Twenty Sermons, Sermon 12
1 Pet. II. 7.
Ʋnto you therefore which believe, he is precious.—
I Made entrance into this Text the laſt time that we had this ſolemn occaſion of drawing near to God, in the uſe of this precious Ordinance of the Lords Supper; I ſhewed you the Coherence, Senſe, and ſcope of the words: and there were two Points of Doctrine that I drew from them. The firſt was this: That Jeſus Chriſt is infinitely precious in himſelf.
I now come to the ſecond Doctrine drawn from theſe words: and that is this, As Jeſus Chriſt is precious in himſelf; ſo is he exceeding precious to all Believers, and highly prized by them.
For the proof, or ſetling of this Point, before I come to open it to you, I ſhall give you but two Teſtimonies for the Confirmation of it: the one out of the Old Teſtament, the other out of the New; that out of the Old Teſtament, is in Cant. 5.9, 10: where you ſhall read, the ſtrangers enquiring of the Spouſe, that is the Church of Chriſt, ſaying, What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved, O thou faireſt among women? What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved, that thou doſt ſo charge us? The Church makes this anſwer, My Beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefeſt among ten thouſand, &c. My Beloved is white and ruddy; Jeſus Chriſt he is white in reſpect of his Divine Nature; Being the brightneſs of his Fathers Glory, and the expreſs Image of his Perſon, Heb. 1.3. And yet he is red in his Humane Nature, being of the ſame ſubſtance with the firſt Adam, that was made of red Earth; He was white in his Holineſs, but yet he is red alſo in that bloody paſſion, which he was contented to undertake for our ſakes: he was white in his unſpotted Innocency, but yet he is red withal by the imputation of our ſins, which are ſaid to be Crimſon and Scarlet ſins, Iſa. 1.18, Come now and let us reaſon together, ſaith the Lord; though your ſins be as Scarlet, they ſhall be as white as Snow; though they be red like Crimſon, they ſhall be as Wool. Thus Jeſus Chriſt is white and ruddy: I, but ſays the Church withal, He is the chiefeſt among ten thouſand: or he is the Standard-bearer among ten thouſand, as the Hebrew word may be interpreted, the Standard-bearer; he is higher than the Kings of the Earth, therefore called the Standard-bearer, Pſalm 89.27. Alſo, I will make my firſt-born higher than the Kings of the Earth. He guides and leads his people, as being the Captain of their Salvation; he leads them as a Standard-bearer leads an Army by his Colours. Oh what a high price and value did the Church ſet upon Jeſus Chriſt here; He is white and ruddy, the choiceſt among ten thouſand: Chriſt was very precious you ſee in her eyes. The other teſtimony which I ſhall give you, is in the New Teſtament, Phil. 3.8, Yea doubtleſs, and I count all things but loſs, for the excellency of the knowledg of Chriſt Jeſus my Lord; for whom I have ſuffered the loſs of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Chriſt. I count all things but loſs; whatever I eſteemed gain before, all my outward Priviledges that I ſtood upon before, I count them but as loſs: but that is not all, I count all things, ſays he, dung, droſs and dung: or as the Greek phraſe there ſigſignifies, foreign, ſuch things as we caſt out to Dogs: I account them but as ſcrapings, as skins, as parings, as nothing worth, in compariſon of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. If there had been preſented to Paul a whole Mountain of Gold and Silver, and precious Pearls, in compariſon of Jeſus Chriſt, it would have been but as a heap of dung to him: I count all things (ſays he) but loſs and dung, in compariſon of Chriſt. Conſider but what things they were that he did undervalue, in compariſon of Chriſt, and conſider who did undervalue them. Conſider what it was that Paul did undervalue, all the Priviledges that he had: for example, He tells you in the 5th and 6th verſes, Circumciſed the eighth day (ſo outwardly in covenant with God, bearing the Covenant of God in his fleſh: this was nothing in his eſteem) of the ſtook of Iſrael, of the Tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews. Of the Stock of Abraham; this was his Birth-priviledg, but this was nothing: He was a man of Parts and Learning, brought up at the feet of Gamaliel; but all his natural parts, abilities and endowments, all theſe he eſteemed nothing: yea, he was a man of a civil and unblameable converſation; touching the righteouſneſs which is in the Law, blameleſs. As to his outward man, he was blameleſs, none could ſay that black was his eye: yet all theſe Priviledges he eſteemed loſs and dung, in compariſon of Jeſus Chriſt.— And then conſider, who it was that did undervalue them; it was Paul, a Scholar, a man of Parts, a man of no mean City, but of the City of Tarſus in Cilicia, Acts 21.39. It was Paul, that was not a Novice in Religion, that knew not what he ſaid; but Paul the Aged, that was well experienced in ſuch things, that knew very well what he ſaid; it is he that paſſes this account of all things, in compariſon of Jeſus Chriſt; I, ſays he, eſteem all theſe Priviledges: and if I had a thouſand times as many more, I would eſteem them but loſs, and droſs, and dung, as nothing in compariſon of Chriſt. Oh, how invaluable was Jeſus Chriſt to holy Paul, that was a Believer!—
But for the better underſtanding of this Point, that we may ſee how excellent and precious Chriſt is to a Believer, how highly he is prized by him:
Firſt, It may be demanded, Who are thoſe Believers to whom Chriſt is precious?
Secondly, Why is Chriſt ſo precious to them?
Firſt, Who are thoſe Believers to whom Chriſt is precious?
I anſwer, Not they that have only an Hiſtorical Faith of Chriſt, to know that there was ſuch a Saviour that came into the World, and that he was God and Man; and that he is able to ſave to the uttermoſt thoſe that come to him. Nor they that have only a temporary Faith: ſuch a Faith as they had, which you read of in the Parable of the Sower, Matth. 13, They that received the ſeed into ſtony places, the ſame are they which hear the Word, and anon with joy receive it; but they have no root; and for a while believe, but in time of temptation and perſecution, they fall away, Luke 8.13. Not they, I ſay, that thus have only an hiſtorical Faith, or only a temporary Faith; but they are ſaid to be Believers, that are contented to take Jeſus Chriſt upon his own terms: to receive him as their King, and Prieſt, and Prophet: they that can be content to cloſe with him, and to cleave to him, as to the work of their Salvation, and that can ſay with Job, Though thou kill me, I will put my truſt in thee, Job 13.15. In a word, They are ſaid to be Believers, that can reſt and rely upon Jeſus Chriſt; that can caſt their Souls into his Arms, to ſink or ſwim with him, to live or die with him, to be ſaved or damned with him: it is the true Believer the Text here ſpeaks of: when the Apoſtle ſays here, To you that believe he is precious; you muſt not underſtand it of a formal believer, neither muſt you underſtand it of a hypocritical believer: you muſt not underſtand it of thoſe that have a falſe Faith, but of thoſe that have a true Faith. I told you not long ago, which ſome of you may remember, out of that Text, Heb. 10.22, Let us draw near with a true heart, in full aſſurance of Faith; That there was a falſe and counterfeit Faith, as well as a true Faith; for example, I told you, —
Firſt, That that is an eaſie Faith that is eaſily let into the Soul, without any work of conviction, contrition, and humiliation. That Faith that hath no tears, nor prayers, nor earneſt endeavours paid for the purchaſe of it, is cheap ware: and not worth a farthing. —
Secondly, That Faith that is an idle, and an ineffectual Faith, that is never working upon the precepts of God, to obey them: nor on the Promiſes of God, to embrace them: nor on the Threatnings of God, to tremble at them.—
Thirdly, That Faith that is an unthriving Faith, that never grows under the means of Grace. True Faith is a growing Faith, 2 Theſſ. 1.3, ſays the Apoſtle, We are bound to thank God always for you, Brethren, as it is meet: becauſe that your Faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth.—
Fourthly, That Faith that is a looſe and licentious Faith, that Faith that hath room for Chriſt, and room for any reigning luſt alſo: room for Chriſt, and room for the World, and the things of it: when a man can pretend love to Jeſus Chriſt, and yet live in a known ſin: whereas the true Faith purifies the heart, Acts 15.9, And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. To them that have ſuch a Faith, this falſe counterfeit Faith, this eaſie, idle, unthriving, looſe and licentious Faith, to them Chriſt is not at all precious, they ſee no beauty at all in him. But they that have this true Faith, that is uſhered in by conviction and humiliation, that is a growing Faith, an operative and working Faith; this holy Faith, as it is called in the 26 verſe of the Epiſtle of Saint Jude; But ye, Beloved, building up your ſelves in your moſt holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghoſt; To them that have this true Faith, to them Jeſus Chriſt is precious, and they are the Believers the Text here ſpeaks of. So much of the firſt, who are thoſe Believers to whom Jeſus Chriſt is precious?
Secondly, Why is Jeſus Chriſt ſo precious to ſuch Believers? You ſee who they are: but why is he ſo precious to them, ſo highly prized by them? Divers reaſons might be rendered: I ſhall give you theſe five or or ſix.
Firſt, Jeſus Chriſt is ſo highly prized by Believers, becauſe they ſee the indiſpenſable need that they have of him: that without him they are loſt, dead, damned, and undone for ever; therefore they prize him, becauſe they know they cannot live without him; They know that a condemned Priſoner hath not more need of a pardon: a poor beggar that is ready to ſtarve in the ſtreets hath not more need of food: nor a naked man more need of cloaths: nor a ſick man, more need of a Phyſitian, than they have of Jeſus Chriſt; and therefore they prize him. They know they are fooliſh, yea, folly it ſelf, therefore they have need of him to be their wiſdom to guide them: they know they are guilty Sinners, therefore they know they have need of his Righteouſneſs to clear them; they know they are poluted and defiled Sinners, therefore they have need of his blood to purifie them; they know they are expoſed to the wrath of a Sin-revenging God, and the curſe of the condemning Law, and the condemnation of the ſecond Death, therefore they have need of him to be their Redemption; They know that they are infinitely indebted, that they owe to God a debt of ten thouſand Talents, which they are never able to diſcharge, and therefore they have need of Chriſt to be their Surety; they know they are weak, and able to do nothing without him; (without me, ſays Chriſt, ye can do nothing), and they know Chriſt is their ſtrength, as well as Redeemer, and that through Chriſt they can do all things, Phil. 4.13, I can do all things through Chriſt that ſtrengtheneth me. In a word, They know that Jeſus Chriſt is their Rock, their Refuge, their Redeemer, their Peace, their Portion, their All, and therefore they ſee the infinite need they have of him, and that without him they are nothing: they can do nothing, they are worſe than nothing, therefore they prize him. Here is one Reaſon why Jeſus Chriſt is ſo precious to true Believers, becauſe they ſee the infinite need they have of him.
Secondly, Jeſus Chriſt is thus precious to true Believers, becauſe they ſee an invaluable and unconceivable beauty in him. It is true indeed, to Unbelievers, Jeſus Chriſt hath no beauty in him that they ſhould deſire him; as it is Iſa. 53.2, For be ſhall grow up before him as a tender Plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comelineſs, and when we ſhall ſee him, there is no beauty, that we ſhould deſire him. A carnal earthly minded man, he ſays concerning Chriſt, as they did in the place before named, Cant. 5.9, What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved? What is there of ſo much beauty in Chriſt, that we ſhould either eye him, obſerve him, prize him, or ſeek him, or look after him? Acts 4.11, This is the Stone which was ſet at nought by you builders. Jeſus Chriſt is as a thing of nothing in an Unbelievers eye: ſuch a one makes no more reckoning of him (with reverence be it ſpoken) than the dirt under foot: Whereas Faith, you muſt know, hath an Eagles eye, it can ſee things afar off, it ſees a great deal of beauty in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; though in reſpect of any of theſe outward accommodations, there is no beauty at all in him; yet diſcerning things with a Spiritual eye, a Believer ſees Chriſt afar off, as it is ſaid of Abraham, John 8.56, Your Father Abraham rejoyced to ſee my day, and he ſaw it, and was glad. There was an eye of Faith in Abraham; He ſaw my day, and rejoyced. Hence it is, that believing in Chriſt is ſometimes expreſſed by this Phraſe of ſeeing Chriſt, Act. 22.14, Ananias ſpeaking to Paul, ſaid, The God of our Fathers hath choſen thee, that thou ſhouldſt know his will, and ſee that juſt one, and ſhouldſt hear the voice of his mouth. See him, that is, that thou ſhouldſt believe in him. Faith therefore ſees Chriſt; ſees him afar off, ſees him, though cloathed with our fleſh, with our infirmities. Faith looks upon Jeſus Chriſt, and does ſee him evidently crucified, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Gal. 3.1, O fooliſh Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that you ſhould not obey the Truth, before whoſe eyes Jeſus Chriſt hath been evidently ſet forth crucified among you? Nay, Faith ſees a great deal of beauty in his ſufferings, how much more in his glory! for Example, Moſes eſteemed the reproach of Chriſt greater riches than the treaſures in Egypt, Heb. 11.26. Why? for he had reſpect unto the recompence of reward; he had the quickſighted eye of Faith. You read in Mark 2, when the Wiſe men came from the Eaſt to Jeruſalem, to enquire after him that was born King of the Jews, that is, after Jeſus Chriſt; when they came to enquire of him, they firſt came to Jeruſalem; and they ſaw Herod (it may be) arrayed in all his glorious Robes: but we do not read, that they fell down and worſhipped Herod; then they came to Bethlehem, where they ſaw the Babe Jeſus wrapt in Swadling-cloaths, in a poor Garb (it may be little better than rags) yet they fall down and worſhip him. Now, what is the reaſon that they did not worſhip a magnificent glorious Herod, in all his Robes, but they worſhip a poor contemptible Babe in Swadling-cloaths? ſurely this was, becauſe they had a ſpiritual eye of Faith, they looked on Chriſt with an eye of Faith, therefore in his Infancy they ſaw greatneſs; in his meanneſs they ſaw Majeſty; and more Glory in Chriſt in his Rags, than in Herod in his Robes.
Thirdly, Chriſt is thus precious to true Believers, becauſe they do not only ſee the need they have of him, and a great deal of beauty in him: but they do receive very rich and invaluable benefits by him for the preſent.
Firſt, They receive many temporal mercies by him: all their temporal comforts come ſtreaming to them in the blood of Jeſus Chriſt. Chriſt is the Heir of all things, and all things are Believers by Chriſt; All things are yours, ſays the Apoſtle, ſo far as you are Christs, 1 Cor. 3.22.
Secondly, As they receive temporal mercies, ſo they receive many ſpiritual Priviledges, Graces, and comforts by him: They receive ſpiritual Priviledges, as Juſtification, Sanctification, and Adoption.
Firſt, Juſtification. Oh what a Priviledg is this, that through Jeſus Chriſt God ſhould look upon Believers, not as Sinners, but as Saints! for God to ſay of them, Thou art all fair my Beloved, there is no ſpot in thee; in reſpect of Juſtification there is no ſpot in thee, though their Sanctification be imperfect, Cant. 4.7. Believers have the blood of Jeſus Chriſt to take away all their guilt: not only the guilt contracted in their unregenerate eſtate, but the guilt contracted in the eſtate of grace. Alas, ſays a Believer, when I have done a Duty, uſed a comfort, filled my Relations in the beſt manner I can, what would become of me if I had not a Saviour, a Mediator, to take away the iniquity of my holy Offerings? But now, this is a priviledg better worth than the Gold of Ophir, nay better worth than the whole World; namely, by Jeſus Chriſt, and believing in him, We are juſtified from all things from which we could not be juſtified by the Law of Moſes, Act. 13.39.
Secondly, And as they receive the priviledg of Juſtification, ſo Believers receive the priviledg of Sanctification by him; for Chriſt is not only made to us Wiſdom by his Word, and Righteouſneſs by his Merit, but Sanctification alſo by his Spirit, 1 Cor. 1.30. Chriſt is made not only a pattern of holineſs to us, but the principle of holineſs; Believers are ſtrong in his Strength, and wiſe by his Wiſdom, and holy by his Holineſs, and meek by his Meekneſs; they have the Image of Jeſus Chriſt ſtampt upon their Souls: they know him in ſome meaſure, in the power of his death, killing and crucifying the old man, together with the affections and luſts thereof: they know him in the power of his Reſurrection, raiſing them up to a holy and Heavenly Converſation. Thus I ſay, they receive the priviledg of Sanctification by Jeſus Chriſt.
Thirdly, And then they receive the Priviledg of Adoption too; as he is the Natural Son of God, Believers being united to him, they are partakers of his Son-ſhip, they are made the Sons and Daughters of God by Adoption: And I will be a Father to you, and you ſhall be my Sons and Daughters, ſaith the Lord Almighty, 2 Cor. 6. ult.
Secondly, And ſo Believers receive ſpiritual grace from him. Look as the Oyl that was poured upon Aarons head, run down to the skirts of his cloathing; ſo from that fulneſs of Grace which is in Jeſus Chriſt, Believers receive, and grace for grace: a continual ſupply of grace from him, he is the Author of all their graces, he is the Author of their Faith; he is called The Author and Finiſher of their Faith, Heb. 12.2. He is the Author of their Love; Chriſt firſt warms their hearts with a ſenſe of his Love, before they can love him; We love him, becauſe he firſt loved us, 1 John 4.19. He is the Author of their Repentance: God hath exalted him to be a Prince, and a Saviour, to give repentance and remiſſion of ſins to his people, Acts 5.31.
Thirdly, And then they receive ſpiritual comforts by him too; My peace I give unto you, my peace I leave with you: not as the world giveth, give I unto yon; let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid, John 14.27. He gives Believers that peace that the World can neither give, nor take away from them; that peace and comfort, that can hold up their heads in all outward ſtorms: In the world (ſays he) you ſhall have tribulation, but in me you ſhall have peace, John 16. ult. At the ſame time, when they have tribulation in the world, they may have peace in Chriſt; at the ſame time when there is ratling upon the Tiles, there may be Muſick in the Chamber; outward tribulations, and inward conſolations, they may ſtand together at the very ſame time: In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy Comforts delight my Soul, Pſalm 94.19. So, though there may be multitude of troubles within, yet there may be comforts to refreſh the Soul. This is the third Reaſon, why Jeſus Chriſt is ſo precious to Believers, Becauſe they have much in hand from Chriſt: they have Temporal Mercies, and Spiritual Mercies, Spiritual Priviledges, Juſtification, Sanctification, and Adoption; and Spiritual Graces, and Spiritual Comforts.
Reaſ. 4. Jeſus Chriſt is very precious to Believers, becauſe they expect much from him. As they have much in hand by him, ſo they have more in hope from him; they have much for the preſent, but more for the future; for, what do they expect from him but an Inheritance incorrupted, undefiled, reſerved in Heaven for them: an everlaſting Kingdom, a Kingdom that cannot be ſhaken, everlaſting Communion with himſelf, boſom-Communion with himſelf in Glory; to have their Souls bathed in thoſe Rivers of pleaſure that are at his right hand for evermore: yea, the following the Lamb. whereſoever he goes, to be triumphing in his Praiſes, to be ſounding forth thoſe Hallelujahs to him that ſits upon the Throne for ever, to live and lie in his continual embraces: Eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive, what God hath laid up for them that love him. Now, becauſe with the eye of Faith they look upon theſe things, and they fully expect to enjoy them: therefore hence it is they do ſo highly prize Jeſus Chriſt.
Reaſ. 5. Jeſus Chriſt is very precious to Believers: they do moſt highly prize him, Becauſe Faith you muſt know, is a uniting grace, an eſpouſing grace; it is the Wedding-Ring. as I have ſometimes told you, that makes up the Match between Jeſus Chriſt and the poor Soul: as ſoon as ever a man comes to be a Believer, to take Jeſus Chriſt to be his Head, his Husband, his Portion, then is the Match made up between them: Chriſt dwells in our hearts by Faith, Epheſ. 3.17. Now then, Believers being thus eſpouſed to him, thus united to him, they cannot but dearly love him. As a Wife that hath pitcht her affections upon a Husband, and forſaken all others: and hath vowed to cleave to him, and him only, while they both ſhall live, therefore ſhe does prize him above all the men in the World: ſo when the Soul is once united to Chriſt, marryed to him (Thy Maker is thy Huſband); when the Soul is eſpouſed to Chriſt, it cannot but dearly love him, and forſake all others in compariſon of him.
Reaſ. 6. Jeſus Chriſt is very precious to Believers, Becauſe true Faith ever works by Love, Gal. 5.6, For in Chriſt Jeſus, neither Circumciſion availeth any thing, nor Ʋncircumciſion, but Faith which worketh by Love. True Faith will make a man dearly love the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; now, if we love him, we cannot but prize him whom we love ſo dearly.
The Uſe I ſhall make of this Point briefly:
Firſt, For Examination. And, O that you and I could engage our own hearts a while, and call our ſelves to account in ſad and ſerious thoughts, whether Jeſus Chriſt be precious to us, yea or no; Is he highly prized by you, even by you that hear me this day? Can you ſay with the Church, My Beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefeſt of ten thouſand? And with St. Paul, I eſteem all things but droſs and dung, in compariſon of Jeſus Chriſt; the whole World, the glory, the beauty, and treaſures, and pleaſures of it, but as a heap of dung, in compariſon of him? this pitch and frame you muſt come unto, or elſe you can never have any aſſurance that Chriſt is yours, and that you are his; for, as our Saviour ſaith in the like caſe, He that loveth Father or Mother more than me, is not worthy of me, &c. Matth. 10.37. So here, if any thing be more prized than Jeſus Chriſt, you can have no aſſurance that Chriſt is your portion; if any thing be preferred before him, or prized more highly than he: is there not great need then, that you ſhould enquire whether Jeſus-Chriſt be precious to you, yea or no? That I may preſs you to this enquiry, conſider but this one Motive: this is one of the ſureſt Characters to diſtingniſh between a ſincere-hearted Chriſtian, and an Hypocrite: For, he that is ſincere, and upright-hearted, does lay Jeſus Chriſt the neareſt to his heart, and ſays, None but Chriſt, nothing but Chriſt; whereas ever obſerve it, and you ſhall ſee a Hypocrite hath always ſomething that lies nearer to his heart than Jeſus Chriſt does; however he may ſhew much love to Chriſt with his mouth, yet his heart goes after his covetouſneſs, or after ſome baſe luſt or other; as God told the Prophet, Ezek. 33.31, And they come unto thee as my People, and they ſit before thee as my People, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they ſhew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetouſneſs. So that Jeſus Chriſt hath not the heart of a Hypocrite; he may have the mouth of a Hypocrite, a ſhew of love, but there is ſomething ſtill that doth lie nearer his heart than Chriſt does. Look into the parable of the Sower; and you will find that Seed that was ſown in the ſtony-ground, it ſprung up and made a fair ſhew for a while, but there was ſomething that lay between the ſeed and the Soil; ſo there is ſomething that lies between Jeſus Chriſt and the Soul of a Hypocrite. You know the ſtory of the young man in Matth. 19.22. When Jeſus Chriſt made him a fair proffer, Go and ſell that thou haſt (ſays he) and give it to the poor, and thou ſhalt have treaſure in Heaven, and come and follow me. He made a fair ſhew, but the world lay nearer his heart than Jeſus Chriſt did; therefore, when he bid them ſell all, and give to the poor: he went away very ſorrowful. And you know the ſtory of Orpah and Ruth, Ruth 1. Orpah, ſhe gave her Mother-in-Law a kiſs, and bid her Farewel, but Ruth clave to her Mother Naomi. So it is here, It may be an Hypocrite can complement with the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, can give him ſome outward Ceremonial obſervance; but, when it comes to this, that he muſt part with any thing for Chriſt; when Chriſt tells him, If thou wilt be mine, thou muſt take me on my own terms: thou muſt look to bear my Croſs, as well as to wear my Crown; thou muſt look for Hatred, Perſecution, a Croſs, a Priſon for my ſake, then he begins to ſhrink and draw back; I love Jeſus Chriſt well, ſays he, but I love pleaſures better, the World better, Liberty better, ſtill there is ſomething that a Hypocrite prizes before Jeſus Chriſt.
But then you will ſay, How may I do to know that Jeſus Chriſt is precious to me indeed? I will tell you briefly:
Firſt, See whether your deſires be ſtrongly carried out after the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; whether they be vehement, conſtant, and induſtrious deſires, or no; for, if your deſires after Jeſus Chriſt be right, they will be very vehement deſires, like hunger and thirſt, that are commanding: The appetite hunger it hath this property, not only to be violent in its deſires, but to be terminated to one object; I muſt have food, ſays an hungry man, and nothing but food will pleaſe him; offer him Muſick, no, that will not content him; offer him Gold and Silver, that will not content him; he muſt have food, and nothing in the World but food will content and ſatisfie him. So that Soul that hath a true deſire after Chriſt, ſays, I muſt have Chriſt, and none but Chriſt will content me; Riches, Pleaſures, Honours will not ſatisfie my Soul: I muſt have Chriſt, none but Chriſt.
Secondly, And are your deſires conſtant, and continued deſires? It may be ſome men may have flaſhes of deſires, when their Conſciences are awakened, when they lie tumbling upon a ſickbed, or when the wrath of God begins to be kindled againſt them: But tell me, Are thy deſires conſtant? Canſt thou ſay with David, My ſoul breaketh for the longing it hath unto thy Judgments at all times? Pſalm 119.20. I know there may be an intermiſſion of the act of deſire, but then the conſtant bent of the Soul is Chriſward. As a Tradeſman, that makes it his T… to buy and ſell, though he doth not always buy and ſell; ſo the Soul will be always trading in deſire for Chriſt, though there may be an intermiſſion of deſires.
Thirdly, Are they induſtrious deſires, that make you not only to deſire him, but to ſeek him? The deſire of our Soul is to thy Name, O Lord, and to the remembrance of thee. And then, With my ſoul have I deſired thee in the night; yea, with my Spirit will I ſeek thee early, Iſa. 26.8, 9. If ſo be your deſires after Chriſt be right, they will put you upon all means of Grace, and the uſing of them carefully, and conſcientiouſly enquiring after him, and following of him in the uſe of every Ordinance. This is the firſt way, whereby you may know whether Chriſt be precious to you; See what your deſires are: if they be ſtrongly carried out after Chriſt, if they be vehement, conſtant and induſtrious deſires.
Secondly, Would you know whether Jeſus Chriſt be precious to your Souls, yea or no? then ſee whether your love to Jeſus Chriſt be a true love, unfeigned love; whether you love him in ſincerity, or no? Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jeſus Chriſt in ſincerity, Amen, Epheſ. 6. ult. Implying, many love him not in ſincerity. Thus you may know, whether you love the Lord Jeſus Chriſt in ſincerity.
Firſt, You will remember Chriſt, your hearts will be much taken up with him; When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches, Pſalm. 63.6. Are your thoughts taken up with him?
Secondly, If you love him in ſincerity, you will hold no correſpondency with ſin: you will hate ſin, and hate every ſin.
Thirdly, If your love to Chriſt be ſincere, it will be accompanied with ſmarting ſorrow for your former unkindneſſes to him; as Mary Magdalen, becauſe ſhe loved much, ſhe wept much. Thus will ſuch a Soul ſay, Againſt thee have I ſinned, thee have I offended; with Judas I have betrayed thee, though thou didſt never ſhed thy blood for him, as thou didſt for me; therefore my ſins are the greater, becauſe againſt thee I have ſinned.
Thirdly, Would you know whether Chriſt be precious to you, or no? let me then propound to you theſe three Soul-ſearching Queſtions:
Firſt, Tell me, What are you willing to give for Chriſt?
Secondly, What are you willing to loſe for Chriſt?
Thirdly, What pains are you willing to take that you may obtain him?
Firſt, If you would know whether Chriſt be precious to you, then anſwer this Queſtion, What are you willing to give for Chriſt? I know nothing can be given by way of merit, do not underſtand me ſo; but what are you willing to give in the uſe of means?
Firſt, Are you willing to give as much for Chriſt now, as you would give in a time of ſickneſs, when you are lying upon your Death-beds: when the Soul ſits upon the lips, and is ready to take its leave? Are you willing to give as much now in health, as you would give in a time of ſickneſs? Oh, when a man lies on his ſick-bed, and Death knocks at his door, Chriſt then, it may be, would be very precious to him: Oh what would he then give for a Chriſt? Thoſe in Noah's time, that never regarded the Ark all the while it was a building: yet when the Flood came, what would they have given for an Ark then? What would you give for Chriſt at that time when you are upon a Deathbed, ready to be delivered by your Death-bed, to your cold Grave? Certainly, Chriſt is as precious now, as he will be when you lie upon a ſick-bed, when you ſhall look Death in the face.
Again, Are you willing to give as much for Chriſt now, as at the day of Judgment? Oh what ſeeking and ſuing will there be to Chriſt at that day! Lord, pity me; Lord, own me, I am undone for ever without thee. Oh what ſeeking and ſuing will there be to Chriſt at that day! Certainly, Chriſt is as precious now as he will be at that day, when he ſhall come in Flames of fire, taking vengeance on them that know him not, and obey not his Goſpel, 2 Theſſ. 1.8. Can you be content to give as much for him now, as you would give in that day for him? Can you be contented to give as much for him, as a damned Soul would give for him, if it were poſſible he could purchaſe him? Certainly he is as precious now, as he would be to a damned ſoul, if he could be made partaker of him.
In a word, Tell me, Are you willing to give up your ſelves to him, wholly to be ruled by him? to give up your Underſtandings to him, to deſire to know nothing but Jeſus Chriſt, and him crucified? To give up your Will to him: to ſay, Rule in me as thou pleaſeſt, ſo I may be but thine? to give up your Affections to him, to love him, to delight in him, to rejoyce in him; to ſay with the Apoſtle, God ſorbid I ſhould rejoyce in any thing, ſave in the Croſs of Chriſt, Gal. 6.14. If you can do thus, then you have anſwered the firſt Queſtion, and you may know certainly, Jeſus Chriſt is precious to you.
Secondly, Tell me, What are you willing to loſe for Chriſt, to part with for a precious Redeemer?
Firſt, Are you willing to part with your ſins, though they may be never ſo near and dear to you, though they be as your right hand and right eye? can you throw them away from you with deteſtation? Iſa. 30.22, Ye ſhall defile alſo the covering of your graven Image, and the Ornament of thy molten Image of gold; thou ſhalt caſt them away as a menſtruous cloth, thou ſhalt ſay unto it, get thee hence; they ſhall caſt away their Idols with deteſtation.
Again, Can you be content to part with the World, your Eſtates, your Liberties, your Comforts, any thing for Chriſt? Underſtand me thus:
Firſt, If they come in competition with him.
Secondly, If they ſtand in oppoſition to him.
Firſt, If they come in competition with him: Tell me, can you hate Father, Mother, Wife, children, any thing that is near and dear to you, if it ſtand in competition with Chriſt? or any thing that ſtands in oppoſition to him? If any thing hinders the meeting of Chriſt and your Souls, though never ſo near and dear to you, can you caſt it away? can you be content to part with it?
Thirdly, Anſwer me this Queſtion, What pains can you be contented to take for the gaining of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt? can you be as induſtrious and unwearied in the purſuit of thoſe unſearchable riches that are laid up in Chriſt, as you are after theſe temporary and tranſitory riches, that oftentimes take to themſelves wings and fly away? can you be as unſatiable, in ſeeking to gain Jeſus Chriſt on the Lords Day, as you are unwearied in your Callings on the Week day? certain it is, if Jeſus Chriſt be precious to you, you will think no pains too great: you will think no coſt too much, you will think no induſtry can be great enough for the purchaſing this Pearl of Price; you will, with the Wiſe Merchant in the Goſpel, ſell all to purchaſe him; you will ſeek him in the Streets, as the Spouſe did; you will ſeek him in the Aſſemblies: you will be driving a Trade ſtill, that you may get more of him: more influences of Grace from him, and more conformity unto him. This is the firſt Uſe of Examination, to diſcover whether Jeſus Chriſt be precious to you, or no; if your deſires be ſtrongly carried out after him, if your love be a ſervent and ſincere love; if you can be content to give any thing for him, and to loſe or part with any thing for his ſake: and if you can be content to take any pains, and think no pains too great to gain him, who is the Pearl of great Price. The Lord make your own hearts your Judges in this particular. And ſo much for the firſt Uſe of Examination. There are three other Uſes: a Uſe of Conviction, a Uſe of Information, and a Uſe of Exhortation: But I muſt refer them to another opportunity.