Twenty Sermons, Sermon 3
CHRIST'S PROVISION FOR MANS DIRECTION.
Iſaiah XL. 11.
He ſhall feed his Flock like a Shepherd, he ſhall gather his Lambs with his Arms, and carry them in his boſom, and ſhall gently lead thoſe that are with young.
THE firſt verſe of this Chapter will tell you what the ſcope of the Chapter is; namely, to ſpeak comfort to the poor captive Jews in their return from Babylon: and the comfort that is here proclaimed, it is derived from a double Spring: 1. From the Promulgation of the Goſpel. 2. From the coming of Jeſus Chriſt in the Fleſh, who is the Marrow of the Goſpel. 1. From the Promulgation of the Goſpel, and that is amplified two ways: from the Herald that Proclaims it, and by the Place where it was proclaimed. 1. By the Herald that proclaimed it: namely, John the Baptiſt, called the voice of one crying in the wilderneſs, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make ſtraight in the deſart a way for our God. 2. It is amplified by the place where it ſhould be proclaimed, namely, in Sion, or Jeruſalem: in the 9th verſe, O Sion that bringeſt good tidings, get thee up into the high Mountain: O Jeruſalem, that bringeſt good tidings, lift up thy voice with ſtrength: lift it up, be not afraid; ſay to the Cities of Judah, behold your God. Then Chriſts coming in the fleſh, that is deſcribed two ways: 1. By his Terrour to his Enemies. 2. By his mild carriage and behaviour towards his own People. By his Terrour towards his Enemies, in the foregoing verſe, the 10th ver. Behold, the Lord will come with a ſtrong hand, and his Arm ſhall rule for him: behold his reward is with him, and his work before him. Then he is deſcribed here by his meek and mild carriage towards his People, in the words I have read unto you, He ſhall feed his flock like, &c.
Let me firſt open the terms of the Text, and then come to ſome points of Inſtruction: He ſhall feed. The Government of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt in his Church, and towards his Choſen, is expreſt by three names: He is call'd a Ruler, a Leader, and a Shepherd. He is called a Ruler foreign in the Hebrew, in Micah 5.2, But thou Beth-leem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thouſands of Judah, yet out of thee ſhall he come forth unto me, that is to be Ruler in Iſrael, whoſe goings forth have been from of old, from everlaſting. Now Jeſus Chriſt rules three ways: 1. By his Commanding-power. 2. By his Compelling-power. 3. By his Perſwading-power. He hath a Commanding-power, All power is given to me in Heaven and Earth, Matth. 18.35. He hath a Compellingpower, Thoſe mine enemies which would not that I ſhould reign over them, bring hither and ſlay them before me, Luk. 19.27. Then he hath likewiſe a Perſwading-power, Gen. 9.27, God ſhall perſwade Japhet, and he ſhall dwell in the Tents of Shem. 2dly, His Government is expreſt by this Name, He is a Leader to his people. Now Chriſt is a Leader to his People three ways: 1. By teaching of his people: his very enemies did acknowledg it, Mar. 12.14, We know thou teacheſt the way of God in truth. He teacheth them by going before them in a way of good example, John 13.15, I have given you an example, that you ſhould do as I have done. He leads them likewiſe by drawing of them, Cant. 1.4, Draw me, we will run after thee. Then, as he is a Ruler, and a Leader, ſo he is a Shepherd: his Government is compriſed under this Name, He ſhall feed his Flock like a Shepherd. And here in the Text, where under the name of Feeding, is compriſed all the neceſſary attendances and accommodations that conduce to the ſafety and welfare of the Flock; ſuch as providing of them Paſture, and protecting of them from the danger and miſchief of Wolves and Lyons, and Beaſts of Prey; and likewiſe in preventing their ſtragling and wandring in the Wilderneſs: And in curing of thoſe Diſeaſes that are incident to Sheep: All theſe are meant by Feeding. Oh, the Richneſs, and Compleatneſs of this precious Redeemer! well may the Apoſtle ſay, He is able to ſave to the utmoſt thoſe that come to God by him. And well may the Apoſtle ſay, Chriſt is all and in all, becauſe he is both the Ruler, Leader, and Shepherd; the Prince and Captain of our Salvation, and Saviour, and all.
He ſhall gather his Lambs with his Arms. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath a tender care of all his Sheep, that none of them be loſt, as he ſays in that Heavenly Prayer, John 17.11, While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy Name: thoſe that thou gaveſt me I have kept, and none of them is loſt, but the Son of Perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. I, but he hath the moſt tender and pitiful compaſſion towards thoſe that are his Lambs, that is, young Beginners, Babes in Chriſt, thoſe he gathers in his Arms: ſo the Text tells us, thoſe he carries in his boſom; that is, he deals favourably with them; thoſe he cheriſhes with all indulgence; He does not quench the ſmoaking flax, nor break the bruiſed read, Matth. 12.20.
Then he gently leads thoſe that are with young, or thoſe that give ſuck; the Hebrew word foreign ſigfies both. either thoſe that are with young, or thoſe that give ſuck. The Prophet here in the Text alludes to the manner of Jacobs dealing with his Flocks; See what a compaſſionate man that good man was, as you may read, Gen. 33.13, The flocks and the herds that are with young, they are with me: and if men ſhould over-drive them but one day, all the flocks would dye. What a care had Jacob of all his flocks, eſpecially of thoſe that were with young! ſo the Lord Chriſt he gently leads thoſe that are with young; that is, weak Chriſtians, ſuch as are eaſily offended, ſuch as are dejected, and diſcouraged; ſuch as are full of infirmities and imperfections, he gently leads them; that is, he exerciſes a great deal of pity, and patience, and compaſſion, and tenderneſs towards them; In all their afflictions he is afflicted with them, Iſa. 63.9. He hath Sympathizing Bowels towards thoſe that are full of Infirmities: his Bowels are troubled as it were for them; Jer. 31.20, Is Ephraim a dear Son? is he a pleaſant Child? for ſince I ſpake againſt him, I do earneſtly remember him ſtill, therefore my Bowels are troubled for him; I will ſurely have mercy upon him, ſaith the Lord: So that here is gentleneſs in bearing with them, and patience in ſuffering of them: In a word, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, he is a meek, a gentle, a mild, a compaſſionate Saviour, that is the ſum of the whole verſe; he is of a very ſweet, amiable, pliable diſpoſition: As God hath fitted him with a Body, ſo he hath fitted him with a Heart to be a merciful and compaſſionate Redeemer. The words being thus opened, there are two things in them eſpecially preſented to your view: 1. Chriſts relation to his People. 2dly, His mild carriage towards them in that relation.
1. Chriſts relation to his People, that you have in theſe words, He ſhall feed his flock like a Shepherd.
2dly, You have his Meek, Mild, and Gracious carriage towards them; he does both Protect them, and Feed them, and Pity them, and gathers them in his Arms, and carries them in his Boſom, and gently Leads them; and accordingly there are theſe two Points of Doctrine that are moſt eminently and clearly held forth in the Text.
Doct. 1. That Jeſus Chriſt is that Bleſſed Shepherd, that is able both to feed and protect his People here, and to give them eternal Life hereafter.
Doct. 2. That the Lord Jeſus Chriſt in his carriage towards his People, hath a tender reſpect to their Infirmities.
I begin with the firſt Doctrine: The Lord Jeſus Chriſt is that bleſſed Shepherd that is abundantly able to feed and protect his People here, and to give them eternal life hereafter.
For the proof of this Doctrine, take two or three Scriptures, in Joh. 10.11, I am the good Shepherd, the good Shepherd giveth his life for the Sheep: and in Heb. 13.20, He is called the great Shepherd of the Sheep, Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jeſus that great Shepherd of the Sheep, through the blood of the everlaſting Covenant, &c. And he is called the Shepherd and Biſhop of our ſouls, in 1 Pet. 2.20, For ye were as ſheep going aſtray, but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Biſhop of our ſouls: ſo that doubtleſs, Jeſus Chriſt is the moſt bleſſed, the beſt, the greateſt, the ſweeteſt Shepherd that ever was, as will appear by theſe four reaſons.
Firſt, Becauſe he hath the greateſt care over them.
Secondly, Becauſe he hath the greateſt love to his Sheep.
Thirdly, Beeauſe he hath the greateſt power that ever Shepherd had.
Fourthly, Becauſe he hath the greateſt reward for them that can poſſibly be beſtowed.
Firſt, Jeſus Chriſt hath the greateſt care over his Sheep; for he ſeeks them when they are loſt: I come, ſays he, to ſeek and to ſave thoſe which were loſt. Luk. 1.9, 20, For the Son of man is come to ſeek and to ſave that which was loſt. And he gathers them from the ends of the world, he fetches them from all corners of the earth; there is not one of his ſheep, that is, not one that belongs to the election of grace, but in what place ſoever he be, though among Pagans, Heathens, and Infidels; of what condition ſoever he be, whether high or low, rich or poor, noble or ignoble, of what calling or employment ſoever: As ſome will be ready to complain and ſay, I am lockt up under a Calling, I would be better if my Calling would let me: I, but there is not one of Chriſts ſheep that belongs to the election of Grace, though he be lockt up under a Calling, but the Lord Jeſus Chriſt will ſeek him out in what condition or Calling ſoever he be. That's the firſt reaſon, He hath the greateſt care over his ſheep, to gather them into his Fold.
2dly, Becauſe he hath the greateſt love to his ſheep, ſuch love as the like was never heard of: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend, John 15.13. There cannot be greater love manifeſted than this: but ſuch love hath the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, he hath laid down his life, that good Shepherd laid down his life for his ſheep, as in the forenamed place, John 10.11, I am the good Shepherd, the good Shepherd giveth his life for the ſheep. You know Jacob ſheweth a great deal of love to his ſheep, in that (as he tells you) he was in the day-time parched with heat, the drought conſumed him: and in the nighttime pinched with froſt: and he broke his ſleep many times to watch his ſheep, Gen. 31.40, My ſleep, ſays he, departed from mine eyes. That was great love; but David ſhewed greater love to his Flocks, Pſal. 78.70, he followed the Ewes great with young, when God took him from the Sheepfolds to wield the Scepter. And he ſhewed yet greater love to his Flock, as he tells you in 1 Sam. 17.34, 35, And David ſaid unto Saul, Thy ſervant kept his Fathers ſheep, and there came a Lion and a Bear, and took a Lamb out of the ſtock, and I went out after him, & ſmote him, delivered it out of his mouth; and when he aroſe againſt me, I caught him by his beard, and ſmote him, and ſlew him; thy ſervant ſlew both the Lion and the Bear: David ventured very far, he ventured his life for one Lamb of the Flock; but Jeſus Chriſt, that bleſſed Shepherd, did not only venture his life, but he laid down his life for his ſheep; and he did not venture to grapple with an ordinary Lion, but with that roaring Lion that walks about ſeeking whom he may devour: Nay, he did not only wreſtle with that roaring Lion, but with all the powers of darkneſs, he wreſtled with principalities and powers; Nay, he wreſtled with the wrath of a ſin-revenging God, and all that he might ſave his poor ſheep: therefore never was there ſuch a loving Shepherd as the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. That's the ſecond reaſon.
Thirdly, He hath the greateſt power and ability that ever Shepherd had; for this is extraordinary, that he makes all the ſheep he hath: all his ſheep are the workmanſhip of his hands, Pſalm 100.3, Know ye that the Lord he is God, it is he that hath made us, and not we our ſelves: we are his people, and the ſheep of his paſture. He hath that power that he can do whatſoever pleaſeth him in heaven and in earth: All power in heaven and carth is given to him, Matth. 26.18. He hath that power that he is able to deliver his ſheep from the gates of hell; He hath ſaid, that the gates of hell ſhall not prevail againſt them, Matth. 16.18. He hath that power that he can do that for his ſheep that all the world, and all the Princes in the world cannot do for them; and therefore he muſt needs be the beſt Shepherd That's the third reaſon.
Fourthly, He hath the greateſt reward alſo to beſtow upon every one of his ſheep: Alas! his ſheep give nothing to him: My goodneſs does not extend to thee, Pſalm 16.2. We can beſtow nothing upon this bleſſed Shepherd, he hath no need of any thing we have; I, but he beſtows a very rich portion upon his ſheep, a glorious reward: he feeds them, he cloaths them, he protects them here in this world, and gives them eternal life hereafter.
Firſt, This bleſſed Shepherd feeds all his ſheep; he feeds them firſt by his Word, and then by his Sacraments.
He feeds them by his Word, by ſending his Meſſengers as under-Shepherds to feed his Flock: It is a Goſpel-promiſe, that in Jer. 3.15, I will give you Paſtors according to my own heart, which ſhall feed you with knowledg and underſtanding. And it was one end of our Saviours aſcention into Heaven, and a great bleſſing we have by it; he aſcended into heaven that he might give giſts unto men, Epheſ. 4.8, 11, 12, 13 verſes; Wherefore he ſaith, when he aſcended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men; and he gave ſome Apoſtles, and ſome Prophets, and ſome Evangeliſts; and ſome Paſtors and Teachers, for the perfecting of the ſaints, for the work of the Miniſtry, for the edifying of the body of Chriſt. He gave gifts to men: he did not only give extraordinary gifts, ſuch as Apoſtles, and Prophets, and Evangeliſts; but ordinary gifts to Paſtors and Teachers, for the building up of his own body.
And as he feeds his ſheep with his Word, ſo with his Sacraments: and here is ſuch feeding as you did never hear the like; for this bleſſed Shepherd feeds his ſheep with his own fleſh and blood, his own fleſh that was crucified to ſatisfie Divine Juſtice; and his own blood that was ſhed to quench the fire of Gods wrath that was kindled againſt them: this is that our Saviour tells you of in John 6.51, I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he ſhall live for ever: and the bread which I will give is my fleſh, which I will give for the life of the world. And in Revel. 1.5, He hath loved us, and waſht us from our ſins in his blood. As they ſay of the Pelican, when her young ones are ready to die, ſhe opens her breaſt with her bill, and feeds them with her blood; ſo the Lord Jeſus Chriſt feeds every one of his ſheep with his fleſh and blood.
Again, He feeds the ſouls of his ſheep with the graces of his own bleſſed Spirit: as Faith, Repentance, Love, Humility, Sincerity, and the like, which are ſpiritual food, ſuitable to the ſpiritual nature of the ſoul.
So he feeds his ſheep with the Promiſes, which are ſaid to be breaſts of conſolation, Iſa. 66.11, That ye may ſuck and be ſatisfied with the breaſts of conſolation: that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. With the breaſts of conſolation, that is, with the precious promiſes. And this is that which that good King Hezekiah intended in that ſpeech of his, Iſa. 38.16, Oh Lord, by theſe things men live: and in all theſe things is the life of my ſpirit: ſo wilt thou recover me, and make me to live. Theſe precious promiſes made good to my ſoul, by theſe do men live, and theſe are the life of my Spirit. Thus you ſee, how this bleſſed Shepherd feeds his Sheep. But yet more: He does not only feed his Sheep, but he gives them Stomachs alſo; look as it is in point of knowledg, we are not able to ſee him of our ſelves, we cannot ſee him without him, for he is our Light: and as in point of performance, we are not able to believe on him, nor come unto him without him, for he is our ſtrength: ſo here, neither can we feed on Jeſus Chriſt, nor the promiſes, nor the graces of his Spirit, until he gives us a mouth to taſte theſe things; therefore the Apoſtle exhorts us, as new-born Babes deſire the ſincere Milk of the word that we may grow thereby; if ſo be we have taſted that the Lord is gracious; as if he ſhould have ſaid, You cannot feed, unleſs you have taſted of this bleſſed Saviour, 1 Pet. 2.2, 3.
Secondly, As he feeds, ſo he cloaths his Sheep; here amongſt men the Sheep cloaths the Shepherd, the Fleece of the ſheep cloaths the Shepherd: But here, this bleſſed Shepherd cloaths every one of his Sheep; he cloaths them with coſtly raiment indeed, Ezck. 16.10, 11, 12, I cloathed thee alſo with broidered work, and ſhod thee with Badgers skin, and I girded thee about with fine linnen, and I covered thee with Silk; I decked thee alſo with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a Chain upon thy neck, and I put a Jewel on thy forehead, and ear-rings in thine ears, and a beautiful Crown upon thy head; thus waſt thou decked with Gold and Silver, and thy rayment was of fine Linnen, and Silk; and broidred work. Therefore it is that you read that the Apoſtle bids us to put on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Rom. 13.14. He cloaths us with the Robe of his own Righteouſneſs: He covers us with the garments of Salvation; as a Brridegroom decketh himſelf with Ornaments, and as a Bride adorneth her ſelf with her Jewels, Iſa. 61.10.
Thirdly, He does protect his Sheep, and watcheth over them from Morning to Evening: he hath his eye continually upon them: therefore David ſpeaking of the Lord being his Shepherd; then ſays he, Though I walk through the valley of the ſhadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy Rod and thy Staff they comfort me, Pſal. 23.4.
Fourthly and laſtly, He gives to his Sheep Eternal Life, John 10.28, And I give unto my Sheep Eternal Life, and they ſhall never periſh, neither ſhall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Thus you have the Point opened, That Jeſus Chriſt is that Bleſſed Shepherd, who is abundantly able to feed and protect his People here, and to give them Eternal Life hereafter, becauſe he hath the greateſt Care over them, the greateſt Love to them, the greateſt Power that ever Shepherd had, and the greateſt Reward to give them that can poſſibly be beſtowed.
Now for the Uſes of this Point, and they are three, by way of Inſtruction, Examination or Tryal, and Exhortation.
Firſt, By way of Inſtruction: Oh, ſee the Bleſſed, the Happy, the Comfortable Condition of all thoſe that have a part and intereſt in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, this Bleſſed Shepherd! what tongue of Men or Angels is able to expreſs the happy and bleſſed condition of that man that hath gotten Jeſus Chriſt for his Portion! ſuch a one ſhall be ſure of Food, of Cloathing, of Protection, of Joy, of Comfort, of Happineſs, of Eternal Life, and what not? Oh, how may that ſoul dance for joy, that hath gotten Jeſus Chriſt to be his Shepherd! ſurely it is a comfortable and heart-chearing meditation in theſe turbulent and ſtormy times, when the Church of God hath ſo many enemies, and ſo ſew friends; when the Antichriſtian Faction roars againſt the little Flock of this bleſſed Shepherd, like ſo many Bears to devour them; here is the comfort, Jeſus Chriſt ſticks as cloſe to his Flock, as ever David did to his Flock, when the Lyon and the Bear came to make a prey of them: Fear not little Flock (ſays our Saviour) it is your Fashers good pleaſure to give you a Kingdom, Luk. 12.32. As he ſaid when he was ſailing in the Boat with Ceſar, the Boatman beginning to be afraid becauſe of the tempeſtuouſneſs of the waters, Fear not man, thou carrieſt Ceſar and all his Fortunes with him; ſo may it be ſaid of every one that hath Jeſus Chriſt in the Boat with him, Let him not fear: true indeed, the Ship wherein Chriſt and his Sheep are, may be toſſed, but it can never be over-turned, becauſe the Shepherd and Pilot are in it; therefore, happy is the condition of all thoſe that have an intereſt in this Bleſſed Shepherd. But on the contrary, Oh, the deplorable and deſperate condition of all thoſe that have not Jeſus Chriſt for their Shepherd! what are they think you? they are juſt in ſuch a caſe as God threatneth Babylon ſhall be, Iſa. 13.14, God ſays, that Babylon ſhall be as the chaſed Roe, and as a Sheep that no man taketh up. This is the caſe of every one that is yet out of Chriſt, expoſed to be a prey to that roaring Lyon that walketh about ſeeking whom he may devour; thoſe that have not an intereſt in Chriſt, God threatens them, Hoſ. 4.16, I will feed them as a Lamb in a large place: I will feed them, the ſame Hebrew word foreign that ſignifies to feed, ſignifies to let them wander, Num. 14.33, God let the children of Iſrael wander in the wilderneſs for forty years together: So God lets thoſe that have not an intereſt in Chriſt, to wander in the Wilderneſs to their own deſtruction. Oh, that God would open the eyes of thoſe that have not yet ſecured their intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt, that they may ſee what they are, and where they are, and what danger they are expoſed to! So much of the firſt Uſe of Inſtruction.
The ſecond Uſe is by way of Examination; How nearly does it concern every one of us, to call our ſelves to an account, whether we be in the number of Chriſts Sheep, or no? otherwiſe, we can have no comfort by this Doctrine. But may be you will ſay to me, How ſhall we do certainly to know that we are the Sheep of Chriſt, and that Chriſt is that Shepherd that feeds us like a Flock? For anſwer to this; We cannot curiouſly pry into Gods decree, to tell you who are not his Sheep; for it may be there are many that belong to the Election of Grace, that is, many are the Sheep of Chriſt, that are not yet called, nor converted, that are wandring in the Wilderneſ; yet; and though the Lord will not ſuffer them to wander to Deſtruction, yet for the preſent they are not brought into the Folds; therefore we cannot ſay, who are not his Sheep, we cannot ſay who are Reprobate; we may know who are Elected, but we cannot know who are Reprobated; we can tell who are his Sheep, but we cannot tell who are not his Sheep: Now they that are his Sheep, that are Converted and brought home to the Folds of Chriſt, they may be known by theſe four ſigns:
Firſt, If thou art a Sheep of Jeſus Chriſt, certainly the Shepherd hath ſet his mark upon thee, whereby he does know thee, and will own thee at the great day of his appearing, John 10.14, I am the good Shepherd, and know my Sheep, and am known of mine: I know every one of my Sheep, 2 Tim. 2. 19, The Lord knoweth them that are his: he knows them with a diſtinguiſhing knowledg. There are, and will be, at the great and dreadful day of Jeſus Chriſt, abundance that will claim acquaintance with Jeſus Chriſt; Oh, what ſeeking will there be to find his favour at that great day! ſeeking, and ſuing, and crying with tears of blood, for his favour at that day! many will claim acquaintance, and ſay, Lord, Lord, Matt. 7.22, 23, Have not we propheſied in thy name? have not we heard thee teach in our Synagogues? have not we heard thy Meſſengers which thou haſt ſent in thy name, teaching on the Lords day, and on the week-day? nay, have not we ſate at thy Table with thee in the uſe of the Sacrament of thy Body and Blood? to whom the Lord Chriſt will ſay, I know you not, Why? becauſe he does not ſee his Mark upon them: nay, they themſelves, when their conſciences are once awakened, and they begin to look and ſearch for the Mark, they cannot find it upon themſelves, and therefore they will hear that dreadful ſentence, Matth. 25, Depart from me ye curſed into everlaſting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels.
But you will ſay, What is this mark whereby Jeſus Chriſt knows his ſheep, and whereby they may know that they are his? I anſwer, This mark is the holy Spirit of God, which he beſtows upon every true believer, 1 Cor. 6.17, He that is joyned to the Lord, is one Spirit; that is, he that is united to Chriſt, hath the ſame ſpirit that Chriſt hath, hath one and the ſame ſpirit that Chriſt hath, Rom. 8.9, Now if any man hath not the ſpirit of Chriſt, he is none of his: If any man have not this mark upon him, the ſpirit of Chriſt, our Saviour will never own that man for his. Hence it is the Spirit of God is compared to a Seal or Mark, Epheſ. 1.13, After ye believed, ye were ſealed with the holy Spirit of promiſe. If thou haſt received this mark, this ſeal of the Spirit of God upon thy ſoul, thou maiſt be as ſure that thou art one of Chriſts ſheep, as if thou didſt ſee thy name written in the Book of Life. I, but here it may be demanded, But may not this Seal, or this mark be counterfeited? may not a man be miſtaken, and deceived, in thinking he hath this mark, the Spirit of God, when indeed he hath it not? To this I anſwer; Yes, it is poſſible for a man to be miſtaken; and therefore the Apoſtle ſo often preſſes this duty of Examination, 2 Cor. 13.5, Examine your ſelves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own ſelves: know ye not your own ſelves that Jeſus Chriſt is in you except you be reprobates? And let every man prove his own works: the work of grace in his heart, let him prove it, Gal. 6.4, Then ſhall he have rejoycing in himſelf alone, and not in another: he ſhall have rejoycing in the teſtimony of his own conſcience, and not in the witneſs of anothers tongue: therefore we ſhould be examining our hearts, what operations the Spirit of God hath had upon our ſpirits, whether it hath been an enlightning, a quickning, a convincing, a heart-warming, a ſealing, and a healing ſpirit: certainly the healing and ſealingwork of the Spirit goes together, as I have formerly ſhewed you. Many boaſt of the Spirit of God; they queſtion not but they have the Spirit of God; but I told you the Spirit of God never ſets his feal to a blank; there is firſt ſome work of the Spirit of God upon the ſoul, enlightning, convincing, quickning and drawing the heart to Jeſus Chriſt.
So we ſhould examine the fruits and effects of the Spirit of God upon our ſouls. Now there are four fruits eſpecially whereby a man may know he hath received, not the ſpirit that is of the world, but the ſpirit that is of God, 1 Cor. 2.12, by theſe four effects:
Firſt, An unſeigned love to the ſervants of Jeſus Chriſt, that is one effect of the Spirit of God, that proves Jeſus Chriſt hath ſet his mark upon him that hath it, John 13.35, By this ſhall all men know that ye are my diſciples, if ye have love one to another. This is a mark I ſet upon my ſheep. So 1 John 4.7, 8, 12, Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God: and every one that loveth, is born of God, and knoweth God: He that loveth not, knoweth not God. for God is love; And in ver. 12, If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
2. We may know the Spirit of God is beſtowed upon us, by conſtancy in our profeſſion, and ſtedfaſtneſs in the ways of truth: this is one certain mark of the Spirit of God, when a man can hold faſt his profeſſion, and that without wavering; can keep cloſe to the truth. How did Job approve himſelf to be one that belonged to God? My foot hath held his ſteps (ſaith he), his way have I kept, and not declined, Job 23.11. And how did David prove himſelf to be one of his ſheep? I have choſen the way of truth, and I have ſtuck unto thy teſtimonies, Pſal. 119.30, 31. That is a dreadful Scripture in John 2.9, Whoſoever tranſgreſſeth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Chriſt, hath not God. He ſpeaks of tranſgreſſion in Judgment, in running into corrupt Opinions; and he that abides not in the Doctrine of God, but falls from the Truths of Chriſt, he hath no part in God.
3. By a zeal for Gods Glory, his Cauſe, his Truth, eſpecially in evil times. That man that can ſtand up for God, when others forſake him, and ſin againſthim: that man that can be moſt zealous in maintaining of Gods Truth, and can ſay with David in Pſalm 69.9, The zeal of thine houſe hath eaten me up: and the reproaches of them that reproached thee, are fallen upon me. And Pſalm 119.158, I beheld the tranſgreſſors, and was grieved, becauſe they kept not thy word. By this may we know the Spirit of God is in us.
4. By ſympathy and compaſſion towards our Brethren that are in afflictions and miſery: if one member ſuffer, all the reſt of the members ſuffer with it: when we can ſigh in their ſorrows, and bleed in their wounds, and be affected with their miſeries and calamities, as if they were our own. By theſe effects we may know whether we have received the mark of Chriſt, that is, the Spirit of Chriſt. That is the firſt ſign, if you have received the Mark of Chriſt.
Secondly, If thou be a Sheep of Chriſt, thou art returned from thy former wandrings, 1 Pet. 2.25, Ye were as ſheep going aſtray, but are now returned to the Shepherd and Biſhop of our ſouls. Canſt thou ſay, there hath been a work of Converſion wrought on thy ſoul? Once thou waſt unprofitable, but now art profitable; once thou wert wandring in the wilderneſs of ſin, but now thou art brought home to Jeſus Chriſt: Is there a work of Converſion wrought in thy ſoul? canſt not thou ſay now, I am not the ſame man I was, the ſame woman I was? Certainly if there be a returning from your ways of wandring, and walking in paths of new obedience, and keeping in the Fold of Chriſt, then you are the Sheep of Chriſt.
Thirdly, If thou be a Sheep of Jeſus Chriſt, thou mayſt know it by thy carriage towards thy Shepherd; if thou art a Sheep of Chriſt, thou wilt know thy Shepherd, thou wilt know and ſee ſo much ſweetneſs, fulneſs, and all-ſufficiency in him, that thou wilt ſay, None but Chriſt, none but Chriſt: thou wilt count all things but droſs and dung in compariſon of Chriſt.
Thirdly, Thou wilt hear his voice: My ſheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, John 10.27. Now to hear the voice of Chriſt, is to be able to diſcern his voice from the voice of ſtrangers. The Spouſe was able to diſcern the voice of her Beloved, Cant. 2.8, The voice of my Beloved. The great work he was to do, was to work out redemption for me; he was to do and ſuffer much, but all could not daunt him; But he comes leaping on the mountains, and skipping on the hills. Then they follow him: Chriſt ſheep have not only the Ear-mark to hear his voice, but alſo the foot-mark, they follow him whitherſoever he goes: when Chriſt calls them, they ſay, Lo, here we are. They follow him, by imitating him in his Patience, Meekneſs, Humility, &c. And if thou wilt ſtudy how to be like him, that thou mayſt be made more and more conformable to his Image; by thy carriage towards thy Shepherd, thou mayſt know if thou art his Sheep, thou wilt know him, hear his voice, follow him, and labour to be made conformable to him,
A fourth mark whereby thou mayſt know whether thou art a Sheep of Jeſus Chriſt, is this, Thou mayſt know it by thy carriage towards the Flock; that is, towards thy fellow Servants, towards thoſe that are the members of Jeſus Chriſt: It is obſerved of Sheep, that they are the moſt profitable creatures you can name; ſo, if thou be a ſheep of Jeſus Chriſt, thou wilt not be an unprofitable burthen in thy ſtation, but thou wilt be fruitful in thy place, and profitable to others: 1 Cor. 10.33, Even as I pleaſe all men in all things, not ſeeking my own profit, but the profit of many that they may be ſaved. And ſheep, as they are profitable, ſo they are innocent, and harmleſs creatures, they wrong, they injure none; ſo if thou be one of the ſheep of Chriſt, thou wilt be harmleſs, Phil. 2.15, That ye may be blameleſs and harmleſs, the ſons of God without rebuke, in the midſt of a crooked and perverſe Nation. The Greek word for Harmleſs is there, foreign, which ſignifies without Horns, not puſhing one another: if you be the ſheep of Chriſt, you will dearly love one another: but if you bite and devour one another, you are Dogs and not Sheep.
Fifthly, Sheep are contented with their Paſture; Oh! if thou be a ſheep of Jeſus Chriſt, thou wilt bleſs God in any ſtate and condition whatſoever thou art in: thou wilt ſay, If I have gotten Jeſus Chriſt, no matter how poor, and low, and deſpicable my condition on earth be.
Sixthly, Sheep uſually are united one to another, they go in Flocks and Herds, they do not willingly forſake one another: If thou be a ſheep of Chriſt, thou wilt keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, Epheſ. 4.3. Thou wilt not forſake the aſſembly of Gods Saints, Heb. 10.25. Oh my Brethren, you ſhould labour to find theſe ſneepmarks upon your ſouls.
A third Uſe, it is for Exhortation: If Jeſus Chriſt be the bleſſed Shepherd, as you have heard him deſcribed, that hath the greateſt care, and love, and power, and reward; Oh! what an invitation might this be to every one to come to Jeſus Chriſt, and to ſtand out no longer! many perſwaſions have been tendered to you many hundred times, and yet ſome of you never brought home to Jeſus Chriſt to this day: Oh, that this might be that bleſſed day wherein Jeſus Chriſt and ſome wandring ſheep may be brought together! Conſider who calls thee, it is not a Judg, but a Shepherd; and conſider why he calls, not to hurt, but to heal thee? not to kill, but to cure thee; not to puniſh, but to pity thee; Oh, think therefore with thy ſelf, that thou heareſt the Lord Jeſus Chriſt to uſe a homely Phraſe) as it were, whiſtling after thee, as he doth in the miniſtry of his word; ſometimes he comes with ſecret whiſperings: ſometimes he comes openly, whiſtling, ſpeaking, calling, crying in the ears of ſinners: Oh, do but think that thou heardſt the Lord Jeſus Chriſt calling, and crying after thee, Why wilt thou die, and periſh? Why wilt thou be loſt when thou mayſt have a Saviour? Oh, but ſays the poor ſoul, I fear, I fear, that I am ſo diſeaſed, and that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt will not look upon me: Remember, that this Shepherd is compared to a Shepherd that hath healing under his wings, Mal. 4.2,
But ſays the ſoul, I am afraid I have ſo diſpleaſed him, he will never own me: Remember, he is a meek, gentle, and compaſſionate Saviour. There are two things that make men afraid: and they are, Pride and Fury; theſe are not in Chriſt, I am meek and lowly, ſays he, Matth. 11.29, and fury is not in me. But I am loſt, ſays the poor ſheep; Jeſus Chriſt will ſeek that that is loſt; but if I do come, will he certainly own me, and look upon me? I anſwer, Look upon that comfortable Scripture, Luke 15.4, 5, 6, What man of you having a hundred ſheep, if he loſe one of them, doth not leave the Ninety and nine in the Wilderneſs, and go after that which is loſt until he find it? and when he hath found it, he layeth it on his ſhoulders, rejoycing; and when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, ſaying unto them, Rejoyce with me, for I have found my ſheep which was loſt. There are three or four things very obſervable in that Parable, which I would have every poor ſinner that is afraid to come to Chriſt, to look upon.
Firſt, Obſerve, the Shepherd he leaves ninety and nine in the Wilderneſs, and goes and ſeeks after that one ſheep that is loſt. Obſerve, if there be but one ſheep loſt or miſſing, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt beſtows as much pains and care in ſeeking that one ſheep, as if that all the ſheep were loſt: there was but one ſheep miſſing, yet he hath ſo much care of that one, that he leaves all the ninety and nine to ſeek that. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath ſo much care of every one of his ſheep, as if he had but one ſheep to care for: as the Sun for example would ſhine upon the world, though there were but one man in it to ſhine upon: ſo this bleſſed Son of righteouſneſs, if but one ſheep be loſt, he ſeeks after that one.
Secondly, Obſerve, the Shepherd there ſeeks the ſheep before ever the ſheep ſeek the Shepherd. The Lord Jeſus prevents us with his mercies; we cannot ſeek him till he firſt ſeeks us, Pſalm 119. v. laſt, you have Davids Prayer, I have gone aſtray like a loſt ſheep: ſeek thy ſervant, for I do not forget thy commandements.
Thirdly, Obſerve, when he hath found this ſheep, he carries it upon his ſhoulders, or as the Text tells you, he carries his lambs in his arms, and gathers them in his boſom. Mark this, and let it ſink into your hearts: never did any man upon earth go to heaven any other way but upon the ſhoulders of Jeſus Chriſt: never was ſheep ſaved, but only by being embraced in the arms of this bleſſed Shepherd.
Fourthly, Obſerve, the Shepherd rejoyceth when he hath found the ſheep; he rejoyceth to find this one loſt ſheep; obſerve this for thy comfort, thou that art a poor wandring ſheep, diſcouraged from coming to Jeſus Chriſt: obſerve, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt will be more glad in receiving and entertaining thee, than thou canſt be in receiving him. You ſee he rejoyceth that he hath found this one loſt ſheep. Oh therefore be exhorted in Gods fear, to ſtand out no longer, but you that have not yet cloſed with Jeſus Chriſt, come to this Shepherd, that whatſoever your diſeaſes and maladies may be, they may be all removed, and your ſouls ſaved. But may be you will ſay, how ſhall we do to come to this Shepherd, that ſo we may be ſaved by him? I anſwer briefly, That man that would come to Chriſt, he muſt reſolve:
Firſt, That he will flye out of himſelf, and renounce all ſelf-confidence, and ſelf-excellency, and ſelf-righteouſneſs: he that would come to Chriſt, he muſt come poor, come in the ſenſe of his own poverty, come like a poor diſtreſſed ſheep without a Shepherd; he muſt come in the ſenſe and feeling of his own wants and weakneſs: The Son of man came to ſeek and to ſave that which was loſt, Matth. 18.1…. Luke 19.10. Loſt! we are loſt by nature; therefore Chriſt came to ſave all? no, that is not the meaning; but he came to ſave thoſe that feel themſelves loſt: thou muſt be ſenſible of thine own ſpiritual want; thou muſt be ſpiritually poor, or poor in ſpirit.
Secondly, Learn to ſee ſo much beauty and excellency in him, that thou canſt be content to part with any thing for him, any thing that ſtands in competition with him, or oppoſition againſt him; let all go, and ſay, I would have Jeſus Chriſt whatever I part with for his ſake.
Again, Be ſure you hearken to the voice of Chriſt, if thou wouldſt have him for thy Shepherd, John 10.4, 5, And when he putteth forth his own ſheep, he goeth before them, and his own ſheep follow him, for they know his voice, and a ſtranger they will not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of ſtrangers. If thou art a ſheep of Jeſus Chriſt, thou wilt learn the voice of Chriſt, and not be ſeduced and led away with the error of the wicked, to fall from your own ſtedfaſtneſs. When Theodoſius the Emperour deſired to have ſome conference with Arius the Heretick, the Empreſs perſwaded him not to talk and confer with ſuch a Heretick that was ſo envious; for, ſays ſhe, by hearing of him, you may be perverted by his words, and ſo inſnared in his curſed opinion. This was excellent counſel!
Laſtly, You muſt come to Chriſt in a way of Obedience; you muſt take up a reſolution to obey this bleſſed Shepherd. The ſame Hebrew word, that ſignifies to feed, ſignifies to rule; if Chriſt feed thee in his Paſtures, he muſt rule thee. Ʋnite my heart to thee, that I may fear thy name, Pſal. 86.11. But what would you have me do? Come with a full purpoſe, and cleave to this Shepherd, and never to leave him. Do as the Diſciples of Chriſt, in John 6.67, 68, Then ſaid Jeſus unto the Twelve, Will ye alſo go away? Then Simon Peter anſwered him, Lord, to whom ſhall we go, thou haſt the words of eternal life. Oh that we had ſuch a reſolution as Peter had, not only to ſay ſo, but to do ſo, Matt. 26.33, Though all men ſhall be offended becauſe of thee, yet will I never be offended: Maſter, though all forſake thee, yet will we believe in thy name. Thus if you follow this Shepherd, hear, and obey him, then all the ſweetneſs and marrow of this Doctrine belongs to you: The Lord write theſe things upon our hearts, and draw us nearer and nearer to him, that we may ſay he feeds us, and cloaths us, and gives us eternal life. So much for the firſt point of Doctrine drawn from the firſt part of that, Chriſts Relation to his People.