Christ All and in All, Sermon 10 · Uses 1
The Uſes of this.
1. Oh the multitude of ſick perſons that are in the world! There is not one perſon living, but is leſſe or more troubled with this ſickneſſe. The world is nothing but a Hoſpital of ſick perſons. There is not a family in which this plague of ſinne is not. In many things we offend all. The root of the matter is in the beſt of us, Eſay 64 6.
2. What's the reaſon that there are no more cryings out of this ſickneſſe? Sinne is a ſickneſſe, and yet few bewaile it. Other ſickneſſes are lamented. You cannot meet in any company, but you ſhall heare men cry out of their ſickneſſes. One man of his Gout, another of his Stone, another of his Conſumption, &c. but little ſpoken of ſinne: The reaſon is, becauſe ſinne is a ſpiritual diſeaſe, and ſo not diſcerned but by grace. And this is indeed the dreadfulneſſe of this ſickneſſe, that it kills many before they feel it; it ſends men to hell before they know themſelves to be ſick. 'Tis with ſinners as with the drunkard in the Proverbs, Chapter 23. 35. They have ſtricken me, and I was not ſick.
3. They are not your enemies that are ſolicitous to keep you from ſinne. Naturally we account them our friends which would prevent us from painful diſeaſes; and yet we naturally account them our enemies, who would prevent us from falling into ſin. I hate him, ſaith Ahab of Michajah, 1 Kings 22. 8. A wicked man hates none ſo much as thoſe that would preſerve him from ſinne. Well, whatever you think, they are your beſt friends, and that you will acknowledge another day. If you ſhould be at the door of an infected houſe ready to go in, and one ſhould whi…per you in the ear, Sir, the plague is in that hou…e, have a care of your ſelf; would you reproach him? nay, would you not thank him? Why will you think them your enemies, that would preſerve you from ſinne? They know the dreadfulneſſe of this ſickneſſe, and they would preſerve others from falling into it: David bleſſes God for Abigail, and gives her many thanks for her great care of him, 1 Sam. 25. 32, 33. God ſets it down for friendſhip, and whether you be ſaved or damned, you will clearly ſee it another day.
4. Watch againſt ſinne as you watch againſt ſickneſſe. How cautious are many men of their bodily health? They will eat and drink nothing that may prejudice their health. If they know any thing that will diſturb the quiet of their bodies, they will not meddle with it, though their affection be never ſo much inclined to it. And why will you not be as cautious of ſinne? Take heed to your ſelves; remember, ſwearing is a ſickneſſe, lying is a diſeaſe, pride is a ſickneſſe, &c Avoid all occaſions of ſinne, all temptations to it. Pray againſt it, watch againſt it. Sinne is a ſickneſſe will keep you out of heaven: ſinne is a ſickneſſe which will provoke God to hate you. Keep ſinne out of your family. Let not liars, ſwearers, drunkards, &c. lodge a night under your roof, Pſal. 101. 7. No ſickneſſe is ſo catching as ſinne is. All men have the root of it, an inclination to it in their hearts. Preſerve your children from this ſickneſſe. 'Tis worſe then the ſmall-pox, worſe then the plague. Other diſeaſes will kill the bodies of your children, ſinne will kill both body and ſoule. Keep watch and ward over your hearts, over your families, that ſinne may not enter thither, nor that any of yours may go where this catching ſickneſſe is.
5. What cauſe have they to bleſſe God that are cured of this diſeaſe? We are never perfectly cured of it till we come to heaven, we ſhall have ſome grudgings of it while we live here. But when ſinne is pardoned, then 'tis healed; Pſalme 10…. 3. When grace is thoroughly wrought, then is ſinne healed. 'Tis healed as to the guilt of it, that is done away. 'Tis healed as to the damnation of it. 'Tis the reigning ſinne that is the damning ſinne. And 'tis healed in part, as to the pollution and filthineſſe of it. 'Tis in a ſure ſpeedy way of healing. How glad are men when they are healed of old diſeaſes! A man that hath been troubled with the Stone, Gout, Head-ach for many yeares; how glad, how thankful is he when he is recovered? he will be telling every one of the man, of the medicine that cured him. Let them whoſe ſpiritual ſickneſſe God hath healed, be very thankful and bleſſe his name.
David calls upon his ſoule to praiſe God for this kindneſſe, Pſalm. 103. init. Though you be full of other infirmities, yet be of good cheer, the damning ſickneſſe is healed. 'Tis better to have a healthy ſoule in a crazy body, then to have a found body and a diſeaſed ſoule. And ſhew your thankfulneſſe for your healing, by being careful to prevent recidivations into ſin againe. Take your counſel of Chriſt to that man that was lately cured of his infirmity, of which he had ſmarted thirty eight years, Joh. 5. 14. Thou art made whole, ſinne no more, leſt a worſe thing come unto thee. 'Tis a ſleighting of your Phyſician, and a vilifying of your diſeaſe, not to be as careful as you can, that you may not relapſe. And know this for the encreaſing of your thankfulneſſe, that when this diſeaſe is once cured, all your other diſeaſes are cured. They are cured, as to the malignity, as to the hurt of them. They cannot deſtroy you, though they may diſquiet you. The inhabitants ſhall not ſay, I am ſick: the people that dwell therein ſhall be forgiven their iniquity, Eſay 3…. ult. The peril and dreadfulneſſe of other diſeaſes depends upon this; and when this is removed, the evil of all the reſt is removed alſo.
Doct. 2. That Jeſus Chriſt is a Phyſician for the healing of theſe ſpiritual diſeaſes. Chriſt is a Phyſician to the body as well as to the ſoule. He heales the wounds and ſores of the outward man, as well as of the inward man. We reade that in the dayes of his fleſh, he cured immediately ſometimes, and ſometimes by the uſe of meanes many bodily maladies. Such as were poſſeſſed with devils. Such as had the palſie, Such as were leprous, Such as had feavers, Such as laboured under ſeveral other diſeaſes, were brought unto him, and he healed them, Luke 6. 17, 18, 19. And Mat. 8. 14, 15, 16. He healed many that were incurable. When other Phyſicians had given them over, they were brought to Chriſt, and he healed them, Luke 8. 43. Concerning the woman ſick of a bloody iſſue, ſhe had ſpent all her living upon Phyſicians, and could not be healed of any, and yet by the touch of Chriſts garment her bloody iſſue was ſtanched. He cured a man that had had an infirmity thirty eight years, Joh. 5. 5. Yea, he healed thoſe that brought their diſeaſes with them into the world. One that was borne blinde was recovered to ſight by him, John 9. 6, 7. The text ſaith, he healed all manner of diſeaſes, Mat. 4. 23. And he doth ſtill heale bodily diſeaſes. In three reſpects he is a Phyſician to the body.
1. He created all thoſe ſimples that are uſeful for cure. Every herb, every plant, every mineral, whatſoever in rerum Naturâ, is Medicinal and Phyſical, was created by the Lord Chriſt; and whatſoever was created by him, is preſerved by him, Geneſis 2. 5. Nothing ſprung up of it ſelfe, the roots of all healing herbs were ſet by his hand, and by his Providential care they are kept from periſhing to this very day.
2. He it is that gave skill, and ſtill doth give skill unto Phyſicians to make uſe of thoſe materials. All Arts and Sciences are his invention. What is ſaid of Bezaleel and Aholiab, Exod. 31. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. is as true of all other more noble Arts. Men by ſtudy could never have ſuch inſight into the ſecrets of nature, if Jeſus Chriſt did not inſtruct them. He enables them to know diſeaſes, and to know what is proper and ſutable for thoſe diſeaſes. He that is the Lord of nature, doth diſcover the ſecrets of nature in men when they ſtudy them. He teaches them how to mingle and compound ſeveral ſimples together to make an apt medicine, foreign, 1 Cor. 12. 9. Chriſt is the Father of all Arts and Artiſts. If he hide skill from the Phyſician, the Phyſician can never finde out the diſeaſe, nor preſcribe a fit medicine to remove it.
3. He bleſſeth the applications that are made. The moſt proper and apt medicine that ever was preſcribed by man, needs the bleſſing of Chriſt to make it effectual. As man liveth not by bread, but by the word of bleſſing, Mat. 4. 4. So neither is man cured by Phyſick alone, but by the benediction of Chriſt upon the uſing of Phyſick. He ſuſpends the operation and efficacy of Med…cines when he pleaſe…h, and when it is his will they are ſalutiferous and healing. Thus is he a Phyſician to the outward man.
But his chief ſubject is the ſoul. He is in an eſpecial manner a Phyſician to that. He doth ſeveral times in the Goſpel compare himſelf to a Phyſician. In this Text, and in Mar. 2. 17. We have the ſame compariſon, Luke 4. 23. He was propheſied of before his incarnation, as a Phyſician. Vid Eſay 61. 1. Binding up is the work of a healer. Chriſt was ſent into the world to be a binder up of the broken in heart. The Prophet Malachy ſpeaks of him as of a ſpiritual Phyſician, Chap. 4. 2. The Sunne of righteouſneſſe ſhall ariſe with healing in his wings. This is that which is held out in the Goſpel in that parable of the wounded man and the Samaritan, Luke 10. 30, 31, &c. Jeſus Chriſt is that Samaritan who doth by that Parable preach himſelfe to be the Phyſician of ſoules.
In the handling of this Doctrine, I ſhall open three things.
1. That Chriſt is a Phyſician.
2. How Chriſt heales ſin-ſick ſouls.
3. The excellency of Chriſt above other Phyſicians.
Firſt, that Chriſt is a ſpiritual Phyſician. This is manifeſt.
1. You may ſee his commiſſion. God hath authorized him with power. The Prophet aſſerts this, Eſay 61. 1. He hath anointed me to binde up the broken-hearted. This Prophecy is applied to Chriſt, Luke 4. 18. God hath given Chriſt his Gratiam ad practicandum. Thoſe that are Phyſicians amongſt men, muſt receive commiſſion to practice before they ought to uſe that Art. The bodies of men are of that worth, that in all well-ordered Kingdomes and Common-wealths, none are permitted to profeſſe the Art of Phyſick till they be tryed by ſuch as have skill, and enabled by publick Authority to exerciſe that faculty; hereby profeſſed Phyſicians are diſtinguiſhed from illiterate, and cheating Mountebanks. Now God hath conferr'd on Jeſus Chriſt under hand and ſeale, full Authority to be a ſpiritual Phyſician to heale the ſouls of men. And therefore it is that all are invited to come to him for cure, Mat. 11. 28. Come unto me, &c.
2. Chriſt hath ability as well as authority. Whatſoever is requiſite for the healing of ſouls, is to be found in Jeſus Chriſt. This the Prophet expreſly affirmes, Mal. 4. 2. The Sunne of righteouſneſſe ſhall ariſe with healing in his wings. Healing is a large word; The Geneva tranſlation reades it, health ſhall be under his wings, Now there could not be health or healing under Chriſts wings, if there were not in him whatſoever is neceſſary to health or ſpiritual healing.
The Apoſtle ſaith, That it hath pleaſed the Father that in him ſhould all fulneſſe dwell, Col. 1. 19. Chriſt is a garden ſo well furniſhed, that there is in him every root and plant that is requiſite to make a ſpiritual medicine. He hath a purging vertue, a ſtrengthning vertue, a comforting vertue, a cheering vertue, a quickning vertue. There is that in him which is proper for all diſeaſes. The Evangeliſt tells us, that when ſick perſons reſorted to Chriſt in the days of his fleſh, there went vertue out of him, and healed them all, Luke 6. 19. foreign, no vertue could have gone out of him, if all vertue had not been treaſured up in him. Chriſt hath eye-ſalve for blinde eyes, mollifying grace for hard-hearts, enlivening grace for dead ſoules, humbling grace for proud minds. God hath given him fulneſs of all things neceſſary for ſick ſoules, and wiſdom to apply the ſame for the benefit of thoſe that repair to him.
Secondly, how Chriſt heales ſpiritual Diſeaſes.
1. He heales by juſtification. Sinne brings guilt, Lev. 5. 2, 3, 4, 5. Rom. 3. 19. Every ſinne makes the creature liable to wrath. This guilt is removed by the grace of juſtification. Jeſus Chriſt applies his ſpotleſſe and perfect righteouſneſſe to the ſoule, and thereby actually removes the guilt of ſinne, and makes the ſinner as pure in the ſight of God, as if he had never offended. Of this the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Romans 5. 18, 19. This is called in Scripture the covering of ſinne, Pſal. 32. 1, 2. Bleſſed is the man whoſe unrighteouſneſſe is forgiven, and whoſe ſinne is covered. Chriſt draws the vaile or garment of his own merit and obedience over the ſpotted ſoule of a ſinner, and thereby covers all his guilt. In this reſpect a ſinner is perfectly healed. Though ſinne abide in him, yet the guilt is taken away, ſo that it ſhall never redound upon the perſon for condemnation. Hence it is that God is ſaid, not to behold iniquity in his people, Numb. 23. 21. Of this healing the Pſalmist ſpeaks, Pſal. 103. 3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diſeaſes. Of this healing we are to underſtand that in 2 Chron. 30. 20. The Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. He did not reckon nor impute the guilt of that ſinne to the people.
2. He heales the ſoule by ſanctification. Every ſinne hath filthineſſe in it as well as guilt. It is of a defiling nature, and leaveth defilement upon the ſoule of the ſinner, Matth. 15. 11. Hence it is that ſinners are ſaid to be filthy creatures, Rev. 22. 11. and Pſal. 14. 3. they are altogether become filthy. This is called Macula▪ or labes peccati, the ſpot or ſtaine of ſinne. Corruption, pollution, &c. It doth immediately follow every offence of ſinne, and remaines when the act of ſinne is over. Look as waters, when they break their banks and over-flow the earth, leave a filthy ſlime and ſediment behind them; ſo all ſinful acts leave upon the ſoule a filthy ſlime of corruption. This filthineſſe Jeſus Chriſt heales by Sanctification. He doth by his Spirit plant the ſeeds of grace in the heart; he doth make the ſoul partaker of the divine natu…e, 2 Pet. 1. 4. He doth cauſe all old things to paſſe away, and all things to become new, 2 Cor. 5. …6. He doth write his Lawes in the heart of the ſinner, Jer. 31. 33. He doth ſprinkle cleane water upon the ſinner, whereby he is cleanſed from all his defilements, Ezek. 36. 25. And by this meanes the filthineſſe of ſinne is healed This Sanct…fication hath two parts; the one is mortification, whereby the body of ſinne is waſted, Rom 8. 13. and Col. 3. 3, 5. The other is regeneration, or the ſpiritual reſurrection, whereby the inward man is ſtrengthened and renewed from day to day: the one is the putting off the old man, the other is the putting on the new man. Now although the ſinner is not healed perfectly, and at once of the filthineſſe of ſinne by Sanctification, as he is of the guilt of ſinne, in regard of juſtification, becauſe this is a real change, and therefore it's carried on ſucceſſively and gradually, whereas juſtification is onelyonly a relative change, and therefore is perfect at once; yet he is in ſo ſure and certaine a way of healing, that Jeſus Chriſt will never let him go out of his hands till he be fully cured. He is perfectly healed in reſpect of parts already, and he ſhall be perfectly healed in reſpect of degrees; he ſhall ſee the day when there ſhall not be the leaſt ſpeck of ſinne or filth, either upon the ſoul or body.
Thirdly, the excellency of this Phyſician above all other Phyſicians. This appears in many reſpects.
1. In regard of the Subject. Other Phyſicians have to deale onelyonly with the body. All their buſineſſe lies in the temper, conſtitution, parts of the body, in preventing, removing diſeaſes that annoy the outward man. Their line reacheth no farther. The ſoule is not the object or ſubject of the Phyſicians Art. But now the chief part about which Chriſt is employed, is the ſoul, the conſcience, the affections, the inward man. He heales the diſtempers of the heart, which other Phyſicians as Phyſicians can neither know, nor heal. Vid. Eſay …1. 1.
2. Jeſus Chriſt is a Phyſician for all diſeaſes. There are ſome diſeaſes which are opprobria medicorum, no Phyſician in the world is able to cure them. But Jeſus Chriſt can cure all diſeaſes, all kindes of diſeaſes, and every individual diſeaſe. He knows the cauſe of every diſeaſe, and therefore he can cure all. Some Phyſicians, though they have a general skill in all diſeaſes, yet their excellency lies ſometimes in one or two which they have ſtudied more then others, and about which they have been imployed more then in others. As ſome Divines are better verſed in ſome one or two Controverſies then others, ſo, &c. But Chriſt is as exact in all ſpiritual diſeaſes, as he is in any diſeaſe. He is as good for the diſeaſes in the head, as for thoſe that are in the heart; and for thoſe that are in the affections, as for thoſe that are in the head. He can cure ignorance, pride, unbelief, diſcontent, impatience, hardneſſe of heart, &c. and he can cure one as well as another, that is, he can cure all. Chriſt never yet met with a ſpiritual diſtemper, which he was not able to call by its right name, and to preſcribe a fit medicine for. It's ſaid of him in the Goſpel, That he cured all manner of diſeaſes, John 5. 4. He can cure all manner of ſpiritual diſeaſes.
3. Jeſus Christ can give no hurtful medicine. The moſt learned Phyſician in the world, being he knows but in part, may preſcribe ſomething which is not proper for the diſeaſe; unleſſe they had ſpectacles to ſee into the body, they may be miſtaken; but Chriſt cannot be miſtaken. He never appointed any thing but what was fit, yea, nothing but what was beſt for the patients condition. And indeed Chriſts Phyſick is therefore proper, becauſe he preſcribes it. Other Phyſicians appoint ſuch receipts, becauſe they are proper, but Chriſts receipts are proper, becauſe he preſcribes them. If he will uſe a plaiſter of clay and ſpettle, it is therefore right, becauſe he will uſe it, John 9. 6. That which would have made a ſeeing man blinde, if it had been done by a man, will m…ke a blind man ſee when it is done by Chriſt.
4. Jeſus Chriſt heales ſpeedily. Other Phyſicians are long in healing; We uſe to ſay, diſeaſes come on horsback, but go away on foot. No Phyſician can cure in a moment. They muſt obſerve method. A cure over-haſtened may be as prejudicial to the Patient as a diſeaſe neglected. But Chriſt can heal in an inſtant. Many a diſeaſed ſinner, who hath laboured for many yeares under many ſpiritual diſtempers, have been cured by Jeſus Chriſt in a trice of time. We read in the Goſpel, that Chriſt did immediately cure ſome that had laboured a long time under diſeaſes, in a moment. Take up thy bed and walk, Vid. Mat. 8. 3. immediately his leproſie was healed, Mat. 20. 34. immediately their eyes received ſight, Mar. 1. 31. immediately the feaver left her; many inſtances of like nature. Immediate cures are not the Acts of creatures, though never ſo learned, though never ſo wiſe. Many a dead, lame, blinde, impenitent ſinner hath come ſick into the Church, and gone out whole. When Chriſt pleaſes, he can heal preſently.
5. Chriſt can bleſſe his Phyſick. He can make it effectual for what he pleaſeth. No Phyſician in the world is able to do it. He applies Phyſick, but he cannot ſay this ſhall cure it. He muſt ſeek a bleſſing from Chriſt. The efficacy of that which other Phyſicians preſcribe, doth depend upon the ſutableneſſe of it, and principally upon Chriſts bleſſing; but the efficacy of Chriſts Phyſick depends upon his Application. Chriſt can ſay peremptorily, I will remove ſuch a ſpiritual diſtemper. The Leper acknowledgeth this, Math. 8. 2. Lord if thou wilt, thou canſt make me cleane. I will, ſaith Chriſt, Be thou clean, &c. He hath all ſpiritual diſeaſes at his beck. The Centurion acknowledgeth it, Do but ſpeak the word, and my ſervant ſhall be healed, &c. Mat. 8. 8. If Chriſt ſay to impenitency, to unbeliefe, &c. Be healed, they will be healed; If Chriſt ſay, I will by ſuch a Sermon heale ſuch a ſinner, the work will be done. His Word is cure enough for any diſeaſe.
6. Chriſt heales the poor as well as the rich. Many Phyſicians do not care to take poor patients in hand; but Jeſus Chriſt is as willing to viſit and heale the poor as well as the rich. He is as ready to go to the beggar on the dunghil, as to the King on the Throne. Jeſus Chriſt in the dayes of his fleſh, was as ready to heal the ſervant as the Maſter, Luke …8. 35, 36. the noble and ignoble, the great and the ſmall are all alike to him. Chriſt looks not at outward qualities, but at ſpiritual diſtempers.
Chriſt heales all freely. Other Phyſicians take rewards. 'Tis their calling, and they ought to live upon their calling. Many of them are very exacting. If they have not a daily fee, they care not for viſiting. The Goſpel ſpeaks of one that had ſpent all her living on Phyſicians, Luke 8. 43. But now Chriſt takes nothing from his Patients, whether they be rich or poore. He gives them their Phyſick freely. Nay, he gives rewards to all his Patients. Other Phyſicians receive from their Patients, but here the Patient receives from the Phyſician. He provides meat, drink, attendance for all his Patients. Chriſt is a nurſe as well as a Phyſician. You may ſee this in that Parable, Luke 10. 34, 35. Phyſicians are not bound to take care of their Patients in this ſence, but Chriſt doth.
8. Chriſt offers himſelf. Other Phyſicians ſtay till they be ſent for. No ſick man expects a Phyſician till he be called; he is glad if he can ſee him then; but Chriſt comes without calling; indeed he ſhould never come if he did not come without a call. The ſick ſoule would die before he would ſend for Chriſt. Other Phyſicians are intreated to come to the ſick, but here the ſick are intreated to come to the Phyſician, Matth. 11. 28. The work of the Miniſtery is to beſeech ſinners that they would be healed, Vid. 2 Cor. 5. 20. Jeſus Chriſt c…me to ſeek and ſave that which was loſt, firſt to ſeek them, then to ſave them.
9. Chriſt doth not depart though he be reviled, &c. Other Phyſicians they abſent themſelves if they be unkindly uſed. Who would expect a Phyſician ſhould come daily to one that reproaches and reviles him, yea, to one that ſhuts the door on him when he comes, much leſſe to one that beats him, &c? The ſick ſinner uſeth Chriſt uncivilly, diſcourteouſly; he frownes on him, he ſhuts the door on him, he reviles him, he beates him, and ſtones him, and yet the Phyſician will not depart; though he ſeem to be angry, and to withdraw for a time, yet returnes againe. Chriſt will put up a thouſand abuſes, rather then ſuffer one of his Elect to die in their ſinnes. Though Chriſt ſee that we throw his phyſick into his face, that we teare and burn his bills in his preſence; that we ſend for Empyricks and prefer their advice before his, yet he waits with patience, and will not be driven away by the worſt uſage.
10. Chriſt himſelfe is the ſick mans Phyſick. Other Phyſicians do not heal their patients with their own fleſh, but Chriſt doth. Other Phyſicians do ſometimes take away the blood of their patients, but Chriſt lets himſelf blood to heal his patients. By his ſtripes we are healed, Eſay 53. 5. Chriſt makes a wound in himſelf to heale our wounds. The Phyſician dies to ſave the patients life from the grave. To him that loved us, and waſhed away our ſinnes with his blood, Rev. 1. 5. Neither the guilt nor filth of one ſin would have been removed, if the Phyſicians blood had not been ſhed for it.
11. Chriſt is a Chirurgion as well as a Phyſician. foreign, comprehends both.