_But of him are ye in CHRIST JESUS, who of GOD is made unto us,
wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption._
OF all the verses in the book of GOD, this which I have now read to
you, is, I believe, one of the most comprehensive: What glad tidings
does it bring to believers! what precious privileges are they herein
invested with! how are they here led to the fountain of them all, I
mean, the love, the everlasting love of GOD the Father! “Of him are
ye in CHRIST JESUS, who of GOD is made unto us, wisdom, righteousness,
sanctification, and redemption.”
Without referring you to the context, I shall from the words,
_First_, Point out to you the fountain, from which all those
blessings flow, that the elect of GOD partake of in JESUS
CHRIST, “who of GOD is made unto us.” And,
_Secondly_, I shall consider what these blessings are, “wisdom,
righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.”
_First_, I would point out to you the fountain from which all those
blessings flow, that the elect of GOD partake of in JESUS, “who of
GOD is made unto us,” the Father, he it is who is spoken of here.
Not as though JESUS CHRIST was not GOD also; but GOD the Father is
the fountain of the Deity; and, if we consider JESUS CHRIST acting
as Mediator, GOD the Father is greater than he; there was an eternal
contract between the Father and the Son: “I have made a covenant with
my chosen, and I have sworn unto _David_ my servant;” now _David_ was
a type of CHRIST, with whom the Father made a covenant, that if he
would obey and suffer, and make himself a sacrifice for sin, he should
“see his seed, he should prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD
should prosper in his hands.” This compact our LORD refers to, in that
glorious prayer recorded in the 17th chapter of _John_; and therefore
he prays for, or rather demands with a full assurance, all that were
given to him by the Father: “Father, I will that they also whom thou
hast given me, be with me where I am.” For this same reason the apostle
breaks out into praises of GOD, even the Father of our LORD JESUS
CHRIST; for he loved the elect with an everlasting love, or, as our
LORD expresses it, “before the foundation of the world;” and therefore,
to shew them to whom they were beholden for their salvation, our LORD,
in the 25th of _Matthew_, represents himself, saying, “Come, ye blessed
children of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from
the foundation of the world.” And thus, in reply to the mother of
_Zebedee_’s children, he says, “It is not mine to give, but it shall
be given to them, for whom it is prepared, of the Father.” The apostle
therefore, when here speaking of the christian’s privileges, lest
they should sacrifice to their own drag, or think their salvation was
owing to their own faithfulness, or improvement of their own free-will,
reminds them to look back on the everlasting love of GOD the Father;
“who of GOD is made unto us, &c.”
Would to GOD, this point of doctrine was considered more, and people
were more studious of the covenant of redemption between the Father and
the Son! we should not then have so much disputing against the doctrine
of election, or hear it condemned (even by good men) as a doctrine of
devils. For my own part, I cannot see how true humbleness of mind can
be attained without a knowledge of it; and though I will not say, that
every one who denies election is a bad man, yet I will say, with that
sweet singer, Mr. _Trail_, it is a very bad sign: such a one, whoever
he be, I think cannot truly know himself: for, if we deny election,
we must, partly at least, glory in ourselves; but our redemption is so
ordered, that no flesh should glory in the divine presence; and hence
it is, that the pride of man opposes this doctrine, because according
to this doctrine, and no other, “he that glories, must glory only in
the LORD.” But what shall I say? Election is a mystery that shines
with such resplendent brightness, that, to make use of the words of one
who has drank deeply of electing love, it dazzles the weak eyes even
of some of GOD’s dear children; however, though they know it not, all
the blessings they receive, all the privileges they do or will enjoy,
through JESUS CHRIST, flow from the everlasting love of GOD the Father:
“But of him are you in CHRIST JESUS, who of GOD is made unto us, wisdom,
righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.”
_Secondly_, I come to shew what these blessings are, which are here,
through CHRIST, made over to the elect. And
1. _First_, CHRIST is made to them _wisdom_; but wherein does true
wisdom consist? Was I to ask some of you, perhaps you would say, in
indulging the lust of the flesh, and saying to your souls, eat, drink,
and be merry; but this is only the wisdom of brutes; they have as good
a gust and relish for sensual pleasures, as the greatest epicure on
earth. Others would tell me, true wisdom consisted in adding house to
house, and field to field, and calling lands after their own names; but
this cannot be true wisdom; for riches often take to themselves wings,
and fly away, like an eagle towards heaven. Even wisdom itself assures
us, “that a man’s life doth not consist in the abundance of the things
which he possesses;” vanity, vanity, all these things are vanity;
for, if riches leave not the owner, the owners must soon leave them;
“for rich men must also die, and leave their riches for others;” their
riches cannot procure them redemption from the grave, whither we are
all hastening apace.
But perhaps you despise riches and pleasure, and therefore place wisdom
in the knowledge of books: but it is possible for you to tell the
numbers of the stars, and call them all by their names, and yet be
mere fools; learned men are not always wise; nay, our common learning,
so much cried up, makes men only so many accomplished fools; to keep
you therefore no longer in suspense, and withal to humble you, I will
send you to an heathen to school, to learn what true wisdom is: “Know
thyself,” was a saying of one of the wise men of _Greece_; this is
certainly true wisdom, and this is that wisdom spoken of in the text,
and which JESUS CHRIST is made to all elect sinners; they are made to
know themselves, so as not to think more highly of themselves than they
ought to think. Before they were darkness, now they are light in the
LORD; and in that light they see their own darkness; they now bewail
themselves as fallen creatures by nature, dead in trespasses and sins,
sons and heirs of hell, and children of wrath; they now see that all
their righteousnesses are but as filthy rags; that there is no health
in their souls; that they are poor and miserable, blind and naked; and
that there is no name given under heaven, whereby they can be saved,
but that of JESUS CHRIST. They see the necessity of closing with a
Saviour; and behold the wisdom of GOD in appointing him to be a Saviour;
they are also made willing to accept of salvation upon our LORD’s own
terms, and to receive him as their all in all: thus CHRIST is made to
them wisdom.
2. _Secondly_, _Righteousness_. “Who of GOD is made unto us, wisdom,
righteousness;” CHRIST’s whole personal righteousness is made over to,
and accounted theirs. Being enabled to lay hold on CHRIST by faith, GOD
the Father blots out their transgressions, as with a thick cloud; their
sins, and their iniquities he remembers no more; they are made the
righteousness of GOD in CHRIST JESUS, “who is the end of the law for
righteousness to every one that believeth.” In one sense, GOD now sees
no sin in them; the whole covenant of works is fulfilled in them; they
are actually justified, acquitted, and looked upon as righteous in
the sight of GOD; they are perfectly accepted in the beloved; they are
compleat in him; the flaming sword of GOD’s wrath, which before moved
every way, is now removed, and free access given to the tree of life;
they are enabled to reach out the arm of faith, and pluck, and live for
evermore. Hence it is that the apostle, under a sense of this blessed
privilege, breaks out into this triumphant language; “It is CHRIST
that justifies, who is he that condemns?” Does sin condemn? CHRIST’s
righteousness delivers believers from the guilt of it: CHRIST is their
Saviour, and is become a propitiation for their sins: who therefore
shall lay any thing to the charge of GOD’s elect? Does the law condemn?
By having CHRIST’s righteousness imputed to them, they are dead to the
law, as a covenant of works; CHRIST has fulfilled it for them, and in
their stead. Does death threaten them? they need not fear: the sting of
death is sin, the strength of sin is the law; but GOD has given them
the victory, by imputing to them the righteousness of the LORD JESUS.
And what a privilege is here! Well might the angels at the birth of
CHRIST, say to the humble shepherds, “Behold, I bring you glad tidings
of great joy;” unto you that believe in CHRIST, “a Saviour is born.”
And well may angels rejoice at the conversion of poor sinners: for the
LORD is their righteousness; they have peace with GOD, through faith in
CHRIST’s blood, and shall never enter into condemnation. O believers!
(for this discourse is intended in a special manner for you) lift
up your heads; “Rejoice in the LORD always; again I say, rejoice.”
CHRIST is made to you of GOD righteousness, what then should you fear?
you are made the righteousness of GOD in him; you may be called, “The
LORD our righteousness.” Of what then should you be afraid? what shall
separate you henceforward, from the love of CHRIST? “shall tribulation,
or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword? No, I am persuaded, neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor
height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate
you from the love of GOD, which is in CHRIST JESUS our LORD,” who of
GOD is made unto you righteousness.
This is a glorious privilege, but this is only the beginning of the
happiness of believers: For
3. _Thirdly_, CHRIST is not only made to them righteousness, but
_sanctification_; by sanctification, I do not mean a bare hypocritical
attendance on outward ordinances, though rightly-informed christians
will think it their duty and privilege constantly to attend on all
outward ordinances. Nor do I mean by sanctification, a bare outward
reformation, and a few transient convictions, or a little legal sorrow;
for all this an unsanctified man may have; but, by sanctification,
I mean a total renovation of the whole man; by the righteousness of
CHRIST, believers become legally, by sanctification they are made
spiritually, alive; by one they are entitled to, by the other they are
made meet for, glory. They are sanctified, therefore, throughout, in
spirit, soul and body.
Their understandings, which were before dark, now become light in
the LORD; and their wills, before contrary to, now become one with,
the will of GOD: their affections are now set on things above; their
memory is now filled with divine things; their natural consciences
are now enlightened; their members, which were before instruments of
uncleanness, and of iniquity unto iniquity, are now instruments of
righteousness and true holiness; in short, they are new creatures; “old
things are passed away, all things are become new,” in their hearts;
sin has now no longer dominion over them; they are freed from the power,
though not the indwelling and being, of it; they are holy both in heart
and life, in all manner of conversation; they are made partakers of
a divine nature; and from JESUS CHRIST, they receive grace for grace;
and every grace that is in CHRIST, is copied and transcribed into their
souls; they are transformed into his likeness; he is formed within
them; they dwell in him, and he in them; they are led by the Spirit,
and bring forth the fruits thereof; they know that CHRIST is their
_Emmanuel_, GOD with and in them; they are living temples of the Holy
Ghost. And therefore, being a holy habitation unto the LORD, the whole
trinity dwells and walks in them; even here, they sit together with
CHRIST in heavenly places, and are vitally united to him, their head,
by a living faith; their Redeemer, their Maker, is their husband; they
are flesh of his flesh, bone of his bone; they talk, they walk with him,
as a man talketh and walketh with his friend; in short, they are one
with CHRIST, even as JESUS CHRIST and the Father are one.
Thus is CHRIST made to believers sanctification. And O what a privilege
is this! to be changed from beasts into saints, and from a devilish, to
be made partakers of a divine nature; to be translated from the kingdom
of Satan, into the kingdom of GOD’s dear Son! to put off the old man,
which is corrupt, and to put on the new man, which is created after
GOD, in righteousness and true holiness. O what an unspeakable blessing
is this! I almost stand amazed at the contemplation thereof. Well
might the apostle exhort believers to rejoice in the LORD; indeed they
have reason always to rejoice, yea, to rejoice on a dying bed; for the
kingdom of GOD is in them; they are changed from glory to glory, even
by the Spirit of the LORD: well may this be a mystery to the natural,
for it is a mystery even to the spiritual man himself, a mystery which
he cannot fathom. Does it not often dazzle your eyes, O ye children of
GOD, to look at your own brightness, when the candle of the LORD shines
out, and your Redeemer lifts up the light of his blessed countenance
upon your souls? Are not you astonished, when you feel the love of GOD
shed abroad in your hearts, by the Holy Ghost, and GOD holds out the
golden sceptre of his mercy, and bids you ask what you will, and it
shall be given you? Does not that peace of GOD, which keeps and rules
your hearts, surpass the utmost limits of your understandings? and
is not the joy you feel unspeakable? is it not full of glory? I am
persuaded it is; and in your secret communion, when the LORD’s love
flows in upon your souls, you are as it were swallowed up in, or, to
use the apostle’s phrase, “filled with all the fulness of GOD.” Are not
you ready to cry out with _Solomon_, “And will the LORD, indeed, dwell
thus with men!” How is it that we should be thus thy sons and daughters,
O LORD GOD Almighty!
If you are children of GOD, and know what it is to have fellowship with
the Father and the Son; if you walk by faith, and not by sight; I am
assured this is frequently the language of your hearts.
But look forward, and see an unbounded prospect of eternal happiness
lying before thee, O believer! what thou hast already received, are
only the first-fruits, like the cluster of grapes brought out of the
land of _Canaan_; only an earnest and pledge of yet infinitely better
things to come: the harvest is to follow; thy grace is hereafter to be
swallowed up in glory. Thy great _Joshua_, and merciful high Priest,
shall administer an abundant entrance to thee into the land of promise,
that rest which awaits the children of GOD: For CHRIST is not only
made to believers, wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification, but also
_redemption_.
But, before we enter upon the explanation and contemplation of this
privilege,
_First_, Learn hence the great mistake of those writers, and clergy,
who, notwithstanding they talk of sanctification and inward holiness
(as indeed sometimes they do, though in a very loose and superficial
manner) yet they generally make it the _cause_, whereas they should
consider it as the _effect_, of our justification. “Of him are ye in
CHRIST JESUS, who of GOD is made unto us, wisdom, righteousness, (and
then) sanctification.” For CHRIST’s righteousness, or that which CHRIST
has done in our stead without us, is the sole cause of our acceptance
in the sight of GOD, and of all holiness wrought in us: to this, and
not to the light within, or any thing wrought within, should poor
sinners seek for justification in the sight of GOD: for the sake of
CHRIST’s righteousness alone, and not any thing wrought in us, does GOD
look favourably upon us; our sanctification at best, in this life, is
not compleat: though we are delivered from the power, we are not freed
from the in-being of sin; but not only the dominion, but the in-being
of sin, is forbidden by the perfect law of GOD: for it is not said,
thou shalt not give way to lust, but, “thou shalt not lust.” So that
whilst the principle of lust remains in the least degree in our hearts,
though we are otherwise never so holy, yet we cannot, on account of
that, hope for acceptance with GOD. We must first, therefore, look for
a righteousness without us, even the righteousness of our LORD JESUS
CHRIST: for this reason the apostle mentions it, and puts it before
sanctification in the words of the text. And whosoever teacheth any
other doctrine, doth not preach the truth as it is in JESUS.
_Secondly_, From hence also, the Antinomians and formal hypocrites
may be confuted, who talk of CHRIST without, but know nothing,
experimentally, of a work of sanctification wrought within them.
Whatever they may pretend to, since CHRIST is not in them, the LORD is
not their righteousness, and they have no well-grounded hope of glory:
for though sanctification is not the cause, yet it is the effect of
our acceptance with GOD; “Who of GOD is made unto us righteousness
and sanctification.” He therefore, that is really in CHRIST, is a new
creature; it is not going back to a covenant of works, to look into
our hearts, and, seeing that they are changed and renewed, from thence
form a comfortable and well-grounded assurance of the safety of our
states: no, but this is what we are directed to in scripture; by our
bringing forth the fruits, we are to judge whether or no we ever did
truly partake of the Spirit of GOD. “We know, (says _John_) that we
are passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.” And
however we may talk of CHRIST’s righteousness, and exclaim against
legal preachers; yet, if we are not holy in heart and life, if we
are not sanctified and renewed by the Spirit in our minds, we are
self-deceivers, we are only formal hypocrites: for we must not put
asunder what GOD has joined together; we must keep the medium between
the two extremes; not insist so much on the one hand upon CHRIST
without, as to exclude CHRIST within, as an evidence of our being his,
and as a preparation for future happiness; nor, on the other hand,
so depend on inherent righteousness or holiness wrought in us, as to
exclude the righteousness of JESUS CHRIST without us. But
4. _Fourthly_, Let us now go on, and take a view of the other link,
or rather the end, of the believer’s golden chain of privileges,
_redemption_. But we must look very high; for the top of it, like
_Jacob_’s ladder, reaches heaven, where all believers will ascend, and
be placed at the right-hand of GOD. “Who of GOD is made unto us, wisdom,
righteousness, sanctification, and _redemption_.”
This is a golden chain indeed! and, what is best of all, not one link
can ever be broken asunder from another. Was there no other text in the
book of GOD, this single one sufficiently proves the final perseverance
of true believers: for never did GOD yet justify a man, whom he did
not sanctify; nor sanctify one, whom he did not compleatly redeem
and glorify; no; as for GOD, his way, his work, is perfect; he always
carried on and finished the work he begun; thus it was in the first,
so it is in the new creation; when GOD says, “Let there be light,”
there is light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day, when
believers enter into their eternal rest, as GOD entered into his. Those
whom GOD has justified, he has in effect glorified: for as a man’s
worthiness was not the cause of GOD’s giving him CHRIST’s righteousness,
so neither shall his unworthiness be a cause of his taking it away;
GOD’s gifts and callings are without repentance; and I cannot think,
they are clear in the notion of CHRIST’s righteousness, who deny the
final perseverance of the saints; I fear, they understand justification
in that low sense, which I understood it in a few years ago, as
implying no more than remission of sins: but it not only signifies
remission of sins past, but also a _fœderal right_ to all good things
to come. If GOD has given us his only Son, how shall he not with him
freely give us all things? Therefore, the apostle, after he says, “Who
of GOD is made unto us righteousness,” does not say, perhaps he may be
made to us sanctification and redemption; but, “he is made:” for there
is an eternal, indissoluble connection between these blessed privileges.
As the obedience of CHRIST is imputed to believers, so his perseverance
in that obedience is to be imputed to them also: and it argues great
ignorance of the covenant of grace and redemption, to object against it.
By the word _redemption_, we are to understand, not only a compleat
deliverance from all evil, but also a full enjoyment of all good both
in body and soul: I say, both in body and soul; for the LORD is also
for the body; the bodies of the saints in this life are temples of
the Holy Ghost; GOD makes a covenant with the dust of believers; after
death, though worms destroy them, yet, even in their flesh shall they
see GOD. I fear, indeed, there are some _Sadducees_ in our days, or
at least heretics, who say, either, that there is no resurrection of
the body, or that the resurrection is past already, namely, in our
regeneration: Hence it is, that our LORD’s coming in the flesh, at the
day of judgment, is denied; and consequently, we must throw aside the
sacrament of the LORD’s supper. For why should we remember the LORD’s
death until he comes to judgment, when he is already come to judge
our hearts, and will not come a second time? but all this is only
the reasoning of unlearned, unstable men, who certainly know not what
they say, nor whereof they affirm. That we must follow our LORD in the
regeneration, be partakers of a new birth, and that CHRIST must come
into our hearts, we freely confess; and we hope, when speaking of these
things, we speak no more than what we know and feel: but then it is
plain, that JESUS CHRIST will come, hereafter, to judgment, and that
he ascended into heaven with the body which he had here on earth; for
says he, after his resurrection, “Handle me, and see; a spirit has not
flesh and bones, as you see me have.” And it is plain, that CHRIST’s
resurrection was an earnest of ours: for says the apostle, “CHRIST is
risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that sleep;”
and as in _Adam_ all die, and are subject to mortality; so all that
are in CHRIST, the second _Adam_, who represented believers as their
fœderal head, shall certainly be made alive, or rise again with their
bodies at the last day.
Here then, O believers! is one, though the lowest, degree of that
redemption which you are to be partakers of hereafter; I mean,
the redemption of your bodies: for this corruptible must put on
incorruption, this mortal must put on immortality. Your bodies, as
well as souls, were given to JESUS CHRIST by the Father; they have been
companions in watching, and fasting, and praying: your bodies therefore,
as well as souls, shall JESUS CHRIST raise up at the last day. Fear
not, therefore, O believers, to look into the grave; for to you it is
no other than a consecrated dormitory, where your bodies shall sleep
quietly until the morning of the resurrection; when the voice of the
archangel shall sound, and the trump of GOD give the general alarm,
“Arise ye dead, and come to judgment;” earth, air, fire, water, shall
give up your scattered atoms, and both in body and soul shall you be
ever with the LORD. I doubt not, but many of you are groaning under
crazy bodies, and complain often that the mortal body weighs down
the immortal soul; at least this is my case; but let us have a little
patience, and we shall be delivered from our earthly prisons; ere long,
these tabernacles of clay shall be dissolved, and we shall be clothed
with our house which is from heaven; hereafter, our bodies shall be
spiritualized, and shall be so far from hindering our souls through
weakness, that they shall become strong; so strong, as to bear up
under an exceeding and eternal weight of glory; others again may have
deformed bodies, emaciated also with sickness, and worn out with labour
and age; but wait a little, until your blessed change by death comes;
then your bodies shall be renewed and made glorious, like unto CHRIST’s
glorious body: of which we may form some faint idea, from the account
given us of our LORD’s transfiguration on the mount, when it is said,
“His raiment became bright and glistering, and his face brighter
than the sun.” Well then may a believer break out in the apostle’s
triumphant language, “O death, where is thy sting! O grave, where is
thy victory!”
But what is the redemption of the body, in comparison of the redemption
of the better part, our souls? I must, therefore, say to you believers,
as the angel said to _John_, “Come up higher,” and let us take as
clear a view as we can, at such a distance, of the redemption CHRIST
has purchased for, and will shortly put you in actual possession of.
Already you are justified, already you are sanctified, and thereby
freed from the guilt and dominion of sin: but, as I have observed, the
being and indwelling of sin yet remains in you; GOD sees it proper to
leave some _Amalekites_ in the land, to keep his _Israel_ in action.
The most perfect christian, I am persuaded, must agree, according to
one of our articles, “That the corruption of nature remains even in the
regenerate; that the flesh lusteth always against the spirit, and the
spirit against the flesh.” So that believers cannot do things for GOD
with that perfection they desire; this grieves their righteous souls
day by day, and, with the holy apostle, makes them cry out, “Who shall
deliver us from the body of this death!” I thank GOD, our LORD JESUS
CHRIST will, but not compleatly before the day of our dissolution; then
will the very being of sin be destroyed, and an eternal stop put to
inbred, indwelling corruption. And is not this a great redemption? I
am sure believers esteem it so: for there is nothing grieves the heart
of a child of GOD so much, as the remains of indwelling sin. Again,
believers are often in heaviness through manifold temptations; GOD sees
that it is needful and good for them so to be; and though they may be
highly favoured, and wrapt up in communion with GOD, even to the third
heavens; yet a messenger of Satan is often sent to buffet them, lest
they should be puffed up with the abundance of revelations. But be not
weary, be not faint in your minds: the time of your compleat redemption
draweth nigh. In heaven the wicked one shall cease from troubling you,
and your weary souls shall enjoy an everlasting rest; his fiery darts
cannot reach those blissful regions: Satan will never come any more
to appear with, disturb, or accuse the sons of GOD, when once the LORD
JESUS CHRIST shuts the door. Your righteous souls are now grieved, day
by day, at the ungodly conversation of the wicked; tares now grow up
among the wheat; wolves come in sheeps clothing: but the redemption
spoken of in the text, will free your souls from all anxiety on these
accounts; hereafter you shall enjoy a perfect communion of saints;
nothing that is unholy or unsanctified shall enter into the Holy
of holies, which is prepared for you above: this, and all manner of
evil whatsoever, you shall be delivered from, when your redemption is
hereafter made compleat in heaven; not only so, but you shall enter
into the full enjoyment of all good. It is true, all saints will not
have the same degree of happiness, but all will be as happy as their
hearts can desire. Believers, you shall judge the evil, and familiarly
converse with good, angels: you shall sit down with _Abraham_, _Isaac_,
_Jacob_, and all the spirits of just men made perfect; and, to sum up
all your happiness in one word, you shall see GOD the Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost; and, by seeing GOD, be more and more like unto him, and
pass from glory to glory, even to all eternity.
But I must stop: the glories of the upper world croud in so fast upon
my soul, that I am lost in the contemplation of them. Brethren, the
redemption spoken of is unutterable; we cannot here find it out; eye
hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the hearts of the
most holy men living, to conceive how great it is. Was I to entertain
you whole ages with an account of it, when you come to heaven, you must
say, with the Queen of _Sheba_, “Not half, no, not one thousandth part
was told us.” All we can do here, is to go upon mount _Pisgah_, and
by the eye of faith, take a distant view of the promised land: We may
see it, as _Abraham_ did CHRIST, afar off, and rejoice in it; but here
we only know in part. Blessed be GOD, there is a time coming, when we
shall know GOD, even as we are known, and GOD be all in all. LORD JESUS,
accomplish the number of thine elect! LORD JESUS, hasten thy kingdom!
And now, where are the scoffers of these last days, who count the
lives of christians to be madness, and their end to be without honour?
Unhappy men! you know not what you do. Were your eyes open, and had
you senses to discern spiritual things, you would not speak all manner
of evil against the children of GOD, but you would esteem them as the
excellent ones of the earth, and envy their happiness: your souls would
hunger and thirst after it: you also would become fools for CHRIST’s
sake. You boast of wisdom; so did the philosophers of _Corinth_: but
your wisdom is the foolishness of folly in the sight of GOD. What will
your wisdom avail you, if it does not make you wise unto salvation? Can
you, with all your wisdom, propose a more consistent scheme to build
your hopes of salvation on, than what has been now laid before you?
Can you, with all the strength of natural reason, find out a better
way of acceptance with GOD, than by the righteousness of the LORD JESUS
CHRIST? Is it right to think your own works can in any measure deserve
or procure it? If not, Why will you not believe in him? Why will you
not submit to his righteousness? Can you deny that you are fallen
creatures? Do not you find that you are full of disorders, and that
these disorders make you unhappy? Do not you find that you cannot
change your own hearts? Have you not resolved many and many a time,
and have not your corruptions yet dominion over you? Are you not
bond-slaves to your lusts, and led captive by the devil at his will?
Why then will you not come to CHRIST for sanctification? Do you not
desire to die the death of the righteous, and that your future state
may be like theirs? I am persuaded you cannot bear the thoughts of
being annihilated, much less of being miserable for ever. Whatever
you may pretend, if you speak truth, you must confess, that conscience
breaks in upon you in your more sober intervals whether you will or
not, and even constrains you to believe, that hell is no painted fire.
And why then will you not come to CHRIST? He alone can procure you
everlasting redemption. Haste, haste away to him, poor beguiled sinners.
You lack wisdom; ask it of CHRIST. Who knows but he may give it you?
He is able: for he is the wisdom of the Father; he is that wisdom which
was from everlasting. You have no righteousness; away, therefore, to
CHRIST: “He is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that
believeth.” You are unholy; flee to the LORD JESUS: He is full of grace
and truth; and of his fulness all may receive that believe in him. You
are afraid to die; let this drive you to CHRIST: He has the keys of
death and hell; in him is plenteous redemption; he alone can open the
door which leads to everlasting life. Let not, therefore, the deceived
reasoner boast any longer of his pretended reason. Whatever you may
think, it is the most unreasonable thing in the world, not to believe
on JESUS CHRIST, whom GOD hath sent. Why, why will you die? why will
you not come unto him, that you may have life? “Ho! every one that
thirsteth, come unto the waters of life and drink freely: come, buy
without money and without price.” Were these blessed privileges in
the text to be purchased with money, you might say, We are poor, and
cannot buy: or, were they to be conferred only on sinners of such a
rank or degree, then you might say, How can such sinners as we expect
to be so highly favoured? But they are to be freely given of GOD to
the worst of sinners. “To us,” says the Apostle; to me a persecutor,
to you _Corinthians_, who were “unclean, drunkards, covetous persons,
idolaters.” Therefore, each poor sinner may say then, Why not unto me?
Has CHRIST but one blessing? What if he has blessed millions already,
by turning them away from their iniquities; yet, he still continues the
same: he lives for ever to make intercession, and therefore will bless
you, even you also. Though, _Esau_ like, you have been prophane, and
hitherto despised your heavenly Father’s birth-right; even now, if you
believe, “CHRIST will be made to you of GOD, wisdom, righteousness,
sanctification, and redemption.”
But I must turn again to believers, for whose instruction, as I
observed before, this discourse was particularly intended. You see,
brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, what great blessings
are treasured up for you in JESUS CHRIST your head, and what you are
entitled to by believing on his name. Take heed, therefore, that ye
walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. Think often how
highly you are favoured; and remember, you have not chosen CHRIST,
but CHRIST hath chosen you. Put on (as the elect of GOD) humbleness of
mind, and glory, but let it be only in the LORD: for you have nothing
but what you have received of GOD. By nature ye were as foolish, as
legal, as unholy, and in as damnable a condition as others. Be pitiful,
therefore, be courteous; and, as sanctification is a progressive work,
beware of thinking you have already attained. Let him that is holy, be
holy still; knowing, that he who is most pure in heart, shall hereafter
enjoy the clearest vision of GOD. Let indwelling sin be your daily
burden; and not only bewail and lament, but see that you subdue it
daily by the power of divine grace; and look up to JESUS continually to
be the finisher, as well as author of your faith. Build not on your own
faithfulness, but on GOD’s unchangeablness. Take heed of thinking you
stand by the power of your own freewill. The everlasting love of GOD
the Father, must be your only hope and consolation: let this support
you under all trials. Remember that GOD’s gifts and callings are
without repentance; that CHRIST having once loved you, will love you
to the end. Let this constrain you to obedience, and make you long and
look for that blessed time, when he shall not only be your wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, but also compleat and everlasting
redemption.
Glory be to GOD in the highest!