Gospel Revelation, Treatise 2 · Sermon 6
The Sixth SERMON ON The Excellency of Chriſt.
Iſaiah 9.6. And his Name ſhall bee called Wonderful.
NOw wee come to the Application of all, which is the work of this exerciſe.Application.
Firſt, Certainly Jeſus Chriſt is little known in the world, if this bee hee, this great wonder of the world: Oh how little is Chriſt known! Chriſt is but a meer Notion and Imagination to moſt people in the world; you heard the very ſound of this name, and how Chriſt came into the world to ſave ſinners; but I appeal unto your conſciences, when were your hearts taken with the admiration of the glory of God ſhining in the face of Jeſus Chriſt? hath Chriſt been made the greateſt wonder in the world unto you? ſome of you have ſeen many wondrous works of God, ſome of you perhaps in the Seas, or abroad in other Countries, or if not there, yet you have ſeen the Heavens, and the Earth, at which you many times wonder; but when did God dart light into your ſpirits, to cauſe you to ſee ſo much of Jeſus Chriſt, as made him to bee the great wonder of all his works? certainly that ſoul knows not God nor Chriſt ſavingly, that knows him not as the wonder of the world; it is impoſſible that ſuch a poor creature as man is ſhould come to underſtand ſuch great myſteries of godlineſs as are in Chriſt in any meaſure, but muſt needs admire at the glory of that great work, and ſay with acclamation, Oh the height, and depth, and breadth, and length of the glory of God, his Wiſdome, and Mercy, and Truth, and Power!
Many Notes of Trial there may bee of Faith, but I know not any one more familiar than this is (at leaſt negatively, it muſt needs bee a true Note) that is, that there cannot bee Faith without it, namely, if the heart hath not been taken up with the wonder of Chriſt, ſo as all the wonders in the world have been darkened in the ſoul in compariſon of Jeſus Chriſt.
Secondly, If Chriſt bee ſo great a wonder, then O how vile a thing is it for the hearts of men to prefer any baſe filthy luſts before Jeſus Chriſt? when God hath manifeſted him in that wonderful way unto the children of men, and ſo much of his glory in him, yet that their hearts ſhould bee taken off from him, and every baſe luſt to bee preferred before him, Oh how juſt muſt the condemnation of ſuch bee for ever! wee may take up that complaint that there was in Pſal. 106.7.Pſal. 106.7. Our Fathers underſtood not thy wonders, ſaith the Pſalmiſt: So the truth is, as our Fathers did not, ſo few there are that underſtand the wonders of the Lord in Jeſus Chriſt; and therefore every thing is preferred before him; with what infinite indignation muſt God needs look upon that wretched ſoul, that ſhall prefer every baſe luſt before Jeſus Chriſt? I remember a ſpeech of Chryſoſtome, ſpeaking of that Text, That our vile bodies ſhall bee made like unto the glorious body of Chriſt, ſaith hee, were all the world turned into tears, yet they were not ſufficient to lament the miſery of that ſoul that forſakes Jeſus Chriſt: his heart was ſo much taken with the excellency of Jeſus Chriſt, that hee thought it impoſſible to lament the miſery of the creature that ſhould forſake him: and ſo St. Paul having his heart filled with the glorious Myſtery of Chriſt, hee breaks forth with this dreadful curſe, Hee that loveth not the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, let him bee Anathema Maran-atha, as if St. Paul ſhould ſay (having his ſpirit filled with the glory of Chriſt) Oh what ſhall God manifeſt ſo much of his glory in his Son, and ſhall baſe wretched vile creatures prefer their luſts before him, and have their hearts taken up with other vain things, and not love the Lord Jeſus Chriſt? let that ſoul bee curſed with a bitter curſe, ſaith Paul; ſuch a ſoul doth deſerve indeed to bee curſed with a bitter and an eternal curſe, that ſhall hear ſo much of Jeſus Chriſt, and how God hath revealed himſelf in that wonderful way in his Son, and yet that ſoul ſhall not bee willing to forſake a baſe luſt for all the good there is in Jeſus Chriſt; let that ſoul bee curſed with a bitter curſe: It deſerves above all creatures to have the moſt bitter curſe to bee upon it to all eternity: certainly the more glory there is in Chriſt, the more dreadful will the condemnation of wicked men bee, This is (the) condemnation, that ſuch glorious light is come into the world, and men choſe darkneſs rather than light. How many hear of Chriſt, and minde little, but onelyonly have a noiſe, they hear ſome ſtrange things of Chriſt, and let them paſs by, and think there is little reallity in what they hear, but the onelyonly real comfort is in ſatisfying of the fleſh in the luſts of it. In Act. 13.41.Act. 13.41. wee have an excellent Scripture for the reproof of ſuch that hear the Goſpel, and minde it not; Beware therefore, leſt that come upon you which is ſpoken of in the Prophets, Behold yee deſpiſers, and wonder, and periſh, for I work a work in your daies, a work which yee ſhall in no wiſe beleeve, though a man declare it unto you: It is ſpoken concerning Chriſt, as appears in the verſe before, And by him all that beleeve are juſtified from all things, by which yee could not bee juſtified by the Law of Moſes: Now then it follows, Beware therefore leſt that come upon you, which is ſpoken of in the Prophets, Behold ye deſpiſers, and wonder, and periſh; as if hee ſhould ſay, you hear the Goſpel about the glorious way that God hath to reconcile ſinners to himſelf, to juſtifie ſinners, but in the mean time your hearts do cloſe with your own Conceits, and your own waies, with the Law of Moſes, and think by your own good meanings, and your own good works, that you ſhall do well enough, and ſhall ſtand before God; but ſaith the Apoſtle, Beware leſt that come upon you which is ſpoken of in the Prophets, Behold yee deſpiſers, and wonder: you perhaps, when you hear ſuch things declared unto you, you account it ſtrange doctrine, and you ſtand and wonder what the meaning of thoſe things ſhould bee; but as you wonder, ſo you do deſpiſe; you condemn it as a ſtrange thing that you were not wont to hear heretofore, and as a thing you cannot underſtand the reaſon of; this is the uſual guize of carnal hearts, when they hear any doctrine, though there bee never ſo much of God in it, and of the Myſtery of the Goſpel that is revealed in it, yet if they underſtand not the reaſon of it, if it appear to them as a new thing, they wonder indeed, but they deſpiſe withall, and condemn it, and ſlight it, and paſs it over, as they did St. Pauls Doctrine, What will this babler ſay? hee brings us news of a ſtrange God, and the like: ſo theſe are things that people are not acquainted withall, and ſo they caſt them off, and deſpiſe: but mark, ſaith the Text, Take heed, beware leſt this come upon you, that you ſhall behold and wonder, and deſpiſe and periſh too, for I work a work in your daies, a work which you ſhall in no wiſe beleeve, though a man declare it unto you: there ſhall bee the great Counſels of God revealed in your daies, and in your Congregations, there ſhall bee revealed thoſe Counſels of God, whereby God intends to ſave many ſouls; and here and there God will make known theſe things to ſave poor ſouls, but you in the mean time being conceited of your own underſtandings, or your own Civil Righteouſneſs, that you are not ſo bad as others, and that you are in a good caſe, and in a good condition all this while, and upon a conceit, you hear, and wonder, and deſpiſe, but you ſhall periſh, and ſhall never come to beleeve thoſe great things that God in your daies ſhall reveal for the ſalvation of the ſouls of others; and this is a moſt dreadful curſe that is upon the hearts of many men and women that hear the great things of the Goſpel; as it is ſaid in the ſecond of the Acts, that they ſpake the wonderful things of God, and yet there was ſome that did but mock; this is the condition of ſome, that their ſpirits ſecretly deſpiſe and contemn thoſe things that they ſhould adore; ſuch things as upon the hearing they ſhould even fall down upon their faces, and adore God in the beholding of them, and yet I ſay, ſlighting of them, and reſting to their own waies, and conceits, here is the curſe of God upon their hearts, that though they hear them, yet they ſhall not beleeve them, I work a work in your daies, a work that you ſha…l in no wiſe beleeve, though a man declare it unto you, ſaith the Holy Ghoſt, this Scripture is very much fulfilled in Congregations where the Goſpel comes to bee preached.
Thirdly, But further, in the third place; If Jeſus Chriſt bee ſo great a wonder, certainly then the miſery of mankind is very great, it follows from hence; if there bee ſuch need of ſo wonderful a Redeemer, Oh the dreadful breach that ſin hath made between God and man, that required ſuch a wonderful work of God to make it up! this is that that God would have you have a right underſtanding of, and have ſerious thoughts about it; God would not have ſinful wretched man to think the breach between God and him is a light matter, a little thing: No, when the Lord hath ſent his Son into the world, and hath declared him to bee thus wonderful: when the Lord ſhews what a wonderful glorious work of his there is in his Son for the ſaving of mankind, hee thereby doth declare unto you, and would have you know it, that the breach that your ſin hath made between God and your own ſouls, it is a wonderful breach; certainly were the Miſery of man no other but ſuch as the power of Angels, as the power of any meer creature could help out of, Jeſus Chriſt had never come into the world, there had never been ſuch a wonderful work of God to redeem man; But now when you hear that the way of God to redeem man is ſo wonderful, you have cauſe to lay your hands upon your hearts, and ſay, Oh the depth of miſery that my ſoul is fallen into! Oh the deſperate diſeaſe of my ſoul, that muſt have ſuch a wonderful cure! Oh that ever the great and infinite God ſhould work ſo wonderfully for the ſalvation of ſuch a poor wretched creature as ſinful man is! My Brethren, wee do not ſanctifie the Name of God in the great thing that God would bee ſanctified in, except wee have right apprehenſions of the dreadful breach our ſin hath made between the Lord and our own ſouls, that ſo wee might have right apprehenſions of this wonderful work that God hath done for the ſalvation of man-kind; this is the reaſon why God ſo many times doth bring ſinful creatures into ſo great ſtraights, into the very gulf of deſpair oftentimes before hee reveals the ſaving knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt unto them: It is, I ſay, becauſe the Lord would have his name ſanctified in this wonderful work of redemption by Jeſus Chriſt, that the ſinner might bee prepared to ſtand and admire at the wonderful glory of God in Jeſus Chriſt; And there is nothing in the world that God looks ſo much for as this, to be ſanctified in theſe wonderful things that hee hath done for man-kind in Chriſt; and if wee have but ſlight thoughts of the breach that our ſin hath made, certainly wee cannot but have ſlight thoughts likewiſe of the work that God hath done to deliver us from our ſin: Thou thinkeſt thy ſin to bee a light matter, but know, that when thou haſt ſinned againſt God, there muſt bee the moſt wonderful work of God to reconcile thee to himſelf, that ever God did from all eternity, or will do to all eternity; this is the greateſt wonder, his ſending of Jeſus Chriſt into the world; know therefore the depth of thy miſery by this; if God ſhould have deviſed as it were from all eternity how to have manifeſted the wonderful miſery of man-kind, no greater could bee found than this wonderful work of his in the redemption of man-kind. This is a third.
And then Fourthly, Is Jeſus Chriſt the great wonder of the world? hence then all Beleevers have exceeding cauſe of rejoycing in the hearing of what Chriſt is, what a wonderful Saviour they have, Let the children of Zion rejoyce in their King: Rejoyce in this,
Firſt, That God hath ſo honoured you, as that hee hath wrought ſo wonderfully for your ſalvation; certainly, as thy redemption is, ſo art thou; that is, there is ſome reflection of the glory of thy Redeemer upon thee; how hath Go… honoured thee before his Angels? and how honourable ſhalt thou bee hereafter, when it ſhall appear to all the world, that the Infinite God did ſo gloriouſly work for the ſaving of thy ſoul? God looks upon all the Kings of the Earth as worms, Yea all the Nations of the earth as the drop of the bucket, and the duſt of the ballance, as nothing, leſs than nothing: You ſee how meanly God values all the Nations of the Earth: But when hee ſpeaks of his Son, that is thy Redeemer, His Name ſhall bee called wonderful, ſaith hee, hee is wonderful in the eyes of God the Father; thou that haſt ſuch a wonderful Redeemer as this is, certainly thy condition muſt needs bee comfortable.
But Secondly, The main comfort that Beleevers may have from this glory of Chriſt, as hath been opened to you, is this, that hereby they may ſee Jeſus Chriſt as a full object for their ſouls to reſt upon, whatever their condition bee; thou haſt an All-ſufficient Saviour, thou haſt an object that thou mayeſt venture thy ſoul, thy eternal eſtate upon, for hee is a wonderful Redeemer; conceive thy miſery to the uttermoſt that poſſibly can bee, ſuppoſe thou ſeeſt the guilt of all thy ſins before thee, and apprehendeſt thy ſoul bound over to eternal death for thy ſin; ſuppoſe thou ſeeſt the juſtice of God coming out againſt thee, to require ſatisfaction for thy ſin; the curſe of the Law, that likewiſe brings thee under it, and thou ſeeſt the bottomeleſs pit even ready open for thee, and the horrible vile iniquities that thou haſt been guilty of, preſenting themſelves unto thee with all the aggravations of them; ſuppoſe all this, And thou ſtandeſt now before the great God, ready to receive the ſentence of thy eternal eſtate. Now theſe things may make thy heart to ſhake, and indeed they will where they are ſeen really; But in the midſt of ſuch a ſight, if God do but give thee a ſight of thy Redeemer that is ſo wonderful, here is enough to draw forth Faith, yea to beget Faith in the ſoul; let this bee but preſented, whatſoever thy miſery bee, yet know, here is a wonderful Redeemer, who cannot onelyonly cure ordinary diſeaſes, and deliver in ordinary troubles, but can wonderfully deliver, and no cure can bee too hard for him; Oh therefore thou troubled ſoul! that doſt apprehend the evil of thy ſin, and the dread…l danger that thou art in: Oh that thou couldeſt but ſee this wonderful Redeemer before thee! thou wouldeſt ſee him to bee an object for the moſt vile wretchedeſt ſinner that ever lived upon the face of the earth to reſt upon; And becauſe God the Father accounts wonderfully of his Son; therefore it is that hee would not have us onelyonly to beleeve in his Son in ordinary caſes, but in extraordinary caſes; you that are beleevers, and hope you have any part in Chriſt, know, that God expects that you ſhould ſanctifie his Son as a wonderful Redeemer; now, if you can onelyonly beleeve in Chriſt in an ordinary way, when your condition is ordinary, and your ſtraights not very great, this is not to ſanctifie Chriſt as a wonderful Saviour. Now let this bee but laid to thy heart when temptations are ſtrong, and when thy heart is ready to ſink in any extremity; It may bee temptation comes and tells thee thy condition is extraordinary, who was ever ſo left of God as thou art, then do but lay theſe truths upon thy heart, that have been revealed in the opening of the wonderfulneſs of Chriſt, and even ſay thus to thy ſoul, well, but oh my ſoul! thou haſt heretofore beleeved in God, but haſt thou ſanctified the Name of Chriſt, as wonderful? haſt thou beleeved in Jeſus Chriſt, as in him whoſe Name by God himſelf is called wonderful? Thou haſt, thou thinkeſt, beleeved in him as a Saviour, as a Redeemer, but haſt thou beleeved in him as thus wonderful in his Natures, in his Perſon, in his Offices, in his indowments, and in all the great things that hee hath done, in the glory of the Father that ſhines in him? haſt thou ſanctified his Name in all thoſe particulars wherein Chriſt hath been made known to bee wonderful? certainly Beleevers do not ſanctifie this Name of Chriſt, except there bee ſome kinde of proportion between their Faith, and all theſe glorious things that are revealed of Jeſus Chriſt: It is hee that is a full object for thy ſoul to reſt upon in all ſtraights whatſoever, when the men of the world ſhall bee at their wits end, they having their ordinary help fail them, yet thou that art a Beleever, and knoweſt what Jeſus Chriſt is, …d the glory of God that appears in him, thou needeſt not bee at thy wits end, for thou haſt him whoſe Name is wonderful, to be the object of thy Faith.
Thirdly, The conſolation to Beleevers from this title of Chriſt, is in this; That certainly, if there bee ſuch a wonderful Redeemer, that God himſelf doth glory ſo much in, and account him ſo wonderful, then it muſt needs follow, that God doth intend wonderful things for the Saints; no wiſe man that hath abilities, will in a wonderful manner buſie himſelf about a trifle: certainly if the Lord doth thus work for man-kind in his Son, if the Lord provide ſuch a wonderful Saviour for the children of men, wee may fully conclude, that God hath wonderful thoughts to do great things for man-kind; the thoughts of God for the good of man-kind are very great, and very glorious, they are ſome high things, ſome glorious things that God doth aim at for man-kind. Oh raiſe up therefore your thoughts! let all that are but men raiſe up their thoughts, and think, ſurely there is ſome great happineſs for the children of men; God hath revealed it from Heaven, when hee hath told us that there is ſuch a wonderful Redeemer come into the Earth: But Oh you Beleevers! do you in a ſpecial manner raiſe up your hearts, and expect glorious things? and though you have but little from God for the preſent, yet conclude, that God hath wonderful thoughts about you that are the members of Jeſus Chriſt; and there muſt come a time, that there muſt bee wonderful things beſtowed upon you, or otherwiſe God ſhould loſe the honour of all the wonderful things hee hath done in Chriſt, and that hee will never do: God will at length bring every beleever to ſuch a height of glory, as before Men and Angels it ſhall bee declared by the glory of your ſouls, that Jeſus Chriſt was a wonderful Redeemer; ſuch glory thou mayeſt have, wee cannot tell the particulars; If wee ſhould go to open the happineſs of the Saints, what it ſhould bee in Heaven, wee ſhould quickly bee ſwallowed up; but one would think that this one thing ſhould bee enough to fill the heart of the Beleever with joy, I ſhall have ſo much happineſs from God one day, as muſt declare before Men and Angels, that Jeſus Chriſt was a wonderful Saviour, ſuch glory as God himſelf will glory in.
Oh look here! look upon this poor wretch, that a while was ſuch a vile wicked creature, and a childe of wrath, and of perdition in its ſelf, and look now what a height of glory this ſoul is raiſed up to, and now give your teſtimony whether my Son bee not a wonderful Redeemer; this will bee the condition of every poor beleever that lives, and comfort your ſelves in exerciſing your Faith in this.
What ever I am now for the preſent, though but a lump of clay and filth, yet I being a Beleever, Chriſt being mine, my condition muſt bee ſuch one day as God the Father wi…l ſay before men and Angels, behold the wonderfulneſs of my Son, in what I have done for this ſoul; and that may bee enough to ſatisfie the ſoul for the preſent, that God will ſhew himſelf wonderful in thy good, and thy ſalvation; ſo that it may bee ſaid of every particular beleever, thy eſtate ſhall bee ſuch one day, as if there were no other ſaved in all the world but thy ſelf, yet Jeſus Chriſt will manifeſt himſelf wonderful in thy ſalvation; for indeed that is that that hee aims at, to bee wonderful in the ſalvation of his Saints, in bringing them unto glory, and that is the comfort of all Beleevers from this title of Chriſts being wonderful. But now then as thy comforts art great from this title, ſo thy duties ſhould bee ſome way proportionable too; thou ſhouldeſt therefore honour God the Father of Chriſt, as a wonderful Saviour: — Labour therefore firſt to ſearch into this deep myſtery of the Goſpel:
Oh what a ſhame is it that thoſe that do profeſs themſelves Chriſtians, ſhould underſtand ſo little of Jeſus Chriſt! this is that that God expects: I ſay, that wee ſhould ſtudy the Goſpel, ſearch into the Goſpel, that wee may ſee more of Chriſt; the more wee ſee, the more ſtill wee ſhall wonder, for Chriſt is an infinite depth, and the more wee ſearch into him, the more wee ſhall ſee cauſe to wonder: In the firſt of the Epheſians, mark what a prayer Paul makes for the Epheſians, in the 17, and 18. verſes, hee told them before, that hee did not ceaſe to give thanks for them, making mention of them in his prayers: to what end? That the God of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt the Father of Glory, may give unto you the Spirit of Wiſdome and Revelation in the knowledge of him.
Hee doth not onelyonly pray, that they might have ſome knowledge of him, but that they might have a Spirit of Wiſdome and Revelation in the knowledge of Chriſt; and this from the God of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and from the Father of Glory.
Mark what titles hee gives to God when hee prayes for them, that they might have the knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt; it muſt bee the God of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt that muſt do it, and the Father of Glory.
God doth never ſhew himſelf to bee the Father of Glory ſo much, as when hee gives the knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt to a ſoul, then God doth make himſelf to appear indeed to bee the Father of Glory.
And further, The eyes of your underſtanding being enlightened, that yee may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his Inheritance in the Saints, and what is the exceeding greatneſs of his power to us-ward who beleeve. And in the third of the Epheſians, from the 14 verſe to the 20. For this cauſe I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, of whom the whole Family of Heaven and Earth is named, that hee would grant you according to the riches of his Glory, to bee ſtrengthened with might by his Spirit in the Inner-man, that Chriſt may dwell in your hearts by Faith, that yee being rooted and grounded in love, (All this now is but a preparation to what hee would deſire further, and that is this) That ſo you may bee able to comprehend with all Saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Chriſt, which paſſeth knowledge, that yee might bee filled with all the fulneſſe of God: This is a moſt admirable Scripture, ſurely the Spirit of Chriſt filled the heart of Saint Paul; and ſuch kind of Scriptures as theſe, are mighty ſtrong Arguments to evince the Scripture to bee the Word of God: when wee read ſuch paſſages as theſe, that have a ſpirit in them, beyond the ſpirit of any man; certainly it was beyond the ſpirit of any man to expreſſe himſelf in ſuch a manner, That hee bowed his knees unto the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that they might comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth, length, depth and height, and to know the love of Chriſt which paſſeth knowledge, that they might bee filled with all the fulneſſe of God; and that is that which I would eſpecially obſerve, that Chriſtians ſhould not content themſelves with a little knowledge of Chriſt, but they ſhould labour to comprehend what is the length, breadth, depth, and height, they ſhould labour to dive into the M…ſteries of the Goſpel, as it is ſaid of Moſes, when hee ſaw that wonderful work in the wilderneſſe, ſaith hee, I will now turn aſide and ſee this great ſight; you have it recorded in the ſeventh of the Acts, and 31. verſ. There appeared to him in the wilderneſſe of Mount Sina, an Angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a buſh: When Moſes ſaw it, hee wondred at the ſight, and as hee drew near to behold it, &c. Hee had a ſight of it at a diſtance, and yet ſo much, as hee wondred at it, and then hee drew near, and the Lord ſpake to him: So it ſhould bee with us, wee have ſome ſight of Chriſt, but is it not at a diſtance? wee hear a Miniſter ſpeaking of Chriſt to us (the great wonder of the world) and it may bee at the hearing wee are ready to think, there is ſomewhat in Chriſt beyond what wee have apprehended heretofore; I but I beſeech you Brethren, let it not paſſe away ſo; thoſe things that have been ſpoken concerning Chriſt, God will require an account of; and know, it is a dangerous thing to have the glory of Jeſus Chriſt to paſs by any ſoul, and to do it no good: If wee had been preaching to you of Moral Virtues, or any deep diſcourſe about any point, ſave about Jeſus Chriſt, there had not been ſo much danger of letting it paſſe without profit; but when God ſets before you the glory of his Son, know, there is a great deal of danger upon the hearing of ſuch things without profit; therefore you had need ſay upon the hearing of ſuch things, as Moſes ſaid, That you will draw near, you will go and pray over theſe again; and beſeech the Lord that hee would reveal theſe things unto you: Pray with David, O Lord, open mine eyes, that I may ſee the wonderful things of thy Law: By Law there is meant thoſe things that were revealed in the Word of God; and ſurely upon our hearing what God hath revealed in his Word, wee have cauſe to pray with more earneſtneſſe, Lord open our eyes that wee may ſee the wonderful things of thy Goſpel; but mark, When Moſes drew near, Then God ſpake to him, and revealed himſelf further to him: If Moſes had ſtood wondring at this ſight, and went no further, it may bee hee had not had God revealing himſelf ſo clearly to him; but when hee draws near, then God ſpeaks to him: So if your hearts bee taken with what you hear of this wonderful Saviour, and then you draw near, and take pains in your cloſets by meditation and prayer, to ſee what is the meaning of this wonder: Why Lord ſhall I hear of ſuch things, and not underſtand them? they are things that do nearly concern mee, and ſhall I not underſtand them? If you labour to draw near, God will ſpeak and reveal further of his mind to you: But further, of this Text in the Epheſians, Wee muſt labour to comprehend the heights and depths, and to know the love of Chriſt which paſſeth knowledge.
You wi…l ſay, theſe are too wonderful things for us to know.
Nay, The Apoſtle praies that they may know that which paſſeth knowledge: Though the fulneſſe of the glory of it paſſeth all knowledge, yet ſtill there may bee ſo much of the knowledge of theſe things, as may help you to ſanctifie Gods Name, and make your hearts ſpiritual; for ſaith the Text, That yee may know the love of God which paſſeth knowledge, that yee might bee filled with all the fulneſſe of God: It is a very ſtrange phraſe (for the creature to bee filled with God) and had wee it not in Scripture, wee ſhould not have dared to have uſed ſuch an expreſſion: But here it is to bee filled with all the fulneſſe of God: This phraſe is a great deal higher; but how comes this to paſſe? by comprehending the height, and depth, and length, and breadth; that is, by underſtanding Jeſus Chriſt, and the Glory of God in him, by this means doth the ſoul come to bee filled with all the fulneſſe of God.
What is the reaſon that Chriſtians are ſo empty in their ſpirits, in their converſations? but becauſe they know ſo little of the Myſtery of the Goſpel: If thou didſt but underſtand the Myſtery of the Goſpel, but how the Lord makes known himſelf in the face of Jeſus Chriſt, this would fill thy heart with all the fulneſſe of God; thoſe Chriſtians are the Chriſtians filled with excellency indeed, that do comprehend the height, and depth, and length, and breadth of this wonderful work of God in Chriſt: There is nothing ſanctifies the heart ſo much, as the knowledge of Chriſt in a right way.
Seneca hath ſuch an expreſſion concerning the Heavens: Oh the Heavens are a wonderful ſpectacle, and a ſpectacle fit for a reaſonable creature to bee imployed about! Though wee ſhould get little benefit by knowing the Motions of the Heavens, the Sun, Moon, and Stars, yet the beauty and excellency that is there, and the wonderful work of God in the Heavens, it cannot but take a rational creature: Now, if the wonderful work of God in the Heavens bee ſuch, as it muſt needs take a rational creature: Oh what is the wonderful work of God in Jeſus Chriſt! therefore let us make it the chief of our ſtudy, to ſtudy the Lord Jeſus.
Luther hath an expreſſion to the ſame purpoſe, O ſaith hee, I vehemently, I extreamly am diſpleaſed with my ſelf, and diſpleaſe my ſelf, yea (ſaith hee) I hate my ſelf, becauſe I cannot get that great benefit, that great work that there is in mans Redemption, becauſe I cannot get it to bee transfuſed into my very bones and marrow; I would fain get it in there. Saint Paul, in Gal. 1.15, 16. ſaid, hee was ſeparated from his Mothers womb, and called by Grace, and had Chriſt revealed in him. O bleſſed is that ſoul that the Lord hath ſeparated for himſelf, that Jeſus Chriſt might bee revealed in it, that is a bleſſed ſoul: — You know how Paul accounted the knowledge of Chriſt, The excellent knowledge, the excellencie of knowledge, and accounted all things dung and droſſe in compariſon; and ſo David, in Pſal. 119.27. Make mee to underſtand the way of thy Precepts, ſo ſhall I talk of thy wondrous works: When you come together, you can bee talking of this News, and the other News, but were your hearts filled with the knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt, you could not but talk of the wonderful things that God hath done for your ſouls in Jeſus Chriſt.
And as wee are to labour to ſearch that wee may know more, ſo to give God the praiſe of this his wonder that hee hath done; In Pſal. 107.8. Oh that men would praiſe the Lord for the wonderful things that hee hath done for the children of men: It is meant there I confeſſe of the wonderful works of Gods providence; but ſurely if God bee to bee praiſed and magnified for his wonderful works of providence, much more for the wonderful works that hee hath done for the ſoul in Jeſus Chriſt. And ſo in Pſal. 86.9, 10. You have an expreſſion there to the ſame purpoſe: All Nations whom thou hast made, ſhall come and worſhip before thee, O Lord, and ſhall glo…ifie thy Name, for thou art great, and doſt wondrous things: Oh that this Scripture were fulfilled, that all Nations might come and worſhip the Lord, and glorifie God upon this ground, becauſe God is great, and doth wonderful things; The wonderful things of God in his works of Creation and Providence, are nothing ſo much regarded of God himſelf, as the wonderful things hee hath done in Chriſt; and therefore the Lord expects that the Saints ſhould glorifie him more for that, than for any thing elſe: And the truth is, God re…ects all the glory that hee hath from his creatures, except hee hath it, becauſe of the wonders that hee hath done in his Son.
And as wee ſhould ſtudy Chriſt, and praiſe and bleſs God, and have our hearts enlarged for Jeſus Chriſt: So this is the duty of beleevers, to whom God hath revealed Chriſt as wonderful, that in their converſations they ſhould hold out the wonderful Glory of Jeſus Chriſt; thou ſhouldeſt ſo walk before men, as to manifeſt to all the world that thy Saviour is a wonderful Saviour.
And thou ſhouldeſt manifeſt it by thy wonderful change; that ſoul that hath part in Chriſt, whoſe Name is wonderful, honours Chriſt in this, If hee doth manifeſt that ſince hee came to know Jeſus Chriſt, there is a wonderful change made in him; what a change is there made in this youth, or childe, young-man, or neighbour, or friend! Not long ſince what an ignorant ſot was hee? but ſince hee went to hear the Word, Oh the underſtanding in a little time that ſuch a one hath got in the Myſteries of the Goſpel! ſuch a one was not able to go into Gods preſence to expreſſe himſelf in prayer any otherwiſe but upon a book, but now, Oh what a ſpirit of prayer hath God given to ſuch a poor wretch, that was ſo ignorant the other day! Now, O how can hee pour out his ſoul before the Lord! Such a one that not long ſince was a prophane and looſe liver, and ſenſual and baſe in his life and converſation, now oh how holy, how heavenly, how ſpiritual, and would not commit the leſt known ſin, if hee might gain a thouſand worlds for it! ſuch a one that was falſe in his ſervice before, now how truſty! one may truſt ones life, and all that one hath with him now; ſuch a one that heretofore was a ſwearer, oh how doth hee reverence the Name of God! ſuch a one that was a froward paſſionate ſpirited man or woman, now how meek and gentle are they! what a mighty change is there in the ſpirit of ſuch a ſervant, or wife, or husband, or neighbour! And ſuch a one that was altogether for himſelf, and proud, and haughty, but now, oh how humble, and ſubmiſſive! now hee can deny himſelf of any thing: As wee read of Chriſt, that when hee commanded the winds and the waves, the Text ſaith, all people wondred at him: So when the winds of thy paſſion are up, if thou canſt but bid them bee ſtill, all would wonder at it: Oh how comes there ſo great a change! ſuch a one that was impatient before in any ſuffering, now what ever hee ſuffers, how like a Lamb is hee, and opens not his mouth! Now in the midſt of afflictions, and pains, and troubles, hee can lye rejoycing and praiſing God; And ſuch a one, though hee hath never ſuch ſtrong temptations to draw him on the other ſide, yet now hee can reſiſt the ſtrongeſt temptations; before, if a companion did but hold up his finger, hee muſt go, but now I ſay hee can reſiſt ſtrong temptations, and oh how hee accounts it his glory and happineſſe to ſuffer for Jeſus Chriſt: Now this doth manifeſt Chriſt a wonderful Saviour. As it was the ſpeech of a Heathen, ſeeing the Chriſtians ſuffer with ſo great patience, hee cries out, Of a truth, the God of the Chriſtians is a great God, that doth inable them to do ſuch great things: So thou muſt ſo walk in thy life, that thou muſt manifeſt that Jeſus Chriſt is a wonderful Saviour.
And bee aſhamed to complain of any difficulty in any duties that thou art ſet about; thou art ſet about ſuch a duty, and oh thou complaineſt they are hard, and difficult, and tedious! Is it for thy Saviour that thou doeſt it? thou ſhouldeſt bee willing to go thorow fire and water; and in this one thing the wonderfulneſs of the change of a ſoul doth appear as much as in any thing, That thoſe things that before were accounted burdens, now the ſoul accounts them as a priviledge, and the joy of its heart; others cannot do ſo: Now the Goſpel makes ſuch a change, and in this change of thy heart, and of thy life, Jeſus Chriſt is held forth in the world to bee a wonderful Saviour; but now, if thou canſt do no more than thoſe that are ſtrangers to Jeſus Chriſt, what honour hath Chriſt in thy life and converſation? One paſſage or two more.
If Chriſt bee a wonderful Saviour, hence then every one that hears of Chriſt, ſhould think it to bee a dreadful thing to miſſe of Jeſus Chriſt: Oh then let all ſouls to whom Chriſt is made known, make after him! Oh thou wretched ſoul, that haſt not yet underſtood the way of God towards man-kind, now labour to know it! If the Lord hath wonderful thoughts for the ſaving of man-kind, then let thy thoughts bee ſuch: And after all this ſhall my ſoul periſh eternally? ſhall I bee caſt away, notwithſtanding God hath wrought in ſuch a glorious and wonderful way for the ſalvation of ſouls? muſt I periſh at laſt for all this? Thy heart ſhould make towards God, and bee incouraged in this, becauſe the way of ſalvation is ſo wonderful: why, may not thy ſoul come in likewiſe and bee ſaved? there is not the worſt of you all, but here is help in this wonderful Saviour to help you, and redeem you; had you but hearts now to come in and to fall down before the Lord when you get alone in your cloſets, and ſay, Lord, I have heard that there is a wonderful Saviour come into the world, and hath done wonderfully for the redeeming of man-kind; Oh that hee might bee wonderful in my ſalvation alſo! that I may bee among the number of thoſe that may to all eternity bee admiring at thy glory in Jeſus Chriſt; many of you rejoyce in this, that God hath wrought wonderfully to preſerve you ſome times out of dangers, I but what are all the wonderful works of God towards you, except you have your part in him whoſe Name is called wonderful?
And laſt of all, Let us long for that time when Jeſus Chriſt ſhall appear in all his glory; hee doth appear now to the ſouls of his Saints very wonderful, as hee is ſet out in the Word; but there is a time when Chriſt ſhall come and appear in all his glory in another manner than wee are able to ſet him out: After the blowing of the ſeventh Trumpet that you read of in the book of the Revelations, then is the Myſtery finiſhed, and what is the finiſhing of it? in chap. 11. then is the voice heard, ſaying,Rev. 11.15. The Kingdomes of this world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord, and of his Chriſt, and hee ſhall reign for ever and ever: Then ſhall the Lord Jeſus Chriſt come and appear in all his wonderful works to the children of men, and to bee admired in the Saints; then ſhall bee fulfilled the Scripture wee have in John 14.20, 21. Mark what Chriſt promiſes there to his Diſciples, At that day yee ſhall know that I am in my Father, and you in mee, and I in you: hee that hath my commandements, and keepeth them, hee it is that loveth mee, and hee that loveth mee, ſhall bee loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifeſt my ſelf to him. — At that day you ſhall know it: It ſeems his Diſciples underſtood but little of this Myſtery before, but ſaith Chriſt, there is a day that you ſhall know that I am in my Father, and you in mee, and I in you: And bee of good comfort, all beleevers, there is a time coming that you will ſee Chriſt more wonderful than now you do; you do now ſee Chriſt to bee wonderful, and your hearts are taken in ſome meaſure, taken off from all the Creatures, to admire at Jeſus Chriſt; in Act. 3.11, 12. when the people wondered at the cure that the Apoſtles wrought upon the lame man; mark at the 12th. verſ. When Peter ſaw it, hee anſwered unto the people, Yee men of Iſrael, why marvel yee at this? or why look yee ſo earneſtly on us, as though by our own power or holineſs wee had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Iſaac, and of Jacob, the God of our Fathers hath glorified his Son Jeſus, &c. As if they ſhould ſay, Why do you wonder a… us? know, that the God of Abraham, and of Iſaac, and of Jacob, hath glorified his Son Jeſus; it is hee that you are to wonder at: The Saints have their hearts taken off from Creatures, from men, from inſtruments, and they look upon him, that the God of Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob hath glorified, even Jeſus Chriſt; and hee is the matter of their wonder. But doſt thou wonder at Jeſus Chriſt now? know, Chriſt will come ere long in another manner to bee admired at by his Saints in all his glory; Chriſt was wonderful when hee came with ſin, and when hee comes without ſin hee ſhall bee more wonderful; hee ſhall come in all his glory with his holy Angels, to make good all that hee hath promiſed, and to bring with him all that hee hath purchaſed, and then wee ſhall ſee him as hee is. — Now wee ſee Jeſus Chriſt but thorow a glaſs, and yet our hearts are taken with him; and wee wonder at him now, but oh how ſhall wee wonder when wee come to ſee him as hee is! when wee ſhall behold his face in glory; wee ſee now the Lord Chriſt in his Ordinances, but as in a picture; As at the firſt, when there are treaties between one Prince and another about a march, the firſt ſight that they have of one another, it is but by a picture, and if they bee delighted with but ſeeing the picture one of another, much more will they bee delighted and inamoured with the perſon, when they come to ſee it its ſelf: ſo it is with the Saints, here all that the Saints can ſee of Jeſus Chriſt, that makes them ſo wonder at him, and to account him to bee the chiefeſt of ten thouſand, all is but by ſeeing of him by a picture; Jeſus Chriſt is in Heaven, and hee ſends us his picture in his Ordinances; ſo St. Paul ſaith, in Gal. 3. concerning the Miniſtry of the Word, that Jeſus Chriſt had been evidently ſet forth crucified among them. Now are your hearts taken with the ſight of Chriſt, when you ſee him as it were in a picture? know, as Chriſt ſaid to Nathanael, Becauſe I ſaid unto thee, I ſaw thee under the Figg tree, beleeveſt thou? thou ſhalt ſee greater things than theſe. So thou ſhalt ere long ſee Jeſus Chriſt as hee is; Wee are now the Sons of God, but it appears not what wee ſhall bee, for when hee ſhall appear, wee ſhall bee like him, for wee ſhall ſee him as hee is.
And thou ſhalt not onelyonly ſee him, but ſo ſee him, as hee ſhall never go out of thy ſight; thou haſt but a little glimpſe of him now for the preſent, and thy ſoul rejoyces in that, the time is coming when thou ſhalt ſee him, and thy eyes ſhall feed upon him for ever; the Lord Chriſt ſhall go up and down the Heavens as the wonder of the Angels, and all the Saints ſhall bee following, wondring at him to all eternity; The luſter of the deity ſhall bee ſhining thorow the humanity of Chriſt, and men and Angels ſhall ſtand gazing and wondring at the glory of Jeſus Chriſt to all eternity: Oh let us comfort one another with theſe ſayings, and in the expectation of the glorious appearing of Jeſus Chriſt. And thoſe that ſhall long for the glorious appearing of Jeſus Chriſt, upon the ſeeing of him here, have a good evidence that they do belong to Jeſus Chriſt, and ſhall bee partakers of the wonderful things that Jeſus Chriſt hath wrought and purchaſed with his own blood.
And thus wee have opened to you and applied this glorious wonder of Jeſus Chriſt; His Name ſhall bee called Wonderful; hee is wonderful in the Word, Oh that hee may bee wonderful in your hearts, and in your lives.