Gospel Liberty, Sermon 2
ENCOURAGEMENT for ſinners to come unto Chriſt.
1 COR. 10.23.
ALL things are LAWFULL for me, but ALL things are not EXPEDIENT &c.
HAving opened theſe words to you the laſt day; I obſerved theſe three Doctrines (which by the help of God I ſhall ſpeak of.)
The firſt was this, that
There are many things that are lawfull to the Saints now under the new Teſtament, that were not to them under the Old.
And the ſecond was,
That of thoſe many things that are lawfull to the Saints now, there are but a few that are expedient, or convenient.
The third is this, that
Saints, if they will walkes becomes the new Teſtament, they muſt not ſo much (at leaſt not only) eye what is lawfull; but they muſt eye alſo what is expedient.
Concerning the firſt, that
The Saints under the new Teſtament, are not ſo ſtrictly and punctually bound, in point of lawfulnes, as they were in the old Teſtament.
This I proved to you;
And for the opening of it, I propoſed two Queſts.
Firſt, Wherein doth this latitude conſiſt?
Secondly, How doth it appeare. Theſe I anſwered.
I come now to the Uſes of it.
Firſt, Uſe 1 Encouragement for ſinners to come to Chriſt.If there be ſuch a latitude in the wayes of Chriſt in the Goſpel; Then here is a ſweet encouragement for all poore ſinners to come to Chriſt; It is his owne Uſe that hee makes, Come unto me (ſaith Chriſt) Yeé that are wearie, and heavie laden, and I will give you reſt: for my yoke is eaſie, and my burthen is light. Beloved, Chriſt pities thee, not only that thou doſt not goe to heaven, but that thou goeſt with a bundle upon thy back: Chriſt would have thee come in an eaſie ſweete way. As for inſtance here are ſome that have gone on fortie, or fiftie yeares, that have kept Faſts, and gone to Church, and prayed norning and evening, and have wept, and howled, and a great deale of labour; Now if you come to Jeſus Chriſt, and receive him, thou ſhalt finde not only a ſtraight, ready way, but a way unſpeakably ſweet and eaſie.
This makes many a man that he runnes from Chriſt and abhors the profeſſion of Religion,Why men run from Chriſt. becauſe he lookes upon it as a harſh thing. O, if I be religious, I muſt not drink, I muſt not ſmile; it is a melancholly mopiſh thing, I ſhall be bound hand and foot, I will never be tied with ſuch a chaine; as one ſaid, if I be Religious I muſt not dare to drink a pot of beere with a neighbour: ſo; looking on the wayes of Chriſt as hard, that will take away all libertie, that they ſhall be meere ſlaves, they are afraid of it.
In Ioh 6. Chriſt teacheth them, you muſt eat my fleſh, and drink my blood. If they had underſtood it, it was a ſweet doctrine; but they ſaid This is a hard ſaying and ſo they ran from Chriſt. They thought it had, they would be no Caniballs; and away they went, by a miſapprehenſion of the wayes of God. So this is one thing that keeps men from Chriſt, an apprehenſion that the wayes of God are melancholly, and mopiſh, and will ſo reſtraine them that they ſhall have no comfort.
But herein thou art deceived: for as David ſaith, O Lord, thy commandments are exceeding broad. The wayes of God are broad in this reſpect, (though they be narrow in other reſpects) it is a ſweet way. This I averre, that it is the generall block that keeps men from godlines, either the Miniſters preſenting the wayes of God in a grim manner makes them fearfull, or peoples miſapprehending them in their owne fancie, and through temptation, though the Miniſter preſent them right.Miniſters lay ſtumbling blocks that keep men from Chriſt. And uſulaly they lay ſuch blocks in the doore and threſhold of the Goſpel; There are ſo many contradictions, a man muſt be broaken, and humbled, and damned almoſt, and goe by the gates of Hell before he can come to Chriſt. We ſay ſtumbling blocks in the way that people cannot come in; and when they are come in, there are ſo many that faſten burthens on them, that poore people ſee it almoſt impoſſible to get in; and when they are in, it is a very Priſon. This makes them that they will not come to Chriſt, and ſo looſe their ſoules poore wretches But when thou commeſt to Chriſt, thou commeſt not to a Priſon, as thou conceiveſt. Our work is to preach the Goſpel; What is that?To preach the Goſpel what. to goe tell glad tidings; What is that? To tell you that ſalvation is given by Chriſt, that he hath laid down his life; and not only ſo, that you ſhal have ſalvation: but it is glad tidings becauſe, we offer you a better ſervice, if you will come in; that whereas now you are under the devill, and your own works, and in a way to damne your ſelves, if you will come to Chriſt you ſhall have not only ſalvation, but a ſweet ſervice, He will make you Princes with him. Therefore ſee the language that God puts into our mouthes when he ſends us to preach; he ſends us not to hire ſervants: for that Parable is to another end; we are not ſent to get Gally-ſlaves to the Oares, or a Beare to the ſtake:Miniſters to wooe men as Spouſes for Chriſt. but he ſends us to wooe you as ſpouſes, to marrie you to Chriſt; and in wooing there muſt not be harſh dealing; and when a man hath wooed and got a wife ſhe muſt be kindly uſed, and not harſhly; ſhe hath much freedome, otherwiſe than when ſhe was a ſervant, and a drudge. So, we come not as to ſervants, you ſhall be wives of Jeſus Chriſt, you ſhall have liberty, and Chriſt, &c all in him ſhall be yours. Therefore conſider this poore ſoules that lie dead in ſins; wee are ſent to adopt you, to be ſons to God, and ſpouſes to Chriſt. Nay, we are to invite you to a Feaſt, Siners invited to a Feaſt.Mat. 12. And the fatlings, and all things are ready. Now, when men come to a Feaſt, when friends are invited to a Feaſt, we doe not make lawes on them preſently: but ſay, I pray Sir call for wine, or what you will: So if there be lawes in a Feaſt, they be lawes of pleaſure, and joy, and not otherwiſe; and though their be lawes of civillity, yet there is liberty, and ſweetnes, there is no law that reſtraines true comfort there. We come to call you to a Feaſt, not only in Heaven, but the wayes of Chriſt are a continuall Feaſt in this world, Gods way is ſweet; and if you will come to Chriſt, you ſhall not only goe to heaven and be Saints there; but the way is unſpeakably ſweet. Think of this; I dare ſay, you have had ſtrange odd thoughts of the wayes of God, that hath kept many of you from Chriſt; pray to the Lord to preſent theſe wayes to you truly; and you will not ſtand out.
There is a ſweet place in Joh. 10. I am the doore (ſaith Chriſt) If any come to me,Chriſt a door how. he ſhall goe in and out, and finde paſture. I am the doore: But ſome may ſay, wee love not to goe in at ſuch a doore, unleſſe wee know when it is locked, and when it is nor. No, ſaith he, I am not a doore that hath locks and bolts, that will bring you into ſtraits; but I am a doore that you ſhall goe in and out, and finde paſture for your ſoules. His meaning is not you ſhall play faſt and looſe, and if you come in to Chriſt to day, you ſhall goe out to the devill to morrow: but it is a figurative ſpeech. That Chriſt is not a doore that pens men up, but there is the liberty of a field, there is ſpaciouſnes and comfort, and libertie; thou ſhalt not be tied and bound up, as thou and I a long while were under Hell. Conſider this, you that have hard thoughts of the wayes of God, and have been flow in comming to Chriſt.
But to open this a little. Some man may ſay.
You ſay Sir that the wayes of Jeſus Chriſt if they be rightly preſented to me,The wayes of Chriſt eaſie. they are eaſie and ſweet and comfortable, and there is no ſuch hardneſſe in them, how doth that appeare?
It will appeare by theſe foure things breifly.
Firſt, thou that art a drunkard, o… a ſ…e…rer, The maine work done aheady.or a poore carnall blinde man or woman; if thou wilt come this day to Jeſus Chriſt; I ſay it is eaſie: for all the maine work is done alreadie. I call thee not if thou wilt come to Chriſt, and tel thee that thou muſt weepe, and pray and faſt it our, and worke thine owne ſalvation, No; but underſtand mee well that thy everlaſting ſalvation is done fully by Jeſus Chriſt alreadie: ſaith Chriſt, it is finiſhed; that is, there is nothing in the world for thee to doe if thou wilt come into Chriſt there is nothing for thee to doe for thy ſalvation, (to ſpeake properly) Chriſt hath done that, he hath procured the favour of God, and everlaſting life for thee, hee hath found out a way to doe away all thy ſins; the maine is done to thy hand. Therefore we are ſent to preach to Goſpel, that is to tell you glad tydings that all is done to your hands, to invite you to a feaſt: ſee what feaſt Mat. 22 to tell you that the fatlings are ſlayne, and dinner is readie, and all things are prepared, being neither bottle, nor basket If you will come to Chriſt rightly, Chriſt doth not accept that thou ſhouldeſt doe the leaſt thing to ſave thy ſoule, he hath died, and ſaved it and he bids us tell thee ſo.
O therefore, Who would be a drunkard, and a wretch, and ſtand as a ſot mopeing all the yeare, and not come to Chriſt? The Goſpel is like the ſheet Act. 10. that was full of foules, and of all kind of meat, and there comes a voyce, ariſe Peter and eat, there was nothing elſe to be done; So thou muſt not come and we ſet thee in a way to get Heaven, and life; but the ſheet is let down, here is life, and ſalvation, and ſpirituall bleſſings in Chriſt; only, ariſe, and eat: only love the Father, and Chriſt for it. Here it is true as Chriſt ſaid, One ſoweth, and another reapeth; Chriſt hath ſowed everlaſting happineſſe, only come thou into the harveſt and reape.
But you will ſay: (for ſome of you are apt to ſtumble) are not duties of Religion, Preaching, & Hearing, and Praying, meanes of everlaſting ſalvation, and yet you ſay, if wee will come to Chriſt there is nothing to be done for ſalvation, but all is done by Chriſt?
Beloved, that you may underſtand this,Duties meanes of ſalvation. and not ſtumble, know that duties may be ſaid to be meanes two wayes.
Properly, or
Improperly;
That is thus; Prayer, and Hearing, and Faſting, and all thoſe things are meanes, that is, they doe not immediately, and properly procure everlaſting life, and ſalvation, for that is falſe, they are not meanes ſo; the Papiſts make them ſo, If you ſhould heare a Jeſuite; he would ſay that peregrinations and Faſtings, and theſe things are the way to ſave your ſouls: this is Poperie. But duties and religious performances are meanes improperly, that is thus, they doe not procure ſalvation, but only the blood of Chriſt doth that: if we mix any thing elſe with it, we make it vaine: But they are meanes, that is, they are conduit pipes through which the comfort, and benefit of all that Chriſt hath done for thee, comes to thy ſoule; ſo they are meanes: if thou come in, thou ſhalt have them as conduit pipes to reveale and convey thoſe things every day: but in a proper ſenſe they are not meanes of ſalvation: for that, (to ſpeake properly) is only the death and merit of Chriſt. Therfore, this is one thing to incourage thee, that if thou now heare the Preacher inviting thee to come to Chriſt, learne one thing more then thou diddeſt before, there is not a jot for thee to doe for thy ſalvation, but take it as done to thy hands; beleive it, and love God and Chriſt, that gave it: there is nothing elſe to be done, world without end in that ſenſe.
Secondly, thou wilt ſay, is there nothing to be done?
Yes, for other ends that the Goſpel ſpecifies, that thou maieſt adorne thy profeſſion, and be like Chriſt, and ſerve him in thy generation, and honnor him in this world.
But marke,Thoſe things that are left for us to doe are few & eaſie. even thoſe things they are but very few in compariſon of other things; they are not ſo many, nor ſo great, and greivous: The commandments of Chriſt are not greivous, ſaith John. But to open this briefly,Chriſts way eaſie, compared. If you paralell, and compare them with foure ſorts of people, or foure ſorts of wayes; you ſhall ſee the eaſieneſs of Chriſts commands.
As firſt,1. With the ſervice of the Jews in the old Teſtament, If wee paralell the ſervice of God (I mean under the Goſpel) with the ſervice of the Jews, the Saints under the old Teſtament. I told you what abundance of ſervices, and paines, and coſt they were at: you know what paines and coſt there was in the building of the Tabernacle, and the Temple, if you looke upon particulars: and what coſt it was to offer ſacrifices twice a day; what a charge it was to bring Oxen and ſheep, and what a drudgerie to goe up to Jeruſalem; and how they were croſſed in their time, and their meat and their clothes. It was a burthen that neither wee, nor our fathers could bears, ſay the Apoſtles, & Elders Act. 10.15. Not only in reſpect of mans corruption, but the thing it ſelf was exceeding heavier but the moſt of thoſe things are done away in the Goſpel.
Secondly, if we paralell it with the Papiſts religion,2. With the ſervice of Papiſts. when thou commeſt to Poperie, if thou be a Papiſt there are endleſſe commands; thou muſt faſt ſo oft in a weeke, thou muſt obſerve ſo many holy-dayes, and eves, and whipp, and ſcourge thy ſelf, and goe in peregrinations; There is none of this traſh in the ſervice of Chriſt.
Then paralell it with the ſervice of naturall men,3. With the ſervice of naturall men. that goe (as it were) by their own righteouſneſſe to ſave themſelves; It is a hard labour, and a rough way, they muſt keep every commandment of God, if they miſs one, they are damned for ever. Here it is not ſo, the curſe is taken away; In thoſe few things thou art to do for Chriſt, if thou faile, there is no damnation; the hell and curſe is gone.
Fourthly, Compare it with the ſervice of the devill, that all men naturall are in;4. With the ſervice of the devill. you ſhall ſee that in the ſervice of the devill, there is abundance of charge, and coſt, and paines. As for inſtance, if you look to a drunkard, he ſpends the whole weeke, and waſtes his eſtate in the ſervice of the devill. The adulterer doth not ceaſe to ſin; the devill will not give him reſt. And the worlding drudgeth all his life to ſerve the devill. The ſervice of the devill is a great ſlavery, and drudgery; that a Saint often pities a carnall man, not only for the danger of his ſoule, but for the drudgery of his life; he pities a worldly man, to ſee him riſe early, and goe to bed late; As we ſay, he muſt needs goe that the devil drives. The devil drives the drunkard to the alehouſe, and the worlding to his mammon; and eates out the ſtrength and marrow of his bones. It is not ſo in the ſervice of Chriſt.
But you will ſay, Object, the ſervice of the devill is ſweet, wee ſee men continue to be his ſervants,Men finde ſweetnes in the ſervice of the devill. and will not be the ſervants of Chriſt.
I could ſpeak many things of that, but only a word.1. It will one day be ſoure. It ſeemeth ſweet to men: But it will be ſoure one day.
And beſides, though it be ſweet to them,2. That ſweetnes is from diſtemper. yet it is a ſweetnes that ariſeth from their ſicknes and diſtemper. As a child e that will eate no meat ſometimes, but coles and aſhes: it is ſweet, but it is a diſtemper: he is ſicke, there is no ſuch ſweetneſs in coales. And a man in a feaver, he deſireth to drink water, it is but his ſickneſſe; So if wee be drunk, and ſweare, and be whoremoungers, and proud men and women, and delight in worldly things, in pleaſures, and the ſervice of the devill; it is an evil humour, and corruption that makes us finde that ſweetneſs.
But the maine reaſon is this,3. It is ſweet becauſe you never taſted the ſweetns of Chriſts ſervice. you find ſweetnes in the ſervice of the devill, becauſe you never taſted the goodnes of the ſervice of Chriſt. I dare ſay; if there were no heaven, nor hell, if thou diddeſt know the ſweetnes, and comfort in the ſervice of Chriſt, thou wouldeſt ſcorne, and diſdaine, to ſeeke comfort in a cup of drink, or in worldly things: but that is the reaſon, thou haſt not taſted that the Lord is gracious.
I remember a godly, bleſſed man, that when carnall men made bonefites, and the miniſters would have reproved them to ſee what a ſtir they made on a Candlemas Even: let them alone ſaith he; that is all the comfort they have; they have noe acquaintance with better comforts if they had, they would leave them. So he was readie to weepe for their joy. So the pleaſure, and comfort thou haſt in the ſervice of the devill (the Lord pittie thee) it is only becauſe thou art not acquainted with the ſweetnes of the wayes of Chriſt.
If you object, Object. I but ſome of the ſervants of Chriſt have turned the ſervants of the aevill againe.Some of Chriſt ſervants have gone back to ſerve the devill.
I anſwer; they are but few, there are more of the devills ſervants that become the ſervants of Chriſt than of the ſervants of Chriſt that become the ſervants of the devill. But thoſe people that do ſo,1. They are but few. they are but wooden leggs they never drew ſap, and ſweetnes from Chriſt; they were never truly members of Chriſt they did but hang on,2. They were not true members of Chriſt. they found ſome ſweetnes in the back of Religion in the circumſtances of Religion: but if they had taſted of God rightly they would never have gone away from him. So I ſay this ſhould encourage thee to come in.
Firſt, that the maine work is done to thy hand.
Secondly, That that, that is left, are but a few, and eaſie things in compariſon of the ſervice of Satan; and of Papiſts; and of the Jews under the Law; and of naturall men that ſerve God for life.
Thirdly, to make it more eaſie yet,3. Chriſt will give his Spirit to doe that he requires. thoſe few things that are to doe, the Lord Jeſus will give his Spirit to doe them; he will doe all thy works for thee; he expects not that thou ſhouldeſt doe them in thy owne ſtrength: but he hath promiſed to give his Spirit, and that ſhall pray according to the will of God, So here thou ſhalt have a yoke, an eaſie one; and in that yoke thou ſhalt have Chriſt himſelfe to draw with thee, I can doe all, through Chriſt that ſtrengtheneth me, ſaith Paul. There are but a few things that wee are bound to doe, and thoſe few things Chriſt will doe for us.
Fourthly, and laſtly, Conſider thoſe few things that thou haſt the Spirit of Chriſt to doe for thee, how weake ſoever thou art in thy performance; the Lord Jeſus continually accepts of them: that is, the weakeſt prayer, and the weakeſt ſervice, of a ſincere Saint in the new Teſtament, it is a ſacrifice well pleaſing to God.
Who would continue in drunkeneſs; and lie in ſin, & refuſe to come to Chriſt, when the wayes of Chriſt are ſo comfortable?
You will ſay; What doe you meane by comming to Chriſt? You would have us come to Chriſt, and you ſay, here is a comfortable way, and an eaſie yoke; what is it to come to Chriſt?Coming to Chriſt what.
I will tell you that, leaſt we looſe all our labour, Joh. 6.35. Ieſus ſaid, I am the bread of life; he that commeth to me ſhall never hunger, and he that believeth in me ſhall never thirſt. So that comming to Chriſt, is believing in Chriſt.
But you will ſay, I am to ſeek againe; I know not what that is, to believe in Chriſt.
I will not ſtand upon the definition, but a word, that thou maieſt underſtand what I meane by believing in Chriſt.
There are three things in it.Believing in Chriſt what.
Firſt, it is to give credit to all that Chriſt tells thee. That is one thing.
Secondly, to receive that life, and ſalvation; all that Chriſt Jeſus gives thee.
Thirdly, to ſubmit to the lawes that Jeſus Chriſt layes upon thee.
To give credit to what hee teacheth,I ſay, if thou wouldeſt know what it is to come to Chriſt, or to believe in Chriſt, it is, when thou wilt be taught by Jeſus Chriſt, when thou wilt give credit to the things that he teacheth; As you ſee Iſaiah 2.2. Come (ſay the people) let us goe up to the mountaine of the Lord, and to the houſe of God; Let us goe up. Why ſo? He will teach us his waies, and we will walk in his pathes: for out of Sion ſhall goe the Law, and the word of the Lord from Jeruſalem. This is to come to Chriſt, when our eares are open, and our hearts are ready to heare and learne whatſoever Jeſus Chriſt ſhall teach us. Therefore when we ſay to a drunkard, or to a carnall man or woman that are in their ſinnes (as I was) come to Chriſt; what doe we meane by that? Be not refractorie, be not wiſe in thine owne eyes any more, doe not come, and heare the Preacher, and yet believe as thou liſt: but lay thy ſoule at the feet of Chriſt, and be willing to receive the inſtruction that Chriſt teacheth thee. Doe not as children doe with their bread, take it and crumble it on the ground to the dogges, and eat one bit themſelves, and throw away another; So doe not crumble the word of God, to take one bit, and throw another bit to thy neighbour, and another at thy heeles when thou goeſt out of doores; no, but receive all that Chriſt teacheth thee, though it be contrarie to thy corruption, and above thy reaſon, yet indeavour to believe it. That is one thing.
Secondly, to believe in Chriſt, or to come to Chriſt,2. To accept life and ſalvation from him. is when thou art willing to accept of, and to receive life, & ſalvation that Chriſt offereth. Whereas it may be thou now art a naturall man, this is thy condition; either thou art a ſottiſh creature, and doeſt not think of life and ſalvation any where, thou careſt not for life, or death, but goeſt on like a beaſt; or if thou doeſt, thou haſt a little devotion of thine owne procuring; or thou lieſt deſperately in ſin, either of theſe is thy condition. Therefore now this is to come to Chriſt; looke not what thou art worthy to have: but what God is willing to give; God is willing to beſtow everlaſting life freely, therefore looke upon the brazen Serpent that is lift up, and indeavour to receive, and accept of that ſalvation that is offered by him.
Thirdly,3. To ſubmit to Chriſts lawes. be willing to ſubmit to the lawes of Chriſt: for Chriſt calls to thee as a King. Therefore in Mat. 11. (I believe that is the meaning of the place, though there be more in it) Come unto me yee that are wearie and heavie laden, and I will give you reſt; for my yoke is eaſie, and my burthen is light. What is it to come to Chriſt? When I am willing to come out of other ſervices, and to leave other maſters. I will ſerve the devill, and my luſts no more: but I will come under the Standard of Chriſt; Chriſt hath lift up a Standard & expects that every one ſhould ſubmit to his bleſſed Law. Therefore put theſe things together, labour to underſtand them, and remember them, and the Lord bleſſe them to thee, that after this day thou maieſt not lie ſotting in ſin: but that every one may come to Chriſt, that he may teach you & inrich you with life, that hee may rule over you, and that you may be his ſubjects for ever. There are other Uſes of this point that I muſt leave till the afternoone.