Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

Peter found with him the words of eternal life. John vi. 68. Those that Peter makes mention of, found him a living stone, even such a stone as communicated life to them. 1 Pet. ii. Christ saith himself, they that come to him shall find rest unto their souls: hast thou found rest in him for thy soul? Matt. xi.

Let us go back to the times of the Old Testament.

Abraham found that in him, that made him leave his country for him, and become for his sake a pilgrim and stranger in the earth. Gen. xii.; Heb. xi.

Moses found that in him, that made him forsake a crown, a kingdom for him too. Heb. xi.

David found so much in him, that he counted to be in his house one day was better than a thousand; yea, to be a door-keeper therein, was better in his esteem, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. Psalm lxxxiv. 10.

What did Daniel and the three children find in him, to make them run the hazards of the fiery furnace, and the den of lions, for his sake? Dan. iii.; vi.

Let us come down to martyrs.

Stephen found that in him, that made him joyful, and quietly yield up his life for his name.

Acts vii.

Ignatius found that in him, that made him choose to to go through the torments of the devil, and hell itself rather than not to have him. Acts and Monuments, vol. iv. page 25.

What saw Romanus in Christ, when he said to the raging emperor, who threatened him with fearful torments, "Thy sentence, O emperor, I joyfully embrace, and refuse not to be sacrificed, by as cruel torments as thou canst invent?" p. 116.

What saw Menas the Egyptian, in Christ, when he said, under most cruel torments, "There is nothing in my mind that can be compared to the kingdom of heaven; neither is all the world, if it was weighed in a balance, to be preferred

WHAT THE MARTYRS FOUND IN CHRIST.

281

to the price of one soul? Who is able to separate us from the love of Jesus Christ our Lord? And I have learned of my Lord and king not to fear them that kill the body." p. 117.

What did Eulaliah see in Christ, when she said, as they were pulling her one joint from another: "Behold, O Lord, I will not forget thee. What a pleasure is it for them, O Christ, that remember thy triumphant victory!" p. 121.

What think you did Agnes see in Christ, when rejoicingly she went to meet the soldier, that was appointed to be her executioner: "I will willingly (said she) receive into my paps the length of this sword, and into my breast will draw the force thereof, even to the hilt; that thus I, being married to Christ my spouse, may surmount and escape all the darkness of this world?" p. 122.

What do you think did Julitta see in Christ, when at the emperor's telling her, that except she would worship the gods, she should never have protection, laws, judgment, nor life? She replied, "Farewell life, welcome death; farewell riches, welcome poverty. All that I have, if it were a thousand times more, would I give, rather than to speak one wicked or blasphemous word against my Creator." p. 123.

What did Marcus Arethusius see in Christ, when after his enemies had cut his flesh, anointed it with honey, and hanged him up in a basket for flies and bees to feed on, he would not give (to uphold idolatry) one halfpenny to save his life? p. 119.

What did Constantine see in Christ, when he used to kiss the wounds of them that suffered for him? p. 135.

But what need I give thus particular instances of words and smaller actions, when by their lives, their blood, their enduring hunger, sword, fire, pulling asunder, and all torments that the devil and hell could devise, they showed their love to Christ, after they were come to him?

What hast thou found in him, sinner?

What! come to Christ, and find nothing in him (when all things that are worth looking for are in him) or if any thing, yet not enough to wean thee from thy sinful delights, and fleshly lusts! Away; thon art not come to Jesus Christ!

He that is come to Jesus Christ, hath found in him, that, as I said, that is not to be found any where else. As,

1. He that is come to Christ hath found God in him reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses to them. And God is not so to be found in heaven and earth besides. 2 Cor. v. 19, 20.

2. He that is come to Jesus Christ hath found in him a fountain of grace, sufficient, not only to pardon sin, but to sanctify the soul, and to preserve it from falling in this evil world.

3. He that is come to Jesus Christ hath found virtue in him; that virtue, that if he does but touch thee with his words, or thou him by faith, life is forthwith conveyed into the soul. It makes thee wake as one that is waked out of his sleep; it awakes all the powers of the soul. Psalm xxx. 11, 12; Song vi. 12.

4. Art thou come to Jesus Christ? Thou hast found glory in him; glory that surmounts and goes beyond all other. "Thou art more glorious than the mountains of prey." Psalm lxxvi. 4.

5. What shall I say? Thou hast found righteousness in him; thou hast found rest, peace, delight, heaven, glory, and eternal life.

Sinner, be advised; ask thy heart again; saying, Am I come to Jesus Christ? For upon this one question, Am I come, or, am I not? hang heaven and hell to thee. If thou canst say, I am come, and God shall happy, happy, happy man art thou! come, what can make thee happy? that man happy, that for his not coming to Jesus Christ for life, must be damned in hell?

approve that saying, But if thou art not Yea, what can make

A USE OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

III. The third use is a use of ENCOURAGEMENT.

283

Coming sinner, I have now a word for thee. Be of good comfort, he "will in no wise cast out." Of all men, thou art the blessed of the Lord; the Father hath prepared his Son to be a sacrifice for thee, and Jesus Christ, thy Lord, is gone to prepare a place for thee. John i. 29; Heb. x.

What shall I say to thee? Thou comest to a full Christ; thou canst not want any thing, for soul or body, for this world or that to come, but it is to be had in or by Jesus Christ. As it is said of the land that the Danites went to possess, so, and with much more truth it may be said of Christ, he is such a one with whom there is no want of any good thing that is in heaven or earth.

A full Christ is thy Christ.

1. He is full of grace. Grace is sometimes taken for love; never any loved like Jesus Christ. Jonathan's love went beyond the love of women; but the love of Christ passes knowledge. It is beyond the love of all the earth, of all creatures, even of men and angels. His love prevailed with him to lay aside his glory; to leave the heavenly places; to clothe himself with flesh; to be born in a stable; to be laid in a manger; to live a poor life in the world; to take upon him our sicknesses, infirmities, sins, curse, death, and the wrath that was due to man. And all this he did, for a base, undeserving, unthankful people; yea, for a people that was at enmity with him. "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." Rom. v. 6-10.

[ocr errors]

2. He is full of truth. "Full of grace and truth." Truth, that is, faithfulness in keeping promise, even this of the text (with all others), "I will in no wise cast out.' Hence it is said that his words are true, and that he is the faithful God, that keepeth covenant. And hence it is also that his promises are called truth, "Thou wilt fulfil thy truth unto Jacob, and thy mercy unto Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old." Therefore it is said again, that both himself and words are truth, "I am the truth;" "The scripture of truth;" "Thy word is truth; "Thy law is truth;" and "my mouth," said he "shall speak truth." John xiv. 6.; Dan. x. 21; John xvii. 17; 2 Sam. vii. 28; Prov. vii. 7; Psalm cxix. 142; Eccles. xii. Isa. xxv. 1; Mal. ii. 6; Acts xxvi. 25; 2 Tim. ii. 12, 13. Now I say, his word is truth, and he is full of truth to fulfil his truth, even to a thousand generations. Coming sinner, he will not deceive thee. Come boldly to Jesus Christ.

10;

3. He is full of wisdom. "He is made unto us of God wisdom;" wisdom to manage his affairs of the church in general, and the affairs of every coming sinner in particular. And upon this account he is said to be "head over all things (1 Cor. i.; Ephes. i.); because he manages all things that are in the world by his wisdom, for the good of his church. All men's actions, all Satan's temptations, all God's providences, and crosses, and disappointments; all things whatever are under the hand of Christ (who is the wisdom of God), and he ordereth them all for good to his church. And, can Christ help it, (and be sure he can), nothing shall happen or fall out in the world, but it shall, in despite of all opposition, have a good tendency to his church and people.

4. He is full of the Spirit, to communicate it to the coming sinner. He hath therefore received it without measure, that he may communicate it to every member of his body, according as every man's measure thereof is allotted him by

« EdellinenJatka »