A Golden Mine Opened, Sermon 3
JOHN X. 27, 28. My Sheep hear my Voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them Eternal Life, and they ſhall never periſh, neither ſhall any pluck them out of my Hand.
Serm. 1. Preach'd Feb. 5. 169 1/….BELOVED, theſe Words are the Words of our Bleſſed Saviour: and they contain no ſmall Comfort to all true Believers, who are the Sheep and Lambs of Jeſus Chriſt. My main Purpoſe or Intention, is to ſpeak to the 28th Verſe, and to defend the ſweet and comfortable Doctrine of the Saints final Perſeverance; but ſhall begin with the 27th Verſe, viz. My Sheep hear my Voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
In our Text are two Parts.Parts of the Text.
1. Something Implied, viz. Chriſt is a Shepherd, and that he hath a People that are his Sheep.
2. Something that is Expreſſed, viz. That all ſuch who are his Sheep, hear his Voice, and do follow him.
You have in the Words, 1. The Property of Chriſt's Sheep. 2. Their Security, and happy State and Condition.
1. Their Character or Property, viz. They hear his Voice, and do follow him.
2. Their Security, and happy State and Condition.
1. He knows them, that is, he approves of them.
2. He gives to them Eternal Life.
3. They are in his Hand, and ſhall never periſh.
Our Saviour in this Chapter calls himſelf the Shepherd of the Sheep, yea, the Good Shepherd, Ver. 11. I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth his Life for the Sheep.
Now if it be demanded who are the Sheep of Chriſt? I anſwer, All that the Father hath given to him, and that believe in him.
Chriſt's Sheep may be conſidered as his two manner of ways.
1. Decretively. See Ver. 16. And other Sheep I have, which are not of this Fold: them alſo I muſt bring, and they ſhall hear my Voice. The Lord Jeſus meaneth the Gentiles, theſe he calls his Sheep by virtue of God's Eternal Election, Them alſo I muſt bring; They are given unto me; and all that the Father hath given me, ſhall come unto me. I lay down my Life for them, or in their ſtead, that they John 6. 37.might not periſh. I therefore (as if he ſhould ſo ſay) muſt bring them, call them, renew or regenerate them: The Covenant I have made with my Father is ſuch, that it cannot be broken; the Purpoſe, Counſel, and Promiſes of God ſhall ſtand. This agrees with that Word of the Holy God to St. Paul, Be not afraid, but ſpeak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no Man ſhall ſet on Acts 18. 9, 10.thee to hurt thee; for I have much People in this City. They are called the Lord's People, though then in a ſtate of Darkneſs and Unbelief; decretively, or according to his Eternal Purpoſe, they were his.
2. Actually, or ſuch who are already brought in, or who do believe, and are viſibly of his Fold.
The Doctrine I ſhall proſecute, ſhall be drawn as comporting with this latter Expoſition.
Doct. 1. All true Believers are the Sheep and Lambs of Jeſus Chriſt, and he is their Shepherd; they hear his Voice, and follow him.
Two things I ſhall (God aſſiſting) do.
Before I raiſe any other Point of Doctrine, in proſecuting this,
I ſhall, 1. Open or explain this Propoſition. 2. Apply it.
In ſpeaking to the firſt, I ſhall obſerve this Method.
Firſt, I ſhall explain the Propoſition.
1. I ſhall ſhew you in what reſpect they may be ſaid to be his Sheep.
2. Shew what is meant by Chriſt's Voice.
3. What by hearing of his Voice.
4. What by his knowing of them.
5. Give you ſome of the Characters of Chriſt's Sheep; and ſhew how they follow him.
6. Shew what a kind of Shepherd Chriſt is.
Firſt, They are his Sheep by Choice, or by virtue of Election. Thoſe that are Chriſt's, are not only his Sheep, but his Spouſe alſo, according Believers Chriſt's Sheep by Choice.to another Scripture-Metaphor; and therefore 'tis reaſonable they ſhould be his own free Choice, and ſuch as he can and doth dearly love; not only ſuch as the Father loved, but he himſelf alſo loved: all that were Elected from Everlaſting, were beloved by the Father, and the Son, from Everlaſting, with a Purpoſe of Grace and Favour, or Love of Benevolence. The Sign and Fruit of Chriſt's Love to his Sheep, is the Choice he hath made of them; Ye have not choſen me, but I have choſen you, and ordained that you ſhould go and bring forth Fruit, and that your Fruit ſhould remain, John 15. 16. This Chriſt mentions here, as an Argument of his greateſt Love; and therefore he doth not refer to that Choice of them as Apoſtles, for ſo was Judas choſen, who was not comprehended in God's Eternal Election; I ſpeak not of you all, I know whom I have choſen, John 15. 18. Judas was choſen to the Apoſtleſhip, but was not choſen to Eternal Life; he was a Devil, and therefore not to be one of Chriſt's Sheep: Have I not choſen you Twelve, and one of you is a Devil?
Chriſt hath no Sheep, but ſuch that he was pleaſed to chuſe, or make choice of for his own; and he knows them, before they know him, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, The Lord knows them that are his; 2 Tim. 2. 19.that is, all ſuch that he hath choſen according to the Decree of Eternal Election.
Secondly, Chriſt's Sheep are his, by virtue of the Father's free Donation. By Donation.They are all given unto him; I pray not for the World, but for them thou haſt given me. I have manifeſted thy Name to the Men which thou gaveſt me out of the World: thine they were, and thou Joh. 17. 9. Joh. 17. 6.gaveſt them me. They were given to Chriſt to be his Sheep, to be his Spouſe, and Members of his Myſtical Body. Behold, I and the Children thou haſt given me, are for Signs and Wonders in Iſrael.Iſa. 8. 18.
Thirdly, They are Chriſt's Sheep by Purchaſe: He bought them all, and that too at a dear Price. He paid heartily for them, every By Purchaſe.Sheep coſt one and the ſame Price, even the meaneſt, pooreſt, and weakeſt of them, coſt more than ten thouſand Millions; nay, that which was in value more than ten thouſand Worlds: Ye are not 1 Cor. 6. 19, 20.your own, but you are bought with a Price. We had ſold our ſelves to other Maſters, and they had poſſeſſion of us. I am carnal, ſaith Paul, ſold under Sin. He was formerly ſold, and was hardly yet Rom. 7. 14. Iſa. 50. 1.got out of the Tyrant's Hand. Behold, for your Iniquities have you ſold your ſelves; but ye ſhall be redeemed without Money. We were all ſold to Sin, ſold to Satan, and there was no ways to redeem us from the Wrath of God, without a great Ranſom; Juſtice will have a ſatisfactory Price: And ſince corruptible things, as Silver and Gold, will not do it, no nor a thouſand Rams, nor ten thouſand Rivers of Oil, nor the Fruit of the Body, which could not make Atonement for the Sin of the Soul, Chriſt muſt come to the Price propoſed to him, and demanded of him, if he will purchaſe theſe Sheep, and that was his own precious Blood. Take heed therefore unto your ſelves, and to the Flock over which the 1 Pet. 1. 18, 19.Holy Ghoſt hath made you Overſeers, that ye feed the Church of God, which he hath purchaſed with his own Blood. I lay down my Life for Acts 20. 28.my Sheep. This was the Price, ſo dearly did Chriſt buy his Sheep. And this Day, Beloved, the Tokens of this Price, or Sacred Signs or Symbols of this Purchaſe is to be ſet before your Eyes: pray remember that Believers are Chriſt's Sheep by Purchaſe.
Fourthly, Believers are Chriſt's Sheep by Renovation, or Transformation. In this lies a great Myſtery, they had not once a Sheeplike By Renovation.Nature, but by Grace their ſwiniſh and evil Qualities are changed: he hath infuſed new and holy Diſpoſitions into them. So that in this reſpect Jeſus Chriſt excels all other Shepherds, for they cannot turn Swine, Bears, or Tigers, into Sheep; but the Lord Jeſus, by the Holy Ghoſt, makes ſuch to become his Sheep, or to have Sheep-like Natures and Diſpoſitions, that were before as vile, filthy, and abominable as the worſt of Sinners: the Holy Ghoſt compares them before Grace and Regeneration, to Dogs, Swine, &c. they having like evil Qualities with thoſe unclean and filthy Creatures: Such were ſome of you. What a kind of ſuch were they? Why, 1 Cor. 6. 10, 11.Thieves, Covetous, Drunkards, Reviiers, Extortioners, Effeminate, &c. But ye are waſhed, but ye are ſanctified, but ye are juſtified in the Name of the Lord Jeſus, (that is, by the Power of the Lord Jeſus and by the Spirit of our God. Chriſt hath not one Sheep, but what he hath made ſo to be: He, as God, made them at firſt, and they having loſt their firſt Excellent and Holy Nature, he new makes them, forms them again, or transforms them into his own holy, humble, meek, and gentle Nature. This People have I formed for my ſelf, they ſhall ſhew forth my Praiſe.
We are created in Chriſt Jeſus unto good Works; and thus they Eph. 2. 10.may be ſaid to be his Sheep.
Fifthly, Believers are Chriſt's Sheep, by a Holy Covenant or Contract made with the Father; and by virtue of this Covenant they were By Holy Covenant and Contract.given to him. By virtue of this Covenant he died for them; by virtue of this Covenant they became his, and he calls them, renews them, and changes them; He ſhall ſee his Seed. It was by the Blood of this Covenant the Great Shepherd of the Sheep was raiſed from the Dead; that they might be raiſed, quickned, and Heb. 13. 21.juſtified. By virtue of this Covenant he gathers them, and carries them in his Arms, and lays the young and tender Ones in his Boſom; and gently leads ſuch that are with Young, Iſa. 40. 11. By virtue of this Covenant he puts his Fear into their Hearts, that they may not depart from him.Jer. 31. 33.
Chriſt as Mediator in this Covenant, is God's Servant, and undertakes the Office of Shepherd, to take care of, feed, heal, and preſerve all thoſe who were given to him by the Father.
Sixthly, Believers are Chriſt's Sheep by Conqueſt. They were fallen into the Enemy's Hand; in the Hands and under the Power of By Conqueſt.moſt cruel Tyrants, who deſigned to tear them in pieces and devour them: They were in Satan's Hand, and under the Power of Sin; and were meer Bond-ſlaves, and in fearful ſlavery to theſe Enemies, having their Eyes put out, their Fleece torn off, or ſtrip'd of their Robes, being dangerouſly wounded. And although Jeſus Chriſt, to redeem them from Wrath and Miſery, laid down a great Price (as you heard before) to ſatisfy God's Juſtice; yet, alas, Satan takes no notice of that, they were in his Hand; who like a ſtrong Man armed, keeps the Soul, and had Power over them: therefore Jeſus Chriſt puts forth his Almighty Hand to vanquiſh and ſubdue this cruel Foe, and thereby redeems and reſcues all his Sheep out of Slavery and Bondage; by which means they come to be his by a bleſſed Conqueſt of their Enemies, and by overcoming them; for he ſubdues their Hearts bends and ſubjects their rebellious Wills by the Power of Divine Grace, before he can have one of them: All the Sheep of Chriſt yield themſelves up to him, as being conquered by him; overcome by his Love, and the Power of his Spirit. This brings me to the next thing.
Seventhly, and laſtly, Believers are Chriſt's Sheep by virtue of a By a holy Reſignation.holy Reſignation of themſelves to him. They have choſen him to be their Shepherd: other Sheep can't make choice of their Shepherd, but Chriſt's Sheep can do this, their Eyes being enlightned to ſee the Excellency of Chriſt, the Greatneſs of his Love, and what he hath ſuffered and undergone for them; they commit their Souls to his care and keeping, that he may watch over them, feed and lead them: They gave themſelves firſt unto the Lord, and unto us by the 2 Cor. 8. 5.Will of God.
Firſt, They gave themſelves unto the Lord, (by the Power of his Spirit) to be his, and no more their own, but to be his People, his Spouſe, his Sheep; and then gave themſelves to his Church, to be of his Flock. Chriſt hath no Member, no Sheep of his viſible Church or Fold on Farth, but ſuch who know him; I am known of mine. They are not ignorant Perſons, or ſuch who are unable to give themſelves up to him. Others are not required to give them: No, no; they muſt be able to give or reſign themſelves to him, (as being overcome by his Love) and thus they become his Sheep alſo.
Secondly, I ſhall ſhew you what is meant by Chriſt's Voice.
There is a Four-fold Voice of Jeſus Chriſt which his Sheep hear.
1. The Voice of his Word.
2. The Voice of his Spirit.
3. The Voice of his Holy Doctrine.
4. The Voice of his Rod.
Firſt. Chriſt's Sheep hear the Voice of his Word. The Holy Scripture is Chriſt's Word, and therefore the Voice of Chriſt, and this Voice his Sheep hear: They give full credit to the Truth of the Sacred Scriptures, they believe they are of Divine Authority: All Scripture is given by Inſpiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, 2 Tim. 3. 16.for Reproof, for Correction, for Inſtruction in Righteouſneſs. They are none of Chriſt's Sheep that do not, will not hear this Voice of Chriſt; that is, do not believe the Truth of the Sacred Scriptures, do not hear nor regard what they ſpeak, but magnify unwritten Traditions above the Word of God, or the Light of Natural Conſcience. The Sheep of Chriſt hear Chriſt's Voice in the Miniſtry of his Word, they attend upon the preaching of the Goſpel, and look upon the Word delivered in Chriſt's Name, by his faithful Miniſters, to be the Voice of Chriſt unto them: But how, or after what manner Chriſt's Sheep do hear his Voice, viz. the Voice of his Word, I ſhall open under the third Head.
Secondly, There is the Voice of Chriſt's Spirit; and this Voice of his his Sheep hear alſo, and indeed none but they. Sirs, this is that Voice of Chriſt which doth the Work, and that which diſcovers who are his Sheep. The Voice of Chriſt's Word, without the Spirit, is not ſufficient; the Word will not make Sinners hear, though it be ſpoken a thouſand times over, except the Spirit's Voice do accompany it: I ſhall therefore open to you the Nature of this Voice of Chriſt, I mean, the Voice of his Spirit.
1. 'Tis an awakening Voice: Sinners are aſleep, yea, in a dead Sleep, and ſleep they will till they hear this Voice. The powerful Voice of Chriſt awakened dead Lazarus after he had lain in the Grave four days: And it muſt be the like Voice that doth awaken the ſleepy and dead Sinner; Wherefore he ſaith, Awake thou Eph. 5. 14.that ſleepeſt, and ariſe from the Dead, and Chriſt ſhall give thee Life. 'Tis ſad to ſee what a multitude of poor People ſit, day by day, under the hearing of the Word, and yet remain in their Sins: they are aſleep, the Word doth not awaken them; but when the Spirit's Voice is heard, when that works with the Word, they are quickly rouſed up out of that dead Sleep in which they lay.
2. The Voice of Chriſt's Spirit, is a convincing Voice. Come, John 4. 29.ſee a Man that told me all things that ever I did: The Spirit of Chriſt reached her Heart, convinced her what a vile Sinner ſhe was: We do not read of many things Chriſt told her ſhe had done, but that he ſhe had then was not her Husband, ver. 18. ſo that ſhe lived in Adultery with him. But now as ſoon as the Spirit convinced her of this one Sin, ſhe is convinced of all her other abominable Evils; and therefore cries out, Come, ſee a Man that told me all things that ever I did; Is not this the Chriſt? Intimating, none but Chriſt can make the Evil of Mens Hearts and Lives appear unto them: So 'tis none but the Holy Spirit can pierce the Soul, or convince the Sinner throughly of his Sin and Miſery, and diſcover the Vileneſs of their Hearts and States unto them; They were pricked in their Hearts, Acts 2. 37.and ſaid, Men and Brethren, what ſhall we do? Is there any hope that ſuch Sinners as we may be forgiven, and be ſaved? Verily, we were guilty concerning our Brother, (ſaid Joſeph's Brethren;) God's Spirit now convinced their Conſciences, and brought their Sin to remembrance. So there are none that hear the Voice of the Spirit, but their Sin appears preſently before their Eyes; their Sin is aggravated on their Conſciences, and is moſt hateful and odious to them.
3. Chriſt's Voice is a Soul quickening Voice. Verily, verily I ſay John 5. 25.unto you, The Hour is coming, and now is, when the Dead ſhall hear the Voice of the Son of God, and they that hear ſhall live. The Voice of Chriſt doth not only cauſe the Ear to hear, but the Heart to hear alſo. All Mankind naturally are dead in a ſpiritual Senſe, they have no divine nor ſpiritual Life in them. Man is not by Original Sin, or by Nature, only wounded or maimed, but dead: The Holy Ghoſt doth not make uſe of an improper Metaphor. We by Nature were as truly and really in a ſpiritual Senſe dead; that is, had no more Life, ſpiritual Life, Motion, Heat, Feeling, or Strength in us, than a dead Man hath natural Life, Motion, Heat, Feeling, or Strength in him: but when the Soul hears the ſpiritual and powerful Voice of Chriſt, 'tis immediately quickened, a Principle of divine Life is infuſed; You hath he quickened, that were dead Eph. 2. 1.in Sins and Treſpaſſes. Thus the Greatneſs of Chriſt's Power towards Sinners appears, that were dead, or deſtitute of a Principle of ſpiritual Life. Thoſe that aſſert the Power of the Creature, or that every Man is put into a Capacity to be ſaved if he will, certainly do not conſider this; lay this to heart, ponder on this, viz. That all Mankind, before Grace is infuſed into the Soul, are dead: What ſhort of Almighty Power can raiſe the Dead to Life? Power is not in the Dead to quicken himſelf; nor can dead Lazarus reſiſt that Principle of Life infuſed into him: 'tis not what the Sinner, but what Chriſt the Saviour will; and he quickens not all, but whom he will; For as the Father raiſeth up the Dead, and quickneth John 5. 21.them; even ſo the Son quickneth whom he will: 'Tis not in him that willeth, nor in him that runneth, but in God that ſheweth Mercy.
4. Chriſt's Voice by his Spirit, is a Soul-humbling and a Self-abaſing Voice: They that hear his Voice, are ſtraitway brought to his Feet, loathing and abhorring themſelves. The Voice of Chriſt hath the ſame Effect on the Soul, as the ſight of God in Chriſt: I have heard of thee by the hearing of the Ear; but now mine Eye Job 42. 5, 6.ſeeth thee: Wherefore I abhor my ſelf, and repent in Duſt and Aſhes. After Paul had heard the Voice of Chriſt, ſaying, Saul, Saul, Why perſecuteſt thou me? how humble was he; though called to be an Apoſtle, yet eſteemed himſelf leſs than the leaſt of all Saints: Now to be leſs than the leaſt, is to be nothing. Man before Grace, or before he comes to hear the Voice of Chriſt, is a proud Creature; but Grace humbles him to ſuch a degree, that he is little, nay nothing in his own Eyes.
5. Chriſt's Voice is a Soul-regenerating Voice. His Voice is powerful, and ſhakes the old Foundation down, all former Hopes and fleſhly Confidence is gone: It was the Voice of the Spirit that firſt made us, and made this World; By the Word of God were all things made and created: And 'tis his Voice that creates us again, or that renews us, or forms his Sacred Image in us. He that commanded by his Voice Light to ſhine out of Darkneſs, doth but ſpeak the word, and ſo ſhines into our Hearts; and thereby transforms us, and gives us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jeſus 2 Cor. 4. 6.Chriſt.
6. 'Tis a Sin-killing Voice: It lays the old Man a bleeding, (as it were) the Spirit deſtroys the Body and Power of Sin, it breaks down all the ſtrong Holds of Sin. Chriſt ſlays this Enemy by the Sword that goes out of his Mouth, that is, by his Word, through the Operations of the Spirit: If ye live after the Fleſh, ye ſhall die; Rom. 8. 13.but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the Deeds of the Body, ye ſhall live. 'Tis not enough to forbear the acting of Sin, but we muſt kill and crucify it; and this we cannot do without the powerful aſſiſtance and help of the Spirit.
7. 'Tis a Soul-ſtrengthning Voice. As Sin dies, Grace lives, and the Soul receives ſtrength: Faith is the Life and Strength of the Soul; and this Life and Strength we receive by the Holy Spirit.
8. 'Tis a comforting Voice. 'Tis by the Spirit God ſpeaks Peace to the Soul: He will ſpeak Peace unto his People, and unto his Saints. Pſal. 85. 8. Hoſ. 2. 14.I will ſpeak comfortably to her, I will ſpeak to her Heart: None can ſpeak to the Heart but God, by his Spirit; it is the Holy Ghoſt that is the Comforter: And after the Sinner hath been deeply wounded in the true ſenſe of Sin, and is dejected, grieved, and ſorely troubled, then the Spirit comes with its ſweet, ſtill, and comforting Voice, and revives the drooping Soul. To comfort the Conſcience, Luther ſaith, is as great a Work as to make the World.
1. Now the Spirit ſpeaks Comfort to the diſtreſſed Conſcience through the Blood of Chriſt; that is, by ſhewing the Soul that Chriſt died in its ſtead, and bore the Wrath that was due to us, having fully ſatisfied God's Juſtice, and anſwered all the Demands and Requirements of the Law, being made a Curſe for us, that the Bleſſing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles through Chriſt Jeſus, that we might receive the Promiſe of the Spirit through Faith. Gal. 3. 14.The Blood of Chriſt ſpeaks, it hath a Voice in it, it ſpeaks good things, yea, better things than the Blood of Abel. But it never ſpeaks Comfort to the Soul, till the Spirit applies it and ſprinkleth it upon Heb. 12. 24.the Heart: O what Peace and Comfort then doth the Spirit ſpeak to a wounded Spirit!
2. The Spirit ſpeaks Comfort to the Soul, by applying the Promiſes of Pardon and Peace unto us, cauſing our Souls to take hold of them, and to cleave to God in them: This Promiſe is mine, God hath faſtened and fixed it on my Heart, ſaith a Believer.
3. By opening the Greatneſs and Preciouſneſs of Chriſt's Love to us: becauſe he hath loved us with an everlaſting Love; therefore with loving Kindneſs hath he drawn us, and helped us to believe and to receive him.
4. The Spirit ſpeaks Comfort to Believers, by opening unto them, the Nature and Excellency of the Covenant of Grace which is ordered in all things, and ſure, being confirmed by the Oath of 2 Sam. 23. 6.God, &c.
5. By ſhewing them the Power, Mercy, and Faithfulneſs of God, &c. O, Sirs, no Voice like the Voice of the Spirit: happy is that Soul which hears this Voice; and 'tis this Voice of Chriſt that all his Sheep hear.
Thirdly, There is alſo the Voice of Chriſt's Doctrine: I mean, the true Evangelical Doctrine of the Goſpel. The true Faith of the Goſpel, or the ſacred Doctrine thereof, is the Voice of Chriſt, which his Sheep will hear: And they will not hear the Voice of Strangers, they will not hear the Voice of falſe Teachers, or their pernicious Doctrine; they know not the Voice of Strangers, they can diſtinguiſh between Chriſt's Voice, Chriſt's Doctrine, and the Doctrine of falſe Prophets, and falſe Teachers: they know not the Voice of Strangers, that is, they approve not of their Doctrine; but they know, they approve of Chriſt's Doctrine; though never ſo hard, never ſo difficult, and never ſo unpleaſant to others, yet 'tis approved of by them; 'tis eaſy and pleaſant to them that are Chriſt's Sheep.
They hear what Chriſt hath ſaid, they hear Chriſt's Voice, i. e. the Doctrine he taught; This is my beloved Son (ſaith the Father) in whom I am well pleaſed, hear him.
1. Not Moſes; Moſes is not our Shepherd, our Guide, our Lawgiver: We are not his Diſciples, his Sheep; No, no, but we are Chriſt's Sheep, Chriſt's Diſciples: The Jews ſaid, they were Moſes 's Diſciples.
2. They hear Chriſt's Voice, not the Pope's, not the Voice of Antichriſt.
3. They hear Chriſt's Voice; not the Voice of the Light of Nature only, or the teaching of Natural Conſcience: though, 'tis true, they hear and follow that Light, yet they know the Light that is in all Men, which is in Pagans, Turks and Heathens, is not the Voice of Chriſt as he is Mediator, and the great Shepherd of the Sheep.
4. They hear Chriſt's Voice, follow his Voice, not the Voice of General Councils and National Synods; they will no further hear any, than they hear and adhere to the Voice and Doctrine of Jeſus Chriſt.
2dly, They will not receive or embrace any Capital Errors; they will not hear the Voice of Strangers, but keep to all the Eſſentials of Chriſt's Doctrine of the Principles of true Religion.
Particularly,
1. They believe the Holy Scripture is of Divine Authority, and that it is the only Rule of Faith and Practice.
2. They ſtedfaſtly believe the Doctrine of the Bleſſed Trinity, that there are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Son, 1 John 5. 7.and the Holy Spirit; and that theſe three are one; One in Eſſence, yet three Perſons or Subſiſtences.
3. They ſtedfaſtly believe the Doctrine of Chriſt's Divinity, or have a right Faith about the Perſon of Chriſt, not doubting but that he is God by Nature, the moſt High God, coeternal and coequal with the Father and the Holy Ghoſt; abominating the Doctrine of Arius, who aſſerted he was not of the ſame Subſtance of the Father, but rather a created Spirit, the firſt and chief Spirit or Angel God created.
And the Doctrine of Socinians, who affirmed, He is a meer Man, and had no Pre-exiſtence before he was Conceived and Born of the Virgin.
They abominate that Voice or Doctrine of Eutychians, who maintain, that the Matter of Chriſt's Fleſh was from Heaven, or that it was a Converſion of the Deity of the ſecond Perſon of the Trinity into Fleſh, and that he partook not of the Nature of the Virgin.
They abominate their Doctrine, who declare, that Chriſt doth conſiſt of one Nature only; and thoſe who affirm that the Light that is in all Men (which is but an inward Quality created of God, with which the Soul of Mankind is naturally indued) is the only Chriſt of God; they know theſe are Strangers, and the Voice of Strangers they will not hear.
4. They hear and ſtedfaſtly believe, and receive the Doctrine of Chriſt's Headſhip over the Church.
5. The Doctrine of Satisfaction by Chriſt, in his Expiation of Sin, and of Juſtification by his Righteouſneſs imputed, as it is received by Faith alone, without inherent Righteouſneſs wrought in us, or good Works done by us.
6. The Doctrine of Regeneration, the Reſurrection of the Body, and of the Eternal Judgment, and World to come.
In all theſe Reſpects they hear Chriſt's Voice, i. e. his Doctrine, and in all other reſpects ſo far as they receive Light and Knowledg touching any one, or all the bleſſed Truths and Ordinances of the Goſpel.
Fourthly, There is the Voice of Chriſt's Rod alſo, which his Sheep hear; The Lord's Voice crieth to the City, and the Man of Wiſdom Mich. 6. 9.ſhall ſee thy Name: hear ye the Rod, and who hath appointed it. When Chriſt's Sheep will not hear as they ought the ſoft and ſweet Voice of God's Word, he ſpeaks to them by the Voice of his Rod, by Afflictions and ſharp Rebukes, which by his Providence he brings upon them: And though others cannot hear ſo as to underſtand this Voice of Chriſt, yet his Sheep do, they ſee his Name, and hear the Rod, and know whoſe Voice it is, and to what End 'tis appointed; but this I ſhall not inſiſt further upon here.
I ſhould now come to ſhew you how Chriſt's Sheep hear his Voice, but that muſt be for the next time.
APPLICATION.
1. Bleſs God you have Chriſt's Voice, Chriſt's Word ſounding in your Ears; Bleſſed are they that know the joyful Sound, for they ſhall Pſal. 89. 15.walk in the Light of thy Countenance, O Lord. It is not all they that hear the joyful Sound, but only ſuch that know it, with an experimental Knowledg, who have felt the Divine Power of it on their Souls.
2. Reſt not therefore upon a bare hearing of the Word of Chriſt; take heed that the Goſpel comes not to you in Word only, but in Power alſo.
3. Labour to hear the Voice of Chriſt's Spirit in and with the Word, or you are undone for ever.