Remains of Joseph Alleine, Sermon 1
A Sermon preached in order to the Sacrament, on a Sacramental day.
Luke. 2. 10, 11.
And the angel said unto them, …ear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings, of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.
MY Brethren, good tidings, I know must needs be welcome to you at such a time as this. Now God hath sent me to you with the most blessed news that ever came to man: that is, that to you is born a Saviour.
You have here the History of our Saviours birth. The shepheards, they were abroad in the fields watching over their flocks by night, v. 8. and while they were thus diligent in attending their slocks, then the angel brought this news to them. From whence observe by the way, how good it is to be following our lawful callings. The fruits of these tidings was great fear, that fell upon the shepheards when they saw the angel. And against this fear, the angel bid them be of good comfort. Then you have here, the news, behold I bring you good tidings &c. where you have observable. First, Th…e … senger; the Angel. Secondly, The fruits of it; great joy to all people. Thirdly, The matter of this news; That to them was born a Savior. From the words observe this Doctrine.
Doct. That it is the blessedest news that ever came to the ears of man, news worthy of angels from God to be the Messengers of it, that unto us is come a Saviour.
Brethren, I must needs commend the Grace of God to me this day, in making me the messenger of such news to you as this is. I am unworthy to bring you this news, it is for angels to bring this news, they were sent with this message, as you see; yet God hath been pleased to send me as a Messenger with these tidings to you. Now I shall shew you that this is the best news that ever came to the ears of man, and that.
First, If you consider the deplorable condition that he found man in.
Secondly, If you consider what a great salvation he hath wrought for man.
First, If you consider the deplorable condition that he found us in, we were all gone out of the way: we had fal'n among theeves; and between sin and Satan, we were robbed and wounded: and this Samaritan found us, and he cured us, and it cost him no less than his own blood. So desperate a disease is sin, that nothing will cure us, but the death of Christ. He found us shut up in sin, and were not able to get out; and then he roll'd away the stone for us, and knock'd off our fetters, and wrought deliverance for us. This was the misery of mans condition, that he was in a helpless condition, Rom. 5. 6. There was no possibility for us ever to recover our selves. Neither was there help in any other, beside Christ, Act. 4. 12. Heaven nor earth could not find out a way to deliver man, till God found out a way. And because heaven and earth could not find out a way, God and man must come together; and as he was God he must satisfie; and as he was man he must suffer; and so we must come out. He found us stinking in our grave as he did Lazarus. The stinking carrion doth not stink more than we did when Christ found us.
Secondly, If you consider what a great salvation he hath wrought for us. This will appear, if you consider from what he hath saved us; and how he hath saved us.
First, From what he hath saved us.
First, From the Roaring-Lion.
Secondly, From our raging-lusts.
Thirdly, From the …ming furnace.
Fourthly, From the King of terrors.
First, From the roaring Lion. So is our adversary, the Devil called, 1 Pet. 5. 8. This is he that Christ hath delivered us from. We were all in the Paw of this lion, and Christ came and delivered us from him. This is the D… vid that slew the lion, and the bear, and saved us, when we were like to be destroyed. When Satan did think to triumph over Christ, then did Christ triumph over him. Col. 2. 15. All the powers of hell did combine together, and labored to give Christ the overthrow; they had brought him to the cross, and there triumph over him, and thought that then they had done all; and yet then did he overthrow them. Oh! what a mercy is this, to be delivered (not onelyonly from the bondage of Egypt, but) from the spiritual Egypt! Col. 1. 13. Who hath deliveed us from the power of darkness &c. My Brethren, we were fast shut up in prison, in the prison of which Satan was the Jaylor: and there was no possibility of getting loose from him. We were laid up as slaves under him, and were led captive by him at his will. Now what praise do we owe to him, that hath delivered us from such a Tyrant as this! this is our deliverance, (Act. 26. 18.) to be turned from the power of Satan unto God. This hath Christ done for us: he hath delivered us from the power of Satan. We were once in his family, and did his work, Eph. 2. 2, 3. Eph. 6. 12. They are called the rulers of the darkness of this world. That is, poor ignorant souls, that were lying in our ignorance. And that not some of us onelyonly, but all of us.
Secondly, From our raging lusts. As from the slavery of Satan, so from the dominion of sin. Rom. 6. 14. By Christ we are freed from the dominion of sin. My brethren, Christ doth not onelyonly free us from the damnation, but from the, dominion of sin. To be the servant of sin, is a most miserable slavery. What a mercy is it to be delivered from a master, whose work is drudgery; and whose wages is destruction! such a one is Satan. Would it not have pittied us to have seen the poor man in the Gospel, going up and down among the tombs, and doing nothing but cutting and wounding himself? such a one is every unsanctified person: they go up and down wounding of themselves. And though they feel not their wounds that sin gives them, yet there is a day coming, when (conscience being awakened) they will seel it. Do you know, my brethren, what the work is that sin sets us upon? it is to destroy our selves, John 8. the Jews, they plead that they were free; and what did our Savior tell them of making them sree? Oh! but they were servants to their lusts, which was the greatest slavery, my brethren, to be under the power of a mans lusts, is a most perfect slavery. Do but look upon a sinner that hath an enlightned conscience, and see how he rends and tears, and is in a worse condition than the most woofull galley-slave that is in the world. And then he vows and covenants against his sin, and then his sin eggs him on again, and then to his conscience fals upon him. Oh, this is a sad condition! now this Christ hath delivered us from. Sin will be in us, but Christ hath promised that it shall not raign in us. And this is the blessed deliverance he hath wrought in us; and this he will perfect at the last day. And by the way, you may see and try whether you have any part in Christ or no. Why how may we know it? are you delivered from your sins? though sin be in you, is it there against your consent? if so, you are they whom Christ dyed for. But if it be in you in its dominion, you have no part nor portion in this matter. A man were better be the most perfect galleyslave in the world, than to be under the power of sin. Now this Christ hath delivered you from.
Thirdly, From the slaming furnace. This is another thing that Christ hath delivered you from. If the furnace heated to shew the terribleness of Nebuchadnezzars rage was so hot, that it burnt up those that cast in the three children; how hot is the surnace of the Almighty God, that is kindled by him, great rivers of brimstone running out into it, and the breath of the Lord doth kindle it? Oh, you know not what 'tis to be damned! you may know what 'tis to be sick or the like; but you know not what this word DAMNATION means. 2 Thes. 1. 8, 9. In … fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, &c. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. When we see wicked men under the Terrors of conscience, how do they wish for death, that they might know what their torment is? as Spira, and William Rogers. Oh, can you tell what this terrible furnace is? this is that which Christ, hath delivered us from. When I consider what this gul… is, I c…not but wonder at my own and others stupidity, that we are not ever! ever, praising the Lord! if the terror of the Lord be so great, that when he doth let out but a drop of it upon a poor creature, how terrible is all that wrath, the treasure of that wrath that is laid up for the ungodly! Rom. 2. 5. 8. 9. Jam. 5. 3. Those wicked rich men, there, they had, as they thought, heaped up treasures of riches by oppressing the poor: but the Apostle tels them they heaped up treasures of wrath. And this we were all born to, had not Christ cut off the entail. O man, woman, canst think of burning for ever in the fire of the Lords wrath, and not be praising the Lord that thou art yet out of hell? O bless the Lord, that delivered thee from so great a death: and hath endured such torments that thou mayst be set free. He did bear the rod of Gods wrath that thou mayst be saved to all eternity. If Christ had not been, where had we been! as the Son of God, coming among the three children, saved them from burning; so 'tis here: 'tis Christs coming hath sayed us from burning in this … surnace. How terrible this furnace is, you may see, Rev. 14. 10. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of h… indignation, and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the lamb: and the smoak of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever. And they have no rest day nor night. O methinks the very sight of this surnace at a distance should startle our Souls, and make us list up our hands, and eyes, and souls and praise the Lord. O methinks we that are the redeemed of the Lord, we should stand together about the pit, and look down, and list up our hearts and praise the Lord.
Fourthly, From the King of terrors. He hath saved you, as from the Devil, so from Death. You know death is the mortal enemy of man, 'tis his great and last enemy: and now this enemy hath Christ destroyed, and delivered us from. And that both from the sting and victory of it.
(First,) From the sting of death. He hath not delivered us from the stroke of death, but he hath from the sting of death. When the sting is out, the serpent may hisse, but he cannot sting. Death will put you into the possession of that which Christ hath provided for you: so that death now is become desirable, now there is beauty in it. There is no friend can do that for you, that death can do. It will at once deliver you from sin and Satan, and give you a possession in heaven. The Apostle, looking upon death through Christ, longs for death: having a desire to depart &c. Phil. 1. 23. This great robber, through Christ is become our greatest gain. That which would have marr'd us for ever, will now make us for ever. O that this King of terrors should become desirable, what a mercy is this! O my beloved, did you know what the terrors of death be to an enlightned sinner, you would account it a great priviledge to be sree from the sting of death. When all his comforts are taking their everlasting farewell of him, you would account it a great salvation then. When he shall feel death putting in his cold hands, and pulling out his heart, when he s…ail see his house of his body falling down about his ears, and he cannot stay there any longer: and he sees the hell-hounds stand about him and waiting upon him to carry him to Hell, O what horror doth this work upon his heart! this hath Christ delivered us from. Death hath lest its sting in Christ, it can hurt us no longer.
(Secondly,) From the victory of death. It is true we must lye in the grave for some time; yet Christ will fetch us thence, in John. 6. He promiseth no lesse than four times, I will raise them up at the last day. And this is the fruit of his purchase, 1 Thes. 4. 14. Christs resurrection is a certain pledge of ours, so 1 Cor. 15. Therefore let us not fear death, but embrace it with comfort: for death cannot touch our souls: it cannot deliver us over into the second death. He that overcometh, shall not be hurt of the second death. Therefore let us not fear death, but let our slesh rest in hope. When we dye, we may commit our bodies to the dust with comfort: it cannot hurt our souls; and it shall keep our bodies but a little while neither. God will receive our souls immediately; & our bodies after a little while. How doth Job comfort himself in this? I know that my redeemer liveth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my slesh shall I see God, &c. Thus may we triumph over death, that in this flesh we shall see God. And though death for the present do make such work upon us, and cast us into the grave, yet the earth will be but the mould wherein we shall receive a glorious body, so that death shall conduce to our great advantage. This is no little victory, to be able to triumph with the Apostle. O death, where is thy victory? This is no small priviledge. Bless your redeemer for this priviledge. VVhat a priviledge well this be, when all the Sons and daughters of God shall be brought sorth and made to stand up before him? then it shall appear that the grave was not able to hold them. Then will they triumph, and sing songs of salvation, when they shall set their feet upon their last enemy, death.
Secondly, It will appear what blessed news this is, if you consider, how he hath saved you. He hath saved you two ways, by might, and by merit.
…irst, By merit, Brethren, your salvation cost your redeemer dear, no less a price than his own invaluable blood. O believer, look upon thy self, art not thou a worthless thing to be redeemed with the price of Christs blood? O how should we admire the goodness of Christ here? we are not worthy that Christ … s…end one of his thoughts upon us, much less that he should spend his blood for us.
Seconly, By might, my brethren, it was absolutely requisite for our salvation, that our redeemer. as he should be of infinite merit, so of infinite might. If he had not been of infinite merit, he could never have been purchaser of heaven for us. The soul of one man is more worth than a whole world: and then what worth or value must that be of, that is able to buy a world of souls? and yet this purchaser must be able to buy heaven too: and this hath Christ done for us. Could heaven and earth have done this? no, no, it would have broken them all if they had done it. But now Christ hath done all for us: and therefore he must be of insinite merit. And not infinite in merit onelyonly but might too: for he was to bear all the wrath of God, and to bring us off with victory. If the wrath of Gods finger be so intolerable, that it makes poor creatures to cry out under it, what is the wrath of his loins? and if the wrath of God against one man is so great, what is his wrath against so many men?
VVhen the price was laid down, the devil would not yield up his hold, till Christ must come and cast him down, and pluck us from him. And therefore it was necessary that our redeemer should be of infinite power. He hath destroyed him that had the power of death, that is the devil. Ah brethren, we may behold the Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross, bowing himself as Sampson did, and pulling down the house about his enemies, and carrying away the posts and all, and setting us free. This is our Sampson that hath carryed all away, and destroyed our enemies for us. The price was sufficient to satisfie the justice of God for us: but when the price was paid, and paid to God; then Satan would not let us go: and therefore he must be overcome too.
First Use, Is it such blessed news that to us is born a Savior? then my brethren, let this stir you up to Joy and thankfulness for this salvation. O let me hear you say with Mary, my soul doth magnifie the Lord, my Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Savior, Luke 1. 46. Brethren, methinks you should now meet your redeemer with songs of salvation. Methinks you should come forth to meet him, as they did Saul and David, when they returned from their victory, the women came out, singing and dancing &c. and they answered one another as they played, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. Thus should you meet your Redeemer. You should go forth to meet him as Miriam and the women with her with timbrels and with dancings, and sing unto the Lord, Exod. 15. 20. 21. Oh brethren, with what joyful heart should you welcome Jesus Christ your Savior! this is glad …idings to all them that are saved by him. Blessed be God that giveth us cause to triumph in him. 'Tis true, in many other things it goes sad with us: but here is cause always for us to …o triumph in Christ, for the Spiritual deliverance that he hath wrought for you; which is a sure pledge that Christ will deliver you in outward respects. How blessed a time was the year of Jubile to the slaves that were in bondage how did they reckon every day and week till it came? how glad was that sound that sounded their deliverance? methinks I see the prison doors open, and the prisoners running out and crying, salvation to our God. O methinks nothing but the songs of salvation should be heard in your tabernacles. O let not complaining be heard for outward calamities. VVhat are those outward flea-bitings to that which our Savior hath delivered us from? go home and blesse the Lord: and what ever ill news you hear, let this comfort your heart that Christ hath made such a deliverance for you.
Second Use, Is it such blessed news &c. then this reproves our unthankfulness for Christ, and the news of Christ in the Gospel. Oh brethren, how is it that the praise of our redeemer is no more in our hearts, and no more heard in our mouths? how is it that we can be so unmindful of, and …thankful for this Saviour? hath God sent us… Saviour, and shall not we be thankful for him? It is a great sin to be unthankful for his creatures; but how much more to be unthankful for his Christ? he hath given you Christ, and what can he give you more? how is it that you are so seldome in blessing the Lord for this mercy? bless the Lord, O my soul, (saith David) and forget not all his benefits: that is, none of his benefits. If God had given you all this worlds goods, and had not given you Christ, what would it have done for you? what had it been, but a smooth and pleasant way to hell? what if the Lord had given you honor, and made your brethrens sheaf to bow before yours, and had not given you Christ; what good would it have done you? if a man were condemned at London, to be hang'd drawn and quartered, and were to be brought down into the Country to be executed, and all his way should be strowed with rushes, and he attended with Musicians, what would all this have done him? O what should we have done, if Christ had had not step'd in and s…ved us! none could have redeemed man but Christ. Heaven and Hell, and the Earth and the Sea would have said it is not in me: all the things in the world could never have satisfied for our sins. Wilt thou look to thy brethren? wilt thou look to the angels; they could not do it. The Spirits of just men made perfect could not save themselves: none could do it but Christ: and can you be unmindful of this? the Heavens and the Earth will be astonished at this, if you are not thankful for it.
There are two things that will heighten this …in.
First, Because Christ hath given you so many helps to it.
Secondly, Because thankfulness is all that he expects from us.
First, Because he hath given us so many helps. All the calls and invitations of the Gospel are as so many helps to this duty. But more than these, he hath appointed a special day, and a special ordinance.
First, A special day. The Sabbath day. Wherefore was this day changed? but that you may be mindful of this mercy?
(Secondly,) A special Ordinance. The Sa… of the Supper is appointed upon this account that we might remember this mercy to our souls.
Secondly, It is much aggravated by this, because this is all that he expects from you, for all that he hath suffered for you. Christ hath done and suffered beyond all you can conceive, or I can expresse to you: and what Homage doth he now expect from you? nothing but that you should be thankful to him. And will you be unthankful now for this mercy? This is that he expects by way of requital and return, that you be thankful, Had the Lord required some great thing of you, or some hard condition, if he would have dyed for you and redeemed you, would you not have done it? and how much more, now he hath done it, and and requires no more but this, that you be thankful? had you lain but one million of years in hell, with what gladness would you have heard that sound, that he would have redeemed you? would you have stood upon the terms? no, no, any terms then should have served.
Third Use, Then prepare to receive your Saviour. Oh if he be come, take heed that you receive him in. Let him not complain of you as he did of his native Country-men the Jews, that he came unto his own, and his own received him not. When this news come, that there was a Savior born, one would have thought that all the world should have received him with triumph: but there was no room for him in all the world, but he was thrust out in the m…nger. Let it not be so with you.
Question, But how shall we receive him? I shall shew you whither and how.
First. Whither you shall receive him. receive him into your hearts; not in your stal, as he was at first, but into your parlour, into your hearts. Your parlour, is but a stable. Thou mayst wonder that Christ will accept of thy heart, send the key of your hearts to Christ, let him take his choice where to lye: give him the upper room in your hearts.
Secondly, How, or after what manner you should receive him.
(First,) As the Centurion did, humbly. I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof. So should you receive him, with a deep sence of your everlasting unworthiness. Receive him with a lively sence of your sins, that you have wronged him. This is a right receiving of Christ, when he is received penitently. Thus did that woman entertain him: and Christ liked better of this, than of the Pharisce. Luke 7. She received Christ in her heart. This is the entertainment, that he is well pleased with: receive him thus, and this will be acceptable to him. Though thou hast nothing at all in thee, but the sence of thy nothingness, Christ will be sure to accept of this.
(Secondly,) Receive him, as …cheus did, Joyfully, When Christ call'd him down from the tree, and told him that salvation was come to his house, how glad was the mans heart? Luke 19. O methinks I see with what unspeakable joy he received him. He thought not of Christ's coming to his house: his highest ambition was that he might have a sight of Christ: and Christ sees and takes notice of it, and tels him that Salvation was come to his house. O methinks, I should see thee looking as he did, when Christ will come this way where thou art. Why, now he is come in his ordinances, now receive him joyfully, take him into thy heart. Let thy joy break out, as the waters of Jordan did; or as when the Lord broke up the fountain of the great deep. Brethren, one would think, that one should need no arguments to perswade miserable captives to receive a Savior. O how welcome would such offers be to them that are in captivity? Brethren, if ever you have seen your lost condition without Christ, you cannot but receive him when he is offered to you. O methinks this Name of JESUS should be marrow to your bones, and wine to your hearts, and Musick to your ears. Oh as God hath, so do you. give him a name above every name. This blessed name, the name of Jesus, methinks it should be as oynment poured forth upon you, giving a sweet smell.
Thirdly. Receive him as old Simeon did, believingly. You must clasp the arms of your faith about him. O how sweetly did old Simeon clasp him in his arms? but you must think that he did clasp him more gladly in his heart. If you will but entertain him, Christ and Salvation come to every one in this house.
Fourthly, Take him submissively. So as to be subject to him. He hath wrought out Salvation for you; therefore let him rule over you.