metaphor is just; that all who are truly converted give up themselves to Christ, and are thereby made partakers of all that he possesses. Contemplate now what a ground of joy this is, 1. To the believer [Consider from what a state he is taken: how mean by nature! how vile by practice?! Consider to what a state he is raised: to what exalted honour! to what immense wealth! to what unspeakable felicity!--- Has not such an one good reason to rejoice?] 2. To the heavenly Bridegroom— [We know that, strictly speaking, he is not capable of having his happiness increased by any thing that we can do: he is altogether independent, and self-sufficient. Nevertheless, the Scriptures speak of him as still affected with joy and sorrow, just as he was in the days of his flesh. In conformity then with them, let us think, what must be his feelings, when he sees the blessed ends of his incarnation and death accomplished! To convert and save sinners was the end of all that he did and suffered for us; and when he beholds them converted to himself," he sees of the travail of his soul, and is satisfied." To illustrate this idea, he gives us a variety of parables; yea, he condescends to use by the prophet the very similitude in the text, in order to express the satisfaction of his soul in such events-—~] 3. To the Bridegroom's friend [As the friends both of the bride and bridegroom are often accessary to their union, and rejoice when they see the wishes of all the parties accomplished, so the friends of Christ, his ministers especially, exert themselves to bring sinners unto him. It is for this they labour, for this they pray; yea, for this they live, and for this they are content to die. Their one object is, that sinners may be born to God, and be united to Christ in the bonds of an everlasting covenant. In the pursuit of this, their labours, their anxieties, their sufferings are great Can they then do otherwise than rejoice, when they see that they have not "laboured in vain or run in vain?" If they "travail, as it were, in birth, whilst they stand in doubt," must they not rejoice, when their doubts are all dispelled? f Ezekiel through the whole 16th chapter strongly describes this: but the foregoing caution must not be forgotten in following his train of ideas. g Isai. liii. 11. i Isai. lxii. 5. h Luke xv. 5, 6, 9, 10, 23, 24. See how Paul rejoiced in the conversion of menk: and such are the feelings of every minister, in proportion as he is animated with Christian zeal and love -] Whilst the Baptist thus disinterestedly declares that the conversion of sinners to Christ was to him a source of joy, he predicts, II. That it shall advance in despite of every obstacleThose who are the instruments of diffusing the knowledge of Christ must wax and wane: however distinguished they may be for a time, they must soon "decrease." But Christ, and his interests, must "increase." He must increase, 1. In the estimation of his chosen people [The envy of some, and the malignity of others, will be exerted to damp the ardour of our affections, and to shake our fidelity towards him: and, where a profession of regard for him. has been lightly taken up, the enemies of Christ will succeed in drawing us from our allegiance to him. But, if we "have received the grace of God in truth," we shall never yield to their solicitations: and, "if any go out from us, it is because they were not of us: for, if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us!." The true Spouse of Christ may be tried and tempted; but she will never renounce her connexion with him, or be unfaithful to her engagements. The more she is assaulted from without or from within, the more she will flee to him for succour: and her experience of his kindness will endear him to her ever more and more; so that her love to him will be more ardent, her affiance in him more uniform, and her adherence to him more determined. Never will he be more dear to her, than when she has suffered the loss of all things for him. The language of her heart will be, "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of thee:" and "all other things will be counted but dross and dung in comparison of the knowledge of him." In short, she will "grow in grace, as she grows in the knowledge" of her Divine Husband 2. In the estimation of the world at large [The Baptist's words were soon verified: for, in the space of a few years, the knowledge and love of Christ were diffused throughout all the Roman empire. But his influence is yet only in its commencement. There is a time coming when it k 1 Thess. iii. 7—10. 11 Pet. ii. 19. will extend to the remotest corners of the earth: "All kings shall fall down before him; all nations shall do him service.' "All shall know him, from the least unto the greatest;" and "all the kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of our Lord" "Then shall his Wife have made herself ready, and the marriage of the Lamb shall come: and blessed indeed will they be who shall then be called to the marriage supper of the Lamb"." This is "the increase" which we assuredly look for; and of it there shall be no end"."] ADDRESS 1. Those who profess to desire an union with Christ [Happy they who feel a desire after him!--- But there must be in every one of us a meetness for him, before he will acknowledge us as his. Let not this however be misunderstood. There cannot be in us any thing that can deserve his love, nor any thing that shall induce him to set his love upon us: we have not a good thought or desire which has not been first of all given us by him. But still, if we would be his in deed and in truth, we must have our desires supremely fixed on him, and every adulterous affection mortified. It is not a divided heart that he will accept: we must give ourselves wholly to him; or he will never admit us into the relation of his Spouse. See what holy jealousy St. Paul manifested on this head; and with what tender concern he urged the consideration of this subject on his Corinthian converts° So, beloved, we would urge it upon you. Deceive not your own souls. In forming human connexions, we may impose upon one another: but we can never impose on him: and if we would be acknowledged by him as his bride, we must present ourselves to him as a chaste virgin, with a determination to be his, even his alone -] 2. Those who profess to be actually united to him [It is scarcely needful to say, that you must endeavour to "walk worthy of your high calling." If you profess to stand in such a relation to the Lord Jesus Christ, "what manner of persons ought you to be in all manner of conversation and godliness!" See then that you live in a state of constant communion with him, and of entire dependence on him¶ Be zealous for his honour, and studious to bring forth the fruits of righteousness to his praise and glory1— m Rev. xix. 7-9. and xxi. 9-11. n Isai. ix. 7. Dan. ii. 44. and vii. 27. T • 2 Cor. xi. 2, 3. Rom. vii. 4. Endeavour also to commend him unto others. There is no room for jealousy here. The light of his countenance, like the light of the sun, will not be the less enjoyed by you because it is imparted to others: on the contrary, the more successful you are in bringing others into a participation of his benefits, the more will your own souls overflow with joy. And the very weakest amongst us, that is really the Bridegroom's friend, shall find that he does not testify of Christ in vain: however incapable he may feel himself to recommend the Saviour to others, he shall see some fruit of his labour, and have reason to say, with John, "This my joy is fulfilled."] MDCXIV. THE NECESSITY OF FAITH IN CHRIST. John iii. 36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. A FAITHFUL minister will find many occasions of rectifying the views and dispositions of his hearers; nor will he fail to improve the opportunities that occur of leading them to a more intimate acquaintance with their Lord. Some of the followers of John the Baptist having heard of the popularity of Jesus, were envious of his success, and jealous for the honour of their own teacher. But this holy man answered their complaints with much wisdom and humility; and having, in the strongest terms, given his testimony to the Divine mission of Jesus, he confirmed his word with the solemn declaration which we have just read. This record contains the sum and substance of the Gospel. It sets before us, I. The one condition of our salvation We do not mean to say that there is any thing to be done, whereby we are to earn or merit heaven (in this respect our salvation has no conditions except those which were performed by Christ) but that, We must believe in Christ in order to obtain salvation [The duty here enjoined is not so easy as men generally If it merely imported a consent to the truth of suppose. Christianity, it might then be performed without any difficulty or self-denial. But to "believe on the Son of God" is, to believe, that he is the only, and the all-sufficient, Saviour of our ruined race. If we do not feel our need of him; if we be not convinced that we can never obtain salvation by any works of our own; if we do not make earnest application to him at a throne of grace; and if we do not trust altogether in his blood and righteousness, we cannot believe aright. This, and nothing less than this, is the condition of our acceptance with God.] Nor is there any other condition so suitable as this [We may be ready to think that the performance of good works were a much fitter condition than faith. But if salvation were by works, no flesh living could be saved; because no man ever has kept, or ever can keep, the whole law of God. Nor should we be at all more safe, if sincere obedience were the term of our acceptance; because as no man has perfectly fulfilled the law, so no man has done all that he might have done; in many instances we might have mortified our sinful dispositions more, and approved ourselves more diligent in the discharge of our duty. Besides, if we were saved by any works of our own, we should have whereof to glory, and might ascribe, even in heaven itself, the honour to ourselves. Whereas the appointment of salvation by faith secures happiness to the most unworthy, if really penitent; and necessitates all to give the glory of their salvation to God alone.] The Baptist having thus made known the condition of our acceptance with God, proceeds to declare, II. The state of those who comply with it— About this, which might have been thought a dubious point, no doubt whatever is expressed. The believer has, 1. A title to eternal life [There is not any title whatever to an earthly inheritance so secure as that which the believer has to heaven. He has the promise of Jehovah. He has a covenant sealed with Emmanuel's blood, and confirmed with the oath of God himself—and, provided he can appeal to God respecting his unfeigned reliance on the Lord Jesus Christ, he may put in his claim even at the bar of judgment, and demand, if we may so speak, all the glory of heaven as his unalienable inheritance. God hath said, "He that believeth shall be saved;" and if we only prove our performance of the condition, we need never doubt the fulfilment of God's promise.] |