Sermons on Isaiah 11:1-10, Sermon 2
The Attractive Power of the Death and Croſs of Chriſt. SERMOM II.
JOHN 12.32.
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
OUr bleſſed Lord, in the verſ. preceeding; has ſpoken of his victory over Satan, of caſting him out of his ſpiritual poſſeſſion of the elect, and of their delivery from his power and bondage: In this verſ. he ſpeaketh of the procuring cauſe of their delivery, to wit, his own death on the Croſs; and alſo of the powerful and efficacious application of the vertue of his death, by giving faith to the elect, to believe in him and draw their hearts toward him.
Diviſ. In the words we have theſe two things, 1. The manner of our Lord his death, And I, if I be lifted up from the earth. 2. The vertue and efficacy of his death, I will draw all men unto me.
Whereas it is ſaid, If I be lifted up; the meaning is, when I ſhall be lifted up; for the particle foreign here, is taken for foreign when, as it is taken alſo, 1 Joh. 3.2. But we know, that when he ſhall appear, foreign for foreign. As for the manner of his death, If I be lifted up from the earth; There was a twofold lifting up of Chriſt: one from the earth unto the Croſs, whereto his body was nailed at his death, whereof here, and Joh. 3.14. There was another lifting up after his death, unto the Throne of glory in Heaven, Acts 5.31. Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Iſrael, and forgivenneſs of ſins. By his lifting up upon the Croſs, and the merit of his death, he procured the remiſſion of our ſins; and by his lifting up, after his death, to the Fathers right hand, he doth apply the remiſſion of ſins by his interceſſion. Our bleſſed Lord gave himſelf willingly for his ſheep, Tit. 2.14. Joh. 10.17, 18. for if he had been pleaſed to make uſe of his own Almighty power, all the power of the world could not have taken his life from him; he that with one word did caſt his enemies to the ground; who by his power, even upon the Croſs, did rent the rocks, he could eaſily have rent in pieces the tree whereto his body was nailed: yet in his wiſdom, he was pleaſed to ſuffer death at the hands of his enemies: though his death was ſimply voluntar, yet in ſome reſpects it was neceſſar. 1. There was a neceſſity of it, in reſpect of the puniſhment threatned againſt man upon his diſobedience, The day thou eateſt, thou ſhalt die: therefore there was a neceſſity of ſatisfaction to divine truth and juſtice by the death of Chriſt, the Mediator and ſurety of the Covenant of Grace, which was made in him, Gal. 3.16. and ratified by him, Heb. 7.22. 2. There was a neceſſity in reſpect of Gods decree to ſend his Son, that he might make ſatiſfaction to Divine Juſtice in our nature; therefore it is ſaid by our Lord, Joh. 17.6. Thine they were, and thou gaveſt them to me. They were the Fathers by election; and given to the Son, that he might ſatisfie for them, reconcile them, and in end bring them to the ſalvation appointed for them: As a King reſolving to releaſe and give liberty to ſo many Rebels, Priſoners, giveth them over to his Son, that he may pay their ranſome, and ſo obtain their liberty, according to the Fathers decree. For this cauſe, our bleſſed Lord, in reſpect of the decree of the Father to ſend him into the world, that he might die and ſave his elect, is called the Lamb fore-ordained or predeſtinated, 1 Pet. 1.20.
This manner of death of our bleſſed Lord upon the Croſs, was neceſſary, 1. That he might be anſwerable to that type of the brazen Serpent lifted up in the wilderneſs, Job. 3.14. And as Moſes lifted up the Serpent in the wilderneſs, even ſo muſt the Son of man be lifted up. 2. That by this manner of death, he might deliver us from the curſe of the Law, Gal. 3.13. Chriſt hath redeemed us from the curſe of the Law, being made a curſe for us: for it is written, curſed is every one that hangeth on a tree. He underwent a temporary curſe, to deliver us from the eternal curſe and wrath due to the tranſgreſſours of the Moral Law: Although there be no proportion between the ſuffering of a temporary curſe, and the ſuffering of an eternal curſe, due to us; yet, the dignity of the perſon ſuffering, did give infinit value to the merit of his ſuffering, Heb. 9.14. How much more ſhall the blood of Chriſt, who through the eternal Spirit, offered himſelf without ſpot to God, purge your conſcience from dead works, to ſerve the living God? And the perſon ſuffering, being the Son of God, made the vertue and efficacy of his death, to be of infinit power to purge away our ſins, and reconcile God to us, 1 Joh. 1.7. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowſhip one with another, and the blood of Jeſus Chriſt his Son cleanſeth us from all ſin. 3. Our bleſſed Lord died upon the Croſs, that by this ſhameful death he might merit our exaltation unto favour with God in this life; for, he made our peace with God through the blood of his Croſs, Col. 1.20. and that he might merit our exaltation unto everlaſting glory in the life to come, Heb. 12.2. For the joy that was ſet before him, he endured the Croſs: this joy and glory ſet before him, as Mediator, was that glory and triumph he ſhould obtain over all his and his Churches enemies.
It ſhould be our great deſire and endeavour, with the Apoſtle, to know Chriſt and him crucified, 1 Cor. 2.2. To this knowledge all humane learning ſhould be ſubſervient. It is of ſpecial uſe, 1. It will inflame thine heart with love to the Father, whō gave him to the death of the Croſs for thee, that thou ſhouldeſt not periſh, but, believing in him, thou might be reconciled with God, and get eternal life; It will inflame thy heart with love to the Prince of glory, when thou conſidereſt for whom he ſuffered this ignominious death of the Croſs: It was even for thee, who by nature was an enemy to God at firſt by a wicked inclination, and after thou cameſt to the years of diſcretion, thou waſt a rebel by thy wicked actings and works: Men ſometimes have died for their friends, as Codrus and Curius for the good of their countrey; but God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet ſinners, Chriſt died for us, Rom. 5.8. when thou conſidereſt the painfulneſs of his death; hands and feet were pierced and nailed to the tree of the Croſs: In the hands and feet, which are the extremities of the body, the ſinewes meet together and convey the pain to all the parts of the body: And the purer and finer the complexion be, the ſenſe of feeling is the more quick, as a ſound and cleanly body is more ſenſible of the cold piercing Air, than a groſs humorous body. Look in narrowly to the inſide of his ſufferings, even the greatneſs of his ſoul-ſufferings; they cannot be conceived, how extreme they were: therefore the Greek Church, in their publick prayers, ſaid, For the ſake of Chriſts unknown ſufferings, have mercy upon us, O Lord. We may know ſomething of them from his expreſſions, my ſoul is exceeding ſorrowful; Thou may ſee ſomething of them in his bloody ſweat; our raging fever in our ſinning, brought on him this bloody ſweat, that thereby he might cure us of the burning fever of ſin: we hear ſomething of his ſoul-ſufferings from his moſt ſad complaint to the Father, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? we had forſaken God days without number, and he was deſerted of comfort for a time, to ſatisfie for our ſinful deſertions; and bring us into a communion of favour and glory with God. Conſider the ſhamefulneſs of his death; He was expoſed to the publick ſhame and reproach of his enemies, and of all the beholders; and ſhame to an ingenious ſpirit, is worſe than death; it racks and breaks their heart, Pſal. 69.20. Reproach hath broken my heart. Conſider his willingneſs to die, Iſa. 50.6. I gave my back to the ſmiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from ſhame and ſpitting. Phil. 2.8. He humbled himſelf, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Croſs. Conſider for what end our bleſſed Lord ſuffered all this pain and ſhame: his back was furrowed with ſtripes and ſcourges, that by his ſtripes we might be healed; his head was crowned with thorns, to get us a crown of immortal glory, he ſuffered all this pain and ſhame, to ſave thee from extreme and endleſs pain and ſhame: How ſhould a ſick patient love his Phyſician, that preveens a dangerous fever? And how ſhould a malefactor love the man, who kept him from the ſhame of the pillory? How much more ſhould we love our bleſſed Lord, who by the death of the Croſs, hath ſaved us from that unquenchable fire, and hath preſerved us from eternal ſhame and confuſion?
2. The frequent and ſerious meditation on the Croſs of Chriſt, will keep thine heart humble with godly ſorrow for thy bygone ſins, that crucified the Lord of glory. Zach. 12.10. And they ſhall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they ſhall mourn for him, as one that mourneth for his only ſon, &c. It will mortifie the love of ſin in thee for time coming: ſorrow and ſhame are two mortifying paſſions; as a debtor is ſorry and aſhamed of the diſtreſs his ſurety was put to for his debt; and he is very ſparing to take on new debt, 2 Cor. 5.14. The love of Chriſt conſtraineth us; foreign hemmeth us in, and makes us ſtrait-laced, not to diſpenſe with our ſelves, to debord toward any thing may offend him, who died ſuch a death, to ſatisfie divine juſtice for our debts and ſins. It will mortifie thee to the World; to the deceitful pleaſures thereof, and to ſuch things as take up the thoughts and affections of too many, Gal. 6.14. But God forbid that I ſhould glory, ſave in the Croſs of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Joy in the Croſs of Chriſt, ſuppreſſeth, and in end quencheth, all ſinful joy; as ſweet odours bear down the ſtench of noiſom and corrupt vapours; ſo the ſweet ſmell of Chriſt crucified, doth bear down our vile luſts. This joy in the Croſs of Chriſt, ſurpaſſeth even all lawful worldly joy; as the wine of Chriſts own making in Cana, (Joh. 2.) did far ſurpaſs the wine at the feaſt, that grew by the induſtry of men.
3. The meditation of the Croſs of Chriſt, will encourage and ſtrengthen thee againſt all pain and ſhame of this preſent world in thy ſuffering for the name of Jeſus; when thou remembreſt how thy Lord endured the Croſs, and deſpiſed the ſhame, to ſatisfie for thy ſins, and to purchaſe unto thee eternal reſt from all pain; to preſerve thee from everlaſting confuſion, to bring thee unto everlaſting glory, 1 Pet. 4.14. If ye be reproached for the Name of Chriſt, happy are ye; for the ſpirit of glory and of God reſteth upon you. Therefore whenſoever God calleth thee to ſuffering, go not to ſhift it, as a duty wherein others are more concerned than thy ſelf; When Octavius Auguſtus, was deſired by an old Souldier to ſpeak unto the Roman Senat in his favours; Octavius anſwered, he ſhould cauſe one ſpeak to them in his behalf; then did the Souldier open his breaſt, and ſhewed the skars of the wounds, he had received at the battel of Actium for his cauſe; and that he had not interpoſed any other between his body and the enemy: So Chriſt in his own body did ſuffer for thee, 1 Pet. 2.24. and when he calleth thee to ſuffer for his name, put not off that duty to others, ſeing he himſelf ſuffered for thee, as well as for others.
4. The meditation on the Croſs of Chriſt, yeeldeth great comfort to us in all our fears, from our ſpiritual enemies, Col. 2.15. Having ſpoiled principalities and powers, he made a ſhew of them, openly triumphing over them in his croſs. In which words, the Apoſtle alludeth to the cuſtom of triumph after great victories over enemies; when the Captives were openly dragged in chains after the Chariot of the Conquerour: ſo our bleſſed Lord, by his death on the Croſs, as his triumphing chariot, hath led captivity captive. And, 1. ſpoiled Satan our Arch-enemy, of all the Elect, who through the corruption of nature, are for a time, led captive at his will: Although now and then after their effectual calling and converſion, he infeſt and moleſt the children of God by his temptations and infalls; yet the Captain of their Salvation, by the merit and power of his croſs, in end will give them the victory; as he prayed for Peter, Luke 22 30. And as he has promiſed, Rom. 16.20. Auguſtine Tractat. 52. in Ioan. ſaith well, Aliud eſt regnare intrinſecus, aliud forinſecus oppugnare: It is a diverſe thing to reign within in the heart, and to beſeige from without. Satan reigneth not in the children of God, though he beſet and beſeige them with temptations from the World. 2. The Captain of our Salvation triumphed over the World in his own perſon, when for all the glory of the World he would not once ſtoop to the Tempter, Matth. 4. When ever he pleaſed, he reſtrained the malicious deſignes of men, Joh. 7.46. Act. 16.10. Therefore be of good comfort in all thy fears from malicious and wicked men, Joh. 16.33. In the world ye ſhall have tribulation: but be of good chear, I have overcome the world. 3. He triumphed over death, 1 Cor. 15.56. O Death! I will be thy death. He hath taken the ſting from death: to the godly it is as the brazen Serpent in this wilderneſs, it has not a ſting; but will cure us fully of all the ſtings we got here; of the ſting of temptation; of the ſting of a guilty conſcience; and of the ſting of venemous tongues. Thy death through Chriſt his victory on the Croſſe, ſhall be unto the as the valley of Achor, an entrance to thy promiſed reſt. 4. He by the merit of his Croſs, overcame the the power of the grave, and manifeſted his victory by his riſing on the third day, Hoſ. 13.14. O grave! I will be thy deſtruction. 1 Cor. 15.21, 22 For ſince by man came death, by man came alſo the reſurrection of the dead: for as in Adam all die, even ſo in Chriſt ſhall all be made alive. Though thy body be turned into duſt, yet ſhall it not be annihilat, nor turned into nothing; but ſhall be kept in a chamber of repoſe, Iſa. 57.2. They ſhall reſt in their beds, and ſhall be raiſed as a Bride adorned with Ornaments of glory, conform to our bleſſed Lord his glorious body, Phil 3.20.
The vertue and efficacy of our bleſſed Lord, his ſufferings on the Croſs, is contained in theſe words, I will draw all men unto me: for underſtanding of this, we would know, 1. How Chriſt is ſaid to draw; ſeing the will cannot be forced; and none are welcome to Chriſt, but ſuch as are willing. 2. How is he ſaid to draw all men, for all men do not believe? 3. What manner of drawing this is, ſeing it is not only a drawing in ſome meaſure toward him, but even unto him, for an union with him, for it is ſaid foreign, unto me? Anſ. to the firſt: by drawing here, is meant Chriſt, his effectual calling of the Elect, unto grace by the Goſpel, holding forth Chriſt crucified, and by his Spirit working faith in the heart to go to Chriſt, and embrace him willingly for the ſalvation of their ſouls: In …eſpect of this drawing, the believing Romans are ſaid to be the called of Jeſus Chriſt, Rom. 1.6. 1. As in drawing, the power attractive is from without us, and is in him that draweth us; ſo the power of believing, by which we come to Chriſt, is from God, Joh. 6.44. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath ſent me, draw him. Epheſ. 2.8. for by grace are ye ſaved through faith, and that not of your ſelves: It is the gift of God. 2. Drawing preſupponeth life in him that is drawn; for dead men are carried, and not drawn on their own feet, ſo actual faith and drawing near to Chriſt, preſupponeth the principle of grace and faith put firſt into the ſoul; therefore Chriſt is called the author and finiſher of our faith, Heb. 12.2. 3. There is a drawing, not only in the firſt beginning of our motion and converſion unto Chriſt; but alſo after we are entred into the courſe of grace, we are drawn and promoved therein by ſubſequent and aſſiſting grace; of which drawing, the Spouſe of Chriſt ſpeaketh, after her ſaving knowledge of Chriſt, from the ſweet ſmell of his graces, Can. 1.3, 4. draw me, and we ſhall run after thee. This drawing is as the continuance of a proſperous gale of wind, for promoving the ſhip in her courſe.
To the ſecond, I anſwer, by all men, is meant ſometimes all individuals, 1 Tim. 4.10. He is the Saviour of all men, that is, all men who get any temporal ſalvation or delivery, they have it from the living God. In this ſenſe, all things are ſaid to have been made by him, Joh. 1.3. In this ſenſe it cannot be taken here, for all men are not outwardly called by the Goſpel, which is yet hid from many Nations; and many outwardly called, are not drawn and called effectually, Matth. 22.14. Matth. 23.37. 2. It is taken by way of reſtriction, to the ſubject-matter ſpoken of in the ſame place, as 1 Cor. 9.22. I am made all things to all men, to wit, in the uſe of my Chriſtian liberty, in matters indifferent: 3. It is taken for very many, though not ſimply for all individuals of men, Joh. 11.48. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him, that is, very many will believe on him. 4. It is taken for all kinds, as Act. 10.12. Peter ſaw in a viſion a great ſheet, wherein were all manner of four-footed beaſts on the earth, foreign. Rev. 5.9. Thou haſt redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. So it is taken here for all kinds of men; rich and poor, male and famale, Jews and Gentiles; as it is taken, Joh. 11.51, 52. He propheſied, that Jeſus ſhould die for that Nation: and not for that Nation only, but that alſo he ſhould gather together in one, the children of God that were ſcattered abroad. Joh. 10.16. And other ſheep I have, which are not of this fold, them alſo I muſt bring and they ſhall hear my voice, and there ſhall be one fold: and one ſhepherd. Gal. 3.28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Chriſt Jeſus. Col. 3.11. Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumciſion nor uncircumciſion, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free; but Chriſt is all, and in all. Auguſtine underſtands this place of theſe who are predeſtinat to ſalvation, or of all kinds of men.
To the third I anſwer, there is an outward drawing and calling by the preaching of the Word, Matth. 23.37. Our Lord ſaith, O Jeruſalem! how often would I have gathered thy children together, &c. and ye would not? There is an inward drawing by the cord of Faith and Love, wrought and faſtned in the heart by the Holy Ghoſt, Act. 11.21. The hand of the Lord was with theſe Preachers, and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord. The outward drawing by the word, without this inward drawing by the Spirit, is not effectual for mans converſion, Act. 13.45. The unbelieving and envious Jews were not drawn by the Word preached by Paul, but they contradicted and blaſphemed his Doctrine, Heb. 4.2. But the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Although the word preached be a mean ſufficient in its own kind, that is, a ſufficient outward mean; yet is it not ſimply ſufficient for converſion: As Plowing and Sowing, are ſufficient outward means for fruitfulneſs; but are not effectual without the firſt and latter rain.
This effectual drawing, is a drawing upward of the ſoul by faith unto an union and communion with Jeſus Chriſt in his merits, Joh. 6.65. No man, ſaid our Lord, can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. The grace of faith is given to us from above; it is like a cord caſt down from the Rock of our Salvation, to ſave man from drowning and deſtruction in his ſins; it is a drawing of the heart upward unto Chriſt by faith in this life, and a bringing of the ſoul to the enjoyment of glory in the life to come, Joh. 17.24. Father, I will that they alſo whom thou haſt given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou haſt given me. The ſenſe of Chriſts love in dying for us, is like the heat deſcending from the Sun, and drawing up the purified vapours: It is like the Load-ſtone drawing up the hard and heavy Iron: The ſenſe of Chriſts love in dying for us, ſoftens our hard hearts, and turneth them toward himſelf. 2. As it is a drawing of the heart up to himſelf by faith and love, ſo it is an obediential drawing by love and obedience to the wayes of his holy Commandments: It is not a drawing only toward an outward profeſſion of the truth from the cuſtom of others, or hope of worldly applauſe or benefit; as Simon Magus was baptized, that he might retain the reſpect and following of many Samaritans his old followers, who had now been baptized: neither is it a drawing to the profeſſion of the truth, only for fear of worldly loſs; as many of the Perſians became Jews in their outward diſſembled profeſſion, for fear of the Jews: But this inward drawing and believing, is from love to God in the will, Pſal. 110.3. Thy people ſhall be willing in the day of thy power, that is, when thou, together with thy Word, exerts the power of thy invincible g…ace, thou wilt make thy people willing and obedient to follow thee in the wayes of thy Commandments. 3. It is an equal and uniform drawing both of the inner and outer man; all the powers of the ſoul, like ſo many wheels, anointed and moved by the Spirit of God, are drawn after the Spirit, according to the outward drawing of the Word, as it is ſaid of that extraordinary drawing by the Spirit, Ezek. 1.20. Whitherſoever the Spirit was to go, they went. The underſtanding is enlightned by heavenly knowledge, and light within, by the Spirit of God, according to the outward light of the Word, 2 Cor. 4.6. For God who commanded the light to ſhine out of darkneſs, hath ſhined in our hearts, to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jeſus Chriſt. The will is ſtrongly inclined to embrace Chriſt, and is ſick of love to enjoy him, Cant. 3.8. The affections, like the inferiour wheels, are moved and carried toward Chriſt by an inlightned underſtanding, and by a vehement inclination of the will, Cant. 5.4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him. Although the drawing and motion toward Chriſt beginneth from within, yet it ſtayeth not there, but draweth alſo the outward man unto Chriſt; the members of the body become weapons of righteouſneſs, Rom 6.13. As the motion of the Clock, is firſt within, and thereafter perceived in the regular motion of the Hand of the Horologe, and in the ſound of the Bell; ſo the inward drawing and motion of the ſoul, is perceived in our outward regular actions, and gracious communications. 4. It is a moſt ſweet and delightful drawing; the God of all grace by his preveening grace maketh us firſt willing, and then by his ſubſequent and aſſiſting grace draweth us moſt ſweetly, with delectation in our hearts after him: It is, as when one is drawn forward to a place from the ſent of precious odours, Cant. 1.3, 4. It is as the ſpeedy mounting of an Eagle upon wing from the ſmell and fight of the dead carcaſe; ſo the ſight and ſent, through faith, of Chriſt crucified, doth moſt ſweetly and willingly draw an hungry ſoul unto Chriſt to be fed and refreſhed out of the fulneſs of the merit of his death, Mat. 24.28. For whereſoever the carcaſe is, there will the Eagles be gathered together. Auguſtine in his Tractat. on this place, …aith, It is a drawing, as the ſhepherd going before, draweth the ſheep after him, by holding forth a green branch in his hand: ſo our bleſſed Lord worketh in the hearts of the elect that gracious diſpoſition of his own ſheep, to hear and follow his voice; and thereafter by the ſweetneſs of the object propounded to them, to wit, Chriſt the Branch of Righteouſneſs, and by the inward operation and ſtrong impulſe of the Spirit, he maketh them follow the outward call of the Word. Joh. 10.4. When he putteth forth his own ſheep, he goeth before them, and the ſheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5. It is an invincible, and irreſiſtable drawing; it is not only by moral ſwaſion of motives taken from benefit, or prejudice to their ſouls; but it is by a powerful perſwading, and efficacious inclining of the heart, Gen. 9.27. God ſhall perſwade Japheth, and he ſhall dwell in the tents of Shem. Hoſ. 2.14. Therefore behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderneſs, and ſpeak comfortably unto her, or, to her heart. Although there is in all men a corrupt principle of reſiſtance to the will of God, yet when God is pleaſed to exert that exceeding greatneſs of his power toward them that believe, Eph. 1.19. Actual reſiſtance is overcome by the inſuperable grace of God, Jer. 17.14. Heal me, O Lord, and I ſhall be healed; ſave me, and I ſhall be ſaved. Jer. 31.18. Turn thou me, and I ſhall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God. Auguſtine calleth the operation of grace in our converſion to the wayes of God, victrix delectatio, an overcoming delight, like a ſweet and ſtrong ſmell overcoming and bearing down corrupt vapours and exhalations: this grace of God in converſion, is rejected by no hard heart, becauſe willingneſs to reſiſt, is taken away, as Auguſtine ſpeaketh well to this purpoſe.
Therefore humble penitents ſhould look up by faith to Chriſt on the Croſs, as he is held forth to them in the Goſpel: The perſons ſtung in the wilderneſs, looked to the brazen ſerpent, and were healed; ſo whatever thy ſins hath been, and whatſoever be the ſting of thy guilty conſcience, confeſs thy ſins, with purpoſe and active endeavours for amending thy wayes; draw near by faith to Jeſus Chriſt, and thou ſhalt be healed, Joh. 3.14, 15. As Moſes lifted up the ſerpent in the wilderneſs, even ſo muſt the Son of man be lifted up, that whoſoever believeth in him, ſhould not periſh, but have eternal life. Although thy faith be weak, yet if convinced of thy ſins, and mourning for them, thou look to Chriſt alone for ſalvation, thou ſhalt be ſaved, Iſai. 45.22. Look unto me and be ye ſaved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none elſe: which place ſpeaketh expreſly of Chriſt, if we compare verſ. 23. with Phil. 2.11. All that looked to the brazen ſerpent in the wilderneſs, were not alike quick-ſighted; yet all who looked, were healed: So all ſtung with ſorrow in their hearts for their ſins, if they fix their eye and heart upon Chriſt crucified, they ſhall be ſaved, though faith be weak in the meaſure: for our ſalvation doth not depend upon the ſtrength of our faith, but upon the ſtrength and power of Chriſt, in whom we believe. And if thou be truly drawn by faith to Chriſt, then Chriſt and his Croſs will be great in thine eyes and eſtimation, far above all things here below: As a man lifted up to an high mountain, eſteems things below in the valley to be but ſmall; ſo a ſoul elevated by ſaith to Chriſt, and to things that are above, eſteems little of all things on earth, in compariſon of Chriſt and his unſearchable and durable riches, Phil. 3.8. I count all things but loſs for the excellency of the knowledge of Chriſt Jeſus my Lord: for whom I have ſuffered the loſs of all things, and do count them but dung that I may win Chriſt. And the true believer glorieth moſt in the Croſs of Chriſt, who endured the Croſs, and deſpiſed the ſhame, to ſave us poor ſouls from extreme and everlaſting pain and ſhame, Gal. 6.14. As we believe the merit of the Croſs of Chriſt, ſo let us labour to feel more and more of the power of his Croſs crucifying ſin in us, and drawing our hearts from the vanities of this preſent world, and quickening us to ſerve and honour him, who ſpared not his life, but gave it to the death of the Croſs for us. To him; with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be all praiſe, &c. Amen.