Christ Crucified, Sermon 9
SERMON IX.
ISAIAH LIII.I.
Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
IF Folks ſoberly and gravely conſidered of what concerment it is to make uſe of the Goſpel, and what depends upon the profitable or unprofitable hearing of it, how ſerious would both Speakers and Hearers be? This ſame poor, mean and contemptible-like way of Speaking or Preaching, is the ordinary way that God hath choſen to ſave Souls, even by the fooliſhneſs of Preaching, as the Apoſtle hath it, 1 Cor. 1.21. and where Miniſters have been tender, how near hath it lyen to their Hearts, whether People profited or not: They that will read Iſaiah, how he reſented and complained of it, and how he was weighted with it, will eaſily be induced to think that he was in earneſt, and that it was no little matter that made him thus cry out, Who hath believed our report?
We ſhew that four things were comprehended in the words. Firſt, That the great Errand of Miniſters is, to bring the glad Tydings of Jeſus Chriſt the Saviour to Sinners. Secondly, That it is the great Duty of People to believe and receive the Offer of Jeſus Chriſt in the Goſpel. Thirdly, That it is the great Sin of a People that Hear the Goſpel not to believe and receive Jeſus Chriſt when He is offered unto them. The fourth and laſt thing which now we are to ſpeak of, (having gone thorow the firſt three) is, That the great and heavy Complaint that a faithful Miniſter of the Goſpel hath, is, when theſe good News are not received and welcomed, when they have it to ſay, Who hath believed our report? when it is but here one and there one that cloſes with Chriſt.
Conſidering theſe words, as they hold out the Prophets Reſentment and Complaint, we ſhall from them draw four Obſervations which we ſhall ſpeak ſhortly to, and reſerve the Uſe and Application to the cloſe of all.
Obſerv. 1. The firſt is, That its meet for, and the Duty of a Miniſter of the Goſpel, to obſerve what Fruit and Succeſs his Miniſtry hath among a People, and whether they Believe or not; Iſaiah ſpeaks not here at random, but from conſideration of the Caſe of the People, and as obſerving what fruit his Miniſtry had among them; we would not have Miniſters too curious in this, as to the ſtate of particular Perſons, neitner would we have them ſelfy or anxious in ſeeking any ground of boaſting to themſelves, yet they would ſeek to be ſo far diſtinct and clear anent their ſpiritual Caſe and Condition, as they may know how to ſpeak ſuitably to it, and how to ſpeak of it to God; that they may ſay as they have ground for it, that in ſuch a Place, among ſuch a People, a great door and effectual was opened unto us, as the Apoſtle ſaith, 1 Cor. 16.8. And in ſuch another Place, and among ſuch a People, Who hath believed our report? as here the Prophet doeth. It's ſaid Luk. 10.17. and Mark 6.30. the Diſciples returned, and with joy told Chriſt all that they had done, and how the Devils were ſubject to them, they made acccount what ſucceſs they had in their Miniſtry; ſo it's neceſſary that a Miniſter know what ſucceſs He hath among a People, that he may know, 1. How to carry before God in reference to them, what to Praiſe for, what to Lament for, and what to Pray for. 2. It's neceſſary as to the People, that he may carry right to them for the gaining of Strangers to God, and helping forward theſe who are entered into the Way, and that he may know what report to make of them. 3. It's neceſſary for a Miniſter himſelf, though no… ſimply as to his Peace, for that depends on his faithful diſcharge of his Office, yet as to his Joy and Rejoycing, to know when he labours in vain, and when not, among a People.
We would not then (as a paſſing word of Uſe.) have you to think it curiouſity, though ſomething be ſaid now and then, and aſked at you, that ſome of you may poſſibly think impertinent; For it becomes a Phyſician to ſeek to know the ſtate and condition of theſe whom he hath under his Hand and Cure, and ye would not take it ill, though after obſervation, we now and then ſpeak and tell you, what we conceive to be your condition.
Obſerv. 2. The ſecond Obſervation is, That it is moſt ſad to a tender Miniſter, and will much affect him to ſee and obſerve Unbelief and Unfruitfulneſs among the People that He hath preached the Goſpel to; This muſt be a certain and clear Truth, if we conſider what it was that put Iſaiah to this, even to cry, Who hath believed our report? Though a Miniſter ſhould have never ſo great exerciſe of Gifts, never ſo much countenance and reſpect among a People, if he be tender, he will be more grieved and weighted with their Unbelief and Unfruitfulneſs then with Stripes and Impriſonment, there will be no ſuffering to this in his eſteem, nothing ſo ſad a ground of Complaint; This makes the Prophet, Mic. 7.1. to cry, alace and wo is me, I am as theſe who have gathered the ſummer-fruits, as the grapegleanings after the vintage, there is no cluſter to eat, the good man is periſhed, and there is none upright among men, and he inſiſts in this Complaint. How often was our Lord Jeſus, the moſt excellent & tender Preacher that ever preached, put to this Complaint? All the Affronts and Reproaches He met with, grieved Him not ſo much as the Unbelief and Hardneſs of Heart that were in the People; It's ſaid, Mar. 3.5. that He looked round about on them with anger, and was grieved for the hardneſs of their hearts; And it's ſaid Mar. 6.6. that He marvelled becauſe of their unbelief; yea, it ſo affected Him, that (Luk. 19.42.) it's ſaid, that when He came near the city He wept over it, ſaying, O that thou hadst known in this thy day the things that belong to thy peace. There is a fourfold Reaſon of this, that hath a fourfold Influence on the ſadning of a ſerious and tender Miniſter of the Goſpel. 1. Reſpect to Chriſt Jeſus his Maſter, in whoſe ſtead he comes to beſpeak and woo Souls to Chriſt; What would an Ambaſſadour think of perſonal Reſpect and Honour, if his Maſter were reproached, and his Meſſage rejected and deſpiſed? and can an honeſt and faithfull Ambaſſadour of Chriſt look on, and his Heart not be wounded, to ſee the Goſpel Fruitleſs? the Lord's pleaſure as it were Marred, and the work of Gathering in of Souls, Obſtructed in his hand, and his Lord and Maſter Affronted and Slighted. 2. The Reſpect that a Faithful Miniſter hath to the Peoples Souls, hath influence on this; A tender Shepherd will watchfully care for, and wiſh the Sheep well, and be much affected when they are in an evil condition, and where the relation is of a more Spiritual nature, and the Flock off far, very far greater worth and concernment, what wonder the Shepherd be more affected? as Paul beſpeaks the Galatians 4.19. My little children, of whom I travel again in birth till Christ be formed in you; To be travelling and bringing forth but Wind, cannot but prick and wound an honeſt Miniſter of the Goſpel at the very Heart, ſo 2. Cor. 11.29. Paul ſaith, Who is offended and I burn not? The very hazard of a Soul, will be like a Fire burning the Heart that is tender and zealous of the ſpiritual good of Souls. 3. The reſpect that a Faithful Miniſter hath to the Duty in his Hand, hath influence on this; for ſuch a one loves to neat his Duty, and to go neatly and lively about it, and the Unbelief and Unfruitfulneſs of the People clogs him in his Duty, and makes him drive heavily; hence it's ſaid Mat. 13.58. and Mark 6.5. that our Lord could not do many mighty works there, or among that People, becauſe of their unbelief; Unbelief ſtraitens and ſhuts the Door, and makes Preaching become a very Burthen to a Faithful Miniſter, therefore the Apoſtle exhorts, Heb. 13.17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and watch for your ſouls, that they may do it with joy and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you; A neceſſity lyes upon Miniſters to go about their Work, but when the Word does no more but buff on them, ſo to ſpeak, it makes them to cry as this ſame Prophet doeth, Chap. 6.11. How long Lord? And 4ly. This alſo hath influence on their being ſo much weighted, even the concern of honeſt Miniſters own Joy and Comfort; It is true, as we hinted before, that neither a Faithful Miniſter's Peace, nor his reward of Grace doeth depend on it ſimply, I have ſpent my ſtrength in vain, ſays Iſaiah, chap. 49.4. yet my labour is with the Lord, and my reward from my God; As to that, there is no neceſſary connection, and it's of Grace it is ſo; yet as to a Miniſter's Satisfaction and Joy there is a connection, as we may ſee Philip. 2.16. where Paul ſaith, That I may joy in the day of Chriſt, that I have not run in vain, and laboured in vain; And from his expoſtulation with the Galatians, chap. 4.9, 10, 11. I am affraid of you, lest I have beſtowed upon you labour in vain.
I ſhall not proſecute the Uſe of this neither; only ſee here, that it is no marvel though ſometimes we be neceſſitate to complain of you, and to expoſtulate with you; and conſidering the Caſe of People generally, if our Hearts were ſuitably tender, it would make us even burſt for Grief to ſee ſo many ſleeping ſecurely and ſenſleſly in their Sins, and in that pitiful poſture poſting to the Pit, if God prevent not.
Obſerv. 3. The third Obſervation is, That a Miniſter may, and ſometimes will be put to it, to make report to God of what Fruit his Miniſtry hath, and ſometimes to complain to Him of the Unbelief and Unfruitfulneſs of the People among whom he hath long preached the Goſpel; Iſaiah (ſure) is not carried to this Complaint out of hatred to the People, neither from any pleaſure he hath in it, nor any delight to tell ill Tales (to ſpeak ſo) of them; The Lord needs no Information, yet he complains, and that to the Lord, as we ſhew from Rom. 10.16. where it is ſaid, Lord, Who hath believed our report? So then. Prophets and Apoſtles complain of this; It's Ezekiel's Complaint no doubt to God, as it was the Lords to him, This people are a rebellious houſe, and they will not bear; And Iſaiah ſpeaks here in his own name and in name of other Miniſters of the Goſpel, that they may joyn with him in this Complaint; and there is reaſon for it, if we conſider, 1. The Relation that a Miniſter ſtands in to God, He ought to give an account to Him, who gives Obedience and who not, and what Is done by his Embaſſage, there being no Talent given, but a Reckoning how it was imployed, will be called for. 2. The Subordination that a Miniſter ſtands in to Chriſt, wherein it is requiſite he be keeped, as knowing the Work is the Lords and not his, pleads for this. 3. That a Miniſter may be keeped from Carnalneſs and Vanity on the one hand, and from Diſcouragement on the other, he ought to be acquaint with, and to hold up both the Fruitfulneſs and Unfruitfulneſs of the People to God. 4. It's meet for the Good of the People it be ſo, not to irritate, but kindly to affect the People, that when he complains to God, they may be convinced that it is to get the Evil complained of amended, if ſo it may be.
This complaining will we fear be the reſult of much Preaching among you; for, either there muſt be more Faith and Fruits, elſe ye will have the moe Complainers, and the moe Complaints againſt you.
Obſerv. 4. The fourth Obſervation is, That it is and ought to be a very ſad and weighty thing to a Miniſter, and alſo to a People, when he is put to complain to God of their Unbelief amongſt whom he is labouring; It's the laſt thing he hath to do, and he can do no more, and it's the greateſt and higheſt of Witneſs and Ditty againſt them, when a Miniſter hath been Preaching long, and obſerving the Fruit of his Miniſtry, and is out-wearied with their Unfruitfulneſs, and forced to cry, Lord there are none, or but very few that have believed the Report that I have brought to them; It's the heavieſt and hardeſt word that Chriſt hath to ſay to Jeruſalem, Mat. 23.37. and Luke 19.31. when He complains of their Unfruitfulneſs, harder and heavier then all the Woes He pronounced againſt the Scribes and Phariſees, or on other accounts, and at leaſt equivalent to them pronounced on the ſame account; for the ſame Woe and Wrath follows both; O! ſaith He, that thou hadſt known in this thy day the things that belong to thy peace, but now they are hid from thine eyes; This comes as the laſt and ſadeſt word, holding out the deſperateneſs of their Condition, when the powerful preaching of the Goſpel hath no gracious Force, nor ſaving Effect following it, when Directions prevail not, when no ſort of Miniſterial Gifts do a People good, when it comes to that, Mat. 11.16. Whereunto ſhall I liken this generation, it is like children ſitting in the market-place crying to their fellows, we have piped to you and ye have not danced, we have mourned to you and ye have not lamented; when both the ſweet Offers of Grace and the terrible Threatnings of the Law, come forth to a People, and both are followed for a long time without Fruit, then comes out that word, Whereunto ſhall I liken this generation? John came neither eating nor drinking, and ye ſay he hath a devil; his auſtere way of Living and Preaching did you no good, ye could not away with it; The ſon of Man came eating and drinking, in a familiar way, and ye ſay, behold a man gluttenous, a wine-biber, a friend of Publicans and Sinners; They ſtumble on both unjuſtly, and ſo it is ſtill even to this day, many ſtumble at the Meſſenger, caſt at the Meſſage, and then followeth the ſad Complaint.
It's meet that now we ſpeak to a word of Uſe, but we profeſs we know not well how to follow it, there is ſo much ground to Complain, and we are not (alace!) ſuitably ſenſible of our own unfitneſs to follow the Complaint, which makes us think that it would become another better; But what ſhall we ſay? It's the Word of the Lord, and it were needful that both ye and we ſhould forget and take our eyes off Man, and remember that it is the Lord God, and ſome commiſſioned from Him, that we have to do with, that ſo we may accept of the Meſſage. 1. Then, We may ſay that it is no pleaſure to us to be hewing you, and ſpeaking ſadly to you, (the Lord knows,) would to God there were moe that needed Healing-Medicines, and that fewer had need of Hewing and Wounding; but the truth is, Carnal Security, Spiritual Pride, Hypocriſie and Formality, are ſo rife, and become ſo much the Plague of this Generation, that People believe not their hazard. Neither 2ly. Is it our deſire nor deſign to ſpeak to all of you indifferently and without Diſcrimination, for as the Lord ſaith, Mat. 11.19. Wiſdom is juſtified of her children; Though the Generality deſpiſe this Word, yet we are confident the Lord hath ſome that He allows not to be grieved; and we ſhall deſire, that ſuch may not wrong themſelves nor mar our freedom in ſpeaking the Word of the Lord to others. 3ly. We ſhall not deſire to ſpeak peremptorly as to the Caſe of particular Perſons, though we will not deny nor conceal our Fears and ſad Apprehenſions as to many of you; only what we have to ſay, ye would know and be aſſured that it is not ſpoken at random by us, but as having ſome acquaintance with many of your Conditions, and we may gather from theſe what is very probably the Condition of others.
And now as to what we would ſay to you; Some have been preaching this Goſpel to you who are flitted and removed to another part of the Vineyard, other ſome are gone to another World, and ſome are yet continued Preaching to you, but what Fruit is brought forth by the Miniſtry of all? If we were put to make a report of you, as we will be put to it, what could we ſay? we are afraid to ſpeak our apprehenſions; O! how little is this Goſpel, as to it's Fruit and Succeſs, upon the growing hand among you? We ſhall therefore forbear to ſpeak of that which we think hath deep Impreſſions on our ſelves concerning you, but we would have you to look thorow Matters how they ſtand betwixt God and you, and if we may humbly lay claim to any meaſure of the judgement of Diſcerning; may we not aſk where is there a Man or a Woman amongſt moſt of us, that hath a Converſation ſuitable to this Goſpel? If we begin at the great Folks that have the things of the World in abundance, it's their work for moſt part not to be Religious, but to gather and heap up Riches, and to have ſomewhat of a Name, or a piece of Credit in the World, this is the fartheſt that many of ſuch deſign: And if we come and take a look of the way of the Poorer ſort, they live as if they were not called to be exerciſed to Godlineſs; and this is the condition of the Generality, to live as if God were not to call them to a reckoning; ye will ſay, we are poor ignorant Folks, and are not Book-learned, but have ye not Souls to be ſaved? and is there any other way to be ſaved then that royal Way wherein Believers have walked? But if we ſhould yet look a little further through you, how many are there that have not the very form of Godlineſs, who never ſtudied to be Chriſtians, either in your fellowſhip with others, nor when alone, or in your Families; There are ſome, O! that I might not ſay, many, who are hearing me, that will not once in the Year bow their Knee to God in their Families, many of you ſpend your time in Tipling, Jeaſting, Looſe-ſpeaking, which are not convenient; yea, I dare ſay, there are many that ſpend more time in Tipling, Jeaſting, and Idle-ſpeaking, then in the Duties of Religion, either in publick or in private, what report ſhall we make of you? Shall we ſay that ſuch a man ſpent three or four Hours every day in going up and down the Streets, or in Tipling and Sporting, and would not ſpend half an Hour of the Day on God and His Worſhip; and further, how many are yet ignorant of the firſt Principles of Religion, a fault that is often complained of, and yet we would be aſhamed to have it heard of, that ſuch Ignorance ſhould be under half a Years preaching of the Goſpel, that is in this Place under many Years preaching of it, and this not only among the Poorer ſort, but even amongſt thoſe who hold their Heads very high, and are above others, who can guide and govern their own Affairs, and give others a good counſel in things concerning the World, yet if we come to ſpeak with them of Repentance, or of Faith in its Exerciſe, of Convictions and Challenges for Sin, of Communion with God, of the working of God's Spirit in the Regenerate, or of the Fruits of the Spirit, they have not a Mouth to ſpeak a word of theſe things; and if they ſpeak any thing, O! but it looks werſh, taſteleſs, and thieveleſs like; Put them to diſcourſe of Religion, it hath no guſt, (to ſay ſo,) it reliſhes not, they have no underſtanding of it, at leaſt, that is experimental; doeth this look like Folks that have heard and received the Goſpel? let me ſay it, the Wiſdom of this World, and the Knowledge of Chriſt, are far different things; and if ſome of you go that length as to get the Queſtions of the Catechiſm, which is well done in it ſelf; if we put you but to expreſs them in other words, ye cannot, which ſays plainly that ye are not Maſters of your Knowledge: And what ſhall we ſay of others? of whom we cannot ſay but we get reſpect enough from them, yet how do Selfiſhneſs and Worldly-mindedneſs abound in them? and how Graceleſs and Chriſtleſs are they found to be, when put to the tryal? We would alſo ſay to you, that there is great difference betwixt Civility and Chriſtianity; Fairfaſhions will never paſs in Chriſt's account for the ſuitable Fruits of the Goſpel, and will never hinder us from having a juſt ground of Complaint againſt you; How many have a Form of Religion, and want the Power of it? who think themſelves ſomething, when they are indeed nothing, and their Profeſſion is ſo thin and holled, to ſpeak ſo, that their Rottenneſs and Hypocriſie may be ſeen thorow it. Though theſe things be but general, yet they will comprehend a great many of you that are here in this Aſſembly; and if ſo, is there not juſt ground of Complaint of, and Expoſtulation with you, as a People among whom this Word hath no ſuitable Fruit: And as for you that live Prophanely and Hypocritically, what ſhall we ſay to you? or how ſhall we deal with you? we bring the Word to you, but ye make no more uſe of it then if ye had never heard it; no more Religion ſheweth it ſelf in you, then if ye lived among Heathens; Shall we ſay to God, the Fruit of the Goſpel is there? Dare we be anſwerable to God, or can we be faithful to you, to flatter you over, as if all were well with you? and muſt not our Complaint then rather be this, Lord they have not believed our report; though we be feckleſs, and though there be ground of Complaint of us, yet the Word is His Word and will take hold of you. I know that Folks do not readily digeſt ſuch Doctrine well, and it may be ſome think that few Miniſters are better dealt with then we are; but we ſay, that that is not our Complaint; we confeſs if we look from the beginning of the World to this Time, there will be few Miniſters of the Goſpel, found to have been better dealt with as to outward and civil things, but alace! ſhould that ſtop our Mouth? yea rather ought it not to be the more ſad to us to be ſo dealt with, and to live in civil Love with Men and Women who yet do not receive the Goſpel, nor deal kindly with our Maſter; Do not think that we will take external reſpect to us for the Fruit of the Goſpel; as we have no cauſe to complain of other things, ſo let us not be put to complain of this, but receive Chriſt in your Heart, let Him and His precious Wares have Change and go off amongſt you, make uſe of Him for Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, Sanctification, and Redemption, and go not for the faſhion about the Means that ſhould bring you near Him, but be in good earneſt, and this would ſatisfie us much, and prevent Complaints. Laſtly, I would aſk you what will come of it, if we ſhall go on in Preaching, and ye in Hearing, and yet continuing ſtill in Unbelief? will there not be an account craved of us? and muſt we not make a report? and if ye think we muſt report, can we report any other way then it is with you? Shall we, or dare we ſay, that ſuch a Man was a fine civil Man, and that therefore he will not be reckoned with though he believed not in Chriſt? No, no, but this muſt be the report, that ſuch a Man, and ſuch a kind of Men, though Chriſt was long wooing them, would not embrace Him, though He invited them to the Wedding, yet they would not come, nay they mocked and ſpurned at it, they trode the Blood of the Covenant under Foot, and counted God a Liar in all His Offers, and ſaid by their Practice, that they ſhould be happy though they took not this way; many of you who would not take it well if we ſhould ſpeak this to you in particular, will find it to be a Truth one day: And if ye ſhall ſay, What would we be at? The anſwer is at hand, Believe in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt and ye ſhall be ſaved; This is the End of the Goſpel, and the mean of your Happineſs; it's the great and the main thing that we call for, which if it be not obtained, the ground of the Complaint will continue: And do you think this any ſtrange, hard, or uncouth thing, that when we bring to you the Offer of Chriſt in the Goſpel, we bid you receive it, and flee in to Him to hide you from the Wrath to come; and yet this is all we ſeek of you; it's neither your Shame nor your Skaith that we ſeek, but that ye may take with your Sin, that ye may judge and condemn your ſelves, that your Mouth may be ſtopped before God, and that ye may flee to Jeſus Chriſt in earneſt, and cloſe with Him on His own Terms: As therefore ye would prevent the greatly aggravated Sin, to wit, ſinning againſt the Goſpel, and the Complaint of the Miniſters thereof againſt you, and the terrible Vengeance of the Mediator, Kiſs the Son, caſt open the everlaſting Doors of your Hearts, and let the Goſpel, and Chriſt the King of Glory have acceſs: We pray you ſtand not in the way of your own Happineſs, refuſe not to do Him that much pleaſure and ſatisfaction for all the travel of His Soul, as to give Him your Souls to be ſaved. Now God Himſelf keep you from this Folly and Soul-deſtroying madneſs.