Section 25
2. The saved in Noah's ark were bnt eight, and all those eight were either men or women, not a child among them. But in Christ, our ark, though the saved are but few, they are many eights, and amongst them not only some of both sexes, malf and female, but some of all ages, old, and yooDg« and little children.
3. The saved in Noah's ark escaped by a present temporal death only; they were not drowned in the flood of waters as their neighbours were; I meas, the ark was no further instrumental of good to then. But the saved in Christ Jesus are saved by him from eternal misery, from the wrath that is to come, from being burned in hell for ever. As for death temporal, they have no exemption from it, of no kind, in bo circumstances; they die suddenly, even as otbs. a violent death, even as others; but then let the kiod and circumstanoes of their dying be what God
WHAT CHRIST IS MADE TO BELIEVERS. pleases, they are safe beyond death. Lo, here is a nonesuch ark.
Use 1. To yoa that hear me this day, I have three things to beg of yoa, not for myself, but for your own souls; and they are the same three things that Noah is said here to have done, to believe, to fear, and to prepare, (1.) To believe, not what I say, or what other men say, but what the great God says, who cannot lie. And what says he ? He says there is another flood coming, another deluge; a great one at the end of time for certain; besides, other little ones, that may come, and how soon we know not.
He says there is an ark ready of his own preparing, and that ark is Christ, and whosoever will may come, and be saved by him. Do ye believe this? If not, ye make God a liar.
(2.) To fear and be afraid. Noah believed and feared. Why should not we ? Fear what? The flood threatened, death, judgment, the wrath to come. Are not these things to be feared ? Fear, lest you be found out of the ark; graceless, Christless, Heb. iv. 1. They that are in the ark, must not fear, Luke xii. 32. Others must. The men of the old world would neither believe nor fear, but went on ; and what came of it ? Did they escape thereby ? *' The flood came and destroyed them all," Luke xvii. 26—30.
We do believe, we do fear—Then, (3.) Prepare —What? An ark ? We do not need ; God hath prepared one. But prepare, that is, make ready for this deluge, by getting into this ark of his preparing, renouncing all other. Accept of him, close with him, yield yourselves to him. Do it now, to-day, while it is called to-day. You may go into the ark, before ye stir hence to go homewards.
Use 2. A word to those of you that are in this ark.
Bless God; it is the mercy of mercies; let him have the glory. Do ye think Noah was not deeply affected—^Why was I preserved and not such a neighbour, Gen. viii. 20.
Labour to walk answerable to the mercy:
base fears. If Christ be thine, come what will, thou art safe.
Fruitfully—in all holiness, and new obedience, as saved ones.
SERMON XXXIX.
CHRIST IS OUR ALTAR.
Hebrews xiii. 10.
We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
By this altar we are to understand our Lord Jesus Christy concerning whom the Christians may say. they have him, they have him as their altar. As for those that serve the tabernacle, that is, the obstinate wicked Jews, that would adhere to Moses; and retain still the ceremonial law, and the worship, and the carnal ordinances thereof, either entirely alone, and by itself, or in conjunction with gospel institutions, they have nothing to do with him, no right to eat of him, that is, to partake of gospel privileges by him.
DocT. That the Lord Jesns Christ is our altar; he is made of God to be so unto us; we are to call him by that name, and to own him as such.
Show, I. What kind of thing an altar is, and what use it was for, and that Jesus Christ is of the same use to us spiritually.
II. What are the peculiar properties of this altar, which distinguish it from all other ordinances.
III. The application.
I. I am to show what an altar was, add that the Lord Jesus is, spiritually, of the same use to ns.
An altar was like a square table, bigger or less, according as it was made, to be used in worship. There were altars of remembrance, Exod. xvii. Josh. xxii. We read of altars which the heathen had, and made use of in the worship of their idol gods; and of altars used in the worship of the true God, Jehovah, blessed for ever.
The altars made use of in the worship of the true God, were either occasional, or fixed.
The occasional altars were such as were suddenly made, upon some particular occasion; and when that occasion was over, we hear no more of them. Such was that which Noah reared when he came out of the ark. The first we read of is in Gen. viii. 20. Abraham also, and Isaac, and Jacob, did all rear altars, in the several places to which they came in their travels. Gen. xii. 8; xiii. 18 ; xxvi. 25; XXXV. 6, 7. Still where they had a tent, God had an altar, which we bring as an instance of the antiquity of family worship—Among God's people, there were family altars.
The fixed altars were those that were made afterwards by God's own appointment; two by Moses, belonging to the tabernacle, and two by Solomon, belonging to the temple: both for the same purpose, only Solomon's were larger than those that Moses made, because in Moses's time the people of God were low and poor, and in straits in the wilderness, but in Solomon's time, rich and full, and much more numerous. Our altars should be as our circumstances are. The same measure of service will not suflice when we are increased and advanced by God, that might when we were low and poor. Of those to whom much is given, more is required. See the different sizes, in Exod. xxvii. 1. Compare it with 2 Chron. iv. 1. The one was five, the other twenty, cubits square.
These fixed altars, both in Moses's time, and So APPENDIX. lomon's time, were two of different materials, and for different use, and diversely placed.
There was one made of wood covered with brass, to burn the beasts upon that were offered in sacrifice to God, which stood without doors in the courts.
There was another made of wood too, but covered with gold to bum incense upon, which stood within in the holy place. Now which of these is Christ; that is, by which of them was he typified and his undertaking for us represented, as our Redeemer and Saviour ? By both. He is our alone altar; himself alone is that to us which both these altars were to them.
1. He is our altar for sacrifice. In his djring for us, he offered himself upon himself; he was himself the priest and the altar. There must be a sacrifice offered, or else no atonement. The sacrifice of bulls and goats, &c. would not do: then said he, Lo, I come, Ps. xl. 6, 7. The Son of God himself must be the sacrifice, no other could do. But who will be the priest then, where is one sufl Scient to manage this sacrifice ? Priests were to be mighty men of valour, I will be priest myself, said he; and it was so. But where will an altar be had for the purpose, sufficient to bear the weight of this sacrifice ? I myself, said he, will be the altar too; and he was so ;—sacrifice, priest, and altar, Heb. ix. 14. Now this altar for sacrifice is to be considered, (1.) In the matter of it That was wood, covered with brass. Not wood outermost, for the fire would have burnt it, but wood within ; brass without signifying the two natures of Christ, his divine nature, and his human nature. The brass of the divine nature secured and safe-guarded the wood of the human nature, else the fire of God's wrath had consumed it; and if so, no atonement could have been made. This was the eternal Spirit, through which HE offered hinuelf without spot to God, Heb. ix. 14.
(2.) In the figure and form of it. It was exactly four-square, as broad as it was long, and as long as it was broad. By whose order was this ? Who appointed it so ? The great God himself. This signified the stability and permanency of his undertaking; the square figure is stedfast and stable; Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever, Heb. xiii. 8. —a sure foundation.
(3.) In the placing of it. It stood without, in the outward court; noting, the sufferings of Christ to be here below in this world. Here it was that he gave himself to death, even the death of the cross. Or else, noting the particular place of his dying, which was without the gate, Heb. xiii. 12. Now this altar, and this sacrifice on it, is all the hope we have for reconciliation with God. He alone is our propitiation, 1 John ii. 2. God hath set him forth to be so, Rom. iii. 25. And, therefore, to him we roust betake ourselves, upon all occasions, trusting to bis merit and righteousness alone for peace and pardon: it is impossible we should have it any other way.
2. He is our altar also for incense, in his interceding for us. Note— The matter of it—^wood covered with gold; not with brass as the other, but with gold, pore gold-signifying the two natures of Christ, in both which he makes intercession, as God-man; hence with authority,—*' Father, J will that they also, wboo thou hast given me, be vrith me where I am ; that they may behold my glory,*' John xvii. 24.
Note—He is now a golden Christ, a glorified Redeemer. Heaven makes all gold that conies thither. There was a crown over the altar of incense. Observe, The form of it: this as the other was fonr-square, Heb. vii. 25. ** He ever liveth to make intercession." Compare Exod. iii. 2. Notice also.
The place of it, ic^'Mtii, not without; in heaven, not on earth; in God's immediate presence, before the mercy-seat There it is that his blood cries, and his merits cry—not from the ground, as Abel's, Heb. xii. not in humiliation but in exaltation, Zech. vi. IS. Hence we may take occasion, (1.) To adore the infinite wisdom and free grace of God the Father, in contriving such a way of redemption for us, and in performing that contrivance. He himself appointed the altar; he himself appointed the Saviour, 1 Cor. i. 90. " Made vnt us of God wisdom, righteousness, sanctificatioo, and redemption."
(2.) To examine ourselves, what interest we have in this oblation, in this intercession, in this dooble altar. Is it ours? Can we say we have an altar! The way to know it is by inquiring what use we make of it. They only have interest in it that make aae of it every day, in every thing,—^for pardon for what we do amiss, for acceptation of what we do well. Many have none, nor desire none. Many have snch as they should not, ** Israel is an empty vine, he bring-eth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they hare made goodly images. Their heart is divided ; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break dovm their altars, he shall spoil their images,** Hos. x. I, 2. " I have written to him the great things of my lav, but they were counted as a strange thing," Hos. viii. 12.
(3.) To exhort, by all means, to acquaint yourselves with this altar; to know Christ Jesns the Lord, as your only atonement, and only adTOcate; to fly to him as snch, I John ii. 1, 2.
Further, concerning these altars, note,
1. It is said of each of them. They had four horns, one at each corner—for ornament, and for use.
The use was double. To hind the saerijiee t; The beast, from a principle of self-preservation, wu
WHAT CHRIST IS MADE TO BELIEVERS. loth to die; they were forced to bind him, Ps. cxviii. 27. There were no need of cords to bind the blessed Jesus; he gave himself, / am he. That which bound him was his Father's will and his own inclination, his love to poor sinners. The call is to us, to bind all our sacrifices to the horns of this altar. So we must, or there will be no acceptance, 1 Pet 11.5.
For guilty malefactors to take hold of: as Joab, 1 Kings ii. 28. Adonijah, 1 Kings i. 50, 51. When we have sinned, what else have we to take hold of? He alone is our city of refuge. The horns were four, pointing to the four corners of tlie world, east, west, north, and south. Our Lord Jesus is a universal Saviour, to all nations and people. Whosoever will may come, Isa. Iv. I. Rev. zxii. 17. There are no rails about this altar.
2. It is said, the altar did sanctify the gift Matt xxiii. 19.
How sanctify it ?
By being offered there in due circumstances, by a right priest, in a right manner; the gft received a kind of adherent holiness from the altar. Whereas before it was a common beast, like the rest of the flock or fold; now it became hallowed, it had a peculiar worth and value put upon it The Lord did own it as his, and accept of it for atonement. So Christ, by his merit and mediation, sanctifies all our gifts, puts a worth and value on them before God. As they come from us they are worth nothing, Eph. i. 6. Therefore, in all our performances, as we must look to him as our alone temple, so wo must present all upon him as our alone altar, 1 Pet ii. 5. Heb. xiii. 15. The voice from heaven testified. Matt. iii. 17; xvii. 5. *' In whom" —not only with whom—" I am well pleased.''
3. They that served at the altar did eat of the altar; — others have no right to eat. But we have; we that hold fast our profession stedfast. Compare 1 Cor. ix. 13; X. 18. When a beast was offered, unless it were a burnt-offering, wherein God had all, God had one part, the priests another, and the offerer another. Some think they are called peace-offerings because all these three did agree peaceably so to divide.
The offerer with his part did make a feast for his friends, and they did eat together.
The priest with his part maintained his family.
God's part was burnt upon the altar.
our altar is Christ: the same is also our sacrifice. Of him we have all a right to eat, and may each of us take our part in him, and be refreshed and nourished by him if we will. But multitudes ivill not eat, thatis» will not believe in him; for eating is believing, John vi. 53, M. By faith we make his death, and sufferings, and resurrection, and in- Thia illustrioua prelate was promoted to a bishopric in 1490, tercession our own, applying it to ourselves as we do the meat when we eat it. To this we invite all, but most make excuses. Matt. xxii. O, be yet persuaded. Consider, all other things are not food for you, Isa. iv. 1,2. This is excellent food, none in the world fare better, than those that eat of this altar. It is most excellent fare, and great plenty of it. This is true also of the Lord's supper, in the nature and design of it; it is a feast upon a sacrifice. Christ is not sacrificed there, as the papists say, who therefore call it the sacrament of the altar, and him a prop priest that administers it He was sacrificed once for all; (awhile ago, to symbolize with them, some would needs have the communion table in churches set altar-wise;) but there he feasts his family and friends upon the sacrifice, that is, his body and blood, and they are welcome. Cant v. I. But multitudes refuse to be his guests. They choose rather to serve the tabernacle, nay worse, to serve their sins, their humours, their prejudices. They will repent it one day.—^The Jews prefer Moses, therefore as yet they have no right to eat.—As the nncircum-cised had no right to the passover, so the unbaptissed have none to the supper.
II. What are the peculiar properties of this altar?
1. It is the alone altar; besides it there is no other. Saints and angels are no altars for us; our own righteousness is not; nay, God's mercy, out of Christ, is not. None but Christ, none but Christ.
2. It is the appointed altar, appointed of the Father. He reared it, therefore there is ground of hope that he will accept us, if we come to him in this way, which is his own way.—Jeroboam's altar and Ahaz*s altar were their own, not God's, therefore they were rejected.
3. It is a living altar. Other altars, as temples, were dead things, made of dead materials; but this lives, and lives for ever.
4. It is a lasting altar ; after it there is to be no other. It needs no repairing, as other altars do.
III. The application.
Exhortation to all; to renounce all other, and to make Christ alone your altar, that is, in all your addresses to God to look at him alone for acceptance, Col. iii. 17. '^ And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying. Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months," Rcv.^xi. 1,2. Bishop Usher* expounds this of two sorts of people bearing the Christian name. Some that worship in the outer court And some in the temple ; at the altar: that is, some in the spirit rejoicing in Christ Jesus; others, in a formal, slighty, Christless way. and in iflK was made Archbishop of Annagh. He died in 165ft. no APPENDIX.
—These are left out, to be trodden onder foot by the Gentiles; others are measured, to be the Lord's marked, sealed, saved remnant.—O then see to this.
SERMON XL.
CHRIST IS OUR ALL.
Colo SSI ANS iii. 11. latter part. But Cltrist is all and in all.
You have had an account of thirty-nine things, which Jesus Christ is made of God to us—foundation, food, root, raiment, head, hope, refuge, righteousness, light, life, peace, passover, portion, propitiation, freedom, fountain, wisdom, way, ensign, example, door, dew, sun, shield, strength,song, born, honour, sanctification, supply, resurrection, redemption, lesson, ladder, truth, treasure, temple, ark, and altar. Now, to what purpose is it to multiply more particulars ? I am this day, from this text, to show you, he is our all; or, as the apostle expresses it, our all in all. Twice, and but twice, is this phrase found in all the Bible; here, and in 1 Cor. xv. 28. Here, it is spoken of Christ, what he is in this world; there, of God the Father, what he will be to us in theother world,—our complete happiness alone, without any other person or thing to help.—And the one follows upon the other. If Christ be all in all with us now, the Father will be all in all to us to eternity;—else not.
DocT. That Jesus Christ is a Christian's all, or, his all in all.
There are two other Scripture phrases to the same purpose,— The root of the matter. Job xix. 28. and The one thing needful, Luke x. 42. He alone is sufficient, himself without any other, to make us happy, and without him nothing else can do it.
What is a sick man's all in all ? A physician.—A condemned man's? A pardon.—A captive's? A ransom.—A hungry man's? Food.—A thirsty man's? Drink.—A man's in debt? A surety.—^This, in all respects, is our condition, and all this be is to us.
Show, I. Wherein Jesus Christ is all in all.
II. What we learn from it.
I. Wherein is the Lord Jesus Christ all in all ? He is so to all persons—whether Jew, Greek, Barbarian; no advantage, no disadvantage. Arc they in Christ, learned or unlearned, it is all alike. And he is so in all things.
1. In respect of the benefits we receive from him, and by him, and through him.
(1.) Jesus Christ is all in all in election, Eph. 1.4. He hath chosen us in him, in him as our head. The free grace and love of God is the bead of election.
God did, therefore, choose as, because be did lof€ us; and he did therefore love ns, because be would love us. No other reason can be given, John iii. 16. Deut. vii. 7,8. But the head of the elect is Christ. God the Father gave them to him to be his bod>, and him to them to be their head. But for him, and his undertaking for us, there had been no such thing as electing of us.
We are chosen to be conformed to him Rom. Tiii. 29. that being made partakers of his image and likeness, we might be loved of the Father. There is reason, therefore, to love him above all.
(2.) He is all in all in creation. But for him the world had never been; we ourselves had ne Ter been. We owe our being to him, John i. 3. Heb. i. 2. Young men arfe exhorted, Eccl. xii. 1. to remember their Crealor—their Creator is Jesus Christ. We are all exhorted, I Pet. iv. 19. to commit our son Is to him as unto a faithful Creator. Having made them, he will look after them.
(3.) He is all in all in providences; nniversaJ, to all; special, to his church; particular, to ourselves, John T. 22. He alone hath the ordering of all events that are concerning us. What pleases him, that he doth. If he be for us, it matters not who is against us.
(4.) He is all in all in redemption. He alone is the Redeemer, and there is no other but he; be paid the price alone; there are no joint purchasers witli him, for the satisfying of God's justice. He fought the field alone with the devil, whose captives we were, and by destroying him, he rescued us, I Tim. ii. a (6.) He is all in all in conversion. When the fulness of time is come that a poor soul is to be broaght home to GtMi, whose work is it, who manages it! Not the man himself for himself. How shcmld be ? He is dead in trespasses and sins. Not the minister; he is the tool, the instrument, I Cor. iiL 6, 7. It is only the blessed Jesus, by his Holy Spirit. He is all in all in the work of conviction, and illumination, and humiliation; he opens the ^es, and he softens the heart, taking the stone away, and turning it into flesh.
(6.) He is all in all in justification. Who was ever justified without him ? His rigbteoos Dess is it alone wherein we appear before God—are acquitted, accepted. There is not a sin pardoned but for his racnt sake. His name is the Lord our riphiecwuness, Jer. xxiii. 6.1 Cor. i. 30—^he Is mtide righteousness. Tbe quarrel between us and God is taken ap by bim alone; he is our peace, and be our propitiatios, and he our advocate, i John ii. 2.
Sure, faith is all in all, Rom. t. 1.
If there were no Christ, there would be no faitb.
(7.) He is all in all in consolation. The Spirit who is the comforter, is of his sending, John xiv. 16—18. And how doth the Spirit comfort, hot br telling the soul that Christ is ours. Say that, sod you say enough.
WHAT CHRIST IS MADE TO BELIEVERS.
Ill
(8.) He is all in all in presenralion, Jude I. Wc are not our own preservers, neither do we presen'e one another. He alone keeps us, keeps usfromfail-inff. Judo 24. from falling away; from being tempted, from being overcome by temptation. Peter's faith had certainly failed, but for his praying for him, Luke xxii. 30, 31.
(9.) He is all in all for teaching. He is the best teacher, John iii. 2. Mlitt. xi. 29.
(10.) He is all in all for strength. If he be our arm, for doing—our back, for bearing—we can do, we can bear, all things.
01-) He is all in all at death. There is no dying safely without him, without an interest in him. Wc shall certainly perish in that Jordan if he do not part the waters, and make a lane for us to go through, Ps. xxiii. 4. Never fear to look death in the face, if Christ be thine. There is no dying comfortably without him. It is he alone that takes the sting out, I Cor. xv. 55,56. This is the cordial of cordials in a dying hour. '' The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin," (1 John i. 7.) says one good man; " There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit," (Rom. viii. 1.) says another. Even those that will not own him for their all in all living, will acknowledge him so dying: then, None but Christ, none but Christ.
(12.) He will be all in all at judgment. That is all in all to a man then, that will appear for him, and plead his cause, and bring him off. Now> that the blessed Jesus doth for those who are his.
He is the judge ; the absolution must come out of his mouth.
He is the advocate, to plead on our behalf.—This is one of those for whom I shed my blood ; be hath loved me and owned me, and now I will love him, and own him.
He is our plea also; our best plea, our only plea. What canst thou say, sinner, why sentence of condemnation should not pass upon thee ? This I have to say, Christ hath died for me, yea, rather, is risen again. But so will every one say: what proof is there of this I I have accepted of htm, believed in him, yielded myself to him, so have not others. Now if this must be our plea then, let it be our plea now, renouncing all others.
(13.) He will be all in all to eternity. What is the heaven of heaven but to be with Jesus ? Phil. i. 33.—in the vision and fruition of him, to behold his glory, and to partake with him in it ? For this he prayed, John xvii. 24. As if he himself could not be well there without us. To be sure we cannot without him.
2. In respect of duty to be done to him. As he alone is our Alpha, the beginning, the first, from * If you know Christ it is enough, if you are igborant of other tliingiL—If you are unacquainted with Chriafc, it b nothing if you whom all comes; so he alone is our Omega, the last, to whom all tends.
(I.) He is all in all to be known. Paul thought him so, and tells us as much for our imitation, I Cor. ii. 2. Phil. iii. 8—10. The understanding part of a man can find no solid satisfaction in the study of any thing else without him, but in him it is abundantly to be found.
Si Christum noscis, satis est si csetera nescis. Si Christum nescis, nihil est si caetera noscis."*^
In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," Col. ii. 3. that is, not only as the subject, with whom it is, but as the object, about whom it is, conversant.
(2.) He is all in all to be chosen. He is not only the truest truth, but the best good. Nothing we can name is so worthy of our choice as he is. Creatures are, all of them, jointly and severally, but partial good: each one of them good for someone thing and no more; food will not clothe us; clothes will not feed us; but, lo, here is a universal good, good for every thing. Is not this the Christ ? All in all for food ; all in all for clothing.
(3.) He is all in all to be loved. It is one of the titles that the spouse gives him in the book of Canticles, c/i. i. 7. O thou whom my toul loveth! and David, Fs. 1 xxiii. 25. There arc many persons and many things that our love is closing with, and running out upon, but I dare say none of them all deserves it as the blessed Jesus doth. There is no danger of thy over-loving him.—Love him with all thy heart, soul, mind, might, and he deserves it, both upon the account of his loveliness in himself, and his lovingness to us, Ps. xlv. 2.1 John iv. 19.
(4.) He is all in all to be desired. It is one of the names given him, The desire of all nations, Hag. ii. 7. that is, worthy to be desired by all; though actually desired but by very few. What say ye bre> thren, is your desire towards him ? But what kind of desire is it ? Warm desire; hearty, lively desire ; like that of the hunted stag after the water-brooks, or the gaping earth after the rain ? Can ye say, with the church, " The desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee?" Isa. xxvi. 8. There is good reason why it should be so.
(5.) He is all in all to be delighted in, Phil. iii. 3. He is to be made our song, the head, the gladness, of our joy. Rejoice wc may in the good things that God gives us; he is angry if we do not, Deut. xxviii. 47. but it must be with trembling, Ps. ii. 11. There is no trembling required here; we may let forth the utmost strength of our souls when wc are solacing ourselves in him.
(6.) He is all in all to be trusted. As the strength know every thing else.
APPENDIX. of joy may be laid oat on him, so the strength of faith and hope; and therefore of joy, because of faith and hope. He never failed any that put their trust in him, for he ia faithful and true ; in him all the promises of God are yea, and in him amen, 2 Cor. i. 20. He is all in all in the promises. Take any one, either concerning the life that now is, or that Mrhicb is to come, and act faith upon it, according as it is, and try if it do not prove as I say.
(7.) He is all in all to be thought on. He is the most excellent, lovely, amiable, sweet, comfortable object that our thoughts can possibly expatiate upon. " How precious," says the Psalmist, •* are thy thoughts unto me, O God," Ps. cxxxix. 17. The covetous man's money is all In all with him, to employ his thoughts about; the ambitious man's honour, and the sweet of it, as Haman; and the voluptuous man's sports and recreations; but the godly man says of Christ—He is my all in all.
(8.) He is all in all to be followed, as our pattern for imitation. We have before us a whole cloud of witnesses, but none like Christ, to be absolutely rested in, as a pattern, and sampler. He is a copy without a blot, Eph. v. 1, 2. Heb. xii. 2.
(9.) He is all in all to be preached, 2 Cor. iv. 5. And certainly it is the best preaching, the most affecting, the most edifying, the most saving. To read or hear a sermon, by a Christian minister, before a Christian congregation, and Christ not once named from the beginning to the end, how absurd is it! And yet too many such there are! Tell it not in Gath. How unlike herein to blessed Paul, who did breathe Christ in all his sermons.
(10.) He is all in all in the Scriptures. When you take your Bibles in hand to read a chapter, and have read it, reflect when yon have done; and say. What is there of Christ here ? He is the treasure in that field, the marrow in that bone, the manna in that dew, the diamond in that ring, the milk in that breast, John v. 39.
(11.) He is all in all in the sacraments. What is baptism without Christ? An insignificant ceremony; a laver without water. His blood for justification, and his Spirit for sanctification, are the main in that ordinance, 1 Pet. iii. 21. What is the Lord's supper without Christ? A table without meat, or drink. O take heed of Christless sacraments, not only the bread of the Lord, but the Lord the bread, should we press after.
(12.) He is all in all in sabbaths. The day is his, it bears his name; and yet how many come and go, and Christ is not once thought of.
(13.) He is all in all in praying. A Christless prayer is of as little worth as any of the other. As when we pray in our own strength, and not by the help of the Spirit of the Son;—^and when we rely upon any thing but him, and his merit, and mediation; either for acceptance, or an answer.
II. What improvement are we to make of ik\* subject ?
1. For discovery. Here is a mark whereby to trr ourselves—What think ye of Christ ?
2. For reproof and admonition—^to fliose to wboia Jesus Christ is nothing at all.
3. For exhortation to all—to learn him—to Hie on him.
SERMON XLI.
CHRIST IS OUR ALL. (Continned.}
CoL. iii. 11. latter part.
Christ ii all, attd in all.
My brethren, it is now about eleven months sidmI began to show you what Jesus Christ is made of God to us in forty particulars. Some who were here thea and since, are gone now into etemitj, while we an yet alive before the Lord, within bearing of this joyful sound. That which the whole rans into, as die sum total, is this—That Jesus Christ is oar all in ail Prove this, and there needs no more proving. lis-prove this, and we improve all. Now to prove it was the work of the last, to improve it ia to be tbe work of this, sabbath.
The improvement we are to make, by way of inference from all that hath been said, is this: I. It should put us upon solemn and aenoas self-examination. And I am glad it proves to be a sacrament day, because of the suitableness of that doty by way of preparation for that ordinance, 1 Cor. xi. 28. I hope you have done it already, for fear of the worst: if not, do it yet. For this once, shall / do it ? Shall 7 put the question, and will yon make the answer ? not outwardly, with the voice, but inwardly, in your own consciences, as before the Lord. We shall be examined for certain shortly, in anotber manner, by another examiner. Doing it well nov may prevent doing it then, for *' if we would jodf ourselves, we should not be judged,'' 1 Cor. xi. 31. The thing to be inquired after is,—^Whether Jesos Chnst be our all or no, our all in all ? Would you know ? Look within. Inquire,
1. Have ye renounced all other things for joor all, and have ye received him to be yoar all. TliL« must be; God hath so ordered it. The terms are so laid; there is no remedy. If we look for any otli«r we must seek another gospel. Now, Is the renouncing act done ? Have ye seen every thing else, besides Christ, to be so far from beiiif likely to make an all for you, that it is even jost nothing at all ? and, therefore, have ye disowned, disclaimed it, saying, This is no portion for me. bo propitiation for me, and so of the rest ? Three thiop
WHAT CHRIST IS MADE TO BELIEVERS. are to be thas renounced—the dei], the world, and the flesh ; likewise, oar sins—oor own righteousness—and all oor worldly possession. Away with them. Two of these, the two first, God doth call for; and the third we must be willing to part with, if he should; else, how can Christ be said to be t>ur all?
Is the receiving act done ? Have ye heartily closed with the gospel offer, and taken Christ as your all ? I do not mean in word and tongue only, for that will not do, but in deed and truth, inwardly, heartily ? The hand is faith, John i. 12. I do not ask whether it were not a trembling hand, whether it were not done with some difficulty, as a thing against the grain; but whether it be done, really and truly done?
2. It may be known by the value we put upon him, and by the daily use we make of him.
That which is our all we esteem and prize above any thing else, let it be what it will. It is uppermost with us; it hath the pre-eminence. Now what say ye, brethren ? Is Christ uppermost with you ? Hath he in all things the pre-eminence? Col. i. 18. I have often showed you there is reason he should. He best deserves it, Ps. xlv. 2. It is the Father'^ will he should have it, John v. 23. And, if he shafl not be uppermost, he will be nothing. Either he will be in the throne or not at all. It is said there was a motion made in the senate at Rome, that Jesos Christ might be taken in among the rest of their gods; answer was made, No: because if he were one he must be all; they must put away all the rest; he would be partner with none of them. The poor, low, mean thoughts that many people have of Christ, is a clear argument that he is far from being their all; they heed him not, neither his friendship nor his fellowship.
That which is our all we make use of daily, upon all occasions wherein it may be advantageous to us, A potion, a balsam, a friend, we so use. If we want any thing, our trust is to it, our reliance is on it. Now is Christ made use of by us daily, as our foundation to build on, our food to feed on, our refuge to flee to, our righteousness to rest in, our wisdom to guide us, our way to walk in, our lesson to learn, our ladder to climb by, our temple to look towards when we pray, our treasure to have recourse to when we want any thing, our ark to run into when the deluge threatens, our altar to offer all our gifts on? If he be not all this to us, who is, what is ? We must have it somewhere. It is all one to have no Christ, as to make no use of him.
3. It may be known by our concernedness for him, and carriage towards him.
Concernedness for him. That which is a man*s all he is careful to keep, cautious not to lose, Job ii. 4. The reason is, because his life is his all; when that is gone, all is gone with him. Now is Christ our life ? Shall skin for skin, or skin after skin, and all we have, go for him, to get him, to keep him ? What is his name, and honour, and glory, and gospel, and day, and book, and people, and ordinances to us ? Are they all precious, more precious than thousands of gold and silver? If it go well with them, can we rejoice, and grieve if it be otherwise ? It was so with David, as to ordinances, Ps. Ixxxiv. 10. and as to his church and people, Ps. cxxxvii. 5, 6. Never call Christ thy all unless this be so. It may be known also by our Carriage towards him. That which is a man's all he loves, delights in, 'is pleased and satisfied with. Is it so with thy soul towards Christ? Ps. Ixxiii. 25. Dost thou love him above all ? Are thy desires towards him, thy delight in him? Is he the head, the gladness, of thy joy ? Dost thou see him to be enough for thee, and canst thou say, " O God, thou art my God ; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee—to see thy power and glory. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness," Ps. Ixiii. 1,2,5.—satisfied; None but Christ, none but Christ. Now by these marks we may try, if we will be faithful to our souls, whether Christ be made all this to us, or no, in these forty things which ye have heard of; that is, whether we be in Christ Jesus, 1 Cor. i. 30.—whether we be true believers; whether we be for heaven or no ? I beseech yon, be not unwilling to come to the touchstone : once well done and it is done for ever.
II. Here is ground for sharp reproof to those to whom other things are all in all, and Christ is no-tliing at all.
Are there any such ? Certainly there are. But are there any such here ? I wish there may not be. Why, who are they ? They are of several sorts.
1. With the Jews to this day Moses is all in all. They are altogether for the ceremonial law, not believing that the Messiah is come, and hath put an end to it. Their condition is sad, John viii. 24. It is our duty to pity and pray for them. There were, it seems, among the Christians, some that were for both Christ and Moses too ; but that would not do. Gal. V. 2—4. Those among ourselves with whom a pompous worship is all in all, are too like them.
2. With the papists, in matters of faith, the church is all in all. They believe as the church believes, though what that is they know hot. They practise as the church enjoins, without inquiring— is it agreeable to the mind and will of him that is the King of the church ? All for the mother, no matter for the Father: The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these, Jer. vii. 4. When Christ sent forth his apostles, their commission was not. Go teach what the church commands, but what Jesus commands. There are those who please themselves with drinking healths to the church.
APPENDIX.
3. With the same people, in matters of devotion, the Virgin Mary is all in all. They go on pilgrimage to her shrines; they vow to her; pray to her. For one chapel and altar that Christ hath, she hath twenty, forty. For one Pater noster there are ten Ave Maiy*s. They call her, qaeen of heaven, gate of glory, fountain of mercy, mother of all grace; their saviourcss, mediatress, advocatress. In the Psalm where God and Lord is, they put Lady, and apply all the passages to her blasphemously; our Lady's psalter. They call to her to command her Son to do what they would have him to do. We are told, at Diep, in Normandy, there is an image of our Lady with a rod in her hand, to correct her Son if he refused her.
4. With the same people, in matters of power and supremacy, St. Peter is all in all. The popes call themselves the successors of St. Peter. If in any thing, it is in denying his Master, and in cutting off the ear of Malchus with his sword. Their church lands they call the patrimony of St. Peter; they count him the rock upon which their church is built, as if he were the foundation, not Christ. God deliver me from that church that is so founded. When the time of its fall comes, it will appear it was sand-built, not rock*built.
5. With some the light within is all in all. It is so For guidance and direction. As it dictates they say we are to do; without trying by the written word, whereas— ** To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no tight in them,*' Isa. viii. 20. Time hath been, said Paul, ** I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth," Acts xxvi. 9.—and it is said, it shall be again, John xvi. 2. Also, For justification and salvation. Some have said they expect it not by a Christ crucified at Jerusalem, but by obedience to the light within. By which I am well assured they will never have it. Acts iv. 12. We deny not a light within, but we deny its sufficiency in these two things.
6. With some, and those too many, their own righteousness is all in all. The merit of their own performances, what they are, have, do, suffer; their prayers, tears, alms-deeds, their innocency, and freedom from common pollutions that are in the world through lust, as the Pharisee, Luke xviii. These are the things they trust too; at least, in conjunction and copartnership with Christ. These with a little, to eke, from God's mercy, and Christ's merit—as the old ignorant Jews, Rom. x. 3. No; if this were so, how is Christ all in all ? See the mind that Paul was of, and be like-minded ; '' But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but duns, that I may win Christ, and be found in him," Phil, iii. 7—9.
7. With some carnal pleasures and sensnal delights are all in all. Let them have their fill with these, and they have enough. Wine, and music, and dancing, and mirth,and jollity; sports, and pastimes, and recreations; horses, and hounds, and hawks, and whores; these their hearts are upon—rioting sad drunkenness, (Rom. xiii.) making provision for t flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.—And will this do? In sober sadness tell me, canst thon think thou ait made and maintained for such a purpose? EccLxi. 9. Jam. V. 1,6.
8. With some worldly wealth is all in all. Let them have money enough, and land enough; aad much good may others have with God, and Christ and heaven, with grace enough, and glory enoagfa. Poor creature, what a miserable choice dost thoa make! Prov. xxiii. 5, 1 Tim. vi. 9, 10, 17. See a sad instance of the consequences of this folly. Lake xii. 16—21.
9. With some a thing called reputation is all in all. To have a name amongst men, especially great men ; to be in honour and power, and to have preferment. They will sell God and their aouls to compass it, as one of the popes did to be pope. And what a vain, poor, empty thing is this when they have it—a puff, a bubble! How uncertain! of how short continuance! how many ways exposed!
10. With some, in one word, self is all in all. The great idol of the world is loving self, and seeking self, and pleasing self, and applaading self, Phil. ii. 21. O let us all take warning, and look to it. Our first lesson in Christ's school, is to deny self, Luke ix. 23.
III. Then suffer, I beseech you, a serions word of exhortation; it is to you all, without exception, one or other:
1. To make Christ, Christ, I say, and Christ alone, your all in all.
If you make him so to yourselves, it is the best evidence you can have, that God hath made him so to you. Make him so by a cordial and speedy closing with him, accepting of him as your foundation, food, root Remember the forty things yon have heard explained. I hope you will, though preached to you in a despised bam; nay, a bam which has been cursed and cursed again by such as pass by; but, the curse causeless shall not come. Teach them your children, and when they have learned them, explain them to them as well as yoa can. It will be a means to increase yoar own knowledge. God will make it so, Matt. xxv. 29.
Your baptismal vow binds you to it Into what are ye baptized ? Was it not into Christ ? And did ye not put on Christ? Gal. iii. 27. A Christian, and Christless! how sad it is! A Christian, and Christ
WHAT CHRIST IS MADE TO BELIEVERS. nothing to bim! Is it so with Mahometans ?—with papists? Is the pope notbiog to them?
If Christ be not all in all with yon, he will be nothing at all to yon—for jnstification, salvation.
If Christ be not all in all with you, you are nothing at all to God; only as sounding brass, and a tinkling cymbal;—^your praying is nothing, your repenting is nothing.
2. To walk as those that ha?e made Christ their all.
Circumspectly, watchfully. Learn Paul's lesson— " To me to live is Christ, and to die is gn," Phil, i. 21. *' Whatsoever ye do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him," Col. iii.'lT. Pray, repent, deny yourselves, give alms, suffer reproof; all in his name, strength, merit.
Comfortably, cheerfully. There is cause. Thou art a happy man. All is thine if Christ be thy all; '* Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the yines: the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation, Hab. iii. 17,18. " Christ is all, and in all."
THE END.
STEREOTYPED AND PRINI'ED BY J. R. AND C. CHILOS.
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