Redemption from the Curse, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Uſe 5.
Sect. 1. Exhortation to ſenſleſs ſinners.
5. THis important Truth may afford us matter of very profitable exhortation. The knowledge of this main Goſpel-principle, concerning the buying out of poor ſinners from the curſe of the Law, by Chriſts becoming a curſe for them, is very uſefull for all the ſonnes, and daughters of Adam, to excite them to ſuch duties, as are moſt proper to their preſent conditions reſpectively. None of Adam's brood, but it hath ſomewhat to ſay to them:
1. It cries aloud in the ears of ſenſleſs ſinners, which lie ſecure in their old ſlavery, under the curſe, unto this day. Oh wretched creatures, what thing ſhall I take to witneſs for you? or what ſhall I equal to you?Lam. 2.13. What tongue can utter words, or what eyes can ſend forth tears ſufficient to lament your ſad condition? You lie bound hand and foot, under the power of darkneſs, and here is Redemption to be had by Chriſt. Oh then, why will you chuſe to lie ſo ſtill, and not rather accept of ſeaſonable deliverance? Should a Prince ſend a meſſage to impriſoned Captives, that their ranſome is paid, & they may come forth upon reaſonable termes, & be freemen; if now none will ſtirr to embrace the offer, might it not well be thought, that either they are all dead, or in a deep ſleep, or ſtrangely beſotted. God ſends theſe glad tidings to ſinners, every day by the Goſpel, & they never regard it. Either they ſay, as the Jews, Jo. 8.33. We are not in bondage; or they ſit ſecure, and ſay, no evils ſhall befall us. Wo, wo to the inhabitants of the world, which ſlight this pretious grace, chooſing rather to lie ſtill under the brazen barres of the curſe of Gods fiery Law, which accepts of no man's perſon, and cannot admit of any plea of exemption for noble or baſe, rich or poor: All are alike, Rom. 3.21. Oh what pittie is it, and how ſhould it humble us, even unto the duſt, to ſee ſuch a precious jewel trampled under the feet, or careleſly caſt behinde the backs of ſinners? to obſerve in the greateſt number ſuch an indifferency of ſpirit, as they are no whit affected with this pearl, that neither ſorrow for want of it, nor deſire to enjoy it, nor any ſerious regard of it can take place in their ſouls? that though they be told of deliverance by Chriſt, and profeſs, that they believe it, yet the Devil prevails with them to reſiſt their own good, and willingly to abide in the chains of the curſe all their daies? I beſeech you, if there be any ſpark of lawfull ſelflove in your breaſts, if you have not wholy abandoned all compaſſion of your ſelves, and are become your own enemies, be awaked from your ſloth, and look about you. Do you thus requite the Lord Jeſus, O fooliſh people and unwiſe? Is not he thy father,Rom. 7.9. that hath bought thee? Rather, let my counſel be acceptable to you in theſe few particulars.
1. Give way to the Light, and authority of the Law, (in the miniſtry of it) to bring thee to a thorough conviction of thy miſery, and extream need of the help of their Redeemer. Think it not ſufficient that the Law hath lent thee light enough to ſay, All men are ſinners, and ſo to wrappe thy ſelf in groſs with them, and to be content to be reckoned among them, ſeeing thou canſt not avoid it, but bring it home to thy conſcience, believe thy ſelf to be his accurſed ſinner, and ſay, I am the man. Impriſon not the truth in unrighteouſneſs, but let it ſo overpower thy ſoul, that thou mayeſt be no longer able to reſiſt it, but mayeſt yield thy ſelf into the arreſt of God's juſtice, that the ſpirit of bondage may cauſe thee to fear the curſe and wrath of God, and thou mayeſt lie ſlain,Deut. 32.6. and dead in thy ſelf, utterly unable to recover thy ſelf, and therefore helpleſs, and hopeleſs, as to thy ſelf, or any thing in the world. Let the Law have its free courſe to work thee into this frame. When the Lord meane's to apply the ranſome to a poor ſinner for his deliverance from the pit, he firſt open's his ears, and ſcale's his inſtruction, that he may hide pride from him, Job 33.17.-24. If thou be wiſe, thou wilt meet the Lord in this way; though it be unpleaſant, yet it is profitable. But if thou either continueſt dead, and blockiſh under the diſcoveries of the Law, or favoureſt thy ſelf in thy ſloth, and eaſe, or lifteſt thy creſts in confidence of the ſafety of thy condition, there is no hope for the preſent of any ſaving good towards thee. And yet alas, how is the Spirit of the Law ſtraitened in theſe ſad times? Our people will not ſuffer it to come near them, much leſs to maſter them. If any thing be offered them in way of conviction, they either drown it in their cups, or ſing it away in merry Jiggs, or laugh it out of countenance, or (at the beſt) ſuffer it to wear off, and to die in their hands. But in the fear of God, beware of theſe things. I tell thee, thou mayeſt be quite diſmounted and caſt down, at the Lords feet: All wayes muſt be block'd up, whereby the carnal heart may take occaſion to nouriſh hope of eſcaping out of this priſon.
2. Being at this loſs, adviſedly reſolve, not to abide in this condition, but to make haſt out of it. Say to thy ſelf, O my ſoul, Where? in what caſe art thou? It's no tarrying here: It's too hot to be under the curſe, in the flames of hell. Who can dwell with the devouring fire? with everlaſting burnings, Iſa. 33.14. Search, enquire, ask counſel. Go to the miniſters of Chriſt, and ſay unto them, as theſe, Acts 2.37. Men and brethren, what ſhall we do? and the Jaylour, Acts 16.30. Sirs, what muſt I do to be ſaved? They are the meſſengers of the Lord of hoſts, their lips ſhould preſerve knowledge, and you muſt ſeek the law at their mouths, Mal. 2.7. Their office is to publiſh this ranſome, and to declare unto the humbled ſinner his righteouſneſs, in pronouncing him delivered by virtue of that Ranſome, Job. 33.23, 24. But oh, alas, if there be a Miniſter in the Town, an Interpreter, one that is willing, according to the meaſure of the gift beſtowed on him, to reveal the counſel of God to poor ſinners, how long may he ſit at home, before any of his neighbours will knock at the door, to tell him, that they are wretched priſoners, under the Curſe, and know not how to get out? yea, although he be accounted one of a thouſand, ſcarcely four perſons in a whole twelve-monethmonth, will come to him, travelling under their burthen, and propounding ſuch queſtions as theſe: Oh how ſhall I get from the Curſe of the Law? who ſhall draw me out of this woful dungeon, wherein I ly? Truly this ſpeaks ſad things to ſuch a people, and teſtifies againſt them, that they are ſeared in their conſciences, and ſealed up unto condemnation.
3. Fall down before the glorious Majeſtie of the great Lawgiver the Lord of heaven, and earth, as forlorne priſoners, and condemned Slaves. Spread your caſe before him, by a free and full Confeſſion, ripp up the bowels of that darkneſs, and death, that ſinkhole of hell, that lies in your ſouls. Tell him, in what a deſperate ſtate thou art, deal plainly, ſeriouſly, and ſincerely, leave no covert, or ſhelter, or figg-leaf, to hide thy ſelf under, but lay thy ſoul bare, and naked before him; Let thy Laughter be turned into mourning, James 4.9. and in the ſence of thine undone condition, crie mightily, as the priſoner at the barre, for mercy and deliverance;Ionah 3.9. who can tell, but that the Lord will returne, and have compaſſion on thee, that thou periſh not in the hands of the Curſe? When Saul was ſtricken down to the earth, by a light, and voice from heaven, and ſtood before the Lord trembling; and aſtoniſhed, he forthwith falls to this work, Lord, (ſaith he,) What wilt thou have me to do? as if he ſhould ſay, Lord, thou haſt overcome, I muſt yield; what ſhall I do in this exigent? If thou wilt ſhew me thy minde, and the way which I ſhould go, Lo, I am here, willing to obey, Acts 9.3, 4, &c. and the Lord ſpeaking of him to Ananias, mentions it, as a thing very remarkable, (even with a ſtarre in the forehead) Behold,See Iob 3….26. he prayeth, verſe 11. And certainly, If the Spirit of bondage hath brought the Curſe cloſe home to thy ſoul, and cauſed it to ſting thee to the purpoſe, thou wilt not be reſtrained; but thy chamber, and cloſet, and every corner, where thou canſt have Libertie to disburden thy ſelf, will be witneſſes of thy complaints and petitions, and thou wilt let the Lord ſee, that thou art in good earneſt. But, wo is me, while our people continue ſo ſottiſh, and prophane, and their hearts ſo unaffected with their miſery, that they cannot bow, nor bend, they have neither expreſſions, nor affections of prayer, it is no marvel, if the grace of Redemption lie altogether neglected.Reſtraint of prayer argues ſecurity. Iob 15.4. If the bankrupt debtor be ſo ſtout, and ſtiff, that he will not fall down, and beſeech his Creditor to have patience, and compaſſion on him, he may lie by it, who can pittie him?
4. In the mean time take notice, that there is a Ranſome paid for ſinners by Jeſus Chriſt, that he hath taken upon him the Curſe, to buy them out from it. Take it for granted, and write upon it, as unqueſtionable, that redemption is feaſable, ſo that there is hope, that even thou mayeſt be actually delivered, out of this wofull priſon. Labour to underſtand the nature of this myſtery, be perſwaded of the realneſs of it, get thy ſoul bottomed on the certainty of this main Goſpel-truth, work on thy heart the conſideration of the neceſſity of it, in reference to thine own ſtate. Study it, and dwel upon it in thy moſt ſerious thoughts, that thy heart may be duly affected with it, as a thing moſt nearly concerning thine own particular. But alas, our people, although they hear this Doctrine frequently, yet either they are as the horſe and mule, without underſtanding, or they hear it, as a common ſtory, deſerving onelyonly ſome weak, confuſed aſſent, or they look upon it, as an ordinary merciemercy, or as drie Manna, never ſo much as going about to ponder the perſonal importance of it, but buſying themſelves about, and enſlaving themſelves unto the profits, and pleaſures, and poor contentments of the world, ſo that they have neither minde, nor leaſure, to think of ſaving their ſoules from the ſtroke of God's curſe; It cannot be expected, that theſe perſons continuing ſuch, ſhould ever attain to an actual intereſt in this benefit; they forſake their own merciemercy, by obſerving lying vanities, Jon. 2.8. and judge themſelves unworthy of everlaſting life, Acts 13.46.
5. But then take this along with you, and be it known unto you all, that the Lord hath meaſured out, and appointed a way wherein you muſt go, if ever you will come to this city of Refuge. Reckon not on actual Redemption, meerly upon this ſcore, becauſe Chriſt hath taken upon him the Curſe, and thereby ſatisfied the juſtice of the Law: God hath as well fixed the means, as the End: He hath preſcribed ſomething in the nature of a condition,Cum unuſquiſ que actui ex ſua voluntate pendenti legem poſſit imponere, &c. Grotius, de Satisfac, cap. 6. to be performed on our part, (yet by his ſtrength) in order to the obtaining of a real intereſt in this benefit. In every act, which depends upon a mans will, and pleaſure, to do it, or not to do it, he hath liberty to ſet down his own termes, as that the effect or fruit of it ſhall enure, either abſolutely, or under a condition: As, in caſe I am willing to be at coſt for the ranſoming of a ſlave out of Turkie, I may lawfully impoſe upon him ſome honeſt, reaſonable conditions, whereunto if he do not ſubmit, he ſhall have no benefit by the ranſome. If this may be allowed to a man, whoſe breath is in his noſtrils, how much more to God, the great Monarch, and Governour of the world? Although he was very well ſatisfied with the price which Chriſt paid, as being fully ſatisfactory to his juſtice: Yet it was not the minde either of the Father, or the Sonne, that any ſinner ſhould actually be diſcharged forthwith upon the payment of the price, but onelyonly upon a condition of ſomething in himſelf, which may be a ground of a perſonal title thereunto. Suppoſe the Prince or ſtate ſhould accept of the ſatisfaction given by another, (be it his eldeſt Son) for the crimes of certain priſoners, reſolving that their releaſe ſhould become actual, onelyonly upon ſome conditions to be performed by themſelves, (although not by their one power): ſhould any of them, under pretence of this ſatisfaction, take it ill, that they are not forthwith ſet at liberty, and thereupon offer to make an eſcape, may not this be juſtly interpreted, a breach of priſon? may not they expect to. hear ſome ſay, Stay friends, you make too much haſte, there goes too words to a bargain. Look to your task, do that which you are enjoyned, and the priſon doores will inſtantly flie open; elſe you muſt be fetch'd back again, and your bonds made more ſtrong: Even ſo if you will ſnatch at this freedome, aſſoon as ever you he…r that the price is paid, creeping out at the window, and not going forth by the door, you will finde at length, that you are wretched Bondmen ſtill: if you will take poſſeſſion by leaping over the hedge, and not by the way of Liverie,Rom. 10.3. Luke 13.28. foreign. Ejected out of illegal poſſeſſion: If not from eternity, or before they were borne. and Seiſin, you muſt be caſt out, as Intruders and Uſurpers. Yet alas, this is a very common, but a dangerous Solaeciſme in Chriſtianitie, (which is rendred more plauſible by the late Antinomian doctrine, of the actual acquittance of all the Elect, at, and from the very time of Chriſt's ſufferings), Men hear the report of the Redemption of the world by Chriſt, and they preſumptuouſly claim a part in it, at the firſt news, not regarding the termes, upon which it muſt become theirs, if ever they enjoy it. If a Miniſter go to a careleſs ſinner lying on the bed of languiſhing, and preſent unto him his ſinne, and the Curſe, that he may ſee his danger, and look out for the remedie, he will confidently avouch, that Chriſt hath ſhed his blood for him, and will ſave him, he never fears it, and yet this man hath all his life time rejected the counſel of God, againſt himſelf, concerning the way to get a particular intereſt therein. Alas poor ſoul: this confidence is nothing elſe, but a pleaſant dream, and there will be a ſad awaking at laſt, when thou haſt cheated thy ſelf into everlaſting chains.
Sect. 2. The way to get an actual Intereſt in Redemption.
BUt what is that way, or mean, which God hath fixed, as a kinde of condition of the ſinners actual intereſt in this grace of Redemption?
I Anſwer: 1. The proper, and moſt principal mean is faith in the Lord Jeſus. The Scripture layes the ſtreſs of this buſineſs mainly upon Faith. As Chriſt is the way to the Father, John 14.6. ſo Faith is the way to Chriſt, therefore it is called the faith which is into Chriſt, Acts 26.18.foreign; u…t… me: So 2 Tim. 2.15. by which ſinners receive forgiveneſs, and an inheritance: and it is deſcribed to be a comming unto Chriſt, John 6.39. God hath ſet him forth to be a propitiation; and he becomes ſuch actually to me, through Faith in his blood, Rom. 3.25. This is as an hand created in the ſoule, by the Spirit of God, to receive, and take home Jeſus Criſt the Redeemer, with all his benefits unto eternal life. It is, when a ſinner ſenſible of his ſinne, and the curſe, and ſo loſt in himſelf, renounceth his own righteouſneſs, and all creature-helps, and betakes himſelf to Jeſus Chriſt alone, accepting him as he is offered in the Goſpel, that is, both to be his Saviour, and his Lord; both to reſt upon him for righteouſneſs, and ſalvation: an to reſigne himſelf up to his Government, in ſubjection to his Lawes. This is the Faith of the Goſpel, which, as it hath a ſpecial aptneſs,in that it acts (as the eye ſees,) Non extramittendo, ſed intramittendo. to be a mean of intereſſing us in the grace of Redemption; ſo we cannot doubt, that the Lord hath, put upon it this office alſo, to be after the manner of a condition, if we obſerve theſe Scripture-expreſſions, Rom. 4.24. if we believe on him that raiſed up Jeſus, it ſhall be imputed to us for righteouſneſs. Rom. 10.9. If thou ſhalt believe in thy heart, — thou ſhalt be ſaved: and the want of this condition is threatned with death, Jo. 8.24. See alſo, Jo. 20.31. Acts 8.37.
But 2. This faith towards the Lord Jeſus, is ever accompanied with repentance towards God; which is called repentance from dead works, and coupled with faith in God, as twins in the doctrine of the foundation of Chriſt. Heb. 6.1. This is the ſouls irking with its former ſinfull eſtate, and wayes, and a deep diſpleaſure at himſelf for them, together with a forſaking of them, and turning away from them unto God, in the ſincere purpoſe of the heart, and ſerious endeavour of the converſation. And that repentance hath ſome hand in this buſineſs, to be a mean, (and as a condition too, in part,) of intereſt in Redemption, may appear by promiſes of merciemercy, pardon, and healing made to it, Pro. 28.14.Iob 33.27, 28. Job 11.14, 15, &c. 2 Chron. 7.14. Acts 3.19. and the contrary threatning, Luke 13.3. which plainly implies, that without this there is no eſcaping of perdition, and therefore no actual Redemption. So that, the ſinner now, as by one hand of faith he takes Chriſt's Righteouſneſs unto himſelf; ſo by Repentance, as by the other hand, he thruſts away ſinne from himſelf, out of his heart, and hands, that he may enjoy a part in the grace of Redemption. Chriſt the Redeemer himſelf made theſe the chiefeſt ſubject of his preaching, Mark 1.15. and ſo did his Apoſtles, to whom the publication of this Doctrine was committed, Acts 20.21. and directed humbled ſoules to both theſe, as they had occaſion. S. Peter aſcribes Repentance with Baptiſme, Acts 2.38. and S. Paul ſaith, Act. 16.31. not that thoſe two preachers differed in their judgements, or that either of theſe two graces were ſufficient alone by it ſelf, but rather to ſhew their near affinity, that they cannot be ſeparated, that the right and thorough performance of the one, is the performance of both. This is the Kings High-way: if you hope to compaſs Redemption, and ſalvation in any other way, you will certainly be deceived. Oh that you, the careleſs ſinners in Zion (for unto you I ſpeak all this while) would at length be rouzed by the ſound of this trumpet, to look out for deliverance by Chriſt, before the priſon doors be made ſo faſt upon you, that there will be no remedy, and to provoke you the more to a thing ſo neceſſary, conſider theſe Motives.
1. There is no poſſibility of deliverance from ſinne, and the Curſe, by any other means. A redeemer you muſt have, or you are undone, and the redeemer muſt pay a vaſte ſumme for your Redemption. This is done to your hand by Jeſus Chriſt, if you will accept it upon his termes: If you will not, I would aske, where will you finde a Redeemer? Do you look for another to come? He that muſt do this work, muſt bear the Curſe for you: But where is the man, that can, or will undertake this? God hath found none in heaven or earth mighty enough to lay this help upon,Iſa. 63.5. but Jeſus Chriſt, therefore he hath laid it upon him, Pſal. 89.19. and now there remaines no more ſacrifice for ſinne. There is no wiſedome, nor power in all the world, that can relieve or beſtead the ſinner, which will not ſubmit to this way of God.
2. If thou wilt not give way to Chriſt, to glorifie his merciemercy in reſcuing thee from the Curſe, and Condemnation, he will glorifie his Juſtice, in letting thee lie an accurſed priſoner for ever. If thou wilt ſeek the Lord, his hand will be upon thee for good: But if thou forſake him, his power, and his wrath will bee againſt thee, to thy ruine, Ezra. 8.22. If thou wilt not kiſs the Sonne, he will be angry, and thou ſhalt periſh in the way, Pſal. 2.12. His taking the Curſe upon him, will not ſerve thy turne, to ſecure thee from the danger of it, unleſs thou wilt be perſwaded to come up to his termes, and heartily embrace him, as thine onelyonly Lord-Redeemer, will give a large commiſſion to it, to deſtroy thee without merciemercy. He that obeyes not the Sonne, the wrath of God abides on him, John 3.36. and he will come with vengeance in his hands againſt them, that obey not the Goſpel, 2 Theſ. 1.18.
3. Now the Lord offers you this incomparable merciemercy, you have the render of it ſtill continued in the Miniſterie of the Word, and the Spirit is Still inviting, and beſeeching you to accept of this redemption, and reconciliation thereby. Oh then hearken to the motion, and yeild your ſelves forthwith unto the Lord. For although you do not give a peremptory denial, yet if you ſit ſtill, and triffle, your hearts will be hardened, Pſal. 95.7, 8. I know thy thoughts; thou takeſt it for granted, that thou canſt come, and get a part in Chriſt, when thou pleaſeſt, but it is not ſo. It's eaſie to ſay, God be mercifull to me, and it is in thy power to preſume; but to repent, and to believe unfainedly, and in truth, thou ſhalt finde to be a work above thy ſtrength. I tell thee, thou bold ſinner, God will one day come near, and plead thus with thy conſcience, I gave thee Twenty, thirty, fortie yeares, and all that while my Spirit hath been wraſtling with thee, to draw thee to Chriſt, and thou ſayeſt, I can come at my pleaſure. If thou canſt, why haſt thou not come all this while. Seing therefore, thou haſt dallied with my grace, and rendred all my importunity and waiting void, and ineffectuall, thou ſhalt never enter into this bleſſed reſt of Redemption.
4. If you have any true love to the Miniſters of Chriſt, or any deſire of their welfare, and comfort, then come in, and ſeek for a ſhare in this benefit, Wee are the ſervants of the Lord Jeſus, ſent forth to proclaim Redemption to the world. How would it glad our hearts, to ſee you all flocking in, as doves to the windowes, for your intereſt therein! that we may rejoyce in the day of Chriſt, and ſay▪ Behold, here am I, and the ſoules whom thou haſt ranſomed with thy blood, which have yielded themſelves to thee, through our Miniſtery. If you ſet light by this grace, and love the world, and the contentments of it better than Jeſus Chriſt, you break our hearts, and you will bring down our heads with ſhame, and ſorrow to the grave. But if you have no regard of us, yet, at leaſt pittie your ſelves. When the Lord of the whole world ſhall call us to give an account of our ſtewardſhip, and we ſhall be forced to give in this true evidence againſt you, Lord, we have ſtretched out our hands, all the day, all the year, all our life long, to a careleſs, and diſobedient people, Rom. 10.12. Our words came to their eares, but they would not ſuffer them to reach their hearts; Oh then! how can you lift up your heads? or whether will you flie for relief?
And now, I could heartily wiſh, that his word might follow you home, and the ſound of this trumpet grow more, and more ſhrill in your eares, till it hath awakened you thoroughly. Still remember, that it is a buſineſs of the greateſt importance, requiring your choiceſt pains and diligence, if S. Auſtine ſaid truly, He that hath made thee without thee, will not ſave thee without the (underſtanding it of full ſavation, or the whole courſe of it, means as well as end) then may we ſay as truly, he that hath paid the price of thy redemption without thee, will not give thee the full poſſeſſion of it without thee. That which a man ſeeks, he may probably finde; if thou wilt beſtir thy ſelf in the uſe of means, there is hope that thou mayeſt injoy this mercy: But if thou ſleighteſt, and neglecteſt it, thou ſhalt be ſure to loſe it. As free a gift as it is, God will not drop it into your mouthes, while you ſnort and ſleep; if you think it not worth your moſt ſerious endeavours, you ſhall never bee better for it.
I have delivered mine errand, and I muſt leave it with you. Now adviſe, and ſee, what anſwer I ſhall return to him that ſent mee.