A Trial of Faith, Sermons · Sermon 10
Matth. 15. 24.
But he anſwered and ſaid, I am not ſent. but unto the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael.
SERMON X.
YOU have heard of this womans faith, and the firſt tryal of it: Chriſt tries her faith by being ſilent, and giving no anſwer unto her requeſt; it was a ſore temptation that the ſon of David, the merciful King ſhould not open his mouth, nor ſpeak one word for the refreſhment of a poor diſtreſſed creature: When ſhe poured out her complaint, he anſwer'd her not a word; that is a great temptation. You have heard alſo how the Diſciples ſtept in, and beſought Chriſt in her behalf, they came and beſought him that he would ſend her away with an anſwer, with an anſwer of peace, certainly that was their requeſt.
But behold here is a ſecond temptation, here is a ſecond trial of this womans faith: Chriſt firſt tries her by being ſilent, and now he tries her by ſpeaking a hard word as it ſeems, I am not ſent, but to the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael.
I am not ſent, Chriſt intimates that he had nothing to do with this woman, it was beſides his Commiſſion, I cannot do it ſaith Chriſt, I muſt walk by rule, I muſt obſerve my Fathers Commiſſion, I muſt do that work, and that work only which I was ſent for, but now I was not ſent, but to the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael, my work is to do good to a certain number of perſons, to ſhew mercy to a certain number of perſons, that are given me of my Father. He calls them here ſheep, Chriſts ſheep, I am ſent for their ſakes, and to do good to them, though termed ſheep: Now the Scripture holds them forth to be ſuch as were given him of his Father from Eternity, all that are given to Chriſt, are Chriſts ſheep, though they may not for the preſent have Chriſts mark upon them, though Chriſt does not own them before the world, yet he owns them before his Father; all that belong to the election of grace they are Chriſts ſheep, and Chriſt ſaith, he was ſent to ſuch, I am not ſent, but to the loſt ſheep, they are in a loſt condition, even that number of perſons that are given to Chriſt, they are loſt in Adam, and they have loſt themſelves by going on in the wayes of actual tranſgreſſion, they are in a miſerable loſt condition, Chriſts ſheep; but Chriſt was ſent to do good to them, Chriſt was ſent to ſave them; The Son of man came to ſeek and to ſave them which were loſt.
The loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael.
The houſe of Iſrael may here be taken literally, for the people of the Jews which are called the houſe of Iſrael. Chriſt tells the Diſciples and this woman, that his Commiſſion was to do good only to them, I am not ſent to others, I am only ſent to the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael, my work is with the Jews, I have nothing to do with the Gentiles; No, my work is to gather in the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael.
Queſt. But you will ſay, how doth this agree with other Scriptures, with thoſe propheſies that concern the Meſſias, our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that when he came he ſhould preach to the Gentiles, and that God would give him to be a Covenant to the Gentiles, Iſaiah 42. 1, 2, 6. And in divers places there are propheſies that concern the Gentiles, that when Chriſt came God would give him to be a light to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews? why then doth Christ ſay, he was not ſent but to the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael?
Anſw. Chriſt ſpake firſt of all, of his perſonal Ministry; as he preacht himſelf in perſon, and wrought miracles himſelf, ſo he was ſent unto the Jews, his word was to them, he was their Apoſtle, their Miniſter; ſo the Apoſtle to the Romans ſpeaks, Rom. 15. 8. Now I ſay that Jeſus Chriſt was a Miniſter of the Circumciſion for the truth of God, to confirm the promiſe made unto the Fathers. Chriſt was to preach in his own perſon to the Jews, he was their Miniſter; and ſo in that reſpect, he was not ſent, but to the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael.
Secondly, it may be ſaid that Chriſt was not ſent to the Gentiles, but to the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael, in reſpect of that order that God the Father had appointed for the diſpenſation of his light, and of his grace and Spirit among the ſons of men. God had appointed that firſt of all Chriſt ſhould come to the Jews, and mercy firſt ſhould be tendred to them, and grace be firſt brought to that people; ſo Chriſts firſt work was to the Jews, I am not ſent but to them, that is, I am firſt ſent to them, and chiefly ſent to them; my firſt work is here in Judea: The Apoſtle Paul ſaith, Chriſt did not ſend him to baptize, but to preach, 1 Cor. 1. 17. Chriſt ſent me not to baptize, but to preach the Goſpel; that is, I was firſt ſent about this work, for he was ſent to baptize, for he did baptize, but my firſt work was to preach. And ſo here, ſaith Chriſt, I was not ſent to the Gentiles, but to the Jews, that is firſtly and chiefly.
Thirdly, or in reſpect of time: It is true, Chriſt was not ſent, that is, he was not then ſent; his preſent work was not to preach to the Gentiles, and ſhew mercy to the Gentiles, no, but afterward: There was a time, when Chriſt did not go himſelf to the Gentiles, and did not ſhew mercy to the Gentiles; nay he forbad his Apoſtles and his Diſciples: Go not into the way of the Gentiles, but go ye rather to the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael. So that there was a time when it pleaſed the Lord not to ſend the Goſpel, but to reſtrain it from the Gentiles.
But there was a time alſo when Chriſt did ſend forth his glorious Goſpel to the Gentiles; ſo that you ſee in what reſpect Chriſt ſpeaks here, He was not ſent, but to the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael,
I am not ſent, but to the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael.
Here is a ſeeming denial that Chriſt gives to this woman; he ſeems to tell her plainly, that he cannot do it for her, it was beſides his preſent work and commiſſion, he was not ſent to do it; there is the denyal. Nay the tryal was the greater, in that Chriſt anſwers thus not only to the womans requeſt, but to the Diſciples requeſt; this heightens the temptation and tryal, and maketh it the greater: So long as this woman ſaw that the Diſciples were pleading for her ſhe might have hope, though there was no ground of hope as to her requeſt, Chriſt being ſilent thereunto, yet it might revive her ſpirit to ſee his Diſciples ſtep in, and they to improve their intereſt in Chriſt: But when Chriſt ſhall not only give a denial to the woman, but to the Diſciples, this was a ſore tryal: if the Lord had not mightily ſtrengthened her faith, ſhe could never have held up her head, ſhe would have concluded, oh alas, my eſtate and condition it is ſad, it is in vain for me to expect any ſalvation, any mercy, he is ſilent at my requeſt, and he gives a denyal, when his Diſciples pray for me; and if God will not hear his own people, why then ſurely my condition is ſad, thus lay the temptation, and yet the Lord ſupported this womans ſpirit.
So that we may obſerve this; That God ſometimes doth ſeem not only to be ſilent at the prayers of his people when they cry themſelves,Doctr. 1. but he giveth a denial when others ſtep in and pray for them.
Nay obſerve, That after a ſoul hath waited upon God in the uſe of the means,Doctr. 2. when it hath prayed and hath believed, and when it hath called in the help of others prayers, yet the Lord may ſeem to give a denial, and the condition may ſeem to be worſe, and the temptation ſeem to riſe higher even after a ſoul hath waited upon God in the uſe of means, and yet the Lord may have a gracious deſign towards the ſoul.
For mark it, this womans condition was worſe now then ever it was; the Diſciples had prayed for her, and yet even after this Chriſt ſeems to give a flat denial, and tells them that he cannot do it for her, it was beſides his commiſſion, he was not ſent to do it. So that after the uſe of means, after her own prayer, and the Diſciples prayer, this woman meets with a flat denial, and yet the Lord Jeſus had a deſign of mercy to this poor woman.
Yea, it is Gods ordinary way to his people after they have uſed the means to remove ſuch a burden, ſuch a temptation, ſuch a corruption, they have gone to the Lord, they have waited, they have believed, and called in the help of others, and yet temptations grow high, and yet notwithſtanding that, the Lord my have a deſign of mercy. The children of Iſrael when they were in the land of Egypt under bondage and ſlavery, they cried to the Lord, and the Lo… … Moſes to deliver them, and no doubt but … cried to the Lord as well as they, as they pr… ſo Moſes prayed, he prayed for them, and yet after Moſes was come, the people were not delivered, but their burdens and oppreſſions grew heavier and heavier, never ſo oppreſſed, as when Moſes came to deliver them, when they cried themſelves, and Moſes cried, and waited upon God in the uſe of means, yet their bondage grew greater and greater; ſo it was with them, and yet God had a deſign of mercy towards them.
And ſo in Mark 1. 23, 24, 25, 26. At ver. 23. you read of one that had an unclean Spirit: And there was in their Synagogue a man with an unclean Spirit, and be cried out,
Ver. 24. Saying, let us alone, what have we to do with thee, thou Jeſus of Nazareth? art thou come to deſtroy us? I know thee who thou art, the holy one of God.
Ver. 25. And Jeſus rebuked him, ſaying, hold thy peace and come out of him.
Ver. 26. And when the unclean Spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
Mark, when he applyed himſelf to Chriſt for deliverance, while Chriſt was ſpeaking the word, commanding the unclean ſpirit to go out, yet immediately the affliction begin to wax greater and greater, and the devil he rageth the more; and yet notwithſtanding mercy is not far off, Chriſt had a deſign of mercy: And ſo doth God deal many times with his own people upon the uſe of means; it is poſſible their afflictions may increaſe, their temptations may increaſe, and corruptions wax ſtronger and ſtronger, and yet God have a gracious deſign towards them, and deliverance may not be far off.
It is true,Satans deſign. that Satan he hath a deſign, and hath a hand in it; ah but God alſo hath a deſign, and Gods deſign is a gracious deſign.
Queſt. But you will ſay what is Satans deſign, and what doth Satan intend?
Anſw. Why, Satans deſign is firſt of all, to take off the ſoul from the uſe of the means, to make the ſoul undervalue the means, and to caſt off the means. Thus he tempts poor creatures that have prayed, and have met with no anſwer, but they are worſe; others have prayed for them, and yet they grow worſe and worſe, why then he perſwades to undervalue the means; for while a ſoul is thus waiting upon God in Gods way, mercy is not far off; therefore the Devils great deſign is to drive the ſoul out of Gods way. What is prayer? and why will ye pray any longer? you are never the better for your own prayers, nor the better for others prayers; and thus the Devil diſcourageth the ſoul from waiting upon God in the uſe of the means.
Secondly,Gods deſign. Satans deſign is, to drive the ſoul upon the rock of deſpair, to make a ſoul to caſt away his confidence: Why will you hope any longer, and pray any longer? you ſee all is in vain, God heareth not your prayers, God heareth not others for you; others have prayed and cried in your behalf, and there is no anſwer, and your miſery is greater then before, and therefore why ſhould you wait any longer? Satans great deſign is to make a ſoul caſt away all his hope and confidence, and to daſh and break it in pieces upon tha… rock.
But now, God hath a deſign of mercy in it, though it be ſo that the affliction grow greater and greater after the uſe of means, yet God hath a deſign of mercy. For by that.
Firſt of all, God will teach the ſoul not to rest upon the means, but upon himſelf. Satans deſign is to draw the creature from the uſe of means, and Gods deſign is to draw the creature more to the uſe of means. And truly we are ready to drive our ſelves upon this work, either to caſt off prayer, or elſe to reſt upon the means; and therefore it is that a poor ſoul is ſo caſt down when as it hath been waiting upon God in the uſe of means, hath been praying, looking to the promiſe, and hath been calling in the help of others. I ſay, we are apt in this caſe to ſhew forth the frowardneſs of our ſpirits, which doth evidence that we look too much to the means: We think prayer ſhould ſave us, and upon the uſe of means if the Lord doth not come in, we are murmuring; Now the Lord will teach us this, to uſe the means, but not to reſt upon the means, but to reſt upon himſelf, upon his arm for ſalvation, and upon his free grace, and not upon any means.
Secondly, God hath this deſign, when the condition of the creature ſeems to grow worſe and worſe after the uſe of the means, why the Lord doth not preſently help it, is becauſe that he will appear at ſuch a time when his work of deliverance will be most glorious. He will come in the moſt ſeaſonable time, when as deliverance ſhall be moſt welcome, and that is, at ſuch a time when all means fail, when the creature hath tryed all means whatſoever: As the woman that had the iſſue of blood, ſhe went from Phyſitian to Phyſitian, and yet the worſe. Oh the cure from the hand of Chriſt was welcome. And ſo when the poor man brought his ſon to the Diſciples, he tried all means, and the Diſciples could not caſt the Devil out: Oh when all means failed, that was the time for Chriſt to ſtep in. The Lord will then appear at ſuch a ſeaſon, when poor creatures are brought to the loweſt ſtate, when a poor ſoul ſaith, Lord we have uſed ſuch and ſuch means, but ſtill worſe and worſe; oh Lord we know not what to do, but our eyes are towards thee. Oh this is a time that the Lord will draw nigh to his people.
And therefore to reflect a little upon this; doth God make this to be the condition of any of you? have we been under ſome great affliction and burden, and ſome great temptation, and have been uſing all means, and ſtill we find it grow worſe and worſe according to our own apprehenſion, worſe after prayer then before, more temptations after prayer then before, more temptations after looking to the promiſe then before? if this be thy condition, be not diſcouraged, for this hath been the condition of many of Gods people. This was the condition of the woman of Canaan here before thee, ſhe was worſe after prayer then before, ſhe was worſe after the Diſciples had prayed for her, then ſhe meets with a flat denial, and Chriſt ſaith to her, that he was not ſent, but to the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael. This was the condition of the woman of Canaan, and yet the Lord Jeſus he loveth this woman, and he had an intent to ſhew mercy to this woman, and to grant her requeſt. And therefore if this be your condition, oh take heed of the Devils deſign; the Devils deſign (as you heard before) is to make you undervalue the means, and to drive you to deſpair; take heed of the Devils deſign. And though this ſhould be your condition, do not think the worſe of the Ordinance of God, do not think the worſe of prayer, the worſe of your duties, and do not think the worſe of the prayers of others, do not think the worſe of ſearching the Scripture, and of applying your ſelves to the promiſes, do not think the worſe of theſe things, it is the Devils deſign to make you undervalue the means. And take heed that you do not now caſt away all hope, Satan will tell you that there is no hope concerning you; the ſervants of God have prayed for you, and now no hope: Oh know that that temptation will drive you upon the rock of deſpair; but oh that you would look to God, and know that he hath a deſign of mercy towards you, nay in this very thing that it is worſe and worſe with you, he hath a deſign of mercy in it, he will draw you off from reſting upon the creature, and reſting upon means, and the Lord will now teach you to reſt upon himſelf, and God will come in when it ſhall be moſt welcome. Oh therefore in ſuch a condition we ſhould ſet faith a work, though to ſence we ſeem to be worſe and worſe, and deliverance further off then ever, worſe after prayer then before prayer, oh yet we ſhould ſet faith a work, for faith will ſee that deliverance is near, and conclude it, becauſe it is Gods way in which he walks towards his people. When the people of Iſrael were moſt grievouſly oppreſſed by the Egyptians, then the Lord handed out deliverance; O ſoul, though the clouds do ſeem to gather, and it be darker with thee then ever, yet ſay, I will wait upon the Lord in his way, and I will be found praying ſtill, and calling in the help of others ſtill. Oh that we might ſet faith a work, and we ſhould ſee that Gods ſalvation were neer. But I ſhall paſs from this.
I am not ſent, but to the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael.
Chriſt tells this woman that he cannot do it for her, becauſe it did not lie in his Commiſſion, to which he muſt be faithful, he could not go beyond his Commiſſion: What may we learn from hence?
We may take notice of this Hiſtorical Propoſition. That our Lord Jeſus Chriſt in all he did,Hiſtorical Propoſition. he acted by commiſſion, and kept his eye upon his commiſſion which he was faithful unto.
The Scripture holds forth, that he was ſent of his Father, the Father ſent him, and gave him a commandment what he ſhould do, and what he ſhould ſpeak. And Jeſus Chriſt he was very faithful in obſerving his commiſſion, he kept his eye upon the work that his Father had given him to do, and in that work he was faithful. In every thing that Jeſus Chriſt acted, he looked to his Fathers rule, the commiſſion that his Father had given him, See John 5. 30. I can of my own ſelf do nothing: as I hear I judge, and my Judgement in just, becauſe I ſeek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath ſent me. And as in the matter of judging, ſo in all other diſpenſations Chriſt was pleaſed to look to the will of his Father that ſent him. I came not to do my own will in that thing, but the will of my Father. And ſo in John 6. 38, 39. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that ſent me, and this is the Fathers will which hath ſent me, that of all which he hath given me, I ſhould loſe nothing, but ſhould raiſe it up again at the laſt day. As in his works of judging, ſo in his works of mercy, Chriſt kept his eye upon his Fathers will, he looked to his commiſſion, this is the Fathers will that I ſhould loſe none of them, but that I ſhould give life to them all, and raiſe them up at the laſt day.
Yea, in his very words, in all Chriſt ſpake, he kept his eye upon the rule, and ſpake according to his Fathers will and commandment. I ſpeak not of my ſelf, but what I have heard of my Father, John 8. 26. I ſpake to the world thoſe things which I have heard of him, John 12. 50. Even as the Father ſaid unto me, ſo I ſpeak. In all that Chriſt ſpake, he kept his eye upon his Commiſſion.
And as in all that Chriſt ſpake, he kept his eye upon his commiſſion, ſo in all Chriſt did: As the Father gave me commandment, even ſo I do, John 14. 31. ſtill his eye was upon the commandment of his Father, upon his commiſſion; And in obedience to that commiſſion, he lays down his life, John 10. 15. And I lay down my life for the ſheep, Ver. 18. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of my ſelf: I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again: this commandment have I received of my Father.
Yea in Chriſts motions this way and that way, his going to one place, and not to another, his preaching in one place and not in another, ſtill he kept his eye upon the commiſſion of his Father. See Luke 4. 43. I muſt preach the Kingdom of God to other Cities alſo; for therefore am I ſent. They would have kept Chriſt with them, no, ſaith he, I muſt preach the Kingdom of God in other Cities; in all that Chriſt did, he kept his eye upon his Fathers commiſsion, he looked to his Fathers will, and that was his rule to walk by.
And the ground of it is this, becauſe Chriſt was found in the form of a ſervant; though he thought it no robbery to be equal with God, yet he took upon him the form of a ſervant; though the Son of God, yet he was content to be a ſervant, that he might bring about the great work of Redemption: Therefore God calls him the righteous ſervant, By his knowledge ſhall my righteous ſervant juſtifie many, Iſaiah 53. 11. And as Chriſt was a righteous ſervant, a faithful ſervant, ſo he kept his eye upon his commiſsion. Now if Chriſt had not done ſo, if he had not acted all things according to the will of his Father, he had not been a righteous ſervant, but he was his Fathers righteous ſervant, and therefore he evermore looked upon his commiſſion, what was his Fathers will, and ſo he applyed himſelf to it.
And as in all other things, ſo in this particular in the Text, of preaching the Goſpel, and ſhewing mercy firſt to the Jews and not to the Gentiles, I am not ſent, but to the lost ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael, I am ſent to ſhew mercy to the houſe of Iſrael, ſtill he eyed that work that was committed to him, becauſe the promiſe was made to them, the promiſe of the Meſſias it was firſt made to Abraham and his ſeed, to that Nation that came out of the loins of Abraham: And Chriſt came to confirm the promiſe that was made to Abraham and his Seed, therefore in this thing he obſerved his Fathers order and his Fathers time; though his Father had a deſign of mercy to the Gentiles, yet he will ſhew mercy firſt to the Jews, and then to the Gentiles: So that the Jews firſt of all muſt have the offer, and then the Gentiles ſhall have their time; Chriſt eyed his Fathers will and time, & therefore he applies himſelf to that work.
But by way of Application.
Firſt,Vſe 1. what cauſe have we who are of the ſtock of the Gentiles, who live in this time and in this Generation, to bleſs the Lord that we do live in that time when the partition-wall is taken down? there was a time when the Jews only were the people of God, and when Gods deſign was to ſhew mercy to them; and there was a time when mercy ſeemed to be reſtrained from the Gentiles; there was a time when Chriſt muſt not preach to the Gentiles, ſo it was his commiſſion then not to ſhew mercy to the Gentiles at that time: Go not into any of the wayes of the Gentiles, and into any of the Cities of Samaria enter not. There was a time when the Gentiles were ſhut out from mercy, when the word of life and ſalvation was reſtrained from them, when the Lord gave this commiſſion, go not into the way of the Gentiles, oh how are we beholden to free-grace that hath broken down this wall of partition? that now ſince the reſurrection of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt there is no difference, but now mercy is freely offered to the Gentiles as well as to the Jewes, for the wall of partition is now broken down; and of how ſhould we admire the grace of God in it? we that were out-caſts of the Gentiles, ſinners of the Gentiles, that the Lord ſhould ever ſend to perſwade us to dwell in the Tents of Shem; we we might have dwelt in the barren wilderneſs every day, and never have been called, and that God ſhould invite us to dwell in the Tents of Shem, oh the free grace of God to poor ſinners, that we live in ſuch a time that there is not a reſtraint upon the word of the Lord, nor upon his ſervants in bringing his word to us Gentiles! oh we are engaged to the Lord that it is our lot to ſtand here!
And this may teach us to admire the unſpeakable and wonderful love of God that is let out to the Gentiles.Vſe. 2. I ſay, we ſhould with holy fear admire it, the Jews were the Lords firſt born, Chriſt was ſent firſt to them, cheifly to them, they muſt have the firſt tender and the firſt offer of mercy, the kingdom of God came firſt to them, and yet behold now that word of Chriſt is verified, the firſt ſhall be laſt, and the laſt firſt; they were the firſt, and the Gentiles were the laſt: We were ſhut out, and a reſtraint laid upon the Apoſtles, go not into their Cities; ah, but now the firſt is laſt, and now God ſaith, go not into the Cities of the Jews, go not to the houſe of Iſrael, but to the Cities of the Gentiles. Oh the wonderful love of God, that the laſt ſhould be firſt, and the firſt laſt.
And oh how ſhould this teach us to fear before the Lord,Vſe 3. and to take heed that we do not provok… the Lord to deal with us as he dealt with the Jews? I ſay, take heed of provoking the Lord, take heed that we do not reject Chriſt, take heed we do not reject the tender of mercy, that we do not neglect the great ſalvation held forth to us, that we do not trample under our feet the blood of the Covenant, take heed that we do not refuſe to hear and to receive the things of our peace: Oh this was that which provoked the Lord to caſt off the Jews, when they caſt off Chriſt and would none of him, when they caſt out the Lord of the Vineyard, when they would not accept of the glad tydings held forth to them, then the Lord takes away the Word of Life from them, and ſent it to us, that the firſt is laſt, and the laſt firſt.
And let us take heed that we do not reſt upon our priviledges.Vſe 4. We have the Word and the Ordinances, God deals not ſo with every people; ah but let us take heed that we do not reſt upon our priviledges as they did, becauſe they were the ſeed of Abraham, they had the Law, & they had the Covenant, the Oracles of God, and therefore they reſted upon them, & did not walk worthy of them, and therefor… … Lord took it from them. Now take heed that we do not reſt upon our priviledges, we have the Goſpel and fellowſhip with Saints, take heed we do not reſt in them, but … let us labour to walk up to them, receive Chriſt in the Goſpel, and walk up to our enjoyments or elſe we may provoke the Lord to take away the kingdom of God from us, leſt the Lord ſhould page missing and that is dangerous, every man that is loſt, he is loſt in a dark way, the way of ſin, it is a way of darkneſs: The Wiſeman ſaith of the ſinner, he knows, not whither he goes: his way is the way of darkneſs, he is loſt in a way of darkneſs, and … he knows not whither he goes.
And as it is a dark way, ſo it is a filthy way, it is a miry way, that a poor ſinner is loſt in; a way where there is nothing but dirt, that when a poor creature falls, he defiles himſelf, is wofully defiled with ſin which is the greateſt defilement.
And it is a ſlippery way, and that maketh it more dangerous; the way that we are loſt in, it is a ſlippery way, and ſo ſlippery, that it is not poſſible for a poor creature to keep his feet, he faleth every day, yea he falls and falls, and bruiſeth himſelf by his falls.
And as the way it ſelf is dangerous, ſo there are many dangers in the way, there is a Lion in the way, and there are fiery Serpents in the way. The way of Iſrael in the wilderneſs, was a dangerous way; truly this is the way that all, Adams ſons and daughters are loſt in, where the Serpent lyeth, the Lion alſo, the old Serpent that watcheth to fright, and deſtroy, and devour: And oh the pits that are in the way, and the ſnares that are in the way, and the enemies that are in the way!
And further, the way is ſad in reſpect of the end of it. The way that we are loſt in, it is a way that doth lead to deſtruction, the end of the way is death, and it is not poſſible for a man to miſs the pit, and to miſs deſtruction and death, if the Lord doth not help him out of the way. Every ſinner that is loſt, he will go further and further in this way, till he comes to the end which is death, unleſs the Lord help him out of the way, unleſs the Lord order it ſo, that he cannot find his way, he ceaſes not till he comes to the end of his way, which is death.
And it is the more ſad and dangerous, becauſe that a poor creature hath none to help him, none to ſtand by him, ſo long as a man is out of Chriſt, till Chriſt comes and finds a ſoul, none comes to take care of him, and help him out of this dark way, none to protect him, none to guide him, none to go before him, none to diſcover the pit and ſnare to him, none to uphold him and keep him from falling, none to ſtand by him in this ſad and dangerous way.
You ſee the Point opened,Application. a little by way of Application, and ſo conclude.
Firſt of all,Vſe 1. it lets us ſee that there are many that may be Chriſts ſheep, though for the preſent they be loſt, yet many that we look upon as loſt, may be Chriſts ſheep. For although it is true, we cannot own them, till they have the mark of Chriſts ſheep upon them; Saints cannot own them, for God himſelf doth not own them viſibly before the world, till they hear the voice of Chriſt, ah, but yet they may belong to Chriſt, and may be his ſheep, though for the preſent they may be loſt; I have other ſheep ſaith Chriſt, I have other ſheep that I will bring in; they are my ſheep now though poor wandring ſheep, though loſt in a wilderneſs, yet they are my ſheep, and they ſhall hear my voice, and I will bring them into my fold.
Therefore this ſhould teach us not to mourn as men without hope (as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh in another caſe) not mourn as men without hope for the dead; ſo when we look upon Friends and Relations, and cannot but judge them for the preſent in a loſt condition; we may mourn, and we ought to mourn, but not mourn as men without hope; for they may belong to Chriſt, and Chriſt may bring them in, though they be not yet brought in; therefore we ſhould not give them up for deſperate, though they may be gone very far from God; though they have gone a great way from God, yet give them not up for deſperate: Chriſt hath other ſheep then theſe that he will bring in; and know, that the Lord is able to bring them in, though they be gone far from God, and far from his way, yet God is able to bring them in; the great Shepherd is able to finde them, and to lay them on his ſhoulder, and able to bring them into his Fold: and therefore we ſhould not be hopeleſs, but ſtill be found waiting upon God in the uſe of the means; if we ſay there is no hope, then we give over the uſe of the means: Hope ſtill, and wait upon God in the uſe of the means, cry to God in their behalf, wait upon the great Shepherd, that he would go forth to ſeek and to ſave.
And we ſhould labour to carry ſo towards all friends, and neighbours, and relations that are for the preſent oppoſite to God and his wayes, that we may gain them; they may be ſuch as Chriſt may bring in; Chriſt's ſheep were loſt, ſo were we, and ſo were they; and therefore take heed that we do not ſet them off from Chriſt, do nothing to make them out of love with Chriſt; but oh look upon them as thoſe that Chriſt may bring in, and therefore let us do what we can for them.
Secondly,Vſe 2. It lets us ſee the ſad condition for the preſent of thoſe that do not believe in Chriſt O! that all ſinners would conſider their ſad condition: Truly it is a loſt eſtate that every ſinner is in, and that is a ſad eſtate, for a man to be loſt; loſt to God, and loſt to himſelf, and loſt to others; yea ſo loſt, that he is altogether uſeleſs and unſerviceable, neither profitable unto God nor man; yea ſo loſt, as he is in a hopeleſs condition, to have no hope: Truly there is not any ſinner that goes on in a way of ſin, that hath any true ground of hope; and that is a ſad condition which is a helpleſs condition; helpleſs in reſpect of the creature, helpleſs in reſpect of himſelf, helpleſs in reſpect of all men; and oh! it is a dangerous way, O that ſinners would think of it; for a man to be loſt in a dark ſlippery dirty way, for a man to be loſt in a wilderneſs, to have none to guide him, no friend to comfort him, none to help him out, in a vaſt howling wilderneſs, compaſſed about with diſmal darkneſs, it is a ſad condition, eſpecially when there are wilde beaſts in the wilderneſs, and every ſtep that he ſets he treadeth on a Serpent, and a Lion in the way. O that God would perſwade ſinners of this their loſt condition! to be loſt, and thus loſt, is a ſad eſtate! yet this is their miſery, and men are not ſenſible of it.
And it is more ſad, becauſe it is the ſoul that is loſt: and O! what would it advantage a man or woman to gain the whole world, and to loſe their own ſouls? What ever ſlight thoughts men or women have of their precious ſouls that lodgeth in their boſomes, it is of more worth then ten thouſand worlds; now for a ſoul to be in the wilderneſs, a ſoul to be in the dark, a ſoul to be in the midſt of Serpents and Lions, O it is a ſad eſtate and condition: the Lord open the eyes of men and women to ſee into this their ſad condition.
Thirdly,Vſe 3. Are poor creatures by nature in a loſt eſtate and condition? O that they that are loſt would hear the voice of Chriſt the great Shepherd: Every man is loſt before brought home to Chriſt; and O that poor loſt ſouls might hear the voice of Chriſt this day; here is glad tydings, O that men would receive it: The Son of man came to ſeek and to ſave tha… which was loſt. Here is glad tydings to you that are in a loſt condition; O that God would bore the ear of the ſoul to hear this voice of Chriſt; it is the Shepherd that cryeth after you, O my ſheep return to me, I am come out of heaven to ſeek you, and to ſave you, and I am now gone forth in the miniſtration of the Goſpel for this purpoſe: O that poor loſt ſheep would hear the voice of the Shepherd, and would receive the glad tydings that he brings! either men are ſenſible of their loſt eſtate, or they are not: there are ſome that are loſt, yea many, and they know it not; but it is more ſad for a man that is loſt, and will not be perſwaded that he is loſt, but he hath a good opinion of his way; ſuch a man goes the faſter, and rideth the faſter, and he will the ſooner be at his journeys end.
Now to thoſe that are loſt and know it not, let me ſay unto you? that the Lord Jeſus doth at once hold forth both your danger, and the remedy againſt that danger; Chriſt doth by one word hold forth to you, that you are loſt; and he doth hold forth to you the way by which you may be ſaved from that loſt eſtate; you heard that he was ſent to the lost ſheep of the Houſe of Iſrael, and to the loſt ſheep of the Gentiles too, though Chriſt's preſent work was not among them; but now Chriſt ſends to the loſt ſheep of the houſe of the Gentiles as to the houſe of Iſrael; and by his word he would convince you that you are loſt, and doth diſcover to you the way to come out of that loſt condition by believing; O that you would hear the voice of the great Shepherd that comes forth this day, and gives you an invitation to return.
But there are ſome that are ſenſible of their loſt eſtate; O they ſee it, and they know that they are loſt, and therefore they look upon themſelves as the moſt miſerable creatures; well, here is glad tydings for you this day, The Son of man is come to ſeek and to ſave what is loſt: You ſee your condition to be a ſad condition, and you ſay it is loſt▪ and what ever it is it can be but loſt; why the Lord Jeſus he was ſent on purpoſe to ſave that which was loſt, it was the work that Jeſus Chriſt was ſent about, the great thing that was put into Chriſt's Commiſſion, the great work that his Father put into his hand, to ſave what was loſt: Now therefore look to the promiſes of God, yea that gracious promiſe in Ezek. 34. v. 16. I will ſee that which was loſt, and bring again that which wa… driven away, and will binde up that which was broken, and will ſtrengthen that which was ſick. Thi… promiſe it concerns the poor loſt ſheep, how he will ſeek them, and ſave them, and binde them up; O behold there the readineſs that is in Chriſt to finde them; and indeed, Chriſt hath the greateſt care of ſuch poor loſt ſheep. If a man hath a hundred ſheep, and one of them be gone aſtray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and ſeeketh that which is gone aſtray? He goeth forth to ſeek the one ſheep that is loſt; you being that one loſt ſheep, and you looking upon your own condition to be loſt, and you are ſenſible that none is ſo loſt as you, he will leave the ninety and nine to ſeek you: And therefore hear the glad tydings of your Shepherd, he cometh forth to ſeek you, be you willing to come to Chriſt, and O! what joy will there be in heaven at your return?
Fourthly and laſtly,Vſe 4. It lets us ſee, and O that we might ſee! the infinite riches of the grace of God in Chriſt to poor ſinners; O! here is grace indeed: What rich mercy was that, that ſent out Jeſus Chriſt to ſeek loſt ſheep? O! that we might conſider a little of the greatneſs of this grace of God, the exceeding riches of it, that the Lord ſhould ſend forth his Son Jeſus Chriſt to ſeek loſt ſheep. O! conſider what worthleſs creatures we were, how unuſeful and unprofitable both to God and man; nay, the Lord ſaw how little uſeful we ſhould be afterward, how little we are able to return to the Lord for this his great mercy; yet the Lord ſent forth his Son to ſeek you.
And conſider, that this was at ſuch a time when we could never have returned to the Lord, when we could never have found God; though we had ſought him, we could not have found him; if we had had any diſpoſition to have ſought after the Shepherd, we could not have found him; no, by all our ſearching we could never have found him. And then when it was ſo with us that we could not finde the way to go home again, that he ſhould ſend Jeſus Chriſt to ſhew us the way that he makes, by the Shepherd to lead the wandring ſheep home; O free grace! If the Lord had ſent forth the leaſt Angel of heaven to have ſought poor loſt ſinners, it had been mercy; but that God ſhould not commit this work to his ſervants, but give a Commiſſion to his Son, and make it his great work to ſeek poor loſt ſheep, O great love! nay, when we could not finde God, and when Angels could not have found us if they had ſought us; herein is the exceeding riches of grace. Nay, it was at ſuch a time as the Lord might have ſent his Juſtice to have found us out, God might have ſent the Avenger of blood after us; the Lord might have ſet all our ſins upon us to have found us out, they might have followed us as ſo many Avengers of blood; O that at ſuch a time God ſhould ſend Chriſt to finde us out, after all our ſinful wandrings from God! that he ſhould make his Son to come and ſeek, O infinite love!
And therefore let me ſpeak to thoſe that have received this grace: Hath the Lord found out your ſouls? Hath Jeſus Chriſt found you out in your wandrings, and through mercy brought you home to God? Hath he brought home any poor ſoul to believe in Chriſt, and to give up it ſelf fully and for ever to Chriſt? O! be thankful for this mercy, and labour to walk worthy of it, and ſtudy to know what is your duty now; you that are Chriſt's ſheep, and were loſt, O! what is your duty? Chriſt hath found you, ſurely ſome duty you owe to Chriſt.
Why,The Duty of ſouls whom Chriſt hath found. this is our duty; It is our duty now to ſeek Chriſt, to ſeek much faith in Chriſt; if Chriſt hath ſought us, and took ſo much pains in ſeeking us, that were not worth the ſeeking after, O! how ſhould we lay forth our ſelves to ſeek Chriſt? Seek him every day,Duty 1. ſeek much of Chriſt, ſeek his face evermore, ſeek more of Chriſt every day: Chriſt ſought us when we were not worthy, and ſhall not we ſeek him who is infinitely worthy, who is the deſire of all Nations?
Again, It is our duty to ſeek others. Chriſt hath found us, it is our duty to ſeek others, to pity the ſheep that are loſt, that for the preſent are in a loſt eſtate and condition; take ſome pains to ſeek them according to your Talent and opportunity: O take pains to ſeek others: Aſſoon as ever Chriſt found Andrew, Andrew he findes Simon Peter; O! Come (ſaith he) and ſee Chriſt: I ſay, if Chriſt hath found us, let us labour to finde others, labour to bring them to the knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt, the great Shepherd: The Lord gave a Commandment, Deut. 22. 1. That if any man ſaw his neighbours Oxe or Sheep go aſtray, he ſhould pity them, he ſhould not hide himſelf from them, but he ſhould pity the poor loſt ſheep, and the loſt Oxe: Doth God take care for Oxen? Doth Godtake care for Sheep? That a poor loſt Sheep be brought home to his Owner? And that a poor loſt Oxe be brought home to his Owner? And doth not God take more care for poor loſt ſouls?
And is it not a more acceptable work to bring home loſt ſouls? O pity poorloſt ſouls, tell them of Chriſt, ſhew them the way to Chriſt, and know that if you ſhall be an inſtrument in the Lord's hand to bring home a loſt ſoul to Jeſus Chriſt the Owner, O it will be ſervice very acceptable to God your Father.
Thirdly,Duty 3. If Chriſt hath found us, then we ſhould loſe no opportunity of honouring him; Let us know that we are the Lord's, we are not our own any longer, but engaged to be the Lord's, ſought out by Chriſt, and ſaved by Chriſt, and brought from a wandring condition, and loſt in a wilderneſs, and yet found by Chriſt in this wilderneſs condition; O let us know that we are engaged for ever to be the Lord's: therefore let not Chriſt's ſheep loſe any opportunity of doing ſervice to Chriſt, take heed that we do not loſe any opportunity of being profitable to Chriſt, bringing honour to Chriſt in our generation, for that is expected by Chriſt the Shepherd: So Paul did engage for Oneſimus in the Epiſtle of Philemon; Oneſimus he was a poor run-away ſheep, Paul he findes Oneſimus, and he brings him home to Chriſt, he was inſtrumental in his converſion, and he ſendeth him to his Maſter, and he tells him, that now he will be profitable; before he was unprofitable, but now he will be profitable to thee and to me, and to Chriſt before unprofitable: A ſheep is of no uſe when loſt, but when its found, then it is profitable; and ſo if the Lord hath found our ſouls, O that we might do all we can to bring honour to Chriſt, and lift up his name in this our generation, for Chriſt hath ſound us for that end.
Fourthly,Duty 4. If Chriſt hath found us, we ſhould be content to loſe all we have for him; Let all go for Chriſt, it matters not what we loſe for Chriſt, if Chriſt hath found us: If God calls for our eſtates, let that go; if Chriſt hath found us, we have that which is better then a great eſtate: it had been more ſad if God had taken away our eſtates from us before he had found us, but if the Lord hath found us, though we loſe the world, there is good cauſe we ſhould be content; what God calls for, let it go, we ſhould be willing to loſe our eſtates, our credit, our name, for Chriſt hath found us; if we cannot walk with Chriſt, and do the ſervice Chriſt calls us to, but we muſt loſe eſtate, and credit, and name, why let all go, Chriſt found us, and we ſhould be willing to loſe our lives for Chriſt; and know, that it ſhall not be loſt, but what a man loſes for Chriſt, it ſhall be reſtored him again.
And fiftly and laſtly,Duty 5. Let us take heed that we do not go out from Chriſt any more; O! what an engagement lyeth upon us to keep cloſe to Chriſt? O! What pains did Chriſt take to ſeek us, when wandring? And what pains did Chriſt take to bring us home? O! Take heed of wandring in the ways of ſin, for it is a dangerous way, and therefore take heed that we be not found wandring; let us labour to cleave to God, and keep cloſe to Chriſt; let the ſheep hear the voice of Chriſt, and follow him where ever he goeth; keep cloſe to Chriſt in every Ordinance, in every Truth; take heed that we go not out from Chriſt, for that will be ſadder then all that hath gone before; that loſt ſheep whom Chriſt hath found, ſhould go into the wilderneſs again, dark wayes again, and defile your elves again, O! this will go to the heart of Chriſt; and therefore Brethren, what need have we to watch? O! let us watch over our own hearts, if Chriſt hath found us, and brought us home to God, O let us watch over our hearts and wayes, that we go not out from Chriſt; O let us watch, and let us cry to the Lord, that he would watch over us, that we may not go out from him: O! let us beg of him that he would put his holy fear into our hearts, that is his promiſe; O beg of the Lord that he would make good his Covenant, that we may have that holy fear in our hearts, that may keep us for ever from wandring and going out from Chriſt.