Sermon XII (continued, part 3)
" ings, and lightnings, and earthquakes, and the ſeven angels, " whichhad theſeven trumpets, prepared themſelves to ſound." Theprayer ofa ſingle ſaint is ſometimes followed withwonderful effects, Pfal. xviii. 6, 7. " In my diſtreſs I called upon the " Lord, and cried unto my God: heheard my voice out of his
" temple, and mycrycame before him,even into his ears : then " theearth ſhook and trembled; the foundation alſo of the hills " moved and were ſhaken,becauſe he was wroth :" what then canathundering legion of ſuch praying fouts do ? It was ſaid of Luther, Iſte vir potuit cum Deoquicquidvoluit thatmancould have of God what he would ; his enemies felt the weight of his prayers, and the church of God reaped the benefits thereof.
The queeen of Scots profeſſed, ſhe was more afraidofthe prayers ofMr. Knox *, thanofan armyoften thousandmen : theſe were mighty wrestlers with God, however contemned and vilified among their enemies. There will atime come, when God will hear the prayersofhis people, whoarecontinually cryinginhis ears, How long? Lord, how long ?
Infer. 3. Let no believer be dejected at the contempts and flightings of men, so long as they stand in the grace andfavour of God. It is the lot of the beſt men to have the worlt uſage in the world: thoſe of whom the world was not worthy, were not thought worthy to live in the world, Heb. xi. 38. Paul andhis companions were men of choice and excellent ſpirits ; yet faith he, 1 Cor. iv. 12. " Being defamed, we intreat; 66 we aremade as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring " of all things unto this day." They are words ſignifyingthe baſeſt, moſt contemptible, and abhorred things among men. How are heaven and earth divided in their judgments and eſtimations of the faints ? Thoſe whom men call filth_and dirt, God calls a peculiar treaſure, a crown of glory, a royal diadem. But trouble not thyself, believer, for the unjuſt cenfures of theblind world; they ſpeak evil of the things they know not: "He that is ſpiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself
" isjudged of no man," 1 Cor. ii. 14. You can difcern the earthlineſs and baſeneſs of their ſpirits, they want a faculty to difcerntheexcellency and choiceneſs of your ſpirits : hethat carriesadark lanterninthenight,candifcernhim thatcomes against him, andyet isnot difcerned by him. A courtier regards not a
Jacobus Songius, the Sorbonnedoctor, who wrotethe lives of Luther, Knox and Calvin, ſpeaks as if the devil had hired his pen to abuſe thoſe precious fervants of Chrift.
SERM . XVII. 377 The Method of Grace. light in the country, ſo long as he hath theear and favour of hisprince.
Infer. 4. Never let believers fear the want of any good thing neceffaryfor them in this world. The favourof God is the fountaie of all bleſſings, proviſions, protections, even of all that you need. He hath promised that he will withhold no good thing from them that walk uprightly, Pfal. lxxxiv. 11. He that is bountiful to his enemies will not withhold what is good from his friends. The favour of God will not only ſupply your needs, but protect your perſons, Pfal. v. 12. " Thou wilt bleſs
" the righteous, with favour wilt thou compaſs him as with a " ſhield."
Infer. 5. Hence alſo it follows, that thefins ofbelievers are very piercing things to the heart of God. The unkindness ofthoſe whom hehathreceived into his very boſom, upon whom he hath
his ſpecial favour and delight, who are more obliged to him than all the people of the earth beſide, O this wounds the very heart of God. What a melting expoftulation was that which the Lord uſed with David, 2 Sam. xii. 7, 8. " I anointed thee " king over Ifrael, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul, " and I gave thee thy maſter's houſe, and thy maſter's wives
" into thy boſom, and gave thee the houſe of Ifrael and Judah, " and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given " unto thee fuch and ſuch things : wherefore haft thou defpiſedthe commandment of the Lord ?" But reader, if thou be a reconciled perſon, a favourite with God, and haft grieved himbyany eminent tranfgreffion, how ſhould it melt thy heart tohear the Lord thus expoftulatingwith thee: I delivered thee out of the hand of Satan ; I gave thee into theboſom of Chrift ;
I have pardoned untothee millions of fins ; Ihave beſtowedupon thee the riches of mercy; my favour hath made thee great ; and, as if all this were too little, I have prepared heaven for thee : for which of all theſe favours doſt thou thûs requite me ?
Infer. 6. How precious should Jesus Christ be to believers, by whose blood they are ingratiatedwith God, andby whoſe interceffion theyare, andſhallfor ever be continued in hisfavour? When the apoſtle mentions the believers tranflation, from the fad
to the bleſſed privileged ſtate of grace, ſee what atitle he beſtows upon Jeſus Chriſt, the purchaser of that privilege, callinghim the dear Son, Col. i. 13. Not onlydear to God, but exceeding dear to believers alfo. Chriſt is the favourite in heaven, to him you owe all the preferment there : Take away Chrift, and you have no ground on which to ſtand one
VOL. II. Ccc
378 The Method of Grace. SERM . XVII.
minute inthe favour of God. O then let Jeſus Chriſt, the foun tain of your honour, be alſo the object of your love and praiſe.
Infer. 7. Eftimate by this, thestate and condition ofa deserted faint, uponwhom the favour of Godis ecliſped. If the favour of God be better than life, the hiding ofit from a gracious foul muſt be more bitter than death : Deferted ſaints have reaſon to take the firſt place among all the mourners inthe world : The darkneſs before converfion had, indeed, more danger, but this hath more of trouble. Darkness after light is diſmal darkness. Since therefore the caſe is ſoſad, let your preventingcarebe the more ; grieve not the good Spirit of God,you prepare but for your owngrief in fo doing.
Infer. 8. Lastly, Let this perfuade all men toaccept Jefus Christ, as ever they expect to be accepted with the Lord themselves. It is a fearful cafe, for a man's perſon, and duties to be rejected of God; to cry and not be heard: And much more terrible tobe deniedaudience in the greatandterribleday. Yet, as ſure as the fcriptures are the fealed and faithful ſayings of God, this is no more thanwhat every Chriſtleſs perſon muſt expect in that day, Mat. vii. 22. Luke xiii. 26. trace the hiſtory of all times, even ashigh as Abel, andyou ſhall find that none but I believers did ever find acceptance with God; all experience confirms this great truth, that they that are in thefleſb cannot pleaſe God.
Reader, if this be thy condition, let me beg thee to ponderthe miferyofit inafew fad thoughts .
Confider how fad it isto be rejected of God, and forſaken by all creatures at once; what a day of ſtraits thy dying day is like tobe, when heaven and earth ſhall caſt thee out together. Be affured whatever thyvain hopes for the prefent quiet thee withal, this must be thy cafe, the door of mercy will be ſhut against thee, no man comethto the Father but by Chrift. Sad was the caſe of Saul, when he told Samuel, " the Philistines
" make war against me, and God is departed from me, " 1 Sam. xxviii. 15. The faints will have boldness in the day ofjudg ment, I John iv. 17. But thou wilt be a confounded Man; there is yet, bleffed be the God of mercy, acapacity and opportunity of reconciliation, 2 Cor. v. 19. Ifa. xxvii. 5. But this canbeofno long continuance. O therefore, by all the regard and love you have for the everlasting welfare ofyourown fouls, come to Chriſt ; embrace Chriſt in the offers ofthegoſpel, that youmaybemade accepted in the beloved.
Ifany one deſires to know the willof God, let himbe a friend of God. Aug.
SERM . XVIII . 379 The Method of Grace. SERMON XVIII.
The Liberty of Believers, opened and ſtated.
JOHN viii. 36. If the Son thereforeshall make youfree, yeshall befree indeed. FROM the 30th verſe of this chapter unto my text, you have an account of the different effects which the words of Chriſthad upon the hearts of his hearers : Some believed, ver. 30. theſe he encourageth tocontinue inhis word, ver. 31. giving them this encouragement, ver. 32. " Ye ſhall know the truth, " and the truth ſhall makeyou free." Hereat the unbelieving Jews take offence, and commence a quarrel with him, ver. 33. " We be Abraham's feed, and were never in bondage to any man." We are ofno ſlaviſh extraction ; the blood of Abraham runs in our veins. This ſcornful boast of the proud Jews, Chrift confutes, ver. 34.where he distinguiſhethon atwofoldbondage ; one tomen, another to fin ; one civil, another ſpiritual : Whofoever committeth fin is the ſervant of fin, then tells them, ver.
36. " The ſervant abideth not in the houſe for ever, but the Son " abideth for ever." Wherein he intimateth two great truths, viz. That the ſervants, and flaves of fin may, for a time, enjoy the external privileges of the houſe, or church of God ; but itwould notbe long before the master of the houſe will turn them out of door: But if they were once the adopted children of God, then they ſhould abide in the houſe for ever. And this privilege is only to be had by their believing in, and union with the natural Son of God, Jeſus Chrift : Which brings us fairly to the text ; " If the Son therefore ſhall make you free, ye ſhallbe freeindeed." Inwhich words we have two parts ; 66
1. A fupppofition. 2. A conceffion . First, A fuppofition, " If the Son therefore ſhall make you " free," q. d. The womb of nature caſtyou forth into the world viz. { ina ſtate of bondage; inthat ſtate you have lived all your days ; ſervants to fin; flaves to your luſts; yet freedom is tobe obtained: And this freedom is the prerogative belonging to the Son of God to beſtow : " If the Son ſhall make you free."
Secondly, Chriſt's conceffion upon this ſuppoſition, "Then " ſhallye be free indeed," (i. e.) you (nallhave a real freedom, anexcellent, andeverlasting freedom: No conceit only, as that
Ccc 2
380 The Method of Grace. SERM . XVIII . which you now boaſt of is : If ever therefore you will be free men indeed, believe in me. Hencenote, Doct. That interest in Chriſt fets the foul at liberty from all that bondage whereinto it wasfubje&ted in its naturalftate. Believers are the children of the new covenant, the Denizons of Jerufalem which is above, which is free, and the mother of them all, Gal. iv. 26. The glorious liberty, viz. that which is fpiritual and eternal, is the liberty of the children of God, Rom. viii. 21. Chrift and none but Chriſt delivers his people out of the hand of their enemies, Luke i. 74.
In the doctrinal part of this point, I muſt ſhew you, First, What believers are not freed from by Jeſus Chriſt in thisworld.
Secondly, What that bondage is from which every believer is freedby Chriſt .
Thirdly, What kind of freedom that is which commences uponbelieving.
Fourthly, Open the excellency of this ſtate of ſpiritual freedom,
First, What those things are from which believers are not made free in this world : Wemust not think that our fpiritual liberty by Chriſt , preſently brings us into an abfolute liberty, in all reſpects , For,
First, Christ, doth not free blievers from obedience to the moral law : It is true we are no more under it as a covenant for our justification ; but we are, and muſt ſtill be under it, as a rule for our direction . The matter of the moral law is unchangeable, as the natureofgood and evil is, andcannot be aboliſhed except that diſtinction couldbe deſtroyed, Mat. v. 17, 18. The precepts of the law are ſtill urged under the goſpel to enforce duties upon us, Eph. vi. 12. It is therefore a vain diſtinction, invented by Libertines, to ſay it binds us as creatures, not as Chriſtians; or that it binds the unregenerate part, but not the regenerate ; but this is a fure truth, that they who are freed from its penalties, are ſtill under its precepts. Though believers are no inore under its curse, yet they are ſtillunder its conduct : The law fends us to Chriſt tobe justified, and Chriſt ſends us tothe law tobe regulated. Let the heart of every Chriftian join therefore with David's in that holy wiſh, Pfal. cxix. 4, 5.
" Thou haft commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently; " O that my heart were directed to keep thy ſtatutes." It is excellentwhen Chriſtians begin toobey the lawfrom life, which others obey for life; becauſe they are justified, not that they may be justified, It is also excellent whenduties are done in
SERM . XVIII . The Method of Grace. 381 the ſtrength, and for the honour of Chriſt, which is evangelical; and not in our own ſtrength, and for our own ends, which is fervile, and legal obedience : Had Chrift freed us from obedience, ſuch a libertyhad been to our lofs.
Secondly, Chrift hath not freed believers, in this world, from the temptations and affaults of Satan : even thoſe that are freed from his dominion, are not free from his molestation. It is faid indeed, Rom. xvi. 20. "God ſhall ſhortly bruiſe Satan under 66 your feet : " But mean time he hath power to bruiſe, and buffet us by his injections, 2 Cor. xii. 7. He now bruiſeth Chrift's heel, Gen. iii. 15 (i. e.) bruiſeth him in his tempted, and afflicted members : Though he cannot kill them, yet he can, and doth afflict and fright them, by ſhooting his fiery darts of temptation among them, Eph. vi. 16. It is true, when the ſaints are got ſafe into heaven, they are out of gunshot; there is perfect freedom from all temptation. A believer may then fay, O thou enemy, temptations are come to a perpetual end. I amnow arrived there, where none of thy fierydarts can reach me : But this freedom is not yet .
Thirdly, Chriſt hath not yet freed believers, inthis world, from the motions of indwelling Sin: Theſe are continually acting, and infeſting the holiest of men, Rom. vii. 21, 23, 24. Corruptions, like Canaanites, are ſtill left in the land to be thorns in your eyes, and goads inyour fides. Those that boast moſt of freedom from the motions of fin, have moſt cauſe to
themselves ſtill under the dominion of fin. All Chriſt's freemen are troubledwith the famecomplaint: who among them complains not as the apostle did, Rom. vii. 24. " Oh wretched
66 man that I am ! who ſhall deliver me from the body of this " death ?"
Fourthly, Jeſus Chriſt doth not free believers in this world from inward troubles, and exerciſes of foul, upon the account of fin. God may let looſe Satan, and confcience too, in the way of terrible accufations, which may greatly diſtreſs the foul of a believer, and woefully eclipſe the light of God's countenance, and break the peace of their fouls. Job, Heman, and David were all made free by Chriſt, yet each of them hath left upon record his bitter complaint upon this account, Job. vii.
19, 20. Pfal. lxxxviii. 14, 15, 16. Píal. xxxviii. unto ver. 11. Fifthly, Chrift hath not freed believers, in this world, from the rods of affliction. God in giving us our liberty, doth not abridge his own liberty, Pfal. Ixxxix. 32. Allthe children of God are made free, yetwhat ſon is therewhom the father chaftnethnot ? Heb. xii. 8. Exemptionfrom affliction is ſo far from
38,2 The Method of Grace. SERM . XVIII.
being the mark of a freeman, that the apoſtle there makes it themark ofa flave. Bastards not fons, wantthe diſcipline and bleffing of the rod: To be free from affliction would be nobenefit to believers, who receive ſo many benefits by it.
Sixthly, No believer is freed by Chriſt from the stroke of death, though they are all freedfrom the fling of death, Rom. viii. 10. The bodies of believers are under the fame law of mortality with other men, Heb. ix. 27. We must come to the grave aswell as others ; yea, we mustcome toitthrough the fame agonies, pangs, and dolours thatother men do : The foot ofdeath treads as heavyupon the bodies of the redeemed, as of other men. Believers, indeed, are distinguiſhedby mercy from others, but thedistinguiſhing mercy lies not here. Thus you feewhat believers are not freedfrom in this world : If you shall now ſay, what advantage then hath a believer, or what profit is there inregeneration ? I anſwer,
Secondly, Thatbelievers are freed from many great, and fad miſeries, and evils, by Jeſus Chrift, notwithstanding all that hath been faid. For, First, All believers arefreedfrom the vigour, and curse of thelaw: The rigorous yoke of the law is broken offfrom their necks, andthe ſweet andeaſy yoke ofJeſus Chriſt put on, Matth. xi. 28. The law required perfect working, under the pain ofa curfe, Gal. iii. 10. accepted ofno ſhort endeavours ; admitted no repentance ; gave no ſtrength : It is not ſo now, proportionable ſtrength isgiven, Phil. iv. 13. Sincerityis reckoned perfection, Job i. 1. Tranfgreffion brings not under condemnation, Rom. viii. 1. O bleſſed freedom ! when duty be comes delight, and failings hinder not acceptance ! This is one partofthebleſſed freedom of believers.
Secondly, All believers are freed from the guilt of fin; it may trouble, but it cannot condemn them, Rom. viii. 33. The hand-writingwhich was againſt usis cancelledby Chriſt, nailed tohis croſs, Colof. ii. 14. Whenthe fealandhand-writing are torn offfrom thebond, the debtor is made free thereby : Believers are totally freed, Acts xiii. 39. Juſtified from all " things:" And finally freed, John v. 24. " They ſhall never " come into condemnation." O bleſſed freedom ! How ſweet is it to liedown in our beds, yea, inour graves, when guilt ſhall neitherbe ourbed-fellow, nor grave-fellow!
Thirdly, Jeſus Chriſt frees all believers from the dominion, as well as the guilt of fin. " Sin ſhall not have dominion over you, forye are not underthe law, but under grace," Rom . vi. 14. "The law of the Spirit of life which is in ChriftJeſus
SERM . XVIII. The Method of Grace. 383 " hath made me freefrom the law offinanddeath," Rom. viii. 2. Nowwho can eſtimate ſuch a liberty as this ? What flavery, what an intolerable drudgery is the ſervice ofdivers lufts; from all which believers are freed by Chriſt ; not from the refidence, butfromthe reign of fin. It is with finin believers as itwas with those beafts mentioned Dan. vii. 12. "Theyhad their
" dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a " ſeaſon and time."
Fourthly, Jefus Chriſt ſets all believers free from the power of Satan ; in whoſe right they were by nature, Col. i. 13. they are tranſlated from the power ofdarkness into thekingdom of
Chrift. Satan hadthe poffeffion of them, as aman of his own goods; but Chriſt diſpoſſeſſeth that ſtrong man armed, alters the property, and recovers them outof his hand, Luke xi. 21, 22. There are two ways by which Chrift frees believers out of Satan's power and poffeffion ; namely,
1 1. By price. 2. By power. First, By price. The blood of Chriſt purchaſeth believers outofthe hands ofjustice, by satisfying the law for them, which being done, Satan's authority over them falls of course, as the power ofa jailor over the prifoner doth, when he hath a legal diſcharge, Heb. ii. 14. " Foraſmuch then as children are parta- " kers of flesh andblood ; he alſo himſelf took part of the fame,
" that through death he mightdestroy him that had the power " ofdeath, that is, the devil." The cruel tyrant beats, and burdens the poor captive no more after the ranſom is once paid, and he thereby actually freed ; and therefore Chriſt delivers his.
Secondly, By power. Satan is exceeding unwilling to letgo his prey : He is a ſtrong and a malicious enemy : every reſcue, anddeliverance out of his hand, is aglorious effect of the Almighty power of Chriſt, Acts xxvi. 18. 2 Cor. x. 5. How did our Lord Jeſus Chriſt grapple with Satan at his death, and triumphed over him, Col. ii. 15. O glorious ſalvation ! bleſſed liberty of the children of God !
Fifthly, Chrift frees believers from the poisonous ſting and hurtofdeath : Kill us it can, but hurt us itcannot, I Cor xv.
55, 56. " O death ! where is thy ſting ? O grave! where is thy victory ? The ſting ofdeath is fin, and the ſtrength of fin is " the law : But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Chriſt." If there be not hurt, there ſhould be nohorror in death : Itis guilt that arms death, both with its hurting and terrifying power. Todie in ourfins,John viii. 24. To have ourbones full of the fins of ouryouth,which ſmall lie down with us in the duft, Job xx. 11. Tohavedeath,
384 The Method of Grace. SERM. XVIII, like a dragon, pulling a poor guilty creature as a prey into its dreadful den, Pfal. xlix. 14. In this lies thedanger and horror of death : But from death, as a curſe, and from the grave, as a priſon, Chriſt hath ſet believers at liberty, by fubmitting to death in their room, by his victorious refurrection from the grave, as the firſt-born of the dead: death is diſarmed of its hurting power : The death ofbelievers is but a ſleep in Jeſus.
Thirdly, The next thing to be briefly ſpoken to, is the kind and nature of that freedom and liberty purchased, and procured by Chrift for believers .
Now liberty may be confidered two ways ; viz.
2. As facred. 1. As civil. As to civil freedom, or liberty, it belongs not to our preſent buſineſs : Believers, as to their civil capacity, are not freed from the duties they owe to theirſuperiors. Servants, though believers, are fſtill tobe ſubject to their maſters, according to the fleſh, with fear and trembling, Eph. vi. 5. nor from obedience to lawful magiſtrates, whom we are toobey in the Lord, Rom . xii. 1, 4. Religion diffolves not the bonds of civil relations : nor is it tobe ufed as an occaſion to the fleſh, 1 Pet. ii. 16. It is not a carnal, but a fpiritual freedom Chriſt hath purchased for us : And this ſpiritual freedom is again tobe confidered, either as,
1. Inchoate. 2. Confummate. The liberty believers have at preſent is but abeginning liberty; they are freed but in part from their ſpiritual enemies : but it is a growing liberty every day, andwillbe confummate, and complete at last.
To conclude, Chriſtian liberty is either,
1. Privative, or, 2. Poſitive. The libertybelievers are inveſtedwith, isofboth kinds : They are not only freed from many miſeries, burdens anddangers, but alfo inveſted by Jeſus Chriſt with many royal privileges and invaluable immunities.
Fourthly, And this brings us to the fourth and last thing: namely, the properties of this bleſſed freedom which the faints enjoy by Jefus Chriſt ; and, ifwe conſider it duly, it will be found tobe,
First, Awonderful liberty, never enough tobe admired. How could it be imagined that ever thosewho owedunto Godmore than ever they couldpayby theirown eternal ſufferings ; thofe that were under the dreadful curſe, and condemnation of the law, in the power and poffeffion of Satanthe ſtrongman armed; thoſe thatwere boundwith fo many chains in their ſpiritualpri-
their underſtandingbound with ignorance, theirwillswith
SERM . XVIII . The Method of Grace. 385 obſtinacy, their hearts with impenetrable hardness, their affections with athousand bewitching vanities, that flight their ſtate of flavery fomuch, as induſtrioufly to oppoſe all inſtruments and means ofdeliverance ; for fuch perſons to be fet at liberty, notwithſtanding all this, is the wonder ofwonders, and willbe defervedly marvellous in the eyes of believers for ever.
Secondly, The freedom,of believers is a peculiar freedom ; a libertywhich fewobtain; the generalityabiding ſtill in bondage to Satan, who, from the multitude of his ſubjects, is ſtiled the god of this world, 2 Cor. iv. 4. Believers in ſcripture are often called a remnant, which is but a ſmall part of the whole piece : Themore caufe have the people of God toadmire diſtinguiſhing mercy. How many nobles and greatones of the world are but royal flaves to Satan, and their own luſts !
Thirdly, The liberty of believers is a liberty dearly purchaſed by theblood of Chriſt. What that captain ſaid, Acts xxii. 28. " With a great fum obtained I this freedom," may be much more ſaid of the believers freedom: It was not filver orgold ; but the preciousblood of Chriſt that purchaſed it, I Pet. i. 18.
Fourthly, The freedom and liberty of believers is a growing andencreaſing liberty ; they getmore and more out of the power of fin, and nearer ſtill to their complete ſalvation every day, Rom. xiii. 11. Thebody of fin dieth daily in them : they are ſaid to be crucified with Chrift: the ſtrength of ſin abates continually in them, afterthe manner of crucified perſons, who die a flow, but furedeath : And look in whatdegree the power of fin abates, proportionably their ſpiritual liberty encreaſesuponthem.
Fifthly, The freedom of believers isa comfortable freedom : theapoſtle comforts Chriſtians of the lowest rank, poor fervants, with this confideration, 1 Cor. vii. 22. " He that is called inthe " Lord, being a fervant, is the Lord's freeman," q. d. Let notthe meanest of your outward condition, which is a ſtate of ſubjection and dependance, aſtate ofpoverty and contempt, at all troubleyou : you are the Lord's freemen, ofprecious account in his eyes. O it is a comfortable liberty !
Sixthly, and Lastly, It is a perpetual and final freedom; they that are once freed by Chrift, have their manumiffion, and final diſcharge from that ſtate of bondage they were in before : fin
never havedominion over them any more : it may tempt them, and trouble them, but ſhall never more rule andgovern them, Acts xxvi. 18. And thus you fee what a glorious liberty the liberty ofbelievers is .
Theimprovementwhereofwillbe in thefollowing inferences.
Infer. 1. How rational is the Joy of Christians, above the joy VOL. II. Ddd
386 The Method of Grace, SERM . XVIIL of all others in the world? Shall not the captiverejoice inhis recovered liberty ? the very birds of the air (as one obſerves) had rather be at liberty in the woods, though lean and hungry, than in a golden cage with the richest fare : every creature naturally prizes it; none more than believers, who have felt the burden andbondage of corruption : who in the days of their firſt illumination and conviction have poured out manygroans and tears for this mercy. What was ſaidofthe captive people of God in Babylon, excellently ſhadows forth the ftate of God's people under ſpiritual bondage, with theway and manner of their deliverance from it, Zech. ix. 11. " By the blood of the covenant I " have fent forth thy priſoners outof the pit,wherein is no wa- " ter." Believers are delivered by the blood of Chriſt, out of a worſe pit than that of Babylon ; and look, as the tribes in their return from thence were overwhelmed with joy and aftonishment, Pfal. cxxvi. 1, 2. " When the Lord turned again the
66 captivityof Sion, we were like them that dream : Then was " our mouth filledwith laughter, andour tongue with ſinging." Theywere overwhelmed with the ſenſe of the mercy : Soſhould it be with the people of God. It is said, Luke xv. 24. when the prodigal fon (there made the emblem of areturning, converting ſinner) was returned again to his father's houſe, that there was heard muſic and dancing, mirth and feafting inthat house. The angels in heaven rejoicewhen a foul is recovered outof the power of Satan: And ſhall not the recovered foul, immediately concerned in the mercy, greatly rejoice ? Yea, let them rejoice in the Lord, and let no earthly trouble or affliction ever have power to interrupt theirjoy, for a moment, after ſuch a deliverance as this.
Infer. 2. How unreasonable, andwholly inexcusable is the fin ofapostacyfrom Jesus Christ ? Whatis it but for a delivered captive toput his feet again intothe ſhackles; his hands into the manacles ; his neck into the iron yoke, from which he hath been delivered ? 'Tis faid, Mat. xii. 44, 45. " When the un-
" clean ſpirit is gone out of aman, he walketh throughdry places, ſeeking reftand findeth none : Then he faith, I will return into mine houſe from whence I came out ; and when " he is come, he findeth it empty, fwept, and garnished; then
66 goeth he, andtaketh with him ſevenother ſpirits morewicked " thanhimself, andthey enter in anddwell there, and the laſt
" ſtate of that man is worſe than the firſt." Even as a prisoner thathatheſcaped, and isagain recovered, is loaded with double irons. Let the people of Godbe content to run any hazard, endure any difficulties in the wayof religion, rather than return
SERM . XVIII . The Method of Grace. 387 again into their former bondage, to fin and Satan. O Chriſtian! ifever God gave thee a fight, and a ſenſe of the miſery and danger ofthy natural ſtate, ifever thou hast felt the pangs of a labouring, and diſtreſſed confcience, and, after all this, taſted theunspeakable ſweetness of the peace and reſt that are in Chriſt, thou wilt rather chooſe to die ten thousand deaths, than to forfake Chriſt, and go back again into that fad condition.
Infer. 3. How fuitable, and well becoming is a freespirit in believers, to their state of liberty and freedom ? Chrift hath made your condition free, O let the temper and frame of your hearts be free alſo ; do all that youdo for God with a ſpirit of freedom; notby conſtraint, but willingly. Methinks, Chriſtians, the newnature that is in youſhould ſtand for a command, and be inſtead of all arguments that uſe to work upon thehopes, and fears of other men. See how all creatures work according tothe principle of their natures. You need not command a mother to draw forth her breasts toa fucking child ; nature it-
teaches and prompts to that. You need notbid the feaebb and flow at the ſtated hours. O Chriſtian ! why ſhould thy heart need any other argument, than its own ſpiritual inclination, to keep its ſtated times and ſeaſons of communion with God? Let none of God's commandments be grievous to you : letnot thine heart needdragging and forcing to its own benefit and advantage. Whatever you do for God, do it chearfully ; and whatever you fuffer for God, fuffer it chearfully. It was a brave ſpirit which actuated holy Paul, " I am ready, (faith he), not only to be bound, but alſo to die at Jerufalem for the name of the Lord Jeſus," Acts xxi. 13 .
Infer. 4. Let no man wonder at the enmity and oppofition of Satan to the preaching of the gospel: for by the goſpel it is that fouls are recovered out of his power, Acts xxvi. 18. 'Tis the expreſs work of miniſters " to turnmen fromdarkness to light, " and from the power of Satan unto God." Satan(as one faith) is a great and jealous prince : he will never endure tohave liberty proclaimed by the miniſters of Chriſt within his dominions. And, indeed, what is it leſs, when the goſpel is preached in power, but as it were by beat of drum, and found of trumpet, toproclaim liberty, ſpiritual, ſweet, and everlaſtaing liberty, to every foul that is made ſenſible of the bondage of corruption and cruel ſervitude of Satan, and will now come over to Jeſus Chriſt ? Andoh what numbers and multitudes of priſoners have broken looſe from Satan at one proclamation of Chrift, Acts ii. 41. But Satan owes the ſervants of Chriſt a fpite for this, and willbe furetopaythem, ifever theycome within his Ddd 2
388 The Method of Grace. SERM. XIX. reach; perfecution is the geniusofthe gospel, and follows it as the ſhadow doth the body.
Infer. 5. How careful ſhould Chriſtians be to maintain their ſpiritual liberty inall and every point therefore ! " ſtand faft(faith " Paul) in the libertywherewith Chriſt hath made us free, and " be not againintangled in theyoke ofbondage," Gal. v. 1. And again, " Ye are bought with a price,be not ye the ſervants of " men." 'Tis Chriſt's prerogative to preſcribe the rules of his own houſe ; he hath given no mandominion over your faith, 2 Cor. i. 24. Oneman is no ruleto another,but the word of Chrift is arule to all: follownot the holiest of men one ſtep farther thanthey follow Chriſt, 1 Cor. 11. 4.Man is anambitiouscreature, naturallyaffectingdominion; and dominion over themind rather than over the body. To give law to others, feeds pride inhimself: fo far as any man brings the word of Chrift towarrant his injunctions, ſo far we are to obey, andno farther: Chrift is your Lord and Lawgiver.
Inference 6. Lastly, Let this encourage and perfuade ſinners tocome to Chriſt ; for with him is ſweet liberty for poor captives. Oh that you did butknow what a bleſſed ſtate Jeſus Chriſt wouldbringyou into ! " Comeunto me(faith he) ye that " labour and are heavy laden;" and what encouragement doth hegive to comers ? Why this, " Myyoke is eaſy, and my burden " islight." The devil perfuadesyou, that theways ofobedience and ſtrictgodlineſs area perfect bondage; but, ifever God regenerateyou, you will find his ways, " ways of pleasantneſs, and " all his paths peace : you will rejoice inthe way of his com- " mandments as much as in all riches:" you will find the worst work Chrift putsyou about, even fuffering work, ſweeter than all the pleaſures that everyou found in fin. Otherefore open your hearts at the call of thegoſpel : Comeunto Chriſt, thenfhallyou befree indeed.
SERMON ΧΙΧ. The Saints coming home to GOD, by Reconciliation, and Glorification,opened and applied.
PET. iii. 18. For Christ bath oncefufferedforfins, thejustfor the unjust, that hemight bring us to God, HE ſcope of theapostle inthisplace is toprepare, and dayof fuffering. In order to TH fortify Chriftians for a
SERM XIX. The Method of Grace. 389 their chearful fuſtaining whereof, he preſcribeth two excellent rules of mighty uſe for allfuffering Chriſtians .
First, To get a good confcience within them, ver. 16, 17. hicmurus aheneus esto.
Secondly, To ſet the example of Chriſt's ſufferings before them, ver. 18. " For Chriſt hath once fuffered for finners:" the fufferings of Chrift for us, is the great motive engaging Chri ſtians to fuffer chearfully for him.
In the words before us wehave, First, The ſufficiency and fulness of Chriſt's ſufferings intimated in that particle (once) ; Chriſt needs to fuffer no more, having finiſhed and compleated that whole work at once.
Secondly, The meritorious cauſe of the ſufferings of Chrift, andthat is fin, Christ once fufferedforfins; not his own fins, but ours : as it follows in the next clauſe, which is the third thinghere obſervable, viz.
Thirdly, The admirable grace, andunexampled love of Chrift tous finners, the just for the unjust; in which words the fubſtitution of Chriſt in the room and place of finners, the vicegerence of his death is plainly expreſſed. Chriſt died not only noſtro bono, for our good, but alſo noſtro loco, in our ſtead.
Fourthly, Here is alſo the final cauſe, or deſign and ſcope of thefufferings of Chriſt, which was to bring us to God.
Fifthly, Here is alſo the iſſue of the fufferings of Chriſt, which was thedeath of Chriſt in the fleſh, and the quickning of Chriſt after death by the Spirit. Many excellent obſervations arelodged inthe boſom of this ſcripture; all which I must paſs over in filence at this time, and confine mydiſcourſe tothe final cauſe of the sufferings of Chriſt, namely, that he might bring us to God: where the obſervation will be plainly and briefly this.
Doct. That the end of Christ's cursed death, and bitterfufferings, was to bring allthose for whom he died unto God. Inthe explication and preparation of this point for uſe, two things must be ſpokenunto, viz.
1. What Chriſt's bringingus to God imports ? 2. What influence the death of Chriſt hath upon this deſign ofbringing us to God ?
First, What Chriſt's bringing us to God imports ? Andcertainly there be many great and excellentthings contained in this expreſſion: more generally it notes our ſtate of reconciliation, andour ſtate ofglorification. By reconciliation we arebrought nigh to God, Eph. ii. 13. " Ye are made nigh," (i. e. ) reconciled, "by the blood of Chriſt," Heb. xii. 22, 23, we are faid
390 The Method of Grace. " SERM . XIX, tocome to Godthe Judge of all." By reconciliationwe are broughtnigh unto Godnow; byglorificationwe ſhall be brought home to God hereafter, 1 Thef, iv. 17. " We shall be ever " with the Lord." But more particularly this phrafe, "that " he might bring us to God," imports,
First, That the chiefhappiness of manconſiſteth in the enjoyment of God: that the creature hath as neceffarydependance upon God for happiness, as the ſtream hath upon the fountain, or the image in the glaſs upon the face of him that looks into it. Foras the fum of the creatures mifery lies inthis, departfrom me; ſeparation from God is the principal part ofdamnation :
on the contrary, the chief happiness of the creature confifteth inthe enjoyment, andbleſſedviſionof God, 1 John iii. 2. Pfal. xvii. 15. " I ſhall be fatisfiedwhen I awake with thy like- " nefs."
Secondly, It implies man's revolt andapoſtacy from God, Eph. ii. 12. " But now in Chriſt Jeſus, ye who were ſometime afar off, " aremade nigh by the blood of Chriſt." Thoſe whom Chriſt bringeth unto God, were before afar offfrom him, both in ſtate andcondition,and intemperanddiſpoſition: we were loft creatures, andhadno defire to return to God * : The prodigal was ſaid togointo a far country, Luke xv. 30.
Thirdly, Chrift's bringing us to God, implies our inability to return to God of ourſelves : we must bebroughtbackby Chrift, or periſh for ever in a ſtate of feparation from God : the loft
ismade the emblem of the loſt ſinner, Luke xv. 5. The theepreturnsnot tothe fold of itself,but the ſhepherd ſeeks it, finds it, and carries it back uponhis ſhoulders. And the apostle plainlytells us, Rom. v. 6. That when we were withoutftrength (i. e.) anyability to recover, help, or ſave ourſelves,in duetime Chriftdiedfor the ungodly.
Fourthly, Chriſt'sbringing us to God, evidently implies this, that God's unfatisfied juſtice was once the great bar betwixt him and man. Man can have no acceſs to God butby Chrift: Chriſt brings us to God by no other way but the way of fatif factionby hisblood: " He hath fuffered for ſins, thejuſt for " the unjuſt, that he might bring us to God." Better ten thouſand worlds ſhould perish for ever, than God ſhould loſe thehonour of his juſtice, This great obex, orbar to our enjoyment of God, is effectually removedby thedeath of Chrift;
Although the faculties of the foul were not extinguiſhed by the fall,yet their inclination to ſpiritual objects was wholly loft. Zea em. on the image of God.
SERM . XIX. 391 The Method of Graces whereby God's juſtice is not only fully fatisfied, but highly hooured and glorified, Rom. iii. 24. And ſo the way by which we arebrought to Godis again opened(tothe wonder andjoy of allbelievers) bythe blood andſufferings of Chriſt.
Fifthly, and lastly, It ſhews us the peculiar happiness and privilege ofbelievers above all people in the world; theſe only are they which ſhall be brought to God by Jeſus Chriſt in a reconciled ſtate: others, indeed, ſhall be brought to God as a Judge, tobe condemned by him: believers only are brought to God in the Mediator's hand, as a reconciled Father, tobe made bleſſed for ever in the enjoyment of him : every believer is brought ſingly to God at his death, Luke xvi. 22. And all believers ſhall be jointly and ſolemnly preſented to God in the greatday, Col. i. 22. Jude 24. They ſhall be allpreſented faultleſs before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. Now the privilege ofbelievers in that daywill lie indiversthings.
First, Thatthey ſhall be all brought to God together. This There willbe the general aſſembly mentioned, Heb. xii. 22.
a collection of all believers, in all ages of the world, intoone bleſſed aſſembly: they ſhall come from the east, and west, and north, andfouth, and ſhall fit down in the kingdom of God, Luke xiii. 29. O what aglorioustrainwill be ſeen following the Redeemer in that day !
Secondly, As all the faints ſhallbe collected intoone body; ſothey ſhallbe allbrought, or preſented unto God, faultlefs and without blemish, Jude 24. "A glorious church, without ſpot
66 or wrinkle, or any ſuch thing," Eph. v. 27. For this is the general aſſembly of the ſpirits ofjuſt menthat are made perfect, Heb. xii. 23. All fin was perfectly ſeparated fromthem,when deathhad feparated their fouls and bodies.
Thirdly, In this lies the privilege of believers, that as they ſhall be all brought together, and that in a ſtate of abſolute purity, and perfection, ſo they ſhall be all brought to God : they
his face, inthe viſion whereof is " fulness ofjoy, and " at whoſe right-hand are pleaſures for evermore," Pfal. xvi.
11 . The objective bleſſedneſs of the faints conſiſteth in their fruition of God, Pfal. lxxii. 25. To ſee God inhis word and works, is the happiness of the ſaints on earth ; but to see him face to face, willbe the fulness of their bleſſedneſs in heaven,
1 John iii. 2. This is that intuitive, transforming, and ſanctifying viſion, ofwhich the ſcripture frequentlyſpeaks, Pfal. xvii.
15. 1 Cor. xv. 28. Rev. vii. 17. Fourthly, To be brought unto God,muſt needs implya ſtate ofperfect joy, andhighest delight. So ſpeaks the apostle, Jude
392 The Method of Grace. SERM . XIX.
14. Chriſt ſhall preſent,or bringthem to God with exceeding joy. And morefully thejoyofthis day is expreſſed, Pfal. xlv.
15. "Withjoy and rejoicing ſhallthey be brought ; they ſhall " enter into the king's palace." It willbe a day of univerſal joy, when allthe faints are broughthome to God in a perfected
For, 1.God the Father will rejoice when Chriſt brings home that precious number of his elect, whom he redeemed by hisblood : he rejoiceth inthem now, though imperfect, and under many diſtaſteful corruptions and weakneſſes, Zeph. iii. 17. Howmuch morewill herejoiceinthemwhen Chriſt preſents them without fpotor wrinkle to him, Eph. v. 27.
2. Jeſus Chriſt will exceedingly rejoice; it willbe the day of thegladneſs, andfatisfactionofhis heart : for now, and nottill now, he receives his myſtical fulneſs, Col. i. 24. beholds all the bleſſed iſſues of his death, which connotbutgive him unſpeakable contentment, Ifa. liii. 11. "He shall fee of the travail of " his foul, and ſhall be fatisfied."
3. The day in which believers are brought home to God, willbe aday ofunspeakablejoy to the Holy Spirit of God him-
For unto this, allhis fanctifying deſigns, in this world, had reſpect: to this dayhe fealed them: towards this dayhe
up defires, and groanings that cannot be uttered, in their hearts, Eph. iv. 30. Rom. viii. 26. Thus the great and bleſſed perfons, Father, Son, and Spirit, will rejoice in the bringing home of the elect to God. For as it is the greatest joytoaman to see thedeſigns which his heart hath been long projecting, and intently ſet upon, by an orderly conduct, at laftbrought to thehappy iſſue he firſt aimed at ; much more will itbe ſo here: the counſel, andhand ofeach perfon being deeplyconcerned in this bleſſed deſign.
4. The angels of God willrejoice at the bringing homeof believers to him : the ſpirits ofjuſt men made perfect, will be unitedin one general aſſembly, with aninnumerable company of angels, Heb. ii. 22. Great is the affection and love of angels to redeemed ones : they greatly rejoiced at the incarnation of Chrift for them, Luke ii. 13. Theygreatly delighted topry intothe mystery of their redemption, I Pet. i. 12. They were marvellouſlydelighted at their converfion, which was the dayof their efpouſals to Chriſt, Luke xv. 10. They have been tender andcareful over them, and very ferviceable to them in this world, Heb. i. 14. and therefore cannot but rejoice exceedingly, to fee them allbrought home in fafety to their father's houſe.
5.To conclude,Chriſt'sbringing home allbelievers unto God,
SERM . XIX. 393 The Method of Grace. will be matter of unspeakable joy to themſelves: for, whateverknowledge andacquaintancethey hadwith God here,whatever fights of faith they had ofheaven, and the glory to come, in this world; yet the fight of God and Chriſt the redeemer, willbe an unspeakable ſurprize tothem in that day. This will be the day of relieving all their wants, the day of fatisfaction to all their defires ; for now they arecome where they would be, arrived at the very defires of their fouls.
Secondly, Inthe last place, let itbe conſidered, what influence the death of Chriſt hath upon this deſign, andyou ſhall find it much every way. In two things eſpecially, the death of Chrift hatha bleſſed cauſality and influence in this matter, viz.
1. It effectually removes all obſtacles to it. 2. It purchaſeth (as aprice) their titleto it. First, Thedeath of Chriſt removes all obstacles out of the way of his mercy: ſuch were the bars hindering our acceſs to Godasnothing butthedeath of Chriſt could remove, and thereby open a way for believers to come to God. Theguilt of fin barred us from his gracious preſence, Rom. i. 2, 3. Hof. xiv. 2. The filth of fin excluded us from God, Hab. i. 23. Heb. xii.
14. The enmity of our nature perfectly ſtopped up our way to God, Col. i. 21. Rom. viii. 7. by reaſon hereof fallen man hath nodeſire tocomeunto God, Job xxi. 14. Thejuſtice of God, like a flaming ſword, turning every way, kept allmen from acceſs to God. And Lastly, Satan, that malicious and armed adverſary, lay as a lion in the way to God, 2 Pet. v. 8. Ohwith what ſtrong bars were the gates of heaven ſhut against our fouls ! The way of God was chainedup with fuch difficulties, as none but Chriſt was able to remove; and he by death hath effectually removed them all : The way is now open, eventhenew andthe livingway,confecrated for us by his blood. The death of Chriſt effectually removes the guiltof fin, 1 Pet. ii. 24. washes offthe filth offin, 1 Johnv. 6. takes awaythe enmity ofnature, Col. i. 20, 21. fatisfies all thedemands ofjuttice, Rom. iii . 25, 26. hath broken all the power of Satan, Col. ii. 15. Heb. ii. 14. andconſequently theway to God is effectually and fully opened to believers by the blood of Jeſus,Heb. x. 20.
Secondly, The blood of Chrift purchased forbelievers their rightandtitletothis privilege,Gal. iv.4, 5. " Butwhenthe ful- " neſs oftime was come,God ſentforth his Son, made of awo- " man, made under the law ; toredeem them that were under " the law, that we might receive the adoption offons," i. e. both therelation and inheritance offons. There was value and VOL. II.
1 Eee
394 The Method of Grace. SERM . XIX. worth enough inthe precious blood of Chriſt, not only to pay all our debts to juſtice, but, over and above the payment of our debts, to purchaſe for us this invaluable privilege. We must put this unspeakable mercy of being brought to God, as my text puts it, upon the account, and to the ſcore of the death of Chrift : no believer had ever taſted the ſweetness of ſuch a mercy, if Chriſt had not taſted the bitterness of death for him. Theuse of allyou willhave inthe following deductions oftruth.
Deduction 1. Great is the preciousness andworth offouls, that the life of Chriftshould be given to redeem and recover them to God: As God laid out his thoughts and counſel, from eternity, upon them, to project the way and methodoftheir ſalvation ; fo the Lord Jefus in pursuanceofthat bleſſed deſign, came from theboſom of the Father, and ſpilt his invaluable blood, to bring them to God. No wife man expends vaft ſums to bring home trifling commodities : how cheap foever our fouls are in our ef timation, it is evident by this they are of precious eſteem inthe eyes of Chrift.
Deduction 2. Redeemed fouls must expect no rest, or fatiffaction on this fide heaven, and the full enjoyment of God. The life of a believer in this world, is a life of motion and expectation : they are nowcomingto God, I Pet. ii . 4. God,you
is the centre and rest of their fouls, Heb. iv. 9. As the rivers cannot reſt till they pour themselves into the boſom of the fea, ſo neither can renewed fouls find reſt till they come into the boſom of God *. There are four things which do, and will break the reſt, and disturb the fouls of believers in this world; afflictions, temptations, corruptions, andabſence from God. If the three former cauſes of diſquietneſs weretotally removed, fo that a believer were placed in fuch a condition upon earth, where no affliction ſhould disturb him, no temptationtrouble him,no corruption defile or grieve him, yet his very abſence from God muſt ſtillkeep him reſtleſs and unſatisfied ; 2 Cor. v. 6. " Whilst we areat home inthe body, yet ab- " fent from the Lord."
Deduction 3. Whatfweet andpleasant thoughts ſhould allbe. lievershave of death ! When they die, and never till theydie, ſhall theybe fullybroughthome to God. Death to the faints, is the door by which they enter into the enjoyment of God: the dying Chriſtian is almoſt at home, yet a few pangs and agonies more, and then he is come to God, inwhoſe prefence
Thou hast made us for thyself, and our hearts are unſatisfied till they reft in thee. Aug. Confef. lib. 1. c. 1.
SERM . XIX . 395 The Method of Grace.
66 is the fulness ofjoy. " I defire, faith Paul, todepart, and to be with Chrift, which is far better," Phil. i. 23. It ſhould not affright us to be brought to death, the king of terrors, ſo longas itis theoffice ofdeathtobringus to God. Thatdreamingopinion of the foul ſleeping afterdeath, is as ungrounded as itisuncomfortable : the fame day we looſe from this ſhore, we ſhall be landed upon the bleſſed ſhore, were we shall fee and enjoy God for ever. O, ifthe friends ofdead believers did but understand where, and with whom their fouls are, whilft they aremourning over theirbodies, certainlya few believing thoughts of this would quickly dry up their tears, and fill the houſe of mourning with voices ofpraiſe and thanksgiving !
Deduction 4. How comfortable and sweetſhould the converses and communication of Christians be with one another, in this world! Chriſt is bringing them all to God, through this vale oftears ; they are now in the way to him ; allbound for heaven; going home to God, to their everlasting reſt in glory : everyday, every hour, every duty brings themnearer and nearer to their journey's end ; Rom. xiii. 11. " Now, (faith the " apoſtle), is our falvation nearer than when we believed." O whatmanner ofheavenly communications, andraviſhingdifcour-
believers have with each other, as they walk by the way ! Owhat pleasant and delightful converſe ſhould they have with one another about the place and ſtate whither Chriſt is bringing them, and where they ſhall ſhortly be ! What raviſhing tranſporting, transforming viſions they ſhall have that day they are brought home to God! How ſurprizingly glorious to them the fight ofJeſus Chriſt will be,who diedfor them to bring them unto God ! how should fuch diſcourſes as theſe, ſhorten and ſweeten their paſſage through this world; ſtrengthen and encouragethedejected and feeble-minded, and exceedingly honour and adorntheirprofeſſion ! Thus lived the believers of old ; Heb. xi. 9, 10. " By faith he ſojourned in the land of promife, as in a " ſtrange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Ifaac and Jacob, " the heirs with him of the fame promife; for he looked for
" a city which hath foundations, whoſe builder and maker is " God." But, alas ! moſt Chriſtians are either entangled in the cares and troubles, or fo enſnared by the delights and pleaſures which almoſt continually divert and take up their thoughts by theway, that there is but little room for any difcourſes of Chrift and heaven, amongmany of them: but certainly this would be asmuch your intereſt as your duty. When the apoftle had entertained the Theffalonians with a lovelydiſcourſe of their meet Ece2
396 The Method of Grace. SERM . XIX, ing the Lord inthe air, and being everwith the Lord, he charges it uponthem as their great duty, to comfort one another with those words, I Theff. iv. 17, 18 .
Deduction 5. How unreasonableare the dejections ofbelievers, upon the account of those troubles which they meet with in this world! It is true, afflictions of all kinds do attend believers in theirway to God; through many tribulations we must enter in. to thatkingdom, But whatthen; muſt wedeſpondanddroop under them asothermen ? Surely no : If afflictions be theway through which you must come to God, then neverbe diſcou. raged at affliction; troubles and afflictions are of excellent uſe, under thebleſſings of the Spirit, to further Chriſt's great deſign ofbringingyou to God. Howoftenwouldyou turn out of that waywhich leads to God, ifhedid not hedge up yourway with thorns, Hofea ii. 6. Doubtless when you come home to God, you ſhall find you havebeenmuch beholden, (it may beagreat deal more), toyour troubles than toyour comforts, for bringing you thither; however, the ſweetness of the end will infinitely morethan recompenſe the ſorrows and troubles of theway : nor are they worth tobe compared with the glory that ſhall be revealed in you, Rom. viii. 18. Deduction 6. How much are all believers obliged, in paint of interest, tofollow Jesus Chriſt whitherfoever hegoes ! Thus are the faints deſcribed, Rev. xiv. 4. " These are they which follow
" the Lamb whitherſoeverhe goeth: theſe were redeemed from " amongmen, being the firſt-fruits unto God, and to the Lamb." Ifitbe the deſign of Chriſt to bring us to God, then certainly it isour duty to follow Chriſt in allthe paths of active and paffive obedience through which he now leads us, as ever we expect to be brought home to God at laſt : "We are inade par- " takers of Chriſt, ifwe hold the beginning of our confidence " ſtedfaſtunto the end," Heb. iii. 14. Ifwe have followed him, through many fufferings and troubles, and ſhall turn away from him at laſt, we loſe all that we have wrought, and ſuffered in religion, and ſhall neverreach hometo Godat last. The crown of life belongs only tothem whoare faithfultothedeath. Deduction 7. Let all that defire, or expect to comeunto God hereafter, come to Chrift byfaith now. There is no other way tothe Father, but by Chriſt ; no otherway to Chrift but faith, Howvain therefore are the hopes and expectations ofallunbelievers ? Be afſured of this great truth, Death ſhallbring you to God as anavenging Judge, if Chriſt donot bring you now to God as a reconciled Father: without holiness no man ſhall fee God: thedoor ofhope is ſhut againstallchriſtleſs perfons, Joha
SERM. XX. The Method of Grace. 397 xiv. 6. " No mancomethunto the Fatherbutby me." O what aſweet voice cometh down from heaven to your fouls this day, ſaying, As everyou expect or hope tocome to God, and enjoy thebleſſingthat is here, come unto Chriſt, obey his calls, give upyourſelves tohis conduct and government, andyou ſhall certainlybe brought to God ! As ſureas you ſhallnow be brought to Jeſus Chriſt by ſpiritual union, ſo ſure ſhallyou be brought to God in full fruition.
Godfor Jesus Christ, the new and livingway to the Father.
And thus I have finiſhed the motives drawn from the titles and benefits of Chriſt, ſerving to enforce and quicken the great goſpel exhortation of coming to, and effectually applying the Lord Jesus Chriſt in the way of faith. O that the bleſſings of the Spirit might follow theſe calls, and fix theſe conſiderations as nails in fure places ! But ſeeing the greathindrance and ob-
to faith is the falſe opinion andperfuafion ofmoſt unregenerate men, that they are already in Chriſt ; my next work therefore ſhallbe, inafecond uſe of conviction, to undeceive men inthat matter ; and that, by ſhewing them the undoubted certaintyof theſe two things :
First, That there is no coming, ordinarily, to Chriſt without theapplicationofthe law toour confciences, in away of effectualconviction.
Secondly, Norby that neither, without the teachings of God, inthe way of ſpiritual illumination. The firſt of theſe will be fullyconfirmedand openedin