Exposition of John 17, Exposition · Part 40
JOHN 17.17.
Thy Word is truth.
OUR Saviour as he is a Mediator of Redemption to his people, ſo of Interceſſion too. He finiſhed the former (as his own expreſſion is) and he began the latter, while he was here in this world. The Chapter is a model of it, wherein he gives his Apoſtles and Diſciples a fore-taſte, from which they might a little gueſs what he was like to do more fully for them, when he was aſcended and ſate down at the right hand of his Father, to be an everlaſting Advocate and Interceſſor for his Church and people. And here there are two things eſpecially, which he deſires in their behalf, to which at leaſt all the reſt may be reduced, Preſervation and Sanctification. He enters on the latter in the verſe now read, and ſo did we the laſt occaſion.
And here we have as I have ſhewed you, the Supplication and the Explication. The Supplication, Sanctifie them with thy truth. The Explication, what is meant by truth, the Word of God, Thy Word is truth.
The laſt Lords-day I diſpatched the Supplication, ſo that the Explication comes to be inſiſted on at this time; Thy Word is truth.
It ſeems to be an anſwer to the ſelf ſame queſtion which Pilate ſometimes put to Chriſt himſelf, but would not tarry for a reſolution. What is truth? So ſanctifie them, ſaith our Saviour, with thy truth. But what is truth? you have the anſwer in the following clauſe, Thy Word is truth.
There is the Word God, and there is the word of God. The one is Chriſt the Son of God; for he is called the Word in Scripture, and he is the Word God, as you may ſee that place for inſtance, 1 Joh. 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The other is the will of God revealed and manifeſted in the Scripture. And it is called the word of God, becauſe as the words of men diſcover what their mind is, which elſe you were not able to imagine; ſo the Word of God, the Scripture, diſcovers to us what the mind of God is, ſo far as it is neceſſary to ſalvation.
Now this Word, ſaith our Saviour here, is truth; Thy Word is truth. It is not only true, but truth it ſelf; and ſo indeed is all the Scripture; the Law and Goſpel both of them are all truth, conformable in all reſpects to the Idaea of them in the mind of God. But yet the Goſpel is the Truth by way of Excellencie above the reſt of holy Scripture. Not that the Law, or any other part of the Old Teſtament, is not ſo true as Goſpel is; for there are no degrees in truth as truth. Words are either true alike; or ſome are true, and others falſe: But the Old Teſtament, and legal truths, are not be compared in ſome reſpects to the New Teſtament and Goſpel truths: Theſe have the odds and the advantage of the other; And therefore this, I mean the Goſpel, is principally called the Truth in the language of the Scripture, as I ſhall ſhew you more at large hereafter.
And this at leaſt is chiefly aimed at by our Saviour, when he ſaith, thy Word is truth; for of that truth he ſpeaks apparently, which is the inſtrumental means by which God ſanctifies his people. And that is not legal truth; God doth not ſanctifie men by the preaching of the Law, ſave only in a way of preparation and prediſpoſition. The Goſpel only works the truth and the reality of holineſs and grace, as I have ſhewed abundantly out of the former member of the Text. And therefore it is Goſpel truth that is eſpecially intended here, which is the only proper inſtrument of ſanctification. Sanctifie them with thy truth, thy Word is truth. So then the Obſervation lies before us.
DOCTRINE. The word of God of God, eſpecially the Goſpel, is the Truth.
In proſecution of the Point, I have two things to cleer to you, before I come to application. Firſt, That the word of God is all truth; there is no falſehood or deceit in it, and I ſhall be brief on that. Then that the Goſpel is the truth by way of excellence, and in a ſpecialty above the reſt of Holy Scripture. I do not ſay the Goſpel is more true then other things contained in the book of God, but it is truth of more concernment, and of more uſe, as I ſhall make it evidently and diſtinctly to appear to you.
As for the firſt of theſe, the word of God is all truth; ſo it is ſtiled in the letter of my text, without reſtraint or limitation, Thy word is truth. Whether it be the word of Hiſtory, the things that are hiſtorically repreſented to us in the Scripture, or the word of precept, or the word of promiſe, or the word of threatning, all is truth. If you look to the intention of the Author of the word, God hath delivered nothing in it with a purpoſe to deceive. Or if you look to the matter of the word, the things themſelves that are delivered in the Scripture, they are indeed as they are there expreſſed. The ſayings of the Lord are true ſayings, Apoc. 19.9. whether they be the ſayings of the Father, or the ſayings of the Son; For God the Father hath his ſaying, God ſpake theſe words in the preface to the Law. And God the Son hath his ſaying, Verily I ſay unto you, if a man keep my ſaying, he ſhall never ſee death, John 8.51. And both of theſe, the ſayings of the one and of the other, the ſayings of the Father, the Law of works, the ſayings of the Son, the Law of faith, are abſolutely and exactly true, there is no falſhood or deceit in them; They are the true ſayings of God.
And they muſt needs be true, becauſe they are the ſayings of God. Thy word is truth, ſaith our Saviour in my text. It is thine, and therefore truth. For he that is the author of it, he is the God of truth, as the Prophet David ſtiles him, Pſal. 31.5. Obſerve it well, he doth not ſay he is the true God in himſelf, and in his nature, but he is the God of truth in his diſcoveries and revelations of himſelf to men. All that comes from him is truth. He is the faithfull and the true witneſs, Apoc. 3.14. Not only true and faithfull as a God, but true and faithfull as a witneſs; And his word is his witneſs, not his ordinary ſaying only, but his witneſs to confirm us and aſſure us of that which is delivered to us, to work and ſtrengthen faith in us. And therefore it is called the Teſtimony, or the witneſs of the Lord, I think no leſs then twenty times in Scripture.
Now for the ſecond branch, the Goſpell is the truth foreign and in a ſpecialty above the reſt of holy Scripture. Thy word is truth, ſaith our Saviour in my Text, that is thy ſanctifying word which is the Goſpell, Sanctifie them with thy truth, thy word is truth.
The Law, (as far as I am able to remember) is nowhere called diſtinctly by it ſelf the word of truth; but the Goſpel commonly, not in my Text alone but elſwhere often. Indeed the Pſalmiſt prayes to God, Take not thy word of truth away out of my mouth; but he intends the promiſes for which he hoped, as you may ſee in that place, Pſalm 119.43. And all the promiſes you know are Goſpel, they are in Chriſt yea, and in Chriſt Amen. But on the other ſide the Law is mentioned as in ſome reſpect contradiſtinct to truth. The Law was given by Moſes, but grace and truth came by Jeſus Chriſt, 1 John 17.
And yet you muſt not apprehend the Goſpel to be truer then the Law, or any parts of Scripture. If it be truer, they are abſolutely falſe. But it delivers truth of greater excellency then the reſt of Scripture doth, as will appear if you conſider either the ſubject matter of it, or the Revelation of it, or the Confirmation of it, or the Operation of it.
Goſpel truth excelleth for the matter of it. Chriſt is the ſubject matter of the Goſpel, and therefore it is called the word of Chriſt, Col. 3.16. Let the word of Chriſt dwell in you richly, not of Chriſt the Author only, but of Chriſt the ſubject matter: and herein it ſurpaſſes and tranſcends, not all other Books only that handle other arguments, but even all other parts and parcels of the Book of God it ſelf. For Chriſt is the moſt pretious and delicious matter. He is the richeſt, and the ſweeteſt ſubject in the world.
1. Chriſt the Subject of the Goſpel is the moſt rich and pretious ſubject. He is the wealth and treaſure of the faithfull ſoul; there is in him an endleſs Myne and infinite Maſs of ineſtimable riches. And therefore the Apoſtle having ſpoken of the riches of the glory of the Goſpel, adds in the words immediately anexed, which riches is Chriſt in you, Col. 1.27. In him are hid all the treaſures of wiſdom and knowledge, Col. 2.3. A treaſure is much, but treaſures are more. But when all the treaſures that are in the world, ſhall be gathered together, and laid in a heap, there muſt needs be vaſt and riches. And this tranſported the Apoſtle Paul and ſwallowed up his thoughts and words, as unable to conceive it or expreſs it, yea even raviſhed him beyond himſelf, that he was entruſted to preach the unſearchable riches of Chriſt, Epheſ. 3.8. He found no end, no bottome of them, he could not reach the heigth, and depth, and length, and breadth of thoſe treaſures, they had ſuch immenſe and endleſs dimenſions.
2. Chriſt the ſubject of the Goſpel, is the ſweeteſt and moſt delicious ſubject in the world. It was the only thing that weakned the delight that Auſtin took in reading of a certain work of Cicero's, becauſe he could not find the name of Chriſt in it. That is a pleaſant name indeed to every true believing ſoul; and whereſoever that is found, or whatſoever writing hath that high and holy perſon for the ſubject of it, whom to know is life eternal, ſhould be read with full delight and high pleaſure. And therefore that which treats of Jeſus Chriſt, is ſtiled Goſpel, good news, and good tydings; yea good tydings of great joy. It tells us of a Jeſus, a Saviour, a deliverer out of bondage to ſin and Sathan and damnation, out of the moſt ſad and miſerable thraldom in the world; and this is infinitely ſweet. Oh with what melting, ſelf-conſuming wiſhes and deſires doth the poor diſtreſſed Captive long to hear of a Redeemer? how welcome is this news to him? and ſuch a one is Jeſus Chriſt to us, and therefore it is ſweet to hear of him. And as the Goſpel tells us of deliverance out of bondage, ſo of admiſſion to ſuch incomparable priviledges here, to ſuch unutterable happineſs hereafter, as cannot chooſe but melt the heart with raviſhing delight that hath aſſurance of a ſhare in them.
As Goſpel truth excelleth for the ſubject matter of it, Jeſus Chriſt, ſo for the manner of the revelation of it. The trurh in the Old Teſtament was covered with a Vail, not of Types and Shaddows only, but of dark expreſſions too, ſo that it was obſcure and hid: But now it is unvailed as it were, and therefore the Apoſtle tells us, that we behold it now with open face, 2 Cor. 3.18. There is nothing now to hide it; The truth of the Old Teſtament is likened to the glimmering twilight in the dawning of the day, or to the faint and dimmer twinkling of a ſtar; But Goſpel truth is likened to the ſhining of the Sun at noon-day. And therefore we that live under Goſpel-revelation are called the Children of the light and of the day, 1 Theſ. 5.5. And the Apoſtle tells us that now the grace of God which brings ſalvation hath appeared, Tit. 2.11. It is a Metaphor in which the Goſpel is reſembled to a glorious Light, that having been obſcured and masked awhile (even as the Sun when it is overcaſt and mufled with a dark and gloomy cloud) at length ſhines forth with admirable brightneſs and ſhewes it ſelf with darling ſplendor to the world. Though it were hid from ages and from generations, yet it is now made manifeſt unto the Saints, Col. 1.26.
Goſpel truth excelleth for the confirmation of it. It is better ratified then other truth. Truth may not be believed you know, it may not gain aſſent from thoſe that hear it, for want of ſolid and ſubſtantial confirmation: But Goſpel truth hath this preheminency, that it is now eſtabliſhed to the very utmoſt, by the death of Chriſt himſelf. He hath ſealed it with his blood, and therefore we have reaſon to believe it. Indeed the truth of the Old Teſtament was ratified and confirmed, yea it was confirmed in blood: But this was but the blood of Bulls and Goats; But now it is confirmed by the blood of Chriſt himſelf, which is a better and a more effectual confirmation. And this is that which the Apoſtle ſhews at large, Heb. 9.16. and in the following verſes. So that the blood which ratified the Old Teſtament, was but the ſhaddow and the Type of that which ratifies the new; and therefore this hath the advantage of the other. I muſt confeſs that the Old Teſtament was ratified by the death of Jeſus Chriſt in deſtination, for ſo he was the Lamb ſlain from the foundation of the world: But this is ratified by the death of Chriſt in actual execution, which is if not in it ſelf, to us at leaſt, a cleerer and a better confirmation.
Goſpel truth excelleth for the operation of it: it hath effects tranſcendently beyond all other truth that ever was revealed to the world. I ſhall name but two only ſuggeſted in thoſe two great Goſpel Epithites, the word of grace, the word of life.
1. Goſpel truth works grace. Not common grace, and common ſorrow, and humiliation, and repentance as the Law doth, but ſaving grace: And therefore it is called the word of grace, Acts 20.32. It is ſo excluſively, it worketh grace alone, without the help and the aſſiſtance of the Law in that buſineſs. Something the Law may do towards us indeed, but it doth nothing in the work of grace. Of his own will begat he us ſaith the Apoſtle, by the word of truth, that is the Goſpel, James 1.18. That, only that is properly and ſtrictly ſanctifying truth, Sanctifie them with thy truth.
2. Goſpel truth infuſeth life, and that no other truth can do. The Law indeed can kill, but it cannot make alive; It is the Miniſtry of death and condemnation. The Goſpel only is the Miniſtry of life and of Salvation. And therefore this exceeds the other, and ſurpaſſeth it in glory, as the Apoſtle ſhews at large, 2 Cor. 3.6, 7, &c. In this reſpect we find the Goſpel called the word of life, 1 John 1.1. becauſe it is the word that worketh life. It is the quickning word that raiſes men from death to life, to the life of grace in this world, and to the life of glory in the world to come.
And thus, I think we have ſufficiently cleered the point, the word of God, eſpecially the Goſpel is the truth. Proceed we now to make ſome application of it, according to the divers branches of the point in order. I ſhall but touch upon the firſt, becauſe I would no be prevented in the ſecond.
Is it ſo, my brethren, that the word of God is all truth? then certainly Ʋſe 1 it ought all to be believed. This truth on Gods part calls for faith on ours. For what is faith but the belief of truth? as the Apoſtle Paul defines it, 2 Theſ. 2.13. He hath choſen us to Salvation through Sanctification of the ſpirit, and belief of the truth. So that if the word be truth, it ought to be believed by us. And this our Saviour Chriſt inſinuates in his expoſtulation with the Jews, John 8.46. If I ſay truth, why do you not believe me? Though that which is delivered in the word of God be never ſo improbable, never ſo much above corrupt reaſon, never ſo impoſſible to a humane apprehenſion, yet it admitteth not of doubtfull Diſputation and Expoſtulation, but rather calls for abſolute belief.
And therefore they are deeply to be cenſured, who give no credit to the word of truth, further then their private ſpirits cloſe with it, who do not anſwer Gods truth with their faith. They read it and they hear it preached, but they yield no aſſent to it. No, they oppoſe it and diſpute againſt it, they are meer Scepticks in religion; There are a multitude of ſuch in theſe times. They conſent not to wholeſome words, even the words of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the Doctrine which is according to godlineſs, as the Apoſtle Paul ſpeaks, 1 Tim. 6.3, 4. Whereas they that have ever felt the ſaving power of Gods word, have their thoughts captivated to it, and will ſay as the Apoſtle, we can do nothing, we can ſpeak nothing againſt the truth, 2 Cor. 13.8. Theſe men upon the other ſide, when they hear the truth of God delivered to them, ſpeak againſt it, contradicting and blaſpheming, as the ſtubborn Jews did; Acts 13.45. They do not only ask with Mary, how ſhall this be? A queſtion not of oppoſition, but of inquiſition, Luke 1.34. But even peremptorily determine they can never be. And thus they belye the Lord, like thoſe of whom the Prophet ſpeaks, Jer. 5.12. This in a word for application of the former member of the point. We ſhall now apply the latter.
Ʋſe 2 Is it ſo that the word of God, eſpecially the Goſpel is the truth? Is Goſpel truth excelling truth? Then let us give it the preferment before any other truth, both in our inquiſition and our acceptation. Let us dive into it moſt, and let us value and prize it moſt.
Firſt, Let us give it the due preferment in our inquiſition, let us dive into it moſt, and labour more to be acquainted with it then with any other truth. Let us read thoſe books, let us hear thoſe Preachers, and let us nouriſh thoſe ſtudies, which help us moſt to this knowledge; let us make this our main endeavour to be ſeen in Goſpel truth: let us undervalue and neglect all other knowledge incompariſon of this. It is the dangerous miſtake of the greater part of men, who had rather be acquainted with the matters of the world, and to be skild in ſecular and humane learning, then in the doctrine of the Goſpel. How do abundance plod to dive into the ſecrets and depths of nature, and ſet their wits upon the tenter-hooks, to ſearch into the myſteries of Arts and Trades! how do they beat and work their brains to get abundance of experience and skill in worldly dealings and employments! but take no pains at all in hearing, reading, meditation, to dive into the myſteries of Jeſus Chriſt. Tell me my beloved, have you ever among all your earneſt ſtrivings after inſight either into humane knowledge, or into matters of the world, been half ſo ſtudious and induſtrious to ſearch into this Goſpel truth, to be acquainted with Chriſt Jeſus who is the ſubject of the Goſpel, to know that he was born, and lived and dyed for you, to know him and the virtue of his reſurrection, not by ſpeculation only, but experience, raiſing you up to newneſs of life, to know that he loved you, and gave himſelf for you? Alas the hearts of a great many of you, cannot chooſe but tell you, that you have hardly ever ſpent a ſerious thought on this. And the very beſt among us cannot chooſe but ſay that we have been too ſlight and careleſs in our enquiries into this knowledge. Ah my beloved, had we the ſpirit of the Apoſtle Paul, or of thoſe bleſſed Angels, who deſire to peep and pry into the Goſpel truth as you may ſee, 1 Pet. 1.12. we would not fooliſhly miſpend ſo much of our pretious time, in empty, frothy and unneceſſary ſtudies, nor waſte away that Lamp of reaſon in our boſoms in unprofitable blazes, but we would ſet more time apart to look into the Patent of ſalvation, and to acquaint our ſelves with Jeſus Chriſt before hand, that when we come into his preſence at the latter day, we may be entertained as friends and not as ſtrangers. You hear that Goſpel truth is the ſtudy of the Angels, they had a little inckling of it, and it was ſo raviſhing, that they muſt dive and prie into it; they were not able to forbear it. Oh Fools and Ideots that we are that now the Lord hath made it plain to us we ſhould be ſo careleſs of it, that now the knowledge of it is attainable, we ſhould wilfully neglect that pretious truth which was ſo ſtudied and enquired into in Heaven, which Angels reacht after, and yet when all was done, came ſhort of the diſcovery.
Secondly, Since Goſpel truth excells all other truth, let us give it the preferment, as in our Inquiſition, ſo in our acceptation, and let us value it and prize it above other truth. Every truth of God is pretious, but this truth is moſt pretious, and therefore ſhould be moſt eſteemed and layed up with moſt care. All the ſayings of God are worthy of acceptation, but Goſpel ſayings are worthy of all acceptation; 1 Tim. 1.15. all that is poſſible to entertain them with. And therefore the Prophets call the time of the Goſpel tempus acceptabile, the acceptable time, the year of the Lord, Iſa. 16.2. And if we look into the Scriptures, my beloved, we ſhall ſee what worthy acceptation it hath found. Zacheus made haſte and received our Saviour gladly into his houſe, Luke 19.6. So did the brethren at Jeruſalem receive the Apoſtles becauſe they brought the Goſpel with them, Acts 21.17. So did the Bereans receive the Goſpel it ſelf with all readineſs of mind, or forward affection, foreign, Acts 17.11. So did the Galathians receive the Apoſtle with the honour of an Angel, even as Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, becauſe he preached this excelling truth to them, Gal. 4.14. The Merchant in the Parable (you know) did dearly purchaſe it, the Saints did earneſtly contend for it, and took the Kingdom of heaven by violence. And hath it found the like eſteem with you my brethren? have you received and entertained it as a tranſcendent and excellent truth? have your ſouls been even raviſht with the knowledge of it? have you preferred it in your thoughts and your deſires before all other knowledge, yea before all other things? Alas how many are there that never valued it, who think it to be fooliſhneſs in compariſon of that which brings them worldly profit or advantage! It is a miſerable thing to ſee how this incomparable Goſpel is ſlighted in the world.
Now I beſeech you my beloved; think upon it, what is it that you deſpiſe? The wiſdom of God in a myſterie which is adorned with ſo many glorious Titles in the Scripture to raiſe our hearts and our affections to it, without which all the wiſdom and all the learning in the world is nothing elſe but loſs and dung. And who is it that you deſpiſe in it? for the contempt and undervaluing of the Goſpel carries in it more diſhonour to every perſon of the Trinity, then any other ſin. It is a ſhamefull undervaluing of the Fathers wiſdom, which he hath ſhewed in no one thing ſo much as in the revelation of the Goſpel, and therefore it is called the wiſdom of God, as if the Goſpel were the ſhort abridgement, the ſumm and the Epitome of Gods wiſdom. It is a fearfull ſlighting of the Fathers love, as if in all the buſineſs of our Saviours paſſion he had but put himſelf to needleſs compaſſion, and ſhewed ſuch love to men, as he might very wel have kept in his own boſome, for any thing we either need it, or care for it. It is an horrible contempt to Jeſus Chriſt, to ſuffer him to ſtand waiting at our doors, even till his head be full of dew, and his locks with the drops of the night, to put in his fingers by the hole of the lock, to humble, empty and deny himſelf, to ſuffer the indignities and wrongs of men, the heavy wrath of God himſelf, and after all to have that pretious blood which was drawn out with ſuch woful agonies, and with ſuch exquiſite and horrid tortures, counted no other then the blood of a common Malefactor, no more regarded nor lookt after, no, though preſented and offered to us, and that with obſecrations and intreaties too; who is able to expreſs ſuch baſeneſs as this is! It is a high indignity to the bleſſed Spirit of grace to ſuffer him to wait in vain, to move, and to perſwade in vain, to beg and to beſeech in vain, till we do even weary him, and ſend him ſad from us. Oh let us tremble of ſuch contemptuous uſage of the Father, of the Son, and of the Spirit, in the contempt of their Goſpel; And henceforth let us receive it and embrace it as an excelling truth, as that which is of ſingular behoof and uſe, and conſequently calls for ſingular eſteem from us.
Ʋſe 2 Is it ſo, That the Word of God, eſpecially the Goſpel is the truth: That Goſpel truth is the truth, that it excells all other truth? Then certainly it lies on the profeſſors of this truth to have a carriage anſwerable to it; to have an excellent carriage according to this excellent truth: that ſo it may not be diſparaged and diſhonoured by our unſuitable and unagreeing converſations. As it is glorious in it ſelf, ſo it ſhould be glorified by us, and among us, as the Apoſtles phraſe is, 2 Theſſ. 3.1. As it is excellent in it ſelf, ſo it ſhould be preſented to the world as excellent by us, while we adorn it by our holy lives, as the Apoſtle Paul exhorteth, Tit. 2.10. that we adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
And in a word, my Brethren, We muſt walk as becometh the Goſpel of Chriſt, this excellent Goſpel, Phil. 1.27. And to this end I ſhall commend unto you, but theſe two things: Firſt you muſt maintain it as an excellent truth. Secondly, you muſt obey it as an excellent truth.
This Goſpel truth muſt be maintained by you as an excellent truth. Indeed (my Brethren) you muſt ſtand for all Truth, you muſt never be againſt it, but you muſt be always for it, as the Apoſtle Paul inſinuates, 2 Cor, 13.8. I can do nothing againſt the truth, but for the truth. But you muſt ſtand for Goſpel truth rather, and more then for any other truth, becauſe it is of more concernment, and of more uſe. We are more eager and earneſt in aſſerting the right and intereſt we have in things of worth, then in things of ſmaller value: That which is excellent, will have more to ſtand for it, then that which is comparatively mean and much inferior to it: and men will do it much more vehemently for a jewel then for a trifle: ſo let us in this caſe; and more particularly and diſtinctly let us earneſtly maintain this excellent Goſpel truth both by arguments and ſufferings.
1. Let us earneſtly maintain it by our Arguments and Reaſons. The more excellent a truth is, the more we muſt appear for it, the more extreamly tender we muſt be of any oppoſition that is made againſt it, the more we muſt endeavour to vindicate it and evince it, and to convince the gain-ſayers. It is no wiſdom for a man to lay out all his ſtrength and heat on points of ſmall conſideration, as many men who are as earneſt and as hot in petty matters as it is poſſible for men to be, and ſtrive as much about words (as the Apoſtles phraſe is) as they will about things. But when the weighty points of Goſpel truths come once in agitation, when they are contradicted and oppoſed (as they have been exceedingly of late days) then it behoves us to beſtir our ſelves, to draw up all the arguments that we are able, to call in all the reaſon that we have, to defend and to make good ſuch excellent and pretious things as theſe are: We muſt contend for ſuch truths, for they are worth the ſtriving for with all our might; ſo the Apoſtle Jude would have us, foreign, earneſtly contend or ſtruggle for the faith delivered to the Saints, Jude 2, 1. I think he doth not mean the grace of faith, but the doctrine of faith, which is the Goſpel; and therefore it is added preſently, for there are certain men crept in among you, turning the grace of God (which is the ſubject of the Goſpel) into laſciviouſneſs; ſo that you ſee my Brethren, Goſpel truth muſt be contended for, and that with earneſtneſs, even to an Agony; as once Apollos convinced the diſſenting Jews (who doubted of that great point of the Goſpel, whether Jeſus was that Chriſt or no) and he did it mightily, Act. 18.28. he did it as it were with all his might, being fervent in ſpirit, as it is ſaid at the 25. verſe; ſo that if any in theſe latter times have been too earneſt and too vehement (as ſome have thought) in aſſerting Goſpel truth, either in preaching, or diſcourſe, they may the better be excuſed.
2. Let us earneſtly maintain this excelling Goſpel truth, as by our arguments, ſo by our ſufferings, if God ſhall call us thereunto. It is an extraordinary honor and eſtabliſhment to any truth, when ſome are raiſed up to ſuffer for it. As on the other ſide it is a ſhame and a diſparagement when the profeſſors of it give it over, and relinquiſh it aſſoon as times of tryal come. Oh let not this diſhonour come on the Goſpel by our means: Let us ſtick to it, even to the loſs of goods, and liberty, and life it ſelf, let us ſeal it with our blood. Our Saviour Chriſt himſelf you know, did not think his blood too dear to ratifie the New Covenant, and to eſtabliſh and confirm the Goſpel, to ſeal the truth of Goſpel promiſes. Let us not think that our blood is ill beſtowed, if it may ſerve in any meaſure to that end for which Chriſt ſhed his.
And as we muſt maintain this Goſpel truth as an excellent truth both by our arguments and by our ſufferings: ſo we muſt obey it too as an excellent truth. And this way we ſhall honour it exceedingly, and hold it forth as excellent to all the world. Indeed it is a greater honour and advancement to the Goſpel to obey it, then to defend it, and maintain it. We favour thoſe ſometimes whom we defend; we always honour thoſe whom we obey: And this my Brethren is the greateſt honour we can do the Goſpel, to ſet it up as our rule in our hearts, and in our lives: For you muſt know, my Brethren, that the Goſpel as it ſaves from miſery, ſo it requireth duty too: And hence we read not only of obedience to the Law, but of obedience to the Goſpel too, 2 Theſſ. 1.8. And do you yield it this obedience? Do you live, and do you walk by Goſpel rules? Brethren, I make no queſtion all of you expect ſalvation by the Goſpel: but do you hearken to the counſel and inſtruction of the Goſpel? You expect deliverance by it, but do you yield obedience to it? I pray ſtand ſtill a little, and conſider with your ſelves, and accordingly reſolve. When you prophane Gods holy day, neglect the duties of his worſhip, either in publique or in private, blaſpheme his name, defraud and over-reach your Brethren; when you pleaſe your ſelves with actual or contemplative uncleanneſs; when you drink to drunkenneſs, or walk in any other ſinful courſes, be they what they will: what doth the Goſpel teach you theſe things? I ſay as the Apoſtle, have you ſo learned Chriſt out of the Goſpel?
Doth the pure and holy Goſpel of the Lord Jeſus give any approbation to ſuch courſes? and do you think my Brethren, that the Goſpel will ever ſave you, if it do not guide and rule you? that it will ever make you happy, if it do not make you holy? Now I beſeech you my Beloved, ponder it and weigh it well, and look for no ſalvation by the Goſpel, unles you yield obedience to the Goſpel: For if you do, firſt you diſhonour it; and ſecondly, you diſappoint yout ſelves.
1. Firſt you do exceedingly diſhonour it, you caſt a blemiſh and a ſtain upon it, you do not walk as becometh the Goſpel of Chriſt, but cauſe it to be evil thought, and evil ſpoken of by wicked men: as if Chriſt ſaved men that live and walk and perſevere in lewdneſs and prophaneſs, as if he favoured and allowed of ſuch courſes; as if he fitted and provided heaven for ſwearers, drunkards and unclean perſons. What kind of Doctrine may they think is that which holds out ſuch beatitude to be expected and enjoyed by ſuch wretches? Thus you prejudice the Goſpel, you caſt contempt upon it, and take away its excellency in the eyes of wicked men.
2. Whiles you expect ſalvation by the Goſpel, and do not yield obedience to the Goſpel, you ſtrangely diſappoint your ſelves, and wofully delude your own ſouls; You may be confident of heaven while you perſiſt in ſuch courſes; but when you come thither you will be aſhamed, as Job ſpeaks, chap. 6.20. Believe it Brethren, ſalvation and inſtruction will not be divided: you muſt take them both together; you cannot have the former, without obedience to the latter. If you will hear and learn and practice what the Goſpel teacheth, you ſhall injoy that which the Goſpel offereth. If you will be obedient to the Goſpel, you ſhall be ſaved by the Goſpel, otherwiſe you cannot. As Chriſt is the Author, ſo the Goſpel is the Inſtrument of life and ſalvation to them that obey it. Aſſoon thoſe black Infernal Legions, that are already damned to everlaſting chains and darkneſs, ſhall be ſaved by the Goſpel, as they that caſt behind their backs the precepts of the Goſpel, and will not walk accordingly in their lives and converſations.
It is a dreadful ſentence to this purpoſe, able to break the hearts of wicked men, and to ſhake their joynts in pieces, 2 Theſſ. 1.8. The Lord Jeſus ſhall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire, rendring vengeance to them that know not God, and obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Indeed as Goſpel truth is moſt excellent, ſo diſobedience to this Goſpel truth is moſt dangerous; we know what a fearful doom and dreadful ſentence the Apoſtle thunders out againſt it, Heb. 10.26. If we ſin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth (the Goſpel truth) there remaineth no more ſacrifice for ſin. From which perverſly wreſted, though Novatus did extract that deſperate Hereſie of his, denying hope of pardon unto thoſe who after they were once baptized, relapſed into ſin: Yet (thoſe uncomfortable inferences being laid aſide) this is moſt evidently taught us in that Scripture, viz. That where the mind hath been enlightned once with Goſpel truth, it tends exceedingly to the increaſe and aggravation of thoſe ſins that are committed after and againſt it. And therefore upon theſe conſiderations, labour to walk worthy of ſo glorious a Goſpel, and ſo great a Salvation.