Two Treatises, Treatise 2 · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
Containing two Ʋſes, viz. 1. An Ʋſe of Information. 2. An Ʋſe of Reproof.
SECT. I. From Examples.
WE ſhould all be exhorted and perſuaded Uſe 1 For Information▪to account Chriſt precious, even the chiefeſt of ten thouſands; our Treaſure, Refuge, our Honour, our All, and infinitely more worth than all. Review ſeriouſly thoſe five Heads before handled, and it will evidently appear, what ſtrength of Reaſon there is to perſuade us all to ſet upon Chriſt a greater valuation than upon all the Kingdoms of the World and Glory of them. To what hath been ſaid already, I ſhall add for a cloſe ſome Uſes, viz. for Information, Reproof, Examination, and Exhortation, Direction, and Conſolation.
I. For Information and that in two particulars.
1. That Chriſt is thus precious is proved by Examples of true Believers.
2. Upon what Grounds and Arguments the Truth may be evidenced.
1. That Chriſt is thus precious, is proved1. That Chriſt is precious is proved by Examples. by Examples. We tread not in unbeaten Paths. Abraham accounted Chriſt precious, having ſeen him by the Eye of Faith: Wherefore Chriſt tells the Jews, your Father Abraham rejoiced to ſee my day, Joh. 8. 56. Dies Domini nihil aliud ſignificat quam ipſius adventum in earnem, vidi… enim eum eminus; Abraham fidei nimirum oculis, ut declaratur. Heb. 11. 13. B…za.and he ſaw it and was glad. Abraham was dead many hundred years before, but by the Eye of Faith he ſaw Chriſt's Incarnation and rejoyced therein. David likewiſe highly valued Chriſt, inſomuch as he penn'd many Pſalms concerning Chriſt. And in particular David calls Chriſt his Lord, Pſal. 110. v. 1. The Lord ſaid unto my Lord, ſit thou at my right hand, till I make thy Enemies thy Footſtool. The Prophet Iſaiah foretells of Chriſt's Sufferings, and how he was debaſed, yet withal he tells us of his great Dignity, Iſa. 53. 12. Therefore will I devide him a portion with the Great, and he ſhall devide the ſpoil with the Strong: and what a great eſteem the Prophet Jeremiah had of Chriſt may appear from Jer. 23. 5, 6. Behold the days come ſaith the Lord, that I will raiſe unto David a righteous Branch, and a King ſhall reign and proſper, and ſhall execute Juſtice in the Earth. In his days Judah ſhall be ſaved, and Iſrael ſhall dwell ſafely, and this is his Name whereby he ſhall be called, the Lord our Righteouſneſs. The Prophet ſpeaks in his own Name, and in the Name of the Church, that whatſoever befel him, even the greateſt Loſſes, and Croſſes, Diſapointments, and Vexations, yet his Saviour was the joy and rejoicing of his Soul, Hab, 3. 17, 18. Although the Figtree ſhall not bloſſom, neither ſhall Fruit be in the Vines, the labour of the Olives ſhall fail, and the Field ſhall yeild no Meat, the foreign. Verſ. Graec. 70Flock ſhall be cut off from the Fold, and there ſhall be no Heard in the Stall, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, and I will joy in the God of my Salvation. The ſeventy render it, I will rejoice in the Lord in God my Saviour.
I might further inſtance in the noble Army of Martyrs, who ſet ſuch an high price upon Chriſt, as they parted with their Goods joyfully, and laid down their Lives for the Teſtimony of the Goſpel. I ſhall only mention Moſes and Paul; Moſes though learned and highly eſteemed of in Pharaoh's Court, though it is ſaid, he was mighty in Words and Deeds, Acts 7. 22.yet in the confluence of his Honours, he preferred Chriſt infinitely before all, Heb. 11. 26. Eſteeming the reproach of Chriſt, greater Riches than the Treaſures in Egypt, for he had reſpect unto the recompence of Reward▪ Moſes preferred afflicted Godlineſs before proſperous Wickedneſs, and a Crown of Thorns with Chriſt before a Crown of Gold without him. To Moſes I will add St. Paul: O! how did he value Chriſt at a price above ſuperlative. He though a great Schollar more skill'd in Tongues than all the Apoſtles, bred up at the Feet of Gamaliel, an Hebrew of the Hebrews (that is an Hebrew both by the Father and Mother (and circumciſed the eighth day, as touching the Law a Phariſee, yet Chriſt he infinitely prized above all: See his zealous Proteſtation at Corinth (which was ſo learned a place as was by the Orator called Oculus Graeciae the Eye of Greece, yet he upon deliberate thoughts determines, 1 Cor. 2. 2. For I determined to know nothing amongſt you, ſave Jeſus Excellentia cognitionis Chriſti in quo theſauri ſunt ſapientiae ac ſcientiae Dei tanti erit huic Apoſtolo, ut non m…do Judaiſmum ſed & quicquid eximium eſt uſpiam in C…l…, & in Terra propter h…nc nihil fuerit, imo d…ni loco duceret. Muſc.Chriſt and him crucified. And ſee how abſolutely he declares his Judgment, Phil. 3. 7, 8. But what things were gain to me, thoſe I accounted loſs for Chriſt, yea doubtleſs and I count all things but loſs for the excellency of the knowledg of Chriſt Jeſus my Lord, for whom I have ſuffered the loſs of all things and do count them but Dung, that I may win Chriſt. So great was his zeal for Chriſt, that he proteſted that he was not only ready to be bound, but to dye at Jeruſalem, for Act. 21. 13.the Name of the Lord Jeſus. Thus we ſee how the Saints accounted Chriſt precious.
SECT. II. Evidencing by Arguments why Chriſt ſhouldWhy Chriſt ſhould be thus accounted pretious. be Pretious in our Eſtimation.
IN the next place to confirm the truth by Arguments.
The Queſtion will be propounded what Grounds and Reaſons is there, why we ſhould ſet ſuch an infinite value on Chriſt.
For Anſwer there are two ſorts of Reaſons, or Arguments.
1. Drawn from Chriſt.
2. From true Believers.
1, If we conſider that Chriſt is the Eternal1. Reaſon▪ drawn from Chriſt. Son of God, the Mediatour of the New Covenant our Advocate, and Redeemer there's all the reaſon why we ſhould price and eſteem and account him Pretious and Honourable. But I'…e inſtance in particulars, concerning the Beauty Riches, Honours, and Wiſdom that is in Chriſt.
1. For his Beauty: Though his Viſage was Marred in the days of his Fleſh on Earth,1. Chriſts Beauty. Iſ. 53. 2. and (as the Prophet ſpeaks) he hath no form nor comlineſs, and when we ſhall ſee him, there is no Beauty, that we ſhould deſire him: Yet notwithſtanding there is in Chriſt unparallell'd Beauty: This is Propheſi'd of Chriſt, Iſaiah. 4. 2. In that day ſhall the Branch of the Lord be Beautiful. Chriſts People ſhall attend willingly upon his ſervice in the Beauties of Holineſs. Pſal. 110.Bp. Reynold's on Pſal. 110. v. 3, …, 6, 8. Edit. ult. 3. That (as an eminently Learned Divine obſerves) from the Word, willing, or of willingneſs, notes the Ground or Inducement of their great Devotion and Subjection unto Chriſts Kingdom that as the People came up in Troops to the Lords Houſe, which was the Beauty of Holineſs, or as Men do flock together to the ſight of ſome honourable and ſtately Solemnity, ſo Chriſts People by the Beauty of his Banners, ſhall be allur'd to be gatherd unto him and fly in Multitudes as Doves unto their Windows. How amiable was Chriſt in the eſtimation of the Spouſe, in ſo much that ſhe prized him the chiefeſt of Ten Thouſands? And Chriſt prized herCant. 5. 10, 16. Cant. 4. 12. for the Beauty of Holineſs, which he put upon her the faireſt among Women. Chriſts Beauty allures and raviſheth the Spouſe; In what variety of expreſſions doth ſhe ſet it forth. Cant. 5. 11, 12. His Head is as the moſt fine Gold, his Locks are buſhy and black as a Raven, his Eyes are as the Eyes of Doves by the Rivers of Waters waſhed with Milk and fitly ſet, &c. All theſe Expreſſions declare the ſingular Beauty that is in Chriſt. And wherein confiſts Chriſts Beauty but in his Holineſs? Holineſs is a thing altogether Glorious, and Beautiful. Chriſt is a Holy High Prieſt harmleſs, and Heb. 7. 26.undefiled ſeparate from Sinners. Chriſt is altogether lovely, the deſire of all Nations. Hag. 2. 7.The Word of Chriſt is a Holy Word, for we are clean through the Word. The HolyJoh. 15. 3. Oyl, with which all the Veſſels of the Sanctuary were to be Conſecrated, was aExod. 30. 23. Type of the Spirit of Chriſt, which ſanctifies and makes us Kings and Prieſts unto God: So then this Beauty of Holineſs which is in Chriſt ſhould infinitly inhance our valuation of him.
2. Conſider Chriſts Riches, and theſe2. Chriſts Riches. foreign are unſearchable. Eph. 3. 8. The Ʋnſearchable Riches of Chriſt: And theſe are Riches of his Grace, Eph. 1. 7. And the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints. There are four Singularities in the Riches of Chriſt, which cannot be appropriated to any Riches under the Sun beſides.
1. The Riches of Chriſt are ſolid and1. Solid Riches. ſubſtantial, of great weight and worth, whereas the Riches of the World are things that are not. They are upon the Wing: For Riches make themſelves Wings, they fly Prov. 23. 5.away as an Eagle towards Heaven: The things of this World they are not Bread, and the Prophet expoſtulates, Iſai. 55. 2. Wherefore do ye ſpend Money, for that which is not Bread: (i. e.) We ſhould not anxiouſly and carkingly buſy our ſelves about earthly things, for they are not ſolid, but there's Vanity pronunced upon them all by Solomons Verdict, Eccles. 2. 11. There's a vaſt difference between RealR…s, humanae cinis; pulvis, fu…s, umbra, folia cadentia, flos, ſomnium, fabulae, ventus, aer, penna mobilis, unda decurrens, et ſ…quid illis infertus. Chyſoſt in Epist. ad Heb. Hom. 9. Food, and Imaginary Food, between Solid Meat and Painted Meat, and as vaſt a difference therein between the Riches of Chriſt, and the Riches of the preſent World. That's then the beſt ſort of Riches which is convey'd by Wiſdom, Prov. 8. 21. That I may cauſe theſe that love me, to inherit ſubſtance, and I will fill their Treaſures.
2. The Riches of Chriſt are invaluable.2. Invaluable Riches. We often put too high a price on earthly things, but we can never enough prize the Riches of Chriſt, it's a common Proverb, Deus et Coelum non patiuntur Hyperbolen. Wherefore all muſt be forgon for Chriſt and his Riches: All the Treaſures of the Judges, all the Riches of the greateſt Potentates, may be valued at their own rate, but the Riches of Chriſt can never be enough, and ſufficiently valued: Wherefore the wiſeſt of all Merchants ſtands not cheapning nor dodgeing for Abatements, but parts with all for Chriſt. Matth. 13. 46. *foreign, &c. Chryſoſt in Loc.Its ſaid who when he found one Pearl of great price he went and ſold all that he had and bought it: He knew the great value of it, and thereupon ventur'd all for it.
3. The Riches of Chriſt are ſatisfying3. Satiſfying Riches. Riches: The deſires of Covetous Men are never ſatisfacted. They are always a craving more; Though their Bags may be fill'd with Gold and Silver, yet their Hearts are never ſatisfyed. But the Riches of Chriſt, his Graces, his Conſolations can ſatisfie the Soul. Wherefore Phillip propounds the Queſtion. Joh. 14. 8. Shew us the Father and it ſufficeth us, and Moſes the Man of God Prayeth. Pſ. 90. 14. O ſatisfye us early with thy Mercy that we may rejoyce and be glad all our Dayes.
4. The Riches of Chriſt are Eternal4. Eternal Riches. Riches. Oftimes Men are deprived of their Eſtates in this Life, even whilſt they live, but when Death comes they are ſtript of all: And thoſe that could ride many Miles in their own Grounds are now confind to the narrow compaſs of a Grave ſix-foot long: But the Riches of Chriſt laſt unto all Eternity, It was an excellent ſaying of Lewis of Bowyer, Emperour of Germany, ſuch Goods (ſaith he) Hujuſmodi comparandae ſunt opes, quae cum na… fragio ſimul …natent.are worth getting and owning as will not ſink nor waſh away, if a Ship-wrack happen, but will wade and ſwim out with us. The Riches of Chriſt will be preſerv'd amidſt Storms, Tempeſts, and Shipwracks. The Graces of the Spirit the Purchaſes of Chriſt, viz. Of Juſtification, Sanctification, and Glorification will abide for ever, and run Parallel with the longeſt line of Eternity: And thus it's evidenced, how highly Chriſt is to be valued, and how pretious he is to all true Believers if we conſider the Riches of Chriſt.
3. Let's farther inſtance in the Honours3. Chriſts Honours. foreign in the Text. Ezek. 34. 19. of Chriſt: He is Honour it ſelf in in the abſtract, and a Plant of Renown; and it's our Duty to honour him, John 5. 22, 23. The Father hath Committed all Judgment to the Son, that all Men ſhould honour the Son, even as they Honour the Father: He that Honoureth not the Son Honoureth not the Father, that hath ſent him. Chriſt hath Honour in himſelf being the Fountain of Honour and he puts Honour upon his Children: They are Honourable and Precious in his Sight. Iſai. 43. 4. And he it is, that hath made them Kings and Prieſts Rev. 1. 5.unto God. And if he be Honourable, and his People are ſo in his account, hence we may infer that no Honour is like unto the Honour of a True Believer, It's true that in this World there are diſtinctions of Perſons, and due reverence ought to be given towards great Perſonages according to their Qualities (for all Levelling Deſigns are plain Breaches of the 5th. Commandement.) Yet thoſe are moſt noble whom Chriſt ennobles with the Graces of the Spirit, theſe render Nobility Noble indeed. It's the high Commendation of the Bereans. Act. 17. 11. Theſe were more Noble foreign Cùm comparatio videatur inſtituta non Generis (erant enim omnes iſti Judaei) ſed virtutis ac pietatis, generoſiores malui interpretari quam nobiliores. Beza.than thoſe in Theſſalonica, in that they received the Word with all readineſs of Mind, and ſearched the Scriptures daily whether thoſe things were ſo. According to the Philoſopher Honor eſt in honorante, and ſo is a Man more or leſs Honourable, as he is in the eſteem of Jeſus Chriſt. Now if there be Honour in ther Ceature, what is there in the Creator? If there be Water in a Rivulet, what is there in the Fountain from whence it flows? If then we price and value here on Earth Perſons of Honour, preferring them before our ſelves? O! how much more ſhould we honour Chriſt, and prize his Ordinances, viz. His Word, Sacraments, and Sabbaths: O! How ſhould we honour the Faithful Miniſters of the Goſpel, and give them that which they are worthy of (as the Apoſtle ſaith) 1 Tim. 5. 17. Let the Elders that Rule well be counted worthy of double Honour, eſpecially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine.
That Chriſt is not only honourable but Honour it ſelf.
4. Let's inſtance in the Wiſdom of Chriſt, and herein he appears infinitely4. The Wiſdom of Chriſt. precious: He is the Wiſdom of the Father, the Treaſurer of all Wiſdom and Knowledg, for (ſaith the Apoſtle) In whom are hid all the Treaſures of Wiſdom and Knowledg. Col. 2. 3.Chriſt is a Counſellor, Iſa. 9. 6. And ſuch a Counſellor as is beyond all compare. Other Counſellors give Counſel for their Fees being mercenary, and according to their Reward take more or leſs pains for their Clients; but Chriſt is a free Counſellor, he gives his Counſel freely without expectation of Reward: Other Counſellors many times betray their Truſt, but Chriſt never doth; for he is a moſt faithful Counſellor. Other Counſellors have their Errors and err in Counſel, but Chriſt is infallible and never errs, and all his Counſel is infallible. Other Counſellors may give good and profitable Counſel, but they cannot command Obedience thereunto, but Chriſt can command the Heart, and ſo migh…ity over-rule the Spirit of a Man, as to engage him to yeild ready and chearful Obedience unto his Commands; Farther other Counſellors, though perhaps they may give their Counſel freely, and may give good Counſel and prevail with their Clients to follow it, yet no Counſellor will give himſelf and part with his Life for the good of his Client: But Chriſt gives himſelf, lays down his Life for the good of his Children, whence then muſt we beg Wiſdom, but from Jeſus Chriſt the great Counſellor; and O! how precious is he for his Wiſdom unto all true Believers?
SECT. III. Containing a ſecond Head of Reaſons in reſpect of all true Believers.
A Second fort of Reaſons and ArgumentsA ſecond ſort of Reaſons in reſpect of true Believers. are drawn from true Believers. The Queſtion is, How comes it to paſs that they only account Chriſt precious? I anſwer, they only have their Sences exerciſed, they only have experimented how good and how excellent Chriſt is, More particularly,
1. Every true Believet hath a Spiritual1. Every true Believer hath a Spiritual Eye. Eye, and an inlightned Judgment to diſcern Beauties, Riches▪ Honours, Wiſdom, Holineſs, and all other Excellencies that are in Jeſus Chriſt. A Stranger, an Alien from the Life of Chriſt diſcerneth no Beauty in a crucified Chriſt; but a true Believer, who is renewed in the Spirit of his Mind, diſcerns Beauty in Chriſt (even when he was ſpit upon, and crowned with Thorns and) crucified; he diſcerns the price of his Redemption, purchaſed by the effuſion of Chriſt's precious Blood. A Believer beholds excellency in all the ways of Chriſt, even an exact pattern of Holineſs, and he beholds excellency in all the Ordinances of Chriſt. The Word is ſweeter to him than the Honey and Honey-comb, and more pleaſing than his appointed Food. Chriſt's day even the Chriſtian Sabbath, called the Lord's Day, Rev. 1. 10. He accounts the Market day of his Soul, and the deſire of days. And the Lord's Supper, he receives in remembrance of Chriſt, and therein teſtifies his Love and Thankfulneſs, and prepares himſelf for the reception of ſuch an Heavenly Banquet. Now then ſeeing the Believer only hath the Eyes of his Mind opened, and his Underſtanding inlightned: He only knows how to value Jeſus Chriſt. He hath an experimental knowledg of Chriſt, he hath had Communion with the Father and the Son; he hath been partaker of his raviſhing Conſolations, and therefore values Chriſt before all the Treaſures of the Univerſe. A Pearl of great price may be brought to an ignorantQuis Magnam emit Margaritam, niſi cui notum eſt pretium? Musc: Man, but he heeds it not, and will not venture any price for it; but when the ſame Pearl is brought to a skilful Jeweller, he will ſet a great value of it, and give largely for it. So carnal and ignorant Men of the World undervalue Chriſt, and, with the fooliſh Gadarens, deſire his Room rather than his Company, and wiſh himMat. 8. 13. to depart from them: But a true Believer eſteems Chriſt's Company before all the Company in the Univerſe beſide. He diſcerns ſuch rare Beauties and Excellencies in Chriſt, as he looks upon all ſublunary things as contemptible and of no value in compariſon of Chriſt. This is the Man that hath his Eyes in his Head, who is endowed with a Spirit of Wiſdom, and Underſtanding. He is the Spiritual Man who judgdeth all things and ſhall be judged 1 Cor. 2. 14. foreign, &c. foreign. The…phyl.of none: whereas a carnal, or natural Man, receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are fooliſhneſs unto him, neither can he know them becauſe they are ſpiritually diſcerned. O! what a great Mercy is it to have a ſeeing Eye and a hearing Ear, and a believing Heart! Chriſt pronounced ſuch bleſſed, Math. 13. 16. Bleſſed are your Eyes for they ſee, and your Ears for they hear▪ and for this the Apoſtle pours forth his ſervent Prayers and Supplications, Eph. 1. 17, 18. That the God of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the Father of Glory may give unto you the Spirit of Wiſdom, and revelation in the knowledg of him, the Eyes of your underſtanding being inlightned that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints.
2. A true Believer hath a ſpiritual taſ… 2. A true Believer hath a ſpiritual taſt. … ph. 1. 14.and reliſh of Chriſt's Goodneſs. He hath taſted that the Lord is gracious, he hath received the earneſt of his Inheritance, viz The firſt Fruits of Glory, even ſome glimpſes of a beautiful and Tranſcendently excellent Saviour. Now having experimental knowledge of Chriſts Mercy in pardoning and purging of him, and making particular Application of Chriſt, as St. Paul did, Gal. 2. 20. who loved me and gave himſelf for me: Upon theſe conſiderations (I ſay) how can it be otherwiſe but Chriſt muſt be Precious to ſuch an one? Chriſt hath preheminence in a Believers eſtimation, for in his doubts he hath experimented Chriſt to be his Counſellor, and in his diſtreſs his Comforter, a Refuge in ſtorm, Riches in Poverty, Health in Sickneſs, Life in Death: Chriſt is all in all to thoſe who have experienced of his goodneſs. All true Believers put the higheſt appretiation upon Jeſus Chriſt, both for what they already have and whatever they ſhall have.
1. They already have part of payment,1. Believers receive in this Life part of payment. earneſt given in this Life of his love: They have Influences from the Spirit of Chriſt, They are endowed with the Graces of his Spirit: They injoy a Sacred Communion with him. They taſt ſweetneſs in his Ordinances by his Gracious Preſence, and by the Gracious Operations of his Spirit. For it's Chriſt's preſence and the effectual working of his Spirit, that makes an Ordinance effectual to the Soul. Of this all the Adopted Sons and Daughters of God are Partakers more or leſs in this Life. Now, for what they now enjoy they have cauſe and accordingly endeavour to extol the Dignity and Honour of Jeſus Chriſt.
2. For what Believers ſhall have hereafter they account Chriſt pretious: Though2. Believers ſhall have Glory. Heb. 11. 26. foreign. It importeth a removing of the l…ye from one Object to another. Moſes turned his Eyes from the Pleaſures of Egypt, and fix'd them on Heaven. Dr. Gouge. Col. 1. 27. …ui Chriſtus dulceſcit mundus amareſcit. they are not mercenary, yet with Moſes they have an Eye unto the reward: The Iſraelites in their tedious Pilgrimage had Canaan in their eye, and the Thoughts of Canaan ſweetned their preſent hardſhip and Sufferings. Obſerve the order mentioned, Rom. 12. 12. Rejoycing in hope, patient in Tribulation. The hope of Glory is cauſe of rejoycing, and will make us more chearful to undergo Afflictions in this preſent World. Chriſt the hope of Glory, when he hath the preheminence in all things, and we account him all in all, then all things are but loſs and dung when compared with Chriſt. All things are accounted bitter where Chriſt is ſweet. Now the Crown of Glory, the purchaſed Poſſeſſion, and the price of the high calling, and Eternal Life all theſe are the gift of God through Jeſus Chriſt, having then theſe things in our deliberate and ſerious Meditation, O! how infinitely ſhall we eſteem of Jeſus Chriſt, more then our Hearts can conceive, or our Tongues can expreſs.
3. A true Believer hath Spiritual Affections,3. A true Believer hath ſpiritual Affections. and ſets them all on work to magnifie the excellency of Chriſt. For Inſtance.
1. His Love is ſwallowed up with the1. The Love of a Believer is on Chriſt. Love of Chriſt. He is with the Spouſe ſick of Love for Chriſt. The Love of Chriſt conſtrains him (2 Cor. 5. 14.) to do and ſuffer what Chriſt would have him.
2. His Joy is fixed on Chriſt: Chriſt is2. His Joy is fix'd on Chriſt. the Believers Joy, he cannot rejoice in Corn and Wine and affluence of earthly things, for there is Vanity and vexation in them all: But he rejoyceth in Chriſt: He delights hearing Chriſt ſpeak to him in his Word, and in his ſpeaking to Chriſt in Prayer, and Supplication. We read of the Joy of Eſpouſals, and of the Joy of Harveſt, and Vintage, but no Joy like to the Joy in God, and to Joy in the Holy Ghoſt, which is Joy unſpeakable and full of Glory, Senica would have JoyVol… laetitiam tibi eſſe Domi. Sen. Vis nunquam eſſe triſtis bene vive. Bona vita ſemper Gaudium habet, conſcientia rei ſemper in poena eſt. Beza de inter. Dom. to be at home. Inward Joy, Joy of the Heart is better than an outward flaſhly Joy, and that is Joy wherein the Mind is quieted: Now Chriſt alone can quiet the Mind and rejoyce the Spirit; For other Joys, Men may be ſeemingly Merry, and force an outward Mirth, when there's a damp upon their Spirits, and they are inwardly ſad, but the Joy of Chriſt cauſeth a ſerious ſolid Mirth, ſo that a Believer may be full of inward Joy, though he may ſeem outwardly ſad, (i. e.) or rather ſerious, having a ſedate and compoſed Spirit. Now to rejoice in Chriſt, ſhews how much we prize him.
3. Our deſire is on him. That which3. His deſire is on Chriſt. we deſire above all, and are moſt eager in purſuit of, it plainly evidenceth, that it's in our higheſt eſtimation. It's Chriſt whom the Believer deſires above all, and as Rachel cryed out Give me Children, or elſe I dye: So a Believer cries Give me Chriſt, or elſe I dye: So did the Martyr inJ. Lambert Fox Act. and Mon. Vol. 3. the Flames.—None but Chriſt, none but Chriſt; Chriſt is the Love, Joy, Delight, and Deſire of every true Believer. The Hunted Hart doth not more earneſtly thirſt after Water, then a Believer thirſts after Chriſt. Nothing but Chriſt can ſatisfie his deſire; Cicero's works could not pleaſe Auſtin, becauſe Chriſt was not mentionedAug. Con. l. 3. c. 4. Valde proteſtatus ſum me nolle ſic ſatiari ab …o. Ad in vita Lutheri. in them. Luther would not be put off with outward things, he lookt for Chriſt and his Riches; He preferred them before all Preferments: They would not ſatisfie Bazil nor Caracciolus, nor other Heroick Spirited Chriſtians: Their Deſires and Longings were after Chriſt, and Chriſt alone could ſatisfie their Deſires. No ſatisfying or quietting a Believers Heart without Chriſt.
SECT. IV. Containing an Ʋſe of Reproof to al… Ʋnbelievers.
Of Reproof.THE ſecond Uſe is for Reproof untoforeign non credentibus. Vulg. Ed. all Unbelievers. Theſe are call'd diſobedient in the next words following my Text! Chriſt is the Stone which the …uilders diſallowed, yet it's made the head of the Corner. Now as Chriſt is to Believers Pretious, and eſteemed the chief Corner Stone, ſo unto Unbelieves he is a Stone of Stumbling, and a Rock of Offence, 1 Pet. 2. ….even to them which ſtumble at the Word, being diſobedient. Unbelievers undervalue Chriſt, and reject his Goſpel, and refuſe the Salvation tendered therein. Theſe are they that ſtrike at the Root of Religion: For they endeavour to make the Goſpel no better then a Fable, nor Chriſt any whit better than an Impoſtor. Unbelievers are ſuch high preſumptuous Sinners, as they preſumptuouſly put the Lie upon God himſelf. 1 John 5. 10. He that Believeth not God, hath made him a Lyar; becauſe he believes not the Record, that God gave of his Son. It's a high affront to put the Lie upon a Man, and the giving of the Lie hath oftimes cauſed ſad Quarrals, but how much higher an Affront and Indignation is it to give God the Lie, and ſo doth every one who believes not the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt. Farther to aggravateAggravations of the Sin of Unbelief. Aggrav. 1. Unbelief binds the hands of God. the Sin of Unbelief I ſhall lay down theſe Aggravations.
1. Unbelief (that I may ſpeak with reverence) binds the Hands of God, and after a ſort obſtructs his Proceedings, for Proof whereof read Matth. 13. 58. And he did not many works there, becauſe of their Ʋnbelief, God will not caſt away his Mercy upon Unbelievers, who undervalue them. Chriſt immediately left the Gadarens, aſſoon as they prefer'd an unanimous Petition for his departure: Their Unbelief cauſed them to put a higher value upon their Swine than upon aAggrav. 2. Unbelief hinders the Efficacy of every Duty. Jeſus.
2. Unbelief obſtructs and hinders the efficacy and benefit of every duty we per▪ form: For Inſtance, In praying, we have no hopes to ſpeed unleſs we pray in Faith, though Prayer is an Ordinance of Gods own appointing, yet Prayer obtains no acceptance unleſs it be put up in Faith: The Promiſe is made only to Believers, Matth. 21. 22. And all things whatſoever ye ſhall ask in Prayer, believing, ye ſhall receive. And ſo for hearing, Unbelief is the cauſe of unprofitable hearing. Heb. 4. 2. The Word Preached did not profit them not being mixt with Faith in them that heard it. In a word nothing is accepted as comeing from an Unbeliever. For what ever he doth he ſpoils in the doing for want of Faith. For whatſoever is not of Faith is Rom. 14. 23. Aggrav. 2. Infidelity is accompanied with a Fraternity of Sins. 1. A theiſme is a Companion of Unbelief.Sin.
3. Infidelity is compared with a fraternity of Sins and Abominations. Amongſt many I ſhall only inſtance in three, viz. Atheiſme, Hardneſs of Heart, and Apoſtacy.
1. For Atheiſm. Unbelief is the cauſe of it. Did Men believe the Word of God, they durſt not live without God in the World. There are two ſorts of Atheiſts: There are ſpeculative Atheiſts, ſuch, who deny God, and his Works of Creation and Providence, and the Immortality of the Soul: They will believe no farther than ſenſe, and yet if they had their ſenſes exerciſed they would believe that their is a God by a viſible demonſtration of his Works of Creation and Providence. The Book of Nature proves that there is a God, but how God is to be Worſhipped in Chriſt, this is taught only in the Book of Holy Scriptures. When a Man denied a Deity, a Philoſopher would bid him walk out of doors, and look about him. For the goodly Expanſum of the Heavens and the Earth hanging upon nothing plainly prove that there is a God.Pſal. 19. 1. Job 26. 7. A ſecond ſort of Aiheiſts are Practical, who live in all manner of wickedneſs; they neither fear Heaven nor Hell, Death nor Judgment; they run into all exceſs of Riot, adding Iniquity unto Iniquity, and ſo treaſuring up unto themſelves wrath againſt the day of Wrath. Now unbelief is that Root that brings forth the Gall and Wormewood of ſpeculative and practical Atheiſm: For did Men in ſerious compoſed thoughts conſider that there is a Holy God, before whoſe Judgment Seat we muſt all appear, and from which there is no appeal they would than abhor all Atheiſm both in Opinion and Practice. What cauſed Pharoah to anſwer ſo Atheiſtically to Moſes, but his Unbelief Exod. 5. 2. And Pharoah ſaid, who is the Lord, that I ſhould obey his Voice, to let Iſrael go, I know not the Lord (thus Atheiſtically he ſpoke) Neither will I let them go. This is the Language of deſperate Unbelievers.
2. Infidelity is accompanied with hardneſs2. Hardneſs o… Heart is a Companion of Unbelief. of Heart. That eminent place mentioned. Iſ. 6. 9, 10. and cited in all the four Evangeliſts, in the Acts of the Apoſtles and Epiſtle to the Romans ſhews the heavy Judgment of a hard Heart.—And he ſaid, go and tell, his People, hear ye indeed but underſtand not; and ſee ye indeed, but perceive Intellectui fides aditum aperit, infidelit as claudit. Aug. …p. 3.not, make the heart of this People fat, and make their ears heavy, and ſhut their eyes, leſt they ſee with their eyes and hear with their ears, and underſtand with their heart, and be converted and healed: Theſe words the Apoſtle cites Act. 28. 26. and applyeth them to the Unbelieving Jews.
3dly. Infidelity is accompanied with3. Apoſtacy is the Companion of Unbelief. Apoſtacy. Unbelief is the Mother and Apoſtacy the Daughter: And if we would prevent Apoſtacy we muſt beware of Unbelief, Heb. 3. 12. Take heed Brethren leaſt there be in you a Heart of Ʋnbelief in departing from the Living God. Unbelief cauſeth Multitudes of Carnal Men to leave Chriſt's colours; and hide themſelves under Antichriſt that Man of Sin. 2 Theſſ. …. 3.What's the reaſon that Men make haſt to be Rich, and with all violence purſue the Riches of this World, and ſtick at no courſe be it never ſo unjuſt and baſe forgetting worldly wealth; it's becauſe they will not truſt God? What's the reaſon then when Men are in great ſtraights and difficulties they will not wait Gods leiſure, but wind themſelves out by making Breaches upon their Conſciences? It's for want of Faith and dependance on God.
Laſtly Unbelief meets with dreadfulAggrav. 4. From the Judgments. 1. Unbelievers are given over to a Judicial Blindneſs. Judgments.
1. Unbelievers are given over to a Judicial blindneſs, what was their Sin, is their Judgment, 2 Cor. 4. 4. In whom the God of the World hath blinded the minds of them, which believe not, leaſt the light of the glorious Goſpel of Chriſt which is the Image of God ſhould ſhine unto them. Becauſe when the light of the Goſpel breaks in by the Miniſtry of the Word, People ſhut their eyes and will not ſee, therefore God leaves them to blindneſs as a dreadful Judgment.
2. Unbelievers are given over to Deluſions,2. Unbelievers are given over to Deluſions. 2 Theſſ. 9. 10, 11. and to believe Lies. For this cauſe Antichriſt ſhall come with all deceivableneſs of Unrighteouſneſs, Becauſe they received not the Love of the Truth, that they might be ſaved: And for this cauſe God ſhall ſend them ſtrong Deluſions, that they ſhould believe a Lie, that they all might he Damned who believed not the Truth, but had Pleaſure in Ʋnrighteouſneſs. To be given over to a Spirit of Deluſion, and to have the Leproſie in the Head is a terrible Judgment: Such an one the Prieſt pronounced utterly unclean, his Plague is in Lev. 13. 44.the Head, Levit. 13. 44. The Gradations are no more common then true; firſt a Sceptique to queſtion every truth, next an Heretick, at laſt an Atheiſt.
3. Unbelievers are given over to final3. Unbelievers are given over to final impenitency. Impenitency. Joh. 8. 24. If ye believe not that I am he, ye ſhall die in your Sins. No Death ſo bad as to die in ones Sins; To die on the Wheel, to be torn in pieces by Wild Horſes, to be burnt in a Cauldron of Scalding Lead or Scalding Oyl, theſe are exquiſite Torments and Cruel Deaths: But to die in Sins, and to die Unreconciled to Jeſus Chriſt, this is the worſt of all ſorts of Deaths beyond all expreſſion and Apprehenſion. We read of a dreadful Woe againſt the vileſt of Sinners, who have this brand of Infamy ſtampt upon them, Jude 12. Trees whoſe Fruit withereth, foreign.without Fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the Roots. This is the condition of Unbe-Lievers: They are as twice dead, being altogether and certainly dead, irrecoverably, and totally deprived of all Vital Operations.
4. Unbelievers are in a ſtate of Damnation.4. Unbelievers are in a ſtate of Damnation. Joh. 3. 11. foreign. Dictum eſt vetus; Illo nocens ſe damnat, quo peccat die, ſi… in legibus Romanis.—Ipſe ſe Papae ſubdit. Et qui ſceleratum capiant conſilium ſuo merito puniuntur. Grot. Nil tam erit debile tam confractum tam objectum, in quo vel aliqua ſpes ſit ſalutis acceptandae, quod non curaturus ac ſervaturus ſit. Muſc. Joh. 3. 26. Unleſs Mercy interpoſe to give them ſpace and Grace to repent; They ſhall be certainly Damned. An Unbeliever is condemned already as a Malefactor Condemn'd to Death, who (though he may be a while Repriv'd, without all Queſtion ſhall ſhortly be Executed: Chriſt pronounceth Damnation to all Unbelievers, Mark. 16. 16. He that Believeth not ſhall be Damned. Chriſt, when he was to take the laſt farewell of his Diſciples leaves with them ſingular Exhortations and Conſolations, but he thundreth out dreadful Menaces againſt all Unbelievers: O! how doth Chriſt raiſe up weak Believers: Where is but a little Faith he increaſeth it, and where there is weak Faith he ſtrengthens it. That Prophecy, Iſa. 42. 3. he applyeth to himſelf, Matth. 12. 20. A bruiſed Reed ſhall he not break, and ſmoaking Flax ſhall he not quench, till he ſend forth Judgment into Victory. But as for thoſe that believe not, Chriſt pronounceth their dreadful doom; They ſhall not ſee Life, but the Wrath of God abideth on them. They are ranked with the Black Regiment of Hell for their company, and they ſhall have Hell for their Portion, Rev. 21. 8. But the fearful and Ʋnbelievers and the abominable and Murderers, and Whore-mongers and Sorcerars and Idolaters, and all Lyars ſhall have their Portion in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimſtone, which is the ſecond Death. By what hath been ſaid in the forementioned Aggravations, who of any underſtanding would continue willingly one moment in the ſtate of Unbelief? But herein conſiſts the greatneſs of their Miſery, that though they are in a State of Unregeracy, Blindneſs, enmity againſt God, and Infidelity, yet they are not ſenſible of their condition: O! what neceſſity is incumbent upon every one of us to ask the Queſtion as the Diſciples did: Is it I? Is it I? Am I the Unbeliever? Did a Man know the greatneſs of the Sin, and the greatneſs of the Judgment of Unbelief, he durſt neither Eat nor Drink nor Sleep in that miſerable condition.