use of him here and hath now taken him home to himself His afflictions temptations oppositions were above the ordinary rate which as they assimilated him to his Master so they promoted his greater usefulness here and fittednes for heaven the lintel-stones and pillars of the new Ierusalem suffer more knocks of Gods hammer and tool than the common side-wall stones God wearied him out of this world and made heaven welcome wish him not here again but labour to improve this dreadful breach by remembring his Doctrine imitating his exemplary practice and understanding Gods design in this so amazing stroke search out that Achan that hath troubled your camp lay to heart sin reform your lives live up to the Doctrines you have been taught and do these in particular which are here presented to your view and I am confident will be acceptable to you though wanting the warming-accent of his lively voice which was full of sparkling spirits you must see his face hear his voice no more in your solemn assemblies but yet this Elijah as he mounted up to heaven in a chariot of fire dropped down this paper-mantle amongst us which by the spirit of grace concurring may divide the swelling-waves of Jordan I mean separate betwixt precious souls and those abominations which at this day overflow all banks and bounds Oh that Gods Spirit may by these conduits convey spiritual life and marrow into your souls that you may live though Ministers die they die civilly naturally may you live spiritually eternally This servant of God spent himself as a candle to give you light if ever it might be said of a mortal man as of our Saviour The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up it may be said so of this choice servant of God who spent and was spent for souls who counted not his life dear unto him that he might finish his course with joy in labours more abundant But I purposely wave what concerns his person at present leaving a rough draught of his smooth life to a fitter season All I shall add is to give a brief account of these ensuing Treatises As to the printing of them though Solomon caution his Son against making and reading many Books Eccles. 12.12 yet that only sounds a retreat to luxuriant wits in a scribling age as to writing upon some subjects or for vain glory but doth not simply condemn writing Books which hath been the key of discipline an Herauld of the Gospel and a notable mean to propagate true Religion As for these discourses upon common subjects I pickt them out of a vast bundle of variety of excellent discourses upon such accounts as these 1. Because I do not remember any such full Treatises upon these heads 2. Yet they are needful and useful pleasant and profitable 3. They are handed out in a taking-method and manner 4. His heart was much carried out in preaching Christ to sinners he professed most delight in it these Sermons then are the lively idea of his Gospel spirit 5. God made them savoury and delectable in their first verbal delivery and why not upon a second review 6. This servant of God is likely to preach no more but hereby being dead he yet speaketh 7. The importunity of such friends as deserved to be gratified extorted this labour of love to the souls of sinners nor shall it repent us to expose it naked to the worlds censures so it may by Gods blessing profit any For Treatises themselves though carried on by way of similitude and resemblance yet are not therefore to be despised or rejected the Prophets used similitudes Lumen supernum nunquam desendit sine indumento Rab. Cup. in Synt. Apost p. 177 178. Christ preacht much in Parables and this way sweetly instills Truths with delight and clearness into the mind and affection so that Cyprian's caution be well regarded that they be not stretcht too far He instanceth in leaven I may instance in this gift of God Iesus Christ is not so a gift but that he is also a Lord not to be ruled by us but to rule us To us a Son is given Isa. 9.6 but how that yet the government might be upon his shoulder As he is the Lords Christ so he is Christ the Lord who will rule where he rests and reign where ever he is received he will be Lord as well as Life a Master as well as a Treasure he will sway his righteous scepter over us as well as vouchsafe his glorious benefits to us he expects we should be his servants as well as his friends we must be the Lords Nethinims given to God yea by our selves as we expect this blessed Donative from God he that will not be ruled by his golden scepter shall be crushed by his iron rod. And as Iesus Christ is a gift so he is food bread of life heavenly manna yet this must not be stretcht too far for in this he is contrary to ordinary corporal food for though he feed souls he turns them not they him into his holy heavenly nature Christ as the gift of God is the matter of this feast Christ as Lord is the master and maker of this feast All this must be understood suitable to the majesty of the Son of God and according to the nature of Metaphors otherwise saith Cyprian If they were the same they were not examples but the things rather which they illustrate But all these similitudes fall infinitely short of the perfection of him who is above finite excellencies Nec similitudinem substantiae in facturis suis habere potest ille qui factor est omnium All I shall add further on this account is that caution of his in a like case Et jam hoc loco mundior auditus requiritur purior sensus Let your senses be raised to spiritual objects Having hinted a few words concerning the Author and Treatises give me leave having this fair opportunity to be speak the once constant attenders upon this good mans Ministry and those are either sinners or Saints As for unconverted sinners that attended such powerful awakening preaching and have sitten out these loud calls and pathetical intreaties and rational Interrogatories Perswasives Expostulations I may now say Lord have mercy upon you your case is miserable hath your Minister killed himself to save your souls and yet will you not be saved have you worn him to the stumps and quenched his natural light with your spiritual deadness Have you stifled all those convictions you have had under his Ministry And have you not reason to fear that Gods Spirit will strive with you no more Where will you find such another upright Nathaneel such a rouzing Boanerges such a melting Barnabas Shall he that studied travelled sweat wept sigh'd and suffered be brought in as a testimony against you He was mighty in prayer were you stupid when he wrestled with God for you and was loath to be put off without a soul at a Sermon Did you look about
wouldest thou not to thy power have done them that thou maist injoy the blessed Son of God for thine How much more then when he only saith Take Jesus Christ as thy Lord and Saviour prize and love him as thy Saviour obey and honour him as thy Lord and he shall be thine for ever do but as much for him as the covetous man does for his wealth as the ambitious man for his honour as the voluptuous man for his belly they give their highest esteem their choicest affections and their greatest service to that which they take for their God their chief good And surely Christ is more worthy hereof and will requite thee best for them 4. Consider how God offers this gift to thee his manner of dealing with thee in this is wonderful he offers Christ most really means what he speaks and most tenderly and affectionately He not only offers Christ to thee but invites thee to him what canst thou desire more in a gift or benefit than to have it heartily offered and be invited to take it He offers Christ without grudging falshood or equivocation with an open heart that he may shew how willing and cordial he is to part with this gift He invites us to take him Rev. 22.17 Let him that is a thirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely Nay he shouts and calls aloud Isa. 55.1 Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price Had he once tendered Christ it had been infinite mercy but to entreat us to accept him to perswade and move us as one that would not be denied that 's admirable 2 Cor. 5.20 We are embassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God And he commands us to receive Christ his Son and makes this the chief and as it were the only thing he requires of us 1 Ioh. 3.23 and inforceth his just command with most severe threatnings Heb. 12.25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven Sometimes he expostulateth with men Wherefore do you spend your money for that which is not bread Isa. 55.2 and adds protestations of his loathness that any soul should perish Why will you dye anger is not in me why should the flame consume the stubble what could I do more what iniquity have ye found in me c He complains and laments most sadly when men neglect and slight this offered gift Why will ye not come to me that ye may have life He came to his own and they received him not John 1.11 O Ierusalem Ierusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not Matt. 23.37 Yea with very vehement passions he bewails and weeps over them that pity not themselves Luke 19.42 If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things which belong to thy peace c. Those tears and mournings over Ierusalem for her hard heart and contempt have been and are still over thee He upbraids men with nothing so much as this and threatens no such woes in all the Scripture as against such as refuse Christ Matt. 11.20 Wo unto thee Chorazin wo unto thee Bethsaida c. Jer. 13.17 Wo unto thee O Ierusalem wilt thou not be made clean when shall it once be He is never so angry with any as with them that despise this love and refuse this offer Luke 14.21 Matt. 22.7 He was very wroth when the invited guests would not come So Mat. 21.40 with those Husbandmen that took his Son and killed him and those Citizens Luke 19.27 that would not have him reign over them are destroyed as enemies And when all this will do no good men will not be perswaded nor allured but hang off and keep at a distance he goes away as it were troubled and wishing it had been better He swears and pawns his life on it that he would not have them perish has no pleasure in their destruction Ezek. 33.11 O that they had hearkened to my commandments then had their peace been as a river and their righteousness as the waves of the sea Isa. 48.18 Psal. 81.11 But my people would not hearken to my voice Israel would none of me O that my people had hearkened unto me and Israel had walked in my ways I would soon have subdued their enemies I would have fed them with the finest of the wheat with honey out of the rock would I have satisfied them O the compassionate pangs of Gods bowels of infinite mercy towards poor sinners O quam stupenda pieatas quam mira Dei dignatio quem regare debuimus ut nos recipere dignaretur ab ipso rogamur ut ad eum venire dignemur It were one would think enough to prevail with us to accept this gift with joy and thankfulness to consider how incomparably excellent the gift it self is But God adds unspeakable benefits with him to draw us to this acceptance as life and favour with God Prov. 8.35 Whoso findeth me findeth life and obtaineth favour of the Lord. Recovery of Gods image freedom from bondage communion with God liberty of will pardon of sin power against sin deliverance from Satan peace and joy adoption of Sons Ioh. 1.12 acceptance of persons and services audience of prayers a sanctified use of comforts and crosses victory over death assurance of heaven the fair inheritance of all things fulness of joy and happiness pleasures for evermore 5. Consider why God offereth Christ unto thee for what end is he thus sollicitous about thine acceptance of this gift do not mistake me nor deceive thy self by thinking that because God out of his infinite pity to his miserable creatures is instant and urgent with them to accept of Christ therefore he hath any need of thee or seeketh his own happiness therein I tell thee if thou hadst no more need of Christ than he hath of thee thou maist let him alone No it 's purely for thy good for thy real and eternal good that he offers his Son to thee He needs thy service no more than he doth the service of the Damned or of the Devils and he knows how to make use of thee for his own glory as he doth of them if thou foolishly reject this offer of his Son to save thee Had he a work to do he needs not thy help he might have made nobler creatures than the present race of mankind to glorifie his Grace and execute his will and have left thee and all Adam's posterity to glorifie his Justice Thy righteousness will not
hearts What a Christian and yet sensual A Christian and yet proud A Christian believing in Christ a man of sorrows and yet given to pleasures What a Christian and yet worldly 4. Such as serve the world and yet pretend to serve Christ Christ tells you it cannot be Ye cannot serve God and Mammon Mat. 6.24 't is impossible to join these together Those that are slaves to the Naaman of iniquity that do not only possess money but are possessed of money that with Iudas will sell Christ for thirty pieces of silver that rise early and lye down late and eat the bread of carefulness that will compass Sea and land to get gain these make gold their God their covetousness is justly termed Idolatry Col. 3.5 Alas my Brethren what is their in the world that it should be so much coveted and heaven slighted What hath the world done for its most faithful servants How oft have we heard them complaining at last O the world hath deceived me and undone me it flattered me in my prosperity and now utterly cast me off in my necessity Ah if I had served the Lord as faithfully as I have served the world he would not have cast me off at last nor have left me thus comfortless and hopeless in my depth of misery 5. Time-servers that change their Religion with the times are not servants of the Lord their Religion is like a piece of wax to be moulded into any frame according as the times alter Such as will be Superstitious if the times be so that will be devout or atheistical according to the times It was the speech of a time-server that was said to be spoken by the King of Navarre to Beza That he would lanch no further into the sea of Religion than he might be sure to return safe in the haven This is the right Picture of a time-server as many turned Protestants in K. Edward's days and Papists in Q. Maries Lastly Those that serve the worst Master that is sin 'T is indeed one thing to be a sinner and another to be the servant of sin that is one that gives himself over to the service of sin that is bound Apprentice to sin The difference was great between Paul and Ahab Paul was sold under sin but it was against his will but Ahab sold himself willingly to work wickedness How many such servants of sin are there as the Centurions servant served him if sin bid go they go such servants are swearers and drunkardâ— that are at the service of their oaths and cups This is a most shameful and pernicious service for it is to serve the Devil Ioh. 8.44 O that the world would believe this that when they serve this or that lust they serve the Devil Cyprian brings in the Devil upbraiding Christ Ostende mihi tet servos qui tibi c. Shew me if thou canst so many servants that have served thee so diligently and willingly as I can shew that have served me Can Satan give you better wages as Saul said to his followers Can the son of Iesse make you captains of hundreds and captains over thousands give you vineyardâ— and oliâ—â—yards c. 1 Sam. 22.7 Aâ—as if sin had not put out your eyes as the Philistines did by Sampson that you cannot see the vileness and cursedness of it you would nevâ—r grind in its mill for the wages of sin is death 3. Use of Exhortation two Branches 1. To all to perswade them to esteem chuse and embrace Christs service 2. To Christs servants to take care to be such servants and perform such service as shall be found good and faithful approved by Christ. 1. Is Christ such a Lord as you have heard then let every one of us be prevailed with to take him for our Lord and give up our selves to him and become his servants this day we must either resign up our selves to this excellent Lord or we cannot be true Christians 2 Cor. 8.5 this is the essence of Christianity and life of Religion and marrow of Profession To wear the badg and livery of Chriâ—â— in external profession without this is nothing but a dead carcass an empty shadow and will turn to our greater condemnation another day That which will be enquired after at the great day is not who owned Christ as Lord in profession but who honoured Christ as Lord by real subjection and resignation of themselves unto him The great question will be Whether did Christ reign over us and bring us under his Law and Dominion and upon the decision of this important question depends the everlasting state of our souls and bodies in the next world If you now say unto Christ We are Lords we will not come at thee depart from us we desire not the knowledg of thy ways or as Pharoah Who is the Lord that I should obey him He will say unto you at the last day Depart from me ye cursed I know you not nor will your crying Lord Lord then any thing avail you O then let it be your resolution now to resign your selves to this gracious Saviour take him for your Lord and Soveraign Kiss the Son serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling O that your hearts would once at last say as 't is foretold of Gospel times Isa. 44.5 I am the Lords other Lords have had dominion over me but henceforth by thee only will I make mention of thy name Isa. 26.13 We will not say any more to the work of our hands nor to the lusts of our hearts to the world the flesh or to sin ye are our gods for with thee O Lord poor lost creatures find mercy Hos. 14.3 Whatever your neighbours acquaintance or kindred let them chuse whom they will serve yet we are resolved for our part we will serve the Lord Iosh. 24.15 O my friends what say you to this motion what answer give you to this invitation is it not most reasonable and considerable you are prest to come to Christ and take his yoke and bow the knee before him c. What will you do will every one of you give up himself to Christ resign soul and body to the service of this glorious Lord Have you found or ever heard of any thing in him that may deter you what iniquity have you seen in him that you keep at distance from him and walk after vanity Is he not worthy of your love not good enough to be your Master can you bestow your selves better employ your selves more profitably what sticks it at would you take time to consider of it and defer your resolutions to another day so you have done too long already and ventur'd too far by your delays To day if you will hear his voice then harden not your hearts Seek ye the Lord while he may be found call upon him while he is near He now saith hearken unto me and I will make a covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Encline your ear
and Levi. Ierome who thinks that 't is corruptly read Sychar for Sichem saith in his time it was called Neapolis Here was a noted Well of springing-water which did bear Iacob's name now Christ coming hither in the heat of the day about the sixth hour i. e. at noon he was weary and sate on the Well as one weary or representing the gesture of a tired man without seeming to stay there to any other purpose though in the secret of his Providence he had an intent to convert the people of that place at the same time comes a Samaritan woman to draw water a Samaritan by Nation and Religion Jesus asked her water to drink as to refresh himself in his weariness and thirst so also to give occasion of discourse for the Salvation of her and many others Thus he that was rich and Lord of all became so poor in the days of his flesh as to ask a cup of cold water and that of a stranger and one that denies him with scorn and disdain The woman answers him readily and roughly How is it that thou being a Iew askest water of me which am a Samaritan and the reason is annexed either by the woman or Evangelist for the Iews have no dealings with the Samaritans He doth not mean no commerce at all for the Disciples were gone to buy meat but not to ask or receive courtesies These Samaritans were a mixture of Pagan Nations who being brought thither by the King of Assyria 2 King 17.24 after the captivity of the Israelites had built themselves a Temple on Mount Gerizzim and together with some Apostate Iews had there established a false Worship in imitation of that at Ierusalem therefore they were excommunicated by the Iews who accounted them wicked and profane Likewise the Samaritans thought themselves polluted if they touched a Iew so they mutually hated and despised each other Christ in the Text is not moved to anger with these terms of hostility but proceeds to preach the Grace of God and power of his Spirit If thou knewest the gift of God c. The woman still persists in contradicting him and first chargeth him with promising more than he was able to perform The well is deep and thou hast nothing to draw with for the Iews and Samaritans held it a pollution to use each others vessels 2. She accuseth him of arrogancy because he preferred himself before the Patriarch Iacob This Well sufficed him and his family and who makest thou thy self to be what better water speakest thou of but Christ still bears with her O what contradictions of sinners did he endure how long is it ere Christ can make men willing to imbrace Gospel-offers and terms of mercy He proves himself to be greater than Iacob by shewing the difference between this Mystical and Spiritual water springing and refreshing to eternity which Iacob could not give and that which Iacob gave his Sons which could only quench a present thirst Still the woman proceeds in her scoffing and opprobrious expressions O how hard is it to believe their word of whose authority we are not well perswaded Give me this water saith she ironically or floutingly q. d thou makest great brags but I see nothing if thou canst do any thing let me see it indeed Questionless the woman knew well enough that Christ speaks of spiritual water but because she despised him she esteemed all his promises as good as nothing 'T is high time Christ should now bid go call her husband having born with her perverse answers all this while he now smites her with the sense of her own sin and his divine Majesty before whom she had deported her self so securely and audaciously so are confident sinners to be wounded that they may be healed and that the only way to deal with such as are obstinate and dally with heavenly things is to convince them thorowly and to awake them from their security and carelesness in so great an interest as their own salvation She knew that she lived in sin yet her conscience could not awake till a Divine hand seemed to touch the wounds thereof Here also the tender mercy of Christ is to be observed he said not Go thou Adultress and call thy partner in sin thy pretended husband that you may hear your dooms as 1 Cor. 6.9 10. but he mildly stileth him husband whom he knew to be an adulterer that she might neither presume any longer to contest with the searcher of hearts nor despair of his mercy whose lenity in reproving spake him merciful to cure and amend not busie and malicious to find fault and accuse Hereupon she gave him some more reverence calling him a Prophet and he fully reveals himself to her to the conversion of her and many other Samaritans In this verse we have Christs mild and gracious answer to the womans irreverent and uncivil denial of his small request of a little water to drink wherein observe 1. The Preface Iesus answered and said 2. The Answer it self in which is first a Supposition If thou knewest c. 2. A Deduction therefrom Thou wouldest have asked c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The gift of God what is meant by this gift some think he means this of the Spirit which was to be given Ioh. 7.37 others the Grace of God offered by Christ or the opportunity of Salvation tendered by Christ to this woman so the Evangelical call and grace is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes. 2.8 as Grotius observes and then the sense is If thou didst but understand how great the benefit of this occasion is which God freely put into thine hands thou wouldest be so far from denying me that water that thou wouldest ask of me c. But most and best Expositors take it to be meant of Christ himself both because the Article shews it to be some eminent or excellent gift He saith not indefinitely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 donum nor in the Plural number 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dona but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 donum hoc vel illud that gift Christ as given to the world Ioh. 3.16 and offered to this woman by the Father and also that which follows seems to be exegetical of this If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 expositio ejus quod praecedit quis quantisque c. i. e. Filius Dei Salvator Mundi Grotius I read these two members saith Calvin if thou didst know and who it is so distinctly that the latter is as it were an interpretation of the former and he adds the sense will be more plain if instead of the copulative conjunction and you put the expositive particle Namely thus if thou didst know the gift of God namely who it is that talketh with thee for this was a singular benefit of God to have Christ present who brought with him everlasting life And hence we learn that we do then know who Christ is when we
undeserving and ill deserving mankind such a gift so transcendently superlatively excellent and wonderful that if God the Lord should create an understanding-faculty of man or Angel millions of degrees more apprehensive and vigorous than if all the men and Angels that are or possibly might be created were contemperated in one yet could not their understanding so see the incomparable worth and superexcellent beauty of this gift but that there would remain unseen treasures of loveliness and oceans of excellencies never known to the amazement and admiration of all creatures to all eternity Nay it implys an eternal contradiction that the Creatures should see to the bottom of the Creator or that which is finite fathom that which is infinite This gift is promised in the Old and those Promises are fulfilled in the New Testament Hear what the Prophet Isaiah saith Isa. 9.6 Vnto us a child is born a son is given A Child born in respect of his Humanity a Son given in respect of his Deity and both as already done in regard of Gods purpose and the infallible certainty of his promise which is as sure as if it were already done and in regard of the fruits and benefits thereof to men though it was to be accomplished above 700 years after and in the fulness of time God sent his Son actually given both to us and for us to effect our Salvation Ioh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believed on him should not perish but have everlasting life All I purpose to do in the prosecution of this Doctrine is to shew the excellency of this gift and then make Application A great attempt indeed and far above the utmost reach of a finite capacity for who can declare his generation what pen though dipt in the river of life that flows under the Sanctuary what tongue though shap't out of all the Angels in Heaven and watered with the milk and wine of that good land can sufficiently express the glory and excellency of this heart-ravishing flower of Angels this living Ark of heaven the song of Angels and glorified Saints the joy and glory of that new land the crown and garland of his Fathers delight the sweetness of the garden of God the wonder of wonders for eternity to Angels and men that fair tree of life the branches whereof cannot for the narrowness of the place have room to grow within the huge and capacious borders of the Heaven of heavens How impossible is it therefore to contain him in the narrow compass of the words or thoughts of any mortal creature I cannot better express what he is than by telling you I cannot express him Yet something I shall endeavour to speak of his inexpressible worth under the notion of a Gift in these particulars Christ and Heaven cannot be praised Hyperbolically No danger of excess speak I as much think you as much as we can of Christ. 1. Christ is a most free gift we use to say what 's freer than gift I may well add What gift freer than Christ whether we respect the giver or look on the receiver 't is easie to judg that this gift is absolutely free and undeserved In relation to God it is beyond all doubt that there was nothing in man that might move God to give him Christ no worthiness in man no profit by man nothing but loathsomness The promise of Christ coming in the flesh was an absolute unconditional promise Hence 't is said Christ is not only sent delivered c but given not paid nor sold he is not returned to us by way of payment for who hath given ought that he should be repayed neither is he sold to us in consideration of ought to be paid by us for what can we return to God that is not his own already Rom. 11.35 36. 1 Chron. 29.11 12 13 14. If Iacob could say He was not worthy of the least of all his mercies Gen. 32.10 Who can pretend to be worthy of this greatest but Christ is given freely bestowed of his meer grace and bounty without respect of ought in us that might invite or induce him thereunto Rom. 5.6 8 10. Tit. 3.5 without any expectation of ought from us that might be beneficial to himself Can a man be profitable unto God Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that a man is righteous Is it any gain to him that we make our ways perfect Job 2â— 23 35.5 8. No our goodness cannot extend it self unto God Psal. 16.2 Look on man and what is there to be found in him but sin and misery He is not only without strength and so despicable cannot help himself but ungodly also and so loathsome deserving no help from others What is man that God was thus mindful of him a poor naked indigent helpless and wretched creature and all this wo and misery is brought upon him by his own choice and act he is not only miserable but wicked a rebel as well as a beggar not only cast out into the open field to the loathing of his person but found in the field of war treacherously fighting against his Lord and Maker Man was in a state of darkness slavery rebellion poverty pain ignominy banishment nakedness filthiness deformity sickness death perdition every thing that 's naught and miserable all the woes in the world were they a thousand times greater are but a faint representation of the miseries of man by nature Now if a gift may be free when bestowed on a friend how much more when given to an enemy why God gave us his Son to reconcile us to himself when we were not only strangers from him but enemies to him Col. 1.21 O the riches of his meer mercy and grace Is not that gift free that is bestowed on sinners strangers enemies Ephes. 2.12 13 14 God never did nor never will sell his Grace his Son to any none can have Christ but those that come empty a full hand can hold nothing Fix your thoughts on the terms expressed in that Evangelical Proclamation Isa. 55.1 Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price 2. Christ is a most full gift He is full of Grace and truth Joh. 1.14 Col. 1.29 It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell he fills all in all There is in this gift of God a fulness of sufficiency and a fulness of redundancy enough for himself and to fill all persons all things there is enough in Christ for every soul and for the supply of every want whatever the heart of man can want or wish is to be had in Christ. That 's a very full expression Col. 2.9 In him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily Fulness in the abstract he is not full only but Fullness it self fulness not of the cistern but of the fountain Gods
shall call and knock and it shall not be opened Prov. 1.24 I shall add a word of admonition and serious warning to them who have not yet nor are now resolved to accept this incomparable gift of God and that in the words of the Apostle See that ye refuse not him that speaks from heavâ—n Heb. 12.25 yea that came down from Heaven to seek and save your lost souls Now that Christ is freely offered to you by the Gospel if you set at nought his counsel and make light of his invitations and receive the Grace of God in vain it had been better for you that you had never been born or never heard the Gospel Now that God hath proclaimed terms of peace and shewed himself so unwilling that ye should perish that he gave his only begotten Son for you and to you and exacted nothing from you but acceptance that ye might have in him eternal life If you still refuse this gift and reject this counsel remaining under unbelief it doth exceedingly aggravate your sin and judgment it makes your sin above measure sinful your sin is inexcusable your condemnation unavoidable and your punishment will be intollerable Consider what you do and be wise before it be too late you exceedingly dishonour God undervalue Christ gratifie Satan Sin most inexcusably and undo your selves utterly 1. If you do not receive and improve this gift when offered in the Gospel you do exceedingly dishonour God What greater reproach is there amongst men than to refuse a gift offered freely out of love without any ground motive or occasion from the party that is to have it or deny to accept of an invitation to a great feast or fair estate if intreated and solicited to take it 'T is a sowr unmannerliness and sawcy proud presumption to prescribe on what terms they will have or when they will not be beholding to their superiors 'T is a great dishonour to God that vile sinful dust and ashes will not accept of his gracious offer of his Son If a King should come to a Prisoner condemned by the Law to death and lying in Chains and offer to set him free or put his Son in his stead c. but he so loves his bondage and hugs his chains that he will not be delivered You cast dishonour upon all the gloâ—ious Attributes of God His Truth He that receives Christ gives as much glory to the Truth of God as possibly he can he sets to his seal that God is true Iohn 3.33 But he that receives not this gift believes not God and so makes him who is truth it self a lyar because he believes not the record which God gave of his Son 1 Ioh. 5.10 O what horrid indignity is this to the most faithful God! His Mercy wherein he delights which as it is above all his works so this of bestowing Christ on men is above all his mercies It is no less than spurning at bowels of mercy Rom. 2.4 and despising of riches of goodness His Power 'T is a sad diminution of the glory of his Power and Soveraignty as if he could not do what he hath promised if we accept his offers or what he hath threatned if we refuse it Abraham on the contrary was strong in faith giving glory to God being fully perswaded that what he had promised he was able to perform Rom. 4.20 His Wisdom It 's a rejecting the counsel of Heaven and contemning that unconceivable depth of wisdom that contrived a way for Mercy and Justice to meet that his Glory might be advanced and sinning and perishing man might be saved His Justice How great is the affront that sinners offer to his Justice that sinners go on to provoke him with their unbelief and wickedness and as it were dare him to punish them In a word his Infallibleness and Unchangeableness are called in question when his gracious promises are not believed and embraced men judg him a person not fit to be credited The giving of the lye is accounted the greatest injury and disgrace amongst men but especially this is a great injury to God because he stands more upon his word than upon any other part of his name Psal. 138.2 He hath magnified his word above all his name And we have more experience of God making good his word than in any other thing Thus not receiving Christ doth rob God of his declarative glory it rifles his cabinet and takes away his chiefest jewel even that glory which he saith he will not give unto another 2. You do very unworthily slight and undervalue Jesus Christ. When a gift is offered if you deny to accept it you not only dishonour him that offers it but you disparage the gift it self you disesteem it as not worthy your acceptance and is Jesus Christ so worthless and inconsiderable a gift as that thou wilt not take him at the hands of God O horrible ingratitude Be ye astonished O ye heavens for my people have committed two evils ah these two are thousands and millions they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters c. Is it not the voice of Christ in the Gospel Who will have me Who will receive me and is it not the Gospel-quarrel Ye will not come to me that ye may have life Joh. 5.40 'T is the greatest folly to set so low a rate on Christ for he is the sum and substance marrow and worth of the whole word and all the works of God the most excellent glory of all persons and things in the world 1. Survey the Word of God from end to end and you shall find that there is nothing of excellency but what is derived from or reduced unto Christ he is called by one verbum abbreviatum the contracted Word into which all words are reduced as the rivers into the Sea from this word they came unto this word they tend and within this word they are all contained 'T is observed by Ierome that the sum of all knowledg is Divinity the sum of all Divinity is the Scripture for that is sufficient to make the man of God perfect 2 Tim. 3.16 17 and every Christian wise unto Salvation The sum of the Scripture is the Gospel for that is the power of God for the salvation of them that believe Rom. 1.16 and the sum of the Gospel is Christ. For these things i. e. the Gospel were written that you might believe that Iesus Christ is the Son of God and that in believing you might have eternal life Joh. 20.31 If you consider the Old Testament it is nothing else but the vail shadow and promise of Christ observe all the Types the Tree of Life the Ark of Noah the Ladder of Iacob the Mercy-seat the brazen Serpent and all such Mystical Types and Typical figures we read of what are they else but Christ take away the substance and what is the shadow And not only so but even all the men of note Noah Isaac Ioseph Moses Aaron Ioshua Sampson David Solomon
enemies Col. 1.21 Those that are afar of are made nigh by the blood of Christ he hath broken down the partition-wall and slain the enmity Ephes. 2 16 17 18. If thou hast some dear friend who bestows a gift on thee in token of his dear love and respect to thee and there should be afterwards some disagreeing and falling out betwixt you wouldst thou shew this gift a pledg of league and amity c. thus hold up Christ to God 3. Or though it be not thus yet thou wantest the sense and feeling of his love and art comfortless in the want of it O then make use of Christ in this case who is able to make all Consolations abound and fill thy soul with joy and peace in believing He hath said Ioh. 14.18 I will not leave you comfortless Tristatur aliquis nostrum veniat in cor Iesus Is any man sad saith Bernard let that sweetest name Jesus come into his heart and so he shall have that peace and comfort that the world cannot give neither can the world take it away from him Christ is a most soveraign Cordial apply and use him and your joy will be full 4. Or art thou terrified in Conscience and groaning under the insupportable burden of a wounded spirit art thou affrighted with accusing and condemning thoughts O go to Christ who as he can make peace in the Court of Heaven so he can create peace in thy heart and still the crys of Conscience and make a calm there also though the waves roar and the winds blow c. thy soul shall have peace in him which passeth all understanding Col. 1.20 And will say in me ye shall have peace be of good cheer let not your hearts be troubled though your hearts ake and tremble yet he is greater thaâ— your hearts who is nigh to justifie you Isa. â—â— 8 so that you may triumph with the Apostle Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died Rom. 8.34 Expect no peace in laying aside Christ. 5. Are you afraid of death and judgment to come in this case also make use of Christ. It 's reported by Cassander that in ancient times sick and weak dying persons were directed and accustomed to make use of Christ at that time especially interposing him betwixt them and Gods Judgment saying these words Lord we put thee the death of our Lord Iesus Christ betwixt us and thy judgment But what need we look into Historians the Scriptures shew what languishing souls and drooping spirits must do Psal. 23.4 5. Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death yet I will fear no evil c. Christ hath destroyed him that had the power of death Heb. 2.4 taken out the venome and malignity of it Death lost its sting in Christs side And now O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory 1 Cor. 15.55 57. Or fearest thou judgment look to Christ and thou shalt not die the second death but he will raise thee up at the last day Ioh 6.49 50. Having Christ thou maist stand in judgment and lift up thy head with joy for 't is the day of thy Redemption then the redeemed of the Lord shall return with joy everlasting and you shall appear with him in glory 4. Fourth Branch of Exhortation Be â—ery thankful for him yea let your whole soul go out in thankfulness be ever praising and magnifying God for his unspeakable mercy in Christ your Sacrifice your Redeemer your Saviour often call upon your sluggish hearts and say Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name Psal. 103.1 and 116.12 What shall I render to the Lord for this the greatest of all his benefits O be thankful not in a common ordinary formal manner but in the most lively enlarged and raised manner that is possible where the mercy is high and great the thankfulness must bear some proportion to it O let your apprehensions be widened to conceive the vastness of this mercy that your affections may be more enlarged to praise God for it O how shall we get our hearts affected with it what thankfulness can be enough for such a gift should not the whole soul be summon'd in to give its most united acknowledgment of so signal a mercy for God to give his only begotten Son to be a Saviour for sinners Here 's the wonder of wonders God never did the like before and he 'l never do the like again and blessed be his name there is no need he should It would have been admirable mercy if God would have sent some other person upon this Errand to redeem and save undone sinners If send he will why did he not send an Angel or body of Angels to try their skill and see what they could do Nay why did he not send an Angel as once he did with a flaming sword in his hand to keep off sinners from the Tree of Life O this did not comport with his gracious designs though it did too well with the creatures merit therefore he would not do it no his own Son shall be pitcht upon he is the person whom God will send Surely here was love great love great to the degree of infiniteness Millions of Angels were nothing to one Son to one such Son his first-born his only begotten Son the Son of his love who lay in his bosom had been his delight from everlasting O astonishing mercy O admirable goodness and condescention how may we cry out here Lord what is man that thou art thus mindful of him and the Son of man that thou makest this account of him Psal. 8.4 and 144.3 or as Iob 7.17 What is man that thou shouldest magnifie him and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him Here was God so loving so as can never be expressed never be comprehended Ioh 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believed on him might not perish but have everlasting life The Heavens and the Earth were once called upon to be filled with astonishment because of the ingratitude of a sinful people Isa. 1.2 May not now Heaven and Earth Angels and men all creatures whatsoever be called upon to be filled with astonishment because of the stupendious love of God! O Christians what influence hath this upon your dull and sluggish hearts what are you made of that you are no more in the sense of it drawn out in blessing loving admiring and adoring of God Pray if there be any holy ingenuity in you take some pains with your selves that you may be much more affected with it and give not over till you have such thoughts and affections upon Gods giving his Son raised in you as may in some measure answer to those thoughts and affections which you shall have about it when you shall be in Heaven The Angels never reaped that advantage that we do yet they were at praising-work as soon as ever Christ was born
come unto me Hear and your soul shall live why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not Hearken diligently unto me eat ye that which is good and let your soul delight it self in fatness Alas ye feed on husks and chaff till you return to Christ. Isa 55.2 3 4 7. How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and fools delight in folly turn ye at my reproof Forsake the foolish and live and go in the way of understanding O that you were wise and would understand these things and consider your latter end O that there were such hearts in you c. O that ye knew the things that belong unto your peace in this your day before they be hid from your eyes O when shall it once be what is your resolution shall Jesus Christ be your Lord and Master or shall he not Take heed how you refuse him that speaks from heaven do not as you want Christ despise this loving invitation and make light of this gracious offer lest his wrath be kindled in his breast and you perish He that hath so long held forth his Scepter of Grace yet stands waiting for your return yet stretcheth forth his arms to embrace you yet opens his very heart to entertain you Hark he bids you come and lodg your souls in his warm bosom yet he calls by his Word yet he strives by his Spirit and follows you with checks of conscience and renews his mercies on you every morning would fain draw you with cords of love if it would be But it will not be always thus his patience will not always wait his Spirit shall not always strive with man the door of mercy shall not always stand open When once the master of the house is risen up and hath shut to the door and ye begin to stand without and to knock at the door saying Lord Lord open to us then 't is too late Luk. 13.25 O come to Christ now or never do it this day or you may never be invited again Hear now Christ bespeaks and wooes thee sinner Cast down thy weapons of rebellion surrender thy soul to me give me thy heart submit to my government I vvill pass by all thy former resistance and put up all the wrongs thou hast done me I will remember thy iniquities no more but pass an act of everlasting oblivion upon them O look unto me and be ye saved This is my business with you my beloved at this time this is mine errand to your Souls What answer shall I return from you to him that sent me The great work you know of us Ministers is to perswade men to become Christs covenanting Servants to consent to his Laws and acknowledg his Lordship our way to win your hearts is to tell you what he is some little hath been spoken but not the thousand part of the excellencies of this incomparable Lord O he is the chiefest of ten thousâ—nd his name is wonderful he is God and Man in one person he is Man that you may not be afraid of him God that he may be able to do you good He is the Lord of lords and King of kings Heir of all things Saviour of the world c. 'T is infinite condescention of love in him to treat with you or intreat your consenâ— that he may be your Lord. This being a matter of greatest importance and knowing the terror of the Lord let me perswade you for that end I intreat you to press upon your selves and improve in your retirements these considerations as motives 1. Motive Yeild up your selves to the service of the Lord Christ or you are unjust you do him open wrong Equity and justice requires that you render to all their due jus cuique tribuere is the first and most proper act of justice Tribute to whom tribute fear to whom fear honour to whom honour Rom. 13.7 It is a common principle among you which nature teacheth that you deal righteously with men owe no man any thing do no man wrong let every one have that which of right appertaineth to him And if we may not deny unto Caesar the things that are Caesars it is but right we should also give unto God the things that are Gods by so many just titles Why now you cannot without apparent wrong to Christ deny him your selves you are his and owe your selves unto him and all you have and all that you can do you are not your own but his I lay claim unto you in the name of Christ and challenge your souls and bodies to his use Dare you deny the claim or will any step out and question this title The Lord Jesus hath laid challenges to you It has been a custom in England on the Coronation day as multitudes of people were feasting in Westminster-Hall a Herald comes forth and Champion for the King and proclaimed his title to the Crown and if any questioned his title he was there ready to make it good I do now proclaim to you that Christ is your Lord and you are his Servants and challenges your service if any question his Title I will justifie it and make it good let the case come to tryal on condition that whoever is convinced shall yield subjection Let me ask you then Did not he make you and not ye your selves Psal. 95.6 and does not he preserve and sustain you and ye are the Sheep of his pasture Vers. 7 Did not Christ purchase you with his own blood 1 Pet. 1.18 Were you not the dearest purchase and was not the greatest price paid for you that ever the world heard of Well what say you to this Title Doth not justice give every one his own and are not you Christs If there be any creature in Heaven or Earth that can lay a better claim or pretend a juster Title to you than Christ then let it have your hearts and service but if the Lord Jesus have the full and sole right to you then do not so much wrong him and your own souls as to deny or withstand this just and reasonable motion 2. Give up your selves to this Lord or you are unthankful gratitude as well as justice requires this at your hands Nothing is more abhorrent to an ingenuous spirit than the brand of ingratitude to be so base and unworthy as to render evil for good ingratum si dixeris omnia dixeris call a man unthankful and you call him all that 's naught abhor it as death to be guilty or have the name of ingratitude Well now suppose a man had by some capital crime incurred the danger of the Law and the sentence of death were past upon himâ— should another step in and humble himself to beg the pardon or begger himself to buy the freedom for him Must not that man be wholly his who hath ransomed him from the Gallows This is our case Sin was our work and Death was our wages