The Best Treasure, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
Containing an Ʋſe of Exhortation to Sinners and Saints.
IF the Lord Jeſus Chriſt be ſuch a Glorious Mediator, then,
Firſt, Let periſhing Sinners be perſwaded to get an Intereſt in him: And for Motive herein, conſider theſe four or five things.
Firſt, The Lord Jeſus will Mediate for, and ſave none but thoſe that are his. Many common Mercies, Favours, and Boons he beſtows on his Enemies, but Salvation-bleſſings are the priviledges only of his People, Matth. 1. 21. 2 Tim. 2. 19. Luke 1. 68.
Secondly, Many will lay claim to Chriſt, who have no Intereſt in him, Luke 13. 25. High Pretenders may be ſhaken off, Math. 7. 22. chap. 25. 12. Some that ſhall think themſelves ſomething, may be found nothing; ſome that ſhall be thought Saints by others, may yet be caſt away, 1 Joh. 2. 19. As Hymenaeus and Alexander, 1. Tim. 1. 20. The Galathians and ſcattered Saints, Gal. 1. 6. chap. 3. 3. 2 Pet. 1. 20. Rev. 8. 12. Nay the very Elect ſhall find it hard to ſtand, Matth. 24. 24.
Thirdly, There is but a time in which Chriſt may be found, Iſa. 55. 6. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found; intimating, there is a time in which he will not, when the door will be ſhut, and Chriſt will ſpeak, knock, and call no more; There is but a day of Grace, an hour of Salvation, O Sinner be not wiſe too late.
Fourthly, It is a moſt dreadful, tremendous thing, to leave the World without an Intereſt in Chriſt; to be ſummon'd to Judgment and have nothing to help them, no Mediator to plead for them, no Righteouſneſs to cover them, no Duties to accompany them, no Eye to pity them, Iſa. 57. 12. chap. 30. 13. Jer. 5. 5. This is ſad indeed, when all Bowels are gone, and boundleſs Miſeries to be undergone.
Fifthly, Of all periſhing Sinners, ſuch as periſh under the Goſpel, have the moſt dreadful Miſeries, Matth. 11. 21. 22. The Heathens and Pagans, Publicans and Harlots, ſhall have a more tolerable place in Hell, than ſuch as refuſe a tender'd Jeſus: How ſhall we eſcape, if we neglect ſo great Salvation? Heb. 2. 3. O miſerable Sinners! ſleight not, Salvation tenders, deſpiſe not, Goſpel calls, but haſten away to this Redeemer.
Secondly, Let the People of God be exhorted, firſt to bleſs God for this Mediator, Eph. 1. 3. Chriſt is the Fountain of Bleſſings, the Author of Salvation, the Gift of God, and have you no Hoſanna's for the Enjoyment of ſo rich a perſon? 1 Joh. 4. 9, 10.
Secondly, Ply hard the Throne of Grace, find Work for Chriſt, Heb. 4. 15, 16. Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace, make known your Requeſts unto God, Phil. 4. 6. Conſider Soul,
You have always need of Mercy; not a Moment but you want Supplies from God for Soul and Body: your Corruptions are alwayes reſiſting the Spirit, Gal. 5. 17. never at peace with Grace, but as a Bow that is bent, are ſtill preſſing after their former Liberty, and as Waters penn'd back, are ſtriving to force their way; therefore Chriſtians, you alwayes need the Spirit's help, and freſh Supplies of Grace: your Guilt is always encreaſing, James 3. 2. The Righteous falleth ſeven times a day, hence daily Sacrifices were appointed, becauſe of daily Sins, Heb. 7. 27. Your Temptations are continually renewed, 1 Pet. 5. 8. New Tryals are daily falling on you, new Difficulties are frequently occurring your Life, new Troubles and Afflictions are conſtantly betiding you.
This is God's appointed way, in which he will give out Mercy, Ezek. 36. 37. Matth. 7. 7. 'Tis true, ſometimes God hears before we ask, but yet preventing Mercy doth not excuſe from Duty, and we have no ground to expect Mercy out of the way of Duty.
You are inveſted with a holy Prieſt-hood, on purpoſe that you may be much employed in this Work, 1 Pet. 2. 5. Your Work and Offices lies in this, to offer up daily Sacrifices to God by Chriſt.
The Lord Jeſus waits in Heaven to receive your Prayers, 'tis his Buſineſs and work in Glory, to purſue your Advantages, and therefore he expects to hear from you, 9. Heb. 24. As an Agent that expects to hear from his Clyent, and receive Intimation about his Condition; as a Friend in a forreign Country, that is hearkning for Letters from his Friend, Chriſt in Heaven deſires to hear from his People on Earth; not that he is ignorant of them, or needs to be put in Remembrance, but this way are his Graces in them exerciſed, their Love and Duty maintain'd, and himſelf glorified, Iſa. 30. 18. Therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious. In the Original it is, he longs and as it were, greedily and enlargedly deſires an Occaſion to be gracious; he waits in Heaven to be pu… in Remembrance to do his People good.
This way is their bleſſed Intercourſe maintained betwixt Chriſt in Heaven, and Believers on Earth, by this Chriſt hears from them on Earth, and they from him in Heaven, Cant. 2. 14. chap. 8. 13, 14. Thou that dwelleſt in the Gardens, the Companions hearken to thy Voice, cauſe me to hear it: 'Tis, in the Original, Cauſe to hear me, which occaſions a twofold reading. Firſt, Cauſe me to he heard, they are Chriſts Words to his Spouſe, Let me be the Subject of thy Diſcourſe to others. Secondly, Cauſe me to hear it, that is, let me be ſpoken to, let me hear thy Voice in Prayer, as a man deſires to hear from his Wife, when abſent; and in the next verſ. She eccho's back the ſame Requeſt to Chriſt, that he would haſten his Return to her, that ſhe might have his Company alſo: by Prayer Chriſt and Believers have ſweet Intercourſe with each other, Cant. 1. 7, 8. chap. 2. 5. 8.
The Lord Jeſus is wonderfully delighted to hear from his People, Cant. 2. 14. chap. 4. 11. chap. 6. 13. Return, Return, O Shulamite, &c. This word Shulamite comes either from Solomon, and ſo her Husbands name is named on her, or from Salem, Peace, which is Jeruſalem, ſhewing her Deſcent to be from Jeruſalem above; hence Chriſt deſires her Company becauſe it was pleaſure to him to look upon her, her Countenance was as two Armies; it is in the Original, Mahanaim, the ſame word that Jacob puts on the place where God met him, Gen. 32. 1. 2. As if Chriſt ſhould ſay, thy Sight is Angelical to me, tho thou art impure in thy ſelf, yet thou art fair in mine Eye.
'Tis a mighty thriving way: there's no ſuch courſe can be taken to grow rich apace in divine Treaſures; Prayer is the Key that opens Chriſt Treaſury, and fetches out the Riches of Heaven, becauſe ſuch may have of God what they will, Joh. 15. 7. God is always giving where gracious Souls are rightly asking; God's readineſs to give ſhould be an Argument always to crave: as Sir Walter Raleigh when Q. Eliz. ask'd him when he would leave off beging, anſwered, when your Majeſty leaves off giving.
Thirdly, Truſt to an interceding Jeſus, expect all your Mercies from him, Pſal. 5. 3. In the Morning I will direct my Prayer to thee, and look up: the Arabick, and ſome other Verſions have it, I will prepare or ſtand before him, and he will ſee me. But this agrees not with the Original, where 'tis, I will order or diſpoſe my Prayer, as a General doth his Army, and will look out as a man that watches on a Tower, to ſee what I can eſpy and what Anſwer he will give. By a Metonomy, it ſignifies to expect or look for ſome thing, Matth. 22. 21. In his Name ſhall the Gentiles truſt. The Lord Jeſus is the ſure and certain Object of a Believers Truſt; O Chriſtians! is Chriſt entred into Heaven, there to appear for his People? O then depend upon his Interceſſion, expect all your needed Mercies by him, take up your Acquieſcence in his Mediation for you, reſt ſatisfied (Believers) that your caſe is good, and it ſhall be well with you in every Condition, becauſe Chriſt intercedeth for you. Now to ſtrengthen your Dependance on Chriſt. Conſider,
His Engagement to the Father to become your Advocate, Heb. 10. 9. Joh. 6. 39. His Promiſe to Believers to purſue their Cauſe in Heaven, Joh. 14. 16. And his full Accompliſhments with whatever is needful to compleat this Work. He is infinitely wiſe, and knows how to manage your Concerns and proſper, Col. 2. 3. He hath Skill and Counſel to finiſh his Affairs with Diſcretion; he knows your Caſes better than your ſelves, and what Arguments to plead ſo as to prevail, Pſal. 103. 14. Joh. 2. 24. 25. Pſal. 31. 7. Heb. 4. 13. Iſa. 40. 27. 28. He is active and laborious; and quick at Work, as well as in Wiſdom. Iſa. 11. 3. He is ſtill unwearied in his Buſineſs, and his Spirit never fails, Iſa. 42. 4. His Eyes are always open, he never ſlumbers or ſleeps, Pſal. 121. 4. 1 Kin. 8. 29. Iſa. 27, 3. He loſeth no time, but takes the fitteſt Occaſion to perfect his Deſigns, 1 Pet. 5. 6. He is faithful in his Undertakings, and one whom you may confide, Heb. 2. 17. His name is faithful, Rev. 19. 11. He is omnipotent and powerful to fulfil his Pleaſure, Heb. 7. 25. The Almighty one who can prevail with the Father, and is one with him, Joh. 11. 42. chap. 10. 30. Conſider Chriſt's Intereſt in his people, they are his own, John 13. 1. They are his Seed, Treaſure, Jewels, Members, and Sheep, Joh. 10. 3. They are his Spouſe, and therefore he cannot forget, or neglect their Concerns, Epheſians 5. 29. Iſa. 58. 7.
Think on his Concernments in all the Affairs of his Intereſt; by vertue of that Union betwixt Chriſt and his People, he becomes a ſharer with them in all their Conditions, their Mercies are his Delight, Pſal. 35. 27. and their Afflictions are his Trouble, Iſa. 63. 9. He ſympathizeth with them as the head with the Members, and the Husband with the Spouſe; their loſs is his Loſs, and their Gain he reckons as his Intereſt. Should Saints and their Concernments miſcarry at laſt, Chriſt himſelf would be a certain and eternal Looſer: he would looſe his Blood, and purchaſe, his Obedience and Sufferings.
Laſtly, Conſider, Chriſt's Glory conſiſts in the Good and Salvation of Believers, 2 Theſ. 1. 12. His Glory is wrapt up in their Glory, and his Life in their Life, Joh. 14. 19. 2 Cor. 8. 23. Joh. 17. 10.
Fourthly, acknowledge the Interceſſion of Chriſt to be the procuring Cauſe of all your Mercies; in every Reception of Mercy ſee an Interceding Jeſus, and ſay Lord, 'tis thy Mediation I owe theſe Enjoyments, Priviledges, and Prayer-returns unto, Luke 22. 32. Pſal. 115. 1. Pro. 3. 6. In all thy ways acknowledge him. This is to pay Tribute to Chriſt in Heaven, and advance the Glory of the bleſſed Mediator; this is giving Chriſt his Due, Rom. 13. 7. and a ſacrificing to God and not to your Dreg; as it is Chriſt in Belelievers is the Hope of Glory, ſo it is Chriſt in Heaven is the Hope and Procurer of Mercy.
Fifthly, If Chriſt be your Advocate in Heaven, then follow his Inſtructions on Earth, Matth. 17. 5. He that commits his Cauſe to another, commits himſelf to his Counſel alſo to be guided by him in every thing, that might conduce to his Succeſs in it; Chriſt's work in Heaven is to order and regulate his People on Earth, and therefore he is the Law-giver, and King as well as Saviour, Iſa. 33. 22. Jam. 4. 12. and the Duty of all Chriſt's Clyents on Earth, is to live by his Preſcription and Order given them; and therefore 'tis ſaid, Numb. 21. 18. The Princes digged the Well, even the Nobles of the People, digged it by the Direction of the Law-giver. This is ſpoken of that famous Well Beer-Elim: that is, the Well of the mighty ones, that God gave Iſrael in the Wilderneſs: it was alone the Gift of God, verſe 16. I will give them Waters, yet they muſt dig for it, as here; and that according to Preſcription, as Moſes gave them from the Lord: This well was a Figure of Chriſt, as the Hebrews themſelves, in their Midraſh Koheleth do acknowledge, as (ſay they) The firſt Redeemer cauſed a Well to ſpring up, ſo the laſt Redeemer ſhall cauſe Waters to ſpring up; as 'tis ſaid, Joel 3. 18. A Fountain ſhall come forth from the Houſe of the Lord, and ſhall water the Valley of Shittim; which ſignified the Graces of the Spirit, that Well of Water ſpringing up to Life eternal, Joh. 4. 14.
Sixthly, Become Advocates for Chriſt on Earth, confeſs his name. Rom. 14. 11. chap. 15. 9. Phil. 2. 11. Plead his cauſe before men, Hoſ. 2. 2. Plead with your Mother. This is ſpoken to the pious in Iſrael (as Jonathas Caldaeus, Jerom, and others conceive) who are the men, and the whole Houſe of Iſrael their Mother, and their pious Children muſt plead, that is, expoſtulate, reaſon, and contend with her for God to bring her to the Senſe of her Sin and Danger; the Lord Jeſus underwent all dangers in owning your Cauſe, ſo ſhould you in his: he always intercedes for you, ſo ſhould you for him in Word and Deed; your Lives and Lips ſhould plead for him: He pleads effectually for you, ſo ſhould you labour to be as ſucceſsful as you may for him, Joh. 3. 29. and in order to the Diſcharge of this important Duty, conſider,
That the ſuitable Qualifications of an Advocate muſt be acquired, you muſt get Wiſdom to know Chriſt and the things of his Will, Kingdom, and Glory, you are not likely to do much Service to Chriſts Intereſt, if you are ignorant and unacquainted with his Laws and Concernments, Mic. 6. 8. Col. 1. 9, 10. 2 Pet. 3. 18. Matth. 10. 16. Phil. 1. 9. Eph. 1. 17. You muſt be active and vigorous for God, Rom. 12. 11. Slothful Spirits are not like to be much ſerviceable, Prov. 27. 15. Eccleſ. 10. 18. chap. 9. 10. Heb. 6. 11, 12. You muſt be faithful, and have Truth in the inner parts, Rev. 2. 10. 1 Cor. 4. 2. Luke 12. 42. You muſt labour after Potency and Mightineſs through Chriſt, that you may prevail for him, Phil. 4. 13. 1 Chro. 22. 13. 1 Cor. 16. 13. Now the way to get this Strength for Chriſt, is by Faith to live on him, Eph. 6. 10. 2 Tim. 2. 1.
You muſt make a thorough and open Profeſſion of him, and of all his Truth, 1 Tim. 6. 12, 13, 14. Heb. 4. 14. 2 Cor. 9. 13. profeſs him at all times, Matth. 10. 32. profeſs him openly, plainly, ſincerely, and boldly, ſo did the Apoſtles.
You muſt patiently, perſevere under all Sufferings for him, Acts 21. 13. 2 Tim. 2. 10. Heb. 10. 32.
You muſt ſpeak well for Chriſt at all times, Mat. 11. 19. Cant. 5. 10. 1 Pet. 2. 9.
You muſt live out his Glory, Math. 5. 16. Phil. 2. 15. 2 Cor. 9. 13.
Thus have we done with the Applicatory part of this Point, and diſpatch'd the wonderful Riches of Chriſt, as to his perſonal Union.