Remains of Joseph Alleine, Sacramental speech 5
A SACRAMENTAL Speech, grounded on
Math. 15. 28.
O woman, great is thy faith.
WE have read many noted and remarkable stories of sundry great exploits, that have been done by the renowned worthies of the world: but there are no exploits nor atchievements, so renowned as those that been done by faith.
The Scripture give us many instances of this kind; and shews us how greatly the Lord Jesus Christ was pleased with the lively actings of his peoples faith. Faith is of great price with, and shall obtain great praise from the Lord Jesus Christ.
In this chapter, you have a most notable victory that was obtained by a poor woman, by the power and strength of her faith, Here a poor weak woman by the strength of her faith wrestling with Jesus Christ, obtains the victory; that he could no longer hold but grants her request. Her faith did notably discover it self in putting her upon saing to Christ. Nature will send men in their distresses to natural helps; but faith will send them to Christ, to seek their help in him. And then her faith discovers it self in putting her upon pursuing of Christ. Christ seems to give a repulse to her faith, he answereth her not a word; he was resolved to put her faith to it: that he might exercise her faith. Yea when the Disciples came to speak for her; he answered, I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. But she makes another onset upon Christ. Then came she, and worshipped, saying, Lord help me. Well, but he gives her another repulse, he seems to put her off with a check; 'tis not meet to give the Childrens bread to dogs. But behold the importunity of faith; she pursues the victory still, she confesses that she was but a dog, but she pleads that she might have the priviledge of a dog: even the dogs have the crumbs that fall from their masters table, and though I be a dog, yet let me have the crumbs. Well now, he could no longer hold, but, as Joseph he breaks out in the praise of this womans faith. O woman great is thy faith.
In Luke 5. you have the sick of the Palsie suing to Christ for cure and observe how earnest he is, when they could not find which way to come to Christ, they went to the house top and let him down in the midst before Jesus. Here was a lively faith indeed, it could by no means be kept off from Christ, and how greatly was Christ pleased with this? Be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee. O this was the voice that faith would have had: this was the word that faith looked for. As Christ is pleased with faith, so he gratifies it, and gives it the answer that it would have, what word can be so sweet to faith, as Son thy sins are forgiven thee?
Quest. But why is Christ so greatly pleased with his peoples faith.
Answ. First, Because this is the great thing commanded by him. Christ layes more stresse upon this command than upon all the rest: to wit the command of believing, John 6. 29. This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. This is THE work of God. THE work with an emphasis, none to this; This is the great command, 1 John 3. 23. This is his command, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ. There are many other commands, but this is the great command of all. And therefore 'tis that Christ doth so generally please himself in, his peoples faith: becauses this is the great thing that he requires of us.
Secondly, Because this is that which doth set so great esteem upon him. Christ prizes faith, for faith above all things prizes Christ, and gives glory to Christ. Christ is not magnified and glorified in any thing so much, as by his peoples faith. Faith empties us of our selves, and gives all the glory to Jesus: makes us vile in our own eyes, and magnifies Christ in our eyes, 1 Pet. 2. 7. Unto you therefore that believe he is precious. Faith and Christ they are mutually precious one to another. O the sweet embraces there are between these two friends when they meet! O precious faith, faith Christ, 2. P…t. …. …. And O precious Christ, saith faith. O precious Savior, saith faith, and O precious servant, saith Christ. …aith saith, none but Christ; and Christ saith, none but faith: onelyonly believe. Sith therefore Christ is so precious unto faith, no wonder that faith is so precious unto Christ.
Now then beloved, stir up your faith; abound in the lively exercise of your faith: and thereby you may be very pleasing to Jesus Christ nothing will please him like this. If thou art a believer, I know it is in thine heart to please thy Lord. If thou knewest what would please him, woulst thou not do it? How is the church pleased, to think how she would please Jesus Christ? Cant. 1. 12. While the King fitteth at his Table, my … sendeth forth the smell thereof. It gave her great content, to think how she would please Jesus Christ. Would you know how to please Jesus Christ? here you are directed: be much in believing, learn the skil of believing; be much in the exercise of your faith. As David danced befo…e the Ark with all his might, so put forth your faith with vigor and activity. In this above all things you will be pleasing to Jesus Christ. We read how H…rod was pleased with Herodias daughter when she danced before him, Mar. 6. 22. insomuch that he sware to her, to give her what she should ask, even to the half of his Kingdom. Thus do thou put forth thy faith in a lively activity, and he will be pleased infinitely with this, that he will swear to thee thou shalt have thy asking. Now for a lively faith, to lay hold of Christ. Where is thy faith, Christian, try now what thy faith can do.
Quest. But wherein should your faith act so vigorously, that you may please Jesus Christ?
Answ. First, In a way of Anmhilation. Or emptying your selves of your selves. This was the way, the Centurious faith did please Christ so much, making him so little in his own eyes. And this was the way the woman of Canaan did please Christ with her faith. Faith is a grace that will exceedingly little us, and abase us, it will make thee that art as big as a Camel, to be little enough to go through an eye of a needle. It will make thee seem less and worse then nothing. It will make thee not onelyonly to cease admiring thy self, but to abhor thy self, and repent in dust and ashes. It will shew thee what Christ is; and seeing him by thee, thou shalt disappear, and see nothing in thy self but unworthiness. The glow-worm shines in the night; but when the day Springs it cannot so much as be seen. When this Orient Sun Christ ariseth, to the eye of faith, then self will not be seen, it will not appear. Faith will lay thee where thou shouldst be, in the dust And then Christ will be where he should be, in the Throne. When man stands for a Cypher th…n Christ signifies somewhat indeed. When man sets down himself for a Bankrupt, then he s…es out for the unsearchable riches of Christ. O be much in exercising thy faith, and that will empty thee to purpose. This is the language of faith, Lord I am undone, do thou set me up, I am a Bankrupt, do thou pay my debt. Lord, my rig…ousness is but rags: my beau…y, is but rottenness: my pedigree, is but baseness: my portion, meer poverty: my power, meer infirmity: Lord, here is work for thee: help Lord! This is the language of faith: and therefore it is, that Christ and faith do fit so well together. Faith hath need of every thing that Christ hath, and Christ hath a supply for every want that Faith hath. As for unbelievers, they make light of Christ, they are rich, and need not his gold: they are well, and have no need of his salve. But now faith, that empties and humbles the man, and makes him to sue out to Christ: faith will fetch out all that is in Christ. Lord, here is a beggar for thy bounty Here is a Lazarus, for thy cure. Here is a palsie hand, a blind eye, here is a wound for thy salve. Christ, he comes as an open fountain, and faith brings an empty vessel. Christ comes with a full purse, and faith with an empty hand. Christ comes with an open hand, and faith with an open mou…. Christ comes giving, and faith comes gaping. Faith comes, Lord, here is a belly for thee to fill: here is a back for thee to cover. I am poor and am robbed of all, I have not a penny left, and none can help me but thee, I starve unlesse thou help. Thus faith comes as a hungry child fixes his ey upon the eye of his Father, earnestly looking upon him, when some relief will come to him: so doth faith upon Christ, looking when somewhat will come to him.
Secondly, By way of acceptation, receiving of Christ, To as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the Sons …od even to them that believe on his name, John 1. 12. Faith sits like the cripple at the beautiful gate of the Temple to receive an alms. Beloved, the Gospel is the great Mart, and your Souls are the ship, and faith is the receiver, to take in the lading. O let your faith be active, that you may go away greatly loaden. As Christ said, receive you the holy Ghost, so do you receive Christ: accept of Christ, while he tenders himself to you. While he is tendering himself to you, let your Souls answer, Lord, with my whole heart do I accept thee, I take thee at thy word to all intents and purposes. I take thee not onelyonly to receive thy pay, but to fight under thy banner: not onelyonly to be justified by thy righteousness, but to be governed by thy laws. This is the great and vital act of faith, that is of absolute necessity to salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ is offered to you. In the name of the eternal God I offer him to you all; see that you take him by faith. O saith faith Lord I accept thee, you will all say we will have Christ, we must perish else: but consider it, be not rash, know the manner of your husband: if you will have Christ, you must not live as you list: you must be under government, and strict government, you must not have him and the world too; you must cast your worldly hopes over board. You must take him upon his own conditions. His condition is very low sometimes in the world, sometimes he hath a bed, and sometimes he hath none: you must run all hazards with him; you must suffer with him if you … reign with him. Now what saith your faith to this? O saith faith, I will take him with all my heart. Faith saith as Ruth to Naomi, Ruth 1. 16. whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge, thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God
But how must your faith accept of Christ?
(First,) Accept the person of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is offered in a marriage covenant to you in the Gospel: and a marriage, is not between a person and patrimony; but person and person: true faith is not onelyonly for the benefits of Christ but the person of Christ. There is great difference between the sick man, and the sick spouses taking the physician: the sick man takes him for his skill, but the spouse for his person. The sick man taks him till the cure be done, and than values not the physician: but the spouse for hers in all conditions for ever; she takes his person. Thus must your faith do; you must chuse the Lord Jesus Christ, not for the salvation onelyonly that he brings, but the excellency that is in him. As Christ will not be contented with any thing of yours, but you: so should you do, be contented with nothing of Christ, but himself.
Secondly, You must accept the pardon of Christ. Christ, with his person doth offer you all his …. And as 'tis in marriage that then, and then onelyonly, and not otherwise shall the wife have the State. So take Christ and you have all the benefits that come by him. He comes with his pardon in his hand, and if you will accept him, you shall have his pardon by him.
(Thirdly,) The promises of Christ. All the promises are in him yea, and in him Amen. Take Christ and you may lay hold of all the promises as yours.
(Fourthly,) The purchase of Christ. 'tis a Kingdome that is offered to you all, in the Gospel: take Christ, and you shall be heirs of a Kingdom. Lay hold of Christ, and you do at the same time lay hold of ettrnal life.
Thirdly, By way of exultation, rejoycing in Christ, triumphing in Christ, 2 Cor. 2. 14. Thanks be to God, that giveth us always cause to triumph in Christ. Your faith should be triumphing, you should triumph in the victory, mercy, merit, promises, riches, kingdom of Christ. O you that are believers, you have cause indeed always to triumph in Christ. what! have you received the Lord Jesus Christ? are you married to such a Husband? O how sho…ld you boast of him, O how should you please him? how should you glory in the booty that you have got? you have got a prize indeed. Thou that hast got Christ, hast a husband indeed: let your hearts rejoyce in him Thou art a believer, thou are really espoused to Jesus Christ: thou mayst make as real a claim to the Lord Jesus Christ, as a wife to her Husband. And thou mayest make as real a claim to the purchase of Jesus Christ, as a wife to the state and goods of her Husband. These are not vain and empty words: no, no, there is the greatest reallity in the world in this; 'tis as true as any thing in the world can be true. Thou hast a real interest in the Lord Jesus Christ, and may'st boldly make thy claim to him as thine own Husband: do I speak any thing but what the Lord hath spoken? you are maried unto Christ that was raised from the dead, that you might bring fruit unto God, Rom. 7. 4. mark, 'tis not my word, 'tis Gods word. Take heed thou dost not blaspheme: dost thou think that God doth go to deceive thee? far be it from thy thoughts. Believer, 'tis so: of a truth Christ is thine; thy husband, and thou mayst boldly lay claim to him. Consider what a husband Christ is: is not he the King of the Kings of the earth? This is he unto whom Angels, and authorities and powers are made subject: This is he whom all the Angels of God do worship: Heaven and earth are at his beck: he is exalted above all heavens, and hath a name above every name that is named: this is thy beloved and friend. O should not thy faith triumph in him?
Fourthly, By way of resignation, in giving up your selves to Jesus Christ. Faith, as it takes Christ, so it delivers up the soul to Christ. Faith makes a happy exchange for us, giving away the man to Christ, and receiving Christ for us. Thus, between Christ and a believer, there is a mutual delivery of themselves over to one another. As faith receives Christ, so it gives up the soul to Christ, and all that it hath; Lord, saith faith, I here resign to thee: I quit all claim to my self, I am not my own: and will own it henceforth, that I have no right to my self. I give up soul and body to thee: I will hold back no part of the price. And as faith takes first the person of Christ, and then the benefits of Christ: so it gives away the person of the man to Christ, and then with the person it gives all the rest; the estate, interest, and all to Jesus Christ, thus you should be exercising your faith.
Fifthly, By way of Adoration, thus saith should put forth its self upon Christ: casting our Crowns before him: setting up the Lord Jesus Christ in the throne of his own excellency, and we should admire nothing but him, breaking in pieces all our Idols, and pulling them down, that Christ alone may be exalted.
Sixthly, By way of Appreciation, prizing and esteeming of Christ, debasing self and all other excellencies in comparison of Christ: accounting all things but dung for Christ, such was Pauls faith.
Seventhly, By way of Appropriation, so your faith should put forth it self. It should not only put forth it self in a way of Affiance onelyonly, leaning upon Christ: but in a way of assurance. You should labor to come up to this, not only to believe that Christ dyed for his people in general; but to believe his death was intended for you in particular to appropriate him to your self. Thus faith acts upon Christ. This was Thomas, his faith when once it was stirred up. My Lord, and my God. Applying Christ to himself as his. Lord, saith faith, I am weak, but thou art my strength. I am a sinner, but thou art my righteousnesse, I am unclean, but thou art my sanctisication. I am miserable, but thou art my redemption.