Remains of Joseph Alleine, Sacramental speech 1
A Sacramental speech grounded on
Psalm. 40. 7.
Lo I come.
IT is my purpose to speak to you of the coming of the Son, Lo I come.
Now concerning this coming, I shall shew you. First, Who it is that is come. Secondly, How he is come. Thirdly, Whence he is come. Fourthly, Why he is come.
First, Who it is that is come. This is the first thing that I shall desire you to consider with reference to the coming of Christ.
(First,) The bridegroom is come. God sends his Ministers to you with that cry Math. 25. 6. Behold the bridegroom cometh. O with what joy doth the Bride receive her Bridgegroom? so should believers receive Christ. Arise you Virgins then and come away. Awake you virgins this is the call of your Bridegroom, Cant. 2. 8. The voice of my beloved! behold he cometh, &c. And what was this voice of her beloved, that doth so ravish her heart? see verse 10. arise my love; my fair one, and come away, and so ver. 13. Christ calls again and again; and you should come away.
(Secondly,) Your King is come. God sends his Ministers to you with that glad newes, that he put in the Prophets mouth, Zach. 9. 9. rejoyce greatly O daughter of Zion, behold thy King cometh. Brethren, this is that which should cause you to rejoyce and shout for joy, that your King is come. And great reason have: for he is a great King and hath salvation with him, Luke 19. 9. This day is salvation come to this house.
(Thirdly,) The deliver is come, Rom. 11. 26. Brethren, I know good news must needs be welcome to you at such a time as this: why hear you then the blesseds news that ever came to the ears of man, Luke 2. 10. Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people for unto you is born — a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Ah Brethren! that the Savior is come, the deliverer is come this is the blessedst news that ever man heard. Hear what the Lord saith with reference to this, in that of the Prophet, Isa. 62. 10. 11. He cals upon his people to cast up and prepare the way, &c. say ye to the daughter of Zion, behold thy salvation cometh, &c. Ah brethren, this is good news for Zion, and this is the news God hath sent me with: behold the deliverer, the Saviour is come. O with what a welcome should such as this be received when he comes? how welcome was the news to the captives, that brought the news of their liberty? why, such should be the welcome, that you should give to the news the Gospel brings you of a deliverer. Now is your Jubilee, blessed are the people that hear the joyful sound Psa. 89. 15. He alludes to the sound of the Trumpets, in the time of the Jubilee: but it is to be understood of the joyful sound of the Gospel. It is blessed news that Christ the deliver is come.
Secondly, I am to shew you, how he is come, There is a two fold coming of Christ: his gracious, and his glorious coming. His glorious coming is not till hereafter, at the last day. This is the coming that he speaks of, Rev. 1. 7. He speaks of it as if it were present: because 'tis as certain as if it were present. Every eye shall see him. But then there is his gracious coming, and that is two fold corporal, or spiritual. His corporal coming, in his admirable Incarnation: his spiritual coming in the Gospel Invitation.
(First,) His corporal coming in his admirable incarnation. And this is blessed news to the world, at this his coming there were a quire of angels to celebrate his praise, Luke 2. 13, 14. And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host; praising God & saying, glory to Godin the highest, and on Earth peace, good will towards men. We read that the great and glorious works of God, they are celebrated by the angels. And there are these four great works celebrated by them.
First, The work of Creation. So that … Job. 38. 7. When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for Joy. It is spoken with reference to the Creation, the angels did list up their voices, and sang the praise of their Creator.
Secondly, The work, of conversion, Luke 15. 10. There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. The work of conversion is a great and admirable work: and therefore celebrated by angels.
Thirdly, At Christs incarnation, so Luke 2. 10, 11.
Fourthly, At the resurrection. Then all the angels of God shall appear, then shall be a most glorious and general appearance of the angels to celebrate that work, heaven shall empty it self of all its glorious inhabitants.
(Secondly,) There is the spiritual coming of Christ: and this is in his Ordinances. This is his Chariot wherein he rides on conquering, Psa. 45. 3, 4. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, and in thy Majesty ride prosperously. This is to be understood of Christs going forth in the sound of the Gospel, which is his sword, whereby he rides on to conquer the world. Now in this respect Christ is come, exhibiting himself in the voice of the Gospel: there Christ doth shew himself, and impart himself to his people.
Thirdly. I am to shew you whence he is come. He is come from the throne of his glory. From the court of his Angels. From the hosome of his Father.
(First,) From the Throne of his glory. O what a wonderful descent was this! that he should come from the Throne of his glory, to the manger among the beasts? from the company of the angels, to be crucified among the theeves! he came among the beasts; the world would not receive him, but he was thrust out among the beasts. Man by his Apostacy had brought himself among the beasts; and hither did Christ come to find him. But he was humbled more yet; from the throne to the cross. From the height of his glory, to the extremity of shame. O how should we think of the strange abasure of Christ, that he that was heir to the Crown of glory, should become man, and viler then any of the Sons of men, in some respect! this should have your great admiration.
(Secondly,) From the Court of his angels. The Lord Jesus Christ, he was the brightness of his Fathers glory, the express image of his person, that made his angels spirits and his Ministers a flaming fire. All the angels you must know were his Messengers. And what abasure was here, that he should come from the company of angels to be contemned by the basest of men!
(Thirdly,) From the bosome of his Father. The Lord Jesus Christ, he was the Son of Gods delight: his darling; the beloved object of his soul, Math. 11. 27. Christ is he that lyes in the bosome of the Father; and he alone is able to reveal the secrets of the Lord to the world, so John 1. 18. Now that the Lord Jesus Christ should come from the bosome of God, to the belly of hell, that he should leave the glory of heaven, for the torments of hell, and all for our sakes; what a strange wonder of Love was this! hence was it that Christ came for us. This is the bread that came down from heaven, that a man may eat of and not dye.
Fourthly, I shall shew you why he is come. And that is To seek and to Save.
(First,) To seek. That is one end of his coming, so Luke 19. 10. And who do you think that he is come to seek? It is us that were lost. All we like sheep have gone astray, now Christ is that great & good sheapherd that came to seek and to save that which was lost, in Luke 15 you read of the lost groat, the lost sheep, and the lost Son: and who do you think this was; this was the lost sinner, ver. 32. who was it, think you, that sought us, and found us when we were lost? It was Jesus Christ: it was he that sought us. We had never found him, had not he sought us. I am found of them that sought me not, …. 65. 1. If Christ had stayed for us till we sought him, our salvation had never been wrought. The Lord Jesus Christ he sought us not, and laid hold on us. He took not hold of angels, but of the seed of Abraham. In effectual calling, there he takes hold of the sinner, he is fain to run after them and stop them, or else they would run into perdition.
(Secondly,) He is come to save, so the Apostle to Timothy, 1 Tim. 15. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. He puts in for one. Oh brethren, this is that should make the coming of Christ welcome to you, he came to seek and save you. O therefore welcome him at his coming.
Use. Is it so, that Christ is come? then go you forth to meet him. Math. 25. 6. That was the cry there, this is that which God sends his Messengers to call upon you for, that you may go forth to meet him.
But how should you go forth to meet him? First, as a Bride doth her bridegroom. Secondly, as redeemed Captives do their deliverer. Thirdly, as dutiful subjects do their King.
First, As a Bride doth her Bridegroom. This I shall open to you in three particulars. First, Put off the rayment of your captivity. Secondly, put on the wedding Garment. Thirdly, trim up all your Lamps.
First, Put off the rayment of your Captivity. If the poor Captive woman were to shave her head, and pair ber nails, and put off the rayment of her captivity, &c. (Deut. 21. 13.) before she was to be married to any one of the Tribes of Israel: how much more should you put off the old man and your sinful deeds, that are to be married to Christ? If so be the Children of Israel were to wash and sanctifie themselves, and wash their cloaths, when the Lord was to come down upon Mount Sinai, Exod. 19. how much more should you, when the Lord … comes down to you? you know that Children may not come at their fathers Table with unwashed hands: neither must you to eat of the dainties spread in the Gospel.
(Secondly,) You must put on the wedding garment. You will say, what is this? it is a conjugal love to Jesus Christ. And this is compared to a garment: for we are bid to put on charity, or love. And its set forth as the best part of the Christian rayment: and above all things put on Charity; for what more fits a marriage than a conjugal affection? you should bring forth your most strong and ardent affections and love to him, you should meet him with songs, and what songs? such as the Psalmist doth Ps. 45. title. A song of Loves, let your eyes be fixed upon Christ in the Gospel, till your eyes affect your heart: and while your heart is musing, the fire will be kindling; where will you bestow your love, but where the bridgroom is so lovely?
(Thirdly,) You should trim up all your Lamps, you should snu…f all your lights, and trim up all your lamps, to go forth to meet him, And receive him and feed upon him when he is offered: he is held out to you on purpose, in the Gospel, for you to take and receive him. Gal. 3. 1. Foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been ardently set forth crucified among you. But you will say was Christ … in Galatia? he was in the preaching of the word: he was crucified among them.
Secondly, You must meet him as redeemed captives do their deliverer, would you know how this is? it is with palms of victory in your hands with garments of salvation; with songs of deliverance. These are the three things wherein this stands. you have all together, in Rev. 7, 9, 10. They were in white robes, the garments of Salvation: and palms of victory, and they had the songs of salvation too, ver. 10. Oh Brethren, if you have any sence of your spiritual bondage and captivity, to be the servants of sin, under the fear of death, under the King of terrors; then be glad in your redeemer meet him with songs of praise. O how should the high praises of God be heard in your mouths? you should meet him as the virgins did David at his return from his victory, 1 Sam. 18. 6. with singing and dancing — with joy, &c. Thus should you meet your deliverer, you should compass him with songs of praise. O my Brethren, you that are the redeemed of the Lord, look down into the horrible pit, and then look up and sing songs to the Lord. O it is a glorious salvation that Christ hath wrought for us. How welcome was he to good old Simeon? how sweetly doth he hug Christ in his arms? (and much more, you must think in his heart) now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation. This we have seen, we have seen Christ coming to us in the Gospel. We have seen him like Sampson, pulling down the house about our enemies, and carrying away the posts, and setting them up as Trophies of his victory. It was he that was condemned, that you might be freed. O let your lips praise him, and the souls which he hath redeemed, let me call upon with the Psalmist, Psalm 98. A psalm on purpose to Jews and Gentiles to sing to the Lord for their deliverance, vers… 3. He hath remembred his mercy and truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. And what use doth the Psalmist make of this? vers. 4. make a joyful noise unto the Lord all the earth, &c. He goes on calling upon all the Creatures to praise God for this. If the Sea must roar, and the floods clap their …nds, how much more should you do it, that are the redeemed of the Lord.
Thirdly, Meet him as dutiful subjects do their King. This is the news sent to Zion, behold thy King cometh. Then meet him as a King, receive him with acclamation and praise, as they did when Solomon was proclaimed King, 1 Kings 1. 39, 40. They blew the Trumpet, and all the p…oplt said God save the King. And the people piped with pipes and returned with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them. O if they met King Solomon with such joy, how should you meet Christ? It is another manner of King that comes to you than Solomon was, you should say to Christ as they did to Gideon, Judg 8. 22. Rule thou over us: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. Thus should you say to Christ, rule thou over us: for he hath delivered you, not from the hand of Midian, but from Satan. But how should we meet our King? prepare the way, bow the knee.
(First,) Prepare the way, Math. 3. 3. Christ had his fore-runner going before him, that was John, saying, prepare you the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. How must the way of the Lord be prepared? every Mountain must be brought low &c. every Mountain of pride and opposition that are in our hearts must be laid low. O if there be such preparing for the King, where he is to lodge and go, how much more should you for the King of glory where he is to lodge!
(Secondly,) Bow the knee, we read of Joseph, (and you know he was a type of Christ.) that when Pharaoh had exalted him from the prison to such dignity, he prepares some to go before him, and cry, bow the knee. So God hath set up Christ and exalted him, and given him a name above every name; now let me call upon you (and my self with you) that you bow the knee to him. I speak not of the bodily knee: it is more than your cap and knee that he requireth. He will have you to bow before him. O then see that you bow before him, see that you do him homage. Now your King is set up in another manner than he was upon the Crosse, behold your King. That is the duty that I would perswade you to now: behold your King and look that you bow to him. Let your souls and all that is within you bow to him. Let your understandings bow to him, by a right apprehension of him, by a right conceiving of him, as worthy to be loved and feared. Let your wills bow, by an utter rejection of your sins: and a most ardent desire to receive Christ. Let all your affections come in and bow, and not dare to stir more than his commands give you leave. In a word let all that is within you bow before him, and give place to Jesus Christ. Now down with the world, out with your lusts, and make ready for Christ. Let all your worldly business bow before him, and give place to Jesus Christ, away with this foolish deceitful world; let all be at the seet of Christ: and let all your souls be in subjection to him. This will be an acceptable meeting with him, if you so meet him.