The Method of Grace, Sermon 18
The Eighteenth SERMON.Sermon 18.
JOHN 8. 36.Text. The liberty of Believers opened, and stated.
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
FRom the 30th verse of this Chapter unto my Text, you have an account of the different effects which the words of Christ had upon the hearts of his hearers: some believed, verse 30. these he encourageth to continue in his word, verse 31. giving them this encouragement, vers. 32. Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Hereat the unbelieving Jews take offence, and commence a quarrel with him, vers. 33. We be Abrahams seed, and were never in bondage to any man. We are of no slavish extraction, the blood of Abraham runs in our veins: this scornful boast of the proud Jews, Christ confutes, vers. 34. where he distinguisheth of a twofold bondage; one to men, another to sin; one civil, another spiritual: whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin, then tells them, vers. 36. The servant abideth not in the house for ever, but the Son abideth for ever. Wherein he intimateth two great truths, viz. that the servants and slaves of sin may for a time enjoy the external priviledges of the house or Church of God; but it would not be long before the master of the house will turn them out of dore: but if they were once the adopted Children of God, then they should abide in the house for ever. And this priviledge is only to be had by their believing in, and union with the natural Son of God, Jesus Christ: which brings us fairly to the Text; If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
In which words we have two parts.
viz.
1. A Supposition.
2. A Concession.
First, A Supposition, if the Son therefore shall make you free, 1.q. d. The womb of nature cast you forth into the world in a state of bondage, in that state you have lived all your days, servants to sin, slaves to your lusts, yet freedom is to be obtained: and this freedom is the prerogative belonging to the Son of God to bestow: if the Son shall make you free.
Secondly, Christs Concession upon this supposition, then 2.shall ye be free indeed, (i. e.) you shall have a real freedom, an excellent and everlasting fredom: no conceit only, as that which you now boast of is: if ever therefore you will be free men indeed, believe in me. Hence note,
DOCT.
That interest in Christ sets the soul at liberty from all that Doct.bondage whereunto it was subjected in its natural state.
Believers are the Children of the New Covenant, the denizons of Jerusalem which are above, which is free and the mother of them all, Gal. 4. 26. the glorious liberty, viz. that which is spiritual and eternal, is the liberty of the Children of God, Rom. 8. 21. Christ, and none but Christ delivers his people out of the hands of their enemies, Luk. 1. 74.
In the Doctrinal part of this point, I must shew you
First, What Believers are not freed from by Jesus Christ in this world.
Secondly, What that bondage is from which every Believer is freed by Christ.
Thirdly, What kind of freedom that is which comes in upon believing.
Fourthly, Open the excellency of this state of spiritual freedom.
First, What those things are from which Believers are 1.not made free in this world? we must not think that our spiritual liberty by Christ presently brings us into an absolute liberty in all respects. For,
First, Christ doth not free Believers from obedience to the moral Law: 'Tis true we are no more under it as a Covenant for our justification; but we are, and must still be under it as a rule for our direction. The matter of the moral law is unchangeable as the nature of good and evil is, and cannot be abolished except that distinction could be destroyed, Mat. 5. 17, 18. The precepts of the Law are still urged under the Gospel to enforce duties upon us, Eph. 6. 12. 'Tis therefore a vain distinction invented by Libertines to say it binds us as Creatures not as Christians: or that it binds the unregenerate part, but not the regenerate: but this is a sure truth, that they who are freed from its penalties, are still under its precepts: though Believers are no more under its curse, yet they are still under its conduct: the Law sends us to Christ to be justified, and Christ sends us to the Law to be regulated. Let the heart of every Christian joyn therefore with Davids in that holy wish, Psal. 119. 4, 5. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently, O that my heart were directed to keep thy Statutes. 'Tis excellent when Christians begin to obey the Law from life, which others obey for life: because they are justified, not that they may be justified. When duties are done in the strength and for the honour of Christ, which is Evangelical; not in our own strength and for our own ends, which is servile and legal obedience: had Christ freed us from obedience, such a liberty had been to our loss.
Secondly, Christ hath not freed Believers in this world from the temptations and assaults of Satan: even those that are freed from his dominion, are not free from his molestation. 'Tis said indeed, Rom. 16. 20. God shall shortly bruise Satan under your feet: but mean time he hath power to bruise and buffet us by his injections, 2 Cor. 12. 7. he now bruiseth Christs heel, Gen. 3. 15. (i. e.) bruiseth him in his tempted and afflicted members: though he cannot kill them, yet he can and doth afflict and fright them, by shooting his fiery darts of temptation among them, Eph. 6. 16. 'Tis true, when the Saints are got safe into Heaven, they are out of Gunshot; there is perfect freedom from all temptation. A Believer may then say, O thou enemy, temptations are come to a perpetual end. I am now arrived there, where none of thy fiery darts can reach me: but this freedom is not yet.
Thirdly, Christ hath not yet freed Believers in this world from the motions of indwelling sin: these are continually acting and infesting the holiest of men, Rom. 7. 21, 23, 24. Corruptions like Canaanites are still left in the Land to be thorns in our eyes, and goads in our sides. Those that boast most of freedom from the motions of sin, have most cause to suspect themselves still under the dominion of sin. All Christs freemen are troubled with the same complaint: who among them complains not as the Apostle did, Rom. 7. 24. Oh wretched man that I am, who shall deliever me from the body of this death?
Fourthly, Jesus Christ doth not free Believers in this world from inward troubles and exercises of soul upon the account of sin. God may let loose Satan and Conscience too, in the way of terrible accusations, which may greatly distress the soul of a Believer, and wofully eclipse the light of Gods Countenance, and break the peace of their souls. Job, Heman and David were all made free by Christ, yet each of them hath left upon record his bitter complaint upon this account, Job 7. 19, 20. Psal. 88. 14, 15, 16. Psal. 38. unto vers. 11.
Fifthly, Christ hath not freed Believers in this world from the rods of affliction. God in giving us our liberty doth not abridge his own liberty, Psal. 89. 32. all the Children of God are made free, yet what Son is there whom the Father chastneth not? Heb. 12. 8. Exemption from affliction is so far from being the mark of a Freeman, that the Apostle there makes it the mark of a slave. Bastards, not Sons want the discipline and blessing of the Rod: to be freed from affliction would be no benefit to Believers, who receive so many benefits by affliction.
Sixthly, No Believer is freed by Christ from the stroak of death, though they are all freed from the sting of death, Rom. 8. 10. The bodies of Believers are under the same Law of mortality with other men, Heb. 9. 27. we must come to the Grave as well as others: yea, we must come to it through the same agonies, pangs and dolours that other men do: the foot of death treads as heavy upon the bodies of the redeemed as of other men. Believers indeed are distinguished by mercy from others, but the distinguishing mercy lies not here. Thus you see what Believers are not freed from in this world: if you shall now say, what advantage then hath a Believer, or what profit is there in regeneration? I Answer,
Secondly, That Believers are freed from many great and 2.sad miseries and evils by Jesus Christ notwithstanding all that hath been said. For,
First, All Believers are freed from the rigour and curse of the Law: the rigorous yoak of the Law is broken off from their necks, and the sweet and easie yoak of Jesus Christ put on, Mat. 11. 28. The Law required perfect working under the pain of a curse, Gal. 3. 10. accepted of no short endeavours; admitted no repentance; gave no strength: it is not so now, proportionable strength is given, Phil 4. 13. Sincerity is reckoned perfection, Job 1. 1. Transgression brings not under condemnation, Rom. 8. 1. O blessed freedom! when duty becomes delight, and failings hinder not acceptance: this is one part of the blessed freedom of believers.
Secondly, All Believers are freed from the guilt of sin, it may trouble, but it cannot condemn them, Rom. 8. 33. The hand writing which was against us is cancelled by Christ, nailed to his Cross, Colos. 2. 14. When the seal and handwriting is torn off from the Bond, the Debtor is made free thereby: Believers are totally freed, Acts 13. 39. Justified from all things: and finally freed, John 5. 24. They shall never come into condemnation. O blessed freedom! How sweet is it to lie down in our beds, yea in our graves; when guilt shall neither be our Bed fellow, nor Grave fellow!
Thirdly, Christ frees all Believers from the dominion as well as the guilt of sin. Sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under the Law, but under Grace, Rom. 6. 14. The law of the spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death, Rom. 8. 2. Now who can estimate such a liberty as this? What slavery, what an intolerable drudgery is the service of divers lusts from all which Believers are freed by Christ: not from the residence but from the reign of sin. 'Tis with sin in Believers as it was with those beasts mentioned Dan. 7. 12. They had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
Fourthly, Jesus Christ sets all Believers free from the power of Satan; in whose right they were by nature, Col. 1. 13. they are translated from the power of darkness into the Kingdom of Christ. Satan had the possession of them, as a man of his own goods; but Christ dispossesseth that strong man armed, alters the property, and recovers them out of his hand, Luke 11. 21, 22. There are two ways by which Christ frees Believers out of Satans power and possession, namely,
1. By Price.
2. By Power.
First, By Price, the blood of Christ purchaseth Believers out of the hand of justice by satisfying the law for them, which being done, Satans authority over them falls of course, as the power of a Jaylor over the Prisoner doth, when he hath a legal discharge, Heb. 2. 14. For as much then as the Children are partakers of flesh and blood: he also himself took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the Devil. The cruel Tyrant beats and burthens the poor captive no more after the ransom is once paid, and he actually freed, and therefore Christ delivers his,
Secondly, By power. Satan is exceeding unwilling to let go his prey: he is a strong and a malicious enemy: every rescue and deliverance out of his hand, is a glorious effect of the almighty power of Christ, Act. 26. 18. 2 Cor. 10. 5. How did our Lord Jesus Christ grapple with Satan at his death, and triumphed over him, Col. 2. 15. O glorious salvation, blessed liberty of the Children of God!
Fifthly, Christ frees Believers from the poisonous sting and hurt of death: kill us it can, but hurt us it cannot, 1 Cor. 15. 55, 56. O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the Law: but thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. If there be no hurt, there should be no horror in death: 'tis guilt that arms death both with its hurting and terrifying power. To dye in our sins, John 8. 24. To have our bones full of the sins of our youth, which shall lye down with us in the dust, Job 20. 11. To have death, like a Dragon, pulling a poor guilty Creature as a prey into its dreadful Den, Psal. 49. 14. In this lies the danger and horror of death: but from death as a curse, and from the grave as a Prison, Christ hath set Believers at liberty, by submitting to death in their room, by his victorious resurrection from the grave, as the first-born of the dead: death is disarmed of its hurting power: the death of Believers is but a sleep in Jesus.
Thirdly, The next thing to be briefly spoken to, is the 3.kind and nature of that freedom and liberty purchased and procured by Christ for Believers.
Now liberty may be considered two ways.
viz.
1. As Civil.
2. As Sacred.
As to civil freedom or liberty, it belongs not to our present business: Believers as to their civil capacity are not freed from the duties they owe to their Superiors. Servants, though Believers, are still to be subject to their Masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, Ephes. 6. 5. nor from obedience to lawful Magistrates whom we are to obey in the Lord, Rom. 13. 1, 4. Religion dissolves not the bonds of civil relations: nor is it to be used as an occasion to the flesh, 1 Pet. 2. 16. 'Tis not a carnal but a spiritual freedom Christ hath purchased for us: and this spiritual freedom is again to be considered, either
as
1. Inchoate.
2. Consummate.
The liberty Believers have at present is but a beginning liberty, they are freed but in part from their spiritual enemies: but it is a growing liberty every day, and will be consummate, and compleat at last.
To conclude, Christian Liberty is,
either
1. Privative, or,
2. Positive.
The liberty Believers are invested with, is of both kinds: they are not only freed from many miseries, burthens and dangers; but also invested by Jesus Christ with many royal priviledges and invaluable immunities.
Fourthly, And this brings us to the fourth and last thing; 4.namely the properties of this blessed freedom which the Saints enjoy by Jesus Christ: and if we consider it duly it will be found to be,
First, A wonderful liberty, never enough to be admired: how could it be imagined that ever those who owed unto God more than ever they could pay by their own eternal sufferings, those that were under the dreadful curse and condemnation of the Law, in the power and possession of Satan the strong man armed; those that were bound with so many chains in their spiritual prison; their understanding bound with ignorance, their wills with obstinacy, their hearts with impenetrable hardness, their affections with a thousand bewitching vanities; that slight their state of slavery so much as industriously to oppose all instruments and means of deliverance: For such persons to be set at liberty, notwithstanding all this, is the wonder of wonders, and is deservedly marvellous in the eyes of Believers for ever.
Secondly, The freedom of Believers is a peculiar freedom: a liberty which few obtain, the generality abiding still in bondage to Satan, who from the multitude of his Subjects is stiled the god of this world, 2 Cor. 4. 4. Believers in Scripture are often called a remnant, which is but a small part of the whole piece: the more cause have the people of God to admire distinguishing mercy: how many Nobles and great ones of the world are but royal slaves to Satan and their own lusts!
Thirdly, The liberty of Believers is a liberty dearly purchased by the blood of Christ: what that Captain said, Acts 22. 28. With a great sum obtained I this freedom, may be much more said of the Believers freedom: 'twas not Silver or Gold but the precious blood of Christ that purchased it, 1 Pet. 1. 18.
Fourthly, The freedom and liberty of Believers is a growing and encreasing liberty, they get more and more out of the power of sin, and nearer still to their compleat salvation every day, Rom. 13. 11. the body of sin dieth daily in them: they are said to be crucified with Christ: the strength of sin abates continually in them after the manner of crucified persons: who dye a slow but sure death: and look in what degree the power of sin abates, proportionably their spiritual liberty encreases upon them.
Fifthly, The freedom of Believers is a comfortable freedom: the Apostle comforts Christians of the lowest rank, poor servants, with this consideration, 1 Cor. 7. 22. He that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lords freeman, q. d. Let not the meanness of your outward condition, which is a state of subjection and dependance, a state of poverty and contempt, at all trouble you: you are the Lords freemen, of precious account in his eyes. O 'tis a comfortable liberty!
Sixthly, and Lastly, 'Tis a perpetual and final freedom, they that are once freed by Christ have their manumissions and final discharge from that state of bondage they were in before. Sin shall never have dominion over them any more: it may tempt them and trouble them, but shall never more rule and govern them, Acts 26. 18. And thus you see what a glorious liberty the liberty of Believers is.
The improvement whereof will be in the following Inferences.
Inference 1.
How rational is the joy of Christians, above the joy of all Inference 1.others in the world? shall not the captive rejoycé in his recovered liberty? The very Birds of the air (as one observes) had rather be at liberty in the woods, though lean and hungry, than in a golden Cage with the richest fare: every creature naturally prises it, none more than Believers, who have felt the burthen and bondage of corruption: who in the days of their first illumination and conviction have poured out many groans and tears for this mercy. What was said of the captive people of God in Babylon, excellently shadows forth the state of Gods people under spiritual bondage, with the way and manner of their deliverance from it, Zech. 9. 11. By the blood of thy Covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit, wherein is no water. Believers are delivered by the blood of Christ out of a worse pit than that of Babylon: and look as the Tribes in their return from thence were overwhelmed with joy and astonishment, Psal. 126. 1, 2. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Sion; we were like them that dream, then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: they were overwhelmed with the sense of the mercy: so should it be with the people of God. 'Tis said, Luke 15. 24. when the Prodigal Son (there made the embleme of a returning converting sinner) was returned again to his Fathers house; that there was heard musick and dancing, mirth and feasting in that house. The Angels in Heaven rejoice when a soul is recovered out of the power of Satan: and shall not the recovered soul, immediately concerned in the mercy, greatly rejoyce? Yea, let them rejoyce in the Lord, and let no earthly trouble or affliction ever have power to interrupt their joy for a moment after such a deliverance as this.
Inference 2.
How unreasonable, and wholly inexcusable is the sin of Apostasie from Jesus Christ? What is it but for a delivered captive Inference 2.to put his feet again into the shackles, his hands into the manacles, his neck into the iron yoke, from which he hath been delivered? 'Tis said, Mat. 12. 44, 45. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest and findeth none: then he saith, I will return into mine house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept and garnished; then goeth he, and taketh with him seven other Spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there, and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even as a Prisoner that hath escaped, and is again recovered, is loaded with double irons. Let the people of God be content to run any hazzard, endure any difficulties in the way of Religion, rather than return again into their former bondage, to sin and Satan. O Christian, if ever God gave thee a sight, and a sense of the misery and danger of thy natural state, if ever thou hast felt the pangs and throes of a labouring and distressed Conscience, and after all this tasted the unspeakable sweetness of the peace and rest that is in Christ, thou wilt rather choose to dye ten thousand deaths than to forsake Christ, and go back again into that sad condition.
Inference 3.
How suitable and well-becoming is a free spirit in Believers to Inference 3.their state of liberty and freedom? Christ hath made your condition free. O let the temper and frame of your hearts be free also, do all that you do for God with a spirit of freedom: not by constraint but willingly. Methinks, Christians, the new nature that is in you should stand for a command, and be instead of all arguments that use to work upon the hopes and fears of other men: See how all creatures work according to the principle of their natures: you need not command a Mother to draw forth her breasts to a sucking Child: nature it self teaches and prompts to that: you need not bid the Sea ebb or flow at the stated hours. O Christian, why should thy heart need any other argument than its own spiritual inclination to keep its stated times and seasons of communion with God? Let none of Gods commandments be grievous to you: let not thine heart need dragging and forcing to its own benefit and advantage. Whatever you do for God do it cheerfully, and whatever you suffer for God suffer it cheerfully: it was a brave spirit which acted holy Paul, I am ready, saith he, not only to be bound, but also to dye at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus, Acts 21. 13.
Inference 4.
Let no man wonder at the enmity and opposition of Satan to the Inference 4.preaching of the Gospel: For by the Gospel it is that souls are recovered out of his power, Acts 26. 18. 'tis the express work of Ministers to turn men from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. Satan (as one faith) is a great and jealous Prince: he will never endure to have liberty proclaimed by the Ministers of Christ within his dominions: and indeed what is it less when the Gospel is preached in power, but as it were by beat of Drum and sound of Trumpet to proclaim liberty, liberty, spiritual sweet and everlasting liberty, to every soul that is made sensible of the bondage of corruption and cruel servitude of Satan, and will now come over to Jesus Christ? and oh what numbers and multitudes of prisoners have broken loose from Satan at one proclamation of Christs, Acts 2. 41. but Satan owes the servants of Christ a spite for this, and will be sure to pay them if ever they come within his reach: persecution is the Genius of the Gospel, and follows it as the shadow doth the body.
Inference 5.
How careful should Christians be to maintain their spiritual liberty Inference 5.in all, and every point thereof? Stand fast (saith Paul) in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free; and be not again entangled in the yoke of bondage, Gal. 5. 1. and again, Ye are bought with a price, be not ye the servants of men. It's Christs prerogative to prescribe the rules of his own house; he hath given no man dominion over your faith, 2 Cor. 1. 24, one man is no rule to another, but the word of Christ a rule to all: follow not the holiest of men one step farther than they follow Christ, 1 Cor. 11. 4. Man is an ambitious creature, naturally affecting dominion: and dominion over the mind rather than over the body: to give law to others feeds pride in himself: so far as any man brings the word of Christ to warrant his injunctions, so far we are to obey, and no farther: Christ is your Lord and Lawgiver.
Inference 6.
Lastly, Let this encourage and perswade sinners to come to Inference 6.Christ, for with him is sweet liberty for poor captives. Oh that you did but know what a blessed state Jesus Christ would bring you into: Come unto me (saith he) ye that labour, and are heavy laden; and what encouragement doth he give to comers but this, my yoke is easie, and my burthen is light? The Devil perswaded you that the ways of obedience and strict godliness are a perfect bondage; but if ever God regenerate you, you will find his ways, ways of pleasantness, and all his paths peace: you will rejoyce in the way of his Commandments as much as in all riches: you will find the worst work Christ puts you about even suffering work, sweeter than all the pleasures that ever you found in sin. O therefore open your hearts at the call of the Gospel: come unto Christ, then shall you be free indeed.