The Riches of Grace Displayed, Sermons · Sermon 7
Rev. 3. 20.Serm. 7.
Behold, I ſtand at the doore and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will ſup with him, and he with me.
THe next Uſe ſhall be of Inſtruction to ſuch perſons, who upon good grounds finde themſelves to have communion with Chriſt and Chriſt with them: Their dignity (I confeſſe) is great, ſo the duty (thereupon) is manifold.
1. Walk with cheerful thanfulneſſe: Two ſights are very incongruous, one is, a wicked man inflamed with joyes, another is, a good man almoſt drowned in teares. 1 Sam. 1. 8. Hanna (ſaid Elkanah) why weepeſt thou? and why is thy heart grieved? am I not better to thee then ten ſonnes?
So ſay I to thee, a beleever, why doeſt thou walk with ſo many habitual cares in thy head, and with ſo many continual fears in thy breaſt, haſt thou not communion with Chriſt?
Obj. Perhaps thou haſt but little of the world, yet even at the loweſt thou haſt communion with Chriſt.
Sol. And ſhould not the ſhining of the Sunne ſatisfie thee, though all the candles were put out? If thou hadſt nothing but a naked Chriſt, thou hadſt as much as happineſſe comes to. How many have quitted all to enjoy Chriſt alone, and have rejoyced too? why then ſhouldeſt thou be troubled, who at once haſt as much of earth as is neceſſary, and as much of Chriſt too as will make thee bleſſed? Remember him who ſold all for the pearle, and forſo…k all for Chriſt. A little with contentment is great gain, what then ſhould a little, nay any thing be with Chriſt.
When a fit of ſadneſſe (once) ſurprized Caeſar, he ſtrook himſelf on the breaſt, ſaying, Cogita te Caeſarem eſſe? why man art thou not Caeſar? So when melancholy thoughts about external poſſeſſions ſurprize thy minde, rouze up thy ſelf, Cogita te Chriſtianum eſſe? remember, and ſay, am I not a Chriſtian? have I not communion with Chriſt? and cannot communion with him eke out that little portion of other things: It was wont to make the priſon a Palace, the flames of martyrdome a bed of roſes? why ſhould it not be able to make thy bit of bread a feaſt, and thy cup of water ſweeter then wine it ſelf?
Obj. Or perhaps it is but little which Chriſt as yet hath imparted to thee of himſelf, (little grace, little aſſurance, little joy.)
Sol. O friend, let that little be never ſo little, if it be aliquid Chriſti, it is great in worth, though ſmall in bulk. A little iſſuing from communion with him is the fruit of higheſt love, and the pledge of fulleſt glory. The ring of gold is little, but it with a pearle is very much: A little grace with a full Chriſt is a condition very high: If the Chriſtian were truly humble and wiſe who had the prizing of it; nothing is little which drops from Chriſt; the leaſt ray of gold is precious.
For my part I judge that wife abundantly eſtated whoſe huſband is ſo: O Chriſtian be contented, be thankful, be cheerful; Conſider,
1. The leaſt which comes from Chriſt is enough to ſave thee, and duplicate page duplicate page ſhould not then the much which comes from him be enough to comfort thee.
2. Where Chriſt communicates a little, there he will communicate more, 'tis a gift, not a portion: There are ſhowers which guſh out of a cloud, but they quickly ceaſe, they grow leſſe and leſſe: There are drops which diſtil out of a fountaine, and they ſtill increaſe: Thou haſt no ſooner received one degree of grace, but Chriſt is ready to adde another. Methinks the child ſhould ſuck quietly, when, although it takes not in the whole breaſt at once, yet the milk is ſpinning out to renue a further drought after the former is gone down.
3. Chriſt imparts not alike to all, nor all at once to any: He ſo gives, as that ſtill he reſerves more to give: I feare our condition would not be ſure, were there not ſome good ſtill in Chriſts hand to beſtow, communion would ceaſe if communication did ceaſe.
It is an unſpeakable comfort to me, that Chriſt is mine, no man ever enjoyed him, but he ſhall enjoy more from him: I bleſſe his goodneſſe for the former, I will wait on his wiſdom for the latter.
2. Live like thoſe who have communion with Chriſt: Nebuchadnezzar ſaw in a dreame an image whoſe head was of gold, but the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, Dan. 2. 32. 33. Truly that Chriſtian is but in a dreame who fancies a golden communion, and yet wallows in a wicked converſation: If we ſay that we have fellowſhip with him, and walk in darkneſſe, we lie, 1 John 1. 6. The forty four thouſand with the Lamb had his Fathers name written in their foreheads.
In communion there is alwayes ſimilitude and conformity, and this is twofold in a Chriſtian to that in Chriſt.
1. Of holineſſe: when the grace of Chriſt appears but doctrinally, it teaches us to live holily, Titus 2. 12. much more when it appears effectually in communication from Chriſt. Surely they are much miſtaken who can exalt the Goſpel, and deſpiſe the Law; who can magnifie the merit of Chriſt, and withal contemn the Spirit of Chriſt: As if a good Chriſt and a good life were inconſiſtent, or as if the blood of Chriſt purchaſed this unhappy favour for us to live licentiouſly: will you ſhame your head and deny that Chriſt that bought you? Is this a Chriſt communication? Is this to ſhew the vertues of him who hath called you? Brethren, be not deceived, God is not mocked: An evil converſation is incomplyable with the learning of Chriſt in truth, Eph. 4. 21, 22. For what fellowſhip hath righteouſneſſe with unrighteouſneſſe, or what communion hath light with darkneſſe, and what concord hath Chriſt with Belial? and what agreement hath the Temple of God with idols? 2 Cor. 6. 16, 17. Some would reconcile our Religion and Popery; and you would reconcile heaven and hell.
2. Of communicativeneſſe: all the good which Chriſt imparts to us, is for to make us good, and for to enable us to do good: If you kindle a fire, it is to give warmth; If you give your ſteward money, it is to lay it out: All the ſtarres (they ſay) have light from the Sunne, but then their light imparts it ſelf againe by influence to bodies ſub-celeſtial, you muſt do more then others. Thou haſt received knowledge from Chriſt, this candle ſhould give light to others, as well as to thy ſelfe. Thou haſt received grace from Chriſt: this oyntment ſhould heat the ſouls of others as well as his duplicate page duplicate page own ſoul: thou haſt received mercy and comfort from Chriſt, this cordial ſhould be let out to binde up and ſuſteine the drooping hearts of others, as well as thine own.
Chriſt hath ſhewed pity to thee, ſurely it is, that thou ſhouldeſt ſhew pity to others: He forgives thee, ſhouldeſt not thou forgive thy brother? when you were wandering, he ſought after you; when you were ignorant, he inſtructed you; when you were untoward, he yet bare with you; when you humbled your ſoules, he cheered you; when you yeilded to him, he preſently embraced you; O how often hath he bound up your wounded ſoules? How often hath he raiſed up your fallen feet, you have lived upon his blood, upon his Spirit, upon his love, upon his bounty all your dayes.
Let the ſame minde be in you which is in your Chriſt. O when ſhall the ſoule of a childe, of a wife, of a ſervant, of a friend, of a neighbour, cry out, and ſay, I bleſſe God for ſuch a Father, for ſuch a Husband, &c.
3. Improve your communion with Chriſt, Heb. 4. 14. ſeeing that we have a great High Prieſt, verſe 16. Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtaine mercy, and finde grace to help in time of need.
Sirs, there is a double condition of the ſoul, one is of diſtance, I never found a Chriſt; O then be wiſe to ſtrive to get him.
The other is of preſence, I enjoy a Chriſt, O then be wiſe to make uſe of him; When I want bread, then I muſt look out for it, when I poſſeſſe bread, then I muſt feed on it.
Conſider three things to ſet on this,
1. Though your relation be excellent, yet your condition is indigent. No Chriſtian hath ſo little of Chriſt, but he hath matter for praiſe: And no Chriſtian hath ſo much from Chriſt, but he hath matter ſtill left for prayer. Every day we finde it a great work to do a little work, much patience to beare a little croſſe, much ſtrength to conquer a little temptation, much faith to anſwer one doubt, much love to eat out one luſt, much zeal to act one piece of ſervice. As our receits are more then our deſarts, ſo our wants are much larger then our receits.
2. There is a fulneſſe in Chriſt, and that with reſpect to your wants; compare any part of good in him with any part of want in your ſelves, it hath in it three qualities.
1. Sutableneſs: Mercy to anſwer miſery, Holineſſe to anſwer ſinne, Peace to anſwer trouble, ſtrength to anſwer weakneſſe, &c.
2. Fulneſſe: remiſſion of ſinnes lies in his blood as in a perfect merit and diſcharge: Holineſs lies in his natures as an original and infinite ſpring.
3. Willingneſſe to impart this to you; I know the great ſcruple ſtill lies about this, but in truth the imparting will of Chriſt is unutterable; can love, invitation, union, donations aſſure you of this, he bids us come and eat abundantly.
I will not expatiate in this, onelyonly if you conſider,
1. That gracious deſigne in God to draw up ſome to a glorious and eternal communion with himſelfe.
2. The voluntary contract 'twixt him and Chriſt to effect this.
3. All that for which Chriſt engageth himſelf to beleevers as well as unto God his and their Father.
4. All his coſt already upon them which would be loſt without further communicating; you muſt confeſſe his wonderful willingneſſe, unleſſe you would imagine that either God ſhould miſſe of his deſigne, or Chriſt is willing to loſe all his pains.
3. You your ſelves have all the kindes of improving of Chriſt attending you: For you have,
1. Improving intereſts, … and communion, he is yours, and therefore will do you good: He hath done you good, and therefore will do you more good.
2. Improving principles: Faith and love: He is the fountaine, and faith is the veſſel, given purpoſely unto you ſtill to draw out of his fulneſſe.
3. Improving Ordinances, the word and Sacrament: They are bread ſet out on purpoſe to feed you: They are the armes of Chriſt ſpread on purpoſe to ſtrengthen you; they are the pipes of Chriſt, laid out on purpoſe to convey more of Chriſt unto you.
Therefore O thou feeble and complaining ſoul, who haſt communion with Chriſt; conſider thy ſelfe and thy condition often; and ſay, what need I yet from Chriſt? wherein do I fall ſhort? what is it that I want? what may Chriſt yet do for me?
And then ſtirre up faith to act in Chriſt, to go to Chriſt, to beg of Chriſt, to draw from Chriſt more faith, more love, more humility, more patience, more fruitfulneſſe, more faithfulneſſe, more ſtrength, more aſſurance, more joy, &c.
Say thus, a friend will do for a friend; an husband will do for his wife; an head will do for a member: A Chriſt, ſurely a Chriſt will do for a beleever. If he gives himſelf, he will give all other things; if he hath given his blood for me already: if he will give me glory hereafter, ſurely he will give me a dramme of grace more, and a drop of comfort more.
Ʋſe 3. Is there ſuch an excellent and ſweet communion between Chriſt and the ſoul poſſeſſed by Chriſt? O then ſadly and ſeriouſly ſearch whether you have a ſhare in this communion, yea, …ne.
There are three ſorts of people in the world.
Some of them have no communion at all with Chriſt: they are ſtrangers to the Common-wealth of Iſrael.
Some of them have a communion of proſeſſion, a moral, a viſible communion: Have we not heard thee preaching in our Synag…gue? have we not eat and drank in thy preſence? but this is not ſufficient.
Some of them have a communion of poſſeſſion and profeſſion both. Have any of you this communion with Chriſt?
Queſt. How may that be diſcerned?
Sol. I conjecture it may be evidenced three ways;
1. By preparations.
2. By formal concomitants.
3. By reſulting effects.
1. By preparations.
Are you fitted for ſuch a communion as this the perſon who wanted a wedding garment, was pulled out as unmeet for a wedding feaſt: Chriſt will not have communion with every perſon. Sirs, whatſo…ver we may diſpute of a fitneſſe for union, yet aſſuredly there muſt be a fitneſſe for communion with Chriſt for communion implies a ſtate of fitneſſe.
Four things ever precede the ſtate of communion.
1. Contrition of heart: A broken heart and a broken Chriſt will live together, but an hardned heart, and a gracious Chriſt cannot. An heart meerly humbled is a legal heart (that is) fit for the Law to deal with.
A broken heart is a Goſpel heart fit for Chriſt to have communion with.
Iſaiah 66. 2. I will look to him who is of a contrite Spirit.
Iſa. 57. 15. I dwell in the high and holy place, with him alſo that is of a contrite ſpirit to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Iſaiah 62. 1. The Lord hath anointed me, and ſent me to bind up the broken hearted. Matth. 12. 20. A bruiſed reed he ſhall not break.
This is the heart which Chriſt invites to come to him and promiſeth to give it eaſe and reſt, Mat. 11. 28.
This is the heart that Chriſt, 1. Pitieth. 2. Inviteth. 3. Cheriſheth. 4. Delighteth in. 5. Bindeth up.
2. Poverty of ſpirit: A poore Chriſtian and a rich Chriſt, they have fellowſhip; but a full Chriſtian; a proud Chriſtian and a full and a lowly Chriſt have none: an empty veſſel is fit to be brought to the fountaine to be filled. Luke 1. 53. He fills the hungry with good things, but the rich he ſends empty away.
This heart, 1. Needeth. 2. Prizeth. 3. Seeketh. 4. Relieth. 5. Waiteth. 6. Findeth Chriſt.
When the great feaſt was made, the communion was not 'twixt the great ones, the rich ones and Chriſt, but 'twixt the blind, and maimed, and poore, and Chriſt. They would not come, but theſe would. This is the heart that Chriſt ſeeketh. 2. Eſteemeth▪ 3. Converſeth with. 4. Imparteth himſelf unto.
He who holds communion with his own worth, will hold no communion with Chriſts worthineſſe: If you can live without Chriſt, you will dwell without Chriſt. The rivers runne not upon the mountaines (the lofty mountaines) they runne in the low and humble valleys: Chriſt holds communion with none but ſuch as ſee their need of him, and are content to be altogether beholding unto him for all their ſupplies.
3. Diſcommunion with ſinne: Naturally every man is engaged to his …uſts; And therefore the Scripture calls ſinne an husband, and a Lord, and a lover: and the ſinner is ſaid to make a covenant and an agreement with it. I will give unto you ſo much pro…t, and ſo much delight, ſaith ſinne, and I will give unto thee all my heart, and love, and ſtrength, and ſervice ſaith the ſinner.
But this communion muſt be broken up, or elſe be confident, you have no communion with Chriſt.
Pſal. 45. 10. Forget thine own people, and thy Fathers houſe. Ver. 11. So ſhall the King greatly deſire thy beauty, &c. There is ſuch a contrariety 'twixt theſe two objects (Sinne and Chriſt) and there is ſuch an impoſſibily of inclination in the heart, to embrace and converſe with theſe two at once, that of neceſſity you muſt (as Chriſt ſpake of the world and of God) either hate the one, and love the other, or elſe hold to the one, and d…spiſe the …ther, Mat. 6. 24. Chriſt did lie in a Manger, but never lived in a dunghil.
Communion, the center of it, is love (and therefore it is ſhadowed by Solomons chari…t, the midſt whereof was paved with love, Cant. 3. 10.) your communion is where your love is, but you cannot hold Chriſt and ſinne in the ſame affection.
Mezentius the tyrant, tyed a dead body and a living man together. This was a diſtructive torment, it was not a communicating favour: They might die together but not live, &c. An heart dead in the love of ſinne, and a Chriſt the authour of life, there can be no comfortable, nay nor real Communion 'twixt them.
I have read of a diſeaſed perſon, who was in danger to loſe his fight, and his Phyſician preſcribed Theotinushim to take heed of ſome leud courſes: What ſaid he? cannot I enjoy my ſight and my delight too? why then, vale lumen Amicum: I fear it is thus with too many: Communion with Chriſt is ſweet, but may I not enjoy this and the world too? now the young man goes away, then vale lumen amicum: And may I not continue my delight in ſin, and a delightful communion with Chriſt? why then, farewel Chriſt.
4. Inſitien, or Insplantation into Chriſt: for communion ever ſuppoſeth a relation: As difference, ſo diſtance too is oppoſite to communion▪ If you cut off a limb from the tree, the root hath no further communion with it, becauſe union ceaſeth, which is the foundation of communion▪ If you put a ſtick upon the tree, it receives no influence at all from the root, becauſe it is onelyonly a naked oppoſition, without any union at all. But if you graft a ſcience on a ſtock, this will grow, this receives ſap and life, becauſe here is an union: And ſo it is 'twixt Chriſt and us; there muſt be a relation 'twixt him and you, an union 'twixt him and you, or elſe a communion is impoſſible. Paul therefore deſires firſt to be found in him, and then he ſtrives to finde ſomething from him: It is in Phil. 3. 8. That I may winne Chriſt. Verſe 9. And be found in him: And then follows verſe 10. That I may know him, and the power of his reſurrection, and the fellowſhip of his ſufferring.
2. By the formal conc… mitan…s.
There are foure properties of a Chriſt and a ſoul-communion.
1. It is ſpiritual: In Exod. 26. 6. you read of one Tabernacle, and of ſeveral curtaines, which were coupled together with taches, and thoſe taches were all of gold. The communion w…th Chriſt, and his with us, as it is m…ſt high ſo it is moſt precious; and the moſt precious communion is that which is moſt holy and ſpiritual. It is a precious bl…d which Chriſt imparts in communion, it is a precious love, &c. They are precious fruits of his ſpirit, &c. They are ſpiritual bleſſings in heavenly places, &c. And è contra, they are precious and ſpiritual things which Chriſt looks for from you: Not a carnal, but a ſpiritual love to him; Not common, or dead, but living and ſpiritual ſacrifices and ſervices, ſpiritual praying, ſpiritual reading, &c.
This communion is holy,
1. Cauſally, becauſe wrought by the holy Spirit.
2. Objectively, It is between an holy Chriſt, and an holy people.
3. Vertually: the effects and fruits of either ſide are holy.
4. Actually, Chriſt holds communion with us through holy Ordinances, and we with him by holy duties.
2. It is a cloſe and immediate communion; my meaning is, that nothing lies between the heart and Chriſt. They ſay of the love of friendſhip, it is the knitting of ſoul with ſoule, ſo that the ſoule loving lives in the ſoule loved. If a ſtone lies twixt the ſience and the ſtock, there is no communion. And truly ſo it is in this communion, Chriſt and the ſoule are drawn ſo neer together, that they ſeeme to be but one ſoule; Chriſt lives in the ſoule, and the ſoule lives in Chriſt: As they report of the heart of Ignatius, the Name of Jeſus was engraven upon it: ſure I am, the nature and power of Chriſt are engraven upon the hearts of them who have communion with him.
What doth Paul deſire to know? none but Chriſt: In whom doth the deſire to be found? in none but Chriſt; whom doth he ſtrive to magnifie? none but Chriſt: Open his heart, and ſee whether you find not Chriſt written in every affection of him: His love, on whom was it? it is on Chriſt: The love of Chriſt conſtrained him, 2 Cor. 5. 14. His hope; on whom was it? it is on Chriſt, Phil. 3. 20. We look for a Saviour, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. His long deſire: after what was it? That I may be with Chriſt, Phil. 1. 23. His joy and rejoycing, in what? in whom was it? It was in Chriſt, Gal. 6. 14. God forbid that I ſhould glory (in any thing) ſave in the croſſe of Chriſt.
3. It is a full and ſatisfying communion: It was a choiſe expreſſion of Paulinus, when one told him that the Gothes had ſacked Nola, and plundred all from him: Domine (ſaith he) ubi. ſunt omnia mea tu ſcis; where my all is, thou who art all in all, doeſt know.
A deluded Chriſtian is never ſatisfied with Chriſt alone: The Phariſee, he muſt have his own righteouſneſſe too: The hypocrite, he muſt have his own delight: The young man he muſt have all his wealth too: Let him pretend what he pleaſeth, apply himſelf to an open communion with Chriſt as oft as he pleaſeth, yet there is ſomething elſe beſides Chriſt, which he muſt have.
Zonoras relates of a Prince of the Barbarians who being brought captive to Rome, and releaſed by Claudius viewed the ſtately ſtructure of that City, and then brake out thus, Why? This is wonderful, that you who enjoy ſuch ſtately palaces ſhould ſo moleſt your ſelves to obtaine our poor cottages.
But it is otherwiſe with him, who hath a true communion with Chriſt, Chriſt doth bound his ſoule, and is a fulneſſe to his ſoul: A fulneſs as well as a fitneſs.
Pſalme 17. 15. When I awake I ſhall be ſatisfied with thy likeneſſe. And truly, beſides this, that Chriſt is happineſſe, (and therefore fulneſſe) there is another thing conſiderable, that every relation includes ſatisfaction and contentment: The childe hath enough in one father; the wife hath enough in one husband; the members have enough in one head; and the Chriſtian findes enough in one Chriſt: Righteouſneſſe enough to juſtifie his perſon, blood enough to expiate his ſinnes; grace enough to cleanſe his heart; peace enough to appeaſe his conſcience; joy enough to ſatisfie his ſoul.
4. It is an inflaming communion, that is, it is ſuch an alluring communion, that the more you finde of it, the more you thirſt for it; as the taſting of honey draws you to the eating of honey; So a little experimental communion with Chriſt windes in the ſoul with greater deſire of more communion with him. Phil. 3. 10. Not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect, but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which I alſo am apprehended of Chriſt. V. 13. I count not my ſelf to have apprehended, but this one thing I do: forgetting thoſe things which are behinde, I reach forth unto thoſe things which are before, &c.
There is a vaſt difference 'twixt a deſigne which a perſon hath upon Chriſt, and a communion which one hath with Chriſt. A deſigne on Chriſt is a mercenary complying with Chriſt for ſome particular good, and this being obtained, that perſon hath enough of Chriſt: If I meet with a commodity in the market, I have that which I looked for, and ſo wholly quit the Market; If I have an arme broken, I ſend for the Chirurgion, and he ſets the bone, and it being cloſed, I have no further communion with him. And ſo many a perſon, he would have a protection from hell by Chriſt, and then he is ſatisfied; he would have his tormenting conſcience alayd by Chriſt, and then he hath done with Chriſt: But in communion with Chriſt that ſoul is fixed on Chriſt; for Chriſt as my univerſal good, and therefore riſeth ſtill more and more after Chriſt: Lord, evermore give us this bread: every receipt from Chriſt begets an higher degree of love and deſire unto Chriſt: as every drop of oyle addes more light and life (as it were) to the Lamp.
3. By the effects reſulting upon this communion, which I will onelyonly mention at this time.
1. Your affections will anſwer Chriſts affections: Amicorum (we ſay) eſt idem velle & idem nolle: you will delight in what, and in whom Chriſt doth delight, and you will hate what Chriſt doth hate; friends will and nill the ſame things.
2. You will prize the meeting places of Chriſt: If Chriſt be deare to you, his Ordinances will be precious to you; you meet him by praying, and he meets you by ſpeaking: if the perſon be pleaſing, his preſence is ſo too.
3. Your obedience will be ready and cheerful: Let a man ſpeak to his ſeat, it ſtirres not: but let the Head ſpeak to the hand it moves, for here is communion.
The laſt uſe ſhall be of Exhortation to all who are out of communion with Chriſt: do not reſt thus, but uſe all the means of heaven, that you may come into this communion.
Two things (if rightly conſidered) will I truſt, move you to hearken unto this counſel.
1. The unſpeakable miſery of a perſon out of it; And here I know not how to begin: If a non-communion with the Church of God be ſo direful a curſe, that Caine cryes out, (thou haſt driven me out this day from the face of the Earth, and from thy face ſhall I be hid, and I ſhall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the Earth, and every one that findes me will ſ…ay me, Geneſis 4. 14.) O then what is a non-communion with Jeſus Chriſt! Luther doth profeſſe, That he would not be in heaven, if God were not there; and he could be content to be in Hell, if God were there But where ſhould he be willing to be, who is no where with Chriſt? If he lives, he lives without Chriſt; if he dies, he dies not unto Chriſt: I may ſay of him as Chriſt of Judas, It had been better for that man that he had never been born.
Three things makes up this mans ſad condition.
1. His beſt portion is but poor and curſed: All the Earth was curſed upon mans fall: This (perhaps) thou haſt, and no more but this: When thou haſt ſummon'd up all thy pleaſures, and when thou haſt cast up all thy riches, the reſult is onelyonly this, the portion of my cup is a little curſed vanity; I have but earth, and no longer then whileſt on the earth. The Beauty, which is put on with the garment, and put of with the garment is onelyonly in the garment, not in him that weares the garment: And ſo the happineſſe which is put on with our life, and put off with our life is not at a happineſſe for us, becauſe it is only in the enjoyment of the creature. Unhappy is that man, who hath no world but this world; whoſe bread is onelyonly that of carefulneſſe, and whoſe water is only that of bitterneſſe.
2. All the good in Chriſt is ſealed from him: It is to him as if Chriſt had never lived, and never died for ſinners: His condition is much like that of the damned devils, who are eternal ſinners, and eternal ſtrangers: Thus it is with him, his communion is ever with ſinne, but never, never ſhall it be with Chriſt.
The blood of Chriſt ſhall never make his peace: The merit of Chriſt ſhall never procure his pardon: The grace of Chriſt ſhall never purge his filthineſſe: whatſoever good another may attaine, it is nothing to him: He hath no portion in Chriſt, and therefore ſhall have no benefit by Chriſt: none at all.
3. He ſtands alone in all his ſoul-accounts, as ſhe ſpake in another caſe, and I, whether ſhall I cauſe my ſhame to go? 2 Sam. 13. 13.
So is it with this indited and arreigned ſinner, whether ſhall I cauſe my gilt to go? who ſhall anſwer for all theſe ſins, which God and conſcience charge upon me?
Thou calleſt upon mercy, mercy; O mercy pity me, and pardon me; why? ſaith mercy, If I find thee in Chriſt, I will do it; for I croſſe no ſinners debts but with the blood of Chriſt. Thou ſayeſt, O Chriſt help me, O anſwer for theſe ſinnes; but ſaith Chriſt, if thou wouldeſt have cloſed with my perſon, I would have anſwered for thy ſinnes: But when I knockt at thy door thou didſt ſhut me out, thou wouldſt none of me; how canſt thou expect the benefit of the office of a Surety and Advocate, who didſt refuſe the k…ndneſſe of a Saviour? And now divine Juſtice ſeaſeth on this ſoule; This is my priſoner, mercy will not baile him, and Chriſt will not plead for him: Go thou accurſed ſoule into everlaſting fire▪ Thou rejecteſt communion with the Sonne of God, and therefore take thou communion with damned ſoules and devils in Hell.
2. Conſider, there is yet a poſſibility of attaining to this communion; though many are entred already into communion with Chriſt, yet more may be admitted: this ſupper of communion doth laſt as long as thy life and the Goſpel laſt; as long as the invitation doth laſt.
I beſeech you conſider why hath Chriſt laid open the nature and excellency of this communion but to perſwade and draw your ſoules into it?
A prize is put into your hands: you have an opportunity, you have all the meanes which can ſhew you the way how to fall into this communion, and by which God doth work on the ſouls of ſinners for it, &c.
And now brethren, have I finiſhed my work on this Text, a Theame of as ſweet mercy as ever ſinner heard.
The Saviour of ſinners knocking at the doore of ſinners; A Saviour begging of that ſinner to be ſaved: Have you opened your doores, or have you not? Will you open them to Chriſt, or will you not? will you let in Chriſt and cloſe with him, or will you not? will you accept of communion with him, or will you not?
FINIS.
Books Printed, and are to be ſold by Adoniram Byfield, at the Bible in Popes-head Alley, neer Lumbard-ſtreet.
A Comentary upon the three firſt Chapters of Geneſis, by that Reverend Divine Maſter John White, late of Dorcheſter, in fol.
An Expoſition upon the ſixth, ſeventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth Chapters of the Prophet Ezekiel, by Maſter William Greenhill, being the ſecond vol. in 4.
An Expoſition upon the fourteenth, fifteenth, ſixteenth, 17th. eighteenth, and nineteenth Chapters of Ezekiel, by Maſter William Greenhil, being the third vol. 4.
The Reaſons of the Aſſemblie of Divines concerning Presbyterial Government. 4.
The Aſſemblies larger and leſſer Catechiſm.
The tenth Muſe, ſeveral Poems by Miſtris Anne Bradſtreet in 8.
Short Writing ſhortned, by Mr. John Farthing, in 8.
Hidden Manna, or the Myſtery of ſaving grace by Maſter William Fenner, in 12.
Safe conduct, or the Saints guidance to glory, at the Funeral of Miſtris Thomaſin Barnardiſton, by Maſter Ralph Robinſon.
The Saints longings after their heavenly Countrey, a Sermon by Maſter Ralph Robinſon.
A Sermon at a Faſt by Mr. N thanael Ward.
The Humbled ſinner reſolved what he ſhould do to be ſaved, or faith in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the only way of ſalvation for ſenſible ſinners, by Maſter Obadiah Sedgwick, in 4.
A ſhort Catechiſme by Maſter Obadiah Sedgwick.
FINIS.
End of the text · Obadiah Sedgwick, The Riches of Grace Displayed (1657)