Blessed Unions, Sermon 1
SERMON I.
IT was a very Just Remark and Applause once bestow'd upon our Blessed Saviour, That He so spoke as ever man spake; and it is a Reflection to be no less Truly made, That He …ray'd so as never man pray'd. Our Lord …esus Christ, Ascending into the Third Heaven, where He ever lives to make …nterc…ssion for us, Left behind Him a …anding Monument and Counterpane of that Heavenly Intercession by whic… His Oblation for us becomes Effectual and the Seventeenth Chapter of John i… the Pot in which this very Caelestia… Manna is Reserved. Though, A Scripture is Profitable, and is like th… Gold, Precious; and like the Sk… Sublime: Nevertheless there are peculiar Excellencies in some Scriptures, an… this Chapter may be Compar'd unto… Pearl in that Gold, a Star in that Sky tis, A Chapter of Degrees; & very trul… A Superlative. The Evangelist Joh… was of Old Resembled unto an Eagle behold, What this High Soaring Eag… ha's fetch'd from Heaven for our Entertainment here! Tis a prayer… our Lord Jesus Christ; whereof I ma… affirm, as the Great Melancthon befor… me did, Nec Digniorem, nec Sanctiore… nec Fructuosiorem, nec Magis Pathetica Vocem, in Caelo ac Terra unquam fui… auditam; Never was there such Voice heard in the World before. Th… Words of a Dying Man, usually hav… in them something that is more tha… Ordinary; the Words of a Dying Sai… are to be Look'd upon as yet more extraordinary; but methinks the words of a Dying Jesus, must be of all the most considerable. And such Words are those that are now before us! It is one of our Calamities, That we know not what we should pray for as we ought. And one would therefore be Inquisitive to know what it was that our Lord Jesus chose to pray for when He was wrestling with His Father on our behalf. Certainly That should be the very Desire and Request, which we should all choose to lay before our God for our selves. When Almighty God makes us, as He Now and Ever does, the Proffer which He made unto Solomon, Ask, What I shall give thee! Surely, 'twould be our Interest for us to Ask, that He would give us, the very same Things which, A Greater than Solomon, has Asked for us: Our Context here will give us Information thereabout. In the verse before, we see For whom our Lord pray'd; and in the Twenty First & the Twenty Fourth Verses, we see, For what He pray'd. He pray'd not only for all the Disciples in that Age, but also for all the Believers in every Future Age. He pray'd, That they might all of them have a Comfortable State First, in This, and Then in another, and a better World. Now the Text in our Hands, does represent A Glorious Ʋnion, as the best Thing which our Lord Jesus Christ, had in His Wishes, for his People, upon Earth▪ and this Glorious Ʋnion, is here described, first, by the Fountain of it; next, by the Nature of it; and, thirdly, by the Pattern of it; On which we shall by the Help of that Grace, which This very Prayer (whereupon we are now Discoursing) has obtained for us, make our pertinent Observations.
OBSERVATION I.
There is a Blessed ƲNION, which Believers are to have with Christ, and by Him, with God.
Says our Lord, That they may be On… …n Ʋs. To penetrate into this, Deep Thing of God, we may be help'd by two Praeliminaries.
Praeliminary 1.
The whole Undivided Adorable Trinity is concerned in the Ʋnion which Believers have with the Lord Jesus Christ. This UNION is the Grand Scriptural Mystery; and (avoiding undue Images in our minds) it may be thus Illustrated.
You may suppose God the Father as a Sacred Root; suppose the Lord Jesus Christ, as a Trunk issuing from it; suppose the Holy Spirit, as a Sap running thro' it; suppose our selves to be, [and O that we may be!] the Branches thereunto belonging; and suppose our Good Works to be the Fruits in this way produced. Here is a little Image of this Blessed UNION! Our Ʋnion is with God the Father; thus we read, in 1 Joh 4.16. He that dwelleth in Love, dwelleth in God, and God in him. Our Ʋnion is with God the Spirit; so we read in Rom. 8.11. If the Spirit of Him that Raised up Jesus from the Dead, dwell in you. And our Ʋnion is with the Lord Jesus Christ; hence 'tis said in Eph. 3.17. That Christ may dwell in your Hearts. The Term of Dwelling is that whereby the Scripture in those and more places, denotes this Ʋnion. In this Ʋnion we become Temples for the whole Trinity; there is an ineffable Concurrence of all the Three Persons in the Eternal God-head, therein to take possession of us. Briefly, It renders us Children to God the Father, Pupils to God the Spirit, and Members of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Praeliminary 2.
It is more peculiarly the Lord Jesus Christ with whom all Believers have their Ʋnion. It is the Lord Jesus Christ, as GOD-MAN; who is, The Head of the Church; and in that capacity we have our Ʋnion with Him. Indeed, the Personal Ʋnion of the Two Natures in our Lord, is that upon the account whereof He is an Object admirably Fitted for an Ʋnion with us. Hereby 'tis, that He becomes our Immanuel, or, God with us; and so poor, mean, vile Man, may become, One with Him. Our Lord Jesus Christ is Man; and the Kindred which by His Incarnation He comes to have unto us, does marvellously make way for our Ʋnion unto Him. It may now be said, as in Heb. 2.11. Both He that Sanctifyeth, and they that are Sanctified, are all of one. If therefore they become one, it will not be such a Monstrous Ʋnion as Nebuchadnezzars Idol show'd, where the Head was of one Metal, and the Members of another. Our Lord Jesus Christ is God also; and the Infinite Perfections of His Divinity, do Infinitely furnish Him to bestow those Benefits for which His Ʋnion with us, is intended by God. We are told in Col. 2.19. It pleased the Father, that in Him there should all Fulness dwell. That Fulness is needful to obtain and maintain the ends of this Ʋnion; we have now an Head that can supply all His Members, with whatever good they have occasion for.
Wherefore, we have now an opportunity to Enquire,
What is that ƲNION which we are to have with our Lord Jesus Christ?
I. There might many Things be N… gatively spoken, to rectify our Appr… hensions about our Ʋnion with our Lor… But especially three such Things as the…
First, We must not propound unt… our selves an Ʋnion so Remote, as wha… shall be Mental only. The Soul do… in a manner Ʋnite it self, with what i… Looks, or Thinks upon; Contemplatio… affords unto us a sort of Ʋnion wit… what is laid before it. But our thought… on the Lord Jesus Christ, are not th… Things, wherein does consist our Ʋnio… with Him; tho' indeed the Union i… cherished by those Holy Thoughts.
Nor may we, Secondly, propoun… unto our selves an Ʋnion so Confus'd as what shall arise to be Personal. Th… Familist has counted himself so unite… unto our Lord, as to be, Christed wit… Christ; but our Ʋnion will afford no room for such Nonsensical and Blasphemous Gibberish. Our whole Persons ar… to have an Ʋnion with the whole Person of our Lord Jesus Christ; and yet our Ʋnion will not make our persons to become One Person with Him.
Let me add, Thirdly, That the Fundamental Haeresy of Quakerism receives no Countenance from our Ʋnion with our Lord. There is a certain, Inward Excusing or Condemning Principle, which men are Born withal: and the Quaker (if I can understand him) holds This Principle to be, The Man Christ, Or as their Jargon for it is, A measure of that Man. The Visible and the Tangible Flesh which hung upon the Crose without the Gates of Jerusalem, the Quaker calls, The Bodily Garment of that Man, Christ: and what is now become of that Flesh, he is lothe to say; While he will fallaciously grant you the Man to be Ascended into Glory. The Quaker do's also Count his own Flesh to be such another Bodily Garment unto the Man Christ, and his having of that Man thus in Him, is that by which he Expounds, The Coming of Christ in the Flesh. You see what an Ʋnion this Heretick pretends to have with our Lord Jesus Christ; He not only has, The Man Christ, within himself; but he does in effect make himself to be, That Man. We all of us have within us, a Conscience which is, The Candle of the Lord but an Enemy to fair Distinctions, wi… have, The Candle, to be, The Lor… Himself. Methinks, these people hel… to fulfil the Prophecy, That before th… Coming of our Lord, Men shall say, Lo… here is Christ, or there! and there shal… arise, False Christs; and they shal… say, Behold, He is in the Desart! Bu… what will they Reply to the Challeng… which One Recovered out of Quakerism has lately given them, wherein he tells them, If this your Foundation stand sure, it would follow, That all honest Pagans, Jews, and Mahometans, are in Christ as well as you; and true Christians, Believers, Disciples, Followers of Christ (at least, as to the Mystery) & so your Brethren in Christ. And indeed! There is no Man ordinarily without a Principle which will Excuse him, when he thinks he does well, and will Condemn him when he thinks he do's Ill; but is the M…n Christ so Ʋnited unto every man? Sure I am▪ the Apostle affirms of some, what we may as well apply to most in the World; Eph. 2.12 …e were without Christ.
Pardon me then, that I thus largely …nter this particular Caution, against …he Strong Delusion of the Quakers. This …ge and Place, wherein the Light of …he Gospel has been more Eminently …inn'd against, is most in danger to be …isited with that Spiritual Plague of Quakerism, which under the Notion of Light! Light! will decoy the Souls of …en into the most Horrible Pits of Darkness into which any Fools Fire can …educe 'em.
II. But it may be now expected, that …ome things be more positively spoken, …bout our Ʋnion with our Lord.
Wherefore you may take this Gene…al Idaea of it.
It is our Coalition with the Lord Je…us Christ, or, the Conjunction of the …ord Jesus Christ with us, as a Vital Principle unto us in the Enjoyment of God.
I do ingenuously and sorrowfully …onfess, That I cannot fully Explain …hat great UNION which we have with …ur Lord Jesus Christ. For a full Delineation of it, I must adjourn you till w… have [And O our God, Give it unto us… a Joyful meeting in the Kingdom of o… God. Our Lord ha's told us, in Jo… 14.20. At that Day, ye shall know, th… I am in my Father, and you in me, and I i… you. Neighbours, At that Day, whe… the Free Grace of God shall fetch awa… the Spirits which now manage the… Crazy Limbs, to the Gardens into whi… the Lord Jesus ha's now with-dr…w… Himself; At that Day, when the Ri… Grace of God shall Raise these Bodies… our Humiliation out of our Graves,… make a vast Army whereof the Lord J… sus is to be the Standard-bearer; (Allo… me the Tears which now fall at t… Hopes of That Day!) Then, if you a… me, What it is to be Ʋnited unto the Lor… Jesus Christ? Some Rare, some Ne… some Adaequate Things may Then be sa… upon it. And yet in the mean Tim… even, At this Day, it may be a litt… Stammer'd at.
Suffer me then a little to descant upon two Scriptures, which being Tog… ther Considered, may set this Ʋnion… … True Light before us. One is that in … Cor. 6.17. He that is Joyned unto the …ord, is One Spirit. Another is that in …al. 2.20. I Live, yet not I, but Christ …iveth in me. In this Ʋnion, we are so …oyned unto the Lord, as that we are parts …f a Mystical Body which He ha's in the World; and He do's by the Influences …f His own Spirit, make us all Resemble …ne another in our Living unto God. …reefly, there are two Things which …ill Compleat our Ʋnion with our Lord …esus Christ; and I do solemnly advise …ou, that while these Things are De…laring, Your Hearts do with all manner …f Compliance and Agony accompany …hem. So may you at this Moment …ome into this Ʋnion, and this Day for …hat cause may be forever with you, Much to be Remembred.!
First, We are to Receive the Lord Je…us Christ, as the Almighty God ha's Offered Him: and O that you would …o Receive Him! It was wish'd in Eph. ….17. That Christ may dwell in your Hearts by Faith. In this Ʋnion, the Lord …esus Christ begins with us, by Infusing into us that Life, the first Act whereo… is our Faith in Him. By this Faith i… is, that we are to Receive the Lord Jesus Christ, wherein we become One wit… Him, and so, have Power to be called th… Children of God. A Matrimonial Contract, is that by which the Holy Ghos… Expresses unto us our Ʋnion with ou… Lord; it ha's much of a Marriage Union in it. Know then, that the Lor… Jesus Christ Employes His Proxies, Hi… Agents, His Ministers, upon this mos… Surprising Errand; His Ministers an… His Angels, and with an Ardor lik… what is in Flaming Fire, they Wooe u… to an Acceptance of the Lord Jesu… Christ. These Embassadors of the Lord come and plead with us, That we woul… be Married unto the Son of God, the Princ… of Heaven, and the Lord of Glory. The… set before us the Necessity of this Match that we cannot be, Happy if we abid… thus un-married: They set before us th… Utility of this Match; that if Christ b… ours, All is Ours: They set before u… the Amiableness of the Person who Condescends to make this most Astonishin… Motion to us; that He is, Altogether Lovely; and can't we Love Him? that He is, The Desi…e of all Nations; and …an't we Desire Him? They lay before …s, the Terms of the Match; that if we do but cordially consent, we shall …ertainly Enjoy; and that if we are willing entirely to Live With, and For …he Lord Jesus Christ, and by Him to bring for…h Fruit unto God, we shall be made partakers of this Blessedness. Our Hearts must now be conquered; we must Heartily say, Amen, and I will; Were it such a Day of Gods Pow…r on our Souls, the Match were now made immediately. In short, we must now Renounce all other Lovers; and hearken to the Lord Jesus, when He …ays unto us, Thou shalt be for me, and not for another. We must Renounce the Flesh; and Resolve, To Humour that shall never be my chief Interest any more. We must Renounce the World, and Resolve, To follow that shall never be my …ain Business any more. We must Renounce the Devil, and Resolve, He shall never more Lead me Captive at His Will. And we must now Embraoe the Lord Jesus Chrjst, in all His Offices. Even a whole Christ, both the Prince, who gives Repentance, and the Saviour who gives Remission of Sins. We must Embrace the Instruction of the Lord Jesus and profess, The Scripture and Spirit of Christ shall be my Guide. His Eye-salv… shall Illu…inate me. We must Embrace the Atonement of the Lord Jesus and profess, The Righteousness of Chris… shall be that in which only I will appear… before the Judgment Seat of God: Hi… Holy Life, His Bitter Death, His Continual Intercession, shall purchase all of my Salvation. We must Embrace the Government of the Lord Jesus, and profess… The Kingdom of Christ shall be set u… within me; my Heart and Walk shall b… by him d…rected; and by Him shall I b… made a Conqu…ror over the Enemies of m… Soul. And yet when we attempt thi… Recept…on of our Lord, we must b… sensible of our utter Inability to perform any part of it; we must Cry to Him, and Hope in Him, for the Assistance of our weak Endeavours.
But, Secondly. The Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ will then marvellously maintain His Interest in our Souls: and I pray ask for that Spirit, of Him that says, He will give it unto them that ask it. It is said in 1 Cor. 15 45. The Last Adam is a Quickning Spirit. The Quickning Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, will now take possession of us, and keep the Holy Fire always alive upon the Altars of our Hearts. That Spirit will Inform us; He will cause us To know the Things that are Spiritually Discerned; He will cause us To Behold Wondrous Things out of Gods Law: He will give us right and clear Apprehensions of those Things which Eye hath not seen, Ear hath not h…ard, and Hear… not Conceived. That Spirit will In…line us; he will make us, Ready to every Good Work; he will dispose us to those things that are, Holy, and Just, and Good; he will cause us to like, Whatsoever thing…s are True, whatsoever things are Honest; whatsoever things are Just, whatsoever things are Pure, whatsoever things are Lovely, whatsoever things are of good Report. That Spirit will Defend us; He will Teach our Hands to War… and our Fingers to Fight, in the Battel… of the Lord; He will make us Fight th… Good Fight, and keep the Faith, and Finis… our Course; He will make us Conquerour… and more than Conquerors over all our Interiour Adversaries. In a word, That Spirit will give us the same Affection… and the same Experiences that are in th… other Sheep of our Lord Jesus Christ; even such as we never saw, or knew, and such as are conceal'd at a thousand Leagues Distance f…om us. Yea, Tha… Spirit will make us feel something o… Heaven upon Earth; something of the same Loves, and the same Joyes, that replenish the Souls of the Saints Triumphant above, is now distill'd in some measure into the Saints Militant here below… And that Spirit will even Reserve an… Renew such a Portion of the Dust, int… which our Dissolution do's incinerate us as that the Tabernacles wherein we now Lodge, at the Resurrection shall becom… Temples unto. Himself World withou… End. In fine, The Second Adam wit… His Quickning spirit, will give us Releef against all the Death which is from the First Adam with Orignial sin deriv'd unto us. This is that Ʋnion with our Lord Jesus Christ, which O that we were all come unto!
And now you will easily discover two singular Properties in this Ʋnion.
First, It is a Mysterious Ʋnion. There are Three most Wonderful Ʋnions, which we are in our Creed acquainted with. We are all of us as Owls placed before the Sun, when we go to Compre…end them. Mysterious is the Union of Diverse Persons in One Nature; such an Union there is in the Godhead; it is said …n 1 Joh. 5.7. The Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, these three are One-Mysterious is the Union of Dive…se Na…ures in One Person; such an Union there is in our Saviour; it is said in … Tim. 3.16. Great is the Mystery of Godlin…ss, God manifest in the Flesh. And …nto the most Mysterious Ʋnions may …e annumerated that of two Distinct Natures, and of two Distinct Persons, by One Spirit. Hence the Apostle speaking of Adams Marriage ('ti… not every Marriage that is so) as… Type of this Union, makes that Not… upon it, in Eph. 5….32. This… a great Mystery. And therefore, if yo… mind it, this Ʋnion was one of the la… Things in which our Lord Jesus Chri… instructed His Disciples: when the… Capacities were most improved, an… when He was to leave the highest an… hardest of all His Lessons with them… this UNION was then insisted on.
Secondly, It is a most Intimate Ʋnion… It brings a Mutual In-being with it. B… this Union, we are in Christ, as 'tis sai… in 2. Cor. 5▪ 15▪ If any man be in Christ, there is a New Creature. And Christ i… in us; as 'tis said in 2 Cor. 13▪ 5. Jesu… Christ is in you, except you be D sapproved Let us a little Examine some of the Similitudes by which this Union is represented in the Word of God, and w… shall see that it is most admirably Intimate. Our Ʋnion with our Lord; i… like that of the Foundation and the Superstructure; thus 'tis said in Eph. 2▪ 21. In whom all the Building fitly fram'd together, groweth unto an Holy Temple in th… Lord. And yet this Comparison fails, because there is no Communication of Life in this matter. Nearer then; our Ʋnion with our Lord; is like that of a Root and the Branches; thus 'tis said: …n Joh. 15.5. I am t…e Vine, ye are the Branche…; He that abideth in me, and I …n him, the same bringeth forth much Fruit. And yet this Comparison also fails, because a Gr…ff is oftentimes more Excel…ent than the Stock. Nearer yet; our Ʋnion with our Lord, is like that of a Head and the Members; thus 'tis said, …n 1 Cor. 12.17. Ye are the Body of Christ, and M…mbers in particular. And yet this Comparison likewise fails, because there the parts are some of them closer to it, some of them furt…r… from …t. All these be Real Comparisons. Let us look upon a Relative one. Our Ʋnion with our Lord is like that of a Wife to her Husband. Hence, 'tis a Nup i…l Song, which we have to Cele…rate it in the Canticles. Thus …is said …n 2 Cor. 11.2. I have Espoused you to …ne Husband, that I may, present you, as a chast Virgin to Christ. It is what we have in our Baptism a Symbol of 'tis said in Act. 2.38. Be Bap…ised ever… one of you in the Name of Jesus Chris… As a Wife comes to wear the Name o… her Husband, when she is once M…rrie… unto him; so is the Name of Jesu… Chr…st put upon them that are United unto Him. 'Tis INTO Him that the… are Baptised; and as in Circumcision o… old, Zippora (whom we misrepresen… as calling Moses, A Bloody Husband, … called her Infant, One Espoused by Bloo… unto the Lord; so in Bapt…sm the Children of Men are visibly Espoused unto the Lord Jesus Christ. And yet thi… Comparison too, is not sufficient, because the nearest Conjugal Ʋnion may be Dissolved by Death: Whereas our Union with our Lord, is Everlastingly Indissoluble. He says, I will betrothe th… unto me for ever; and he says, We shal… abide in him. It is a Knot that never shall be broken; I say, Never! Never! The very Heavens may perish; but thou; O Blessed UNION, shalt endure; they may all of them wax old like a Garment, but thy years never shall have an end..
APPLICATION.
And now, that so these Faithful Say…gs may not be Lost upon us.
I. Let every person among you all, …e overcome and perswaded this Day, …o give such an Entertainment unto the …ord Jesus, in your Hearts, as may …roduce your Ʋnion with Him. I pray, …ake Room for a precious Jesus in your …ouls; that so, He may say concerning …ou, I am in Them? This is, The Thing, which will settle an Eternal Ʋnion be…ween Him and You; without This, …ou remain without Christ, and so with…ut Hope for ever.
You must imagine me this Day to be …ne of the Disciples, that come to Demand a R…om (as they did of old, in Mark 14.14) for the Entertainment of the Blessed Jesus. I pray, where is …he Room? Let your Anfwer be, Lord, …n this poor Heart of mine; Come to dwell …here by the Spirit of Faith f…r-ever! Reply thus; and O do not shut him out of Doors. It is the sweet voice of our Lord Jesus, in Rev. 3.20. Behold, stand at the Door and Knock. And i… deed, how many Knocks has He be… making at the Doors of your Souls… is said, Is not my Word an Hamme… Why, That Hammer has been Knocki… at your Hearts for many a Day; ye… the Golden Rod of your Enioymen… and the Iron Rod of your Affl…ctio… has also been loudly Rapping the… That you would give Admission to t… Spiritual Efficacies of the Lord Jesus your Souls; And will you still keep H… out of Doors? Why, Sinners, the Ho… is his own, as Paul says of the Chur… for he hath both Made it, and Boug… it; it is by the Right both of Crea… on and of Redemption, HIS; and w… you still Bar him out of his own? Gi… me leave then to make that Cry fou… in and tbro' this great Congregatio… Psal. 24.7. Lift up your Heads, O… Gates, and be ye lift up ye Everlasti… Doors, and the King of Glory shall co… in. So I say, and could I speak… powerfully as the Last Trumpet shall, would choose This to say among you and unto all the World. Give way ye …lted Gates, in the hearts of miserable …inners; Fly open, ye Doors of Never-…ing Souls, for the King of Glory de…ands an Entrance at you, that so he …ay have an Ʋnion with us all. But …hat shall I say, that may further …ove you thereunto?
Consider 1. How infinitely worthy …f a Room in your Hearts, the Lord …s…s is! Look upon his Dignity, and …ee whether it be fit for you to put …ights upon him! When the Angels …ehold him, (for 'tis him they beheld) …1 Isa. 6.3. they cry out, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts, yea, the whole Earth is full of his Glory. And will …ay of you be loth to have An hear… …il…'d with the Glory of that holy Lord. When he first came to Heaven after …s being made Flesh, O had you seen what a Welcome all the Inhabitants of the Heavenly Regions gave unto Him there! Doubtless, the whole City of God was presently mov'd at the Report of his Arrival, and they all …ast themselves down before him, with most Joyful Adorations owning,… Our Lord, our Lord, Thou hast mad… New Heaven for us by thy coming… ther. Alas, those Hearts are nothi… but meer Hells, which do not give like Welcome to this Matchless Lo… Again, Look upon his Relation, a… see whether it be congruous for h… to be slighted with you. He spea… to us in that Language, Cant. 5,… Open to me my Sister, my Love,… Dove. Is it according to the Ru… of Civility or Behaviour, for a Sis… to bid her Brother be gone, or… Wife her Husband, or a Child… Father? Truly, far worse manners a… used in the Contempt that you thr… upon the Lord Jesus Christ. It w… most abominably Insolent for the Po… to make his Emperour wait three da… in the Cold abroad, before he wou… give him Audience; but methinks '… more abominable for us to serve o… SAVIOUR so. And that which a… gravates the miscarriage, is, The E… nestness, the Vehemence, the Imporuni… with which our Lord presses for… Room in our Hearts. We find Him saying, in Prov. 1.22. How long! and in Mat. 23.37. How oft! He has been Long and Oft, Entreating that we would once take Him in; and O how can you refuse him still! We find that at our Importunity he opens his Doors to us; and it will be hard indeed if at his Importunity we do not open ours to him. Importunity! did I say? Lord, that ever thou shouldst be so sollicitous for so mean a Room as these Hearts of ours! But he would once have a vile▪ Stable, and will still have an Ʋnclean Heart, the Room, in which he will Magnifie his Grace
Consider, 2. What Vast, what Rich Advantages you will have by giving to the Lord Jesus a Room in those Hearts of yours. To receive a Prophet, has been sometimes represented and experienced, as a very gainful thing; but what is it then, To receive a Jesus, think you? While the Lord Jesus is ca ling at your Doors, He says as in Rev. 22 12. Behold, I come, and my reward is with me. I may tell you, That you'l be well Rewarded for giving Room to such a Guest as he: he never comes Empty-handed into any Soul. What will be the Reward? It will b… a Feast; he will Feast you with such Dainties as an Ignorant and Besotted World is not concerned about; fo… says he, If any man hear my Voice, an… open to me, I will come in to Him, an… Sup with him, and he with me. 'Ti… a most Refreshing, Reviving, Satisfying Fellowship, which the Lord Jesu… will now give you with himself: and he will replenish you with, Fulness of Joy. When the Ark, which was bu… a Shadow of our Lord Jesus Christ… was in the House of Obed-Edom, it i… said, The Lord blessed him, and all tha… he had. How much more if the Lor… Jesus Christ, himself were in you… Hearts, would it then be said, Th… Lord ha's blessed that poor Sinner in all hi… Interests! If Z…cheus once open hi… Doors to the Lord Jesus Christ, wha… follows? even that Assurance in Luk… 19.9. This Day Salvation is come… this house. I say then, open the Door… of your Souls to the Son of God; and the next News will be, Salvation is …ome to this poor Soul; This undone Soul, is now made partaker of Grace, of Glory, of all that is Good. Whatever Wisdom, whatever Righteousness, whatever San…tification, and what Redemption soever, you have wanted all this while it shall come along with that Jesus, whom you now give a Room unto. But,
Consider 3. If you do now keep the Lord Jesus out of your Hearts, What will be the Consequence? Truly, There is Danger that he will never come into your Hearts at all, if they be not now opened for him: Inasmuch as according to that in 2 Cor. 6.2. Behold, Now is the Acceptable Time, Behold, Now is the Day of Salvation! And if you should Never be thus wrought upon, alas, what an horrible issue does then abide those Desolate Souls of yours? We read in Col. 1.27. Christ in you the hope of GLORY. O There is no Hope of your ever coming to GLORY, if you be not thus Ʋnited unto the Lord Jesus Christ. If the Lord be not now in you, how can you Dy in Him at last? but wo to you, if you do not so! And, mark what I say, every Denial that you give to the Lord Jesus, of a Lodging in your hearts, does but confirm the Devil in his possession of those forlorn, doleful, woful Hearts; and more incurably fix you in the State of them of whom 'tis complain'd, How long shall vain Thoughts lodge within you? 'Tis probable that the House in which I am now speaking, is full of Devils; and they Rage, they Storm, they Tremble, at the Things which I am Delivering, lest any of your Souls be now prevailed with, to Entertain the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a most Exact Notice taken whether any of you do still continue Obstinate in Refusing, or, which is all one, Delaying, to, Receive Ch…ist the Lord. If you Do, 'tis a thousand to one, but the Devils get some such dreadful Permission from the Lord Jesus Christ, as this, Go; since they won't have me, do you enter into them, as you did into the Swine of old. So the Devils which are call'd, The Power [or Army] of the Air, will Enter into your Souls, as Insensibly as you suck in, The poison of the Air, when Epidemical Contagions are about you; and for your Destruction, as Efficaciously. The Consequence of This, is now like to be your Penal and Final Impenitency in your Unbelief. Thus, I am afraid, And, O Lord, thou knowest I mourn when I think of this! That every Knock which I am giving in the Name of the Lord Jesus at many of your Hearts from Day to Day, does but Ripen some of you apace for the Fiery Vengeance which must Overtake them, That Obey not the Gospel of God. But O take a seasonable Warning of the Thing which then will come upon you? It is foretold, in Luk. 13.25. When the Master hath shut the Doors, and ye begin to Knock, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us, He shall answer, I know you no…. Why, This is what it will at last come unto; you'l one Day beg with Tears of Blood, Lord, Lord, open the Doors of thy Heavens for me! But you must expect no Replies but such Thunders as those, No, Remember, you would not o…ce open the Doors of your Hearts for me; As I cry'd and you would not Hear, so you shall Cry, and I will no… Hear; Depart, I know you not.
Come then, Come to a better Temper. Think what Answer to make unto the Demands of the Lord Jesus Christ. And, I pray, what Answer is it? He demands, Wilt thou consent that I take possession of thy Soul for my self? Let your Answer be, Come in, thou blessed Lord, why standest thou without? Come in, and Influence this Heart of mine, and work all thy Works in me and for me. Be Hearty in this Answer; and the Lord Jesus Christ will presently so Ʋnite you to Himself, that you shall say, My Beloved is mine▪ and I am His for ever.
II. And now, if you are thus come unto an Ʋnion with the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray, give an Entertainment also unto the Duty and Comfort which belongs unto such Believers. To speak distinctly,
1. It is your Duty to beware of Sinning against God, with a Caution beyond what is in other men. Your Sins have Aggravations in them above the sins of others in the World; for, as tis said, in 1 Cor. 6.15. Know yee not, that your Bodies are the Members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the Members of an Harlot? God forbid: Even so, Know you not that you are Ʋnited unto the Lord Jesus Christ? And shall that very Head which is Ʋnited unto the Lord Jesus, become, A Shop of Wickedness? Or, shall that very Tongue, which is Ʋnited unto the Lord Jesus, become, A Fire-brand of Hell? Or, shall those Hands, and those Feet, which are Ʋnited unto the Lord Jesus become, The Weapons of Ʋnrighteousness! I say, God forbid! The Repenting David reckon'd it an Aggravation of his Offences, (as 'tis carried by some Great Interpreters) That in the Hidden part, God had made him to know Wisdom; and if God have Raised us to an hidden Ʋnion with His own Son, it makes our Off…nces to have some singular Exasperations in them. The, Provocations of Sons and of Daughters, are more than Ordinary Provocations in the Resentments of our God; His Holy Spirit, is more than Ordinarily Grieved at them; and He is in this World usually most severe and most speedy in the Chastising of those Provocations; however, as to what concerns the future World, He will forgive their Iniquities. O then, whosoever shall by Sin Dishonour the Lord Jesus Christ, let Him not have cause to say concerning You, as in Psal. 55.12, 13. It was not an Enemy; then I could have born it; but it was thou, a man, mine Acquaintance, [and one United unto my self!] A Wound from a Friend, how grievous is it!
2. And that you may be the more fortify'd against all Temptations to sin, Let your Comfort be set before you. But what is it? In short, All of CHRIST is yours: and you know who says, Christ is ALL! You may Cheerfully lay that Claim in Cant. 2.16. My Beloved is Mine. And if so, the Richest, the Fairest Person imaginable▪ and One before whom the very Sun in the Firmament is black, ha's bestow'd Himself upon you; and with Him, you have all sorts of sure Mercies for a Portion, albeit you do your selves bring nothing but Wretchedness and Raggedness unto Him. If this be not enough, I'l add, All of GOD is Yours; for indeed, Christ is God. It may be said unto you, as in Isai. 54.5. Thy Maker is thy Husband; The Lord of Hosts is His Name. Are there no Afflicted Widowes here, to lay a very Particular Hold upon such a Word as that! The Immortal God now tells you, My Power is yours to Releeve you; and, My Wisdom is yours to Direct you; and, My Goodness is yours, to Pitty, Pardon, Succour you! O Transcendent Consola…ions!
But Perhaps, While you live in This World, you won't be Comforted, unless you may have something of This World among the rest of your Conveniencies. Well then, I am to advertise you, That all the Good of the Whole World is yours; for Christ is, The Lord of all. What sayes the Apostle, in 1 Cor. 3.21, 22, 23. All Things are yours, and ye are Christs? and what a full Inventory is there of your Goods! If there be any thing, that God shall see Good for you [an… O for shame, leave to Him the Judgment of That!] you shall certainl… have it Conferr'd upon you. Med…tat… now on these things, and let Him th… ha's this Ʋnion with you; now have a… Glory from you for ever.
III. But your Ʋnion with the Lord Jesus Christ may strike Terror into th… Hearts of your Adversaries; and I pray let Them give a due Entertainment unt… this, Terror of the Lord. There is… certain People in the World, and New England, as well as Old, is Considerabl… for having such a People in it; a People which are Evidently acted by a Spirit of Respect unto the Rules of Universal Godlines…, Righteousness, and Sobriety… a People in whom there is a Spiri… which inclines them to Live a… those who seek an Heavenly Country 'Tis that Spirit which hinders them from Conforming not only to the Vic… which their Neighbours are insecte… with, but also to whatever parts o… means of Worship for which they are no… satisfy'd, that they have a sufficien… Warrant in the Word of God; 'twould …e well if men would awaken themselves to see what Shiboleths the Devil does invent in every Age, for the Discovery of this people; and then what Instruments he has for the Destroying of them. But let me now make an Appeal to the Consciences of all those that are the Malicious Enemies of such a people; Do not you in your Consciences, thi…k, Th…t an Holy People have an Ʋnion with an Holy Jesus? How dare you then to malign, molest, and oppress, any whom you do in your Consciences judge to be, An Holy P…ople? Be it known unto them, That such a People have an Head in Heaven, who feels all the Blows and Wrongs that these give unto them here. Insectantur Nos, & in Nobis Deum, said Salvian very truly of old. Ha…k to the Thunderclaps that Rumble in Heaven upon every one of their unreasonable Persecutio…s; they are those, in Act. 9.5. The Lord said; I am Jesus, whom thou Persecutest! and let them look for hot Thunder-bolts to be thence discharg'd at last upon them, if that they shall Impenitently go on to Persecute; perhaps while they are Eating up the People of God, as they Eat Bread [they can Eat 'em without Salt!] they Dissemble the Fear which their Consciences do secretly give them, That God i… in the Generation of those righteous ones; albeit also their standing without Fea… before them, is to them, An Eviden… Token of Perdition; yet they shall one Day Feel more than they now can Fear. Fool hardy Creatures, Do they know where they strike? The Lord of Heaven says unto his people in zech… 2.8. He who touches you, touches the Apple of his Eye. It seems, they had as good go to tear out the very Eyes o… the Omnipotent God, who Beholds al… their Villanies; and that God wil… make them find that they are but pul…ing and cutting out their own Ey…s in all they do. There was a King of Scotland once called, The poor mans King; But much more such an one the King of Heaven is; and He has moreover most nearly Ʋnited Himself unto that poor people whom He is a King unto. Can you then Dream, That He will suffer the Injuries done unto a people thus Interested in Himself, to pass Unrevenged? In the Dreadful Day of God, the Fearful Doom of these Men of the Earth, from the Mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ will be, You have done to Me, what you have done; Depart with your Master, into Everlasting Fire. And in the mean time they are pulling down upon themselves, that Great STONE, which always breaks the Bones of those unhappy M…screants that it falls upon. I say, Consider of this, lest you be Torn to pieces, and there be None to Deliver you.