The Way of the Spirit in Bringing Souls to Christ, Sermons 2 – Sermons 3
Converſion of Souls, great Joy to the Ministers of Christ.
SERMON III.
JOHN 16.8.
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of Sin, and of Righteouſneſs, and of Judgment.
IN this Chapter (as you have heard) our Lord Jeſus Chriſt doth fore-warn and fore-arm his Diſciples againſt Perſecution and Sufferings, which they were like to meet withal; and this he ſpeaks of in the firſt four Verſes; and then he doth endeavour to comfort their hearts againſt that ſorrow that had poſſeſſed them for his going away from them: Saith he, Now I go my way to him that ſent me: and becauſe I have ſaid theſe things unto you, ſorrow hath filled your hearts. Chriſt endeavours to comfort their hearts againſt their great ſorrow; and this in the general he propoſeth for their Comfort; Namely, ſaith he, 'Tis expedient for you that I go away: 'Tis not only expedient for me, but it is expedient for you that I go away: But they could hardly think ſo: And then he gives them this Reaſon, ſaith he, If I go not away, the Comforter will not come; but if I depart, I will ſend him unto you. But then they might be ready to ſay, Lord! Suppoſe the Comforter do come, will that make recompence for our loſs of thy preſence? What if the Comforter do come? what if we have the preſence of thy Spirit? yet thy preſence might ſeem to be more comfortable to us. Now Chriſt lays in further for that, ſaith he, If the Comforter come, that will be ſtill better for you than my bodily preſence is; for if he come, he will be with you to aſſiſt you in your Miniſtry: He will accompany the Miniſtration of the Goſpel in your mouth; he will make your Miniſtration to be ſuccesful, and effectual, for convincing and converting. Thus now Chriſt doth lay in againſt their ſorrow, that they might have upon his departure from them, that though he went from them, yet they ſhould have that from the promiſe that ſhould countervail all that comfort and joy that they had by his bodily preſence; And this ſeems to be the very ſcope and intendment of theſe words. When he is come, ſaith he, He will ſo work with your Miniſtry, that it ſhall Reprove or Convince the World of Sin, of Righteouſneſs, and of Judgement.
Before I come to the Point, becauſe the words ſeem to have ſome difficulty in them, and becauſe there ſeems to be ſome variety in the Interpretation of them, I ſhall briefly give you a hint of what I apprehend to be the moſt proper meaning of theſe words. As now,
1. What doth he mean by Reproving? He ſhall reprove the World, —
2. What doth he mean by the World? And then,
3. How he ſhall Reprove the World of Sin, of Righteouſneſs, and of Judgement.
I. The word here tranſlated Reprove, hath a three-fold acceptation in Scripture.
1. Sometimes it ſignifies to Reprove, as here 'tis tranſlated: And ſo I remember, Titus 1.13. This Witneſs is true: Wherefore rebuke them ſharply, or reprove them ſharply: 'Tis the ſame Word. So here 'tis tranſlated in the Text. Though I think that is not the proper ſignification or intendment of it in this place. For, obſerve it, It is not ſo proper to ſay, That the Spirit, when he comes, ſhall Reprove the World of Righteouſneſs, he may reprove them of Sin, and rebuke them for Sin, but not of Righteouſneſs, nor for Righteouſneſs, nor of Judgement. That is one ſignification of the word, to Reprove or Rebuke.
2. Sometimes the word ſignifies to make manifeſt, or to make evident, to make apparent, ſo you ſhall find it, John 3.20, 21. Every one that doth evil, hateth the Light, Neither cometh to the Light, leſt his deeds ſhould be reproved (or made manifeſt) and it is expounded in the next verſe, made manifeſt; But he that doth Truth cometh to the Light, that his deeds may be [made manifeſt] that they are wrought in God; it is the ſame Word here in the Text. But this cannot be the meaning of this Word in the Text, that he ſhall make manifeſt Sin, and make manifeſt Righteouſneſs, and make manifeſt Judgment: though there be a Truth in that, yet this cannot be the full intendment of this word in this place.
3. There is another ſignification of it, and that is to convince, and ſo 'tis in the Margin, He ſhall convince the World of Sin, of Righteouſneſs, and of Judgment; and ſo I remember it is, John 8.46. ſaith Chriſt there, Which of you doth convince me of Sin? It is the ſame Word: he doth not ſay, which of you charges me with Sin? for they did charge him with Sin enough, and they did reprove and rebuke him for Sin, they ſaid, he was a Blasphemer; therefore that cannot be the meaning of the Word to charge or reprove him of Sin; but, which of you can convince me of Sin? to make it apparent without gain-ſaying, that I am guilty of any Sin. And ſo I think that place, Tit. 1.9. holding faſt the faithful Word, as he hath been taught, that he may be able by ſound Doctrine, both to exhort, and to convince the Gain-ſayers. And ſo I ſhall take it in this ſenſe all along; when the Comforter is come he ſhall aſſiſt you in your Miniſtry, ſo as he ſhall thereby convince the World of Sin, of Righteouſneſs, and of Judgment.
II. What doth he mean by the World? Not the whole Univerſe, the Fabrick of Heaven and Earth, no, that cannot be the meaning of it: but it is to be underſtood of Men, the World of Men, of ſinful Men, Men that are guilty of Sin; and more particularly, by the World we may underſtand the unbelieving World, a company of unbelievers: Now unbelievers they may ſome of them be elected and are elected, and ſhall be brought to believe in Chriſt in time, through the Goſpel; and ſome of them are not elected, and ſhall never be brought to believe in Chriſt. Now which of theſe doth Chriſt here mean? when he ſpeaks of the World, whether he means only thoſe Unbelievers that are elected, and ſhall be brought on to believe (ſo ſome think): or whether he means the Unbelievers of the World that were never elected, and ſhall never be brought to believe in Chriſt (ſo others.) Truly I ſee nothing to the contrary but we may include both, namely, Unbelievers that are not elected, the Holy Ghoſt ſhall come and convince them of Sin, though they ſhall go no further, there may be convictions where no converſion follows; and this is the work of the Spirit to convince of Sin, and he ſhall alſo convince Unbelievers that are elected, convince them effectually, ſo as they ſhall be brought on to converſion, and I think eſpecially and chiefly our Saviour here meaneth thoſe Unbelievers in the World that are elected, though I would not exclude the other, but thoſe eſpecially that are elected, and ſhall be brought on through conviction and converſion to ſalvation; for Chriſt doth ſpeak theſe Words by way of Comfort to the Diſciples, that the Spirit ſhall come and aſſiſt them in their Miniſtry; it is ſome comfort indeed if any be convinced, but that is not ſo much comfort as to be convinced and effectually wrought upon to ſalvation, and this comfort Chriſt doth hold forth as an Antidote againſt their ſadneſs and ſorrow, upon his going away. And then he ſhall convince the World of Sin, of Righteouſneſs, and of Judgment.
I ſhall not now come to ſpeak particularly, to open theſe in particular to you, but only thus much in ſhort to ſhew you how the World was convinced by the Apoſtles Miniſtry, immediately after Chriſts Aſcenſion into Heaven, the World was then convinced; the World of the unbelieving Jews was convinced of Sin, of Righteouſneſs, and of Judgment. Look but into that Sermon, Acts 2. which was preached upon the occaſion of the falling down of the Holy Ghoſt, the coming of the Comforter, which Chriſt promiſeth here; you ſhall ſee there how the Jews were convinced, both of Sin, of Righteouſneſs, and of Judgment, by the coming of the Holy Ghoſt upon them in that very Sermon, verſe 23. There he convinces them of Sin, In murdering and crucifying the Lord of Glory; they were ſo far from believing on Chriſt as their Saviour, that they did murder him; whereas, ſaith the Apoſtle in another place, If ſo be they had known, and ſo believed in Chriſt, they would not have crucifyed the Lord of Glory; but ſaith he, Him being delivered by the determinate Counſel of God, ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucifyed and ſlain. He tells them plainly that they were guilty of murdering the Son of God, and they were ſo convinced at this Word, that they did not gainſay it, but were pricked in their hearts; thus they were convinced of Sin, that they did not believe in Chriſt, but inſtead of believing they murdered him: and then they were convinced alſo of Righteouſneſs, namely, of Chriſts Righteouſneſs, that Chriſt was a Righteous Perſon whom they crucifyed and ſlew, verſe 22. Ye Men of Iſrael, hear theſe words, Jeſus of Nazareth, a Man approved of God, by Signs and Wonders and Miracles, which God did by him in the midſt of you, as your ſelves know; the Apoſtle here holds forth that he was a Righteous Perſon, and they crucifyed a Righteous Perſon, and what had they to ſay againſt this? No, they were ſilent, they laid their hands upon their mouth, and afterwards their hands come upon their heart, and they were pricked at the heart, and now they were convinced of the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt; and alſo of Judgment, that now God had given all power to execute Judgment, into the hand of Chriſt, unto this Son of man whom they crucified, and ſlew. So verſe 24. Whom God hath raiſed up, having looſed the pains of death, becauſe it was not poſſible that he ſhould be holden of it; he overcame Death, and overcame the Devil that had the power of Death; and at Verſe 31. he ſeeing this before, ſpake of the Reſurrection of Chriſt, that his Soul was not left in Hell, This Jeſus hath God raiſed up, whereof we all are witneſſes; Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promiſe of the Holy Ghoſt — having received all Power, and Authority, and Dominion, and Government, over all Principalities and Powers, &c. By this means he convinced them of Judgment; for the Prince of this World is judged, Chriſt is exalted at the Right hand of God, and they had nothing to ſay againſt what the Apoſtle ſpake, but their hearts were pricked, and now, Men and Brethren, what ſhall we do to be ſaved?
Thus you ſee the intendment and ſcope of Chriſt in theſe Words, is to comfort the Hearts of his Diſciples againſt his going away, and now ſaith Chriſt, I will ſend the Comforter unto you: and when he is come he ſhall ſo aſſiſt you in your Miniſtry, that you ſhall be able to Convince the World of Sin, of Righteouſneſs, and of Judgment; your Miniſtry ſhall be made effectual, operative, and ſaving; and this he delivereth as an Antidote againſt their ſorrow for his going away from them. And here is the Point that I ſhall briefly take up to ſpeak to at this preſent, if the Lord pleaſe.
Doct. That it is a matter of unſpeakable Joy and Conſolation unto the faithful Servants of Chriſt, that their Miniſtry is made effectual through the power of the Spirit of Chriſt for the ſaving of poor Souls.
Chriſt gives them this very thing as an Antidote, as a Comfort and Cordial againſt their ſorrow which their hearts are filled with for his going away from them, ſaith he, the Comforter ſhall come to you, and be with your Miniſtry, and make your Miniſtry effectual and powerful and ſaving to the Souls of many perſons in the World, and this he gives as an Antidote againſt their ſorrow. And truly I might have ſaid it is a matter of the greateſt. Comfort that any thing in the World can afford to the faithful Servants of Chriſt that their Miniſtry is made effectual to the furtherance of the Salvation of Souls; he ſpeaks of it you ſee, as a Comfort ſuitable to their ſorrow, that is able to weigh down their ſorrow, that though they were ſo filled with ſorrow at Chriſts departure from them, yet ſaith Chriſt, you ſhall have that, that is as comfortable to you as my bodily preſence can be, you ſhall have the co-working of the Spirit with you in your Miniſtry to make it effectual for the furtherance of the ſalvation of poor Souls.
For the opening of this Point I ſhall ſpeak to theſe four things that are implyed and wrapt up in it.
1. That the Miniſtry of the Goſpel is the Means of the converſion and ſalvation of Souls. This is implyed here, They ſhall go out to preach, and this ſhould be for their Comfort, that they ſhould be inſtrumental for the converſion and ſalvation of Souls.
2. That it is through the power of the Spirit, that the Miniſtry of the Goſpel comes to be effectual for the converſion and ſalvation of Souls. Therefore ſaith Chriſt, I will ſend the Comforter to you, the Holy Ghoſt, and he ſhall convince the World of Sin, he ſhall make the Word that you preach efficacious to further the ſalvation of Souls.
3. That as the Miniſtry of the Goſpel alone of it ſelf cannot, ſo neither will the Holy Ghoſt work efficaciouſly and ſavingly to the converſion and ſalvation of Souls without the Miniſtry of the Goſpel. Chriſt doth not ſay the Spirit alone ſhall work effectually, and convertingly, and ſavingly, no, but with your Miniſtry. It was therefore ſpoken for their Comfort, the Spirit ſhall come along with your Miniſtry, and ſhall work effectually, and convincingly, and ſavingly.
4. It is matter of exceeding great and unſpeakable Conſolation and Joy to the faithful Servants of Chriſt, that their Miniſtery through the Operation of the Spirit is made efficacious and effectual for the convincing and converting and ſaving of any Soul. Briefly to run over theſe things.
1. That the Miniſtration of the Goſpel is the ordinary Means of the Converſion and Salvation of Souls. And therefore hence it is that the Goſpel is called ſometimes the Word of Salvation, Acts 13.26. To you is this Word of Salvation ſent; the Word of Salvation, that is the Goſpel; and ſometimes 'tis called the Goſpel of Salvation, Epheſ. 1.13. The Goſpel of your Salvation, ſaith he; and ſometimes 'tis called Salvation it ſelf, Heb. 2.3. How ſhall we eſcape if we neglect ſo great Salvation? If we neglect the Goſpel we cannot eſcape damnation: The Goſpel is called Salvation, beauſe 'tis the Inſtrument and the means of converſion and ſalvation. And hence it is that people are ſaid to be begotten and born again unto God by the Goſpel. Saith Paul to the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 4.15. Though you have ten thouſand Inſtructors in Chriſt, yet you have not many Fathers; for in Chriſt Jeſus I have begotten you through the Goſpel; I have begotten you, ſaith he, to be Children of God by the Goſpel. So Paul writing to Philemon concerning Oneſimus, at the 10th verſe, ſaith he, Receive him, for I have begotten him in my bonds. Paul was then a priſoner, and Oneſimus ran away from his Maſter Philemon, and came to Paul, and he was an inſtrument to beget him again to God by the Goſpel; ſo ſaith the Apoſtle to the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 15.1, 2. The Goſpel by which you are ſaved — And ſo the Apoſtle James calls it the Word of Truth, whereby Souls are begotten to God, Cap. 1.8. And ſo Peter alſo, ſaith, Ye are born again by the incorruptible ſeed, the Word, namely, the Word of the Goſpel. So that the Holy Ghoſt doth teſtify to us that the Goſpel is the Means of the Converſion and Salvation of Souls.
Queſtion.
And why ſo I pray? Whence is the Goſpel, the means of the Converſion and Salvation of Souls?
Anſwer.
In a word, it is from hence, namely, Becauſe God hath ſo ordained it and appointed it; It pleaſed God, ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 1.21. by the fooliſhneſs of Preaching to ſave thoſe that believe. God hath appointed and ordained the Goſpel, and the preaching of it, to be a means for the Converſion and Salvation of Souls; It pleaſed God by the fooliſhneſs of Preaching, not that the Apoſtle calls it fooliſhneſs, but he ſpeaks after the manner of the World, after the account and eſteem that the World had of the preaching of the Goſpel: As now, Cannot we as well read a Chapter at home, and edify our ſelves at home by reading of a Chapter, or reading ſome good Sermons, better than we can Hear? And therefore… is it not a ſimple, weak, fooliſh thing for us to ſpend our time ſo? But, ſaith the Apoſtle, count it fooliſhneſs if you will, It pleaſed God to ordain by this way of fooliſhneſs as the World counts it; It pleaſed God by the fooliſhneſs of Preaching to ſave them that believe; 'Tis that that God ordains, and appoints, and inſtitutes for that end, and that's the reaſon it is a means of Converſion and Salvation, though it be a fooliſh thing to carnal reaſon to come and hear a man ſpeak a little time, and think this to be a means of Converſion and Salvation; but though it be ſo fooliſh a thing, yet this is the way and means that God hath appointed whereby Souls ſhould be converted and ſaved.
Queſtion.
But, I pray, How is the Miniſtry of the Goſpel a Means of Converſion and Salvation?
Anſwer.
Briefly; for I muſt not inlarge, The Goſpel is a Means of Converſion and Salvation (namely) partly by diſcovering or convincing People where they are out of the way of Salvation; as in the Text, I will ſend the Comforter, and he ſhall convince the World of Sin, of their ſinful Eſtate, and how they are out of the Way of Salvation, and doth diſcover and convince them, and ſhew them the right way; and alſo the Goſpel is a means to open and enlighten the Underſtandings of People, to open their blind Eyes; as Chriſt told Paul, when he ſent him to preach the Goſpel, Acts 26.18. Go, ſaith he, I have ſent thee to open the Eyes of them that are blind, and to turn them from Darkneſs to Light; that is, by the Miniſtry of the Goſpel. The Goſpel is a Means to open peoples Eyes, to turn them from Darkneſs to Light, to make them ſee that they are in a ſtate of Darkneſs, to make them ſee that there is a glorious Light held forth in the Goſpel: as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, 1 Pet. 2.9. Who hath called you out of Darkneſs into his marvelous Light; This is that the Goſpel is a Means of, and ſo it brings to a ſtate of Salvation. And again, the Goſpel is a Means to deliver people from the power of the Devil; every one naturally is in the power of Satan, he rules and works in all the Children of Unbelief; Now the Goſpel is a means to bring Souls from under the power of Satan; and ſo Chriſt told Paul in that 26th of Acts, I have ſent thee (ſaith he) to turn them from Darkneſs to Light, and from the power of Satan to God. The Goſpel is a Means of that; therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 10.4. The Weapons of our Warfare are not carnal, but mighty, through God, to the pulling down of ſtrong holds, to beat down the Batteries, and Caſtles, and Fortifications that Satan builds; it is mighty to pull down the power of Satan, and ſo by that means to bring a Soul into a State of Converſion and Salvation. And alſo the Goſpel is the Means to work faith in the heart, to cauſe a Soul to believe on Chriſt, 'tis a means of that, and ſo by that means the Soul comes to be juſtified, and freed from the guilt of Sin. Faith, ſaith the Apoſtle, cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God, Rom. 10.17. Faith cometh by hearing the Goſpel preached; God is pleaſed to make uſe of the preaching of the Goſpel to work Faith in the Souls of poor Sinners, and by working Faith in their Souls, drawing them unto Chriſt. Now by believing in Chriſt they come to have remiſſion of Sins, as Chriſt told Paul in that of the Acts, To turn them from Darkneſs to Light, from the power of Satan to God, that they might receive Forgiveneſs of Sins, and an inheritance among them that are ſanctified, and all by Faith in Chriſt: So that I ſay, the Goſpel is the means ordained and appointed of God for the Salvation of Souls; and therefore let no body think that the Miniſtry of the Goſpel is a needleſs thing, as many are ready to think in their minds, that of all the Callings in the World the Miniſtry of the Goſpel may be beſt ſpared. Truly, if ſo be that the Salvation of Souls be not neceſſary, then the Calling of Miniſters to their Office, and their preaching of the Goſpel, may be ſpared, but you ſee Chriſt hath appointed it to be the means of Converſion and Salvation; and therefore, whatever people may think ſecretly in their minds that we may edifie our ſelves by reading a Chapter, and meditating upon it, by reading of good Books, and what need we to trouble o…r ſelves to wait upon the Miniſtry of the Goſpel? Truly know this, That the Fooliſhneſs of God is wiſer than the Wiſdom of Man: God hath pleaſed to ordain and appoint the Miniſtry of the Goſpel to be the means of Converſion and Salvation, and therefore if the Converſion of Souls be neceſſary, then the preaching of the Goſpel is neceſſary; therefore let us take heed we do not neglect attending upon the Goſpel, and the preaching of the Goſpel as we would be loth to neglect our own Salvation. That is the firſt, That the Goſpel is the Means of working a ſaving and converting Work upon the Souls of Men.
2. The ſecond is, That the Goſpel alone of it ſelf cannot work a ſaving and converting Work upon any Soul; no, there muſt be the Operation of the Spirit of Chriſt, that muſt go along with the Gſopel, or elſe the Goſpel will never be able to work any ſaving converting Work upon any Soul; 'tis true indeed, the Goſpel is the Word of Salvation; Ay, ſaith the Apoſtle, Rom. 1.16. It is the Power of God to Salvation; Ay, where the power of God goeth along with it, it works Salvation by the power of the Spirit of God, 1 Cor. 13.4. The Weapons of our Warfare are mighty through God, ſaith the Apoſtle; not mighty in themſelves. The Weapons of our Warfare, what is that? The Miniſtry of the Goſpel, the Preaching of the Goſpel is mighty, but it is mighty through God to the pulling down of Strong Holds. Alas! of it ſelf it cannot, the Goſpel of it ſelf is but a weak Letter; but where the Power of the Spirit goes along with it, it is mighty, mighty through God, mighty to convince, and mighty to convert, and mighty to ſave; therefore the Goſpel is compared to a Sword, and it is called the Sword of the Spirit, Eph. 6.17. Take to you the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; It is a Sword that cannot do good, except it be wielded by the hand of the Spirit of God: It is not now as a natural cauſe to effect any thing; as now our Food is a natural cauſe, ſanctified and ordained by God as a natural cauſe of nouriſhment. Phyſick is ordained as a natural Cauſe of health; but 'tis not ſo with the Word, the Miniſtry of the Word is but as a Tool or Inſtrument in a Workmans hand, in a Carpenter or Joyners hand; the Tool of it ſelf cannot work, the Word of it ſelf cannot work, but as it is in the Workmans hand, ſo it works. Truly ſo, the Sword of the Spirit, in the hand of the Spirit, that will work to the convincing and converting, and ſaving of a Soul, otherwiſe it cannot do it; no, it is but weak in it ſelf; even as a Sword that cannot move or lift up it ſelf: but now in the hand of the Spirit the Spirit, the Goſpel is mighty to open the underſtanding, to open the heart. We read the heart of Lydia was opened when ſhe heard Paul preach, but it was not Pauls preaching, but the Spirits going along with it, that did open her heart, and ſhe attended to what was ſpoken by Paul; and ſo the Spirit with the Word is mighty to draw a Soul to Chriſt, not the Word alone; no, ſaith Chriſt, John 5.44, 45. No man can come unto me, except the Father draw him; that is, there muſt be the mighty Power of the Spirit of God concurring, to work with the Word, to draw and perſwade and convince by the Word, and then it works. And ſo the Spirit with the Word will cauſe a Soul to grow and encreaſe in a Spiritual Eſtate. Paul may plant, and Apollos may water, but it is the Lord muſt give the encreaſe to make the growth. So it is, one may preach, and another may preach, but ſtill there muſt be the concurrance and work of the Spirit, or elſe all our preaching will be but like the watering of a dead plant; but the Spirit of the Lord muſt come and be preſent, and then our preaching, our planting and watering may be bleſſed for thoſe ends for which God hath appointed it: And the reaſon is this, That without the Spirit of God, the Word, though it be ordained of God to be a Means of Converſion and Salvation, yet the Word alone without the Spirit cannot do it, becauſe the Miniſtry of the Word is too weak to make an Impreſſion upon our hard hearts.
Take a Seal, and ſet it upon a Rock or Stone, it makes no Impreſſion, Why? Becauſe there is no pliableneſs in the Rock or Stone to receive the Impreſſion: Thus it is with our hearts; our hearts are naturally like ſo many Stones; therefore ſee what the Lord promiſes, To take away the heart of Stone, and to give a heart of Fleſh; a ſoft heart, the hardneſs of it ſhall be taken away; that when the Word comes as a Seal to make an Impreſſion upon the heart, the Spirit doth change the heart, and makes it pliable to receive the Impreſſion, which othewiſe it could not do. You may as well make an Impreſſion upon a Rock or Stone, as upon any Heart, till the Spirit come and ſoften the heart, and make it pliable to receive the impreſſion of the Word; and therefore hence you may obſerve, That ſometimes, when divers hear the ſame Word preached, there are diverſity of effects in the ſame hearers hearing the ſame Word, ſome are converted, and others not; ſome believe, and others not. As Acts 17. When Paul had been preaching to them, Verſe 32, 34. When they heard of the Reſurrection of the dead, ſome mocked, and others ſaid, We will hear thee again of this matter: Howbeit certain clave to him, and believed. Ay, ſome received the Goſpel, and others not; ſome believed, and others not.
As I remember, 'tis ſaid, Acts 28.24. Some believed the things that were ſpoken, and ſome believed not; And, What is the Reaſon? The Spirit doth work effectually with the Goſpel upon ſome hearts, but not upon others; that is the reaſon that ſome believed, and ſome believed not. And hence it is again, that ſometimes ſome are more hardned by the very word of the Goſpel: So far from being converted and brought into a ſtate of Salvation, that they are more hardned and ſet further off, nearer to their damnation. What is the reaſon? Becauſe there wants the preſence of the Spirit, and therefore you ſhall ſee Iſa. 6.9. ſaith the Lord to the Prophet (he was an Evangelical Prophet) Go, (ſaith the Lord) make this peoples heart hard; go and harden their hearts, that they may hear, and not underſtand, that they may not be converted and ſaved; Let their hearts be more hardned, ſaith God, by hearing the Goſpel preached: nay ſometimes, what is the reaſon that the moſt eminent ableſt Preacher of the Goſpel in the World; that their Miniſtry is ſometimes leſs efficacious than the Miniſtry of them that are far inferiour to them? what is the reaſon? Becauſe the Concurrence of the Spirit goeth along with the one and not with the other. You ſhall ſee Chriſt himſelf▪ the moſt eminent Preacher that ever was under Heaven, John 22.36, 37. He preaches there; and though he did Miracles before them, yet they believed not on him; that the ſaying of Iſaiah the Prophet might be fulfilled, Lord, who hath believed our Report? and to whom hath the Arm of the Lord been revealed; And therefore they could not believe, becauſe, Iſaiah ſaith again, He hath blinded their Eyes, and hardned their hearts — Theſe things, ſaid Iſaiah, when he ſaw his glory and ſpake of him; when he ſaw the glory of Chriſt, when he was moſt Evangelical in his Miniſtry, then he ſpake theſe Words, whereas Peter now, that was far inferiour to Chriſt, having the preſence of the Spirit mightily poured down upon him, Acts 2. (where the Holy Ghoſt fell down upon the Apoſtles like ſo many fiery cloven tongues.) Peter preached to them, and he converted three thouſand Souls at one Clap, becauſe of the powerful preſence of the Spirit together with the Word. Therefore, Brethren, ſtill let us not ſatisfy our ſelves with hearing the Goſpel preached, though we had the moſt eminent preacher that ever was in the World, though we ſhould have heard Chriſt himſelf, but look for the Concurrence of the Spirit, the breathings of the Spirit, wait upon God for the communicating and giving out of his Spirit, that they may make the Goſpel to be the Miniſtration, not of the Letter, but of the Spirit, for it is the Spirits Work to make the Goſpel effectual and operative for the Converſion and Salvation of Souls.
3. In a Word, that, As the Preaching of the Goſpel of it ſelf cannot convert, or ſave any Soul, So neither will the Holy Ghoſt without the Concurrence and preaching of the Goſpel. You heard before that the Preaching of the Goſpel cannot do it alone; But cannot the Spirit? will not the Spirit do it alone? It can do it alone indeed, But mark I pray, the Spirit will not ordinarily convince and convert effectually and ſavingly any Soul without the Miniſtration of the Goſpel: To give you but a Scripture or two for this, Acts 9. You ſee there Chriſt himſelf ſpeaks to Paul; you know how he met with him as he was going to Damaſcus, to perſecute the Saints, and Chriſt ſpake immediately to him, Saul, Saul, why perſecuteſt thou me? well, who art thou, Lord? ſaith he; I am Jeſus, whom thou perſecuteſt; Well, Verſe 6. You ſhall ſee, ſaith Paul, Lord, What wouldeſt thou have me to do? Mark now, Chriſt doth not preach the Goſpel immediately himſelf, but he ſends him to one to preach to him; Go into Damaſcus, and there it ſhall be told thee what thou ſhalt do; and there Chriſt ſent Ananias to preach the Goſpel to him; Chriſt himſelf would not preach the Goſpel from Heaven to him, nor he would not convert nor ſave his Soul without the Miniſtration of the Goſpel. And look into Acts 10. See there concerning Cornelius, there was an Angel from Heaven ſent to him, he had been faſting and praying, and that hour there came an Angel of God to him to tell him that God had heard his Prayers, and accepted his Alms, but why may not the Angel preach the Goſpel immediately? No, the Lord would have the Goſpel diſpenſed in an ordinary way of preaching, not by an Angel from Heaven, therefore Verſe 5. And now ſend men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whoſe Surname is Peter, and he ſhall tell thee words whereby thou and thy houſe ſhall be ſaved, he ſhall preach the Goſpel effectually to you; and you ſhall ſee afterwards, Verſe 33. Immediately therefore I ſent to thee, and thou haſt done well that thou art come: now therefore are we all here preſent before God to hear thee; and Verſe 44. Whileſt Peter ſpake theſe Words, the Holy Ghoſt fell on all them which heard the Word. Why did not the Angel himſelf preach the Goſpel to Cornelius? Why was not he an Inſtrument of his Converſion and Salvation? no, the Holy Ghoſt will not work alone without the ordinary concurrence of the Miniſtration of the Goſpel, and therefore look at it as a deluſion of Satan, if ſo be that upon any pretence whatſoever, any ſhall endeavour to take you off from attending upon the Miniſtry of the Goſpel upon pretence of the Spirit, that the Spirit ſhall anoint us and teach us all things —. Well, look upon it as a Deluſion of Satan, if it be to take you off from attending upon the Miniſtery of the Goſpel which is the ordinary way that God hath appointed; and take this for an univerſal Rule, That whatever it be that tends to take any people off from any Ordinance of God, or any Inſtitution of God, look at it as a deluſion of Satan, let it be under any pretence whatſoever; as now, to take one off from Duties and Ordinances, to wait till the Spirit come immediately to inſpire — look upon it as a Deluſion, becauſe it tends to take you off from the ordinary Inſtitutions that God hath appointed. So, you ſee the Goſpel is the Means of Converſion and Salvation, the Goſpel without the Spirit cannot do it, and the Spirit without the Goſpel will not do it.
4. The fourth thing is this, That it is a matter of unſpeakable Joy and Conſolation to the faithfull Servants of Chriſt, that their diſpenſing of the Goſpel through the Concurrence of the Spirit is made effectual for the Converſion and Salvation of any Soul. Ay, ſaith Chriſt here; this ſhall be inſtead of my bodily preſence with you, and it ſhall be as comfortable to you. You are now troubled and ſorrowful becauſe I am going away from you, but I will ſend the Comforter to you, and the Comforter ſhall aſſiſt you in your Miniſtry, and make it ſucceſsful to convince and convert and ſave Souls, and Chriſt would have them, to look upon it as equivalent to his own bodily preſence, and would be matter of greater Joy and Conſolation to them. Look into Verſe 12, 22 of this Chapter, ſaith Chriſt, You are now ſad and ſorrowful, but I tell you, (ſaith He) the time is coming that your ſorrows ſhall be forgotten: The ſorrows that you have upon my departure ſhall be forgotten, they ſhall be ſwallowed up with Joy and Conſolation: Look, ſaith he, as it is with a Woman when ſhe draweth near the time of her Travail, when her pains begin to come upon her, then ſhe is ſad and ſorrowful, but, ſaith he, when ſhe is delivered, ſhe forgetteth her ſorrow, for Joy that a man-child is born —: ſo ſhall it be with you. Thus Chriſt comforts his Diſciples againſt his going away, they ſhould have ſuch matter of rejoycing that ſhould ſwallow up all their ſorrows, they ſhould have the preſence of the Spirit, and their Miniſtry ſhould be efficacious and ſucceſsful for the converting of Souls, and Chriſt did ſpeak it from his own experience, John 4. When he was ſpeaking to the Woman of Samaria, he ſent his Diſciples into the City to buy food, for he was hungry, and when he ſat down weary on the Well, he asked a little water of the woman, and ſo fell a diſcourſing and convincing of the woman that ſhe lived in Adultery, and converted the woman, and when his Diſciples came, Maſter, ſay they, here is meat to eat: Meat, ſaith he, I have that which is better than meat, I have meat to eat which you know not of; my Meat is to do the Will of my Father; here is my joy and rejoycing to convert Souls. Meat is matter of great joy to an hungry man, if you give him all the World, if he have not meat it is nothing; ſaith Chriſt, I take more joy and delight in converting of Souls, than I do in eating when I am an hungry. And you ſhall ſee how the Apoſtle Paul doth rejoyce in this, that he was an Inſtrument in converting and ſaving of Souls, he writing to the Theſſalonians, 1 Epiſt. 2.19, 20. For what is our Joy, or Hope, or Crown of rejoycing? are not even ye in the preſence of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt at his coming? for ye are our Glory and our Joy; ye (ſaith he) are the Top of my Joy, the Crown of my Joy; Paul had been an Inſtrument to convert them by the preaching of the Goſpel, and, ſaith he, ye are the top of my glory and rejoycing; So, 2 Theſſ. 2.13, 14. We are bound to give God thanks always for you, my Brethren, and Beloved in the Lord; becauſe God hath from the beginning choſen you unto Salvation, through the Sanctification of the Spirit, and Belief of the Truth, whereunto he called you by my Goſpel, to the obtaining the Glory of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt: Saith he, we are always bound to give thanks to God for you; Ay, here is matter of Joy and Rejoycing. And truly ſo, though Paul did meet with Afflictions, Tribulations, and Perſecutions for preaching of the Goſpel, yet notwithſtanding he made nothing of all his troubles, ſufferings and ſorrows, in regard he did but finiſh his Courſe with Joy. If he have but this Joy and Conſolation, I care not, ſaith he, what troubles or afflictions do abide me, Acts 20.24. The Holy Ghoſt witneſſeth in every City, that bonds and afflictions abide me; but none of theſe things move me, neither count I my life dear unto my ſelf, ſo that I may finiſh my Courſe with Joy and the Miniſtry which I have received of the Lord Jeſus. If I can but preach the Goſpel, ſaith he, and be an Inſtrument to convert Souls, this is the Joy of my heart, let my life go for it. And it is a very high expreſſion which the Apoſtle John hath Epiſt. 3. Verſe 4. ſaith he there, I have no greater joy, (mark) the Apoſtle John that had ſuch Communion with Chriſt; Yet ſaith he, I have no greater joy than to hear that my Children walk in the Truth; Thoſe that he had been a means and Inſtrument to convert by his preaching, now to ſee that their converſion was true and real by their continuing in the truth: I have no greater Joy in this world, ſaith he; And why ſo, I pray? Why ſhould this be ſuch a matter of Joy and rejoycing to the hearts of the faithful Servants that their Miniſtry is made effectual for the Converſion of Souls?
1. Upon this Account, becauſe, Here is a Sign and Token that God hath bleſſed their Miniſtry, that the Bleſſing of God from Heaven hath been upon their labours: and I pray let me appeal to your ſelves, is it not matter of Comfort Joy and Rejoycing to you that you find your labours and indeavours to have any Succeſs, to be bleſſed of God? As now, take a Nurſe that brings up a Child, and ſhe ſees the child begins to thrive by her ſuckling of it, and it is the Joy and Rejoycing of her heart; as on the other ſide, if ſhe ſee the Child pine away, and doth not proſper, 'tis the grief of her heart, when ſhe takes all this pains and no good comes of it. When you plant and ſow ſeed, if you take any pains in your Orchard or Garden in grafting and the like, and you find that your labour is made fruitful, is it not a Comfort to you to go into your Garden, and ſee the ſeed that you have ſown flouriſh and come up? It is rejoycing to you; and much more is it to the hearts of the faithful Servants of Chriſt that their labours in the Miniſtry are bleſſed and made fruitful and ſucceſsful; becauſe now here is the more immediate preſence of God upon their labours, here is the bleſſing, the bleſſing of God doth more immediately appear in their labours. Now in ſowing of Seed there is inſtrumental means and cauſes of its growing, there is Dew, and Showers, and Rain from Heaven, there is the influence of the Sun, the fatneſs of the Soil, that concur to cauſe it grow; but now there is much againſt the Miniſtry of the Word to work upon the heart; there is the corruption of the heart, and the temptations of Satan and the World, and all to hinder the Goſpel from taking effect, but now when the Lord makes the Goſpel to take effect, to become efficacious to the Converſion of Souls, of poor Creatures, here is now the bleſſing of Heauen upon his labours, and now he hath cauſe to rejoyce greatly that God is with him, and hath bleſſed his labours, and now God doth own him as a Fellow-Labourer together with himſelf, We are Workers together with God, ſaith the Apoſtle, We are Gods Husband men, and we are planting for God, and God goes along with us and cooperates with us; what a mighty cauſe of rejoycing is this? that we have the preſence of God with us, and the bleſſing of God upon us; nay, it is an argument and token that God owns their Miniſtry and labour, and he ſeals their Miniſtry and Labour, as the Apoſtle ſaith, Ye are the Seal of our Miniſtry; this is I ſay matter of great Joy and Conſolation in regard it is a Sign and Token that God hath bleſſed the Labours of his Servants, and owned their Miniſtry.
2. 'Tis a matter of great Joy and Conſolation, becauſe now, Here is a Teſtimony that Jeſus Chriſt in Heaven and in his Glory is mindful of his poor Servants here below in the World, he doth mind and remember ſuch a poor Servant of his, that labours in his Name, and doth ſend down the Spirit to accompany him in his Labours; as Chriſt ſaid here to his Diſciples, I will ſend the Comforter and he ſhall aſſiſt you, and I will remember you, when I am in Heaven, I will not forget you. Thus Chriſt now ſends down the Comforter, the Spirit from Heaven to aſſiſt ſuch a poor Miniſter in his labours and endeavours; what matter of Conſolation is this to think that Chriſt from Heaven ſends down his Spirit to co-operate with him in his indeavours? What matter of Joy and Conſolation is this? Take but one more.
3. It muſt needs be matter of great Joy and Conſolation to the faithful Servants of Chriſt, to think that the Lord ſhould pleaſe to make uſe of ſuch as they are to be Inſtruments in his hands to pull down the Kingdome of the Devil, and to inlarge the Kingdom of Chriſt; That the Devils Kingdom and power ſhould go down, and that Souls ſhould be drawn out of his Kingdom by the Labours of his poor Servants, what Joy is this? When Chriſt ſent his Diſciples to preach, Luke 10.17, 18 it is ſaid, They returned again rejoycing, ſaying, The Devils are ſubject to us: Ay, ſaith Chriſt, I beheld Satan fall down from Heaven like Lightning. Where the Goſpel comes, there goes ſuch a Preſence of the Spirit with the preaching thereof that Sathan goes down, and poor Souls are brought out from under his power and Dominion; as you know Chriſt told Paul, that he ſhould be inſtrumental to turn people from darkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan to God; though they be under the Kingdom and Power of the Devil, yet by the preaching of the Goſpel, when the Spirit concurs and goes along with it, poor Souls are tranſlated from the Kingdom of Satan into the Kingdom of his dear Son, Col. 1.15. Now what Joy and Comfort muſt this needs be to the hearts of the faithful Servants of Chriſt? that the Lord ſhould pleaſe to make them Inſtruments in his own hands to pull down the Kingdom of the Devil and to inlarge his own Kingdom, that ſuch ſhall be added to the Lord as ſhall be ſaved? I ſay it muſt needs be matter of Joy and Rejoycing: But I would haſten to an end. Briefly therefore by way of Application.
Application. And here I might in the firſt place take occaſion to ſpeak a Word of Direction to the Miniſters of Chriſt, if it were a fit place and ſeaſon, namely, to direct us how we may ſo preach that we may have moſt Joy and Conſolation. The faithfull Servants of Chriſt have more Joy and Conſolation by being inſtrumental for the Converſion and Salvation of Souls, than by all that ever the People of their Congregation can do for them; If they may be inſtrumental in the Lords hand for their Converſion and Salvation, this is more Joy and Conſolation to them, than any thing in the World can be. Chriſt tells his Diſciples that this would be matter of Joy and Rejoycing to their Hearts when he was gone from them, therefore we ſhould ſeek to convert and ſave Souls, we ſhould do, as the Apoſtle ſaith, I ſeek not yours, but you; we ſhould ſeek the Converſion and Salvation of Souls, and therefore we ſhould be preaching of Faith and of Repentance, as the Apoſtle Paul ſaith of himſelf, Faith in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and Repentance towards God, whereby poor Souls may be converted and ſaved: And we had need be much in pleading with God for the Spirit, that the Spirit of the Lord may go along with our Miniſtry: Our Sermons had need to be watered and ſoaked in earneſt prayer for the Spirit.
2. Here is now a mighty Word of Encouragement unto poor Souls to be ready to entertain and receive the Goſpel, and the Miniſtration of it; to be ready ſo to receive it into your hearts as it may be a good Word of Converſion and Salvation to your Souls. Ay, this would be matter of Joy and Rejoycing to the Servants of Chriſt more than all that ever you can do for them, if they may be but inſtrumental for the Converſion and Salvation of your Souls, it will be more Comfort and joy to them than all the World beſides; Joy to them, Ay, it will be Joy to the very Angels in Heaven, Luk. 15.10, 11. There ſhall be Joy in Heaven over one Ein… that repents — The Angels of Heaven obſerve how you come into the Congregation, they obſerve your Carriage, and how you take the Word, and what impreſſion it makes upon your hearts to Co…v…ction and Converſion, and Salvation, it is the Joy and Rejoycing of the Angels in Heaven to … a poor Soul brought in by the Miniſtry of the Goſpel…; and do not you think, you your ſelves will have as much cauſe of Joy and Rejoycing? Whereas on the other ſide, if ſo be the poor Servants of Chriſt do come and take pains; they ſtudy, and labour, and hold forth the Word of the Goſpel to you, and people come and receive it into their ears, and not into their hearts; no good done upon them, but they remain as carnal, as worldly and unbelieving as before, and they ſee no fruit of their Miniſtry; this is the grief of their hearts and Souls, they labour and labour and queſtion whether the Lord doth own their Miniſtry or no; they have cauſe to complain as the Prophet Iſa. 49.6. I have laboured in vain, I have ſpent my Strength for naught and in vain. So the poor Servants of Chriſt go with a dead heart into their Studies, and come to preach with a ſad heart, when they ſee no good done, no ſaving Work wrought; this is a very Cut to their hearts and Souls, and they would rather (if they might have their wills) ceaſe mentioning of the Name of Chriſt to people. Therefore let it be the deſire, and endeavour, and care of people ſo to hear and receive the Word into their hearts that it may become effectual, and an Inſtrument in the Lords hand for the Converſion and Salvation of their Souls.
Objection.
But you will ſay, Is it in our power (I know you think ſo in your hearts) to make the Word convincing, and converting, and ſaving?
Anſwer.
I do not ſay 'tis in your power, but thus much I may ſay, you may oppoſe and reſiſt the ſaving Work of the Goſpel upon your hearts; and therefore to be found waiting upon the Lord in his way you cannot tell but the Lord may make the Goſpel effectual to you for your Converſion and Salvation. And therefore let me commend three or four Words by way of Direction in this caſe, and ſo I ſhall leave all to the bleſſing of God.
Do you deſire to have the Word of God made effectual for the convincing and converting and ſaving of your Souls? Then
1. Be much and earneſt in praying for the Spirit to go along with the Preaching of the Word into your hearts and Souls; Ay, pray much for that, O! before you come you ſhould be careful to wreſtle with God for the preſence of the Spirit to go along.
I fear, Brethren, that people are careleſs in this Point, they come reeking out of the World and from their buſineſs, and never wreſtle with the Lord for the preſence of his Spirit to aſſiſt the Preaching of the Word, that it may become effectual and profitable to your Souls, and ſo you go away as you come. Therefore I ſay, as the Apoſtle, Jude v. 24. Be building up your ſelves in your moſt holy Faith. But how ſhall we build up our ſelves in our moſt holy Faith? how ſhall we do it? why, ſaith he, Praying in the Holy Ghoſt, that is the way: Beg earneſtly for the Spirit, for the Holy Ghoſt to accompany the Word, and make the Word profitable and effectual to you. That is one Direction, I do but name it, I pray remember it.
2. As we do deſire to have the Word made effectual for Conviction, Converſion, and Salvation to our Souls, Then attend upon the Preaching of the Goſpel as the Lords Ordinance, for that very End that he hath appointed it, namely, for Converſion and Salvation. This is the very End for which God hath appointed the Preaching of the Goſpel, to be a ſaving Word, a Word of Salvation to poor Souls, that is the very End of the Goſpel, it is appointed for that End. Eph. 4.11, 12. ſaith the Apoſtle, Chriſt when he aſcended up on high, he gave Gifts to men, Miniſterial Gifts, he gave Paſtors, and Teachers, for the edifying of the Body, for the bringing home of Souls to the Body, for the perfecting of the Saints: So that thoſe that are Saints ſhould ſtill attend upon the Goſpel for more edifying, for the ſaving work to be carried on. This is the very Intendment of the Preaching of the Goſpel, God hath ordained it for this end and purpoſe, therefore wait upon it for that end, attend upon it as the Word of God which he hath appointed for that end. 1 Theſſ. 2.13. We are always bound to give thanks to God for you, beloved Brethren, becauſe when you heard the Word, you received it not as the Word of man, but as it is indeed the Word of God, which worketh effectually in them that believe. Ay, receive it as the Word, and the Word of God, for that End that God hath appointed it, and through the preſence of the Spirit it will become effectual. Mark how it wrought in Cornelius and his Family, Acts 10. Cornelius was directed to ſend for Peter to preach to him, and Cornelius in the mean time had gathered together the Congregation, his Friends and Relations; he had got them together that they might hear the Goſpel as well as himſelf, when Peter came he preached Chriſt to them; Now, ſaith Cornelius, we are all here before the Lord, to hear whatever God hath directed thee to ſpeak to us, we are here to attend upon it as the very Word of God; and Peter opened his mouth and preached the Goſpel to them, and it is ſaid The Holy Ghoſt fell upon them all that heard it, v. 44. and then ſaith Peter, verſe 47. Can any man forbid Water that theſe ſhould not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghoſt as well as we. Attending upon the Preaching of the Goſpel as Gods Ordinance and Inſtitution, for ſaving ends and purpoſes, for Converſion, and Edification, and Salvation; this is the way whereby we may have the Goſpel made effectual to us, we ſhall be brought to receive it, and receiving of it, we ſhall be brought into a ſtate of Salvation▪ and further built up in our moſt holy Faith: That is the ſecond Direction.
3. Receive the Miniſtration of the Goſpel with humility of Spirit, and meekneſs, I ſay, receive it with all humility and meekneſs of Spirit, that is the way whereby it may be made effectual to Salvation. When people come and ſay, they can tell as much as the Miniſter can tell them, and they had as good ſtay at home, and read a good Book: and not c…ming to it as Gods Ordinance, with a teachable frame of Spirit, being willing to hear what the Lord will ſay, how can the Word become effectual? but now when a Soul comes with meekneſs of Spirit, to hear what the Lord will ſay, and then as Pſal. 25.9. The Lord will teach the meek, and ſaith the Apoſtle, James 1.21. Receive with meekneſs the ingrafted Word, which is able to ſave your Souls; receive it with meekneſs, with an humble Spirit, to receive whatſoeever the Lord ſhall pleaſe to direct his Servants to ſpeak. And let me add but one thing more, and I will have done, and that is this.
4. Be careful to receive the Word and Truth in the Love of it, and to mixe it with Faith. Receive it in the Love of it. Truly, if ſo be we have no Love to the Truth, and the Word, when we come to attend upon it, it may be juſt with God to give us up to believe Lies; as that hath been the very Judgment of God upon the Antichriſtian World for theſe 1200 years together for this very Sin, for not receiving the Truth in the love of it, 2 Theſſ 2.11, 12, 13. Becauſe they received not the Truth in the Love of it, therefore God gave them up to ſtrong deluſions to believe Lies. And Antichriſt hath prevailed to this Day, upon that very account. Therefore remember, that we be ready to receive the Truth in the Love of it, as to ſay, This is a Truth of God, and though I have heard it before, yet it is a Truth, and the Lord would have this Truth ſpoken to me, and I muſt receive it in the Love of it, and then mix it with Faith, H…b. 4.2. They had the Goſpel preached to them as well as we, and The Word preached did not profit them that heard it, why? becauſe they did not mixe it with Faith in their hearts; What is this mixing the Word with Faith? Truly, when the Lord perſwades the Heart to receive whatever is ſpoken, as ſpoken from the Lord to me, this Word the Lord doth intend for me, and makes a particular application of it, this is the proper work of Faith, to apply the word ſpoken to our ſelves, as ſpoken from the Lord to us: And thus the word cometh to be effectual through the Spirit, either in a way of Conviction, or Converſion, or for the Furtherance of the Salvation of the Souls of any. But thus much ſhall ſuffice at this time.