Christ All and in All, Sermon 21
1 PET. 2. 6.XXII. SERM. at Mary Wolnoth. Lon. Febr. 20. 1652.
foreign Precious.
I Proceed to the Uſes which are 1. Information. 2. Examination. 3. Exhortation.
1. For Information. This teacheth a twofold leſſon.
1. The exceeding great glory of the Church of Christ. The Scripture tells us that the Church of God is a glorious body. Though the Church (taken in its more large acception, as it contains all viſible profeſſors) be in many reſpects leſſe glorious, becauſe o… the mixture that is in it, it being a field, wherein is both wheat and tares; Mat. 13. 24 25. Mat. 3. 13. Mat. 13. 48.a barn floore, wherein is both good corn and chaff; a net, in which are fiſhes good and bad; yet the Church of God, more ſtrictly taken for the number of them that are effectually called the inviſible Church, is a very glorious ſociety; The Apoſtle calls it a glorious Church, Eph. 5. 27. foreign. It's glorious as in regard of the holineſſe of the members, ſo chiefly in regard of Chriſt the glorious foundation. A houſe whoſe corners are laid with precious ſtones, and whoſe ſuperſtructory ſtones are all lively ſtones, muſt needs be glorious. Never ſuch a building in the world as the Church of God is. See how the Evangelical Prophet deſcribes it, Eſay 54. 11. O you afflicted, toſſed with tempeſts and not comforted, behold I will lay thy ſtones with faire colours, and lay thy foundation with Saphires, &c. 'Tis much like that deſcription which is made of it, Rev. 21. 10, 11, 12 &c. Every thing which is in the Church makes for the glory of it. Glorious in its members, who are cloathed with the glory of God; glorious in regard of the worſhip which is there uſed, and of the Ordinances there diſpenſed, in regard of the Doctrine there there maintained. Calvin I remember, underſtands by thoſe precious ſtones mentioned, Eſay 54. 11, 12. The variety of the gifts and graces of God to his people. Paul underſtands by the ſame precious ſtones the doctrine taught in the Church, 1 Cor. 3. 11. The Church is glorious, both in reſpect of the doctrine, and of the various gifts and graces of God diſpenſed amongſt the members of it. But the great glory of all lies in the foundation-ſtone, Jeſus Chriſt. That muſt needs be a precious building, which hath its foundation on ſuch a precious ſtone as Jeſus Chriſt is, who it as far above all precious ſtones, and a great deale more, then they are above common ſtones. For the ſetting out of this, conſider how Chriſt excels all other precious ſtones.
1. He excels them in largeneſſe. Other precious ſtones are but of a ſmall dimenſion, and of a very little weight. You may put many of the largeſt, that ever were ſeen, into a ſmall Cabinet, but Jeſus Chriſt is very great. As God, he is infinite without dimenſion, filling heaven and earth with his preſence. See how the Prophet ſpeaks of the infiniteneſs, and incomprehenſibleneſſe of Chriſt in regard of his divine nature, Eſay 40. 12, 13. Who hath meaſured the waters in the hollow of his hand? and meted out the heaven with a ſpan? and comprehended the duſt of the earth in a meaſure, and weighed the mountaines in ſcales, and the hills in a ballance. That all this is ſpoken of Chriſt, appeares from verſe 11. where he is prophecied of, as the Shepherd of his flock.
2. He excels them in duration. Other pearles and precious ſtones are of a periſhing nature, they may be defaced, broken, diſſolved; they may loſe their beauty. There's a day coming when they ſhall be melted away into nothing. Cleopatra diſſolved a pearle of very great worth, by the Art of Chymiſtry, and drank it at one draught to her Antonius. But Jeſus Chriſt is a durable precious ſtone. Neither time nor eternity will be able to diſſolve this ſtone; His beauty cannot be loſt or dimiſhed; He never will have any flaw, or crack, or ſpot in him, in the eyes of thoſe that are able to judge aright of him. His brightneſſe is an unfading brightneſſe. The heavens and the earth fade, and wax old like a garment, but Jeſus Chriſt is ſtill the ſame, and his years have no end, Heb. 1. 11, 12. And
3. He excels them in the multiplicity and perfection of his properties. There is not any precious ſtone that hath all excellencies and vertues in it. Some excel in one property, ſome are excellent for another vertue. Whether their medicinal vertues be conſidered, or their other excellencies, as their colour, their forme, their roundneſſe, &c. One excels moſt in this kinde, another in that. But the vertues and excellencies of all pearls and precious ſtones meet in Chriſt. Whatſoever perfection is to be found in any created ſtone, the ſame is to be found in Chriſt. The properties of the Saphire, the Diamond, the Chryſolite, the Sardonix, the Amethiſt, and of all other ſtones meet in Chriſt alone. And then they are all in him in a farre more tranſcendent manner then they are in any of theſe. His brightneſſe is above the brightneſſe of the Diamond, his whiteneſſe far exceeds the whiteneſſe of the Pearl. The medicinal and phyſical properties that are in Chriſt, are far more excellent then thoſe that are in other precious ſtones. Some Pearls, they ſay, do ſtrengthen the heart; others clear the ſight; others remove the vertigo or dizzineſſe of the head, and many other uſeful properties are recorded by learned men; but none of them are ſo excellent in any of theſe kindes as Chriſt is, for he removes and heales the diſtempers of the ſoule and minde, as well as of the body; he cures the ſpiritual eye-ſight, Rev. 3. 18. He cures the troubles of the conſcience, which no other precious ſtone can do, being never ſo artificially uſed. He being rightly applyed and taken, cures the ſoul of ſinne, removes guilt, which none other precious ſtone can do. The necklace of pearle cannot cure the wounds of conſcience, the girdle of diamonds cannot remove tremblings from the ſpirit; the coſtly jewel in the boſome cannot quiet the heart, throbbing for ſin or Gods departure; all this Chriſt can do. And
4. He excels them in this, that he hath no hurtful qualities. Other precious ſtones have a killing quality, powder of diamonds they ſay is poyſonful, put in the bowels or throat, takes away life preſently. But Jeſus Chriſt hath no deſtructive quality. He is occaſion of hurt to none, but to him that refuſeth him. Put all theſe together, and it will appeare, that the Church of God which is erected upon, and united unto ſuch a precious foundation, muſt needs be a glorious Church.
2. The great riches of true beleevers. A member of Chriſt, how poore ſoever he is in regard of outward riches, yet he is the richeſt man in the world, for he doth poſſeſſe Chriſt, who is a ſtone of invaluable worth. If you knew a man had an eſtate worth all the precious ſtones in the world, you would account him a very rich man. A believer hath one precious ſtone in his poſſeſſion, which is of greater worth then all the precious ſtones, which now are, or ever were in the world. When other men boaſt of their jewels, do you boaſt of your Chriſt. When others tell you what rich ſparkling diamonds they have, do you bring out this precious ſtone and lay it before them. When you hear other men ſpeaking of the coſtly foundation of their houſes, do you think what a glorious foundation your ſoules are built upon. He that wants Chriſt is the truly poore man, whatever he enjoyes. He is rich, we ſay, whom God loves, he is rich that inherits Chriſt; if thou haddeſt thy houſe full of diamonds, thou wouldeſt judge thy ſelf a wealthy man. If Chriſt be thine, thou haſt much more. I counſel thee to buy of …ne Gold that thou mayeſt be rich, Rev. 3, 18. 'Tis not the gold of the earth, but Chriſts gold that makes men rich. Though thou haſt no houſe to put thy head in, not a footbredth of land to tread upon, though thou haſt not one penny in thy purſe, yet if thou art a true beleever, thou art more wealthy then the greateſt Emperour or Monarch in the world, that hath not Chriſt for his portion. Thou haſt a precious ſtone which wil ſerve to ſpend upon to eternity, & never waſte nor diminiſh. Thus much for Information.
2. For Examination. Let us try whether Jeſus Chriſt be precious to us. Many are deceived in their thoughts about Chriſt. Abundance think they eſteeme him to be a precious ſtone, who do indeed account him but an ordinary ſtone. It will be neceſſary therefore to lay down ſome notes to diſtinguiſh a true eſteeme of Chriſt from a falſe eſteeme. I ſhall name theſe four, viz.
1. Whether you are willing to part with every thing you have, that you may enjoy Chriſt? Our Saviour layes this down as an evidence of a real prizing of Chriſt, Mat. 13. 46. he went and ſold all that he had and bought it. Not as if Chriſt were our purchaſe, for he is the Fathers free gift, John 3. 16. but the meaning is, that he that eſteemes Chriſt as a pearle of price, will let nothing ſtand in the way between him and Chriſt; he will part with every thing, rather then go without him. By this the Apoſtle Paul evidences his eſteeme of Chriſt, Phil. 3. 7, 8. What things were gaine to me, thoſe I counted loſſe for Christ, &c. He that eſteemes Chriſt aright, will leave all his ſinnes for Chriſt. He will leave his honours and preferments in the world, when he cannot keep them and Chriſt together: as that noble Marqueſs … did, he will part with all his morality, civil righteouſneſſe, rather then not enjoy Chriſt. No termes are hard, no conditions difficult, ſo that Chriſt may be poſſeſſed. He that will not let every thing go that hinders him from Chriſt, doth not eſteeme Chriſt truly precious. That young man in the Goſpel did declare that Chriſt was not precious to him, becauſe he would not part with his riches to enjoy him, Luke 18. 23. He went away ſorrowful, for he was very rich.
2. What deſire have you of fellowſhip with Christ? He that eſteems Chriſt precious indeed, thinks he hath never enough of Chriſt. The Church teſtifies her dear eſteeme of him, by her paſſionate deſire of communion with him, Cant. 1. 13. Abundle of myrrh is my welbeloved to me, he ſhall lodge all night between my breaſts. The breaſt is the place of affections. There the heart is, that ſhall be Chriſts Chamber; precious ſtones that are valued, are laid up in the ſafeſt Cabinet. Where Chriſt is valued aright, he is laid up in the beſt Cabinet, the very heart. The ſoul that values him aright, is never weary of his preſence. He will neglect no opportunity, he will miſſe willingly no meeting, where he thinks Chriſt may be found. Tell me, O thou whom my ſoul loveth, where thou feedeſt! Cant. 1. 7. Jeſus Chriſt is much in the thoughts of him that truly eſteemes him; he is never at eaſe, but when Chriſt lies with him; he likes no diſcourſe ſo well as that that hath Chriſt in it. He is a man even ſwallowed up with the meditations of Chriſt.
3. Is every thing of Chriſt precious to you? He that hath right appreciations of Chriſt, doth account him every way precious. His precepts are as precious as his promiſes; his life is as precious as his death; his holy ſteps are as precious as his blood. Many men think they account very highly of Chriſt, who do indeed account meanly of him. They cry him up in his ſufferings and ſatisfaction, and cry him down as much in his obedience. The promiſes of Chriſt are ſweet, but the precepts of Chriſt are bitter. His meritorious death is highly extold; but his exemplary life is but meanly accounted of: his Prieſtly office is glorious to them, but his Kingly and Prophetical offices are contemptible. They would have Chriſt to ſave them, but they deſire not Chriſt to ſanctifie them. They do indeed cry up Jeſus, but they cry down Chriſt. They prize his blood, but they deſpiſe his graces. They like Chriſts interceſſion, but they do not like his Sovereignty; they would have him glorifie them in heaven, but they will not allow him to command them on earth. All ſuch partial prizing of Chriſt is no prizing of Chriſt. As the right receiving of Chriſt is to receive him wholly, ſo the right prizing of Chriſt is to prize him wholly. He is not prized at all, if he be any way deſpired. The Apoſtle tells us, that Chriſt is made unto us of God, wiſdom, righteouſneſſe, ſanctification, redemption, in 1 Cor. 1. 30. He that doth eſteem him aright, muſt eſteem him in this latitude; he is to be honoured as much as he is a Sanctifyer, as he is to be honoured as a Redeemer. The Church values Chriſt wholly, Cant. 5. 11, 12, &c. His head, his lock…, his eyes, his hands, his lips, &c. Many do much value the hands of Chriſt by which he gives rewards, but they do not value the lips of Chriſt, by which he gives commands. A true prizer of Chriſt eſteemes his mouth as much as his hands, yea he eſteems the precepts of his mouth as well as the promiſes of his mouth.
4. What opinion have you of thoſe that are like Chriſt? It is an eternal truth, that whoſoever hath a right eſteeme of Chriſt, cannot but value thoſe that are like him, and that meerly becauſe they have his image. Heare what the Apoſtle ſaith expreſly to this purpoſe, 1 Joh. 5. 1. Every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him alſo that is begotten of him. He that ſaith he looks upon Chriſt as precious, and hates them that are like him, is a lyar, & the truth is not in him. God will ſet ſuch men down not for the prizers, but for the deſpiſers of Chriſt. Thus much for examination.
3. For Exhortation. This may commend ſeveral duties to us all.
1. Bleſſe God for this precious ſtone. The more excellent Chriſt is, the more ſhould our hearts he enlarged to bleſſe God for him. How exceeding great is his love to his Church, that hath laid for their foundation ſuch a precious ſtone as Chriſt is; had he not greatly and dearly loved you, he would not have parted with this precious ſtone out of his boſome. He had given you nothing, if he had not not given you Chriſt, and now you have Chriſt he will not deny you any thing. The Apoſtle argues ſtrongly, Rom. 8. 32. He that ſpared not his own Sonne, &c. how ſhall he not together with him alſo freely give us all things? God hath taken away all ground of queſtioning other things, from them to whom he hath given Chriſt. He that gives a man freely his beſt jewel, will not ſtick with him for a few common ſtones. Let not a day go over your heads without praiſes to God for Jeſus Chriſt.
2. Let this encourage every one to build on him. We have encouragement enough to build on him, becauſe he is elected of God; and encouragement alſo, becauſe he is ſo precious. Build not your ſalvation on thoſe rotten ſtones of merit, or free-will, &c. but upon this precious ſtone Jeſus Chriſt. He undoes himſelf, who leaves this precious corner-ſtone for any meane coner-ſtone which God hath never deſigned. He is an unwiſe Chriſtian that refuſeth a foundation of precious ſtone to build on a ſandy foundation.
3. Whatever hath reference to Chriſt, let it be precious. The Apoſtle ſpeaks of precious faith, 2 Pet. 1. 1. Faith is precious, becauſe it layes hold on ſo precious a Chriſt, and on ſo precious promiſes, and becauſe it works ſuch precious effects, &c. We ſhould have a care that that faith which hath to do with Chriſt be actively precious. 'Tis precious when its right bred, and when it's active, when it's of the beſt ſort. So love Chriſt with a precious love, not with ordinary, but with choice affection. Fear Chriſt with a precious feare. Obey Chriſt with a precious obedience, that is, obedience of the beſt kinde. Worſhip Chriſt with precious worſhip. It will be another character that Chriſt is precious to us, when we have a care that every thing that refers to him be choice and precious. Curſed is the deceiver, ſaith the Prophet, Ma…. 1. 14. that hath a male in his flock, and ſacrificeth to God a corrupt thing: for I am a great King; that's the reaſon rendred. Gods greatneſſe ſhould make men offer of the beſt they have. Chriſt is a very precious ſtone. Whatever relates to him, its fit ſhould be precious as he is precious.
4. Eſteeme more highly of him then you have done. Let your thoughts of him be raiſed and ſublimate. Conſider three things. 1. The more you prize him, the faſter you will ſtick to him. He is eaſily ſeduced from Chriſt, that hath low thoughts of Chriſt. High appreciations will help us much againſt ſeduction. 2. The more you prize him, the better you will obey him. The eſteem of a perſon maketh ſervice done with more freedom of Spirit and readineſſe of minde. 3. The more you prize him, the more cheerfully will you ſuffer for him; reſpect of the perſon for whom we ſuffer, makes hard and heavy burthens light. Amor meus crucifixus. No reproaches will damp that ſoule to whom Chriſt is precious.