Christ All and in All, Sermon 10 · Uses 5
The Uſes of this Point.
1. Let this preſerve all that are in ſuch a condition from deſpaire. Satans great plot upon convinced and humbled ſinners, is to drive them to deſpaire. As he endeavours to heighten, and harden unbroken ſinners to preſumption, ſo his great deſigne is to afright humbled ſinners to deſpaire. This Doctrine is a good preſervative againſt ſuch temptations; you that ſee ſinne and complaine of your ſpiritual ſickneſſes, know this to your comfort that as Chriſt hath prepared you for healing, ſo he will be ready to heale you.
Object. I have been a long time under theſe heart-pricking convictions, and yet cannot finde any healing; my wounds are as wide and as deep as ever they were. I have lyen many moneths, yea many yeares under the apprehenſions of ſinne and wrath, and yet am not healed. How ſhall I beleeve this Doctrine?
Sol. 1. Many ſinners are healed, who do not apprehend themſelves to be healed. Many wounded ſinners will not beleeve themſelves to be healed, unleſſe they could finde no skarre or ſpot of ſinne upon them. They think they are not healed of ſinne, … they are not quite delivered both from the being, and acting of ſinne. They even look to finde as perfect healing on earth, as they ſhall have in Heaven. But we muſt know that a perſon may be healed, both of the guilt of ſinne by Juſtification, and of the dominion of ſinne by Sanctification, and yet ſtill finde many ſores of ſinne upon, and new ſores breaking out every day in him. Paul was healed, when he cried out, O miſerable man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from the body of this death? Romans 7. 24. David was healed, and yet he cries out, My wounds ſtink and are corrupt through my fooliſhneſſe, Pſalme 38. 5. and againe, verſe 7. My loynes are filled with a loathſome diſeaſe, and there is no ſoundneſſe in my fleſh. When the love of ſinne, the ſecret delight in ſinne, the allowance of ſinne, the commanding rule of ſinne are removed, though there continue many wounds and ſcarres too upon the ſoule, the cure of ſinne is wrought, and that which is wanting ſhall perfectly be finiſhed.
2. Many ſinners keep themſelves from being healed by their own default. They do keep terrour and apprehenſions of wrath upon their ſoules, becauſe they will not cloſe with the promiſes of the Goſpel. Though the comforts of the Goſpel be held out never ſo clearly, and with never ſo much perſwadingneſſe, yet they will have none of them. They are not humbled enough, as they think, they are not ſo prepared as they ſhould be, therefore they will not come to Chriſt to cloſe with him as with a Saviour, nor apply the promiſes of the Goſpel, but reject them, and put them away as none of their portion. This is the caſe of abundance of ſinners. Is it any wonder if ſuch ſay, they are not healed? 'Tis becauſe they will not be healed. They are not worthy of mercy, and therefore they will have none. They do not conſider that all our worthineſſe ſtands in the ſenſe of our own unworthineſſe. They do not conſider that they do not come to bring fulneſſe to Chriſt, but to draw out of Chriſts fulneſſe, John 1. 14. if ſuch ſinners would but lay aſide this ſpiritual pride, and cloſe with Chriſt, becauſe they ſee they are unworthy of him, they ſhould finde that he would in a ſhort time ſpiritually heale them. For he is willing to heale, and willing to do it ſpeedily. Jeſus Chriſt never did, never will put any ſinne-lamenting ſinner to any unneceſſary trouble, to any unneceſſary delay.
2. Let all the people of God, eſpecially the Miniſtery of God be ready to follow Chriſts example. When you ſee or know of any ſoul that is wounded with ſinne, apply what healing medicines you can, that they may be healed. 'Tis given in charge to the Miniſters of God, both in the Old and in the New Teſtament, Eſay 35. 3. and 1 Theſ. 5. 14. As it is cruel mercy to proſtitute the comforts of the Goſpel to proud ſinners, ſo is it great cruelty to with-hold the cordials of the Goſpel from ſuch ſinners as are burthened with their ſinnes. Jeſus Chriſt will take it very kindly at any mans hand, that will help forward the curing of a wounded ſinner, he expects it at th… … his Miniſters. As they muſt be … ſecure ſleepy ſinners, ſo they muſt be … baſſes to mourning ſinners. A wounded ſpirit i… an inſupportable burthen, Prov. 18. 14. The more inſupportable the burden is, the greater charity is it to be a means to ſupport the ſpirit under it.
3. Let this be a Motive to all ſick ſinners to come to Chriſt. This is enough to perſwade you to come to him, becauſe there is none elſe can heal you. You muſt either come to him, or elſe you muſt die in your ſinnes. But this is more, he is willing to heale you. There is a natural ſhyneſſe in ſinners, that ſee their ſin to come to Chriſt. 'Tis hard to drive them. Caſt away this ſinfulneſſe, ſloathfulneſſe and come to him, caſt your ſelves at his feet, and ſay, Lord heale us.
Object. 1. I have been a ſinner of a very great magnitude.
Sol. 1. Not greater then Chriſt hath cured. Not greater then he can cure, Eſay 1. 18. Eſay 55. 8, 9.
2. Did ever Chriſt upbraid any with the greatneſſe of their ſins, that did ſee them and bewaile them?
3. Make them not greater, by refuſing the Phyſician which God hath ſent from his boſom to cure you.
Object. 2. I have continued long in them.
1. They are not of ſo long a continuance as ſome that Chriſt hath cured.
2. Make them not of longer continuance by ſtaying ſtill in them.
Object. 3. I fear the time of healing is paſt.
1. While Chriſt calls, the time is not paſt.
2. 'Tis a ſinne for any man to think the time paſ….
3. He can heal thee at the laſt gaſp. Adventure on ſin; 'tis better to die coming to (were it ſo) then running from Chriſt. You have both his promiſe and his oath, that he will not caſt you out. He that came to call ſinners to repentance, will not reject repenting ſinners.