England Faithfully Watched, Lecture 60
COLOS. 1.23.
Which was preached to every creature.
BY creature here, is meant the nobleſt creature, to wit, man: 'tis an expreſſion borrowed from Chriſt the creator, Goe and preach the Goſpel to every [creature,] Mark. 16.15. (i) to all men, make no diſtinction of perſons, nor Nations; goe into every houſe, Jew, Gentile, and proffer peace, tender life unto every dying ſoule. The expreſſion in hand, ſpeakes of this as done, wherein lies the difficultie. Which [was preached] to every creature. An expreſſion like unto this you have at the ſixt verſe of this Chapter. Which is come unto you [as it is] unto all the world. Theſe compared, explaine one another. By the coming of Chriſt, the wall of partition between Jew and Gentile was broken down, and their priviledges made common for any, and according to this tenor was the preaching of the Goſpel; ſo that the tenor of Grace inlarged, and generally diſpenſed to all ſorts of perſons, Jew and Gentile, is ſaid to be the preaching of the Goſpel to every creature. Beſides, there may be more in the expreſſion: though there was not in the Apoſtles time, an actuall tender to every individuall perſon under Heaven by preaching, which elſewhere ſeemes to be propheſied ſhall be; yet the ſound of that grace which was thus generally preached, went into all the earth, and ſo their words at ſecond hand, unto the ends of the world. Have they not heard? Yes; their ſound went into all the earth, and their words unto the end of the world, Rom. 10.18. which makes the meaning of the expreſſion in more words to this ſenſe: Which was divulged in the tenor of it for all, and in the rumor of it to all.
Doctr. Mercy now is of very vaſt extent, God is no reſpecter of perſons, nor reſpecter of nations. David becoms a leader of all ſorts, every one that was in diſtreſſe, and every one that was diſcontented, &c. 1 Sam. 22.2. Saving grace hath a univerſality in it. Look to me and be ſaved, all the ends of the earth. The brazen Serpent was lifted up in the Wilderneſſe, to be looked upon: it did ſecretly hint to that unworthy people, that God would not alwayes tie himſelf to them, but give mercy a larger compaſſe, that not only Iſrael, but thoſe that were dogs, and as the brutes of the Wilderneſſe ſhould have a Saviour lifted up among them to look upon: our Saviour, in his own expreſſion, gives this explanation: When I am lifted up, I will draw all men unto me; not only Jews, but Gentiles. The Serpent that is now lifted up, Lions, Tigers, Bears, Wolves, all the beaſts of the vaſt Wilderneſſe of this world, from the one end to the other, may look upon; Look to me and be ſaved, all the ends of the earth.
Mercy is proportion'd to Miſery: All fleſh hath corrupted it ſelf, and Chriſt hath power over all fleſh, to give eternall life, to whom he will: not a ſoul ſo black; ſo ſpeckled, but Chriſt can cleanſe him, as white as ſnow: no ſin, no evill ſpirit ſo ſtrong, but he can bring him under; he is able to ſubdue all things to himſelf, men, devils, ſins, &c. he ſhall change your vile bodies, and make them like his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is [able to ſubdue all things to himſelf], Phil. 3.21. no condition deſperate to Chriſt; he can give ſight to one that is born blinde, he … change the ſpots of the Leopard, plague ſpots; all things touching the fallen condition of man, are poſſible to him, 'twas ſpoken you know by himſelf, upon a ſad fight, which none of Chriſts Diſciples could do good to, to wit, one rended and torn by Satan, which Chriſt cured with eaſe. There be many thouſand impoſſibilia to us; yea, in us; not a ſin in a mans ſoul, the leaſt, but is impoſſible to us to ſubdue, becauſe in our nature: Can a Leopard change his ſpots any one of his ſpots? He may lick at them, but can he remove them? 'Tis as if Chriſt had ſaid, Can a ſinner take out any ſtain in his ſoul? he may lick at them, by prayer, and the like, but he cannot remove them, becauſe as a nature to him; yet I can do it; as if Chriſt had ſaid, I can take out any ſpot, out of any cloth, out of any part, ſoul or body; He is able to ſave all that come to God by him.
Chriſt hath this vaſt power, and he cannot ſuſpend it. If he refuſe to do what he can for any diſtreſſed creature that comes unto him, and be the moſt miſerable in the world, he will diſpleaſe his Father, which we know he would not do, he would undergo hell firſt. The power that Chriſt hath for the good of ſinners, is neceſſarily acted: The Sun ſhines upon all the world, and it cannot do otherwiſe. Chriſt in the 6th of John, when he had diſcourſed largely according to what latitude and compaſſe he wrought, for the ſalvation of ſouls, he puts it to this concluſion: I can do no leſſe, ſaith he, for this is the will of my Father, that [every one] that ſeeth the Son, and believeth on him, might have everlaſting life; if it be the tatterdſt, the forlornſt creature in the city, that looks pitifully upon me, I muſt look pitifully upon him, if he hang about me for ſoul favour, I muſt in no wayes caſt him off, but take him out of the jaws of death, and carry him in my arms to eternall life. What is the will of the Father, is the will of Chriſt; the will of Chriſt naturally, not artificially, in a way of ſelf-deniall, and conteſt, as the will of God is ſaid to be a Saints will; ſo that what the Father would have Chriſt own, Chriſt cannot but own, for the ſame Spirit is in him, and in the ſame meaſure; and therefore you have him ſetting himſelf forth by the Prophet, juſt as I do, as one bound by that Spirit which anointed him. The Spirit of the Lord, [is upon me] and he hath anointed me to preach unto theſe and theſe, and to comfort [all that mourn]. a Chriſt doth not ſay, the will of the Lord is nakedly revealed to me, how far I ſhall ſhew mercy, and how far not; but the ſame Spirit that ſpeaks to me, ſaith he, is upon me (i.) in the ſame meaſure that it ſpeaks to me, 'tis in me, and ſo neceſſitates me to obey, or captivates me, as my own nature, and as my own affection. God is captivated with love, toward all captives; ſo am I, ſaith Chriſt; he would have all to be ſaved, and come to the knowledge of the truth; Jewes and Gentiles; ſo would I too, ſaith Chriſt; the ſame bottomleſſe ſea of love that fluctuates in his breaſt, is in mine; the Father and I are one, and often Chriſt uſes this expreſſion, when he ſpeaks about love to the creature.
Ʋſe. Sinners, if ever you would be ſaved, conſider this point well, how wide the arms of Chriſt are; how big the boſome of mercy is; it hath many thouſands between her breaſts already, and yet there is roome for you. The love of Chriſt is not coy, 'tis not humerous, 'thath not naturall antipathy againſt any, but perſons that ſleight it. Sinners, ſinners, I beſeech you conſider it, at what height you love your ſins: Do you love your ſins above your bodies? above your eſtates, and names? yet there may be hope. Do ye love your ſins above your ſouls? this is ſad, yet there may be hope. But do ye not love your ſins above that love which ſtands with her arms open to you yet for all this? What hope can there be in this caſe? How can you eſcape the damnation of hell? as Chriſt ſpake to this generation. There is no art to make the ſoul ſet open the everlaſting dores, like telling him of the King of glory, which would come in. I conclude ſo, becauſe 'tis the art the holy Ghoſt uſeth. Mercy held out in the extent of it, is the King in viſible glory: drunkards, ſwearers, adulterers, ſet open your everlaſting dores, the King of glory would come into you, he would forgive your ſins againſt the light of Scripture, your ſins againſt the light of nature, your beaſtly ſins, I, thoſe wherein you have been worſe then beaſts, your ſins againſt your own bodies, as well as againſt your own ſouls; Love would get her ſelf a name upon you, by cleanſing and kiſſing of Swine, by laying a Toad in her boſome, by bringing a devill out of hel to heaven. Can you ſpit in the face of this Love, now in the ſight of all this congregation, and turn to your luſts again? Mercy comes to all your dores, ſhe falls down at all your feet, will you tread upon her? Mercy ſhews you what ſhe would have you do, Chriſt humbles himſelf to the duſt, laies himſelf at all your feet, if you would but do the like to him, not a ſoul of you ſhould periſh.
We hold out to you now, the riches of grace, if it work kindly, you ſhall know it by this, the ſoul longs to be partaker of it: this grace muſt be nouriſhed; if longing die ere it obtain, the ſoul is guilty of ſtifling the Spirit. What buds in the ſoul will bloſſome, do but keep it in the Sun: all that are weary and heavie laden, have eaſe; all that are oppreſt with the devill, are healed: 'tis the thing we are upon. If this grace work not kindly, the ſoul hardens it ſelf in its ſin. If love be ſo large, I may go on in my ſin yet a while longer, and do well enough at laſt; God rejects none, not young ſinners, not old ſinners; I will make as much as I can of my ſin, and lie as long as I may in the lap of Delilah; if I muſt part with it, I will part with it at laſt, when I muſt part with all. Death is ſeiſed violently upon this ſoul, he vomits his excrements. Would a Judas ſpeak worſe then this man? I will keep my covetouſneſſe and treachery as long as I can, if I muſt leave it, it ſhall be at laſt, when I leave this world, my maſter and my hope for ever. You cannot imagine the depth of guile that is in our hearts naturally; no man will ſay ſo much as before ſaid in words, but thouſands ſay it in deeds; ſay what we will, what we can, of juſtice, of mercy, of the latitude of theſe, yet ſinners will drive on in their own courſes, as long as liberty, ſtrength, and life will give leave. Theſe hearts are dead in treſpaſſes: Let what Sun will ſhine upon the dead, it warms them not; theſe ſinners are twice dead; dead naturally, and dead voluntary; they have taſted of the ſweet of their wayes, and they get much wealth and pleaſure by it, and they are not children, to part with a reality for a fancie.
Theſe are whole, and need not a Phyſician, our work is quickly done about theſe. Burthened ſouls, you are the proper ſubject of mercy, and of this diſcourſe, the call of this doctrine is to you: Come every one of you to Chriſt, and ye ſhall have eaſe, he excludes none: Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavie laden. A loded ſoul is ſelf-condemn'd, he cannot ſtand under the ſenſe of ſin and wrath; alas, who can? A ſoul ſelf-condemned, hath a halter about his neck of his own making; but do not hang thy ſelf: the King of Iſrael is very mercifull, he hangs none that comes to him as thou doſt, with a halter about his neck; hold a parly with him for thy life, thou mayſt bring him to what terms of mercy thou wilt, almoſt. Bid Chriſt make Propoſitions of peace, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? If he ſay that he wil have thee do this, and do that, deny thy ſelf, and follow him, pluck out thy right eye, and cut off thy right hand, and the like tel him, that through him thou canſt do all things; give me thy ſelf, and I will part with any thing; lend me thine hand, and I will riſe, draw me, and I will run after thee. Nothing is vile to me, but that which thou forbiddeſt, nothing dear, but that which thou commandeſt; only let me touch the hem of thy garment, let me take hold of thy skirt, and I ſhall accompliſh thy will and mine own.
This requeſt cannot be denied: Make this concluſion, and feed upon it, under all deſertion and temptation. Chriſt is ingaged, furniſhed, yea, about this very deſign, to give himſelf to thee. Chriſt is ingaged for thee by petition; thou haſt put up many petitions to him, and he hath put them up all to God, he could do no otherwiſe; for he is by place an Advocate, to mention and plead ſuch caſes, as are moved to him. Chriſt is furniſhed by conceſſion, for he is heard in all that he askes: my Father heareth me always. We ask many things and miſſe, becauſe we ask amiſſe: Chriſt alwayes asketh well, and ſpeeds well: therefore conclude of reliefe. You that mourne after Chriſt, [he will] ſend a Comforter. The command of God is upon Chriſt, [he ſhall be] a light to the Gentiles. When Chriſt ingages himſelf by petition for any, God doth alwayes ingage him by conceſſion, and by accompliſhment for it. See thou do this poor ſoul good, my Son: here is for him, according to all that he needs, let it be laid out upon him according to all thou ſayeſt, will make him happy. Muſt he have my Spirit? my comforting Spirit? will no leſſe, nor no cheaper thing make him ſmile? will not a little Saffron mixed with ſome ſpirituous liquid, make him laugh? No, muſt he have my Spirit? my Joy…s then here 'tis. But be ſure, my Son, that thou give it him. The injunction of God is upon Chriſt, He ſhall be a light to the Gentiles. God doth truſt no Doctor, no Apothecary, none but Chriſt himſelf about drouping ſouls; and he puts into his hand, cordials of infinite price, and ſaith, that he ſhall give them, and his bleſſing with them; that he ſhall be, not only means of light, but Light it ſelf, to dark ſouls; that is, the bleſſing of means, as well as means.
That Chriſt is about and upon giving himſelf to thee, O ſoul, I will demonſtrate to thee thus: Chriſt hath looked upon thee, this is the firſt thing a man doth, when he intends to beſtow himſelf upon any; Abaſuerus viewed the damoſels firſt. The Son hath looked upon thee; that the Son hath looked upon thee, is apparent, for the beauty of his countenance hath taken thee, and thou wouldeſt fain have his Image to wear in thy breaſt, and if all thou hadſt would buy it, how willingly wouldſt thou part with it? the words which fall from Chriſts lips, are as marrow, and thoſe which ſuit thy ſtate, as marrow and fatneſſe. Surely the King hath looked upon thee, and more, he hath a liking to thee. Thou loveſt him, thou mayſt conclude therefore, that he loved thee firſt. We love him, becauſe he loved us firſt, the man makes love firſt. Chriſt wooed thee long, ere he thus far gained thee, though thou take no notice of it. Nay, more then this, Chriſt hath beſtowed love-tokens upon thee, ſurely he is beſtowing himſelf to thee. Chriſt hath given thee by us his meſſengers as Abrahams ſervant, a golden eare-ring, bracelets for thine hands; by the word whch we preach, he hath given thee his Spirit, thou breatheſt as Chriſt doth, very ſweelty. I do not ſmell it. No, one cannot ſmell his own breath, when 'tis ſweet, only when it ſtincks much; but others ſmell it, in every room where thou comeſt.
Would Chriſt were mine! Is not this the period ſtill, of thy expreſſion, at the end of every diſcourſe? Such an one hath got ſo much and ſo much, ſaith one to thee; doſt not thou reply? would Chriſt were mine, and then I had got more then he. Doſt thou not gaſpe only after Chriſt, when thou fetcheſt breath deepeſt? That's the Spirit of the Lord Jeſus, which makes ſighs and groans, which cannot be expreſſed; he and thee ſigh together; one in another, and one after another. Love is mutually ſet, the contract is made, only 'tis not publiſhed to the world; ſome deliberate time is uſed about this.
'Tis a diſtinct thing from being Chriſts, to know that I am his, and that he hath beſtowed himſelf upon me; and all the wranglings, quarrellings, and gain-ſayings of Satan, and a mans own ſoul, will not be quite dead, till the ſoul be quite in the boſome of Chriſt. When one argues from the beams of the Sun that there is a Sun, me thinks the cavillingſt ſpirit of unbelief that is ſhould lie ſtill. Had no body ever taken notice of any ray of the Sun appearing in the ſoul to argue from, only the word of grace preſſed, and the man that was al the dayes of his life a vile wretch, beholding his own neceſſity, and the riches of goodneſſe, and laying hold upon it, he were bound to believe that Chriſt accepted of him, and beſtowed himſelf upon him. I beſeech you weak ſouls, know two things, and you cannot but be ſtrong: Know the riches of the Goſpel, and know the obligement of the Goſpel; it tenders mercy, 1. freely, and ſo it 2. muſt be owned; and ſo owned, though with never ſo much weakneſſe, or with never ſo many temptations, yet that it ſhould be effectuall to your ſalvation: the touch of Chriſts garment did the cure.