Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

grace prevents not, their life is em- to die, but after this the judgment; bittered and will be to all eternity. In this chapter we have a certain creature made subject to vanity; there have been many disputes about this "creature made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope." I do not wish to set up my opinion contrary to the word of God, though I believe it is too much the case in this day: men come forward with new light, but not the meaning of God the Holy Ghost. It strikes me very powerfully, the creature treated of by the apostle Paul, is neither more nor less than one part of me, that part that is essentially necessary to constitute me man, that is, the body; the creature, the body was made subject to vanity, change, corruption, and death, not willingly, "but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God." We seldom go far enough in looking at our relationship to God and his Christ, we generally look at his having to do with the soul of man; but the Lord Jesus Christ by his death, did not purchase the soul separately from the body: it was his person, his whole man, body and soul that he purchased, therefore the earnest expectation of his people. Every believer shall be delivered from the "bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."

I have heard those who profess. faith in Christ deny the resurrection of the body. I once heard a quaker, a female, take this text, "And as it is appointed unto men once January, 1852.]

so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time, without sin unto salvation." Appear where? in your hearts, said she," he shall appear the second time, without sin unto salvation." If we deny the resurrection of the body, what do we make of it? If it is not the selfsame body that we now have that is raised from the dead, it must be a new created body, then it cannot be called a resurrection; if it be a raised body it must be that body that had been buried, that body that was sown in corruption, the very self-same body that is raised in incorruption; that body that had been sown or put in the grave through weakness, is raised in power; that body that was laid in the grave, there to rest till the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, which by the sound of the trump, the voice of the gospel, shall arise and come forth. I do not know what to say respecting the doctrine of the millenium, the personal reign of Christ for a thousand years, yet I am at a point here, that if ever there is a millenium under the present state of things, it must be when a wonderful change takes place in the earth. It must be after the first resurrection, for on such the second death hath no power. As christians, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in this matter, we are saved by hope; we see ourselves rescued from condemnation and death by the peace-speaking blood of Jesus, as it respects immortal, eternal life, the resurrection of the body, having a body fashioned like to Christ's glorious body, in these things is included our salvation. We are

saved by hope, the thing has not already taken place; yet as Paul said before Felix, "Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day;" my hope respecting the resurrection,

B

mor

that this mortal shall put on immortality, that we shall be changed, and caught up to meet the Lord in the air, body and soul become re-united, that spark, spirit that is in me shall then burst into a blaze, this " tality shall be swallowed up in life," "and if Christ be in us, the body," according to law-reckoning "is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Christ dwell in us, he that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken our mortal bodies by (that very) Spirit that dwells in us. And not only they, but ourselves also which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit the redemption of the body." Now there are two or three things in the text. First, what Paul says of himself while here on earth, that he had received and had in his possession the firstfruits of the Spirit. Secondly, we notice. what they do along with the whole creation of God, that have the firstfruits of the Spirit, they groan, saith the apostle; we groan within ourselves. For what do we groan? "waiting for the adoption, to wit the redemption of our body." He then goes on to speak of what we are saved by. "For we are saved by hope; but hope that is seen is not hope. But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." What is it then to have the firstfruits of the Spirit? There are two or three things named in the word of God I consider to be synonimous, or nearly so; the firstfruits of the Spirit, the seal of the Spirit, the earnest of our inheritance; you may make what you please of it. I consider them to be one and the selfsame thing. Paul says "We that have received the firstfruits of the Spirit," as much as to say, every true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, be he who he will, or what he may, whatever conclusion he may come

to respecting himself, or his soul Godward, yet according to the allseeing eye of God, he sees him to be amongst those that have in their hearts the firstfruits of the Spirit. What are we to understand by the firstfruits? The firstfruits are a certain earnest of the harvest home. We will go farther. The firstfruits of the Spirit is a little of heaven let into the soul in a time-state, though not heaven as to the degree, yet in kind, as to the joy, comfort, consolalation, and peace it brings into the soul, it is heaven already begun; it is the firstfruits, the earnest, like the servant that is hired to a master has the earnest put into his hand as a part of the whole, that ensures or points to the whole. So it is with the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ; they have a heaven of glory already begun. Christ's kingdom, which stands not in the letter, but in the power of God, is already set up in their heart; yea, the kingdom of heaven is begun within them; the kingdom of heaven is within you. Grace here, is glory in the bud; therefore it will not be all entirely new when we come to die, if we are the people of God. Paul said, respecting himself and others, by the good will of God towards them, by the operation of the Spirit of God within, they have the firstfruits of the Spirit, when at any time the Spirit of the living God leads their mind experimentally to have sensation, or joy in God, through faith in Christ. What do you consider these sayings represent? They set forth so many senses, as seeing, tasting, handling, feeling, and so on ; does it not immediately seem to come to this, that there is such a thing as sensation in religion? sensation in religion without light is the devil's fancy; light without sensation is the light of a hypocrite, but light and heat, life and immortality, ensation and feeling, with light in the understanding to take in and comprehend

the way of life and salvation, according to free donation and blood, promised through a crucified Redeemer, more or less, these stand together. What an awful account we have given by the apostle in the sixth of Hebrews of some such as these, who had tasted of the heavenly light, made partakers of the Holy Ghost, knowing the powers of the world to come, and so on; yet after all he compares them to that part of the earth on which the rain falls that brings forth nothing more than briers and thorns; but says he of some to whom he was then writing, 66 we are persuaded better things of you." Better things than what he had named; better things than having tasted of the heavenly gift; better things than being made partakers of the Holy Ghost; better things than having tasted of the powers of the world to come: yes, better things: things that accompany salvation. It appears there are things that do not accompany salvation; he speaks of them, such as being once enlightened, some who had been baptized, and made partakers of the Holy Ghost in an extraordinary way, such as casting out devils, made to comprehend and take in something of that power that God puts forth in the ministry of his word; he seems to sum it up here thus, we all know they are only tasters; like the man who tastes physic, feels it nauseous to his palate, therefore spits it out again; so these men, who taste of these things, have a dislike, hatred and malice to them in their heart; not having the life and love of God, the first-fruits of the Spirit, the regenerating influence of the Lord the Spirit; not being united to Christ therefore fall away and become nothing. I have often looked at this chapter, how it begins and in which way it ends. Some would say, it begins favouring the doctrine of falling from grace; but Paul treats the subject of falling from grace as being impossible; he

says, "That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge, to lay hold upon the hope set before us; which hope we have, as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the vail; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus." I have sometimes looked at it, seeing the sealing testimony of the Spirit of God; I have looked at it with strong desire and heartfelt prayer to God, that I might understand it. Now it says, "Grieve not the Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption;" there seems to be no distinction made; it takes in the whole church, high and low, rich and poor, small and great, bond and free; "Grieve not the Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption." It appears to me the Spirit of God in his inbeing, in his inhabitation in the soul of a poor sinner, so that he is eternally sealed: that soul shall never come into condemnation. As it respects what is done for him in Christ, and what is done towards himself, by the operation and influence of the blessed Spirit, as it respects my satisfaction, comfort, consolation and knowledge in this matter, being sealed up in the bundle of life with the Lord God; I am satisfied in this point; it is by divine manifestation and operation in a comforting way in my soul, not by the Spirit's inbeing. God Almighty keep me whilst I am in this world, in this particular; never may I run at random, nor say things without digesting. The world is full of persons who do so. It takes a good deal to discipline a man. The burnt child dreads the fire, and whatever a child of God has suffered, whether by men speaking at a venture-if a man speaks at a venture, the Lord will make him hate his own words. In that point we did not receive the Spirit at a venture; the

66

sealing testimony of the Spirit of God is the earnest of our inheritance; for it is by divine sensation and feeling, comfort and consolation is produced in a secret way and manner in my heart, that the world is altogether a stranger to. Now the voice of many ministers, if they are right, Paul is wrong: they say, if you live above every thing, live down every thing, do away with sighing, crying, groaning, doubts and fears, suspicions and complaints, live them down, rise above them; no, says Paul, it is not so, we ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves." I am glad Paul acknowledges so much, as though he had said, a man having the first-fruits of the Spirit, while in a time-state, in consequence of the weight of unbelief, in consequence of Adam's fall, sin and transgression, does from time to time groan. The Lord delights to hear our groans; it proves to a demonstration, that we are not independents, that we are debtors, dependants, that we cannot rise, cannot live, cannot come into the joy of the Lord, which is our strength, without divine help from God our Father, through the Lord Jesus Christ; yes, says Paul, we groan within ourselves, what for? waiting for the adoption, that is, the redemption of our bodies. What is it ? It reaches to body and soul, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our bodies." How far Dr. Hawker may be correct, I do not know: in speaking upon sanctification he says, that the body of man is just what it was; that God's work of grace in the soul has nothing whatever to do with the body, that remaineth a filthy, vile, polluted body; that it would do no better when old, than when first called by divine grace; now it is said, "The very God of peace sanctify you wholly, body, soul and spirit." Perhaps he runs it up in this point, that

66

it is the self same body that shall be raised in the resurrection, when this mortal shall put on immortality. In that very change, what sanctification, what a spiritual body in a little time is brought forth, when my vile body, according to nature, shall be fashioned like Christ's glorious body. so I may enjoy God, soul and body, to a vast eternity, without a veil between.

Paul says in one of his epistles, in speaking of the adoption of which we are the subjects, that it is founded on divine predestination. Paul never put the cause for the effect, or the effect for the cause. Being predestinated according to our Father's will, being predestinated to the adoption of children, adoption is an emanate act, being in God's own vast eternal mind, a relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ; ye are children of God by adoption, by election grace, which we had before we had a being. Men make no distinction here in speaking of the people of God. Some men in these days make no distinction between the children of God by gift, and the children of God by faith the scriptures do: "behold I, and the children thou hast given me.' God in his choice, choosing some of Adam's race, in the Lord Jesus as Mediator, and it is this adoption that is the grand reason or cause why the Spirit of God is given in time, to have the Spirit of adoption, to give me to know my relationship to God and his Christ; so they were known to themselves, "waiting for the adoption," "predestinated to be children;" then if predestinated, we belong to the vast great family of God. What am I predestinated to have? Jehovah for my inheritance, and for me to be his; predestinated so for God to count and reckon me as his inheritance: "the Lord's portion is his people, Jacob is the lot of his inheritance;" so we hear not David, but David's Lord saying, "The lines are fallen to me in plea· sant places; I have a goodly heri

the way of life and salvation, according to free donation and blood, promised through a crucified Redeemer, more or less, these stand together. What an awful account we have given by the apostle in the sixth of Hebrews of some such as these, who had tasted of the heavenly light, made partakers of the Holy Ghost, knowing the powers of the world to come, and so on; yet after all he compares them to that part of the earth on which the rain falls that brings forth nothing more than briers and thorns; but says he of some to whom he was then writing, 66 we are persuaded better things of you." Better things than what he had named; better things than having tasted of the heavenly gift; better things than being made partakers of the Holy Ghost; better things than having tasted of the powers of the world to come: yes, better things: things that accompany salvation. It appears there are things that do not accompany salvation; he speaks of them, such as being once enlightened, some who had been baptized, and made partakers of the Holy Ghost in an extraordinary way, such as casting out devils, made to comprehend and take in something of that power that God puts forth in the ministry of his word; he seems to sum it up here thus, we all know they are only tasters; like the man who tastes physic, feels it nauseous to his palate, therefore spits it out again; so these men, who taste of these things, have a dislike, hatred and malice to them in their heart; not having the life and love of God, the first-fruits of the Spirit, the regenerating influence of the Lord the Spirit; not being united to Christ therefore fall away and become nothing. I have often looked at this chapter, how it begins and in which way it ends. Some would say, it begins favouring the doctrine of falling from grace; but Paul treats the subject of falling from grace as being impossible; he

says,

"That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge, to lay hold upon the hope set before us; which hope we have, as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the vail; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus." I have sometimes looked at it, seeing the sealing testimony of the Spirit of God; I have looked at it with strong desire and heartfelt prayer to God, that I might understand it. Now it says, "Grieve not the Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption;" there seems to be no distinction made; it takes in the whole church, high and low, rich and poor, small and great, bond and free; "Grieve not the Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption." It appears to me the Spirit of God in his inbeing, in his inhabitation in the soul of a poor sinner, so that he is eternally sealed: that soul shall never come into condemnation. As it respects what is done for him in Christ, and what is done towards himself, by the operation and influence of the blessed Spirit, as it respects my satisfaction, comfort, consolation and knowledge in this matter, being sealed up in the bundle of life with the Lord God; I am satisfied in this point; it is by divine manifestation and operation in a comforting way in my soul, not by the Spirit's inbeing. God Almighty keep me whilst I am in this world, in this particular; never may I run at random, nor say things without digesting. The world is full of persons who do so. It takes a good deal to discipline a man. The burnt child dreads the fire, and whatever a child of God has suffered, whether by men speaking at a venture-if a man speaks at a venture, the Lord will make him hate his own words. In that point we did not receive the Spirit at a venture; the

« AnteriorContinuar »