Twenty Sermons, Sermon 11
CHRISTS'S PRECIOUSNESS.
1 PET. II. 7.
Ʋnto you therefore which believe, he is precious; but unto them which are diſobedient, the ſtone which the builders diſallowed, the ſame is made the Head of the Corner.
THE holy Apoſtle, that he might the better draw Chriſtians to believe in Jeſus Chriſt; to love him, embrace him, and obey him as the Captain of their Salvation: in the beginning of this Chapter commends to them both the Word of Chriſt, and Chriſt himſelf, who is the Kirnel and Subſtance of the Word: he commends the Word of Chriſt to them, in the firſt and ſecond verſes of this Chapter. Wherefore laying aſide all malice, and all guile, and hypocriſies, and envies, and evil ſpeakings, as new-born Babes deſire the ſincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby. And he commends Jeſus Chriſt himſelf to them two ways:
Firſt, By ſhewing what he is in himſelf.
Secondly, By ſhewing what benefits Believers have by him.
Firſt, He ſhews what the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is in himſelf; in ver. 4, To whom coming as to a living ſtone, diſallowed indeed of men, but choſen of God, and precious. He is a living ſtone, a ſtone that hath life in himſelf, and a ſtone that gives life unto others: For he that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son, hath not life, 1 John 5.12. —And not only a living ſtone, but he is choſen of God, and very precious; the Pearl of the Goſpel, that precious only excellent one, in compariſon of whom all the Kingdoms of the World are but as a heap of dung:— But then, as the Apoſtle commends him for what he is in himſelf, ſo he commends Jeſus Chriſt, by what he hath done for all thoſe that believe in him. In the 5th ver. Ye alſo as lively ſtones, are built up a ſpiritual Houſe, an holy Prieſthood, to offer up ſpiritual ſacrifices, acceptable to God by Jeſus Chriſt. This invaluable benefit you ſhall have by him; you ſhall not only be juſtified by him, but you ſhall be ſanctified: you ſhall be made a holy Prieſthood, and all your ſervices ſhall be made acceptable through him. To confirm this weighty Truth, the Apoſtle produces a Teſtimony out of the Prophet Iſaiah, Iſa. 28.16, Therefore ſaith the Lord God; Behold, I lay in Sion for a Foundation, a ſtone, a tryed ſtone, a precious corner ſtone, a ſure foundation; he that believeth, ſhall not make haſte. Having thus confirmed this Doctrine, he makes Application of it in this Verſe: and this Application is by way of Comfort to Believers, and diſcomfort to thoſe that believe not.—Firſt, It is a Doctrine that affords a great deal of comfort to Believers: For, ſays he, to you that believe, Jeſus Chriſt is precious: But it adminiſters a great deal of diſcomfort to Unbelievers, To them that are diſobedient, to them that hearken not to the voice of Chriſt; for, ſays the Apoſtle, Though this Chriſt be deſpiſed by them, yet he ſhall be infinitely advanced: he is become the Head, the Corner-ſtone: and they, notwithſtanding their deſpiſing of him, ſhall be everlaſtingly ruined; for he will be to them a ſtumbling-ſtone, and a rock of offence, even to them which ſtumble at the Word, being diſobedient. This is the Connexion, or Context of theſe words with the former. It is the firſt Branch of the Text here that I principally aim at, in theſe words, To you therefore that believe, he is precious. The words (therefore) hath reference unto the fore-going verſe: wherein the Apoſtle tells us, that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is ſuch a Foundation-ſtone, ſuch a Corner-ſtone, ſuch a rock of Salvation, that whoſoever believes in him, ſhall not be confounded, ſhall not be condemned; For there is no condemnation to them that have a part and intereſt in him, Rom. 8.1. Therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, Certainly to you he muſt needs be very precious: As if he ſhould ſay, You have an infinite, and an invaluable benefit by him, therefore you have great reaſon ſo highly to prize him; Ʋnto you that do believe: that is, that can reſt and rely upon this Rock of Salvation, that can pawn your Souls upon him, that can cloſe with him, and cleave to him, and obey him as your Prince and your Saviour; Ʋnto you, ſays the Apoſtle, he is precious; or, he is a price and an honour, for ſo the Original word foreign ſignifies: he is not only precious, but of infinite price; he is not only honourable, but honour it ſelf in the Abſtract: for the word foreign, ſignifies both price and honour. The words being thus opended, afford theſe two Points of Doctrine, which lie clear in the Text.
Doct. 1. That the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is infinitely precious in himſelf.
Doct. 2. As Jeſus Chriſt is precious in himſelf, ſo he is exceeding precious in the eyes of all Believers: and moſt highly prized by them.
Doct. 1. That the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is infinitely precious in himſelf.
He is called in the 4th verſe of this Chapter, A living-ſtone, choſen of God, and precious. And in Iſa. 28.16, Therefore thus ſaith the Lord God; behold, I lay in Sion for a foundation, a ſtone, a tryed ſtone, a precious Corner-ſtone, a ſure Foundation. For the better underſtanding of this Point, two things are to be opened:
Firſt, What it is to be Precious, or what may be included in this Phraſe, precious.
Secondly, How this may be applyed to Jeſus Chriſt; or wherein the preciouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt conſiſts.
Firſt, What is it to be precious? What is included in this Phraſe, precious? The Hebrew word ſignifies divers things: I will name you but theſe five or ſix; and every one of thoſe ſignifications, are rightly applicable to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
Sometimes the word precious, is taken for bright and glorious. Thus the Sun and the Moon are ſaid to walk in brightneſs, Job 31.26, If I beheld the Sun when it ſhined, or the Moon walking in brightneſs. Job there ſpeaking of the Moon, ſays, it walks in brightneſs. it walks as it were through the Heavens honourably, it walks in a great deal of brightneſs and glory. Thus the Lord Jeſus Chriſt in this ſenſe is precious, becauſe he is the glorious ſun of Righteouſneſs; as he is called, Mal. 4.2, Ʋnto you that fear my Name, ſhall the ſun of Righteouſneſs ariſe with healing under his wings. And he calls himſelf the bright Morning-Star, in Rev. 22.16, I am the bright Morning-Star. Again,
Secondly, The word precious, is taken ſometimes for that that is ſcarce and rare to be had; for that which is not beſtowed upon all, but upon ſome few perſons. Thus the Word of God in Samuel's time, was ſaid to be precious, 1 Sam. 3.1, And the Word of the Lord was precious in thoſe days: there was no open Viſion; it was communicated but to a few. And in this ſenſe alſo the Lord Jeſus Chriſt may be ſaid to be precious, becauſe he is communicated but to a very few; A little Flock, Luke 12.32, A little little Flock, as the word ſignifies, a very little Flock in compariſon of thoſe that have no intereſt in him, nor any benefit by him: For not many wiſe men after the fleſh, not many Mighty, not many Noble are called, 1 Cor. 1.26. There are but few, very few in compariſon of the great multitude that have an intereſt in him: in that regard he is precious.
Thirdly, Sometimes the word precious is taken for that which is dear and coſtly. So the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is very dear to his Father; the dearly beloved Son of his boſom, and his blood is very coſtly; it is called, precious blood. If the blood of all the Princes upon Earth had been ſpilt: nay, if all the Angels in Heaven had loſt their lives, it had not been comparable to one drop of the precious blood of Jeſus Chriſt, which is called the blood of God, Acts 20.28, Take heed therefore unto your ſelves, and to all the Flock, over which the Holy Ghoſt hath made you Overſeers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchaſed with his own blood.
Fourthly, The word precious, ſometimes is taken for that which is pleaſant and delightful, Jer. 31.20, Is Ephraim my dear Son? is he a pleaſant Child? There is the ſame word for precious, called pleaſant. In this regard the Lord Jeſus Chriſt may be called precious, becauſe he is ſo delightful to the Father, Iſa. 42.1, Behold my ſervant whom I uphold: mine Elect, in whom my ſoul delighteth.
Fifthly, That may be ſaid to be precious, that is of very great and invaluable uſe, or that whereof we have an indiſpenſable neceſſity. Now in this ſenſe alſo Jeſus Chriſt is precious, he is of infinite uſe to a Believer; ſuch indiſpenſable need have we of him, that without him we muſt periſh everlaſtingly; Except ye eat the fleſh of Chriſt, and drink his blood, you have no life in you, John 6.53.
Laſtly, That is ſaid to be precious, which is honourable; Since thou waſt precious in my ſight, thou haſt been honourable, and I have loved thee; therefore I will give men for thee, and people for thy life, Iſa. 43.4. And as I told you even now, the Original word foreign, ſiguifieth honour, as well as price. So the Lord Jeſus Chriſt he is infinitely honourable, honourable in himſelf; all the Angels honour and admire him: and he is an Honour to his Church and Choſen, to all thoſe that have a part and intereſt in him; therefore he is ſaid to be The glory of his people Iſrael, Luke 2.32, A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Iſrael. You ſee the firſt thing opened, What it is to be precious.
Now the ſecond thing for Explication, is this: How this Title precious may be applyed to Jeſus Chriſt? or wherein does the preciouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt ſo much appear?—For anſwer to this, You muſt know, the preciouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt, does appear in theſe ſix Particulars:
Firſt, He is exceeding, infinitely, unconceivably precious in his Perſon, God and Man united in one Perſon, Co-eſſential with the Father: that is, having the ſame Eſſence and Subſtance with him; in John 10.30, I and my Father are one. And he is Co-equal with the Father: He thought it no robery to be equal with God, Pbil. 2.6, Being the brightneſs of his Fathers Glory, and the expreſs Image of his Perſon, Heb. 1.3. Therefore he is infinitely precious in his Perſon.
Secondly, As he is precious in his Perſon, ſo is he precious in his Titles: thoſe rich and glorious Titles that are attributed to him. For Example, Iſa. 9.6, This is the name wherewith the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is called, Wonderful Counſellonr; El, the Mighty God, the everlaſting Father, the Prince of Peace. Pray mark with what a glorious Title he is called there, The Mighty God; How dare then any blaſphemous Arrian, or Atheiſt, deny the Divinity of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, deny that he is God; when this is one of the Titles wherewith he is called, The Mighty God, The Everlaſting Father, The Prince of Peace? What glorious Titles are here? So you ſhall read he is called his Fathers delight, Iſa. 42.1, Behold my ſervant whom I uphold, mine Elect in whom my ſul delighteth.— And the Fathers boſom-friend, John 1.18, No man hath ſeen God at any time, ſave the only begotten Son, which is in the boſom of the Father, he hath declared him. If the love of all the Parents in the World were concentred in one, it were but as a drop of that infinite Ocean of Love, that is between the Father and the Son: —Nay more, he is called the Fathers Fellow, Zech. 13.7, Awake O Sword, againſt my Shepherd, and againſt the man that is my Fellow, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts. So likewiſe he is called The Head of the Church, Eph. 5.23: and the Judg both of quick and dead, Acts 10.42. In a word, ſuch is the Dignity of his Perſon: ſuch is the Excellency of his Merits: ſuch is the ſweetneſs of his Graces; ſuch is the fulneſs of his Perfection, that the Scripture does abundantly put thoſe terms of honour upon the Lord Chriſt; as ſometimes comparing him to a Corner-ſtone, becauſe he does ſupport us, Epheſ. 2.20. Sometimes to A Vine, becauſe he does refreſh us, John 15.1. Sometimes unto a Phyſician, becauſe he does heal us, Matth. 9.12. Sometimes to a Dayſtar, becauſe he does enlighten us, Rev. 22.16. Sometimes to A Shepherd, becauſe he does lead us, John 10. Sometimes to Manna, or the Bread of life, becauſe he does feed us; What glorious Titles are theſe that are given to Chriſt? therefore he is precious in his Titles.
Thirdly, As he is precious in his Titles, ſo he is precious in his Offices; in his Kingly Office, in his Prieſtly Office, and in his Prophetical Office.
Firſt, He is precious in his Kingly Office, he calls himſelf The King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Rev: 19.16, The King of Kings: He is ſuch a King that conquers the enemies of our Salvation: as Sin, and Satan, and Death, and Hell, and the World; other Kings Rule over us, but this King can only Rule in us: My Kingdom is not of this world, ſaith he; The Kingdom of God is within you, Lnke 17.21. This King can make Laws that can bind the Conſcience; he is ſuch a King as hath all Power in Heaven and Earth committed to him, Matth. 28.18.
Again, He is ſuch a Prieſt as hath reconeiled us to God the Father, and ever lives to make interceſſion for us, who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, Col. 1.21. Heb. 7.25. Heb. 4.15. And he is ſuch a Prophet, as can perfectly inſtruct his Church; others may preach to the ear, but he hath his Pulpit in Heaven only, that can preach to the heart; other Preachers can open the Scriptures, but it is Jeſus Chriſt only that can open our underſtandings, that we may underſtand the Scriptures, Luke 24.45, Then opened he their underderſtandings, that they might underſtand the Scriptures. O what glorious Offices are theſe?
Fourthly, He is precious in his Ordinances: For Example, His Word is exceeding precious to all thoſe that have taſted the ſweetneſs of it; how precious was it to David, Pſalm 119.72, The Law of thy Mouth is better unto me than thouſands of gold and ſilver. How precious are Sabbaths to thoſe that know how much of Heaven is wrapt up in the Sabbath! Certainly, theſe Sabbath-days are Market-days for our Souls, wherein we may make proviſion for Eternity; days wherein the Lord Jeſus Chriſt many times communicates himſelf, and much of his ſweetneſs to thoſe that wait upon him in holy Duties. And how precious is the Ordinance of the Lords Supper! wherein the Lord Chriſt makes us a feaſt of fat things, a feaſt of Wines on the Lees, of fat things, full of Marrow, Wines on the Lees well refined, Iſa. 25. Wherein he gives his own fleſh to eat, his fleſh that was crucified to ſatisfie Divine Juſtice; and his own blood to drink, that blood which only can quench the fire of Hell, quench the fire of Gods anger, which otherwiſe would have been burning, and burning againſt us to all Eternity.
Fifthly, As he is precious in his Ordinances, ſo he is precious in his Prerogatives; for he, and he only is the Saviour of the World, and beſides him there was no other Saviour, Acts 4.12, Neither is there ſalvation in any other, for there is none other Name under Heaven given among men, whereby we muſt be ſaved: That is, there is nothing can be named, for it is but a Hebraiſm; there is nothing can be named under Heaven whereby we can be ſaved, but only the Name of Jeſus Chriſt; he had no Coadjutor, or Helper in the work of our Redemption, Iſa. 63.3, I have trodden the Winepreſs alone, and of the People there was none with me; for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood ſhall be ſprinkled upon my garments, and I will ſtain all my rayment. And as he is the only Saviour, ſo he is the only Mediator too; For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and Man, the Man Chriſt Jeſus, 1 Tim. 2.5. So he is the only Head of his Church, Eph. 1.22, And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the Head over all things to the Church. He only hath the Supremacy and Authority, as being Omnipotent, and Omnipreſent, one that is able to protect his people from all injuries, one that is able to prevent all the plots and projects that are hatcht and invented againſt them: he hath theſe Prerogatives that cannot be given to any Creature in Heaven or Earth, but only unto him; therefore he is precious in his Prerogatives.
Sixthly, The Lord Chriſt is precious alſo in the purchaſe of his blood: the purchaſe he made for us by his blood, is a very precious purchaſe; and the portion that he beſtows on his Elect, that he hath purchaſed for them, is a precious portion; ſo he is precious, not only in regard of his Perſon, but in regard of his Portion. For Example, the Redemption that he hath wrought for us by his blood, is a precious Redemption; a Redemption from Sin, and Satan, and Death, and Hell; In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveneſs of ſins, Epheſ. 1.7.
Secondly, The donation or beſtowing of his Spirit; it is a very precious gift, that the Spirit of God ſhould in his Name, that is for his Merit, be beſtowed upon all thoſe that do believe: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghoſt, whom the Father will ſend in my Name, he ſhall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance whatſoever I have ſaid unto you, John 14.26. O what a precious, invaluable gift is it, to have the Spirit of God given us, to quicken us, to draw us to Jeſus Chriſt, and to carry on the work of Grace in us!
Thirdly, The Graces of the Spirit, which likewiſe are purchaſed by him, are precious Graces: Faith is a precious Grace, as it is called, 2 Pet. 1.2, Simon Peter, a Servant, and an Apoſtle of Jeſus Chriſt, to them that have obtained like precious Faith with us, through the righteouſneſs of God, and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt; that the tryal of your Faith being much more precious than of gold that periſheth. The tryal of Gold is the worſt thing that belongs to Gold: and the tryal of Faith is the worſt thing that belongs to Faith: yet ſaith the Apoſtle, The tryal of your Faith is much more precious than that of Gold, 1 Pet. 1.7. So Repentance, that is a precious Grace, becauſe it is Repentance unto life, as the Apoſtle calls it, Acts 11.18, When they heard theſe things, they held their peace, and glorified God, ſaying, Then hath God alſo to the Gentiles granted Repentance unto life. — And Hope, that is a ſtedfaſt Grace, it is the Anchor of the Soul. And Love, that is a lovely Grace; it brings the Soul into nearer Communion with God.— Then Wiſdom, that is a precious Grace, a ſhining Grace: A mans wiſdom maketh his face to ſhine, ſaith Solomon, Eccleſ. 8.1. And Job ſpeaking of Wiſdom, ſaith he, Job 28.12, 13, But where ſhall Wiſdom be ſound, and where is the place of Ʋnderſtanding? Man knoweth not the price thereof, neither is it found in the Land of the Living; it is of more price than Rubies: it is of an invaluable price. And Humility, that is an honourable Grace. And Fear, that is a preſerving Grace. And Patience, that is a ſupporting Grace. And Perſeverance, that is a Crowning Grace. All theſe Graces are precious Graces, and they are all of them beſtowed upon us, meerly upon the account of Chriſts merits.
Fourthly, The Priviledges that we have by Jeſus Chriſt, they are precious Priviledges: U-union with him, and Communion in his Life and Death, and Reſurrection, and Comforts: acceſs to God the Father, and that with boldneſs.
Fifthly, The Promiſes that are ſealed by his blood, they are precious Promiſes: promiſes for this life, and promiſes for the life to come; that Promiſe, That all ſhall work together fer good to them that love God; a big-bellied promiſe, as I may ſo ſay. All things work together for good: and our prayers and our perſons ſhall be accepted.
Laſtly, The Inheritance that he hath purchaſed for us, is a precious Inheritance; An incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reſerved in Heaven. In brief, Such is the preciouſneſs of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that compare him with the moſt precious things that can be named, and you ſhall ſee they are but vile and baſe in compariſon of him: For Example, 1. The Souls of men and women, they are ſaid to be precious; but Oh, how infinitely precious is Jeſus Chriſt, whoſe blood is a valuable and equivalent price for the Souls of all the men and women in the world.—2. Light is ſaid to be precious; Chriſt ſaid of himſelf, I am the light of the world, John 8.12. Light is precious to thoſe that are in a Dungeon of darkneſs: Now, ſays Jeſus Chriſt, I am the light of the world.—3. Truth is precious, ſo precious that we are to buy it at any rate, and ſell it at no rate; Jeſus Chriſt ſays of himſelf, I am the Truth, John 14.6.—4. Fountains and Springs of water are precious in hot and dry Countreys: Oh the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, he is the Well of Salvation, Iſa. 12.3, Therefore with joy ſhall ye draw water out of the Wells of Salvation.—5. Bread is precious to thoſe that are ready to periſh: a man will venture the getting of bread with the hazard of his life, Lam. 5.9, We get our bread with the peril of our lives. Now Jeſus Chriſt is the Bread of Life, John 6.48.—6. Balm and Balſom is precious. His blood is the only Balm that can cure wounded Souls: ſo precious is the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth, are but a picture of that beauty and preciouſneſs that is in him; he is the Abſtract and Epitome of all perfections: how precious muſt he needs be, to whom all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth do contribute all their Excellencies, to make him excellent and glorious! Thus you ſee the Point opened. Now for the Uſes of it.
Firſt, By way of Information. Is the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſo infinitely precious? you may ſee then, why the Souls of men and women are ſo precious, becauſe they are purchaſed by a precious Saviour, purchaſed by his precious blood. Hearken O ſons of men! why are you tumbling up and down in dirt and clay? why do you not raiſe your hearts and thoughts higher and higher, ſeeing that you have ſuch precious Souls, that are capable of a precious Inheritance? why do you not look after a precious Covenant of Grace, …ealed to you, and precious Promiſes confirmed to you by the blood of Chriſt? why do you not look after that precious Pearl, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who is worth more than ten thouſand worlds? Oh the baſeneſs of the heart of man, that ſhould prefer dirt, and droſs, and dung, before him who is ſo infinitely precious; that they ſhould ſo undervalue their precious Souls, that coſt ſuch an invaluable rate for their Redemption.
Secondly, By way of Information; ſee the horrible greatneſs of the ſin of Unbelief, that makes the Sinner undervalue this precious Redeemer. Says Jeſus Chriſt, You will not come to me, that you might have life, John 5.40. Oh bewail your Unbelief, that keeps Chriſt and your Souls, a precious Chriſt and your poor Souls at ſuch a diſtance.
Thirdly, By way of Information; take notice what a bleſſed condition they are in, that have gotten the Lord Jeſus Chriſt into their Souls! If the Lord beſtows this gift of all gifts, this precious Chriſt upon you, Oh it is more than if he had given thee the World: nay, then if he had given thee ten thouſand Worlds for thy portion; O rejoyce in thy portion; for as ſoon as ever thou art a Believer, thy heart is made a Cabinet for this precious Pearl, the Lord Chriſt; for, He dwells in our hearts by faith, Epheſ. 3.17. Oh, manifeſt to the World the brightneſs of this Pearl; let ſome luſtre of Jeſus Chriſt ſhine in thy Converſation, ſhine through this Cabinet, as Light ſhines through a Lanthorn.
The ſecond Uſe is by way of Exhortation: And here I muſt but name ſome few particulars, anſwerable to the Explication of the Doctrine I inſiſted on more largely; and there are ſeveral Duties I would briefly commend to you, and the Lord give you hearts, and me a heart, and every one a heart to cloſe with this precious Truth tendred to you, in reference to this precious Redeemer.
Firſt, If Jeſus Chriſt be ſo precious in his perſon, as being God and Man: then learn to honour him, admire and adore him; for, This is the will of God the Father, that all ſhould honour Jeſus Chriſt, even as they honour the Father. See it exprefly commanded, in John 5.23, That all men ſhould honour the Son, even as they honour the Father: He that honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father which hath ſent him. Why ſhould they honour the Son, as they honour the Father? becauſe he is ſo precious in his perſon, being God and Man united together in one perſon: therefore ſee that you honour him; therefore kiſs the Son with a kiſs of Reverence, of Love, and of Obidience, leſt his anger be kindled againſt you.
Secondly, Is the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſo precious in his Titles, as being the Delight of the Father, the Fathers Fellow, the Judg of the World, the Judg of quick and dead; O then, never give reſt to your eyes, nor ſlumber to your eye-lids: never reſt ſatisfied with any condition, with any portion, with any parts, priviledges whatſoever here below, till you have got an intereſt in him that is every way ſo precious; get him and get all, want him and want all. A man that catches at the ſhadow, you know loſes the ſubſtance; but get the ſubſtance, and you get the ſhadow with it. So long as you look after other things beſides Chriſt, you loſe him; but if you get him, you get the ſhadow of all: you get life, and peace, and comfort, and all that your hearts can deſire; be content to loſe all to get him, who when you have got, you ſhall be ſure never to loſe.
Thirdly, Is Jeſus Chriſt ſo precious in his Offices, as King, Prieſt, and Prophet? then do you labour to be experimentally partakers of all thoſe Offices, that you alſo may be Kings: And hath made us to be Kings and Prieſts to God and his Father, Rev. 1.6. Labour to be Kings, in Ruling over your own luſts, over your own diſtempers, and paſſions: as he ſaid excellently. Do but conquer thy ſelf, and the world is conquered to thy hand. A greater victory it is for a man to conquer himſelf, than to conquer a Kingdom. Labour in this ſenſe to be Kings, that your iniquities may not have dominion over you, but that you may at length get victory over your luſts, which fight againſt your Souls. Again, labour to be ſpiritual Prieſts, to offer up ſpiritual Sacrifices to God, acceptable through Jeſus Chriſt; and do you labour to be Prophets: that is, endued with ſuch wiſdom, and ſpiritual knowledg, that you may be able to admoniſh, and inſtruct one another. This is that which the Apoſtle ſpeaks of, to the great commendation of the Romans, in Rom. 15.14, And I my ſelf alſo am perſwaded of you my Brethren, that ye alſo are full of goodneſs: filled with all knowledg, able to admoniſh one another. Do you, my Brethren, labour to be like Jeſus Chriſt, in all his Offices.
Fourthly, Is Jeſus Chriſt ſo precious in his Ordinances? O then, do you labour to taſte the ſweetneſs of every Ordinance; taſte the ſweetneſs of the Word of God, that you may ſay, How ſweet is thy Word to my taſte! yea, ſweeter than Honey to my mouth, Pſalm 119.103. Taſte the ſweetneſs of Jeſus Chriſt in the precious Ordinance of the Lords Supper: that you may ſay, I ſate down under his ſhadow with great delight, and his fruit was ſweet to my taſte, Cant. 2.3. And in Cant. 5. ult. His mouth is moſt ſweet; His mouth is ſweetneſſes, as the Hebrew phraſe carries it; and he is altogether lovely: He is moſt ſweet fn his Ordinances; O ſay, one hours Communion with him, is better than all the pleaſures of the World: one taſte of that ſpiced Wine, and of the juice of the Pomgranate, ſpoken of in Cant. 8.2, I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mothers houſe, who would inſtruct me: I would cauſe thee to drink of ſpiced Wine, of the juice of my Pomgranate. One draught of that generous Wine, that ſpiced Wine, how pleaſant and delightful would it be to my Soul! Is Jeſus Chriſt ſo ſweet in his Ordinances: Oh then labour to taſte the ſweetneſs of Jeſus Chriſt in his Ordinances.
Fifthly, Is Jeſus Chriſt ſo precious in his Prerogatives: he is the only Saviour, the only Mediator: then ſubject your ſelves to him, and to none but him; be ſubject to him as your only Prince and Saviour: and ſay, O Lord our God, other Lords beſides thee have had Dominion over us; but by thee only will we make mention of thy Name, Iſa. 26.13.
Laſtly, Is the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſo exceeding precious in the purchaſe of his blood? then do you labour to have an intereſt in his purchaſe; what is it for you to hear of the purchaſe of Chriſts blood, if this purchaſe be not yours, if you have not a ſhare and part in it? What is Chriſt, if he be not my Chriſt? What is his purchaſe, if it be not my purchaſe? For Example, If he hath purchaſed an Eternal Redemption by his own blood: O do you labour every day to get an aſſurance that you are in the number of his Redeemed ones.
But how may we know that?
I anſwer, If you be the Redeemed of Jeſus Chriſt, then you will walk in the way of the Redeemed of Chriſt: and that way is called Holy, Iſa. 35.8, And an high-way ſhall be there, and a way, and it ſhall be called the way of holineſs; the unclean ſhall not paſs over it, but it ſhall be for thoſe; the wayfaring men, though fools, ſhall not err therein. Hath he purchaſed, not only Redemption, but the Donation of his Spirit? Oh, do you beg the Spirit of God: that, that Gift, that great Gift, may be beſtowed on you, according to that Promiſe (a Text I opened to you in many Sermons) And I will put my Spirit within you, and cauſe you to walk in my Statutes: and ye ſhall keep my Judgments and do them; Ezek. 36.27, If any man have not the ſpirit of Chriſt, he is none of his, Rom. 8.9. And do you put the Lord in mind of all thoſe gracious Promiſes that he hath made: I will pour water upon him that is thirſty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit upon thy ſeed, and my bleſſing upon thine off-ſpring, Iſa. 44.3.
Again, Hath he purchaſed ſuch precious Graces to be beſtowed upon all his Children, upon all thoſe that have an intereſt in him? O then, do you labour to be truly gracious: not only to have reſtraining grace, but renewing grace; not only common grace, but ſanctifying grace, ſound faith, ſincere love, unfeigned obedience, that you may have the graces of Humility, meekneſs, patience, that you may have the Image of Jeſus Chriſt ſtamped upon your Souls, that you may receive of his fulneſs, grace for grace: that you may in every grace of Chriſt have a part, that by his Wiſdom you may be made wiſe; by his Holineſs, we may be made holy.
Again, Hath he purchaſed likewiſe ſuch precious Priviledges for his Children? O then, do you labour to be made partakers of thoſe precious Priviledges, to be united to Chriſt, and to have Communion with him, in his life: and becauſe he lives, you may live alſo; I mean, the life of Grace, and life more abundantly: and communion in his Death, becauſe he died for ſin, you may die to ſin; and communion in his Reſurrection, becauſe he roſe from the Grave, you may riſe to holineſs and newneſs of life: And the like.
Again, Hath he purchaſed ſuch precious Promiſes, and all thoſe Promiſes are ſealed in his blood, 2 Cor. 1.20, For all the promiſes of God are in him, Yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. O then, do you labour to be made partakers of thoſe Promiſes, that you may know that you are Heirs of thoſe Promiſes, that you may look upon them as Legacies, bequeathed to you by your dear Lord and Maſter; by your Husband Jeſus Chriſt, who left theſe Legacies to you.
Laſtly, Hath he purchaſed a precious Inheritance, that is incorruptible and undefiled? then I beſeech you in the fear of Almighty God, that you take heed that it fares not with you, as it did with that unbelieving Prince, that ſaw the plenty in Samaria, but did not taſte of it, but died for all that; ſo you to hear of a glorious Inheritance, but to come ſhort of it, and ſo be undone to all Eternity, according to my Afternoon Text: Let us therefore fear, leſt a promiſe being left us of entring into his Reſt, any of you ſhould ſeem to come ſhort of it, Heb. 4.1. Oh, hath he purchaſed this Inheritance? and do not you long to be with him, where you ſhall ſin no more, nor ſorrow no more? Thus you ſee what uſe may be made of the preciouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt in all theſe reſpects: as he is precious in his Perſon, in his Titles, in his Offices, in his Kingly, Prieſtly, and Prophetical Offices, in his Ordinances, in his Prerogatives, in the purchaſes of his Blood: thoſe precious Priviledges and Inheritance he hath purchaſed for us. The Lord help us ſeriouſly to think on theſe things, and to meditate upon them, and to lay them up in our hearts, as Cordials againſt a day wherein we may ſtand in need of them. And ſo I have done with the firſt Point of Doctrine, That Jeſus Chriſt is infinitely precious in himſelf. The other Doctrine is, That the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is exceeding precious to all Believers, and is highly prized by them.