A Treatise of Family Instruction, Chapter 3 · Section 12
SECT. 12. How to draw our Families to cloſe with Chriſt. How to ortifie them againſt the offence of the Croſs.
Direct. 12 ENdeavour as much as in you lieth to draw them to JESUS CHRIST, that they may receive and cloſe with him upon the terms of the Goſpel. Whatever Inſtructions you give your Families, if you leave them Chriſtleſs, you leave them in a miſerable periſhing condition: 1 John 5.12. He that hath not the Son of God, hath not Life. But if you can prevail with them to come to and to cloſe with JESUS CHRIST, they ſhall become the Children of God, and ſhall aſſuredly obtain everlaſting Life: John 1.12. As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on his Name: 1 John 5.12. He that hath the Son hath Life: John 6.47. Verily, verily, I ſay unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlaſting Life.
If you ask, What ſhall we do that we may draw our Children and Servants to come to and cloſe with JESUS CHRIST?
I anſwer:
Firſt, Shew them their miſerable loſt and undone condition without Chriſt. The miſery of Man without Chriſt, is ſet out by the Apoſtle, Epheſ. 2.12. That at that time ye were without Chriſt, being Aliens from the Commonwealth of Iſrael, and Strangers from the Covenants of Promiſe, having no Hope, and without God in the world. In this Text the miſery of ſuch as are without Chriſt, is ſet forth ſeveral ways:
1. They are Aliens from the Commonwealth of Iſrael; that is, they are none of the People of God.
2. They are Strangers from the Covenants of Promiſe; that is, they have no part or portion in any of the promiſes either of the firſt or ſecond Covenant, the Covenant of Works, or the Covenant of Grace.
3. They are without hope; They have no hope of mercy either in this world, or in the world to come: They may have much preſumption, and much carnal ſecurity, but they have no hope.
4. They are without God; that is, without the love and favour of God, without the grace of God, without any communion with and enjoyment of God. There is much alſo ſaid in few words towards the ſetting forth of the miſery of a man that is without Chriſt, in that fore-mentioned Scripture, 1 John 5.12. He that hath not the Son of God, hath not Life. He hath not the Life of Grace here, but is dead in his ſins; he hath not the Life of Glory hereafter, but is debarred of all hope of entring into the Kingdom of Heaven for ever. The conviction of their miſery and periſhing condition without Chriſt, will draw them to ſeek after Chriſt, Luke 15.17, 18. I periſh with hunger, I will ariſe and go to my Father: Mat. 8.25. His Diſciples came to him,—ſaying, Lord ſave us, we periſh. Inform them alſo that ſalvation from their miſerable periſhing condition, is to be had in Chriſt, and no where elſe but in Chriſt, Acts 4.12. Neither is there ſalvation in any other: for there is none other Name under Heaven given among men whereby they may be ſaved. When the people of Iſrael ſaw that ſalvation was to be had in the Lord, and no where elſe, this cauſed them to come to him, Jer. 3.22, 23. Behold we come unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God; truly in vain is ſalvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains; truly in the Lord our God is the ſalvation of Iſrael.
Secondly, Acquaint them with the amiableneſs and excellency of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, & with what benefits they ſhall receive from him, if they embrace him, as namely, that all their ſins ſhall be pardoned, Act. 10.43. and their Souls ſhall be taken into Covenant with God, Iſa. 55.3. and they ſhall be bleſſed with all ſpiritual bleſſings, Eph. 1.3. and that they ſhall have all the bleſſings of Heaven for ever, John 3.16. When the Spouſe had ſet forth Chriſts excellencies, that he was the chiefeſt of ten thouſand, altogether lovely, &c. Cant. 5.10, 16. They that before ſaw no beauty or comelineſs in him why they ſhould deſire him, verſ 9. What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved? &c. fell in love with Chriſt, and began to enquire where they might find him, and how they might come to enjoy him; Chap. 6.1. Whether is thy Beloved gone, O thou faireſt among women, whether is thy beloved turned aſide, that we may ſeek him with thee?
Thirdly, Cauſe them to underſtand that God is very willing to beſtow his Son, and Jeſus Chriſt is very willing to beſtow himſelf upon all thoſe that feel their need of him, and are willing to receive him; as is evident from ſuch Scriptures as theſe: Rev. 22.17. The Spirit and the Bride ſay, Come; and let him that heareth ſay, Come; and let him that is athirſt come; and whoſoever will, let him take of the Water of Life freely: Iſa. 55.1. Ho every one that thirſteth, come ye to the Waters, and he that hath no money, come ye buy and eat, yea come and buy wine and milk without money and without price: Joh. 7.37. In the laſt day, that great day of the Feaſt, Jeſus ſtood and cried, ſaying, If any man thirſt, let him come to me and drink: John 6.37. Him that cometh to me, I will in no wiſe caſt out. The underſtanding of Chriſts love, how willing and ready he is to receive ſuch as come to him, will be a powerful means to draw their Souls to Chriſt, Jer. 31.3. With loving kindneſs have I drawn thee: Hoſ. 11.4. I drew them with the Cords of a man, with the bands of love.
Fourthly, Inform them what Jeſus Chriſt expecteth from thoſe that come to him, and cloſe with him, if they would be owned by him for true Diſciples, and ſuch as ſhall partake of his ſaving benefits: As,
1. They muſt abandon all their ſins, 2 Tim. 2.19. Let every one that nameth the Name of Chriſt, depart from iniquity.
2. They muſt deny themſelves, and take up their Croſs, and follow Chriſt, Mark 8.34. Whoſoever will come after me, let him deny himſelf, and take up his croſs, and follow me: Luke 14.27. Whoſoever doth not bear his Croſs, and come after me, cannot be my Diſciple.
3. They muſt love and prefer Chriſt above all their Relations, and whatſoever elſe is dear to them in the whole world, Matth. 10.37. He that loveth Father or Mother more than me, is not worthy of me; and he that loveth Son or Daughter more than me, is not worthy of me.
4. They muſt take his yoke upon them, and ſubmit to his Government, and obey his Commands; Matth. 11.29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and you ſhall find reſt unto your Souls: John 14.15. If ye love me, keep my Commandments: John 15.14. Ye are my Friends, if ye do whatſoever I command you.
5. They muſt continue believing in Chriſt, and walking in his ways as long as they live, John 8.31. Then ſaid Jeſus unto thoſe Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my words, then are ye my Diſciples indeed. Let them know alſo that the Lord Jeſus doth not expect that they ſhould do theſe things in their own ſtrength; but that if they look up unto him, he will give them his holy Spirit to enable them to do all theſe things, and whatſoever elſe he requireth of them: Ezek. 36.27. I will put my Spirit within you, and cauſe you to walk in my Statutes, and ye ſhall keep my Judgments and do them.
Fifthly, Fortifie them againſt the Offence and Scandal of the Croſs of Chriſt, that they may not revolt and depart from Chriſt after they have embraced him, when they ſhall meet with troubles and perſecutions for the Goſpels ſake, as many are apt to do; Matth. 13.21. Yet hath he not Root in himſelf, but dureth for a while; for when tribulation or perſecution ariſeth becauſe of the Word, by and by he is offended.
If you ask, How ſhall we fortifie our Families againſt the offence of the Croſs, that when troubles ariſe for the Goſpels ſake, they may not fall off from the ways of CHRIST?
I anſwer:
Firſt, Tell them at their entrance into Chriſtianity what they muſt expect to meet withal, if they will be Chriſtians indeed. Let them know they ſhall be hated in the world, 2 Tim. 3.12. Yea, and all that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus ſhall ſuffer perſecution. Luke 21.12. Ye ſhall be hated of all men for my Names ſake, and muſt look for Reproaches, Confiſcation of Goods, Impriſonment, and all ſorts of perſecution. This was the means that Chriſt uſed to keep his Diſciples from being offended at the troubles ſhould come upon them: He told them before hand what they muſt expect to meet with, John 16.1, 2. Theſe things have I ſpoken unto you, that ye ſhould not be offended: They ſhall put you out of the Synagogues; yea, the time cometh, that whoſoever killeth you will think that he doth God ſervice. As it is with thoſe that build an Houſe or a Tower, they ſhould firſt ſit down and conſider what will be the coſt and charges that they muſt be at in building, Luke 14.28, 29, 30. Which of you intending to build a Tower, ſitteth not down firſt, and counteth the coſt, whether he have ſufficient to finiſh it? Leſt haply after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finiſh it, all that behold it begin to mock him, ſaying, This man began to build, and was not able to finiſh. So they who have a purpoſe to become Chriſtians, had need count what it may coſt them to be Chriſtians indeed; they muſt count upon it, that for ought they know, it may coſt them the loſs of all things, even of their Lives, and ſee whether they are willing to become Chriſtians on theſe terms, leſt after they are entred into the ways of Chriſt, they ſhould depart from them when they meet with perſecutions for the Goſpels ſake, and ſo become a reproach and and ſcandal to Religion.
2. Inform them that unleſs they be willing and reſolved to ſuffer the loſs of all things for Chriſt, when they are called to it, they cannot be the Diſciples of Chriſt, Luke 14.33. Whoſoever he be of you, that forſaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my Diſciple. And if they go about to ſave their Lives, when the Lord Jeſus calleth them to lay them down, they ſhall loſe eternal Life: Mark 8.35. Whoſoever will ſave his life, ſhall loſe it; but whoſoever ſhall loſe his life for my ſake and the Goſpels, the ſame ſhall ſave it.
Thirdly, That they may not be diſcouraged from embracing the Lord Jeſus, and the Chriſtian Religion becauſe of thoſe ſufferings that they muſt expect to meet with in the profeſſion and practiſe of the ways of Chriſt, propoſe to them ſuch conſiderations as may encourage them to embrace the Croſs of Chriſt with chearfulneſs: As,
1. Whatſoever loſſes they ſuſtain on the Account of Chriſt or his Goſpel, ſhall be made up to them with an hundred-fold advantage in this life, and if not in the ſame kind, yet in ſome other thing which is as good or better, beſides the recompence that they ſhall have in the world to come, Mark 10.29, 30. Verily, I ſay unto you, There is no man that hath left Houſe, or Brethren, or Siſters, or Father, or Mother, or Wife, or Children, or Lands, for my ſake and the Goſpels, but he ſhall receive an hundred fold now in this time, Houſes, and Brethren and Siſters, and Mothers, and Children, and Lands, with perſecution, and in the world to come life everlaſting.
2. The ſufferings of this preſent life will increaſe our glory in the world to come: 2 Cor. 4.17. Our light afflictions, which are but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory. The glory of Heaven doth ſo far exceed the ſufferings of this preſent life, that they are not worthy to be compared together, Rom. 8.18. For I reckon that the ſufferings of this preſent time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory that ſhall be revealed in us.—
3. It is our happineſs and not our miſery, to ſuffer Reproaches and perſecutions for Chriſts ſake, and it ſhould fill us with joy, rather than caſt us down with ſorrow, when we meet with any ſufferings for Righteouſneſs ſake: Matth. 5.10, 11, 12. Bleſſed are they which are perſecuted for Righteouſneſs ſake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Bleſſed are ye, when men ſhall revile you, and perſecute you, and ſhall ſpeak all manner of evil againſt you falſely, for my ſake, rejoyce and be exceeding glad, for great is your Reward in Heaven: 1 Pet. 4.13, 14. Rejoyce inaſmuch as ye are partakers of Chriſts ſufferings; that when his glory ſhall be revealed, ye may be glad alſo with exceeding joy: If ye be reproached for the name of Chriſt, happy are ye; for the Spirit of God and of Glory reſteth upon you. There is a greater excellency in ſuffering for Chriſt, than in enjoying all the riches of the world, and it is far more eligible to endure the ſharpeſt afflictions, than to enjoy the delights and pleaſures of ſin, Heb. 11.25. Chuſing rather to ſuffer Affliction with the People of GOD, than to enjoy the pleaſures of Sin for a ſeaſon; eſteeming the Reproaches of Chriſt (even thoſe things that are moſt hard to be born) greater Riches than the Treaſures of Egypt, or all the enjoyments in the World.
4. God will not ſuffer any man to be afflicted for Chriſt or the Goſpels ſake, above what he will enable him to bear: 1 Cor. 10.13. God is Faithful, who will not ſuffer you to be tempted above what ye are able, but will alſo with the Temptation make a way to eſcape, that ye may be able to bear it. And when we do ſuffer for Chriſts ſake, the Lord will be with us in all our ſufferings: 2 Cor. 4.9. Perſecuted, but not forſaken; caſt down, but not in deſpair: Iſaiah 43.2. When thou paſſeſt through the Waters, I will be with thee: Pſalm 91.15. I will be with him in trouble, &c.
5. The more we ſuffer for Chriſt, the more abundant conſolation we ſhall have from Chriſt, 2 Cor. 1.5. As the ſufferings of Chriſt abound in us, ſo our Conſolation alſo aboundeth by Chriſt; And we ſhall find more delight in our Conſolations, than we do grief in our ſufferings, Pſal. 94.19. In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my ſoul.
Fourthly, Put them in mind of the great things which Jeſus Chriſt hath ſuffered for them: He became poor for our ſakes, 2 Cor 8.9. He gave his Body to be broken for us, he made his Soul an offering for our ſins, &c. The conſideration of what Chriſt hath ſuffered for us, and how willingly he ſuffered for us (I gave my Back to the ſmiters, and my Cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from ſhame and ſpitting, Iſa. 50.6.) will make us willing to ſuffer for him, and keep us from fainting under our Sufferings: Heb. 12.3. Looking unto JESUS, the Author and Finiſher of our Faith, who for the Joy that was ſet before him, endured the Croſs, deſpiſing the ſhame, and is ſet down at the right hand of the Throne of God: for conſider him that endured ſuch contradiction of ſinners againſt himſelf, leſt you be wearied, and faint in your minds.