Heart Humiliation, Sermon 14
SERMON XIV.
Iſai. 59. 20.
And the Redeemer ſhall come unto Sion, to them that turn, &c.
DOctrines, As things have their Seaſons and Times, every thing is beautiful in its Seaſon; So there is no word of Truth, but it hath a Seaſon and Time in which it is beautiful: And indeed that is a great part of Wiſdom, to bring forth every thing in its Seaſon, to diſcern when and where, and to whom it is pertinent, and edifying, to ſpeak ſuch and ſuch Truths. But there is one Doctrine that is never out of Seaſon; And therefore, it may be preached in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon as the Apoſtle commandeth. Indeed to many hearts it is always out of ſeaſon, and eſpecially in times of Trouble and Anguiſh, when it ſhould be moſt ſeaſonable, when the opportunity may commend the beauty of it; But in it ſelf and to as many as have ever found the power of it on their hearts, it is always the moſt ſeaſonable and pertinent Doctrine, I mean the very ſubject matter of this Text; The news of a Redeemer to Captive ſinners, it is in it ſelf ſuch glad tidings and ſhines with ſo much beauty and ſplendor to troubled ſinners, that it caſteth abroad a luſter and beauty on the feet of the Meſſengers that carry it, Iſai. 40. It is a Cordial in Affliction, whither outward or inward, and it is withall the only true comfort of proſperity, it allayeth the bitterneſs of things that croſs us, and filleth up the emptineſſe of things that pretend to pleaſe us. It giveth ſweetneſſe to the one, and true ſweetneſſe to the other. Reaſon then, that ſhould always be welcome to us, which we ſtand always in need of, that it ſhould always be new and freſh in our Affection, which is always recent and new in its Operation and Efficacy toward us. Other news, how great or good ſoever, ſuppoſe they were able to fill the hearts of all in a Nation with Joy, yet they grow ſtale, they loſe their vertue within few days. What footſteps or remainder is of all the Triumphs and Trophies of Nations, of all their Solemnities for their victorious ſucceſſe at home and abroad. …heſe great news, which once were the ſubject of the diſcourſe of, and delight of many thouſands, who report them now with delight; So theſe things that may cauſe Joy and Triumph to ſome at this time, as they cannot chooſe but make more hearts ſad then glad, ſo they will quickly loſe even that Efficacy they have, and become taſteleſs as the white of an Egg to them that are moſt raviſhed with them. But my Beloved, here is glade tydings of a Redeemer come to Sion, to ſave ſinners, which have no occaſion of ſadneſs in them to any, but to them who are not ſo happy as to conſider them or believe them, and they are this day after many hundred, I may ſay thouſand years ſince they were firſt publiſhed, as green and recent, as refreſhing to wearied Souls as ever they were; Yea ſuch is the Nature of them, and ſuch an everlaſting ſpring of Conſolation is in them, that the oftner they be told and the more they be conſidered the ſweeter they are, rhey grow green in old age, and bring forth fruit, and are fat and flowriſhing, and indeed it is the never dying vertue, and everlaſting ſape of this word of life, that maketh the righteous ſo, Pſal. 92. 14. This word of a Redeemer at the firſt publ…ſhing, and for a long time, was but like waters iſſuing out from under the threſhold, and then they came to the Ankles when it was publiſhed to a whole Nation, but ſtill the longer it ſwells the higher above Knees and Loyns, till it be a great inexhauſted River, and thus it runs at this day through the world, and hath a Healing Vertue and a Quickning Vertue, Ezek. 47. And a Sanctifying Vertue, verſ. 9. 12. Now this is our errand to you, to invite you to come to theſe Waters; If ye thirſt, come to be quenched, if ye thirſt not, ye have ſo much the more need to come, becauſe your thirſt after things that will not profit you, will deſtroy you; and your unſenſibleneſs of your need of this is your greateſt miſery.
That the words may be more lively unto us, we may call to mind the greateſt and deepeſt deſigne that hath been carried on in the world, by the Maker and Ruler of the world, is the Marriage of Chriſt his Son with the Church: This was primely intended when he made the world, as a Palace to Celebrat it into; This was eſpecially aimed at, when he joyned Adam and Eva, in the beginning of time together in Paradiſe, that the ſecond Adam ſhould be more ſolemnly joyned to the Church at the end of time, in the Paradiſe of Heaven. And this the Apoſtle draws out as the Samplar and Arch-coppy of all Mariages and Conjunctions in the Creatures, Eph. 5. Now this being the great deſigne of God, of which, all other things done in time, are but the footſteps and low repreſentations. But the great Queſtion is, how this ſhall be brought about, becauſe of the great diſtance and huge diſproportion of the Parties. He being the brightneſs of the Fathers glory, and we being wholly ecclipſed and darkned ſince our fall; He higher then the heaven of heavens, and we fallen as low as Hell into a dungeon of darkneſs and miſery, led away by ſin and Satan, lying in that abominable poſture, repreſented in Ezek. 16. Not only unſuitable to engage his Love, but fit to procure even the loathing of all that paſs by.
Now it being thus, the words do furniſh us with the noble reſolution of the Son, about the taking away of the diſtance, and the royal offer of the Father, to make the Match hold the better, both flowing from infinit Love, in the moſt free and ablolute manner can be imagined. The Sons Reſolution, which is withal the Fathers Promiſe, is to come into the world firſt, to Redeem his Spouſe, and ſo to Marry her, And the Redeemer ſhall come unto Sion, &c. The Fathers Offer (that he might not be wanting to help it forward) is to Diſpone by an irrevocable Covenant, having the force of an abſolute Donation; His Word and Spirit to Chriſt and his Seed, to the Church even to the end of the world, verſ. 21.. As for me, this is my Covenant. The Son hath done his part, and is to expreſs his infinit Love, infinit Condeſcendency, and ſtooping below his Majeſty: Now as for me, I will ſhew my good will to it, in my infinit Bounty and Riches of Grace to the Church, he hath given himſelf for her, I will give my Spirit, and thus it cannot but hold.
We ſhall ſpeak a word then of theſe three; Firſt, what Eſtate and Condition Chriſt findeth his Church into, out of which, ſhe muſt be taken to be his Spouſe; Then what way and courſe is laid down by the Counſel of Heaven, to fill up the infinit diſtance between Chriſt and ſinners; and to cloſe all, we ſhall ſhew you the ſuitableneſs of theſe Promiſes, and the wonderful fitneſs of this Doctrine, to the Church at this time Iſaiah Preached it, and at all times.
The firſt is ſuppoſed in the words, Redemption ſupponeth Captivity or Slavery, Redemption of perſons importeth Captivity and Slavery of theſe perſons, and Redemption of other things that belong to perſons, importeth Sale, or Alienation of our right to them. Of both, Perſonall Redemption is the greateſt and moſt difficult; Yet both we have need of, for our Eſtate and Fortune (ſo to ſpeak) is loſt, For all men have ſinned and come ſhort of the glory of God, Rom. 3. 23. That inheritance of eternal Life, we have morgaged it, and given away our right to it; the favour of God and the bleſſedneſs of Communion with him, was Adams Birth… right, and by a free Donation was made hi… proper Inheritance and poſſ…ſſion, to be tranſmitted to his Poſterity. But O how, for how ſmall a thing did he give it away, for a little taſt of an Aple, he ſold his Eſtate; And both he and we may lament over it, as the King that was conſtrained to render himſelf and all his Army for want of Water, when he taſted it, for how ſmall a thing (ſaith he) have I loſt my Kingdom? Then our perſons are in a ſtate of Bondage, in Captivity and Slavery. Captives under the Wrath of God, and Slaves or Servants to ſin. There needed no greater difference and difformity between Chriſt and us, then this, our ſervitude and bondage to ſin, which truely is the baſeſt and moſt abominable Vaſſallage in the World. The abaſement of the Higheſt Prince, to the vileſt ſervitude under the baſeſt Creature… in his Dominion, is but a ſhadow of that loathſome and ugly poſture of our Souls. This ſervitude doth in a manner unman us, and transform us into Beaſts. Certainly it is that, which in the Holy Eyes of God, is more loathſome then any thing beſide; He ſeeth not that deformity in Poverty, Nakedneſſe, Sickneſſe, Slavery, let a man be as miſerable as Job on his Dung hill, it is not ſo much that, as the unſeen and undiſcerned Poſture and Habit of their Souls, that he abominateth. Now what a Match is this, for the Higheſt and Holieſt Prince, the Son of the greateſt King and Heir of all things? But if you add to this Slavery, that Captivity under the Curſe and Wrath of God, that all men are ſhut up and incloſed in the priſon of Gods faithful and irrevocable Sentence of Condemnation, and given over by the righteous Judgement of God, to be kept by Satan in everlaſting Chains of Darkneſs: He keepeth men now, by the inviſible Cords of their own ſins, but theſe Chains of Darkneſs are reſerved for both him and men. Now indeed, this ſupperaddeth a great difficulty to the buſineſs, the other may be a difficulty to his Mind and Affection, becauſe there is nothing to procure Love, but all that may enforce Hatred and Loathing: But ſuppoſe his infinit Love could come over this ſtay, could leap over this Mountain by the freedom of it; Yet there is a greater impediment in the way, that may ſeem difficult to his Power, and it is the Juſtice and Power of God, encloſing ſinners and ſhutting them up for eternal Wrath, till a due ſatisfaction be had from, or for them. You ſee then, how infinit the diſtance is betwixt him and us, and how great the difficulty is, to bring about this intended Union. Angels were ſent with flamming Swords to encompaſs the Tree of Life, and keep it from man, but man is environed by the Curſe of the Almighty God, the Juſtice, the Faithfulneſs, and the Power of God do Guard or ſet a watch about him, that there is no acceſs to him to ſave him, but by undergoing the greateſt danger, and undertaking the greateſt Party that ever was dealt withal, and the ſtricteſt and ſevereſt too.
This being the caſe then, the diſtance bei… ſo vaſt, and the difficulty ſo great, the d… ſtance being twofold, between his Nature a… ours, and between our quality and his: an i… finit diſtance between his Divine Nature a… our fleſh, and beſides an extream contrarie… between the Holineſs of his Nature, and th… finfulneſs of ours; Such a repugnancy, as the… is no reconciliation of them. You know wha… Paul ſpeaketh of the Marriage of Chriſtia… with Idolaters: How much more will it hol… here? What communion can be between ligh… and darkneſs, between God and Belial? I… it poſſible theſe can be Reduced to Amity, and brought to ſo near an Union▪ Yet for all this it is poſſible; But Lo… and Wiſdom muſt find out the way. Infinit Love, and infinit Wiſdom conſulting together, What diſtance can they no… ſwallow up? What difficulty can they no… overcome?
And here you have it, the diſtance undertaken to be removed, both by the Father an… the Son, (for all this while we can do nothing to help it forward; Whill the bleſſed Plot is going on, we are poſting the faſter to ou… own deſtruction) and this is the way condeſcended upon. Firſt, to fill up that wide gap between his Divine Spiritual Nature, and our Mortall fleſhly Nature, it is agree… upon, that the Son ſhall come in our Fleſh, and be made partaker of Fleſh and Blood with the Children. And this is meaned by this Promiſe; Tbe Redeemer ſhall come to Sion. Which is plainly expreſſed by his own Mouth, Joh. 16. 28. I come forth from the father, and come into the world. There being ſuch a diſtance between his Majeſty and our baſeneſs, Love maketh him ſtoop down and humble himſelf to the very ſtate of a …ervant, Phil. 2. 7, 8. And thus the Humiliation of Chriſt filleth up the firſt diſtance, for Love and Majeſty cannot long dwell together, Nec in una ſede morantur, Majeſtas & amor: But Love will draw Majeſty down below it ſelf, to meet with the Object of it. This was the great Journey Chriſt took to meet with us, and it is downward below himſelf, but his Love hath choſen it, to be like us, though he ſhould be unlike himſelf. How Divinely doth the Divine Apoſtle ſpeak of it, and the word was made fl…ſh, and he dwelt among us. Jo. 1. 14. And therefore the Children of Adam, may in verity ſay of him what the Holy Trinity, in a Holy Irony ſpake of man, Lo he is become as one of us. It was a ſingular and eminent Priviledge conferred upon man in his firſt Creation, that the Trinity in a manner conſulted about him, let us make man after our image; But now when man hath loſt that Image, to have ſuch a reſult of the Counſel of the Trinity about it, let one of us be made Man, to make up the diſtance between man and us; O what Soul can rightly conceive it without Raviſhment and Wonder, without an Extaſy of Admiration and Affection, that the Lord ſhould become a Servant; The Heir of all Things, be ſtript naked of all; The Brightneſſe of the Fathers Glory, be thus Ecclipſed and Darkened: And in a word, that whi… comprehendeth all Wonders in the Creatio… who made all things, he himſelf made of Woman. And God became a man, and a… this out of his Infinite Love, to give a D… monſtration of Love to the world; So hig… a Perſon abaſed, to exalt ſo baſe and low … we are; There is a Myſtery in this, a gre… Myſtery, a Myſtery of Wiſdom, to ſwallo… up the Underſtanding with Wonder; And Myſtery of Love, to raviſh the hearts of me… with Affection, Depths of both, in the Empt… neſs of the Son of God. The Prophet doub… ing what was commanded, to ſeek a Sig… whither in Heaven above, or in the Depth beneath, but what he would not ask, Go… gave in his great Mercy; Behold a Virg… ſhall conceive a ſon, and they ſhall call his na… Immanuel: A ſign indeed from Heaven, at the height of Heaven, becauſe he is God, and ſign from the Depth beneath too, becauſe he … man, God with us, and ſo compoſed to u… Heaven and Earth together: God with us, th… he might at length bring us to be with God. He became Immanuel, that he might mak us Immelanu. If that was given as Tidings of gre… Joy, and as the higheſt and deepeſt ſign of Lov… and Favour, at that time to uphold the fainting Church, O how much more may it now comfort us, when it is not a Virgin ſhall conceive, but a Virgin hath conceived; Ma… not the Joy be increaſed, that the Redeemer not to come, but come already, and hath made up that wide ſeparation, which was between us and him, by his low condeſcendency to his Union with our Nature. This is one ſtep of Advancement towards that happy Marriage, that the whole creation ſeems to groan and travel for, Rom. 8. 22. But yet there is a great Difficulty in the way. We are in a ſtate of Captivity, we are priſoners of Juſtice, have ſold our ſelves and our happineſs; And now our Natural Inh…itance lies in the Lake of Fire and Brimſtone, heirs of Wrath, concluded under the Curſe of God. And indeed this was inſuperable to all fleſh; Neather Men nor Angels could ranſom us from this: The Redemption of the Soul of man is ſo precious, and the Redemption of the Inheritance of man, (that is Heaven;) is ſo precious too, that none in Heaven or Earth can be found, that can pay the price of them, ſo that it would have ceaſed for ever; And here the great Deſign of Chriſts Union with ſinners, would have marred and miſcaried, if himſelf had not undertaken to overcome this too: And indeed, as there could none be found to open the Seals of the Book of Gods Decrees concerning his Church, none worthy in Heaven or Earth, but the Lamb, the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah: He prevailed to open it, and looſe the Seals thereof, Rev. 5. 3, 4, 5. So there could none be found in Heaven or Earth, neither under the Earth, worthy to undertake or accompliſh this work, or able to open the Seals of the Book of Gods Curſes, or to blot out the hand-writting of Ordinances that was againſt us, or to open the priſon of Death, into which-man was ſhut up. None I ſay, hath been found worthy, … prevailed, but the Lamb of God and Lyon … the Tribe of Judah: And therefore, the fo… and twenty Elders that ſit round about t… Throne, and the four Beaſts, or innumerab… company of Angels, and Spirits of juſt m… made perfect, fell down before the Lamb, ev… ry one of them with Harps, and they ſung new Song, worthy is the Lamb that was ſlain receive power and riches and wiſdom and ſtreng… and honour and glory and bleſſing; For thou h… redeemed us to God by thy blood. And every Cre… ture ſays Amen to this, and conſents to this, … do him homage: To him who alone w… worthy, and als willing to it, as worthy ſo it. I think the 16. Verſ. of this Chapter giv… us a ſenſible repreſentation of this. The pr… ceeding Diſcourſe from the beginning, holdin… out the ſinful and deplorable condition of th… people, and in them as a Type of the deſper… wickedneſſe of all mankind, and withal their d… ſperat miſery, for Paul Rom. 3. maketh the Application for us; and from this, concludeth a… under ſin, and ſo all under wrath, all guilt… that every mouth may be ſtopt: Men wai… ing for Light, and behold Obſcurity, for Brigh… neſſe, but walking in Darkneſſe, groping fo… the Wall, like the blind ſtumbling at noon day, as in the night, and in deſolate places as dead men, all roaring like Beaſts, and mourni… like Doves, when ever the apprehenſion of th… Terror of God entereth. Now it is ſubjoyne… Verſ. 16 And he ſaw that there was no man, &c▪ as if he had waited and looked through all th… world, if any would appear, either to ſpeak or …o for man, if any would offer themſelves, and …nterpoſe themſelves for his Salvation. Therefore his own arm brought Salvation, and his righteouſneſs it ſuſtained him. Therefore, the Son of God ſteps in and offers himſelf, as if God had firſt aſſayed all others, and when Heaven is full of wonder and ſilence, he breaks out in this, …o, I come to do thy will, Pſa. 40. Since I have gotten a Body to be like ſinners, I will alſo come in their place, and I will give my Life a Ranſome for them. And therefore it is ſub…oyned, The Redeemer ſhall come to Sion. He …hall come Cloathed with Vengeance and Indignation as a Garment, againſt the enemies of his Church, Sin and Satan, in Zeall and burn…ng Love to his deſigned Spouſe; He ſhall ſtrengthen himſelf, and ſtirr up his Might and Fury, againſt all that detain her Cap…ive.
Now indeed, he is the only fitteſt Perſon for …his Buſineſſe in Heaven or Earth, for he hath …oth right to do it, and he hath only Might and Power to accompliſh it. He hath right to the Redemption of ſinners, becauſe he is our kinſman, neareſt of blood to us. Now you know …he right of Redemption belonged to the kinſ…an, Lev. 25. 25.
And therefore, when the neareſt kinſman …ould not redeem Naomi and Ruths parcel of …and, Booz he did it as being next: And …uitable to this, our Lord Jeſus when others as …ear could not, and were not able: He hath …one it and taken Men and Angels to witneſſe, that he hath firſt Redeemed us, that he mi… Marry us, as Eph. 5. That he hath purch… ed us to be his Wife; And indeed the v… word imports this. Goel a Redeemer … Kinſman, paſſing under one word: So I… I know that my redeemer, or my kinſ-man live And becauſe our Kinſ-man, therefore n… intereſted in our Redemption; For, for end he became partaker of flaſh and blood with children, that be might deſtroy our greateſt en… Satan, and redeem us, Heb. 2. 14. And beſi… he hath right to Redemption, as the Churc… Husband, becauſe he muſt mediat between and all others, none can reach her, except pleaſe, or proſecure a plea againſt her, as in caſe of the Wifes making a vow, if her … band conſented not, it was void, Num. … But if he heard of it and held his peace, it … confirmed. Now the Lord Jeſus hath kn… this Deplorable Eſtate we are Captives i… And he hath teſtified his utter diſlike, of binding over our ſelves to Death, and re… ing our ſelves to Satan: And therefore, … bondage in which we are detained, is not, … firmed and ratified, but he hath right rem… ing to Redeem us from the hand of all our … mies. But then, he alone hath Might … Power to do it, for God hath laid help on … and made him able and mighty, to ſave … the uttermoſt. It was not Gold or Silver, … Corruptible things; Suppoſe the whole … were turned into Gold or precious Stones … muſt give perſon for perſon, and one perſo… quivalent to all, his own Life, his own Bl… for us; And the value of this was infinitely raiſed by th… ſtamp of his Divinity put upon it: the King for the Servant, one that knew no ſin for ſinners, yea God for man; This ſuperads infinit Worth, and makes it an over-ranſom, and over-purchaſe, a ranſom to buy our perſons from Hell, a purchaſe to redeem us to our Inheritance, Heaven that we had loſt, and theſe two ſtiles it gets; foreign.
Now you ſee the great Difficulty is overcome and taken out of the way, Chriſt being made a Curſe, hath purchaſed a redemption from the Curſe of the Law, Gal. 4. 13. But yet, there is another poynt of vaſt diſtance, I may ſay, con: trariety and enmity between us and him; he is Holy and undefiled, all fair and no ſpot in him; We are wholly defiled and depraved by ſin, our Souls are become the habitation of Devils, and a Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird; In a word, he hath not only our Enemies to overcome, but our own hearts to conquer, and our Enmity to take away. This makes the wideſt ſeparation from him. Now he filled up much of the Diſtance, with his taking our fleſh, and he removed the great Difficulty, by dying in our fleſh, his Humiliation to be a Man brought him nearer us: And his further Humiliation, to be a Dying, Crucified and Buried Man, brought him yet a ſtep nearer us. But nearer he cannot come, for lower he cannot be, except he were a ſinner, which would marr the whole deſign, and take away all the Comfort of his likneſſe to us; Therefore, ſince he hath come ſo low down to us, it is ſuitable we be raiſed up one ſtep to meet him: And ſo the Exaltation of ſinners ſhall make up all the Diſtance, and bring the two parties to that long ſince deſigned, and long deſired meeting. Now for this end and purpoſe, the Son undertakes the Redemption of his Church, from ſin and ungodlineſs als well as wrath; And therefore you have that, which is expreſſed as the Character of the redeemed in this Verſ. It is exponed as the great point or part of the Redemption it ſelf, by the Apoſtle, Rom. 11. The Redeemer ſhall come to Sion, to turn all ungodlineſs from Jacob. And ſo his end was not only to be partaker of our Nature, but to make us partakers of the Divine Nature; And therefore the Father out of his Love to this buſineſſe, he promiſeth to ſend his Spirit to dwell in our hearts, to make the Word ſound in our Mouths and Ears, and the Spirit to work in our hearts, and this Exaltation of ſinners to the participation of the Holy Spirit, together with Chriſts Humiliation, to partake of our Fleſh makes up the full Diſtance, and bringeth Chriſt and his Church to that holy patient Impatience, and longing for the day when it ſhall be Solemnized in Heaven. The Spirit within us, ſayes come, and the bride ſayes come, even ſo come Lord Jeſus. And he waits for nothing, but the Compleating and Adorning of all the reſt, that there may be one Jubilee for all and for ever. Now I wiſh we could underſtand the Abſolute and free Tenor of Gods Covenant: There is much controverſy ſpeculative about the Condition of the Covenant, about the Promiſes, whither Abſolute, or Conditional; And there is too much practical Debate in perplexed Conſciences about this, how to find ſomething in themſelvs to fit and faſhion them for the Redemption. But truely if we would not diſjoyn and diſmember the Truth of God, but take it all intirely as one great deſign of Love and Metcy revealed to ſinners, and ſo conjoyn the Promiſes of the Covenant into one bundle, we would certainly find that it hath the Voice of Jacob, though it ſeem to have the Hand of Esau; we find an abſolute, moſt free and inconditioned ſenſe, when there is a conditional ſtrain and ſhadow of words in ſome places. The truth is, the turning of ſouls from ungodlineſs, is not properly a Condition exacted from us, as a Promiſe to be performed in us, and the chiefeſt part of Chriſts Redemption. And though ſome abuſe the grace of God, and turn it into wantonneſs and liberty: Yet certainly, this Doctrine that makes the greateſt part of the glad news of the Goſpel, to be Redemption from ſin and the pouring out of the Spirit, is the greateſt perſwaſive to a godly Converſation, and the moſt deadly enemy to all ungodlineſs.
I thought to have ſpoken more of that third thing I proponed, but take it in a word. This was always proponed to the Church, as the ſtrongeſt Cordial, it was given here as the greateſt Conſolation in all their long Captivity, that this Redeemer was after wards to come, whoſe Vertue was then living, and preſent to the quickning and comforting of ſouls. It was thought enough to uphold in a moſt deſperat ſtrait. To us a child is born, Iſai. 8. I wiſh we could take it ſo; Certainly it was the Character of a Believer before Chriſts coming, that he was one that was looking and waiting for the Salvation of Iſrael, by this Redeemer. But now we are ſurrounded with Conſolation before and behind, Chriſt already come, ſo that we may in joy ſay, lo this is our God, we have waited for him; others waited and longed, and we ſee him: and Chriſt ſhortly to come again without ſin, to our Salvation. And what could be able to take our Joy from us, if we had one Eye always back to his firſt coming, and another always forward to his comeing again?