The Leper and the Lepers House Cleansed, Part 5
PART V.
Thus having finiſhed the Work about the Sprinkling-bruſh, which was made up of Scarlet, Cedar-wood, and Hyſſop; we next come to ſpeak of ſome other things which were uſed in the Cleanſing of the Leper.
THe Particulars you may read at your leiſure, as they are noted in Lev. 14. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 Verſes, where, firſt of all, the Prieſt was to kill the Lamb in the holy Place, then was he to take ſome of the Bloud of the Lamb, and put it upon the right Ear, the Thumb of the right Hand, and the great Toe of the right Foot of him that was to be cleanſed; then was the Prieſt to take ſome of a Log of Oil, and pour it into the Palm of his own left Hand, then was he to ſprinkle the Oil, with his Finger ſeven times, before the Lord. This Work was done by a Synecdochy, tipping ſome parts of the Body for the whole, which vertually comprehends the ſeveral Parts of the Whole Man; which Miſtery ſhadows out theſe two things to us, namely, Our Juſtification and Sanctification by Jeſus Chriſt.
First, The Lamb that was to be killed, was a Type of Chriſt dying for Sinners, as the Bird was before, the Bloud of both being of one and the ſame Signification, typing out the Bloud of Chriſt, as the meritorious Cauſe of our being waſhed and cleanſed from the Guilt of all our Sins, 1 John 1. 7.
2. The Oyl uſed in this Cleanſing-work, typed forth to us the Graces of the Spirit of God in our Sanctification, of which the Apoſtle ſpeaks in 1 John 2. 27. But the Anointing which ye have received of him, abideth in you, and ye need not that any Man teach you, but as the ſame Anointing teacheth you all things, and is Truth. New we need not queſtion, but that John the Divine hath referrence to the Anointing-oyl which was poured forth upon the Head of the levitical High-Prieſt, who was a Type of Jeſus Chriſt, Lev. 8. 30. of which David ſpeaks more at large in Pſalm 133. Ver. 2. which the Apoſtle applies to Chriſt, Heb. 1. 9. Thus hast loved Rightouſneſs and hated Iniquity, therefore God, even thy God hath anointed thee with the Oyl of Gladneſs above thy Fellows.
And one reaſon that's given of Chriſt's being anointed, you have in John, John 1. 16. That of his Fulneſs we might all receive, and Grace for Grace: For as Oyl is beautifying to the Countenance, mollifying to the Fleſh, and cheering to the Heart, ſo is the Oyl of Grace and Sanctification; its beautifying to the Soul, Ezek. 16. 14. Thou art Perfect through my Comelineſs put upon thee, ſaith the Lord.
2dly, It's ſoftning to the Heart, Job 23. 16. For God maketh my Heart ſoft.
3dly, And it is comforting and cheering to the Whole Man, Pſal. 4. 7. Thou hast put Gladneſs into my Heart, more than in the time that their Corn and Wine increaſed.
One thing more to be obſerved in the Cleanſing the Jewiſh Leper, is this; namely, That the Prieſt was to make an Application both of the Bloud and Oil to the Leper; not the Bloud without the Oil, nor the Oil without the Bloud, but both of them together, as ſoon as the Prieſt could apply each one after the other, the Bloud applied firſt, and then the Oil next.
From hence we may obſerve this Point of Doctrine: Doct. That when Christ doth Juſtifie a Soul by his Bloud, the ſame doth he Sanctifie by the Oil of his Grace.
Look through the whole Book of God, and you will find nothing more a truth than this, nor can you read of one Perſon therein, who is recorded for a juſtified Man, by the Bloud of Chriſt, but you ſhall find it affirmed of him, that he was a ſanctified Man by the Oil of Chriſt's Grace; beſides, How fully doth the Word ſpeak out the Truth of the thing itſelf, Rom. 8. 30. Moreover, whom he did Predeſtinate, them he alſo Called. 1 Pet. 1. 2. Elect, according to the Fore-knowledge of God, through the Sanctification of the Spirit. 1 John 5. 6, 7, 8. This is he that came by Water and Bloud, even Jeſus Christ, not by Water only, but by Water and Bloud; for there are three that bear Record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and theſe three are one; and there are three that bear Witneſs in Earth, the Spirit, the Water and Bloud, and theſe three agree in one. 2 Theſſ. 2. 13. Becauſe God hath from the beginning, choſen you to Salvation thro Sanctification and Belief of the Truth.
And ſo we come to the Reaſon of the Point:
Reaſon.] Now the Reaſon why, where Chriſt Juſtifies by his Bloud, there he Sanctifies by his Spirit, is, that the Juſtified might be made meet and fit Temples for himſelf to live in here; and alſo, that they may be filled and made meet to dwell with him hereafter. Firſt, Chriſt muſt dwell in his People here in this Life, Epheſ. 3. 17. That Christ may dwell in your Hearts by Faith. 1 Cor. 6. 19. Know ye not that your Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own. Thus, as Chriſt fits the Souls of his People, by Grace and Sanctification, as Temples for himſelf to dwell in here, ſo alſo by the ſame means doth he prepare them, that they may be Company meet to dwell with him in Glory hereafter, 2 Theſſ. 2. 14. Whereunto he hath called you by our Goſpel, to the obtaining of the Glory of our Lord Jeſus Christ. Col. 1. 12. Who hath made you meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light.
Now it's only Sanctification that can fit, prepare, and qualifie the Soul, as a Habitation fit for Chriſt to take up his Reſidence in, while in this Life; and it is nothing ſhort of true Sanctification, which can prepare the Soul to live in Glory with Chriſt, when this Life is over, Acts 15. 9. Purifying their Hearts by Faith. And, without Holineſs, no Man ſhall ſee the Lord, Heb. 12. 14.
The ſecond Reaſon of the Point is this, becauſe, all thoſe which are Chriſt's juſtified Ones, are ordained thereby to bring forth Fruit to God; this is what our Saviour told his Diſciples, That the reaſon why his Father elected them by his Grace, and why himſelf redeemed them by his Bloud, and juſtified them by his Obedience, all this was that they might bring forth holy Fruit to God, Epheſ. 2. 10. For ye are his Workmanſhip, created in Christ Jeſus unto good Works, which God hath before ordained that we ſhould Walk in them. Epheſ. 1. 4. According as he hath choſen us in him, before the Foundation of the World, that we ſhould be Holy, and without Blame before him in Love. John 15. 16. Ye have not choſen me, but I have choſen you, and ordained you, that you ſhould go and bring forth Fruit, and your Fruit ſhould remain.
Now this Fruitfulneſs can never be brought forth, without Grace and Sanctification be firſt poured forth upon the Heart; for, whatever the Fruit be that is brought forth, it can be of no other kind than the Root is from whence it ſprings; if the Root be but Nature's Qualification, (take it in its higheſt Flouriſh) yet the Fruit, which ſprings from it, is but Rottenneſs and Hypocriſie in the ſight of God: The beſt that is ſpoken of the Fruit which the Children of Nature do bring forth in the Eyes of God, is what you have recorded in Deut. 32. 32, 33. For their Vine is as the Vine of Sodom, and of the Fields of Gamorrah; their Grapes are Grapes of Gall… their Cluſters are bitter, their Wine is the Poiſon of Dragons, and the cruel Venome of Aſps. So that where the Oil of Grace is not the Root, there the beſt of our Obedience will not paſs for Fruit in God's Eyes, Matt. 7. 18. A good Tree cannot bring forth evil Fruit, neither can a corrupt Tree bring forth good Fruit. Therefore the Root muſt be Grace and Sanctification, or the Fruit will meet with no leſs than final Rejection: Let it be the greateſt of Self-denial, Patience, Temperance, Self-mortification, Meekneſs, Works of Charity, Prayer, with the performance of any other Duties done in the Worſhip of God, if it flows not from the Root of true Grace and Sanctification in the Heart, all is abominable in the Sight of God, Prov. 21. 27. The Sacrifices of the Wicked is Abomination, how much more when he bringeth it with a wicked Mind?
Ʋſe, This ſhews us then, how much they are miſtaken about their eternal State, who think they are Juſtified by Chriſt's Bloud, and yet were never Sanctified by his Spirit. How many Thouſands are there of theſe, living in a Goſpelprofeſſing Kingdom, which are held under the Power of this Soul-damning Deluſion, who will not believe, but they are Juſtified in the ſight of God, though they were never yet Sanctified in the fight of Men? They are juſt like a company of Drunkards, who dreamed, that they were all Feaſting in a Royal Palace; but when they awoke, they found themſelves made faſt, with their Feet in the Stocks: Of ſuch a ſort of Dreamers James ſpeaks, Jam. 2. 18. Yea, a Man may ſay, Thou hast Faith, and I have Works; ſhew me thy Faith without thy Works, and I will ſhew thee my Faith by my Works. Thou believest there is one God, thou doest well; the Devils alſo believe, and tremble: But wilt thou know, O vain Man, that Faith without Works is dead. Oh never think, that the Bloud of Atonement hath been ſhed for thee, if the Oil of Sanctification hath not been poured forth upon thee.
The ſecond Uſe is to inſtruct us how to attain to ſome hopeful Aſſurance of our Juſtification, which is by a Trial made of our Sanctification; I know that it is much a Query amongſt the doubting part of Chriſtians, Oh, How ſhall we do to know whether we be in a Juſtified State and Condition?
Anſw. Look into your Hearts, and ſearch whether the Oil of Grace be infuſed into it; Grace changeth the Heart, Ezek. 36. 26. Grace reneweth the Heart, Titus 3. 5. Grace regenerateth the Heart, John 3. 3. Grace turns the old Man into a new Creature, 2 Cor. 5. 17. Grace purifieth the Heart, Acts 15. 9. And purgeth the Heart from dead Works, Heb. 9. 14. Grace works Deſires after Chriſt, Pſal. 42. 1, 2. Grace imbitters Sin to the Soul, Jen 2. 91. Grace crucifies the World with the Affections and Luſts thereof, Gal. 5. 24. Gal. 6. 24. Grace puts the higheſt Value upon Jeſus Chriſt, Phil. 3. 8. Grace makes the Word ſweeter than the Honey-comb, Pſal. 19. In a word, The gracious Soul can better live without its appointed Food, than it can without Prayer, Pſal. 55. 17. Pſal. 109. 4. Grace is a living Principle, which never will lie ſtill, but will be working, ſtirring, acting and moving in the Soul: Grace cannot be idle, it will ſtill be bringing forth things new and old; here you have a Looking-glaſs before you, preſent your Hearts before this Glaſs, and ſee what you can eſpy of theſe Signs of Grace within your Souls, in order to the finding out of your Juſtification by the Bloud of Chriſt, the Lamb ſlain for the Cleanſing of your ſpiritual Leproſie.
2. Thus, after the Prieſt had poured out the Oil into the Palm of his Hand, we next come to take notice of the Parts of the Leper's Body, which the Prieſt was to apply the Oil unto, and that was to the Tip or Lap of the right Ear, the Thumb of the right Hand, and the great Toe of the right Foot, which Parts, (viz.) The Ear, Thumb or Hand, and Foot, are the three principal Members of Service to the whole Body; and you find, that the Bloud of Chriſt, which was typed out by the Bloud of the Lamb and the Bird, the Apoſtle calls it the Price which Bought us. Now the Purchaſe which Chriſt made for us, is twofold:
1st, From the Curſe and Condemnation of the Law, Rom. 8. 1. with Gal. 3. 13.
2dly, He by the ſame Price bought us for his Uſe and Service, 1 Cor. 6. 20. For ye are Bought with a Price, therefore glorifie God in your Bodies and Souls, which are the Lord's. So that the Prieſt's putting of the Bloud and Oil upon the right Ear, Hand and Foot, of the Leper, that was to be Cleanſed, ſhadowed out theſe Myſteries to us:
Firſt of all, as to Prieſt's applying of the Bloud of the ſlain Lamb, to the right Ear, Hand and Foot, which are the three principal Members of Service to the whole Body, it notes to us this Truth for our Obſervation, That the ſame Bloud of Chriſt, which redeemed us from Wrath to come, did alſo purchaſe us for that Work and Service which he commands us to do for him; for ſo much as this I gather from the Prieſt's tipping of the right Ear, Thumb, and Toe of the right Foot of the Leper, with the Bloud of the ſlain Lamb, which Lamb was a Type of Chriſt; which Action held a Congruity to the levitical Manner of making Men perpetual Servants to the Jewiſh Maſters, Exod. 21. 5, 6. If the Servant ſhall plainly ſay, I love my Maſter, my Wife, and my Children, I will not go out free; then his Maſter ſhall bring him unto the. Judges, he ſhall alſo bring him unto the Door, or to the Door-post, and his Maſter ſhall bore his Ear through with an Awl, and he ſhall ſerve him for ever. So in like manner, the Leper that was to be Cleanſed, was to have the Bloud of the Lamb tipt upon his Ear, to be a profeſſed Servant of the levitical Adminiſtration (by which he was Cleanſed) for ever.
Now, inaſmuch as the Bloud of the Lamb, (by which the corporal Leper was Cleanſed) was a Type of the Bloud of Chriſt, and the corporal Leper a Figure of a ſpiritual Leper, and his corporal Cleanſing binding him to perpetual Service, typocal of that perpetual Obligation which every ſpiritual-cleanſed Leper lies under to Chriſt, altogether affords us this Note:
Doct. That he which intends to be redeemed from Sin, the Curſe and Condemnation of the Law and Wrath to come, must become willing to give up himſelf to the Service of Christ for ever.
For the proof of this Truth, read 1 Cor. 6. 19, 20. You are not your own, you are bought with a Price, therefore glorifie God in your Bodies and Spirits, which are God's. As if the Apoſtle had ſaid, O, ye Corinthians, remember that the Bloud of your Redemption hath been put upon the tip of your right Ears, your Hands, and Feet, in token of your perpetual Service to Chriſt, as the Levitical-ſervant had his Ear bored through with an Awl, to be his Maſter's Servant for ever; Oh, ſo hath the Bloud of Chriſt been upon your Ears alſo, to make you his perpetual Servants for ever, you are bought with a Price, you are not your own, therefore glorifie him in your Bodies and Spirits, which are his. Have a care that you rob him not of his Right in you, in giving that Service to the Devil, World, and the Fleſh, which is only due to him.
And ſo we come to the Reaſon of the Point:
Reaſon.] Why, that Soul, who would have Redemption by Chriſt, muſt be willing to become a perpetual Servant to Chriſt, is becauſe Chriſt redeems none, but upon that Condition, Iſa. 1. 19. If ye be willing and obedient, ye ſhall eat the good things of the Land. Heb. 5. 9. He is the Author of eternal Salvation, to as many as obey him. Rom. 8. 13. If ye live after the Fleſh, ye ſhall die; but if through the Spirit ye mortifie the Deeds of the Body, ye ſhall live. So Ver. 6. For to be carnally minded is Death, but to be ſpiritually minded is Life and Peace.
Thus you ſee how Conditional the Promiſes are, which ſpeak out a Soul's Benefit, by the Redeeming-bloud of Chriſt, which do all call upon us for a willing, chearful and ſincerc Obedience to Chriſt, though we grant, That it is not an old, but a New Covenant-condition, even ſuch a Condition, that the Grace and gracious Aid, which only can enable us to perform the Condition, is graciouſly given into the Soul by Jeſus Chriſt, and who will as graciouſly accept our Endeavours, (though clothed with many Weakneſſes and Infirmities) ſo that our Obedience to him be but ſincere, 2 Cor. 8. 12. If there be first a willing Mind, it is accepted according to what a Man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
And ſo we come to make ſome Application of this Matter:
1ſt Ʋſe, This informs us then, why the Number is ſo ſmall, which comes under the Yoke of Jeſus Chriſt; the Reaſon is, becauſe there are ſo few that are willing to come up to the Terms he propounds, which is, a willing Subjection to the Government of his Word and Spirit, which is the Condition he propounds to all that would have an Intereſt in his Salvation: They would willingly accept of his Bloud to waſh away the Guilt of Sin from their Souls, but they like not to have it tipt or applied to their Ears, to engage them to his Work and Service: they would be made happy, but not holy; but this cannot be, becauſe this would prove a flat Contradiction to the Deſign of God, in ſending of his Son from Heaven, Iſa. 55. 4. Behold, I have given him for a Witneſs to the People, a Leader and Commander to the People. Acts 5. 31. Him hath God the Father exalted to be Prince and a Saviour. Pſal. 2. 10, 11, 12. Be wiſe, now therefore, O ye Kings; be inſtructed, ye Judges of the Earth: Serve the Lord with fear, rejoyce before him with trembling. Kiſs the Son, lest he be angry, and ye periſh from the way, when his Wrath is kindled but a little.
Such as theſe may well be called Balaam's Diſciples, whoſe Deſire was more for a happy Death, than for a holy Life; Let me die the Death of the Righteous, and let my laſt end be like his, Numb. 23. 10. But (alas!) who can ſufficiently lament the fearful Diſappointment which ſuch Hypocrites will meet with, when all their Hope ſhall become like the Spider's Web to them, whoſe preſent Confidence, for a happy End at laſt, lieth only in a few faint fruitleſs Deſires that it may, and in a few vain Hopes that it will be, as well with them at laſt, as it will be with thoſe who make a greater Shew for Religion than they do? Their Hope is, that that merciful God which made them will not deſtroy them. There is one dreadful Text of Scripture written againſt all ſuch Soul-deluded Sinners, Deut. 29. 19, 20. And it ſhall come to paſs, when he heareth the Words of this Curſe, that he bleſs himſelf in his Heart, ſaying, I ſhall have Peace, though I walk in the Imaginations of my Heart, to add Drunkenneſs to Thirst. The Lord will not ſpare that Man, but then the Anger of the Lord, and his Jealouſie ſhall ſmoke against that Man, and all the Curſe… that are written in this Book ſhall lie upon him, and the Lord ſhall blot out his Name from under Heaven.
2d Ʋſe, Let this ſerve in the next place, to perſwade the cleanſed People of God, to ſtudy all they can to be ſerviceable to Jeſus Chriſt, becauſe you are bought by Chriſt to that end and purpoſe, 1 Cor. 6. 19, 20. You are not your own, for you are bought with a Price, therefore glorifie God in your Bodies and Spirits which are his. Oh, remember you carry the Mark of Chriſt's Servants upon the Tip or Lap of your Ears; you are his Cleanſed Lepers, and the Leper, when Cleanſed, was to have his right Ear marked with the Bloud of his Cleanſing, in token that now he is no more his own, but wholly his, and for his Uſe and Service from whom he had the Cure, ſo this is the Voice which continually hangs at the Ears of the Cleanſed Lepers of Chriſt, Thou ſhalt Worſhip the Lord thy God, and him only ſhalt thou Serve. So Rom. 12. 1. I beſeech you Brethren, by the Mercies of God, that you preſent your Bodies as living Sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reaſonable Service, and be not conformable to this World, but be ye tranſformed by the renewing of your Mind. And as your Service is Chriſt's Right, ſo it is your Honour; Paul knew that he could not dignifie himſelf in any thing ſo much, as he did in writing himſelf the Servant of Jeſus Chriſt, Rom. 1. 1. Paul a Servant of Jeſus Christ.
Object. But you may ſay, who are there that are more ſlighted, deſpiſed, and reproachfully loaded with all manner of Contempt and Scorn, than theſe are whom you count the Servants of Jeſus Chriſt?
I Anſwer, But who are they, and what are they, which ſo evilly treat the Servants of Jeſus Chriſt, are they any other than the blind, ignorant Rabble of the World, ſuch whom the Word of God counts the Droſs of the Earth? Pſal. 119. 119 ver. What matter is it to hear a Man that was born Blind, to ſpeak reproachfully of the Sun, or to hear a Man that's born Deaf, to ſpeak contemptibly of Muſick, or to hear an ignorant Fool ſpeak deridingly of the beſt of Learning? Is the Sun, Muſick or Learning any thing the worſe for this; or doth it detract any thing from the Excellency of theſe things? Whoſe Opinion will you rather cleave unto about this Point, either the Opinion of the blind ignorant World, which wholly lieth in Wickedneſs, or the Opinion of the Penmen of Scripture? The Word ſaith, That the Servants of Chriſt are the honourableſt Men in the World, yea, that they are to be accounted worthy of double Honour, 1 Tim. 5. 17; yea, God himſelf doth Honour them, 1 Sam. 2 30. with Pſal. 91. 15. and becauſe God honours them himſelf, therefore he makes them Honourable in the Eyes of others; yea, God hath made many of his Servants to be highly honoured in the Eyes of the Heathen and profeſſed Pagans, Gen. 23. 4. The Children of Heth, how highly were they made to Honour Abraham? Hear us my Lord, for thou art a mighty Prince amongst us, in the choice of our Sepulchers bury thy Dead. What a wonderful Honour was there given to Joſeph by Pharaoh? Gen. 41. 39, 42. And Pharaoh ſaid to Joſeph, Foraſmuch as God hath ſhewed thee all this, there is none ſo Diſcreet and Wiſe as thou art: And Pharaoh took off his Ring from his Hand, and put it upon Joſeph's Hand, and arrayed him with Veſtures of fine Linnen, and put a golden Chain about his Neck. So the like we read of Solomon, 2 Chron. 9. 23. And all the Kings of the Earth ſought the Preſence of Solomon to hear his Wiſdom, that God put into his Heart. The like we read of the Honour which Beiſhazzer, a Pagan, gave to Daniel, Dan. 5. 29. Then commanded Beiſhazzer, and they clothed Daniel with Scarlet, and put a Chain of Gold about his Neck, and made Proclamation concerning him, that he ſhould be the third Ruler in the Kingdom.
Thus you ſee, though ſome baſe-ſpirited Men may deſpiſe the Servants of God, yet, when God pleaſeth, he can make the Wicked'ſt that are to Honour them at the higheſt rate; therefore, let the Opinion of the World be what it will, about the People of God, my Opinion is, and I hope ever will be, That it's far better, and a thouſand times more honourable to be a Servant of Chriſt in Rags, than to be the Devil's Slave, in the moſt glorious Royal Robes; and that the meaneſt Chriſtian (if Sincere) is far more Eſt mable, with Chriſt's Croſs upon his Back, than the higheſt Monarch (if Graceleſs) with his Royal Crown upon his Head.
Secondly, The next thing that the Prieſt was to do, was to dip his Finger in the Oil, and to apply it to the ſame Parts unto which the Bloud was applied before, which was firſt to the Ear, binding it to the Duty of hearing Chriſt's Voice, John 10. 27. Then to the Hand, binding it to the Duty of working Righteouſneſs, Phil. 2. 12. Laſtly, To the Foot, binding of that to the Duty of Walking in the Ways of God's Commandments, Jer. 7. 23. Thus, when all theſe parts of the Body were tipt with the Bloud of the Lamb, then the Oil was next to be applied to the ſame Parts. Oil (you know) is of a mollifying and ſoftning Nature: Oil is good to fetch off Ruſt from Clocks and Jacks, making them to go the more freely and nimbly, which, when clogg'd with Ruſt, became unſerviceable before; comparatively to the nature of Oil in this caſe, is the Uſefulneſs of Grace held forth in Scripture, Iſa. 1. 6. Thy Sores have not been cloſed, neither bound up, neither mollified with Ointment. The meaning is, they had no Grace (which here is compared to Oil) to Sanctifie their ulcerated corrupt Natures, which, like ſo many Plague-ſores, were continually iſſuing from them; with this Oil of Grace, the cleanſed Lepers of Chriſt were to have their Ears, Hands and great Toes of their right Feet anointed.
From all which, we may obſerve this Note:
Doct. That as the Bloud of Christ hath bought us for his Ʋſe and Service, ſo the Oil of his Grace, is that only which can fit us for it, and make us willing to ſet about it, Pſal. 110. 3. In the Day of my Power, thy People ſhall be a willing People: By Nature every Man is averſe to every part of Christ's Work and Service. Rom. 8. 7. The natural-minded Man is Enmity against God; it is not ſubject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be. John 5. 40. Ye will not come to me that you might Live. Jer. 44. 16. As for the Word, which thou hast ſpoken unto us in the Name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee.
The Ear will not hear the Voice of Chriſt, Jer. 11. 10. the Hand will not Work for Chriſt, Jer. 11. 7, 8. neither will the Feet walk in the Way of Chriſt, Pſal. 78. 10. But now, when our High-Prieſt, Jeſus Chriſt, hath tipt the Ear, the Thumb, and Foot of our Souls, with the Oil of his Grace and Sanctification, then will they be ready for any Work and Service, which he ſhall employ them in, or call them unto; the Ear which was bought by Chriſt, is now taught by Chriſt to hear his Voice, even his Voice in his Word, Works, Ordinances and Providences, againſt all which, the Ear was deaf, and ſhut up before, Pſal. 58. 4. The Hand which was bought by Chriſt, is now taught to Work for Chriſt, Heb. 13. 21. Working that which is wellpleaſing in his ſight. Iſa. 54. 13. All her Chrildren are taught by the Lord. They are taught to work the Works of Repentance, Faith, Love, Self-denial, Mortification; how to be Praying to God, and Praiſing of God, Suffering for God, and to Walk with God; Grace teacheth all this, and makes the Heart willing to all this; the Spirit ſhall teach you all things, ſaith Chriſt, John 14. 26. Laſtly, The Feet, which were bought by Chriſt, (by this Oil of Grace) are now taught to Walk with Chriſt, as Enoch did; And Enoch walked with God, Gen. 5. 22.
And ſo we come to the Reaſon of the Point:
The Reaſon of all this is, becauſe Grace is of a conquering, ſubduing Nature, and of and inabling Quality; Grace is ſent down into the Heart, to ſubdue the Power and Strength of Sin therein, Rom. 6. 14. Sin ſhall not have Dominion over you, for you are not under the Law, but under Grace. And as Grace ſubdues and weakens Corruption in the Heart, ſo it enables, ſtrengthens, and empowers the Heart to act for Chriſt; it is a holy Oil, that diſſolves the corrupt Ruſt which hath been begotten in it by Sin, and, as it diſſolves the Ruſt, ſo it mollifies and ſoftens the Heart, and thereby it makes it able and willing to run the Ways of God's Commandments, Pſal. 119. 32. So Iſa. 40. 31. They ſhall renew their Strength, they ſhall mount up as on Eagles wings, they ſhall run and not be weary, walk and not be faint.
Ʋſe, This informs us then, what matter of Lamentation it is to conſider, That though there be ſo many thouſand of Ears, Hands, and Feet in the World, yet that there ſhould be ſo few of them employed in the Service of Chriſt, that as David ſpeaks of the Idols of the Nations, They have Ears, but hear not; Hands, but handle not, and Feet they have, but walk not. The Reaſon lieth here, Becauſe they never had their Ears, Hands and Feet, tipt with the Bloud and Oil of the Juſtifying and Sanctifying-grace of Jeſus Chriſt: They are yet dead in their Sins and Treſpaſſes, Epheſ. 2. 1. and dead things cannot act of themſelves; yea, they are not only unable to act for Chriſt, but through the Enmity of their Natures, they are wholly averſe to every part of Chriſt's Will and Work: As the Apoſtle ſpeaks, They are reprobate to every good Work and Word; it is not only, they cannot, but the real Truth is, that graceleſs Souls will not act for Chriſt, if they could; let not ſuch deceive themſelves any longer, for if you have no Ears to hear Chriſt's Voice, no Hands to do his Work, nor Feet to Walk in his Paths, you are yet in an unjuſtified and unſanctified State and Condition: But would you have your Ears opened to the Voice of Chriſt, ſo that your Souls might live? Would you have your Hands at Work for Chriſt, working that which is well-pleaſing in his ſight? Would you have your Feet made able and willing to run in God's Commandments? In the keeping of which, is great Reward, Pſal. 19. 11. then lay thy Soul in the Ways and Walks of Chriſt, who is the great High-Prieſt; Oh, run to him, ſet thy Soul in his preſence, be in his ſight, thruſt thy ſelf through the Croud and Throng, preſs in upon him, and evermore keep up the Canaanitiſh Woman's Cry in his Ears, Matth. 15. 22. Lord, thou Son of David, have mercy upon me, for my Soul is grievouſly over-run with a Leproſie; thus, with Jacob, be ever Wreſtling with him, until he hath tipt thy right Ear, Hand, and Foot, with the Bloud and Oil of his Grace.
Quest. But why was the Prieſt to tip the Leper's right Ear, right Thumb, and Toe of the right Foot, with the Bloud and Oil? Why the right more than the left Ear, Thumb, and Toe?
Anſ. The Reaſon may be this, To ſignifie the difference betwixt the Services that Hypocrites and ſincere Chriſtians do offer to him, and do for him; all the Service that comes to him from Hypocrites, is but left-ear'd, left-handed, and left-footed Service, which is no way pleaſing to him.
Quest. But when may it be ſaid, that we give unto God this left-ear'd, left-handed, and left-footed Service?
As, firſt, When are we ſaid to bring forth left-ear Service to God?
I anſwer, firſt, When we content our ſelves with the bear Hearing of his Will preached, neglecting the Practice of it; this is the Service of the left Ear; indeed, of ſuch a ſort of Hearers we read in Ezekiel, Ezek. 33. 31. And they come unto thee as the People cometh, and 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 Hearts goeth after their Covetouſneſs. Not to anſwer the end of Hearing, which is Obedience, is as bad (if not worſe) than not to hear at all, Jam. 1. 22. But be ye Doers of the Word, and not Hearers only. We uſe to ſay, when Men give little Attention to our Words of Diſcourſe, to them, That they turn the deaf Ear to us; and when we obſerve not what God ſpeaks to us, then do we give the deaf and left Ear unto him.
2. But when may we be ſaid to give left-handed Service to God?
Anſ. Firſt, When we give him only partial Obedience, when we do but a part, and not the whole of his revealed Will; this kind of Service Saul and Jehu gave to God, which was as unacceptable to God, as it was unprofitable to themſelves, as you may read, firſt, in King Saul, 1 Sam. 15. 11. It reponteth me that I have ſet up Saul, for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my Commandments: and it grieved Samuel, and he cried to the Lord all night. The Caſe was this, King Saul had a ſtrict Command given to him from the Lord, to deſtroy the Amalekites, not to ſpare Man, Woman, Child, nor Cattle, Ver. 3. It's true that Saul deſtroyed many Men, Women, and Children, and ſome of the Cattle, but he ſpared Agag, and the beſt of the Sheep and Oxen, with the Farlings and Lambs, but every thing that was vile and refuſe, that he deſtroyed utterly, Ver. 9 Here was Obedience, ſuch as it was, but it was only left handed Obedience, becauſe it was but partial, and not univerſal Obedience; and, as Saul's Covetouſneſs was the cauſe of this, ſo it is Men's unmortified Luſts, which proves the cauſe of the like partial Obedience in every Man elſe, 2 Pet. 2. 15. Balaam loved the Wages of Ʋnrighteouſneſs.
A ſecond Inſtance, which the Scripture gives us of this lefthanded Obedience, is that of Johu, 2 Kings 9. 6, 7, 8, 9. ver. where you find, that he was anointed King, to deſtroy the whole Houſe of wicked Ahab, and all his wicked Idolatry; and, in purſuance of his Commiſſion, he cuts off Ahab's Fam…ly, roots out his Idolatry, overthrows the Houſe of Baal, cu…s off all his Idolatrous Prieſts and Worſhippers in Baal's Houſe; but yet ſtill he muſt be partial in his Service, as Saul was in his, being under the power of the like unmortified Luſt, which held him back from doing the whole Will of God preſcribed to him in his Commiſſion, 2 Kings 10. 31. But Jehu took no heed to Walk in the Law of the Lord God of Iſrael with all his Heart, for he departed not from the Sins of Jeroboam, which made Iſrael to Sin.
Secondly, We may be ſaid to give the Lord left-handed Obedience, when we give him only bodily Service, without the Heart, Will and Affections; and ſaith Paul, thiswill not profit, 1 Tim. 4. 8. This kind of Service the Iſraelites gave to God in the Wilderneſs, Pſal. 78. 36, 37. they flattered God with their Mouths, and dealt deceitfully with him in their Hearts, neither were they ſteadfaſt in his Covenant: Yet how do the moſt of Men take up, and reſt in a little bare out-ſide Work in external Performances, and quiet themſelves with a few Names and empty Titles? So they have a Name to live, and are called Chriſtians, and give unto God a little bodily Exerciſe, they are well contented, when all this is but left-handed Service and no more. Alas! theſe Chriſtian-names and Titles, ſeparated from the power of Godlineſs, they ſignifie no more than a parcel of fine ſweet, ſmelling Flowers deckt about the Body of a dead Corpſe, which, though they help to Garniſh the Dead, yet cannot they make a dead Body to live., O truſt not to theſe things, nor reſt in them, becauſe they are no more in the ſight of God, than a dead Body without a Soul is in our ſight, James 2. 26. For as the Body without the Soul is dead, ſo Faith without Works is dead alſo. For Circumciſion is nothing, and Ʋncircumciſion is nothing, but the keeping of the Commandments of God, 1 Cor. 7. 19.
Thridly, and laſtly, When may we be ſaid to give unto God left-foot Obedience?
I anſwer, firſt, When we walk not ſteadfaſtly with him, when we are ſometimes for him, and ſometimes for Baal; ſometimes in his Worſhip, and ſometimes in the contrary, like thoſe ſpoken of in Zeph. … If you read the fifth Verſe, it's ſaid, There they Worſhipped or Swore by the Lord, and Worſhipped and did Swear by Malcham. In the ninth Verſe, it's ſaid, That they leapt on the Threſhold, as Men divided in their Thoughts, when they come to enter a Houſe, …hey put one Foot over the Threſhold, with a purpoſe to go into the Houſe, but then they draw it back again, not knowing whether it be beſt to enter in: This is the Diſeaſe of many Lepers about the Matters of God's Worſhip, eſpecially when Religion is in danger; they are uſually at ſuch times, unreſolved what to do, or which way to take, whether it be beſt to ſtick (wholy) to the Worſhip of Chriſt, or the Worſhip of Malcham; a worldly Intereſt calls upon them to leap over Malcham's Threſhold, and ſo into her Temple; but Conſcience, from the Light of Scripture, calls them back again: thus they dance to and fro in their divided Purpoſes and Reſolutions, becauſe they are not able to bring Conſcience and Intereſt to run in one Chanel together; but at length Carnal-prudence ſteps in and compounds the Difference, by adviſing Conſcience and Intereſt to divide Cuts betwixt them, to Swear ſometimes by Malcham, and ſometimes by Chriſt; but however Prudence may Judge of this kind of Work, yet the Word of God doth judge it to be but left-handed Service, 1 Kings 18. 21. If the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal be God, follow him: How long will ye halt betwixt two Opinions?
2dly, We give unto God left-foot Obedience, when we walk at Random and not by Rule, when we ceaſe making the Scriptures our Guide, and inſtead thereof, we make the Traditions and Humane Inventions of Men (in the Matters of Faith) our Rule and Guide to walk by, Matt. 15. 9. In vain do they Worſhip me, teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men.
And here I ſhall acquaint you with five corrupt Rules, which the moſt of Men propoſe to themſelves, as their Guides to walk by in the Matters of their Faith and Converſation, in oppoſition to the Word of God, which indeed is the only Rule which all Men ought to Walk by, according to Iſa. 8. 20.
First of all, Some walk by the rule of Cuſtom, which in Epheſ. 2. 2. the Apoſtle calls a walking after the Courſe of this World; many there are that do think, becauſe the moſt of Men do do ſo and ſo, therefore they may do ſo, and walk ſo too without the leaſt ſcruple; How common is this amongſt Men to make this the Rule of their Lives, concluding that they are in a very ſafe condition, if they go that Way wherein the moſt do walk? This was the Way which the Jews choſe as their Rule to walk by, Jer. 44. 16, 17. As for the Word which thou hast ſpoken unto us in the Name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee; but we will certainly do whatſoever thing goeth forth of our own Mouth, to burn Incenſe to the Queen of Heaven, as we have done, we, and our Fathers, our Kings, and our Princes, in the Cities of Judah, and in the Streets of Jeruſalem. But for Men to make the Ways and Walks of the Multitude their Rule and Guide to Walk by, muſt needs be a very unſafe and dangerous Rule; it is to walk after a wicked World, as John ſpeaks, 1 John 5. 19. The whole World lieth in Wickedneſs. Chap. 2. Ver. 16. All that is in the World, the Luſts of the Fleſh, the Lust of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life, is not of the Father, but is of the World. Hence is that Exhortation, Exod. 23. 2. Follow not the Multitude to do evil; and the reaſon of that Exhortation, is given you in Jer. 10. 3. For the Cuſtoms of the People are vain. Now, that you may ſee …herein the Danger lieth of making the Cuſtoms of our Fathers before us, or the Cuſtoms of the Places (wherein we live) a Rule to Walk by, it will appear by theſe Scriptures, Jer. 11. 10, 11. They are turned back to the Iniquity of their Fore-fathers, which refuſed to hear my Words, and they went after other Gods to ſerve them: thē Houſe of Iſrael, and the Houſe of Judah have broken my Covenant which I made with their Fathers. Therefore, thus ſaith the Lord, Behold, I will bring Evil upon them, which they ſhall not be able to eſcape; though they ſhall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.
2dly, A ſecond unſound Rule which Men chuſe to Walk by, is Antiquity, to do as their Fore-fathers have done before them; this is, and hath been a wonderful prevailing Argument with many of the ignorant Sort in the World: What, ſhall we think our ſelves wiſer than our Fore-fathers? Did not they know how to chuſe the beſt of Ways to walk in themſelves, and to leave behind them, their own as the beſt Examples for us, their Children, to imitate in their Abſence? Shall we think that our Fathers are all loſt; if they are not, then are we ſafe enough? So that let the Way be never ſo wicked, and ſinfully Provoking to God, and Deſtructive to their own Souls, yet will they not be brought off from their Reſolution, of keeping in their good old Way, by all the Arguments that the wiſeſt of Men ſhall uſe with them: So powerfully captivating was this Diſeaſe upon the Hearts of the Jews in Jeremiah's Days, that it bore down the ſtrength of the cleareſt Convictions that the Prophet could bring to the contrary, …er. 44. 17. But we will certain…y … whatſoever thing goeth forth of our Mouth, to burn Incenſe to the Queen of Heaven, and to pour out our Drinkofferings to her, as we have done, we, and our Fathers, our Kings and our Princes. Here, you ſee, where an ignorant Wilfulneſs carries the ſway, how deſperate it makes Men in their Reſolutions to adhere to the ſinful Cuſtoms of their Anceſtors, that they will rather adventure to damn their Souls to Eternity, than they will be turned out of the common Road which their Fore-fathers walked in before them.
3dly, Others chuſe to Walk by the Rule of Mens Traditions, though it be never ſo contrary to the Rule of the Scriptures, though it be about the weightieſt Matters of God's W…ſhip, though the Rules which Men appoint them to Worſhip God by, are meerly of Human Invention, and without the leaſt Warrant from S…pture, yet, how conformable are the moſt of Men to ſuch Rules and Orders? Why, ſay they, can we do amiſs to follow the Wiſe and Learned of the Land? Do not learned Men know beſt how to make ſuch Form… of Worſhip as may be moſt acceptable to God, and which may be moſtly profitable to our ſelves? But how rotten a Rule this is to Walk by, and how unapproveable in Chriſt's ſight, you may read again in Matt. 15. 9. But in vain do you Worſhip me, teaching for Doctrines, the Commandments of Men. Where a People ſhall make the Prccepts of Men their Rule to w…lk by, rather than the Word of God (eſpecially in the Matters of divine Worſhip;) this is to ſet up Men in the room of Chriſt, which is, no better than Idolatry it ſelf. It is a great Derogation to the Honour of Jeſus Chriſt, as if he wanted Wiſdom to know what Rules and Laws to make for the Government of his Churches, but vain Man muſt ſupply the Defect with his Human Wiſdom, which is a dangerous thing, both to the Law-makers and Law-obſervers, as our Saviour told the ſuperſtitious Phariſees, Matt. 15. 14. If the Blind lead the Blind, both ſhall fall into the Ditch.
4thly, Others there are which make their own perverſe ſtubborn Wills, their Rule to walk by, they will do what they will do, they will have their Luſts, they will have their Pleaſures, they will fulfil the Deſires of the Fleſh and of the Mind, let God, his Word, and Miniſters ſay what they will againſt it: This was the Rule which Ephraim made choice of to Walk by, in deſpight of all the Convictions which the Prophet brought to the contrary, Hoſ. 2. 5. For ſhe ſaid, I will go after my Lovers that gave me my Bread, my Water, my Wool, my Flax, my Oil, and my Drink. The like Wilfulneſs was found in the Hearts of the Jews againſt the Will of God, Jer. 44. 25. Thus ſaith the Lord of Host, the God of Iſrael, ſaying, ye and your Wives have both ſpoken with your Mouths, and have fulfilled it with your Hands, ſaying, We will ſurely perform our Vows that we have made, to burn Incenſe to the Queen of Heaven, and to pour out our Drink-offerings to her; ye will ſurely accompliſh your Vows. Mark, how the Lord takes notice of their Wilfulneſs, no leſs than twice in this Verſe, you will fulfil your Vows, and you will accompliſh the Promiſes which you have made to your Idols, you will do it, you are wilfully bent upon it, and, inaſmuch, as you are ſo wilful in your Reſolutions, I am reſolved to be as wilful on my part in your Deſtruction, and then it ſhall be known whoſe Word ſhall ſtand, either mine or yours, ver. 27, 28. Thus you ſee what a dangerous thing it is for Men to make their Wills their Rule to walk by, eſpecially when we conſider how oppoſite the Will of Man is (by Nature) to the Will and Word of God, John 5. 40. Ye will not come to me, that ye might have Life.
5thly, Others again there are, which walk by the Rule of enthuſiaſtical Inſpirations, Viſions, and pretended Revelations, caſting off the written Word of God, which was formerly their Rule and Guide, and now account themſelves more happy in walking by theſe Guides, though this latter Age have abounded with (but) too many of theſe filthy Dreamers, as St. Jude ſtiles them, Jude, 8. Verſe, yet it is no new thing, but a thing as ancient as the Prophet Jeremiah's Days, Jer. 23. 32. I am against them that Propheſie falſe Dreams, ſaith the Lord, and do tell them, and cauſe my People to Err, by their Lies and by their Lightneſs, yet I ſent them not, nor commanded them, therefore they ſhall not profit this People at all.
It appears that the Deſign of theſe ancient enthuſiaſtical Dreamers, and Pretenders to Divine Revelations, was on purpoſe to weaken the Authority of the Word of God in the Mouths of the Prophets of the Lord, inaſmuch as God doth plead the Efficacy of his Word in oppoſition to theſe chaffy Dreams and pretended Revelations, ſo much cried up by theſe ancient Deluders, Jer. 23. 28, 29. The Prophet that hath a Dream, let him tell a Dream; and he that hath my Word, let him ſpeak my Word faithfully. What is the Chaff to the Wheat? Is not my Word like as Fire, ſaith the Lord, and like a Hammer that breaketh the Rock to pieces?
It is a very dangerous thing, when Perſons, through their ſlighting of the written Word, ſhall thereby provoke God to give them over to wander after theſe ſatanical Deluſions, becauſe (many times) what Ways Men do ſinfully chuſe to walk in, and deluded Rules to walk by, the ſame Ways and Rules God will judicially chuſe for them, 2 Theſſ. 2. 10, 11, 12. Becauſe they received not the Truth in the Love of it, that they might be ſaved; for this Cauſe, God ſhall ſend them ſtrong Deluſions, to believe Lies, that they might be damned. Therefore have we that Rule given us in Iſa. 8. 20. To the Law, and to the Teſtimony; if any Man ſpeak not according to this Rule, it's becauſe there is no Light in him; and; ſaith Peter, 2 Epiſt. 1. 19. But we have a more ſure Word of Propheſie whereunto ye do well to take heed, as a Light that ſhineth in a dark place, until the Day dawn, and the Day-ſtar ariſe in your Hearts. Thus you ſee what the falſe Rules are, which the moſt of Men do propound to themſelves as their Guides to walk by, which will appear at length to be nothing elſe but left-footed Obedience, in the Eyes of God and Jeſus Chriſt.
3dly, We give unto God left-footed Service, when we walk not conſtantly with him, when we are off and on with God, when we play faſt and looſe with God; ſome there are, when affrighted by ſtrong Convictions, and grieved by and with ſore Afflictions, will then for a fit be Religious, then they will Pray and Read good Books, and frequent the Worſhip of God, and ſet about the Practice of religious Duties in their Families; but when the ſenſe of the Conviction is abated, and the ſmart of their Affliction a little worn off, then, like Ephraim, all their Righteouſneſs appears like the morning Cloud, and all their Goodneſs like the early Rain that paſſeth away: This kind of inconſtant Obedience, the Iſraelites gave unto God in the Wilderneſs, Pſal. 78. 36, 37. Nevertheleſs they flattered him with their Mouth, and lied unto him with their Tongues, for their Hearts were not right with him, neither were they ſtedfast in his Covenant. This inconſtant Service was never yet acceptable Service with God, nor will it ever be eſteemed otherwiſe than left-footed Service offered unto him.
4thly, When we walk not ſincerely with God, then we give him left and not right-footed Service; this was the Service Amazia gave to the Lord, 2 Chron. 25. 2. He did that which was right in the ſight of God, but not with a perfect Heart. All the Ways of God (ſaith David) are Mercy and Truth: Good and upright is the Lord, therefore will he teach Sinners his Ways, Pſal. 25. 8. So that you ſee there is Truth and Uprightneſs in the Lord towards us, and he expects to find the ſame in us towards himſelf again: Truth is the Nature of God, and he cannot but hate the contrary, where-ever he ſees it: let Men clothe themſelves with never ſo much out-ſide Holineſs, yet if Truth and Sincerity be found wanting, all is but glittering Hypocriſie in the Eyes of God, Rev. 3. 1. Thou hast a Name to live, and art dead. The Scribes and Phariſees had as much of an outward Holineſs upon them as moſt Men living, but their want of Sincerity, turned all their painted ſhew of Holineſs into perfect Rottenneſs, in the Eyes of Chriſt, Matt. 23. 27. It's not the Matter of our Services only, which commends us to God, but the Manner of our performing of them: If our Ends and Aims … more for our own Praiſe, Honour, and Profit, than for the Honour and Glory of God, we ſhall never hear more of it, unleſs it be to our Shame and Sorrow: David was well inſtructed in this, therefore prays he that God would make his Heart ſound in his Statutes, Pſal. 119. 80.
Thus you have ſeen the Reaſons why the Prieſt was to tip, not the left, but the right Ear, right Thumb, and the great Toe of the right Foot, of the Leper, with the Bloud of the Lamb, and Log of Oil; the Bloud to purchaſe the Leper, for the Work and Service of the Purchaſer, and the Oil of Grace to make him fit for it, and willing to ſet about it.
Now, Soul, if thou wouldſt hear the Voice of Chriſt in a ſaving manner; if thou wouldſt hear when he ſpeaks to thy Soul, in his Works, Word, Ordinances and Providences; if thou wouldſt work the Works of Righteouſneſs, as the Work of Repentance before God, Faith in God, Love to God, with the Works of Holineſs in his ſight, together with the Works of Juſtice and Mercy towards Men; and if thou wouldſt Walk with God, as Enoch did, walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of God, Blameleſs and without Rebuke, as did Zacharias and Elizabeth, then be not ſatisfied until thou haſt gotten thy right Ear, thy right Thumb, and the right Foot of thy Soul, tipt with the Bloud and Oil which drops out of the Palm of the Hand of the High-Prieſt Jeſus Chriſt, Who is willing to ſave to the uttermost, them which come unto God by him, Heb. 7. 25.