Christ All and in All, Sermon 10 · Uses 3
The Uſes of this Point.
1. How neceſſary is it for the Miniſters of the Goſpel to be frequent in the Doctrine of conviction. They are under Jeſus Chriſt ſpiritual Phyſicians, whoſe office it is, miniſterially to cure the ſpiritual maladies of the ſoule. One effectual meanes to do this, is to endeavour to ſet ſinne upon the conſcience. To diſcover mens ſpiritual eſtate unto their conſciences, that ſo they may be delivered from thoſe groſſe miſtakes about their condition under which they are held. 'Tis a very hard thing to perſwade men that they are ſick. Men are naturally apt to run away with a conceit that all is well with them, therefore 'tis needful to bring ſinne to ſight. The cure is as good as done when this is done. Conviction of ſinne is the firſt work of the Spirit of God, Iohn 16. 8. He is a convincing Spirit before he be a comforting Spirit. You muſt give the Miniſters of Chriſt leave to ſet ſinne upon the conſcience. The fallow ground muſt be broken up before the ſeed of comfort be caſt in. A ſin-convincing Miniſtery is moſt likely to be a ſoul-converting Miniſtery. They … diſcover to men their righteouſneſſe, …. until they have convinced them of their unrighteouſneſſe.
2. Do not wonder that ſpiritual Phyſick is ſo generally contemned. 'Tis at firſt ſight a very great wonder that the offers of grace and ſalvation ſhould be ſo deſpiſed; That the Word of ſalvation ſhould do ſo little good in the world. Chriſt is tendred, life is held out in the preaching of the Goſpel from day to day. Wiſdom cryeth without, and lifts up her voice in the concourſe of the City, and yet men do not come in. Miniſters may complaine as the Prophet Eſay 49. 4. What is the reaſon? 'Tis becauſe men runne away with an opinion that they are well, that their condition is good, and therefore are the precious tenders of ſalvation ſo generally ſleighted.
3. See the reaſon why there is ſo little complaining of ſinne. Never more ſinne, never leſſe ſpiritual complaining of ſinne. 'Tis a great rarity to heare any ſoule crying out, What ſhall I do to be ſaved? You may heare in every corner complainings of bodily diſeaſes, one of his Gout, a ſecond of his Head, a third of his Stone, but very few crying out of ſinne. How comes this about? It is becauſe men think they have no ſin, they ſee not their diſeaſes. They think they are ſound men, and therefore they are quiet, and make no complaints either to God or men.
4. 'Tis a marvellous great mercy to have a true diſcovery of our ſpiritual diſeaſes. 'Tis not a happineſſe to be ſpiritually diſeaſed, no, no; ſinne is a miſery, but 'tis a mercy that thoſe that are diſeaſed, are convinced of their condition. Many …en think they are well, when they are indeed going down to the chambers of death; if therefore God have ſo farre opened your eyes as to let you ſee your diſeaſe, you have cauſe to bleſſe his Name. Such conviction though it be not the cure of ſinne, yet it is the ready way to the cure of ſinne. It may be, your ſorrow after conviction is greater then it was before: you are now full of fea…s and horrors, which before you were free from; but certainly your condition is farre ſafer. Bleſſe God for the work of conviction, and he will bring it on to the work of converſion.
Doct. 4. Jeſus Chriſt is not a Phyſician to any Mat 9. 12.that think themſelves ſpiritually whole. It was the miſery of the Phariſees, that they dreamed themſelves to be in a very healthful eſtate. They looked upon all others as men mortally ſick, and upon themſelves as ſound men. Our Saviour therefore declines them as Patients unfit for him to meddle with and applies himſelfe to the poore Publicans and ſinners, who did ſee and acknowledge themſelves to be ſick of ſinne and ready to periſh. Jeſus Chriſt doth not immediately heale ſinners as they are ſinners; but his conſtant general method is firſt to take them off that conceit that is naturally in their hearts, that they are in a good eſtate; and when he hath ſhewed them their ſickneſſe, then he goes in hand with the cure. The making of the heart ſenſible of ſinne is the work of Chriſt, as well as the healing of ſinne. Did not Chriſt give the ſinner a ſight of his miſery, he would never be able to ſee his miſery. Conviction of ſinne is as truly the work of Chriſt, …s … ſinne. John 16. 8. Nature is a… … ſinne, as it is to heal ſinne when it i… d… vered. All that is meant in the doctrine is …, that Jeſus Chriſt doth not ordinarily heale any ſoul til he have firſt delivered from the miſc…no…t of their condition and given them eys to ſee, that it is otherwiſe with them then they did before imagine. This is the full ſcope of this Doctrine, and of this Text, as is clear from v. 13. where our Saviour doth in plaine and expreſſe termes ſet down, what is here more covertly propounded, ſaying, I am not come to caſt the righteous, but ſinners to repentance.
In the handling of this doctrine, I ſhall open theſe foure things.
1. Shew that this is Chriſts uſual method.
2. How this work of diſcovery is wrought.
3. Why Chriſt takes this courſe in the healing of ſinners.
4. Whether this work be wrought alike in all.
1. That this is Chriſts uſual method, appears two wayes.
1. By our Saviours own declaration. We ſhall finde him in Scripture expreſſing this two wayes.
(1) By declaring the end of his coming. He came from heaven to ſave and convert ſuch kinde of perſons, Luke. 19. 10. The Sonne of man came to ſeek, and to ſave that which was loſt. Not ſimply all ſuch as are loſt (for there are abundance of loſt ſinners which he neither came to ſeek or to ſave intentionally) but ſuch as ſee themſelves to be in a loſt condition, ſuch as are firſt made ſenſible of that loſt undone condition they are in without Chriſt. So Eſay 6…. 1, 2. He doth there fully declare, both for what ſinners he came into the world, and how he heales thoſe ſinners. They are ſuch ſinners as are broken-hearted; ſuch ſinners as mourne; they are meekned ſinners. Chriſt firſt breaks their hearts, cauſes them to mourne out of the ſenſe of their ſinnes; meekens their ſpirits by a work of conviction; and then heales them by the Application of the Promiſes of grace.
(2) By the forme of invitation he uſes to ſinners. This is fully expreſt by the Evangeliſt, Matth. 11. 28. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you reſt. The words are very ſignificant, foreign. Chriſt doth not call ſinners as ſinners, but as labouring ſinners, as burdened ſinners, ſuch as are even overwhelmed and born down with the heavy weight of ſinne. Such as ſee ſinne, and upon the ſight of it are ſo overwhelmed, that they cannot look up, but are ready to ſink and die under it.
2. From the order of this working upon ſuch as he hath healed. You can hardly finde any one that ever was healed but in this way; but multitudes that have been wrought upon after this manner. Thoſe three thouſand who were converted by Peters Miniſtery, were firſt brought to the ſight of their ſick eſtate, and then were converted, Acts 2. 37. What is the meaning elſe of thoſe words foreign; There was not the leaſt part or point of the heart, but it was wounded; it was with them as if the ſharp points of daggers, or ſtings of Scorpions had been ſtuck and faſtened in their hearts. So it was with the Jaylor, Acts 16. …7▪ … thoſe expreſſions and geſtures of his ſhew, that he was firſt convinced of his ſick eſtate before he was cured. The ſame method is obſervable in Pauls converſion, Acts 9. 4, 5, 6, 9. his falling to the earth, his trembling and aſtoniſhment, the words uttered by him, the continuance of his blindneſſe for the ſpace of three dayes, What are theſe, but evidences of the work of conviction which Chriſt wrought upon his heart? The ſame courſe and method in ſome degree or other, doth Chriſt obſerve in all thoſe whom he heales of their ſpiritual diſeaſes, eſpecially if they be ſuch as are adulti, grown men, when this work is wrought upon them. This is the firſt particular.
2. How Chriſt makes this diſcovery?
Anſw. This is wrought ordinarily by the preaching of the Law. The Miniſtery of the Law is the moſt certain and expeditious way to make the ſinner ſenſible of his ſick eſtate. The Law hath a threefold effect upon the ſoul, as to the accompliſhing of this work, viz.
1. The Law ſets before the eye of the ſinner the miſerable eſtate which man is in by ſinne, with the wrath of God due to him for the ſame. All knowledge of ſinne is by the Law thorough the convincing power of the Spirit of God, Rom. 3. 20. By this meanes the Apoſtle came to ſee his ſinne, Rom. 7. 7, 9. He thought inward concupiſcence to be no ſinne, till God by his Law had better informed his judgement. He thought his condition while he was a Phariſee, to be as good as the condition of the beſt: but when God had tutor'd him a while by the Law, then he looked upon himſelfe as a dead man; when the commandment …ame, ſin revived (ſaith he) and I died, v. 9.
2. It doth convince the conſcience of the ſinner, that he is the guilty perſon whom the Law threatneth with all that miſery. The Law of God doth point him out, as Nathan did David, and tells him that he is the man againſt whom all that wrath is denounced. The Apoſtle mentions this work of the Law, 1 Cor. 14. 24, 25. The ſinner being ſmitten with the edge of the Law, falls down on his face, confeſſing that he is the very man that is guilty of ſuch ſinne, and liable to the miſeries due to ſuch ſin. The condition diſcovered is his condition.
3. The Law awakens the ſinner out of his ſecurity, lets him ſee the impoſſiblity of his perſonal ſatisfying the Law, and ſo works horrour and astoniſhment in the ſoule. This effect it had on the Jaylor, Acts 16. 29. his heart was ſet on a trembling frame, upon the apprehenſion of that ſad guilt and miſery under which he lay, from which he was not able to deliver himſelfe. This is that which the Apoſtle calls, the Spirit of bondage, Romans 8. 15. which is oppoſed to the Spirit of Adoption. This is the ſecond thing.
3. Why Chriſt takes this courſe in the healing of ſin? why will he not heal the ſinner, till he have him ſenſible that he is not in a ſound condition?
1. That ſinne may be imbittered. Sinne is in it ſelfe and evil and bitter thing. 'Tis compared unto gall and wormwood, and 'tis far more bitter then either of theſe. Now 'tis the minde of God, that the ſinner ſhould taſte the bitterneſſe of ſinne before he be healed, Jer. 2. 19. Therefore is he pleaſed to … courſe.
2. That the ſinner may be brought to a … ſhame for his ſinne. Sinne is a very ſha…eful thing. 'Tis called ſhame in Scripture; and 'tis the minde of Chriſt, that all ſinners that are recovered ſhall beare the ſhame of their ſinnes, Ezek. 16. 52. Now if the ſinner ſhould be healed before his ſinne be diſcovered, this deſigne of God would be fruſtrated.
3. That the ſinner may be willing to come up to his termes. When Chriſt begins at firſt to deale with a ſoule about the work of Converſion, he keeps a huge bogling, he doth exceedingly dodge with Jeſus Chriſt to bring him to low termes. Chriſt therefore ſhewes him his naked condition, what he is, and what he muſt expect if he cloſe not with him, and by this meanes he is brought to a ready and willing complyance with him. We ſee it in thoſe three thouſand which Peter converted, when their condition was diſcovered, when anguiſh and horrour was upon their ſpirits, then they were contented to do any thing, Acts 2. 37. What ſhall we do to be ſaved? Thus alſo it was with Saul, Acts 9. 6. When Chriſt had created thoſe tremblings and aſtoniſhments in his ſpirit, then he comes off fully to Chriſt, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? So it was with the Jaylor: when he had a true repreſentation of his eſtate, then he cries out, Acts 16. 30. Sirs, what muſt I do to be ſaved? A man that is in extremity will do any thing to ſave his life. When he ſees that he muſt periſh if he do not preſently conſent to what is propoſed, then he lingers not: if he muſt throw all his goods overboard, he is contented to caſt them out preſently, becauſe death is before him.
4. That the mercy of the cure may be more highly valued. Salvation from hell is a very great work which ſhould be valued by all on whom it is beſtowed. The Prophet David calls upon his ſoule, and all that is within his ſoule, to praiſe God for ſuch a mercy, Pſalme 103. init. He that conſiders the worth of ſalvation, the unworthineſſe of the perſons enjoying it, the coſtlineſſe of it, the multitudes that ſhall never partake of it; muſt needs acknowledge it a thing worthy to be eſteemed. But ſo unthankful a piece is the heart of man, that he doth not value it at any conſiderable rate. Jeſus Chriſt therefore, before he bring any into ſuch a ſtate, will diſcover their miſery to themſelves; that ſo he may provoke them to extraordinary thankfulneſſe for it. And the truth is, nothing doth ſo much enhance the price of ſalvation in our hearts, as a cleer manifeſtation of our wretched condition. See how the Apoſtles heart is enlarged upon this very conſideration, 1 Tim. 1. 15. Had he not ſeen himſelf to be the chief of ſinners, he would never have thought ſalvation by Chriſt worthy of all acceptation, as now he did.
5. That the skill of the Phyſician may be more cleerly diſcovered. Jeſus Chriſt ſeeks to advance his own glory in all the works he does for the ſonnes of men; As in other his works, ſo eſpecially in this great work of converſion. Therefore it is, that he will not heale any till he have ſhewed them their ſad eſtat… … may ſee his wiſdome, power, goodneſſe, in their healing. Men that think little or nothing ayles them, do not halfe ſo much value the Phyſicians paines, or skill, as thoſe that ſee themſelves at the very brink of the grave, when the Phyſician takes them in hand. Jeſus Chriſt therefore will ſhew them every ſort, that ſo they may publiſh his glory that wrought it for them. I was brought low, and he helped me, ſaith David, Pſ. 116. 6. See how the poor blind man proclaims the honour of Chriſt, Joh. 9. 32.
4. Whether Jeſus Chriſt obſerve the ſame method in this work of diſcovering the ſinners eſtate to himſelfe? Whether all ſinners have the ſame meaſure of humbling and terror, and whether they continue for the ſame time under apprehenſions of wrath?
Anſw. Jeſus Chriſt is a free Agent. He is not tyed to any certaine method, nor doth he alwayes walk in the ſame way. His diſpenſations in the work of convincing men of ſinne, are various and different. The work is wrought on all ſo far as to make the ſoule ſenſible of ſinnes bitterneſſe above all other bitterneſſe, and to make it ſenſible of Chriſts excellency above all other excellent things. But that it is done in the ſame violent manner in all, or that it is of the ſame continuance, cannot be affirmed. Conviction and converſion may be wrought at the ſame Sermon, as we ſee it was with thoſe three thouſand, Acts 2. 37. 41. They were no ſooner pricked in their hearts, but they gladly received the word. There was great difference between this work in Lydia and in the Jaylor, Acts 16. 14. God ſhewed her herſickneſſe in … more milde way. The Lord opined her heart, that ſhe attended unto the things which were ſpoken of Paul. But the Jaylor, he had an earthquake, and great horrours in his conſcience, v. 27, 29.
1. Some ſinners have been more ſcandalous then others. Theſe are brought to Chriſt with greater troubles, ſo it was with the Jaylor: he had been a cruel bloody man; God layes him under deep ſorrow.
2. God hath a greater work to do by ſome ſinners then by others. Theſe he uſes to deal with in a more rough way, that he may prepare them for ſervice the better. This ſeems to be the reaſon of his ſo ſharp dealing with Saul, Act. 9. 15, 16.
3. Some ſinners are of a more rough turbulent nature then others. Theſe muſt be handled more ſeverely. Some men muſt be bound, before they will be ruled. So it is with ſome kinde of ſinners. Thus with Manaſſeh, 2 Chr. 33. 11.
4. Some have been ſinners of a longer ſtanding then others. Theſe Chriſt uſeth to be more ſharp withal in his way of curing.
5. Some ſinners have been more confident in their civil righteouſneſſe then others; As Paul was in his Phariſaiſme, Phil. 3. Theſe Chriſt uſes to handle more ſharply. Jeſus Chriſt is a wiſe Phyſician, he obſerves the nature of all his Patients, and accordingly preſcribes medicines for them. He that hath the leaſt meaſure of this conviction, hath ſo much, as that he ſees himſelf loſt, undone, helpleſſe, hopeleſſe in himſelf. He ſees the evil of ſinne, he ſees Chriſt an excellent, ſutable, al ſufficient good for his ſoule. This one thing … Where there is the leaſt ſorrow before … con… ſion, there is many times greater ſorrow, and mor… troubles of Spirit after converſion.