A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 223 (Question 88)
SERMON CCXXIII.
QUESTION LXXXVIII.
WHAT are the onward and ordinary means, whereby Chriſt communicateth to us the benefits of Redemption?
ANSWER.
THE outward and ordinary means, whereby Chriſt communicateth to us the benefits of Redemption, are his Ordinances, eſpecially the Word, Sacraments & Prayer; all which are made effectual to the Elect for Salvation.
UNDER the two former Queſtions, we took an account of the two great Conditions, on which Salvation is offered to Sinners, in the Covenant of Grace: Which, tho' God alone can work in Sinful Men, yet we are aſſured that without them, none can be Saved; and that if ever he brings any to obtain Eternal Life, he will do it in this way: So that unleſs theſe be wrought in us, we are aſſured that we are not in a ſtate of Grace, nor can have any grounded expectation to eſcape the Wrath to come, unleſs we obtain them. We have now before us, a general account of the courſe which God takes in order to his working of theſe Graces in us, whereby we may be brought to the actual enjoyment of the happy fruits, which CHRIST, by his Redemption, hath purchaſed for all His. And that we may take a right account of the Subject we are upon, a few things may be obſerved, under two heads.
Firſt. IT is here ſuppoſed that God works the Grace in us, by which we are brought to partake in Chriſt's benefits, by the uſe of Means. And there is nothing more fully aſſerted in the Scriptures than this, that theſe Graces muſt be wrought in us by God, if ever we partake in them; for they are beyond our power to produce them in ourſelves; and it is certain that no meet Creature can do it in and for us. Hence that, Joh. 1.13. Which were born, nor of blood, nor of the will of the fleſh, nor of the will of man, but of God. But if he be asked, Why God makes uſe of the means in the order of producing this Effect? tho' it be ſufficient to ſay, That it hath ſo ſeemed good to Him who is infinitely Wife, and is not accountable to us; yet there may be ſome account taken of it. And that,
[1.] Negatively, NOT becauſe he cannot do it …out them. There is no neceſſity lying upon Him thus to do, as will be evident to us, if we conſider,
1. THAT the Means themſelves uſed by … He … his own …erty … are therefore P…ſitio… …ita…ions, the force and obligation whereof …pe…ds upon his Sovereign Will. Hen… … great Argument which he …ſeth to … force upon theſe Precepts to bind us to O…e…e, is, I am the Lord; which leaves … …om to diſp… them.
2. THE whole Force … Efficacy of theſe Means entirely depends … and the mighty Operation of his Spirits. Th… the Means of and by themſelves do no…, c…ot produce this effect, is very evident both … Scripture and Experience. That they …, there …ods no more to demonſtrate, th… …ai is obvious to daily obſervation, if we … not ſh…t out Eyes; and as we are told in … word of God, ſo we may ſee it in the cou… of his providence, That the ſame Means which are … ſome a Savour of Life, prove … other… a Savour of Death, 2 Cor. 2.15. … we are told, That God ſometimes f…no… th… moſt powerful Means to Men in Judgment; as is wof…lly intimated in that Commiſſion, Iſai. 6.9, 10. And he ſaid, Go, and tell … people, Hour ye indeed, but underſtand not; and … ye ind…d, but perceive not. Make the bear, of this people f…r, and make their ears heavy, …d … their eyes: leſt they ſee with their eyes, and … with their …s, and underſtand with their heart, and convert and be heated. And that they …ot do it of themſelves is no leſs manifeſt, …f we conſider, That the Means are all of the…ral & ſwaſive, which muſt needs have a ſubject capable to receive the impreſſion of th…, if ever they become effectual; whereas the Natural Man is not ſo, but muſt have a mighty Change wrought in him, to put this nex…cipacity into him: and this properly belongs to the powerful Grace of God; for which reaſon it is compared to a Creation, and a Reſurrection, which are works that none but God can produce: And hence we have that ſolemn remark made by Moſes, Deut. 29.3, 4. The great temptations, which thine eyes have ſeen, the ſigns and thoſe great miracle: Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to ſet, and ears to hear, unto this day.
3. THAT in Paſſive Converſion, the Spirit of God worketh, Immediately. For tho He applies His Grace together with the diſpenſation of the moral Means, yet the Means themſelves do nothing in the production of the New Principle of Regeneration in the Man, but th… Spirit alone doth it; tho' in the drawing forth of this Principle and Power into Act, He applies the Means, and makes them Inſtrumental therein. For tho' it be a truth, that the Spirit acts together with the Word in Paſſive Converſion, Jam. 1.18. Yet it is certain, that whilſt he offers the Word to Men, and by Moral Argument preſſeth it on them, there is his preventing Grace which comes in …d pr… … … …ich He ….
4. P…r, or Affi…tive…. The… S…y of Gods treating M…n is ex…eding … the Nature … M…n, … G…d treats in the New C…venant. Man … a …a… nable Creature, or a cauſe by Counſel; as therefore God treated with him in the firſt Covenant as ſuch a Creature, in which n… …f…ered him Life upon Terms: ſo he doth in the New-Covenant, as the Gosſpel every where informs us. Now in the Management of this Treaty G…d is pleaſed to open the Terms of this Covenant to him, and urge upon him the way in which he may be …aved, and the Motives ſuited to convince him of his Ne…e…ity, and direct him in the way of i…. And for this Means are moſt properly ad…pted… and the very nature of the Goſpel is ſuch, as aptly ſaits hereunto. And tho' the F…i…cy depends on him yet the Means adapted to the End in their order, and that agreeably to the Infi…te Wiſdom of God, who doth all things according to C…ſel: For th… God is Sovereign in His Appointments, retail His Works are in Wiſdom; and hereby Men that ſlight and deſpiſe the Means, are rendered increasable, becauſe the Offers made to them, were muſt highly Rational. And it is certain, that there is not only requiſite ordinarily the habits of Grace in the Heart, but the exerciſe of them in the Life, to which Men muſt be drawn by theſe M…l…a ſet home upon them: For tho' in P… C…nverſ…n the Habits only are infuſed, whereby the Powers in the Man are renewed, yet in A live …n…erſion there is a voluntary exerting of theſe renewed Powers, to which the Means moſt genuinely ſerve.
Se…d…y, WE are to obſerve, That here are two …p…th…rs put upon theſe Means, which ſerve to point us to a right Apprehenſion of the Subject now under Conſideration, viz. They are the outward, and they are the ordinary Means; Both of which requires a little of our Conſideration.
(1.) THEY are the outward Means: Theſe are ſo called to difference them from the inward Applications of His Spirit to the Hearts and Conſciences of Men: which tho' He is wont to do in and with the other, and without which they cannot he made effectual: yet they are ſeparable, and Men may enjoy the former, and yet never experience the efficacy of the latter: Theſe therefore may in a ſenſe be called inward Means for tho' they proceed from the Spirit himſelf; yet in it He uſeth the other by bringing them to the Minds of Men, and cauſing of them to ponder on them. And tho' they are not always effectual to their Coverſion, yet they are improved to diſpoſe & prepare them, who are God's Hect; viz. The touches on the Hearts which leave Conviction on them, create Fears and Ter…rs in them, and put them upon Enquiry; becauſe without this inward Operation, the outward Means make no Impresſions, but are as …ater ſpi… upon a Rock. Now theſe are called Outward, becauſe they are ne…tly applied to the outward Man, and are to be entertained and let in by the Senſes thro' which the are to … Rati… … the principal … as, Rom. 1….1…. And … t…at … it is … gatly ca…ed … Ser… of Diſ… … outward application, of theſe Means, God is … to make uſe of the M…a…i…y, or In…enment…ry of Men, to whom He commits the Diſpenſation of … as, 2 C…r. 1.19. And hath committed unto us the word of re…n…tion. And theſe conſidered by themſelves are me…ly M…ral; and can no further attain the End of them, than as God; pleaſeth to ſet in with them, according to 1 Cor. 3.6. I have …ante…, a…l…e… watered: but God gave the there ….
(2) THEY are the ordenary Means: And there are Three things more eſpecially indigitated to us in this;
1. THAT tho' Man is ch…ged to the Uſe of t…eſe, yet God is not …ited to them. They are made Neceſſary for us by the Nece…ity of the Precept; ſo that we have no ground to expect theſe Benefits but in the Uſe of them; Hence ſuch as enjoy the Privilege of having theſe Means, yet do not apply themſelves to them, but deſpiſe and neglect them, do put away Salvation from them, and judge themſelves unworthy of Eternal Life, Acts 13.46. But God had no where ſaid abſolutely, that He will not draw Men to Him, but by theſe outward Means; ſo that neither is His Power nor His Sovereignty limited on this account.
2. THAT there are the extraordinary Ways, in which God doth ſometimes Covert Sinners to CHRIST. Not only doth He reſerve His Liberty to himſelf, but when He pleaſeth, He doth actually make uſe of it. There are the Imme…iate Revelations of Himſelf to Men, of which the Scripture gives us the Account, by which He reveals CHRIST to, and in them; and how many have ſo been acquainted with the way of Peace, it is not for us to determine, becauſe it depends on His own Pleaſure: Doubtleſs Abraham's Call from Idolatrous N…r was of this Nature; and we have reaſon to think, that the Wiſe Men that came form the Eaſt, by the direction of the Star, were thus drawn; and we are certain that Paul's Converſion at firſt began by an extraordinary Apparition of CHRIST to him from Heaven, Acts 9. beg.
3. THAT God ſeldom pr…eds in any other way but this, for the Cover…n of Sinners. Things are not only ſaid to be Extraordinary, when they exceed the Ordinary Courſe of the Powers of Nature, for ſo is every Converſion, but alſo when they are done but ſe…: And in this regard it is a Truth here; for which reaſon we find it laid down in the Word of God, as a Rule Univerſal. Hence that … the Ap…ſtle, 2 Cor. 4.3. If our G…el be …, it … them this are …ſt And, Rom … 14.1…. And ſuch Expretions muſt needs inf… that w… …nſoever there is any Conveſion wr… in any other way, it is a thing rate and …dmn…a…l….
We may now proceed to a …re pa…lar Conſideration of theſe Means, in wh…h Account is given us What they are; and In what reſpect they become ſeru…e to make us to parti…te in the Benefits purchaſed by Chriſt for Men
HERE then two things ly before us to enquire' into; viz.
1. What theſe Means are?
2. THE Way in which they are made Uſeful for the Purpoſe of them.
I WHAT theſe Means are; which are laid down.
[1.] Generally, THEY are the Ordinances of Gods appointment: His Ordinances. An Ordinance, according to the uſual acceptation of the Word, is, An Inſtitution or Appointment ratified by lawful Authority, to be a Medium for the obtaining ſome End that is deſigned by it: And ſo we are to underſtand it here. It is of the Nature of an Ordinance, that it is a Law Enacted; and ſo it neceſſarily infers that the Maker of it be veſted with a Jurisdiction impowering him to make ſuch a Conſtitution; and that it be in the Wiſdom of the Law-giver for the bringing about ſome worthy Deſign, and be therefore accommodated thereto; and we are acquainted that there are diverſe ſuch Ordinances, tho' all of them are joyntly ſerviceab… to the ſame Purpoſe. But theſe things wi… come under a diſtinct Conſideration in the ſequel only here we are to obſerve, the Lamination of them to the Author of them: They are therefore called, His Ordinances, i. e. CHRIST's, as appears from the Queſtion, and this word is uſed excluſively, q. d. His, and no other: They are therefore called His, in oppoſition to the Ordinances and Inſtitutions of Men, and every other way and Medium that is invented by them; giving us to underſtand that no other Appointments but ſuch as have the Seal of His Authority to make them Authentical, can be proper Media to bring us to participate in His Benefits; and the reaſon of this is very obvious, as will appear, if we conſider;
1. THAT all the Means have their abſolute Dependance, for the Efficacy of them, upon His Bleſſing them thereto. We have already obſerved, that the outward Means are in themſelves only Moral, and therefore can be no farther Efficacious, than as the Divine Power makes them ſo: And it neceſſarily follows, That if an Ordinance obtains it's end, the vertue of it muſt needs derive from CHRIST, by His Spirit, who only can work that Change in Sinners, by which they may be turned from the Power of Satan to God.
2. HENCE our only Encouragement, to make uſe of Ordinances, is, Chriſt's Promiſe of His Bl…ing to thoſe that rightly improve them. It b…l…gs to Man as he is a reaſonable Creature, to uſe Means for an End, and accordingly to be prompted to the uſing of them, by a Proſpect that he hath of obtaining in this way. Now there is requiſite for this, not only that Chriſt can give them this Succeſs if He ſees meet; but alſo that He will, if we ſo uſe them: And this depends on His free Pleaſure, which requires that we have ſuch a Promiſe: And for this reaſon the Goſpel offers ſuch Promiſes together with the …dinances, which it requires our Obedience to, many whereof are there recorded.
3. CHRIST hath made no Promise of Bleſſing to the Ordinances of Men; but on the other hand hath threatned thoſe that conform to them. How often therefore are Men Charged with Sin, for teaching for Doctrines the Commands of Men? and challenged His People, Who required theſe things of their hands? And He aſſures them that the Worſhip offered to Him in apretended Obedience, is altogether Vain; Matth. 15.9. And hence that Objurgation of the Apoſtle, Col. 2.22, 23. Men do not herein Serve God; but Diſhonour Him, and ſo cannot ultimately expect a Bleſſing on them, but a Curſe.
[2.] THESE Ordinances are laid down in particular; Specially the Word, Sacraments & Prayer. Here they are ranked under Three Heads, which will come afterwards to be diſtinctly handled, both as to the Nature & Uſefulneſs of them. Here only we may juſt obſerve, That they are introduced with the word Specially; which intimates that there is ſome other Ordinance of Chriſt appointed, and made ſerviceable to this End. And here ſome take notice of the Ordinance of Diſcipline, or the binding & lo…ſing, which Chriſt hath Inſtituted in His Church, which is not here enumerated, becauſe it is not for conſtant Practice, but only Occaſional, in caſe of Scandal; and was not nextly appointed for Converſion, by which only we are brought to have a Right to Chriſt's Benefits; altho' it cannot be denied but that this is ſometimes Bleſſed to the Converſion of ſuch as were before Unconverted.
II. WE come to conſider, The Way in which they are made uſeful for the Purpoſe of them, expreſſed in thoſe words, All of which are made effectual to the Elect for Salvation.
AND here we may obſerve,
1. THE great Deſign for the advancement whereof theſe Ordinances are appointed to be Means, viz. Salvation. We are told, that they are the Means of Communicating to us the Benefits of Redemption. And here we are acquainted, what is the upſhot and comprehenſion of theſe Benefits, and that is Salvation; and every of th…ſe Benefits do comprehend ſomething in them, that contributes to the compleating of that Salvation. Now Salvation in a …g…al Senſe includes in it, the Deliverance of a Sinner from the State of Sin & Miſery into which he is fallen, which is the Condition of Mankind by Nature, (Eph. 2.3.) and the reſtoring of him to the Enjoyment of true, and in the end, of conſummate Bleſſedneſs, which was the …nd of Chriſt's coming into the World, (1 …im. 1.15.) and is that which the Goſpel is appointed to be the Inſtrument of: For which reaſon it hath that Encomium, Rom. 1.16. T…e power of God unto ſalvation. It was becauſe Mankind had undone himſelf, and God had a P… poſe to manifeſt His rich Grace in Saving of him, that He contrived a Way to bring it ab…, and ſaw good to conſtitute th…ſe Ordinances to be a Me … to be uſed by him, for the accompi…ſhing of this Purpoſe of His; and hence it is called, … Salvation.
2. THE Uſ…u…ſs and Serv…eabieneſs of theſe Means, they are Effectual; and they do certainly prove ſo in the Event, how Contemptible ſoever they ſeem to be to vain Men, who look upon them as fooliſh and weak. Of the Power and Prevalency whereof the Apoſtle gives that Account, 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. For the we upons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty thro' God, to the pa…ling down of ſtrong b…lds: Caſting down imaginations, and every high thing that ex…teth it ſelf againſt the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every th… to the ebelience of Chriſt. By theſe are Sinners awakened, convinced, terrified, hamble, converted; and by theſe are the Converted confirmed, eſtabliſhed, and built up in their holy Faith, and wronght up to a Meetneſs for the Inheritance of the Saints in Light. Hence we are told of the Uſefulneſs of the Scriptures for this end, 2 Tim 3.16, 17. All Scripture is profitable for Doctrine, &c. And all the other Ordinances do ſhare in the ſame Efficacy.
3. HOW theſe Means come to be ſo Effectual; they are made ſo. This intimates that the Efficacy of them is Dependent; and that they cannot exert or produce it of and by themſelves; but muſt be ſo uſed by another: The Ordinances themſelves are Inſtruments for the doing of this Work, and are made ſerviceable to the End of it; but it is of the Nature of an Inſtrument as ſuch, that it wholly depends for it's Operation on the prime Agent: It lies ſtill, except it be applied; it can do nothing, but as he doth with it; and whatſoever Vertue it hath in it, or ſuitableneſs for the advancing of the End, yet it muſt have it's reference to the firſt mover of it: And voluntary Agents, tho' they are in their Order Efficients, and deliberate Agents; yet in reſpect of God who uſeth them in this Work, they are but Inſtruments: For not only doth God make uſde of them in the Courſe of His Providence; but alſo if their Work ſucceed in this Affair, it is He alone that gives the Bleſſing with their Endeavours: He therefore who renders them thus Effectual, muſt be CHRIST Himſelf; and becauſe they are of His Cauſing and Ordaining, needs muſt they obtain, and not fail. Let the Inſtrument be never ſo good, yet every hand cannot Uſe it, ſo as to do every Work with it, that it is capable of being ſerviceable to: Whereas, let the Means be never ſo contemptible, and the Inſtruments never ſo improbable, ye they ſhall not … of the Succeſs, when He comes to apply them to fulfill His own Purpoſe withal: And the leſs probability there ſeemed to be in the Inſ…ment, the more admirable will the Wiſdom and Power of the ſupream Agent appear to be.
4. THE Subject in whom theſe Ordinances are made thus …ctual to Salvation, viz. The bled. Here only obſerve,
1. THAT … Mean are not thus Effectual in … thoſe that doo enjoy them. That there is a vaſt difference on this … and other is very … obſerved …. If ſome Converted by them, others are Ha…ened; and … grow better, the other gr…w w…ſe.
2. THERE … th…ſe and th…ſe. It …nn…t rationalty be aſcribed to meet …aſa…ty; for this would be to Deny the all-governing Pro…dence of God over the Affairs of the World, which is Atheiſm: We muſt therefore reduce it to ſome Cauſe, which determines this Matter; which produceth this Efficacy in ſome, and doth not do it in others: And we had need to be very Cautions in our determination of this, elſe we ſhall rob God of this Glory of His Grace, which doth eminently ſhine forth in this, for we are told, Eph. 2.8. For by grace are ye ſaved tho' fait…; and that not of your ſelves … it … giſt of God.
3. THAT this cannot with reaſon be ultimately reſolved into the Means themſelves. For tho' it is true, that all are not favoured with the Means; and of thoſe, that is awfully obſervable, Eph 2.12. At that time ye were without Chriſt, being a…iens from the commen-w…alth of Iſrael, and ſtrangers from the covenants of promiſe, having no hope, and without God in the world. But this difference is found among thoſe that have the Means, who yet give a contrary Entertainment to them: nor is it becauſe ſome have more of the Means, and more skilful Inſtruments of diſpenſing them; for this is ſeen in thoſe that have the ſame individual Means allowed them. Chriſt Himſelf, the beſt Miniſter that ever Preached, found not the ſame reception from all; and Paul, a moſt faithful, able, and zealous Preacher, was to ſome a favour of Life, &c. The ſame Sermon that prevailed with ſome, enraged others; and ſome Blaſphemed, whilſt others Believed; and the meaneſt Inſtruments have brought the moſt Souls over to Chriſt.
4. NEITHER can this be in the Subject to whom the Means are affored. All are equally filled with the curſed root of Enmity and Oppoſition to the Glory of God, and impotency to receive the Inſtructions of Wiſdom: And whatſoever Natural Tempers Men are of, yet this contributes nothing to it, becauſe they have no Power in them to accept of Chriſt, and Salvation by Him; and we are aſſured, that the worſt Natures, and moſt reſolute Gain-ſaye…s are wrought on, when the moſt amiable Diſpoſitions are not moved; as that ingenious Young Man, &c. Matth. 10. And the rough Jaylo…, &c. Acts 16.
5. HENCE it muſt needs terminate in the good Pleaſure of God, which is according to His Election. It is He that puts the difference; and His Sovereignty is herein diſcovered: to this therefore doth the Goſpel determine the whole Matter: We are therefore told in, R…. 9.16. It is not of him that …, nor of … that runneth, but of God that ſo weth mere…. And he reſolves it into that, Ver. 18. Therefore hath be mer…y on whom be will have mercy, and … Hence we are told, Acts 13. …. As many as were …dained … nal life, …heved. There are ſome whom God hath Ord…in…d from Eternity to Salvation; and theſe are found in the rubbiſh of Mankind, equali… involved in Guilt and Miſ…y; theſe are to be brought from a State of Sin and Miſery to a State of Salvation; and in order to accompl…thing it, there are the Means laid out and preſcribed by God, which He made effectual to this End: He therefore who know… who are His, comes and affords His Influence with them to theſe, and to no other; and ſo theſe being primarily for the Elect ſake, they thus ſully attain their Deſign.
USE 1. WE h…ce …, … that have them, ar…ing that. … … ſuch as are with ut them, and that becauſe they are the appointed Media to …: We ought therefore to the exceeding Thankful for them; and count the …ne f… len to us in pleaſant places.
USE 2. TO warn us to take …eed, that we do not Peſ…ſe he Ordinances. What tho' their Efficacy depends on CHRIST; yet as He hath appointed them to be Means, ſo if we neglect them, and caſt Contempt on them, we thereby put away Salvation.
USE 3. TAKE heed that we reſt not or re…y upon Ordinances; but wait on Him who is the Author o… them, to give forth His Influence with them, that ſo they may be efficacious Means of our Salvation.