The Sound-Hearted Christian, Sermon 4
All in Christs Name.
Colloſſ. 3.17. And whatſoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus.
THis Chapter is full of exhortations; Firſt, general ones, to the end of my Text. Secondly, particular ones, to the end of the Chapter.
For the general ones, he exhorts them firſt, to ſeek the things which are above, and to ſet their affections on things above, v. 1, 2. which he preſſes with ſeveral Arguments to the beginning of the fifth verſe.
Secondly, He exhorts them to mortification, in the fifth verſe. Mortifie your members which are upon the earth, Fornication, Uncleanneſs, Inordinate affection, evil concupiſcence, and covetouſneſs, which is Idolatry. He exhorts them to mortifie all theſe earthly members, and gives reaſons and arguments for it, even to the twelfth verſe.
Thirdly, He exhorts them to Chriſtian vertues, to Chriſtian practices, put on bowels of mercies, kindneſs, humbleneſs of mind, meekneſs, longſuffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, and above all theſe things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectneſs, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which alſo you are called in one body, and be ye thankful; let the word of Chriſt dwell in you richly. Theſe be Chriſtian vertues, and Chriſtianpractices he puts them upon, and that by three Arguments eſpecially.
Firſt, from their election, put on as the elect of God; you are elect and choice veſſels of God, therefore put on theſe, they become elect ones. Secondly, you are holy, and 'tis not for holy ones to meddle with unholy things, but to do holily. Thirdly, you are beloved of God, God he loves you, and you are dear unto him, and therefore you ſhould look after ſuch virtues, and your practices ſhould be accordingly; and then in the 17. verſe, he exhorts them to do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus. If you teach and admoniſh one another, if you ſing Pſalms, and Hymns, and Spiritual Songs; whatſoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus: and then afterwards in the Chapter he comes to particular duties, of Wives to Husbands, and Husbands to Wives; of Children to Parents, and Parents to Children; of Servants to Maſters, and Maſters to Servants, and the like.
In the words you may conſider; Firſt, the act, doing.
Secondly, the extent of the act, whatſoever ye do in word, or deed, do all.
Thirdly, the manner, in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
Here's nothing ſpoken of thoughts, are thoughts free therefore?
Mens thoughts comprehend their reaſonings within, their conſultations, their deſires, their reſolutions, their intentions, which are all included here, being acts of the Mind, as well as the others are acts of the Tongue, and acts of the Hand; for thoughts are not free. We ſay, thoughts are free, free from man, he can take no Cognizance of them; but they are not free from the Lord, he knows them, and obſerves them; Why think ye evil in your hearts, ſaith Chriſt, and how long ſhall vain thoughts lodge within thee, O jeruſalem? and, God will bring all ſecret things to light: but he doth not mention them, becauſe they are not obvious to others; but howſoever, they ſhould be ſuch as will ſuit with the name of Chriſt, and our thoughts ſhould be regulated and ordered anſwerably; ſo as that they may be approved of him. They do principiate our words, and our actions, and are included in words and actions.
But muſt all things be done in the name of Chriſt? whatſoever ye do in word or deed, let all be done in the name of Chriſt. What, ill as well as good, done in the name of Chriſt?
No, he intends not any evil; for he writes to Chriſtians, and he writes to Saints, as you may ſee Ch. 1.2. To the Saints, and faithful Brethren in Chriſt. To Saints, and faithful Brethren he writes, and whatſoever they do in word or deed, they muſt do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; they muſt have no ill thoughts in them, no ill words in their mouths, no evil deeds muſt iſſue from their hands; and in the Chapter he had exhorted them to mortifie their earthly members; therefore they are not to be entertained, nor to iſſue from them; and in 4. Phil. 8. he tells you there what are the things they ſhould think of, and ſo do, Finally Brethren, whatſoever things are true, whatſoever things are honeſt, whatſoever things are juſt, whatſoever things are pure, whatſoever things are lovely, whatſoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue in you, any grace in you, if there be any praiſe you aim at; think of theſe things, and ſpeak of theſe things, and do theſe things; theſe are the things that Chriſtians ſhould think of, ſpeak, and do. The Doctrine which I ſhall commend to you is this.
Doct. 1. That Chriſtians words and actions, ſhould all be done in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; all that comes from a Chriſtian, ſhould be done in the name of the Lord Jeſus. Joh. 7.16. Chriſt faith, my Doctrine is not mine, but his that ſent me. 'Tis my Fathers, and I Preach in my Fathers name; and Chriſt taught them to pray in his name, whatſoever ye ſhall ask in my Name, I will give it you; and Chriſt ſent them to Preach in his name, Mat. 28. we are juſtified in the name of the Lord Jeſus, 1 Cor. 6.11. and we believe in the name of the Son, 1 Joh. 5.13. and Chriſtians muſt do all in the name of Jeſus Chriſt. Now here I muſt ſhew you.
Firſt, what it is to do things in the name of the Lord Jeſus.
Secondly, why we are to do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus.
Thirdly, make the improvement of the point.
For the firſt, what it is to do things in the name of the Lord Jeſus.
By name, we underſtand Chriſt himſelf, (as the Scripture doth) Acts 4.12. There is no name, by which we can be ſaved, but by the name of Chriſt. But to do things in the name of Chriſt.
Firſt, is to have Authority and Commiſſion from Chriſt, to do what we do, to do them in the authority of Chriſt, by Commiſſion from Chriſt, 2 Theſſ. 3.6. Now we command you Brethren, in the name of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; that is, in the authority of Chriſt, by Commiſſion from Chriſt; ſo that when we do things by Commiſſion from Chriſt, by the authority of Chriſt, we are ſaid to do things in his name. In Luke 9.49. we ſaw one caſting out Devils in thy name; that is, by authority and commiſſion from thee, pretended at leaſt, if not real; and Mark 11.9. Bleſſed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; that is, he that comes authorized from the Lord, furniſhed with gifts and abilities for the work that he undertakes, that comes in the name of the Lord, by divine authority; falſe Prophets they came in their own names, they came not in the name of the Lord, and therefore the Lord declares his anger againſt them, and threatens them; they had no authority, no commiſſion for what they did; ſo that thats the firſt thing, to do in the name of the Lord Jeſus, is to do it by his authority.
Secondly, To do in the name of the Lord Jeſus, is to do it by the ſtrength of Chriſt, in Pſal. 44.5. In, or through thy name, will we tread them under that riſe up againſt us. There are many that riſe up againſt us, and fight, and think to prevail and carry all, and to bear us down, but in thy name will we tread them under; that is, by thy help, and by thy power, and by thy ſtrength we will tread them under; ſo in 10. Luke 17. and the ſeventy returned again with joy; ſaying, Lord, even the Devils are ſubject unto us through thy name; through the power, and ſtrength of thy name we prevail againſt Devils, they are ſubject unto us; and that in 3. Acts 6. where the Apoſtle ſaith to the impotent man, in the name of Jeſus Chriſt of Nazareth, riſe up and walk; that is, by the power and ſtrength of Jeſus Chriſt riſe up and walk: The name of Chriſt there, notes the power and ſtrength of Chriſt; ſo Pſal. 71.16. I will go in the ſtrength of the Lord: when we go in the ſtrength of the Lord, we go in the name of the Lord, and that David makes evident, 1 Sam. 17.45. when he went againſt Goliah, ſaith he, I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hoſts: thou comeſt in thy own ſtrength, but I come in the ſtrength of the Lord of Hoſts to fight with thee, and ſo he prevailed againſt him. Hence ſaith the Apoſtle, 2 Tim. 2.1. my Son, be ſtrong in the grace that is in Chriſt Jeſus; dont reſt upon the grace that is in thy ſelf, but be ſtrong in the grace that is in Chriſt; when we act in the ſtrength of the grace of Chriſt, then we act in the name of Chriſt, when we lean upon him for ſtrength, and confide not in our ſelves; this is doing in his name.
Thirdly, To act in the name of Chriſt, is to do things in the ſtead of Chriſt, in the very place of Chriſt; when Judges act in the name of the King, they do all in his ſtead, in his room, in his place, in Deut. 18.19. I will raiſe you up a Prophet like unto Moſes; and whoſoever will not hearken unto the words he ſhall ſpeak in my name, I will require it of him. It's ſpoken of Chriſt, who was the Prophet to be raiſed up in the room of Moſes; and ſaith God, whoſoever will not hearken to what he ſhall ſpeak in my name, in my ſtead, I will require it of him; what Chriſt did, was in the Fathers ſtead, they were his words he ſpake, his works that he did; ſo that to do in the name of Chriſt, is to do as Chriſt himſelf would do; as if Chriſt were preſent, to do what Chriſt would do, and ſpeak what Chriſt would ſpeak, and think what the Lord Chriſt would think, that's to do things in his name, in his ſtead.
Fourthly, to do things in the name of Chriſt, is to do them according to the will of Chriſt, Joh. 16.23. compared with the 1 Joh. 5.14. Whatſoever ye ſhall ask in my name, ſhall be given unto you; now in 1 Joh. 5.14. ſaith John who was the beloved Diſciple, and told you Chriſts words in the Goſpel, he interprets them here, and tells you, this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. What is according to his will, is in his name; whatſoever we ask, or whatſoever we do, according to the will of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; that is, in the name of Chriſt, and ſo the propoſition En is taken in Scripture, for according; Joh. 3.21. he that doth the truth, cometh to the light; that his deeds may be made manifeſt, that they are wrought in God; that is, foreign, according to God, according to the will of God. Men don't properly do their works in God, but according to the will and mind of God; ſo that when we do act, either in word or deed according to the will of Chriſt, then we do things in the name of Chriſt.
Fifthly, to do all in the name of Chriſt, is to do all for the ſake of Chriſt; ſo you will find the name of Chriſt to be taken, Mark 9.37. whoſoever ſhall receive one ſuch Child in my name, receiveth me; that is, whoſoever receiveth one of ſuch Children for my name ſake, receiveth me; ſo in the 41 v. whoſoever ſhall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, that is, for my ſake; ſo that to do things for the ſake of Chriſt, is to do things in the name of Chriſt, Joh. 17.12. I kept them in thy name, that is, for thy ſake; in 4. Eph. 1. I therefore the Priſoner of the Lord, a Priſoner in the Lord, ſaith your Margin; but properly, 'tis a Priſoner for the Lord, 'tis for the Lords ſake that I am a Priſoner; ſo that to do things in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, is to do them for his ſake; and foreign is of the ſame force with other Prepoſitions; as, foreign, ye ſhall be hated of all Nations for my ſake, Mat. 24.9. and ſo in Acts 9.16. how great things he muſt ſuffer, foreign, for my name. And in the 19 Mat. 29. he that hath forſaken houſes, or any thing, foreign, for my name ſake; ſo then to do things in the name of Chriſt, is to do them for Chriſts ſake; as when Beggars do beg of you for Chriſts ſake to beſtow an alms upon them, if you give them an Alms for Chriſts ſake, that's in the name of Chriſt.
Sixthly, to do things in the name of Chriſt, is to do them to the honour and glory of his name, to do them to Chriſts account; ſo that Chriſt may not be damnified, nor ſuffer any way, but that Chriſts name may be honoured, 2 Cor. 8.7. ſaith the Apoſtle, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, and in your love to us, the Greek is foreign your love towards us; ſo that the prepoſition foreign there, ſignifies towards: So here, to do all in the name of Chriſt, is to do all towards Chriſt, towards the honouring of Chriſt, ſuitable to that in 1 Cor. 10.31. whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatſoever ye do, do all to the glory of God; do all to the glory of his name, do all to the manifeſtation of Chriſt and his name, let our words, and actions be ſuch as may hold forth ſomething of Chriſt, hold forth the name of Chriſt, Rev. 2.13. Antipas did hold faſt the name of Chriſt, the truths of Chriſt, the graces of Chriſt, the profeſſion of Chriſts Doctrine, and Acts 9.15. Go thy way, for he is a choſen veſſel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and Kings, and the Children of Iſrael; he muſt hold forth my name, and declare ſomething of me that may be for my honour and glory; it's ſaid in 2 Phil. 16. holding forth the word of life; when we hold forth the word of life, we hold forth the name of Chriſt, and this is for the honour of Chriſt, when Chriſtians hold forth Chriſts meekneſs, Chriſts humility, Chriſts patience, Chriſts love, any truth of Chriſt, any thing of Chriſt, then they do things in the name of Chriſt, they do honour and glorifie Chriſt, 1. Cor. 14.25. if one come into the Church that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all, and the ſecre…s of his heart are made manifeſt, and ſo falling down upon his face, he will worſhip God, and report that God is in you of a truth: They held forth ſomething of God, they held forth the name of God, and God was glorified, and a heathen, or a ſtranger coming in, ſaith, of a truth God is in you. Chriſts works declared the Father to be in him, Joh. 14.10.11. The Father that dwelleth in me, he doth the works, believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me, or elſe believe me for the very works ſake. The works that I do, do hold forth the Father, why they are done in the Fathers name, and he is glorified by the works that I do; and Chriſt glorified his Father here on earth, by doing of his Fathers will, and his Fathers works.
Seventhly, Laſtly, to do things in the name of Chriſt, is to do them by invocating of Chriſt, by invocating of the name of Chriſt; and ſo Beza, and Zanchy and others interpret this place; Mat. 18.20. where two or three are gathered together in my name; that is, invocating of me, calling upon my name; to call upon the Lord for councel, for direction, for our thoughts, for our words, for our actions, this is doing things in the name of Chriſt. It was the practice of the Saints to do ſo, 1 Cor. 1.2. unto the Church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are ſanctified in Chriſt Jeſus, called to be Saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jeſus Chriſt our Lord; they called upon the name of Jeſus Chriſt, to have councel, and direction, and advice from him, for their words, and actions, and all their undertakings. So in 9. Acts 14. we hear he hath authority from the chief Prieſts, to bind all that call on thy n…me. The Chriſtians called on the name of the Lord Jeſus, for advice and councel, and they were queſtioned, and perſecuted, and troubled for it. So then you ſee what it is to do things in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
2. The ſecond thing is, why are we to do things in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
Firſt, becauſe we are impotent of our ſelves, and can neither think, nor ſpeak, nor do any thing of our ſelves well, that is ſpiritual, and truly good, 2 Cor. 3.5. Not that we are ſufficient of our ſelves to think any thing as of our ſelves: What Paul, that great Apoſtle, that great Schollar, not ſufficient of himſelf to think any thing as of himſelf? No, ſaith he, we are not ſufficient of our ſelves, but our ſufficiency is of God, and Joh. 15.5. without me, ſaith Chriſt ye can do nothing, abſtracted from me, ye can do nothing, take the branch from the Vine, and it will not grow, it will not be green, nor bring forth any cluſters, ſo alienanated, diſtanced from Chriſt, we can do nothing; no ſpiritual action, no ſpiritual thought, no ſpiritual word; and Phil. 4.13. ſaith Paul there, I can do all things through Chriſt that ſtrengthens wit. I can think good thoughts, ſpeak gracious words, do heavenly actions, I can do any thing through Chriſt that ſtrengthens me. Therefore we ſhould do all in Chriſts name, that ſo we may have ſtrength from Chriſt, to do what we do, to do it well, to do it ſpiritually.
Secondly, we ſhould do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, becauſe we do all bear that honourable and worthy name of Chriſt, we are called Chriſtians, in the 11 of the Acts, at Antioch they had that name put upon them, James 2.7. Do not they blaſpheme that worthy name by the which ye are called: Men can blaſpheme and diſhonour the name of Chriſt by their own corruptions, and corrupt power and ſtrength they have, but to honour the name of Chriſt they cannot; now its foreign, a good name, an honourable name, a glorious name, a great name, the name of the Lord Jeſus, by which we are all called, we are called Chriſtians, Iſa. 4.7. in that day, ſeven women ſhall take hold of one man, ſaying, &c. onelyonly let us be called by thy name; they deſir'd it, and yet went without it, ſuch a ſcarcity there was of men; but Chriſts name is put upon us all, therefore we ſhould do, and ſpeak in the name of Chriſt, whoſe name we bear; thoſe that were Ariſtotles Diſciples, did things in his name; and ſo thoſe were Plato's, did things in his name; and ſo we being Chriſtians, ſhould do all things in the name of Chriſt, in 2 Tit. 10. the Apoſtle there ſpeaks to Servants, that they may adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Why, the Doctrine, is the name of Chriſt, the Goſpel is the name of Chriſt, and as ſervants ſhould adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things, ſo ſhould we adorn his Doctrine, adorn his name in all things; and in all things we think, ſpeak, or do, we ſhould make his name honourable and glorious, and dreadful too: John was a holy man, and adorned the name of Chriſt, and he ſtruck a dread into Herod by his Holineſs, he feared him, he was a holy man.
Thirdly, we ſhould do all things in the name of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, becauſe this will warrant our actions, and ſecure them. Thoſe who keep courts in their own names, what ſtumbling is there at it, and quarrelling againſt them; ſo when we do things in our own names, there will be quarrelling at it: But Judges and Juſtices that do all in the Kings name, this bears them out, they do it in the Kings name; ſo when we do things in Chriſts name, this will warrant us: There be three things that do concur to good actions.
Firſt, that the principle whence they come be good; now if we do invocate the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt (which is one way of doing things in his name) its an argument we have a good principle, we begin with Chriſt.
Secondly, that the end be right, we muſt have a right end in a good action, there muſt be the glory of God, and the glory of Chriſt, and how can it be otherwiſe, if we do all in the Name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; If we do all in his name, we ſhall do all unto his name, and all for his name, for the honour of his name, and ſo far we are well.
Thirdly, but then where the great and common failing of men and women is, they fail in the manner, and if we fail there, our action is marr'd, and it is not acceptable, it is not a good action, and the manner muſt be in the name of the Lord Jeſus, whatſoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus, do all according to his will, do all for his ſake, do all in his ſtrength; it muſt be in a right manner, otherwiſe it will not be a good action, if we do it in Chriſts name, it will bear us up, and bear us out; and if we ſhould ſuffer, it will bear up us, and we ſhall have this comfort in it, that we ſuffer for Chriſts ſake, and not for our own ſakes, or for mens ſakes; and if men wrong us, they wrong the Lord Chriſt, when we do things in his name, and according to his will; when it is done in our own names, we muſt ſtand to it our ſelves, and bear it out as well as we can; but if it be done in his name, he will bear us out.
Fourthly, we ſhould do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus, becauſe we are all bought by the Lord Jeſus, and are not our own; it's ſaid in Peter, they deny the Lord that bought them, i. e. Chriſt the Lord hath bought all to be Sons or Slaves; but for Chriſtians, and thoſe that are Saints, 1 Cor. 6. laſt, Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price, therefore glorifie God in your body, and in your ſpirit, which are Gods. We are bought, and bought by Chriſt, and therefore we ſhould do all in the name of Chriſt, being he hath bought us for himſelf; Servants ſhould do all in their Maſters names, nothing in their own names; they in the 12. Pſal. cryed, our Tongues are our own, we will ſpeak what we liſt; they thought their tongues, their hands, their feet, their eyes, and all their own, when as nothing was their own, the worſt man that is hath nothing his own, for he is bought by Chriſt to be a Slave or a Servant; as a man that buys the Vineyard, he buys the dry ſticks as well as the Vine, and the dry ſticks for the good of the Vines; ſo the Lord hath bought all, but the Godly in a peculiar manner, to do all in his name, for his honour and glory.
Fifthly, we ſhould do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus; if we conſider the near relation we are in to Chriſt.
Firſt, we are members of his body; true believers are members of the body of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and every member ſhould act for the head, and do all in the name of the head.
Secondly, we are ſubjects to Chriſt, he is their King, and they muſt do all in the name of the King; Subjects muſt act as Subjects, in the name of the King, and we as Chriſts Subjects muſt act in Chriſts name, he is our King, our Soveraign, and our Commander.
Thirdly, we are the Spouſe of Chriſt, and the Spouſe muſt do all in the name of her Husband, what ſhe doth in her own name will not be warrantable in Law; ſo what we do will not be warrantable in the Court of Heaven, if it be not done in the name of Chriſt.
Sixthly, Laſtly, we ſhould do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus, becauſe this is to live a Chriſtian life indeed; 'tis ſaid of all men, that in God they live and move, all men in the common providence of God, they live and move, but Chriſtians live in Chriſt, he is their life, and hence Paul ſaith, I live not, but Chriſt lives in me; I do not live as a man, or as a learned man, or as a Phariſee, but I live as a Chriſtian; I live, nay Chriſt lives in me, I dont live upon the account of a learned man, or a natural man (and the like) but Chriſt lives in me, and I live in him, in his life, in his ſtrength, in his will, in his mind; as a ſervant, a true ſervant, when he comes to a houſe where he is to be a Servant, he muſt lay down his own will and mind, and his own hands and feet, he muſt do nothing now in his own name and ſtrength; but he muſt live in his Maſters will, and in his Maſters Commands, and in his Maſters authority; ſo a Chriſtian, he lives in Chriſt, when we lay down our own wills, and reaſons (and the like) and make the reaſon, and end of all we do to be Chriſt; then are we Chriſtians indeed; Chriſts reaſon is my reaſon, Chriſts will is my will, Chriſts glory is my end, Chriſts word is my rule; this now is true living the life of a Chriſtian: thus you ſee ſeveral reaſons why we ſhould do all in the name of Jeſus Chriſt. I ſhall now come to ſome inferences, or improvements of the point.
Inf. Firſt, if we are to do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus, then I infer from hence, here's matter of humiliation to us all, we have great cauſe to be humbled every one of us, not only becauſe we have done evil (which calls for humbling to) or becauſe we have neglected good (which calls for humbling alſo) but humbled becauſe we have done good, done good the wrong way, done good in our own names, in our own ſtrength, and not in the name of the Lord Jeſus? who is there among us that can ſay he hath done and ſpoken all in the name of the Lord Jeſus: many talk they have done this good, and that good, but tell me, haſt thou done it in the name of the Lord Jeſus? if it ſhall be weighed in the ballance of the Sanctuary, there will be defects found, and thy ſelf will be too light, and thy beſt actions will be defective and imperfect, and call upon thee to be humbled even for thy righteouſneſs; for Preaching, for Praying, for Hearing, for breaking bread, for alms, for all that ever we do; there will be ſuch gaps, and ſuch gulfs and failings, as we have cauſe to be aſhamed even of our righteouſneſs, ſaith the Prophet, all our Righteouſneſſes are as filthy Rags; what, filthy Rags thy righteouſneſs? yea, all our righteouſneſſes as filthy Rags; why? filthy Rags defile us; many think, O their good works do purifie and cleanſe them, and anſwer for their ſins; and are meritorious (and the like) no, our beſt works do defile us, becauſe there are ſuch defects in them, and eſpecially when they are not done in the name of the Lord Jeſus, according to his will, and in his ſtrength, and for his honour and glory; we have no cauſe then of being ſwell'd and puffed up with conceits of what we have done, or ever ſhall do.
Secondly, if all muſt be done in word and deed, in the name of the Lord Jeſus; then I infer, that no thoughts, no words, no actions, are to be conceived, uttered or done, which are not authorized by the Lord Jeſus, which are not according to his will, which Chriſt himſelf would not think and ſpeak, and do; none ſhould be uſed by us, which dont manifeſt ſomething of Jeſus Chriſt, which tend not to the glory of his name, which we dare not pray unto him to give a bleſſing unto; we have many vile thoughts in us, & many fooliſh words in our mouths, and many acts are done which we dare hardly look up to Chriſt and ſay, Lord bleſs this thought, or Lord bleſs this word, or Lord bleſs this act, all ſuch thoughts, words, and acts therefore are to be laid by; you know what he ſaith here in the Chapter before, Mortifie your members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanneſs, inordinate affection, evil concupiſcence: all our affections they ſhould be look'd well unto, and we ſhould have no affection, but that we may look unto Chriſt for a bleſſing upon it? and ſo all the reſt. What abundance of fears are in men and women, which they dare not look up to Chriſt to bleſs thoſe fears? they may look up to him to ſcatter thoſe fears, but not to bleſs them; we ſhould be in the fear of the Lord all the day, a Godly fears ſo, what doubts have we about the Scriptures, about the Trinity, about our ſalvation, about our eſtate and condition; but they are not ſuch as are warranted by Chriſt, and for his honour and glory. Thoſe that pray to Saints, do they do it in the name of the Lord Jeſus. So thoſe that worſhip and adore Images, how dare they do it in the name of Chriſt? ſo thoſe that bow to an Altar, how dare they do it in the name of Chriſt? ſo thoſe worſhip the Bread, how dare they do it in the name of Chriſt; Chriſt never will approve of ſuch kind of actions, or thoughts tending to ſuch wayes and practices. Whatever therefore is not according to Chriſt, and may not be done in the name of the Lord Jeſus, which Chriſt would not do, we ſhould not dare to think, ſpeak, or do.
Thirdly, See hence two great evils among men, even good men, and good women.
Firſt, we may ſee here, why many ſo oft miſcarry in their undertakings, they do not what they do in word or deed in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, they do things in their own names, and in their own ſtrength, and according to their own wills, and for their own glory; ſo Judas did all in his own name, and for himſelf, and not for Chriſt, he had a covetous heart. So Annanias and Saphira miſcarried, they did things in their own name; ſo Demas he did things in his own name, the world was ſtill upon him, and he miſcarried; and Godly men and women they miſcarry; they begin not with Chriſt, they do not things in the name of Chriſt, they do not do things for Chriſt, and therefore they miſcarry fearfully, becauſe Chriſt is not taken along with them: This is a true cauſe, if not the onelyonly cauſe, why Saints and precious ones miſcarry in their actions.
Secondly, ſee hence why Godly men and women have ſo much guilt and fear upon their ſpirits, which appears in ill times, eſpecially when Gods judgments are abroad, and dangers are at hand; Oh how guilty are they! how fearful are they? what's the reaſon of this? it's becauſe the thoughts, and words, and actions, have not been in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; we have thought our own thoughts, and ſpoke our own words, and done our own wills, and hence it comes to paſs that we are full of guilt, and full of fear, in 12. Mat. 36. I ſay unto you, that every idle word that men ſhall ſpeak, they ſhall give account thereof in the day of Judgment. God hath many dayes of judgment here in the world, before the great day of judgment hereafter; For by thy words thou ſhalt be juſtified, and by thy words thou ſhalt be condemned. Our words condemn us, and we find guilt upon us for our words, and our actions do condemn us, and we find guilt upon us for our actions, Rom. 2.7, 8. Who will render to every man according to his deeds, to them who by patient continuance in well doing, ſeek for glory, and honour, and immortality, eternal life; but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteouſneſs, indignation, and wrath, tribulation and anguiſh upon every ſoul of man that doth evil, of the Jew firſt, and alſo of the Gentile: We find fears, and we fear tribulation, and fear ruine and deſtruction, becauſe our actions have not been done in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, for his honour and glory, but for our ſelves.
Fourthly, if Chriſtians muſt do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus, then nothing is to be done in but own names, to do things in our own names, is not currant, is not legal, is not warrantable, who authorized you will Chriſt ſay, to do this or that in your own name? what warrant have you? what word have you for it, to do it in your own name? no, neither muſt we do things in our own ſtrength, nor in our own wiſdom, we think we are wiſe, and we are able; but Prov. 3.5, 6, 7. Lean not unto thine own underſtanding: dont lean to thy own underſtanding, thou art but a fool unto God, and thy wiſdom is nothing, lean not to thine own underſtanding; in all thy wayes acknowledge him. Mark, in all thy wayes acknowledge him, look up to him, do things in his name, by his wiſdom, by his ſtrength, not by thy own, and he ſhall direct thy path; is not Gods direction better than our own? Gods councel better than ours? Gods ſtrength better than ours, lean not then to your own wiſdom, acknowledge him in all your wayes, be not wiſe in thine own eyes. We are loth to lay down our own wiſdom, and our own apprehenſions and conceptions, Prov. 23.4. Labour not to be rich, ceaſe from thine own wiſdom; make not that thy deſign, I will be rich, and like the great ones in the City, and I will be high, and I will be ſo and ſo; this is thy own wiſdom, thy own folly indeed, we are not to do any thing in our own names, no nor in the name of Angels, nor of Saints; the Papiſts do many things in the name of this Saint, and the other Saint, and in the name of the Virgin Mary they do many things, pray in her name, and act in her name, and ſuffer in her name; but this is not in the name of Chriſt, whatſoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus. Therefore remember we are to do nothing in our own names, or in the names of any, but in the name of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
Fifthly, I infer hence, that whoſoever would ſteer a right courſe in this world, and have his thoughts, words, and actions accepted, and bleſſed, muſt have a ſpecial eye unto the Lord Chriſt; we muſt look to him as the Pole-ſtar, as Marriners, their eye is much upon the Pole-ſtar, or the compaſs upon which they ſail by, their eye is upon theſe, otherwiſe they will go out of their way, and miſcarry: but if we obſerve the courſes of men and women, they ſail moſt by the compaſs of the world, look what the world doth, and ſuch and ſuch a man doth, that they will do; or if not ſo, yet by the cuſtome of places where they are, why 'tis the cuſtom of the place to do thus and thus, or elſe according to the tradition of the Elders, our Elders did ſo, they waſh'd their hands before meat, and we will do it, or elſe they look to the Laws of men. But this is not yet in the name of Chriſt, or elſe they do things by their own wills, and luſts; they will have theſe fulfilled, but where's the name of Chriſt all this while? men go wrong, and out of the way, not looking at Chriſt, few direct their courſe by Chriſt, his name, his councel, according to his will, and his word. It was otherwiſe with that bleſſed Apoſtle Paul, Paul had his eye upon Chriſt; therefore he ſaith in 1 Cor. 11.1. Be ye followers of me, as I am of Chriſt, I have Chriſt alwayes in my eye, I begin with Chriſt, I go on with Chriſt, I end with Chriſt, I have Chriſt alwayes in my eye; dont follow me at all, if I dont follow Chriſt; I am a learned man, and you think you may follow me becauſe I am a learned man; or I am an Apoſtle, and you will follow me therefore; but if I dont follow Chriſt, notwithſtanding my learning, and my Apoſtleſhip, dont follow me; it is Chriſt you muſt have in your eye, it is Chriſt you muſt regulate all by, he muſt be your Pole ſtar, he muſt be your compaſs; ſo in 5 Eph. 1. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear Children: dont follow the world, dont follow the cuſtomes of places, dont follow any but God, and be followers of God as dear Children; Children will follow their Parents, and follow no others. So then, if we would ſteer our courſe aright, we muſt be followers of Chriſt, and eye Chriſt, and eye God, and take up all from them, and not from men.
Sixthly, if we muſt do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt (according as we have opened) then here ſee to whom we owe the ſucceſs of all we do, 'tis not to our ſelves, 'tis not to ſecond cauſes, it is to the L. C. that we owe the ſucceſs of all, when we do things in his name, and for his ſake he doth bleſs them, and give ſucceſs to our endeavours, when we begin with Chriſt, and take Chriſt along with us, and do all as we ought to do, then Chriſt bleſſes, and then he gives ſucceſs. When we pray in Chriſts name, he tells us God will give, Joh. 16.23. ſo in 4 Eph. laſt, even as God for Chriſts ſake hath forgiven you, for Chriſts ſake it is. If we pray, and beg pardon, 'tis for Chriſts ſake we have our prayers heard, and pardon given in, and whatſoever attempts you make, and ſucceſs you have. If you do it in the name of Chriſt, it is for his ſake you have the bleſſing; therefore dont ſay it is your endeavours, and your contrivance, and diligence, and care, and circumſpection; no, it is for the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, 'tis he that gives the ſucceſs, and the bleſſing.
Seventhly, if we muſt do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, then let us examine, we who are Chriſtians, and bear the name of Chriſt, let us examine whether we do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, it's good to know in whoſe name you do your actions.
You will ſay, how ſhall we know that?
You may know it by what I have ſaid already; do you do all in the authority of Chriſt, in the ſtrength of Chriſt, in the ſtead of Chriſt, do you do all according to the will of Chriſt, for the ſake of Chriſt, for the honour of Chriſt, by invocating of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; then you do it in his name. But to add ſome few things more.
Firſt, you may know it by this, if you do things in Chriſts name, then you do conſult much with the Lord Chriſt, and take counſel from him, and from his word, you will not truſt your own heads, nor truſt your own hearts, he that truſteth in his own heart is a fool, ſaith Solomon, and we have many ſuch fools in the world, ſound wiſdom and Counſel are mine, ſaith Chriſt, Prov. 8.14. None can give you ſound wiſdom, and ſound councel, but my ſelf; now do you go to Chriſt for councel, do you adviſe with him, and conſult with him, it's an Argument then you do things in his name, David in the 119. Pſal. 24. ſaith, Thy Teſtimonies art my delight, and my Councellors; I delight in thy Teſtimonies, and they are my Councellors, I conſult with thy word, the word of God, the word of Chriſt, I conſult with that, and I do all according thereunto; therefore he is ſaid to be a man fulfilling all the wills of God, he took advice from Gods word, he went to Chriſt who gave him ſound wiſdom, and ſound Councel, but if we go about our actions, and do our own wills, and never adviſe with Chriſt, we go in our own ſtrength, and the iſſue is not like to be ſucceſsful.
Secondly, you ſhall know it hereby, they that do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus, they advance him, and make him high, and lay themſelves low; whoſe name ſoever things are done in, they are advanced, if we do things in our own names, we advance our ſelves; if we do things in the names of men, we advance men; but if we do things in Chriſts name, we advance the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; when Servants do things in their own names, they ſpoil all, then their Maſters are laid low; but when they do all in the name of their Maſters, then their Maſters are exalted. Now ask your ſouls, what advancement Chriſt hath from your thoughts, words, or actions, ſaith David, Pſal. 71.16. I will go in the ſtrength of the Lord God, and I will make mention of thy righteouſneſs, even of thine onelyonly. I'le go in thy ſtrength, that is, in thy name; every attribute is his name, as I told you, to go in the name of Chriſt, is to go in the ſtrength of Chriſt: now ſaith he, I will go in the ſtrength of the Lord God, I will make mention of thy righteouſneſs, even of thine onelyonly; I will exalt thy name, and thy righteouſneſs, and exalt thine onelyonly; do you therefore go out in the ſtrength of Chriſt, and exalt his righteouſneſs onelyonly, his name onelyonly, his truths onelyonly, his ordinances onelyonly; Paul did ſo, in 15 Rom. 18. For I will not dare to ſpeak of any of thoſe things, which Chriſt hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed. Have the Gentiles been brought in, are they obedient in word? are they obedient in deed? 'tis not my work, but the work of Jeſus Chriſt, I will not dare to ſpeak of any thing is mine; but I will altogether ſpeak of the work of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, thus he advances Chriſt. So that if you do things in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, you will advance Chriſt, and lift him up, and it's no matter who goes down, ſo he goes up; ſo did John the Baptiſt, he muſt increaſe, I muſt decreaſe, and it matters not, for I am not worthy to looſe the Latchet of his Shoes, ſo excellent is he.
Thirdly, whoſoever doth all in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, his name is not onelyonly an incentive to action, but an attractive to action, for as there is power in his name; ſo there is love in the name of Chriſt; the power of that name will bind the heart to obedience, but the love that is in the name, doth work complacency in the obedience; it works complacency and delight, as in the name; ſo in the obedience that is given to that name; he makes it his incentive, and faith, the work is neceſſary and muſt be done; but the other that finds it an attractive faith, the work is good, and I will do it. I muſt do this, and I muſt do that, ſaith one; but ſaith another, the work is good, and I will do it, Pſal. 73.28. It's good for me to draw nigh to God: He dont ſay, 'tis my duty, 'tis neceſſary, but it's good for me, I delight to draw near to God: So that if we do all in the name of Chriſt, we ſhall find the name of Chriſt an attractive, to draw our hearts to do things with delight and pleaſure.
Fourthly, You ſhall know it hereby, for he that doth all in the name of Chriſt, makes that name the ground and pillar for a bleſſing upon his actions: when I ſpeak in the name of Chriſt, or act in the name of Chriſt, I make the name of Chriſt, the pillar and the ground of my hope for a bleſſing upon what I ſay, or what I do. It is not the goodneſs of my action, which is the ground of my hope; a man may be importunate in Prayer, and be zealous, and pray very well, but he dont make this the ground of his hope. A man may be very ſollid in Preaching, and very ſerious in Hearing; but this muſt not be the ground of his hope for a bleſſing upon the action; but the ground of his hope is from the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Cant. 1.3. becauſe of the ſavour of thy good Oyntments, Thy name is as an Oyntment poured forth; That perfumes all the actions done in Chriſts name, and ſo they are acceptable unto God, and this name is the ground of my hope for a bleſſing from God, and from Chriſt, becauſe I look at the name of Chriſt, which is the ſweet Oyntment that doth perfume all. Therefore ask your hearts, what's the ground and the Pillar of your hopes for a bleſſing upon your actions; 'tis not the goodneſs of your actions, but the name of Chriſt that gives the hope.
Fifthly, Laſtly, he that doth all in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, aſcribes the bleſſing and ſucceſs of all unto the name of Chriſt, he will attribute nothing to his own thoughts, words, or actions; he will attribute nothing to any intervening cauſe, but attribute all unto the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Pſal. 115.1. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, away with all that ſhould riſe from us; but unto thy name give glory, yea, all the glory; 1 Tim. 1.12. I thank Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, ſaith Paul, that inabled me, and put me into the Miniſtry. He gives the glory to Chriſt, I thank the Lord, I had no power to Preach, but thou haſt enabled me to Preach, and I give thee the glory; ſo did Pet. 2 E. 3.18. To him be glory both now and for ever Amen. To him be the glory that makes known himſelf unto us, that gives grace unto us, that inables us to Preach and Pray, and do good in our places and generations, and callings, to him be glory both now and for ever. So John, in 1. Rev. to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. The ſoul that doth all in the name of Chriſt, will ſee infinite reaſon why Chriſt ſhould have all the glory, and all the honour; do you ſo give him all, and challenge nothing to your ſelves, attribute nothing to your own dregs, to your own endeavours, to your own actings, it's a ſign you do all in the name of Chriſt then.
Eighthly, Laſtly, muſt Chriſtians do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt? then it ſerves to be an exhortation unto us, that we ſhould do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, let all your thoughts be in his name, all your words be in his name, all your actions be in his name; ſee you have warrant from his word for them, do all in his ſtrength and power, and lay by your own; do all as in his ſtead, think ſuch thoughts as Chriſt would think if he were preſent, ſpeak ſuch words as Chriſt would ſpeak, do all according to his will, do all for Chriſts ſake, do all for his honour and glory, do all invocating his name for advice in your actions.
Q. But you will ſay, is it poſſible to do all in his name, can we alwayes have Chriſt in our thoughts, mouths, and actions.
A. To this I anſwer, that immediately we ſhould have a diſpoſition, a frame of ſpirit, an inclination of heart unto it, the very bent and tendency of our hearts ſhould be that way, the deſire of our ſouls is unto thee, and to thy name. So the deſire of our ſouls ſhould be unto Chriſt, and to his name, the bent and tendency of it ſhould be that way. And not only ſo, but,
Secondly, I anſwer, 'tis well to have this, but 'tis not enough, we ſhould every morning at leaſt, actually mind and intend, the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and ſo go on all the day in that intention; as a bowl when it is thrown it runs by virtue of the ſtrength that is put into it from the arm that threw it at firſt, and runs till the ſtrength be ſpent; ſo we ſhould by virtue of a morning intention, and in a morning conſideration of the name of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, go on all the day long, and if we find it to flag (as it will quickly do) we ſhould renew our intentions and thoughts, in the name of Chriſt, ſend up ſecret Ejaculations to Heaven; O Lord, I deſire to think in thy name, and to ſpeak in thy name, and to act in thy name, this we may and ought to do, and not to reſt altogether in an habitual inclination and diſpoſition; and they that do it ofteſt, they will order things beſt; beſt for themſelves, and beſt for Chriſts glory and advantage, but to preſs the exhortation, Chriſtians ſhould do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. I will give you three or four Motives.
Firſt, We ſhould do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt upon this conſideration, it will aſſure us that the Lord Chriſt doth approve of us, and will be with us, and will make our actions ſucceſsful, and bleſs them unto us, Mat. 28.19, 20. Go ye therefore and teach all Nations, Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoſt. Go, and Baptize them all in my name, and in their names: and what follows, teaching them to obſerve all things whatſoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you alwayes, even unto the end of the world. Do it in my name, I will be with you then, and I will bleſs you and proſper you, and I will make your Preaching ſucceſsful and uſeful: David went in the name of the Lord againſt Goliah, that grand enemy of the Iſraelites, and did not the Lord bleſs him, and proſper him? did not he ſlay Goliah, and free the Iſraelites from their fears and dangers, the Lord was with him; David went out in the name of the Lord, in the ſtrength of the Lord will I go, and the Lord was with him whereſoever he went, and proſper'd him in all he went about; he did all things wiſely; would you therefore in ſpirituals, or in your ordinary callings and places, be approved of by Chriſt, have Chriſt with you, and bleſs you, do all in his name, not in your own names, or in the name of others, but in his name, and in his name alone.
Secondly, it is great wiſdom to do ſo, for what we do in Chriſts name, out of reſpect to him carries much ſweetneſs in it. It is an impulſe of of love to ſuch a friend; we love Chriſt when we do it out of reſpect to his name; and 'tis our wiſdome ſo to do; and the work of love is very ſweet. A wiſe man will do things ſo as they may be moſt ſweet and pleaſing to himſelf, and acceptable to him, he doth them: now when we do it upon this account. I ſay it is the impulſe of love, and there's a great deal of ſweetneſs in acting from love, there is as true ſweetneſs in acting for Chriſt, as when we receive from Chriſt; when you receive ſome influences of his ſpirit, when you have an anſwer of your Prayers, when you have your fears ſcattered, and are ſtrengthened with ſtrength in your ſouls, how ſweet is this? Now there is true ſweetneſs in acting for Chriſt; a true friend will do Chriſt ſervice, and be thankful for the ſervice, becauſe there is a great deal of ſweetneſs in it, 1 Tim. 1.12. ſaith Paul, I thank Chriſt Jeſus our Lord, who hath enabled me, &c. putting me into the Miniſtry. I thank the Lord Jeſus Chriſt that hath put me into ſervice; he would not have been thankful unleſs he had found ſome ſweetneſs in his ſervice.
It will be our wiſdom therefore, to do all in the name of Chriſt, if you would find ſweetneſs in the name of Chriſt; ſo David and the Princes, when they had offered ſo willingly, as in the 1 Chron. 29.13, 14. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praiſe thy glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we ſhould be able to offer ſo willingly after this ſort, for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. Lord, thou haſt given to us, and we have given to thee, and we thank thee that we have had hearts to give unto thee; how ſweet, delightful, and pleaſing is thy ſervice? therefore it will be your wiſdom to do all in the name of Chriſt; for it comes from love in you, and you will find ſweetneſs in doing for Chriſt, and you will be thankful for the ſervice you do upon that account.
Thirdly, we ſhould do all in the name of Chriſt from this conſideration, that it is a ſpecial means both to prevent ſin, and to promote holineſs.
Firſt, to prevent ſin, 2 Tim. 2.19. Let every one that names the name of the Lord Jeſus, depart from iniquity. He that names the name of Chriſt, muſt depart from iniquity; this is a preventing of ſin now, mentioning his name ſhould make us depart from iniquity. Why, the Lord Chriſt himſelf he hated iniquity, and loved righteouſneſs. His very name ſhould mind us thereof; Chriſt hates iniquity, and I will depart …ſom iniquity.
Secondly, and acting in his name will put us upon holineſs, and labouring to he holy. The ſoul ſaith, will Jeſus Chriſt do this, I am a doing now; but would Chriſt do thus? would Chriſt think thus, would Chriſt ſpeak thus; no, Chriſt would not, Chriſt would ſpeak holy words, and do holy actions, and think holy thoughts, therefore I muſt do as Chriſt would do; I, do all in his name: we read of Alexander that had a Sould…er in his Camp that did bear his name; when Alexander heard it, he calls for the Soldier, and asks him his name, he told him his name was Alexander; is it ſo, ſaith he, then ſee you do nothing unworthy the name of Alexander, do that which becomes Alexander; ſo, do we bear the name of Chriſt, we muſt do that which becomes the name of Chriſt; do we bear the name of Chriſtian? we muſt do what becomes a Chriſtian; one ſaid, I could do this or that, if I were not a Chriſtian; but I am a Chriſtian, and I dare not do this or that, I dare not go into ſuch Company, I dare not drink healths, I dare not be in the mode and faſhion of the world: And ſo in the Primitive times, the queſtion was, have you kept the Sabbath? the anſwer was, I am a Chriſtian, I dare not neglect the Lords day, I dare not ſpeak my own words, nor think my own thoughts, nor find my own pleaſure, and why, I am a Chriſtian, and ſo it promotes holineſs; therefore we ſhould do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus.
Fourthly, Laſtly, we ſhould do all in his name, becauſe it will unite and tye the heart of God and Chriſt abundantly to us. Thoſe perſons who act all in the name of Chriſt, they are faithful perſons; as a Servant that doth all in the name of his Maſter, he is a faithful Servant: The unjuſt Steward did not things faithfully, he did things in his own name, and therefore his Maſters favour was not towards him, he had none of his favour, nor countenance, his heart was alienated from him; but thoſe that do all in the name of the Lord Chriſt, they are faithful, and the heart of Chriſt is towards ſuch, and is wide unto ſuch; in Mat. 24.46. Bleſſed is that Servant whom his Lord when he cometh ſhall find ſo doing. Bleſſed is that Servant, why his heart is towards this Servant, and pronounces a bleſſing upon him; Bleſſed is that Servant whom his Lord when he cometh, ſhall find ſo doing; how doing? doing all in my name, and according to my will, and for my glory; doing all by invocation of my name; O bleſſed is that Servant which when his Lord cometh ſhall find ſo doing; his heart is greatly towards him: The heart of his Maſter can truſt ſafely in him all the dayes of his life, as it's ſaid of the virtuous Wife, Prov. 31.11. The heart of her Husband doth ſafely truſt in her, ſo that he ſhall have no need of ſpoil: So the Lord Chriſt can truſt in that man or woman who doth all in his name; they are faithful, and he can truſt in them. I, it is a great honouring of Chriſt, and Chriſt will honour ſuch a one; it's an honouring of Chriſt, honouring of Chriſts wiſdom, honouring of Chriſts power, honouring of his word and name; it is the higheſt ſervice we can do to Chriſt, to do all in his name, and the Lord Chriſt will honour ſuch an one, his heart is tyed to him, he dares truſt him with all, he commits his ſecrets to ſuch. So then you ſee the exhortation back'd with ſome motives why we ſhould do all in the name of Jeſus Chriſt.
One thing more, which is, what directions will you give us now to help us to do all in the name of Chriſt? we ſee it is a duty, a good work, and we would gladly do it; but what directions and helps may be given to further us therein?
Firſt, conſider, that the Lord Chriſt is your Lord. Whatſoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus, if you be Chriſtians, he is your Lord: Now our Lords commands, our Lords will, our Lords councels, we muſt do them, we muſt not do our own wills, we are the Lords, he is our Lord, and therefore we muſt do his will; Luke 6.46. Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I ſay? What, do you call me Lord, and will not you do what I ſay, command, and appoint you, and do it as I appoint you, do all in my name? why do you call me Lord? Surely if Chriſt be our Lord, we muſt do all in his name; and the more we ſhall think of Chriſts Lordſhip and authority over us, the more will our hearts be inclined to do things in his name; why he is the beſt of Lords, he is a bleſſed Lord, a ſweet Lord, a good Lord; there is no Tyranny in this Lord, no hurt in this Lord, nothing but all for good in this Lord; he is Lord in your heart, he is Lord in your ſpirits, he is Lord in your tongues, he is Lord in your heads, he is Lord in all your wayes; therefore look upon him as Lord and Moderator of all your thoughts, words, and actions, and this will help you to do things in his name.
Secondly, if you would do things in his name, then mind the very example, and practice of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, he did not do things in his own name, but he did all in his fathers name, and therefore we ſhould do all in his name, when he requires it of us, as the Father required it of him, he did all in his Fathers name, in Job. 5.43. I am come in my Fathers name, and ye receive me not; I am come, but I come in my Fathers name, I dont come in my own name, I run not on my own head, I come not with my own will, or my own words to do what I would, but I am come in my Fathers name, and the Fathers works he did, in Joh. 10.25. Jeſus anſwered them, I told you, and ye believe not, the works that I do in my Fathers name, they bear witneſs of me; all the works that I do, I do in my Fathers name, not in my own name: Now here's a good example for us to mind, the Lord Chriſt he did all in his Fathers name, and ſo ſhould we do all in Chriſts name; and if we do them in his name, we do them in the Fathers name alſo. Paul did all in Chriſts name, and we ſhould do all in Chriſts name. He did all in his Fathers name, and his example is an unerring example.
Thirdly, If we would do all in the name of Chriſt, then let us get low… …o the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. 'Tis want of love that makes us do ſo little in the name of Chriſt, if we had love enough to Chriſt, it would make us act in his name; the name of Chriſt is an Oyntment poured out, therefore do the Virgins love thee; if we did look at the name of Chriſt as an Oyntment poured out; ſweet, and precious, and ſaving, and comforting indeed: O it would make us love the Lord Jeſus, as the Virgins do: A Wife that loves her Husband, it will make her do all in her Husbands name; Oh, if we had love to Jeſus Chriſt, we would do all in his name; why the Lord Chriſt he loved his Father; and ſaith he, I keep his Commandements, and abide in his love: 'Tis love will make you do things in the name of Chriſt, the more love is in any ſoul, the more it will act in the name of Chriſt, and honour him.
Fourthly, Laſtly, if we would do all in Chriſts name, then let us conſider the great reward that we ſhall have, the reward will be great if we do all in his name; I, there will be a reward here, and a reward hereafter; we glorifie him, and honour him much if we do all in his name. I, all the glory will be his; now if we glorifie him we ſhall have a reward in our very acting; how ſweet is that action which is done aright? in a right manner, to a right end, from a right principle? how ſweet is it, as the Pſalmiſt ſaith, in keeping of thy Commandements there is great reward; in the very keeping of the commands of God and Chriſt, is great reward, … is great peace, great comfort, great content, ſweetneſs, communion with God, and at the end there is great reward, Crowns of Glory, a Kingdom, Rivers of pleaſure, great reward; ſo in doing things in the name of Chriſt, there is a great reward in the very doing of it, great ſweetneſs, great content to the ſoul, great peace, great communion with God, great favour of Chriſt, and afterwards there will be a great and glorious reward for the ſoul that doth ſo: in the 12. John 26. If any man ſerve me, ſaith Chriſt, let him follow me, and where I am, there ſhall alſo my Servant be; if any man ſerve me, why, who ſerves Chriſt better than he that doth all in Chriſts name? if we be the Servants of Chriſt, we ſhall do all in the name of Chriſt; and what then? Let him follow me, and where I am, there ſhall alſo my Servant be, and if any man ſerve me, him will my Father honour. He ſhall be honoured by me, and honoured by my Father, honoured in Earth, and honoured in Heaven, honoured with a Kingdom, and Glory, and honoured with fruition of n…e and of my Father, and all that is deſirable, Therefore conſider of the great reward you ſhall have, if you do all in the name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.