Sermons Volume 2, 2 Corinthians 5 · Sermon 37
SERMON XXXVII.
2 Cor. 5.19.
And hath committed to us the word of reconciliaion.
WE come now to the third thing: The means of application or bringing about this reconciliation, on mans part: foreign, hath placed in us. In which observe two things.
1. The matter of the charge, trust, or thing intrusted: The Word of reconciliation: Called also, verse 18. The Ministry of reconciliation. That is, the Gospel which revealeth the way of making peace with God, and is the Charter, and Grant of Christ, and all his benefits from God, unto every one that will receive him. Now the Gospel may be considered, as written, or preached: As written, so 'tis properly called the word of reconciliation; as preached, so, the ministry of reconciliation: The one serveth to inform, the other to excite; by the one the door of mercy is set open, by discovering the admirable methods of grace, in reclaiming the World; by the other, men are called upon, perswaded, and exhorted, to accept of the remedy offered.
2. The persons to whom he hath committed: He hath put in us: The Apostles and their successours: First the Apostles are of chief consideration, for these, as Master-builders were to lay the foundation, 1 Cor. 3.10. And Eph. 2.20. And are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles, and Prophets, Jesus Christ being the corner stone. They were infallibly assisted, and to be absolutely trusted, in what they wrote: had the power of miracles, to evidence their mission, and call: They were confined to no certain charge, and Country; therefore, this trust did belong to the Apostles in all respects, chiefly, in some respects to them only: Secondly, Ordinary Ministers are not to be excluded because they agree with the Apostles, as to the substance of their Commission: Which is to reconcile men to God, or to preach the Gospel. The ordinary ministerial teaching is Christs institution, as well as that of the Apostles, Eph. 4.11. He gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and s…me Evangelists▪ and some Pastors and Teachers. He that appointed Prophets and Apostles to write Scripture, hath also appointed Pastors and Teachers, to explain and apply Scripture: This is done pleno jure, Matth. 28.19, 20. All power is given me in Heaven and Earth; go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy-Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you; and loe I am with you to the end of the World. By vertue of that authority given him by God, they are in the same Commission, and have a promise of the same presence, and Spirit. So also 1 Cor. 3.5. Who then is Paul, and who is Apollo, but Ministers by whom ye believed? As to the substance of the work, they do the same thing; as to the substance of the blessing, they are accompanied with the same Spirit: In both as their ministry for the matter of it, 'tis the ministry of reconciliation, so for the power of it, 'tis the ministration of the Spirit unto life: Only the one are immediately called▪ miraculously gifted, infallibly assisted, sent out to all the World; the other have an ordinary call, a limited place, but yet do the same work, in the same name, and are assisted by the same Spirit.
Doct. That much of the wisdom and goodness of God is seen in the course he hath taken for the applying of reconciliation.
In the merit or way of procuring, in the branches, the restitution of his favour and Image, we have seen already, now the way of applying that will appear.
1. God would not do us good without our knowledge, and therefore first or last he must give us notice; 'tis every where made as an act of Gods goodness, to reveal the way of reconciliation. When the Psalmist had discoursed of the pardon of sins, he presently addeth, Psa. 103. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the Children of Israel. And Psa. 147.19, 20. He hath shewed his Word unto Jacob, and his Judgments unto Israel; he hath not dealt so with every Nation, as for his Judgments, they have not known them. And Mich. 6.8. He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; but especially in the new administration of the covenant, Heb. 8.10, 11. I will put my Laws in their minds, and write them in their hearts, and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people, and they shall not teach every man his neighbour, nor every man his brother, saying, know the Lord, for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. And Isa. 53.11. By his knowledge shall my righteous Servant justify many. Those places shew, that as it is a great favour, that the way of reconciliation was found out, so this is a new favour, that the way is so clearly revealed, that 'tis not left to our blind guesses; if God had intended to do us good, but would not tell us how, there would not have been due provision made for the comfort & duty of the Creature: Not for our comfort. For an unknown benefit intended to us, can yield us no comfort: Christs Prophetical office is as necessary for our comfort as his Sacerdotal, Heb. 3.1. Consider the Apostle and High-Priest of our profession, Jesus Christ. We could take little comfort in him as an High-Priest, if he had not been also an Apostle: The highest office in both the Testaments, was necessary to our comfort and peace. In the old Testament, all the business of that dispensation was to represent him an High-Priest: So in the new, as an Apostle: That was to open the mind, and heart of God to us, & shew us how to be happy in the love and injoyment of God. Nor could we understand our duty: All parties interes…ed in the reconciliation must be acquainted with the way of it, and therefore man must understand, what course God would take, to bring about this peace; how else should he give his consent, or seek after the benefit, in such a solemn, and humble manner, as is necessary? And how else can we be sensible of our obligation, and be thankful, and live in the sense of so great a love? John 4.10. If thou knewest the gift, &c.
2. As God will not do us good without our knowledge, so not against our will, and consent, and force us to be reconciled, and saved, whether we will or no: Man is a reasonable Creature, a free Agent, and God governeth all his Creatures, according to their receptivity: With necessary Agents, he worketh necessarily, with free Agents, freely; a will is required on our parts, Revel. 22.17. Whosoever will. And Psa. 110.3. His people shall be a willing people, in the day of his power. Their hearts are effectually inclined to accept of what God offereth: All that receive the faith of Christ, receive it most willingly, and forsake all to follow him, Acts 2.41. They gladly received his Word, then was that prophesy in part verified.
3. God will not work this will, and consent, by an imposing force, but by perswasion, because he will draw us with the cords of a man, Hosea, 4.14. That is, in such a way, and upon such terms as are proper and fitting for men. God dealeth with beasts by a strong hand of absolute power, but with man in the way of counsel, intreaties, and perswasions, as he acted the tongue of Balaams Ass, to strike the sound of those words in the Air, not infusing discourse, and reason: Therefore 'tis said. Numbers 22.28. He opened the mouth of the Ass: But when he dealeth with man he is said, to open the heart, Acts 16.14. As inwardly by a secret power, so outwardly by the Word so offered, that they attended: That's a rational way of proceeding, so to mind, as to choose; so to choose, as to pursue: Man is drawn to God in a way suitable to his nature.
4. To gain this consent the word is a most accommodate instrument. I prove it by two Arguments.
1. From the way of Gods working: Physically, morally, powerfully, sapientially. The physical operation is by the infusion of life; the moral operation is by Reason and Argument: Both these ways are necessary in a condescension to our capacities, fortiter pro te Domine, suaviter pro me; God worketh strongly, like himse…f, and sweetly, that he may attemper his work to our natures; and suit the key to the wards of the lock: Both these ways are often spoken of in Scripture, John 6.44, 45. No man can come unto me except the father draw him; as it is written in the Prophets, & they shall all be taught of God. They are taught, and drawn; so taught that they are also drawn, and inclined; and so drawn, as also taught: As it becometh God to deal with men. Therefore sometimes God is said to create in us a new heart, making it a work of power, Psa. 51.10. And we are his workman-ship created to good works, Eph. 2.10. Sometimes to perswade and allure, Hosea 2.15. I will allure her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her, Gen. 9.27. The Lord shall perswade Japhet: By fair and kind intreaties, draw them to a likeing of his ways. The Soul of man is determined to God, by an Object without, and a Quality within: The Object is propounded by all its Qualifications, that the understanding may be informed, and convinced, and the will and affections perswaded in a potent and high way of reasoning; but this is not enough to determine mans heart, without an internal Quality or Grace infused, which is his physical work upon the Soul: There is not only a propounding of Reason and Arguments, but a powerful inclination of the Heart, and so we are by strong hand plucked out of the snares of death. Both are necessary; the power, without the word, or perswasion, would be a bruitish force, and so offer violence to our faculties: Now God doth not oppress the liberty of the Creature, but preserve the nature and interest of his workmanship; On the other side the perswasion, offers of a blessed estate without power, will not work, for if the Word of God cometh to us in word only, but not in power, the Creature remaineth as it was, dead, and stupid.
2. If we consider the Impediments on mans part. The word is suited as a proper cure for the diseases of mens Souls. Now these are, Ignorance, slightness, and Impotency.
1. Ignorance is the first disease, set forth by the notions of Darkness, and Blindness, Eph. 5.8. 2 Pet. 1.9. We are so to spiritual and heavenly things. Though men have the natural power of understanding, yet no spiritual discerning, so as to be affected with, or transformed by what they know. 1 Cor. 2.14. no saving knowledge of the things which pertain to the Kingdom of God, or their everlasting happiness: This is the great disease of Humane Nature; worse than bodily blindness, because they are not sensible of it, Rev. 3.17. Thou thoughtest that thou wast rich, and increased with goods, and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: Because they seek not fit Guides to lead them.
2. Slightiness: They will not mind these things, nor exercise their thoughts about them, Matth. 22.5. And they made light of it, would not let it enter into their care and thoughts, Heb. 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation? Non-attendency is the great bane of mens Souls; 'tis a long time to bring them to ask, What shall I do to be saved?
3. Impotency and weakness; which lieth in the wilfulness and hardness of their hearts; our non posse is non velle, Psal. 58.4, 5. They are like the deaf Adder, which stoppeth her Ear, and will not hearken to the Voice of the Charmer, charm he never so wisely. And Matth. 23.37. How often would I have gathered thy Children together, as an Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings, but ye would not? And Luke 19.14. We will not have this Man to rule over us. John 5.40. They will not come unto me that they may have life. Psal. 81.11. Israel would have none of me. Prov. 1.29. But they hated Knowledge, and did not choose the Fear of the Lord. You cannot▪ because you will not; the will and affections being engaged to other things. You have the grant and offer of Mercy from God, but you have not an heart to make a right Choice. If you could say, I am willing, but cannot, that were another matter; but I cannot apply my self to seek Reconciliation with God by Christ, is in true Interpretation, I will not, because your blinded Minds, and sensual Inclinations, have misled and perverted your will; your obstinate and carnal wilfulness is your true impotency.
Now what proper cure is there for all these evils, but the Word of God? Teaching is the proper means to cure Ignorance; for men have a natural understanding. Warning us of our danger, and minding us of our duty, is the proper means to cure slightness, and to remove their Impotency▪ which lieth in their obstinacy, and wilfulness. There is no such means as to besiege them with constant persuasion, and the renewed offers of a better estate by Christ, for the Impotency is rather Moral, than Natural; we do not use to reason men our of their natural Impotency, to bid a lume man walk, or a Blind man see, or a Dead man live, but to make men willing of the good they have neglected, or rejected, we must perswade them to a beter choice. In short, to inform the Judgment, to awaken the Conscience, to perswade the will, this is the work and Office of the Word, by its precepts, promises and rewards; 'tis true the bare means will not do it without Gods concurrence, the influence and power of his Spirit, but 'tis an incouragement to use the means, because they are fitted to the end, and God would not appoint us means which should be altogether vain.
5. That it is not enough that the Word be written, but preached by those who are deputed thereunto: For several reasons: 1. Partly, Because Scripture may possibly lie by, as a neglected thing. The Lord complaineth, Hos. 8.12. I have written to them the great things of my Law, but they were counted as a strange thing. Men flighted the Word written, as of little Importance, or concernment to them, are little conversant in it, therefore some are appointed that shall be sure to call upon us, and put us in mind of our eternal condition; that may bring the Word nigh to us, lay it at our doors, bring a special Message of God to our Souls, Acts 13.26. To you is the Word of Salvation sent; he speaketh to all the World by his Word, to you in particular, by the special Messages his Servants bring you: 'Tis sent to you, there is much of God in it: the Word written hath its use to prevent delusions and mistakes, and the Word preached hath also its use to excite and stir up every man to look after the remedy offered, as he will answer it to God another day. 2. Partly, Because the Word written may not be so clearly understood, therefore God hath left gifts in the Church, authorized some to interpret. As the Eunuch was reading, and God sent him an Interpreter, Philip said unto him, Vnderstandest thou what thou readest? And he said, how can I, except some Body guide me? Acts 8.30, 31. The Scripture is clear in its self, but there is a covering of natural blindness upon our Eyes, which the Guides of the Church are appointed, and qualified to remove, Job 33.23. If there be a Messenger with him, an Interpreter one of a thousand to shew a man his uprightness. There are Messengers from God, authorized to speak in his name, to relieve poor Souls that they may soundly explain, forcibly express, and closely apply, the truths of the Word, that what is briefly expressed there by earnest and copious Exhortations, may be inculcated upon them, and the arrow may be drawn to the head, and they may more effectually deal with sinners, and convince them of their duty, and rowse them up to seek after the favour of God in Christ: Look as Darts that are cast forth out of Engines by Art, and fitted with Feathers, are more apt to fly faster, and pierce deeper, than those that are thrown casually, and fall by their own weight; so, though the Word of God is still the Word of God, and hath its proper Power, and force, whether read or preached, yet when 'tis well and properly enforced with distinctness of Language, vehemency and vigour of Spirit, and with prudent application, 'tis more conducible to its end.
3. Because God would observe a congruity, and decency. As death entred by the Ear, so doth life and peace, Rom. 10.14, 15. How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a Preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent? By the same sense, by which we received our venom, and poison, God will send in our blessings, work faith, and repentance in us, by the Ministry of reconciliation. Besides, as vision and seeing is exercised in Heaven, so hearing in the Church, 'tis a more imperfect way of apprehension, but such as is compete…t to the present state, Job 42.5. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the Ear, but now mine Eye seeth thee; speaking of his extraordinary vision of God, which is a glimpse of Heaven: Now we have a report of God, and his grace. Satisfying, ocular inspection is reserved for Heaven, but now we must be contented with the one, without the other.
6. That to preach the word to us, God hath appointed men of the same mould with our selves, and intrusted them with the ministry of reconciliation. As the Fowler catcheth many birds by one decoy, a bird of the same Feather; so God dealeth with us by men of the same nature and affections, and subject to the Law of the same duties, who are concerned in the Message they bring to us, as much as we are; men that know the heart of man by experience, our prejudices, and temptations, for the heart of man answereth to heart as the face in the Waters, Prov. 27.19. And so know all the Wards of the Lock, and what Key will fit them. Now the love and wisdom of God appeareth herein.
1. Because God will try the World by his ordinary Messengers, Col. 1.21. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. We now live by faith, and not by sight, and therefore he will not discover his own Majesty, and send us Nuncios, and Messengers out of the other World, or deal with us in an extraordinary way to lead us to faith, and repentance, but send mean Creatures like our selves, in his name, who by the manifestation of the truth, shall commend themselves to every mans conscience, to see if they will submit to this ordinary stated course. We would have Visions, Oracles, Miracles, Apparitions, one come from the dead, but Christ referreth us to ordinary means; if they work not, extraordinary means will do us no good, Luke 16.30, 31. And he said, Nay Father Abraham, but if one went from the dead they will repent; and he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be perswaded, though one rose from the dead. When God used extraordinary ways, man was man still, Psa. 78.22, 23, 24. Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his Salvation, though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of Heaven, and had rained down Manna upon them to eat, and had given them the corn of Heaven. They had their Meat and Drink from Heaven, and yet they were rebels against God, and unbelievers. Their victuals came out of the Clouds, their Water out of the Rock; so that miracles will not convert, nor beget saving faith in them, with whom ordinary means do not prevail. An Oracle; Samuel thought Eli called him, when it was the Lord: 2 Pet. 1.19. foreign, We have a more sure word of prophesy. Or one from the dead. Christianity is the Testimony of one that came from the dead; Jesus Christ. There can be no better Doctrine, no more powerful perswasion, nor stronger confirmation, or greater cooperation. God tryeth us now, but we would have all things subjected to the view of sense.
2. He magnifieth his own power, and useth a weaker instrument that we might not look to the next hand, and gaze upon them, as if they by their own power, and holiness, did make the dead live, or the deaf hear, or convert the sinner to God, 2 Cor 4.7 We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. That the efficacy of the Gospel may be known to be from God alone, and not of men. He can blow down the Walls of Jericho, by a Rams-horn: By weak men bring mighty things to pass. Treasure in an Earthen Vessel is supposed to allude to Gideons stratagem of a Lamp in a pitcher, Judges 7.16. What was that to fight against the numerous Host of Median: They brake their pitchers, and cryed, The Sword of the Lord and Gideon. So we have this light in an earthen vessel, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty, through God, 2 Cor. 10.14. God chose foreign, 1 Cor. 1.28. Foolish things to confound the wise, and weak things to confound the mighty; and things which are not to bring to nought, things that are. Gods Ordinances are simple in appearance, but full of power.
3. God dealeth more familiarly with us in this way: Conveying his mind to us by our Brethren, who are flesh of our flesh, and bone of our bone; such with whom we have ordinary, and visible Commerce. We read, Exod. 20.18, 19. that the people when they heard the thundrings, they stood afar off, and said unto Moses, Speak thou unto us and we will hear, but let not God speak to us, lest we die. It is a great mercy to man, that seeing he cannot endure, that God should in glorious Majesty speak to him, that he will depute men in his stead, Deut. 18.15. The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy Brethren, like unto me, unto him shall ye hearken; according to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God, in Horeb, saying, let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not: That is, Christ principally, and all those sent in his name, and come in his stead: Nay, we are not able to bear the Glorious Ministry of the Angels, they would affright us, rather then draw to God: As El…hu saith to Job, Chap. 33.6, 7. I that am formed out of the clay, am come to thee in Gods stead; my terrour shall not make thee afraid; so may the Ministers of the Gospel say, we that are of the same mould and making, we are embassadours in Gods stead, come to pray you to be reconciled to God. You need not be afraid of us, nor shy of us
4. There is more certainty this way, because by those whose fidelity in other things is approved to us, who cannot deceive us but they must deceive their own Souls; they know the desert of sin, and the danger by reason of it: Those who have had experience of the grace they preach; as Paul was an instance of the Gospel, as well as a preacher of it, 1 Tim. 1.17. And he saith, he did comfort others with the comforts wherewith he himself was comforted of God, 2 Cor. 1.4. spake from a sense, and tast; commended his Apostleship from his own knowledge; who come not with a report of a report; who confirm their Doctrines by their practice, for they are to be examples to the flock, and sometimes by their blood and sufferings, if need be, 'tis their duty at least; would these deceive us? There are more rational inducing grounds of probability in this way, than any extraordinary course that can be taken.
VSE 1. Let us respect Gods institution the more: We see the reason of it, and the love and wisdom which God hath shewed in it. And especially regard the way of reconciliation: Peace and Life are tendred in his name, to self condemning, and penitent sinners, through the Mediation of Jesus Christ. This circumstance of the means teacheth us several things.
1. That 'tis not enough to look to the purchase, price, and ransom, that was given for our peace, but also the application of it: For the Apostle doth not only insist upon the giving of Christ, but also on the word of reconciliation, by which it is offered to us. In the 18th verse, this Text and the 20th verse, God may be in Christ reconciling the World to himself, and yet we perish for ever, unless we be reconciled to God: And therefore the means of application must be regarded, as well as the means of impetration, and as we bless God for Christ, so also, for the Ministry and Ordinances.
2. It sheweth that God hath not only a good will to us, but this good will is carryed on with great care and solicitude, that it may not miscarry at last. Here is wisdom mixed with love. As God was careful in laying a Foundation of it by Christ; so you see with what wisdom the means are appointed, that this peace may be dispensed to us in the most taking way: Now God hath travelled so much in this matter, shall the Gosple be cast away upon you? He hath set up an ordinance on purpose to treat with sinners.
3. That those things, which God …ath joined, must not be separated, nor any part dispersed: Christ, Spirit, Ministry. Christ purchaseth all, the Spirit applyeth all, the Ministry offereth all b… the Word. If we go to God for grace, if it were not for Christ, he would not look towards us; he sendeth us therefore to Christ who is the golden pipe, through which all the fatherly goodness of God passeth out unto us. If we go to Christ, he accomplisheth all by his Spirit▪ 'tis the Spirit that by his powerful illumination must inlighten our minds, and open our hearts, and effectually renew and change the Soul, Tit. 3.5, 6. If we look to the Spirit, he sendeth us to the Ordinances; there we shall hear of him, in the Word written, and preached: Despise that course, and all stoppeth: Therefore you must be meditating on his Word, which is the seed of life; be swift to hear: Make more Conscience to attend seriously to the dispensation of it. This last is most likely to be despised; men will pretend a love to Christ, and the Spirit, a reverence to the Word written, but despise the Ministry, because they are men of like passions with our selves: No, 'tis Gods condescension to our weakness, which cannot admit of other Messengers, to imploy such: Therefore receive them as Messengers of Christ. They work together with God, 1 Cor. 3.9. They are labourers together with God, 2 Cor. 6.1. As workers together with God, we beseech you receive not this grace in vain. And Christ saith, he that despiseth you, despiseth me and he that despiseth me; despiseth. him that sent me, Luke 10.16. What is done to a mans Apostle, is done to himself And Matth. 10.40. He that receiveth you, receiveth me. Christ meant not to stay upon earth visibly, and personally, to teach men himself, therefore he committed this dispensation to others; left it with faithful men, who are to manage it in his name.
4. Those who are enemies of the Ministry of the Word, are enemies to the Glory of God, and the comfort, and Salvation of Gods people: The Glory of God, 2 Cor. 1.20. For all the promises of God in him, are yea and Amen, unto the Glory of God by us. And the comfort of Gods people, verse 24. Not for that we have dominion over your Faith, but are helpers of your joy. And their too much preaching is their too much converting Souls to God, and reconciling Souls to God.
5. You hear not the Word aright, unless it be a word of reconciliation to you, a means of bringing God and you nearer together: To humble you for sin, which is the cause of breach, and distance: Or to revive thy wounded Spirit, or to make you prize and esteem the grace of the Redeemer, or more earnestly to seek after God, by an uniform and constant obedience.