upon earth, that I desire besides thee."
Have you not come into the covenant, because, having traversed the
whole creation, you could not find rest to your souls there, and
therefore had taken Christ as a covering to the eyes, and a com-
plete portion to the soul ? — Resolve, then, that nothing shall part
betwixt the Lord and you ; that you will neither be boasted nor
bribed away from him by the words, the smiles, the frowns, the re-
proaches, nor threatenings of the world : Song viii. 6, 7, " Set me as
a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm : for love is strong
as death ; jealousy is cruel as the grave : the coals thereof are
coals of fire, which hath a vehement flame. Many waters cannot
quench love, neither can the floods drown it : if a man would give
all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be con-
temned." Whatever storms blow, you are the Lord's, you must not
leave him, you must not be ofi^ended at his cross, but follow the
Lamb whithersoever he goeth, through good report and bad report.
— We now proceed,
III. To give sorae reasons, why it is the duty of those who have
truly given themselves away to the Lord in his covenant, thus to
look on themselves as his. — They are to do so,
1. Because they are his, in a manner the rest of the world are
not. Our Lord has a peculiar title and interest in all who have
honestly entered into covenant with him, John xvii. 9, 10, (quoted
above ;) and why should not this be avowed ? — They are his, by a
new creation : Isa. xliii. 21, " This people have I formed for ray-
456 THE SAINTS GOD'S SERVANTS
self; they shall shew forth my praise." There is not one soul,
which has, in the way of believing, given itself to Christ, but it is
made new by the power of regenerating grace. Hence every be-
liever, who receives power to become a son of God, is said to be
" born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of
man, but of God," John i. 12, 13. So that the Lord has the same
right to the new creature, which he has to all by their first creation.
Those who are new creatures, are absolutely his property ; what in
consequence they are made to be, it is all intended to be for his
glory, — Again, they are his by redemption, applied to thera. They
are bought with a price. Jesus " gave himself for us, that he
might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a
peculiar people, zealous of good works." They were captives
to Satan, debtors to the law, and criminals to justice : he has
given his life a ransom for them : and thus has bought thera to
himself. They could contribute nothing to a making up the price,
he paid it all ; and thus they are, on the best grounds, his wholly. —
Finally, they are his by covenant : Heb. viii. 10, " For this is the
covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, after those days,
saith the Lord ; I will put my laws into their minds, and write
them in their hearts : and I will be to them a God, and they shall
be to me a people." He has offered this covenant to them, they
have accepted it ; in its nature, it is a marriage-covenant, they are
his spouse. They have submitted to his royal sceptre, they are his
subjects. They have dedicated themselves to the Lord ; they have
made a gift of themselves to the Lord. They have thus lifted up
their hands to the Lord, and so cannot draw back, but must in duty
consider themselves as his. — They are to do so ; for,
2. The honour of God requires it. Those who are servants to
persons of high rank, are usually subject to bear the badge of their
master; and those who are the Lord's are in the same manner
bound : Rev. xiv. 1, " And I looked, and lo ! a Lamb stood on the
mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, hav-
ing his Father's name written in their foreheads." It is to the dis-
honour of our Lord, when we look on ourselves as our own, or are
ashamed of acknowledging ourselves to be his : this cannot but re-
flect a dishonour on him ; even as the avouching ourselves to be his
tends to his honour before the world. — "We should do so ; for,
3. Our standing to the covenant requires it : Psalm cxix. 94, " I
am thine, save me, for I have sought thy precepts." If we do not
repent the bargain, but intend to hold by it, we must of necessity
look on ourselves as his, having given away ourselves to him. If
we refuse it, we do in eftect retract our consent, recall the gift we
AND HIS PROPERTY. 457
liave made of ourselves to the Lord, and after vows, make inquiry.
We give up with the covenant, and deny our indenting with Jesus
Christ. — We now proceed,
lY. To shew how it is their interest to look on themselves as the
Lord's — It is so, First, in respect of sanctification. Second, in re-
spect of consolation.
First, In respect of sanctification. If you have given yourselves
away to the Lord, you will henceforth look on yourselves as his
only, his wholly, and his for ever ; and. this will be of excellent use to
promote your sanctification, and so be a notable mean of real pros-
perity to your souls. — As,
1. It will be an antidote against backsliding. The consideration
of your being the Lord's will make you say, with Jephthah, " I
have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back." You
will have many temptations to go back to former lusts ; both hell's
smiles and frowns will be used for that purpose. And. there is a back-
sliding disposition in the best : " My people," says God, Hos, xi. 7,
" are bent to backsliding from me ; though they called them to the
Most High, none at all would exalt him." But it is dangerous !
" If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him," fleb.
X. 38. Remember Lot's wife ; look on yourselves as the Lord's.
This will be a mean to keep you with him, as the servant is kept
with his master, whose ear was bored, and nailed to his master's
door-post. This will let you see you may not, you must not go
back.
2. It will aff"ord an answer to every temptation. It will make
you say with Joseph, "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin
against God?" Gen. xxxix. 9. As long as you are in the world, you
will not want temptations ; and there is not a snare in the world
but has some one friend or other to it in our hearts, some corruption
which is nearly allied to it. And when they meet, it will be hard
to keep the friends from close embraces, unless the soul will reso-
lutely say, " I am the Lord's, I am not at my own disposal ;
whatever others may do, I cannot comply, for I have given myself
away to the Lord, to fight under his banner, against the devil, the
world, and the flesh. I am married to Christ, and therefore I can-
not entertain other lovers."
3. It will be a spur to duty, 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20, (quoted already.)
If we be the Lord's servants, we must serve him ; if we be married
to Christ, we must exert ourselves to please our Husband ; if planted
in the house of God, we must bring forth fruit : Mai. i. 6, " A son
honoureth his father, and a servant his master." Our relation to
the Lord will make us see that more is expected and looked for at
YoL. IX. 2 a
458 THE SAINTS GOD'S SERVANTS
our hands, than from those who have not entered into his covenant :
Matt. V. 48, " Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is
in heaven is perfect."
4. It will blow the coal of your zeal for God, and make you of a
public spirit, to devote all you are or have to the promoting of God's
honour in the world : Phil. i. 21, " For to me to live is Christ, and
to die is gain." "Were the impression that we are the Lord's more
strong on our spirits, it would excite us effectually to take the part
of God more vigorously against an ungodly generation, to stand up
for his honour, his truths, and for the cause of holiuess. The sense of
the obligation of the covenants, by which these lands became the
Lord's wearing off the spirits of the generation, (though the matter
of them, being moral duty, and nationally sworn to, leaves an in-
violable obligation on all succeeding generations), is one great spring
of the lukewarmness, the profanity, and backslidings of all ranks of
persons in church and state at this day. And if unto this be added,
the weakening of the impressions of our sacramental emgagements
to be the Lord's, which too evidently appears to take place, we may
well say, "What will the generation turn to ? Shall men take
bonds on them to be the Lord's, and afterwards look on themselves
in effect as loosened from them ? To this is owing the uselessness
of persons for God, their insignificancy in the world as to any ser-
vice for God. Some have a tongue which can speak well enough for
themselves, but they will not move it in the cause of holiness. Some
have authority, credit, and wealth, something or other by which
they might be useful for God in their families, in their neighbour-
hood, in their congregation, to suppress sin, to encourage piety, to
advance Christ's kingdom, the credit of his word and ordinances ;
but none of these things are their business. If they had the deep
impression of themselves, and all which is theirs, being the Lord's,
they would see themselves obliged to employ for God whatever they
are or have.
5. It will be a preparative for the hardest piece of service God
may put into your hand. He puts into the hands of all, the cut-
ting off of right-hand lusts, and plucking out of right-eye sins. If
this impression wear off men's spirits, they will then stand and dis-
pute the divine orders ; they will debate with God, as if they had
not already made the bargain ; they will preserve these, as if in
their covenant they had been expressly excepted. But, " I am the
Lord's," would put an end to the dispute, and learn us to obey with-
out quarreling, knowing we are in nothing masters of ourselves.
Thus it did with Abraham, Gen. xxii. : Heb. xi. 17, " By faith
Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac, and he that received
AXD HIS PKOPEKTT. 459
the promises offered up his only-begotten Son." You know not
what hard piece of work for God may be put into your hand ; but
think ye are the Lord's wholly, and therefore are to obey with-
out reserve. You have put a blank into the Lord's hand, saying,
with Paul, Acts is. 6, " Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ?"
Whatever, then, he fills up must be welcome : and will be so, if you
look on yourselves as no more your own, but as the Lord's.
6. It will reconcile you to your lot in private trials : Psalm xlvii.
4, " He shall choose our inheritance for us." It may be, God takes
from you the comfort you expected in your relations, he takes away
your health, your substance, in a greater or less degree, your credit
and reputation, in regard they are laid under reproach. But the
man who can solidly say, " I am the Lord's," sits down resigned
under all these, reasoning thus with himself, " My comforts, ray
health, my wealth, and reputation, are all the Lord's, he may do with
them as he will. I have put them all in his hands, to give or with-
hold as he sees good. I am the Lord's, let him do with me as to
him seems good."
7. It will determine you to the right side in public or private
trials. When the Lord says, " Who is on my side ?" while many
are drawn away to side with sin and Satan, this will determiue
you to take part with Christ, his people, and cause. When a gene-
ration is associating together against God, it is good for a person to
think with himself that he is already disposed of to the Lord, while
those who are not looking on themselves as the Lord's, are ready to
fall in with the multitude going the wrong way.
Lastly, It will help you to suffer for Christ. This was what bore
up Paul's heart, when he was a prisoner in that ship which was
ready to be swallowed up in the waves. If you be the Lord's, your
substance, your liberty, your life, are all the Lord's, and at his dispo-
sal. And the consideration of God's interest in them will help you
to lay them down at his feet. — We shall now consider.
Secondly, This in respect of consolation. Your looking on your-
selves as the Lord's will be of notable use for your consolation. He
who can, on solid ground, say, " I am the Lord's," has thus a store-
house of comfort, more than if all the world was his. He who can
say this, can express a great deal more than he who can say, A king-
dom, a crown, an empire, are mine. Three marks of persons who
can avow thus much shall be offered.
1. He who can say, " My heart is the Lord's ; he has the chief
room in ray affections above all persons and all things," may say, " I
am the Lord's :" Psalm Ixxiii. 25, " Whom have I in heaven but
thee ? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee."
2g2
460 TUE SAINTS god's SERVANTS
1 Pet. ii. 7, " Unto you therefore which believe he is precious." Hast
thou seen a glory in him, which has so darkened all created ex-
cellency, that he reigns in thy aftections ? Thy heart is his captive,
so that he is dearer to thee than what is dearest in the world. Say
then, I am his, for he has thine heart.
2. He who can say, " My life is his," so that thou makest it thy
habitual endeavours to live to him, not to thyself, not to thy lusts,
Phil. i. 21, " For to me to live is Ciirist ;" is it the great design
thou hast in the world, to please him, to walk before him, unto all
well pleasing in heart, lip, and life ? and what is dipleasing to him,
is displeasing and a burden to thee, whether it be in thyself or
others : say, " I am his," for thy life is his.
3. He who can say, " My all is his," art thou content rather to
part with the whole of what is dear to thee, than to part with him
and his way ? and art thou resolved honestly to lay thy all down at
his feet, to be disposed of in what way he orders ? Say, then, " I
am his," for thy all is his, Luke xiv. 26.
Thus, you see who they are who may say, as Paul did, " God,
whose I am." And he who can say this, he may, in consequence of
it, speak these six comfortable words : —
1. He may say, " God is mine :" Song ii. 16, " My beloved is mine,
and I am his;" for the covenant-relation is mutual: "The Father
is my Father, the Son is my Saviour, the Holy Ghost is my Sancti-
fier." Nay, thou mayest run over all the attributes of God, and
call them thine; thou mayest say, " His power is mine to defend
me, his wisdom to guide me, his mercy, grace, and love, all are mine.
Even as a wife, in her right to her husband, may call every thing
which is his, her own. — He may say,
2. " All the promises and benefits of the covenant are mine :"
2 Pet. i. 14, " Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and
precious promises, that by these we might be partakers of the
divine nature, having escaped the pollution that is in the world
through lust." In that day in which the soul gives itself to Christ,
Christ gives himself to that soul ; and with him they have all the
promises and benefits of the covenant, as of the marriage-contract ;
so that the soul may say, " Peace with God is mine ; pardon, and
every blessing, are mine." They may read Christ's Testament, and
of all the precious promises in it, may say, " They are mine :"
2 Cor. i. 20, " For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in
him amen, unto the glory of God by us." — They may say,
3. *' I shall get safe through the world to the other side :" John
xvii. 12, " While I was with them in the world, I kept thera in thy
name ; those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is
AND HIS PROPBUTY. 461
lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled."
Satan and the world may yet back their own, though they have
been pretending to leave them : but they never can get back so
much as one of those who are truly the Lord's. The bond of the
covenant, savingly entered into, is a sure bond, it will keep thera
who cannot keep it. — They may say,
4. " I shall be cared and provided for in all cases and conditions."
Surely God will care for his own, come of others what will. He will
provide for those of his own house. He who feeds his birds, will not
starve his babes . " Though the earth be removed, and though the
mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waves
thereof roar, and be troubled ; though the mountains shake with
the swelling thereof: there is a river, the streams whereof shall
make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the
Most High," Psalm xlvi. — They may say,
5. "All I meet with in the world shall turn to my good :" Rom.
viii. 28, " And we know that all things work together for good to
them that love God, to them who are the called according to his pur-
pose." Art thou his ? Then every thing shall be for thy advantage
in the end. The stones of affliction thrown at thee shall be as pre-
cious stones, and all the paths of God shall drop down fatness.
— They may say,
Lastly, " All is mine :" 1 Cor. iii. 21—23, " For all things are
yours ; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life,
or death, or things present, or things to come ; all are yours, and
ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's." For, having a right to Christ,
tliey have a right to all things with and through him.
IV. I am now to make some improvement. — From what has been
observed, we may may learn,
1. How foolish those are who cannot be persuaded to give themselves
away to the Lord in his covenant. They neglect their great duty,
they are blind to their great interest. Think on this, you who will
be your own, and say, " Who is Lord over us ?" You will have
your own will to be your law, and will not be the Lord's. It
is but a poor affair, even though thou could say, " All the world is
mine," for God will say of you, " I never knew you." He will dis-
own you at death, at judgment, and through eternity. — Learn,
2. That it is the duty of those who lay hold on the covenant, to
receive also the seals of it : for thus we publicly acknowledge our-
selves to be the Lord's. It is strange how those who plead their
accepting of the covenant should live in the neglect of improving
its seals. Among men, they who are in earnest for a bargain or
contract, certainly will not refuse to ratify it. How is it, then, that
462 THE SAINTS GOB S SERVANTS
persona are for the covenant of grace, and yet will not ratify it, by
receiving the seals of that covenant? — Learn,
3. That such as have given themselves honestly away to the Lord,
should look on themselves as his. Impress it on your spirits, ye
are not your own, but the Lord's. Have you given your consent to
Christ in the covenant? Then henceforth reckon yourselves to be
his. — Look on yourselves,
(1.) As his habitation : Eph. ii. 22, " In whom ye also are builded
together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." Christ has
called to you to open to him, promising to dwell in you. You have
given consent to him, now look on yourselves as his habitation, and
exert yourselves to drive out the old inhabitants. Consider your-
selves as no more at liberty to harbour his enemies. Our Lord has
made a purchase of two houses, and has made two journeys, to take
infeftment and possession of them; (1.) Haviug purchased heaven
for his people, he went thither in his ascension, to take possession
of it for them : Heb. vi. 20, " Whither the forerunner hath for us
entered, even Jesns, made an High-priest for ever after the order of
Melchisedec." (2.) Having purchased the sinner for himself by his
blood, he comes to the sinner's heart, to take possession of it for
himself: Rev. iii. 20, " Behold," says he, " I stand at the door and
knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in
to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." To the former
house he has ready access, having to do with a holy and just God :
but not so to the latter ; often his enemies are admitted in, and he is
made to stand at the door, as if the house were not his own, because
here he has to do with fickle creatures : Song v. 2, " I sleep, but my
heart waketh; it is the voice of my Beloved that knocketh, saying,
Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled : for my
head is filled with dew, and ray locks with the drops of the night."
— Look on yourselves,
(2.) As his temple, 1 Cor. vi. 19, (quoted above) ; a temple con-
secrated and set apart for the Lord, which, therefore, it is most dan-
gerous to defile. Before the soul comes into the covenant, the man
is Satan's work -house : Eph. ii. 2, " He is the Spirit that now
worketh in the children of disobedience." His heart is a forge of
evil imaginations, a den of thieves. But entering into the covenant,
he is consecrated for a holy temple unto the Lord. Be careful,
then, that your hearts and lives be a continual sacrifice of praise,
Christ the altar, and thou the priest. Feast on the sacrifice slain
for you, feed daily on Jesus Christ, and guard against pollutions of
heart and life. — Look on yourselves,
(3.) As his confederates, or covenant-people : Heb. viii. 10, " I
AND HIS PKOPERTY. 463
will be to them a God, and they shall he to me a people." Re-
member, the covenant ye have entered into is an oflfensive and de-
fensive league. You are to have common friends and common
enemies with the Lord. Whoso are the friends of God, they must
be your friends also, as Ruth said to Naomi, " Thy people shall be
my people." Psalm cxix. 63, " I am a companion of all them that
fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts." If you desire hea-
ven, you must associate with those who are going thither, for a com-
panion of fools shall be destroyed." — His enemies must also be
yours : Psalm cxxxix. 21, 22, " Do not I hate them, Lord, that
hate thee ? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against
thee ? I hate them with perfect hatred, I count them mine enemies."
See also Psalm Ixix. 9, " For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me
up, and the reproaches of them that reproached thee have fallen
upon me." — Look on yourselves,
(4.) As his followers : Eph. v. 1, "Be ye, therefore, followers of
God as dear children." Our Lord is given for a Leader, Isa. Iv. 4,
to lead his people through the world to heaven. Now, you are go-
ing through the wilderness, where it is hard, in many cases, to
discern the right way, and where there are many to lead us wrong.
The multitude goes the way to destruction, but do you keep your
eye on your guide : Prov. iii. 6, " In all thy ways acknowledge him,
and he shall direct thy paths." Observe his precepts, his example ;
mark his footsteps, and follow them : 1 John ii. 6, " He that saith he
abideth in him, ought himself also to walk even as he walked."
Follow also the footsteps of his flock, and conform not to the world,
to follow them : Rora. xii. 2, " And be not conformed to this world ;
but be transformed, by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God." —
Look on yourselves,
(5.) As his subjects, for he is your King and Lord, yea, your God
and King, to whom you owe absolute resignation and obedience :
Psalm xlv. 11, " He is thy Lord, and worship thou him." Christ
has a kingdom in the world, and whoso have entered into his co-
venant are the subjects of that kingdom. Observe, therefore, to
live according to his laws, confederate not with his enemies, but be
true to your King and Lord. — Look on yourselves,
(6.) As children of his family : 1 Pet. i. 14, " As obedient child-
ren, not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in
your ignorance; because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy."
Have you come out from among those of Satan's family, and entered
into the family of God ? then walk as the children of God. Do not
again mix with Satan's family : Psalm xii. 7, " Thou shalt keep
46 1 THE SAINTS GOD's SERVANTS
tliem, Lord, thou slialt preserve tlieni from this generation for
ever." Avoid them, their company, and their ways, as you would
shun a society infected with the plague: Acts ii. 40, " And with
many other words did he testify, saying, Save yourselves from
this untoward generation." Strive to be like your heavenly Father ;
study to be obedient and dutiful children to hira. — Look on your-
selves,
Lastly, As his servants. So says the text. Our Lord has been
amongst us, seeking servants to himself. Remember he is your
Master, and you must apply yourselves to his work.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.
SERMON XLII.
Acts xxviii. 23,
For there stood by me this night the angel of the Lord, ivhose L am, and
luhom L serve.
Having considered and improved the first doctrine taken from these
words, I now go on to
DocT. II. That those who are the Lord's ought to make, and will
make, God's service their business. — For illustrating this doctrine, I
shall shew,
I. What is that service of God which is the business of those
who are the Lord's.
II. I am to shew, what it is to make God's service our business,
or when one may be said to do so.
III. I will confirm tlie doctrine. And then,
IV. "We shall add the practical improvement of the subject. — We
are then,
I. To shew what is that service of God which is the business of
those who are the Lord's.
This is to be considered in respect, First, Of the matter ; Secondly,
Of the manner of this service.
Fh^st, We are to consider the service of God, as to the matter of
it. This is as wide and broad, as is the broad law of God ; there-
fore serving God, and keeping his commandments, are joined to-
gether. The servant's work is to do the Master's will : Luke xii.
47, " And that servant which knew his Lord's will, and prepared
not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with
AND HIS PROPERTY. 465
many stripes." I sliall offer you some directions anent this service,
that you may see what it is in respect of the matter of it.
1. There is salvation-work, and generation-work, which God puts
in your hands, as the matter of your service. — There is salvation-
work : Phil. ii. 12, " Work out your own salvation, with fear and
trembling." You must begin this work, carry it on, and work it
out. Sinner, thou art in hazard of perishing, God calls thee to see
thyself, that thou perish not, and accounts it service to hira that
thou art concerned, and layest out thyself for thy own salvation. It
is most necessary work, for the sinner's case is in this respect like
theirs, whom some punish, and oblige to work, by putting them into
a house where the water comes in on them, where they must either
work at the pump, or be drowned. — There is generation-work : Acts
xiii. 36, " For David, after he had served his own generation, by the
will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw
corruption." There is something which God has put into every one
of our hands, to do for him and his honour in the world ; the duty
of our stations and relations, and the duty arising from some special
occasions we have of honouring God. It is our business to discern
all this, to exert ourselves, and get it done before our time be done :
Gal. vi. 10, " As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good
unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."
If we do not, we are unprofitable servants, cumberers of the ground,
and useless for God in the world.
2. There is an external and internal service to God. — External
service, a service with the outward man : 1 Cor. vi. 20, " For ye
are bought with a price ; therefore glorify God in your body,
and in your spirit which are God's." The whole man is God's,
and therefore though internal service be preferable to external, yet
God must have the one as well as the other. Here are to be taken
in all external duties, of piety towards God, of righteousness and
mercy towards our neighbour. These are a great part of our busi-
ness in this world, if we be the Lord's servants. Our ears must be
employed to hear his word, our eyes to read it, our tongues to speak
to him in prayer and praise ; to speak of hira and for hira to men ;
our hands and all our members to act for him in the world. There
is — Internal service, we are to glorify him with our spirit, which
is his : John iv. 24, " God is a spirit; and they that worship hira,
must worship hira in spirit and in truth." This is the soul of re-
ligion, and the chief part in the service of God, without which the
other is but a lifeless, unacceptable carcape ; and therefore the cha-
racter of a true servant is taken from it : Phil. iii. 3, " We are the
circumcision which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ
466 THE SAINTS GOd's SERVANTS
Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." Art thou the Lord's ?
Then it must be your business to love him, to fear him, to believe
and depend upon him, to obey and resign yourselves unto him. In
a word, it is to keep the heart, and employ it in his service ; it is to
meditate on, rejoice and delight in him ; suiting your will to his in
all things, and consecrating the whole of your affections to him.
3. There is stated service and continual service. — Stated services
are to be performed to God, at such and such times. Thus you are
to serve him in secret in your closets, in private in your families,
worshipping him morning and evening, Matth. vi. 6 ; Jer. x. 25.
If you be the Lord's, it is the least you can do, to pay thy homage to
him by thyself in the morning, when he gives thee a new day ; and
at evening, when thou are to enter into the darkness of the night.
And if yourselves be the Lord's, you will also devote your houses
to him, and pay him your homage in a family capacity : Josh. xxiv.
15, " But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Look
on the morning sacrifice in your family as the Lord's due, as well as
the evening one. Job had as great a family, as large a stock, and
as much work in hand, as any can pretend to, yet he duly observed
the morning sacrifice. Thus did Job continually, chap. i. 5. And
then there is the Lord's weekly service in his own day, in the public
duties and ordinances thereof. A piece of service this which those
who are the Lord's will find themselves obliged to make conscience
of, and not loiter away the day unnecessarily at home : " Lord, I
have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine
honour dwelleth," Psalm xxvi. 8. It was the godly Shunamite's
practice, though she had a good way to go, 2 King iv. 23. It was
David's also, so that Saul knew, when he was absent, there was
certainly some extraordinary thing kept him away, 1 Sam. xx. 26.
— There is continual service : Acts xxvi. 71, " Unto which promise,
our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to
come." A Christian must never be out of his Master's work, he
serves God in the interval of duties, as well as in duties. Hence we
are ordered to pray always, and not to faint ; not that we are always
to be on our knees, but are always to be in a praying frame. The
Lord's servants will find no time in which to be idle, as long as the
broad law is continually laying work to his hands, he desires to "walk
in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless," Luke
i. 6. Whatsoever we do, we are to have an eye to God in it, and so to
manage our worldly employments, as to tincture them all with re-
ligion : Col. iii. 17, " And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all
in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Fa-
ther by him." This is the walking with God recommended to us by
the example of Enoch, Gen. v. 24.
AND IIIS PKOPERTY. 467
4. There is doing-servico and suffering-service. — There is doing-
service. The Lord calls his people to act for him. As he said to
Saul, Acts ix. 6, lie says to every one, " It shall be told thee what
thou must do." He requires doing and working from all who call
him Lord : Luke vi. 46, " And why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do
not the things which I say ?" They have much to do that are the
Lord's. They have their hearts and lives to purify. And do what
they will, they have always more to do as long as they are here :
" Brethren," says Paul, Phil. iii. 13, 14, " I count not myself to have
apprehended : but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which
are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I
press towards the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God iu
Christ Jesus." They have a great deal, which hath been wrong done,
to undo by repentance. And in all, they have much opposition,
little strength, and the Master urgeth haste ; so they have business
enough. — There is suffering-service : Phil. ii. 17, " Yea, and if I be
offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice
with you all." The Lord calls his people to serve him in bearing
of their burdens, taking up their cross and following him. And we
will never want business of that nature, every day will have the
evil thereof: Luke ix. 23, " And Jesus said unto them all, If any
man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross
and follow me." The Mediator himself, who was the Father's ser-
vant, his great service was suffering service ; and those who are his
must not think to miss it. As he suffered satisfying justice, they
must suffer for their trial, and the exercise of their graces. Thus,
when we are under the cross, we are on service, and serve the Lord
in a Christian bearing of our trials.
Lastly, There is ordinary and extraordinary service, of all the
kinds before named. — There is ordinary service. There are pieces
of work, which are the ordinary or every day's task of those who
are the Lord's, as the bearing of ordinary trials, Luke ix. 23, (above
quoted), and doing of the ordinary duties of religion. It is ordin-
ary service to fight the good fight of faith, every day grappling with
temptations from the devil, the world, and the flesh. To be running
the Christian race, making progress in sanctification, mortifying
lusts, and the like. — There is extraordinary service, which God only
sometimes calls his people to in holy providence. Thus he called
Abraham, Gen. xxii. to offer up his son. There are few servants but
they are obliged sometimes to do something beyond ordinary,
which will try their strength in a peculiar manner. Thus it is
■with God's servants ; sometimes they meet with extraordinary temp-
tations, or sufferings, and are called to extraordinary duties, to do
468 THE SAINTS gob's SERVANTS
for themselves, or to do for God. And truly there is the extraor-
dinary duty of secret fasting and prayer, without which it is hard to
live right: Zech. xii. 12, "And the land shall mourn, every family
apart." — We shall now,
II. Consider the service of God, as to the manner of it. And un-
less it be performed in the right manner, God will not account it
service to him, though ever so costly. If what we do, we would
have the Lord to account it as service to him, we must perform it.
1. In obedience to, and under the sense of the commandment of
God : Col. iii. 17, (quoted above). "What a person is prompted to,
without any respect to the commandment of God, cannot be ac-
counted as service to him, since it has no respect to his authority
in the commandment : Psalm cxix. 6, " Then shall I not be ashamed,
when I have a respect unto all thy commandments." We should learn
to do good ; and what we do, we should do it because God com-
mands it to be done, if we would shew ourselves his servants. We
should pray, because God commands it. We should eat, because he
has said, Thou shalt not kill. We should work, because he hath
said, Thou shalt not steal. Now, doing what we do in this way, it
will be all counted God's service. In serving God, we are,
2. To aim at his honour and glory in it : 1 Cor. x. 31, " Whether
therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory
of God." We should make God, and not ourselves the chief end of
all our performances, if we would have them accounted service to
God; for God will never be the re warder of that work which has
not himself for the end of it : " Ye did not at all," said God unto
his ancient people, " fast unto me, even unto me; and when ye did
eat, and when ye did drink, did ye not eat for yourselves, and drink
for yourselves ?" Zech. vii. 5, 6. If we seek ourselves, our own profit
and peace, as our chief end in what we do, God will reject our ser-
vices. For a servant, if he should work ever so diligently, if it be to
himself, not to his master, it cannot be acceptable service ; so also
in this case. — In serving God, we are to do it,
3. Out of love to him : Heb. vi. 10, " For God is not unrighte-
ous to forget your work, and labour of love, which ye have shewed
towards his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do
minister." This love is to be the predominant motive of our service,
and should be stronger than the fear of punishment, and hope of re-
ward. God sees the heart, and no service but that which comes
from the heart will be accepted of him : Col. iii. 23, " And whatso-
ever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men." He
cares not for the service of slaves, who do not serve him, but through
fear of his wrath ; nor can he away with the hireling-service of those
AND UIS PROPERTY, 469
who serve him only that they may make their own advantage by it.
The heart must be in it and at it, or it is no service in his esteem. —
We are to serve God,
Lastly, In faith : Rom. xiv. 23, " For whatever is not of faith, is
sin." Taith is an ingredient absolutely necessary in all service to
God : Heb. xi. 6, " Without faith, it is impossible to please him ;
for he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and that he is
a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." And there is a three-
fold faith required here. (1.) The faith of God's command, requir-
ing the duty, Rom. xiv. 23 ; for if persons do not believe that God
requires such a duty of them, it is not service to him. (2.) The
faith of the promise of strength for the duty, by which the soul is
carried out of itself to the Lord, for strength to perform it. We
are commanded to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus,
2 Tim. ii. 1. Thus God's service is called walking in tlie name of
the Lord: Zech. x. 12, "And I will strengthen them in the Lord;
and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the Lord."
(3.) Tlie faith of acceptance through Christ, by which the soul is
carried over the work itself to Christ, to look for its acceptance
only for his sake. — I am now to shew,
IL What it is to make God's service our business, or when a per-
son may be said to be thus employed. This will describe to you the
person who may with confidence avow this claim, " God, whose I am,
and whom I serve." In regard to such a person, I observe,
1. That God's service is his grand design in the world; he may
have many works on the wheel ; but this is the chief one : Psalm
xxvii. 4, " One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek
after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my
life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple."
Whatever employment or trade a person betakes himself to, though
he may at times put his hand to many other things ; yet the work
of his calling is still his chief business. Thus he who betakes him-
self to the service of God, will make this his chief business. There
are many things to be done ; but there is one thing more needful
beyond all other things, and this is the person's great object in the
world. Like Mary, he attends to this, and makes choice of that
good part v/hich shall not be taken from him, Luke x. 42. — Here,
however, there may be proposed this
Question, How may a person know whether he makes God's ser-
vice his grand design in the world or not ? As to this, I answer,
(1.) What is it that thou seekest to obtain with the greatest
eagerness and concern ? Psalm iv. 6, 7- This is thy giand design,
be what it will ; for what the heart is most set upon, this the per-
470 - THE SAINTS GOD's SERVANTS
son will be most concerned about. Now, is it the service of God, in
its various parts as above described, that your heart is set upon ?
then it is well. Psalm xxvii. 4, (quoted above). That person whose
heart runs like a hare in pursuit of the things of the world, but
moves like a snail in the things of the world to come, is not so. He
swims like a feather in eternal concerns, never diving into them ;
but he sinks like lead in worldly ones, for these engross the whole
of his attention.
(2.) What is that the miscarrying in which lies nearest the heart ?
The person whose business is God's service, the miscarrying in soul
matters will lie most heavy upon him ; but the miscarrying of other
matters will be heaviest on others. What the heart makes its
chief business in a greater or less measure, will be most grievous.
Thus Job, when he lost all, chap. i. was distressed ; afterwards,
when the Lord withdrew from him, he was infinitely more afi'ected.
(3.) When God's service and other things come in competition
which of those must yield in thy practice ? Luke xiv. 26, " If any
come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and chil-
dren, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot
be my disciple." A person who has got a sore leg, will dispose of
his body as may best suit it; but a person who has a tree leg, will
cut and carve with it, as may best suit his body. If a person has
the unmortified love of the world in him, so that it is to him like a
living limb, all things else must yield to it : he will dispose of his
religion, as may best suit his worldly interest, and will sacrifice his
spiritual concerns to his temporal ; and if God's service interfere
with his worldly interest, he will justle it by. But it is just the
contrary with those who make God's service their business ; in their
practice, every thing else must yield to it. — I observe,
2. That the person who makes God's service his business, serves
him with the whole man : 1 Cor. vi. 20, " For ye are bought with a
price : therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which
are God's." He not only lends his hand to the work, as a person
would do who passes by accidentally ; but sets his heart to it, as a
person whose business it is. He looks on himself as wholly the
Lord's, and therefore devotes himself wholly to him, in soul and in
body, to be at his call. — It is the business of his mind to know the
Lord, and what belongs to his eternal peace, Song i. 7. This is the
grand inquiry with which he is taken up, What is the way I must
take for another world ? What is the duty God calls me to ?
What must I do to be saved ? — It is the business of his will, to con-
form to the will of God in all things : Psalm cxix. 112, " I have in-
clined mine heart to perform thy statutes, always even unto the
AND HIS PROPERTY. 471
end." In that day in which the soul gives itself to the Lord, the
person's will is surrendered a captive to the obedience of faith ; and
the great business afterwards is, to have it to follow the will of God,
as the shadow does the body. — It is the business of his affections,
which do all centre in him : Matlh. vi. 21, " For where your treasure
is, there will your heart be also." The love of God is the compre-
hensive duty of the whole law : and where love is fixed on God,
there all the other affections will draw after him. The soul will
hate evil, will sorrow for what dishonours God, will rejoice in what
is pleasing to him, and cheerfully obey what he commands. — Finally,
even the body itself is for the Lord and his service : 1 Cor. vi. 13,
" Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord ; and the
Lord for the body." They who have truly given themselves to the
Lord, will look on their bodies as for his service in life, to act for
him, yea, and even in death to suffer for him, if he call for it. " So
now also," says Paul, " Christ shall be magnified in ray body,
whether it be by life, or by death," Phil. i. 20. — I observe,
3. The person who makes God's service his business, serves him
in all things ; that is, whatever be his business to which he is called
to, he strives to act in it as serving the Lord. This is important in
that phrase : Psalm cxvi. 18, " I have set the Lord always before
me." And we are called to it by these scriptures : Prov. iii. 6, " In
all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Col.
iii. 17, "And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the
name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father, by
him." A person who makes religion his business, will season all his
business with it, and thus cast it into a religious mould. He will
carry his religion not only to his religious duties, but diffuse a strain
of it even through his natural and civil business ; and thus carry it
with him to the field where he works, and to the market where he
trades. — Here, again, may occur another
Question, How may a person serve the Lord in managing, and
being employed about his worldly affairs ? Answer, (1.) Act from
a sense of the command : 1 Cor. vii. 24, " Brethren, let every man
wherein he is called therein abide with God." (2.) Depend on him
for direction : Prov. iii. 6, (quoted above). (3.) Depend on him for
success: Psalm cxxvii. 1, " Except the Lord build the house, they
labour in vain that build it : except the Lord keep the city, the
watchman waketh but in vain. (4.) Acquiesce in his disposing of
you as may best suit your spiritual interest. (5.) Deal with men
as if you were under God's eye. (6.) Be moderate in your pursuits,
1 Cor. vii. 29, 30. Lastly, Be suitably affected with the dispensa-
tions of providence, as they fall out to you. — I observe,
472 THE SAINTS god's SERVANTS
4. That the person who makes God's service his business, scrnples
at no piece of service which God puts in his hand, but makes con-
science of universal obedience : Psalm cxii. 6, " Then shall I not be
ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments," God's
servants are not allowed to be choosers ; and a true servant of God
will not choose his work, but applies himself to whatever God
carves out for him, even to fulfil all his will. Acts xiii. 22. Be it
doing or suffering work, his Master's will being made known, he
prepares himself to do it. The servant of God will not scruple at
an internal service, but apply himself to it, as well as external :
Phil. iii. 3, " We are the circumcision, that worship God in spirit,
that rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,"
Many will go about bodily exercise in religion, who are mere
strangers to heart-work, and be serving God in their spirits. But this
will never be acceptable, for these will always be accounted our
masters v/ho have our heart-service, — Such will not stop at painful
and hard service. It is the mark of a slothful servant, to comply
only with the easy pieces of religion : Prov. xx. 4, " The sluggard
will not plow by reason of the cold," God commands thee to
pluck out the right eye lust; if religion be thy business, serve him
in it. It was painful for Abraham to put the knife to the throat of
Isaac ; but it was his business to serve the Lord, therefore, when
called, he was ready to obey. — Such will not stop at dangerous
service, for whoso will come after Christ, must take up his cross, and
will be contented to follow the Lord, Avhithersoever he goeth. Rev.
xiv. 4. The Lord has so ordered it, that the way to heaven has
many diflicult steps in it, so that the fearful cannot walk therein,
Rev. xxi, 8, But those who come there have courage for dangers
in the way, and will follow him through the sea of this world, in a
storm as well as in a calm, — Finally, such will not stop at costly
service. The Lord calls his people sometimes in a special manner
to this duty : Prov. iii. 9, " Honour the Lord with thy substance,
and with the first-fruits of all thine increase;" And forasmuch as
their all is the Lord's, it will be at his service. Sometimes they
are called to suffer in these things, and to take joyfully the spoiling
of their goods, Ileb. x, 34. Sometimes to act for God therewith, as.
David did, when he bought the threshing-floor of Araunah, to build
an altar unto the Lord upon it, 2 Sam. xxiv. 21, 24. — I observe,
5. That the person who makes God's service his business, is con-
stant and persevering in the service of God : Psalm cxix. 112, " I
have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes, always even unto
the end." A true servant of God is for his service at all times, in
prosperity and in adversity. They who make God's service their
AND HIS PEOPERTY. 473
business, will continne with it unto the end : and this is the cha-
racter of a servant: John viii. 31, " Then said Jesus to those Jews
which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my
disciples indeed." It is to such only that the reward of grace is
promised : Rev. ii. 10, " Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give
thee a crown of life." They are constant in two respects. — They
are so,
(1.) In that they do not give over his work, laying it down and
taking it up when they please. They do not serve him by fits and
starts, but labour to go on evenly in their way. Psalm cxvi. 8,
(quoted above). The religion of many is like an ague, in which
the patient has his hot and cold fits. Thus they go to and fro,
one day for God, another for the devil. Whatever good mood they
may be in at a time, they do not abide in it. Their goodness is as a
morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. The whole
of what they have from heaven is as flashes, Psalm Ixxviii. 34.
The spirit of holiness rests not on them ; the whole of what heaven
has from them, is an over-leap into the holy ground, Job xxvii. 9,
10. But though there are great changes in the frame of the saint,
yet the habitual bent of his heart is still towards God. They are
constant in this ; for,
(2.) They never change masters again : Heb. x. 39, " But we are
not of them that draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to
the saving of the soul." They never apostatise totally, nor finally.
Those who do so will never see heaven : Luke ix. 62, "And Jesus
said unto him. No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking
back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Lot's wife was an emblem of
apostates ; God turned her into a pillar of salt, for a terror to all
apostates. Those who are the Lord's will not be flattered away
from him by the allurements of the world and the flesh, which is
one engine by which Satan makes many cast off God as a master, as
did Judas and Demas. And there are many who have been bloom-
ing professors, who have by these means been led aside, till they
cast off religion altogether. Nor will the true servants of the Lord
be deterred from him by the severities which they may meet with
in the service of the Lord, Song viii. 7, " Many waters cannot
quench love, neither can the floods drown it." "We read of some
who, when they heard Christ's doctrine, said. This is a hard say-
ing ; who can hear it ? John vi. 60. Ver. 66, " From that time,
many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him."
But where men have truly given themselves away to the Lord, and
make religion their business, their religion will last to the end,
Vol. IX. 2 h
474 THE SAINTS god's SERVANTS
whatever methods he used to extinguish it in any manner of way.
We now come to the
III. General head, namely, To confirm the doctrine. Consider,
there are two things here to be distinguished, namely, slight touches
at the service of God, which the devil's servants may sometimes
afford, who are far from God ; and the making religion and the ser-
vice of God our business and ordinary employment, whicb none will
do but those who are truly and savingly the Lord's. When Paul
gave this account of himself, " Whose I am, and whom I serve," did
he mean that noAv and then he was employed in the service of the
Lord, and that it was only his by-hand work ? No, surely he aims
at no less than that it was the great business of his life, and that he
was as truly fixed to the service of God as his chief business, as ever
servant was to his master's work. Now, that God's service is the
business of those who are the Lord's, is what I am to confirm. And
therefore consider,
1. That the master's service is the business of a servant as a ser-
vant, so that no person can be accounted a servant of a person who
does not make his service their business : Rev. xxii. 3, " And his
servants shall serve him." An hireling who works one day to one,
another to another, and another to himself, is not accounted a ser-
vant of his to whom he works. But the chief business of a servant
is his master's business, as long as he is in his service. Now, they
who are truly the Lord's are really and properly his servants : not
only of right, but actually so, sealed in their foreheads, Rev. vii. 3,
abiding by his service as their proper business in the world ; and
those who turn aside from it were never properly his servants :
1 John ii. 19, " They went out from us, but they were not of us :
for if they had been cf us, they would no doubt have continued
with us : but they went out, that they might be made manifest, that
they were not of us." — Consider,
2. That they who are his, are his servants in a most strict sense,
as being wholly and absolutely his, and in no sense their own, or at
their own disposal : " Whose I am, and whom I serve." They are
not hired servants, who may go away at a term ; but bought ser-
vants (by redemption), born servants (by regeneration.) Such Solo-
mon had : Eccl, ii. 7, " I got me servants and maidens, and had
servants born in my house." These are they we call servants, who
are wholly in their master's power. And this relation to God,
David, though a king, powerfully pleads : Psalm cxvi. 16, " Lord,
truly I am thy servant ; I am thy servant, and the son of thine
handmaid : thou hast loosed my bonds." But even these, among
men, may be ransomed and made free. So the Hebrew servants
AXD nrS PROPERTY. 475
were to be free in tlie seventh year, Exod. xxi. 2. Or if he would
not be free, thea, ver. 6, he was to serve for ever, that is, to the
Jubilee, Lev. xxv. 40. But there is no term of service here, no
ransoming. Since they are then his servants in this sense, how can it
be otherwise, but that his service must be their business. — Consider,
3. That they cannot continue his servants, and yet have another
master : Matth. vi. 24, " No man can serve two masters ; for either
he will hate the one, and love the other ; or else he will hold to the
one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
They have chosen God for their master, they have renounced and
given up with their old master the devil, they are kept by the power
of God, that they can never again revive their old relation ; and it
is impossible that they can serve two contrary masters at once ; but
having renounced the Devil, they cleave unto the Lord. And there-
fore, since every one makes either the service of their lusts, or the
service of God, their business ; and as they do not make the former
their service, the latter must of necessity be it. — Consider,
4. That if it were so, then the Lord would fall short of the grand
design of their redemption, of making them his own, which cannot
be. He has redeemed them by price, yea, and also by power ; and
the end of both is, that they may serve God as his servants : Tit.
ii. 14, " "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all
iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good
works." Luke i. 7^, "That he would grant unto us, that we being
delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve him without
fear, in holiness and righteousness, before him ail the days of our
life." "When the Lord sent Moses to bring the children of Israel
from the service of the Egyptians, it was not that they might live
idly, and serve no more, but that they might change their master,
and their work : Exod. iv. 23, " And I say unto thee, Let my son
go, that he may serve me." Thus it is also in the spiritual de-
livery. — Consider,
Lastly, That this making of God's service our business, is a dis-
tinguishing character of a person truly the Lord's. Of worldly men
it is said, Phil. iii. 19, " Whose end is destruction, whose God is
their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly
things." But of the saints it is said, ver. 20, *' For our conversation
is in heaven : from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord
Jesus Christ." What is a person's business, distinguishes him from
many others ; and religion, being our business, distinguishes us from
the unconverted crowd, who are accounted workers of iniquity
though they be persons not estranged from religious exercises ; be-
cause, though they do these duties, it is another thing that is their
2 fl 2
476 THE SAINTS god's SERVANTS
great business in the world, Matth. vii. 21 — 23. — I conio now,
IV. To make some improvement ; and this,
1. In a use of information. Hence we may learn,
(1.) That whoever are the Lord's, must apply themselves to the
Lord's work and service : Luke vi. 46, " And why call ye me Lord,
Lord, and do not the things which I say?" You were all baptised
into his name and service, and some, of late, have been dedicating
themselves to him in the sacrament of the supper. Think not that
you are now at liberty, or that your work is over. No ; you are to
begin your work, and perform your vows, and make out your service ;
attend to it, then, with heart and hand, for he is a master who seeks
and will have the heart. — We may learn,
(2.) That the hearts of God's honest servants, are reconciled to
his work and service. It is not a force put on them ; but their
choice, as that which they like the best. They are ready to resolve
with Joshua, that they and their houses will serve the Lord, chap,
xxiv. 15. It is not only their duty, that they must do it ; but their
privilege and interest, that they have to do it. They will value
themselves more on being God's servants, than they would on being
governors of a kingdom. — We may learn,
(3.) That those who make not religion their business, are none of
the Lord's. They may be his by an external covenant-relation, but
they are not members of his family, by a saving relation. Many
take on with the Lord as a master, but they slight the bargain, and
never enter home, but continue with their old master, which appears
is not making God's service their business, Psalm Ixxviii. 36, 37.
God will pursue all such at so dreadful a rate, that it had been
belter for them that they had never come under engagements to be
his : 2 Pet. ii. 21, " For it had been better for them not to have
known the way of righteousness, than after they have known it,
to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them." This
writes death upon many as none of his. — Such as,
(1.) Those whose great business in the world is to serve them-
selves. When self-love is the predominant principle, self-seeking
will be the great business: 2 Tim. iii. 2, " For men shall be lovers
of their own selves, covetous," &c. Phil. ii. 21, " For all seek
their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's." How unlike
the service of God nre they, who will drive over the honour of God,
the good of their neighbour, and the duty they owe to him, to serve
themselves. These are narrow souls, not enlarged by God's grace,
who make themselves their chief end, and lay not out themselves
for the honour of God, and the good of their neighbours, as they
have opportunity.
AND HIS PROPERTY. 477
(2.) Those wlio are servants of men, instead of serving God :
1 Cor. vii. 23, " Ye are bought with a price ; be not ye the servants
of men :" they subject themselves to men's lusts, subjecting their
faith to other men's notions, and suiting their practice to other
men's lusts. Thus they make idols of them, putting them in God's
room : Matth. xxiii. 9, " Call no man your father upon the earth :
for one is your Father, which is in heaven." Thus persons are
time-servers, turning with the wind, according as the times turn,
who think it their wisdom not to follow truth too hard at the heels,
lest it dash out their brains. And such are company-servers, who
will change themselves into any complexion in which the com-
pany is.
(3.) Those who are servants of sin : Rom. vi. 20, " For when ye
were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness." The
saints indeed often sin ; but they are not the servants of sin. Who-
so are such are none of Christ's, but they serve the devil and their
lasts. They sin against the gospel-remedy, going on in a state of
unbelief and impenitency. They are not only infected with the
plague of sin, but they slight the Physician with his remedies,
namely, his blood and Spirit ; they will not have this man to reign
over them. Luke xix. 14, " Sin regins in them like a king ; they
readily obey it in the lusts thereof," Rom. vi. 16, and fairly yield
themselves to it. They are in the snare of the devil, and are taken
captive by him at his will. Do not think you can be servants to
God, who are thus situated. No man can serve two masters.
Lastly, Those who make the Lord's service but their by-hand
work, not their chief employ. These are religion's chance-cus-
tomers, who will never enrich themselves with it. Ac^ such are
these who never make religion their predominant concern. The
chief stream of their care and anxiety runs in another channel than
the grand inquiry. What shall I do to be saved ? The things of
time lie nearest their heart, not the matters of eternity. — Those who
follow religion no farther than their other ends will allow of, who
make it yield to their temporal interests, and embrace it only when
those do not interfere with it, like the allowance Pharaoh made for
religion, by calling idleness the spring of it, Exod. v. 1?. — Those
who confine their religion to their religious duties, and do not weave
it into the whole of their conversation. Suppose one to be very
exact in a due performance of secret and family duties ; yet if he
do not walk with God in the interval of duties, and carry his re-
ligion through his worldly business, God's service is not his busi-
ness. — I would now improve this subject,
2. In an use of trial.
478 THE SAINTS god's SEHVAKTS
You may and should try yourselves, whether you be the Lord's
or not. If you can say, " It is God whom I serve," ye may say,
" It is God's whose I am." If religion be your business, you are
God's servants, and he will own you to be so. A servant of God
moves two steps, by which he advances beyond others.
(1.) He serves God, and so goes beyond the profane careless gene-
ration in the world, who mind nothing but the world, the profits
and pleasures which are in ii : Phil. iii. 19, " Whose end is de-
struction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame,
and who mind earthly things." As for the service of God, they are
free of it, they are sons of Belial, and go without a yoke ; they are
the serpent's seed, on their belly they go, and dust is their only
meat; the duties of religion they make no conscience of.
(2.) lie makes God's service his business, and so goes beyond the
formalist who serves God, but makes not God's service his chief
work. The hypocrite has always one thing Avhich goes above all
other things with him ; but that is the world, or some one lust or
other, not the one thing needful, which is the chief thing the ser-
vant of God is ever in quest of.
We have heard already the marks of a person who makes reli-
gion his business. Try yourselves by these, whether God's service
be your grand object in the world, and if you serve him with the
whole man, &c., as described in the second head. I come now,
3. To an use of exhortation. — I exhort you to evidence yourselves
to be the Lord's servants, by serving him. — And with this design I
beseech you,
(1.) To enter to his service, and serve him. Serve him in your
salvation and generation work, in external and internal service, in
stated and continual service, in doing or suilering service, in ordin-
ary and extraordinary service. Put your hand and heart to the
several pieces of service to which he calls you. And I would recom-
mend in this case to you,
[1.] Be attentive to your Master's orders, and labour to know his
mind, as to what may be your duty ; Psalm cxxiii. 2, " Behold, as
the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as
the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress, so our eyes wait
upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us." Con-
sult his word, which contains his orders to his servants, and read
the Bible as the book of your instructions. Take the providential
hints of duty he gives you : for he has said, Psalm xxxii. 8, " I will
instruct thee, and teach thee in the way which thou shall go : I will
guide thee with mine eye." Be always willing to know his will,
and make application to him by prayer, for the discovery of it in
AND XIIS rROPERTY. , 479
particular cases, especially such as are difficult : do nothing with a
doubting conscience.
[2.] Be willing servants, not refractory and wilful. Follow the
example of Abraham, who obeyed, and went out, not knowing whither
he went, Heb. xi. 8. The Master's orders being known, do not dis-
pute them, but readily obey them. Choose not the work you will do,
whether it be suffering or doing work, whatever the burden be which
he lays on you, bow your shoulders to bear it ; the cross he lays
down, do you be ready to take it up. For it becomes him to com-
mand, and us to obey.
[3.] Weary not of your work : James i. 4, " But let patience have
her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting no-
thing." However hard you apprehend your task to be, give not
way to wearying of it : Gal. vi. 9, " And let us not be weary in
well doing ; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." We
should think all light while we are out of hell. Impatience betrays
ns into the hands of the adversary, who is ready to offer his hellish
help to those who are weary of the task God has laid on them ; of
which we have dreadful instances, which may make all of us tremble,
and resolve through grace to bear till himself give deliverance.
[4.] When you are checked for your mismanagements, or cor-
rected on account of them, learn this property of a good servant, not
to answer again. Tit. ii. 9. Murmuring under the rebukes of provi-
dence is very unbecoming, and highly provoking in God's sight :
Lam. iii. 39, " Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the
punishment of his sins ?" They who enter into the family of God,
must not think it strange that they have to submit to the discipline
of the house. — I would exhort you,
(2.) To hold by his service, as the great business which you have
to do in the world. Never give it over, but pursue it as the grand
business of your life, for doing which you were sent into the world.
You have many things to do : but this is the one thing above all other
things; give it the preference in your hearts and lives. Never
reckon that your other business goes well, when this does not ; nor
ill, when this goes well. Hold on it, till death loose you, and you
have accomplished, as an hireling, your days. — As to this I will re-
commend to you,
[1.] Serve him honestly and uprightly: Joshua xxiv. 14, " Now,
therefore, fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth."
Let him be your only Lord and Master; and while you profess to
serve God, give not a secret service to any idol ; for there is no hid-
ing the matter from your heavenly Master. You are in God's ac-
count, what you are inwardly in heart.
480 THE SAIXTS god's SERVANTS
[2.] Serve him cheerfully with heart and gfood-will. He is the
best of masters, and desires none to serve him for nought. To be
heartless in his service, as if it were a drudgery, is very displeasing
to him : Deut. xxviii. 47, 48, " Because thou servest not the Lord
thy God with joyfuluess, and with gladness of heart, for the abund-
ance of all things ; therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which
the Lord shall send against thee in hunger and in thirst, and in
nakedness, and in want of all things : and he shall put a yoke of
iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee."
[3.] Serve him fervently and zealously : Rom, xii. 11, " Not
slothful in business ; fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." Our God
is the living God, and he requires his servants to be lively, their
hearts stirring within them in his service. The greatest love which
ever appeared being shewed by our Lord, this doubtless requires
such a return.
[4.] Serve him diligently and laboriously : Acts xxvi. 7, " Unto
•which hope, our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night,
hope to come." Why should we grudge pains for him who thought
not his own life too much for us ? The servants of sin and Satan
are indefatigable, alas ! that the servants of God should be so sloth-
ful. — To prevail with you in complying with this exhortation, I
shall lay before you the following motives : —
Mot. 1. If you be not the servants of God, you are the servants
of the devil : John viii. 44, " Ye are of your father the devil, and
the lusts of your father ye will do." There is never a spare servant
in this case. If the sinner depart from God, whose he is, and whom
he ought to serve, presently Satan picks him up as a stray, and sets
him to his work ; and his service is sad service. — To make this appear,
you may consider, — (1.) His work is sin. Satan is the Egyptian
task-master, who seduces poor mortals, who will not work out their
own salvation. He puts another task in their hand, to work out
their own ruin and destruction. And is not this the work about
which most of the world are busy, who are twisting cords of guilt
every day to bind their souls under God's wrath ? — (2.) His wages
is death, eternal death : " For the wages of sin is death," Rom. vi.
22. Satan goes about, like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may
devour. He is the father of lies, has had a long trade of it, deceiv-
ing poor sinners, catching some with one bait, some with another ;
that first he may be a prevailing tempter, and then a cruel tor-
mentor, who, because he is beyond hope himself, would wish to have
all the world as miserable as himself.
Mot. 2. God is the best of Masters, and his service is the best of
service. This have all the saints witnessed, and so shall all of you,
upon a full trial of it. — To make this good, consider,
AND HIS PROPERTY. 481
(1.) That it is the most honourable service. He who serves God,
serves him who is the fountain of all honour : Psalm xxxvi. 9, " For
with thee is the fountain of life : in thy light shall we see light."
Surely it is far more honourable to be a servant of the Lord, than
to be a mighty king. What great work is there at times to get
into the service of great men, especially of kings and princes ! but
! why so little to get into the service of the King of kings ? —
Consider,
(2.) That it is the most rational service : Rom. xii. 1, " I beseech
you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service." Is he not our Creator, our Redeemer, our
Sanctifier, our universal Benefactor, and our covenanted God ? Is
there any who has that right to our service which he has ? Can it
be our interest so much to be in the service of any other as it is to
be in his service ? — Consider,
(3.) That it is the most pleasant and comfortable service ; Prov.
iii. 17, " Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are
peace." There is a joy in the service of God, even the hardest of
it all, which, whoso tastes of, will not exchange Christ's cross for
the world's crown. Hear the Psalmist's judgment of it : Psalm
Ixxxiv. 10, " For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I
would rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, than to
dwell in the tents of wickedness." How did Hannah rejoice after a
prayer ! the eunuch after a sealing ordinance ! If some find it not
to be so pleasant, it is either because their nature is not renewed at
all, or grace is low, and corruption strong.
(4.) Consider that it is the most advantageous service. Never was
service so rewarded as God's service is. There is a reward in hand,
which accompanies the work : Psalm xix. 11, " In keeping of thy
commandments, there is a great reward." There is also a reward
in hope, — the eternal weight of glory. They shall be courtiers of
the King of heaven in glory for evermore : Rev. xxii. 3, " And
there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and the Lamb
shall be in it ; and his servants shall serve him : and they shall
see his face; and his name shall be on their foreheads." Amen.
482 god's GliACIOUS CALL AND
GOD'S GRACIOUS CALL AND PRECIOUS PROMISE, CONSIDERED.*
SERMON XLIII.
Psalm Ixxxi. 10,
Open thy mouth wide, and I ivill Jill it.
The great design of the gospel, and of all gospel-ordinances, is to
make sonls liappy, and for this end to bring them to God through
Christ, in whom they may find solid and complete satisfaction. All
men desire to be happy ; they are conscious to themselves of wants,
which the natural desire of happiness influence them to get supplied.
But, alas ! they apply to improper quarters, and suck at those
breasts which can never fill them, even those of their lusts. Since
Adam forsook God for the creature, mankind have been so intoxi-
cated with creature-sweetness, that they stand as it were chained
at the creature's door, begging satisfaction, even after a thousand
denials. They cannot lift their eyes to the Lord, they cannot move
their feet towards him, till grace break the bands of iron and brass
with which they are held.
In the text, the Lord comes to sinners as thus situated, and outbids
all others which they in their hearts and lives are following after ;
and he does this even while they will not look over their shoulder
to him, from their madness on their idols. This is the scoi)e of the
text : for in this verse the Lord pleads the grand purpose of love
laid down, ver. 9, which is, that they should renounce all others
for him, give up with their idols, and take him for and instead of
all. And to enforce this, he thus reasons with them : 1. I have
done for you what all your idols never did, and never could have
done, " I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of
Egypt." "Where were all your strange gods, when Pharaoh refused
to let you go ? Deut. xxxii. 11, " So the Lord alone did lead him, and
there was no strange god with him." Look to all the real good that
ever you met with, and say. Was it the Lord or your idols that did
it for you ? — 2. I will do and can do for you, what they cannot all
do for you : " Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it abundantly."
Many a time you have opened your mouths, and wide enough, to
your idols ; so wide that it has been no small pain to get them shut
again ; and yet they remain still empty for them, they were never
* Delivered at Wampliray, Saturday, June 30, 1 71 I, immediately before the dis-
pensation of the Lord's supper there.
PRECIOUS PROMISE CONSIDERED. 483
filled. But says the Lord, " Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill
it." Where more particularly observe,
1. That thei'e is an emptiness supposed in poor sinners, which
needs to be filled. They have lost God, and a thousand worlds can-
not fill up his room. That man who has Christ in his heart, has
enough to satisfy him, want what he will. And let a man have
what he will, if he has not Christ in him, he has not what can sa-
tisfy him. All the devil's trash can never fill the heart ; many an
empty space is in that heart where Christ is not; which plagues
them with a dog-like appetite, which is never satisfied.
2. There is a fill proposed and ofi'ered to empty sinners. This is
a soul-fill; a filling with all the fulness of God. This is the only
thing which can fill the mouth of the soul, which is the mouth meant
in the text ; for it is an easy thing to find among the creatures a fill
to the mouth of the body, which can hold but little; but the whole
creation cannot fill the mouth of the soul. The Lord only can fill
it, he only can satisfy and still the restless soul, and so make it,
after many years, disappear, and fall asleep in the bosom of God ;
and after the most pinching straits to say, " I have all, and abound."
— We have,
3. The party communicating this soul-fill to the sinner : I, more
generally, " I the Lord," in opposition to strange gods. That fill
you could never get from your idols, you shall have from me. More
particularly, it is Jesus Christ, the second person, the great trea-
surer of heaven, and steward of the fulness of God. It is plain
that it is the same Lord who brought the Israelites out of Egypt ;
and this was no other but Christ, who was known under the Old
Testament by the God of Israel, Esod. iii. 2 — 8. It was he who
wrought that deliverance, as a type and pledge of the great redemp-
tion. It was he whom the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire did
represent, even God vailed with fiesh. He who brought them out of
the land of Egypt, he v/hom they tempted in the wilderness, and
this was Christ; 1 Cor. x. 19, "Neither let us tempt Christ, as
some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents." — We
have,
4. The sinner's duty in order to this communication : '* Open thy
mouth wide." The word here used is, in Gen. xxvi. 22, rendered
" making room." the freedom of grace ! only make room for a
fill, and ye shall have it. Let the soul only, as an hungry infant,
lay its mouth by faith on the breasts of Christ's consolations, and
they shall flow abundantly. If the spiritual appetite be not wanting,
ye shall have a fill ; and what can be desired more ? unless we
would have him to force it upon us. Open thy mouth, do not keep
484 god's geacious call and
it close, and say you will liave none of liira. Open to receive, and
he will give. Open it wide, the wider you open, the more that your
souls desire of him, you shall get the more. I cannot think the wide-
ness iu the text is intended to straiten the offer, but rather informs
us that there is a fulness in Christ, suflicient to satisfy the most ex-
tended desires of the soul. — From this subject, I take the following
Doctrine, That Christ Jesus can and will fill the soul whose
mouth is opened wide to receive of and from him. — For illustrating
this doctrine, I shall,
I. Shew what it is to open the mouth of the sonl wide to Christ.
II. How Christ fills the soul, so as no other can do. And then,
III. Conclude with some improvement. — We are then,
I. To shew what it is to open the mouth of the soul wide to
Christ. — This opened mouth consists,
1. In a sight of wants. The soul must be brought to a sight of
its own emptiness, ere it will open its mouth for a fill from the
Lord : Prov. xxvii. 7, " The full soul loatheth an honey-comb : but
to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet." The want of this
was Laodicea's ruin. She thought herself rich, and increased in
goods, and having need of nothing, and knew not that she was
wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naktd. "When
Christ comes to the soul, he says to it, as he did to the blind man,
*' What will ye that I should do unto you ?" He makes persons
sensible of their diseases, before he applies the remedy, that his free
grace may thus be glorified. Jesus, by his word and Spirit, gives
the soul a view of God in his glory; and then the soul cries, I want
peace with God : a Mediator, a Christ to stand betwixt me and his
consuming fire. He gives the soul a view of the tribunal of God,
before which it must soon appear : and then it cries. Ah ! I want a
riohteousness, a better righteousness than my own, a complete and
everlasting righteousness, without which I can never appear with
acceptance before this tribunal. — A view of his sins : and then he
cries, Where shall I find pardon ? — A view of what the law requires,
and of what the sinner is in himself: and then he cries, Ah! I
am all wants. I have nothing of myself good, and can do nothing.
— This opened mouth consists,
2. In a sense of need. Persons may see their want of those
things who are not pinched with felt need, but reign as kings with-
out Christ, and say unto God, Job xxi. 14, 15, "Depart from us, for
we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty,
that we should serve him ? And what profit should we have if we
pray unto him ?" But the soul whose mouth is opened wide, says,
PRECIOUS PEOMISE CONSIDERED. 485
with tlie prodigal, " How many hired servants of iny father have
bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger !" Luke xv.
17. They find that they are undone without Christ. The soul is
pressed with that question, What shall I do to be saved ? No hap-
piness to the soul without the enjoyment of God, and no enjoyment
of him, but through Christ the Mediator between God and man. —
This opened mouth consists,
3. In a holy dissatisfaction with all things besides Christ. Clothe
a starving man with scarlet, and fill his pockets with gold, and ad-
vance him to the highest honours ; all this is not meat, and there-
fore he cannot be satisfied. And to the hungry soul there is none,
nothing but Christ, which can give satisfaction. They loathe their
lusts, which they loved before. A thousand worlds will not satisfy
the soul which sees its need of Christ. When the soul comes to it-
self again, after it has gone the round of the whole creation for sa-
tisfaction, it returns with the report, Eccl. i. 2, " Vanity of vanities,
saith the preacher, vanity of vanites, all is vanity." It finds at
length that the bed is shorter than that one can stretch himself
upon it. — This opened mouth consists,
4. In the soul's removing its desires fr ira off vanities, and fixing
them on Christ for satisfaction. Like the hungry infant, which has
been sucking in vain at this and the other object which was nearest
it, and could never rest ; when the breast is put in its mouth, it
opens its mouth, and fixes there to suck. The soul gives over the
pursuit of happiness in lusts, he finds that gall and wormwood are
now on these breasts. It ceases from hammering its happiness out
of the law, and finds that there is no pleasing that rigorous husband;
the ladder of their duties has so often bro en with them, that they
despair of ever climbing to heaven this way. And so, like men out
of breath, in seeking their happiness from otlier things than Christ,
they lie down before the Lord, turning their eyes towards him, that
he may take them up, and give them what in vain they have been
looking for elsewhere. Their language is, Jer. iii. 23, "Truly in
vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of
mountains ; truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel."
— This opened mouth consists,
5. In an assured expectation of salvation from Christ : Hos. xiv.
3, " Asshur shall not save us ; we will not ride upon horses : neither
will we say any more to the works of our hands, Ye are our gods ;
for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy." Matth. xxi. 22, " And all
things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
The soul believes that Cnrist can do it : and so far believes he will
do it, as that it ventures on him. Without this, the soul cannot
486 god's gracious call and
open its mouth to Christ, but shuts it without hope. Though the
hopes may be very faint, yet the trembling hand may receive Christ,
and the quivering mouth may he filled. — This opened mouth consists,
Lastly, In a liearty willingness to receive Christ as he ofters him-
self in the gospel. Christ says, " I am the bread of life ;" the soul
is well content to receive him as such, for all and instead of all.
They fed on the husks before, and loathed the manna ; now nothing
relishes so well with them as the bread which came down from hea-
ven. They are brought over all their objections against him, and.
are well content to venture their souls on him, as it is he alone who
can fill them with all the fulness of God. — "We now proceed,
II. To shew how Christ fills the soul so as no other cau do :
" Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." This promise imports
four things. — It imports,
1. Such a suitableness in him to the necessities of the soul, as is
to be found in no other. Sinners seeking a fill of the creatures, are
but feeding on wind, which can never satisfy. There is no suitable-
ness betwixt the desires of an immortal soul, and the produce of
this earth : Isa. Iv. 2, " Wherefore do ye spend money for that which
is not bread, and your labour for that which satisfieth not ? Hearken
diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your
soul delight itself in fatness." What avail riches, honours, and
pleasures, to a soul pressed with guilt ! But Christ is suited to all
the wants of the soul. Speaking of the excellence, suitableness, and
fulness of his salvation, he says, " I counsel thee to buy of me gold
tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich ; and white raiment, that
thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do
not appear : and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest
see," Rev. iii. 18. His blood and Spirit will answer all cases which
the soul can be in. — The words import,
2. That there is a sufiiciency in Christ for all their needs : Col.
i. 19, " It pleased the Father, that in him should all fulness dwell."
There is enough in him to satisfy all the desires of the soul. Per-
sons may travel through the whole creation, ere they find an object
commensurable to the desires of their souls ; but when the soul
comes to Christ, it then and there finds an object, than which the
soul, when extending its desires to the utmost, cannot crave more.
Here, though our boundless desires should launch forth into this
ocean, they shall never be able to reach the bottom, or find the
shore. — The words import,
3. That there is a communication of this suitable sufficiency unto
that soul which opens its mouth wide to receive it. Thus,
(1.) Christ gives himself to that soul, so that such an one might
PKECIOUS PROMISE CONSIDERED. 487
say, Song ii. 16, "My beloved is mine, and I am his;" or, with
Thomas, cry, " My Lord, and my God." They have him by the
surest tenor of an indissoluble union ; John vi. 56, " He that eateth
my flesh," says Jesus, " and driuketh ray blood, dwelleth in rae, and
I in him," A wicked man may have many poor mys, Dan. iv. 30,
compare chap. ii. 47. But they cannot call God theirs ; and besides,
they want a thousand things more than what they have. But what
want can they have who want Jesus, who is all in all ?
(2.) Christ gives them all good with himself: Rom. viii. 3.2, " He
that si)ared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how
shall he not with him also freely give us all things ?" Psalm Ixxxiv.
11, " For the Lord God is a sun and shield ; the Lord will give grace
and glory ; no good thing will he withhold from them that walk
uprightly." Having a right to himself, they may write their names
upon, and claim a title to,^all that are his. They are rich, seeing
they are married to Jesus, the heir of all things. No sooner does
the soul close with Christ, than they get this right ; and though they
get not all presently in hand, yet they have all in hope ; a hope of
which they will never be ashamed. — The words import,
4. The soul's satisfaction upon that communication. In what mea-
sure the soul opens its mouth to Christ, in that measure Christ com-
municates of his fulness; for this is the standing rule, "According
to thy faith, so be it unto thee." And in what measure Christ com-
municates of himself to the soul, so the soul has that satisfaction.
Accordingly the soul rests in Christ, and having enough in him, never
goes out, as it was wont, to beg at the world's door : John iv. 14,
" Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall
never thirst ; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a
well of water, springing up to everlasting life." " It is enough,"
said Jacob, " Joseph is yet alive." "When all the cisterns are dried
up, the believer has enough. He can rejoice in the Lord, and joy in
the God of his salvation, Hab. iii. 17. He can say also with Panl,
Phil. iv. 18, " But I have all, and abound." I am full ; and no
wonder, for the soul having Christ, has,
(1.) A fulness of merit to look to: 1 John i. 7, "The blood of
Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin." When the soul
looks within itself, it sees a fulness of guilt, debt, misery, and
poverty. It sees heart, lips, life, and duties, all full of sin ; sins
which tears of blood and rivers of oil cannot wash away. But, look-
ing to Christ, it sees a fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness,
Zech. xiii. 1. The rock struck by the rod of justice, and the waters
gushing out, and following them through the wilderness, a sea to
overwhelm all their guilt! Mic. vii. 19, "He will turn again, he
488 god's gracious call axd
will have compassion upon us ; lie will subdue our iniquities; and
thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." — The soul
sees,
(2.) A fulness of spirit in Christ to take away the power of sin.
He hath the seven Spirits of God, Rev. iii. 1. When they look with-
in themselves, they see a very scanty measure of the Spirit. When
they look above them to the Head, they see it there without mea-
sure poured out upon their Head, to that very end that it may go
down to the skirts of his garments, even to every member of his
mystical body. — The soul sees,
(3.) A fulness of grace in him, lodged in hira as the common
storehouse of all the saints: John i. 16, " And of his fulness have
all we received, and grace for grace." If they want wisdom, or
righteousness, or sanctiflcation, they have it in hira : 1 Cor. i. 30,
" But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us
wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption." They have
all in him ; and seeing God treats with them no other way but as in
him, they are complete in him, " For in him dwelleth all the fulness
of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, who is the
Head of all principality and power," — I come now,
III. To conclude with some short improvement. And this only in
a use of exhortation.
I would exhort you, then, to come to Christ with enlarged desires,
that your souls may be filled. I direct you to one who can give
your souls full satisfaction. Open your mouths wide, communi-
cants ! Open your mouths wide, one and all of you, make enlarged
demands from Christ the Saviour. — To prevail with yon in comply-
ing with this exhortation, I offer you the following motives : —
Mot. 1. Ye have many times opened yonr mouths wide to the
world, and your lusts, but were you to this day ever filled ? Prov.
xxiii. 5, " Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not ? For
riches certainly make themselves wings ; they fly away as an eagle
towards heaven." Have you not enlarged your desires as hell ? If
there had been any satisfaction which you could have got out of
Christ, have you not squeezed so hard as that you would certainly
have pressed it out? But you have never got it, and never shall
get it there. Come, then, to Christ, and try him.
Mot. 2. Has not the world and your lusts ofttimes rewarded your
love with hatred ? When you have been hammering for satisfaction
at these things, have you not struck fire instead of water, out of
these barren rocks, and lain down in sorrow ? ! if you had be-
stowed that strength of affection and desire on Christ, which you
have on these things, ye had never been so rewarded.
PRECIOUS PROMISE CONSIDERED. 489
Mot. 3. If Christ fills yon not, you shall never be filled. Many
haye sucked at these breasts which yon are on, but never one came
speed; as little shall you; Eccl. ii. 12, " And I turned myself to
behold wisdom, and madness, and folly : for what can the man do
that cometh after the king ? even that which has been already done ?"
There was a sign of emptiness hung out at the creature's door in
paradise, the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And has that
vanity which sin subjected them to since filled up that emptiness?
No, no. Ah ! you shall as soon grasp your arras full of shadows
and dreams, as fill your souls without Christ.
Mot. 4. Consider that Christ can and will fill your souls, if you
will only open your mouths wide, and receive him. — For consider,
(1.) That all fulness is in him : Col. i. 19, " For it hath pleased
the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." He is the store-
house of all fulness : it dwells in him, it can never be missed there.
The fulness of the Godhead dwelleth in him bodily, Col. ii. 9. Can
there be ever any want with him ? — Consider,
(2.) That th'^ fulness that is in him is to be communicated by
him : John i. 16, " And of his fulness have all we received, and
grace for grace." It is lodged there to be communicated from him
to poor souls : Zech. xiii. 1, " In that day there shall be a fountain
opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
for sin and for uncleanness." The fulness of Christ is not the ful-
ness of a vessel, but of a fountain that casts forth its waters, and
yet hath still enough. — Consider,
(3.) That it belongs to him, and to him alone, to distribute that
fulness : John v. 22, " For the Father jndgeth no man, but hath
committed all judgment unto the Son." He is the great steward of the
fulness of God. The keys hang at his girdle. Never any soul was
filled, but whom he filled. The Father directs the hungry soul to
his Son : Matth. xvii. 5, " This," says he, " is my beloved Son, in
whom I am well pleased : hear ye him." The Spirit points you to
Christ. And Christ is saying to you what Joseph said to his Fa-
ther and brethren : Gen. xlv. 9 — 11, " Haste yoo, and go up to my
father, and say unto him. Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made
nie lord of all Egypt ; come down unto me, tarry not. And thou
shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me,
thou and thy children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that
thou hast. And there will I nourish thee, (for yet there are five
years of famine), lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou
hast, come to poverty." — Consider,
(4.) That you have his word for it, that he will do it : Isa. Iv. 1,
" Ho every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that
Vol. IX. 2 1
490 THE XATL'RE AND SOUllCE OF
hath no money, come ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy wine and milk,
■without money, and without price." John vi. 37, " All tliat the
Father hath given me, shall come unto me, and him that cometh
unto me, I will in nowise cast out." And you have the testimony
of them who have gone before you : Luke i. 52, 53, " He has exalted
them of low degree. He hath filled the huugry with good things."
Here, however, there may be proposed this objection. Is it pos-
sible for a person to find satisfaction in such a course, turning his
back on the world and its lusts ? Answ. Come and see. The
saints have found and do find satisfaction, and this such as has
made them despise the smiles and frown of the world : Psalm iv. 7,
" Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time when
their corn and their wine increased : Heb. xi. 24 — 26, " By faith
Hoses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of
Pharaoh's daughter ; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the
people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Es-
teeming the reproaches of Christ greater riches than the treasures of
Egypt : for he had respect unto the recompense of reward." Is
there any perfection or sweetness in the creature but what comes
from God ? does not the T?hole creation shine with borrowed light ?
If so, then God must be more sweet, infinitely more sweet, than all
the creatures, even if combined together. And does not the natural
constitution of the soul call for the enjoyment of an infinite good?
It must then be the greatest reality.
Still, however, some may press tliis objection, But will he fill me
who am full of sin ? Axsw. Christ fills freely, as freely as the rain
falls, and the sun shines, without hire, and his fulness will wear out
the fulness of sin : Isa. i. 18, " Come now, and let us reason together,
saith the Lord : though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as
white as snow : though they be red as crimson, they shall be as
wool." Amen.
THE NATURE AND SOURCE OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE.*
SERMON XL IV.
John vi. 57,
He that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
You have been eating the bread of the Lord : who those are who
have done this may be already known ; happy are those who
' Delivered at Wamphray, Monday, July 2, 1711, immediately after the dis-
pensation of the Lord's supper.
TnE SPIRITUAL LIFE. 491
have ate that bread which is the Lord ; who tliese are must be dis-
covered by the effects. Persons will readily look like tiieir meat :
they who have ate Clirist will look like Christ, seeing this food has
a transforming virtue, there will be such a difference betwixt them
and others as that mentioned in Dan. i. 15, " Their countenances
appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did
eat the portion of the king's meat." Living bread will make living
lively souls : " He that eateth me, even he shall live by me," —
In which words we have,
1. The character and privilege of a believer : " He shall live,"
viz. the life of God, from which others are alienated. To his na-
tural life, common with others, by which he is distinguished from
things without life, he shall have another of a more sublime nature,
by which he shall rise superior to other men who are dead in
sin, while they live a natural life : he shall live spiritually and
eternally.
2. We have the spring from whence the believer derives this super-
natural life of his, in its beginning, progress, and continuation. It is
not from himself, he is but a branch, not a root; it is not imme-
diately from God, as Adam's, but from the Mediator, Jesus Christ.
The justice and holiness of God refused an intermediate union with
the sinful creature, yet there could be no life but as proceeding from
God, the prime fountain of all, and there could be no communica-
tion of this life without union with him ; wherefore it pleased God
to unite the human nature to the divine in the person of his Son,
and so to make him the Mediator, the mean of the sinner's union
and communion with the Father ; that he deriving life from his Fa-
ther, they might again derive it from him. This is the import of
the former part of the verse, in which Christ shews how he comes to
be living bread. 1. He is fitted for giving life, seeing he lives by
the Father, deriving life from the Fountain of life. 2. There is a
divine appointment of him by the Father, by which he was or-
dained and set apart to be life-giving bread to his people.
3. We have the way how this life is derived from Christ to the
soul, and this is by eating him, that is, by .faith. It cannot be
nnderstood of a corporeal eating, for this eating would not give
life : John vi. 63, "It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh pro-
fiteth nothing." Our Lord himself determines it to be believing
ver. 35, " He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that
believeth on me shall never thirst." The word here used properly
signifies a keen appetite, being the same as in Matth. xxiv. 35,
and may denote unto us that greedy appetite which the believer
has after Christ, his soul-food, and that there is no hazard of excess
2i2
492 THE NATURE AND SOURCE OF
here, either in the appetite which obtains, or in the continuance at
this blessed work ; we may eat all the day long, and also in the
nisfht, and welcome. Yea, it is remarkable that it is not said,
He that hath eaten, that has got a taste of Christ, and is satis-
fied ; but " he that eateth," denoting a continuing action, such as he
that breathes, lives. There must be a constant improvement of
Christ as the fountain of life, a living by believing: Gal. ii. 20,
" And the life which I now live in the ilesh, I live by the faith of the
Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
4, We have the peculiar interest of the believer in this life :
" Even he shall live by me." All others are, and will be dead while
they live ; he, and only he, shall live ; for there is^no life but from
Christ, and none from him but by faith. — From the words I take this
Doctrine, That the believer lives by Christ, deriving his life from
him by faith. — For illustrating this doctrine, I shall,
I. Shew what is that life which the believer lives by Christ, and
derives from him.
II. How the believer derives this life from Christ by faith. And
then,
III. Conclude with some improvement. — "We are,
I. To shew what is that life which the believer lives by Christ,
and derives from him. — As to this I observe,
1. That the believer derives from Christ a life of grace, and lives
by him, in opposition to that death in sin under which all unbe-
lievers are : Eph. ii. 1, " You hath he quickened, who were dead in
trespasses and sins." The believer has infused into him an inward
vital principle of action ; formerly the whole powers of his soul were
buried in the grave of sin, devoid of all life and sense in spiritual
things. Now the dead are raised, the dry bones have come together,
and stand upon their feet. The dead soul could never have infused
life into itself, but would have eternally rotted in the grave of sin,
if the spirit of Christ had not entered into it, and Christ become
the life of the soul : Psalm xvi. 11, " TIiou wilt shew me the path
of life." As the life of the body lies in the union of the soul with
the body, so the life of the soul lies in its union with God through
Christ. And as it was by eating. Gen. iii. 6, that mankind were
separated from God, and laid in the dust of death, so it is by
eating that the soul comes to be re-united to God, and to live again
in Christ : John vi. 53, 56, " Then Jesus said unto them, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and
drink his blood, ye have no life in you. He that eateth my flesh,
and drinketh ray blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him." — The be-
liever derives from Christ,
THE SPIRITUAL LIFE. 493
2. A life of favour with God : Psalm xxx. 5, " In his favour is
life." "We are naturally dead in law, under a sentence of condem-
nation, the broken law has doomed us to eternal death : Gal. iii.
10, " Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written
in the book of the law to do them." But the sentence against the
believer is reversed, he is no more a condemned man, but is justified :
Rom. viii. 1, " There is therefore now no condemnation to them who
are in Christ Jesus." Now he is a free man ; who can lay any
thing to his charge ? " It is God that justifieth, who is he that con-
demneth ?" Can justice say any thing? it is satisfied. Can the law ?
it has got all its demands upon them in Christ : Gal. iii. 13, " Christ
hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, having been made a
curse for us." "What is become of those long accounts of their
debts, subscribed with their own hands ? Christ has blotted them
out with his blood, put them out of the way, lest the criminal should
fear that they yet may be read. The nails are driven through the
writing, so that it is nailed to the cross, and hence will never ap-
pear more against them. Col. ii. 14. "What has become of the face-
covering, which was on the condemned man ? Christ has destroyed in
this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the
vail that is spread over all nations, Isa. xxv. 7. What is become
of death which stood before him, ready to devour him ? Ver. 8,
" Christ has swallowed up death in victory." Glory, then, be to the
Lamb, by whom we live. Ver. 9, " Lo, this is our God: we have
waited for him, and he will save us : this is the Lord ; we have
waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." — The
believer derives from Christ,
3. The new life of gospel-obedience and true holiness : Rom. vi.
4, 5, " Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death :
that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the
Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we
had been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be
also in the likeness of his resurrection." The believer is not now
the man he once was, he is not only come out of the grave of his na-
tural state, but he has cast oflF his grave-clothes : Col. iii. 8, " But
now ye also put off all these, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy
communication out of your mouth." These reigniug lusts are laid
aside, for the Lord hath said, " Loose him and let him go." He has
put on Christ, personates him, as the beggar in borrowed robes re-
presents a king on the stage. There is none resembles Christ in his
life among men, so near as the believer does ; for he labours to walk,
even as he also walked. Now his obedience is universal. He has
respect unto all God's commandments, Psalm cxix. 9. His heart is
494 THE XATUEE AND SOURCE OF
enlarged in breadth and length to the law of Christ. He loves those
ways Avhich he formerly hated, and hates those which he formerly
loved. His obedience is a cluster of vital acts in the soul, of all
which Christ is the principle : Gal. ii. 20, " I am crucified," saith
he, *' with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth
in me : and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of
the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." As Christ
is the principle, so he is also the end of the believer's life : Phil. i.
21, "For to me to live," says he, "is Christ, and to die is gain."
! whence comes this new life ! surely it could never be struck out of
vows, resolutions, and Christless endeavours, nor hammered out of
the united force of the whole powers of the soul, called forth to-
gether as in a solemn day. But they have been planted together
with Christ, Rom. vi. 5, (quoted above). Therefore they rise up
with him, in the likeness of his resurrection. An eternal barren-
ness had shut up their womb : but being married to Christ, who is
risen from the dead, they now bring forth fruit unto God, Rom. vii.
4. — The believer derives from Christ,
4. A life of activity in grace, as springing water is accounted living
water : Psalm Ixxx. 18. " So will we not go back from thee :
quicken us, and wo will call upon thy name." Sometimes the be-
liever is at a low ebb with his graces. Faith, the conduit-pipe, by
which life comes into the soul, is stopped, and then all the flowers
in his garden, the believer's graces, begin to hang down their heads,
and wither. The weeds of corruption begin to thrive. What shall
become of the soul then ? There is still one ground of hope, it is
not like the false path of the hypocrite, laid short of the fountain, in
which all communication is cut off', and this is the reason why their
common graces go back, and never rise again ; but the faith of the
true believer remains still a bond of union betwixt Christ and the
soul, and therefore says he, John xiv. 19, " Because I live, ye shall
live also." Christ puts in his hand at the hole of the door, his Spirit
opens the means of conveyance, and influences again flow, which
put quite a new face upon the soul : Hos. xiv. 7, " They that dwell
under his shadow shall return ; they shall revive as the corn, and
grow as the vine : the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon."
Christ speaks life, and thus the coldrife soul begins to glow : Luke
xxiv. 32, " And they said one to another. Did not our hearts burn
within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened
to us the scriptures ?" Fire is brought from the altar of burnt-
offering, and this is set to the incense of their prayers which lay
downwards before, and then they mount up like pillars of smoke. —
The believer derives from Christ,
THE SPIRITUAL LIFE. 495
5. A life of growth in grace ; life, and more life : John x. 10, " I
am come," says Jesus, " that they might have life, and that they
might have it more abundantly." Things which have life, grow in
the growing time, and grace is of a growing nature : Prov. iv. 18,
" The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and
more unto the perfect day." The trees planted in the house of God,
even the righteous, shall flourish like the palm-tree : he shall grow
like the cedar in Lebanon. " Those that be planted in the house of
the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God," Psalm xcii. 12,
13. They do not indeed grow always; and why, but because they
do not eat always ? they have their sick iits, when they lose their
appetite, and then may they say, My leanness ! my leanness ! neither
is their growth always discernible ; they may notwithstanding be
growing. The kingdom of God in the soul is like seed cast into the
ground, which springs and grows up, one knows not how, Mark iv.
26, 27. But they grow sometimes ; there are golden spots of time,
when the dew of heaven lies on their branches, so that they will be
adding a cubit to their spiritual stature. And all this is derived
from Christ : Mai. iv. 2, "But unto you that fear my name, shall
the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings ; and ye
shall go forth and grow up as calves in the stall." It is their being
planted by the Lord which produces this ; — their waiting on him ;
Isa. x1. 31, " They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their
strength ; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run,
and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint." And this
growth which they have from him has a beauty which that wants
which arises from any other quarter. It is universal, regular, and
proportionable ; Eph. iv, 15, " But speaking the truth in love, may
grow up to him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." They
are not as others, who, like the rickety child, have a big head, but
a slender body ; but all comes away together under influences from
Christ. They grow inwardly in close walking with God, the soul
cleaving more closely with Christ : They grow outwardly in good
words and works, which are more communicative and edifying to
others ; they grow upwardly in heavenly-mindedness, and contempt
of the world ; and in the meantime also downwardly in humility
and self-loathing. — The believer derives from Christ,
6. A life of comfort : as 1 Sam. xxv. 26, " Peace be both to thee,
and peace be to thine house, and peace be to all thou hast." — This
life of comfort may be considered,
(1.) As it denotes the ordinary rest of the soul, in having some-
thing that satisfies it. The soul of man is a weak empty thing,
which must have something to which it leans, and upon which it
496 TnE NATUEE AND SOURCE OF
feeds. Those who want Christ, they lean to other things. The be-
liever has something also upon which he stays his soul, by which he
lives, and this is Christ; he feeds on him, satisfying his soul in him;
and this in opposition to the lusts of the world, without which the
carnal world have no satisfaction, having never relished as much
sweetness in Christ as in their lusts : But, " whosoever," says Jesus,
John iv. 14, " driuketh of the water that I shall give him, shall
never thirst ; but the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a
well of water, springing up into everlasting life." They shall no
more suck, as they were wont to do, their comfort out of these
breasts, as in the day when their navel was not cut, Ezek. xvi. 4.
They feed on Christ in opposition to outward comforts, or enjoy-
ments in the world. I confess the believer may at a time lay over-
much stress on these, and then the comfort soon runs out. Psalm
cxliii. 3, 4. But his great stress lies always on Christ, and tbere-
'fore he can stand without them on him. Though they all fail, he
can, with Habakkuk, chap. iii. 18, " rejoice in the Lord, and joy in
the God of their salvation." May I add, believers feed on Christ in
opposition to inward precious enjoyments they have from him ?
Even good frames, enlargements, inherent grace, these are indeed
too weak supports for the soul, which is so weighty, upon which
it may lean. The great stay of the believer is not the grace of
God within him, which is a well whose streams are often dry ; but
the grace of God without him, in Christ, which is an everlasting
fountain, to which they can never come wrong ; therefore, Phil. iii.
3, " They rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the
flesh." — This life of comfort may be considered,
(2.) As it denotes the lifting up of the soul from under dis-
couragements and breaking dispensations, with which the believer is
sometimes trysted. Sometimes they can sing in a prison, and their
souls leap within them under outward pressures : Heb. x. 34, " They
took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing in themselves
that they have a better and an enduring substance." Whence is
this joy derived ? Paul tells us, 2 Cor. i. 5, " For as the sufferings
of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ."
Yea, but they often feel inward pressures, their discharge falls by,
they lose sight of their pardon, and the law raises up a process
against them for a debt already paid ; God hides his face, the soul
is wounded, and who can bear it ? Yet after all, when they get to
their feet again, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, the
wounds of the soul are healed. "Whence is all this ? See Job
xxxiii. 23, 24. But what comes of the poor body ? ver. 21. See
ver. 25. Yea, the bones must say, Who is like unto thee ? — The
believer derieves from Christ,
THE SPIRITUAL LIFE. 497
7. And lastly, eternal life, which in effect is nothing other than
the present life brought to perfection, and extended to eternity :
2 Cor. iii. 18, "But we all with open face, beholding as in a glass
the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory
to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." This is derived from
Christ : " I am," says Jesus, John vi. 51, " the living bread which
came down from heaven : if any man eat of this bread, he shall live
for ever." By him it is they shall live for ever in glory, seeing he
shall remain the eternal bond of union betwixt God and the saints,
and the medium of communion : Heb. vii. 26, " Wherefore he is
able also to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by him,
seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." Rev. vii. 17,
" For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them,
and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters : and God shall
wipe away all tears from their eyes. — We now proceed,
11. To shew how the believer derives this life from Christ by
faith. — For this purpose consider,
1. That faith unites the soul to Christ, receiving Christ into the
heart, as the meat we eat is received into our bodies, and incorpo-
rates with them : John vi. 56, " He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh
my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him." Seeing, then, faith makes
us members of Christ, it must needs make us living souls, partakers
of the same Spirit which actuates the Head. Faith knits the soul
as a branch to the vine, whereby it partakes of the sap. And it
lays down the soul at the fountain of life, and knits it to Christ the
Head of influences.
2. Faith applies Christ and his fulness to the soul for life ac-
cording to its needs : " He that eateth me, even he shall live by me,"
even as by eating we receive the sap and strength of the meat for
our nourishment. Christ offers himself as the fountain of life, faith
accepts, and on the acceptance applies him. Faith, as the mouth of
the soul, sucks here, and so lives by him, as he lives by the Father,
Gal. ii. 20, (quoted above.)
3. Faith presses the promises through which the golden oil runs;
Psalm cxix. 49, " Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which
thou hast caused me to hope." All the influences of grace run in
the channel of the covenant, which is the word of divine appoint-
ment, upon that bread which we eat by faith : Isa. lix. 2, " As for
me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord, my Spirit that is
upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not
depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of
the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for
ever." Each of these promises are full of the fulness of Christ to
498 TUE XATUUE AND SOURCE OF
the believer. Sometimes they drop out at will to the soul : Isa.
Ixv. 1, " I am sought of them that asked not for me ; I am found of
them that sought me not : I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a
nation that was not called by my name." But it is not always
so. What should a person then do ? He should go and press the
sap out of them by faith, and put God to the fulfilling of his word ;
Ezek. xxxvi. 37, " Thus saith the Lord God, I will yet for this be
inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them." — Against a
complying with this advice, some may propose this
Objection, But I dare not meddle with a promise. Answ. Then
meddle not with life. Is a drowning man so fearful, that he dare
not catch hold of a rope let out to draw him to land ? no ! if
your soul be content with Christ, though the promise be in your
eyes like Moses' rod, which was turned into a serpent, take it by the
tail, and it will be a rod of life to you. — Still the objection may be,
But the qualifications of the promise stave me off. Answ. Go to
Christ, in the free promise to all who will take him, Isa. Iv. 1 ; John
vi. 37, " All that the Father giveth me, shall come unto me : and
him that cometh to me, I will in nowise cast out." Many bar the
door of the promises with bars of their own making, and then com-
plain they cannot enter. Say not, If I had so much love, repentance,
brokenness of heart, I would believe. If you be wise, you will be-
lieve that you shall get these things : Zech xii. 10, " And I will
pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusa-
lem, the spirit of grace and supplications : and they shall look upon
me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one
mourneth for an only son, and shall be in bitterness for hira, as one
that is in bitterness for his first-born." Acts v. 31, " Him hath
God exalted with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour, for
to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."
4. Faith relishes the sweetness of Christ in general, and the
sweetness of every part of Christ in particular : " Hearken dili-
gently unto me," says he, Isa. Iv. 2, " and eat ye that which is
good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." And this is
life to the soul ! it makes the whole soul flee away from the world
and lusts, after him. " !" says faith, " thy spirit is good !" " !
then," adds the soul, " lead me to the land of uprightness." " Thy
name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love
thee." His words are good, and are as the best of wine, when it
goes down sweetly, it causes the lips of those that are asleep to
speak. Song vii. 5. Faith discovers Christ in his glory,— in the
glory of his person ; and then all the world is but loss and dung for
the excellency of the knowledge of him.— In the glory of his righte-
THE SPIRITUAL LIFE. 499
ousness ; tlien who can lay auy thing to their charge ? — In the glory
of his Spirit ; and then the strongest lusts will get an assault. The
soul will triumph over them. — I come now,
III. To make some practical improvement of the whole. Here I
confine myself to a short use of information and exhortation.
1. From this subject we may learn, that Christless sinners are
dead withered branches, ready to be cast over the hedge. Ye live
not at all, because ye live not by Christ. Ye have not taken him
for the food of your souls, and therefore no other prospect presents
itself to you, but a fearful looking for of judgment and of fiery in-
dignation, ready to devour the adversaries.
2. This lets us see who those are who will persevere and not
apostatise, even those who eat Christ by faith. Some there are,
who appear very lively at a communion or so, but they quickly
wither ; why ? — because they have not the living Spirit of God in
them, they lie not at the fountain. The streams must be dry, when
communion with the fountain is stopped. But those who are knit
to Christ, and cleave to him, shall partake of his spirit, and so shall
never fall away from grace, John iv. 14, (quoted above.)
I would conclude, exhorting you to an eating of Christ by faith,
in order to your living by him. And therefore,
1. Study to make it appear that your greedy appetite after that
dust, which is the serpent's meat, and the meat of the serpent's
brood, is now blunted. Shew that you hunger and thirst no more
after it. You must not now feed on the world and your former
lusts. True, Christ finds his people with their navel cut, but he
does not leave them so. If you have tasted the sweetness which is
in Christ, your lusts will now have no sweetness at all. But if in-
deed you find no sweetness in him, your lusts, it is likely, will be
strengthened, instead of being weakened by this communion ; and
this is dreadful, Prov. vii.
2. Derive your life from Christ, live by believing. It is a sad evi-
dence of a decline, when there is no communication of the life of
grace from him.
3. Live on Christ and learn to be content with him alone.
Lastly, Study to live to his glory ; Phil. i. 21, " For to me to live
is Christ, and to die is gain." Amen.
500 ■ THE FOLLY OF TURNING
THE FOLLY OF TURNING ASIDE FROM THE LORD.*
SERMON XLY.
1 Sam. xii. 21,
And tarn ye not aside ; for then should ye go after vain things, which
cannot profit nor deliver, for they are vain.
Ye have been professing to forsake your wandering life through the
empty creation, and to turn to the Lord as your portion, as your
soul's rest, and as your great Lord and Master from henceforth.
There is one thing of which I would persuade you, the faith of which
would keep you ever with hira ; and this is, that if you were to
change every day, you can never do better, never do so well. This
is the scope of our text ; in which we have Samuel's reason to the
Israelites for their not turning aside from the Lord in any case ;
which is, " For then should we go after vain things, which cannot
profit nor deliver, for they are vain."
These words (without any supplement, and to the same sense, but
more forcibly expressed) may be read word for word thus : " And
ye shall not turn aside, but after vain things," &c. ; that is, ye can-
not turn aside, but you must, by doing so, go after vain things.
The text is a defiance held out to men in their attempts to mend
their condition by departing from the Lord. In which there is,
1. A case supposed, which is, That they should turn aside from
the Lord ; and having done so, they have the wide world to choose
upon, let them take to the right hand, or to the left, choose the best
they can pitch on, some or all, that what is wanting in one, may be
made up in another. This is the utmost extent to which it can be
carried. — There is,
2. The determination in this case, which is expressed in the text
with all confidence. Ye shall not, ye cannot for your hearts, turn
aside, but after vain things ; I defy you to find out a substantial
good for yourselves in the whole creation, separate from God. Be-
take yourselves to what you will, to idols that are so already, to
other things to make idols of them, make your best of them, you
shall never make more of them than vanity, they are unprofitable,
empty, helpless nothings. — From this subject I take the following
Doctrine, That no man shall mend his condition, but will ruin
it, by turning aside from the Lord, let him turn to what hand so-
ever he will. — For illustrating this doctrine, I shall,
• Delivered at Galashiels, on Sabbatb, Sept. 6, 1719.
ASIDE FROiir THE LORD. 501
I. Offer some things for explaining this point.
II. Evince the truth of this weighty point.
III. Add the practical improvement.
We are then,
I. To offer some things for explaining this point. — Here I ob-
serve,
1. That no man, by turning aside from the Lord, shall mend his
condition, but ruin it, in point of rest to his heart, and satisfaction
to the desires of it : Isa. Ivii. 19, 20, " I create the fruit of the lips;
peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith
the Lord ; and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the trou-
bled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." Every man's
heart within him is naturally an hungry, empty thing, which must
be filled from something without itself, or it cannot rest. Some,
hearing of the soul's satisfaction to be had in God, come away to
ordinances, and are for a time found about the Lord's hand, like the
mixed multitude from Egypt among the Israelites. They do not at
the very first find that satisfaction for which they look, and they
cannot wait ; but for haste to be filled, they go back to the world
and their lusts. In this case, the more haste, the less speed ; they
are farther from it than ever. — I observe,
2. That no man, by turning aside from the Lord, shall mend his
condition, but ruin it, in point of comfort and ease to his conscience;
Psalm xxxii. 3, 5, " When I kept silence, my bones waxed old,
through ray roaring all the day long. I acknowledged my sin unto
thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my
transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of
my sin." This is the true way to get ease. But some awakened
sinners seek ease by their tears, confessions, resolutions, and the
like, not by the blood of Christ : but, alas ! those plasters will not
stick, they will never draw out the thorn of guilt. Some divert the
pain of conscience, by filling their hands and heads with business,
like Cain. Some stifle it by sinning, yet more over the belly of con-
victions. But the sore healed with any of these, which are but
mere palliatives, will break out more dreadfully than ever, though
perhaps not till there is no remedy. And how is the case thus
mended ? is it not ruined ? — I observe,
3. That no man, by turning aside from the Lord, shall mend his
condition, but ruin it, in point of his interest and advantage : Jer.
ii. 13, " For my people have committed two great evils ; they have for-
saken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns
broken cisterns, that can hold no water." Fe who changes, changes
502 THE FOLLY OF TURNING
for what he accounts the better for himself; yet men often find
themselves disappointed. Nothing draws persons more away from
God than interest ; but heaven shall be turned nethermost, and earth
uppermost in the universe, ere any man, manage as securely as he.
will, shall ever be a gainer by turning aside from God. For this
ye have the concurring testimony of all true penitents, whose eyes
have been opened : Hos, ii. 7, " And she shall follow after her
lovers, but she shall not overtake them ; and she shall seek them,
but shall not find them ; then shall she say, I will go and return
to my first husband, for then was it better with me than now." — I
observe,
4. That no man, by turning aside from the Lord, will better his
condition, but ruin it, in point of security from evil: Prov. xxviii.
18, "Whoso vvalketh uprightly, shall be saved; but he that is
perverse in his ways, shall fall at once." Sin often promises, but
can never aftord a solid shelter. Any hiding-place or defence to
which persons betake themselves, turning away from God, is but
vanity, and cannot deliver ; nay, it exposes them to the way of evil :
Amos v. 19, " As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him ;
or went into the house, and leaned his hand upon the wall, and a
serpent bit him." The Jews, in their crucifying of Christ, are a
standing witness to this : John xi. 48, " If we let him alone," said
they, " all men will believe on him, and the Romans shall come, and
take away both our place and nation." Matth. xxii. 7, " But when
the king heard thereof, he was wroth : and he sent forth his armies,
and destroyed those murderers, and burnt up their city." — We now
come,
II. To evince the truth of this weighty point. That no man shall
mend his condition, but will ruin it, by turning aside from the Lord,
let him turn to what hand soever he will. — We shall do this.
First, By considering to what a person turns aside when he turns
from God.
Secondly/, By taking a view of what he turns aside from. And,
Thirdly, By inspecting the pretended gain which he acquires by
turning aside from the Lord.
First, We are to evince the truth of this weighty point, by con-
sidering to what a person turns aside when he turns from God. It
is but vanity, which cannot profit or deliver. There are but two
things to which a person can turn aside, though the particulars are
numberless. The character agrees either,
1. To sin, that is, to sinful ways, courses, or practices. And while
there is a God in heaven to avenge the afront, no man shall mend
his condition in this way. You will not, indeed, want an invitation
ASIDE Fi;OM THE LOED. 503
to turn aside, and go in at this door ; but know for a certain that it
will ruin you, for " the dead are there, and her guests are in the
depths of hell," Prov. ix. 18. Sin is the way in which you will
never find rest to your souls ; on the contrary, it will produce a
sting to your conscience, a constant restlessness to your heart, and
eternal ruin to the whole man, if mercy recover you not, and bring
you back to God. — Or the character agrees,
2. To the creature, to which, when men are turning aside from
God, they turn to seek their happiness. This comprehends all
created comforts whatsoever. Of them we have two things to say.
(1.) They are all uncertain, a person can never get a sure hold of
them : Prov. xxiii. 5, " Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is
not ? for riches certainly make themselves wings, they flee away
as an eagle towards heaven." Unchangeableness is an essential
property of that which makes truly happy and fully satisfies, for
otherwise the very fear of losing the thing mars the full rest of
the heart in it. But where is this to be found but in God ? The
creature is so uncertain, that there is not one moment in which
we may not either be taken from it, or it from us ; so that a per-
son may rest as well on the top of a wheel, as on any creature.
And turning aside from God to it, is turning from the fountain to
a cistern, which, in that very moment when a person goes to drink
out of it, may run dry.
(2.) They are utterly insufficient. It is not in them to answer
the cravings of the human heart, of an immortal soul. Hence it is
said, Isa. Iv. 2, " "Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is
not bread, and your labour for that which satisfieth not ?" [1.] There
is no suitableness in them to the soul, for they are not commensurate
to the desires of it; God only is so, being an infinite good. Where-
fore, wherever you go to make your bed among them, you will find
it shorter than you can stretch yourself upon. [2.] They have no
divine appointment for that end, without which grass would be no
more satisfying to the flocks than sand. God has kept the satis-
fying of the soul to himself, as his peculiar prerogative. — Therefore
the turning aside to such emptiness can never make a man happy. —
Here, however, may be stated this
Objection, What ! does not every body know that there is a
goodness in the creature ? Answ. But every body should likewise
know that it is uncertain and insufficient, and therefore not worth the
turning aside to from a good God. Besides, know this farther,
that no creature can be to thee more than this God, from whom
thou turnest aside, makes it to be. So thou mayest get it, and at
the same time there may come a withering curse with it, that thou
504 THE FOLLY OP TURNIN&
shalt find no more sap in it than Haman in his riches, family ho-
nours, which, by his own confession, availed him nothing, Esther,
V. 13. Yea, thy ruin may rise from it, as Achan's from the golden
wedge.
Secondly, For evincing the truth of this weighty point, consider
what a person turns aside from, when turning aside from God.
He turns from an npmaking portion ; Psalm Ixxiii. 25, " "Whom have
I in heaven hut thee ? and there is none upon earth that I desire
besides thee." Cleave to the Lord, turn not aside from him : for,
1, Thou art enriched for time : 1 Tim. iv. 8, " Godliness is profi-
table unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and
of that which is to come." The everlasting covenant secures all that
thou needest. Thy provision is sure : Psalm xxxvii. 3, " Trust in the
Lord, and do good ; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou
shalt be fed." Isa. xxxiii. 16, " He shall dwell on high, his place
of defence shall be the munition of rocks ; bread shall be given him,
his water shall be sure." Thou shalt not want lodging : Psalra xc.
1, " Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations."
Fear not want of clothing : Matth. vi. 30, " For if God so clothe the
grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the
oven, shall he not much more clothe you, ye of little faith ?"
"What want ye more, then ? Why, some would have land also.
Then cleave to Christ as thy Lord and Husband, He is Lord of all
the land in the world ; the earth shall be thine in the right of thy
Husband : Matth. v. 5, " Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit
the earth." But what will a person do for money ? Why, cleave
to the Lord : Job xxii. 24, 25, " Then shalt thou lay up gold as
dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. Yea, the
Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver."
— Here some may propose this
Objection, These are fine words, but what will they bring into
our mouth, or on our back, what will they bring into the cof-
fers ? Answ. They are God's words, and his words are better than
all the world's good deeds. Some to whom God has no special love,
he gives them their portion in their hand, and sets them off; others,
who are his dear children, he gives them the good words of a pro-
mise, and keeps them at home with himself. Say now, which of
these have the best of it ? The following words determine it :
Matth. XXV. 34, " Then shall the King say unto them on his right
hand. Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom pre-
pared for you from the foundation of the world." God approves
not of those men who say to the needy. Depart in peace, and be
ye warmed, and be ye filled ; notwithstanding, they give them not
ASIDE FROM THE LORD. 505
those things which are needful to the body," James ii. 16. And
will He himself treat his people so ? No, no. Many a saint has
trusted to these words, when they had nothing else to trust to, and
they have all been made out to them : Psalm xxxiv. 8, 9, " taste
and see that the Lord is good ! blessed is the man that trusteth in
him. fear the Lord, ye his saints ! for there is no want to them
that fear him." The unbeliever's mistake is, that God's bond can-
not be paid, but in giving the very thing itself. Even this is often
done, but he also gives his people more frequently what is as good.
Moses, wanting meat forty days, had no reason to complain, when
God in those days took away his stomach, and satisfied him other-
wise than by meat. Adam lived well when the heavens were the
roof of his house, and God was his God. All the enjoyment of God
still will abundantly compensate the want of all these things.
2. Cleave unto the Lord, turn not aside from him, and thus thou art
enriched for eternity, 1 Tim. iv. 8, quoted above. Come death when
when it will, what then ? thou shalt be carried where thy happiness
shall be completed : John xiv. 2, " In my Father's house are many
mansions ; if it were not so I would have told you : I go to prepare
a place for you." The law cannot debar thee from this happi-
ness, it is satisfied ; justice has nothing to say against thee, for
the debt is paid : God is thy God ; and the tongue of men, nor
of angels, cannot fully express this privilege.
Thirdly, The truth of this weighty point in the text will farther
appear, by inspecting the pretended gain which is acquired by
turning aside from the Lord. — It may all be summed up in these
two particulars.
1. It is nothing; Prov. xxiii. 5, (quoted above). All the gain is
but children's gain, which they have won off their fellows, of which
grown persons make no account ; and as little will a spiritual heart
account of gain got by turning aside from the Lord. It is a poor trade
where a person is not gaining for his soul ; and no person will gain
for this by turning aside from God.
2. It is worse than nothing. Whatsoever thou thinkest thou
gainest by turning aside from the Lord, a thousand times more is
going to destruction in the meantime. Count what thou givest out,
as well as what thou gettest in, and thou wilt soon see the gain
worse than nothing: Matth. xvi. 26, "For what is a man profited
if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul ? or what
shall a man give in exchange for his soul ?"
From all which it is evident, that no man shall better his con-
dition, but ruin it, by turning aside from the Lord, let him turn
to what hand soever he will. — I now proceed,
YOL. IX. 2 K
506 THE FOLLY OV TURNIN^O
III. To make some improvement of this subject, in an use ot
information. — Hence,
1. You who have never yet turned to the Lord, but have been
going aside from him all your days, know, that ye are yet in a ruin-
ous condition ; there is nothing you can call yours, but what is
vanity, and cannot profit or deliver. Ye will not be persuaded of
this ; but remember it is explicitly told you ; and if grace do not open
your eyes to see it timely, death will open them to see it when it
is out of time to mend the matter.
2. Backsliders, be all of you convinced of the foolish choice ye
have made, repent, and turn again unto the Lord. What have
you gained by your departures from him ? Where is the ad-
vantage of the sad exchange ? Blasted profits ! short-lived plea-
sures ! leaving a sting behind them in the conscience these will
not compensate for what ye have lost.
3. Ye who have got near God in this ordinance, ye may see
that it is your duty and interest, by a holy tender walk, a living
by faith, to hold where you are. If you step aside from God, you
may well mar your case, you will never mend it this Avay. En-
tertain no curiosity to be on the other side of the hedge ; satisfy
yourselves that there is nothing there but vain things, which can-
not profit nor deliver, for they are vain : Isa. xxx. 7, " For the
Egyptian shall help in vain, and to no purpose ; therefore have I
cried concerning this. Their strength is to sit still."
4. Disappointed communicants may hence be satisfied, that if
you love your own souls, it is not for your profit to go aside to an-
other door, to get your loss at the door of God's house made up
another way. Your case, it is likely, is sad, and Satan will strike
in with the occasion to make you a fair offer. But know of a truth,
if you embrace it, instead of mending your condition, you shall
make your sad case yet sadder. Bo peremptory in your resolutions
that you will wait upon the Lord, and not give over, how long so-
ever ye be without sensible success : Gen. xxxii. 26, " And the angel
said to Jacob, Let me go, for the day breaketh ; and he said, I will
not let thee go, except thou bless me." Go thou, and do likewise.
5. Ye carnal ones, who are weary of waiting about the Lord's
hand, and are longing to be back to the world as your element, say-
ing in your heart, " When will the Sabbath be over 1" Ye may
see the propriety of checking these carnal motions : stir up your-
selves to seek the Lord, and to improve the present opportunity for
making a happy settlement for your souls ; otherwise, if you miss
such an occasion of mending your condition, ye know not if ever ye
shall have it again : and by neglecting it, ye run towards the ruining
of your souls.
ASIDE FROM THE LORD- 507
Let all be exhorted to cleave to the Lord, and tremble at the
thought of turning aside from him. Be exhorted, with purpose of
heart to cleave unto the Lord, Acts xi. 23. Turn not aside from his
precious truths, his holy ordinances, the way of holiness and ten-
derness in the whole of your conversation ; but cleave to the Lord,
his word, his way, and to whatever bears his stamp. Turn not aside,
whatever may be the temptation or allurement. Know of a truth,
that it is but poison presented in a golden cup to you, which will
work the ruin of your condition ; it is but a gilded vanity, to cheat
you to cut off a substantial good : it is what will not fail to be bit-
terness in the end. Have your eyes in your head, then, and forfeit
not God's favour or smiles for lying vanities.
Again, turn not aside, whatever be the hazard of holding on.
Let devils and men run that as high as they will, as sure as God's
word is truth, the greatest hazard is ever on the other side ; and
they who turn aside run the most fearful risk. — "Wherefore, take it
home with you, lay it up in your hearts, and improve it in your daily
walk ; decide all your controversies with temptation, managed by a
subtile devil, a carnal heart, or the men of the world, by this, — That
you cannot turn aside, but "after vain things, which cannot profit,
nor deliver, for they are vain." Amen.
JESUS COMPLETELY QUALIFIED FOR HIS WORK.*
SERMON XLYL
Isaiah Ixi. 1,
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon ine, because the Lord hath
anointed me.
This text is that upon which our Lord Jesus himself preached to
the congregation at Nazareth, Luke iv, 16 — 19. And if we ask of
whom the prophet spake, Jesus tells you, ver. 21, that it was of him.
Though the prophet perhaps had an eye to himself, and to the pro-
mised deliverance from the Babylonish captivity ; yet certainly
Christ, and the spiritual deliverance by him, is the principal subject.
Jesus is here described as the Mediator between God and man. In
the words we have two things : —
1. The glorious qualifications of onr Mediator : " The Spirit of
the Lord God is upon me." Here are the three persons of the Trinity
* Delivered Sept., 1718.
2k2
608 JESUS COMPLETELY QUALIFIED
distinguished. The Lord God, his Son, and his Spirit. Our Lord
Jesus being both God and man, the Holy Spirit, with all his gifts,
was put on the man Christ. At his baptism the Spirit descended
upon him like a dove, Matth. iii. 16. On him also the Spirit rested,
and never again departed from him, but continued filling him at all
times with graces and gifts for the discharge of his great trust. So
that he says the Spirit is upon me, not is come upon me. — We have,
2. The reason of these glorious qualifications. This was, because
they were necessary for the office to which he was called : " Because
the Lord God hath anointed me." It behoved him to be both God
and man. As he was God, he could have nothing added to him ; but
as he was man, it behoved him to be endowed with unparalleled qualifi-
cations for this unpai'alleled office. — Here consider his call to the
work. The Lord anointed him, as prophets, priests, and kings were
wont to be, and thus were called and set apart to their respective
offices ; in like manner was Christ called of the Father to the Me-
ditorial works, not with material oil, as they were, but with the
Holy Spirit, which was signified by that oil. — Again, consider his
mission : the Lord sent him. He did not come unsent to the world ;
but his Father having called him, and furnished him for the work,
sent him away to exercise his commission, and to perform his work. —
Consider, next, the work he was called to, and sent out upon. Con-
sider this work with respect to Christ himself; and it is threefold.
First, As a prophet or preacher of the gospel, revealing the Father's
mind. Secondly, A priest or healer, a spiritual physician, for sin-sick
souls, to bind up the broKen-hearted. Tldrdli/, As a king, to issue out
proclamations, far more joyful than those of Cyrus to the captives,
as the spiritual captivity and imprisonment is far worse than a cor-
poral one. — Consider the work as it respects the different sorts of
people with whom he has to deal ; and it is twofold. First, Some of
them have some good in them wrought by his Spirit ; and of these,
some are the meek, others are broken-hearted. Secondly, Some of
them have no good in them, they are captives, prisoners to Satan.
Both sorts are in his commission, as persons he has to deal with. —
Consider this work as it respects the different cases of these sorts of
persons ; and it is fourfold. Ist, To the meek, he has to carry good
tidings, ^dly, to the broken-hearted, he has to bind up their
wounds. 2idly, To the captives he has to give deliverance, and
Athly, To the prisoners he has to open the prison doors. Thus
he is, by the Father's special appointment, to give suitable help to
each case. A more particular explication of these things will be
given as we advance in the subject.
Now, here is a great work j and because of it, (or, as it is in the
FOR HIS WOKK. 509
Hebrew, answerable to it), he is endowed with the Spirit, with his
graces and gifts, without which he could not be qualified for it.
The subject of our present discourse, is our Lord's qualification
for his work : " The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me." Here our
Lord commends himself to poor sinners, that they may come to
him, and be happy in hira. Who can commend him to purpose but
himself? He commends himself to us, from the fulness of the Spirit
lodged in hira, as in Rev. iii. 1, " And unto the angel of the church
of Sardis write, These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of
God, and the seven stars." As when the soul is gone, the body can
move and act no more ; so where the Spirit of God is gone from
men, they can do no more good. While destitute of the Spirit, they
are shut up under an uninterrupted barrenness. Now, this is the
natural case of the whole world. To the world, then, under the want
of the Spirit, Christ here makes public proclamation where the
Spirit is to be found ; as if he had said, " all ye spiritless, lifeless
binners, dead to grace and goodaess, be it known unto you, " the
Spirit of the Lord God is upon me." He says as Joseph said to his
brethren, Gen. xlv. 9, and downwards. The Spirit came upon
Moses and the prophets, but they could spare none of their oil ; if
they could, they could not have communicated it. But the Spirit is
on me, as the oil in the cistern, to be dispersed by the pipes of con-
veyance to poor sinners who will come to me. This is indeed a pro-
clamation of a well-stored and cheap market, to a country perishing
under famine, to which they should all resort.
That this is the true intent of these words, appears yirs^, Because it
is plain from the original accentuation, that the principal purpose
of the text, is not to shew why the Spirit was on Christ, (for in that
case the chief stop within the verse had been at broken-hearted),
but to shew, that the Spirit is on hira, (for there the great stop is.)
" The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me," &c. Secondly, Because
an amazing change is prophesied, in the preceding chapter, to come
upon the church of the Gentiles ; and so here follows the accounting
for it : " The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me," to be communi-
cated for effecting this change.
From this part of the subject, I observe the following
Doctrine, That the Spirit of God was eminently on Jesus Christ,
to be communicated to poor sinners.
This was typified by the ointment poured out on the head of the
High Priest, Psalm cxxxiii. 2. Compare John i. 16.
For illustrating this doctrine, we propose,
I. To shew in what eminent sort the Spirit of the Lord was upon
Christ the Mediator.
510 JESUS COMPLETELY QUALIFIED
II. To confirm this point, That the Spirit is put upon Christ to
be comraunicated.
III. I will consider the reasonableness and suitableness of this
glorious device, of the Spirit's being put on Christ, to be communi-
cated to poor sinners. — And then,
IV. We shall improve the subject. — We are,
I. To shew in what eminent sort the Spirit of the Lord was upon
the Mediator. — Here we observe,
1. That the gifts and graces of the Spirit were conferred on
Christ's human nature in a singular measure : Psalm xlv. 7, " God,
thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fel-
lows." What these are you may see, Isa. iii. 2, 3. Others have
had much of these, but never any so much of them as the man
Christ, though they were not infinite, which is a property peculiar
to the divine perfections. Thus his enemies were obliged to confess,
that he spoke as never man spoke. And in this sense that testi-
mony, John iii. 34, " God giveth not his Spirit by measure unto
him," may be applied even to Christ's manhood; namely, that God
gives not his gifts and graces to him sparingly, as out of a mea-
sure, but with a full hand most abundantly. — We observe,
2. The fulness of the Spirit was upon the Mediator; and that is
an infinite fulness, for he is God as well as man : Col. ii. 9, " For
in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." The Holy
Spirit is an infinite Spirit of boundless perfections, all which Jesus
Christ as God doth fully possess. The divine nature, an unfathom-
able depth of perfections, was united to the human nature in our
Mediator ; so that he has not only a portion of the Spirit, but the
whole fulness of the Spirit, John iii. 34. Saints have, and can have,
by their measure ; but the ocean of perfections, which knows no
bounds, and all grace, were and was in him. — We observe,
3. That the Spirit was at all times alike on that Mediator. The
Spirit came sometimes on the prophets, instructing them what to
say, and exciting them to say it; but sometimes the spirit of pro-
phecy did nut blow, they had it not at their command : 1 Peter i.
21, " For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man ;
but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy
Ghost." See an instance, 2 Sam. vii. 2 — 5, where the prophet Na-
than knew not how to direct David, till the word of the Lord came
to him. So the Spirit of sanctificatiou in the saints, though he
never departs from them, yet how often is there a dead calm in
their souls, which requires them to say, as in Song iv. 26, " Awake,
north wind ! and come, thou south ; blow upon my garden, that
the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his
FOB HIS WORK. 511
garden, and eat his pleasant fruits." But the Spirit rested on
Jesus Christ, Isa. si. 2 ; it dwelleth in Iiim, Col. ii. 9. He neyer
can be at a loss for want of the Spirit, whose waters in him are
never shallow, but still continue alike deep. We observe,
4. That the Spirit is upon him in the fulness of a fountain, to be
communicated to those who come to him: Zech. xiii. 1, " In that
day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David, and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness :" so " Jesus
breathed on his disciples," John xx. 22, and said unto them, " Re-
ceive ye the Holy Ghost." All others, even the saints in heaven,
have but the fulness of a vessel, what only may serve themselves.
But he has the fulness of a spring, where the waters are ever flow-
ing, and therefore can furnish all others who come to him, and yet
have never the less to himself. — We come now,
II. To confirm this point. That the Spirit was in Christ to be com-
municated. — We observe,
1. That this is plain from scripture-testimony: Rev. iii. 1, "He
hath the seven spirits of God." All the saints have the Spirit of
God. He dwells in each of them ; if any man have not the Spirit
of Christ, he is none of his, Rom. viii. 9. But then this is quite
another thing than the simple having of the Spirit. Christ hath the
Spirit as he hath the seven stars, that is, at his disposal, to give
them or take them from whom he will : Psalm Ixvi. 18, " Thou hast
received gifts for men ; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord
God may dwell among them." Compare Eph. iv. 8. Whence it is
plain, that Christ received these gifts, received them to give them to
men. — This is plain,
2. For Christ, as Mediator and surety of the new covenant, is a
common person, as Adam was in the first covenant, who received
the stock of all mankind in his hand, and lost it. Now, free grace
has made up the stock again, and put it in a sure hand, where it
never can be lost : Psalm Ixxxix. 19, *' I have laid help upon one
that is mighty." He is the second Adam, and therefore the fulness
of the Spirit and of his grace is put upon him, to be communicated
by him to poor sinners. — Consider farther,
3. That Christ could not have been qualified to execute the ofiice
to which the Father had called him, without communicating the
Spirit to those with whom he has to deal ; therefore says the text,
" The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because he hath sent me
to preach good tidings to the meek." How shall the poor meek
ones, who see nothing in them or about them to recommend them to
God, believe the good tidings, without the Spirit of faith ? How
can the broken-hearted have their wounds bound up without the
512 JESUS COMPLETELY QUALIFIED
bealiug spirit ? How can the captives and prisoners be delivered,
unlecs the Spirit break off their fetters. — Consider,
Lastly, That it is from Jesus Christ that all who partake of the
Spirit do receive the Spirit ; there is no other channel of conveyance :
John i. 16, " Out of his fulness have all we received, and grace for
grace." John vi. 63, " It is the Spirit that quickeneth : the words
that I speak unto you are spirit, and they are life." It is he who
sends the Spirit, John xv. 16. It is true, the Father is said to give
the Spirit to them that ask him, Luke xi. 13 ; but it is still in
Christ's name, and for his sake, John xiv, 29. Therefore he is
called the Spirit of God's Son, whom he sends forth into the hearts
of his people. — We now proceed,
III. To consider the reasonableness and suitableness of his glori-
ous device, of the Spirit being put on Christ to be communicated to
poor sinners.
1. It is most suitable to the Father's honour, that guilty criminals
partake of his Spirit through a Mediator. God looked on all the
fallen race of man, and could be pleased with none of them : Psalm
xiv. 3, " They are all gone aside ; they are altogether become filthy."
But behold his own Son became man ! and he is well pleased with
him, with his person and mediation, and therefore with sinners in
him, Matth. iii. 17. In Christ he meets with the sinner; and his
justice being satisfied by him, he may, with safety to his own honour,
communicate with the poor creatures, and they receive his Spirit,
as members of his own Son, their glorious Head.
2. It is most suitable to the honour of the Son, who is appointed
head over all things to the church, which is his body, Eph. i. 23.
This is that honour which his Father has put upon him, that he be
the great steward of heaven, the trustee for all the elect of God, the
great dispenser of the Father's favours, to the objects of everlasting
love. And as Pharaoh put an honour upon Joseph, by ordering
his petitioners to go to Joseph ; so does the Father put honour upon
Christ, his own well-beloved Son, by a similar appointment.
3. It is most suitable to the honour of the Holy Spirit; for in this
manner the gift of the Spirit appears to be by the infinite value of
the blood of the Son of God : Rev. v. 6, " The Lamb slain hath
seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent
forth into all the earth." No receiving of this holy fire, but from
the altar where a Saviour was slain. No communicating of that
Spirit, but through the blood of the Redeemer.
Lastly, It is most suitable to the sinner's case ; for Christ is bone
of our bone, and flesh of our flesh. He is our near kinsman, through
whom we come to God boldly : Eph. iii. 12, " In whom we have
FOR HIS WORK. 513
boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him." We are
not able to behold an unvailed God, his glory would dazzle and con-
found ns ; but through the vail of the flesh of Christ we may be-
hold hira and lire. — We now come,
lY. To a practical improvement of the subject. And this,
First, In a use for information.
1. This lets us see the transcendent glory and beauty of Jesus
Christ. Pharaoh could say of Joseph to his servants, Gen. xlviii.
.38, " Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of
God is ?" How does the firmament shine with the stars which
sparkle in it ! How beautiful is the earth, when decked with the
variety of the gifts of nature in the spring ! But what are all these to
the Mediator's glory and beauty, in whom all the gifts and graces
of God's Spirit do centre : Psalm xlv. 2, " Thou art fairer than the
sons of men ; grace is poured into thy lips." There is no man,
however well qualified, that excels in all things, there is a want in
every individual, but no want in Christ; Song v. 16, " Tea, he is
altogether lovely." (Heb. He is all desires). — "We may learn,
2. The absolute fulness and sufliciency of Christ to make the sin-
ner who comes to him perfectly happy ; he gives them rest, Matth.
xi. 28. There is a fulness of the Spirit in him to answer all their
necessities, be what they will. Behold the whole constellation of
gifts and graces in our exalted Redeemer. Every good gift, natu)"al,
moral, or religious, comes from this Spirit. Some have one gift of
Lira, some another ; but our Lord Jesus Christ has all, which is
more than all the excellencies to be found in angels and men. And
what can he want to bestow, who has the Spirit to give to those who
come to him ? — We may learn,
3. The freedom of grace in Christ. He has all, and he communi-
cates all freely. The spring runs freely without price or hire. It
is a pleasure to have a full breast sucked : and it is a pleasure to
our blessed Redeemer to do good and to communicate to undeserv-
ing sinners. — We may see,
4. The absolute need we have of Christ. Ye are ruined without
the Spirit, ye will pine away in your gnilt, rust away in your cor-
ruptions, and, like dead corpses, be buried out of God's sight, if ye
get not the Spirit ; and ye cannot have the Spirit but from Christ.
This is the only market opened to relieve your necessities.
Lastly, Ye are inexcuseable if ye continue without the Spirit, for
you may have the Spirit if you come to Christ ; but, alas ! he may
say of us, as John v. 40, " Ye will not come unto me that ye may
have life." I would raise your dead souls, I would quicken you, I
would make you as a well-watered garden : but alas ! ye care not
514 JESUS COMPLETELY QUALIFIED
for the Spirit . Prov. i. 25, " Ye have set at nought all my counsel,
and would none of my reproof." — We shall improve this subject,
Secondly, In a use of exhortation.
1. I would exhort you, then, to come to Christ, that ye may par-
take of his Spirit. Christ is saying to you this day, " The Spirit of
the Lord God is upon me." Come, and I will pour him out upon
you. Alas for the want of the Spirit this day ! it appears sadly in
the whole church, in the congregation, in neighbourhoods, and in
families. There is enough of a selfish, devilish, carnal, worldly, pro-
fane, and formal spirit, but little of a holy heavenly spirit, to be
seen this day. But we may get the spirit, if we will by faith come
to Christ for it. that we were moving to him for this spirit ! — To
be more j)articular, we would exhort you,
1. Come to Christ, thou dead and lifeless sinner, who art lying
rotting under the power of thy lusts, who hast a heart within thee
which cannot repent and mourn, or let go the dead grip it has taken
of the world, and of sinful courses. His Spirit is a spirit of life,
which will make the dry bones live, the withered soul flourish as an
herb, the heart, which is like a clog now in duties, to be like the
chariots of Aminadib: Eph. y. 14, "Awake, thou that sleepest, and
arise from the dead, and Christ will give thee light."
2. Come, drooping, fainting, dispirited soul, who art harassed
with terrors, pierced with fearful apprehension, whose heart is like
a stone, dying within thee. His Spirit is a si>irit of light, life, and
comfort : he binds up the broken-hearted, makes light to arise to
those who go mourning without the sun, takes off the sackcloth, and
girds with gladness.
3. Come, hard-hearted sinner, whom nothing can move, neither
judgments nor mercies, who canst not mourn either for thy own
sins, or the sins of the generation. His Spirit can soften the heart.
He will take away your stony heart, and give you an heart of flesh.
An outpouring of the Spirit would melt down the heart, and dis-
solve it in tears of godly sorrow, this would break the bands of iron
and brass : Zech. xii. 10, " And I will pour out upon the house of
David, and upon the inhabitants^ of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace
and of supplication ; and they shall look upon me whom they have
pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only
son ; and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness
for his first-born."
4. Come, tempted sinner, who art harassed with temptations, and
art ready to say, One day I shall fall before this great adversary.
The Spirit is a spirit of power, 2 Tim i. 7. It may be, that tempta-
tions come in on thee like a breaking forth of waters, threatening to
FOR HIS WORK, 515
sweep all before them ; but come to Christ for his Spirit, who is able
to stem the tide, to create peace, and to make thee more than a con-
queror.
5. Come, unfruitful sinner. The Lord is at much pains with you
by ordinances and providences, yet you are barren ! you bring forth
no fruit answerable to the pains of the Husbandman. What is the
reason the Spirit comes not with the word and providences ? But
you may have the Spirit from Christ, and this would make you
fruitful : Eph. v. 9, '* For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness,
and righteousness, and truth." The blowing of that wind from
heaven would make the spices flow out, Cant. iv. 16, and cause you
to make progress in your journey to the Zion above.
6. Come, unholy sinner. The Spirit which Christ has to give, is
a spirit of holiness, Rom. i. 4. He works like water in washing the
polluted soul, like fire in burning up corruption. He is the great
principle of holiness, who works it wherever he comes, and makes of
the very worst a vessel fit for the Master's use.
Lastly, Come to Christ for his Spirit, whatever your case be ; you
will find a suitable cure from him, by the fulness of the Spirit in
him ; he is suited for every case that is put in his hand : Col. ii.
9, 10, " For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And ye are complete in him, who is the head of all principalities
and powers." He will be eyes to the blind, light to them that sit
in darkness, legs to the lame, meat to the hungry, drink to the
thirsty, clothing to the naked ; all in all. — To prevail with you in
coming to Christ for the Spirit, I would ofi'er you the following
motives : —
Mot. 1. The Spirit of the Lord is absolutely necessary for you to
have, you cannot want him, you must have him. The world may as
well want the sun, moon, and stars, as you can want the Spirit; for
without the Spirit ye can do nothing but sin. "When the soul is
away, the body is dead, and can do nothing but lie and rot in a
grave : and when the Spirit of God is not in a man, he is dead in sin,
and can do nothing but sin : John vi. 63, " It is the Spirit that quick-
eneth,the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you they
are spirit, and they are life." Ye cannot have a good and aceptable
thought, nor perform any duty acceptable : John iv. 24, " God is a
Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and
in truth." So that all pains are lost upon thee, as on the dead tree,
to which summer and winter are alike. — Again, without the Spirit,
ye are none of Christ's, Rom. viii. 9, " If any man have not the Spi-
rit of Christ, he is none of his." All those who are Christ's, they
are sealed and marked with the Spirit of Christ: Eph. i. 13, "In
516 JESUS COMPLETELY QUALIFIED
whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy
Spirit of promise." Men set their mark ou their sheep, and there-
fore says one, If such a one be one of my sheep, it has such a mark ;
so says our Lord, If one of my sheep, he has my Spirit in him ; and
so without the Spirit, without Christ, and without the Father, there-
fore without the Spirit, without God in the world. — Farther, with-
out the Spirit, ye are undone for ever : for so ye are without God,
and therefore without hope, Eph. ii. 12. The dead corpse may be
kept a while, but when there is no hope of the return of life, it is
buried in a grave ; so, without the Spirit, ye may be kept a while
through God's patience, but the end will be, to be cast into the pit,
and buried out of God's sight in fiery flames.
Mot. 2. Ton cannot have the Spirit but from Jesus Christ. The
blessed Mediator is the bowl from which this holy oil is conveyed
to all the lamps which burn with it. The Spirit, says he, is on me:
1 John ii. 20, " But ye have an unction from the holi/ One, and ye
know all things." Yer. 27, " But the anointing which ye have re-
ceived of him, abideth in you." The Egyptians must have starved,
if they had not been supplied with cprn by Joseph, for he had all the
corn at his disposal ; and we must be for ever without the Spirit, if
we receive him not from Christ. The Spirit dwells in none but as
members of Christ : and whence shall the members have life but
from the Head ?
Mot. 3. Ye may have the Spirit, and that freely, from Christ :
Prov. i. 23, " Turn ye at my reproof; behold, I will pour out my
Spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you." And
the promise is very bountiful, ye may have all free of cost: Rev.
xxii. 17, " And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."
The Spirit on Christ is that water of life which gives life to the
dead, and life more abundantly to the living; and the terms are,
Ask of him, and he will give thee living water, John iv. 10. Not
only drops of the Spirit, but the Spirit poured out, floods of the
same : Isa. xliv. 3, " For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty,
and floods upon the dry ground : I will pour my Spirit upon thy
seed, and my blessing upon thine off'spring." John vii. 38, 39, " 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 ; for the Holy Ghost was
not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified)."
Lastly, By way of motive, if ye will not come to Christ for the
Spirit, ye judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, ye are slighters
of Christ, and dreadful will your reckoning be : Prov. i. 24 — 27,
" Because I have called, and ye have refused : I have stretched out
FOR HIS WORK. 517
my hand, and no man regarded. But ye have set at nought all my
counsel, and would none of my reproof. I also will laugh at your
calamity; I will mock when your fear conieth ; when your fear
Cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind ;
when distress and anguish cometh upon you." It will be more
tolerable for those who never heard where they might partake of
the Spirit than for you.
In conclusion, I shall only add the following directions : —
1. Pray earnestly for the Spirit, in the name of Christ ; you have
a promise of the Spirit ; says God, by the prophet Ezekiel, " And I
will put my spirit within you." And said Jesus, " If ye then being
evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much
more should your heavenly Father give his Holy Spirit to them that
ask him ?" Take courage, then, believe the promise, press it and
depend upon it.
2. Unite with Jesus Christ, accepting him in the gospel-offer, and
giving yourselves away freely to him. Bring your dead soul to the
Lord of life, and he will breathe in it, and ye shall be like the dead
man laid in the sepulchre of Elisha, who revived, and stood upon his
feet, whenever he touched the prophet's bones, 2 Kings xiii. 21.
Lastly, Wait and look for the Spirit in Christ's ordinances, espe-
cially the preaching of the gospel. They who would have the wind
to blow on them, go out into the open air ; though they may for the
present miss it, they wait till it blows, when in like manner exercised,
then you shall know that the ministration of the Spirit is glorious,
2 Cor. iii. 8. Amen.
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.
SERMON XLVII.
Isaiah Ixi. 1,
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord hath
anointed me.
Ukder this part of the text, we propose to consider the necessity of
the fulness of the Spirit being lodged in Christ. It was necessary,
because the Lord hath anointed him unto, and sent him forth upon
the mediatory work. The greatness of that work required it. — Here
I observe the following doctrines : —
518 JESUS COMPLETELY QUALIFIED
Doctrine I. That our Lord Jesus Christ was by the Father
anointed to, and sent forth upon, the mediatory work. — Or, in other
words,
That our Mediator, the Lord Jesus, was anointed by the Father
unto this office, and sent forth by him to this work.
Doctrine II, That the work upon which Jesus the Mediator was
sent forth, necessarily required the fulness of the Spirit to be lodged
in him. — We begin with
Doctrine I. That our Lord Jesus Christ was by the Father
anointed to, and sent forth upon, the mediatory work. — Or, in
other words,
Tbat our Mediator, the Lord Jesus, was anointed by the Father
unto this office, and sent forth by him to this work, — In illustrat-
ing this doctrine, I shall,
I. Consider the anointing here mentioned.
II. Speak of the sending which flowed from and followed upon it.
III. Make some practical improvement.
I. I am to consider the anointing here mentioned. In attending
to this I shall, first, shew what is meant by this anointing. Secojidli/,
Wherewith Christ was anointed.
First, We are to shew what is meant by this anointing. Under
the Old Testament, anointing was a ceremony used for consecrating
kings, priests, and prophets : thus David was anointed king, Aaron
was anointed priest, Elisha anointed a prophet. This ceremony sig-
nified two things : — The designation of the person to the office. It
being a sign, by the divine appointment, that this was the person
whom God had called to this work ; it was also a discovery of the
divine purpose, as thereby the person was consecrated to the office ;
though sometimes it was long after that he got his orders to pro-
ceed to the actual exercise of it. Thus Samuel, by the command of
the Lord, anointed David king long before he assumed the govern-
ment, 1 Sam. xvi. 13 — Again, this ceremony also signified the en-
dowment of the person with the abilities and qualifications necessary
to fit him for the work. Thus, when Saul was anointed king, God
gave him another heart, 1 Sam. x. 13, " And when David was
anointed king, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him from that day
forward," 1 Sam. xvi. 13. Accordingly, Christ's anointing signifies
two things : —
1. His designation to the mediatory office. The Father pitched
upon his Son, and set him apart for this grand work, to recover a
ruined world. He made choice of him to be the repairer of the
great breach, and put the breach under his hand. Hence he is
called God's elect or chosen one; Isa. xlii. 1, "Behold (says God)
FOR HIS WORK. 519
my servant whom I uphold, mine elect in whom my soul delighteth."
Christ's anointing signifies,
2. His being fitted and furnished for that ofliice to which he was
designed and set apart : John iii. 31, " For he whom God hath sent,
speaketh the words of God, for God giveth not the Spirit by mea-
sure unto him. Hence it is said of him, that he is able to save them
to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth
to make intercession for them." It was an unparalleled work, and
so unparalleled qualifications were necessary for it. He was pitched
upon to be the Father's servant in the great work of recovering an
elect world. He was infinitely wise who made the choice, and there-
fore could not but pitch on a suitable person : he was also infi-
nitely powerful, and all-sufficient, and therefore could fully qualify
him for it. We have both the choice and the furniture together :
Isa. xlii. 1, " Behold my servant whom I uphold, mine elect in whom
my soul delighteth : I have put my spirit upon him : he shall bring
forth judgment to the Gentiles." And this is the import of the
anointing. — But let us view it more particularly,
In the designation or choice made by the Father. Infinite wis-
dom appeared in it most conspicuously, with infinite love to an elect
world. When the divine decree and purpose of man's redemption
was laid down by the Trinity, the great thing next to be considered
was, who should undertake the work, and be the Redeemer. No
mere man could be chosen, for none could have a back to bear such
a burden. All were guilty, and could not satisfy for their own sin,
far less purchase salvation for others. No angel could be chosen,
for even they, with their stock, could not have been able to have
discharged the debt, in regard it was infinite ; wherefore the Father
made choice of his own Son, as a person who could undertake it;
Psalm Ixxxix. 19, 20, " Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy
One, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty ; I have
exalted one chosen out of the people ; I have found David my ser-
vant, and with my holy oil have I anointed him." He being the
Son of God, it doubtless became the divine perfections to pitch on
him, as one who was to purchase for us the adoption of sons, and to
bring many children to glory. — Let us view this anointing,
In qualifying him for the work, in which the same love and wis-
dom appears. Our Mediator had to die, for without shedding of
blood, there could be no remission of sin." The divine nature was
not capable of dying, therefore he prepared him a body : Heb. x. 5,
•' Wherefore, when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and
offering thou wouldst not, but a body thou hast prepared me." The
same nature which sinned had to sufi'er ; therefore he did not create
520 JESUS COMPLETELY QUALIFIED
him a body out of nothing, but prepared him one of the seed of
Adam. He was chosen out of the people : Gal. iv. 4, *' God sent
forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law." But farther,
our nature was corrupted, and our flesh sinful flesh ; therefore it
could not be immediately united to the divine nature ; wherefore he
sanctified the substance of which that precious body was formed,
and made him a holy human nature: Heb. vii. 26, " For such an
high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate
from sinners, and made higher than the heavens." While what the
human nature could do or suflfer, would not have possessed sufficient
virtue, if separated from the divine ; therefore he unites it with it,
John i. 14, " And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us."
And hence the human nature was filled with all gifts and graces
necessary to it, for that part which it was to act in the great work.
— Let us now.
Secondly, Inquire wherewith Christ was anointed. Not with ma-
terial oil, but with the Spirit, signified by it : Psalm xlv. 7, " God,
thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness, above thy
fellows." And while the designation of the person was from eter-
nity, the Spirit's descending on him like a dove at his baptism
was the discovery of that eternal choice, and served for the visible
designation of him to the world : Matth. iii. 16, 17, " And Jesus, when
he was baptised, went up straightway out of the water : and, lo !
the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove, and lighting upon him : and, lo ! a voice
from heaven, saying. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well
pleased." And by the same Spirit it was that he was qualified and
fitted for the mediatory work, his holy human nature being with it.
— If it be inquired, how his having been anointed can be the reason
of the Spirit's being upon him, when the Spirit was that with which
he was anointed ? I answer. That Christ's having been anointed with
the Spirit to qualify him for the mediatory work, is a very proper rea-
son why the Spirit was lodged and continues to be in Christ, to be
communicated from him to the members of his mystical body.
II. "We are now shortly to speak of the sending of Christ by the
Father. As he anointed, so he sent him. This means the Father's
calling him out unto the exercise of his office for which he had been
designed, and for which he had been qualified. He was seasonably
sent to the work by the Father, and he willingly came and put
hand to it, for his Father's glory, and the salvation of poor sin-
ners : Psalm xl. 87, " Then said he, Lo I come ; in the volume of
the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, my God I
Yea, thy law is within ray heart." We may observe three periods
of this sending.
FOR HIS WORK. 521
Thejirst period was at Adam's fall, when all mankind was newly
ruined by the first sin ; then the Mediator came and looked on the
ruins of the world, Gen. iii. 8 ; preached deliverance to the captives,
ver. 15, telling them that the seed of the woman should bruise the
head of the serpent. He healed the broken-hearted, by covering
Adam and his wife with coats of skin, ver. 21, even the skins of sa-
crifices, a type of the righteousness of a slain Redeemer. Thus he
underpropped the world by his mediation, when all was shaken loose
by man's disobedience. He began immediately to repair the breach,
and kept the world from absolute and irreparable ruin.
The second period was at his birth, in the fulness of time, when he
became man, being born of the virgin : Gal. iv. 4, " When the ful-
ness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman^
made under the law." The world was then in a deplorable condi-
tion ; the knowledge of the true God was lost among the Gentiles,
religion was corrupted among the Jews, some few were groaning for
the consolation of Israel. Then he came in the flesh, being born of
a mean woman, and laid in a manger ; but at his birth the angels
sung, as in Luke ii. 14, " Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace, good-will towards men."
The third period was when he entered on the public exercise of his
ministry at his baptism ; then was he, in a special manner, sent out
on that work to which he was called: Matth. iii. 17, " This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matth. iv. 17, *' From
that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say. Repent, for the king-
dom of God is at hand." Then he went about his work, preaching
the gospel, to bring sinners to God ; he also became obedient unto
the death, according to the everlasting covenant between him and
his Father.
III. We now proceed to make some practical improvement.
1st, In a use of information.
1. This subject informs us, that the salvation of sinners was the
concern of a whole Trinity. How great a work must it be, when
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, each acted their part for
bringing it about. The Faiher sent the Son, the Son submitted to
be sent as Mediator, and by the Holy Spirit he was fitted for the
work. Never, then, think little of that salvation, which required
such causes and authors to bring it about. — It informs us,
2. That Jesus Christ is perfectly able to save sinners : Heb. vii.
25, " He is able to save to the uttermost." He was the Father's
choice to that great work, which may assure us he was an able hand
for it. He has all given him to fit him for it, which the fulness of
the Godhead affords. The Father had never taken him cautioner, if
YOL. IX. 2 L
522 JESUS COJIPLETELY QUALIFIED
he had not been perfectly able to pay the debt. He had never laid
the sinner's help upon him, if he had not been able to bear the
weight of it.
3. See here the manifold wisdom of God, how it is displayed in
the contrivance of salvation through Christ, The first creation was
a work of wisdom ; but the second was more so ; the confused heap
at first was little in comparison of the confusion sin brought into the
world, but divine wisdom brought order out of this confusion. Truth
meets with mercy, righteousness and peace embrace each other, sin
is punished, and the sinner spared. Out of the greatest aff'ront to God,
rises the occasion of his greatest glory, his Son's obedience instead
of theirs. When at the fall hell rejoiced, angels stood astonished,
and men lay groveling in the depth of misery, wisdom found out a
way of recovery, to the marring of the devil's joy, the dissipating
man's fears, and giving angels a mystery of wisdom to pry into : Eph.
iii. 10, " To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers
in heavenly places, might be known by the church the manifold wis-
dom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in
Jesus Christ our Lord."
4. See here the amazing mercy of God to objects in the deepest
misery. To have given rebel sinners some years' respite from their
due punishment, to have locked them up in hell, to be released after
some millions of years, would have glorified mercy ; but for an of-
fended God to provide a Mediator himself, proclaims the height and
depth of infinite mercy.
5. See here the love of God to poor sinners. The love of the Fa-
ther is wonderful, in sending his own Son to recover sinners by his
obedience and death : John iii. 16, " God so loved the world, that he
gave his Son, his only-begotten Son, unto the death, the most bitter
death, even the death of the cross," — The love of Christ, which un-
dertook that heavy work for poor sinners. Here is love admirable
in all its dimensions : Christ coming in the room of sinners. If
ye doubt his love, look into his pierced side, and behold its glowings
there. — The love of the Spirit dwelling in Christ, as the Head, to
enliven poor sinners as his members, being in him, exciting, moving
him forward to the work, and fitting him for it, — I shall only add
a use of exhortation.
! sirs, let Christ be your choice, as he was the Father's. His
Father is well pleased with him, be you also well pleased with him.
Employ him in your every case, put all your cases in his hand, lay
your help where the Father hath laid it, Eeceive him whom the
Father hath sent, receive him for all the ends to which the Father
hath anointed and sent him. He is called Messiah, and Christ,
FOR HIS WORK. 523
to (leuote his being anointed as the Prophet, Priest, and King of his
people ; he was anointed for all these offices, receive and improve
him in thera all. He is anointed as the great Prophet, to declare
the mind of God to sinners : Isa. Ixi. 1, He is to " preach good tid-
ings to the meek." Receive him for your Prophet, and teacher;
renouncing your own wisdom, submit yourselves to be taught by his
word and Spirit ; and go to him for direction in all cases. He is an
anointed Priest : Psalm ex. 4, " The Lord hath sworn, and will not
repent, thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."
Receive him as your Priest, laying the weight of your souls on his
sacrifice and intercession ; renouncing all confidence in yourselves.
Carry your guilt to him, to be carried off by his atonement, and put
all year spiritual sacrifices in his hand, for only out of his hand
will they be accepted. He is anointed King: Psalm ii. 6, "Yet
have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion." Submit your-
selves a willing people to the royal Mediator to receive his command-
ments, to live according to his laws, to pursue the interest of his
kingdom in the world, and to fight under his banner against the
devil, the world, and the flesh ; since for these ends he is sent, and
has come, it lies on us to receive him as such. And that this may
have weight with you, consider,
(1.) Who sent him ; the Father, the first person of the glorious
Trinity : John v. 37, " The Father himself," said he, " that hath sent
me, hath borne witness of me." And will we not welcome him whom
the Father hath sent, and entertain him for the ends for which he is
sent ? The Father had a concern for the salvation of lost sinners,
and hath sent them a deliverer, a Saviour. How will you answer if
you slight him ? — Consider,
(2.) Who is sent. The Father hath put an honour on man, be-
yond what he hath put on angels, in that he sent a Saviour for the
one, not for the other. Had he sent a lower person, an angel, with
what profound respect ought we to have received him as the mes-
senger of the Lord ? how much more when he hath sent his own
Son ? — Consider,
(3.) The errand and design on which he was sent; namely, to re-
cover a lost world, to make up the peace between God and sinners :
Luke xix. 10, " For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that
which was lost." ! may not his errand make him a welcome
messenger to the world ? If we will not receive him on this errand,
we are self-destroyers a second time, who having first given our-
selves a dreadful wound, in the next place reject the Saviour, the
Physician sent to us. — Consider,
(4.) The work he was sent upon for this end ; doing-work, suffer-
2 l2
524 JESUS COMPLETELY QUALIFIED
ing-work. His doing-work we have in our text, it will be pleasing
and acceptable to sensible sinners. Uis suffering-work was hard
work, but was a necessary foundation for the other. He preached
good tidings, but he brought them from his own death. He bindeth
up the broken-hearted, but the healing medicine is his own blood;
he proclaims deliverance, but the ransom was his own life. — Con-
sider,
(5.) "Whence and whither he was sent ; from the Father's bosom
to this earth, where he was entertained with all evil treatment, till
they nailed him to a cross, and he was buried in a grave, Phil. ii.
6 — 8. He was sent from the regions of bliss to this lower world,
and refused not the journey ; he was sent from the hallelujahs of
angels, to endure the contradiction of sinners against himself. And
when he is come, will we not receive him ?
Lastly, Consider the necessity of this mission : Psalm xl. 6, " Sa-
crifice and offering thou didst not desire ; mine ears hast thou opened ;
burnt- offerings and sin-offerings hast thou not required; then said
I, Lo ! I come." The world had universally perished without re-
medy if he had not come. He bare up the pillars thereof, and
warded off the blow of justice, by laying his own neck on the block-
And now that he is come, ho must be embraced and improved, else
we perish ; for. Acts iv. 12, " Neither is there salvation in any
other : for there is none other name under heaven, given among
men, whereby we must be saved." There is no other salvation to
look to : Heb. ii. 3, " How then shall we escape, if we neglect so
great salvation ?" — I shall now go on to illustrate very briefly.
Doctrine IT. That the work upon which the Mediator was sent
forth, necessarily required the fulness of the Spirit to be lodged in
him.
In illustrating this, all that I intend is, to confirm the point
briefly, and then conclude with a very short improvement.
To confirm this point, we need do no more but give a short ac-
count of Christ's mediatory work.
1. Christ is the day's-man betwixt God and sinners. He was em-
ployed to take cognisance of the difference between the two parties,
to decide who it was had done the wrong, and on what terms
they might be reconciled. Hence we read, John v. 22, " For the
Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the
Son." He has framed the covenant of reconciliation, as Mediator
between the parties : Song iii. 9, " King Solomon made himself a
chariot of the wood of Lebanon." In him is found what Job so
mnch desired. Job ix. 33, " a day's-man to lay his hands upon both :"
namely, to keep the dissenting parties asunder, lest they should
Foa HIS WORK. 525
fall foul of one another. This the Mediator had to do ; this he did
when he timeously stept in betwixt an offended God and guilty sin-
ners, like the ram caught in the thicket, when Isaac was lying
bound on the altar, which stopped the execution, and held the hand
of justice, Psalm vi. 7, (quoted above). — He is a day's-man, to keep
them together, lest they should quite separate, and the reconciliation
of the parties blow up. Thus Christ deals with sinners, who other-
wise would run away from God, and never come in terms with him.
Thus he did with our first parents, whom he brought out of their
hiding-place, to set matters on a new footing.
2. He is the Messenger that goes betwixt the parties, intimating
the mind of the one to the other, in order to make reconciliation.
And in the respect Moses was a typical mediator : Deut. v. 5, '' I
stood between the Lord and you at that time, to shew you the word
of the Lord : for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not
up into the mount." So Christ is called the Messenger of the co-
venant, Mai. iii. 1. He brings the Lord's mind to poor sinners,
unfolds the thoughts of love which were from eternity in his breast :
John i. 18, " No man hath seen God at any time, the only-begotten
Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."
Thus he brings down the covenant out of the register of heaven, and
proclaims it to rebels : and if there be any among them content
to come into it, and who accept of it, he reports their acceptance to
his Father : John xvii. 8, " For I have given unto them the words
which thou gavest unto me, and they have received them, and have
known surely that I came out from thee ; and they have believed
that thou didst send me "
3. He is a Surety betwixt the parties, and therefore is called the
surety of a better testament, Heb. vii- 22 ; engaging and taking
burden upon him on their behalf, that so the peace may be firm and
lasting. — Christ the Mediator, is surety for man to God. In the
first covenant, man had no surety for himself; and there needed
none. He was able to do all that was required of him ; for he was
in good case, there was no flaw in his estate ; but in his fallen
state, God would not take his word, nor his most solemn engage-
ment ; it behoved him to have a surety to undertake for him, and that
both by way of satisfaction and caution. Man was broken, was
drowned in debt which he never would be able to pay, and so he
needed a surety to make satisfaction, who should be able and would
engage himself to pay the debt. Christ the Mediator then became
surety for the broken man, undertook to pay all his debt, gave in his
bond for it in the covenant of redemption, which the Father ac-
cepted: Psalm Ixxxix. 19, "1 have laid help upon one that is mighty;'
526 JEiSVS COMPLETELY QUALIFIED
lie engaged body for body, life for life, like Judah forBenjaman, Gen.
xliii. 9, in the fulness of time lie paid tlie debt, and got up the dis-
charge at his own resurrection from the dead. Man was false and
fickle, and not to be trusted ; so needed a cautioner who would bind for
his good behaviour. Christ became cautioner for the poor prodigals,
engaging himself that they shall consent to the covenant: John vi.
37, " All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me : and him
that cometh to me, I will in nowise cast out." And that having
consented, they shall hold by it, and never fall away totally and
finally : John x 28, "And I will give unto them eternal life, and
they shall never perish, neither shall any one pluck them out of
my hand." By his Spirit of faith and holiness, which he puts in
them, he accordingly secures them. — He is also surety for God to
man. He undertook that God's part of the covenant shall be punc-
tually fulfilled to us : 2 Cor. i. 20, " For all the promises of God in
him are yea, and in him amen, to ihe glory of God by us." It is
true, the infinite veracity and power of the principal leaves no need
of a surety, in respect of himself; but poor guilty sinners, sensible of
their own unworthiness, are timorous, misbelieving, distrustful crea-
tures ; and therefore, that they may be helped to believe, there is a
surety of their own nature, even the man Christ Jesus, granted unto
them. That all the promises of God in the covenant shall be ful-
filled to those Avho come into it, he has completely ensured. He
has given his cautionary word : John v. 24, " Yerily, verily, I say
unto you. He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent
me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but
is passed from death to life." He hath given his Spirit as an ear-
nest and seal of the promise, Eph. i. 13, " In whom also, after ye
believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is
the earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of the purchased
possession, unto the praise of his glory." He has given them the
first-fruits of the Spirit in themselves, Rom. viii. 23. He has also
given them the sacrament. He has gone to deal with it, saying,
" This is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many,
for the remission of sins," Matth. xxvi. 28.
4. He is an intercessor betwixt the parties: las. liii. 12, "He
makes intercession for the transgressors." He, by his interest, ma-
nages betwixt the Lord and poor sinners, to set matters right, and
keep them so. This is that which relates to the application of his
redemption, and puts life in the Mediator's death, that it may be
efficacious to his chosen ones. As the high priest appeared in the
holy of holies, presenting the blood of the sacrifice to the Lord ; so
does Christ appear in heaven to intercede for those for whom he has
rou uis woiiK.
527
died. And he intercedes, — as a peace-maker, who actually makes
peace betwixt God and every believing sinner ; hence, Heb. xii. 24j
he is " Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant ;" and his blood is
" the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of
Abel." By his means, he who was before an enemy is reconciled to
God, brought within the bond of the covenant of peace, and gets a
right to all the benefits of it. As by his gracious Spirit he extin-
guishes the real enmity of the sinner against God, so by his inter-
cession he removes the legal enmity in God against the sinner. — He
intercedes as the Secretary, or favourite courtier of heaven, bring-
ing in the sinner into the comfortable gracious presence of God, pro-
curing him access to God, and communion with him in duties: Eph.
iii. 12, " In whom we have boldness and access, with confidence, by
the faith of him." Thus, through the vail of his flesh, the believing
sinaer draws nigh to God, and God draws nigh to hira with his
quickening, sanctifying, and comforting influences. The sinner looks
on God with the confidence a child does on a father. — He inter-
cedes as a resident at the court of heaven : Heb. ix. 24, " He is
entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for
us." And by this means he maintains that peace which he has
made betwixt God and believers : Rom. v. 1, " Being justified by
faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ :"
he keeps the believer's trade with heaven open and free for them :
Rom. V. 2, " By whom also we have access by faith, into this
grace, wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of
God." He removes any emergent diff'erences, Isa. liii. 12 ; and so
ensures, by the covenant of peace, that there can never be a total
rupture betwixt heaven and them : Heb. vii. 25, " Wherefore he is
able to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, seeing
he ever liveth to make intercession for them." — He intercedes as an
Advocate at the bar of God : 1 John ii. 1, " If any man sin, we
have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." He
pleads their cause before God, upon the ground of his own sufferings,
against all their accusers and whatever is charged upon them, so
that they are freed from condemnation, their right and title to hea-
ven is still vindicated, notwithstanding their many failures ; and
wrath can go no farther against them than temporary strokes. — He
intercedes as a Solicitor for his people before the Lord. He pre-
sents their petitions, and solicits for the granting of them. With
much incence he ofl'ers the prayers of all saints upon the golden
altar which was before the throne, Rev. viii. 3. They have many
wants, both as to temporal and spiritual things. They must go to
God for them, and put up their petitions. But he must present
them, else they cannot be heard.
528 JESUS COMPLETELY QUALIFIED, &C.
5. He is the Administrator of the covenant, God's deputy-gover-
nor, to dispose of the benefits of the covenant, and to manage the
whole matter betwixt the Lord and sinners : Matth, xxviii. 18, " All
power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." As Joseph was
set over the land of Egypt, so he is set over his Father's house, all
commerce betwixt the Lord and sinners being through his me-
diation. As they can offer nothing to God acceptably, but
through him : so they can receive no benefit from heaven but
througli his hand : John v. 22, " For the Father judgeth no man, but
committed all judgment unto the Son." He has to bring the elect
to consent to the covenant; to rule and govern them in it; to pro-
tect, provide, and furnish them with all necessaries through the
wilderness : and, finally, to give them the crown and kingdom at
last ; this is the office and work to which Christ was anointed ;
neither men nor angels could be fit for such a trust. Could any
manage it without a fulness of the Spirit lodged in him ? therefore,
as in John v. 22, (quoted above), and in ver. 23, " All men should ho-
nour the Son, even as they honour the Father : he that honoureth not
the Son, honoureth not the Father that sent him." All men should
honour the Son, for none but one who had the fulness of the divine
perfections could be capable of such a trust. "Who else was fit to
be day's-raan between God and sinners ? "Who else could be the
messenger cf the covenant, for who hath known the mind of the
Lord, but his only-begotten and well-beloved Son, who from eternity
lay in his bosom ?
I conclude with a very short improvement.
1. Learn hence, that the work of the salvation of sinners, restor-
ing them to the favour of God, and to make them happy, is a great
work, and a work which was not easily accomplished. It was a
work above the power of men or angels, a work not to be performed
but by him who has all power in heaven and earth. Think on this
ye that judge it such an easy thing to obtain mercy; and assure
thyself it is a work which can never be done but by Christ's own
hand.
2. Highly esteem and honour Christ, particularly by believing in
him, who is thus qualified for this great work. what need of the
fulness of the Spirit in him to support him under the load of the
elect's debt, — in order to the discharging of it, — and to touch and
turn the hearts of sinners unto God !
Lastly, See your absolute need of Christ. Tou must have an in-
terest in him, else you cannot be saved. His mediation only can
save you from the wrath of God, and from the lowest hell. Amen.
JESUS A PKEACHER OF GOOD, &C. 629
JESUS A PREACHER OF GOOD TIDINGS TO THE MEEK.
SERMON XLVIII.
ISIAH Ixi. 1,
The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek.
In these and the following words, we have represented the great,
the important work for which Jesus was appointed, and to which
he was specially called by his heavenly Father, — work for which he
was completely qaalified, by the Spirit of the Lord God being
upon him. We propose to consider the several parts of this work,
in that order in which they are set before us ; and accordingly begin
with that part, his having " to preach good tidings to the meek." —
In which words we have,
1. The work itself in which the Son of God was employed, and to
which he was called : " To preach good tidings." He was a minis-
ter by office ; Rom. xv. 8, " Now I say, that Jesus Christ was a
minister of the circumcision, for the truth of God, to confirm the
promises of God made to the fathers ;" the great minister of the
gospel. He was the best among men ; he brought good tidings, the
best of tidings ; by these tidings is meant the gospel, Luke i v. 18.
This is the good news, the tidings of peace and salvation, which
Jesus brought from heaven to earth, — We have,
2. The special object of this part of the work, '* the meek." The
word signifies, such as are meek, humble > and submissive, being
made so by poverty and affliction. In the parallel place, it reads
poor, and the one explains the other. If it is inquired, what poor
ones are meant ? I think it is plain, it is not those who are mean
in the world, but poor in spirit, for these poor ones are meek. These
meek ones are classed with the broken-hearted, and both distin-
guished from the captives and prisoners, by the original accentua-
tion. So that by the meek here is meant, the poor in spirit, those
who, as being convinced by the law, have seen themselves to be poor,
that they have nothing in which they could stand before God as
righteous, but look on themselves as wretched, and miserable, and
poor, and blind, and naked, Rev. iii. 17. And it is remarkable,
that our Saviour's sermon on the mount begins with good tidings
to such persons : Matth. v. 3, " Blessed are the poor in spirit : for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
But here there occurs a question : Was Christ to preach the good
tidings of the gospel to none but these ? To this I answer, The gos-
pel was in itself good tidings unto all : Luke ii. 10, " And the angel
530 JESUS A I'REACIIEi: OF GOOD
said unto them, Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of
great joy, which shall be to all people." Our Lord preached to all
who heard him promiscuously these good tidings, but in effect they
were not good to any but to the poor in spirit among them. None
but these could relish the goodness of them ; to others they were
tasteless, but to the poor in spirit, they sunk like a refreshing oil
into their bones. — From these words I take the following
Doctrine, That as the tidings of the gospel will indeed be good
and welcome tidings to those who are meek, and poor in spirit, so
Jesus is, by his heavenly Father, employed on the great work of
preaching the good tidings of the gospel to sinners, especially to
such who are meek, and spiritually poor in their own eyes. — In
handling this doctrine we propose,
I. To consider this meekness and poverty, and shew who are these
meek poor ones.
II. To explain the good tidings of the gospel, and, as we go
along, shew that they are good and welcome tidings to such persons.
III. Shew how this great work of preaching is, and hath been per-
formed by Christ.
TV. Give the reasons of the doctrine.
Y. Make some practical improvement of the whole. — We are
then,
1. To consider this meekness and poverty, and shew who are
these meek poor ones. — As to this, we observe, that this meekness
comprehends in it,
1. A pressing scene of utter emptiness in one's self: Rom. viii.
18, " For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good
thing." A poor man going abroad, sees this and the other thing,
in the houses of the rich ; but when he comes home, he sees none of
them there. Thus, the meek poor soul looks through himself, and
there, in himself, he sees nothing but emptiness of all goodness, no
holiness, wisdom, nor strength. The heart, which should be the
garden of the Lord, appears as a bare muir, a wild, a waste. He is
ready to cry out, barren, dry, sapless heart and nature of mine!
Agur looks for knowledge, and he says, Prov. xxx. 2, 3, " Surely I
am more brutish than any man, and liave riot the understanding of
a man. I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the
holy." The prodigal looks to his provisions, and says, " How many
hired servants of my father have bread enough, and to spare, and I
perish with hunger V Paul reckons up his whole self, and the sum
total is nought : 2 Cor. xii. 11, " For in nothing am I behind the
very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing." — This meekness com-
prehends.
TIDINGS TO THE MEEK. 531
2. A pressing sense of sinfulness : Rom. vii. 14, " We know that
the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin." He looks to
the whole of himself, and he sees nothing on him but rags ; a sinful
nature, a corrupt heart, unclean lusts, and an unholy life. He must
rank his righteousness with his unrighteousness, his duties with his
pins, for he is defiled with them all : Isa. Ixiv. 6, " But we are all
as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags,
and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have
taken us away." These meek poor ones see themselves the very
picture of rank poverty, having only filthy rags, death painted on
their face by want, and overgrown by the vermin of filthy lusts.
They see themselves not only nothing, but worse than nothing,
while they look over these frightful accounts of the debt of sin,
which stand against them, and for which they have nothing to pay.
— This meekness comprehends,
3. A pressing sense of misery by sin. Like the prodigal, they
see themselves ready to perish with hunger. Debt is a heavy bur-
den to an honest heart, and filthiness to one that desires to be clean :
Rom, vii. 24, " wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me
from the body of this death ?" They look about them, and see them-
selves in a cloud of miseries, arising from their sins. Their poverty
presseth them down. They are obliged to do many things which
otherwise they would not, and cannot attain to other things which
they desire to arrive at : Rom. vii. 19, " For the good that I would,
I do not ; but the evil which I would not, that I do." It separates
them from that communion with God which they would otherwise
enjoy, makes them sit within, mourning without the sun, when other-
wise they might walk abroad in the light of the Lord's countenance.
This presseth their souls to the dust. — It comprehends,
4. A sense of utter inability to help one's self : 2 Cor. iii. 5, " Not
that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves."
They see themselves in the mire, but unable to help themselves out ;
therefore these poor men cry unto the Lord : Psalm xxxiv. 6. They
see an emptiness and weakness in all their external privileges, their
gifts, duties, yea, their graces, to save and help them. They count
all things but loss for Christ, and wish to be found in Christ, not
having on their own righteousness, which is of the law. They find
the sting in their conscience, but cannot draw it out ; guilt is a bur-
den, but they cannot throw it oflf ; lusts are strong and uneasy, but
they are not able to master them ; and this presses them sore. —
This meekness comprehends,
5. A sense of the absolute need of a Saviour, and of help from
heaven : 2 Cor, iii, 5, " But our sufficiency is of God." The pride of
532 JESUS A TRKACIIKR OF GOOD
the spirit is beat down, they lie down at the Lord's feet, saying,
(Jer. xxxi. 18,) " Thou hast chastised mc, and I was chastised, as a
bullock unaccustomed to the yolce : turn thou me, and I shall be
turned, for thou art the Lord my God." They see they will be
ruined if their help come not from above. Their case appears des-
perate to all remedies, but those which are under the management
of an eternal omnipotent hand. They say to their souls, as the
king of Israel said to the woman in the time of famine, '* If the
Lord do not help thee, whence shall I help thee ?" — It comprehends,
6. A sense as to utter unworthiness of the Lord's help ; they see
nothing which they have to recommend them to the Lord's help.
They dare not stand upon worth, like those proud beggars, who
value themselves, on what they have been or done. Like the cen-
turion, they say, " Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come
under my roof." Hence there is a word put in for them, Isa. Iv. 1,
" Ho ! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the water, and he that
hath no money, come ye, buy and eat ; yea, come, buy wine and milk,
without money and without price." They own the Lord would be
just, if he should never vouchsafe his mercy and grace to them, but
exclude them for ever from his presence ; Jer. iii. 22, " It is of the
Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions
fail not." They see a loathsomeness in the best things about them,
in their reformation, mourning, their desires of Christ, wrestling,
and prayers for mercy ; so that they conclude, if ever he notice
them, it must be altogether for his own name's sake. — This meekness
comprehends,
7. An earnest desire as to the supply of soul-wants : Matth. v. 6,
" Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness,
for they shall be filled." A greedy man, we say, is always poor,
because natural poverty consists rather in the desire of what we
want, than in the want itself. There are many who want spiritual
good things, yet are not poor in Spirit, because they are not pained
with the want of them. But the poor in spirit are pained with the
•want of spiritual good things. They pant for them. Psalm xlii. 1 ;
long for them, thirst for them. Psalm Ixiii. 1. Hence we read of
the expectation of the poor, which shall not perish for ever. Psalm
ix. 18. — It comprehends.
Lastly, A hearty contentment in submitting to any method of
help which the Lord will prescribe : Acts ix. 7, " Lord, what wilt
thou have me to do ?" Beggars must not be choosers ; these meek
poor ones are content with Christ on any terms, while others stand
contending about them. Necessity has no law, and hunger will
break through stone walls. Whoso are thus situated, will be for a
TIDINGS TO THE MEEK. 533
Saviour, a righteousness, and holiness, at any rate. They are con-
tent to bo taught, content to be managed: Psalm xxv. 9, "The
meek will he guide in judgment : and the meek, will he teach his
way." They are content to part with all, for the enriching pearl of
great price. — "We are now.
II. To explain the good tidings of the gospel, and, as we go along,
shew that they are good and welcome tidings to such persons.
The poor in spirit are wounded by the law : the gospel brings a
healing medicine to these wounds. It suits their case fully, and de-
clares to them the good news of a salve for all their sores. Solo-
mon tells us, Prov. xxv. 25, " As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so
is good news from a far country." Applicable this to nothing so
much as the good tidings brought us from heaven in the gospel. I
cannot enumerate all the articles of these good tidings, bat shall
take notice of the following :—
1. The gospel-tidings are tidings of a complete salvation. And are
not these good tidings ? Luke ii. 11, " For unto us is born a Saviour,
who is Christ the Lord." ! ;Ost sinners, there is a salvation
purchased for you, a great, a complete salvation, a salvation from
sin, Matth. 1. 21, and from the wrath of God, John iii. 16. It is
offered to you, and offered freely, though it was dear bought ; it is
offered without money and without price, Isa. Iv. 1. If ye ask
what ye shall do to be saved ? — Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
and ye shall be saved. Though you are lost, though you have de-
stroyed yourselves, yet here is help for you. Though ye are insen-
sible sinners, the tidings are to you ; it will in particular be good
and welcome tidings to the meek poor ones, who see their lost and
undone condition. A Saviour will be as welcome a sight to them,
as a rope cast out from the shore will be to a drowning man. They
will eagerly embrace the Saviour and his salvation : Song i. 3, " Be-
cause of the savour of thy good ointments, thy name is as ointment
poured forth : therefore do the virgins love thee." — These tidings
relate,
2. To a redemption, to a ransom paid : Gal. iii. 13, " Christ hath
redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us."
Sin and Satan made war upon the world, and overcame them all in
Adam ; so that by nature we are captives and slaves. No more God's
free men, nor our own men, but slaves ; and the rattling of the chains
of divers lusts upon us are evidences of it. But good tidings,
captives ! the King's Son, out of his princely bounty, has purchased
for you redemption, he has paid a complete ransom, even his own
blood : and whosoever will, may come to him. Your freedom is
bought ; come, take the benefit of it, by following him out of the
534 JKSUS A PREACHER OF GOOD
land of your captivity ; Zecli. ix. 11, 12, " As for thee also, by tlie
blood of thy covenant, I have sent forth ihy prisoners out of the pit
wherein there is no water ; turn ye to the stronghold, ye prisoners
of hope." But what avails this to those who account it a kind cap-
tivity, who love their master, and his drudgery work ? they will
not come to Jesus. But never were the tidings of a randsom so
welcome to a slave in Turkey, as these were to meek poor ones,
who are groaning under their bondage, and breathing for the liberty
of the sons of God. — These tidings relate,
3. To an indemnity, a pardon to criminals who will come to Je-
sus : Acts xiii. 38, 39, " Be it known unto you, therefore, men and
brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness
of sins; and by him all that believe are justified from all things,
from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." The
world of mankind, God's natural subjects, have joined his grand
enemy, and risen up in rebellion against their sovereign Lord. The
law has proclaimed us all traitors, justice demands vengeance on the
criminals, and we cannot escape by flight or by might. But good
tidings, criminals ! the glorious Mediator has got an act of grace,
of indemnity and pardon, passed in the court of heaven, in favour of
a ruined world, bearing, that whosoever will come in, and lay down
their arms, shall have a full and free pardon, written, for the better
security, in the blood ot the Mediator. It is proclaimed to you, Isa.
Iv. 7, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy
upon him, and to our God for he will abundantly pardon." In this
indemnity, there are no exceptions : Isa. i. 18, " Come now, let us
reason together, saith the Lord : though your sins be as scarlet, they
shall be as white as snow ; though they be red as crimson, they
shall be as wool." Now, whatever this be to others, it will be wel-
come tidings to the meek poor ones, whose consciences are galled
with the sting of sin, bowing down under a sense of guilt. Never
was a pardon more welcome to a malefactor on the scaff"old, than
this will be to them : Isa. xxxiii. 24, " And the inhabitants shall not
say, I am sick ; the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their
iniquities." — These tidings relate,
4. To a glorious physician of souls, who never misses to cure his
patients : Matth. ix. 12, 13, " They that be whole need not a physi-
cian, but they that are sick. I am not come to call the righteous,
but sinners to repentance." That forbidden fruit which was eaten
by our first parents, has entailed dreadful diseases on all their pos-
terity ; so that this world is no better than an hospital, where there
is not one sound person ; and the sickness is unto death. But good
tiding?, sin-sick soul ! There is a glorious physician come from hea-
TIDINGS TO THE MEEK. o3o
ven , who will cure all who will come to be cured by him. He cures in
fallibly, his blood cleanseth from all sin. He cures freely : Hos. xiv.
4, "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely. "He rejects
no patients : John vi. 37, " Him that coraeth unto me, I will in no
wise cast out." The medicine of his blood and Spirit removes all
diseases. What is thy disease? It is a stony heart ? He takes it
away and gives an heart of flesh. Is it blindness, deafness, dumb-
ness, lameness ? He makes the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the
dumb to speak, and the lame to walk. Is it the falling evil of back-
sliding ? the consumption or decay of grace ? the running issue of
predominant lusts? the fever of raging lusts? the universal leprosy
of the corruption of nature ? All these he can cure, for he healeth
all manner of diseases. They who see not their diseases, will in-
deed slight him ; but it will be good tidings to the meek poor ones,
who are groaning under their diseases. ! then will such an one
say, I will take my stony heart to him, my blindness to him, &c. —
These tidings are the tidings,
5. Of a feast : Isa. xxv. 6, " And in this mountain shall the Lord
of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines
on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the
lees, well refined." Since man has left God, he has had no-
thing to feed upon, but the dust with the serpent, or the husks of
created things with the swine. He has never been- satisfied, he never
could get enough ; still red hunger has been upon him, like those
who eat but are not satisfied. But good tidings, famished sinners!
our Lord Jesus Christ has made a feast for hunger-bitten sinners, and
they are all invited to it: Isa. Iv. 2, " Hearken diligently unto me,
and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fat-
ness." It is the best of feasts, where the soul may feed to the full.
Jesus himself is the maker, and also the matter of it ; all the bene-
fits of the covenant are the provision which are served up at this
feast, he who eats thereof shall never die. It is true, that most men
put no value upon it : Prov. xxvii. 7, " The full soul loatheth an
honey-comb." But, Psalm xxii. 26, " The meek shall eat and be sa-
tisfied." It will be good tidings to hungry souls, who are sick of the
dust and of husks, and are longing to eat bread in their Father's
house, where there is plenty and to spare. — These tidings relate,
6. To a treasure : 2 Cor. iv. 7, '' But we have this treasure in
earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and
not of us." Man was broken by his fall, he lost all his goods, and
all his credit in heaven ; so that absolute poverty reigns among
Adam's sons, who have neither in them nor on them for the present
necessity, and besides are drowned in debt to the justice of God.
536 JESUS A PREACHKR OF GOOD
But good tidings, poor sinners ! There is a treasure hid in the field
of the gospel, which will enrich you ; and by the gospel you are
pointed to it. buy the field ; Matth. xiii. 44. In this field are
the most precious things, precious promises, and within them pre-
cious Christ, with all his merits ; gold tried in the fire, white rai-
ment and eye-salve. Rev. iii. 18. Here is variety of all good things,
and abundance. They who are rich in their own eyes will not value
this treasure ; but to the meek poor ones it will be glad tidings.
They will readily do as the man, Matth. xiii. 14, who sold all that
he had, and bought the field in which the great treasure was hid. —
These tidings relate,
7. To a marriage, a most happy match for poor sinners : Hos. ii.
19, 20, " And I will betrothe thee unto me for ever ; yea, I will be-
trothe thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lov-
ing-kindness, and in mercies ; I will even betrothe thee unto me in
faithfulness, and thou shalt know the Lord." The Bridegroom is
the Royal Mediator, who is content to match with poor captive souls.
We are naturally of the house of hell : John viii. 44, " Ye are of
your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do." This
being our case, we could have no hopes of being comfortably disposed
of. But good tidings, children of the devil's family ! you may be
married to the Son of God, who for that end has taken on our na-
ture ; he says, Matth. xxii. 4, " All things are ready ; come unto the
marriage." This match is the most honourable, the richest, the hap-
piest of which we are capable. There is nothing to hinder the match,
he will make you lovely ; and, what is more, he will make you will-
ing. Most men despise this marriage, they prefer their farms and
merchandise to it. But the poor meek ones will as gladly embrace
it, as ever a captive woman, to save her life, would match with the
most desirable conqueror. — These tidings relate,
8. To a victory, a glorious victory : Isa. xxv. 8, " He will swallow
up death in victory ; and the Lord will wipe away tears from all
eyes." There is no getting to the heavenly Canaan, without fight-
ing our enemies ; which would, if possible, keep us out there. We
are not able for them ; sin, Satan, and death are too strong for us.
But, good tidings ! Christ has fought that battle, and obtained a glo-
rious victory ; he offers you a share of the victory and spoils ; Rev.
iii. 21, " To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me in my
throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father
in his throne." Join the conqueror, come up at his back against
your spiritual enemies, and ye shall be more than conquerors through
him that loved us, Rom. viii. 37. They who have not yet broke
their covenant with death, and agreement with hell, will slight this
TIDINGS TO THE MEEK. 537
victory. But it will be good tidings to the meek poor ones, who
would fain break through the host of their spiritual enemies, but
know not how to make it out. These tidings relate,
Lastly, To a peace, a most desirable peace : Eph. ii. 14, " For he
(Christ Jesus) is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath
broken down the middle wall of partition between us." Sin made
discord, and broke the peace between heaven and earth ; so that Grod
and the sinner became enemies. All access to God, all communica-
tion betwixt heaven and earth was blocked up. But good tidings !
Christ has made peace by his own blood. It is offered to you, Isa.
xxvii. 4, 5, "Fury is not in me; let him take of my strength, that
he may make peace with me, and he shall make peace with me." It
is a firm peace, on the most solid foundation, a lasting peace which
will never terminate, a peace which will ere long be complete in all
its parts ; peace external, internal, eternal. — This will be good
tidings to the meek poor ones, who are wonnded with the apprehen-
sions of God's anger, and affrighted with the thoughts of his wrath.
— We are, then,
III. To shew how this work of preaching is and hath been perform-
ed by Jesus Christ. As to this, we observe, that he performed it
under the Old Testament, and under the New Testament dispensation.
First, He performed this work under the Old Testament dispensa-
tion. Under this dispensation,
1. The first proclamation of these tidings was done personally by
himself in paradise, to the compendized world, our first parents :
Gen. iii. 15, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman,
and between thy seed and her seed ; it shall bruise thy head, and
thou shalt bruise his heel." The Son of God, appearing in human
shape, as a prelude of his incarnation, sat as their Judge, and as the
first interpreter of his Father's mind, preached the first gospel to them
in that promise, which contains the substance and abridgement of
the whole gospel. He was absolutely the first, in all respects, who
preached the good tidings of the gospel.
2. The second proclamation was by his ambassadors in his name,
who were of two sorts : — Extraordinary ; namely, the prophets
whom he inspired infallibly to teach the people : 2 Pet. i. 21, " For
the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man : but holy men
of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." — And ordi-
nary teachers, such as priests and Levites under the law, priests and
others before the law. And in respect of this preaching by men in
his name, he is said to have preached to those who lived before the
flood : 1 Peter iii. 19, " By which also he went and preached unto
the spirits in prison." There was also a proclamation,
Vol. IX. 2 m
538 JESUS A PREACIIEU OF GOOD
3. By his written word, Deut. xxx, 11 — 14. This is his own word,
where the meek poor ones may always find the glad tidings of sal-
vation. Before it was written, tliey never wanted inspired men,
and when it was written, though for a time they might want pro-
phets, yet this they had always from him as an infallible rule.
2dly, He preached and preaches under the New Testament dis-
pensation. This he did,
1. By his own personal preaching in the days of his flesh, when
he went about among the Jetvs, preaching to them as the Minister
of the circumcision : Rom. xv. 8, " Now I say, that Jesus Christ
was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to con-
firm the promises made unto the fathers." So that he himself, by
himself, did begin this dispensation. The gospel at the first be-
gan to be spoken by the Lord, Ileb. ii. 3, " He spake as never
man spake, and taught as one having authority." He did it,
2. By inspiring his apostles to preach and write the doctrines
of salvation, contained in the New Testament, on whom he poured
out his spirit, and by their writings, they being dead, yet speak to
us from him and by him. He does it,
3. By raising up and continuing always a gospel-ministry in the
church : Eph. iv. 11 — 13, " And he gave some, apostles ; and some,
prophets ; and some, evangelists ; and some, pastors and teachers ;
for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ : till we all come to the unity of the
faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man,
unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." And with
them he has promised to be present always, even unto the end of
the world ; Matth. xxviii. 20. These preach in his name, as deputed
by him to declare these good tidings.
Thus you see this work is performed by the Son of God, not
only by himself, but by his servants in his name. Aud though
the mistakes, errors, and unfaithfulness of ordinary ministers, both
under the Old and New Testament, are solely their own, their
preaching of the true doctrine of the gospel is indeed his ; they are
but as it were the voice, he is the speaker. For, he gave and gives
the gifts whereby they are fitted to preach the gospel. All their
tapers are lighted at his shining lamp : John i. 9, *' That was the
true light, which lighteth every one that cometh into the world."
Their wisdom and knowledge in divine mysteries is given them by
him, for the good of his church, Eph. iv. 8. Their commission is from
him, and from him they derive their power and authority, Matth.
xxviii. 19, 20. They are his ministers and servants, sent out upon
his work, and to him they must give an account. Lastly, The effi-
TIDINGS TO THE MEEK. 539
cacy of their ministry is solely owing to. him and his Spirit, 1 Cor.
iii. 7, " So then, neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he
that watereth ; but God that giveth the increase." He makes it
effectual to his elect ones. — We are,
IV. To give the reasons of the doctrine, or shew, that none but
he was fit to be employed in this work. This will appear if we con-
sider,
1. That none but he could reveal the secrets of love, which were
hid from eternity in the breast of God : John i. 18, " No man hath
seen God at any time ; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom
of the Father, he hath declared him." Neither man nor angel could
open up these. But he was privy to his Father's counsels, as being
in the bosom of the Father from all eternity.
2. None but he was fit to be an universal preacher to all persons
for whom these tidings were designed, and to whom they were to be
carried, and this in all ages. Who else could have the great charge
of this weighty business ? This required one of infinite wisdom, and
one every where present.
Lastly, Whose testimony but his could be a sufficient ground of
faith in this, of all matters the most important ? Here lies the
weight of God's honour, and the salvation of an elect world ; and
this required no less solid a bottom than the testimony of truth
itself.
SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.
SERMON XLIX.
Isaiah Ixi. 1,
The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek.
Having gone through the doctrinal part of this subject, by offering
what was intended on the several heads of method which we laid
down, we shall now, as was proposed,
lY. Make some practical improvement ; and this in uses of in-
formation, trial, and exhortation.
We are, in the first place, to improve this subject in a use of in-
formation.
I. Hence you may learn what is the great cause of slighting the
gospel, of that coldrife entertainment which it gets amongst most of
its hearers, that little relish which there is for the great truths of
2 M 2
540 JESUS A PREACHER OF OOOD
the gospel ; why so few do comply with the gracious calls which it
affords. People may attribute this to what causes they will, but
the true cause is the want of this meekness and poverty of spirit.
Instead of this, there are pride and self-conceit, unsubdued and
unmortified. I may branch these out into several particulars, as
opposed to this meekness. There is,
(1.) No due sense of spiritual wants: Prov. xxvii. 7, " The full
soul loatheth the honey-comb." Most men are sick of a Laodicean
disease, saying in their practice as they said in their hearts, that
" they are rich and increased in goods, and stand in need of nothing,"
Rev. iii. 17. They are not mourning under their want of light, of
life, and of holiness. They reign as kings with what they have,
though, as with King Saul, God is departed from them. Hence they
do not value that treasure which is hid in the field of the gospel.
(2.) Men have no true sight and sense of their own sinfulness.
They see not the sinfulness of their nature, of their hearts, lips, and
lives, but are like Samson, without his two eyes : Matth. ix. 12,
*' They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick."
They are pining away in their sins ; their sickness has not yet taken
them by the heart ; their wounds are not lanced ; the law has not
had its effect upon them, and therefore the gospel is not relished.
(3.) Their eyes are veiled, so that they see not their misery by
sin, and as being without Christ : Hos. vii. 9, " Strangers have de-
voured his strength, and he knoweth it not; yea, gray hairs are
here and there upon hira, yet he knoweth not ; and they do not
return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this." Did they
see the clouds of wrath which are hanging above their heads, the
quick approaches which death with its sting is making towards them,
their separation from God, and from all the privileges of the co-
venant, they could not be at ease. The gospel-tidings would be to
them as life from the dead.
(4.) They are strangers to iheir utter inability to help themselves.
They are like Samson, in another case, who knew not that his
strength was departed from him, We may see how corrupt nature
changes itself into various shapes on this point. If you urge men to
ply the work of their salvation, Alas ! say they, we can do nothing ;
they thus make it a covert for their sloth. Urge them with the
necessity of reformation and repentance, they say, It is time enough,
they will attend to this afterwards ; as if it were in the power of
their hand to do this business at any time : they thus make it a
covert for their delays, and still have no relish for the gospel.
(5.) They do not feel their need of Christ : Rev. iii. 17, " They
need his blood and Spirit, but they are not duly sensible of their
TILINGS TO THE MEEK. 541
need," Their own works are big in their own eyes, and appear to
thera sufficient in order to obtain God's favour. Their natural and
acquired abilities are also with them sufficient in order to their sanc-
tification ; they are by no means shaken out of themselves; there-
fore the offer of the gospel is but an offer of food to the full soul,
and so is loathed,
(6.) They see not their own unworthiness of a Saviour's help ;
they come to the market of grace with their money in their hand.
They look on themselves as worthy of what Christ should do for
them, Luke vii. 4, Though they be perhaps so far humbled as to
see they must have mercy and help from the Lord, yet they look on
their reformation and duties as what cannot but recommend them to
Christ beyond many others. They cannot see how the Lord can re-
ject those who come so far a length as they do. Hence the doctrine
of free grace is but tasteless to them,
(7-) They have no anxiety for the supply of their soul-wants.
They want grace and holiness, but they can be easy without them.
Like foolish virgins, they sleep on at ease, while they have no oil
for their lamps : Prov. vi. 10, " Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to sleep," Their desires are keen after
the world, but weak, faint, and languishing after spiritual good
things. They have no hunger and thirst after them. Hence they
value not the gospel, nor the fountain of living waters,
(8.) They are not content with Christ but on terms of their own
making. They are like those who seek to buy a commodity which
yet they can be without. If they can get it at their own price, they
will take it; if not, they can want it. There are right-eye sins, yet
they will by no means part with thera. They are not pleased with
the covenant, some things are in it which they must have out ; there
are some things out which they must have in, else they will not
come into it. Hence they care not for the gospel, or that covenant
which it reveals.
2, Hence learn, that slight the gospel-call who will, the meek, the
poor in spirit will gladly receive it. They who are shaken out of
themselves by the law, will be glad to creep under that shelter
which is held forth in the gospel. These souls will feast sweetly on
what is tasteless to others, what others tread under feet and de-
spise. The hungry are glad of that for which the full soul has no
appetite ; and just it is in this casje. — This subject informs us,
3, Of the dignity and honour of the work of the ministry. With
Paul, we would not be ashamed to magnify that office which is con-
versant about those things which are most necessary for the world,
which bring the highest honour to God, and the greatest good to
542 JESUS A PREACHER OF GOOD
maukind. It is true, it is often a despised office iii the world ; but
wisdom is justified of her children, God had but one Son, and he
made hira a minister, a preacher of the gospel. He is the chief
shepherd and bishop of souls, and therefore the office of the ministry
will be esteemed by all those who have a true esteem for Christ.
It informs us,
4. Of that good-will which the Father and the Son jointly bear
to sinners ; since the Father put his own Son into this work, and
the Son readily engaged in it. Do they not by this say, " Why will
ye die ?" It was good-will to men in its utmost height, that ever
sQch tidings were to be carried, and that ever such a messenger was
employed. It informs us,
5. How acceptable meekness and poverty of spirit are unto the
Lord, who has put a peculiar article in Christ's commission for snch.
As to others, he is to humble and bring them down ; as to these, he
is to refresh and revive them with good news. It informs us,
6. As to the goodness and weight of the good tidings of the gos-
pel, which are brought to us by such a hand. Surely the weight of
the matter must be great, when such a messenger was sent to pub-
lish it. "We are informed,
7. As to the danger of slighting these tidings, though men be em-
ployed in carrying them ; for they speak in the name of the great
Messenger, preach in the name, and by the authority of, the great
preacher. So he that " despiseth them, despiseth him that sent
them :" Heb. ii. 3, " How shall they escape, if they neglect so great
salvation ?"
This subject may be improved.
Secondly/, In an use of trial.
Hereby we may try whether we be meek and poor or not. "What
relish have we for gospel truths ? The meek, the poor in spirit,
(and such all must be who are true Christians), have a singular re-
lish for the word of the gospel. It tastes to them very differently
from what it does to any in the world besides. Job says, " I have
esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food,"
chap, xxiii. 12. David says, " They are more to be desired than
gold, yea, than much fine gold ; sweeter also than honey, and the
honey-comb ;" Psalm xix. 10. — For,
1. They are admitted to partake of the kernel of the word, while
others break their teeth on the shell. It comes to them as it did to
the Thessalonians, 1 Thess. i. 5, " Not in word only, but also in
power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance." It has not
been a dry channel to them, or a dead letter, but the ministration of
the Spirit. Therefore the apostle says, 1 Pet. ii. 2, 3, " As new-
TIDINGS TO THE MEEK. 543
born babes, desire ye the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow
thereby ; if so be that ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.''
And this first taste of it leaves a relish behind it : the drawing by of
the veil has discovered the treasure in the earthen vessels.
2. It is their food, food proper, and suitable to their new nature :
Deut xxxii. 47, " For it is not a vain thing for you, because it is
your life." All living creatures have their proper food ; thus one
relishes and delights in that which another does not desire. The
new creature is nourished by the sincere milk of the word, 1 Pet. ii.
2. This is natural to them, for the saints have had their life by it,
they are born again by the incorruptible seed of the word of God,
1 Pet. i. 23. Thus the saints have a peculiar relish for the word of
God, while others do not regard it ; more than the dog does the hay,
which, though the ox feeds sweetly on it, yet it is not agreeable to
the dog.
Lastly, All their hopes are in it ; it is all their salvation, and all
their desire ; 2 Sam. xxiii. 5 ; take this from them, and what have
they more ? Hence they are content to part with all to buy this
field ; Matth. xiii. 44, and to part with life itself rather than tlie gos-
pel, Mark viii. 35. — What wonder is it that a landed man should have
delight in reading his charter, the pardoned criminal in reading the
king's pardon, which another has not ? As natural is it that the
Christian should have a delight peculiar to himself in reading and
hearing the gospel. Here occurs a
Question, Since hypocrites may have a relish of the good tidings
of the gospel, how shall I distinguish between their relish and the
relish of a sincere Christian, who is meek and poor in spirit ? — To
this I
Attswee, Hypocrites may have some desire, and wait upon pub-
lic ordinances ; Isa. Iviii. 2. Like the stony-ground hearers, they
may receive the word joyfully, Matth. xiii. 20 ; but yet there are
great differences betwixt their desires and those of a sincere Chris-
tian. — Such as,
1, The sincere Christian relishes the good tidings of the gospel as
good, yea, as the best for him, so as that he can lay the weight of
his salvation, for time and eternity, upon this word, and choose it
for his portion ; Psalm cxix. Ill; whereas the hypocrite may re-
lish them as good, but not as the best for him ; so that, for all the
relish he has of this word, he has another thing which he looks on as
still better for him. He has something else on which he is disposed
to lay at least part of his weight before the Lord ; for he is never
poor in spirit, nor shaken out of his own righteousness. But the
Christian has no confidence in the flesh ; Phil. iii. 3.
544 JESU9 A PREACHER OF GOOD
2. The Christian gets his relish for the gospel, by seeing the
extreme bitterness of sin ; Acts ii. 37, " When they heard this they
were pricked to the heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of
the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do ?" But the hypo-
crite comes easier by his ; " "When he hears the word, he anon with
joy receives it," Matth. xiii. 20. No man can relish health at the
rate one does who is brought back from the gates of death. Many
i-elish the sweetness of the word to whom sin was never made bit-
ter; or if it was, it was never the bitterest of all things. Hence the
relish for such is very superficial. But God puts in more and more
bitterness in sin to his own people, till it becomes of all bitters the
bitterest ; and then they truly relish the good tidings of the gospel.
3. The Christian's relish for the gospel is the most powerful and
overcoming relish which he has. The hypocrite's is not so ; Psalm
xxvii. 4, " One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek
after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my
life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple."
So says the Christian, but of the hypocrite it is said, Ezek. xxxiii.
31, " They come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before
thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do
them; for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart
goeth after their covetousness." The sincere Christian chooses
Christ peremptorily, if they should beg with him. They see such a
suitableness in him to their case, that they must have him on any
terms ; whereas the hypocrite gets only half a look of Christ in the
gospel. Hence he has only half affection for hiiri, a kind of hanker-
ing after him. Christ is sweet to them, but still some one lust is
sweeter ; so that, like Orpah, they leave him, but not without some
affection for him. But the Christian-like Ruth cleaves unto him,
and thereby is brought to honour.
Lastly, The Christian relishes all the tidings of the gospel in every
particular of them, whereas the hypocrite has always something iu
them which he does not approve of. The Christian without
shame has respect to all God's commandments. Psalm cxix. 6.
He relishes the goodness of the promises, and also the lioliness of
the commandments. " He esteems all God's precepts concerning
all things to be right," ver. 128. Herod heard John gladly till his be-
loved lust was touched. And so do many, they love the word,
with the exception of that which strikes against their beloved lusts.
This subject may be improved,
Thirdly, In an use of exhortation.
As ever you would relish the good tidings of the gospel, labour to
be meek and poor in spirit. Would you have your souls refreshed
TIDINaS TO THE MEEK. 545
at ordinances? Would you partake of the goodness of our Lord's
house, and find tliat in ordinances, which is the hidden manna, which
the carnal world knows not of? "Well, take this course ; it. is the
way to prepare yourselves for it.
1. Keep up always a deep sense of your own sinfulness, wretched-
ness, and absolute need of Christ. Our Lord was called the friend
of publicans and sinners, because they who saw the least good in
themselves got most of his converse ; 1 Pet. v. 5, " God resisteth
the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." The low valleys have
the waters running in them, when they run off the high hills as fast
as they come on ; Isa. xl. 4, " Every valley shall be exalted, and
every mountain and hill shall be made low." The man who feels
his disease prizes the remedy, while he who is raving and insensible
disregards it.
2. Be of a teachable disposition ; this is true meekness ; Psalm
XXV. 9, " The meek will he teach his way." They who sit down to
judge the word, rather than to be judged by it, may meet with what
may disgust or please their fancy, but are out of the way of the true
spiritual relish for the word ; James, i. 21, " Wherefore, lay apart
all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meek-
ness the ingrafted word, which is able to save our souls." How
many a week Christian's soul is refreshed with that word, in which
men who have knowledge, but not grace, find nothing. They will
be sure to profit who lie down at the Lord's feet, to learn and re-
ceive the word as the word of Grod.
3. Be much in reviewing and mourning over your spiritual wants.
Look not so much to what you have attained, as to what you are yet
short of. Imitate Paul, in " forgetting the things that are behind,
and reaching forth to those things that are before," Phil. iii. 13.
Mourn over your darkness, deadness, and unholiness. Let these be
your continual burden, and you shall not want a word in season,
Isa. 1. 4. Jesus hath the tongue of the learned, to speak a word in
season to him that is weary. This would make you lie at the catch
for a word from the Lord, like Benhadad's servants in another case,
and receive the Lord's message greedily, as what in one way or an-
other will profit you.
4. Cry much to God for communion with him in gospel-ordinances.
Come to ordinances in a believing expectation of enjoying it. Set
yourselves to receive the gospel as the Lord's word to you, which
worketh efi'ectually in you that believe. The Lord appoints sinners
to meet with him there, saying, " In all places where I record my
name, I will come into thea, and I will bless thee," Exod. xx. 24.
Propose a meeting with him there also, and you may be sure it will
546 JESUS A PREACHER OF GOOD
hold. Like Jacob, you will prevail with God to bless you, Hos.
xii. 4, compare Gen- xxxv. 1. Christ had promised the Spirit, and
commanded the disciples to wait for him, Acts i. 4. They continued
in prayer, ver. 14. See the fruit of it, chap. ii.
Lastly, Be thankful for the least of God's mercies, and be submis-
sive to the Lord under every trying dispensation, as sensible of your
utter unworthiness. When was it that Jacob got the blessing?
Was it not when in this frame, " I am not worthy," said he, " of
the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth which thou hast
shewed unto thy servant ; for with my staff I passed over this Jor-
dan, and now I am become two bands." A sense of unworthiness
as to the least mercies, cannot miss to produce in you a relish for
the great mercies of the gospel.
There are many complaints as to the want of God's presence in
ordinances. There is not that found in them which was in former
times. Many lay the blame of this on ministers ; and, I dare say,
there is not either a godly minister in Scotland, or a godly Christian,
acting as such, who dare refuse that he has a real share in it. The
clean, to cast stones at the guilty, must come out from among those
ministers and people who are strangers to their own hearts, and see
better into others than they do into themselves. But however it be,
I dare promise, in the name of the Lord, that the hungry shall not
be sent empty away. The meek poor ones shall be feasted in ordi-
nances; and their hungry souls shall be refreshed with the gospel,
fare with others as it will ; Psalm xxii. 24, " The meek shall eat, and
be satisfied," Matth. v. 6, "Blessed are they which do hunger and
thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." ! but the
Spiritual relish for the word is well worth all the trouble which is ne-
cessary for having it. For,
L This is the hidden manna peculiar to God's hidden ones on
earth : " To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden
manna," Rev. ii. 17. We read, Exod. xvi. 13, 14, of the dew under
which the manna lay. The ordinances are that dew ; communion
with Christ in ordinances, by relishing his word, is the manna
under it. The ordinances are the cabinet ; this is the opening of
the cabinet, and the finding of the jewel, the drawing by the veil,
and beholding the glory ; the digging up the field, and falling on
the treasure ; the breaking the shell, and getting out the pearl.
2. This would make the Sabbath the most pleasant day in all
the week, the hours of worship the most pleasant hours, which now
to most are a weariness. See how the Gospel, felt in its power,
doth affect : Isa. ix. 3, " They joy before thee according to the joy
in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil." Com-
TIDINGS TO THE MERK. 54?
pare ver. 2. If you had ever any experience of this relish, dare
you say but that these were your golden days, even the best time
ever you had in your life, and that all the world could never make
up your loss since you wanted them ? You who never tasted of it
believe others, since you are not capable of judging in the matter :
Psal. Ixxxiv. 10, " For a day in thy courts is better than a thou-
sand." Believe those who have got that at ordinances, which has
made them joyfully embrace persecution, banishment, a scaffold,
and a fire.
3. This would readily hang about you all the week, in a holy,
savoury, tender disposition, and make you rejoice at the return of
the Sabbath : Psalm cxxii. 1, " I was glad when they said unto me.
Let us go into the house of the Lord." It is good being in Christ's
company in his sanctuary ; wherever they go afterwards, they smell
of his good ointments : knowledge is taken of them that they have
been with Jesus, Acts iv. 13. Remember what is said of the Gospel,
2 Cor. ii. 16, '**To the one we are the savour of death unto death,
and to the other the savour of life unto life." Alas ! how rank
and unsavoury are the conversations of most, because they never
get a relish for the word.
4. This would make you useful Christians. The woman of Sa-
maria, as soon as she relished the Gospel, she got another spirit.
As she had been formerly a prop of the devil's kingdom, and an
agent for him in the place where she lived ; she now, when con-
verted by grace, turns useful for others. This would make you
naturally commend the way of God to others, would make you
useful in your families, in the congregation, and in the country-side.
Lastly, This would be a heaven on earth. "What is the happiness
of the saints in glory ? They enjoy God, and this is in the utmost
perfection. You should relish that CDJoyment of him, which in
your measure you have for the present, as a prelude, an earnest of
what shall be your privilege hereafter.
I shall have done with a word to all in general, and in particu-
lar to meek poor ones. — To all in general, I would say, Entertain
the good tidings of the Gospel, slight them not, give them a suitable
entertainment. Believe them as undoubted truths. When God
speaks, it is reasonable we believe ; for he is Truth, he is the faith-
ful and true Witness, Rev. iii. 14. The carnal mind is apt to fall
into unbelief of the Gospel, which reflects great dishonour upon
God : 1 John v. 10, " He that believeth not God, hath made him
a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of his
Son." And this also makes the Gospel unprofitable to ourselves :
" The word pi-eached did not profit them, not being mixed with
548 JESUS A PREACHER OF GOOD
faith in them that heard it," Heb. iv. 2. Embrace these tidings
joyfully and thankfully; they are tidings of great joy, and should
be received with the greatest joy and cheerfulness : as a malefactor
on the scaffold should receive the tidings of a pardon, or as an
indemnity would be received by those who have forfeited their lives
by their treason. And the greater the danger is from which the
Gospel proclaims deliverance, the more welcome should the tidings
be. Finally, lay the weight of your souls on these tidings for time
and eternity, fall in with the Gospel-contrivance, and embrace the
covenant as well ordered in all things, and sure, Matth. xiii. 44.
Embrace the salvation ; come away with the Redeemer, accept the
ransom, accept the indemnity, put your case in the hand of the
great physician, and all shall be well. To prevail with you as to
this, consider, for Motives,
From whence the tidings come. It is from a far country, from
heaven, the throne of God, yea, the depths of the counsel of God,
John i. 18. Behold tidings of love and good-will frbm heaven, of
a mercy-seat set up there for poor sinners, from whence they could
have looked for nothing but wrath ! Consider,
Who brings the tidings, — the Son of God. ! glorious messen-
ger, who left the Father's bosom, and came down into this earth,
to proclaim the glad tidings. And now that he is ascended into
heaven, he has sent his ministers in his name to proclaim them,
with his certification. That he who heareth you, heareth me ; and
he who despiseth you, despiseth me ; and he who despiseth me, de-
spiseth him that sent me. Consider,
What are the tidings. Tidings of a salvation, a redemption, &c.
They are good tidings, the best of tidings that ever came into the
world. Good to refresh and revive the spirits of those whom
nothing else can comfort, even sinners depressed under apprehen-
sions of wrath ; and the more to be esteemed that they are peculiar
to sinful men, not fallen angels. " Unto you, men ! I call, and
my voice is to the sons of men." Consider,
The need there was of these tidings in the world. Never did
tidings come so seasonably to any, as those of the Gospel to the
world ruined by sin. We were as Isaac, with the knife at our
throat, when the tidings came of Jesus Christ, as the ram caught
in the thicket. Let us but suppose the world without the Gospel,
we will then have a fiery law, flaming on our faces, and no way
whatever to escape. Thus will we see the seasonableness of Gospel
tidings.
To meek poor ones, in particular, I would say, ! sensible sin-
ners, pressed with the sense of your spiritual wants, your sinfulness.
TIDINGS TO THE MEEK. 549
misery, inability to help yourselves, yon who see your absolute need
of Christ, and withal your unworthiness of his helj), who are longing
for supply, and content with Christ on any terms, to you is the
word of this salvation sent particularly ; come away, and joyfully
embrace these good tidings. To influence you to this, consider,
That your names are particularly in Christ's commission. He
was sent to preach good tidings to the meek. The Lord knows that
the poor convinced sinner will have many doubts and fears, which
will be hard for him to overcome, so as to get the tidings believed.
Therefore, as in Mark xvi. 7, the angel said unto the woman, " Go
your way, tell his disciples, and Peter, that he goeth before you
into Galilee, there shall ye see him, as he said unto you." So here
particular notice is taken of the meek. God has a special eye on
the outcasts of Israel to bring them in to himself, Isa. Iv. 1. Again,
consider.
That the grand end for which the Lord discovers to you your
spiritual poverty is, that you may come to Christ for supply; Gal.
iii. 24, " Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster, to bring us unto
Christ, that we might be justified by faith." God brought a famine
on Jacob's household in Canaan, when there was corn in Egypt,
that Joseph's brethren might have an errand to him. Therefore
reject not the counsel of God against yourselves. Consider farther,
That Christ is able to supply all your wants : " Open thy mouth
wide," says he, " and I will fill it," Psalm Ixxxi. 10. "Were your
wants as great as Paul's, as Mary Magdalene's, as Manasseh's were, he
has enough to supply them all, a fulness of merit and of spirit. If
all the world were so poor in spirit, there is enough for them all
and to spare ; there is an infinite value in his blood, and an infinite
efficacy in his spirit. Consider,
That you cannot get the supply of your wants anywhere else ;
Acts iv. 12, " Neither is there salvation in any other ; for there is
none other name under heaven, given amoug men, whereby we must
be saved." Alas ! poor sinners are ready to go to wrong doors for
supply, and to seek to have their wants supplied by themselves.
But all your duties, prayers, watchings, mournings, will do no good
unless you believe ; John vi. 29, " This is the work of God, that ye
believe on him whom he hath sent." Consider, lastly,
That our Lord makes you welcome to him and his fulness, and
that freely, Isa. Iv. 1. I dare not come to Christ, says one. "Why so?
Christ is a gift, even the gift of God, John iv. 10 ; and what is freer
than a gift ? Nothing is required of you but to receive it. Incline
then, your ear, and come unto him ; hear, and your souls shall live.
Amen.
550 JESUS BINDS VV
JESUS BINDS UP THE BROKEN-HEARTED.
SERMON L.
Isaiah Ixi. 1,
To bind up the broken-hearted.
In these words, we have another piece of work which the Father
has put in Christ's hand. He hath sent him " to bind up the
broken-hearted." In the words there is, 1. The work itself, to bind
up ; Luke hath it to heal, chapter iv. 18. He is employed by the
Father as the great Physician to bind up sinners, as a surgeon does
a broken bone or any other wound, and to heal them. This belongs
to his priestly office. We have, 2, The objects of it ; ** the broken-
hearted," such as are sick of sin, who have their hearts broken and
cast down within them, on account of sin, and its consequences.
This is a sickness which Christ is sent to cure.
From this subject, you may observe the following
Doctrine, Our Lord Jesus is appointed of his Father, to be the
Physician of broken-hearted sinners, to bind them up, and heal
them.
For illustrating this doctrine, we shall consider,
I. What is that brokenness of heart, which is here meant.
II. What is it in and about sin which breaks the man's heart,
who is thus evangelically broken-hearted.
III. What sort of a heart a broken heart is.
IV. How the Lord Christ binds up, and heals the broken-hearted.
Y. Make some improvement. — We are then,
1. To inquire what is that brokenness of heart which is here
meant, and of which the Lord takes so much notice. The broken-
hearted is of two kinds.
1. There is a natural one, arising from natural and carnal causes
merely, which worketh death, 2. Cor. vii. 10. Thus many who are
very whole-hearted in respect of sin, complain that their hearts and
spirits are broken by their crosses, afflictions, and ill usage which
they meet with in the world. Thus Ahab, Haman, and Nabal, their
hearts were broken with their respective crosses. This is nothing
but the crack which a proud heart gets by God's providence, when it
will not bow, and is very displeasing in God's sight. This Christ
will not heal, till it is broken at another rate. There is,
2. A religious broken heart, which arises from religious causes,
namely, sin and its consequences. Sin has sunk into the souls of
THE BUOKEN-HEAUTED. 551
all Adam's posterity, like a deadly poison. But most men are
whole-hearted, though they carry their death about with them, be-
cause the poison has not yet begun to work. The thorn of guilt is
sticking iu their conscience, but they are easy, for it has not yet be-
gun to fester. But when the poison begins to work, the heart is
broken with it. Every such breaking of heart is not the sickness
unto life which Christ is sent to heal. There is a twofold religious
breaking of heart. — First, A mere legal one ; Jer, xxiii. 29, " Is not
my word like as a fire ? saith the Lord, and like a hammer that
breaketh the rock in pieces ?" When the heart is broken by the
mere force of the law, it is broken as a rock in pieces by a hammer,
each part remaining hard and rocky still. As it breaks tha
heart of a malefactor, to hear his doom pronounced that he must
be hanged for his crime ; so does the law break, the heart of a sin-
ner. This breaks the heart for sin, but not from it. Thus the
hearts of Cain and Judas were broken, and thus the hearts of the
damned shall be broken for ever. Men may die of these wounds,
and never be healed. But there is, — Secondly, An evangelical one.
"When not only the law does its part, but the gospel also breaks the
sinner's heart ; Zech. xii. 10, " And I will pour upon the house of
David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace
and supplication ; and they shall look upon me whom they have
pierced, and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only
son, and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness
for his first-born." This is that kindly heart-breaking for sin, which
is an effect of gospel-grace, a sickness of which never one shall die,
it is the very malady which in the text Christ is sent to cure. Sin
in an ungracious soul, is like poison in a serpent, it is agreeable to
their nature, it does not make them sick at all. Though it be in-
deed with them as a kind of serpent, from whose killing looks men
defend themselves, by holding a glass betwixt them and the serpent,
which reflects the poison on the serpent himself, and so kills him.
Thus, Psalm vii. 16, " The wicked man's mischief shall return upon
his own head, and his violent dealings shall return upon his own
pate." But in those in whom God has a gracious work, sin is like
poisott in a man, contrary to his nature, and so makes him heart-
sick. Thus the true broken-hearted sinner is as sick of sin as ever
a man was of poison, which he had unwarily swallowed down, and
would by all means be quit of it. We now come,
II. To inquire what it is in and about sin which breaks the man's
heart, who is thus evangelically broken-hearted. There is,
1. The guilt of sin, by which he is bound over to the wrath of
God. This, which cannot be taken away but by a free pardon, sick-
552 JKSUS BINDS UP
ens the poor creature at the heart ; Tsaiah xxxiii. 24, " And the in-
habitant shall not say, I am sick ; tlie people that dwell therein
shall be forgiven their iniquity." This guilt is their burden, a bur-
den on their backs, on their heads, on their spirits, which makes
them to cry out, as in Hosea xiv. 2, " Take away all iniquity, and
receive us graciously." They find the load, and their spirits are
broken under it, as a burden which they are not able to bear.
There is,
2. The domineering power of sin, or its tyranny, by which they
are led captives to it. This is breaking to thera that lusts are so
strong, and they so weak, that they cannot get the mastery over
them as they would ; Rom. vii. 23, 24, "But I see another law in
ray members, warring agaiast the law of my mind, and bringing me
into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members. wretch-
ed man that I am ! who shall deliver me from the body of this
death ?" For some time the yoke of sin sat soft on their necks,
they walked willingly after its commandments ; but now they are
weary of its dominion, averse to submit to its rule, and their hearts
are broken under the weight of those iron fetters from which they
would now fain be delivered. There is,
3. The contrariety which is in sin to the holy nature and law of
God. The commandment is come into the heart, which it is inclined
to obey, and so that contrariety is breaking ; Rom. vii. 13, " Was
then that which is good made death unto me ? God forbid. But
sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me, by that which is
good ; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful."
The love of God has so touched the heart, as to produce in him a
considering sin to be bitter as death. The soul is wounded and
cast down to think of its grieving the Spirit, trampling on the holy
law, sinning against mercies, against checks and reproofs ; and ac-
counts itself very miserable in thus requiting the Lord. There is,
4. The indwelling of sin, audits cleaving so close to a person that
he cannot shake it off; Rom, vii. 24, " wretched man that I am !
who shall deliver me from the body of this death ?" He sees sin
to be in his heart and life, and not only so, but that it is inter-
woven into his very nature, and not to be totally extirpated
till death. He has now a sincere love to holiness, an ardent
desire of perfection, Phil. iii. 13, 14; an hearty hatred against sin,
and an irreconcileable enmity to it ; so that it cannot but be break-
ing to him, while he sees the unwelcome guest still within his habi-
tation. There is,
5. Sin's mixing itself with all he does, even with his best duties :
Rom. vii. 21, " I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is
THE BROKEN-HEARTED. 553
present with me." In the fairest line which he writes, sin leaves a
blot ; and on the purest and most sacred of God's holy things to
which he puts hand, sin drops its defilement. This is breaking to a
holy heart. When he reviews his duties, and sees what deadness,
what want of faith and love is in his prayers, hearing, communicat-
ing, and the like, what unwatchfulness, untenderness, and ungodli-
ness, in his daily walk, he is loathsome in his own eyes, and sick,
heart-sick of his sinful self.
6. Frequent backslidings into sin are very breaking in this case.
The Lord complains of breaking by these ; Ezek. vi. 9, " I am bro-
ken," says he, " with iheir whorish heart, which hath departed from
me, and with their eyes which go a-whoring after their idols." And,
on the other hand, they are most breaking to the sensible sinner him-
self; Jer. xxxi. 18, " I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself
thus ; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock
unaccustomed to the yoke ; turn thou me, and I shall be turned,
for thou art the Lord my God." how heavy is it to a gracious
heart, to be so often falling back into evils mourned over and re-
solved against ! How near the heart of a sick man must it go, to
be so often relapsing, after he has been in a fair way of cure. No-
thing is more powerful to make one say of life, I loathe it. There is,
7. Desertions, hidings of the Lord's face, and interruptions of the
Boul's communion with God. See how breaking these are, Isa. liv. 6,
" For the Lord hath called thee, as a woman forsaken and grieved
in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy
God." Sometimes the soul is brought very low by desertions, and
ready to give up all for lost : Lam. iii. 18, " And I said, My strength
and my hope is perished from the Lord." This is a bitter root,
springing up from sin, and branches forth divers ways, all of them
breaking to a sensible soul. There is spiritual deadness, Song v. 2,
Influences from heaven are restrained, and so the heart is bound up
as with bands of iron and brass. They cannot either believe, love,
or mourn acceptably. All that remains is a secret dissatisfaction
with their own case, only a sigh or a groan, because they cannot be-
lieve, love, or practice, as they know to be required of them, saying,
Isa. Ixiii. 17, " Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways,
and harden our hearts from thy fear?" This is breaking. Next
there is, prayers shut out, Lara. iii. 8. " Also when I cry and shout,
he shutteth out my prayer." While a Christian has access to God
by prayer, and can pour his complaints into his bosom, whatsoever
be his case, he has not so much to complain of. Thus Hannah, after
she had done so, went her way and did eat, and her countenance
was no more sad. This also encourages them to wait upon the Lord,
Vol. IX. 2 v
554 JESU3 BINDS UP
Micah vii. 7- But when the door of access seems to be shut, and a
thick cloud is drawn about the throne, this is breaking: Lam. iii.
44, " Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayers should
not pass through." This made Zion say, Isa. xlix. 14, " The Lord
hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me." And Psalm
XX. 2, " My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? why art
thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring V —
Again, there is wralh apprehended, the terrors of God seiz-
ing on the soul. " Tlie arrows of the Almighty," said Job,
*' are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit, the
terrors of God do set themselves against me," chap. vi. 4. This is
of all terrors the most terrible, and what heart can remain whole
under it ? Prov. xviii. 14, " The spirit of a man will sustain his in-
firmities, but a wounded spirit who can bear ?" See how Heman
was broken under this. Psalm Ixxxviii. 15, " I am afflicted and ready
to die from my youth up ; while I suffer thy terrors, I am distract-
ed." It made Job, a grave solid man, of extraordinary piety, cry
out in the congregation, as unable to contain himself, chap. xxx.
29, 30, 31, " I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls;
my skin is black upon me, and ray bones are burned with heat. My
harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of
them that weep." — Finally, there are temptations dogging the soul,
the more vile and horrid these are, the more dreadful. Sometimes
the Lord looses Satan's chains, and he islet almost loose on a Chris-
tian, 1 Cor. xii. 7. Hence there are fiery darts shot into the heart,
extraordinary temptations as to faith or practice, Eph. vi. 16 ; and
these, though repelled, yet coming back as if a siege were laid to the
soul, by an army resolved to master the town. And when, withal,
one is left often to fall under these, this is most breaking to a gra-
cious sou). There is.
Lastly, To sum up all in a word, a Christian's sinfulness, with the
bitter fruits springing from his sin ; these are what are breaking to
his heart. He is not what God would, nor what he would have him-
self to be. He is dissatisfied with himself, yet cannot right his case;
Rom. vii. 19, " For that which I do, I allow not; for what I would,
that I do not ; but what I hate, that do L" He brings miseries on
himself by his sin, and therefore is sadly broken under the thought
of his case. — We now proceed,
III. To shew what sort of a heart a broken heart is. As to this
we observe,
1. That it is a contrite or bruised heart; Psalm li. 17, " The sa-
crifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart,
God, thou wilt not despise." Not only broken in pieces like a rock,
but broken to powder, and so fit to receive any impression ; so the
TUB BUOKEN-HEAKTED. 555
word signifies. Tlie heart, though before sometimes like au adamant,
which mercies could not melt, nor judgments terrify, is now kindly
broken and braised betwixt the upper and nether mill-stone; — the
upper mill-stone of the law, a sense of God's wrath against sin ; and
— the nether mill-stone of the gospel, of divine love, mercy, and
favour, manifested in word and providences. If one going to break
a hard stone, would lay it firm upon another hard stone, which will
not yield underneath it, then, when you strike, it will either not
break at all, or if it do, it will not break in shivers ; but either lay
it hollow, or on a soft bed, and it will break all in shivers. Thus,
lay the hard heart upon the hard law, and strike it with tlie most
dreadful threatenings of hell and damnation, it either will not break,
at all, or at least it will not break small. But lay the hard heart
on the bed of the gospel of mercy and love, and then let the hammer
of the law strike, the heart will go asunder. Legal preaching, which
casts a veil over gospel-grace, is not the way to make good Chris-
tains. Joel lays the hearts of his hearers on mercy, then fetches his
stroke with the hammer of the law, and cries, chap. ii. 13, " Rend
your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness,
and repenteth him of the evil." But it is the Spirit of the Lord
that carries home the stroke, else it will not do. A broken heart
is,
2. A pained heart, an aching heart; Acts ii. 37, "When they
heard this, they were pricked to the heart, and said unto Peter and
the rest of the apostles. Men and brethren, what shall we do ?"
Bruising or breaking a living member is not without pain. God
wounds the guilty conscience, that the sinner may see and find what
an evil and bitter thing sin is ; Jer. ii. 19, " Thine own wickedness
shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee; know
therefore, and see, that it is an evil thing and a bitter, that thou hast
forsaken the Lord thy God, and my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord
God of hosts." The deeper that the wound is, the sorer the heart is
broken. It is pained with sorrow ; Prov. xv. 13, " By sorrow of the
heart the spirit is broken." A broken heart is a sorrowful heart
for sin, for the offence given to God, the dishonour put on him
by it, and the evil brought on one's self. Thus the broken-hearted
sinner is a mourning sinner, Zech. xii. 10. The spirit of heaviness
sits down on the man, till Christ bind up his wound ; his joy is turned
into lamentation. The heart is pained also with remorse for sin,
Acts ii. 37. Every remembrance of his folly gives him a twitch by
the scourge of conscience. He calls himself fool and beast for so
requiting the Lord. He is heartily displeased with himself on that
2n2
O50 JESUS BlIfDS UP
account; Job xlii. 6, " Wherefore I abhor rayself, aud repent in dust
and ashes." ITe smites on his breast, as worthy to be pierced, Luke
xviii. 13; and smites on his thigh, as worthy to be broken for what
he has done. Again, it is pained with anxiety and care how to be
saved from sin ; Acts xvi. 30, " What shall I do to be saved ?" It
brings a burden of care upon his head, how to get the guilt removed,
the power of it broken, and to get it expelled at length. Never was
a man more anxious about the cure of a broken leg or arm, than the
broken-hearted sinner is to get his soul-wounds healed, and to bo
free of sin, which is his greatest cross. The heart is pained with
longing desires after grace ; Psalm cxix. 20, " My soul breaketh for
the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times." The
broken-hearted sinner, sensible of his spiritual wants, longs for the
supply of them, pants for it as a thirsty man for water ; and the de-
lay of answering these desires makes a sick heart ; Prov xiii. 12,
" Hope deferred maketh the heart sick." A broken heart is,
3. A shameful heart. The whole heart in sin is impudent ; but
the broken heart is filled with shame. Ezra said, chap. ix. 6, "
my God, I am ashamed, and blush,to lift up my face to thee, my God ;
for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is
grown up unto the heavens." The man hangs down his head before
the Lord, as not able to look up. Psalm xl. 12. He sees himself
stripped of his beautiful garments, and is ashamed of his spiritual
nakedness, and, with the publican, he cannot lift up his eyes. Ho is
fallen into the mire, and is ashamed to come before God in his defile-
ment, Isa. Ixiv. 6. His vain expectations from the way of sin arc
baulked, aud so he turns back ashamed. His reproach is discovered,
he is convicted of the basest ingratitude, and so is filled with shame.
As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel
ashamed, Jer. ii. 26. — A broken heart is,
4. A soft and tender heart, for a broken and a hard heart are op-
posed to each other ; Exek. xxxvi. 26, " I will take away the stony
heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh."
When the spirit of the Lord breaks the heart with gospel-grace,
he melts it down, and softens it, takes away that stonyness, stifi"ness,
hardness, that cleaves to the heart in its natural state. The broken-
hearted sinner, however, will very probably say, Alas ! I find my
heart a hard heart. To this I answer, to find the hardness of
heart, and to be weighted and grieved with it, is a sign of tender-
ness, even as groaning is a sign of life : 2 Cor. viii. 12, '• For if there
be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man hath,
and not according to what he hath not." There is no heart in this
world but there is some hardness in it. There may be tears where
THE BIIOKEN-IIEARTED.
557
there is no broken heart, as in Esau, and there may be a broken
and tender heart where tears are not. Try, therefore, the tenderness
of your hearts by the following marks- : —
Are your hearts kindly affected with providences ? Thou meetest
with a mercy, and it is a wonder to thee that the Lord should be so
kind to such an unworthy wretch. Thou sayest as Jacob, " I am not
worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which
thou has shewed unto thy servant," Gen. xxxii. 10. It melts thy
heart into an earnest desire of holiness, knowing that the goodness
of God leadeth thee to repentance. Again, thou meetest with re-
buke of providence, shewing thee that thou art out of the way, and
thou darest not venture farther that way. This is a good sign ;
Prov. xvii. 10, " A reproof enters more into a wise man, than a hun-
dred stripes into a fool." Again, do the threateniugs of the Lord's
word awe thy heart, not only in respect of gross outbreakings, but
in the course of thy daily walk ? Isa. Ixii. 2, " But to this man will
I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trem-
bleth at my word." Art thou afraid of the Lord's displeasure niore
than of anything else, and must thou stand at a distance from these
things which the world makes light of on that account ? This is a sign
of a tender heart. This reflection was comfortable to Job, chap,
xxxi. 23, " For destruction from God was a terror unto me ; and by
reason of his highness I could not endure." Now this had a tenden-
cy to keep him free from all sin. — Finally, have the Lord's com-
mandments an awful authority on thy conscience, so that thou art
tender of offending him, and trampling on them ? A hard heart can
easily digest an offence against God, but a teuder heart respects all
his commandments, Psalm cxix. 6. A burnt child dreads the fire ;
and the sinner whose heart has been broken for sin dreads sin as the
greatest evil. There are some who will be very tender at their pray-
ers, it may be that they weep and pray ; but then fearful untender-
ness appears in their ordinary walk. But shew me the person who
is in the fear of the Lord all the day long, who is afraid to say or
do an ill thing ; I say, this is the tender person, though his prayers
should be filled from beginning to end with complaints of hardness
of heart ; not the other ; 1 John v. 3, " For this is the love of God,
that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not
grievous." — A broken heart is,
5. A rent heart : Joel ii. 13, " And rend your hearts, and not
your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God." The plough of
humiliation and repentance is drawn through the heart, which tears
up the fallow-ground, and pierces to the very soul. Many a man's
heart is rent with remorse, or rather mangled, which is never tho-
558 JESUS BINDS UP
roughly rent ; and bo their wound goes together again after some
time, and ihey are as before. But the truly broken heart is rent to
no purpose, till the plough reach to the root of sin.
Here there may be proposed this question, What is the difference
of these rendings ? To this I answer, an unrenewed man's heart may
be rent for sin, but it is not rent from it. The heart truly broken
is not only rent for, but from sin ; not only affrighted at, but framed
into a hatred of it, Ezek. xxxvi. 31, " Then shall ye remember your
own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe
yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities, and for your abo-
minations." The heart is so broken that the reigning love of sin
runs out of it, as water out of a cracked vessel, or as filthy matter
out of a wound which is laid open. He digs deep, as the wise
builder ; the other, like Balaam, who professed a regard to the au-
thority of God, but still loved the wages of iniquity. Again, the
rent of the former either closes too soon, as those who quickly fall
secure again, getting ease by bribing their consciences ; or it never
was closed at all, falling under absolute desi)air, like Judas. But
the other is at length healed, yet not till the great Physician takes
the cure in hand. The wound is kept open, and the soul refuseth
healing, till the Lord looks down and beholds from heaven, as in
Lam. iii. 50. The wound is too deep to be cured, but by his blood
and Spirit, yet not so deep, but that some ray of hope is always left ;
there is a " who knows but the Lord will yet return ?" — The broken
heart is,
6. A pliable heart. The hard heart is a heart of stone, unpliable.
When the spirit breaks the heart for sin, he makes it a heart of flesh,
Ezek. xxxvi. 26. Hearts which the grace of God has not touched,
are like young horses not used to the saddle, young bullocks unac-
customed to the yoke ; they are unpliable and unmanageable, because
they are not yet broken, Jer. xxxi. 18. But if ever any good may
be made of that heart of thine, the spirit of God will break it ; how-
ever wild and untractable it be, the Spirit will make it pliable. He
will make it pliable to the will of his commandments, saying, " Lord,
what wouldst thou have me to do ? and what shall we do ?" Acts ii. 37.
They had often heard before what they should do, but they would
not comply, but now, since their hard heart is broken, they are very
pliable. Many a time the sinner's heart gets such a piercing thrust
in his sinful course, that one would think, surely he will comply now.
Yes, but the heart is not broken yet, therefore the man will not
comply, according as Solomon represents it in the case of the drunk-
ard, Prov. xxii. 29, 32, and 34, " They have stricken me, shalt thou
say, and I was not sick ; they have beaten me, and I felt it not;
THE BROEEN-HEAItTEO. 559
when shall I awake ? I will seek it yet again." But if God have
any thoughts of love to him, the Spirit of God will take the case in
his own hand ; and were he as stiff as the devil and his hard heart
can make him, he will break him to that rate, that he shall ply as
wax ere he have done with him. Witness Saul the persecutor, who
was so softened, that he cried. Lord, what wouldst thou have me to
do ? Acts ix. 6. The heart becomes pliable also to the will of his
providence : Psalm li. 4, " That thon mightest be justified when thou
speakest, and be cleared when thou judgest." An unrenewed heart
is a murmuring one under the hand of God, and will readily choose
to sin rather than suffer. But the broken heart will say, give me
thy favour, and take from me what thou wilt : Luke xiv. 26, " If
any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife,
and children, and brethren, and sisters, and his own life also, he can-
not be my disciple." Sometimes one meets with an affliction, and
they cry out they are broken, they are not able to bear it. God
sends them a heavier one, they are stricken till they leave off weep-
ing, and withal opens the heart-vein to bleed for sin, and so in some
sort they are made to forget their affliction. And it is their great
concern to get their soul's disease healed, let God do with them
otherwise as he will. — A broken heart is.
Lastly, A humble heart ; Isa. Ivii. 15, quoted above. The hard
heart is a gathered boil ; when it is broken, it is discussed. As soon
as the heart is broken, under a sense of sin, pride and self-conceit
vanish away, and the more broken-hearted that a person is, the less
proud. Paul was a proud persecutor, but the Lord laid the pride of
his heart, when he broke it, Acts ix. 4, 5. Hezekiah, in his broken-
ness of heart is very humble : " I shall go softly," said he, " all my
years in the bitterness of my soul," Isa. xxxviii. 16. ! if the
proud and empty professors of this day had a taste of this
broken heart, it would soon lay their gay feathers, let out
the ulcers of pride, self-conceit, which are swollen so big in
many a poor soul. It would turn the saying, " Stand by, for I am
holier than thou," unto " Depart from me, for I am a sinful man."
It would make them think little of what they have been, of what
they are, and of what they have done or suffered ; little of what all
their attainments, gifts, yea, and graces also, if they have any, are.
5G0 JESUS BINDS Ul'
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED. •
SERMON LI.
Isaiah Ixi. 1,
To hind up the broken-hearted.
Having considered that brokenuess of heart which is here meant, —
what about sin the heart is broken for, — and described the nature
of a broken heart, we go on, as was proposed,
lY. To show how the Lord Christ binds up and heals the broken-
hearted. — The great Pliysician uses two sorts of bands for a broken
heart, he binds them up with inner and with outward bands.
1. With inner bands, which go nearest the sore, the pained bro-
ken heart. And these are two. — The first inner band is,
Christ's own Spirit, the Spirit of adoption. The hearts of the
disciples were sore broken at the news of Jesus leaving them, and it
behoved them to bleed a while. But he tells them, he would send a heal-
ing band for their broken hearts ; John xiv. 16, " And I will pray the
Father," said he, '* and he shall give you another Comforter, that he
may abide with you for ever." Our Lord breaks his people's hearts
by his Spirit, and yet by the same Spirit binds them up again. In
the first work he is the Spirit of bondage, and some may be long un-
der his hand this way. Ilence we read of some " who, through fear
of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage," Heb. ii. 15.
The Old Testament church had much of this spirit, " T am afflicted,"
says the psalmist, Psalm Ixxxviii. 15, " and ready to die, from my
youth up ; while I suffer thy terrors, I am distracted." — In the next
work, ho is the Spirit of adoption ; Ilom. viii. 15, " For ye have not
received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received
the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." He comes
quickening, sanctifying, reviving, and comforting the soul. There-
fore pray with David, Psalm li. 11, 12, " Take not thy Holy Spirit
from me ; restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me
with thy free Spirit." — The second inner band is.
Faith in Christ, (the band of the covenant), which he works in the
heart by his Spirit. Faith is a healing band, for it knits the soul,
Eph. iii. 17, " That Christ may dwell iu your hearts by faith." The
woman with the bloody issue, when she got a touch of the hem of
Christ's garments, was presently made whole. Thus the broken-
hearted sinner, when he gets hold of Christ by faith, is bound up
with him in one mystical body, virtue comes from him for the soul's
THE BKOKEN-UEARTED. 561
healing. The virtue of his blood takes away guilt ; the virtue of
his Spirit breaks the power of sin. The apostle prescribes this heal-
ing baud to the broken-hearted jailor ; Acts xvi. 31, " Believe in
the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house ;" and
the more faith that there is, the band will be the stronger, and the
soul the sooner healed. Much unbelief, and little faith, keep the
wounds of the soul long open; Psalm xxvii. 13, " I had fainted un-
less I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the
living." A broken-hearted sinner staving off and disputing against
his believing, is like a child who has a broken leg, doing what he
can to tear off the bands with which it must be bound up ; but he
must admit them, or his leg will never heal : John xi. 40, " Jesus
saith unto her. Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldst believe,
thou shouldst see the glory of God ?" Peter walking on the water,
was like to break and sink quite, Matth. siv. 30; the cause was his
unbelief, ver. 31, " Jesus said unto him, thou of little faith, where-
fore didst thou doubt ? " — There are also,
2. Outward bands for a broken heart. — These also are two.
The first outward band is his own word, especially the promises
of the gospel. This band Peter held out to the broken-hearted com-
pany ; Ads ii. 38, 39, " Repent," said he, " and be baptised every
one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins,
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost ; for the promise is
unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as
many as the Lord our God shall call." This word has a sovereign
virtue for healing; Psalm cvii. 20, " He sent his word, and healed
them, and delivered them from their destructions." Our Lord wraps
up a promise, in a soft band of love ; and he makes them lay it to
with their own hands ; and the more closely they tie it about their
broken hearts with the hand of faith, they will be the sooner whole.
Say not. What can a word do ? An encouraging word from men
will wonderfully raise a carnally-dejected mind ; and if so, certainly
the Lord's word will heal a broken heart. A promise will be, in
this case, like the opening of a box of perfumes to one ready to faint
away ; Song i. 3, " Because of the savour of thy good ointment, thy
name is like ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love
thee."
The second outward band is his own seals of the covenant ; Acts
ii. 38, quoted above. These seals are for our ingrafting into, and
having communion with Jesus Christ, and so are most fit means to
bind up hearts broken under a sense of sin, when they are partakers
of these in faith. Hence many have been healed at such occasions ;
though indeed the water is not moved at all times, or at least the
562 JESUS BINDS ur
broken-hearted sinner does not always step into it. It was an an-
cient custom, though that will not justify it, to put a white gar-
ment on persons when they were baptised. But surely our Lord
has taken off the spirit of heaviness, and given the garment of
praise to many at sealing ordinances. The eunuch, after he was
baptised, went on his way rejoicing. The sorrowful disciples were
also made glad, when, after his resurrection, Jesus made himself
known to them in the breaking of bread, Luke xxiv. 35. All these
bands are the Physician's absolute property. The poor patient
has nothing of his own to be a band to his wounds. The Spirit
is the Spirit of Christ ; faith is his work ; the word and sacraments
are his ordinances, and their efficacy is all from him ; and thus he
heals them. His kindness in this instance, we may take up in these
three things : —
(1.) They are justified and pardoned : Job xxxiii. 23, 24, " If
there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thou-
sand, to shew unto man his uprightness; then he is gracious unto
him, and saith. Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have
fouud a ransom." The sting of guilt is taken away, the poison is
carried off, by a full and free pardon. Thus the seek man is whole ;
Isa. xxxiii. 24, " And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick ; the
people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity." The
blood of Christ, with which by faith the soul is bound up, cleanses
the wound, and heals it ; 1 John i. 7, " But if we walk in the light,
as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the
blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
(2.) They are sanctified; 1 Cor. vi. 11, " And 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." The
Spirit is a sanctifying spirit : faith a sanctifying grace : Acts xv. 9,
" And put no difference between us and them, sanctifying their
hearts by faith." The sacraments are sanctifying ordinances : 1 Cor.
xii. 13, " For by one Spirit, we are all baptised into one body, — and
have been all made to drink into one Spirit." By these the power
of corruption, as to its reign, is broken ; lusts are gradually killed,
and grace is made to grow.
Lastly, They are comforted ; Job xxxiii. 25, 76, " His flesh shall
be fresher than a child's ; he shall return to the days of his youth ;
he shall pray unto God, and he shall be favourable unto him : and
he shall see his face with joy : for he will render unto man his
righteousness." All these bands have a conforting and also a re-
freshing virtue. They bring the oil of joy sooner or later to the
80ul. The way of the Physician in this is, " According to thy faith,
THE BROKKK-HKARTED. 563
BO be it unto thee." And thus the broken-hearted eat of the hidden
manna, they get the white stone, and in the stone a new name writ-
ten : Rev. ii. 17-
V. It now remains that we make some improvement of this sub-
ject. — It may be improved in uses of information, reproof, consola-
tion, and exhortation.
First, In a use of information.
1. This shews us the love and good-will of God to help poor sin-
ners, especially broken-hearted ones. He has provided a glorious
Physician for them, having remembered us in our low estate. the
love of the Father in investing his Son with this office ! the love
of the Son in undertaking it ! Especially considering what it be-
hoved him to undergo, in order to provide the medicines : his own
heart had to be broken, that sinners might be healed. We may
learn,
2. The preciousness of our souls, and with all the desperateness
of the diseases of sin. Surely it behoved to be a desperate disease,
and the patient at the same time very precious in the Lord's sight,
for which he employed such a Physician. A physician of less va-
lue than an incarnate God, would have been a physician of no value
for a broken-hearted sinner. No medicine less than his blood could
have been effectual, else the Saviour's heart had never been broken
for blood to cure it. — We may see,
3. To whom we must go with our hard hearts. the reigning
plague of hardness of heart this day among all ranks ! Ordinances,
providences, mercies, judgments, cannot break them. Alas! there
is little occasion to speak to broken-hearted sinners this day ; it is
the least part of our work, to get their hearts healed. We cannot
go with whole hearts, as broken. What can we do with them ?
Carry them to Christ. He who can heal broken hearts, can surely
break whole hearts. He is exalted a Prince and a Saviour, to give
repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins, Acts v. 30. A look of
him would do what nothing else can do. When the Lord Jesus
looked on Peter, then Peter remembered his sins, and went out, and
wept bitterly ; Luke xxii. 62. We shall improve this subject.
Secondly, In a use of reproof. — This doctrine reproves and con-
demns,
1. Those who, when their hearts are any way broken for sin, go
not to Christ, but to physicians of no value ; Hos. v. 13, '* When
Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went
Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb ; yet could he not
heal you, nor cure you of your wound." The Spirit of the Lord is
at work with the hearts of many to break them for sin, who mar all
564 JESUS BINDS UP
by their hasto to be healed, which carries them to other physicians
than Christ, who may palliate the disease, but never can effectually
cure it. These are, the law, which is now weak through the flesh ;
Rom. viii. 3. The law may wound the soul, but can never heal it ;
Rom. iii. 20, *' By the deeds of the law shall no flesh living be justi-
fied in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Yet many
go to it for healing, namely, when they go about to pacify their con-
sciences, not by a believing application and sprinkling of Christ's
blood, but by their own prayers, vows, repentance, amendment of
their ways, and the like. The law indeed may give them a pallia-
tive ; by these things their consciences may be blinded and bribed,
but the disease is still rooted in them, and will break forth again at
last, when there is no remedy, if not sooner by the mercy of God,
to prevent their final ruin. — Throng of worldly business. When
Cain's heart was wounded, and he could not get out the sting which
galled his conscience, he went to this physician, he went from the
presence of the Lord, and built a city ; Gen. iv. 16, 17. To this
many run at this day, who, when their consciences begin to stir
within them, fill their heads and hands with business, till they get
conscience quiet. This palliates the disease by way of diversion,
while it will make it only like a gathered dam, which will at length
break down the wall, and overwhelm the soul with aggravated sor-
rows ; Isa. XXX. 13, " Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a
breach ready to fall, swelling out on a high wall, whose breaking
Cometh suddenly at an instant." — Jovial company. So Saul, in his
distress of mind, instead of calling for his Bible to read on, calls for
musicians to play to him. And it is not to be doubted, that many
a man's convictions are drowned in the ale-house, hushed to silence
at revelling-meetings, these supports of the devil's kingdom peo-
ple are so fond of ; and many good motions are spoiled and
laughed away. This palliates the disease by searing the conscience,
and making it senseless. But it will awaken again on them like a
lion roused up, and rend the caul of those hearts which have been so
healed ; Hos. xiii. 6, 8. This doctrine reproves,
2. Those who oifer themselves physicians to the broken in heart,
in opposition to Christ and his method of cure. There are such
agents for the devil, who, like the Pharisees, will neither enter in
themselves, nor suff'er those who would to enter. Like Elymas the
sorcerer, they seek to turn away men from the faith ; Acts xiii. 8.
They no sooner discern any beginning of seriousness in others, but they
set themselves to crush it in the bud by their wicked advices, mock-
ings, taunts, and licentious ensnaring examples. To these I may
say, as in Acts xiii. 10, " full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou
THE BROKEN-HEAUTED. 665
child of tho devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not
cease to pervert the right way of the Lord ?" The blood of the
souls of such as perish by these means will lie at the door of such
persons, and be required of them.
Lastly, Those are reproved, who, as their duty is, dare not go to
these physicians of no value, yet do not corae to Christ, which is
their sin ; Psalm Ixxvii. 2, " My soul, refused to be comforted." It is
unbelief which makes it so, and Satan will do what he can to carry
it on, to deter the sinner from the great Physician. But has the
Father accepted Christ a physician for broken-hearted sinners ?
Surely, then, they may come, and welcome ; nay, they must come,
or else they will never be healed. "We shall now improve tho
subject.
Thirdly, In a use of comfort to those who are truly broken-
hearted for sin in a gospel-sense. You have an able Physician,
who both can and will cure you, even though Satan may be ready
to tell you that your case is past cure. There is great ground of
comfort for such. (1.) Your name is in Christ's commission. (2.)
You know your disease, and this is a comfortable step to the cure.
(3.) Never any died of your disease : Psalm cxlvii. 3, " He healeth
tho broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." — Here, how-
ever, may be proposed this
Objection, My heart has been long broken for sin, and yet there
is no appearance of being healed ; Jer. xiv. 19, " Hast thou utterly
rejected Judah ? hath thy soul loathed Zion ? why hast thou smitten
us, and there is no healing for us ? we have looked for peace, and
there is no good, and for the time of healing, and behold trouble."
To this I
Answer, Thy soul may be healed of the disease of sin, and thy
guilt removed, even the power of sin may be broken, though thy
trouble does remain. David's sin was put away ; 2 Sam. xii. 13.
yet he cries out of broken bones ; Psalm li. 8. I would advise you to
wait patiently on the great Physician, and in due time he will bind
thee up. Limit him not to times and seasons, which are in his own
hand ; he best knows how to manage his patients. Some he keeps
long in trouble, to prevent pride and security, into which they are
apt to fall : others he soon cures, to prevent despair or utter de-
spondency, to which they are most liable. It only remains that this
subject be improved,
Lastly, In a use of exhortation. This shall be addressed to three
sorts of persons.
I would exhort whole and hard-hearted sinners to labour to get
broken hearts, hearts kindly broken for sin. To prevail with you
66t! JESUS BINDS UP
in complying with this exhortation, I offer the following Motives : —
Mot, 1. Consider the evil that there is in hardness of heart. It
is very displeasing in the sight of God. Jesns was grieved with the
hardness of men's hearts ; Mark iii. 5. It grieves his Spirit, and
highly provokes him, so that God is ever angry with the hard-
hearted sinner. Suppose a man to be under never so great guilt,
bat his heart is broken on account of it, God is not so displeased
with him as with those who, whatever their guilt be, are hard-hearted
under it. It fences the heart against receiving any benefit by the
means of salvation. Till the hardness be removed, it makes the
l)eart proof against ordinances and providences ; Psalm xcv. 8,
" Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of
temptation in the wilderness." Consider, as it is with the dead
tree, even in the spring, all labour is lost upon it ; so is it with the
hard-hearted sinner. God speaks by his word and Spirit, by mer-
cies and judgments ; but nothing makes impression on the hard
heart, yea, the most softening means leave it as they found it, or
most probably in a worse state. It binds up the heart from all gra-
cious motions ; llom. ii. 4, 5, " Or despisest thou the riches of his
goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the
goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance ? But, after thy hard-
ness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against
the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God."
This hardness is an iron band on the will, a stonyness in the heart,
a hard freeze on the affections, so that the sinner cannot repent,
mourn, or turn from his evil courses. It so nails him down in his
wicked way, that he cannot move God-ward, cannot relent of his
folly, though his danger be clearly before his eyes. In a word, it is
the highway to be given up of God. Natural and acquired hard-
ness lead the way to judicial hardness : Rom. xi. 7, *' The election
hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded." When men harden
their hearts against reproofs and warnings, God many a time visits
them with a curse, so that they shall never after have power to re-
lent and yield ; Hos. iv. 17, " Ephraim is joined to idols ; let him
alone."
Mot. 2. Consider the excellence of a broken heart. It is very
pleasing in the sight of God, and precious ; Psalm li. 17, " The sa-
crifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart,
God, thou wilt not despise." He looks to such, while he over-
looks others ; Isa. Ixvi. 2. He is near to them, while far from
others ; Psalm xxxiv. 18. It is the way to get good of all the
means of salvation ; and it is the root of gracious motions in the
soul. However low they lie, God will take them up, and take thera
THE BROKEN-HEARTED. 567
in ; Psalm cxlvii. 3, " He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth
up their wounds."
Mot. 3. The hardest heart will break at length, if not in a way
of mercy, yet in a way of judgment ; Pro v. xxix. 1, " He that, being
often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed,
and that without remedy." (Heb, broken, and no healing.) Thy
sins are breaking to the Spirit of God; Ezek. vi. 9. Assure thyself
that the stone will roll back on thyself sooner or later; if it do
not kindly break thee in a way of repentance, it will grind thee to
powder in the way of wrath. To such we would give the following
directions briefly : —
Believe the threatenings against sin, and apply them ; Jonah iii.
5, " So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast,
and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of
them." This belief worketh fear, and fear worketh sorrow. And
though this be but legal humiliation, yet this is ordinarily a mean
sanctified of God to bring forward the elect sinner to Christ, as it
was when Noah builded the ark ; Heb. xi. 7. Ponder thy manifold
sins, on the one hand, and the rich mercies with which thou hast
been visited on the other. This is a proper mean to bring the heart
into a broken disposition ; Rom. ii. 4, " The goodness of God leadeth
to repentance." Believe and meditate on the suff'erings of Christ
for sin. Look how he was broken for it in a way of suffering, till
thy heart be broken for it in a way of repentance; Zech. xii, 10,
(quoted above).
We address ourselves, in the next place, to broken-hearted sin-
ners. To such we say. Come to Christ as a Physician for binding
up and healing your broken hearts. Y^ou have sufficient encourage-
ment to put your cases in his hand. It is a part of the work ex-
pressly put upon him by the Father, to bind up your wounds. — He
Las a most tender sympathy for such broken-hearted ones ; Isa.
Ixiii. 9, " In all their affliction, he was afflicted, and the angel of his
presence saved them : in his love and in his pity he redeemed them,
and he bare them and carried them all the days of old." Therefore
let us improve this sympathy ; Heb. iv. 15, 16, " For we have not
an high priest, who cannot be touched with the feeling of our in-
firmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without
sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grtace, that we
may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." He is
very near to such, even as dwelling under one roof with them for
their welfare ; Isa. Ixvii. 15, " For thus saith the high and lofty
One, that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is holy, I dwell in the
high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble
568 JESUS BINDS UP
spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of
the contrite ones." — There is a particular relation betwixt him as
the Physician, and the broken-hearted as his proper patients ; and
therefore he has a peculiar care of them ; Ezek. xxxiv. 15, 16, " I
will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord
God ; I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which
Avas driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will
strengthen that which was sick ; but I will destroy the fat and the
strong, I will feed them with judgment." You see that he will
haudle the broken-hearted very tenderly ; Isa. xl. 11, " He shall
feed his flock like a shepherd, he shall gather the lambs with his
arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that
are with young ; chap. xHi. 3, " A bruised reed shall he not break,
and the smoking flax shall he not quench; he shall bring forth judg-
ment unto truth."
In the last place, we would exhort those whose broken hearts
Christ has healed, to take heed to the preserving your restored
health. Indeed every one who seems to be healed, is not healed by
the hand of the true Physician ; but if your hearts are now eased,
and your wounds bound up by the great Physician, you will know
it by these three things. 1. You will have an appetite for spiritual
food ; 1 Pet. ii. 2, 3, " As new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of
the word, that ye may grow thereby; if so be ye have tasted that
the Lord is gracious." When one begins to recover in earnest, he
recovers his appetite. But such a one, say we, is not well yet, for
he has no appetite ; so thou art not well if thou dost want the spi-
ritual hunger. — 2. Your food will relish with you ; Prov. xxvii. 7,
" The full soul loatheth the honey-comb ; but to the hungry soul
every bitter thing is sweet." Many have their qualms of conscience
which they get over, but still they have no relish for spiritual
things, but for the world and their lusts. But if Christ has healed
thee, he has corrected thy taste. Lastly, You will be beginning to
walk in the way of God. " I will run," saith David, " in the way of
thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge ray heart," Psalm
cxix. 32, They who return with the dog to the vomit, show that
their disease is yet in its strength, though they are not sensible of
pain.
Now, if Christ has healed you, to perceive the health of your
souls, it is necessary for you to keep a good and regular diet. Be-
ware of these things which formerly cast thee into soul-sickness.
Peter went no more back to the high priest's hall, nor Judah to
Tamar ; Gen. xxxviii. 26. Feed there, and on these things which
may tend to the soul's health. " Behold," said Jesus to the impo-
JEStJS PROCLAIMS LIBERTY, &C. 569
tent maa he had healed, *' behold thou art luade whole ; sin no more,
lest a worse thing come upon thee," And for this cause observe
your Physician's rules in all things. — Walk circumspectly, take
notice of every step you make, as one who has had a broken limb
healed; Isa. xxxviii. 15, " I shall go softly," said Hezekiah, " all
my years, in the bitterness of my soul." And beware of walking in
the dark, of going forward there where you cawnot discern your
way by the light of the Lord's word. Study to increase in love to
Christ, zeal for his glory, and hatred of sin. Always keep corres-
pondence with your Physician. Be often at the throne of grace by
prayer, and keep up communion with him in the exercise of faith.
" They who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they
shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be
weary, and they shall walk and not faint." Amen.
JESUS PROCLAIMS LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES.
SERMON LIL
Isaiah Ixi. 1,
To 'proclaim liberty to the captives.
Hitherto we have had Christ's commission as it respects those who
have some good in them, the meek and the broken-hearted. Here
is his commission with respect to those who have no good in them,
but are utter strangers to hira, living in their natural state. He
is anointed to proclaim liberty to the captives. In which words
consider,
1. Man's natural state. It is a state of captivity : they are cap-
tives to Satan: 2 Tim. ii. 26, "And that they may recover them-
selves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captives by him
at his will." He is the tyrant whose captives they are, who has
carried them away out of the light of God's favour, and holds them
fast in his territories, being the god of this world. Consider,
2. Christ's work wiih respect to them. It is to proclaim liberty
to them, Luke iv. 18, " To preach deliverance to the captives."
These are indeed the same. Luke's word for liberty or deliverance,
is properly dismissing or letting away, that is, giving liberty. The
words for preaching and proclaiming signify properly to cry, and
are used either of preaching or proclaiming. Ani what is preaoh-
YoL. IX. 2 o
570 JESUS PROCLAIMS LIBERTY
ing but proclaiming in the name of the king of heaven? and so
this relates to Christ's kingly office. — From this part of the subject
we take the following Doctrines : —
Doctrine I. That sinners in their natural unregenerate state are
Satan's captives.
Doctrine II. That Jesus Christ, with the express consent of his
Father, has issued out his royal proclamation of liberty to Satan's
captives.
"We begin with
Doctrine I. That sinners in their natural unregenerate state are
Satan's captives.
For illustrating this doctrine, we shall consider,
I. How sinners in their natural state have become Satan's captives.
II. AYhat is their condition as Satan's captives.
III. The properties of this captivity, and then,
IV. Add the improvement of the subject.
"We are then,
I. To shew how sinners in their natural state have become Satan's
captives. They have become his captives,
1. As taken in war; 2 Peter ii. 19, "Of whom a man is over-
come, of the same is he brought in bondage." Satan having pro-
claimed vrar against Heaven, maliciously set on our first parents iu
paradise, and on all mankind in them. He set on them as the
confederates of heaven, and carried his point, gained the victory.
And in this respect he is still pursuing the victory, and driving the
unrenewed world before him as prisoners of war, called his lawful
captives, Isa. xli. 24. They have become his captives, because
2. They are born his captives, as being born of those whom he
overcame and carried captive. So they are expressly called the
children of hell, Matth xxiii. 15. There were many of the captives
in Babylon who had never seen Canaan, having been born in that
country. These were captives no less than their parents, and that
by their birth. So is it with Adam's posterity naturally; they were
born under the power of Satan, Acts xxvi. 18. "When a slave,
under the law, married in his master's house, though at the end of
seven years he got his own freedom, yet the children were his
master's, as being born in his house, and could not be free without
a particular liberty for them, Exod. xxi. 4. Thus even the children
of godly parents are by nature Satan's captives ; children of Abra-
ham, children of the devil. To the Jews our Saviour said, " Ye
are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will
do," John viii. 44. We were,
TO THE CAPTIVES. 67t
II. To enquire what is their condition as Satan's captives. Upon
this we observe,
1. That every natural man is transported from his primitive
soil into Satan's territories, his kingdom of darkness. Hence be-
lievers are said " to be turned from the power of Satan unto God."
Acts xxvi. 18. And again, Col. i. 13, " God has delivered us from
the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom
of his dear Son." Sinners are not now where God at first set
them down; they are transported into another kingdom; like the
prodigal, they have left their father's house, and gone into a far
country, where they have spent their substance, Luke xv. 13. They
are far from God, his covenant, and his Son. Thou art in Satan's
kingdom, unconverted soul ! a black and dismal kingdom, where
sin, darkness, and death reign, where there is no gleam of saving
light or life ; and if thou wert awakened out of thy dream, thou
■wilt see matters so situated ; a kingdom with which God wili have
war for ever ; and thou art an unhappy subject of that kingdom.
2. They are plundered and robbed of all that is valuable, as
captives used to be; Eev. iii. 17, "They are wretched, and miser-
able, and poor, and blind, and naked." The light of the mind, the
righteousness of the will, the holiness of the affections, all are lost,
all has become a spoil and a prey to the hellish conqueror. Now
thou art a poor captive, who hast nothing truly good left thee, nothing
which the bands of hell have not made thee render up.
3. They are stripped, as has also been an ancient custom of
dealing with captives. Thus, as the proi)het Isaiah, ch. xx. 3, 4,
walked three years naked, for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and
Ethiopia ; so did the king of Assyria carry away these nations
captive, naked and bare-foot. What a melancholy sight is it, to
see brave men, who were glittering in shining apparel and arras
at the commencement of an engagement, when fallen into the hands
of their enemies, stript and driven away naked before the con-
querors. But yet more melancholy to see precious souls stript by
Satan of their original rigliteousuess, and driven away before him,
without any covering but rags, filthy rags, Rev. iii. 17- This,
sinner, is the shameful and dangerous case which thou art in as
Satan's captive.
4. They are no more masters of themselves, but under the power
of the conqueror; 2 Tim. ii. 26, " They are taken captive by him
at his will." Their liberty is gone, and they are slaves to the worst
of masters. Wonder not that many a poor sinner is at Satan's
beck, over the belly of reason and conscience, to serve the devil,
to their own visible ruin. Alas! they are captives, not at their
2o 2
572 JESUS PROCLAIMS LIBERTY
liberty, but must go as he coniraands them ; Rom. i, 23, " There
is a law in their members, which bringeth them into captivity to
the law of sin and death."
5. If they get anything that is valuable, they cannot get it kept,
it is torn from them by the conqueror. As the Eabylonians wasted
and insulted the Israelites, when they carried them away cap-
tives, so does Satan waste and insult his captives, Psalm cxxxvii. 3.
Sometimes the natural man gets a conviction of sin or duty darted
in on him, and this produces relentings for sin, and resolutions
to amendment of life ; but they do not continue. Alas ! how can
they, while they are Satan's captives, Avho will not suffer them to
think of entertaining them, more than Pliaroah would endure the
Israelites to think of leaving his service. Nay, he rests not till
they have thrown them away.
6. They are so secured as that they cannot get away, they are
kept by the strong man under the power of darkness, Col. i. 13.
There is a gulf fixed between them and all spiritual good, so that
they cannot pass. Satan has his guards on them, whom they can-
not escape to come back to the Lord. He has them fettered with
divers lusts, which they cannot shake oft". And, in a word, nothing
less than a power stronger than all the powers of hell can make
way for the deliverance of a captive.
Lastly, If they but oflFer to make escape, they are more narrowly
■watched, stronger guards set on them, and more work put in their
hands ; as Pharoah did with the Israelites, so the devil does with
his captives, Rom. vii. 9, 10, 11. Hence many never go so far
wrong, as on the back of communions, convictions, or times of
more than ordinarj seriousness, the powers of hell being joined
together to stop the fugitive. We now proceed,
III. To speak of the properties of this captivity. Here we ob-
serve that it is,
1. A spiritual captivity, a captivity of the soul. The soul is
the most precious part of the man; and therefore the captivity
of it must be the most deplorable. All the captivity of men; if
they were captives to the Turks or the most barbarous nations
extends but to the body. He whose body is in the power of another,
his soul and thoughts are as free as those of any. But Satan lays
his bands upon the inner man, and, go the body as it will, he
holds fast the man, in so far as he holds fast the soul. And,
2. It is universal. It extends to all the powers and faculties
of the soul, the inner man. The natural man's mind is Satan's
captive ; 1 Cor. ii. 14, " The natural man receiveth not the things
of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither
TO THE CAPTIVES. 573
can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." The
Lord formed the mind of man in him, and endowed it with know-
ledge, to be the guide of the whole man in the way of happiness ;
to be the eye of the soul, to distinguish betwixt sin and duty >
and the pilot to direct his course through the several rocks and
quicksands that lay betwixt him and the shore of tlie upper
Canaan. But in the engagement betwixt Satan and mankind,
being wounded by the deceit of the tempter, Gen. iii 5, it fell
into the hands of the enemy, who robbed it of its light, and shut
up sinners in darkness. Hence they are said to be in dark-
ness, Eph. V. 8. They cannot see the way to escape, and withal,
there is struck up a false light in the mind, which, like wild-fire,
leads the soul into pits and snares, causing it to put sweet for
bitter, and bitter for sweet, good for evil, and evil for good. They
thus "glory in their shame, and mind earthly things," Phil. iii. 19.
Again, the will is his captive. They have a stony heart, Ezek.
xxxvi. 16, The Lord having endowed this faculty with righteous-
ness, and straightness with his own will, for, Eccl. vii. 29, " God
made man upright," gave the will dominion over the man, that
nothing, good or evil, could be done by him without it. But behold
it fell likewise into the enemy's hands, who hath given it such a
set to the wrong side, that no created power can again straighten
it ; hence, 2 Thes. iii. 5, " The Lord direct your hearts into
the love of God." He only can do it. Satan holds it so fast,
that it cannot move without the circle of evil he has drawn about
it, nor can it will anything truly good in a right manner : Phil,
ii. 13, " It is God that worketh in us, both to will and to do of
his good pleasure." Satan hath loaded it with such heavy chains
that it cannot come to Christ at his call, no more than a mountain
of brass can come to a man at his call. " No man," saith Jesus,
" can come unto me, except the Father who sent me draw him."
Farther, the affections also are Satan's captives ; Gen. vi. 5, " And
God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and
that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil
continually." The affections being made perfectly holy, were sub-
jected to the guidance of the mind, and the command of the will,
and were set in the soul to execute its holy contrivances and will.
But they also were taken in this war with hell; loosed from this
bond of subjection to the understanding and will in these things,
but nailed to Satan's door-posts to serve him and his work in the
soul for ever ; so that they have no heart for the price put into
their hand to get wisdom, and can have no heart to it. But the
natural man's joys and delights are arrested witliin the compass
674 JESUS PBOCLAIUS LIBERTY
of carnal tilings, together with his desires, sorrows, and all hia
other affections.
3. It is a hard and sore captivity. The Egyptians and Babylo-
nians never treated their captives at the rate Satan does his. They
are held busy, and even busy working their own ruin, kicking against
the pricks, digging for the grave as for hid treasures. It is their
constant Avork to feed their lusts, to starve their souls; and the de-
sign of their master is, that the one may ruin the other. It is their
daily employment, to weave snares for their own feet, twist cords to
bind themselves over to destruction, and dig pits into which they
may fall, and never rise again. In so far as sin is their work, they
wrong their own souls, Prov. viii. 36, and shew themselves in love
with death. This captivity is,
4. A perpetual captivity. A few years captivity among men,
how grievous is it ! And men will do what they can to be ransomed.
But this conqueror will never quit his captives, unless they be ta-
ken from him by Almighty power. Death at farthest looses other
captives ; " For in the grave," says Job iii. 18, 19, " the prisoners
rest together, they hear not the voice of the oppressor ; and the ser-
vant is free from his master." But those who die Satan's captives
are so far from being free, that they are ensured to him for ever and
ever.
Lastly, It is a voluntary captivity, and thus the more hopeless ;
1 Tim. ii. 26, " They are taken captive by Satan at his will." They
need not to be driven. They do not only go, but they run at his
call : Rom. iii. 15, " Their feet are swift to shed blood." Though
they were taken in war, and born captives, yet now he is their mas-
ter, by their own consent and choice, while they choose to serve the
devil, and cannot be brought to give themselves to the Lord. It is
a bewitching captivity. The sinner once captive to Satan, never
cares for his liberty, unless grace changes his heart. He glories in
the badges of his slavery ; loves his work heartily, and is well
pleased with his condition. The gracious proclamation of liberty by
Christ sounds in his ears ; but he says, I love my master, I will not
go out free. — We are now,
IV. To make some practical improvement,
First, In a use of conviction. Know then, and be convinced, O
unconverted sinner, that thou art the devil's captive. Are there
not many who have never troubled their heads about their state,
who never have had anything like a work of grace or conversion up-
on their spirits ? many in whom their hoj)eful beginnings have been
all marred ? I would say to every such one, thou hast been hearing
of the case of the devil's captives, and thou art the man, thou art
TO THE CAPTIVES. 575
the woman, as fast in bis power as ever prisoners of war were in the
hands of their conquerors. Yon will not believe it, and this is your
sin, and also your misery. Rev. iii. 17. You will be ready to sign
yourselves, and defy the devil ; though you have never been, by re-
generating grace, delivered from the power of darkness, and trans-
lated into the kingdom of God's dear Son, Col. i. 13. But this is
Satan's way with his captives, to put out their eyes ; 2 Cor. iv. 4.
" He blinds the minds of them who believe not, lest the light of the
glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto
them ;" that they cannot know where they are, or who it is that has
got hold of them. Do you think that it is only witches and wizards
who are the devils captives ? No, no, Satan may have a full posses-
sion of thy soul, though his name with thee be not Legion. Even
praying people, and great pretenders to religion, to righteousness,
and sobriety, and those who have turned to a strict course of life,
much more to making a profession of religion, may still be children
of hell, as our Saviour called the Scribes and Pharisees, Matth. xxiii.
15. And all unregenerate ones are children of wrath, and the de-
vil's captives. He is " the spirit that now worketh in the children
of disobedience ;" and they are "the children of wrath," Eph. ii. 2,
3. Will you apply what was spoken before for your conviction ? —
Try yourselves.
1. Art thou not, unconverted sinner ! carried off from God's
gracious presence, into the kingdom of Satan, the kingdom of dark-
ness ? "What knowest thou of the light of God's countenance shining
on thy soul ? Certainly thou wast once darkness, Eph. v. 8. Has
there any spiritual saving light broke up in your soul yet ? Has
the long night of thy natural state had a morning yet ? Or are you
not in the state in which you was born ? If you be not in darkness,
what means your works of darkness, and your not discerning the
transcendent excellence of Christ ?
2. Are you not robbed and stripped of your spiritual ornaments ?
Where is the light of the mind, the righteousness of the will, the
holiness of the affections, which man had before he fell into the ene-
my's hands, and which are restored in some measure to the ransomed
of the Lord ?
3. Are you free to righteousness ? are you not under the power
of the conqueror ? How is it then that you have no power to resist
a temptation, that Satan can so easily carry you the way you know
to be wrong, over the belly of reason and conscience ? Nay are not
your lusts upon you like fetters, that you cannot move away from
carnal things God-ward ?
4. Are you not quickly spoiled of any beginnings of good which
yon sometimes meet with ? You hear the word, but do not the fowls
676 JESUS PKOCLAIMS LIBERTY
pick it away from you ? Have not all your convictions and resolu-
tions gone off by degrees like a morninjr cloud ? How quickly has
all the noise within your breast been hushed, and you as much again
in love with your lusts as ever !
Admit the conviction, then, for they who never saw themselves
Satan's captives, are never yet made Christ's free men, John viii.
32, 33, 44, 45. What think you, is the work of grace carried on in
the soul as a morning dream ? Are the devil's captives brought
away, and never know that they were his captives? What way can
a soul embrace the proclaimed liberty to the captives, who never saw
itself in this condition ? — Consider, that this will be the first step to
your liberty. The gospel is sent " to open your eyes, and to turn
you from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God,
that you may receive forgiveness of sins, and au inheritance among
them which are sanctified by faith that is in Christ," Acts xxvi. 18.
Christ's Spirit begins his work with conviction of sin and misery.
He makes the captives to see where they are, whose they are, and
what is their case. This rouses them out of their lethargy, makes
them prize this liberty; it makes them glad to come away with
their deliverer; "0 Israel thou hast destroyed thyself, but in me
is thine help." — This subject may be improved,
Secondli/, In an use of exhortation.
captive exiles ! hasten to be loosed, that you may not die in the
pit, and that your bread may not fail, Isa. li. 14, Stir up yourselves
to regain your liberty, and remain no longer at ease in your captive
condition. Consider,
1. That a short time's continuance in this state will put you be-
yond a possibility of liberty : Eccl. ix. 10, " Whatsoever thy hand
findeth to do, do it with all thy might ; for there is no work, nor de-
vice, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest."
Thy life is uncertain, and if death carry thee oft' in this condition,
thou wilt be carried to the lower prison, and then farewell liberty
for ever and ever ; Luke xiii. 24, 25, " Strive to enter in at the
strait gate, for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall
not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and
hath shut the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock
at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us, and he shall answer
and say unto you, I know you not, whence ye are." The servant
under the law, though he refused his liberty at the end of six
years, yet received it in the year of jubilee. But whoso in this life
refuse to come aM'ay from Satan's service, shall never see a time after
for it. And when thou art closed up in the net, it must be without
remedy ; it will be no comfort to think that you did not imagine it
would have come to this. Consider,
TO THE CAPTIVES. 577
2. That now is the time of liberty ; 2 Cor. vi. 2, " Behold now is
the accepted time ! behold, now is the day of salvation !" Christ
has paid a ransom for Satan's captives and the liberty is proclaimed
in the gospel. Strike in with the season of grace, and come away
with the deliverer upon the gracious proclamation. Hear what
Christ is saying to you. Song ii. 10, " Rise up, ray love, my fair one,
and come away."
SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.
SERMON LIU.
Isaiah Ixi. 1,
To proclaim liherty to the captives.
Having, in the preceding discourse, spoke to the first of the doc-
trines which we took from this part of the subject, we go on to
Doctrine II. That Jesus Christ, with the express consent of his
Father, has issued out his royal proclamation of liberty to Satan's
captives. " He hath sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives."
In illustrating this doctrine, we shall,
I. Shew what this proclamation is.
II. Explain what liberty is proclaimed in the gospel to Satan's
captives.
III. Mention some of the circumstances attending this proclama-
tion. And then,
lY. Subjoin the improvement of the subject.
"We are,
I. To shew what this proclamation is. This royal proclamation
issued out by Jesus Christ, is the gospel, the glad tidings of salva-
tion. The gospel is the proclamation of the King of heaven to poor
sinners, in which he proclaims liberty to all the captives of Satan, to
whom it comes. The law lays the heavy yoke of the curse upon
sinners, the gospel brings the offer of liberty. Here we observe,
1. That it is a jubilee-proclamation. You have the law of jubilee,
which was every fiftieth yeai-, when seven times seven were over ;
Lev. XXV. 10, " And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim
liberty throughout all the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof; it
shall be a jubilee unto you ; and ye shall return every man into his
possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family." It was
578 JESUS PROCLAIMS LIBERTY
proclaimed by sound of trumpet, on the day of atonement, ver. 9,
then all the poor slaves got their liberty, whether their masters
were willing to part with them or not ; and all those who had been
obliged to mortgage or sell their lands returned to the possession of
them again. And so it was a proclamation which made many a
heart glad. Now, the gospel is such a proclamation, and the time
of it is the year of jubilee. Jesus came, Isa. Ixi. 2, " To proclaim
the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our
God, to comfort all that mourn ;" compare 2 Cor. vi. 2, " Behold,
now is the accepted time ! behold, now is the day of salvation !"
! good news, sinners, there was a day of atonement on the cross,
and now the trumpet of the gospel soundeth, and there is a proclama-
tion, bearing that Satan's captives may now have their liberty, though
their master be not willing to part with them ; that the mortgaged
inheritance of heaven and God's favour, though forfeited, may be
possessed ; poor criminals and bankrupts may return to them again.
2. It is a conqueror's proclamation to captives. The king of
Babylon took the Jews captive, and held them seventy years in
captivity ; but God raised up Cyrus ; Isa. xlv. 1 — 4, and he over-
turned the Babylonian empire; the destruction of that kingdom was
the deliverance of the Jews, for he proclaimed liberty to them to
return to their own land. This also was a type of the gospel-procla-
mation. Satan warred against mankind, he carried them all cap-
tive into his own kingdom ; and there was none to deliver out of
his hand. But King Jesus had engaged him, routed all his forces,
overturned his kingdom, and taken the kingdom to himself; Col. ii.
15, " And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew
of them openly, triumphing over them in it." 1 John iii. 8, " For this
purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the
works of the devil." And now being settled on his throne, his
royal proclamation is issued out, that Satan's captives may again
return into the kingdom of God.
We shall now,
II. Explain what liberty is proclaimed in the gospel to Satan's
captives.
This is the great subject of the proclamation ; and that you may
see the riches of this proclamation, know that Christ by the gospel
proclaims to every poor sinner to whom it comes,
1. Liberty from the power and slavery of Satan ; Acts xxvi. 18,
" He turns them from the power of Satan unto God." Every one
who is willing to quit their old master the devil, may come away
without his leave. You are welcome to Jesus the conqueror, and
the conquered tyrant shall not have power to keep you. Now,
TO THE CAPTIVES. 579
** the Spirit and the bride say Come ; and let him that heareth
say, Come ; and let hira that is athirst come ; and whosoever
will, let him take of the water of life freely ;" Rev. xxii. 17. He
is a strong one, but there is a stronger one than he, who will break
his yoke from off your necks, make his iron fetters to give way, like
ropes which are burnt with fire. And though, as long as you are
here, he will be molesting you, yet he shall never, never gain his
former power over you, and you shall at length be completely freed
from the least molestation by hira ; " The God of peace shall bruise
Satan under your feet shortly ;" Rom. xvi. 20. He proclaims,
2. Liberty from the law as a covenant of works ; Rom. vi. 14,
" You are not under the law, but under grace." Satan's captives
are under the law as a covenant of works, and it lays a heavy yoke
upon them, namely, perfect obedience, under the pain of the curse :
Gal. iii. 10, " For as many as are of the works of the law, are under
the curse, for it is written, Cursed is every one that coutinueth not
in all things written in the book of the law to do them." This
curse they carried away with them when they went into cap-
tivity, and it abides on them always, till they be loosed from
it. Now, Christ proclaims liberty from this curse, offers to tring
sinners from under the dominion of the law, to be under grace,
where there is no more curse ; Gal. iii. 13, " Christ hath redeemed
us from the curse of the law." Here they are provided with a
righteousness imputed to them, and not set to seek it by their own
works ! where, in case of sinning, the utmost penalty is fatherly
chastisement ; Psalm Ixxxix. 30 — 33. Thus he offers to take off
the law's yoke, to set you without the reach of its curse, aud to lay
on his own yoke, which is easy ; Matth. xi. 29. Jesus proclaims,
3. Liberty from the dominion and bondage of sin ; Rom. vi. 14,
" Sin shall not have dominion over you." Satan's captives are all the
drudges of sin. It does not only dwell in them, as it does in the
best, but it reigns over them, fills their hearts and hands continually
with its work, so that they can do nothing else but sin; Psalm xiv.
3, " There is none that doeth good, no not one." It lays its com-
mands on them, which are a law which they cannot dispute, but must
obey ; it has its several lusts in the heart, which are chains to them
as its captives, the handles by which it holds them, and drags them
after it. Now, Christ proclaims liberty from this, and his Spirit
effects it ; Rom. viii. 2, " The law of the Spirit of life in Christ
•Jesus, makes them free from the law of sin and death." He will
break sin's dominion, loose the chains of unmortified lusts, and set
the prisoners free ; John viii. 32, " Ye shall know the truth, and
the truth shall make yon free." And though sin may dwell for a
580 JESUS PROCLAIMS LIBERTY
season, as an unclean, unwelcome guest, he will at length extirpate
it wholly. He proclaims,
4. Liberty from the ruining influence of this present evil world ;
Gal. i. 4, " Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us
from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Fa-
ther." This world has a ruining influence on Satan's caj)tives. The
things of this world work their destruction, the smiles of it are
killing ; Prov. i. 32, " The prosperity of fools shall destroy them ;"
their blessings aro turned to curses ; the frowns of it are ensnaring
and destructive. The god of this world mixes every cup with poison.
The men of this world are ruining one another; and therefore it is
said, " Save yourselves from this untoward generation ;" Acts ii. 40.
There is a plague in Satan's family, and each member serves to in-
fect another, to convey sin and death to his fellow. But Jesus pro-
claims liberty from this pest-house ; you may be drawn out of it,
Jesrs will pluck you as a brand out of the fire ; why stay in it,
while he proclaims liberty to you from it ? Jesus proclaims,
5. Liberty from the fear, the terror of death and hell ; Heb. ii.
15, "He delivers them who, through fear of death, were all their
lifetime subject to bondage." Satan's captives may for a time be
secure, fearing nothing; but as soon as their conscience awakens,
they will be filled with horror, as perceiving the approach of death
and hell towards them ; they can have no comfortable view of
another life. Christ proclaims liberty from this ; if you will como
to him, conscience shall be pacified with the sprinkling of his blood,
ye shall be set beyond the possibility of perishing ; he will be to
you au almighty Saviour. He proclaims,
6. Liberty from the sting of death and the evil of afflictions.
Though Christ, in his gracious proclamation, does not promise that
such as obey his will in it shall never be afflicted ; yet he promises
that afflictions shall be so far from doing them hurt, that they shall
do them good ; Rom. viii. 28, " And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to his purpose ;" that though they die, death shall be to
them unstinged ; John viii. 51, " Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a
man keep my saying, he shall never see death." So that they may
meet it with that triumphant song ; 1 Cor. xv. 55, " death ! where
is thy sting ? grave ! where is thy victory ?" It shall not be to
them what it is to Satan's captives : the serpent's sting, with which
it kills the serpent's seed, shall be taken away ere it comes near '
them. Jesus proclaims,
7. Liberty from the power of the grave ; 1 Cor. xv. 55, quoted
above. Ver. 67, " Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory,
TO THE CAPTIVES. 581
through Jesus Christ our Lord." Satan's captives are laid up in
their graves as in prisons ; and when they come out of them at the
resurrection, death and the power of the grave will be still hauging
about them ; so that they sliall bnt change one grave for a worse,
namely, for the lake of fire. But Christ's ransomed ones, who come
away on his proclamation of liberty, though they go to the grave,
yet the power of it over them shall be broken, death shall have no
more power over them for ever. He proclaims,
8. Liberty from condemnation ; Rom, viii. 1, " There is therefore
now no condemnation to tliem who are in Christ Jesus." All Satan's
captives arc condemned malefactors; John iii. 18, " He that be-
lieveth not is condemned already." And the sentence shall be so-
lemnly pronounced against them at the great day ; and so they
shall be led away " into everlasting burnings, prepared for the devil
and his angels;" Matth. xxv. This is terrible; but Christ pro-
claims liberty from it. So soon as thou embracest the offered
liberty, the guilt of eternal wrath shall be done away, thou shalt
be beyond the reach of condemnation ; your standing on the right
hand is secured, and the sentence of solemn absolution shall follow.
He proclaims,
9. Liberty of free access to God, with holy boldness ; Rom. v.
1, 2, " Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesns Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this
grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."
Now, the captive exiles are banished from the presence of God ;
they can have no access to him, nor communion with him. But our
Lord, by his death, has opened the two-leaved gates of his Father's
house, and gives free liberty, by open proclamation, to Satan's cap-
tives, leaving their master to come in. They have access by one
Spirit to the Father. — Jesus proclaims,
Lastly, Liberty, that is, freedom of spirit in the service of God;
2 Cor. iii. 17, " Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
The Spirit of Christ is called a free spirit, because he makes free.
Satan's captives may yield some obedience to God, but it is burden-
some, because they act therein as slaves, from a slavish fear of hell
and wrath. But Christ's freemen act from a nobler principle, love ;
Rom. viii. 15, " For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again
to fear, but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby ye cry,
Abba, Father:" 1 John iv. 18, " There is no fear in love, but per-
fect love casteth out fear ; because fear hath torment ; he that
feareth is not made perfect in love." We now proceed,
IIL To mention some of the circumstances attending this pro-
clamation. Here we observe,
582 JESU3 rROCLAIMS LIBERTT
1. That the law on which it is founded was the eternal agreement
of the glorious Trinity for man's redemption. The eternal law of
loYe and good-will to poor sinners, by which it was provided, that
upon the Son of God's laying down his life a randsom for an elect
world, they should be delivered from the captivity of sin and Satan,
and be made God's freemen ; which the eternal Son engaged to do.
Accordingly, in the fulness of time he did it, and thereby purchased
their liberty. We observe,
2. That the proclamation was drawn up, and is recorded in the
Bible, by the Holy Spirit ; Isa. Iv. 1, " Ho ! every one that thirsteth,
come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and
eat ; yea, come, buy wine and milk, without money and without price."
And what is the whole Bible but a declaration of this liberty, with
promises to those who accept of, and threatenings to those who re-
fuse it. The truth and reality of this declaration is sealed by the blood
of Christ; " This," said he, "is the New Testament in ray blood."
So that there is not the least ground to doubt its truth. We observe,
3. That this proclamation is issued out by our Lord Jesus Christ,
with the consent of his Father and the Spirit. The Father has sent
him to proclaim liberty to the captives. Tlie Spirit says. Come.
A whole Trinity invites Satan's captives to liberty. They have no
will that the captive exile should die in the pit ; Ezek. xviii. 23,
" Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die ? saiih the
Lord God ; and not that he should return from his ways, and live ?"
We observe,
4. That this proclamation is directed to men, to the sons of men ;
Prov. viii. 4, " Unto you, men, do I call, and my voice is to the
sons of men." Not to fallen angels, they are excluded from the be-
nefit of the purchased liberty. But the captives in the land of the
living, these prisoners of hope, to them is the proclamation directed,
without exception of great, yea, even the greatest of sinners ; Rev.
xxii. 17, " Whosoever will, may take of the water of life freely."
Isa. i. 18, " Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord ;
though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow ; though
they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Such are invited,
though they have often refused their liberty, and though they Lave
gone back into their captivity. We observe,
5. That the first crier of this proclamation was the Son of God
in his own person. He made this proclamation first in paradise ;
Gen. iii. 15, "The seed of the woman shall bruise the head of the
serpent." Afterwards he took on him man's nature, then came
and proclaimed it ; Heb. ii. 3, " The Gospel at the first began to be
spoken unto us by the Lord." And he sealed it with his most
TO THE CAPTIVES. 583
precious blood, though there were but few who came away upon
the proclamation made by him ; " Who hath believed our report,
and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed ?" is the
complairit of the prophet Isaiah. We observe,
6. That, being ascended into heaven, he has appointed criers in
his name the ministers of the Gospel, to publish this proclamation,
and to invite sinners to accept of this liberty ; 2 Cor. v. 20, " Now
then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech
you by us ; we pray you, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled unto
God." This is our work, to proclaim it unto you, to make you
sensible that liberty is purchased, and offered unto you. We are
the voice of the great crier; Christ cries to you by us. We observe.
Lastly, That the place where the proclamation is ordered to be
made is in this world ; Mark xvi. 15, " Go ye," said Jesus to his
disciples, "into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every
creature." As for those who are gone into the other world, the
proclamation can reach them no more ; the prisoners there are
without hope. But while you are in this world, the proclamation
is to you, and particularly when in those public assembles where
the Lord's people are gathered together to hear it; Prov. i. 20, 21,
" Wisdom crieth without, she uttereth her voice in the streets ;
she crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the
gates, in the city she uttereth her words." It only remains,
IV. Tliat we make some improvement of the subject. This
shall be confined to an use of exhortation.
We would exhort you, captives of Satan ! to comply with
the design of this proclamation of liberty; we beseech you, receive
not this grace of God in vain. To be more particular, we exhort
you,
1. To be convinced of your state of captivity ; deceive not your-
selves with thoughts of liberty, while you are really serving divers
lusts. Till you see your captive state, what hope can there be
of good to be obtained by the proclamation of liberty ? We ex-
hort you,
2. To be -willing to come away and forsake your old master
and his service. Ah ! may not the time past suffice to have done
the will of the flesh ? 1 Pet. iv. 3. You have been long under
this captivity; had the youngest of you been as long a slave to
any man as you have been to Satan, you would have been weary
of your situation long ere now. ! strive that your spirits may
be raised towards your being tree, and walk no more contentedly
in your chains of divers lusts. You will say, you are not able
to come away ; but if you were willing, yon would not be allowed
to remain in your captive state. We exhort you,
584 JESUS PROCLAIMS LIBERTT
3. To be affected at the heart with the news of the proclamation
of liberty. Do not hear it unconcernedly, but hear as those who are
nearly concerned in the matter. Take a view of the wretched state
you are in, and wonder that there is yet hope. How glad were the
Israelites in Egypt and Babylon of the notice they had of their li-
berty ! Thy captivity is a thousand times worse, and thy heart
should leap within thee at the voice of the deliverer. We exhort
you,
Lastly, To accept of the proclaimed liberty, and come away with
the deliverer. Give up with your old master, lay by his work, bid
farewell to his kingdom, as never to remain more in it. Shake off
your fetters resolutely, and embrace cordially the offered liberty of
the sons of God. To prevail with you in doing this, we present
you with the following motives : —
Motive 1. Consider that the captivity you are in is a most miserable
bondage and slavery; Egyptian, Babylonish, and Turkish slavery
and captivity, all in one, are not sufficient to represent it. And this
will appear, if you consider,
(1.) That the master is the devil. While thou art in thy natural
state, thou art the devil's captive and bond servant, 2 Tim. ii. 26,
and that by a threefold title — as taken in war, 2 Pet. ii. 19 — as
bought by him at a low rate, " ye sold yourselves for nought,"
Isa. Hi. 3, and — as born in his house, Matth. xxiii. 15. Therefore
ye are called to forget that house. Psalm xlv. 10, and to come out
of his family, and touch not the unclean thing, 2 Cor. vi. 17. How
wretched must that bondage be where the devil is master ! Sure he
is a cruel and merciless master, who will take i)leasure in thy mi-
series. Do we esteem the case of those wretches so horrible, who,
by express compact, are become his ? and will we yet contentedly
continue in bondage to the same master ? Consider,
(2.) That the work is sin, called the works of darkness, Rom.
xiii. 12. None of his captives are suffered to be idle, he puts a task
in their hands, which they must fulfil. One of two things they are
always doing while out of Christ; cither weaving the spider's web,
working that which will not profit at the latter end, more than such
a "web will be a garment ; or, hatching the cockatrice egg, doing
mischief and wickedness that will recoil upon you, to your own de-
struction. This dung-hill work Satan employs his captives in, is
most unbecoming the heaven-born soul. Consider,
(3.) That the provision and entertainment is bad and unsatisfy-
ing, Isa. Iv. 2, " Wherefore do you spend money for that which is
not bread, and your labour for that which satisfieth not ?" The
best of this sort, which the natural man has, is to eat dust with the
serpent, to suck the breast of filthy lusts, which, though it may feast
TO THE CAPTIVES. 585
one's corruptions, poisons the soul ; or to eat husks with the swine,
Luke XV. 16, to feed on the empty things of the world, which can
afford no nourishment. Thus, while you ask from him bread, he
gives you a stone ; while you ask a fish, he gives you a scorpion.
Consider,
(4.) That the wages of sin is death : Rom. vi. 23, *' For the wages
of sin is death." Present death, spiritual, in the separation of their
souls from God, for from every natural man God is departed,
whether he knows it or not. Death temporal, to come, armed with
its sting, and provided with the envenomed arrows of the curse.
And death eternal in hell, where they shall be ever dying, but never
shall die. ! shall not the consideration of these things move you
to accept of liberty, and come away from such a master, such work,
such provisions, and such wages ?
Motive 2. The liberty proclaimed is most excellent and glorious
liberty, Rom. viii. 21; the glorious liberty of the sons of God;
which may create the most surpassing joy in the world. The glory
and excellency of it will appear, if we considei',
(1.) The purchaser of it is Christ the King of glory. He it is by
whom we have the gospel-jubilee proclaimed in the text. He is
the victorious Monarch, who has overcome Satan, and gives liberty
to his captives. He is our near kinsman, who has redeemed us by
payment of a price, a costly price, even his own precious blood. It
was the honour of the Jews that they had their liberty by Cyrus ;
but how much more honourable is it, to have liberty by Christ !
And when such an one has purchased for us liberty, will not you ac-
cept it ? Consider,
(2.) The ransom paid for it ; 1 Pet. i. 18, 19, " Forasmuch as ye
know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver
and gold, from your vain conversation, received by tradition from
your fathers ; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb
without blemish, and without spot." Never was such a ransom paid
for the greatest captive king among men, as for us wretched sinners ;
even the blood of God. He compassionated the case of the poor
captives, laid by the robes of his glory, put his neck under the yoke
of the law, endured the wrath of God, the sting of death, and the
rage of hell, and all to purchase this liberty for us. Consider,
(3.) The party to whom it was paid, to God, even his own Father ;
Eph. V. 2, " He gave himself an offering and a sacrifice to God, for
a sweet-smelling savour." Satan is but the jailor and executioner,
into whose hands men fell, being condemned by the Judge, to whom
alone the ransom was due. Hence, in respect of Satan, his captives
are said to be redeemed without money, Isa. lii. 3. They are to be
YoL. IX. 2 p *
686 JESUS PROCLAIMS LIBERTY
set at liberty by main force, being violently wrested out of his
hand, Isa. xlix. 25. — Consider,
(4.) The glorious privileges attending this liberty. It is not a
naked freedom, which yet would be valuable, but pregnant with
many precious privileges. I have told you already, that it is a
liberty from the power of Satan, from the law as a covenant, &c.
But besides these, many positive blessings and privileges attend it ;
such as, the freed captives are made free men of the Kew Jerusalem,
they are made citizens of heaven on earth, and are burgesses there ;
Eph. ii. 19, " They are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-
citizens with the saints, and of the household of God." They are
incorporated with the society of saints and angels, of whom Christ
is the head. They who had their lot before in the kingdom of dark-
ness, have now their lot in these pleasant places. — The freed cap-
tives are made children of the family of heaven ; 2 Cor. vi. 18,
** And I will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons
and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." So it is the liberty of
the sons of God, for God makes all the freed slaves sons of his
house ; and whatever children may expect from a father, able and
willing to do for them, this they may expect from God. The freed
captives are all made first-born : Heb. xii. 23, " The general assem-
bly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven." This
excellence of dignity and power is put upon them, they are thus
highly advanced. As it was with Joseph, he not only got his liberty
but was made lord over Egypt, where he had been a slave ; so the
freed captive is made king : Rev. i. 6, " And hath made us kings
and priests unto God and his Father." This is accomplished in
them all, Isa. xiv. 2, " They shall rule over their oppressors." They
get mastery over their lusts, and shall at last triumph over Sa-
tan, Rom. xvi. 20. They shall sit and judge him, 1 Cor. vi. 3. They
are made priests also, to ofli'er up sacrifices of praise to God, Rom.
xii. 1. what a change of their work ! They are all heirs of God,
and receive the double portion. There is not anything which such
an one gets, but it is twice as much and good as that which a cap-
tive of Satan has. The blessing is the best half; this the captives
of Satan want. Lastly, When their minority is over, they shall have
a perfect liberty, with the affluence of all things, to an entire com-
pleting of their happiness, Rom. viii. 21. the glorious day abid-
ing Christ's freemen ! Now they have got the word, Roll away the
stone, Lazarus come forth ; but then this will be added, Loose him
and let him go. The great day will begin their eternal jubilee ;
when death the last enemy shall be destroyed, then shall soul and
body return to the full possession of the mortgaged inheritance, and
the perfect freedom from their captivity. Consider,
TO THE CAPTIVES. 587
(5.) The uncliangeableness of this liberty. When once a captive
is freed by Christ, all the power and policy of hell cannot bring him
back again into bondage : John x. 28, " And I will give unto them
eternal life: and they shall never perish; neither shall any one
pluck them out of my hand." See how Paul boasts of this, Rom.
viii. 38, 39. It is true, were there none to preserve this liberty but
the believer himself, it might be lost ; but it is infallibly guarded
against the gates of hell, by the unalterable decree of God, 2 Tim.
ii. 19; by his unchangeable love and covenant; by the continual
indwelling of the Spirit, and the prevalent intercession of Christ.
Lastly, Consider the eternity of this liberty. Death does not put
a close to this liberty, but rather gives a new beginning to it ; it
shall continue for ever, they shall live for ever and ever in the en-
joyment of it.
Thus life and death are set before you, will you accept this liberty
or not ? May I not say, how shall ye escape, if ye neglect so great
salvation ?" Heb. ii. 3. Consider,
1. That it is most unreasonable to refuse it, to remain in captivi-
ty after the proclamation of liberty is issued. Would men but make
their reason judge betwixt Christ and them, there would be no fear
of the cause, Josh. xxiv. 15. Who would refuse their liberty, if
they might be made free ? liberty from such a master and such work
&c. ; liberty purchased from such a glorious person, by the glorious
King, at such a ransom, &c. Consult your reason, your interest,
and will you prefer the pleasures of sin for a season, to the eternal
rivers of pleasures at God's right hand ? Consider,
2. That every refusal makes your captivity the more iirra and hope-
less. Satan bores the ear of sinners anew to his door-post on every re-
fusal. Hence none so hard to win, as those who have refused many
gospel calls. Tyre and Sidon would be much easier wrought upon
than Chorazin and Bethsaida, Matth. xi. 21 ; Ezek. iii. 7 ; wild
Americans, than Scotsmen. For when the gospel does not soften the
heart, it is hardened under it. Consider,
3. That by refusing this liberty, you become the murderers of your
own souls. Prov. viii. 39, " He that sinneth against me, wrongeth
his own soul ; all they that hate me, love death." Hear, sinners,
how our Lord expostulates with you on this point, Ezek. xviii. 31,
32, " Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have
transgressed, and make you a new heart, and a new spirit; for why
will ye die, house of Israel ? For I have no pleasure in the death
of him that dieth, saith the Lord God ; Wherefore turn yourselves,
and live ye." You have the poisonous cup of your sins at your
head, will ye drink it ? ye say, ye cannot help it, ye must drink it
2p2
588 JESUa PROCLAIMS LIBERTT
off; our Lord says, Tlirow it away, it will be your death if you do
not. Come to me, and I will free you from this miserable bondage
to Satan and your lusts, so that they shall not have that power over
you which they have had. Well, if you will not comply, you are
murderers of your own soul with a witness, as really as if ye did
wilfully drink up a cup of poison, or stabbed yourselves with a
sword. Consider,
4. That if you refuse, you make the deliverer your enemy, and
shall not escape, Heb. ii. 3, The deliverer will turn your destroyer,
for neglecting his salvation. The Lamb of God will be as a lion to
you, for slighting his offers of grace. They who know not God, and
who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, shall be punished
with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and the
glory of his power, 2 Thess. i. 8, 9. As the sourest vinegar is made
of the best wine, so the fiercest wrath arises from slighting the great-
est grace, Prov. i. 24 — 31. Consider,
5. That ye know not how soon ye may be beyond the reach of the
proclamation of liberty, Luke xiii. 24, 25. The voice of it is not
heard on the other side of death, to which we are fast making way.
Do you not see, as in Psalm xc. 9, that " we spend our days as a
tale that is told ?" A new-year's day, and other days adjoining to it,
are very ill chosen for revelling, jollity, and carnal mirth ; they suit
it nearly as ill as does the pretended day of Christ's birth, common-
ly called Yule-day. Alas ! they will give themselves the loose run
in these things, because they are now a year nearer the grave and
eternity than they were ; because they are entered on a new year,
the end of which it may be they shall never see. If people will
make a difference between such days and others, it would be most
suitable in these days to take a solemn and serious view of eternity,
and to be making preparations for that day, which will put an end
to their years. However, let this time put you in mind of death's
approach, and refuse not the offer of grace, which you will have no
more, when once death has carried you off the stage.* Consider,
Lastly, That your judgment will be more grievous than that of
those who never heard the gospel, if you do not come away upon the
proclamation ; Matth. xi. 22, " But I say unto you, it shall be more
tolerable for Tyre and Sidon,at the day of judgment, than for you."
Remember double stripes are for him who knew his master's will, and
did it not ; and the hottest place in hell will be for gospel-despisers.
Men may have their lusts and sinful courses cheaper in the dark cor-
ner of the earth, than in a land of light.
* It would appear that this discourse was delivered the first day, or at least the firet
Sabbath, of a new vear.
TO THE CAPTIVES. 589
"We conclude with the following advices. Labour to get a just es-
teem of your souls, and a due sense of what concerns another life.
The soul is the man, as being the best part of the man, ihe loss of
which nothing can ever counterbalance. Matth. xvi. 26, " For what
is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul ? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul ?" The
other life is the life chiefly to be cared for, since that only is the life
which will have no end ; and a man is happy or unhappy, as his
plan for that life is well or ill laid. Be sensible of the real drudgery
of sin. It is as real a servitude as ever was in the world, while men
serve divers lusts. This is clear from the very light of nature : the
consideration of the noble nature of the soul, Avith the experience of
the tyranny of unruly i)assions, made some heathen moralists to lay
it down as a principle. That a wise man is a free man. "Wherefore,
believe that a holy life is the only true liberty; Psalm cxix. 44, 45,
" So shall I keep thy law continually, for ever and ever. And I
will walk at liberty ; for I seek thy precepts." He, then, who has
the mastery over his own corrupt will and inclinations, who walks
iu the way of God's commandments, is a person the most free and
easy. Lastly, Come to Christ for his redeeming blood and free spi-
rit. Renounce the devil, the world, and the flesh. Receive and im-
prove Jesus, as made of God unto you, wisdom, righteousness, sane-
tification, and redemption. Amen.
JESUS OPENS THE PRISON DOORS TO THE PRISONERS.
SERMON LIV.
Isaiah Ixi, 1,
And the opening of the prison to them that are hound.
Here is another benefit which, in the gospel, is brought by Christ to
sinners who are in their natural state, namely, a proclamation as to
opening the prison to the prisoners. In this there are two things.
1. The misery of a natural state, which is here laid out in its
full extent, in three particulars. You have heard that unconverted
sinners are Satan's captives ; this is a sad case, but it is yet worse ;
for,
(1.) They are also prisoners. Every captive is not a prisoner, but
all natural men, being Satan's captives, are held prisoners, shut up
in the prison of their natural :>tate. This is Satan's prison, crammed
full of his prisoners of war. But this is not all ; for,
590 JESUS OPENS THE rEISON" DOORS
(2.) They are prisoners in chains, they are bound in the prison.
Satan has his irons on them, as malefactors under sentence of death,
that they may not escape. This is still worse than being a prisoner.
But worse than all this is here stated ; for,
(3.) They are blinded too in their prison. For the word rendered
opening, does particularly relate to the opening of the eyes; and there-
fore the prophet uses it to express the relieving of such prisoners per-
fectly. This is evident by comparing Luke iv, 18, "And recover-
ing of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them who are bruised."
It was a custom much used in the eastern nations, and retained
among the Turks to this day, to put out the eyes of some of their
prisoners, adding this misery to their imprisonment. So the Philis-
tines did with Samson ; Judges xvi. 21 ; and Nebuchadnezzar with
Zedekiah ; 2 Kings xxv. 7. This, in a spiritual sense, is the case
of all prisoners in their natural state. To sum up all, uncon-
verted sinner ! thou art Satan's captive, a captive in prison, and a
prisoner in chains ; and withal thine eyes are put out, thou art in
darkness, even darkness itself. In the words there is,
2. A suitable remedy, full help proclaimed by Christ in the gos-
pel. God has seen the misery of the prisoners, his Son has paid the
ransom for them, and thereupon he is sent to proclaim the opening
of the prison doors to them, opening every way to them ; for this
expression comprehends the affording full remedy to their case ;
namely, opening their prison, — opening their chains, — and opening
their eyes. By his word he offers it, by his Spirit he effects it, in
all his elect. — From this subject we i)ropose to your consideration
the following Doctrines : —
Doctrine 1. That every unconverted sinner is a bound man in the
prison of a natural state, with his eyes put out.
Doctrine II. That by open proclamation in the gospel, Christ
offers to the prisoners in a natural state, an opening of their eyes,
of their bands, and of their prison-doors.
We begin with
Doctrine I. That every unconverted sinner is a bound man in
the prison of a natural state, with his eyes put out.
For illustrating this doctrine, we shall,
I. Speak of the imprisonment in which guilty sinners are.
II. Mention the bands, chains, and fetters wherewith they are
bound in the prison of a natural state.
III. Point out the darkness and blindness of the prisoners in
their natural state.
I. We are to consider the imprisonment in which unconverted
sinners are.
TO THE PRrSONEES. 591
This prison is the natural unconverted state ; and thus that word,
1 Pet. iii. 19, " By which also he went and preached to the spirits
in prison," is by some understood. However, it is plain that this is
meant in our text. Thus Peter said to Simon the sorcerer ; Acts
viii. 23, " For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and
in the bond of iniquity." Thus sinners in their natural state are said
to be all concluded under sin, and shut up under the law ; Gal. iii.
22, 23. Concluded or shut up, that is, declared to be so. Let us
consider, then, the natural state as a state of imprisonment. Here
we shall answer the three following Questions : —
1. Whose prisoners are they ?
2. What are the causes of this imprisonment ? And,
3. In what condition are natural men, as prisoners in this their
natural state ? We begin with,
Quest. 1. Whose prisoners are they ?
(1.) Unconverted sinners are God's prisoners, as the great Judge
and party whom they have offended ; Rom. xi. 32, " God hath con-
cluded them all in unbelief." There are two things in a natural
state. — The sinfulness of it ; they can do nothing but sin. Move
they cannot without that circle, more than a prisoner out of his
prison. — The misery of it. They are under the curse; Gal. iii. 10.
This last, God, as a just Judge, inflicted on mankind for the breach
of the covenant of works ; and while this lies upon them, there can
be no communion betwixt God and them, and consequently nothing
but sin in them ; and so they are all concluded under sin.
(2.) They are Satan's prisoners. He acts as the jailor, and is there-
fore said to have the power of death, Heb. ii. 14. Man, having
freely yielded to Satan, and become his captive, was delivered up
into his hand by the Judge. They are under the power of Satan,
Acts xxvi. 18. He keeps the keys of this prison, and watchfully
marks his prisoners, that none of them escape. Nay, when the com-
mandment is come, to deliver the elect out of his hand, he will not
yield them up, till the prison-doors be broke open, and they are
forcibly taken out of his hand.
Quest. 2. What are the causes of this imprisonment ? As to
this we observe, that they are in prison,
(1.) As debtors to divine justice. Sin is a debt, and the worst of
all debts ; committing sin is contracting a debt, which sinners are
unable to pay, but it must be paid ; a satisfaction must be made to
justice to the utmost farthing. As to natural men, their debt is not
forgiven. All their accounts stand uncancelled. They have as yet
no share in the Cautioner's payment. Therefore they are kept in
this prison justly for their debt, and they cannot escape. They
592 JESUS OPENS THE PRISON DOORS
were laid up there for our fatlier Adam's debt. This debt brought
all mankind into the prison, Rom. v. 12, " Wherefore, as by one
man sin entered into the world, and death by sin ; and so death
passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." The covenant being
broken, we became liable to pay the penalty, and, being unable to
relieve ourselves, were shut up in prison under the wrath and curse
of God. Tliey are also arrested there for their own debt, contracted
in their own persons. Every sinful thought, word, or action, is a
new item in our accounts. And at the instance of every broken
commandment, the law arrests the natural man in the prison, clap-
ping its curse upon the sinner ; so that the longer one remains in
his natural state, there is always the less hope of his delivery.
Nay, his delivery is impossible, till the Cautioner loose all the
arrests by paying the whole debt.
(2.) They are in prison as malefactors condemned in law ; John
iii. 18, " He that believeth not is condemned already." There is a
sentence of death passed upon all men in a natural state, they are
condemned to die eternally ; and therefore are committed to the
jailor, to keep them in the prison to the day of execution, which
they know not how soon it may be appointed, how soon death may
lead out the prisoner to have the sentence fully executed upon him.
I go on to,
Quest. 3. In what condition are natural men as prisoners in this
their natural state ? Their condition is most dismal ; for,
(1.) They are under the wrath of God, as the malefactor put in
prison is under the wrath of his judge. Hence it is said, Eph. ii. 3,
" And were by nature the childreu of wrath, even as others." A
natural state is a state of wrath. God bears a legal enmity against
thee as long as thou art out of Christ. There is a black cloud of
wrath which always hovers over the head of the natural man, and
never will scatter till he be a new creature. God is ever angry,
never pleased with him ; Psalm vii. 11, " God is angry with the
wicked every day." His person is not acceptable to God ; Psalra
V. 5, " The foolish shall not stand in his sight, and he hateth all the
workers of iniquity." Nor are his performances acceptable to God,
Isa. Ixvi. 3. God will have no communion nor fellowship with him ;
Amos iii. 3, " Can two walk together except they be agreed ?" Tbere
is wrath in his word, his looks, and dispensations towards him.
(2.) They are both under the dominion of the law, and also under
the lash of it; Gal. iii. 10, " For as many as are of the works of the
law, are under the curse, for it is written. Cursed is every one that
continueth not in all things written in the book of the law to do
them." It has him as fast in its hands as ever a prisoner was. It
TO THE PllISOJTERS. 593
has him by the neck, saying, Pay what thoa owest; and will never
quit the hold through the ages of eternity, unless he get the Surety
that is able to take it off his hand. Its demands are high, quite
above his reach ; perfect satisfaction for what is past ; perfect obe-
dience for what is to come. It is a merciless creditor, and will abate
thee nothing. As long as thou art in its power, (and that is as long
as thou art in this prison), thou must lay thy account with the pay-
ment of the utmost farthing. What though the sentence is not
speedily executed ? a reprieve is no pardon ; Deut. xxxii. 35.
(3.) They are under the power of Satan, as the keeper of the pri-
son. Acts xxvi. 18. He has a commanding and a restraining power
over them, 2 Tim. ii. 26, " They are in the snare of the devil, and
taken captive by him at his will." They cannot move out without
the bounds of his jurisdiction, more than the prisoner out of the dun-
geon. It is true, Satan keeps not all alike close, some have the
liberty of the form of godliness, on account of which they reckon
themselves secure as to the goodness of their state, and by this de-
lusion they are held the faster in his hands.
(4.) They are in a most uncomfortable condition. If a person
was in a palace as a prison, it would be uncomfortable ; far more in
this case, the pit wherein is no water has nothing to refresh the
soul; Zech. ix. 11. It is true, most natural men are stupid, they
consider it not ; they are blind, and they see not the shadow of
death about them. But when once their eyes are opened, there is
no more rest for thera there ; they cry, " What shall we do to be
saved ?" They see the filthy prison-garments of unmortified, un-
pardoned sins about them, which they can no longer wear at ease.
The scanty allowance of the prisoner's diet, unblessed mercies,
which can serve for nothing but to keep in the wretched life till the
day of execution.
(5.) They have no security for a moment's safety ; but if their
eyes were opened, they would see themselves every moment in
hazard of dropping into the pit of hell ; see the natural man's case,
Psalm vii. 11 — 16. He is ever standing before God's bent bow, and
has nothing to secure him for a moment from the drawing of it. He
is condemned already, and the sentence is past ; no day known for
the execution, uncertain but every day the dead-warrant may be
given out against him, and he led forth to execution. What can he
see to put it off, but long abused i^atience which will wear out at
length ?
(6.) They are so secured, that they can never get away without
satisfaction for their debts and crimes. There is no breaking this
prison. Sooner may bars of iron and gates of brass be got over,
694 JESUS OPENS THE PRISON DOCKS
than a prisoner can get out of the state of wrath without satisfying
the demands of the law. And therefore the sinner will die in this
prison, if he come not to Christ. There is no getting out of this pit
but by the blood of the covenant.
For the improvement of this part of the subject, ! sirs, be con-
cerned to look to the state of sin in this glass, and be ye duly
affected with it, as the matter requires. Consider, sinner, where
you are, and in what condition. Is the state of sin a prison-state ?
Then who are the men that walk at liberty ? Is it not these whose
consciences are purged by faith in Christ, whose guilt is removed,
who walk after the Spirit, and lead a holy, heavenly, circumspect
life ? Or is it those who, scorning to be bound up to the rules of a
holy walk, can stretch their consciences at their pleasure, and take
to themselves a sinful liberty, which others dare not for their souls,
who can laugh at those things for which others mourn, and follow
their lusts to the ruin of their souls ? Truly no. All that sinful
liberty which those do take, and all the pleasures which they have
in it, is but the rattling of the chains of the devil's prisoners, while
they go up and down in their prison. Is the state of sin a state in
which ye can quietly sleep another night ? It is a Sodom on which
fire and brimstone will come down. Haste ye, and escape for your
life. Ah ! sinner, canst thou be at ease in a state of wrath ? The
world, it may be, smiles upon thee ; it may be that it frowns ; but
what of either of these, while God is angry with thee every day ?
Thou hast perhaps something for many years for thy body, it may
be nothing ; but what security hast thou for thy soul, when death
shall call thee hence, thou knowest not how soon ? Is the work of
conversion to God a slight business, about which persons are under
small necessity to trouble their heads ? Surely it is a most weighty
business, which, if it be not done, there is nothing at all done for
eternity. Let men in an unconverted state put on what appear-
ances of religion they will, perform what duties they will, they are
but dead woi-ks, wrought in Satan's prison, and leave the worker in
a state of death. Turn, turn ye, then, from your sins unto God, cry
for regenerating sanctifying grace, rest not till you get it. Will
you not eagerly embrace the offer made you in the proclamation of
opening the prison to those that are bound ? Christ is come to your
prison door, offering by his blood and Spirit to set you free. Are
you willing to come away ? or are you so in love with your pri-
son as not to care for deliverance ? We are,
II. To mention the bands, chains, and fetters, with whicli un-
converted sinners are bound in the prison of a natural state. These
are twofold, God's and Satan's. There are.
TO THE PEISONEES. 595
1. God's bands, for tbey are his prisoners ; and these are heavier
than the heaviest irons ever were on prisoners ; for,
(1.) There are bands of guilt and the curse on them all, by which
the law binds them over to wrath. Gal. iii. 10. Guilt is a bond
binding over the sinner to deserved punishment. The curse of the
law devotes him to destruction. These, worse than iron fetters,
enter into the soul ; and while they lie on persons, they cannot stir
out of the prison, nor make their escape. No sooner is the soul
awakened to feel them, than it feels thera heavier than can be
borne.
(2.) There are the bands of judicial hardness on some. Those
with whom the Lord has been long dealing, who will not hear, but
harden themselves against calls, warnings, and reproofs ; many
times the Lord judicially hardens them, makes hardness of heart
their punishment, as it is their sin ; recalls the motions of his
Spirit, Hos. iv. 17, " Ephraim is joined to his idols, let him alone."
He gives them over, saying, " He that is unjust, let him be unjust
still ; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still," Rev. xxii. 11 ;
he gives them up to their own lusts, Psalm Ixxxi. 12, " So I gave
them up unto their own hearts' lust ; and they walked in their own
counsels ;" and he gives thera up to Satan to harden them, 2 Cor. iv.
4, '* He hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the
light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God,
should shine unto them." So that under the most softening means
they grow worse and worse,' harder and harder, Isa. vi. 9, 10. These
are fearful bands : but besides these there are,
2. The devil's bands, which he puts on his prisoners in their na-
tural state, to secure them, that they may not come out of it to
Christ, may not be converted, may not be turned from their sins
unto God. These are many; such as,
(1.) The band of prejudices. These are so fixed on natural men,
that Jesus says, Matth. xi. 6, " Blessed is he whosoever shall not
be oflfended in me." Satan dresses up religion and true holiness in
such a monstrous shape, that they are aflTrighted at it, they cannot
wish it, they can never get a heart to it ; and therefore they enter-
tain Christ's message, as Nabal did David's, 1 Sam. xxv. 11, Shall
we, say they, give up with that pleasant or profitable way, in which
we are, and betake ourselves to a way that must needs be a con-
tinual weariness ? This is a strong band, but when the eyes are
opened, and God's ways are tried in earnest, it would break like an
untwined thread ; Prov. iii. 17, "Her ways are ways of pleasant-
ness, and all her paths are peace." Come and see. There is,
(2.) The band of ill company. Satan does as the Romans did
596 JESUS OPKNS THE PRISON DOORS
•\yit1i some of tlieir prisouers, lie binds liis prisoners together, so that
one helps to hold fast another, to their ruin ; Prov. xiii. 20, " A
companion of fools shall be destroyed." Thus there are bundles of
drunkards, swearers, Sabbath profaners, despisers of what is good,
worldlings, to whom the world is the chief good; and every one of
the bundle is a snare to the soul of another. "With an eye to this
is the terrible sentence given, Matth. xiii. 30, " Gather ye together
first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them." Therefore
is the gospel-invitation, Prov. ix. 5, 6, " Come, eat of my bread, and
drink of the wine which I have mingled. Forsake the foolish, and
live, and go in the way of understanding." There is,
(3.) The band of earthly-mindedness. This held thera fast who
were bidden to the gospel-supper,'Luke xiv. 16 — 20. The wretched
world had its bands on every one of them, so that they could not
stir to come. They must look to this and the other business, that
they do not lose their advantage ; and while the devil's servant is
thus busy here and there, looking well to this and that, the im-
mortal soul, with the keeping of which God charges him, is lost.
The pleasures of the world, like syren songs, arrest them like iron
fetters covered with silk ; these secure them. The cares of the
world, like a thicket, entangle them, they cannot get leisure for
them to mind their souls ; and the weary earth ever interposing be-
twixt them and the Sun of Righteousness, they are thus kept in a
dark prison. There is,
4. The band of unbelief. This is such an one as no less than the
arm of the Lord can take off; Isa. liii. 1, " "Who hath believed our
report ? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed ?"
Men hear the word, but they do not believe it ; they believe not the
doctrine of the gospel, they count it foolishness, 1 Cor. i. 23. The
promises they do not believe, they count them but fair words, and
will not quit their certainty in a sinful course for the hope of thera,
Heb. iv. 1,2, 11. The threatenings they consider as mere scarecrows,
and in spite of thera promise theraselves peace ; Dent. xxix. 19,
" And it shall come to pass, when he heareth the words of this
curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace,
though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness
to thirst." They believe not their need of Christ, and therefore
they slight and reject him. There is,
5. The band of slothfulness. This ties down the natural man in
his prison-bed, saying, Prov. vi. 10, " Yet a little sleep, yet a little
slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep." It hangs so heavy
upon his legs, that he cannot move them in the way of God ; Prov.
xxvi. 13, " The slothful man saith. There is a lion in the way." " A
TO THE PRISONERS. 597
lion is in the streets, yet his feet are swift to evil," Isa. lix. 7. This
band is so heavy on his head, that he cannot lift np his eyes; and
on his hands, that he cannot lift them to his month for his soul's
behoof; Prov. xxvi. 15, " The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom;
it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth," This is a hellish
gulph on earth, that swallows up convictions, resolutions, motions of
good, and the like. They could be content to be better, if God
would work with them as with stocks and stones, which are at no
pains for their own polishing. They can spend whole days, and
even'nights, for the world and for their lusts ; but to spend a day, or
a considerable part of a day, in clearing their accounts, and laying
down their measures for eternity, this is what they cannot be
troubled with. There is,
6, The band of delays. This held Felix fast, when the rest of the
bands on him were like to give way, Acts xxiv,'25, "When trembling
under Paul's preaching, he said, " Go thy way for this time ; when
I have a more convenient season, I will call for thee." The pri-
soners, many of them, are not resolved not to come out, only they
put it off, resolving to do it afterwards. The young put it off till
they be old, the old till death come to their bed-side. Some make
one resolution, and some another, to turn to the Lord ; and though
the time comes which they had set, yet they still put it off again to
another time ; and so on, till death comes at length, and sweeps
them off, ere they have power to execute their good purposes.
There is,
7. The band of delusion ; Isa. xliv. 20, " He feedeth on ashes ;
a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his
soul, nor say. Is there not a lie in my right hand?" They are
under a fearful delusion as to their state, like Laodicea, Rev. iii.
17, " Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased in goods, and
have need of nothing ; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and
miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." As one is refused ad-
mission by mistake, so Christ is often kept at the door; for the
poor deluded sinner thinks he is in already. They abide fast in the
gall of bitterness, because they imagine themselves to be got out of
it already. They remain unconverted, because they reckon them-
selves already converted. This is a most dangerous case, which
should stir us all up to an impartial examination of our state ; Isa.
1. 11, " Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves
about with sparks : walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks
which you have kindled. This ye shall have of mine hand, ye shall
lie down in sorrow." There is.
Lastly^ The band of divers lusts ; 2 Tim. iii. 6, " Laden with sins,
598 JESUS OPENS THE PRISON DOORS
led away with divers lusts." They are laden with them, as ever a
prisoner was with irons, so that by them Satan holds them fast.
Unmortified lusts crawl up and down, preying on their souls, and
keeping them in a state of death. They hang about them, crying,
Give, give, so that they can get nothing done to purpose for eter-
nity. And so many unmortified lusts as there are about a man,
Satan has so many handles to hold him by. A lust of covetousness,
of pride, sensuality, and the like, will hold a man fast.
This part of the subject may be improved in a use of lamentation.
This is a lamentation, and may be for a lamentation over all the un-
converted, as bound men in the prison of a natural state. Thou art
little concerned with it, but the misery of the case deserves tears of
blood. For thou art laid up in custody at the instance of God's
law and justice, as a debtor and criminal. As a debtor, thou shalt
not be let out till thou hast paid the utmost farthing. But, alas !
thou hast nothing wherewith to pay ; men and angels cannot help
thee ; their united stock is not sufficient to pay off the debt of sin.
As a criminal, thou canst not be let out, till thou abide thy trial ;
and terrible will it be whenever God calls thee to it ; when thy in-
dictment is read, and thou art tried for thy life according to law,
•what canst thou say ? thy crimes are undeniable. Thou canst not
get out by force or fraud, slight or might. Thou art God's prisoner,
as the offended party. What canst thou do or say that is not known
to him who sees all things ? "Whither canst thou flee, where his
hand will not find thee out. Thou art Satan's prisoner as thy jailor.
He has malice enough to prompt him to watch and keep thee, power
enough to hold thee still. His iron-bands and chains are upon thee
in the prison-house, how canst thou escape ? Look to the bands on
thee in the prison ; look on them and mourn, and lament thy case.
There are bands on thee of God's laying on, and who but he then
can take them off? for he shutteth, and no man can open. Rev. iii.
7. Thou art bound under the curse of the law, and God has bound
thee ; to whom canst thou apply to loose thee ? If men lay on
bands, God can loose the prisoner, whether they will or not ; " Tho
Lord looseth the prisoners," Psalm cxlvi. 7. But if God lay on the
bands, the whole creation may stand and commiserate the prisoner.
They may drop a tear, but neither angels nor men can loose him.
There are bands on thee of Satan's laying on ; and these must be
sad ones which are led on by that hand. He is the strong man ;
it must be a stronger than he who can loose them ; this is beyond
thy reach. Thou didst not feel God's bands, but walkest lightly
under them. Thou entertainest and takest a pleasure in Satan's
chains, in your company, sinful pleasures, and the like. This makes
TO THE rEISONERS. 599
thy escape the more hopeless ; while thou rejoicest in thine iron
fetters, as if they were chains of gold, it is an evidence that thou
art beside thyself. Finally, These bands will infallibly secure thy
ruin, if thou be not loosed in time ; thou wilt die in the prison, if
thou be not timeously brought out. There is but one step betwixt
thee and death, eternal death. If thou die in the prison of an un-
converted state, thou wilt go to the prison of hell, where the pri-
soners are kept without hope of any release.
This being the case, see to yourselves in time, prisoners of hope !
Labour to be loosed from your bands, that you die not in the pit.
To such I would offer the following Advices : —
1. Awake, and feel the weight of the bands on thee ; there is no
hope of thy deliverance while thou walkest lightly under them.
Mourn over your guilt, your unbelief, and long for deliverance.
2. Put your case in the hand of the great Cautioner, who is will-
ing and able to relieve you. Employ the Advocate, who will cer-
tainly carry the plea in your favour. He will not do as the butler
who forgot Joseph, though employed to use his interest to bring
him out of prison; but by the blood of his covenant Jesus will de-
liver you.
3. Give in your petition to your Judge : Job ix. 15, " I would,"
says Job, " make my supplication to my Judge." Pray, pray, ye
prayerless persons ; pray every day, pray always, ye who pray only
now and then ; a sign that ye have to begin this exercise, to pray to
purpose. Pray seriously, fervently, importunately, ye that are for-
mal in prayer. Your life lies at stake : there is no time to trifle.
4. Hasten your trial, that your plea may be heard before a throne
of grace ; for if you miss that tribunal, it will come before another
at death and judgment, when it will be impossible for you to stand.
There are two tribunals for such prisoners, the tribunal of mercy
and grace, and the tribunal of justice. There is, the tribunal of
mercy and grace, to which the sinner is brought in the work of con-
version, in time, in this world. Hither the elect prisoner is brought,
and stands trembling, while other prisoners lie still in the prison,
jovial and easy. Here he is accused, convicted and condemned ; he
subscribes to the equity of the sentence ; but, by the provision made
in this court for criminals, he comes off acquitted from the sentence
of death, to return to the prison no more. There is the tribunal of
justice, to which the sinner is brought at death and the last day.
Here the prisoner, in his natural state, is sisted, accused, convicted,
and condemned without remedy; Matth. xxii. 13, ■' Then said the
king to the servants, Bind him (that wants the wedding-garment)
hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer dark-
600 JESUS OPENS THE PRISON DOOltS
ness ; there sliall bo weeping and pnasliing of teeth." And from
hence he is sent into the prison of hell.. At the one or the other
of these tribunals, all the prisoners must appear for their trial. To
the first, I would have you to hasten your cause ; for it has advan-
tages which the other has not. lu the first, the law is subservient to
the gospel, and condemns, to make the sinner flee to the Mediator; Gal.
iii. 24, " Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto
Christ, that wo might be justified by faith." In the second, the law con-
demns, to make the sinner's case absolutely hopeless. The one makes
the sinner sick unto life and everlasting health, the other to death. At
the one, a person may have the advantage of a Surety to undertake
for his debt, of an Advocate to plead for him, 1 John ii. 1, " If any
man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins." He never fails
to bring his client's cause to a comfortable issue. But at the other,
there is no Cautioner, no Advocate ; the prisoner must act all for
himself ; yea, the Cautioner and Advocate is judge to condemn him.
Finally, at the one, there is a covert of blood for the condemned
man to flee under, where the sentence of death cannot take effect.
There are horns of an altar, from which justice cannot take him,
and a city of refuge, where he shall be safe. But none of these are
to be had at the other : therefore haste the trial. We now proceed,
III. To consider the darkness and blindness of the prisoners in a
natural state. Here it will be necessary to attend to three things.
First, The nature of this blindness. Secondly, The kinds of it inci-
deni to these prisoners. And, Thirdly, The effects of it ui)on them.
Let us attend,
First, To the nature of this blindness. And here we may observe,
that it is a spiritual, and not a bodily defect. Though they have
their eyes in their heads, their poor souls are full of darkness ;
Eph. V. 8, " Ye were sometimes darkness." Though they may have
a natural and literal knowledge of spiritual things, yet they want
the spiritual and saving light of life : 1 Cor. ii, 14, " The natural
man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are
foolishness unto him ; neither can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned." How manifestly are these distinguished !
Though they have the knowledge of the history of these things, yet
they are strangers to the mystery of them. Thus it is said, Deut.
xxix. 4, " Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and
eyes to see, and ears to heai*, unto this day." Again, it is total
blindness. They are not only dark, but darkness itself, Eph. v. 8.
There is not the least gleam of saving light in their souls ; they are
absolute strangers to, and unacquainted with God in Christ. Their
TO THE PRISONERS. 601
service in religion is to an unknown God. They know not Christ;
there is a transcendent glory in him, but they cannot perceive it.
They are strangers to themselves ; they are wretched and miserable,
but know it not, Rev. iii. 17. They see not their sins in their own
ugly colours, in their natural deformity. Let us,
Secondly, Attend to the kinds of blindness incident to these pri-
soners. There is a natural blindness common to all of them. All
Adam's children are born blind; Rom. iii. 11, "There is none that
understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God." Our minds
naturally are void of saving light, we have lost saving knowledge,
with other parts of God's image. Hence, whenever grace opens the
eyes, people are as it were brought into a new world, seeing things
they never saw before, and seeing them in that manner in which
they never saw them before. Again, There is an acquired blind-
ness, which they procure to themselves; Eph. iv. 18, "Having the
understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God
through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of
their heart." The power and prevalence of lusts blind them
more and more to the true interest of their souls. The light
shines about them, but they hate it ; it glances in their faces from
the word and providence, but they shut their eyes and will not
let it in; Isa. xxvi. 11, "Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they
will not see." They by this means strengthen their diseases ; and
the longer they continue in it, there is the less hope. Finally,
There is a judicial blindness ; Isa. vi. 9, 10, " And he said. Go and
tell this people, hear ye indeed, but understand not ; and see ye in-
deed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and
make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes." They rebel against
the light, they abuse that light which they have, they will not open
their eyes to clear light, and God judicially shuts them. He with-
draws the common influence of his Spirit from them, and they are
infatuated, so that they cannot see their own true interest, but act as
fools and madmen in matters of the greatest importance. They
are " delivered over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which
are not convenient," Rom. i. 28. They are also delivered to Satan,
who, as the executioner of justice, binds them more and more ;
2 Cor. iv. 4, " He blinds the minds of them that believe not." We
are to attend,
Thirdly, To the effects of this blindness on the prisoners. These
are many ; I mention the following : — There is,
1. A situation truly uncomfortable and piteous. They are sit-
ting in darkness, and in the region and shadow of death, Matth. iv.
16. What a melancholy case were the Egyptians in during the
Vol. IX. 2 q
602 JESUS OPENS THE PRISON DOORS
three days' darkness, while the Israelites had light in all their
dwellings ! It was among the last and worst of their plagues.
Surely light is sweet ; and the more excellent the light is, it must
be the sadder to be deprived of it. The light of God's grace and
favour is the most excellent light, and therefore heaven is called
light, and hell is darkness, utter darkness ; no gleam of comfort in
hell, A natural state is the suburbs of hell, and no real comfort in
this condition, but a possibility of help. Therefore the saints pity
them, as in a most piteous condition. Jerusalem's case drew tears
from our Saviour's eyes, Luke xix. 41, 42. There is,
2. Unacquaintedness with their own state of sinfulness and
misery ; Rev. vii. 17- Their misery ; they are blind, they see not the
hazard they are in every moment of dropping into the pit. The mes-
sengers of death are approaching them, the sword of justice is hang-
ing over their heads, signs of approaching ruin are on them and about
them ; others see it, but not themselves ; Hos. vii. 9, " Strangers have
devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not; yea, gray hairs are
here and there upon him, yet he knoweth it not." The prodigal never
saw his starving condition, till he came to himself, Luke xv. 17- Their
sinfulness also ; of this they are ignorant ; Rom. vii. 9, " For I was
alive without the law once ; but when the commandment came, sin
revived and I died." As in a house, the motes flying thick there
are not perceived till the sun-beams enlighten it; so, till the Lord
open the eyes of the blinded sinner, he sees not those swarms of
living lusts which are preying on his dead soul, the innumerable
evils which compass him about, those multiplied pieces of guilt which
are binding him over to destruction.
3. They are easily ensnared and deceived in matters of the
greatest concern. Our Lord Jesus pronounces a woe to the world
because of offences, Matth. xviii. 7. Because stumbling-blocks laid
before the blind cannot but have most pernicious effects. The
world is full of snares laid by Satan and his instruments ; and the
blindness of the mind exposes men to the utmost hazard by them.
How easily are they cheated out of their greatest interests for
another world, and made to hug a shadow instead of the substance,
and embrace a scorpion instead of a fish, and stones instead of
bread ; because, though they be eagle-eyed in the things of time,
they are like bats and owls as to the light of life. Like Esau, for
©ne morsel of meat they sell this birth-right, Heb. xii. 16.
4. They get no good of the light of the gospel, but stumble at
noon-day, as in the dark. They receive this grace in vain. The
night and day are alike to the blind, winter and spring to the dead
tree. And hence men live under the gospel as loosely, profanely,
TO THE PRISONERS. 603
and carelessly, as if they were living in the dark corners of the
earth. The light of the gospel, like a shining sun, has arisen, teach-
ing us, that, " denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should
live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world," Tit. ii.
12. But instead of going like men to their proper work, they like
wild beasts go to their dens, and lie at ease, neither working out
their own salvation, nor doing any good to others. The light is set
up to them, but their works are works of darkness, and so they
hate the light.
5. They are precipitating themselves into the utmost hazard to
their souls, without fear ; Psalm xxxvi. 1, " The transgression of
the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God be-
fore his eyes." How fearlessly do men venture themselves into the
forbidden ground, rush in the way of sin on the sword-point of
justice; Jer. viii. 6, "I hearkened, and heard, but they spake not
aright ; no man repented him of liis wickedness, saying, What have
I done ? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth Rto
the battle." They drink up iniquity as the ox the water, being in
that case as blind men drinking up a cup of poison, which they
know not to be such. There is,
6. Deep security in the most dangerous condition, as not seeing
what is before them. They go on in their courses, as the sinners
did before the flood, Matth. xxiv. 38. They are exposed every day
to the utmost hazard, yet they are secure. They stand before God's
bent bow, as a mark to his arrows, yet they are at ease. "\i\^rath
is pursuing them, yet they are not concerned to flee from the wrath
to come. They are jovial while about the pit's mouth, and even
though they are in hazard every moment of falling into it.
Lastly, To sum up all in a word, this blindness fills the whole
man in heart and life with darkness and confusion; Matth. vi. 23,
" But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of dark-
ness ; if; therefore, the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is
that darkness !" A person can do nothing which is good in this
case, he lies open to all evil both of sin and misery. And this
darkness, unremoved, will make way for eternal darkness.
Having, as we proceeded, made some practical improvement, in
conclusion, we shall only exhort you,
1. To be convinced, of this your natural darkness; believe it from
the Lord's word, and believe your hazard from it, though other-
wise ye do not see it.
2. See your need of Christ to open your eyes. Pray for the
Spirit; say, with the blind man, " Lord, that mine eyes may be
opened."
2 Q 2
604 JESUS OPEKS THE PRISON DOORS
Lastly, From what has been said on the several parts of Christ's
commission with respect to natural men, unconverted sinners may
get a broad view of their misery. Ye are Satan's captives, yea, pri-
soners, God's prisoners, the devil's prisoners, prisoners in bands, and
blinded prisoners. Be deeply affected with your condition, and be per-
suaded, as prisoners of hope, to return to your strong-holds, while
you have access to them. "While it is called to-day, harden not
your hearts, but hearken to his voice, proclaiming that he is " anoint-
ed to open the prison to them that are boand."
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.
SERMON LV.
« Isaiah Ixi. 1,
And the opening of the prison to them that are hound.
Having attended to the first doctrinal point on this subject, we
now go on to
DocTEiNE II. That, by open proclamation in the gospel, Jesus
offers to prisoners in a natural state, an opening of their eyes, a
loosing of their bands, and a bringing them out of their prisons.
We shall illustrate the different parts of this doctrine, under the
following heads : —
I. We shall show, that Christ offers to such an opening of their
eyes, the recovery of their spiritual sight, and to bring them from
darkness unto light.
II. We shall show how Christ takes off the devil's bands from
these prisoners.
III. We shall show, that Christ offers to prisoners in a natural
state, an opening of their prisons, and a bringing them out of these.
The improvement of each will be added as we proceed. We are
then,
I. To shew, that Christ offers to prisoners in a natural state, an
opening of their eyes, the recovery of their spiritual sight, and so to
bring them from darkness unto light.
What, do such say, is in this offer ? Certain it is that saving
illumination is hereby offered to you; Rev. iii. 18, *' I counsel thee,"
says he, " to anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see."
This is a glorious and most necessary benefit, a thousand times
more necessary than light to those who are naturally blind. The
TO THE PRISONERS. 605
unrenewed world lie in darkness, they will not, Ihey cannot see.
There is a long and dark night upon them. Christ offers to bring
a morning unto their souls, to make the day-star arise there ; yea,
the Sun of righteousness to shine there. There is a thick mist about
you, so that you cannot see your way, but spend your life in endless
wanderings among deep pits. He will, by the spirit of his mouth,
dispel it, and make light to arise up, that ye may see clearly about
you. Your eyes are clouded and blinded ; he will make the scales
to fall off from them ; and this will give you a threefold sight.
There is,
1. A sad and melancholy sight, the saddest ever you saw, which
will make the lightest heart among us all heavy ; and this is a sight
of yourselves in your universal sinfulness and defilement. This
pricked Peter's hearers to the heart, Acts ii. 37. It struck Paul with
the paleness of death ; for *' I was alive," said he, " without the law
once ; but when the commandment came, siu revived, and I died,"
Rom. vii. 9. Men naturally are strangers to themselves, but when
the prisoner's eyes are opened, ht gets a broad view of his sinful
self. He sees a corrupt nature, from which no good can come;
averse to good, and prone to evil ; not to be changed, but by a mi-
racle of grace ; Rom. viii. 24, *' wretched man that I am ! who
shall deliver me from the body of this death ?" He sees a corrupt,
desperately wicked heart : " The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately wicked ; who can know it ?" Jer. xvii. 9. There is
an emptiness of all good ; a fulness of all evil, the seed and root of
all abominations which are done in the world, living lusts of all
kinds, like so many vermin in their nest, Mark vii. 21 ; a continual
steam of actual sinning and lusting, arising from hence on the
steam of a dunghill. Further, he sees a sinful life and conversa-
tion, woven into one continued piece of sin, where the parts some-
time thought good will appear even black as hell, like the rest ;
unclean lips, all over defiled with vanity or vileness; an unclean
life, which is unfruitful and unprofitable for God and for them-
selves ; full of sins against the holy law of God, committed against
much light and love, as well as checks by word and providence, &c.
"When the Lord comes to the prisoner, and opens his eyes, he takes
him and leads him through his heart and life ; then what a sad
sight does he get ! then will he cry, as in Job, xl. 4, " Behold, I am
vile ; what shall I answer thee ? I will lay mine hand upon my
mouth." Then is accomplished these words, *' Thine own wicked-
ness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee ;
know therefore, and see that it is an evil thing and a bitter that
thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in
thee, saith the Lord of hosts," Jer. ii. 19. There is,
606 JESUS OPEXS THE rRiSOX D00K3
2. A terrible and frightful sight, which will make the stoutest
heart to tremble, so that they shall say, as Moses did at the burning
mount, " I excedingly fear and quake." And this sight is three-
fold. There is a sight of an absolute God, in the glory of his holi-
ness and justice, Lev. x. 3. Men's eyes are naturally withheld, so
that they see not what a God they have to do with, Psalm 1. 21.
They think he is altogether such an one as themselves ; but says he,
" I will reprove thee, and set them (your sins) in order before you."
"When their eyes are opened, they are cured of their fatal mistake ;
Hab. i. 13, " Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst
not look on iniquity." They see him on a throne of justice, angry
with the wicked every day ; a hater of every sin, a severe avenger
of sin from the least to the greatest, with whom no sin is accounted a
small thing. There is a fiery stream issuing out of his mouth, to
devour his adversaries, as engaged, by his word and nature, to mag-
nify the law and make it honourable. This terrible sight will give
the sinner experience of the psalmist's case, Psalm Ixxiii. 3, " I re-
membered God, and was troubled ; I complained, and my spirit was
overwhelmed ;" and hence make his heart cry out within him, as in
Isa. xxxiii. 14, " Who among us shall dwell with devouring fire ?
Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?" Again, he
gets a sight of the fiery law in its absolute purity, extensiveness,
and severity ; Rom. vii. 9, '' For I was alive without the law once ;
but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died." The
law, to the blinded sinner, is like a looking glass covered over with
dust, in which the man never sees the true shadow of himself. But
when the sinner's eyes are opened, the glass is rubbed clean, and
shines bright, to his terror and astonishment. Then it discovers
the damnable nature of some things he thought good, the heinous-
ness of what he reckoned small faults, and makes all his sins greater
than ever he thought them- He sees the threats and curses of the
law, no more as scarecrows, or as the shadows of the mountains,
but more sure than heaven or earth to have their eff'ect. And then
one word o f it will go deeper with him than a thousand used to do.
Further, he gets a sight of himself, in his miserable, lost, and un-
done estate. Like the prodigal, he comes to himself, and sees that
he is perishing with hunger. He sees himself to be ruined, to be a
self-destroyer; a dead man in law, devoted to destruction by the
curse of the law ; under sentence of eternal death, pronounced by
the Judge of all, and registered in the Bible ; bound with the
threatenings of the law, as so many cords of death ; and withal,
utterly unable to extricate himself out of this gulph of sin and
misery ; Rom, v. 6, " For when we were yet without strength, in due
time Christ died for the ungodly."
TO THE PRISONERS. 607
3. They get a comfortiug and heart-reviving sight, the most com-
fortable they ever saw, which will make the most heavy heart joy-
ful. Aud this is a sight of Christ in the glory of his mediatory
office ; Isa. xxxiii. 17, " Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty,
tliey shall behold the land that is very far off." They see Jesus
standing as a Prophet, discovering those thoughts of love, which
were from eternity in the breast of Christ's Father, toward these
prisoners. Standing as a priest as he had been slain, at the Father's
right hand, making intercession for the prisoner's freedom. And as
a King, having the sovereign command of life and death, and having
the keys of the prison in his hand, to take out the prisoner when he
will. glorious sight for the prisoners ! when their eyes are
opened. It is a threefold sight. It is a sight of the transcendanf
excellency and loveliness of Jesus, Isa. xxxiii. 17, (quoted above.)
"While the prisoner lay in darkness, he was ready to say to every
lover of Christ, " "What is thy beloved more than another beloved ?"
Cant. V. 9. There was then to him more glory in a vain world, in
the lust of the eye and the pride of life, than in Christ. But now
that his eyes are opened, he sees a glory in him, which darlcens all
created excellency, as the rising sun makes the stars to hide their
heads. He appears now as the pearl of great price, Matth.
xiii. 46. All the perfections of the divine glory shine forth in him ;
these appear in the face of Christ, as in a glass, of which the pri-
soner now gets a view. And then none but Christ for him ; Psalm
Ixxiii. 25, " "Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none
upon earth that I desire beside thee." Again, he gets a sight of
his fulness for, and suitableness to, the case of the prisoner. Like
the prodigal, Luke xv. 17, he sees that in his father's house there
is bread enough and to spare. He sees then that he needs look
to no other quarter for help ; that there is an all-sufficient ful-
ness of it in Christ. Does the prisoner consider his vast debts ?
Christ is a cautioner, a mighty one. Does he consider his crimes ?
Christ died to satisfy for them. He has power over the jailor, and
can bind the strong man, loose and bring out the prisoner. Is he
defiled in his prison-garments ? Christ has white raiment to put
on him, in exchange for these. Are there iron gates in the way?
yea, irons on the prisoner's legs ? He breaks the bars of iron,
and brings out the prisoner. Once more, he gets a sight of the
willingness and readiness of Christ to communicate of his fulness ;
Heb. iv. 15, 16, " For we have not an high priest who cannot be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities ; but was in all points
tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come
boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find
608 JESUS OPENS THE PRISON BOOKS
grace to help in time of need." He now sees the truth and reality
of gospel invitations and promises, that they are not only fair words,
as he sometime thought them, bat sure and tried words ; Psalm
xii. 6, " The words of the Lord are pure words ; as silver tried in
a furnace of earth, purified seven times." This revives the fainting
heart, is the great cordial for a soul ready to perish ; so that the pri-
soner resolves to venture himself, and lay his whole weight on the
glorious Deliverer.
Before leaving this head, it may be of importance to inquire,
what ground the blinded prisoner has to rest upon and embrace this
offer in the proclamation of the gospel ? As to this we observe,
1. That there is nothing offered but what our Lord can perform
and make good ; Numb, xxiii. 19, " God is not a man that he should
lie; neither the son of man that he should repent; hath he said,
and shall he not do it ? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make
it good?" Jesus is the true light, the light of the world; the star
that came out of Jacob, Numb. xxiv. 17 ; the bright and morning
star, which puts an end to the dark night in the soul, Rev. xxii. 16,
the sun of righteousness, Mai. iv. 2. He has a fulness of the spirit
of light in him, to communicate to dark souls, Rev. iii. 1. We ob-
serve,
2. That there is nothing offered but what he has already per-
formed in the experience of thousands, who have been Satan's close
prisoners as well as you ; Isa. xxxv. 4, 5, 6, " He will come and
save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears
of the deaf shall be unstopped; then the lame man shall leap as an
hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing ; for in the wilderness
shall waters break out, and streams in the desert." Paul was a blind
Pharisee, but how wonderfully were his eyes opened ! There have
been many who were as stupid, secure, and blind as any, whom the
day-spring from on high hath visited; who sat in darkness, but are
now turned from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan
unto God. We observe,
3. There is nothing proposed to us but what he has his Father's
commission to offer and make good ; Isa. xlix. 6, " And he said. Is it
a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant, to raise up the tribes
of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel ; I will also give
thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation to
the ends of the earth." Yer. 9, "That thou mayest say to the pri-
soners, Go forth ? to them that are in darkness. Shew yourselves.
They shall feed in their ways, and their pastures shall be in all
high places." Again, to the same purport, see Isa. xlii. 6, 7. And
therefore his coming into the world is compared to the day-spring,
Luke i. 78, which comes at its appointed time. We observe,
TO THE PRISONERS. 609
4. That what is oiFered is offered unto you. Ye are all compre-
hended ill the proclamation ; Isa. Iv. 1, " Ho ! every one that
thirsteth, come ye to the waters." Whatever be your case, though
you be in the innermost room of satan's prison in the world, ye are
men, ye are sons of men : Prov. viii. 4, " Unto you, men ! do I
call, and my voice is to the sons of men." And the offer is very
particular, Eph. v. 14, "Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from
the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." "We observe,
5. That there is the greatest reality, truth, and sincerity in the
offer; Rev. iii. 14, " These things saith the Amen, the faithful and
true Witness, the beginning of the creation of God." Never one
embraced this offer who was refused. It grieves his Spirit that sin-
ners do not fall in with it. He wept over Jerusalem for this ; and
he has lost no bowels of compassion by going to heaven.
This part of the subject we would improve, by urging you to em-
brace the offered light, the saving illumination proclaimed in the
gospel ; and to come to Christ with this errand. That your eyes may
be opened. And here I would exhort you to the following things: —
Be convinced of your natural darkness and blindness in the things
of God. Say not, with the Pharisees, Are we blind also? The less
thou seest of this darkness about thee, the greater is the darkness
upon thee. The best see but in part, and most men see none at all
in a saving manner. Love darkness ; John iii. 19, " And this is
the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved
darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil." As the
owl loves not the shining sun, so men wedded to their lusts hate the
light, and love to be in darkness. They do not know God, nor his
law, nor his Son, nor themselves, and they care not for the know-
ledge of them ; Job xxi, 14, " Therefore they say unto God, Depart
from us ; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways." They are
at little pains with their Bibles, and far less with their hearts and
lives, to make them agreeable to the light of the word. Do not re-
sist and rebel against the light. Job xxiv. 13, " They are of those
who rebel against the light ; they know not the way thereof, nor
abide in the paths thereof." Let not your lusts carry you over the
belly of what light you have, lest ye be judicially blinded. What light
God offers you by his word, by providences, or by inward motions and
convictions within your breasts, beware of lighting against it, beware
of resisting and putting it out. Sometimes the Spirit of the Lord begins
to throw in beams of light into the soul, at a sermon, under a rod, or
some rebuke of providence. But the sinner cannot be easy till this be
again darkened. Be satisfied with no light, which has not a sanctify-
ing and a purifying heat with it. The true light is called the light of
t)10 JESUS OPBNS THE PRISON DOORS
life, John viii. 12. When the Spirit of the Lord fell on the disciples,
Acts ii., there appeared tongues of fire, enlightening and warming.
Dangerous is the case of men who keep truth a prisoner ; Rom. i.
18, " For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven, against all un-
godliness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness." Lastly,
Go to the Lord for the Spirit of illumination. Pray, search for the
same as for hid treasures, and believe for it in the Lord Jesus.
Look to him that ye may be enlightened with this saving illumina-
tion of his word and Spirit. To prevail with you in all these points,
I would mention the following Motives : — •
Mot. 1. This illumination is absolutely necessary for salvation.
A sinner will never prize Christ, nor come to him, till his eyes are
opened to see his sin and misery, what a just God and a strict law
he has to deal with, what a precious and suitable Saviour Christ is;
John iv. 10, " Jesus answered, and said unto her, If thou knewest
the gift of God, and who it is that saith unto thee, give me to drink,
thou wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given thee liv-
ing water." While Satan keeps his prisoner bound, he will hold
him fast. That which the eye sees not, the heart receives not. The
danger may be very great, but when unknown the sinner is secure.
Mot. 2. Blindness under the gospel is most inexcuseable ; John
ix. 41, " Jesus said unto them. If ye were blind, ye should have no
sin; but now ye say we see; therefore your sin remaineth." It is
wilful blindness. Those who live in the dark corners of the earth,
where the light of the gopel is not known, what wonder is it that
they walk on in darkness ? But the light of the gospel shines about
us. Christ offers to enlighten us by his Spirit, Eph. y. 14. If we
choose darkness rather than light, we must lay our account with our
choice being our ruin, John iii. 19.
Mot. 3. Saving illumination is the only way to true comfort, and
the want of it the way to utter misery; Col. i. 12, 13, " Giving
thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers
of the inheritance of the saints in light, who hath delivered us from
the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of
his dear Son." At the bindiug of the soul, Satan completes the
security of the prisoner ; and at the enlightening of him, Christ
begins his deliverance. In them who are saved, the light is carried
on to the light of glory. In them who are lost, the darkness is con-
tinued, till they come to endless and utter darkness. We are now,
II. To shew, that Christ offers to the prisoners a loosing of those
bands wherewith they are bound.
Here it will be necessary to shew, — 1. How he looses God's bands
from off the prisoners. And, 2. How he takes off the devil's bands
from them. Let us then,
TO THE PKISONERS. 611
1. Shew how he looses God's bands from off the prisoners. The
uucouverted sinner is God's prisoner under the bands of guilt, and
of the curse of the law, which bind him over to destruction. These
he looses and takes off the sinner by the application of his own
blood ; Zech, ix. 11, " As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant,
I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water."
Here we observe,
(1.) That Jesus purchased their freedom from these bands by his
death and sufferings. Guilt is a strong tie, the curse is a heavy
chain on the prisoner; in these the power of spiritual death lay.
But Jesus,'by his death, procured the sinner's relaxation ; Gal. iii.
13, " Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, having
been made a curse for us.''" His compassion for the prisoners made
him pay for them a ransom of his own blood. He took their bands
of guilt and the curse upon himself, that he might loose them from
off them. Now he has ransomed the prisoners, who will accept of
his delivery, and has a right to loose them from their bands ; justice
and the law having nothing to object. We observe,
(2.) That Jesus comes in the gospel to the prison door, proclaims
and makes offer of liberty to the prisoners. This he does in the
text. In his name the offer is made by his messengers ; his autho-
rity to loose the prisoners is asserted, Matth. xxviii. 18, " Jesus
came and said unto them. All power is given unto me in heaven and
in earth." His ability and willingness to do it is confirmed, Heb.
vii. 25, " Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that
come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession
for them." They are pressed to consent to the offer; charged upon
their peril to comply with it; and all this to make them willing to
come away out of the prison with the deliverer. We observe,
(3.) That though the most part give a deaf ear to the gospel-call,
will not believe their danger, but sit at ease in their fetters, yet
some are made a willing people in a day of power; Psalm ex. 3.
By the word, faith is wrought in their hearts; Eom. x. 17; even
that faith whereby the soul lays hold upon, and unites with Christ,
flees in under the covert of his blood, lays over the weight of all its
guilt upon Jesus, believing his blood to be sufficient to take it all
away, and, renouncing atl other pleas, betakes itself to this ; Eom.
iii. 25, " Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith
in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins
that are past, through the forbearance of God." Thus this blood is
applied. We observe,
(4.) That when this blood is thus applied, the chains are ordered
to be taken off the prisoner; Job xxxiii. 24, " Deliver him from
612 JESUS OPENS THE PRISON BOOKS
going down to the pit, I have found a ransom." Yea, the chains
fall off of course, since, as in Rora. viii. 1, " There is therefore now
no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." The Cautioner's
payment is pled for the debtor, and he is discharged ; the criminal's
cause is carried by the Surety and Advocate, and he is absolved.
He is under the covert of blood, therefore neither law nor justice
can reach him. He is brought into the bond of the covenant of
grace, and so the guilt of eternal wrath, which is the bond of the
first covenant, can hold him no longer ; guilt and the curse being
removed, judicial hardness has no place.
2. Let us shew how Christ looses and takes off the devil's bands
from the prisoners. The unconverted sinner is also the devil's pri-
soner ; he likewise lays bands on the sinner. These are in them-
selves sinful lusts and practices, &c. by which he holds them as by
bands. Christ looses from these by the powerful workings of his
Spirit, giving them grace, which breaks their bands asunder. He
gives them,
(1.) Awakening grace, which rouses them up, and bursts the
bands of sloth, wherewith they were held, Eph. v. 14, (quoted above),
and cures them of the fatal delusion which they were under as to
their state. Like the prodigal, they come to themselves, Luke xv.
17. The sinner sleeps securely in his sins and in his chains ; but
the Spirit of God gives him a sound awakening, so that his rest in
sin is disturbed, and he can no longer get lived at ease in his for-
mer courses. His conscience sets upon him, and sounds a terrible
alarm of wrath in his ears, which ceaseth not till he has fled to
Christ for refuge, and he flees without delay. Jesus gives them,
(2.) Enlightening grace, Eph. v. 14, by which the sinner gets a
discovery of himself, and a discovery of God and Christ. He is
brought, as it were, into a new world, in which every thing appears
in other colours than it did before. The mask which Satan put
npon the ways of God and the ways of sin, is pulled off, and he sees
the beauty, and the excellence of religion. Thus the band of pre-
judice is broken, the evil and danger of the ways of sin are ex-
posed to them, so that the sinful company he before delighted in be-
comes a terror to him, and he says, " Depart from me, all ye
workers of iniquity, for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weep-
ing," Psalm vi. 8. He sees the vanity and emptiness of all time's
things, so that Satan can hold him no longer by this pitiful handle.
Jesus gives them,
(3.) Quickening and regenerating grace, by which they receive a
new principle of spiritual life ; 2 Pet. i. 4, " "Whereby are given
unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these y©
TO THE PKISONEKS. 613
might be made partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the
corruption that is in the world through lust." So that the bands of
death in which they were held give way, and they become new crea-
tures ; 2 Cor. v. 17, " Therefore, if any man be in Christ Jesus, he
is a new creature ; old things are passed away, behold all things are
become new." They are endowed with a new nature, having new
motions and inclinations heaven-ward ; so that the band of earthly-
mindedness is broken; their will is renewed; Christ becomes their
choice above all, and they lay hold upon him with heart and good
will, so as that the bands of unbelief give way ; their hearts are
softened ; they get the heart of stone removed, and a heart of flesh
given unto them ; their affections are changed, so that they now love
the things which they before hated, and now hate those lusts and
sinful courses which they formerly loved. Jesus gives them,
(4.) Sanctifying grace, by which the power of sin is more and
more weakened in them, and the divers lusts with which they were
held are mortified, so that lusts cannot command them as they were
wont to do. Sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not
under the law, but under grace. The new principle stirs in them to
the practice of holiness in all manner of life and conversation. Thus
Christ, entering into the soul, strikes off the devil's bands, and sets
the sinner at liberty.
As an improvement of this part of our subject, it may just be ob-
served,
That this lets us see that none are so fast bound under guilt, or
the power of sin and Satan, but they may be loosed. And therefore
we have ground of hope in the most hopeless case. A sight of guilt
is ready to make the awakened sinner despond ; but the blood of
Christ is sufficient to remove it, whatever it be ; " This blood
cleanseth from all sin," 1 John i. 7. Though the cords of guilt be
manifold, which cannot be loosed from off the conscience by floods of
tears, the most bitter mournings ; yea, though above the power of
men and angels ; yet the blood of Christ is of infinite value and
efficacy ; Isa. i. 18, " Come now and let us reason together, saith the
Lord ; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow ;
though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." In like
manner as to the power of sin. The awakened sinner shall see that
it is as easy for the leopard to change his spots, and the Ethiopian his
colour, as for him to change his heart, or free himself from the power
of sin. He will see that it is hard to get out from under the power
of Satan and his own lusts. But remember, Christ is the stronger
man, he can bind Satan and spoil him of his goods. There is no-
614 JESUS orExs the prison doors
thing too liard for him to do. Grace is powerful, and will always
be victorious where it once begins ; it convsrted Paul from a perse-
cutor into a preacher ; Manasseh, who was like a lion, was changed
into a lamb. Therefore look to him that ye may be loosed.
"We proceed now, with the
III. General head, to shew that Christ offers to the prisoners, in
a natural state, an opening of their prisons, and to bring them out.
Here I shall shew what is in this offer, 1, More generally; and
then, 2. More particularly.
1. More generally, it is the bringing the sinner into a state of
grace. There are two things in it. The Lord Jesus opening the
sinner's prison brings him,
(1.) Out of the state of condemnation, in which he lay from his
birth till that happy hour ; Rom. viii. 1, " There is therefore now
no condemnation to them who are ia Christ Jesus." The sentence
of the law condemning him to eternal death is annulled, is taken off,
and can affect him no more. He is made a free man, delivered from
the curse by him who was made a curse. He is brought out from
under the law as a covenant of works : Rom. vi. 14, " Ye are not
under the law, but under grace." Though it continues to be a rule
to him, yet he is neither left to seek life by his obedience to it, nor
can he any more be doomed by it to eternal death for his disobe-
dience ; the law being dead to him, and he to it, in this respect.
Jesus brings him,
(2.) Out of that state of sin in which he lay all his days before,
incapable of doing any thing truly good, capable of nothing but sin-
ning. But now the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath
made him free from the law of sin and death, Rom. viii. 2. The
prisoner in his natural state, with the rest of the world, lieth in
•wickedness, 1 John v. 19 ; like a dead man in his grave, rotting and
consuming. Christ quickens the sinners, opens their graves, and
brings them out from under the reigning power of sin. In the day
of conversion, Christ comes to the prison door as to the grave of
Lazarus, and says, as he did to him. Come forth. So the dead man
lives, the prisoner comes out of the dungeon, out of a state of sin
into a state of grace.
2. Let US consider what is in this offer more particularly. There
are several great benefits which it proposes to us ; such as,
(1.) The prisoner's debts are discharged, even to the last farthing ;
Col. ii. 13, " And you being dead in your sins, and in the uncircum-
cision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having
forgiven you all trespasses." They were God's prisoners, and could
TO THE PRIS0NEE3, 615
never come out without payment of that debt for which they were
imprisoned But the Deliverer takes all the debt on himself ; he
says to his father, as in Philera. 18, " If he hath wronged thee, or
oweth thee ought, put that on mine account." And so it is ac-
counted as if they had paid it.
(2.) The prisoner's crimes are forgiven, which otherwise would
have taken away his life ; Isa. xxxiii. 24, " And the inhabitant
shall not say, I am sick ; the people that dwell therein shall be
forgiven their iniquity." The prisoner's pardon is written in
the blood of his Redeemer, " This cup is the new testament in my
blood, which is shed for you." Heb. viii. 12, " For I will be merciful
to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I
remember no more." The King's seal is appended to it, so that
neither law nor justice can quarrel it; Eph. i, 13, "In whom also
after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of pro-
mise." This is the white stone given to him that overcometh, of
which none knows the sweetness but those who have it.
(3.) The prisoner is delivered from the power of Satan, Acts
xxvi. 18, they are turned from the power of Satan unto God." The
jailor has no more power to keep the prisoner, nay, nor ever to
bring him back ; because he is not delivered by fraud, but in a le-
gal way, by the sovereign authority of the King's Son, who has all
power in heaven and earth. The demands which law and justice
had on the prisoner have all been satisfied by the deliverer, there-
fore he can be no longer held. As to the prisoner,
(4.) His prison-garments are taken away, and he is clothed with
change of raiment. The rags of his own righteousness are thrown
away, and he is clothed with the fair white raiment of Christ's
righteousness put on by the hand of faith, " I counsel thee," says
Jesus, as in Rev. iii. 18, " to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that
thou mayest be rich, and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed,
and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear." The old man
with his deeds is put off, the body of sin is destroyed, and the new
man is put on. The prisoner stands before his deliverer, like
Joshua before the angel; Zech. iii. 3, 4, " Now Joshua was clothed
with filthy garments, and stood before the angel ; and he answered
and spake to them that stood before him. Take away the filthy gar-
ments from him ; and unto him he said. Behold I have caused thinp
iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of
raiment."
(5.) The prisoner is brought forth into the light of God's coun-
tenance, Isa. xlix. 9, " That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go
forth ; to them that are in darkness, shew yourselves. They shall
616 JESUS OPENS THE PRISON DOORS
feed in tlie ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places."
God is in Christ reconciled to him. He is no more his enemy, but
the sinner's friendj his confederate in the covenant of peace. The
peace is made up through the great Peace-maker, Rom. v. 1, " Being
justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ." Though the world henceforth may hate him, and become
his enemy, he has friendship with heaven, which may support him
under all their hatred.
(6.) The prisoner is restored to all his forfeited privileges; Eph.
ii. 17, *' Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God." As
Joseph, being a slave, was brought out of the dungeon to Pharaoh's
court, and made the ruler over Egypt ; so in that day in which the
soul is brought to the state of grace, he is freed from his slavery,
brought out of prison, and advanced in the court of heaven. Like
the poor and wise child out of prison, he comes to reign, as in
Eccles. iv. 13, 14, for they are all made kings who are delivered by
Christ. We shall shut up this subject with a practical improvement
of the whole. — And this,
1. In an use of instruction.
This subject affords some lessons to us all ; as,
(1.) To be living in a state of sin is the most miserable life in the
world, the most miserable life out of hell. Why are all those simi-
litudes used, of a captivity, an imprisonment, and this of the worst
kind, but because no captivity, no imprisonment is sufficient to ex-
press the misery of this captivity ? Therefore these similitudes are
multiplied, that what is wanting in one may be made up by another.
And whenever the sinner's eyes are opened to see his misery, he will
see that the worst case of captives and prisoners on earth comes infi-
nitely short of the miserable state he is in, so soon as eternity suc-
ceeds time. For,
(1.) Of all persons in the world, an unconverted person has the
least ground to be joyful : John iii. 36, " And he that believeth not
the Son, shall not see life ; but the wrath of God abideth on him."
Some think they are young and in their bloom, and therefore they
may be allowed a pleasant jovial life. Some think like him who
said to his soul, " Soul, thou hast goods laid up for many years ; take
thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry." Every one who is not held
down with worldly cares or crosses, is ready to take his ease, though
a stranger to Christ and a state of grace. But I would say to thee
as Jehu did to Joram, 2 Kings ix. 18, " What hast thou to do with
peace ?" Let them live joyfully, whose prison doors have been open-
ed ; they are set free, to whom God is a friend, and who are beyond
TO THE PKISONERS. 617
the hazard of eternal condemnation. But what reason have you to
live joyfully, who are captives, prisoners, condemned criminals, and
know not but this day you may be led out to the execution ? If
there were a drawn sword hanging over your heads wherever you
went, would it not mar your mirth and jollity ? The sword of God's
justice is thus suspended over all those who are out of Christ.
(2.) It would be impossible for one to live at ease in an uncon-
verted state, if they were not blind to their own hazard and misery;
Luke xix. 41 — 43. Ye may as well bid a malefactor be easy under
the sentence of death, and the sight of the gibbet, or a man hanging
over a deep gulf by a slender twig, as to bid an awakened sinner be
easy in his case, before he get out of it. But many are posting to
destruction down the hill, and yet are very easy, because they see
not the frightful case they are in. And why do they not see it, but
because they shut their eyes ? It is told them, but they will not be-
lieve it ; so after all they are as easy as if they had been hearing an
idle tale. We are instructed,
(2.) That the delivery of the sinner out of the state of nature in-
to a state of grace, from under the guilt and reigning power of sin,
is no easy business, but business of the greatest weight and difficulty,
which ever the world was witness to. Consider the ransom which
had to be paid for the cai)tives and prisoners ; the greatest ransom
ever given by men is not once to be named with it. Silver and gold
crowns and kingdoms, would not do here, but blood, even the pre-
cious blood of Christ, 1 Pet. i. 18, 19 ; angels nor men could not fur-
nish it. Consider the power by which the deliverance is to be effect-
ed, no less than an infinite power can do it. What is the storming
of towns, the breaking down of iron gates, and the recovering the
prey from a lion, to the recovering a sinner from the power of the
devil ? No less than an omnipotent power can do this, Isa. xlix. 24,
25. Tor,
(1.) What way can men think ever to be delivered in that care-
less thoughtless way with which most part satisfy themselves ? Luke
xiii. 24, " Strive to enter in at the strait gate, for many, I say unto
you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." Will drowsy
wishes and sluggish desires, unaccompanied with suitable endeavours,
do it ? Will the leading of a careless life, and then begging mercy
from God when they come to die, be sufficient ? Will these things
serve instead of the work of grace, to pluck the prey out of Satan's
mouth, to knock the devil's chains off the prisoners, and set them
free ? By no means.
(2.) With what face can sinners delay the work of conversion to
God ? Is it not work hard enough to get out of Satan's grips, be-
YOL. IX. 2 R
618 JESUS OPENS THE PRISON DOOES
gin as soon as we will ? Will men venture to stay till he has load-
ed them with heavier chains, till stronger fetters of guilt be wreathed
about their necks ? Tip, and be doing, lose no time, you will find
the work already hard enough. To-day if you will hear his voice,
harden not your hearts. TVe are instructed,
(3.) That there is no deliverance out of the state of sin and wrath
but through Jesus Christ, Acts iv. 12, " Neither is there salvation
in any other ; for there is none other name under heaven, given
among men, whereby we must be saved." Had there been another
name, another person, Jesus had not been employed in this work.
There was none but he who could do it ; and we may add, that the
worst of sinners may be delivered in and by him. There is no guilt
above the efficacy of his blood, no power of sin above the efficacy of
his Spirit. At the same time, without him the most blameless per-
son who lives will be mined for ever; John xiv. 6, " I am the way,"
said Jesus, " no man cometh unto the Father but by me." Death
will prey upon them in time, though insensibly, and devour them
for ever, to their everlasting misery. This subject instructs us.
Lastly, That none are delivered by Christ, but those who are
made willing to come away with the deliverer out of their sins, and
who, with the most solemn seriousness, embrace the covenant. He
does not say that he will break open the prison-doors, and bring
away the prisoners, sleeping or waking, willing or unwilling, care-
less or careful to be away. Ko ; he deals with them in a rational
way, proclaims the liberty ; if they accept of it as he offers it, well
and good ; if they will not have it but on terms of their own mak-
ing, they must remain in prison, and perish ; John v. 40, " And ye
will not come unto me, that ye might have life." Then,
(1.) If any be careless as to their getting out of this state, Satan
is in no danger of losing them. Though the liberty be proclaimed,
they trouble not themselves about the matter, further than to hear
it. Satan keeps his prisoners, and Christ will never bring them away
who are not made desirous to come. Having the offer of liberty, Jesus
will leave the soul still in bonds, if there be not a compliance with it.
(2.) It concerns all who would be saved, deliberately to consider
the gospel-offer and their own case, and make the most solemn, seri-
ous work of closing with Christ, of entering into the covenant, and
transacting with the Deliverer, as upon a matter of the utmost im-
portance. Here eternity lies at stake ; if they manage it to pur-
pose, they are happy for ever ; if they mismanage it, they are un-
done. If the prisoner manages his business right with this Deli'-
verer, he will be got out of prison ; if he altogether miss this op-
portunity, he must lie still there for ever.
TO THE PRISONERS. 619
This subject instructs particularly those who are under bonds of
which they would fain be rid, what course they are to take.
1. Those who have sometimes walked at liberty, having had their
souls brought out of prison by the Redeemer's blood and Spirit ; but
seem to themselves now to be carried back into Satan's prison again,
and feel his chains heavy upon them. The Lord sometimes suffers
his own people to fall into this case, because of their careless walk-
ing, their grieving and vexing his Holy Spirit, whereby the Spirit is
quenched, corruption is strengthened, and Satan gets advantage ; Isa.
Ivii. 17, "For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and
smote him ; I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in
the way of his heart." "What should they do in this case, but own
the justice of the stroke, apply themselves to the Deliverer, who
alone can loose spiritual bonds ? This is the design of the dispensa-
tion ; Hos. V. 15, " I will go and return to my place, till they ac-
knowledge their offence, and seek my face ; in their affliction they
will seek me early." Make new application of this blood by faith, and
breathe after the communications of his Holy Spirit ; Isa. Ivii. 18,
" I have seen his ways, and will teal him ; I will lead him also, and
restore comforts to him and his mourners." He delivered them out
of a miserable state, and will also deliver them out of their present
uncomfortable condition.
2. Those who feel the bands of guilt strong upon their souls, and
are ready to despond under them as bands which can never be loosed.
Such should consider, that there is no exception of bands from which
Christ is sent to loose ; be they weak, be they strong bands, with
which the sinner is bound, Christ proclaims liberty from them ; and
it is an intolerable affront to the Mediator's dignity, to entertain
a thought of bands from which the infinite merit of his blood, and
the all-powerful efficacy of his Spirit, cannot loose. The dead corpse
cast into the prophet's grave was restored to life ; and shall not the
soul bouud with the strongest fetters of death, be set freo so soon as
•quickening virtue comes from a crucified Christ. Such, then, should
labour to believe, that they may thus see the glory of God.
3. Those who feel the bands of raging and unruly lusts so
strengthened by Satan and their own corruptions, that they are ready
to think that there is no breaking of them. Such should consider,
that our Lord often singles out those in the most hopeless condition,
to make them monuments of his rich grace. Such was the case of
the Corinthians, 1. Cor. vi. 9, 10,11. In the text, those who are
blinded in the prison have opening proclaimed to them. Though
the heart may be agitated like a raging sea with temptations and
corruptions, it will cost Jesus but a word to still them all in a rao-
620 JESUS OPENS THE PRISON DOORS, &C.
nient; Isa. Ivii. 19, " I create tlie fruit of the lips; peace, peace to
him that is afar off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord, and I
will heal him." The strongest lusts shall yield to the power of his
grace, and the strong man flee at the rebuke of the stronger. We
shall only add.
Secondly, A nse of exhortation.
Ton who are delivered, and have been made partakers of the
liberty proclaimed in the gospel, we exhort you to walk suitably to
the great deliverance. If you be thus distinguished, you will prize
the Deliverer above all ; 1. Pet. ii. 7, " Unto you, therefore, which
believe, he is precious." You will say, *' "Whom have I in heaven
but thee ? and there is none in all the earth that I desire beside
thee." And the more yon look back on the hazard to which you
were exposed, you will love him the more. You will prize the de-
liverance above all which you ever met with, or can meet with in
this world ; " Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the
excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord." Look on
this time as the time of love. You will long for the perfecting of
this deliverance, and be endeavouring to get it advanced and carried
on, till you be completely freed from indwelling sin ; Rom. vii. 24,
*« wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver me from the body
of this death ?" If thus distinguished, it is your duty to walk
humbly and thankfully, to the praise of your Deliverer; to carry
yourselves as children of light, in a holy and hearenly conversation,
and to have no fellowship with the works of darkness. In short, it
is your duty to be concerned for those who are still prisoners, to pity
them, to pray for them, and help forward their deliverance.
As to you who are yet Satan's captives and prisoners, hasten to be
loosed ; while the proclamation of liberty sounds in your ears, accept
of deliverance. Consider that now is the accepted time, now is the
day of salvation. Now liberty is in your offer, but it will not al-
ways be so ; the day comes for transporting the prisoners into an-
other prison, where there are no offers nor possibility of escape; and
how soon this may be, you know not. Refuse the liberty to-day,
delay it but till to-morrow, and ye may be beyond hope. But now
the captives may be loosed, the prisoners enlarged, and thus be bles-
sed with an eternal freedom. Kiss, therefore, the Son, lest he be
angry, and ye perish from the way ; when his wrath is kindled but
a little, blessed are all they that put their trust in him *.
* This subject was finished in the end of February, 1715.
rOINTED BY GEOr>GE & HOBEKT king, ST. NICHOLAS STREET, ABERDEEN.
Pnnce'Ofi Theological Sem.nanr-Spee'
1 1
012 01147 4782
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