A Golden Mine Opened, Sermon 5
JOHN X. 27. My Sheep hear my Voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
Serm. 3.DOCT. 1. All true Believers are the Sheep and Lambs of Jeſus Chriſt; they hear his Voice, and they follow him.
I have ſhewed you what is meant by hearing of Chriſt's Voice.
Fourthly, I am now to ſpeak to the next thing propoſed, or Head of Diſcourſe, which is the fourth General,
I know them, &c.
1ſt, In ſpeaking to this, I ſhall ſhew you,
1. In what reſpect Chriſt knows his Sheep.
2. What a kind of Knowledg he hath of them.
3. Shew what Comfort doth and may ariſe unto them hereby.
1. Chriſt knows them as they are his Father's Choice. All Chriſt's Sheep are choſen Sheep, ſuch as the Father hath pick'd out of the common Lump of Mankind, or out of the great Flock of fallen Man; thus Jeſus Chriſt knows them, and as they are his own Choice alſo, for the Father and the Son agreed both in the Choice of the Elect. If you know theſe things, happy are ye if you do them. I John 13. 17, 18.ſpeak not of you all, I know whom I have choſen. Not only to Apoſtleſhip, but to Eternal Life; for Judas was choſen to be an Apoſtle, but he was not in the Election of Grace.
2. Chriſt knoweth them as they are the ſpecial Purchaſe of his own Blood. He knows whom he died for, and in the room and ſtead of; he knows what Sheep he hath bought and paid ſo dear for: The Foundation of God ſtandeth ſure; the Lord knoweth them that are 2 Tim. 2. 19.his. There is a certain Number who are built upon a Rock, upon a ſure Foundation; theſe are ſealed and confirmed by God's Eternal Decree of Election, and are the Price therefore of Chriſt's ſpecial Purchaſe, and as ſuch he knows them from all others in the World.
3. He knows them as ſuch, who have and do experience the Effects of his Death. He ſees and knows they are his Sheep, as they have his Mark, his Image formed in them: for like as other Shepherds know their Sheep by the Mark they have upon them, ſo (to ſpeak after the manner of Men) Jeſus Chriſt may in this reſpect be ſaid to know his Sheep, his Saints and People; Surely they are my People, Children that will not lie: ſo he was their Saviour. I know Iſa. 63. 8.theſe are my People, I cannot but own them, they will keep my Covenant: I have renewed them, and they abide faithful to me, and will not deal falſly with me. In another place he ſays, Their Deut. 32. 5.Spot is not the Spot of my Children. Theſe I know are none of my Sheep, their Spot, their Sin, their Iniquity are not ſuch as are in my People; not Sins of Infirmity or common Frailties, but they have a contagious Spot upon them; they have none of my Image, my Mark, &c.
4. Chriſt knows his Sheep with a Knowledg of Approbation; I know them, that is, I approve of them, I like them well, I eſteem them, and accept of their Perſons and their Services.
5. Chriſt may be ſaid to know his Sheep alſo, with a Knowledg of Love and Affection. He knows them as to delight in them, they have his Heart: I am the good Shepherd, and know my Sheep, and am John 10. 14, 15.known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even ſo I know the Father; and I lay down my Life for the Sheep. As this mutual Knowledg between the Father and the Son, was joined with perfect Love and Delight; ſo is Chriſt's Knowledg of his Sheep: And this he himſelf alſo here expreſſes, by ſaying, I lay down my Life for the Sheep; which ſhews not only the Sincerity, but alſo the Degree of his Love unto his Saints: So that if we can believe that God the Father loved Chriſt, his only begotten Son, we may alſo believe that both Father and Son love thoſe who are really the Sheep of Jeſus Chriſt; the Love that Chriſt hath unto his People, is as true, certain, and abiding, as the Father's Love to Chriſt, or Chriſt's Love unto the Father.
2dly, I ſhall ſhew you what a kind of Knowledg Chriſt hath of his Saints.
1. Chriſt knoweth them by Name. As 'tis ſaid of Moſes, ſo it may be ſaid of every true Believer; Yet thou haſt ſaid, I know thee Exod. 33. 12.by Name. Even in like manner in this Chapter, the Lord Jeſus ſhews us that the true Shepherd calleth his Sheep by Name, and leadeth John 10. 3.them out; this denotes the knowledg he hath of them particularly.
2. Chriſt knows their Hearts, as he teſtifies to the ſeven Churches in Aſia; And all the Churches ſhall know that I am he that ſearcheth Rev. 2. 23.the Reins and Hearts, &c. This ſhews he is the moſt High God; For who knoweth the Heart but God himſelf? This Jehovah glorieth in, as his own abſolute Prerogative, it being out of the reach of any Creature; I the Lord ſearch the Heart, I try the Reins. Jer. 17. 10.Moreover 'tis ſaid of Jeſus Chriſt, That he needed not that any ſhould teſtify of Man, for he knew what was in Man. He needeth not any to bring him Information concerning the Principles, Ends, Joh. 2. 25.Aims, Purpoſes, and Tempers of Men; and therefore he knows his Sheep, his Saints, that they are ſincere or upright-hearted Ones; he knows them from Hypocrites, from the Goats, from the fooliſh Virgins.
3. Chriſt knows where they live, in what Land, City, Town, or Family. I know thy Works, and where thou dwelleſt, even where Satan's Rev. 2. 13.Seat is. He knows the Place where they dwell, and how they behave themſelves.
4. He knows their Works. How many times doth he expreſs this, in the ſecond and third Chapters of the Revelations, even in the beginning of every Epiſtle to the ſeven Churches, I know thy Works, whether they proceed from a renewed Nature, from a Principle of Divine Grace or Spiritual Life, or not; whether from Faith, or not; whether right Goſpel-Works of Obedience, or not; he hath a Knowledg of Comprehenſion or Underſtanding of all. But,
5. He knows his Sheep, his Saints, with a Knowledg of Approbation, as I hinted before.
6. Chriſt knows their Faith, the Quality and Quantity of it, that it is true Faith, unfeigned Faith, the Faith of the Operation of God, or of his own Spirit. But there are ſome of you that believe Joh. 6. 64.not; for Jeſus knew from the beginning, who they were that believed not, and who ſhould betray him. Though Faith be an inward ſecret Act of the Soul, yet Chriſt knows it, he knows who hath it wrought in them, and alſo though it be never ſo ſmall, even as a Grain of Muſtard-ſeed; whether it be weak or ſtrong, great or little, growing or decaying, he knows it.
7. Chriſt knows the Love of his People, whether they love him in Sincerity; both the Truth of their Love, and the Degree of their Love: Jeſus ſaith unto Simon Peter, Simon, Son of Jonas, loveſt John 21. 15.thou me more than theſe? He ſaith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knoweſt that I love thee. And as he knows whether they love him above all or not, ſo he knows whether they love one another or no; whether it be with a pure Heart, fervently, and in ſincerity, Chriſt knows it: whether it be a Love in Words, or with the Tongue only, or in Deed and in Truth.
8. He knows the Humility of his Saints, whether they are clothed with it or not. Though the Lord be high, yet hath he reſpect unto the Lowly; but the Proud he knoweth afar off. He is far off from them, though he knoweth ſuch; but he is near unto humble Souls, he dwelleth with them.
9. He knows the Patience of each of his People, under all their Sufferings, Loſſes and Diſappointments they meet with in this World: I know thy Works, and thy Labour, and thy Patience, &c. Rev. 2. 2.He knows how they carry it under the Rod of Afflictions, which will work for the good of all that are patiently exerciſed thereby. In a word, Chriſt knows every Grace of the Spirit in the Souls of his People, and whether they are in Exerciſe or not.
10. He knows the Works and Actions of his Saints, and of every one of them particularly: I know thy Works. And again he ſays, I know thy Works.
(1.) He knows what our Lives are, whether we walk circumſpectly, or not; whether we make Conſcience in all we do, and walk uprightly, or not. He knew Abraham, that he would fear and ſerve him, and command his Children and Houſhold to keep his Commandments alſo. He knew that Noah was only Righteous in that Generation. He knows our up-riſing and our down-lying, whether we begin the Day with him, and end the Day with him or not.
(2.) He doth not only know all our Works and Actions, whether Natural, Moral or Spiritual; but alſo the Manner of our Actions, how we perform all our Duties towards God and towards Men.
(3.) He knoweth with what Hearts we act; whether with Zeal, Life and Power, or not; whether we ſtir up our ſelves in Duty to take hold of him, or perform Duties of Obedience but with a cold and lukewarm Heart. He knows with what Hearts we hear, read, pray, meditate, give to the Poor; in all theſe Reſpects he knows his Sheep.
(4.) He knows the Principle from whence we act, the Means we uſe, the Works we do, and the End we propound to our ſelves in all our Actions; whether we aim at his Glory, or ſeek our ſelves, ſelf-Profit, ſelf-Honour, ſelf-Applauſe; all is known to him.
(5.) He knows what we have been, and what we now are; what we have done, and what we do, and will do hereafter: nothing is hid from him.
11. He knows our Carriage and Behaviour in our Families, in our own Houſes, and what our Behaviour is in the Houſe and Church of God; whether we know our Places and our Duty, in the Station where we are ſet. He knows and will judg between Cattel Ezek. 34. 17.and Cattel, betwixt the fat and the lean Sheep; if any oppreſs his Brother, or if the Strong and Rich neglect or wrong the poor and weak Ones of his Flock, he knows it. He knows whether we make his Word our Rule in all Caſes, and do not offend nor grieve each other: And if any be offended with their Brother, he knows whether they proceed againſt him according to the Directions he hath left us to walk by.Mat. 18.
12. Chriſt knows all our Sorrows, Troubles, and Afflictions. And the Lord ſaid, I have ſurely ſeen the Affliction of my People Exod. 3. 7.which are in Egypt, and have heard their Cry, by reaſon of their Taskmaſter, for I KNOW their Sorrow.
13. He knows our Wants, Temptations, Tears, and Poverty: I know thy Works, Tribulation and Poverty. If we are Poor externally, Rev. 2. 9.and in Want, he knows it; or ſpiritually Poor, he knows it.
In a word, whether we are living or dying Chriſtians, hot or cold, growing or decaying, he knows it.
APPLICATION.
Infer. 1. We may from hence infer, That Jeſus Chriſt is God. This clearly demonſtrates the Deity of the Lord Jeſus, whoſe Eyes are ſaid to be as a Flame of Fire, even of a piercing and penetrating Rev. 1. 14.Nature, to comfort and refreſh the Sincere, and to burn up and conſume all others that are not upright with God.
Exhort. 1. Be exhorted you that are Church-members, to look to it; Chriſt knows and takes notice of you all: He knows you (as you have heard) by Name, and where you dwell; your Hearts, Thoughts and Inclinations he knows, whether you are praying Men and Women or not; and alſo how you perform it, and when you neglect it.
2. Your Excuſes, Pretences, about omiſſion of Duties in your Families, Cloſets or Churches, are before his Eyes, and known to him.
3. Your Ways in trading, buying, ſelling, building, planting, eating, drinking and ſleeping, all is known to Chriſt; what you do for his poor Saints and People, what you do to encourage and further his Intereſt in the World; when you give, and what you give, and how, or with what End and Aim, all is known to him.
4. He knows and takes notice of your Garbs and Dreſſes which you wear; whether ſuch as he in his Word directeth you to put on, or not; whether modeſt or immodeſt, like the wanton Ones of the World, and according to the former Luſts in your Ignorance, and not as becoming Men or Women profeſſing Godlineſs.
5. He knows your Behaviour in all Relations you ſtand in one to another, as Husbands to Wives, or Wives to Husbands; Parents to Children, or Children to Parents; Maſters to Servants, or Servants to Maſters: Whether Husbands love their Wives, and Wives love and obey their Husbands: Whether Parents bring up their Children in the Fear and Nurture of the Lord, and train them up in the Way in which they ſhould go, praying for them, not provoking them to Wrath, by being harſh and bitter towards them, but ſetting a good Example before them in all things: As alſo how Children carry it to their Parents in honouring them, and obeying them in all things in the Lord; all is took notice of by Jeſus Chriſt.
6. He knows how Miniſters carry it to his People in the diſcharge of their Work and Office; whether they preach the Word 1 Tim. 4. 13.in Seaſon, and out of Seaſon, giving themſelves to Reading, to Exhortation, to Doctrine; and ſtudy to ſhew themſelves approved 2 Tim. 2. 15.unto God, as Workmen that need not to be aſhamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
He knows whether they took the Care of the Flock, of a ready Mind, or for filthy Lucre ſake; and whether they preach Chriſt or themſelves, ſeeking to exalt Jeſus Chriſt alone, or but in part, and rendering him to be but an imperfect Saviour; whether they aſcribe all to him, or not ſome things of Salvation to the Creature, and ſo open a Door for Men to ſacrifice to their own Nets and Drags.
7. Sirs, remember that Chriſt is not a careleſs Spectator, he knows you that are Members, and takes notice how you behave your ſelves to his Miniſters; whether you ſhew due Reſpect to them, and honour them as Ambaſſadors of Chriſt, or as ſuch who perſonate their great Lord and Maſter; for if you diſhonour, ſlight and deſpiſe them, Chriſt takes it as a Diſhonour, a ſlighting and deſpiſing of him: He knows whether you obey them that are over you in the Lord, or not; but rather contemn, reſiſt, or ſpurn at their Authority, and ſeek Occaſion to quarrel with them, wounding, afflicting, and grieving their Spirits, and weakning their Hands and their Hearts: He knows whether you diſcharge your Duties to them, in adminiſtring and communicating all good things to them; providing a chearful and comfortable Maintenance for them, and not leaving them to encounter with the perplexing Cares, Wants and Neceſſities of this Life.
8. Chriſt knows his Sheep, ſo as to weigh their Actions, their Spirits, their Graces, and their Duties: He ponders every Step they take, and obſerves every Word of their Mouths, and Thought of their Hearts. The Lord is a God of Knowledg, and by him Actions are weighed.1 Sam. 2. 3.
9. Chriſt knows whether you are ſincere or not, upright or not, regenerate or not; whether you are the ſame at Home as Abroad, in the Cloſet as in the Church, or not.
10. Moreover conſider the Effects of Chriſt's Knowledge; he knows ſuch whoſe Hearts are ſound, ſo as to approve, love, protect, feed, comfort, and refreſh them; and ſuch that are unſound, ſo as to diſown, reject, and condemn them.
11. He knows the Humble, ſo as to exalt them; and the Proud, ſo as to abaſe them: He knows and beholds all of us, at all times, either to accuſe, or to clear us; to condemn, or to juſtify us.
Exam. Examine your ſelves; in vain it is to go about to hide or cover any thing, ſeeing Chriſt knows all we do; there is no way to hide your Sin from him. O ſearch and try your ſelves, your Hearts, your States and Conditions, leſt you are deceived, and conclude, you are Rich, and increaſed with Goods, &c. this was Laodicea's Miſery.
Terror. Tremble at the Thoughts of doing one unbecoming Thing, or ſpeaking one unbecoming Word. O Lord, ſaid David, thou haſt ſearched me, and known me. Thou knoweſt my down ſitting, and my upriſing; Pſal. 139. 1, 2, 3, 4.and art acquainted with all my Thoughts: For there is not a Word in my Tongue, but lo, O Lord, thou knoweſt it altogether.
O what Terror is here for ungodly Men, that commit horrid Wickedneſs in ſecret, and ſay in their Hearts, No Eye ſeeth us! O let them know, that all their filthy and abominable Deeds of Darkneſs, are done in the plain and open view, and ſight of the great God, and Jeſus Chriſt; and that he keeps a Record of all their curſed Works, Oaths, and ungodly Words, and will lay them all before them at the laſt Day: For he knoweth vain Men: he ſeeth Wickedneſs alſo; will he not then conſider it? Men know but Job 11. 11.little of God, and therefore are very unfit Judges of all his Counſels, Decrees and Actions: yet God knows Man exactly, and all his Vanity, Falſhood and Folly; let him never ſo carefully ſtrive to cover and hide his Wickedneſs under Deceit, or a Cloak of Religion, he ſeeth it, it is a Knowledg by ſight, therefore moſt eaſily and clearly known. God doth not know Mens Sins by hear-ſay; No, no, he ſees it, beholds it with open Face; he is by when they commit it: They can commit no Sin out of his ſight, nor do that which he knoweth not; though they are ready to ſay, How doth God know? Job. 22. 13.Thick Clouds are a Covering to him that he ſeeth it not. Carnal Men frame Conceptions of God like themſelves; Thou thoughteſt that I Pſal. 50. 21.was altogether ſuch an one as thy ſelf: but I will reprove thee, and ſet them in order before thine Eyes; that is, thy Sins, and ſecret Works of Darkneſs. He conſiders it, Will he not conſider it?
Many Men know much of their own Wickedneſs, and of the Wickedneſs of others; but they lay it not to Heart, they do not conſider it: But God knoweth and ſeeth Wickedneſs after another rate; He conſiders, obſerves it, and weighs the Nature of the Crime, and the Aggravations of it, the vile Purpoſes, End and Intention of the Perſon doing it; and how it is done wilfully againſt Light, and the clear Convictions of his own Conſcience: He weigheth the Nature of their Wickedneſs as in Ballances; as it is ſaid of Belſhazzar, Thou art weighed in the Ballance, and art found Dan. 5. 27.wanting; thy horrid Pride, filthy Luſts, Counſels, Policies, and all the Contrivances of thy Heart and Government are weighed. The Ways of Man are before the Lord; and he pondereth all his Paths; He puts them into a Ballance, and doth not only ſee them, but conſider them, ponder and weigh them.
Conſol. Laſtly, This may be alſo Matter of Comfort and Conſolation to all the Sheep of Jeſus Chriſt, or holy and ſincere Children of God. Chriſt knows you; I know my Sheep. Job was glad that God knew him; Thou knoweſt I am not wicked. He doth not Job 10. 7.ſay, thou knoweſt I am not a Sinner, a Man of any Infirmities; No, but not an ungodly Sinner, an Hypocrite, one that lives in Sin, loves Sin, makes a Trade of Sin, as wicked Men do. 'Tis no matter how Job or Paul are cenſured, reproached or condemn'd by Men, whilſt they had the Teſtimony of their Conſciences touching their Sincerity: My Integrity, ſaith Job, I hold faſt, I will not let it go: mine own Heart ſhall not reproach me ſo long as I live. And Job 27. 6.ſaith holy Paul, Our rejoicing is this, the Teſtimony of our Conſciences, 2 Cor. 1. 12.that in Simplicity and godly Sincerity, not with fleſhly Wiſdom, but by the Grace of God, we have had our Converſation in the World. The conſideration of this, that their own Hearts cleared and did acquit them of all thoſe foul charges of Friends and falſe Brethren; and alſo that God knows that they are what they profeſs themſelves to be; O this was matter of great Comfort to them, and may be ſo to all ſincere and gracious Chriſtians. Chriſt knows our Fears, our Straits, our Temptations, our Wants, and all the Wrongs and Injuries we have ſuſtained: Is not this matter of Conſolation? O poor drooping Saint, lift up thy dejected Spirit; All thy Wants are in Chriſt's ſight, he ſees the Place where every Sheep and Lamb of his dwells, and what their Wants are: And his Love, Bowels, Care and Compaſſion is infinite; he that laid down his Life for his Sheep, for this and that poor afflicted, tempted, and dejected Soul, will not he, think you, ſeeing he knows your Condition, ſupply, ſupport, ſtrengthen, heal, feed, and comfort you, whoſoever you are, if one of his Sheep? He that ſpared not Rom. 8. 32.his own Son, but delivered him up for us all; how ſhall he not with him alſo freely give us all things? He that hath given himſelf, ſhed his own precious Blood for us, will not deny us a little Bread to feed our Souls, nor Balm to heal them; nor any Comfort he ſees good, will he deny or withhold from us: He that gave the greater, will not ſtick to give the leſs.
2. Chriſt knows whatſoever you have done for his Glory; and he is not unrighteous, to forget your Work and Labour of Love, which Heb. 6. 10.ye have ſhewed toward his Name, in that ye have miniſtred to the Saints, and do miniſter. You have forgot what you gave to ſuch and ſuch poor Saints, may be ten, twenty, or thirty Years ago; yea but Chriſt hath not forgot it. True, there is no Work of ours that deſerveth any thing from the Hands of Chriſt, in point of Merit; yet what though, Rewards of Grace (as I have often told you) will exceed all Rewards of Merit: A Cup of cold Water ſhall have a Reward of Grace; the Gift of a Penny given in love to Chriſt, when thou cauſt give no more, ſhall have a glorious Reward at the great Day. As I once told you of a King, who meeting with a Baker's Boy, as he was carrying Bread into the Town, (he being very hungry, and loſt his Nobles, having been a hunting) deſired the Boy to give him a Penny Loaf; which he readily did: And for this the King knighted the Boy, and gave a yearly Eſtate to him and his Heirs for ever. O Sirs, Chriſt's Rewards of Grace and Favour will exceed all that we conceive or can comprehend, though we deſerve nothing.
3. Nay, Chriſt knowing our good Intention, and what we would do had we Power, or were we able to do it, he will reward that, accept of that, as if we actually had done it; as in David's Caſe, who had it in his Heart to build God's Temple, though God would not have him to do it, yet did accept it as if he had done it.
4. Chriſt alſo knowing what we have ſuffered for his Name's ſake, though we have forgot it, yet he will remember it at the great Day.