{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_77041/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_77041","id":"gutenberg_77041","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/77041","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches","Category: Religion/Spirituality","Presbyterian Church -- Clergy -- Early works to 1800","Presbyterian Church -- Sermons -- Early works to 1800","Sermons, English -- 18th century","Whitefield, George, 1714-1770 -- Early works to 1800"],"text":"The Works of the Reverend\n George Whitefield, M.A.\n\n\n\n\n \u250c\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2510\n \u2502 \u2502\n \u2502 Transcriber\u2019s Notes \u2502\n \u2502 \u2502\n \u2502 \u2502\n \u2502 Punctuation has been standardized. \u2502\n \u2502 \u2502\n \u2502 Most of the abbreviations used to save space in printing have \u2502\n \u2502 been expanded to the non-abbreviated form for easier reading. \u2502\n \u2502 \u2502\n \u2502 The text is inconsistent in its usage of quotation marks. \u2502\n \u2502 The transcriber has attempted to make their use consistent \u2502\n \u2502 throughout this work for improved readability. \u2502\n \u2502 \u2502\n \u2502 Characters in small caps have been replaced by all caps. \u2502\n \u2502 \u2502\n \u2502 Non-printable characteristics have been given the following \u2502\n \u2502 Italic text: --> _text_ \u2502\n \u2502 \u2502\n \u2502 This book was written in a period when many words had \u2502\n \u2502 not become standardized in their spelling. Words may have \u2502\n \u2502 multiple spelling variations or inconsistent hyphenation in \u2502\n \u2502 the text. These have been left unchanged unless indicated \u2502\n \u2502 with a Transcriber\u2019s Note. \u2502\n \u2502 \u2502\n \u2502 Footnotes are identified in the text with a superscript \u2502\n \u2502 number and are shown immediately below the paragraph in which \u2502\n \u2502 they appear. \u2502\n \u2502 \u2502\n \u2502 Transcriber\u2019s Notes are used when making corrections to the \u2502\n \u2502 text or to provide additional information for the modern \u2502\n \u2502 reader. These notes are identified by \u2666\u2660\u2665\u2663 symbols in the \u2502\n \u2502 text and are shown immediately below the paragraph in which \u2502\n \u2502 they appear. \u2502\n \u2514\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2518\n\n\n\n\n THE WORKS OF THE\n REVEREND GEORGE WHITEFIELD, M.A.\n\n Late of PEMBROKE-COLLEGE, OXFORD,\n\n And Chaplain to the Right Honourable,\n the Countess of HUNTINGDON.\n\n\n CONTAINING\n\n\n All his SERMONS and TRACTS\n Which have been already published:\n\n WITH\n\n A SELECT COLLECTION of LETTERS,\n Written to his most intimate Friends, and Persons of\n Distinction, in _England_, _Scotland_, _Ireland_, and\n _America_, from the Year 1734, to 1770, including the\n whole Period of his Ministry.\n\n ALSO\n\n Some other PIECES on IMPORTANT SUBJECTS,\n never before printed; prepared by Himself for the Press.\n\n To which is prefixed,\n\n An ACCOUNT of his LIFE,\n Compiled from his Original PAPERS and LETTERS.\n\n\n VOLUME VI.\n\n\n LONDON:\n\n Printed for EDWARD and CHARLES DILLY, in the Poultry;\n and Messrs. KINCAID and CREECH, at Edinburgh.\n\n MDCCLXXII.\n\n\n\n\n CONTENTS\u00b9.\n\n \u00b9 The Sermons marked with a *, are now first published from\n the Author\u2019s own Manuscripts.\n\n \u2b58 SERMON XXXII. A Penitent Heart, the best New Year\u2019s Gift.\n\n LUKE xiii. 3. _Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise\n perish._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON XXXIII. The Gospel Supper.\n\n LUKE xiv. 22, 23, 24. _And the servant said, Lord, it is\n done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And\n the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways,\n and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house\n may be filled. For I say unto you, that none of those men\n which were bidden, shall taste of my supper._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON XXXIV. The Pharisee and Publican.\n\n LUKE xviii. 14. _I tell you, this man went down to his\n house justified rather than the other: For every one that\n exalteth himself, shall be abased; and he that humbleth\n himself, shall be exalted._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON XXXV. The Conversion of Zaccheus.\n\n LUKE xix. 9, 10. _And Jesus said unto him, This day is\n salvation come to this house; forasmuch as he also is the\n Son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to\n save that which was lost._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON XXXVI. The Marriage of Cana.\n\n JOHN ii. 11. _This beginning of miracles did Jesus in\n Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his\n disciples believed on him._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON XXXVII. The Duty of searching the Scriptures.\n\n JOHN v. 39. _Search the Scriptures._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON XXXVIII. The Indwelling of the Spirit, the common\n Privilege of all Believers.\n\n JOHN vii. 37, 38, 39. _In the last day, that great day\n of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man\n thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth\n on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall\n flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the\n Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON XXXIX. The Resurrection of Lazarus.\n\n JOHN xi. 43, 44. _And when he had thus spoken, he cried with\n a loud voice, Lazarus come forth. And he that was dead,\n came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-cloaths: and\n his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto\n them, Loose him, and let him go._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON XL. The Holy Spirit convincing the World of Sin,\n Righteousness, and Judgment.\n\n JOHN xvi. 8. _And when he is come, he will reprove the world\n of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON XLI. Saul\u2019s Conversion.\n\n ACTS ix. 22. _But Saul increased the more in strength, and\n confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that\n this is very Christ._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON XLII. Marks of having received the Holy Ghost.\n\n ACTS xix. 2. _Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye\n believed?_\n\n \u2b58 SERMON XLIII. The Almost Christian.\n\n ACTS xxvi. 28. _Almost thou persuadest me to be a christian._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON XLIV. Christ, the Believer\u2019s Wisdom, Righteousness,\n Sanctification, and Redemption.\n\n 1 CORINTHIANS i. 30. _But of him are ye in Christ Jesus,\n who of God is made unto us, wisdom, righteousness,\n sanctification, and redemption._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON XLV. The Knowledge of Jesus Christ the best Knowledge.\n\n 1 CORINTHIANS ii. 2. _I determined not to know any thing\n among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON XLVI. Of Justification by Christ.\n\n 1 CORINTHIANS vi. 11. _But ye are justified._ The whole\n verse is: _And such were some of you; but ye are washed,\n but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of\n our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON XLVII. The great Duty of Charity recommended.\n\n 1 CORINTHIANS xiii. 8. _Charity never faileth._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON XLVIII. Satan\u2019s Devices.\n\n 1 CORINTHIANS ii. 11. _Lest Satan should get an advantage\n over us; for we are not ignorant of his devices._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON XLIX. On Regeneration.\n\n 2 CORINTHIANS v. 17. _If any man be in Christ, he is a new\n creature._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON L. Christians, Temples of the living God.\n\n 2 CORINTHIANS vi. 16. _Ye are the Temple of the living God._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON LI. Christ the only Preservative against a Reprobate\n Spirit.\n\n 2 CORINTHIANS xiii. 5. _Know ye not your ownselves, how that\n Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be Reprobates._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON LII. The heinous Sin of Drunkenness.\n\n EPHESIANS v. 18. _Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess;\n but be filled with the Spirit._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON LIII. The Power of Christ\u2019s Resurrection.\n\n PHILIPPIANS iii. 10. _That I may know him, and the power of\n his resurrection._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON LIV. Intercession every Christian\u2019s Duty.\n\n 1 THESSALONIANS v. 25. _Brethren, pray for us._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON LV. Persecution every Christian\u2019s Lot.\n\n 2 TIMOTHY iii. 12. _Yea, and all that will live godly in\n Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON LVI. An Exhortation to the People of God not to be\n discouraged in their Way, by the Scoffs and Contempt of\n wicked Men.\n\n HEBREWS iv. 9. _There remaineth therefore a rest to the\n people of God._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON LVII. Preached before the Governor and Council, and the\n House of Assembly, in Georgia, on January 28, 1770.\n\n ZECHARIAH iv. 10. _For who hath despised the day of small\n things._\n\n \u2b58 \u2666SERMON LVIII. _Peter_\u2019s Denial of his LORD.\n\n MATTHEW xxvi. 75. _And Peter remembered the words of Jesus,\n which said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou\n shalt deny me thrice: and he went out, and wept bitterly._\n\n \u2b58 SERMON LIX. The true Way of beholding the LAMB of GOD.\n\n JOHN i. 35, 36. _Again, the next Day after, John stood, and\n two of his Disciples; and looking upon Jesus as he walked,\n he saith, Behold the LAMB of GOD._\n\n \u2666 The two following sermons were added after the book had\n gone to press and were not included in the original Table\n of Contents\n\n\n\n\n SERMON XXXII.\n\n A Penitent Heart, the best _New Year\u2019s Gift_.\n\n\n LUKE xiii. 3.\n\n _Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish._\n\nWHEN we consider how heinous and aggravating our offences are, in\nthe sight of a just and holy GOD, that they bring down his wrath\nupon our heads, and occasion us to live under his indignation; how\nought we thereby to be deterred from evil, or at least engaged to\nstudy to repent thereof, and not commit the same again; but man is so\nthoughtless of an eternal state, and has so little consideration of the\nwelfare of his immortal soul, that he can sin without any thought that\nhe must give an account of his actions at the day of judgment; or if\nhe, at times, has any reflections on his behaviour, they do not drive\nhim to true repentance: he may, for a short time, refrain from falling\ninto some gross sins which he had lately committed; but then, when the\ntemptation comes again with power, he is carried away with the lust;\nand thus he goes on promising and resolving, and in breaking both his\nresolutions and his promises, as fast almost as he has made them. This\nis highly offensive to GOD, it is mocking of him. My brethren, when\ngrace is given us to repent truly, we shall turn wholly unto GOD; and\nlet me beseech you to repent of your sins, for the time is hastening\nwhen you will have neither time nor call to repent; there is none in\nthe grave, whither we are going; but do not be afraid, for GOD often\nreceives the greatest sinner to mercy through the merits of CHRIST\nJESUS; this magnifies the riches of his free grace; and should be an\nencouragement for you, who are great and notorious sinners, to repent,\nfor he will have mercy upon you, if you through CHRIST return unto him.\n\nSt. _Paul_ was an eminent instance of this; he speaks of himself as\n\u201cthe chief of sinners,\u201d and he declareth how GOD shewed mercy unto\nhim. CHRIST loves to shew mercy unto sinners, and if you repent, he\nwill have mercy upon you. But as no word is more mistaken than that of\nrepentance, I shall\n\n I. Shew you what the nature of repentance is.\n\n II. Consider the several parts and causes of repentance.\n\n III. I shall give you some reasons, why repentance is necessary\n to salvation. And\n\n IV. Exhort all of you, high and low, rich and poor, one with\n another, to endeavour after repentance.\n\nI. Repentance, my brethren, in the first place, as to its nature, is\nthe carnal and corrupt disposition of men being changed into a renewed\nand sanctified disposition. A man that has truly repented, is truly\nregenerated: it is a different word for one and the same thing; the\nmotley mixture of the beast and devil is gone; there is, as it were,\na new creation wrought in your hearts. If your repentance is true, you\nare renewed throughout, both in soul and body; your understandings are\nenlightened with the knowledge of GOD, and of the LORD JESUS CHRIST;\nand your wills, which were stubborn, obstinate, and hated all good, are\nobedient and conformable to the will of GOD. Indeed, our deists tell\nus, that man now has a free will to do good, to love GOD, and to repent\nwhen he will; but indeed, there is no free will in any of you, but to\nsin; nay, your free-will leads you so far, that you would, if possible,\npull GOD from his throne. This may, perhaps, offend the Pharisees; but\n(it is the truth in CHRIST which I speak, I lie not) every man by his\nown natural will hates GOD; but when he is turned unto the LORD, by\nevangelical repentance, then his will is changed; then your consciences,\nnow hardened and benumbed, shall be quickened and awakened; then\nyour hard hearts shall be melted, and your unruly affections shall be\ncrucified. Thus, by that repentance, the whole soul will be changed,\nyou will have new inclinations, new desires, and new habits.\n\nYou may see how vile we are by nature, that it requires so great\na change to be made upon us, to recover us from this state of sin,\nand therefore the consideration of our dreadful state should make\nus earnest with GOD to change our condition, and that change, true\nrepentance implies; therefore, my brethren, consider how hateful your\nways are to GOD, while you continue in sin; how abominable you are unto\nhim, while you run into evil: you cannot be said to be christians while\nyou are hating CHRIST, and his people; true repentance will entirely\nchange you, the biass of your souls will be changed, then you will\ndelight in GOD, in CHRIST, in his law, and in his people; you will then\nbelieve that there is such a thing as inward feeling, though now you\nmay esteem it madness and enthusiasm; you will not then be ashamed of\nbecoming fools for CHRIST\u2019s sake; you will not regard being scoffed at;\nit is not then their pointing after you and crying, \u201cHere comes another\ntroop of his followers,\u201d will dismay you; no, your soul will abhor\nsuch proceedings, the ways of CHRIST and his people will be your whole\ndelight.\n\nIt is the nature of such repentance to make a change, and the greatest\nchange as can be made here in the soul. Thus you see what repentance\nimplies in its own nature; it denotes an abhorrence of all evil, and a\nforsaking of it. I shall now proceed\n\n_Secondly_, To shew you the parts of it, and the causes concurring\nthereto.\n\nThe parts are, sorrow, hatred, and an entire forsaking of sin.\n\nOur sorrow and grief for sin, must not spring merely from a fear\nof wrath; for if we have no other ground but that, it proceeds from\nself-love, and not from any love to GOD; and if love to GOD is not the\nchief motive of your repentance, your repentance is in vain, and not\nto be esteemed true.\n\nMany, in our days, think their crying, GOD forgive me! or, LORD have\nmercy upon me! or, I am sorry for it! is repentance, and that GOD\nwill esteem it as such; but, indeed, they are mistaken; it is not the\ndrawing near to GOD with our lips, while our hearts are far from him,\nwhich he regards. Repentance does not come by fits and starts; no, it\nis one continued act of our lives; for as we daily commit sin, so we\nneed a daily repentance before GOD, to obtain forgiveness for those\nsins we commit.\n\nIt is not your confessing yourselves to be sinners, it is not knowing\nyour condition to be sad and deplorable, so long as you continue\nin your sins; your care and endeavours should be, to get the heart\nthoroughly affected therewith, that you may feel yourselves to be lost\nand undone creatures, for CHRIST came to save such as are lost; and if\nyou are enabled to groan under the weight and burden of your sins, then\nCHRIST will ease you and give you rest.\n\nAnd till you are thus sensible of your misery and lost condition, you\nare a servant to sin and to your lusts, under the bondage and command\nof Satan, doing his drudgery: thou art under the curse of GOD, and\nliable to his judgment. Consider how dreadful thy state will be at\ndeath, and after the day of judgment, when thou wilt be exposed to such\nmiseries which the ear hath not heard, neither can the heart conceive,\nand that to all eternity, if you die impenitent.\n\nBut I hope better things of you, my brethren, though I thus speak, and\nthings which accompany salvation; go to GOD in prayer, and be earnest\nwith him, that by his Spirit he would convince you of your miserable\ncondition by nature, and make you truly sensible thereof. O be humbled,\nbe humbled, I beseech you, for your sins. Having spent so many years in\nsinning, what canst thou do less, than be concerned to spend some hours\nin mourning and sorrowing for the same, and be humbled before GOD.\n\nLook back into your lives, call to mind thy sins, as many as possible\nthou canst, the sins of thy youth, as well as of thy riper years; see\nhow you have departed from a gracious Father, and wandered in the way\nof wickedness, in which you have lost yourselves, the favour of GOD,\nthe comforts of his Spirit, and the peace of your own consciences; then\ngo and beg pardon of the LORD, through the blood of the Lamb, for the\nevil thou hast committed, and for the good thou hast omitted. Consider,\nlikewise, the heinousness of thy sins; see what very aggravating\ncircumstances thy sins are attended with, how you have abused the\npatience of GOD, which should have led you to repentance; and when thou\nfindest thy heart hard, beg of GOD to soften it, cry mightily unto him,\nand he will take away thy stony heart, and give thee a heart of flesh.\n\nResolve to leave all thy sinful lusts and pleasures; renounce, forsake,\nand abhor thy old sinful course of life, and serve GOD in holiness and\nrighteousness all the remaining part of life. If you lament and bewail\npast sins, and do not forsake them, your repentance is in vain, you are\nmocking of GOD, and deceiving your own soul; you must put off the old\nman with his deeds, before you can put on the new man, CHRIST JESUS.\n\nYou, therefore, who have been swearers and cursers, you, who have been\nharlots and drunkards, you, who have been thieves and robbers, you, who\nhave hitherto followed the sinful pleasures and diversions of life, let\nme beseech you, by the mercies of GOD in CHRIST JESUS, that you would\nno longer continue therein, but that you would forsake your evil ways,\nand turn unto the LORD, for he waiteth to be gracious unto you, he is\nready, he is willing to pardon you of all your sins; but do not expect\nCHRIST to pardon you of sin, when you run into it, and will not abstain\nfrom complying with the temptations; but if you will be persuaded to\nabstain from evil and chuse the good, to return unto the LORD, and\nrepent of your wickedness, he hath promised he will abundantly pardon\nyou, he will heal your back-slidings, and will love you freely. Resolve\nnow this day to have done with your sins for ever; let your old ways\nand you be separated; you must resolve against it, for there can be\nno true repentance without a resolution to forsake it. Resolve for\nCHRIST, resolve against the devil and his works, and go on fighting\nthe LORD\u2019s battles against the devil and his emissaries; attack him in\nthe strongest holds he has, fight him as men, as christians, and you\nwill soon find him to be a coward; resist him and he will fly from you.\nResolve, through grace, to do this, and your repentance is half done;\nbut then take care that you do not ground your resolutions on your own\nstrength, but in the strength of the LORD JESUS CHRIST; he is the way,\nhe is the truth, and he is the life; without his assistance you can do\nnothing, but through his grace strengthening thee, thou wilt be enabled\ndo all things; and the more thou art sensible of thy own weakness and\ninability, the more ready CHRIST will be to help thee; and what can all\nthe men of the world do to thee when CHRIST is for thee? thou wilt not\nregard what they say against thee, for you will have the testimony of a\ngood conscience.\n\nResolve to cast thyself at the feet of CHRIST in subjection to him, and\nthrow thyself into the arms of CHRIST for salvation by him. Consider,\nmy dear brethren, the many invitations he has given you to come unto\nhim, to be saved by him; \u201cGOD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.\u201d\nO let me prevail with you, above all things, to make choice of the LORD\nJESUS CHRIST; resign yourselves unto him, take him, O take him, upon\nhis own terms, and whosoever thou art, how great a sinner soever you\nhave been, this evening, in the name of the great GOD, do I offer JESUS\nCHRIST unto thee; as thou valuest thy life and soul refuse him not,\nbut stir up thyself to accept of the LORD JESUS, take him wholly as he\nis, for he will be applied wholly unto you, or else not at all. JESUS\nCHRIST must be your whole wisdom, JESUS CHRIST must be your whole\nrighteousness, JESUS CHRIST must be your whole sanctification, or he\nwill never be your eternal redemption.\n\nWhat though you have been ever so wicked and profligate, yet, if you\nwill now abandon your sins, and turn unto the LORD JESUS CHRIST, thou\nshalt have him given to thee, and all thy sins shall be freely forgiven.\nO why will you neglect the great work of your repentance? do not defer\nthe doing of it one day longer, but to-day, even now, take that CHRIST\nwho is freely offered to you.\n\nNow as to the _causes_ hereof, the first cause is GOD; he is the author,\n\u201cwe are born of GOD,\u201d GOD hath begotten us, even GOD, the Father of\nour LORD JESUS CHRIST; it is he that stirs us up to will and to do of\nhis own good pleasure: and another cause is, GOD\u2019s free grace; it is\nowing to the \u201criches of his free grace,\u201d my brethren, that we have\nbeen prevented from going down to hell long ago; it is because the\ncompassions of the LORD fail not, they are new every morning, and fresh\nevery evening.\n\nSometimes the instruments are very unlikely: a poor despised minister,\nor member of JESUS CHRIST, may, by the power of GOD, be made an\ninstrument in the hands of GOD, of bringing you to true evangelical\nrepentance; and this may be done to shew, that the power is not in men,\nbut that it is entirely owing to the good pleasure of GOD; and if there\nhas been any good done among many of you, by preaching the word, as\nI trust there has, though it was preached in a field, if GOD has met\nand owned us, and blessed his word, though preached by an enthusiastic\nbabbler, a boy, a madman; I do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice, let foes\nsay what they will. I shall now\n\n_Thirdly_, Shew the reasons why repentance is necessary to salvation.\n\nAnd this, my brethren, is plainly revealed to us in the word of GOD,\n\u201cThe soul that does not repent and turn unto the LORD, shall die in\nits sins, and their blood shall be required at their own heads.\u201d It is\nnecessary, as we have sinned, we should repent; for a holy GOD could\nnot, nor ever can, or will, admit any thing that is unholy into his\npresence: this is the beginning of grace in the soul; there must be a\nchange in heart and life, before there can be a dwelling with a holy\nGOD. You cannot love sin and GOD too, you cannot love GOD and mammon;\nno unclean person can stand in the presence of GOD, it is contrary to\nthe holiness of his nature; there is a contrariety between the holy\nnature of GOD, and the unholy nature of carnal and unregenerate men.\n\nWhat communication can there be between a sinless GOD, and creatures\nfull of sin, between a pure GOD and impure creatures? If you were to\nbe admitted into heaven with your present tempers, in your impenitent\ncondition, heaven itself would be a hell to you; the songs of angels\nwould be as enthusiasm, and would be intolerable to you; therefore you\nmust have these tempers changed, you must be holy, as GOD is: he must\nbe your GOD here, and you must be his people, or you will never dwell\ntogether to all eternity. If you hate the ways of GOD, and cannot spend\nan hour in his service, how will you think to be easy, to all eternity,\nin singing praises to him that sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb\nfor ever.\n\nAnd this is to be the employment, my brethren, of all those who are\nadmitted into this glorious place, where neither sin nor sinner is\nadmitted, where no scoffer ever can come, without repentance from his\nevil ways, a turning unto GOD, and a cleaving unto him: this must be\ndone, before any can be admitted into the glorious mansions of GOD,\nwhich are prepared for all that love the LORD JESUS CHRIST in sincerity\nand truth: repent ye then of all your sins. O my dear brethren, it\nmakes my blood run cold, in thinking that any of you should not be\nadmitted into the glorious mansions above. O that it was in my power, I\nwould place all of you, yea, you my scoffing brethren, and the greatest\nenemy I have on earth, at the right-hand of JESUS; but this I cannot\ndo: however, I advise and exhort you, with all love and tenderness, to\nmake JESUS your refuge; fly to him for relief; JESUS died to save such\nas you; he is full of compassion; and if you go to him, as poor, lost,\nundone sinners, JESUS will give you his spirit; you shall live and\nreign, and reign and live, you shall love and live, and live and love\nwith this JESUS to all eternity.\n\nI am, _Fourthly_, to exhort all of you, high and low, rich and poor,\none with another, to repent of all your sins, and turn unto the LORD.\n\nAnd I shall speak to each of you; for you have either repented, or you\nhave not, you are believers in CHRIST JESUS, or unbelievers.\n\nAnd first, you who never have truly repented of your sins, and never\nhave truly forsaken your lusts, be not offended if I speak plain to\nyou; for it is love, love to your souls, that constrains me to speak:\nI shall lay before you your danger, and the misery to which you are\nexposed, while you remain impenitent in sin. And O that this may be a\nmeans of making you fly to CHRIST for pardon and forgiveness.\n\nWhile thy sins are not repented of, thou art in danger of death, and if\nyou should die, you would perish for ever. There is no hope of any who\nlive and die in their sins, but that they will dwell with devils and\ndamned spirits to all eternity. And how do we know we shall live much\nlonger: we are not sure of seeing our own habitations this night in\nsafety. What mean ye then being at ease and pleasure while your sins\nare not pardoned. As sure as ever the word of GOD is true, if you die\nin that condition, you are shut out of all hope and mercy for ever, and\nshall pass into easeless and endless misery.\n\nWhat is all thy pleasures and diversions worth? They last but for a\nmoment, they are of no worth, and but of short continuance. And sure it\nmust be gross folly, eagerly to pursue those sinful lusts and pleasures,\nwhich war against the soul, which tend to harden the heart, and keep us\nfrom closing with the LORD JESUS; indeed, these are destructive of our\npeace here, and without repentance, will be of our peace hereafter.\n\nO the folly and madness of this sensual world; sure if there were\nnothing in sin but present slavery, it would keep an ingenuous spirit\nfrom it. But to do the devils drudgery! and if we do that, we shall\nhave his wages, which is eternal death and condemnation; O consider\nthis, my guilty brethren, you that think it no crime to swear, whore,\ndrink, or scoff and jeer at the people of GOD; consider how your voices\nwill then be changed, and you that counted their lives madness, and\ntheir end without honour, shall howl and lament at your own madness\nand folly, that should bring you to so much woe and distress. Then you\nwill lament and bemoan your own dreadful condition; but it will be of\nno signification: for he that is now your merciful Saviour, will then\nbecome your inexorable Judge. Now he is easy to be entreated; but then,\nall your tears and prayers will be in vain: for GOD hath allotted to\nevery man a day of grace, a time of repentance, which if he doth not\nimprove, but neglects and despises the means which are offered to him,\nhe cannot be saved.\n\nConsider, therefore, while you are going on in a course of sin\nand unrighteousness, I beseech you, my brethren, to think of the\nconsequence that will attend your thus mispending your precious time;\nyour souls are worth being concerned about: for if you can enjoy all\nthe pleasures and diversions of life, at death you must leave them;\nthat will put an end to all your worldly concerns. And will it not\nbe very deplorable, to have your good things here, all your earthly,\nsensual, devilish pleasures, which you have been so much taken up with,\nall over: and the thought for how trifling a concern thou hast lost\neternal welfare, will gnaw thy very soul.\n\nThy wealth and grandeur will stand in no stead; thou canst carry\nnothing of it into the other world: then the consideration of thy\nuncharitableness to the poor, and the ways thou didst take to obtain\nthy wealth, will be a very hell unto thee.\n\nNow you enjoy the means of grace, as the preaching of his word, prayer,\nand sacraments; and GOD has sent his ministers out into the fields and\nhighways, to invite, to woo you to come in; but they are tiresome to\nthee, thou hadst rather be at thy pleasures: ere long, my brethren,\nthey will be over, and you will be no more troubled with them; but then\nthou wouldst give ten thousand worlds for one moment of that merciful\ntime of grace which thou hast abused; then you will cry for a drop of\nthat precious blood which now you trample under your feet; then you\nwill wish for one more offer of mercy, for CHRIST and his free grace\nto be offered to you again; but your crying will be in vain: for as you\nwould not repent here, GOD will not give you an opportunity to repent\nhereafter: if you would not in CHRIST\u2019s time, you shall not in your\nown. In what a dreadful condition will you then be? What horror and\nastonishment will possess your souls? Then all thy lies and oaths,\nthy scoffs and jeers at the people of GOD, all thy filthy and unclean\nthoughts and actions, thy mispent time in balls, plays, and assemblies,\nthy spending whole evenings at cards, dice, and masquerades, thy\nfrequenting of taverns and alehouses, thy worldliness, covetousness,\nand thy uncharitableness, will be brought at once to thy remembrance,\nand at once charged upon thy guilty soul. And how can you bear the\nthoughts of these things? Indeed I am full of compassion towards you,\nto think that this should be the portion of any who now hear me. These\nare truths, though awful ones; my brethren, these are the truths of\nthe gospel; and if there was not a necessity for thus speaking, I would\nwillingly forbear: for it is no pleasing subject to me, any more than\nit is to you; but it is my duty to shew you the dreadful consequences\nof continuing in sin. I am only now acting the part of a skilful\nsurgeon, that searches a wound before he heals it: I would shew you\nyour danger first, that deliverance may be the more readily accepted by\nyou.\n\nConsider, that however you may be for putting the evil day away from\nyou, and are now striving to hide your sins, at the day of judgment\nthere shall be a full discovery of all; hidden things on that day shall\nbe brought to light; and after all thy sins have been revealed to the\nwhole world, then you must depart into everlasting fire in hell, which\nwill not be quenched night and day; it will be without intermission,\nwithout end. O then, what stupidity and senselessness hath possessed\nyour hearts, that you are not frighted from your sins. The fear of\n_Nebuchadnezzar_\u2019s fiery furnace, made men do any thing to avoid it;\nand shall not an everlasting fire make men, make you, do any thing to\navoid it?\n\nO that this would awaken and cause you to humble yourselves for your\nsins, and to beg pardon for them, that you might find mercy in the LORD.\n\nDo not go away, let not the devil hurry you away before the sermon is\nover; but stay, and you shall have a JESUS offered to you, who has made\nfull satisfaction for all your sins.\n\nLet me beseech you to cast away your transgressions, to strive against\nsin, to watch against it, and to beg power and strength from CHRIST,\nto keep down the power of those lusts that hurry you on in your sinful\nways.\n\nBut if you will not do any of these things, if you are resolved to\nsin on, you must expect eternal death to be the consequence; you\nmust expect to be seized with horror and trembling, with horror and\namazement, to hear the dreadful sentence of condemnation pronounced\nagainst you: and then you will run and call upon the mountains to fall\non you, to hide you from the LORD, and from the fierce anger of his\nwrath.\n\nHad you now a heart to turn from your sins unto the living GOD, by\ntrue and unfeigned repentance, and to pray unto him for mercy, in and\nthrough the merits of JESUS CHRIST, there were hope; but at the day of\njudgment, thy prayers and tears will be of no signification; they will\nbe of no service to thee, the Judge will not be entreated by thee: as\nyou would not hearken to him when he called unto thee, but despised\nboth him and his ministers, and would not leave your iniquities;\ntherefore, on that day he will not be entreated, notwithstanding all\nthy cries and tears; for GOD himself hath said, \u201cBecause I have called,\nand you refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded, but\nye have set at nought all my counsel, and would have none of my reproof;\nI will also laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear cometh as\ndesolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress\nand anguish cometh upon you, then shall they call upon me, but I will\nnot answer, they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me.\u201d\n\nNow you may call this enthusiasm and madness; but at that great day, if\nyou repent not of your sins here, you will find, by woeful experience,\nthat your own ways were madness indeed; but GOD forbid it should be\nleft undone till then: seek after the LORD while he is to be found;\ncall upon him while he is near, and you shall find mercy: repent this\nhour, and CHRIST will joyfully receive you.\n\nWhat say you? Must I go to my Master, and tell him you will not come\nunto him, and will have none of his counsels? No; do not send me on so\nunhappy an errand: I cannot, I will not tell him any such thing. Shall\nnot I rather tell him, you are willing to repent and to be converted,\nto become new men, and take up a new course of life: this is the only\nwise resolution you can make. Let me tell my Master, that you will come\nunto, and will wait upon him: for if you do not, it will be your ruin\nin time, and to eternity.\n\nYou will at death wish you had lived the life of the righteous, that\nyou might have died his death. Be advised then; consider what is before\nyou, CHRIST and the world, holiness and sin, life and death: choose\nnow for yourselves; let your choice be made immediately, and let that\nchoice be your dying choice.\n\nIf you would not chuse to die in your sins, to die drunkards, to die\nadulterers, to die swearers and scoffers, &c. live not out this night\nin the dreadful condition you are in. Some of you, it may be, may say,\nYou have not power, you have no strength: but have not you been wanting\nto yourselves in such things that were within your power? Have you not\nas much power to go to hear a sermon, as to go into a playhouse, or to\na ball, or masquerade? You have as much power to read the Bible, as to\nread plays, novels, and romances; and you can associate as well with\nthe godly, as with the wicked and prophane: this is but an idle excuse,\nmy brethren, to go on in your sins: and if you will be found in the\nmeans of grace, CHRIST hath promised he will give you strength. While\n_Peter_ was preaching, the Holy Ghost fell on all that heard the word:\nhow then should you be found in the way of your duty? JESUS CHRIST will\nthen give thee strength; he will put his Spirit within thee; thou shalt\nfind he will be thy wisdom, thy righteousness, thy sanctification, and\nthy redemption. Do but try what a gracious, a kind, and loving Master\nhe is; he will be a help to thee in all thy burdens: and if the burden\nof sin is on thy soul, go to him as weary and heavy laden, and thou\nshalt find rest.\n\nDo not say, that your sins are too many and too great to expect to\nfind mercy: No; be they ever so many, or ever so great, the blood of\nthe LORD JESUS CHRIST will cleanse you from all sins. GOD\u2019s grace, my\nbrethren, is free, rich, and sovereign. _Manassah_ was a great sinner,\nand yet he was pardoned; _Zaccheus_ was gone far from GOD, and went\nout to see CHRIST, with no other view but to satisfy his curiosity;\nand yet JESUS met him, and brought salvation to his house. _Manassah_\nwas an idolater and murderer, yet he received mercy; the other was an\noppressor and extortioner, who had gotten riches by fraud and deceit,\nand by grinding the faces of the poor: so did _Matthew_ too, and yet\nthey found mercy.\n\nHave you been blasphemers and persecutors of the saints and servants\nof GOD? So was St. _Paul_, yet he received mercy: Have you been common\nharlots, filthy and unclean persons? so was _Mary Magdalene_, and yet\nshe received mercy: Hast thou been a thief? the thief upon the cross\nfound mercy. I despair of none of you, however vile and profligate you\nhave been; I say, I despair of none of you, especially when GOD has had\nmercy on such a wretch as I am.\n\nRemember the poor Publican, how he found favour with GOD, when\nthe proud, self-conceited Pharisee, who, puffed up with his own\nrighteousness, was rejected. And if you will go to JESUS, as the\npoor Publican did, under a sense of your own unworthiness, you shall\nfind favour as he did: there is virtue enough in the blood of JESUS,\nto pardon greater sinners than he has yet pardoned. Then be not\ndiscouraged, but come unto JESUS, and you will find him ready to help\nin all thy distresses, to lead thee into all truth, to bring thee from\ndarkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto GOD.\n\nDo not let the devil deceive you, by telling you, that then all your\ndelights and pleasures will be over: No; this is so far from depriving\nyou of all pleasure, that it is an inlet unto unspeakable delights,\npeculiar to all who are truly regenerated. The new birth is the very\nbeginning of a life of peace and comfort; and the greatest pleasantness\nis to be found in the ways of holiness.\n\n_Solomon_, who had experience of all other pleasures, yet saith of\nthe ways of godliness, \u201cThat all her ways are ways of pleasantness,\nand all her paths are paths of peace.\u201d Then sure you will not let the\ndevil deceive you; it is all he wants, it is that he aims at, to make\nreligion appear to be melancholy, miserable, and enthusiastic: but\nlet him say what he will, give not ear to him, regard him not, for he\nalways was and will be a liar.\n\nWhat words, what entreaties shall I use, to make you come unto the\nLORD JESUS CHRIST? The little love I have experienced since I have been\nbrought from sin to GOD, is so great, that I would not be in a natural\nstate for ten thousand worlds; and what I have felt is but little to\nwhat I hope to feel; but that little love which I have experienced,\nis a sufficient buoy against all the storms and tempests of this\nboisterous world: and let men and devils do their worst, I rejoice in\nthe LORD JESUS, yea, and I will rejoice.\n\nAnd O if you repent and come to JESUS, I would rejoice on your accounts\ntoo; and we should rejoice together to all eternity, when once passed\non the other side of the grave. O come to JESUS. The arms of JESUS\nCHRIST will embrace you; he will wash away all your sins in his blood,\nand will love you freely.\n\nCome, I beseech you to come unto JESUS CHRIST. O that my words would\npierce to the very soul! O that JESUS CHRIST was formed in you! O that\nyou would turn to the LORD JESUS CHRIST, that he might have mercy upon\nyou!\n\nI would speak till midnight, yea, I would speak till I could speak no\nmore, so it might be a means to bring you to JESUS: let the LORD JESUS\nbut enter your souls, and you shall find peace which the world can\nneither give nor take away. There is mercy for the greatest sinner\namongst you; go unto the LORD as sinners, helpless and undone without\nit, and then you shall find comfort in your souls, and be admitted at\nlast amongst those who sing praises unto the LORD to all eternity.\n\nNow, my brethren; let me speak a word of exhortation to those of you,\nwho are already brought to the LORD JESUS, who are born again, who\ndo belong to GOD, to whom it has been given to repent of your sins,\nand are cleansed from their guilt; and that is, be thankful to GOD\nfor his mercies towards you. O admire the grace of GOD, and bless his\nname for ever! Are you made alive in CHRIST JESUS? Is the life of GOD\nbegun in your souls, and have you the evidence thereof? Be thankful\nfor this unspeakable mercy to you: never forget to speak of his mercy.\nAnd as your life was formerly devoted to sin, and to the pleasures\nof the world, let it now be spent wholly in the ways of GOD; and O\nembrace every opportunity of doing and of receiving good. Whatsoever\nopportunity you have, do it vigorously, do it speedily, do not defer\nit. If thou seest one hurrying on to destruction, use the utmost of\nthy endeavour to stop him in his course; shew him the need he has of\nrepentance, and that without it he is lost for ever; do not regard\nhis despising of you; still go on to shew him his danger: and if thy\nfriends mock and despise, do not let that discourage you; hold on, hold\nout to the end, so you shall have a crown which is immutable, and that\nfadeth not away.\n\nLet the love of JESUS to you, keep you also humble; do not be high\nminded, keep close unto the LORD, observe the rules which the LORD\nJESUS CHRIST has given in his word, and let not the instructions be\nlost which you are capable of giving. O consider what reason you have\nto be thankful to the LORD JESUS CHRIST for giving you that repentance\nyou yourselves had need of: a repentance which worketh by love. Now\nyou find more pleasure in walking with GOD one hour, than in all your\nformer carnal delights, and all the pleasures of sin. O! the joy you\nfeel in your own souls, which all the men of this world, and all the\ndevils in hell, though they were to combine together, could not destroy.\nThen fear not their wrath or malice, for through many tribulations we\nmust enter into glory.\n\nA few days, or weeks, or years more, and then you will be beyond their\nreach, you will be in the heavenly _Jerusalem_; there is all harmony\nand love, there is all joy and delight; there the weary soul is at rest.\n\nNow we have many enemies, but at death they are all lost; they cannot\nfollow us beyond the grave: and this is a great encouragement to us not\nto regard the scoffs and jeers of the men of this world.\n\nO let the love of JESUS be in your thoughts continually. It was his\ndying that brought you life; it was his crucifixion that paid the\nsatisfaction for your sins; his death, burial, and resurrection that\ncompleated the work; and he is now in heaven, interceding for you\nat the right-hand of his Father. And can you do too much for the\nLORD JESUS CHRIST, who has done so much for you? His love to you\nis unfathomable. O the height, the depth, the length and breadth of\nthis love, that brought the King of glory from his throne, to die\nfor such rebels as we are, when we had acted so unkindly against him,\nand deserved nothing but eternal damnation. He came down and took our\nnature upon him; he was made of flesh and dwelt among us; he was put\nto death on our account; he paid our ransom: surely this should make us\nlove the LORD JESUS CHRIST; should make us rejoice in him, and not do\nas too many do, and as we ourselves have too often, crucify this JESUS\nafresh. Let us do all we can, my dear brethren, to honour him.\n\nCome, all of you, come, and behold him stretched out for you; see his\nhands and feet nailed to the cross. O come, come, my brethren, and\nnail your sins thereto; come, come and see his side pierced; there is a\nfountain open for sin, and for uncleanness: O wash, wash and be clean:\ncome and see his head crowned with thorns, and all for you. Can you\nthink of a panting, bleeding, dying JESUS, and not be filled with pity\ntowards him? He underwent all this for you. Come unto him by faith; lay\nhold on him: there is mercy for every soul of you that will come unto\nhim. Then do not delay; fly unto the arms of this JESUS, and you shall\nbe made clean in his blood.\n\nO what shall I say unto you to make you come to JESUS: I have shewed\nyou the dreadful consequence of not repenting of your sins: and if\nafter all I have said, you are resolved to persist, your blood will be\nrequired at your own heads; but I hope better things of you, and things\nthat accompany salvation. Let me beg of you to pray in good earnest for\nthe grace of repentance. I may never see your faces again; but at the\nday of judgment I will meet you: there you will either bless GOD that\never you were moved to repentance; or else this sermon, though in a\nfield, will be as a swift witness against you. Repent, repent therefore,\nmy dear brethren, as _John the Baptist_, and as our blessed Redeemer\nhimself earnestly exhorted, and turn from your evil ways, and the LORD\nwill have mercy on you.\n\nShew them, O Father, wherein they have offended thee; make them to\nsee their own vileness, and that they are lost and undone without\ntrue repentance; and O give them that repentance, we beseech of thee,\nthat they may turn from sin unto thee the living and true GOD. These\nthings, and whatever else thou seest needful for us, we entreat that\nthou wouldst bestow upon us, on account of what the dear JESUS CHRIST\nhas done and suffered; to whom, with Thyself, and holy Spirit, three\npersons, and one GOD, be ascribed, as is most due, all power, glory,\nmight, majesty, and dominion, now, henceforth, and for evermore, _Amen._\n\n\n\n\n SERMON XXXIII.\n\n The Gospel Supper.\n\n\n LUKE xiv. 22, 23, 24.\n\n _And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded,\n and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go\n out into the high-ways, and hedges, and compel them to come in,\n that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, that none of\n those men which were bidden, shall taste of my supper._\n\nTHOUGH here is a large and solemn assembly, yet I suppose you are all\nconvinced, that you are not to live in this world always. May I not\ntake it for granted, that even the most prophane amongst you, do in\nyour hearts believe, what the sacred oracles have most clearly revealed,\n\u201cThat as it is appointed for all men once to die, so after death comes\nthe judgment?\u201d Yes, I know you believe, that nothing is more certain,\nthan that we are to \u201cappear before the judgment-seat of CHRIST, to\nbe rewarded according to the deeds done in the body, whether they\nhave been good, or whether they have been evil.\u201d And, however hard\nthe saying may seem to you at the first hearing, yet I cannot help\ninforming you, that I am thoroughly persuaded, as many will be driven\nfrom that judgment-seat, with a \u201cDepart ye cursed into everlasting\nfire,\u201d for pursuing things in themselves lawful, out of a wrong\nprinciple, and in too intense a degree; as for drunkenness, adultery,\nfornication, or any other gross enormity whatsoever. Bad as the world\nis, blessed be GOD, there are great numbers yet left amongst us, who\neither through the restraints of a religious education, or self-love,\nand outward reputation, abstain from gross sin themselves, and look\nwith detestation and abhorrence upon others, who indulge themselves in\nit. But then, through an over-eager pursuit after the things of sense\nand time, their souls are insensibly lulled into a spiritual slumber,\nand by degrees become as dead to GOD, and as deaf to all the gracious\ninvitations of the gospel, as the most abandoned prodigals. It is\nremarkable, therefore, that our Saviour, knowing how desperately\nwicked and treacherous the heart of man was, in this, as well as other\nrespects, after he had cautioned his disciples, and us in them, to\n\u201ctake heed that their hearts were not at any time overcharged with\nsurfeiting and drunkenness,\u201d immediately adds, \u201cand the cares (the\nimmoderate anxious cares) of this life.\u201d For they are of a distracting,\nintoxicating nature, and soon overcharge and weigh down the hearts of\nthe children of men. To prevent or remedy this evil, our LORD, during\nthe time of his tabernacling here below, spake many parables, but not\none more pertinent, not one, in which the freeness of the gospel-call,\nand the frivolous pretences men frame to excuse themselves from\nembracing it, and the dreadful doom they incur by so doing, are more\ndisplayed, or set off in livelier colours, than that to which the words\nof the text refer. \u201cAnd the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the\nhighways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be\nfilled: For I say unto you, that none of those that were bidden shall\ntaste of my supper.\u201d\n\nIn order to have a clear view of the occasion, scope, and contents of\nthe parable, to which these words belong, it is necessary for us to\nlook back to the very beginning of this chapter. \u201cAnd it came to pass,\nas he went into the house of one of the chief pharisees to eat bread,\non the sabbath day, that they watched him.\u201d The person here spoken\nof, as going into this Pharisee\u2019s house, is our blessed Saviour. For\nas he came eating and drinking, agreeable to his character, he was\nfree, courteous and affable to all; and therefore though it was on\nthe sabbath-day, he accepted an invitation, and went into the house\nof one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread, notwithstanding he knew\nthe Pharisees were his professed enemies, and that they watched him,\nhoping to find some occasion to upbraid him, either for his discourse\nor behaviour. If the Pharisee into whose house our LORD went, was\none of this stamp, his invitation bespeaks him to be a very ill man,\nand may serve to teach us, that much rancour and heart-enmity against\nJESUS CHRIST, may be concealed and cloaked under a great and blazing\nprofession of religion. However, our Saviour was more than a match\nfor all his enemies, and by accepting this invitation, hath warranted\nhis ministers and disciples, to comply with the like invitations, and\nconverse freely about the things of GOD, though those who invite them,\nmay not have real religion at heart. For how knowest thou, O man, but\nthou mayest drop something, that may benefit their souls, and make them\nreligious indeed? And supposing they should watch thee, watch thou unto\nprayer, whilst thou art in their company, and that same JESUS, who went\ninto this Pharisee\u2019s house, and was so faithful and edifying in his\nconversation when there, will enable thee to go and do likewise.\n\nThat our LORD\u2019s conversation was not trifling, but such as tended to\nthe use of edifying, and that he behaved among the guests as a faithful\nphysician, rather than as a careless, indifferent companion, is evident\nfrom the 7th verse of this chapter, where we are told, that \u201che marked\nhow they chose the chief rooms;\u201d or, to speak in our common way, were\ndesirous of sitting at the upper end of the table. And whether we think\nof it or not, the LORD JESUS takes notice of our behaviour, even when\nwe are going to sit down only at our common meals. Would to GOD, all\nthat make a profession of real christianity, considered this well!\nReligion then would not be so much confined to church, or meeting, but\nbe brought home to our private houses, and many needless unchristian\ncompliments be prevented. For (with grief I speak it) is it not too\ntrue, that abundance of professors love, and are too fond of the\nuppermost places in houses, as well as synagogues? This was what our\nLORD blamed in the guests where he now was. He marked, he took notice,\nhe looked before he spake (as we should always do, if we would speak\nto the purpose) how they chose out the chief rooms. Therefore, though\nthey were rich in this world\u2019s goods, and were none of his guests, yet\nunwilling to suffer the least sin upon them, or lose any opportunity of\ngiving instruction, he gave them a lecture upon humility, saying unto\nthem, or directing his discourse to all in general, though probably he\nspake to one in particular, who sat near him, and whom, it may be, he\ntook notice of, as more than ordinarily solicitous in choosing a chief\nroom, or couch, on which they lay at meals, after the custom of the\n_Romans_; \u201cWhen thou art bidden of any man to a wedding (which seems\nto intimate that this was a wedding-feast) sit not down in the highest\nroom, lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; and he\nthat bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and\nthou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden,\ngo and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh,\nhe may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have\nworship (or respect) in the presence of them who sit at meat with\nthee.\u201d O glorious example of faithfulness and love to souls! How ought\nministers especially, to copy after their blessed Master, and, with\nsimplicity and godly sincerity, mildly and opportunely rebuke the\nfaults of the company they are in, though superior to them in outward\ncircumstances? What rightly informed person, after reading this passage,\ncan think they teach right and agreeable to the word of GOD in this\nrespect, who say, we must not, at least need not, reprove natural men?\nSurely such doctrine cometh not from above! For are we not commanded,\nin any wise, to reprove our neighbour (whether he be a child of GOD\nor no) and not to suffer sin upon him? Is it not more than probable,\nthat all these guests were natural men? And yet our LORD reproved them.\nHelp us then, O Saviour, in this and every other instance of thy moral\nconduct, to walk as thou hast set us an example!\n\nNeither did our LORD stop here; but observing that none but the rich,\nthe mighty, and the noble, were called to the feast, he took occasion\nalso from thence, to give even his host (for the best return we make\nour friends for their kindness, is to be faithful to their souls) one\nof the chief Pharisees, a wholesome piece of advice. \u201cThen said he\nalso to him that bade him, when thou makest a dinner or a supper, call\nnot thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen nor thy rich\nneighbours, lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made\nthee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame,\nthe blind, and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompence thee:\nFor thou shalt be recompenced at the resurrection of the just!\u201d Thus\ndid our LORD entertain the company. Words spoken in such due season,\nhow good are they! Would CHRIST\u2019s followers thus exert themselves, and,\nwhen in company, begin some useful discourse for their great master,\nthey know not what good they might do, and how many might be influenced,\nby their good example, to second them in it.\n\nAn instance of this we have in the 14th verse: \u201cAnd when one of them\nthat sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed\nis he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of GOD.\u201d Happy they who\nshall be recompenced at that resurrection of the just, which thou hast\nbeen speaking of. A very pertinent saying this! every way suitable to\npersons sitting down to eat bread on earth, which we should never do,\nwithout talking of, and longing for that time, when we shall sit down\nand eat bread in the kingdom of heaven. This opened to our LORD a fresh\ntopic of conversation, and occasioned the parable, which is to be the\nmore immediate subject of your present meditation. As though he had\nsaid to the person that spoke last, Thou sayest right: blessed are\nthey indeed, who shall sit down to eat bread in the kingdom of GOD: But\nalas! most men, especially you Pharisees, act as if you did not believe\nthis; and therefore he said unto him, \u201cA certain man made a great\nsupper, and bade many;\u201d by the certain man making a great supper, we\nare to understand GOD the Father, who has made provision for perishing\nsouls, by the obedience and death of his beloved Son CHRIST JESUS. This\nprovision is here represented under the character of a supper, because\nthe _C\u00e6na_ or supper, among the ancients, was their grand meal: Men\ncould never have made such provision for themselves, or angels for them.\nNo, our salvation is all from GOD, from the beginning to the end. He\nmade it, and not we ourselves; and it is wholly owing to the divine\nwisdom, and not our own, that we are become GOD\u2019s people, and the\nsheep of his pasture. This provision for perishing souls, may be justly\ncalled _great_, because there is rich and ample provision made in the\ngospel for a great many souls. For however CHRIST\u2019s flock may be but a\nlittle flock, when asunder, yet when they come all together, they will\nbe a multitude which no man can number. And it is especially called\n_great_, because it was purchased at so great a price, the price of\nCHRIST\u2019s most precious blood. And therefore, when the apostle would\nexhort the christians to glorify GOD in their souls and bodies, he\nmakes use of this glorious motive, \u201cThat they were bought with a\nprice.\u201d He does not say what price, but barely a _price_, emphatically\nso called; as though all the prices in the world were nothing (as\nindeed they are not) when compared to this price of CHRIST\u2019s most\nprecious blood.\n\nFor these reasons, JESUS said in the parable, \u201cA certain man made a\ngreat supper, and bade many, and sent his servant at supper-time, to\nsay to them that were bidden, Come, for all things are now ready.\u201d He\nbade many; the eternal GOD took the _Jews_ for his peculiar people,\nunder the _Mosaic_ dispensation; and by types, shadows, and prophesies\nof the Old Testament, invited them to partake of the glorious\nprivileges of the gospel. \u201cBut at supper-time,\u201d in the fulness of time,\nwhich GOD the Father had decreed from eternity, in the evening of the\nworld (for which reason the gospel times are called the last times)\n\u201che sent his servant,\u201d CHRIST his Son, here called his servant, because\nacting as Mediator he was inferior to the Father; therefore says the\nprophet _Isaiah_, \u201cBehold my servant whom I have chosen:\u201d \u201cto say to\nthem that were bidden,\u201d to the professing _Jews_, called by St. _John_,\n\u201chis own,\u201d that is, his peculiar professing people\u2015\u2015with this message,\n\u201cCome;\u201d repent and believe the gospel. Nothing is required on man\u2019s\npart, but to come, or accept of the gospel offer. It is not according\nto the old covenant, \u201cDo and live;\u201d but only \u201ccome, believe, and thou\nshalt be saved.\u201d All things are ready. Nothing is wanting on GOD\u2019s part.\n\u201cAll things are now ready.\u201d There seems to be a particular emphasis to\nbe put upon NOW, implying, this was an especial season of grace, and\nGOD was now exerting his last efforts, to save lost man. Well then,\nif the great GOD be at so great an expence, to make so great a supper,\nfor perishing creatures, and sends so great a person as his own Son, in\nthe form of a servant, to invite them to come to it; one would imagine,\nthat all who heard these glad tidings, should readily say, LORD, lo we\ncome. But instead of this, we are told, \u201cThey all, (the greatest part\nof the _Jews_) with one consent began to make excuse.\u201d Conscience told\nthem they ought to come, and in all probability they had some faint\ndesire to come; and they had nothing, as we hear of, to object either\nagainst the person who prepared the supper, or the person that invited\nthem, or the entertainment itself; neither do we hear that they treated\neither with contempt, as is the custom of too many in the days wherein\nwe live. In all probability, they acknowledged all was very good, and\nthat it was kind in that certain man, to send them such an invitation.\nBut being very busy, and as they thought very lawfully engaged, they\nbegun to make excuse.\n\nBut the excuses they made, rendered their refusal inexcusable. \u201cThe\nfirst said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs\ngo and see it:\u201d Thou fool, buy a piece of ground, and then go see it!\nA prudent man would have gone and seen the ground first, and bought\nit afterwards. Why must he _needs_ go? At least, why must he needs go\n_now_? The land was his own, could he not therefore have accepted the\ninvitation to-day, and gone and seen his estate, or plantation, on the\nmorrow? As he had bought it, he need not fear losing his bargain, by\nanothers buying it from him. But notwithstanding all this, there is a\nneeds must for his going, and therefore says he, \u201cI pray thee, have me\nexcused,\u201d and improve thy interest with thy master in my behalf. This\nwas a bad excuse.\n\nThe second was rather worse. For what says the evangelist, verse 19?\n\u201cAnd another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove\nthem:\u201d One, it seems, had been buying an estate; another, cattle, to\nstock an estate already bought; and both equally foolish in making\ntheir bargains. For this second had bought five yoke of oxen, which\nmust needs cost them a considerable sum, perhaps all he had in the\nworld, and now he must go and prove them. A wise dealer would have\nproved the oxen first, and bought them afterwards: But our Saviour\nspeaks this, to shew us, that we will trust one another, nay I may add,\nthe devil himself, more than we will trust GOD.\n\nThe excuse which the third makes, is worst of all. \u201cI have married a\nwife, and therefore I cannot come.\u201d Had he said, I will not come, he\nhad spoken the real sentiments of his heart: for it is not so much mens\nimpotency, as their want of a will, and inclination, that keeps them\nfrom the gospel-feast. But why cannot he come? He has \u201cmarried a wife.\u201d\nHas he so? Why then, by all means he should come. For the supper to\nwhich he was invited, as it should seem, was a wedding-supper, and\nwould have saved him the trouble of a nuptial entertainment. It was\na great supper, and consequently there was provision enough for him,\nand his bride too. And it was made by a great man, who sent out his\nservant to bid many, so that he need not have doubted of meeting with a\nhearty welcome, though he should bring his wife with him. Or supposing\nhis wife was unwilling to come, yet as the husband is the head of the\nwife, he ought to have laid his commands on her, to accompany him.\nFor we cannot do better for our yoke-fellows, than to bring them to\nthe gospel-feast. Or, supposing after all, she would not be prevailed\nupon, he ought to have gone without her: for \u201cthose that have wives,\nmust be as though they had none;\u201d and we must not let carnal affection\nget such an ascendancy over us, as to be kept thereby from spiritual\nentertainments. _Adam_ paid dear for hearkening to the voice of his\nwife: and sometimes, unless we forsake wives, as well as houses and\nlands, we cannot be the LORD\u2019s disciples.\n\nThis then was the reception the servant met with, and such were\nthe excuses, and answers, that were sent back. And what was the\nconsequence? \u201cSo that servant came (no doubt with a sorrowful heart)\nand shewed his LORD these things.\u201d However little it be thought of, yet\nministers must shew the LORD, what success their ministry meets with.\nWe must shew it to our LORD here. We must spread the case before him\nin prayer. We must shew it to our LORD hereafter, before the general\nassembly of the whole world. But how dreadful is it, when ministers are\nobliged to go upon their knees, crying, \u201cO! my leanness, my leanness!\u201d\nand _Elias_-like, to intercede as it were against those, to whom they\nwould not only have imparted the gospel, but even their own lives. It\nis a heart-breaking consideration. But thus it must be; \u201cThe servant\ncame and shewed the LORD these things;\u201d so must we. Well, and what says\nthe LORD? We are told, verse 21st, that \u201cthe master of the house was\nangry?\u201d Not with the servant: for though _Israel_ be not gathered, yet\nshall CHRIST be glorious; and faithful ministers shall be rewarded,\nwhether people obey the gospel or not. \u201cWe are a sweet savour unto GOD,\nwhether the word be a savour of life unto life, or a savour of death\nunto death.\u201d The master of the house therefore was angry, not with\nthe servant, but with these-worldly-minded, pleasure-taking refusers\nof his gracious invitation; who, in all probability, went to see and\nstock their estates, and attend upon their brides, not doubting, but\ntheir excuses would be taken, because they were lawfully employed. And,\nindeed, in one sense, their excuses were accepted. For I do not hear\nthat they were ever invited any more. GOD took them at their word,\nthough they would not take him at his. They begged to be excused, and\nthey were excused, as we shall see in the sequel of this parable. Let\nus not therefore harden our hearts, as in the day of provocation; \u201cNow\nis the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.\u201d But must the feast\nwant guests? No, if they cannot, or will not come, others shall, and\nwill. The master of the house therefore being angry, sent the servant\nupon a second errand. \u201cGo out quickly into the streets, and lanes\nof the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the\nhalt, and the blind.\u201d Every word bespeaks a spirit of resentment and\nimportunity. Go out quickly, make no delay, dread no attempt or danger,\ninto the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither, not only\ncall them, but bring them in (for the master here, to encourage the\nservant, assures him of success) the poor, and the maimed, and the halt,\nand the blind. This was fulfilled, when JESUS CHRIST, after the gospel\nwas rejected by the _Jews_, went and invited the _Gentiles_, and when\nthe publicans and harlots took the kingdom of GOD by a holy violence,\nwhilst the self-righteous scribes and Pharisees rejected the kingdom\nof GOD against themselves. This was also a home reproof to the rich\nPharisee, at whose house the LORD JESUS was, as well as a cutting\nlesson to the other guests. For our Saviour would hereby shew them,\nthat GOD took a quite different method from his host, and was not above\nreceiving the poor, and halt, and blind, and maimed, to the gospel\nsupper, though he had called none such to sit down at his table.\nWhether the guests resented it or not, we are not told. But if they\nwere not quite blind, both host and guests might easily see that the\nparable was spoken against them. But to proceed,\n\nThe servant again returns, but with a more pleasing answer than before,\n\u201cLord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.\u201d The\nwords bespeak the servant to be full of joy at the thoughts of the\nsuccess he had met with. None can tell, but those who experience it,\nwhat comfort ministers have in seeing their labours blest. \u201cNow I live,\n(says the apostle) if you stand fast in the LORD. Ye are our joy and\ncrown of rejoicing in the day of the LORD JESUS.\u201d \u201cLord, it is done as\nthou hast commanded. The poor, and maimed, and halt, and blind, have\nbeen called, and have obeyed the summons, and I have brought them with\nme; yet, LORD, thy house, and thy supper is so great, there is room\nfor more.\u201d Hereby he insinuated that he wanted to be employed again,\nin calling more souls; and the more we do, the more may we do for GOD:\n\u201cTo him that hath, shall be given;\u201d and present success is a great\nencouragement to future diligence. Such hints are pleasing to our\nSaviour. He delights to see his ministers ready for new work, and\nwaiting for fresh orders. \u201cThe LORD, therefore, we are told, verse 23,\nsaid unto his servant, (the same servant,) Go out into the highways\nand hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled;\n24. For I say unto you, that none of those who are bidden, shall taste\nof my supper.\u201d O cutting words to those that sat at meat, if they\nhad hearts to make the application! But glad tidings of great joy to\nthe publicans, harlots, and Gentiles, who were rejected by the proud\nPharisees, as aliens to the commonwealth of _Israel_, and strangers\nto the covenant of promise! This was fulfilled, when our LORD sent\nthe apostles, not only into the streets and lanes of the city, and\nplaces bordering upon _Jerusalem_ and _Judea_; but when he gave them a\ncommission to go out into all the world, and preach the gospel to every\ncreature, _Gentile_ as well as _Jew_; and not only gave them a command,\nbut blessed their labours with such success, that three thousand were\nconverted in one day. And I am not without hopes that it will be still\nfurther fulfilled, by the calling of some of you home this day: For\nhowever this parable was spoken originally to the _Jews_, and upon a\nparticular occasion, as at a feast, yet it is applicable to us, and to\nour children, and to as many as are afar off; yea, to as many as the\nLORD our GOD shall call. It gives a sanction, methinks, to preaching in\nthe fields, and other places besides the synagogues; and points out the\nreception the gospel meets with in these days, in such a lively manner,\nthat one would think it had a particular reference to the present age.\nFor is it not too, too plain, that the gospel-offers, and gospel-grace,\nhave been slighted, and made light of, by many professors of this\ngeneration? We have been in the churches, telling them, again and again,\nthat GOD has made a great supper (and has invited many, even them) and\nsent us by his providence and his spirit, \u201cto say unto them that were\nbidden, Come, for all things are now ready. Believe on the LORD JESUS,\nand you shall be saved.\u201d But the generality of the laity have made\nlight of it, they have given us the hearing, but are too busy in their\nfarms and their merchandizes, their marrying and giving in marriage,\nto come and be blessed in the LORD of life. We have told them, again\nand again, that we do not want them to hide themselves from the world,\nbut to teach them how they may live in, and yet not be of it. But all\nwill not do. Many of the clergy also (like the letter-learned Scribes\nand Pharisees in our Saviour\u2019s time) reject the kingdom of GOD against\nthemselves, and deny us the use of the pulpits, for no other reason but\nbecause we preach the doctrine of justification in the sight of GOD by\nfaith alone, and invite sinners to come and taste of the gospel feast\nfreely, without money and without price.\n\nWhatever they may think, we are persuaded, the great master of the\nhouse is angry with them, for being angry with us without a cause.\nHe therefore now, by his providence, bids us \u201cGo out quickly into the\nstreets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor, and the maimed,\nand the halt, and the blind,\u201d or call in the publicans and harlots,\nthe common cursers and swearers, and sabbath-breakers, and adulterers,\nwho, perhaps, never entered a church door, or heard that JESUS CHRIST\ndied for such sinners as they are. We, through grace, have obeyed the\ncommand, we have gone out, though exposed to much contempt for so doing,\nand, blessed be GOD, our labour has not been in vain in the LORD. For\nmany have been made willing in the day of GOD\u2019s power; and, we would\nspeak it with humility, we can go chearfully to our Saviour, and say,\n\u201cIt is done, LORD, as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.\u201d He\nis therefore pleased, in spite of all opposition from men or devils,\nto continue, and renew, and enlarge our commission; he hath sent us\nliterally into the highways and hedges; and, I trust, has given us\na commission to compel sinners to come: For, could we speak with the\ntongues of men and angels, yet if the LORD did not attend the word\nwith his power, and sweetly inclined men\u2019s wills to comply with the\ngospel-call, we should be as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.\nBut this we believe our Saviour will do, for his house must be filled:\nevery soul for whom he has shed his blood, shall finally be saved, \u201cand\nall that the Father hath given him, shall come unto him, and whosoever\ncometh unto him he will in no wise cast out.\u201d This comforted our LORD,\nwhen his gospel was rejected by the _Jews_. As though he had said, Well,\ntho\u2019 you despise the offers of my grace, yet I shall not shed my blood\nin vain; for all that the Father hath given me shall come unto me.\n\nSupported by this consideration, I am not ashamed to come out this\nday into the highways and hedges, and to confess that my business\nis to call the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind,\nself-condemned, helpless sinners, to the marriage-feast of the\nsupper of the Lamb. My cry is, Come, believe on the LORD JESUS; throw\nyourselves at the footstool of his mercy, and you shall be saved; for\nall things are now ready. GOD the Father is ready, GOD the Son is ready,\nGOD the Holy Ghost is ready; the blessed angels above are ready, and\nthe blessed saints below are ready, to welcome you to the gospel-feast.\nA perfect and everlasting righteousness is now wrought out by JESUS\nCHRIST. GOD, now, upon honourable terms, can acquit the guilty. GOD can\nnow be just, and yet justify the ungodly. \u201cFor he hath made CHRIST to\nbe sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness\nof GOD in him.\u201d The fatted calf is now killed, and \u201cCHRIST, our\npassover, is sacrificed for us.\u201d Come, sinners, and feed upon him in\nyour hearts by faith, with thanksgiving. For JESUS CHRIST\u2019s sake, do\nnot with one consent begin to make excuse. Do not let a piece of ground,\nfive yoke of oxen, or even a wife, keep you from this great supper.\nThese you may enjoy, as the gifts of GOD, and make use of them for\nthe Mediator\u2019s glory, and yet be present at the gospel-feast. True and\nundefiled religion does not take away, but rather greatly enhances the\ncomforts of life; and our LORD did not pray that we should be taken out\nof the world, but \u201cthat we should be delivered from the evil of it.\u201d\nO then that you would all, with one consent, say, Lo! we come. Assure\nyourselves there is provision enough. For it is a great supper. In our\nFather\u2019s house there is bread enough and to spare. And though a great\nGOD makes the supper, yet he is as good and condescending as he is\ngreat. Though he be the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity,\nyet he will dwell with the humble and contrite heart, even with the man\nthat trembleth at his word. Neither can you complain for want of room;\n\u201cfor yet there is room. In our Father\u2019s house are many mansions.\u201d If\nit was not so, our Saviour would have told us. The grace of CHRIST is\nas rich, as free, and as powerful as ever. He is \u201cthe same yesterday,\nto-day, and for ever.\u201d He is full of grace and truth, and out of his\nfulness, all that come to him may receive grace for grace. He giveth\nliberally, and upbraideth not. He willeth not the death of a sinner,\nbut rather that he should believe and live. Come then, all ye halt,\npoor, maimed, and blind sinners; take comfort, the LORD JESUS has sent\nhis servant to call you. It is now supper-time, and a day of uncommon\ngrace. The day may be far spent. Haste, therefore, and away to the\nsupper of the Lamb. If you do not come, I know the master will be angry.\nAnd who can stand before him when he is angry? \u201cHarden not therefore\nyour hearts, as in the day of provocation, as in the day of temptation\nin the wilderness.\u201d Do not provoke the LORD to say, \u201cNone of those\nthat were bidden shall taste of my supper.\u201d O dreadful words! Much more\nis implied in them than is expressed. It is the same with that in the\npsalms, \u201cI sware in my wrath, that they should not enter into my rest.\u201d\nAnd if you do not enter into GOD\u2019s rest, nor taste of CHRIST\u2019s supper,\nyou must lift up your eyes in torments, where you will have no rest,\nand must sup with the damned devils for ever more.\n\nKnowing therefore the terrors of the LORD, we persuade you to haste\naway, and make no more frivolous excuses. For there is no excuse\nagainst believing. Perhaps you say, You call to the halt, and maimed,\nand blind, and poor. But if we are halt, and maimed, how can we come?\nIf we are blind, how can we see our way? If we are poor, how can we\nexpect admission to so great a table? Ah! Happy are ye, if you are\nsensible, that you are halt and maimed. For if you feel yourselves so,\nand are lamenting it, who knows but whilst I am speaking, GOD may send\nhis Spirit with the word, and fetch you home? Though you are blind,\nJESUS has eye salve to anoint you. Though you are poor, yet you are\nwelcome to this rich feast. It cost JESUS CHRIST a great price, but\nyou shall have it gratis. For such as you was it designed. \u201cBlessed\nare the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.\u201d Rich,\nself-righteous, self-sufficient sinners, I know, will scorn both the\nfeast and its great provider. They have done so already, therefore the\nLORD has sent us into the highways and hedges, to bring such poor souls\nas you are in. Venture then, my dear friends, and honour GOD, by taking\nhim at his word. Come to the marriage-feast. Believe me, you will there\npartake of most delicious fare.\n\nTell me, ye that have been made to taste that the LORD is gracious,\nwill you not recommend this feast to all? Are you not, whilst I am\nspeaking, ready to cry out, Come all ye that are without, come ye,\nobey the call, for we have sat under the Redeemer\u2019s shadow with great\ndelight, and his fruit has been pleasant to our taste. Whilst I am\nspeaking, does not the fire kindle, do not your hearts burn with a\ndesire that others may come and be blessed too? If you are christians\nindeed, I know you will be thus minded, and the language of your hearts\nwill be, LORD, whilst he is calling, let thy Spirit compel them to come\nin. O that the LORD may say, _Amen!_ And why should we doubt? Surely\nour Saviour will not let me complain this day that I have laboured in\nvain, and spent my strength for nought. Methinks I see many desiring\nto come. O how shall I compel you to come forwards. I will not use\nfire or sword, as the _Papists_ do, by terribly perverting this text\nof scripture. But I will tell you of the love of GOD, the love of GOD\nin CHRIST, and surely that must compel you, that must constrain you,\nwhether you will or not. Sinners, my heart is enlarged towards you. I\ncould fill my mouth with arguments. Consider the greatness of the GOD\nwho makes the supper. Consider the greatness of the price, wherewith\nit was purchased. Consider the greatness of the provision made for\nyou. What would you have more? Consider GOD\u2019s infinite condescension,\nin calling you now, when you might have been in hell, \u201cwhere the worm\ndieth not, and the fire is not quenched.\u201d And that you might be without\nexcuse, he has sent his servant into the highways and hedges to invite\nyou there. O that you tasted what I do now! I am sure you would not\nwant arguments to induce you to come in: No, you would fly to the\ngospel-feast, as doves to the windows.\n\nBut, poor souls! many of you, perhaps, are not hungry. You do not\nfeel yourselves halt, or maimed, or blind, and therefore you have no\nrelish for this spiritual entertainment. Well, be not angry with me for\ncalling you; be not offended if I weep over you, because you know not\nthe day of your visitation: If I must appear in judgment as a swift\nwitness against you, I must. But that thought chills my blood! I cannot\nbear it; I feel that I could lay down my life for you. But I am not\nwilling to go without you. What say you, my dear friends? I would put\nthe question to you once more, Will you taste of CHRIST\u2019s supper, or\nwill you not? You shall all be welcome. There is milk at this feast\nfor babes, as well as meat for strong men, and for persons of riper\nyears. There is room and provision for high and low, rich and poor,\none with another; and our Saviour will thank you for coming. Amazing\ncondescension! Astonishing love! The thought of it quite overcomes me.\nHelp me, help me, O believers, to bless and praise him.\n\nAnd O! that his love may excite us to come afresh to him, as though\nwe had never come before! For, though we have been often feasted, yet\nour souls will starve, unless we renew our acts of faith, and throw\nourselves, as lost, undone sinners, continually at the feet of CHRIST.\nFeeding upon past experiences will not satisfy our souls, any more than\nwhat we did eat yesterday will sustain our bodies to-day. No, believers\nmust look for fresh influences of divine grace, and beg of the LORD to\nwater them every moment. The parable therefore speaks to saints as well\nas sinners. Come ye to the marriage-feast; you are as welcome now as\never. And may GOD set your souls a longing for that time when we shall\nsit down and eat bread in the kingdom of heaven! There we shall have\nfull draughts of divine love, and enjoy the glorious Emmanuel for ever\nmore. Even so, LORD JESUS, _Amen._\n\n\n\n\n SERMON XXXIV.\n\n The Pharisee and Publican.\n\n\n LUKE xviii. 14.\n\n _I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather\n than the other: For every one that exalteth himself, shall be\n abased, and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted._\n\nTHOUGH there be some who dare to deny the LORD JESUS, and disbelieve\nthe revelation he has been pleased to give us, and thereby bring upon\nthemselves swift destruction; yet I would charitably hope there are but\nfew if any such among you, to whom I am now to preach the kingdom of\nGOD. Was I to ask you, how you expect to be justified in the sight of\nan offended GOD? I suppose you would answer, only for the sake of our\nLORD JESUS CHRIST. But, was I to come more home to your consciences, I\nfear that most would make the LORD JESUS but in part their Saviour, and\ngo about, as it were, to establish a righteousness of their own. And\nthis is not thinking contrary to the rules of christian charity: for\nwe are all self-righteous by nature; it is as natural for us to turn to\na covenant of works, as for the sparks to fly upwards. We have had so\nmany legal and so few free-grace preachers, for these many years, that\nmost professors now seem to be settled upon their lees, and rather\ndeserve the title of _Pharisees_ than christians.\n\nThus it was with the generality of the people during the time of our\nLORD\u2019s public ministration: and therefore, in almost all his discourses,\nhe preached the gospel to poor sinners, and denounced terrible woes\nagainst proud self-justiciaries. The parable, to which the words of\nthe text belong, looks both these ways: For the evangelist informs\nus (verse 9.) that our LORD \u201cspake it unto certain who trusted in\nthemselves that they were righteous, and despised others.\u201d And a\nnotable parable it is; a parable worthy of your most serious attention.\n\u201cHe that hath ears to hear, let him hear,\u201d what JESUS CHRIST speaks to\nall visible professors in it.\n\nVerse 10. \u201cTwo men went up to the temple to pray (and never two men of\nmore opposite characters) the one a Pharisee and the other a Publican.\u201d\nThe Pharisees were the strictest sect among the _Jews_. \u201cI was of the\nstrictest sect, of the Pharisees,\u201d says _Paul_. They prayed often;\nnot only so, but they made long prayers; and, that they might appear\nextraordinary devout, they would pray at the corners of the street,\nwhere two ways met, that people going or coming, both ways, might see\nthem. \u201cThey made broad (as our LORD informs us) the borders of their\nphylacteries,\u201d they had pieces of parchment sown to their long robes,\non which some parts of the Scripture were written, that people might\nfrom thence infer, that they were lovers of the law of GOD. They were\nso very punctual and exact in outward purifications, that they washed\nat their going out and coming in. They held the washing of pots, brazen\nvessels and tables, and many other such-like things they did. They were\nvery zealous for the traditions of the fathers, and for the observation\nof the rites and ceremonies of the church, notwithstanding they\nfrequently made void the law of GOD by their traditions. And they were\nso exceedingly exact in the outward observation of the sabbath, that\nthey condemned our LORD for making a little clay with his spittle; and\ncalled him a sinner, and said, he was not of GOD, because he had given\nsight to a man born blind, on the sabbath-day. For these reasons they\nwere had in high veneration among the people, who were sadly misled by\nthese blind guides: they had the uppermost places in the synagogues,\nand greetings in the market-places (which they loved dearly) and were\ncalled of men, _Rabbi_; in short, they had such a reputation for piety,\nthat it became a proverb among the _Jews_, that, if there were but two\nmen saved, the one of them must be a Pharisee.\n\nAs for the Publicans, it was not so with them. It seems they were\nsometimes _Jews_, or at least proselytes of the gate; for we find one\nhere coming up to the temple; but for the generality, I am apt to think\nthey were _Gentiles_; for they were gatherers of the _Roman_ taxes, and\nused to amass much wealth (as appears by the confession of _Zaccheus_,\none of the chief of them) by wronging men with false accusations. They\nwere so universally infamous, that our LORD himself tells his disciples,\n\u201cthe excommunicated man should be to them as a heathen man, or a\nPublican.\u201d And the Pharisees thought it a sufficient impeachment of our\nLORD\u2019s character, that he was a friend to Publicans and sinners, and\nwent to sit down with them at meat.\n\nBut, however they disagreed in other things, they agreed in this, that\npublic worship is a duty incumbent upon all: for they both came up to\nthe temple. The very heathens were observers of temple-worship. We have\nvery early notice of mens sacrificing to, and calling upon the name\nof the LORD, in the Old Testament; and I find it no where contradicted\nin the New. Our LORD, and his apostles, went up to the temple; and we\nare commanded by the apostle, \u201cnot to forsake the assembling ourselves\ntogether,\u201d as the manner of too many is in our days; and such too, as\nwould have us think well of them, though they seldom or never tread\nthe courts of the LORD\u2019s house. But, though our devotions begin in\nour closets, they must not end there. And, if people never shew their\ndevotions abroad, I must suspect they have little or none at home.\n\u201cTwo men went up to the temple.\u201d And what went they thither for? Not\n(as multitudes amongst us do) to make the house of GOD a house of\nmerchandize, or turn it into a den of thieves; much less to ridicule\nthe preacher, or disturb the congregation; no, they came to the temple,\nsays our LORD, \u201cto pray.\u201d Thither should the tribes of GOD\u2019s spiritual\n_Israel_ go up, to talk with, and pour out their hearts before the\nmighty GOD of _Jacob_.\n\n\u201cTwo men went up to the temple to pray.\u201d I fear one of them forgot\nhis errand. I have often been at a loss what to call the _Pharisee_\u2019s\naddress; it certainly does not deserve the name of a prayer: he may\nrather be said to come to the temple to _boast_, than to pray; for I do\nnot find one word of confession of his original guilt; not one single\npetition for pardon of his past actual sins, or for grace to help and\nassist him for the time to come: he only brings to GOD, as it were, a\nreckoning of his performances; and does that, which no flesh can justly\ndo, I mean, glory in his presence.\n\nVerse 11. \u201cThe Pharisee stood, and prayed thus with himself; GOD, I\nthank thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust,\nadulterers, or even as this Publican.\u201d\n\nOur LORD first takes notice of his posture; \u201cthe Pharisee _stood_,\u201d he\nis not to be condemned for that; for standing, as well as kneeling, is\na proper posture for prayer. \u201cWhen you stand praying,\u201d says our LORD;\nthough sometimes our LORD kneeled, nay, lay flat on his face upon the\nground; his apostles also kneeled, as we read in the _Acts_, which has\nmade me wonder at some, who are so bigotted to standing in family, as\nwell as public prayer, that they will not kneel, notwithstanding all\nkneel that are around them. I fear there is something of the Pharisee\nin this conduct. Kneeling and standing are indifferent, if the knee of\nthe soul be bent, and the heart upright towards GOD. We should study\nnot to be particular in indifferent things, lest we offend weak minds.\nWhat the Pharisee is remarked for, is his \u201cstanding by himself:\u201d for\nthe words may be rendered, he stood by himself, upon some eminent\nplace, at the upper part of the temple, near the Holy of holies, that\nthe congregation might see what a devout man he was: or it may be\nunderstood as we read it, he prayed by himself, or of himself, out of\nhis own heart; he did not pray by form; it was an extempore prayer:\nfor there are many Pharisees that pray and preach too, extempore. I\ndo not see why these may not be acquired, as well as other arts and\nsciences. A man, with a good elocution, ready turn of thought, and good\nmemory, may repeat his own or other mens sermons, and, by the help of\na _Wilkins_ or _Henry_, may pray seemingly excellently well, and yet\nnot have the least grain of true grace in his heart; I speak this, not\nto cry down extempore prayer, or to discourage those dear souls who\nreally pray by the spirit; I only would hereby give a word of reproof\nto those who are so bigotted to extempore prayer, that they condemn, at\nleast judge, all that use forms, as though not so holy and heavenly, as\nothers who pray without them. Alas! this is wrong. Not every one that\nprays extempore is a spiritual, nor every one that prays with a form, a\nformal man. Let us not judge one another; let not him that uses a form,\njudge him that prays extempore, on that account; and let not him that\nprays extempore, despise him who uses a form.\n\n\u201cThe Pharisee stood, and prayed thus by himself.\u201d Which may signify\nalso praying inwardly in his heart; for there is a way (and that an\nexcellent one too) of praying when we cannot speak; thus _Anna_ prayed,\nwhen she spoke not aloud, only her lips moved. Thus GOD says to _Moses_,\n\u201cWhy criest thou?\u201d when, it is plain, he did not speak a word. This\nis what the apostle means by the \u201cspirit making intercession (for\nbelievers) with groanings which cannot be uttered.\u201d For there are\ntimes when the soul is too big to speak; when GOD fills it as it were,\nand overshadows it with his presence, so that it can only fall down,\nworship, adore, and lye in the dust before the LORD. Again, there is\na time when the soul is benumbed, barren and dry, and the believer\nhas not a word to say to his heavenly Father; and then the heart only\ncan speak. And I mention this for the encouragement of weak christians,\nwho think they never are accepted but when they have a flow of words,\nand fancy they do not please GOD at the bottom, for no other reason but\nbecause they do not please themselves. Such would do well to consider,\nthat GOD knows the language of the heart, and the mind of the spirit;\nand that we make use of words, not to inform GOD, but to affect\nourselves. Whenever therefore any of you find yourselves in such a\nframe, be not discouraged: offer yourselves up in silence before GOD,\nas clay in the hands of the potter, for him to write and stamp his own\ndivine image upon your souls. But I believe the Pharisee knew nothing\nof this way of prayer: he was self-righteous, a stranger to the divine\nlife; and therefore either of the former explanations may be best put\nupon these words.\n\n\u201cHe stood, and prayed thus with himself; GOD, I thank thee that I\nam not as other men are, extortioner, unjust, adulterer, or even as\nthis Publican.\u201d Here is some appearance of devotion, but it is only\nin appearance. To thank GOD that we are not extortioners, unjust,\nadulterers, and as wicked in our practices as other men are, is\ncertainly meet, right, and our bounden duty: for whatever degrees\nof goodness there may be in us, more than in others, it is owing to\nGOD\u2019s restraining, preventing, and assisting grace. We are all equally\nconceived and born in sin; all are fallen short of the glory of GOD,\nand liable to all the curses and maledictions of the law; so that \u201che\nwho glorieth, must glory only in the LORD.\u201d For none of us have any\nthing which we did not receive; and whatever we have received, we did\nnot in the least merit it, nor could we lay the least claim to it on\nany account whatever: we are wholly indebted to free grace for all. Had\nthe Pharisee thought thus, when he said, \u201cGOD, I thank thee that I am\nnot as other men are,\u201d it would have been an excellent introduction to\nhis prayer: but he was a free-willer, as well as self-righteous (for\nhe that is one must be the other) and thought by his own power and\nstrength, he had kept himself from these vices. And yet I do not see\nwhat reason he had to trust in himself that he was righteous, merely\nbecause he was not an extortioner, unjust, adulterer; for all this\nwhile he might be, as he certainly was (as is also every self-righteous\nperson) as proud as the devil. But he not only boasts, but lies before\nGOD (as all self-justiciaries will be found liars here or hereafter.)\nHe thanks GOD that he was not unjust: but is it not an act of the\nhighest injustice to rob GOD of his prerogative? is it not an act of\ninjustice to judge our neighbour? and yet of both these crimes this\nself-righteous vaunter is guilty. \u201cEven as this Publican!\u201d He seems\nto speak with the utmost disdain; this Publican! Perhaps he pointed\nat the poor man, that others might treat him with the like contempt.\nThou proud, confident boaster, what hadst thou to do with that poor\nPublican? supposing other Publicans were unjust, and extortioners,\ndid it therefore follow that he must be so? or, if he had been such\na sinner, how knowest thou but he has repented of those sins? His\ncoming up to the temple to pray, is one good sign of a reformation at\nleast. Thou art therefore inexcusable, O Pharisee, who thus judgest the\nPublican: for thou that judgest him to be unjust, art, in the very act\nof judging, unjust thyself: thy sacrifice is only the sacrifice of a\nfool.\n\nWe have seen what the Pharisee\u2019s negative goodness comes to; I think,\nnothing at all. Let us see how far his positive goodness extends; for,\nif we are truly religious, we shall not only eschew evil, but also do\ngood: \u201cI fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.\u201d\n\nThe Pharisee is not here condemned for his fasting, for fasting is a\nchristian duty; \u201cwhen you fast,\u201d says our LORD, thereby taking it for\ngranted that his disciples would fast. And \u201cwhen the bridegroom shall\nbe taken away, then shall they fast in those days.\u201d \u201cIn fasting often,\u201d\nsays the apostle. And all that would not be cast-aways, will take care,\nas their privilege, without legal constraint, to \u201ckeep their bodies\nunder, and bring them into subjection.\u201d The Pharisee is only condemned\nfor making a righteousness of his fasting, and thinking that GOD would\naccept him, or that he was any better than his neighbours, merely on\naccount of his fasting: this is what he was blamed for. The Pharisee\nwas not to be discommended for fasting twice in a week; I wish some\nchristians would imitate him more in this: but to depend on fasting\nin the least, for his justification in the sight of GOD, was really\nabominable. \u201cI give tithes of all that I possess.\u201d He might as well\nhave said, I pay tithes. But self-righteous people (whatever they may\nsay to the contrary) think they give something to GOD. \u201cI give tithes\nof all that I possess:\u201d I make conscience of giving tithes, not only of\nall that the law requires, but of my mint, annise, and cummin, of all\nthings whatsoever I possess; this was well; but to boast of such things,\nor of fasting, is pharisaical and devilish. Now then let us sum up all\nthe righteousness of this boasting Pharisee, and see what little reason\nhe had to trust in himself, that he was righteous, or to despise others.\nHe is not unjust (but we have only his bare word for that, I think\nI have proved the contrary;) he is no adulterer, no extortioner; he\nfasts twice in the week, and gives tithes of all that he possesses; and\nall this he might do, and a great deal more, and yet be a child of the\ndevil: for here is no mention made of his loving the LORD his GOD with\nall his heart, which was the \u201cfirst and great commandment of the law;\u201d\nhere is not a single syllable of inward religion; and he was not a true\n_Jew_, who was only one outwardly. It is only an outside piety at the\nbest; inwardly he is full of pride, self-justification, free-will and\ngreat uncharitableness.\n\nWere not the Pharisees, do you think, highly offended at this\ncharacter? for they might easily know it was spoken against them. And\nthough, perhaps, some of you may be offended at me, yet, out of love,\nI must tell you, I fear this parable is spoken against many of you:\nfor are there not many of you, who go up to the temple to pray, with no\nbetter spirit than this Pharisee did? And because you fast, it may be\nin the _Lent_, or every _Friday_, and because you do no body any harm,\nreceive the sacrament, pay tithes, and give an alms now and then; you\nthink that you are safe, and trust in yourselves that you are righteous,\nand inwardly despise those, who do not come up to you in these outward\nduties? this, I am persuaded, is the case of many of you, though, alas!\nit is a desperate one, as I shall endeavour to shew at the close of\nthis discourse.\n\nLet us now take a view of the Publican, verse 13. \u201cAnd the Publican\nstanding afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven,\nbut smote upon his breast, saying, GOD be merciful to me a sinner.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Publican standing afar off:\u201d Perhaps in the outward court of the\ntemple, conscious to himself that he was not worthy to approach the\nHoly of holies; so conscious and so weighed down with a sense of his\nown unworthiness, that he would not so much as lift up his eyes unto\nheaven, which he knew was GOD\u2019s throne. Poor heart! what did he feel\nat this time! none but returning Publicans, like himself, can tell.\nMethinks I see him standing afar off, pensive, oppressed, and even\noverwhelmed with sorrow; sometimes he attempts to look up; but then,\nthinks he, the heavens are unclean in GOD\u2019s sight, and the very angels\nare charged with folly; how then shall such a wretch as I dare to\nlift up my guilty head! And to shew that his heart was full of holy\nself-resentment, and that he sorrowed after a godly sort, he smote upon\nhis breast; the word in the original implies, that he _struck hard_\nupon his breast: he will lay the blame upon none but his own wicked\nheart. He will not, like unhumbled _Adam_, tacitly lay the fault of\nhis vileness upon GOD, and say, The passions which thou gavest me,\nthey deceived me, and I sinned: he is too penitent thus to reproach\nhis Maker; he smites upon his breast, his treacherous, ungrateful,\ndesperately wicked breast; a breast now ready to burst: and at length,\nout of the abundance of his heart, I doubt not, with many tears, he at\nlast cries out, \u201cGOD be merciful to me a sinner.\u201d Not, GOD be merciful\nto yonder proud Pharisee: he found enough in himself to vent his\nresentment against, without looking abroad upon others. Not, GOD be\nmerciful to me a saint; for he knew \u201call his righteousnesses were but\nfilthy rags.\u201d Not, GOD be merciful to such or such a one; but, GOD be\nmerciful to me, even to me a sinner, a sinner by birth, a sinner in\nthought, word, and deed; a sinner as to my person, a sinner as to all\nmy performances; a sinner in whom is no health, in whom dwelleth no\ngood thing; a sinner, poor, miserable, blind and naked, from the crown\nof the head to the sole of the feet, full of wounds, and bruises, and\nputrifying sores; a self-accused, self-condemned sinner. What think\nyou? would this Publican have been offended if any minister had told\nhim that he deserved to be damned? would he have been angry, if any one\nhad told him, that by nature he was half a devil and half a beast? No:\nhe would have confessed a thousand hells to have been his due, and that\nhe was an earthly, devilish sinner. He felt now what a dreadful thing\nit was to depart from the living GOD: he felt that he was inexcusable\nevery way; that he could in nowise, upon account of any thing in\nhimself, be justified in the sight of GOD; and therefore lays himself\nat the feet of sovereign mercy, \u201cGOD be merciful to me a sinner.\u201d Here\nis no confidence in the flesh, no plea fetched from fasting, paying\ntithes, or the performance of any other duty; here is no boasting that\nhe was not an extortioner, unjust, or an adulterer. Perhaps he had been\nguilty of all these crimes, at least he knew he would have been guilty\nof all these, had he been left to follow the devices and desires of his\nown heart; and therefore, with a broken and contrite spirit, he cries\nout, \u201cGOD be merciful to me a sinner.\u201d\n\nThis man came up to the temple to pray, and he prayed indeed. And a\nbroken and contrite heart GOD will not despise. \u201cI tell you,\u201d says our\nLORD, I who lay in the bosom of the Father from all eternity; I who am\nGOD, and therefore know all things; I who can neither deceive, nor be\ndeceived, whose judgment is according to right; I tell you, whatever\nyou may think of it, or think of me for telling you so, \u201cthis man,\u201d\nthis Publican, this despised, sinful, but broken-hearted man, \u201cwent\ndown to his house justified (acquitted, and looked upon as righteous\nin the sight of GOD) rather than the other.\u201d\n\nLet Pharisees take heed that they do not pervert this text: for when\nit is said, \u201cThis man went down to his house justified rather than\nthe other,\u201d our LORD does not mean that both were justified, and that\nthe Publican had rather more justification than the Pharisee: but\nit implies, either that the Publican was actually justified, but the\nPharisee was not; or, that the Publican was in a better way to receive\njustification, than the Pharisee; according to our LORD\u2019s saying, \u201cThe\nPublicans and Harlots enter into the kingdom of heaven before you.\u201d\nThat the Pharisee was not justified is certain, for \u201cGOD resisteth the\nproud;\u201d and that the Publican was at this time actually justified (and\nperhaps went home with a sense of it in his heart) we have great reason\nto infer from the latter part of the text, \u201cFor every one that exalteth\nhimself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.\u201d\n\nThe parable therefore now speaks to all who hear me this day: for that\nour LORD intended it for our learning, is evident, from his making such\na general application; \u201cFor every one that exalteth himself shall be\nabased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.\u201d\n\nThe parable of the Publican and Pharisee, is but as it were a glass,\nwherein we may see the different disposition of all mankind; for all\nmankind may be divided into two general classes. Either they trust\nwholly in themselves, or in part, that they are righteous, and then\nthey are Pharisees; or they have no confidence in the flesh, are\nself-condemned sinners, and then they come under the character of the\nPublican just now described. And we may add also, that the different\nreception these men met with, points out to us in lively colours, the\ndifferent treatment the self-justiciary and self-condemned criminal\nwill meet with at the terrible day of judgment: \u201cEvery one that exalts\nhimself shall be abased, but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery one,\u201d without exception, young or old, high or low, rich or\npoor (for GOD is no respecter of persons) \u201cevery one,\u201d whosoever he\nbe, that exalteth himself, and not free-grace; every one that trusteth\nin himself that he is righteous, that rests in his duties, or thinks\nto join them with the righteousness of JESUS CHRIST, for justification\nin the sight of GOD, though he be no adulterer, no extortioner, though\nhe be not outwardly unjust, nay, though he fast twice in the week, and\ngives tithes of all that he possesses; yet shall he be abased in the\nsight of all good men who know him here, and before men and angels, and\nGOD himself, when JESUS CHRIST comes to appear in judgment hereafter.\nHow low, none but the almighty GOD can tell. He shall be abased to live\nwith devils, and make his abode in the lowest hell for evermore.\n\nHear this, all ye self-justiciaries, tremble, and behold your doom!\na dreadful doom, more dreadful than words can express, or thought\nconceive! If you refuse to humble yourselves, after hearing this\nparable, I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day,\nthat GOD shall visit you with all his storms, and pour all the vials\nof his wrath upon your rebellious heads; you exalted yourselves here,\nand GOD shall abase you hereafter; you are as proud as the devil,\nand with devils shall you dwell to all eternity. \u201cBe not deceived,\nGOD is not mocked;\u201d he sees your hearts, he knows all things. And,\nnotwithstanding you may come up to the temple to pray, your prayers\nare turned into sin, and you go down to your houses unjustified, if you\nare self-justiciaries; and do you know what it is to be unjustified?\nwhy, if you are unjustified, the wrath of GOD abideth upon you; you\nare in your blood; all the curses of the law belong to you: cursed are\nyou when you go out, cursed are you when you come in; cursed are your\nthoughts, cursed are your words, cursed are your deeds; every thing you\ndo, say, or think, from morning to night, is only one continued series\nof sin. However highly you may be esteemed in the sight of men, however\nyou may be honoured with the uppermost seats in the synagogues, in\nthe church militant, you will have no place in the church triumphant.\n\u201cHumble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of GOD:\u201d pull down\nevery self-righteous thought, and every proud imagination, that now\nexalteth itself against the perfect, personal, imputed righteousness of\nthe dear LORD JESUS: \u201cFor he (and he alone) that humbleth himself shall\nbe exalted.\u201d\n\nHe that humbleth himself, whatever he be: if, instead of fasting twice\nin the week, he has been drunk twice in the week; if, instead of giving\ntithes of all that he possesses, he has cheated the minister of his\ntithes, and the king of his taxes; notwithstanding he be unjust, an\nextortioner, an adulterer, nay, notwithstanding the sins of all mankind\ncenter and unite in him; yet, if through grace, like the Publican, he\nis enabled to humble himself, he shall be exalted; not in a temporal\nmanner; for christians must rather expect to be abased, and to have\ntheir names cast out as evil, and to lay down their lives for CHRIST\nJESUS in this world: but he shall be exalted in a spiritual sense; he\nshall be freely justified from all his sins by the blood of JESUS; he\nshall have peace with GOD, a peace which passeth all understanding;\nnot only peace, but joy in believing; he shall be translated from the\nkingdom of Satan, to the kingdom of GOD\u2019s dear Son: he shall dwell in\nCHRIST, and CHRIST in him: he shall be one with CHRIST, and CHRIST one\nwith him: he shall drink of divine pleasures, as out of a river: he\nshall be sanctified throughout in spirit, soul and body; in one word,\nhe shall be filled with all the fulness of GOD. Thus shall the man that\nhumbleth himself be exalted here; but O, how high shall he be exalted\nhereafter! as high as the highest heavens, even to the right-hand of\nGOD: there he shall sit, happy both in soul and body, and judge angels;\nhigh, out of the reach of all sin and trouble, eternally secure from\nall danger of falling. O sinners, did you but know how highly GOD\nintends to exalt those who humble themselves, and believe in JESUS,\nsurely you would humble yourselves, at least beg of GOD to humble you;\nfor it is he that must strike the rock of your hearts, and cause floods\nof contrite tears to flow therefrom. O that GOD would give this sermon\nsuch a commission, as he once gave to the rod of _Moses_! I would\nstrike you through and through with the rod of his word, until each of\nyou was brought to cry out with the poor Publican, \u201cGOD be merciful to\nme a sinner.\u201d What pleasant language would this be in the ears of the\nLORD of Sabbaoth!\n\nAre there no poor sinners among you? what, are you all Pharisees?\nSurely, you cannot bear the thoughts of returning home unjustified; can\nyou? what if a fit of the apoplexy should seize you, and your souls be\nhurried away before the awful Judge of quick and dead? what will you do\nwithout CHRIST\u2019s righteousness? if you go out of the world unjustified,\nyou must remain so for ever. O that you would humble yourselves! then\nwould the LORD exalt you; it may be, that, whilst I am speaking, the\nLORD might justify you freely by his grace. I observed, that perhaps\nthe Publican had a sense of his justification before he went from\nthe temple, and knew that his pardon was sealed in heaven: and who\nknows but you may be thus exalted before you go home, if you humble\nyourselves? O what peace, love and joy, would you then feel in your\nhearts! you would have a heaven upon earth. O that I could hear any\nof you say (as I once heard a poor sinner, under my preaching, cry\nout) _He is come, He is come!_ How would you then, like him, extol a\nprecious, a free-hearted CHRIST! how would you magnify him for being\nsuch a friend to Publicans and sinners? greater love can no man shew,\nthan to lay down his life for a friend; but CHRIST laid down his life\nfor his enemies, even for you, if you are enabled to humble yourselves,\nas the Publican did. Sinners, I know not how to leave off talking with\nyou; I would fill my mouth with arguments, I would plead with you.\n\u201cCome, let us reason together;\u201d though your sins be as scarlet, yet,\nif you humble yourselves, they shall be as white as snow. One act\nof true faith in CHRIST, justifies you for ever and ever; he has not\npromised you what he cannot perform; he is able to exalt you: for GOD\nhath exalted, and given him a name above every name, that at the name\nof JESUS every knee shall bow; nay, GOD hath exalted him to be not\nonly a Prince, but a Saviour. May he be a Saviour to you! and then I\nshall have reason to rejoice; in the day of judgment, that I have not\npreached in vain, nor laboured in vain.\n\n\n\n\n SERMON XXXV.\n\n The Conversion of _Zaccheus_.\n\n\n LUKE xix. 9, 10.\n\n _And JESUS said unto him, This day is salvation come to this\n house; forasmuch as he also is the Son of Abraham. For the Son\n of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost._\n\nSALVATION, every where through the whole scripture, is said to be the\nfree gift of GOD, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Not only free, because\nGOD is a sovereign agent, and therefore may withhold it from, or confer\nit on, whom he pleaseth; but free, because there is nothing to be\nfound in man, that can any way induce GOD to be merciful unto him. The\nrighteousness of JESUS CHRIST is the sole cause of our finding favour\nin GOD\u2019s sight: this righteousness apprehended by faith (which is also\nthe gift of GOD) makes it our own; and this faith, if true, will work\nby love.\n\nThese are parts of those glad tidings which are published in the gospel;\nand of the certainty of them, next to the express word of GOD, the\nexperience of all such as have been saved, is the best, and, as I take\nit, the most undoubted proof. That GOD might teach us every way, he has\nbeen pleased to leave upon record many instances of the power of his\ngrace exerted in the salvation of several persons, that we, hearing how\nhe dealt with them, might from thence infer the manner we must expect\nto be dealt with ourselves, and learn in what way we must look for\nsalvation, if we truly desire to be made partakers of the inheritance\nwith the saints in light.\n\nThe conversion of the person referred to in the text, I think, will be\nof no small service to us in this matter, if rightly improved. I would\nhope, most of you know who the person is, to whom the LORD JESUS speaks;\nit is the publican _Zaccheus_, to whose house the blessed JESUS said,\nsalvation came, and whom he pronounces a Son of _Abraham_.\n\nIt is my design (GOD helping) to make some remarks upon his conversion\nrecorded at large in the preceding verses, and then to inforce the\nlatter part of the text, as an encouragement to poor undone sinners to\ncome to JESUS CHRIST. \u201cFor the Son of man is come, to seek and to save\nthat which was lost.\u201d\n\nThe evangelist _Luke_ introduces the account of this man\u2019s conversion\nthus, verse 1. \u201cAnd JESUS entered and passed through _Jericho_.\u201d The\nholy JESUS made it his business to go about doing good. As the sun\nin the firmament is continually spreading his benign, quickening,\nand cheering influences over the natural; so the Son of righteousness\narose with healing under his wings, and was daily and hourly diffusing\nhis gracious influences over the moral world. The preceding chapter\nacquaints us of a notable miracle wrought by the holy JESUS, on poor\nblind _Bartimeus_; and in this, a greater presents itself to our\nconsideration. The evangelist would have us take particular notice of\nit; for he introduces it with the word \u201cbehold:\u201d \u201cand behold, there was\na man named _Zaccheus_, who was the chief among the _Publicans_, and he\nwas rich.\u201d\n\nWell might the evangelist usher in the relation of this man\u2019s\nconversion with the word \u201cbehold!\u201d For, according to human judgment,\nhow many unsurmountable obstacles lay in the way of it! Surely no one\nwill say there was any fitness in _Zaccheus_ for salvation; for we\nare told that he was a _Publican_, and therefore in all probability\na notorious sinner. The _Publicans_ were gatherers of the _Roman_\ntaxes; they were infamous for their abominable extortion; their very\nname therefore became so odious, that we find the _Pharisees_ often\nreproached our LORD, as very wicked, because he was a friend unto and\nsat down to meat with them. _Zaccheus_ then, being a _Publican_, was\nno doubt a sinner; and, being chief among the _Publicans_, consequently\nwas chief among sinners. Nay, \u201che was rich.\u201d One inspired apostle has\ntold us, that \u201cnot many mighty, not many noble are called.\u201d Another\nsaith, \u201cGOD has chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith.\u201d And\nhe who was the Maker and Redeemer of the apostles, assures us, \u201cthat\nit is easier for a camel, (or cable-rope) to go through the eye of a\nneedle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of GOD.\u201d Let not\ntherefore the rich glory in the multitude of their riches.\n\nBut rich as he was, we are told, verse 3. that \u201che sought to see\nJESUS.\u201d A wonder indeed! The common people heard our LORD gladly, and\nthe poor received the gospel. The multitude, the \u03bf\u03c7\u03bb\u03b5\u03c2, the mob, the\npeople that knew not the law, as the proud high-priests called them,\nused to follow him on foot into the country; and sometimes staid with\nhim three days together to hear him preach: But did the rich believe or\nattend on him? No. Our LORD preached up the doctrine of the cross; he\npreached too searching for them, and therefore they counted him their\nenemy, persecuted and spoke all manner of evil against him falsly.\nLet not the ministers of CHRIST marvel, if they meet with the like\ntreatment from the rich men of this wicked and adulterous generation.\nI should think it no scandal (supposing it true) to hear it affirmed,\nthat none but the poor attended my ministry. Their souls are as\nprecious to our LORD JESUS CHRIST, as the souls of the greatest men.\nThey were the poor that attended him in the days of his flesh: these\nare they whom he hath chosen to be rich in faith, and to be the\ngreatest in the kingdom of heaven. Were the rich in this world\u2019s goods\ngenerally to speak well of me, wo be unto me; I should think it a\ndreadful sign that I was only a wolf in sheep\u2019s clothing, that I spoke\npeace, peace, when there was no peace, and prophesied smoother things\nthan the gospel would allow of. Hear ye this, O ye rich. Let who will\ndare to do it, GOD forbid that I should despise the poor; in doing so,\nI should reproach my Maker. The poor are dear to my soul; I rejoice to\nsee them fly to the doctrine of CHRIST, like the doves to their windows.\nI only pray, that the poor who attend, may be evangelized, and turned\ninto the spirit of the gospel: if so, \u201cBlessed are ye; for yours is the\nkingdom of heaven.\u201d\n\nBut we must return to _Zaccheus_. \u201cHe sought to see JESUS.\u201d That is\ngood news. I heartily wish I could say, it was out of a good principle:\nbut, without speaking contrary to that charity which hopes and\nbelieveth all things for the best, we may say, that the same principle\ndrew him after CHRIST, which now draws multitudes (to speak plainly, it\nmay be multitudes of you) to hear a particular preacher, even curiosity:\nfor we are told, that he came not to hear his doctrine, but to view his\nperson, or, to use the words of the evangelist, \u201cto see who he was.\u201d\nOur LORD\u2019s fame was now spread abroad through all _Jerusalem_, and all\nthe country round about: some said he was a good man; others, \u201cNay, but\nhe deceiveth the people.\u201d And therefore curiosity drew out this rich\nPublican _Zaccheus_, to see who this person was, of whom he had heard\nsuch various accounts. But it seems he could not conveniently get a\nsight of him for the press, and because he was little of stature. Alas!\nhow many are kept from seeing CHRIST in glory, by reason of the press!\nI mean, how many are ashamed of being singularly good, and therefore\nfollow a multitude to do evil, because they have a press or throng\nof polite acquaintance! And, for fear of being set at nought by those\nwith whom they used to sit at meat, they deny the LORD of glory, and\nare ashamed to confess him before men. This base, this servile fear of\nman, is the bane of true christianity; it brings a dreadful snare upon\nthe soul, and is the ruin of ten thousands: for I am fully persuaded,\nnumbers are rationally convicted of gospel-truths; but, not being\nable to brook contempt, they will not prosecute their convictions,\nnor reduce them to practice. Happy those, who in this respect, like\n_Zaccheus_, are resolved to overcome all impediments that lie in their\nway to a sight of CHRIST: for, finding he could not see CHRIST because\nof the press and the littleness of his natural stature, he did not\nsmite upon his breast, and depart, saying, \u201cIt is in vain to seek after\na sight of him any longer, I can never attain unto it.\u201d No, finding he\ncould not see CHRIST, if he continued in the midst of, \u201che ran before\nthe multitude, and climbed up into a sycamore-tree, to see him; for he\nwas to pass that way.\u201d\n\nThere is no seeing CHRIST in Glory, unless we run before the multitude,\nand are willing to be in the number of those despised few, who take\nthe kingdom of GOD by violence. The broad way, in which so many go,\ncan never be that strait and narrow way which leads to life. Our LORD\u2019s\nflock was, and always will be, comparatively a little one: and unless\nwe dare to run before the multitude in a holy singularity, and can\nrejoice in being accounted fools for CHRIST\u2019s sake, we shall never\nsee JESUS with comfort, when he appears in glory. From mentioning the\nsycamore-tree, and considering the difficulty with which _Zaccheus_\nmust climb it, we may farther learn, that those who would see CHRIST,\nmust undergo other difficulties and hardships, besides contempt.\n_Zaccheus_, without doubt, went through both. Did not many, think you,\nlaugh at him as he ran along, and in the language of _Michal_, _Saul_\u2019s\ndaughter, cry out, \u201cHow glorious did the rich _Zaccheus_ look to-day,\nwhen, forgetting the greatness of his station, he ran before a pitiful,\ngiddy mob, and climbed up a sycamore-tree, to see an enthusiastic\npreacher!\u201d But _Zaccheus_ cares not for all that; his curiosity was\nstrong: if he could but see who JESUS was, he did not value what\nscoffers said of him. Thus, and much more will it be with all those who\nhave an effectual desire to see JESUS in heaven: they will go on from\nstrength to strength, break through every difficulty lying in their way,\nand care not what men or devils say of or do unto them. May the LORD\nmake us all thus minded, for his dear Son\u2019s sake!\n\nAt length, after taking much pains, and going (as we may well suppose)\nthrough much contempt, _Zaccheus_ has climbed the tree; and there\nhe sits, as he thinks, hid in the leaves of it, and watching when he\nshould see JESUS pass by: \u201cFor he was to pass by that way.\u201d\n\nBut sing, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth! Praise, magnify, and adore\nsovereign, electing, free, preventing love; JESUS the everlasting\nGOD, the Prince of peace, who saw _Nathanael_ under the fig-tree, and\n_Zaccheus_ from eternity, now sees him in the sycamore-tree, and calls\nhim in time.\n\nVerse 5. \u201cAnd when JESUS came to the place, he looked up, and saw him,\nand said unto him, _Zaccheus_, make haste and come down; for this day\nI must abide at thy house.\u201d Amazing love! Well might _Luke_ usher in\nthe account with \u201cbehold!\u201d It is worthy of our highest admiration. When\n_Zaccheus_ thought of no such thing, nay, thought that CHRIST JESUS\ndid not know him; behold, CHRIST does what we never hear he did before\nor after, I mean, invite himself to the house of _Zaccheus_, saying,\n\u201c_Zaccheus_, make haste and come down; for this day I must abide at thy\nhouse.\u201d Not pray let me abide, but I must abide this day at thy house.\nHe also calls him by name, as though he was well acquainted with him:\nand indeed well he might; for his name was written in the book of life,\nhe was one of those whom the Father had given him from all eternity:\ntherefore he must abide at his house that day. \u201cFor whom he did\npredestinate, them he also called.\u201d\n\nHere then, as through a glass, we may see the doctrine of free grace\nevidently exemplified before us. Here was no fitness in _Zaccheus_. He\nwas a Publican, chief among the Publicans; not only so, but rich, and\ncame to see CHRIST only out of curiosity: but sovereign grace triumphs\nover all. And if we do GOD justice, and are effectually wrought upon,\nwe must acknowledge there was no more fitness in us than in _Zaccheus_;\nand, had not CHRIST prevented us by his call, we had remained dead in\ntrespasses and sins, and alienated from the divine life, even as others.\n\u201cJESUS looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, \u2666_Zaccheus_, make\nhaste and come down; for this day I must abide at thy house.\u201d\n\n \u2666 \u201cZacchues\u201d replaced with \u201cZaccheus\u201d\n\nWith what different emotions of heart may we suppose _Zaccheus_\nreceived this invitation? Think you not that he was surprised to hear\nJESUS CHRIST call him by name, and not only so, but invite himself to\nhis house? Surely, thinks _Zaccheus_, I dream: it cannot be; how should\nhe know me? I never saw him before: besides, I shall undergo much\ncontempt, if I receive him under my roof. Thus, I say, we may suppose\n_Zaccheus_ thought within himself. But what saith the scripture?\n\u201cI will make a willing people in the day of my power.\u201d With this\noutward call, there went an efficacious power from GOD, which sweetly\nover-ruled his natural will: and therefore, verse 6. \u201cHe made haste,\nand came down, and received him joyfully;\u201d not only into his house, but\nalso into his heart.\n\nThus it is the great GOD brings home his children. He calls them by\nname, by his word or providence; he speaks to them also by his spirit.\nHereby they are enabled to open their hearts, and are made willing to\nreceive the King of glory. For _Zaccheus_\u2019s sake, let us not entirely\ncondemn people that come under the word, out of no better principle\nthan curiosity. Who knows but GOD may call them? It is good to be\nwhere the LORD is passing by. May all who are now present out of this\nprinciple, hear the voice of the Son of GOD speaking to their souls,\nand so hear that they may live! Not that men ought therefore to take\nencouragement to come out of curiosity. For perhaps a thousand more, at\nother times, came to see CHRIST out of curiosity, as well as _Zaccheus_,\nwho were not effectually called by his grace. I only mention this for\nthe encouragement of my own soul, and the consolation of GOD\u2019s children,\nwho are too apt to be angry with those who do not attend on the word\nout of love to GOD: but let them alone. Brethren, pray for them. How do\nyou know but JESUS CHRIST may speak to their hearts? A few words from\nCHRIST, applied by his spirit, will save their souls. \u201c_Zaccheus_, says\nCHRIST, make haste and come down. And he made haste, and came down, and\nreceived him joyfully.\u201d\n\nI have observed, in holy scripture, how particularly it is remarked,\nthat persons rejoiced upon believing in CHRIST. Thus the converted\nEunuch went on his way rejoicing; thus the Jaylor rejoiced with his\nwhole house; thus _Zaccheus_ received CHRIST joyfully. And well may\nthose rejoice who receive JESUS CHRIST; for with him they receive\nrighteousness, sanctification, and eternal redemption. Many have\nbrought up an ill report upon our good land, and would fain persuade\npeople that religion will make them melancholy mad. So far from it,\nthat joy is one ingredient of the kingdom of GOD in the heart of a\nbeliever; \u201cThe kingdom of GOD is righteousness, peace, and joy in the\nHoly Ghost.\u201d To rejoice in the LORD, is a gospel-duty. \u201cRejoice in the\nLORD always, and again I say, rejoice.\u201d And who can be so joyful, as\nthose who know that their pardon is sealed before they go hence and\nare no more seen? The godly may, but I cannot see how any ungodly men\ncan, rejoice: they cannot be truly cheerful. What if wicked men may\nsometimes have laughter amongst them? It is only the laughter of fools;\nin the midst of it there is heaviness: At the best, it is but like the\ncrackling of thorns under a pot; it makes a blaze, but soon goes out.\nBut, as for the godly, it is not so with them; their joy is solid and\nlasting. As it is a joy that a stranger intermeddleth not with, so\nit is a joy that no man taketh from them: it is a joy in GOD, a \u201cjoy\nunspeakable and full of glory.\u201d\n\nIt should seem that _Zaccheus_ was under soul-distress but a little\nwhile; perhaps (says _Guthrie_, in his book intituled, _The Trial\nconcerning a saving Interest in Christ_) not above a quarter of an hour.\nI add, perhaps not so long: for, as one observes, sometimes the LORD\nJESUS delights to deliver speedily. GOD is a sovereign agent, and works\nupon his children in their effectual calling, according to the counsel\nof his eternal will. It is with the spiritual, as natural birth: all\nwomen have not the like pangs; all christians have not the like degree\nof conviction. But all agree in this, that all have JESUS CHRIST formed\nin their hearts: and those who have not so many trials at first, may\nbe visited with the greater conflicts hereafter; though they never\ncome into bondage again, after they have once received the spirit of\nadoption. \u201cWe have not, (says _Paul_) received the spirit of bondage\nagain unto fear.\u201d We know not what _Zaccheus_ underwent before he died:\nhowever, this one thing I know, he now believed in CHRIST, and was\njustified, or acquitted, and looked upon as righteous in GOD\u2019s sight,\nthough a Publican, chief among the Publicans, not many moments before.\nAnd thus it is with all, that, like _Zaccheus_, receive JESUS CHRIST\nby faith into their hearts: the very moment they find rest in him,\nthey are freely justified from all things from which they could not be\njustified by the law of _Moses_; \u201cfor by grace are we saved, through\nfaith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of GOD.\u201d\n\nSay not within yourselves, this is a licentious Antinomian doctrine;\nfor this faith, if true, will work by love, and be productive of the\nfruits of holiness. See an instance in this convert _Zaccheus_: no\nsooner had he received JESUS CHRIST by faith into his heart, but he\nevidences it by his works; for, verse 8. we are told, \u201c_Zaccheus_ stood\nforth, and said unto the LORD, Behold, LORD, the half of my goods I\ngive unto the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false\naccusation, I restore him four-fold.\u201d\n\nHaving believed on JESUS in his heart, he now makes confession of\nhim with his mouth to salvation. \u201c_Zaccheus_ stood forth:\u201d he was not\nashamed, but stood forth before his brother Publicans; for true faith\ncasts out all servile, sinful fear of man; \u201cand said, Behold, LORD.\u201d\nIt is remarkable, how readily people in scripture have owned the\ndivinity of CHRIST immediately upon their conversion. Thus the woman\nat _Jacob_\u2019s well; \u201cIs not this the CHRIST?\u201d Thus the man born blind;\n\u201cLORD, I believe; and worshipped him.\u201d Thus _Zaccheus_, \u201cBehold, LORD.\u201d\nAn incontestable proof this to me, that those who deny our LORD\u2019s\ndivinity, never effectually felt his power: if they had, they would\nnot speak so lightly of him; they would scorn to deny his eternal power\nand Godhead. \u201c_Zaccheus_ stood forth, and said, Behold, LORD, the half\nof my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any\nman by false accusation, I restore him four-fold.\u201d Noble fruits of a\ntrue living faith in the LORD JESUS! Every word calls for our notice.\nNot some small, not the tenth part, but the _half_. Of what? My goods;\nthings that were valuable. _My_ goods, his own, not another\u2019s. I give:\nnot, I will give when I die, when I can keep them no longer; but, I\ngive now, even now. _Zaccheus_ would be his own executor. For whilst\nwe have time we should do good. But to whom would he give half of his\ngoods? Not to the rich, not to those who were already clothed in purple\nand fine linen, of whom he might be recompensed again; but to the\npoor, the maimed, the halt, the blind, from which he could expect no\nrecompence till the resurrection of the dead. \u201cI give to the poor.\u201d\nBut knowing that he must be just before he could be charitable, and\nconscious to himself that in his public administrations he had wronged\nmany persons, he adds, \u201cAnd if I have taken any thing from any man by\nfalse accusation, I restore him four-fold.\u201d Hear ye this, all ye that\nmake no conscience of cheating the king of his taxes, or of buying or\nselling run goods. If ever GOD gives you true faith, you will never\nrest, till, like _Zaccheus_, you have made restitution to the utmost of\nyour power. I suppose, before his conversion, he thought it no harm to\ncheat thus, no more than you may do now, and pleased himself frequently,\nto be sure, that he got rich by doing so: but now he is grieved for it\nat his heart; he confesses his injustice before men, and promises to\nmake ample restitution. Go ye cheating Publicans, learn of _Zaccheus_;\ngo away and do likewise. If you do not make restitution here, the\nLORD JESUS shall make you confess your sins before men and angels,\nand condemn you for it, when he comes in the glory of his Father to\njudgment hereafter.\n\nAfter all this, with good reason might our LORD say unto him, \u201cThis\nday is salvation come to this house; forasmuch as he also is the Son\nof _Abraham_;\u201d not so much by a natural as by a spiritual birth. He was\nmade partaker of like precious faith with _Abraham_: like _Abraham_ he\nbelieved on the LORD, and it was accounted to him for righteousness:\nhis faith, like _Abraham_\u2019s, worked by love; and I doubt not, but he\nhas been long since sitting in _Abraham_\u2019s harbour.\n\nAnd now, are you not ashamed of yourselves, who speak against the\ndoctrines of grace, especially that doctrine of being justified\nby faith alone, as though it leaded to licentiousness? What can be\nmore unjust than such a charge? Is not the instance of _Zaccheus_, a\nsufficient proof to the contrary? Have I strained it to serve my own\nturn? GOD forbid. To the best of my knowledge I have spoken the truth\nin sincerity, and the truth as it is in JESUS. I do affirm that we are\nsaved by grace, and that we are justified by faith alone: but I do also\naffirm that faith must be evidenced by good works, where there is an\nopportunity of performing them.\n\nWhat therefore has been said of _Zaccheus_, may serve as a rule,\nwhereby all may judge whether they have faith or not. You say you have\nfaith; but how do you prove it? Did you ever hear the LORD JESUS call\nyou by name? Were you ever made to obey that call? Did you ever, like\n_Zaccheus_, receive JESUS CHRIST joyfully into your hearts? Are you\ninfluenced by the faith you say you have, to stand up and confess the\nLORD JESUS before men? Were you ever made willing to own, and humble\nyourselves for, your past offences? Does your faith work by love, so\nthat you conscientiously lay up, according as GOD has prospered you,\nfor the support of the poor? Do you give alms of all things that you\npossess? And have you made due restitution to those you have wronged?\nIf so, happy are ye; salvation is come to your souls, you are sons,\nyou are daughters of, you shall shortly be everlastingly blessed with,\nfaithful _Abraham_. But, if you are not thus minded, do not deceive\nyour own souls. Though you may talk of justification by faith, like\nangels, it will do you no good; it will only increase your damnation.\nYou hold the truth, but it is in unrighteousness: your faith being\nwithout works, is dead: you have the devil, not _Abraham_, for your\nfather. Unless you get a faith of the heart, a faith working by love,\nwith devils and damned spirits shall you dwell for evermore.\n\nBut it is time now to enforce the latter part of the text; \u201cFor the Son\nof man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.\u201d These words\nare spoken by our Saviour in answer to some self-righteous Pharisees,\nwho, instead of rejoicing with the angels in heaven, at the conversion\nof such a sinner, murmured, \u201cThat he was gone to be a guest with a man\nthat was a sinner.\u201d To vindicate his conduct, he tells them, that this\nwas an act agreeable to the design of his coming: \u201cFor the Son of man\nis come to seek and to save that which was lost.\u201d He might have said,\nthe Son of GOD. But O the wonderful condescension of our Redeemer! He\ndelights to stile himself the Son of man. He came not only to save,\nbut _to seek_ and to save that which was lost. He came to _Jericho_\nto seek and save _Zaccheus_; for otherwise _Zaccheus_ would never\nhave been saved by him. But from whence came he? Even from heaven, his\ndwelling-place, to this lower earth, this vale of tears, to seek and\nsave that which was lost; or all that feel themselves lost, and are\nwilling, like _Zaccheus_, to receive him into their hearts to save\nthem; with how great a salvation? Even from the guilt, and also from\nthe power of their sins; to make them heirs of GOD, and joint heirs\nwith himself, and partakers of that glory which he enjoyed with the\nFather before the world began. Thus will the Son of man save that which\nis lost. He was made the son of man, on purpose that he might save them.\nHe had no other end but this in leaving his Father\u2019s throne, in obeying\nthe moral law, and hanging upon the cross: all that was done and\nsuffered, merely to satisfy, and procure a righteousness for poor, lost,\nundone sinners, and that too without respect of persons. \u201cThat which\nwas lost;\u201d all of every nation and language, that feel, bewail, and are\ntruly desirous of being delivered from their lost state, did the Son\nof man come down to seek and to save: for he is mighty, not only so,\nbut willing, to save to the uttermost all that come to GOD through him.\nHe will in no wise cast them out: for he is the same to-day, as he was\nyesterday. He comes now to sinners, as well as formerly; and, I hope,\nhath sent me out this day to seek, and, under him, to bring home some\nof you, the lost sheep of the house of _Israel_.\n\nWhat say you? Shall I go home rejoicing, saying, That many like sheep\nhave went astray, but they have now believed on JESUS CHRIST, and so\nreturned home to the great Shepherd and Bishop of their souls? If the\nLORD would be pleased thus to prosper my handy-work, I care not how\nmany legalists and self-righteous pharisees murmur against me, for\noffering salvation to the worst of sinners: for I know the Son of man\ncame to seek and to save them; and the LORD JESUS will now be a guest\nto the worst Publican, the vilest sinner that is amongst you, if he\ndoes but believe on him. Make haste then, O sinners, make haste, and\ncome by faith to CHRIST. Then, this day, even this hour, nay, this\nmoment, if you believe, JESUS CHRIST shall come and make his eternal\nabode in your hearts. Which of you is made willing to receive the King\nof glory? Which of you obeys the call, as _Zaccheus_ did? Alas! why do\nyou stand still? How know you, whether JESUS CHRIST may ever call you\nagain? Come then, poor, guilty sinners; come away, poor, lost, undone\npublicans: make haste, I say, and come away to JESUS CHRIST. The LORD\ncondescends to invite himself to come under the filthy roofs of the\nhouses of your souls. Do not be afraid of entertaining him; he will\nfill you with all peace and joy in believing. Do not be ashamed to\nrun before the multitude, and to have all manner of evil spoke against\nyou falsly for his sake: one sight of CHRIST will make amends for\nall. _Zaccheus_ was laughed at; and all that will live godly in CHRIST\nJESUS, shall suffer persecution. But what of that? _Zaccheus_ is now\ncrowned in glory; as you also shall shortly be, if you believe on,\nand are reproached for CHRIST\u2019s sake. Do not, therefore, put me off\nwith frivolous excuses: there\u2019s no excuse can be given for your not\ncoming to CHRIST. You are lost, undone, without him; and if he is not\nglorified in your salvation, he will be glorified in your destruction;\nif he does not come and make his abode in your hearts, you must take up\nan eternal abode with the devil and his angels. O that the LORD would\nbe pleased to pass by some of you at this time! O that he may call you\nby his Spirit, and make you a willing people in this day of his power!\nFor I know my calling will not do, unless he, by his efficacious grace,\ncompel you to come in. O that you once felt what it is to receive JESUS\nCHRIST into your hearts! You would soon, like _Zaccheus_, give him\nevery thing. You do not love CHRIST, because you do not know him; you\ndo not come to him, because you do not feel your want of him: you are\nwhole, and not broken hearted; you are not sick, at least not sensible\nof your sickness; and, therefore, no wonder you do not apply to JESUS\nCHRIST, that great, that almighty physician. You do not feel yourselves\nlost, and therefore do not seek to be found in CHRIST. O that GOD\nwould wound you with the sword of his Spirit, and cause his arrows of\nconviction to stick deep in your hearts! O that he would dart a ray of\ndivine light into your souls! For if you do not feel yourselves lost\nwithout CHRIST, you are of all men most miserable: your souls are dead;\nyou are not only an image of hell, but in some degree hell itself: you\ncarry hell about with you, and you know it not. O that I could see some\nof you sensible of this, and hear you cry out, \u201cLORD, break this hard\nheart; LORD, deliver me from the body of this death; draw me, LORD,\nmake me willing to come after thee; I am lost; LORD, save me, or I\nperish!\u201d Was this your case, how soon would the LORD stretch forth\nhis almighty hand, and say, Be of good cheer, it is I; be not afraid?\nWhat a wonderful calm would then possess your troubled souls! Your\nfellowship would then be with the Father and the Son: your life would\nbe hid with CHRIST in GOD.\n\nSome of you, I hope, have experienced this, and can say, I was lost,\nbut I am found; I was dead, but am alive again: the Son of man came\nand sought me in the day of his power, and saved my sinful soul. And do\nyou repent that you came to CHRIST? Has he not been a good master? Is\nnot his presence sweet to your souls? Has he not been faithful to his\npromise? And have you not found, that even in doing and suffering for\nhim, there is an exceeding present great reward? I am persuaded you\nwill answer, Yes. O then, ye saints, recommend and talk of the love of\nCHRIST to others, and tell them, O tell them what great things the LORD\nhas done for you! This may encourage others to come unto him. And who\nknows but the LORD may make you fishers of men? The story of _Zaccheus_\nwas left on record for this purpose. No truly convicted soul, after\nsuch an instance of divine grace has been laid before him, need despair\nof mercy. What if you are Publicans? Was not _Zaccheus_ a Publican?\nWhat if you are chief among the Publicans? Was not _Zaccheus_ likewise?\nWhat if you are rich? Was not _Zaccheus_ rich also? And yet almighty\ngrace made him more than conqueror over all these hindrances. All\nthings are possible to JESUS CHRIST; nothing is too hard for him: he\nis the LORD almighty. Our mountains of sins must all fall before this\ngreat _Zerubbabel_. On him GOD the Father has laid the iniquities of\nall that shall believe on him; and in his own body he bare them on the\ntree. There, there, by faith, O mourners in _Sion_, may you see your\nSaviour hanging with arms stretched out, and hear him, as it were, thus\nspeaking to your souls; \u201cBehold how I have loved you! Behold my hands\nand my feet! Look, look into my wounded side, and see a heart flaming\nwith love: love stronger than death. Come into my arms, O sinners, come\nwash your spotted souls in my heart\u2019s blood. See here is a fountain\nopened for all sin and all uncleanness! See, O guilty souls, how\nthe wrath of GOD is now abiding upon you: come, haste away, and hide\nyourselves in the clefts of my wounds; for I am wounded for your\ntransgressions; I am dying that you may live for evermore. Behold, as\n_Moses_ lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so am I here lifted up\nupon a tree. See how I am become a curse for you: the chastisement of\nyour peace is upon me. I am thus scourged, thus wounded, thus crucified,\nthat you by my stripes may be healed. O look unto me, all ye trembling\nsinners, even to the ends of the earth! Look unto me by faith, and you\nshall be saved: for I came thus to be obedient even unto death, that I\nmight save that which was lost.\u201d\n\n And what say you to this, O sinners? Suppose you saw the King of\nglory dying, and thus speaking to you; would you believe on him? No,\nyou would not, unless you believe on him now: for though he is dead,\nhe yet speaketh all this in the scripture; nay, in effect, says all\nthis in the words of the text, \u201cThe Son of man is come to seek and to\nsave that which is lost.\u201d Do not therefore any longer crucify the LORD\nof glory. Bring those rebels, your sins, which will not have him to\nreign over them, bring them out to him: though you cannot slay them\nyourselves, yet he will slay them for you. The power of his death and\nresurrection is as great now as formerly. Make haste therefore, make\nhaste, O ye publicans and sinners, and give the dear LORD JESUS your\nhearts, your whole hearts. If you refuse to hearken to this call of\nthe LORD, remember your damnation will be just: I am free from the\nblood of you all: you must acquit my Master and me at the terrible\nday of judgment. O that you may know the things that belong to your\neverlasting peace, before they are eternally hid from your eyes! Let\nall that love the LORD JESUS CHRIST in sincerity say, _Amen_.\n\n\n\n\n SERMON XXXVI.\n\n The Marriage of _Cana_.\n\n\n JOHN ii. 11.\n\n _This beginning of miracles did JESUS in Cana of Galilee, and\n manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him._\n\nI HAVE more than once had occasion to observe, that the chief end St.\n_John_ had in view, when he wrote his gospel, was to prove the divinity\nof JESUS CHRIST, [that WORD, who not only was from everlasting with\nGOD, but also was really GOD blessed for evermore] against those\narch-heretics _Ebion_ and _Corinthus_, whose pernicious principles too\nmany follow in these last days. For this purpose, you may take notice,\nthat he is more particular than any other Evangelist, in relating\nour LORD\u2019s divine discourses, as also the glorious miracles which he\nwrought, not by a power derived from another, like _Moses_, and other\nprophets, but from a power inherent in himself.\n\nThe words of the text have a reference to a notable miracle which\nCHRIST performed, and thereby gave proof of his eternal power and\nGodhead. \u201cThis beginning of miracles did JESUS in _Cana_ of _Galilee_,\nand manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.\u201d\n\nThe miracle here spoken of, is that of our LORD\u2019s turning water into\nwine at a marriage feast. I design, at present, by GOD\u2019s help, to make\nsome observations on the circumstances and certainty of the miracle,\nand then conclude with some practical instructions; that you, by\nhearing how JESUS CHRIST has shewed forth his glory, may, by the\noperation of GOD\u2019s Spirit upon your hearts, with the disciples\nmentioned in the text, be brought to believe on him.\n\n_First_, then, I would make some observations on the miracle itself.\n\nVerse 1 and 2. \u201cAnd the third day there was a marriage in _Cana_ of\n_Galilee_; and the mother of JESUS was there. And both JESUS was called,\nand his disciples, to the marriage.\u201d By our LORD\u2019s being at a feast\nwe may learn, that feasting upon solemn occasions is not absolutely\nunlawful: but then we must be exceeding careful at such seasons, that\nthe occasion be solemn, and that we go not for the sake of eating\nand drinking, but to edify one another in love. Feasting in any other\nmanner, I think absolutely unlawful for the followers of JESUS CHRIST:\nbecause if we eat and drink out of any other view, it cannot be to the\nglory of GOD. The Son of man, we know, \u201ccame eating and drinking.\u201d If\na pharisee asked him to come to his house, our LORD went, and sat down\nwith him. But then we find his discourse was always such as tended to\nthe use of edifying. We may then, no doubt, go and do likewise.\n\nWe may observe farther, that if our LORD was present at a marriage\nfeast, then, to deny marriage to any order of men, is certainly a\n\u201cdoctrine of devils.\u201d \u201cMarriage (says the Apostle) is honourable in\nall.\u201d Our LORD graced a marriage feast with his first public miracle.\nIt was an institution of GOD himself, even in paradise: and therefore,\nno doubt, lawful for all christians, even for those who are made\nperfect in holiness through the faith of JESUS CHRIST. But then, we may\nlearn the reason why we have so many unhappy marriages in the world;\nit is because the parties concerned do not call JESUS CHRIST by prayer,\nnor ask the advice of his true disciples when they are about to marry:\nNo; CHRIST and religion are the last things that are consulted: and no\nwonder then if matches of the devil\u2019s making (as all such are, which\nare contracted only on account of outward beauty, or for filthy lucre\u2019s\nsake) prove most miserable, and grievous to be borne.\n\nI cannot but dwell a little on this particular, because I am persuaded\nthe devil cannot lay a greater snare for young christians, than to\ntempt them unequally to yoke themselves with unbelievers: as are all\nwho are not born again of GOD. This was the snare wherein the sons\nof GOD were entangled before the flood, and one great cause why God\nbrought that flood upon the world. For what says _Moses_, _Genesis_\nvi. 2, 3. \u201cThe sons of GOD (the posterity of pious _Seth_) saw the\ndaughters of men, (or the posterity of wicked _Cain_) that they were\nfair, (not that they were pious) and they took them wives of all which\nthey chose:\u201d not which GOD chose for them. What follows? \u201cAnd the\nLORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he\nalso is flesh;\u201d that is, even the few righteous souls being now grown\ncarnal by their ungodly marriages, the whole world was altogether\nbecome abominable, and had made themselves vessels of wrath fitted for\ndestruction. I might instance farther, the care the ancient patriarchs\ntook to chuse wives for their children out of their own religious\nfamilies; and it was one great mark of _Esau_\u2019s rebellion against\nhis father, that he took unto himself wives of the daughters of the\n_Canaanites_, who were strangers to the covenant of promise made unto\nhis fathers. But I forbear. Time will not permit me to enlarge here.\nLet it suffice to advise all, whenever they enter into a marriage\nstate, to imitate the people of _Cana_ in _Galilee_, to call CHRIST\nto the marriage: He certainty will hear and chuse for you; and you\nwill always find his choice to be the best. He then will direct you to\nsuch yoke-fellows as shall be helps meet for you in the great work of\nyour salvation, and then he will also enable you to serve him without\ndistraction, and cause you to walk, as _Zachary_ and _Elizabeth_, in\nall his commandments and ordinances blameless.\n\nBut to proceed. Who these persons were that called our LORD and his\ndisciples to the marriage, is not certain. Some (because it is said,\nthat the mother of JESUS was there) have supposed that they were\nrelated to the Virgin, and that therefore our LORD and his disciples\nwere invited on her account. However that be, it should seem they were\nnot very rich, (for what had rich folks to do with a despised JESUS\nof _Nazareth_, and his mean followers?) because we find they were\nunfurnished with a sufficient quantity of wine for a large company, and\ntherefore, \u201cwhen they wanted wine, the mother of JESUS,\u201d having, as it\nshould seem by her applying to him so readily on this occasion, even in\nhis private life, seen some instances of his miraculous power, \u201csaith\nunto him, They have no wine.\u201d She thought it sufficient only to inform\nhim of the wants of the host, knowing that he was as ready to give\nas she to ask. In this light the blessed Virgin\u2019s request appears to\nus at the first view; but if we examine our LORD\u2019s answer, we shall\nhave reason to think there was something which was not right; for\nJESUS saith unto her, verse 4. \u201cWoman, what have I to do with thee?\u201d\nObserve, he calls her woman, not mother; to shew her, that though she\nwas his mother, as he was man, yet she was his creature, as he was GOD.\n\u201cWhat have I to do with thee?\u201d Think you that I must work miracles at\nyour bidding? Some have thought that she spoke as though she had an\nauthority over him, which was a proud motion, and our LORD therefore\nchecks her for it. And if JESUS CHRIST would not turn a little water\ninto wine, whilst he was here on earth, at her command, how idolatrous\nis that church, and how justly do we separate from her, which\nprescribes forms, wherein the Virgin is desired to command her Son to\nhave compassion on us!\n\nBut notwithstanding the holy Virgin was blameable in this respect,\nyet she hath herein set rich and poor an example which it is your duty\nto follow. You that are rich, and live in cieled houses, learn of her\nto go into the cottages of the poor; your LORD was not above it, and\nwhy should you? And when you do visit them, like the virgin-mother,\nexamine their wants; and when you see they have no wine, and are ready\nto perish with hunger, shut not up your bowels of compassion, but\nbless the LORD for putting it in your power to administer to their\nnecessities. Believe me, such visits would do you good. You would learn\nthen to be thankful that GOD has given you bread enough, and to spare.\nAnd I am persuaded, every mite that you bestow on feeding the hungry\nand cloathing the naked disciples of JESUS CHRIST, will afford you more\nsatisfaction at the hour of death, and in the day of judgment, than all\nthe thousands squandered away in balls and assemblies, and such-like\nentertainments.\n\nYou that are poor in this world\u2019s goods, and thereby are disabled from\nhelping, yet you may learn from the Virgin, to pray for one another.\nShe could not turn the water into wine, but she could entreat her son\nto do it: and so may you; and doubt not of the LORD\u2019s hearing you;\nfor GOD has chosen the poor in this world, rich in faith: and by your\nfervent prayers, you may draw down many a blessing on your poor fellow\ncreatures. O that I may ever be remembered by you before the throne\nof our dear LORD JESUS! But what shall we say? Will our LORD entirely\ndisregard this motion of his mother? No; though he check her with,\n\u201cWoman, what have I to do with thee?\u201d yet he intimates that he would do\nas she desired by-and-by: \u201cMine hour is not yet come.\u201d As though he had\nsaid, The wine is almost, but not quite out; when they are come to an\nextremity, and sensible of the want of my assistance, then will I shew\nforth my glory, that they may behold it, and believe on me.\n\nThus, Sirs, hath our LORD been frequently pleased to deal with me, and,\nI doubt not, with many of you also. Often, often when I have found his\npresence as it were hidden from my soul, and his comforts well nigh\ngone, I have went unto him complaining that I had no visit and token\nof his love, as usual. Sometimes he has seemed to turn a deaf ear to my\nrequest, and as it were said, \u201cWhat have I to do with thee?\u201d which has\nmade me go sorrowing all the day long; so foolish was I, and faithless\nbefore him: for I have always found he loved me notwithstanding, as he\ndid _Lazarus_, though he stayed two days after he heard he was sick.\nBut when my hour of extremity has been come, and my will broken, then\nhath he lifted up the light of his blessed countenance afresh; he has\nshewed forth his glory, and made me ashamed for disbelieving him, who\noften hath turned my water into wine. Be not then discouraged, if the\nLORD does not immediately seem to regard the voice of your prayer,\nwhen you cry unto him. The holy Virgin we find was not; no, she was\nconvinced his time was the best time, and therefore, verse 5. \u201csaith\nunto the servants, (O that we could follow her advice!) whatsoever he\nsaith unto you, do it.\u201d\n\nAnd now, behold the hour is come, when the eternal Son of GOD will shew\nforth his glory. The circumstance of the miracle is very remarkable;\nverse 6. \u201cAnd there were set six water-pots of water, after the\nmanner of the purifying of the _Jews_, containing two or three firkins\na-piece.\u201d The manner of this purifying we have an account of in the\nother Evangelists, especially St. _Mark_, who informs us, that the\npharisees, and all the _Jews_, except they wash their hands oft, eat\nnot; and when they come from the market, except they wash they eat not.\nThis was a superstitious custom; but, however, we may learn from it,\nwhenever we come in from conversing with those that are without, to\npurify our hearts by self-examination and prayer; for it is hard to go\nthrough the world, and to be kept unspotted from it.\n\nObserve further, verse 7. \u201cJESUS saith unto them,\u201d not to his own\ndisciples, but unto the servants of the house, who were strangers to\nthe holy JESUS, and whom the virgin had before charged to do whatsoever\nhe said unto them; \u201cFill the water-pots with water. And they filled\nthem to the brim. And he saith unto them, draw out now, and bear to the\ngovernor of the feast. And they bear it.\u201d How our LORD turned the water\ninto wine we are not told. What have we to do with that? Why should\nwe desire to be wise above what is written? It is sufficient for the\nmanifestation of his glorious godhead, that we are assured he did do\nit. For we are told, verse 9, 10. \u201cWhen the ruler of the feast had\ntasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was (but\nthe servants that drew the water knew) the governor of the feast called\nthe bridegroom, and saith unto him, every man at the beginning doth set\nforth good wine, and when they have well drunk, that which is worse;\nbut thou hast kept the good wine until now.\u201d\n\nTo explain this passage, you must observe, it was the custom of the\n_Jews_, nay even of the heathens themselves, (to the shame of our\nchristian baptized heathens be it spoken) at their public feasts to\nchuse a governor, who was to oversee and regulate the behaviour of the\nguests, and to take care that all things were carried on with decency\nand order. To this person then did the servants bear the wine; and we\nmay judge how rich it was by his commendation of it, \u201cEvery man at the\nbeginning, &c.\u201d Judge ye then, whether JESUS did not shew forth his\nglory, and whether you have not good reason, like the disciples here\nmentioned, to believe on him?\n\nThus, my brethren, I have endeavoured to make some observations on the\nmiracle itself. But alas! this is only the outward court thereof, the\nveil is yet before our eyes; turn that aside, and we shall see such\nmysteries under it, as will make our hearts to dance for joy, and fill\nour mouths with praise for evermore!\n\nBut here I cannot help remarking what a sad inference one of our\nmasters of _Israel_, in a printed sermon, has lately drawn from this\ncommendation of the bridegroom. His words are these. \u201cOur blessed\nSaviour came eating and drinking, was present at weddings, and other\nentertainments, (though I hear of his being only at one;) nay, at one\nof them (which I suppose is that of which I am now discoursing) worked\na miracle to make wine, when it is plain there had been more drank than\nwas absolutely necessary for the support of nature, and consequently\nsomething had been indulged to pleasure and chearfulness.\u201d\u00b9\n\n \u00b9 See Dr. _Trap_\u2019s sermon against being righteous over-much,\n page 17.\n\nI am sorry such words should come from the mouth and pen of a dignified\nclergyman of the Church of _England_. Alas! how is she fallen! or at\nleast, in what danger must her tottering ark be, when such unhallowed\nhands are stretched out to support it! Well may I bear patiently to\nbe stiled a blasphemer, and a setter forth of strange doctrines, when\nmy dear LORD JESUS is thus traduced; and when those who pretend to\npreach in his name, urge this example to patronize licentiousness and\nexcess. It is true (as I observed at the beginning of this discourse)\nour blessed Saviour did come eating and drinking; he was present at a\nwedding, and other entertainments; nay, at one of them worked a miracle\nto make wine, (you see I have been making some observations on it) but\nthen it is not plain there had been more wine drank than was absolutely\nnecessary for the support of nature; much less does it appear, that\nsomething had been indulged to pleasure and \u2666chearfulness.\n\n \u2666 \u201ccharfulness\u201d replaced with \u201cchearfulness\u201d\n\nThe governor does indeed say, \u201cWhen men have well drunken,\u201d but it no\nwhere appears that they were the men. Is it to be supposed, that the\nmost holy and unspotted Lamb of GOD, who was manifested to destroy the\nworks of the devil, and who, when at a Pharisee\u2019s house, took notice\nof even the gestures cf those with whom he sat at meat; is it to be\nsupposed, that our dear Redeemer, whose constant practice it was to\ntell people they must deny themselves, and take up their crosses daily;\nwho bid his disciples to take heed, lest at any time their hearts might\nbe over-charged with surfeiting and drunkenness; can it be supposed,\nthat such a self-denying JESUS should now turn six large water-pots\nof water into the richest wine, to encourage excess and drunkenness\nin persons, who, according to this writer, had indulged to pleasure\nand chearfulness already? Had our LORD sat by, and seen them indulge,\nwithout telling them of it, would it not be a sin? But to insinuate he\nnot only did this, but also turned water into wine, to increase that\nindulgence; this is making CHRIST a minister of sin indeed. What is\nthis, but using him like the Pharisees of old, who called him a glutton,\nand a wine-bibber? Alas! how may we expect our dear LORD\u2019s enemies will\ntreat him, when he is thus wounded in the house of his seeming friends?\nSirs, if you follow such doctrine as this, you will not be righteous,\nbut I am persuaded you will be _wicked over-much_.\n\nBut GOD forbid you should think our LORD behaved so much unlike himself\nin this matter. No, he had nobler ends in view, when he wrought this\nmiracle. One, the evangelist mentions in the words of the text, \u201cto\nshew forth his glory,\u201d or to give a proof of his eternal power and\ngodhead.\n\nHere seems to be an allusion to the appearance of GOD in the tabernacle,\nwhich this same evangelist takes notice of in his first chapter, where\nhe says, \u201cThe Word (JESUS CHRIST) was made flesh, and dwelt (or, as\nit is rendered in the margin, tabernacled) amongst us.\u201d Our dear LORD,\nthough very GOD of very GOD, and also most perfect and glorious in\nhimself as man, was pleased to throw a veil of flesh over this his\ngreat glory, when he came to make his soul an offering for sin. And\nthat the world might know and believe in him as the Saviour of all men,\nhe performed many miracles, and this in particular; for thus speaks the\nevangelist, \u201cThis first,\u201d &c.\n\nThis then was the chief design of our LORD\u2019s turning the water into\nwine. But there are more which our LORD may be supposed to have had in\nview, some of which I shall proceed to mention.\n\n_Secondly_, he might do this to reward the host for calling him and his\ndisciples to the marriage. JESUS CHRIST will not be behind-hand with\nthose who receive him or his followers, for his name\u2019s sake. Those who\nthus honour him, he will honour. A cup of cold water given in the name\nof a disciple, shall in no wise lose its reward. He will turn water\ninto wine. Though those who abound in alms-deeds, out of a true faith\nin, and love for JESUS, may seem as it were to throw their bread upon\nthe waters, yet they shall find it again after many days. For they who\ngive to the poor out of this principle, lend unto the LORD; and look,\nwhatsoever they lay out, it shall be repaid them again. Even in this\nlife, GOD often orders good measure pressed down and running over, to\nbe returned into his servants bosoms. It is the same in spirituals. To\nhim that hath, and improves what he hath, for the sake of CHRIST and\nhis disciples, shall be given, and he shall have abundance. Brethren, I\nwould not boast; but, to my master\u2019s honour and free grace be it spoken,\nI can prove this to be true by happy experience. When I have considered\nthat I am a child, and cannot speak, and have seen so many of you come\nout into the wilderness to be fed, I have often said within myself,\nwhat can I do with my little stock of grace and knowledge among so\ngreat a multitude? But, at my LORD\u2019s command, I have given you to eat\nof such spiritual food as I had, and before I have done speaking, have\nhad my soul richly fed with the bread which cometh down from heaven.\nThus shall it be done to all such who are willing to spend and be spent\nfor CHRIST or his disciples; for there is no respect of persons with\nGOD.\n\n_Thirdly_, Our LORD\u2019s turning the water, which was poured out so\nplentifully, into wine, is a sign of the plentiful pouring out of his\nSpirit into the hearts of believers. The holy Spirit is in scripture\ncompared unto wine; and therefore the prophet calls us to buy wine as\nwell as milk, that is, the spirit of love, which fills and gladdens\nthe soul as it were with new wine. The apostle alludes to this, when he\nbids the _Ephesians_ \u201cnot to be drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but\nbe filled with the Spirit.\u201d And our LORD shews us thus much by chusing\nwine; to shew forth the strength and refreshment of his blood, in the\nblessed sacrament. I know these terms are unintelligible to natural men,\nthey can no more understand me, than if I spake to them in an unknown\ntongue, for they are only to be spiritually discerned. To you then that\nare spiritual do I speak, to you who are justified by faith, and feel\nthe blessed Spirit of JESUS CHRIST working upon your hearts, you can\njudge of what I say; you have already (I am persuaded) been as it were\nfilled with new wine by the inspiration of his Holy Spirit. But alas!\nyou have not yet had half your portion; these are only earnests, and\nin comparison but shadows of good things to come; our LORD keeps his\nbest wine for you till the last; and though you have drank deep of it\nalready, yet he intends to give you more: He will not leave you, \u2019till\nhe has filled you to the brim, \u2019till you are ready to cry out, LORD,\nstay thine hand, thy poor creatures can hold no more! Be not straitened\nin your own bowels, since JESUS CHRIST is not straitened in his. Open\nyour hearts as wide as ever you will, the Spirit of the LORD shall\nfill them. CHRIST deals with true believers, as _Elijah_ did with the\npoor woman, whose oil increased, to pay her husband\u2019s debts; as long\nas she brought pitchers, the oil continued. It did not cease till she\nceased bringing vessels to contain it. My brethren, our hearts are like\nthose pitchers; open them freely by faith, and the oil of GOD\u2019s free\ngift, the oil of gladness, the love of GOD through CHRIST, shall be\ncontinually pouring in; for believers are to be filled with all the\nfulness of GOD.\n\n_Fourthly_, Our LORD\u2019s turning water into wine, and keeping the best\nuntil last, may shew forth the glory of the latter days of his marriage\nfeast with his church. Great things GOD has done already, whereat\nmillions of saints have rejoiced, and do yet rejoice. Great things GOD\nis doing now, but yet, my brethren, we shall see greater things than\nthese. It is meet, right, and our bounden duty, to give thanks unto GOD,\neven the Father; for many righteous men have desired to see the things\nwhich we see, and have not seen them; and to hear the things which\nwe hear, and have not heard them. But still there are more excellent\nthings behind. Glorious things are spoken of these times, \u201cwhen the\nearth shall be filled with the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters\ncover the sea.\u201d There is a general expectation among the people of GOD,\nwhen the partition-wall between _Jew_ and _Gentile_ shall be broken\ndown, and all _Israel_ be saved. Happy those who live when GOD does\nthis. They shall see _Satan_, like lightning, fall from heaven. They\nshall not weep, as the _Jews_ did at the building of the second temple.\nNo, they shall rejoice with exceeding great joy. For all the former\nglory of the christian church shall be nothing in comparison of that\nglory which shall excel. Then shall they cry out with the governor of\nthe feast, \u201cthou hast kept thy good wine until now!\u201d\n\n_Fifthly_, and lastly, This shews us the happiness of that blessed\nstate, when we shall all sit together at the marriage supper of the\nLamb, and drink of the new wine in his eternal and glorious kingdom!\n\nThe rewards which JESUS CHRIST confers on his faithful servants, and\nthe comforts of his love wherewith he comforts them, whilst pilgrims\nhere on earth, are often so exceeding great, that was it not promised,\nit were almost presumption for them to hope for any reward hereafter.\nBut, my brethren, all the manifestations of GOD that we can possibly be\nfavoured with here, when compared with the glory that is to be revealed\nin us, are no more than a drop of water when compared with an unbounded\nocean. Though CHRIST frequently fills his saints even to the brim,\nyet their corruptible bodies weigh down their souls, and cause them to\ncry, \u201cWho shall deliver us from these bodies of death?\u201d These earthly\ntabernacles can hold no more: But, blessed be GOD, these earthly\ntabernacles are to be dissolved; this corruptible is to put on\nincorruption; this mortal is to put on immortality: and when GOD shall\ncause all his glory to pass before us, then shall we cry out, LORD,\nthou hast kept thy good wine until now. We have drank deeply of thy\nspirit; we have heard glorious things spoken of this thy city, O GOD!\nbut we now find, that not the half, not the thousandth part hath been\ntold us. O the invisible realities of the world of faith! Eye hath not\nseen, ear hath not heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of the\ngreatest saint to conceive how CHRIST will shew forth his glory there!\nSt. _Paul_, who was carried up into the third heavens, could give us\nlittle or no account of it. And well he might not\u2015\u2015for he heard and saw\nsuch things as is not possible for a man cloathed with flesh and blood\nto utter. Whilst I am thinking, and only speaking of those things unto\nyou, I am almost carried beyond myself. Methinks, I now receive some\nlittle foretastes of that new wine which I hope to drink with you in\nthe heavenly kingdom for ever and ever.\n\nAnd wherefore do you think I have been saying these things? Many,\nperhaps, may be ready to say, To manifest thy own vain-glory. But it is\na small matter with me to be judged of man\u2019s judgment. He that judgeth\nme is the LORD. He knows that I have spoken of his miracle, only for\nthe same end for which he at first performed it, and which I at first\nproposed, that is, \u201cto shew forth his glory,\u201d that you also may be\nbrought to believe on him.\n\nDid I come to preach myself, and not CHRIST JESUS my LORD, I would come\nto you, not in this plainness of speech, but with the enticing words\nof man\u2019s wisdom. Did I desire to please natural men, I need not preach\nhere in the wilderness. I hope my heart aims at nothing else, than\nwhat our LORD\u2019s great fore-runner aimed at, and which ought to be the\nbusiness of every gospel minister, that is, to point out to you the\nGod-man CHRIST JESUS. \u201cBehold then (by faith behold) the Lamb of GOD,\nwho taketh away the sins of the world.\u201d Look unto him, and be saved.\nYou have heard how he manifested, and will yet manifest his glory to\ntrue believers; and why then, O sinners, will you not believe in him? I\nsay, O sinners, for now I have spoken to the saints, I have many things\nto say to you. And may GOD give you all an hearing ear, and an obedient\nheart!\n\nThe LORD JESUS who shewed forth his glory above 1700 years ago, has\nmade a marriage feast, and offers to espouse all sinners to himself,\nand to make them flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone. He is\nwilling to be united to you by one spirit. In every age, at sundry\ntimes, and after divers manners, he hath sent forth his servants, and\nthey had bidden many, but yet, my brethren, there is room. The LORD\ntherefore now has given a commission in these last days to others\nof his servants, even to compel poor sinners by the cords of love to\ncome in. For our master\u2019s house must and shall be filled. He will not\nshed his precious blood in vain. Come then, come to the marriage. Let\nthis be the day of your espousals with JESUS CHRIST, he is willing\nto receive you, though other lords have had dominion over you. Come\nthen to the marriage. Behold the oxen and fatlings are killed, and\nall things are ready; let me hear you say, as _Rebecca_ did, when they\nasked her, whether she would go and be a wife to _Isaac_; O let me hear\nyou say, we will come. Indeed you will not repent it. The LORD shall\nturn your water into wine. He shall fill your souls with marrow and\nfatness, and cause you to praise him with joyful lips.\n\nDo not say, you are miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked, and\ntherefore ashamed to come, for it is to such that this invitation is\nnow sent. The polite, the rich, the busy, self-righteous Pharisees of\nthis generation have been bidden already, but they have rejected the\ncounsel of GOD against themselves. They are too deeply engaged in going,\none to his country house, another to his merchandize. They are so\ndeeply wedded to the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, that they,\nas it were with one consent, have made excuse. And though they have\nbeen often called in their own synagogues, yet all the return they make,\nis to thrust us out, and thereby in effect say, they will not come.\nBut GOD forbid, my brethren, that you should learn of them; no, since\nour LORD condescends to call first, (because if left to yourselves\nyou would never call after him) let me beseech you to answer him, as\nhe answered for you, when called upon by infinite offended justice\nto die for your sins, \u201cLo! I come to do thy will, O GOD!\u201d What if\nyou are miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked, that is no excuse;\nfaith is the only wedding garment which CHRIST requires; he does not\ncall you because you already are, but because he intends to make you\nsaints. It pities him to see you naked. He wants to cover you with\nhis righteousness. In short, he desires to shew forth his glory, that\nis, his free love through your faith in him. Not but that he will be\nglorified, whether you believe in him or not; for the infinitely free\nlove of JESUS CHRIST will be ever the same, whether you believe it,\nand so receive it, or the contrary. But our LORD will not always send\nout his servants in vain, to call you; the time will come when he will\nsay, None of those which were bidden, and would not come, shall taste\nof my supper. Our LORD is a GOD of justice, as well as of love; and if\nsinners will not take hold of his golden sceptre, verily he will bruise\nthem with his iron rod. It is for your sakes, O sinners, and not his\nown, that he thus condescends to invite you: suffer him then to shew\nforth his glory, even the glory of the exceeding riches of his free\ngrace, by believing on him, \u201cFor we are saved by grace through faith.\u201d\nIt was grace, free grace, that moved the Father so to love the world,\nas to \u201cgive his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him\nshould not perish, but have everlasting life!\u201d It was grace, that made\nthe Son to come down and die. It was grace, free grace, that moved the\nHoly Ghost to undertake to sanctify the elect people of GOD: and it was\ngrace, free grace, that moved our LORD JESUS CHRIST to send forth his\nministers to call poor sinners this day. Let me not then, my brethren,\ngo without my errand. Why will you not believe in him? Will the devil\ndo such great and good things for you as CHRIST will? No indeed,\nhe will not. Perhaps, he may give you to drink at first of a little\nbrutish pleasure; but what will he give you to drink at last? a cup of\nfury and of trembling; a never-dying worm, a self-condemning conscience,\nand the bitter pains of eternal death. But as for the servants of JESUS\nCHRIST, it is not so with them. No, he keeps his best wine till the\nlast. And though he may cause you to drink of the brook in the way\nto heaven, and of the cup of affliction, yet he sweetens it with a\nsense of his goodness, and makes it pleasant drink, such as their souls\ndo love. I appeal to the experience of any saint here present, (as I\ndoubt not but there are many such in this field) whether CHRIST has not\nproved faithful, ever since you have been espoused to him? Has he not\nshewed forth his glory, ever since you have believed on him?\n\nAnd now, sinners, what have you to object? I see you are all silent,\nand well you may. For if you will not be drawn by the cords of infinite\nand everlasting love, what will draw you? I could urge many terrors of\nthe LORD to persuade you; but if the love of JESUS CHRIST will not\nconstrain you, your case is desperate. Remember then this day I have\ninvited all, even the worst of sinners, to be married to the LORD JESUS.\nIf you perish, remember you do not perish for lack of invitation. You\nyourselves shall stand forth at the last day, and I here give you a\nsummons to meet me at the judgment seat of CHRIST, and to clear both my\nmaster and me. Would weeping, would tears prevail on you, I could wish\nmy head were waters, and my eyes fountains of tears, that I might weep\nout every argument, and melt you into love. Would any thing I could\ndo or suffer, influence your hearts, I think I could bear to pluck\nout my eyes, or even to lay down my life for your sakes. Or was I sure\nto prevail on you by importunity, I could continue my discourse till\nmidnight, I would wrestle with you even till the morning watch, as\n_Jacob_ did with the angel, and would not go away till I had overcome.\nBut such power belongeth only unto the LORD, I can only invite; it is\nHe only can work in you both to will and to do after his good pleasure;\nit is his property to take away the heart of stone, and give you a\nheart of flesh; it is his spirit that must convince you of unbelief,\nand of the everlasting righteousness of his dear Son; it is He alone\nmust give faith to apply his righteousness to your hearts; it is He\nalone can give you a wedding garment, and bring you to sit down and\ndrink new wine in his kingdom. As to spirituals we are quite dead, and\nhave no more power to turn to GOD of ourselves, than _Lazarus_ had to\nraise himself, after he had lain stinking in the grave four days. If\nthou canst go, O man, and breathe upon all the dry bones that lye in\nthe graves, and bid them live; if thou canst take thy mantle and divide\nyonder river, as _Elijah_ did the river _Jordan_; then will we believe\nthou hast a power to turn to GOD of thyself: But as thou must despair\nof the one, so thou must despair of the other, without CHRIST\u2019s\nquickening grace; in him is thy only help; fly to him then by faith;\nsay unto him, as the poor leper did, \u201cLORD, if thou wilt,\u201d thou canst\nmake me willing; and he will stretch forth the right-hand of his power\nto assist and relieve you: He will sweetly guide you by his wisdom on\nearth, and afterwards take you up to partake of his glory in heaven.\n\n To his mercy therefore, and Almighty protection, do I earnestly,\n humbly, and most affectionately commit you: the LORD bless\n you and keep you; the LORD lift up the light of his blessed\n countenance upon you, and give you all peace and joy in\n believing, now and for evermore!\n\n\n\n\n SERMON XXXVII.\n\n The Duty of searching the Scriptures.\n\n\n JOHN v. 39.\n\n _Search the Scriptures._\n\nWHEN the Sadducees came to our blessed LORD, and put to him the\nquestion, \u201cwhose wife that woman should be in the next life, who had\nseven husbands in this,\u201d he told them \u201cthey erred, not knowing the\nscriptures.\u201d And if we would know whence all the errors, that have\nover-spread the church of CHRIST, first arose, we should find that, in\na great measure, they flowed from the same fountain, ignorance of the\nword of GOD.\n\nOur blessed LORD, though he was the eternal GOD, yet as man, he made\nthe scriptures his constant rule and guide. And therefore, when he was\nasked by the lawyer, which was the great commandment of the law, he\nreferred him to his Bible for an answer, \u201cWhat readest thou?\u201d And thus,\nwhen led by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil, he repelled all his\nassaults, with \u201cit is written.\u201d\n\nA sufficient confutation this, of their opinion, who say, \u201cthe Spirit\nonly, and not the Spirit by the Word, is to be our rule of action.\u201d If\nso, our Saviour, who had the Spirit without measure, needed not always\nhave referred to the written word.\n\nBut how few copy after the example of CHRIST? How many are there who do\nnot regard the word of GOD at all, \u2666but throw the sacred oracles aside,\nas an antiquated book, fit only for illiterate men?\n\n \u2666 \u201cbot\u201d replaced with \u201cbut\u201d\n\nSuch do greatly err, not knowing what the scriptures are, or for what\nthey are designed.\n\nI shall, therefore,\n\n _First_, Shew, that it is every one\u2019s duty to search them.\n\n And, _Secondly_, Lay down some directions for you, to search\n them with advantage.\n\nI. I am to shew, that it is every person\u2019s duty to search the\nScriptures.\n\nBy the Scriptures, I understand the law and the prophets, and those\nbooks which have in all ages been accounted canonical, and which make\nup that volume \u2666commonly called the Bible.\n\n \u2666 \u201ccommmonly\u201d replaced with \u201ccommonly\u201d\n\nThese are emphatically stiled the _Scriptures_, and, in one place, the\n\u201cScriptures of Truth,\u201d as though no other books deserved the name of\ntrue writings or scripture in comparison of them.\n\nThey are not of any private interpretation, authority, or invention,\nbut holy men of old wrote them, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.\n\nThe foundation of GOD\u2019s revealing himself thus to mankind, was our\nfall in _Adam_, and the necessity of our new birth in CHRIST JESUS.\nAnd if we search the scriptures as we ought, we shall find the sum and\nsubstance, the _Alpha_ and _Omega_, the beginning and end of them, is\nto lead us to a knowledge of these two great truths.\n\nAll the threats, promises and precepts, all the exhortations and\ndoctrines contained therein, all the rites, ceremonies and sacrifices\nappointed under the _Jewish_ law; nay, almost all the historical parts\nof holy scripture, suppose our being fallen in _Adam_, and either point\nout to us a Mediator to come, or speak of him as already come in the\nflesh.\n\nHad man continued in a state of innocence, he would not have needed an\noutward revelation, because the law of GOD was so deeply written in the\ntables of his heart. But having eaten the forbidden fruit, he incurred\nthe displeasure of GOD, and lost the divine Image, and, therefore,\nwithout an external revelation, could never tell how GOD would be\nreconciled unto him, or how he should be saved from the misery and\ndarkness of his fallen nature.\n\nThat these truths are so, I need not refer you to any other book, than\nyour own hearts.\n\nFor unless we are fallen creatures, whence those abominable corruptions\nwhich daily arise in our hearts? We could not come thus corrupt out\nof the hands of our Maker, because he being goodness itself could make\nnothing but what is like himself, holy, just, and good. And that we\nwant to be delivered from these disorders of our nature, is evident,\nbecause we find an unwillingness within ourselves to own we are thus\ndepraved, and are always striving to appear to others of a quite\ndifferent frame and temper of mind than what we are.\n\nI appeal to the experience of the most learned disputer against divine\nrevelation, whether he does not find in himself, that he is naturally\nproud, angry, revengeful, and full of other passions contrary to\nthe purity, holiness, and long-suffering of GOD. And is not this a\ndemonstration that some way or other he is fallen from GOD? And I\nappeal also, whether at the same time that he finds these hurtful lusts\nin his heart, he does not strive to seem amiable, courteous, kind and\naffable; and is not this a manifest proof, that he is sensible he is\nmiserable, and wants, he knows not how, to be redeemed or delivered\nfrom it?\n\nHere then, GOD by his word steps in, and opens to his view such a scene\nof divine love, and infinite goodness in the holy scriptures, that\nnone but men, of such corrupt and reprobate minds as our modern deists,\nwould shut their eyes against it.\n\nWhat does GOD in his written word do more or less, than shew thee, O\nman, how thou art fallen into that blindness, darkness, and misery, of\nwhich thou feelest and complainest? And, at the same time, he points\nout the way to what thou desirest, even how thou mayest be redeemed out\nof it by believing in, and copying after the Son of his love.\n\nAs I told you before, so I tell you again, upon these two truths rest\nall divine revelation. It being given us for no other end, but to shew\nus our misery, and our happiness; our fall and recovery; or, in one\nword, after what manner we died in _Adam_, and how in CHRIST we may\nagain be made alive.\n\nHence then arises the necessity of searching the scriptures: for since\nthey are nothing else but the grand charter of our salvation, the\nrevelation of a covenant made by GOD with men in CHRIST, and a light\nto guide us into the way of peace; it follows, that all are obliged\nto read and search them, because all are equally fallen from GOD, all\nequally stand in need of being informed how they must be restored to,\nand again united with him.\n\nHow foolishly then do the disputing infidels of this generation act,\nwho are continually either calling for signs from heaven, or seeking\nfor outward evidence to prove the truth of divine revelation? Whereas,\nwhat they so earnestly seek for is nigh unto, nay, within them. For let\nthem but consult their own hearts, they cannot but feel what they want.\nLet them but consult the lively oracles of GOD, and they cannot but\nsee a remedy revealed for all their wants, and that the written word\ndoes as exactly answer the wants and desires of their hearts, as face\nanswers to face in the water. Where then is the scribe, where is the\nwise, where is the solidity of the reasoning of the disputers of this\nworld? Has not GOD revealed himself unto them, as plain as their own\nhearts could wish? And yet they require a sign: but there shall no\nother sign be given them. For if they believe not a revelation which\nis every way so suited to their wants, neither will they be persuaded\nthough one should rise from the dead.\n\nBut this discourse is not designed so much for them that believe not,\nas for them, who both know and believe that the scriptures contain a\nrevelation which came from GOD, and that it is their duty, as being\nchief parties concerned, not only to read but search them also.\n\nI pass on, therefore, in the\n\n_Second_ place, to lay down some directions, how you may search them\nwith advantage.\n\n_First_, Have always in view, the end for which the scriptures were\nwritten, even to shew us the way of salvation, by JESUS CHRIST.\n\n\u201cSearch the scriptures,\u201d says our blessed LORD, \u201cfor they are they that\ntestify of me.\u201d Look, therefore, always for CHRIST in the scripture.\nHe is the treasure hid in the field, both of the Old and New Testament.\nIn the Old, you will find him under prophesies, types, sacrifices, and\nshadows; in the New, manifested in the flesh, to become a propitiation\nfor our sins as a Priest, and as a Prophet to reveal the whole will of\nhis heavenly Father.\n\nHave CHRIST, then, always in view when you are reading the word of GOD,\nand this, like the star in the east, will guide you to the Messiah,\nwill serve as a key to every thing that is obscure, and unlock to you\nthe wisdom and riches of all the mysteries of the kingdom of GOD.\n\n_Secondly_, Search the scriptures with an humble child-like disposition.\n\nFor whosoever does not read them with this temper, shall in no wise\nenter into the knowledge of the things contained in them. For GOD\nhides the sense of them, from those that are wise and prudent in their\nown eyes, and reveals them only to babes in CHRIST: who think they\nknow nothing yet as they ought to know; who hunger and thirst after\nrighteousness, and humbly desire to be fed with the sincere milk of\nthe word, that they may grow thereby.\n\nFancy yourselves, therefore, when you are searching the scriptures,\nespecially when you are reading the New Testament, to be with _Mary_\nsitting at the feet of the holy JESUS; and be as willing to learn what\nGOD shall teach you, as _Samuel_ was, when he said, \u201cSpeak, LORD, for\nthy servant heareth.\u201d\n\nOh that the unbelievers would pull down every high thought and\nimagination that exalts itself against the revealed will of GOD! O that\nthey would, like new-born babes, desire to be fed with the pure milk\nof the word! then we should have them no longer scoffing at Divine\nRevelation, nor would they read the Bible any more with the same intent\nthe _Philistines_ brought out _Sampson_, to make sport at it; but they\nwould see the divine image and superscription written upon every line.\nThey would hear GOD speaking unto their souls by it, and, consequently,\nbe built up in the knowledge and fear of him, who is the Author thereof.\n\n_Thirdly_, Search the scriptures, with a sincere intention to put in\npractice what you read.\n\nA desire to do the will of GOD is the only way to know it; if any man\nwill do my will, says JESUS CHRIST, \u201cHe shall know of my doctrine,\nwhether it be of GOD, or whether I speak of myself.\u201d As he also\nspeaks in another place to his disciples, \u201cTo you, (who are willing to\npractise your duty) it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom\nof GOD, but to those that are without, (who only want to raise cavils\nagainst my doctrine) all these things are spoken in parables, that\nseeing they may see and not understand, and hearing they may hear and\nnot perceive.\u201d\n\nFor it is but just in GOD to send those strong delusions, that they may\nbelieve a lie, and to conceal the knowledge of himself from all such as\ndo not seek him with a single intention.\n\nJESUS CHRIST is the same now, as formerly, to those who desire to\nknow from his word, who he is that they may believe on, and live by;\nand to him he will reveal himself as clearly as he did to the woman\nof _Samaria_, when he said, \u201cI that speak to thee am he,\u201d or as he\ndid to the man that was born blind, whom the _Jews_ had cast out for\nhis name\u2019s sake, \u201cHe that talketh with thee, is he.\u201d But to those\nwho consult his word with a desire neither to know him, nor keep his\ncommandments, but either merely for their entertainment, or to scoff at\nthe simplicity of the manner in which he is revealed, to those, I say,\nhe never will reveal himself, though they should search the scriptures\nto all eternity. As he never would tell those whether he was the\n_Messiah_ or not, who put that question to him either out of curiosity,\nor that they might have whereof to accuse him.\n\n_Fourthly_, In order to search the scriptures still more effectually,\nmake an application of every thing you read to your own hearts.\n\nFor whatever was written in the book of GOD, was written for our\nlearning. And what CHRIST said unto those aforetime, we must look upon\nas spoken to us also: for since the holy scriptures are nothing but a\nrevelation from GOD, how fallen man is to be restored by JESUS CHRIST:\nall the precepts, threats, and promises, belong to us and to our\nchildren, as well as to those, to whom they were immediately made known.\n\nThus the Apostle, when he tells us that he lived by the faith of\nthe Son of GOD, adds, \u201cwho died and gave himself for me.\u201d It is this\napplication of JESUS CHRIST to our hearts, that makes his redemption\neffectual to each of us.\n\nAnd it is this application of all the doctrinal and historical parts\nof scripture, when we are reading them over, that must render them\nprofitable to us, as they were designed for reproof, for correction,\nfor instruction in righteousness, and to make every child of GOD\nperfect, thoroughly furnished to every good work.\n\nI dare appeal to the experience of every spiritual reader of holy writ,\nwhether or not, if he consulted the word of GOD in this manner, he was\nnot at all times and at all seasons, as plainly directed how to act,\nas though he had consulted the Urim and Thummim, which was upon the\nhigh-priest\u2019s breast. For this is the way GOD now reveals himself to\nman: not by making new revelations, but by applying general things that\nare revealed already to every sincere reader\u2019s heart.\n\nAnd this, by the way, answers an objection made by those who say, \u201cThe\nword of GOD is not a perfect rule of action, because it cannot direct\nus how to act or how to determine in particular cases, or what place\nto go to, when we are in doubt, and therefore, the Spirit, and not the\nword, is to be our rule of action.\u201d\n\nBut this I deny, and affirm on the contrary, that GOD at all times,\ncircumstances, and places, though never so minute, never so particular,\nwill, if we diligently seek the assistance of his Holy Spirit, apply\ngeneral things to our hearts, and thereby, to use the words of the\nholy JESUS, will lead us into all truth, and give us the particular\nassistance we want: But this leads me to a\n\n_Fifth_ direction how to search the scriptures with profit: Labour to\nattain that Spirit by which they were written.\n\nFor the natural man discerneth not the words of the Spirit of GOD,\nbecause they are spiritually discerned; the words that CHRIST hath\nspoken, they are spirit, and they are life, and can be no more\nunderstood as to the true sense and meaning of them, by the mere\nnatural man, than a person who never had learned a language can\nunderstand another speaking in it. The scriptures, therefore, have\nnot unfitly been compared, by some, to the cloud which went before the\n_Israelites_, they are dark and hard to be understood by the natural\nman, as the cloud appeared dark to the _Egyptians_; but they are\nlight, they are life to christians indeed, as that same cloud which\nseemed dark to _Pharaoh_ and his house, appeared bright and altogether\nglorious to the _Israel_ of GOD.\n\nIt was the want of the assistance of this Spirit, that made _Nicodemus_,\na teacher of _Israel_, and a ruler of the _Jews_, so utterly ignorant\nin the doctrine of regeneration: for being only a natural man, he could\nnot tell how that thing could be; it was the want of this Spirit that\nmade our Saviour\u2019s disciples, though he so frequently conversed with\nthem, daily mistake the nature of the doctrines he delivered; and it\nis because the natural veil is not taken off from their hearts, that\nso many who now pretend to search the scriptures, yet see no farther\nthan into the bare letter of them, and continue entire strangers to the\nspiritual meaning couched under every parable, and contained in almost\nall the precepts of the book of GOD.\n\nIndeed, how should it be otherwise, for GOD being a spirit, he cannot\ncommunicate himself any otherwise than in a spiritual manner to the\nhearts of men; and consequently if we are strangers to his Spirit,\nwe must continue strangers to his word, because it is altogether like\nhimself, spiritual. Labour, therefore, earnestly for to attain this\nblessed Spirit; otherwise, your understandings will never be opened to\nunderstand the scriptures aright: and remember, prayer is one of the\nmost immediate means to get this Holy Spirit. Therefore,\n\n_Sixthly_, Let me advise you, before you read the scriptures, to pray,\nthat CHRIST, according to his promise, would send his Spirit to guide\nyou into all truth; intersperse short ejaculations whilst you are\nengaged in reading; pray over every word and verse, if possible; and\nwhen you close up the book, most earnestly beseech GOD, that the words\nwhich you have read, may be inwardly engrafted into your hearts, and\nbring forth in you the fruits of a good life.\n\nDo this, and you will, with a holy violence, draw down GOD\u2019s Holy\nSpirit into your hearts; you will experience his gracious influence,\nand feel him enlightening, quickening, and inflaming your souls by\nthe word of GOD; you will then not only read, but mark, learn, and\ninwardly digest what you read: and the word of GOD will be meat indeed,\nand drink indeed unto your souls; you then will be as _Apollos_ was,\npowerful in the scriptures; be scribes ready instructed to the kingdom\nof GOD, and bring out of the good treasures of your heart, things both\nfrom the Old and New Testament, to entertain all you converse with. One\n\nDirection more, which shall be the last, _Seventhly_, Read the\nscripture constantly, or, to use our Saviour\u2019s expression in the text,\n\u201csearch the scriptures;\u201d dig in them as for hid treasure; for here is\na manifest allusion to those who dig in mines; and our Saviour would\nthereby teach us, that we must take as much pains in constantly reading\nhis word, if we would grow wise thereby, as those who dig for gold and\nsilver. The scriptures contain the deep things of GOD, and therefore,\ncan never be sufficiently searched into by a careless, superficial,\ncursory way of reading them, but by an industrious, close, and humble\napplication.\n\nThe Psalmist makes it the characteristic of a good man, that he\n\u201cmeditates on GOD\u2019s law day and night.\u201d And \u201cthis book of the law,\n(says GOD to _Joshua_) shall not go out of thy mouth, but thou shalt\nmeditate therein day and night;\u201d for then thou shalt make thy way\nprosperous, and thou shalt have good success. Search, therefore, the\nscriptures, not only devoutly but daily, for in them are the words of\neternal life; wait constantly at wisdom\u2019s gate, and she will then, and\nnot till then, display and lay open to you her heavenly treasures. You\nthat are rich, are without excuse if you do not; and you that are poor,\nought to take heed and improve that little time you have: for by the\nscriptures you are to be acquitted, and by the scriptures you are to be\ncondemned at the last day.\n\nBut perhaps you have no taste for this despised book; perhaps plays,\nromances, and books of polite entertainment, suit your taste better: if\nthis be your case, give me leave to tell you, your taste is vitiated,\nand unless corrected by the Spirit and word of GOD, you shall never\nenter into his heavenly kingdom: for unless you delight in GOD here,\nhow will you be made meet to dwell with him hereafter. Is it a sin\nthen, you will say, to read useless impertinent books; I answer,\nYes: And that for the same reason, as it is a sin to indulge useless\nconversation, because both immediately tend to grieve and quench that\nSpirit, by which alone we can be sealed to the day of redemption. You\nmay reply, How shall we know this? Why, put in practice the precept in\nthe text; search the scripture in the manner that has been recommended,\nand then you will be convinced of the danger, sinfulness, and\nunsatisfactoriness of reading any others than the book of GOD, or such\nas are wrote in the same spirit. You will then say, when I was a child,\nand ignorant of the excellency of the word of GOD, I read what the\nworld calls harmless books, as other children in knowledge, though old\nin years, have done, and still do; but now I have tasted the good word\nof life, and am come to a more perfect knowledge of CHRIST JESUS my\nLORD, I put away these childish, trifling things, and am determined to\nread no other books but what lead me to a knowledge of myself and of\nCHRIST JESUS.\n\nSearch, therefore, the scriptures, my dear brethren; taste and see how\ngood the word of GOD is, and then you will never leave that heavenly\nmanna, that angel\u2019s food, to feed on dry husks, that light bread, those\ntrifling, sinful compositions, in which men of false taste delight\nthemselves: no, you will then disdain such poor entertainment, and\nblush that yourselves once were fond of it. The word of GOD will then\nbe sweeter to you than honey, and the honey-comb, and dearer than gold\nand silver; your souls by reading it, will be filled as it were, with\nmarrow and fatness, and your hearts insensibly moulded into the spirit\nof its blessed Author. In short, you will be guided by GOD\u2019s wisdom\nhere, and conducted by the light of his divine word into glory\nhereafter.\n\n\n\n\n SERMON XXXVIII.\n\n The Indwelling of the Spirit,\n the common Privilege of all Believers.\n\n\n JOHN vii. 37, 38, 39.\n\n _In the last day, that great day of the feast, JESUS stood and\n cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and\n drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said,\n out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this\n spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should\n receive._\n\nNOTHING has rendered the cross of CHRIST of less effect; nothing has\nbeen a greater stumbling-block and rock of offence to weak minds, than\na supposition, now current among us, that most of what is contained\nin the gospel of JESUS CHRIST, was designed only for our LORD\u2019s first\nand immediate followers, and consequently calculated but for one or\ntwo hundred years. Accordingly, many now read the life, sufferings,\ndeath, and resurrection of JESUS CHRIST, in the same manner as _C\u00e6sar\u2019s\nCommentaries_, or the _Conquests of Alexander_ are read: as things\nrather intended to afford matter for speculation, than to be acted over\nagain in and by us.\n\nAs this is true of the doctrines of the gospel in general, so it\nis of the operation of GOD\u2019s Spirit upon the hearts of believers in\nparticular; for we no sooner mention the necessity of our receiving the\nHoly Ghost in these last days, as well as formerly, but we are looked\nupon by some, as enthusiasts and madmen; and by others, represented\nas wilfully deceiving the people, and undermining the established\nconstitution of the church.\n\nJudge ye then, whether it is not high time for the true ministers of\nJESUS CHRIST, who have been made partakers of this heavenly gift, to\nlift up their voices like a trumpet; and if they would not have those\nsouls perish, for which the LORD JESUS has shed his precious blood,\nto declare, with all boldness, that the Holy Spirit is the common\nprivilege and portion of all believers in all ages; and that we as well\nas the first christians, must receive the Holy Ghost, before we can be\ntruly called the children of GOD.\n\nFor this reason, (and also that I might answer the design of our church\nin appointing the present festival\u00b9) I have chosen the words of the\ntext.\n\n \u00b9 Whitsuntide.\n\nThey were spoken by JESUS CHRIST, when he was at the feast of\ntabernacles. Our LORD attended on the temple-service in general, and\nthe festivals of the _Jewish_ church in particular. The festival at\nwhich he was now present, was that of the feast of tabernacles, which\nthe _Jews_ observed according to GOD\u2019s appointment in commemoration of\ntheir living in tents. At the last day of this feast, it was customary\nfor many pious people to fetch water from a certain place, and bring\nit on their heads, singing this anthem out of _Isaiah_, \u201cAnd with\njoy shall they draw water out of the wells of salvation.\u201d Our LORD\nobserving this, and it being his constant practice to spiritualize\nevery thing he met with, cries out, \u201cIf any man thirst, let him come\nunto me, (rather than unto that well) and drink. He that believeth\non me, as the scripture hath spoken, (where it is said, GOD will make\nwater to spring out of a dry rock, and such-like) out of his belly\nshall flow rivers of living water.\u201d And that we might know what our\nSaviour meant by this living water, the Evangelist immediately adds,\n\u201cBut this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should\nreceive.\u201d\n\nThe last words I shall chiefly insist on in the ensuing discourse: And\n\n _First_, I shall briefly shew, what is meant by the word Spirit.\n\n _Secondly_, That this Spirit is the common privilege of all\n believers.\n\n _Thirdly_, I shall shew the reason on which this doctrine is\n founded. And\n\n _Lastly_, Conclude with a general exhortation to believe on\n JESUS CHRIST, whereby alone we can receive this Spirit.\n\n_First_, I am to shew, what is meant by the word _Spirit_.\n\nBy the Spirit, is evidently to be understood the Holy Ghost, the third\nperson in the ever-blessed Trinity, consubstantial and \u2666co-eternal\nwith the Father and the Son, proceeding from, yet equal to them both.\nFor, to use the words of our Church in this day\u2019s office, that which we\nbelieve of the glory of the Father, the same we believe of the Son, and\nof the Holy Ghost, without any difference or inequality.\n\n \u2666 \u201cco-eternnl\u201d replaced with \u201cco-eternal\u201d\n\nThus, says St. _John_, in his first epistle, chapter v. verse 7. \u201cThere\nare three that bare record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the\nHoly Ghost, and these three are one.\u201d And our LORD, when he gave his\nApostles commission to go and teach all nations, commanded them to\nbaptize in the name of the Holy Ghost, as well as of the Father and the\nSon. And St. _Peter_, _Acts_ v. 3. said to _Ananias_, \u201cWhy hath Satan\nfilled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?\u201d And verse 4. he says,\n\u201cThou hast not lied unto men, but unto GOD.\u201d From all which passages,\nit is plain, that the Holy Ghost, is truly and properly GOD, as well as\nthe Father and the Son. This is an unspeakable mystery, but a mystery\nof GOD\u2019s revealing, and, therefore, to be assented to with our whole\nhearts: seeing GOD is not a man that he should lie, nor the son of man\nthat he should deceive. I proceed,\n\n_Secondly_, To prove that the Holy Ghost is the common privilege of all\nbelievers.\n\nBut, here I would not be understood of so receiving the Holy Ghost,\nas to enable us to work miracles, or shew outward signs and wonders.\nI allow our adversaries, that to pretend to be inspired, in this\nsense, is being wise above what is written. Perhaps it cannot be\nproved, that GOD ever interposed in this extraordinary manner, but when\nsome new revelation was to be established, as at the first settling\nof the _Mosaic_ and gospel dispensation: and as for my own part, I\ncannot but suspect the spirit of those who insist upon a repetition of\nsuch miracles at this time. For the world being now become nominally\nchristian, (though, GOD knows, little of the power is left among us)\nthere need not outward miracles, but only an inward co-operation of the\nHoly Spirit with the word, to prove that JESUS is the Messiah which was\nto come into the world.\n\nBesides, if it was possible for thee, O man, to have faith, so as to be\nable to remove mountains, or cast out devils; nay, couldst thou speak\nwith the tongue of men and angels, yea, and bid the sun stand still\nin the midst of heaven; what would all these gifts of the Spirit avail\nthee, without being made partaker of his sanctifying graces? _Saul_ had\nthe spirit of government for a while, so as to become another man, and\nyet probably was a cast-away. And many, who cast out devils in CHRIST\u2019s\nname, at the last will be disowned by him. If, therefore, thou hadst\nonly the gifts, and was destitute of the graces of the Holy Ghost, they\nwould only serve to lead thee with so much the more solemnity to hell.\n\nHere then we join issue with our adversaries, and will readily grant,\nthat we are not in this sense to be inspired, as were our LORD\u2019s first\nApostles. But unless men have eyes which see not, and ears that hear\nnot, how can they read the latter part of the text, and not confess\nthat the Holy Spirit, in another sense, is the common privilege of all\nbelievers, even to the end of the world? \u201cThis spake he of the Spirit,\nwhich they that believe on him should receive.\u201d Observe, he does\nnot say, they that believe on him for one or two ages, but they that\nbelieve on him in general, or, at all times, and in all places. So that,\nunless we can prove, that St. _John_ was under a delusion when he wrote\nthese words, we must believe that even we also, shall receive the Holy\nGhost, if we believe on the LORD JESUS with our whole hearts.\n\nAgain, our LORD, just before his bitter passion, when he was about to\noffer up his soul an offering for the sins of the elect world; when\nhis heart was most enlarged, and he would undoubtedly demand the most\nexcellent gift for his disciples, prays, \u201cThat they all may be one, as\nthou, Father, art in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in\nus, I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one;\u201d\nthat is, that all his true followers might be united to him by his holy\nSpirit, by as real, vital, and mystical an union, as there was between\nJESUS CHRIST and the Father. I say all his _true followers_; for it is\nevident, from our LORD\u2019s own words, that he had us, and all believers,\nin view, when he put up this prayer; \u201cNeither pray I for these alone,\nbut for them also which shall believe on me through their word;\u201d so\nthat, unless we treat our LORD as the high priests did, and count him\na blasphemer, we must confess, that all who believe in JESUS CHRIST,\nthrough the word, or ministration of his servants, are to be joined to\nJESUS CHRIST, by being made partakers of the Holy Spirit.\n\nA great noise hath been made of late, about the word _enthusiast_,\nand it has been cast upon the preachers of the gospel, as a term of\nreproach; but every christian, in the proper sense of the word, must\nbe an enthusiast; that is, must be inspired of GOD, or have GOD, by his\nSpirit, in him. St. _Peter_ tells us, \u201cwe have many great and precious\npromises, that we may be made partakers of the divine nature;\u201d our LORD\nprays, \u201cthat we may be one, as the Father and he are one;\u201d and our own\nchurch, in conformity to these texts of Scripture, in her excellent\ncommunion-office, tells us, that those who receive the sacrament\nworthily, \u201cdwell in CHRIST, and CHRIST in them; that they are one with\nCHRIST, and CHRIST with them.\u201d And yet, christians must have their\nnames cast out as evil, and ministers in particular, must be looked\nupon as deceivers of the people, for affirming, that we must be really\nunited to GOD, by receiving the Holy Ghost. Be astonished, O heavens,\nat this!\n\nIndeed, I will not say, all our letter-learned preachers deny this\ndoctrine in express words; but however, they do in effect; for they\ntalk professedly against inward feelings, and say, we may have GOD\u2019s\nSpirit without feeling it, which is in reality to deny the thing itself.\nAnd had I a mind to hinder the progress of the gospel, and to establish\nthe kingdom of darkness, 1 would go about, telling people, they might\nhave the Spirit of GOD, and yet not feel it.\n\nBut to return: When our LORD was about to ascend to his Father and our\nFather, to his GOD and our GOD, he gave his apostles this commission,\n\u201cGo and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,\nand of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.\u201d And accordingly, by authority\nof this commission, we do teach and baptize in this, and every age of\nthe church. And though we translate the words, \u201cbaptizing them in the\n_name_;\u201d yet, as the name of GOD, in the LORD\u2019s prayer, and several\nother places, signifies his nature, they might as well be translated\nthus, \u201cbaptizing them into the _nature_ of the Father, into the\n_nature_ of the Son, and into the _nature_ of the Holy Ghost.\u201d\nConsequently, if we are all to be baptized into the nature of the Holy\nGhost, before our baptism be effectual to salvation, it is evident,\nthat we all must actually receive the Holy Ghost, and ere we can say,\nwe truly believe in JESUS CHRIST. For no one can say, that JESUS is my\nLORD, but he that has thus received the Holy Ghost.\n\nNumbers of other texts might be quoted to make this doctrine, if\npossible, still more plain; but I am astonished, that any who call\nthemselves members; much more, that many, who are preachers in the\nchurch of _England_, should dare so much as to open their lips against\nit. And yet, with grief I speak it, GOD is my Judge, persons of the\nestablished church seem more generally to be ignorant of it, than any\ndissenters whatsoever.\n\nBut, my dear brethren, what have you been doing? how often have your\nhearts given your lips the lye? how often have you offered to GOD\nthe sacrifice of fools, and had your prayers turned into sin, if you\napprove of, and use our church-liturgy, and yet deny the Holy Spirit to\nbe the portion of all believers? In the daily absolution, the minister\nexhorts the people to pray, that \u201cGOD would grant them repentance, and\nhis Holy Spirit;\u201d in the Collect for _Christmas-day_, we beseech GOD,\n\u201cthat he would daily renew us by his Holy Spirit;\u201d in the last week\u2019s\nCollect, we prayed that \u201cwe may evermore rejoice in the comforts of the\nHoly Ghost;\u201d and in the concluding prayer, which we put up every day,\nwe pray, not only that the grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and the love\nof GOD, but that \u201cthe fellowship of the Holy Ghost\u201d may be with us all\nevermore.\n\nBut farther, a solemn season, to some, is now approaching; I mean the\n_Ember-days_, at the end of which, all that are to be ordained to the\noffice of a deacon, are in the sight of GOD, and in the presence of the\ncongregation, to declare, that \u201cthey trust they are inwardly moved by\nthe Holy Ghost, to take upon them that administration;\u201d and to those,\nwho are to be ordained priests, the bishop is to repeat these solemn\nwords, \u201cReceive thou the Holy Ghost, now committed unto thee, by the\nimposition of our hands.\u201d And yet, O that I had no reason to speak\nit, many that use our forms, and many who have witnessed this good\nconfession, yet dare to both talk and preach against the necessity\nof receiving the Holy Ghost now; and not only so, but cry out against\nthose, who do insist upon it, as madmen, enthusiasts, schismatics, and\nunderminers of the established constitution.\n\nBut you are the schismatics, you are the bane of the church of\n_England_, who are always crying out, \u201cthe temple of the LORD, the\ntemple of the LORD;\u201d and yet starve the people out of our communion, by\nfeeding them only with the dry husks of dead morality, and not bringing\nout to them the fatted calf; I mean, the doctrines of the operations\nof the blessed Spirit of GOD. But here is the misfortune; many of us\nare not led by, and therefore no wonder that we cannot talk feelingly\nof, the Holy Ghost; we subscribe to our articles, and make them serve\nfor a key to get into church-preferment, and then preach contrary to\nthose very articles to which we have subscribed. Far be it from me,\nto charge all the clergy with this hateful hypocrisy; no, blessed be\nGOD, there are some left among us, who dare maintain the doctrines\nof the Reformation, and preach the truth as it is in JESUS: But I\nspeak the truth in CHRIST, I lye not; the generality of the clergy are\nfallen from our articles, and do not speak agreeable to them, or to\nthe form of sound words delivered in the Scriptures; wo be unto such\nblind leaders of the blind! how can you escape the damnation of hell?\nIt is not all your learning (falsely so called) it is not all your\npreferments can keep you from the just judgment of GOD. Yet a little\nwhile, and we shall all appear before the tribunal of CHRIST; there,\nthere will I meet you; there JESUS CHRIST, the great Shepherd and\nBishop of souls, shall determine who are the false prophets, who\nare the wolves in sheep\u2019s cloathing. Those who say, that we must now\nreceive and feel the Holy Ghost, or those who exclaim against it, as\nthe doctrine of devils.\n\nBut I can no more; it is an unpleasing task to censure any order of men,\nespecially those who are in the ministry; nor would any thing excuse it\nbut necessity: that necessity which extorted from our LORD himself so\nmany woes against the Scribes and Pharisees, the letter-learned rulers\nand teachers of the _Jewish_ church; and surely, if I could bear to see\npeople perish for lack of knowledge, and yet be silent towards those\nwho keep from them the key of true knowledge, the very stones would cry\nout.\n\nWould we restore the church to its primitive dignity, the only way is\nto live and preach the doctrine of CHRIST, and the articles to which we\nhave subscribed; then we shall find the number of dissenters will daily\ndecrease, and the church of _England_ become the joy of the whole earth.\n\nI am, in the _Third_ place, to shew the reasonableness of this doctrine.\n\nI say, the reasonableness of this doctrine; for however it may seem\nfoolishness to the natural man, yet to those, who have tasted of\nthe good word of life, and have felt the power of the world to come,\nit will appear to be founded on the highest reason; and is capable,\nto those who have eyes to see, even of a demonstration; I say of\ndemonstration: for it stands on this self-evident truth, that we are\nfallen creatures, or, to use the scripture-expression, \u201chave all died\nin _Adam_.\u201d\n\nI know indeed, it is now no uncommon thing amongst us, to deny the\ndoctrine of original sin, as well as the divinity of JESUS CHRIST; but\nit is incumbent on those who deny it, first to disprove the authority\nof the holy Scriptures; if thou canst prove, thou unbeliever, that the\nbook, which we call _The Bible_, does not contain the lively oracles of\nGOD; if thou canst shew, that holy men of old, did not write this book,\nas they were inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost, then will we give up the\ndoctrine of original sin; but unless thou canst do this, we must insist\nupon it, that we are all conceived and born in sin; if for no other,\nyet for this one reason, because that GOD, who cannot lye, has told us\nso.\n\nBut what has light to do with darkness, or polite infidels with the\nBible? Alas! as they are strangers to the power, so they are generally\nas great strangers to the word of GOD. And therefore, if we will preach\nto them, we must preach to and from the heart: for talking in the\nlanguage of scripture, to them, is but like talking in an unknown\ntongue. Tell me then, O man, whosoever thou art, that deniest the\ndoctrine of original sin, if thy conscience be not seared as with a\nhot iron! tell me, if thou dost not find thyself, by nature, to be a\nmotly mixture of brute and devil? I know these terms will stir up the\nwhole Pharisee in thy heart; but let not Satan hurry thee hence; stop a\nlittle, and let us reason together; dost thou not find, that by nature\nthou art prone to pride? otherwise, wherefore art thou now offended?\nAgain, dost not thou find in thyself the seeds of malice, revenge,\nand all uncharitableness? and what are these but the very tempers of\nthe devil? Again, do we not all by nature follow, and suffer ourselves\nto be led by our natural appetites, always looking downwards, never\nlooking upwards to that GOD, in whom we live, move, and have our being?\nand what is this but the very nature of the beasts that perish? Out\nof thy own heart, therefore, will I oblige thee to confess, what an\ninspired apostle has long since told us, that \u201cthe whole world (by\nnature) lies in the wicked one;\u201d we are no better than those whom St.\n_Jude_ calls \u201cbrute beasts;\u201d for we have tempers in us all by nature,\nthat prove to a demonstration, that we are earthly, sensual, devilish.\n\nAnd this will serve as another argument, to prove the reality of the\noperations of the blessed Spirit on the hearts of believers, against\nthose false professors, who deny there is any such thing as influences\nof the Holy Spirit, that may be felt. For if they will grant that the\ndevil worketh, and so as to be felt in the hearts of the children of\ndisobedience (which they must grant, unless they will give an apostle\nthe lye) where is the wonder that the good Spirit should have the same\npower over those who are truly obedient to the faith of JESUS CHRIST?\n\nIf it be true then, that we are all by nature, since the fall, a\nmixture of brute and devil, it is evident, that we all must receive the\nHoly Ghost, ere we can dwell with and enjoy GOD.\n\nWhen you read, how the prodigal, in the gospel, was reduced to so low\na condition, as to eat husks with swine, and how _Nebuchadnezzar_ was\nturned out, to graze with oxen; I am confident, you pity their unhappy\nstate. And when you hear, how JESUS CHRIST will say, at the last day,\nto all that are not born again of GOD, \u201cDepart from me, ye cursed, into\neverlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels,\u201d do not your\nhearts shrink within you, with a secret horror? And if creatures, with\nonly our degree of goodness, cannot bear even the thoughts of dwelling\nwith beasts or devils, to whose nature we are so nearly allied, how do\nwe imagine GOD, who is infinite goodness, and purity itself, can dwell\nwith us, while we are partakers of both their natures? we might as well\nthink to reconcile heaven and hell.\n\nWhen _Adam_ had eaten the forbidden fruit, he fled and hid himself from\nGOD; why? because he was naked; he was alienated from the life of GOD,\nthe due punishment of his disobedience. Now, we are all by nature naked\nand void of GOD, as he was at that time, and consequently, until we are\nchanged, renewed, and cloathed with a divine nature again, we must fly\nfrom GOD also.\n\nHence then appears the reasonableness of our being obliged to receive\nthe Spirit of GOD. It is founded on the doctrine of original sin: and,\ntherefore, you will always find, that those who talk against feeling\nthe operations of the Holy Ghost, very rarely, or slightly at least,\nmention our fall in _Adam_; no, they refer St. _Paul_\u2019s account of\nthe depravity of unbelievers, only to those of old time. Whereas it is\nobvious, on the contrary, that we are all equally included under the\nguilt and consequences of our first parent\u2019s sin, even as others; and\nto use the language of our own church-article, \u201cbring into the world\nwith us, a corruption, which renders us liable to GOD\u2019s wrath, and\neternal damnation.\u201d\n\nShould I preach to you any other doctrine, I should wrong my own soul;\nI should be found a false witness towards GOD and you; and he that\npreaches any other doctrine, howsoever dignified and distinguished,\nshall bear his punishment, whosoever he be.\n\nFrom this plain reason then appears the necessity why we, as well as\nthe first apostles, in this sense, must receive the Spirit of GOD.\n\nFor the great work of sanctification, or making us holy, is\nparticularly referred to the Holy Ghost; therefore, our LORD says,\n\u201cUnless a man be born of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom\nof GOD.\u201d\n\nJESUS CHRIST came down to save us, not only from the guilt, but also\nfrom the power of sin: and however often we have repeated our creed,\nand told GOD we believe in the Holy Ghost, yet, if we have not believed\nin him, so as to be really united to JESUS CHRIST by him, we have no\nmore concord with JESUS CHRIST than _Belial_ himself.\n\nAnd now, my brethren, what shall I say more? tell me, are not many of\nyou offended at what has been said already? do not some of you think,\nthough I mean well, yet I have carried the point a little too far? are\nnot others ready to cry out, if this be true, who then can be saved? is\nnot this driving people into despair?\n\nYes, I ingenuously confess it is; but into what despair? a despair of\nmercy through CHRIST? no, GOD forbid; but a despair of living with GOD\nwithout receiving the Holy Ghost. And I would to GOD, that not only\nall you that hear me this day, but that the whole world was filled\nwith this despair. Believe me, I have been doing no more than you allow\nyour bodily physicians to do every day: if you have a wound, and are in\nearnest about a cure, you bid the surgeon probe it to the very bottom;\nand shall not the physician of your souls be allowed the same freedom?\nWhat have I been doing but searching your natural wounds, that I might\nconvince you of your danger, and put you upon applying to JESUS CHRIST\nfor a remedy? Indeed I have dealt with you as gently as I could; and\nnow I have wounded, I will attempt to heal you. For I was in the\n\n_Last_ place, to exhort you all to come to JESUS CHRIST by faith,\nwhereby you, even you also, shall receive the Holy Ghost. \u201cFor this\nspake he of the Spirit, which they that _believe_ on him should\nreceive.\u201d\n\nThis, this is what I long to come to. Hitherto I have been preaching\nonly the law; but behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy. If I\nhave wounded you, be not afraid; behold, I now bring a remedy for all\nyour wounds. Notwithstanding you are sunk into the nature of the beast\nand devil, yet, if you truly believe on JESUS CHRIST, you shall receive\nthe quickening Spirit promised in the text, and be restored to the\nglorious liberties of the sons of GOD; I say, if you believe on JESUS\nCHRIST. \u201cFor by faith we are saved; it is not of works, lest any\none should boast.\u201d And, however some men may say, there is a fitness\nrequired in the creature, and that we must have a righteousness of our\nown, before we can lay hold on the righteousness of CHRIST; yet, if\nwe believe the scripture, salvation is the free gift of GOD, in CHRIST\nJESUS our LORD; and whosoever believeth on him with his whole heart,\nthough his soul be as black as hell itself, shall receive the gift of\nthe Holy Ghost. Behold then, I stand up, and cry out in this great day\nof the feast, let every one that thirsteth come unto JESUS CHRIST and\ndrink. \u201cHe that believeth on him, out of his belly shall flow (not only\nstreams or rivulets, but whole) rivers of living water.\u201d This I speak\nof the Spirit, which they that believe on JESUS shall certainly receive.\nFor JESUS CHRIST is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever; he is the\nway, the truth, the resurrection, and the life; \u201cwhosoever believeth\non him, though he were dead, yet shall he live.\u201d There is no respect\nof persons with JESUS CHRIST; high and low, rich and poor, one with\nanother, may come to him with an humble confidence, if they draw near\nby faith; from him we may all receive grace upon grace; for JESUS\nCHRIST is full of grace and truth, and ready to save to the uttermost,\nall that by a true faith turn unto him. Indeed, the poor generally\nreceive the gospel, and \u201cGOD has chosen the poor in this world, rich\nin faith.\u201d But though not many mighty, not many noble are called; and\nthough it be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than\nfor a rich man to enter into the kingdom of GOD, yet, even to you that\nare rich, do I now freely offer salvation, by JESUS CHRIST, if you will\nrenounce yourselves, and come to JESUS CHRIST as poor sinners; I say,\nas poor sinners; for the \u201cpoor in spirit\u201d are only so blessed, as to\nhave a right to the kingdom of GOD. And JESUS CHRIST calls none to him,\nbut those who thirst after his righteousness, and feel themselves weary,\nand heavy laden with the burden of their sins. JESUS CHRIST justifies\nthe ungodly; he came not to call the righteous, but sinners to\nrepentance.\n\nDo not then say you are unworthy; for this is a faithful and true\nsaying, and worthy of all men to be received, \u201cthat JESUS CHRIST came\ninto the world to save sinners;\u201d and if you are the chief of sinners,\nif you feel yourselves such, verily JESUS CHRIST came into the world\nchiefly to save you. When _Joseph_ was called out of the prison-house\nto \u2666_Pharaoh_\u2019s court, we are told, that he staid some time to prepare\nhimself; but do you come with all your prison cloaths about you; come\npoor, and miserable, and blind, and naked, as you are, and GOD the\nFather shall receive you with open arms, as was the returning prodigal.\nHe shall cover your nakedness with the best robe of his dear Son\u2019s\nrighteousness, shall seal you with the signet of his Spirit, and feed\nyou with the fatted calf, even with the comforts of the Holy Ghost.\nO, let there then be joy in heaven over some of you, as believing; let\nme not go back to my Master, and say, LORD, they will not believe my\nreport. Harden no longer your hearts, but open them wide, and let the\nKing of glory enter in; believe me, I am willing to go to prison or\ndeath for you; but I am not willing to go to heaven without you. The\nlove of JESUS CHRIST constrains me to lift up my voice like a trumpet.\nMy heart is now full; out of the abundance of the love which I have for\nyour precious and immortal souls, my mouth now speaketh; and I could\nnow not only continue my discourse until midnight, but I could speak\nuntil I could speak no more. And why should I despair of any? no, I can\ndespair of no one, when I consider JESUS CHRIST has had mercy on such a\nwretch as I am; but the free grace of CHRIST prevented me; he saw me in\nmy blood, he passed by me, and said unto me, Live; and the same grace\nwhich was sufficient for me, is sufficient for you also; behold, the\nsame blessed Spirit is ready to breathe on all your dry bones, if you\nwill believe on JESUS CHRIST, whom GOD has sent; indeed, you can never\nbelieve on, or serve a better master, one that is more mighty, or more\nwilling to save; I can say, the LORD CHRIST is gracious, his yoke is\neasy, his burden exceeding light; after you have served him many years,\nlike the servants under the law, was he willing to discharge you, you\nwould say, we love our Master, and will not go from him. Come then, my\nguilty brethren, come and believe on the LORD that bought you with his\nprecious blood; look up by faith, and see him whom you have pierced;\nbehold him bleeding, panting, dying! behold him with arms stretched\nout ready to receive you all; cry unto him as the penitent thief did,\nLORD, remember us now thou art in thy kingdom, and he shall say to\nyour souls, shortly shall you be with me in paradise. For those whom\nCHRIST justifies, them he also glorifies, even with that glory which\nhe enjoyed with the Father, before the world began. Do not say, I have\nbought a piece of ground, and must needs go see it; or I have bought a\nyoke of oxen, and must needs go prove them; or I have married a wife, I\nam engaged in an eager pursuit after the lust of the eye, and the pride\nof life, and therefore cannot come. Do not fear having your name cast\nout as evil, or being accounted a fool for CHRIST\u2019s sake; yet a little\nwhile, and you shall shine like the stars in the firmament for ever.\nOnly believe, and JESUS CHRIST shall be to you wisdom, righteousness,\nsanctification, and eternal redemption; your bodies shall be fashioned\nlike unto his glorious body, and your souls be partakers of all the\nfulness of GOD.\n\n \u2666 \u201cPharoah\u201d replaced with \u201cPharaoh\u201d\n\n Which GOD of his infinite mercy, &c.\n\n\n\n\n SERMON XXXIX.\n\n The Resurrection of _Lazarus_.\n\n\n JOHN xi. 43, 44.\n\n _And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus\n come forth. And he that was dead, came forth, bound hand and\n foot with grave-cloaths: and his face was bound about with a\n napkin. JESUS saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go._\n\nWHEN JESUS CHRIST, the eternal Word, was pleased to make all things\nby the word of his power, his last works were the best. When he looked\nback upon, and beheld the first products of his almighty power, he\npronounced them \u201cgood;\u201d but when that last, that lovely creature man,\nwas formed, he pronounced them \u201cvery good.\u201d So, the same JESUS, when he\ncame to tabernacle among us, and to begin and carry on a new and second\ncreation, though all his works were miracles of wonder, and manifested\nforth the glory of his eternal Godhead, yet the nearer he came to\nthe end of his public ministrations, the greater and more noble did\nthe miracles which he wrought appear. The resurrection of _Lazarus_,\nthat is to be the subject of the following discourse, I think, is a\nsufficient proof of this. To an eye of sense, it seems to be one of\nthe greatest, if not the very greatest miracle of all which our blessed\nLord performed. When our Saviour bid _John_\u2019s disciples go and tell\ntheir Master what things they had seen and heard, he commands them to\ninform him, that by his divine power \u201cthe dead were raised;\u201d alluding\nno doubt to the Ruler\u2019s daughter, who was raised immediately after her\ndecease; and the Widow\u2019s son, who at the command of JESUS, rose out of\nhis coffin, as they were carrying his corpse to the burial. These were\npregnant proofs, that JESUS was indeed the Messiah that was to come\ninto the world. But his raising of _Lazarus_ from the dead, after he\nhad lain four days dead, and saw corruption, is still, if possible,\na greater miracle; and consequently a stronger proof of his being the\nAnointed, the CHRIST of GOD. The evangelist _John_ is very particular\nin giving us an account of this miracle; even so particular, as to\nspend a whole chapter in relating the circumstances which preceded,\nattended, and followed after it. And as he was undoubtedly directed\nherein by the all-wise, unerring Spirit of GOD, does it not point out\nunto us, that this miracle, with all its respective circumstances,\ncalls for our particular and most serious meditation? It appears to me\nin this light; and therefore, as the LORD shall be pleased to assist,\nI shall go back to the beginning of this chapter, follow the evangelist\nstep by step, and consider the particulars of this wonderous miracle,\nmake some practical observations as I go along, and conclude with some\nsuitable instructions and exhortations, which will naturally arise from\nthe body of the discourse.\n\nThe evangelist in the first verse, makes mention of the sickness of\n_Lazarus_. \u201cNow, a certain man mas sick, named _Lazarus_ of _Bethany_,\nthe town of _Mary_, and her sister _Martha_.\u201d Some think these sisters\nwere very wealthy, so as to own good part of the town, or, as the\noriginal word seems to imply, the village. But then it is probable\nthe evangelist would have said the town of _Lazarus_, estates usually\ndescending, as with us, in the male line: it means therefore no more,\nthan that _Martha_ and _Mary_ lived in _Bethany_. The Holy Ghost\npointing out to us hereby, that nothing makes a town so worthy of a\ngracious soul\u2019s remark or esteem, as its having many of GOD\u2019s dear\nchildren for its inhabitants. _Bethany_, though a little place, is\nmore famous because it was the town of _Martha_ and _Mary_, than if\n_Alexander_ had fought in it one of his greatest battles. Both these\nwomen loved JESUS in sincerity, and were as good as they were great.\nBut _Mary_, though the younger sister, seems to be the most eminent:\nfor the evangelist in the second verse, speaks of her in a very\ndistinguishing manner. \u201cIt was that _Mary_, (that never-to-be-forgotten\n_Mary_) which anointed the Lord with ointment (expensive as it was) and\nwiped his feet, (after she had washed them with tears of love) with her\nhair,\u201d even the hair of her head. What notice is taken of this action!\nWith what an eulogy, and in what a high strain of commendation is it\nhere spoken of? And such are the honours of all GOD\u2019s saints. Though\nall our good works are not recorded as _Mary_\u2019s are, yet GOD is not\nunmindful, that he should forget our works of faith, and labours which\nhave proceeded of love. Every tear we shed, every sigh we fetch, every\nalms we give, though it be only a cup of cold water, are all recorded\nin the Lamb\u2019s book of remembrance, and shall be produced to our eternal\nhonour, and rewarded with a reward of grace, though not of debt, at the\ngreat and terrible day of the LORD. \u201cI was an hungered, and ye gave me\nmeat, I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink, naked, and ye cloathed me,\nsick and in prison, and ye came unto me.\u201d What reason have we then to\nbe \u201cstedfast and unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the LORD,\nforasmuch as we are assured, that our labours will not be in vain or\nforgotten by the LORD?\u201d It was that _Mary_ that anointed the LORD with\nointment, and wiped his feet with her hair. And what follows? \u201cWhose\nbrother _Lazarus_ was sick.\u201d So that being related to CHRIST, or his\ndisciples, will not exempt persons from sickness. In this life, time\nand chance happen to all, only with this material difference, those\nafflictions which harden the obstinately impenitent, soften and purify\nthe heart of a true believer. \u201cMy son, therefore despise not the\nchastening of the LORD (on one hand), nor faint when thou art rebuked\nof him (on the other): for whom the LORD loveth he chasteneth, and\nscourgeth every son whom he receiveth.\u201d\n\nJESUS loved _Lazarus_, and yet _Lazarus_ was sick. And what do his\nsisters do for him now he is sick? No doubt they applied to a physician,\nfor it is tempting GOD to neglect making use of means for the recovery\nof our health, when it is impaired. But then they were not guilty of\n_Asa_\u2019s crime, \u201cwho sought to the physicians, but not to the LORD.\u201d No;\nthey knew the most skilful prescriptions would be of no effect, unless\nattended with a blessing from JESUS the Great and Almighty Physician;\nand therefore his sisters sent unto him, probably at the beginning of\ntheir brother\u2019s illness. How unlike is their conduct, to that of the\ngenerality of people, especially the rich and great! How unfashionable\nis it now-a-days for persons to send to JESUS in behalf of their\nsick relations! It is so very uncustomary, that in some places, if a\nminister be sent for to a sick person, it is a sad symptom that the\npatient is almost past hopes of recovery. Thus did not _Martha_ and her\nsister _Mary_; they sent unto JESUS, though he was now beyond _Jordan_,\n(chapter x. 40.) where he abode, or chiefly resided, for some time.\nHence it was that they knew where to send to him. But what kind of\nmessage did they send? A very humble and suitable one. \u201cLORD, Behold,\nhe whom thou lovest is sick.\u201d They might have said, LORD, he who loveth\nthee is sick. But they knew, that our love was not worth mentioning,\nand that we love JESUS only because he first loved us. Besides, here is\nno prescribing to our LORD what he should do, or what means he should\nmake use of. They do not so much as say, We pray thee to come, or only\nspeak the word, and our sick brother shall be restored. They simply\ntell JESUS the case, knowing it was sufficient barely to lay it before\nan infinitely compassionate Redeemer, and leave it to him to act\naccording to his own sovereign good-will and pleasure. \u201cLORD, Behold he\nwhom thou lovest is sick.\u201d Oh how sweet is it when the soul is brought\nto this! And with what a holy confidence may we pray to, and intercede\nwith the holy JESUS, when we have reason to hope, that those we pray\nand intercede for, are lovers of, and are beloved of him! For his eyes\nare in a peculiar manner over the righteous, and his ears always open\nto their prayers. This was their message, and it soon reached JESUS\nCHRIST. And how does he receive it? We are told, verse 4. \u201cWhen JESUS\nheard that, (that he whom he loved was sick) He said, this sickness is\nnot unto death, but unto the glory of GOD, that the Son of GOD may be\nglorified thereby.\u201d To whom these words were spoken is not certain.\nIn all probability, JESUS spake them to the persons that delivered\n_Martha_\u2019s and _Mary_\u2019s message. And if so, it was no doubt a\ncomfortable answer for the present, though it must afterwards puzzle\nthem as well as the disciples how to explain it, when they found that\n_Lazarus_ was actually dead. \u201cThis sickness is not unto death,\u201d not\nunto an abiding death, because he intended to raise him again, soon\nafter his decease. It is like that expression of our LORD in St. _Mark_,\n\u201cThe damsel is not dead, but sleepeth;\u201d which must not be understood\nin a literal, but metaphorical sense. And this and such-like instances,\nought to teach us to weigh carefully our blessed LORD\u2019s words, and to\nwait for an explication of them, by subsequent providences; otherwise\nwe shall be in danger of misapplying them, and thereby bring our souls\ninto unspeakable bondage. \u201cThis sickness is not unto death, but unto\nthe glory of GOD, that the Son of GOD may be glorified thereby.\u201d This\nis the end both of the afflictions and the deaths of GOD\u2019s people. By\nall that happens to them he will be glorified one way or another, and\ncause every thing to work together for their good. And who then but\nwould be content to be sick, or willing to submit to death itself, if\nso be the Son of GOD may be glorified thereby? This answer, no doubt,\nproceeded from love. For we are told,\n\nVerse 5. that \u201cJESUS loved _Martha_ and her sister, and _Lazarus_.\u201d\nOh happy family! Three in it beloved of JESUS, with a peculiar,\neverlasting love. \u201cVery often it so happens, (to use the words of the\npious Bishop _Beveridge_) that there is but one in a city, and two\nin a country of this stamp.\u201d But here are two sisters and a brother,\nall lovers of, and beloved by the glorious JESUS. What shall we say\nto these things? Why, that our Saviour\u2019s grace is free and sovereign,\nand he may do what he will with his own. They who are thus so highly\nfavoured as to have so many converted in one house, ought to be doubly\nthankful! Such a blessing have not all his saints. No; many, very\nmany, go mourning over their perverse and graceless relations all their\nlives long; and find, even to their dying day, that their greatest foes\nare those of their own houshold. Surely these three relations lived\na heaven upon earth. For what can they want, what could make them\nmiserable, who are assured of JESU\u2019s love? But surely if JESUS loves\nthis dear little family, the next news one might think we should hear,\nwould be, that he went immediately and healed _Lazarus_; or at least\ncured him at a distance. But instead of that, we are told, verse 6.\n\u201cWhen he had heard that he was sick, he abode two days still in the\nsame place where he was.\u201d A strange way this, in the eye of natural\nreason, of expressing love; but not so strange in the eye of faith:\nfor the LORD JESUS very often sheweth his love, by deferring to\ngive immediate answers to our prayers. Hereby he tries our faith and\npatience, and exercises all our passive graces. We have a proof of this\nin the _Syrophenician_ woman, upon whom the blessed JESUS frowned, and\nspake roughly to at first, only that he might afterwards turn unto her\nand say, \u201cO woman, great is thy faith.\u201d Let not those then who believe,\nmake too much haste; or immediately in their hearts repine against\nthe LORD, because he may not answer their requests, in their own time\nand way. GOD\u2019s time and way is best. And we shall find it to be so\nin the end. _Martha_ and _Mary_ experienced the truth of this, though\nundoubtedly our LORD\u2019s seeming delay, to come and heal their brother,\ncost them great searchings of heart. But will the LORD JESUS forget his\ndear _Lazarus_, whom his soul loveth? \u201cCan a woman forget her sucking\nchild?\u201d Indeed she may; but the LORD never faileth those that fear him.\nNeither is he slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness:\nfor his very delays are answers. The vision is for an appointed time;\nin the end it will speak and not lie.\n\nThough our LORD abode two days where he was, to try the faith of these\nsisters, yet after this, he said unto his disciples, verse 7. \u201cLet\nus go into _Judea_ again.\u201d With what a holy familiarity does JESUS\nconverse with his dear children! Our Saviour seems to speak to his\ndisciples, as though he was only their brother, and as it were upon a\nlevel with them; \u201cLet us go into _Judea_ again.\u201d How gently, according\nto what was predicted of him, does he lead those that are with young!\nJESUS very well knew the weakness of his disciples, and also what a\ndangerous place _Judea_ was: how gradually therefore does he make\nknown unto them, his design of going thither! And how does he admit his\ndisciples to expostulate with him on this account! \u201cMaster, say they,\nthe _Jews_ of late sought to stone thee, and goest thou thither again?\u201d\nThey were amazed at our LORD\u2019s boldness, and were ready to call it\npresumption; as we generally are prone to censure and condemn other\nzealous and enterprizing persons, as carrying matters too far; it may\nbe for no other reason, if we examine the bottom of our hearts, but\nbecause they go before, and excel ourselves. The disciples, no doubt,\nthought that they spoke out of love to their LORD, and assuredly they\ndid; but what a deal of self-love was there mixed and blended with it?\nThey seem much concerned for their Master, but they were more concerned\nfor themselves. However JESUS overlooks their weakness, and mildly\nreplies, verse 9, and 10. \u201cAre there not twelve hours in the day?\nIf any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the\nlight of the world; but if any man walk in the night, he stumbleth,\nbecause there is no light in him.\u201d As though our LORD had said, My dear\ndisciples, I thank you for your care and concern for me. _Judea_ is a\ndangerous place, and what you say of the treatment I met with from its\ninhabitants, is just and true: but be not afraid of going there upon my\naccount. For as a man walketh safely twelve hours of the day, because\nhe walketh in the light: so as long as the time appointed by my Father\nfor my public administration lasts, I shall be as secure from the hands\nof my enemies, as a man that walks in broad-day is secure from falling.\nBut as a man stumbleth if he walketh in the night, so when the night\nof my passion cometh, then, but not till then, shall I be given up into\nthe hands of my spiteful foes. Oh what comfort have these words, by the\nblessing of GOD, frequently brought to my soul! How may all CHRIST\u2019s\nministers strengthen themselves with this consideration, that so long\nas GOD hath work for them to do, they are immortal! And if after our\nwork is over, our LORD should call us to lay down our lives for the\nbrethren, and to seal the truth of our doctrine with our blood, it\nwould certainly be the highest honour that can be put upon us. \u201cTo you\nit is given not only to believe, but also to suffer,\u201d says the apostle\nto the _Philippians_.\n\n\u201cThese things (the evangelist tells us, verse 11.) said JESUS, and\nafter that, (to satisfy them that he was not going into _Judea_ without\na proper call) he saith unto them, Our friend _Lazarus_ sleepeth.\u201d\nOur friend. Amazing! For what is a friend? As one\u2019s own soul. How dear\nthen, and near are true believers to the most adorable JESUS! \u201cOur\nfriend _Lazarus_.\u201d Still more amazing! Here is condescension, here\nis unparalleled familiarity indeed. And what of him? \u201cHe sleepeth.\u201d\nA figurative way of expression. For what is death to the lovers of\nJESUS CHRIST, but a sleep, and a refreshing one too? Thus it is said\nof _Stephen_ when he died, that \u201che fell asleep.\u201d CHRIST indeed died,\nbut believers only sleep. And \u201cthose that sleep in JESUS, (says the\nscripture) will GOD bring with him.\u201d \u201cOur friend _Lazarus_ sleepeth.\u201d\nFor though he be dead, I shall raise him from the grave so soon, that\nhis dying will be only like a person\u2019s taking a short sleep. \u201cOur\nfriend _Lazarus_ sleepeth, but I go that I may awake him out of sleep.\u201d\nBy this time, one would imagine, our LORD\u2019s disciples should have\nunderstood him: But how unwilling are we to believe any thing that we\ndo not like. \u201cThen said his disciples, LORD, if he sleep he shall do\nwell.\u201d Oh fearful, and slow of heart to believe! How fain would they\nexcuse themselves from going into _Judea_, for fear of a few stones!\nBy this way of talking, how do they in effect impeach their blessed\nMaster\u2019s conduct, and under a pretence of preserving his person,\nfoster, and as it were plead for their own (though perhaps undiscerned)\ncowardice and unbelief? That charity, which hopeth and believeth all\nthings for the best, teacheth us to judge thus favourably of them. For,\n\u201cHowbeit JESUS spake of his death: they thought that he had spoken of\ntaking rest in sleep.\u201d The great and compassionate High-priest knowing\nand remembering they were but dust, throws a veil of love over their\ninfirmity; and at length, verse 14. \u201cSaith unto them plainly (for if\nwe wait on JESUS, we shall know his will plainly, one way or another)\n_Lazarus_ is dead.\u201d And even then, lest they should be swallowed up\nwith overmuch sorrow, he immediately adds, verse 15. \u201cAnd I am glad for\nyour sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe,\u201d or have\nmore faith, or have that faith which you already possess increased and\nconfirmed. A plain proof this, that all JESU\u2019s delays to answer prayer,\nare only to strengthen our faith.\n\n\u201cNevertheless, says our LORD, let us go unto him.\u201d This was a\nsufficient hint, if they knew how to improve it, that he intended to do\nsomething extraordinary, though he would not tell them directly what he\nintended. For the LORD JESUS will keep those whom he loves, at his foot,\nand dependant on him. \u201cLet us go unto him.\u201d He still speaks as though\nthey were his equals. Oh that Christians in general, Oh that ministers\nin particular, would learn of him their great exemplar, to condescend\nto men of low degree! Well, the secret is now out. JESUS has said\nunto them plainly, _Lazarus_ is dead. And what reception does this\nmelancholy news meet with? With great condolance, especially from\n_Thomas_; for verse 16. \u201cThen said _Thomas_, who is called _Didymus_,\nunto his fellow disciples, let us also go and die with him;\u201d i.\u00a0e.\naccording to some, with _Lazarus_, with whom, it may be, _Thomas_ had\ncontracted an intimate acquaintance. But granting it was so; shall I\ncommend him for this passionate expression? I commend him not. Surely\nhe spake unadvisedly with his lips; \u201cLet us also go and die with him.\u201d\nAs though there was no comfort henceforward to be expected in the world,\nnow his friend _Lazarus_ was gone. This was a great fault, and yet\na fault that many of GOD\u2019s children run into daily, by mourning for\ntheir deceased relations over-much, like persons that have no hope. But\nthis infirmity ought not to be indulged. For if our friends and dear\nrelatives are dead, JESUS, that friend of sinners, is not dead. He will\nbe better to us than seven sons, and will abundantly supply the place\nof all creature-comforts. But I am more inclined to think that the word\n_him_, refers to JESUS his dear Master; and if so, he is so far from\nbeing blamed, that he spake like a good soldier of JESUS CHRIST. Let\nus also go, that we may die with him. If our dear master will go into\n_Judea_, and hazard his precious life, let us not any longer make such\nfrivolous excuses, but let us manfully accompany him; and if the _Jews_\nshould not only be permitted to stone, but also to kill him, let us\nalso go and die with him, we cannot die in a better cause. This was\na speech worthy of a christian hero, and _Thomas_ herein hath set us\nan example, that we should follow his steps, by exciting and provoking\none another closely to adhere to the blessed JESUS, especially when\nhis cause and interest is in any immediate danger. This exhortation,\nit seems, had a proper effect. They all went, and as far as we know,\nchearfully accompanied their glorious Master.\n\nHow their thoughts were exercised on the road, we are not told. But\nI am apt to believe they were a little discouraged when they came to\n_Bethany_. For \u201cWhen JESUS came, he found that _Lazarus_ had lien in\nthe grave for four days already.\u201d And what would it avail them, to\ncome so many miles only to see a dead man\u2019s tomb? But how wisely were\nall things ordered by the blessed JESUS, to manifest his glory in the\nmost extraordinary manner, that not only his disciples might have their\nfaith confirmed, but many also of the _Jews_ might believe on him.\nThis _Bethany_, it seems, verse 18. \u201cwas nigh unto _Jerusalem_, about\nfifteen furlongs off;\u201d or about two miles; and _Martha_ and _Mary_,\nbeing what we may call people of fashion, and devout likewise; many\nof the devout, and we may suppose many of the wealthy _Jews_ came from\nthe metropolis, as well as other adjacent places, verse 19. to _Martha_\nand _Mary_; not to pay an idle, trifling, but a serious, profitable\nvisit, \u201cto comfort them concerning their brother.\u201d This was kind and\nneighbourly. To weep with those that weep, and to visit the afflicted\nin their distresses, is one essential branch of true and undefiled\nreligion. And O how sweet is it when we visit surviving friends, that\nwe have reason to think that their departed relations died in the LORD!\nAnd we can therefore give them comfort concerning them: For \u201cblessed\nare the dead, that die in the LORD, even so saith the Spirit, for they\nrest from their labours.\u201d This and such-like arguments, no doubt, these\nvisitors made use of, to comfort _Martha_ and _Mary_. And indeed they\nstood in much need of consolation. For we have reason to suppose, from\nour LORD\u2019s answer, \u201cThis sickness is not unto death, but the glory\nof GOD;\u201d that they had entertained thoughts of the recovery of their\nbrother. But who can tell what these two holy souls must feel, when\nthey found their brother did not recover, but was dead, laid out, and\nnow stinking in the silent grave! What hard thoughts, without judging\nthem, may we suppose they entertained concerning JESUS! Think ye not\nthat they were ready to cry out in the language of the prophet, \u201cThou\nhast deceived us, and we are deceived?\u201d But man\u2019s extremity is JESU\u2019s\nopportunity. In the multitude of the sorrows that they had in their\nhearts, the news of CHRIST\u2019s coming refreshes their souls. Somebody or\nanother, commendably officious, privately informs _Martha_ of it. \u201cWho,\nas soon as she heard that JESUS was come (without making any apology to\nthe company for her rudeness) went and met him: But _Mary_ sat still in\nthe house.\u201d But why so, _Mary_? I thought thou hadst been most forward\nto attend on JESUS, and thy sister _Martha_ more prone to be cumbered\nabout the many things of this life. Why sittest thou still? It may be\nthe news was brought only privately to _Martha_ (for it is plain from\nverse 31st, that the _Jews_ who were in the house knew not of it;) and\n_Martha_ knowing how our LORD had chid her once, was resolved he should\nhave no reason on the same account to chide her any more; therefore\nwhen the news was brought, she would not so much as stay to inform her\nsister, but went out to see whether it were true or not, and if so, as\nthe eldest sister, she would invite the blessed JESUS in. How happy is\nit, when CHRIST\u2019s reproofs for past neglects, excite our future zeal to\ncome out and meet him! Such reproofs are an excellent oil. Or, it may\nbe, the news reached _Mary_\u2019s ears, as well as _Martha_\u2019s, but being\novercome with sorrow, she thought it too good news to be true, and\ntherefore sat still in the house. O how careful ought believers to\nbe, to cherish and maintain, even in the midst of tribulation, a holy\nconfidence and joy in GOD! For the joy of the LORD is a believer\u2019s\nstrength. Whereas giving way to melancholy and unbelief, raises gloom\nand vapours in the mind, clouds the understanding, clogs us in the way\nof duty, and gives the enemy, who loves to fish in troubled waters, a\nvery great advantage over us.\n\n_Mary_, perhaps, through the prevalence of this, and being also\nnaturally of a sedentary disposition, \u201csat still in the house,\u201d while\nher sister _Martha_ got the start of her, and went out to meet JESUS.\nAnd how does she accost him? Why, in a language bespeaking the distress\nof a burdened and disordered mind. For she said unto JESUS, verse 21,\n\u201cLORD, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.\u201d Here is\na mixture of faith and unbelief. Faith made her say, \u201cLORD, if thou\nhadst been here, my brother had not died.\u201d But unbelief made her\nconfine CHRIST\u2019s power to his bodily presence. Besides, here was a\ntacit accusation of the blessed JESUS of unkindness, for not coming\nwhen they sent unto him the message, \u201cLORD, he whom thou lovest is\nsick.\u201d Once she charged JESUS with want of care; \u201cLORD, carest thou\nnot, that my sister hath left me to serve alone?\u201d Now she taxes him\nwith want of kindness. \u201cIf thou hadst been here;\u201d as much as to say,\nif thou hadst been so kind as to have come when we sent for thee, \u201cmy\nbrother had not died;\u201d and by saying thus, she does as it were lay\nher brother\u2019s death to JESUS CHRIST. O how apt are even those whom\nJESUS loves in a peculiar manner, to charge him foolishly! How often\ndoes the enmity of our desperately wicked hearts rise against CHRIST,\nwhen we are under the afflicting hand of his providence! Are not the\nvery best of us frequently tempted, in such circumstances, to say\nwithin ourselves at least, Why does GOD thus cruelly deal with us? Why\ndid not he keep off this stroke, seeing it was in his power to have\nprevented it? How should we be ashamed and confounded before him upon\nthis account? How should we pray and labour to be delivered from this\nremaining enmity of the heart, and long for that time, when mortality\nshall be swallowed up of life, and we shall never feel one single\nrising of heart, against a good and gracious, and all-wise and glorious\nRedeemer, any more? However, to do _Martha_ justice, she pretty well\nrecovers herself, verse 22. \u201cBut I know, that even now, whatsoever thou\nwilt ask of GOD, GOD will give it to thee.\u201d Whether these words imply\nan actual belief of our LORD\u2019s divinity, is not certain. To me they do;\nbecause we shall presently find, that she did believe our LORD was the\nSon of GOD, and the Messiah which was to come into the world. Therefore\nwhen she said, she knew that whatsoever he asked of GOD, GOD would give\nit to him, she may be understood as referring to GOD the Father, under\nwhom the LORD JESUS acted as Mediator, though equal to him in respect\nto his eternal glory and godhead. This mystery we may well suppose her\nacquainted with, because JESUS had been frequently preaching at her\nhouse, and consequently, had opened that mystery unto her. O what a\nblessed thing must it be to have such a Mediator! such an high-priest\nand intercessor at the Father\u2019s right-hand, that whatever he asks the\nFather in our behalf, he will give unto us! JESUS takes this kindly\nat _Martha_\u2019s hand, and passes over her infirmity. For if the LORD\nwas exact to mark every thing that we say or do amiss, alas! who could\nabide? He only calmly says unto her, verse 23. \u201cThy brother shall rise\nagain.\u201d\n\nGlad tidings these of great joy. This should comfort us concerning\nour deceased, pious relations, that ere long they shall rise again,\nand soul and body be for ever with the LORD. Howbeit JESUS spake here\nof an immediate resurrection, though he did not speak plainly: For\nCHRIST loves to exercise the faith and patience of his disciples,\nand frequently leaves them to find out his meaning by degrees. It\nis best for us in our present state, that it should be so. In heaven\nit will be otherwise. \u201cThy brother, (says CHRIST to _Martha_) shall\nrise again.\u201d She might immediately have replied, When, LORD? But she\nfetches a circuit as it were, and labours to find out the mind of\nJESUS by degrees. \u201cI know, says she, that he shall rise again at the\nresurrection of the last day.\u201d These words seem to imply, that she had\nsome distant thought of our LORD\u2019s design to raise her brother now,\nand that she spoke thus only to draw our Saviour to speak, and tell her\nplainly whether he meant to do so or not. Those who are acquainted with\nJESUS, are taught an holy art by the blessed Spirit, in dealing with\ntheir blessed master. \u201cI know, says she, he shall rise again at the\nresurrection of the last day,\u201d (a notable proof this, by the way, that\nthe pious _Jews_ believed the resurrection of the body). It is just the\nsame as though she had said, LORD, dost thou mean that my brother shall\nrise again before that time? Our Saviour wisely keeps off from giving\nher a direct answer, but chuses rather to preach to her heart. \u201cJESUS\nsaid unto her, I am the resurrection and the life: He that believeth in\nme, though he were dead, yet shall he live.\u201d On this _Martha_\u2019s faith,\nif in exercise, might take hold. O glorious words! How encouraging to\nyou poor sinners lying in your blood! Though you are dead in trespasses\nand sins, and might justly be condemned to die the second death, yet if\nyou believe on the LORD JESUS you shall live. He adds, \u201cAnd whosoever\nbelieveth in me shall never die;\u201d never die as to their souls, never\ndie eternally, and consequently never finally fall away from GOD. This\nis an encouraging soul-comforting declaration for you, O believers, who\nare thus kept, as it were, in a garrison, by the mighty power of GOD,\nthrough faith, unto salvation! \u201cBelievest thou this?\u201d says CHRIST to\n_Martha_, verse 26. What avail all the many great and precious promises\nof the gospel, unless they are applied and brought home in particular\nto each of our souls? The word does not profit unless it is mixed with\nfaith. We therefore do well, when we are reading CHRIST\u2019s words, to\nput this question to ourselves; O my soul, believest thou this? And\nwell would it be for us, if upon putting this question to ourselves, we\ncould with the same holy confidence, and in the same delightful frame,\nsay with _Martha_, verse 27. \u201cYea, LORD: I believe that thou art the\nCHRIST, the Son of GOD, which should come into the world.\u201d This I think\nis a direct confession of our LORD\u2019s divinity. How full was her heart\nwhen she spoke these words! I am persuaded it burnt within her. What\na divine warmth had she contracted by talking with JESUS! How does she\nlong that her sister might share in her holy joy! For when she had so\nsaid, verse 28. \u201cshe went away;\u201d full of love, no doubt, and called\n_Mary_ her sister, as all will labour to call their near relations, who\nhave felt the LORD JESUS to be the resurrection and the life themselves.\nBut _Martha_ took care, in the midst of her zeal (as we should always\ndo) to behave with prudence; and therefore \u201cshe called her sister\nsecretly, saying, The master is come, and calleth for thee.\u201d The master\nis come. She need say no more; _Mary_ knew very well whom she meant.\nFor holy souls easily understand one another when talking of their\nmaster JESUS. The divine _Herbert_ used to delight (when speaking of\nJESUS) to say, \u201cMy Master;\u201d perhaps he learned it of _Martha_, who said\nhere, \u201cThe Master is come, and calleth for thee.\u201d But what is this thou\nsayest, _Martha_? The Master is come, and calleth for thee? Surely a\nwoman of thy exalted piety will not tell a deliberate lie, and in order\nto induce thy sister to come to JESUS, acquaint her that JESUS called\nher, when indeed he did not. Thou needest not put thyself to such an\nexpence, or do so much evil, that good may come of it. Only mention\nJESUS to _Mary_, and let her know for a certainty that the Master is\nindeed come, and I am persuaded she will sit no longer. _Martha_ no\ndoubt knew, and therefore I cannot judge her as some do, as though in\nher haste she said what was not true. For JESUS might bid her to call\nher sister, though it be not directly mentioned in this chapter. And\nit is very probable, that our LORD did enquire after _Mary_, because\nshe used to take such great delight in sitting at his feet, and hearing\nthe gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth. \u201cThe Master is come\n(saith _Martha_ to her sister) and calleth for thee.\u201d And so say I to\nall poor sinners. JESUS, your LORD and Master, your Prince and Saviour,\nis come, come unto this lower world, and is come this day in his word,\nand by me, who am less than the least of all his servants, and calleth\nfor you. O that he may also come in the demonstration of the Spirit,\nand by his mighty power bow your stubborn hearts and wills to obey the\ncall, as holy _Mary_ did.\n\nFor we are told, verse 29. \u201cWhen she heard that, she rose quickly,\nand came to JESUS.\u201d Sinners, when will you do so? Or why do you not\ndo so? How know you whether JESUS will call for you any more, before\nhe calls you by death to judgment? Linger, O linger no longer. Fly,\nfly for your lives. Arise quickly, and with _Mary_ come to JESUS. She\nobeyed the call so very speedily, that her haste was taken notice of\nby her visitors. \u201cThe _Jews_ then, who were with her in the house, and\ncomforted her, when they saw _Mary_ that she rose up hastily (without\nany ceremony at all) and went out, followed her, saying, she goeth to\nthe grave, to weep there.\u201d How wisely does our LORD permit and order\nall this, to bring the _Jews_ out to behold the wonderful miracle that\nhe was about to perform! Little did _Mary_ and the _Jews_ think for\nwhat end they were thus providentially led out. But when JESUS hath\nwork to be done, he will bring souls to the place where he intends\nto call them, in spite of men or devils. But how does _Mary_ behave\nwhen she comes to JESUS? We may be assured, not without great humility.\nNo wonder then we are told, verse 32. that \u201cwhen she saw him, she\nimmediately fell down at his feet (a place _Mary_ had been used to, and\nin an agony of grief, says, as her sister had done before her) LORD,\nif thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.\u201d Poor _Mary_! Her\nconcern was great indeed. Though she was a holy woman, she could not\nwell bear the loss of her brother. She knew very well, that the world\nwould miss him, and no doubt he had been a kind and tender brother to\nher. But I am afraid she was sinfully overcome with overmuch sorrow.\nHowever, had we been there, the sight must have affected us. It seems\nto have affected the visitors, especially the blessed JESUS. He,\ninstead of blaming her, for her tacitly accusing him of unkindness,\nand for not coming to her brother\u2019s relief, pities and sympathizes\nboth with _Mary_ and her weeping friends! \u201cWhen JESUS saw her weep, and\nthe _Jews_ also weeping, he groaned in his Spirit, and was troubled.\u201d\nTroubled: Not with any sinful perturbation we may be assured: nothing\nof that nature could possibly be in his sinless soul. And, therefore,\nsome have judiciously enough compared the trouble our LORD now felt, to\nsome chrystal water shaken in a glass or bottle; you may shake it, but\nthere will be no sediment: it will be chrystal water still. \u201cHe groaned\nin his spirit.\u201d I do not see why this may not be understood of his\npraying in the spirit, which maketh intercession for the saints, with\n\u1f00\u03bb\u03b1\u03bb\u03b7\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03bd\u03b1\u03b3\u03bc\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2 \u201cgroanings that cannot be uttered.\u201d Methinks I see\nthe immaculate Lamb of GOD, secretly, but powerfully agonizing with his\nFather; his heart is big with sympathy! At length, out of the fulness\nof it, he said, verse 34. \u201cWhere have ye laid him? They (I suppose\n_Mary_ and _Martha_) say unto him, LORD, come and see.\u201d He came, he\nsaw, \u201cHe wept,\u201d verse 35. It is put in a verse by itself, that we might\npause a while, and ask, why JESUS wept?\n\nHe wept, to shew us, that it was no sin to shed a tear of love and\nresignation at the grave of a deceased friend; he wept, to see what\nhavock sin had made in the world, and how it had reduced man, who was\noriginally little lower than the angels, (by making him subject to\ndeath) to a level with the beasts that perish: but above all, he wept\nat the foresight of the people\u2019s unbelief; he wept, to think how many\nthen present, would not only not believe on, but would be hardened, and\nhave their prejudices increased more and more against him, though he\nshould raise _Lazarus_ from the dead before their eyes. Well then may\nministers be excused, who, whilst they are preaching, now and then drop\na few tears, at the consideration of their sermons being, through the\nperverseness and unbelief of many of their audience, a savour of death\nunto death, instead of a savour of life unto life. Upon a like occasion\nJESUS wept. What an affecting sight was here! Let us for a while\nsuppose ourselves placed amidst these holy mourners; let us imagine\nthat we see the sepulchre just before us, and the _Jews_, and _Mary_,\nand the blessed JESUS weeping round it. Surely, the most obdurate of us\nall must drop a tear, or at least be affected with the sight; we find\nthat it affected those who were really by-standers: for then said the\n_Jews_, verse 36. \u201cBehold, how he loved him.\u201d And did they say, Behold,\nhow he loved him, when JESUS only shed a few tears over the grave of\nhis departed _Lazarus_? Come then, O sinners, and view CHRIST dying and\npouring out his precious heart\u2019s blood for you upon an accursed tree,\nand then surely you must needs cry out, Behold, how he loved us!\n\nBut alas, though all were affected, yet, it seems, all were not well\naffected at seeing JESUS weep! For we are told, verse 37. that some of\nthem said, \u201cCould not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind, have\ncaused that even this man should not have died?\u201d One would imagine,\nthat Satan himself could scarce have uttered a more perverse speech:\nevery word is full of spite and rancour. Could not this man, this\nfellow, this deceiver, who pretends to say, that he opened the eyes of\nthe blind, have caused that this man, whom he seems to love so, should\nnot have died? Is not this a sufficient proof that he is a cheat? Have\nwe catched him at last? Is it likely that he really helped others, when\nhe could not help his own friend?\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015O how patient ought the servants\nof our LORD to be! And how may they expect to be censured, and have\ntheir good deeds questioned, and lessened, when their blessed Master\nhas been thus treated before them! However, JESUS will do good,\nnotwithstanding all these slights put upon him; and therefore, again\ngroaning in himself, \u201che cometh to the grave; it was a cave, (or vault,\nas is customary in great families) and a stone lay upon it; JESUS said,\nverse 39. Take ye away the stone.\u201d How gradually does our LORD proceed,\nin order to engage the people\u2019s attention the more! Methinks I see them\nall eye, all ear, and eagerly waiting to see the issue of this affair.\nBut _Martha_ now returning with the rest of the company, seems to have\nlost that good frame which she was in when she went to call her sister;\n\u201cShe saith unto him, (verse 39.) LORD, by this time he stinketh: for he\nhath been _either_ dead _or_ buried four days.\u201d O the dismal effects of\ncarnal reasoning! How naturally do we fall into doubts and fears, when\nwe have not our eye simply directed to the blessed JESUS! _Martha_,\ninstead of looking up to him, looks down into the grave, and poring\nupon her brother\u2019s stinking corpse, falls into a fit of unbelief: \u201cBy\nthis time he stinketh;\u201d and, therefore, a sight of him will only be\noffensive. Perhaps she might think our LORD only wanted to take a view\nof her brother _Lazarus_; JESUS, therefore, to give her yet a further\nhint, that he intended to do something extraordinary, saith unto\nher, verse 40. \u201cSaid I not unto thee, that if thou wouldst believe,\nthou shouldst see the glory of GOD?\u201d Our LORD speaks here with some\ndegree of warmth: for nothing displeases him more than the unbelief\nof his own disciples. \u201cSaid I not unto thee, if thou wouldst believe,\nthou shouldst see the glory of GOD?\u201d When CHRIST first spoke these\nwords unto her, we are not told; it might be, this was part of their\nconversation upon another occasion some time before: however, he checks\nher openly for her unbelief now: for those whom JESUS loves, must\nexpect to be rebuked sharply by him, whenever they dishonour him by\nunbelief. The reproof is taken.\n\nWithout making any more objections, \u201cThey took away the stone from the\nplace where the dead was laid.\u201d And now behold with what solemnity the\nholy JESUS prepares himself to execute his gracious design! \u201cAnd JESUS\nlift up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard\nme; and I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people\nwhich stand by, I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent\nme.\u201d Who can express with what fervor and intenseness of spirit, our\nglorious High-priest uttered these words! They are a thanksgiving\narising from an assurance that his Father had heard him: for CHRIST,\nas Mediator, was inferior to the Father. \u201cI knew that thou hearest me\nalways (and so may every believer in his degree say too); but because\nof the people which stand by, I said it.\u201d\u2015\u2015Said what? We do not hear\nthat JESUS said any thing by way of prayer before; and that is true,\nif we mean vocally, but mentally he did say something, even when he\ngroaned in the spirit once and again, and was troubled. There is a way\nof praying, even when we do not, and cannot speak. \u201cWhy cryest thou,\u201d\nsaid GOD to _Moses_; though we do not hear that he spoke one single\nword: but he cried in his heart. And I observe this for the comfort\nof some weak, but real christians, who think they never pray, unless\nthey can have a great flow of words; but this is a great mistake: for\nwe often pray best, when we can speak least. There are times when the\nheart is too big to speak: and the spirit itself maketh intercession\nfor the saints, and that too according to the will of GOD, with\ngroanings that cannot be uttered. Such was _Hannah_\u2019s prayer for a son,\n\u201cShe spake not, only her lips moved:\u201d and such was our LORD\u2019s way of\npraying at this time. And perhaps the soul is never in a better frame,\nthan when in a holy stillness, and unspeakable serenity, it can put\nitself as a blank in JESUS\u2019s hand, for him to stamp on it just what he\npleases.\n\nAnd now the hour of our Saviour\u2019s performing this long-expected miracle,\nis come. Verse 43. \u201cWhen he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice,\n_Lazarus_, come forth.\u201d With the word there went an irresistible power:\nhe spake, and it was done: he cried, and behold, \u201cHe that was dead came\nforth bound hand and foot with grave cloaths; and his face was bound\nabout with a napkin.\u201d What a sight was here! Methinks I see surprize\nsit upon each spectator\u2019s face: as the body rises, their wonder rises\ntoo. See how they gaze! See how their looks bespeak the language\nof astonished hearts; and all with a kind of silent, but expressive\noratory, ready to say, What manner of man is this? Surely this is the\nMessiah that was to come into the world. How did the hearts of _Martha_\nand _Mary_, as we may very well suppose, leap for joy! How were they\nashamed of themselves, for charging JESUS foolishly, and taxing him\nwith unkindness, for not coming to prevent their brother\u2019s dying! It\nis true, CHRIST suffered him to die, but behold he is now alive again!\nJESUS never denies us one thing, but he intends to give us something\nbetter in the stead of it. Think you not that _Martha_ and _Mary_ were\nnow the most officious to obey our blessed LORD\u2019s command, \u201cLoose him,\nand let him go?\u201d That same power that raised _Lazarus_ from the dead,\nmight have also taken the grave-cloaths from him: but JESUS CHRIST\nnever did, and never will work a needless miracle. Others could unloose\nhis grave-cloaths, but JESUS alone could unloose the bands of death.\n\nAnd now, perhaps, some may be ready to ask, What news hath _Lazarus_\nbrought from the other world! But stop, O man, thy vain curiosity!\nIt is forbidden, and therefore useless knowledge. The scriptures are\nsilent concerning it. Why should we desire to be wise above what is\nwritten? It becomes us rather to be wholly employed in adoring the\ngracious hand of that mighty Redeemer who raised him from the dead, and\nto see (now we have heard the history) what improvement we can make of\nsuch a remarkable and instructive transaction.\n\nWould to GOD that my preaching upon the resurrection of _Lazarus_\nto-day, may have the same blessed effects upon you, as the sight of it\nhad upon some of the standers-by: For we are told, verse 45. \u201cThen many\nof the _Jews_ who came to _Mary_, and had seen the things which JESUS\ndid, believed on him.\u201d A profitable visit this! The best, no doubt,\nthat they ever paid in their lives. And this was in answer to our\nSaviour\u2019s prayer, \u201cBut because of the people who stand by, I said it,\nthat they may believe, that thou hast sent me.\u201d One would imagine,\nthat all who saw this miracle, were induced thereby, really to believe\non him: But alas! I could almost say, that I can tell you of a greater\nmiracle than raising _Lazarus_ from the dead. And what is that? Why,\nthat some of these very persons who were on the spot, instead of\nbelieving on him, \u201cwent their way to the Pharisees, and told them\nwhat JESUS had done.\u201d verse 46. It was so far from convincing them,\nthat it only excited their envy, stirred up the whole hell of their\nself-righteous hearts, and made them, from that day forward, \u201ctake\ncounsel together,\u201d to execute what they had long before designed, to\nput the innocent JESUS to death. See how busy they are, verse 47. \u201cThen\ngathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What\ndo we? For this man doeth many miracles.\u201d Envy itself, it seems, could\nnot deny that. And need they say then, \u201cWhat do we,\u201d or what should we\ndo? Believe in, to be sure, and submit to him; take up the cross, and\nfollow him. No; on the contrary, say they, verse 48. \u201cIf we let him\nthus alone, (which they would not have done so long, had not GOD put a\nhook in the Leviathan\u2019s jaws) all men will believe on him.\u201d And suppose\nthey did? Then all men would be blessed indeed, and have a title\nto true happiness. No, say they, \u201cthen the _Romans_ shall come and\ntake away both our place and nation.\u201d But were not the _Romans_ come\nalready? Were they not at this time tributaries to _C\u00e6sar_? But they\nwere afraid of the church as well as the state: \u201cThey will come and\ntake away our place,\u201d our place of worship: and consequently, they look\nupon JESUS CHRIST and his proceedings, and adherents, as dangerous both\nto church and state.\n\nThis hath been always the method of Pharisees and high-priests, when\nthey have been taking counsel against the LORD JESUS, and his dear\nanointed ones. But they need not have been afraid on this account: for\nour Saviour\u2019s kingdom neither was, nor is of this world; and the only\nway to have preserved their place and nation, was to have countenanced,\nand as much as in them lay, caused all to believe on JESUS. How\nmiserably were they out in their politics! The death of JESUS, which\nthey thought would save, was the grand cause of the utter destruction\nboth of their place and nation: And so will all politics formed against\nCHRIST and his gospel end at last in the destruction of those who\ncontrived them.\n\nO the desperate wickedness and treachery of man\u2019s deceitful heart!\nWhere are the scribes, where are the infidels, where are the\nletter-learned disputers of this world, who are daily calling for a\nrepetition of miracles, in order to confirm and evidence the truth\nof the christian religion? Surely if they believe not _Moses_ and the\nprophets, neither would they believe, though one rose from the dead.\nHere was one raised from the dead before many witnesses, and yet all\nthose witnesses did by no means believe on JESUS. For divine faith is\nnot wrought in the heart by moral persuasion (though moral suasion is\nvery often made use of as a means to convey it); faith is the peculiar\ngift of GOD: no one can come to JESUS unless the Father draw him: and,\ntherefore, that I may draw near the close of this discourse, let me\nshut up all with a word of exhortation.\n\nCome, ye dead, Christless, unconverted sinners, come and see the place\nwhere they laid the body of the deceased _Lazarus_; behold him laid\nout, bound hand and foot with grave-cloaths, locked up and stinking\nin a dark cave, with a great stone placed on the top of it! View\nhim again and again; go nearer to him; be not afraid; smell him, ah!\nhow he stinketh. Stop there now, pause a while; and whilst thou art\ngazing upon the corpse of _Lazarus_, give me leave to tell thee with\ngreat plainness, but greater love, that this dead, bound, entombed,\nstinking carcase, is but a faint representation of thy poor soul in\nits natural state: for, whether thou believest it or not, thy spirit\nwhich thou bearest about with thee, sepulchred in flesh and blood, is\nas literally dead to GOD, and as truly dead in trespasses and sins, as\nthe body of _Lazarus_ was in the cave. Was he bound hand and foot with\ngrave-cloaths? So art thou bound hand and foot with thy corruptions:\nand as a stone was laid on the sepulchre, so is there a stone of\nunbelief upon thy stupid heart. Perhaps thou hast lain in this state,\nnot only four days, but many years, stinking in GOD\u2019s nostrils. And,\nwhat is still more affecting, thou art as unable to raise thyself out\nof this loathsome, dead state, to a life of righteousness and true\nholiness, as ever _Lazarus_ was to raise himself from the cave in which\nhe lay so long. Thou mayest try the power of thy own boasted free-will,\nand the force and energy of moral persuasion and rational arguments\n(which, without all doubt, have their proper place in religion); but\nall thy efforts, exerted with never so much vigour, will prove quite\nfruitless and abortive, till that same JESUS, who said, \u201cTake away\nthe stone,\u201d and cried, \u201c_Lazarus_, come forth,\u201d comes by his mighty\npower, removes the stone of unbelief, speaks life to thy dead soul,\nlooses thee from the fetters of thy sins and corruptions, and by the\ninfluences of his blessed Spirit, enables thee to arise, and to walk\nin the way of his holy commandments. And O that he would now rend the\nheavens, and come down amongst you! O that there may be a stirring\namong the dry bones this day! O that whilst I am speaking, and saying,\n\u201cDead sinners, come forth,\u201d a power, an almighty power might accompany\nthe word, and cause you to emerge into new life!\n\nIf the LORD should vouchsafe me such a mercy, and but one single soul\nin this great congregation, should arise and shake himself from the\ndust of his natural state; according to the present frame of my heart,\nI should not care if preaching this sermon here in the fields, was an\noccasion of hastening my death, as raising _Lazarus_ hastened the death\nof my blessed Master. For methinks death, in some respects, is more\ntolerable, than to see poor sinners day by day lying sepulchred, dead\nand stinking in sin. O that you saw how loathsome you are in the sight\nof GOD, whilst you continue in your natural state! I believe you would\nnot so contentedly hug your chains, and refuse to be set at liberty.\n\nMethinks I see some of you affected at this part of my discourse.\nWhat say you? Are there not some ready to complain, alas! we have some\nrelations present, who are so notoriously wicked, that they not only\nhug their chains, but make a mock of sin, and stink not only in the\nsight of GOD, but man. Dear souls! you are ready to urge this, as a\nreason why JESUS will not raise them; and think it hard, perhaps, that\nJESUS does not come, in answer to your repeated groans and prayers, to\nconvert and save them. But what JESUS said unto _Martha_, I say unto\nyou, \u201cBelieve, and you shall see the glory of GOD.\u201d Think it not a\nthing incredible, that GOD should raise their dead souls. Think not\nhard of JESUS for delaying an answer to your prayers: assure yourselves\nhe heareth you always. And who knows, but this day JESUS may visit some\nof your dear relations hearts, upon whose account you have \u2666travailed\nin birth till CHRIST be formed in them? You have already sympathized\nwith _Martha_ and _Mary_, in their doubts and fears; who knows but you\nmay also be partakers of that joy which their souls experienced, when\nthey received their risen brother into their longing arms.\n\n \u2666 \u201ctravelled\u201d replaced with \u201ctravailed\u201d\n\nO Christless souls, you do not know what grief your continuance in sin\noccasions to your godly relations! You do not know how you grieve the\nheart of JESUS. I beseech you give him no fresh cause to weep over you\nupon account of your unbelief: let him not again groan in his spirit\nand be troubled. Behold how he has loved you, even so as to lay down\nhis life for you. What could he do more? I pray you, therefore, dead\nsinners, come forth; arise and sup with JESUS. This was an honour\nconferred on _Lazarus_, and the same honour awaits you: Not that you\nshall sit down with him personally in this life, as _Lazarus_ did; but\nyou shall sit down with him at the table of his ordinances, especially\nat the table of the Lord\u2019s-supper, and ere long sit down with him in\nthe kingdom of heaven.\n\nHappy, thrice happy ye, who are already raised from spiritual\ndeath, and have an earnest of an infinitely better and more glorious\nresurrection in your hearts. You know a little, how delightful it must\nhave been to _Martha_ and _Mary_ and _Lazarus_, to sit down with the\nblessed JESUS here below; but how infinitely more delightful will it\nbe, to sit down, not only with _Mary_ and _Martha_, but with _Abraham_,\n_Isaac_, and _Jacob_, and all your other dear brethren and sisters, in\nthe kingdom of heaven. Do you not long for that time, when JESUS shall\nsay unto you, \u201cCome up hither?\u201d Well! blessed be GOD, yet a little\nwhile, and that same JESUS, who cried with a loud voice, \u201c_Lazarus_,\ncome forth;\u201d shall with the same voice, and with the same power, speak\nunto all that are in their graves, and they shall come forth. That\nall who hear me this day may be then enabled to lift up their heads\nand rejoice, that the day of their compleat redemption is indeed fully\ncome, may JESUS CHRIST grant, for his infinite mercy\u2019s sake. _Amen_,\nand _Amen_.\n\n\n\n\n SERMON XL.\n\n The Holy Spirit convincing the World of Sin,\n Righteousness, and Judgment.\n\n\n JOHN xvi. 8.\n\n _And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of\n righteousness, and of judgment._\n\nTHESE words contain part of a gracious promise, which the blessed JESUS\nwas pleased to make to his weeping and sorrowful disciples. The time\nwas now drawing near, in which the Son of man was first to be lifted\nup on the cross, and afterwards to heaven. Kind, wondrous kind! had\nthis merciful High-priest been to his disciples, during the time of\nhis tabernacling amongst them. He had compassion on their infirmities,\nanswered for them when assaulted by their enemies, and set them right\nwhen out of the way, either in principle or practice. He neither called\nnor used them as servants, but as friends; and he revealed his secrets\nto them from time to time. He opened their understandings, that they\nmight understand the scriptures; explained to them the hidden mysteries\nof the kingdom of GOD, when he spoke to others in parables: nay, he\nbecame the servant of them all, and even condescended to wash their\nfeet. The thoughts of parting with so dear and loving a Master as this,\nespecially for a long season, must needs affect them much. When on a\ncertain occasion he intended to be absent from them only for a night,\nwe are told, he was obliged to constrain them to leave him; no wonder\nthen, that when he now informed them he must entirely go away, and that\nthe Pharisees in his absence should put them out of their synagogues,\nand excommunicate them; yea, that the time should come, that whosoever\nkilled them, would think they did GOD service (a prophecy, one would\nimagine, in an especial manner designed for the suffering ministers of\nthis generation); no wonder, I say, considering all this, that we are\ntold, verse 6. Sorrow had filled their hearts: \u201cBecause I have said\nthese things unto you, sorrow hath filled your hearts.\u201d The expression\nis very emphatical; their hearts were so full of concern, that they\nwere ready to burst. In order, therefore, to reconcile them to this\nmournful dispensation, our dear and compassionate Redeemer shews them\nthe necessity he lay under to leave them; \u201cNevertheless I tell you the\ntruth; it is expedient for you that I go away:\u201d As though he had said,\nThink not, my dear disciples, that I leave you out of anger: no, it is\nfor your sakes, for your profit, that I go away: for if I go not away,\nif I die not upon the cross for your sins, and rise again for your\njustification, and ascend into heaven to make intercession, and plead\nmy merits before my Father\u2019s throne; the Comforter, the Holy Ghost,\nwill not, cannot come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto\nyou. And that they might know what he was to do, \u201cWhen he is come, he\nwill reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.\u201d\n\nThe person referred to in the words of the text, is plainly the\nComforter, the Holy Ghost; and the promise was first made to our LORD\u2019s\napostles. But though it was primarily made to them, and was literally\nand remarkably fulfilled at the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Ghost\ncame down as a mighty rushing wind, and also when three thousand were\npricked to the heart by _Peter_\u2019s preaching; yet, as the Apostles were\nthe representatives of the whole body of believers, we must infer, that\nthis promise must be looked upon as spoken to us, and to our children,\nand to as many as the LORD our GOD shall call.\n\nMy design from these words, is to shew the manner in which the Holy\nGhost generally works upon the hearts of those, who, through grace, are\nmade vessels of mercy, and translated from the kingdom of darkness into\nthe kingdom of GOD\u2019s dear Son.\n\nI say, _generally_: For, as GOD is a sovereign agent, his sacred Spirit\nbloweth not only on whom, but when and how it listeth. Therefore, far\nbe it from me to confine the Almighty to one way of acting, or say,\nthat all undergo an equal degree of conviction: no, there is a holy\nvariety in GOD\u2019s methods of calling home his elect. But this we may\naffirm assuredly, that, wherever there is a work of true conviction and\nconversion wrought upon a sinner\u2019s heart, the Holy Ghost, whether by a\ngreater or less degree of inward soul-trouble, does that which our LORD\nJESUS told the disciples, in the words of the text, that he should do\nwhen he came.\n\nIf any of you ridicule inward religion, or think there is no such thing\nas our feeling or receiving the Holy Ghost, I fear my preaching will be\nquite foolishness to you, and that you will understand me no more than\nif I spoke to you in an unknown tongue. But as the promise in the text,\nis made to the world, and as I know it will be fulfilling till time\nshall be no more, I shall proceed to explain the general way whereby\nthe Holy Ghost works upon every converted sinner\u2019s heart; and I hope\nthat the LORD, even whilst I am speaking, will be pleased to fulfil it\nin many of your hearts. \u201cAnd when he is come, he will reprove the world\nof sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.\u201d\n\nThe word, which we translate _reprove_, ought to be rendred _convince_;\nand in the original it implies a conviction by way of argumentation,\nand coming with a power upon the mind equal to a demonstration. A great\nmany scoffers of these last days, will ask such as they term pretenders\nto the Spirit, how they feel the Spirit, and how they know the Spirit?\nThey might as well ask, how they know, and how they feel the sun when\nit shines upon the body? For with equal power and demonstration does\nthe Spirit of GOD work upon and convince the soul. And,\n\n_First_, It convinces of sin; and generally of some enormous sin, the\nworst perhaps the convicted person ever was guilty of. Thus, when our\nLORD was conversing with the woman of _Samaria_, he convinced her first\nof her adultery: \u201cWoman, go call thy husband. The woman answered, and\nsaid, I have no husband. JESUS said unto her, Thou hast well said, I\nhave no husband: for thou hast had five husbands, and he whom thou now\nhast, is not thy husband: in this saidst thou truly.\u201d With this there\nwent such a powerful conviction of all her other actual sins, that\nsoon after, \u201cshe left her waterpot, and went her way into the city,\nand saith to the men, Come, and see a man that told me all things that\never I did: is not this the CHRIST?\u201d Thus our LORD also dealt with\nthe persecutor _Saul_: he convinced him first of the horrid sin of\npersecution; \u201c_Saul_, _Saul_, why persecutest thou me?\u201d Such a sense\nof all his other sins, probably at the same time revived in his mind,\nthat immediately he died; that is, died to all his false confidences,\nand was thrown into such an agony of soul, that he continued three\ndays, and neither did eat nor drink. This is the method the Spirit of\nGOD generally takes in dealing with sinners; he first convinces them\nof some heinous actual sin, and at the same time brings all their other\nsins into \u2666remembrance, and as it were sets them in battle-array before\nthem: \u201cWhen he is come, he will reprove the world of sin.\u201d\n\n \u2666 \u201cremembrace\u201d replaced with \u201cremembrance\u201d\n\nAnd was it ever thus with you, my dear hearers? (For I must question\nyou as I go along, because I intend, by the Divine help, to preach not\nonly to your heads, but your hearts). Did the Spirit of GOD ever bring\nall your sins thus to remembrance, and make you cry out to GOD, \u201cThou\nwritest bitter things against me?\u201d Did your actual sins ever appear\nbefore you, as though drawn in a map? If not, you have great reason\n(unless you were sanctified from the womb) to suspect that you are not\nconvicted, much more not converted, and that the promise of the text\nwas never yet fulfilled in your hearts.\n\nFarther: When the Comforter comes into a sinner\u2019s heart, though it\ngenerally convinces the sinner of his actual sin first, yet it leads\nhim to see and bewail his original sin, the fountain from which all\nthese polluted streams do flow.\n\nThough every thing in the earth, air, and water; every thing both\nwithout and within, concur to prove the truth of that assertion in\nthe scripture, \u201cin _Adam_ we all have died;\u201d yet most are so hardened\nthrough the deceitfulness of sin, that notwithstanding they may give an\nassent to the truth of the proposition in their heads, yet they never\nfelt it really in their hearts. Nay, some in words professedly deny it,\nthough their works too, too plainly prove them to be degenerate sons of\na degenerate father. But when the Comforter, the Spirit of GOD, arrests\na sinner, and convinces him of sin, all carnal reasoning against\noriginal corruption, every proud and high imagination, which exalteth\nitself against that doctrine, is immediately thrown down; and he is\nmade to cry out, \u201cWho shall deliver me from the body of this death?\u201d\nHe now finds that concupiscence is sin; and does not so much bewail\nhis actual sins, as the inward perverseness of his heart, which he now\nfinds not only to be an enemy to, but also direct enmity against GOD.\n\nAnd did the Comforter, my dear friends, ever come with such a\nconvincing power as this into your hearts? Were you ever made to see\nand feel, that in your flesh dwelleth no good thing; that you are\nconceived and born in sin; that you are by nature children of wrath;\nthat GOD would be just if he damned you, though you never committed\nan actual sin in your lives? So often as you have been at church and\nsacrament, did you ever feelingly confess, that there was no health in\nyou; that the remembrance of your original and actual sins was grievous\nunto you, and the burden of them intolerable? If not, you have been\nonly offering to GOD vain oblations; you never yet prayed in your lives;\nthe Comforter never yet came effectually into your souls: consequently\nyou are not in the faith properly so called; no, you are at present in\na state of death and damnation.\n\nAgain, the Comforter, when he comes effectually to work upon a sinner,\nnot only convinces him of the sin of his nature, and the sin of his\nlife, but also of the sin of his duties.\n\nWe all naturally are Legalists, thinking to be justified by the works\nof the law. When somewhat awakened by the terrors of the LORD, we\nimmediately, like the Pharisees of old, go about to establish our\nown righteousness, and think we shall find acceptance with GOD, if we\nseek it with tears: finding ourselves damned by nature and our actual\nsins, we then think to recommend ourselves to GOD by our duties, and\nhope, by our doings of one kind or another, to inherit eternal life.\nBut, whenever the Comforter comes into the heart, it convinces the\nsoul of these false rests, and makes the sinner to see that all his\nrighteousnesses are but as filthy rags; and that, for the most pompous\nservices, he deserves no better a doom than that of the unprofitable\nservant, \u201cto be thrown into outer darkness, where is weeping, and\nwailing, and gnashing of teeth.\u201d\n\nAnd was this degree of conviction ever wrought in any of your souls?\nDid the Comforter ever come into your hearts, so as to make you sick\nof your duties, as well as your sins? Were you ever, with the great\nApostle of the _Gentiles_, made to abhor your own righteousness which\nis by the law, and acknowledge that you deserve to be damned, though\nyou should give all your goods to feed the poor? Were you made to feel,\nthat your very repentance needed to be repented of, and that every\nthing in yourselves is but dung and dross? And that all the arguments\nyou can fetch for mercy, must be out of the heart and pure unmerited\nlove of GOD? Were you ever made to lye at the feet of sovereign Grace,\nand to say, LORD, if thou wilt, thou mayest save me; if not, thou\nmayest justly damn me; I have nothing to plead, I can in no wise\njustify myself in thy sight; my best performances, I see, will condemn\nme; and all I have to depend upon is thy free grace? What say you? Was\nthis ever, or is this now, the habitual language of your hearts? You\nhave been frequently at the temple; but did you ever approach it in the\ntemper of the poor Publican, and, after you have done all, acknowledge\nthat you have done nothing; and, upon a feeling experimental sense of\nyour own unworthiness and sinfulness every way, smite upon your breasts,\nand say, \u201cGOD be merciful to us sinners?\u201d If you never were thus minded,\nthe Comforter never yet effectually came into your souls, you are out\nof CHRIST; and if GOD should require your souls in that condition, he\nwould be no better to you than a consuming fire.\n\nBut there is a fourth sin, of which the Comforter, when he comes,\nconvinces the soul, and which alone (it is very remarkable) our LORD\nmentions, as though it was the only sin worth mentioning; for indeed it\nis the root of all other sins whatsoever: it is the reigning as well as\nthe damning sin of the world. And what now do you imagine that sin may\nbe? It is that cursed sin, that root of all other evils, I mean the sin\nof _unbelief_. Says our LORD, verse 9. \u201cOf sin, because they believe\nnot on me.\u201d\n\nBut does the christian world, or any of you that hear me this day,\nwant the Holy Ghost to convince you of unbelief? Are there any infidels\nhere? Yes, (O that I had not too great reason to think so!) I fear most\nare such: not indeed such infidels as professedly deny the LORD that\nbought us (though I fear too many even of such monsters are in every\ncountry); but I mean such unbelievers, that have no more faith in\nCHRIST than the devils themselves. Perhaps you may think you believe,\nbecause you repeat the Creed, or subscribe to a Confession of Faith;\nbecause you go to church or meeting, receive the sacrament, and are\ntaken into full communion. These are blessed privileges; but all this\nmay be done, without our being true believers. And I know not how to\ndetect your false hypocritical faith better, than by putting to you\nthis question: How long have you believed? Would not most of you say,\nas long as we can remember; we never did disbelieve? Then this is a\ncertain sign that you have no true faith at all; no, not so much as\na grain of mustard-seed: for, if you believe now, (unless you were\nsanctified from your infancy, which is the case of some) you must know\nthat there was a time in which you did not believe on the LORD JESUS\nCHRIST; and the Holy Ghost, if ever you received it, convinced you of\nthis. Eternal truth has declared, \u201cWhen he is come, he will convince\nthe world of sin, because they believe not on me.\u201d\n\nNone of us believe by nature: but after the Holy Ghost has convinced\nus of the sin of our natures, and the sin of our lives and duties,\nin order to convince us of our utter inability to save ourselves, and\nthat we must be beholden to GOD, as for every thing else, so for faith\n(without which it is impossible to please, or be saved by CHRIST) he\nconvinces us also, that we have no faith. \u201cDost thou believe on the\nSon of GOD?\u201d is the grand question which the Holy Ghost now puts to the\nsoul: at the same time he works with such power and demonstration, that\nthe soul sees, and is obliged to confess, that it has no faith.\n\nThis is a thing little thought of by most who call themselves believers.\nThey dream they are christians, because they live in a christian\ncountry: If they were born _Turks_, they would believe on _Mahomet_;\nfor what is that which men commonly call faith, but an outward consent\nto the established religion? But do not you thus deceive your own\nselves; true faith is quite another thing. Ask yourselves, therefore,\nwhether or not the Holy Ghost ever powerfully convinced you of the sin\nof unbelief? You are perhaps so devout (you may imagine) as to get a\ncatalogue of sins; which you look over, and confess in a formal manner,\nas often as you go to the holy sacrament: but among all your sins, did\nyou ever once confess and bewail that damning sin of unbelief? Were you\never made to cry out, \u201cLORD, give me faith; LORD, give me to believe\non thee; O that I had faith! O that I could believe!\u201d If you never were\nthus distressed, at least, if you never saw and felt that you had no\nfaith, it is a certain sign that the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, never\ncame into and worked savingly upon your souls.\n\nBut is it not odd, that the Holy Ghost should be called a Comforter,\nwhen it is plain, by the experience of all GOD\u2019s children, that this\nwork of conviction is usually attended with sore inward conflicts,\nand a great deal of soul-trouble? I answer, The Holy Ghost may well\nbe termed a Comforter, even in this work; because it is the only way\nto, and ends in, true solid comfort. Blessed are they that are thus\nconvicted by him, for they shall be comforted. Nay, not only so, but\nthere is present comfort, even in the midst of these convictions: the\nsoul secretly rejoices in the sight of its own misery, blesses GOD\nfor bringing it out of darkness into light, and looks forward with a\ncomfortable prospect of future deliverances, knowing, that, \u201cthough\nsorrow may endure for a night, joy will come in the morning.\u201d\n\nThus it is that the Holy Ghost convinces the soul of sin. And, if so,\nhow wretchedly are they mistaken, that blend the light of the Spirit\nwith the light of conscience, as all such do, who say, that CHRIST\nlighteth every man that cometh into the world, and that light, if\nimproved, will bring us to JESUS CHRIST? If such doctrine be true, the\npromise in the text was needless: our LORD\u2019s apostles had already that\nlight; the world hereafter to be convinced, had that light; and, if\nthat was sufficient to bring them to CHRIST, why was it expedient that\nCHRIST should go away to heaven, to send down the Holy Ghost to do this\nfor them! Alas! all have not this Spirit: it is the special gift of GOD,\nand, without this special gift, we can never come to CHRIST.\n\nThe light of conscience will accuse or convince us of any common sin;\nbut the light of natural conscience never did, never will, and never\ncan, convince of unbelief. If it could, how comes it to pass, that\nnot one of the heathens, who improved the light of nature in such an\neminent degree, was ever convinced of unbelief? No, natural conscience\ncannot effect this; it is the peculiar property of the Holy Ghost the\nComforter: \u201cWhen he is come, he will reprove (or convince) the world of\nsin, of righteousness, and judgment.\u201d\n\nWe have heard how he convinces of sin: we come now to shew,\n\n_Secondly_, What is the righteousness, of which the Comforter convinces\nthe world.\n\nBy the word _righteousness_, in some places of scripture, we are to\nunderstand that common justice which we ought to practise between\nman and man; as when _Paul_ is said to reason of temperance and\nrighteousness before a trembling _Felix_. But here (as in a multitude\nof other places in holy writ) we are to understand by the word\nrighteousness, the active and passive obedience of the dear LORD JESUS;\neven that perfect, personal, all-sufficient righteousness, which he\nhas wrought out for that world which the Spirit is to convince. \u201cOf\nrighteousness, (says our LORD) because I go to the Father, and ye see\nme no more.\u201d This is one argument that the Holy Spirit makes use of to\nprove CHRIST\u2019s righteousness, because he is gone to the Father, and we\nsee him no more. For, had he not wrought out a sufficient righteousness,\nthe Father would have sent him back, as not having done what he\nundertook; and we should have seen him again.\n\nO the righteousness of CHRIST! It so comforts my soul, that I must be\nexcused if I mention it in almost all my discourses. I would not, if I\ncould help it, have one sermon without it. Whatever infidels may object,\nor _Arminians_ sophistically argue against an _imputed righteousness_;\nyet whoever know themselves and GOD, must acknowledge, that\n\u201cJESUS CHRIST is the end of the law for righteousness, (and perfect\njustification in the sight of GOD) to every one that believeth,\u201d and\nthat we are to be made the righteousness of GOD in him. This, and this\nonly, a poor sinner can lay hold of, as a sure anchor of his hope.\nWhatever other scheme of salvation men may lay, I acknowledge I can see\nno other foundation whereon to build my hopes of salvation, but on the\nrock of CHRIST\u2019s personal righteousness, imputed to my soul.\n\nMany, I believe, have a rational conviction of, and agree with me in\nthis: but rational convictions, if rested in, avail but little; it must\nbe a spiritual, experimental conviction of the truth, which is saving.\nAnd therefore our LORD says, when the Holy Ghost comes in the day\nof his power, it convinces of this righteousness, of the reality,\ncompleatness, and sufficiency of it, to save a poor sinner.\n\nWe have seen how the Holy Ghost convinces the sinner of the sin of his\nnature, life, duties, and of the sin of unbelief; and what then must\nthe poor creature do? He must, he must inevitably despair, if there be\nno hope but in himself. When therefore the Spirit has hunted the sinner\nout of all his false rests and hiding-places, taken out the pitiful\nfig-leaves of his own works, and driven him out of the trees of the\ngarden (his outward reformations) and placed him naked before the bar\nof a sovereign, holy, just, and sin-avenging GOD; then, then it is,\nwhen the soul, having the sentence of death within itself because of\nunbelief, has a sweet display of CHRIST\u2019s righteousness made to it by\nthe Holy Spirit of GOD. Here it is, that he begins more immediately to\nact in the quality of a Comforter, and convinces the soul so powerfully\nof the reality and all-sufficiency of CHRIST\u2019s righteousness, that the\nsoul is immediately set a hungering and thirsting after it. Now the\nsinner begins to see, that though he has destroyed himself, yet in\nCHRIST is his help; that, though he has no righteousness of his own\nto recommend him, there is a fulness of grace, a fulness of truth, a\nfulness of righteousness in the dear LORD JESUS, which, if once imputed\nto him, will make him happy for ever and ever.\n\nNone can tell, but those happy souls who have experienced it, with what\ndemonstration of the Spirit this conviction comes. O how amiable, as\nwell as all-sufficient, does the blessed JESUS now appear! With what\nnew eyes does the soul now see the LORD its righteousness! Brethren,\nit is unutterable. If you were never thus convinced of CHRIST\u2019s\nrighteousness in your own souls, though you may believe it doctrinally,\nit will avail you nothing, if the Comforter never came savingly into\nyour souls, then you are comfortless indeed. But\n\nWhat will this righteousness avail, if the soul has it not in\npossession?\n\n_Thirdly_, The next thing therefore the Comforter, when he comes,\nconvinces the soul of, is judgment.\n\nBy the word _judgment_, I understand that well-grounded peace, that\nsettled judgment, which the soul forms of itself, when it is enabled\nby the Spirit of GOD to lay hold on CHRIST\u2019s righteousness, which I\nbelieve it always does, when convinced in the matter before-mentioned.\n\u201cOf judgment (says our LORD) because the Prince of this world is\njudged;\u201d the soul, being enabled to lay hold on CHRIST\u2019s perfect\nrighteousness by a lively faith, has a conviction wrought in it by the\nHoly Spirit, that the Prince of this world is judged. The soul being\nnow justified by faith, has peace with GOD through our LORD JESUS\nCHRIST, and can triumphantly say, It is CHRIST that justifies me, who\nis he that condemns me? The strong man armed is now cast out; my soul\nis in a true peace; the Prince of this world will come and accuse, but\nhe has now no share in me: the blessed Spirit which I have received,\nand whereby I am enabled to apply CHRIST\u2019s righteousness to my poor\nsoul, powerfully convinces me of this: why should I fear? or of what\nshall I be afraid, since GOD\u2019s Spirit witnesses with my spirit, that\nI am a child of GOD? The LORD is ascended up on high; he has led\ncaptivity captive; he has received the Holy Ghost the Comforter, that\nbest of gifts for men: and that Comforter is come into my heart: he\nis faithful that hath promised: I, even I, am powerfully, rationally,\nspiritually convicted of sin, righteousness and judgment. By this I\nknow the Prince of this world is judged.\n\nThus, I say, may we suppose that soul to triumph, in which the promise\nof the text is happily fulfilled. And though, at the beginning of\nthis discourse, I said, most had never experienced any thing of this,\nand that therefore this preaching must be foolishness to such; yet I\ndoubt not but there are some few happy souls, who, through grace, have\nbeen enabled to follow me step by step; and notwithstanding the Holy\nGhost might not directly work in the same order as I have described,\nand perhaps they cannot exactly say the time when, yet they have a\nwell-grounded confidence that the work is done, and that they have\nreally been convinced of sin, righteousness and judgment in some way,\nor at some time or another.\n\nAnd now, what shall I say to you? O thank GOD, thank the LORD JESUS,\nthank the ever-blessed Trinity, for this unspeakable gift: for you\nwould never have been thus highly favoured, had not he who first\nspoke darkness into light, loved you with an everlasting love, and\nenlightened you by his Holy Spirit, and that too, not on account of\nany good thing foreseen in you, but for his own name\u2019s sake.\n\nBe humble therefore, O believers, be humble: look to the rock from\nwhence you have been hewn: extol free grace; admire electing love,\nwhich alone has made you to differ from the rest of your brethren. Has\nGOD brought you into light? Walk as becometh children of light. Provoke\nnot the Holy Spirit to depart from you: for though he hath sealed you\nto the day of redemption, and you know that the Prince of this world is\njudged; yet if you backslide, grow luke-warm, or forget your first love,\nthe LORD will visit your offences with the rod of affliction, and your\nsin with spiritual scourges. Be not therefore high-minded, but fear.\nRejoice, but let it be with trembling. As the elect of GOD, put on,\nnot only humbleness of mind, but bowels of compassion; and pray, O pray\nfor your unconverted brethren! Help me, help me now, O children of GOD,\nand hold up my hands, as _Aaron_ and _Hur_ once held up the hands of\n_Moses_. Pray, whilst I am preaching, that the LORD may enable me to\nsay, This day is the promise in the text fulfilled in some poor sinners\nhearts. Cry mightily to GOD, and, with the cords of holy violence,\npull down blessings on your neighbours heads. CHRIST yet lives and\nreigns in heaven: the residue of the Spirit is yet in his hand, and a\nplentiful effusion of it is promised in the latter days of the church.\nAnd O that the Holy Ghost, the blessed Comforter, would now come\ndown, and convince those that are Christless amongst you, of sin, of\nrighteousness, and of judgment! O that you were once made willing to\nbe convinced!\n\nBut perhaps you had rather be filled with wine than with the Spirit,\nand are daily chasing that Holy Ghost from your souls. What shall I\nsay for you to GOD? \u201cFather, forgive them, for they know not what they\ndo.\u201d What shall I say from GOD to you? Why? That \u201cGOD was in CHRIST\nreconciling the world unto himself:\u201d Therefore I beseech you, as in\nCHRIST\u2019s stead, be ye reconciled to GOD. Do not go away contradicting\nand blaspheming. I know _Satan_ would have you be gone. Many of you may\nbe uneasy, and are ready to cry out, \u201cWhat a weariness is this!\u201d But I\nwill not let you go: I have wrestled with GOD for my hearers in private,\nand I must wrestle with you here in public. Though of myself I can\ndo nothing, and you can no more by your own power come to and believe\non CHRIST, than _Lazarus_ could come forth from the grave; yet who\nknows but GOD may beget some of you again to a lively hope by this\nfoolishness of preaching, and that you may be some of that world, which\nthe Comforter is to convince of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment?\nPoor Christless souls! do you know what a condition you are in? Why,\nyou are lying in the wicked one, the devil; he rules in you, he walks\nand dwells in you, unless you dwell in CHRIST, and the Comforter is\ncome into your hearts. And will you contentedly lie in that wicked one\nthe devil? What wages will he give you? Eternal death. O that you would\ncome to CHRIST! The free gift of GOD through him is eternal life. He\nwill accept of you even now, if you will believe in him. The Comforter\nmay yet come into your hearts, even yours. All that are now his living\ntemples, were once lying in the wicked one, as well as you. This\nblessed gift, this Holy Ghost, the blessed JESUS received even for the\nrebellious.\n\nI see many of you affected: but are your passions only a little wrought\nupon, or are your souls really touched with a lively sense of the\nheinousness of your sins, your want of faith, and the preciousness\nof the righteousness of JESUS CHRIST? If so, I hope the LORD has been\ngracious, and that the Comforter is coming into your hearts. Do not\nstifle these convictions! Do not go away, and straightway forget what\nmanner of doctrine you have heard, and thereby shew that these are\nonly common workings of a few transient convictions, floating upon\nthe surface of your hearts. Beg of GOD that you may be sincere (for he\nalone can make you so) and that you may indeed desire the promise of\nthe text to be fulfilled in your souls. Who knows but the LORD may be\ngracious? Remember you have no plea but sovereign mercy; but, for your\nencouragement also, remember it is the world, such as you are, to whom\nthe Comforter is to come, and whom he is to convince: wait therefore at\nwisdom\u2019s gates. The bare probability of having a door of mercy opened,\nis enough to keep you striving. CHRIST JESUS came into the world to\nsave sinners, the chief of them: you know not but he came to save you.\nDo not go and quarrel with GOD\u2019s decrees, and say, if I am a reprobate,\nI shall be damned; if I am elected, I shall be saved; and therefore I\nwill do nothing. What have you to do with GOD\u2019s decrees? Secret things\nbelong \u2666to him; it is your business to \u201cgive all diligence to make your\ncalling and election sure.\u201d If there are but few who find the way that\nleads to life, do you strive to be some of them: you know not but you\nmay be in the number of those few, and that your striving may be the\nmeans which GOD intends to bless, to give you an entrance in. If you\ndo not act thus, you are not sincere; and, if you do, who knows but you\nmay find mercy? For though, after you have done all that you can, GOD\nmay justly cut you off, yet never was a single person damned who did\nall that he could. Though therefore your hands are withered, stretch\nthem out; though you are impotent, sick, and lame, come, lie at the\npool. Who knows but by and by the LORD JESUS may have compassion on you,\nand send the Comforter to convince you of sin, righteousness, and of\njudgment? He is a GOD full of compassion and long-suffering, otherwise\nyou and I had been long since lifting up our eyes in torments. But\nstill he is patient with us!\n\n \u2666 duplicate word \u201cto\u201d removed\n\nO Christless sinners, you are alive, and who knows but GOD intends\nto bring you to repentance? Could my prayers or tears effect it, you\nshould have vollies of the one, and floods of the other. My heart is\ntouched with a sense of your condition: May our merciful High-priest\nnow send down the Comforter, and make you sensible of it also! O\nthe love of CHRIST! It constrains me yet to beseech you to come\nto him; what do you reject, if you reject CHRIST, the LORD of glory!\nSinners, give the dear Redeemer a lodging in your souls. Do not be\n_Bethshemites_; give CHRIST your hearts, your whole hearts. Indeed he\nis worthy. He made you, and not you yourselves. You are not your own;\ngive CHRIST then your bodies and souls, which are his! Is it not enough\nto melt you down, to think that the high and lofty One, who inhabiteth\neternity, should condescend to invite you by his ministers? How soon\ncan he frown you to hell? And how know you, but he may, this very\ninstant, if you do not hear his voice? Did any yet harden their hearts\nagainst CHRIST, and prosper? Come then, do not send me sorrowful away:\ndo not let me have reason to cry out, O my leanness, my leanness! Do\nnot let me go weeping into my closet, and say, \u201cLORD, they will not\nbelieve my report; LORD, I have called them, and they will not answer;\nI am unto them as a very pleasant song, and as one that plays upon\na pleasant instrument; but their hearts are running after the lust\nof the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life.\u201d Would you\nbe willing that I should give such an account of you, or make such a\nprayer before GOD? And yet I must not only do so here, but appear in\njudgment against you hereafter, unless you will come to CHRIST. Once\nmore therefore I intreat you to come. What objections have you to make?\nBehold, I stand here in the name of GOD, to answer all that you can\noffer. But I know no one can come, unless the Father draw him: I will\ntherefore address me to my GOD, and intercede with him to send the\nComforter into your hearts.\n\nO blessed JESUS, who art a GOD whose compassions fail not, and in\nwhom all the promises are yea and amen; thou that sittest between the\ncherubims, shew thyself amongst us. Let us now see thy outgoings! O\nlet us now taste that thou art gracious, and reveal thy almighty arm!\nGet thyself the victory in these poor sinners hearts. Let not the word\nspoken prove like water spilt upon the ground. Send down, send down,\nO great High-priest, the Holy Spirit, to convince the world of sin,\nof righteousness, and of judgment. So will we give thanks and praise\nto thee, O Father, thee O Son, and thee O blessed Spirit; to whom, as\nthree Persons, but one GOD, be ascribed by angels and archangels, by\ncherubims and seraphims, and all the heavenly hosts, all possible power,\nmight, majesty, and dominion, now and for evermore. Amen, Amen, Amen.\n\n\n\n\n SERMON XLI.\n\n _Saul_\u2019s Conversion.\n\n\n ACTS ix. 22.\n\n _But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews\n which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very CHRIST._\n\nIT is an undoubted truth, however paradoxical it may seem to\nnatural men, that \u201cwhosoever will live godly in CHRIST JESUS, shall\nsuffer persecution.\u201d And therefore it is very remarkable, that our\nblessed LORD, in his glorious sermon on the mount, after he had\nbeen pronouncing those blessed, who were poor in spirit, meek, pure in\nheart, and such like, immediately adds (and spends no less than three\nverses in this beatitude) \u201cBlessed are they who are persecuted for\nrighteousness sake.\u201d No one ever was, or ever will be endowed with the\nforementioned graces in any degree, but he will be persecuted for it\nin a measure. There is an irreconcileable enmity between the seed of\nthe woman, and the seed of the serpent. And if we are not of the world,\nbut shew by our fruits that we are of the number of those whom JESUS\nCHRIST has chosen out of the world, for that very reason the world\nwill hate us. As this is true of every particular christian, so it\nis true of every christian church in general. For some years past we\nhave heard but little of a public persecution: Why? Because but little\nof the power of godliness has prevailed amongst all denominations.\nThe strong man armed has had full possession of most professors hearts,\nand therefore he has let them rest in a false peace. But we may assure\nourselves, when JESUS CHRIST begins to gather in his elect in any\nremarkable manner, and opens an effectual door for preaching the\neverlasting gospel, persecution will flame out, and _Satan_ and his\nemissaries will do their utmost (though all in vain) to stop the work\nof GOD. Thus it was in the first ages, thus it is in our days, and thus\nit will be, till time shall be no more.\n\nChristians and christian churches must then expect enemies. Our chief\nconcern should be, to learn how to behave towards them in a christian\nmanner: For, unless we take good heed to ourselves, we shall imbitter\nour spirits, and act unbecoming the followers of that LORD, \u201cwho, when\nhe was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatned not; and,\nas a lamb before his shearers is dumb, so opened he not his mouth.\u201d But\nwhat motive shall we make use of to bring ourselves to this blessed\nlamb-like temper? Next to the immediate operation of the Holy Spirit\nupon our hearts, I know of no consideration more conducive to teach us\nlong-suffering towards our most bitter persecutors, than this, \u201cThat,\nfor all we know to the contrary, some of those very persons, who are\nnow persecuting, may be chosen from all eternity by GOD, and hereafter\ncalled in time, to edify and build up the church of CHRIST.\u201d\n\nThe persecutor _Saul_, mentioned in the words of the text, (and\nwhose conversion, GOD willing, I propose to treat on in the following\ndiscourse) is a noble instance of this kind.\n\nI say, a persecutor, and that a bloody one: For see how he is\nintroduced in the beginning of this chapter; \u201cAnd _Saul_ yet breathing\nout threatnings and slaughter against the disciples of our LORD, went\nunto the high priest, and desired of him letters to _Damascus_ to the\nsynagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or\nwomen, he might bring them bound to _Jerusalem_.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd _Saul_ yet breathing out.\u201d This implies that he had been a\npersecutor before. To prove which, we need only look back to the\n7th chapter, where we shall find him so very remarkably active at\n_Stephen_\u2019s death, that \u201cthe witnesses laid down their clothes at a\nyoung man\u2019s feet, whose name was _Saul_.\u201d He seems, though young, to be\nin some authority. Perhaps, for his zeal against the christians, he was\npreferred in the church, and was allowed to sit in the great council\nor Sanhedrim: For we are told, chapter viii. verse 1. \u201cThat _Saul_ was\nconsenting unto his death;\u201d and again, at verse 3. he is brought in\nas exceeding all in his opposition; for thus speaks the evangelist,\n\u201cAs for _Saul_, he made havock of the church, entring into every house,\nand haling men and women, committed them to prison.\u201d One would have\nimagined, that this should have satisfied, at least abated the fury\nof this young zealot. No: being exceedingly mad against them, as he\nhimself informs _Agrippa_, and having made havock of all in _Jerusalem_,\nhe now is resolved to persecute the disciples of the LORD, even to\nstrange cities; and therefore yet breathing out threatnings. \u201cBreathing\nout.\u201d The words are very emphatical, and expressive of his bitter\nenmity. It was as natural to him now to threaten the christians, as\nit was for him to breathe: he could scarce speak, but it was some\nthreatnings against them. Nay, he not only breathed out threatnings,\nbut slaughters also (and those who threaten, would also slaughter, if\nit were in their power) against the disciples of the LORD. Insatiable\ntherefore as hell, finding he could not confute or stop the christians\nby force of argument, he is resolved to do it by force of arms; and\ntherefore went to the high priest (for there never was a persecution\nyet without a high priest at the head of it) and desired of him letters,\nissued out of his spiritual court, to the synagogues or ecclesiastical\ncourts at _Damascus_, giving him authority, \u201cthat if he found any of\nthis way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound\nunto _Jerusalem_,\u201d I suppose, there to be arraigned and condemned\nin the high priest\u2019s court. Observe how he speaks of the christians.\n_Luke_, who wrote the _Acts_, calls them \u201cdisciples of the LORD,\u201d and\n_Saul_ stiles them \u201cMen and women of this way.\u201d I doubt not but he\nrepresented them as a company of _upstart enthusiasts_, that had lately\ngotten into a new method or way of living; that would not be content\nwith the temple-service, but they must be righteous over-much, and have\ntheir private meetings or conventicles, and break bread, as they called\nit, from house to house, to the great disturbance of the established\nclergy, and to the utter subversion of all order and decency. I do not\nhear that the high priest makes any objection: no, he was as willing\nto grant letters, as _Saul_ was to ask them; and wonderfully pleased\nwithin himself, to find he had such an active zealot to employ against\nthe christians.\n\nWell then, a judicial process is immediately issued out, with the\nhigh priest\u2019s seal affixed to it. And now methinks I see the young\npersecutor finely equipped, and pleasing himself with thoughts, how\ntriumphantly he should ride back with the \u201cmen and women of this way,\u201d\ndragging them after him to _Jerusalem_.\n\nWhat a condition may we imagine the poor disciples at _Damascus_ were\nin at this time! No doubt they had heard of _Saul_\u2019s imprisoning and\nmaking havock of the saints at _Jerusalem_, and we may well suppose\nthey were apprised of his design against them. I am persuaded this was\na growing, because a trying time with these dear people. O how did they\nwrestle with GOD in prayer, beseeching him either to deliver them from,\nor give them grace sufficient to enable them to bear up under, the fury\nof their persecutors? The high priest doubtless with the rest of his\nreverend brethren, flattered themselves, that they should now put an\neffectual stop to this growing heresy, and waited with impatience for\n_Saul_\u2019s return.\n\nBut \u201cHe that sitteth in heaven laughs them to scorn, the LORD has\nthem in derision.\u201d And therefore, verse 3. \u201cAs _Saul_ journeyed,\nand came even near unto _Damascus_,\u201d perhaps to the very gates, (our\nLORD permitting this, to try the faith of his disciples, and more\nconspicuously to baffle the designs of his enemies) \u201csuddenly (at\nmid-day, as he acquaints _Agrippa_) there shined round about him a\nlight from heaven,\u201d a light brighter than the sun; \u201cand he fell to the\nearth (why not into hell?) and heard a voice saying unto him, _Saul,\nSaul_, why persecutest thou me?\u201d The word is doubled, \u201c_Saul, Saul_:\u201d\nLike that of our LORD to _Martha_; \u201c_Martha, Martha_;\u201d or the prophet,\n\u201cO earth, earth, earth!\u201d Perhaps these words came like thunder to\nhis soul. That they were spoken audibly, we are assured from verse 7.\n\u201cHis companions heard the voice.\u201d Our LORD now arrests the persecuting\nzealot, calling him by name; for the word never does us good, till\nwe find it spoken to us in particular. \u201c_Saul, Saul_, Why persecutest\nthou Me?\u201d Put the emphasis upon the word _why_, what evil have I\ndone? Put it upon the word _persecutest_, why persecutest? I suppose\n_Saul_ thought he was not persecuting; no, he was only putting the\nlaws of the ecclesiastical court into execution; but JESUS, whose\neyes are as a flame of fire, saw through the hypocrisy of his heart,\nthat, notwithstanding his specious pretences, all this proceeded from\na persecuting spirit, and secret enmity of heart against GOD; and\ntherefore says, \u201cWhy persecutest thou me?\u201d Put the emphasis upon the\nword _me_, why persecutest thou me? alas! _Saul_ was not persecuting\nCHRIST, was he? he was only taking care to prevent innovations in the\nchurch, and bringing a company of enthusiasts to justice, who otherwise\nwould overturn the established constitution. But JESUS says, \u201cWhy\npersecutest thou me?\u201d For what is done to CHRIST\u2019s disciples, he takes\nas done to himself, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. He that\ntouches CHRIST\u2019s disciples, touches the apple of his eye; and they who\npersecute the followers of our LORD, would persecute our LORD himself,\nwas he again to come and tabernacle amongst us.\n\nI do not find that _Saul_ gives any reason why he did persecute; no,\nhe was struck dumb; as every persecutor will be, when JESUS CHRIST puts\nthis same question to them at the terrible day of judgment. But being\npricked at the heart, no doubt with a sense not only of this, but of\nall his other offences against the great GOD, he said, verse 5. \u201cWho\nart thou, LORD?\u201d See how soon GOD can change the heart and voice of his\nmost bitter enemies. Not many days ago, _Saul_ was not only blaspheming\nCHRIST himself, but, as much as in him lay, compelling others to\nblaspheme also: but now, he, who before was an imposter, is called\n_Lord_; \u201cWho art thou, LORD?\u201d This admirably points out the way in\nwhich GOD\u2019s Spirit works upon the heart: it first powerfully convinces\nof sin, and of our damnable state; and then puts us upon enquiring\nafter JESUS CHRIST. _Saul_ being struck to the ground, or pricked to\nthe heart, cries out after JESUS, \u201cWho art thou, LORD?\u201d As many of\nyou that were never so far made sensible of your damnable state, as\nto be made feelingly to seek after JESUS CHRIST, were never yet truly\nconvicted by, much less converted to, GOD. May the LORD, who struck\n_Saul_, effectually now strike all my christless hearers, and set them\nupon enquiring after JESUS, as their all in all! _Saul_ said, \u201cWho\nart thou, LORD? And the LORD said, I am JESUS, whom thou persecutest.\u201d\nNever did any one enquire truly after JESUS CHRIST, but CHRIST made\na saving discovery of himself, to his soul. It should seem, our LORD\nappeared to him in person; for _Ananias_, afterwards, says, \u201cThe LORD\nwho appeared to thee in the way which thou camest;\u201d though this may\nonly imply CHRIST\u2019s meeting him in the way; it is not much matter: it\nis plain CHRIST here speaks to him, and says, \u201cI am JESUS, whom thou\npersecutest.\u201d It is remarkable, how our LORD takes to himself the\nname of _Jesus_; for it is a name in which he delights: I am JESUS,\na Saviour of my people, both from the guilt and power of their sins;\n\u201ca JESUS, whom thou persecutest.\u201d This seems to be spoken to convince\n_Saul_ more and more of his sin; and I doubt not, but every word was\nsharper than a two-edged sword, and came like so many daggers to his\nheart; O how did these words affect him! a JESUS! a Saviour! and yet\nI am persecuting him! this strikes him with horror; but then the word\nJESUS, though he was a persecutor, might give him some hope. However,\nour dear LORD, to convince _Saul_ that he was to be saved by grace, and\nthat he was not afraid of his power and enmity, tells him, \u201cIt is hard\nfor thee to kick against the pricks.\u201d As much as to say, though he was\npersecuting, yet he could not overthrow the church of CHRIST: for he\nwould sit as King upon his holy hill of _Zion_; the malice of men or\ndevils should never be able to prevail against him.\n\nVerse 6. \u201cAnd he, trembling and astonished, said, LORD, what wilt\nthou have me to do?\u201d Those, who think _Saul_ had a discovery of JESUS\nmade to his heart before, think that this question is the result of\nhis faith, and that he now desires to know what he shall do, out of\ngratitude, for what the LORD had done for his soul; in this sense it\nmay be understood; \u00b9and I have made use of it as an instance to prove,\nthat faith will work by love; but perhaps it may be more agreeable to\nthe context, if we suppose, that _Saul_ had only some distant discovery\nof CHRIST made to him, and not a full assurance of faith: for we are\ntold, \u201che trembling and astonished,\u201d trembling at the thoughts of\nhis persecuting a JESUS, and astonished at his own vileness, and the\ninfinite condescension of this JESUS, cries out, \u201cLORD, what wilt thou\nhave me to do?\u201d Persons under soul-trouble, and sore conviction, would\nbe glad to do any thing, or comply on any terms, to get peace with GOD.\n\u201cArise, (says our LORD) and go into the city, and it shall be told thee\nwhat thou shalt do.\u201d\n\n \u00b9 See Volume V. Sermon 24.\n\nAnd here we will leave _Saul_ a while, and see what is become of\nhis companions. But what shall we say? GOD is a sovereign agent; his\nsacred Spirit bloweth when and where it listeth; \u201che will have mercy\non whom he will have mercy.\u201d _Saul_ is taken, but, as far as we know to\nthe contrary, his fellow-travellers are left to perish in their sins:\nfor we are told, verse 7. \u201cThat the men who journeyed with him stood,\nindeed, speechless, and hearing a confused voice;\u201d I say, a _confused\nvoice_, for so the word signifies, and must be so interpreted, in\norder to reconcile it with chapter xxii. verse 9. where _Saul_, giving\nan account of these men, tells _Agrippa_, \u201cThey heard not the voice\nof him that spake to me.\u201d They heard a voice, a confused noise, but\nnot the articulate voice of him that spake to _Saul_, and therefore\nremained unconverted. For what are all ordinances, all, even the most\nextraordinary dispensations of providence, without CHRIST speaks to\nthe soul in them? Thus it is now under the word preached: many, like\n_Saul_\u2019s companions, are sometimes so struck with the outgoings of GOD\nappearing in the sanctuary, that they even stand speechless; they hear\nthe preacher\u2019s voice, but not the voice of the Son of GOD, who, perhaps,\nat the same time is speaking effectually to many other hearts; this I\nhave known often; and what shall we say to these things? O the depth of\nthe sovereignty of GOD! it is past finding out. LORD, I desire to adore\nwhat I cannot comprehend. \u201cEven so, Father, for so it seemeth good in\nthy sight!\u201d\n\nBut to return to _Saul_: the LORD bids him \u201carise and go into the city;\u201d\nand we are told, verse 8. that \u201c_Saul_ arose from the earth; and when\nhis eyes were opened, (he was so overpowered with the greatness of the\nlight that shone upon them, that) he saw no man; but they led him by\nthe hand, and brought him into _Damascus_,\u201d that very city which was to\nbe the place of his executing or imprisoning the disciples of the LORD.\n\u201cAnd he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.\u201d\nBut who can tell what horrors of conscience, what convulsions of soul,\nwhat deep and pungent convictions of sin he underwent during these\nthree long days? it was this took away his appetite (for who can eat or\ndrink when under a sense of the wrath of GOD for sin?) and, being to be\ngreatly employed hereafter, he must be greatly humbled now; therefore,\nthe LORD leaves him three days groaning under the spirit of bondage,\nand buffeted, no doubt, with the fiery darts of the devil, that, being\ntempted like unto his brethren, he might be able hereafter to succour\nthose that were tempted. Had _Saul_ applied to any of the blind guides\nof the _Jewish_ church, under these circumstances, they would have said,\nhe was mad, or going besides himself; as many carnal teachers and blind\nPharisees now deal with, and so more and more distress, poor souls\nlabouring under awakening convictions of their damnable state. But GOD\noften at our first awakenings, visits us with sore trials, especially\nthose who are, like _Saul_, to shine in the church, and to be used as\ninstruments in bringing many sons to glory: those who are to be highly\nexalted, must first be deeply humbled; and this I speak for the comfort\nof such, who may be now groaning under the spirit of bondage, and\nperhaps, like _Saul_, can neither eat nor drink; for I have generally\nobserved, that those who have had the deepest convictions, have\nafterwards been favoured with the most precious communications, and\nenjoyed most of the divine presence in their souls. This was afterwards\nremarkably exemplified in _Saul_, who was three days without sight, and\nneither did eat nor drink.\n\nBut will the LORD leave his poor servant in this distress? no; his\nJESUS (though _Saul_ persecuted him) promised (and he will perform)\nthat \u201cit should be told him what he must do. And there was a certain\ndisciple at _Damascus_, named _Ananias_; and unto him, said the LORD,\nin a vision, _Ananias_; and he said, Behold, I am here, LORD.\u201d What a\nholy familiarity is there between JESUS CHRIST and regenerate souls!\n_Ananias_ had been used to such love-visits, and therefore knew the\nvoice of his beloved. The LORD says, \u201c_Ananias_;\u201d _Ananias_ says,\n\u201cBehold, I am here, LORD.\u201d Thus it is that CHRIST now, as well as\nformerly, often talks with his children at sundry times and after\ndivers manners, as a man talketh with his friend. But what has the\nLORD to say to _Ananias_?\n\nVerse 11. \u201cAnd the LORD said unto him, Arise, and go into the street,\nwhich is called _Straight_, and enquire in the house of _Judas_, for\none called _Saul_ of _Tarsus_;\u201d (See here for your comfort, O children\nof the most high GOD, what notice JESUS CHRIST takes of the street and\nthe house where his own dear servants lodge) \u201cfor behold, he prayeth;\u201d\nbut why is this ushered in with the word _behold_? what, was it such\na wonder, to hear that _Saul_ was praying? why, _Saul_ was a Pharisee,\nand therefore, no doubt, fasted and made long prayers: and, since we\nare told that he profited above many of his equals, I doubt not but\nhe was taken notice of for his gift in prayer; and yet it seems, that\nbefore these three days, _Saul_ never prayed in his life; and why?\nbecause, before these three days, he never felt himself a condemned\ncreature: he was alive in his own opinion, because without a knowledge\nof the spiritual meaning of the law; he felt not a want of, and\ntherefore, before now, cried not after a JESUS; and consequently,\nthough he might have said or made a prayer (as many Pharisees do\nnow-a-days) he never prayed a prayer; but now, \u201cbehold! he prayed\nindeed;\u201d and this was urged as one reason why he was converted. None\nof GOD\u2019s children, as one observes, comes into the world still-born;\nprayer is the very breath of the new creature: and therefore, if\nwe are prayerless, we are christless; if we never had the spirit of\nsupplication, it is a sad sign that we never had the spirit of grace in\nour souls: and you may be assured you never did pray, unless you have\nfelt yourselves sinners, and seen the want of JESUS to be your Saviour.\nMay the LORD, whom I serve in the gospel of his dear Son, prick you all\nto the heart, and may it be said of you all, as it was of _Saul_,\nbehold, they pray!\n\nThe LORD goes on to encourage _Ananias_ to go to _Saul_: says he, verse\n12. \u201cFor he hath seen in a vision a man named _Ananias_, coming in,\nand putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.\u201d So that\nthough CHRIST converted _Saul_ immediately by himself, yet he will\ncarry on the work, thus begun, by a minister. Happy they, who under\nsoul-troubles have such experienced guides, and as well acquainted with\nJESUS CHRIST as _Ananias_ was: you that have such, make much of and\nbe thankful for them; and you who have them not, trust in GOD; he will\ncarry on his own work without them.\n\nDoubtless, _Ananias_ was a good man; but shall I commend him for\nhis answer to our LORD? I commend him not: for says he, verse 13.\n\u201cLORD, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done\nto thy saints at _Jerusalem_: And here, he hath authority from the\nchief priests to bind all that call upon thy name.\u201d I fear this\nanswer proceeded from some relicks of self-righteousness, as well as\ninfidelity, that lay undiscovered in the heart of _Ananias_. \u201cArise,\n(said our LORD) and go into the street, which is called _Straight_, and\nenquire in the house of _Judas_, for one called _Saul_ of _Tarsus_; for\nbehold, he prayeth!\u201d One would think this was sufficient to satisfy him;\nbut says _Ananias_, \u201cLORD, I have heard by many of this man (he seems\nto speak of him with much contempt; for even good men are apt to think\ntoo contemptuously of those who are yet in their sins) how much evil\nhe hath done to thy saints in _Jerusalem_: And here, he hath authority\nfrom the chief priests, to bind all that call upon thy name.\u201d And what\nthen, _Ananias_? Is any thing too hard for the LORD? Who made thee\nto differ? Could not he who converted thee, convert him also? Surely\n_Ananias_ here forgets himself, or perhaps fears, lest this man,\nwho had authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon\nCHRIST\u2019s name, should bind him also, if he went unto him; but the LORD\nsilences all objections, with a \u201cGo thy way, for he is a chosen vessel\nunto me, to bear my name before the _Gentiles_, and kings, and the\nchildren of _Israel_. For I will shew him how great things he must\nsuffer for my name\u2019s sake.\u201d Here GOD stops his mouth immediately,\nby asserting his sovereignty, and preaching to him the doctrine of\nelection. And the frequent conversion of notorious sinners to GOD, to\nme is one great proof, amongst a thousand others, of that precious, but\ntoo much exploded and sadly misrepresented, doctrine of GOD\u2019s electing\nlove; for whence is it that such are taken, whilst thousands, not near\nso vile, die senseless and stupid? All the answer that can be given, is,\n_they are chosen vessels_; \u201cGo thy way, (says GOD) for he is a chosen\nvessel unto me, to bear my name before the _Gentiles_, and kings, and\nthe children of _Israel_: For I will shew him how great things he must\nsuffer for my name\u2019s sake.\u201d Observe what a close connection there is\nbetween doing and suffering for CHRIST. If any of my brethren in the\nministry are present, let them hear what preferment we must expect, if\nwe are called out to work remarkably for GOD: not great prebendaries or\nbishopricks, but great sufferings for our LORD\u2019s name sake; these are\nthe fruits of our labour: and he that will not contentedly suffer great\nthings for preaching CHRIST, is not worthy of him. Suffering will be\nfound to be the best preferment, when we are called to give an account\nof our ministry at the great day.\n\nI do not hear, that _Ananias_ quarrelled with GOD concerning the\ndoctrine of election; no, (O that all good men would, in this, learn of\nhim!) \u201cHe went his way, and entered into the house; and put his hands\non him, and said, Brother _Saul_;\u201d just now, it was _this man_; now it\nis _brother Saul_: it is no matter what a man has been, if he be now a\nchristian; the same should be our brother, our sister and mother; GOD\nblots out every convert\u2019s transgressions as with a thick cloud, and so\nshould we; the more vile a man has been, the more should we love him\nwhen believing in CHRIST, because CHRIST will be more glorified on his\nbehalf. I doubt not, but _Ananias_ was wonderfully delighted to hear\nthat so remarkable a persecutor was brought home to GOD: I am persuaded\nhe felt his soul immediately united to him by love, and therefore\naddresses him not with, thou persecutor, thou murderer, that camest to\nbutcher me and my friends; but, \u201cbrother _Saul_.\u201d It is remarkable that\nthe primitive christians much used the word _brother_ and _brethren_;\nI know it is a term now much in reproach; but those who despise it,\nI believe, would be glad to be of our brotherhood, when they see us\nsitting at the right-hand of the Majesty on high. \u201cBrother _Saul_, the\nLORD (even JESUS that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest)\nhath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with\nthe Holy Ghost.\u201d At this time, we may suppose, he laid his hands upon\nhim. See the consequences.\n\nVerse 18. \u201cImmediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales,\nand he received sight forthwith;\u201d not only bodily, but spiritual sight;\nhe emerged as it were into a new world; he saw, and felt too, things\nunutterable: he felt a union of soul with GOD; he received the spirit\nof adoption; he could now, with a full assurance of faith, cry, \u201cAbba,\nFather.\u201d Now was he filled with the Holy Ghost; and had the love of\nGOD shed abroad in his heart; now were the days of his mourning ended;\nnow was CHRIST formed in his soul; now he could give men and devils\nthe challenge, knowing that CHRIST had justified him; now he saw the\nexcellencies of CHRIST, and esteemed him the fairest among ten thousand.\nYou only know how to sympathize with the apostle in his joy, who, after\na long night of bondage, have been set free by the Spirit, and have\nreceived joy in the Holy Ghost. May all that are now mourning, as\n_Saul_ was, be comforted in like manner!\n\nThe scales are now removed from the eyes of _Saul_\u2019s mind; _Ananias_\nhas done that for him, under GOD: he must now do another office,\nbaptize him, and so receive him into the visible church of CHRIST; a\ngood proof to me of the necessity of baptism where it may be had: for\nI find here, as well as elsewhere, that baptism is administered even\nto those who had received the Holy Ghost; _Saul_ was convinced of this,\nand therefore arose and was baptized; and now it is time for him to\nrecruit the outward man, which, by three days abstinence and spiritual\nconflicts, had been much impaired: we are therefore told, (verse 19.)\n\u201cwhen he had received meat, he was strengthened.\u201d\n\nBut O, with what comfort did the apostle now eat his food! I am sure it\nwas with singleness, I am persuaded also with gladness of heart; and\nwhy? he knew that he was reconciled to GOD; and, for my own part, did I\nnot know how blind and flinty our hearts are by nature, I should wonder\nhow any one could eat even his common food with any satisfaction,\nwho has not some well-grounded hope of his being reconciled to GOD.\nOur LORD intimates thus much to us: for in his glorious prayer, after\nhe has taught us to pray for our daily bread, immediately adds that\npetition, \u201cForgive us our trespasses;\u201d as though our daily bread would\ndo us no service, unless we were sensible of having the forgiveness of\nour sins.\n\nTo proceed: _Saul_ hath received meat, and is strengthened; and whither\nwill he go now? to see the brethren; \u201cthen was _Saul_ certain days with\nthe disciples that were at _Damascus_.\u201d If we know and love CHRIST, we\nshall also love and desire to be acquainted with the brethren of CHRIST:\nwe may generally know a man by his company. And though all are not\nsaints that associate with saints, (for tares will be always springing\nup amongst the wheat till the time of harvest) yet, if we never keep\ncompany, but are shy and ashamed of the despised children of GOD, it\nis a certain sign we have not yet experimentally learned JESUS, or\nreceived him into our hearts. My dear friends, be not deceived; if we\nare friends to the Bridegroom, we shall be friends to the children of\nthe Bridegroom. _Saul_, as soon as he was filled with the Holy Ghost,\n\u201cwas certain days with the disciples that were at _Damascus_.\u201d\n\nBut who can tell what joy these disciples felt when _Saul_ came\namongst them! I suppose holy _Ananias_ introduced him. Methinks I\nsee the once persecuting zealot, when they came to salute him with\na holy kiss, throwing himself upon each of their necks, weeping over\nthem with floods of tears, and saying, \u201cO my brother, O my sister,\nCan you forgive me? Can you give such a wretch as I the right-hand\nof fellowship, who intended to drag you behind me bound unto\n_Jerusalem_!\u201d Thus, I say, we may suppose _Saul_ addressed himself to\nhis fellow-disciples; and I doubt not but they were as ready to forgive\nand forget as _Ananias_ was, and saluted him with the endearing title\nof \u201cbrother _Saul_.\u201d Lovely was this meeting; so lovely, that it seemed\n_Saul_ continued certain days with them, to communicate experiences,\nand to learn the way of GOD more perfectly; to pray for a blessing on\nhis future ministry, and to praise CHRIST JESUS for what he had done\nfor their souls. _Saul_, perhaps, had sat certain years at the feet\nof _Gamaliel_, but undoubtedly learned more these certain days, than\nhe had learned before in all his life. It pleases me to think how this\ngreat scholar is transformed by the renewing of his mind: What a mighty\nchange was here! That so great a man as _Saul_ was, both as to his\nstation in life, and internal qualifications, and such a bitter enemy\nto the christians; for him, I say, to go and be certain days with\nthe people of _this mad way_, and to sit quietly, and be taught of\nilliterate men, as many of these disciples we may be sure were; what\na substantial proof was this of the reality of his conversion!\n\nWhat a hurry and confusion may we suppose the chief priests were now\nin! I warrant they were ready to cry out, What! is he also deceived? As\nfor the common people, who knew not the law, and are accursed, for them\nto be carried away, is no such wonder; but for a man bred up at the\nfeet of _Gamaliel_, for such a scholar, such an enemy to the cause as\n_Saul_, for him to be led away with a company of silly, deceived men\nand women, surely it is impossible: we cannot believe it. But _Saul_\nsoon convinces them of the reality of his becoming a fool for CHRIST\u2019s\nsake; for straightway, instead of going to deliver the letters from the\nhigh priests, as they expected, in order to bring the disciples that\nwere at _Damascus_ bound to _Jerusalem_, \u201che preached CHRIST in the\nsynagogues, that he is the Son of GOD.\u201d This was another proof of his\nbeing converted. He not only conversed with christians in private, but\nhe preached CHRIST publicly in the synagogues: especially, he insisted\non the divinity of our LORD, proving, notwithstanding his state of\nhumiliation, that he was really the Son of GOD.\n\nBut why did _Saul_ preach CHRIST thus? Because he had felt the power\nof CHRIST upon his own soul. And here is the reason why CHRIST is\nso seldom preached, and his divinity so slightly insisted on in our\nsynagogues: because the generality of those that pretend to preach him,\nnever felt a saving work of conversion upon their own souls. How can\nthey preach, unless they are first taught of, and then sent by GOD?\n_Saul_ did not preach CHRIST before he knew him; no more should any one\nelse. An unconverted minister, though he could speak with the tongues\nof men and angels, will be but as a sounding brass and tinkling cymbal\nto those whose senses are exercised to discern spiritual things.\nMinisters that are unconverted, may talk and declaim of CHRIST, and\nprove from books that he is the Son of GOD; but they cannot preach\nwith the demonstration of the Spirit and with power, unless they preach\nfrom experience, and have had a proof of his divinity, by a work of\ngrace wrought upon their own souls. GOD forgive those, who lay hands\non an unconverted man, knowing that he is such: I would not do it for\na thousand worlds. LORD JESUS, keep thy own faithful servants pure, and\nlet them not be partakers of other mens sins!\n\nSuch an instance as was _Saul_\u2019s conversion, we may be assured, must\nmake a great deal of noise; and, therefore, no wonder we are told,\nverse 21. \u201cBut all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this\nhe that destroyed them who called on this name in _Jerusalem_, and came\nhither for that intent, that he might bring them bound to the chief\npriests.\u201d\n\nThus it will be with all that appear publicly for JESUS CHRIST; and it\nis as impossible for a true christian to be hid, as a city built upon a\nhill. Brethren, if you are faithful to, you must be reproached and have\nremarks made on you for CHRIST; especially if you have been remarkably\nwicked before your conversion. Your friends will say, is not this he,\nor she, who a little while ago would run to as great an excess of riot\nand vanity as the worst of us all? What has turned your brain?\u2015\u2015Or if\nyou have been close, false, formal hypocrites, as _Saul_ was, they will\nwonder that you should be so deceived, as to think you were not in a\nsafe state before. No doubt, numbers were surprized to hear _Saul_,\nwho was touching the law blameless, affirm that he was in a damnable\ncondition (as in all probability he did) a few days before.\n\nBrethren, you must expect to meet with many such difficulties as these.\nThe scourge of the tongue, is generally the first cross we are called\nto bear for the sake of CHRIST. Let not, therefore, this move you: It\ndid not intimidate, no, it rather encouraged _Saul_: says the text,\n\u201cBut _Saul_ increased the more in strength, and confounded the _Jews_\nwho dwelt at _Damascus_, proving that this is very CHRIST.\u201d Opposition\nnever yet did, nor ever will hurt a sincere convert: Nothing like\nopposition to make the man of GOD perfect. None but a hireling, who\ncareth not for the sheep, will be affrighted at the approach or barking\nof wolves. CHRIST\u2019s ministers are as bold as lions: it is not for such\nmen as they to flee.\n\nAnd therefore (that I may draw towards a conclusion) let the ministers\nand disciples of CHRIST learn from _Saul_, not to fear men or their\nrevilings; but, like him, increase in strength, the more wicked men\nendeavour to weaken their hands. We cannot be christians without being\nopposed: no; disciples in general must suffer; ministers in particular\nmust suffer great things. But let not this move any of us from our\nstedfastness in the gospel: He that stood by and strengthened _Saul_,\nwill also stand by and strengthen us: He is a GOD mighty to save all\nthat put their trust in him. If we look up with an eye of faith, we, as\nwell as the first martyr _Stephen_, may see JESUS standing at the right\nhand of GOD, ready to assist and protect us. Though the LORD\u2019s seat is\nin heaven, yet he has respect to his saints in an especial manner, when\nsuffering here on earth: then the Spirit of CHRIST and of glory rests\nupon their souls. And, if I may speak my own experience, \u201cI never enjoy\nmore rich communications from GOD, than when despised and rejected of\nmen for the sake of JESUS CHRIST.\u201d However little they may design it,\nmy enemies are my greatest friends. What I most fear, is a calm; but\nthe enmity which is in the hearts of natural men against CHRIST, will\nnot suffer them to be quiet long: No; as I hope the work of GOD will\nincrease, so the rage of men and devils will increase also. Let us put\non, therefore, the whole armour of GOD: let us not fear the face of men:\n\u201cLet us fear him only, who can destroy both body and soul in hell:\u201d I\nsay unto you, let us fear him alone. You see how soon GOD can stop the\nfury of his enemies.\n\nYou have just now heard of a proud, powerful zealot stopt in his full\ncareer, struck down to the earth with a light from heaven, converted\nby the almighty power of efficacious grace, and thereupon zealously\npromoting, nay, resolutely suffering for, the faith, which once with\nthreatenings and slaughters he endeavoured to destroy. Let this teach\nus to pity and pray for our LORD\u2019s most inveterate enemies. Who knows,\nbut in answer thereunto, our LORD may give them repentance unto life?\nMost think, that CHRIST had respect to _Stephen_\u2019s prayer, when he\nconverted _Saul_. Perhaps for this reason GOD suffers his adversaries\nto go on, that his goodness and power may shine more bright in their\nconversion.\n\nBut let not the persecutors of CHRIST take encouragement from this to\ncontinue in their opposition. Remember, though _Saul_ was converted,\nyet the high-priest, and _Saul_\u2019s companions, were left dead in\ntrespasses and sins: And, if this should be your case, you will of all\nmen be most miserable: for persecutors have the lowest place in hell.\nAnd, if _Saul_ was struck to the earth by a light from heaven, how will\nyou be able to stand before JESUS CHRIST, when he comes in terrible\nmajesty to take vengeance on all those who have persecuted his gospel?\nThen the question, \u201cWhy persecutest thou me?\u201d will cut you through and\nthrough. The secret enmity of your hearts shall be then detected before\nmen and angels, and you shall be doomed to dwell in the blackness of\ndarkness for evermore. Kiss the Son, therefore, lest he be angry: for\neven you may yet find mercy, if you believe on the Son of GOD: though\nyou persecute him, yet he will be your JESUS. I cannot despair of any\nof you, when I find a _Saul_ among the disciples at _Damascus_. What\nthough your sins are as scarlet, the blood of CHRIST shall wash them as\nwhite as snow. Having much to be forgiven, despair not; only believe,\nand like _Saul_, of whom I have now been speaking, love much. He\ncounted himself the chiefest sinner of all, and therefore laboured more\nabundantly than all.\n\nWho is there among you fearing the LORD? Whose hearts hath the LORD now\nopened to hearken to the voice of his poor unworthy servant? Surely,\nthe LORD will not let me preach in vain. Who is the happy soul that\nis this day to be washed in the blood of the Lamb? Will no poor sinner\ntake encouragement from _Saul_ to come to JESUS CHRIST? You are all\nthronging round, but which of you will touch the LORD JESUS? What a\ncomfort will it be to _Saul_, and to your own souls, when you meet him\nin heaven, to tell him, that hearing of his, was a means, under GOD, of\nyour conversion! Doubtless it was written for the encouragement of all\npoor, returning sinners; he himself tells us so: for \u201cin me GOD shewed\nall long-suffering, that I might be an example to them that should\nhereafter believe.\u201d Was _Saul_ here himself, he would tell you so,\nindeed he would; but being dead, by this account of his conversion he\nyet speaketh. O that GOD may speak by it to your hearts! O that the\narrows of GOD might this day stick fast in your souls, and you made to\ncry out, \u201cWho art thou, LORD?\u201d Are there any such amongst you? Methinks\nI feel something of what this _Saul_ felt, when he said, \u201cI travail\nin birth again for you, till CHRIST be formed again in your hearts.\u201d O\ncome, come away to JESUS, in whom _Saul_ believed; and then I care not\nif the high-priests issue out never so many writs, or injuriously drag\nme to a prison. The thoughts of being instrumental in saving you, will\nmake me sing praises even at midnight: And I know you will be my joy\nand crown of rejoicing, when I am delivered from this earthly prison,\nand meet you in the kingdom of GOD hereafter.\n\n Now to GOD, &c.\n\n\n\n\n SERMON XLII.\n\n Marks of having received the Holy Ghost.\n\n\n ACTS xix. 2.\n\n _Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?_\n\nTWO different significations have been given of these words. Some have\nsupposed, that the question here put, is, Whether these disciples,\nwhom St. _Paul_ found at _Ephesus_, had received the Holy Ghost by\nimposition of hands at confirmation? Others think, these disciples had\nbeen already baptized into _John_\u2019s baptism; which not being attended\nwith an immediate effusion of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle here asks\nthem, Whether they had received the Holy Ghost by being baptized\ninto JESUS CHRIST? And upon their answering in the negative, he first\nbaptized, and then confirmed them in the name of the LORD JESUS.\n\nWhich of these interpretations is the most true, is neither easy nor\nvery necessary to determine. However, as the words contain a most\nimportant enquiry, without any reference to the context, I shall from\nthem,\n\n _First_, Shew who the Holy Ghost here spoken of, is; and that we\n must all receive him, before we can be stiled true believers.\n\n _Secondly_, I shall lay down some scripture marks whereby we may\n know, whether we have thus received the Holy Ghost or not. And\n\n _Thirdly_, By way of conclusion, address myself to several\n distinct classes of professors, concerning the doctrine that\n shall have been delivered.\n\n_First_, I am to shew who the Holy Ghost spoken of in \u2666the text, is;\nand that we must all receive him before we can be stiled true believers.\n\n \u2666 duplicate word \u201cthe\u201d removed\n\nBy the Holy Ghost is plainly signified the Holy Spirit, the third\nPerson in the ever-blessed Trinity, consubstantial and co-eternal with\nthe Father and the Son, proceeding from, yet equal to them both. He is\nemphatically called Holy, because infinitely holy in himself, and the\nauthor and finisher of all holiness in us.\n\nThis blessed Spirit, who once moved on the face of the great deep; who\nover-shadowed the blessed Virgin before that holy child was born of her;\nwho descended in a bodily shape, like a dove, on our blessed LORD, when\nhe came up out of the water at his baptism; and afterwards came down in\nfiery tongues on the heads of all his Apostles at the day of Pentecost:\nthis is the Holy Ghost, who must move on the faces of our souls; this\npower of the Most High, must come upon us, and we must be baptized with\nhis baptism and refining fire, before we can be stiled true members of\nCHRIST\u2019s mystical body.\n\nThus says the Apostle _Paul_, \u201cKnow ye not that JESUS CHRIST is in you,\n(that is, by his Spirit) unless you are reprobates?\u201d And, \u201cIf any man\nhath not the Spirit of CHRIST, he is none of his.\u201d And again, says St.\n_John_, \u201cWe know that we are his, by the Spirit that he hath given us.\u201d\n\nIt is not, indeed, necessary that we should have the Spirit now given\nin that miraculous manner, in which he was at first given to our LORD\u2019s\nApostles, by signs and wonders; but it is absolutely necessary, that we\nshould receive the Holy Ghost in his sanctifying graces, as really as\nthey did: and so will it continue to be till the end of the world.\n\nFor thus stands the case between GOD and man: GOD at first made man\nupright, or as the sacred Penman expresses it, \u201cIn the image of GOD\nmade he man;\u201d that is, his soul was the very copy, the transcript of\nthe divine nature. He, who before, by his almighty fiat, spoke the\nworld into being, breathed into man the breath of spiritual life, and\nhis soul was adorned with a resemblance of the perfections of Deity.\nThis was the finishing stroke of the creation: the perfection both of\nthe moral and material world. And so near did man resemble his divine\nOriginal, that GOD could not but rejoice and take pleasure in his\nown likeness: And therefore we read, that when GOD had finished the\ninanimate and brutish part of the creation, he looked upon it, and\nbeheld it was _good_; but when that lovely, God-like creature man was\nmade, behold it was _very good_.\n\nHappy, unspeakably happy must man needs be, when thus a partaker of the\ndivine nature. And thus might he have still continued, had he continued\nholy. But GOD placed him in a state of probation, with a free grant to\neat of every tree in the garden of _Eden_, except the tree of knowledge\nof good and evil: the day he should eat thereof, he was surely to die;\nthat is, not only to be subject to temporal, but spiritual death; and\nconsequently, to lose that divine image, that spiritual life GOD had\nnot long since breathed into him, and which was as much his happiness\nas his glory.\n\nThese, one would imagine, were easy conditions for a finite creature\u2019s\nhappiness to depend on. But man, unhappy man, being seduced by the\ndevil, and desiring, like him, to be equal with his Maker, did eat of\nthe forbidden fruit; and thereby became liable to that curse, which the\neternal GOD, who cannot lie, had denounced against his disobedience.\n\nAccordingly we read, that soon after _Adam_ had fallen, he complained\nthat he was naked; naked, not only as to his body, but naked and\ndestitute of those divine graces which before decked and beautified\nhis soul. The unhappy mutiny and disorder which the visible creation\nfell into, the briars and thorns which now sprung up and overspread\nthe earth, were but poor emblems, lifeless representations of that\nconfusion and rebellion, and those divers lusts and passions which\nsprung up in, and quite overwhelmed the soul of man immediately after\nthe fall. Alas! he was now no longer the image of the invisible GOD;\nbut as he had imitated the devil\u2019s sin, he became as it were a partaker\nof the devil\u2019s nature, and from an union with, sunk into a state of\ndirect enmity against GOD.\n\nNow in this dreadful disordered condition, are all of us brought into\nthe world; for as the root is, such must the branches be. Accordingly\nwe are told, \u201cThat _Adam_ begat a son in his own likeness;\u201d or, with\nthe same corrupt nature which he himself had, after he had eaten the\nforbidden fruit. And experience as well as scripture proves, that we\nalso are altogether born in sin and corruption; and therefore incapable,\nwhilst in such a state, to hold communion with GOD. For as light cannot\nhave communion with darkness, so GOD can have no communion with such\npolluted sons of _Belial_.\n\nHere then appears the end and design why CHRIST was manifest in the\nflesh; to put an end to these disorders, and to restore us to that\nprimitive dignity in which we were at first created. Accordingly he\nshed his precious blood to satisfy his Father\u2019s justice for our sins;\nand thereby also he procured for us the Holy Ghost, who should once\nmore re-instamp the divine image upon our hearts, and make us capable\nof living with and enjoying the blessed GOD.\n\nThis was the great end of our LORD\u2019s coming into the world; nay, this\nis the only end why the world itself is now kept in being. For as soon\nas a sufficient number are sanctified out of it, the heavens shall be\nwrapped up like a scroll, the elements shall melt with fervent heat,\nthe earth, and all that therein is, shall be burnt up.\n\nThis sanctification of the Spirit, is that new birth mentioned by our\nblessed LORD to _Nicodemus_, \u201cwithout which we cannot see the kingdom\nof GOD.\u201d This is what St. _Paul_ calls being \u201crenewed in the spirit of\nour minds;\u201d and it is the spring of that holiness, without which no man\nshall see the LORD.\n\nThus then, it is undeniably certain, we must receive the Holy Ghost ere\nwe can be stiled true members of CHRIST\u2019s mystical body. I come in the\n\n_Second_ place to lay down some scriptural marks, whereby we may easily\njudge, whether we have thus received the Holy Ghost or not. And the\n\n_First_ I shall mention, is, our having received a spirit of prayer\nand supplication; for that always accompanies the spirit of grace.\nNo sooner was _Paul_ converted, but \u201cbehold he prayeth.\u201d And this was\nurged as an argument, to convince _Ananias_ that he was converted. And\nGOD\u2019s elect are also said to \u201ccry to him day and night.\u201d\n\nAnd since one great work of the Holy Spirit is to convince us of sin,\nand to set us upon seeking pardon and renewing grace, through the\nall-sufficient merits of a crucified Redeemer, whosoever has felt the\npower of the world to come, awakening him from his spiritual lethargy,\ncannot but be always crying out, \u201cLORD, what wouldst thou have me to\ndo?\u201d Or, in the language of the importunate blind _Bartimeus_, \u201cJESUS,\nthou Son of _David_, have mercy upon me.\u201d\n\nThe blessed JESUS, as he received the Holy Ghost without measure, so he\nevidenced it by nothing more, than his frequent addresses at the throne\nof grace. Accordingly we read, that he was often alone on the mountain\npraying; that he rose a great while before day to pray: nay, that he\nspent whole nights in prayer. And whosoever is made partaker of the\nsame Spirit with the holy JESUS, will be of the same mind, and delight\nin nothing so much, as to \u201cdraw nigh unto GOD,\u201d and lift up holy hands\nand hearts in frequent and devout prayer.\n\nIt must be confessed, indeed, that this spirit of supplication is often\nas it were sensibly lost, and decays, for some time, even in those\nwho have actually received the Holy Ghost. Through spiritual dryness\nand barrenness of soul, they find in themselves a listlesness and\nbackwardness to this duty of prayer; but then they esteem it as their\ncross, and still persevere in seeking JESUS, though it be sorrowing:\nand their hearts, notwithstanding, are fixed upon GOD, though they\ncannot exert their affections so strongly as usual, on account of that\nspiritual deadness, which GOD, for wise reasons, has suffered to benumb\ntheir souls.\n\nBut as for the formal believer, it is not so with him: no; he either\nprays not at all, or if he does enter into his closet, it is with\nreluctance, out of custom, or to satisfy the checks of his conscience.\nWhereas the true believer can no more live without prayer, than without\nfood day by day. And he finds his soul as really and perceptibly fed by\nthe one, as his body is nourished and supported by the other. A\n\n_Second_ scripture mark of our having received the Holy Ghost, is, Not\ncommitting sin.\n\n\u201cWhosoever is born of GOD, (says St. _John_) sinneth not, neither\ncan he sin, because his seed remaineth in him.\u201d _Neither can he sin._\nThis expression does not imply the impossibility of a christian\u2019s\nsinning: for we are told, that \u201cin many things we offend all:\u201d It only\nmeans thus much; that a man who is really born again of GOD, doth not\nwilfully commit sin, much less live in the habitual practice of it. For\nhow shall he that is dead to sin, as every converted person is, live\nany longer therein?\n\nIt is true, a man that is born again of GOD, may, through surprize,\nor the violence of a temptation, fall into an act of sin: witness the\nadultery of _David_, and _Peter_\u2019s denial of his Master. But then,\nlike them, he quickly rises again, goes out from the world, and weeps\nbitterly; washes the guilt of sin away by the tears of a sincere\nrepentance, joined with faith in the blood of JESUS CHRIST; takes\ndouble heed to his ways for the future, and perfects holiness in the\nfear of GOD.\n\nThe meaning of this expression of the Apostle, that \u201ca man who is born\nof GOD, cannot commit sin,\u201d has been \u00b9fitly illustrated, by the example\nof a covetous worldling, to the general bent of whose inclinations,\nliberality and profuseness are directly opposite: but if, upon some\nunexpected, sudden occasion, he does play the prodigal, he immediately\nrepents him of his fault, and returns with double care to his\nniggardliness again. And so is every one that is born again: to commit\nsin, is as contrary to the habitual frame and tendency of his mind, as\ngenerosity is to the inclinations of a miser; but if at any time, he is\ndrawn into sin, he immediately, with double zeal, returns to his duty,\nand brings forth fruits meet for repentance. Whereas, the unconverted\nsinner is quite dead in trespasses and sins: or if he does abstain\nfrom gross acts of it, through worldly selfish motives, yet, there is\nsome right eye he will not pluck out; some right-hand which he will not\ncut off; some specious _Agag_ that he will not sacrifice for GOD; and\nthereby he is convinced that he is but a mere _Saul_: and consequently,\nwhatever pretensions he may make to the contrary, he has not yet\nreceived the Holy Ghost. A\n\n \u00b9 _Law_\u2019s _Christian Perfection_.\n\n_Third_ mark whereby we may know, whether or not we have received the\nHoly Ghost, is, Our conquest over the world.\n\n\u201cFor whosoever is born of GOD, (says the Apostle) overcometh the\nworld.\u201d By the world, we are to understand, as St. _John_ expresses\nit, \u201call that is in the world, the lust of the eye, the lust of the\nflesh, and the pride of life:\u201d And by overcoming of it, is meant,\nour renouncing these, so as not to follow or be led by them: for\nwhosoever is born from above, has his affections set on things above:\nhe feels a divine attraction in his soul, which forcibly draws his mind\nheavenwards; and as the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so doth it\nmake his soul to long after the enjoyment of his GOD.\n\nNot that he is so taken up with the affairs of another life, as to\nneglect the business of this: No; a truly spiritual man dares not stand\nany day idle; but then he takes care, though he laboureth for the meat\nwhich perisheth, first to secure that which endureth to everlasting\nlife. Or, if GOD has exalted him above his brethren, yet, like _Moses_,\n_Joseph_, and _Daniel_, he, notwithstanding, looks upon himself as a\nstranger and pilgrim upon earth: having received a principle of new\nlife, he walks by faith and not by sight; and his hopes being full\nof immortality, he can look on all things here below as vanity and\nvexation of spirit: In short, though he is in, yet he is not of the\nworld; and as he was made for the enjoyment of GOD, so nothing but GOD\ncan satisfy his soul.\n\nThe ever-blessed JESUS was a perfect instance of overcoming the world.\nFor though he went about continually doing good, and always lived as\nin a press and throng; yet, wherever he was, his conversation tended\nheavenwards. In like manner, he that is joined to the LORD in one\nspirit, will so order his thoughts, words, and actions, that he will\nevidence to all, that his conversation is in heaven.\n\nOn the contrary, an unconverted man being of the earth, is earthy;\nand having no spiritual eye to discern spiritual things, he is always\nseeking for happiness in this life, where it never was, will, or can be\nfound. Being not born again from above, he is bowed down by a spirit of\nnatural infirmity: the serpent\u2019s curse becomes his choice, and he eats\nof the dust of the earth all the days of his life. A\n\n_Fourth_ scripture mark of our having received the Holy Ghost, is, Our\nloving one another.\n\n\u201cWe know (says St. _John_) we are passed from death unto life, because\nwe love the brethren.\u201d \u201cAnd by this (says CHRIST himself) shall all men\nknow that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one towards another.\u201d\nLove is the fulfilling of the gospel, as well as of the law: for \u201cGOD\nis love; and whosoever dwelleth in love, dwelleth in GOD.\u201d\n\nBut by this love we are not to understand a softness and tenderness of\nmere nature, or a love founded on worldly motives (for this a natural\nman may have); but a love of our brethren, proceeding from love towards\nGOD: loving all men in general, because of their relation to GOD;\nand loving good men in particular, for the grace we see in them, and\nbecause they love our LORD JESUS in sincerity.\n\nThis is christian charity, and that new commandment which CHRIST gave\nto his disciples. _New_, not in its object, but in the motive and\nexample whereon it is founded, even JESUS CHRIST. This is that love\nwhich the primitive christians were so renowned for, that it became a\nproverb, _See how these christians love one another_. And without this\nlove, though we should give all our goods to feed the poor, and our\nbodies to be burnt, it would profit us nothing.\n\nFurther, this love is not confined to any particular set of men, but\nis impartial and catholic: A love that embraces GOD\u2019s image wherever\nit beholds it, and that delights in nothing so much as to see CHRIST\u2019s\nkingdom come.\n\nThis is the love wherewith JESUS CHRIST loved mankind: He loved all,\neven the worst of men, as appears by his weeping over the obstinately\nperverse; but wherever he saw the least appearance of the divine\nlikeness, that soul he loved in particular. Thus we read, that when he\nheard the young man say, \u201cAll these things have I kept from my youth,\u201d\nthat so far he loved him. And when he saw any noble instance of faith,\nthough in a Centurion and a _Syrophenician_, aliens to the commonwealth\nof _Israel_, how is he said to marvel at, to rejoice in, speak of, and\ncommend it? So every spiritual disciple of JESUS CHRIST will cordially\nembrace all who worship GOD in spirit and in truth, however they may\ndiffer as to the appendages of religion, and in things not essentially\nnecessary to salvation.\n\nI confess, indeed, that the heart of a natural man is not thus enlarged\nall at once; and a person may really have received the Holy Ghost,\n(as _Peter_, no doubt, had when he was unwilling to go to _Cornelius_)\nthough he be not arrived to this: but then, where a person is truly in\nCHRIST, all narrowness of spirit decreases in him daily; the partition\nwall of bigotry and party zeal is broken down more and more; and the\nnearer he comes to heaven, the more his heart is enlarged with that\nlove, which there will make no difference between any people, nation,\nor language, but we shall all, with one heart, and one voice, sing\npraises to him that sitteth upon the throne for ever. But I hasten to a\n\n_Fifth_ scripture mark, Loving our enemies.\n\n\u201cI say unto you, (says JESUS CHRIST) Love your enemies, bless them\nthat curse you, do good to those that hate you, and pray for them\nthat despitefully use you and persecute you.\u201d And this duty of loving\nyour enemies is so necessary, that without it, our righteousness does\nnot exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, or even of\nPublicans and sinners: \u201cFor if you do good to them only, who do good to\nyou, what do you more than others?\u201d What do you extraordinary? \u201cDo not\neven the Publicans the same?\u201d And these precepts our LORD confirmed by\nhis own example; when he wept over the bloody city; when he suffered\nhimself to be led as a sheep to the slaughter; when he made that mild\nreply to the traytor _Judas_, \u201c_Judas_, betrayest thou the Son of man\nwith a kiss;\u201d and more especially, when in the agonies and pangs of\ndeath, he prayed for his very murderers, \u201cFather, forgive them, for\nthey know not what they do.\u201d\n\nThis is a difficult duty to the natural man; but whosoever is made\npartaker of the promise of the Spirit, will find it practicable\nand easy: for if we are born again of GOD, we must be like him, and\nconsequently delight to be perfect in this duty of doing good to our\nworst enemies in the same manner, though not in the same degree as he\nis perfect: He sends his rain on the evil and the good; causeth his\nsun to shine on the just and unjust; and more especially commended his\nlove towards us, that whilst we were his enemies, he sent forth his Son,\nborn of a woman, made under the law, that he might become a curse for\nus.\n\nMany other marks are scattered up and down the scriptures, whereby we\nmay know whether or not we have received the Holy Ghost: such as, \u201cto\nbe carnally minded, is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and\npeace.\u201d \u201cNow the fruits of the Spirit are joy, peace, long-suffering,\nmeekness,\u201d with a multitude of texts to the same purpose. But as most,\nif not all of them, are comprehended in the duties already laid down,\nI dare affirm, whosoever upon an impartial examination, can find the\naforesaid marks on his soul, may be as certain, as though an angel was\nto tell him, that his pardon is sealed in heaven.\n\nAs for my own part, I had rather see these divine graces, and this\nheavenly temper stamped upon my soul, than to hear an angel from heaven\nsaying unto me, Son, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee.\n\nThese are infallible witnesses; these are _Emmanuel_, GOD with and in\nus; these make up that white stone, which none knoweth, saving he who\nhath receiveth it; these are the earnests of the heavenly inheritance\nin our hearts: In short, these are glory begun, and are that good thing,\nthat better part, and which if you continue to stir up this gift of GOD,\nneither men nor devils shall ever be able to take from us.\n\nI proceed, as was proposed, in the _Third_ place, to make an\napplication of the doctrine delivered, to several distinct classes of\nprofessors. And\n\n_First_, I shall address myself to those who are dead in trespasses\nand sins. And, O how could I weep over you, as our LORD wept over\n_Jerusalem_! For, alas! how distant must you be from GOD? What a\nprodigious work have you to finish, who, instead of praying day and\nnight, seldom or never pray at all? And, instead of being born again\nof GOD, so as not to commit sin, are so deeply sunk into the nature of\ndevils, as to make a mock at it? Or, instead of overcoming the world,\nso as not to follow or be led by it, are continually making provision\nfor the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. And, instead of being\nendued with the god-like disposition of loving all men, even your\nenemies, have your hearts full of hatred, malice, and revenge, and\nderide those who are the sincere followers of the lowly JESUS. But\nthink you, O sinners, that GOD will admit such polluted wretches into\nhis sight? Or should he admit you, do you imagine you could take any\npleasure in him? No; heaven itself would be no heaven to you; the\ndevilish dispositions which are in your hearts, would render all the\nspiritual enjoyments of those blessed mansions, ineffectual to make\nyou happy. To qualify you to be blissful partakers of that heavenly\ninheritance with the saints in light, there is a meetness required: to\nattain which, ought to be the chief business of your lives.\n\nIt is true, you, as well as the righteous, in one sense, shall see GOD;\n(for we must all appear before the judgment-seat of CHRIST) but you\nmust see him once, never to see him more. For as you carry about in you\nthe devil\u2019s image, with devils you must dwell: being of the same nature,\nyou must share the same doom. \u201cRepent, therefore, and be converted,\nthat your sins may be blotted out.\u201d See that you receive the Holy Ghost,\nbefore you go hence: for otherwise, how can you escape the damnation of\nhell?\n\n_Secondly_, Let me apply myself to those who deceive themselves\nwith false hopes of salvation. Some, through the influence of a good\neducation, or other providential restraints, have not run into the\nsame excess of riot with other men, and they think they have no need to\nreceive the Holy Ghost, but flatter themselves that they are really\nborn again.\n\nBut do you shew it by bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit? Do you\npray without ceasing? Do you not commit sin? Have you overcome the\nworld? And do you love your enemies, and all mankind, in the same\nmanner, as JESUS CHRIST loved them?\n\nIf these things, brethren, be in you and abound, then may you have\nconfidence towards GOD; but if not, although you may be civilized, yet\nyou are not converted: no, you are yet in your sins. The nature of the\nold _Adam_ still reigneth in your souls; and unless the nature of the\nsecond _Adam_ be grafted in its room, you can never see GOD.\n\nThink not, therefore, to dress yourselves up in the ornaments of a\ngood nature, and civil education, and say with _Agag_, \u201csurely the\nbitterness of death is past:\u201d for GOD\u2019s justice, notwithstanding that,\nlike _Samuel_, shall hew you to pieces. However you may be highly\nesteemed in the sight of men, yet, in the sight of GOD, you are but\nlike the apples of _Sodom_, dunghills covered over with snow, mere\nwhited sepulchres, appearing a little beautiful without, but inwardly\nfull of corruption and of all uncleanness: and consequently will be\ndismissed at the last day with a \u201cVerily, I know you not.\u201d\n\nBut the word of GOD is profitable for comfort as well as correction.\n\n_Thirdly_, Therefore I address myself to those who are under the\ndrawings of the Father, and are exercised with the Spirit of bondage,\nand not finding the marks before mentioned, are crying out, Who shall\ndeliver us from the body of this death?\n\nBut fear not, little flock; for notwithstanding your present infant\nstate of grace, it shall be your Father\u2019s good pleasure to give you the\nkingdom. The grace of GOD, through JESUS CHRIST, shall deliver you, and\ngive you what you thirst after: He hath promised, he will also do it.\nYe shall receive the spirit of adoption, that promise of the Father, if\nyou faint not: only persevere in seeking it; and determine not to be at\nrest in your soul, till you know and feel that you are thus born again\nfrom above, and GOD\u2019s Spirit witnesseth with your spirits that you are\nthe children of GOD.\n\n_Fourthly_ and _Lastly_, I address myself to those who have received\nthe Holy Ghost in all his sanctifying graces, and are almost ripe for\nglory.\n\nHail, happy saints! for your heaven is begun on earth: you have already\nreceived the first fruits of the Spirit, and are patiently waiting till\nthat blessed change come, when your harvest shall be compleat. I see\nand admire you, though, alas! at so great a distance from you: your\nlife, I know, is hid with CHRIST in GOD. You have comforts, you have\nmeat to eat, which a sinful, carnal, ridiculing world knows nothing of.\nCHRIST\u2019s yoke is now become easy to you, and his burden light. You have\npassed through the pangs of the new birth, and now rejoice that CHRIST\nJESUS is spiritually formed in your hearts. You know what it is to\ndwell in CHRIST, and CHRIST in you. Like _Jacob_\u2019s ladder, although\nyour bodies are on earth, yet your souls and hearts are in heaven: and\nby your faith and constant recollection, like the blessed angels, you\ndo always behold the face of your Father which is in heaven.\n\nI need not exhort you to press forward, for you know that in walking\nin the Spirit there is a great reward. Rather will I exhort you, in\npatience to possess your souls yet a little while, and JESUS CHRIST\nwill deliver you from the burden of the flesh, and an abundant entrance\nshall be administered to you, into the eternal joy and uninterrupted\nfelicity of his heavenly kingdom.\n\n Which GOD of his infinite mercy grant, through JESUS CHRIST our\n LORD: To whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, three\n Persons and one GOD, be ascribed all honour, power, and glory,\n for ever and ever.\n\n\n\n\n SERMON XLIII.\n\n The Almost Christian.\n\n\n ACTS xxvi. 28.\n\n _Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian._\n\nTHESE words contain the ingenuous confession of king _Agrippa_;\nwhich having some reference to, it may not be improper to relate the\nsubstance of the preceding verses, with which the words are so closely\nconnected.\n\nThe chapter, out of which the text is taken, contains an admirable\naccount which the great St. _Paul_ gave of his wonderful conversion\nfrom Judaism to Christianity, when he was called to make his defence\nbefore _Festus_, a _Gentile_ governor, and king _Agrippa_. Our blessed\nLORD had long since foretold, that when the Son of man should be lifted\nup, \u201chis disciples should be brought before kings and rulers, for his\nname\u2019s sake, for a testimony unto them.\u201d And very good was the design\nof infinite wisdom in thus ordaining it; for Christianity being, from\nthe beginning, a doctrine of the Cross, the princes and rulers of\nthe earth thought themselves too high to be instructed by such mean\nteachers, or too happy to be disturbed by such unwelcome truths; and\ntherefore would have always continued strangers to JESUS CHRIST, and\nhim crucified, had not the apostles, by being arraigned before them,\ngained opportunities of preaching to them \u201cJESUS and the resurrection.\u201d\nSt. _Paul_ knew full well that this was the main reason, why his\nblessed Master permitted his enemies at this time to arraign him\nat a public bar; and therefore, in compliance with the divine will,\nthinks it not sufficient, barely to make his defence, but endeavours\nat the same time to convert his judges. And this he did with such\ndemonstration of the spirit, and of power, that _Festus_, unwilling to\nbe convinced by the strongest evidence, cries out with a loud voice,\n\u201c_Paul_, much learning doth make thee mad.\u201d To which the brave apostle\n(like a true follower of the holy JESUS) meekly replies, \u201cI am not mad,\nmost noble _Festus_, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.\u201d\nBut in all probability, seeing king _Agrippa_ more affected with his\ndiscourse, and observing in him an inclination to know the truth, he\napplies himself more particularly to him. \u201cThe king knoweth of these\nthings; before whom also I speak freely; for I am persuaded that none\nof these things are hidden from him.\u201d And then, that if possible he\nmight complete his wished-for conversion, he with an inimitable strain\nof oratory, addresses himself still more closely, \u201cKing _Agrippa_,\nbelievest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest them.\u201d At which\nthe passions of the king began to work so strongly, that he was obliged\nin open court, to own himself affected by the prisoner\u2019s preaching,\nand ingenuously to cry out, \u201c_Paul_, almost thou persuadest me to be\na Christian.\u201d\n\nWhich words, taken with the context, afford us a lively representation\nof the different reception, which the doctrine of CHRIST\u2019s ministers,\nwho come in the power and spirit of St. _Paul_, meets with now-a-days\nin the minds of men. For notwithstanding they, like this great apostle,\n\u201cspeak forth the words of truth and soberness;\u201d and with such energy\nand power, that all their adversaries cannot justly gainsay or resist;\nyet, too many, with the noble _Festus_ before-mentioned, being like\nhim, either too proud to be taught, or too sensual, too careless,\nor too worldly-minded to live up to the doctrine, in order to excuse\nthemselves, cry out, that \u201cmuch learning, much study, or, what is more\nunaccountable, much piety, hath made them mad.\u201d And though, blessed\nbe GOD! all do not thus disbelieve our report; yet amongst those who\ngladly receive the word, and confess that we speak the words of truth\nand soberness, there are so few, who arrive at any higher degree of\npiety than that of _Agrippa_, or are any farther persuaded than to be\nalmost Christians, that I cannot but think it highly necessary to warn\nmy dear hearers of the danger of such a state. And therefore, from the\nwords of the text, shall endeavour to shew these three things:\n\n _First_, What is meant by an almost christian.\n\n _Secondly_, What are the chief reasons, why so many are no more\n than almost christians.\n\n _Thirdly_, I shall consider the ineffectualness, danger,\n absurdity, and uneasiness which attends those who are\n but almost christians; and then conclude with a general\n exhortation, to set all upon striving not only to be almost,\n but altogether christians.\n\nI. And, _First_, I am to consider what is meant by an almost christian.\n\nAn almost christian, if we consider him in respect to his duty to GOD,\nis one that halts between two opinions; that wavers between CHRIST and\nthe world; that would reconcile GOD and _Mammon_, light and darkness,\nCHRIST and _Belial_. It is true, he has an inclination to religion,\nbut then he is very cautious how he goes too far in it: his false\nheart is always crying out, Spare thyself, do thyself no harm. He prays\nindeed, that \u201cGOD\u2019s will may be done on earth, as it is in heaven.\u201d But\nnotwithstanding, he is very partial in his obedience, and fondly hopes\nthat GOD will not be extreme to mark every thing that he wilfully does\namiss; though an inspired apostle has told him, that \u201che who offends\nin one point is guilty of all.\u201d But chiefly, he is one that depends\nmuch on outward ordinances, and on that account looks upon himself as\nrighteous, and despises others; though at the same time he is as great\na stranger to the divine life as any other person whatsoever. In short,\nhe is fond of the form, but never experiences the power of godliness in\nhis heart. He goes on year after year, attending on the means of grace,\nbut then, like _Pharaoh_\u2019s lean kine, he is never the better, but\nrather the worse for them.\n\nIf you consider him in respect to his neighbour, he is one that is\nstrictly just to all; but then this does not proceed from any love\nto GOD or regard to man, but only through a principle of self-love:\nbecause he knows dishonesty will spoil his reputation, and consequently\nhinder his thriving in the world.\n\nHe is one that depends much upon being negatively good, and contents\nhimself with the consciousness of having done no one any harm; though\nhe reads in the gospel, that \u201cthe unprofitable servant was cast into\nouter darkness,\u201d and the barren fig-tree was cursed and dried up from\nthe roots, not for bearing bad, but no fruit.\n\nHe is no enemy to charitable contributions in public, if not too\nfrequently recommended: but then he is unacquainted with the kind\noffices of visiting the sick and imprisoned, cloathing the naked, and\nrelieving the \u2666hungry in a private manner. He thinks that these things\nbelong only to the clergy, though his own false heart tells him, that\nnothing but pride keeps him from exercising these acts of humility;\nand that JESUS CHRIST, in the 25th chapter of St. _Matthew_, condemns\npersons to everlasting punishment, not merely for being fornicators,\ndrunkards, or extortioners, but for neglecting these charitable offices,\n\u201cWhen the Son of man shall come in his glory, he shall set the sheep\non his right-hand, and the goats on his left. And then shall he say\nunto them on his left-hand, depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting\nfire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was an hungred, and\nye gave me no meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; I was a\nstranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye cloathed me not; sick\nand in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also say, LORD,\nwhen saw we thee an hungred, or a-thirst, or a stranger, or naked,\nor sick, of in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he\nanswer them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have not done it\nunto one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it not unto me: and\nthese shall go away into everlasting punishment.\u201d I thought proper to\ngive you this whole passage of scripture at large, because our Saviour\nlays such a particular stress upon it; and yet it is so little regarded,\nthat were we to judge by the practice of christians, one should be\ntempted to think there were no such verses in the Bible.\n\n \u2666 \u201chungary\u201d replaced with \u201chungry\u201d\n\nBut to proceed in the character of an _almost christian_: If we\nconsider him in respect of himself; as we said he was strictly honest\nto his neighbour, so he is likewise strictly sober in himself: but\nthen both his honesty and sobriety proceed from the same principle of\na false self-love. It is true, he runs not into the same excess of riot\nwith other men; but then it is not out of obedience to the laws of GOD,\nbut either because his constitution will not away with intemperance;\nor rather because he is cautious of forfeiting his reputation, or\nunfitting himself for temporal business. But though he is so prudent\nas to avoid intemperance and excess, for the reasons before-mentioned;\nyet he always goes to the extremity of what is lawful. It is true, he\nis no drunkard; but then he has no _christian self-denial_. He cannot\nthink our Saviour to be so austere a Master, as to deny us to indulge\nourselves in some particulars: and so by this means he is destitute of\na sense of true religion, as much as if he lived in debauchery, or any\nother crime whatever. As to settling his principles as well as practice,\nhe is guided more by the world, than by the word of GOD: for his part,\nhe cannot think the way to heaven so narrow as some would make it;\nand therefore considers not so much what scripture requires, as what\nsuch and such a good man does, or what will best suit his own corrupt\ninclinations. Upon this account, he is not only very cautious himself,\nbut likewise very careful of young converts, whose faces are set\nheavenward; and therefore is always acting the devil\u2019s part, and\nbidding them spare themselves, though they are doing no more than what\nthe scripture strictly requires them to do: The consequence of which\nis, that \u201che suffers not himself to enter into the kingdom of GOD, and\nthose that are entering in he hinders.\u201d\n\nThus lives the almost christian: not that I can say, I have fully\ndescribed him to you; but from these outlines and sketches of his\ncharacter, if your consciences have done their proper office, and made\na particular application of what has been said to your own hearts,\nI cannot but fear that some of you may observe some features in his\npicture, odious as it is, too near resembling your own; and therefore\nI cannot but hope, that you will join with the apostle in the words\nimmediately following the text, and wish yourselves \u201cto be not only\nalmost, but altogether christians.\u201d\n\nII. I proceed to the second general thing proposed; to consider the\nreasons why so many are no more than almost christians.\n\n1. And the first reason I shall mention is, because so many set out\nwith false notions of religion; though they live in a christian country,\nyet they know not what christianity is. This perhaps may be esteemed\na hard saying, but experience sadly evinces the truth of it; for some\nplace religion in being of this or that communion; more in morality;\nmost in a round of duties, and a model of performances; and few, very\nfew acknowledge it to be, what it really is, a thorough inward change\nof nature, a divine life, a vital participation of JESUS CHRIST, an\nunion of the soul with GOD; which the apostle expresses by saying, \u201cHe\nthat is joined to the LORD is one spirit.\u201d Hence it happens, that so\nmany, even of the most knowing professors, when you come to converse\nwith them concerning the essence, the life, the soul of religion, I\nmean our new birth in JESUS CHRIST, confess themselves quite ignorant\nof the matter, and cry out with _Nicodemus_, \u201cHow can this thing be?\u201d\nAnd no wonder then, that so many are only almost christians, when so\nmany know not what christianity is: no marvel, that so many take up\nwith the form, when they are quite strangers to the power of godliness;\nor content themselves with the shadow, when they know so little about\nthe substance of it. And this is one cause why so many are almost, and\nso few are altogether christians.\n\n2. A second reason that may be assigned why so many are no more than\nalmost christians, is a servile fear of man: multitudes there are and\nhave been, who, though awakened to a sense of the divine life, and\nhave tasted and felt the powers of the world to come; yet out of a\nbase sinful fear of being counted singular, or contemned by men, have\nsuffered all those good impressions to wear off. It is true, they have\nsome esteem for JESUS CHRIST; but then, like _Nicodemus_, they would\ncome to him only by night: they are willing to serve him; but then they\nwould do it secretly, for fear of the _Jews_: they have a mind to see\nJESUS, but then they cannot come to him because of the press, and for\nfear of being laughed at, and ridiculed by these with whom they used\nto sit at meat. But well did our Saviour prophesy of such persons, \u201cHow\ncan ye love me, who receive honour one of another?\u201d Alas! have they\nnever read, that \u201cthe friendship of this world is enmity with GOD;\u201d and\nthat our LORD himself has threatened, \u201cWhosoever shall be ashamed of me\nor of my words, in this wicked and adulterous generation, of him shall\nthe Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father\nand of his holy angels?\u201d No wonder that so many are no more than almost\nchristians, since so many \u201clove the praise of men more than the honour\nwhich cometh of GOD.\u201d\n\n3. A third reason why so many are no more than almost christians, is\na reigning love of money. This was the pitiable case of that forward\nyoung man in the gospel, who came running to our blessed LORD, and\nkneeling before him, enquired \u201cwhat he must do to inherit eternal life;\u201d\nto whom our blessed Master replied, \u201cThou knowest the commandments,\nDo not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal:\u201d To which the young\nman replied, \u201cAll these have I kept from my youth.\u201d But when our LORD\nproceeded to tell him, \u201cYet lackest thou one thing; Go sell all that\nthou hast, and give to the poor; he was grieved at that saying, and\nwent away sorrowful, for he had great possessions!\u201d Poor youth! he had\na good mind to be a christian, and to inherit eternal life, but thought\nit too dear, if it could be purchased at no less an expence than of his\nestate! And thus many, both young and old, now-a-days, come running to\nworship our blessed LORD in public, and kneel before him in private,\nand enquire at his gospel, what they must do to inherit eternal life:\nbut when they find they must renounce the self-enjoyment of riches, and\nforsake all in affection to follow him, they cry, \u201cThe LORD pardon us\nin this thing! We pray thee, have us excused.\u201d\n\nBut is heaven so small a trifle in men\u2019s esteem, as not to be worth\na little gilded earth? Is eternal life so mean a purchase, as not\nto deserve the temporary renunciation of a few transitory riches?\nSurely it is. But however inconsistent such a behaviour may be, this\ninordinate love of money is too evidently the common and fatal cause,\nwhy so many are no more than almost christians.\n\n4. Nor is the love of pleasure a less uncommon, or a less fatal cause\nwhy so many are no more than almost christians. Thousands and ten\nthousands there are, who despise riches, and would willingly be true\ndisciples of JESUS CHRIST, if parting with their money would make them\nso; but when they are told that our blessed LORD has said, \u201cWhosoever\nwill come after him must deny himself;\u201d like the pitiable young man\nbefore-mentioned, \u201cthey go away sorrowful:\u201d for they have too great a\nlove for sensual pleasures. They will perhaps send for the ministers\nof CHRIST, as _Herod_ did for _John_, and hear them gladly: but touch\nthem in their _Herodias_, tell them they must part with such or such\na darling pleasure; and with wicked _Ahab_ they cry out, \u201cHast thou\nfound us, O our enemy?\u201d Tell them of the necessity of mortification\nand self-denial, and it is as difficult for them to hear, as if you\nwas to bid them \u201ccut off a right-hand, or pluck out a right-eye.\u201d They\ncannot think our blessed LORD requires so much at their hands, though\nan inspired apostle has commanded us to \u201cmortify our members which are\nupon earth.\u201d And who himself, even after he had converted thousands,\nand was very near arrived to the end of his race, yet professed that\nit was his daily practice to \u201ckeep under his body, and bring it into\nsubjection, lest after he had preached to others, he himself should be\na cast-away!\u201d\n\nBut some men would be wiser than this great apostle, and chalk out to\nus what they falsely imagine an easier way to happiness. They would\nflatter us, we may go to heaven without offering violence to our\nsensual appetites; and enter into the strait gate without striving\nagainst our carnal inclinations. And this is another reason why so many\nare only almost, and not altogether christians.\n\n5. The fifth and last reason I shall assign why so many are only almost\nchristians, is a fickleness and instability of temper.\n\nIt has been, no doubt, a misfortune that many a minister and sincere\nchristian has met with, to weep and wail over numbers of promising\nconverts, who seemingly began in the Spirit, but after a while fell\naway, and basely ended in the flesh; and this not for want of right\nnotions in religion, nor out of a servile fear of man, nor from the\nlove of money, or of sensual pleasure, but through an instability and\nfickleness of temper. They looked upon religion merely for novelty, as\nsomething which pleased them for a while; but after their curiosity was\nsatisfied, they laid it aside again: like the young man that came to\nsee JESUS with a linen cloth about his naked body, they have followed\nhim for a season, but when temptations came to take hold on them,\nfor want of a little more resolution, they have been stripped of all\ntheir good intentions, and fled away naked. They at first, like a tree\nplanted by the water-side, grew up and flourished for a while; but\nhaving no root in themselves, no inward principle of holiness and\npiety, like _Jonah_\u2019s gourd, they were soon dried up and withered.\nTheir good intentions are too like the violent motions of the animal\nspirits of a body newly beheaded, which, though impetuous, are not\nlasting. In short, they set out well in their journey to heaven, but\nfinding the way either narrower or longer than they expected, through\nan unsteadiness of temper, they have made an eternal halt, and so\n\u201creturned like the dog to his vomit, or like the sow that was washed to\nher wallowing in the mire!\u201d\n\nBut I tremble to pronounce the fate of such unstable professors,\nwho having put their hands to the plough, for want of a little more\nresolution, shamefully look back. How shall I repeat to them that\ndreadful threatening, \u201cif any man draw back, my soul shall have no\npleasure in him:\u201d And again, \u201cIt is impossible (that is, exceeding\ndifficult at least) for those that have been once enlightened, and\nhave tasted of the heavenly gift, and the powers of the world to come,\nif they should fall away, to be renewed again unto repentance.\u201d But\nnotwithstanding the gospel is so severe against apostates, yet many\nthat begun well, through a fickleness of temper, (O that none of us\nhere present may ever be such) have been by this means of the number\nof those that turn back unto perdition. And this is the fifth, and\nthe last reason I shall give, why so many are only almost, and not\naltogether christians.\n\nIII. Proceed we now to the third general thing proposed, namely, to\nconsider the folly of being no more than an almost christian.\n\n1. And the _first_ proof I shall give of the folly of such a proceeding\nis, that it is ineffectual to salvation. It is true, such men are\nalmost good; but almost to hit the mark, is really to miss it. GOD\nrequires us \u201cto love him with all our hearts, with all our souls,\nand with all our strength.\u201d He loves us too well to admit any rival;\nbecause, so far as our hearts are empty of GOD, so far must they be\nunhappy. The devil, indeed, like the false mother that came before\n_Solomon_, would have our hearts divided, as she would have had the\nchild; but GOD, like the true mother, will have all or none. \u201cMy Son,\ngive me thy heart,\u201d thy whole heart, is the general call to all: and if\nthis be not done, we never can expect the divine mercy.\n\nPersons may play the hypocrite; but GOD at the great day will strike\nthem dead, (as he did _Ananias_ and _Sapphira_ by the mouth of his\nservant _Peter_) for pretending to offer him all their hearts, when\nthey keep back from him the greatest part. They may perhaps impose upon\ntheir fellow-creatures for a while; but he that enabled _Elijah_ to\ncry out, \u201cCome in thou wife of _Jeroboam_,\u201d when she came disguised to\nenquire about her sick son, will also discover them through their most\nartful dissimulations; and if their hearts are not wholly with him,\nappoint them their portion with hypocrites and unbelievers.\n\n2. But, _secondly_, What renders an half-way-piety more inexcusable is,\nthat it is not only insufficient to our own salvation, but also very\nprejudicial to that of others.\n\nAn almost christian is one of the most hurtful creatures in the world:\nhe is a wolf in sheep\u2019s cloathing: he is one of those false prophets,\nour blessed LORD bids us beware of in his sermon on the mount, who\nwould persuade men, that the way to heaven is broader than it really\nis; and thereby, as it was observed before, \u201center not into the kingdom\nof GOD themselves, and those that are entering in they hinder.\u201d These,\nthese are the men that turn the world into a lukewarm _Laodicean_\nspirit; that hang out false lights, and so shipwreck unthinking\nbenighted souls in their voyage to the haven of eternity. These are\nthey who are greater enemies to the cross of CHRIST, than infidels\nthemselves: for of an unbeliever every one will be aware; but an almost\nchristian, through his subtle hypocrisy, draws away many after him; and\ntherefore must expect to receive the greater damnation.\n\n3. But, _thirdly_, As it is most prejudicial to ourselves and hurtful\nto others, so it is the greatest instance of ingratitude we can express\ntowards our LORD and Master JESUS CHRIST. For did he come down from\nheaven, and shed his precious blood, to purchase these hearts of ours,\nand shall we only give him half of them? O how can we say we love\nhim, when our hearts are not wholly with him? How can we call him our\nSaviour, when we will not endeavour sincerely to approve ourselves to\nhim, and so let him see the travail of his soul, and be satisfied!\n\nHad any of us purchased a slave at a most expensive rate, and who was\nbefore involved in the utmost miseries and torments, and so must have\ncontinued for ever, had we shut up our bowels of compassion from him;\nand was this slave afterwards to grow rebellious, or deny giving us\nbut half his service; how, how should we exclaim against his base\ningratitude! And yet this base ungrateful slave thou art, O man, who\nacknowledgest thyself to be redeemed from infinite unavoidable misery\nand punishment by the death of JESUS CHRIST, and yet wilt not give\nthyself wholly to him. But shall we deal with GOD our Maker in a manner\nwe would not be dealt with by a man like ourselves? GOD forbid! No.\nSuffer me, therefore,\n\nTo add a word or two of exhortation to you, to excite you to be not\nonly almost, but altogether christians. O let us scorn all base and\ntreacherous treatment of our King and Saviour, of our GOD and Creator.\nLet us not take some pains all our lives to go to heaven, and yet\nplunge ourselves into hell at last. Let us give to GOD our whole hearts,\nand no longer halt between two opinions: if the world be GOD, let us\nserve that; if pleasure be a GOD, let us serve that; but if the LORD\nhe be GOD, let us, O let us serve him alone. Alas! why, why should we\nstand out any longer? Why should we be so in love with slavery, as not\nwholly to renounce the world, the flesh, and the devil, which, like so\nmany spiritual chains, bind down our souls, and hinder them from flying\nup to GOD. Alas! what are we afraid of? Is not GOD able to reward\nour entire obedience? If he is, as the almost christian\u2019s lame way of\nserving him, seems to grant, why then will we not serve him entirely?\nFor the same reason we do so much, why do we not do more? Or do you\nthink that being only half religious will make you happy, but that\ngoing farther, will render you miserable and uneasy? Alas! this, my\nbrethren, is delusion all over: for what is it but this _half piety_,\nthis wavering between GOD and the world, that makes so many, that\nare seemingly well disposed, such utter strangers to the comforts of\nreligion? They chuse just so much of religion as will disturb them in\ntheir lusts, and follow their lusts so far as to deprive themselves of\nthe comforts of religion. Whereas on the contrary, would they sincerely\nleave all in affection, and give their hearts wholly to GOD, they would\nthen (and they cannot till then) experience the unspeakable pleasure\nof having a mind at unity with itself, and enjoy such a peace of GOD,\nwhich even in this life passes all understanding, and which they were\nentire strangers to before. It is true, if we will devote ourselves\nentirely to GOD, we must meet with contempt; but then it is because\ncontempt is necessary to heal our pride. We must renounce some sensual\npleasures, but then it is because those unfit us for spiritual ones,\nwhich are infinitely better. We must renounce the love of the world;\nbut then it is that we may be filled with the love of GOD: and when\nthat has once enlarged our hearts, we shall, like _Jacob_ when he\nserved for his beloved _Rachel_, think nothing too difficult to undergo,\nno hardships too tedious to endure, because of the love we shall then\nhave for our dear Redeemer. Thus easy, thus delightful will be the\nways of GOD even in this life: but when once we throw off these bodies,\nand our souls are filled with all the fulness of GOD, O! what heart\ncan conceive, what tongue can express, with what unspeakable joy and\nconsolation shall we then look back on our past sincere and hearty\nservices. Think you then, my dear hearers, we shall repent we had done\ntoo much; or rather think you not, we shall be ashamed that we did\nno more; and blush we were so backward to give up all to GOD; when he\nintended hereafter to give us himself?\n\nLet me therefore, to conclude, exhort you, my brethren, to have always\nbefore you the unspeakable happiness of enjoying GOD. And think withal,\nthat every degree of holiness you neglect, every act of piety you omit,\nis a jewel taken out of your crown, a degree of blessedness lost in\nthe vision of GOD. O! do but always think and act thus, and you will\nno longer be labouring to compound matters between GOD and the world;\nbut, on the contrary, be daily endeavouring to give up yourselves more\nand more unto him; you will be always watching, always praying, always\naspiring after farther degrees of purity and love, and consequently\nalways preparing yourselves for a fuller sight and enjoyment of that\nGOD, in whose presence there is fulness of joy, and at whose right-hand\nthere are pleasures for ever more. Amen! Amen!\n\n\n\n\n SERMON XLIV.\n\n CHRIST the Believer\u2019s Wisdom, Righteousness,\n Sanctification, and Redemption.\n\n\n 1 CORINTHIANS i. 30.\n\n _But of him are ye in CHRIST JESUS, who of GOD is made unto us,\n wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption._\n\nOF all the verses in the book of GOD, this which I have now read to\nyou, is, I believe, one of the most comprehensive: What glad tidings\ndoes it bring to believers! what precious privileges are they herein\ninvested with! how are they here led to the fountain of them all, I\nmean, the love, the everlasting love of GOD the Father! \u201cOf him are\nye in CHRIST JESUS, who of GOD is made unto us, wisdom, righteousness,\nsanctification, and redemption.\u201d\n\nWithout referring you to the context, I shall from the words,\n\n _First_, Point out to you the fountain, from which all those\n blessings flow, that the elect of GOD partake of in JESUS\n CHRIST, \u201cwho of GOD is made unto us.\u201d And,\n\n _Secondly_, I shall consider what these blessings are, \u201cwisdom,\n righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.\u201d\n\n_First_, I would point out to you the fountain from which all those\nblessings flow, that the elect of GOD partake of in JESUS, \u201cwho of\nGOD is made unto us,\u201d the Father, he it is who is spoken of here.\nNot as though JESUS CHRIST was not GOD also; but GOD the Father is\nthe fountain of the Deity; and, if we consider JESUS CHRIST acting\nas Mediator, GOD the Father is greater than he; there was an eternal\ncontract between the Father and the Son: \u201cI have made a covenant with\nmy chosen, and I have sworn unto _David_ my servant;\u201d now _David_ was\na type of CHRIST, with whom the Father made a covenant, that if he\nwould obey and suffer, and make himself a sacrifice for sin, he should\n\u201csee his seed, he should prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD\nshould prosper in his hands.\u201d This compact our LORD refers to, in that\nglorious prayer recorded in the 17th chapter of _John_; and therefore\nhe prays for, or rather demands with a full assurance, all that were\ngiven to him by the Father: \u201cFather, I will that they also whom thou\nhast given me, be with me where I am.\u201d For this same reason the apostle\nbreaks out into praises of GOD, even the Father of our LORD JESUS\nCHRIST; for he loved the elect with an everlasting love, or, as our\nLORD expresses it, \u201cbefore the foundation of the world;\u201d and therefore,\nto shew them to whom they were beholden for their salvation, our LORD,\nin the 25th of _Matthew_, represents himself, saying, \u201cCome, ye blessed\nchildren of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from\nthe foundation of the world.\u201d And thus, in reply to the mother of\n_Zebedee_\u2019s children, he says, \u201cIt is not mine to give, but it shall\nbe given to them, for whom it is prepared, of the Father.\u201d The apostle\ntherefore, when here speaking of the christian\u2019s privileges, lest\nthey should sacrifice to their own drag, or think their salvation was\nowing to their own faithfulness, or improvement of their own free-will,\nreminds them to look back on the everlasting love of GOD the Father;\n\u201cwho of GOD is made unto us, &c.\u201d\n\nWould to GOD, this point of doctrine was considered more, and people\nwere more studious of the covenant of redemption between the Father and\nthe Son! we should not then have so much disputing against the doctrine\nof election, or hear it condemned (even by good men) as a doctrine of\ndevils. For my own part, I cannot see how true humbleness of mind can\nbe attained without a knowledge of it; and though I will not say, that\nevery one who denies election is a bad man, yet I will say, with that\nsweet singer, Mr. _Trail_, it is a very bad sign: such a one, whoever\nhe be, I think cannot truly know himself: for, if we deny election,\nwe must, partly at least, glory in ourselves; but our redemption is so\nordered, that no flesh should glory in the divine presence; and hence\nit is, that the pride of man opposes this doctrine, because according\nto this doctrine, and no other, \u201che that glories, must glory only in\nthe LORD.\u201d But what shall I say? Election is a mystery that shines\nwith such resplendent brightness, that, to make use of the words of one\nwho has drank deeply of electing love, it dazzles the weak eyes even\nof some of GOD\u2019s dear children; however, though they know it not, all\nthe blessings they receive, all the privileges they do or will enjoy,\nthrough JESUS CHRIST, flow from the everlasting love of GOD the Father:\n\u201cBut of him are you in CHRIST JESUS, who of GOD is made unto us, wisdom,\nrighteousness, sanctification, and redemption.\u201d\n\n_Secondly_, I come to shew what these blessings are, which are here,\nthrough CHRIST, made over to the elect. And\n\n1. _First_, CHRIST is made to them _wisdom_; but wherein does true\nwisdom consist? Was I to ask some of you, perhaps you would say, in\nindulging the lust of the flesh, and saying to your souls, eat, drink,\nand be merry; but this is only the wisdom of brutes; they have as good\na gust and relish for sensual pleasures, as the greatest epicure on\nearth. Others would tell me, true wisdom consisted in adding house to\nhouse, and field to field, and calling lands after their own names; but\nthis cannot be true wisdom; for riches often take to themselves wings,\nand fly away, like an eagle towards heaven. Even wisdom itself assures\nus, \u201cthat a man\u2019s life doth not consist in the abundance of the things\nwhich he possesses;\u201d vanity, vanity, all these things are vanity;\nfor, if riches leave not the owner, the owners must soon leave them;\n\u201cfor rich men must also die, and leave their riches for others;\u201d their\nriches cannot procure them redemption from the grave, whither we are\nall hastening apace.\n\nBut perhaps you despise riches and pleasure, and therefore place wisdom\nin the knowledge of books: but it is possible for you to tell the\nnumbers of the stars, and call them all by their names, and yet be\nmere fools; learned men are not always wise; nay, our common learning,\nso much cried up, makes men only so many accomplished fools; to keep\nyou therefore no longer in suspense, and withal to humble you, I will\nsend you to an heathen to school, to learn what true wisdom is: \u201cKnow\nthyself,\u201d was a saying of one of the wise men of _Greece_; this is\ncertainly true wisdom, and this is that wisdom spoken of in the text,\nand which JESUS CHRIST is made to all elect sinners; they are made to\nknow themselves, so as not to think more highly of themselves than they\nought to think. Before they were darkness, now they are light in the\nLORD; and in that light they see their own darkness; they now bewail\nthemselves as fallen creatures by nature, dead in trespasses and sins,\nsons and heirs of hell, and children of wrath; they now see that all\ntheir righteousnesses are but as filthy rags; that there is no health\nin their souls; that they are poor and miserable, blind and naked; and\nthat there is no name given under heaven, whereby they can be saved,\nbut that of JESUS CHRIST. They see the necessity of closing with a\nSaviour; and behold the wisdom of GOD in appointing him to be a Saviour;\nthey are also made willing to accept of salvation upon our LORD\u2019s own\nterms, and to receive him as their all in all: thus CHRIST is made to\nthem wisdom.\n\n2. _Secondly_, _Righteousness_. \u201cWho of GOD is made unto us, wisdom,\nrighteousness;\u201d CHRIST\u2019s whole personal righteousness is made over to,\nand accounted theirs. Being enabled to lay hold on CHRIST by faith, GOD\nthe Father blots out their transgressions, as with a thick cloud; their\nsins, and their iniquities he remembers no more; they are made the\nrighteousness of GOD in CHRIST JESUS, \u201cwho is the end of the law for\nrighteousness to every one that believeth.\u201d In one sense, GOD now sees\nno sin in them; the whole covenant of works is fulfilled in them; they\nare actually justified, acquitted, and looked upon as righteous in\nthe sight of GOD; they are perfectly accepted in the beloved; they are\ncompleat in him; the flaming sword of GOD\u2019s wrath, which before moved\nevery way, is now removed, and free access given to the tree of life;\nthey are enabled to reach out the arm of faith, and pluck, and live for\nevermore. Hence it is that the apostle, under a sense of this blessed\nprivilege, breaks out into this triumphant language; \u201cIt is CHRIST\nthat justifies, who is he that condemns?\u201d Does sin condemn? CHRIST\u2019s\nrighteousness delivers believers from the guilt of it: CHRIST is their\nSaviour, and is become a propitiation for their sins: who therefore\nshall lay any thing to the charge of GOD\u2019s elect? Does the law condemn?\nBy having CHRIST\u2019s righteousness imputed to them, they are dead to the\nlaw, as a covenant of works; CHRIST has fulfilled it for them, and in\ntheir stead. Does death threaten them? they need not fear: the sting of\ndeath is sin, the strength of sin is the law; but GOD has given them\nthe victory, by imputing to them the righteousness of the LORD JESUS.\n\nAnd what a privilege is here! Well might the angels at the birth of\nCHRIST, say to the humble shepherds, \u201cBehold, I bring you glad tidings\nof great joy;\u201d unto you that believe in CHRIST, \u201ca Saviour is born.\u201d\nAnd well may angels rejoice at the conversion of poor sinners: for the\nLORD is their righteousness; they have peace with GOD, through faith in\nCHRIST\u2019s blood, and shall never enter into condemnation. O believers!\n(for this discourse is intended in a special manner for you) lift\nup your heads; \u201cRejoice in the LORD always; again I say, rejoice.\u201d\nCHRIST is made to you of GOD righteousness, what then should you fear?\nyou are made the righteousness of GOD in him; you may be called, \u201cThe\nLORD our righteousness.\u201d Of what then should you be afraid? what shall\nseparate you henceforward, from the love of CHRIST? \u201cshall tribulation,\nor distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or\nsword? No, I am persuaded, neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor\nprincipalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor\nheight, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate\nyou from the love of GOD, which is in CHRIST JESUS our LORD,\u201d who of\nGOD is made unto you righteousness.\n\nThis is a glorious privilege, but this is only the beginning of the\nhappiness of believers: For\n\n3. _Thirdly_, CHRIST is not only made to them righteousness, but\n_sanctification_; by sanctification, I do not mean a bare hypocritical\nattendance on outward ordinances, though rightly-informed christians\nwill think it their duty and privilege constantly to attend on all\noutward ordinances. Nor do I mean by sanctification, a bare outward\nreformation, and a few transient convictions, or a little legal sorrow;\nfor all this an unsanctified man may have; but, by sanctification,\nI mean a total renovation of the whole man; by the righteousness of\nCHRIST, believers become legally, by sanctification they are made\nspiritually, alive; by one they are entitled to, by the other they are\nmade meet for, glory. They are sanctified, therefore, throughout, in\nspirit, soul and body.\n\nTheir understandings, which were before dark, now become light in\nthe LORD; and their wills, before contrary to, now become one with,\nthe will of GOD: their affections are now set on things above; their\nmemory is now filled with divine things; their natural consciences\nare now enlightened; their members, which were before instruments of\nuncleanness, and of iniquity unto iniquity, are now instruments of\nrighteousness and true holiness; in short, they are new creatures; \u201cold\nthings are passed away, all things are become new,\u201d in their hearts;\nsin has now no longer dominion over them; they are freed from the power,\nthough not the indwelling and being, of it; they are holy both in heart\nand life, in all manner of conversation; they are made partakers of\na divine nature; and from JESUS CHRIST, they receive grace for grace;\nand every grace that is in CHRIST, is copied and transcribed into their\nsouls; they are transformed into his likeness; he is formed within\nthem; they dwell in him, and he in them; they are led by the Spirit,\nand bring forth the fruits thereof; they know that CHRIST is their\n_Emmanuel_, GOD with and in them; they are living temples of the Holy\nGhost. And therefore, being a holy habitation unto the LORD, the whole\ntrinity dwells and walks in them; even here, they sit together with\nCHRIST in heavenly places, and are vitally united to him, their head,\nby a living faith; their Redeemer, their Maker, is their husband; they\nare flesh of his flesh, bone of his bone; they talk, they walk with him,\nas a man talketh and walketh with his friend; in short, they are one\nwith CHRIST, even as JESUS CHRIST and the Father are one.\n\nThus is CHRIST made to believers sanctification. And O what a privilege\nis this! to be changed from beasts into saints, and from a devilish, to\nbe made partakers of a divine nature; to be translated from the kingdom\nof Satan, into the kingdom of GOD\u2019s dear Son! to put off the old man,\nwhich is corrupt, and to put on the new man, which is created after\nGOD, in righteousness and true holiness. O what an unspeakable blessing\nis this! I almost stand amazed at the contemplation thereof. Well\nmight the apostle exhort believers to rejoice in the LORD; indeed they\nhave reason always to rejoice, yea, to rejoice on a dying bed; for the\nkingdom of GOD is in them; they are changed from glory to glory, even\nby the Spirit of the LORD: well may this be a mystery to the natural,\nfor it is a mystery even to the spiritual man himself, a mystery which\nhe cannot fathom. Does it not often dazzle your eyes, O ye children of\nGOD, to look at your own brightness, when the candle of the LORD shines\nout, and your Redeemer lifts up the light of his blessed countenance\nupon your souls? Are not you astonished, when you feel the love of GOD\nshed abroad in your hearts, by the Holy Ghost, and GOD holds out the\ngolden sceptre of his mercy, and bids you ask what you will, and it\nshall be given you? Does not that peace of GOD, which keeps and rules\nyour hearts, surpass the utmost limits of your understandings? and\nis not the joy you feel unspeakable? is it not full of glory? I am\npersuaded it is; and in your secret communion, when the LORD\u2019s love\nflows in upon your souls, you are as it were swallowed up in, or, to\nuse the apostle\u2019s phrase, \u201cfilled with all the fulness of GOD.\u201d Are not\nyou ready to cry out with _Solomon_, \u201cAnd will the LORD, indeed, dwell\nthus with men!\u201d How is it that we should be thus thy sons and daughters,\nO LORD GOD Almighty!\n\nIf you are children of GOD, and know what it is to have fellowship with\nthe Father and the Son; if you walk by faith, and not by sight; I am\nassured this is frequently the language of your hearts.\n\nBut look forward, and see an unbounded prospect of eternal happiness\nlying before thee, O believer! what thou hast already received, are\nonly the first-fruits, like the cluster of grapes brought out of the\nland of _Canaan_; only an earnest and pledge of yet infinitely better\nthings to come: the harvest is to follow; thy grace is hereafter to be\nswallowed up in glory. Thy great _Joshua_, and merciful high Priest,\nshall administer an abundant entrance to thee into the land of promise,\nthat rest which awaits the children of GOD: For CHRIST is not only\nmade to believers, wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification, but also\n_redemption_.\n\nBut, before we enter upon the explanation and contemplation of this\nprivilege,\n\n_First_, Learn hence the great mistake of those writers, and clergy,\nwho, notwithstanding they talk of sanctification and inward holiness\n(as indeed sometimes they do, though in a very loose and superficial\nmanner) yet they generally make it the _cause_, whereas they should\nconsider it as the _effect_, of our justification. \u201cOf him are ye in\nCHRIST JESUS, who of GOD is made unto us, wisdom, righteousness, (and\nthen) sanctification.\u201d For CHRIST\u2019s righteousness, or that which CHRIST\nhas done in our stead without us, is the sole cause of our acceptance\nin the sight of GOD, and of all holiness wrought in us: to this, and\nnot to the light within, or any thing wrought within, should poor\nsinners seek for justification in the sight of GOD: for the sake of\nCHRIST\u2019s righteousness alone, and not any thing wrought in us, does GOD\nlook favourably upon us; our sanctification at best, in this life, is\nnot compleat: though we are delivered from the power, we are not freed\nfrom the in-being of sin; but not only the dominion, but the in-being\nof sin, is forbidden by the perfect law of GOD: for it is not said,\nthou shalt not give way to lust, but, \u201cthou shalt not lust.\u201d So that\nwhilst the principle of lust remains in the least degree in our hearts,\nthough we are otherwise never so holy, yet we cannot, on account of\nthat, hope for acceptance with GOD. We must first, therefore, look for\na righteousness without us, even the righteousness of our LORD JESUS\nCHRIST: for this reason the apostle mentions it, and puts it before\nsanctification in the words of the text. And whosoever teacheth any\nother doctrine, doth not preach the truth as it is in JESUS.\n\n_Secondly_, From hence also, the Antinomians and formal hypocrites\nmay be confuted, who talk of CHRIST without, but know nothing,\nexperimentally, of a work of sanctification wrought within them.\nWhatever they may pretend to, since CHRIST is not in them, the LORD is\nnot their righteousness, and they have no well-grounded hope of glory:\nfor though sanctification is not the cause, yet it is the effect of\nour acceptance with GOD; \u201cWho of GOD is made unto us righteousness\nand sanctification.\u201d He therefore, that is really in CHRIST, is a new\ncreature; it is not going back to a covenant of works, to look into\nour hearts, and, seeing that they are changed and renewed, from thence\nform a comfortable and well-grounded assurance of the safety of our\nstates: no, but this is what we are directed to in scripture; by our\nbringing forth the fruits, we are to judge whether or no we ever did\ntruly partake of the Spirit of GOD. \u201cWe know, (says _John_) that we\nare passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.\u201d And\nhowever we may talk of CHRIST\u2019s righteousness, and exclaim against\nlegal preachers; yet, if we are not holy in heart and life, if we\nare not sanctified and renewed by the Spirit in our minds, we are\nself-deceivers, we are only formal hypocrites: for we must not put\nasunder what GOD has joined together; we must keep the medium between\nthe two extremes; not insist so much on the one hand upon CHRIST\nwithout, as to exclude CHRIST within, as an evidence of our being his,\nand as a preparation for future happiness; nor, on the other hand,\nso depend on inherent righteousness or holiness wrought in us, as to\nexclude the righteousness of JESUS CHRIST without us. But\n\n4. _Fourthly_, Let us now go on, and take a view of the other link,\nor rather the end, of the believer\u2019s golden chain of privileges,\n_redemption_. But we must look very high; for the top of it, like\n_Jacob_\u2019s ladder, reaches heaven, where all believers will ascend, and\nbe placed at the right-hand of GOD. \u201cWho of GOD is made unto us, wisdom,\nrighteousness, sanctification, and _redemption_.\u201d\n\nThis is a golden chain indeed! and, what is best of all, not one link\ncan ever be broken asunder from another. Was there no other text in the\nbook of GOD, this single one sufficiently proves the final perseverance\nof true believers: for never did GOD yet justify a man, whom he did\nnot sanctify; nor sanctify one, whom he did not compleatly redeem\nand glorify; no; as for GOD, his way, his work, is perfect; he always\ncarried on and finished the work he begun; thus it was in the first,\nso it is in the new creation; when GOD says, \u201cLet there be light,\u201d\nthere is light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day, when\nbelievers enter into their eternal rest, as GOD entered into his. Those\nwhom GOD has justified, he has in effect glorified: for as a man\u2019s\nworthiness was not the cause of GOD\u2019s giving him CHRIST\u2019s righteousness,\nso neither shall his unworthiness be a cause of his taking it away;\nGOD\u2019s gifts and callings are without repentance; and I cannot think,\nthey are clear in the notion of CHRIST\u2019s righteousness, who deny the\nfinal perseverance of the saints; I fear, they understand justification\nin that low sense, which I understood it in a few years ago, as\nimplying no more than remission of sins: but it not only signifies\nremission of sins past, but also a _f\u0153deral right_ to all good things\nto come. If GOD has given us his only Son, how shall he not with him\nfreely give us all things? Therefore, the apostle, after he says, \u201cWho\nof GOD is made unto us righteousness,\u201d does not say, perhaps he may be\nmade to us sanctification and redemption; but, \u201che is made:\u201d for there\nis an eternal, indissoluble connection between these blessed privileges.\nAs the obedience of CHRIST is imputed to believers, so his perseverance\nin that obedience is to be imputed to them also: and it argues great\nignorance of the covenant of grace and redemption, to object against it.\n\nBy the word _redemption_, we are to understand, not only a compleat\ndeliverance from all evil, but also a full enjoyment of all good both\nin body and soul: I say, both in body and soul; for the LORD is also\nfor the body; the bodies of the saints in this life are temples of\nthe Holy Ghost; GOD makes a covenant with the dust of believers; after\ndeath, though worms destroy them, yet, even in their flesh shall they\nsee GOD. I fear, indeed, there are some _Sadducees_ in our days, or\nat least heretics, who say, either, that there is no resurrection of\nthe body, or that the resurrection is past already, namely, in our\nregeneration: Hence it is, that our LORD\u2019s coming in the flesh, at the\nday of judgment, is denied; and consequently, we must throw aside the\nsacrament of the LORD\u2019s supper. For why should we remember the LORD\u2019s\ndeath until he comes to judgment, when he is already come to judge\nour hearts, and will not come a second time? but all this is only\nthe reasoning of unlearned, unstable men, who certainly know not what\nthey say, nor whereof they affirm. That we must follow our LORD in the\nregeneration, be partakers of a new birth, and that CHRIST must come\ninto our hearts, we freely confess; and we hope, when speaking of these\nthings, we speak no more than what we know and feel: but then it is\nplain, that JESUS CHRIST will come, hereafter, to judgment, and that\nhe ascended into heaven with the body which he had here on earth; for\nsays he, after his resurrection, \u201cHandle me, and see; a spirit has not\nflesh and bones, as you see me have.\u201d And it is plain, that CHRIST\u2019s\nresurrection was an earnest of ours: for says the apostle, \u201cCHRIST is\nrisen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that sleep;\u201d\nand as in _Adam_ all die, and are subject to mortality; so all that\nare in CHRIST, the second _Adam_, who represented believers as their\nf\u0153deral head, shall certainly be made alive, or rise again with their\nbodies at the last day.\n\nHere then, O believers! is one, though the lowest, degree of that\nredemption which you are to be partakers of hereafter; I mean,\nthe redemption of your bodies: for this corruptible must put on\nincorruption, this mortal must put on immortality. Your bodies, as\nwell as souls, were given to JESUS CHRIST by the Father; they have been\ncompanions in watching, and fasting, and praying: your bodies therefore,\nas well as souls, shall JESUS CHRIST raise up at the last day. Fear\nnot, therefore, O believers, to look into the grave; for to you it is\nno other than a consecrated dormitory, where your bodies shall sleep\nquietly until the morning of the resurrection; when the voice of the\narchangel shall sound, and the trump of GOD give the general alarm,\n\u201cArise ye dead, and come to judgment;\u201d earth, air, fire, water, shall\ngive up your scattered atoms, and both in body and soul shall you be\never with the LORD. I doubt not, but many of you are groaning under\ncrazy bodies, and complain often that the mortal body weighs down\nthe immortal soul; at least this is my case; but let us have a little\npatience, and we shall be delivered from our earthly prisons; ere long,\nthese tabernacles of clay shall be dissolved, and we shall be clothed\nwith our house which is from heaven; hereafter, our bodies shall be\nspiritualized, and shall be so far from hindering our souls through\nweakness, that they shall become strong; so strong, as to bear up\nunder an exceeding and eternal weight of glory; others again may have\ndeformed bodies, emaciated also with sickness, and worn out with labour\nand age; but wait a little, until your blessed change by death comes;\nthen your bodies shall be renewed and made glorious, like unto CHRIST\u2019s\nglorious body: of which we may form some faint idea, from the account\ngiven us of our LORD\u2019s transfiguration on the mount, when it is said,\n\u201cHis raiment became bright and glistering, and his face brighter\nthan the sun.\u201d Well then may a believer break out in the apostle\u2019s\ntriumphant language, \u201cO death, where is thy sting! O grave, where is\nthy victory!\u201d\n\nBut what is the redemption of the body, in comparison of the redemption\nof the better part, our souls? I must, therefore, say to you believers,\nas the angel said to _John_, \u201cCome up higher,\u201d and let us take as\nclear a view as we can, at such a distance, of the redemption CHRIST\nhas purchased for, and will shortly put you in actual possession of.\nAlready you are justified, already you are sanctified, and thereby\nfreed from the guilt and dominion of sin: but, as I have observed, the\nbeing and indwelling of sin yet remains in you; GOD sees it proper to\nleave some _Amalekites_ in the land, to keep his _Israel_ in action.\nThe most perfect christian, I am persuaded, must agree, according to\none of our articles, \u201cThat the corruption of nature remains even in the\nregenerate; that the flesh lusteth always against the spirit, and the\nspirit against the flesh.\u201d So that believers cannot do things for GOD\nwith that perfection they desire; this grieves their righteous souls\nday by day, and, with the holy apostle, makes them cry out, \u201cWho shall\ndeliver us from the body of this death!\u201d I thank GOD, our LORD JESUS\nCHRIST will, but not compleatly before the day of our dissolution; then\nwill the very being of sin be destroyed, and an eternal stop put to\ninbred, indwelling corruption. And is not this a great redemption? I\nam sure believers esteem it so: for there is nothing grieves the heart\nof a child of GOD so much, as the remains of indwelling sin. Again,\nbelievers are often in heaviness through manifold temptations; GOD sees\nthat it is needful and good for them so to be; and though they may be\nhighly favoured, and wrapt up in communion with GOD, even to the third\nheavens; yet a messenger of Satan is often sent to buffet them, lest\nthey should be puffed up with the abundance of revelations. But be not\nweary, be not faint in your minds: the time of your compleat redemption\ndraweth nigh. In heaven the wicked one shall cease from troubling you,\nand your weary souls shall enjoy an everlasting rest; his fiery darts\ncannot reach those blissful regions: Satan will never come any more\nto appear with, disturb, or accuse the sons of GOD, when once the LORD\nJESUS CHRIST shuts the door. Your righteous souls are now grieved, day\nby day, at the ungodly conversation of the wicked; tares now grow up\namong the wheat; wolves come in sheeps clothing: but the redemption\nspoken of in the text, will free your souls from all anxiety on these\naccounts; hereafter you shall enjoy a perfect communion of saints;\nnothing that is unholy or unsanctified shall enter into the Holy\nof holies, which is prepared for you above: this, and all manner of\nevil whatsoever, you shall be delivered from, when your redemption is\nhereafter made compleat in heaven; not only so, but you shall enter\ninto the full enjoyment of all good. It is true, all saints will not\nhave the same degree of happiness, but all will be as happy as their\nhearts can desire. Believers, you shall judge the evil, and familiarly\nconverse with good, angels: you shall sit down with _Abraham_, _Isaac_,\n_Jacob_, and all the spirits of just men made perfect; and, to sum up\nall your happiness in one word, you shall see GOD the Father, Son, and\nHoly Ghost; and, by seeing GOD, be more and more like unto him, and\npass from glory to glory, even to all eternity.\n\nBut I must stop: the glories of the upper world croud in so fast upon\nmy soul, that I am lost in the contemplation of them. Brethren, the\nredemption spoken of is unutterable; we cannot here find it out; eye\nhath not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the hearts of the\nmost holy men living, to conceive how great it is. Was I to entertain\nyou whole ages with an account of it, when you come to heaven, you must\nsay, with the Queen of _Sheba_, \u201cNot half, no, not one thousandth part\nwas told us.\u201d All we can do here, is to go upon mount _Pisgah_, and\nby the eye of faith, take a distant view of the promised land: We may\nsee it, as _Abraham_ did CHRIST, afar off, and rejoice in it; but here\nwe only know in part. Blessed be GOD, there is a time coming, when we\nshall know GOD, even as we are known, and GOD be all in all. LORD JESUS,\naccomplish the number of thine elect! LORD JESUS, hasten thy kingdom!\n\nAnd now, where are the scoffers of these last days, who count the\nlives of christians to be madness, and their end to be without honour?\nUnhappy men! you know not what you do. Were your eyes open, and had\nyou senses to discern spiritual things, you would not speak all manner\nof evil against the children of GOD, but you would esteem them as the\nexcellent ones of the earth, and envy their happiness: your souls would\nhunger and thirst after it: you also would become fools for CHRIST\u2019s\nsake. You boast of wisdom; so did the philosophers of _Corinth_: but\nyour wisdom is the foolishness of folly in the sight of GOD. What will\nyour wisdom avail you, if it does not make you wise unto salvation? Can\nyou, with all your wisdom, propose a more consistent scheme to build\nyour hopes of salvation on, than what has been now laid before you?\nCan you, with all the strength of natural reason, find out a better\nway of acceptance with GOD, than by the righteousness of the LORD JESUS\nCHRIST? Is it right to think your own works can in any measure deserve\nor procure it? If not, Why will you not believe in him? Why will you\nnot submit to his righteousness? Can you deny that you are fallen\ncreatures? Do not you find that you are full of disorders, and that\nthese disorders make you unhappy? Do not you find that you cannot\nchange your own hearts? Have you not resolved many and many a time,\nand have not your corruptions yet dominion over you? Are you not\nbond-slaves to your lusts, and led captive by the devil at his will?\nWhy then will you not come to CHRIST for sanctification? Do you not\ndesire to die the death of the righteous, and that your future state\nmay be like theirs? I am persuaded you cannot bear the thoughts of\nbeing annihilated, much less of being miserable for ever. Whatever\nyou may pretend, if you speak truth, you must confess, that conscience\nbreaks in upon you in your more sober intervals whether you will or\nnot, and even constrains you to believe, that hell is no painted fire.\nAnd why then will you not come to CHRIST? He alone can procure you\neverlasting redemption. Haste, haste away to him, poor beguiled sinners.\nYou lack wisdom; ask it of CHRIST. Who knows but he may give it you?\nHe is able: for he is the wisdom of the Father; he is that wisdom which\nwas from everlasting. You have no righteousness; away, therefore, to\nCHRIST: \u201cHe is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that\nbelieveth.\u201d You are unholy; flee to the LORD JESUS: He is full of grace\nand truth; and of his fulness all may receive that believe in him. You\nare afraid to die; let this drive you to CHRIST: He has the keys of\ndeath and hell; in him is plenteous redemption; he alone can open the\ndoor which leads to everlasting life. Let not, therefore, the deceived\nreasoner boast any longer of his pretended reason. Whatever you may\nthink, it is the most unreasonable thing in the world, not to believe\non JESUS CHRIST, whom GOD hath sent. Why, why will you die? why will\nyou not come unto him, that you may have life? \u201cHo! every one that\nthirsteth, come unto the waters of life and drink freely: come, buy\nwithout money and without price.\u201d Were these blessed privileges in\nthe text to be purchased with money, you might say, We are poor, and\ncannot buy: or, were they to be conferred only on sinners of such a\nrank or degree, then you might say, How can such sinners as we expect\nto be so highly favoured? But they are to be freely given of GOD to\nthe worst of sinners. \u201cTo us,\u201d says the Apostle; to me a persecutor,\nto you _Corinthians_, who were \u201cunclean, drunkards, covetous persons,\nidolaters.\u201d Therefore, each poor sinner may say then, Why not unto me?\nHas CHRIST but one blessing? What if he has blessed millions already,\nby turning them away from their iniquities; yet, he still continues the\nsame: he lives for ever to make intercession, and therefore will bless\nyou, even you also. Though, _Esau_ like, you have been prophane, and\nhitherto despised your heavenly Father\u2019s birth-right; even now, if you\nbelieve, \u201cCHRIST will be made to you of GOD, wisdom, righteousness,\nsanctification, and redemption.\u201d\n\nBut I must turn again to believers, for whose instruction, as I\nobserved before, this discourse was particularly intended. You see,\nbrethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, what great blessings\nare treasured up for you in JESUS CHRIST your head, and what you are\nentitled to by believing on his name. Take heed, therefore, that ye\nwalk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. Think often how\nhighly you are favoured; and remember, you have not chosen CHRIST,\nbut CHRIST hath chosen you. Put on (as the elect of GOD) humbleness of\nmind, and glory, but let it be only in the LORD: for you have nothing\nbut what you have received of GOD. By nature ye were as foolish, as\nlegal, as unholy, and in as damnable a condition as others. Be pitiful,\ntherefore, be courteous; and, as sanctification is a progressive work,\nbeware of thinking you have already attained. Let him that is holy, be\nholy still; knowing, that he who is most pure in heart, shall hereafter\nenjoy the clearest vision of GOD. Let indwelling sin be your daily\nburden; and not only bewail and lament, but see that you subdue it\ndaily by the power of divine grace; and look up to JESUS continually to\nbe the finisher, as well as author of your faith. Build not on your own\nfaithfulness, but on GOD\u2019s unchangeablness. Take heed of thinking you\nstand by the power of your own freewill. The everlasting love of GOD\nthe Father, must be your only hope and consolation: let this support\nyou under all trials. Remember that GOD\u2019s gifts and callings are\nwithout repentance; that CHRIST having once loved you, will love you\nto the end. Let this constrain you to obedience, and make you long and\nlook for that blessed time, when he shall not only be your wisdom, and\nrighteousness, and sanctification, but also compleat and everlasting\nredemption.\n\n Glory be to GOD in the highest!\n\n\n\n\n SERMON XLV.\n\n The Knowledge of JESUS CHRIST the best Knowledge.\n\n\n 1 CORINTHIANS ii. 2.\n\n _I determined not to know any thing among you, save JESUS CHRIST,\n and him crucified._\n\nTHE persons to whom these words were written, were the members of the\nchurch of _Corinth_; who, as appears by the foregoing chapter, were not\nonly divided into different sects, by one saying, \u201cI am of _Paul_, and\nanother, I am of _Apollos_;\u201d but also had many amongst them, who were\nso full of the wisdom of this world, and so wise in their own eyes,\nthat they set at nought the simplicity of the gospel, and accounted the\nApostle\u2019s preaching foolishness.\n\nNever had the Apostle more need of the wisdom of the serpent, mingled\nwith the innocency of the dove, than now. What is the sum of all his\nwisdom? he tells them, in the words of the text, \u201cI determined not to\nknow any thing amongst you, save JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified.\u201d\n\nA resolution this, worthy of the great St. _Paul_; and no less worthy,\nno less necessary for every minister, and every disciple of CHRIST, to\nmake always, even unto the end of the world.\n\nIn the following discourse, I shall,\n\n _First_, Explain what is meant by \u201cnot knowing any thing, save\n JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified.\u201d\n\n _Secondly_, Give some reasons why every christian should\n determine not to know any thing else. And\n\n _Thirdly_, Conclude with a general exhortation to put this\n determination into practice.\n\n_First_, I am to explain what is meant by \u201cnot knowing any thing, save\nJESUS CHRIST, and him crucified.\u201d\n\nBy JESUS CHRIST, we are to understand the eternal Son of GOD. He is\ncalled JESUS, a Saviour, because he was to save us from the guilt\nand power of our sins; and, like _Joshua_, by whom he was remarkably\ntypified, to lead GOD\u2019s spiritual _Israel_ through the wilderness of\nthis world, to the heavenly _Canaan_, the promised inheritance of the\nchildren of GOD.\n\nHe is called _Christ_, which signifies anointed, because he was\nanointed by the Holy Ghost at his baptism, to be a prophet to instruct,\na priest to make an atonement for, and a king to govern and protect\nhis church. And he was crucified, or hung (O stupendous love!) till he\nwas dead upon the cross, that he might become a curse for us: for it is\nwritten, \u201cCursed is every man that hangeth upon a tree.\u201d\n\nThe foundation or first cause of his suffering, was our fall in _Adam_;\nin whom, as the living oracles of GOD declare, \u201cWe all died;\u201d his sin\nwas imputed to us all. It pleased GOD, after he had spoken the world\ninto being, to create man after his own divine image, to breathe into\nhim the breath of life, and to place him as our representative in the\ngarden of _Eden_.\n\nBut he being left to his own free will, did eat of the forbidden fruit,\nnotwithstanding GOD had told him, \u201cThe day in which he eat thereof, he\nshould surely die;\u201d and thereby he, with his whole posterity, in whose\nname he acted, became liable to the wrath of GOD, and sunk into a\nspiritual death.\n\nBut behold the goodness, as well as the severity of GOD! For no sooner\nhad man been convicted as a sinner, but lo! a Saviour is revealed to\nhim, under the character of the _seed of the woman_: the merits of\nwhose sacrifice were then immediately to take place, and who should,\nin the fulness of time, by suffering death, satisfy for the guilt we\nhad contracted; by obeying the whole moral law, work out for us an\neverlasting righteousness; and by becoming a principle of new life in\nus, destroy the power of the devil, and thereby restore us to a better\nstate than that in which we were at first created.\n\nThis is the plain scriptural account of that mystery of godliness, GOD\nmanifested in the flesh; and to this our own hearts, unless blinded by\nthe god of this world, cannot but yield an immediate assent.\n\nFor, let us but search our own hearts, and ask ourselves, if we could\ncreate our own children, whether or not we would not create them with\na less mixture of good and evil, than we find in ourselves? Supposing\nGOD then only to have our goodness, he could not, at first, make us\nso sinful, so polluted as we are. But supposing him to be as he is,\ninfinitely good, or goodness itself, then it is absolutely impossible\nthat he should create any thing but what is like himself, perfect,\nentire, lacking nothing. Man then could not come out of the hands of\nhis Maker, so miserably blind and naked, with such a mixture of the\nbeast and devil, as he finds now in himself, but must have fallen from\nwhat he was; and as it does not suit with the goodness and justness of\nGOD, to punish the whole race of mankind with these disorders merely\nfor nothing; and since men bring these disorders into the world with\nthem; it follows, that as they could not sin themselves, being yet\nunborn, some other man\u2019s sin must have been imputed to them; from\nwhence, as from a fountain, all these evils flow.\n\nI know this doctrine of our _original sin_, or fall in _Adam_, is\nesteemed foolishness by the wise disputer of this world, who will\nreply, How does it suit the goodness of GOD, to impute one man\u2019s sin to\nan innocent posterity? But has it not been proved to a demonstration,\nthat it is so? And therefore, supposing we cannot reconcile it to our\nshallow comprehensions, that is no argument at all: for if it appears\nthat GOD has done a thing, we may be sure it is right, whether we can\nsee the reasons for it or not.\n\nBut this is entirely cleared up by what was said before, that no sooner\nwas the sin imputed, but a CHRIST was revealed; and this CHRIST, this\nGOD incarnate, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, that he might be\nfreed from the guilt of our original sin; who was born of the Virgin\n_Mary_, that he might be the seed of the woman only; who suffered under\n_Pontius Pilate_, a _Gentile_ governor, to fulfil these prophecies,\nwhich signified what death he should die: This same JESUS, who was\ncrucified in weakness, but raised in power, is that divine person, that\n_Emmanuel_, that GOD with us, whom we preach, in whom ye believe, and\nwhom alone the Apostle, in the text, was determined to know.\n\nBy which word _know_, we are not to understand a bare historical\nknowledge; for to know that CHRIST was crucified by his enemies at\n_Jerusalem_, in this manner only, will do us no more service, than to\nknow that _C\u00e6sar_ was butchered by his friends at _Rome_; but the word\n_know_, means to know, so as to approve of him; as when CHRIST says,\n\u201cVerily, I know you not;\u201d I know you not, so as to approve of you. It\nsignifies to know him, so as to embrace him in all his offices; to take\nhim to be our prophet, priest, and king; so as to give up ourselves\nwholly to be instructed, saved, and governed by him. It implies an\nexperimental knowledge of his crucifixion, so as to feel the power\nof it, and to be crucified unto the world, as the Apostle explains\nhimself in the epistle to the _Philippians_, where he says, \u201cI count\nall things but dung and dross, that I might know him, and the power of\nhis resurrection.\u201d\n\nThis knowledge the Apostle was so swallowed up in, that he was\ndetermined not to know any thing else; he was resolved to make that\nhis only study, the governing principle of his life, the point and end\nin which all his thoughts, words, and actions, should center.\n\n_Secondly_, I pass on to give some reasons why every christian should,\nwith the Apostle, determine \u201cnot to know any thing, save JESUS CHRIST,\nand him crucified.\u201d\n\n_First_, Without this, our persons will not be accepted in the sight of\nGOD. \u201cThis (and consequently this only) is life eternal, to know thee,\nthe only true GOD, and JESUS CHRIST, whom thou hast sent.\u201d As also St.\n_Peter_ says, \u201cThere is now no other name given under heaven, whereby\nwe can be saved, but that of JESUS CHRIST.\u201d\n\nSome, indeed, may please themselves in knowing the world, others boast\nthemselves in the knowledge of a multitude of languages; but could we\nspeak with the tongue of men and angels, or did we know the number of\nthe stars, and could call them all by their names, yet, without this\nexperimental knowledge of JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified, it would\nprofit us nothing.\n\nThe former, indeed, may procure us a little honour, which cometh of man;\nbut the latter only can render us acceptable in the sight of GOD: for,\nif we are ignorant of CHRIST, GOD will be to us a consuming fire.\n\nCHRIST is the way, the truth, and the life; \u201cNo one cometh to the\nFather, but through him;\u201d \u201cHe is the Lamb slain from the foundation of\nthe world;\u201d and none ever were, or ever will be received up into glory,\nbut by an experimental application of his merits to their hearts.\n\nWe might as well think to rebuild the tower of _Babel_, or reach heaven\nwith our hands, as to imagine we could enter therein by any other door,\nthan that of the knowledge of JESUS CHRIST. Other knowledge may make\nyou wise in your own eyes, and puff you up; but this alone edifieth,\nand maketh wise unto salvation.\n\nAs the meanest christian, if he knows but this, though he know nothing\nelse, will be accepted; so the greatest master in _Israel_, the most\nletter-learned teacher, without this, will be rejected. His philosophy\nis mere nonsense, his wisdom mere foolishness in the sight of GOD.\n\nThe author of the words now before us, was a remarkable instance of\nthis; never, perhaps, was a greater scholar, in all what the world\ncalls fine learning, than he: for he was bred up at the feet of\n_Gamaliel_, and profited in the knowledge of books, as well as in the\n_Jewish_ religion, above many of his equals, as appears by the language,\nrhetoric, and spirit of his writings; and yet, when he came to know\nwhat it was to be a christian, \u201cHe accounted all things but loss, so\nhe might win CHRIST.\u201d And, though he was now at _Corinth_, that seat of\npolite learning, yet he was absolutely determined not to know any thing,\nor to make nothing his study, but what taught him to know JESUS CHRIST,\nand him crucified.\n\nHence then, appears the folly of those who spend their whole lives in\nheaping up other knowledge; and, instead of searching the scriptures,\nwhich testify of JESUS CHRIST, and are alone able to make them wise\nunto salvation, disquiet themselves in a pursuit after the knowledge of\nsuch things, as when known, concern them no more, than to know that a\nbird dropped a feather upon one of the _Pyrenean_ mountains.\n\nHence it is, that so many, who profess themselves wise, because they\ncan dispute of the causes and effects, the moral fitness and unfitness\nof things, appear mere fools in the things of GOD; so that when you\ncome to converse with them about the great work of redemption wrought\nout for us by JESUS CHRIST, and of his being a propitiation for our\nsins, a fulfiller of the covenant of works, and a principle of new life\nto our souls, they are quite ignorant of the whole matter; and prove,\nto a demonstration, that, with all their learning, they know nothing\nyet, as they ought to know.\n\nBut, alas! how must it surprize a man, when the Most High is about to\ntake away his soul, to think that he has passed for a wise man, and\na learned disputer in this world, and yet is left destitute of that\nknowledge which alone can make him appear with boldness before the\njudgment-seat of JESUS CHRIST? How must it grieve him, in a future\nstate, to see others, whom he despised as illiterate men, because\nthey experimentally knew CHRIST, and him crucified, exalted to the\nright-hand of GOD; and himself, with all his fine accomplishments,\nbecause he knew every thing, perhaps, but CHRIST, thrust down into\nhell?\n\nWell might the Apostle, in a holy triumph, cry out, \u201cWhere is the wise?\nWhere is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world?\u201d For, GOD\nwill then make foolish the wisdom of this world, and bring to nought\nthe wisdom of those who were so knowing in their own eyes.\n\nI have made this digression from the main point before us, not to\ncondemn or decry human literature, but to shew, that it ought to be\nused only in subordination to divine; and that a christian, if the Holy\nSpirit guided the pen of the Apostle, when he wrote this epistle, ought\nto study no books, but such as lead him to a farther knowledge of JESUS\nCHRIST, and him crucified.\n\nAnd there is the more reason for this, because of the great mischief\nthe contrary practice has done to the church of GOD: for, what was\nit but this learning, or rather this ignorance, that kept so many of\nthe Scribes and Pharisees from the saving knowledge of JESUS CHRIST?\nAnd what is it, but this human wisdom, this science, falsely so\ncalled, that blinds the understanding, and corrupts the hearts of so\nmany modern unbelievers, and makes them unwilling to submit to the\nrighteousness which is of GOD by faith in CHRIST JESUS? But,\n\n_Secondly_, Without this knowledge our performances, as well as persons,\nwill not be acceptable in the sight of GOD.\n\n\u201cThrough faith,\u201d says the Apostle, that is, through a lively faith in\na Mediator to come, \u201c_Abel_ offered a more acceptable sacrifice than\n_Cain_.\u201d And it is through a like faith, or an experimental knowledge\nof the same divine Mediator, that our sacrifices of prayer, praise, and\nthanksgivings, come up as an incense before the throne of grace.\n\nTwo persons may go up to the temple to pray; but he only will return\nhome justified, who, in the language of our collects, sincerely offers\nup his prayers through JESUS CHRIST our LORD.\n\nFor it is this great atonement, this all-sufficient sacrifice, which\nalone can give us boldness to approach with our prayers to the Holy of\nHolies: and he that presumes to go without this, acts _Korah_\u2019s crime\nover again; offers unto GOD strange fire, and, consequently, will be\nrejected by him.\n\nFarther, as our devotions to GOD will not, so neither, without this\nknowledge of JESUS CHRIST, will our acts of charity to men be accepted\nby him. For did we give all our goods to feed the poor, and yet were\ndestitute of this knowledge, it would profit us nothing.\n\nThis our blessed LORD himself intimates in the xxvth of _Matthew_,\nwhere he tells those who had been rich in good works, \u201cThat inasmuch\nas they did it unto one of the least of his brethren, they did it unto\nhim.\u201d From whence we may plainly infer, that it is seeing CHRIST in\nhis members, and doing good to them out of an experimental knowledge of\nhis love to us, that alone will render our alms-deeds rewardable at the\nlast day.\n\n_Lastly_, As neither our acts of piety nor charity, so neither will our\ncivil nor moral actions be acceptable to GOD, without this experimental\nknowledge of JESUS CHRIST.\n\nOur modern pretenders to reason, indeed, set up another principle to\nact from; they talk, I know not what, Of doing moral and civil duties\nof life, from the moral fitness and unfitness of things. But such\nmen are blind, however they may pretend to see; and going thus about\nto establish their own righteousness, are utterly ignorant of the\nrighteousness which is of GOD by faith in CHRIST JESUS.\n\nFor though we grant that morality is a substantial part of christianity,\nand that CHRIST came not to destroy, or take off the moral law, as a\nrule of action, but to explain, and so fulfil it; yet we affirm, that\nour moral and civil actions are now no farther acceptable in the sight\nof GOD the Father, than as they proceed from the principle of a new\nnature, and an experimental knowledge of, or vital faith in his dear\nSon.\n\nThe death of JESUS CHRIST has turned our whole lives into one continued\nsacrifice; and whether we eat or drink, whether we pray to GOD, or do\nany thing to man, it must all be done out of a love for, and knowledge\nof him who died and rose again, to render all, even our most ordinary\ndeeds, acceptable in the sight of GOD.\n\nIf we live by this principle, if CHRIST be the Alpha and Omega of all\nour actions, then our least are acceptable sacrifices; but if this\nprinciple be wanting, our most pompous services avail nothing: we are\nbut spiritual idolaters; we sacrifice to our own net; we make an idol\nof ourselves, by making ourselves, and not CHRIST, the end of our\nactions: and, therefore, such actions are so far from being accepted\nby GOD, that, according to the language of one of the Articles of our\nChurch, \u201cWe doubt not but they have the nature of sin, because they\nspring not from an experimental faith in, and knowledge of JESUS\nCHRIST.\u201d\n\nWere we not fallen creatures, we might then act, perhaps, from other\nprinciples; but since we are fallen from GOD in _Adam_, and are\nrestored again only by the obedience and death of JESUS CHRIST, the\nface of things is entirely changed, and all we think, speak, or do, is\nonly accepted in and through him.\n\nJustly, therefore, may I, in the\n\n_Third_ and _Last_ place, Exhort you to put the Apostle\u2019s resolution\nin practice, and beseech you, with him, to determine, \u201cNot to know any\nthing, save JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified.\u201d\n\nI say, _determine_; for unless you sit down first, and count the cost,\nand from a well-grounded conviction of the excellency of this, above\nall other knowledge whatsoever, resolve to make this your chief study,\nyour only end, your one thing needful, every frivolous temptation will\ndraw you aside from the pursuit after it.\n\nYour friends and carnal acquaintance, and, above all, your grand\nadversary the devil, will be persuading you to determine not to\nknow any thing, but how to lay up goods for many years, and to get a\nknowledge and taste of the pomps and vanities of this wicked world;\nbut do you determine not to follow, or be led by them; and the more\nthey persuade you to know other things, the more do you \u201cdetermine not\nto know any thing, save JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified.\u201d For, this\nknowledge never faileth; but whether they be riches, they shall fail;\nwhether they be pomps, they shall cease; whether they be vanities, they\nshall fade away: but the knowledge of JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified,\nabideth for ever.\n\nWhatever, therefore, you are ignorant of, be not ignorant of this. If\nyou know CHRIST, and him crucified, you know enough to make you happy,\nsupposing you know nothing else; and without this, all your other\nknowledge cannot keep you from being everlastingly miserable.\n\nValue not then, the contempt of friends, which you must necessarily\nmeet with upon your open profession to act according to this\ndetermination. For your Master, whose you are, was despised before\nyou; and all that will know nothing else but JESUS CHRIST, and him\ncrucified, must, in some degree or other, suffer persecution.\n\nIt is necessary that offences should come, to try what is in our hearts,\nand whether we will be faithful soldiers of JESUS CHRIST or not.\n\nDare ye then to confess our blessed Master before men, and to shine\nas lights in the world, amidst a crooked and perverse generation?\nLet us not be content with following him afar off; for then we shall,\nas _Peter_ did, soon deny him; but let us be altogether christians,\nand let our speech, and all our actions declare to the world whose\ndisciples we are, and that we have indeed \u201cdetermined not to know any\nthing, save JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified.\u201d Then, well will it be\nwith us, and happy, unspeakably happy shall we be, even here; and what\nis infinitely better, when others that despised us, shall be calling\nfor the mountains to fall on them, and the hills to cover them, we\nshall be exalted to sit down on the right-hand of GOD, and shine as the\nsun in the firmament, in the kingdom of our most adorable Redeemer, for\never and ever.\n\n Which GOD of his Infinite mercy grant, &c.\n\n\n\n\n SERMON XLVI.\n\n Of Justification by CHRIST.\n\n\n 1 CORINTHIANS vi. 11.\n\n _But ye are justified._\n\n The whole verse is: _And such were some of you; but ye are\n washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the\n name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and by the Spirit of our GOD_.\n\nIT has been objected by some, who dissent from, nay, I may add, by\nothers also, who actually are friends to the present ecclesiastical\nestablishment, that the ministers of the Church of _England_ preach\nthemselves, and not CHRIST JESUS the LORD; that they entertain their\npeople with lectures of mere morality, without declaring to them the\nglad tidings of salvation by JESUS CHRIST. How well grounded such an\nobjection may be, is not my business to enquire: All I shall say at\npresent to the point is, that whenever such a grand objection is urged\nagainst the whole body of the clergy in general, every honest minister\nof JESUS CHRIST should do his utmost to cut off all manner of occasion,\nfrom those who desire an occasion to take offence at us; that so by\nhearing us continually sounding forth the word of truth, and declaring\nwith all boldness and assurance of faith, \u201cthat there is no other\nname given under heaven, whereby they can be saved, but that of JESUS\nCHRIST,\u201d they may be ashamed of this their same confident boasting\nagainst us.\n\nIt was an eye to this objection, joined with the agreeableness and\ndelightfulness of the subject (for who can but delight to talk of\nthat which the blessed angels desire to look into?) that induces me to\ndiscourse a little on that great and fundamental article of our faith;\nnamely, our being freely justified by the precious blood of JESUS\nCHRIST. \u201cBut ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified,\nin the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and by the Spirit of our GOD.\u201d\n\nThe words beginning with the particle _but_, have plainly a reference\nto something before; it may not therefore be improper, before I descend\nto particulars, to consider the words as they stand in relation to the\ncontext. The apostle, in the verses immediately foregoing, had been\nreckoning up many notorious sins, drunkenness, adultery, fornication,\nand such like, the commission of which, without a true and hearty\nrepentance, he tells the _Corinthians_, would entirely shut them out of\nthe kingdom of GOD. But then, lest they should, on the one hand, grow\nspiritually proud by seeing themselves differ from their unconverted\nbrethren, and therefore be tempted to set them at nought, and say with\nthe self-conceited hypocrite in the prophet, \u201cCome not nigh me, for\nI am holier than thou;\u201d or, on the other hand, by looking back on the\nmultitude of their past offences, should be apt to think their sins\nwere too many and grievous to be forgiven: he first, in order to keep\nthem humble, reminds them of their sad state before conversion, telling\nthem in plain terms, \u201csuch (or as it might be read, these things) were\nsome of you;\u201d not only one, but all that sad catalogue of vices I have\nbeen drawing up, some of you were once guilty of; but then, at the same\ntime, to preserve them from despair, behold he brings them glad tidings\nof great joy: \u201cBut ye are washed; but ye are sanctified, but ye are\njustified in the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and by the Spirit of\nour GOD.\u201d\n\nThe former part of this text, our being _sanctified_, I have in some\nmeasure treated of already; I would now enlarge on our being freely\njustified by the precious obedience and death of JESUS CHRIST: \u201cBut ye\nare justified in the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.\u201d\n\nFrom which words I shall consider three things;\n\n _First_, What is meant by the word _justified_.\n\n _Secondly_, I shall endeavour to prove that all mankind in\n general, and every individual person in particular, stands in\n need of being justified.\n\n _Thirdly_, That there is no possibility of obtaining this\n justification, which we so much want, but by the all-perfect\n obedience, and precious death of JESUS CHRIST.\n\n_First_, I am to consider what is meant by the word justified.\n\n\u201cBut ye are justified,\u201d says the apostle; which is, as though he had\nsaid, you have your sins forgiven, and are looked upon by GOD as though\nyou never had offended him at all: for that is the meaning of the word\njustified, in almost all the passages of holy scripture where this word\nis mentioned. Thus, when this same apostle writes to the _Romans_, he\ntells them, that \u201cwhom GOD called, those he also justified:\u201d And that\nthis word justified, implies a blotting out of all our transgressions,\nis manifest from what follows, \u201cthem he also glorified,\u201d which could\nnot be if a justified person was not looked upon by GOD, as though\nhe never had offended him at all. And again, speaking of _Abraham_\u2019s\nfaith, he tells them, that \u201c_Abraham_ believed on Him that justifies\nthe ungodly,\u201d who acquits and clears the ungodly man; for it is a\nlaw-term, and alludes to a judge acquitting an accused criminal of the\nthing laid to his charge. Which expression the apostle himself explains\nby a quotation out of the _Psalms_: \u201cBlessed is the man to whom the\nLORD imputeth no sin.\u201d From all which proofs, and many others that\nmight be urged, it is evident, that by being justified, we are to\nunderstand, being so acquitted in the sight of GOD as to be looked upon\nas though we never had offended him at all. And in this sense we are to\nunderstand that article, which we profess to believe in our creed, when\neach of us declare in his own person, I believe the forgiveness of sins.\nThis leads me to the\n\n_Second_ thing proposed, to prove that all mankind in general, and\nevery individual person in particular, stands in need of being\njustified.\n\nAnd indeed the apostle supposes this in the words of the text: \u201cBut\nye are justified,\u201d thereby implying that the _Corinthians_ (and\nconsequently all mankind, there being no difference, as will be shewn\nhereafter) stood in need of being justified.\n\nBut not to rest in bare suppositions, in my farther enlargement on this\nhead, I shall endeavour to prove, that we all stand in need of being\njustified on account of the sin of our natures, and the sin of our\nlives.\n\n1. _First_, I affirm that we all stand in need of being justified,\non account of the sin of our natures: for we are all chargeable\nwith original sin, or the sin of our first parents. Which, though a\nproposition that may be denied by a self-justifying infidel, who \u201cwill\nnot come to CHRIST that he may have life;\u201d yet can never be denied by\nany one who believes that St. _Paul_\u2019s epistles were written by divine\ninspiration; where we are told, that \u201cin _Adam_ all died;\u201d that is,\n_Adam_\u2019s sin was imputed to all: and lest we should forget to make a\nparticular application, it is added in another place, \u201cthat there is\nnone that doeth good (that is, by nature) no, not one: That we are all\ngone out of the way, (of original righteousness) and are by nature the\nchildren of wrath.\u201d And even _David_, who was a man after GOD\u2019s own\nheart, and, if any one could, might surely plead an exemption from this\nuniversal corruption, yet he confesses, that \u201che was shapen in iniquity,\nand that in sin did his mother conceive him.\u201d And, to mention but\none text more, as immediately applicable to the present purpose, St.\n_Paul_, in his epistle to the _Romans_, says, that \u201cDeath came upon all\nmen, for the disobedience of one, namely, of _Adam_, even upon those,\n(that is, little children) who had not sinned after the similitude of\n_Adam_\u2019s transgression;\u201d who had not been guilty of actual sin, and\ntherefore could not be punished with temporal death (which came into\nthe world, as this same apostle elsewhere informs us, only by sin)\nhad not the disobedience of our first parents been imputed to them. So\nthat what has been said in this point seems to be excellently summed\nup in that article of our church, where she declares, that \u201cOriginal\nsin standeth not in the following of _Adam_, but it is the fault and\ncorruption of every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring\nof _Adam_; whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness,\nand is of his own nature inclined to evil, so that the flesh lusteth\nalways contrary to the spirit; and therefore in every person born into\nthis world, it deserveth GOD\u2019s wrath and damnation.\u201d\n\nI have been more particular in treating of this point, because it\nis the very foundation of the christian religion: For I am verily\npersuaded, that it is nothing but a want of being well grounded in the\ndoctrine of original sin, and of the helpless, nay, I may say, damnable\ncondition, each of us comes into the world in, that makes so many\ninfidels oppose, and so many who call themselves christians, so very\nlukewarm in their love and affections to JESUS CHRIST. It is this,\nand I could almost say, this only, that makes infidelity abound among\nus so much as it does. For, alas! we are mistaken if we imagine that\nmen now commence or continue infidels, and set up corrupted reason in\nopposition to divine revelation merely for want of evidence, (for I\nbelieve it might easily be proved, that a modern unbeliever is the\nmost credulous creature living;) no, it is only for want of an humble\nmind, of a sense of their original depravity, and a willingness to own\nthemselves so depraved, that makes them so obstinately shut their eyes\nagainst the light of the glorious gospel of CHRIST. Whereas, on the\ncontrary, were they but once pricked to the heart with a due and lively\nsense of their natural corruption and liableness to condemnation, we\nshould have them no more scoffing at divine revelation, and looking on\nit as an idle tale; but they would cry out with the trembling jaylor,\n\u201cWhat shall I do to be saved?\u201d It was an error in this fundamental\npoint, that made so many resist the evidence the Son of GOD himself\ngave of his divine mission, when he tabernacled amongst us. Every word\nhe spake, every action he did, every miracle he wrought, proved that\nhe came from GOD. And why then did so many harden their hearts, and\nwould not believe his report? Why, he himself informs us, \u201cThey will\nnot come unto me that they may have life:\u201d They will obstinately stand\nout against those means GOD had appointed for their salvation: And St.\n_Paul_ tells us, \u201cthat if the gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are\nlost; in whom the GOD of this world hath blinded the eyes of them which\nbelieve not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of CHRIST, who is\nthe image of GOD, should shine upon them.\u201d 2 _Corinthians_ iv. 3, 4.\n\nIf it be asked, how it suits with the divine goodness, to impute the\nguilt of one man\u2019s sin, to an innocent posterity? I should think it\nsufficient to make use of the apostle\u2019s words: \u201cNay, but O man, who\nart thou that repliest against GOD? Shall the thing formed say to him\nthat formed it, why hast thou made me thus?\u201d But to come to a more\ndirect reply: Persons would do well to consider that in the first\ncovenant GOD made with man, _Adam_ acted as a public person, as the\ncommon representative of all mankind, and consequently we must stand\nor fall with him. Had he continued in his obedience, and not eaten the\nforbidden fruit, the benefits of that obedience would doubtless have\nbeen imputed to us: But since he did not persist in it, but broke the\ncovenant made with him, and us in him; who dares charge the righteous\nJudge of all the earth with injustice for imputing that to us also? I\nproceed,\n\n _Secondly_, To prove that we stand in need of being justified,\n on account of the sin of our lives.\n\nThat GOD, as he made man, has a right to demand his obedience, I\nsuppose is a truth no one will deny: that he hath also given us both\na natural and a written law, whereby we are to be judged, cannot be\nquestioned by any one who believes St. _Paul_\u2019s epistle to the _Romans_\nto be of divine authority: For in it we are told of a law written\nin the heart, and a law given by _Moses_; and that each of us hath\nbroken these laws, is too evident from our sad and frequent experience.\nAccordingly the holy scriptures inform us that \u201cthere is no man which\nliveth and sinneth not;\u201d that \u201cin many things we offend all;\u201d that \u201cif\nwe say we have no sin we deceive ourselves,\u201d and such like. And if we\nare thus offenders against GOD, it follows, that we stand in need of\nforgiveness for thus offending Him; unless we suppose GOD to enact laws,\nand at the same time not care whether they are obeyed or no; which is\nas absurd as to suppose that a prince should establish laws for the\nproper government of his country, and yet let every violator of them\ncome off with impunity. But GOD has not dealt so foolishly with his\ncreatures: no, as he gave us a law, he demands our obedience to that\nlaw, and has obliged us universally and perseveringly to obey it,\nunder no less a penalty than incurring his curse and eternal death for\nevery breach of it: For thus speaks the scripture; \u201cCursed is he that\ncontinueth not in all things that are written in the law to do them;\u201d\nas the scripture also speaketh in another place, \u201cThe soul that sinneth,\nit shall die.\u201d Now it has already been proved, that we have all of us\nsinned; and therefore, unless some means can be found to satisfy GOD\u2019s\njustice, we must perish eternally.\n\nLet us then stand a while, and see in what a deplorable condition each\nof us comes into the world, and still continues, till we are translated\ninto a state of grace. For surely nothing can well be supposed more\ndeplorable, than to be born under the curse of GOD; to be charged\nwith _original guilt_; and not only so, but to be convicted as actual\nbreakers of GOD\u2019s law, the least breach of which justly deserves\neternal damnation. Surely this can be but a melancholy prospect to view\nourselves in, and must put us upon contriving some means whereby we may\nsatisfy and appease our offended judge. But what must those means be?\nShall we repent? Alas! there is not one word of repentance mentioned\nin the first covenant: \u201cThe day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt\nsurely die.\u201d So that, if GOD be true, unless there be some way found\nout to satisfy divine justice, we must perish; and there is no room\nleft for us to expect a change of mind in GOD, though we should seek\nit with tears. Well then, if repentance will not do, shall we plead\nthe law of works? Alas! \u201cBy the law shall no man living be justified:\nfor by the law comes the knowledge of Sin.\u201d It is that which convicts\nand condemns, and therefore can by no means justify us; and \u201call our\nrighteousnesses (says the prophet) are but as filthy rags.\u201d Wherewith\nthen shall we come before the LORD, and bow down before the most high\nGOD? Shall we come before Him with calves of a year old, with thousands\nof rams, or ten thousands of rivers of oil? Alas! GOD has shewed thee,\nO man, that this will not avail: For he hath declared, \u201cI will take\nno bullock out of thy house, nor he-goat out of thy fold: for all the\nbeasts of the forests are mine, and so are the cattle upon a thousand\nhills.\u201d Will the LORD then be pleased to accept our first-born for\nour transgression, the fruit of our bodies for the sin of our souls?\nEven this will not purchase our pardon: for he hath declared that \u201cthe\nchildren shall not bear the iniquities of their parents.\u201d Besides, they\nare sinners, and therefore, being under the same condemnation, equally\nstand in need of forgiveness with ourselves. They are impure, and will\nthe LORD accept the blind and lame for sacrifice? Shall some angel then,\nor archangel, undertake to fulfill the covenant which we have broken,\nand make atonement for us? Alas! they are only creatures, though\ncreatures of the highest order; and therefore are obliged to obey GOD\nas well as we; and after they have done all, must say they have done\nno more than what was their duty to do. And supposing it was possible\nfor them to die, yet how could the death of a finite creature satisfy\nan infinitely offended justice? O wretched men that we are! Who shall\ndeliver us? I thank GOD, our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Which naturally leads\nme to the\n\n_Third_ thing proposed, which was to endeavour to prove, that there is\nno possibility of obtaining this justification, which we so much want,\nbut by the all-perfect obedience and precious death of JESUS CHRIST,\n\u201cBut ye are justified in the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.\u201d\n\nBut this having been in some measure proved by what has been said under\nthe foregoing head, wherein I have shewn that neither our repentance,\nrighteousness, nor sacrifice, no not the obedience and death of angels\nthemselves, could possibly procure justification for us, nothing\nremains for me to do under this head, but to shew that JESUS CHRIST has\nprocured it for us.\n\nAnd here I shall still have recourse \u201cto the law and to the testimony.\u201d\nFor after all the most subtle disputations on either side, nothing\nbut the lively oracles of GOD can give us any satisfaction in this\nmomentous point: it being such an inconceivable mystery, that the\neternal only-begotten Son of GOD should die for sinful man, that we\ndurst not have presumed so much as to have thought of it, had not GOD\nrevealed it in his holy word. It is true, reason may shew us the wound,\nbut revelation only can lead us to the means of our cure. And though\nthe method GOD has been pleased to take to make us happy, may be to\nthe infidel a stumbling-block, and to the wise opiniator and disputer\nof this world, foolishness; yet wisdom, that is, the dispensation of\nour redemption, will be justified, approved of, and submitted to, by\nall her truly wise and holy children, by every sincere and upright\nchristian.\n\nBut to come more directly to the point before us. Two things, as was\nbefore observed, we wanted, in order to be at peace with GOD.\n\n1. To be freed from the guilt of the sin of our nature.\n\n2. From the sin of our lives.\n\nAnd both these (thanks be to GOD for this unspeakable gift) are secured\nto believers by the obedience and death of JESUS CHRIST. For what says\nthe scripture?\n\n1. As to the _first_, it informs us, that \u201cas by the disobedience\nof one man, (or by one transgression, namely, that of _Adam_) many\nwere made sinners; so by the obedience of one, JESUS CHRIST (therein\nincluding his passive as well as active obedience) many were made\nrighteous.\u201d And again, \u201cAs by the disobedience of one man, judgment\ncame upon all men unto condemnation;\u201d or all men were condemned on\nhaving _Adam_\u2019s sin imputed to them; \u201cso by the obedience of one, that\nis, JESUS CHRIST, the free gift of pardon and peace came upon all men,\n(all sorts of men) unto justification of life.\u201d I say all sorts of\nmen; for the apostle in this chapter is only drawing a parallel between\nthe first and second _Adam_ in this respect, that they acted both as\nrepresentatives; and as the posterity of _Adam_ had his sin imputed to\nthem, so those for whom CHRIST died, and whose representative he is,\nshall have his merits imputed to them also. Whoever run the parallel\nfarther, in order to prove universal redemption (whatever arguments\nthey may draw for the proof of it from other passages of scripture,)\nif they would draw one from this for that purpose, I think they stretch\ntheir line of interpretation beyond the limits of scripture.\n\n2. Pardon for the sin of our lives was another thing, which we wanted\nto have secured to us, before we could be at peace with GOD.\n\nAnd this the holy scriptures inform us, is abundantly done by the death\nof JESUS CHRIST. The evangelical prophet foretold that the promised\nRedeemer should be \u201cwounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our\niniquities; that the chastisement of our peace should be upon him; and\nthat by his stripes we should be healed,\u201d _Isaiah_ liii. 6. The angels\nat his birth said, that he should \u201csave his people from their sins.\u201d\nAnd St. _Paul_ declares, that \u201cthis is a faithful saying, and worthy of\nall acceptation, that JESUS CHRIST came into the world to save sinners.\u201d\nAnd here in the words of the text, \u201cSuch (or, as I observed before,\nthese things) were some of you; but ye are washed, &c.\u201d and again,\n\u201cJESUS CHRIST is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that\nbelieveth.\u201d And, to shew us that none but JESUS CHRIST can do all this,\nthe apostle St. _Peter_ says, \u201cNeither is their salvation in any other;\nfor there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we\nmust be saved,\u201d but the name of JESUS CHRIST.\n\nHow GOD will be pleased to deal with the _Gentiles_, who yet sit\nin darkness and under the shadow of death, and upon whom the sun of\nrighteousness never yet arose, is not for us to enquire. \u201cWhat have we\nto do to judge those that are without?\u201d To GOD\u2019s mercy let us recommend\nthem, and wait for a solution of this and every other difficult point,\ntill the great day of accounts, when all GOD\u2019s dispensations, both of\nprovidence and grace, will be fully cleared up by methods to us, as yet\nunknown, because unrevealed. However, this we know, that the judge of\nall the earth will, most assuredly, do right.\n\nBut it is time for me to draw towards a conclusion.\n\nI have now, brethren, by the blessing of GOD, discoursed on the words\nof the text in the method I proposed. Many useful inferences might be\ndrawn from what has been delivered; but as I have detained you, I fear,\ntoo long already, permit me only to make a reflection or two on what\nhas been said, and I have done.\n\nIf then we are freely justified by the death and obedience of JESUS\nCHRIST, let us here pause a while; and as before we have reflected on\nthe misery of a fallen, let us now turn aside and see the happiness\nof the believing, soul. But alas! how am I lost to think that GOD the\nFather, when we were in a state of enmity and rebellion against Him,\nshould notwithstanding yearn in his bowels towards us his fallen, his\napostate creatures: And because nothing but an infinite ransom could\nsatisfy an infinitely offended justice, that should send his only\nand dear Son JESUS CHRIST (who is GOD, blessed for ever, and who had\nlain in his bosom from all eternity) to fulfil the covenant of works,\nand die a cursed, painful, ignominious death, for us and for our\nsalvation! who can avoid crying out, at the consideration of this\nmystery of godliness. \u201cOh the depth of the riches of GOD\u2019s love\u201d to us\nhis wretched, miserable and undone creatures! \u201cHow unsearchable is his\nmercy, and his ways past finding out!\u201d Now know we of a truth, O GOD,\nthat thou hast loved us, \u201csince thou hast not with-held thy Son, thine\nonly Son JESUS CHRIST,\u201d from thus doing and dying for us.\n\nBut as we admire the Father sending, let us likewise humbly and\nthankfully adore the Son coming, when sent to die for man. But O! what\nthoughts can conceive, what words express the infinite greatness of\nthat unparalleled love, which engaged the Son of GOD to come down from\nthe mansions of his Father\u2019s glory to obey and die for sinful man! The\n_Jews_, when he only shed a tear at poor _Lazarus_\u2019s funeral, said,\n\u201cBehold how he loved him.\u201d How much more justly then may we cry out,\nBehold how he loved us! When he not only fulfilled the whole moral law,\nbut did not spare to shed his own most precious blood for us.\n\nAnd can any poor truly-convicted sinner, after this, despair of\nmercy? What, can they see their Saviour hanging on a tree, with arms\nstretched out ready to embrace them, and yet, on their truly believing\non him, doubt of finding acceptance with him? No, away with all such\ndishonourable, desponding thoughts. Look on his hands, bored with pins\nof iron; look on his side, pierced with a cruel spear, to let loose\nthe sluices of his blood, and open a fountain for sin, and for all\nuncleanness; and then despair of mercy if you can! No, only believe\nin Him, and then, though you have crucified him afresh, yet will he\nabundantly pardon you; \u201cthough your sins be as scarlet, yet shall they\nbe as wool; though deeper than crimson, yet shall they be whiter than\nsnow.\u201d\n\n Which GOD of his infinite mercy grant, &c.\n\n\n\n\n SERMON XLVII.\n\n The great Duty of Charity recommended.\n\n\n 1 CORINTHIANS xiii. 8.\n\n _Charity never faileth._\n\nNOTHING is more valuable and commendable, and yet, not one duty is\nless practised, than that of charity. We often pretend concern and pity\nfor the misery and distress of our fellow-creatures, but yet we seldom\ncommiserate their condition so much as to relieve them according to\nour abilities; but unless we assist them with what they may stand in\nneed of, for the body, as well as for the soul, all our wishes are no\nmore than words of no value or regard, and are not to be esteemed or\nregarded: for when we hear of any deplorable circumstance, in which our\nfellow-creatures are involved, be they friends or enemies; it is our\nduty, as christians, to assist them to the utmost of our power.\n\nIndeed, we are not, my brethren, to hurt ourselves or our families;\nthis is not that charity which is so much recommended by St. _Paul_;\nno, but if we are any ways capable of relieving them without injuring\neither ourselves, or families, then it is our duty to do it; and this\nnever faileth, where it proceeds from a right end, and with a right\nview.\n\nSt. _Paul_ had been shewing, in the preceding chapter, that spiritual\ngifts were divers; that GOD had disposed of one blessing to one, and\nanother to another; and though there was a diversity of blessings, GOD\ndid not bestow them to one person, but gave to one a blessing which he\ndenied to another, and gave a blessing, or a gift to the other which\nmight make him as eminent in one way, as the other\u2019s gift made him so\nin another: but though there are these divers spiritual gifts, they are\nall given for some wise end, even to profit withal, and to that end\nthey are thus diversly bestowed. We are not, on the one hand, to hide\nthose gifts which GOD has given us: neither are we, on the other, to\nbe so lavish of them, as to spend them upon our lusts and pleasures,\nto satisfy our sensual appetites, but they are to be used for the\nglory of GOD, and the good of immortal souls. After he had particularly\nillustrated this, he comes to shew, that all gifts, however great they\nmay be in themselves, are of no value unless we have charity, as you\nmay see particularly, by considering from the beginning of this chapter.\n\nBut before I go any further, I shall inform you what the apostle\nmeans by charity; and that is, LOVE; if there is true love, there will\nbe charity; there will be an endeavour to assist, help, and relieve\naccording to that ability wherewith GOD has blessed us: and, since this\nis so much recommended by the apostle, let us see how valuable this\ncharity is, and how commendable in all those who pursue it. I shall,\n\n I. Consider this blessing as relating to the bodies of men.\n\n II. I shall shew how much more valuable it is, when relating to\n the souls of men.\n\n III. Shall shew you when your charity is of the right kind.\n\n IV. Why this charity, or the grace of love, never faileth.\n\n V. Shall conclude all, with an exhortation to high and low,\n rich and poor, one with another, to be found in the constant\n practice of this valuable and commendable duty.\n\n_First_, I shall consider this duty, as relating to the bodies of men.\nAnd,\n\n1. O that the _rich_ would consider how praise-worthy this duty is, in\nhelping their fellow-creatures! We were created to be a help to each\nother; GOD has made no one so independent as not to need the assistance\nof another; the richest and most powerful man upon the face of this\nearth, needs the help and assistance of those who are around him; and\nthough he may be great to-day, a thousand accidents may make him as\nlow to-morrow; he that is rolling in plenty to-day, may be in as much\nscarcity to-morrow. If our rich men would be more charitable to their\npoor friends and neighbours, it would be a means of recommending them\nto the favour of others, if Providence should frown upon them; but\nalas, our great men had much rather spend their money in a playhouse,\nat a ball, an assembly, or a masquerade, than relieve a poor distressed\nservant of JESUS CHRIST. They had rather spend their estates on their\nhawks and hounds, on their whores, and earthly, sensual, devilish\npleasures, than comfort, nourish, or relieve one of their distressed\nfellow-creatures. What difference is there between the king on the\nthrone, and the beggar on the dunghill, when GOD demands their breaths?\nThere is no difference; my brethren, in the grave, nor will there be\nany at the day of judgment. You will not be excused because you have\nhad a great estate, a fine house, and lived in all the pleasures that\nearth could afford you; no, these things will be one means of your\ncondemnation; neither will you be judged according to the largeness of\nyour estate, but according to the use you have made of it.\n\nNow, you may think nothing but of your pleasures and delights, of\nliving in ease and plenty, and never consider how many thousands of\nyour fellow-creatures would rejoice at what you are making waste of,\nand setting no account by. Let me beseech you, my rich brethren, to\nconsider the poor of the world, and how commendable and praise-worthy\nit is to relieve those who are distressed. Consider, how pleasing this\nis to GOD, how delightful it is to man, and how many prayers you will\nhave put up for your welfare, by those persons whom you relieve; and\nlet this be a consideration to spare a little out of the abundance\nwherewith GOD has blessed you, or the relief of his poor. He could have\nplaced you in their low condition, and they in your high state; it is\nonly his good pleasure that has thus made the difference, and shall not\nthis make you remember your distressed fellow-creatures?\n\nLet me beseech you to consider, which will stand you best at the day\nof judgment, so much money expended at a horse-race, at a cockpit,\nat a play or masquerade, or so much given for the relief of your\nfellow-creatures, and for the distressed members of JESUS CHRIST.\n\nI beseech you, that you would consider how valuable and commendable\nthis duty is: do not be angry at my thus exhorting you to that duty,\nwhich is so much recommended by JESUS CHRIST himself, and by all his\napostles: I speak particularly to you, my rich brethren, to intreat\nyou to consider those that are poor in this world, and help them from\ntime to time, as their necessity calls for it. Consider, that there is\na curse denounced against the riches of those, who do not thus do good\nwith them; namely, \u201cGo to now you rich men, weep and howl for your\nmiseries that shall come upon you; your riches are corrupted, your\ngarments are moth-eaten, your gold and silver is cankered, and the rust\nof them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh, as\nit were fire; ye have heaped your treasure together for the last day.\u201d\nYou see the dreadful woe pronounced against all those who hoard up the\nabundance of the things of this life, without relieving the distresses\nof those who are in want thereof: and the apostle _James_ goes on\nalso to speak against those who have acquired estates by fraud, as too\nmany have in these days. \u201cBehold the hire of the labourers, which have\nreaped down your fields, which is by you kept back by fraud, crieth;\nand the cries of them who have reaped, are entered into the ears of\nthe LORD GOD of Sabbaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and\nbeen wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.\u201d\nThus, if you go on to live after the lust of the flesh, to pamper\nyour bellies, and make them a God, while the poor all round you are\nstarving, GOD will make these things a witness against you, which shall\nbe as a worm to your souls, and gnaw your consciences to all eternity;\ntherefore, let me once more recommend charity unto the bodies of men,\nand beseech you to remember what the blessed LORD JESUS CHRIST has\npromised unto those who thus love his members, that \u201cas they have done\nit to the least of his members, they have done it unto him.\u201d\n\nI am not now speaking for myself; I am not recommending my little flock\nin _Georgia_ to you; then you might say, as many wantonly do, that I\nwanted the money for myself; no, my brethren, I am now recommending\nthe poor of this land to you, your poor neighbours, poor friends, yea,\nyour poor enemies; they are whom I am now speaking for; and when I see\nso many starving in the streets, and almost naked, my bowels are moved\nwith pity and concern, to consider, that many in whose power it is, to\nlend their assisting hand, should shut up their bowels of compassion,\nand will not relieve their fellow-creatures, though in the most\ndeplorable condition for the want thereof.\n\nAs I have thus recommended charity particularly to the rich among you;\nso now I would,\n\n2. _Secondly_, Recommend this to another set of people among us, who,\ninstead of being the most forward in acts of charity, are commonly the\nmost backward; I mean the _clergy_ of this land.\n\nGood GOD! how amazing is the consideration, that those, whom GOD has\ncalled out to labour in spiritual things, should be so backward in this\nduty, as fatal experience teacheth. Our clergy (that is the generality\nthereof) are only seeking after preferment, running up and down, to\nobtain one benefice after another; and to heap up an estate, either to\nspend on the pleasures of life, or to gratify their sensual appetites,\nwhile the poor of their flock are forgotten; nay, worse, they are\nscorned, hated, and disdained.\n\nI am not now, my brethren, speaking of all the clergy; no, blessed be\nGOD, there are some among them, who abhor such proceedings, and are\nwilling to relieve the necessitous; but GOD knows, these are but very\nfew, while many take no thought of the poor among them.\n\nThey can visit the rich and the great, but the poor they cannot bear in\ntheir sight; they are forgetful, wilfully forgetful of the poor members\nof JESUS CHRIST.\n\nThey have gone out of the old paths, and turned into a new polite way,\nbut which is not warranted in the word of GOD: they are sunk into a\nfine way of acting; but as fine as it is, it was not the practice of\nthe apostles, or of the christians in any age of the church: for they\nvisited and relieved the poor among them; but how rare is this among\nus, how seldom do we find charity in a clergyman?\n\nIt is with grief I speak these things, but woful experience is a\nwitness to the truth thereof: and if all the clergy of this land were\nhere, I would tell them boldly, that they did not keep in the ways of\ncharity, but were remiss in their duty; instead of \u201cselling all and\ngiving to the poor,\u201d they will not sell any thing, nor give at all to\nthe poor.\n\n3. _Thirdly_, I would exhort you who are poor, to be charitable to one\nanother.\n\nThough you may not have money, or the things of this life, to bestow\nupon one another; yet you may assist them, by comforting, and advising\nthem not to be discouraged though they are low in the world; or in\nsickness you may help them according as you have time or ability: do\nnot be unkind to one another: do not grieve, or vex, or be angry with\neach other; for this is giving the world an advantage over you.\n\nAnd if GOD stirs up any to relieve you, do not make an ill use of what\nhis providence, by the hands of some christian, hath bestowed upon\nyou: be always humble and wait on GOD; do not murmur or repine, if you\nsee any relieved and you are not; still wait on the LORD, and help one\nanother, according to your abilities, from time to time.\n\nHaving shewed you how valuable this is to the bodies of men, I now\nproceed,\n\n_Secondly_, To shew you how much more valuable this charity is, when it\nextends to the souls of men.\n\nAnd is not the soul more valuable than the body? It would be of no\nadvantage, but an infinite disadvantage, to obtain all the world, if we\nwere to lose our souls. The soul is of infinite value, and of infinite\nconcern, and, therefore, we should extend our charity whenever we see\nit needful, and likewise should reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all\ngodliness and love.\n\nWe should, my dear brethren, use all means and opportunities for\nthe salvation of our own souls, and of the souls of others. We\nmay have a great deal of charity and concern for the bodies of our\nfellow-creatures, when we have no thought, or concern, for their\nimmortal souls: But O how sad is it, to have thought for a mortal,\nbut not for the immortal part; to have charity for the body of our\nfellow-creatures, while we have no concern for their immortal souls;\nit may be, we help them to ruin them, but have no concern in the saving\nof them.\n\nYou may love to spend a merry evening, to go to a play, or a\nhorse-race, with them; but on the other hand, you cannot bear the\nthoughts of going to a sermon, or a religious society, with them; no,\nyou would sing the songs of the drunkard, but you will not sing hymns,\nwith them; this is not polite enough, this is unbecoming a gentleman of\ntaste, unfashionable, and only practised among a parcel of enthusiasts\nand madmen.\n\nThus, you will be so uncharitable as to join hand in hand with those\nwho are hastening to their own damnation, while you will not be so\ncharitable as to assist them in being brought from darkness to light,\nand from the power of Satan unto GOD. But this, this, my dear brethren,\nis the greatest charity, as can be, to save a soul from death: this is\nof far greater advantage, than relieving the body of a fellow-creature:\nfor the most miserable object as could be, death would deliver it\nfrom all. But death, to those who are not born again, would be so far\nfrom being a release from all misery, that it would be an inlet to all\ntorment, and that to all eternity. Therefore, we should assist, as much\nas possible, to keep a soul from falling into the hands of Satan: for\nhe is the grand enemy of souls. How should this excite you to watch\nover your own and others souls? for unless you are earnest with GOD,\nSatan will be too hard for you. Surely, it is the greatest charity to\nwatch over one another\u2019s words and actions, that we may forewarn each\nother when danger is nigh, or when the enemy of souls approaches.\n\nAnd if you have once known the value of your own souls, and know what\nit is to be snatched as brands out of the burning fire, you will be\nsolicitous that others may be brought out of the same state. It is not\nthe leading of a moral life, being honest, and paying every man his\njust due; this is not a proof of your being in a state of grace, or of\nbeing born again, and renewed in the spirit of your minds: No, you may\ndie honest, just, charitable, and yet not be in a state of salvation.\n\nIt is not the preaching of that morality, which most of our pulpits now\nbring forth, that is sufficient to bring you from sin unto GOD. I saw\nyou willing to learn, and yet were ignorant of the necessity of being\nborn again, regenerated, of having all old things done away, and all\nthings becoming new in your souls: I could not bear, my brethren, to\nsee you in the highway to destruction, and none to bring you back. It\nwas love to your souls, it was a desire to see CHRIST formed in you,\nwhich brought me into the fields, the highways, and hedges, to preach\nunto you JESUS, a crucified JESUS as dying for you. It was charity,\nindeed it was charity to your souls, which has exposed me to the\npresent ill treatment of my letter-learned brethren.\n\nTherefore, let me advise you to be charitable to the souls of one\nanother; that is, by advising them with all love and tenderness, to\nfollow after CHRIST, and the things which belong to their immortal\npeace, before they be for ever hid from their eyes.\n\nI now proceed, in the\n\n_Third_ place, to shew when your charity is of the right kind.\n\nAnd here, my brethren, I shall shew, _First_, When it is not; and,\n_Secondly_, When it is of the right kind.\n\n1. _First_, Your charity is not of the right kind, when it proceeds\nfrom worldly views or ends.\n\nIf it is to be seen of men, to receive any advantage from them, to\nbe esteemed, or to gain a reputation in the world; or if you have any\npride in it, and expect to reap benefit from GOD merely for it; if\nall, or each of these is the end of your charity, then it is all in\nvain; your charity does not proceed from a right end, but you are\nhereby deceiving your own souls. If you give an alms purely to be\nobserved by man, or as expecting favour from GOD, merely on the account\nthereof, then you have not the glory of GOD, or the benefit of your\nfellow-creatures at heart, but merely yourself: this, this is not\ncharity. Nor,\n\n_Secondly_, Is that true charity, when we give any thing to our\nfellow-creatures purely to indulge them in vice: this is so far from\nbeing charity, that it is a sin, both against GOD, and against our\nfellow-creatures. And yet, this is as common, as it is sinful, to carry\nour friends, under a specious pretence of charity, to one or the other\nentertainment, with no other view, but to make them guilty of excess.\nHereby you are guilty of a double sin: we are not to sin ourselves,\nmuch less should we endeavour to make another sin likewise. But,\n\n_Thirdly_, Our charity comes from a right end, when it proceeds from\nlove to GOD, and for the welfare both of the body and soul of our\nfellow-creatures.\n\nWhen this is the sole end of relieving our distressed fellow-creatures,\nthen our charity comes from a right end, and we may expect to reap\nadvantage by it: this is the charity which is pleasing to GOD. GOD is\nwell pleased, when all our actions proceed from love, love to himself,\nand love to immortal souls.\n\nConsider, my dear brethren, that it was love for souls, that brought\nthe blessed JESUS down from the bosom of his Father; that made him,\nwho was equal in power and glory, to come and take upon him our nature;\nthat caused the LORD of life to die the painful, ignominious, and\naccursed death of the cross. It was love to immortal souls, that\nbrought this blessed JESUS among us. And O that we might hence consider\nhow great the value of souls was and is: it was that which made JESUS\nto bleed, pant, and die. And surely souls must be of infinite worth,\nwhich made the Lamb of GOD to die so shameful a death.\n\nAnd shall not this make you have a true value for souls? It is of the\ngreatest worth: and this, this is the greatest charity, when it comes\nfrom love to GOD, and from love to souls. This will be a charity, the\nsatisfaction of which will last to all eternity. O that this may make\nyou have so much regard for the value of souls, as not to neglect\nall opportunities for the doing of them good: here is something worth\nhaving charity for, because they remain to all eternity. Therefore, let\nme earnestly beseech you both to consider the worth of immortal souls,\nand let your charity extend to them, that by your advice and admonition,\nyou may be an instrument, in the hands of GOD, in bringing souls to the\nLORD JESUS.\n\nI am in the next place to consider,\n\n_Fourthly_, Why this charity, or grace of love never faileth.\n\nAnd it never faileth in respect of its proceeding from an unchangeable\nGOD. We are not to understand, that our charity is always the same: No,\nthere may, and frequently are, ebbs and flowings; but still it never\ntotally faileth: No, the grace of love remaineth for ever. There is,\nand will be, a charity to all who have erred and run astray from GOD.\nWe cannot be easy to see souls in the highway to destruction, and not\nuse our utmost endeavour to bring them back from sin, and shew them the\ndreadful consequence of running into evil. Christians cannot bear to\nsee those souls for whom CHRIST died, perish for want of knowledge: and\nif they see any of the bodies of their fellow-creatures in want, they\nwill do the utmost in their power to relieve them.\n\nCharity will never fail, among those who have a true love to the\nLORD JESUS, and know the value of souls: they will be charitable to\nthose who are in distress. And thus you see, that true charity, if it\nproceeds from a right end, never faileth.\n\nI now proceed, my brethren, in the\n\n_Last_ place, to exhort all of you, high and low, rich and poor, one\nwith another, to practice this valuable and commendable duty of charity.\n\nIt is not rolling in your coaches, taking your pleasure, and\nnot considering the miseries of your fellow-creatures, that is\ncommendable or praise-worthy; but the relieving your distressed poor\nfellow-creatures, is valuable and praise-worthy wherever it is found.\nBut alas! how very few of our gay and polite gentlemen consider their\npoor friends; rather they despise, and do not regard them. They can\nindulge themselves in the follies of life, and had much rather spend\ntheir estates in lusts and pleasures, while the poor all round them\nare not thought worthy to be set with the dogs of their flock. If you\nhave an abundance of the things of this world, then you are esteemed\nas companions for the polite and gay in life; but if you are poor, then\nyou must not expect to find any favour, but be hated, or not thought\nfit for company or conversation: and if you have an abundance of the\nthings of this life, and do not want any assistance, then you have\nmany ready to help you. My dear brethren, I do not doubt but your\nown experience is a proof of my assertions; as also, that if any come\ninto distress, then those, who promised to give relief, quite forget\nwhat they promise, and will despise, because Providence has frowned.\nBut this is not acting like those who are bound for the heavenly\n_Jerusalem_; thus our hearts and our actions give our lips the lie: for\nif we profess the name of CHRIST, and do not depart from all iniquity,\nwe are not those, who are worthy of being esteemed christians indeed.\n\nFor, if we have not charity, we are not christians: charity is the\ngreat duty of christians: and where is our christianity, if we want\ncharity? Therefore, let me beseech you to exercise charity to your\ndistressed fellow-creatures. Indeed, my dear brethren, this is truly\ncommendable, truly valuable; and therefore, I beseech you, in the\nbowels of tender mercy to CHRIST, to consider his poor distressed\nmembers; exercise, exercise, I beseech you, this charity: if you have\nno compassion, you are not true disciples of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.\nI humbly beg you to consider those who want relief, and are really\ndestitute, and relieve them according to your abilities. Consider,\nthat the more favourable Providence has been to you, it should make\nyou the more earnest and solicitous to relieve those whom you may find\nin distress: it is of the utmost consequence, what is well pleasing to\nyour fellow-creatures, and doing your duty to GOD.\n\nWhen you are called from hence, then all riches and grandeur will be\nover; the grave will make no distinction; great estates will be of\nno signification in the other world; and if you have made a bad use\nof the talent which GOD hath put into your hands, it will be only an\naggravation of your condemnation at the great day of account, when GOD\nshall come to demand your souls, and to call you to an account, for the\nuse to which you have put the abundance of the things of this life.\n\nTo conclude, let me once more beseech each of you to act according to\nthe circumstances of life, which GOD, in his rich and free mercy, has\ngiven you.\n\nIf you were sensible of the great consequences which would attend your\nacting in this charitable manner, and considered it as a proof of your\nlove to GOD, the loving his members; you could not be uncharitable\nin your tempers, nor fail to relieve any of your distressed fellow\ncreatures.\n\nConsider how easy it is for many of you, by putting your mites together,\nto help one who is in distress; and how can you tell, but that the\nlittle you give, may be the means of bringing one from distress into\nflourishing circumstances; and then, if there is a true spirit of a\nchristian in them, they can never be sufficiently thankful to GOD the\nauthor, and to you as the instrument, in being so great a friend to\nthem in their melancholy circumstances: consider also, once more, how\nmuch better your account will be at the day of judgment, and what peace\nof conscience you will enjoy. How satisfactory must be the thought of\nhaving relieved the widow and the fatherless? This is recommended by\nthe LORD JESUS CHRIST, and has been practised in all ages of the church:\nand therefore, my brethren, be ye now found in the practice of this\nduty.\n\nI have been the larger upon this, because our enemies say we deny\nall moral actions; but, blessed be GOD, they speak against us without\ncause: we highly value them; but we say, that faith in CHRIST,\nthe love of GOD, and being born again, are of infinite more worth;\nbut you cannot be true christians without having charity to your\nfellow-creatures, be they friends or enemies, if in distress. And,\ntherefore, exert yourselves in this duty, as is commanded by the\nblessed JESUS: and if you have true charity, you shall live and reign\nwith him for ever.\n\n Now to GOD the Father, GOD the Son, and GOD the Holy Ghost, be\n all honour, power, glory, might, majesty, and dominion, both\n now and for evermore. _Amen._\n\n\n\n\n SERMON XLVIII.\n\n Satan\u2019s Devices.\n\n\n 2 CORINTHIANS ii. 11.\n\n _Lest Satan should get an advantage over us; for we are not\n ignorant of his devices._\n\nTHE occasion of these words was as follows: In the church of _Corinth_\nthere was an unhappy person, who had committed such incest, as was not\nso much as named among the _Gentiles_, in taking his father\u2019s wife; but\neither on account of his wealth, power, or some such reasons, like many\nnotorious offenders now-adays, he had not been exposed to the censures\nof the church. St. _Paul_, therefore, in his first epistle, severely\nchides them for this neglect of discipline, and commands them, \u201cin the\nname of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, when they were gathered together, to\ndeliver such a one, whoever he was, to Satan, for the destruction of\nthe flesh, that his Spirit might be saved in the day of the LORD;\u201d that\nis, they should solemnly excommunicate him; which was then commonly\nattended with some bodily disease. The _Corinthians_, being obedient\nto the Apostle, as dear children, no sooner received this reproof, but\nthey submitted to it, and cast the offending party out of the church.\nBut whilst they were endeavouring to amend one fault, they unhappily\nran into another; and as they formerly had been too mild and remiss,\nso now they behaved towards him with too much severity and resentment.\nThe Apostle, therefore, in this chapter, reproves this, and tells them,\nthat \u201csufficient to the offender\u2019s shame, was the punishment which had\nbeen inflicted of many:\u201d that he had now suffered enough; and that,\ntherefore, lest he should be tempted to say with _Cain_, \u201cMy punishment\nis greater than I can bear;\u201d or to use the Apostle\u2019s own words, \u201cLest\nhe should be swallowed up with over-much sorrow;\u201d they ought, now he\nhad given proof of his repentance, to forgive him, to confirm their\nlove towards him, and so restore him in the spirit of meekness; \u201cLest\nSatan, (to whose buffetings he was now given, by tempting him to\ndespair) should get an advantage over us:\u201d and so, by representing you\nas merciless and cruel, cause that holy name to be blasphemed, by which\nyou are called; \u201cfor we are not ignorant of his devices:\u201d we know very\nwell how many subtle ways he has to draw aside and beguile unguarded\nunthinking men.\n\nThus then, stand the words in relation to the context; but as Satan\nhas many devices, and as his quiver is full of other poisonous darts,\nbesides those which he shoots at us to drive us to despair, I shall, in\nthe following discourse,\n\n _First_, Briefly observe who we are to understand by Satan. And,\n\n _Secondly_, Point out to you, what are the chief devices he\n generally makes use of, to draw off converts from CHRIST, and\n also prescribe some remedies against them.\n\n_First_, Who are we to understand by Satan?\n\nThe word _Satan_, in its original signification, means an adversary;\nand in its general acceptation, is made use of, to point out to us\nthe chief of the devils, who, for striving to be as GOD, was cast down\nfrom heaven, and is now permitted, \u201cwith the rest of his spiritual\nwickednesses in high places, to walk up and down, seeking whom he may\ndevour.\u201d We hear of him immediately after the creation, when in the\nshape of a serpent, he lay in wait to deceive our first parents. He\nis called Satan, in the book of _Job_, where we are told, that \u201cwhen\nthe sons of GOD came to present themselves before the LORD, Satan\nalso came amongst them.\u201d As the scripture also speaketh in the book of\n_Chronicles_; \u201cand Satan moved _David_ to number the people.\u201d In the\nNew Testament he goes under different denominations; sometimes he is\ncalled the _evil One_, because he is evil in himself, and tempts us to\nevil. Sometimes, \u201cthe Prince of the power of the air;\u201d and, \u201cthe Spirit\nthat now ruleth in the children of disobedience;\u201d because he resides\nchiefly in the air, and through the whole world: and all that are not\nborn of GOD, are said to lie in him.\n\nHe is an enemy to GOD and goodness; he is a hater of all truth: Why\nelse did he slander GOD in paradise? Why did he tell _Eve_, \u201cYou shall\nnot surely die?\u201d And why did he promise to give all the kingdoms of the\nworld, and the glories of them, to JESUS CHRIST, if he would fall down\nand worship him?\n\nHe is full of malice, envy, and revenge; for what other motives could\ninduce him to molest innocent man in paradise? And why is he still so\nrestless in his attempts to destroy us, who have done him no wrong?\n\nHe is a being of great _power_, as appears in his being able to act on\nthe imagination of our blessed LORD, so as to represent to him all the\nkingdoms of the world, and the glories of them, in a moment of time. As\nalso in carrying his sacred body through the air up to a pinacle of the\ntemple; and his driving a herd of swine so furiously into the deep. Nay,\nso great is his might, that, I doubt not, was GOD to let him use his\nfull strength, but he could turn the earth upside down, or pull the sun\nfrom its orb.\n\nBut what he is most remarkable for is, his _subtlety_: for not having\npower given him from above, to take us by force, he is obliged to wait\nfor opportunities to betray us, and to catch us by guile. He, therefore,\nmade use of the serpent, which was subtle above all the beasts of the\nfield, in order to tempt our first parents; and accordingly he is said,\nin the New Testament, \u201cTo lie in wait to deceive;\u201d and, in the words\nof the text, the Apostle says, \u201cWe are not ignorant of his devices;\u201d\nthereby implying, that we are more in danger of being seduced by his\npolicy, than over-borne by his power.\n\nFrom this short description of Satan, we may easily judge whose\nchildren they are, who love to make a lie, who speak evil of, and\nslander their neighbour, and whose hearts are full of pride, subtlety,\nmalice, envy, revenge, and all uncharitableness. Surely they have Satan\nfor their father: for the tempers of Satan they know, and the works of\nSatan they do. But were they to see either themselves, or Satan as he\nis, they could not but be terrified at their own likeness, and abhor\nthemselves in dust and ashes.\n\nBut, the justice of GOD in suffering us to be tempted, is vindicated\nfrom the following considerations: That we are here in a state of\ndisorder; That he has promised not to suffer us to be tempted above\nwhat we are able to bear; and not only so, but to him that overcometh\nhe will give a crown of life.\n\nThe holy angels themselves, it should seem, were once put to a trial\nwhether they would be faithful or not. The first _Adam_ was tempted,\neven in paradise. And JESUS CHRIST, that second _Adam_, though he was\na son, yet was carried, as our representative, by the Holy Spirit, into\nthe wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. And there is not one single\nsaint in paradise, amongst the goodly fellowship of the prophets, the\nglorious company of the apostles, the noble army of martyrs, and the\nspirits of just men made perfect, who, when on earth, was not assaulted\nby the fiery darts of that wicked one, the devil.\n\nWhat then has been the common lot of all GOD\u2019s children, and of the\nangels, nay, of the eternal Son of GOD himself, we must not think to\nbe exempted from: No, it is sufficient if we are made perfect through\ntemptations, as they were. And, therefore, since we cannot but be\ntempted, unless we could unmake human nature, instead of repining at\nour condition, we should rather be enquiring, at what time of our lives\nSatan most violently assaults us? And what those devices are, which he\ncommonly makes use of, in order to \u201cget an advantage over us?\u201d\n\nAs to the first question, what time of life? I answer, we must expect\nto be tempted by him, in some degree or other, all our lives long.\u2015\u2015For\nthis life being a continual warfare, we must never expect to have rest\nfrom our spiritual adversary the devil, or to say, our combat with him\nis finished, \u2019till, with our blessed master, we bow down our heads, and\ngive up the ghost.\n\nBut since the time of our conversion, or first entring upon the\nspiritual life, is the most critical time at which he, for the most\npart, violently besets us, as well knowing, if he can prevent our\nsetting out, he can lead us captive at his will; and since the wise son\nof _Sirach_ particularly warns us, when we are going to serve the LORD,\nto prepare our souls for temptation, I shall, in answer to the other\nquestion, pass on to the\n\n_Second_ general thing proposed; and point out those devices, which\nSatan generally makes use of at our first conversion, in order to get\nan advantage over us.\n\nBut let me observe to you, that whatsoever shall be delivered in the\nfollowing discourse is only designed for such as have actually entered\nupon the divine life; and not for carnal almost Christians, who have\nthe form of godliness, but never yet felt the power of it in their\nhearts. This being premised, The\n\n_First_ device I shall mention, which Satan makes use of, is, _to drive\nus to despair_.\n\nWhen GOD the Father awakens a sinner by the terrors of the law, and by\nhis Holy Spirit convinceth him of sin, in order to lead him to CHRIST,\nand shew him the necessity of a Redeemer; then Satan generally strikes\nin, and aggravates those convictions to such a degree, as to make the\nsinner doubt of finding mercy thro\u2019 the Mediator.\n\nThus, in all his temptations of the Holy JESUS, he chiefly aimed to\nmake him question, whether he was the Son of GOD? \u201cIf thou be the\nSon of GOD,\u201d do so and so. With many such desponding thoughts, no\ndoubt, he filled the heart of the great St. _Paul_, when he continued\nthree days, neither eating bread nor drinking water; and therefore he\nspeaks by experience, when he says, in the words of the text, \u201cWe are\nnot ignorant of his devices,\u201d that he would endeavour to drive the\nincestuous person to despair.\n\nBut let not any of you be influenced by him, to despair of finding\nmercy. For it is not the greatness or number of our crimes, but\nimpenitence and unbelief, that will prove our ruin: No, were our sins\nmore in number than the hairs of our head, or of a deeper die than\nthe brightest scarlet; yet the merits of the death of JESUS CHRIST are\ninfinitely greater, and faith in his blood shall make them white as\nsnow.\n\nAnswer always, therefore, his despairing suggestions, as your Blessed\nLORD did, with an \u201cIt is written.\u201d Tell him, you know that your\nRedeemer liveth, ever to make intercession for you; that the LORD hath\nreceived from him double for all your crimes: And tho\u2019 you have sinned\nmuch, that is no reason why you should despair, but only why you should\nlove much, having so much forgiven. A\n\n_Second_ device that Satan generally makes use of, to get an advantage\nover young converts, is, to tempt them to _presume_, or to think more\nhighly of themselves than they ought to think.\n\nWhen a person has for some little time tasted the good word of life,\nand felt the powers of the world to come, he is commonly (as indeed\nwell he may) most highly transported with that sudden change he finds\nin himself. But then, Satan will not be wanting, at such a time, to\npuff him up with a high conceit of his own attainments, as if he was\nsome great person; and will tempt him to set at nought his brethren,\nas though he was holier than they.\n\nTake heed therefore, and let us beware of this device of our spiritual\nadversary; for as before honour is humility, so a haughty spirit\ngenerally goes before a fall; and GOD is obliged, when under such\ncircumstances, to send us some humbling visitation, or permit us to\nfall, as he did _Peter_, into some grievous sin, that we may learn not\nto be too high minded.\n\nTo check therefore all suggestions to spiritual pride, let us consider,\nthat we did not apprehend CHRIST, but were apprehended of him. That we\nhave nothing but what we have received. That the free grace of GOD has\nalone made the difference between us and others; and, was GOD to leave\nus to the deceitfulness of our own hearts but one moment, we should\nbecome weak and wicked, like other men. We should farther consider,\nthat being proud of grace, is the most ready way to lose it. \u201cFor GOD\nresisteth the proud, and giveth more grace only to the humble.\u201d And\nwere we endowed with the perfections of the seraphim; yet if we were\nproud of those perfections, they would but render us more accomplished\ndevils. Above all, we should pray earnestly to Almighty GOD, that\nwe may learn of JESUS CHRIST, to be lowly in heart. That his grace,\nthrough the subtlety and deceivableness of Satan, may not be our\npoison. But that we may always think soberly of ourselves, as we ought\nto think. A\n\n_Third_ device I shall mention, which Satan generally makes use of, \u201cto\nget an advantage over us,\u201d is to tempt us to _uneasiness_, and to have\n_hard thoughts of_ GOD, when we are dead and barren in prayer.\n\nThough this is a term not understood by the natural man, yet, whosoever\nthere are amongst you, who have passed through the pangs of the _new\nbirth_, they know full well what I mean, when I talk of deadness and\ndryness in prayer. And, I doubt not, but many of you, amongst whom I am\nnow preaching the kingdom of GOD, are at this very time labouring under\nit.\n\nFor, when persons are first awakened to the divine life, because grace\nis weak and nature strong, GOD is often pleased to vouchsafe them some\nextraordinary illuminations of his Holy Spirit; but when they are grown\nto be more perfect men in CHRIST, then he frequently seems to leave\nthem to themselves; and not only so, but permits a horrible deadness\nand dread to overwhelm them; at which times Satan will not be wanting\nto vex and tempt them to impatience, to the great discomfort of their\nsouls.\n\nBut be not afraid; for this is no more than your blessed Redeemer,\nthat Spotless Lamb of GOD, has undergone before you: witness his bitter\nagony in the garden, when his soul was exceeding sorrowful, even unto\ndeath. When he sweat great drops of blood, falling on the ground;\nwhen the sense of the Divinity was drawn from him; and Satan, in all\nprobability, was permitted to set all his terrors in array before him.\n\nRejoice, therefore, my brethren, when you fall into the like\ncircumstances; as knowing, that you are therein partakers of the\nsufferings of JESUS CHRIST. Consider, that it is necessary such inward\ntrials should come, to wean us from the immoderate love of sensible\ndevotion, and teach us to follow CHRIST, not merely for his loaves,\nbut out of a principle of love and obedience. In patience, therefore,\npossess your souls, and be not terrified by Satan\u2019s suggestions. Still\npersevere in seeking JESUS in the use of means, though it be sorrowing;\nand though through barrenness of soul, you may go mourning all the day\nlong. Consider that the spouse is with you, though behind the curtain;\nas he was with _Mary_, at the sepulchre, though she knew it not. That\nhe has withdrawn but for a little while, to make his next visit more\nwelcome. That though he may now seem to frown and look back on you,\nas he did on the _Syrophenician_ woman; yet if you, like her, or blind\n_Bartimeus_, cry out so much the more earnestly, \u201cJESUS, thou Son\nof _David_, have mercy on us;\u201d he will be made known unto you again,\neither in the temple, by breaking of bread, or some other way.\n\nBut amongst all the devices that Satan makes use of, \u201cto get an\nadvantage over us,\u201d there is none in which he is more successful, or\nby which he grieves the children of GOD worse, than a\n\n_Fourth_ device I am going to mention, his troubling you with\n_blasphemous, profane, unbelieving thoughts_; and sometimes to such\na degree, that they are as tormenting as the rack.\n\nSome indeed are apt to impute all such evil thoughts to a disorder of\nbody. But those who know any thing of the spiritual life, can inform\nyou, with greater certainty, that for the generality, they proceed from\nthat wicked one, the devil; who, no doubt, has power given him from\nabove, as well now as formerly, to disorder the body, as he did _Job_\u2019s,\nthat he may, with the more secrecy and success, work upon, ruffle and\ntorment the soul.\n\nYou that have felt his fiery darts, can subscribe to the truth of this,\nand by fatal experience can tell, how often he has bid you, \u201ccurse\nGOD and die,\u201d and darted into your thoughts a thousand blasphemous\nsuggestions, even in your most secret and solemn retirements; the bare\nlooking back on which makes your very hearts to tremble,\n\nI appeal to your own \u2666consciences; Have not some of you, when you have\nbeen lifting up holy hands in prayer, been pestered with such a crowd\nof the most horrid insinuations, that you have been often tempted to\nrise off from your knees, and been made to believe your prayers were\nan abomination to the LORD? Nay, when, with the rest of your christian\nbrethren, you have crouded round the holy table, and taken the sacred\nsymbols of CHRIST\u2019s most blessed body and blood into your hands,\ninstead of remembring the death of your Saviour, have you not been\nemployed in driving out evil thoughts, as _Abraham_ was in driving away\nthe birds, that came to devour his sacrifice; and thereby have been\nterrified, lest you have eat and drank your own damnation?\n\n \u2666 \u201cconsciencies\u201d replaced with \u201cconsciences\u201d\n\nBut marvel not, as though some strange thing happened unto you; for\nthis has been the common lot of all GOD\u2019s children. We read, even in\n_Job_\u2019s time, \u201cThat when the sons of GOD came to appear before their\nMaker, (at public worship) Satan also came amongst them,\u201d to disturb\ntheir devotions.\n\nAnd think not that GOD is angry with you for these distracting, though\never so blasphemous thoughts: No, he knows it is not you, but Satan\nworking in you; and therefore, notwithstanding he may be displeased\nwith, and certainly will punish him; yet he will both pity and reward\nyou. And though it be difficult to make persons in your circumstances\nto believe so; yet I doubt not but you are more acceptable to GOD,\nwhen performing your holy duties in the midst of such involuntary\ndistractions, than when you are wrapped up by devotion, as it were,\ninto the third heavens; for you are then suffering, as well as doing\nthe will of GOD at the same time; and, like _Nehemiah_\u2019s servants\nat the building of the temple, are holding a trowel in one hand, and\na sword in the other. Be not driven from the use of any ordinance\nwhatever, on account of those abominable suggestions; for then you let\nSatan get his desired advantage over you; it being his chief design,\nby these thoughts, to make you fall out with the means of grace; and to\ntempt you to believe, you do not please GOD, for no other reason, than\nbecause you do not please yourselves. Rather persevere in the use of\nthe holy communion especially, and all other means whatever; and when\nthese temptations have wrought that resignation in you, for which they\nwere permitted, GOD will visit you with fresh tokens of his love, as he\nmet _Abraham_, when he returned from the slaughter of the five kings;\nand will send an angel from heaven, as he did to his Son, on purpose to\nstrengthen you.\n\nHitherto we have only observed such devices as Satan makes use of\nimmediately by himself; but there is a\n\n_Fifth_ I shall mention, which is not the least, tempting us by our\n_carnal friends_ and _relations_.\n\nThis is one of the most common, as well as most artful devices he makes\nuse of, to draw young converts from GOD; for when he cannot prevail\nover them by himself, he will try what he can do by the influence and\nmediation of others.\n\nThus he tempted _Eve_, that she might tempt _Adam_. Thus he stirred up\n_Job_\u2019s wife, to bid him \u201cCurse GOD and die.\u201d And thus he made use of\n_Peter_\u2019s tongue, to persuade our blessed LORD \u201cto spare himself,\u201d and\nthereby decline those sufferings, by which alone we could be preserved\nfrom suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. And thus, in these last\ndays, he often stirs up our most powerful friends and dearest intimates,\nto dissuade us from going in that narrow way, which alone leadeth unto\nlife eternal.\n\nBut our blessed LORD has furnished us with a sufficient answer to all\nsuch suggestions. \u201cGet you behind me, my adversaries;\u201d for otherwise\nthey will be an offence unto you; and the only reason why they give\nsuch advice is, because they \u201csavour not the things that be of GOD, but\nthe things that be of men.\u201d\n\nWhoever, therefore, among you are resolved to serve the LORD, prepare\nyour souls for many such temptations as these; for it is necessary that\nsuch offences should come, to try your sincerity, to teach us to cease\nfrom man, and to see if we will forsake all to follow CHRIST.\n\nIndeed our modernisers of christianity would persuade us, that the\ngospel was calculated only for about two hundred years; and that now\nthere is no need of hating father and mother, or of being persecuted\nfor the sake of CHRIST and his gospel.\n\nBut such persons err, not knowing the scriptures, and the power of\ngodliness in their hearts; for whosoever receives the love of GOD\nin the truth of it, will find, that CHRIST came to send not peace,\nbut a sword upon earth, as much now as ever. That the father-in-law\nshall be against the daughter-in-law, in these latter, as well as in\nthe primitive times; and that if we will live godly in CHRIST JESUS,\nwe must, as then, so now, from carnal friends and relations, suffer\npersecution. But the devil hath a\n\n_Sixth_ device, which is as dangerous as any of the former, by _not\ntempting us at all_, or rather, by _withdrawing himself for a while_,\nin order to come upon us at an hour when we think not of it.\n\nThus it is said, that he left JESUS CHRIST only for a season; and our\nblessed LORD has bid us to watch and pray always, that we enter not\ninto temptation; thereby implying, that Satan, whether we think of it\nor not, is always seeking how he may devour us.\n\nIf we would therefore behave like good soldiers of JESUS CHRIST,\nwe must be always upon our guard, and never pretend to lay down\nour spiritual weapons of prayer and watching, till our warfare is\naccomplished by death; for if we do, our spiritual Amalek will quickly\nprevail against us. What if he has left us? it is only for a season;\nyet a little while, and, like a roaring lion, with double fury, he will\nbreak out upon us again. So great a coward as the devil is, he seldom\nleaves us at the first onset. As he followed our blessed LORD with one\ntemptation after another, so will he treat his servants. And the reason\nwhy he does not renew his attacks, is sometimes, because GOD knows\nwe are yet weak and unable to bear them, sometimes, because our grand\nadversary thinks to beset us at a more convenient season.\n\nWatch carefully therefore over thy heart, O christian; and whenever\nthou perceivest thyself to be falling into a spiritual slumber, say\nto it, as CHRIST to his disciples, \u201cArise (my soul) why sleepest\nthou?\u201d Awake, awake; put on strength, watch and pray, or otherwise the\n_Philistines_ will be upon thee, and lead thee whither thou wouldst\nnot. Alas! Is this life a time to lie down and slumber in? Arise, and\ncall upon thy GOD; thy spiritual enemy is not dead, but lurketh in some\nsecret place, seeking a convenient opportunity how he may betray thee.\nIf thou ceasest to strive with him, thou ceasest to be a friend of GOD;\nthou ceasest to go in that narrow way which leadeth unto life.\n\nThus have I endeavoured to point out to you some of those devices, that\nSatan generally makes use of \u201cto get an advantage over us;\u201d many others\nthere are, no doubt, which he often uses.\n\nBut these, on account of my youth and want of experience, I cannot\nyet apprise you of; they who have been listed for many years in their\nmaster\u2019s service, and fought under his banner against our spiritual\nAmalek, are able to discover more of his artifices; and, being tempted\nin all things, like unto their brethren, can, in all things, advise and\nsuccour those that are tempted.\n\nIn the mean while, let me exhort my young fellow-soldiers, who, like\nmyself, are but just entring the field, and for whose sake this was\nwritten, not to be discouraged at the fiery trial wherewith they must\nbe tried, if they would be found faithful servants of JESUS CHRIST. You\nsee, my dearly beloved brethren, by what has been delivered, that our\nway through the wilderness of this world to the heavenly _Canaan_, is\nbeset with thorns, and that there are sons of Anak to be grappled with,\nere you can possess the promised land. But let not these, like so many\nfalse spies, discourage you from going up to fight the LORD\u2019s battles,\nbut say with _Caleb_ and _Joshua_, \u201cNay, but we will go up, for we\nare able to conquer them.\u201d JESUS CHRIST, that great captain of our\nsalvation, has in our stead, and as our representative, baffled the\ngrand enemy of mankind, and we have nothing to do, but manfully to\nfight under his banner, and to go on from conquering to conquer.\nOur glory does not consist in being exempted from, but in enduring\ntemptations. \u201cBlessed is the man, (says the apostle) that endureth\ntemptation;\u201d and again, \u201cBrethren, count it all joy, when you fall\ninto divers temptations:\u201d And in that perfect form our blessed LORD has\nprescribed to us, we are taught to pray, not so much to be delivered\nfrom all temptation, as \u201cfrom the evil\u201d of it. Whilst we are on\nthis side eternity, it must needs be that temptations come; and, no\ndoubt, \u201cSatan has desired to have all of us, to sift us as wheat.\u201d\nBut wherefore should we fear? For he that is for us, is by far more\npowerful, than all that are against us. JESUS CHRIST, our great\nHigh-priest, is exalted to the right hand of GOD, and there sitteth\nto make intercession for us, that our faith fail not.\n\nSince then CHRIST is praying, whom should we fear? And since he has\npromised to make us more than conquerors, of whom should we be afraid?\nNo, though an host of devils are set in array against us, let us not be\nafraid; though there should rise up the hottest persecution against us,\nyet let us put our trust in GOD. What though Satan, and the rest of his\napostate spirits, are powerful, when compared with us; yet, if put in\ncompetition with the Almighty, they are as weak as the meanest worms.\nGOD has them all reserved in chains of darkness unto the judgment of\nthe great day. So far as he permits them, they shall go, but no farther;\nand where he pleases, there shall their proud malicious designs be\nstayed. We read in the gospel, that though a legion of them possessed\none man, yet they could not destroy him; nor could they so much as\nenter into a swine, without first having leave given them from above.\nIt is true, we often find they foil us, when we are assaulted by them;\nbut let us be strong, and very couragious; for, though they bruise our\nheels, we shall, at length, bruise their heads. Yet a little while, and\nhe that shall come, will come; and then we shall see all our spiritual\nenemies put under our feet. What if they do come out against us,\nlike so many great Goliahs; yet, if we can go forth, as the stripling\n_David_, in the name and strength of the LORD of hosts, we may say, O\nSatan, where is thy power? O fallen spirits, where is your victory?\n\nOnce more therefore, and to conclude; let us be strong, and very\ncouragious, and let us put on the whole armour of GOD, that we may\nbe able to stand against the fiery darts of the wicked one. Let us\nrenounce ourselves, and the world, and then we shall take away the\narmour in which he trusteth, and he will find nothing in us for his\ntemptations to work upon. We shall then prevent his malicious designs;\nand being willing to suffer ourselves, shall need less sufferings to\nbe sent us from above. Let us have our loins girt about with truth; and\nfor an helmet, the hope of salvation; \u201cpraying always with all manner\nof supplication.\u201d Above all things, \u201cLet us take the sword of the\nspirit, which is the word of GOD,\u201d and \u201cthe shield of faith,\u201d looking\nalways to JESUS, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy\nthat was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is\nnow sat down at the right hand of GOD.\n\n To which happy place, may GOD of his infinite mercy translate us\n all, through our LORD JESUS CHRIST.\n\n To whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, three persons and\n one eternal GOD, be all honour and glory, now and for evermore.\n Amen.\n\n\n\n\n SERMON XLIX.\n\n On Regeneration.\n\n\n 2 CORINTHIANS v. 17.\n\n _If any man be in CHRIST, he is a new creature._\n\nTHE doctrine of our regeneration, or new birth in CHRIST JESUS, though\none of the most fundamental doctrines of our holy religion; though so\nplainly and often pressed on us in sacred writ, \u201cthat he who runs may\nread;\u201d nay though it is the very hinge on which the salvation of each\nof us turns, and a point too in which all sincere christians, of every\ndenomination, agree; yet it is so seldom considered, and so little\nexperimentally understood by the generality of professors, that were\nwe to judge of the truth of it, by the experience of most who call\nthemselves christians, we should be apt to imagine they had \u201cnot so\nmuch as heard\u201d whether there be any such thing as regeneration or not.\nIt is true, men for the most part are orthodox in the common articles\nof their creed; they believe \u201cthere is but one GOD, and one Mediator\nbetween GOD and men, even the man CHRIST JESUS;\u201d and that there is no\nother name given under heaven, whereby they can be saved, besides his:\nBut then tell them, they must be regenerated, they must be born again,\nthey must be renewed in the very spirit, in the inmost faculties of\ntheir minds, ere they can truly call CHRIST, \u201cLord, Lord,\u201d or have an\nevidence that they have any share in the merits of his precious blood;\nand they are ready to cry out with _Nicodemus_, \u201cHow can these things\nbe?\u201d Or with the _Athenians_, on another occasion, \u201cWhat will this\nbabler say? he seemeth to be a setter-forth of strange doctrines;\u201d\nbecause we preach unto them CHRIST, and the new-birth.\n\nThat I may therefore contribute my mite towards curing the fatal\nmistake of such persons, who would thus put asunder what GOD has\ninseparably joined together, and vainly think they are justified by\nCHRIST, or have their sins forgiven, and his perfect obedience imputed\nto them, when they are not sanctified, have not their natures changed,\nand made holy, I shall beg leave to enlarge on the words of the text in\nthe following manner:\n\n _First_, I shall endeavour to explain what is meant by being in\n CHRIST: \u201cIf any man be in CHRIST.\u201d\n\n _Secondly_, What we are to understand by being a new creature:\n \u201cIf any man be in CHRIST he is a new creature.\u201d\n\n _Thirdly_, I shall produce some arguments to make good the\n apostle\u2019s assertion. And\n\n _Fourthly_, I shall draw some inferences from what may be\n delivered, and then conclude with a word or two of exhortation.\n\n_First_, I am to endeavour to explain what is meant by this expression\nin the text, \u201cIf any man be in CHRIST.\u201d\n\nNow a person may be said to be in CHRIST two ways.\n\n_First_, Only by an outward profession. And in this sense, every one\nthat is called a christian, or baptized into CHRIST\u2019s church, may be\nsaid to be in CHRIST. But that this is not the sole meaning of the\napostle\u2019s phrase before us, is evident, because then, every one that\nnames the name of CHRIST, or is baptized into his visible church, would\nbe a new creature. Which is notoriously false, it being too plain,\nbeyond all contradiction, that comparatively but few of those that\nare \u201cborn of water,\u201d are \u201cborn of the Spirit\u201d likewise; to use another\nspiritual way of speaking, many are baptized with water, which were\nnever baptized with the Holy Ghost.\n\nTo be in CHRIST therefore, in the full import of the word, must\ncertainly mean something more than a bare outward profession, or being\ncalled after his name. For, as this same apostle tells us, \u201cAll are not\n_Israelites_ that are of _Israel_,\u201d so when applied to christianity,\nall are not real christians that are nominally such. Nay, this is so\nfar from being the case, that our blessed LORD himself informs us, that\nmany who have prophesied or preached in his name, and in his name cast\nout devils, and done many wonderful works, shall notwithstanding be\ndismissed at the last day, with \u201cdepart from me, I know you not, ye\nworkers of iniquity.\u201d\n\nIt remains therefore, that this expression, \u201cif any man be in CHRIST,\u201d\nmust be understood in a\n\n_Second_ and closer signification, to be _in him_ so as to partake\nof the benefits of his sufferings. To be in him not only by an\noutward profession, but by an inward change and purity of heart, and\ncohabitation of his holy spirit. To be in him, so as to be mystically\nunited to him by a true and lively faith, and thereby to receive\nspiritual virtue from him, as the members of the natural body do from\nthe head, or the branches from the vine. To be in him in such a manner\nas the apostle, speaking of himself, acquaints us he knew a person was,\n\u201cI knew \u2666a man in CHRIST,\u201d a true christian; or, as he himself desires\nto be in CHRIST, when he wishes, in his epistle to the _Philippians_,\nthat he might be found in him.\n\n \u2666 missing article \u201ca\u201d inserted\n\nThis is undoubtedly the proper meaning of the apostle\u2019s expression\nin the words of the text; so that what he says in his epistle to the\n_Romans_ about circumcision, may very well be applied to the present\nsubject; that he is not a real christian who is only one outwardly; nor\nis that true baptism, which is only outward in the flesh. But he is a\ntrue christian, who is one inwardly, whose baptism is that of the heart,\nin the spirit, and not merely in the water, whose praise is not of man\nbut of GOD. Or, as he speaketh in another place, \u201cNeither circumcision\nnor uncircumcision availeth any thing (of itself) but a new creature.\u201d\nWhich amounts to what he here declares in the verse now under\nconsideration, that if any man be truly and properly in CHRIST, he is\na new creature. Which brings me to shew,\n\n_Secondly_, What we are to understand by being a _new creature_.\n\nAnd here it is evident at the first view, that this expression is not\nto be so explained as though there was a physical change required to\nbe made in us; or as though we were to be reduced to our primitive\nnothings, and then created and formed again. For, supposing we were,\nas _Nicodemus_ ignorantly imagined, to enter a \u201csecond time into our\nmother\u2019s womb, and be born,\u201d alas! what would it contribute towards\nrendering us spiritually new creatures? Since \u201cthat which was born of\nthe flesh would be flesh still;\u201d we should be the same carnal persons\nas ever, being derived from carnal parents, and consequently receiving\nthe seeds of all manner of sin and corruption from them. No, it only\nmeans, that we must be so altered as to the qualities and tempers\nof our minds, that we must entirely forget what manner of persons we\nonce were. As it may be said of a piece of gold, that was once in the\nore, after it has been cleansed, purified and polished, that it is a\nnew piece of gold; as it may be said of a bright glass that has been\ncovered over with filth, when it is wiped, and so become transparent\nand clear, that it is a new glass: Or, as it might be said of _Naaman_,\nwhen he recovered of his leprosy, and his flesh returned unto him like\nthe flesh of a young child, that he was a new man; so our souls, though\nstill the same as to essence, yet are so purged, purified and cleansed\nfrom their natural dross, filth and leprosy, by the blessed influences\nof the Holy Spirit, that they may be properly said to be made anew.\n\nHow this glorious change is wrought in the soul, cannot easily be\nexplained: For no one knows the ways of the Spirit, save the Spirit\nof GOD himself. Not that this ought to be any argument against this\ndoctrine; for, as our blessed LORD observed to _Nicodemus_, when he was\ndiscoursing on this very subject, \u201cThe wind bloweth where it listeth,\nand thou hearest the sound thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh,\nand whither it goeth;\u201d and if we are told of natural things, and we\nunderstand them not, how much less ought we to wonder, if we cannot\nimmediately account for the invisible workings of the Holy Spirit?\nThe truth of the matter is this: the doctrine of our regeneration,\nor new birth in CHRIST JESUS, is hard to be understood by the natural\nman. But that there is really such a thing, and that each of us must\nbe spiritually born again, I shall endeavour to shew under my\n\n_Third_ general head, in which I was to produce some arguments to make\ngood the apostle\u2019s assertion.\n\nAnd here one would think it sufficient to affirm,\n\n_First_, That GOD himself, in his holy word, hath told us so. Many\ntexts might be produced out of the Old Testament to prove this point,\nand indeed, one would wonder how _Nicodemus_, who was a teacher in\n_Israel_, and who was therefore to instruct the people in the spiritual\nmeaning of the law, should be so ignorant of this grand article, as\nwe find he really was, by his asking our blessed LORD, when he was\npressing on him this topic, How can these things be? Surely, he could\nnot forget how often the Psalmist had begged of GOD, to make him \u201ca\nnew heart,\u201d and \u201cto renew a right spirit within him;\u201d as likewise,\nhow frequently the prophets had warned the people to make them \u201cnew\nhearts,\u201d and new minds, and so turn unto the LORD their GOD. But\nnot to mention these and such like texts out of the Old Testament,\nthis doctrine is so often and plainly repeated in the New, that, as I\nobserved before, he who runs may read. For what says the great Prophet\nand Instructor of the world himself: \u201cExcept a man (every one that\nis naturally the offspring of _Adam_) be born again of water and the\nSpirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of GOD.\u201d And lest we should be\napt to slight this assertion, and _Nicodemus_-like, reject the doctrine,\nbecause we cannot immediately explain \u201cHow this thing can be;\u201d our\nblessed Master therefore affirms it, as it were, by an oath, \u201cVerily,\nverily, I say unto you,\u201d or, as it may be read, I the Amen; I, who am\ntruth itself, say unto you, that it is the unalterable appointment of\nmy heavenly Father, that \u201cunless a man be born again, he cannot enter\ninto the kingdom of GOD.\u201d\n\nAgreeable to this, are those many passages we meet with in the epistles,\nwhere we are commanded to be \u201crenewed in the Spirit,\u201d or, which was\nbefore explained, in the inmost faculties of our minds; to \u201cput off the\nOld Man, which is corrupt; and to put on the New Man, which is created\nafter GOD, in righteousness and true holiness;\u201d that \u201cold things must\npass away, and that all things must become new;\u201d that we are to be\n\u201csaved by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy\nGhost.\u201d Or, methinks, was there no other passage to be produced besides\nthe words of the text, it would be full enough, since the apostle\ntherein positively affirms, that \u201cIf any man be in CHRIST, he is a\n_new creature_.\u201d\n\nNow, what can be understood by all these different terms of being\n_born again_, of _putting off the Old Man_, and _putting on the New_,\nof being _renewed in the spirit of our minds_, and becoming _new\ncreatures_; but that christianity requires a thorough, real inward\nchange of heart? Do we think these, and such-like forms of speaking,\nare mere metaphors, words of a bare sound, without any real solid\nsignification? Indeed, it is to be feared, some men would have them\ninterpreted so; but alas! unhappy men! they are not to be envied in\ntheir metaphorical interpretation: it will be well, if they do not\ninterpret themselves out of their salvation.\n\nMultitudes of other texts might be produced to confirm this same truth;\nbut those already quoted are so plain and convincing, that one would\nimagine no one should deny it; were we not told, there are some, \u201cwho\nhaving eyes, see not, and ears, hear not, and that will not understand\nwith their hearts, or hear with their ears, lest they should be\nconverted, and CHRIST should heal them.\u201d\n\nBut I proceed to a\n\n_Second_ argument; and that shall be taken from the purity of God, and\nthe present corrupt and polluted state of man.\n\nGOD is described in holy scripture (and I speak to those who profess\nto know the scripture) as a Spirit; as a being of such infinite\nsanctity, as to be of \u201cpurer eyes than to behold iniquity;\u201d as to\nbe so transcendently holy, that it is said \u201cthe very heavens are not\nclean in his sight; and the angels themselves he chargeth with folly.\u201d\nOn the other hand, man is described (and every regenerate person will\nfind it true by his own experience) as a creature altogether \u201cconceived\nand born in sin;\u201d as having \u201cno good thing dwelling in him;\u201d as being\n\u201ccarnal, sold under sin;\u201d nay, as having \u201ca mind which is at enmity\nwith GOD,\u201d and such-like. And since there is such an infinite disparity,\ncan any one conceive how a filthy, corrupted, polluted wretch can\ndwell with an infinitely pure and holy GOD, before he is changed, and\nrendered, in some measure, like him? Can he, who is of purer eyes than\nto behold iniquity, dwell with it? Can he, in whose sight the heavens\nare not clean, delight to dwell with uncleanness itself? No, we might\nas well suppose light to have communion with darkness, or CHRIST to\nhave concord with _Belial_. But I pass on to a\n\n_Third_ argument, which shall be founded on the consideration of the\nnature of that happiness GOD has prepared for those that unfeignedly\nlove him.\n\nTo enter indeed on a minute and particular description of heaven,\nwould be vain and presumptuous, since we are told that \u201ceye hath not\nseen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to\nconceive, the things that are there prepared\u201d for the sincere followers\nof the holy JESUS, even in this life, much less in that which is to\ncome. However, this we may venture to affirm in general, that as GOD is\na Spirit, so the happiness he has laid up for his people is spiritual\nlikewise; and consequently, unless our carnal minds are changed, and\nspiritualized, we can never be made meet to partake of that inheritance\nwith the saints in light.\n\nIt is true, we may flatter ourselves, that, supposing we continue in\nour natural corrupt estate, and carry all our lusts along with us, we\nshould, notwithstanding, relish heaven, was GOD to admit us therein.\nAnd so we might, was it a _Mahometan_ paradise, wherein we were to\ntake our full swing in sensual delights. But since its joys are only\nspiritual, and no unclean thing can possibly enter those blessed\nmansions, there is an absolute necessity of our being changed, and\nundergoing a total renovation of our depraved natures, before we can\nhave any taste or relish of those heavenly pleasures.\n\nIt is, doubtless, for this reason, that the apostle declares it to\nbe the irrevocable \u2666decree of the Almighty, that \u201cwithout holiness,\n(without being made pure by regeneration, and having the image of GOD\nthereby reinstamped upon the soul) no man shall see the LORD.\u201d And\nit is very observable, that our divine Master, in the famous passage\nbefore referred to, concerning the absolute necessity of regeneration,\ndoes not say, Unless a man be born again, he _shall not_, but \u201cunless\na man be born again, he _cannot_ enter into the kingdom of GOD.\u201d It is\nfounded in the very nature of things, that unless we have dispositions\nwrought in us suitable to the objects that are to entertain us, we can\ntake no manner of complacency or satisfaction in them. For instance;\nwhat delight can the most harmonious music afford to a deaf, or what\npleasure can the most excellent picture give to a blind man? Can a\ntasteless palate relish the richest dainties, or a filthy swine be\npleased with the finest garden of flowers? No: and what reason can be\nassigned for it? An answer is ready; because they have neither of them\nany tempers of mind correspondent or agreeable to what they are to be\ndiverted with. And thus it is with the soul hereafter: for death makes\nno more alteration in the soul, than as it inlarges its faculties, and\nmakes it capable of receiving deeper impressions either of pleasure or\npain. If it delighted to converse with GOD here, it will be transported\nwith the sight of his glorious Majesty hereafter. If it was pleased\nwith the communion of saints on earth, it will be infinitely more so\nwith the communion and society of holy angels, and the spirits of just\nmen made perfect in heaven. But if the opposite of all this be true, we\nmay assure ourselves the soul could not be happy, was GOD himself to\nadmit it (which he never will do) into the regions of the blessed. But\nit is time for me to hasten to the\n\n \u2666 \u201cdecreee\u201d replaced with \u201cdecree\u201d\n\n_Fourth_ argument, because CHRIST\u2019s redemption will not be complete in\nus, unless we are new creatures.\n\nIf we reflect indeed on the first and chief end of our blessed LORD\u2019s\ncoming, we shall find it was to be a propitiation for our sins, to\ngive his life a ransom for many. But then, if the benefits of our\ndear Redeemer\u2019s death were to extend no farther than barely to procure\nforgiveness of our sins, we should have as little reason to rejoice\nin it, as a poor condemned criminal that is ready to perish by some\nfatal disease, would have in receiving a pardon from his judge. For\nchristians would do well to consider, that there is not only a legal\nhinderance to our happiness, as we are breakers of GOD\u2019s law, but also\na moral impurity in our natures, which renders us incapable of enjoying\nheaven (as hath been already proved) till some mighty change have been\nwrought in us. It is necessary therefore, in order to make CHRIST\u2019s\nredemption compleat, that we should have a grant of GOD\u2019s holy Spirit\nto change our natures, and so prepare us for the enjoyment of that\nhappiness our Saviour has purchased by his precious blood.\n\nAccordingly the holy scriptures inform us, that whom CHRIST justifies,\nor whose sins he forgives, and to whom he imputes his perfect obedience,\nthose he also sanctifies, purifies and cleanses, and totally changeth\ntheir corrupted natures. As the scripture also speaketh in another\nplace, \u201cCHRIST is to us justification, sanctification, and then\nredemption.\u201d But,\n\n_Fourthly_, Proceed we now to the next general thing proposed, to draw\nsome inferences from what has been delivered. And,\n\n_First_, If he that is in CHRIST be a new creature, this may serve as\na reproof for those who rest in a bare performance of outward duties,\nwithout perceiving any real inward change of heart.\n\nWe may observe a great many persons to be very punctual in the regular\nreturns of public and private prayer, as likewise of receiving the holy\ncommunion, and perhaps now and then too in keeping a fast. But here is\nthe misfortune, they rest barely in the use of the means, and think all\nis over, when they have thus complied with those sacred institutions;\nwhereas, were they rightly informed, they would consider, that all the\ninstituted means of grace, as prayer, fasting, hearing and reading the\nword of GOD, receiving the blessed sacrament, and such-like, are no\nfarther serviceable to us, than as they are found to make us inwardly\nbetter, and to carry on the spiritual life in the soul.\n\nIt is true, they are means; but then they are only means; they are part,\nbut not the whole of religion: for if so, who more religious than the\nPharisee? He fasted twice in the week, and gave tythes of all that he\npossessed, and yet was not justified, as our Saviour himself informs us,\nin the sight of GOD.\n\nYou perhaps, like the Pharisee, may fast often, and make long prayers;\nyou may, with _Herod_, hear good sermons gladly. But yet, if you\ncontinue vain and trifling, immoral or worldly-minded, and differ from\nthe rest of your neighbours barely in going to church, or in complying\nwith some outward performances, are you better than they? No, in no\nwise; you are by far much worse; for if you use them, and at the same\ntime abuse them, you thereby encourage others to think there is nothing\nin them, and therefore must expect to receive the greater damnation.\nBut,\n\n_Secondly_, If he that is _in_ CHRIST be a new creature, then this may\ncheck the groundless presumption of another class of professors, who\nrest in the attainment of some moral virtues, and falsely imagine they\nare good christians, if they are just in their dealings, temperate in\ntheir diet, and do no hurt or violence to any man.\n\nBut if this was all that is requisite to make us christians, why\nmight not the heathens of old be good christians, who were remarkable\nfor these virtues? or St. _Paul_ before his conversion, who tells\nus, that he lived in all good conscience? but we find he renounces\nall dependance on works of this nature, and only desires to be found\nin CHRIST, and to know the power of his resurrection, or have an\nexperimental proof of receiving the Holy Ghost, purchased for him by\nthe death, and ensured and applied to him by the resurrection of JESUS\nCHRIST.\n\nThe sum of the matter is this: christianity includes morality, as grace\ndoes reason; but if we are only mere Moralists, if we are not inwardly\nwrought upon, and changed by the powerful operations of the Holy\nSpirit, and our moral actions, proceed from a principle of a new nature,\nhowever we may call ourselves christians, we shall be found naked at\nthe great day, and in the number of those, who have neither CHRIST\u2019s\nrighteousness imputed to them for their justification in the sight, nor\nholiness enough in their souls as the consequence of that, in order to\nmake them meet for the enjoyment, of GOD. Nor,\n\n_Thirdly_, Will this doctrine less condemn those, who rest in a partial\namendment of themselves, without experiencing a thorough, real, inward\nchange of heart.\n\nA little acquaintance with the world will furnish us with instances, of\nno small number of persons, who, perhaps, were before openly profane;\nbut seeing the ill consequences of their vices, and the many worldly\ninconveniencies it has reduced them to, on a sudden, as it were,\ngrow civilized; and thereupon flatter themselves that they are very\nreligious, because they differ a little from their former selves, and\nare not so scandalously wicked as once they were: whereas, at the same\ntime, they shall have some secret darling sin or other, some beloved\n_Dalilah_ or _Herodias_, which they will not part with; some hidden\nlust, which they will not mortify; some vicious habit, which they will\nnot take pains to root out. But wouldst thou know, O vain man! whoever\nthou art, what the LORD thy GOD requires of thee? thou must be informed,\nthat nothing short of a thorough sound conversion will fit thee for\nthe kingdom of heaven. It is not enough to turn from profaneness to\ncivility; but thou must turn from civility to godliness. Not only some,\nbut \u201call things must become new\u201d in thy soul. It will profit thee but\nlittle to do many things, if yet some one thing thou lackest. In short,\nthou must not only be an almost, but altogether a new creature, or in\nvain thou boasteth that thou art a christian.\n\n_Fourthly_, If he that is in CHRIST be a new creature, then this\nmay be prescribed as an infallible rule for every person of whatever\ndenomination, age, degree or quality, to judge himself by; this\nbeing the only solid foundation, whereon we can build a well-grounded\nassurance of pardon, peace, and happiness.\n\nWe may indeed depend on the broken reed of an external profession;\nwe may think we are good enough, if we lead such sober, honest, moral\nlives, as many heathens did. We may imagine we are in a safe condition,\nif we attend on the public offices of religion, and are constant in the\nduties of our closets. But unless all these tend to reform our lives,\nand change our hearts, and are only used as so many channels of divine\ngrace; as I told you before, so I tell you again, christianity will\nprofit you nothing.\n\nLet each of us therefore seriously put this question to our hearts:\nHave we received the Holy Ghost since we believed? Are we new creatures\nin CHRIST, or no? At least, if we are not so yet, is it our daily\nendeavour to become such? Do we constantly and conscientiously use all\nthe means of grace required thereto? Do we fast, watch and pray? Do we,\nnot lazily seek, but laboriously strive to enter in at the strait gate?\nIn short, do we renounce our own righteousness, take up our crosses and\nfollow CHRIST? If so, we are in that narrow way which leads to life;\nthe good seed is sown in our hearts, and will, if duly watered and\nnourished by a regular persevering use of all the means of grace, grow\nup to eternal life. But on the contrary, if we have only heard, and\nknow not experimentally, whether there be any Holy Ghost; if we are\nstrangers to fasting, watching and prayer, and all the other spiritual\nexercises of devotion; if we are content to go in the broad way, merely\nbecause we see most other people do so, without once reflecting whether\nit be the right one or not; in short, if we are strangers, nay enemies\nto the cross of CHRIST, by lives of worldly-mindedness, and sensual\npleasure, and thereby make others think, that christianity is but\nan empty name, a bare formal profession; if this be the case, I say,\nCHRIST is as yet dead in vain, to us; we are under the guilt of our\nsins; and are unacquainted with a true and thorough conversion.\n\nBut beloved, I am persuaded better things of you, and things that\naccompany salvation, though I thus speak; I would humbly hope that you\nare sincerely persuaded, that he who hath not the Spirit of CHRIST is\nnone of his; and that, unless the Spirit, which raised JESUS from the\ndead, dwell in you here, neither will your mortal bodies be quickened\nby the same Spirit to dwell with him hereafter.\n\nLet me therefore (as was proposed in the _last_ place) earnestly exhort\nyou, in the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, to act suitable to those\nconvictions, and to live as christians, that are commanded in holy writ,\nto \u201cput off their former conversation concerning the Old Man, and to\nput on the New Man, which is created after GOD in righteousness and\ntrue holiness.\u201d\n\nIt must be owned indeed, that this is a great and difficult work; but,\nblessed be GOD, it is not impossible. Many thousands of happy souls\nhave been assisted by a divine power to bring it about, and why should\nwe despair of success? Is GOD\u2019s hand shortened, that it cannot save?\nWas he the GOD of our Fathers, is he not the GOD of their children\nalso? Yes, doubtless, of their children also. It is a task likewise,\nthat will put us to some pain; it will oblige us to part with some lust,\nto break with some friend, to mortify some beloved passion, which may\nbe exceeding dear to us, and perhaps as hard to leave, as to cut off\na right-hand, or pluck out a right-eye. But what of all this? Will not\nthe being made a real living member of CHRIST, a child of GOD, and an\ninheritor of the kingdom of heaven, abundantly make amends for all this\ntrouble? Undoubtedly it will.\n\nThe setting about and carrying on this great and necessary work,\nperhaps may, nay assuredly will expose us also to the ridicule of the\nunthinking part of mankind, who will wonder, that we run not into the\nsame excess of riot with themselves; and because we deny our sinful\nappetites, and are not conformed to this world, being commanded in\nscripture to do the one, and to have our conversation in heaven, in\nopposition to the other, they may count our lives folly, and our end\nto be without honour. But will not the being numbered among the saints,\nand shining as the stars for ever and ever, be a more than sufficient\nrecompense for all the ridicule, calumny, or reproach, we can possibly\nmeet with here?\n\nIndeed, was there no other reward attended a thorough conversion, but\nthat peace of GOD, which is the unavoidable consequence of it, and\nwhich, even in this life, \u201cpasseth all understanding,\u201d we should have\ngreat reason to rejoice. But when we consider, that this is the least\nof those mercies GOD has prepared for those that are in CHRIST, and\nbecome new creatures; that, this is but the beginning of an eternal\nsuccession of pleasures; that the day of our deaths, which the\nunconverted, unrenewed sinner must so much dread, will be, as it were,\nbut the first day of our new births, and open to us an everlasting\nscene of happiness and comfort; in short, if we remember, that they who\nare regenerate and born again, have a real title to all the glorious\npromises of the gospel, and are infallibly certain of being as happy,\nboth here and hereafter, as an all-wise, all-gracious, all-powerful GOD\ncan make them; methinks, every one that has but the least concern for\nthe salvation of his precious and immortal soul, having such promises,\nsuch an hope, such an eternity of happiness set before him, should\nnever cease watching, praying, and striving, till he find a real,\ninward, saving change wrought in his heart, and thereby doth know of a\ntruth, that he dwells in CHRIST, and CHRIST in him; that he is a new\ncreature, therefore a child of GOD; that he is already an inheritor,\nand will ere long be an actual possessor of the kingdom of heaven.\n\nWhich GOD of his infinite mercy grant, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD.\n\n To whom, &c.\n\n\n\n\n SERMON L.\n\n Christians, Temples of the living GOD.\n\n\n 2 CORINTHIANS vi. 16.\n\n _Ye are the Temple of the living God._\n\nISAIAH, speaking of the glory of gospel days, said, \u201cMen have not heard\nnor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O GOD, besides\nthee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.\u201d Chapter lxiv.\n4. Could a world lying in the wicked one, be really convinced of this,\nthey would need no other motive to induce them to renounce themselves,\ntake up their cross, and follow JESUS CHRIST. And had believers this\ntruth always deeply impressed upon their souls, they could not but\nabstain from every evil, be continually aspiring after every good; and\nin a word, use all diligence to walk worthy of Him who hath called them\nto his kingdom and glory. If I mistake not, that is the end purposed\nby the apostle _Paul_, in the words of the text, \u201cYe are the temple of\nthe living GOD.\u201d Words originally directed to the church of _Corinth_,\nbut which equally belong to us, and to our children, and to as many as\nthe LORD our GOD shall call. To give you the true meaning of, and then\npractically to improve them, shall be my endeavour in the following\ndiscourse.\n\n_First_, I shall endeavour to give you the true meaning of these words,\n\u201cYe are the temple of the living GOD.\u201d The expression undoubtedly is\nmetaphorical, or figurative: but under the metaphor, something real,\nand of infinite importance, is to be understood. And there seems to\nbe a manifest allusion, not only to what we call temples or churches\nin general, but to the _Jewish temple_ in particular. I trust, that\nbut few, if any here, need be informed, that the preparations for this\nedifice were exceedingly grand, that it was modelled and built by a\ndivine order, and when compleated, was separated from common uses,\nand dedicated to the service of the incomprehensible Jehovah, with the\nutmost solemnity.\n\nIt is thus that christians are \u201cthe temple of the living GOD,\u201d of\nFather, Son, and Holy Ghost; they who once held a consultation to\ncreate, are all equally concerned in making preparations for, and\neffectually bringing about the redemption of man. The Father creates,\nthe Son redeems, and the Holy Ghost sanctifies all the elect people\nof GOD. Being loved from eternity, they are effectually called in\ntime, they are chosen out of the world, and not only by an external\nformal dedication at baptism, or at the LORD\u2019s supper, but by a free,\nvoluntary, unconstrained oblation, they devote themselves, spirit,\nsoul, and body, to the entire service of Him, who hath loved and given\nhimself for them.\n\nThis is true and undefiled religion before GOD our heavenly Father:\nThis is the real christian\u2019s _reasonable service_, or, as some think\nthe word imports, this is the service required of us in the word of GOD.\nIt implies no less than a total renunciation of the world; in short,\nturns the christian\u2019s whole life into one continued sacrifice of love\nto GOD; so that, \u201cwhether he eats or drinks, he does all to his glory.\u201d\nNot that I would hereby insinuate, that to be christians, or to keep\nto the words of our text, in order to be temples of the living GOD, we\nmust become hermits, or shut ourselves up in nunneries or cloysters;\nthis be far from me! No. The religion, which this bible in my hand\nprescribes, is a social religion, a religion equally practicable by\nhigh and low, rich and poor, and which absolutely requires a due\ndischarge of all relative duties, in whatsoever state of life GOD shall\nbe pleased to place and continue us.\n\nThat some, in all ages of the church, have literally separated\nthemselves from the world, and from a sincere desire to save their\nsouls, and attain higher degrees of christian perfection, have wholly\ndevoted themselves to solitude and retirement, is what I make no doubt\nof. But then such a zeal is in no wise according to knowledge; for\nprivate christians, as well as ministers, are said to be \u201cthe salt\nof the earth, and the lights of the world,\u201d and are commanded to \u201clet\ntheir light shine before men.\u201d But how can this be done, if we shut\nourselves up, and thereby entirely exclude ourselves from all manner\nof conversation with the world? Or supposing we could take the wings\nof the morning, and fly into the most distant and desolate parts of the\nearth, what would this avail us, unless we could agree with a wicked\nheart and wicked tempter not to pursue and molest us there?\n\nSo far should we be from thus getting ease and comfort, that I believe\nwe should on the contrary soon find by our experience the truth\nof what a hermit himself once told me, that a tree which stands by\nitself, is most exposed and liable to the strongest blasts. When\nour Saviour was to be tempted by the devil, he was led by the Spirit\ninto the wilderness. How contrary this to their practice, who go into\na wilderness to avoid temptation! Surely such are unmindful of the\npetition put up for us by our blessed LORD, \u201cFather, I pray not that\nthou wouldst take them out of the world, but that thou wouldst keep\nthem from the evil.\u201d This then is to be a christian indeed; to be\nin the world, and yet not of it; to have our hands, according to our\nrespective stations in life, employed on earth, and our hearts at the\nsame time fixed on things above. Then, indeed, are we \u201ctemples of the\nliving GOD,\u201d when with a humble boldness, we can say with a great and\ngood soldier of JESUS CHRIST, we are the same in the parlour, as we are\nin the closet; and can at night throw off our cares, as we throw off\nour cloaths; and being at peace with the world, ourselves, and GOD, are\nindifferent whether we sleep or die.\n\nFarther, the Jewish temple was a house of prayer. \u201cMy house (says the\nGreat GOD) shall be called a house of prayer:\u201d and implies that the\nhearts of true believers are the seats of prayer. For this end was it\nbuilt, and adorned with such furniture. _Solomon_, in that admirable\nprayer which he put up to GOD at the dedication of the temple, saith,\n\u201cHearken therefore unto the supplication of thy servant, and of thy\npeople _Israel_, which they shall make towards this place.\u201d And hence I\nsuppose it was that _Daniel_, that man greatly beloved, in the time of\ncaptivity, \u201cprayed as aforetime three times a day with his face towards\nthe temple.\u201d And what was said of the first, our LORD applies to the\nsecond temple, \u201cMy house shall be called a house of prayer.\u201d On this\naccount also, true believers may be stiled, \u201cthe temple of the living\nGOD.\u201d For being wholly devoted and dedicated to GOD, even a GOD in\nCHRIST, their heart becomes the seats of prayer, from whence, as so\nmany living altars, a perpetual sacrifice of prayer and praise (like\nunto, tho\u2019 infinitely superior to the perpetual oblation under the\nMosaic dispensation) is continually ascending, and offered up, to the\nFather of Mercies, the GOD of all Consolations. Such, and such only,\nwho thus worship GOD in the temple of their hearts, can truly be said\nto be made priests unto GOD, or be stiled a royal priesthood; such, and\nsuch only, can truly be stiled, \u201cthe temple of the living GOD,\u201d because\nsuch only pray to him, as one expresses it, in the temple of their\nhearts, and consequently worship him in spirit and in truth.\n\nLet no one say that such a devotion is impracticable, or at least only\npracticable by a few, and those such who have nothing to do with the\ncommon affairs of life; for this is the common duty and privilege of\nall true christians. \u201cTo pray without ceasing,\u201d and \u201cto rejoice in the\nLORD always,\u201d are precepts equally obligatory on all that name the name\nof CHRIST. And though it must be owned, that it is hard for persons\nthat are immersed in the world, to serve the LORD without distraction;\nand though we must confess, that the lamp of devotion, even in the best\nof saints, sometimes burns too dimly, yet those who are the temple of\nthe living GOD, find prayer to be their very element: And when those\nwho make this objection, once come to love prayer, as some unhappy men\nlove swearing, they will find no more difficulty in praying to, and\npraising GOD always, than these unhappy creatures do in cursing and\nswearing always. What hath been advanced, is far from being a state\npeculiar to persons wholly retired from the world.\n\nMy brethren, the love of GOD is all in all. When once possessed of\nthis, as we certainly must be, if we are \u201cthe temple of the living\nGOD,\u201d meditation, prayer, praise, and other spiritual exercises, become\nhabitual and delightful. When once touched with this divine magnet, for\never after the soul feels a divine attraction, and continually turns\nto its centre, GOD; and if diverted therefrom, by any sudden or violent\ntemptation, yet when that obstruction is removed, like as a needle\ntouched by a loadstone when your finger is taken away, turns to its\nrest, its centre, its GOD, its All, again.\n\nThe Jewish temple was also a place where the Great Jehovah was pleased\nin a more immediate manner to reside. Hence, he is said to put and\nrecord his name there, and to sit or dwell between the cherubims; and\nwhen _Solomon_ first dedicated it, we are told, \u201cthe house was filled\nwith a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason\nof the cloud, for the glory of the LORD had filled the house.\u201d And\nwherefore all this amazing manifestation of the Divine Glory? Even for\nthis, O man, to shew thee how the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth\neternity, would make believers hearts his living temple, and dwell and\nmake his abode in all those that tremble at his word.\n\nTo this, the apostle more particularly alludes in the words immediately\nfollowing our text; for having called the _Corinthians_ \u201cthe temple\nof the living GOD,\u201d he adds, \u201cas GOD hath said, I will dwell in them,\nand I will walk in them, and I will be their GOD, and they shall be my\npeople.\u201d Strange and strong expressions these! But strange and strong\nas they are, must be experienced by all who are indeed \u201cthe temple\nof the living GOD.\u201d For they are said, to be \u201cchosen to be a holy\nhabitation through the Spirit; to dwell in GOD, and GOD in them; to\nhave the witness in themselves, and to have GOD\u2019s Spirit witnessing\nwith their spirits that they are the children of GOD.\u201d Which\nexpressions import no more or less, than that prayer of our LORD which\nhe put up for his church and people a little before his bitter passion,\n\u201cThat they may be one, even as we are one, I in them, and thou in me,\nthat they may be made perfect in one:\u201d This glorious passage our church\nadopts in her excellent communion office, and is so far from thinking\nthat this was only the privilege of the apostles, that she asserts\nin the strongest terms, that it is the privilege of every worthy\ncommunicant. For then (says she) if we receive the sacrament worthily,\nwe are one with CHRIST, and CHRIST is one with us; we dwell in CHRIST,\nand CHRIST in us. And what is it, but that inspiration of the Holy\nSpirit, which we pray for in the beginning of that office, and that\nfellowship of the Holy Ghost, which the minister, in the conclusion of\nevery day\u2019s public prayer, entreats the LORD to be with us all evermore?\n\nBrethren, the time would fail me to mention all the scriptures, and\nthe various branches of our liturgy, articles, and homilies, that speak\nof this inestimable blessing, the indwelling of the blessed Spirit,\nwhereby we do indeed become, \u201cthe temples of the living GOD.\u201d If you\nhave eyes that see, or ears that hear, you may view it almost in every\npage of the lively oracles, and every part of those offices, which\nsome of you daily use, and hear read to you, in the public worship\nof Almighty GOD. In asserting therefore this doctrine, we do not vent\nthe whimsies of a disordered brain, and heated imagination; neither\ndo we broach any new doctrines, or set up the peculiar opinions of any\nparticular sect or denomination of christians whatsoever; but we speak\nthe words of truth and soberness, we shew you the right and good old\nway, even that, in which the articles of all the reformed churches,\nand all sincere christians of all parties, however differing in other\nrespects, do universally agree. We are now insisting upon a point,\nwhich may properly be termed the christian _shibboleth_, something\nwhich is the grand criterion of our most holy religion; and on account\nof which, the holy _Ignatius_, one of the first fathers of the church,\nwas used to stile himself a _bearer of_ GOD, and the people to whom\nhe wrote, _bearers of_ GOD: For this, as it is recorded of him, he was\narraigned before _Trajan_, who imperiously said, Where is this man,\nthat says, he carries GOD about with him. With an humble boldness he\nanswered, I am he, and then quoted the passage in the text \u201cYe are the\ntemple of the living GOD; as GOD hath said, I will dwell in them, and\nwalk in them, and I will be their GOD, and they shall be my people.\u201d\nUpon this, to cure him of his enthusiasm, he was condemned to be\ndevoured by lions.\n\nBlessed be GOD! we are not in danger of being called before\nsuch persecuting _Trajans_ now: under our present mild and happy\nadministration, the scourge of the tongue is all that they can legally\nlash us with. But if permitted to go farther, we need not be ashamed\nof witnessing this good confession. Suffering grace will be given for\nsuffering times; and if, like _Ignatius_, we are bearers of GOD, we\nalso shall be enabled to say with him, when led to the devouring lions,\nNow I begin to be a disciple of CHRIST.\n\nBut it is time for me,\n\n_Secondly_, To make some practical improvement of what has been\ndelivered. You have heard in what sense it is that real christians are\n\u201cthe temple of the living GOD.\u201d Shall I ask, Believe ye these things?\nI know and am persuaded that some of you do indeed believe them, not\nbecause I have told you, but because you yourselves have experienced\nthe same.\n\nI congratulate you from my inmost soul. O that your hearts may be in\ntune this day to \u201cmagnify the LORD,\u201d and your spirits prepared to\n\u201crejoice in GOD your Saviour.\u201d Like the Virgin _Mary_, you are highly\nfavoured, and from henceforth all the generations of GOD\u2019s people shall\ncall you blessed. You can call CHRIST, Lord, by the Holy Ghost, and\nthereby have an internal, as well as external evidence of the divinity,\nboth of his person, and of his holy word. You can now prove that\ndespised book, emphatically called The Scriptures, doth contain the\nperfect and acceptable will of GOD. You have found the second _Adam_\nto be a quickening spirit; He hath raised you from death to life.\nAnd being thus taught, and born of GOD, however unlearned in other\nrespects, you can say, \u201cIs not this the CHRIST?\u201d O ineffable blessing!\ninconceivable privilege! GOD\u2019s spirit witnesseth with your spirits,\nthat you are the children of GOD. When you think of this, are you not\nready to cry out with the beloved disciple, \u201cWhat manner of love is\nthis, that we should be called the children of GOD!\u201d I believe that\nholy man was in an extasy when he wrote these words; and tho\u2019 he has\nbeen in heaven so long, yet his extatic surprize is but now beginning,\nand will be but as beginning through the ages of eternity. Thus\nshall it be with all you likewise, whom the high and lofty One, that\ninhabiteth eternity, hath made his living temples. For He hath sealed\nyou to the day of redemption, and hath given you the earnest of your\nfuture inheritance. His eyes and heart shall therefore be upon you\ncontinually: and in spite of all opposition from men or devils, the\ntop-stone of this \u2666spiritual building shall be brought forth, and you\nshall shout Grace, grace unto it: your bodies shall be fashioned like\nunto the Redeemer\u2019s glorious body, and your souls, in which (O infinite\ncondescension!) He now delights to dwell, shall be filled with all\nthe fulness of GOD. You shall then go no more out; you shall then no\nmore need the light of the sun or the light of the moon, for the LORD\nhimself will be your temple, and the Lamb in the midst thereof shall be\nyour glory. Dearly beloved in the LORD, what say you to these things?\nDo not your hearts burn within you whilst thinking of these deep,\nbut glorious truths of GOD. Whilst I am musing, and speaking of them,\nmethinks a fire kindles even in this cold, icy heart of mine: O what\nshall we render unto the LORD for all these mercies! Surely He hath\ndone great things for us: How great is his goodness, and his bounty!\nO the heighth, the depth, the length, and the breadth of the love of\nGOD! Surely it passeth knowledge. O for humility! and a soul-abasing,\nGOD-exalting sense of these things! When the blessed virgin went into\nthe hill country, to pay a visit to her cousin _Elizabeth_, amazed at\nsuch a favour, she cried out, \u201cWhence is it that the mother of my LORD\nvouchsafes to come to me?\u201d And when the great Jehovah filled the temple\nwith his glory, out of the abundance of his heart, king _Solomon_ burst\nforth into this pathetic exclamation, \u201cBut will GOD in very deed dwell\nwith men on the earth?\u201d With how much greater astonishment ought we to\nsay, And will the LORD himself in very deed come to us? Will the high\nand lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, dwell in, and make our earthly\nhearts his living temples? My brethren, whence is this? From any\nfitness in us foreseen? No, I know you disclaim such an unbecoming\nthought. Was it then from the improvement of our own free-will? No, I\nam persuaded you will not thus debase the riches of GOD\u2019s free grace.\nAre you not all ready to say, Not unto us, not unto us, but unto thy\nfree, thy unmerited, thy sovereign, distinguishing love and mercy,\nO LORD, be all the glory. It is this, and this alone, hath made the\ndifference between us and others. We have nothing but what is freely\ngiven us from above: if we love GOD, it is because GOD first loved us.\nLet us look then unto the rock from whence we have been hewn, and the\nhole of the pit from whence we have been digged. And if there be any\nconsolation in CHRIST, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the\nspirit, if any bowels and mercies, let us study and strive to walk as\nbecometh those who are made the temples of the living GOD, or, as the\napostle elsewhere expresseth himself, \u201ca holy temple unto the LORD.\u201d\nWhat manner of persons ought such to be in all holy conversation and\ngodliness? How holily and how purely should we live! As our apostle\nargues in another place, \u201cFor what fellowship hath righteousness with\nunrighteousness? What communion hath light with darkness? Or what\nconcord hath CHRIST with Belial?\u201d Shall those who are temples of\nthe living GOD, suffer themselves to be dens of thieves and cages of\nunclean birds? Shall vain unchaste thoughts be suffered to dwell within\nthem? much less shall any thing that is impure be conceived or acted by\nthem? Shall we provoke the LORD to jealousy? GOD forbid! We all know\nwith what distinguished ardor our blessed Redeemer purged an earthly\ntemple; a zeal for his father\u2019s house even eat him up: with what a holy\nvehemence did he overturn the tables of the money-changers, and scourge\nthe buyers and sellers out before him! Why? They made his father\u2019s\nhouse a house of merchandise: they had turned the house of prayer into\na den of thieves.\n\n \u2666 \u201cspirituaul\u201d replaced with \u201cspiritual\u201d\n\nO my brethren, how often have you and I been guilty of this great evil?\nHow often have the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the\npride of life, insensibly stolen away our hearts from GOD? Once they\nwere indeed houses of prayer; faith, hope, love, peace, joy, and all\nthe other fruits of the blessed Spirit lodged within them; but now, O\nnow, it may be, thieves and robbers. _Hinc ill\u00e6 lachrym\u00e6._ Hence those\nhidings of GOD\u2019s face, that dryness, and deadness, and barrenness of\nsoul, those wearisome nights and days, which many of us have felt from\ntime to time, and have been made to groan under. Hence those dolorous\nand heart-breaking complaints, \u201cO that I knew where I might find\nhim! O that it was with me as in days of old, when the candle of the\nLORD shone bright upon my soul!\u201d Hence those domestic trials, those\npersonal losses and disappointments: and to this perhaps some of us may\nadd, hence all those public rebukes with which we have been visited:\nthey are all only as so many scourges of small cords in the loving\nRedeemer\u2019s hands, to scourge the buyers and sellers out of the temple\nof our hearts. O that we may know the rod and who hath appointed it!\nHe hath chastised us with whips: may we be wise, and by a more close\nand circumspect walk prevent his chastising us in time to come with\nscorpions! But who is sufficient for this thing? None but thou, O LORD,\nto whom alone all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no\nsecrets are hidden! Cleanse thou therefore the thoughts of our hearts\nby the inspiration of thy blessed Spirit, that henceforward we may more\nperfectly love thee, and more worthily magnify thy holy name!\n\nBut are not some of you ready to object, and to fear, that the LORD\nhath forgotten to be gracious, that he hath shut up his loving kindness\nin displeasure, and that he will be no more entreated? Thus the\npsalmist once thought, when visited for his backslidings with GOD\u2019s\nheavy hand. But he acknowledged this to be his infirmity; and whether\nyou think of it or no, I tell you, this is your infirmity. O ye\ndejected, desponding, distrustful souls, hear ye the word of the LORD,\nand call to mind his wonderful declarations of old to his people. \u201cI,\neven I am He that blotteth out thy transgressions: for a small moment\nhave I forsaken thee, but with everlasting mercies will I gather thee.\nCan a woman forget her sucking child? Yes she may, but the LORD will\nnot forget you, O ye of little faith, For as a father pitieth his own\nchildren, so doth the LORD pity them that fear him. How shall I give\nthee up, O _Ephraim_? How shall I make thee as _Admah_? How shall I set\nthee as _Zeboim_?\u201d And what is the result of all these interrogations?\n\u201cMy repentings are kindled together: I will not return to execute the\nfierceness of my anger against _Ephraim_: for I am GOD, and not man.\u201d\nAnd is not the language of all these endearing passages, like that of\n_Joseph_ to his self-convicted, troubled brethren? \u201cCome near to me.\u201d O\nthat it may be said of you, as it is said of them, \u201cAnd they came near\nunto him.\u201d Then should you find by happy experience, that the LORD, the\nLORD GOD, merciful and gracious, is indeed slow to anger and of great\nkindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knows but he may come down\nthis day, this hour, nay this moment, and suddenly revisit the temple\nof your hearts? Who knows but he may revive his work in your precious\nsouls, cause you to return to your first love, help you to do your\nfirst works, and even exceed your hopes, and cause the glory of this\nsecond visitation even to surpass that glory which filled your hearts,\nin that happy, never to be forgotten day, in which he first vouchsafed\nto make you his living temples? Even so, Father, let it seem good in\nthy sight!\n\nBut the improvement of our subject must not end here. Hitherto I have\nbeen giving bread to the children; and it is my meat and drink so to\ndo: but must nothing be said to those of you who are without? I mean to\nsuch who cannot yet say, that they are \u201cthe temple of the living GOD.\u201d\nAnd O how great, put you all together, may the number of you be: by far,\nin all probability, the greatest part of this auditory. Say not I am\nuncharitable; the GOD of truth, hath said it, \u201cStrait is the gate, and\nnarrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find\nit.\u201d Suffer me to speak plainly to you, my brethren; you have heard\nwhat has been said upon the words of our text, and what must be wrought\nin us, ere we can truly say that we are \u201cthe temple of the living GOD.\u201d\nIs it so with you? Are ye separated from the world and worldly tempers?\nAre your hearts become houses of prayer? Doth the Spirit of GOD dwell\nin your souls? and whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do,\nas to the habitual bent of your minds, do you do all to the glory of\nGOD? These are short, but plain, and let me tell you very important\nquestions. What answer can you make to them? Say not, \u201cGo thy way, and\nat a more convenient season I will call for thee.\u201d I will not, I must\nnot suffer you to put me off so; I demand an answer in the name of the\nLORD of Hosts. What say ye? Methinks, I hear you say, \u201cWe have been\ndedicated to GOD in baptism, we go to church or meeting, we say our\nprayers, repeat our creeds, or have subscribed the articles, and the\nconfession of faith; we are quite orthodox, and great friends to the\ndoctrines of grace; we do no body any harm, we are honest moral people,\nwe are \u2666church-members, we keep up family-prayer, and constantly go to\nthe table of the LORD.\u201d All these things are good in their places. But\nthus far, nay much farther may you go, and yet be far from the kingdom\nof GOD. The unprofitable servant did no one any harm; and the foolish\nvirgins had a lamp of an outward profession, and went up even to\nheaven\u2019s gate, calling CHRIST, \u201cLord, Lord.\u201d These things may make you\nwhited sepulchres, but not \u201cthe temples of the living GOD.\u201d Alas! Alas!\none thing you yet lack, the one chief thing, and without which all is\nnothing; I mean the indwelling of GOD\u2019s blessed Spirit, without which\nyou can never become \u201cthe temples of the living GOD.\u201d\n\n \u2666 \u201cchurc-hmembers\u201d replaced with \u201cchurch-members\u201d\n\nAwake therefore, ye deceived formalists, awake; who, vainly puffed up\nwith your model of performances, boastingly cry out, \u201cThe temple of the\nLORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD are we.\u201d Awake, ye\noutward-court worshippers: ye are building on a sandy foundation: take\nheed lest you also go to hell by the very door of heaven. Behold, and\nremember, I have told you before.\n\nAnd as for you who have done none of these things, who instead of\nmaking an outward profession of religion, have as it were renounced\nyour baptism, proclaim your sin like _Sodom_, and wilfully and daringly\nlive as without GOD in the world; I ask you, how can you think to\nescape, if you persist in neglecting such a great salvation. Verily,\nI should utterly despair of your ever attaining the blessed privilege\nof being temples of the living GOD, did I not hear of thousands, who\nthrough the grace of GOD have been translated from a like state of\ndarkness into his marvellous light. Such, says the apostle _Paul_,\nwriting to these very _Corinthians_ who were now GOD\u2019s living temples,\n(drunkards, whoremongers, adulterers, and such like) \u201csuch were some of\nyou. But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in\nthe name of the LORD JESUS, and by the Spirit of our GOD.\u201d O that the\nsame blessed Spirit may this day vouchsafe to come and pluck you also\nas brands out of the burning! Behold, I warn you to flee from the wrath\nto come. Go home, and meditate on these things; and think whether it\nis not infinitely better, even here, to be temples of the living GOD,\nthan to be bond-slaves to every brutish lust, and to be led captive\nby the devil at his will. The LORD JESUS can, and if you fly to him\nfor refuge, he will set your souls at liberty. He hath led captivity\ncaptive, he hath ascended up on high, on purpose to receive this gift\nof the blessed Spirit of GOD for men, \u201ceven for the rebellious,\u201d that\nhe might dwell in your hearts by faith here, and thereby prepare you to\ndwell with Him and all the heavenly host in his kingdom hereafter.\n\nThat this may be the happy lot of you all, may GOD of his infinite\nmercy grant, for the sake of his dear Son CHRIST JESUS our LORD; to\nwhom with the Father, and the blessed Spirit, three persons, but one\nGOD, be ascribed all power, might, majesty, and dominion, now and for\nevermore. Amen! and Amen!\n\n\n\n\n SERMON LI.\n\n CHRIST the only Preservative against a Reprobate Spirit.\n\n\n 2 CORINTHIANS xiii. 5.\n\n _Know ye not your ownselves, how that JESUS CHRIST is in you,\n except ye be Reprobates._\n\nTHE doctrines of the gospel are doctrines of peace, and they bring\ncomfort to all who believe in them; they are not like the law given by\n_Moses_, which consisted of troublesome and painful ceremonies; neither\ndo they carry with them that terror which the law did; as, \u201ccursed\nis every one who continueth not to do all things which are written in\nthe book of the law:\u201d If you were to keep the whole law, and break but\nin one point, you are guilty of the breach of all. The law denounces\nthreatnings against all who do not conform to her strict commands; but\nthe gospel is a declaration of grace, peace and mercy; here you have an\naccount of the blood of CHRIST, blood which speaketh better things than\nthat of _Abel_; for _Abel_\u2019s blood cried aloud for vengeance, vengeance:\nBut JESUS CHRIST\u2019s crieth mercy, mercy, mercy upon the guilty sinner.\nIf he comes to CHRIST, confesses and forsakes his sin, then JESUS will\nhave mercy upon him: And if, my brethren, you are but sensible of your\nsins, convinced of your iniquities, and feel yourselves lost, undone\nsinners, and come and tell CHRIST of your lost condition, you will soon\nfind how ready he is to help you; he will give you his spirit; and if\nyou have his spirit you cannot be reprobates: you will find his spirit\nto be quickening and refreshing; not like the spirit of the world, a\nspirit of reproach, envy, and all uncharitableness.\n\nMost of your own experiences will confirm the truth hereof; for are\nnot you reproached and slandered, and does not the world say all manner\nof evil against you, merely because you follow JESUS CHRIST; because\nyou will not go to the same excess of riot with them? While they are\nsinging the songs of the drunkard, you are singing psalms and hymns:\nwhile they are at a playhouse, you are hearing a sermon: while they are\ndrinking, revelling and mispending their precious time, and hastening\non their own destruction, you are reading, praying, meditating, and\nworking out your salvation with fear and trembling. This is matter\nenough for a world to reproach you; you are not polite and fashionable\nenough for them. If you will live godly, you must suffer persecution;\nyou must not expect to go through this world without being persecuted\nand reviled. If you were of the world, the world would love you; for\nit always loves its own; but if you are not of the world, it will\nhate you; it has done so in all ages, it never loved any but those who\nwere pleased with its vanities and allurements. It has been the death\nof many a lover of JESUS, merely because they have loved him: And,\ntherefore, my brethren, do not be surprized if you meet with a fiery\ntrial, for all those things will be a means of sending you to your\nmaster the sooner.\n\nThe spirit of the world is hatred; that of CHRIST is love: the spirit\nof the world is vexation; that of CHRIST is pleasure: the spirit of the\nworld is sorrow; that of CHRIST is joy: the spirit of the world is evil,\nand that of CHRIST is good: the spirit of the world will never satisfy\nus, but CHRIST\u2019s spirit is all satisfaction: the spirit of the world\nis misery; that of CHRIST is ease. In one word, the spirit of the world\nhas nothing lasting; but the spirit of CHRIST is durable, and will\nlast through an eternity of ages: the spirit of CHRIST will remove\nevery difficulty, satisfy every doubt, and be a means of bringing you\nto himself, to live with him for ever and ever.\n\nFrom the words of my text, I shall shew you,\n\n I. The necessity of receiving the spirit of CHRIST.\n\n II. Who CHRIST is, whose spirit you are to receive, And then\n\nShall conclude with an exhortation to all of you, high and low, rich\nand poor, to come unto the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and to beg that you may\nreceive his spirit, so that you may not be reprobates.\n\n_First_, I am to shew you the necessity there is of receiving the\nspirit of CHRIST.\n\nAnd here, my brethren, it will be necessary to consider you as in your\nfirst state; that is, when GOD first created _Adam_, and placed him\nin the garden of _Eden_, and gave him a privilege of eating of all the\ntrees in the garden, except the tree of knowledge of good and evil,\nwhich stood in the midst thereof. Our first parents had not been long\nin this state of innocence, before they fell from it, they broke the\ndivine commands, and involved all their posterity in guilt; for as\n_Adam_ was our representative, so we were to stand or fall in him; and\nas he was our f\u0153deral head, his falling involved all our race under the\npower of death, for death came into the world by sin; and we all became\nliable to the eternal punishment due from GOD, for man\u2019s disobedience\nto the divine command.\n\nNow as man had sinned, and a satisfaction was demanded, it was\nimpossible for a finite creature to satisfy him, who was a GOD of\nso strict purity as not to behold iniquity: And man by the justice\nof GOD would have been sent down into the pit, which was prepared of\nold for the devil and his angels; but when justice was going to pass\nthe irrevocable sentence, then the LORD JESUS CHRIST came and offered\nhimself a ransom for poor sinners. Here was admirable condescension\nof the LORD JESUS CHRIST! that he who was in the bosom of his father,\nshould come down from all that glory, to die for such rebels as you\nand I are, who if it lay in our power, would pull the Almighty from his\nthrone: Now can you think that if there was no need of CHRIST\u2019s death,\ncan you think that if there could have been any other ransom found,\nwhereby poor sinners might have been saved, GOD would not have spared\nhis only begotten Son, and not have delivered him up for all that\nbelieve in him?\n\nThis, my brethren, I think proves to a demonstration, that it was\nnecessary for CHRIST to die: But consider, it will be of no service to\nknow that CHRIST died for sinners, if you do not accept of his spirit,\nthat you may be sanctified, and fitted for the reception of that JESUS,\nwho died for all those who believe in him. The sin of your nature, your\noriginal sin, is sufficient to sink you into torments, of which there\nwill be no end; therefore unless you receive the spirit of CHRIST you\nare reprobates, and you cannot be saved: Nothing short of the blood\nof JESUS applied to your souls, will make you happy to all eternity:\nThen, seeing this is so absolutely necessary, that you cannot be\nsaved without having received the spirit of CHRIST, but that ye are\nreprobates, do not rest contented \u2019till you have good hopes, through\ngrace, that the good work is begun in your souls; that you have\nreceived a pardon for your sins; that CHRIST came down from heaven,\ndied, and made satisfaction for your sins. Don\u2019t flatter yourselves\nthat a little morality will be sufficient to save you; that going to\nchurch, or prayers, and sacrament, and doing all the duties of religion\nin an external manner, will ever carry you to heaven; no, you must have\ngrace in your hearts; there must be a change of the whole man.\n\nYou must be born again, and become new creatures, and have the spirit\nof CHRIST within you: And until you have that spirit of CHRIST, however\nyou may think to the contrary, and please yourselves in your own\nimagination, I say, you are no better than reprobates. You may content\nyourselves with leading civil, outward decent lives, but what will that\navail you, unless you have the spirit of the LORD JESUS CHRIST in your\nhearts: His kingdom must be set up in your souls; there must be the\nlife of GOD in the soul of man, else you belong not to the LORD JESUS\nCHRIST; and until you belong to him, you are reprobates.\n\nThis may seem as enthusiasm to some of you, but if it is so, it is what\nthe apostle _Paul_ taught; and therefore, my brethren, they are the\nwords of truth. I beseech you, in the mercies of GOD in CHRIST JESUS,\nnot to despise these words, as if they do not concern you, but were\nonly calculated for the first ages of christianity, and, therefore, of\nno signification: If you think thus, you are wronging your own souls;\nfor whatever is written, was written for you in these times, as well as\nfor the christians in the first ages of the church.\n\nFor the case stands thus between GOD and man: GOD, at first, made man\nupright, or, as the sacred penman expresses it, \u201cIn the image of GOD\nmade he man;\u201d his soul was the very copy, the transcript of the divine\nnature. He who had, by his almighty power, spoken the world into being,\nbreathed into man the breath of spiritual life; and his soul became\nadorned with purity and perfection. This was the finishing stroke of\nthe creation; the perfection both of the moral and material world; and\nit so resembled the divine Original, that GOD could not but rejoice and\ntake pleasure in his own likeness: Therefore, we read, that when GOD\nhad finished the inanimate and brutish part of the creation, \u201che looked,\nand behold it was good.\u201d But when that lovely, god-like creature man\nwas made, \u201cbehold it was very good.\u201d\n\nHappy, unspeakably happy, to be thus partaker of a divine Nature; and\nthus man might have continued still, had he continued holy; but GOD\nplaced him in a state of probation, with a free grant to eat of every\ntree in the garden, except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The\nday he did eat thereof he was not only to become subject to temporal,\nbut spiritual death; and so lose that divine image, that spiritual life\nwhich GOD had breathed into him, and which was as much his happiness as\nhis glory.\n\nBut man, unhappy man, being seduced by the devil, did eat of the\nforbidden fruit, and thereby became liable to that curse which the\neternal GOD had pronounced on him for his disobedience. And we read,\nthat soon after _Adam_ was fallen, he complained that he was naked;\nnaked, not only as to his body, but naked and destitute of those divine\ngraces which before beautified his soul.\n\nAn unhappy mutiny and disorder then fell upon this world; those briars\nand thorns which now spring up and overspread the earth, were but poor\nemblems, lifeless representations of that confusion and rebellion which\nsprung up in, and overwhelmed, the soul of man, immediately after the\nfall. He now sunk into the temper of a beast and devil.\n\nIn this dreadful and disordered condition are all of us brought into\nthe world: We are told, my brethren, that \u201c_Adam_ had a son in his own\nlikeness,\u201d or with the same corrupt nature which he himself had sunk\ninto, after eating the forbidden fruit: And experience, as well as\nscripture, proves, that we are altogether born in sin, and, therefore,\nuncapable, whilst in such a state, to have communion with GOD.\n\nFor as light cannot have communion with darkness, so GOD can have no\ncommunion with such polluted sons of _Belial_. Here, here, appears the\ngreat and glorious end, why CHRIST was manifest in the flesh, to put\nan end to these disorders, and to restore us unto the favour of GOD.\nHe came down from heaven and shed his precious blood upon the cross,\nto satisfy the divine justice of his Father, for our sins; and so, he\npurchased this Holy Ghost, who must once more re-stamp the divine image\non our hearts, and make us capable of living with, and enjoying of GOD.\nWe must be renewed by the spirit of GOD; he must dwell in us before we\ncan be new creatures, and be freed from a reprobate spirit: the spirit\nof CHRIST must bring us home unto that fold where all his sheep are,\nand implant his grace in our hearts, and take from us that spirit of\nsin which reigns in us: And till this is rooted out of our hearts,\nhowever we may flatter ourselves with being good christians, because we\nare good moralists, and lead civil, moral, decent lives, yet if we live\nand die, my brethren, in this way, we are only flattering ourselves\ninto hell.\n\nI think I have proved, to a demonstration, the necessity there is of\nreceiving the spirit of CHRIST. I now come to shew you,\n\n_Secondly_, Who CHRIST is, whose spirit you are to receive.\n\nMy brethren, JESUS CHRIST is co-equal, co-essential, co-eternal, and\nconsubstantial with the Father, very GOD of very GOD; and as there was\nnot a moment of time in which GOD the Father was not, so there was not\na moment of time in which GOD the Son was not.\n\n_Arians_ and _Socinians_ deny this godhead of CHRIST, and esteem him\nonly as a creature: The _Arians_ look on him as a titular Deity, as\na created and subordinate God; but, if they would humbly search the\nscriptures they would find divine homage paid to CHRIST. He is called\nGOD in scripture, particularly when the great evangelical Prophet says,\n\u201cHe shall be called the mighty GOD, the everlasting Father, and the\ngovernment shall be upon his shoulders:\u201d And JESUS CHRIST himself says,\nthat he is \u201cthe Alpha and Omega;\u201d and that \u201cthe world was made by him:\u201d\nBut though this be ever so plain, our gay airy sparks of this age will\nnot believe the LORD JESUS CHRIST to be equal with his Father, and\nthat for no other reason, but because it is a fashionable and polite\ndoctrine to deny his divinity, and esteem him only as a created God.\n\nOur _Socinians_ do not go so far; they look upon CHRIST only to be a\ngood man sent from GOD, to shew the people the way they should go, on\ntheir forsaking of Judaism; that he was to be also an example to the\nworld, and that his death was only to prove the truth of his doctrines.\n\nMany of those who call themselves members, yea, teachers of the church\nof _England_, have got into this polite scheme. Good GOD! my very soul\nshudders at the thoughts of the consequence that will attend such a\nbelief. O my brethren, do not think so dishonourably of the LORD who\nbought you; of the JESUS who died for you: he must be all in all unto\nyour souls, if ever you are saved by him: CHRIST must be your active,\nas well as passive obedience; his righteousness must be imputed to you.\nThe doctrine of CHRIST\u2019s righteousness being imputed, is a comfortable,\na desirable doctrine to all real christians: And to you, sinners, who\nare enquiring what you must do to be saved? how uncomfortable would it\nbe to tell you, by your own good works, when, perhaps, you have never\ndone one good work in all your lives: This would be driving you to\ndespair indeed; no, \u201cbelieve in the LORD JESUS CHRIST and you shall be\nsaved;\u201d come to the LORD JESUS by faith, and he shall receive you. He\nis able and willing to save you.\n\nThis second person in the Trinity, who is God-man, the mediator of\nthe new covenant; he, my brethren, hath virtue enough, in his blood,\nto atone for the sins of millions of worlds: As man he died, he was\ncrucified, nailed to, and pierced on the accursed tree: This was the\nlove of the LORD JESUS CHRIST for you; and will you then have low and\ndishonourable thoughts of JESUS CHRIST, after his having done so much\nfor you? O my dear brethren, don\u2019t be so polite as to deny the Deity of\nCHRIST; though you may be counted fools in the eye of the world, yet in\nGOD\u2019s account, you shall be esteemed wise, wise for salvation.\n\nYou may now be looked upon as fools and madmen, as a parcel of rabble,\nand, in a short time, fit for Bedlam. They may say you are going to\nundermine the established church; but GOD, who knows the secrets of\nall hearts, knows our innocency; and I speak the truth in CHRIST, I\nlie not, I should rejoice to see all the world adhere to her articles;\nI should rejoice to see the teachers, the ministers of the church\nof _England_, preach up those very articles they have subscribed to;\nbut those ministers who do preach them up, they esteem as madmen, and\nlook on them, as the off-scouring of the earth, unfit for company and\nconversation.\n\nThe evil things they say of me, blessed be GOD, are without foundation;\nI am a friend to the church homilies; I am a friend to her liturgy, and\nif they did not thrust me out of their churches, I would read it every\nday.\n\nMy brethren, I am not for limiting the spirit of GOD, but am for\nuniting all in the bonds of love; I love all that love the LORD\nJESUS CHRIST: This will make more christians, than will the spirit of\npersecution.\n\nThe Pharisees may think it madness to mention persecution in a\nchristian country, but the spirit of persecution resides in many: their\nwill is as great, but blessed be GOD, they want the power; if they\nhad that, my brethren, fire and faggot is what we must expect, for the\ndevil\u2019s temple is shaken. Many are coming unto JESUS, I hope many of\nyou are already come, and many more coming; this must make Satan rage,\nto see his kingdom weakened; he will stir up all his malice against\nthe people of GOD. We must expect, that a suffering time will certainly\ncome; it is now hastening on, it is ripening a-pace; then it will be\nproved, to a demonstration, whether you are hypocrites or not; for\nsuffering times are always trying times. O my brethren, do not be\nafraid of a little reproach, but look on it as a fore-runner of what\nwill be the attendant upon it: Therefore let me, by way of application,\n\nExhort all of you, high and low, rich and poor, one with another,\nto come unto the LORD JESUS CHRIST, that he may give you strength to\nundergo whatsoever he, in his wisdom, calls you to. Come, come, my\nbrethren, to JESUS CHRIST, and he will give you grace, which will make\nyou willing and ready to suffer all things for JESUS CHRIST.\n\nIt is not being pointed at; it is not being despised and looked on as\nmad, and a deluded people: Alas! what does this signify to a soul who\nhas JESUS CHRIST? Do not be afraid to confess the blessed JESUS; dare\nto be singularly good: Don\u2019t be afraid of singing of hymns, or of\nmeeting together to build each other up in the ways of the LORD: Shine\nye as lights in the world amidst a crooked and perverse generation.\n\nIt is necessary that offences should come, to try what is in our hearts,\nand whether we will be faithful soldiers of JESUS CHRIST or not: Be not\ncontent with following CHRIST afar off, for then we shall, as _Peter_\ndid, soon deny him; but let us be altogether christians. Let our speech\nand all our actions declare to the whole world, whose disciples we are,\nand that we have determined to know nothing but JESUS CHRIST, and him\ncrucified. O then, then, will it be well with us, happy, unspeakably\nhappy, shall we be, even here; and what is infinitely better, when\nothers that despised us shall be calling for the mountains to fall\non them, and the hills to cover them, we shall be exalted to sit down\non the right hand of GOD, and shine as the sun in the firmament, and\nlive for ever with our Redeemer. And will not this be a sufficient\nrecompence for all the sufferings you have undergone here? Therefore,\ndo not strive to have the greatness, the riches, the honour, and\npleasures of this world, but strive to have JESUS CHRIST.\n\nYour friends and carnal acquaintance, and, above all, your grand\nadversary the devil, will be persuading you not to have CHRIST until\nyou are grown old; he would have you lay up goods for many years; to\nsee plays, play at cards; go to balls, and masquerades; and to make you\nthe more willing, to draw you in, he calls sinful pleasures, innocent\ndiversions.\n\nA late learned Rabbi of our church, told the people, in a sermon, which\nI myself heard, that if people went to church of a Sunday, and said the\nprayers while there, that it was no harm, neither would GOD count it a\nsin, to take their recreation, after the service of the church was over:\nBut I say, my brethren, and the command of GOD says so too, that the\nwhole sabbath must be kept holy; and that as GOD has allowed you six\ndays for yourselves, to do the duties in those several stations wherein\nProvidence has placed you, he expects you should give him one day\nto himself; and will you waste that sabbath which should be spent in\ngathering provisions for your souls? GOD forbid!\n\nYou had ten thousand times better be ignorant of all the polite\ndiversions of the age, than to be ignorant of the spirit of CHRIST\u2019s\nbeing within you, and that it must be, before you are _new creatures_,\nand are in CHRIST; and if you have not an interest in CHRIST, you are\nlost, your damnation is hastening on. \u201cHe that believeth shall be saved,\nand he that believeth not shall be damned.\u201d\n\nIf you stand out against CHRIST, you are fighting against yourselves. O\ncome unto him, do not stay to bring good works with you, for they will\nbe of no service; all your works will never carry you to heaven, they\nwill never pardon one sin, nor give you the least comfort in a dying\nhour; if you have nothing more than your own works to recommend you to\nGOD, they will not prevent your sinking into that eternal abyss, where\nthere is no bottom.\n\nBut come unto CHRIST, and he will give you that righteousness which\nwill stand you in good account at the great day of the LORD, when he\nshall come to take notice of them that love him, and of those who have\nthe wedding garment on.\n\nLet all your actions spring from the love of JESUS; let him be the\nAlpha and Omega of all your actions; then, my brethren, our indifferent\nones are acceptable sacrifices; but if this principle be wanting, our\nmost pompous services avail nothing; we are only spiritual idolaters:\nwe sacrifice to our own net, and make an idol of ourselves, by making\nourselves, and not CHRIST, the spring of our actions; and therefore,\nmy brethren, such actions are so far from being accepted by GOD, that\naccording to the language of one of the articles of our church, \u201cWe\ndoubt not but that they have the nature of sin, because they spring not\nfrom an experimental faith in, and knowledge of JESUS CHRIST.\u201d\n\nWere we not fallen creatures, we might then act upon other principles;\nbut since we are fallen in _Adam_, and are restored again only by the\ndeath of JESUS CHRIST, the face of things is intirely changed, and all\nwe think, speak, or do, is only accepted in and through him,\n\nTherefore, my brethren, I beseech you, in the bowels of love and\ncompassion, that you would come unto JESUS: Do not go away scoffing,\noffended, or blaspheming. Indeed, all I say is in love to your souls;\nand if I could be but an instrument of bringing you to JESUS CHRIST,\nif you were to be never so much exalted, I should not envy, but rejoice\nin your happiness: If I was to make up the last of the train of the\ncompanions of the blessed JESUS, it would rejoice me to see you above\nme in glory. I do not speak out of a false humility, a pretended\nsanctity; no, GOD is my judge, I speak the truth in CHRIST, I lie not,\nI would willingly go to prison, or to death for you, so I could but\nbring one soul from the devil\u2019s strong holds, into the salvation which\nis by CHRIST JESUS.\n\nCome then unto CHRIST every one that hears me this night; I offer JESUS\nCHRIST, pardon, and salvation to all you, who will accept thereof.\nCome, O ye drunkards, lay aside your cups, drink no more to excess;\ncome and drink of the water which CHRIST will give you, and then you\nwill thirst no more: come, O ye thieves; let him that has stolen, steal\nno more, but fly unto CHRIST and he will receive you. Come unto him,\nO ye harlots; lay aside your lusts and turn unto the LORD, and he will\nhave mercy upon you, he will cleanse you of all your sins, and wash\nyou in his blood. Come, all ye liars; come, all ye Pharisees; come, all\nye fornicators, adulterers, swearers, and blasphemers, come to CHRIST,\nand he will take away all your filth, he will cleanse you from your\npollution, and your sins shall be done away. Come, come, my guilty\nbrethren; I beseech you for CHRIST\u2019s sake, and for your immortal soul\u2019s\nsake, to come unto CHRIST: Do not let me knock at the door of your\nhearts in vain, but open and let the King of Glory in, and he will\ndwell with you, he will come and sup with you this night; this hour,\nthis moment he is ready to receive you, therefore come unto him.\n\nDo not consult with flesh and blood, let not the world hinder you from\ncoming to the LORD of life: What are a few transitory pleasures of this\nlife worth? They are not worth your having, but JESUS CHRIST is a pearl\nof great price, he is worth the laying out all you have, to buy.\n\nAnd if you are under afflictions, fly not to company to divert you,\nneither read what the world calls harmless books; they only tend to\nharden the heart, and to keep you from closing with the LORD JESUS\nCHRIST.\n\nWhen I was a child, yea, when I came to riper years, GOD knows, it is\nwith grief I speak it, when ignorant of the excellency of the word of\nGOD, I read as many of these harmless books as any one; but now I have\ntasted the good word of life, and am come to a more perfect knowledge\nof CHRIST JESUS my LORD; I put away these childish, trifling things,\nand am determined to read no other books but what lead me to a\nknowledge of myself, and JESUS CHRIST.\n\nMethinks I could speak till midnight unto you, my brethren; I am full\nof love towards you; let me beseech you to fly to CHRIST for succour:\n\u201cNow is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation;\u201d therefore\ndelay not, but strive to enter in at the strait gate; do not go the\nbroad way of the polite world, but choose to suffer affliction with the\npeople of GOD, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season:\nYou will have a reward afterwards, that will make amends for all the\ntaunts, jeers, and calamities you may undergo here.\n\nAnd will not the presence of CHRIST be a sufficient reward for all\nyou have suffered for his name\u2019s sake? Why will you not accept of the\nLORD of glory? Do not say you have not heard of CHRIST, for he is now\noffered to you, and you will not accept of him; do not blame my master,\nhe is willing to save you, if you will but lay hold on him by faith;\nand if you do not, your blood will be required of your own heads.\n\nBut I hope that you will not let the blood of JESUS be shed in vain,\nand that you will not let my preaching be of no signification. Would\nyou have me go and tell my master, you will not come, and that I have\nspent my strength in vain; I cannot bear to carry so unpleasing a\nmessage unto him, I would not, indeed, I would not be a swift witness\nagainst any of you at the great day of accounts; but if you will refuse\nthese gracious invitations, and not accept of them, I must do it: and\nwill it not move your tender hearts to see your friends taken up into\nheaven, and you yourselves thrust down into hell? But I hope better\nthings of most of you, even that you will turn unto the LORD of love,\nthe JESUS who died for you, that in the day when he shall come to take\nhis people to the mansions of everlasting rest, you may hear his voice,\n\u201cCome, ye blessed of my Father, enter into the kingdom prepared for\nyou before the foundation of the world.\u201d And that we may all enter into\nthat glory, do thou, O JESUS, prepare us, by thy grace; give us thy\nspirit; and may our hearts be united to thee: May the word that has now\nbeen spoken, take deep root in thy people\u2019s hearts, that it may spring\nup and bring forth fruit, in some thirty, in some forty, and in some an\nhundred fold; do thou preserve them while in this life from all evil,\nand keep them from falling, and at last present them faultless before\nthy Father, when thou comest to judge the world, that where thou art,\nthey may be also. Grant this, O LORD JESUS CHRIST, with whatever else\nthou seest needful for us, both at this time and for evermore.\n\n Now to GOD the Father, GOD the Son, and GOD the Holy Ghost, be\n ascribed all honour, power, glory, might, majesty and dominion,\n both now and for evermore, Amen.\n\n\n\n\n SERMON LII.\n\n The heinous Sin of Drunkenness.\n\n\n EPHESIANS v. 18.\n\n _Be not drunk with Wine, wherein is Excess; but be filed with\n the Spirit._\n\nTHE persons to whom these words were written, were the inhabitants of\n_Ephesus_, as we are told in the _Acts_, had been \u2666worshippers of the\ngreat goddess _Diana_, and, in all probability, worshipped the God\n_Bacchus_ also; at the celebration of whose festivals, it was always\ncustomary, nay, part of their religion, to get drunk; as though there\nwas no other way to please their God, but by turning themselves into\nbrutes.\n\n \u2666 \u201cworshipppers\u201d replaced with \u201cworshippers\u201d\n\nThe apostle therefore in this chapter, amongst many other precepts more\nespecially applicable to them, lays down this in the text; and exhorts\nthem, as they had now, by the free grace of GOD, been turned from\nheathenish darkness to the light of the gospel, to walk as children of\nlight, and no longer make it part of their religion or practice to be\n\u201cdrunk with wine, wherein is excess;\u201d but, on the contrary, strive to\n\u201cbe filled with the Spirit\u201d of that Saviour, after whose name they were\ncalled, and whose religion taught them to abstain from a filthy sin,\nand to live soberly as they ought to live.\n\nThe world being now christian, and the doctrines of the gospel every\nwhere received, one would imagine, there should be no reason for\nrepeating the precept now before us. But alas, christians! I mean\nchristians falsely so called, are led captive by all sin in general,\nand by this of drunkenness in particular; that was St. _Paul_ to rise\nagain from the dead, he might be tempted to think most of us were\nturned back to the worship of dumb idols; had set up temples in honour\nof _Bacchus_; and made it part of our religion, as the _Ephesians_ did\nof theirs, \u201cto be drunk with wine, wherein is excess.\u201d\n\nSome of our civil magistrates have not been wanting to use the power\ngiven them from above, for the punishment and restraint of such evil\ndoings; and I wish it could be said this plague of drinking, by what\nthey have done, had been stayed amongst us. But alas! though their\nlabour, we trust, has not been altogether in vain in the LORD, yet\nthousands, and I could almost say ten thousands, fall daily at our\nright-hand, by this sin of drunkenness, in our streets; nay, men seem\nto have made a covenant with hell, and though the power of the civil\nmagistrate is exerted against them, nay, though they cannot but daily\nsee the companions of their riot hourly, by this sin, brought to the\ngrave, yet \u201cthey will rise up early to follow strong drink, and cry,\nTo-morrow shall be as to-day, and so much the more abundantly; when we\nawake, we will seek it yet again.\u201d\n\nIt is high time therefore, for thy ministers, O GOD, to lift up their\nvoices like a trumpet; and since human threats cannot prevail, to set\nbefore them the terrors of the LORD, and try if these will not persuade\nthem to cease from the evil of their doings.\n\nBut alas! how shall I address myself to them? I fear excess of\ndrinking has made them such mere _Nabals_, that there is no speaking\nto them. And many of GOD\u2019s servants have toiled all their life-time in\ndissuading them from this sin of drunkenness, yet they will not forbear.\nHowever, at thy command, I will speak also, though they be a rebellious\nhouse. Magnify thy strength, O LORD, in my weakness, and grant that\nI may speak with such demonstration of the Spirit, and power, that\nfrom henceforward they may cease to act so unwisely, and this sin of\ndrunkenness may not be their ruin.\n\nBelieve me, ye unhappy men of _Belial_, (for such, alas! this sin has\nmade you) it is not without the strongest reasons, as well as utmost\nconcern for your precious and immortal souls, that I now conjure you,\nin the Apostle\u2019s words, \u201cNot to be drunk with wine, or any other liquor,\nwherein is excess.\u201d For,\n\n _First_, Drunkenness is a sin which must be highly displeasing\n to GOD; because it is an abuse of his good creatures.\n\nWhen GOD first made man, and had breathed into him the breath of\nlife, he gave him dominion over the works of his hands; and every herb\nbearing seed, and every tree, in which was the fruit of a tree yielding\nseed, to him was given for meat: but when _Adam_ had tasted the\nforbidden fruit, which was the only restraint laid upon him, he\nforfeited this privilege, and had no right, after he had disobeyed\nhis Creator, to the use of any one of the creatures.\n\nBut, blessed be GOD, this charter, as well as all other privileges, is\nrestored to us by the death of the second _Adam_, our LORD and Master\nJESUS CHRIST. Of every beast of the field, every fish of the sea, and\nwhatsoever flieth in the air, or moveth on the face of the earth, that\nis fit for food, \u201cwe may freely eat,\u201d without scruple take and eat;\nbut then, with this limitation, that we use them moderately. For GOD,\nby the death of JESUS, has given no man license to be intemperate; but,\non the contrary, has laid us under the strongest obligations to live\nsoberly, as well as godly, in this present world.\n\nBut the drunkard, despising the goodness and bounty of GOD, in\nrestoring to us what we had so justly forfeited, turns his grace into\nwantonness; and as though the creature was not of itself enough subject\nto vanity, by being cursed for our sake, he abuses it still more,\nby making it administer to his lusts; and turns that wine which was\nintended to make glad his heart, into a deadly poison.\n\nBut thinkest thou, O drunkard, whosoever thou art, thou shalt escape\nthe righteous judgment of GOD? No, the time will shortly come that thou\nmust be no longer steward, and then the Sovereign LORD of all the earth\nwill reckon with thee for thus wasting his goods. Alas! wilt thou then\nwrest scripture any longer to thy own damnation? And because JESUS\nCHRIST turned water into wine at the marriage-feast, to supply the\nwants of his indigent host, say, that it is therefore meet to make\nmerry, and be drunken. No, thou shalt be silent before him; and know,\nthat though thou hast encouraged thyself in drunkenness by such-like\narguments, yet for all these things GOD will bring thee into judgment.\nBut,\n\n _Secondly_, What makes drunkenness more exceedingly sinful, is,\n that a man, by falling into it, sinneth against his own body.\n\nWhen the apostle would dissuade the _Corinthians_ from fornication,\nhe urges this as an argument, \u201cFlee fornication, brethren; for he that\ncommitteth fornication, sinneth against his own body.\u201d And may not I as\njustly cry out, Flee drunkenness, my brethren, since he that committeth\nthat crime, sinneth against his own body? For, from whence come so many\ndiseases and distempers in your bodies? Come they not from hence, even\nfrom your intemperance in drinking? Who hath pains in the head? Who\nhath rottenness in the bones? Who hath redness of eyes? He that tarries\nlong at the wine, he that rises early to seek new wine. How many\nwalking skeletons have you seen, whose bodies were once exceeding fair\nto look upon, fat and well-favoured; but, by this sin of drinking, how\nhas their beauty departed from them, and how have they been permitted\nto walk to and fro upon the earth, as though GOD intended to set them\nup, as he did _Lot_\u2019s wife, for monuments of his justice, that others\nmight learn not to get drunk? Nay, I appeal to yourselves: are not many,\nfor this cause, even now sickly among you? And have not many of your\ncompanions, whom you once saw so flourishing, like green bay trees,\nbeen brought by it with sorrow to their graves?\n\nWe might, perhaps, think ourselves hardly dealt with by GOD, was he\nto send us, as he did the royal Psalmist, to choose one plague out of\nthree, whereby we should be destroyed. But had the Almighty decreed\nto cut off man from the face of the earth, and to shorten his days,\nhe could not well send a more effectual plague, than to permit men, as\nthey pleased, to over-charge themselves with drunkenness; for though it\nbe a slow, yet it is a certain poison. And if the sword has slain its\nthousands, drunkenness has slain its ten thousands.\n\nAnd will not this alarm you, O ye transgressors? Will not this persuade\nyou to spare yourselves, and to do your bodies no harm? What, have\nyou lost the first principles of human nature, the fundamental law of\nself-preservation? You seem to have a great fondness for your bodies;\nwhy, otherwise, to gratify the inordinate appetites, do you drink to\nexcess? But surely, if you truly loved them, you would not thus destroy\nthem; and was there no other argument to be urged against drunkenness,\nthe consideration that it will destroy those lives you are so fond of,\none would imagine, should be sufficient.\n\nI know, indeed, that it is a common answer, which drunkards make to\nthose, who, out of love, would pull them as firebrands out of the\nfire, we are no body\u2019s enemy but our own. But this, instead of being\nan excuse for, is an aggravation of their guilt: for (not to mention\nthat the drunkenness of one man has cloathed many a family with rags,\nand that it is scarce possible for a person to be drunk, without\ntempting his neighbour also) not to mention these, and many other ill\nconsequences, which would prove such an excuse to be entirely false:\nyet what is dearer to a man than himself? And if he himself be lost,\nwhat would all the whole world avail him? But how wilt thou stand, O\nman, before the judgment-seat of CHRIST, and make such an excuse, when\nthou shalt be arraigned before him as a self-murderer? Will it then be\nsufficient, thinkest thou, to say, I was no man\u2019s enemy but my own? No;\nGOD will then tell thee, that thou oughtest to have glorified him with\nthy spirit, and with thy body, which were his; and since thou hast,\nby intemperance, destroyed thy body, he will destroy both thy body and\nsoul in hell. But,\n\n _Thirdly_, What renders drunkenness more inexcusable, is, that\n it robs a man of his reason.\n\nReason is the glory of a man; the chief thing whereby GOD has made\nus to differ from the brute creation. And our modern unbelievers have\nexalted it to such a high degree, as even to set it in opposition to\nrevelation, and so deny the LORD that bought them. But though, in doing\nthis, they greatly err, and whilst they profess themselves wise, become\nreal fools; yet we must acknowledge, that reason is the candle of the\nLORD, and whosoever puts it out, shall bear his punishment, whosoever\nhe be.\n\nBut yet, this the drunkard does. _Nebuchadnezzar_\u2019s curse he makes his\nchoice, his reason departeth from him; and then what is he better than\na brute?\n\nThe very heathen kings were so sensible of this, that, in order to\ndeter their young princes from drinking, they used to make their slaves\nget drunk, and be exposed before them. And didst thou but see thine\nown picture, O drunkard, when, after having drowned thy reason, thou\nstaggerest to and fro, like one of the fools in _Israel_, and seest thy\nvery companions making songs upon thee, surely thou wouldst not return\nto thy vomit again, but abhor thyself in dust and ashes!\n\nWhen _David_, in a holy ecstacy, was dancing before the ark, _Michal_,\n_Saul_\u2019s daughter, despised him in her heart; and when he came home,\nshe said, \u201cHow glorious was the king of _Israel_ to-day, who uncovered\nhimself to-day in the eyes of the hand-maids of his servants, as one\nof the vain fellows shamelesly uncovereth himself.\u201d But may not every\none that meets a drunkard, more justly say, How glorious does he, that\nwas made a little lower than the angels, look to-day, when, unmindful\nof his dignity, he has by drinking robbed himself of his reason, and\nreduced himself to a level with the beasts that perish.\n\nBut what if GOD, in the midst of one of these drunken fits, should\narrest thee by death, and say unto thee, \u201cThou fool, this moment shall\nthy soul be required of thee.\u201d O! how wouldst thou appear in those\nfilthy garments before that GOD, in whose sight the heavens are not\nclean. And how knowest thou, O man, but this may be thy lot? Hast thou\nnot known many summoned at such an unguarded hour? and what assurance\nhast thou, that thou shalt not be the next? Because GOD has forborn\nthee so long, thinkest thou he will forbear always? No, this is rather\na sign that he will come at an hour thou lookest not for him; and since\nhis goodness and long-suffering has not led thee to repentance, he will\ncut thee down, and not permit thee to cumber the ground any longer.\nConsider this then, all ye that count it a pleasure to turn yourselves\ninto brutes, lest GOD pluck you away by a sudden death, and there be\nnone to deliver you.\n\n _Fourthly_, There is a farther aggravation of this crime, that\n it is an inlet to, and forerunner of many other sins; for it\n seldom comes alone.\n\nWe may say of drunkenness, as _Solomon_ does of strife, that it is like\nthe letting out of water; for we know not what will be the end thereof.\nIts name is _Legion_; behold a troop of sins cometh after it. And,\nfor my own part, when I see a drunkard, with the holy Prophet, when he\nlooked in _Hazael_\u2019s face, I can hardly forbear weeping, to consider\nhow many vices he may fall into, ere he comes to himself again.\n\nWhat horrid incest did righteous _Lot_ commit with his own daughters,\nwhen they had made him drunk? And, I doubt not, but there are many\namongst you, who have committed such crimes when you have deprived\nyourselves of your reason by drinking, that were you to hear of them,\nyour heart, like _Nabal_\u2019s, after he was told how he had abused _David_\nwhen he was drunk, would die within you. And, had any one told you,\nwhen you were sober, that you would have been guilty of such crimes,\nyou would have cried out, with _Hazael_ before-mentioned, \u201cAre thy\nservants so many dogs, that they should do thus?\u201d\n\nBut no marvel that drunkards commit such crimes; for drunkenness drives\nthe Holy Spirit from them; they become mere machines for the devil to\nwork up to what he pleases; he enters into them, as he entered into the\nherd of swine; and no wonder if they then commit all uncleanness, and\nany other crime, with greediness. But this leads me to a\n\n _Fifth_ consideration, which highly aggravates the sin of\n drunkenness, it separates the Holy Spirit from us.\n\nIt is to be hoped, that no one here present need be informed, that\nbefore we can be assured we are christians indeed, we must receive\nthe Holy Ghost, must be born again from above, and have the Spirit of\nGOD witnessing with our spirits, that we are the sons of GOD. This,\nthis alone is true christianity; and without the cohabitation of this\nblessed Spirit in our hearts, our righteousness does not exceed the\nrighteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, and we shall in no wise\nenter into the kingdom of GOD.\n\nBut now, drunkards do in effect bid this blessed Spirit to depart from\nthem: for what has he to do with such filthy swine? They have no lot or\nshare in the Spirit of the Son of _David_. They have chased him out of\ntheir hearts, by defiling his temple; I mean their bodies. And he can\nno more hold communion with them, than light can have communion with\ndarkness, or CHRIST have concord with _Belial_.\n\nThe apostle, therefore, in the words of the text, exhorts the\n_Ephesians_, \u201cnot to be drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but to be\nfilled with the Spirit;\u201d thereby implying, that drunkenness and the\nSpirit of GOD could never dwell in the same heart. And in another\nepistle, he bids them to avoid unprofitable conversation, as a thing\nwhich grieved the Holy Spirit: whereby alone they could be sealed to\nthe day of redemption. And if unprofitable conversation grieves the\nHoly Spirit, at what an infinite distance must drunkenness drive him\nfrom the hearts of men?\n\nO that you were wise! that you would consider what a dreadful thing it\nis to have the Spirit of the living GOD depart from you! for, assure\nyourselves, if you live without him, you will live without GOD in the\nworld. You are in the same miserable forlorn condition as _Saul_ was,\nwhen an evil spirit of the LORD came upon him; and you are only so many\nvessels of wrath fitted for destruction. But this brings me to a\n\n _Sixth_ reason against the sin of drunkenness; it absolutely\n unfits a man for the enjoyment of GOD in heaven, and exposes\n him to his eternal wrath.\n\nTo see and enjoy GOD, and to be like the blessed angels; always\nbeholding the face of our heavenly Father, in the glories of his\nkingdom, is such an unspeakable happiness, that even wicked men, though\nthey will not live the life of the righteous, cannot but wish their\nfuture state to be like his.\n\nBut think you, O ye drunkards, that you shall ever be partakers of this\ninheritance with the saints in light? Do you flatter yourselves, that\nyou, who have made them often the subject of your drunken songs, shall\nnow be exalted to sing with them the heavenly songs of _Sion_? No, as\nby drunkenness you have made your hearts cages of unclean birds, with\nimpure and unclean spirits must you dwell.\n\nA burning _Tophet_, kindled by GOD\u2019s wrath, is prepared for your\nreception, where you must suffer the vengeance of eternal fire, and in\nvain cry out for a drop of water to cool your tongues. Indeed you shall\ndrink, but it shall be a cup of GOD\u2019s fury: for in the hand of the\nLORD there will be a cup of fury, it will be full mixed; and as for the\ndregs thereof, all the drunkards of the land shall suck them out.\n\nBut perhaps you may not believe this report. These words may be looked\nupon by you as idle tales, and I may seem to you as _Lot_ did to his\nsons-in-law, when he came to warn them to get up out of _Sodom_, \u201cas\none that mocketh.\u201d But if you believe not me, believe eternal truth\nitself, which has positively declared, that no drunkard shall ever\nenter into his kingdom.\n\nAnd I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that as\nsurely as the LORD rained fire and brimstone, as soon as _Lot_ went\nout of _Sodom_, so surely will GOD cast you into a lake of fire and\nbrimstone, when he shall come to take vengeance on them that know not\nGOD, and have not obeyed the gospel of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.\n\nBehold then I have told you before; remember, that you this day were\ninformed what the end of drunkenness would be. And I summon you, in\nthe name of that GOD whom I serve, to meet me at the judgment-seat of\nCHRIST, that you may acquit both my Master and me; and confess, with\nyour own mouths, that your damnation was of yourselves, and that we are\nfree from the blood of you all.\n\nBut, LORD, has no one believed our report? Wilt thou suffer so many\nwords to be spoken in vain, if it be yet in vain? No, methinks I see\nsome pricked to the heart, and ready to cry out, in the language of\n_David_ to _Abigail_, \u201cBlessed be the LORD GOD of _Israel_, which sent\nthee this day to speak unto us.\u201d For surely, unless he had sent thee,\nthis sin of drunkenness had been our ruin: but now, since we find\nwhither it will lead us, we are resolved to drink no liquor to excess\nwhile the world stands, lest we should be tormented in the flames of\nhell.\n\nBut alas! how shall we be delivered from the power of this sin? Can the\n_Ethiopian_ change his skin, or the leopard his spots? So hard, almost,\nwill it be for you who have been accustomed to be intemperate, to learn\nto live sober.\n\nBut do not despair; for what is impossible with man, is possible with\nGOD. Of whom then should you seek for succour, but of him your LORD?\nWho, though for this sin of drunkenness, he might justly turn away his\nface from you; yet observe,\n\n_First_, If you pour out your hearts before him in _daily prayer_,\nand ask assistance from above, it may be GOD will endue you with power\nfrom on high, and make you more than conquerors through JESUS CHRIST.\nHad you kept up communion with him in prayer, you would not so long,\nby drunkenness, have had communion with devils. But, like the Prodigal,\nyou have desired to be your own masters; you have lived without prayer,\ndepended on your own strength; and now see, alas! on what a broken reed\nyou have leaned. How soon have you made yourselves like the beasts that\nhave no understanding? But turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways. Come\nto him with the repenting Prodigal, saying, \u201cFather we have sinned;\u201d we\nbeseech thee, let not this sin of drunkenness have any longer dominion\nover us. Lay hold on CHRIST by faith, and lo! it shall happen to you\neven as you will. A\n\n_Second_ means I would recommend to you, in order to get the better\nof drunkenness, is to _avoid evil company_: For it is the evil\ncommunication of wicked men, that has drawn many thousands into this\nsin, and so corrupted their good manners.\n\nBut you may say, If I leave my companions, I must expect contempt: for\nthey will certainly despise me for being singular. And thinkest thou, O\nman, ever to enter in at the strait gate by a true conversion, without\nbeing had in derision of them that are round about thee? No; though\nthou mayst be despised, and not go to heaven, yet thou canst not go\nto heaven without being despised: \u201cFor the friendship of the world\nis enmity with GOD.\u201d And they that are born after the flesh, will\npersecute those that are born after the Spirit. Let not, therefore,\na servile fear of being despised by a man that shall die, hinder thy\nturning unto the living GOD. For what is a little contempt? It is but\na vapour which vanisheth away, and cometh not again. Better be derided\nby a few companions here, than be made ashamed before men and angels\nhereafter. Better be the song of a few drunkards on earth, than dwell\nwith them, where they will be eternally reproaching and cursing each\nother in hell. Yet a little while, and they themselves shall praise thy\ndoings; and shall say, We, fools, counted his leaving us to be folly,\nand his end to be without honour: but now is he numbered among the sons\n\u2666of GOD, and his lot among the saints!\n\n \u2666 duplicate word \u201cof\u201d removed\n\nBut I hasten to lay down a\n\n_Third_ means for those who would overcome the sin of drunkenness,\nto enter upon a life of _strict self-denial_ and mortification: for\nthis kind of sin goeth not forth but by prayer and fasting. It is true,\nthis may seem a difficult task; but then, we must thank ourselves for\nit; for had we begun sooner, our work would have been the easier. And\neven now, if you will but strive, the yoke of mortification will grow\nlighter and lighter every day.\n\nAnd now, by way of conclusion, I cannot but exhort all persons, high\nand low, rich and poor, to practise a strict self-denial in eating\nand drinking. For though \u201cthe kingdom of GOD consists not in meats\nand drinks,\u201d yet an abstemious use of GOD\u2019s good creatures, greatly\npromotes the spiritual life. And perhaps there are more destroyed by\nliving in a regular sensuality, than even by the very sin I have now\nbeen warning you of. I know indeed, that many, who are only almost\nchristians, and who seek, but do not strive to enter into the kingdom\nof GOD, urge a text of scripture to justify their indulgence, saying,\nthat \u201cit is not what entereth into the man defileth the man.\u201d And\nso we grant, when taken moderately; but then they should consider,\nthat it is possible, nay, it is proved by daily experience, that a\nperson may eat and drink so much as not to hurt his body, and yet do\ninfinite prejudice to his soul: for self-indulgence lulls the soul\ninto a spiritual slumber, as well as direct intemperance; and though\nthe latter may expose us to more contempt among men, yet the former,\nif continued in, will as certainly shut us out from the presence of\nGOD. St. _Paul_ knew this full well; and therefore, though he was the\nspiritual father of thousands, and was near upon finishing his course,\nyet he says, it was his daily practice to \u201ckeep his body under, and\nbring it into subjection, lest after he had preached to others, he\nhimself should be a cast-away,\u201d or disapproved of, or do something that\nmight make him an offence or stumbling-block to any of GOD\u2019s children:\nfor of his own, and all other saints final perseverance, he makes no\ndoubt, as is evident from many of his epistles; and the word \u1f08\u03b4\u03bf\u03ba\u03b9\u03bc\u03bf\u03c2\nbears this sense, 2 _Corinthians_ xiii. 5. and sundry other places. But\nwhy urge I the apostle\u2019s example, to excite you to a strict temperance\nin eating and drinking? Rather let me exhort you only to put in\npractice the latter part of the text, to labour to \u201cbe filled with\nthe Spirit of GOD,\u201d and then you will no longer search the scriptures\nto find arguments for self-indulgence; but you will deal sincerely\nwith yourselves, and eat and drink no more at any time, than what is\nconsistent with the strictest precepts of the gospel. O beg of GOD,\nthat you may see, how you are fallen in _Adam_, and the necessity of\nbeing renewed, ere you can be happy, by the Spirit of JESUS CHRIST!\nLet us beseech him to enlighten us to see the treachery of our corrupt\nhearts, and how pure and holy these bodies ought to be, that they\nought to be living temples of the Holy Ghost, and then we shall\nshew ourselves men. And being made temples of the Holy Ghost, by his\ndwelling in our bodies here, though after death, worms may destroy them,\nyet shall they be raised by the same Spirit at the general resurrection\nof the last day, to be fashioned like unto CHRIST\u2019s glorious body\nhereafter.\n\n Which GOD of his infinite mercy grant, &c.\n\n\n\n\n SERMON LIII.\n\n The Power of CHRIST\u2019s Resurrection.\n\n\n PHILIPPIANS iii. 10.\n\n _That I may know Him, and the Power of his Resurrection._\n\nTHE apostle, in the verses before the text, had been cautioning the\n_Philippians_ to \u201cbeware of the concision,\u201d _Judaizing teachers_,\nwho endeavoured to subvert them from the simplicity of the gospel, by\ntelling them, they still ought to be subject to circumcision, and all\nthe other ordinances of _Moses_. And that they might not think he spoke\nout of prejudice, and condemned their tenets, because he himself was a\nstranger to the _Jewish_ dispensation, he acquaints them, that if any\nother man thought he had whereof he might trust in the flesh, or seek\nto be justified by the outward privileges of the _Jews_, he had more:\nFor he was \u201ccircumcised the eighth day; of the stock of _Israel_ (not\na proselyte, but a native _Israelite_); of the tribe of _Benjamin_ (the\ntribe which adhered to _Judah_ when the others revolted); an _Hebrew_\nof the _Hebrews_ (a _Jew_ both on the father\u2019s and mother\u2019s side);\nand as touching the law, a _Pharisee_,\u201d the strictest sect amongst\nall _Israel_. To shew that he was no _Gallio_ in religion, through\nhis great, though misguided zeal, he had persecuted the church of\nCHRIST; and \u201cas touching the righteousness of the law (as far as the\n_Pharisees_ exposition of it went, he was) blameless,\u201d and had kept\nit from his youth. But, when it pleased GOD, who separated him from\nhis mother\u2019s womb, to reveal his Son in him, \u201cWhat things were gain\nto me,\u201d (he says) those privileges I boasted myself in, and fought to\nbe justified by, \u201cI counted loss for CHRIST.\u201d And that they might not\nthink he repented that he had done so, he tells them, he was now more\nconfirmed than ever in his judgment. For, says he, \u201cyea doubtless (the\nexpression in the original rises with a holy triumph) and I do count\nall things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of CHRIST\nJESUS my LORD.\u201d And that they might not object that he said, and did\nnot, he acquaints them, he had given proofs of the sincerity of these\nprofessions, because for the sake of them, he had suffered the loss of\nall his worldly things, and still was willing to do more; for, \u201cI count\nthem but dung (no more than offals thrown out to dogs) so that I may\nwin, (or have a saving interest in) CHRIST, and be found in him (as the\nmanslayer in the city of refuge) not having my own righteousness which\nis of the law, (not depending on having _Abraham_ for my father, or on\nany works of righteousness which I have done, either to atone or serve\nas a balance for my evil deeds) but that which is through the faith of\nCHRIST, the righteousness which is of GOD by faith,\u201d a righteousness\nof GOD\u2019s appointing, and which will be imputed to me, if I believe\nin CHRIST, \u201cthat I may know him, and the power of his resurrection;\u201d\nthat I may have an experimental knowledge of the efficacy of his\nresurrection, by feeling the influences of his blessed Spirit on my\nsoul. In which words two things are implied.\n\n _First_, That JESUS CHRIST did rise from the dead.\n\n _Secondly_, That it highly concerns us to know the power of his\n rising again.\n\nAccordingly, in the following discourse I shall endeavour to shew,\n\n _First_, That CHRIST is risen indeed from the dead; and that it\n was necessary for him so to do; and,\n\n _Secondly_, That it highly concerns us to know and experience\n the power of his resurrection.\n\n_First_, CHRIST is indeed risen.\n\nThat JESUS should rise from the dead was absolutely necessary;\n\n1. _First_, On his own account. He had often appealed to this as the\nlast and most convincing proof he would give them that he was the true\nMessiah, \u201cThere shall no other sign be given you, than the sign of the\nprophet _Jonas_.\u201d And again, \u201cDestroy this temple of my body, and in\nthree days I will build it up.\u201d Which words his enemies remembered, and\nurged it as an argument, to induce _Pilate_ to grant them a watch, to\nprevent his being stolen out of the grave. \u201cWe know that deceiver said,\nwhilst he was yet alive, after three days I will rise again.\u201d So that\nhad he not risen again, they might have justly said, we know that this\nman was an impostor.\n\n2. _Secondly_, It was necessary on our account. (says the apostle) for\nour justification;\u201d or that the debt we owed to GOD for our sins, might\nbe fully satisfied and discharged.\n\nIt had pleased the Father (for ever adored be his infinite love and\nfree grace) to wound his only Son for our transgressions, and to arrest\nand confine him in the prison of the grave, as our surety for the guilt\nwe had contracted by setting at nought his commandments. Now had CHRIST\ncontinued always in the grave, we could have had no more assurance\nthat our sins were satisfied for, than any common debtor can have of\nhis creditor\u2019s being satisfied, whilst his surety is kept confined.\nBut he being released from the power of death, we are thereby assured,\nthat with his sacrifice GOD was well pleased, that our atonement was\nfinished on the cross, and that he hath made a full, perfect, and\nsufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins of the\nworld.\n\n3. _Thirdly_, It was necessary that our LORD JESUS should rise again\nfrom the dead, to assure us of the certainty of the resurrection of our\nown bodies.\n\nThe doctrine of the resurrection of the body was entirely exploded and\nset at nought among the _Gentiles_, as appears from the _Athenians_\nmocking at, and calling St. _Paul_ \u201ca babbler and a setter forth\nof strange doctrines,\u201d when he preached to them JESUS, and the\nresurrection. And though it was believed by most of the _Jews_, as is\nevident from many passages of scripture, yet not by all; the whole sect\nof the Sadducees denied it. But the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST put it\nout of dispute. For as he acted as our representative, if he our head\nbe risen, then must we also, who are his members, rise with him. And\nas in the first _Adam_ we all died, even so in him our second _Adam_ we\nmust all, in this sense, be made alive.\n\nAs it was necessary, upon these accounts, that our blessed LORD\nshould rise from the dead; so it is plain beyond contradiction, that\nhe did. Never was any matter of fact better attested; never were\nmore precautions made use of to prevent a cheat. He was buried in a\nsepulchre, hewn out of a rock, so that it could not be said that any\ndigged under, and conveyed him away. It was a sepulchre also wherein\nnever man before was laid; so that if any body did rise from thence,\nit must be the body of JESUS of _Nazareth_. Besides, the sepulchre\nwas sealed; a great stone rolled over the mouth of it; and a band of\nsoldiers (consisting not of friends, but of his professed enemies) was\nset to guard it. And as for his disciples coming by night and stealing\nhim away, it was altogether improbable: For it was not long since, that\nthey had all forsaken him, and they were the most backward in believing\nhis resurrection. And supposing it was true, that they came whilst the\nsoldiers slept; yet the soldiers must be cast into a deep sleep indeed,\nthat the rolling away so great a stone did not awake some of them.\n\nAnd our blessed LORD\u2019s afterwards appearing at sundry times, and in\ndivers manners, to his disciples, as when they were assembled together,\nwhen they were walking to _Emmaus_, when they were fishing; nay, and\ncondescending to shew them his hands and feet, and his appearing to\nabove five hundred brethren at once, put the truth of his resurrection\nout of all dispute.\n\nIndeed, there is one objection that may be made against what has been\nsaid, that the books wherein these facts are recorded were written by\nhis disciples.\n\nAnd who more proper persons than those who were eye-witnesses of\nwhat they related, and eat and drank with him after his resurrection?\n\u201cBut they were illiterate and ignorant men.\u201d Yet as good witnesses\nof a plain matter of fact, as the most learned masters in _Israel_.\nNay, this rendered them more proper witnesses. For being plain men,\nthey were therefore less to be suspected of telling or making a lye,\nparticularly, since they laid down their lives for a testimony of the\ntruth of it. We read indeed of _Jacob_\u2019s telling a lie, though he was\na plain man, in order to get his father\u2019s blessing. But it was never\nheard since the world began, that any man, much less a whole set of men,\ndied martyrs, for the sake of an untruth, when they themselves were to\nreap no advantage from it.\n\nNo, this single circumstance proves them to be _Israelites_ indeed, in\nwhom was no guile. And the wonderful success GOD gave to their ministry\nafterwards, when three thousand were converted by one sermon; and\ntwelve poor fishermen, in a very short time enabled to be more than\nconquerors over all the opposition men or devils could make, was as\nplain a demonstration, that CHRIST was risen, according to their gospel,\nas that a divine power, at the sound of a few ram\u2019s horns, caused the\nwalls of _Jericho_ to fall down.\n\nBut what need we any farther witnesses? Believe you the resurrection\nof our blessed LORD? I know that you believe it, as your gathering\ntogether on this first day of the week in the courts of the LORD\u2019s\nhouse abundantly testifies.\n\nWhat concerns us most to be assured of, and which is the\n\n_Second_ thing I was to speak to, is, Whether we have experimentally\nknown the power of his resurrection; that is, Whether or not we have\nreceived the Holy Ghost, and by his powerful operations on our hearts\nhave been raised from the death of sin, to a life of righteousness and\ntrue holiness.\n\nIt was this, the great apostle was chiefly desirous to know. The\nresurrection of CHRIST\u2019s body he was satisfied would avail him nothing,\nunless he experienced the power of it in raising his dead soul.\n\nFor another, and that a chief end of our blessed LORD\u2019s rising from the\ndead, was to enter heaven as our representative, and to send down the\nHoly Ghost to apply that redemption he had finished on the cross, to\nour hearts, by working an entire change in them.\n\nWithout this, CHRIST would have died in vain. For it would have done us\nno service to have had his outward righteousness imputed to us, unless\nwe had an inward inherent righteousness wrought in us. Because, being\naltogether conceived and born in sin, and consequently unfit to hold\ncommunion with an infinitely pure and holy GOD, we cannot possibly be\nmade meet to see or enjoy him, till a thorough renovation has passed\nupon our hearts.\n\nWithout this, we leave out the Holy Ghost in the great work of\nour redemption. But as we were made by the joint concurrence and\nconsultation of the blessed trinity; and as we were baptized in their\nname, so must all of them concur in our salvation: As the Father made,\nand the Son redeemed, so must the Holy Ghost sanctify and seal us, or\notherwise we have believed in vain.\n\nThis then is what the apostle means by the \u201cPower of CHRIST\u2019s\nresurrection,\u201d and this is what we are as much concerned experimentally\nto know, as that He rose at all.\n\nWithout this, though we may be moralists, though we may be civilized,\ngood-natured people, yet we are no christians. For he is not a true\nchristian, who is only one outwardly; nor have we therefore a right,\nbecause we daily profess to believe that CHRIST rose again the third\nday from the dead. But he is a true christian who is one inwardly; and\nthen only can we be stiled true believers, when we not only profess\nto believe, but have felt the power of our blessed LORD\u2019s rising from\nthe dead, by being quickened and raised by his Spirit, when dead in\ntrespasses and sins, to a thorough newness both of heart and life.\n\nThe devils themselves cannot but believe the doctrine of the\nresurrection, and tremble; but yet they continue devils, because the\nbenefits of this resurrection have not been applied to them, nor have\nthey received a renovating power from it, to change and put off their\ndiabolical nature. And so, unless we not only profess to know, but also\nfeel that CHRIST is risen indeed, by being born again from above, we\nshall be as far from the kingdom of GOD as they: our faith will be as\nineffectual as the faith of devils.\n\nNothing has done more harm to the christian world, nothing has rendered\nthe cross of CHRIST of less effect, than a vain supposition, that\nreligion is something without us. Whereas we should consider, that\nevery thing that CHRIST did outwardly, must be done over again in our\nsouls; or otherwise, the believing there was such a divine person once\non earth, who triumphed over hell and the grave, will profit us no\nmore, than believing there was once such a person as _Alexander_, who\nconquered the world.\n\nAs CHRIST was born of the Virgin\u2019s womb, so must he be spiritually\nformed in our hearts. As he died for sin, so must we die to sin. And as\nhe rose again from the dead, so must we also rise to a divine life.\n\nNone but those who have followed him in this regeneration, or new-birth,\nshall sit on thrones as approvers of his sentence, when he shall come\nin terrible majesty to judge the twelve tribes of _Israel_.\n\nIt is true, as for the outward work of our redemption, it was a\ntransient act, and was certainly finished on the cross, but the\napplication of that redemption to our hearts, is a work that will\ncontinue always, even unto the end of the world.\n\nSo long as there is an elect man breathing on the earth, who is\nnaturally engendred of the offspring of the first _Adam_, so long must\nthe quickning spirit, which was purchased by the resurrection of the\nsecond _Adam_, that LORD from heaven, be breathing upon his soul.\n\nFor though we may exist by CHRIST, yet we cannot be said to exist in\nhim, till we are united to him by one spirit, and enter into a new\nstate of things, as certainly as he entered into a new state of things,\nafter that he rose from the dead.\n\nWe may throng and crowd round about CHRIST, and call him \u201cLord,\nLord,\u201d when we come to worship before his footstool; but we have not\neffectually touched him, till by a lively faith in his resurrection,\nwe perceive a divine virtue coming out of him, to renew and purify our\nsouls.\n\nHow greatly then do they err who rest in a bare historical faith of our\nSaviour\u2019s resurrection, and look only for external proofs to evidence\nit? Whereas were we the most learned disputers of this world, and could\nspeak of the certainty of this fact with the tongue of men and angels,\nyet without this inward testimony of it in our hearts, though we might\nconvince others, yet we should never be saved by it ourselves.\n\nFor we are but dead men, we are like so many carcases wrapt up in grave\ncloaths, till that same JESUS who called _Lazarus_ from his tomb, and\nat whose own resurrection many that slept arose, doth raise us also by\nhis quickening Spirit from our natural death, in which we have so long\nlain, to a holy and heavenly life.\n\nWe might think ourselves happy, if we had seen the Holy JESUS after He\nwas risen from the dead, and our hands had handled that LORD of life.\nBut more happy are they who have not seen him, and yet having felt the\npower of his resurrection, therefore believe in him. For many saw our\ndivine master, who were not saved by him; but whosoever has thus felt\nthe power of his resurrection, has the earnest of his inheritance in\nhis heart, he has passed from death to life, and shall never fall into\nfinal condemnation.\n\nI am very sensible that this is foolishness to the natural man, as\nwere many such like truths to our LORD\u2019s own disciples, when only\nweak in faith, before he rose again. But when these natural men, like\nthem, have fully felt the power of his resurrection, they will then own\nthat this doctrine is from GOD, and say with the _Samaritans_, \u201cNow we\nbelieve not because of thy saying,\u201d for we ourselves have experienced\nit in our hearts.\n\nAnd O that all unbelievers, all letter-learned masters of _Israel_,\nwho now look upon the doctrine of the power of CHRIST\u2019s resurrection,\nor our new birth, as an idle tale, and condemn the preachers of it\nas enthusiasts and madmen, did but thus feel the power of it in their\nsouls, they would no longer ask, how this thing could be? But they\nwould be convinced of it, as much as _Thomas_ was, when he saw the\nLORD\u2019s CHRIST; and like him, when JESUS bid him reach out his hands and\nthrust them into his side, in a holy confusion they would cry out, \u201cMy\nLORD and my GOD!\u201d\n\nBut how shall an unbeliever, how shall the formal christian come thus\nto \u201cknow CHRIST, and the power of his resurrection?\u201d GOD, who cannot\nlye, has told us, \u201cI am the resurrection and the life, whosoever liveth\nand believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.\u201d Again,\nsays the apostle, \u201cBy faith we are saved, and that not of ourselves, it\nis the gift of GOD.\u201d\n\nThis, this is the way, walk in it. Believe, and you shall live in\nCHRIST, and CHRIST in you; you shall be one with CHRIST, and CHRIST one\nwith you. But without this, your outward goodness and professions will\navail you nothing.\n\nBut then, by this faith we are not to understand a dead speculative\nfaith, a faith in the head; but a living principle wrought in the heart\nby the powerful operations of the Holy Ghost, a faith that will enable\nus to overcome the world, and forsake all in affection for JESUS CHRIST.\nFor thus speaks our \u2666blessed Master, \u201cUnless a man forsake all that he\nhath, he cannot be my disciple.\u201d\n\n \u2666 \u201cblesser\u201d replaced with \u201cblessed\u201d\n\nAnd so the apostle, in the words immediately following the text, says,\n\u201cbeing made conformable to his death;\u201d thereby implying, that we cannot\nknow the power of CHRIST\u2019s resurrection, unless we are made conformable\nto him in his death.\n\nIf we can reconcile light and darkness, heaven and hell, then we\nmay hope to know the power of CHRIST\u2019s resurrection without dying to\nourselves and the world. But till we can do this, we might as well\nexpect that CHRIST will have concord with _Belial_.\n\nFor there is such a contrariety between the spirit of this world, and\nthe Spirit of JESUS CHRIST, that he who will be at friendship with the\none, must be at enmity with the other: \u201cWe cannot serve GOD and mammon.\u201d\n\nThis may, indeed, seem a hard saying; and many, with the young man in\nthe gospel, may be tempted to go away sorrowful: But wherefore should\nthis offend them? For what is all that is in the world, the lust of\nthe eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, but vanity and\nvexation of spirit?\n\nGOD is love; and therefore, could our own wills, or the world, have\nmade us happy, he never would have sent his own dear Son JESUS CHRIST\nto die and rise again, to deliver us from the power of them. But\nbecause they only torment, and cannot satisfy, therefore GOD bids us\nto renounce them.\n\nHad any one persuaded profane _Esau_ not to lose so glorious a\nprivilege, merely for the sake of gratifying a present corrupt\ninclination, when he saw him about to sell his birth-right for a\nlittle red pottage, would not one think that man to have been _Esau_\u2019s\nfriend? And just thus stands the case between GOD and us. By the\ndeath and resurrection of JESUS CHRIST, we are new-born to an heavenly\ninheritance amongst all them which are sanctified; but our own corrupt\nwills, would tempt us to sell this glorious birth-right for the\nvanities of the world, which, like _Esau_\u2019s red pottage, may please us\nfor a while, but will soon be taken away from us. GOD knows this, and\ntherefore rather bids us renounce them for a season, than for the short\nenjoyment of them lose the privilege of that glorious birth-right, to\nwhich, by knowing the power of the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST, we are\nentitled.\n\nO the depth of the riches and excellency of christianity! Well might\nthe great St. _Paul_ count all things but dung and dross for the\nexcellency of the knowledge of it. Well might he desire so ardently to\nknow JESUS, and the power of his resurrection. For even on this side\neternity it raises us above the world, and makes us to sit in heavenly\nplaces in CHRIST JESUS.\n\nWell might that glorious company of worthies, recorded in the Holy\nscriptures, supported with a deep sense of their heavenly calling,\ndespise the pleasures and profits of this life, and wander about in\nsheep-skins, and goat-skins, in dens and caves of the earth, being\ndestitute, afflicted, tormented.\n\nAnd O that we were all like minded! that we felt the power of CHRIST\u2019s\nresurrection as they did! How should we then \u201ccount all things as\ndung and dross for the excellency of the knowledge of CHRIST JESUS our\nLORD!\u201d How should we then recover our primitive dignity, trample the\nearth under our feet, and with our souls be continually gasping after\nGOD?\n\nAnd what hinders but we may be thus minded? Is JESUS CHRIST, our great\nHigh Priest, altered from what he was? No, \u201che is the same yesterday,\nto-day, and for ever.\u201d And though he is exalted to the right-hand of\nGOD, yet he is not ashamed to call us brethren. The power of his\nresurrection is as great now as formerly, and the Holy Spirit, which\nwas assured to us by his resurrection, as ready and able to quicken us\nwho are dead in trespasses and sins, as any saint that ever lived. Let\nus but cry, and that instantly, to Him that is mighty and able to save;\nlet us, in sincerity and truth, without secretly keeping back the least\npart, renounce ourselves and the world; then we shall be christians\nindeed. And though the world may call us out, and separate from our\ncompany, yet JESUS CHRIST will walk with, and abide in us. And at the\ngeneral resurrection of the last day, when the voice of the archangel\nand trump of GOD shall bid the sea and the graves to give up their dead,\nand all nations shall appear before him, then will he confess us before\nhis Father and the holy angels, and we shall receive that invitation\nwhich he shall then pronounce to all who love and fear him, \u201cCome, ye\nblessed children of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you\nfrom the beginning of the world.\u201d\n\n Grant this, O Father, for thy dear Son\u2019s sake, JESUS CHRIST our\n LORD; to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, &c.\n\n\n\n\n SERMON LIV.\n\n Intercession every Christian\u2019s Duty.\n\n\n 1 THESSALONIANS v. 25.\n\n _Brethren, pray for us._\n\nIF we enquire, why there is so little love to be found amongst\nchristians, why the very characteristic, by which every one should\nknow that we are disciples of the holy JESUS, is almost banished out\nof the christian world, we shall find it, in a great measure, owing to\na neglect or superficial performance of that excellent part of prayer,\n_intercession_, or imploring the divine grace and mercy in behalf of\nothers.\n\nSome forget this duty of praying for others, because they seldom\nremember to pray for themselves: and even those who are constant in\npraying to their Father who is in heaven, are often so selfish in\ntheir addresses to the throne of grace, that they do not enlarge their\npetitions for the welfare of their fellow christians as they ought; and\nthereby fall short of attaining that christian charity, that unfeigned\nlove to their brethren, which their sacred profession obliges them to\naspire after, and without which, though they should bestow all their\ngoods to feed the poor, and even give their bodies to be burned, yet it\nwould profit them nothing.\n\nSince these things are so, I shall from the words of the text (though\noriginally intended to be more confined) endeavour to shew,\n\n I. _First_, That it is every christian\u2019s duty to pray for others,\n as well as for himself.\n\n II. _Secondly_, Shew, whom we ought to pray for, and in what\n manner we should do it. And,\n\n III. _Thirdly_, I shall offer some motives to excite all\n christians to abound in this great duty of intercession.\n\nI. _First_, I shall endeavour to shew, That it is every christian\u2019s\nduty to pray for others, as well as for himself.\n\nNow _prayer_ is a duty founded on natural religion; the very heathens\nnever neglected it, though many christian heathens amongst us do:\nand it is so essential to christianity, that you might as reasonably\nexpect to find a living man without breath, as a true christian without\nthe spirit of prayer and supplication. Thus, no sooner was St. _Paul_\nconverted, but \u201cbehold he prayeth,\u201d saith the LORD Almighty. And thus\nwill it be with every child of GOD, as soon as he becomes such: prayer\nbeing truly called, The natural cry of the newborn soul.\n\nFor in the heart of every true believer there is a heavenly tendency, a\ndivine attraction, which as sensibly draws him to converse with GOD, as\nthe load-stone attracts the needle.\n\nA deep sense of their own weakness, and of CHRIST\u2019s fulness; a strong\nconviction of their natural corruption, and of the necessity of\nrenewing grace; will not let them rest from crying day and night to\ntheir Almighty Redeemer, that the divine image, which they lost in\n_Adam_, may through his all-powerful mediation, and the sanctifying\noperations of his blessed spirit, be begun, carried on, and fully\nperfected both in their souls and bodies.\n\nThus earnest, thus importunate, are all sincere christians in praying\nfor themselves: but then, not having so lively, lasting, and deep\na sense of the wants of their christian brethren, they are for the\nmost part too remiss and defective in their prayers for them. Whereas,\nwas the love of GOD shed abroad in our hearts, and did we love our\nneighbour in that manner, in which the Son of GOD our Saviour loved\nus, and according to his command and example, we could not but be as\nimportunate for their spiritual and temporal welfare, as for our own;\nand as earnestly desire and endeavour that others should share in the\nbenefits of the death and passion of JESUS CHRIST, as we ourselves.\n\nLet not any one think, that this is an uncommon degree of charity; an\nhigh pitch of perfection, to which not every one can attain: for, if\nwe are all commanded to \u201clove our neighbour (that is every man) even as\nourselves,\u201d nay to \u201clay down our lives for the brethren;\u201d then, it is\nthe duty of all to pray for their neighbours as much as for themselves,\nand by all possible acts and expressions of love and affection towards\nthem, at all times, to shew their readiness even to lay down their\nlives for them, if ever it should please GOD to call them to it.\n\nOur blessed Saviour, as \u201che hath set us an example, that we should\nfollow his steps\u201d in every thing else, so hath he more especially\nin this: for in that divine, that perfect and inimitable prayer\n(recorded in the xviith of St. _John_) which he put up just before his\npassion, we find but few petitions for his own, though many for his\ndisciples welfare: and in that perfect form which he has been pleased\nto prescribe us, we are taught to say, not _My_, but \u201c_Our_ Father,\u201d\nthereby to put us in mind, that, whenever we approach the throne of\ngrace, we ought to pray not for ourselves alone, but for all our\nbrethren in CHRIST.\n\nIntercession then is certainly a duty incumbent upon all christians.\n\nII. Whom we are to intercede for, and how this duty is to be performed,\ncomes next to be considered.\n\n1. And first, our intercession must be _universal_. \u201cI will, (says the\napostle) that prayers, supplications and intercessions be made for all\nmen.\u201d For as GOD\u2019s mercy is over all his works, as JESUS CHRIST died\nto redeem a people out of all nations and languages; so we should pray,\nthat \u201call men may come to the knowledge of the truth, and be saved.\u201d\nMany precious promises are made in holy writ, that the gospel shall\nbe published through the whole world, that \u201cthe earth shall be covered\nwith the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea:\u201d and\ntherefore it is our duty not to confine our petitions to our own nation;\nbut to pray that all those nations, who now sit in darkness and in the\nshadow of death, may have the glorious gospel shine out upon them, as\nwell as upon us. But you need not that any man should teach you this,\nsince ye yourselves are taught of GOD, and of JESUS CHRIST himself, to\npray, that his kingdom may come; part of the meaning of which petition\nis, that \u201cGOD\u2019s ways may be known upon earth, and his saving health\namong all nations.\u201d\n\n2. Next to the praying for all men, we should, according to St.\n_Paul_\u2019s rule, pray for _Kings_; particularly for our present sovereign\nKing _George_, and all that are put in authority under him: that we\nmay lead quiet lives, in all godliness and honesty. For, if we consider\nhow heavy the burden of government is, and how much the welfare of\nany people depends on the zeal and godly conversation of those that\nhave the rule over them: if we set before us the many dangers and\ndifficulties, to which governors by their station are exposed, and the\ncontinual temptations they lie under to luxury and self-indulgence; we\nshall not only pity, but pray for them: that he who preserved _Esther_,\n_David_, and _Josiah_, \u201cunspotted from the world,\u201d amidst the grandeur\nof a court, and gave success to their designs, would also preserve them\nholy and unblameable, and prosper all the works of their hands upon\nthem. But\n\n3. _Thirdly_, you ought, in a more especial manner, to pray for those,\nwhom \u201cthe Holy Ghost hath made _Overseers_ over you.\u201d This is what St.\n_Paul_ begs, again and again, of the churches to whom he writes: Says\nhe in the text, \u201cBrethren, pray for us;\u201d and again, in his epistle to\nthe _Ephesians_, \u201cpraying always, with all manner of supplication; and\nfor me also, that I may open my mouth boldly, to declare the mystery of\nthe gospel.\u201d And in another place, to express his earnestness in this\nrequest, and the great importance of their prayers for him, he bids the\nchurch \u201cstrive, (or, as the original word signifies, be in an agony)\ntogether with him in their prayers.\u201d And surely, if the great St.\n_Paul_, that chosen vessel, that favourite of heaven, needed the\nmost importunate prayers of his christian converts; much more do the\nordinary ministers of the gospel stand in need of the intercession of\ntheir respective flocks.\n\nAnd I cannot but in a more especial manner insist upon this branch\nof your duty, because it is a matter of such importance: for, no\ndoubt, much good is frequently withheld from many, by reason of their\nneglecting to pray for their ministers, and which they would have\nreceived, had they prayed for them as they ought. Not to mention, that\npeople often complain of the want of diligent and faithful pastors. But\nhow do they deserve good pastors, who will not earnestly pray to GOD\nfor such? If we will not pray to the LORD of the harvest, can it be\nexpected he will send forth labourers into his harvest?\n\nBesides, what ingratitude is it, not to pray for your ministers! For\nshall they watch and labour in the word and doctrine for you, and your\nsalvation, and shall not you pray for them in return? If any bestow\nfavours on your bodies, you think it right, meet, and your bounden duty,\nto pray for them; and shall not they be remembered in your prayers, who\ndaily feed and nourish your souls? Add to all this, that praying for\nyour ministers, will be a manifest proof of your believing, that though\n_Paul_ plant, and _Apollos_ water, yet it is GOD alone who giveth\nthe increase. And you will also find it the best means you can use,\nto promote your own welfare; because GOD, in answer to your prayers,\nmay impart a double portion of his holy spirit to them, whereby they\nwill be qualified to deal out to you larger measures of knowledge in\nspiritual things, and be enabled more skilfully to divide the word of\ntruth.\n\nWould men but constantly observe this direction, and when their\nministers are praying in their name to GOD, humbly beseech him to\nperform all their petitions: or, when they are speaking in GOD\u2019s name\nto them, pray that the Holy Ghost may fall on all them that hear the\nword; we should find a more visible good effect of their doctrine, and\na greater mutual love between ministers and their people. For ministers\nhands would then be held up by the people\u2019s intercessions, and the\npeople will never dare to villify or traduce those who are the constant\nsubjects of their prayers.\n\n4. Next to our ministers, _our friends_ claim a place in our\nintercessions; but then we should not content ourselves with praying\nin general terms for them, but suit our prayers to their particular\ncircumstances. When _Miriam_ was afflicted with a leprosy from GOD,\n_Moses_ cried and said, \u201cLORD, heal her.\u201d And when the nobleman came\nto apply to JESUS CHRIST, in behalf of his child, he said, \u201cLORD, my\nlittle daughter lieth at the point of death, I pray thee to come and\nheal her.\u201d In like manner, when our friends are under any afflicting\ncircumstances, we should endeavour to pray for them, with a particular\nregard to those circumstances. For instance, is a friend sick? we\nshould pray, that if it be GOD\u2019s good pleasure, it may not be unto\ndeath; but if otherwise, that he would give him grace so to take his\nvisitation, that, after this painful life ended, he may dwell with him\nin life everlasting. Is a friend in doubt in an important matter? we\nshould lay his case before GOD, as _Moses_ did that of the daughters\nof _Zelophehad_, and pray, that GOD\u2019s Holy Spirit may lead him into\nall truth, and give all seasonable direction. Is he in want? we should\npray, that his faith may never fail, and that in GOD\u2019s due time he may\nbe relieved. And in all other cases, we should not pray for our friends\nonly in generals, but suit our petitions to their particular sufferings\nand afflictions; for otherwise, we may never ask perhaps for the things\nour friends most want.\n\nIt must be confessed, that such a procedure will oblige some often to\nbreak from the forms they use; but if we accustom ourselves to it, and\nhave a deep sense of what we ask for, the most illiterate christian\nwill not want proper words to express themselves.\n\nWe have many noble instances in holy scripture of the success of this\nkind of particular intercession; but none more remarkable than that of\n_Abraham_\u2019s servant, in the book of _Genesis_, who being sent to seek\na wife for his son _Isaac_, prayed in a most particular manner in his\nbehalf. And the sequel of the story informs us, how remarkably his\nprayer was answered. And did christians now pray for their friends\nin the same particular manner, and with the same faith as _Abraham_\u2019s\nservant did for his master; they would, no doubt, in many instances,\nreceive as visible answers, and have as much reason to bless GOD for\nthem, as he had. But\n\n5. As we ought thus to intercede for our friends, so in like manner\nmust we also pray for _our enemies_. \u201cBless them that curse you,\n(says JESUS CHRIST) and pray for them that despitefully use you, and\npersecute you.\u201d Which commands he enforced in the strongest manner by\nhis own example: in the very agonies and pangs of death, he prayed even\nfor his murderers, \u201cFather, forgive them, for they know not what they\ndo!\u201d This, it must needs be confessed, is a difficult duty, yet not\nimpracticable, to those who have renounced the things of this present\nlife, (from an inordinate love of which all enmities arise) and who\nknowing the terrible woes denounced against those who offend CHRIST\u2019s\nlittle ones, can, out of real pity, and a sense of their danger, pray\nfor those by whom such offences come.\n\n6. Lastly, and to conclude this head, we should intercede for all that\nare any ways _afflicted_ in mind, body, or estate; for all who desire,\nand stand in need of our prayers, and for all who do not pray for\nthemselves.\n\nAnd Oh! that all who hear me, would set apart some time every day for\nthe due performance of this most necessary duty! In order to which,\n\nI shall now proceed,\n\nIII. To shew the advantages, and offer some considerations to excite\nyou to the practice of daily intercession. And\n\n1. _First_, It will fill your hearts with love one to another. He that\nevery day heartily intercedes at the throne of grace for all mankind,\ncannot but in a short time be filled with love and charity to all:\nand the frequent exercise of his love in this manner, will insensibly\nenlarge his heart, and make him partaker of that exceeding abundance\nof it which is in CHRIST JESUS our LORD! Envy, malice, revenge,\nand such like hellish tempers, can never long harbour in a gracious\nintercessor\u2019s breast; but he will be filled with joy, peace, meekness,\nlong-suffering, and all other graces of the Holy Spirit. By frequently\nlaying his neighbour\u2019s wants before GOD, he will be touched with a\nfellow-feeling of them; he will rejoice with those that do rejoice,\nand weep with those that weep. Every blessing bestowed on others,\ninstead of exciting envy in him, will be looked on as an answer to his\nparticular intercession, and fill his soul with joy unspeakable and\nfull of glory.\n\nAbound therefore in acts of general and particular intercessions; and\nwhen you hear of your neighbour\u2019s faults, instead of relating them to,\nand exposing them before others, lay them in secret before GOD, and beg\nof him to correct and amend them. When you hear of a notorious sinner,\ninstead of thinking you do well to be angry, beg of JESUS CHRIST to\nconvert, and make him a monument of his free grace; you cannot imagine\nwhat a blessed alteration this practice will make in your heart,\nand how much you will increase day by day in the spirit of love and\nmeekness towards all mankind!\n\nBut farther, to excite you to the constant practice of this duty of\nintercession, consider the many instances in holy scripture, of the\npower and efficacy of it. Great and excellent things are there recorded\nas the effects of this divine employ. It has stopped plagues, it has\nopened and shut heaven; and has frequently turned away GOD\u2019s fury from\nhis people. How was _Abimelech_\u2019s house freed from the disease GOD sent\namongst them, at the intercession of _Abraham_! When \u201c_Phineas_ stood\nup and prayed,\u201d how soon did the plague cease! When _Daniel_ humbled\nand afflicted his soul, and interceded for the LORD\u2019s inheritance, how\nquickly was an angel dispatched to tell him, \u201chis prayer was heard!\u201d\nAnd, to mention but one instance more, how does GOD own himself as it\nwere overcome with the importunity of _Moses_, when he was interceding\nfor his idolatrous people, \u201cLet me alone,\u201d says GOD!\n\nThis sufficiently shews, I could almost say, the omnipotency of\nintercession, and how we may, like _Jacob_, wrestle with GOD, and by an\nholy violence prevail both for ourselves and others. And no doubt it is\nowing to the secret and prevailing intercessions of the few righteous\nsouls who still remain among us, that GOD has yet spared this miserably\nsinful nation: for were there not some such faithful ones, like _Moses_,\nleft to stand in the gap, we should soon be destroyed, even as was\n_Sodom_, and reduced to ashes like unto _Gomorrah_.\n\nBut, to stir you up yet farther to this exercise of intercession,\nconsider, that in all probability, it is the frequent employment even\nof the glorified saints: for though they are delivered from the burden\nof the flesh, and restored to the glorious liberty of the sons of\nGOD, yet as their happiness cannot be perfectly consummated \u2019till the\nresurrection of the last day, when all their brethren will be glorified\nwith them, we cannot but think they are often importunate in beseeching\nour heavenly Father, shortly to accomplish the number of his elect,\nand to hasten his kingdom. And shall not we, who are on earth, be\noften exercised in this divine employ with the glorious company of\nthe spirits of just men made perfect? Since our happiness is so much\nto consist in the communion of saints in the church triumphant above,\nshall we not frequently intercede for the church militant here below;\nand earnestly beg, that we may all be one, even as the Holy JESUS and\nhis Father are one, that we may also be made perfect in one?\n\nTo provoke you to this great work and labour of love, remember, that\nit is the never ceasing employment of the holy and highly exalted JESUS\nhimself, who sits at the right hand of GOD, to hear all our prayers,\nand to make continual intercession for us! So that he who is constantly\nemployed in interceding for others, is doing that on earth, which the\neternal Son of GOD is always doing in heaven.\n\nImagine therefore, when you are lifting up holy hands in prayer for\none another, that you see the heavens opened, and the Son of GOD in\nall his glory, as the great high-priest of your salvation, pleading for\nyou the all-sufficient merit of his sacrifice before the throne of his\nheavenly Father! Join then your intercessions with his, and beseech him,\nthat they may, through him, come up as incense, and be received as a\nsweet-smelling savour, acceptable in the light of GOD! This imagination\nwill strengthen your faith, excite a holy earnestness in your prayers,\nand make you wrestle with GOD, as _Jacob_ did, when he saw him face\nto face, and his life was preserved; as _Abraham_, when he pleaded for\n_Sodom_; and as JESUS CHRIST himself, when he prayed, being in an agony,\nso much the more earnestly the night before his bitter passion.\n\nAnd now, brethren, what shall I say more, since you are taught of JESUS\nCHRIST himself, to abound in love, and in this good work of praying\none for another. Though ever so mean, though as poor as _Lazarus_,\nyou will then become benefactors to all mankind; thousands, and twenty\ntimes ten thousands, will then be blessed for your sakes! and after\nyou have employed a few years in this divine exercise here, you will\nbe translated to that happy place, where you have so often wished\nothers might be advanced; and be exalted to sit at the right hand of\nour All-powerful, All-prevailing Intercessor, in the kingdom of his\nheavenly Father hereafter.\n\nHowever, I cannot but in an especial manner press this upon you\nnow, because all ye, amongst whom I have now been preaching, in all\nprobability will see me no more: for I am now going (I trust under the\nconduct of GOD\u2019s most Holy Spirit) from you, knowing not what shall\nbefal me: I need therefore your most importunate intercessions, that\nnothing may move me from my duty, and that I may not \u201ccount even my\nlife dear unto myself, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the\nministry I have received of the LORD JESUS, to testify the gospel of\nthe grace of GOD!\u201d\n\nWhilst I have been here, to the best of my knowledge, I have not failed\nto declare unto you the whole will of GOD: and though my preaching may\nhave been a savour of death unto death to some; yet I trust it has been\nalso a savour of life unto life to others; and therefore I earnestly\nhope that those will not fail to remember me in their prayers. As for\nmy own part, the many unmerited kindnesses I have received from you,\nwill not suffer me to forget you: out of the deep, therefore, I trust\nshall my cry come unto GOD; and whilst the winds and storms are blowing\nover me, unto the LORD will I make my supplication for you. For it\nis but a little while, and \u201cwe must all appear before the judgment\nseat of CHRIST;\u201d where I must give a strict account of the doctrine I\nhave preached, and you of your improvement under it. And O that I may\nnever be called out as a swift witness, against any of those, for whose\nsalvation I have sincerely, though too faintly, longed and laboured!\n\nIt is true, I have been censured by some as acting out of sinister and\nselfish views; \u201cbut it is a small matter with me to be judged by man\u2019s\njudgment;\u201d I hope my eye is single; but I beseech you, brethren, by the\nmercies of GOD in CHRIST JESUS, pray that it may be more so! and that\nI may increase with the increase of grace in the knowledge and love of\nGOD through JESUS CHRIST our LORD.\n\nAnd now, brethren, what shall I say more? I could wish to continue\nmy discourse much longer; for I can never fully express the desire of\nmy soul towards you! Finally, therefore, brethren, \u201cwhatsoever things\nare holy, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are honest,\nwhatsoever things are of good report: if there be any consolation in\nCHRIST, if any fellowship of the spirit,\u201d if any hopes of our appearing\nto the comfort of each other at the awful tribunal of JESUS CHRIST,\n\u201cthink of the things that you have heard,\u201d and of those which your\npastors have declared, and will yet declare unto you; and continue\nunder their ministry to \u201cwork out your own salvation with fear and\ntrembling:\u201d so that whether I should never see you any more, or whether\nit shall please GOD to bring me back again at any time, I may always\nhave the satisfaction of knowing that your conversation is such \u201cas\nbecometh the gospel of CHRIST.\u201d\n\nI almost persuade myself, that I could willingly suffer all things,\nso that it might any ways promote the salvation of your precious and\nimmortal souls; and I beseech you, as my last request, \u201cobey them that\nhave the rule over you in the LORD;\u201d and be always ready to attend on\ntheir ministry, as it is your bounden duty. Think not that I desire to\nhave myself exalted at the expence of another\u2019s character; but rather\nthink this, not to have any man\u2019s person too much in admiration; but\nesteem all your ministers highly in love, as they justly deserve for\ntheir work\u2019s sake.\n\nAnd now, \u201cbrethren, I commend you to GOD, and to the word of his grace,\nwhich is able to build you up, and give you an inheritance amongst all\nthem that are sanctified.\u201d May GOD reward you for all your works of\nfaith, and labours of love, and make you to abound more and more in\nevery good word and work towards all men. May he truly convert all that\nhave been convinced, and awaken all that are dead in trespasses and\nsins! May he confirm all that are wavering! And may you all go on from\none degree of grace unto another, till you arrive unto the measure of\nthe stature of the fulness of CHRIST; and thereby be made meet to stand\nbefore that GOD, \u201cin whose presence is the fulness of joy, and at whose\nright-hand there are pleasures for evermore!\u201d Amen! Amen!\n\n\n\n\n SERMON LV.\n\n Persecution every Christian\u2019s Lot.\n\n\n 2 TIMOTHY iii. 12.\n\n _Yea, and all that will live godly in CHRIST JESUS, shall suffer\n Persecution_.\n\nWHEN our LORD was pleased to take upon himself the form of a servant,\nand to go about preaching the kingdom of GOD; he took all opportunities\nin public, and more especially in private, to caution his disciples\nagainst seeking great things for themselves, and also to forewarn\nthem of the many distresses, afflictions and persecutions, which they\nmust expect to endure for his name\u2019s sake. The great apostle _Paul_\ntherefore, the author of this epistle, in this, as in all other things,\nfollowing the steps of his blessed Master, takes particular care,\namong other apostolical admonitions, to warn young _Timothy_ of the\ndifficulties he must expect to meet with in the course of his ministry:\n\u201cThis know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For\nmen shall be lovers of their ownselves, covetous, proud, blasphemers,\ndisobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection,\ntruce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those\nthat are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more\nthan lovers of GOD; having a form of godliness, but denying the power\nthereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they who creep into\nhouses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with\ndivers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge\nof the truth. Now, as _Jannes_ and _Jambres_ (two of the _Egyptian_\nmagicians) withstood _Moses_ (by working sham miracles) so do they\nalso resist the truth; and (notwithstanding they keep up the form of\nreligion) are men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.\u201d\nBut, in order to keep him from sinking under their opposition, he tells\nhim, that though GOD, for wise ends, permitted these false teachers,\nas he did the magicians, to oppose for some time, yet they should now\nproceed no farther: \u201cFor their folly (says he) shall be made manifest\nunto all men, as theirs (the Magicians) also was,\u201d when they could\nnot stand before _Moses_ because of the boil; for the boil was upon\nthe _Magicians_, as well as upon all the _Egyptians_. And then, to\nencourage _Timothy_ yet the more, he propounds to him his own example;\n\u201cBut thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith,\nlong-suffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which\ncame unto me at _Antioch_, at _Iconium_, at _Lystra_; what persecutions\nI endured; but out of them all the LORD delivered me.\u201d And then, lest\n_Timothy_ might think that this was only the particular case of _Paul_,\nsays he, in the words of the text, \u201cYea, and all that will live godly\nin CHRIST JESUS, shall suffer persecution.\u201d\n\nThe words, without considering them as they stand in relation to the\ncontext, contain an important truth, that persecution is the common lot\nof every godly man. This is a hard saying, How few can bear it? I trust\nGOD, in the following discourse, will enable me to make it good, by\nshewing,\n\n I. What it is to live godly in CHRIST JESUS.\n\n II. The different kinds of persecution to which they, who live\n godly, are exposed.\n\n III. Why it is, that godly men must expect to suffer persecution.\n\n _Lastly_, We shall apply the whole.\n\n1. _First_, Let us consider what it is to live godly in CHRIST JESUS.\nThis supposes, that we are made the righteousness of GOD in CHRIST,\nthat we are born again, and are one with CHRIST by a living faith,\nand a vital union, even as JESUS CHRIST and the Father are One. Unless\nwe are thus converted, and transformed by the renewing of our minds,\nwe cannot properly be said to be in CHRIST, much less to live godly in\nhim. To be in CHRIST merely by baptism, and an outward profession, is\nnot to be in Him in the strict sense of the word: no; \u201cThey that are in\nCHRIST, are new creatures; old things are passed away, and all things\nare become new\u201d in their hearts. Their life is hid with CHRIST in GOD;\ntheir souls daily feed on the invisible realities of another world.\nTo \u201clive godly in CHRIST,\u201d is to make the divine will, and not our own,\nthe sole principle of all our thoughts, words, and actions; so that,\n\u201cwhether we eat or drink, or whatsoever we do, we do all to the glory\nof GOD.\u201d Those who live godly in CHRIST, may not so much be said to\nlive, as CHRIST to live in them: He is their Alpha and Omega, their\nfirst and last, their beginning and end. They are led by his Spirit,\nas a child is led by the hand of its father; and are willing to follow\nthe Lamb whithersoever he leads them. They hear, know, and obey his\nvoice. Their affections are set on things above; their hopes are full\nof immortality; their citizenship is in heaven. Being born again of GOD,\nthey habitually live to, and daily walk with, GOD. They are pure in\nheart; and, from a principle of faith in CHRIST, are holy in all manner\nof conversation and godliness.\n\nThis is to \u201clive godly in CHRIST JESUS:\u201d and hence we may easily learn,\nwhy so few suffer persecution? Because, so few live godly in CHRIST\nJESUS. You may live formally in CHRIST, you may attend on outward\nduties; you may live morally in CHRIST, you may (as they term it) do\nno one any harm, and avoid persecution: but they \u201cthat will live godly\nin CHRIST JESUS, shall suffer persecution.\u201d\n\n2. _Secondly_, What is the meaning of the word Persecution, and how\nmany kinds there are of it, I come now to consider.\n\nThe word Persecution, is derived from a _Greek_ word signifying _to\npursue_, and generally implies pursuing a person for the sake of his\ngoodness, or GOD\u2019s good-will to him. The\n\n_First_ kind of it, is that of the _Heart_. We \u2666have an early example\nof this in that wicked one _Cain_, who, because the LORD had respect\nto _Abel_ and his offering, and not to him and his offering, was very\nwroth, his countenance fell, and at length he cruelly slew his envied\nbrother. Thus the _Pharisees_ hated and persecuted our LORD long before\nthey laid hold on him: and our LORD mentions being inwardly hated of\nmen, as one kind of Persecution his disciples were to undergo. This\nheart-enmity (if I may so term it) is the root of all other kinds of\nPersecution, and is, in some degree or other, to be found in the soul\nof every unregenerated man; and numbers are guilty of this persecution,\nwho never have it in their power to persecute any other way. Nay,\nnumbers would actually put in practice all other degrees of persecution,\nwas not the name of Persecution become odious amongst mankind, and did\nthey not hereby run the hazard of losing their reputation. Alas! how\nmany at the great day, whom we know not now, will be convicted and\ncondemned, that all their life harboured a secret evil-will against\n_Zion_! They may now screen it before men; but GOD seeth the enmity\nof their hearts, and will judge them as Persecutors at the great and\nterrible day of judgment. A\n\n \u2666 duplicate word \u201chave\u201d removed\n\n_Second_ degree of Persecution is that of the tongue; \u201cout of the\nabundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.\u201d Many, I suppose, think it\nno harm to shoot out arrows, even bitter words, against the disciples\nof the LORD: they scatter their firebrands, arrows and death, saying,\n\u201cAre we not in sport?\u201d But, however they may esteem it, in GOD\u2019s\naccount evil-speaking is a high degree of Persecution. Thus _Ishmael_\u2019s\nmocking _Isaac_, is termed persecuting him. \u201cBlessed are ye (says our\nLORD) when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all\nmanner of evil against you falsely for my name\u2019s sake.\u201d From whence we\nmay gather, that reviling, and speaking all manner of evil for CHRIST\u2019s\nsake, is a high degree of persecution. For \u201ca good name, (says the wise\nman) is better than precious ointment,\u201d and, to many, is dearer than\nlife itself. It is a great breach of the sixth commandment, to slander\nany one; but to speak evil of and slander the disciples of CHRIST,\nmerely because they are his disciples, must be highly provoking in the\nsight of GOD; and such who are guilty of it (without repentance) will\nfind that JESUS CHRIST will call them to an account, and punish them\nfor all their ungodly and hard speeches in a lake of fire and brimstone.\nThis shall be their portion to drink. The\n\n_Third_ and _last_ kind of Persecution, is that which expresses\nitself in _actions_: as when wicked men separate the children of GOD\nfrom their company; \u201cBlessed are ye, (says our LORD) when they shall\nseparate you from their company:\u201d or expose them to church-censures.\n\u201cThey shall put you out of their synagogues;\u201d threatening and\nprohibiting them from making an open profession of his religion or\nworship; or interdicting ministers for preaching his word, as the\nhigh-priests threatened the apostles, and \u201cforbad them any more to\nspeak in the name of JESUS;\u201d and _Paul_ breathed out threatenings and\nslaughters against the disciples of the LORD: or when they call them\ninto courts; \u201cYou shall be called before governors,\u201d says our LORD:\nor when they fine, imprison, or punish them, by confiscation of goods,\ncruel scourging, and, lastly, death itself.\n\nIt would be impossible to enumerate in what various shapes persecution\nhas appeared. It is a many-headed monster, cruel as the grave,\ninsatiable as hell; and, what is worse, it \u2666generally appears under the\ncloak of religion. But, cruel, insatiable, and horrid as it is, they\nthat live godly in CHRIST JESUS, must expect to suffer and encounter\nwith it in all its forms.\n\n \u2666 \u201cgenerallly\u201d replaced with \u201cgenerally\u201d\n\nThis is what we are to make good under our next general head.\n\n3. _Thirdly_, Why is it that godly men must expert to suffer\npersecution? And,\n\n_First_, This appears from the whole tenor of our LORD\u2019s doctrine. We\nwill begin with his divine sermon on the mount. \u201cBlessed are they who\nare persecuted for righteousness sake; for theirs is the kingdom of\nheaven.\u201d So that, if our LORD spoke truth, we are not so blessed as to\nhave an interest in the kingdom of heaven, unless we are or have been\npersecuted for righteousness sake. Nay, our LORD (it is remarkable)\nemploys three verses in this beatitude, and only one in each of the\nothers; not only to shew that it was a thing which men (as men) are\nunwilling to believe, but also the necessary consequence of it upon\nour being christians. This is likewise evident from all those passages,\nwherein our LORD informs us, that he came upon the earth, \u201cnot to send\npeace, but a sword;\u201d and that the father-in-law should be against the\nmother-in-law, and a man\u2019s foes should be those of his own houshold.\nPassages, which though confined by false prophets to the first, I am\npersuaded will be verified by the experience of all true christians in\nthis, and every age of the church. It would be endless to recount all\nthe places, wherein our LORD forewarns his disciples, that they should\nbe called before rulers, and thrust out of synagogues, nay, that the\ntime would come, wherein men should think they did GOD service to kill\nthem. For this reason he so frequently declared, that \u201cunless a man\nforsake all that he had, and even hated life itself, he could not be\nhis disciple.\u201d And therefore it is worthy our observation, that in the\nremarkable passage, wherein our LORD makes such an extensive promise\nto those who left all for him, he cautiously inserts persecution. \u201cAnd\nJESUS answered and said, Verily I say unto you, there is no man that\nhath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or\nwife, or children, or lands, for my sake and the gospel\u2019s, but he shall\nreceive an hundred-fold now in this time; houses and brethren, and\nsisters and mothers, and children and lands, with persecutions; (the\nword is in the plural number, including all kinds of persecution) and\nin the world to come eternal life.\u201d He that hath ears to hear, let him\nhear what CHRIST says in all these passages, and then confess, that all\nwho will live godly in CHRIST JESUS shall suffer persecution.\n\nAs this is proved from our LORD\u2019s doctrine, so it is no less evident\nfrom his life. Follow him from the manger to the cross, and see whether\nany persecution was like that which the Son of GOD, the LORD of glory,\nunderwent whilst here on earth. How was he hated by wicked men? How\noften would that hatred have excited them to lay hold of him, had\nit not been for fear of the people? How was he reviled, counted and\ncalled a Blasphemer, a Wine-bibber, a Samaritan, nay, a Devil, and,\nin one word, had all manner of evil spoken against him falsely? What\ncontradiction of sinners did he endure against himself? How did men\nseparate from his company, and were ashamed to walk with him openly?\ninsomuch that he once said to his own disciples, \u201cWill you also\ngo away?\u201d Again, How was he stoned, thrust out of the synagogues,\narraigned as a deceiver of the people, a seditious and pestilent fellow,\nan enemy to _C\u00e6sar_, and as such scourged, blind-folded, spit upon,\nand at length condemned, and nailed to an accursed tree? Thus was\nthe Master persecuted, thus did the LORD suffer; and the servant is\nnot above his Master, nor the disciple above his Lord: \u201cIf they have\npersecuted me, they will also persecute you,\u201d says the blessed JESUS.\nAnd again, \u201cEvery man that is perfect (a true christian) must be as his\nMaster,\u201d or suffer as he did. For in all these things our LORD has set\nus an example, that we should follow his steps: and therefore, far be\nit that any, who live godly in CHRIST JESUS, should henceforward expect\nto escape suffering persecution.\n\nBut farther: not only our LORD\u2019s example, but the example of all\nthe saints that ever lived, evidently demonstrates the truth of the\napostle\u2019s assertion in the text. How soon was _Abel_ made a martyr\nfor his religion? How was _Isaac_ mocked by the son of the bond-woman?\nAnd what a large catalogue of suffering Old Testament saints, have we\nrecorded in the xith chapter of the _Hebrews_! Read the _Acts_ of the\nApostles, and see how the first christians were threatened, stoned,\nimprisoned, scourged, and persecuted even unto death. Examine Church\nHistory in after-ages, and you will find the murder of the innocents\nby _Herod_, was but an earnest of the innocent blood which should be\nshed for the sake of JESUS. Examine the experience of saints now living\non earth; and, if it were possible to consult the spirits of just men\nmade perfect, I am persuaded each would concur with the apostle in\nasserting, that \u201call who will live godly in CHRIST JESUS, shall suffer\npersecution.\u201d\n\nHow can it be otherwise in the very nature of things? Ever since the\nfall, there has been an irreconcileable enmity between the seed of the\nwoman and the seed of the serpent. Wicked men hate GOD, and therefore\ncannot but hate those who are like him: they hate to be reformed, and\ntherefore must hate and persecute those, who, by a contrary behaviour,\ntestify of them, that their deeds are evil. Besides, pride of heart\nleads men to persecute the servants of JESUS CHRIST. If they commend\nthem, they are afraid of being asked, Why do not you follow them? And\ntherefore because they dare not imitate, though they may sometimes be\neven forced to approve their way, yet pride and envy make them turn\npersecutors. Hence it is, that as it was formerly, so it is now, and\nso will it be to the end of time; \u201cHe that is born after the flesh,\n(the natural man, does and) will persecute him that is born after the\nSpirit,\u201d the regenerate man. Because christians are not of the world,\nbut CHRIST hath chosen them out of the world, therefore the world will\nhate them. If it be objected against this doctrine, that we now live\nin a christian world, and therefore must not expect such persecution\nas formerly; I answer, All are not christians that are called so; and,\ntill the heart is changed, the enmity against GOD (which is the root\nof all persecution) remains: and consequently christians, falsely so\ncalled, will persecute as well as others. I observed therefore, in\nthe beginning of this discourse, that _Paul_ mentions those that had\na form of religion, as persons of whom _Timothy_ had need be chiefly\naware: for, as our LORD and his apostles were mostly persecuted by\ntheir countrymen the _Jews_, so we must expect the like usage from the\nFormalists of our own nation, the _Pharisees_, who seem to be religious.\nThe most horrid and barbarous persecutions have been carried on by\nthose who have called themselves Christians; witness the days of queen\n_Mary_; and the fines, banishments and imprisonments of the children\nof GOD in the last century, and the bitter, irreconcileable hatred\nthat appears in thousands who call themselves Christians, even in the\npresent days wherein we live.\n\nPersons, who argue against persecution, are not sufficiently sensible\nof the bitter enmity of the heart of every unregenerate man against\nGOD. For my own part, I am so far from wondering that christians are\npersecuted, that I wonder our streets do not run with the blood of the\nsaints: was mens power equal to their wills, such a horrid spectacle\nwould soon appear. But,\n\nPersecution is necessary in respect to the godly themselves. If we have\nnot all manner of evil spoken of us, how can we know whether we seek\nonly that honour which cometh from above? If we have no persecutors,\nhow can our passive graces be kept in exercise? How can many christian\nprecepts be put into practice? How can we love, pray for, and do good\nto, those who despitefully use us? How can we overcome evil with good?\nIn short, how can we know we love GOD better than life itself? _Paul_\nwas sensible of all this, and therefore so positively and peremptorily\nasserts, that \u201call who will live godly in CHRIST JESUS, shall suffer\npersecution.\u201d\n\nNot that I affirm, all are persecuted in a like degree. No: this would\nbe contrary both to scripture and experience. But though all christians\nare not really called to suffer every kind of persecution, yet all\nchristians are liable thereto: and notwithstanding some may live in\nmore peaceful times of the church than others, yet all christians, in\nall ages, will find by their own experience, that, whether they act\nin a private or public capacity, they must, in some degree or other,\nsuffer persecution.\n\nHere then I would pause, and, _lastly_, by way of application, exhort\nall persons,\n\n_First_, To stand a while and examine themselves. For, by what has been\nsaid, you may gather one mark, whereby you may judge whether you are\nchristians or not. Were you ever persecuted for righteousness sake? If\nnot, you never yet lived godly in CHRIST our LORD. Whatever you may say\nto the contrary, the inspired apostle, in the words of the text (the\ntruth of which, I think, I have sufficiently proved) positively asserts,\nthat all who will live godly in Him, shall suffer persecution. Not that\nall who are persecuted are real christians; for many sometimes suffer,\nand are persecuted, on other accounts than for righteousness sake.\nThe great question therefore is, Whether you were ever persecuted\nfor living godly? You may boast of your great prudence and sagacity\n(and indeed these are excellent things) and glory because you have not\nrun such lengths, and made yourselves so singular, and liable to such\ncontempt, as some others have. But, alas! this is not a mark of your\nbeing of a Christian, but of a _Laodicean_ spirit, neither hot nor\ncold, and fit only to be spewed out of the mouth of GOD. That which\nyou call prudence, is often, only cowardice, dreadful hypocrisy, pride\nof heart, which makes you dread contempt, and afraid to give up your\nreputation for GOD. You are ashamed of CHRIST and his gospel; and in\nall probability, was he to appear a second time upon earth, in words,\nas well as works, you would deny him. Awake therefore, all ye that live\nonly formally in CHRIST JESUS, and no longer seek that honour which\ncometh of man. I do not desire to court you, but I intreat you to live\ngodly, and fear not contempt for the sake of JESUS CHRIST. Beg of GOD\nto give you his Holy Spirit, that you may see through, and discover\nthe latent hypocrisy of your hearts, and no longer deceive your own\nsouls. Remember you cannot reconcile two irreconcileable differences,\nGOD and Mammon, the friendship of this world with the favour of GOD.\nKnow you not who hath told you, that \u201cthe friendship of this world is\nenmity with GOD?\u201d If therefore you are in friendship with the world,\nnotwithstanding all your specious pretences to piety, you are at enmity\nwith GOD: you are only heart-hypocrites; and, \u201cWhat is the hope of\nthe hypocrite, when GOD shall take away his soul?\u201d Let the words of\nthe text sound an alarm in your ears; O let them sink deep into your\nhearts; \u201cYea, and all that will live godly in CHRIST JESUS, shall\nsuffer persecution.\u201d\n\n_Secondly_, From the words of the text, I would take occasion to\nspeak to those, who are about to lift themselves under the banner of\nCHRIST\u2019s cross. What say you? Are you resolved to live godly in CHRIST\nJESUS, notwithstanding the consequence will be, that you must suffer\npersecution? You are beginning to build; but have you taken our LORD\u2019s\nadvice, to \u201csit down first and count the cost?\u201d Have you well weighed\nwith yourselves that weighty declaration, \u201cHe that loveth father or\nmother more than Me, is not worthy of Me;\u201d and again, \u201cUnless a man\nforsake all that he hath he cannot be my disciple?\u201d Perhaps some of\nyou have great possessions; will not you go away sorrowful, if CHRIST\nshould require you to sell all that you have! Others of you again\nmay be kinsmen, or some way related, or under obligations, to the\nhigh-priests, or other great personages, who may be persecuting the\nchurch of CHRIST: What say you? Will you, with _Moses_, \u201crather chuse\nto suffer affliction with the people of GOD, than enjoy the pleasures\nof sin for a season?\u201d Perhaps you may say, my friends will not\noppose me. That is more than you know: in all probability your chief\nenemies will be those of your own household. If therefore they should\noppose you, are you willing naked to follow a naked CHRIST? and to\nwander about in sheep-skins and goats-skins, in dens and caves of\nthe earth, being afflicted, destitute, tormented, rather than not be\nCHRIST\u2019s disciples? You are now all following with zeal, as _Ruth_\nand _Orpah_ did _Naomi_, and may weep under the word; but are not\nyour tears crocodiles tears? And, when difficulties come, will you not\ngo back from following your LORD, as _Orpah_ departed from following\n_Naomi_? Have you really the root of grace in your hearts? or, are you\nonly stony-ground hearers? You receive the word with joy; but, when\npersecution arises because of the word, will you not be immediately\noffended? Be not angry with me for putting these questions to you. I\nam jealous over you, but it is with a godly jealousy: for, alas! how\nmany have put their hands to the plough, and afterwards have shamefully\nlooked back? I only deal with you, as our LORD did with the person\nthat said, \u201cLORD, I will follow thee whithersoever thou wilt.\u201d \u201cThe\nfoxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the son\nof man, (says he) hath not where to lay his head.\u201d What say you? Are\nyou willing to endure hardness, and thereby approve yourselves good\nsoldiers of JESUS CHRIST? You now come on foot out of the towns and\nvillages to hear the word, and receive me as a messenger of GOD: but\nwill you not by and by cry out, Away with him, away with him; it is not\nfit such a fellow should live upon the earth? Perhaps some of you, like\n_Hazael_, may say, \u201cAre we dogs, that we should do this?\u201d But, alas! I\nhave met with many unhappy souls, who have drawn back unto perdition,\nand have afterwards accounted me their enemy, for dealing faithfully\nwith them; though once, if it were possible, they would have plucked\nout their own eyes, and have given them unto me. Sit down therefore, I\nbeseech you, and seriously count the cost, and ask yourselves again and\nagain, whether you count all things but dung and dross, and are willing\nto suffer the loss of all things, so that you may win CHRIST, and\nbe found in him: for you may assure yourselves, the apostle hath not\nspoken in vain, \u201cAll that will live godly in CHRIST JESUS, shall suffer\npersecution.\u201d\n\n_Thirdly_, The text speaks to you that are patiently suffering for\nthe truth\u2019s sake: \u201cRejoice, and be exceeding glad; great shall be your\nreward in heaven.\u201d For to you it is given, not only to believe, but\nalso to suffer, and perhaps remarkably too, for the sake of JESUS! This\nis a mark of your discipleship, an evidence that you do live godly in\nCHRIST JESUS. Fear not, therefore, neither be dismayed. O be not weary\nand faint in your minds! JESUS, your LORD, your life, cometh, and his\nreward is with him. Though all men forsake you, yet will not he: no;\nthe Spirit of CHRIST and of glory shall rest upon you. In patience\ntherefore possess your souls. Sanctify the LORD GOD in your hearts. Be\nin nothing terrified by your adversaries: on their part CHRIST is evil\nspoken of; on your part he is glorified. Be not ashamed of your glory,\nsince others can glory in their shame. Think it not strange concerning\nthe fiery trial, wherewith you are or may be tried. The Devil rages,\nknowing that he hath but a short time to reign. He or his emissaries\nhave no more power than what is given them from above: GOD sets them\ntheir bounds, which they cannot pass; and the very hairs of your head\nare all numbered. Fear not; no one shall set upon you to hurt you,\nwithout your heavenly Father\u2019s knowledge. Do your earthly friends and\nparents forsake you? Are you cast out of the synagogues? The LORD shall\nreveal himself to you, as to the man that was born blind? JESUS CHRIST\nshall take you up. If they carry you to prison, and load you with\nchains, so that the iron enter into your souls, even there shall CHRIST\nsend an angel from heaven to strengthen you, and enable you, with\n_Paul_ and _Silas_, to \u201csing praises at midnight.\u201d Are you threatened\nto be thrown into a den of lions, or cast into a burning fiery furnace,\nbecause you will not bow down and worship the beast? Fear not; the GOD,\nwhom you serve, is able to deliver you: or, if he should suffer the\nflames to devour your bodies, they would only serve, as so many fiery\nchariots, to carry your souls to GOD. Thus it was with the martyrs of\nold; so that one, when he was burning, cried out, \u201cCome, you Papists,\nif you want a miracle, here, behold one! This bed of flames is to me a\nbed of down.\u201d Thus it was with almost all that suffered in former times:\nfor JESUS, notwithstanding he withdrew his own divinity from himself,\nyet has always lifted up the light of his countenance upon the souls\nof suffering saints. \u201cFear not therefore those that can kill the body,\nand after that have no more that they can do; but fear Him only, who is\nable to destroy both body and soul in hell.\u201d Dare, dare to live godly\nin CHRIST JESUS, though you suffer all manner of persecution. But,\n\n_Fourthly_, Are there any true ministers of JESUS CHRIST here? You will\nnot be offended if I tell you, that the words of the text are, in an\nespecial manner, applicable to you. _Paul_ wrote them to _Timothy_;\nand we, of all men, that live godly in CHRIST JESUS, must expect to\nsuffer the severest persecution. _Satan_ will endeavour to bruise our\nheels, let who will escape: and it has been the general way of GOD\u2019s\nprovidence, in times of persecution, to permit the shepherds first to\nbe smitten, before the sheep are scattered. Let us not therefore shew\nthat we are only hirelings, who care not for the sheep; but, like the\ngreat Shepherd and Bishop of souls, let us readily lay down our lives\nfor the sheep. Whilst others are boasting of their great preferments,\nlet us rather glory in our great afflictions and persecutions for\nthe sake of CHRIST. _Paul_ rejoiced that he suffered afflictions and\npersecutions at _Iconium_ and _Lystra_: out of all, the LORD delivered\nhim; out of all, the LORD will deliver us, and cause us hereafter to\nsit down with him on thrones, when he comes to judge the twelve tribes\nof _Israel_.\n\nI could proceed; but I am conscious, in this part of my discourse, I\nought more particularly to speak to myself, knowing that _Satan_ has\ndesired to have me, that he may sift me as wheat. Without a spirit of\nprophecy, we may easily discern the signs of the times. Persecution\nis even at the doors: the tabernacle of the LORD is already driven\ninto the wilderness: the ark of the LORD is fallen into the unhallowed\nhands of uncircumcised _Philistines_. They have long since put us\nout of their synagogues, and high-priests have been calling on civil\nmagistrates to exert their authority against the disciples of the\nLORD. Men in power have been breathing out threatenings: we may easily\nguess what will follow, imprisonment and slaughter. The storm has been\ngathering some time; it must break shortly. Perhaps it may fall on me\nfirst.\n\nBrethren therefore, whether in the ministry or not, I beseech you,\n\u201cpray for me,\u201d that I may never suffer justly, as an evil-doer, but\nonly for righteousness sake. O pray that I may not deny my LORD in any\nwise, but that I may joyfully follow him, both to prison and to death,\nif he is pleased to call me to seal his truths with my blood. Be not\nashamed of CHRIST, or of his gospel, though I should become a prisoner\nof the LORD. Though I am bound, the word of GOD will not be bound:\nno; an open, an effectual door is opened for preaching the everlasting\ngospel, and men or devils shall never be able to prevail against\nit. Only pray, that, whether it be in life or death, CHRIST may be\nglorified in me: then I shall rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.\n\nAnd now, to whom shall I address myself next?\n\n_Fifthly_, To those, who persecute their neighbours for living godly\nin CHRIST JESUS. But, what shall I say to you? Howl and weep for the\nmiseries that shall come upon you: for a little while the LORD permits\nyou to ride over the heads of his people; but, by and by, death will\narrest you, judgment will find you, and JESUS CHRIST shall put a\nquestion to you, which will strike you dumb, _Why persecuted you Me_?\nYou may plead your laws and your canons, and pretend what you do is\nout of zeal for GOD; but GOD shall discover the cursed hypocrisy and\nserpentine enmity of your hearts, and give you over to the tormentors.\nIt is well, if in this life GOD does not send some mark upon you.\nHe pleaded the cause of _Naboth_, when innocently condemned for\nblaspheming GOD and the king; and our LORD sent forth his armies, and\ndestroyed the city of those who killed the prophets, and stoned them\nthat were sent unto them. If you have a mind therefore to fill up the\nmeasure of your iniquities, go on, persecute and despise the disciples\nof the LORD: but know, \u201cthat for all these things, GOD shall bring you\ninto judgment.\u201d Nay, those you now persecute, shall be in part your\njudges, and sit on the right-hand of the Majesty on high, whilst you\nare dragged by infernal spirits into a lake that burneth with fire and\nbrimstone, and the smoke of your torment shall be ascending up for ever\nand ever. Lay down therefore, ye rebels, your arms against the most\nhigh GOD, and no longer persecute those who live godly in CHRIST JESUS.\nThe LORD will plead, the LORD will avenge, their cause. You may be\npermitted to bruise their heels, yet in the end they shall bruise\nyour accursed heads. I speak not this, as though I were afraid of you;\nfor I know in whom I have believed: only out of pure love I warn you,\nand because I know not but JESUS CHRIST may make some of you vessels\nof mercy, and snatch you, even you persecutors, as fire-brands out\nof the fire. JESUS CHRIST came into the world to save sinners, even\npersecutors, the worst of sinners: his righteousness is sufficient for\nthem; his Spirit is able to purify and change their hearts. He once\nconverted _Saul_: may the same GOD magnify his power, in converting\nall those who are causing the godly in CHRIST JESUS, as much as in them\nlies, to suffer persecution! The LORD be with you all. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n SERMON LVI.\n\n An Exhortation to the People of GOD\n not to be discouraged in their Way,\n by the Scoffs and Contempt of wicked Men.\n\n\n HEBREWS iv. 9.\n\n _There remaineth therefore a Rest to the People of GOD._\n\nWHEN we consider the persecutions they are exposed to, who live\nrighteously and godly in this present world; it is amazing to consider,\nthat the people of this generation should be so fond of a name to live,\nwhile they are in effect dead. The people of GOD are to expect little\nelse but troubles and trials while they are in this world; common\nexperience is a contradiction to my text, that there is a rest to the\npeople of GOD; but the author of the _Hebrews_, when speaking of this\nrest, did not mean that they should have a rest here. No; he too well\nknew that the people of GOD, all who would seek and serve the LORD\nJESUS, must be despised, hated, scoffed, slandered, and evil intreated;\nbut the time was hastening when they should have a perfect rest: there\nis a rest laid up for them, and this is an encouragement for you, my\nbrethren, to hold on, and hold out your way rejoicing; after death\nthere will be a rest for ever; at judgment, you shall be taken up\nto dwell with the LORD JESUS CHRIST; and there, you shall be for\never exempted from sin; you shall rest from all manner of sorrow,\nand be no more troubled with the temptations of Satan. Now, you can\nset about nothing for the glory of GOD, or for your own soul\u2019s welfare,\nbut the devil is dissuading you from it, or distracting you in it,\nor discouraging you after it. Here we are scoffed and derided; as\nthe world hated the LORD JESUS CHRIST, so will it hate you: but be\nnot discouraged, though we are here the scorn and off-scouring of all\nthings; and are as a gazing stock to men and angels. Though they put\nus out of their synagogues, cast out our name as evil, and look on us\nas persons unfit for their company; yet, in that rest which is prepared\nfor you, my brethren, we shall then be gazed at for our glory, and they\nshut out of the assembly of the saints, and separated from us, whether\nthey will or no; unless the LORD JESUS CHRIST, by his free, rich, and\nsovereign grace, brings them unto himself.\n\nThe letter-learned Scribes and Pharisees of this day, look on us as\nmadmen and enthusiasts; but though they make so much noise about the\nword _enthusiast_, it means no more than this, one in GOD; and what\nchristian can say, he is not in GOD, and GOD in him? And if this is\nto be an enthusiast, GOD grant I may be more and more so; if we being\nin CHRIST, and CHRIST in us, makes us enthusiasts, I would to GOD we\nwere all more and more enthusiasts. They now think it strange, that\nwe run not with them into all excess of riot, and because we will not\ngo to the devil\u2019s diversions with them, therefore they speak evil of\nus. We cannot now go along the street, but every one is pointing out\nhis finger with scorn, and cries, Here comes another of his followers;\nwhat! you are become one of his disciples too! But there is a rest\nwhich will be a complete deliverance for you. Let none of these things\nmove you; for, though you are thus treated here, consider, you shall\nin heaven have no discouraging company, nor any but what will be an\nassistance to you; you will have no scoffer there, all will be ready\nto join with heart and voice in your everlasting joy and praises.\nYou will not be counted enthusiasts, madmen, and rabble, in that rest\nwhich remaineth for the people of GOD. Therefore, possess your souls\nin patience; account it matter of joy when you fall into tribulation;\nGOD, in his own time, will deliver us; let not their hindering us from\npreaching in the church, be any discouragement; do not shrink, and draw\nback, because of opposition; be not ashamed of your work or master; but\nhold fast your integrity. You must expect to go through evil report,\nand good report; fear not the violence of unreasonable men; let them\nhate you, and cast you out for the LORD\u2019s sake, behold he shall appear\nto your joy, and they shall be ashamed: therefore hold on, and hold out\nto the end. Be stedfast and patient, and bear the troubles of the world;\nif you are the people of GOD, there is a rest provided for you, which\nyou shall certainly obtain.\n\nI shall not speak unto you, Pharisees, this morning, nor to any, except\nto you who have experienced the pangs of the new-birth, or are at\npresent under them, and who know what it is to love the LORD JESUS in\nsincerity and truth: do not be discouraged, or think hard of the ways\nof GOD, my dear brethren, because you are not loved by the men of this\nworld; if you were of the world it would love you; it would then be\npleased with your company; it would not thrust you from a tavern, or\nan alehouse; it would not dislike you for singing the songs of the\ndrunkard, or for going to plays, balls, or other polite and fashionable\nentertainments, as they are called; no, these the children of the world\nlike; but if you will sing hymns and psalms, and go to hear what GOD\nhath to say unto your souls, and spend your time in reading, praying,\nand frequenting religious assemblies, then it is that they dislike you,\nand thrust you out of their company, as unworthy thereof; but let none\nof these things move you, for the rest which JESUS CHRIST hath prepared\nfor you, is an ample recompence for all you may meet with here.\n\nThis rest is the fruit of the blood of the LORD JESUS CHRIST: O how\nwill it fill our souls with love, to think that through the streams of\nthis blood, we have overcome the violence of the world, and the snares\nof the devil. My dear brethren, be not discouraged at the treatment you\nmeet with here, but let it be a means to stir you up to advance in the\nlove of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who hath prepared a rest for you. Can\nyou consider, what CHRIST has done and suffered for you, and have your\nhearts stupified with vile and senseless pleasures? Can you hear of\na panting, bleeding, dying JESUS, and yet be dull and unaffected? Was\nthere any sorrow like unto his sorrow? and all this, he underwent to\nsave you, who were vile, and polluted, and by nature, since the fall,\na motly mixture of the beast and devil. JESUS CHRIST, by dying upon the\ncross, intended to take away the devil and beast from your heart, and\nto prepare it for himself to dwell in. Think of the love of this your\nJesus, and then, will a little reproach and scorn move you? sure it\nwill not. I hope better things of you, and things that accompany\nsalvation.\n\nO think with what pleasing astonishment you will see the LORD JESUS\nCHRIST, when he comes to take you to his rest: now his heart is open\nto us; but our hearts are shut against him; then, then, his heart shall\nbe open, and ours shall be so too. O my brethren, how will your love\nbe increased? With what raptures will you see the LORD JESUS CHRIST?\nTherefore, undergo a few reproaches here patiently, and revile not\nagain. Let them say what they please of me, the reproaches, scorns,\nand contempt of this world, will no ways hurt me, but will recoil upon\ntheir own heads; leave it to the LORD, who knows what is best for you\nand me: do not question his love; he will be with you; only do you, who\nhave tasted the LORD to be gracious, follow hard after him.\n\nAnd now, let me speak a word unto you, who have not yet experienced\nthe love of CHRIST to your souls, but are waiting for his appearance.\nI shall be but very short, because I would not break in upon the duties\nof the day.\n\nI shall speak unto you a word of invitation; even, to wait still on the\nLORD; do not forsake him, though he may not answer your petitions at\nonce or twice seeking unto him; hold on, do not leave seeking him, and\nyou shall have an answer of peace; remember the poor man who was lame,\nand had lain at the pool of _Bethesda_ thirty-eight years for relief,\nyet at last he found that it was worth waiting for, he obtained his\ndesire.\n\nAnd if you are but zealous for the LORD, and seek unto JESUS, if your\nzeal be according to godliness, and you pray unto him for his Spirit,\nyou shall certainly have an answer of peace; you shall find it is good\nto seek unto the LORD, you will be adopted into his family, and by his\nspirit be enabled to cry, \u201cAbba, Father.\u201d O then do not leave, but be\ncontinually waiting at wisdom\u2019s gate, and you shall find all her ways\nto be ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace; then, you\nshall find that it is worth waiting on the LORD JESUS; and when you\nhave got his Spirit within you, all the power of men or devils cannot\nmake you forsake the ways of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.\n\nIf you do but once taste of his pardoning love, it will be so\ndelightful unto you, that you will cry for more and more thereof; you\nwill be as full as you can hold, and still not be satisfied; you will\ndesire more and more of this love of JESUS, you will hunger and thirst,\nand hunger and thirst again, and never be satisfied till you come to\nthat rest which is prepared for the people of GOD, where all hungering\nand thirsting will cease, and will be turned into songs and hallelujahs,\nand that for ever and ever.\n\nAs many of you as design to partake of the emblems of the body and\nblood of our dying LORD, examine well yourselves, lest by eating and\ndrinking unworthily, you eat and drink damnation unto yourselves:\nremember the dying love of your dying LORD, and eat and drink in\ncommemoration thereof; do not let the world keep you from partaking\nhereof; and when you have eaten and drank, do not go away and run into\nthe world; let the world see that you have been with JESUS; give them\nno room to speak unseemly, they do that enough without occasion; but\nhow would they rejoice if they had just reason.\n\nLook well then unto your paths, that you do not slip; remember that all\nyour faults are magnified, and that all your little slips are laid upon\nme; therefore, look well unto your ways, your words, your actions, that\nthey may silence gainsayers; let them see that we have the presence of\nGOD with us, and that there has been good done by field-preaching.\n\nLet me exhort you once more to consider the love of the LORD JESUS\nCHRIST. O do not forget his love. Consider, I beseech you, how great\nit has been unto you, and do not slight this his grace, the riches, the\nlove, the kindness of your dear Redeemer, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who\nhath prepared this eternal rest for you; he also laid down his life for\nyour sakes: what great love was here! that while you were enemies to\nthe LORD of glory, he died for you, to redeem you from sin, from hell\nand wrath, that you might live and reign with him, world without end.\n\nThe Lamb that died, and was buried, is now risen and exalted, and\nsits on the right-hand of GOD the Father; and when he shall come to\njudge all the world, then, my brethren, it will be seen whether we\nhave deserved the usage the world has given us; then it will be known\nwho are the true followers of the LORD JESUS, and who are madmen and\nfools; but, may it be determined in this world, that we and our present\nenemies may enter into that rest which GOD hath prepared for those that\nlove him.\n\n Which GOD of his infinite mercy grant!\n\nMy brethren, let not these few words of exhortation be forgotten,\nbut lay them up in your hearts, and remember they must be called over\nanother day. I should have enlarged, but the duties of the day obliged\nme to forbear.\n\n Now, to GOD the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be all power, &c.\n\n\n\n\n SERMON LVII.\n\n Preached before the Governor, and Council,\n and the House of Assembly, in, _Georgia_, on January 28, 1770.\n\n\n ZECHARIAH iv. 10.\n\n _For who hath despised the Day of Small Things?_\n\nMEN, brethren, and fathers, at sundry times and in divers manners, GOD\nspake to the fathers by the prophets, before he spoke to us in these\nlast days by his Son. And as GOD is a sovereign agent, and his sacred\nSpirit bloweth when and where it listeth, surely he may reveal and make\nknown his will to his creatures, when, where, and how he pleaseth; \u201cand\nwho shall say unto him, what doest thou?\u201d Indeed, this seems to be one\nreason, to display his sovereignty, why he chose, before the canon of\nscripture was settled, to make known his mind in such various methods,\nand to such a variety of his servants and messengers.\n\nHence it is, that we hear, he talked with _Abraham_ as \u201ca man talketh\nwith a friend.\u201d To _Moses_ he spoke \u201cface to face.\u201d To others by\n\u201cdreams in the night,\u201d or by \u201cvisions\u201d impressed strongly on their\nimaginations. This seems to be frequently the happy lot of the\nfavourite evangelical prophet _Zechariah_, I call him _evangelical\nprophet_, because his predictions, however they pointed at some\napproaching or immediate event, ultimately terminated in Him, who\nis the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end of all the lively\noracles of GOD. The chapter from which our text is selected, among many\nother passages, is a striking proof of this: An angel, that had been\nmore than once sent to him on former occasions, appears again to him,\nand by way of vision, and \u201cwaked him, (to use his own words) as a man\nthat is wakened out of his sleep.\u201d Prophets, and the greatest servants\nof GOD, need waking sometimes out of their drowsy frames.\n\nMethinks I see this man of GOD darting out of his sleep, and being\nall attention: the angel asked him, \u201cwhat seeth thou?\u201d He answers, \u201cI\nhave looked, and behold, a candlestick all of gold,\u201d an emblem of the\nchurch of GOD, \u201cwith a bowl upon the top of it, and seven lamps thereon,\nand seven pipes to the seven lamps, which were upon the top thereof;\u201d\nimplying, that the church, however reduced to the lowest ebb, should\nbe preserved, be kept supplied, and shining, through the invisible,\nbut not less real, because invisible aids and operations of the blessed\nSpirit of GOD. The occasion of such an extraordinary vision, if we\ncompare this passage with the second chapter of the Prophecy of the\nprophet _Haggai_, seems to be this: It was now near eighteen years\nsince the _Jewish_ people had been delivered from their long and\ngrievous _Babylonish_ captivity; and being so long deprived of their\ntemple and its worship, which fabric had been rased even to the ground,\none would have imagined, that immediately upon their return, they\nshould have postponed all private works, and with their united strength\nhave first set about rebuilding that once stately and magnificent\nstructure. But they, like too many christians of a like lukewarm stamp,\nthough all acknowledged that this church-work was a necessary work, yet\nput themselves and others off, with this godly pretence, \u201cThe time is\nnot come, the time that the LORD\u2019s house should be built.\u201d The time is\nnot come! what, not in eighteen years! for so long had they now been\nreturned from their state of bondage: and pray, why was not the time\ncome? The prophet _Haggai_ tells them; their whole time was so taken up\nin building for themselves cieled houses, that they had no time left to\nbuild an habitation for their great and glorious Benefactor, the mighty\nGOD of _Jacob_.\n\nThis ingratitude must not be passed by unpunished. Omniscience observes;\nOmnipotence resents it! And that they might read their sin in their\npunishment, as they thought it best to get rich, and secure houses and\nlands and estates for themselves, before they set about unnecessary\nchurch-work, the prophet tells them, \u201cYou have sown much, but bring\nin little: ye eat, but ye have not enough: ye drink, but ye are not\nfilled with drink: ye clothe you, but there is none warm: and he that\nearneth wages, earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.\u201d Still\nhe goes on thundering and lightening, \u201cYe looked for much, and lo it\ncame to little: and when ye brought it home, (pleasing yourselves with\nyour fine crops) I did blow upon it: why? saith the LORD of Hosts;\nbecause of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his\nown house.\u201d A thundering sermon this! delivered not only to the common\npeople, but also unto, and in the presence of \u201c_Zerubbabel_, the son\nof _Shaealtiel_, governor of _Judah_, and to _Joshua_, the son of\n_Josedech_ the high-priest. The prophet\u2019s report is believed; and the\narm of the LORD was revealed. _Zerubbabel_, the son of _Shaealtiel_,\nand _Joshua_, the Son of _Josedech_, (O happy times when church and\nstate are thus combined) with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the\nvoice of the LORD their GOD, and the words of _Haggai_ the prophet.\u201d\n\nThe spirit of _Zerubbabel_, and of _Joshua_, and the spirits of\nall the remnant of the people were stirred up, and they immediately\ncame, disregarding, as it were, their own private buildings, \u201cand\ndid work in the house of the LORD of Hosts their GOD.\u201d For a while,\nthey proceeded with vigour; the foundation of the house is laid, and\nthe superstructure raised to some considerable height: but whether\nthis fit of hot zeal soon cooled, as is too common, or the people\nwere discouraged by the false representations of their enemies, which\nperhaps met with too favourable a reception at the court of _Darius_;\nit so happened, that the hearts of the magistrates and ministers of\nthe people waxed faint; and an awful chasm intervened, between the\nfinishing and laying the foundation of this promising and glorious work.\n\nUpon this, another prophet, even _Zechariah_, (who with _Haggai_ had\nbeen joint sufferer in the captivity) is sent to lift up the hands\nthat hang down, to strengthen the feeble knees, and by the foregoing\ninstructive vision, to reanimate _Joshua_ and the people in general,\nand the heart of _Zerubbabel_, the son of _Shealtiel_, in particular,\nmaugre all discouragements, either from inveterate enemies, or from\ntimid unstable friends, or all other obstacles whatsoever. If _Haggai_\nthunders, _Zechariah_\u2019s message is as lightening. \u201cThis is the word\nof the LORD unto _Zerubbabel_, saying, Not by might, nor by power,\n(not by barely human power or policy) but by my spirit, saith the\nLORD of Hosts: Who art thou, O great mountain? (thou _Sanballat_ and\nthy associates, who have been so long crying out, what mean these\nfeeble _Jews_? however great, formidable, and seemingly insurmountable)\nbefore _Zerubbabel_ thou shalt (not only be lowered and rendered more\naccessible, but) become a plain;\u201d thy very opposition shall, in the end,\npromote the work, and help to expedite that very building, which thou\nintendest to put a stop to, and destroy.\n\nAnd lest _Zerubbabel_, through unbelief and outward opposition, or for\nwant of more bodily strength, should think this would be a work of time,\nand that he should not live to see it compleated in his days, \u201cThe\nword of the LORD came to _Zechariah_, saying, The hands of _Zerubbabel_\nhave laid the foundation of this house; his hands also shall finish it,\nand he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying,\nGrace, grace unto it.\u201d Grace! grace! unto it: a double acclamation, to\nshew, that out of the abundance of their hearts, their mouth spake; and\nthis with shoutings and crying from all quarters. Even their enemies\nshould see the hand and providence of GOD in the beginning, continuance,\nand ending of this seemingly improbable and impracticable work; so that\nthey should be constrained to cry, \u201cGrace unto it,\u201d and wish both the\nwork and the builders much prosperity: But as for its friends, they\nshould be so transported with heart-felt joy in the reflection upon the\nsignal providences which had attended them through the whole process,\nthat they would shout and cry, \u201cGrace, grace unto it:\u201d or, This is\nnothing but the LORD\u2019s doing; GOD prosper and bless this work more\nand more, and make it a place where his free grace and glory may be\nabundantly displayed. Then by a beautiful and pungent sarcasm, turning\nto the insulting enemies, he utters the spirited interrogation in my\ntext, \u201cWho hath despised the day of small things?\u201d Who are you, that\nvauntingly said, what can these feeble _Jews_ do, pretending to lay the\nfoundation of a house which they never will have money, or strength, or\npower to finish? Or, who are you, O timorous, short-sighted, doubting,\nthough well-meaning people, who, through unbelief, were discouraged\nat the small beginnings and feebleness of the attempt to build a\nsecond temple? And, because you thought it could not come up to the\nmagnificence of the first, therefore were discouraged from so much as\nbeginning to build a second at all?\n\nA close instructive question this; a question, implying, that whenever\nGOD intends to bring about any great thing, he generally begins with a\nday of small things.\n\nAs a proof of this, I will not lead you so far back, as to the\nbeginning of time, when the Everlasting \u201cI AM\u201d spoke all things\ninto existence, by his almighty _fiat_; and out of a confused chaos,\n\u201cwithout form and void,\u201d produced a world worthy of a GOD to create,\nand of his favourite creature man, his vicegerent and representative\nhere below, to inhabit, and enjoy in it both himself and his GOD. And\nyet, though the heavens declare his glory, and the firmament sheweth\nhis handy work, though there is no speech nor language where their\nvoice is not heard, and their line is gone out through all the earth;\nand by a dumb, yet persuasive language, proves the hand that made them\nto be divine; yet there have been, and are now, such fools in the world,\nas to \u201csay in their hearts, There is no GOD;\u201d or so wise, as by their\nwisdom, not to know GOD, or own his divine image to be stamped on that\nbook, wherein these grand things are recorded, and that in such legible\ncharacters, that he who runs may read.\n\nNeither will I divert your attention, honoured fathers, to the\nhistories of _Greece_ and _Rome_, or any of the great kingdoms and\nrenowned monarchies, which constitute so great a part of ancient\nhistory; but whose beginnings were very small, (witness _Romulus_\u2019s\nditch) their progress as remarkably great, and their declension and\ndownfal, when arrived at their appointed zenith, as sudden, unexpected,\nand marvellous. These make the chief subjects of the learning of our\nschools; though they make but a mean figure in sacred history, and\nwould not perhaps have been mentioned at all, had they not been, in\nsome measure, connected with the history of GOD\u2019s people, which is\nthe grand subject of that much despised book, emphatically called, The\nScriptures. Whoever hath a mind to inform himself of the one, may read\n_Rollin_\u2019s Ancient History, and whoever would see the connection with\nthe other, may consult the learned _Prideaux_\u2019s admirable and judicious\nconnection. Books which, I hope, will be strenuously recommended,\nand carefully studied, when this present infant institution gathers\nmore strength, and grows up into a seat of learning. I can hardly\nforbear mentioning the small beginnings of _Great Britain_, now so\ndistinguished for liberty, opulence and renown; and the rise and rapid\nprogress of the _American_ colonies, which promises to be one of the\nmost opulent and powerful empires in the world. But my present views,\nand the honours done this infant institution this day, and the words\nof my text, as well as the feelings of my own heart, and I trust, of\nthe hearts of all that hear me, lead me to confine your meditations\nto the history of GOD\u2019s own peculiar people, which for the simplicity\nand sublimity of its language, the veracity of its author, and the\nimportance and wonders of the facts therein recorded, if weighed in a\nproper balance, hath not its equal under the sun. And yet, though GOD\nhimself hath become an author among us, we will not condescend to give\nhis book one thorough reading. Be astonished, O heavens, at this!\n\nWho would have thought that from one, even from _Abraham_, and from so\nsmall a beginning, as the emigration of a single private family, called\nout of a land wholly given to idolatry, to be sojourners and pilgrims\nin a strange land; who would have thought, that from a man, who for a\nlong season was written _childless_, a man whose first possession in\nthis strange land, was by purchasing a burying place for his wife, and\nin whose grave one might have imagined he would have buried all future\nexpectations; who would have thought, that from this very man and woman,\naccording to the course of nature, both as good as dead, should descend\na numerous offspring like unto the stars of heaven for multitude,\nand as the sand which is upon the sea shore innumerable? Nay, who\nwould have imagined, that against all probability, and in all human\nappearance impossible, a kingdom should arise? Behold a poor captive\nslave, even _Joseph_, who was cruelly separated from his brethren,\nbecame second in _Pharaoh_\u2019s kingdom: he was sent before to work out\na great deliverance, and to introduce a family which should take root,\ndeep root downwards and bear fruit upwards, and fill the land. How\ncould it enter into the heart of man to conceive, that when oppressed\nby a king, who knew not _Joseph_, though they were the best, most loyal,\nindustrious subjects this king had, when an edict was issued forth\nas impolitic as cruel, (since the safety and glory of all kingdoms\nchiefly consist in the number of its inhabitants) that an outcast,\nhelpless infant should be taken, and bred up in all the learning of the\n_Egyptians_, and in that very court from which, and by that very tyrant\nfrom whom the edict came, and that the deliverer should be nurtured to\nbe king in _Jeshurun_?\n\nBut time as well as strength would fail me, was I to give you a detail\nof all the important particulars respecting GOD\u2019s peculiar people; as\ntheir miraculous support in the wilderness, the events which took place\nwhile they were under a divine theocracy, and during their settlement\nin _Canaan_ to the time of their return from _Babylon_, and from thence\nto the destruction of their second temple, &c. by the _Romans_. Indeed,\nconsidering to whom I am speaking, persons conversant in the sacred and\nprofane history, I have mentioned these things only to stir up your\nminds by way of remembrance.\n\nBut if we descend from the _Jewish_, to the Christian \u00e6ra, we shall\nfind, that its commencement was, in the eyes of the world, a \u201cday of\nsmall things\u201d indeed. Our blessed LORD compares the beginning of its\nprogress in the world, to a grain of mustard-seed, which though the\nsmallest of all seeds when sown, soon becomes a great tree, and so\nspread, that the \u201cbirds of the air,\u201d or a multitude of every nation,\nlanguage and tongue, came and lodged in its branches: and its inward\nprogress in the believers heart, CHRIST likens to a little leaven\nwhich a woman hid in three measures of meal. How both the _Jewish_\nand Christian dispensations have been, and even to this day are\ndespised, by the wise disputers of this world, on this very account, is\nmanifest to all who read the lively oracles with a becoming attention.\nWhat ridicule, obloquy, and inveterate opposition christianity meets\nwith, in this our day, not only from the open deist, but from formal\nprofessors, is too evident to every truly pious soul.\n\nAnd what opposition the kingdom of grace meets with in the heart, is\nwell known by all those who are experimentally acquainted with their\nhearts: they know, to their sorrow, what the great apostle of the\n_Gentiles_ means, by \u201cthe Spirit striving against the flesh, and the\nflesh against the Spirit.\u201d\n\nBut the sacred Oracles, and the histories of all ages acquaint us, that\nGOD brings about the greatest thing, not only by small and unlikely\nmeans, but by ways and means directly opposite to the carnal reasonings\nof unthinking men: he chuses things that be not, to bring to nought\nthose which are. How did christianity spread and flourish, by one,\nwho was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted\nwith grief, and who expired on a cross? he was despised and rejected,\nnot merely by the vulgar and illiterate, but the Rabbies and Masters\nof _Israel_, the Scribes and Pharisees, who by the _Jewish_ churchmen\nwere held too in so high a reputation for their outward sanctity,\nthat it became a common proverb, \u201cIf only two went to heaven, the\none would be a Scribe, and the other a Pharisee.\u201d Yet there were they\nwho endeavoured to silence the voice of all his miracles and heavenly\ndoctrine with, \u201cIs not this the Carpenter\u2019s son?\u201d Nay, \u201cHe is mad, why\nhear you him? he hath a devil, and calleth out devils by _Beelzebub_\nthe prince of the devils.\u201d And their despite not only followed him\nto, but after death, and when in his grave. \u201cWe remember (said they)\nthat this deceiver said, after three days I will rise again; command\ntherefore that the sepulchre be made sure;\u201d but, maugre all your\nimpotent precautions, in sealing the stone, and setting a watch,\nhe burst the bars of death asunder, and, according to his repeated\npredictions, proved himself to be the Son of GOD with power, by rising\nthe third day from the dead. And afterwards, in presence of great\nmultitudes, was he received up into glory; as a proof thereof, he sent\ndown the Holy Ghost, (on the mission of whom he pawned all his credit\nwith his disciples) in such an instantaneous, amazing manner, as one\nwould imagine, should have forced and compelled all who saw it to own,\nthat this was indeed the finger of GOD.\n\nAnd yet how was this grand transaction treated? with the utmost\ncontempt: when instantaneously the apostles commenced orators and\nlinguists, and with a divine profusion spoke of the wonderful things of\nGOD; \u201cthese men (said some) are full of new wine.\u201d And yet by these men,\nmean fishermen, illiterate men, idiots, in the opinion of the Scribes\nand Pharisees, and notwithstanding all the opposition of earth and hell,\nand that too only by the foolishness of preaching, did this grain of\nmustard-seed grow up, till thousands, ten thousands of thousands, a\nmultitude which no man can number, out of every nation, language and\npeople, came and lodged under the branches of it.\n\nNeither shall it rest here; whatever dark parenthesis may intervene,\nwe are assured, that being still watered by the same divine hand, it\nshall take deeper and deeper root downward, and bear more and more\nfruit upward, till the whole earth be filled with the knowledge of the\nLORD, as the waters cover the sea. Who shall live when GOD doth this?\nHasten O LORD that blessed time! O let this thy kingdom come! Come,\nnot only by the external preaching of the gospel in the world, but by\nits renovating, heart-renewing, soul-transforming power, to awakened\nsinners! For want of this, alas! alas! though we understood all\nmysteries, could speak with the tongues of men and angels, we should\nbe only like sounding brass, or so many tinkling cymbals.\n\nAnd yet, what a \u201cday of small things\u201d is the first implantation of\nthe seed of divine life in the soul of man? Well might our LORD, who\nalone is the author and finisher of our faith, compare it to a little\nleaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the\nwhole was leavened. Low similies, mean comparisons these, in the eyes\nof those, who having eyes, see not; who having ears, hear not; whose\nheart, being waxed gross, cannot, will not understand! To such, it is\ndespicable, mysterious, and unintelligible in its description; and,\nif possible, infinitely more so, when made effectual by the power of\nGOD, to the salvation of any individual soul. For the wisdom of GOD\nwill always be foolishness to natural men. As it was formerly, so it\nis now; they who are born after the flesh, will persecute those that\nare born after the spirit: the disciple must be as his master: they\nthat will live godly in him; they that live _most godly_ in him, must,\nshall suffer persecution. This is so interwoven in the very nature\nand existence of the gospel, that our LORD makes it one part of the\nbeatitudes, in that blessed sermon which he preached, when, to use the\nwords of my old familiar friend the seraphic _Hervey_, a mount was his\npulpit, and the heavens his sounding board. A part, which, like others\nof the same nature, I believe, will be little relished by such who are\nalways clamouring against those few highly favoured souls, who dare\nstand up and preach the doctrine of _justification by faith alone_\nin the imputed righteousness of JESUS CHRIST, and are reproached with\nnot preaching, like their master, _Morality_, as they term it, in his\nglorious sermon on the mount: for did we more preach, and more live it,\nwe should soon find all manner of evil would be spoken against us for\nCHRIST\u2019s sake.\n\nBut shall this hinder the progress, the growth, and consummation? and\nshall the christian therefore be dismayed and discouraged? GOD forbid!\nOn the contrary, the weakest believer may, and ought, to rejoice and\nbe exceeding glad. And why? for a very good reason; because, he that\nhath begun the good work, hath engaged also to finish it; though CHRIST\nfound him as black as hell, he shall present him, and every individual\npurchased with his blood, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing,\nbefore the Divine Presence. O glorious prospect! how will the saints\ntriumph, and the sons of GOD then shout for joy? If they shouted when\nGOD said, \u201cLet there be light, and there was light;\u201d and if there\nis joy in heaven over one sinner only that repenteth, how will the\nheavenly arches echo and rebound with praise, when all the redeemed\nof the LORD shall appear together, and the Son of GOD shall say, \u201cof\nall these that thou hast given to me, have I lost nothing.\u201d On the\ncontrary, what weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth will there be,\nnot only amongst the devil and his angels, but amongst the fearful and\nunbelieving, when they see that all the hellish temptations and devices,\ninstead of destroying, were over-ruled to the furtherance of the gospel\nin general, and to the increase and growth of grace in every individual\nbeliever in particular. And how will despisers then behold and wonder\nand perish, when they shall be obliged to say, \u201cwe fools counted their\nlives madness, and their end to be without honour; but how are they\nnumbered among the children of GOD, and how happy is their lot among\nthe saints!\u201d\n\nBut whither am I going? Pardon me, my dear hearers, if you think this\nto be a digression from my main point. It is true, whilst I am musing,\nthe fire begins to kindle: I am flying, but not so high, I trust, as\nto lose sight of my main subject. And yet, after meditating and talking\nof the rise and progress of the gospel of the kingdom, I shall find\nit somewhat difficult to descend so low, as to entertain you with\nthe small beginnings of this infant colony, and of the Orphan-house,\nin which I am now preaching. But I should judge myself inexcusable\non this occasion, if I did not detain you a little longer, in taking\na transient view of the traces of divine Providence, in the rise\nand progress of the colony in general, and the institution of this\nOrphan-house in particular. Children yet unborn, I trust, will have\noccasion to bless GOD for both.\n\nThe very design of this settlement, as charity inclines us to hope all\nthings, was, that it might be an Asylum, and a place of business, for\nas many as were in distress; for foreigners, as well as natives; for\n_Jews_ and _Gentiles_. On _February_ 1, a day, the memory of which, I\nthink, should still be perpetuated, the first embarkation was made with\nforty-five _English_ families; men, who had once lived well in their\nnative country, and who, with many persecuted _Saltzburghers_, headed\nby a good old soldier of JESUS lately deceased, the Rev. Mr. _Boltzius_,\ncame to find a refuge here. They came, they saw, they laboured, and\nendeavoured to settle; but by an essential, though well-meant defect,\nin the very beginning of the settlement, too well known by some now\npresent, and too long, and too much felt to bear repeating, prohibiting\nthe importation and use of negroes, &c. their numbers gradually\ndiminished, and matters were brought to so low an ebb, that the whole\ncolony became a proverb of reproach.\n\nAbout this time, in the year 1737, being previously stirred up\nthereto by a strong impulse, which I could by no means resist, I\ncame here, after the example of my worthy and reverend friends,\nMessieurs _John_ and _Charles Wesley_, and Mr. _Ingham_, who, with\nthe most disinterested views, had come hither to serve the colony,\nby endeavouring to convert the _Indians_. I came rejoicing to serve\nthe colony also, and to become your willing servant for CHRIST\u2019s sake.\nMy friend and father, good Bishop _Benson_, encouraged me, though my\nbrethren and kinsmen after the flesh, as well as religious friends,\nopposed it. I came, and I saw (you will not be offended with me to\nspeak the truth) the nakedness of the land. Gladly did I distribute\nabout the four hundred pounds sterling, which I had collected in\n_England_, among my poor parishioners. The necessity and propriety of\nerecting an Orphan-house, was mentioned and recommended before my first\nembarkation. But thinking it a matter of too great importance to be\nset about unwarily, I deferred the farther prosecution of this laudable\ndesign till my return to _England_ in the year 1738, for to have\npriests orders.\n\nMiserable was the condition of many grown persons, as well as children,\nwhom I left behind. Their cause I endeavoured to plead, immediately\nupon my arrival; but being denied the churches, in which I had the\nyear before collected many hundreds for the _London_ charity-schools,\nI endeavoured to plead their cause in the fields. The people threw in\ntheir mites most willingly; once or twice, I think, twenty-two pounds\nwere collected in copper; the alms were accompanied with many prayers,\nand which, as I told them, laid, I am persuaded, a blessed foundation\nto the future charitable superstructure. In a short time, though\nplucked as it were out of the fire, the collections and charitable\ncontributions amounted to more than a one thousand pounds sterling.\n\nWith that I reimbarked, taking _Philadelphia_ in my way, and upon my\nsecond arrival, found the spot fixed upon; but, alas! who can describe\nthe low estate to which it was reduced! the whole country almost was\nleft desolate, and the metropolis Savannah, was but like a cottage\nin a vineyard, or as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers. Many orphans,\nwhose parents had been taken from them by the distresses that naturally\nattend new settlements, were dispersed here and there in a very forlorn\nhelpless condition; my bowels yearned towards them, and, animated by\nthe example of the great Professor _Franck_, previous to bringing them\nhere, I hired a house, furnished an infirmary, employed all that were\ncapable of employment, and in a few weeks walked to the house of GOD\nwith a large family of above sixty orphans, and others in as bad a\ncondition.\n\nOn _March 25, 1740_, in full assurance of faith, I laid the foundation\nof this house; and in the year following, brought in my orphan family,\nwho, with the workmen, now made up the number of one hundred and fifty:\nby the money which was expended on these, the remaining few were kept\nin the colony, and were enabled to pay the debts they owed; so that\nin a representation made to the House of Commons, by some, who for\nvery good reasons wanted the constitution of the colony altered; they\ndeclared, that the very existence of the colony was in a great measure,\nif not totally, owing to the building and supporting of the Orphan\nHouse.\n\nFinding the care of such a family, incompatible with the care due\nto a parish, upon giving previous warning to the then trustees, I\ngave up the living of _Savannah_, which without fee or reward I had\nvoluntarily taken upon me: I then ranged through the northern colonies,\nand afterwards once more returned home. What calumny, what loads of\nreproach, I for many years was called to undergo, in thus turning\nbeggar for a family, few here present need to be informed; a family,\nutterly unconnected by any ties of nature; a family, not only to be\nmaintained with food, but cloathed and educated also, and that too in\nthe dearest part of his Majesty\u2019s dominions, on a pine barren, and in\na colony where the use of negroes was totally denied; this appeared so\nvery improbable, that all beholders looked daily for its decline and\nannihilation.\n\nBut, blessed be GOD, the building advanced and flourished, and the\nwished-for period is now come; after having supported the family\nfor thirty-two years, by a change of constitution and the smiles of\ngovernment, with liberal donations from the northern, and especially\nthe adjacent provinces, the same hands that laid the foundation, are\nnow called to finish it, by making an addition of a seat of learning,\nthe whole products and profits of which, are to go towards the increase\nof the fund, as at the beginning, for destitute orphans, or such youths\nas may be called of GOD to the sacred ministry of his gospel. I need\nnot call on any here, to cry, \u201cGrace, grace, unto it.\u201d For on the\nutmost scrutiny of the intention of those employed, and considering the\nvarious exercises they have been called to undergo, and the opposition\nthe building hath every where met with, we may justly say, \u201cnot by\nmight, nor by power, but by thy Spirit, O LORD,\u201d hath this work been\ncarried on thus far; it is his doing, let it be marvellous in our eyes.\nWith humble gratitude, therefore, would we now set up our _Ebenezer_,\nand say, \u201cHitherto thou, LORD, hast helped us;\u201d and wherefore should\nwe doubt, but that he, who hath thus far helped, will continue to help,\nwhen the weary heads of the first founders and present helpers, are\nlaid in the silent grave.\n\nI am very well aware, what an invidious task it must be to a person\nin my circumstances, thus to speak on an affair in which he hath been\nso much concerned. Some may perhaps think, I am become a fool in thus\nglorying. But as I am now, blessed be GOD, in the decline of life, and\nas, in all probability, I shall never be present to celebrate another\nanniversary, I thought it best to be a little more explicit, that if\nI have spoken any thing but truth, I may be confronted; and if not,\nthat future ages, and future successors, may see with what a purity of\nintention, and what various interpositions of Providence, the work was\nbegun, and hath been carried on to its _present height_.\n\nIt was the reading of a like account, written by the late Professor\n_Franck_, that encouraged me: who knows but hereafter, the reading\nsomething of a similar nature, may encourage others to begin and carry\non a like work elsewhere? I have said its _present height_, for I\nwould humbly hope, that this is, comparatively speaking, only a \u201cday\nof small things,\u201d only the dawn of brighter scenes. Private genius\u2019s\nand individuals, as well as collective bodies, have, like the human\nbody, the nonage, puerile, juvenile estate, before they arrive at their\nzenith, and their lives as gradually they decline. But yet I would\nhope, that both the province and _Bethesda_ are but in their puerile\nor juvenile state. And long, long may they increase, and make large\nstrides, till they arrive at a glorious zenith! I mean not merely in\ntrade, merchandise, and opulence, (though I would be far from secluding\nthem from the province, and would be thankful for the advances it hath\nalready made) but a zenith of glorious gospel blessings, without which,\nall outward emoluments are less than nothing, or as the small dust\nof the balance: \u201cFor what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the\nwhole world and lose his own soul.\u201d\n\nWho can imagine, that the prophet _Zechariah_ would be sent to\nstrengthen the hands of _Zerubbabel_, in building and laying the\nfoundation of the temple, if that temple was not to be frequented with\nworshippers that worshipped the Father in spirit and in truth. The\nmost gaudy fabrics, stately temples, new moon sabbaths, and solemn\nassemblies, are only solemn mockeries GOD cannot away with. This GOD\nhath shewn by the destruction of both the first and second temples.\nWhat is become of the seven churches of _Asia_? How are all their\ngolden candlesticks overthrown? \u201cGOD is a Spirit, and they who worship\nhim must worship him in spirit and in truth.\u201d And no longer do I expect\nthat this house will flourish, than when the power of religion is\nencouraged and promoted, and the persons educated here, prosecute their\nstudies, not only to be great scholars, but good saints.\n\nBlessed be GOD! I can say with Professor _Franck_, that it is\nin a great measure owing to the disinterested spirit of my first\nfellow-helpers, as well as those who are now employed, that the\nbuilding hath reached to its present height. This I am bound to speak,\nnot only in honour to those who are now with GOD, but those at present\nbefore me. Nor dare I conclude, without offering to\n\nYour Excellency, our pepper corn of acknowledgment for the countenance\nyou have always shewn _Bethesda_\u2019s institution, and the honour you did\nus last year, in laying the first brick of yonder wings: in thus doing,\nyou have honoured _Bethesda_\u2019s GOD. May he long delight to honour you\nhere on earth! and after a life spent to his glory, and your country\u2019s\ngood, may he honour you to all eternity, in placing you at CHRIST\u2019s\nright-hand in the kingdom above!\n\nNext to your Excellency, my dear Mr. President, I must beg your\nacceptance both of thanks and congratulation on the annual return of\nthis festival. For you was not only my dear familiar friend, and first\nfellow-traveller in this infant province; but you was directed by\nProvidence to this spot, laid the second brick of this house, watched,\nprayed, and wrought for the family\u2019s good: A witness of innumerable\ntrials, partner of my joys and griefs; you will have now the pleasure\nof seeing the Orphan-house a fruitful bough, its branches running\nover the wall. For this, no doubt, GOD hath smiled upon and blessed\nyou, in a manner we could not expect, much less design; and may he\ncontinue to bless you with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places\nin CHRIST JESUS. Look to the rock from whence you have been hewn, and\nmay your children never be ashamed, that their father left his native\ncountry, and married a real christian, born again under this roof. May\n_Bethesda_\u2019s GOD grant this may be the happy portion of your children,\nand children\u2019s children!\n\nGentlemen of his Majesty\u2019s council,\n\nMr. Speaker, and you members of the General Assembly, many thanks are\nowing to you, for your late address to his Excellency in favour of\n_Bethesda_. Your joint recommendation of it, when I was last here,\nwhich, though in some measure through the bigotry of some, for the\npresent is rendered abortive, by their wanting to have it confined\nto a party, yet I trust the event will prove that every thing shall\nbe over-ruled to the furtherance of the work. Here I repeat, what\nI have often declared, that as far as lies in my power before and\nafter my decease, _Bethesda_ shall be always on a _broad bottom_. All\ndenominations have freely given; all denominations, all the continent,\nGOD being my helper, shall receive benefit from it. May _Bethesda_\u2019s\nGOD bless you all! in your private as well as public capacity; and\nas you are honoured to be the representatives of a now flourishing\nincreasing people: may you be directed in all your ways! May truth,\njustice, religion, and piety be established amongst you through all\ngenerations!\n\n_Lastly_, My reverend brethren, and you inhabitants of the colony,\naccept unfeigned thanks for the honour done me, in letting us see you\nat _Bethesda_ this day. You, Sir, for the sermon preached here last\nyear. Tell it in _Germany_, tell my great, good friend, Professor\n_Franck_, that _Bethesda_\u2019s GOD, is a GOD whose mercy endureth for\never. O let us have your earnest prayers! encourage your people not\nto \u201cdespise the day of small things.\u201d What hath GOD wrought? From\nits infancy, this colony hath been blessed with many faithful gospel\nministers: O that this may be a nursery to many more! This hath been\nthe case of the _New England_ College for almost a century, and why not\nthe Orphan-house Academy at _Georgia_?\n\nMen, brethren, fathers, as many of you, whether inhabitants or\nstrangers, who have honoured this day with your presence, give us the\nadditional blessings of your prayers. And O that _Bethesda_\u2019s GOD may\nmake this day, though but a day of small things, productive of great\nthings to the souls of all amongst whom I have been now preaching the\nkingdom of GOD. A great and good day will it be indeed, if JESUS CHRIST,\nour great _Zerubbabel_, should, by the power of the eternal Spirit,\nbless any thing that hath now been said, to cause every mountain of\ndifficulty, that lies in the way of your conversion, to become a plain.\nAnd what art thou, O great mountain, whether the lust of the flesh,\nthe lust of the eye, or the pride of life, sin, or self-righteousness?\nBefore our _Bethesda_\u2019s GOD, thou shalt become a plain.\n\nBrethren, my heart is enlarged towards you: it is written, blessed\nbe GOD that it is written, \u201cIn the name of JESUS every knee shall\nbow, whether things in heaven, or things in earth, or things under the\nearth.\u201d O that we may be made a willing people in the day of his power!\nLook, look unto him, all ye that are placed in these ends of the earth.\nThis house hath often been an house of GOD, a gate of heaven, to some\nof your fathers. May it be a house of GOD, a gate of heaven, to the\nchildren also! Come unto him, all ye that are weary and heavy laden,\nhe will give you rest; rest from the guilt, rest from the power, rest\nfrom the punishment of sin; rest from the fear of divine judgments here,\nrest with himself eternally hereafter. Fear not, though the beginnings\nare but small, CHRIST will not despise the day of small things. A\nbruised reed will he not break, and the smoaking flax will he not\nquench, until he bring forth judgment unto victory. His hands that\nlaid the foundation, also shall finish it: yet a little while and the\ntop-stone shall be brought forth with shouting, and men and angels\njoin in crying \u201cGrace! Grace! unto it.\u201d That all present may be in this\nhappy number, may GOD of his infinite mercy grant, through JESUS our\nLORD.\n\n\n\n\n SERMON LVIII.\n\n _Peter_\u2019s Denial of his LORD.\n\n\n MATTHEW xxvi. 75.\u00b9\n\n _And Peter remembered the words of Jesus, which said unto him,\n Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice: and he\n went out, and wept bitterly._\n\n \u00b9 The two following Sermons came to hand after the others were\n in the press.\n\nBIOGRAPHY, as one observes, is the best history; or, in other words,\nwriting or reading the lives of great and good men, is one of the most\nprofitable and delightful kinds of history we can entertain ourselves\nwith. For hereby we are convinced, that Wisdom\u2019s ways are indeed ways\nof pleasantness; and being proved to be practicable by men of like\npassions with ourselves, we are insensibly allured to follow them as\nthey followed _Christ_, and encouraged to run with patience the race\nset before us. This, one would hope, is the grand end proposed by all\nsuch who undertake to draw the characters, or hand down to posterity\nthe remarkable transactions of persons who have shone as lights in the\nchurch of GOD. Many have done worthily in this respect; and for this\ntheir labour of love, thousands as yet unborn, shall rise and call\nthem blessed. But without detracting any thing from their due praise,\nI cannot help observing, that in most of the lives that I have had\nan opportunity of perusing, there seems to be one deficiency, I could\nalmost say, common to them all. It is this: The writers of them seldom\nor never mention the blemishes or falls of those whose characters they\nexhibit. They emblazon their good, without so much as hinting at any\nof their bad qualities. In short, they paint them blameless, and by not\nmentioning any of their foibles, or the sins that did most easily beset\nthem, they make them, as it were, equal to the angels of GOD, or rather\nto the Son of GOD himself, of whom alone it can truly be said, \u201cThat\nhe was without sin.\u201d Such a method, (however well meant, because we are\nmore prone to imitate others vices than their virtues) to speak in the\nsoftest terms, is not according to the pattern shewn us in the mount.\nThe scriptures set us a different copy. In those lively oracles, as\nin a well-drawn picture, we have both shade and light; and at the same\ntime as they paint out to us, in the most striking manner, the graces\nfor which the holy men of old were most eminent, they also, with an\nequally impartial hand, expose to public view, not only the common\ninfirmities, but even some of the most dreadful falls, with all their\naggravating circumstances, of some of the greatest men of GOD that ever\ndid, or will live, till time itself shall be no more.\n\nOne of these is to be the mournful subject of our present meditation.\n_Procul ite profani!_ Let all profane persons keep at an awful distance:\nWe are going to tread on holy ground. I set an hedge about it in the\nname of the living GOD. Come not too nigh the mount, lest that which\nwas written for your learning, through your own perverse abuse of it,\nshould prove unto you a further occasion of falling.\n\nIf any should enquire, \u201cWhy all this caution?\u201d I answer, \u201cWe are about\nto discourse on the Apostle _Peter_\u2019s shameful denial of his and our\nblessed Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST.\u201d A passage recorded by all\nthe evangelists, St. _Mark_ himself not excepted, who is supposed to\nhave been emanuensis to St. _Peter_, and to have taken his gospel from\n_Peter_\u2019s own mouth. A proof this, not only of the impartiality of the\nsacred writers, but also that the Holy Ghost intended that this awful\nstory should, in an especial manner, be recorded for our learning, on\nwhom the ends of the world are come. But though all the evangelists are\nvery explicit in relating this perfidious and wicked act, yet we shall\nchiefly confine ourselves, at present, to the account given us of it in\nthis xxvith chapter of St. _Matthew_, and, for method sake, purpose to\nconsider,\n\n _First_, The steps that led to this great man\u2019s fall.\n\n _Secondly_, The fall itself. And,\n\n _Thirdly_, His recovery from it, mentioned in the text: \u201cAnd\n _Peter_ remembered the words of JESUS, which said unto him,\n Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went\n out and wept bitterly.\u201d\n\nBut before we proceed to the prosecution of these points; it may be\nproper to premise, that we take it for granted the Apostle _Peter_,\nbefore his fall, was certainly a converted man. This is controverted\nby some. For what reason, is best known to themselves. The scriptures\nevidently leave us no room to dispute it. One passage may suffice\nfor a proof. \u201cBlessed art thou, _Simon Bar Jonah_ (said the glorious\n_Emmanuel_ to _Peter_, when he witnessed that good confession, Thou\nart CHRIST, the Son of the living GOD); for flesh and blood hath not\nrevealed this unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.\u201d Not content\nwith this, he adds, \u201cThou art _Peter_, and upon this rock will I build\nmy church, and the gates of hell shall never be able to prevail against\nit:\u201d Words that carry with them the strongest presumption, not only\nthat _Peter_ was a converted man, but that he had some eminent place\nto be assigned him in the kingdom of grace. For our Lord pronounces him\nblessed: \u201cBlessed art thou, _Simon Bar Jonah_:\u201d and gives him a reason\nfor it; \u201cFor flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee, but my\nheavenly Father.\u201d So that _Peter_ called CHRIST Lord by the Holy Ghost,\nwhich none but a converted person can do. And further, \u201cUpon this rock,\nsays CHRIST, will I build my church;\u201d which, whether it be understood\nof his confession of CHRIST\u2019s divinity, or his being afterwards to\nbe employed in first preaching the gospel to the _Gentiles_, seems\nto denote some peculiar favour and honour assigned to, and hereafter\nto be conferred upon him. It is true, indeed, the same all-seeing\nRedeemer, when afterwards he forewarned him of his fall, subjoined\nthis particular command; \u201cAnd when thou art converted, strengthen thy\nbrethren.\u201d But this only implies, that his fall would be so exceeding\ngreat, that his recovery out of it would be, as it were, a second\nconversion.\n\nThe steps that led to this terrible disaster, come now more\nparticularly to be considered. In order to be informed of these, (as\nI take it for granted you have brought your Bibles with you) I must\nbeg you to look back to the 33d verse of this chapter, where we shall\nfind, that spiritual pride, and a too great dependence on a stock of\ngrace already received, was one of the first steps discernible in this\nApostle\u2019s denial of his LORD\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015The blessed JESUS, knowing all things\nthat should befal him, after the solemn institution and celebration\nof his last supper, gave his disciples this tremendous warning, backed\nwith a scripture prediction: \u201cAll ye (verse 31.) shall be offended\nbecause of me this night; for it is written, I will smite the shepherd,\nand the sheep shall be scattered.\u201d A warning, one would imagine,\nterrible enough to have struck them all dumb, at least to have filled\nthem with a holy jealousy of their own desperately wicked and deceitful\nhearts. But what says our Apostle? He (verse 33.) answered and said,\n\u201cThough all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never\nbe offended.\u201d Poor _Peter_! How unlike thy former self, when at thy\nfirst calling, thou criedst out, \u201cDepart from me, for I am a sinful man,\nO LORD.\u201d Alas! he now thinks his mountain is so strong, that it never\ncould be moved. \u201cThough all men should be offended because of thee, yet\nwill I never be offended.\u201d O these egotisms! How frequently are they\nused by, but how little do they become such frail creatures as we are!\n\u201cYet will I never be offended;\u201d so far from being offended this night,\nthat I will never, at any time, or in any place, be offended because of\nthee. No wonder, after hearing this, that the holy JESUS said unto him,\n(verse 34.) \u201cVerily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock\ncrow, thou shalt, or will deny me thrice:\u201d (for CHRIST\u2019s predicting\nhis fall, laid him under no necessity of falling). Surely _Peter_ will\nnow retract! Nothing less. On the contrary, depending too much on the\nsincerity of his intentions, and his present good frame, he said unto\nhis Master, (verse 35.) \u201cThough I should die with thee, yet will I not\ndeny thee.\u201d As though he should have said, \u201cDie with thee I may; to die\nwith or for thee, I am ready: but to deny thee, I dare not. Deny thee\nin any wise, I cannot, and neither will I. Is thy servant a dog, a\ndevil, that he should do this?\u201d Stop, _Peter_; whither art thou going?\nWhere is thy present warm zeal carrying thee? What! wilt thou give the\nGOD of truth the lie? I begin to tremble for thee. Such self-confidence\nand spiritual pride, generally go before a fall.\n\nBut to proceed. Spiritual sloth, as well as spiritual pride, helped to\nthrow this Apostle down. The sun, that glorious Sun of righteousness,\nwas now about to enter into his last eclipse. Satan, who had left\nhim for a season, or, till the season of his passion, is now to be\npermitted to bruise his heel again. This is his hour, and now the\npowers of darkness summon and exert their strongest and united efforts.\nA hymn is a prelude to his dreadful passion. From the communion-table,\nthe Saviour retires to the garden. An horrible dread, and inexpressible\nload of sorrow begins to overwhelm and weigh down his innocent soul.\nHis body can scarcely sustain it. See how he faulters! See how his\nhands hang down, and his knees wax feeble under the amazing pressure!\nHe is afflicted and oppressed indeed. See, see, O my soul, how he\nsweats! But what is that which I see? Blood\u2015\u2015drops of blood\u2015\u2015great\ndrops of blood falling to the ground. Alas, was ever sorrow like unto\nthis sorrow! Hark! what is that I hear? O dolorous complaint? \u201cFather,\nif it be possible, let this cup pass from me.\u201d Hark! he speaks again.\nAmazing! the Creator complains to the creature, \u201cMy soul is exceeding\nsorrowful, even unto death: tarry you here and watch with me.\u201d And now\nhe retires once more. But see how his agony increases\u2015\u2015Hark! how he\nprays, and that too yet more earnestly: \u201cFather, if it be possible,\nlet this cup pass from me.\u201d And will his heavenly Father leave him\ncomfortless? No.\u2015\u2015An angel (happy, highly-favoured angel!) is sent\nfrom heaven to strengthen him. But where is _Peter_ all this while? We\nare told that the holy JESUS took him, with _James_ and _John_, into\nthe garden. Surely he will not leave his LORD in such deep distress!\nWhat is he doing? I blush to answer. Alas! he is sleeping: nay, though\nawakened once by his agonizing LORD, with a \u201c_Simon Peter_, sleepest\nthou? what! couldest thou not watch with me one hour?\u201d yet his eyes,\nnotwithstanding his profession of constancy and care, are heavy with\nsleep. LORD, what is man!\n\nAfter hearing all this, we need not be surprized at the account given\nus, (verse 58.) of another step to his fall, viz. His following JESUS\nafar off. \u201cBut _Peter_, says the Evangelists, followed him afar off.\u201d\nThe Redeemer\u2019s agony was now over, \u201cand behold the hour is at hand,\nwhen he is to be betrayed into the hands of sinners.\u201d He warns his\nsleepy disciples of it, and, acting like himself, goes out to meet the\nthreatening storm. \u201cArise, said he let us go: behold! he that betrayeth\nme is at hand.\u201d _Judas_, one of the twelve that eat of his bread,\nperforms the hellish task, and lifts up his heel against him. He says,\nHail, Master! kisses and then betrays him. For this was the sign agreed\non, \u201cWhomsoever I shall kiss, the same is he, hold him fast.\u201d They\nknew the watch-word, and, like so many roaring lions, seize on their\nunresisting prey. This rouses _Peter_. Out of an honest, but misguided\nzeal, he draws his sword, and cuts off the High-priest\u2019s servant\u2019s ear.\nThe blessed JESUS heals the one, reproves the other; and, according\nto _Isaiah_\u2019s prophecy, is contentedly led as a lamb to the slaughter.\n_Peter_\u2019s heat is soon cooled, and instead of adhering to his LORD, or\nsaying, as might justly be expected, \u201cWhither thou goest, I will go;\nwhithersoever they lead thee, they shall lead me also:\u201d Alas! alas! he\nfollowed him afar off. Observe, he does not deny his LORD all at once.\nNo. Satan leads us on by degrees into great sins, and will not suffer\nus to be very bad immediately. _Peter_ at first follows afar off: he\nskulks behind, and keeps on purpose at a distance, lest he should be\naccounted one of his followers. O _Peter, Peter_, did I not know how\nprone my own deceitful heart is to go astray from the great Shepherd\nand Bishop of our souls, I should now begin to say, Fie upon thee, fie\nupon thee. Hadst thou kept close to thy LORD, thou mightest have been\nsheltered safely under his almighty wings; but how canst thou avoid\nfalling, and that foully too, when thou beginnest thus to be ashamed of\nthy glorious master?\n\nBut this is not all. For we are not only informed that he followed\nJESUS afar off, but that \u201cHe went into the High Priest\u2019s palace (verse\n58.) and sat with the servants.\u201d So that keeping bad company was\nanother step that led to his great fall. Oh _Peter_! my blood begins\nnow almost to run cold within me. I tremble for thee more than ever.\nWhat canst thou propose to thyself, or what bad thing may we not expect\nto hear of thee, when sitting in such sorry company? I had much rather\nhave heard that thou hadst fled with thy other cowardly brethren. Thou\nsittest among thy master\u2019s professed enemies to see the end. Whatever\nbecomes of him, I dread to hear what the end of all this gradual\nbacksliding will be, in respect to thy own soul.\n\nWell! the blessed JESUS is now at the bar. Omnipotence suffers itself\nto be arraigned, and he who set bounds to the sea which it cannot pass,\nis content to be bound, and that as a criminal, by the work of his\nown hands. False witnesses rise up against him, and lay to his charge\nthings that he knew not. \u201cThis fellow, say they, (verse 61.) said, I am\nable to destroy the temple of GOD, and to build it in three days.\u201d And\nwhat reply doth the innocent JESUS make? None at all. Not only because\nthey all knew that it was a malicious slander, but because he stood\nas our representative. He, therefore, held his peace, and as a sheep\nbefore the shearers is dumb, so this immaculate Lamb of GOD opened not\nhis mouth. At length, being adjured thereto by the High priest in the\nname of the living GOD, he confesses himself to be the CHRIST, the son\nof the Blessed; and lets the imperious Sanhedrim know, that however\ncontemptible his appearance might be now, yet they should hereafter\nsee him sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of\nheaven. And does not this strike terror into his accusers and judges?\nBy no means. The haughty High-Priest rises in disdain, hypocritically\nrends his cloaths, urging this as a reason, \u201cHe hath spoken blasphemy;\nwhat further need have we of witnesses?\u201d Was ever indignity, like this\nindignity, put on thee, thou most adorable Mediator! Which shall I\nmarvel at most, the High-Priest\u2019s impudence, or thy patience? Both,\ndoubtless, are unparalleled. And yet, alas! a further trial awaits\nour suffering LORD. For whilst the master is thus arraigned, insulted,\nand causelesly condemned at the bar within, _Satan_ is no less busy\nin wounding him through _Peter_\u2019s side, who was sitting in the palace\nwithout. _Peter_, indeed, thinks to sit there undiscovered; but a\ndamsel comes to him, (verse 69) saying, \u201cThou also wast with JESUS of\nGalilee.\u201d And what then? Was that high treason? Or rather was it not\nthe highest honour? _Peter_, what sayest thou? Alas, (verse 70) \u201cHe\ndenied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.\u201d Know not\nwhat thou sayest, _Peter_? her words were plain enough, \u201cThou also was\nwith JESUS of Nazareth.\u201d Can any words be plainer? To deny this, in the\nleast, was bad, but to deny this before them all, who could so easily\nconfront thee, proves thee to be falling indeed. Call him now no longer\n_Peter_, but call him _Ichabod_: for the glory of the LORD is departing\nfrom him.\n\nHowever, as yet there is hope concerning him. For, conscious, as it\nwere, of his guilt (verse 71) \u201cHe went out into the porch.\u201d _Satan_\npursues him. For when a saint begins to fall, his hellish language\nis, Down with him, down with him, even to the ground. Another damsel,\ntherefore, is put in _Peter_\u2019s way, who, upon seeing him, says, not\nunto _Peter_ himself, but to them that were there, (verse 71) \u201cThis\nfellow was also with JESUS of Nazareth.\u201d She speaks the same language\nwith her sister scoffer, and with those who accused the blessed JESUS\nat the bar. Doubtless, our modern scoffers are related to them, for\nthey use the same dialect every day when speaking of CHRIST, or those\nthat, through grace, dare to own and confess him before men. But here\nwould I stop and feign be excused from relating to this great assembly\n_Peter_\u2019s answer. Oh tell it not in _Gath_, publish it not in the\nstreets of _Askelon_! But we must not be wise above what is written.\nThe Holy Spirit hath left it upon record, and proclaimed it by four\nEvangelists upon the house-top, and, therefore, I am constrained to\ntell you, that again (verse 72.) \u201cHe denied with an oath, I do not\nknow the man.\u201d What! an Apostle swear? Was it not enough barely to deny\nthe damsel\u2019s assertion, but he must deny it with an oath? Perhaps, it\nwas a crime he never was guilty of before. Surely, the way of sin is\ndown-hill. One step leads to another. At first he only denied what was\nsaid to him, by a kind of equivocation, \u201cI know not what thou sayest.\u201d\nNow he grows bolder, and denies with an oath, \u201cI know not the man.\u201d\nWhat, _Peter_! Know not the man? That glorious God-man CHRIST JESUS thy\nLORD? What! not know Him, who called thee from the poor occupation of\ncatching fish, to make thee an Apostle and a fisher of men? What! not\nknow Him, who bad thee come to him upon the waters, and Him who with\nhis own almighty arm saved thee from drowning, when thou wast answering\nthy name _Cephas_, and sinking like a stone? What! not know Him, with\nwhom thou hast so intimately conversed for three years last past, who,\nso lately pronounced thee blessed, washed thy feet, gave thee a new\nname, and took thee to Mount _Tabor_, where he displayed before thee\nhis excellent glory, which made thee cry out, It is good for us to be\nhere? What! hast thou forgot all this, _Peter_?\n\nSurely, it is high time for the cock to crow. Hark! The cock does crow,\nnot only once, but twice; but all in vain. Fallen as this great man\nis, he must still fall lower. _Satan_ is now about to give him the last\nand most fatal thrust. He hath his quiver full of deadly arrows, and\nhath always instruments at hand, the weakest of which will foil the\nstrongest Apostle when left to himself, \u201cAfter a while (verse 73) came\nunto him they that stood by, and said unto _Peter_, Surely, thou also\nwast one of them, for thy speech betrayeth thee.\u201d As though they had\nsaid, \u201cHow canst thou have the impudence to say thou knowest not the\nman, when thy very language and manner of speaking betrays thy being\neven one of his followers?\u201d What says _Peter_ now? Can he withstand\nthis glaring evidence? Yes, he not only denies it with a single oath,\nbut (Oh, how shall I speak it!) he \u201cbegan to curse and to swear,\u201d\nand with a whole volly of execrable expressions, striving to act the\nbravado, he persists in saying (verse 74) \u201cI know not the man.\u201d And\nnow, _Satan_, thou hast gained thy point. A great man, through too\nmuch self-confidence, spiritual pride, spiritual sloth, and too great\nintimacy with some of thy children, is fallen indeed! Thou hast sifted\nhim with a witness.\n\nBut is he fallen, never to rise again? Is _Peter_ sunk too low for free\ngrace ever to raise him up? Will the Redeemer suffer his truth to fail;\nor shall the prayer put up for him before he was led into temptation,\nviz. that his faith should not fail, remain unanswered? No, all the\npromises in CHRIST JESUS are all yea and all Amen; and having loved his\nown, he loves them unto the end. The enemy hath broke in upon _Peter_\nlike a flood, but the almighty Redeemer will now lift up his standard\nagainst him, and deliver his captive servant. Immediately, (verse 74)\nupon this last denial of his LORD, \u201cthe cock crew.\u201d And what is most\nof all (nay, without which the cock might have crowed ten thousand\ntimes) another Evangelist tells us, that \u201cthe LORD turned, and looked\nupon _Peter_,\u201d Oh amazing condescension! Oh unparalleled instance of\nendearing love! Our Lord was now upon a trial for his life. Fat bulls\nof _Bashan_ were surrounding him on every side. Yet the same love,\nthat in the night in which he was betrayed, would not permit him to\nforget his disciples in general, would not, though he was himself now\narraigned at the bar, suffer him to forget his poor fallen Apostle in\nparticular. \u201cThe LORD, therefore, turned, and looked upon _Peter_.\u201d\nBut who besides _Peter_, and souls like him recovering from their\nbackslidings, can tell the language of that look? Doubtless, it carried\nwith it an \u201c_Et tu Peter?_ And art thou there _Peter_? Is it not enough\nfor me to be falsely accused, and condemned by my enemies, but I must\nbe wounded also in the house of my friends! Is it not sufficient that\n_Judas_ betrays me, but thou must add to my grief by denying me? Deny\nme too with an oath, nay, with oaths and curses deny that ever thou\nknewest me? Is this thy kindness to thy friend? Alas! What is become\nof thy boasted professions now? Art thou the man that didst so solemnly\ndeclare, that though thou shouldst die with me, thou wouldst not deny\nme in any wise? Yes, Thou art the man.\u201d\n\nThis, and much more of the same kind, we may well suppose was the\nreal language of that convincing, heart-piercing look, which the LORD\nJESUS at this time gave his fallen _Peter_. Amazing! He looks him into\ncontrition; whereas had he rewarded him according to his iniquity,\nhe might have looked him into hell. Rejoice with me, therefore, my\ndear hearers. This straying sheep, through the tender mercies of the\ncompassionate shepherd and bishop of our souls, by this look is brought\nback to the fold again. \u201cAnd _Peter_, says our text, remembered the\nwords of JESUS, which said unto him, Before the cock crow,\u201d i.\u00a0e. at\nthe time emphatically called the cock-crowing, which was about three\nin the morning, \u201cthou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out.\u201d (The word\nseems to import, that he threw himself out with a holy violence) \u201cand\nwept bitterly.\u201d St. _Mark_ only says, \u201cAnd when he thought thereon, he\nwept.\u201d For being an amanuensis to St. _Peter_, though explicit in the\naccount of his fall, he is very sparing in mentioning his repentance.\nUnless we suppose that St. _Mark_ would insinuate that whenever _Peter_\nreflected on his fall, he always wept for ever after. However that be,\nhe wept bitterly now. Methinks, I see him wringing his hands, rending\nhis garments, stamping on the ground, and with the self-condemned\npublican smiting upon his ungrateful breast. See how it heaves! Oh\nwhat piteous sighs and groans are those which come from the very bottom\nof his heart! Alas! It is too big to speak. But his tears, his briny,\nbitter, repenting tears plainly bespeak this to be the language of his\nawakened soul. \u201cAlas! Where have I been? On the devil\u2019s ground. With\nwhom have I been conversing? The devil\u2019s children. What is this that\nI have done? Denied the LORD of glory, with oaths and curses denied\nthat ever I knew him. And now whither shall I go? Or where shall\nI hide my guilty head? I have sinned against light. I have sinned\nagainst repeated tokens of his dear distinguishing and heavenly love.\nI have sinned against repeated warnings, resolutions, promises and\nvows. I have sinned openly in the face of the sun, in the presence of\nmy master\u2019s enemies, and thereby have caused his name to be blasphemed.\nHow can I think of being suffered to behold the face of, much less to\nbe employed by, the ever-blessed JESUS any more? O _Peter_, thou hast\nundone thyself. Justly mayst thou be thrown aside like a broken vessel.\nGOD be merciful to me a sinner.\u201d\n\nAnd is this the language of thy tears, O _Peter_? Blessed art thou\nstill then, thou _Simon Bar Jonah_. These tears, and this holy\nresentment against thyself, bespeak thee to be a holy mourner. Yet a\nlittle while, and thou shalt be comforted with a \u201cGo tell his brethren\nand _Peter_, that he is risen;\u201d and with a \u201c_Simon_ son of _Jonah_,\nlovest thou me? Then feed my lambs.\u201d And where is now thy boasting, O\n_Satan_? Or what hast thou gained by foiling this favourite of heaven?\nThou didst desire to have him. Thy request was granted. Thou hast\nsifted him as wheat. But dost thou imagine the all-prevailing Mediator\nwill suffer thee to pluck him out of his hands? No. JESUS hath prayed\nfor him, and therefore _Peter_\u2019s faith shall not finally fail. Rejoice\nnot then over him, O thou enemy of souls! For though he has fallen,\nyet see how he begins to rise again. Though at the present he sits in\ndarkness, yet, ere long, the glory of the LORD shall shine around him.\n\nWhere then are those Sons of _Belial_, those perverse disputers of this\nworld, and yet, if possible, more perverse perverters of the Word of\nGOD? Dare any of you now go away, saying within yourselves, \u201cWho can\nblame us for a little equivocating, or a little innocent lying, cursing,\nand swearing? Was not _Peter_, the great Apostle _Peter_, guilty of all\nthese?\u201d Yes he was, but with this difference, he fell through surprize,\nand but once, you, perhaps, sin wilfully and habitually. Fall he did,\nand that dreadfully too; but if his fall was dreadful, his repentence\nwas as sincere and lasting. Ere long you shall see this same _Peter_,\nboldly owning his LORD before the whole _Jewish_ Sanhedrim, and\nrejoicing that he was counted worthy to suffer for his great name\u2019s\nsake. Ere long you shall hear of an angel\u2019s being sent to bring him out\nof prison, and at last sealing his blessed doctrine with his blood. Go\nye then, and entreat the LORD to look you into a godly sorrow, and see\nthat with _Peter_ you bring forth fruits meet for repentance; or as the\nLORD GOD liveth, in whose name I speak, and in whose presence we now\nstand, you, with all your carnal reasonings and wilful wrestings of the\nword of GOD, shall, ere long, be thrust down to the nethermost hell.\n\nBut why should I waste my time in reasoning with men of such perverse\nminds? To you who do, from your hearts, believe on JESUS of _Nazareth_,\nand who, in reality, are the children of the most High GOD, the\nmournful passage we are now upon, does, in a more immediate manner,\ncall me to address myself. You, I am persuaded, on hearing of _Peter_\u2019s\nfall, and the LORD\u2019s turning and looking upon him, Will not draw this\nabominable inference, \u201cLet us sin then, that grace may abound.\u201d No.\nI know you detest it from your inmost souls; and if it was proper\nto speak, would to a man cry out, \u201cGod forbid.\u201d Your hearts, I would\nhumbly hope, are rather employed in silent ejaculation to the holy\nJESUS, saying within yourselves, \u201cOh, that he would this day look\ndown from heaven, the habitation of his holiness, and cause, out of\nthese rocky hearts, floods of repenting tears to flow.\u201d I will readily\njoin with you in this necessary request. For, alas! we are all guilty\nconcerning this thing, viz. Of denying our LORD, as well as _Peter_.\nSome of us, perhaps, have not so openly with oaths and curses denied\nthat ever we knew him. But then, though we have in words owned, yet\nin works and practice, it may be, we have habitually denied him. For\nhow often have we been sleeping, when we ought to have been watching?\nAnd how often have we been warming and indulging our bodies, when we\nshould have been in our closets warming our hearts in prayer? How often\nhave we needlessly left the communion of saints, and as needlessly put\nourselves into the way of, and too intimately conversed with open and\nunconverted sinners, or at least, with those who we had reason to think\nwere enemies to the cross of CHRIST? How often have we been drowsy\nwhen hearing the word of GOD? Nay, how often have we been stupid, and\neven as dead as stones, at the table of the LORD, when CHRIST has been\nevidently set forth crucified before us? How often have we been so\nfoolish as to trust our hearts, and instead of trusting the LORD, have\nleaned on the broken reed of our own understandings? How often have\nwe been puffed up with spiritual pride, and confidently boasted of our\ngraces, as though we had not received them? And oh, how often have we\nshamefully followed our LORD afar off? And notwithstanding he may have\nmanifested himself to us as he doth not to the world; notwithstanding\nhe may have taken us on the mount of ordinances, given us to see his\nglory, led us into his banqueting-house, and let his banner over us\nbe love; notwithstanding our repeated vows that we would never leave\nhim, never forsake him; yet how often have we, as it were, been ashamed\nof him, and his glorious Gospel, and given our LORD occasion, times\nwithout number, to complain in that cutting language, \u201cThese wounds\nhave I received in the house of my friends?\u201d And now which of us\nshall throw the first stone at _Peter_? Behold, he has been placed\nin the midst of us this day. My brethren, why stand we like statues?\nI say, let him that is without this sin of denying the LORD JESUS,\ncast the first stone. But with what face of justice can we do this,\nbeing guilty in many respects equally, and in some even more guilty\nthan _Peter_ himself? Rather let us turn the edge of our resentment\nagainst ourselves, and imitating _Peter_ in his repentance, as we have\nundoubtedly too much imitated him in his crime, let us go out from a\nwicked, noisy, and deluding world, and weep bitterly. Who knows but the\nLORD may return and leave a blessing behind him? For this end was this\ninstance of human frailty and divine condescension recorded. In him the\nRedeemer shewed all this long-suffering, that we, notwithstanding our\nmanifold backslidings, might be kept from despair. True, we have sinned,\nbut though we have sinned against light and love, yet we have still\nan advocate with the Father, even JESUS CHRIST the righteous, whose\nprecious blood can, and, if applied to our souls by a living faith,\nwill certainly cleanse us both from the guilt and power of all our sins.\nIt was this which washed away the stain of this foul and dreadful fall\nfrom _Peter_\u2019s heart. He quickly rose, and was as speedily restored to\nhis blessed master\u2019s favour again. \u201cGo tell his brethren and _Peter_,\u201d\nsaid the angel, \u201cthat he goeth before you into _Galilee_.\u201d There shall\nyou see him. They did see him. And what said JESUS unto him? He renewed\nhis commission, and bid him \u201cfeed his sheep and lambs.\u201d Accordingly we\nhear not only of his preaching, but of his being honoured so to preach,\nthat three thousand were converted in one day. And is not the LORD\nJESUS the same now as he was yesterday? Yes, he is, and will continue\nthe same for ever. We have his own royal word for it, that he will heal\nour backslidings, and love us freely. Let us return then unto the LORD,\nfrom whom we have revolted. He is long-suffering, slow to anger, and\nsoon repenteth him of the evil which we provoke him to send upon us.\nBut oh let us not return again to folly, but carefully watch and pray\nagainst spiritual pride, spiritual sloth, and self-indulgence, from\nwhence all our evils flow.\n\nYoung preachers, to you in an especial manner are these words of\nexhortation sent. Of all people in the world, you had need watch most\nagainst spiritual pride. It is a fly that often spoils your whole pot\nof ointment. This made aged _Paul_ so careful to warn _Timothy_ not\nto lay hands upon novices, lest, says he, \u201cbeing puffed up with pride,\nthey fall into the condemnation of the devil.\u201d How many awful instances\nhave we had of this in various places within these few years last past?\nYoung men, therefore, I exhort you to be humble. For CHRIST\u2019s sake,\nfor your own souls sake, for the sake of the church of GOD which he\nhath purchased with his own blood, pray without ceasing that you may be\ncloathed with humility. Take care of carrying too high sail. Popularity\nis a dangerous sea, and nothing but the special and almighty grace of\nGOD can keep you from oversetting in it. Mark the rocks against which\nothers have made shipwreck, and beg of the LORD JESUS night and day,\nto help you to steer such a course as to avoid and keep clear of them:\nhe alone can preserve you. _Satan_ envies the honour put upon you;\nhe has a particular enmity against those whom he sees the Redeemer\nmaking use of. He knows your weak sides, and will desire to have\nyou, as he desired to have _Peter_, that he may sift you as wheat.\nWatch, therefore, and pray always, that you may not fall in an hour of\ntemptation. If _Peter_ could not stand when left to himself, what are\nwe?\n\nHave any from among ourselves of late given proofs of this? Nay, have\nany that once appeared boldly for our LORD, and seemed ready to follow\nhim to prison or to death, have any such, I say, been permitted not\nonly to follow him afar off, but shamefully and openly to disown and\ndeny both him and his people? Let us not marvel as though some strange\nthing happened unto us, but let us search the scriptures. Many such\ninstances are recorded there; and we know who hath forewarned us to\nexpect them now. \u201cIt must needs be, says the unerring, all-seeing JESUS,\nthat offences come. Let us not therefore be high-minded, but fear; and\nlet him that standeth take heed lest he fall.\u201d Brethren, pray for them.\nWho knows but they may yet rise, and the locks at present cut off, grow\nagain? Who knows but the cock may yet crow, JESUS may yet look, and\nsuch grievous backsliders, being as it were reconverted, may appear\nmore zealous than ever in strengthening their brethren? When shall this\nonce be? \u201cWe wait for thy salvation, O LORD: make no long tarrying, O\nour GOD!\u201d\n\nIn the mean while, let none of us be discouraged, GOD will take care of\nhis own cause. The Redeemer hath declared, that the gates of hell shall\nnever be able to prevail against his church: and, therefore, though the\nark may totter, he can keep it from falling; and though driven for a\nwhile into the _Philistine_\u2019s country, he assuredly can bring it back.\nHe that healed the wound imprudently given by _Peter_ to the ear of\nthe High Priest\u2019s servant, he can and will heal all wounds, and repair\nall breaches that have been occasioned either by the backslidings, or\nunguarded conduit of those whom he vouchsafes to employ. \u201cOut of the\neater shall come forth meat, and out of the strong shall come forth\nsweetness.\u201d The wicked, no doubt, rejoiced when they heard of _Peter_\u2019s\nfall, and in all probability frequently vented their spleen in saying,\n\u201cHere is religion for you! Here is a pretty family of reformers, and\nsetters forth of new doctrines. One of them hath betrayed his master\nwith a kiss, and another with oaths and curses denied that ever he\nknew him: if this be the beginning, what will the end of their boasted\nreformation be?\u201d What will the end of it be? Ye fools! I have an\nanswer ready: CHRIST shall be glorified, _Satan_ and all his emissaries\nconfounded, and a multitude of souls out of every nation, language, and\ntongue, redeemed and finally saved. Oh what a CHRIST have we! Courage\nthen, my brethren, courage! I beat to arms again in the name of the\nLORD of hosts. Let us not quit the field of battle, but in the strength\nof our once crucified, but now exalted JESUS, renew the combat. \u201cHe\nis faithful who hath promised not only to make us conquerors, but more\nthan conquerors through his love.\u201d Yet a little while, and our warfare\nshall be accomplished, death will put an end to all. A wicked world,\na wicked heart, a wicked devil shall then cease from troubling us, and\nour weary souls shall never be so much as tempted to deny our blessed\nLORD any more.\n\nWhere is _Peter_ now? Yonder he sits, not weeping bitterly, but\nrejoicing in GOD his Saviour, on a throne of never-fading glory. To Him,\nat whose right hand he is now sitting, and who alone is able to keep\nus from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of\nhis glory with exceeding joy; to Him the only wise GOD our Saviour, be\nglory, majesty, dominion, and power, both now and ever. _Amen._\n\n\n\n\n SERMON LIX.\n\n The true Way of beholding the LAMB of GOD.\n\n\n JOHN i. 35, 36.\n\n _Again, the next Day after, John stood, and two of his Disciples;\n and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the LAMB\n of GOD._\n\nGLORIOUS words these! Before we set about the opening and enforcing\nthem, permit me to introduce myself in the language of _Paul_ to\nKing _Agrippa_, \u201cWould to GOD that both my own heart, and likewise\nthe hearts of all that hear me this day, may not only be almost, but\naltogether in such a divine frame, as I am persuaded the heart of that\nman of GOD was who first uttered these words!\u201d I need not tell you his\nname; our text tells us, it was _John_; emphatically called _John_ the\nBaptist, because he was sent to baptize with water unto repentance, in\norder to prepare his hearers for the further baptism of the Holy Ghost.\nHe was a _Boanerges_, a son of thunder. He came in the spirit and power\nof _Elias_, and thereby soon rendered himself so exceedingly popular,\nthat not only _Jerusalem_, all _Judea_, and all the regions round about\n_Jordan_, flocked to hear him preach, but even some of the _Jewish\nSanhedrim_ began to doubt, whether he was not the _Messiah_ himself.\nAccordingly we are told in this chapter, \u201cThat they sent priests and\nlevites from _Jerusalem_ ask him, Who art thou? What sayest thou of\nthyself?\u201d A most commodious opportunity this, had he any thing in view\nbut his master\u2019s glory and the good of souls, for _John_ to have set up\nfor himself. He might have said, \u201c_Si populus vult decipi, decipiatur_;\nif people will be deceived, let them; I will impose on their credulity,\nand let them look upon me as the _Messiah_;\u201d But scorning any such\nsinister and base ends, \u201cHe confessed, and denied not, but confessed, I\nam not the CHRIST.\u201d The Evangelist expresses himself in a very peculiar\nmanner, \u201cHe confessed, and denied not, but confessed;\u201d implying that\nhe took more than ordinary pains to rectify their mistake, and guard\nthem against thinking more highly of him than they ought to think: nay,\nimpatient, as it were, of the least appearance of any such thing, he\nspeaks of himself in the most diminutive terms, acknowledges that he\nwas unworthy even of carrying his blessed master\u2019s shoes, and seizes\nthe very first opportunity that offered itself to point him out in\nperson to the people. The next day (verse 29.) _John_ seeth JESUS\ncoming unto him, and upon seeing him, immediately cries out, \u201cBehold\nthe Lamb of GOD:\u201d \u201cGaze not on, nor let your views terminate in me,\nbut look to and behold the Lamb of GOD which taketh away the sin of\nthe world.\u201d Thus _John_ spoke in public; and to prove that he acted\nthe same consistent part in private, our text informs us, that, \u201cAgain,\nthe next day after, _John_ stood, and two of his disciples,\u201d who like\nother newly awakened souls, having their master\u2019s person too much\nin admiration, he labours to divert their views also from himself to\nCHRIST, and that too in the very same language. \u201cFor looking upon JESUS\nas he walked, he saith, Behold the LAMB of GOD.\u201d\n\nThus does this disinterested, honest-hearted baptist, unweariedly and\nrepeatedly recommend the LORD JESUS, under the same endearing character\nof the LAMB of GOD.\n\nIt shall be our business in the following discourse,\n\n _First_, To shew you why it is that JESUS CHRIST is stiled the\n LAMB of GOD. And,\n\n _Secondly_, What we are to understand by beholding him, Way will\n then be made for a word of application.\n\nAnd first, Why is JESUS stiled the LAMB of GOD?\n\nI presume one reason that may be assigned for it may be drawn from the\naccount we have given us of his most amazing and unparalleled meekness.\nA Lamb, you all know, is one of the most pacific creatures in the\nworld. When we would describe, or point out a person of a peaceable\ndisposition, we say such a one is as quiet as a Lamb. But what is\nthe meekness of any person, even _Moses_ himself, nay, of all the\nsaints that ever lived, put them all together, in comparison of the\nmeekness of the blessed JESUS? To prove this, I might refer you to\nhis whole life, which was one continued meek and patient enduring of\ncontradiction of sinners against himself; but if you want me to specify\nparticular instances, only take a walk with me to _Gethsemane_\u2019s garden;\nthere you will see the traitor _Judas_ at the head of a troop of\nruffians, accosting his glorious LORD with a Hail master! then kissing\nhim, and then betraying him. But what says the Prince of peace? Only,\n\u201cFriend, wherefore art thou come? _Judas_, betrayest thou the son of\nman with a kiss?\u201d But how does this same JESUS behave after he was\napprehended? Even in the same meek manner: for when his warm-hearted\ndisciple _Peter_, through a misguided zeal, had cut off the High\nPriest\u2019s servant\u2019s ear, Suffer ye, said the holy JESUS, thus far. In\nall probability these words were addressed by our LORD to the officers\nwho had tied his hands behind him. As though he had said, \u201cBe pleased\nto unloose me, whilst I cure that poor man\u2019s ear, which my too forward\ndisciple hath imprudently cut off, and then you shall bind me again.\u201d\nWas ever reply, was there ever meekness like unto this thy meekness, O\nthou blessed LAMB of GOD! Well did _Isaiah_ prophecy concerning thee,\n\u201cThat thou shouldst be led as a lamb to the slaughter,\u201d which goes as\nwillingly to the shambles, as to the pasture: and as justly might thy\nforerunner call upon sinners to behold thee under the pacific character\nof the LAMB of GOD. Help us, holy JESUS, to come at thy invitation, and\nto learn of thee, who gavest such amazing evidences of thy being meek\nand lowly in heart! then, and not \u2019till then, shall we find true rest\nin our souls.\n\nBut further, the dear LORD JESUS may properly be called a LAMB, or The\nLAMB, by way of emphasis, not only in allusion to the Lamb that was\noffered under the law morning and evening, but more especially because\nhe was typified by the paschal lamb. Hence he is stiled, by that prince\nof preachers St. _Paul_, CHRIST our passover; and in allusion to the\nsame, the Apostle _Peter_ tells us, \u201cThat we are not redeemed with\ncorruptible things, as silver and gold, from our vain conversation, but\nwith the precious blood of JESUS CHRIST, as of a Lamb without blemish\nand without spot.\u201d This was an indispensable requisite to be found in\nthe paschal lamb. It was to be a lamb without blemish. A proper type of\nhim who knew no sin, but was spotlessly holy, harmless, and altogether\nundefiled in heart, lip, and life. Indeed, if we consider him as\nhaving the chastisement of our peace, and the iniquities of us all\nlaid upon him by way of imputation, he was, as some divines express\nit, the greatest sinner that ever was: and we should esteem him to be\nsuch in reality, were we to judge of his innocence by the abusive and\nbarbarous treatment that he met with whilst tabernacling on earth.\nBut, notwithstanding all this, he was without sin, and therefore could\nboldly and truly give men and devils the challenge, and say, \u201cWhich\nof you convinceth me of sin?\u201d The prince of this world cometh, but\nshall find nothing in me. There was no corruption in the heart of this\nimmaculate LAMB of GOD for _Satan_\u2019s temptations to lay hold on: But\nthis properly belongeth only to him: for any of his followers, though\narrived at the highest pitch of christian perfection, much less for\nyoung converts, mere novices in the things of GOD, to presume that\nthey either have, or ever shall, while on this side eternity, arrive\nat such a sinless state, argues such an ignorance of the spiritual\nextent of the moral law, of the true interpretation of GOD\u2019s word,\nof the universal experience of GOD\u2019s people in all ages, as well as of\nthe remaining unmortified corruptions of their own desperately wicked\nand deceitful hearts, that I dare venture to tell the preachers and\nabettors of any such doctrine, however knowing they may be in other\nrespects, that they know not the true nature of gospel-holiness, nor\nthe COMPLEATNESS OF A BELIEVER\u2019S STANDING IN THE UNSPOTTED IMPUTED\nRIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST, as they ought to know, or as I trust\nthey themselves, through divine grace, will be made to know before they\ndie. Surely it is high time to awake out of this delusive dream! Pardon\nthis short, (would to GOD there was no occasion of adding) though too\nnecessary a digression.\n\nBut to proceed. The paschal lamb was further typical of CHRIST,\nits great antitype, in that it was to be killed in the evening, and\nafterwards roasted with fire. So CHRIST, our passover, was sacrificed\nfor us in the evening of the world; only with this material difference,\nthe paschal lamb was first slain, and then roasted; whereas the holy\nJESUS, the spotless LAMB of GOD, was burnt and roasted in the fire\nof his Father\u2019s wrath before he actually expired upon the cross. To\nsatisfy you of this, if you can bear to be spectators of such an awful\ntragedy, as I desired you just now to go with me to the entrance, so I\nmust now entreat you to venture a little further into the same garden,\nBut\u2015\u2015stop\u2015\u2015What is that we see? Behold the LAMB of GOD, undergoing the\nmost direful tortures of vindictive wrath! Of the people, even of his\ndisciples, there is none with him. Alas! was ever sorrow like unto that\nsorrow, wherewith his innocent soul was afflicted in this day of his\nFather\u2019s fierce anger? Before he entered into this bitter passion, out\nof the fulness of his heart, he said, \u201cNow is my soul troubled.\u201d But\nhow is it troubled now! his agony bespeaks it to be exceeding sorrowful,\neven unto death. It extorts sweat, yea, a bloody sweat. His face, his\nhands, his garments, are all over stained with blood. It extorts strong\ncryings and many tears. See how the incarnate deity lies prostrate\nbefore his Father, who now laid on him the iniquities of us all. See\nhow he agonizes in prayer! Hark! Again and again he addresses his\nFather with an \u201cIf it be possible, let this cup pass from me!\u201d Tell me,\nye blessed angels, tell me, _Gabriel_ (or whatsoever thou art called,\nwho wast sent from heaven in this important hour, to strengthen our\nagonizing LORD) tell me, if ye can, what CHRIST endured in this dark\nand doleful night; and tell me, tell me what you yourselves felt when\nyou heard this same God-man, whilst expiring on the accursed tree,\nbreaking forth into that dolorous, unheard-of expostulation, \u201cMy GOD,\nmy GOD, why, or how hast thou forsaken me?\u201d Were you not all struck\ndumb? And did not an universal awful silence fill heaven itself, when\nGOD the Father said unto his sword, \u201cSword, smite thy fellow?\u201d Well\nmight nature put on its sable weeds; well might the rocks rend, to\nshew their sympathy with a suffering Saviour: and well might the sun\nwithdraw its light, as though it was shocked and confounded to see\nits maker suffer. But our hearts are harder than rocks, or otherwise\nthey would now break, and our souls more stupid than any part of the\ninanimate creation, or they would even now, in some degree, at least,\nsympathize with a crucified Redeemer; who for us men, and for our\nsalvation, was thus roasted, as it were, in the fire of his Father\u2019s\nwrath, and therefore fitly stiled the LAMB of GOD.\n\nBut further. The paschal lamb was typical of CHRIST our passover in\nanother respect. For as the blood of the lamb, after it was slain, was\nsprinkled upon the door-posts of the _Israelites_ houses, so the blood\nof JESUS CHRIST, shed for the sins of the world, is to be applied to,\nand by faith sprinkled upon the hearts of the true _Israel_ of GOD.\nAnd as the destroying angel had no power to execute vengeance on, or\nhurt those whose door-posts were thus sprinkled with the blood of the\npaschal lamb, so in the great and terrible day of the LORD, he shall\nbe prohibited both from destroying or hurting true believers, who by\na living faith in the blood of JESUS, have their hearts sprinkled from\nan evil conscience. Hence the blood of CHRIST is called \u201cThe blood of\nsprinkling.\u201d And lastly, As the lamb under the law was feasted upon\nby GOD\u2019s people, after it was slain, so believers under the gospel by\nfaith feast upon a crucified Redeemer. CHRIST, our passover, says the\napostle, is sacrificed for us, therefore let us keep the feast, not\nbarely upon an Easter-day, but all the year round. For the just, i.\u00a0e.\ntruly justified souls, live by faith, and find, by happy experience,\nthat in a spiritual sense CHRIST\u2019s flesh is meat indeed, and his blood\ndrink indeed; and therefore believing on him is stiled \u201cEating the\nflesh and drinking the blood of the son of man.\u201d Agreeable to this,\nin our communion office, the minister, when he gives the bread to the\ncommunicants, is directed to make use of these affecting words, \u201cTake\nand eat this in remembrance that CHRIST died for thee, and feed on him\nin thy heart by faith with thanksgiving.\u201d May all who give, and all\nthat receive that bread, feel the meaning of this form of sound words\nexperimentally, and powerfully pressed home upon their souls! Then\nindeed, but not till then, may they expect to take this holy sacrament\nto their comfort. Upon all these accounts then, well might the Baptist\nrecommend the holy JESUS under the significant character of the Lamb.\nAnd with equal propriety might he be called the LAMB of GOD, not only\nbecause he was a Lamb of GOD the Father\u2019s providing, but because he was\nco-equal, co-essential with the Father: \u201cThe Word that was with GOD,\nthe Word that was GOD,\u201d even GOD over all, GOD blessed for evermore.\nFor ever adored be the triune GOD for this great mystery of godliness,\nGOD manifest in the flesh! O may it be continually marvellous in our\neyes! O make us, thou altogether lovely Redeemer, like-minded with\nthy blessed angels, that with them we may always so eagerly, and so\nperseveringly desire to look into it, that neither the lust of the\nflesh, the lust of the eye, or pride of life, may ever in the least\ndivert us from beholding thee!\n\nWhat this beholding him imports, comes next to be considered, under our\nsecond general head.\n\nAnd here I take it for granted, that it cannot imply a beholding\nthe LORD JESUS in person with our bodily eyes. It is true, indeed,\nwhen _John_ called upon the people and his disciples to behold the\nLAMB of GOD, they were thus highly favoured: and we are apt to say\nwithin ourselves, Blessed are the eyes which saw what they saw; and\nso undoubtedly they were. But had their views terminated only in\nbeholding his person, or knowing him barely according to the flesh,\nthey might notwithstanding have died in their sins, and been condemned\nto depart from him into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and\nhis angels.\u2015\u2015Our LORD himself hath told us, that there will be many\nwho will plead that they eat and drank in his presence, and heard him\npreach in their streets, to whom he will say, \u201cVerily I know you not.\u201d\nA true beholding of the LAMB of GOD, must therefore necessarily import\nsomething more; and what can that be but a beholding him with an eye\nof faith? This is what the Old Testament saints were invited to, when\nthe glorious Redeemer called upon them in those emphatic terms, \u201cBehold\nme, behold me;\u201d and again, \u201cLook unto me, all the ends of the earth.\u201d\nThis our LORD in another place terms, believing on him: \u201cBlessed are\nthey which have not seen me, and yet have believed:\u201d not barely as\nthe result of a mere rational conviction, which is no more than an\nhistorical faith, but as the consequence of a true spiritual conviction\nof our being every way undone, and liable to eternal condemnation\nwithout him. This is believing on him with the heart, and is sometimes\nexpressed by coming to, receiving, and trusting in him: different\nexpressions, but all importing one and the self same thing. \u201cI wound,\nand I heal.\u201d That is the method the Holy Ghost takes, and that is the\npattern gospel ministers must follow in preaching him. From any other,\nthough prescribed to us by an angel from heaven, good LORD, deliver us!\n\nBut secondly. By beholding the LAMB of GOD, we are to understand not\nonly looking to him so as to trust him for the pardon of our sins,\nbut beholding him so as to have our hearts broke with a true and godly\nsorrow for having crucified and slain him by them. For thus speaks the\nLORD by the mouth of the Prophet _Zechariah_, \u201cThey shall look upon\nhim whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one that\nmourneth for an only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one\nthat is in bitterness for his first-born.\u201d This prediction was in some\ndegree fulfilled immediately after the descent of the Holy Ghost, in\nthe days of Pentecost, when so many being pricked to the heart, were\nmade to look to, believe on, and lament over a pierced JESUS. But it\nwill be continually fulfilling in the experience of every true beholder\nof the LAMB of GOD, till time shall be no more. True faith, at the same\ntime as it opens the heart to receive CHRIST, melts and dissolves it\ninto tears of godly sorrow, for having betrayed and crucified him. Such\nwere the tears of _Mary_, when she washed the feet of her sin-forgiving\nLORD. They flowed from a sense of pardoning love. She loved much,\nhaving much forgiven her. And though she knew the LORD had forgiven her,\nyet she could not forgive herself. _Hinc ill\u00e6 lachrym\u00e6._ Hence those\nrepenting tears: they proceeded from love: sorrow, flowing from any\nother principle, is not a godly, but a legal sorrow, which the most\nabandoned wretch may have without the least degree of saving grace.\nThus we hear of a _Judas_ his repenting, and of an _Esau_ crying out\nwith an exceeding bitter cry; but the one all the while was a prophane\nperson, and the other immediately went and hanged himself. And why?\nTheir sorrow was only extorted by a fear of hell, and a despairing\nsense of impending ruin. It is true, a godly sorrow may, and I believe\ngenerally does, begin with something of this nature; but then it does\nnot end there. Through want of a due consideration of this, it is\nto be feared, many seeming converts have taken up with a few legal\nconvictions, which never ended in savingly and truly beholding the\nLAMB of GOD. May none here present, by a half-way repentance, and\nhypocritical sorrow for sin, add to the unhappy number!\n\nBut this is not all. A scriptural beholding of the LAMB of GOD, denotes\nnot only such a relying on CHRIST for pardon of sin, as is attended\nwith a truly godly sorrow for it, but such a believing on him, as is\nproductive of a holy life, and a universal chearful observance of all\nhis divine commands. When the two disciples mentioned in our text,\nheard _John_ speak, we are told that they followed him, viz. the LORD\nJESUS CHRIST. And if GOD hath given us an hearing ear, when called upon\nto behold the LAMB of GOD, we shall certainly have an obedient heart,\nand follow him in the way of holy obedience. But then it will be an\nobedience flowing from love: A working not for, but from life. Not out\nof a servile fear of being damned, but from a grateful sense of having\nreceived the beginning of salvation in our hearts. And this is what\nthe Apostle calls \u201cfaith working by love.\u201d Many, I know, censure and\nlook upon us as troublers of _Israel_, for preaching up the doctrine\nof justification by faith alone in the imputed righteousness of JESUS\nCHRIST. We own the charge. We do preach, and hope shall continue to\npreach it, till we can preach no more. _Luther_ stiles it, _Articulus\nstantis aut cadentis ecclesi\u00e6_; the article by which the church must\nstand or fall: and in the ninth article of our own church, it is termed,\na most wholesome doctrine. Take away this, and you take away the only\nsolid foundation upon which a truly weary and heavy-laden sinner can\npossibly build his hopes of pardon and acceptance in the sight of a\nholy and sin-avenging GOD. But why this outcry against the doctrine\nof justification by faith alone? They say this doctrine destroys good\nworks. But do we, by preaching this doctrine, make void the law of GOD?\nNo: We thereby establish the law. For, though faith alone justifies,\nyet, as the good old Puritans used to observe, That faith which is\nalone, justifieth not. Agreeable to this, speaketh the 12th article of\nour Church. \u201cAlbeit that good works, which are the fruits of faith, and\nfollow after justification, cannot put away our sins, and endure the\nseverity of GOD\u2019s judgment, yet are they pleasing and acceptable to GOD\nin CHRIST, and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively faith,\ninsomuch that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known as a\ntree is discerned by the fruit.\u201d They, therefore, who object against\nour insisting upon justification by faith alone, as destructive of\nmorality, not only betray great ignorance of the articles of our Church,\nand of GOD\u2019s word, but give too great reason to suspect, that they\nnever experienced the blessed influence of a true and lively faith in\ntheir own hearts. For true and undefiled religion, is nothing more or\nless, than a universal morality, founded upon the love of GOD and faith\nin CHRIST JESUS. And a true beholding him as pierced for our sins, will,\nin its own nature, sweetly compel us to cry out, \u201cWhat shall we render\nunto the LORD?\u201d It was this, that, perhaps, in a quarter of an hour,\nmade that covetous worldling _Zaccheus_, give half of his goods to\nthe poor; it was this, that all of a sudden made the Jailor wash the\nstripes of those whom he had but a little before thrust into an inward\nprison; it was this that caused _Lydia_, whose heart the LORD had\nopened, so freely to open her house to entertain the Apostles; and\nit was this that excited the Apostles themselves in general, and St.\n_Paul_ in particular, to bid adieu to worldly honours, to glory in\nnothing but the cross of CHRIST, and to fly like an arch-angel from\npole to pole, publishing the blessed and everlasting gospel. \u201cThe love\nof CHRIST, said he, constraineth us.\u201d Preaching faith in this manner,\nseems to me the only scriptural way of preaching CHRIST: and by this\nmeans we shall steer a middle course between two dangerous extremes.\nFor to insist only upon morality and good works, and not lay a true\nlively faith, as a foundation whereon they are to be built, (as it\nis to be feared too many do) is to act like _Pharaoh_\u2019s task-masters,\nand bid people make brick without shewing them \u2666where to get straw.\n\u201cMy soul, come not thou into their secret!\u201d On the other hand, to\ncall upon people to believe in, and behold the LAMB of GOD, and at the\nsame time not exhort them to maintain good works, as an evidence and\nfruit of their beholding him, is the way to turn the grace of GOD into\nlasciviousness. And therefore, however evangelical such preachers may\nseem in their own eyes, yet if the writings of _Moses_ and the Prophets,\nof our LORD and his Apostles, are to be our judges, they do not rightly\ndivide the word of truth. \u201cTo their assembly, mine honour, be not thou\nunited!\u201d\n\n \u2666 \u201cwere\u201d replaced with \u201cwhere\u201d\n\nOnce more. A true beholding of the LAMB of GOD, implies such a\nbeholding him, as will transform us into his divine likeness. This will\nbe the effect of our seeing him as he is in heaven; and this, in its\ndegree, will always be the consequence of our beholding him with an eye\nof a true and lively faith on earth. When _Moses_ came down from mount\n_Horeb_, where he had been conversing with GOD, we are told, that his\nface shone; and if we have been upon the mount of ordinances beholding\nby faith the blessed LAMB of GOD, though our faces will not shine, yet\nour hearts will be moulded into his blessed image. This is what the\nApostle _Paul_ terms, in one place, \u201cBeing transformed by the renewing\nof our minds;\u201d and in another, \u201cPassing from glory to glory, even by\nthe Spirit of the LORD.\u201d All manifestations, of whatever kind or degree,\nif not attended with this transforming and truly sanctifying influence,\nare unprofitable, delusive, or merely imaginary. _Balaam_ could call\nhimself the man whose eyes were open, and the man who had seen the\nvisions of the Almighty, and yet he was a poor worldling all the\nwhile. He loved the wages of unrighteousness, though forced by GOD not\nto receive them. Hence we may easily and rationally account for the\nfalling away of some, and it may be the final apostacy of many others,\nwho in the late religious stir, (as some are pleased to call it) seemed\nto be uncommonly gifted, and to be lifted up, as it were, to the third\nheaven. Satan being sensible that the Holy Spirit of GOD was working\na great work upon the earth, turns himself into an angel of light,\nintroduces his extraordinaries, and thereby mimics GOD\u2019s true work\nnow, as the magicians were once permitted to mimic the real miracles\nof _Moses_ formerly. Such counterfeits, those who are not ignorant of\nSatan\u2019s devices, ought from time to time to add all diligence to search\nout and detect; but after the utmost caution imaginable, I believe we\nshall find the saying of a very zealous Reformer (who thought, at his\nfirst coming out, that he should convert the whole world) to be too\ntrue, viz. \u201cThat old Satan will be, in many cases, too hard for young\n_Melancthon_.\u201d Satan is an old practitioner, and we, comparatively\nspeaking, but novices; and therefore no wonder, that we sometimes\nmistake his extraordinaries, for the powerful operations of the\nHoly Spirit; or look upon those, at least for a while, who are only\nstony-ground hearers, and have received the word with joy, as though\nthey were truly converted to, and had by a living, soul-transforming\nfaith, beheld the LAMB of GOD. Such mistakes may serve to make us more\ncautious. But to condemn a work in the lump, as merely delusive and\ndiabolical, or roundly to affirm, that all the pretended subjects of\nit have taken up only with an ideal CHRIST, because some have mistaken\nimaginations for the true spiritual manifestation of GOD\u2019s love to\ntheir hearts, discovers such an ignorance of scripture, of Satan\u2019s\ndevices, and the accounts given us of past revivals in all ages, that\nif one did not know the dreadful blindness of a bigotted sectarian zeal,\nand what a proneness there is in the best of men, to condemn every\nthing that doth not come just in their own way, we should think it\nmorally impossible that good men should run such lengths as some have\ndone of late, in censuring what I think may be called, amidst all the\ninfirmities and weaknesses that have attended it, A great and glorious\nwork of a GOD.\n\nBut it is time for me to draw nearer to a conclusion. We have now then,\nmy dear hearers, done with the doctrinal part of our text; in opening\nof which, that we might deal with you as rational creatures, we have\nendeavoured calmly, and in the fear of GOD, to address ourselves\nto your understandings: but the hardest work is yet behind, namely,\nto affect and warm your hearts. This I take to be the very life of\npreaching: for man is a compound creature, made up of affections, as\nwell as understanding; and, consequently, without addressing both, we\nonly do our work by halves. It is true, every one hath his proper gift,\nand some excel in making use of a proper method to inform the judgment,\nwhilst others are more eminent for exciting the passions. Both are\nbeautiful in their season; and both ought and will be used by all who\nhave warm hearts, as well as clear heads. _Moses_ and the Prophets,\nCHRIST and his Apostles, dealt much in exhortations, as well as in\nopening and explaining the weighty matters of the law. And if we\nare taught by the same Spirit, we shall, like them, bring light and\nheat with us, when called to speak of, and enforce the things which\nconcern the kingdom of GOD. Without a proper mixture of these, however\na preacher may acquire the character, in the letter-learned and\npolite world, of being a calm and cool reasoner; yet he never will be\nlooked upon by those whose senses are exercised to discern spiritual\nthings, as a truly evangelical and christian orator.\u2015\u2015And surely if\na minister\u2019s heart is ever warm, it ought to be so in a more especial\nmanner, when calling on a blind and drowsy world, to behold the Lamb\nof GOD. O! that my tongue was at this time touched with a coal from\nhis altar. O! that my cold and frozen heart (for I must again repeat\nthe wish I put up at the beginning of this discourse) was in the same\nblessed and divine frame, as we have reason to believe the holy Baptist\nwas favoured with, when he called upon his disciples and the people, so\nrepeatedly, to behold the Lamb of GOD. But to whom shall I apply myself\nfirst? Or with what language shall I address you, when pressing you to\nthe same important thing?\n\nWill my brethren in the ministry suffer a word of exhortation from one\nwho is less than the least of them all? Does not the practice of this\nfervent harbinger and fore-runner of the Son of GOD, naturally lead me\nto it? For did he so unweariedly recommend the LORD JESUS? Did he take\nsuch care to preach not himself, but CHRIST JESUS his Lord? And shall\nnot we make this same JESUS the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end\nof all our discourses? Did he take such pains to debase himself, exalt\nhis LORD, and evidence to the world that he was disinterested, and\nsought not his own glory, but the glory of him whose fore-runner he\nwas? And shall we not go and do likewise? To prepare the Redeemer\u2019s way\nbefore him, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of\nthe just, and to proclaim a coming Saviour, _John_ esteemed his highest\nhonour. This is an employ worthy angels. They thought themselves highly\nfavoured, when sent to give notice of the Mediator\u2019s birth to some\nhumble shepherds. And I hope I am speaking to some, who had rather\nbe employed in such an errand, than be ambassadors to the greatest\nmonarchs on earth. Go on then, my brethren, or rather fathers, as it\nbecomes such a one as I to call you. Ye angels of the churches, ye\nstewards of the mysteries of GOD, go on in the name and strength of the\neverlasting I AM. Preach CHRIST, and him crucified; continue to preach\nhim: be instant in season and out of season; and though you should be\ncalled to suffer for so doing, fear not, but rather rejoice, and be\nexceeding glad: great will be your reward in heaven; for so persecuted\nthey _John_ the Baptist, and others that have been employed in calling\nupon sinners to behold the Lamb of GOD before you.\n\nAre any here present who are entrusted with the care of youth that are\nintended for the ministry? My text warns me not to leave you out in\nthis address. _John_ directed his disciples to behold the Lamb of GOD:\nand ought not such, who have the oversight of those who are hereafter\nto be employed in the same divine work as _John_ was, to make it one\nmain part of their daily endeavours, to bring their pupils to a true,\nexperimental, and saving acquaintance with the ever-blessed Lamb of\nGOD? This may be done without leaving any one necessary branch of\ntrue knowledge and useful learning undone. A neglect of this important\npoint hath been, and it is to be feared even now is, the bane of\nthe christian church. For, if young men\u2019s minds are from year to\nyear wholly engaged in studying the heathen mythology, instead of\nbeing shewn the beauties of the New Testament; if they are taught to\ndelight more in reading _C\u00e6sar_\u2019s Commentaries, or the exploits of\nan _Alexander_, than to admire the miracles of _Jesus_ of _Nazareth_;\nif they are directed to employ themselves more in giving an account\nof _Homer_\u2019s battles, than of the important war between _Michael_\nand the Dragon; if it is esteemed a greater excellency to be engaged\nin studying the folds of a _Roman_ garment, than to enquire into\nthe various turnings and windings of their own corrupt hearts: if\nthese, and such-like trifling things, are recommended to their daily\nstudy, and the glorious doctrines of the gospel, such as regeneration,\njustification, &c. wholly neglected, or superficially spoken of, is\nit any wonder, that so many ignorantly strike their heads against the\npulpit, or appear when put into it, more like heathen philosophers\nor _Roman_ orators, than gospel preachers, though without half the\nclearness and sound reasoning of the one, or a thousandth part of the\ntrue pathos and unaffected eloquence of the other? The recommending\nand enforcing the practical study of the doctrines and example of the\nblessed JESUS, seems to me to be the only remedy for this great, not to\nsay growing evil.\n\nAnd therefore, I beg leave in the next place to address myself to those\nwho are now actually engaged in the study of divinity, and are desirous\nof being prepared according to the preparation of the sanctuary, for\nthe great and solemn work of calling upon sinners, to behold the Lamb\nof GOD. When _John_ the Baptist was thus employed, he took care to\nallure the people, that he himself was well acquainted with that CHRIST.\n\u201cI saw, said he, and bear record, that this is the Son of GOD.\u201d And\ndoth not this at least intimate to you, young students, that above\nall things you should study to get an experimental acquaintance with\nthe LORD JESUS in your own hearts, before you attempt to recommend him\nto the choice of others? Then, having believed, you will speak; speak\nnot as mere dead, formal, letter-learned scribes, but as men having\nauthority. You will then, like _John_ the Baptist, be the voice of one\ncrying; you will lift up your voices like trumpets; you will preach not\nwith the enticing words of man\u2019s wisdom, but with the demonstration of\nthe spirit and of power. This, with a moderate share of useful learning,\nwhich is quite necessary in its place, will enable you to do wonders.\nVallies shall be filled up, mountains shall be brought low, and a\nhighway made, through your instrumentality, into sinners hearts, by\nthe blessed and all-powerful operations of the Spirit of the everliving\nGOD. Such a method, perhaps, may render your preaching a little\nunfashionable, but it is the only way to render it useful, and truly\nevangelical. Take the Apostle _Paul_ for your ensample. He was a great\nscholar, as well as a great saint; and, if called to it, could have\nfought the learned world with their own weapons; but he chose to fight\nonly with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of GOD. And even,\nwhen preaching at so polite a place as _Corinth_, determined to know\nnothing among them, but JESUS CHRIST and him crucified. He too, like\nanother _John_, made it his constant, uninterrupted employ to beseech\npoor sinners to behold the Lamb of GOD. May that mind be in you, which\nwas also in him!\n\nBut do not the words of our text lead me to address all in general, as\nwell as tutors and their pupils in particular? Yes: to you, even to as\nmany as hear me this day, whether high or low, rich or poor, young or\nold, one with another, may a word of exhortation naturally be directed.\nIt was to the people, as well as to his disciples, that _John_, when\nhe saw JESUS coming unto him, spoke those endearing words, \u201cBehold\nthe Lamb of GOD.\u201d I therefore call upon you all in the same language,\nand for the same reason; for it is He, and He alone, that taketh\naway the sins of the world. It is this that you all stand in need of,\nwhether you know it or not. You are all stung by that old and crooked\nserpent the devil. \u201cTherefore, as _Moses_ lifted up the serpent in\nthe wilderness, even so was the Son of Man lifted up, that whosoever\nbelieveth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.\u201d O then\nbehold him, behold him! Look unto him, all ye ends of the earth, even\nye upon whom the ends of the world are come, and be ye saved. Some of\nyou, I trust, through grace, have already been enabled to do this. O\ncome, come, I beseech you, and repeat the blessed look: for this is\nthe christian\u2019s grand catholicon, the sovereign remedy for all the\nremaining diseases of his soul. Are ye tempted? Behold the Lamb of GOD.\n\u201cHe was tempted in all things like as we are,\u201d that he might be able\nexperimentally to sympathize with, and succour those that are tempted.\nAre ye deserted, and bewailing an absent GOD? Behold the Lamb of GOD.\nHe once complained, and that too to his own creatures, \u201cMy soul is\nexceeding sorrowful, even unto death;\u201d He once cried out, and that\nto his heavenly Father, \u201cMy GOD, my GOD, why hast thou forsaken me.\u201d\nAre ye poor? Behold the LAMB of GOD: He had not where to lay his head.\nAre ye betrayed and forsaken by friends? Behold the LAMB of GOD: He\nwas betrayed by _Judas_, denied by _Peter_, and when apprehended,\nall forsook him and fled. Are you blackened and maligned by enemies?\nBehold the LAMB of GOD: He was accounted a mad-man, a deceiver, nay,\na Beelzebub, the very chief of the devils. Are ye afraid of death,\nor dying? Behold the LAMB of GOD: He hath taken away the sting of\nthat king of terrors, and came to deliver those, who through fear of\ndeath were all their life-time subject to bondage. Doubt ye whether ye\nshall hold out to the end? Behold the LAMB of GOD; \u201cHe is the Author\nand finisher of our faith;\u201d and having loved his own, he loved them\neven unto the end. Do ye want more grace, either to mortify remaining\ncorruption, or to enable you to bring forth more fruit unto GOD? Behold\nthe LAMB of GOD: \u201cOut of his fulness we may all receive, and that too,\neven grace for grace;\u201d grace upon grace, grace to beget more grace,\neven till we are filled with all the fulness of GOD. O ye believers,\nmy heart is enlarged towards you; look to, and live much on the blessed\nJESUS; and then you will live to, and act for him more and more. Be\nthankful for what you have received, but be looking out continually\nfor fresh discoveries of his love, and fresh incomes of heavenly grace,\ntill you are called to behold this LAMB of GOD in glory: that time,\nblessed be GOD, will shortly come. Though worms destroy our bodies, yet\nin our flesh we shall see our GOD; not as we do now, through a glass\ndarkly, but face to face: see him as he is: and what is yet better, be\ngrowing up more and more into his divine likeness, through the endless\nages of eternity.\n\nBut as for ungodly and obstinate unbelievers that die in their sins,\nit shall not be so with them. Behold him indeed you shall; behold him\nyou must; \u201cFor yet a little while, and we must all appear before the\njudgment-seat of CHRIST.\u201d But O! how shall I speak it? You must behold\nhim once, never to behold him any more! Behold him, not so much as the\nLAMB of GOD, as the Lion of the tribe of _Judah_, and hear him roaring\nout that dreadful sentence, \u201cDepart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,\nprepared for the devil and his angels.\u201d O think of this, all ye that\nhave hitherto neglected to behold this LAMB of GOD by faith, so shall\nunbelief not prove your final ruin. To you, even to you I once more\ncall. Blessed be GOD, the door of mercy is not yet shut; the day of\ngrace is not yet over; look unto him, and you shall yet be saved: his\nheart is open, and his arms stretched out ready to receive you. O that\nhe would rend the heavens and come down amongst you; and as he had once\ncompassion upon a poor woman, that was bowed down with the spirit of\ninfirmity, lo eighteen years! O that he would repeat that all-powerful\ncommand, \u201cBe ye loosed from your infirmity,\u201d and enable every\nunconverted sinner to look up to, and behold the LAMB of GOD! However,\nif you will not come to him that you might have life, GOD forbid that\nI should cease to pray for you. O LORD GOD most holy, O LORD GOD most\nmighty, O holy and merciful Saviour, thou most worthy Judge eternal,\nby thine agony and bloody sweat, by thy cross and passion, by thy\nprecious death and burial, by thy glorious resurrection and ascension,\nand by the coming of the Holy Ghost, we humbly entreat thee to help\nall such to take the warning that has now been given them! O help them\nto behold thee by faith here, that so no pains of hell may fall from\nthee whenever they are summoned to appear before thy awful tribunal\nhereafter! I am persuaded all that love the LORD JESUS in sincerity,\nwill say, _Amen!_ Even so, LORD JESUS! _Amen!_ and _Amen!_\n\n\nFINIS.","title":"The works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A., Vol. 6 (of 6) : $b Containing all his sermons and tracts, etc.","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":155625}